ANOTHER BIBLE

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak;

they are to be submissive, as the law also says,

and if they want to learn something let them ask their husbands

at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

1 Corinthians - 34

Well there goes Paul and his instruction for the male congregation.   Many a vicar has fond memories of when he actually led the church, was respected and loved by all the sheep.  After experiencing the behaviour of women who actually consider themselves the mouth piece of a Holy God - 'Oh the Lord told me to tell you'  my usual reply was "No, the Lord is perfectly capable of telling me Himself - He has my ear" 

Of course it all goes back to Eve and a succession of women in the bible who usually managed to manipulate their situation and improve their status.   Today most are self opinionated and you can almost hear the clash of the titans as they battle it out.   Am I a fan of female clergy - no.   There is much work for women both in the church and outside, their talents are endless, but I cringe at the effect power and position can have on a once seemingly pleasant personality be it in politics or religion.   

Once again Yeshua gave very clear advice to his followers in Matthew 5 - 37

"But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No', 'No'.   For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.   And that applies to the guys as well.  

Who takes any notice of the bible these days inside or outside the church.   The answer to every problem is in that book with stunning examples of what not to do.   You don't nick another man's wife without expecting consequences down the line, but guys tend to cast the older wife aside for a younger model.

Matthew 10 - 9 - Yeshua said "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate"  And for those who actually hook up in church, please don't tell me God planned the union.   His  Word stands and He doesn't contradict Himself.

God help us, the gentle home loving women have all but disappeared to be replaced by the hard stare of the feminist and one trip through a crowded town centre on a Friday night will show how they party.   Often in groups and whether standing or collapsed in the gutter their language is crude to say the least.   Men tend to gather with their drinking buddies - there's strength in numbers.   Its football, booze and anything else that's on the menu.   Marriage on the other hand offers no stability as fidelity is almost non existent.   Men can become the partner tied to the sink their masculinity challenged, reminding me of an advert on t.v. many years ago considered extremely funny.  Large women who put their husbands in an apron handed them a bottle of cleaning fluid and pushed them towards the grime.

Thankfully I enjoy being a woman - granted an old woman - but from a better time slot.   The Pat Boon approach "you can kiss my hand but no further without a band of gold"   Old fashioned yes, but quite biblical, I believe in marriage for life and I certainly waited patiently for my soul mate and still believe the woman is the home maker and the husband the "hunter gatherer" that way is balance and its biblical, but the churches are far from obeying the words of Christ, they sell a new bible.

No, I don't want to see a woman in a pulpit.   She has hormones and anyone on the receiving end of a hissy fit will know they are not stable either to lead in a church or appoint themselves as prophets - two weeks out of four.

Thankfully I have left all that behind and now have to deal with the odd whisker growing out of my chin.   For the moment it stands proud and alone until  I manage to see it and pull it out, but should this growth pattern increase I could put in as an "extra" for Gandalf  in any production of "Lord of the Rings"

The dark Lord's cohorts are having a field day with a slightly confused Trump.   For heaven's sake leave him alone, he's doing his best.   We all know the 'back room boys' are busily organising plans for a global war and that he is just a 'figure head'  hopefully 'baruch ha ba shem adonai' soon Lord.

So its back to the teaching of Yeshua - which most ignore, adjust or twist and they always use the excuse 'oh that was then, not now' or 'he was talking to the Jews it doesn't apply to us - we are not under the law' carefully avoiding Matthew 5 - 18.    It's the 'grace umbrella' for every transgression.

Matthew 5 - 48 Yeshua  (Jesus) said "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect"   

In reality there are a lot of cracked vessels (pots) - I am surely one,  but there again if you speak out you are accused of being a critical spirit and judgemental.   The study note on Matthew 7 - 1 'judge not, that you be not judged' - explains.   Jesus does not forbid criticism, opinions, or condemnation of wrong doing.   What he forbids is censoriousness, the spirit of fault finding overlooking one's own shortcomings.   

Just dare to speak the Truth in the hearing of others and someone in the church with a different agenda will report your remarks a.s.a.p.   There are many examples of clergy preaching from the pulpit who have found themselves involved in litigation and a prison cell,  yet apparently we are repeatedly told we are a christian country.   We need to understand what is happening and why.   Yes God is merciful and loving but perhaps His patience is running out.   

Just may be the war mongers in this country might realise there is a God watching as they create new killing fields.    They will be held accountable.

Genesis 4 - 10

And He (God) said "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.

11 - So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

At the end of the day they are pseudo christians, they don't believe in God let alone the bible or Yeshua the Prince of Peace but they crawl into church for a socialite wedding or funeral.   

As a mere grain of sand on God's beach all you can do is hand the Lord your gifting, whatever that may be for His glory.   Discern the preacher, teacher and politician.  If their words and actions do not proclaim the Word of God they belong to the Prince of this world and their time is short.

However for the average Joe, myself included  (after all the Grand Designer made the blue print) the Lord is gracious, compassionate and forgiving.   He designed the human race, some have faulty circuits, some have brilliant minds, some are infected by evil, He knows us all, we are His creation so it is not surprising that in Matthew 19-25  His disciples asked the question 'who then can be saved' to which the Lord replied 'With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible.'   Yeshua has amazing compassion for sinners, he knows their story.  

There are born again christians around the globe who are hearing the Lord.   Some hear His voice others experience what can only be called telepathy - a thought not your own pops into your mind disturbing your concentration on a completely different subject.   From personal experience the word or message is brief.   The warnings are in the bible and every born again christian knows without a shadow of doubt that prophecy is unfolding.   The Holy Spirit will highlight a verse or text, even the words of a song.

In the early years of my christian walk I would collect music C.D's appreciating the modern praise and worship albums.    I purchased a C.D. by Maire Brennan called "Whisper to the Wild Water"  there were 13 tracks on the album and as the C.D. reached the end I realised there were actually 14 tracks.   The final track not illustrated on the album cover was Maire's version of the pop classic 'Don't give up' originally in the charts sung by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush.

In reverse Maire sings first and Michael McDonald replies.   It remains a very relevant song to all those suffering unemployment, homelessness and despair.    To really appreciate this you would have to listen to the song but for me personally it was as though God was soothing and healing a heart torn apart by the sudden death of my one and only love.   I often wonder did she realise that the slight adjustment to the lyrics would have that effect.   Or was that just the way God reaches us in time of need.

Don't give up cos you have ME....................

Don't give up you still have ME

Don't give up cos I know there's a place where you belong. 
The rest of the lyrics are the same as the Peter Gabriel recording.  

In essence the 'US' on the Gabriel recording was replaced by ME and it was just a tiny alteration but it spoke volumes to a hurting heart.  I believe God uses lyrics, singer and song to reach us. 

If that isn't encouragement for those who suffer persecution and ridicule and are considered just plain barmy I don't know what is.  It's thanks to that duet I managed to get a grip and soldier on without any sedation or medication albeit slightly on auto pilot through the dark months that followed.

Now more than ever we need to lean on the Lord.   We realise Satan is pulling the strings of his victims, men and women sold out to this world,  we rest in His promise "and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age"   Todah Yeshua.

And if finding a genuine group of born again christians is a problem - they are tending to go underground - then Yeshua pointed the way and taught his followers:

Matthew 6 - 6

"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door,

pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret

 will reward you openly."

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