Distractions

I have talked about distractions before but have recently experienced one that has opened up another look at this topic from a different angle.

I was attending to some work and watching a trash removal truck picking up the dumpster we use. The next thing I knew I was on the ground. I had stepped into a deep rut and it threw me to the rocky ground below. Just a few microseconds of wordless thought I interpreted as "What? How'd I get down here?" and I forcefully picked myself up, making note that nothing felt broken. I tried to brush off the dust as I continued on my way to meet with the driver of the truck. 

The palm of my hand was gouged, bruised and bleeding, there was a hole in my pant leg where my knee crashed into jagged rocks. I felt like I had been kicked by a mule, but I approached the driver as if nothing was wrong. We made arrangements to move the dumpster and he was to follow me as I drove up the hill to the new location. While the pain of being body slammed into the hard packed earth was making itself more noticeable, a couple drive up in their Kubota 4-Wheeler and I wince as I try to greet our new neighbors. I feel like I am going into shock but keep forcing myself to interact with these nice folks. The dumpster gets placed in its new location, the new neighbors drive off and I slowly hobble back to my truck and go home. 

First, I gave thanks to Yahweh for keeping my bones from breaking, keeping my glasses on my face and giving me strength to finish my obligation at that time. Secondly, I pondered those microseconds of wordless thoughts; feelings that my conscience recognized as words and interpreted for my brain. I knew what was 'being said' without any words. Thirdly, I washed out my wounds with peroxide, took a couple of aspirins and put an ice pack on my neck and shoulder.

If I hadn't been distracted I would have stayed steady on the path, would have recognized the threat that the rut posed and avoided it.

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One of the online Bible study groups I visit has members who like to share videos about various topics that I, too, had discovered back in the day, but now see them as distractions. "Learn it and move on" is my attitude now because so many get wrapped up in them that they cannot move on. I realize they are sharing remarkable information and it's worth knowing some of these things. I had been there and done that... Over the years I've read the same eye opening articles revealing the truth behind life as we know it from various people who have done their own research through the years on the Bilderbergs, Rothschilds, Illuminati, Aleister Crowley, the pope, the freemason, the jesuits and on and on.  
I was a Conspiracy Theorist long before it was cool 😉

The resulting truth is we've been brainwashed from birth! We've been given over to the world system run by the "Powers that Be" and it seemed all normal to us, until now. This knowledge of the lies that have been handed down through the generations is a powerful tool that we can use to set ourselves free in order come out of the world system (ie Egypt; Babylon; Slavery; False Religions). We can choose to unplug from the matrix, but to keep dwelling on the above mentioned discoveries is what becomes a stumbling block at best, and a snare at worst. The more time we spend in this "behind the scenes" realm, the less time we spend in the Word of Elohim.

What happens to many as they continue searching these topics looking for more, they get tempted by almost anybody's post, webpage, video or blog that uses some truth (as bait) then interweave their own doctrine, imagination and other theories of fantasies that have the potential to draw one deeper into nonsense. THOSE are the sites I strongly protest against. Those places I tie in with Yah's prophesied "Strong Delusion". 

When a believer shares one of those sources to prove something, or tie it in with Scriptures, I must point out the included deceptions and warn against sharing it with the 'group' or anyone else for that matter. When that believer becomes defensive, it is clear that they've been hooked. It's a responsibility to warn fellow believers when there is a threat, or a deception veiled in truth.  

Fifteen years ago it was a lot easier to surf the web and find reliable websites which provided accurate details from combined years of research on the Dark Side of life. There's a lot more junk to dig through these days causing several rabbit trails that lead nowhere.  The truth of the matter is, the truth is being pushed into the background of cyberspace. 

Bottom line is Yahweh provided everything we need to know but we won't know it unless we read it. If we won't read it His Spirit has nothing to work with and we won't get anywhere. We accept any 'truth' without question.

Scriptures contain the highlights and lowlifes of times gone by as an example for us so that we won't make the same mistakes they did. I feel I am acting in the same way when rebuking fellow believers who seem to get stuck in a rut: don't make the same mistakes I did. 

In my zeal I may appear overbearing to some. While I don't always express my feelings with the right words or the right words get taken in the wrong way, some think me unfair and lacking love for my brothers. In this I see how distractions really lay hooks in people's imagination that when presented with facts supporting the truth of the matter, they firmly choose to defend their version of things.

I'm not talking about new-comers to the Hebrew aspect of our faith. We know even Yahweh did not lay out all His rules, laws, regulations and teachings for His people on day one; how overwhelming that would have been! But when I am interacting with fellow believers who seem to be on the same page, who are on the 'same part of the Path', and when questionable activity of some sort arises, it is my responsibility to bring it to light: first with the person and then with a couple of others who understand what's going on. After that, it is the person's responsibility to see the error of his ways and change. Also, in this process, when I take the matter to the other 2 or 3 knowledgeable ones, they may point out the error of my way; then I humbly apologize and step away from the matter and take a fresh look at the topic at hand, and stand corrected. This method of correction applies to all Set Apart believers, and this is how we behave as One People with One God. If the person of interest cannot reconcile with the truth then that person must leave the camp for at least seven days, to search and study the Word. If that person still doesn't 'see the light' then they will be cut off from the assembly. Reason being, if that person was allowed to stay in the assembly it would cause a division and therein we have the foothold of Satan.

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The other facet of distractions is what Yahweh says and what people think is OK.

If Yah says this is the way I want it done, and I say OK but I'm going to do this this and this, too.... who do I think I'm kidding? I just disobeyed the Father. 

One of the examples of this concept are Nadab and Abihu, two sons of Aaron, who being trained as priests were given specific duties. They decided to add their own ideas along with Yahweh's Instructions. They died by a fire sent from Yahweh on the spot. (Leviticus 10) 

It is obvious to me that we are not to make unauthorized, foreign or profane offerings, thinking we are pleasing or even doing better than what our Creator clearly instructed.  This points to the traditions of man, doing what he will to the point of forgetting the rules laid out by Yahweh, even forgetting His Name.

My concerns are about folks who mix and mingle tradition with Yah's set times, thinking it is perfectly alright to do so, and providing quotes out of context to support their 'intentions'.  The Passover seder is one that comes to mind. Ten days of awe is another. Camping out anywhere USA is another, thinking we're celebrating Sukkot. Chanukah, Purim, just to name a few. His Instructions are clear and we have also been instructed not to 'add to' or 'take away from' His Truth, the Word of Elohim.

And so, to close this out: 
I removed myself from that online group of nice folks I mentioned earlier, and I will spend less time on the internet because of it, and get back to immersing myself in the Word of Yahweh. I will refresh my packet of seeds of His Truth and continue scattering them here in this blog and in my 'online' group which isn't really a group. It is a depository of useful information that I pray will be helpful to anyone in need.