For the Love of Animals

The Christian Letter, Volume One: Chapter 20

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.” (Romans 12:2).

Let us consider:

Is Genesis 2:19 as much Torah as Exodus 20?

While it may be lawful to divorce, have kings, and eat meat … is it His desire?

On earth as it is in Heaven?

Is Yahoweh the same yesterday, today, and forever?

Were there vegans or vegetarians in the Bible?

How much is at stake?

Perhaps you may not want to agree with this Letter at first, just as I did not want to many years ago, but please give these things a real chance, for this Letter, this plea, is for a cause far greater than only the love of animals.

This Letter has grown, not out of malice, though at times this may seem to be the case, but out of love. I fear we are being outdone by dogs in terms of love, and rarely does the heart of a woman have as much love as a lamb. Please take your time with this Letter. Some sections are an accounting, and some examine many Scriptures, while others are quite emotional, or just informational. Please do not be dismayed. I know this is a long Letter, and many people would choose to skip it, but I feel you will still find great value in reading through it even if at first you do not fully agree. However, please do not reject this before you have even given Him a chance.

“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and have put the stumbling-block of their crookedness before their face. Should I let them inquire of Me at all? Therefore speak to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus said the Master Yahoweh, “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts the stumbling-block of his crookedness before his face, and shall come to the prophet—I, Yahoweh, shall answer him who comes, according to his many idols,”’” (Ezekiel 14:3-4).

Yahoweh answers us in accordance to the multitude of idols we have in our heart, save we repent and turn from them. When I was a small child I had little idols in my heart, and I only accepted answers that were in accordance to those idols. For example, I would ask for another cookie even though Grandma said, “No.” but that wasn’t the answer I wanted. So, I asked again. “Oh, come on. Just one more cookie? Just one. Can I have one more cookie? Please?” until she said yes. I got my cookie. We hear Him say the seventh day is Sabbath, or that we ought be kind to our wife … but that is not the answer we, at first, want. And so we ask again, until He answers in accordance to our heart’s desire—until we get our cookie. We ask for meat, but much like that cookie, our idols do not come with love, and, without love, we starve. … And so ask for more.

Today more people will get a divorce, or even change their faith, than those who will change their diet. If you have not given your life over to the Messiah enough to completely change your diet, then I pray you make this that day.

Why do people rarely change their diet? While a trite saying, I still find it true: “You are what you eat.” I have read of stage actors who ate vegetables when they portrayed a hero, and meat when they portrayed a villain. I have seen people drastically alter their conduct after picking up a leg and gnaw off the flesh. To ask someone to change their diet, if this is true, may well be the same as asking them to become someone else.

A person once said to me, “You can never prove that we should refrain from eating meat, or certain kinds of meat, either.” to which I replied, “To a person bent on believing only what he already believes, that may well be true, but to a person open and eager for the truth of Heaven, then I firmly believe I can share ample reasoning.” Some people may feel that what I am writing is not true because it does not line up with how they are living, but I hope you are different and will give things a chance. Things like showing love. Even if you do not accept this right away, and even if you only make one small step, then that in itself is worth my opening up so personally.

“Or do you not know that your body is the Dwelling Place of the Set-apart Spirit who is in you, which you have from Elohim, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price, therefore esteem Elohim in your body and in your spirit, which are of Elohim.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). I understand this text is speaking on fleeing from sexual immorality, but that does not change this simple fact: Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. We are not our own. This that we live in—is not ours. What would you think of a preacher who dumped his garbage all over in a church building? Would you want to go there? Do we dump garbage inside of the temple of the Holy Spirit?

The sin of eating the wrong foods is not new. Adam and Eve did not kill anyone or try to steal from one another; they ate what Yahoweh told them not to, which disappointed our Elohim greatly. Yet, today, many have, rather than hating sin, become so numb to it that they consume its punishment, and call it a blessing. Yahoweh made us; hence, He knows what is good for us to eat. Come, therefore, and let us know Yahoweh enough to long for His desire. Let us become what we eat: physically, mentally, and spiritually.

“Change of diet will not help a man who will not change his thoughts. When a man makes his thoughts pure, he no longer desires impure food.” -Allen James, As a Man Thinketh

How to start:

The first step is to throw away everything and live off tree bark for ten years. Okay, so that really isn’t the case, even if someone acts like it is. Some are fearful of change, but I don’t want you to think of this as change, rather know it is a move toward improvement in health and happiness, in worship and praise. And, truth be told, this isn’t even hard to do if you do it right:

To start improving is easy; to keep at it requires a gift that pulls you on. At the very beginning, I recommend getting rid of three unhealthy things, and adding three healthy things you already know would really help you feel better. This doesn’t mean things like getting rid of all foods with cholesterol, giving up all caffeine, and getting a training partner for a gym that you’ll be going to six days a week. No. Big changes that you know you can handle and that will make a noticeable difference in your life. For an example of the first week: replace bacon with a whole carrot or a whole grain bread, replace pop with water or pure fruit / vegetable juice, and rather than just sitting in the morning, take that same ten minutes and gently stretch or a gentle walk.

Massive improvements have a wonderful benefit: You will see and feel a transformation in how joyful, healthy, and vibrant you are, and that will encourage you to keep at it. I say, “keep at it,” not because it is a task, but because slipping into old tired ways is easy to do. After an initial large improvement, slow but steady is the key thereafter.

To start improving, add just one healthy thing and take away just one bad thing each week. If you make this first step then down the road of life you will say, “That donut wasn’t worth it!”

An example: Your daily breakfast is a donut, white toast with butter and artificial jelly, and a glass of cow’s milk. Exchange the cow’s milk for rice milk with a bit of vegan fair trade chocolate or carob, or even pure fruit juice (pomegranate is my favorite). (When you make this exchange it is now permanent, but do not be dismayed if it does not taste the same. It will taste good, just different.) Next week take out the butter and add a serving of fresh vegetables. Next week replace the white bread with real bread. Next week top it off with real fruit jelly. Make improvement a habit. These small changes, especially if spread out, are really easy to make, and, in just a couple of years, you will have made over one hundred joyful improvements to your life. Oh, I almost forgot the donut. Replace the donut with the Bible and rest in the living Word rather than those future hospital trips. I promise you, His Word is sweeter.

One of my favorite desserts has always been chocolate. Our tastes change, not with time, but with subtle shifts in how we eat. There is a name brand chocolate treat I used to enjoy, but now I cannot eat it, as it tastes revolting and makes me feel sick, as it is too sweet. Let’s say you are used to eating chocolate bars that are 55% chocolate. If you switch to one that is 45%, it will easy to soon switch to one that is 35%, however, if you switch to one that is 65%, the richness is a more than an adequate trade off for the sweetness. In time, perhaps a half a year, you will be able to switch to 75%, and later, even higher. Later on, you may try a chocolate laden with added sugar and milk, only find that it tastes revolting. Small changes do not inhibit your pleasure of eating, but can enhance your overall well-being.

Again, the junk food I used to think tasted great, now tastes like what it is called: Junk. So even if at first you don’t like a little “change” you made, keep at it. You are worth it! Besides, making improvements is fun! Don’t just swap out artificial jelly for some random real jelly. Test several products that look good. Take pleasure in experimenting with different choices. Become the connoisseur you always knew you were.

Some people go to a diet soda, or a brand of potato chips with less fat and salt, rather than a real improvement. You can do better than that. You know you can. You also know that rewards can either undo, or boost, the improvements in your life; therefore, do not reward yourself with what you are removing from your life. Your improvement is a reward in and of itself, but this does not mean that one day there will be nothing good to eat! We have the custom of having a dessert every Sabbath. These desserts are fairly healthy homemade pies, or chocolate, or perhaps a half batch of cookies. They are a real treat, but I tell you: Sabbath is a greater reward than any food or drink.

Make improvement a habit. It doesn’t even always have to be food. It can be the addition of enjoyable exercise as well, or perhaps trading toxic personal hygiene products for natural ones, or trading a bit of TV time for prayer time in a garden.

Every few months, when you feel like you want to do it, take another big plunge. Replace toxic cleaners with white vinegar and water or a human and animal-friendly cleaner; replace perfume with a natural scent, and remove all air fresheners, as, let’s face it, they don’t freshen anything. Or perhaps switch to only eating what is typically called clean meats, or go completely off all dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. When my wife and I did that, we felt so much better. Her allergies became so much less severe that it was an unexpected blessing. We only thought we would miss cow milk, but we never have. After this plunge, go back to taking out one bad thing each week.

But hey, it’s not all goodbyes. You also say hello to fresh fruit juice, macadamia nut and rice milk, almond butter, vegan burgers, olive oil, homemade vegetable juice, and clean air. I recommend getting a really good juicer / butter maker. We purchased a high quality one, and, over ten years later, it is still worth every penny. We also bought a nice nut milk maker, and while we wore out one, the last one seems to be unstoppable. Making our milk is cheaper and tastes great. It is simple. It is fun! Never let it become a chore.

Note: Beverages made from grains and nuts are not a new hippie vegan idea. Nut milks have been used for over two thousand years, as they were easier to make, and stayed a lot longer than milk from dogs, goats, or cows. I sampled many varieties before deciding to just make my own. When you do make your own, you can use richer nuts and still have it be cheaper. Pecan milk, or macadamia milk, is fantastic.

The millions of healthy vegans and vegetarians, who tend to outlive meat eaters by an average of ten healthy and happy years, demonstrate that eating flesh is neither necessary nor desirable.

An extremely important note: How much ministry work can be done in ten extra years of life? Could this be a desire of Yahoweh? If 5,000 people become vegan: together they will save nearly half a million animals a year; if they each minister to only five people with their extra decade then 25,000 people will hear of the Prince of Peace! Wow! That would be wonderfully wonderful! Let us praise Yahoweh by this—and even more!

It is, after all, easy to do, and, in some ways, cheaper, too. Many years ago, I learned a lesson most people probably figure out the easy way. I was out of everything, so I made a grocery and toiletries list a page long, only there was a problem: I was broke. I took my meager savings and went to the store knowing I had to make these dollars go as far as I could make them, so I bought the cheapest dish soap, laundry soap, light bulbs, bread, meat, and everything else on my list. Proud that I saved so much I went home, where it didn’t take long for me to realize just how much money I had wasted. That day I found out that I was too poor to buy the cheap stuff. The light bulbs lasted a month, while the long lasting bulbs are supposed to last eight years. Those I bought twelve years ago are still working in my office today. The dish soap took five times the amount and lasted half as long. The laundry soap never got my clothes clean, and I had to rinse them again just to get some of the chemical smell out of them. After eating that bread I felt weak, so I compared it to a better brand. The loaf that cost fifty cents more, had well over five times the amount of protein, not to mention vitamins and minerals along with the ability to satisfy my hunger. I learned that cheap packaged meats cost several times more than the most expensive bags of various beans. That day I bought cheap because I had so little, and found myself with even less. From that day on I realized: I’m too poor to be able to afford the cheap stuff.

But, I digress. I know, I have shared the “how” long before the “why”. So why did I become a vegan? I have always cared for animals. They have always cared for me. Nearly ten years ago when I was twenty years younger in the head and twenty years older in the body, a question haunted my mind, and heart, “How could I kill and eat someone I love?” During this year I started to have some major health problems, even though, or so I thought, I had taken fairly good care of myself. Yahoweh’s Word is life changing. The Spirit put an accounting in my mind, and heart: “but the chief of the eunuchs said to Dani’el, ‘I fear my master the sovereign, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would make my head guilty before the sovereign!’ And Dani’el said to the overseer whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Dani’el, Hananyah, Misha’el, and Azaryah, ‘Please try your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearances be examined before you, and the appearances of the young men who eat the portion of the sovereign’s food. And do with your servants as you see fit.’ And he listened to them in this matter, and tried them ten days. And at the end of ten days their appearances looked better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the sovereign’s food. And it came to be that the overseer took away their portion of food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.” (Daniel 1:10-16).

The eating of flesh causes you to eat flesh. Sound silly? It’s true. When a person takes a bite of charred flesh, they know deep down that this animal suffered for a long time and died needlessly, and that it is indeed unhealthy. You have to block out the facts to eat it; therefore, when someone says it is bad—you block this out, too. As, in fact, you already are. So in order for you to truly understand what I am saying then the only way is to try it for 10 days, at which point you will begin to understand. What have you got to lose? Surely less than the guard, and even he allowed a test.

This is true with all of the Torah of Heaven. Many people today fight the Way as they walk in opposition to His Word, and until they give Him a true chance then they cannot begin to understand why His Way is Good.

Really consider this because it is key. As a boy growing up, I saw many a gross thing. Kids on the playground would dare each other to eat disgusting things, from bird droppings to dead worms. They often would close their eyes or plug their nose when they did; in other words: they had to close avenues to their heart. They had to shut down one or more of their senses to do the disgusting act. And if one turns the heart from on to off, what will cause them to turn the heart back on, or cause them to remember their own compassion?

Step back. Step back and look at this from a different perspective. When a man is vulgar, he does not see the vulgarity of others as appalling. Yet, when he cleans up, and has been clean for some time, then he is able to understand why his wife pleaded for so long. He sees, he realizes, that it isn’t just a maybe, or a matter of opinion, that to be honest, one cannot be vulgar. To be loving, one cannot be cruel.

Daniel and his companions chose the Genesis 1 diet over meat and wine. After seeing this, the accounting of Eden came into my heart. Also, when Yahoweh wanted His people to return to that accounting, and so had the Israelites become vegan in the desert—the power of His Word began to turn the dial of my heart from off to on. I began to see what I at first did not want to see, that we will one day return to His desire by being vegan in His Kingdom. But even after all this conviction, it took His constant knocking for a year before I decided to eat nothing but homemade healthy vegan food. It was very challenging. It was nearly impossible to eat out or buy pre-made foods, and the lust for blood grew daily. After 10 days, though, I felt healthier, more alive, than I ever had. But the drunkenness of blood and fat sometimes takes more than 10 days to get over. I desired flesh, and so I ate, and once again, I felt ill. There was a large battle in my being. Some may scoff, but I know there is a Spiritual war for those willing to stand in the middle of it all. I still did not want to listen. Therefore, Yahoweh pulled out some guns He knew would pierce my stone heart. He caused me to open my shut eyes.

On the way home one night, I hit a coyote with my car. I love animals. They love me. It was painful to do this. I backed my car up and saw the puppy was still alive. His legs were broken, and he was in severe pain. I had to end it. Why, I don’t know—or maybe I do—but it took over five times to finally kill the coyote by running over him. Each time I did the side of me who wanted to kill animals to eat … died. However, when it was finally over, I saw the coyote’s partner on the side of the road. Was this coyote a friend, a brother, or a mother? The battle was over. I have not eaten meat since. This is the first time I have told this. I haven’t told others because I know they’d simply use this as means to tell “jokes.”

Looking back at my previous life, before I was a vegan, I view it as a fog. Almost as if a nightmare thought to be a dream until you awake. I don’t fully understand this but when passages speak of, “being drunk with blood,” I wonder if it is indeed literal. Until I stopped eating meat, I could not understand why we shouldn’t eat it. Until I agreed, with my heart proclaiming, “The guard let Daniel try it. Why not try it, too? Don’t close the door on the way of His Kingdom.” When I did give His Word a chance then I finally began to understand this drunkenness with a newfound sobriety in the respect of animals, and the love of the Holy Spirit in the care for His Temple. And much more, much more I will share with you later in this letter. There are reasons to stop eating meat that are more important than I once could even understand. Please consider the following Scriptural reasons. The Scriptures can change your heart … if you are willing to see, to hear. Let Him uncover your ears; let Him open your eyes; ask Him to in meek prayer.

“People often say that humans have always eaten animals, as if this is a justification for continuing the practice. According to this logic, we should not try to prevent people from murdering other people, since this has also been done since the earliest of times.” -Isaac Bashevis Singer

Those defending meat-eating often refer to certain Biblical passages. While some may say the Bible does not condemn all meat eating, I do believe that our faith calls us to be vegan today. For what need has an animal to die for our food? And what need do we have to throw away our testimony of love for hate?

The first diet mentioned in Scripture, found in the opening verses of Genesis, concerns not just the believer, but everything. Just as the Sabbath was instituted at creation, and, therefore, applies to all of creation, so too does His teaching about diet. Genesis 1:28-31 teaches us that the first diet was a vegan diet.

“And Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said to them, ‘Bear fruit and increase, and fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over all creatures moving on the earth.’ And Elohim said, ‘See, I have given you every plant that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed, to you it is for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to every creeping creature on the earth, in which there is life, every green plant is for food.’ And it came to be so. And Elohim saw all that He had made, and see, it was very good. And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:28-31).

For clarity, please understand that the word “meat” is often an English translation of the Hebrew word, “oklah”. The word oklah simply means, “food.” Oklah may or may not at times include animal flesh, but it indeed refers to seed bearing plants. The diet of those created in the image of Yahoweh, and the diet of animals, is one of vegetables, grasses, herbs, grains, seeds, and fruit. Praise Yah!

Death was not a part of the original creation. Only after the fall of man does death enter in. “And to the man He said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, saying, “Do not eat of it”: ‘Cursed is the ground because of you, in toil you are to eat of it all the days of your life, and the ground shall bring forth thorns and thistles for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you are to eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you return.’” (Genesis 3:17-19). Even after the fall, Yahoweh didn’t change. All the days of thy life? That was 930 years for Adam.

“And Yahoweh Elohim made coats of skin for the man and his wife and dressed them.” (Genesis 3:21). The Almighty had animals die for a purpose that goes beyond simple clothes. A sacrifice was needed, and the emotional weight of the animal skins reminded Adam and Eve of that … the killing was not desired or for sport. The animal was not eaten, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your lives, for it is the blood that makes atonement for the life.” (Leviticus 17:11).

“Then Shemu’el said, ‘Does Yahoweh delight in burnt offerings and slaughterings, as in obeying the voice of Yahoweh? Look, to obey is better than an offering, to heed is better than the fat of rams.’” (1 Samuel 15:22).

The next time we see the sacrifice of an animal is the offering made by Abel. “And again, she gave birth to his brother Hebel. And Hebel became a keeper of sheep, but Qayin became a tiller of the ground. And it came to be, in the course of time, that Qayin brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to Yahoweh. And Hebel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And Yahoweh looked to Hebel and his offering, but He did not look to Qayin and his offering. And Qayin was very wroth, and his face fell.” (Genesis 4:2-5). While Abel is clearly described as a keeper of sheep, there is nothing in this passage that tells us that their diet had changed from the original vegan diet. (All of your days.) It is likely that the sheep were being raised for wool and not for meat. Clearly, animal sacrifice was considered the acceptable offering, but nothing states that it had become an acceptable diet. By sacrificing a lamb, Abel demonstrated his faith in the work and grace of Yahoweh. While Cain, on the other hand, offered the work of his own labour in lawlessness. We are saved by grace through the death of the Messiah, and not by works of righteousness, but without works, do we really have faith at all? This is truly a double edged sword that many see as single.

Ten generations later, in the accounting of one my favorite people in Scripture, Noah, we hear words concerning a change in man’s diet. But who changed it? “And Yahoweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5). We also read in this same chapter that, “And the earth was corrupt before Elohim, and the earth was filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:11). How did the earth become filled with violence? Abel’s blood cried out from the ground for justice in Genesis 4:10. Was humankind killing both man and animal for profit and pleasure? There is certainly evidence of this after the flood, for it is said of the self-acclaimed sun god Nimrod, “He was a mighty hunter before Yahoweh, therefore it is said, ‘Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before Yahoweh.’” (Genesis 10:9). Is it possible that in the wickedness of the pre-flood world there was blood being shed for gluttony?

“For fidelity, devotion, love, many a two-legged animal is below the dog and the horse. Happy would it be for thousands of people if they could stand at last before the Judgment Seat and say, ‘I have loved as truly and I have lived as decently as my dog.’ And yet we call them only brutes!” -Henry Ward Beecher

What of the hunters in Scripture? “And the boys grew up. Esau became a man knowing how to hunt, a man of the field, but Ya’aqob was a peaceful man, dwelling in tents.” (Genesis 25:27). Notice the differentiation: “but Jacob was a peaceful man”. Is this to say Esau was not? There’d be no other reason. Previously, the only hunter described by the Torah is the wicked Nimrod. Esau’s passions led him away from the home, and he found his delight in killing animals. Jacob, on the other hand, is described as a peaceful man, living in tents. Unlike Esau, Jacob’s priorities were in the home with the family. Today we place too much emphasis on “sporting” activities that keep children out of the home. We celebrate the Nimrods and disregard the Abrahams. We worship the Esaus and spit on the Jacobs. However, Yahoweh’s blessings will rest on the Jacobs who find their delight in family … in love.

People tell me stories about hunting all the time. They try to feel powerful by killing something beautiful. Do you want to be a hero to the hearts of children? Save animals and save people with the same stroke of love. Hunting only makes it hard, and harder and harder, to love you. Please, stop killing and start healing. A tale of reckless killing will never shine, but rare is there not a smile, even upon bitter old men, when you share the joy of saving an animal, or rescuing a girl, or caring for the streams. Which is the better way to teach your children: Robbing the sea of fish, treating them as though they were pieces of seaweed rather than Yahoweh’s creatures, or, cleaning the trash from the waters? Staining the ground with oil or blood, or showering it with prayer and work? Hunting to kill unnecessarily, or sharing the joy of a garden? What of your lasting tale? Will it be hated like the extinction of thousands of animals, or cherished even by those who never knew you?

Calling on His Name does not mean killing His own just for sport, nor does it mean ripping the fur from their backs for gloves, or abusing them for circus acts and rodeos. Should they be gassed when their teenage years have passed? We brand them, force them to take drugs we make to hide our sickness with, skin them alive for coats, and torture them for years to see if the skin tightening cream for our vanity can be used for long before cancer sets in. Should we keep them in cages just for plastic trophies, or mount their heads on the wall in an attempt to persuade men that we are as powerful as wildlife? What will the beasts say of us? Will the hunter indeed become the hunted? In Noah’s ark, the beasts were not yet afraid of men. But today’s world has become an arc of hate. Hate is the thorn upon the vine of Satan. Not a fruit of the Spirit.

He who kills, kills himself; he who eats flesh, eats death. The wicked hurt the creatures of the Creator, but someday the hunters will become the hunted (Ezekiel 39:17-20).

Some people do not realize how much they talk, or rather arrogantly boast, about animal cruelty. Until I became vegan, I was drunk with the blood and fat of animals so much so that I did not hear the daily, and sometimes hourly, conversations about animal abuse. To most, it is seen as leisurely, funny, or nothing to be concerned over. Why care that someone is in pain, after all? Shouldn’t we laugh at the pain of the creatures that our Father loves and made? I loathe their tales of driving a long way, finding some animals, and shooting them. To them, it cures boredom more than love ever could, or so they think. In Heaven, though, there is not going to be an “Animal Cruelty Club” serving up meat sandwiches. What of this, “on earth, as it is in Heaven”? Should we diligently consider this?

So what about the animals who would die from starvation if hunters didn’t thin them out? It is a false assumption to think killing is the answer. The truth is that humans first hunted until they destroyed the cougars, and wolves, and other predators who hunt those who might not make it in winter. Humans kill the strongest. Even the wolves have more compassion than man. Animals have no difficulty living up to their nature, but humans seem to find it very hard to be fully human. The deer’s food supply is sparse in the habitat that we continually rob, and so states will feed them in the winter, thus making the deer bear more offspring. The deer would not produce so many if foods were scarce during winter. The overpopulation is not from a lack of hunters, but from too many of them. The overpopulated deer cause vehicle accidents, and hunting mishaps kill many people every year. It is a tragedy that would never hold out if held to a vote.

Note: It is a rarity that humans are hurt or killed by predators.

Many animals are dealt with in a similar manner. Overcrowded birds are thinned down by dynamite being thrown into the fields of mothers because we killed all their natural predators. (Does this sound like Torah?) Tuna and other fishing industries will club baby seals to death, not because they are eating too many fish, but because humans are. (Does this sound like grace?) The buffalo are practically gone, and, depending on where you live, the animals that once flourished on our lands are either disappearing fast or are already gone. (Is this the tending of the earth?) Truly, we are failing our prime directive.

In America, needing to kill just to eat isn’t extremely rare, it is flat out unheard of. I have never met anyone here that poor off. Yes, even homeless. Yet the reason many people in poor countries have to kill and eat is because we raped their soil of seed to feed our cows. We bought their soy and corn cheaply because they didn’t have a choice in the matter. Yes, I feel many who kill and eat will be forgiven, but the ones that made them? While I cannot say what their punishment will be, I can say I want no part of it.

Hunting is more challenging, rewarding, and enjoyable with a camera, and since no one dies, you can get to know the animals and take their pictures again and again. Hunting involves people taking pleasure in the hunt and the killing of an animal. To take pleasure in the suffering and death of any living being is wicked. If the joy was only in the hunt, then the hunter could use a digital camera instead of a weapon. If it was in the food, then plant a garden, or buy a veggie burger.

Hundreds of animals are gone, and many fish are on the brink because humans have hunted them to death. So should we turn a blind eye? It takes little skill to point and shoot. To be a real hunter and gatherer you will need to forage for real food such as berries, nuts, and wild foods to eat; much more impressive than killing an animal who has big horns with a big gun.

The act of killing requires people to harden their hearts, to not feel compassion. When a person is born again, they are supposed to have a softened heart to replace their hardened heart. Love and compassion should have no limits. Compassion with a knife in your hand, cutting the throats of life-loving creatures, is completely contradictory.

In America, many husbands call their wife deer, and then go and shoot deer (the animal). The physiological ramifications of this will be, and indeed must be, denied by every hunter, but this does not change the reality: We become as we rehearse. If you visualize harming someone, the jump from that to action is a small one. If you can beat a dog, while it is different, it makes it so much easier to beat a child. It goes the other way, too. If you can strike a child, you can strike a mother. If you can hurt your wife whom you call deer, well then, hunting is where your heart will likely lead you.

Many times I have heard stories from young children, or from parents who took their child with them hunting. Each tale has a horrible secret shared. Each tells me of the day a light went on in the young child’s heart. They wondered why the bunny wasn’t alive anymore. They tell how they as children, or how their child, cried when he or she found out where meat came from, only to be forced to “clean their plate.” The poison of adulthood realized. Many kids grow up hunting, but they love it for the same reason they love their birthday, and that is involvement, not presents. I encourage you all to take steps to find a better way to live, for a better tale to be told.

Adopting a healthy vegan diet requires very little extra time and commitment, and it can improve one’s sense of well-being. Anyone can choose a cruelty-free diet while continuing other important and joyful activities. By choosing a plant-based diet, you significantly help humans, animals, and the environment. Most vegan foods are tasty, convenient, and nutritious. Do I care about animals? Yes! But I care about people more. This is why I am writing you. Please continue reading to understand fully.

One of the many liquor stores in our small town has a large sign hanging outside of it. It is a powerful sign. It reads, “Welcome Hunters.” You’ll never see one there that reads, “Welcome Jews and Christians.” There’s a reason for that.

The average vegan saves 95 animals a year. There are animal rescuers who rescue 10 animals a year and yet still eat meat. What I had to do to the coyote is nothing in comparison to the abuse the animals go through their entire lives, and they have longer and more painful deaths. This is needless. This is not of the Spirit of Love. Most cows do not live in green pastures, but side-by-side in their urine and waste and diseases. In all of this, it took a lot of repeating on many people’s part, some famous and some not so famous, and One beyond the concept of fame. But, finally, I can pray, “On earth as it is in Heaven,” and not be as much of a hypocrite when I do; for I once prayed the prayer, but never bothered to see what Heaven was like, and thus prayed that beautiful prayer before sitting down to do exactly what is not in Heaven. Let us live according to His eternal vision of a cruelty and death-free life.

Compassionate slaughter laws merely deceive those who eat animals. The chickens and turkeys from “humane farms” have their throats slit and are hung upside down to gurgle to death in blood. Their life in inhumane factory farms is awful, from having their beaks cut, to being stuffed into cages, living out a life so stressfully overwhelming that they grow only a few feathers. Even if the farm is as nice as possible, their death doesn’t all of a sudden become wonderful, as they know what is going to happen to them. They see it happing to their friends. Having grown up on a farm, I assure you, those birds know about death, and they fear it.

It takes around fifty female minks just to make one full-length coat. Furs that people proudly don are skins peeled from animals who have been anally electrocuted (something we are allegedly too humane to do to the worst of people) so that the pelt remains unscarred. Other more gruesome methods are even used on what we consider pets all over the world. Yes, an animal sometimes plays with his prey, slowly killing the helpless creature over a period of occasionally many hours of torture. We call these animals “beasts.” And feel great compassion for the dying animal. Man, however, puts a helpless creature in a cage not big enough for him to turn around in, and tortures the living creature more every day of his life than beasts ever have. From birth ‘till death, the bird to fish, suffers, and their deaths are more gruesome than any lion’s or wolf’s heart would allow them to perform. What kind of creature, then, are we?

People support behaviour that they would never perform themselves, every time they purchase products derived from animal cruelty. I reject the concept of compassionate slaughter. If the animals could talk, or rather, if humans would listen, they would be able to tell you why they reject such ideas, too. One cannot talk about peace when they have a steak on their plate, as an animal died to end up there. “Where there are no oxen, the crib is clean; but from the strength of an ox comes much increase.” (Proverbs 14:4). Increase in might for plowing and planting what is to be eaten. Not for meat.

Rats, chicks, and bunnies from animal experiments, when no longer “needed,” die in a means that no Grimm tale dared drew near. From track horses to the tiger cubs you loved at the zoo, people have lost their souls in a brazen lack of compassion in the brutal killings of these animals. If this made the news, then the majority of companies, such as zoos who pretend to be responsible for animals, would be boycotted and charged criminally for such acts. If the media cared more about news and important issues than ratings, none of this would be news to you. From performing elephants to rodeo calves, we look with eyes closed and see sport and amusement. Truth, however, is not a welcoming sight, especially when it’s the mirror we must examine.

School projects conducted on animals to this day is yet another sign of a severe lack of compassion. The vast majority of children hate doing animal experiments, and a few bravely forfeit the good grade for a good conscious. Even though most teachers are equipped with arguments such as the lame, “Well it’s already dead.” Oy! In today’s modern age do we need such archaic instruction? Everything these classes teach can be done via animation or even in a plain text book. Unless you’re going to be a veterinarian, then you don’t need this, and even then, animal dissecting in the school classroom won’t teach you anything of value in veterinarian work anyway. Yes, everything dies at some point, but this does not mean we ought be the ones known for bringing life to an end.

“I don’t understand why asking people to eat a well-balanced vegetarian diet is considered drastic, while it is medically conservative to cut people open and put them on cholesterol-lowering drugs for the rest of their lives.” -Dean Ornish, MD

Go ask your friendly veterinarian, “Would it be okay to give a chicken some horse medicine?” The veterinarian will look at you as if you have idiot written on your forehead, and reply with an undertone alluding to the obviousness of your question, “No!” He or she would also say no to the following: “Would it be okay to give my puppy some cow medicine?” “Would it be okay to give my goat some mice medicine?” While the veterinarian may not say no to the following, using the same logic they ought: “Is it okay to give my child medicine that was tested on bunnies?” “Well, that depends. Are you a rabbit, and do you like products that were so obviously dangerous that they sought to test them first?” … “No!”

Many people today support testing animals for their alleged benefit. Everything from laundry soaps to pills that just mask symptoms of the common cold are tested on cats, bunnies, mice, and many other pets. However, it is ethically irresponsible and rationally futile to justify experiments on animals. When my wife and I go out for a Sabbath walk, we are blessed with butterflies, kittens, and the smiles of the elderly. Every now and then, though, we happen by a block, not a house, where someone is doing laundry. It usually stinks so bad we turn and go a different direction. Ever been down the store’s aisle of soaps? It smells like toxic chemicals! … It is! Most people get sick going in these aisles. So did burning the bunny’s eyes help? Did washing mice in soap for hours at a time aid anything? No. Skin irritations still occur, and the stench makes apparent the uselessness of man’s conceptions. The laundry soap we use was not tested on animals, and is environmentally friendly. And if you stop to consider that, it is a good thing even if you have no compassion for animals at all. If they feel a need to test the product on animals, then why would you want it? Natural soaps work better, too. No surprise really, there is no fake scent to mask what the fake laundry soap failed to remove. No alleged spring freshness. Just truly clean. Now there is something pleasing to the nostrils. Want a fragrance? Plant flowers, or make some rhubarb apple juice.

Speaking of apples, did you know an apple a day keeps the doctor away? An apple contains around 75 calories, 0.40 grams of fat, and no cholesterol. An equal amount (125 grams) of pizza contains around 325 calories, 16 grams of fat, and 32 milligrams of cholesterol. If for the next year you were to choose the pizza each day over the apple you would consume over 90,000 more calories, not to mention over 12 pounds more fat than the apple eater.

“But what about for the finding of cures? I know it hurts the animals but it helps us doesn’t it?” First off, the Torah teaches us that the best medicine is prevention. The best way to not get sexually transmitted diseases will never be a better condom, or tests, but will be to love your wife, even when you do not yet know her. Furthermore, animal testing is archaic. All mammals’ organs and systems are quite different from humans. Results from animal studies should be rejected. Consider this: half of the cancers rats get, mice do not get. Half of the cancers mice get, rats do not get. Since data from one furry long-tailed rodent cannot be applied to another, then how in the name of all logic and reason, can we apply experimental animal research results to humans? Nine out of ten positive results made in mice studies are not transferable to humans. Rats lack gall bladders, and human and rat digestive enzymes differ, yet thousands of labouratory studies based on mice and rat research has provided the foundation for nutritional and medical advice given by most American physicians. While some religious systems claim chimpanzees are man’s closest relatives, the monkey is still not fit for testing on.

(I am not just against animal testing because I care for animals. I care for people. I would be against the idea if it were testing on plants. I am no more a rat than I am a grass, after all.)

Keeping His Word is what brings health. His Word is a miracle. Do you want the cure for death? I have it! Sure, Spirulina, Chlorella, micronutrients, and cleansing yourself inside can help prevent most, and can even cure many cases of illness, but the best thing we can do is prevention, and that is to abandon the madness behind smoking, obesity, and eating flesh, and grow in the joy of healthy eating and regular exercise. Would you care to prevent the cold as best you can? It’s not chicken soup, but rather a healthy immune system and the equally required brains to dress warm and be reasonable. How do you prevent most depression? Is the problem obesity? Are you looking for the prevention of most skin problems and even allergies? Then look to the Torah and see what Yahoweh gave us to eat, and what we are not to eat. Seek wisdom, and do not miss the relationship with understanding.

We will all die, and so even with the best prevention we may still become ill, but in His Word is the true cure, for while my body decays, my soul grows ever more youthful in the radiance of His grace.

“Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals, and the answer is: ‘Because the animals are like us.’ Ask the experimenters why it is morally OK to experiment on animals, and the answer is: ‘Because the animals are not like us.’ Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction.” -Professor Charles R Magel

I have witnessed a mere word alter conversations. Two men will be in agreement politically until they discover that one is a republican and the other a democrat. Two women will be in agreement about faith until they learn one is a Baptist and the other a Seventh Day Adventist. Two people pray for earth, as it is in Heaven, agree to care for the Holy Spirit’s temple, and long for health, but the moment someone says the word vegan, it becomes strange and scary to them. Do you not like the term, “vegan”? No problem. When you come to the word “vegan,” replace it with the word: “Heavenly.”

A vegan diet? / A heavenly diet? I was raised to believe that we have to eat meat to be healthy. I was also raised to pretend I believed in a tooth-fairy. It would be an insult to my Creator to discontinue learning based simply on some who wish I would not rock the boat. Let us forfeit the lies we often tell ourselves and truly look at how we were designed. People were not recreated after humans began eating animal flesh. We retain the original design in that we were never built to eat flesh. Regardless, let’s step back and look at this, even from a physical perspective, to see if eating meat is folly or wisdom.

First off, can we acquire flesh? Humans are not able to tear into a live or freshly dead animal with their soft fingers and tiny fingernails. Try catching a deer, and you’ll soon see that you were never made to kill animals. Try latching onto a goat with your teeth, and you will see we are not designed for this at all. I assure you, we are not able to tear into raw flesh with our square teeth. Herbivores have small canine teeth for biting into tough vegetation, not long sharp fangs that actual carnivores have. Human jaws are that of an herbivore, as they move up-and-down and side-to-side, while the jaws of carnivores move up and down, and not side-to-side. The design shows us how and what an herbivore eats (vegetation that is chewed) and what a carnivore eats (pieces of dead animals that are swallowed whole).

Second, even if we did catch an animal, or find a dead one, what about after the challenge of swallowing it? The issue of digestion is in the stomach and intestines. The intestines of carnivores are short so that they do not absorb nasty stuff found in their meal of cholesterol, saturated fat, and parasite eggs. While we herbivorous people have intestines that are complex and several times longer than carnivore’s intestines. Actual carnivores, finding dead animals delicious smelling, are attracted to, and eat rotting bacteria-ridden meat completely raw. We cannot do this, but they can because their digestive enzymes and tract allow them to do so without getting sick. Ever try to eat something that died a week ago that has been lying outside in a ditch … raw? Even a freshly dead animal eaten completely raw is considered an extremely dangerous choice, for herbivores anyway. Herbivores are without the stomach acids and enzymes necessary for the proper digestion of meat, and must find some other way to kill the bacteria lest it kills them. We haven’t evolved or been re-created, we just placed this bizarre custom of eating flesh in our lives, with a few modifications. We cook the meat intensely so that, when we eat it, we don’t die. So we don’t die! … What would you think of a vegetable or fruit that had those characteristics? “Bob! What do you think you’re doing! You have to cook an orange at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for half an hour before you eat it. Man … don’t you know anything? It’s a good thing I happened by when I did or you’d be heading straight for the emergency room.”

I often hear men trying to act macho by claiming to be an omnivore or carnivore, but when I ask them if they would eat a wild rat, raw, that had died many days ago, to prove that they are, they change the subject. Why? Because if you ate that you would die, since you are neither a carnivore or omnivore. Obviously, though, I was once duped into thinking I was an omnivore, but just how duped would a person be to want to remain that way, knowingly.

Many are in the mindset of “Meat is protein, you need protein, thus you need meat,” while in reality protein is simply amino acids, and your body cannot tell the difference between amino acids from animal or seed. A better question we should ask ourselves is, “How do we get enough vitamins, minerals, and fiber?” The idea that meat is the best, or even a good protein source, is completely untrue. The two main reasons people say to eat meat are: Meat is mostly protein, and uncooked meat is a complete protein (thus containing all eight of the essential amino acids).

As for the first argument, a package of hamburger labeled 90% lean is solely based on the weight that is supposedly not fat, and cannot be accurate. If you were to measure the fat percentage to calorie ratio, that is to say the percentage of total calories that is made of fat, you would find that even meat that is supposed to be only five percent fat is in truth much higher. Using weight on the remaining portion is also misleading, as the meat is mainly blood from multiple sick and abused animals (some have been tested and have shown literally pieces of a thousand different cows in a single hamburger), which does not provide you with protein or health.

If you take the same weight in broccoli, you will have far fewer calories, and naturally far fewer grams of protein, but if you find the ratio of protein to calories, you will find that the broccoli has nearly twice the protein of a piece of steak. And with the broccoli, you also get a lot of fiber and nutrients the meat simply does not have. The catch? You have to eat lots of vegetables to get enough protein this way. If you replaced the fat calories from the steak with fat calories from nuts, you would be eliminating the saturated fat and cholesterol, getting additional protein, and a number of healthy nutrients and fatty acids. Other sources of protein are tofu, tempeh, beans, grains, legumes, berries, vegetables, and vegan protein powders made of peas, rice, and so forth. If you’re getting more protein than your healthy body weight (pounds) in grams, then it is time to eat less bean soup and more fruit, fewer almonds and more salad, but, if you are getting less than half a gram of protein per healthy body weight, then it is time to add a little. Protein powders can make this very easy with delicious fruit smoothies.

Then there is the thought of complete protein. Many amino acid molecules are denatured when meat is cooked, so unless you eat it raw, you are not getting all of the amino acids or protein that you read about. L-lysine is one example, which is destroyed when cooked, thus making cooked meat an incomplete protein. Furthermore, the idea of a complete protein is flawed. Your body breaks down proteins into amino acids and restructures the amino acids into muscle, tissues, enzymes, etc. There are eight amino acids your body cannot produce, these are the essential amino acids, and they must be obtained from your diet. For the rest of the amino acids your body breaks them down and reforms them into the ones that it needs. As long as you get all of the essential amino acids, you are doing fine. How do you get all of them? Eat a variety of foods, lots of vegetables, beans, some whole grains like rice or quinoa, nuts or seeds, and fruit. You will then get a complete protein. Some people will say they must be consumed together, but there is ample evidence that debunks this notion. Even so, there are many common food combinations that gain you complete proteins, such as beans and rice, which are often found together in burritos or soups, and mixing grains, found in breads, and even just eating a trail mix with a variety of seeds and nuts. Others include lentils and almonds, bean soup with wheat crackers, hummus (garbanzo beans and tahini), and many more normal foods that you probably already eat.

So then, what reason do we have to eat meat? Do you like the taste? You’re not alone. I don’t anymore, but try some of the recipes in this collection of letters to you. See for yourself that you have been missing out for far too long! Just don’t go overboard on substitutes; there are so many different kinds of foods to eat that it requires effort to get in a mealtime rut.

I have seen men bask in the manly glory of frying a steak, but the concept of this being manly is simply because of advertising. Consider the manliness involved. Someone else kills, guts, skins, and cuts up the animal, then it is wrapped in a little package and bought at some shopping facility, then the wife unwraps it and places the meat on a plate before taking it to the big man who cooks it by pressing a little red button on his grill.

Stop and consider some of the other attributes of meat eating. Sure, there is the heart disease and obesity, but there is also the staggering increase in erectile dysfunction. Well, let me assure you, no one thinks any of those things are manly. All of a sudden, a quinoa black bean burrito with avocados and salsa seems infinity more manly than some glob of bloody meat.

Manliness, though, is an important factor in this. While harsh herein, there is no reason to be a prissy snob, or a wool sweater wearing wimp. The fact of the matter, as I have preached, and shall yet further, is that a man should be a man, and a woman should be a woman. There is no need to be weak, so weak as to harm, nor so weak as to be a doormat. There is balance in life inasmuch as there is balance in the art of being a man.

Women ought not think that this somehow diminishes their life, either. Allow a good diet to become a power, not a weakness. Be a man, and love your wife and family enough to eat clean, and be clean. Be a woman, and love strong enough to refuse to live apart from the King’s Kingdom. Before you can do this, though, you have to have a reason to do it. You have to love your wife more than hamburgers. You have to love your husband more than hotdogs. You have to seek first His Kingdom in real time, not just pretend time.

Even if after a year of being vegan, I went back to eating meat, I would have considered my time being vegan a very valuable adventure. We found so many new grains, fruits, and vegetables, and many more recipes than the few we included in this book. At one point when I had a hamburger, that is all I had; just a hamburger. Now we have around ten different patty / burger recipes. Thus, even if I had gone back to eating meat, I would still have veggie burgers most of the time simply for the variety.

Those who know a life of love and compassion have a wonderful joy and should be bold and caring in their approach to others in these matters. One way is to simply let it be known that you no longer consume any meat or dairy and that you feel healthier. Invite your friends over to eat a meal at your house after you have become very proficient in vegan cookery and presentation. All who will sit at your table will express themselves as being well satisfied with the food provided. A few may complain at first, and they will ask about the need for protein, but once the beautiful salad is being devoured, and the kiwi, blueberry, cherry, banana, and pecan bowl is scraped clean, and the avocado, brown rice, homemade refried bean burritos with hot chunky salsa are all gone, there will be no doubt that many men will ask their wives, or you, to make that again. A homemade slice of mixed grain bread with homemade ground almond butter melting on top of it—oh, how delicious. Would anyone enjoy some blueberry sauce on that? Cake and pie do not hold a match to it, unless, of course, they’re vegan. Does this sound too expensive? Now I could talk a bit about how most people pay more on the interest of an unneeded loan, or a new movie the whole family had to go see, but I won’t delve into such a rant. No, I will say, though, that I spend less than your average American on food and I eat six meals a day, organic as often as I can, and I enjoy every meal. We buy wholesome foods in bulk, and we grow a lot in our peaceful garden. If you shop around, and visit with other vegans in your area, you will soon discover the joy of a lower food bill, more energy, a healthier life, and a heart of compassion toward animals, the planet, and also people. Just don’t turn arrogant. If you can see, then, as I have said before, be thankful you do, and pray for those who don’t. If they see in you a joy they will want it, if they see arrogance in argument, then your testimony of compassion and love will be hindered.

“So, then, let us pursue the matters of peace and the matters for building up one another. Do not destroy the work of Elohim for the sake of food. All indeed are clean, but evil to that man who eats so as to cause stumbling. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine, nor to do whatever by which your brother stumbles.” (Romans 14:19-21).

Now many have taught the reason for the prohibition of pork was for health reasons, but this is far from the truth. While swine flesh is one of the worst meats you could eat, lamb also has been found to contain parasites and bacteria, which can cause serious illnesses. If the dietary laws were for health reasons, why would Yahoweh command that we not eat pork, which is bad for you, and allow us to eat lamb, which is also bad for you?

I hesitated to write out the “Epistle of” Barnabas 10:1-12 here, which speaks about Deuteronomy 14:7-8, in fear that some would disregard it without reason, or even foolishly seek to use it as an attack upon the Creator’s desire written about in this Letter. I note that I do not profess this to be Scripture. I placed Barnabas here simply to give you a chance to see the possible viewpoint of a good friend of Paul’s, who was in the Levitical priesthood and highly respected amongst the apostles. I say “possible” because parts of this alleged epistle seem to have been tampered with, but this section seems quite intact. Each verse is a paragraph.

“But forasmuch as Mosheh said; ‘You shall not eat swine, nor eagle, nor falcon, nor crow, nor any fish that hath no scales upon itself,’ he received an understanding of three doctrines.”

“He said unto them, in Deuteronomy, ‘I will give a covenant upon this people My ordinances.’ So then it is not a commandment of Elohim that they should not eat, but Mosheh spoke in spiritual sense.”

“Accordingly, He spoke of the swine with this intent: ‘Thou shalt not cleave,’ He meaneth, ‘unto men who are like swine; that is, when they are in luxury they forget Yahoweh, but when they are in want they think upon Yahoweh; just as the swine, who, when eating or full, knows not his master, but when the swine is hungry he cries out, but when the swine has received food again, there is silence.’”

“‘Neither shalt thou eat eagle, nor falcon, nor kite, nor crow. Thou shalt not,’ He meaneth, ‘cleave to, or be likened unto, such men who know not how to provide food for themselves by toil and sweat, but in their lawlessness seize the property of others, and, as if they were walking in innocence, watch and search about for someone to rob in their greediness, just as these birds alone do not provide food for themselves by means of toil and sweat, but, sitting idle, seek how they may eat the flesh of others, being lethal in reasoning their evil-doings.’”

“‘And thou shalt not eat,’ saith He, ‘of the lamprey, nor polypus, nor cuttlefish. Thou shalt not,’ He meaneth, ‘cleave to, or become like unto such men, who are desperately wicked, and are already condemned to death, even as these fish are accursed, swimming in the depths, not floating like the rest, but dwell on the earth beneath the deep sea.’”

“‘Moreover, thou shalt not eat the hare.’ Why so? ‘Thou shalt not indulge in unnatural lusts.’”

“Again, ‘neither shalt thou eat the hyena; thou shalt not,’ meantheth He, ‘become an adulterer or a fornicator, neither resembling such persons. For this animal changes its nature year by year, and becomes at one time male and at another female.’”

“Moreover, He hath rejected the weasel with good reason. ‘Thou shalt not,’ meantheth He, ‘become such as those men of whom we hear as working iniquity with their mouth for uncleanness, neither shalt thou cleave unto impure women who work iniquity with their mouths. Do nothing unclean with thy mouth.’”

“Moses, therefore, spoke concerning the spiritual; but they, according to the lust of the flesh, accepted them as though they referred to eating meat.”

“And David also received knowledge concerning the same three decrees, and saith; ‘Blessed is the man who hath not gone in the council of the unrighteous’—even as the fish crawl in darkness into the depths of the sea; ‘and hath not stood in the path of sinners’—just as they who pretend to fear Yahoweh do sin like swine; ‘and hath not sat on the seat of the destroyers’—just as the birds that idly wait for prey. You now have the commandment concerning eating.”

“But Mosheh saith; ‘Eat everything that is cloven-footed and cheweth the cud.’ What meaneth he? He that receives food knows Him that gives him the food, and, being refreshed, appears to be glad in him. He has said this well, having regard to the commandment. What meaneth he? Cleave unto those who fear Yahoweh, with those who walk in Commandments, having received them in their hearts, speaking and observing His ordinances, with those who know that meditation is a work of gladness, and who chew the cud of the Word of Yahoweh. But why the divided hoof? Because the righteous man both walks in this world, and at the same time looks for the holy world to come. Behold, see how wise a lawgiver Mosheh was.”

“But how would it be possible to perceive or understand these things? Howbeit we, having justly perceived the commandments, tell them as Yahoweh willed? To this end: He circumcised our ears and hearts, that we might understand these things.” (Barnabas 10:1-12).

Was this Torah truly to be taken symbolically? Has the real message always been that we are to be, or not to be, like these animals? In our speech today, pig means gluttonous more often than it does ham. If someone were to say, “Your wife is a fox.” you would not retort with, “No, she’s a human.” as we know this phrase means clever or sexy. If I were to call you a chicken here in America, then I would be implying that you were a coward, but if I called you that in Mexico, I would be saying you were brave. We also have the phrase “You are what you eat.” So, if I were to say, “Don’t eat a pig.” I could well be meaning, “Don’t become a glutton.” Yet, that is in America, while in Hebrew this would mean to not cry out, and then forget once you have received. How many of us have cried out for salvation, but then turned our back on Him the moment we claimed to accept Him?

Like the cow who has a divided hoof, we are to be divided as well, in that we walk in this world, but are seeking the world to come. And like the cow who has four stomachs and chews the cud of the grain which is fed to her, we too must chew on the things presented. We must not reject like a finicky cat, nor should consume anything at all like the bottom feeding fish. Too many people fight ideas. This must not be you if there will be any hope in your growing in Truth and Spirit.

Note: These characteristics, though a world play, are true of these animals. For example: the female hyena has a fake penis, which she will use to attempt sex with other females, and also sodomize the males and females, which the males also do to other males and females. Having worked with some of the animals listed here, I know these are truthful accounts and not fairytale characteristics. Other translations of this text state things about the hare and weasel that seem odd, until you look at them with a spiritual understanding. Some texts state that the weasel conceives with its mouth, and the hare gains one passage in the body for every year it lives. While I, once again, do not consider this book to be Scripture, I find it fair to look at the Spiritual with the Spiritual, as opposed to the physical.

Oddly enough, though, in the myriad of texts which were not canonized by pagans, I find an overwhelming surplus of accountings from differing people and locations which say the Messiah saved animals, and was strongly opposed to killing them. If these are accepted as proof of nothing more, then they at least confirm that much more was originally known of, or at least written about, the Messiah.

What do some of these things claim? Well, some of it to me seems false, and some seems fitting. Many texts proclaim John the Baptist ate the fruit of the locust tree and wild honey, rather than locust insects. “Locust insects” sounds funny, huh? Do we say, “Grasshopper insect?” No. We say, “Grasshopper.” Do we say, “Larch tree?” Not often. “Larch.” … “Locusts”? That could either be carob or insect, couldn’t it? In that area, there are many locusts, the tree that is, with delicious carob, and this would go much better with honey than a bug that swarms for a short time and then is gone.

Some texts claim the Messiah put away all blood offerings, agreeing with the book of Hebrews, and the eating of the flesh of animals, agreeing with Heaven, and that if we do not stop eating them, He will send a plague in the same way He sent it upon those He freed from Egypt. It fits with the teachings of the Messiah that those who seek pain upon others cannot be righteous, nor can they understand holy things, or teach the mysteries of the kingdom, being defiled with blood from hate. It is true that if you keep the lesser mysteries, then the greater will be given, but until we perceive, and repent, we are not fit to receive the higher mysteries (see Luke 8:17-18). Other texts also proclaimed that when you slaughter a creature, you slaughter the Handiwork of Yahoweh.

I have read many different texts, but, to be honest, I don’t anymore, as most of them are a waste of time as many blatantly go against Scripture, or have been obviously revised as they have not had the watchful eye that Torah has (even though the text we have today has been blatantly twisted, such as the removal of His Name). However, for the record, I do believe in the Messiah and the virgin birth, along with the need for a sacrifice. The Sacrifice. Yah went to the cross to pay the payment due once and for all.

We have no right to exclude the lower orders of creation from compassion. The Messiah never said in any text, “I say unto you, any cruelty or suffering you may wish to inflict upon animals, this you may do.”

Let us get back to what we have in our Bibles. “And Elohim blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, ‘Bear fruit and increase, and fill the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you is on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the heavens, on all that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea—into your hand they have been given. Every moving creature that lives is food for you. I have given you all, as I gave the green plants. But do not eat flesh with its life, its blood.’” (Genesis 9:1-4). Note the similarities of Genesis 9:1-4 to that of Genesis 1:28-31.

At first glance, it appears that Yahoweh lied by changing the diet of man. Did He change? Let’s take a closer look at what is said here. In the post-flood covenant, Yahoweh gave Noah and his sons we see the same blessing given to Adam and Eve. They are to be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth. While some think the command to replenish the earth means to have seven billion babies, it may refer to re-planting the earth, which had been destroyed by the waters of the flood, and to bear enough people to care for it, rather than to destroy it.

Side note: This text states, “Every moving creature that lives is food for you.” Many take this as meaning we can eat all forms of meat. If this is true, then eating humans is acceptable, as they are creatures that move. Yet, later we see Him say we are not to eat certain kinds of animals, and, before this, we see we are not to eat animals at all, and in His Kingdom there is no death. We must look at the whole picture of His desire, from Creation to Heaven.

There is no positive command to eat flesh outside of some sacrifices, or any approvals, blessings, or advantages for doing so. Similarly, the Almighty did not want us to have a king, but since we were going to regardless of His desire, the Almighty would appoint this king. Sometimes a wise and kind king, and sometimes one filled with the same wickedness and stupidity as that of the people. All through the Scriptures, it is His desire that He alone be King! All through the Scriptures, can we not see the heart’s desire of Yahoweh that even the beasts of the earth would not eat meat? What of this reality, O beasts … who can choose?

Or consider the laws regarding divorce in Deuteronomy 24:1. My Rabbi does not yearn for you to divorce (Matthew 19:3-8). Take something that is often seen as very wicked in the eyes of the church. Multiple lovers / wives. Yahoweh gave council in Deuteronomy 21:15-16 because He knew man is greedy. He did not say, “Hey men and women, I hate you so much that I desire for you to have more than one partner, and, therefore, live in heart-wrenching misery.” He never said that. He said what to do with those who do it anyway. Thus, we have the laws of what meat is clean and what is not. Good to eat? How, when even clean meat is bad for you?

It is as if Yahoweh is saying to man, “I know you are going to destroy life and eat flesh just as you ate the fruit of the forbidden tree in the garden.” Look at this passage again with the understanding of prophetic statements; “And the fear of you and the dread of you is on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the heavens, on all that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea—into your hand they have been given. Every moving creature that lives is food for you. I have given you all, as I gave the green plants. But do not eat flesh with its life, its blood.” (Genesis 9:2-4). Is it not possible that fear and dread in the animals is created by the sinful behaviour of man, rather than an act of Yahoweh? In fact, when people have traveled to extremely remote locations where the animals have never seen a man, they are quite often friendly. While Yahoweh used the flood to judge sinners, it is painfully clear that the flood, like baptism, did not do away with sins.

“And the children of Yisra’el said to them, ‘If only we had died by the hand of Yahoweh in the land of Mitsrayim, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to satisfaction! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to put all this assembly to death with hunger.’ And Yahoweh said to Mosheh, ‘See, I am raining bread from the heavens for you. And the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, in order to try them, whether they walk in My Torah or not.’” (Exodus 16:3-4). The people were hungry, but they didn’t desire food … they lusted after flesh. “And the mixed multitude who were in their midst lusted greatly, so the children of Yisra’el also wept again and said, ‘Who is giving us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate without cost in Mitsrayim, the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic, but now our throat is dried up. There is naught to look at but this manna!’” (Numbers 11:4-6). Once again the cry goes up before HaShem, and once again we see Him responding, but it is not necessarily a favorable response. Yahoweh responds to Moses, “And say to the people, ‘Set yourselves apart for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, because you have wept in the hearing of Yahoweh, saying, “Who is giving us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Mitsrayim.” And Yahoweh shall give you meat, and you shall eat. You are going to eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but for a month of days, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes an abomination to you, because you have rejected Yahoweh who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we come up out of Mitsrayim?”’” (Numbers 11:18-20).

What did the Israelites lust from Egypt? Their old workweek? That nice paycheck? Longevity? No. They lusted meat, and so He sent quail for those who were thirsty for blood and hungry for fat, and they all became healthy, happy, and grew big-ol-muscles. … Wrong! “The meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, and the wrath of Yahoweh burned against the people, and Yahoweh smote the people with an exceeding great plague. Then he called the name of that place Qibroth Hatta’awah, because there they buried the people who had lusted.” (Numbers 11:33-34). “Lusted” may sound a little odd, but how many times have you heard, “Boy, oh, boy, does that barbecue smell mighty good.” 5,000 died because they lusted flesh. You know if 5,000 of them died from the plague then that means the rest of them were very ill. Yahoweh gave these flesh-craving people what they wanted. Meat. Not as a blessing, but as a curse with hope that their (our) lust for flesh would finally become as repulsive to them (us) as it is to Yahoweh. Let us then flee from Egypt … entirely.

“It is my view that the vegetarian manner of living by its purely physical effect on the human temperament would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind.” -Albert Einstein in a letter to Vegetarische Warte, December 27, 1930

“What of the clean and unclean life found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14?” Again, these are not commandments to eat flesh. Even if this were about the eating of death, then those who are too weak in desire for ministry, and choose meat over it, still have a set distinction. Followers are to be clean, not unclean; they are to be set apart, not worldly. However, we no longer know what many of the animals listed in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 are. Some of these animals may no longer exist, or were only known by His people 4,500 years ago, or the names have changed. There has been a great deal of debate among Bible scholars, from many thousands of years ago to this very day, concerning this. Therefore, the best we can do is to keep that which is clearly understood from Genesis 1 and the Kingdom of Yahoweh.

In the beginning, Yahoweh had no reason to say what animal was clean to eat, and what was not clean to eat, if He ever even meant it that way, because no one saw living creatures as food. No one ate them because no one was supposed to, nor would the concept even be conceivable until hearts began to die in sin. Imagine the absolute horror of Adam and Eve as the unknown red blood was spilled before them. Awaking to a nightmare of death. Should it be less for us today?

I have never seen anyone cry when they read about sacrifices. Many glaze over it because it bores them. Have we forgotten how to wear the sandals of another? If I were to stand at the altar with my sin, which has brought shame to my name and the death of my dear friend, I wouldn’t just cry when my companion died, I would wail … and sin—sin—would become utterly sinful. The Israelites did not have many animals, and the ones they did have, they cared for and cherished. Americans rarely see the animal die. They just pick up their blood, fat, and flesh, wrapped in Styrofoam and cellophane, at the store. But in the old days, in days we should never have sold for such a high cost, we walked with that animal, brushed his fur, tended his wounds, fed him, bathed him, and laughed with him. To need to offer up such a friendship, to have to lose it. More than a common pet owner’s love would have to be slain for your sin. And to see their flesh eaten? Or to eat him yourself? All of a sudden sin would become much more horrible in your eyes. Yet, why isn’t it now? Have we become numb? The suffering of animals, man … and Messiah, has become the norm, and no longer do some hearts bleed tears. We just glaze over it. Perhaps we are what we eat. In food and entertainment, for our soul and for our body, perhaps we are the death we consume. Please, please, don’t glaze over this.

Considering sacrificing, “Thus said Yahoweh of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’el, ‘Add your burnt offerings to your slaughterings and eat meat. For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Mitsrayim, about matters of burnt offerings or slaughterings. But this word I did command them, saying, “Obey My voice, and I shall be your Elohim, and you be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, so that it be well with you.” But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in the counsels, in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.’” (Jeremiah 7:21-24). (Some translations add a word in this text to say, “I did not just speak” rather than what it really says, “I did not speak.” And in 8:8 He says they messed with the Torah. Interesting. Could it be those who disagree with this, disagree with Yahoweh Almighty?)

If Yahoweh didn’t give the command for sacrifice … who did? Did He not give these Laws? Were the Israelites going to sacrifice whether He liked it or not, and so He gave laws concerning it? Or is sacrifice not a sign of His desire, but a sign of His great mercy to man completed in Messiah? Was sacrificing spoken by Him, but not of His great desire? “For I delight in kindness and not slaughtering, and in the knowledge of Elohim more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6). His desire, His delight, is in kindness and “not slaughtering.” Well, where does meat come from? Slaughterhouses, killing animals for the “god” called money. He also desires knowledge of Him more than burnt offerings. Will we forfeit obtaining or sharing knowledge of the Word Who became flesh by our consumption of burnt death? Or will we live in His desire? Or do we desire that knowledge enough to live by it?

Divorce is allowed. Yahoweh doesn’t like it. Satan loves it. Human kings are allowed. Yahoweh doesn’t like it. Satan loves it. Certain meats are maybe allowed to be eaten. Yahoweh doesn’t like it. Satan loves it. Let’s examine this further with a true yearning to live in His desire.

“Then Yahoweh sent Nathan to Dawid. And he came to him, and said to him, ‘There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. The rich one had flocks and herds, very many. But the poor one had only one little ewe lamb which he had bought and kept alive. And it grew up with him and with his children together. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom. And it was like a daughter to him. And a traveller came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.’ And the wrath of Dawid burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, ‘As Yahoweh lives, the man who has done this is a son of death! Also, he has to repay fourfold for the lamb, because he did this deed and because he had no compassion.’ Then Nathan said to Dawid, ‘You are the man!’” (2 Samuel 12:1-7a). Many translations show David saying that as surely as Yahoweh lives, the man who did this deserves to die! Yes, I realize this has to do with David and the sin he committed; however, look at his response, consider what the heart of the rich man had to be like, and then consider the heart of the poor man. Which heart do you choose? I choose the poor man’s heart, for his heart was truly rich, and the rich man’s truly poor.

“For if you truly make your ways and your deeds good, if you truly do right ruling between a man and his neighbour, if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other mighty ones to your own evil, then I shall let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.” (Jeremiah 7:5-7). Nor shed innocent blood? Well, is a cow is guilty? No. Innocent, my friend. Why cause death when we have the perfect atonement in Yahoshuah? Are we allowed to slaughter?

“Any man from the house of Yisra’el who slaughters a bull or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or who slaughters it outside the camp, and does not bring it to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to bring an offering to Yahoweh before the Dwelling Place of Yahoweh, blood-guilt is reckoned to that man. He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people,” (Leviticus 17:3-4).

“How long shall the land mourn, and the plants of every field wither? The beasts and birds are consumed for the evil of those who dwell there, because they said, ‘He does not see our latter ending.’” (Jeremiah 12:4).

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all are naked and laid bare before the eyes of Him with whom is our account.” (Hebrews 4:13). Does our violence to the innocent give Yah glory? They are just innocent creatures, bewildered by our hate, who would like to pass a few years in peace. Do we think He does not see? Do we see?

Concerning the Messiah casting out demons from a possessed man into swine: According to Matthew 8:28-32, Mark 5:1-13, and Luke 8:27-33 the swine ran down the steep slope and into the sea. Why two thousand pigs? Were the pigs there for pagan sacrifice or were they being eaten by, “non-practicing-jews / lost sheep”? Either way, to the best of my understanding, demons cannot possess something unless there is life in the blood, it is unclean, and has either invited, or has not rejected, the devil. At any rate, a man’s soul is far more important than two thousand pigs. I dream of the day Christians realize that. That even one man’s soul is not worth the eating of flesh.

Christianity’s lust for pig blood, or even cattle’s blood, is spurred by a vulgar twisting of the Scriptures into saying all foods are clean, (few know what “clean” even means) and that all animals are food. This is not true, and has to do with the heart.

I used to “love” pork. I had it in my split-pea soup and in my morning omelet. However, I love the Saviour more than I love pig meat, and so it has not touched my lips for over ten years. Pigs are known to carry hundreds of diseases and hundreds of different kinds of worms and parasites at a time. A pig can have so much lead in its system that a single serving of its meat can kill a man. Even a healthy pig, though, is unhealthy to eat. Consider this: the act of eating these things is not only slow suicide, but also an act of hatred against the Holy Spirit’s temple. It is as foolish to ask Yahoweh to bless a cigarette, as it is to pray over a plate of pork or beef.

Some parts of cows that are often eaten, such as organs like the liver, are worse for you than many unclean fish. Many of the toxins cows eat will be stored in their liver, and the only meat / organ that has more cholesterol in it is turkey liver. Use prayer and the Word of Yahoweh so that you can live a long life full of health, as Yahoweh wants. How long of a life? Until Yahoweh takes us home (Psalms 90).

Christians, however, practically brag on their eating what the Father commanded them not to, and what the Saviour never once partook of. Some even feel very self-righteous about it. “the people who provoke Me continually to My face, who slaughter in gardens, and burn incense on altars of brick; who sit among the graves, and spend the night in secret places, who eat flesh of pigs, and the broth of unclean meat is in their pots, who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am set-apart to you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day.” (Isaiah 65:3-5).

What about killing the fatted calf in celebration of the Prodigal Son’s return in Luke 15:23? Eating the “fatted calf” was a sign of joy and celebration this audience would understand. When people today use the idiom, “to kill two birds with one stone,” that doesn’t mean that they actually approve of such behaviour any more than they do such a thing. It simply means to do two things at once. This was a parable, and it is likely no calf was actually killed. However, even if they did kill the fatted calf, does it mean we must lose our ability to share our testimony with hundreds of millions?

Much like in the Hebrew, quite often when the Greek passages say, “meat,” it ought be translated as, “foods,” or the phrase, “give me food to eat.” With no insinuation what this food would be it seems out of place, or rather downright biased, that instead many times the word meat or fish appears. Thus, “Then Yahoshuah said to them, ‘Children, have you any food?’ They answered Him, ‘No.’” (John 21:5). Often this passage reads, “Have ye any meat,” and is translated with a bias.

The miracle of the feeding of 5,000 with bread and fishes in Matthew 15:34 by no means shows us that we ought eat animals. Multiplying fish who are already dead to feed people who have no objection to eating fish is an act of compassion that has no adverse impact on the fish. This story does not depict the Messiah killing animals, but rather miraculously feeding several thousand people. The people were hungry, and He had compassion for them. Yet, often the word translated “fish” means “indistinct food.” Some manuscripts use the term for “clusters of grapes,” and none I have seen use the term for fish. How did they come up with “fish” when the word they have is for “food” or “grapes”? Seems like someone is trying to make the Bible say what they want it to, and it isn’t me.

When I still ate meat, I tried to make it say fish. I feel ashamed of this. But I did learn a lesson. I learned I couldn’t make Him say what He didn’t say, unless I wanted His voice to be replaced by my own. Yet, now this event paints a clearer scene. Rather than 3-day-old rotten fish, we have a few clusters of grapes that grow wild there. Our Saviour blessed and multiplied the fruit of the vine and loafs of bread. The Saviour held life in his hands … not death.

Note: Many concordances will say the word was indeed “fish” in this passage, alas, concordances do not always represent the actual writings or list the varying words used, nor can they consider texts which have been more recently discovered. Even if a text is found to say, “fish,” it does not change the fact that some do not. Also consider that in Matthew 16:6-12, and in other locations as well, that the Messiah speaks of the bread alone, never mentioning the alleged fish.

And now for a big one, a passage I get told all of the time, “And He said to them, ‘Are you also without understanding? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside is unable to defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purging all the foods?’” (Mark 7:18-19). While The Scriptures translation does not add this, many translations have, in parenthesizes: (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

(First, I’d like to note that parentheses can be used in writing letters, like this one, but they cannot be used in speaking. Why would they parenthesize that He took away from the Law, and thus sinned, by saying He declared all foods clean? Odd, isn’t it? Stranger still is that, “Thus he declared all foods clean.” or even a remotely close resemblance thereof, does not appear in any Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew text whatsoever.)

Alleged translators have added these words to the text to support their anti-Yahoweh bias. They would have us believe that Yahoshuah condemns the Pharisees for, “Forsaking the command of Elohim, you hold fast the tradition of men.” (Mark 7:8). while at the same time teaching His own disciples to forsake the commandments of Yahoweh concerning food restriction to embrace the traditions of men. But I have a feeling that if you have read this far, then they didn’t pull the wool over your eyes, or at the very least you have had questions about this in the depths of your seeking heart. As I have said before, never look at a verse here and a verse there as proof texts. The Messiah did not give numbers in the midst of His sentences. This conversation is about Pharisees who earlier added to Torah by saying that eating without ritually washing the hands first was sinful (Mark 7:1-5). The Rabbi explained that the Pharisees were only concerned with what went into their mouths, but what really defiles a person’s soul are evil thoughts from the heart within. If the Messiah made all foods clean, then He added to Torah and took away from it. Thus, if this were true, He sinned, and the Jews ought reject Him, as many do to this day. Many desire pig flesh in their mouths more than they desire millions of people getting to know the Messiah. Harsh? Sad? True! … Does this make us angry? Sorrowful? What about Elohim Who desires none should perish?

“For out of the heart come forth wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, whorings, thefts, false witnessings, slanders. These defile the man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” (Matthew 15:19-20).

In Scripture, righteousness is desired while animal sacrifice is not. Paul encouraged self-sacrifice, writing, “I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies as a living offering—set apart, well pleasing to Elohim—your reasonable worship.” (Romans 12:1). Indeed, Yahoshuah twice quoted Hosea 6:6, saying, “I desire compassion and not offering.” in Matthew 9:13, 12:7. Or, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”. The only reason sacrifice was a pleasing scent to the nostrils (temper) of Yahoweh was because of the repentance behind it. Had the Father desired sacrifice He would ask people to sin and bring more sacrifices. Absolutely not! He desires our love! He desires us to not sin against Him!

Over and over again throughout Scripture we see the heart behind Hosea 6:6. We see His love, His grace … the love and grace that He bestowed upon us. The provision of animal sacrifices was His grace unto the Israelites that they could live and be forgiven, and even dwell in His presence, but that didn’t mean that they should abuse this blessing.

“For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your lives.” (2 Peter 2:25).

“And rising up that same hour they returned to Yerushalayim, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, ‘The Master was truly raised, and has appeared to Shimon!’ And they related what took place on the way, and how He was recognised by them in the breaking of the bread. And as they were saying this, Yahoshuah Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’ And being startled and frightened, they thought they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.’ And saying this, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they were still not believing for joy, and marvelling, He said to them, ‘Have you any food here?’ And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And taking it He ate in their presence.” (Luke 24:33-43).

When I first came across this passage, I sensed something, shall we say, fishy. Remember how earlier I said there are many other Gospels showing the Messiah is vegan, well, this is the only passage in the entire Bible that shows the Messiah eating meat. The only one! No other text says or implies, “The Rabbi sat down and enjoyed some animals suffering.” Nowhere. Also, when I looked at other versions and various texts, I found the vast majority of them did not include honey. Also, this shows that all eleven disciples saw Him eat meat in Jerusalem, while the other canonized Gospels show that He first appeared to all of the disciples at Galilee. Two discrepancies, but only one place in the entire Bible giving witness of His eating meat? I wonder what a lot of meat eating people would do if there were many texts that showed the Messiah ate meat, and only one that showed He didn’t? Well, probably the same thing the Torah tells them to do. “One witness does not rise up against a man concerning any crookedness or any sin that he commits. At the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses a matter is established.” (Deuteronomy 19:15).

“Then Yahoshuah said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go, report to My brothers, to go to Galil, and they shall see Me there.’” (Matthew 28:10). (See also Matthew 26:32, 28:7,16, Mark 14:28, and 16:7). Now was the Messiah confused along with these two accounts, or is this passage in Luke smelling … fishy?

In Luke 5:2-11 the Messiah calls the disciples from fishing boats saying He will make them fishers of men. In Luke 5:2-11 the miraculous catch prompted the fishermen to follow the Rabbi. They left everything, and followed Him. Killing fish was not the point of this life-changing event. They caught so many fish that the nets broke. They broke! When they put them in the boats, the boats started to sink. They then left everything and followed Yahoshuah. Do you think they left boats full of fish gasping for air on the beach to follow a loving Rabbi? Or did they let them go? It is doubtful the fish were harmed in the making of theses fishers of men. So, if they indeed went back to fishing they left His side and went back to the world they had known before. Was this a good thing? The Rabbi called them from it once again, and the last time the nets did not break. Three times confirmed, “Do you love Me? Then feed my lambs.” not, “Do you love fishing? I like mine with honey.”

Concerning the disciples fishing: “All a man’s ways are right in his own eyes, but Yahoweh weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and right-ruling is more acceptable to Yahoweh than a slaughtering.” (Proverbs 21:2-3).

“Shim’on Kepha said to them, ‘I am going to fish.’ They said to him, ‘We are also coming with you.’ They went out and immediately entered into the boat. And that night they caught none at all. But when it became early morning, Yahoshuah stood on the beach. However, the taught ones did not know that it was Yahoshuah. Then Yahoshuah said to them, ‘Children, have you any food?’ They answered Him, ‘No.’ And He said to them, ‘Throw the net on the right side of the boat, and you shall find.’ So they threw, and they were no longer able to draw it in because of the large number of fish. That taught one whom Yahoshuah loved then said to Kepha, ‘It is the Master!’ Then Shim’on Kepha, hearing that it was the Master, put on his outer garment—for he was stripped—and plunged into the sea. And the other taught ones came in the little boat—for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits—dragging the net with fish. So when they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.” (John 21:3-9).

The Messiah is cooking fish before the new catch arrived? Could He have created these fish already dead? Likely, if you consider other miracles within Scripture. It is clear He did not eat the fish, or least unclear if He did, but why dead fish for breakfast? Was it to show the disciples His true intention for their lives?

“Yahoshuah said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.’ Shim’on Kepha went up and dragged the net to land, filled with one hundred and fifty-three big fishes. And though there were so many, the net was not broken.” (John 21:10-11).

John recognized that with such a catch the net should have been torn, but learns that Yah holds all things together, and that without Him we will catch no men, but with Him, many men, and the net will never break.

“Yahoshuah said to them, ‘Come, have breakfast.’ And not one of the taught ones had the courage to ask Him, ‘Who are You?,’ knowing that it was the Master. Yahoshuah came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish.” (John 21:12-13).

Yahoshuah. A servant. He fed them, and if all we see is that He served them bread and possibly fish, then I fear we are missing the point. This has nothing to do with, “Is it okay to eat fish of which Yahoshuah may have created already dead?” This has to do with all of us seeing the Messiah for Who He is, and longing to be like Him. The disciples caught some fish, the Messiah served some, but the Messiah never ate the fish or went fishing … rather He caught men. So do we use these passages to justify fishing? That depends on who you want to emulate. The Messiah Who caught men, or the disciples who are never recorded as fishing for fish again, but rather men. Either way, this message far exceeds the question of fishing.

Long side note: Some claim this text is not found in older manuscripts, but you can always find someone to tickle your ear about something missing if you want it to be tickled, yet this scene is problematic if viewed incorrectly. The Messiah loves me more than fishing. He showed me, He taught me, how to love others, animals, and even myself. So, did He leave fish out to die? Could it be He left them there to get the disciples attention? Did He leave them there to showcase how tough He was, so tough He was cruel to animals? It just doesn’t fit with Who He is portrayed to be within the rest of Scripture. Every time we see the Messiah possibly giving alleged meat to people it is always presumed fish, it is always a miracle, and they are always already dead. Who is to say that the disciples didn’t go back over to the fish only to see them alive? Would they have put them back in the sea and swore to never go fishing again? I would. Or were they dead and did birds or larger fish feed on them? After all, many people die to be a testimony for Yahoweh, perhaps these fish were willing to do the same. Who is to say? At this point … not me. I don’t know. Though, something seems particularly odd to me in this passage. They counted 153 fish. They counted them? Why and how? I mean honestly, if the resurrected Messiah is on the shore … are you going to count fish? Not even a hardened man would! This may be a key. Some say the numerical value of 153 refers to “You are the sons of the living El.” (Hosea 1:10). I wouldn’t have a clue there. If it said 150 then maybe it was a rough guess, like if someone said I am 6’ rather than saying I am 6’ 2” and a quarter, but the text says 153. Could you count fish anyway if they were piled into a net, wiggling around fighting to breath, several deep? No. You could if you put them back, though. Peter is never recorded as bringing any fish back to cook. Also, did Peter drag 153 fish to land when the lot of them earlier on couldn’t hoist it out of the water? Quite the chore if they were big and still alive. I have caught and released fish with a net before. When people took me fishing when I was a kid, I used a net because it didn’t hurt worms or fish, as I still had that child’s heart that the Messiah returned to me for His glory. Now, I know I was a kid, but when I caught a five or six-pound fish in that net it was quite the struggle. So how big or little were these fish in the net? Course, big, little, those are not very amazing illustrations of their size. A whale is big, but to a gnat so is a minnow. The text says fish, but some wording shows it to be dried salted fish. Why is that? If only one man was needed to bring them ashore, then the questions are: were they alive? Were they big or small? Why was it amazing the net didn’t break if it could be pulled by just one man, whereas before all of them couldn’t? And more questions whose answers were not made clear. Yet, perhaps they weren’t clear because that is not the main point. Was this about catching fish, or catching men? I will focus on the catching of men, and rest in the wonderful desire of Yahoweh. The Torah, and other writings, time and time again forbids inhumane treatment of animals. I call suffocation inhumane.

One more bit on that side note: Could these “fish” be a symbol of the nations of the world? “‘Again, the reign of the Heavens is like a dragnet that was thrown into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was filled, they drew to shore. And they sat down and gathered the good into containers, but threw the rotten away. Thus shall it be at the end of the age: the messengers shall come forth, and separate the wicked out of the midst of the righteous, and shall throw them into the furnace of fire—there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’ Yahoshuah said to them, ‘Have you understood all this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yea, Master.’ And He said to them, ‘Therefore every scholar of Scripture taught in the reign of the Heavens is like a householder who brings out of his treasure matters, renewed, and old.’” (Matthew 13:47-52). Are you a fisher of men who understands now the reign? Then bring out of your house the renewed and the old. Many are deceived in this and bring out the revised and the dusty. Wake up! Fishers of men. Wake up! This is not a picnic.

Within the Scripture, there is a greater justification for veganism than for fleshly thinking and eating. If the Gospels show the Messiah was not compassionate, we should know right away that our present understanding is of no understanding at all. Therefore, when He is represented as enjoying the cruel practice of eating fish we know they are misrepresented in this respect. Some may say I am being blasphemous, but the most enormous blasphemies are ascribing cruelty to the Prince of Peace! Many acknowledge that cruelty to animals is wrong, but, at the same time, they say that eating animals is okay. This contradictory stance is a true definition of willing blindness.

Some day I hope people will look back to believers eating flesh, who were needlessly a stumbling block to many, with the same disdain we feel toward other atrocities people have committed while justifying the unloving behaviour of willful lies from Scripture misunderstood. There are probably as many reasons to be a vegan as there are vegans. I mean, you can’t even refute it, but you can willfully ignore it. Since there is no reason to eat meat, the people who choose to anyway must say to themselves: “I willingly choose to live outside of His desire.” Some worship Him by their lips only. Vegans don’t just say they love animals or that they care for people. Even their plate proclaims His Kingdom.

Fish are not the only animals to suffer because of people’s appetite for their flesh. Egrets, hawks, and other birds who eat fish are often shot or poisoned by the hundreds of thousands to prevent them from eating fish. Sea turtles, dolphins, and other fish, also die horribly in commercial fishing nets. Some purchases are labeled as “dolphin safe” because they have killed all the dolphins and other aquatic life and can now advertise that no dolphins are harmed.

Fish are generally erroneously considered a healthy food. ALA and omega oils can be obtained from many plant foods, including green leafy vegetables, flaxseed, canola, and soybeans, without the nutritional hazards of fish, such as PCBs, bacteria from human or animal feces, parasites, lead, mercury, arsenic, dioxins, strontium 90, DDT, and other deadly toxins.

Literally thousands of fish worldwide are endangered or threatened. Many waters, that were once teeming with life are now barren, Each time we remove or deplete one species, it has a negative effect on all others.

Since natural reservoirs of life are swiftly disappearing, people have begun having fish farms. As you may have already guessed, they are inhumane as well as destructive to both humans and the earth. How scarce are fish getting? Boatmen are beginning to actually exchange blows. War is the cost of the salmon patty.

“Where do fightings and strivings come from among you? Do they not come from your pleasures that battle in your members? You desire, and do not have. You murder, and are jealous, and are unable to obtain. You strive and fight, and you do not possess, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask evilly, in order to spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:1-3).

Side note: Often we focus only on that Peter denied Him three times and then accepted Him three times, but: “When, therefore, they had eaten breakfast, Yahoshuah said to Shim’on Kepha, ‘Shim’on, son of Yonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yea, Master, You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’” (John 21:15). Love me more than these? To whom was the Messiah referring? The disciples? Or the fish? Was He, in essence, asking, “Do you love Me more than these fish that you left the ministry to catch? Don’t you love Heaven’s plan more than the cruelty of fishing? Do you love Me more than your old life?” Our answer is reflected in the way we live. We will feed His lambs. Or we will never change.

Nowadays little kiddy youth groups will go out to torture and kill fish in Sunday school like rehearsals of being fishers of men, somehow thinking it is Biblical. They forgot something, though. They were called away from fishing! Not to go do it again. I would rather see them utterly destroy their fishing equipment and then go talk to people about the Peace of Messiah. Now that’s Biblical! … But you probably won’t ever see that in the backward understanding of today, save we share His desire, thus allowing them to turn in repentance.

“The first to state his own case, seems right, until another comes and examines him.” (Proverbs 18:17).

Now some of you may be thinking that I am trying to make Scripture fit to my vegan choice, but again, it was the Scriptures that made that choice for me. At first, even when writing this letter to you, I wrote, “Now these meats we are to eat,” but I could find no passages anywhere to back that up. I tried to make it fit, but couldn’t. In fact, I found only a few passages that had a direct command to eat meat, and every one of them was in connection with a sacrifice.

“And the Passover of the Yehudim was near, and Yahoshuah went up to Yerushalayim. And He found in the Set-apart Place those selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers sitting. And having made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the Set-apart Place, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the moneychangers’ coins and overturned the tables.” (John 2:13-15).

Many glaze over this, never viewing in their minds the whole sight of this event. Rather they focus on subtleties that are not even there. At least … I once did. But really spending time with this passage has made me rethink my old alleged thoughts. Picture it with me. It is time for Passover, and there at Yerushalayim enters in the One true Rabbi. Going to the temple, He beheld what men and women saw every year, but what many gentiles have lost sight of. There were people selling animals for sacrifice, as the Torah states that if you cannot bring a sacrifice then you are to sell the animal and bring money. The moneychangers would have then traded the varying coin for the proper currency. See the big picture. There were lines upon lines of people and animals, as far as the eye could see and further still. In the Temple they would hang the animals by their hind legs and slit their throats. The blood of so many would have ran for miles from the temple. The House of Yahoweh, a house of prayer, had become a slaughterhouse and a den of thieves, who knew not that Yahoweh desires mercy … not sacrifice. The Rabbi knew this. The Rabbi knew it so well that He made a whip and drove them out in anger. This is not a little scene. Picture it. The Benevolent King was compassionate enough to do this. Picture it. Thousands, yes tens of thousands of doves and sheep and oxen fled from the House of Yahoweh, and the only thing spilled onto the ground were coins … but in the dark hearts of men, longing for blood, they turned to the Freer of the free and plotted and plotted, until their hearts became as Cain’s … and they crucified Him instead. The Rabbi knew of these dark thoughts and so prophesied what we must never forget.

“And He said to those selling doves, ‘Take these away! Do not make the house of My Father a house of merchandise!’ And His taught ones remembered that it was written, ‘The ardour for Your house has eaten Me up.’ And the Yehudim answered and said to Him, ‘What sign do You show to us, since You are doing these?’ Yahoshuah answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this Dwelling Place, and in three days I shall raise it.’ Then the Yehudim said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this Dwelling Place, and You are going to raise it in three days?’ But He spoke about the Dwelling Place of His body. So, when He was raised from the dead, His taught ones remembered that He said this to them. And they believed the Scripture and the word which Yahoshuah had said. And when He was in Yerushalayim at the Passover, at the festival, many believed in His Name when they saw the signs which He was doing. But Yahoshuah was not entrusting Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should witness of man, for He knew what was in man.” (John 2:16-25).

They, “believed in His Name when they saw the signs which He was doing.” Do you know the prophecy of His Name, and will you believe in His Name because of the miracle of thousands of doves flying to the heavens? What is a true picture of the Messiah? A slaughterhouse? Or doves flying above the temple? What then is in your body, the temple of the Holy Spirit? Are you a tomb for needlessly slain animals, or is the Temple of the Holy Spirit a place that honors this teaching of the Messiah, where doves fly above in the safety of mercy?

“Because ardour for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.” (Psalms 69:9). There is much more than one line of this Psalm that speaks divinely of this moment of Yahoweh! I urge each of you to go now and read Psalms 69.

“Oh, hey, yeah, what about Passover? Surely the Messiah caused suffering to the innocent, err, I mean, had a nice lamb.” I am unsure why, but it seems that this is easy for Christians to grasp, and difficult for Messianics and only a few Jews.

The Messiah is the Lamb. I needn’t anything better in terms of Sacrifice than the Messiah. Accounts of the Messiah’s last Passover meal mention bitter sop, song, dance, matzah, wine, and powerful words, but no lamb save the Lamb of Yahoweh. You would have to pretend an awful lot to find lamb at the Messiah’s Passover.

Critics shout, “If you celebrate Passover you have to have lamb!” Well, a lot of people participate in Thanksgiving, but do not eat turkey, however, I do have Lamb at Passover, for where two or more are gathered in His Name there He is also. No Gospel specifically says that Yahoshuah ate lamb; neither, therefore, do we.

We are to eat the Passover Lamb, and the priests and his people were to eat the peace and sin offerings (Leviticus 6:26-29, 7:6,15). The few commandments given to eat the flesh of animals are always connected with the offering of a sacrifice, and even then it is predominately the priests who are to eat the offerings before Yahoweh. “Look at Yisra’el after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the offerings sharers in the altar?” (1 Corinthians 10:18). We are still to partake of a Passover sacrifice during the appointed time. I have mine; His Name is Yahoshuah. For the Messiah is the Lamb Yahoweh provided. Just as He promised so long ago.

Again, for Christians, this is often easily understood and readily accepted because of the knowledge of Messiah, but for Messianic and Jewish believers in the Messiah, the idea of Yahoshuah being the Lamb is difficult to accept. They see Him as the Shepherd but not the Lamb, as the Son but not the Father. Yet, it is crucial to accept that the Messiah is the Sacrifice, and that this does not take away from Torah. It is the Torah! Many struggle with this idea and ask, “Is it mandatory to eat lamb (the animal) for Passover, or would it be wrong to even have lamb, as the Messiah is our Passover Lamb? Also, and probably most important, did the Messiah have lamb?” These are good questions, if they earnestly seek the truth. Let us look a little deeper.

These questions are ones that can be answered easily and quickly, and upon the same thread can be a treasure trove of the fruit of the Spirit to those who will look with eyes unclouded by preconceived ideologies. First, the Passover lamb was a covering from death. With the lamb’s blood, death would indeed “pass over.” Why is there death? Because of our sins, there is death; however, where was the Messiah’s sin that He would require this lamb? Also, did He not know He was the Passover Lamb? Of course, He knew, and so what need would He or His disciples have for an animal sacrifice? Are we to have a Passover lamb or the Passover Lamb?

“And you shall slaughter the Passover to Yahoweh your Elohim, from the flock and the herd, in the place where Yahoweh chooses to put His Name.” (Deuteronomy 16:2). Yahoweh sacrificed His Passover Lamb in the place He chose to put His Name: Jerusalem. We can have that same sacrifice in our hearts, if we so choose, by accepting the Messiah as sufficient.

“You are not allowed to slaughter the Passover within any of your gates which Yahoweh your Elohim gives you, but at the place where Yahoweh your Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell, there you slaughter the Passover in the evening, at the going down of the sun, at the appointed time you came out of Mitsrayim.” (Deuteronomy 16:5-6). Note: this is not the butcher shop. Nor are we allowed to slaughter the lamb within our gates. The Torah forbids it!

Numbers 28:19-20 shows there is also to be a burnt offering of two young bulls and one ram, and seven perfect lambs a year old, as well as grain offerings. Do we do this? What about, “Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire, its head with its legs and its inward parts. And do not leave of it until morning, and what remains of it until morning you are to burn with fire.” (Exodus 12:9-10). I have never seen a Seder with a lamb roasted whole, and frankly, I never plan to. We do not do these things. We are not even allowed to! We must choose: The Messiah as our Passover Lamb, the Lamb Yahoweh Almighty promised He would provide? Or lamb that is not Biblically prepared? To many, that is a tough call.

The probable reason that the lamb was to be cooked whole with head and innards is that they were not to break any of his bones, and it would be impossible to remove the head or the innards without doing so. The lamb was a shadow picture of the Messiah—none of the lamb’s bones were broken, just as none of the Messiah’s bones were broken.

“It is eaten in one house, you are not to take any of the flesh outside the house, nor are you to break any bone of it.” (Exodus 12:46).

“Many are the evils of the righteous, but Yahoweh delivers him out of them all. He is guarding all his bones; not one of them is broken.” (Psalms 34:19-20).

“For this took place in order for the Scripture to be filled: ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him Whom they pierced.’” (John 19:36-37). Whom they sacrificed. We have a Kosher sacrifice in Him.

“For they were unable to perform it at its time, because not enough priests had set themselves apart, and the people had not gathered at Yerushalayim.” (2 Chronicles 30:3).

“For many in the assembly had not set themselves apart. Therefore the Lewites were over the slaughter of the Passover for everyone who was not clean, to set them apart to Yahoweh. For many of the people, many from Ephrayim and Menashsheh, Yissaskar and Zebulun, had not been cleansed, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hizqiyahu prayed for them, saying, ‘Yahoweh who is good, provide atonement for everyone who has prepared his heart to seek Elohim, Yahoweh Elohim of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the cleansing of the set-apart place.’ And Yahoweh listened to Hizqiyahu and healed the people.” (2 Chronicles 30:17-20). Many ate the Passover without being cleansed, yet they were healed. We, too, yearn for the Father and eat the Passover. Not perfectly, perhaps, but we do our best, and the best Lamb I can offer is the Prince of Peace. Can you do better than the best? No! No one can. The Messiah is perfect, and we have no right to substitute the Lamb Yahoweh provided for a lamb cooked with taste in mind instead of as Torah demands. The Torah’s righteous demands are met in Messiah, and degraded with our honey-glazed ham … err lamb.

The Messiah had no need to give a divorce document, which is Torah, inasmuch as He had no need to kill a lamb, as He was sinless. If Yahoshuah ate Passover lamb, then rest assured that lamb was clean, spotless, slaughtered, and prepared strictly in accordance with Torah, and it was pointless, as He had no sin. Not one of us can do that, save we accept the Messiah as our Perfect Passover Lamb. We still need a sacrifice, and we still have One: The Perfect Lamb of Yah!

“Therefore cleanse out the old leaven, so that you are a new lump, as you are unleavened. For also Messiah our Passover was offered for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The Messiah is our Passover, our sacrifice. I will do my very best to never add to this. The Torah remains! We need a Lamb, and we have One.

When Yahoshuah, upon that cross, spoke the words, “It has been accomplished!” or, as it is commonly recorded, “It is finished.” He didn’t add, “But you still owe me a dead lamb each year.” Dear brothers? Sweet sisters? He hath said it. It is finished! If I bring in another lamb for sacrifice during Passover, then I am literally stating the Messiah is insufficient. I am professing that His sacrifice was not enough. If that isn’t blasphemy, I’m not sure what is.

How could this be an everlasting commandment if there is no death in the everlasting Kingdom? Because Yahoshuah is the Lamb! He is the Lamb! We see that time and time again, even in Revelations. He is the Lamb. Now He never says, “I am the Sabbath.” No! He says, “I am the Master of the Sabbath.” He never says, “I am the Baptism.” No! He says to go and baptize people in the Name. Big difference. I am not trying to remove a command by not having a lamb at Passover. I am in earnest keeping of that Commandment by not adding to it. After all, when the priest was to offer up two doves, he did not offer up three. The Bible doesn’t command two lambs. Just One! And I have Him. … How about you?

Let’s pray: Dear Passover Lamb, please guide my heart with Your Spirit. I ask for Your Words to move me to follow You in love. You have invited me to Your Supper, a night in remembering You and all You have done to bring us out of the bondage of sin. May I find it. May I find it! Guide me, dear Passover Lamb, to walk in the desire of the Way of Heaven. May it be for Your glory. Amen.

… I realized before I became vegan that Yahoshuah is the Lamb and that I have no right to replace His sacrifice and no need to add to it. “On the next day Yohanan saw Yahoshuah coming toward him, and said, ‘See, the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29). I would no more add a lamb to Passover than add an idol to my mantel.

Some will have other animals to eat thinking they are kosher, or clean to eat; however, there is no such thing as “Biblically kosher meat.” It is not possible to be Biblically kosher and eat any kind of meat, as there will always be blood and fat that we are not to eat. Was the Messiah vegan? Was He kosher? A vegan will always out do a meat eater in terms of keeping Biblically clean standards. In order for the Messiah to fill up Torah, He would have to adhere to Genesis as well as Leviticus. “An everlasting law throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you do not eat any fat or any blood.” (Leviticus 3:17). Any? To keep the Mitzvoth of Yahoweh—the Messiah would have to be vegan. It is not even optional. The sinless Messiah kept all of the Desires. He lived by the Will of Yahoweh. Let us then, too, strive in love to do the same.

We cannot have an animal sacrifice without a temple; in fact to do so would be in violation of Torah. Unless, somehow, since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we could have the Messiah in our hearts, thereby having the sacrifice. Yahoshuah is the only Way, Truth, and Light! If we were even able to have a Levite sacrifice a lamb, would this not be an abomination unto the Lamb of Yahoweh? He is Perfect. If we add salt when the flavor is already just right, we ruin our meal, when we add to the Spirit, we no longer have the Spirit. Never forget that. … Never.

Since there is no death in His Kingdom, how then do they kill and eat a lamb in Heaven for Passover? Again, they don’t, for Yahoshuah is the Lamb of Elohim! And just like on earth, the Messiah, the Lamb of Yahoweh Almighty, will not pick up a shank bone or a hunk of meat and say, “This is My body.” Yahoshuah will do as He has done: He picked up Matzah. Which one do you pick up?

Our Lamb is Yahoshuah, the Prince of Peace, not a portion of broken imperfect seasoned lamb buttocks sacrificed outside of His Torah.

Some will say, “But the Torah says this is a lasting ordinance throughout all your generations.” That is right! 100%! The Torah also says we are to bring other offerings made by fire on other feasts, such as Yom Kippur and Sukkot. I’ve never heard of anyone doing these. Why? Because “we” are not supposed to—the priests were. We are to be living offerings, and the Blood of atonement is the Messiah, not animals, save we do not have the Messiah as our High Priest.

“Streams of water have run down from my eyes, because they did not guard Your Torah.” (Psalms 119:136).

Some wonder if sacrifice will come back when the Messiah returns. They come up with this idea looking to Zechariah. With the understanding of Maccabees reclaiming the temple, thus allowing sacrifices to return during the time of Yahoshuah, we can look to the Scriptures concerning this with new understanding. Sacrifices came back during the time of the Messiah, but don’t look for animal sacrifice again. After all, if we needed to sacrifice a lamb that would mean Yahoshuah’s death and resurrection were insufficient, unnecessary, and pointless. Sacrifices did come back when the Messiah came, but when He returns it is of great doubt we will be offering up death in an age where no death will be had.

Side note: We will offer up sacrifices, the best sacrifices. Prayer and praise to be sure, as we learn from Psalms, but perhaps also grain as, “And the rest of the grain offering is for Aharon and his sons, most set-apart of the offerings to Yahoweh by fire.” (Leviticus 2:3).

“‘Of what use to Me are your many slaughterings?’ declares Yahoweh. ‘I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courtyards? Stop bringing futile offerings, incense, it is an abomination to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, the calling of meetings—I am unable to bear unrighteousness and assembly. My being hates your New Moons and your appointed times, they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. And when you spread out your hands, I hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I do not hear. Your hands have become filled with blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Stop doing evil!’” (Isaiah 1:11-16).

“For it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest—kind, innocent, undefiled, having been separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens, Who does not need, as those high priests, to offer up slaughter offerings day by day, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” (Hebrews 7:26-27).

“And I saw no Dwelling Place in it, for Yahoweh el Shaddai is its Dwelling Place, and the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:22).

“The desire of power in excess caused angels to fall. The desire of knowledge in excess caused man to fall. But in love and charity there is no excess, neither can man or angels come to damage by it.” -Frances Bacon

As foreign as this is to reason, many people become outraged at animal abuse, and claim with pure sincerity, “I would never do that. I love animals.” yet, they do far worse things. You see, when we order meat, we order that animal to be killed. When we buy eggs that are from a factory-farm (where chickens never see sunlight, and are crammed in cages or stuffed into a barn until there is no room), then that is what we order to be done to those birds. We do this! When we order organic, we order the farmers to grow organic. When we order sprayed crops, we order them to expose themselves to these chemicals. Love your neighbor?

I know men who would beat you into the ground if you hit a dog, yet they turn around and order pigs (often many times smarter than dogs) to be tortured and inhumanly slaughtered, just so they can have a sandwich. Yet, men, sadly, are not where we must traverse to see the heart. We go to children. When they understand that the rabbit was killed because they ate it, then the heart of a child does not order another animal to be slain for no reason whatsoever.

What do you order? Is it love for the farmer and the well-being of our water and environment? You may feel this is a hippie concept, but I inquire: How is it a hippie concept to want pure water, but not a terrorist’s activity to spray poison on crops being fed to infants? I have known several people here locally that sprayed crops. They were never fired … they just died of cancer … and where replaced by the next ones who did the same. Love your neighbor?

What do you order?

There was a drawing I beheld once that had a dead pig, hanging from the ceiling by her hind legs, and a butcher had run his knives through her belly, and cut through her chest. The drawing had two words that struck me more than the graphic image of the blood-soaked butcher, and the pig’s innards laying on the ground. They still ring in my heart to this day: “Define Cruelty.” I hesitated, and then decided not to place pictures of average farms in here. I feared you might not read this, as your eyes would keep glancing over to the photographs before the pictures made you so uncomfortable that you would stop reading. The images of daily cruelty on a factory farm are enough to make me shut my eyes in pain, but not my heart or action; alas, regular farms have their cattle living atop enormous piles of fecal matter. If your neighbor’s dog were treated as poorly as alleged kosher farm animals, then the proper authorities would be called. Yet, what would the Messiah think? Would He think it funny to hear the cows scream and cry? Would He laugh when the fish fought in pain and fear before being ripped from the water to suffocate to death? Perhaps He’d tell a joke as the chickens fearfully watch their friends’ heads get cut off, and their bodies flop around on the ground? Doubtful? No. Flat out impossible.

Would the Messiah laugh at the death of an animal? Consider that for a bit. I can laugh, and often do, while harvesting plants. Show me one person with a child-like heart who could laugh at slaughter. If you pictured that and heard a laugh, then that laugh was malicious. There is a reason for that.

“And he took butter, and milk, and the calf, which he had dressed, and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.” (Genesis 18:8). Now was the cow dressed in a fancy blue and white dress, and did it go below her knees for modesty’s sake? Okay, I know what the passage says, but sometimes we can read odd things into verses, can’t we? One thing we can read into this is that Yahoweh ate butter on His hamburger with cookies and milk. This is equally as odd. Could it be that He consumed the offering with fire as He did with other sacrifices? According to concordances the word here for “eat” is said, “Akal,” meaning to eat literally or figuratively, to burn up in fire or to consume. Well? It could mean either, couldn’t it? So which one is it? Let us look at how Yahoweh took other sacrifices. Did He consume them by burning them up or did He need a napkin? I’ll let you answer that. But personally, if anyone is starting to look this deep to find some reason to unnecessarily kill and eat animals, it is a sure sign of getting pretty desperate. Frankly, if a person says this is being eaten by mouth, and not fire, when no other sacrifice to Him was, then I would assume they are using this passage for an agenda inconsistent with the whole of Scripture. In the preceding verses we find that bread was made for them to eat, the rest was a sacrifice.

“For as milk under pressure brings forth curds, and as a nose under pressure brings forth blood, so wrath under pressure brings forth strife.” (Proverbs 30:33). “For everyone partaking of milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.” (Hebrews 5:13).

The Creator did not create living creatures, whom can feel pain, for our gluttony. They are not here for fur, entertainment, or consumption. We are here, however, to care for them, the earth, and each other. Yet consuming death destroys not only animals and the earth, but people too, in a most devastating way of which I will soon share.

“And do not seek what you shall eat or what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying. For the gentiles of the world seek all these, and your Father knows that you need these. But seek the reign of Elohim, and all these shall be added to you.” (Luke 12:29-31). Seek His kingdom / reign? In His kingdom, there is no death, no eating of flesh. … Are you seeking first His kingdom?

“And a wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and a leopard lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child leads them. And cow and bear shall feed, their young ones lie down together, and a lion eat straw like an ox. And the nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the adder’s den. They do no evil nor destroy in all My set-apart mountain, for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of Yahoweh as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a Root of Yishai, standing as a banner to the people. Unto Him the gentiles shall seek, and His rest shall be esteem.” (Isaiah 11:6-10). With full knowledge of Yahoweh then the Rabbi’s prayer of, “on earth as it is in Heaven,” means we do not eat flesh. When the Almighty restores the land to be like the Garden of Eden (Isaiah 51:3 and so many others), then there will be no death there. “‘And Elohim shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying. And there shall be no more pain, for the former matters have passed away.’ And He who was sitting on the throne said, ‘See, I make all matters new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and trustworthy.’” (Revelations 21:4-5).

For a long time, I have found that when Paul said if we live by the Spirit we are freed from the law, that the law he spoke of was the law of sin, which is, “if it feels good, do it, regardless of Yah’s Word.” Yet, if we choose to live a life of love for our fellow brothers and sisters, the animals, and the planet, by choosing a vegan life / a Heavenly diet, then we are no longer under the dietary laws. What is unclean or common is of no matter to a person who does not eat meat. If a man loves his wife all his days, then what is the law concerning divorce to him? They cannot apply. They are not under the law. But, if they choose to live a life of wavering love, in the gracious guidance of Yahoweh’s Torah they remain. Save they choose to walk against the Messiah. Yet, I present to you that even if my wife did cheat on me, though I know she would not, I would stay with her, as it is still not His desire for divorce to happen. After all, Yahoweh has remained faithful even when we have not.

Many do not regard the clean and unclean ideals of Scripture. Why then do they still carry the Word? I do not know. What I do know, though, is that the Messiah, immediately after His death and resurrection, obeyed the Torah and refused to be touched for He was unclean. He bore that for us, but do we bear even His memory? Or will we live as He did and does and forever will? The Messiah regarded the clean and unclean laws as valuable. How valuable? Even though Mary wanted to grasp her Rabbi, yes her Rabbi Who was dead but now alive—He denied her embrace based on Torah, but I doubt highly, that once He was clean, that the embrace was rejected. “And a clean man shall take hyssop and dip it in the water, and shall sprinkle it on the tent, and on all the vessels, and on the beings who were there, or on the one who touched a bone, or the slain, or the dead, or a grave.” (Numbers 19:18. See all of 19). It is impossible to not touch a dead animal and eat him or her at the same time. Our Rabbi cared for the Word of Yahoweh, but how zealous are we, His alleged followers? The answer to that is reflected in everything that we do. Are we truly straining a gnat while swallowing a pig? Or are we rejecting gossip and also speaking the Truth? The Truth is, dear friends, the eating of flesh has not once been His desire for us, for we are to be clean. We are to be holy. As He is.

What is acceptable or unacceptable? Daily we are reminded to make distinctions in our lives between holy and unholy, or clean and unclean as it is called. Yahoweh has an interest in every minute detail of our lives. His dietary desires are for our benefit. I lived a life of sickness and sin by eating as I chose for most of my life, a guided life for some time by eating only clean meats (if that is even what is meant), but then chose to live a free life in His desire. Please don’t shut the door to living on earth, as you will in Heaven. Seek ye first His Kingdom.

If there are any able to refute our calling to seek first His Kingdom, let them speak now. If I have profaned the Torah by accepting the Word Who became flesh as the Passover Lamb, speak against me this instant. If caring for the earth and all upon it has been done away with, then show the prophecy concerning this.

The Heavenly Father sees every sparrow fall (Matthew 10:29). Considering this, it is safe to say that He sees every one of their dances in the air, and hears their praise songs to Him as well (Psalms 103:22). Animals are a major part of all of our lives and the Father’s joy. I enjoy the sparrow’s song as it reminds me of praise, I enjoy the kitten’s sleepy eyes as it reminds me of His true peace, and the same is true of the testimony of so many other animals simply because they are made, like us, by an Awesome Creator. I believe the trees will clap their hands, that the stones will sing as the stars do now, and that tigers will bow and worship the King of kings, (Isaiah 55:12 and Psalms 150:6). “I do not take a bull from your house, nor goats out of your pens. For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and all moving in My field are Mine.” (Psalms 50:9-11). I’ve heard many say that animals will not be in Yahoweh’s Kingdom, as they proclaim animals do not have souls. However, animals will be in Heaven with their loving Creator. Do they have a soul? What do the Scriptures say? Not what we can twist them to say, but what do they actually say? “Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; Your right-rulings are a great deep; O Yahoweh, You save man and beast.” (Psalms 36:6).

Hypothetical story time! Forget doctrinal stuff, it’s just an illustration: One morning four-year-old Tiffany wakes up because Buttons, her little puppy, is barking sharply and licking Tiffany’s face. The house is filled with smoke and Tiffany runs down the stairs and out of the house. Outside she hears Buttons yipping from the window in her room. The puppy was too afraid to follow her. Tiffany runs from the side of her parents, and back in the burning house. Up the stairs, she begins to cough. She gets to the top but falls unconscious. The little girl and puppy die in the fire. Waking up, as if from a bad dream, Tiffany finds herself in Heaven. The pillars of marble and gold come up from the blue stone floor into the clouds and there, a little ways before her, stands Someone she has never seen but knows right away. “Jesus! Jesus!” screams the little girl, as she runs to the Saviour. The Messiah knows she never knew how to pronounce His Name, and He would share that in due time, but right then He picks her up in His arms and twirls her around and laughs with her in happiness. “Where’s Buttons?” asks little Tiffany.

… At this point, I will give you multiple choices. You pick what you think the Messiah is going to say at this moment:

“Buttons is dead, and you’ll never see him again.”

“Buttons is right here, my love.”

The Messiah wipes away all tears … He doesn’t give them. I could never be cruel enough to give the first answer, and I know He is more loving than me. If Heaven hath not enough love in it for the animals to be there, then hell would be more fitting a name—for what joy could a loving soul take in their demise—what person could stand without their presence?

The Kingdom belongs to such as these. To those who love. Alas, some children who cried when their animals died, now, as hunters, do not shed a tear as they kill the ones they once loved. For ones like Tiffany is the Kingdom built. And for those that have no tears to dry? At the very least they will miss the Messiah wiping them off their face. This is an unfathomable loss.

Are we afraid that if we acknowledge that animals are in Heaven, we would become so emotionally and spiritually convicted that we would no longer eat them or wear their skins? Is this why we are afraid to admit animals have living souls? Many of the passages showing this are distorted in our Bible simply because a few enjoy mistreating, killing, and eating animals. This mistranslation is quite similar to the way in which Satan mistranslated Scripture to try to tempt the Messiah. A man’s religion, whose dog, cat, and cow are not the better for it, is of man’s alone.

There has been a long debate between those who know their pets have complex emotional lives and “scientists” who declare that to attribute emotion to animals is nothing more than sentimental ignorance. Now while some say animals do not have emotion or free will, they must say so with the animals’ love, fear, jealousy, hope, and even compassion, staring right back at them. In other words, they have to knowingly lie. In elephant orphanages, baby elephants, who have seen their parents slaughtered by poachers, wake up crying aloud in the night from dreaming of the horror. In fact, most die from sadness, because they love their mother more than words. I pray for them. For poachers to repent, or meet the justice that they deserve, and for the elephants to keep their mothers and fathers. Yes, I pray for the animals who Yahoweh made many of His covenants with.

Many animals mate for life. They never find another spouse and are hurt for forevermore when our poisons or hunters, in the name of intentional ignorance, kill the only one they will love. Animals take pride in their performance. A dog will cry, whimper, and hang his head in shame if he finds that he has been a “bad dog.” Whales and dolphins also have the same emotions. They can, and do, become jealous of each other if one receives more attention. From monkeys to cats, there are many cases where animals have done amazing feats to save a friend of theirs, even running into burning buildings or hurting themselves again and again to rescue a human friend. That’s right. A friend was more valuable than their life. What does Scripture say about that kind of love? Have we once again been outdone by the dogs in terms of the fruit of the Spirit known as love? No wonder the Modern Hebrew word for dog, “Caleb,” means, “all heart.”

None can understand how a little girl, or a full-grown man, can love their puppy, ride their horse, and smile at bunnies playing, only to go inside and dine on flesh. I do not understand, and yes, even if I had been asked long ago when I did eat meat, I am full of doubt that I could have ever answered such a question with reason from madness. If you say you care for animals and eat them, you deceive yourself. If you say you love the Father and drink the wine of folly, you deceive yourself. Let us not be deceived by our willful blindness.

Look at a pet dog. Is he unlike the baby lamb or calf who is separated from her mother and shipped to the butcher? Are a parrot’s green feathers significantly different from the chicken with white plumage? For the acts of terror that occur outside of vision still occur no matter how tight your eyes are shut. If slaughterhouses, as well as the dairy and egg industry, were broadcasted on TV, then almost everyone would be vegan. When dairy cows, who suffer greatly, stop producing sufficient amounts of milk, they are butchered and sold as top grade pricey steaks. And their babies whose milk people drink? Veal, (which is produced by means of starving the calf to near death.)

Slaughterhouses have nearly ten times the injury rate of coal miners; they have well over a two hundred percent turnover rate, and, having had family who has worked in them, and having toured them myself, I can honestly proclaim that slaughterhouses reserve the worst jobs illegal immigrants who cannot defend any of their rights. I was offered a job there. Even when I ate meat, I simply could not do this. It took some time before realizing, that nor could I support it.

“Would you like a glass of milk?”

“Oh, no thanks. I’ve been weaned.”

No one gets to choose whether he or she will make a difference in this world, as we all do. Our choice is to live in the freedom of consciousness and make a positive affect, or we will live in the confinements of fear and be led to slaughter as we make a negative effect on this world and those around us. Animal cruelty does not come without human cruelty.

Understand that you cannot be perfect by any means, as this world is so imperfect that almost everything at some stage used animals … and people. Yet, it does not require a major effort to improve; rather, it is all-encompassing denial to not improve. Improvement is very simplistic. “I’d like to have the shrimp lo mien.” becomes, “I’d like to have the vegetable lo mien.” One is not Biblical, and the other is Heavenly, but where, really, is the effort? It is actually all in the heart.

Isn’t it so strange that we were all taught as children to admire, love, and learn from animals. We cared for our pets, and read stories of mother hens, and pet sheep at fairs, but then when we sat down to eat, we were never taught to question why we would eat pets, hens, and lambs. When I was young, out on that farm, I would carry tadpoles in buckets of water from the drying up lagoons, and place them in small tanks of water so they could grow up. I rescued kittens, and fed baby birds whose moms had died, and many other tales to be sure. It was always seen—by everyone—as the right thing to do. How many of us have even wept at books or films like Old Yeller, Dumbo, Bambi, or Water Ship Down? Many of us, even today, have photos or paintings of animals on our walls, clothing, and jewelry. If we are half as honest as we should be … we already do love animals enough to not harm them anymore!

We know this!

We were just told we didn’t.

When we were children, it was simple to choose not to harm. Children just naturally love, until they are unnaturally spoiled. Adults, though, can choose to love, and there is no reason not to. As a child, I was too foolish to understand that the imaginary lines were not real. The idea that a dog was a pet and a pig was food was just accepted with the same intelligence as Santa Clause. At times, I understood that I was literally saving one animal and eating another, but I was told thousands of times that I had to. I had to help cut up that bird I had saved. I had to grind up the cow I had fed. It surprises me, to be honest, that, on that farm, we didn’t cut up our cats and dogs, too. Yet, this was a wholesome farm. The animals were free and grazed until dad shot them, our caught them and chopped their heads off one at a time as the others watched. Factory farms … are beyond the word inhumane … they are inhuman.

Isn’t it strange that if your child saved a bird, you would be proud of him, but if he refused to eat the chicken, he would be in trouble? Isn’t it odd that as a child you had to make sure your puppy was fed, but then you had to eat veal; or that you had to make sure you took the dog on a walk, but the pigs you had to eat were never able to even turn around? Strange that we so often assume that common makes right.

“Let my being not enter their council, let my esteem not be united to their assembly; because they slew a man in their displeasure, and they lamed an ox in pleasure.” (Genesis 49:6).

Many say they love animals more than people. Now some would point fingers at them, but in truth have not we all played a part in making them think these things? As for me, if before me were a hungry man and a hungry kitten, in truth, even if the world did watch, I would feed the kitten first. I would indeed feed the man, but the kitten is easy to care for and thus quickly done. (One homeless man was greatly pleased that I did this for his dog and he.)

Note: I did not say I would “save” an animal before saving a human. If before me was a burning building and in it was a trapped puppy that was easy to save and a boy in an area that was extremely dangerous, then I would dive into the flames to save the boy. I would gladly rather drive my car into a herd of sheep than even risk the chance of hitting a human, though it would grieve me to do so. To say that my letter shows that I put animals first would be like saying Yahoweh made the animals first because He loved them more. But you know, I am sure the One known as The Prince of Peace loves all, from sparrow to daughter. Oh, how great a love the One known as Love has!

When was the last time a duck divorced his spouse, or a horse beat his wife? Animals, from zebras to raccoons, will groom each other. Try finding that kindness and affection in people. And if you think humans are the most loving in raising a child, then do a little study on emperor penguins. It is pride induced folly to think we are more loving than these, simply because we are allegedly rational thinkers.

Rational? The only reason a few “scientists” believe monkeys are the smartest animal is because they view them as primates and view themselves as smart people descended from monkeys. When in truth I have worked with many monkeys, and I find your average dog, raccoon, horse, and even some alleged scientists to be just as smart—if not more so—as a monkey. The other reason we attach intelligence to monkeys is because they have hands and can do some of the things we do. Yet, consider an octopus: She changes color with different moods. Is it possible that she tells her sons and daughters stories of high adventure and love gained simply by her shifting shades of color? Is it possible that a dog’s mind, if given access to hands and an ability to speak our tongue, could outshine many writers in heart and many speakers in heroism? We can never know. But what we can tell is that every animal has happiness, fear, pain, sorrow, and a great longing for love. Perhaps we aren’t so different after all. So let us remember, as we read to our children, that Yahoweh loves not only us, but also the wonderful animals He gave us to care for.

Animals, simply enjoying themselves, show me a spirit of love, laughter, and friendship … a spirit in the likeness of the Most High. Buffalo have been seen enjoying ice-skating, bears sliding along the snow banks, otters flipping and playing in the water for hours on end, cows caring for one another, horses fighting for the attention of a person, dolphins upset with their performance, birds forgiving one another, chickens who fought to the death to protect her babies, pigs who could answer math problems, monkeys teasing tiger cubs, and on and on. There are many books that tell of amazing tales, from guide dogs to unusual friendships like the tortoise and the baby hippo, or the lion who would not eat meat. If we chose to seek out some of these stories, our joy will do more than just make us smile.

Sometimes I think we only have the image of the Most High. We need to seek His Spirit more. Looking through all this: is there much difference between these beautiful creations of Yahoweh and the creations of Yahoweh known as children? “Unless you come as one of these …” Maybe we once did have the Spirit of the wild, the Spirit of Yahoweh. It’s time to pray for, and to seek Him, earnestly.

“And should I not pardon the great city of Nineweh, in which there are more than one hundred and twenty thousand people who have not known their right hand from their left—not to mention all the animals?”

“And should I not pardon Nineweh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand beings who have not known their right hand from their left, and much cattle?” (Jonah 4:11). This is the last verse in the accounting of Jonah, where Yahoweh’s last words are those of concern for the cattle.

We are to tend to the earth in Genesis, but what about now? “And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead to be judged, and to give the reward to Your servants the prophets and to the set-apart ones, and to those who fear Your Name, small and great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:18). Indeed, we are to care for those living here, for someday we all will be worshiping the Father side by side. Let us worship Him side by side here as well. It is, after all, the greatest joy afforded man … and beast.

In Nineveh. even the animals fasted. Do not be ignorant, the animals speak to the Father. and He hears them. Yahoweh feeds the birds as well as the whales. He hears the song of love between swans and the cries from orphaned deer. He takes joy in the blue-footed booby’s dance and His Spirit soars with the sea turtles. He is Magnificent! It shows in His Creation, as well as His Declaration of Heaven. Our Creator is a Creator of Love. Do not be ignorant: He has love for His. (Please take a moment and read Job 38-41 to feel what the Creator says on this.)

What about the animals? They were on His thoughts. Shouldn’t they then be on ours?

“If we cut up beasts simply because they cannot prevent us and because we are backing our own side in the struggle for existence, it is only logical to cut up imbeciles, criminals, enemies, or capitalists for the same reasons.” -C. S. Lewis

I do hope, regardless of needing to gain or lose weight, or having a current health problem you’re aware of, that you are trying the diet outlined at the beginning of this letter. Each week you take out one unhealthy thing, and put in one healthy thing, be it food or drink for the body, mind, or soul. Even if you never completely become a full-fledged vegan, or even a vegetarian, it is helpful to you to improve your diet, as well as to those you love.

While it is certainly not normal to have animal byproducts in every meal, let alone even once a day, I am sure many people find me bizarre. So am I just some nutty tree-hugging hippie who thinks we need to listen to the earth and spread love to all? “But now ask the beasts, and they teach you; and the birds of the heavens, and they declare it to you; or speak to the earth, and it teaches you; and the fish of the sea inform you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of Yahoweh has done this,” (Job 12:7-9). Call me what you will … I take no offence as it is not weak to value life. It is weak to not value life. After all, since all creatures are His pets, should we not value them as much as we would ours?

On owning a pet: When choosing a pet, please consider many things. How long will the pet live, is the animal safe to have, and am I ready for the responsibility? However, try to obtain your pet from an individual, such as a friend or neighbor. While I am sure that there are some pet stores that do care, most of these animals are bred for sale, often getting very little food, and low quality at that, to keep costs down. The animals are often in cages that are too small, and frequently are put in even smaller cages at night—so small in fact, that it is usually impossible for them to turn around in them. This way they’re frisky in the morning for sales. Also, the pet store owner couldn’t tell you anything of value about the animal if it counted on his soul. Oh, sure, he may be able to tell you a few half-truths about the species, but I mean valuable information that you can’t get by looking at a pet for a few minutes in a store. Whereas a person whose dogs naturally had puppies will be able to expound on the personalities of each parent, and will be able to tell you some about each puppy. Your payment, if you even have to pay at all, will go to a person with a family, and not a company hungry for more money to pay for yet another artificially inseminated breeding dog, whose life in a cage giving birth ends when she can no longer bear. The result? Your heart might become a little closer to matching that of your dog’s. Kind.

The best way to find a pet, though, is through animal rescue. There are sanctuaries for unwanted animals, and some of my good friends invest their lives rescuing farm animals. Sadly, these creatures living out their lives at sanctuaries simply represent billions of other animals who will die unnecessarily this year to feed Americans. There is always a home for a cute purebred dog. The others die at the pound while wagging their tails and barking greetings of welcome to their final visitor, until death parts them from the cruelty of our existence. Visit your local animal shelter and rescue an animal. A mutt can love just as much or more than any purebred. You can also take in a known stray who has no home. Be sure to give them love every day and not just love until the novelty wears off, as so many little kids and careless adults tend to do. You can also rescue the breeding dogs and cats from the places the pet stores buy from. I have rescued animals from the wild who have been injured or have lost their parents. This is illegal by the laws of men. Yet, if you do this, please find a place that can lawfully rehabilitate the animal. Investigate this beforehand as some places will just shoot the animal or take them out into the wild and leave them for dead. Also, and most importantly, be certain the animal needs rescuing. Many times they should have been left alone. Know what you are doing or do not do it! Alas, even if you mess up in caring for them, then your act was still kinder than buying animals from an average pet store. Find a better way. Find a loving way. The past can be forgiven but why continue to live a life of cruelty?

Note: Do not buy or support in any way the private ownership of wild animals, even the ones that have been allegedly tamed. It is cruel to the animal and dangerous for the people involved. I have spoken with people about how they had a coyote, or a wolf hybrid, or a large bird, all of whom were loving, and, in an instant, the animal attacked and either hurt or killed another person. This is not a loving act by the person. If you love a wild animal, then do not hesitate to find a refuge for that animal, research where your money or time would go, and then support a good program designed for the animal’s preservation and freedom.

Note: I have a cat, but I do not fully impose my diet upon him. He is a carnivore. That being said, I cannot bring myself to support factory farming. Since I do not alienate myself from those with opposing views, we know quite a few people who eat meat, and they, not wanting to waste food (I don’t think many people want to), save back their scraps for us. Then, when we see them, they give us a bag from their freezer. We also buy a vegan cat food. Most people do not understand that when a cat kills a bird or a grasshopper and eats them, they also eat a stomach full of seeds and leaves. So having the vegan cat food along with goodies from different homes, while it may not be perfect, he is happy and healthy. That, and he eats quite a few grasshoppers in my garden. … That is when the varmint isn’t digging up my crop.

Compare vegetarians to Christians. Both are jeered at. Both are bold about meekness. Both are seeking first His Kingdom.

Some vegans at first seem to be overly bold in their approach, as you may assume I am being. I have heard some people say, “Even if a voice comes from Heaven, saying, ‘I am against veganism!’ I would shout back, ‘Well I’m for it!’” At first, this may sound unreasonable, but let’s look to Scripture. If this is a Biblical idea then … okay, if not then it’d be easy to forget this idea.

Peter, sitting atop a house, one day had something happen to him that happens to me every so often. He got hungry. Peter prayed, and in this prayer he saw a vision of a huge sheet being let down from Heaven filled with “all manner” of animals. At the same time that he sees the sheet full of clean and unclean animals he hears a voice saying, “kill and eat.” Peter’s response is key to how he lived, after the Messiah ascended into Heaven. “But Kepha said, ‘Not at all, Master! Because I have never eaten whatever is common or unclean.’” (Acts 10:14). (Common would be clean, hence the wording, “all manner,” though, I have heard some say both words meant unclean. This, however, is as impossible as it is redundant. All manner. If I said, “All manner of people,” are there any that I am leaving out? No.) The whole time Peter walked with the Rabbi he is never recorded as breaking any of the Torah’s dietary rules. Surely, if Yahoshuah’s intention were to put in bondage his followers by removing the Torah’s dietary rules, then Peter would have eaten prohibited meat with them, or clean meat for that matter. Even when the Voice of the Almighty in a vision commands Peter to kill and eat, he steadfastly refused to stop loving the Father. Yet, if this thundering voice called out to us today, would we grab that chicken, twist its neck off, drain most of the blood, tear out the feathers, rip out the internal organs, remove some of the fat, burn the flesh, and force ourselves to eat it? Even many stout vegans would. Peter was incredibly strong in his faith, and he was right in it. He had a choice early in this new life. Fish or men. He picked one. We do, also.

It always helps to, as it is said, read the rest of the story. In Acts 10:17 we find Peter wondering what this vision meant. He knew Yahoweh would not tell him to do something against His commands or His desires. The answer to this dream is in Acts 10:28-29.This shows us that the unclean flesh was the pagan gentiles. These people worshiped false ones and were the unclean pigs (Romans 1:16). So, Yahoweh wanted His message spread to everyone … not for us to live an unhealthy sinful life. Now that is loving.

Thereafter, Cornelius asked a puzzled Peter to come and share with them. Cornelius was a Centurion (a Roman soldier who oversaw a hundred soldiers), yet he feared Yahoweh, and was of good report among the Jews. Cornelius was a Yahoweh fearer, a former gentile, who was in fellowship with the Jews, observing the Torah and thus living as a Jew, without man’s formal conversion. It is in this encounter that Peter discovers the meaning of the vision. “And he said to them, ‘You know that a Yehudite man is not allowed to associate with, or go to one of another race. But Elohim has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.’” (Acts 10:28). Peter learned what Barnabas wrote of. He found that the clean and unclean animals were in direct reference to human beings, and that with Messiah, no human is unfit for His Love. No one is so unclean as to be unacceptable, and no one is so clean as to not need to accept.

Note: Yahoweh showed us, in our Bible, that clean and unclean is in reference to people. Was this ever about eating the flesh of animals? Were we ever supposed to?

Note: Peter was at one time a fisherman and had more than likely kept Passover with a lamb many times, so how is it he said that he had never eaten any common animal? Fish, let me tell you, and lamb for Passover, was as common as you could get. Three times the Messiah asked Peter where his love was. Many are born once, but there are those who are born again. Peter walked with the Messiah, talked with Him, but I feel that Peter truly became a new creation (born again) upon uttering, “I love you more than these.” … Indeed, it is no different today, when we stop and realize that Yahoshuah is more important than fishing or eating ham. We become born again when we proclaim with a true heart, “I love you.” Peter said he never ate any common or unclean animal, as he was living a new life—he was born again.

Often we see this in Scripture, an illustration of an animal to tell a truth about people. Consider how we are not to cast pearls before swine in Matthew 7:6. Swine in this verse is in direct reference to unclean people. No one would argue that this meant that we should not cast an actual pearl before an actual pig. Bear this in mind.

Need further proof that this was dealing with man, not animals? “While Kepha was still speaking these words, the Set-apart Spirit fell upon all those hearing the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Kepha, because the gift of the Set-apart Spirit had been poured out on the gentiles also,” (Acts 10:44-45). Yet, at first, Peter didn’t know what the vision meant. He thought of food and did not, would not, eat what was unclean or common / clean. Peter would not eat meat even if Yahoweh told him to. Consider this the next time you feel “led,” or feel the Scriptures say to “kill and eat.”

Only after three times of refusing to eat meat, even though he was told to from above, were the greater mysteries revealed to him. Having the gift of hindsight, if I were told to eat meat by the Holy Spirit, a voice from Heaven, or even face to face (of which I have not been), I would full well know that He would be referring to ministering to a people, or my need for accepting deeper studies and bearing fruit. I, too, Biblically, and by Heaven’s Decree, refuse to eat meat.

A woman once told about the day Franz Kafka had taken her to the Berlin aquarium. She recalled, with weighty emotion, that he looked at the fish in the illuminated tanks, and spoke softly, “Now I can look at you in peace; I don’t eat you anymore.”

“Let no one therefore judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths—” (Colossians 2:16). Christians are often taught (or rather untaught) that they are forbidden the joys of Sabbath, the festivals, and the new moon, and should not let the Jews judge them for not doing these. Ironically, and yet sadly, this passage clearly teaches the exact opposite. Paul is writing to Gentiles who have recently left their pagan roots to be grafted into the commonwealth of Israel. The pagans are judging the new converts because the new believers are obedient to the Messiah when He said, “Follow Me.”

(Paul’s original warning: “See to it that no one makes a prey of you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary matters of the world, and not according to Messiah.” (Colossians 2:8). I strongly urge a word-by-word study of this passage).

“and you have been made complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and authority. In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Messiah,” (Colossians 2:10-11). Paul then goes on to show the Gentile converts how all of the Torah commandments that had previously judged them and prevented them from inheriting the promises of Yahoweh have been satisfied in Messiah. Paul writes, “having blotted out the certificate of debt against us—by the dogmas—which stood against us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the stake.” (Colossians 2:14). Paul is not advocating that because the Messiah died on the cross that we should no longer keep the Torah. Rather, Paul is saying that as long as we have the Messiah then the Torah’s righteous demands are being met in Him, thus allowing for our fellowship with Yahoweh and His chosen people.

“Let no one therefore judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths—which are a shadow of what is to come—but the Body of the Messiah.” (Colossians 2:16-17). The Apostle is not referring to the Jews judging the Gentiles for not keeping these things, but rather he is referring to the pagans who are judging their former adherents for now keeping the Torah, Who once justly condemned them.

Many Churches will say, “Sabbaths and festivals were just shadows and not the real thing. Jesus is the real thing, and we no longer need shadows.” Yet, Paul wrote these are shadow pictures of things to come after the Messiah’s death, resurrection, and ascension. They proclaim a truth of Who is going to come again. Who was! Who is! And Who is to come! By observing His Sabbaths, we keep the proclamation of their truth alive. But that is not all that is a shadow of things to come! He didn’t just speak about festivals. Many translations of Colossians 2:16-17 refer to meat and drink, but let us bear in mind that in Heaven there will be no eating of flesh. When we live a vegan life, then we proclaim a shadow picture of what will be. We proclaim peace. We proclaim the Lion and the Lamb! (See Isaiah 11:6-10).

Someone may ask, “But what about Paul, who wrote in Romans 14:1 that the weak man eats only vegetables?” Only the weak? Was Daniel weak? Or was Yahoweh, for instructing this as His desire, a weakling? No! This is saying that someone of new, or baby-like faith, may not be able to grasp everything presented to them from Scripture; that they may be able to only grasp a few, or only certain things, and should not be looked down upon for this. While on the other hand, someone who is of strong faith, able to grasp, understand, and do many things, should not be looked down upon by the person of weaker faith for going beyond their narrow, or limited, mindset. One is in need of breast milk, and the other needs meat, which, as we have learned, means solid food, and not snail paste.

I desire for all churches to seek the Kingdom. To those of you, however, who are offended at the eating of meat and avoid Scripture because of it, I ask—I plead—do not forfeit the spiritual desire of the Messiah because of the lack of obedience by His followers. Some day I hope Christians awaken to this and forfeit the animal blood on their lips for the blood of the Messiah shared with another. I dream. I pray. I yearn for this day to come.

Have we asked Yahoweh to open our eyes?

In Numbers 22:21-35 Yahoweh opens the mouth of a donkey.

What does the donkey immediately say?

“Why are you hurting me?”

“But the Spirit distinctly says that in latter times some shall fall away from the belief, paying attention to misleading spirits, and teachings of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having been branded on their own conscience, forbidding to marry, saying to abstain from foods which Elohim created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. Because every creature of Elohim is good, and none is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is set apart by the Word of Elohim and prayer.” (1 Timothy 4:1-5).

While The Scriptures write out food, as opposed to meat, the word is often rendered as “meats,” but this is a translation of the Greek word, “broma,” which means “indistinct foods.” Thus, the word “meats” in this text (and many others) should not be understood as animal or people meat, but in the same sense that the Hebrew word oklah was used in Genesis 1:29: “And Elohim said, ‘See, I have given you every plant that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed, to you it is for food (meat).’” (Parentheses mine, as this is a common erroneous rendition of this word.)

Thus, what Paul condemned as doctrines of devils, was “forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods, which Elohim hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” Animals were not created for food as we see in Genesis 1:29. Also, the word creature, here, means an original formation; therefore, the text could possibly read, “creation.” For every creation of Elohim is good, and nothing that He has created for food since the beginning is to be rejected.

To maintain the traditional Christian position that the vegan life is the doctrines of devils is to claim that the Apostles themselves taught the doctrine of devils and that Yahoweh is their leader. If we truly seek to love and serve Yahoweh with all of our heart, soul, and strength, then certainly our diet, free of gluttony, will reflect this choice.

Paul said, “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine, nor to do whatever by which your brother stumbles.” (Romans 14:21). and, “Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.” (1 Corinthians 8:13). Thus, Paul was either a vegan or a liar, as there is no doubt eating meat would cause people to be offended, or he would not have said so.

You will hear arguments against this. Some will even use verses such as 1 Corinthians 10:20-32, but primarily 25-27 which reads, “You eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions because of conscience, for ‘The earth belongs to Yahoweh, and all that fills it.’ And if any of the unbelievers invite you, and you wish to go, you eat whatever is set before you, asking no question on account of the conscience.”

Eat whatever is set before us? What if it were the flesh of men? Then, of course, we would not eat it. That is not food. But how do we know it’s not food? Does this really mean we should eat absolutely anything set before us? No! Why would we assume that food is something entirely different from what Elohim said food was? Pig’s flesh has never been considered food. Or do we consider ourselves smarter than He is? May Heaven forbid it!

You see, when pagans offer things to idols, such as rice, fruit, meat, grain, milk, cakes, or what have you, the idol never eats it. The cleaning lady comes and cleans it, or the priests come in and eat it, or it’s picked back up and sold again on the market, or the homeless consume it. The idol never eats it. It has a mouth but cannot speak. And if it could speak it would say, “Don’t bother leaving me any food … I don’t have a stomach.”

But we do. We were designed—fashioned—in His image. Should we fill that image with sin, with something that Elohim has not given as food? He has given us this world, but not to eat. He has given us free will, but not to be ignorant.

Let us not be ignorant. We have fled Egypt and eaten manna and drank water from the split rock, yes, we have fled sin and embraced the Messiah. Let us not, therefore, struggle against the Messiah.

“Eating what is before you” is all about not worrying if it was offered to an idol, as an idol is nothing, so don’t allow the fear of it to snare you by always asking about it. However, if you know it was offered to an idol, then don’t receive it, for someone seeing that you eat the food sacrificed to idols may fall on account of you. Simply be cautious, not paranoid.

I am glad I really don’t have to deal with this in my life all that much. But one would have to be quite foolish to use this to mean that if someone put ham, or dog, or man, in front of you that you should eat it.

“But I hold against you that you allow that woman Izebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and lead My servants astray to commit whoring and to eat food offered to idols.” (Revelation 2:20). Now many will say that the meat they eat is not sacrificed to any idol, however, they are grossly mistaken. Why are animals killed? For our food? No. There would be more food if people did not eat flesh. They are sacrificed to the idol of money.

Note: Some may still ask, “So is it okay or not okay to eat food sacrificed to idols?” Is it you who are performing the sacrifice? If yes, then it is wrong. Will another fall because of it, including maybe even you? If yes, then it is wrong. Was it sacrificed to an idol, and you know it? If yes, then it is wrong. If you eat food, not knowing that it had been sacrificed to an idol, then it is of no conscience. Don’t be snared by the woman prophetess who teaches you it is acceptable to sacrifice flesh to the lord of money and lust (Revelation 2:20).

“It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain.” -Cardinal Newman (1801-1890). Never be ashamed to say, “No thank you; I do not eat flesh.” Never be too cowardly to love.

I am thrilled when I see someone, who once ate all manner of animals, stop eating just one kind. Even if they still eat other unclean meats. After all, they are making improvements. Then when I see them give up all allegedly unclean meats I send up more praises, and I offer nothing but encouragement and smiles of happiness that they have done so. However, when I see a person stop at this point, it usually makes me sad and discouraged, but sometimes it makes me mad. Why stop putting forth an effort to improve? Do we reach a point where we stop and say, “Meh, that’s good enough”? Do we act this way with our loved one? We give her flowers, and we hold her hand, and that’s good enough simply because its better than we treat some people. If you stop improving, ever, you’ve got a stale relationship.

We care for them, teach them to trust us, and then because of our desire for the taste of animal flesh we take their lives from them. To say we love the Creator at the same time we are cruel towards the least creature given life by Yahoweh, is pure contradiction. These are your fellow creatures in the great household of Yahoweh; they are our comrades, having the same breath of life in the Eternal. Those who care for the least of these by providing food, drink, and shelter in their need, the same does it unto Yahoweh. How are people to know we are followers of Yahoweh? By love. Simply love. Nothing more. And when you care for the least of the least, then people will know your heart truly doth runnth over with love. There is a text that I would like to share. I am not entirely certain of its true origin (early believer is all I know), and I do not claim it to be Scripture; yet, I cannot help but consider that this is a true picture of the heart of peace within my Saviour:

“And the birds gathered around Him and welcomed Him with their song, and other living creatures came unto His feet, and He fed them, and they ate out of His hands.” -Unknown

“And Yahoshuah called a little child to Him, set him in their midst, and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become as little children, you shall by no means enter into the reign of the heavens. Whoever then humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the reign of the heavens.’” (Matthew 18:2-4). Until adults socialize them, most children have tender feelings toward animals. Children have an ability to see beyond the hardness of the world. “Do not love the world nor that which is in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Because all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it, but the one doing the desire of Elohim remains forever.” (1 John 2:15-17). Children would be naturally vegan if not twisted and manipulated by adults who themselves were twisted and manipulated. Let us humble ourselves as a child, filled with the essence of compassion.

We are to be childlike, not childish. Earlier upon the Sabbath that I penned this, my wife and I went to the river near here to walk a mile in the water. As we splashed in the waters we were blessed to see five fish about four to five pounds each, and hundreds of very small fish, a frog, red and blue dragonflies, and many butterflies, one of whom we saw fall into the river. The current carried him to me and right into my hands, I then took him to land and placed him in the sun’s warmth to dry off. How many times has the Messiah done that for me? While we were there, though, we saw things the Messiah has never done to me. I removed two fishhooks, one lead weight, one broken bottle, and two tires from the waters of His river. Our walk was childlike, and, in love, my wife and I picked up after those who were childish: the hunters, polluters, and drunkards.

If some women, and most children, had it their way, then the majority of households would slowly become vegan; sadly, though, many men are not man enough to rest on the heart of those whom we are to love more than ourselves. We have total control over what we put in our body. No one can force us to eat what we don’t want to eat.

Cows have the ability to reason, and will even kill men to protect their young. They do so many times every year. Cows are not usually angry or aggressive creatures, but the inhuman act of separating a mother from a child is a common dairy farm procedure. Those who consume blood, fat, and puss, often called dairy products, are responsible for this horrible lack of compassion … and the deaths. Repent by taking the extra step in joy. Do not stop growing in love.

Yahoweh’s cows have a right to keep full-length tails, horns, an extra teat, to breed naturally, to suckle their offspring, to graze upon the grass she needs rather than the corn and soy she doesn’t, to migrate, to old age, and the solemness of a natural death. Farmers struggle with this reality much more than consumers. The butchers, too, suffer a hardened heart when they see the eyes of their victims. Few of them can stay in the job very long. The emotions of cows and chickens are laughable to some. Yet, the Messiah compared His love to that of a chicken for her chicks in Luke 13:34. He is our hen. Let us, therefore, as He would have us, support peace, not slaughter.

If all men were strong enough to have tenderness, then this earth would be no far cry from Eden.

In the realm of etiquette, there is the upper echelon of veracity: those who see that the consumption of flesh dissuades their brother or sister and so never eat meat again. This is quite the rare occurrence, and one that I do not put my dependence upon. Yet, favorable behaviour for the dinner table seems severely lacking, and so this quick reminder of what it means to be human:

If someone does not like the smell of pineapple, the look of passion fruit, or the taste of hot peppers, then I do not bring that item to the diner table. If you eat rice every day of the week, yet someone does not like rice (reasons do not matter), then do not serve it. It may remind him of maggots during a war, or when he worked at a pig feedlot, or it might just be a dish he does not like. If someone is allergic to peas, do not ask them to eat around them, let alone serve a bowl of peas for other people, thus ostracizing the person who is allergic. Never serve at your table anything that anyone cannot, or does not, want to eat. It doesn’t hurt anyone to go without pineapple, passion fruit, hot peppers, rice, or peas for one meal, so what’s with the ham, hmm?

If you have twenty people dinning, but one person is a raw vegan that is gluten sensitive and just doesn’t care much for sugar, then the whole meal ought be uncooked, vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free. If there is someone who has a pet pig, do not serve pig meat. If there is someone who loves dogs, you do not serve dog meat, do you? If someone loves all animals, you just don’t serve meat. Pretty simple.

This is in regards to not only having guests, but also being a guest or eating out. People who do not eat certain things do so for what they see as a very good reason. It is an act of minimal kindness to follow suit while you are around them. Those who do not eat certain things often feel left out—separate. This is not how we should cause our brothers and sisters, lost or saved, to feel.

To climb the last rung on the absolute minimum of acceptable behaviour, do not talk about the things someone else clearly does not like. If someone really hates your religion, then do not discuss it with him. As long as he knows you believe, and that you would be willing and glad to share your faith if ever he would like you to, then let it be. Did someone lose a child recently? Abortion may not be the best subject. Does someone not eat flesh? Well, this might be a long shot, but I bet he or she has no desire for you to talk about what they perceive as animal cruelty for the next hour and a half; or have you ask them relentlessly about their diet only to end with, “Well, I could never do that.” If it is something you have no desire to do, then do not bother the people who do it with endless questions as to why they are.

There are no ethical reasons to eat animals. There are no environmental reasons to eat animals. There are no religious reasons to eat animals. There are no health reasons to eat animals. There are no benefits in eating animals around those finding it distasteful.

There is the other side of the teeter-totter, though: the one where the person who does not eat something becomes self-righteous because of it. I have had difficulties in both of these snares. There have been times I have felt like I am better than others. I looked and saw them doing such dumb things that hurt themselves and all around them, both humankind and animals, to the earth itself, that I felt the emotions of loathing them and of self-righteousness. I have looked at all the pagan things people do, foolish acts with money, and such lack of tenderness—in doing so I have battled arrogance more than my fair share, I assure you. Many of us do, I suppose, even the ones who express that they don’t—perhaps especially those who express that they don’t! Yet, often we feel arrogance in greatness only because we lack friends of worth. For if we stood in His kingdom, amongst those who keep the Commandments in the fruit of the Spirit, where the blood of swine never shall touch the Saviour’s lips, just how great would we be then?

Judgment is needed, but often people confuse judgment with condemnation. They are not the same; indeed, they are not alike. Yet, it stands to reason: friends should be sought no differently than books—only read those that are a step above your reading level. As for those who are self-righteous … perhaps much more of their problem is our own than we have ever realized.

Some say it does not affect the spirit, yet, how foolish you would have to be to think harming those who can feel pain has no effect on your spiritual walk. The Creator, from the very beginning, has asked us to be vegan. Are we somehow wiser than He? Or did He do what He said He would never do? Did the Almighty change His mind, give in to us somehow, and say, “Vultures are some tasty vittles.” What do the Scriptures say? For so many years we have been told the Bible says to eat meat, but what if we look at the Scriptures without preconceived ideas?

“And He said, ‘If you diligently obey the voice of Yahoweh your Elohim and do what is right in His eyes, and shall listen to His commands and shall guard all His Laws, I shall bring on you none of the diseases I brought on the Mitsrites, for I am Yahoweh Who heals you.’” (Exodus 15:26). Keep His Commandments? I hold firm that the diet given to Adam is part of the Torah of which this passage is speaking about. Consider: Those who eat clean kosher meat can, and do, get many kinds diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, that vegans typically either do not get as much, or cannot get.

Note: While it is said that forms of stress can lead to heart disease, this stress is greatly increased by the injection of hormones, fat, and blood of dead animals in our diet, while heart disease has been abated many times by a vegetable-based vegan diet. This passage has a lot of life-giving wisdom for those who desire it. The four greatest killers in America are heart disease, cancer, the drug industry, and obesity, prematurely claiming the lives of well over one million Americans every year.

“And it shall be, because you hear these right-rulings, and shall guard and do them, that Yahoweh your Elohim shall guard with you the covenant and the kindness which He swore to your fathers, and shall love you and bless you and increase you, and shall bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. Blessed are you above all peoples—there is not going to be a barren man or a barren woman among you or among your livestock. And Yahoweh shall turn away from you all sickness and put on you none of the evil diseases of Mitsrayim which you have known, but He shall put them on all those who hate you.” (Deuteronomy 7:12-15).

(Again, to have more animals chiefly meant that one would have more wealth. More livestock meant being able to provide wool for clothing, milk for infant supplementation, and power for farming, but chiefly in being able to exchange animals for money for, or indeed for, prescribed sacrifices at the temple. To kill and eat a whole animal would not be financially sound. Did they? I am sure they sometimes did, but that does not mean we need to. After all, many of the Israelites turned their back on Elohim and built high places, but we don’t need to look to them, we need to look to Yahoweh and His Kingdom. Let us not fail in something so simple as this.)

“If you do not guard to do all the Words of this Torah that are written in this book, to fear this esteemed and awesome Name, Yahoweh, your Elohim, then Yahoweh shall bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues, great and lasting plagues, and grievous and lasting sicknesses.” (Deuteronomy 28:58-59). Simply cherishing His Name and keeping His Torah can cause prevention of almost every sickness I can think of, and often I have seen them cured. From cancer to blindness, I have seen men be cured.

Heart disease, brought on by obesity gained from the consumption of death, is the number one killer in America, and it is commonly blamed on the fast food industry. They have some fault, sure, but the blame lies in the people for not valuing wisdom, and life. Overweight people were once a rarity in Japan. Fast food restaurants arrived there around forty years ago, and today more than one-third of all Japanese men in their thirties are overweight. Many people in Japan fight it, this change from health to sickness, but a growing number have succumbed to the lies of the advertisers and the short-term cost savings of generic fast food.

Most of us are unaware of how much damage we do to our bodies and to our world by the way we eat. I challenge you to write down everything you eat and drink for one month. You will probably be amazed at the amount of snacks you eat, the different ways in which milk and cheese are a part of your diet, and how much suffering you consume. Now consider how many resources were required to produce that dairy and flesh:

For one pound of beef the estimates range from 5,000 to 13,000 gallons of water (roughly a year’s worth of showers) being used and contaminated, and, while difficult to calculate, an exuberant amount of fuel is used for transportation, feeding, and even as a spray for their crops. An acre of land can produce well over 25,000 pounds of potatoes, or about 150 pounds of beef. How much human food could be grown on the acres that they require, along with the water, fuel, and grain used? It is difficult to say. There is no perfect number, as this number is higher and lower depending on the location, environment, animal, and many other factors. The cost, however, is not something I figure with money, as many have done to show just how expensive meat should be, rather, from my conservative estimates (based on growing up on a farm, and speaking with cattle farmers) I come to this measurement:

A realistic estimate is the equivalent of 72 pounds of vegetables, fruits, and seeds of grains and nuts, for every pound of animal you consume. How many others could you have fed in your life?

Loosely, for every purchase an average American family makes in a fast food restaurant, my wife and I will eat 70 or more meals before I cause the same amount of consumption. Also, my food is organic and as local as possible. Cattle feed can exceed the pesticide usage on human foods many times over depending on the spray, sometimes over fifty times the amount. How many animals, and people, does that kill, or cause allegedly unexplainable health problems for?

Most fast foods are loaded with fat, salt, and chemicals. For instance, a 1.5-ounce bag of barbecue potato chips has the same number of calories as a medium baked potato, but 70 times the amount of fat and 20 times the amount of salt, and a long list of chemicals not printed on the bag, along with some that are, many of which are milk derived. Most cheeses get around 80 percent of their calories from fat. Fast food is a quick path to a miserable life followed by a sooner than you think death: a waste of what could have been decades more of happiness and good works.

In Genesis 25:34 Esau gave up his birthright in exchange for a meal of “red stuff.” I’ve heard people say how foolish he was in doing so, even though many of them are selling the temple of the Holy Spirit to an early death for a bowl of sweets and fats, some of which are fittingly colored red.

Please take the time to study these things. To pray about them. Don’t shut the door that is knocked upon by Mercy. Walking in love takes work, and sometimes the work is not pleasant, but the outcome, oh the outcome. It is love, my friends.

“The righteous regards the life of his beast, but the compassion of the wrong is cruelty.” Those who regard the life of animals are righteous and those who do not are wicked. You can’t have it both ways. A righteous man cares for the life of an animal. Compassionate slaughter is wicked. Kosher slaughter? Happy cows hamburger? This is the essence of willing stupidity. The wicked? Even their compassion is cruel.

Cows are often fed dried pig and cow blood in their formula. (Is that kosher?) Blessing food does not take away the cruelty and suffering that is involved in bringing the “food” to our table. To bless such cruelty is like praising the devil. The question is not if animals can reason or talk, but if they can suffer, and if they can, then we are indeed what we eat. Every hamburger starts with a cow begging for her life. No matter how hard you plug your ears. Animals don’t need your excuses, nor do the people who forfeit the Messiah by your testimony of a complete lack of compassion.

Don’t put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your mind and heart. Asking the wrong question is like looking for chariot wheels from the Red Sea crossing in your backyard. Ask the wrong questions, and you’ll get the wrong answers. Are we asking, “Well didn’t Jesus eat meat?” and getting the answers we want, or are we asking, “Would the Messiah cause suffering? If not, or if so, why? How does this affect the love I am to show?”

Yahoweh desires mercy, and not sacrifice, so have let us show mercy. Tend the earth and the animals on it.

Many claim to love animals, but I find it hard to understand how one can love someone … and then kill and eat him. While I, once, too, was like that, I cannot figure out the logic behind it. I know that sounds rude, but I do not mean it to be. I mean it to be alarming.

I find Biblical support in Creation, His Kingdom, Daniel, Paul, Peter, the Exodus, Proverbs, Psalms, and even the Messiah. There are many strong points within Scripture showing His desire regarding the life of animals and people, as well as His longing for mercy, not sacrifice. Alas, I am old enough to know that it is 100% impossible to convince people. I share so that those whose viewpoint is Heavenly are strengthened, and so that those who open their heart will have a defense to the war an open door to Truth always brings with it.

Many years ago, I heard a story I’d like to share. A young child was out on the beach picking up sand dollars, and putting them back out to sea. An adult happened by, and said, “What on earth are you doing saving sand dollars for? I mean look at how long this beach is and how many there are, and then consider how many other beaches there are, and how many other animals are dying! It doesn’t matter!” To which the child replied while putting another back in the sea, “It matters to this one … and this one … and this one …” You might find it silly to try sometimes in life, be it saving animals or saving your marriage before it even has troubles, but the story is still true. It matters. Even if it matters to just a few … or just to Yahoweh.

The Church’s silence, or encouragement, concerning the abuse of animals is directly connected to animal abuse, spiritual abuse, and even the abuse of children and adults.It has been well verified that people who work in factory farms, slaughterhouses, or who hunt, have an incredibly alarming higher rate of domestic violence than those who work and play in non-violent conditions. Violence leads to violence of any kind, and the Church, who claims to follow the Prince of Peace, ought make a stand against all forms of violence by promoting love, compassion, and peace. However, it is up to you, the individual, to make that change. To care for animals is to care for men. Those who knowingly or unknowingly torture and abuse animals have more than a tendency to do the same to humans, and in truth, do already. After all, they have built the habit. Only returning to Yahoweh’s desire can tear it down. Will you return? … I pray you do.

“Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.” -Thomas Jefferson

Here is a test you can do at home to see if meat is as good for you as, say, almonds. Take a package of hamburger and some organic almonds. Set each on its own plate outside for a day. Make sure animals can’t get to either. At the end of a day, or week if you want, eat the almonds. They will be good, and you will feel good. Then eat the hamburger. You will be deathly ill or even die. Which one was better for you? Involve the kids and make it a science project. Actually, there is no need for anything but common sense here. However, as Voltaire is attributed as saying, “Common sense is not so common.” Now consider this: How long does the meat stay in your body? At what temperature? Not all food is properly digested; therefore, while you may not eat that rotten food today, in the next day or two it may become rancid inside of you.

The U.S.D.A. has accepted the almond as a meat alternative. In fact, the raw almond has over two times the calcium and more protein, fiber, potassium, and vitamins and minerals than whole milk! Speaking of milk, no being goes on drinking milk after being weaned, except for humans. The hormones in cow’s milk can unbalance our hormones, causing obesity, digestive problems, weakened immune systems, bad attitudes, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, asthma, arthritis, osteoporosis, and a great deal of other ailments. Milk is primarily white blood cells (puss) and fat, and it is the single greatest cause of allergies and single greatest allergen. To be honest, I could go on for pages, even a whole book, on the extreme dangers of dairy. It is quite possibly the worst “food.” Makes me wonder why we believe the milk companies when they say it is good for us. Looking to back up these claims? Look to studies, which are not funded by the cattle and dairy boards or use tests done on different species, for which you will often need to view other countries’ research, which is not difficult considering many countries exceed us in their scientific research.

“What about dairy in the Bible?” The Bible only mentions milk a few times, primarily in reference to babies and in figurative usage. We will consider some references to nursing on different animals’ breast milk soon, but let us bear in mind that there are many references to multiple wives, a lot more than there are to dairy. Again, I do not care. Looking to His desire from the start I see Adam and Eve, not Adam and Lucy, Suzy, Deborah, Cindy, Roxanne, Sherri, Brandy, Kathy, Steve, and Eve. Just Adam and Eve. Just fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Just shalom.

I once heard an account of a small child who had not had a bowel movement in a week. (A healthy person has one or two a day.) The parents refused to see a doctor, and so they took their child, a screaming, store destroying, vulgar, back talking, parent kicking, brat, who had boogers dripping from his nose, and who was as obnoxious as a kid can get, to a health food store and asked the clerk what they should do. He said to them, “I can tell he eats a lot of dairy.” To which they agreed. The clerk, concerned for the boy, suggested a suppository from a pharmacy for immediate aid, and had the parents try the following approach,

“For ten days consume no dairy. No butter, or yogurt, and no non-dairy creamers, as they have dairy in them. Be as strict as can be. Treat any form of milk like the poison it is. During this time, make a detailed report on each day. How is the attitude, mucus levels, bowel movements, the condition of the skin on the face, attention span, sleeping quality, and so on. Then on the tenth day, consume dairy. Have a big bowl of ice cream, some cheese sticks, some chocolate milk, and maybe even a pizza. Now record the next two days and see for yourself.”

They kept a paper record and in a few days the child was doing fine. In nine days, the four-year-old was a brand new kid. No mucus or back talking, he was able to listen and understand, and he was an overall polite little boy. On the tenth day he had dairy, and the day after the child went back to his snot faced life, giving the impression of bad parenting. In a sense, though, any parents who know this, and then give their kids dairy, are that indeed.

The account continued, though, as the clerk saw the family a month later and said, “I see he is eating dairy again.” To which they agreed, saying, “He loves his cheese!” Their eyes glazed over, the spitting image of too many. They were intentionally ignorant of basic intelligence, thereby, not being smart enough to love their child. The clerk told me he did the same thing I would have done: he did not try to talk to them anymore concerning this. The door was shut and knocking only seems to make people mad. However, if you have read this far, dear friend, then I know, even if you are mad, there is a longing to open the door. For Peace sometimes, just sometimes, knocks very loudly.

“Without the perfect sympathy with the animals around them, no gentleman’s education, no Christian education, could be of any possible use.” -John Ruskin (1819-1900)

“What about calcium? Everybody needs calcium.” Well, I’ve yet to meet a cow who thought she needed to drink milk to get enough calcium for her huge frame of bones and teeth so she can chew her cud for all of her days. All that cows naturally eat are different grasses. Drinking milk does not help with our calcium needs anyway, as we are unable to absorb the calcium in it. We will gain more calcium for our bones from one almond than we will from a whole jug of milk.

The supplements I take are: multivitamin, multimineral, and fresh flax seed meal. Once in a while, I have a drop of iodine in my water, or something that is supposed to be a healthy boost for the eyes, or liver, or heart, or whatever. I also occasionally have a rice and pea protein shake with fruit, peanut butter, and hazelnut milk. But normally, my “vitamins” are a bit of lemon or lime in my glass of water, a bowl of almonds and pomegranate kernels, a red banana, a homegrown Asian vegetable stir-fry, or even a blueberry covered pancake. Mm food. Best “pill” in any store.

I believe we need carrots more than carotene (one type of vitamin A). Every nutrient needs other nutrients and enzymes in order to be digested, and often benefits from having other forms of the same compound. There are no pills that can replace healthy eating, and while I do take supplements, I do so to add a benefit to a great meal, not because it is lacking. We need vitamin A, and the best place to get it is in food, but just in case, I add a healthy vegan vitamin

Note: Vitamin D3, found in milk, is made from pig brain, dead sheep’s skin, toxic fish liver, or wool. (Vegan D3 is available now from mushrooms). If you get enough sunlight there is little to no need to supplement as sunlight on your skin causes your own wonderfully made body to make vitamin D. (A lighter skinned person needs at least fifteen minutes of sunlight on their arms and face three times a week, but a darker skinned person will need at least six times that amount, though more than this is advisable for both.) Taking a D supplement may not help much without it being activated by sunlight, but if you do take vitamin D, then take a vegan version of D3 or D2. Both forms work. D2 raises your overall D levels after a month of taking it, the same amount as taking D3 for a month. The tests that show D3 is better is based solely on weeklong or shorter durations.

Let’s do another little test at home. Pour a glass of milk and leave it sitting on the windowsill for a day or two alongside a cut apple. At the end of two days, consume one or the other. If you choose milk, it is more than likely you will not be alive to sue me for suggesting such an activity (that I do not actually advocate you try). If you choose the apple, then it will taste very good and be good for you. If a fruit had the same alleged benefits and problems that milk has, it would never be in the grocery store, in fact, it would be considered dangerous and possibly poisonous. Yet, even if the milk were fresh, it still would have extreme amounts of puss, fat, hormones, and bacteria the apple wouldn’t have, even if you left it out for over a week.

Dairy is an irrational thing to consume. Homemade milk made from hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, macadamia nuts, pecans, or rice, is incredibly good. Yet, are there passages that show milk, even sour milk, as a blessing?

“Therefore Yahoweh Himself gives you a sign: Look, the maiden conceives and gives birth to a Son, and shall call His Name Immanu’el. He eats curds and honey when He knows to refuse evil and choose the good.” (Isaiah 7:14-15).

Something is missing from present understanding. Am I saying that simply because it says sour milk (curds) and honey? No. Change it. If it said tofu and rice syrup, it still wouldn’t make any sense. Virgin birth? Miracle. Check. Called Immanu’el? Foretelling. Check. He is going to consume sour milk? Much like the flaming tails in Isaiah 7:4, we might need to consider what this actually means instead of trying to use it to justify a diet, as there isn’t a checkmark on that one.

First, we must consider the Messiah of Whom this may be in reference to. The text shows that possibly the Messiah will eat curds and honey “when He knows to refuse evil and choose the good.” This would be from the day of His birth. One might look at this passage and see a virgin giving birth to my Saviour, Who was ever sinless and nursed upon her breast, thus having dairy, but honey is bad for an infant, as is sour milk. If this was a prophesy concerning the Messiah, then there is no record of Him fulfilling it that I have found. Show me in the Gospels where there was a time the Messiah ate curds and honey, or that there was a time He didn’t know right from wrong. Yet, how is this going to be a prophecy that king Ahaz would ever see?

Perhaps the curds and honey were not even in reference to the Messiah. The virgin birth sure was, but consider Isaiah’s son of whom he brought with him (Isaiah 7:3) or the one he bears later (Isaiah 8:4). Isaiah told the king that soon the land would only provide sour milk and honey (Isaiah 7:18-25). By that time his children would be ready to consume these things and know right from wrong. Yet, in all these woes, the approaching Messiah will still come.

This double prophecy gives the text validity, showing that the time of distress would come in a few short years. This came to pass and so this prophet’s reputation was set once again as being true; then, 700 years later, a virgin gave birth to One Whom, when men saw Him, whispered aloud, “Immanu’el.” which is to say, “Elohim is with us.” Listen to this prophet!

We cannot use a passage like this to justify the consumption of dairy. The sour milk given, after all, was a punishment. It was a time of great poverty. The places where a vineyard or garden should be are now places for weeds and thorns. It will be a place for cattle and sheep to graze on what little there is to graze upon, thereby making their milk taste off, or sour if you will. Now that their gardens are gone they are poor and must degrade themselves by consuming sour dairy, but even in hard times Yahoweh, the Gracious One, sends sweetness as He called the bees to come.

However, if one chooses to consume milk of a different species, then get your dairy and eggs from a real farm. I am not in favor of dairy, but if you are going to consume it then consume it in as much kindness as possible, and keep your consumption of it low.

“But what about a land flowing with milk and honey?” I’m honestly still surprised I get asked this question so often. Obviously, this statement is not literal. The Israelites did not see rivers of milk with honey waterfalls and chocolate cows grazing upon lollypop fields. They didn’t. I assure you. The Israelites did not have a supermarket or refrigeration; therefore, the vegan Israelites’ idea of milk was considerably different from ours is. The Israelites idea of milk would have been their mother’s breast milk. Milk means nurturing and honey is the sweetest substance. A land of nurturing sweetness. This land can be yours in part in your body if you choose to honor the Holy Spirit’s temple, and fully in soul if you choose to Love Him by keeping His Commandments, such as not drinking blood, which is found in dairy. Again, to an Israelite four thousand years ago, milk was not at the corner market in clear plastic jugs. It was life for their sons and daughters. Something Egypt deprived them of.

Different societies eat different things. Some people eat dog, dolphin, shark, or monkey, yet most Americans would say that’s disgusting. Yet, what is the difference between killing a dog for food and killing a cow? A dog feels pain. A cow feels pain. Some people completely refuse to eat rabbit or horse, but I wonder why anyone could not eat one friendly and intelligent animal only to go and eat a different friendly and intelligent animal. How terrible it is that people raise animals just to kill them and eat them for no reason. Many groups of people refuse to eat animals and view those who eat them as an uneducated lower class of people. We can live a healthy life without killing animals for food; therefore, if one eats flesh, he kills for no reason at all. Is this of love? Is this of Elohim?

“Hear, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart in the way. Be not among heavy drinkers of wine or with gluttonous eaters of meat; for the drunkard and the glutton become poor, and slumber puts rags on a man. Listen to your father who brought you forth, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it—wisdom and discipline and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:19-23).

Global famine could be avoided if people ate less or no meat. “He who watches over the Torah is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.” (Proverbs 28:7). Consider your children and their children. No one with even the slightest understanding believes that the foolish way we live today can be continued for long. We are faced with a choice: farming to feed the world’s animals whose death cannot feed us all, or, farming to feed the world’s people, which can feed us all. We cannot do both.

Vegetarians who consume milk and eggs do not cease their effect on the ecosystem, or animal welfare, save their consumption of these is rare and from small farms which they visit. Egg laying chickens and dairy cows are the farm animals who suffer the most in factory farms, and their numbers are constantly increasing to meet the demand. Those who eat fish must realize they are contributing to the collapse of marine ecosystems. To become vegan can add a touch of joy to your table, and to many distant parts of the world as well

The choice can be made for health reasons, environment, concern for animals’ well-being, concern for children, or, as myself, for the Love of Yahoweh, which encompasses all these and more! The other rewards I mentioned are but by-products. Serve Yahoweh, and it will be impossible to stop the blessings from pouring out upon more than just your children’s children.

“Let all that have breath praise Yah. Praise Yah!” (Psalms 150:6).

Praise Yah. … Praise Yah!

What is one of the worst things people eat besides dairy? That substance little kids see as white gold, the granules of sugar aiding them in leaping tall buildings before plummeting to the ground. Sure, we get a boost of energy, but we also get a drop soon thereafter, along with many other health detriments. Sugar does not have the nutrition required for its digestion, and so must rob our bones and muscles of protein, vitamins, and minerals in order to be consumed, which can lead to diabetes and so many other health problems that we will need accepted prayer for. When we get hungry, we need to eat what Yahoweh has prescribed as foods. When we desire to eat when we are not hungry, or when we have already eaten, we usually choose a dessert. Gluttony is an ugliness of our lustful mind that always hurts the temple. Proverbs 25:16 and 25:27 show that, while it is not good to eat much honey, it is acceptable to have. Different tree and fruit syrups are wonderful sweeteners to use instead of the substitute white sugars, not to mention they are richer in flavor.

Most sugars are bleached with bone char, the charcoal made from animal bones. There are many natural sugars out there such as raw sugars, brown rice syrup, or unbleached cane sugar for those who love animals and people. Being vegan is healthier than any other diet possible even if you don’t consider the hormones and antibiotics used in raising animals, or the high realities of meat-borne illness as well as the illnesses brought on by consuming their very bones in our sugar. Above all, veganism is more loving than any other diet.

I am rarely asked about sugar, though. A frequently asked question is, “What do you do for protein?” You can get plenty of protein without eating dead animals. Active people need up to 0.5 grams of protein per pound of healthy body weight daily. I perform weight training, the art of defending, and am a fairly active guy, and I find this is quite adequate. (Too much protein can damage the kidneys and promote bone loss, while animal protein is hard on you even if eaten in small quantities.) Sources of protein are extremely abundant; it’s not just soy, but beans, peas, all vegetables, and even fruits have some, along with grains, nuts, and seeds, or vegan protein powders to make shakes with. It is easy.

About half of the people who see I am a vegan ask, “How do you get enough vitamin B12 and other nutrients?” Most people obtain more B12 than needed from recycled bile in our own wonderfully made body, even without consuming any B12 for years. However, most vegan supplements supply many times more than anyone needs. It is recommended that we consume 6 mcg (micrograms or 6/1,000,000 of a gram) each day. Today in my vegan food and supplements I consumed many hundred mcg of B12. The B12 scare is just another joke to millions of vegans. Well, vegans who eat healthily. I have met a few vegans whose primary diet was french fries and soda. They were almost as healthy as those who eat meat. (Many who eat meat do train hard and stay in shape, but like all things, in time the bad choices and the good choices catch up with each of us.)

Note: “Why is there more B12 in meat?” B12 is found most abundantly in our bile and intestinal tract. I have seen each step first hand, from the cow’s birth to her death, and from butchering to packaging. When they are young, I see them play, when old I see them care greatly for their young. In the butcher shop I hear them cry for their life, and as they are cut up, which I have seen hundreds of times first hand, there are copious amounts of fecal matter that is brushed off, but some of it is merely brushed into the flesh, and that bacteria produces B12. There is more B12 in meat, but you will find meat lacks other minerals, vitamins, and enzymes, and is completely devoid of many them. Some are afraid of not getting enough B12, but they should be more concerned with not getting all the other nutrients that meat lacks.

If you ever feel you lack energy, and people tell you to add meat, think before you act on their advice. Energy loss is due to needing more calories (energy units) or nutrients, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, or even more water—not from needing to consume flesh. I recommend drinking 16 to 32 ounces of fresh homemade organic vegetable juice spread throughout the day, and eating several fruits a day, lots of various nuts and seeds, along with sprouted mung beans in a stir-fry, or perhaps some coconut sugar cookies. (Hey, a dessert every once in a while is no crime.) Eating vegan is only tasteless and boring if you make it that way. As vegans, we regularly partake of the best foods that Yahoweh has given us. The best! Check out the recipe section of this book for just a handful of recipes that leave meat eaters wondering why they give up eating so well for nothing but pain in return.

And just because some hippie vegetarian look anorexic, does not mean that every vegan does. While I am not large, I do have the increased strength and size to back up that you can have a strong and healthy body on a vegan diet. I’m no mutant, but when I ate 6,000 to 8,000 calories of animal a day for over a year, I gained nothing and weighed 135 pounds at 6’ 2”. I strove hard to gain weight, trying every trick in the book, and even made a few up, gaining, over another year of constant toil, one whole pound. I took supplements and ate meals in the middle of the night, but nothing worked. When I became vegan, though, I gained ten pounds of muscle in less than a month, and now weigh 180, and at 6’ 2” that is lean but not sick skinny. Others who are overweight find themselves slimming down at a healthy rate, and with lasting results that do not have the extreme health dangers of fad and quick loss diets.

The modern diet of food colorings, sugar, processed animal fats, and who knows what else, impends development and normal cognitive function. Many of the greatest minds were vegan / vegetarian, including Mark Twain, Albert Einstein, and Nikola Tesla. Nevertheless, I think this has more to do with a person’s heart than mind. Desires for peace more than gluttony, love more than blood, and in this there is wisdom.

Seeds, fruits, vegetables, and especially wheat grass juice, contain all the nutritive properties necessary to make good blood. These elements are not so well, or so fully, supplied by a flesh diet. Had the use of flesh been essential to health and strength, animals would have been included in the diet appointed to man in the beginning.

Concerning infant formula: Never give your baby cow’s milk. It is a dangerous thing to give him or her. Cow’s milk is the number one allergen and the number one cause of other allergies. Rice formula, as long as it is Non-GMO (not genetically modified and is organic), that adds enzymes from fruit and veggies is your baby’s best shot at health, save your own breast milk, so long as you are healthy. Just be sure to eat an organic vegan diet, as anything you consume will be passed into your milk, and then into your baby. Speak to your doctor about this, preferably before you have a child, and research this as much as possible. There are bad reports on all sides, but you will be able to discern.

As with all of this: there are some people who will need more D2, less protein, or need extra or less of something. If you have health problems, and especially in the case of a baby’s need for weight gain, then get medical advice from a provider who truly cares about your health. A person whose doctor is only himself, has an idiot for a doctor, and a person who has only their doctor for their doctor is also an idiot. Learn, and find a good physician, but above all, pray for them and yourself to heed the will, the desire, of Yah. … And know that every man dies. Living a life longing for His Kingdom does not make your body immortal … but your soul shall not perish if your faith is in Him. Good food will keep your body alive awhile longer and bless your life, but never forget that the purest of all foods, the one that does create in you life eternal, is the Bread of Life, Yahoweh the Savouir, Yahoshuah!

“Beloved ones, it is my desire that you enjoy good health, and that all may go well for you, even as thy soul is doing well.” (3 John 1:2).

Many years ago I had blood work done for free at a health fair, and, when my blood work came back, everyone was concerned about my total cholesterol. But I didn’t care that my cholesterol was well over 300. Maybe my brain was too clogged to really think that one through. When it was higher the next year, the doctor suggested cholesterol-lowering medication and others suggested garlic and cayenne pepper. But, again, I just didn’t care. There is a lesson there, for those who care.

Every sickness or risks thereof, is greatly reduced or alleviated completely by eating a Biblical vegan diet. It has even been proven to help reverse coronary heart disease. It will also automatically lower your cholesterol levels. It did mine. After becoming a vegan, it is a steady 110, and I never took drugs for it. The only foods that contain cholesterol are animal products, like eggs and dairy. A thirty yearlong study found that not a single person with a cholesterol level below 150 developed heart disease. That is hard to ignore! Yet, so many do. (There are many similar studies. Take it upon yourself to find some of them.) Vegans have lower rates of obesity, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, headaches, bowel disorders, cancers, and gallstones. Vegan diet, or Biblical diet if you will, reduces symptoms of rare diseases such as fibromyalgia or common occurrences such as acne. Food poisoning drops 95% for those who will not dine on death. We also live an average of ten full happy years longer. Want proof? You can find many different studies that prove this, or you can look at two of the longest living people presently on earth, the Seventh Day Adventists and the people of Okinawa. Both groups predominately vegan / vegetarian. Need further proof? Try a vegan life. Like anything, it will be challenging at first, but it is unlikely that if you give it a fair shot you will never go back.

“I said in my heart, ‘Concerning the matter of the sons of men, Elohim selects them, so as to see that they themselves are beasts. For the event of the sons of men is also the event of beasts—one event befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Indeed, they all have one breath—man has no advantage over beasts. For all is futile. All are going to one place—all came from the dust, and all return to dust.’” (Ecclesiastes 3:18-20).

Every day animals die because of our sin. I wonder if they will forgive us? I wonder. People are more important than cows, yet, I cannot let go that, while Hitler’s treatment of people as if they were cattle was beyond horrible, perhaps it isn’t so great that cows are treated that way either.

Side note: Some people will say anything to fight the idea of veganism. I have even heard people claim that Hitler was a vegetarian, so that means veganism is bad. Hitler had hair, but they never seem to argue that I should shave my head. Hitler bathed himself, and, again, no argument. To set things straight, though: Hitler was ordered by his doctor to eat a vegetarian diet due to stomach disorder and painful flatulence. Fact of the matter, though, is that we have ample written records of him smoking, though he claimed not to, drinking, though he claimed not to, having a mistress, though he claimed not to, and it has been documented that he often enjoyed ham, pigeons, turtles, milk, eggs, caviar, and sausages. A vegetarian who eats meat? Hitler conducted extremely inhumane experiments on animals and humans side-by-side; how anyone could be so desperate as to give Hitler as a reason against being kind is quite beyond reasoning itself. According to his chef’s personal logs, Hitler was not a vegetarian, and if he were then it would no more diminish veganism than it would diminish personal hygiene if it were found out that he bathed.

“Isn’t man an amazing animal? He kills wildlife—birds, kangaroos, deer, all kinds of cats, coyotes, beavers, groundhogs, mice, foxes, and dingoes—by the millions in order to protect his domestic animals and their feed. Then he kills domestic animals by the billions and eats them. This in turn kills man by the millions, because eating all those animals leads to degenerative—and fatal—health conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, and cancer. So then man tortures and kills millions more animals to look for cures for these diseases. Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being killed by hunger and malnutrition because food they could eat is being used to fatten domestic animals. Meanwhile, some people are dying of sad laughter at the absurdity of man, who kills so easily and so violently, and once a year sends out a card praying for, ‘Peace on Earth.’” -preface to Old MacDonald’s Factory Farm, by C. David Coats.

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live two thousand years ago and eaten with the Messiah? What meal do you think He’d have prepared? Would He have broken bread or broken necks? Would He have butchered the chicken or calf? Cut a lamb’s throat? Would He bring pork chops to supper? Or would He have watched a fish gasp for breath and die? Can you picture the Messiah showing a lack of compassion to any living creature? My vision is based on His desire from the beginning of time and His desire for the Kingdom. A table filled with fruits, and a salad of vegetables, nuts, legumes, and fresh grains. The same yesterday, today, and forever.

The same yesterday, today, and forever. I believe Him. Yesterday (in the beginning), He desired no flesh to be eaten. Forever (Heaven), there will be no death as He desires. So what of today? What is the Unchangeable’s desire? Pause and consider that.

The Bible describes Yahoweh’s concern for animals repeatedly (Matthew 10:29, 12:11-12, 18:12-14) and forbids cruelty (Deuteronomy 22:10, 25:4). After the flood, He made a covenant, stated five times in Genesis 9, with animals … and also with man. All creatures share in the Sabbath rest (Exodus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 5:14). The Bible describes animals praising Yahoweh (Psalms 148:7-10, 150:6), shows animals present in eternity (Isaiah 65:25 and Revelation 5:13), and affirms that He preserves animals (Psalms 36:6 and Colossians 1:20). Animals and humans look to Yahoweh for sustenance (Psalms 104:27-31, 147:9, Matthew 6:26, and Luke 12:6) and deliverance (Jonah 3:7-9; Romans 8:18-23). “Bless Yahoweh, all His works, in all places of His rule. Bless Yahoweh, O my being!” (Psalms 103:22).

“And Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said to them, ‘Bear fruit and increase, and fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over all creatures moving on the earth.’ And Elohim said, ‘See, I have given you every plant that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed, to you it is for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to every creeping creature on the earth, in which there is life, every green plant is for food.’ And it came to be so. And Elohim saw all that He had made, and see, it was very good. And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:28-31). (If you didn’t, then please take your time reading these passages.)

I’m being confronted with the violation of Torah, and it is just making me long to walk in Torah more! The prophecies are already coming true for this wretched sinner. “It has delighted Yahoweh, for the sake of His righteousness, to make the Torah great and esteemed.” (Isaiah 42:21). Does your heart warm at the sound of even the word Torah? Or has Satan tricked you into an endless winter? “And because of the increase in lawlessness, the love of many shall become cold.” (Matthew 24:12).

Most of the animals called clean are vegetarians, while the majority of those called unclean eat the remnants of others. Most of the unclean fish are bottom feeders, and the unclean birds are typically scavengers that prefer dead things or fish. The unclean are logically unclean because they are the garbage cleaners of the earth, as they eat the waste or death of other animals. Are you clean, or unclean? We ought strive to be holy for He is Holy, and we ought rest in Messiah for He is able to be what we can only strive in love to be. For that is a true principle of Torah.

If eating meat isn’t sinful, or at least undesirable, then why is it that flesh is not eaten in the places sin does not exist? If it was Yahoweh’s desire then why isn’t the eating of flesh at Creation and in Heaven, or at Sinai, or on the plate of Daniel, Peter, Paul, and even the Messiah, amongst others? Why? Death was never the desire of the Living King!

Many will come at you saying, “If we aren’t to eat meat, then why the clean and unclean laws?” So remember what I wrote earlier concerning Matthew 19:4-9. Divorce was allowed, but it was not His desire from the start. It’s not “you shall not murder.” It’s “Do not murder.” It is not written, “Of these, you must eat,” but rather, “Of these, you shall eat,” in the same way He says, “You shall sin against Me.” Sinning against Him is not His desire. His desire is evident in Creation and by the heart of innocent children!

I know that many may scoff at the idea of having an innocent childlike heart, and that you may even be amongst them. I know in some small town cultures it is seen as wimpy to care for the environment or for your own brother, but Yahoweh cares, thus, let us also. For the Torah is not just the Law in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—His Word is as much Genesis 1 as it is Exodus 20. Consider His desire.

“I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.” -Abraham Lincoln’s reply to friends who chided him for delaying them by stopping to return a fledgling to its nest.

Animal feces, a major contributor to global climate changes and acid rain, pollutes numerous rivers and lakes. From forest destruction, to underground water reservoirs, and even fossil fuels, we are killing more than farm animals. This waste of Earth is preventable if we begin caring for the welfare of humanity. We can feed more people on the food that animals, raised as food, eat, than we can on the flesh, dairy, and eggs they take from animals. The amount of vegetable protein fed to the US beef herds would feed almost the entire population of India and China. Over two billion people. That’s just the beef. Then one must consider our testimony of the Messiah to them.

The excrement produced by livestock is approximately one hundred thirty times as much as the entire human population. This would be bad enough even if it were not tainted with chemicals and diseased organisms as it goes into the water that many people will, ultimately, bathe in, wash their clothes with, and drink. It’s no longer causing the death of animals alone, men and women too have fallen because society deems it necessary to create this level of suffering in order for them to eat what they don’t need.

Americans spend billions annually to treat heart disease, cancer, obesity, and food poisoning, which are primarily caused by animal based diets and the pesticides such illogical practice require. Flesh may be cheap in the short-term, but the short term will soon be at an end for those who offer themselves to folly. Truly, the meat industry has caused more deaths to humans than any disaster, even war.

It is imperative for you to see firsthand, or at least videos, of factory farms, fishing methods used, how chickens and pigs are treated, and to watch the execution line. Only if a man sees the holocaust, can he begin to understand its horrors. As horrible as these things are for your eyes—that is how horrible it is for your stomach. Then watch videos on gardening. You will want to garden, or at least eat from the garden. Nobody who sees an animal suffer and die has the instant thought of, “I want to eat that corpse.” No one. Not even the person pretending really hard actually feels that way.

The Torah forbids us to eat the flesh of an animal that has been torn apart (Exodus 22:31), yet many meats are mechanically separated (read: torn apart) and sometimes those animals are still alive when this happens. If you think you are somehow compassionate towards animals simply because you care about dogs, but you still eat chickens and pigs, then think again.

In America, and many other countries, standard procedures on farms are specifically exempted from all humane legislation, regardless of the pain and suffering they cause. Practices, which would warrant felony animal cruelty charges if an individual did them to a dog or cat, are legal when companies do the same thing to a pig or chicken. Pigs are as curious, social, and as intelligent as cats and dogs, if not more so, and dogs can learn hundreds of words and recognize faces and voices. Some pigs are smarter than monkeys at several things. Similarly, chickens enjoy one another’s company and like to play, gather together, sleep side-by-side, dust bathe, call to one another when food is found, and care for young to the point that they would die to protect them. At the slaughterhouse, “humane slaughter” laws are poorly written, and seldom enforced, while the slaughter of birds is completely exempt. To pay others to do things we would never desire to do ourselves is truly the symbol of willing blindness.

Do you believe there will be factory farms, or “kosher” ones for that matter, so we may dine on charred flesh in Heaven? No! No one’s idea of Heaven is animal abuse and torture. Even hunters! Can we continue to ignore the incredibly cruel ways in which animals are raised on factory farms today? In the face of increasing evidence of environmental threats such as climate change and the destruction of tropical rain forests and other habitats, shortages of resources such as water, and increasing hunger, can we ignore the major impacts that modern intensive livestock agriculture has in each of these areas?

Many tell me they are looking for kosher places for meat; however, when the people grumbled at Moses for meat, there were not enough animals there to feed them all. The same applies for alleged kosher slaughter. There are not enough farms or space to do it. But, if you want to be kosher, perhaps it’s time to get serious about it. No diet is more kosher than a vegan one. Kosher slaughter is not kosher as there will always be fat and blood and suffering.

Being born a farmer, and living in a farming community, many people get angry at my statements, saying, “Val doesn’t care what would happen to those whose livelihoods depend on animal agriculture.” However, if people did not eat animals, farmers would be just as busy, if not more so, planting crops that could feed the world. I am a farmer, a gardener if you will. Born and raised. It is an honor, a warm feeling, when I am called a farmer. Farmers do a lot. I simply feel we could do a lot more. To the point of the world respecting farmers and Christians as much as I do, as they have the Yah given power to feed the world both food and Word. Yet, each of us individually needs to make this choice before it is too late. Until we realize our power, then farmers will not be able to provide what we need! (Though each and every one of us should be gardening as much as we are able to feed ourselves, as well as those in need.) Every time we choose the right thing at a grocery store, we send a powerful message to all companies! Every time you choose organic, you send a message. Every time you refuse products or companies because they test on animals, you send a message. Every time you refuse to buy the drink with just a small amount of whey (dairy) in it, you send a message. The message? “We will stand for this atrocity against animals and humankind no longer!”

I cannot imagine that there is a single farmer whom would not love to plant and harvest a crop that would feed people and animals, rather than planting and harvesting a crop that will be used solely to feed animals to be slaughtered. Every farmer knows that wastes an exuberant amount of grain. Farmers, like Christians, have a hope of a well-respected name in Heaven, and they also have a dread of having no name at all. Do we farmers feed those who are hungry? Do you, as a believer, even care?

If life were a chess game, the government and politicians would be nothing but pawns. Corporation giants, from the oil industry to the military, are the kings and knights. Yet, we have forgotten a truth upon the chessboard of life. We are the players, and without us, the kings, nor the knights controlling them, can move, and save we decree it, nor can the pawns. We simply must have the courage to learn how to play, and the tenacity to play again after losing but a round of many.

The Torah forbids inhumane cruelty towards animals. Yet, in the United States, virtually all food derived from animals is obtained through factory farming methods. For those who think they are better for eating free range kosher animals, let me tell you, the alleged free range animal still doesn’t want to be killed, and there isn’t much more of an inhumane act than killing. Nearly ten billion land animals are slaughtered each year, and the number of aquatic animals killed for food is far higher. These animals suffer greatly from stressful crowding, barren environments that frustrate their instinctive drives, amputations without anesthesia, including beak cutting, dehorning, tail docking, teeth removal, castration, and other painful procedures. Slaughter typically involves terror and, often, great pain. Animals too sick to walk are also painfully drug to slaughter. You may have heard that if the animal cannot walk, or is very sick, the animal will not be drug up, killed, and then used for your food. Think again. Over ten years ago, when my heart was stone, I once worked in a factory farm. The worst thing I have seen was the pigs they killed and ground up for sausage. We had to pick them out from the barns filled with thousands by means of guessing which ones would not live to see next week. They were unable to walk, had growths, were as white as paper, and their urine was black blood. I saw it with my own eyes, and, hear it not Heaven … I was the one who drug them to slaughter.

“If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth.”-Chief Seattle of the Suwamish Tribe from an 1855 letter to President Franklin Pierce.

Let us take a moment and look at some Scriptures to keep in mind the love of Yah.

“And Elohim spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, ‘And I, see, I establish My covenant with you and with your seed after you, and with every living creature that is with you: of the birds, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. And I shall establish My covenant with you, and never again is all flesh cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again is there a flood to destroy the earth.’” (Genesis 9:8-11). Yahoweh, the Prince of Peace, made a covenant to not destroy the animals, while people simply make a testament of dinner. Yahoweh’s wrath was with man, and like the first death, the destruction of these animals was again solely the doing of man’s sin.

So what of the commandment, “Do not kill / murder”? Some vegans try to make the Bible say what they want it to say. I will not do this. The commandment is clearly, “Do not murder.” If it were, “Do not kill,” no one who kept the commandment could defend themselves, their family, or their homeland. No capital punishments could be allowed regardless of how horrible the crimes were. No. There is a time to kill, but there is never a time to murder, and the term murder, from what I have found, only applies to human life. Yet, as I have presented it to you, and will present even more, the consumption of animals and their products lead to numerous deaths of people, and meat eaters are the accessories to these murders in the highest degree. A person apt to not kill even animals is highly unlikely to murder a human.

“Do not muzzle an ox while it is threshing.” (Deuteronomy 25:4). By Torah, the Teaching of Yahoweh, we are not to even muzzle an ox while he is threshing grain, yet should we rip away a suckling calf from her mother, or starve that calf for days until it can be killed for veal? What an extreme violation of Torah we commit when supporting cruelty to animals by paying people to do these acts by purchasing the blood of their threshing floor.

Side note: We have seen Torah’s mentioning of animals by Peter as unto people, but this is also true of Paul. “For it has been written in the Torah of Mosesh, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.’ Is it about oxen Elohim is concerned? Or does He say it because of us all? For this was written because of us, that he who ploughs should plough in expectation, and the thresher in expectation of sharing. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap material goods from you?” (1 Corinthians 9:9-11). Paul read this command and knew it applied to people. This is not to say we have no obligation to the ox, but it is to say the Torah speaks often of the “weightier matters,” but we seldom see it when our eyes are clouded by gluttony. Do not muzzle an ox while it is threshing!

“And in that day I shall make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the birds of the heavens, and with the creeping creatures of the ground, when bow, and sword, and battle I break from the earth. And I shall make them lie down in safety.” (Hosea 2:18). Are we to long for His day to come, or live in opposition to it? Let us then break fishing pole and gun, sweep the horror from our farms, and allow the King of kings His good pleasure. “For your covenant is with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.” (Job 5:23). We are the stones, but this also means, just as in Deuteronomy 25:4, the animals and land. … Let us no longer be blind.

“And Babel, the splendour of reigns, the comeliness of the Chaldeans’ pride, shall be as when Elohim overthrew Sedom and Amorah. She shall never be inhabited, nor be settled from generation to generation; nor shall the Arabian pitch tents there, nor shepherds rest their flocks there. But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there, and their houses shall be filled with owls. And ostriches shall dwell there, and wild goats frolic there. And hyenas shall cry in their citadels, and jackals in their pleasant palaces. And her time is near to come, and her days are not drawn out.” (Isaiah 13:19-22).

“When you see the donkey of him who hates you lying under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall certainly help him.” (Exodus 23:5). Help the donkey. (Riveting commentary, I know, but: help the animal.) Help the one who hates you. (A weighty matter of Torah seldom done, but why?)

“When you come upon a bird’s nest along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young—let the mother go without fail, and take the young for yourself, so that it might be well with you, and that you shall prolong your days.” (Deuteronomy 22:6-7). Take the eggs or young birds if you must, but for what cause? Young birds might be for song or to raise humanely for eggs. What kind of bird does this refer to, though? An ostrich or a sparrow, a duck or a great hawk? Sparrows have so little meat on them that it would be impossible to obtain much food from their flesh, so I doubt this refers to gathering young to be eaten. It would be easier, and more filling, to pick and eat one pecan and one strawberry, after all.

I feel this is a step to compassion. A first step, though, is not the end of a journey, for to be as compassionate as Yahoweh one would have to leave the nest alone, or to only bring to it aid and peace. Hunting is associated with Nimrod and Esau, but never the patriarchs. How could one who longs for the Messiah dream of killing or harming a mother’s heart or killing her chicks? I affirm: ‘tis no dream of a saint whose eyes remain steadfast upon the King of Heaven.

Our view depends on where our heart looks. If our heart is downtrodden, then even the sentence, “I love you.” will seem only mockery of our sorry existence. If our heart is joyful in His Word then we know that Yahoweh loves us, and we take joy in the truth of His Word proclaiming, “I love you.” If we consider this verse with the downtrodden mind of death then we see with vision clouded by things not of Heaven. But, with a heart yearning for Yah’s Kingdom, then this may be for eggs to eat, or for beauty and song from raised chicks that are old enough for mother to leave. After all, this passage says nothing about eating them, so let’s not add to Torah by thinking it does.

While vegans don’t eat eggs, I see no harm in eating some once in a while if done as the Torah states, in love, a mannerism no factory farm has. Raising your own chickens or ducks for eggs can be extremely humane, so long as Torah is precious. If the free to roam mother does not remain sitting on her eggs most of the day then there is no harm in taking them.

If the chicks are too young to take from the mother, though, there is great harm. If you take young or eggs from a protective parent, then you will have to harm or kill the mother bird to do so. This does not fulfill Torah. On my parent’s farm, we gathered forsaken eggs and left sitting hens sit. We sometimes had to get new hens as the ones we had occasionally died from old age or a coyote. To do this, we would purchase young chickens from other farms, as hens do not often raise chicks. Those chickens were at an in-between stage and were abandoned by their mother, so there was no harm in acquiring them. If any of you have tried to get near a mother hen and her chicks, then you know well that it is best to wait ‘til the mother thinks it is time to let them go on their own. Otherwise, they will attack you, and again, you will have to kill or harm the mother. That is the absence of Torah.

Even “cage free” hens suffer greatly, and are housed in such tight quarters with hundreds of other birds that they may as well be in cages. Moreover, if we are not to cause grief to a bird, then how much more so to our fellow man who is grieved at our eating of flesh? Let us consider the heart of a mother bird, and let us never forsake the heart of humankind.

Some say that if we live as if the age of the Messiah were at hand it may very well hasten its day to us. I don’t know. But I will say, concerning this passage: I am missing something. There is something deeper, or perhaps right before me, but I sense the gift of understanding this passage is not yet fully mine. I will continue to be open concerning Scripture. I look forward to that gift, but, until then, I submit to you: what we know, let us do!

One other thing does chime in my heart as I write this, though, and it is that, “so that it might be well with you, and that you shall prolong your days.” resonates the fifth commandment, the honoring of the parents.

“Better is a meal of vegetables where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.” (Proverbs 15:17). Some take this to mean that it is better to have little with happiness than much with strife. While this statement is true, that is not what this passage says. With blood on the lips, I doubt there is much love flowing within the heart. Better is a meal of vegetables where love is.

Consider Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, who asked Rebecca for water for himself. She not only gave him water, but also ran to provide water for his camels. Rebecca’s concern for camels was evidence of a tender heart and compassion. Her love convinced Eliezer that Rebecca would make a suitable wife for Isaac (see Genesis 24:11-27). Moses, David, and Jacob, tended flocks, and they, like Rebecca, were seen as fitting brides. … Will we be?

“Yahoweh is good to all, and He has compassion on all His works. All Your works give thanks to You, O Yahoweh, and Your kind ones bless You.” (Psalms 145:9-10).

The word vegan was derived from the word, “vegetarian,” in 1944 as that term had come to include the eating of dairy products, eggs, and even fish. The beginning and end of vegetarian were taken, thus the term vegan. Since then, veganism has come to mean the act of eliminating all animal products in all areas of life, as opposed to simply avoiding eating animal products. Although veganism is a 20th-century word, the principles date back to the beginning of time.

Taking the extra step to see if any of the products you use have animal products in them is worth it. Challenging maybe, but take steps. Some might think that this is burdensome or straining a gnat, but that is Satan’s lie. No one is afraid to look at ingredients to avoid eating fat, cholesterol, salt, a known allergen, or something that just tastes icky, but we have a much higher Authority to answer to when torturing animals for an alleged pleasure.

I urge all people to consider what contains animal byproducts. Though most of the time these things do not have animal ingredients, they sometimes do, so consider things like: food coatings, drink additives, medications, drugs, pill capsules, calcium tablets, soaps, baby formulas, antifungal treatments, toothpaste, paper towels, and clothing. It is not I alone who thanks you for striving to walk a kind-hearted path.

Indeed, the vegan life does not end with food. Vegans have a tendency to become what some folks call, “green people.” When you eat a clean diet, your body operates more smoothly, and so too does your mind and heart. Vegans are usually the ones to seek out things like solar energy and other equipment that have zero to little impact on people or animals. They choose to “reduce, reuse, and recycle,” seeing it as valuable and not just a trend of hippies. They no longer buy things that enslaved people, or were destructive to people by destroying the environment, from little things like pens and socks to bigger things like wood and brick for a house. They have a tendency to include the love of Yahoweh in everything they do. Perhaps being a vegan is a little better for your heart than even the dairy board admits.

“Can you really ask what reason Pythagoras had for abstaining from flesh? I for my part do much marvel at what sort of feeling, with what soul or reason the first man with his mouth touched slaughter, and reached to his lips the flesh of a dead animal, and having set before people courses of ghastly corpses and ghosts, could give those parts the names of meat and victuals that but a little before loved, cried, moved, and saw; how his sight could endure the blood of the slaughtered, hides flayed, limbs torn from limb; how his smell cold endure the stench; and how the very nastiness happened not to offend the taste, while it chewed the sores of others, and participated of the sap and juices of deadly wounds.” -Plutarch

The children of today will never get to know a Tasmanian wolf. I donate to make sure they get to know the gray wolf. For these—these are my Father’s dogs. They have been faithful to Him, and us, for many generations. Do not rob your children. Do not rob their children’s children.

It is true; a servant of Yahoweh would never hate the animals that the Saviour loves so very much. “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she has put her young ones—a place near Your altars, O Yahoweh of hosts, my Sovereign and my Elohim.” (Psalms 84:3). While I do look forward to seeing my animal friends, as well as my human friends, in Heaven, I long so much more to see my Father, Friend, and Guide. This is the true meaning of Heaven: to be with Yahoweh. Indeed, even the animals know this and rejoice in it. Therefore, let us work harder than the ox, pray more than the otter, and praise more than the sparrow! Lest we are outdone by the love of animals.

“‘And all these My hand have made, and all these that exist,’ declares Yahoweh. ‘Yet to such a one I look: on him who is poor and bruised of spirit, and who trembles at My Word. But whoever slaughters the bull slays a man; whoever slaughters the lamb breaks a dog’s neck; whoever brings a grain offering—pig’s blood; whoever burns incense blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways, and their being delights in their abominations. I shall also choose their punishments, and bring their fears on them. Because I called, but no one answered. I spoke and they did not hear, and they did evil before My eyes, and chose what was displeasing to Me.’ Hear the Word of Yahoweh, you who tremble at His Word, ‘Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for My Name’s sake, said, “Let Yahoweh be esteemed, so that we see your joy.” But they are put to shame.’” (Isaiah 66:2-5). You cannot reach Yahoweh just by being vegan. Many try human means for enlightenment and each one fails. There has to be blood. Perfect blood. The Father’s Holy Sacrifice is what saves us. “And all of us have become as one unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as soiled rags. And all of us fade like a leaf, and our crookednesses, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6). Remember this very well: We are only ordinary slaves. We have only done as we were told. It is by grace we are saved. May we never stifle this grace for another by our lust for flesh—nor our harsh treatment of those who do!

So what other benefit does being a vegan have? Sure, there is health, but I mean real benefits, the kinds that last. Ministry. Precious ministry. It is a gift. Every time I have ministered His love, I have received His love in ways untellable. At least half of the times I go to a store to buy food, I get to minister to people based solely on my diet. When I shop, even at health food stores, the cashier, and people in the store, look in awe at the colorful basket of vegan foods (mainly fruit, grains, nuts, and vegetables). I am given the opportunity to kindly share why I eat this way. They engage the conversation with me! They see something different. They will know you by your love, and, by His love, we can share Real Love lovingly.

I get to share a little about the health benefits, but mostly I share how in Creation we were magnificently designed by the Creator to not eat meat. I expound on how He never desired death and suffering as it is for suffering that many do not see Yahoweh as the Loving Creator He is. They will know you as someone who believes prayer answered means living a prayerful life. On earth as it is in Heaven. That ought be the desire of followers today. In Heaven, there is no death, no clam chowder or beef stew or wars of men. … Love. They will know you by your love. They will know you as the one who planted the seeds of desiring the Desirable. They will remember your love. May no stain of arrogance be upon it. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven …” (Matthew 6:10).

I know you will be ridiculed, and even despised for this, but … “For do I now persuade men, or Elohim? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I should not be a servant of Messiah.” (Galatians 1:10).

Every day, new research comes out showing the benefits of vegan life. From a Biblical, health, ethical, and environmental viewpoint, no argument can stand against a healthy vegan / heavenly diet.

…

I save a few animals, and Yah saves them all. “Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; your right-rulings are a great deep; O Yahoweh, You save man and beast.” (Psalms 36:6). I share a personal testimony with one person, and Yah shares with all by His wondrous handiwork. “For since the creation of the world His invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, both His everlasting power and Mightiness, for them to be without excuse,” (Romans 1:20). I clothe a few children in Haiti, but Yah gave them more: He gave them the Spirit that Americans daily search for to buy. “And Shimon, seeing that through the laying on of the hands of the emissaries the Set-apart Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this authority too, so that anyone I lay hands on shall receive the Set-apart Spirit.’” (Acts 8:18-19). I tend a few plants, but Yah made them flower and bring forth. “So why do you worry about clothing? Note well the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, and I say to you that even Shelomoh in all his esteem was not dressed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:28-29). I care for a small patch of earth, but Yah made the whole Earth … and beyond (Genesis 1). Do not become arrogant! It is good to do good; however, it is not your goodness that saves, but it is your love of wickedness that can make more than just you lost.

Yahoweh will judge us, and you may have heard that He has a tendency to judge not only individuals but also cities and nations. Now I, like you I assume, am hoping for a lot of mercy on Judgment Day, but I for one am not risking what I needn’t foolishly risk. Matthew 22:35-40 ought be of concern to us when by our very diet we deny many of the poorest peoples in the world enough food to eat. Tens of millions of people die annually from starvation, and close to a billion suffer from malnutrition because of starvation. Well over 35% of the world’s harvested grain is fed to animals being raised for slaughter; in the United States, the figure is well over 65% and growing. Converting grains to meat wastes 65-90% of grains’ proteins, up to 95% of their calories, and 100% of their fiber. We could feed the world year round if the taste of blood and fat were not more valuable to “servants” of the Most High than the life of children. Harsh? Perhaps, and perhaps not able to be harsh enough to awaken those who think they are already awake.

How many Hindus do you think we can reach by eating cattle? They believe them to be holy and the reincarnation of people. They will not give someone who eats cattle one moment to share their faith. What they lose is as much to the believers as the nonbelievers. What of the Jews and Muslims? Do you think that your testimony of your love of the Father is going to be received over a ham sandwich? What of vegans, vegetarians, many pagans, Seventh Day Adventists, or those of the many Asian and Eastern religions who view the eating of animals the same way you view cannibalism? What of little children whose love of animals mimics the animal’s love for them? How much love can you share with them as you eat their friends? Let’s say you were on supernatural worldwide T.V. that reached everyone in their language, giving a testimony on love and the Good News of the Messiah; however, while you were on T.V. you chose to eat a bacon cheeseburger. More than one out of six people would not believe you knew what you were talking about based solely on what you ate. Is the artery clogging, animal abusing, and anti-Scriptural sandwich, worth the cost of over one billion souls? Is it worth one? At the time of writing this, six people on my block will not go to church based solely on the church either eating meat or eating unclean meat. The church doesn’t care. Do you? Trading another’s soul for the consumption of flesh does not sound like love to me. To willfully destroy life is being glad of the punishment of sin, considering it leisure or freedom. You have no idea what you lose if you choose not to improve unto following this. For those who argue against the original and Heavenly diet, and claim there’s no commandment saying you cannot eat meat, I simply ask: What about the commandment … of love?

“Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.” (1 Corinthians 8:13).

Be Blessed and be a Blessing
Shalom
-Valentine Thalken Billingsley

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Additional Scripture References:
Isaiah 66:17, Proverbs 25:27, John 6:31-48, Proverbs 6:5, Genesis 41:35, Ezekiel 4:9, Genesis 43:11, Hebrews 6:7, Ezekiel 47:12, Jeremiah 15:3, Isaiah 11:9, 1 John 4:4, Psalms 36:7, Proverbs 30:24-31, Isaiah 38:13-14, Ezekiel 34, Ezekiel 36:29-30, Isaiah 22:13-14, Job 39:3, Romans 14:15
Almost all the Scriptures that I used for pointing toward vegan living were discovered by me, and wrestled by me, before I became a vegan. Wrestle like Jacob, not like the devil. Jacob said, “Bless me!” the devil still says, “Did He really say: on earth as it is in Heaven? Surely your brother will not stumble.”