In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Friday, November 26, 2010

10 Generations from Adam to Noah

This is an incredible list that was put together by El Shaddai Ministries.  I don't know anything personally about this ministry but I was totally intrigued by the following information that I found on their site and then I found an audio of a similar message on Calvary Chapel in Orange County regarding the same teaching.  Don't miss this audio...it is incredible and full of great information.

Both teachings took the Hebrew meanings of the 10 Generations mentioned in Genesis 5 from Adam to Noah.  When they put the meanings together, it formed an incredible message.  I hope you enjoy this...I know I did!

Here is the list of names listed in Genesis 5: Adam, Seth, Enos (Enosh), Cainain (Kenan), Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah.

II Timothy 3:16 says that Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and disciple in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in though, purpose and action).  There is NO mistake in the message that is found here in Genesis 5.  See all scripture is profitable for instruction... those lists of names in Genesis have a message!

When the names are assembled in their birth order using the meanings of their names we find a message unfolding before us...just as it must have for those who witnessed this many generations so long ago.  See they understood the meanings given to their names and they understood the power of the meanings of the name.  First, let's look at the names and their meanings.  The bold names are the teaching from El Shaddai Ministries and the italic meanings in the parenthesis are from Calvary Chapel's teaching.

ADAM = MANKIND  (Man)
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
    OT:120 'adam (aw-dawm'); from OT:119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.):

SETH = APPOINTED TO (appointed)

    OT:7896 shiyth (sheeth); a primitive root; to place (in a very wide application):KJV appoint

ENOS = FEEBLE, FRAIL, MORTALITY (mortal or frail or miserable - inclurable as in a
          wound) (#582 FROM #605)
    OT:582 'enowsh (en-oshe'); from OT:605; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified OT:120); OT:605 'anash (aw-nash'); a primitive root; to be frail, feeble

CAINAN = A FIXED DWELLING PLACE (sorrow or dirge)

    OT:7064 qen (kane); contracted from OT:7077; a nest (as fixed)

MAHALALEEL = GOD WHO IS PRAISED (blessed or praise...the "el" means the name of God)

    OT:4111 Mahalal'el (mah-hal-al-ale'); from OT:4110 and OT:410; praise of God

JARED = COMES DOWN, DESCEND (shall come down)

    OT:3382 Yered (yeh'-red); from OT:3381; a descent;

ENOCH = TO INSTRUCT, TRAIN UP (teaching)

    OT:2596 chanak (khaw-nak'); a primitive root; properly, to narrow, figuratively, to initiate or discipline: KJV - dedicate, train up.

METHUSELAH = A MAN SENT FORTH (Muth=death, shelach=to bring or to send forth OR his death shall bring) (#4968 FROM #4962, #7973)

    OT:4968 Methuwshelach (meth-oo-sheh'-lakh); from OT:4962 and OT:7973; man of a dart; OT:7973 shelach (sheh'-lakh); from OT:7971; a missile of attack,

LAMECH = TO BE BEATEN, SMITTEN, AND TORTURED (lament - dispairing)
    OT:3929 Lemek (leh'-mek); from #4347 OT:4347 makkah,  a blow, by implication, a wound; figuratively, carnage, also beaten, slaughter, smote, X sore, stripe, stroke, wound((-ed)).
NOAH = TO BRING REST, A QUIET PEACE (comfort or to bring relief)
    OT:5146 Noach (no'-akh); the same as OT:5118; rest OT:5118 nuwach (noo'-akh); or nowach (no'-akh); from OT:5117; quiet:  


So now, let's look at the message here by putting the names together by their meanings from El Shaddai Ministries:
MANKIND / IS APPOINTED TO / A FEEBLE, FRAIL, MORTALITY / IN A FIXED DWELLING PLACE. / GOD WHO IS PRAISED / COMES DOWN / TO INSTRUCT / AS A MAN SENT FORTH / TO BE BEATEN, SMITTEN AND TORTURED / BRINGING REST, A QUIET PEACE.

Here is the list of meanings (from the teaching at Calvary Chapel) using the words above in the parenthesis that are italic:
Man / appointed / mortal / sorrow / the blessed God / shall come down / teaching / his death shall bring / dispairing / rest or comfort.


When was man appointed mortal sorrow?  In the Garden, when man sinned.
The Blessed God shall come down.  Who came down from heaven?  Jesus.
What did Jesus do? Teaching.  His death that would bring dispairing rest.
Here in Genesis 5 we have God's plan of redemption spelled out.  How COOL is our God?  He has given us ALL that we need for life and Godliness!


Either definition you use, you see a plan, a purpose, a word given to us for hope!  God is so for us.  He has spelled His plan out everywhere in the Word.  Thank you Father for your great love for us!  Jesus came to save us from our mortality!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving

What is Thanksgiving?  Well depends who you ask.  By definition, Thanksgiving is a day set aside for the purpose of giving thanks.  It also means a prayer expressing gratitude, a public acknowledgement or celebration of divine goodness.  For thousands of years, people have set aside a day each year to celebrate bountiful annual harvest.  Many consider the most famous Thanksgiving was the one held in the year of 1621at Plymouth where the Pilgrims (earlier known as Separatists) shared it with the Native Americans but many people may not know that the Pilgrims had many "Thanksgiving" celebrations occurring as early as 1607 at Cape Henry Virginia.  It was these early years that most likely established the tradition that we now continue.

The Pilgrims set sail for American on September 6, 1620 and for two months braved the harsh elements of the stormy seas.  After arriving at Plymouth Rock, they had a prayer service and began building shelters but they had little understanding of how harsh the winters were going to be and nearly half of them died before spring.  With much prayer and then assisted by the Indians they had a successful first summer with plenty of food to store for winter.  It was with gratitude that the Pilgrims declared a three-day  fest in December 1621 to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends.

The early colonists of New England regularly celebrated "Thanksgivings" after a military victory, end to a drought, or other favorable events as well. The Pilgrims periodically proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise in response to evidence of God's favor or a Day of Humiliation and Fasting in response to God's perceived displeasure. These feast and fast days were usually held on the day of special sermons called "Lecture Day," which was Thursday in Massachusetts.

The first national Thanksgiving occurred in 1789 and according to the Congressional Record for September 25 of that year, (immediately after approving the Bill of Rights):

Mr. (Elias) Boudinot said he could not thing of letting the (congressional) session pass without offering an opportunity to all the citizens of the United States of joining with one voice in returning to Almighty God their sincere thanks for the many blessings He had poured down upon them. With this view, therefore, he would move the following resolution:
Resolved, That a joint committee of both Houses be directed to wait upon the President of the United States to request that he would recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. . . .
Mr. Roger Sherman justified the practice of Thanksgiving and the resolution was delivered to President George Washington, who agreed with the congressional request. Thanksgiving was proclaimed by the President at the request of Congress and recommended Thursday, 26 November, 1789, to the people of the United States "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God." However, after 1798 the proclamation of a Thanksgiving Day was left to the states, for Southerners were slow to adopt the custom, some objected to the federal government's involvement in religious observance, and others disliked the partisan speeches and parades that became customary.

Thanksgiving Day became an official holiday once Northerners dominated the federal government. In 1863, after the battle at Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving to be held on August 6. Soon the public began to ask for an annual observance, so in 1867, President Andrew Johnson established the last Thursday in November as the official Thanksgiving Day. Two attempts were made by later presidents to adjust the date: in 1870 Ulysses S. Grant moved it to November 18 and from 1939 to 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it back a week to extend the Christmas shopping season.

Thanksgiving football games began in 1876 with a game between Yale and Princeton. In the late 1800s, parades of costumed revelers became common, and in 1924 the first annual Macy's parade was conducted. Giant balloons were added in 1927 and have been a staple ever since.

One more bit of history on the matter has to do with the menu.  For the first Thanksgiving there was probably a bit different that what you will be having on your table.  Geese and ducks were the mainstay rather than the harder-to-catch turkeys, since they reported they "in one day killed as much as... served the company almost a week." Other items on the menu probably included fish, eels, shellfish, stews and vegetables.  It is said that the Indians brought venison.
I pray your Thanksgiving is spent with a few minutes of reflection and gratitude for ALL Lord has blessed you with this past year.  Everyone of us has SOMETHING to be thankful for!


Some other countries and their Thanksgivings:
  • Australia, is celebrated in the month of March and is celebrated 3-4 days long.
  • Brazile, Dia Nacional de Aceo de Gracas, 4th Thursday of November.
  • British Isles, Lammas Day (August 1st), a harvest festival that dates back to medieval times.
  • Canada, Thanksgiving Day or Fete de Grace, or Harvest home Festival, 2nd Monday in October. Theirs also arose during the colonial period like the United States. The earliest Canadian Thanksgiving was held in 1578, when Martin Frobisher held a ceremony in present-day Newfoundland to give thanks for a safe arrival in the New World. In 1879, Parliament established a national Thanksgiving day on November 6; since 1957, Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated in Canada on the second Monday in October.
  • Chinese, the Ancient Chinese celebrated Chung Ch'ui, during harvest time.
  • Germany, Erntedankfest, 1st Sunday in October.
  • Greeks, the Ancient Greeks during autumn held a festival to honor the goddess of corn and grains, Demeter.
  • Grenada, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on October 25 and is a holiday that marks the anniversary of the US led invasion of the island in 1983.
  • India, is primarily celebrated in the state of Goa, with a different name.  It is poularly known as 'Ladin" or 'Ladainha'.
  • Israel, Sukkot, the 5th day after Yom Kippur.
  • Japan, Labor Thanksgiving Day, November 23.
  • Korea, Chusok, 15th day of the eighth lunar month of the traditional Korean calendar.
  • Leiden, in the Netherlands celebrates Thanksgiving.
  • Liberia, Thanksgiving Day, 1st Thursday in November.
  • Malaysia, the Kadazan harvest festival of Malaysia is celebrated by sabah every year in the month of May to thank their favourite Rice God.  It is locally known as "Tadau ka'amatan".
  • Mexico, Independence Day, September 16th.
  • Rome, the Ancient Romans, during autumn held a celebration honoring the goddess of corn, Ceres.
  • Switzerland, The Federal Day of Thanks, Penance, and Prayer, 3rd Sunday in September.
  • United States celebrates Thanksgiving.
*William Bradford, History of Plymouth Plantation (Boston: Little, Brown & Co, 1856)
The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United State (Washington: Gales & Seaton, 1834)

Friday, November 12, 2010

At the Cross - Hillsong

I know many of you have most likely heard this song and if you haven't are you ready for your heart to be moved as you enter into the purest of worship experiences?  At the Cross by Hillsong is one of the best worship songs that build me up and help me maintain my perspective when life can get busy and full.  Take a minute to fill your soul and water your Spirit...take a minute and reflect on what happens at the cross!  He is such a GREAT God and He Loves us SO!  It's time to be ministered to again.  Go lay it down, again.  Go into His presence, again.  He is SO faithful to minister to us again and again and again!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

You Gave Me Love - BJ Thomas

Years ago, and I mean, years ago I heard this song for the first time.  It was sung by the legendary (I call Christian) singer BJ Thomas.  I remember hearing about BJ Thomas first in the secular world but some of his first concert tours was with a Christian crusade as a singer. You too probably remember one of his more infamous songs Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head.  Being that he grew up in a Christian home it was easy for him to share his testimony after the great public notoriety that came from this song.

His personal testimony has been a life filled with ups-and-downs and I believe during those down times as he admittedly shared about his long struggle with drug and alcohol dependence is when he wrote some of his most inspirational music.  When I was a kid I would listen to some of these songs and they seemed to minister to me, deep in my soul.  He touched a place in my heart that was encouraged as he sang his songs from the places that he had been.  You knew they were from his own personal season of seeking the Lord and waiting on God to move his mountains.

To date he has sold more than 70 million records, earned 2 Platinum records, has had 11 Gold records, won 5 Grammy Awards, won 2 Dove Awards, has had 15 Top 40 Pop/Rock hits (in addition to the one mentioned above there is Eyes of a New York Woman, Hooked On A Feeling, Rock and Roll Lullaby and I Just Can't Help Believing), he has had 10 Top 40 Country Chart hits, he has become the 60th Member of the Grand Ole Opry in '81 and finally he has been the ONLY artist EVER to have the "Song of the Year" on the Pop, Country and Gospel charts!

If you ever need your soul ministered to, then I encourage you to listen to the songs below.  They have ministered to me so many times and I know they will comfort and inspire you as well.  Many times in my life I have found myself singing these lyrics to me...to build me up in my most holy faith.  I am thankful the BJ's willingness to write from his heart...I have been blessed by many of his songs.

I Need to Be Still - BJ Thomas...this song has ministered to me COUNTLESS times...be blessed by this!
You Gave Me Love - BJ Thomas...this is one of MY all-time favorites!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Hallelujah Chorus

So I am sure you have heard of these "group" type videos where a "random" and "spontaneous" event breaks out that is scripted to look like it just happened, right?  Well, this was another cleaver endeavor just done a couple days ago on October 30, 2010 when the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation's "Random Acts of Culture" at Macy's in Center City Philadelphia.

According to their information published on the link they Opera Company was accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ - the world's largest pipe organ - the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah" at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers. This event is one of 1,000 "Random Acts of Culture" to be funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation over the next three years.  The initiative transports the classical arts out of the concert halls and opera houses and into our communities to enrich our everyday lives.

To learn more about this program and view more events, visit randomactsofculture.org. The Opera Company thanks Macy's and the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ (wanamakerorgan.com) for their partnership, as well as Organ Music Director Peter Conte and Fred Haas, accompanists; OCP Chorus Master Elizabeth Braden, conductor; and Sound Engineer James R. Stemke. For a complete list of participating choirs and more information, visit operaphila.org/RAC. This event was planned to coincide with the first day of National Opera Week.

What I thought was so cool about it was the choice of the song, the Hallelujah Chorus by Handel.  This is a Christian song but because of it's place in history is viewed by many as a piece of art rather than for the literal meaning in the words.  Either way, was is SO incredible to me is that ALL these people are joining in together to sing praises to MY God and King.  That is REALLY something to shout, "Hallelujah" about!  See, every knee will bow one day and every mouth will confess Jesus Christ as Lord!  What a great musical picture this was of that day to come.  Be blessed and sit back and watch people join in as they sing praises to Christ!  Amen and Hallelujah!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Cannons - Phil Wickham

I heard this song today for the first time...maybe you have already heard it but I had not.  I LOVED IT!  The moon and the stars sing of how great you are, God.  We have heard this but really, think about it, truly there is an orchestra in the heavens declaring the wonders and holiness of the Lord.  Awesome song.  I hope you enjoy it as well!  Cannons by Phil Wickham a great song.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

At The Cross - Hillsong

Great song to encourage you when you need a bit of a pick-me-up.  Sometimes life can just be hard but every time I hear this song, I feel the love and peace of God saturate my soul. 

Get a cup of tea, sit back and be ready to be blessed.  At The Cross by Hillsong is just one of those powerful songs that minister to your very soul.