ARCHAEOLOGY/ HISTORY
The Jezreel Valley
The geography of Palestine made the Jezreel Valley a major travel route from north to south and from east to west. Through the valley ran the main highway linking Egypt with Syria and Mesopotamia. The importance of the valley in terms of transportation continues to this day, as many trucks from Amman, Jordan travel through it on their way the port of Haifa at the northern tip of Mount Carmel. Although originally the valley floor was marshy, it has always been of great stratigic importance, having been rightfully called the "battlefield of Palestine." The principal north-south route of the ancient world, called by the Romans Via Maris ("Way of the Sea") cut through the plain on its way from Egypt to Damascus and Mesopotamia. It was an obvious route for trade--and invasion. This accounts for the long list of battles fought there, right up to modern times, from the days of Nebuchadnezzar until the disastrous march of Napoleon Bonaparte from Egypt into Syria. Warriors of every nation under heaven--Jews, Gentiles, Saracens, Crusaders, Frenchmen, Egyptians, Persians, Turks and Arabs--have pitched their tents in the plain. It was the epic battleground where the Israelite Judge, Gideon, with only 300 men, defeated the Midianites and the Amalekites who were "thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore." (Judges 7:12). Here, too, Deborah and Barak defeated the Canaanite general Sisera, Saul's army was defeated by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:1-13), and king Josiah of Judah was slain while battling Pharaoh Neco of Egypt (2 Chronicles 35:19-25). For a map and to Read more....
http://www.ourfatherlutheran.net/biblehomelands/galilee/jezreel.htm

BIBLE TOPIC
Zion
Zion is first mentioned in the bible at 2 Samuel 5:7 where it is referred to as the City of David (see also 1 Kings 8:1, 1 Chronicles 11:5, and 2 Chronicles 5:2), making Zion synonymous with Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6-9). "The City of David" is not to be confused with "David's City":  "David's City" is Bethlehem because Joseph, stepfather to Jesus, was a native of Bethlehem and a member of David's descendants (Luke 2:4). David's own father was also born in Bethlehem, and apparently so was David (1 Samuel 17:12, 15). Whereas the City of David -  Zion -  is Jerusalem and is associated with the tribe of Judah (Psalm 69:35, 78:68) -- keep in mind that Jerusalem was in the territory of Judah (2 Samuel 5:5). The reason Jerusalem was called the "City of David" is because David invaded the Jebusites, who occupied Jerusalem, and ousted them (2 Samuel 5:4-10).

How important was Jerusalem / Zion to Israel? Zion was chosen by Yahweh to be the hub of true worship (1 Kings 14:21), thus His temple was located there (Psalm 68:29, Mark 11:11). This also meant the Israelites would make special efforts to travel to Jerusalem for important occasions, such as the Passover observation (Luke 2:41, John 11:55), the Festival of Dedication / Hanukkah  (John 10:22), and other rituals according to Jewish Law (Luke 2:27). Jerusalem was located in the region of Judah (Joshua 15:63), and interestingly enough the lineage of the kings descended through the line of Judah (Matthew 1:1-16).

Because Zion had great importance as both a worship center and a place of kings, Yahweh used Zion to illustrate His heavenly Kingdom: Since earthly Jerusalem was Zion, then Heavenly Jerusalem was referred to as the elevated Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:22). This is supported in that bible prophecies speak of Yahweh being King residing in Mount Zion (Isaiah 8:18, Isaiah 24:23, Obadiah 1:21, Micah 4:7), and when Christ is enthroned he is also seen to be atop Mount Zion (Revelation 14:1). The bible also mentions Mount Zion as being the place of the name of Yahweh (Isaiah 18:7). And just as earthly Zion was associated with the region of Judah, so too is Mount Zion associated with spiritual Judah (Psalm 78:68). It is also worth noting that earthly Jerusalem was simply a "copy" of the real Jerusalem in Heaven (Hebrews 8:5, 9:24).

Originally, the city of Jerusalem was named Salem (Genesis 14:18) and was referred as such by the Psalmist even though by then it's name had lenghthened to "Jerusalem" (Psalm 76:2 compare with the first mention of Jerusalem at Joshua 10:1). Salem was also identified with the Melchizedek priesthood (Genesis 14:18, Hebrews 7:1-3). It is fitting that Yahweh would choose Jerusalem to be his chosen city, for "Salem" means "Peace" (Hebrews 7:2).

GUEST COLUMNIST
What Really Are The Requirements Of Christian Life?
-- Article Written By Eden C.
THE FOOD
     Physically speaking, food is vital for life. So it follows that spiritual food is vital for spirituality. The spiritual food we receive will determine the state of our spirituality. Our initial thought of spiritual nourishment is likely of healthy spiritual food, however Satan is also a spirit, Ephesians 2:1 says, “Furthermore, [it is] YOU [God made alive] though YOU were dead in YOUR trespasses and sins, in which YOU at one time walked according to the system of things of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit that now operates in the sons of disobedience.” So there must also be spiritual food that Satan provides in order for his spirit to operate in the ‘sons of disobedience’. So we can appreciate the absolute vital importance attached to the spiritual food we take in; we must be sure it is from Jehovah. (1 John 4:1)
     Jehovah has provided the bible for us to search thru for nourishment. So the slaves of Christ must feed each other truth from Jehovah. There is only one source of truth, Jehovah. He has communicated this truth to us by means of his word the bible. So, the spiritual food we partake of has to be from and in harmony with the bible.
     With this in mind consider Paul’s words to the Galatians in the 1st chapter verse 6 “ I marvel that YOU are being so quickly removed from the One who called YOU with Christ’s undeserved kindness over to another sort of good news. But it is not another; only there are certain ones who are causing YOU trouble and wanting to pervert the good news about the Christ. However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to YOU as good news something beyond what we declared to YOU as good news, let him be accursed. As we have said above, I also now say again, whoever it is that is declaring to YOU as good news something beyond what YOU accepted, let him be accursed.”
     The Galatians had been ‘eating’ spiritual food from someone other than Jehovah; they had been removed ‘over to another sort of good news’. What was this ‘good news’? This: a righteous standing before Jehovah could be accomplished by living by law.
     How serious was this situation? Verse 7 states the ones teaching this ‘good news’ are perverting the good news about the Christ. The source of this advice is Satan. This places those teaching these perversions in a very serious situation. So Paul lovingly points out the error of the Galatians thinking in the following pages of his letter to them. With phrases like: “I do not shove aside the undeserved kindness of God; for if righteousness is through law, Christ actually died for nothing. O senseless Ga·la´tians, who is it that brought YOU under evil influence, YOU before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed impaled? This alone I want to learn from YOU: Did YOU receive the spirit due to works of law or due to a hearing by faith? Are YOU so senseless? After starting in spirit are YOU now being completed in flesh?”
     Yes, this teaching is so far removed from the truth; Paul is trying to shake them to their senses! Righteousness cannot be earned! To assert this is anti-Christ since it is only thru faith in Jesus that we can be ‘counted worthy of the kingdom of God’. (Romans 4:4,5)
      So where do the ‘reminders’ from the watchtower fit in? Advice on tattoos, hairstyles, grooming styles, entertainment, cleanliness, manners, and other matters that Jehovah has lovingly left to us to decide on. These have been extensively discussed in the Watchtower publications leading the reader to the Watchtower’s preferred conclusion. These could be viewed as loving suggestions, but why suggest a course of action at all? Although the society has stated, ‘we should not make rules’, the suggestions put forward are enforced as rules. For instance,one watchtower study article said meetings and field service were compared to tithing, as in ‘not optional’. Another watchtower placed the work of witnessing as more important than the gift of Holy Spirit!
     Direction of this nature serves to create a nation of people that have no ability to develop let alone use their own Christian trained conscience. Worse still, it teaches that a righteous standing is attainable thru performing these duties or refraining from these activities. Is this not another sort of good news, perverting the real good news about the Christ?
NOT OPTIONAL
     There are two things that are not optional for Christians. We must LOVE Jehovah and we must LOVE each other. Interestingly, the very nature of this command is kind, not bound by harsh restrictions; if you love you will be happy. Love never fails. (Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians.)

THE MOTIVATION
     Perhaps more serious is the motivation for supplying this kind of food. The heart is the seat of motivation and only Jehovah can read hearts, so we must ensure that we do not assume Jehovah ’s role. Jehovah has however, revealed the heart condition of his people. (Isaiah 1:4, Jeremiah 3:17 There are many more examples, but these two illustrate the fact the heart of God’s people will be bad before they return to the truth.)
      Romans chapter 10 is another expose of the heart condition of God’s people: “Brothers, the goodwill of my heart and my supplication to God for them are, indeed, for their salvation. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge; for, because of not knowing the righteousness of God but seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the Law, so that everyone exercising faith may have righteousness.” Paul here shows us that the motivation for living by law is ‘seeking to establish our own righteousness’. What really is the difference between living by law and living by all these ‘suggestions’ from The Watchtower? What is it that our brothers hope for, other than our achieving a righteous standing before Jehovah? Although a loving motive could be construed from that hope, a righteous standing cannot be earned and to assert that it could is a serious distortion of the truth, a perversion of the good news! Paul’s words to the Galatians in the 2nd chapter explain the seriousness of this matter. “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners from the nations, knowing as we do that a man is declared righteous, not due to works of law, but only through faith toward Christ Jesus, even we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, that we may be declared righteous due to faith toward Christ, and not due to works of law, because due to works of law no flesh will be declared righteous.” So, in order to have a righteous standing before Jehovah, we must put faith in Jesus. There is NO other way.
      Paul was telling the Galatians this because they were holding on to the Law. Paul concludes the 2nd chapter with these words: “ I do not shove aside the undeserved kindness of God; for if righteousness is through law, Christ actually died for nothing.” Here, the seriousness of this matter is clearly shown. To promote these ‘works’ is ’seeking to establish their own’ righteousness. To say: “you cannot get a tattoo,” or “you cannot grow a beard” or “you must go out witnessing and get to all the meetings, and by the way, make sure you are never late.” To say these things is to say, “if you do these things you will be saved,” or “righteousness is through law.”
A comparison of John’s words to Paul’s.
      1 John 1:8-10 reads: "If we make the statement: “We have no sin,” we are misleading ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we make the statement: “We have not sinned,” we are making him a liar, and his word is not in us." To make the statement “we have not sinned” is to deny the love of God. It is only thru his love and undeserved kindness that we can be declared righteous and have everlasting life as our hope. (Romans 3:24,25)
      So it is our faith in Jehovah and Jesus that is important. Through this faith we can openly confess our sins to our loving heavenly father knowing with all confidence that we are forgiven thru Jesus blood. Striving to earn a righteous standing is making the statement “I have no sin”. It is also denying Jesus is the Christ. How?
     We are in effect saying to Jehovah, “ thanks for providing Jesus for everyone else, I don’t need him, because I can quite easily just get 10 hours in a month and go to all the meetings, I haven’t got any tattoos and I shave regularly, so I am righteous already thanks.” is that denying the Christ? Most definitely! 1 John 2:22 says: “Who is the liar if it is not the one that denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one that denies the Father and the Son” Yes, we can now see how the insidious influence of the man of lawlessness has crept in to our very teachings!
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD
     James says: "Was not Abraham our father declared righteous by works after he had offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?" But Paul says: "If, for instance, Abraham were declared righteous as a result of works, he would have ground for boasting; but not with God.  For what does the scripture say? “Abraham exercised faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” What can we do with this apparent contradiction? Well firstly, it is no contradiction. Secondly, herein lies the key to performing whole souled service!
     The context of James’ words is helpful: "Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if a certain one says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, yet a certain one of YOU says to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,” but YOU do not give them the necessities for [their] body, of what benefit is it? Thus, too, faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself." In other words the one saying, “go in peace…” is a liar! He doesn’t mean it at all; it is merely lip service, if he truly wished for that one to be comfortable he would have ensured it! So if we truly have faith we will perform the works that accompany our faith. If our service to Jehovah is merely token, where is the faith? Truly, it is only lip service.
     When Jesus saw the widow drop in the coins of small value, only he could know her heart or her situation. The value of her sacrifice was not in its quantity. If a brother reports 1 hour for a month of service when that was all he had, surely then his sacrifice is of greater worth than a brother who reports 15 hours when he could have done 30. How would we ever know the heart of another man? We cannot. Only Jesus and Jehovah can know that. The answer? FAITH. We must not only build our faith in Jehovah, but we must also have faith in one another, with this attitude we are inline for blessings from Jehovah. The success of our ministry cannot be affected by the efforts (or lack of effort) of men!
     The reason the first century Christians enjoyed success was because the Holy Spirit was there!! Jesus said the stones would cry out if we didn’t do it. In the subject of faith and works, works should never be promoted. This is another sort of good news, a perversion of the real good news. We need to become intimately informed of Jehovah ’s righteousness, which has been expressed thru Christ. (Romans 10:1-4)
      FAITH is the important thing; works are the by-product of true faith. The works will follow the faith; they are inseparable. So what are the requirements of Christians? We must build our faith! NOT: We must increase our service? Jude: 20 is encouraging: But YOU, beloved ones, by building up yourselves on YOUR most holy faith, and praying with holy spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love, while YOU are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view. Also, continue showing mercy to some that have doubts; save [them] by snatching [them] out of the fire. But continue showing mercy to others, doing so with fear, while YOU hate even the inner garment that has been stained by the flesh.
     So we need some deep inspiring study of god’s word to build our faith. We need prayer. We need Holy Spirit. This channel of communication to Jehovah is Jesus; meditation on that subject will build faith!! There are so many treasures that are designed to build faith, if we do things Jehovah’s way it will be easy. Pray for faith and Jehovah will give it to you.

NEWS BYTES
(The Associated Press)
From "The Times Daily", Northwest Alabama
A custodian was arrested for making methamphetamine inside the First Baptist Church where he worked, police said. Richard J. Mosley, 30, of Peru, has been charged with felony manufacturing methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a youth center. Read more...
http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050824/APA/508240974&cachetime=5

(BosNewsLife News Center)
China toughens its stance on Christianity
http://www.worthynews.com/christian-persecution/crackdown-christians.htm

(AgapePress)
 A Christian attorney is expressing disappointment over President George W. Bush's decision to put on hold a federal grant to an abstinence education group. The Bush administration has decided to suspend funding from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Silver Ring Thing, arguing that the program "includes both secular and religious components that are not adequately safeguarded."  Read more...
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/8/252005a.asp

(Concerned Women for America)
According to the Religion Journal, youth ministers in the Southern Baptist Church are concerned about the increasing number of evangelicals who are dabbling in Wicca. This influence echoes the growing popularity of Wicca among feminists (some even call themselves witches). Over the past decade, as religious feminists have become enchanted with the pagan goddesses, Wicca has moved more mainstream. Read More....
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/8777/BLI/misc/index.htm

PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE
Samaritans
The Samaritans were those who lived in the district of Samaria. Samaria was flanked by the Jordan River to the east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the West. The People of Galilee frequently passed through Samaria during their journeys to and from Jerusalem.

Where did the Samaritans come from? The bible tells us, at 2 Kings chapter 17. First of all, Israel was a divided kingdom by this time: Israel and Judah. During this time, Israel's wicked king Hoshea ruled in the region of Samaria (vs. 1-2). During Hoshea's rule, the Assyrian king Shalmaneser came up against him and put Hoshea in servitude to him. However, Shalmaneser found out about a conspiracy that Hoshea was planning against him and thus imprisoned him (vs. 3-4). After this, the Assyrian laid seige against Samaria for three years, captured the main city, and led the inhabiting  Israelites into exile (vs. 5-6). Yahweh did this because Israel had steeped itself in false worship, serving other gods and practicing what was vile (vs. 7-23). After Shalmaneser exiled the Israelites he brought people from Babylon and other areas to settle the region of Samaria. (vs. 24). These foreigners did not know Yahweh and so did not follow His worship, and thus Yahweh punished these settlers by sending killer lions to attack them (vs. 25). Messengers were sent to the king, telling him that the Israelite God is killing them for not worshipping him (vs. 26). Therefore, the king sent a priest from among the exiles to go to the settlers to teach them the religion of the God of Israel (vs. 27). As a result, although the settlers feared Yahweh, they continued to go the way of their own gods according to the religions and nations they were from (vs. 28-33). As a result, the Samaritans became a group who lived a hybrid religion; mixing true worship with false worship (vs.34-41). The Israelites didn't have a good opinion towards Samaritans (John 4:9), probably due to these Samaritan religious practices.

It's worth noting that when Jesus dispatched his disciples for the preaching work, he instructed them to avoid the Samaritan cities because they were only to go to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6). This wasn't prejudice on Christ's part, for he was assigned by Yahweh to go to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24), and the Samaritans of Christ's time weren't descendants of Israel, as shown above. He was simply fulfilling his assignment from Yahweh. However, this did not mean the Samaritans were prevented from hearing Christ's message, for he did stop in Samaria for a few days to preach to the people there as well (John 4:4-42). And though the Israelites didn't like the Samaritans, Christ showed that they are to treat all people with mercy and dignity by healing a Samaritan that was in a small leper colony (Luke 17:11-19). Christ recognized the prevalent prejudice against the Samaritans by the Jews, and thus used the example of a good Samaritan in a parable to teach the Jews about brotherly love (Luke 10:25-37).

Today there is a small sect of about 600 people who consider themselves as Samaritans. About half of them live on the West Bank in the Mount Grizim area in Palestine, the other half live south of Tel Aviv in Israel. Their religion is based on Judaism, including belief in one God, belief in Moses, the Torah, circumcision, and observance of Jewish festivals such as Yom Kippur, Succot, Passover, and Shavout, yet has many differences from modern Jewish practices. You can find more information regarding these modern day Samaritans at:
http://www.mystae.com/reflections/messiah/aboutsamaritans.html

VOCABULARY ENRICHMENT
Selah:
A word frequently found in the Book of Psalms, and also in Hab. 3:9, 13, about
seventy-four times in all in Scripture. Its meaning is doubtful. Some interpret
it as meaning "silence" or "pause;" others, "end," "a louder strain," "piano,"
etc. The LXX. render the word by daplasma i.e., "a division."

Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
Interlinear Scripture Analyzer
http://www.scripture4all.org
This site has a free, downloadable interlinear bible that contains both the Hebrew and the Greek scriptures in pdf format. Along the margin is the King James Translation of the original text. This website is a valuable resource for those seeking the original meaning of the biblical texts.