Teechurs Wont Mor Munny!

The Washington Education Association's mantra, "give us more money so we can work harder," has temporarily been put to silence due to the rejection of Initiative 884. The approval of I-884 would have increased the state sales tax by about 15.4%, pumping about $1 billion into the Washington state public school system in order to increase teacher salaries while reducing class sizes . . .again. The initiative was turned down by 61 percent of the voters. When a tax hike is turned down in a state as liberal as Washington, the rejection of I-884 should serve as a big sign for Washington educators. Perhaps people are finally beginning to realize that more money does not lead to teacher accountability and brighter students.
WEA president Charles Hasse said, "Time and again, voters have expressed their support for what works - smaller classes and quality educators - the very things that help ensure every child has a quality education." Sorry Charlie. Obviously the voters didn't express that this time. It's probably because they're already handing over $9.2 billion in education funding while they continue to watch the dropout rates climb. Washington spends $9,454 per K-12 pupil which is higher than the average private school tuition. However, less than half of those dollars (42.5%) spent on education are used for what the Superintendent of Public Instruction calls "basic instruction." Perhaps this is one reason for why only 56-68 percent of all students who enter the ninth grade in Washington state obtain a high school diploma. The statistics for minority groups are even more depressing which hovers at roughly two out of three students failing in schools.
Another indicator that more money has led to less improvement is the results of the 2002-2003 Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).
Students failing to pass the WASL:*
READING WRITING MATH
4th grade 33.3% 46.4% 44.8%
7th grade 52.1% 45.3% 63.2%
10th grade 40.0% 39.5% 60.6%

*Source: Office of the Sperintendent of Public Instruction

As these facts show, more money does not lead to higher academic standards. Instead, our schools need well-qualified teachers and more parental involvement. Washington could also use charter schools to force failing public schools into competition. Unfortunatley, the charter measure, Referendum 55 was also rejected on November 2, thus giving the WEA one thing to cheer about. God forbid if that ever passed. That would have meant the public schools losing some more of their precious billions. Phew!
Are we really and truly seeing any difference in academic achievement after pouring so much of our tax dollars into the hands of incompetent teachers? Of course not. But those in the public school system obviously think that we're dumb enough to keep doing so. Just not this time. Wait a few more years before they give it another shot, which they will. As for myself, I prefer P.J. O'Rourke's philosophy on the issue: "Per-pupil spending on public school education has increased by an inflation-adjusted 150 percent since 1970, while reading, science and math scores have continued to fall. The hell with the little bastards."

Inaugural Blog

Thank God for the South and Midwest**May we have permanent tax relief**Goodbye Daschle**Perhaps now we can drill in Anwar...we may as well pave it while we are at it. One of the most God forsaken places on earth, a place no one in their right mind would ever visit, and the eco-nuts want to protect it**Now the president needs the courage to cut spending...and a few programs, and a few government agencies**Conservatives need to stop whining about the main stream media and do something about it. BOYCOTT!!!!! Stop reading, watching and listening to them**What have the Democrats done for black Americans? Look for a wedge between Democrats and blacks on the pro-life issue, the gay marriage issue and on charter schools/vouchers. Dems are in the pocket of NARAL and the teachers unions and something has to give**When Democrats talk about bringing the country together it is always on their terms. Their ideas are archaic and we will do fine without them thanks**President Bush and Senator Santorum will regret the day they endorsed Arlen Specter**Pro-lifers have been vilified for years as extreme right wingers....nothing can be more extreme than supporting the barbaric practice of partial birth abortions. All abortions are evil, but there has to be a special place in Hell for those promoting and practicing this abomination**As a Roman Catholic, nothing is more infuriating than a Catholic politician saying "while I personally oppose abortion I will do nothing to force my opinion on the general public." Politicians like Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Mario Cuomo and in my state of Washington, Patty Murray, are moral cowards. Catholics all, they have sold their souls to the pro-abortion Democratic party.

Is Christmas really the birthday of our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ)?!

Is Christmas really the birthday of our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ)?!

Growing up in a Christian home Christmas is one of the most thought of Holidays, the birthday of our Messiah (Jesus Christ). But does his birthday really fall on Dec 25? Or was that a date of someone else’s birthday? Hum, let us search scripture for the answer; that’s what we are supposed to do right?!

Now the bible doesn’t really give an account on when Christ was born, but it sure does give some major hints! Let us first go to the book of Luke 1:26-38 where here we learn that John the Baptist is six months older then Jesus, we read that the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and foretells of GODS wondrous plans of redemption through the Messiah (Jesus Christ)


Luk 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Luk 1:27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.
Luk 1:28 And the angel came in to her and said, Hail, one receiving grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.
Luk 1:29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what kind of greeting this might be.
Luk 1:30 And the angel said to her, Do not fear, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Luk 1:31 And behold! You shall conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS.
Luk 1:32 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David.
Luk 1:33 And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
Luk 1:34 Then Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I do not know a man?
Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit shall come on you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you. Therefore also that Holy One which will be born of you shall be called Son of God.
Luk 1:36 And behold, your cousin Elizabeth also conceived a son in her old age. And this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
Luk 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luk 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.

Now notice in V:36 it says, “And behold, your cousin Elizabeth also conceived a son in her old age. And this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.” So at the time of Mary’s conception, Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist was 6 months along in her pregnancy, so that makes John the Baptist 6 months older then Jesus Christ. So now let us find out when John was born, then we can count 6 months and find out when Christ was born. John’s father Zacharias was a priest of the division of Abijah (Luke 1-5), now all the Priests were divided by lot, one group as another (1 Chronicles 24:5). And the division of Abijah fell on the eight week (1 Chronicles 24:10). So that means on the eight week of each year the Division of Abijah was to serve in the temple?! No, true but wait according to; Deu 16:16, all priests were to serve in the temple 3 special lots (weeks) a year,

Deu 16:16 Three times in a year shall all your males appear before Jehovah your God in the place which He shall choose: in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles.

So the first month of the Jewish calendar is the month of Nisan, and the “Feast of Unleavened Bread” falls on the 14th of Nisan, which would be the 3rd week of the year, now the “Feast of Weeks” falls on the 6th of Sivan the 3rd month of the Jewish calendar, So if counted from the first week of Nisan the week Zacharias served in the temple was the 9th week of the Jewish calendar. Cause remember Zacharias was of the Division of Abijah who’s week was the 8th, but since 1 of the Lord’s Feast (Feast of Unleavened Bread) fell before the 8th week of the year, he really ended up serving on the 9th week of the year, then had to stay an extra week for the “Feast of weeks”..

So you may be thinking well what’s the point, well according to Luke 1:11-13 while Zacharias (John’s dad) was serving in the temple on his week (the 9th week) an angel appeared to him,

Luk 1:11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him as he was standing on the right of the altar of incense.
Luk 1:12 And seeing this, Zacharias was troubled, and fear fell on him.
Luk 1:13 But the angel said to him, Do not fear, Zacharias. For your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

Now from the time after Zacharias was done with his time serving in the temple, and if you count 40 weeks (full term pregnancy) John would be born on the 14 of Nisan (Passover) and then simply count 6 months from here and you get the birthday of the Messiah (Jesus Christ) the 15 of Tishri the Feast of Tabernacles. Which would fall between September-October, but if you get a Jewish Calendar you can tell the exact day, because the moon doesn't change, it’s a lunar calendar. So why has Christmas been labeled the Messiah’s birthday??!!! Stay tuned I’ll post that later….

Shalom, joy, and love in Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ) <><

Yassir Arafat

Let's assume he emerges from his coma, completely healthy and ready to resume the Intifada, there is no way that the Jews will allow Arafat back into Israel. So, given a fresh start at life, he will be forced into early retirement in Southern France. He'll ease in a cottage in the middle of a vineyard, spend his afternoons in a chair, writing terrorist poetry, and sketching old trees. Essentially, he'll be useless away from his people.
What is missing here? If he is healthy enough to leave the hospital, the World Court should arrest him and put him on trial for war crimes, genocide, and international terrorism. He should face a life in prison. He should be disgraced before the world body.
But, he won't. The world loves him. Why? Because, he leads an "oppressed" people, and because he kills Jews. His people are oppressed as a result of his terrorism against the Jews, and because his fellow Muslims in other countries refuse to help the Palestinians except in the cause of terrorism.

Should Christians wear "tzitzit" (tassels/ fringes)?

Should Christians wear “tzitzit” (tassels/ fringes)??

Now some of you might think wait what’s this guy talking about, tzitzit (tassels/ fringes) why would a Christian have to wear such silly things?! My brethren tzitzit is far from silly; in fact it’s a commandment from GOD,

Num 15:37 And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying,
Num 15:38 Speak to the sons of Israel and command them that they make fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribbon of blue.
Num 15:39 And it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look upon it and remember all the commands of Jehovah, and do them; and so that you do not seek after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you prostitute yourself,
Num 15:40 that you may remember and do all My commands, and be holy to your God.
Num 15:41 I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. I am Jehovah your God.

Now not all, but I know some of you are now thinking, okay this guy has lost it, he thinks we are Israelites! But wait; are we not all engrafted into the Olive tree?

Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and became a sharer of the root and the fatness of the olive tree with them,
Rom 11:18 do not boast against the branches. But if you boast, it is not you that bears the root, but the root bears you.

So it is clear that the promises that were given to the Israelites apply to us as well, the moment you accepted Jesus Christ (Yeshua) as your savior, you my friend have been adopted into an ever growing family. It would be childish to say that Old Testament is what its called “OLD” (no longer in affect), to say Christ did away with the Torah (Law) is contradicting what he preached,

Mat 5:17 Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill.
Mat 5:18 For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled.

He did not come to destroy it, but to fulfill it to make an example of how we should live day to day, What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) right?! But wait there’s more Christ goes on to say,

Mat 5:19 Therefore whoever shall relax one of these commandments, the least, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.

He is saying who ever breaks one of these least commandments and teaches others to do so as well, shall be called “least” in the kingdom of Heaven, but who ever shall do and teach them, shall be called “great” in the kingdom of Heaven. Now here’s a very important note, we are by all means saved by faith and grace alone! Bible says,

Rom 10:9 Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.

Salvation is a gift from GOD, John 3:16 you all know it “For GOD so loved the world, he gave his only son” Now that we are saved how do we live? We are now a new creation right? Are the commandments given by GOD no longer in effect? Did Christ’s ministry here on earth make void the commandments of GOD? Of coarse NOT!


Isa 55:11 so shall My Word be, which goes out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall certainly do what I sent it to do.

So should a Christian wear Tzitzit? I think so! Will one not enter Heaven if they don’t of coarse not, because were not saved by works! But by faith and grace alone!! So what is the purpose of tzitzit? Simple to remind you daily to be holy for GOD is holy, and to live by every word given by GOD. We are a chosen generation,

1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1Pe 2:10 you who then were not a people, but now the people of God, those not pitied then, but now pitied.

We are supposed to live as Christ did, taking up our cross daily! Seeking after GOD our Father in Heaven for the times we live in is getting harder every day. But through him and in him all things are possible! Peace, love, joy, in Jesus Christ (Yeshua), Amen…