Jerusalem, Jerusalem.  Epicenter of the Middle East. Navel of the earth. The place over which debates ensue and neck hairs bristle, while discussing the so-called fine points of controlling its’ sacred turf. Her name is bantered about in press rooms and periodicals across the globe from every tongue and tribe. Yet, tragically Jerusalem’s hotly contested ownership has also become the fodder for terrorists and extremists.

For those, who examine Jerusalem through the prism of Holy Writ, there can be no doubt as to the Owner of the Land.  According to the Bible, the city of Jerusalem has been claimed by none other than the Creator of the Universe… The Great I Am.  More than 500 years before Moses, God stopped Abraham, with whom He made an everlasting covenant, from offering his “only son” Isaac on Mount Moriah on the site of what would become Jerusalem.  A thousand years later, God called David of the tribe of Judah to establish the city as His own.  Also in covenant, the Lord promised ownership of the land and the throne to David forever. It was in Jerusalem, that God told David’s son Solomon to build His Temple.

But sadly today, Jerusalem is close to fulfilling a tragic prophecy given in the Word. She is becoming a “cup of drunkenness,” for all of the nations which surround her. She is far more than a bone of contention... she is a battle ground.

One need not be surprised that those who believe and trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are commanded in Scripture to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” In fact, throughout history, the Chosen People have not only prayed for Jerusalem, but prayed toward Jerusalem.  It was the place where the Most High put His name and His Glory.  At the dedication of the Temple, Solomon petitioned God to hear the prayers of His People when they prayed towards that place in repentance.  And pray towards Jerusalem, they did. Even in captivity Jews chose to pray while facing Jerusalem.  Remember Daniel?  In Babylon, he was thrown into a den of lions for praying aloud toward the Holy City. 

Throughout the years, archaeological discoveries have revealed that both ancient synagogues and churches were built facing Jerusalem.  Initially the “church” was almost exclusively made up of Jewish people who trusted in Jesus (Yeshua) as the Jewish Messiah meeting in the Temple or in synagogues.  However, as the Gospel flourished, more and more Gentiles became “grafted in” and the Jewish roots of the faith began to erode.  By the early fourth century AD, the “church” lost her Hebrew moorings and became entrenched in the Greco-Roman world.  Unfortunately, at that point, the Christianity which once looked towards Jerusalem in prayer soon focused on statues and religious icons. 

As many believers are once again rooted and grounded in the truths of God’s Word perhaps now is the time for her to arise from slumber and face the Holy City once again.  Jerusalem flickers as a spark in the midst of a tinderbox… surrounded by enemies and pummeled by so-called nations of good will.  In fact, in a few weeks she will once again be on the table in the United Nations as a bargaining chip.

What a golden opportunity awaits the people of God!  A time to rekindle the flame of loving prayer toward and for the City of the Great King.  A time to seek His face, to plead for the hearts and souls of the people in His Land.  Let us pledge to pitch our prayer tents and look to the Holy City watching for His return. May those of us who love Him unite with the Psalmist crying out in our personal prayers...

“If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill!  If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth-- If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.” Psalm 137:5-6 

Blessed be the Name of the LORD!

Every Sunday morning I begin my Bible study class with the traditional Hebrew Sabbath greeting “Shabbat Shalom”. It is my simple way of “blessing” the class as we begin our study in the pages of the Word of God. I continually make an effort to remember the rich meaning of those two little words I share weekly with the fellowship of believers. Perhaps as non-Jewish Christians many of us tend to regard the “Sabbath” as merely a physical day of the week…essentially Saturday for the Jews and Sunday for the Christians…which is set apart for worship. However the “Sabbath” (in Hebrew “Shabbat”) actually has a definitive meaning: ceasing from activity. In Scripture the seventh day of the week is called “Shabbat” as a day of “rest and of ceasing”… a day that is holy… set apart by the LORD. In Genesis 2:1-3 when God ceased from His activity of creation, He established the Sabbath as a time for man to refrain from his labor for a 24 hour period. Setting aside the “Shabbat” was also commanded by the LORD in the Mosaic Covenant following the departure from Egypt (1400-1300 BC). It is listed as the fourth of the Ten Commandments in the book of Exodus. The word "shalom” is often used as a greeting or a farewell though it can be used as a noun, a verb or an adjective. In this particular context of “Shabbat Shalom” it is used as a seventh day or “Sabbath” greeting and blessing.  The most common translation of shalom is “peace". However the word ”shalom” is derived from the Hebrew root “shalam” which in effect means “to be safe or to be complete”.  The salutation of “Shalom” packs into one little word the entire reality and desire of “wholeness, wellness, safety or completeness” for an individual.  Perhaps the most accurate way to translate “Shabbat Shalom” is “May this day of your ceasing, make you safe, complete and whole.” What a blessing… and what a privilege to know that as believers our safety, wholeness and completeness comes from the “rest” we have in Messiah Yeshua not only on the Lord’s Day, but every single day of the week! Shalom is a beautiful picturesque word.  In the Gospel of John, chapter twenty, we read of Jesus using “Shalom” in His greeting to His disciples.  Three times He specifically says  ”Peace be unto you” which, in Hebrew, is “Shalom Aleichem”.  Imagine…the prophesied Prince of Peace spoken of by Isaiah the prophet… actually stood and blessed His disciples with the greeting of “rest, wholeness, safety and completeness”… a magnificent "shalom" that He alone could give which would surpass all understanding. Even today, over two thousand years later, the greeting “Shalom Aleichem” can be heard on the streets of every city in Israel! Another modern usage of shalom may be found in a question which one person asks another…  “Mah shlom’kha” (to a male) or “Mah shlo’mekh” (to a female) which literally means “What, or how is your shalom?” Quite profound isn’t it? Imagine instead of being asked “Hey, how’s it going?” we were asked “How is your wholeness… your completeness today?” I know that it would really give me pause. I couldn’t just give some “random” answer. Almost immediately it would turn my heart inward towards the things of the Lord. Shadings of shalom are painted throughout the Word of God, yet the only way it can actually be experienced is in a living relationship with the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. For those who know Him, He is the One true refuge, the Source of all rest, the Author of all peace and the One who completes. He calls for all of us who are weary and heavy laden to come unto Him for the perfect shalom that is His alone to give! Though I have many favorite passages of Scripture which speak of  “shalom” perhaps one of my most favorite is found in the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6:24-26: “The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you shalom”. What a wonderful picture of "the realm" of shalom! As we look to the LORD alone ...He blesses and guards us...  graces us with His presence and favor and looks upon us ... giving us His shalom. In the quiet place where the cool waters of His Spirit flow to our souls the refreshing rivers of wholeness and completeness and His perfect rest come to soothe our lives. Praise be to Him for His goodness and His lovingkindness....  Shalom Aleichem!

While listening to the evening news yesterday it was interesting to note the differences between people speaking about the “Holy Land.” It seems that persons who regard the Hebrew people as interlopers and illegitimate “occupiers” most often refer to the Land of Israel as “Palestine”, while those who mainly recognize the Jewish homeland’s” right to exist” speak of the Land as “Israel”. Obviously there was and still is an ongoing debate over that hotly contested piece of real estate. People refuse to agree on what to even call it!  However, as Christians, I believe that it is good, even necessary perhaps, for us to decide in which camp we place ourselves. Is the Land given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the land where the prophets and the Messiah walked and the place where He will return… Israel or Palestine? Biblically speaking, the Scriptures reveal that the name Israel was initially given by God as a “new name” to Jacob, the grandson of Abraham. From that time on, Jacob’s offspring were referred to as “the children of Israel”. The land given by the Almighty to the children of Israel (Jacob) became identified throughout the known “world” at that time as “Israel” around 1200 BC according to archaeological data, and remained so for more than 1000 years. The fly entered the ointment in 135 A.D when the Roman Emperor Hadrian changed the name of Israel to Palestine after crushing a second revolt by the Jews against his empire. In an effort to punish the people and erase the memory of their land from off the face of the earth he renamed Israel “Palestine”…after the ancient foes of Israel… the Philistines. The Philistines are thought to have been sea-faring peoples driven from Aegean islands around 1300 BC. who settled along the maritime plain in what was southern Canaan (Israel) between 1100 and 1200 BC. Ultimately, they occupied the five cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron and Gath and fought with the Hebrew people up through the days of King David.  Remember Goliath... of Gath? The name “Palestine” is simply the Latinized version of Philistine. Hadrian, a dyed-in-the-wool enemy of the Jews, began a campaign of misinformation that remains alive and well unto this day! By using the name “Palestine” for the land west of the Jordan River, the legitimacy of the modern state of Israel was and is continually being questioned. Speaking of legitimacy, “Palestine” is now used by all nations of the Middle East… in their media, on their maps and in their classroom for the Sacred Land. Is there any doubt as to where they stand? Last time I heard it was something about the Jews needing to be driven into the Mediterranean. As a Christian I am repulsed by the term Palestine. However we are not without blame.  “Our” community also adopted the name as a substitute for Israel as early as 300 AD. The church father and historian, Eusebius, chose to use “Palestine” rather than Israel in all of his works. Ignorantly, though a resident of Caesarea (of New Testament renown no less), he referred to himself as the “Bishop of Palestine”! Perhaps he believed he was being wise in unstable times. However, as a result, the term Palestine is still used in our “church” writings and on our Biblical maps! In fact, the “Study Bible” I bought just last year has a map entitled “Palestine in Christ’s Time” as well as footnotes throughout which refer to “Palestine”. This should simply not be the case! Shouldn’t scholars know better? As the “world” around us juggles with the “hot potato” of the Middle East crisis, trying all the while to be politically correct,  we Christians need to gently… but correctly… continue to use the Biblical name “Israel” when speaking of the Sacred Land.  In these last days of apostasy, we have an opportunity to send a clear message that we believe the entire Word of God from cover-to-cover. If we search through the four Gospels, we will discover that the Sacred Land is only referred to as Israel, not Palestine.  Israel is the land where the Lord was born, was crucified and where He rose from the dead. From Israel’s soil He ascended into Heaven and on Israel’s Mount of Olives He will walk again! In those very Gospels,  the voice of Jesus the Jewish Messiah speaks aloud.  With His own mouth He calls the Sacred Land “Israel”… How can we… as the sheep who hear His voice … do any differently?

The next few blogs will be about Israel and her people. As we are traveling to the Land, LORD willing, in October, I thought that I would share some interesting facts about the country for this first "Israel Intro" blog. We will be "digging deeper" as we go along. The nation of Israel today is nearly one half the size of Lake Michigan Israel is 1/6 of 1% of the landmass of the Middle East Israel has only 2% of the population of the Middle East Israel’s population is half the size of that of Metro New York City The land of Israel is 55% desert Israel is the only nation on earth that entered the 21^st century with a net gain in its’ number of trees The city of Jericho is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world Israel’s Sea of Galilee is the lowest freshwater lake in the world at 695 ft. below sea level The Dead Sea is the lowest surface point on earth approx. 1,373 feet below sea level The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is the oldest continually used cemetery in the world Shalom!

Psalm 122:2 joyfully announces:”Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!” How I can relate! It is an amazing, almost overwhelming feeling to walk that sacred ground… as,  LORD willing, we shall again …  in October! Last month, the Jerusalem Post contained an article about the restoration of one particular gate which caught my eye... the Jaffa Gate. The Jaffa Gate was reopened to the Old City... as the “finishing touch” to a two-month renovation and cleaning project. The gate is one of four main entrances to the Old City, built by Suleiman the Magnificent, during the Ottoman rule and inaugurated in 1538. It is the most used entrance for tourists entering the walled Old City which is home to key holy sites in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It stands at a right angle to the western exterior wall of the Old City. Made of large, sand-colored hewn stone blocks, the entrance is about 20 feet in height and the wall above it rises another 20 feet. It marked the end of the ancient highway leading from the Jaffa coast to the capital city. Today it leads into the Muslim and Armenian quarters of the Old City of Jerusalem. The restoration was part of a $4 million project launched by the Israel Antiquities Authority in 2007 to" tidy" up all of the two and a half miles of the Old City walls… after years of neglect, destruction and weathering.  Broken stones on the Jaffa Gate were replaced and an elaborate Arabic inscription above the gate itself was reattached. Even the façade which was covered with automobile exhaust residue was cleaned with lye. In 1898 the Jaffa Gate began to be heavily used after being enlarged. Rather than having visiting Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany dismount his carriage to enter the Old City, the ruling Ottoman Turks had part of the adjacent wall torn down to allow his carriage to pass through.  Many have thought it a shame to have violated the ancient structure. Perhaps, the Kaiser could have walked in like General Allenby did a few years later in 1917. After 1948 the Jaffa Gate remained closed while Jerusalem was a divided city under Jordanian control.  In 1967 when Israel captured the city's eastern sector the Jaffa Gate was reopened. The antiquities authority decided to leave pockmarked stones from firefights which occurred there … so as to keep the character and history of the entrance intact...  something to remember... a price had been paid there. Quite a colorful history. In fact all of Israel has a "colorful" rich history! Though the walls of the Old City are a sacred treasure of antiquity to the Land, as a believer, I look forward to a glorious future day appointed for that place.  One far greater than Kaiser Wilhelm will pass through those portals! One who paid the ultimate price!  At that moment those stones will hear us shout!  We will cry out rejoicing with the Psalmist…”Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.”Ps 24:7 Just imagine that!!! I can hardly wait! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem...

Our pastor has been preaching through the Gospel of Luke and it has been wonderful! I must confess that I have believed that the canon of scripture was given to and penned by Jewish writers... that is, except for the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Both were written by Luke, a man that most biblical commentators assert was a Gentile. However, after “doing the math” this morning, I discovered that Luke actually wrote more of the New Testament than anyone else...more than Paul or John. Considering the extent of his work, I began to question whether I was wrong in automatically assuming that Luke was a Gentile. If Luke was a Jew then every book of the entire Bible would be Jewish. That would be a nice neat package... but... not germane to my faith. Granted, the name Luke is supposedly from Lucas, which is a Gentile name. However, so is the name Paul. In fact, quite often when Jews lived outside of the land of Israel they would use a Gentile name in the ”world” and then use their given Jewish name at worship and home. Perhaps his name doesn’t truly define him. It seems that the historic belief that Luke was a Gentile is based upon Colossians 4:10-14 where Paul writes:” Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.  Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.  For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.  Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you”. Paul refers to Aristarchus, Mark and Jesus called Justus as being his “fellow workers for the kingdom who are of the circumcision”... Jews. Is Paul is speaking of them as his” laborers” in preaching? In that case, Luke is referred to as “the beloved physician”. Perhaps Paul regarded him as a physician and not a preacher. Luke is only mentioned by name in Scripture in Colossians 4:14 as “the beloved physician”; in Philemon 24 as “a fellow laborer” and in 2 Timothy. 4:1 where Paul tells Timothy:” Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry”. In Philemon Luke is a co- laborer, but in 2 Timothy, though Luke is with Paul, he asks for Mark to come to minister. Is Luke more than a doctor-historian? Each reference gives me pause. We do not know how or when the Apostle Paul met Luke, but as a physician, Luke traveled with Paul throughout his ministry. Some have argued that Luke had to be a Gentile because only non-Jews were physicians. Of that there is no proof. In fact, Jeremiah 8:22 asks: ^" Is there no balm in Gilead?  Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?” and Mark 2:17 says ^: "When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."  I believe there were Jewish doctors among the Hebrew people. Reading Luke’s own writings also" muddy the waters" a bit. As a physician, undoubtedly he was analytical in nature. Upon examining the first chapters of his Gospel it seems that Dr. Luke knew many details about the Temple in Jerusalem even the divisions and rotations of priestly service.  Whether or not he knew because he was a Jew or because he learned from others, as well as the Holy Spirit, is unclear. It appears that he also knew quite a lot about the inner thoughts and prayers of Jesus’ mother. The manner in which he obtained that knowledge is worth questioning. Candidly, I am not sure as a Gentile, our beloved physician would have been able to interview Mary "up close and personally" in those earliest of the early days of “the church”. In the Book of Acts, Luke uses the word "we" often, including himself in the "mix" with Paul. In chapter 21, Luke writes about Paul being accused of bringing Gentiles unlawfully into the Temple in Jerusalem. Though Luke was traveling with Paul... the angry mob is focused upon Trophimus of Ephesus who was seen in the city with Paul. The suspected trespassing Gentile was not Luke.  Where was Luke? He was in Jerusalem, that is clear. Was he at the Temple? Was he ever at the Temple? We don’t know. Above all, my main reason for considering the possibility of Luke being Jewish is found in Romans chapter 3:1-2 where Paul writes: ^“What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?  Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.” In other words, Paul tells the church at Rome that the Jews have been given the privilege of penning the very words of God... to declare "Him" to the rest of the world. Is Luke an anomaly... an exception to that rule? At the close of the New Testament canon, are all of the authors Jewish except Luke? If so, he stands alone within an otherwise totally Jewish written Bible, from cover-to-cover. One way or another,  it’s a non- essential, but I admit, it is an intriguing thought. However, unless there is some new archaeological discovery in the days ahead we probably will never know one way or another. Perhaps it will just have to remain unanswered until that day... when I finally get into Glory...  look up into the Master's face... and ask Him with a smile...that "burning" question... “Who really is that doctor in the House?” Baruch Ha Shem!

I just finished reading the little Epistle of Jude again. What a dynamite book!  As a one chapter treasure nestled up against the mighty Revelation… it stands as book number 65 out of the 66. Within its verses the body of Christ is encouraged to contend for the faith, to hold the line, while living faithfully in the end times. Though the “last days” began when Jesus ascended into Heaven, the book of Jude is filled with godly counsel for believers living today. The author Jude (Judah in Hebrew) was brother to James (Yaakov in Hebrew) who wrote the Epistle of James. They were half brothers to Our Lord. Following His resurrection they believed on Him and became leaders in the early church. It is overwhelming to realize that, if in those very first days, apostasy was creeping in, seeking to discourage, deceive and destroy the young flock.... how much more should we be alert today! Two excellent verses which encourage the faithful are Jude 20 and 21: But you beloved building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. “ These verses begin with “but you”… telling us that we are different then the ungodly. We are set apart from the darkness within and without. While days grow spiritually “dim” around us we are called to cling to the true Jesus in righteousness. Jude also addresses us as “beloved”. The ones His blood bought. We are those “far off ones” for whom Jesus prayed in the upper room… His friends!  Yet, while rejoicing in our status as “beloved” we must stay busy in the labor of the Kingdom. We are told to "build ourselves up on our most holy faith"… in other words…continue growing in godliness. Like bricks mortared together we brothers and sisters in the Lord make a holy habitation for Him. As a sanctified team we build one another up in our precious holy faith.. as we encourage and exhort one another to demonstrate love and good works… to walk above mediocrity and stay true.  Learning God’s Word and applying  it to our lives helps keep us all on the “straight and narrow” way. We are also reminded to "pray in the Holy Spirit". Prayer is to be not a chore, or an exercise of last resort but a privilege of communing with the Father. Romans 8:26 tells us "the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” It is He who is "our Advocate" as we press on in prayer. No need worrying about having the “right” formula or words. In prayer we seek the will of God to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  It is not vain repetition but petition and praise from the heart. We are also instructed to "keep ourselves in the love of God". Though the Scripture tells us that nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" we must be vigilant to keep ourselves “close” to Him… maintaining a repentant spirit.  We are the watchmen on the wall of our own hearts and lives first. In other words, we must “sweep in front of our own door”. No need to take a twig out of our brother’s eye while having a two-by-four stuck in ours! The last encouragement Jude shares is to keep “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”… so simple yet profound.  In essence it tells us that someday the “war” will be over and our “number” will be up. Jude admonishes us to be mindful of that day and wait expectantly for it. Since Jesus has mercifully paid the price for our salvation… glory is guaranteed! In these two verses Jude tells us that as "mishpochah" (family) we stand called out, beloved of the Father in Messiah, led by the Holy Spirit, nourished by His Word… watchful… waiting expectantly for Him. Praise the Lord, He is able to keep each of us until that final day.  Until then may we continue to keep praying, keep  loving, and keep looking…  as together... we Hold the Line!

What comfort comes to the soul upon meeting the Lord in the unexpected dark corners of life! Almost three years ago I found myself there.  It was a place not of my choosing. I was sitting daily with my mother who was fading at the end of her life.

After more than twelve years of widowhood her health had finally deteriorated to such a point that she basically fell apart. She required 24 hour care. Unable to walk, reluctant to speak, she was imprisoned within a failing body, confined to an uncomfortable nursing home bed.  She was a little woman, hardly 4’9’, who had been a real dynamo in her day. Oh, like many of us, there were areas in her life which she chose to “ignore” or put on the back burner, but my mother had grit. Often as oceans of silence passed between us I would study her face and remember the days of my childhood as I sat in her room.

 I reflected upon times that when life had given one of the five of us “lemons” rather than lemonade, she would be sympathetic, but would not tolerate whining. In closing her conversations with us, her final sage quip would often be “Life is real, life is earnest”. (I never did like the earnest part). Somehow, even as kids, we knew that her insight was full of truth. Life was not fair. In fact, it could be extremely hard… and somehow we each had to learn to “deal”. So I was “dealing” while we were physically close… and yet miles apart …in that odd smelling place.

One particular afternoon as I sat and read the Scriptures, I was silently moved to tears. I had been by her side since early morning and the day seemed to drag on for hours while she slept.  My heart was heavy. I knew that I could not avoid the fact that we were rapidly approaching the day which I had dreaded all of my life. We were set on a path from which there was no retreat. After pulling myself together I stood up to give her a sleeping form a gentle “hug”… just once more for “good measure” while she was with us. As I leaned over the bed and lightly put my forehead against her shoulder in a daughterly embrace, she reached up and softly cradled the back of my head. In a hushed but steady voice she whispered two words…“Be brave”.  She knew I was there. She “felt” my soul. My heart was strangely warmed. She had impressed us throughout our lives to tough it out and now she shared it once again.

She rarely ever spoke to me after that. Some weeks later she passed into eternity. It took me months after that day to realize there was more than her grit alone in those two words. There was a spiritual blessing... a godly word... given to me from Heaven in that little phrase. While we were sorrowful and discouraged in that dreary place the Lord had seen and heard me grieve. In His lovingkindness He had given my dying mother a "word" to lift my soul.  It was from one of my favorite passages which I somehow "forgot" in my dismay... Essentially He gave her words from those He spoke to Joshua as encouragement when he was facing the formidable task of conquering Canaan… “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”Joshua 1:9.

On this Mother's Day weekend I honor her memory and ask Him to help me continue to "Be brave". May His Name be blessed.

From sticky notes on our refrigerators to warning labels on our medicines we are bombarded with reminders and instructions… signs which whisper “caution” or shout “don’t you dare forget!” While living daily on the edge never “knowing”  what lies around the corner we have come to rest and even rely upon those familiar guideposts to keep us in line, on time …doing it “right”. Somehow, perhaps, there is a hidden comfort in following a daily schedule which reminds us to stay on task. How much more should it be in the things of the LORD! As believers, we are admonished in God’s Word to remain on track, keep focused and not lose sight of the goal. In one way or another all of God’s people have been given reminders and signposts to stay the course. In the Hebrew Scriptures in Numbers 15:38-41, the LORD told Moses   "Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God." In essence they made tassels, or fringes upon their clothing to remind them to be holy... wholly set apart for Him. The thread of blue (reminding them of Heaven) set in the midst of the beige or white tassels or fringes (reminding them of God’s Laws) sewn upon their garments was a “heavenly sticky note”… a warning label which cried out “Keep your mind on things above!” “Guard your heart!”  “Walk the narrow way!” As New Testament believers we have been redeemed from the Egypt of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. Though we have His mighty resurrection power working within us, it is easy to stray on our journey upward.  Just as the Children of Israel, many of us choose to "see" our continual high calling to holiness. Whether we wear tassels with a blue thread, or “religious” jewelry or post Bible verses in our cars or homes, we strive to remind ourselves that we belong to The King!  Isn't it almost overwhelming? What a privilege we have!  What a magnificent call we've been given! Consider His words to us in 1 Peter 2:9-10:” But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” We are His chosen special treasure!   Beloved of God whatever it takes  to stay the course...  make it happen! Keep the faith!  Post the verse!  Just never lose sight of the goal. Remember…He waits at the finish line!