Romans 1:18-23

1:18 For the wrath of hwhy is revealed from heaven against all uvr resha’ -ungodliness and ur raa -wickedness of ^Lmen who by ^Ltheir ur raa wickedness suppress the tma emet  truth. ¹⁹For what can be known about hwhy is plain to ^Lthem, because hwhy has shown it to ^Lthem. ²⁰Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So ^Lthey are without excuse; ²¹for although ^Lthey knew hwhy ^Lthey did not honor him as Elohim or give thanks to him, but they became futile in ^Ltheir thinking and ^Ltheir senseless minds were darkened. ²²Claiming to be wise, ^Lthey became fools, ²³and exchanged the glory of the immortal hwhy for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles.

Most of us know that YHVH (God) loves us so deeply that he gave his only begotten Son as a sacrifice to buy our freedom from the slavery of sin. I wonder if you might also know what YHVH hates.

In my Romans study (1:18-23), I learn that YHVH hates those who suppress truth. YHVH is truth (emet). Y'shua (Jesus), Ben YHVH, the only Son of God,  is truth in the flesh.

 How do mere men suppress truth? It starts with a very simple attitude of un-thankfulness to YHVH. Suppression of truth begins with not being thankful. That is all it takes to start your journey to life as a fool.

Everyone has an idea of what a fool is. We may sometimes feel "foolish" but we do not want to be fools. But what is a fool? A fool is not a stupid person but simply a person who says in their heart, "There is no God" (Psalms 14:1 and 53:1). Without acknowledgement of your loving creator, your thought life becomes dark, senseless, futile. A fool tends to believe that they know the path of wisdom, but wisdom begins with "the fear of YHVH" (Proverbs 1:7), they discover the end of their path is folly. Is there hope?

Thankfulness. In EVERYTHING give thanks (Ephesians 5:20) Thanksgiving is an action that recognizes YHVH's work in your life. Without a thankful heart there is a temptation to believe that enough money, youth, good looks, balance or whatever else seems valuable to you at this stage of your life is the key to success. Thanksgiving is the trail marker on the path of life. I plan to carve out time to be thankful on purpose. What about you?

Not ashamed

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the Besorah: it is the power of hwhy for salvation to -everyone who has /ma a’men, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷For in it the righteousness of hwhy is revealed through /ma a’men for /ma a’men; as it is written,

"He who through /ma a’men is righteous shall live." (Habakkuk 2:4)

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (Letter to the Romans, 1:16-17)

Par ici et par la photograph 

Why would Paul even bring up "not being ashamed"? Apparently there was an attitude in the age following the Hasmoneans (Maccabees) to do public mitzvoth (works of Torah/Law). To be pious in the eyes of your community was a matter of pride and diligent work. To not make an effort to do the "things" that proclaim we are righteous seems to open a person up to scorn. 

To "rest" in what Y'shua (Jesus) did for you is a game changer in the religious world. My focus changes to pleasing YHVH instead of "minding my public witness" FREEDOM. Why am I not ashamed of the Besorah (Gospel)? Because my devotion is to Abba (my heavenly father) who sees in secret. And what does he see when he looks my way? The covenant blood of Y'shua, my Salvation, who set me free from the burden of sin and the need to prove I am who I say I am. He proved it, I rest in it.

Note: learning the heritage of Abraham the Hebrew, I use the phrases I am learning instead of the Greek-English when I can. Please do not be frustrated, ask questions if you have them. Deb

Originally posted on FaceBook by Mrs. Hagerty, January 16, 2014

Tomato Tasting 2013 "Stupice"

The 1st tomato tasting for 2013, even though the first tomato of 2013 was the cherry tomato, Gold Nugget. Stupice is a new tomato for me. Nearly every other Pacific North West (or North Wet as we like to call it) tomato grower I know already grows Stupice, but I stubbornly stuck to her sister Siltz, which is still one of my favorites. Normally tomato season in the PNW does not start until late July but in this exceptional year, I picked my first vine ripe Stupice on June 30th. That is probably earlier then I will get ripe tomatoes in the coming years. Gold Nugget's first was on June 15th. In normal PNW years the first Gold Nugget does not get ripe until the last weed of July.

Catalogue Description

60-65 days. This cold-tolerant tomato ripens sweet, red, slightly oval, 2 inch fruit that make an excellent choice for first-of-the-summer salads, lunch boxes, and juicing. Stupice consistently gets high marks for taste throughout the summer. Pumps out fruit over the entire season. Bred in the former Czechoslovakia. Indeterminate potato leaf variety.

Territorial Seed Company

Score Card:

Eye Appeal

• At A Glance: Poor little Stupice does not look like much. The apricot I was snacking on was larger then the tomato I was scoring.
• Size: Bigger then a cherry tomato but too small to call a slicer. Stupice is often described as "golf ball size" but since I do not golf, I have to say that they are about the size of an apricot.
• Shape: Globe
• Color: Deep orange-red to bright red.
• Inside: Surprisingly meaty for such a small tomato.

Taste:

• Texture: Silky. The skin looked tough but seemed to be tender in my mouth.
• Fresh off the vine: Stupice is just slightly on the acid side, but just slightly. I might call the flavor, "bright"
• Sliced and salted: Salt brings out just a hint of classic tomato flavor, slightly sweeter then the unsalted taste.
• Cooking thoughts: Already this year (2013) I have been chopping (quartering really, it is very small) Stupice and adding it to guacamole with Gold Nugget cherry tomatoes. Stupice is not too "wet" for guacamole, even though I don't scoop out the gel (a tedious job due to the small size). The bright flavor leads me to think that I can toss ripe Stupice tomatoes into zipper bags to freeze whole and add frozen to sauce and soup in winter. Gold Nugget and Stupice are abundent this year. I think they will be good raw with cold angel hair pasta, fresh mozzarella, basil and an olive oil and balsamic dressing.

Will Deb grow this one again? Yes. I need to find out how Stupice preforms in a "normal" PNW summer.

The Song of the Sea; Sh'mot (Exodus) 15: 1-19

Impossible!   In order to move forward, Israel would have to swim across a sea. To turn back they would need to pass through an army of soldiers filled with blood lust.

Isra'el did what many of us do when it seems there is no hope. They called upon YHVH (the LORD) then turned around and blamed Moshe/Moses for their trouble. (Sh'mot/Exodus 14: 10-11) The swords they carried out of Egypt (Sh'mot 13:18) gave them no sense of power. But YHVH had an unexpected plan for their salvation.

Moshe and Isra'el crossed the sea on a path of dry land. It is said that this was their baptism. The Hebrews emerged on the other side as a new man. Those who would force them to be slaves, mired daily in clay for bricks, were now mired in the wet sea bed. The very Egyptians who had also forced them to drown their first born, drowned in the sea. The children of Isra'el and the "mixed multitude" emerged from the path through the water as one new man. Halelujah!

If therefore the Son Should free you, truly you will be free men.Yochanan 8: 36 (25)

Moshe and the people of Isra'el sang a new song, the Song of the Sea. Reading through it I am filled with praise. Listen to what is said of YHVH our Elohim / The LORD our God.

YHVH is:
Highly exalted... (1)

...my strength and my song..
..my salvation (my y'shua)..
..my Elohim/God: I will glorify him
my father's Elohim: I will exalt him (2)

...a warrior (3)

His right hand (where Y'shua/Jesus sits) is sublimely powerful
...it shatters the foe. (6)

His great majesty brings down His enemies
His wrath consumes them like stubble. (7)

A blast from his nostrils and the waters piled up -- they stood up like a wall (8)

Another blast and the enemy was covered by the sea, they sank like lead in the mighty waters. (10)

...sublime in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders.. (11)

In love, You led the people You redeemed;
in strength, You guided them to your holy abode. (13)

...by the might of your arm (the enemy) is still as stone until You people pass over...
...till the people you purchased pass over (16)

You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain which is your heritage, the place that you made YOUR abode, the sanctuary which your hands established. (17)

YHVH will reign forever and ever. (18)

Sing to YHVH, for He is Highly exalted!
The horse and its rider he threw in the sea! (21)

Deb.... who cannot get that song out of my head.
"I will sing unto the LORD for He has triumphed gloriously, the horse and rider thrown into the sea
The LORD liveth, and blessed be my rock and let the God of my Salvation be exalted... "

Hard years make an easy Thanksgiving.

Some beach on Whidbey Island

The Christmas after Ray's mother died was difficult. Jewel was the definition of Christmas for my husband. We slogged through it because that is what we were supposed to but it was horrible. Her death came back fresh and sharp for all of us that year. Christmas stopped that year.

Today is Thanksgiving 2012. It is still dark, my day has not started yet. Before the last pie goes into the oven or the bird starts the long slow roast, before the football games or another NCIS marathon pulls me in, I have a moment to give my thanks to YHVH for that difficult year.

It strikes me as odd that a day has been set aside for giving thanks to God for bringing us through another year just to dash out the door to get more stuff. We will eat a sumptuous meal as a prelude to shopping. "Thanks for what we got, now help me to get more... amen" The best thing about not doing Christmas is not shopping. It isn't that shopping is horrible, but finding a parking space is nasty, worrying about break-ins are fretful, feeling guilt for spending too much, only to have that guilt turn around on Christmas when you realize that you did not spend enough or that your gift is too low rent to compare to the beautiful stuff someone else bought you is embarrassing. I like the lights, I like the Christmas morning feeling, I love that my family will still include me on Christmas (I am hard to get along with). But I do not really like Christmas.

The second year after Jewel's passing, Ray made a menorah It was high time for a new tradition. We ate a lot of Jelly Doughnuts from Tim's and read about the Light of the World. We walked, we still ate a standing rib roast (there are some traditions that must be kept), cookies and clam dip. We talked a little bit about Jewel, about my parents, our sisters and brothers and were thankful for each of them. We talked to God about our sons.... the Gather's were right, uncertain days can be faced because Y'shua/Jesus lives.

Today we will eat a turkey. We will pray for our families. We will love our son's, we will remember Leah and Tyler who were a precious part of our family for a couple of years, we will pray for them and their new family. It will probably be a quiet day. We will try to remember the people in New Jersey and New York whose Thanksgiving may feel like there is less to be thankful for. We will be praying for Ray's brother Rich, across the country from us, spending his first Thanksgiving without his beautiful Kimberly who died too young. And if we are very lucky, we will get out for a walk while Ray can still walk and breath in the beauty of the natural world around us. Just maybe we will pack a left-overs picnic tomorrow and take a trip to Coopville or Leavenworth to shop for books and doo-dahs just because we still love to give.

This whole-lotta blah-blah-blah is the result of reading Ben Hewitt's Post. Not For Sale by Ben Hewitt

Mark 1: 21-28

I've heard tell that every great journey begins with a single step. So begins this journey of faith. One step. One normal trip to synagogue on Sabbath. Something these fishermen have probably done for most of their lives. Sabbath is for Synagogue.

And they went into Caper'na-um; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.  And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. Mark 1:21-22

Where does your journey of faith begin? Will any church or synagogue do? What kind of person do you want discipling you?

RT France tells me that saying a person is a Scribe is comparable to saying they are well educated. Power, or authority in this instance, does not come from education. It is only a tool. It is the difference between reading everything you can about Senegal and going to that African nation. I am sure that is a poor comparison to the difference between how Y'shua/Jesus taught and how the scribes taught. The difference was immediately noticeable. Those who heard Y'shua in synagogue that morning were "astonished."

"they were astonished" NT:1605.  Ekplêssœ, ekplêtt,; future. Explêx , 2nd aorist passive. Exeplág  from ek (1537), an intensive, and plêss  (4141), to strike. To strike out, force out by a blow, but found only in the sense of knocking one out of his senses or self-possession, to strike with astonishment, terror, admiration. In the NT only in the pass., to be struck with astonishment, admiration, to be amazed…. Followed by epí (1909), upon, with the dative.
 (from The Complete Word Study Bible and The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1994, 2002 AMG International, Inc.)

Y'shua sure gave them something to talk about. First they listened. He spoke to them in a way that no educated person had ever been able to speak. I can imagine that the same Torah portions they had been learning for as long as they could remember suddenly came alive! The Word was not just something to learn and try to conform to, it must have been exciting. They were knocked out of their normal into the realm of wow!

Astonishment is not faith, even among those of us on a faith journey. We are no different then the educated scribe until we take a firm stand on the word. That morning in Synagogue the hearers would be given an opportunity to take a stand.

And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit;  and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God."  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"  And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. Mark 1:23-26

Everyone has some kind of a reaction to the astonishing teaching of Y'shua. The "man with an unclean spirit," did as well. He (or the spirit) seems to attempt to control things with an arrogant fear.

Name it and claim it. Sometimes I listen to "Christians" go to war with the powers of darkness. I often wonder why we insist on taking our directions from the enemy play book instead of following Y'shua's example. In the same way that many so called exorcists try to get an advantage over some "demon of lust" or other dark spirit, by naming the demon or his job, so this unclean spirit attempts to take the advantage in the synagogue. He names both Y'shua the Netzer and proclaims his position, The Holy One of God. I find those statements more powerful then the question, "Have you come to destroy us?"

There was drama, which we have come to expect in an epic battle of good and evil. But the drama was not from Y'shua. Only the demon put on a show. When it comes right down to it, a show is all the powers of darkness have left on this side of the cross. That does not speak well for us who fear them. The creatures of nightmares have no power in the light. I love the message of Ezekiel 28: 13-19 where the kings of the earth finally see Lucifer and are amazed that this is what they were so afraid of.

Y'shua offers no special prayer or incantation  he does not cast a spell, preform a ritual or hold any powerful charm or prop. He does not call on the memory of some powerful past holy person (Apparently King Solomon was a popular person for exorcists to call on while preforming their rituals.) You can read about this practice in Acts 19: 11-20. Mark tells us that Y'shua did one thing. He quietly rebuked the unclean spirit to silence and ordered him out of the man. You would not be wrong to quote Y'shua as saying, "Shut up and get out." That was it. With one last display of temper-tantrum drama, the unclean spirit was gone. The room was brought to a whole new level of astonishment.

And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."  And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.    Mark 1:27-28 RSV

That must have been quite a show. Y'shua was not there to preform. He came for the salvation of souls. He is interested in people, not the monsters of the darkness we call demons. He is first of all a teacher of righteousness. To amaze us is not his goal. Though the first miracle Mark records is the exorcism, and the exorcism does display the power of the Son of God over the darkness, that display is not the goal. Setting twisted souls free does not save them, it only gives them a chance to think clearly. Watching a demon get kicked to the curb does not save onlookers, no matter how amazed they are.

Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,  and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." 

Jess, Chloe and Bug-Bear

Repent and believe. That is the whole of the gospel, the life changing "God-story" in the book of Mark. At least that is our part. Facing our tomorrow with eyes of faith is how we can expect to live. The rest of the book of Mark is about Y'shua who came to sacrifice himself for our sin. That sacrifice gives us far more freedom than the man with the unclean spirit experienced when the drama was over. That journey to the cross is the reason we are even able to start a journey of faith. Stick around, follow Y'shua on his quest but do yourself a powerful favor. Repent and believe. See what he can make of your little life....because as the song says, "Little becomes much when you place it in the masters hand"

MsH 11/6/12

Mark 1: 16-20

Walk before me ... Follow me

Late tomatoes ripening inside. Toy Box Suburban Farm

A journey of faith. My legs felt like lead was slugging through my veins instead of blood. Ten more steps, then I can stop if I want to. One; the tiny day pack was hot on my back. Two; just up to the next switch-back and then you can rest if you want to. Three; every step was a climb. Every thought was on moving forward one more step. Mount Pilchuck in Robe Valley is not very tall. The trail to the Fire Lookout is only two miles long and gains only 2,000 feet of altitude from the old ski lodge parking lot. People bring their toddlers up this cattle run of a path. But here I was struggling to not give up. At 9:30 AM fellow hikers were already coming back down the trail, encouraging me, you are almost there, keep going. When I finally reached the base of the old Fire Look Out I could see that the building sat on top of a tall stack of boulders that I would need to scramble to get to the Look Out. NO WAY. I can hardly put one foot in front of the other, I cannot scramble up 20 feet of boulders. That is when Hans and Frans showed up.

I do not know their actual names. To my untrained ears their accent was Austrian  They wore white tee shirts and white shorts. There was not a drop of sweat on either of them. With voices that sounded like the former governor of California, they told me I could not stop here I had to go to the top! As I attempted to wave them off with what I hoped was a smile, Frans slipped the day pack from my shoulders and stepped up the the first bolder. His foot was level with my head. When he reached out for my hand I gave it to him and was nearly lifted up on the bolder. Hans kept placing my feet in secure positions. I did not have time to die of embarrassment. I was at the top and they were gone as fast as they showed up.

Faith is a journey up a steep and narrow path.There are different companions along the way, there is encouragement by strangers who are really fellow pilgrims. There is dramatic help when you feel like you have nothing left. But for the most part, it is one foot in front of the other.

And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.  And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men."  And immediately they left their nets and followed him.  And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.  And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zeb'edee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.   Mark 1:16-20  RSV

It seems that "in the beginning" the walk of faith was meant to be an easy stroll through the garden. YHVH/God walked with Adam in the cool of the day. That didn't last. King David of Israel wrote that his walk of faith was a walk through the valley of the shadow of death. (Psalm 23) Y'shua/Jesus spoke of a narrow, hard way (Mathew 7 :13-14). Whatever description is given to the path, it starts with an invitation. Abram was told to "walk before Me" (Genesis 17:1) In our passage, four men are invited to "follow Me" (Y'shua)" on their faith journey. With very little drama, they begin. We are filled with questions about their families, their work, even why they suddenly decided to follow this man. But the bottom line is that they began their journey of faith. Did they know how hard it would be? Did they know that there would be times when they wanted to give up or did they keep their eyes on the goal and keep putting one foot in front of the other? If you have read their testimony you know how the journey ends. You have read of triumph and difficulty, very much like you encounter in your journey of faith.

Speaking of our journey, how do we follow Y'shua whom we cannot see? First, we have the Spirit of God.

John 14:26  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 15:26-27  But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me;  and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning. 

John 20:21-22  Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. RSV

We also have the fellowship of fellow pilgrims on the path. Paul encouraged us to, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1 

Heb 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful;  and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 

If you choose to follow Y'shua/Jesus, you will be on the journey of your life. No one will carry you even though we are here to encourage you. There is great reward. It is the joy of YHVH that gives us strength. There is help along the way but you are the one who must choose to follow. You are the one who has to decide to take just a few more steps when you feel as if you cannot take even one more step. The view is amazing, the fellowship and the joy are beyond description. But the love of the Lord is the prize that keeps me going.

Repent, believe and face what comes with faith.

MsH 10/30/12