OC Feb Breakfast

OC had our Feb breakfast today yaaay :) a BIG thanks to Craig, Dean, and Mitch for leading our thoughts! We will be posting Craig's lesson on the blog soon (he linked a lot of the details we have been reading thus far to Jesus and the NT, it was GREAT). Below are a couple of pictures from today :)

.......

trivia :)

Who were the 3 men in the bible who took the Nazirite vow?

(the third one was partcularly difficult n I had to cheat hehe)

Feasts

I know this is a little behind, but I noticed these parts and haven't had a chance to post them.  On Feb 20th, I like how they explain the feasts.  Knowing that there are 5 feasts gives me some clarity to the law.  I think now I'll know what its talking about later.  I also liked how Feast of Harvests comes after Passover.  The editor also noted that Pentecost also happens on the Feast of Harvests.  It reminds me of when Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds."  Jesus died and then the 'harvest' was when everyone was baptized.  It was the beginning of the church.  Pretty cool how God planned that out.  I think the Jews might've understood that alot more.  It probably would have been faith building.  

Also on Feb. 20th, when it talks about the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, it says several times "deny yourselves."  The note at the bottom of the page says deny yourself means "must fast."  I wonder if these are the same words Jesus used when he told us to "deny yourself and take up your cross daily."  It be interesting to know if they are the same Hebrew or greek.  Maybe we are supposed to deny ourselves in a fasting-type of way in this world as Christians.  Maybe we are not supposed to indulge in this world too much.  I get frustrated when the world doesn't give me what I want, but then if I go to the other extreme, I'm like if this world is going to do it for me then lets just get on with it and go to Heaven.  It's hard to be in the middle.  We might want husbands or wives, houses, careers, wealth, etc in this world, but then we know how meaningless it is, but God doesn't just take us to heaven right away when we are baptized.  We are left here to help others make it.  Anyway I think there's some connection because if that is done on the day of Atonement and we are constantly saved and renewed while in Christ, then maybe we are sort of always having days of Atonement.  I'm not sure, let me know your thoughts.  

I hope everyone keeps going.  Keep having discussions among yourselves.  I think that will help you stay on pace.  

Questions

Hey family,

With all the laws that we have been reading, and it looks like we will be reading it through mid March, here are my questions..

1. Should I read every detail word for word?

2. What should I take away from reading these details?

Thanks for your help!!

"The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn His face toward you
and give you peace." Num 6:22-27

I like that :)

some Tera thoughts :)

Thank God for Jesus who was the ultimate sacrifice and offering (as the bros mentioned in previous posts) and we do not have to follow the provisions we have been reading about... "but now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." Rom 7:6

There were a lot of "dry" details today, and in Leviticus overall. I typically glance over the details (and hope that one day when I am older I will study them out, make correlations with the NT, etc. hehe), and I usually read another part of the bible or another book so that I could have something spiritual to chew on for the day. I wanted to share something I read today that I found intriguing :)...

"The facts of Satan need to be faced. His power is breathtaking. He can take the brightest mind and the most cheerful heart and fill them with thoughts of perversion and violence. He can turn faith into a pack of lies and nonsense. He can twist Scripture or make its words swim meaninglessly before the eyes. One touch from him, and the stoutest believer will barely be be able to whisper a prayer."

Thank goodness for God who is more powerful than Satan "...the very majesty of His sovereign power, which by a mere word created the universe, and which by a mere word will at the end of time cast the Devil and all his demons into the lake of fire."

I love the goal of Chrono; that we don't allow ourselves to be food for Satan but rather, we find a way to stay connected to God, His word, and each other. Thanks for connecting with me through His word!

Love ya :)

P.S. The OC Feb breakfast is Saturday Feb 28th, yaay! Hope to cya there. And a SHOUT OUT to BRIAN MASHANEY, our fellow Chrono participant who's fighting the war in the middle east :)

10 Things I Love About God

Here are ten things I love about God just from reading day 16-18 of February. :D

1- I don't have to be afraid, The Lord himself will fight for me!

2- I am fortunate to have a God that is near me when I pray.

3- God does not tolerate idolatry...He is a consuming fire...he rids anything that comes in his path that separates me from him! Wow!

4- He blesses my life and constantly reminds me not to forget Him and to be thankful. To live life w/ much gratitude.

5- God is jealous for me. That's cool. He doesn't like competition. He fears being displaced by another and wants me all to himself.

6- I am considered a holy people. He chose me out of this world be his treasured possession. *** Sparkle Sparkle *** ^_^

7- He tests me to find what is in my heart and whether I will keep his command. He keeps me pure, sincere and in touch w/ my true heart.

8- He causes me to get to my low points to teach me that I shouldn't rely on worldly things but on His Word!

9- He humbles me so that in the end, it will go well w/ me. Keep the refining coming! It is for my own good. :)

10- Worshipping God is the best thing ever! It feels amazing! Don't be deceived by others...even those closest to you who secretly enticed you to follow other gods. Stand firm!

Gosh, I am so in love w/ God!!! He is waaaayyyy toooooo cooool. He is good to us.

<3 you guys,
Tina

Judgement Belongs 2 God

Judging has always been a touchy subject...even as disciples. We are taught not to judge. We are told that we shouldn't judge because with the measure we use, it will be measured against us. It's true that we are not ones to say that somebody's heart is not right before God, we are all accountable before God. Jesus said that he didn't come to judge but to save....however it is the word that judges us. I believe w/ the word we can discern if one is living in the truth and disciple them. The word calls us to test the spirits of those among us to be sure they are walking in God's truth and light. We have the ability to speak in truth and love, iron sharpen iron, and admonish one another. What's very cool is that God gives us a distinction between two types of judgement: the one we make and the one God makes. In Deut 1:17-18, it is written, "Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgement belongs to God." This passage talks about disputes among brothers and sisters. They have internal problems w/ each other and have been given a role to judge the situation. I love how it talks about listening and gathering input from all people who is able to give input, before you set a judgement on someone. We have the ability to judge those inside the church w/ what the bible clearly speaks of that is not godly. In the end, we shouldn't be afraid to come to an understanding of the truth and speak up for it...because ultimately God knows our hearts and the final judgement of eternity belongs to God. Amen!!!

Blessings

"Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and posses the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers."

-Deuteronomy 8:1

I thought today's reading was encouraging.  It was a reminder of the blessings that happen when we obey God's commands.  It's good to see the benefits of following God.  I'm looking forward to increasing and living in the land of milk and honey.  I liked the detail in Deu. 7, "none of your men or women will be childless."  

Also, it talks about marrying people from other groups.  So if you need something more than "don't be yoked with unbelievers" read here.  

This passage is interesting because its written to a people, not just a record of events or a list of commands.  It's like reading one of Paul's letters only its by Moses.  I can't think of another part of the OT where this happens.  Pretty cool.

Hey Phamster, I tried to answer your question.  Sorry I didn't see it for a while.  

And I just wanted to encourage anyone who feels intimidated by posting.  Just sharing your thoughts or what you're learning, how it relates to your life is a great thing to post on here.  I think everyone likes that and can do that.  New people posting certainly livens it up.  Thanks to all who've been posting!

NYC February Chrono Meeting

So we had our first Chrono meeting since we started reading and it went well.  An awesome, core group of  6 of us were there.  More could've made it, but the time and place didn't work.  But we had a good trivia time and some discussion.  Kathie shared about how she didn't think it was fair to Hagar and Ishmael to be sort of cast aside and become something lesser when really Abraham and Sarah were the ones not trusting in God.  For me the best part was all of us flipping through the pages to find answers to our questions.  It's amazing how we could find the truth and it clarifies things.  It was great to see disciples really thinking and talking about parts of the Bible.  It was different from a Bible talk, which is more based on how each of us relates to something, but more about understanding the Bible and God.  I don't know that I've ever had a discussion like that in such a formal setting.  Maybe with a friend here or there, but not in a group.  Anyway, I really hope our groups and the reading raise our Bible intelligence and helps us understand God more so we can build the church with our minds too.  Sorry, we had some pics of us, but they got lost.  Next time we'll post some.  

Quail Given for meat question

Why did God provide the quail....enough to feed for a month, but struck them w/ a severe plague before they had to even swallow the meat? Was it because they had been complaining and did not consecrate themselves before eating? Thanks.

Tabernacle (Visual)

First, check out this site: Tabernacle

Hello everyone! I was having mixed feelings reading the story of how the tabernacle was built...though the reading has passed I figured I share a bit of what I have learned. I had a difficult time finding it...interesting. Yes, I admit, I was a bit bored reading through it. I am a visual learner at times and thought this study and visual can help you see the importance and value of this precise building of God's dwelling in the OT. God chose the best (skilled workers and materials) to build a place to worship Him. It wasn't just any tent, a very unique place for Moses to meet God.

Top left: Ephod and all the cool gems. This was what the priest wore. Talk about designer clothing...this tops Versache or Louis Vuitton or Abercrombie & Fitch any day!! :)

Mid-right: scarlet yarns (various colors)

Bottom: Goat hair (made into a pillow) but imagine it spread over the entire tent.
Bottom: Acacia Wood. Why this type of wood? Acacia wood was a strong, resilient wood that grew up in desert climates. It could survive the harsh environment because its rood grew very deep. The tree itself never grew tall. In fact, most acacia trees only grow to a height of 15-30 feet. This tree was not affected by disease nor animal infestations because of the strong odor in the fiber of its wood.

Alright, hope you enjoyed just a glimpse of God's holy dwelling. There are so many other intricate details, such as the gold clasps, oil, turbans, ram skins...and much much more.

Thou Shall not whine, lol.

When I read Tera's post and reading about how the Israelites were complaining all the time, I remembered a memory from the 5th grade! Gosh, I going that far, lol. Anyways, my 5th grade teacher had this sign that said, "Thou Shall Not Whine" by her desk. She wasn't too strict about it but I would always see it and not whine in class. It could of been an 11th commandment, hmmm...

Everytime I read about how much the Israelites complained to Moses, I just wanted to pull my hair out. Why weren't they grateful for God's blessings? And they kept complaining for the same things over and over.

MIA

Hey all. Sorry to have been Missing In Action for so long. I have been struggling with fatigue from anemia and writing taxes my energies. Anyhow, It has been hard getting through all of the ark building and instructions but I did take note that God instructed that Aaron wear symbols representing the twelve tribes across his chest close to his heart-perhaps to keep the people close to his mind and heart during service. God also had something representing the people on Aarons headpiece-perhaps to remind God of the people he would have to forgive over and over again.
I thought it great that God took such pride in external beauty that was simple yet elegant for the structure in a masculine form but chose beautifully ornamented designs for the priests. Maybe God showing some of his feminine flair?
That's about all I have the energy to write about today. As you can tell, I'm a little bit behind in my reading. I've also been reading books on gender communication, anger management, the Languages of Apologies and learning about them all as well as forgiveness. I'm a busy camper. heehee. til next post

talking donkeys!!!

Yesterday was kinda funny with the talking donkey. Kinda reminded me of Shriek.

I thought that Balaam "the soothsayer" was an interesting dude. He was a performer of divination. Apparently he didn't know that the people who came out of Egypt where God fearing people as well. Which brings up a interesting point. Gods people at that time where in different location. Apparently all of God's people where not slaves in Egypt.

How did all the Jews end up in Egypt in the first place? And why wasn't Balaam there with them, in Numbers 24:14-25 it says that he's going back to be with his people

Any who, the talking donkey was funny

Slow to anger, abounding in love...

The Israelites wavered a lot... they complained about so many things and wanted to give up so many times since they left Egypt. I can totally be like that; I usually give up and run away when things get too messy or difficult :(. THANK GOODNESS God is slow to anger and abounding in love :).

THANK YOU to all who have been sharing their thoughts, you have def encouraged my faith by allowing me a glimpse of yours :). Hope you are doing well, esp those who I have not heard from yet or have not heard from in a while.

Love ya, have a GREAT week! :)

I'm with Tera...

The last few days of reading has had me asking God... "Why did you require this..." and "what was the purpose to require that"... Things like having all the population counted the way it was, or having certain processes and procedures in place... And if certain things weren't upheld, the outcome was to either be put to death, or struck down and killed... I mean, that's pretty intense...

Kinda like the other day when we read that Aaron's sons were struck down for using unauthorized fire in the sacrifices... I mean, that's pretty intense... I know that one thing that has always remained the same, from the old covenant to the new covenant, is that obedience to God's instructions is necessary...

I'm so thankful that Jesus came and became the perfect sacrifice once and for all... Our bible talk has been studying out the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews makes a great comparison between the old testament and the new testament...

One thing it talks about how the tabernacle was created to be a shadow of what is in heaven... That is one reason that God was very particular about how it was built and the materials used... And it talks about the role of the high priests and all of the sacrifices... It's awesome that Jesus came as the great high priest and gave himself as the perfect sacrifice once and for all... Otherwise there would be a whole lot of animal sacrifice and bloodshed still today... That and as you read the OT, you will see that no one sacrifice made anybody "perfect"... That is just what the blood of Jesus did; it purified us once and for all and made us perfect in the eyes of the Lord our God...

Tabernacle road trip and the circle of trust

Tabernacle road trip!!!! Moses are we there yet???





So how do you move 625,850 pp? I'm glad you asked, here is a diogram I made for you all

East – Camp of Judah
Judah 74,600pp - Issachar 54,400pp - Zebulun 57,400pp = Total 186,400pp (sent 1st)

South – Camp of Reuben
Reuben 46,500pp – Simeon 59,300pp – Gad 45,650pp = Total 151,450pp (sent 2nd)

West – Camp of Ephraim
Ephraim 40,500 – Manasseh 32,200 – Benjamin 35,400 = Total 108,100pp (sent 3rd)

North – Camp of Dan
Dan 62,700 – Asher 41,500 – Naphtali 53,400 = Total 157,600pp (sent 4th)

TOTAL = 603,550pp

Question: Why does God give Moses orders not to count the Levites then later he tells him to count them? Any who here are some Names, Numbers and Responsibilities

Center – Camp Levites
West - Camp of Gershon - 7,500 males
Tabernacle Responsibilities: care of the tabernacle and tent, its coverings, the curtain at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, 26 the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, and the ropes—and everything related to their use.

South - Camp of Kohath - 8,600 males
Tabernacle Responsibilities: care of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain, and everything related to their use.

North - Camp of Merari - 6,200 males
Tabernacle Responsibilities: care of the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs and ropes.

East – Camp of Moses / Aaron & sons - # of males not mention
Tabernacle Responsibilities: care of the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.

Total = 22,300 (bible says 22,000 in Number 3:39 and 22,273 in Numbers 3:43) Interesting?!?!

Question #2

Also, a sister and I were reading and we were wondering what ordination means; like in the phrase "Ram of ordination".

thanks!

Question

So bros, I was wondering...

When we are reading about all the sacrifices & preparation details, etc from our readings, what should I be taking away from them since we are no longer under the old covenant??

Israeli army looks a lot different today

Today I read about the 603,550 fighting men back in Moses time. Now a days the Israeli Army, also known as the IDF "Israel Defense Forces" allows women and Homosexuals

National military service is mandatory for Jewish and Druze men and Jewish women over the age of 18, although exceptions may be made on religious, physical or psychological grounds

Men serve three years in the IDF, while women serve two. The IDF allowed women who volunteer for several combat positions to serve for three years because combat soldiers must undergo a lengthy period of training. Women in other positions, such as programmers, who require lengthy training time may also serve three years. Women in most combat positions are also required to serve as reserve for several years after their dismissal from regular service.

In 1983, the IDF permitted homosexuals to serve, but banned them from intelligence and top-secret positions. In 1993, an IDF reserves officer testified before the Knesset that his rank had been revoked and that he had been barred from researching sensitive topics in military intelligence, solely because of his sexual identity. Since then, homosexuals have been allowed to serve openly in the military, including special units.

Yay for Jesus

I confessed my sins to my discipler today and it was great to pray with her, easy peasy... but gosh imagine if I lived in the days of Moses! The preparation of the animals (and the animals prolly smelled), putting blood all over, even on the ears of Aaron and his sons! (and the blood prolly smelled) and ALL the details we have been reading... and all that just so I could be forgiven for my sins, sheesh. And, if I had to confess my sins tomorrow... uggghhhh we would have to clean everything up (not like they had antibacterial soap and running water, or sponges and stuff... I'd want disinfectant and air freshner hehe) and imagine putting forth all that blood and guts effort again and again. OMGS yaaaay for Jesus and the new covenant!

And poor Aaron, gosh losing 2 of his sons in one day :(. I'm glad he didn't get bitter and resent God (and hopefully he doesn't later)... I'm glad Moses was there to counsel Aaron :(.