Boycott of Target Stores Is Proving Though CEO Is in Denial

Posted on 05/25/2016 by Natan Lawrence

From http://www.christianpost.com/news/franklin-graham-target-ceo-denial-stocks-tank-10-billion-transgender-bathroom-policy-164451/

Franklin Graham: Target CEO in Denial as Stocks Tank $10B Over Transgender Bathroom Policy

May 24, 2016|12:24 pm

Franklin Graham

Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, addresses the crowd at the Festival of Hope, an evangelistic rally held at the national stadium in Port-au-Prince, January 9, 2011.

The Rev. Franklin Graham says Target CEO Brian Cornell is in denial over the reason for the company’s plunging stock prices, insisting that the conservative boycott against the retailer’s transgender bathroom policies is playing a key role.

“Target stock is tumbling after they announced a pro-transgender restroom policy allowing men to use women’s bathrooms and changing rooms. Stock value has fallen 20 percent and shareholder value has lost $10 billion since they began promoting this dangerous policy,” Graham wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.

He then referred to a media statement made by Cornell, where he denied suggestions that the conservative boycott is to blame for Target’s financial setbacks.

“To date we have not seen a material or measurable impact on our business. Just a handful of stores across the country have seen some activity and have been impacted,” Cornell told Forbes last week.

Graham responded: “Really? He must be in denial. Wake up corporate America and stockholders — American families clearly do not want this. Over 1.2 million people have signed the online petition to boycott Target stores. This is sending a strong message, and I hope that millions more will sign it.”

The leader of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association linked to the petition started by the American Family Association, which has collected over 1.2 million signatures against Target’s new bathroom policies allowing customers and employees to choose which bathroom they go to based on their gender identity.

While Target has explained that its directive is aimed at being inclusive and helping all customers feel welcomed, AFA warned that it opens up a very dangerous situation for women.

“This means a man can simply say he ‘feels like a woman today’ and enter the women’s restroom … even if young girls or women are already in there. Target’s policy is exactly how sexual predators get access to their victims. And with Target publicly boasting that men can enter women’s bathrooms, where do you think predators are going to go?” the petition asks.

Meanwhile, Traditional Values Coalition, another conservative group that has started its own petition against Target, warned that parents should not allow their young daughters to try on swimsuits in the retail giant’s dressing rooms.

“We need more people to sign up for the boycott. We’re launching something this week. We’re now heading into bathing suit season. … Do not let your young girls and teen girls buy their summer clothes or bathing suits at Target,” Andrea Lafferty, president of the Traditional Values Coalition, told Breitbart News Daily with SiriusXM on Monday.

Despite conservative criticism and reports of plunging stock prices, Target has remained firm and said it will not be reversing its bathroom policy.

“Our focus on safety is unwavering. And we want to make sure we provide a welcoming environment for all of our guests,” Cornell said in another interview earlier in May.

Biblical Slavery Is Different Than Traditional Slavery

Posted on 05/25/2016 by Natan Lawrence

Leviticus 25:42, Slaves. The Hebrew word slaves or bondmen is ebed meaning “slave, servant, man-servant, worshiper (of God), servant (of God, e.g. Levite, priest or prophet).” Ebed derives from the basic Hebrew root word and verb, abad, meaning “to work or serve.” The word abab refers to service that can be directed toward people, things or Elohim. In biblical usage, if directed toward things, abad can refer to tilling the earth, dressing a vineyard, working flax or constructing a city. When abad is used in reference to serving YHVH it can refer to Levitical and priestly service. In Hebraic thought, such service is considered joyous, not bondage. This same service can be directed toward pagan deities as well. When used in reference to serving another man, abad transforms into the noun ebed meaning “slave or servant.” As discussed below and as pointed out by the TWOT, the concept of Hebrew slavery isn’t akin to the modern concept of slavery where the slave possesses no basic human rights. This was not the case in ancient Israel. The Hebrew slave, on the other hand, occupied a position of status and involving rights and trust. The Torah assured this as this and other Torah passages demonstrate.

Leviticus 25:45, You may buy. This passage advocates slavery among the Israelites. Yet, this is not the slavery the American Negroes experienced prior to the Civil War. It must be remembered that slavery was rife in the ancient world. Often slaves, however, were able to own homes and livestock and to maintain families as was the case with the Israelites in Egypt and the Jews in Babylon. In this case, these slaves were more like servants or feudal serfs. For example, in Israel, the Gibeonites became the slaves of Israel, but they continued to dwell in their own cities, and enjoy Israel’s military protection (Josh 9). Also, it Continue reading →

Does the Torah promote Capitalism or Socialism?

Posted on 05/25/2016 by Natan Lawrence

Leviticus 25, The Biblical social welfare system. Chapter 25, in part, lays out Israel’s social welfare and economic system. Basically, it was a capitalistic economic system where private individuals owned property and small businesses and controlled the means and productions of goods and services, and the central government’s involvement in the lives of people was minimal. This is not the case in a purely socialistic (or Marxist or communistic) economic system where the government owns most of the property and controls the means and distribution of goods and services, and where regulation of people’s lives is tremendous.

The capitalistic system that YHVH gave to Israel, however,l contained some quasi-socialistic checks and balances in that greedy or even exceptionally gifted and ambitious individuals couldn’t become excessively rich at the expense of the poor. Socialistic economic philosophy demands that the wealth of the nation be equally distributed among everyone including the poor. This may sound good in theory, but it doesn’t work. In reality, socialism stifles individual initiative by punishing (often through taxation and other means of wealth confiscation and redistribution by the government) those who, through hard work, sacrifice, initiative, and inventiveness have become wealthy. So, it stands to reason, why should the wealthy work hard if the fruits of their labors will only be confiscated and be given to the poor or the “have nots, ” or to those who refuse to work?

At the same time, capitalism is also a flawed system, since in time, the wealthy often end up owning own much of the land and control most of the wealth. Human nature being what it is, the greedy wealthy will turn a capitalistic system into oligarchic capitalism where only a few rich capitalists control nearly everything including the economic and political systems. This is the end times system that is described in Revelation 13 and 18 and is called Babylon the Great. Such a system ends up enslaving people through economic and political means, and creating a veritable serfdom of those who are under its rule (see Rev 18:13, 23).

With these things in mind, as you are reading through chapter 25, note how YHVH instructed the poor to be cared for. There was no government welfare system based on taxing the producers and giving to the non-producers. Everyone worked. In fact, the Torah commands everyone to work for six days, and then to rest on the seventh day (Exod 20:9). Sloth and laziness wasn’t an option.

Notice how debt was handled, and how people worked to pay off their debts. Bankruptcy wasn’t an option.

Notice how the jubilee year prevented the wealthy from acquiring all the land, and how every 50 years there was a redistribution of land, so that those who through sloth or mismanagement of their resources lost their land. Such individuals were mercifully given a second chance to start over again and to learn from their past mistakes. Lending to the poor was encouraged, and the charging of interest was prohibited.

As you read through this chapter, consider how YHVH deals with the perennial social and economic ills that have plague the world from time immemorial compared to how men currently deal with these same problems, and usually end up making the problems worse.

Though it would be difficult to implement such a system in our highly collectivized and industrialized society of today, it is likely that in the future, during the Millennium, when the Torah will be the rule of the earth and agrarian society will likely be the dominant economic paradigm, that such a Torah-based system will once again be put in place.

The Utter Depravity of Sinful Man

Posted on 05/23/2016 by Natan Lawrence

Jeremiah 17:9, The heart is deceitful above all thing.

The Bible is a big book. It contains more than 1500 pages of divine instructions on countless subjects from numerous authors written over a period of more than 1500 years! Within the plethora of subjects contained therein, it is easy to overlook certain ones that are less complimentary to man, but that he nevertheless needs to be reminded of if he is to come into a right relationship with YHVH Elohim (the Creator and ultimate Author of the Bible).

One of these biblical themes pertains to the utter depravity of man in his spiritually unregenerate state. The Bible has a lot to say about this subject, and it’s not a pleasant one. And even after man is regenerated by the Spirit of Elohim, he still struggles with his base, carnal, godless, rebellious, anti-Elohim and sin-bent nature.

Like taking a strong medicinal tonic, from time to time, it is imperative that the redeemed of YHVH review the Scriptures in the Bible that discuss the subject of man’s depravity. As forgetful humans who have the prideful tendency to gloss over our sins (this too is an aspect of man’s depraved and sin-inclined nature), we need to hold the mirror of truth up to our faces to see ourselves as we really are. When we behold this reality, perhaps it will drive us back to the cross of Yeshua in repentance of our sin, and cause us to fall down in contriteness before the mercy seat of Elohim’s throne begging for mercy. Perhaps the fear Continue reading →

YHVH’s Blessings in Alaska…and more photos!

Posted on 05/22/2016 by Natan Lawrence

Sailing to Alaska aboard the Crown Princess

In the comments section of this blog, Vicki just posted this:

This is what I call sewing and reaping. Our reward for faithful service is not just in the time to come, but in this. You two have been so faithful. You are being blessed for it. If this is the fallen Earth, JUST IMAGINE…………….the Renewed Creation……..hopefully I’ll enjoy that with you.

I want to share my response with all of you:

Thank you Vicki for your encouraging word. As some may know, at this time, I take no financial remuneration for either my pastoring of a congregation (for the last 18 years) or for my wife’s and my web ministry, which contains material that is all researched by and original to me. I steal no ministry Bible teachings from others, but develop all my own teachings from scratch. The money that does come into our ministry goes to pay ministry expenses, and, other than an occasional donation that comes in addressed to me personally (this only amounts to several hundred dollars a year), I receive no money from our ministry, and our ministry sells nothing in order to follow the biblical example of service. If the finances grow, I may eventually take something, but do date, not enough is sent in to afford this. Therefore, I work on average 50 to 60 hours or more a week in my tree care business where I’m an owner-operator. This is how I support my family.

I get very tired sometimes, since I work all week and then I prepare all Shabbat for my teaching time in our congregation. Our Shabbat services start at 2 pm on Shabbat and go until about 6 to 7 PM. We have a shared meal and fellowship time afterwards. I open and close the building nearly every week, which means I’m on site usually for 7 or 10 hours. On Sunday I work around the house, do family stuff and edit YouTube videos and answer ministry emails, and on Monday, it’s back to the tree service.

Sometimes I get so weary and frazzled that I just have to get away with my wife who is always at my side. I think this is why we have recently taken up cruising. The ship is a traveling hotel and restaurant. No driving somewhere or food prep, which can be tiring. No cell phones or wi-fi. Just me, my wife, our room with a balcony overlooking YHVH’s creation, the room is kept clean and our food is provided. We then take the shore excursions that teach us about history, native culture and where we can learn about and experience Yah’s creation. Very relaxing and fun.

On our Alaska trip, I kept asking Yah for sermon and teaching ideas. I kept hearing, “You’re off duty now, so I’m not going to give you any assignments or else you’ll be busy with that and not be focusing on a much needed vacation with your bride.” So in between activities, I just read my Bible, an excellent book by Keith Johnson entitled, “His Hallowed Name Revealed Again,” and I would look out the window enjoying the scenery going by.

Throughout our trip, Yah’s hand was upon us—especially when it came to the weather. Nearly every day at every site and excursion, we just barely missed rain showers and clouds that had been there before and after our arrival. When we got there, the rain stopped, or just after we got done, the rain started up again. For example, when we got to Glacier Bay, it was hot and sunny as far as the eye could see, which was miraculous, since it’s usually cloudy and foggy there. As we were leaving, the clouds were already coming in. When we took the train trip out of Skagway up into the Yukon, we were supposed to take the motor coach up and the train down. Instead, they had us take the train up and the motor coach down. On the way up, the visibility was clear. No clouds or fog. On the way down, it was foggy at the top of the mountain pass meaning we would have missed the high alpine beauty on the train on the way down because of the fog. On our ten mile bike trip out of Juneau down from the mountains, it stopped raining when we started our trip and, literally as we were shutting the doors to the van to take us back to the ship, it started raining again hard. When we pulled into Ketchikan—the rain capital of North America (they measure rain in feet not inches and get about 20 feet a year!), it rained four inches the day before we got there. When we were there, it was beautiful weather and only a few showers, but basically no rain.

Besides the weather, there were a few divine appointments along the way that could prove spiritually and financially rewarding as well.

So yes, Vicki, I agree with you. YHVH rewards us for our service to him in wonderful ways often other than money. It’s what I call living in his river of life. I’m constantly telling people to get into YHVH’s river of life and abide in it through a loving faith in Yeshua and pursuing a Torah-obedient lifestyle, which is how we walk out our love for YHVH Elohim and our fellow man.

Cruising into Glacier Bay

Margerie Glacier

Natan at Glacier Bay, Alaska from the Crown Princess cruise ship

Natan holding a spider crab aboard the Aleutian Ballad fishing boat.

Natan aboard the Aleutian Ballad in Ketchikan with our cruise ship in the background.

The snow-covered mountains rise up from the sea as a backdrop behind downtown Juneau, the capital of Alaska.

Biking in the mountains above Juneau.

Looking down on our cruise ship from the Mount Roberts tramway in Juneau.

I encountered this giant sitka spruce on our bike ride in Juneau. I’m a tree guy, and I love trees. What can I say?

From Skagway, Alaska, trekking into the Yukon Territory of Canada.

The rugged mountainous of Canada’s Yukon Territory.

More of the Yukon wilderness at the 60th parallel.

This is Emerald Lake in the Yukon Territory, which is world famous for its green color. It’s just past Carcross (short for Caribou Crossing) en route to White Horse.

Alaska, the last frontier, makes you feel small. It helps to put life into its proper, small perspective compared to YHVH Elohim and his incomprehensible vastness and the grandeur of his creation. To him be all the glory forever and ever! Amein.

Next to come: bald eagles—lots of them!

Blog Scripture Readings for 5-22 Through 5-28-16

Aside

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION:

Parashat Behar — Leviticus 25:1 – 26:2
Haftarah —Jeremiah 32:6-27
Prophets — Jeremiah 17:1 – 23:40
Writings — Job 34:1 – 40:24
Testimony — 1 Peter 2:1 – 5:14; 2 Peter 1:1 – 3:18

Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.

The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day. One each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle.

Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 5/22 through 5/28/16.

The Biblical Feasts and YHVH’s Plan of Salvation for Man

Posted on 05/21/2016 by Natan Lawrence

The Feasts Represent the Seven Steps of YHVH’s Plan of Salvation For Mankind

Passover (Pesach): The first annual festival in YHVH’s glorious lineup in the steps of redemption is Pesach which occurs in the early spring of the year at the time of the rebirth of the creation after a long and dead winter season. Likewise, it was the time of the birth of the nation of Israel. The Children of Israel had been enslaved in Egypt for many years, but they could not extricate themselves from the death grip of Pharaoh, a picture of Satan, without some help from above. YHVH heard their cries of anguish, told them to sacrifice a lamb and smear the blood on the doors of their homes. This they did by faith. YHVH

extended his grace and mercy upon them, caused the angel of YHVH to pass over their homes so that they were delivered from the wages of their sins which is death. At the same time, the Egyptians received judgment unto death because they were not under the blood of the lamb. Israel was now free to leave Egypt. Spiritually one must leave the world (spiritual Egypt), a place of spiritual oppression and slavery, darkness and false religion. It is the realm or kingdom of Satan, the prince of death. One cannot leave the kingdom of darkness on one’s own strength. One cannot free oneself from slavery to the strong tyrants and masters of this world, the flesh or the devil. A greater power than these must deliver us from these slave masters who maintain humans in their death grip. Only by the blood of the Lamb of YHVH smeared on the door posts and lintels (our actions and thoughts) of our houses (our lives) will the death angel pass over us, for Yeshua the Lamb of YHVH defeated the enemy at the cross and defeated the death sentence or death grip of sin by resurrecting from the grave on the third day after his death (Col 2:12-15). The Israelites, by faith, trusted in the blood of the Lamb and by YHVH’s grace their sins were not credited to their account, but were forgiven causing the death angel to pass over. At that time they physically began to leave Egypt.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzot): The Israelites left Egypt on the first day of this seven-day long festival. Leaving Egypt was a relatively simple process, but now began the process of “getting Egypt out of them.” Dying to self and overcoming all the sinful habits in our lives is a process. We cannot do this of our own efforts but need the redeeming work of Messiah. This is illustrated during this feast by YHVH’s command to remove all the physical leavening from our homes. Leavening is a type of sin and pride since yeast causes bread to rise and puff up. The sin of pride and hypocrisy leads one to believe that one is in a better spiritual state than one actually is. This is the state of spiritual Continue reading →

Hoshana Rabbah Blog

Midrash with Natan Lawrence

Boycott of Target Stores Is Proving Though CEO Is in Denial

Franklin Graham: Target CEO in Denial as Stocks Tank $10B Over Transgender Bathroom Policy

Biblical Slavery Is Different Than Traditional Slavery

Does the Torah promote Capitalism or Socialism?

The Utter Depravity of Sinful Man

YHVH’s Blessings in Alaska…and more photos!

Blog Scripture Readings for 5-22 Through 5-28-16

Aside

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION:

The Biblical Feasts and YHVH’s Plan of Salvation for Man

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THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION:

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