CONNECTION7Connecting

THE PAGAN ORIGIN OF ASH WEDNESDAY By Craig Portwood http://www.beaconoftruth.com/ash_wednesday.htm It's not mentioned in the Bible. None of the apostles observed it. Nowhere are Christians commanded to keep it. It was not even officially practiced until nearly 1000 years after Christ's resurrection. Like so many other non-biblical “Christian” customs, it has pagan roots. It's a sad fact that modern Christianity has appropriated so many customs from the practice of the heathens, that one might wonder if it should still be called Christianity. The early Pagan origins of Ash Wednesday This ritual “imposition of the ashes” is purportedly in imitation of the repentant act of covering oneself in dust and ashes. The marking of believers on Ash Wednesday is done in combination of another extra-biblical routine called “Lent.” Despite Christ's command to his followers to abstain from the practice of disfiguring their faces during fasting, it has become a regular practice. He also told us to wash our faces during a fast. The practice of putting ashes on one's forehead has been known from ancient times. In the Nordic pagan religion, placing ashes above one's brow was believed to ensure the protection of the Norse god, Odin. This practice spread to Europe during the Vikings conquests. This laying on of ashes was done on Wednesday, the day named for Odin, Odin's Day. Interestingly enough, according to Wikipedia, one of Odin's names is Ygg. The same is Norse for the World Ash. This name Ygg, closely resembles the Vedic name Agni in pronunciation. The Norse practice which has become known as Ash Wednesday was itself, drawn from the Vedic Indian religion. Ashes were believed to be the seed Agni , the Indian fire god. It is from this name that the Latins used for fire, ignis. It is from this root word that the English language got the words, ignite, igneous and ignition. Agni was said to have the authority to forgive sins. Ashes were also believed to be symbolic for the purifying blood of the Vedic god Shiva, which it is said had the power to cleanse sins. Lent Lent is a period of 40 days preceding the observance of Easter, where the observers are expected to fast or cease from having the use of some other “luxury.” Like the majority of modern, so-called Christian practices, its beginning can be traced to heathen practices. In his book The Two Babylons, Alexander Hislop observed: Let any one only read the atrocities that were commemorated during the 'sacred fast' or Pagan Lent, as described by Arnobius and Clemens Alexandrinus, and surely he must blush for the Christianity of those who, with the full knowledge of all these abominations, 'went down to Egypt for help' to stir up the languid devotion of the degenerate church, and who could find no more excellent way to 'revive' it, than by borrowing from so polluted a source; the absurdities and abominations connected with which the early Christian writers had held up to scorn.

Why is the forehead chosen for ashes? Why not the left elbow? Why not the right knee? Jesus condemned publicly disfiguring your face to indicate you were fasting (Matt 6:16-18). Catholics defy the teaching of Jesus Christ in their self-righteous show of religion. And their practices are as repulsive to God as were those of the Jews (Is 1:10-15; Matt 23:1-39). Why is the forehead chosen for ashes? The only Bible reference to men marking their foreheads, other than Pharisee tradition with phylacteries, is the mark of the antichrist beast (Matt 23:5; Rev 13:6; 20:4). God-fearing persons would not want to follow Rome with a mark on their forehead! Why is the forehead chosen for ashes? Because it has the third eye chakra of the Hindus. Surely you have seen Hindu women marked between their eyes. Tilaka is the mark of auspiciousness of Hindus, which may be done by marking the forehead with sacred ashes. Ash Wednesday did not come from the Bible, and it appears by similarity to have come from Hinduism. https://letgodbetrue.com/bible-topics/index/heresies/ash-wednesday/

POEM - NILE by Tsegaye Gebre-Medhin, a poet, playwright, translator, essayist, and art director was also Poet Laureate of Ethiopia and elected to the United Poets Laureate International. Nile I am the first Earth Mother of all fertility. I am the Source, I am the Nile, I am the African, I am the beginning! O Arabia, how could you so conveniently have forgotten, while your breath still hangs upon the threads of my springs? O Egypt, you prodigal daughter born from my first love, I am your Queen of the endless fresh waters, who rested my head upon the arms of Narmer Ka Menes when we joined in one our Upper and Lower Lands to create you! O Sudan, born out of the bosom of my being, how could you so conveniently count down in miserable billions of petty cubic yards the eternal drops of my life-giving Nile to you? Beginning long before the earth fell from the eye-ball of heaven, O Nile, that gushes out from my breath of life... https://allaboutethio.com/20-must-read-poems-of-ethiopia-best-ethiopian-poetry.html upon the throats of the billions of the Earth's thirsty multitudes, O World, how could you so conveniently have forgotten that I, your first fountain, I your ever Ethiopia I your first life still survive for you? I rise like the sun from the deepest core of the globe. I am the conquoror of scorching pestilences. I am the Ethiopia that "stretches her hands in supplication to God". I am the mother of the tallest traveller on the longest journey on Earth! My name is Africa, I am the mother of the Nile. O Nile, my prodigal daughter in the wilderness of the desert, bringing God's harmony to all brothers and sisters and calming down their noises of brass in their endless nakednesses, O Nile, you are music that restores the rhythm of existence

WE WORSHIP YOU OUR FATHER WHO ARE IN HEAVEN. YOU ARE AMAZING AND WONDERFUL!

Luke The Book of Luke is of the gospel genre. After a small introduction, Luke tells the story of how Zechariah was told of the birth of John the Baptist by the angel, Gabriel. Gabriel was sent to Mary of Nazareth and told her of Jesus’ birth. Luke tells of the birth of Jesus and that He was presented in the Temple on the eighth day after His birth. John the Baptist is already preparing the way of the gospel. When Jesus was about thirty years old, He was baptized by John. Luke then lists Jesus’ genealogy. Luke tells of Jesus’ temptation while He was in the desert for forty days. The people of Nazareth drove Jesus out of town. Jesus heals many and calls for His first disciples. Jesus teaches many people the gospel. In His teachings He uses parables and healings. Jesus feeds five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus warns His disciples, especially Peter, not to tell the people that He is the Christ. Peter, John, and James went with Jesus up onto a mountain. Jesus’ transfiguration occurred there. Jesus teaches the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus gives many warnings and encouragements. During the Last Supper, Jesus tells Peter that he will deny knowing Him three times. Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives and then is arrested. Peter does indeed deny Jesus three times. Jesus is taken before Pilate and Herod. Jesus is crucified, dies, is buried, and is then resurrected. Jesus appears to His disciples and then ascends to heaven

Matthew 10:35 “For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—’” #1 “For…” Yahoshua has said rather than peace on the earth, he is bringing a sword. In the current age, he will not save all men and women, but only those who believe and choose him, turning them in opposition to the world. #2 “…I have come…” Before one could believe in his miracles, his resurrection, and his coming again, the first act of faith is to believe in his incarnation from a virgin and the Spirit of Elohim. #3 “to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,” Micah spoke it. Elohim himself calls us to honor our father and mother (Ex 20:12). #4 “a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.’” This is the least surprising of the family conflicts. Nevertheless, in the ancient world for a young wife to stand up to her elder mother-in-law was radical.

Fully persuaded, no one can get us out of the hand of Elohim.

A little story about a CEO using seeds to make a decision.

The Legend of the Thirty Pieces of Silver (LTPS) is a medieval apocryphon which traces the transmission of the coins paid to betray Jesus from Terah’s gift of the coins to Abraham to Judas’ purchase of the Field of Blood in Acts 1:18-19. The text is extant in a variety of forms and languages including Latin, Syriac, Arabic and Armenian, and several European languages including German, English, Italian, Spanish and Catalan. The following translation is based on the Western recension of the Syriac text. The story of the origin of the thirty silver pieces which Iscariot received as the price of the Messiah. These pieces which Judas received from the Jewish priests, where are they from and what is their story? These pieces were made by Terah, the father of Abraham. Abraham gave them to his son Isaac. And Isaac bought a village with them. The master of it brought them to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh sent them to Solomon, the son of David, for the temple he was building. And Solomon took the pieces and placed them round the door of the altar. https://rejectedscriptures.weebly.com/very-rare-apocrypha-i.html Thirty pieces of silver was the price for which Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, according to an account in the Gospel of Matthew 26:15 in the New Testament.[1] Before the Last Supper, Judas is said to have gone to the chief priests and agreed to hand over Jesus in exchange for 30 silver coins, and to have attempted to return the money afterwards, filled with remorse. The Gospel of Matthew claims that the subsequent purchase of the Potter's field was fulfilment, by Jesus, of a prophecy of Zechariah.[2][3] In Zechariah 11:12–13, 30 pieces of silver is the price Zechariah receives for his labour. He takes the coins and throws them "to the potter." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_pieces_of_silver

No not one

The 11th hour

Life is a gift of time

WHAT WILL IT BE?

Are You Interested in Working?

THE MESSAGE IS SALVATION FOR YOUR SOUL

11th Hour

Let this be the day that you answer Elohim's call upon your life. You will never be the same. Halleluyah!

FATHER IS ANGRY WITH THE WICKED. This is the testimony of God Himself This truth is also taught by reason. If God were not opposed to the wicked, He would be wicked Himself for not opposing them. Sinners know that God is angry with them, and ought to be. Else, why are they afraid to die?

Future Blessings for Zion 1 “Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says YHWH. 2 “Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes in deep.

Recall That Ice Cream Truck Song? We Have Unpleasant News For You Theodore R. Johnson III is a writer, naval officer and former White House fellow. His writing focuses on race, society and politics. "Talking About Race And Ice Cream Leaves A Sour Taste For Some" is the author's response to critics of this article. "Nigger Love A Watermelon Ha! Ha! Ha!" merits the distinction of the most racist song title in America. Released in March 1916 by Columbia Records, it was written by actor Harry C. Browne and played on the familiar depiction of black people as mindless beasts of burden greedily devouring slices of watermelon. The Racist History of The Ice Cream Truck Song | Genius News https://youtu.be/oqujZ8qKGJo The Ice Cream Truck Song https://youtu.be/CZB6WXDuM1g Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah https://youtu.be/LcxYwwIL5zQ https://www.ferris.edu/htmls/news/jimcrow/index.htm turkey in the straw (first version 1942) https://youtu.be/VsnZxfkkoKQ 2nd South Carolina String Band - Zip Coon https://youtu.be/C0i9XMyTw-o

Christians protest Satanic Temple’s 3-day ‘SatanCon’ in Arizona city that rejected group's invocation Christians gathered, prayed and read scriptures outside an Arizona hotel that hosted a three-day event by The Satanic Temple called “SatanCon” that included such sessions as “Raising Children in a Satanic Household” and “Abortion as a (Religious) Right.” The Catholic demonstrators prayed, read from the Bible, held signs, banners, rosaries, crosses and images of the Virgin Mary outside the Saguaro Hotel in Scottsdale, the site of the Satanic Temple’s event, which concludes Sunday, Fox 10 reported. “We’re out here to let the satanists know that there’s no place for evil in Arizona,” a protester was quoted as saying. “And we’re here to combat that. And we’re here to say that Jesus is Lord.”

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AND TO PRAY PRAY PRAY FOUR CORNERS WHERE FOUR STATES MEET The Four Corners is a region of the Southwestern United States consisting of the southwestern corner of Colorado, southeastern corner of Utah, northeastern corner of Arizona, and northwestern corner of New Mexico. The Four Corners area is named after the quadripoint at the intersection of approximately 37° north latitude with 109° 03' west longitude, where the boundaries of the four states meet, and are marked by the Four Corners Monument. It is the only location in the United States where four states meet. Most of the Four Corners region belongs to semi-autonomous Native American nations, the largest of which is the Navajo Nation, followed by Hopi, Ute, and Zuni tribal reserves and nations. The Four Corners region is part of a larger region known as the Colorado Plateau and is mostly rural, rugged, and arid. In addition to the monument, commonly visited areas within Four Corners include Monument Valley, Mesa Verde National Park, Chaco Canyon, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The most populous city in the Four Corners region is Farmington, New Mexico, followed by Durango, Colorado. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Corners

It is not an understatement to call this a battle of good and evil. It literally is. And on Friday, February 11, satanists from across the world will converge on Scottsdale, Arizona and for three days conduct rituals, services, celebrations, and more debauched and evil events. It’s SatanCon from February 11-13. The satanists chose to locate their conference in Scottsdale as a push back against the city for declining their request to deliver a satanic invocation before the Scottsdale City Council meeting. REMINDER-THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE IN U.S. WHERE FOUR STATES MEET The Four Corners is a region of the Southwestern United States consisting of the southwestern corner of Colorado, southeastern corner of Utah, northeastern corner of Arizona, and northwestern corner of New Mexico. The Four Corners area is named after the quadripoint at the intersection of approximately 37° north latitude with 109° 03' west longitude, where the boundaries of the four states meet, and are marked by the Four Corners Monument. It is the only location in the United States where four states meet. Most of the Four Corners region belongs to semi-autonomous Native American nations, the largest of which is the Navajo Nation, followed by Hopi, Ute, and Zuni tribal reserves and nations. The Four Corners region is part of a larger region known as the Colorado Plateau and is mostly rural, rugged, and arid. In addition to the monument, commonly visited areas within Four Corners include Monument Valley, Mesa Verde National Park, Chaco Canyon, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The most populous city in the Four Corners region is Farmington, New Mexico, followed by Durango, Colorado. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Corners

4 Baruch 3:10-11 "And YHWH said: Consign them to the earth, saying: Hear, earth, the voice of your creator, who founded you upon the waters, who sealed you with seven seals for seven epochs, and after this you will receive your ornaments. Guard the vessels of the temple service until the gathering of the beloved." It is by Elohim's Hand Jerusalem Will be Destroyed 1 It came to pass, when the children of Israel were taken captive by the king of the Chaldeans, that YHWH spoke to Jeremiah saying: “Jeremiah, my chosen one, arise and depart from this city, you and Baruch, since I am going to destroy it because of the multitude of the sins of those who dwell in it. 2 For your prayers are like a solid pillar in its midst, and like an indestructible wall surrounding it. 3 Now, then, arise and depart before the host of the Chaldeans surrounds it.” 4 And Jeremiah answered, saying: “I beseech you, YHWH, permit me, your servant, to speak in your presence.” 5 And YHWH said to him: “Speak, my chosen one Jeremiah.” 6 And Jeremiah spoke, saying: “YHWH Almighty, would you deliver the chosen city into the hands of the Chaldeans, so that the king with the multitude of his people might boast and say: ‘I have prevailed over the holy city of Elohim?’ 7 No, my YHWH, but if it is your will, let it be destroyed by your hands.” 9 “For neither the king nor his host will be able to enter it unless I first open its gates. 10 Arise, then, and go to Baruch, and tell him these words. 11 And when you have arisen at the sixth hour of the night, go out on the city walls and I will show you that unless I first destroy the city, they cannot enter it.” 12WhenYHWH had said this, he departed from Jeremiah.

A World Without Blacks This is a story of a little boy named Theo who woke up one morning and asked his mother "Mom, what if there were no Black people in the world?" From ancient Kemet to the contemporary United States, people of the African Diaspora have been responsible for some of the world’s most innovative and useful creations. Although we are familiar with the inventions of Madam C.J. Walker and George Washington Carver, there are a myriad of inventions that are unbeknownst to many.ttps://www.cbcfinc.org/thevillage/2015/02/27/top-ten-black-inventors-you-didnt-know-about/ Black Inventors...Extraordinary Inventions! African Americans have made extraordinary contributions throughout history. These inventors took advantage of their God-given talents to create products that simplified the lives of people all over the world. http://www.friendshipcharlotte.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Black-Inventors-List.pdf