Prison Weekly April 1,2005

Shemini and Parah For the week of April 2, 2005 / 22 Adar II 5765 Torah: Vayikra / Leviticus 9:1 - 11:47 and Bemidbar / Numbers 19:1-22 Haftarah: Ezekiel 36:16-38 Why Does God Love Us? "'I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake,' declares the Sovereign LORD." (Ezekiel 36:32) This week's Haftarah (reading from the Prophets) includes some wonderful promises regarding the physical and spiritual restoration of the people of Israel. Even though Israel, God's people, misrepresented God and as a result experienced his harsh discipline, he determined to bring them back to their land and affect significant moral and spiritual changes in their lives as a nation. It was important for Israel to realize that God was doing this for his own sake, not theirs: "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the
sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone." (36:22) Passages like this one have given some people the impression that God only really cares about himself. What he does for us is only the byproduct of his self-seeking motives. I don't know if you will hear anyone say it just like that, but this is essentially what is often implied. Many people who claim to accept the Bible have a very low view of us humans. They like to quote passages that seem to refer to people as worms, dirt, or puffs of smoke. While those passages do exist, there are also those that refer to our being created in the image of God, our being God's children, and our having great value. There are also many passages that speak of God's great love for Israel as well as for the rest of the world. One way to reconcile these concepts is to say that God is rather fond of worms and dirt.
Not only that - he doesn't really care about us - the dirty worms that we are � he only really cares about himself and his desires. We are simply pawns that he manipulates in order to accomplish his master plan. That we get any benefit out of this should make us grateful, seeing that we deserve nothing but eternal suffering anyway. You may have guessed that I don't think that this is how we are to understand Ezekiel's words. This way of speaking is necessary when people begin to take God's love for granted. Because of the people's pride, it was necessary for God to adjust their perceptive. When we lose sight of our God-given place in the universe, thinking that we are what life is all about, forgetting that we were created to serve our Master and King as stewards over his creation, we set ourselves up for the kind of confrontation received by Israel in Ezekiel's day. At other times when
Israel was destitute and broken, God came with tender words of love and care. It is so important to read the Scriptures in context. It is true that we are but dust without God. He is our creator, sustainer, provider and savior. Yet separated from him we are completely lost � dead in fact. To abuse the precious gift of life he gives us is to become less then animals. Our self sufficiency and ingratitude draw out God's wrath. But as we walk with God in the way his children should, humbly relying on him in and for everything, we discover who we were intended to be: royal members of the divine family, objects worthy of his infinite love. TorahBytes

Shmini (Leviticus 9-11) Family Parsha Shmini 5765 The two sons of Aaron, the High Priest, had the best of intentions when they went into the Tabernacle and chose to make an offering to God that they thought would be good to offer even though God, through Moses, had asked them not to do so. Yet, despite their intentions, the consequences of their actions were quite negative. We can learn from here that even good intentions don't justify doing something improper.In our story a couple of kids find out that what seems like a good idea at the time sometimes isn't.

"PIPE DREAMS"

After a long, cold winter, spring had finally sprung and the world began to wake up. In the Kaplan household springtime meant gardening time and Joel and Jeremy, the Kaplan twins, excitedly dug out the hoes, spades, rakes and shovels from the corner of the garage where they had been hibernating all winter. They brought them to their father, who was standing by the fence with a ball of string and a measuring stick in his hand. "Thanks, boys," he said. "I'm going to drive to the plant store to pick up the vegetable flats for us to plant. While I'm gone, you guys can start digging."Joel and Jeremy each grabbed a spade and enthusiastically started to swing them. "Whoa, not so fast guys," laughed their dad. "I didn't tell you where to dig yet. Now look carefully. I marked out with string on the ground exactly where we need to put the garden. You can dig anywhere within
the stringed-in area, but it's very important not to dig anywhere else. You got it, guys? Dig only within the string, okay?"The boys nodded impatiently, and before their father had even left the driveway they were already hard at work.The digging went quickly as both Joel and Jeremy were big, athletic kids and were really getting into the fun and good workout of smashing the hard steel spades into the soft ground and watching the dirt fly all over the place. Soon enough they got to the end of the stringed in area, put down their spades and had a cool drink from their water bottles."That was easy, huh?" said Jeremy."Yeah, I hardly even broke a sweat," Joel agreed. "Me neither. Hey, you know what I'm thinking?"As twins, they actually did usually know what the other was thinking. "Yeah, let's give Dad a surprise and make him an extra big garden this year.""I know Dad said only to dig
up until here, but I bet he said that just because he didn't want us to work too hard. He'll be thrilled when he sees that we were able to do even more. What do you say?""I say let's dig!"The boys began swinging their spades even faster than before, and with all the noise and flying dirt, they didn't notice that their spades were starting to make a funny clinking sound as they dug into the ground. But after Jeremy took one of his mighty swings, the twins got a big surprise as a big gush of water started shooting out of the ground like a fountain."Hey, maybe we struck oil," Joel said excitedly.Then they took a better look. "This isn't oil - it's water! But where did it come from?"Their answer was not long in coming. "Oh no! What happened here?" Mr. Kaplan yelled as he ran out of his car. In all the commotion, the boys hadn't even noticed he had returned."Um, Dad, we don't know. We were
just digging like you said, and...""Like I said? I told you to stay within the string and you must be ten feet outside of it! Do you realize what you did? This water is coming from the very expensive underground sprinkler system I put in last year that is now smashed to pieces! It's not going to be cheap to fix, and it's coming out of your allowances.""But Dad, that's not fair!" protested Joel. "I'm sorry it broke, but we didn't break it on purpose.""Yeah," added Jeremy. "We wanted to give you a surprise by making the garden bigger."Mr. Kaplan turned off the water main, and with the geyser no longer gushing, everyone began to calm down."Listen, boys. I know you didn't break it purposely, and I also realize that you were trying to do me a favor...""So that means we don't have to pay?" asked Jeremy."No, you still have to pay for the damage.""But why? You just said...""I know what I
said," Mr. Kaplan said in a calm voice, "but I also said to you very clearly before exactly where to dig and where not to, just to prevent what happened from happening. Your intentions were good, but you still chose not to honor what I clearly asked you not to do, and you have to face the consequences of that choice. You can pay it off a little at a time, but you have to pay it off. Do you understand, boys?"The twins looked at each other. What could they say? Their dad was right. "Okay Dad, we understand," Jeremy said. "I guess it's only a favor to do what someone asks you to do, and not what they ask you not to do.""Yeah," added Joel with a smile, "or else you can end up all wet." Aish.com

 Mission Updates:Greetings Saints in His Perfect Peace, Yes here is mom's weekly update. We have had a good last couple of months but now we really need your help to get the Bills Paid. Please read below and pray about anykind of donation. This is a critical time. Remember we also have to pay high gas prices twice a week for the trips to Wichita. On those days I put anywhere from 150 miles to over 200 on the ministry vehicle. Also we need radio airtime support. May say they are blessed by the programs so those that are blessed I pray you will think about supporting airtime! This is a ministry of Faith. The Lord gives us what we need when we need it. Right now we need your help. The out reach we do is supported by two sources mainly. You Saints on the net and those reading our mail out
newsletter. The Bills are due now so I pray thank you Saints will send any kind of donation to help. Do not tire of well doing. Some I have not heard from in a few months, others I notice are new to our ministry lists but I have never heard anything out of. We also need more large print KJV Bibles...these we buy in Wichita with leather flex covers at Sam's for roughly $10 a Bible. So thanks in advance I know the Lord will put it on some of your hearts to help with this as the need is great!!! And no gift is too small.......................... You can donate on-line or by snail mail! Now mom's weekly update! Shalom In Yeshua our Messiah Kathy made seven dozen
egg sandwiches Friday as I ran errands gathering the last of what I needed for the Passover Seder. They served several dozen donuts with several different types of quart size fruit drinks,coffee, ice tea and ice water.We had a wonderful Passover Seder that we had several first timers who had never been to Seder before. Sarina and I did a couple dances to which surprised many because we have only had two dance classes in which to learn the steps. The Passover Seder was a huge sucess we all had a great fellowship of praise and worship following.Sisterwilli has found us some beautiful blue curtains for the Mission and we had someone donate enough hooks to hang them but we have no rods. If anyone has any long rods for storefront size windows please consider donating them so we can get the curtains hung.The bills are in the gas is 51.27 due 4-6 ,the electric is 50.03 due 4-6,cell is 97. ??
due 3-31, internet is 19.95 due 4-10, storage electric and water not in yet. We will take the newletter to print Friday and it will go out Friday evening that money is already in. We need your support to pay these bills the rent is 440 due 4-1- however we pay 375 of that out of Pastor Dan's disability. Food accunt will be busted the first of the week I will be buying 30 dozen eggs and 300 pounds of canned soups @ 15 cents a pound for food boxes. I need to get this built up a little so that I can purchase meat when it is on sale. right now I have 30 pounds of chicken, 10 pounds of ground beef and 11 pounds of ground round in the freezer. I would like to have a balance of 200 in the food account at all times. Right now before I buy the eggs tomorrow and the soups Tuesday or Friday the balance in the Food account is 212.92. We need gas support as always the price went up to 2.19 a gal
Friday. We just ask that you pray about supporting these Works of our Father an to Help the poor just be lead by Yahweh for we have Faith that He will Supply these needs as He always has you just may be one of the vessels He chooses to use. Don't forget to listen to the Radio programs and pray about supporting them as well all that info can be found on our web site at messiahsbranch.org You can also donate to MBFA (Messiah's Branch Food Account)on the site just click the donate to food link Thank you all who support these many works Shalom I'll have more on the Mission next update: Shalom sisterlindaMark 9:23,10:27 Remember please pray about being a monthly supporter and we need your help now! The LORD bless thee and keep thee;The LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;The LORD 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

Last weeks Answer:2 Samuel 1:1-16 - KJV ^{1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; 2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 5 And David said unto the young man
that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. 8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. 10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. 11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 12 And they
mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? 15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. 16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.}

Find This Passage: Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah. Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with
thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat. Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it! Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Shalom sisterlinda family & Messiah's Branch Mark 9:23,10,27