Chapter 1 "Who and What is "Man?"

Joe's Journey: The shocking and disturbing journey of a Christian Pastor 

My name is Joe Gall, and the story of this personal journey is real. I have chosen to share it with you because many of you are questing for truth and the realities of our relationship with our Creator, God. Elements are deeply personal and  provide an intimate look into the working  of my soul. You will judge them and me and I welcome your thoughts.

Parts of this book are direct quotes from messages and teaching I have presented; some reveal intimately the wrestling of my soul to allow truth in. There is freedom in truth like in no other medium; it becomes a lonely freedom but a peaceful one. Few will follow this journey and agree with its conclusions. Not one, of the few I have already shared it with have been able to see what I saw.

In looking over how I shared my journey with them, I could see that the elements needed a certain order in the presentation. I have endeavored to do that here. Buckle up and hang on!

Joe Gall

January 2013

Chapter One

Who and What is "Man?"

As we "journey" I will refer back to teachings and messages I presented as a "Christian" Pastor.

While my beliefs are somewhat altered from what they were, we need to recognize that almost universally, our "beliefs," as "Christians," are anchored and influenced by the original relationship and writings of the Jewish people. As we trace what we "believe" back to its source, we'll find almost all of us live by the principals presented to Moses on Mount Sinai. Many Jews believe that the first 5 books of most of our bibles were dictated by God to Moses and provide the basis for a positive and rewarding relationship with Him and a good life here on the earth. We'll delve into that later. The Jews call these first five books the "Torah." Their Sages and Rabbis have spent decades studying those books and gleaned from them principals of living that apply to us today.

So, with your kind permission, I am going to take you back to a message I presented in 2009. Understand that the end of my journey took place mostly in 2011, and we'll talk about that more. The message, like your beliefs, is based in the outflow from those first five books. Many references are outside the "Torah," but are sourced back in the "Torah." All the books of our bible were written by Jews and are, therefore, sourced in the teaching of the "Torah." Scripture reference will be familiar to Christian readers and Jewish readers will recognize the principals, spirit, and teaching of the "Torah" in them. I have made some minor changes in wording, reflecting my new beliefs, but have left many intact and will tackle the issue of who "Jesus" is much later. Most of my "Messages" are typed in capitals for easier reading by me from the pulpit. I have left them that way.