"The mandrakes give off a fragrance, and at our gates are pleasant fruits, all manner, new and old, which I have laid up for you, my beloved" (Song 7:13, NKJV).

For thirty years Hayden was the court musician to the Esterhazy family, one of the many enlightened patrons that emerged from the competitive patchwork of German principalities. Night after night dozens of pieces were performed in dimly glittering rooms. Hayden had to satisfy the inexhaustible princely appetite, writing for Prince Esterhazy over forty quartets, over one hundred symphonies, and many hundreds of occasional pieces. With such a huge volume of output, they obviously couldn't all be equally good. But this is one way that great things are done. Hayden said of his musical compositions:

"Some of my children are well-bred, and some are ill-bred, but now and then there is a changeling amongst them".

For those of you who don't know what a changeling is, this is a child believed by the superstitious to have been exchanged by fairies for the parents' true child. What Hayden meant in his use of the word was that occasionally some of his music was definitely not 'his', but came from elsewhere - by pure inspiration.

Some of the things I have written are without doubt not my own but have come as fresh revelation from heaven. They always stick out from everything else I have ever written. The 'well-bred' articles are things I have written that are in line with Yahweh's Emet (Truth) and are just different or personal ways of repeating what is already known, but perhaps forgotten or ignored, and the 'ill-bred' ones either contain human error or are just woffle.

I think, if we are honest, we will agree that all that we, as believers, produce with the gifts Yahweh has given us is usually a mixture of the 'well-bred', and 'ill-bred' and the 'changeling'. That being, I believe, inevitably true, given what we are, it bohooves us to be careful in how we render judgment on people, to not throw out the baby with the bathwater, and to seek the good wherever it may be found. Many, like myself, are great fans of Mozart but we don't ditch his entire musical repertoire either because some of his works were 'ill-bred' or because as a personality he was (how shall I put it) a bit of vulgar brat (let alone a Freemason). If we were to turn away from people because of errors of judgment and bad choices, we would end up being entirely alone in this universe. And what a tragedy that would be.

People are sometimes shocked that I quote from rogues of all kinds of dye, some atheists and even some from other religions, but I put it to you that there is always something admirable in everyone we meet, no matter who they are. And whatever is admirable does, ultimately, come from the Creator. Of late I have had a good dig at the Pharisees for all the contempt they have deservedly won for themselves. And yet Yah'shua (Jesus) also acknowledged their wisdom and experience - He just refused to accept their blindness to double morality.

A great number of 'changelings' have come through this ministry which have rattled the cages of the traditionalists but brought delight to hungry souls longing for emet (truth). The majority are blind to it, loathe it, attack it, and then run away from it, but there are always some who recognise it as their own, because Yahweh has already placed these things in their levim (hearts) ahead of time so that when they first hear or read it in words, there is instant recognition and a sudden gushing of simcha (joy).

The most recent 'changelings' in this ministry have been fresh revelation on divine tavnith (pattern) and the Festivals of Yahweh. Knowing that these 'changelings' are not mine but from above, even though they have come through my pen, has brought me great simcha (joy) and shalom (peace), and made the foundation of emunah (faith) under my feet so much securer. I won't be turning back. You cannot blame me, then, for bubbling over because of it and producing what I hope are some really 'well-bred children'! So if I am repetitive at times, forgive me. I will be talking a lot more about it as much more emet (truth) unfolds in the future.

The thing about 'changelings' is that they change you if you let them. And that's what happens when we exchange our own feeble light for Yahweh's. Sadly, it is tough on those who don't recognise or want the 'changeling' for themselves, especially if they are people close to you. When Yah'shua (Jesus) brought a changeling to the rich young ruler he turned tail when he realised what the cost would be. Many, many people have walked away from this work as each new changeling has been delivered and presented. And I am sure many will yet do so.

Both the "new and old" we will continue to serve here, and with ahavah (love), as well as the unfamiliar and the familiar. May you have your fill!

Acknowledgements

[1] Kenneth Clark, Civilisation: A Personal View (BBC & John Murray, London: 1969)