Gearing Up for a New Year With God

 The soul of one of God's children is likened to a beautiful rose among the thorns of materialism. 

From the Zohar

I am going to do my best to start over with lessons from the weekly Bible reading again.  I desire to teach others the wondrous gems I have been taught for the last four years.  If you deeply desire to know more and more about God, perhaps this is for you.

If you are like me, I am terribly tired of cliches and the latest catch phrases for Christianity.  I long for God's word and to allow IT to change me.  There are far too many people writing books, Bible Studies and developing DVD's and programs with catchy phrases designed to entice us and draw us in, some with a personal agenda.

Please let me say that I do not disagree with many of these people.  They are teaching truth, but why do we feel the need to come up with a memorable phrase when God has done all of that for us in His Word?  I can tell you that learning The Word for the last four years has made THE biggest difference in my life. 

If I am going to try this again and hopefully write so that all can understand, I must begin with some basic concepts and I will try to put out one or two of those basics every day or two.  Please feel free to share these posts with anyone who you know deeply desires to go deeper with our God and His word. 

I would definitely love to tell you how I am not going to say, "God revealed this to me."  What I will tell you is that I have learned these things from my teacher, who learned them from his teacher, who learned them from his teacher.  I will do my best to not give information unless it can be backed up by several sources, no matter how much I might truly wish to.  Accountability is soooo very important and I desire accountability from my teacher and you, my readers. 

The new weekly reading schedule begins in about 9 weeks so I should have ample time to lay down the foundation for those readings.  Please feel free to comment or send me an email if you have questions.  I always encourage questions or comments.  I want this blog to be a safe place for those who have questioned things within the church for years, but were made to feel like an infidel if they asked.  If you have found condemnation other places, I want you to find love here.  Remember there are no stupid questions.  I may not have an immediate answer for you, but I will find one if it exists. 

My goal is to bring you along with me as I approach the throne of God, one step at a time.  I desire that you grow closer to the Creator as you journey with me. 

I will leave you with one tidbit for today:

               What is the kingdom of heaven?  Where is it and when does it start??? 

Shalom, my friend, Shalom!
                       

Unity???

  

 My husband and I stand in front of the unity candle at our marriage ceremony.

     I have been an active member of a mainline, protestant, evangelical denomination all my life.  Growing up in that atmosphere, I had never understood those denominations whose services were full of liturgy.  I thought they were stuffy and boring and missing the point.  Of course my actual knowledge of those churches, or any other denomination for that matter, was limited to rumors and innuendos from people in my own denomination.

     One thing I did have knowledge of, other than my own kind of church, was a mom and dad after God's own heart.  They taught me one basic thing;  to always read the entire Bible for myself and ask God to impart His understanding of that scripture to me.  They even reinforced the matter by telling me I should never take any one preacher or teacher's explanation of scripture as absolute gospel, but to search out the matter for myself.  I have been on that search about the deep truths of God's Word for most of my life.

     A few years ago a friend invited me to a class on 1st Century Judaism, taught by a Lutheran minister who is also a Jew by birth.  I was a little skeptical at first, but the mere mention of the name of the class surged through me with great excitement.  The class is known as Torah Tuesday.  In the midst of attending this class I have visited this church several times and I have realized a great misconception on my part.  Let me revert back in my life for a moment to help you understand my point of view as well as give you a little something to think about.

     My denomination, while conservative in it's teachings, encourages a certain level of freedom of expression during worship.  If you want to sit during the worship it is okay.  If you want to stand and raise your hands while saying hallelujah, that is okay as well.  We don't judge those who "feel the Spirit" during their time with God.  We do, however, tend to think differently about those who worship in liturgical congregations and I must admit that I was one of the worst in doing so.  I was so judgmental that I wrote a book several years ago along that line.  I gave the book to several people in my denomination whose opinion I trusted wholeheartedly.  Each of them gave me back the draft with words such as, "It was nice," or "It would make a great instructional manual."  (Just their way of saying kindly, "Oh dear, how can we tell her this book is awful!")

     I was brokenhearted at the comments.  There was no enthusiasm for my words. (Ahh perhaps that was the problem, they were my words...a realization that just hit me.)  Rather than stew over it, I vowed that I would put it away until God revealed otherwise.  If all of those trusted people said the same thing, well.....

    Now fast forward five years.  I have been in this class regularly for four of those years and worshiped with that particular congregation about 10 times.  I have also, through this class, studied the beginnings of Christianity from an entirely new perspective.  Where I once saw liturgy as rote and mindless tradition, I now understand it as unity.

     In my last post I mentioned that the United States appears more divided now than at anytime since the Civil War.  I still believe that to be true.  According to a survey by The Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB), there are over 300,000 Christian based congregations who worship each week.  Of those, approximately 100,000 are either fully or in part liturgical and 200,000 are not.  I would wager a guess here to say that on any given weekend only about 57,000 of those congregations are on the same page.  Although that is a great many, on the other hand there are about 243,000 congregations who are each doing their own thing.  Although they probably all teach from the Bible, they greatly differ on the scripture reference and interpretations and that is not unity.  About the only time those 200,000+ are unified is; Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day. (If you are part of an evangelical congregation, how many times have you attended on Mother's Day and made that face, because you knew you were going to hear Proverbs 31 preached again!) 

     If all 300,000+ congregations believe in the same God and in the same Savior, why aren't they unified?   Have they misinterpreted God's Word in some way?  Think along with me on this, the apostle Paul said that God is a God of order.  If this is so, why are His people so disorderly?

     My study of 1st Century Judaism has brought about a thought process.  What would and could happen if ALL God's people got on the same page?  How wonderful is it when many people from various walks of life come together with a unified agenda, putting aside their differences on things which aren't applicable to the cause?  What accomplishments can be achieved with unity?

     Let me take this one step further.  What if every church in the world read the same scripture this coming weekend?  All churches, no matter the denomination, lifting up their voices as one in unity?  Would the gates of hell crumble?  Would this one simple act be THE ACTION which would herald in the return of the Messiah?

     I want to give you a couple of examples of what unity can do..    

Joshua 6:20,  "So the people (Israelites) shouted, and [the priests] blew with the shofar (horns). And it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the shofar, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city."

Nehemiah 8:1-9,  "When the month of Tishri arrived, the children of Israel gathered together as one at the plaza before the Water Gate and they asked Ezra the scholar to bring the scroll of the Torah of Moses, which HASHEM (the Lord God) had commanded to Israel.  So Ezra the Kohen (Priest) brought the Torah before the congregation - men and women, and all those who could listen with understanding - on the first day of Tishri (Rosh Hashanah - a holy day which begins 10 days of awe and ends with Yom Kippur, the day of atonement).  He read from it before the plaza that is before the Water Gate, from the first light until midday, in front of the common men and women and those who understood; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Torah scroll.  Ezra the scholar stood on a wooden tower that they made for the purpose......(the portion omitted here lists 13 men, 6 of whom stood on Ezra's right and 7 who stood on his left)........Ezra opened the scroll before the eyes of all the people, for he was above all the people; and when he opened it all the people stood silent.  Ezra blessed HASHEM, the great God, and all the people answered 'Amen! Amen!' with their hands upraised; then they bowed and prostrated themselves before HASHEM, faces to the ground......(Again men named who helped the people understand the words they were hearing. I could teach an entire lesson on just the names of all these men, but alas that is for another time.).......They read in the scroll, in God's Torah, clearly, with the application of wisdom, and they helped the people understand the reading.  Then Nehemiah, who is the Tirshatha (Persian official) as well as Ezra the Kohen, the scholar, and the Levites who were helping the people understand, said to all the people, 'Today is sacred to HASHEM your God; do not mourn and do not weep.'  For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Torah."

     I know the last passage was lengthy, but I wanted to capture the context.  The first temple had been destroyed and the people of Israel had been in captivity in Babylon for 70 years.  Under great men such as Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah and their influence over the Babylonian Kings, the people were allowed to return to their land.  Through the generosity and kindness of King Cyrus the second temple was built.

     As the Torah was being read the people began, as one, to weep as they realized they had been neglecting the Torah's laws.  Every time I read that passage from Nehemiah I am so deeply reminded of what took place at the dedication of the first Temple:
       
          "There was unison among the trumpeters and singers, sounding out in one voice to praise and give thanksgiving to HASHEM, and when the sound of the shofars and cymbals and other musical instruments sounded out, with praise of HASHEM 'for He is good, for His kindness is forever,' and the Shechinah filled the house - the Temple of HASHEM - and the Kohanim (Priests) could not stand and minister because of the cloud, for the Shechinah glory of HASHEM filled the Temple of God."  II Chronicles 5:13-14.

     WOW! What a day that must have been!  Something I long to see in Christianity.

     Although it is not exactly the same as our Gregorian calendar which is solar, the Jewish calendar is lunar and has a specified scripture for each week.  It is the same EVERY year.  You could say their calendar is God's calendar or better yet, God's day planner for He is the one who gave it to them.  In every Synagogue around the world the scripture is the same.  The Jewish nation scattered all around the world is unified on each and every Sabbath as well as every festival and Holy Day. (Judaic unity goes much deeper than this, but that is also for a different post!  If you would like to purchase one of these calendars you may find it here:  http://ffoz.com/eretz-yisrael-wall-calendar.html  It is well worth the money and contains BEAUTIFUL pictures of the land of Israel.)

     What would and could happen if all of Christianity, within our congregations, began to follow the same scripture reading schedule as all of Israel?  What a day it could be if ALL GOD'S CHILDREN stood on the Sabbath and at the completion of that reading, shouted in one voice, "For He is good, for His kindness is forever!"  Could we usher in or shout in the return of THE MESSIAH?

     

   SHALOM!
     

What will you do with what you see?

One event changed millions of lives forever.  Not only did that event change the lives of that generation, but would change the lives of future generations forever as well.  If you are a Christian you probably think I am talking about the birth of Jesus, but I am not.  I am referring to a world event that is so horrendous, many of us refuse to think about it.  We have heard about it throughout our lives, but most will probably not seek out anything more than their high school history class provided.

Only a few days ago my husband and I traveled to Washington, DC.  There were a number of sights I wanted to see, but one was at the top of my list and I was not leaving DC until I had visited it.  The first day we visited Arlington National Cemetery.  The sight of the graves and the changing of the guard was overwhelming, but that was not my top priority.

The second day we visited most of the memorials, but that was not my highest priority either.  Finally on the third day I received the reward of my patience, The Holocaust Museum of Washington, DC.  That one museum was the reason we chose DC to begin with.  I have researched the Holocaust and watched videos of survivors telling their story for the past few months.  Why is the Holocaust so important to me seeing that I have no relatives, that I know of, who were affected by that event?  Prior to my trip I had no clear answer, but now I do.  The museum brought all the research together for me in a tremendously poignant way. 

For almost a year now our country has been in turmoil.  First a young unarmed black man was shot and killed by a white police officer.  Next a young black teen was shot and killed by a white police officer, because the officer thought the boy was pulling a gun on him.  The gun turned out to be a toy gun.  Thirdly a black man was arrested, placed in the back of a police van and died hours later from an injury he apparently received while in the back of that van.  A black man was wrestled to the ground by several police officers and one white officer put him in a choke hold.  The black man died from that hold. 

Three weeks ago a young white man walked into a historic predominantly black church and spent an hour with the members in a prayer meeting before standing up, shouting racial slurs and gunning down nine people.  As a result the nation has been in a total uproar over a flag, a piece of cloth.  While the nation was drawing lines in the sand over this piece of material, the Supreme Court made a thunderous decision, a civil rights decision that gave Gays and Lesbians the right to marry and for that marriage to be recognized as a legal marriage in all 50 states.

"Hands up don't shoot,"  "Black lives matter," "Police lives matter,"  "All lives matter,"  "I can't breathe," and "That flag is our heritage," "Marriage is between one man and one woman," have all become slogans across this great and mighty nation.  The United States of America, by the looks of my social media feed, is anything but united.  Gays and Lesbians are celebrating their rights, while Christians feel as though their rights are being violated.  Lines are DEFINITELY being drawn in the sand and I have been concerned over where this might lead.  Will there be another Civil War?

In the midst of this, just a few days before the celebration of our country's birth, my husband and I visit Washington, DC.  That first day as we entered the gates of Arlington National Cemetery, I turned to my husband and said, "I think we are the only people here who speak English."  Standing in that entrance I could distinctly pick out at least six different languages spoken within earshot and that scenario continued day after day.  As an English speaking caucasion woman, I certainly sensed that I was in the minority.

Then on day three, The Holocaust Museum.  I walked through the museum, watched the videos, heard the stories of survivors, saw the pictures and cried.  The first video instructed us about how Hitler and his army came to power.  The second video was even more unsettling.  It was about antisemitism throughout history.  The video touched on the fact that Christians have been responsible for a tremendous amount of this antisemitism throughout the past 2000 years.  I do believe we have made great progress in that area, but the past is what it is.  I cannot change it.

Today I have tried to form the words in my mind I wanted to say to you.  I have researched even more and I have to say putting this together has been heart wrenching for me.  I have been told all my life that ignorance is bliss, but it absolutely is not.  Ignorance is the very factor that allowed Hitler to commit horrible genocide.  Ignorance allows people to blindly follow a charismatic leader. 

I am speaking predominantly to my fellow Christians in this post.  I am not trying to be condescending here, because I am so very guilty myself.  This lesson has been as much for me as anyone else.  Part of this research has been watching a video containing thoughts by several people including a Jewish Rabbi.  This Rebbe states, "I could be a Nazi."  He goes on to explain that, "Whenever I think of someone as less than human or think of them as not deserving to live, I am a Nazi." 

I paused the video and contemplated his words.  Am I a Nazi?  Do I think of others as less than human? Do I ever think someone doesn't deserve to live?  Do I make that statement even if it's only in my head?  As a Christian I have been programmed to think that anyone who commits certain sins doesn't deserve to go to heaven.  Isn't that the same thing as thinking they don't deserve to live?

There is a verse in the Bible that says when you know the truth, the truth will set you free.  I know I am taking this verse out of context, but this statement can be used in every area of life.  Whenever we know the truth of a situation, that truth will set us free.  Free from judgement, free from blindly following a leader down the wrong path, free to love.

The truth we need to see in the decisions being made in our country is that ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUAL.  If we, as Christians, begin to condemn all those who believe differently than us we have become Nazis.  If we say all men must believe in our God, how then are we different from Hitler?  Hitler played on the "knowledge" of his predecessors, that Jews killed Jesus and therefore they needed to die.  Those Jews were worthless pieces of meat, deserving of death.  Those Jews were inferior creatures.

Hitler's way of thinking didn't just stop with Jews, as horrible as is that fact.  He dreamed of a pure race of people; therefore he not only sought out Jews, but any person who had an imperfection either mentally or physically.  He also rounded up Gypsies, Jehovah's Witnesses and homosexuals.  Hitler published a list of characteristics that made up his perfect Aryan race.  Any person who did not fit that list was fodder for the camps.

Hitler arrested almost 500,00 homosexuals and interred approximately 15,000 of those in concentration camps.  He also exterminated approximately 200,000 disabled, approximately 220,000 Roma Gypsies and 1,500 Jehovah's Witnesses, (although close to 10,000 were interred in camps).  Can you see a pattern here?  Hitler had a list of characteristics and ideals that he believed were perfect.  Anyone who did not fit that list were subject to death, people who were subhuman.

We, as Christians, cannot afford to think in these abstracts.  God created people and he created them in His image.  All people are sacred; the disabled, the people who believe in a different god or in no god, people of other races.  All men are created equal.  If we, as Christians, begin to think of any other human being as unequal to us, we become Nazis.

I have said this before and I will say it again, our job in the kingdom of God is not to judge, but rather to love.  Jesus was asked, "Rabbi, what is the greatest commandment?"  Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength and there is another just like it.  Love your neighbor as yourself, for this is the entire Torah."

Guess how one truly defines those words?  Love the people who agree with you.  Love the people who disagree with you.  Love the people who do not believe in your God.  Love the people who commit atrocities.  Love ALL PEOPLE!  Love covers a multitude of sins.  Christians should be leading the world in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned.  We should be the poster child for love! 

We, as Christians in America are NOT being persecuted.  There is no state church in America and no state religion.  We may have the truth, but we do not have the right to force people to believe that truth.  We are not a perfect "race" of people.

As we were leaving The Holocaust Museum I turned to see the window.  This is what it said,"The next time you witness hatred, the next time you see injustice, the next time you hear about genocide, Think about what you saw."

Genocide did not stop with the death of Hitler.  It has happened again in Rwanda and at the hands of ISIL.  Take a very long look at Charleston, SC and, if we are going to pattern our lives after any current day humans, let it be after those men and women.  Love and forgive.  I am asking that you take an hour and watch the video I have linked here.  Watch as the daughter of a survivor, the granddaughter of a Nazi soldier, a Jewish Rabbi, a Catholic Priest and people from all walks of life and beliefs come together for healing and restoration.  You will find that within this video, the verse about a father's sins being visited on the 3rd and 4th generation tend to jump out at you.  This video is difficult to watch, so I do not advise it for children.  Until next time....Shalom!


 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4CKq3ywXL8

May the Expressions of My Mouth....part 2

Last week I talked about the problem.  I wish I could say I have solved it in my life, but that would be a lie.  In fact this week I have opened my mouth waaaaaay too much!  I think I need to re-read the previous blog post every morning......

That reminds me that I actually should be reading God's blog post every morning, first thing!  Now, that might be the start of the solution.  Why is that so difficult for me to do?  Well, I am NOT a morning person, but I am without excuse and so are you. 

The biggest step in stopping lashon hara in it's tracks is to:

1. Study God's Word, daily....several times daily.
2. Stay in constant communication with God.
3. Listen only to music and media that is positive and edifying.
4. Be on a constant lookout for ways to positively impact the lives of others.
5. Ask God to bless everyone in your sphere, naming those people personally.

Gee, that sounds pretty easy.  Well, it really isn't.  We live in a negative world.  A lot of people live in an extremely negative family situation.  News, co-workers, family members, friends, social media posts, television, radio........negativity is EVERYWHERE!

Positivity is a lifestyle.  We must make a conscious effort to change ourselves.  Start with baby steps.  Get in the Word and communication with Him first.  It takes commitment and continuity.  Start with secluding yourself for a short devotional every morning.  That could be 10 minutes.  Then, rather than responding, try listening before speaking.  As someone in your life spews forth a major amount of negativity, rather than listening to the actual words, listen to the hurt behind them.

Do you think there isn't hurt behind hurting words?  I know in my own life that almost every time I speak or think hurtful or negative things it is due to a hurt in my own life.  I may not even realize it.  I feel bad about myself and want to feel better about me, so I find someone who is a little worse than me to justify my feelings.

Ah, there is that word justify.  We want justice, but is that what God wants us to want?  There are at least 8 references in the Word about vengeance being God's job, not ours.  As we go through our day, surrounding ourselves with the most scripture, conversation with God and uplifting music, why not speak a blessing on everyone you come into contact with.  You can't always do that externally, but you can ask God to bless them.  If we are blessing, we can't curse.  It may not change them, but for certain it will change us! 

James said in his book chapter 3, verse 10: "Out of the mouth come both blessing and cursing.  Brothers and sisters this should not be so!"

I am going to suggest a book to read on this subject.  It is called, 'Thank God It's Monday.'  This book impacted my thought process.  It teaches us how to look at life and people from a God perspective.  If God is slow to anger, (there are 14 references to this in the Bible), it is out of His great love for mankind.....ALL of them.  The world needs more love, not more criticism and sarcasm. 

Take a step with me, (I really need this), and make a change.  Michael Jackson, regardless of what you think about the man, sang about several ways to do this.  In the song, Man in the Mirror:

I'm going to make a change
For once in my life
It's gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference, gonna make it right

As I turned up the collar on my favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin' my mind
I see the kids in the street with not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their need?

A summer's disregard, a broken bottle top
And one man's soul
They follow each other on the wind ya know?
'Cause they got nowhere to go, that's why I want you to know

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change

I've been a victim of a selfish kinda love
It's time that I realize
There are some with no home, not a nickel to loan
Could it be, really mean, pretending that they're not alone?

A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
And a washed out dream
(Washed out dream)
They follow the pattern of the wind ya see
'Cause they got no place to be that's why I'm starting with me

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that change

I'm starting with the man in the mirror, oh yeah
I'm asking him to change his ways, yeah
(Come on, change)
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make the change

You gotta get it right, while you got the time
'Cause when you close your heart
(You can't close your, your mind)
Then you close your mind

With the man in the mirror, oh yeah
(That man, that man, that man)
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Change)
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself then make that change

Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/michael-jackson/man-in-the-mirror-lyrics/#gcvoH9M53Kv4HKy9.99

So the next step is to join with others in making a change!  Read and listen to the words of the song:

We Are The World 

There comes a time when we hear a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And its time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth, you know,
Love is all we need

[Chorus]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So lets start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
Its true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand

[Chorus]

When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall
Let us realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one

[Chorus x2]

Songwriters
RICHIE, LIONEL / JACKSON, MICHAEL

Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Read more: Michael Jackson - We Are The World Lyrics | MetroLyrics  

 

link to the video:  http://facedl.com/fvideo.php?f=oennauuunkuw&michael-jackson-we-are-the-world

What if, instead of speaking words of what America should do to ISIS or other regimes who are out to harm, we prayed for God to bless them instead? 

Start reading God's word, communicating with Him constantly, choosing only uplifting music and programming to listen to, and asking God to bless everyone you come into contact with on a daily basis.  Romans 12:14 tells us; "Bless those who persecute you.  Bless and do not curse. 

Start tomorrow with first blessing God, then asking Him to bless your enemies, those who seek to harm, those who are negative Nellies, those who speak harshly at you, those who use sarcasm to make people laugh at you or someone else.  Use scripture to bless: Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28, 35; Romans 12:14; 1 Peter 3:9.....just to name a few. 

As I go to my Father asking His forgiveness for my thoughts and my mouth I ask that He would bless you in all you say and do.  Shalom!

The Expressions of My Mouth....

Have you ever thought about the complete definition of words we think we understand and use on a regular basis?  Words......  This past week or so I have been thinking, well perhaps it is better stated that God has been dealing with me, about my mouth AND my mind.  I feel the need to share this lesson with others as I go through it.

While preparing to write this post I struggled for a title that would not only get attention, but denote the seriousness of the topic.  The familiar verse came to mind, "Let the words of my mouth....," Psalms 19:14.  I looked it up in a new Bible I recently purchased and it reverberated the words  emblazoned on my mind from Bible Drill and Bible School days as a child.  "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, O 'The Name', my rock and my redeemer." The Scriptures copyright 2012 by The Institute for Scripture Research  isr-messianic.org

Okay, then I went to my Ashkenazi Hebrew-English translation of The TANACH.  It contains only what Christianity refers to as The Old Testament.  In that translation it is actually Psalms 19:15 and says, "May the expressions of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart find favor before You, HASHEM, my Rock and my Redeemer."  artscroll.com  

[Before I go any further, I urge every Christian to order these two translations.  YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!  The TANACH comes in two different versions, Ashkenazi and Sephardic.  Both will give you the actual Hebrew characters on the right page and the English translation on the left.  Go to these websites and order one today!]

Now, on to the subject matter.  (Hang in here with me, even if the next few paragraphs are difficult to understand.)  What is the difference in using "words" or "expressions" in the translation?  Well, thinking I truly knew what the word expression meant, I looked it up to be certain.  Ready for it?  Think you truly know the definition?

     According to Miriam Webster, Expression, (the simple version):
           

: the act of making your thoughts, feelings, etc., known by speech, writing, or some other method 
: the act of expressing something
: a word or phrase

: the way someones face looks that shows emotions and feelings

The more detailed version:

1  a :  an act, process, or instance of representing in a medium (as words) :  utterance <freedom of expression>

    b (1) :  something that manifests, embodies, or symbolizes something else <this gift is an expression of my admiration for you> (2) :  a significant word or phrase (3) :  a mathematical or logical symbol or a meaningful combination of symbols (4) :  the detectable effect of a gene; also :  expressivity 1

2  a :  a mode, means, or use of significant representation or symbolism; especially :  felicitous or vivid indication or depiction of mood or sentiment <read the poem with expression>

    b (1) :  the quality or fact of being expressive (2) :  facial aspect or vocal intonation as indicative of feeling

3  :  an act or product of pressing out 

Hmmmm..... from what I see in this definition, words are mere meaningless vocal utterances without expression.  Our mouths can spill forth many, many words which have absolutely no meaning one way or another without expression behind them.  In writing we denote expression by the use of punctuation.  For example, "I love you." or, "I love you!" or even still, "I love you?"  Did you read something different into the examples.  

 So what sets the tone for our words or expressions?  The Scriptures say it is meditations or thoughts.  What's the difference?  Let's read the definition of those two words. 

Meditations:

: the act or process of spending time in quiet thought 
: the act or process of meditating

: an expression of a person's thoughts on something

Thoughts:

: an idea, plan, opinion, picture, etc., that is formed in your mind 
: something that you think of
: the act or process of thinking

: the act of carefully thinking about the details of something

I really like the TANACH version of this scripture best since I think it conveys more meaning.  Let me paraphrase it for you using Webster's definitions:

"Let the expressions of my mouth through words, songs, utterances, and intonation as well as the overall look of expression on my face; along with the ideas, plans, opinions, pictures, etc., that are formed and focused on in my mind, continually be inspired and approved by You and You alone and bring You glory, O glorious God of heaven and earth, for You alone are my Rock and my Redeemer."

I hope this helps you to view a familiar scripture from an entirely new perspective and at a much deeper level.  

Now, why has God been dealing with me on this subject?  I attend a class every Tuesday evening where the students are taught the Bible from a 1st Century Hebraic perspective.  My personal thought process has literally been turned upside down for the last four years.  My understanding of scripture has been taken from a Kindergarten perspective, (which I actually thought was an undergraduate college level ha!), to perhaps a middle school level perspective. 

One very important perspective of the entire Bible is, as Jesus put it in Mark 12:29-31; "The greatest commandment is this: Hear O Israel!  The Lord our God is one Lord; and you are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind.  There is another like it, Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these."

Have we perhaps strayed far, far away from these most important commandments?  Could this be the solution to all that is wrong with our society?  Have we changed the words within our hearts to: "Hear O self!  I am the most important person in the world; I will love myself with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with all my mind.  And secondly, I will exalt myself above all others, cause I am worth it.  After all, it is a dog eat dog world out there and if I don't look after number one, who will?"

A few weeks ago my teacher taught about leprosy as spoken of in the Torah.  If you read the "laws" set forth in Leviticus, you will see a set of laws dealing with this atrocious affliction.  Many modern day Christians have tried to explain this affliction through the eyes of what is now known as leprosy, but it is far from this 21st century perspective.  Leviticus 13-14 lay out the conditions for which Tzaraas (translated in many Bibles as leprosy) is determined and cured.  

I will try to explain this affliction as best I can.  Tzaraas was an affliction that could contaminate a person, a dwelling and/or clothing.  The cause of tzaraas was something known in Judaism as lashon hara.  The translation usually comes across as gossip or evil speech, but it is SO much more.

Gossip usually implies sticking ones nose in another persons' business and then telling everyone they know the juicy tidbits they have discovered.  Evil speech implies either cursing and/or intentional hurtful words in order to ruin a reputation.

The true definition of lashon hara is, in its simplest form, negative talk....period.  It matters not if the things being said are true or false.  Judaism treats lashon hara as worse than murder, since murder is once and done whereas lashon hara goes on murdering the persons reputation over and over.  It continues even long after death, each time the tale is retold. 

So are you thinking that I have a gossip problem?  Well to some extent, all of us do.  The thoughts I have been mulling over and over in my mind are the amount of negative talk I let out of my mouth.  Going back to my earlier paraphrase of the Psalms scripture, it begins with negativity in my thoughts; you know the ideas, plans, pictures, opinions and such in my mind.  Good grief!  How did those things get in there to begin with???

If I could record every single word I say in a day's time and place everything under one of two categories, which one would fill up the quickest; positive or negative?  I have this sneaking suspicion that the positive side would have two or three sentences while the negative side would contain pages.  Add to that the tons of thoughts that go through my head which NEVER come out of my mouth.... oh dear!

The rules on lashon hara require an entire book, but I will give you the top eight:

1. Lashon hara literally means “bad talk.” This means that it is forbidden to speak negatively about someone else, even if it is true.  (Oh no! think about all those prayer requests we "share!")
2. It is also forbidden to repeat anything about another, even if it is not a negative thing. This is called rechilut.
3. It is also forbidden to listen to lashon hara. One should either reprimand the speaker, or, if that is not possible, one should extricate oneself from that situation.
4. Even if one has already heard the lashon hara, it is forbidden to believe it. On the contrary, one should always judge one’s fellow favorably.
5. If one has already heard the lashon hara, he is forbidden to believe itNevertheless, one may suspect that the lashon hara is true, and take the necessary precautions to protect oneself.
6. It is forbidden to even make a motion that is derogatory towards someone.
7. One may not even retell a negative event without using names, if the listeners might be able to figure out who is being spoken of.
8. In certain circumstances, such as to protect someone from harm, it is permissible or even obligatory to share negative information. As there are many details to this law, one should consult a competent rabbi to learn what may be shared in any particular situation.  http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/922039/jewish/Laws-of-Lashon-Hara.htm

So much is being reiterated through the media these days about the effects of words on others.  Most, if not all of us, can relate to how badly words can damage.  We know full well how much the old saying has been debunked: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me."  Many of us have known the impact of a harsh or demeaning word spoken at the right time.  Those words have impacted our lives like an arrow through the heart.

Each time my teacher brings up this subject, my mind begins to run wild thinking of all the many ways I commit this atrocity.  Outward expressions of our innermost thoughts.  We may laugh it off as a joke or teasing, but there is nothing edifying about a joke or teasing.  Let me give you examples that I believe according to the above 8 rules are considered lashon hara:

1. sarcasm
2. mimicking
3. cutting our eyes angrily at another
4. ignoring
5. laughing when someone else makes fun of or speaks in a sarcastic manner
6. saying things about ourselves such as, "I am so stupid." or "I can't do anything right." or putting ourselves down in any way.
7. speaking irritatingly or visibly showing signs of irritation at another person
8. kidding around
9. rolling our eyes when someone else appears, is talking or being talked about
10. practical jokes
11. retelling a story about something bad that happened to us or someone we know
12. and last but not least..... (in keeping with number 6 in the previous list - so please don't throw things at me), giving someone the finger....

Well, I guess you can see why I said God has been dealing with me on this issue.

Leprosy cannot be declared in this day and age, because there is no temple or priesthood.  Regardless, could this be the source of many afflictions that have arisen without a clear defining cause?   Be careful in dismissing this issue too quickly.  Can you say that you never commit any of these 12 things?

Every day it seems, I hear of another person experiencing physical illness that cannot be diagnosed, myself included.  I have been suffering for years without a proper diagnosis.  People are becoming sicker and sicker and we have looked to our environment, our diets, insects, bacteria and such without stopping to observe our thoughts which make their way out of our mouths. 

Observe for a couple of days.  Listen closely to television commercials, the conversations around you, the programming on television, radio broadcasts, news stories, etc.  Try remaining speechless for an entire 24 hour period and be extremely sensitive to the noise around you by listening.

If God SPOKE the world into existence, how powerful are our words?  But He is God and I am not!  True, but we are made in the image of God.  Words.....thoughts.....how do we change them?  That my friends is a different post.  For now, become aware of how much negativity fills your life.

Fixing the problem will be my next post, so until then.....SHALOM! 

Rent, the Musical.....A Christian's point of view....

I probably should have made this post part 2 of a post I published a few months ago, but chose not to.  It may also be one of my least well written (English wise).  Now, let me ask you a question.  Have you ever seen the play or the movie, Rent?  I have always wanted to see it, not having a clue about the storyline. 

A few months ago my youngest son said, "Mom, I am auditioning for the musical Rent at our local playhouse in the park."  I was thrilled.  He came to me one evening about a week later and said, "Sit down.  I am going to show you the play."  And that he did.  We had several interruptions and I didn't actually watch it all, but was left with a terribly uneasy feeling after watching it.  I just couldn't quite figure out why.  

I have since watched the movie and things which might have been unclear were better understood, but knew by then why the uneasiness.  My knot in the stomach was due to the seemingly hopeless feeling the characters seem to portray. 

As I write this post, the play only has three days left to view for our community.  Last week, just before opening night, my son asked me to come by and see a little of their run-through.  I was greatly impressed with the talent found in a small town! 

Now, why would I talk about this musical in a Christian blog post?  If you have seen the musical and read most of my previous posts.....you probably understand.  The musical puts Christianity to shame.  Now, at first glance, many Christians would proclaim the musical to be absolutely sacrilegious, BUT WAIT!

The main characters of the musical are: a gay couple, a lesbian couple, a stripper, drug abusers, homeless and oh yeah, almost all of the characters have HIV.  The musical also has a priest (or liturgical pastor) and multiple people who are doing well financially, but those people turn their nose up at the main characters.  (After an HIV death the priest won't allow the funeral in the church, because they can't pay for it.)

For me, the really bad part of this situation is that these events surround.....Christmas!  The time of year when Christians are celebrating the birth of our savior, Jesus,.....you know the man who LOVED all men?  He loved so much that He died for everyone. 

Christmas.  A time for gift giving and loving our fellow man.  So how can we, as God's children, just cast the homeless, the hungry, the disease ridden, hurting people of our society away?  Shouldn't Christians be THE VERY FIRST people to reach out to all people, especially the ones who need it the most?  We, as Christians, should be the ones who see everyone through the eyes of God!

If you live in Calloway county and have the time, please check out this musical tomorrow, Friday or Saturday, (April 23-25, 2015) at the Playhouse in the Park, 8 p.m. each evening.  I URGE Christians to attend and let God speak to your heart about how YOU can make a difference in the lives of ALL people around you daily.  Do not look at the outward appearance of a person, but get to know their heart.  Do not let your fellow human beings go through another day without hope and feeling unloved.  We are the hands and feet of our God.....so GO and DO!  Shalom!
  

Timing Is Everything (Part 2)

Sorry that I have been so long in the continuation of this topic, but before I continue I want to remind you of one very important tidbit.  If we say we are followers of Jesus, shouldn't we know what He taught in it's fullness?  In order to know what He taught, we should start by going back to the 1st century and look at what the Rabbis of that day were teaching and how Jesus responded.  Just a little something to keep in mind. 

Now, have you taken the time to think about the things I said in Part 1?  Timing is so important to most of our lives, is it not?  What about giving birth?  When a child either arrives long before the proper time or wants to wait way too long, complications arise.  When we arrive at a doctor's appointment and we have confused the days, complications can arise. 

What about timing and preparation on our part?  Have you ever attended an event dressed improperly?  Perhaps it was a black tie affair, but you didn't read that part on the invitation only to arrive in shorts and a t-shirt.  Or have you ever attended an event where it seemed everyone else knew the proper protocol, but you were as lost as an Easter egg?

In life, major events require practice, practice, practice.  Most weddings have rehearsals, as do plays or music performances.   We would never think of sitting down with an orchestra, taking our high school band instrument and proceed to join in on a piece we had never laid eyes on while the others had practiced for weeks or months.  There we are with our clarinet and a broken reed.  A beautiful masterpiece is being performed while our squeaking and improperly timed notes are heard above it all.  I can just see the look on the conductors face....not good. 

You all know what I am talking about.  You have probably seen those people, on videos or in person, who think they can dance like Michael Jackson or Rudolf Nureyev, yet to all those watching they look like a flailing fish out of water.....oh my!  "I'll just wing it.  How hard can those dances be?"  Right.....

I have a feeling that as Christians, this will be us during the Messianic era.  If those festivals will be held during that time, how will we know what to do?  "Well, the Holy Spirit will give us that information!"  Really?  Can you give me a chapter and verse on that???? 

What about those festivals?  "We, as Christians, don't have to observe them!"  While it is true that we aren't required to observe them here on earth, do you really want to look like a fish flopping around on the floor during a highly choreographed dance?  Every year as the festivals come around, the Jews are practicing and rehearsing for the GREAT FESTIVALS that will take place in the Messianic kingdom. Wouldn't it be great if we knew what to do at that time also?  Just asking.

More than rehearsals, these festivals along with the Sabbath are special in another way.  They are called moedim in Hebrew.  Moed is an appointment with God!  Did you know that God has a day planner?  Read the book of Exodus and Leviticus.....you will find all the important appointment dates.  Did you have a clue that God, before the foundations of the world, had set up appointments just to meet with you?  (See how special you are!)

"Well, we can celebrate these at any time we choose, can't we?"  Sure, but just like that doctor's appointment, it would be nice to meet with him/her on the correctly scheduled time.   More importantly than that is something so amazing!!!!  As we stick to God's calendar we find out how special these days truly are, because we are unified with millions of others at the same time! 

Think about this; you have sent out invitations to your children and grandchildren and other family about celebrating Christmas at your house on December 25th.  A few show up, but the majority aren't there.  Kind of lets the air out of your balloon, doesn't it.  Then the rest of your family straggles in days or weeks later for a quick meal and shove a gift under your nose, ask where their gift is and out the door they go.  As a mom I can tell you that I absolutely LOVE to see my children and grandchildren any time.  I will never turn them away, but how special it is when the entire family is together at the same time in one place!  Unity!  It causes one to wonder just how much those children care about their parents, doesn't it?

God says, "I have set appointments for you to meet with me.  Not just you, but all of my children both Jew and Gentile.  You have your invitation and it is a standing one for that same occasion at the same time every year," and only a few show up.  Among His adopted children, almost none show up.  Do you suppose God thinks, "I gave my Son's life in order for them to become my children, my heirs with my children by birth and this is how grateful you are?"

One more perspective and I will let this subject rest.  If you are a Christian you know that every time you pray God hears and answers you, but what is it like to pray at Church with a body of believers all beseeching God and praising Him at the same time? 

In my home town we have a July 4th celebration every year.  The only problem is that, for convenience sake, the city now celebrates it on the closest day to the weekend.  That is like saying that we are moving Christmas Day to the last Saturday in December.  Yes we celebrate Independence Day, but not necessarily on the same day as the rest of the nation.

There is just something about unity that makes all the difference in the world.  As citizens of the USA, we know what day is Christmas Day, Independence Day, New Year's Day and Valentines Day.  We may celebrate them on different days from time to time, but when we celebrate them all on their appointed day they are even more special.

Now imagine how much more God could and would do if ALL His children were reading the same scripture on the same day, every day, and were celebrating His Sabbath and appointments on the same day.    Just as the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho and shouted in unison, what would happen if we did the same?  What walls might fall if we realized how important timing really is? 

Shalom!