Entering Abba’s Fullness of The “Land” He Has For Us

Came across this from a mailing list email, but found it really encouraging!!

So important that we remember … maturing in Abba (including deliverance and inner healing) is NOT instant — it is a JOURNEY!

But EVERY step, no matter how little, COUNTS!!

May YHVH grant you the endurance and strength for the road :) Remember too — His Spirit is our Perfect Counsellor, and He is the GOOD Shepherd …

MANY blessings!
Joe :)

Possessing Our Own Land

“The LORD your GOD will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.” (Deuteronomy 7:22)

GOD has given each one of us territory that He wants us to possess for His Kingdom. However, in order to do so, we must first face the challenge of dispossessing the enemy.

Our victory or deliverance will likely not happen suddenly or in one fell swoop.

Since GOD says He will drive out these nations little by little, we might find that the process of transformation toward our freedom in Messiah Y’shua (Jesus) is gradual (Deuteronomy 7:22).

And as we begin to take the Land, we must remember that our victory has nothing to do with our righteousness or integrity as believers, but it has everything to do with GOD’s Integrity, Power, Judgment and Discipline.

GOD makes it clear that it was not because of Israel’s own righteousness that the Israelites went in to possess the Land, (for they were a stubborn, stiff-necked, rebellious people), but because GOD gave His Word to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, and because the nations that lived there were wicked (Deuteronomy 9:5–6).

These words should give us hope for our own lives. When we are confronted by a sense of our own unworthiness, ashamed by our sinfulness—our stubbornness and rebellion—we can still count on GOD’s Faithfulness to the Covenant we have with Him through Y’shua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

We know that our own righteousness is like filthy rags before the Holiness of GOD (Isaiah 64:6) … however, we also know that GOD’s Servant “poured out His Life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).

Through the sacrificial death of His Servant, Y’shua, GOD activated the Promised New Covenant with His people—a Covenant in which He would “forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).

Because of our Covenant relationship with Him, GOD will never leave us nor forsake us.

Though the way ahead may appear dangerous or impossible, we can always trust the faithfulness, merciful discipline, and leading of our Heavenly Father.

“For the LORD will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance” (Psalm 94:14).

MORE Reasons To Trust

Natural Idolatry

Tuesday, January 08th, 2008 | Author: Skip Moen

You shall not make for yourself an image  Deuteronomy 5:8 NASB

Image – What is an idol?  We certainly recognize the idols of ancient religions.  The Hebrew word here (pesel from pasal, meaning “to cut or hew”) makes it clear that the initial emphasis of the commandment deals with all those sacred objects men make in the pursuit of gods.  But a little investigation shows us that there is more at stake here than wood and stone.  Deuteronomy tells us that idols are an abomination to God, lumped into the category with devious and evil acts, stealing, evil thoughts, lying and pride.  All are abominations to God (and, of course, we have never done any of these, have we?).  The issue of idolatry is so important that Hebrew has fourteen different words for “idol.”  Some apply to external objects of worship.  Some apply to internal objects of worship.  All fit that same prohibition.  Anything that demands absolute devotion in attitude or action other than the Lord is the subject of this commandment.

Of course, we have all heard the exhortations against placing our devotion in money, power, other people or causes.  I am quite sure we have all endured the declarations of those who challenge our commitment by pointing to the inherent idolatry in materialism, nationalism or some other “ism.”  What we might not acknowledge is how perfectly natural it is for men to turn to idols.  After all, God is invisible.  His actions are mysterious;  His methods inscrutable;  His plans unimaginable.  The Bible readily admits that His ways are not our ways.  We, on the other hand, are all about “show me” devotion.  We want proof before we commit.  We want something we can touch or see or taste before we are ready to turn our lives over.

God knows this.  How could He not know it?  He made us!  So, God provides the proof.  He acts on our behalf.  Our problem is not that God is absent from life.  Our problem is that we want a God Who acts right now!  We have stopped looking in the appropriate direction to see the trustworthiness of God because we have stopped looking into the past to find the meaning of our lives.  We have been seduced by the culture of significance into looking toward the future, and since we can’t see the future, we’re afraid.  So, we make something solid that we can hang on to.  As a result of not looking back at God’s acts, we see nothing that we can be sure of in the future.  Therefore, we make up some substitute for devotion.  We put our trust in what we have now;  those things that make us feel secure.  We devote ourselves to what we think will serve us best right now.  In the process, we slander God.

God leaves plenty of markers to establish His reliability.  There’s a pile of stones where the children crossed the Jordan.  There are altars scattered across the land.  There is a rainbow in the sky.  And there’s an empty tomb.  But unless we gather our courage from God’s past acts, we will find the future so threatening that worshipping what we have right in front of us will be the natural thing to do.  Turn around!  Ignore the culture that tells you your safety lies in planning for tomorrow.  Look where God has already been.  That’s what sets the course of your life.  Tomorrow never comes.  What you have is what God has already done and what you are going to do with it today.

Is it any wonder that the Hebrew word for the future is a word that gives us an image of a man in a rowboat, looking back at where he came from while he rows toward a place he cannot see?  Once aligned with the markers he can see (where he has already been), his future is secure.  He can’t row while straining his neck to look where he is going.  So, God leaves markers, lots of them, in order that we can get aligned with where He has been, and be confident that the alignment will take us where He wants us to go.

Natural idolatry is the attempt to row forward without looking back at God’s handiwork.

And, by the way, once we divest ourselves of the history of God with Israel, or the history of God with our own family trees, we are set adrift without markers.  No wonder we flounder in the sea of idolatry.

Want to read more about the Hebrew view of the future?  Click here.

Making The CHOICE To Trust!

Oh boy! Did I have to read this a few times lately!

This past Shabbat’s portion dealt with the spies going into the Land — and the ten that brought back the bad report, and how because of FEAR, doubt, and Israel not TRUSTING YHVH … that generation did not enter the Land, but perished in the wilderness …

What a lesson we NEED to learn!

What is it about our fleshly natures, that struggles so to TRUST YHVH? Think it’s one of the greatest battles we face — and yet, should be such a “given”! As Skip says — YHVH is CONSTANTLY, always, ever faithfully worthy and deserving of our TRUST!

Skip’s word study is a very good read — may you make the CHOICE to TRUST! It really just comes down to that — a choice. And you’ll know when you’ve made the choice — there will be peace, even in the face of whatever circumstances surround you …

May YHVH keep you, shine His Face upon you — and grant you His SHALOM!

MANY blessings!

Joe :)

Eternal Security

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011 | Author: Skip Moen

Those who trust in the LORD are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. Psalm 125:1

Trust – Trusting YHWH doesn’t matter until it matters. When life is consumed by the routine, we don’t think much about trust. If we think of it at all, we think about the expectation of its consistency. I don’t have to trust that the sun will come up tomorrow. I don’t have to trust that tomorrow will be another day of writing or traveling or phone calls. Those things fall into the category of inevitability. They happen because the universe generally follows a cause and effect scenario. That’s why I have an appointment calendar. Life is not normally chaotic.

Trust is important when life isn’t so routine. That doesn’t mean you have to have an externally observable crisis like a terrorist attack or the loss of your job or a devastating injury. Life can be chaotic on the inside too. It can be filled with doubts, fears, loneliness, heartache; things that are hidden from the observation of others but are quite apparent to the one feeling the chaos. While you might not need an example because you already know this experience, indulge me here. I am often afraid. Of course, I don’t talk about my fears and I do my best not to show them publicly, but I know very well that they are there. I fear failure. I fear shame. I fear being left behind, being alone. Most of my fears are emotionally charged projections of self-induced despair. I simply don’t think I’m good enough – for my wife, my family, my friends or for God. I have a long history of sins. I know guilt in the first degree. That’s why trust is such a critically important experience for me.

I resisted writing that trust is a concept or an idea. Concepts and ideas will not remove the inner terror. I must experience trust to know it is real. Trust is found in behavior, not in dictionaries. If I hear my friend say, “Trust me,” but I see him act in ways that appear to be irresponsible or personally damaging to me, his words become nothing but words. I might suggest that he become a politician but I probably won’t give him my checkbook. This is even more critical when I have to deal with my most intimate inner fears. There has to be a reason to put confidence in someone and that reason cannot be a verbal assertion of fidelity.

But trust contains a paradox. In order to trust someone, I must take a risk. You see, no matter how much behavioral evidence I have that the other person is trustworthy, I know they might still fail me. I know this because I know myself and I have produced considerable evidence of trustworthiness and yet still failed to be 100% faithful. And if I can fail myself, others can also fail me. How can I really trust if trust requires me to risk what I don’t trust?

The psalmist exhorts me to trust YHWH. But why should I? Have I seen His invisible hand moving in my life? Am I confident that He will shelter me from my personal terrors? Do I feel safe with Him? I certainly can’t answer these questions with a resounding “Yes!” unless I have experienced His care and concern. But even if I have, there is this tendency to doubt His continued care, especially when I have no doubt at all about my sinfulness. This is when I need to know the difference between the Greek words for trust and the Hebrew word for trust.

Hebrew expresses trust with the word batah (Bet-Tet-Chet). The pictograph is “inside the surrounding fence.” In other words, the principal idea behind trust is protection. Trust is expressed in feeling secure, in being able to rely on someone, in being unconcerned based on confidence in another. Hebraic trust is about feelings! It’s not a lofty theological concept. It’s real behaviorally-based emotional security. The most important words that I can say in any relationship are these: “I trust you.” That means I place my well-being in your hands because I am confident that you are reliable, responsible and concerned about me. I believe that you will bring me shalom. If I don’t believe these things, then no matter what I say, I don’t trust you. When I say, “I trust you,” I take the risk implied in the equation of trust. I hope that my risk is rewarded, but I don’t know for sure. The Greeks noticed this inherent paradox, so their expressions of trust tend to be a little different than the Hebrew idea of security.

Greek doesn’t have an exact equivalent for this feeling of inner safety. In the Greek New Testament, several different words are translated “trust,” but none of them fits the Hebrew perfectly. Greek uses elpizo (to hope, to expect with desire), peitho (to convince, to persuade), pepoithesis (from peitho – trust or confidence), pisteuo (to believe, to have faith, to trust) and proelpizo (from elpizo – to see ahead, to know or foresee). You can see the cognitive orientation of the Greek terms in opposition to the emotional orientation of the Hebrew word. You can see that the basic idea of trust in Greek is tied to hope, not security. That doesn’t mean the Greek expressions aren’t correct. It just means that Hebrew is a “rubber meets the road” approach. In Hebrew, trust is about living, not just about thinking. In Hebrew, it’s about what I am experiencing now, not what I wish to experience if everything works out the way I hope it will. Perhaps that’s why we find this startling fact of the Hebrew Scripture: there are hardly any verses that actually describe people who trusted YHWH. There are plenty of verses that exhort us to trust Him but there are less than a dozen verses that tell us about people who actually did trust Him. Apparently the most important element of any relationship is not only difficult among human beings who can and do fail us, it is just as difficult with a God who never fails us. We might reflect on this fact when it comes to the lives of Yeshua’s disciples. There is no doubt that Yeshua demonstrated His trustworthiness, but every disciple ran when put to the test.

Now we have discovered why trust requires such an effort. Others fail to uphold our trust. Havvah failed Adam. Adam failed Havvah. It’s been the same ever since. Based on my experience with other people, I can never completely trust anyone. That is not a reflection of their deliberate malfeasance. It is simply a statement of the human condition. Everyone stumbles. I have failed to be trustworthy innumerable times. Just ask those who love me the most. I have failed to keep confidence with myself. Just ask God. So how can I trust someone else? They are just as human as I am. How can I put my well-being in the hands of someone else with unconcern for the consequences? In spite of the fact that the Bible exhorts me to place my well-being in the hands of my wife (Proverbs 31:11) in the same way that I would place my full confidence in YHWH, I struggle to do so because I have experienced pain and suffering at the hands of those I trusted. I am afraid because I know what it means to be double-crossed. To trust is to risk myself.

Paradox is at the heart of trust. Coming to grips with this paradox is the task of the human condition. I cannot become what God intends until I risk trusting Him and others. Other people may disappoint, but that cannot prevent me from risking myself with God. I must take myself by the neck and say, “What’s the matter with you? God doesn’t fail. Ever! It doesn’t matter what the circumstances happen to be. He is completely trustworthy even if you can’t figure out how He is engineering your life to bring about shalom. Stop peering in from outside the fence. Put your hand on the gate and step in. Of course it’s scary. But who are you to judge this situation? Is God like you? Not a chance! Put your fears away and take the risk to trust Him no matter where it goes. Put Him to the test. He’s up to it.”

Topical Index: trust, batah, risk, security, Psalm 125:1

Science Proves Premarital Sex Rewires The Brain

Found this article so interesting!

It’s always so cool when science finally catches up to the Truth of the Scriptures, and confirms that YHVH really does know what He’s talking about!

I found the article so amazing on two points …

1. SO many people have this twisted, terrible view of the Father and His Instructions — YHVH’s Commandments are not only viewed as old-fashioned, but are mocked and disdained, especially in our modern world — “You’re spoiling my FUN!”

If only people could see and realize (like with this article) that YHVH is a Tremendously GOOD Father, Who only wants the BEST for His kids … And as intimacy was HIS Idea in the first place, He knows just the best way to delight in it, that it would be an amazing blessing! On the flip side, He also knows just how devastating premarital intimacy can be …

So, the REALITY (Truth) is — Abba’s Instruction to wait until marriage is out of wanting to PROTECT His kids, and out of LOVE!!

2. On the plus side, we see that when we stay within the bounds of YHVH’s Instructions — we will reap all the BLESSINGS! And what blessings there are when we do it HIS Way!

Have you ever wondered why there is such an onslaught of perversion, of wanting to tarnish and destroy Godly sexuality?

Intimacy is one of the most powerful (and spiritual) experiences ever — could that be why the enemy has perverted it so?

Something to think about … And guard …

MANY blessings!
Joe :)

Science Proves Premarital Sex Rewires the Brain

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/39405-science-proves-premarital-sex-rewires-the-brain

There’s a reason why breaking up from a sexual relationship is much more emotionally painful and much harder to forget than one that didn’t involve sex. There are several neurochemical processes that occur during sex, which are the “glue” to human bonding.

Sex is a powerful brain stimulant. When someone is involved sexually, it makes him or her want to repeat that act. Their brain produces lots of dopamine—a powerful chemical, which is compared to heroin on the brain. Dopamine is your internal pleasure/reward system. When dopamine is involved, it changes how we remember.

The other part is oxytocin, which is designed to mainly help us forget what is painful. Oxytocin is a hormone produced primarily in women’s bodies. When a woman has a child and she is breastfeeding, she produces lots of oxytocin, which bonds her to her child. For this reason, mothers will die for their child, because they’ve become emotionally bonded due to the oxytocin that is released when they’re skin-to-skin with their child.

The same phenomenon occurs when a woman is intimate with a man. Oxytocin is released, and this makes her bond to him emotionally. Have you wondered sometimes why a woman will stay with a man who’s abusing her? We know now that it’s because she bonded to him emotionally because of the oxytocin released during sex.

Men produce vasopressin, which is also referred to as the “monogamy hormone,” and it has the same effect as oxytocin has on a woman. It bonds a man to a woman.

These “bonding” agents narrow our selection to one person. That is wonderful in a marriage relationship but really bad in a dating relationship because you lose your objectivity when you’re searching for your potential life mate.

Impaired Judgment

According to neuropsychologist Dr. Tim Jennings, “When you have premarital sex, your reward circuitry is bonded to them now, and it will be much deeper and hurtful. Oftentimes, in breakups of people who’ve been sexually active, they can’t tolerate the sense of emptiness, so they rush into another relationship. The neuro circuits did not have time to reset, and so they’re impaired in their ability to bond with the next person, and they may become sexually active with them. This is just a repetitive cycle, and there are real impairments in bonding going on.”

Becoming Bonded With Porn

These same neurochemicals are present when viewing pornography. A man will become bonded with whatever he is engaged in during the moment these chemicals are released. When your relationship is being carried on with an image, you become bonded to whatever you’re viewing.

Dr. Doug Weiss, a marriage counselor, advises men to have eye contact with their wives during sex because they become bonded with that person. By doing this, he explains that, over time, individuals will decrease the “neural pathway to pornography and sexually inappropriate thoughts and believes and glue to healthy sexuality to [their] wife. When your brain thinks sex, it thinks, ‘Where’s my wife?’ And that is a great way to fight this battle.”

Discovering how our minds were designed to operate by a magnificent Creator reveals truth in the way we are to live.

Cycle of Sexual Sin

For someone viewing porn, one of the functions of oxytocin is to separate the experience and the excitement from the intensity of the shame. According to neuropsychologist Dr. Jes Montgomery, “Usually by the time they turn the computer off, they are already sinking into a sense of failure and shame, and the function of oxytocin is to tell the brain, ‘Wait a minute. You don’t want to remember that. You want to hold on to this excitement and this amazing magic that you just experienced.’”

Knowing how these neurochemicals interact and change the brain help us understand why sex is meant to be kept within the boundaries of marriage. You see the overtones here about God’s design for His pure temple. This is another reason why the devil attacks our sexuality so much—because in attacking human sexuality, it actually interferes with human bonding.

So, for those practicing sex outside of marriage, they are creating a bond with their partner, thus inhibiting their discernment of whether they should remain in that relationship. God wired and designed our brains for a specific purpose: to bond ourselves with the person we marry.

Jennings, Weiss and Montgomery are just several of the many experts featured in the Conquer series 6-disk DVD set who provide amazing insight that help set men free from sexual sin, while providing practical steps to live in purity.

How to Test Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

A good reminder! Pray YHVH grants you HIS Wisdom and Discernment, as you seek His Face …

May you hear His Voice more clearly …

MANY blessings!
Joe :)

by Natan Lawrence

James 3:13–18, Who is wise. In this passage, James discusses heavenly versus demonic wisdom. Did you ever wonder how to tell the difference between the voice of Elohim speaking to you, and the voice the world, the flesh and the devil? This passage gives us some guidelines on how to differentiate between the four voices that are trying to influence our minds and hearts.

Let’s first establish the fact that Yeshua wants to talk to his spiritual sheep. In John chapter four, Yeshua declares that he is the Good Shepherd, and that his sheep hear and know his voice, that he calls them by name, and that he leads them spiritually and they follow him (John 10:3–4). At the same time, someone else is vying for the sheep’s attention—the thief. Yes, the thief wants to lead the sheep astray, for his intention is to kill, steal and to destroy (John 10:1, 8, 10), while the Good Shepherd wants to save and protect the sheep (John 10:9, 11, 14).

Throughout the pages of the Bible we read the record of YHVH Elohim speaking to his servants and leading them. Yeshua makes it clear that he is still speaking to and leading his sheep, and the Book of Acts and the Epistles confirm this.

So how does this passage in James help us to hear and to follow the voice of YHVH-Yeshua, the Good Shepherd? When we get thoughts and impressions that we think are the leading of the Holy Spirit, we must first determine their origin by putting them to the spiritual test. Is what we are hearing wisdom or knowledge that is from above, or is it wisdom or knowledge is from below—that is earthly (of this world), sensual (from the carnal mind of man) or devilish (from the demonic realm, James 3:13–15)? How do we know its origin? James tells us. The wisdom that is from below is envious, selfish or self-seeking, engenders confusion, and produces evil, while that which is from above is pure, peaceable, gentle,willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy, and it produces righteousness (James 3:16–18).

It Is Time For You To Know

Following is a link to the trailer of the upcoming UFO documentary by Dr. Steven Greer:

“Sirius” Trailer — It Is Time For You To Know

I haven’t seen the documentary yet — but the trailer looks very interesting … and very deceptive. 119 Ministries made the following statement in one of their teachings:

“The enemy will tell you a THOUSAND truths … to get you to believe  just ONE lie.”

That pretty much sums up the trailer … of course. as they say, there are technologies that have been oppressed by the “kings of the earth”, who don’t want anything interfering with the petro-dollar … and yes, they have caused (and continue to cause) much destruction, pursuing wickedness. And yes, there are supernatural phenomena happening today — UFO’s, aliens, and the like — HOWEVER, and here is where the “one lie” comes in … embracing the ET’s/aliens is NOT the solution!

Scripture clearly warn us of a coming GREAT deception, and the end-times being “like as in the days of Noah”.

Why the comparison to the days of Noah? And not another time period of history? What was significant about those days? For sure — the days of Noah were wicked indeed, but wickedness has been since the fall … is there something more we may be missing?

How about the couple verses that start off Genesis 6 — the chapter describing the days of Noah and the flood:

Genesis 6:1-4 “1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”

Hmmm? Pretty strange … if you do a proper study on this, you’ll find that this verse describes fallen angels co-habiting with earth women, producing hybrids called “nephilim”. And if you do some cross-referencing to the Book of Enoch, you’ll find that not only was this going on, but also the mingling/splicing of species — violating GOD’s Creation Law of “like kind to produce after like kind”.

So, in the days of Noah, we have:

• Fallen angel/nephilim/supernatural activity,
• Gene/species mingling/splicing (hybrids),

Sound familiar? Fast forward to today and we are seeing:

• Fallen angel/nephilim/supernatural activity — aliens/ET’s,
• Gene/species mingling/splicing (hybrids) — GMO foods, animal-human chimeras,

The world is being setup for some type of disclosure (be sure to check out Tom Horn’s and Chris Putnam’s work on Exovaticana) … and WHEN it comes, are you prepared to stand steadfast? Or will you be taken in by the great deception?

Interesting the subtitle of the trailer — “It Is Time For You To Know” … I’d say a bit prophetic.

It is TIME for the Body of Messiah to WAKE-UP and discern the times and season! To be vigilant and alert to what is going down … in order to stand FIRM on the Rock, in the midst of deception … and to proclaim the Truth in a dark world.

It is TIME for the Body of Messiah to RISE up and walk in the Fullness of the Kingdom — in the authority and power Y’shua has provided for us … we are going to HAVE to walk in the supernatural power of YHVH in the days coming …

Study to be approved NOW — begin walking in the Fullness of the Kingdom NOW — ground yourself in the Word NOW — and cultivate an intimate/deep relationship with Abba-YHVH and His Spirit NOW, while it is still day (John 9:4) …

Be NOT afraid! YHVH is King — He is ultimately in control — and has an amazing plan of restoration in all of this …

We just need to be vigilant, discerning, AWAKE … and moment-by-moment keeping in step with Him, seeking His Face …

Amos 3:7 “7 Surely YHVH Elohim will do nothing, unless He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.”

May you TRUST YHVH with and in everything — and LOVE Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength … may you walk in greater intimacy with Him, and discern His Voice … may He shine His Face upon you, and grant you His SHALOM!

MANY blessings!

Joe :)

P.S. The following are great websites in researching Genesis 6 and the days of Noah, and the connection to end-time prophecy:

Rob Skiba (Be sure to check out Rob’s BlogTalk Radio podcasts, and his YouTube channel, linked to on his website!)
http://www.babylonrisingbooks.com/

Derek Gilbert
http://vftb.net/

Tom Horn
http://www.raidersnewsupdate.com/

(Chris Putnam recently posted a review of the documentary HERE.)

Doug Hamp
http://www.douglashamp.com/

LA Marzulli
http://www.lamarzulli.net/

New GMO Wheat May “Silence” Vital Human Genes

Story at-a-glance:

• Research conducted on a new type of GM wheat showed with “no doubt” that molecules created in the wheat, which are intended to silence wheat genes to change its carbohydrate content, may match human genes and potentially silence them.
• Experts warned that eating the wheat could lead to significant changes in the way glucose and carbohydrates are stored in the human body, which could be potentially deadly for children and lead to serious illness in adults.
• Long-term studies are needed before the wheat is released into the environment and the human food chain – but a new review states that the risks are still not being adequately assessed.

By Dr. Mercola

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI7n_caiTvE&feature=player_embedded

Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) has developed a type of genetically modified (GM) wheat that may silence human genes, leading to disastrous health consequences.

Last year, University of Canterbury Professor Jack Heinemann released results from genetic research he conducted on the wheat, which showed with “no doubt” that molecules created in the wheat, which are intended to silence wheat genes to change its carbohydrate content, may match human genes and potentially silence them.

University Professor Judy Carman agreed with Heinemann’s analysis, stating in Digital Journal:¹

“If this silences the same gene in us that it silences in the wheat — well, children who are born with this enzyme not working tend to die by the age of about five.”

Over 770 Pages of Potential Genetic Matches

Heinemann reported that his research revealed over 770 pages of potential matches between two GM genes in the wheat and the human genome. Over a dozen matches were “extensive and identical and sufficient to cause silencing in experimental systems,” he said.

Experts warned that eating the wheat could lead to significant changes in the way glucose and carbohydrates are stored in the human body, which could be potentially deadly for children and lead to serious illness in adults.

Since this adverse effect is extremely plausible, long-term studies are needed before the wheat is released into the environment and the human food chain – but a new review states that the risks are still not being adequately assessed.

A New ‘Breed’ of GM Crops

RNA is one of three major macromolecules, like DNA. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is responsible for regulating well over one-third of human genes.

In a new risk assessment, Heinemann and colleagues explained that while all commercial GM plants are currently created through in vitro DNA modification typically to create a new protein, a “growing minority” are designed to change their RNA content in order to regulate gene expression.²

The technique, known as RNA interference or RNA knockdown, essentially turns off or “knocks down” certain genes. It was first used commercially in 1994 for the development of the Flavor Savr tomato, which was later withdrawn from the market, and has been applied in various GM crops since. As reported in The Atlantic:³

“Researchers have been using this phenomena to their advantage in the form of small, engineered RNA strands that are virtually identical to miRNA. In a technique called RNA interference, or RNA knockdown, these small bits of RNA are used to turn off, or ‘knock down,’ certain genes.

RNA knockdown was first used commercially in 1994 to create the Flavor Savr, a tomato with increased shelf life. In 2007, several research teams began reporting success at engineering plant RNA to kill insect predators, by knocking down certain genes. As reported in MIT’s Technology Review on November 5, 2007, researchers in China used RNA knockdown to make:

‘…cotton plants that silence a gene that allows cotton bollworms to process the toxin gossypol, which occurs naturally in cotton. Bollworms that eat the genetically engineered cotton can’t make their toxin-processing proteins, and they die.’

And: ‘Researchers at Monsanto and Devgen, a Belgian company, made corn plants that silence a gene essential for energy production in corn rootworms; ingestion wipes out the worms within 12 days.’ Humans and insects have a lot in common, genetically. If miRNA can in fact survive the gut then it’s entirely possible that miRNA intended to influence insect gene regulation could also affect humans.”

The Risks of GM Crops Containing dsRNA

According to Heinemann’s analysis, dsRNA-mediated silencing is becoming the basis of novel traits in GM plants, including biopesticides and altered nutritional characteristics. “Changing the nature, kind and quantity of particular regulatory-RNA molecules through genetic engineering can create biosafety risks,” the review reported,⁴ noting that, “we find evidence that the risks are not considered by some regulators.” They continue:

“While some GMOs have been designed to make new dsRNA molecules, in other GMOs such molecules may occur as a side-effect of the genetic engineering process. Still others may make naturally-occurring dsRNA molecules in higher or lower quantities than before.

Some dsRNA molecules can have profound physiological effects on the organism that makes them. Physiological effects are the intended outcomes of exposure to dsRNA incorporated into food sources for invertebrates; biopesticides and other topically applied products, and could be the cause of off-target effects and adverse effects in non-target organisms.

A daunting outcome is raised, that each [dsRNA] formulation might have its own risks.…Production of intended dsRNA molecules may also have off-target effects due to silencing genes other than those intended. Unanticipated off-target adverse effects can be difficult to detect and they are not possible to reliably predict using bioinformatics techniques. Regulatory bodies are not adequately assessing the risks of dsRNA-producing GM products. As a result, we recommend a process to properly assess the safety of dsRNA-producing GM organisms before they are released or commercialized.”

Risks of RNAs of Plant Origin Already Uncovered

One type of dsRNA is microRNA (miRNA). MicroRNA are basically small pieces of RNA that interact with your genes, essentially stopping certain genes from being expressed. MiRNA exists in human body fluid naturally; however, microRNA also exists in plants, and research has shown that eating the wrong plants may transfer this plant miRNA to humans — with potentially devastating implications.

The study, published in 2011, determined that microRNA from cooked plant foods like rice, wheat and potatoes can in fact collect in your blood and tissue, leading to a number of potential health problems.⁵ The study further revealed that microRNA remains completely stable after not only cooking, but through the digestion process as well. Most importantly, the researchers found a significant quantity of microRNA in the human body, concluding that:

“… plant miRNAs are primarily acquired orally, through food intake.”

MicroRNA has been widely shown to alter many critical biological processes, including apoptosis – the process of programmed cell death and DNA fragmentation. As a result, the dysregulation of microRNAs has been linked to cancer and various other diseases. And, as noted, plant miRNA has been shown to interfere with human microRNA by mimicking it and binding to the receptors, and also potentially through alterations in gene expression.

Most Consumers Unaware of GMO Risks

The biotech industry, led by Monsanto, is increasing their propaganda efforts to reshape their public image, and sway your opinion against the need to label GM foods. As The Atlantic reported:⁶

“Given its opposition to the labeling of GM foods… it seems clear that Monsanto wants you to close your eyes, open your mouth, and swallow.”

Indeed, many consumers are still in the dark about the very real risks that GM crops pose. The Canadian news station CBC News recently reported that despite warnings that GM foods could destroy the environment and pose risks to agricultural diversity, most Canadians have “no strong views on the matter.” Andreas Boecker, an associate professor at the University of Guelph who has researched consumer acceptance of GM foods, told CBC News:⁷

“These concerns among farmers and informed groups of consumers does not translate to the average consumer. They are too far removed from the concerns of the farming community… And if you go by shopping behavior most foods that they buy have some share of GMOs.”

This is precisely what the biotech industry wants, even as increasing research demonstrates GM crop dangers. One recent study found that rats fed a type of genetically engineered corn that is prevalent in the US food supply for two years developed massive mammary tumors, kidney and liver damage, and other serious health problems. This was at dietary amounts of about 10 percent. Does 10 percent or more of your diet consist of GM ingredients?

At present, you can’t know for sure, since GM foods are not labeled in the US. But chances are, if you eat processed foods, your diet is chock full of GM ingredients you didn’t even know about – causing equally unknown consequences to your health.

Keep Fighting for Labeling of Genetically Engineered Foods

While California Prop. 37 failed to pass last November, by a very narrow margin, the fight for GMO labeling is far from over. The field-of-play has now moved to the state of Washington, where the people’s initiative 522, “The People’s Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act,” will require food sold in retail outlets to be labeled if it contains genetically engineered ingredients. As stated on LabelitWA.org:

“Calorie and nutritional information were not always required on food labels. But since 1990 it has been required and most consumers use this information every day. Country-of-origin labeling wasn’t required until 2002. The trans fat content of foods didn’t have to be labeled until 2006. Now, all of these labeling requirements are accepted as important for consumers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also says we must know with labeling if our orange juice is from fresh oranges or frozen concentrate.

Doesn’t it make sense that genetically engineered foods containing experimental viral, bacterial, insect, plant or animal genes should be labeled, too? Genetically engineered foods do not have to be tested for safety before entering the market. No long-term human feeding studies have been done. The research we have is raising serious questions about the impact to human health and the environment.

I-522 provides the transparency people deserve. I-522 will not raise costs to consumers or food producers. It simply would add more information to food labels, which manufacturers change routinely anyway, all the time. I-522 does not impose any significant cost on our state. It does not require the state to conduct label surveillance, or to initiate or pursue enforcement. The state may choose to do so, as a policy choice, but I-522 was written to avoid raising costs to the state or consumers.”

Remember, as with CA Prop. 37, they need support of people like YOU to succeed. Prop. 37 failed with a very narrow margin simply because we didn’t have the funds to counter the massive ad campaigns created by the No on 37 camp, led by Monsanto and other major food companies. Let’s not allow Monsanto and its allies to confuse and mislead the people of Washington and Vermont as they did in California. So please, I urge you to get involved and help in any way you can, regardless of what state you live in.

• No matter where you live in the United States, please donate money to these labeling efforts through the Organic Consumers Fund.
• If you live in Washington State, please sign the I-522 petition. You can also volunteer to help gather signatures across the state.
• For timely updates on issues relating to these and other labeling initiatives, please join the Organic Consumers Association on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter.

• Talk to organic producers and stores and ask them to actively support the Washington initiative.

Ancient Hebrews in America?

Amazing history we most likely won’t hear about …

The research on the ancient (including the ten scattered tribes) of Israel is fascinating! Steven M. Collins has also done some very interesting research on the history of ancient Israel …

MANY blessings!

Joe :)

 

VFTB 143: Ancient Hebrews in America?

Posted on April 07, 2013 by Derek

AN 80-TON boulder in New Mexico raises some intriguing questions: Were people from the Ancient Near East in New Mexico sometime before 500 B.C.?

Dr. Aaron Judkins talks about his new documentary, “Hidden Mountain and the Los Lunas Mystery Stone” (also available on YouTube by clicking here) which records his investigation into what may be a Paleo-Hebrew inscription in the New World.  Aaron talks about the evidence for and against its authenticity and speculates as to why the Los Lunas Stone has attracted so little attention when at least one reputable scholar of Ancient Near Eastern languages, the late Dr. Cyrus Gordon, believed it was genuine.

Counting the Omer … Looking Forward To SHAVUOT!

Counting the Omer

Taken from the El Shaddai Ministries’s (Mark Biltz) email newsletter from 2012 …

Leviticus 23:15-16 “15 And you shall count from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, seven Sabbaths; [seven full weeks] shall they be. 16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall present a cereal offering of new grain to the Lord.”

At one time or another, we’ve all probably said something like, “Grandma’s coming to visit in a week and a half,” or “Only seventeen more days until my birthday!” But there’s one subtle difference – the usual method is to count down toward the big day, whereas in the case of the Omer, we count up … from one to fifty. Why the difference?

The answer is that the people of Israel were not yet spiritually equipped to receive the Torah. For over two hundred years, they had been living in an Egyptian society known to be the world center for immorality and vice.

The high-impact adventure of the Exodus – ten miraculous plagues and the splitting of the Red Sea – launched the nation of Israel into physical freedom. Any experience, as powerful as it is, does not permanently change anyone’s character. That is only possible through practice and adjustment over time.

Why did GOD wait fifty days after Israel left Egypt before giving the Torah? Why didn’t He simply give it to them in Egypt, or immediately after their departure?

You can take people out of Egypt, but you can’t take Egypt out of the people. Think of wealthy people who steal. Or people who attend a seminar all psyched up but no permanent change in their life.

Leviticus 25:8-9 “8 And you shall number seven sabbaths or weeks of years for you, seven times seven years, so the total time of the seven weeks of years shall be forty-nine years. 9 Then you shall sound abroad the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month [almost October]; on the Day of Atonement blow the trumpet in all your land.”

Why count the Omer?

Because He told us to. Beginning on the day that the first Omer of barley was harvested and brought to the Temple, a countdown to the next Biblical Festival began. The Israelites were commanded to count off forty-nine days and then celebrate the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost) on the fiftieth day.

Traditionally, the period of the Omer count is to be a time of spiritual introspection as the counters prepare themselves for Shavuot. Because it begins during Passover and concludes at Shavuot, it is a remembrance of the journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai. A remembrance of our journey from the world to a life of walking in the Spirit. It is an expectation of a coming harvest and asking GOD to prepare us for it!

The Counting of the Omer is a count up to Shavuot (Pentecost), the time of the giving of the Holy Spirit. It is a journey which is begun with Passover, the symbol of our Salvation in Messiah Y’shua, and completed at Shavuot (Pentecost), the symbol of our completion through the Spirit. The distance of days between the two events should be a time of spiritual reflection, growth, purification and preparation.

The Master’s Resurrection makes the counting of the Omer a season of special significance and joy. For His disciples, it is a time to remember the resurrected Y’shua. All of His post-resurrection appearances and ascension fell within the days of the Omer count. On the first day of the Omer, Messiah Y’shua appeared to Miriam and to two of our number while they traveled to Emmaus, then those gathered together.

John 20:18-19 “18 Away came Mary Magdalene, bringing the disciples news (word) that she had seen the Lord and that He had said these things to her. 19 Then on that same first day of the week, when it was evening, though the disciples were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace to you!”

On the ninth day of the Omer, Y’shua [Jesus] appeared again …

John 20:26 “26 Eight days later His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though they were behind closed doors, and stood among them and said, Peace to you!”

1 Corinthians 15:6-7 “6 Then later He showed Himself to more than five hundred brethren at one time, the majority of whom are still alive, but some have fallen asleep [in death]. 7 Afterward He was seen by James, then by all the apostles (the special messengers), [see also John 21:1-3].”

On the fortieth day of the Omer …

Acts 1:3-4 “3 To them also He showed Himself alive after His passion (His suffering in the garden and on the cross) by [a series of] many convincing demonstrations [unquestionable evidences and infallible proofs], appearing to them during forty days and talking [to them] about the things of the kingdom of God. 4 And while being in their company and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised, Of which [He said] you have heard Me speak. [John 14:16, 26; 15:26.]”

Acts 1:9 “9 And when He had said this, even as they were looking [at Him], He was caught up, and a cloud received and carried Him away out of their sight.”

The disciples waited and counted the days … forty-one, forty-two, forty-three, forty-four, forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven, forty-eight, forty-nine days of the Omer, up to the fiftieth day …

Acts 2:1-4 “AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place, 2 When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].”

May the FATHER BLESS you as you count the Omer, and prepare for Shavuot! May you be stirred to deeper intimacy with YHVH, and when the time comes, be filled (again) with His Spirit, that we may be EMPOWERED to walk in the FULLNESS of His Kingdom — a people who worship in Spirit AND Truth!

MANY blessings!
Joe :)

Paper vs. iPad

There are just some things technology can’t replace!

Paper vs. iPad (Le Trèfle Ad.)

MANY blessings!
Joe :)