Archives for 2018

Good morning,

Tonight is day 2 of Hanukkah. We will light 2 candles.

The Menorah

Eight lights are lit in the Menorah, one for each night of Hanukkah. Most Menorahs burn candles, but some have wicks to burn oil, as did the Temple Menorah long ago.

A special candle, the shammas, is used to light the menorah candles. New candles are lit each night. A new shammas is lit each night, too. The shammas is lit first, and the Hanukkah candles are lit from it.

On the first night of Hanukkah, put the first candle at the right end of the Menorah, as you face it.  On the second night two candles, three on the third night, and so on. Always light the newest candle first, then light the others, from left to right. Place the lighted Menorah in a window, so all may see and share the celebration.

Messianic Hanukkah Candle Lighting

Each night we recite three blessings, acknowledging God’s Lordship, power in working miracles, and sustaining us another year.

Then we acknowledge the Scriptural significance of each candle lit.

Shammash (Servant) Candle

Messiah Yeshua stated in Mark 10:44-45:

Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be the servant of all. For
even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many.

First Candle

Genesis 1:3-4 describes the creation of the first light:

God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that
the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.

Second Candle

Exodus 13:21-22 reveals that God is the source of Israel’s light:

And the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to
lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them
light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take
away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from
before the people.

What did we learn today?

First, God is Lord and in control of all things.

Second, we need to be servants, not demanding to be served. (Shammash candle)

Third, light was spoken into existence by God. Light is good. God separated the light from the darkness. (The first candle)

Fourth, God led the nation of Israel. He gave them literal light to lead them through the wilderness and spiritual light to lead them to Him. (The second candle)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Today we will look at the Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony.

The Menorah

Eight lights are lit in the Menorah, one for each night of Hanukkah. Most Menorahs burn candles, but some have wicks to burn oil, as did the Temple Menorah long ago.

A special candle, the shammas, is used to light the menorah candles. New candles are lit each night. A new shammas is lit each night, too. The shammas is lit first, and the Hanukkah candles are lit from it.

On the first night of Hanukkah, put the first candle at the right end of the Menorah, as you face it.  On the second night two candles, three on the third night, and so on. Always light the newest candle first, then light the others, from left to right. Place the lighted Menorah in a window, so all may see and share the celebration.

Messianic Hanukkah Candle Lighting

Each night we recite three blessings, acknowledging God’s Lordship, power in working miracles, and sustaining us another year.

Then we acknowledge the Scriptural significance of each candle lit.

Shammash (Servant) Candle

Messiah Yeshua stated in Mark 10:44-45:

Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be the servant of all. For
even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many.

First Candle

Jewish days begin at sundown.  This evening, Sunday, i

Genesis 1:3-4 describes the creation of the first light:

God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that
the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.

What did we learn today?

God created light.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

On 2 December 2018, 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, is the first night of Hanukkah. John 10:22 states, “And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.” This “feast of the dedication” is a reference to dedication of the temple in 165 BCE.  To understand this verse, we need a history lesson.

Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and nights, starting on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar (which is November-December on the Gregorian calendar). In Hebrew, the word “Hanukkah” means “dedication.”

The holiday commemorates the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Jews’ 165 B.C.E. victory over the Hellenist Syrians. Antiochus, the Greek King of Syria, outlawed Jewish rituals and ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods. In 168 B.C.E. the Jews’ holy Temple was seized and dedicated to the worship of Zeus. Some Jews were afraid of the Greek soldiers and obeyed them, but most were angry and decided to fight back.

The fighting began in Modin, a village not far from Jerusalem. A Greek officer and soldiers assembled the villagers, asking them to bow to an idol and eat the flesh of a pig, activities forbidden to Jews. The officer asked Mattathias, a Jewish High Priest, to take part in the ceremony. He refused, and another villager stepped forward and offered to do it instead. Mattathias became outraged, took out his sword and killed the man, then killed the officer. His five sons and the other villagers then attacked and killed the soldiers. Mattathias’ family went into hiding in the nearby mountains, where many other Jews who wanted to fight the Greeks joined them. They attacked the Greek soldiers whenever possible.

About a year after the rebellion started, Mattathias died. Before his death, he put his brave son Judah Maccabee in charge of the growing army. After three years of fighting, the Jews defeated the Greek army, despite having fewer men and weapons.

Judah Maccabee and his soldiers went to the holy Temple, and were saddened that many things were missing or broken, including the golden menorah. They cleaned and repaired the Temple, and when they were finished, they decided to have a big dedication ceremony. For the celebration, the Maccabees wanted to light the menorah. They looked everywhere for oil, and found a small flask that contained only enough oil to light the menorah for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. This gave them enough time to obtain new oil to keep the menorah lit. Today Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days by lighting candles in a menorah every night, thus commemorating the eight-day miracle.

Why is this important to us? First Jesus and all the Apostles celebrated the “feast of the dedication.” Second, this points to Jesus as being the light of the world. (John 8:12)

Each night a candle is lit, prayers made, and Scripture shared as to why Jesus is the light.

Happy Hanukkah.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and

easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and

without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)

The Christmas season is upon us. Opportunities will abound for us to tell others about WHO Christmas is about. The question is, will we be ready?

Before we can tell others about Jesus our minds and hearts must be in sync with the Bible. To live above the lights and glitter of the season, we must remember that we are in a spiritual battle. Then we must remember who we are in Christ. Followed by our responsibilities as followers of Christ.

Then, we will be ready to take advantage of our opportunities to share about who Jesus is, why He came, and how those we witness to can accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.

SPIRITUAL TRUST (PROVERBS 3:5-6)

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

We will not succeed during the Christmas season unless we trust the Lord.

SPIRITUAL CLEANSING (1 JOHN 1:9)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When we fail, and we will, we need to repent of our sin, and move on. God will still use us if we are willing.

I hope this has been a help and encouragement to prepare for this Christmas season.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)

The Christmas season is upon us. Opportunities will abound for us to tell others about WHO Christmas is about. The question is, will we be ready?

Before we can tell others about Jesus our minds and hearts must be in sync with the Bible. To live above the lights and glitter of the season, we must remember that we are in a spiritual battle. Then we must remember who we are in Christ. Followed by our responsibilities as followers of Christ.

Then, we will be ready to take advantage of our opportunities to share about who Jesus is, why He came, and how those we witness to can accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.

SPIRITUAL CONDUCT (COLOSSIANS 3:1-3, 5, 8-11, 9-14, 17)

• Seek those things above V1
• Set your affections on things above V2
• Mortify your members which are upon this earth V5
• Put off:                                                                                 
• Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication lie not one with another V8-9
• Put on: 
• The new man, which is renewed in knowledge, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, forgiving one another, charity V 10-14
• Peace of God V15
• Let the word of God dwell in you richly/teach and admonish one another
• Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.⁵ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:⁶ For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:⁷ In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

⁸ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.⁹ Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:¹¹ Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.¹⁴ And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.¹⁷ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

These verses are key for any season, but crucial during this season of stress if we want people to hear our testimony for Christ.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)

The Christmas season is upon us. Opportunities will abound for us to tell others about WHO Christmas is about. The question is, will we be ready?

Before we can tell others about Jesus our minds and hearts must be in sync with the Bible. To live above the lights and glitter of the season, we must remember that we are in a spiritual battle. Then we must remember who we are in Christ. Followed by our responsibilities as followers of Christ.

Then, we will be ready to take advantage of our opportunities to share about who Jesus is, why He came, and how those we witness to can accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Download (Spiritual-Attitude1.doc, DOC, 40KB)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)

The Christmas season is upon us. Opportunities will abound for us to tell others about WHO Christmas is about. The question is, will we be ready?

Before we can tell others about Jesus our minds and hearts must be in sync with the Bible. To live above the lights and glitter of the season, we must remember that we are in a spiritual battle. Then we must remember who we are in Christ. Followed by our responsibilities as followers of Christ.

Then, we will be ready to take advantage of our opportunities to share about who Jesus is, why He came, and how those we witness to can accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.

SPIRITUAL ACTIONS (PHILIPPIANS 4:1-9) KEY VERSES 4, 6, 7, 8

• Rejoice V4
• Pray and ask V6
• Peace of God V7
• Think on these things: whatsoever is:

True, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue, praise V8

“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.² I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.³ And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborer’s, whose names are in the book of life.⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

We must act in accordance with the Scriptures.

SPIRITUAL FRUIT (GALATIANS 5:22-23)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

The Spirit filled life produces spiritual fruit.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)

The Christmas season is upon us. Opportunities will abound for us to tell others about WHO Christmas is about. The question is, will we be ready?

Before we can tell others about Jesus our minds and hearts must be in sync with the Bible. To live above the lights and glitter of the season, we must remember that we are in a spiritual battle. Then we must remember who we are in Christ. Followed by our responsibilities as followers of Christ.

Then, we will be ready to take advantage of our opportunities to share about who Jesus is, why He came, and how those we witness to can accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.

SPIRITUAL BATTLE (EPHESIANS 6:10-12)

“ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Our battle is not against man, but against Satan and his demons.

SPIRITUAL MIND (PHILIPPIANS 2:1-18) KEY VERSES 2, 3-16 

• Like minded, same love, being of one accord, one mind V2
• Put others first V3-4
• Let the mind of Christ be in us V5-6
• Humble ourselves as Jesus did V7-8
• Bow to Jesus and confess that Jesus is Lord V 10-11
• Work out your salvation with fear and trembling V12
• God works in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure V13
• Do all things without murmurings and disputing v14
• Result that we might be blameless V15
• Holding forth the word of life, that I have not run in vain,neither labored in vain V16

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,² Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.³ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.⁴ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.¹² Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.¹³ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.¹⁴ Do all things without murmurings and disputings:¹⁵ That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;¹⁶ Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.¹⁷ Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.¹⁸ For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.”

We must have the right mindset to traverse the Christmas season with success.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Why are we thankful?

Thanksgiving is the word that should characterize November. What makes us thankful?

Family, loved ones, jobs, recreational opportunities. We also should be thankful for the freedoms we have. We have the freedom to express ourselves, political freedom, ability to elect our representatives, and to attend and worship as we please.

God gave us a free will to choose to follow Him or Satan. He laid out His standard in the Bible. He tells us how the world was created, why one man’s transgression has made us all sinners, the result of that sin, how the conflict in the Middle East started, the creation of the nation of Israel, the history of the nation of Israel, the need for a blood sacrifice, and the ultimate redeemer who came to die, being the one time blood sacrifice for all mankind, Jesus Christ. So we should be thankful that God gave us the Bible.

Jesus was the Holy Son of God. Never sinned, never did any wickedness, creator of all things. Then God did something special for each of us by sending Jesus to earth to pay our sin debt with His own blood. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) We should be thankful that God gave us His Son as Savior for all mankind.

God made sure that salvation was of faith not works. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) God made accepting Jesus easy. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” We should be thankful for salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you are interested in knowing more about the Bible, Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection on your behalf, or how to make this happen in your life, call or email me.

What are you thankful for?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

Thanksgiving. What should we be thankful for?

The Bible gives us examples of people who thanked God.

This week we will look at several of them.

Mary, Mother of Jesus

(Brittany Rust)

Finding out she was pregnant with the Savior of the world wasn’t the easiest news to swallow and the aftermath took some faith. But Mary, the young girl chosen to carry the baby Jesus, would exemplify great praise.

While visiting with Elizabeth, who was carrying John the Baptist at the same time Mary was pregnant with Jesus, the young girl had a moment of exclamation. It’s called the Magnificent and it’s found in Luke 1.

Mary’s heart was full of praise and it out poured into the world. A young girl filled with immense thanks knew exactly where her praise was to be directed.

Do you know where to direct your praise today? What are you carrying that at first might have seemed a bit fearful but you can now be thankful for?

“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.⁴⁸ For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.⁴⁹ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.⁵⁰ And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.⁵¹ He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.⁵² He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.⁵³ He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.⁵⁴ He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;⁵⁵ As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.” (Luke 1:26-55)

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001