Life of the Messiah Notes- The Sermon on the Mount

... or as Dr. Fruchtenbaum puts it: Messiah's authority to interpret the Law.

The Mount of Olives

This is an interesting look at this passage as most of us look at it as a kind of rule book, and in a way it is, but this sermon was spoken under the Old Covenant and for a different reason than many of us usually think.

What I find very interesting and what really makes a lot of sense is that as the series goes on, we will see a distinct division in the things Jesus said and did before the official rejection of the Jewish leaders and then afterward.

The Sermon on the Mount is given early in Messiah's earthly ministry when he was offering the kingdom (the actual physical earthly kingdom) to the nation of Israel.

You can listen or download this teaching here.

The entire series is found here.

Clouds XV

These are not new, these pictures were taken back in June of 2009:

I haven't seen any more of this kind in a long time.  They are called asperatus clouds. Kingdom Studies compiled a few really awesome examples of these on his blog, too.

Romans Study XXXI - Politics and Religion

Romans 13

 Here is the much debated passage about whether or not to overthrow the new world order...or rather what our responsibilities as subjects of a government are.

  ¹Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 

Well, that does say that the powers that be are ordained of God. BUT, what about a tyrannical government. What about Hitler, Stalin, Saddam Hussein? ...What we are 'specting here shortly. 

 

source

I don't know. 

 

The Mr. and I have had some discussions about this and I just really don't know how to feel about patriotism, militias, war civil or otherwise. God certainly isn't anti-war, being as David a man after his own heart was always involved in wars.

Also our own country was kind of founded on a type of disobedience to the Motherland, so it seems that's how we even got here. 

Taking a lesson from the history of Israel, they were more than once given over to bad leaders due to their disobedience and sin.

Could that be what is happening in all the bad regimes here and around the world?

I will try to stay away from anything political here since I really don't know what I am talking about, but I think:

1. All this geo-political stuff is not always as black and white as it seems.

2. No political party has all the answers.

3. Most importantly, God is Sovereign over all nations. 

 ²Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Again, it is argued that legal, godly governments is what is meant here, not tyrannical systems. So I have heard it reasoned from this that we are not under obligation to obey unjust governments.

And the word damnation, doesn't always mean eternal damnation. Here the word is krima, which Strong's translates as:

1) a decree, judgments

2) judgment

a) condemnation of wrong, the decision (whether severe or mild) which one passes on the faults of others

b) in a forensic sense

1) the sentence of a judge

2) the punishment with which one is sentenced

3) condemnatory sentence, penal judgment, sentence

3) a matter to be judicially decided, a lawsuit, a case in court

 ³For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

Okay here is something, rulers are not a terror to good works. In a righteous government, they wouldn't be.

 ⁴For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

 Perhaps here is another clue. He is the minister of God to thee for good. Paul seems to be warning believers to obey their government and to not do evil since a God-ordained government has the right to punish.

The Great Hair Care Experiment

In the spirit of getting out as many chemicals and unrecognizable ingredients as possible out of my life, I decided to do the whole baking soda hair cleaning thing in October of 2009.

I know many of you are already hip to this, but for those who aren't I use the instructions given here.

She gives the reasons we don't really need shampoo and what to expect when making the change.

Now that I'm a veteran at this and don't plan on going back, I thought I'd put some of my own notes and observations here.

The PROS:

• This is incredibly inexpensive. 
• It really does clean your hair.
• Knowing you can eat what you're putting on your head in somewhat soothing to me.
• I had terrible itchy scalp problems before starting this and it has improved greatly.

The CONS:

• Sometimes it can be a pain to mix up the solution, especially if you're already in the shower and have forgotten. I keep 2 or 3 bottles mixed and ready to go. I recently also did the calculations and filled a gallon jug to keep on hand to refill those bottles.  
• There won't be any delightful scent (unless you add your own) or bubbles like on the shampoo commercials.
• It does take some getting used to and there is an adjustment period in which many throw in the towel.

I have recently been adding two to five drops of Castor oil per bottle to the mix and it has really softened my hair and made it much easier to comb out. A little goes a looooong way with the Castor oil: too much and you'll look like that guy from Sha-Na-Na.

I also have pretty dry hair and do kinda miss conditioner, but not willing to cave in, I use a very small amount of coconut oil and work it through my ends when my hair is still damp.


For the apple cider vinegar rinse, I was using the cheap store brand, but recently my Kroger has had Bragg's on sale at an unbelievable price, so I'm splurging on that for the time being.

Is the family on board you ask?

My oldest DD is set in her ways and until TEOTWAWKI happens, I've been getting her some organic hippie shampoo from the HFS. It's a pick your battle thing, and I don't wish to pick this one.

The Mr. is curious, but not convinced. He switches back and forth between his shampoo and some groovy olive oil soap that I recently found. 

My boys all have very short hair and for the most part use plain ol' soap and water.

My littlest lady has been part of this all along, and her hair is just beautiful. :)


Anybody else out there doing this?

Saturday Doom and Other Things

Truthergirl Sonia discusses the ongoing nuclear mess in Japan:

For more on what this may mean for us, check out novusanima's post here on
Last Days Resource for Prophetic Disciples blog.

And now for something a little brighter, hop on over to Happiness is brilliant.  Mrs. Jennifer's story about her quest to save celebrity souls. Her writing is always so engaging:)


Cathy M. at So Much to Say So Little Time talks about her generation.  My parents are baby boomers, I'm Gen X, so we just blame everything on them.

Petra of Penned Pebbles and her husband collaborated at putting this poem to music. Good Stuff!




Figuring Out Food is a great food blog I stumbled upon a couple of months ago. I loved this post that Despi Ross wrote as today is shopping day and I have to admit I like to peek in other people's carts.


And last but certainly not least, my good friend Susan of Susan's Flutterbys  has just this week joined the wonderful world of blogging. She will no doubt be giving me much to think about:) Today's post about Sheep and Goats is very good and has some really interesting links about sheep, goats, and shepherds. It should really make us stop and think about the Good Shepherd.