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1 FREE 1

2 A BOXED LIFE Stop. Look around you and think for a moment. If you re in a crowd, observe the way people busily rush to and fro, all of them caught up in an endless cycle. This cycle has been variously described as the rat race or the Machine or the daily grind. Most people don t even know why they are doing what they do, beyond the basics of survival and making a living. Most people try not to think about things too much and fill their lives with distractions trying not to consider the obvious. The hypnotic blinking colored lights of television programming can be seen through the windows of most every house late into the night and first thing in the morning before dawn. We are surrounded by a society that is quickly becoming electronically molded into an unthinking mass. We wake up, turn on the news, jump in the shower, and then grab a cereal bar as we rush out the door to join the herd of countless other commuters. Millions every morning make their arduous journey to work and then the long, laborious trek back home again. We live in a box. We drive back and forth to work in a box. We spend our work hours in a box-like cubicle. We drive back to our box home and watch our boxes every evening, until ultimately one day we die and are buried in yet another box TWELVE-T

3 The words from an old Pete Seeger song describe this boxed life aptly: Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes made of ticky tacky Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes all the same There s a green one and a pink one And a blue one and a yellow one And they re all made out of ticky tacky And they all look just the same And the people in the houses All went to the university Where they were put in boxes And they came out all the same And there s doctors and lawyers And business executives And they re all made out of ticky tacky And they all look just the same. And they all play on the golf course And drink their martinis dry And they all have pretty children And the children go to school, And the children go to summer camp And then to the university Where they are put in boxes And they come out all the same And the boys go into business And marry and raise a family In boxes made of ticky tacky And they all look just the same, There s a green one and a pink one And a blue one and a yellow one And they re all made out of ticky tacky And they all look just the same. 3

4 That song was written around 1963 during the post-wwii building spree as the babies were booming and suburban sprawl was taking root as the way of life for a growing majority of America. It was everyone s dream to own their own house to have a little piece of land and have the freedom to drive into the city to work during the week. This trend was taking over most of the country and became notorious and garnered the label sprawl yet this was just the symptom of a much larger problem. What was slowly being created more than ever before (not just limited to the housing market) was a cookie-cutter culture where people would think less and less about what they were living for and continue to chase after the elusive carrot dangling on a stick monetary security and personal comfort. Occasionally a prophet would come along and take note of the meaningless societal treadmill that most of the Western world is running on. With passion they might point out the problems with laser accuracy. But then they die of a heroin overdose or fade into the memory of the gray or simply become numb themselves due to their success. It seems that nothing ever changes all of the movements fizzle out. The world machine churns on with ever-increasing power, while few seem to notice. So what good was our life on this planet? What good are we doing? What was the purpose for living our seventy-or-so years in all those boxes? In the end, the box contains our bones until who knows when, or until they turn back to dust along with the casket. As the Bible says, you were made of dust, and to dust you shall return. But then what? What good is it to return to dust? When you re dead, you re dead. It doesn t matter how long you lived. What good did you do for others who are going to die also? So why should you try to be good? How good will you be dead? TWELVE-T

5 Many people or a few anyway have come to their senses and cried out, What am I living for? Why was I created? What am I doing here on earth? If I was created, where is my Creator? And who is He? God? I want to know. I want to know! Only when one comes to the realization that the life he is living here on earth has no meaning, and he comes to the end of pretending, or trying to pretend that it does, will he ever know his purpose. Are we going to spend the rest of our lives trying to pretend that our life has eternal significance or consequences? And if it doesn t, then why are we living in the first place? The truth is, the majority of people are not living up to their created potential. All of mankind has been endowed with great worth and purpose an original intended destiny of filling the universe with the likeness of the Creator, since human beings were made in His exact image. Humans were declared to be exceedingly good, the crowning achievement of all creation, and given the charge to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Yet we all know the story of how Adam and Eve fell from that original state and entered into an irrevocable contract with death. You have such value and inherent worth as a human being. An eternal destiny awaits you, far beyond the finite pee-dab existence you settle for now. You can experience a foretaste of eternal life now in this age by following the true Prophet Messiah Yahshua (The Hebrew name of Christ). We write this because we want you to know that it is possible to break out of the box and find true freedom. w 5

6 Like A He knew that no man had ever made it through the ordeal. Like an obstacle course through a desert, each hurdle, each almost insurmountable obstacle tested whether he would win the prize that held his heart spellbound. Each day that the sun came up and each night that it set brought him closer. Nothing could hold him back neither fire, nor water, nor test upon test upon test. Like a man in the twilight working feverishly to finish before nightfall, he raced TWELVE-T

7 Scapegoat on, drawn by his love for something more precious than life itself. What was it? Wealth? Fame? Power? Pleasure? Were these what claimed his heart s energy? Or was it something deeper, longer-lasting, something living and eternal? It had to be. For he knew, as men have always known, that once this brief life on earth is over, we face an age so long that no one, not even the wisest among us, can grasp more than a tiny piece of it. Here we live our few short years that make all 7

8 the difference as to where we will spend eternity. If he could complete the ordeal, if he could run the course, then he would not be alone. Others would follow those who desired to be like him. On the last day, he faced his final obstacle. Death itself had come to test him. Like a scapegoat 1 thronged about by those eager to cast their sin upon it, he passed through a gauntlet of his own people, a crowd lining the streets, hurling abuse and scorn and curses. Beyond that came a second, more dreadful torture. All his spiritual enemies had gathered round and formed a gauntlet, too: like two long rows of savage beasts armed with long rods, swinging at his back as he passed between them 8 to break his spirit, to cause him to give up, to drive him to his knees, and into the ground, and down into death. Like the scapegoat wandering around in the wilderness until thirst or hunger or wild animals killed it, he took the sins of the whole world far away into the fiery darkness in the core of the earth. In that wild landscape he finished the agonizing ordeal. In a tossing sea of volcanic sulfur and molten stone, he received the storm of heaven s full wrath against sin. Like a helpless victim drowning in the flood, he passed through a suffering too great for us to understand. A universe of hurt and shame, of unpayable injuries and ruined lives, of TWELVE-T

9 corruption and perversity was paid for, one crime at a time, in that brief three-day eternity. Finally it ended! What had given him the strength to go on and on? Love, for certain. Only love grants such strength to endure. But wasn t there something more? Something else that had captured his heart and was the center of all his attention? What could have fascinated him so? 2 Who was it? It could only have been those who would follow him, and be like a bride married to him. They were the reason why he felt compelled to die. He wanted to save them from the horrible agony of unending death. He knew that once they understood what he had done for them, they would respond to his love with the same fascination he felt toward What had given him the strength to go on and on? Love, for certain. Only love grants such strength to endure. But wasn t there something more? them. They would willingly give up everything for his sake family, career, wealth, ambitions, dreams, comforts, even their very own life and interests. 3 This sacrifice, on their part, would come from their genuine response to his sacrifice and would bring about a new nation of twelve tribes. Though his ordeal is over, theirs is yet to come. Through all the labor that will take place, they won t lose heart, for he is their fascination.w 1 Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness. (Leviticus 16:21-22) 2 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:44-46) 3 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33) 9

10 Have you ever watched a beehive? It is fascinating seeing thousands of little bees working together to produce honey. As you come near the hive, you can hear an exciting buzz as they go about the many tasks necessary to keep the hive alive. The workers are responsible to collect nectar and guard the hive. The young bees keep the hive in good condition, feed the larvae, and support in other household chores. There is never a dull moment in the busy life of a little bee. Edah The word for community in Hebrew is edah, which also means beehive. This word portrays the way a group of people or hive of bees live and work together with a common identity. Bees live a selfless life of devotion to the bee kingdom. They have no concern for themselves but only for the hive and the constant production of honey. So it is with those who are in the communities of God TWELVE-T

11 This is much like the life that we have. No matter what we do, we love to do it together. Daily we gather to thank our Master for His salvation, and to hear Him speak to us through one another. This gathering keeps alive a genuine love and care for each other. As we work, we take advantage of the daily situations, guarding ourselves from the selfishness and pride that would come in to separate us and take away our love. Our children are a vital part of our life. We not only educate them, but we work with them to accomplish the simple tasks necessary to maintain a family life. Our life is not a dull routine of chores, but is full of the warmth that comes from the sweet fellowship of friends speaking their hearts to one another, celebrating the Sabbath every week, and participating in weddings and festivals. But there are a few things that differ in our life from that of a beehive. One is that we are not driven by instinct or controlled by something separate from our own will. Each of us is here because we chose to leave behind our own separate lives to increase the life of this hive. Our life is not enclosed like the hive of a bee, nor do we have a stinger to harm any uninvited guests. We welcome anyone to experience our life with us. Please come and see what it is like to be part of a beehive of people expressing the warmth and love of our Creator. 11

12 The The Commonwealth of Israel Come and see us! THERE IS A PEOPLE who woke up this morning with one thing on their minds to love their Creator with all their heart, mind, and strength, and to love one another just as He loved them. Being just ordinary human beings, we are far from perfect in our love, yet, in hope, we persevere. Our goal? That the kingdom of God would come on earth as it is in heaven, so that love and justice can rule on the earth. Sound impossible? It would be, were it not that the Son of God came to earth to redeem mankind, to set us free from the curse of sin, and to enable us to love. Because we have come to see His worth and our own desperate need, we have surrendered everything in order to follow Him. Our hearts and our homes are open night and day to any who are interested in our life or are weary of their sin and want to know the purpose for which they were created. United States ( ) MISSOURI Community on the Lake of the Ozarks 1130 Lay Ave, Warsaw, MO % (660) Common Ground Café, 145 E. Main Street, Warsaw, MO % (660) Stepping Stone Farm, Rt. 2, Box 55, Weaubleau, MO % (417) Common Ground Café, 100 W. Hwy 54, Weaubleau, MO % (417) COLORADO Community in Manitou Springs, 41 Lincoln Ave, Manitou Springs, CO % (719) The Maté Factor, 966 Manitou Ave, Manitou Springs, CO % (719) CALIFORNIA Community in Vista, 2683 Foothill Drive, Vista, CA % (760) Morning Star Ranch, Keys Creek Rd, Valley Center, CA % (760) TENNESSEE Community in Chattanooga, 900 Oak Street, Chattanooga, TN % (423) Community in Pulaski, 219 S. Third St, Pulaski, TN % (931) VIRGINIA Stoneybrook Farm (Washington DC area), Ashbury Church Rd, Hillsboro, VA % (540) NORTH CAROLINA Community in Asheville, 9 Lora Lane, Asheville, NC % (828) Community Conference Center (between Statesville and Hickory, NC) 471 Sulphur Springs Road Hiddenite, NC % (828) GEORGIA Community in Savannah, 223 E. Gwinnett St, Savannah, GA % (912) Community in Brunswick, 927 Union St. Brunswick, GA % (912) NEW YORK Oak Hill Plantation, 7871 State Route 81, Oak Hill, NY % (518) Common Sense Farm, 41 N. Union Street, Cambridge, NY % (518) Community in Oneonta, 81 Chestnut Street, Oneonta, NY % (607) Community in Ithaca, 119 Third Street, Ithaca, NY % (607) MASSACHUSETTS Community in Boston, 92 Melville Ave, Dorchester, MA % (617) Community in Hyannis, 14 Main Street, Hyannis, MA % (508) Community in Plymouth, 35 Warren Ave, Plymouth, MA % (508) VERMONT Community in Island Pond, P. O. Box 449, Island Pond, VT % (802) Basin Farm, P. O. Box 108, Bellows Falls, VT % (802) Community in Rutland, 134 Church Street, Rutland, VT % (802) NEW HAMPSHIRE Community in Lancaster, 12 High Street, Lancaster, NH % (603) Canada ( ) Community in Winnipeg, 89 East Gate, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 2C2, Canada % (204) Community in Courtenay, 596 Fifth St, Courtenay, BC V9N 1K3, Canada % (250) Mount Sentinel Farm, 2915 Highway 3a, South Slocan, (Nelson), British Columbia V1L 4E2, Canada % (250) Fairfield Farm (Vancouver area) McSween Rd, Chilliwack, BC V2P 6H5, Canada % (604) Call us toll-free 24 hours a day: TWELVE-T or visit our web site at: Please recycle... Share this paper with a friend!