Rare Jewel Insight: Nov 23, 2005
Table of Contents:
1. RARE JEWEL MAGAZINE AT CROSSROADS
2. WEBSTER’S 1828 DICTIONARY SAYS…!
- How the Founders defined “Thanksgiving”
3. THANKSGIVING QUIZ
- Test your knowledge and learn while you feast: fun
for the whole family
1. RARE JEWEL MAGAZINE AT CROSSROADS
An announcement to friends and supporters of Rare Jewel Magazine and Christian Patriot allies from Tim Ewing, Founder and Publisher
We regret to report that due to lack of resources we must delay the printing of the Nov/Dec 2005 edition of Rare Jewel Magazine.
Twenty-seven months ago the Lord conceived in us a vision for Rare Jewel Magazine: a “users’ guide” designed to educate, equip, and inspire Christians who desire to take an active role in restoring America’s foundations and Christian heritage. We have published seven issues delivered to subscribers in 45 of our states plus Canada; participated in over 75 radio programs; spoken at conferences and in churches; and have met many wonderful people in the process. We’ve been extremely blessed and God has showed up many times to help us along.
Following the Lord’s guidance, my wife and I have poured everything we have into this mission (read the Assist News article, “Magazine Founder Puts Everything on the Line to Obey God,” at: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s05050111.htm).
Unfortunately, our resources have run out and we have yet to acquire enough subscriptions to allow the magazine to support itself financially…nor have we been able to draw even one penny from RJM to provide for our personal means.
Luke 5:1-11 has been our guide in particular as we have “left everything and followed Him”…and we will continue to do so.
Rare Jewel Magazine was God’s idea to begin with, and we trust its (and our) future to Him as well. All things are in God’s Hands and we trust Him to provide the necessary funds to print the next issue.
Rare Jewel Magazine readers are already familiar with our Scripture verse of inspiration, Proverbs 20:15, “Lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.” The Lord has also impressed upon us that His ways are not our ways via another verse from Proverbs 20 (verse 24).
“A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?”
We do not fully comprehend what God is doing, but we trust Him -- He is our faithful Rock, our firm Foundation!
After much prayer, we have come to further revelations: As the Lord provides for the continuance of Rare Jewel Magazine, we feel led that we should no longer charge for subscriptions. In Matthew 10:8, Christ instructs us, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Likewise, the Apostle Paul proclaims, “What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the Gospel I may offer it free of charge” (1 Cor 9:18).
God freely gave us the vision for, and invited us to join Him in this mission called Rare Jewel Magazine -- a mission to proclaim the Kingship of Jesus Christ over all areas of life: our selves, our families, our communities and states, and our nation -- in both spiritual and temporal matters. As the Lord provides, we will likewise “freely give” away future editions of Rare Jewel Magazine.
If you are not a subscriber, or would like to order a subscription for someone else, you may do so FREE at: www.RareJewelMag.com.
We recognize our obligation to current RJM subscribers who have paid in advance for future editions of RJM. We request your patience as we work to repay these funds.
We will continue to post articles on the RJM website and to deliver Rare Jewel Insight email newsletters. We, along with our Managing Editor, Rick Marschall, will keep publishing the useful and hard hitting content you’ve grown used to! Please remain faithful readers of this format, and continue as fellow workers in the vineyard as we do battle for the Lord in today’s culture.
Thanks for coming with us on this journey thus far. Lord willing, we look forward to many more years together. Surely this “adjustment” is part of an upward journey. Like many paths, it is easy to see the detours, the impediments, and the seemingly distant destination… but if we believe God has blessed this enterprise, we truly must rejoice in the path He has laid out.
Grace and peace to you!
Warmly in Christ,
Tim & Janette Ewing
2. WEBSTER’S 1828 DICTIONARY SAYS…!
- How the Founders defined “Thanksgiving”
As you may be aware, we’ve recently added a regular feature in each issue of Rare Jewel Insight to learn more about the original intent of America’s founders by looking at how they defined certain terms. So far we’ve defined “Oath” and “God.” Next week we’ll look at “Providence.”
In lieu of Thanksgiving tomorrow, let us turn to America’s first English dictionary published in 1828 by Noah Webster to learn how America’s founders defined this term. [1]
1828 definition of THANKSGIVING:
The act of rendering thanks or expressing gratitude for favors or mercies.
Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if received with thanksgiving. 1 Tim.4.
1. A public celebration of divine goodness; also, a day set apart for religious services, specially to acknowledge the goodness of God, either in any remarkable deliverance from calamities or danger, or in the ordinary dispensation of his bounties. The practice of appointing an annual thanksgiving originated in New England.
Before you sit down for your Thanksgiving meal tomorrow, share this definition with those in your presence, plus the following excerpt about the 1621 Thanksgiving feast recorded in Mourt’s Relation [2]:
"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, Many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."
[1] In 1828, Noah Webster published America’s first English dictionary, titled, An American Dictionary of the English Language - with pronouncing vocabularies of Scripture, classical and geographical names. This 26-year project, begun during Thomas Jefferson’s first term as President, contained 70,000 entries and 12,000 new definitions. For the first time in the history of the English language a standardized spelling for vocabulary words was provided.
[2] Mourt’s Relation was first published in London in 1622. This journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth is most commonly attributed to Mayflower Pilgrim, Edward Winslow.
3. THANKSGIVING QUIZ
- Test your knowledge and learn while you feast: fun for the whole family
Equip and inspire your friends and family by challenging them to take the Thanksgiving Quiz…and learn vital truths about America’s Christian heritage.
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago” (Psalm 77:11).
“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you” (Deut 8:10).
Go to http://www.PointofView.net and click on the “Thanksgiving Quiz” graphic at the top/right side of page. Also, click on the “Archives” link to hear today’s interview with Tim Ewing.
HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING!
