Newspaper Page Text
Messianic Messenger
The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, February 1, 2006, Page 7B
By Stu Brown
Yeshua’s Way
(229) 432-7619
Paul The Torah Teacher
Part 3
To Our Messianic brothers
and sisters,
Shalom.
Christians experience dif
ficulty with Paul because
their thought processes differ
significantly from the thought
processes of the Jewish mind.
Jews have always viewed G-d
quite differently from the sys
tematic theological thinking
of the West.
The Christian mind defines
G-d and the work of creation
in a linear manner. It attempts
to explain inconsistencies and
harmonize contradictions
systematically. The Jewish
mind is filled with wonder of
the mystery of G-d. Inconsis
tencies and contradictions are
intimately intertwined with
human finite understanding
of an infinite G-d.
While the Christian mind
tries to explain everything but
understands little of the di
vine nature, the Jewish mind
is overpowered by a sense
of wonder. The Jewish mind
does not separate the divine
from the secular whereas the
Christian tries categorizes
everything placing everything
neatly into precise pigeon
holes. And if something does
not fit into a preconceived
pigeon hole it is discarded or
called a mystery of the faith.
It is this awe and wonder
of the mysteries of G-d, the
inconsistencies and contradic
tions that Paul brings to his
writings. His world view is
circular not linear. He accepts
contradictions and does not
separate things into holy and
secular. He is content to leave
questions unanswered and
inconsistences alone.
When Paul told the Gentile
Christians to pray unceas
ingly he was conveying the
Jewish practice of always
being in a constant state of
meditating on G-d and His
Holy Torah.
When he told the Christians
to work out their own salva
tion with fear and trembling
he was conveying a Torah
teaching that all Jews are
obligated to wrestle with the
word of G-d until it speaks
personally to him or her.
When Paul taught the
Gentile Christians about
grace he was teaching them
about divine mercy and grace
as revealed first in the Torah
and then through Yeshua who
was the center of Torah and
the divine mercy and grace
revealed in Torah.
When he taught about
Christians being of one ac
cord he was teaching Torah
teaching on community.
When he taught about
sexual immorality he was
teaching Torah. (1 Corr 7:
12-20)
When he was teaching
about love he was teaching
Torah. (1 Corr. 13)
When he was teaching
about food sacrificed to idols
he was teaching Torah. (1
Corr. 8:1-13.
When he taught about
propriety in worship he was
teaching Torah. ( 1 Corr. 11:
2-16)
When he taught about
spiritual gifts he was teaching
Torah. (1 Corr, 12:1-11)
The very fact is that Paul
himself and through his
disciples established the
Gentile Christian churches he
wrote to and taught the Way
through Yeshua and Torah.
But, he had to write these
very same churches because
they could not comprehend
what he taught because they
were Gentiles steeped in
vulgar languages and pagan
religions and practices. They
could not comprehend this
totally new idea then or now
of the Elohein of love and
grace that began with Adama
and fulfilled in Yeshua.
They had not been blessed
as had the Jews with a deep
sense and commitment to
love of one inclusive incom
prehensible G-d of love,
grace and judgement; a car
ing cohesive community of
believers; a community that
is called out to support one
another; love of strangers
in its midst ( pagans usually
enslaved or killed strangers or
at least mistreated them. Not
so the Jews as Torah taught
that they were to treat strang
ers fairly); and the keeping
commandments of G-d as
both an outward demonstra
tion of faith and obedience.
Their gods had been many
with many contradictory laws
and commandments, sacri
fices, and so on.
Now they were faced with
a system of worship, festi
vals and commandments that
demonstrated their faith, love
and obedience to G-d and
to refine their behavior to be
holy (clean and acceptable) to
the one G-d. This was (and
still is) foreign to their world
view. No wonder they had
problems.
But we, knowing G-d and
His holy commandments
which are likewise the com
mandments of Yeshua, must
be understanding as they are
strangers and aliens to the
truth we share as Yeshua,
Paul and the other disciples
taught.
So teach as Yeshua taught,
with unconditional love
and acceptance. Know the
scriptures as Paul knew them,
teach them with the under
standing he taught, and when
you are asked, teach them to
those who ask.
Shalom.
From The Bible
By Jerry Kingery
David returns to Jordan
And it was told Joab,
Behold, the king weepeth
and mourneth for Absalom.
And the victory that day was
turned into mourning unto
all the people: for the people
heard say that day how the
king was grieved for his son.
And the people gat them by
stealth that day into the city,
as people being ashamed steal
away when they flee in battle.
But the king covered his face,
and the king cried with a loud
voice, O my son Absalom, O
Absalom, my son, my son!
And Joab came into the house
to the king, and said, Thou
hast shamed this day the faces
of all thy servants, which this
day have saved thy life, and
the lives of thy sons and of
thy daughters, and the lives
of thy wives, and the lives of
thy concubines; In that thou
lovest thine enemies, and
hatest thy friends. For thou
hast declared this day, that
thou regardest neither princes
nor servants: for this day I
perceive, that if Absalom had
lived, and all we had died this
day, then it had pleased thee
well. Now therefore arise, go
forth, and speak comfortably
unto thy servants: for I swear
by the LORD, if thou go not
forth, there will not tarry one
with thee this night: and that
will be worse unto thee than
all the evil that befell thee
from thy youth until now.
Then the king arose, and sat
in the gate. And they told unto
all the people, saying, Behold,
the king doth sit in the gate.
And all the people came
before the king: for Israel had
fled every man to his tent.
And all the people were at
strife throughout all the tribes
of Israel, saying, The king
saved us out of the hand of
our enemies, and he delivered
us out of the hand of the Phi
listines; and now he is fled out
of the land for Absalom. And
Absalom, whom we anointed
over us, is dead in battle.
Now- therefore why speak
ye not a word of bringing the
king back? And king David
sent to Zadok and to Abiathar
the priests, saying, Speak
unto the elders of Judah,
saying. Why are ye the last
to bring the king back to his
house? seeing the speech of
all Israel is come to the king,
even to his house. Ye are my
brethren, ye are my bones and
my flesh: wherefore then are
ye the last to bring back the
king? And say ye to Amasa,
Art thou not of my bone, and
of my flesh? God do so to me,
and more also, if thou be not
captain of the host before me
continually in the room of
Joab. And he bowed the heart
of all the men of Judah, even
as the heart of one man; so
that they sent this word unto
the king, Return thou, and
all thy servants. So the king
returned, and came to Jordan.
And Judah came to Gilgal, to
go to meet the king, to con
duct the king over Jordan.
from 2 Samuel 19
For a free Scripture packet,
please write From the Bible,
BIBLE FOUNDATION, PO
Box 908, Newberg, Oregon
97132. email: bf@bf.org.
Submitted Photo
January Students of the Month
Lee County Middle School’s Students of the Month for January are Jennifer
Harvey, Heather Simpson, Edmond Dyson, Rachel McDaniel, Jessica Graber,
Abbie King, Tanner Stone, Brittni Evans, Krissy Haire, Brittany Woods,
Michelle Truong, Amber Roberts, and Lizzie Doyle.
The Channel Surfer
By Linda Mason
Off the heels of its Emmy-
nominated hit “Project Run
way,” Bravo proudly announc
es “Top Chef,” a new reality
competition series offering a
fascinating window into the
competitive, pressure-filled
environment of world-class
cookery and the restaurant
business at the highest level.
The series will feature 12
aspiring chefs who head to
San Francisco for their shot
at culinary stardom and the
chance to earn the prestigious
title of “Top Chef.” The 10-
episode, one-hour series cel
ebrating the culinary arts will
premiere Wednesday, March
15 at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT.
Bill
Chambers
Motors
Serving the People of
Lee and Dougherty
County and all of
Southwest Georgia
for over 50 years.
“Trade with Bill
and save a bill!”
Albany’s #1
Used Auto
Dealer
409 W. Oglethorpe
Albany
436-4046
WWW.
Billchambersmotors.
com
Bible, from page 6B
sign declares: First Warning. 6% Downgrade Ahead. That’s
plenty steep—especially for a fully loaded semi. That sign
would be enough to make most any truck driver sit up a little
straighter in his cab. You go a little farther and another sign
repeats the message: Second Warning. 6% downgrade Ahead.
Trucks Check Brakes. Not long after that you see a sign that
says: Runaway Ramp Five-Miles Ahead.
You haven’t started downhill yet; the terrain is still level.
But you’ve encountered warning after warning that the road
ahead plunges steeply. Truckers with too heavy loads or faulty
brakes will be in grave danger if they ignore those signs and
roar on down the highway. Once they go over the crest, there
may be no turning back.
That’s what these warnings of our Lord accomplished. They
tell us, “Things may seem smooth and even now, but watch out!
You’re moving toward the edge. You’re approaching a stretch
of highway radically different from the one you’re traveling
right now.”
Those of us who have put our trust in Jesus Christ as Savior
and Lord know that before these things become full-blown.
He will take us right out of this world to be with Himself. The
Word of God tells us that those who belong to Him will never
see these devastations and sorrow in their ultimate form.
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a
Each episode of “Top Chef”
holds two challenges for the
chefs. The first is a quickfire
test of their basic abilities and
the second is a more in
volved elimination challenge
designed to test the versatility
and invention of the chefs as
they take on unique culinary
trials such as working with
unusual and exotic foods or
catering for a range of de
manding clients.
Katie Lee Joel will host
this authentic portrayal
of the inspired and often
cutthroat world of the
culinary arts. Katie co-cre-
ated the culinary website
www.oliveandpeach.com,
and her culinary and lifestyle
column, “East End Girl,” is
published weekly in Hamp
tons Magazine and will soon
be a part of its sister publica
tion, Gotham. Tom Colicchio,
one of the culinary world’s
most celebrated figures and
co-owner of New York City’s
Gramercy Tavern and Craft
Restaurants, serves as men
tor to the competing chefs
and guides them through the
stringent challenges that will
not only test their skills in
the kitchen, but also uncover
if they have the customer
service, management and
teamwork abilities required of
a Top Chef.
(c) 2006 DBR Media, Inc.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Leesburg City Council,
the Lee County Utility Author
ity and the Lee County Board
of Commissioners is meeting
Friday, February 3, 2006 at 12:
00 noon in the Lee County
Governmental Building As
sembly Room to discuss the
future sewer and water needs
of Lee County.
The meeting is open to the
public.
Lee County School’s
Breakfast and Lunch Menu
BREAKFAST
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Breakfast Pizza OR Cereal & Toast, Fruit, Milk
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Sausage Roll OR Cereal & Toast, Fruit, Milk
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Chicken Biscuit OR Cereal & Toast, Fruit, Milk
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Waffle Sticks with Syrup OR
Cereal & Toast, Fruit, Milk
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Banana Nut Muffin, Sausage Link OR
Cereal & Toast, Fruit, Milk
LUNCH
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Chicken Tenders, Steamed Broccoli, Sweet Potatoes
Yeast Roll, Fruit Juice Bar, Milk
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Green Beans
Breadstick, Apple, Milk
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Hot Dog, Coleslaw, Baked Beans
Banana, Milk
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Chicken & Noodles, Turnip Greens, Cornbread
Applesauce, Graham Crackers, Milk
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Pizza, Tossed Salad, Corn
Jello with Fruit
Oatmeal - Raisin Cookie, Milk
Provided as a Public Service bv
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