"The American Dream Reborn through Faith and Deed"

Currently in America's social climate, to adhere to a life of peace, faith and morality seem almost unreasonably challenged and efforts to live a life of faith are accosted at every turn; most especially in today's urban America. During these days of what seems almost our of control lawlessness and humanitarian effort failures of the solely self-interested, the willfully and woefully blind, the seemingly unaware and tone deaf political leaders who despite witnessing the horrors within their cities, they seem content to remain as noise traps and fashionistas all the while as they thrive in the limelight with no consideration to onslaught and horror brought on by their agneda and policies in completely inaptly governance.

One simply may deny the truths of human nature and the average of the statistics of those illustrating who suffer beneath the well-polished wingtips of them though emotionally and physically wrenching weights of submission forced upon the governed; there remain those in great enough numbers, who in faith and decency yet turn to Yehoshua Ha’ Moshiach (The Anointed One) in the knowledge that no matter the determination of inner cities and corrupt officials shall not long stand before the righteousness of the Father.

And still, among those fostering a faithful presence fall silent and intimidated by the slef-righteousness of those living though ego which provides opportunity for the evil of mankind to take hold and thrive. Today, we examine the matter of political, social and faithless abuse in its myriad forms. We draw attention to the forefront of observation, that each of us must be found grounded in faith and who must understand firstly that as loved children of Elyon (The Most High), to settle within our freshly discovered understanding is Avinu's (our Father) call to kindness and to love genteelly one another. The highlighted mission of this week’s Pastor’s Message is to remind us each to be gentle with ourselves and with even those unknown to us, most especially to those for whom we claim to care... regardless of circumstance or frustration.

Ruach Ha' Chdesh (Holy Spirit) speaks to us with the authority of El Elyon (our G-d Most High), declaring the necessity for us to speak gently, walk softly with a heart of love ablaze and prepared to extend ourselves in the light and love of Yehoshua. We are directed to present ourselves gently, warmly, lovingly and welcoming. We must embrace the wonderful of this world which unites us in place from a selfish heart which can only see division. We must be diligent to not indulge in that which is of fleshes desires which only serve to separate us from one another and from the true embodiment of the loving grace of HaShem.

For it must be that we must seek that which HaShem has commanded, for only through His Word and through the clarity His loving guidance may we truly see one another as the love filled beings we truly are in HaShem's Creation. We must engage in the great blessing found in encouragement and support of one another in love and kindness which shall enrich all far greater than any self-imposed ideological prisons created within the minds of those lacking an understanding of the true gifts of HaShem's love and most gracious bountiful blessings. It is commanded that Elyon wishes us to treat one another with kindness and a special tender love, as He loves us. How is it that more 33 percent of all female murder victims died at the hands of their husbands, boyfriends or otherwise significant other? That is, at the hands of those they were to be able to trust most. That's almost inconceivable.

Even more mind boggeling is the difficulty society which seems to hold to be compassionate towards one another. Before us, this seems a simple thing, yet to others... a naïve concept, though it remains we ask ourselves, why is this so difficult a concept to carry out? There is something very wrong in within the hearts and minds of a great majority of mankind. El Rachum (the G-d of Compassion), detests all ill-treatment of one another. We must once again rediscover the great and faithful loving path and truth in the value of a loving and mutually committed life-long relationships amid HaShem's grace and most especially with those we so dearly love. We must once again discover the unquestioning love of The Way!

In the fullness of observance, the most common and yet seemingly least of all understood modalities of subjugation of an intimidating rage filled partner whose ideology overrides all common sense. We must be fully willing and engaged as we look deeply into the abyss of hate and divisions of the troubled heart with the clear sight of an open heart. Among the varied sorts of abuses visited upon those who seek only to share in a settled domestic bliss and peaceful love; and who seek a harmonious home with their spouse and a great peace with their neighbors.

Of the mind numbing and collateral damage of physical, verbal, emotional, economic, financial, sexual and spiritual abuses, all of which are employed in forced attempts to keep consistent the controlled subjection of a far too pleasing and insecure person seeking the blessings of balance and symmetry in the foundations of a loving home and community through which faith is always at the center. We invite each of you to rediscover the power of Proverbs:

The Wisdom of the Book of Mishlei/Proverbs 26:1-28

"Like snow in summer and rain at harvest time, So honor is not fitting for a dullard. As a sparrow must flit and a swallow fly, So a gratuitous curse must backfire. A whip for a horse and a bridle for a donkey, And a rod for the back of dullards. Do not answer a dullard in accord with his folly, Else you will become like him. Answer a dullard in accord with his folly, Else he will think himself wise. He who sends a message by a dullard Will wear out legs and Lit. “drink.” must put up with lawlessness. As legs hang limp on a cripple, So is a proverb in the mouth of dullards. Like a pebble in a sling, So is paying honor to a dullard. As a thorn comes to the hand of a drunkard, So a proverb to the mouth of a dullard. Meaning of Heb. uncertain. A master can produce anything, But he who hires a dullard is as one who hires transients. As a dog returns to his vomit, So a dullard repeats his folly. If you see a man who thinks himself wise, There is more hope for a dullard than for him. A lazy man says, “There’s a cub on the road, a lion in the squares.” The door turns on its hinge, And the lazy man on his bed.

The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; He will not even bring it to his mouth. The lazy man thinks himself wiser Than seven men who give good advice. A passerby who gets embroiled in someone else’s quarrel Is like one who seizes a dog by its ears. Like a madman uncertain. scattering deadly firebrands, arrows, Is one who cheats his fellow and says, “I was only joking.” For lack of wood a fire goes out, And without a querulous man contention is stilled. Charcoal for embers and wood for a fire Charcoal for embers and wood for a fire And a contentious man for kindling strife. And a contentious man for kindling strife. The words of a querulous man are bruising; They penetrate one’s inmost parts. Base silver laid over earthenware Are ardent lips with an evil mind. An enemy dissembles with his speech, inwardly he harbors deceit. Though he be fair-spoken do not trust him, For seven abominations are in his mind. His hatred may be concealed by dissimulation, But his evil will be exposed to public view. He who digs a pit will fall in it, And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. A lying tongue hates those crushed by it; Smooth speech throws one down."

We must seek incertain to be abundantly clear; the path to escape the fool and leading to the end of the sufferings by our own permission shall be made apparent. Elohei Tzur Yishi (G-d, rock of my salvation) brings us strong in heart and faith from the bondage of the suffering beneath the fool. As we once again open and rededicate our hearts to Elohei Avotenu (The G-d of our Fathers), we shall speak with an enlightened heart and open candor of the many kinds of abuses we have been brought to endure daily by the failed hearts of the faithless. Often time’s people who are feeling subjected, abused and cast aside shall feel less dis-eased as they openly recognize a source for the support of their very spirit.

Such a person felt compelled to share their pain with me this past week, as the cycle of continued self-subjugation is permitted to continue, it by nature only gets worse, more abusive, more horrific, enduring further silent slashes of death marring the soul of the subjected. Far too many who fallen victim to theses cycles of constant abuse on so many levels find the cycles themselves occur with increasing frequent, become far more aggressive and greater in violence. At times the abuse is as simple as poking, shoving and grabbing forcefully or domination and abusive through verbal control. Abuse at its vey base is found where one person seeks to dominate another, regardless of cause, excuse or explanation; there is simply absolutely no justification… this is definitive abuse.

We see the mind set of this abuse more readily accepted by the general public at the hands of those officials held up as political and community leaders.

It must be the desire of each of us to wish to eradicate that as abuse jeopardizes our lives in ways which both are seen and unseen; both felt and unfelt. Psychological abuse thrust upon the mild and meek amid the manipulation of long held societal standards which serve only the abuser and the elimination of the same is necessary for a healthy and productive society.

The outward signs and symptoms of population manipulation often start small at first as the abuser "tests the waters" to discover the breadth and depth of boundaries within which they overexert their deeply damaging cohesions. The testing of the milder person will continue onto extreme extents until such time the gentle person either strikes out, strikes back or strikes through upon their own; but long before the psychological abuse builds into something that can be life condemning or life affirming, most usually employ the former rather than the latter; depending on whether a true support network is consistently available among the surmounting of the heaviness of the valley of darkness which is visited upon the abused. Amid the weakness of our intimidation is where we must rediscover the fortitude to fight to regain footing in truth and righteousness.

Elohei Tehillati (the G-d of my praise) has an intended design for our lives, our towns and our homes. We are commanded to strive to be of heaven. Granted insight of expectations of what life shall be here upon His earth in the presence of His Kingdom, here and now, just as promised. This remains the calling of El Chaiyai (the G-d of my life) to all of His children; to prepare ourselves and join our family in faith for the harmonious glory soon to come, now are indeed the time of preparation! This command we are given is to include to the intervening within prayer and forthcoming of deed in any and all efforts possible to eliminate the powerful temptations of ego and bring unto ourselves purely to openly loving hearts.

The Book of Mishlei//Proverbs 10:11 clearly suggests to us the results of humanities abuse against humanity. Moreover, even though the difference of translation from the Hebrew, the message of Proverbs 10:11 is equally clear. It is clear the abuser will be lost. You're going to be lost if you keep abusing those around you, those you represent and especially your family. Mishlei/Proverbs 10:11; “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But lawlessness covers the mouth of the wicked.“ This same Proverb is translated from the Hebrew and the Greek and recorded in KJV (That, of course, explains why the marginal notes throughout the 1611 edition of the KJV which makes reference to the original Hebrew and Greek, listed here.) as “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.”

Elohei Ma’uzzi (G-d, My Strong Fortress) created young men strong and with muscles. He eid so to fulfill His purpose. He did so that the young men may have strength and stamina for the protection of families and kins people! Know we can use these muscles for a striking noble and great purpose. If we don't, we are classified as here in this verse as wicked. "When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul" - {Yichzekel/Ezekeil 33:8-9} confirming in the person of Yehoshua and through Yehoshua's sacrifice of the payment of the debts of our sins upon that ruggedly hewn tree and through which we have received redemption and forgiveness. To do this, we must stop, reflect and destroy the golden calf of our egos and eliminate illusions of complete control.

Reflecting on Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 10:8: But they are both dull and foolish; [Their] doctrine is but delusion; It is a piece of wood,) “But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.” – {Book of Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 10:8} Together in the sight of Elohim Bashamayim (G-d in Heaven) we finally have sight of our passing idols and watch in joy as they slip from us void of any meaning.

I am most greatly honored, humbled and privileged to share this message to you today. I feel very strongly about the elimination of abuse and control and any kind of abuse. It is defiant of the will of Elohim, and it is wrong. If you are an abuser, seek to turn your heart toward He who grants eternal life or you shall fail in life and in the lives of those around you. Our abuses may easily become unfettered rage; we hear stories each day of “people losing it! Mass shootings, crimes against one another in horrific manner and beyond belief… unless you’re tuned out you know what madness metastasizes throughout our society.

Something ill is bound to happen. We need an end to abuse, period. We require more tenderness of love in our families, within our places of worship, within our workplace and altogether within our lives. Is the practicing faithful kinder before one another compared to those outside their circle out there in the world or are we more particular in our judgment of one another? Is there less abuse found among the faithful compared to the world absent of faith?

Regrettably, each of us have endured our share of abuses before we had come to our senses and our eyes were opened. Though in my best efforts, I have never an abuser. I'm happy about that part. It is of great importance that we are tender to one another, even as Yehoshua is tenderhearted and merciful always to us. Let us be more like Yehoshua within our homes and among our communities. Our homes and fellow faithful deserve that, so do they of little faith most certainly, our children deserve that. If we have done wrong, we must seek forgiveness from whom we have wronged and in HaaShem Himself. We must ask for a strengthened will to correct course. If we can't stop, then we must get out of the way of someone else's life to take care our lacking and depraved faith is not infectious. We must seek not to ruin them. We must depart in haste within our darkness from those who rest easily in His light. Blessed be His most holy name, may HaShem yet guide us to become the fullness of glory within our potential?

Blessed be you always, El Yashuati (G-d is my Salvation), for the sweetness and mercies of your love and the fullness of the undeserved blessings of your grace. Blessed are you the Anointed One, Yehsohua through which has been brought to bear greatness of our Fatehr's mercy to guide us and show us The Way to righteousness through the example of Ha' Moshiach. In your loving graced mercy, may each of you abide HaShem as He grants peace and harmony in our hearts, in our homes and in our lives. Father, we praise your holy name inr all your wonder and graciousness.

Walk in faith, go in His grace and know that YOU are loved,

Pastor Mark