Introduction to the List of Rules

This is a list of rules we have made over the years that have come out of different times people have stayed with us, and with the way that these times are going to be so difficult, we will probably all have at least family members and friends that we will either be staying with or will be staying with us. Because one of the things about preparing is that if you do prepare and other family members, friends, neighbors, or even strangers don't, when things in the world start to fall apart, they will most likely come to you for help :), and may even ask to stay with you and kind of band together to get through those difficult times. So depending on your situation, you could have many people in the end all staying in the same house that might just be friends and family, or could be strangers too if Yahuweh/Yehovah leads you to do that because of how many people might be needing help. This in particular would happen if Yahuweh/Yehovah asks someone to set up a safe haven. And in that situation, the question becomes, how do you do that without everyone getting on each other's nerves from kind of being in each other's back pockets every day. Or if you have someone staying with you who isn't very mature in their relationship with Yahuweh/Yehovah yet, or who isn't a Christian yet, and still has a lot of their own flesh to work through, how do you deal with that?

 

So in comes the list of rules to keep everyone from doing certain things that would be difficult for others to handle. And one of the main reasons for having a pre-set list of rules is that as issues arise, it makes it less personal if you have to talk to someone about something, and instead of it being about kind of pointing the finger at them, it's more of a, "These are things that all of us are trying to do and live by, and it can be difficult sometimes for all of us, but the reason we do it is so that we can all live together." So there isn't the same kind of being singled out for something. It's more of a, "All of us are trying to do this."

 

In light of those things, we thought this could be useful as a sort of template, or at least give some ideas of things that you might like in your list of rules. One of the really awesome things about this list of rules is the introduction, and the ideas Yahuweh/Yehovah gave to show how the list of rules are about having love for each other, but also showing how rules actually give a protection for yourself as well from other people not loving you in a particular way, giving a way to keep everyone from being harmed in some way. So it was neat the way that He gave to talk about them, that they aren't just arbitrary things, but actually have a reason behind them that is important. It was also really neat how He tied in Scripture with it too, showing the reason why He created His own set of rules in His Laws was to do the same thing.

 

But anyway, it is here if you would like to use it :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rules that Must Be Followed While Staying with Us

 

Introduction

Matthew 22:36-40: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”  Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

John 15:12: This is my command, that you love one another, as I have loved you!

 

John 15:13: No one has greater love than this: that one should lay down his life for his friends.

 

As people, we generally don't like rules very much. We don't like to be told the things we can and can't do. Many times we think rules are made to be broken, and they are oppressive creations, made to take all the fun out of life. The thing we don't realize though is that rules are there for our own benefit and for the benefit of the people around us, and there is actually great joy and freedom in living by rules. They are the things that make a society able to function and allow a way for people to live with each other without completely destroying each other. This is because rules are usually always about love, and they exist to keep everyone loving each other. They are boundaries put in place that say, "Do not hurt the people around you in this way," or another way of saying it, they are the boundaries that say, "People can't hurt you in this certain way." If there were no rules and everyone just did whatever they wanted in life, all anyone would do would be to hurt each other because there would be nothing to say, "You shouldn't steal from that person." If there are no rules, and someone has something I want, why wouldn't I take it from them. You can actually see this very thing played out in the world we live in today. Most of the reasons why this world is such a painful place to live in is because we don't live within the bounds of rules that exist to keep everyone from hurting each other, and we live in our selfishness instead. We kill each other, we steal from each other, we yell at each other, beat each other, both emotionally and physically, we lie to each other in order to get the things we want. Generally, we just put our own desires above others and stop caring about whether our actions are hurting them, and when we stop caring about others, there is no reason to not cause them pain. Yet all these things we do to each other, and all the pain we cause each other, would immediately stop if we all just lived by laws and rules that at their core, are about loving each other. We would all of a sudden stop killing each other, and stop stealing from each other. We would stop beating each other, and putting each other down, trying to destroy each other. We wouldn't commit adultery and cause our spouses pain. We would stop using each other. We wouldn't have abortions just because someone had gotten in the way of our ability to live life how we want. The simple truth is, you don't do any of these things to each other when you love someone. As Yehovah says in Matthew 22:37, when the Pharisees asked Him what the greatest command was in what He gave in the Old Testament, He replied the two commands about love, the first one found in Exodus 20, and the other found in Leviticus 19:18:

 

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

This really is the core idea of why laws exist, is to keep everyone loving each other and not hurting each other.

 

This is also why Yehovah says in Matthew 7:23, "Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness," because the simple fact is, it's not possible to have a place like heaven when people don't live by laws of love for each other. What makes heaven such a wonderful place is that people aren't lawless there, and they actually do have love for each other. They live by the command to love one another in the same way that Yeshua loved us, as He talks about in John 15:9-12:

 

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.  This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

 

And how was it that He loved us? As He says in the next verse, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." He cared enough about us to put us before Himself. He laid down His life for us, and out of love for us, laid down His desires to not go through the pain He went through on the cross. One of the amazing things about all of this is that, as He says in the verse above, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full,".you actually have joy when you live by His command to love one another as He has loved us.

 

So in the end, these are the things that these rules are about, are loving each other, and the reason they exist are for everyone to be able to live with each other in a way that everyone can be happy together. Also, although you may think some things might be harsh, just know that they really are not there to be harsh, but to stop other people being hurt by a certain action, and they are there to make it possible for everyone to live with each other. The simple truth is, that if you really want to live in heaven, or live in a heavenly place and have heaven here on earth, then just love each other, because this is what makes heaven wonderful.

 

The other important thing to realize is that, it does take time to live your life by a law of love for each other. This isn't something that happens overnight, but the most important thing is to be trying your best each day to live this way and to have the desire to live this way. To also seek help to live this way, from both Yehovah, and the people around you if need be. In the end, this desire is the biggest thing, and also the reasons why Yehovah gave commands to kill people if they sinned a certain way, because without this, there is no way to live with someone in any peaceable or happy manner. There will be nothing but constant fighting and pain and suffering, because without the ability to care about people, all you do is hurt people. It's because having the desire in the heart to care about people is what causes us to sacrifice our own desires and love people instead, and it's also what makes us try to live better each day. Heaven is just no longer heaven when someone doesn't want to love the people around them. So this is the most important thing.

 

 

 

Therefore, with all of this in mind:

 

LOUD BEHAVIOR is greatly discouraged unless one needs a moment of squealing in absolute joy and celebration for something Yehovah has done :), just as King David danced in the streets of old Jerusalem.

 

When you listen to music use headphones. When watching a movie, keep the volume as low as possible or use headphones. Not everyone wants to listen to the same music or watch the same thing on TV as you do.

 

Loud behavior such as yelling, screaming, running, stomping, throwing things, hitting things or hitting people are not a fruit of the Holy Spirit and must be under self-control as much as possible. Emotional difficulties will be abundant in all of us. Hopefully we can offer kind words to one another and not use each other as an escape goat or a way to deal with our emotions, pouring out anger and frustration on each other by yelling at one another instead of wrestling all of life’s frustrations with Yehovah.

 

If anyone has a disagreement, try to talk to each other calmly without tearing each other down. We can all try to keep from offending one another and not take offense when others do things by mistake that hurt us. It is a big first step in eliminating this tension. If needed, find a third person to mediate, and talk with the three of you all together to resolve the issue.

 

Mainly try to find healing for the past instead of just trying to live with it or lash out against someone for it. As we mature, we take responsibility for the mistakes we have made and try not to lash out against someone for it. We are only human and have all hurt someone or been hurt by someone, probably most every day of our lives, and in the end, we are all responsible for hurting someone just the same as we have been hurt by others.

 

Also, try not to gossip behind one another’s backs about things that irritate you. It's not love to talk about each other's failings and difficulties, puffing yourself up because you think you're so much better.

 

 

 

LAWFULNESS

We need everyone to be as lawful as possible. Sometimes we don’t realize what the law is and we mess up, but as much as possible, we will try to obey all known laws. Lawlessness opens the door for destructive consequences that could endanger innocent people in the building who did not break the law. This is also a spiritual protection for all of us because breaking the law provides a way that the enemy can do things that wouldn't ordinarily be able to happen. When we break the law we can also be a stumbling block for little ones in their walk with Him, and as He says, it is better to have a millstone around ones neck and be thrown into the deepest ocean than to be a stumbling block for someone.

 

 

 

ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES

Absolutely no alcohol or drinking inside of the building or outside of the building. Though it may seem harsh, alcohol impairs judgment, and also changes who you are as a person, making it difficult for others to be around you. It’s also known to make people care less and less about what they are doing, or the consequences of their actions, which means they care less and less about the people around them, bringing destruction to not just themselves, but everyone around them. Although cigarettes don't do the same things as alcohol, studies have shown they do alter brain function, even making things like schizophrenia worse. They are also a drug designed specifically to alter your body in various ways, which can cause problems when trying to interact with others.

 

If you are currently drinking or smoking and are trying to quit, we understand this can take time. Just try to do it with your whole heart, surrendering to Yehovah and praying for his strength and ability. All that we ask is that each day you are making steps and doing your best to stop them and these things are on the way out of your life.

 

 

 

DRUGS

Drugs are also like alcohol in the way they impair your ability to function or care about the people around you, but they are also illegal, and if you were ever caught with drugs, it would have exponential consequences for everyone in the building. So out of love for others, no drugs of any kind, and this is something that must be worked through before moving in. Yehovah can deliver anyone from drugs, as long as your willing to do your part and have the desire to stop using them.

 

If it's an emergency, and you have to stay here while still on drugs, because of it being illegal, and because of how much drugs can alter behavior, this is something that cannot be given any grace for like alcohol and cigarettes, and all drugs taken inside or outside the building must cease the day you start staying in the building. If you have to go through withdrawals because of that, we will help you go through that, but all drug taking must stop.

 

 

 

BATHROOM

This may be one of the biggest challenges if there are a lot of us in the building. The important thing to realize is that everyone needs to be able to use the bathroom, and also realize that there may be some of us who have digestive issues or are aging who can't always wait very long to use the bathroom. So try to spend the least amount of time in there as possible, and if there is anything that can be done outside of the bathroom, then out of love for others, try to do it outside of the bathroom. Things like shaving, combing hair, or brushing teeth, are all things that can be done outside of the bathroom with a mirror set up somewhere for them. Think of using the bathroom the way that you would use the bathroom at a store.

 

 

 

BOYFRIENDS OR GIRLFRIENDS

No boyfriends or girlfriends allowed in the building until we get to know them, but even after that, they are never allowed to stay overnight unless there are extenuating circumstances. If they do stay, then they must sleep in a separate room.

 

 

 

QUIET ZONES

We have found that it is helpful for everyone to have quiet times in the building. Ideally if we could keep things quiet from 6:00PM at night until 7:00AM, it would be great! Visitors need to come between 8:00AM and 6:00PM.

 

 

 

CURFEW TIME

Everyone must be in the building by 7:00 PM, unless there are very good reasons to be out later, like having to work or things like that. Socializing with friends is not a good reason.