steve zomok

a credentialed minister and on many websites~~~

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Life Giving Waters

Nov 242018

It is often noted that the Book of Isaiah chapter 12 is messianic. Verse three is wonderful in its tone. It reads, “Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation”.

There is also something about it that gives more hint about Jesus, even though the text is from 700 BC., far prior to the time the messiah was born on Earth. The Hebrew word translated “salvation” in this verse is “yeshua” or a form of it. In Hebrew/Aramaic Jesus was called “Yeshua” which has longer forms too but it is the simplest form of the name. The Greeks would often add an “S” to male names so Yeshua would become Iesous in the koine Greek of the NT. The Hebrew Yod would be replaced by the Iota. The form “Jesus”, with a “J” sound is a very late form, of the name, and most seem to have no idea of this.

I have always loved the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan women. It is sweet and we know that this women must have been surprised as she listened to the voice of Jesus. The Gospel obviously is abbreviated but Jesus wish to give her “Life giving water….”.

Pastor Zomok

Book Review: ‘The God you thought you knew’ by A. McFarland

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Jul 252018

his book claims to expose the 10 biggest ‘myths’ about Christianity. For the most part it does but it is flawed. (note: it uses MYTH as a synonym for FABLE).

This is a library check out and is a paperback of 203 pages and clearly printed. I would not buy or recommend this book because it promotes the ‘burning hell’ doctrine and holds to an unscholarly view of a parable found in Luke 16:19-31. If it was not for this part of the book it would be a fair book but it fails due to disproved doctrines. Christians are not to be like the rest of the world and ignore truth and facts. We live in a world that will stubbornly hold to things disproved and repudiated by common sense itself as well as true science. Lets look at some things still held by many folks despite being disproved. Lets look at several fields for a minute: In the field of politics we still have some that wish to have bigger government and more programs despite the fact that socialism and near socialism are always failures as a system overall. They always lead to a big debt and loss of freedom. You can not argue with these people. Facts do not matter. We still have pro-abortionist that believe it is ok to abort a full term child thinking it is not human, ignoring the self-evident truth that even many months before birth the fetus has a human body and is alive, which proves its humanity. It is not an opinion that the fetus is human but a fact! Facts do not matter to these folks. In science we find some that ignore ‘biogenesis’ or the fact that living things only come from prior living things. It is not just opinion. 2 plus 2 equals 4 and Life comes from life, but because they are material philosophers they ignore scientific facts. NOW in religion and theology we have some doing the same thing. The parable of the Richman and lazarus is one of these. They use it to promote hell doctrine even though it is about a change of fortune. The jews are losing the kingdom and it is going to the gentiles (Lazarus). The jews that Jesus was speaking to knew this and that the richman is JUDAH..their name origin. Judah was one of the 6 brothers birthed by Leah. This is why the Richman mentions 5 bros. in the parable. A drop of water won’t help put out a fire nor would the richman even be able to speak if on fire. He is in anguish actually… When Christians hold to this ‘hell’ doctrine they are ignoring facts just as those in other fields of study do. Romans 6:23 says, ‘The wages of sin is DEATH, but the gift of God through Christ Jesus is eternal Life’. Paul echoes John 3:16. These scriptures trump the few that are used to promote the traditional view of hell. When Jesus mentioned ‘hell’ or gehenna it was a place of destruction.

Christians should not ignore facts to prop up things that are faulty.
pastor Zomok

Easter note….Psalm 30

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Apr 022018

Happy Easter. I am alone and going to work in several hours. It has been very depressing for me lately with several let downs but feel better by fasting for a few days now, which I will continue until Tuesday night. Yes it is the Easter season and the early church offered an alternate to the pagan feasts of Romans and the many hoards, after all God owns all the days and the Spring time is a time when much beauty rises out of seemingly dead things. A seed can only lead to fruit if it falls to the ground and dies. We see the pattern over and over again. We see it in nature. We see it even when a loved one passes on because it brings in new friends and creativity…but mostly we focus on the resurrection of Yeshua. Imagine how sadness turned to gladness in the hearts of the disciples. We must continue to spread the glory…Psalm 30

Pastor Zomok

Your Heart Cries to God

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Jan 172018

I, the Lord, do search the heart, try the reins, Even to give to each according to his way, According to the fruit of his doings. -Jeremiah 17:10

In recent times I generally have verbally stopped requesting things in prayer because out of thousands of requests I have only received a few clear answers and have felt let down. This is my honest feelings on this. The testing of this (1 Thessalonians 5:21) has indicated, at least, to me that requests in prayers are largely useless, for whatever the reason. For me it has became evident that the good Lord has given me certain abilities and a lovely mother so I am able to work through problems. God could be sculpting me indirectly through circumstances and each person God handles differently.

Do not misunderstand me. I still pray, and often, but it is prayers of thanks….and praise. Jesus Christ is Lord. I also know that God can read my inward being. Jeremiah 17:10 tells us that the Lord searches the heart (Leb), and the kidneys (kilyah) of everyone. These two indicate the complete person inwardly and their desires. Your inner being speaks to God. Just some brief thought for the day.

pastor Zomok

Aproaching sin

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Nov 022017

“And if thine eye doth cause thee to stumble (sin), pluck it out and cast from thee; it is good for thee one-eyed to enter into the life, rather than having two eyes to be cast to the gehenna of the fire.”–Matt. 18:9 Young’s Literal Translation

When Jesus stated these words he was not ordering people to literally gouge out an eye because they were tempted to sin by what they see. What jesus was doing was urging people to stop doing the sin as it ultimately ends in destruction. Remember that Romans 6:28 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Jesus warned people about the awful garbage heap of destruction where the corpses of criminals often would end up. It was a place of stench and maggots were crawling around continuously. Here and there was a a slow smoking fire where wind would push some of the smells around about. Some view it as a prototype of the final lake of fire where all the bad things are consumed. Sin eventually leads to such an end.

There are some sins we often get caught up in but generally do not think of these as such. One of these is the sin of compromising with wrong. We may find ourselves watching a dirty movie because everyone else is. We think to ourselves that I do not womanize or gamble and drink but then we turn around and enjoy a movie that celebrates these things…when we should shun it. Christian maturity needs to be developed to the point of avoiding these things. And this is something to think on.

pastor zomok

Teach and Remember

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Sep 302017

We are all very aware of the fact that malcontents are going around and pulling down war memorials along with historical monuments. This is even being encouraged by so-called civil rights organizations. These activities are evil and mostly senseless. Some do not like some aspects of history but it is important to remember the past and to learn from it. History and heritage are good teachers. Lets not hide it!

Spanish American philosopher George Santayana said, “Those that can not remember mistakes from the past are forced to relive them”. That is my paraphrase and many other thinkers have stated similar statements. Some might wonder if the word of God promotes the teaching of history and heritage. Yes, the scriptures do indeed tell us to not forget the past, and that it is to be promoted! Just look at the wonderful Book of Deuteronomy, at chapter 4 (verse 4)…

“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”

Actually Deuteronomy is a book full of logic and promotes heritage. It influenced the prophet Jeremiah as he tried to reform Judah, and it was quoted in the New Testament.

Pastor Zomok

The Laments of David

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Sep 062017

It seems that depression for me is something that is always there but just swells up and down like the tide along a lake. Loneliness is also its companion. I just could not stop thinking of many of the laments of David in the Psalms and elsewhere. He was let down by so many and felt abandon even by God…Psalm 13. The fact that you feel this way tells me that you long for what is right but are stuck in the mud of this fallen world. I feel for you and pray. In this life, as believers we have one foot in this world and one in the next. We go through many dark valleys but eventually all this will end…

All we can do is give it to God (Philippians 4:6-13)..

Pastor Zomok

A short look at 1 Peter 5:4

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Aug 172017

“And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.” -1 peter 5:4

I like this verse, penned under inspiration, by Simon Peter. The “Great Shepherd” is Jesus, our God (EL). The basic word for God in Hebrew is EL and is an Aleph and Lamda, an Ox head and a Staff, both pointing at strength and authority, which is what Christ Jesus has. We receive a crown which is not a kingly crown but rather a crown (Stephanos) of victory, because we overcome this world and its woes. In the Koine Greek is found the word “Amaranthinon” and is translated “unfading” or “never-ending” depending on the translation. There is a beautiful flowering plant with a form of that name, and perhaps it was used for wreaths in ancient times. We can see that the “crown of never ending glory” is more of a garland wreath akin to the winner of a footrace, in this case the race of life. We run the race with a focus on Christ Jesus.

Pastor Zomok

Bless and help your fellow Christians

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Jul 132017

Genesis 12:3 tells us that God will bless those that bless Abraham and his people, and curse those that curse Abraham but generally when I hear this scripture recited it is on the radio and someone is applying it to some of of the poor Jews in modern Israel as if it is for them exclusively. They mean well in doing this but they may be looking at only a small portion of the picture. What about the rest of Abraham’s true descendants?

We have to keep in mind that Abraham lived approximately 4 thousand years ago in Canaan, close to where Asia and Africa meet, so through some genealogical lines we are all descendants of him. For example, I have found some of my own family lines which link to kings of ancient Israel as I have been into genealogy since the 1980s. And even though my dna is largely Northwest Europe I have some small bits going into Western Asia so I can be counted as Abraham’s seed too, HOWEVER, it is those of good faith that are counted as the TRUE people of Abraham. Galatians 3:26 says, “Now if you belong to Christ, then indeed you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.” With this in mind you should be blessing and helping your fellow Christians. Race, size, hair color, and form matter little, nor should we hold back blessing fellow believers because we do not agree on every issue.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.–Galatians 6:2

pastor Zomok

Wisdom in the “Song of Songs”..

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Jun 242017

The Song of Songs has often been looked upon as a strange little book and many over the centuries have wondered why it is even in the scriptures. It was even disputed somewhat as late as 90 AD, at the Council of Jamnia. As for the time of its composition dates range from about 980 BC all the way down to the late date of 220 BC. It is also a book that seems to have many interpretations that differ so much that many just pass it over to avoid the problems and its flowery language. It does seem to have about 4 main interpretations and these I will list below:

*It is an allegory where the groom/prince represents God and his love for his bride Israel. Many educated Jews have held this position for generations and there is no doubt that Israel is often presented as a bride to God, wayward or loyal. (Jeremiah 3:20, Isaiah 54...) and some will give elaborate interpretations for each verse.

*Related to the above is the position that Songs is an allegory portraying the love of Yeshua Christ for his bride the church. (Revelations 21:2-11).

*Some hold a position that it is portraying, in extended metaphor, the love of God/Christ for the human soul, of each individual.

*Some say that it is simply the poetic meetings between Solomon and a Shulamite maiden, put into flowery language, and nothing more..

These are some common views held and sometimes they are found mixed but what if the book is multi-dimensional, in the sense that God designed it through various writers to touch on many things or to point to many things. I think Song of Songs teaches that love is higher than materialism. Note the the second verse…where “wine” represents (?) material things. This possibly indicates a design like the Psalms, where the very first psalm illustrates the two paths: following God or you can follow Evil, thus setting the tempo for the rest of the Psalms? This is something to think about.

pastor zomok

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