1. I have actually been writing posts, they’re just not here. I’ve been writing articles for Challenging Femininity at Feelin Feminine. It’s only once a month, but it’s about as much as I’ve been posting here. I’m writing another one for the upcoming Challenging Femininity, and then I’ll be starting a series on basic hair care and styling there. I won’t be writing all the articles, but I’m organizing it, so that’s going to be taking up some of my time.

2. I’ve been really busy with school work. I think if I take about 2 courses per month (so 4 at any given time), I’ll be able to get my program finished by the time I was originally planning too. I know I can do it, I just have to make a commitment to it.

3. I actually do have a few posts planned for this blog. I just need to figure out exactly what I want to say and then actually write them. I also need to find the time to do that.

4. I picked a giant beet today. Actually, I think I picked something like 30 or 40 beets today. It just so happens that one of them was a beast. There were also several huge ones. That’s what happens when someone plants a garden and doesn’t take care of it. Needless to say, we now have a basket full of beets that need to get eaten. Recipes anyone? I think I’m going to do the garden next year. I think I’d plant more zucchini and less beets. I don’t particularly like beets, especially not huge ones.

5. It’s been really hot here. There was a week where it was above 30 (Celcius) all week, and it only went down to something like 28 (which is still really hot) at night. It’s really nice when you know people with pools and they invite you to go use them.

6. Some websites worth visiting: A Pondering Heart, A City on a Hill, Walk Therin, Feelin Feminine, A Set Apart Life, Pure Little Ladies Ministry, Studying the Scriptures, and Training Daughters, Teaching Wives. I didn’t realize how many of those started with the word “A”.

7. The religious observance that God the Father considers pure and faultless is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being contaminated by the world. – James 1:27. Please consider supporting to the families at Gleaning the Harvest.

8. I’m reading Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus again. I highly recommend the book. The authors do a good job of explaining Yeshua’s Jewishness in an informational way. That is, the book helps you understand the culture Yeshua would have lived in without making an attempt to change anyone’s beliefs.

9. Feelin’ Feminine is hosting a Jane Austen tour if you’re interested. I can’t think of anything to do for it so I’m not participating, but you can find more information on the website.

10. I’m trying to read 5 good books (not including the Bible) between now and November, so if you have any questions please feel free to let me know. I’m looking more for classics and non-fiction, not modern novels or textbooks.

A while ago I read something that used John 15:10 as a sort of proof text for this belief. The passage says If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love — just as I have kept my Father’s commands and stay in his love. Now, taken just by itself, I suppose that could be equated to saying that there are different commandments given by the Father and the Son. I find that to be untrue for a number of reasons.

To begin with, we would have to ask what Yeshua’s commands were. From this passage we can’t conclude that they were any different than YHVH’s. Based on this passage they could have been the same as the Father’s, different from them or a subset of them. It’s also possible He could have expanded on them or explained them in more detail. The point is, based on this passage alone, we don’t know.

In John 10:30, Yeshua states I and the Father are one. Now, if Father and Son are one, would it not follow that their commands would be the same? Even if they are not the same, they can’t be in conflict with each other. Yeshua could not possibly be asking His followers to do anything contrary to YHVH’s commands.

The notion that Yeshua’s commands were contrary to YHVH’s wouldn’t make sense anyway since Yeshua obeyed YHVH’s commands. If He were asking his followers to disobey or do something contrary to YHVH’s commands, He wouldn’t have been keeping his own commands. That is if He were commanding they not obey a certain law (in Torah), He would have been keeping that law and at the same teaching against it. We know Yeshua could not have been a hypocrite.

Furthermore, if Yeshua and YHVH are one, it would follow that what Yeshua said would be the same as what YHVH would say. The opposite would also be true. That is, what YHVH says would have to be in full agreement with what Yeshua said. Essentially, what the two say must be the same. That is, unless Yeshua was lying, but then He would have sinned, couldn’t be the Messiah and none of this would matter.

Finally, let’s look at what Yeshua said when He was accused of casting out demons in the name of Ba’al Zibbul (the ruler of demons).

But he called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan expel Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom can’t survive; and if a household is divided against itself, that household can’t survive. So if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he can’t survive either; and that’s the end of him. (Mark 3:23-26)

So, since YHVH and Yeshua are one, YHVH’s kingdom is essentially belongs to both of them, and if it divided it won’t survive and neither will their household. If YHVH divides against himself, it will be the end of Him as well. Remember YHVH and Yeshua are one, so if they are not in agreement, they are divided against themselves.

Now, since Yeshua’s commandments cannot differ from YHVH’s, they must be the same as His. This makes sense in light of the fact that we are to imitate Yeshua and He lived a Torah observant life. Additionally, in everything He did, Yeshua always pointed to His Father (YHVH). It would only follow that He would point to His Father’s commands in His own.

Since it wasn’t looking to bad so he decided to explore further.

And, oh, maybe he’d have a bite just to see how it tasted.

It was very good, but he wondered if they all taste so good, so he had to try another one.

The dandelions certainly were good, but now he was full and filthy so he washed up and continued on his way.

The end.

I took some pictures of my hamster this week because some people (who know who they are) wanted me to update my blog and take more pictures. I decided to turn it into a story because it’s more interesting. Unfortunately, I’m not very creative writing inclined so it’s not a very good story, but I suppose it’s more interesting than me pointing out that my hamster is eating dandelions four times.