Do you remember hearing and reading fairy/morality tales and other bedtime stories when we were young? These were stories on how to live a right and good life while on earth that told us how to be good and the possible consequence if we do not listen. God has a way of teaching about Himself, what it will be like to live with Him in the Kingdom, and how we can start living that way while here on earth. They are the Parables but why did God have Jesus share in this way? 
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Matthew 13:10-13
During His time on earth, Jesus spoke to the people in ways they could understand. He spoke to the multitude by giving great sermons that convicted and healed. He had many dinner conversations that were lessons on faith. He had chance meetings, synagogue preaching, private conversations, and many others; but the one way he spoke to every soul was through the Parables. In this age we would call them illustrations and the point would still get across. Now every Parable that Jesus spoke was directly linked to the God.
14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
    and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
15 For this people's heart has grown dull,
    and with their ears they can barely hear,
    and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
    and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
    and turn, and I would heal them.’
Matthew 13:14-15
Parables and illustrations help the hearers and listeners to visualize what is being said because they take situations from the timeframe they originate in. Simple words for a simple time. Jesus gave the people a visual representation so that they could see and relate the stories to the Word which they had lost and get a picture of God’s desire for the personal relationship with His Creation. You see, it is all part of God’s timing and He picked the right moment where He knew that many of His Chosen People would return to Him. However, the people needed that physical representation and the Isaiah prophecy fulfillment of the Messiah (we always need something physical for some reason) in order to believe in the spiritual when it is revealed.     
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:16-17
Jesus knew how to get to the heart of the matter and speak to the very soul while giving a visual and sometimes physical representation on how people should live with each other and then compared it to life in the Kingdom. When God spoke the Word into mortal existence He brought the Kingdom with Him. Many people who sought (and seek) Him found (find) Him and those who were and are blinded by their righteousness are still seeking Him. The Parables are a great reminder that we will never be fully right while on earth unless we serve and are faithful to God through Jesus. Saying this reminds me of the old hymn, “Trust and Obey” that goes:
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey
But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay
For the favor He shows
For the joy He bestows
Are for them who will trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey
Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet
Or we'll walk by His side in the way
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey

 Jesus, the Word made Flesh, encounters all types of people and only a few ended up in the New Testament. The Twelve Disciples saw all the encounters and were party to most of them and there always seemed to be questions, at least to the ones recorded in the Gospels. The story of the wee little man, Zacchaeus, was no different but it was made into a children’s song. All we know about this person was that he was short, a dishonest chief tax collector with some others under him. Let’s look at Luke’s account of the meeting between Jesus and Zacchaeus:

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.  And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:1-10 (ESV)

Scripture tells us that Jericho was destroyed when God had the Israelites march around the city yelling, screaming, singing and blowing their shofars. The walls came a tumbling down then the Israelites rebuild and took over the city. Many years later the Romans occupied the area and they chose locals to collect the taxes so that others would trust them. Most of these tax collectors were dishonest men with few morals because they were corrupted by the false idol of money.

ZACCHAEUS SOUGHT HIM
Now Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming into town and wanted to hear Him and see Him but couldn’t see because of being short. Jesus sees hearts and could see Zacchaeus even before he got up in the tree. Jesus knew that people would be aggravated that He chose to share a meal and stay with Zacchaeus and his family but He did it.
What did Jesus show others and how did hearts change?
First let’s review what was said of Jesus by the onlookers in the crowd, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”  Jesus had mentioned numerous times that He is here to save the sinner. By that, He meant, those who are willing to accept the fact that they are sinners. The more you willing accept the fact that you cannot save yourself on your own, the easier it is for you and Jesus to come together. He does enter houses of other Rabbis but only after He sees their hearts and if they could be turned. He also knew what had to happen for those hearts to be returned to God.

JESUS WELCOMED HIM
God welcomes home the truly repentant because they fully understand that they are not in control of their lives. Those who believe they are good to go just because they believe, have done all the sacrifices, but go right back to their lives, are not truly turned back to God in their hearts. Also, you have those who worshipped the man and not what/who He is. He is the Incarnate Word of God, to worship the man you worship flesh. He worshipped God so we should do the same.

ZACCHAEUS’ REDEMPTION
Zacchaeus somehow was immediately changed as he saw not the man, but the Word. He knew his wrongs and repented both physically and spiritually. He gave up his job, his livelihood, his life, so that he would be saved. He received forgiveness for his sins against God first by his repentance, then forgiving others, asking for forgiveness, and receiving forgiveness from man. This is an example of what man needs to do to receive have a heart filled with God.

Have you repented, forgiven, asked for forgiveness, and received forgiveness? When your heart isn’t right with people here on earth, what makes you believe your heart is right with God, it isn’t.  Remember that Jesus said that those who cannot forgive (make things right) with their family, their neighbors, should not enter the temple because their heart isn’t right. Do you want your heart to be clean? It is all up to you to make things right, then your temple cleaning will be god for God to come in and finish the cleansing.

​Be Blessed today and every day. Spread God’s Word without fear. Jesus gave us simple stories with Eternity in mind. Have a Great one.
Pastor Rob 

Translations of the Holy Scripture are made for a people group to receive the Bible in a language they should understand. The problem is that so much can get lost in translation if there is a word that has no real exact translation then the whole sentence or even sections meaning could be a risk of changed meaning. The Scriptures we have today are translated from three different previous works. There is the Masoretic Hebrew text which is the Scriptures in the original language, the Greek Septuagint (S) which was written by Hellenized Rabbis for the Greek Jews, and the Latin Vulgate (V) or Roman Text. There are many differences just in these three from the original Hebrew/Aramaic to the other languages that there is truly a lot lost.
Students of Scripture can take many years to learn the original languages and be able to interpret meanings to gain better understanding and to be able to put the Scripture into words that others would understand. I personally use the Tenach (Hebrew Scriptures), the Complete Jewish Bible (translation from Masoretic), the English Standard Version (KJV 1611, S, V), and the NIV (KJV, S, V) to give me a better understanding.
The King James Version of 1611 is a very good interpretation but there are some things that just do not work. For example, no one is converted, that is a term that means physically transformed. The original Hebrew is actually translated to turned or returned. As we change our ways and our spirits are turned and tuned in to God. Now I understand that many churches refuse, even today, to use another version but please consider the children. There are many words used that even adults these days have to look up the modern term to understand the meaning so just think of when you tell a child to read it. I observed a children’s study at a church I used to preside over and cringed at the sound of children struggling to read from the KJV. No wonder we have confused youth. And guess what, when words are translated down to modern times from this original, you have to look at over 400 years of language change! 
When the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and the copies of the  Book of Isaiah were translated, it was found that all three of the versions in the first paragraph were similar if not almost an exact translation. Others were close but not as good as Isaiah. This definitely tells us the early translators paid close attention.
Today we are so inundated with many English translations that are given to having personal interpretations which change the original meaning. This makes it easy for people to get lost. In fact, there are even versions of Scripture that are changed so much that God’s Word has been perverted to a complete mistranslation so that man can feel good about himself. This is wrong. This is against God. What makes it worse is that the versions still put in the last two verses in Revelation thereby convicting and condemning those who made the translations.
When choosing a translation to read, do some research. What might seem like a comfortable and easy read may have many misinterpretations. If the translation has a name attached to it, research the person. Study Bibles are at most sometimes one sided with small print that shares what other translations may say and sometimes have opposing viewpoints to make one aware of hypocrisy. What I ask of you is that you prayerfully consider the version you read. Brothers and Sisters in Christ, be blessed today and every day. Treat your fellow man with the kindness and love of God. 
​

Repentance in Scripture is associated with Ashes. Many times in Scripture, the practice of repentance is also associated with ashes. In early times, Ash and Sackcloth were used to symbolize the fact that we are of the earth and not worthy of the grace of God. The individual wore the sackcloth and prayed for repentance of sin while covering him/herself in ash. This was a common practice when unable to perform the blood sacrifice for repentance.
Now, before you read further I have to disclose that individuals may be offended, it may cause some backlash, and this may make you rethink some things and your eyes opened. But if it is not said, souls may continue down a dark path.
We are unable to cover ourselves for our sin, only God can do that through the sacrifice of the blood of the lamb. Adam and Eve tried to hide and covered themselves with leaves but God saw their sin and covered their nakedness (physically and spiritually) with sheep skin. Abel knew this and sacrificed the innocent firstborn male and best of the flock in repentance.  Jesus was sent to us and was the final blood sacrifice necessary to appease God for our sins and His communication line with us became open once again. But God, did allow the ash and sackcloth when one could not sacrifice.
Pouring ash and wearing sackcloth is an act of humility and a penitent heart. When a person does this a deep and exhausting prayer for repentance is said at the same time. 
Scripture gives us many different scenes where the Ash and Sackcloth were used in conjunction with prayer when repenting. Here are a few of them: "O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, roll in the ashes", Jeremiah 6:26. In Daniel 9:3, He clothed himself in sackcloth and sprinkled himself in ashes as he pleaded with God in prayer and fasting. In Job 42:6, Job exclaimed, "I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance."
Covering oneself in ash is a Hebrew custom that dates way back in early biblical times. The practice of covering in ash and laying in sackcloth was still used in the early Believer Community and is talked about by the early church fathers in the second century A.D. Somewhere after this it changed.
John W. Fenton wrote, "By the end of the 10th century, it was customary in Western Europe (but not yet in Rome) for all the faithful to receive ashes on the first day of the Lenten fast. In 1091, this custom was then ordered by Pope Urban II at the council of Benevento to be extended to the church in Rome.  This destroyed the original intent of the individual recognition of the need and desire for repentance and condensed it to a once a year “celebration”.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent that consists of a 24 hour fast from sun up to sun up. Lent is the commemoration of Jesus’ 40 day fast in the desert and the defeat of temptation after. The issue I have with the practice is that some who accept the ash continue their carnal, sinful lifestyles during the whole season and just take it for show. They really do not repent and if they do it is not sincere because they stay in the world.
Thus leads to the issue with Lent. Lent in this day and age is a total of 46 days and many who practice it just give up something that they know they will pick back up at the end of it. The “fast” is not practiced on Sunday as it is the Lord’s Day. I am not judging but being perfectly clear about this. Abstaining from social media is not a right thing to say when you pronounce, “I am giving (Insert social media name here) for Lent” because you will be right back on it when Lent is over. Giving up things of the world on the short term does not the penitent heart make. The truly penitent will give up something they know is harmful to body and spirit and never go back to it.     
FUN FACT: It takes 6 weeks to create a habit and just as long to break it.
Lent, in original form was a straight up 40 day (no break) penitent fast. Those who needed to repent were given a shirt, covered in ash and could not return to the church for 40 days without food and had to be in consistent and persistent prayer. This has transformed into just giving up a habit or something that a person can live without for 46 days while still doing it on Sunday, leaving it to be 40 days. Those who go back to the habits given up were not truly repenting and were just giving lip service to the symbolism. To truly practice Lent one must go back 40 days from Resurrection Sunday and fast with only water to drink (to keep the body alive), be in constant and persistent prayer, and then have a little feast (not a big one) on Resurrection Day. If you cannot do that then take into account something you do that harms the temple (your body) and give that up for the full 46 days and do not return to the habit. That is repentance. 
Ash Wednesday this year falls on February 14th. I bet there will be some who have the Ash on their foreheads that will still take their loved one out to dinner when the fast is until morning.   
Look, the Bible never mentions the observance of Ash Wednesday, man came up with that as an observance to help those who could not break ungodly habits well after the books were written The intention was and is good but when it is perverted by some, as it has become, it loses its original meaning. God does not need us to set aside 46 days to show that we have a repentant heart, it is a 24 hour a day event. God desires that Self-examination, moderation, giving up of sinful habits, and being repentant from sin be life-long practices for believers. Man’s word and practices are corruptible and will fade, God’s Word is eternal.

Who are you? You are awesomely and wonderfully made to be who God designed you to be. But who or what influences you in your life. Is it your parents, your friends, or some popular person who you do not really know even though you think you do? There is one who has influence and authority over you for all time. In fact, the influencer has known you while you were still developing inside your mother’s womb. 

For you fashioned my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you because I am awesomely made, wonderfully; your works are wonders —I know this very well. My bones were not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes could see me as an embryo, but in your book all my days were already written; my days had been shaped before any of them existed.  Psalm 139:13-16

You are nobody but who God made you to be. That is unless you let worldly influences take you away from God. Our thoughts are manipulated to live this life to the fullest and enjoy the ways of the world. To get our best life now. Herein lies the problem, how can we live our best life now when our lives are corrupted with things that man has taught and designed that are not of God. Our best life now is in the suffering and living for the Word of God that provides direction to live an eternity in the arms of God.

The section of Psalm 139 that is seen above should tell you one thing right off, we are His. We belong to God even before we are conceived. In fact, His signature is on our DNA. When we are an embryo God shapes and designs us to serve Him. When someone takes away this life that was not theirs to take, we are taking away part of God’s Plan and His purpose for our being.
We are influenced from the day our hearts begin beating in the womb. The music, nutrients, and the sound of the parent’s voices are telling us what we will have to face in the world into which we are born. God tells parent’s in Proverbs 22:6 to teach the children when they are young the way they should go. So why not start when the child is still in the womb to prepare them to face the influences of the world.

A child’s mind is a precious thing. It is easily influenced and soaks up more than some people think. If the child is surrounded by ungodly things, the child’s influences are right away pulled from God. Lifestyle choices of the parents, other family, and friends can be a blessing or a curse. Be aware of what they see.

God sometimes gives people over to their sinfulness to teach lessons. We saw this in Rome and we see it today. The lesson today is the same as back then. Christians must return to God and leave the worldliness behind. Do not give in to society and keep God’s Word on our hearts.

Television and other media have influenced the thoughts of many generations, where was God in the child’s young life? On Sunday at church only? Or was God in the home daily? To be honest, my upbringing in God’s Word was not perfect but it was there. My parents were not the perfect Cleaver’s or Ozzie and Harriet, but I had Cristian influences. At a young age I knew the difference between right and wrong sometimes traveling down paths I regret but I made it through because, God. I am still not a perfect son/husband/father/teacher but I have the fear God in me daily.

I gave that glimpse in my life for this understanding. God will test us and if we fall, He lifts. If we fight, He might let go again but still is there. He is always part of us no matter what we do but if we do not follow His Word and keep it, we will have to face the consequences on Judgement Day. If we let go completely and stay in the world, then we have chosen to see darkness instead of light. If we let the world influence us to the point that we forget God, we are lost.  

These influences today are poison to our soul. Children are being told that their biological body is not their gender. Sorry, not of God. They are told it is ok to have lustful feelings for the same gender, sorry again. They are told you can be anything you desire to be even if it means living an immoral or amoral life, sorry, wrong again. Parent’s change your lives and turn back to God. You are leading your own children into darkness. Love them but love them with the compassionate tough love of the Father, not the Jesus Loves you and go on living as you want love.

There is a reason that God gave us the Ten Commandments and Jesus reiterated all the Commandments down to two Great Commandments. They spoke them not only for their glory, but for our mental and physical health as well.

If we love (worship, respect, fear, trust, etc.) the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind, that means we put no other person or thing before Him. If we love our neighbor as ourselves then we will not have the problems we have today. If we pay attention to those in appointed authority (parents, godly teachers, other actual authority) over us instead of the outside influences, we will eventually be better off.

By the way, God’s Word, if you’re a Christian you know Him personally, that guy named Jesus, Yeshua, Yahushua, Eesha, Isa, and more is the right way of life. If Jesus is with you, He is your main authority and influence through the Holy Spirit leading you to God. Worship leads to God. His teachings are what we should be paying attention to and emulating. Jesus’ lessons and those who reiterated His Word is what keeps us together, not any other person/thing who demands our attention and loyalty except those appointed over us.

​Jesus is Healer, Lord of Lords, Holy, Almighty, Wonderful Counselor, Savior, and Prince of Peace. His Blood saves. He is the Bread of Life that sustains us. Jesus. 

How did the early Christian communities operate? How did they live as one Body in Christ? The early Christian community was called The Way, a sect of Judaism. This community had Gentiles (few in number) in it even before Paul was sent out and were mostly Roman Soldier families and aristocrats who were transformed by Christ and the Apostles. This final part on the Way to Life talks about community living and the breaking of social status. 
 [My child, remember day and night him who speaks the word of God to you, and honor him as the Lord. For wherever his lordship is spoken of, there he is.]
Seek each day the faces of the saints, in order that you may be refreshed by their words. Do not initiate divisions, but rather bring peace to those who contend against one another. Judge righteously, and do not take social status into account when reproving for transgressions. Do not waver in your decisions. Do not be one who opens his hands to receive, or closes them when it is time to give. If you have anything, by your hands you should give ransom for your sins. Do not hesitate to give, and do not complain about it. You will know in time who is the good Rewarder. Do not turn away from one who is in want; rather, share all things with your brother, and do not say that they are your own. For if you are sharers in what is imperishable, how much more in things which perish! Do not remove your hand from your son or daughter; teach them the fear of God from their youth. Do not give orders to your servants when you are angry, for they hope in the same God, and they may lose the fear of God, who is over both of you. God is surely not coming to call on us according to our outward appearance or station in life, but to them whom the Spirit has prepared. And you, servants, be subject to your masters as to God's image, in modesty and fear. You should hate all hypocrisy and everything which is not pleasing to the Lord. Do not in any way neglect the commandments of the Lord, but keep what you have received, neither adding nor taking away anything. In your gatherings, confess your transgressions, and do not come for prayer with a guilty conscience. This is the way of life!
Notice that right away social status does not matter, a sin is a sin and all face the same consequences. Also, sharing in material needs, nourishment, and services is seen as a normal way of life. Little money changed hands between believers.  
Does anyone see the Scripture in the next part? Proverbs 22: 6 anyone? This goes without saying. The parent is responsible for the child until he or she is old enough be on their own. This is true for today’s world because it is actually a basic rule of life. The problem is outside influences but if the parents do right by their children, the outside will not be the teacher.
The servant and master dialogue is also found to be spoken by Jesus. One of the Apostles, Thomas, was a servant. He was given up by his master to follow Jesus. The master understood that the Spiritual debt was more important than any earthly debt and let Thomas follow his heart.
 
You should hate all hypocrisy and everything which is not pleasing to the Lord. Do not in any way neglect the commandments of the Lord, but keep what you have received, neither adding nor taking away anything.
This last part was held to a high standard in that there was always someone who tried to pervert the Word. This is a warning against False Teachers. These early Christians were still with Jesus and the Apostles teachings fresh in their minds so they could tell if there was hypocrisy being taught.    
Look into the Old Testament and what Jesus reiterated and you will find what displeases them and what abhors them. We are to keep the Commandments they are God’s Law not recommendations. Also keep the Scriptures as they are without adding or taking away anything. Man’s thinking does not override God’s Word.
Brothers and sisters, this was not just a grouping of believers in a building, it was a community of believers that worshipped together daily. They shared meals and material goods. They prayed together, sang as one, took care of each other as family because they were the new definition of blood related (blood of Jesus).  Each person had skill or trade to bring to the community that helped others. These were not communes, these were a people group that studied God’s Word and did their best to live a Christ-like life.