Prisonweekly December18th 2004
Va-Yiggash For the week of December 18, 2004 / 6 Tevet 5765 Torah: Bereshit / Genesis 44:18 - 47:27 Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28 Don't Disregard God "How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father." (Bereshit / Genesis 44:34) The story of Joseph is one of the most detailed in the entire Bible. One of the more complex parts of the story is when his brothers come to Egypt in their hope to purchase food. It is difficult to understand Joseph's motive in how he deals with them during their two visits. He recognizes them right away, but they have no clue that the Egyptian official they encounter is their very own brother. As he interacts with them we get insight into Joseph's emotions, but it is not clear how he really feels about these brothers who years before out of intense jealousy, first wanted to kill him, but in the end sold him into slavery. His love for his father and at least his younger brother, Benjamin, is evident, but as for the others, it is difficult to understand why he doesn't immediately reveal his true identity to them. Joseph had set up the situation in such a way as to create an opportunity to take his younger brother, Benjamin, as his slave. You need to read the story yourself to get the details. It is obvious that he had no intention to mistreat him. It looks as if he was only doing this to see how his brothers would respond. The response came from his brother Judah, who offered to exchange himself for Benjamin. Joseph and Benjamin had a special place in the heart of their father, Jacob. After seeing how losing Joseph had such a negative effect on Jacob, Judah could not bear the thought of bringing additional misery upon him by the loss of Benjamin as well. It is at this point that Joseph reveals himself to them. In fact we read he could no long control himself and that his weeping was heard throughout Pharaoh's household. While this was for the most part due to his many years of anguish, confusion, longing and so on, it might be that it was what Judah said that triggered this reaction. It wasn't that Judah acknowledged the wrong of what they had done to Joseph. If we were in Joseph's place, apart from taking vengeance on his brothers, we might think he was looking for a heart-felt apology. Not knowing that it was actually Joseph they were facing, he, of course, would not get a direct apology. Earlier in the story there is a mention that perhaps their current hardships may be related to what they had done to Joseph, but we never see any signs of true contrition over their mistreatment of him. One might also expect that Joseph was looking for a concern for Benjamin. After treating Joseph so badly, perhaps now they have learned to care for another one of their younger brothers. But that too is not what Judah expresses. He does express concern, but not for Benjamin or Joseph. The person he is concerned about is their father. It is this that brings Joseph to tears. This may have been what Joseph was looking for. One of the things that created friction between Joseph and his brothers in the first place was that their father loved Joseph more than the others (see Bereshit / Genesis 37:3). Without getting into the right and wrong of this, when the brothers mistreated Joseph, they were not thinking about the great effect that this would have upon their father. To hate Joseph as they did was, in a sense, to hate their father. It is possible that Joseph was aware of this all those years. So when Judah showed the level of concern for their father, Jacob, that he did, it melted Joseph's heart, and led to the much-needed reconciliation. Joseph is a wonderful picture of the Messiah. Just as Joseph’s rejection by his brothers resulted in his saving the world of his day, so it was with Yeshua. Both Joseph and Yeshua became unrecognizable to their own people. Joseph looked like an Egyptian and Yeshua to many still looks like a Gentile. Just as Joseph eventually revealed himself to his brothers and was reconciled to them, so it will be with Yeshua. But could it be that one of the keys to this reconciliation is concern for the father? In the case of Israel, it will be a concern for the Heavenly Father. I wonder how much of Israel's inability to see Yeshua for who he really is has to do with an unwillingness to take God himself into account. We tend to be more concerned about preserving our peoplehood and our religion than face God himself. But before we go too far on this thought, let's not miss how what happened between Judah and Joseph relates to each one of us now. Have we ever stopped to think how much our mistreatment of others affects God our Father? When we harbor jealousy or hatred toward one another, it is so easy to become focused on getting our own way and to lose sight of how God might feel about the other person and what he wants to do in the situations we are in. If we claim faith in God, we need to remember to never lose sight of our true Father. The more we are sensitive to how everything in life relates to him first, the more we will be able to live life under his blessing. TorahBytes Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27) Family Parsha Vayigash 5765 Forgiving people and not holding grudges against them is not only good for them -it's also good for us. Sometimes the anger we hold inside against someone who has treated us unkindly hurts us even more than what they did to us in the first place. But forgiving can be hard; how can we do it? This week's portion reveals the secret. Joseph's brothers had treated him very unkindly and sold him into slavery. Yet when he met them again many years later, he didn't hold any grudge whatsoever against them. How was that possible? Because Joseph realized the amazing truth that everyone in our lives are, in a deeper sense, God's 'messengers.' Whatever they say or do is only because God is sending us some sort of a message, and what's the point of getting angry at the messenger? Not only that, since the message is coming from God, ultimately it's for our best. Once we learn to live with this outlook, we will lead much happier lives filled with forgiveness and free from the pain of grudges. In our story, a kid learns the secret of forgiveness in most unlikely place. "ESCAPE FROM THE DUNGEON" The kids in Mrs. Kaplan's history classes felt like they had stepped back into the Middle Ages. As a special class trip she had taken them to Manor Castle, a history museum inside a real 800-year-old castle that had been brought, brick by brick, from overseas and reconstructed just as it had been. "This place is absolutely amazing, isn't it Ellen?" said Naomi, with wide open eyes, as they made their way through the stately, candle-lit halls and chambers. "Yeah, I guess so," muttered the girl under her breath. Even though the unheated castle was pretty cold, Ellen was boiling. "Hey, what's the matter with you?" asked Naomi, surprised at her usually bubbly friend's curt answer. "I'm sorry Naomi," she said, "I'm just really upset." "Why?" "You mean to tell me you're not upset about how all those kids from the older class just pushed ahead of us like we didn't exist and took all the good seats on the bus? I'm lucky I didn't have to sit in the baggage compartment!" Naomi shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, that? Yeah I guess it wasn't so nice, but forget it, and let's enjoy the trip. What's the point of letting a couple of minutes of unpleasantness ruin our whole day? Anyway, they were only 'messengers.' Hey, did you hear that? The guide just said we're going down to the dungeon next!" The dungeon was just where those pushy kids belonged as far as Ellen was concerned. How could her friend just forgive and forget like that? And what in the world had she meant by 'messengers'? But before she had a chance to ask, the guide began leading everyone down a thin, curving stairway. Ellen tried to calm down as she held tight to the metal railing. But she was also holding tight to her grudge. How could she just forgive those thoughtless kids? "Now nobody get scared..." bellowed Tom, the big, redheaded guide who looked like he fit right into the medieval setting, "...but this is the chamber where the master of the castle would take his prisoners. You know, back then the kings were very cruel. They would even punish, or kill, a messenger that brought them bad news!" The kids gasped. "Wow, wasn't that dumb?" commented Ellen to Naomi. "What was the point of getting mad at the messenger?" "So why do you do the same thing?" Ellen was taken aback by her friend's strange comment. "Do the same thing? What are you talking about?" Naomi smiled. "Like I said, those kids on the bus were also just messengers - from God." "Messengers from God? What are you talking about?" "Nothing happens for nothing. Whatever happens is really just God's way of talking to us and giving us a message that somehow we need to hear." "Like what kind of messages?" "There are lots of different messages. Maybe we had once done something similar to someone else, and God sends us a messenger to teach us how it feels so we won't do it again..." Ellen blushed, remembering how she had jumped in front of a little kid to grab a seat on the way to school just that morning. Naomi went on. "Or maybe the messenger is coming to stop us from doing something we think will be good for us but really isn't, or to get us to do something we didn't know that we should. Sometimes the message is pretty clear, and other times we may not understand the message, or why it's good right away, but the message is always there." Ellen nodded. "Okay, let's say that those kids on the bus really were 'messengers,' but wasn't it still wrong of them to act that way?" "Maybe it was, but that's their business to work out. What matters for us is that we had to hear a message, and one way or the other God was going to tell it to us. If those kids hadn't been the ones to deliver the message, someone or something else would have. So why not just forgive and forget instead of feeling angry and miserable by holding a grudge? "It's like we learned in Torah class about how Joseph met up with his brothers who sold him as a slave. That's how he was able to forgive them, by realizing they were God's messengers. And that's why staying mad at people doesn't make any more sense than one of those medieval kings who used to kill their messengers." In his booming voice, Tom announced, "Now follow me upstairs to the royal banquet hall!" Ellen thought about what Naomi said. It would certainly make it easier to drop a grudge and go on with life. She breathed easier as she climbed the stairs and felt ironically like she had begun to climb out of the 'dungeon' of grudge-bearing, and entered the 'banquet hall' of forgiveness. Aish.com
Mission Updates: Matthew 5:3 3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Greetings Saints in His Perfect Peace, Just received an email this evening that socks, hats, and gloves are on the way here. This family sent already sent 110 blankets already this year. They also did so last year. So judging from that these will be really warm things. The Bank employee's ( the Bank Ed works at ) have been shopping for the people. I saw many shoe boxes in Ed's car. They have a list Ed brings to Messiah's Branch. On the list they put three items, then Ed and Randi ( his wife ) go shopping. They get the people two out of three items. They have at least 70 or more people on this list. I know one man came in and just got custody of his daughters. He is getting gifts for them on the list. Many will be blessed this year again! Friday was fun we had Hanukkah candle lighting with a reading with it. Lots of praise and worship. We had some new people come and visit. It was really good having Willi, Bob, and Dennis our web master there along with us regulars....A not to them. THANKS FOR COMING FRIDAY! LOVE YOU. IT MAD OUR NIGHT SO MUCH BRIGHTER!..... Did you catch Sunday's live broadcast? We got off to a slow start as John Moore was on his phone..basically he forgot about the program... but it was fun we got him and we had a good program about Planet x and other weather conditions, volcano's etc. John is a store house of information Email him if you enjoyed the program or would like to hear him back on radio with me. The program is another must listen to. Now this program will air tomorrow at 6 PM central. It will be broadcast by the American Voice Radio Network. Then Spirit1 website http://spirit1.us on Friday night at 8 PM central. If you like us on their time slot let us know. The program will also be in our archives I would guess after the Tuesdays rebroadcast..You know I am praying the Lord will make a way for another live program to go live on the net on Thursday evenings about 6 PM or 7 PM central..I think 7 PM would be the best. I just feel I should be doing more radio. Radio is paid up now for five weeks. And no I have no idea whom will be on with me this week. Got any idea's or things you would like to hear me speak on or about? Let me know. Got a message? Email me...I am always looking for guests. Dreams & Visions? About Faith and storing up. Some people are being led to store up food and be ready while others say by faith alone. Storing is by Faith, we are supposed to prepare when we know a storms coming? You carry car insurance? Health insurance so why would one not prepare for a coming storm? Many have heard from the Lord to do so while others have not so what is the answer which is right? What is right is to have a personal relationship with the Lord Yeshua and Yahweh your Father, then by the Holy spirit you will be led in what to do..SO no one answer works for everyone. That's why we put people on with different points of view. Does not mean Pastor Dan agrees with it all... Well of all things I had an exhaust fan sent to me in a box from Canada. A Saint in Wichita who is rebuilding Mom's new kitchen just bought us a exhaust fan. The Lord does not waste I will have to pray and find why he wishes us to have two? We really need your help in two area's one we need to buy food for the mission. Meat is low and it's time to get some other needed food items....The other area I need trip expenses to Wichita for the rest of the month, gas, oil etc. It is a 120 mile round trip plus my Wichita running them here or there which can add another 40 miles easy as I am all over town.....Trip expenses are needed for Tuesday! Oh yes I need to raise $25 for a breaker to put in the exhaust fan and maybe another $40 or $50 for pipe, wire, etc.....we really need to get this fan in. Friday before Sabbath Service I dropped donuts off at the overflow shelter. They open this in December when the weather gets cold. We gave them Milk and donuts for the people! I am prayer we keep having extra. We still have people camped outside. Yes some stay out all year rather than go through some of the problems with these places I will not go into right now. Keep us in your prayers..... The FATHER bless thee and keep thee;The FATHER make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;The FATHER lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee shalom. (peace)Bemidbar (Numbers) 6:24-26 In Yeshua's Name, Bro. Dan, Pastor of Messiah's Branch
Shalom In Yeshua Our Messiah Friday was a little different this week because Kathy couldn't come to do sandwiches. I began the day by setting out chips and sauce Richard, John and Larry set out donuts, made coffee, tea and ice water. Pastor Dan ask Ted to help so we had Ted make the egg sandwiches. Ted comes on a regular basis he is not homeless just on a limited income. He also has a food handlers card so we picked him to cook the eggs while I made dinner. He made seven dozen egg-n- cheese sandwiches and they ate several dozen donuts.I was having a pretty stressful day after we received word on the way in that Kathy was not going to make it to do sandwiches. This was a special day for us and we were also celebrating Hanukkah after service ( so I had tons of things to get done) I wanted to make a special dinner all from scratch. I had started out with my menu of meatloaf smothered in brown gravy, latkes (potato pancakes), mac-n-cheese, peaches and hot rolls with butter. I watched the time fly by me as I hurried to get the first meatloaf in the oven. Well to start off with I noticed I had forgotten to get the brown gravy when I went after onions and peppers for our meatloaves's. Ted could tell that this upset me because there was no way I had time to make a second trip an he said " it's ok sisterlinda I'm sure it will be great they way it is.As I was mixing up the second batch of meatloaf my phone rang as I answered my phone I looked at the oven to see fire flaming up from the burner. I said ON NO I gota go there's a fire in the oven. Well it took me a few mins to wipe all the grease that had spilled over onto the burner and by then the Mission had begun to fill with smoke. We opened the back door, turned on the fan an out the smoke started to go. Ted said "it's ok sisterlinda everything will be just fine " I said "yes I know Yahweh is in Control". It was then I noticed that it was already ten mins after three and I hadn't even begun to shred the potatoes for the latkes. I told Ted well I guess the menu just changed again to boiled potatoes and he offered to cut up the potatoes so we could get them boiling and they'd be done by our 4:30 feed time. I got the pan of water for the macaroni on and that's about this time Kathy showed up so I ask her to do the mac-n- cheese.To make a long story short the dinner turned out to be very good we had meatloaf with nothing on top, boiled potatoes, mac-n cheese and hot rolls with butter. The Milk man came just in time for dinner with strawberry, chocolate and regular types of white milk. There was so much milk that we were able to take some to the over flow shelter along with several dozen fresh donuts. This is also a place for the homeless so the Milk -n- the donuts are still going to them amen.The water bill came in, with the new service charge it is 31.03 due on 12-27. The storage Electric is 47.43 due 1-4-05 and the others will be coming in this week. The food account is down to 54.00 we have 40 pounds of chicken and 10 pounds of hamburger in the freezer. I'd like to get 100 dollars worth of staples from New life the place we get food for 15 cents a pound. After our Hanukkah service we passed out gifts and my daughter gave me the very best gift of all. She made everyone a special paper in a specially designed envelope. I read mine aloud and all the women were crying I could barely get through the ending. Larry was also crying it is very touching and I wanted to type it in my update but I'm short on time so I will type it in tonight and send it out. Please pray about supporting these works all we ask you to is pray about it your needs are the peoples needs amen. more on the Mission next update
Time for a little humor: Thanks sisterwilli FORREST GUMP DIES The day finally arrived; Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven. He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself. However, the gates are closed and Forrest approaches the Gatekeeper. St. Peter says, "Well, Forrest, it's certainly good to see you. We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you,though, that the place is filling up fast, and we've been administering an entrance examination for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven." Forrest responds, "It shor is good to be here , St.Peter, sir! But nobody ever tolt me about any entrance exam. Shor hope the test ain't too hard; life was a big enough test as it was." St. Peter goes on, "Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions. First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T? Second: How many seconds are there in a year? Third: What is God's first name?" Forrest leaves to think the questions over. He returns the next day and sees St. Peter who waves him up and says, "Now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers." Forrest says, "Well, the first one -- which two days in the week begin with the letter "T"? Shucks, that one's easy. That'd be Today and Tomorrow. The Saint's eyes open wide and he exclaims, "Forrest, that's not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I didn't specify, so I'll give you credit for that answer. How about the next one?" asks St. Peter. "How many seconds in a year?" "Now that one's harder," says Forrest, "but I thunk and thunk about that and I guess the only answer can be twelve." Astounded, St. Peter says, "Twelve? Twelve!? Forrest, how in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?" Forrest says "Shucks, there's gotta be twelve: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd. . ." "Hold it, " interrupts St. Peter. "I see where you're going with this, and I see your point, though that wasn't quite what I had in mind.....but I'll have to give you credit for that one, too. Let's go on with the third and final question. Can you tell me God's first name"? "Sure" Forrest replied, "its Andy." "Andy" exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated Peter. "Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?" "Shucks, that was the easiest one of all," Forrest replied. "I learnt it, from the song. . .. "ANDY WALKS WITH ME, ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN. . . ." St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates and said: "Run Forrest, run ."
Shalom sisterlinda Mark 9:23,10:27
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