If you are like me then you too had a smattering of various preachers in your life who taught you from the pulpit about the mercy of God; the crucifixion of His only son born of the virgin Mary; and, how His death frees us from the bondage of sin; and, offers all mankind eternal life. We both have something in common; the very text of the Bible itself. No matter what flavor of "Christianity" you may; or, may not belong to we all have the text of the TaNaK; and, the New Testament in common. My plea is that you read it; and, study it cover to cover with all your heart; mind; soul; and, strength given to you by the creator.
To be clear (when I was a youth) my parents (Robert and B.J. who adopted me when I was just under two years of age) church hopped until they found a congregation which was both close to our residence; and, acceptable to them. When I was in pre-school I recall attending a local Jewish congregation (B'nai Israel) which was just down the street even though my parents weren't Jewish. It just so happens to also be the oldest Jewish synagogue in the city.
At the time I didn't really know anything about Judaism; however, the pre-school was very close to our home; the congregation had a pool; and, my parents were both in education so they felt it was a good fit for pre-school; and, apparently for keeping cool in the summer Oklahoma heat. I even recall learning to play the dreidel game one year before Hanukkah as a young child.
As my sister Keri; and, I grew up the synagogue's pool became a place of refuge in the hot Oklahoma summers. It is also where I had my first brush with death. I had gotten stuck between the wall of the pool; and, the ladder I was playing on. I managed to free myself; but, the pain in my lungs was awful; and, I shudder to think what would have happened if I had been unable to hold my breath for the minute or two it took to free myself. I would have died in my ignorance; in my sin had I taken that killing breath drawing water into my lungs; and, drowning that day.
There were no police; no firefighters; no ambulance; just the narrow escape; and, the terrible reminder; the idea in my mind that death HAD to be painful. It HAD to HURT. I couldn't fathom anything else because my experience up to that point told me that the process of being unable to breath; the inability to draw breath was both terrifying; and, painful.
Death must be constant pain (in my mind); and, was something to be feared. That day made a powerful impression at least within my mind that would play a part again the day Jack (my adopted grandfather) passed away. It would weigh most heavily upon my mind as I stared at him alone at his wake (viewing).
My family also attended briefly a Baptist Congregation; a Church of God; and, occasionally we would visit my grandparents home congregation (St. Luke's) a Methodist church. My parent chose an Episcopalian congregation that was near our home; literally just a mile from our residence. There I participated in choir practice on Wednesday nights; and, sang in the choir on Sunday mornings. The choirmaster John Wright was a man with a passion for music; and, the piano. He was also the organ master playing an elaborate musical orchestra each Sunday morning for three services. There I was one of the three Kings during the Christmas pageant for several years in a row.
(All Souls Episcopal Church on 63rd and Penn in Oklahoma City).
PUT PHOTOS HERE
My adopted grandparents Jack and Imogene attended a Methodist congregation downtown where I too would attend when I lived with my grandmother (Imogene Thomas) for several years. It was there at St. Luke's Episcopal Church that I met Scott Smith; a youth minister who was a wonderful man; and, was probably among the greatest role models I had as a youth. If you are reading this I love you Scott; you were among the KINDEST to me growing up. You couldn't possibly have known; or, understood what I was really dealing with because I never said anything about it. There was just too much shame within myself. I would follow Scott to another congregation in Oklahoma City (Church of the Servant) where he also worked as youth minister.
On Wednesday nights (when I was in high-school) I used to drive to the North-West side of the city to participate in Bible study at Pam Germany's house with another man whom we affectionately called Uncle Hurst. He was a lawyer; but, he loved the kids. The kids from Putnam City West (A public school in North OKC) were mostly in attendance; but, we all attended Church of the Servant where Scott had transferred to after leaving St. Luke's Methodist Church in downtown Oklahoma City.
All my life I was taught/told that Jesus came to "do away with the Law;" that His death upon the cross set it aside; extinguished it; and, that we aren't obligated to obey it; but, that Jews are obligated to obey it. All my life regardless of what church I darkened I heard the same message. That Jesus came to free us from the bondage of the law.
It wasn't until I personally began to read the words of the Bible for myself as I read it cover to cover that I would begin to realize I had been lied to. That I had been sold a bill of goods all my life; and, that the men we often trust the most to lead us to the truth are sometimes themselves the very shepherds that the creator is angry with. Many have been trained to be deceivers by others who themselves were trained the same way.
When we read the Written Torah (Genesis-Deuteronomy); and, the rest of the TaNaK (The Hebrew Old Testament) contained within the pages of our Bibles it tells a different story about the Written Torah the "LAW;" and, of GRACE that you haven't really seen; or, understood because unfortunately as the New Testament informs us in 2 Peter 2:
"But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and, bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways; because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed."
HAVE YOU EVER STUDIED OUT
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT
"THE WAY OF TRUTH?"
IF YOU HAVEN'T YOU SHOULD...JUST DO IT.
KEEP READING IN YOUR BIBLES IN 2 PETER CHAP. 2
"By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; [ANOTHER WAY TO SAY THEY LIE TO YOU] for a long time their judgment has not been idle; and, their destruction does not slumber. For if God did not spare the angels who sinned; but, cast them down to hell; and, delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved for judgments; and, did not spare the ancient world; but, saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness ..." 2 PETER 2
[SEE PSALM 119:172]
"My tongue shall speak of your word,
for all your commandments are righteousness."
CONTINUE READING IN 2 PETER CHAP. 2
...bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and, turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an EXAMPLE ...
[OF WHAT HE WILL DO]
...to those who afterward would live ungodly; and, delivered righteous Lot who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing; and, hearing their lawless deeds)--
the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation; and, to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment; and, especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness; and, despise authority, they are presumptuous, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels who are greater in power; and, might do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord!
Friend the reason what I am saying is so important is this.
WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO BEHAVE AS THE LAWLESS BEHAVE BY SHEPHERDS WHO THEMSELVES DID NOT KNOW MESSIAH; NOR, HIS HIDDEN IDENTITY. YOU CANNOT GIVE ANOTHER PERSON SOMETHING YOU DO NOT POSSESS; AND, BECAUSE THEY POSSESS NOT THE TRUTH NEITHER THEY CANNOT OFFER IT TO YOU.
ARE YOU WILLING TO GAMBLE YOUR SOUL? DON'T BELIEVE WHAT I AM TELLING YOU. CHECK IT OUT FOR YOUR-SELF. TEST WHAT I HAVE PUT FORTH.
I humbly offer you this study on Grace vs. The Law; and, hope that with it in concert with the other studies placed here at this blog you will be able to see Him in the Torah just as He declared to us in the Gospel when He asserted that Moses Himself wrote of Messiah.
Do you know where? Can you show others? If not by the time you finish my study "My Yoke Is Easy My Burden is Light" (A 3-part study) you will know that He is truly the author; and, finisher of your faith. Look for it; I'm adding it very soon.
If for some reason you cannot view the PDF document I have posted below please feel free to right-click; and, save the document for yourself. DOWNLOAD HERE.
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