Thursday, March 31, 2011

Acquiring Great Faith

Acquiring Great Faith
Hebrews 11:17-19
I’ve had people tell me, “I wish that I had great faith.” While most of us would like God to just drop that kind of confidenceinto our laps, it’s not the way He operates. Faith increases as a result of our obediencein little things. We all marvel at Abraham’s willingness to offer up Isaac at the Lord’s command. But have you ever stopped to consider all of his smaller steps of submission that prepared the way for this enormous test?
Throughout his lifetime, Abraham obeyed God. At the Lord’s command, he left his country (Gen 12:1-4), was circumcised (17:10, 26), conceived Isaac in his old age (21:1-3), and sent his son Ishmael away (21:9-14). By the time he was asked to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, he already knew that his God would always be faithful to His promises. His previous experiences had taught Him to trust the Lord.
In the same way, each small step of obedience solidifies our confidence in God. Then, when He challenges us with a more difficult assignment, a firm foundation of assurance enables us to trust andobey Him. Great acts of faith flow from our past interactions with the Lord. By neglecting His simple commands, we miss priceless opportunities to witness His faithfulness.
Having trouble trusting God for something big? Maybe it’s because you’ve ignored those “small” and “insignificant” promptings of the Holy Spirit. The Lord considers each of His commands important and promises to reward every act of obedience, regardless of size. Great faith begins with little steps.

Jesus continues His teachings concerning His second coming.

Matthew 25

Jesus continues His teachings concerning His second coming.
INSIGHT
Christians cannot compartmentalize their lives into the secular and the sacred. All truth is God's truth, and anything done for Him whether "religious" or not is sacred. Jesus equates loving your fellow man with loving Him. He equates serving those in need with serving Him. He equates caring for the suffering as caring for Him. You can love your fellow man without loving Christ, but you cannot love Christ without loving your fellow man. Whether you are worshiping the Lord or washing the feet of a bum on skid row, it is sacred and holy work if it is done out of love for the Lord.
PRAYER
The praise of the Lord's children is a sacred and holy work. Join in that praise with the psalmist:
I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable (Psalm 145:1-3).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous.
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins,
and not for ours only but also for the whole world (1 John 2:1-2).

As you confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Therefore we make it our aim,
whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
For we must appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
that each one may receive the things done in the body,
according to what he has have done, whether good or bad
(2 Corinthians 5:9-10).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Others to see Christ in you
The spreading of the Gospel
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever! (Revelation 5:13).

The Lord Will Give You A Song (Part 4)

The Lord Will Give You A Song (Part 4)
“How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?” Psalm 137:4
Israel knew they sinned against God; yet intending to rub salt in the wound of captivity, their oppressors mocked and condemned them. “For there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion’” (Psalm 137:3 NIV)! Like the old stocks of medieval times, Israel’s enemies used their yoke of oppression to bring shame and humiliation upon them.
If you’ve ever dealt with such shame, there’s Good News in the Word of God! Jesus came to “proclaim liberty to the captives” and “set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18). While shame and condemnation may come from Satan, other people, life circumstances, or our own hearts, Jesus never condemns us. Jesus came that we might be blessed, free, and prosperous! “Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing… Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14 NLT).
A memory recalls the past, a malady may describe your present, but the melody speaks to your future! The Lord has given us a new song. He doesn’t want us to sing a song of condemnation and guilt, of calamity and malady; “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:3 ESV).
Job 35:10 says that it is God, our Maker, who gives songs in the night. Anyone can sing when it’s day. A sunny day has inspiration all its own. But it’s not in man’s power to sing in the dark. When all hope seems to be gone, that’s when the Lord has to give you a song. He’ll give you a song based on His promise. He’ll give you a song of deliverance and salvation. So change your spiritual clothes, and put on the garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3)! “Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power” (Psalm 98:1 NLT)!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Our Standard of Measure

Our Standard of Measure
Luke 6:30-38
Today I want you to think about your interactions with others in terms of filling up a bucket and pouring its contents onto those people. With that in mind, let’s consider two important factors.
First of all, what’s in your bucket? Jesus points out a number of things that we can choose to pour out on others—namely, material possessions, love, good deeds, money, mercy, and pardon. It’s quite an impressive list. And yet, the Lord calls His followers to an even higher standard. He instructs us to give to “takers,” love our enemies, do good to those who mistreat us, lend expecting nothing in return, and grant mercy and pardon to those who don’t deserve it.
Why would He call us to such extreme action? Because as God’s children, we are expected to treat others the way He treats them—for “He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men” (v. 35).
The second factor to consider is the size of our bucket. Jesus says that by our standard of measure, it will be measured back to us (v. 38). However, we are alsotold to expect nothing in return from those we treat with kindness (v. 35). The ultimate reward for our loving and gracious behavior will come, not from them, but from the Most High God.
What are you pouring onto others each day? By showering them with grace, you display the character of your Father and show yourself to be His child. Use a big bucket full of love and kindness, and you’ll discover
that the Lord uses an even bigger bucket to lavish His goodness upon you.

Unfair Competition

Occasionally, discretion really is the best part of valor. The endearing heavyweight boxing champion, George Foreman, won over 90% of his matches. He is slightly bigger and has a four inch longer reach than one other heavyweight champion, David Haye, who has also won about 90% of his matches. Nonetheless, George would be well advised to stick to marketing his cooking grills. There is only one reason I discourage a ring engagement with Hayes. George Foreman is 63 years-old and David Hayes is 30 years-old. The way that the world really works, 63 year-old boxers do not beat 30 year-olds.

Here is another competition to avoid. Someone in your own age group and athletic league challenges you, “Let’s see who can complete a marathon more quickly.” You accept because you’re easily up to the twenty-six mile challenge but your friend goes on to explain, “Just to make it more interesting, I’ll be running the Tri-Cities marathon in Richland, Washington, while you do the Pikes Peak marathon near Colorado Springs, Colorado.” While it is true that both races are of equal length, the former is a smooth, flat course, while as the name suggests, those running the Pikes Peak marathon have to climb over a mile of elevation during the first half of the race. The way that the world really works, runners do not run Pikes Peak nearly as quickly as they can run Tri-Cities.

For my final example, I present one more contest. Team A has to demolish a multi-story office building while team B must erect a similar structure. Team A wins because, as we all know, the way that the world really works is that it takes years to build a skyscraper and only minutes to destroy it.

You see, there are many contests that appear to be fair but in fact, contain features that utterly distort them. The reason I told you all that is in order to tell you this:

Debates about God and Faith are intrinsically biased in favor of the atheist because they contain features that distort the fairness. I recommend you remain out of the ring.

The rules and restraints of Bible-based faith that confine and channel the instincts and appetites of humans are an amazingly complex structure that has been at the root of all of western civilization to which folks still aspire by voting with their feet.

These institutional structures that Faith built are far easier to knock down than they are to develop and put in place. In the same way that a contest between a builder and a breaker is biased in favor of the breaker, a debate between a supporter of Bible faith and a shatterer of that faith is intrinsically biased. When atheism debates faith, the major part of its arsenal is the rhetoric of ridicule which can be quickly deployed and as devastatingly destructive as dynamite.


Happy is the individual who does not walk
among the counsels of the wicked,
and who doesn’t stand in the path of the sinners,
and who doesn’t sit in the gatherings of those who ridicule.
(Psalms 1:1)


King David is describing destructiveness in ascending order. Occasional wickedness is bad but not as bad as habitual sinning. Both however, are not nearly as destructive as ridicule. What is worse, it is the most tempting. I might be tempted to walk past the wicked to catch a word or a phrase of their destructive chatter. I could quite possibly be tempted to stop walking and remain standing among the sinners so I can be titillated by what they are up to. But the ridiculers are so inviting that I could easily be persuaded to sit down. They are funny and engaging and while I sit in their gatherings, whether in real life or by watching entertainment that ridicules faith, they erode my soul.

Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree and signs of His second coming.

Matthew 24

Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree and signs of His second coming.
INSIGHT
Matthew 24 and 25 offer some of the most comforting-and terrifying-verses in the Bible. They detail some of the judgments to fall on mankind at the end of history. Yet God will not be caught by surprise. He is able to protect His spiritual children. If someone comes along and says, "I am Christ," we do not have to be confused. We know he is a false teacher, for Jesus will come in the twinkling of an eye - there will be no time for such statements. The God of power is also the God of the future, and we can rest in His sovereign care as we trust in Him.
PRAYER
As you rest in God's sovereignty, offer Him this psalm of trust:
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations (Psalm 100:4-5).
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory (Psalm 72:18-19).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving.

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned, every one, to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all
(Isaiah 53:6).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever. Amen (Revelation 7:12).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Blessing in your life roles: family, work, ministry
The Lord to send out laborers into His harvest
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Minorities meet

GALILEE DIARY
Minorities meet
by Marc J. Rosenstein
Discuss on Our BlogHow did Rabbi Akiba get his start? Until the age of 40 he had never studied Torah. Once he was standing by the mouth of a well and said, "Who hollowed out this stone?" They answered, "The water, constantly falling on it every day." ...Akiba said, "If that which is soft can wear down that which is hard, then certainly the words of Torah, which are as hard as iron, can wear down my heart which is only flesh and blood." And he went off to begin the study of Torah.
-Avot D'Rabbi Nathan, version A chapter 6
Yemin Orde is a youth village/boarding school located at the foot of Mt. Carmel along the coast south of Haifa. The campus was badly damaged in the recent fire. The institution is highly respected for its work with Ethiopian immigrant youth and its liberal Orthodox orientation. Several years ago Yemin Orde established a post-high-school pre-army preparatory year program for boys, based in the out-of-the-way development town of Hatzor, near the Hula Valley. Over the years, we have been asked to provide a program for these kids on the topic of Jewish-Arab relations in Israel. This year we started with a session for the boys at their dorm, consisting of a background history lesson and an activity on stereotyping. A week later, they arrived at the community center in the village of Dir El Assad. There were 47 boys, and the sullen way that many of them sauntered into the meeting room did not inspire optimism. The program director told me that some had tried to refuse to participate, but he warned them that refusing to listen to "unacceptable" opinions could be viewed in the army as "poor coping skills," and might affect their chances of being accepted in elite units.
Their interlocutors were 15 kids, mostly girls, from the village, who are doing a year of community service after high school, volunteering in the local schools and after-school programs. As usual, we set up small groups, so each Arab teen was assigned to a group of 3-4 Jewish kids. We suggested topics for discussion, but only as suggestions. Initially the room was sort of quiet, but it didn't take long for the circles to pull together and the talk to become animated and the listening intense. The best picture was the girl in the Muslim headscarf and the blue uniform of the socialist Zionist youth movement (with which the village community center is affiliated) in an intense discussion with four sons of Ethiopian immigrants about what it feels like to be a minority. The Arab kids had told us they had to leave for an SAT prep class after 45 minutes. An hour an a half later most were still with us. Meanwhile we switched to a frontal meeting, in which the boys had the chance to fire questions at Iman Kadach, a young religious teacher (22) who has been participating in these encounters since she was in high school. Her charm, articulateness, and knack for being painfully honest without being confrontational, enabled her to field and defuse hostile questions without fudging them. Waiting for the bus, one boy came up to apologize to Iman for the way he and his friends had "attacked" her. I assured him that no apology was necessary, as their questions were appropriate and asked respectfully – such dialogue is not an attack; another came up to Iman to tell her that the day had undone all his stereotypes. But of course I'm sure many went home still hating Arabs; one doesn't change a culture in two hours.
At the end of the session with Iman one of the kids asked her, "What do you think is the solution of the Arab-Jewish conflict?" She answered, "Just what we're doing right now; trying to get a sense of who the Other is and how he thinks." Sounds so naïve. We all know that there are deep chasms of history and belief separating us. But how can we cross the chasm if we can't even speak to the person on the other side? The program director reminded the boys that the vast majority of Israeli Jews have never had the experience that they just had – of a few hours of conversation with their Arab fellow citizens. A drop in the bucket…

The Lord Will Give You A Song (Part 3)

The Lord Will Give You A Song (Part 3)

“How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?” Psalm 137:4

It’s a subtle trick of the enemy to use what should be pleasant memories to initiate feelings of guilt, condemnation, and regret. While in captivity, the Israelites recalled memories of home and began to weep, yielding to the hopelessness of their circumstances.

Rebellion against God, resulting in Israel’s captivity was their malady. What is yours? A “malady” is when you suffer an unwholesome or undesirable condition or disorder. Your “malady” may be a sickness or disease in your body. It may be a past failure or mistake; financial devastation; family or relational issues; emotional instability, anxiety, or stress; a spiritual struggle with sin, bondage, or addiction; or you may be dealing with the darkest hour in their life. Whatever your malady, the enemy’s objective is to make you focus on your problem in order to cause you to forfeit the Promises of God!

He’ll get you to toil and struggle until you wear yourself out mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually and before you realize it you’ve lost hope, you’ve lost faith, you’ve stop trying, and you’ve lost your praise.

And the enemy has you right where he wants you. Because he knows that even despite what you’re going through, if you can lift your hands and worship God with a heart that’s still in love with your Savior there’s no way that you can enter the presence of God and leave the same way.When you connect with God He’ll give you peace in the midst of your storm. Everyone around you can be depressed, and you still have hope and joy!

There’s refreshment that comes from dwelling in the presence of God. There’s a freedom that is experienced only when you turn to the Lord! There is a level of glory only released after you’ve been crushed and you surrender yourself to the Father, and say, “Nevertheless not my will, but Yours be done!”

But when you’re more acquainted with your malady, then with your God the enemy has got you bound. He will arrest your Anointing and confiscate your confidence. He’ll bind you with condemnation, guilt, confusion, chaos, and calamity. But be encouraged today, don’t focus on your malady, keep your eyes on Jesus!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”
Hel­en H. Lem­mel, 1922
Send this message to a Friend, and go take charge of the day!
Be Blessed,
Katishia Gallishaw
Revival Time Internet Ministries

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Jesus responds to His disciples¹ questions regarding His future coming.

Mark 13

Jesus responds to His disciples¹ questions regarding His future coming.
INSIGHT
To the world, the idea of Jesus returning in history to judge His enemies and reward His friends is a joke. "Come down out of the clouds," people say, "and spend your time thinking about what you can do right here and now." Though the world doesn't take the doctrine of the second coming seriously, the Bible places great emphasis on the teaching. Christians, then, need to take it seriously as well. Twice in Mark 13 Jesus warns, "Be on the alert!" Properly understood, awaiting Christ's return should help us live righteously as we do God's work in this world.
PRAYER
Express your gratitude to the Lord for His promises by offering Him praise:
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
For He has done marvelous things; . . .
Shout joyfully to the Lord all the earth;
Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises (Psalm 98:1, 4).

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand (Psalm 95:6-7).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

As you agree with God, pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
This is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment (1 John 3:23).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater discipline in your personal Bible study
National and world affairs
Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen (1 Timothy 6:15-16).
Biblical Portrait
of Marriage

Instructor

Blessed to Bless Others

Blessed to Bless Others
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
God’s blessings tous are not meant to end withus. His desire is that they filter down to others. This principle applies in all areas of our lives, including finances. Did you know that our heavenly Father has plans for your money? God’s children generally want to discover what His will is for their lives, but so often they fail to consult Him about His desires for their paychecks.
The Lord graciously supplies us with incomes so we can provide for our needs and even our desires. But He also wants us to use our money to achieve His plans. And one of His goals is that we share
our resources with others. If we purpose in our hearts to participate in His plans, He commits to provide all we need to live and to give.
Just look at His extravagant promise in verse 8: “And God is able to make allgrace aboundto you, so that alwayshaving all sufficiencyin everything, you may have an abundancefor everygood deed” (emphasis added). Now, that’s a verse to claim as your own! Sharing our blessings with others will never lead to deprivation. In fact, the Lord promises to increase the harvest of our righteousness and enrich us in everything in response to our generosity. We can never outgive God.
A hoarded blessing is never enjoyed as richly as a shared one. Using your gift to meet someone else’s need glorifies God by demonstrating His grace at work in your life. Don’t let His generous provisions end with you. Pass them on and discover the joy of a never-ending cycle of blessings.

Pesach, Food and Customs

Pesach, Food and Customs
Tina Wasserman

It is my custom to shop for Passover goods late at night. In the day time I can add an extra hour to my shopping excursion because of the constant interruptions from fellow shoppers with burning Passover cooking questions. I love to help but my attention is already easily diverted from my own shopping just looking at the myriad manufactured permutations of common foods to conform to the laws of Passover. I have thought about the questions I am frequently asked in those supermarket aisles so here are my thoughts on the culinary “four Questions” that I am often queried. My first two answers were bolstered by the responsum found in Reform Responsa for the Twenty-First Century (NY: CCAR, 2010), vol. 1, pp. 65-76 edited by Rabbi Mark Washofsky.

The Lord Will Give You A Song (Part 2)

The Lord Will Give You A Song (Part 2)

“How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?” Psalm 137:4

Music paints a picture; it tells a story. Music is so powerful. The right song can lift you up and encourage you; it can make you dance or make you shout. Certain songs can even trigger emotional memories and past moments in your life. A song can teleport you in your mind to a specific point in time, to a specific place or event.

This particular psalm (Psalm 137) marks a time when God’s people were under Babylonian captivity. Verse 1: “Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem.”

A song can allow you to reproduce or recall specific memories. And when we talk about the Lord’s song, the Israelites would no doubt think of the times when they could freely go to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem. Hebrews are festive people. So being displaced from their Temple of worship must have left them disenfranchised, disoriented, and demoralized. How can we sing songs of praise when we are in such a deplorable condition? Songs like Psalm 106:1 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

So in verse 2 it says: “We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar trees.” They were so sorrowful in their current state that they hung up their instruments on the trees nearby. Feeling as if they lost it all, they found no reason to praise and hung up their harps. However, I do find it interesting that they brought their instruments with them. They may not have a praise right now, but don’t get it twisted, they are still a praising people! Let me tell you if you don’t already know, sometimes the storms of life can burden you so that you find it difficult to praise God.

But it was Job who said, “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). During times when the enemy tries to remind you of “better days”, you can declare that your best days and your blessed days are still to come! And make a decision to worship God in the midst of your midnight.

Monday, March 28, 2011

God’s Financial Best

God’s Financial Best
Malachi 3:7-18
The multitude of Bible verses that speak about money prove that God is very interested in our personal finances. Because this is such an essential element of our lives, He uses money to train us in stewardship, teach us self-control, and test our obedience to Him.
Perhaps the greatest area of the Lord’s testing involves our willingness to give. Old Testament law commanded financial contributions for upkeep of the temple and support of the Levitesserving there. And the New Testament tells believers to regularly set apart a portion of their income for kingdom work (1 Cor. 16:2).
However, fears and excuses sometimes keep us from faithfully carrying out this God-given responsibility. After all, giving away the money we need to pay our bills seems foolish. But the Lord promises overflowing blessings to those who obey Him in this matter. In fact, He invites us to test Him in this to see if He will prove faithful (Mal. 3:10).
By neglecting our responsibility to give to the Lord, we commit four sins. We express unbelief in His integrity and power, ingratitude for all He’s given us, and rebellion against His commands. And since the first part of our income belongs to Him, withholding it amounts to robbing God.
Don’t think that your financial situation will somehow prove too much for God and cause Him to break His promise. The trustworthiness of His Word depends on His character and omnipotence and is unaffected by your monetary challenges. Trust Him and give generously

The Pharisees and Sadducees attempt to discredit Jesus through treacherous questions.

The Pharisees and Sadducees attempt to discredit Jesus through treacherous questions.
INSIGHT
In today's passage, we see one of the most marvelous teachings in the New Testament. An attorney, intrigued by the quality of the answers Jesus gives to the Pharisees who are trying to discredit Him, asks Jesus what the greatest commandment is. He only asks for one; Jesus gives him two. The Lord says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart . . . [and] your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these"(Mark 12:30-31). The Christian life can be very complex, but at its heart, it is very simple: love God and others.
PRAYER
Because the Lord has promised to care for our needs, offer Him your thanks:
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the Lord with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
For the word of the Lord is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 33:1-5).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You (Psalm 5:4).
He will again have compassion on us,
and will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea
(Micah 7:19).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love
and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Your development of a perspective on life
Your own personal goals and spiritual growth
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen
(based on 2 Peter 3:18).

The Mystery of Birth and Rebirth

The Mystery of Birth and Rebirth
Naamah Kelman
This week’s portion Tazria falls in sync with the fourth of our five pre–Purim through pre–Passover special Shabbatot, when we include special readings for Torah and haftarah.1This week on Shabbat HaChodesh, the haftarah from Ezekiel prepares us for the important new month, the month when we celebrate our Exodus from Egypt. The reason that this week is a “double whammy” is because it also includes the particular Rosh Chodesh, “new month,” that is also the first month of the biblical calendar; it is the month associated with aviv, “spring,” which was later called Nisan. Later still in our history, this first month in the biblical calendar was replaced by the seventh month, Tishrei, when that became the “official” New Year in the Jewish calendar. According to the later Rabbinic traditions, Tishrei is the first month of the New Year and Nisan is the eighth month (see Leviticus 23:4–44 and Numbers 28:1–29:39 for the biblical order of the holy days).
The welcoming of the new month is another recurring chorus in our lives. Our Jewish calendar revolves around a number of inner cycles. The original cycle is agricultural. The next interconnecting cycle includes historic events that move us from creation to redemption, destruction, and renewal. The month of the holiday of Passover sits on the agricultural foundation of spring, when the Land of Israel is most green, lush, and covered with radiant and colorful flowers. In addition, this first biblical month announces the birth of the nation of Israel: it is the month we became a nation. Twelve months a year, we get our chance to renew; and on this particular Shabbat, we have the “renewal of renewal.” In addition, the weeks leading up to Passover revolve around the inner cycle of the five special Sabbaths. Jewish time is a never-ending spiral of interconnecting events, phases, seasons, and stories.

Another foundational cycle of the year is our parashat hashavuah (weekly Torah portion) cycle. This week’s portion, Tazria, opens with the mystery of birth. Just as the forces of nature and agriculture were thought to determine life and death in ancient times, so too was the force of childbirth. For our ancient forbears, blood represented life itself and therefore contact with blood could be both defiling and revitalizing. Childbirth rendered women impure, and therefore they needed to separate and then purify themselves in order to rejoin both the interpersonal spheres and the communal ones. We look back at these verses in chapter 12 of Leviticus, and are bewildered. We can dismiss this series of rituals as primitive and sexist, but closer examination brings our ancestors closer to us. The sheer power of the mystery of birth and—no less important, the survival of the mother in the process—was nothing short of a miracle. Therefore, she needed time to separate herself and then purify herself to fully return to her family and community.
To this day we are mystified by creation and birth and death. Our tradition celebrates the birth of the nation of Israel each Passover, and the birth of the world each Rosh HaShanah. On this Shabbat, we are reminded that while each new month brings the hope of renewal, this particular month is so special that our special Sabbath is designated as Shabbat HaChodesh. The additional Torah portion traditionally added is the description from Exodus 12:1–20 about that very first Rosh Chodesh. Our ancient Rabbis discussed whether the entire Torah should have begun with this special Rosh Chodesh. Exodus 12 describes the festival of Pesach, the first “mitzvah” we are commanded to observe as a people! Medieval Commentator Rashi brings this question, originated by earlier Rabbis of the Talmudic period, in his comment on the very first verse of Genesis. The question is a powerful one. Where does our story really begin, with Creation or with Exodus? The answer is more controversial than the question, especially when we read it today: it is that we begin with Creation, and since God created the whole universe then God can give the Land of Israel to the Children of Israel.
What is so startling about this commentary, no matter what one’s politics, is that second century Rabbis, and later, Rashi in the eleventh century, wanted to reaffirm our claim to the Land of Israel. Paradoxically, both the story of Creation and to some extent the story of Exodus, tell our tradition’s most universal stories. God created the earth and her bounty for all. The story of an enslaved people being liberated has been adopted by human liberation movements, most recently the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
Momentous events, whether they be personal, communal, or national, can be filled with mystery, wonder, loss, and renewal. Parashat Tazria focuses on personal defilements and impurities. Much of this could be explained easily by scientific insight and knowledge, and therefore easily dismissed by us modern folk. Today’s science combats the impurities of the past. The mysteries of birth have been so advanced by science in the twentieth century. The 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Robert Edwards for one of the great medical advances of our age: in vitro fertilization. When introducing the prize winner the Nobel Committee said that this development was, ”Like a miracle, this method has enabled many involuntarily childless couples to have babies.”2 Since 1978 more than four million babies have been born using this breakthrough “miraculous scientific” method.
We know that Robert Edwards could “explain” exactly what he did, but what he probably cannot explain is the faith, tenacity, and hope he held onto when he and his colleague met with failure, resistance, and confrontation. These are the mysterious wellsprings of renewal that make science open to the mystery. Our ancient priests and Rabbis did not have these technologies but they left us with the same sense of awe and mystery.
As spring is upon us in full bloom, let us look at the wonders of Creation as we prepare to celebrate the joys of liberation. And remember, this special Shabbat invites us to celebrate this month, and every new month, as the blessing and mystery of birth and rebirth.

The Lord Will Give You A Song

The Lord Will Give You A Song
"How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?" Psalm 137:4
Interesting question… How can I sing when my world is falling apart? How can I praise God when my circumstances are not praiseworthy? How can I be joyful when darkness and sorrow are all around me? Well my beloved sister, my highly favored brother, in the darkest of nights… The Lord Will Give You A Song!
But you’re not singing for your haters or backstabbers – you are not praising God for your condition, but you praise God for your conclusion. This type of praise comes through the realization that your current situation is temporary, but the glory of God yet to be revealed in your life is eternal! Shirley Caesar sang a song with the words: This joy I have the world didn't give it to me, the world didn't give it the world can't take it away! When the Lord gives you a song you must sing it to His glory, honor, and praise!
One of the most interesting things I found about the story of Job is when it was written. Job actually lived during the time of the early Hebrew patriarchs. Many believe Job lived around 2000 BC, before Israel even became a nation, but some commentators and scholars believe the book of Job (it’s actually written in the form of a historical poem) was written during the time of Israel’s Babylonian captivity, some 1,500 years later.
Certainly the message of God's sovereignty and omnipotence, and Job’s eventual restoration must have been comforting to the exiles. God is good! It’s during the darkest seasons of your life that God will allow you to hear the testimony of someone who made it through the same or similar struggle that you’re going through. He’ll send you a Word of encouragement, a song of praise and deliverance, a smile, a hug, text message, email, something to let you know that weeping may endure for a night, but joy is coming in the morning (Psalm 30:5)! There’s no secret what God can do, if He’s done it for others then He’ll surely do it for you!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Jesus is perceived as an earthly king as He rides into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey.

Mark 11

Jesus is perceived as an earthly king as He rides into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey.
INSIGHT
When Jesus rides into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey, why does the crowd rush out to greet Him? The answer is found in Jewish culture and history. In Old Testament times, one of the ways a king was inaugurated was to get on a donkey and have a large retinue of people walk along behind him shouting, "Long live the King!" The crowd in the temple wants to make Jesus king. When they see Him riding toward them on a donkey, they use it as an opportunity to precipitate a coronation. That He was crucified shortly afterward indicates that they were looking only for a national leader rather than a personal Savior. How do you see Him?
PRAYER
Express your praise to the Lord in the words of this psalm:
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:1-3).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, confess this prayer to the Lord:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting
(Psalm 139:23-24).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Pause to pray this passage of affirmation to the Lord:
The word of God is living and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,
and of joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
And there is no creature hidden from His sight,
but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him
to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:12-13).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater faithfulness in sharing Christ
Your state and local leaders and civic affairs
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
God of peace, sanctify me completely; make my whole spirit, soul,
and body to be preserved blameless at the coming of my Lord Jesus Christ
(based on 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
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Saturday, March 26, 2011

Enslaved by Debt

Enslaved by Debt
Proverbs 22:7
Personal debt has skyrocketed in our Western culture. Easy credit, a desire for material goods, and an unwillingness to save and wait have led many people down the path of financial bondage. The Bible doesn’t forbid borrowing, but it clearly warns us of its negative consequences. Our verse today describes the borrower as the lender’s slave.
Every dollar you borrow costs you a measure of freedom. Your paycheck is no longer entirely yours; a part of it must be set aside to repay your creditor. As the interest adds up, the financial burden may necessitate longer working hours. For Christians, the obligation to repay debt oftentimes hinders the ability to give to
the Lord’s work or help people in need. Instead of getting the first part, God gets leftovers or nothing at all.
The consequences of accumulating debtreach beyond monetary issues. The burden of mounting bills creates emotional and relational stress. In fact, financial problems are one of the leading causes of divorce. Even our relationship with the Lord is affected when we let our appetite for the world’s goods override our obedience to biblical principles. Although God promises to supply our needs, how often do we jump ahead of Him and provide for ourselves with “easy payment plans.”
The next time you are tempted to charge a purchase that you really can’t afford, stop! Go home and ask the Lord if He wants you to have it. If He does, ask Him to provide it. Then wait. True freedom comes to those who rely on the Lord’s promises instead of their credit cards.

Jesus prepares His disciples for His death.

Mark 10

Jesus prepares His disciples for His death.
INSIGHT
If there is anything between you and the Lord, He will pinpoint it and ask you to give it up. He wants total commitment-nothing less. That does not mean you cannot be committed to other things. It just means that He wants nothing to be higher on your priority list than He is. A husband must be committed to his wife and children. A professional must be committed to his job. But all must be committed to the Lord first. The rich young ruler learned this in a very painful lesson. We can learn from his experience: Put the Lord first.
PRAYER
As an expression of your commitment to the Lord, offer Him this psalm of praise:
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name. . . .
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me (Psalm 63:3-4, 6-8).

Pray this passage of confession to the Lord:
You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart-
These, O God, You will not despise (Psalm 51:16-17).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray to the Lord this affirmation of your faith in Him:
I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded
that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day (2 Timothy 1:12).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater commitment to Christ
The work of missions in the Middle East
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May You, the God of all grace,
who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after we have suffered a while,
perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us.
To You be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.
Amen (based on 1 Peter 5:10-11).
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Dealing with Debt

Dealing with Debt
romans 13:1-8
Every citizen has the responsibility to submit to governmental authority. Obeying the laws of the land which do not contradict scriptural commands is an essential part of honoring the Lord. Verse 7 of today’s passage says, “Render to all what is due them.” Just as we are obligated to pay our taxes, we’re also to repay all of our debts (v. 8).
The Lord expects anyone who borrows money to be diligent about making regular repayments. By withholding what is rightfully due, we are guilty of stealing from the lender. Not only that, but we also ruin our testimony for Christ. Since the offense of defaulting on a loan is serious, we need to be diligent about getting ourselves out of debt and staying out.
Perhaps this is hitting close to home. As daunting as the task of debt reduction may seem, you are not alone. God wants you to be financially free, and He will show you the way. However, His method is usually not a fast fix, but a slow and steady approach, which will also effectively train you to avoid future debt. Confess that you haven’t been a good steward of your resources, commit to making some sacrificial changes, and consistently work toward your goal. Then watch the Lord faithfully lead you out of debt.
Does a mountain of debt seem bigger to you than almighty God? If so, your focus is on your own inabilities instead of His faithfulness. For those who turn to the Lord in genuine repentance and surrender, He’ll supply the needed resources as well as the persistence to repay what is owed.

Jesus describes the circumstances surrounding His second coming.

Luke 17

Jesus describes the circumstances surrounding His second coming.
INSIGHT
Gratitude is beautiful to witness. When a person's eyes light up as they open a gift, the giver enjoys the experience as much as the receiver. We appreciate gratitude, and so does the Lord. He loves to see His children rejoicing at His many good gifts. Gratitude to the Lord can be cultivated. Imagine what your life would be like without the Lord's grace. Show the Lord that you appreciate Him by nurturing an attitude of gratitude.
PRAYER
Offer your praise to the Lord who is so liberal with His good gifts:
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night,
On an instrument of ten strings,
On the lute,
And on the harp,
With harmonious sound.
For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work;
I will triumph in the works of Your hands (Psalm 92:1-4).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession:
Oh, that my ways were directed
To keep Your statutes!
Then I would not be ashamed,
When I look into all Your commandments (Psalm 119:5-6).

As you reflect on God's mercy, confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
You have . . . given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
You enlarged my path under me;
So my feet did not slip (Psalm 18:35-36).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
A renewed commitment to showing gratitude for God's many blessings
Opportunities to encourage other believers
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Close your prayer time with the Lord with this offering from the pages of Scripture:
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down
from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning
(James 1:17).

Reform Taps A Loving Critic

Reform Taps A Loving Critic

Reform Judaism is the largest of the religious streams, with some 900 synagogues in North America, but it is far from immune from the challenges facing Jewish life in the diaspora.
A position paper drafted last month by the rabbis of the 18 largest congregations and circulating now among their colleagues offers a sober assessment of the social changes in the national Jewish landscape, and a tough critique of the movement’s key organizations.
The paper, obtained by The Jewish Week and titled “Urgent Change, Lasting Transformation,” notes that Jews today feel less of a sense of kinship with each other; denominational loyalty is less relevant; synagogues have become “pass-throughs of convenience for life-cycle celebration”; intermarriage has made its mark, and “almost half of the children being educated in Reform synagogues are growing up in a family in which one parent was not born Jewish”; younger Jews “are not joiners and see denominations as divisive or irrelevant”; and “national organizations can no longer depend on communal support for Israel.”
There’s more. The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) is criticized for having “not responded to the dramatic changes in the wider landscape of Jewish life,” and its alleged faults are cited in detail.
The rabbis who formed what they call the Rabbinic Vision Initiative and drafted the document said they did so out of love and concern for Reform Judaism, in hopes of focusing more attention to synagogue life, and bringing the movement’s congregational arm, rabbinic school and rabbinic organization in alignment and better able to work together.
One of those rabbis is Richard (“Rick”) Jacobs, the highly regarded senior rabbi of Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale. In a move expected to bring dynamism and innovation to the movement, Rabbi Jacobs was tapped this week to succeed Rabbi Eric Yoffie as president of the URJ, when Rabbi Yoffie retires in 2012 after 16 years at the helm.
The most telling sign that Rabbi Jacobs was an excellent choice is the fact that so many of his colleagues are describing him as having the vision, energy, passion and commitment to take on the challenges he surely will face.
And as he noted in an interview on Tuesday, the problems his movement faces are those that much of organized Jewish life, from religious streams to organizations, are confronting. Only those that can answer the questions “why join and what’s in it for me,” will succeed.
Rabbi Jacobs has had much success in making his synagogue into a place of spirituality, learning and service. “Only meaningful congregations will matter,” he says. “People won’t join just because their grandparents did. We have to matter every day.”
He hopes to bring that energy and sense of meaning to congregations throughout North America, and we wish him every success.




Taking notice

A few weeks back, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman speculated on the “not-so-obvious forces” that led Tunisians, Egyptians, and citizens of other Arab nations to rise up against their despotic rulers.
Among those forces was one overlooked in much of the rest of the media: Israel’s democratic example. While Israel’s critics continue to smear it as an “apartheid state” and worse, Friedman focused on some high-profile cases of corruption in Israel and the ways in which its system worked to hold the perpetrators accountable. His examples included the forced resignation of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on suspicions of graft, and the investigation of Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant for an illicit land deal that derailed his appointment as the army’s new chief of staff.
Friedman also mentioned the case of former Israeli President Moshe Katsav, who was found guilty of rape and sexual assault. This week, Katsav was sentenced to seven years in jail and ordered to pay compensation to two of his victims.
In sentencing Katsav, who intends to appeal, the judges wrote, “The defendant committed the crime and like every other person, he must bear the consequences. No man is above the law. The contention that seeing a former president of the country go to jail is too painful to watch is an emotional argument, but it definitely cannot be accepted as an ethical argument.”
The Katsav case was painful and embarrassing. And yet it serves as a reminder of the ways in which Israel continues to live up to its democratic ideals and provides an example for the societies that may emerge out of the current upheaval. As Friedman put it, “When you live right next to a country that is bringing to justice its top leaders for corruption, and you live in a country where many of the top leaders are corrupt, well, you notice.”




Terror in Jerusalem

It had been more than three years since the last terrorist bombing targeting civilians in Israel — until a blast caused by an explosive pipe placed next to a telephone pole near the bus station in central Jerusalem on March 23 ended that period of relative quiet. Suddenly, the familiar images appeared across our screens, of shattered streets, frantic rescue efforts, harsh denunciations. And the familiar sorrow of lives lost and irreparably injured.
But the Middle East has changed dramatically during those three years, something that seems to have escaped the cowards who hold onto the discredited belief that bombing civilians in the heart of a cherished city will serve their cause. How can they ignore the obvious? Besides being morally wrong, this sort of terrorism simply does not work.
As of this writing, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack that has killed one and wounded at least 30, but whoever the culprits, they clearly have willfully ignored the powerful lessons from elsewhere in the region. First in Tunisia, then in Egypt, nonviolent uprisings drove despotic leaders from office.
The efficacy of peaceful protest is not wishful thinking but historical fact. A major study published in 2008 comparing the outcomes of hundreds of violent insurgencies with those of major nonviolent resistance campaigns from 1900 to 2006 found that 53% of the nonviolent movements succeeded, compared with only 26% of the violent insurgencies.
Maria J. Stephan and Erica Chenoweth, who conducted the study, reason that nonviolent movements are more effective because they are broad-based and enjoy more domestic and international legitimacy, in part because they are perceived to be less extreme. Violent reactions to peaceful protest, meantime, can backfire, as former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak learned the hard way.
The Palestinian people deserve their own, viable state. But 40 years of terrorism hasn’t brought them any closer, and the uprisings of 2011 only reinforce that message.

You Are The Temple

You Are The Temple

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ephesians 4:13

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19

Reading in the Old Testament, I noticed that, God, who designed the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, the Ark of the Covenant and Noah’s Ark, used a standard of measurement based on the measure of a man. The man from whom these measurements were taken was usually the King. He used a cubit. A cubit is an ancient linear unit based on the length of a man’s forearm, from elbow to the tip of the middle finger, usually from 17 to 21 inches. He used a fingerbreadth which measures about 3/4 of an inch. And a handbreadth, which is roughly 3 to 3 ½ inches. Then it hit me. God used measurements based on the King to build the things which were to house his presence. Suddenly I realized that God from the beginning had it in His mind to create man to be a house for His presence. Look at this, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). Notice what it says, "God… breathed into", in other words, "God… inspired" or put His Spirit into man, making man His house, His temple.

My friend, you are His house. You are His temple and everywhere you go, the house of worship goes with you. Everywhere you go the house of praise goes with you. Everywhere you go the house of power goes with you. Everywhere you go the house of purity goes with you. You are the Tabernacle, the place where His glory dwells. You are the Ark that carries His covenant. You are His Ark, an instrument to be used for the salvation of others. You were designed by God to be His house. You were measured to meet the standard of King Jesus, so be filled to the full with His Spirit and let Him do great things through you.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Lighting the Fire Again

Lighting the Fire Again
Matthew 22:36-38
Let’s continue looking at the Lord’s warning to the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:4). The Ephesians are a model of cooled-down faith. Their fervor is gone, though they’re still going through the motions of serving God and even defending the faith.
Christ’s warning to the Ephesians extends to modern-day believers whose hearts have grown cold. He looks at distracted and complacent Christians who are laboring for every reason but the right one, and He cries out, “What I want is not your empty service; I want you!”
The heart cools gradually as a person gives higher priority to other relationships and activities than to the Lord. Our enemy Satan has subtly shaped how the word “idol” is perceived. He’s limited the definition to false gods. The truth is, anything that distracts from God qualifies as an idol. For example, the god of this age is sports. So many believers know more about stats than Scripture and show more passion in the stands than in a worship service.
Returning to a life of passionate service for God begins with repentance. We must assume responsibility for drifting away from our first love. Then, we’re to put Jesus Christ back on the throne of our heart and reconnect with Him through regular prayer and Bible meditation.
God desires an intimate relationship with every believer. So let me ask you a question: Are you excited about Jesus? Our best and purest devotion will be to whatever or whomever we prioritize above all else. If that is not Jesus, repent and let Him rekindle the flame of your first love.

Through parables, Jesus gives instruction on the proper perspective of wealth.

Through parables, Jesus gives instruction on the proper perspective of wealth.
INSIGHT
It's hard to let go of the temporal and lay hold of the eternal. And the temporal world can hold on to rich and poor alike through money. Both the greedy and the envious live as if there were no eternal realm. Jesus often speaks about a true and good perspective on money. Perhaps His financial teaching can be summed up by this: Our faith should be in God, not money. We must be careful always to trust God who supplies the money rather than to trust the money itself.
PRAYER
The Lord can be completely trusted with all your needs. Thank Him with praise:
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday ( Psalm 37:3-6).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
See, O Lord, that I am in distress;
My soul is troubled;
My heart is overturned within me,
For I have been very rebellious.
Outside the sword bereaves,
At home it is like death (Lamentations 1:20).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance. . . .
The Lord will command His
lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me-
A prayer to the God of my life (Psalm 42:5, 8).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater faith in God's providence
The needs of your friends
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May I learn in whatever state I am, to be content (based on Philippians 4:11).
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Be Ye Transformed, Part 4

Be Ye Transformed, Part 4

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:1, 2

Our thoughts lead to our habits. Our habits lead to our lifestyle. Our lifestyle leads to our destiny. The destiny God has in mind for us is to spend eternity with Him. He does not want us to be "conformed to this world" (verse 2). He didn’t create us to follow after the standards, attitudes, practices, of this society. Replacing our old ways of thinking with God's point of view, we begin to recognize God’s will more and more. It becomes easier to hear His voice as He gives us spiritual principles for every day living.

God’s desire is that we be continually transformed by the renewing of our minds, by changing the way we think. Then we will always be able to determine what God really wants. God’s will is God’s word and God’s will is good. God’s will is acceptable or well-pleasing. God’s will is perfect. "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults" (Psalms 19:7:12).

"However, the person who continues to study God's perfect teachings that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don't merely listen and forget; they actually do what God's teachings say" (James 1:25 GWT). My friend, make the decision to change. Find out what God wants and don’t just be a hearer of His word only, be a doer.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

The Priority of Relationship

The Priority of Relationship
Revelation 2:1-7
Ephesuswas the home of a tremendous ministry. Despite harsh persecution, the church planted by Paul endured opposition, spread the gospel, and was quick to challenge false prophets. But 30 years after the apostle left, John’s revelation included a stern warning for those believers.
Imagine how the words of Revelation 2 must have struck the Ephesians when they read them. After complimenting their service to the gospel, Christ said, “But I have this against you . . .” That phrase was no doubt extremely disconcerting. The Lord warned them that they had left their first love. In other words, all of their work was being done with wrong motives.
Christ called the Ephesians to remember their love for Him and their delight in His salvation. Service is no substitute for an intimate relationship, but modern believers continue to fall into this subtle trap. The commendable things that we do count for nothing unless they stem from a vibrant personal connection with God. Our work can’t be effective or fruitful unless He is in it.
In fact, God is more interested in you and your personal relationship with Him than in a thousand lifetimes of good works. He desires to be the satisfaction and delight of His children so that their service is a result of loving devotion.
There are plenty of wrong reasons to labor for the kingdom. However, God is satisfied only with service motivated by love for Him. He wants those with selfish intentions to return to their first love. In that way, hearts and minds can be renewed, and service to the Lord will be more fruitful.

Jesus tells three parables to demonstrate the quality and quantity of God's love for sinners.

Luke 15

Jesus tells three parables to demonstrate the quality and quantity of God's love for sinners.
INSIGHT
Many things about God are difficult to understand. But there is one thing about God which is easy to understand. He earnestly longs for the lost to be saved. In the parable of the lost sheep, we see a God who is willing to leave the multitudes to seek just one which is lost. In the parable of the lost coin, we see a God who will move heaven and earth to find a prized possession. In the parable of the prodigal son, we see a God who rejoices with great joy when a lost one comes home. As Christians, we should not let that which we don't know cloud that which we do know. We must focus on the roses rather than the thorns. God loves the sinner, and on that, we can rest.
PRAYER
Offer the Lord your praise for His great love for you:
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods (Psalm 95:1-3).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise (Psalm 51:14-15).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you,
for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly
I will rather boast in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me
(2 Corinthians 12:9).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
A stronger desire to be like Christ
The ministry of other churches around the nation
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father,
who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
Biblical Portrait
of Marriage

Instructor Training

Jesus tells three parables to demonstrate the quality and quantity of God's love for sinners.

Luke 15

Jesus tells three parables to demonstrate the quality and quantity of God's love for sinners.
INSIGHT
Many things about God are difficult to understand. But there is one thing about God which is easy to understand. He earnestly longs for the lost to be saved. In the parable of the lost sheep, we see a God who is willing to leave the multitudes to seek just one which is lost. In the parable of the lost coin, we see a God who will move heaven and earth to find a prized possession. In the parable of the prodigal son, we see a God who rejoices with great joy when a lost one comes home. As Christians, we should not let that which we don't know cloud that which we do know. We must focus on the roses rather than the thorns. God loves the sinner, and on that, we can rest.
PRAYER
Offer the Lord your praise for His great love for you:
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods (Psalm 95:1-3).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise (Psalm 51:14-15).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you,
for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly
I will rather boast in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me
(2 Corinthians 12:9).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
A stronger desire to be like Christ
The ministry of other churches around the nation
Your activities for the day
Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father,
who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
Biblical Portrait
of Marriage

Instructor Training

Loving God by the Book

Loving God by the Book
Psalm 119:105-112
The number one reason people give me for not meditating upon Scripture is that they don’t have enough time. I’ve often said that we make time for what’s important to us, and a few years back, I decided to test my theory. I photocopied the book of Philippians, cut it into sections, and taped it over the columns of my local newspaper. It took up just three columns of the front page. In other words, if you’ve read your favorite parts of the newspaper or scanned the headlines on the Internet, you could have read the book of Philippians. So don’t tell me you do not have time!
I challenge you to make time for digging into God’s Word. Open to Philippians and ask the Lord to speak to you. As you read, pray over words that the Holy Spirit draws to your attention, and “listen” for whatever the Lord wants to say to you.
Praying through a book—not verse by verse but as God lifts things off the page and into your heart—elevates spiritual life to a new level. You’ll find yourself wanting to progress past an elementary understanding of the faith, and praying the Scriptures like David, Daniel, and Paul. Moreover, you’ll desire to be obedient to what you’re reading because you are falling deeper in love with the book’s Author.
God blesses believers who keep His commands (John 14:21). The Lord loves all people, and He gives Christians special status as His sons and daughters. But those who choose to live righteously will understand more about Him and His ways. Make time to be among the favored of God.

Taxation and representation

GALILEE DIARY
Taxation and representation
by Marc J. Rosenstein
Discuss on Our BlogSo the chiefs of the clans of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, all whose spirit had been roused by God, got ready to go up to build the House of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. All their neighbors supported them with silver vessels, with gold, with goods, with livestock, and with precious objects… The sum of the entire community [who returned from Babylonian exile] was 42,360…
-Ezra 1:5-6, and 2:64
There was a time when mainstream Zionism believed that the Diaspora was destined to disappear – whoever didn't move to the Jewish state would eventually succumb either to Holocausts or assimilation. While this view still has adherents, I think there is now general acceptance of the future of the Diaspora. And there was a time when Diaspora Zionists – and Diaspora Jews in general – saw their role as to support Israel in its struggle to exist, by sending money, by visiting, by volunteering, by speaking out in advocacy of Israel's positions. While this perception still holds to a large extent, I think it is showing signs of wear.
I just returned from a trip to North America, where I had the opportunity to meet with Reform Jews in several different communities. From what I heard, I got the impression that the one-dimensionality of the traditional relationship to Israel has become increasingly problematic. On the one hand, Israel is all of ours, and so we all have an obligation to support it, strengthen it, help it, to be part of its struggle. On the other hand, Diaspora Jews' are not really invited to express opinions regarding Israel's policies, internal and external, for two reasons: a) our age-old commitment to Jewish unity (?) inhibits us from airing dirty laundry in public (we have to maintain a united front against our enemies – meaning the whole world); and b) Diaspora Jews will not "pay the price" for Israel's decisions (e.g., their children don't serve in the Israeli army), so who are they to give advice? Thus, despite efforts at creating more involvement and symmetry (like Partnership 2000), the message continues to be, explicitly or implicitly, that Diaspora Jews are supposed provide political and material support, but are not supposed to criticize or question. It seems to me that this mentality can't end well – and indeed, it may be a cause for a certain frustration to the point of disengagement by many Diaspora Jews. "If Israel doesn't care what we think – or doesn't think we are smart enough to understand complexity – why do we have to make sacrifices and take risks for Israel?" Unfortunately, this argument can degenerate into its opposite: that "he who pays the piper calls the tune," and our support earns us the right to dictate to Israel what it should do, as our representative in the world.
As usual, it seems to me that the right answer is hard to pin down, but it is somewhere in the middle. Diaspora Jews are neither masters nor flunkies. If Israel does indeed, willy-nilly, represent them, they have a stake and they ought to have a say – but often it's tricky to know what to say and how to say it. Both sides need to exercise humility and self-criticism; both need to understand the complicated sets of forces operating on the other, so that the conversation between them becomes not a power struggle but a partnership. In order for that to happen, each side must gain a much deeper and more nuanced knowledge of the reality of the other – but alas, manipulating is a lot easier than educating (both for the manipulator and the manipulated), and often provides temptingly effective short-term results; in the long term, it has unintended costs of alienation and disengagement – and I fear we have now come to pay-back time.

Be Ye Transformed, Part 2

Be Ye Transformed, Part 2

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1, 2
The first step in the transformation process is to present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is our intelligent, spiritual service of worship. The second step in the transformation process tells us what not to do. We are not to be “conformed to this world” (verse 2). To conform is to act in accord with the prevailing standards, attitudes, practices, etc., of society or a group. 1 John 2:15, 16, says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”. The world with its wicked desires, lusts and pride seeks to seduce and would have us to use the members of our bodies to sin as instruments of unrighteousness. For this cause we ought to present ourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness to God. We need to make a covenant with our tongue and “stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say” (Ephesians 4:29 CSV), “because everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken” (Matthew 12:36 CSV). The prophet Jeremiah describes the heart as deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (17:9). We need to make a covenant with our hearts to counteract our natural tendencies by asking God “to search us and know our hearts: try us, and know our thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). We need to make a covenant with our hands to use them to glorify God by opening them wide unto our brother, to the poor, and to the needy, in thy land (Deuteronomy 15:11). We should keep our feet from every path, so that we might obey God’s word (Psalm 119:101). We need to make a covenant not to commit sin with our eyes (Matthew 5:28) but will keep “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). We need to make a covenant to increase our faith by using our ears to hear and hear the word of God (Romans 10:17). We need to make a covenant with our bodies and keep our sexual expressions within the boundaries of marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-8).

For the Christian to conform to this world is like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It can’t be done except by one method and that is to shave the corners. Let me explain the spiritual meaning of shaving the corners. In Numbers chapter 6, we read about the laws pertaining to the Nazarite vow. The Nazarite vow could be taken by either a male or female. It was a vow of separation. During their time of separation one of the things a person could not do was shave their head. They let the hair of their head grow long. Long hair in the society of that day symbolized that a person was living under the authority and covering of another. Today, we demonstrate submission through the way we conduct our lives - under the authority of another through dependence and obedience. We seek Him for guidance and counsel. We obey His word. We live our lives to serve Him and to please Him. Living this kind of lifestyle today is a greater testimony to the world than the ritual act of growing long hair.

My friend, today take the next step in your transformation process don’t conform to this world. Shaving the corners means to remove yourself from under the authority of Jesus and place yourself under the authority of the world, the flesh and the devil. Make a vow to love and serve the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all of your mind.

Be Ye Transformed, Part 3

Be Ye Transformed, Part 3

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:1, 2
Now that you have presented your body a living sacrifice, now that you have been born again, now that you have been filled with the Holy Spirit, now that you are living a life of holiness let us continue the transformation process and begin the next phase of the new life – renewing your minds. Why do we have to have our minds renewed? To "re" something means that that thing has to be returned to it’s original state. Once we have a new mind, somewhere along the way we lost it. Now it has to be "re" newed. But first we have to go back to the Garden. It is in the book of Genesis where we can find how we lost our minds. In Genesis we learn that God formed man from the dust of the ground. He then put into man a part of Himself – His Spirit. Man then became a living soul. A soul that was alive because of the living Spirit of God on the inside of him. Man was now in the image and likeness of God. Man had the nature of God. His thoughts and actions were like his heavenly Father. One day, listening to satan, man disobeyed God sin entered the picture and man took on a new nature. The nature of satan. Man lost his original mind and no longer thought and acted like God the Father. From that point on God has been trying to get man back into the Garden. Back into fellowship with Him. Man was lost, but God had a plan of salvation. So“when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

So what does it take to get our minds back? What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of our mind? Transform means to change in form, appearance, or structure; metamorphose. To change in condition, nature, or character. Renewing the mind is not by outward disconformities to the ungodly world, many of whose actions in themselves may be virtuous and praiseworthy; but by such an inward spiritual transformation as makes the whole life new-new in its motives and ends (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary). Years of thinking a certain way makes it hard to change. Someone once said that old habits die hard. In our own strength we don’t have the power to change. But with the Spirit of God empowering us we can change and be changed in the image and likeness of God. Transformation begins with repentance. To repent means to change your mind. When we change our minds and let God’s thoughts (word) become our thoughts we can fulfill our original purpose/destiny. Our changed thoughts will lead to changed habits. Our changed habits will lead to changed lifestyles. Our changed lifestyles will lead to a changed destiny.

My friend, the Spirit works with God’s word to transform and renew your mind. You have to do your part and read your Bible on a daily basis and then ask the Holy Spirit to give you the power to obey God’s command. Little by little the word will "be made flesh" and will begin to show up in your lifestyle. Let His thoughts be your thoughts today.

Butcher, Baker and Candlestick Maker

Thought Tools
Butcher, Baker and
Candlestick Maker

March 23, 201117th day of Adar 11, 5771Volume IV Issue #12


Forward to a Friend


When asked what the “Gerber” brand means, most moms would say ‘baby food.’ This is partly why Gerber’s foray into selling Buster Brown clothing, strollers, and insurance was doomed. Gerber lost sight of its specialty. It was not the only famous brand to forget its identity.

Contributing to Sears’ demise was confusion about its specialty. By the 80s, Sears was selling not only Craftsman tools, clothing, and home appliances; it was also selling insurance, commercial real estate, stocks and computers. Would you go to an eye doctor who repaired lawn mowers in the back room?

Early Americans were influenced by Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations, published in 1776. The book explains the importance of specialization. It is easy to see how specialization increases production and hence wealth. Six cobblers working independently will never make as many shoes as they would make collaborating with one another. If one makes only soles while another makes uppers while a third stitches them together and so on, productivity will soar as each specialist discovers better and faster ways to accomplish his own task. As a result, each person will take home far greater pay than he would have working alone. Then he can use his wages to buy clothes and food from other specialists.

It is easy to spot the trend toward specialization as societies evolve and develop increasingly sophisticated ways for humans to diminish the drudgery necessary to earn a living. Department stores give way to niche retailers, the corner garage offering full care for your car yields to Jiffy Lube and brand-specific repair centers.

This is exactly how the good Lord planned life for His children. He created a world in which His children would connect with one another and become preoccupied with one another’s needs. How better to accomplish this than to reward us with greater income provided we replace the model of working alone by the ideal of collaboration? God placed us in a world in which many people cooperating with one another within a mutually agreed-upon moral framework will vastly outperform those same people trying to make a living in isolation.

Why did the world’s Bible-based societies lead the march toward specialization by innovating the corporation and the industrial revolution? Perhaps because Scripture reveals how the founding of the people of Israel was rooted in specialization.

Jacob, or Israel, became the father of the ‘children of Israel.’ At the end of Genesis, Jacob assigned a specialized role to each son. Levi was to take care of temple worship, Zebulon was to develop expertise in shipping and trade, Issachar was to provide the scholars and educators, and so on. As each brother and his descendants specialized, thus becoming dependent upon all the others, the nation emerged.

Later, at the end of Deuteronomy, Moses reaffirmed the concept of specialization for each of Israel’s tribes. While individuals had different talents and strengths, the idea was being set in place for all time that specialization linked with mutual dependence and cooperation produces a strong nation.

One person completely on his own will not live as well as he would as a member of a family. A nuclear family lacks the power of an extended family. A tribe is greater than a family, but a nation made up of large numbers of interdependent people with a common set of expectations and obligations will achieve vastly more. A frequently ignored and invisible network of connectivity and cooperation makes possible so much of what we often take for granted. Moreover, we need to know that this vast enterprise of millions of people cooperating needs more than a legal system to sustain it. Laws reflect moral and ethical beliefs; they don’t form them. Jacob and Moses’ blessings instilled in the Jewish people the idea of specialization under an umbrella of widely accepted core beliefs.

Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Luke 10

Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan.
INSIGHT
The harsh reality of life is that we cannot help everyone in need. From the parable of the Good Samaritan, we can learn several things which help us evaluate when we should help. We are obligated to assist a person in need when he or she comes across our path in the normal course of life; he or she has a legitimate need, not of his or her own making; he or she cannot help himself or herself; and we have the ability to meet the need.
PRAYER
We praise the Lord because He is faithful to bring us to spiritual maturity:
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory (Psalm 63:1-2).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones which You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities(Psalm 51:7-9).

As you consider God's mercy, confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation
or shadow of turning (James 1:17).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Spiritual victory over the temptation you face
Reformation in America and the world at large
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Offer these closing prayers to the Lord:
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! (Psalm 90:14).

Pesach and Social Justice

Pesach and Social Justice
Marc Friend

Each year, we sit around our Passover table, surrounded by family, reciting the story of our liberation from slavery. Yet, despite fulfilling the mitzvah of hearing the Exodus retold, a part of me always feels like I am not truly fulfilling the ideals of Passover. Do I, as we are commanded, see myself as though I personally escaped from slavery in Egypt? Surveying the Passover feast before me, reclining in my chair, how is it possible to feel like one who has been enslaved?
An answer can be found in a Hassidic story that tells of a wealthy man who invited his Rabbi over for dinner. The man brags that he eats only bread with salt and drinks only water. The horrified rabbi urges the wealthy man to eat rich, nutritious meals and to drink wine. Upon telling his disciples of the encounter, they are puzzled. The rabbi explains, "Not until he eats meat will he realize that the poor need bread. As long as he himself eats only bread, he will think the poor can live on stones."
Thankfully, though we are commanded to view ourselves as liberated slaves, most of us will never know firsthand the suffering experienced by our ancestors. Thus, we should not limit ourselves in our own celebrations this Passover, but use this as an opportunity to look around the world at those who are truly suffering today. In too many places around the world today, others suffer in ways similar to our ancestors. In Sudan, years of genocide have left millions displaced, families destroyed and a people in chaos. Even amidst hope stemming from the recent, largely peaceful referendum on Southern Sudan’s independence, the people of Darfur remain in jeopardy.

The eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is also experiencing a humanitarian crisis. 45,000 people die each month in the violence between rebel groups fighting over the country’s natural resources. Sexual violence, including rape, is widespread. The crisis is perpetuated by the profits made in the mining and sale of valuable minerals, including gold, tungsten, tantalum and tin, which are largely sold to electronics companies and used to manufacture the phones, computers, and devices used in the U.S. and around the world.

International involvement in a peace process and in protecting the civilians in DRC is necessary. We need the United States and all world leaders to be lending diplomatic aid and calling for reinforcements for UN troops in the region and for an accreditation process for ‘Conflict Free Minerals.’

Passover reminds us that, like Moses, we can use our positions of privilege to help those in need of liberation. We can call on our leaders in Congress and the White House to ensure that the people of Sudan have a peaceful future ahead. And we can ensure that we do not facilitate violence in the Congo by calling for companies, the U.S., and the international world to create a certification for conflict free minerals in the electronics that we use every day.
The Hagaddah says, “This is the bread of affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all those who are hungry come and eat with us. Let all who are in want share the hope of Passover.” This year, as we gather around the seder table, let us appreciate the freedoms and blessings we have. And let us recommit ourselves to doing all we can to ensure that the bread of affliction we eat for a night is not the meal of some for a lifetime.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Jesus is transfigured as a validation of His identity as the Deity and Messiah.

Mark 9

Jesus is transfigured as a validation of His identity as the Deity and Messiah.
INSIGHT
The Transfiguration gives us an exciting glimpse into our resurrection life. From it, we may learn several things. Our physical bodies may be startlingly brilliant and beautiful, as we witness the amazing appearance of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. We may know each other automatically since the disciples seemed to recognize Moses and Elijah without instruction. We apparently will not be subject to the physical limitations of nature since Moses and Elijah appeared and disappeared. What a joy awaits us in eternity!
PRAYER
Use this passage of Scripture to offer your praise to the Lord, who transforms us into the image of Christ:
I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together(Psalm 34:1-3).

As you seek to keep your life free from sin, pray this confession to the Lord:
O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
O Lord, correct me, but with justice;
Not in Your anger, lest You bring me tonothing (Jeremiah 10:23-24).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.

Now pause to pray this passage of affirmation:
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
There is no searching of His understanding.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might
He increases strength (Isaiah 40:28-29).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Greater wisdom in decision making
Your activities for the day
Whatever else is on your heart
Finally, offer this closing prayer:
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17).

The Measure of Our Love

The Measure of Our Love
John 14:15-24
As I studied today’s verses from John’s gospel, I felt convicted about falling short of Jesus’ expectations. It’s easy to say, “Lord, I adore You,” but there have been times when I’ve used those words while resisting something He was trying to impress upon my heart. The old adage is true: actions do speak louder than words.
The measure of our love is obedience to God’s commands and principles. Following His instructions is so important that Jesus stressed the point three times in today’s Bible passage (vv. 15, 21, 23). This wasn’t a new concept for the disciples either. They would have been familiar with the scriptural connection between love and obedience (Neh. 1:5; Dan. 9:4). In fact, God has always emphasized that the way to show our devotion is by doing what He says (Deut. 8:11; 10:12; 13:3-4).
I could preach a thousand sermons without loving God. Halfhearted commitment can look pretty good to others, but the Lord knows the difference. Believers may lift their hands in worship, serve vigorously, support missionaries, and even say all the right words. But unless we’re following God’s commands from His holy Word, the most we’re showing Him is lukewarm affection. Works don’t prove anything. Loving the Lord means obeying Him.
What I’m about to say might sting: if you do not obey the Word, you do not love God. The Lord told Joshua to meditate on Scripture day and night (Josh. 1:8). I’m in the Bible every day because that is the only way to stay faithful and show the Father my love.

Numbers, Stories, and a Long Tradition of Ritual

Numbers, Stories, and a Long Tradition of Ritual
Naamah Kelman
Parashat Sh’mini—the eighth day; how many of our parashiyot start with a number? This eight comes after seven, of course—seven days devoted to the ordination of Aaron and the priests, who will now take on their full responsibilities in the Tabernacle (the Mishkan). This ordination ceremony was detailed in last week’s portion, Tzav. The number eight stands out in our tradition as the number of b’rit milah, “covenant,” and reminds us of the eight days of Chanukah, also a story of dedication. Knock the number eight (8) on its side and it is a symbol of infinity; eight is sanctified time, endless time.
Why are numbers so important? Why do we need to count? Oh, how much fun it is playing with numbers. Numbers are multilayered in their meaning, and Hebrew offers layers of mystery and meaning starting with the word for “number,” mispar. The root of mispar is , the same as the root of s’firah in S’firat HaOmer, when we count the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot. Another key word derived from this root is sipur, the word for “story,” and our stories are played out through our rituals and rites. Our rituals hold us accountable for our stories, and our stories must count as ritual.
This week’s parashah, Sh’mini, and the special Shabbat Parah haftarah from Ezekiel, share the common theme of rites and rituals, understood as celebrating the sacred. But the usual yearly haftarah for Sh’mini, II Samuel 6:1–7:17, shares an even more profound lesson with the parashah of being punished for desecration of the sacred. Both tell sad stories invoking God’s harsh response: In the Torah, Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu bring a strange fire to the altar, resulting in their immediate deaths. In the usual haftarah from II Samuel, Uzzah reaches out to steady the Tabernacle that King David is bringing to Jerusalem and is smitten, dying immediately, with no explanation given (II Samuel 6:6–7). This week’s special and more festive haftarah reading from Ezekiel forewarns us of the consequences of defilement and uncleanliness, but also offers a message of ritual exaltation resulting from a “new heart and new spirit” (Ezekiel 36:26).This is the obvious connection between Torah and haftarah. But let us detect an additional thread, an overarching theme of this parashah and much of the Book of Leviticus, and that is how we approach, understand, invent, and experience ritual.
Now, that the priests are ordained, the duties actually begin on the eighth. The number eight comes after the number seven, which signifies “Shabbat.” The experience of the penultimate covenant of Shabbat enables us to take our place in the daily workaday week, and get to work! This is indeed the manual for ritual worship. First the priests must prepare themselves with ritual in order to be ready to serve the entire house of Israel. They prepare the people and then—and only then—will God appear.
Sh’mini also includes a long second chapter dealing with the dietary laws of the Israelites. There is a quip, “you are what you eat.” For Jews, we “are” what we do not eat. Here too, the common thread is picked up. What defines us as we regulate our lives? Ritual can be so unifying and so divisive at the same time.
We long for ritual to calm the chaos of our daily life, to give meaning throughout the life cycle and the holiday cycle; and yet when we engage in it, it can frustrate and sometimes harm. How do we make ritual work for us? This is question that begins in our parashah and is echoed in the words of Ezekiel 36:26–27: “I will give you [plural] a new heart, and a new spirit will I put within you . . . I will put My spirit within you, thus bringing it about that you walk in My statutes and faithfully to observe My edicts.”
In other words, we need ritual, but we also need to be renewed by ritual; therefore, in order for ritual to be timeless, it must speak to each generation in different ways. Vanessa Ochs in her wonderful book: Inventing Jewish Ritual (Philadelphia: JPS, 2007) defines rituals and ritual innovation as follows:
“Rituals—which I will define as conventional or patterned ways of doing things that have shared and multiple meanings—have always been the products of a time, a place, available physical materials, and appealing practices of other peoples. All rituals are made and remade, all rituals mean different things to different people, and all rituals were once new and renewed—even the Jewish rituals we may cherish most of all."
She goes further:
“Moreover, when we perform ancient rituals in this place, and in this time, they are no longer the rituals they once were. With changes in performers, in context, in personal and world history, we could almost go so far as to say that every ritual act is a debut, an innovation. This Shabbat meal, this Passover Seder, this wedding: each is a first."
She delineates the sources of inspiration for creating new Jewish rituals. Jews find themselves mining their "ritual toolbox" consisting of three essential compartments. The first she calls texts. This can include the full gamut of Hebrew literature from the Bible to Modern Hebrew poetry, prayers, poems, and songs. The second compartment holds familiar and resonant Jewish ritual objects and actions. Here, too, we find the full range from candles to traditional blessings, chuppah (wedding canopy), red ribbons, and palm branches. She writes: “A third compartment holds enduring, core Jewish understandings about the presence of God, the merit of the ancestors, the obligation to lead a sanctified life, the blessing of the land of Israel, the significance of preserving Jewish memory through study, and all the ethical obligations held toward fellow Jews and all of humankind. A commitment to such core understandings is the compass that guides all Jewish innovation.”
So, let us put the sense of infinity back in to Sh’mini, the number eight! Let us make ritual meaningful to us in this generation. To do so, we have a deep need that it resonates with our past and calls out to the future. We no longer bring sacrifices (thankfully); most of us have some form of dietary restrictions. All of us seek ways to express the range of human experience that our ancestors expressed through the priests in the Mishkan.
Make Jewish rituals part of your daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly life. They are the reminders that we have inherited a long tradition, and that we are here to renew that tradition and pass it on to the next generation. They keep us humble, as we are links in the ongoing chain, but they also invite us to be a “kingdom of priests” tending to our community and beyond.