REPOST: Purpose of All Things

I often re-read some of my old posts to remind myself of my message and to self-inspire when appropriate. I came across a post from March of 2008, three months before my daughter was born, a time when I was a man much different than today, but in many ways, exactly the same. To remind myself and my readers of such an important message, let me go back a year and a half and offer you a message of hope in these dark days:

The Purpose of all things, by Steven M Nielson - Thursday March 6th, 2008

As a community of bloggers, citizens of the internet, we tend to spend much time analyzing and prognosticating... discussing issues and arguing the meaning of results... the free exchange of intellectual thoughts and ideas... sharing ourselves for a common cause. A cause protected by the Constitution... endowed as an inalienable right... Liberty... freedom to think... freedom to speak.

As we move forward through the political waters, I am reminded on a number of occasions that spiritual growth is essential as a part of personal growth.

So I thought this was a perfect place to share my thoughts on praise...

When I prepared the funeral for my Best Friend's father, Skip Hildebrand, I found myself in prayer... prayer that I could find the words within myself to capture the nature of Skip's spirit. While I was in prayer, I was reminded of Skip's obsession with lighthouses... and I thought of what these towers of light represent. Hope, for the ships lost at sea that land is nearby. Warning, that ships tossed about on the sea should heed the warning of the rocks which will surely break them. And Faith in Fellow Man, that it is our natural instinct to protect one another against all adversity. I wrote a moving eulogy, which was reinforced later that day. After reading the Biblical passages and words in memory of his father, my best friend played for me his father's favorite song... Kathy Troccoli's "Go Light Your World". I broke down in tears and exalted the Creator for allowing me to find the words, for answering my prayers, and for letting me know that no truer words could be spoken about the soul of Skip Hildebrand. There is no feeling like the one when you realize that you are in tune with the Creator, and doing His will.

That was a long four years ago... and though I find myself in meditation daily, and searching for the next mission or sign that I am living my life in a way that is right with the Teacher, the miracles are few and far between, though the signs are in abundance (and I am blessed that I recognize them). I am blessed with family, friends, health, and the ability to pray and meditate freely. I am blessed that by June I will be a father of a precious little girl. I am blessed that I am part of a community of thinkers able to understand and discuss. I am even blessed that my life was touched by a wonderful addition of our rescued dog, Sadie... who is a beautiful soul!

The point that I am trying to make is that all things have a purpose. The rise and fall of country and men... all for a purpose. The gaining or loss of wealth... all for a purpose. There is a time to every purpose under heaven. The purpose of man is to rejoice and do good in his life, and know that the fruits of his labour are the gifts from the Creator, our Father in Heaven, YHWH.

In all that we do, let us sing praise to the Father. Let us not worship, but thank. Let us not idolize, but emulate. Let us know that the strength we find beating in our hearts is the love of the Divine.

Let us each take a moment every day, not to ask for miracles, but to thank our Creator for the miracles around us... Let us raise our hearts and voices in praise... הַלְלוּיָהּ ... Halleluyah

May you all find comfort in your days, and find praise in your hearts for the miracles that exist around you. And remember - You, too, are a miracle.

Thank you for reading!

Is Jesus Worship Idolatry?

In life, one is faced with complex questions - be it earthly or spiritually. There is one topic that I have particular exception with, but I rarely openly discus... until now.

Jesus Worship

Does Modern Christianity have it all wrong?

The question stems from a recent discussion between a reader/blogger and myself - but I have had this very discussion with friends, family, acquaintances, and even sidewalk evangelicals... And it ultimately stems from the belief that Jesus is God - and anyone who does not accept Jesus as God is therefore forsaken.

I challenge that Jesus (Yashuah), himself, would reject such an idea - and would reject worship to him.

NOTE: Anyone who comments on this post - I ask that you start by stating your religious preference (church) to allow context of comments. (this is a KTRACY.COM rule)

John, in Rev 19:10, made the mistake of worshipping an angel of the Holy Spirit. The angel's response: "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship YHWH! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." The angels revelation to John states that to follow Jesus' testimony is to worship YHWH (not Jesus - simply follow in his teachings).

Jesus himself rejected worship of anyone besides YHWH, when Satan (a spiritual son of YHWH – as we are all his children) wished to be worshipped – Matthew 4:10, Luke 4:8 – “Worship and serve our Father YHWH only “. Jesus claimed before the Priests that he was the Son of YHWH, not God Himself…(Matthew 26:64). As well, the testimony of Christ to the rich man indicated that there is only One who is good, Father YHWH, and you shall follow his commandments (Matthew 19:17).

Based on these teachings, the words of Christ himself, I find it peculiar that modern Christianity (let’s say Catholicism) prays to Saints, sets up shrine to oil stains resembling the Virgin Mother or the Messiah, and humbles themselves before engraved images of the Christ on the Cross… This is in direct contradiction to the commandments, which in Exodus 20:3-5 state that there shall be no God before YHWH, and that no engraved images of shall be made of anything on earth or in heaven, and we shall not bow down and worship those images… AND, Jesus, when asked about the most important Commandment stated in Mark 12:29 “People of Israel, you have only one Lord and God”

The stipulation, as I indicated above, is that Modern Christianity observes Jesus and God as One through the Holy Spirit. This is what I have conflict with (as with the worshipping of engraved images). In accepting Jesus as a teacher and prophet, it does not mean that I am rejecting him as Savior – more accurately I follow his teachings of praise to YHWH, and rejecting praise to others within the Holy Spirit… Does accepting Jesus as Saviour necessitate that I accept Jesus as God? The answer is NO. It has to be no. Jesus himself clarified that there is one God, Father YHWH, and that all praise belongs to Him... even after the resurrection, Jesus was conducting the Will of God - and as indicated by Jesus, he would take seat at the right hand of God - not that he was God.

We are all free to worship as we interpret. This blog post is a call for discussion on the fundamentals of Christianity, and how modern Christians understand the belief that Jesus is God when Jesus himself denied this charge.

Personally, I have accepted the teachings of Yashuah as the Word of YHWH, that he is the Saviour of men through his sacrifice in that he taught the world the Love of YHWH... but I refuse to worship anyone but YHWH. Halleluyah - live in praise to YHWH.

LIFE

The founding fathers, in writing the Declaration of Independence, stated that man was endowed with certain inalienable rights... amongst these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. This is part one of a three part series discussing these three rights specifically mentioned by the founding fathers.

It is most interesting to me that Life is listed as the first of the three mentioned rights... interesting, in that it must be revered with the highest importance. Life, a right Endowed by the Creator of Nature, or simply stated - a Right Inherited from the Creator Himself. To this end, the founding fathers understood that life was a Divine Inheritance not to be wasted.

This understanding of the appreciation of life is evident, and weighs heavy on the minds of any judge or jury responsible for sending a convicted felon to their death. It weighs heavy on the mind of a soldier sent to the battlefield to kill the enemy. It weighs heavy on the minds of those who have been unjustly victimized by a murder of a relative or loved one. The question, then, is who is the beneficiary of this endowment of Life?

The question of life is one that is a heated topic in the political arena, that is, the definition of life. When does life begin? What right does one have to end a life in the womb? Is the endowment only to the strong, or is it our responsibility to protect this blessing, even of the premature or sickly infants and fetuses?

In every discussion involving this topic, one looks at the Supreme Court ruling of Roe v Wade. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973) is a controversial United States Supreme Court case that resulted in a landmark decision regarding abortion. According to the Roe decision, most laws against abortion in the United States violated a constitutional right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The amendment reads:

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Roe due to the technicality of the first three words of this amendment - "all persons born". Their decision justified the lack of legal protection under the law for the unborn because these fetuses were not considered in the writing of the amendment, and therefore are not entitled to any equal protection from the acts of the mother.

Now, this is legal-ese at it's worst.

The equal protection clause states that States shall not deprive any person of life... So the definition of a person is the requirement of being born. I challenge any individual to reasonably deny that a child of any fetal development age is "not alive". My wife and I had a miscarriage during our first pregnancy at 9 weeks... the hardest punch I ever felt came when the ultrasound showed no heartbeat, and that our child had died within the last 24 hours. Anyone who understands the intent of the Endowment of Life understands that even at 9 weeks, life is life.

So the question I pose is this: If Life is an Inalienable Right Endowed by the Creator of Nature (Yahweh, Jehovah, Elohim, etc...even for atheists you have to admit that there is a natural order to life and the universe that is larger than humanity), what role do individuals have in determining at the fetal level which life is worth living and which not, without due process of law? Should we allow abortions, but only after a legal hearing where the fetus has legal representation? Should the United States reconsider the wording of the 14th amendment to retract the word born and replace with alternative wording to include the unborn life? What legal jurisdiction does a father have over the life of his unborn child? He is the owner of half of the chromosomes, does that give him legal standing to prevent an abortion?

If life in our free society is so precious that we fight to save the lives of murders and other criminals on death row, what justification is there for abortion other than "convenience of life for the mother" (put in quotes because I know that there is nothing morally convenient... the decision weighs on the mother).

To my liberal readers: what is the justification for abortion?

The purpose of all things

As a community of bloggers, citizens of the internet, we tend to spend much time analyzing and prognosticating... discussing issues and arguing the meaning of results... the free exchange of intellectual thoughts and ideas... sharing ourselves for a common cause. A cause protected by the Constitution... endowed as an inalienable right... Liberty... freedom to think... freedom to speak.

As we move forward through the political waters, I am reminded on a number of occasions that spiritual growth is essential as a part of personal growth.

So I thought this was a perfect place to share my thoughts on praise...

When I prepared the funeral for my Best Friend's father, Skip Hildebrand, I found myself in prayer... prayer that I could find the words within myself to capture the nature of Skip's spirit. While I was in prayer, I was reminded of Skip's obsession with lighthouses... and I thought of what these towers of light represent. Hope, for the ships lost at sea that land is nearby. Warning, that ships tossed about on the sea should heed the warning of the rocks which will surely break them. And Faith in Fellow Man, that it is our natural instinct to protect one another against all adversity. I wrote a moving eulogy, which was reinforced later that day. After reading the Biblical passages and words in memory of his father, my best friend played for me his father's favorite song... Kathy Troccoli's "Go Light Your World". I broke down in tears and exalted the Creator for allowing me to find the words, for answering my prayers, and for letting me know that no truer words could be spoken about the soul of Skip Hildebrand. There is no feeling like the one when you realize that you are in tune with the Creator, and doing His will.

That was a long four years ago... and though I find myself in meditation daily, and searching for the next mission or sign that I am living my life in a way that is right with the Teacher, the miracles are few and far between, though the signs are in abundance (and I am blessed that I recognize them). I am blessed with family, friends, health, and the ability to pray and meditate freely. I am blessed that by June I will be a father of a precious little girl. I am blessed that I am part of a community of thinkers able to understand and discuss. I am even blessed that my life was touched by a wonderful addition of our rescued dog, Sadie... who is a beautiful soul!

The point that I am trying to make is that all things have a purpose. The rise and fall of country and men... all for a purpose. The gaining or loss of wealth... all for a purpose. There is a time to every purpose under heaven. The purpose of man is to rejoice and do good in his life, and know that the fruits of his labour are the gifts from the Creator, our Father in Heaven, YHWH.

In all that we do, let us sing praise to the Father. Let us not worship, but thank. Let us not idolize, but emulate. Let us know that the strength we find beating in our hearts is the love of the Divine.

Let us each take a moment every day, not to ask for miracles, but to thank our Creator for the miracles around us... Let us raise our hearts and voices in praise... הַלְלוּיָהּ ... Halleluyah