MEETINGS IN OCTOBER 2005
Shabbat Shul, Saturday the 31st of October, 1:00-5:00PM Location Waldron Shul started with discussions regarding the HRV scripture that one of the brothers got delivered to him recently. It does have some interesting aspects including parallel notes and references, bold text when quoting the TaNaKh and several other useful features. The HRV does not have the torah portions built in, which we have become accustomed to using in our RSTNE's. Some discussions also revolved around the process of learning and how is it we have come to these truths, and the differences in our walk and the walk of other people struggling to reconcile the false teaching they have held for so long being challenged by the truth they are faced with now. Sadly, in some cases, the words of Winston Churchill come to pass "Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on." An excellent dinner was served of steak stir fry, bakery fresh bread, olives, garden fresh tomatoes, and several other things (special thanks to brother James for his cooking and serving efforts) The portion was taken from Torah Parsha 51 Nitzavim 29:9-30:20. Haftarah Yeshayahu 61:1-63:9 and Torah Parsha 52 Vayelech 31:1-30 In regular years, read with Parsha 51.. Haftarah Hoshea 14:2-10 Brit Chadasha Ivrim 13:5-8 Mattityahu 28:16-20. The portion dealt with the last statements made regarding the spiritual condition of the Israelites before they progressed into the promised land to take possession to what was promised them. YHWH allowed them to pass even though He could see that they would whore after other gods and forsake the covenant their fathers made with YHWH. We can see these events in the period of the judges.
FEAST OF TRUMPETS Tuesday the 4rth in the evening. This gathering included the Feast readings taken from Beresheeth Chapters 21 & 22 Bamidbar 29:1-6 Mattityahu 24:26-51 Gilyahna 19:1-21 and spoke of the feast and blowing of the Shofars to commemorate the event as a testimony to Joseph that he will again be delivered from the nations, as he once was delivered in the historical Egyptian redemption.
Erev Shabbat Shul, Friday night the 7nth of October, 6:00-9:00PM Jackson Location. Shul was filled with many different topics of interest including a sod level understanding of the first temptation of the Messiah by Ha Satan and some corollaries with the incident of Moses striking the rock out of anger and causing judgment to fall upon him preventing him from entering the promised land. An excellent meal was served of kosher hot dogs with all the fixings, baked beans, and green bean salad (special thanks to sister Colleen for her culinary skills and efforts) The portion was taken from Torah Parsha 53 HaAzinu 32:1-52 Haftarah Schmuel Bet 22:1-51 Brit Chadasha Romiyah 10:14-21. The portion is showing Moses giving the people his last words which include the statements that the crooked and perverse people were inevitably going to stray from YHWH and that many curses would come upon them, including being faced with the sword without and them being fearful within. Some parallels drawn on the war and some political comments followed. We also discussed how we are progressing in learning and understanding and how some of us feel drawn yet to those still within Churchianity and our desire to minister more of the truth to them. Some discussions of upcoming Sukkoth and various plans of everyone. A good and profitable Shul in all.
Shabbat Shul, OCT 15nth, Waldron Location, 1:00-5:00PM Shul began with discussions on the NBC news program that featured three prominent men who were asked what they thought about all the the disasters hitting the earth lately such as the hurricanes that hit New Orleans. The three panelists were Jerry Falwell, Bill Nye the scientist, and some fellow named Horowitz. The moderator asked them the question as to whether all of these disasters were the result of the "judgment of God." Falwell, the representative of the Christian right political party, surprisingly denied that the events had any judgment portents. The scientist mentioned that the events were merely the result of man ruining his environment, and that global warming was the culprit. We discussed how we felt that the battle over the nation of Israel may directly be corollary with some of these events. Dinner was served (courtesy of brother James, excellent fare of cowboy beans, fresh Amish bread and home grown tomatoes) This Shul marked the end of the Parsha series with the last Parsha being Torah Parsha 54 VeZot HaBrachah 33:1-34:12 Haftarah Yahoshua 1:1-18 Brit Chadasha Mattityahu 17:1-9 Yahudah 1:8-9. The Parsha dealt with the very last moments before the Israelites crossed the Jordan river into the promised land. Since Sukkoth is very near, we discussed what the plans were for the HHMI ministeries in OHIO, which some of our members go to every year. Final discussions resolved around the translation problems in a Greco-Roman atmosphere and how some new discoveries are clarifying some of the problem texts plaguing apologetics for so long.
Erev Shabbat Shul, OCT 28th, Jackson Location, 6:00-10:00PM This Shul began the very first Parsha of the new year. Before we read the Parsha, we discussed a variety of things including the Sukkoth experiences that some of our brothers had as well as the early Nazarenes. Joseph Caiaphas, the high priest was discussed, and how he was illegitimate and not properly put into office when Annas was removed. This served to bring about judgment upon the nation but nonetheless, the Messiah still walked and worked within that imperfect system as he did the Torah. This discussion revolved around the statement found in Yochanan 1:1-18 where it says "He came to His own, and His own received Him not." The discussion developed over the question of who rejected him, whether the nation of the Jews, or everyone as a sinful human being. The recitation of the Shema as well as the Messiah's prayer commenced during this Shul. The first Parsha in the series was read and commented on heavily. Torah Parsha 1 Beresheeth 1:1-6:8 Haftarah Yeshayahu 42:5-43:10 Brit Chadasha Yochanan 1:1-18.