What Makes You Tick?

During my ten plus years being associated with VJRI and the excavations, I have often wondered just what makes these followers and supporters of Vendyl Jones tick, what’s their motivation. What are their goals, spiritually or regarding the excavation? What do they personally want from Bnai Noach or the excavations? Do they fully understand? (I might interject here that the following is my personal observations and reflections, not that of VJRI or Vendyl Jones.)

Throughout the years many widely varying types of individual’s have crossed VJRI’s doorstep. Some have been just curious. Some have had their own personal agendas to prove or disprove Noahism, or their own theories as to how things ought to be done. Others have been in it just for the thrill or entertainment of going on a tour or dig. Some few have actually looked forward to the recovery of the holy artifacts, returning them to Israel and the fulfillment of prophesy taught in the Torah. Some were just searching spiritually. All have been welcomed and equally introduced to the teachings of the Torah and the differences in those teachings for Jews and Gentiles.

Since Bnai Noach is not a replacement religion for their past followings,some moved on searching farther for what they think they want. Many were knowingly or unknowingly hanging on to the practices of the religion they left and looking for structured, pomp and ceremony, rules and regulations, all the formality of most Christian religions today. Perhaps, it was just too much to realize that Bnai Noach was simply a term attached to non-Jews wishing to align their personal lives to the Seven Laws of Noah and the Jewish People. (I will not attempt to explain or delve farther into these laws as there are numerous books that carefully explain and amplify this “belief system.”) A close, respected and admired friend of mine, Larry Borntrager, once told me, “There are a lot of things I really don’t understand about this (Bnai Noah), but I just know to do what is right!” I have never forgotten that statement and believe that he actually does understand the fundamentals and basics of the Seven Laws. He and his family have been an example to many of us for years.

In my viewpoint, it is not foot stomping, hand clapping, loud singing, crashing of cymbals or bells, hand waving, or all the things that some religions practice that a person needs. I personally believe that the constant learning of the precepts taught in the Torah and maintaining a personal and private relationship with Hashem is all that is required. Celebration of some rituals is O.K., but some are strictly reserved for the Jews and must be respected as so. That is MY belief system and my viewpoints will differ from others. That’s OK. He has told you, O Man, what is good! What does Hashem require of you but to do justice, love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8.

Furthermore, I have thoughts on the excavations in Israel. As I mentioned above, it is hard for me to understand the WHY some people participate in these digs. What makes them tick? Why are they really there? What is their goal for the digs? Do they know? Do they care? For me, the recovery of the holy artifacts and returning them to the Jews is my driving force. That is my satisfaction, my reward. We all look at the world through lenses with viewpoints of our own choosing. We view things as we want then to be or think it should be. However, is it what is required by Hashem? Does it fit prophecy? Don’t get me wrong! I do not visualize myself as someone riding a white horse, saving the world or fulfilling prophesy, quite the contrary! I feel that many people have lost sight of the goal, fell away with disappointment or lost their direction. For me, the goal of our excavations is equally important as the study of the Torah, but more urgent.

I have sat overlooking the hills and valleys in Israel and projected on my mind’s-eye how it might look with arid hills covered with green vegetation and trees, water in the dry wadi, and viewing the Shekinah of Glory over the Ark of the Covenant below. Fantasy or Fantastic, I ask you. I know that there have been a multitude of disappointments, setbacks, disillusions, innuendoes, out-right lies told, and obstacles over the last 30 years about the dig. There have been hundreds of thousands of dollars poured into this project. Has all this been the proverbial “dry well?” I believe that many may think so. OR, is just not time yet? Should we just give up? Should we just not care anymore? Did you ever really deeply care? These are good questions to reflect upon. Am I writing a “Hip Hip Hurrah Lets Go” article? Not really. I am only suggesting that each of you reflect deeply into your own personal conscience and analyze where your drive is, what your goal may be and IF you believe that supporting this endeavor is worthwhile. Can you afford it?

One of the attributes that Hashem has given mankind is the ability to choose. Will you choose to sacrifice having some item that you have been wishing for? It is all up to you. Nobody is going to know, except you and Hashem. It is not up to Vendyl, it is not up to me. This project is now and always has been about YOU and your financial support. There are no heroes, no champions, no personalgain, and no special people. It is all about what YOU want to do for Hashem. Are you going to give up? “What makes YOU tick?”