Prison Weekly July23rd,2005

Pinhas For the week of July 23, 2005 / 16 Tammuz 5765 Torah: Bemidbar / Numbers 25:10 - 30:1 Haftarah: 1 Melachim / 1 Kings 18:46 - 19:21 The Other Dimension "The LORD said [to Elijah], 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.'" (1 Melachim / 1 Kings 19:11) The other day I heard a radio interview with Lawrence Krauss, the author of "The Physics of Star Trek." Krauss was discussing the probability of certain concepts found in science fiction, such as worm holes, teleportation, and time travel. Krause doesn't believe that most of these could ever exist. When asked if he thought any common science fiction type concept was possible, he referred to only one: other dimensions. He thinks that it is possible there exists other dimensions beyond our commonly accepted four (he includes time along with height, width, and depth). If I understood him correctly, Krauss said that there just might be other dimensions in existence all around us. These other realms may be more vast than anything we are currently aware of, while at the same time taking up little to no space in our own realm. Is this not what the Torah teaches? Is there not at least one other realm of existence that co-exists alongside the physical realm in which we live? Does not that other realm from time to time break into our realm, whether it be through encounters with God, angels, or demons? Does not that other realm - the spiritual realm as we call it � regularly leave clues of its existence in our realm through so-called coincidences, healings, and other miraculous occurrences? I don't know what an accurate scientific analysis of the spiritual dimension or realm would be or even if such an analysis could ever be possible. Would we speak of parallel realms, other dimensions, or of a greater reality? I don't know. But what I do know - based on the testimony of the Scriptures, the witness of countless individuals throughout history and the current day, as well as my own experiences - is that there is more to life that what our five senses normally perceive. Once we accept the existence of the spiritual dimension (or whatever you want to call it), we need to decide what our relationship to that dimension should be. Some acknowledge it, but choose to ignore it, thinking it has no relevance to us or effect upon our lives. Others think that we are helpless against the spiritual realm and live in fear of it. Still others see the spiritual realm as a power resource. They try to use it to manipulate the physical realm to their advantage. Biblically, the spiritual realm is real, but no more real than the physical one. As human beings we are as much a part of one as the other. The tragedy of human history is that our relationship with the spiritual realm was broken, thus not only negatively affecting us spiritually, but also severely damaging our physical existence as well. Elijah was a prophet, highly sensitive to this other dimension. His prophecies, miracles, and even the way he lived, acted like a door to the spiritual realm. Yet there was a period when his awareness of that other realm grew very dim. Elijah confronted the evil of his day as no one else had. This climaxed in an encounter between himself and the priests of one of the false gods most of the Israelites of his day served. After making a mockery of the false god, Elijah called down fire from heaven, resulting in a most dramatic display of God's power. Yet it wasn't long afterwards that Elijah was running for his life. In his exhaustion and depression, he gave up all hope. He wanted to die. He had lost sight of the reality of the spiritual realm and its workings. The only reality to him at that moment were that of his circumstances, and they were crushing him. But God met him. God refreshed him. God spoke to him. Elijah regained perspective. And as Elijah opened his heart to the spiritual reality God provided, he was ready to face life and its challenges again. Elijah was someone who was usually aware of the spiritual dimension. It was as he lost sight of its reality, he could no longer cope. I may be correct to say that most of us live life completely unaware of this other dimension. God's vast resources of truth, grace, forgiveness, healing, and so on, are available to us if only we would stop and take notice. Sadly most of us think that we are getting along fine without the other dimension, but are we really? The good news is that the other dimension is not far from us at any time. Whenever we lose sight of it, like Elijah did, we too, like Elijah, can enter its reality again. TorahBytes

Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1) Family Parsha Pinchas 5765 Being tolerant doesn't mean tolerating destructive behavior. This week we learn about Pinchas, who saved the Jewish people from a very serious crisis by taking a stand, and unlike many others around him, refusing to look the other way and tolerate the destructive wrongdoing happening around him. When we take a stand for what is right, we improve the world and show we care. In our story, a kid faces the challenge of standing up for what is right. "TAKING THE HEAT"

"Wow! It sure is pretty out here!" exclaimed Judy, as she and Wendy hiked along the green woodland trail. "Of course it is. We're just usually too busy to notice!" replied her friend. The two of them were working real hard all week as junior counselors at Camp Northstar. Now they were enjoying their day off with a relaxing hike along some of the camp's beautiful trails. They had just sat down on a couple of big rocks and unpacked their picnic lunch when Judy began to sniff. "Hey, do you smell smoke?" Judy asked with alarm. Wendy shrugged. "Probably just some barbeque at one of the local trailer parks. Let's eat." "No," Judy insisted, "it really seems close. Hey, look over there!" Judy said, pointing to some smoke billowing up just over the ridge. Before Wendy could even answer, Judy had already jumped up and began running in its direction. Breathing hard, the girls arrived at the scene of a group of kids from the camp sitting and laughing around a campfire they had made. They looked up, surprised at the sudden arrival of the two counselors. "False alarm, let's get back to lunch," Wendy said with a relieved smile. But Judy wasn't relieved at all. "What do you mean 'false alarm'? You know as well as I do the camp safety rule that nobody's allowed to make any unsupervised fires." Judy turned toward the group of kids and ordered, "Put it out - right now!" But the campers balked. "Leave us alone. What's the big deal? We're being careful," they argued. Even Wendy seemed to be on their side. "Oh come on Judy, wouldn't you rather spend our day off relaxing than fighting with these kids? Let's just pretend we never saw it and let them have their fun - and us, ours." Judy didn't know what to do. Maybe Wendy was right. It would be easier to just turn their backs and be on their way, but then again it would be irresponsible. That safety rule hadn't been made for nothing. Fires could be dangerous - who knew what could happen? "No," she shook her head. "I'm sorry, fun or no fun, complaints or no complaints, it's wrong and dangerous to keep this fire going. If this fire doesn't go out and stay out, I'm going to report you all to the camp director." She determinedly walked up to the fire, picked up a big stick and began using it to shovel dirt onto it to put it out. Meanwhile the kids kept up their taunts, calling Judy mean and unfair, and asking why couldn't she be cool like Wendy, etc. For her part, Wendy just stood there glowering and shaking her head. "There goes our day off. Is it really so dangerous?" she whispered sharply. Judy tried to ignore them as she shoveled the dirt. The unkind comments hurt, but she was doing the right thing - wasn't she? The fire was just about out when Judy's stick hit something hard. She pushed away the dirt and what she saw made her nearly fall over. "Guys, Wendy, could you all please do me a favor and come take a look at something interesting." Despite their annoyance, out of curiosity they came near. COMPRESSED FUEL. HIGHLY FLAMABLE! KEEP AWAY FROM FIRE read the bright red warning label. It was the camp fuel tank that somehow got covered up by dirt and sand right where the kids had made their fire! Wendy looked in disbelief. "Wow, what a miracle. If this fire had keep going there is a good chance you all would have gotten blown to the moon." The kids nodded their heads in silence. All eyes turned to Judy. The girl they had all been putting down was suddenly the big hero, because she was willing to take the heat, and stand up for what was right. Aish.Com
Mission Updates: Greetings Saints in His Perfect Peace, I generally do not make a mission update so soon but there is very real need for prayer and we need help. This morning my son notice that the Chevy Suburban was leaking gas. I went out to check and sure enough that gas at $2.29 a gallon is leaking out on the ground. I cralled under it and looked. Most of the time work on the Sabbath is out, but this was a donkey in the whole issue. Anyway right under one of the bands that hold the gas tank on it's leaking! Now I just filled up yesterday before we left Wichita. I have no cash to buy another tank, nor any idea's on how to fix a rusted hole in the gas tank but it's there leaking. If I drive it to town this way ( if all the Gas is Gone by Tuesday, ) and I park it at the mission leaking, someone throws a cigarette down then it's boom! So Saints we need prayers and suggestions...we have no funds to buy another tank etc...... Okay about Murder. We lost one of our guys. His name is Mike. He never hurt anyone. Came to our place many times. Recently for Sabbath service and more than once. I heard last Tuesday as I left town that someone had died one of our people. No names were released but I knew when I got there Friday I would find out. I had some of the guys tell me it was Mike. Many took it very hard. I know I did. I heard it was a street gang preying on homeless they could catch along to rob them of what ever they could. I heard he was killed witha cane! A Shame the city the size of Wichita has no Walk in shelter a place of safety. Another man showed me his arm were children attacked him while he tried to sleep in the park with bricks. 3 AM in the morning. This is a Shame for the city of Wichita. I minsiter to these broken hearted people. People who are scared. So many that would work if they could find a jobe. But when you ahve to spend all day looking for a place to hide and be safe at night, well it's just not easy to find a job. Let alone find one when you cannot even clean up. Let alone not many Jobs in Wichita... Sure there is one shelter to go to, but you have to have religion forced on you and the rules are somewhat very bad there. Point is no one wants religion shoved down your throat! Also you cannot just walk in when you need as there are set hours to come in, a small window and not anywhere near downtown where most of the homeless are! I will not go on to all the reasons why people do not go there as I really do not wish to down another's ministry so I will leave that alone. I am a pastor to these broken hearted people and I need your help. The Minsitry is broke right now and right now is a major crisis among the people. They need me there to minister to them and I do not even know if I can get there. Mission bills are due...gas tank leaks, u-jopints are clnking...we need your prayers... My heart this day is broken and I am upset over this..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 from Wichita paper: Posted on Thu, Jul. 14, 2005
Downtown death a homicide, police say Police are investigating the death of a homeless man found in a downtown alley Tuesday as a homicide, Capt. Randy Landen said Thursday morning.Investigators believe the 49-year-old Wichita man was involved in a fight Sunday. Autopsy results show the man was struck with an unidentified object, Landen said.No one has been arrested.Investigators have been talking to other people in the homeless community who may have seen the fight or been involved, Landen said."We're just trying to piece together what happened over the last week or so," he said.Someone spotted the man's body in a "makeshift lean-to" in an alley behind 200 Commerce at about 2 p.m. Tuesday, Landen said.Police withheld the man's name pending notification of his family. He had two young children, Landen said.Brent D. Wistrom Wichita Paper: Posted on Tue, Jul. 19, 2005 Safe place Homeless need daytime shelter, support A homeless man was beaten to death in downtown Wichita last week. As recounted in an Eagle article on Monday, his lifeless body was found in an alley, near his makeshift shelter.The man's lonely existence on the streets, and his brutal death, give more urgency to calls for a community "safe place" where homeless people can go to find shelter and services, 24/7.The vivid photographs accompanying the article showed what Wichitans often overlook or refuse to see:Men sleeping under bridges. Or slumped on park tables.Human despair and suffering on our streets, close to home.As a moral community, Wichita has an obligation to help these people by providing a safe place for them during the day.That's been the longtime goal of a local coalition of homeless service providers, whose leaders would like to see a drop-in center where people could go with few strings attached.Advocates point out that the homeless need more than a roof over their heads at night; many suffer from mental or physical ailments or other problems that require counseling, medication and support services.The permanent full-service center is a good idea that, unfortunately, appears stalled.As city leaders and homeless advocates work out how to move forward on this long-term goal, they should explore more immediate, stopgap solutions.Some point to the many unused buildings downtown and ask: Why not fix up one of these and use it as a place where the homeless can go during the day?It's worth exploring, although the liability and code issues involved quickly shrink the number of suitable buildings.Another, perhaps more realistic short-term response would be to build on existing programs.A full-service daytime drop-in program at United Methodist Urban Ministry can hold 60 people but routinely sees about 100 coming and going on a given day, according to executive director Deann Smith."It's just not big enough," she told The Eagle editorial board.And because of a lack of funding, it's open only from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the day.So, as at other shelters, those needing help end up back on the streets during the day, often wandering aimlessly, finding temporary shelter at the public library or city parks.Of course, expanding this and other potential daytime "safe place" locations requires money.But the costs of inaction are higher, and include increased death and crime and fear on our streets.Wichita should be a safe place for all its citizens. No one who needs help should be left to fend for himself on our streets.What are city leaders going to do to address this problem?For the editorial board, Randy Scholfield

Psalms 82:3 - Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Shalom In Yeshua Our MessiahFriday was a busy day Kathy made eight and a half dozen sandwhiches and we served dozens of donunts with coffee, ice tea and ice water throughout the day. I made some goulash, green beans and potatoes, sliced cucumbers and bread-n- butter for dinner we had the same for our Sabbath meal.There was saddness Friday amoung the people because one of the guys who came often had been found murdered Tuesday afternoon. Many know what happened and are walking in fear that it could happen to them if they are caught out alone.There seems to be a gang that is rolling those alone and taking everything they have of value. Mike was a good person and he left behind two children he was hit in the head with a cane and left laying dead in the street. This is so very sad that this kind of thing goes on and still no shelter for those in need to turn to. Pray for those who are without a home and forced to live in the dangers of the street. The bills are coming in the phone bill is 127, storage electric 56.00 , water 38, internet 49.95 and the rest are not in yet. The newsletter for August will need to go out in the next few weeks it takes 200 to print and 111 to mail out. I need to send the over seas out this month the cost for that is 38 and the rent is 440. We also need help getting the gas leak in the ministry truck fixed and we will need gas for this week also. The food account recieved another 30 and then 150 so right now it has a little over 300 in it.I also need postage for the prison weekly.Thank you all who support these works all we ask is that you pray about weather your to help and just be lead by the Father to do His will. We love you all more on the Mission Next update: THE Truth will set you FREE Shalom sisterlinda Messiah's Branch Last Weeks Answer: Acts 11:19-30 ^{19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Find This Passage:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: 26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.}

The TRUTH will SET YOU FREE
Shalom sisterlinda, family & Messiah's Branch Mark9:23, 10:27