The Seven Streams Method

Nehemiah 9-12 We are in the Nation Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Dear God in Heaven, Such great things happen when we simply pause and rededicate ourselves to be people of the Scripture. Amen.

09 - The scripture reading (from the chapters we read last week) led straight into a movement of great repentance and solemn prayer. There was confession and worship.  The praise led to a reciting of their history: the great, the good, the foolish, the bad.  Their assessment of themselves was sober (quite refreshing actually!).  They, right then, right there, make a pact to be an obedient people.  Interesting that yesterday, we were reading the other end of their history, when they were hearing the urgent reasons to be an obedient people.  Here they are regrouping in the land, 900-1000 years later and pledging to be an obedient people.  Can we say "finally!" Can we?

10 - Like contracts today, they needed to put it in writing. They did and signed it. Participants were Nehemiah, and Zedekiah (not the lousy tortured king from 586 B.C., a different Zedekiah) along with numerous priests, Levites, and leaders. Then all the others who consecrated themselves to also follow God pledged an oath in kind: None in their families would marry pagans, they would keep the Sabbath, they would see to the Temple being financed, maintained, and supplied.  Family-members would be dedicated to God. There would be no more hoarding against God's rules or withholding from what He asks of them. 11 - It was time to resettle and occupy Jerusalem.  Sacred lots were drawn and people gathered their things to go take up resident and fill the city with life.  They came from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, plus there were Priests, Levites, gatekeepers and their associates.  The apportioning and settlements were then listed as the land was to be occupied by Hebrews, not pagan peoples. 12 -  We read ('red"/not "reed") the list of priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel. They along with family leaders are listed. Everyone of these fine souls was there to help keep Jewish minds to be "stayed upon Thee." We see the records are kept during this era and such and such that era.  It is interesting that Jewish people are generally tremendous record keepers even to this day. The dedication of the Wall was an event to behold.  It was part Disneyland Parade, part big band/big choir. Nehemiah is giving live report as he writes it.  ...And there was great joy in Jerusalem. The singing could be heard for miles. Can you hear them singing, "Joyful Joyful, We Adore Thee" from all around the world? Someday we will...

Deuteronomy 26-28 We are in the World Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord, you plan such good for us. May we be principled and ready for your blessings. Amen.

26 - They were commanded to be a tithing people who also gave offerings. God was not greedy, nor even in need of anyone's money. WE are to be a people who love others like our selves, our palaces, our accounts, our possessions.  The giving that is taught here is what has funded the advancement of the gospel and the Kingdom through history. God is training us to be people who, when our 'harvest'/paycheck arrives, we stop and remember where our Provision comes from. People who forget this become self-obsessed. Selfishness is inexcusable. And there's another reminder to obey all His commands and decrees. [Catch the "ALL" part]. We cannot say, "oh, I forgot that one" -not with any of it. We've mentioned this before --> which holes in your boat can you leave unpatched and dismiss it with, "it's OK, I patched most of the holes - at least the ones I remembered to patch..."?

27 - They were to create clear large markers and monuments in their new homeland to remind them of what God required of them. Only in this way would their national security, identity, and faith be preserved.  What do you think of secular politicians and attorneys who lobby systematically across the country to have the X Commandments, Crosses, and Nativity Scenes removed? Gee, what might their agenda be? And the curses were to be stated loudly before the nation. Curses are stated against idolatry, dishonor, theft, scamming, cruelty, injustice, sexual madness, assault, 'hits' on the innocent, secularism. 28 - The blessings for obedience and the cursings for disobedience are laid out before them.  Obedience would ensure for them, bounty and blessing, endless supply and irrigation, riches, security and protection. They would be basically living in villages that are blessed, bountiful, well-fed and wealthy indefinitely.  On the contrary, disobedience would make their lives an endless horror show with no way out (for starters!).  Your land and food supply would be cursed as would your minds and bodies. All comforts would be gone.  Drought will parch you. Enemies will harass constantly. There will be no domestic tranquility. What happens in your own homes will break your heart. Slavery will be your lot. Insects will devour your work. Armies will steam-roll you and drive you to starvation and cannablism. Paganism will be forced upon you. Nightmares will be 24/7 occurences. What isn't inflicted upon you, you will inflict upon yourselves. "So Don't Disobey Me" the Lord bellowed at them.  The offer to them for obeying couldn't be sweeter.  The warning to them for disobeying couldn't be worse.  Do you think they chose right?  

Revelation 2-6 We are in the Church Stream reading from the New King James Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7streamsmethod | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis God, don't let us risk walking away from our faith as is the manner of some. Increase our faith as we exercise it in your powerful Name.  Lord we want to walk with and hear you now v.s. waiting until trouble is so thick that hearing you is a horrible challenge.  Thank you Jesus for calling us while you may be found.  Amen. In ch's 2,3, John relays a seven-fold message to the seven churches of Asia. This is John speaking from the heart he had for God who gave him these straight-on messages to seven churches.  Each message has: 1] opening instruction for John to relay. 2] an aspect or title that Christ has that pertained to each churches' condition.  3] Christ says encouraging words and commendation to, well, five of the churches. 4] then there is keen criticism for five of the seven churches (the lists are not identical)  5] each church receives their due instruction; which was correction for those who needed it.  6] an identical admonition goes out to each church; "...let him hear..."  7]  Lastly, each church receives a promise from Christ.   These were all current conditions that John is addressing.  As we read ch's 2 and 3 did anything apply to you/us today?

2 - To Ephesus: [a prestigious church who received Paul's finest teaching] they were diligent and thorough but they had become unloving. Yet they stood firm against false teaching and were promised eternal life. To Smyrna, a persecuted church, they are comforted and receive no condemnation. They seemed purified through their sufferings and would be preserved. Christ promised they would not die (the second death). Pergamos/Pergamum was a staunch and resolved church but they were compromised. They had gone lax on a couple of doctrines and thought that certain sexual sins were tolerable. Some in the congregation needed rebuking and well... but in Pergamum, they let this slide.  John orders that they repent and be quick about it.  Thyatira is a bit more of an extreme situation. They were syncretizing "Diana" -the breasted goddess into their church life. Christianity was growing fast and some of the Diana people, in a sly move, were hoping to merge it with Christianity. Of course they would bring their sex-goddess trappings with them. It was a Jezebel-like move (they didn't realize what all danger they were dabbling in!) and God wouldn't have it in His House. The need for 'house-cleaning' was urgent in Thyatira.

3 - Sardis was a church in a wealthy financial center. The legendary rich man "Croesus" [KREE-sus] was from here. The Sardis church was active with busyness and therefore appeared to be alive but was as dead as a departed spirit. Do you know people who go to church and are there just because they've always gone and have long since forgotten why they went? This was Sardis - mostly oblivious to the Holy Spirit. Though some had remained vibrant in faith. Philadelphia was a blessed church. They had brotherly love. God had no rebuke for them and he would never shut them out. Others may have looked down on them, but they would one day revere the Philadelphians. These people; this congregation would be a pillar [a vital part] in the Temple of God.   The Laodicean Church was so well off, they were comfortable on their own. They didn't fervently cling to Christ.  Y'might call them casual hammock dwellers who were rather nonchalant about their faith. God was about to boot them out of their spiritual stupor. As Christ knocked on their door Laodicea wondered, "is someone at the door? Did you hear a knock? say wha-?" Their ambivalence revealed much greater problems than they were willing to admit. Note that the church has been mentioned 16 times in chapters 1-3. They are never mentioned again in the remainder of Revelation. The deduction that most adhere to is that they have been raptured away from the cataclysmic events that are happening in Revelation 6-18.  So 4 & 5 are what happens in heaven after the Church is raptured while 6-18 are what happens on earth during this same era. 4 -  Here starts the abrupt shift from spiritual diagnoses [that are germane to churches even today] to a vision of God's Throne. Most evangelical scholars believe that this interlude; this jolting vision is God pausing to assure that God is on the Throne and has matters under control. It is indescribable, beautiful and regal/majestic in its authority. It is where God sits. The gems that are mentioned metaphorically are something to behold! Doing a search on these gem names is a blessing. The rainbow, the golden crowns, the elders in worship.  Someone has said that the elders, who have access all the way to the top of the universe, know enough to bow in worship before God - should we be doing anything different? The beings around the throne possess strength, intelligence, mobility, and they see [double-spherically] in all directions.  They are enraptured in worship of God on His throne. I trust we get the hint? 5 - The Scroll is finally to be opened. The drama of the chapter is that no one in all creation is worthy to open it save the Creator; of Him by Him and for Him all things were created.  The pageantry of this chapter cannot be overstated. Did you catch who we are in this chapter? how much we are valued? Did you see what our prayers mean in heaven? Do you feel the choir of millions upon millions rejoicing?  My husband and I heard a choir of 150 for Christmas recently and it was an ecstatic chorus that blasted us against our velvet balcony seats with astonishing blessing. Imagine a choir of angels whose numbers covered 2,000+ square miles with angelic body mass?! How does that vibration sound? You can hear it from another galaxy!  It can hardly be imagined.  All this as Christ is about to open the future and the secrets which reveal redemption's final stage.  Oh my! 6 - The first seal is opened as a white horse rides over the earth. This inaugurates -or forewarns at least, that the tribulation will begin soon - though all out war has not broken out yet.  There are six seals total in chapter six. They release war on a grand scale, famine (a day's wage buys a loaf of bread), death reigns as a 1/4 of earth's population is killed, the Cry of the Martyrs arises from the earth, and the greatest earthquake ever occurs as there are meteor showers and terrible calamity worldwide. The rulers of the whole earth know that this is the hand of God. The Thread Through the Streams "I'm trying to love you guys. For heaven's sake, are you going to let me love you?"  That's what we heard from God in the narrative each day this week. Some of it's difficult to sort out but if these guidelines aren't followed, this nation will become crazed and then you won't even be able to hear, see, feel, nor understand my love at all. All these things are set up so you can know my love. -Deut. 21-25 there were difficult things that needed to be dealt with. You will not be a spiteful people, a raping people - not in any other way will my land be a sexual madhouse. Rebels need to be disposed of - they lead to murder and witchcraft.  Be decent with and toward each others' property. My Temple will be sane. The camps will be clean. No kidnapping. No injustice. Don't leave women stranded. No letting enemies linger in My Nation. -Neh. 5-8 the abuse of the nationwide volunteers by the financially sharks in the land was dealt with swiftly by Nehemiah. The scam was decoded and then the wall was finished.  There was a national tally. The Law was read and a system set up so that all could be blessed with an understanding of God's Principles.  None of this in Deuteronomy; Moses and Joshuas' day, or Nehemiah; Ezra/Neh's day was simple. But followed through on they could better understand and learn to live and grow and revel in God's love. -Eccl. 1-6 is God's truth coming forth. God told Solomon and loved Solomon but nothing was ever enough for him. He wanted more. God loving Solomon, who wanted no limits on anything, is similar to a parent trying to monitor a child eating cotton candy. They think they aren't loved because we won't let them eat a beehive size wad of it 3X a day.  Then when they sneak and eat a big bucket of it, they get a gutache and toothache and declare they wouldn't be in such pain if you loved them ...  y'wonder at what point God rolls his eyes and goes out for a walk?  God is trying to love us and too many of us keep searching for all and more like Solomon who felt nearly empty by the end. -Eze. 39-40 Is God preserving Israel through what is going to be the scariest time in their history. But these enemies need to be drawn out so they can be isolated and decimated. God wants to love Israel more but this is a cleaner process with her enemies gone. Then God is able to build a wonderful structure for worship that will overwhelm them.  Apologies for the trauma anyone felt in the process. God is just trying to love you. -Zech. 11-12 God is laying down the gauntlet for the illicit shepherds. So many are going to suffer from the horrid leadership; these derelict shepherds.  They need to be gotten rid of. God would like it to be a clean process but ungodliness and greed lead to big messes. Don't get mad at God for the disobedience that led to the current state of bad affairs. God will deliver Judah; in ways deliver them from these selfish leaders. You may not understand the process but God is going to love you - - - if you will let Him. -John 16:5 - 17:26 Jesus tells the Disciples that He must go so the Holy Spirit can come. Their loss will transform into unspeakable joy.  There are many things coming that will vex and perplex but God knows what He is doing.  Let Him love you and guide.  You ARE being prayed for ! Take heart.  You are so loved. -Rev. 2-6 There is some encouragement and some housecleaning that needs to take place in 7 churches. It's vital to do this. Disgusting and repulsive if you won't do this.  The sin's mentioned by the churches in 2-3 need to go. God wants to love them more and they need to mature.  The horrors of history are being unleashed starting in ch. 6 and you want to be protected from this agony.  Again, as in all other days this week, are you going to let God love you?

John 16:5-17:26 We are in the Christ Stream reading from the New King James Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @serenatravis | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord thank you for walking with us, talking with us, staying with us all the way home. Amen John 16:5-33 - It is fascinating that Jesus is more or less walking to his torture chamber and gallows while he calmly instructs!  He is comforting and encouraging His followers just a couple hours before the whipping commences.  He tells them of the Holy Spirit. Notice that He needs to go so the Holy Spirit can come to them.  The H.S. will convict of sin, righteousness, judgment. No progress was made with the Pharisees in any of these three areas. They are staring God's Son in the face and hearing nothing true.  But the Holy Spirit would get through to those who would accept Him. Be encouraged gentlemen, the Holy Spirit is going to be all you need and far beyond! The Holy Spirit is going to transform everything. There will be joy joy joy.  Your transformation will astound everyone. You will be guided. Your requests will be granted.  This chapter is one of the steepest learning curves in the Bible. It is marvelous to see the Disciples getting the message straight! 17 - This is normally called "the high priestly prayer".  But actually this is more the Lord's prayer for us...though we call, "Our father, who are in heaven..." The Lord's Prayer (that is His instructional prayer for us to know Him). Jesus prays three themes in ch. 17. He prays for Himself, for the Disciples, and for the world.  He prays that He would bring glory to the Father - and that they be as glorified as they are unified.  He prays that the Disciples are kept in God's Name/Presence/ and care; that they be kept from the Devil while they traverse the world as sanctified men.  Jesus prayed that those who come to God because of the Apostles' testimony would be One in Christ as the Kingdom of God grows. Their unity would in turn be a great testimony.  He also prayed all these manifold millions of newly saved souls would know the wondrous glory of God!  That prayer still stands and is our prayer for a lost world  .

Zechariah 11:4-12 We are in the Exile Stream reading from the New King James Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @serenatravis | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Amid the words today, of which most were strong exhortation against those who had it coming, there are prophecies about the treatment and occasion of the crucifixion. These words are stark and unmistakable pictures of Christ at Calvary.  This being spoken hundreds of years prior to Christ's arrival - makes your heart skip a beat, actually. 11:4-17 -the reading began with Zechariah chewing out the "shepherds" of Israel; the hack leaders who have not lead the people properly; not in the least.  When people are led and encouraged to do dark things it leads them into death.  And there has been death on a grand scale all right.  Zechariah is talking in virtual sarcasm to the leaders who think of themselves as Israel's shepherds - "so, you seem to like it when the people die? especially the poor people?! Well, they are going to die! Is this a "mission accomplished" in your mind?"  And did you catch that prophetic reference to Judas' - selling out for 30 pieces of silver - and the money then being thrown back into the Temple?! 'Makes your skin crawl to think that these "shepherds of Israel" are going to goad the population pushing them to reject Christ also in just a few centuries. It's a betrayal of their calling; just like Judas Iscariot. Yes, these shepherds of Israel are derelict in a great way and God shall strike them severely.  It won't be pretty. They claim they represent God yet are virtually the opposite of what they pose as. 12:1-14 - The opening phrase, "...burden of the Lord..." is also translated as "oracle of the Lord". This was simply an epochal statement that God was about to make. There was turmoil and pandemonium coming in the region of Judah. But it was not against Judah. It was upon those who were there as Judah's enemies. God was speaking of intervening on Judah's behalf to throw her enemies into confusion and chaos. Crushed, sliced, devoured by fire - God was putting the hurts on the enemies of Judah in a big way. God is stepping in to glorify His land. Even the weakest there will be mighty like King David. And on the heels of this triumph, Zechariah prophesies that one from the House of David, a son of David, will capture the attention of the country; one who has been pierced.  Would he be the one who is pierced in the hands, feet, and side? What will come this ...?

Ezekiel 39-40 We are in the Prophetic Stream reading from the New King James Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @serenatravis | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord, your mighty deeds are terribly swift against your enemies while they are terribly marvelous for your children.  May we be comforted by both these aspects of your goodness.  Amen. We heard the beginning of the movement last week that is Ezekiel 38 & 39. We hear the end of that development when God cleanses the earth of Gog; this enemy of God and God's Chosen. Ezekiel 40 then starts the prophecy of the rebuilt Temple.  That part runs for nine chapters, so we will be reading about this rebuilt Temple for the remainder of the Prophetic Stream that ends December 27; four straight weeks of it. 39 - God is against Gog; this army / these soldiers are enemies of Israel who will come from the north.  They will have been joined by armies/enemies from the east who will all be incited to come against Israel.  Once they have reached Israel, however, God is going to knock them to the ground in defeat.  Ezekiel's vision here is a vast army of Japheth's descendants allied and hostile to Israel and determined to eradicate them. There are countries, nations, races, religions and religious sects on earth today who openly talk of doing this.  So we are seeing the process developing in the news. When they move on Israel, God is going to intervene in an overwhelming manner.  It will be a scale of death on a biblical proportion. Scavenging birds will descend and (pardon the visual) pick the bones clean. It will take Israel seven months to bury the dead and their weapons (which are burnable) will supply Israel with fuel for seven years. [FYI: High density compressed wood is being used today to make armaments!] Not only will these soldiers be massacred, but devastating calamity will break out back in all their home towns of origin. It basically is going to be the end of their cultures. Those alive today in the 21st century will likely witness this happen. God will restore Israel in a big way and the world will be in awe at the strong hand of God at work. 40 - Ezekiel is carried away in a vision. It is Passover; the springtime of 572 B.C. The Temple was destroyed 14 years prior. 19 years prior, Ezekiel had a related vision [Eze. 8:1,3] describing the coming doom of the Temple; and he saw this five years before it was leveled by Babylon. But here Ezekiel is describing a marvelous Temple, similar to Solomon's in proportion though there are variations. There is debate as to the nature/era of this Temple. Some call it the Millennial Temple, others insist it's literal, others dismiss it as figurative.  It's smarter to not try to redescribe what God has brought to us through Ezekiel's vision and simply be in awe of the fact that He is determined to reside in those who work with Him v.s. those who fight Him. So enjoy  the vision of this new Temple.  Until we understand it fully, know that His Temple is you and those you worship with on a regular basis. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

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Ecclesiastes 1-6 We are in the Wisdom Stream reading from the New King James Version. Our special guest, Melissa Disney, reads the scripture today. 7streamsmethod.com | @serenatravis | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us significance, a story to live and tell, a purpose, a calling, a destiny to walk in with you.  Amen. Solomon, late in his life is a completely satiated man. There was nothing on earth that was out of reach to him. He experienced limitless power and every luxury and pleasure the world had to offer.  And as his days are winding down, he looks back, looks around, looks forward, looks up.  He is in a sort of despair assessing that life had no solution. Jesus wouldn't arrive for another 930 years, so the world had no savior as of yet. Solomon was acutely aware that something was lacking. Here's his take on the meaning of life.  It was a trifle grim this week.  It gets better as he wraps up next week. 1 - Solomon is frustrated as he is musing that life nothing in life, as he observed, had no ecstatic finale. He in a sense is asking, "where's the rhapsody? Why all the constant cycles? Heavens, are we all just on a treadmill no matter what?" The seas, the wind, weather, seasons, the labors, the assignments; round and round we all go. And there's no getting off the misery-go-round.  Learn, teach, build, repair, do what you will. You will be cycled back to sorrow.  [heavy sigh] 2 - Solomon set out to pursue happiness, pleasure, joy.  He had wine, song, women.  He built. Wow, did he build: palaces, and gardens, and pools, and grounds, fortresses and a stunning Temple and and and. Everything was staffed and managed and beautiful and stocked and ready to host. Solomon became brilliant and wise, was talented.  He had it all, ingested it all, heard it all, saw it all, loved it all, slept with it all. There was no available anything that he had not experienced. Nothing material was he left wanting. He noticed that he was dying...like everyone else, along with the fools and jokers. He had just always thought he would feel more satisfied in his sunset years. He didn't. and it was bothering him deeply.  He knew he was soon going to be leaving all this behind and was wondering why he had gathered it all together anyway. 3 - He observes at greater length the seasons of everything. There were cycles to everything, including emotions. He pauses here [and at other times in Ecclesiastes] to state that we may as well enjoy ourselves. He senses that though our deeds are temporal - all of God's were eternal. He's frustrated at the pervasive ubiquitous nature of evil (it's everywhere). God will have His way over evil eventually. Solomon also in an eloquent manner asserts that there is an end that is coming; an end to each life that we see. 4 - The grief is also weighing on Solomon. He noted that everyone has to deal with their cup of suffering. Maybe the dead were better off? Solomon is realizing that there is more in contentment than there is in plenty or excess. He touts the value of trusted friends, and languishes the absurdity of those made into rulers who shouldn't be ruling. Perhaps he was pondering his own foolish children who were soon to follow him to the throne(s!) 5 -  It is heartwarming to have Solomon remind us all to come before God with a right heart and an upright life to match.  God desires this of us. In a word - Solomon admonishes us to watch our words. Try not to be appalled at injustice for it is everywhere. Realize that wealth is empty, it needs to be painstakingly managed. It won't help you sleep like a laboring job will! He noticed that one would hoard while a neighbor went without. Another madness is that a man will work a lifetime and have it come to nothing.  Again, Solomon's refrain is more or less, "ah phooey, just dine and enjoy yourselves, I guess." 6 - Solomon is in chagrin to notice and recall that a man would work and amass, only to have a foreigner come consume it.  He noticed that for those who did not pursue goodness, things did not end in a good way.. By default he is saying that contentment is a better thing to crave, for desires fulfilled are yet wanting more. And all of us must remember that we are on a timer. Were we to have 1,000 years, we're still on a timer in this life.

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Nehemiah 5-8 We are in the Nation Stream reading from the New King James Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @serenatravis | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord Jesus, we thank you for the Holy Spirit bringing us and opening the Word  for us. Amen. The enemies of progress in Jerusalem had been the encroaching neighbors who were upset that the Hebrews were back in their homeland and building up the altar, Temple, and the wall of Jerusalem.  Those were external enemies. Now there were internal enemies to deal with. 5 - The national project required national unity.  The cooperation was of historical proportion. Very impressive indeed. But national cooperation requires everyone to be committed and there were some who were taking advantage of the situation and using the setting for their own financial gain. It was not a good situation. And the most committed to the program were getting taken advantage of by the hucksters that were least committed to the nation's unity and morale.  Nehemiah stepped in and took stalwart leadership. It was impressive and more. The shady business dealers were "read the riot act" for their cruelty.  They repented immediately.  Nehemiah himself upped the ante on his sacrifices.  The world needs to see more virtue, principle, sacrifice, and leadership together in one man like we see in Nehemiah. 6 - There were three rabble-rousing trouble makers who started a rumor and paid certain "community disorganizers" to go spread tales that an attack on Jerusalem was coming. Enemies of Jerusalem used this as a final tactic to discourage the Jews from moving about their business in getting the wall patched, together, up, and finished.  Nehemiah saw through the ruse for what it was, dispelled any phobias, and resumed the great work of getting the wall around Jerusalem finished.  It was miraculously finished in 52 days (though some might say it was 145 years late!).  The enemies of Jerusalem were sobered up immensely realizing that God was at work 7 -  So the gathering in the city was called as they set out to 'start anew' as a nation. The people came together, the nobles and rulers too and they recited the list of those who returned from exile originally in the 538 B.C. event. Ezra 2 mirrors this chapter, btw.  The list they read from were those who returned almost a century prior. The list compared/collated with the current registry would better materialize who was from which tribe. We understand this since census' are usually taken each decade.  [This however was the first in a much longer time span.] Offerings poured in, and the national fervor arose as Ezra took to the podium to read the Law for the first time in a very long long time. 8 - The Book of the Law of Moses was read to the entire nation who gathered AS ONE to be read to.  Tutors were arranged for those who had extra questions.  Booths were assembled so that the process would not be interrupted even in the heat of the day.  Nehemiah and Ezra were spurred to the task of comforting the people who were hearing the Word of God for the first time.  The peope were grieved at how far the nation had slumped into ignorance of the Book they claimed was their national identity.  The Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated and there was great joy in Jerusalem. There were other details but I do want to say this: Look at what happens when a nation decides to follow God's Word and declares so as one!  The nation was doing this for the first time since Joshua had taken the helm of the country about 900 years prior.  Why so long since the nation made a pact as such.  Heavens, 900 years ago Leif Erikson of Norway was still a fresh memory. William the Conqueror (remember 1066 A.D.?) had just died. It would be almost 500 years until Columbus would sail the Atlantic and Caribbean. Why 900 years between comprehensive Bible readings?! A population understanding and reading the Bible is what brings vitality to a land. Wycliffe knew as much when he translated the Bible into English late 1300's. Luther knew it in the early 1500s.  If you want to see your region transformed, what can you do to raise Bible literacy in your town?

Deuteronomy 21-25 We are in the World Stream reading from the New King James Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @serenatravis | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis God, thank you for caring for us.  Don't let us forget that you care for us, far more than we do.  It sounds weird to say it and/or hear it, but it's true.  Thank you Lord. Amen.

Deuteronomy 21-26 are six chapters filled with various and sundry laws that are the trademark of Judaism and became trademarks of Judeo-Christianity. These are laws that keep a society sane. Any 'semblance that a civil society has can trace a noticeable portion of their laws back to this book and expressly these chapters.  We just read the first five of these six chapters.

21 - the first deals with unsolved matters regarding murder. The procedure may seem strange to modern culture but it is sure better than the legal tom-foolery that marks present-day court procedures which are incredibly laborious, tedious, and costly processes that bedraggle too much of society as a whole.  The matter of female captives in a war scenario are a refreshing memo. One of the endless tragedies of war throughout history is the treatment of the females on the side of the losers. One example among thousands is how German women were treated across the country in 1945 by the Russians arriving from the east. And the beastly Stalin thought it was wonderful, btw. The rule of the inheritance rights regarding the first-born make perfect sense. As in much of life, critical decisions need to be made with the mind - not the emotions. Deeply diabolical rebellious sons need to be executed - is that one that too rough for ya'? Well, should they be executed after they have done millions in property damage, murdered dozens, and $2/3/4million has been spent on them in court? ... or before all this shameful waste? Rebellious gang members shut society down and turn it into a savage jungle. God won't have it. The dead who are hung, need to be buried by sundown. Don't be a society who has a thirst for putrid gore. 22 - the laws here are the perfect antidote to the chump phrase, "finders keepers/losers weepers" <--that garbage line leads to a society neurotically guarding their possessions, paranoia about theft because the culture is a hay-day for thieves.  In general, treat all property and the citizens who own it like endeared family.  No cross-gender dressing: it makes a society twisted, pathetic, and crazy. Be kind --> even to birds. Put bannisters on your balcony.   Btw, you would be shocked at how many Muslim homes between Casablanca and Kerachi do not have these.  There are matters of  "no-mixing" mentioned like here as it was in Leviticus. As for the sexual laws, they are for protection and sanity and dignity. No culture succumbs to sexual mayhem and survives; none. 23 - the mutilated, fornicators- nor their children, pagans nor paganism, backstabbers - none of these nor their perpetrators may enter into God's assembly. The congregation of God is for worshippers; not weirdness. Did you know that the concept of the sewer comes from here in Deut 23? As you travel the world [and my husband and I have been in about 75 countries] you can tell which countries have read Deut. 23 and which are ignorant of it. The odor gives away their oblivion!  The proper treatment of slaves, forbidding prostitution, fairness cc. money and loans, keeping your vows, not abusing others' kindness to you - these are all good rules. 24 - Here's a good one: don't play "musical wives". -enough said on that. Hey folks - drag out your honeymoons, 'would ya'!? [another good one].  Be quick to deal with epidemics/plagues. There are good guidelines here about lending, proper payment and treatment of help.  No executing whole families for the behavior of one!  Do not be cruel and greedy. Allow for the poor to survive through gleaning. 25 - Here was another tenant of justice v.s. too much "justice" that becomes cruel punishment.  Feed the animals that feed you. There's an odd rule here about taking care of extended family.  You can read it again if you wish. Ladies, when your husbands are fighting, just, ... uh, just stay out of it, ok?   And sometime down the road, the Amalekites who tried to destroy you -after you are supplied, settled, and up for it!- those Amalekites need to be destroyed.

I John 5 - Revelation 1 We are covering I John 5, II John, III John, Jude and Revelation 1 in The Message. 7streamsmethod.com | @serenatravis | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Jesus, thank you for your care for us that comes through in comforting letters of encouragement, instruction, warnings and pastoral inspiration. May we rise to the calling, the blessing, the deeds, and 'the rest' that you have planned for us. Amen. I John 5 - The issue in this chapter is that you know for certain.  The word "know" doesn't surface in today's translation but it is a chapter of confidence from what you know about our God and Savior, our relationships, our destiny, future and eternity.  The core is that we know we have eternal life. We know that our prayers are heard by God. We know that God has us for we are His children and chosen ones; we are His own.  And we can believe our God who never lies. And in typical fashion with the rest of John's writing we need to love others and keep God's commands. Part of loving others, btw! is to exhort them to get away from/out of/and refrain from sin.  E.g. we are each others' business, and helping fellow believers along in this way is part of our Christian experience. 2 John - is written to a beloved congregation. The "dear lady" doesn't show up in the translation we read today, but that has been fhis familiar greeting through history. Was she a "school marm" type that all were endeared to? Was John referring to them as another thread of precious affection in the wedding gown of the church that was spreading across the continent? Memo: We, His followers, are the Briiiide of Christ...  The alternate suggestions may be inconsequential. The paramount reminder is certainly a theme of John's - that they love each other.  This is John's "chorus" since leaning on Jesus during the Last Supper. The people in this congregation (it may well have been a house church in Ephesus) they love in truth, know the truth, live in it, have God's traits because of truth, and they walk in truth.  John also warned them, in their loving nature, to be alert to roving false teachers who are spreading lies that Jesus was never really here as a human-God-incarnate. These "anti-Christers" are to be labeled as such and 'blocked at the door'! Don't let them in or let them teach. They are "cancer" and should be dealt with like cancer.  John said as much in I John 2 - for 12 verses of that chapter. 3 John - John's welcome to Gaius sounds like the meeting up of old friends who, upon arrival, come bearing hugs, and gifts, and well wishes. Paul had trained a number of good men to be pastors and they had launched into ministry. Their hospitality ministry was thriving and a golden testimony in the Holy Spirit.  John continued the oversight of these ministries and leaders. And it's quite apparent that a certain man;  "Diotrephes" (another Pastor in Gaius' region-but a malcontent) was a man who needed to feel he was  "top Dachsund at the wiener-dog race." John gives him a talking to and advises others how to handle it.  Hey, pastoral care is not all cheery. John will tell them more in person when he arrives. And note that when John refers to himself as "the Elder", it's quite the label.  By this time, he is the only surviving member of the original 12 Apostles. It's a well-deserved term. Jude - this is another of Jesus' brothers who was Joseph's blood son and born to Mary. He was one of the 12 Apostles.  His original intent was to write a nice treatise about salvation. But that was abruptly eclipsed by the urgent need to address the issue of roving trouble makers who were scuttling around the Roman Empire and doing their devilish best to lead people of Church into pagan living.  Their insidious method was to teach cultic behavior and encourage people to do so AND remain in the church that they are in. Leviticus talks fo mixing things that shouldn't be mixed.  Remember rat poison is 99.99% good food. Only 1/10,000th of it is poison. It is the mixing them together that ushers in the danger.  These trolling gremlins are trying to illicitly sexualize the congregations. History teaches that doing this systematically blurs the drive and focus of any cultural movement and vulnerably steers them into darkened aimlessness. These tramps that Jude is exposing want this for the churches.  They are truly groomed for this task by the devil himself. They won't follow God, they deny Christ, they are moral "hyenas" (how's that!?), pigs who have snuck in, selfish, fruitless men. They complain, scoff, criticize, brag and are only in church to tear it apart. They work for the Devil. And darkest judgment awaits these people who probably won't even realize how bad they are and how bad their treatment is going to be.          But YOU, saints in the fold, keep to your doctrine and fellowship, for God is with you. Amen. Revelation is God revealing what is to come. Just as God told us how our world began in Genesis, He tells us where things are headed in Revelation. He doesn't leave us groping in the dark, wondering, sifting through pagan mysteries and man-made ideas which fill the heads of lost people. Revelation is the finale~, the triumph of Christ, the new heaven and new earth.  Know that Christ Jesus is the center of things in this book. It is prophecy as well as practicality. It calls for discussion, listening, searching, and prayer. !John didn't write Revelation to split all the churches! He wrote it to assure them that evil will be vanquished, that paradise lost will be returned, and God's children will be gathered once and for all in glorious manner. Remember to wait until you understand the book better before getting entrenched in opinions. It is interesting that commentaries on Revelation are very few. Biblical scholars (whose vocation is deducing and giving definitive answers) realize that doing this with Revelation is an extremely sketchy task. So most avoid it. We'll touch on this more in the weeks to come; the views, the categories, and the schools of thought that arise from Revelation.   Today, chapter one, is John talking to the church about the things they had seen; what had already taken place. Ch.'s 2-3 was what they were experiencing now. Ch's 4-22 is what will take place from then onward. Revelation is Holy Spirit driven. The number seven appears 16 times. There are seven beatitudes, 27 angel references, spiritual battles, smoke and fire, dragons, demons, signs and wonders.  Our prayer is that you are blessed beyond measure by Revelation this time through it - not confused or frightened - but inspired to press on to know that God that has such great plans for you. Rev. 1 - It is stated that this is a testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessing is promised to those who read this revelation. The book closes with the same promise of blessing for its readers [22:7].  John greets the seven churches and lists them. Their sites can still be visited today east of the Aegean Sea in Western Turkey. John in his visions and in his concern for these congregations is not a railing senile old man "losing it" on his way to hospice. He deeply cares for them in a pastoral way as if they were his own children. The grand memo is summed up in three words: CHRIST IS EVERYTHING.  There is so much that people do not know about Jesus. His wonders, His miracles, His infinite wisdom. What we read of His deeds in the four gospels is a miniscule introduction to what we will know when we all meet Him face to face! John is writing this in 95 A.D. from Patmos, an island where prisoners were sent. Emperor Domitian had just finished torturing and executing 40,000 Christians in Rome for sport and a spectacle. Emperor Trajan would soon assume the same disposition in 98 A.D. John is fortunate to be exiled and free to write this marvelous book. And His vision of Christ is dazzling; overwhelming. This vision is a memo to the churches to put their full trust in Jesus who is all things marvelous. He's been gentle and yet is a battle-suited and ready warrior set to conquer His frantic enemy.  This is all the more reason for the churches to make themselves ready for Christ; abandon all corruption, lukewarm living, disloyalty and such. The Thread Through the Streams The issue that kept coming up was that love is more than just feeling good and roses and such. Love also requires "house-keeping", cleansing, vigilance and removal of things that don't mix with God. Nov. 26 - Deut. 16-20   There were to be judges and officers, fairness and honesty must be adhered to. No sex cults in my country! No witchcraft, nor sorcery. And have cities of refuge so that the land isn't controlled by murderous rage and endless paybacks. Moses also explained very practical issues of management that are sensible and keen to people's needs.  I.e. Israel was not to be a crazy country filled with lunatic citizens. Nov. 27 - Ezra 9 - Neh. 04   Back in Israel, some of the men had taken foreign wives and ... painful as it all was, the wives (raised as pagans) had to go.  Israel couldn't press on as a nation under God until this is dealt with. And Nehemiah had a vision for seeing Jerusalem rebuilt ... but he had to get out of Persia. I.e. As with all of us, if we are going to grow, there are things that need to go. Nov. 28 - Prov. 30-31  .The beginning of Prov. 30 makes it clear that doubt needs to go so you can get anywhere spiritually. Agur also asks that there be no lies, no destitution, no squalid excess for him. King Lemuel's [mother] says, don't waste your life on women (plural) The wisdom is to "stay with your one". And for leaders especially, avoid the booze life.  Also don't become callous to the suffering. ALL those attitudes/tendencies need removing. Nov. 29 - Ezek. 36-38   Dry Bones: that was what's left of Israel's morale. And they best get ready to desert the hopeless, desolation, "whoa is me" mentality.  God is going to put it all back together. And there's no room in this plan for an Eeyore mindset (remember his gloom?!). And the enemies of Israel are going to be ever-decimated. They have to go and Israel has to thrive in order to be a blessing to the whole world. Nov. 30 - Zech 9:1-11:3  The neighbors of Jerusalem, harassing the Hebrews eternally, are going to be put down in a big way when Greece marches through. [Yet they left Jerusalem in tact!] Not only the pesky neighbors needed removal, the illicit leaders within the Hebrew culture; these "shepherds" who were virtually wolves at heart - they needed to be swept out! They were blocking people from understanding the love of God. Dec. 01 - John 13:31 - 16:4   It was Last Supper time, and after the foot-washing, it was time to tell some wonderful things that applied to all of them except Judas. Judas needed to vacate before Jesus could move forward with His faithful Disciples. Now as for you 11 disciples, the jousting for position is done with. Love each other!.As for the Way to God - tell the world to abandon all other spiritual pursuits except Jesus. And as for pruning the excess, counter-productive things in your own lives... just let the Holy Spirit do that in you - that is if you want to remain on "my team".  As for being accepted by the world --> let that go too Dec. 02 - I John 5 - Rev. 1   The Church Stream this week exhorted the people over and again to block/shun/expel all false teachers.  It was intense house cleaning that needed to take place and they [WE!] must remain vigilant about.  You could even call it "steam-cleaning", better yet "power-washing"!  It was a desperately vital task that needed to be executed immediately.  And vigilance against false teachers required eternal safeguards.