Newsletter: 2009-14 US National Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving Day Greetings
from HomeWorship 101™

“To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”
- Psalm 30:12

Thanksgiving Day, began as a traditional North American holiday to give thanks to our CREATOR for the blessings of the yearly harvest season. Giving thanks is very important to our CREATOR, and America’s founding leaders knew their Bibles well. They set aside the 4^th Thursday of November (this year it is the 26^th), as a national day of Thanksgiving. The holiday dates back to pilgrams in early 1600’s. A national day, setaside to give thanks to our CREATOR was so important to the early settlers, that George Washington made it a permanent holiday in 1789. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, and on the second Monday of October in Canada.

"In everything give thanks,
for this is the will of God ..."
- 1Thessalonians 5:18

The Hebrew feasts, and the many Biblical verses directing thanksgiving to GOD inspired the American tradition of Thanksgiving. Do a Bible word search for “thanks,“ and you will discover many example of giving thanks to GOD for all our blessings. Some spiritually powerful Psalms are dedicated solely to Thanksgiving (Ps.65 – personal, 66-corporate, 100, 116, 136, 138). The Prophet Nehemiah tells us how in verses 12:27, 46. In times of distress we should give thanks, and the Prophet Daniel showed us how, “And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days,” -6.10.

Why do we give thanks to GOD, the reason is clearly stated, “May you have the power to understand, as all God's people should--how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is! May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it!" (Ephesians 3:18-19) Also because, "…God has reserved a priceless inheritance for His children. It is kept in heaven for you--pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay!" (1Peter 1:4)

"Adore God. Reverence and cherish your parents.
Love your neighbor as yourself, and your country more than yourself.
Be just. Be true. Murmur not at the ways of Providence.
So shall the life into which you have entered be the portal
to one of eternal and ineffable bliss."
- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith, 1825

George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation:

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness…”

Wouldn’t it be refreshing to hear such bold and powerful words from today’s political leadership? There are many Scriptural commands to give thanks, and up until the time of President Abraham Lincoln our political headship had no problem in publicly doing so. When it comes to answering the GOD question, our early leadership boldly went where none have gone before. America’s founders were the only ones that built a nation that would glorify our CREATOR instead of some earthly king, president, or leader. Our founding fathers knew the Scriptural mandate to give thanks, they proclaimed to the whole nation that on this day, stop your daily work, gather with friends and family, devote some time to home worship, table fellowship, and give thanks to our CREATOR.

Culturally, we are devolving. Today, it’s not too difficult to find historical revisionists who would tear down America’s first President, George Washington, and the founding fathers. Sadly, many of these revisionists aren’t from some fringe radical group, they come from our so-called higher schools of learning. Yet, one could go through the halls of today’s educated elites and still be hard pressed to find a group of men who accomplished what our founders achieved. The two most recent examples of modern social thinking are reflected in the UN Charter of Human Rights, or the current draft of the EU Constitution. Neither of these is as citizen rights and freedoms friendly, as what America’s founders organized. In short, all they want to do is control you. Basically, it’s still the same ole’ story, what the government gives, the government can take away – boorrrring. Log on to: http://www.homeworship101.com/cultural_issues.htm

The simple truth is that upon coming home victorious from the War of Independence, George Washington could have been anointed king, but he was wise to the problems of Europe’s so-called ‘divine rulership of kings, popes, and dictators,’ and would have none of it. He wanted to complete the planned Constitution, and he agreed to serve a term, as it’s first president. With that decision, this country was born with the Bible in one hand, and the Declaration of Independence in the other. The founding fathers were Protestant-Christians, and they knew their history and Bible well. They were well aware of our CREATOR’S warning concerning the government of kings, 1Sam.ch.8. Their faithful hearts, and their reverence for the will of GOD, symbolized their commitment to the creation of the first nation that would glorify GOD instead of some earthly king. Log on to: http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c6_hellenism_romanism.htm

The revolutionary Protestant concept, that GOD directly empowers the people instead of a king or pope, and what GOD directly gives, no man can take away, is what makes American unique among all other nations. What is extraordinary is that the American concept did not force-feed religious conversion or dogma, whether you believe in GOD or not doesn’t matter - even the atheist has the same human rights and freedoms. (And ‘free people’ join together to form a government, a representative-republic, based on universal Biblical values.) Make-no-mistake, no other nation, ancient or modern, not even the Jews, have ever made such a proclamation. It’s a miracle that it ever happened! And it’s been under attack by the dark side ever since. Log on to: http://www.homeworship101.com/wp_americans_who_risked.htm

The Bible – by itself - is not a religion (Jam.1:26). America’s Founders didn’t want a priest running the store – so to speak, but they wanted the store run on the Biblical concepts of personal honor and self-reliance. Our Founders knew that developing a humble relationship with GOD gives one a place in the Universe. They knew the Biblical lessons of self-control, responsibility, and compassion, builds strong families, communities, and country. They believed that the Biblical values were goals to be achieved through applications of personal study and effort, practice, and group support. They didn’t believe in a state education to force-feed this, they believed that sharing spiritual knowledge is empowerment, and in the early years, the U.S. Congress printed and gave free Bibles to the people for personal and group study.

All glory goes to our CREATOR.
(Luke 2:14; John 10:25, 14:12-15)

It is interesting to note that “Thanksgiving Day” was designed to be a national ‘home Worship’ holiday. George Washington first proclaimed the holiday as a day to gather with friends and family, share the autumn harvest bounties, and to give thanks. Traditionally, the spiritual highlight of the Thanksgiving event was staged around table-fellowship. Today the day still is much the same as it was in his time. Many people travel a great distances to be together with family and spend a day with home with food, fun, and fellowship. In our multi-ethnic nation, food, music, and dance might vary, but typically, the main event would be when everyone joins around the dinner table, kindles the two main candles, and says a prayer of thanks… But, just exactly, whom are we thanking? The Bible clearly states, all glory goes to our CREATOR (Luke 2:14; John 10:25, 14:12-15). It sounds simple, yet there is much confusion because people like to twist or rewrite Bible passages to suit there own point of view.

“I will praise the name of God with a song,
And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.”
- Psalm 69:30
.
“…offer the sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of our lips,
giving thanks to His name.”
- Hebrews 13:15

Giving thanks magnifies GOD and we should invoke the “Name” of GOD when giving thanks, but that can be problematic. Some would say we give thanks to Jehovah-God, but technically speaking Jehovah is not or CREATOR’S Name. The word Jehovah is a Christian invention from the European middle ages. Je-hovah is a hybrid name; the suffix “hovah” in Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary #1943 means ruin, mischief. “Havvah,” is another form of hovah #1942 and means ruin, calamity, iniquity, mischief, mischievous, perverse, very wickedness. In the Bible, names, to put it simply, become a type of job description of the person to whom the name is given, and Jehovah is more the definition of Satan then it is our CREATOR. And Jewish scholars have never accepted Jehovah as the name for GOD.

Some say Lord. In my humble opinion, that title is also troublesome. I once owed rental property and people used to call me landlord. England and Europe is full of men with the title “lord.” It has always bothered me to pray using Lord when mere mortals use the same title as our Messiah or CREATOR. I have always wondered, if so many people say GOD doesn’t exist, or has no place in government, then why do leaders always try to impersonate or copy HIM?

Some would say it’s the “Christian God” that we worship. Personally I was always puzzled over the term “Christian God,” or “Jesus is God.” Does that mean Jesus is now our CREATOR? Please excuse my cynical reaction, but exactly where in the Bible does it state that Jesus was elevated from being the Messiah to the CREATOR? I always believed they are two distinct people because Yahshua sits at His FATHER’S right hand (Mar.16:19). If you know the Messiah and believe in Him then we give thanks to YHWH the FATHER in His (Yahshua’s) Name (Col.3:17, Eph.5:20)

Some Jews, as they say, to show respect when referencing our CREATOR write the word G-d. I was always curious as how to pronounce G-d. The truth is, GOD or G-d, is not a name, it is a title, and history tells us of many different gods through the ages. I would like to know why a title for a pagan “god” should be used to reference our CREATOR? G-d, god, and GOD, all sound the same to me when I say it out loud? (Note: I type all references to our CREATOR in capitol letters for two reasons: for clarity, and because it is a name that is above all others.)

Arabs say Allah. But that name, like Jehovah, is their invention and it cannot be proved by Biblical archeology.

Language can be maddening. But our CREATOR is not the author of confusion. One of the most widely known words in the world is “Hallelujah,” it is a Hebrew word meaning, “Praise you-YAH.” The Hebrew phrase “Hallelu-YAH” is heard the world over and sounds the same in all languages, curiously few people understand what they are saying. You will find the Sacred Name referenced nearly 7,000 times in ancient Bible manuscripts and it is proven by archeology. Known as the “Tetragrammaton,” they are the four consonants standing for the Hebrew name YHWH. The true pronunciation of the Sacred Name YHWH was never lost” (Encyclopedia Judaica, Vol.7, p.679). The word has been transliterated to English as “YAHWEH.” In all the English translations of the Bible, the only reference to YAHWEH other then the New Jerusalem Bible (where it is used extensively) is in Psalms 68:4 in the King James Bible. (Log on: http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c1_top_god.htm )

"The beginning of wisdom
is to call things by their right names."
- Chinese proverb

Words have meaning, but names have power! I always get arguments when I talk on this subject. Most forget there is a difference, there are many titles used to reference our CREATOR, but HE has only one name. When studying spiritual truths, knowledge begins by calling things by their correct “names.” As I said before, names in the Bible are a type of job description. Our CREATORS real and Sacred Name YAHWEH means eternal, endlessness, everlasting. YAHWEH is the most powerful living Spirit in the entire universe. YAHWEH was before all else, and the CREATOR of all. Now that is a name loaded with meaning. Arguments aside, the name has been hidden by the Bible translators and pastors, because of fear or prejudice, in all the English translations of the Bible the only reference to YAHWEH other than the New Jerusalem Bible is in Psalms 68:4 in the King James Bible.

Today a person taking supplemental educational courses for business (by Dale Carnegie for example) learns the first rule of success is the importance of remembering peoples names, and pronouncing them properly. Our name is the first word we learn when we are born, and is very important to us. We would not turn around and acknowledge someone if they do not address us by our proper name. A Gallop poll finds that 96% of adults say they believe in GOD or a UNIVERSAL SPIRIT - with so many believers you would think more people would know his real name.

Research indicates, spiritual matters, matter, and people want answers to life’s tough problems. Tough problems call for tough answers, and knowing the powerful name of the CREATOR is a good place to start when searching for spiritual truth. A person's given name does not change from language to language. Names are 'transliterated,' that is, the very sound is brought over to another language. For example, the English name Jerusalem, comes from the Hebrew name Yerushalayim (pronounced Ye-ru-sha-la-yim). Other examples are Coca-Cola, Gorbachev, Mercedes, Toyota, Sony, Yeltsin, Kohl, Ho-Chi-Min, Arafat, Rabin, Marcos, etc.

In the 900 plus languages in which Bibles are translated it is strange to see the many names given to our CREATOR other than the proper name, and about the same number of arguments against using it. Ironically, Satan's name does not change, "Satan" is recognized in all languages!

The Sacred Name is revealed, and commanded to be used for all generations to come, in Exodus 3:15(NJB) God further said to Moses, “You are to tell the Israelites, YAHWEH, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name for all time, and thus I am to be invoked for all generations to come.” There are close to a hundred other passages in the Hebrew Bible commanding its use. The Prophet Malachi states the Sacred Name was given to be used by all believers, the Israelites and the gentiles (Mal.1:11). I often wonder, what mere mortal has the right to change the Biblical command?

Our Thanksgiving Day is about the only holiday that hasn’t been ruined by commercialism. But the secularists are still trying to remove our CREATOR from the holiday by wishing people a “happy turkey day, ” instead of a Happy Thanksgiving. Don’t let the misguided secularists, and the misinformed theologians derail you. Follow our founder’s footsteps and boldly proclaim that we give thanks to our CREATOR, YAHWEH. Scriptures clearly state, whether you know the Messiah or not, Christian or Jew, all glory goes to our CREATOR, and America’s path leads to YHWH and HIS Word.

The colonists endured much hardship when they settled this country, but their faith never wavered (click for their story). Their hardships brought us the Bible and much spiritual knowledge free for all to study. Today, we should not take for granted all the blessings we have. Say a heartfelt prayer of thanks for all the blessings of our CREATOR YHWH (Ps.100). And in these times of great geo-political stress, pray that our CREATOR’S Blessings continue.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
- Philippians 4:6

Enjoy the journey of learning…

Ø Be thankful, log on: http://www.homeworship101.com/wp_be_thankful.htm
Ø Name log on: http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c1_top_god.htm
Ø http://www.homeworship101.com/NL_2008_13.htm

Please allow me a moment to say thank you for the blessings of my newfound friends through this newsletter and website. Thank you for all your letters throughout the year - it keeps me going. I appreciate all of your kind words, letters of support, and even the corrections from those gifted in proofreading, I fell truly blessed to have made so many new friends via Internet – (GOD Bless America). When I began writing the book and website in the mid-ninety’s, many people where afraid of saying or using our CREATOR’S Name, “YAHWEH,” for fear that the black booted government types would drop out of the sky on you. Well we have come a long way, nobody has bothered me, and I’m not worried, I think they have bigger things to worry about. In the beginning, only my wife understood my madness, when I published the website, I started out with about 50 website visits a month, and now averaging about 20-30,000 visitors a month, all reading and learning from my website, by people from all around the world - I am both amazed and humbled.

Bless you and thank you, Errol.
**********************************************
Errol Mueller, chronicler extraordinaire
e-mail: errol@homeworship101.com
website: www.homeworship101.com
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WSC Newsletter 2009-14, posted 11/25/09.

Copyright © 2009 Errol Mueller. All rights reserved. Short quotations, page copying, or redistribution for personal or non-commercial group study is permitted and encouraged, provided they are copied in total with no alterations or deletions. Author’s name, website address, and copyright notice must be included. If any other use is desired, written permission is required.
For information, email or call (334) 678-0913. White Stone Communications (Rev.2:17), Dothan, AL.
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Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.
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US National Day of Thanksgiving