FOR THE LOVE OF BACON

 

FOR THE LOVE OF BACON

People think that I have a dietary problem, and maybe I do. To the people around me it’s not what I eat that is the problem, it’s what I don’t eat.  You see I believe that every word that God wrote to us is relevant and to be acted on and obeyed. We need to study the whole of His instruction, both Old and New Testament, to know His heart for us, and we may rest assured that His heart is for us. Everything He does, everything He says is for a purpose, and our good is that purpose. If you want proof of that just look at this place called Earth we call home and as you wonder at creation realize that it was created just for us. In light of that wonder, is there anything that He asks of us that we have the right to ignore or disobey? Really! ask yourself, honestly.

It was in 2012 when I first began to deeply study the Hebrew Scriptures that the scales began to all fall from my eyes. As my teachers began to unravel the scriptures and to reveal the many diversions the translators and church fathers had created within the teachings of the church I began to understand some of the places where we were in complete defiance of the word of God.

Today I would like to speak about food, in particular PORK. This is a food so loved by the western world that to give up eating bacon is seen as paramount to dying. I heard second hand about a Jew who was willing to declare that he had a bacon tree in his back garden rather than give up eating it. He knew the truth and he chose disobedience. His choice, and we all are able to make choices. Good or bad, up to us.  

If you are reading this I hope that it is with the view to discover, or at least, to reviewing your thoughts and “knowledge” of the issue of food, good or bad. If your only thought is to read and prove me wrong, then please move on to something else. I am so used to people who only listen, or seem to listen, when in reality they are simply thinking of the next hard question to ask me. Dialogue is wonderful but aggression gets us nowhere. Then there are those who say “I don’t share your conviction” and just walk off. I know a Rabbi who calls these remarks “Drive Bys” shoot your mouth off and then leave before retaliation can be voiced.

Acts 10:24 to 11:30 lay the issue out in a fairly straight forward manner, and if this passage is read with the mindset of learning, even unlearning, then the reader finds that Peter’s vision is not about food at all, but about the gentiles who where to be given a status of cleanliness as they came to faith. I am a gentile, it was all about my salvation. To my mind it is one of the most important passages in the New Testament, and we want to make it about what we can eat. The fact that the vision was based on food shows just how important the issue of food is to Yeshua.

There are many things that we get wrong, but that does not mean that we cannot learn and get it right. In 2010, during my first visit to Israel, I stood outside the house of Simon the Tanner in Joppa, and I declared, quite loudly, that this is where Jesus declared all food clean for me to eat. In 2012, after sitting at the feet of some amazing teachers, I stood outside the house of Simon the Tanner and declared and this is where Yeshua said that I could be made righteous. This time with great humility and gratitude. Still striving to get it right, but a little closer to the goal now.

The issue of food seems to be a situation where people have the answers they need and search the scriptures to find the questions that can lead them to those answers. Because of this I no longer seek to witness to people about food, God can explain it so much better, their eyes just have to be opened. Conversations within the congregation can turn quite nasty, and I have to admit that I have grown quite weary.

But here I am in this space, and my chosen subject today is Pork. When my eldest daughter was four I perceived a change in her, as a mother I really sensed a change in her and became certain that it was a health issue. We visited the doctor, but he declined to believe me and declared that she was a perfectly healthy child. I vividly remember begging him to do a blood test just to be sure. Eventually he agreed and the test was done. When the results came back, he didn’t wait for the next visit, he contacted me urgently and informed me that she was grossly anemic. She was prescribed massive doses of iron, and we had to carefully monitor her diet in order to feed her food charged with iron. I have to admit that I am still in awe of that little four year old who cooperated in every way that she could in order to get well. But the fact remained that she was still sick and we had to find out what was wrong. More tests were done and a parasite was found lodged in her bowel. It had come from raw pork. She used to steal raw veg from the chopping board as I prepped the cooking, and she must have somehow gotten some raw meat as well. We treated her, and continued to treat her for some years and she has now grown up with a family of her own, but it could have been so much worse. As you can imagine, I have studied as much as I can to become as informed about pork as I can, but I stopped worrying about it and simply stopped eating anything pork. But, I have since discovered that this same parasite that was lodged in my daughters bowel, can make its way to the brain, and (according to the researches I studied) is the cause of epilepsy in 94% of cases in Africa. That was very frightening to learn, but as I am personally convicted that pork is not for me, I don’t have to take it any further. This is a matter that people need to search and research for their own good.

It has been said that the pig is the biggest fake that we can come across. He looks at us with his cloven hoofs stretched out and chews on his food as if he is chewing a cud, but nothing could be further from the truth. Check it out for yourself, see for yourself, read with an open mind, and believe what the Father says. He has a reason, our wellbeing is that reason. Everything has been planned and laid out for us, just learn God’s word, just learn God’s heart.

Isaiah 66:17

“Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens after an idol in the midst, eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together,” says the Lord.

Matthew 7:6

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Matthew 8:30-32 Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding so the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”

And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine and suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea and perished in the water.

Mark 5:11-14

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.

So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.

Mark 5:16

And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.

Luke 8:32-33

Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.

Luke 15:15-16

Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine and he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

 

 

 

 

 

Foreword

Having been born on the 25th December, celebrating a birthday has been a non-event for me. As the years rolled on there was never an expectation of birthday recognition, and this was accepted in my life as part of the norm for a “Christmas Baby”. Even before coming to faith I acknowledged that sharing a birthday with “Jesus” was not so bad, and I could not really expect any attention for myself. But it still smarted that people did not remember.

Then came the revelation and sudden realization that this was in fact not His birthday, and for all my life, my birthday had been stolen from me by the observance of pagan worship. Imagine how our Lord Yeshua must feel when His Bride, the Church, all forget His real birthday and celebrate on the pagan dates of imaginary sun gods. We need an understanding of the extreme nature of the Grace He extends toward us as He waits for us to come to the truth of His Word.

DISCERNING THE PROBLEM AND APPLYING

THE REMEDY

FINDING THE TRUTH IN GOD'S WORD

DISCOVERING THE CAUSE AND TAKING

DOMIMION

Now available in e-version from Olive Leaf Ministries.

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 I pray that you enjoy this book that YHVH has dropped into my Spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 An analysis of where the Church as a whole stands today, and why! 

Stalled at Shechem searching for a way into the Promised Land

With this book I address the issues of Law and Grace by exploring what the Scripture actually says about these matters, and highlight dangers involved in casting instruction aside. 

We live in an age when our children, the next generation are under immense attack, and are in need of God's guidance more than ever before. 

Proverbs 22:6 tells us

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it"

Available in e-copy at our website

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Or leave a comment here.

 

When I first began the blog Tamar Wisdom, I knew that the title had been given to me from God, and as the years have transpired I have seen just how this title has become so important to me. First through the  book that I wrote, and through the ministry that has been given to me to rejected and poorly treated women.

Since the writing and publishing of Tamar Wisdom much has happened in my life. The attaining of a Bachelor of Christian Education, a Bachelor of Ministry with Honours and further to that being ordained by Team Impact Christian University, followed by being able to facilitate the Certificate Group at my local church here in Cape Town, South Africa.

Not least of the events in my life has been to marry a lovely man who I met in Israel in 2012, and to be in ministry with him. We, as a team, have been three times to the Philippines on mission, but are now quietly settled in our small home in Cape Town.

There have been two books since Tamar Wisdom, Sukkot verses Christmas, your choice, and Stalled at Shechem, all available as e-copies from our website, www.oliveleafministries.org We will be only too happy to email you a PDF copy of these publications.

The Rhythm Within the Rhythm.

When hearing a pastor speaking and teaching about the rhythm of Grace; teaching on how when he looked at a very full schedule for a very new year he wrote   (Rhythms of Grace) on that schedule,  the Lord brought to my mind lessons taught to me many years ago. As a riding instructor, using my favourite sport to teach children, and often adults, how to ride horses, it is a pastime based on rhythm.

The dream of riding a horse so often seems to be so far out of reach for many children, and here I was with horses who were kind, and available to be ridden.  When a child first sits on a horse, they are filled with wonder, fear, excitement, awe, and a desire to move forward. Just like we are when we first come to faith.

When the children first came to me for lessons, they were usually around four or five, just as we are when we first begin to hear and understand the stories of scripture. They were called the tumbleweed class, because that’s what they did, they tumbled around the teaching arena, relying completely on the grace of well-trained ponies. When we first begin to learn scripture, we do so by grace which allows the lessons to be written on our hearts, and with the help of well trained teachers.

When we first believe, we go at the walking pace, just as the tumbleweed does, one two three four, slowly through the scriptures, finding our own pace, but learning to go with the horse, learning to understand the scripture. Then it becomes more exciting, we trot. One two, one two, rise, sit, rise sit. So much more in time with the horse, a little more control on our part. One two, one two. Its so exciting. That’s how we work through the scriptures, discovering so many new things, often out of control, often with misunderstanding, often without any sort of rhythm, but that’s why we have been discipled, to have someone to teach us. That’s why they had a riding instructor.

Then comes that day, the day the instructor dreads, that day the pupils look forward to so much, we are doing the canter.  One, two, three, pause. One, two, three, pause. The pause is that moment of time, when you and your horse are suspended in mid-air, where you fall off or you go forward. The instructor is no longer walking beside you, they are running. Lean back, lean back. Uh oh, but they get back on and go again, and then they get it, this whole new rhythm. Still dictated by the horse, but with much more rider control. They are learning discipline, they are learning self-control, this is the same as the appearance of the fruit of the spirit as the disciple takes into their heart the scripture. Then the riders begin to gallop, no longer able to be held by the instructor, off by themselves with the wind in their faces, off to other things. This is the place where the rider has to make decisions about their future, as does the scripture student. Bible college, other courses, a stronger walk with God. They have their knowledge, they have their own gifting’s, they have to find their own direction. This is usually where the teacher lets go, and lets God. We will always be there, but the decisions are now for the pupil alone.

This is a place where many people choose to stay. I can ride a horse, I can read my bible, I am ok for the rest of my life. Equipped to handle anything that comes my way.  But are they? Have they received the grace that is for them to walk in.

Let’s look at the ones that go on.

Let’s look at the one, the equestrian, who decided to carry on and do dressage, a very demanding riding discipline. Let’s see them ride into the arena to ride a test. Their appearance is perfect, their horses are perfect, groomed from ears to hoofs. All things to be noted by the judge. They ride their first test. They are terrified of making mistakes, and they do. Once again just like learning the scriptures. When you realize the awesomeness of God, and just who the Almighty is, the One who is always watching. Are we getting it right, or are we failing the test. Have we found grace yet, yes they have found it, but have they fully accepted it?

As they go on with their sport, as they exact their craft, just as we exact our walk through the scriptures, they become more comfortable with who they are, and with what they are doing. Still they worry about how well they are doing, what the spectators are thinking, what they look like. But then comes the day, that day, when all the disciplines are written on their hearts, just like the seasoned pupil of the scriptures. They ride into that arena, they salute the judge, and then they begin to ride. That instructor of old leans forward and smiles as the culmination of all that work suddenly becomes apparent. Nobody exists for the rider but them and that horse. It doesn’t matter what anybody thinks, it doesn’t matter if they win or lose, they have found that rhythm within the rhythm, it’s called cadence and it is beautiful to behold, not always apparent to the person it is resting upon, but very apparent to the spectators. It is so often obvious in the Pastor who is up there sharing the word of God. And so it is when we suddenly realize who we are with God, when we feel that warmth of Grace, when the scriptures are written on our hearts. When it doesn’t matter what anybody thinks, because we know what God thinks, we know who we are in God, and that’s all that matters. 

What is that fine line between riding or walking in our own strength, and finding that rhythm within the rhythm, it is a matter of not just knowing the disciplines, not just knowing the scriptures, it is a matter of applying them to your own life. And here we can find it in Deuteronomy 28:1

Blessings Amplified. One New Man Bible. Used by Permission.

Deuteronomy 28:1. “And it will be, if you will listen diligently to the voice of the LORD* your God, to observe to do all His commandments which I command you this day, that the LORD* your God will set you high above all nations of the earth 2. and all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you heed the voice of the LORD* your God.

Do you want to be overtaken by Grace? I do

When the pastor wrote (Rhythms of Grace) on a very busy schedule, he wasn’t claiming anything, he wasn’t doing something in faith, he was simply declaring who he was in God because he knows who he is in God. If he has been given these tasks to complete, then he also knows that the grace to complete is his. He has found the rhythm within the rhythm,

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TAMAR WISDOM      

The book

Through it (this story) I believe that many will be helped in overcoming their own victim spirits, and in finding the truth of Torah, and the Jewish Roots of the Gospel.

Archbishop Dr.Dominiquae Bierman.

Publishing and printing are finished, now for your pleasure to read

Published and offered for sale on the publishing website.

www.Oliveleafministries.org                 

Go check it out

This is my story of how I was overcome by the Victim Spirit, and the story of how I overcame the Victim Spirt.

DISCERNING THE PROBLEM AND APPLYING THE REMEDY.

FINDING THE TRUTH IN GOD’S WORD

DISCOVERING THE CAUSE AND TAKING DOMINION

Genesis 8:8-11. ONE NEW MAN BIBLE.

He then sent out a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground, 9. But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot and she returned to him in the box, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand and took her and brought her in to him in the box. 10. And he stayed yet another seven days and again he sent the dove out of the box. 11. And the dove came into him in the evening and, lo. In her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off.

The olive leaf; the first sign of hope after a great disaster.