Time to do the Mission

This is a time for reflection on our mission as members of, Tree of The Mustard Seed Ministries and  The People
of Abraham.

We see from the news that a great conflagration is raging with
increasing loss of life and displacement of peoples around the region
of the Holy land.

As The People of the Books, we owe our brothers and sisters who are
caught up in this clash of arms, the offer of solace and support no
matter who they are, or what faith they follow.

We as people of peace will face a test in this time of chaos and
tumult. That test will be staying true to our course and calling for
peace no matter who may be at fault in this current clash.

Hundreds of years of war MUST BE STOPPED!! The cycle of death MUST
END!!
It is the INNOCENT who pay the greaatest price, for the hatred of
others. The women, children and men, who just want to live, and find
safety, in the homes and countries where they live, suffer the
greatest.

I am sending you, as members, the request, that you take the time and
effort to send to the leaders of Israel the fervent prayer for their
peace, but also to remind them that killing of the innocent, no matter
who does it IS WRONG!!

Also, the leaders of Hamas should be apprised of this fact, There is
no “right” in killing of the innocent, It is a perversion of what ever
faith you follow. This will be followed by other requests of the same
nature. Be strong, pray hard for God to prevail over the foolishness
of men!!
be well friends,…….Reverend Bruce

RAMADAN GREETINGS!!

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Monday, September 1, 2008

Ramadan

Today, or yesterday, depending on where you live in the world and the method of reckoning, it is the beginning of Ramadan.

To our Brothers and Sisters of Islam, Salaam Aliekum!! May this Holy season of rededication to Muslim, be fruitful for you.

May your observance bring you peace as you once again fast and move closer to The One God of Abraham, Lord of ALL, the benificent, The bringer of all things sweet, The bestower of blessings, beyond counting, of all of His creation.

The bringer among us, of all the prophets,(p.b.u.t.) to lead us to submission to His way.
The teachers of restoration, of relationship in submission to Allah, The most merciful.Peace be upon them all!

May He attend you in your reflections on how you can relate, May He grant you peace in your life, peace in your family, peace in your countries, peace in your soul, as you move toward rededication contemplating ALLAH (pbuH) in this Holy season for you as you submit once again to Allah.

This from your brothers and sisters of Judaism and your brothers and sisters of Christianity, helpers all.

Wa, Aliekum Salaam

Rev. Bruce Holzrichter Sr. The People of Abraham

UPDATES ON ACTIVITIES of THE PEOPLE OF ABRAHAM

Today is the fifth of July, there have been a few changes and additions, for this blog site and, other places on the net, concerning The People of Abraham.

The first order of business is the inclusion of this site in The Tree of The Mustard Seed Ministries, web site index of links and organizations. Look on the right, you will see a widget that contains the link to get there it is a short web page with full support used to promote various aspects of our, and others, work in interfaith efforts. It is run and maintained by me and others, of these ministries. A short word is in order here as another change is going to take place. It is important to not give the impression of the new Ministries link being a “doorway” to the People of Abraham or any other site. The Tree of The Mustard Seed Ministries is a local church,  visitation  and Bible study conducted by me and other people whose calling is to homebound people and those in nursing homes and Hospice care. Since I am one of the founders I don’t mind, but encourage to some degree, the group. T.P.O.A. but, the work I do locally for it, is recruitment and organizational in nature. There are people who do participate in one place only. They have their own churches, or places of worship, but help in our efforts toward peace. The other thing to realize is that neither I, nor anyone else in this ministry, takes one red cent for anything we do…ever.  Donations, sometimes offered, are referred to  nursing home, resident moral funds, or gifts to Ronald McDonald House, or other charities in the name of the person donating it,  or they may do so in our name. We accept no fees whatsoever,  and never will. The same can be said for membership in,  or affiliation to,  The People of Abraham. I felt it important at this time to clear the air on that issue, thank you for your forbearance. It is also for what ever search engines are looking at us!!!  They don’t like “doorways” !!  And now, back to the point!

We are just about ready to field our Board of Advisors. These are people who possess degrees in various fields of religious study, some Masters degrees, others baccalaureates, two with DR. after their name. The purpose of these people is to answer questions from members and non members alike. Too much dissention occurs between people of different faith systems of belief, especially when a person makes a statement about someone’s faith and they don’t even have a firm grasp of their own!!

How anyone can tell me what I believe, when they do not worship in my faith, is a mystery to me, as it is to almost everybody else! Cross religion debate, is not allowed on any of The People of Abraham sites. It too rapidly becomes contentious and destructive and our purpose is to bring people together. Not foster dissention and enmity!!

So, the existence of a board of advisors. If you are engaged in discussion on another site and someone raises a question you would like the REAL answer to, from a scholar trained in that discipline, well, come to one of our sites, pose your question and it will be forwarded to the appropriate person and you will recieve your answer via e mail, ( you must leave an address) If perchance, you do not mind an open posting on this forum here, we will answer it openly, but will not use your name and no information about you will be divulged.

The open posting of questions can take place in the comment section, available after any post. These have been expanded in size, so that an entire page is available to insure you have room to be as thorough as possible, or may have more than one question.

Also if you would like to post an article you have written or present material from you or somewhere else you can use this feature as there is a whole page available, and if you need it, you can simply fill a page, stop, file it by clicking send or submit, and then logging back in and finishing what you are writing and completing your submission. PLEASE! Be aware of copywrite laws and credit material from other sources, as we cannot control access and /or dissemination of material once you post it, we do not want to face copywrite infringment lawsuits!!( niether do YOU!!!)

How do I become a member of The People of Abraham?? EASY, go to the face book site via hyper link, and sign up!! OR do so right here, click on “the google help group site for us, and sign in there, it is more secure as we control access, your information will not be shared. We make no money from these efforts, so there is no reason, at all, for us to give your info to anyone!! We are setting up a directory of benifits and/or activities. You will be asked for opinions, on chat sessions, or maybe even occasional guest appearances on talk shows, if you want to address certain aspects of faith or the group’s outside activities for gatherings and rallies, that sort of thing, to increase the group’s size and scope that you may participate in, or even organise yourself!

Printed materials, to bring to your Church, Synagogue, or Mosque, to share with your congregations to invite people to join us in this effort. We will be making downloadable forms you can download your self and disseminate that way, there is no cost except for the paper, no postage, no printing, etc. etc. This way we can operate with no dues, no membership fees, and each in his, or her own way, can participate for pennies and we can reach so many more people this way.

Print this page if you wish, it is a blue print for all the things that are taking place, or are on the horizon for The People of Abraham. We need you!! Please join in this important work toward peace. So many say they want it, but so few are willing to do anything for it. We are setting this up so most can be of vast benefit to the work right from their office or living room, it doesn’t get easier, or cheaper, than that!!!

Be well all, Rev. Bruce………………………………..Tawodi

What role does God play in the modern world?

In a discussion on another forum I wrote this in answer to an atheists statement. That we need alittle less God, as when was more God any good for anybody. Of course he was blaming religion for all the ills of the world as many do without knowing what the role of God and more important, what our role in relation to Him, is.

Joe,

The problem is not God.

The problem is that very, very, very few, human beings understand just what place God has in society at large.

In ancient times God was in the forefront of the formation of society and culture, as that was a formative time.

As time progressed, God turned over to us dominion, as has been stated in more ways than anyone can count. As the civilization matured we as humans pulled away from God and since it is a function of free will to do so, He let us do just that.

What so few fail to realise with That maturization process came responsibilities, which to date we humans still refuse to shoulder ( generally speaking )

God always wanted to have a personal relationship with US, not with governments, but with human beings!!!

Our tribalistic herd instinct and mulishness will not let us, on some level, grasp that fact! And, fact it is, and is also how we as religious people, get in so much trouble in the world.

We find ourselves attracted to the trappings of certain religious structures for their majesty, or to some others for precisely the opposite!! But, in all cases, ALL cases, we still apply the “herd” as the governing factor in our choice. To wit “Well all these people agree with me, so it must be right!!”

This applies to what ever religion, sect, denomination, or god, you choose to worship, except in rare instances.

The exceptions?? They are when some one asks themselves, what does God want, and listens in the stillness for the answer. It is in the stillness, we get that answer we seek.

That answer is never, band together with this band of lunatics and kill that band of lunatics!!

It is always, If you would have what you seek, do as I ask. If you would have all that I offer, give to Me, all that is Mine. When it becomes apparent that all that you are, is exactly what is required, we turn away. The price is too high, we must live in the world! Some few will submit, realizing that submission is not surrender, but glorying in the fullness of what becomes revealed to those who do not tell God what they want, but accept what He offers. A whole different form of existence, totally foriegn to most, in their ability to understand.

And, so we grope in our poor way, to come together in a semblance of agreement, of what God wants of us and, the answer must needs be flawed, because we are flawed, and any answer we provide, will be flawed as well.

It is not so much that atheism should be taught, or any other ism, but that our place in the scheme of things as the children of a future, that will depend on all of us being there, cannot be fulfilled, unless we take and apply, those measures that ensure we will be there.

Recognition of individual human beings, no matter who they call God. The richness of the human experience, in and of, a relational nature will ensure that we are there.

If we do as Jesus instructed, even if only on a secular level, this will come to pass.

Every Master who has ever walked the Earth has given us the same message, use it, choose well.

Joe, Be well friend………………Tawodi

THE ORIGINS OF CONFLICT

I am with this post trying to clear up two great misconceptions between the world of Islam and Judaism and Christianity.
The devide has existed for hundreds of years and with the presentation of the first accounts of Ismael in the Old Testament, or the Torah, you will see that this story is far older than the formation of Islam.

And when Sara had seen the son of Hagar the Egyptian playing with Isaac her son, she said to Abraham:
EBD NTB SBD TTT
Ge 21:10 Cast out this bondwoman, and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.
EBD NTB SBD TTT
Ge 21:11 Abraham took this grievously for his son.
EBD NTB SBD
Ge 21:12 And God said to him: Let it not seem grievous to thee for the boy, and for thy bondwoman: in all that Sara hath said to thee, hearken to her voice: for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
EBD NTB SBD TTT
Ge 21:13 But I will make the son also of the bondwoman a great nation, because he is thy seed.
EBD NTB SBD TTT
Ge 21:14 So Abraham rose up in the morning, and taking bread and a bottle of water, put it upon her shoulder, and delivered the boy, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Bersabee.
EBD NTB SBD TTT
Ge 21:15 And when the water in the bottle was spent, she cast the boy under one of the trees that were there.
EBD NTB SBD TTT
Ge 21:16 And she went her way, and sat over against him a great way off as far as a bow can carry, for she said: I will not see the boy die: and sitting over against, she lifted up her voice and wept.
EBD NTB SBD
Ge 21:17 And God heard the voice of the boy: and an angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, saying: What art thou doing, Hagar? fear not: for God hath heard the voice of the boy, from the place wherein he is.
EBD NTB SCO SBD
Ge 21:18 Arise, take up the boy, and hold him by the hand: for I will make him a great nation.
EBD NTB SBD TTT
Ge 21:19 And God opened her eyes: and she saw a well of water, and went and filled the bottle, and gave the boy to drink.
EBD NTB SBD TTT
Ge 21:20 And God was with him: and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became a young man, an archer.
EBD NTB SBD TTT
Ge 21:21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Pharan, and his mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.
EBD NTB SBD

As you can see the Masoretic texts are represented here and show that niether God, nor Abraham, discarded, or “threw away” Ishmael. The mighty that is God, while maintaining His covenant with Abraham made sure, that even in his iniquity, (Abraham) this was not used as punishment for the child, who was innocent. All merciful God provided for him and produced another great nation of him (Ishmael)

There, you now have the Biblical account, we will now go to the exigitical basis for the names of God, or Allah, as can be proved by diligent study of facts on the ground so to speak. Instead of speculation of a faith you don’t understand, or have never studied, as to do so you have been told, will corrupt your understandings of your own faith. If such is possible, how deep was your faith??

Once again the question has been raised as to the name of God, in relation to Islam and Christianity and Judaism.
Once again it is Christian fundamentalists, and others, who make spurious accusations about the word Allah. Here for all of you is the truth where the name comes from, who the father of Islam is and, what the name, Allah, means and why it means it. There are not ninty nine “names for God In the religion of Islam. There is one name and, one name only. The rest, that many would have you believe are names, are nothing more than descriptions of attributes, just the same as Jews and Christians have over thirty five such descriptions of the attributes of God.

I have engaged in this battle for years and when it is put down in one location once more, it pops up again in another location. Apparently these people think, like Geoseph Geobbels of W.W. 2, if you repeat a lie long enough, loud enough, it will become the truth. this is not so!! A lie, is a lie, no matter how many times you repeat it!! Receive the truth!

I get so tired of stating the truth of things, only to have the very same people come back and speak the same lie, all over again.
TRUE STATEMENT;
The Hebrew EL, was also the Cannaanite EL, or transcendant Chief God. The word is the root of thirty five Attributes of God linguistically for Jews and Christians alike.

ILLAH……pronounced ILL “Yach” ( “ach,” gutteral, glottal stop, implied by “ah” in the semitic languages.) Shortened to AL (prefix word -the-) apposed (attached) to Illah to make the compound word,ALLAH. Phonetic pronunciation Al- ach or The God Taken to mean, litterally, the ONE God of Ishmael, Older brother of Issach, by fourteen years, who, the Bible tells us, that God was with as he grew, to be the father of his own people, to whom would be descended twelve more tribes of people.

Their father???? Abraham !! The Father of the two semitic tribes, Hebrews and Arabs.

Read your Bible people!!!! The Arabs didn’t make this up. We did!!!!!

K.J.V. Biblical,
Citations, Genesis 21: V.9: -21.
Descendants of Ishmael: Genesis 25: V.12:- 18.
These Verses come after the discription of Abraham’s children by Keturah, their names and the dispersal of Abraham’s estate to Issach only, as the child of the covenant between Abraham and God born of Sarah, as God promised. Now for the life of me, I fail to see how you can blame Muhammad for what is in Our own Bible!!! If you figure out how he did that, maybe you can tell the rest of us!!!

Read and learn, I didn’t write this, or invent it, it is in OUR Bible…….

It is very important that you understand that I am a DEVOUT Christian Minister of many years service. The people of Islam have a different understanding of their worship of God. Is it necessary for me to accept it?? No, it is necessary for me to accept that they do. Nothing more is required of a Christian or Jew, other than that. Respect the fact that these things are what they believe and, leave it alone!!! You arenot required, to convert them, attack them, or abuse them for their faith, because you don’t agree with it. Jesus tells us, state your case and walk away, be as harmless as doves. Why as Christians, must we always forget those admonishments, that we were given by the Lord Jesus Christ, whom we profess to follow?? Keep your heart at peace and walk your own path to God, as others walk theirs, you are but human beings, you are NOT to judge, it is written……..

To all my Brothers and sisters of The People of Abraham and for those tired of being afraid.
Rev. Bruce………………………….Tawodi

Another place to go and learn

We once again reach out our hands in friendship to another sister organization, The American Interfaith Institute of Philadelphia Pa.
They have been around for more than 25 years and have scholars world wide, who teach and spread the word that we CAN get along, most people want only to live and prosper.
Every religious structure has those who would hi jack the faith for evil purposes and we as the people and children of the Abrahamic faiths must be in the forefront of those who would identify and oppose their purposes and actions and the LIE that they operate with the blessings of God. No matter which faith they profess.
So welcome them with me and if you live near them take advantage of their expertise……we will.

ADDING ANOTHER WORLD WIDE GROUP OF FRIENDS

 If you look at the left hand column you will see a new addition!!!  VERVE-EARTH  This is becoming a busy place!!  If you have been here before push the button and go see the world!!  For those  who are new……read the mission statement,   please,  it is important for understanding who we are.

SOOOOO,  welcome to those who come here, from where ever they are in the world.  We seek here,  peace, understanding and acceptance,  of all faiths and,  those  with no faith as it is recognized.

The key word is acceptance,  we do NOT question what anyone believes,  that is their business. All we ask is a genuine effort at reconciliation,  of all peoples and countries.  To work toward this acceptance and the chance to raise our children to live, free of fear, well fed and adequately educated, so they can have a little better life than we as parents have had.  There is not a rational human being alive,  who does not want these things for their children.

That’s it, it is that simple, no hidden agenda, no attempt to convert any one, Religious questions answered off line directly to you, to avoid dissention. You will be directed to the theological person,  qualified to answer your questions and this is free and private for you to use. Everyone  posting or commenting here, will do so with respect or you will be banned from posting again.  All comments are monitored for appropriateness and forwarded if necessary or answered directly on the pages of commentary.

Be well, enjoy the site and begin to cherish the freedom such a place affords you,  to learn and grow

Be well all…………Reverend Bruce  Holzrichter…………………………..screen name, Tawodi

 

WELCOMING A SISTER ORGANIZATION

 I am proud to announce the Consultants to Religious Tolerance of Ontario Canada, to the home page of the People of Abraham, Christians Muslims and Jews. Here at Life, Religion, Family.

This Sunday, at The Tree of The Mustard Seed, I also announced their existance and the link up of their site to mine. They and I are at present discussing the future workings and possible sharing of information and contacts accross the world that they have made and we have made.

They are especially interested in our methods of acceptance for people of differing faiths as with some groups they have not made the inroads that we have.

All of these things are under discussion, or soon will be, and I decided not to wait before introducing them here, as even if some facets do not come to fruition they do good work and, we are proud to make known to others their participation in peacefull pursuits, to the benefit of all mankind.

So WELCOME !!  Brothers and Sisters of Religious Tolerance,  may we all be blessed in the work for peace.

They are located in the Blogroll to the right in the column, go visit, you will be as excited as I!!!

Rev. Bruce………………………………….Tawodi

 

Concepts of soul 3

Have you found any other..(snip)

Yes many, as I alluded to at the beginning of the thread I did not include them there as I once again did not want to digress from the salient points.

Soul; (Shinto) A form of Japanese religion/philosophy and thought, considered by some to be ancestor worship, but it is much more than that. Some believe that their ancestors are with them in life and quide them at times. Small shrines are erected in the home and large shrines are built in villages and towns, for community worship of different deities and to ask or seek supplication and intervention by their ancestors and various entities.

There are several different sects of Shintoism.

Taoism, Daoism; are amalgamations generally speaking of spirit God and beings of spirit/soul combinations. I don’t really know much about either but there is a sect of Daoism that is very nearly, in fact is considered by some to BE Christian, I some how did not ever find the time for much investigation of them other than to note what the very basic concepts are.

Buddism; is not really a religion but some sects of it believe in soul and the progression of the soul till nirvannah is reached (heaven?)

The strictly philosophical version does not believe in soul but proposes that Nirvannah can be reached right here on earth by the living.

There are some Buddhists that frequent these fora but they usually get shouted down by some and, gentle people that they are, mostly stay away.

Islam; There is such friction between the faiths that I will refrain from a descriptiion here but, Sgt Salaam has a thread going and no doubt will read this, so, go there and ask, and he will give you the real take on that, as he is also a scholar and convert from Christianity to Islam and working toward his masters in comparitive religion. That’s why he and I get along well. He can spot B.S. a mile away ‘nough said. One of the grandest people I have ever spoken to is his grandfather who is a pastor of fifty years experience ( Baptist ) in Virginia. We have discussed a few things and it is always well to do so with someone who has forgotten more than I will ever know. They visited on the thread before this one.( different thinking )

Judaism; mostly the same as us ( of course! )

Hinduism; This one gets complicated as they believe EVERYTHING has a soul because everything progresses through incarnations and finally ends up in Heaven after who knows how many incarnations!!

Anamism; The belief that certain animals have souls that are able to communicate with or are kindred to certain human beings.

Totem identification; Not to be confused with anamism. It is different in that people do NOT believe the totem animal/trees of certain kinds/fish/birds/ are “gods” but identify with them because of certain characteristics. This is sometimes interesting as I know a little more of it because I am part native American. My mother was half Wazhazhe or known to you as Osage. From the central plains area.

Spirit guides; this is one area that you must be careful I do not reccomend much study of this as to do so with out Jesus firmly in your heart is in my opinion dangerous. We are told “Treat not with spirits except in my name.” and I firmly believe that, don’t do it!!

Now the reason I brought up the Greek definition of soul was not because Bill did but because the Greeks had a heavy influence on Israel from about 325 B.C.E. till about 100 or so B.C.E. they had conquered Israel and their philosophy caused the Hellenization of scripture. It was one of the things that the Pharasies were heavily engaged in scouring from scripture in the time of Jesus. You have no doubt heard of the Maccabeean rebellion it was these that overthrew the Greeks. If you want to learn of them ( Maccabees ) read Apocryphal texts of Maccabees 1..2..3.. it is fascinating.

Soul Inuit; These people believe in the soul inhabiting an animal after death usually one that has served as a totem for the believer.
Inuit/= eskimo

That’s about all I recall clearly off the top of my head. The little book I sent today has quite a bit more and better detail, as well as dates and places

Be well friends…………Rev.  Bruce……………………………………………….Tawodi

 

Next installment of considering the soul

After reading through your post twice, very carefully, I don’t see any thing that I cannot agree with. All you have done is extrapolated, or explained, that which I stated as “givens” to a fuller degree.

That’s cool!!

The reason I did NOT include them is that to do so, would force me to digress from the simple statements that I made that many will recognise as accepted and move on from there with their own “discerned truths” as applied to them selves, because their paths will be subtly different from mine.

You, on a different thread, are having a terrible time explaining to Bob, the acceptability of differing paths and still being a “true” Christian,a term that I bridle at, but in this case is fully explanatory of the point, you are trying to make on that other thread.

We CAN have differing points of view on certain meanings of scripture, but be no less “Christians” because of them. As I like to point out, opening your mind does not make your brain fall out!

By the way, staying clear of “some” particular questions, in some cases, is a wise course, would that I, were so wise in some cases!!

Our faith, like science, is a constant quest ever deeper into the mystery. Not to prove or disprove, but to reach the core of the “truths” that we must have in trying to move on to ‘Christian perfection”. Which, in it’s self, is an impossible task, but once engaged can not be ended as our belief drives us onward in search of our God. Where ever that takes us and no matter the slings and arrows of our fellows.

John Wesley’s concept of the Wesleyan quadrilateral is one of the wisest, most freeing things, for Christians in the history of the faith.

The Wesleyan quadrilateral; Is the point in question, bourne out by wisdom? Is the point bourne out by experience? Is the point bourne out by tradition? Is the point bourne out by SCRIPTURE? If all four of these criteria are met then it is permissable to include the point in your faith make up.

His departure from the dogma of original sin 202 years before the Catholic Church did so, is indicative of this truism. This point, as well as many others, is in his philosophy the primary one being……….Always question,yourself and your foundation, in your faith. MAKE SURE you do NOT deviate from the tennets laid out by Christ Jesus in your questions and more importantly, in your answers.

Be well friend…………Tawodi…..Choose well!