Giving & Sharing Newsletter No. 79, March, 2005

Newsletter 79 March 2005

Passover and the Book of Psalms

Each spring, we observe the Christian Passover in memorial of monumental past, present, and future events in the Plan of God. We remember the deliverance of the children of Israel from the death angel and their subsequent exodus from Egypt. We remember the night our Saviour was betrayed, as well as His crucifixion, death, and burial the following day. We look forward to the coming divine protection during the Great Tribulation, and our future deliverance from Babylon and the “Second Exodus” of God’s people. All of this, and more, is commemorated annually by God’s people on the beginning of the fourteenth day of the first month of the sacred calendar.

The Book of Psalms relates directly to this annual memorial. A politician once said, “all politics is local.” Well, it is also true that “all religion is personal.” In the Book of Psalms, and in the Christian Passover, our religious beliefs are intimately personal. The Psalmist David brings us into a personal relationship with our Creator and Redeemer. Several of the Psalms directly prophesy about the suffering Messiah. We typically read Psalm 22 (as well as Isaiah 52:14 to 53:12) in quiet personal meditation just prior to commencing the Passover service. There is no better way to prepare for the Passover than to read the Book of Psalms, by which you will be personally introduced to God!

As a Passover festival gift, we present articles explaining the meaning of Unleavened Bread and Passover, as well as a detailed study guide for the incomparable Book of Psalms. May your Passover season be blessed!

Check Your Sources

In a recent issue of a Messianic Jewish magazine, the following statement was made, purported to be a quote from George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796): “Anyone who attempts to separate Christianity and Biblical morality from our government is a traitor to this nation.” This sounded too good to be true. If George Washington actually made this statement, what a profound condemnation would it be against today’s politicians, who seek to remove God from the public square!

I found the complete text of “George Washington’s Farewell Address.” To my amazement, the words, “Christianity,” “Biblical,” and “traitor” are nowhere to be found in Washington’s famous speech. This “quote from Washington” is a fraud.

However, Washington did say words to that effect. Here is what he actually said, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.”

Washington did say that religion and morality are pillars of good government. Our nation has forgotten this vital truth, and is sliding downhill.

This inaccurate quotation is a good example that we must check our sources. Do not believe everything you read. Let us speak the Truth in all things.

Telephone Services

If unable to attend Passover or Sabbath service with other brethren, we recommend a telephone service. Ed Burson and/or others plan to conduct Passover services via telephone as well as Sabbath services and Monday Question and Answer sessions during the year. For times, call Ed Burson at 903-576-0086, or Rich Nickels at 307-686-5191.

Benefits of Certain Fruits

Food may be your best medicine!

Apple: Does an apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants, flavonoids, which enhance the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack, and stroke.

Guava and Papaya: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, which is good for your eyes.

Kiwi: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E and fiber. Its Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

Orange: Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent and dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

Strawberry: Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits and protects the body from cancer causing, blood vessel clogging, free radicals.

Watermelon: Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system, and also a key source of lycopene — the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C and Potassium.

Feast of Tabernacles Bumper Sticker

Free 11.5 x 3 inch “Feast of Tabernacles” bumper sticker with any order to Giving & Sharing of $10 or more (order code 046).

Text Box: Lev. 23:34 FEAST of John 7:37
TABERNACLES

Free Passover Cups

If you, like us, observe the New Testament Passover on the beginning of the fourteenth day of the first month on the Hebrew Calendar, you may order free Passover wine cups. Minimum order is 5 cups.

Passover Bread Recipe

This recipe is so easy that I actually use it every year, to make our own whole wheat unleavened bread. This nutritious flatbread tastes better than any store bought bread!

Ingredients: 1 Cup whole wheat flour, 1/4 Tsp. salt, 1 Tbsp. butter, 2 Tsp. oil, 1/4 Cup water.

Sift flour and salt and mix butter into flour until it resembles peas. Mix oil and water and add to flour. Mix until it leaves the sides of the bowl. Put a small amount of flour on your breadboard and knead dough lightly. Add a small amount of flour and press flat with hand. Then roll out as thin as possible. Pick up, turn over and roll out again as thin as possible. Perforate with a fork and bake for eight minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

— by Richard C. Nickels