Holy, Holy, Holy...Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Leadership in Israel
The many Israels of history include---
The Israel of the Patriarchs
The Israel of the Kings, Priests & Temple
The Israel of the Prophets
The Israel of the Messiahs
The Israel of the Rabbis
The Israel of the Zionists
The Israel of the Politicians
Yet to come... is the Israel of God!
At one time or another, leadership in Israel has been exercised by one or another of the above, and at times, they have been in direct opposition to one another: Kings vs. Priests, Prophets vs. Priests, Messiahs vs. all of the above... The history of Israel has been a long, uninterrupted contest of leadership focused on the question: "Who (or what) shall lead us?" The answers have taken every conceivable form from Patriarch to Priest to Politician...to Idol. Each leadership has been tested and revealed to have feet of clay. Nebuchadnezzar, "mighty and of exceeding brightness" (Daniel 2:31-33), glorious in stature and raiment, had feet of clay. Isn't all leadership, finally, standing upon the clay feet of Adam?
Kings, princes, prophets, teachers, shepherds... have a long history of leading the people astray. "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule...my people love to have it so... But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away." (Jeremiah 5:23, 30-31) This same word can be found multiplied many times over, spoken to the kings, princes, teachers, shepherds... (Jeremiah 50:6, Ezekiel 14:9-11, 44:10-11, 48:11, Isaiah 56:10-12)
In whatever form, the Saul "image" is presented---President, Pastor, or Prophet---the people are drawn to the magnetic personality, the charisma, the "presence", the stature, reputation... They love the "image" and will follow it, heeding every dramatic gesture. God's word of "Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings." is answered with a "But... that is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart." (Jeremiah 18:11-12)
Here the heart of "Followship" is revealed. The People have a long history of following their own desires, thoughts, self-delusions, faulty vision, corrupted leadership. The people follow not only their own desires but every religious charlatan, political ideology, or charismatic person...whether king, priest, or peasant. When that happens, then the perfect synergy of "Leadership" and "Followship" gives Israel a perfect storm of recurring fiery judgments from their God.
The Third Problem of "leadership" has to do with the "feet of clay." Though the feet (in Daniel) are a composite of clay and iron, they cannot stand the testing of God that always comes. The glorious brightness, images finely crafted and dressed, badges, banners... all these trappings, impressive as they may appear to be, cannot replace, cover, or mask the inherent weakness of the clay feet. Such feet may for a time conceal the truth of the Person, the Community, or the Nation, but sooner or later the "spirit" will be revealed and tested. Both the clay feet and the spirit will be tested. (Deut. 13:3) Faithful in the "small" things (Luke 16:10) is helpful but not decisive or sufficiently convincing. Everybody is "happy" on a carnival cruise in the kingdom of this world, but such a cruise reveals nothing: not the captain, not the crew, not the seaworthiness of the ship, and certainly nothing about the passengers. The "Titanic" reveals everybody and everything---in body, soul, and spirit. The Bread of Adversity (Isaiah 30:20), Jacob's Trouble, the "End", the Day of the Lord... all these are testings of standing. Will any form of leadership be able to stand, or will they all "fall" before the leadership of God? Can any kind of leadership bring fresh revelation? Or will it be conventional wisdom re-packaged, "old" news rewritten with a fresh slant... namely, the same old story with a fresh face or new coat of paint?
Consider: the leadership of ancient Israel was a "pillar of fire" and a "pillar of cloud" that went before the people... What a contrast to the leadership of Jacob, born of the fear of the flesh, which sought to "appease" Esau. Thus, gifts, the flocks, women and children were arranged and divided---Jacob's strategy of leadership! Or what a contrast to the leadership in many armies: the headquarters "hooch" way behind the "front line." Fair to ask who is actually taking the fire, really exposed to risk, injury, loss of life and limb? Who has "skin" in the game...? Who is invested with their own money and not playing with OPM (in banking parlance known as Other People's Money)? Paul succinctly speaks to the situation: "You have many guides, not many fathers." (1 Cor. 4:13) Guides will give you a map, tell you where to go, perhaps even accompany you a ways, but it is not in their job description to risk their neck. In the best armies you get to be an officer by being in the "Front Line."
In Genesis (6:4, 11:4), the "mighty men" determined to "build a Tower" to heaven. They were seeking to make a Name for themselves. If there be any such thing as true leadership will it manifest these qualities? These qualities in the spirit?
Finally, if there be any such thing as true leadership does accountability to some other authority have to be operating? Are the finances published, particularly, when money comes from outside sources? In the political realm billions of dollars move here, there, and everywhere: to buy access, favor, or privilege, or...? In religion, billions of dollars are solicited, move here, there, and everywhere: to what godly purpose...?
The problem of the false leadership of King, Priest, or Teacher has been historically countered by the raising up of the Prophet. What to do when the false prophets of Jezebel and the King's Court Prophets mislead the people? The hirelings are eating at whose table?
"Lead, follow, or get out the way!" is a familiar and common expression in the military and corporate world. Is this a statement God would make? Or is this a subtle variation on the the theme of "Making kings, but not through me (Yahweh). And they shall cease for a little while from anointing kings and princes." (Hosea 8:4, 10)? Man anoints the man. God anoints the gift of His Spirit. Is not this the sense of the "anointing" that abides, teaches, causes one to know (1 John 2:20, 27)? And if the gift, Holy Spirit, and anointing are present, you have no need for a king, priest, prophet, teacher... to lead ... because in that day all shall know from the least to the greatest.
"Those who lead this people lead them astray... and those who are led by them are swallowed up." (Isaiah 9:13-16)
"But those who turn aside upon their crooked ways, Yahweh will lead away with evil doers! Peace be in Israel! (Psalm 125:5)
Leadership that is not in accordance to the Word of the Torah is not anointed by anything but the traditions of men. The Living Torah of the Word leadeth the sheep of Israel. Leadership that disposes of the Torah of the God of Israel cannot, and will not, be anointed by the God of Israel. Simply said, "He who says 'I know him,' but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4) From the simplest oath, to the gossip, to fairy tales and myths, to the rebellion... is there anything here you don't understand, or that is not covered by His Word?
What is the leadership for Israel?
"Jacob (in spite of his fear!)...Yahweh alone did lead him." (Deut. 32:9-12)
"Lead me in thy truth, and teach me. Make me to know thy ways, O Yahweh...teach me thy paths" (Psalm 25:4-5) Thus says David.
"So thou didst lead thy people, to make for thyself a glorious name. (Isaiah 63:14)
"Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold thy manna from their mouth." (Nehemiah 9:19-20)
"The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own by name and leads them out." (John 10:3, 4)
Finally...
"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou who leadest Joseph like a flock! ...shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh! Stir up thy might, and come to save us!
The Israel of the Patriarchs
The Israel of the Kings, Priests & Temple
The Israel of the Prophets
The Israel of the Messiahs
The Israel of the Rabbis
The Israel of the Zionists
The Israel of the Politicians
Yet to come... is the Israel of God!
At one time or another, leadership in Israel has been exercised by one or another of the above, and at times, they have been in direct opposition to one another: Kings vs. Priests, Prophets vs. Priests, Messiahs vs. all of the above... The history of Israel has been a long, uninterrupted contest of leadership focused on the question: "Who (or what) shall lead us?" The answers have taken every conceivable form from Patriarch to Priest to Politician...to Idol. Each leadership has been tested and revealed to have feet of clay. Nebuchadnezzar, "mighty and of exceeding brightness" (Daniel 2:31-33), glorious in stature and raiment, had feet of clay. Isn't all leadership, finally, standing upon the clay feet of Adam?
Kings, princes, prophets, teachers, shepherds... have a long history of leading the people astray. "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule...my people love to have it so... But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away." (Jeremiah 5:23, 30-31) This same word can be found multiplied many times over, spoken to the kings, princes, teachers, shepherds... (Jeremiah 50:6, Ezekiel 14:9-11, 44:10-11, 48:11, Isaiah 56:10-12)
In whatever form, the Saul "image" is presented---President, Pastor, or Prophet---the people are drawn to the magnetic personality, the charisma, the "presence", the stature, reputation... They love the "image" and will follow it, heeding every dramatic gesture. God's word of "Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings." is answered with a "But... that is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart." (Jeremiah 18:11-12)
Here the heart of "Followship" is revealed. The People have a long history of following their own desires, thoughts, self-delusions, faulty vision, corrupted leadership. The people follow not only their own desires but every religious charlatan, political ideology, or charismatic person...whether king, priest, or peasant. When that happens, then the perfect synergy of "Leadership" and "Followship" gives Israel a perfect storm of recurring fiery judgments from their God.
The Third Problem of "leadership" has to do with the "feet of clay." Though the feet (in Daniel) are a composite of clay and iron, they cannot stand the testing of God that always comes. The glorious brightness, images finely crafted and dressed, badges, banners... all these trappings, impressive as they may appear to be, cannot replace, cover, or mask the inherent weakness of the clay feet. Such feet may for a time conceal the truth of the Person, the Community, or the Nation, but sooner or later the "spirit" will be revealed and tested. Both the clay feet and the spirit will be tested. (Deut. 13:3) Faithful in the "small" things (Luke 16:10) is helpful but not decisive or sufficiently convincing. Everybody is "happy" on a carnival cruise in the kingdom of this world, but such a cruise reveals nothing: not the captain, not the crew, not the seaworthiness of the ship, and certainly nothing about the passengers. The "Titanic" reveals everybody and everything---in body, soul, and spirit. The Bread of Adversity (Isaiah 30:20), Jacob's Trouble, the "End", the Day of the Lord... all these are testings of standing. Will any form of leadership be able to stand, or will they all "fall" before the leadership of God? Can any kind of leadership bring fresh revelation? Or will it be conventional wisdom re-packaged, "old" news rewritten with a fresh slant... namely, the same old story with a fresh face or new coat of paint?
Consider: the leadership of ancient Israel was a "pillar of fire" and a "pillar of cloud" that went before the people... What a contrast to the leadership of Jacob, born of the fear of the flesh, which sought to "appease" Esau. Thus, gifts, the flocks, women and children were arranged and divided---Jacob's strategy of leadership! Or what a contrast to the leadership in many armies: the headquarters "hooch" way behind the "front line." Fair to ask who is actually taking the fire, really exposed to risk, injury, loss of life and limb? Who has "skin" in the game...? Who is invested with their own money and not playing with OPM (in banking parlance known as Other People's Money)? Paul succinctly speaks to the situation: "You have many guides, not many fathers." (1 Cor. 4:13) Guides will give you a map, tell you where to go, perhaps even accompany you a ways, but it is not in their job description to risk their neck. In the best armies you get to be an officer by being in the "Front Line."
In Genesis (6:4, 11:4), the "mighty men" determined to "build a Tower" to heaven. They were seeking to make a Name for themselves. If there be any such thing as true leadership will it manifest these qualities? These qualities in the spirit?
Finally, if there be any such thing as true leadership does accountability to some other authority have to be operating? Are the finances published, particularly, when money comes from outside sources? In the political realm billions of dollars move here, there, and everywhere: to buy access, favor, or privilege, or...? In religion, billions of dollars are solicited, move here, there, and everywhere: to what godly purpose...?
The problem of the false leadership of King, Priest, or Teacher has been historically countered by the raising up of the Prophet. What to do when the false prophets of Jezebel and the King's Court Prophets mislead the people? The hirelings are eating at whose table?
"Lead, follow, or get out the way!" is a familiar and common expression in the military and corporate world. Is this a statement God would make? Or is this a subtle variation on the the theme of "Making kings, but not through me (Yahweh). And they shall cease for a little while from anointing kings and princes." (Hosea 8:4, 10)? Man anoints the man. God anoints the gift of His Spirit. Is not this the sense of the "anointing" that abides, teaches, causes one to know (1 John 2:20, 27)? And if the gift, Holy Spirit, and anointing are present, you have no need for a king, priest, prophet, teacher... to lead ... because in that day all shall know from the least to the greatest.
"Those who lead this people lead them astray... and those who are led by them are swallowed up." (Isaiah 9:13-16)
"But those who turn aside upon their crooked ways, Yahweh will lead away with evil doers! Peace be in Israel! (Psalm 125:5)
Leadership that is not in accordance to the Word of the Torah is not anointed by anything but the traditions of men. The Living Torah of the Word leadeth the sheep of Israel. Leadership that disposes of the Torah of the God of Israel cannot, and will not, be anointed by the God of Israel. Simply said, "He who says 'I know him,' but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4) From the simplest oath, to the gossip, to fairy tales and myths, to the rebellion... is there anything here you don't understand, or that is not covered by His Word?
What is the leadership for Israel?
"Jacob (in spite of his fear!)...Yahweh alone did lead him." (Deut. 32:9-12)
"Lead me in thy truth, and teach me. Make me to know thy ways, O Yahweh...teach me thy paths" (Psalm 25:4-5) Thus says David.
"So thou didst lead thy people, to make for thyself a glorious name. (Isaiah 63:14)
"Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold thy manna from their mouth." (Nehemiah 9:19-20)
"The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own by name and leads them out." (John 10:3, 4)
Finally...
"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou who leadest Joseph like a flock! ...shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh! Stir up thy might, and come to save us!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Stepping Out in Faith
I wrestled with the title of this message for a bit. It could have been titled many different things. For example:
Letting Benjamin Go; Saying Goodbye to Security; Leaving Your Comfort Zone; You get the picture. It's the idea of setting out on a new and unchartered journey to a new and possibly undiscovered, uninhabited place. It could be a lonely place, it could be tumultuous, maybe it's a place that "no man has gone before". It's a place that may be in the dark for us (or seemingly so because we can only see the Lamp at our feet and the Light at our path). Ahead of our steps it's very dark, but not really though. The place we are heading toward is actually in the brightest Light of all. It's the place where the true LIGHT dwells. It's the place that He has already set up for us, and He is just patiently waiting for us to follow HIS steps to arrive there.
I've been reading about our father and his faith. Not our Heavenly Father, but our forefather Abraham. Abraham or Abram as he was called at that time in his life, was a hero in faith. He should be our example, and I believe that his story was penned for that very reason, to encourage us in our faith. To build up our trust in the providence of Yahweh, our heavenly Father who never leaves us nor forsakes us. Abraham was the man who was called the "friend of God".
Abraham's life was not much different than ours. We would benefit greatly from studying the "father of faith".
His life was in Ur, a very civilized place in the world, with everything a man could ever want. He lived there with his family. Ur was also a place where idolatry abounded, and unfortunately Abraham's father Terah was an idolator. We never think of God using someone from an idolatrous background to do HIS work, but the call of God can come regardless of one's roots.
Look at Genesis 12:1 " and Yahweh said to Abram, " Go, get yourself out of your land, from your relatives, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you."
God had a three-fold command to Abram:
1. Leave your society
2. Leave your stability
3. Leave your security
What would God like us to see?
1. Leave your society. Abraham's country was idolatrous. There was a warning in this command for Abram as well as for us. Be careful of societal boundaries. It may mean leaving, it can sometimes be a challenge for, us but although we are "in" this society, we are not part of this society. The more like society you become, the less impact you will have for the cause of Yeshua.
This is not only a warning for young people, but for us as well.
2. Leave your stability. Abram was not only told to leave his country, but to leave his relatives as well.
It's quoted in "the Patriarchs", "leave all that life has encircled you with; leave the stability of home and friends, and that circle of people you know; leave the pattern of life and break out of it". I'm going to send you to someplace totally new and different. Break out of the norm."
This command was probably one of the most difficult things for Abram. We've all got our comfortable patterns of living. We do not easily break away from the "norm".
3. Leave your security. Lastly Abram was told to "go forth from your father's house". He was told that he not only had to leave his country, but all his relatives, and his father's house. This was a completely foreign concept. You did not leave your father's house, in fact, after you married, you actually would build on to your father's house with your new wife moving in to the family home with you. It was a foreign concept to leave your father's house. That is exactly what God asked Abram to do--- leave his security, the security of life and family. He was told in a sense to " just trust Me and come along with Me, Abram".
Ponder this story for a moment:
A little boy was his grandfather's constant companion. They would often go on short trips together- to the grocery store, sometimes to the lake to fish, or wherever the grandfather needed to go. The boy always tagged along with his grandfather, they were delightful companions. One day the grandfather said " Let's go for a ride".
The boy asked, "Where are we going?"
The grandfather left without him. When he got back, the little boy looked crestfallen and asked, " Grandfather, why did you leave me behind?" The grandfather looked at him and said, " Because you asked me where we were going. If you really wanted to go with me, it wouldn't have mattered where we were going."
The author goes on to tell us that this same thing is in the heart of the man or woman of faith. God says, " Go", or "Do", or "Be". But we say, "OK, LORD, where is the security package? What are the benefits? Where are You taking me? How long will I be there?"
So God moves on to the next person.
Continuing with Abraham: So God commanded Abram, "leave your society, stability, and leave you security. Leave it all behind Abram. " I have something much better for you.
One of the difficult things we need to be warned of, as individuals and as fellowships, is that we can fall into a pattern that is so predictacle. We know exactly what is going to happen in our comfortable conformed lives, so we never dare to risk anything for God. Never stepping out in faith...we want to see it all in front of us. As a result, our availability and capability for the Kingdom of God is greatly hindered.
We should take heed that we not fall into a pattern of security and stabilty with familiar things, thereby missing out on the possibility of moving on to greater things with God. In Genesis 12, Abram was commanded to throw away all his "securities", and become a wanderer, a pilgrim, a pioneer. Abram was to become as Charles Spurgeon once wrote, "shipwrecked on the island of God's sovereignty". This is where we want to live. Responding to God's call means finding our security in God alone.
Do we really want that? Can we really rest in that?
Letting Benjamin Go; Saying Goodbye to Security; Leaving Your Comfort Zone; You get the picture. It's the idea of setting out on a new and unchartered journey to a new and possibly undiscovered, uninhabited place. It could be a lonely place, it could be tumultuous, maybe it's a place that "no man has gone before". It's a place that may be in the dark for us (or seemingly so because we can only see the Lamp at our feet and the Light at our path). Ahead of our steps it's very dark, but not really though. The place we are heading toward is actually in the brightest Light of all. It's the place where the true LIGHT dwells. It's the place that He has already set up for us, and He is just patiently waiting for us to follow HIS steps to arrive there.
I've been reading about our father and his faith. Not our Heavenly Father, but our forefather Abraham. Abraham or Abram as he was called at that time in his life, was a hero in faith. He should be our example, and I believe that his story was penned for that very reason, to encourage us in our faith. To build up our trust in the providence of Yahweh, our heavenly Father who never leaves us nor forsakes us. Abraham was the man who was called the "friend of God".
Abraham's life was not much different than ours. We would benefit greatly from studying the "father of faith".
His life was in Ur, a very civilized place in the world, with everything a man could ever want. He lived there with his family. Ur was also a place where idolatry abounded, and unfortunately Abraham's father Terah was an idolator. We never think of God using someone from an idolatrous background to do HIS work, but the call of God can come regardless of one's roots.
Look at Genesis 12:1 " and Yahweh said to Abram, " Go, get yourself out of your land, from your relatives, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you."
God had a three-fold command to Abram:
1. Leave your society
2. Leave your stability
3. Leave your security
What would God like us to see?
1. Leave your society. Abraham's country was idolatrous. There was a warning in this command for Abram as well as for us. Be careful of societal boundaries. It may mean leaving, it can sometimes be a challenge for, us but although we are "in" this society, we are not part of this society. The more like society you become, the less impact you will have for the cause of Yeshua.
This is not only a warning for young people, but for us as well.
2. Leave your stability. Abram was not only told to leave his country, but to leave his relatives as well.
It's quoted in "the Patriarchs", "leave all that life has encircled you with; leave the stability of home and friends, and that circle of people you know; leave the pattern of life and break out of it". I'm going to send you to someplace totally new and different. Break out of the norm."
This command was probably one of the most difficult things for Abram. We've all got our comfortable patterns of living. We do not easily break away from the "norm".
3. Leave your security. Lastly Abram was told to "go forth from your father's house". He was told that he not only had to leave his country, but all his relatives, and his father's house. This was a completely foreign concept. You did not leave your father's house, in fact, after you married, you actually would build on to your father's house with your new wife moving in to the family home with you. It was a foreign concept to leave your father's house. That is exactly what God asked Abram to do--- leave his security, the security of life and family. He was told in a sense to " just trust Me and come along with Me, Abram".
Ponder this story for a moment:
A little boy was his grandfather's constant companion. They would often go on short trips together- to the grocery store, sometimes to the lake to fish, or wherever the grandfather needed to go. The boy always tagged along with his grandfather, they were delightful companions. One day the grandfather said " Let's go for a ride".
The boy asked, "Where are we going?"
The grandfather left without him. When he got back, the little boy looked crestfallen and asked, " Grandfather, why did you leave me behind?" The grandfather looked at him and said, " Because you asked me where we were going. If you really wanted to go with me, it wouldn't have mattered where we were going."
The author goes on to tell us that this same thing is in the heart of the man or woman of faith. God says, " Go", or "Do", or "Be". But we say, "OK, LORD, where is the security package? What are the benefits? Where are You taking me? How long will I be there?"
So God moves on to the next person.
Continuing with Abraham: So God commanded Abram, "leave your society, stability, and leave you security. Leave it all behind Abram. " I have something much better for you.
One of the difficult things we need to be warned of, as individuals and as fellowships, is that we can fall into a pattern that is so predictacle. We know exactly what is going to happen in our comfortable conformed lives, so we never dare to risk anything for God. Never stepping out in faith...we want to see it all in front of us. As a result, our availability and capability for the Kingdom of God is greatly hindered.
We should take heed that we not fall into a pattern of security and stabilty with familiar things, thereby missing out on the possibility of moving on to greater things with God. In Genesis 12, Abram was commanded to throw away all his "securities", and become a wanderer, a pilgrim, a pioneer. Abram was to become as Charles Spurgeon once wrote, "shipwrecked on the island of God's sovereignty". This is where we want to live. Responding to God's call means finding our security in God alone.
Do we really want that? Can we really rest in that?
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
God Would Do That!!
Many are the "religous" assertions concerning what God would or wouldn't do...Perhaps it would be helpful and profitable for you to consider the following:
Now Yahweh said to Abram, "Go from your country and your father's house to the land that I will show you..." (Gen. 12:1)
God would do That!!
Yahweh said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them up in the sun before Yahweh that the fierce anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel". (Num. 25:4)
God would do That!!
And Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job?...behold all that he has is in your power...only upon himself do not put your hand." (Job 1:8-12)
God would do That!!
...and when they came to the threshing floor of Nachon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah...and God smote him there...and he died there beside the ark of God. ( 2 Samuel 6:1-7)
God would do That!!
Thus says Yahweh, "Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun"... nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned Yahweh the child that is born to you shall die...and Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David and it became sick...on the seventh day the child died. (2 Samuel 12:11-18)
God would do That!!
For Yahweh has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets, and covered your heads the seers. (Isaiah 29:10)
God would do That!!
And you son of man..."lie upon your left side and I will lay the punishment of the house of Israel upon you...you shall bear their punishment. For I assign to you a number of days, three hundred ninety days...so long shall you bear the punishment of the house of Israel...and you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the punishment for the house of Judah...forty days I assign to you...and you shall make bread and eat it as a barley cake baking it in their sight on human dung." (Ezek. 4:1-12)
God would do That!!
When Yahweh first spoke through Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, "Go take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry, for the land commits great harlotry by forsaking Yahweh." (Hosea 1:2)
God would do That!!
Thus says Yahweh of hosts...the wise men shall be put to shame...lo they have rejected the Word of Yahweh...therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors becuase from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from priest to prophet everyone deals falsely." (Jer. 8:4-12)
God would do That!!
So then He has mercy upon whomever He wills and He hardens the heart of whomever He wills. (Romans 9:18)
God would do That!!
GOD DID DO THAT!!!
Posted by Yael
Now Yahweh said to Abram, "Go from your country and your father's house to the land that I will show you..." (Gen. 12:1)
God would do That!!
Yahweh said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them up in the sun before Yahweh that the fierce anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel". (Num. 25:4)
God would do That!!
And Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job?...behold all that he has is in your power...only upon himself do not put your hand." (Job 1:8-12)
God would do That!!
...and when they came to the threshing floor of Nachon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah...and God smote him there...and he died there beside the ark of God. ( 2 Samuel 6:1-7)
God would do That!!
Thus says Yahweh, "Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun"... nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned Yahweh the child that is born to you shall die...and Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David and it became sick...on the seventh day the child died. (2 Samuel 12:11-18)
God would do That!!
For Yahweh has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets, and covered your heads the seers. (Isaiah 29:10)
God would do That!!
And you son of man..."lie upon your left side and I will lay the punishment of the house of Israel upon you...you shall bear their punishment. For I assign to you a number of days, three hundred ninety days...so long shall you bear the punishment of the house of Israel...and you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the punishment for the house of Judah...forty days I assign to you...and you shall make bread and eat it as a barley cake baking it in their sight on human dung." (Ezek. 4:1-12)
God would do That!!
When Yahweh first spoke through Hosea, Yahweh said to Hosea, "Go take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry, for the land commits great harlotry by forsaking Yahweh." (Hosea 1:2)
God would do That!!
Thus says Yahweh of hosts...the wise men shall be put to shame...lo they have rejected the Word of Yahweh...therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors becuase from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from priest to prophet everyone deals falsely." (Jer. 8:4-12)
God would do That!!
So then He has mercy upon whomever He wills and He hardens the heart of whomever He wills. (Romans 9:18)
God would do That!!
GOD DID DO THAT!!!
Posted by Yael
Monday, December 6, 2010
What's A Grape To Do???
"Whine" in Your Future!!
Golda: Gertrude, who's that Guy with the "cutters"?
Gertrude: Stop hollering...your screaming in my ear!
Gail: No problem, girls...we are just hanging out here in the sun...Ahhhhhhh...
Gigi: I'll just pull some leaves down over us... He'll never notice us. And the cart is almost full anyway. Relax, girls. Gladys and Grace you keep a lookout both ways.
[Ginger and Gloria never see the skillful, swift hand. No one feels the snip. Not until their bunch is in the harvest tub rolling down the vineyard aisle.]
Golda (screeches): Help, I am upside down in the tub!
Gertrude: Shhhhh.... We're all OK. Hey girls, it could be worse... we're not bruised, were not on the ground getting run over... Shhhhh Greta, it really wasn't Gladys' and Grace's fault.
Golda (panicking): I hear something! What's that hum? Don't you hear it? What's happening?
Gail: Relax, Golda. No problem. It's just a conveyor belt. Smoooooth ride... See, this isn't so bad!!
Gina, Ginny, & Gabby: I don't know about this... I want to be back on the vine... I don't think this is what it seems... There's a sign up ahead... Gertrude can you see what it says?
Gertrude: Well, ladies... Ummmm, it says "Please remove all jewelry."
[Dead Silence except for hummmm, hummmm...]
Gertrude: Well, I hate to tell you this ladies, but there's another sign up ahead.
Gila, Gwen, Gina, Ginny, Gabby, & Greta: I knew it...!! I knew it...!! This can't be good!!
[Loud-SPEAKER]: "It's conversion time...time to make a decision... All wine grapes to the right... All raisin grapes to the left... Time to make a decision... All wine grapes to the right... All raisin grapes to the left...
[Silence in the Bunch]
Chorus of voices: Which way do we go? What do we do? How do I get off... I want to go back! This ain't fair! I don't like this! We are gonna get crushed! We are all going to die!!
Gertrude: If you want to save your skin, you've got to go left into the hot, drying sun and become a raisin.
Gertrude: As for me, I choose to go right, into the Hand of the Master Vintner.
*
**
Many Months later... at Chateau Groom
**
Gertrude the Grape, Vintage 2010 (reflecting on her journey of becoming wine...):
So many things I didn't understand, and so many things that were rather terrifying, certainly surprising after the tender care of life in the vineyard. The sun, the good soil, the rains... You knew exactly the best conditions... You knew exactly the right time for the harvest. But none of us knew that the only way to make wine was for the grape, me, to be crushed! While moving down that conveyor belt to the crusher, I was tempted to go left and become a raisin! Were You rejoicing or grieving over each grape going to the crusher? It was so lonely as a single grape, but now I understand You couldn't make Wine from one grape, no matter how plump and sweet! We went into the crusher as single grapes, and came out, the juice, all flowing together to become Your Wine. Strange how the grapes that chose to be raisins always remain single. We lost our "skins", but the best parts all flowed together into your Vats to become Wine.
***
The Master WineMaker: The Year 2010 is a wonderful Vintage, Gertrude. So let the Feasting begin...!!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The Wedding Ring
Precious and Holy Shabbat
How lovely and sacred you are
You are my treasure
A gift from my Beloved
The symbol of His Love
The sign of His promise
Sweet sweet Shabbat
You are the ring upon my heart
The smell of your challah
The joy of your wine
Bringing peace to my spirit
Giving rest to my soul
Precious and Holy Shabbat
May we never ever part
Ya'el
Types & Shadows
"Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts..." (Ezekiel 14:3) The making of primitive idols was about fashioning a material by the hand of man. Simple and direct material representation. In this day, the imagination, the image-making capacity of the soul, creates an "idol" which finds lodging in the soul of the man. And then the image, born of the imagination, is exalted in the heart and spirit of the man. This is the more advanced form of idolatry which occurs when the demon is taken into the spirit/heart of the man. "For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." (Luke 16:15) "He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts..." (Luke 1:51) This present age is more wicked in the imaginations of the heart than any previous time---it is an age characterized by the proliferation of idols.
As Isaiah declares: "These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations." (66:3) All politics today is obsessively concerned with "image" making. Any connection to the reality of the politician is purely coincidental! What are the seven abominations in the heart of the person in Proverbs 26:24-25? What is in the golden cup full of abominations that the great harlot holds in Revelation 17:4? Are not these "spirits"?
"Woe to the rebellious children," says Yahweh, "...who set out to go down to Egypt...to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh, and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!"
Consider the shadows of the flowers and the candles which are cast on the wall behind: they do render a facsimile of the real thing, but they are not real flowers... Would it be a stretch to say people have come to believe in the religious shadows that their so-called "light" has cast on the "Light" of God, the uppermost candle of the hanukkiah? For if you will observe carefully, you will see that each of the lower candles has generated a shadow, a total of three "images" of the upper candle. If there were eight candles, they each would project an image: all of them would be false shadows, types, of the real candle. Such is the case in this religious age: each "light" projects a shadow or type of faith which the "believers" hold as the reality of God, His ways, His truth, His plan... Is there any reality or truth to these images and imaginations of men? We are forced to give them some credence because the true "believers" are willing to kill others, even their own children, on behalf of their image or shadow. A Jewish Apostle of the 1st century dismisses all these images, including the religious ones, as shadows of the reality of God. Made into idols, these imaginations of the soulish mind beguile people into believing that the "lie of the shadow" is the reality of God. Projected light from the "created candles" of man can never reveal God. They can only become idols of the most darkening age.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Employment Opportunity
Help Wanted
Divine Enterprises Ltd., LLC, Inc. seeks 12 good Men/Women for
Exciting, Rewarding Work in a fast-paced environment.
Multiple Challenges, long hours, no 401K
Must be detail oriented, and good at "follow the Leader."
Bi-lingual Hebrew/English a Plus.
Extensive travel may be required.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Send detailed Resume of relevant experience
with salary requirements to Yael, Employment Coordinator,
P.O. 8514, Jerusalem 91084 Israel. No calls accepted
Detailed Job Description after First Day on the Job!
(People in their right mind need not apply...!)
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
What To Do: The "Christmas Gifts"?
At one time or another we have all received "gifts" that have left us in a quandry. The dilemma arises because one person in the "gift-giving" relation does not view the "gift" as a gift, however well meaning the giver may be. The "gift" is only a gift if both persons, the giver and the recipient, view it as such. Gift-giving that has an agenda is not a gift; gift-giving that is self-serving of one's self-image is not a gift; gift-giving that is obligatory, a more expensive version of the "card for card...", is not gift-giving. So the confusion of Christmas gifts is compounded.
If the Christ of your Christmas is not viewed as a "gift" what are the "giver" and the "getter" to do? If one has the power or influence I suppose one could pass a law requiring the manger scene, with accompanying choir of angles, be prominently displayed in the town square: kind of a Christian version for America of the "loyalty oath" being proposed in Israel's Knesset for the "strangers" in the midst of the Jewish majority. But what kind of blessing is this kind of "gift"? Even given perhaps you really do need that sweater that Aunt Jane knitted!
Most people today are able to discern the coercion, subtle though it may be, that lurks behind some gift-giving. All motivations are similarly revealed for what they truly are about...sooner or later.
The spirit behind much gift-giving may come as an "angel of light", but the wolf in sheep's clothing will surely be revealed. Gifts come in all sorts of wrapping, in all sorts of forms, and in all sorts of spirits. There are gifts in the material/physical world, gifts in the realm of the soul (the endless holiday music!!), and gifts in the realm of the spirit. Something may appear to be a gift in one of these realms, but upon closer examination, is not a gift in the other remaining realms. A true gift is a "true" gift in all three realms: the physical/material world, the world of the soul, and in the realm of the spirit. If the "gift" is not a gift in any one of these three realms, it is not a gift, it is not a blessing, and it has no "Life."
So what to do?
You can construct your own list, as have I over the years, of solutions to this annual dilemma. Here are a few of the one's I have adopted: return the gift to the place of purchase, get a refund, and give the proceeds to your favorite charity. But of course, that is not always possible. Return the gift to the giver with a note of explanation...e.g. your "taste" has changed. But of course, that hand-made scarf with accompanying "Christmas Note" from.....makes that impossible. Give it to the "Salvation Army"... Or simply stick "it" in a back corner of a seldom visited closet or up to the attic I trudge with that troublous article...and then feel awful, awful... Burn it in the holiday fireplaces, or pitch it in the dumpster! Sometimes the item is so blatantly offensive to either the flesh, the soul, or the spirit: my answer to the "what to do" is swift and merciless!
Or one can receive the "gift" and then agonize endlessly over what to do and how to respond... Have you ever given a "gift" in pay back? Like maybe you got a chunk of coal in your stocking, and you get back by giving a "heater" with that chunk of coal inside burning brightly: get the metaphor?
The personalized gifts are perhaps the most difficult: the embroidered "Christmas" tie with your name in mistletoe green has to go to the dumpster. Re-gifting? Too many chances of being found out!! Or perhaps "An Extreme Total Makeover? I adopted this solution to an original piece of metal sculpture: the extreme makeover resulted in a Hanukkah menorah.
Perhaps it is time for the "givers" to take a hard look at themselves, amend their ways, and save all of us "receivers" a lot of grief. But perhaps I am avoiding the question of "What to do...?" by passing the buck back to the givers?
Maybe I just need to take the responsibility of deciding and acting on who and what I allow to come into my life?
If the Christ of your Christmas is not viewed as a "gift" what are the "giver" and the "getter" to do? If one has the power or influence I suppose one could pass a law requiring the manger scene, with accompanying choir of angles, be prominently displayed in the town square: kind of a Christian version for America of the "loyalty oath" being proposed in Israel's Knesset for the "strangers" in the midst of the Jewish majority. But what kind of blessing is this kind of "gift"? Even given perhaps you really do need that sweater that Aunt Jane knitted!
Most people today are able to discern the coercion, subtle though it may be, that lurks behind some gift-giving. All motivations are similarly revealed for what they truly are about...sooner or later.
The spirit behind much gift-giving may come as an "angel of light", but the wolf in sheep's clothing will surely be revealed. Gifts come in all sorts of wrapping, in all sorts of forms, and in all sorts of spirits. There are gifts in the material/physical world, gifts in the realm of the soul (the endless holiday music!!), and gifts in the realm of the spirit. Something may appear to be a gift in one of these realms, but upon closer examination, is not a gift in the other remaining realms. A true gift is a "true" gift in all three realms: the physical/material world, the world of the soul, and in the realm of the spirit. If the "gift" is not a gift in any one of these three realms, it is not a gift, it is not a blessing, and it has no "Life."
So what to do?
You can construct your own list, as have I over the years, of solutions to this annual dilemma. Here are a few of the one's I have adopted: return the gift to the place of purchase, get a refund, and give the proceeds to your favorite charity. But of course, that is not always possible. Return the gift to the giver with a note of explanation...e.g. your "taste" has changed. But of course, that hand-made scarf with accompanying "Christmas Note" from.....makes that impossible. Give it to the "Salvation Army"... Or simply stick "it" in a back corner of a seldom visited closet or up to the attic I trudge with that troublous article...and then feel awful, awful... Burn it in the holiday fireplaces, or pitch it in the dumpster! Sometimes the item is so blatantly offensive to either the flesh, the soul, or the spirit: my answer to the "what to do" is swift and merciless!
Or one can receive the "gift" and then agonize endlessly over what to do and how to respond... Have you ever given a "gift" in pay back? Like maybe you got a chunk of coal in your stocking, and you get back by giving a "heater" with that chunk of coal inside burning brightly: get the metaphor?
The personalized gifts are perhaps the most difficult: the embroidered "Christmas" tie with your name in mistletoe green has to go to the dumpster. Re-gifting? Too many chances of being found out!! Or perhaps "An Extreme Total Makeover? I adopted this solution to an original piece of metal sculpture: the extreme makeover resulted in a Hanukkah menorah.
Perhaps it is time for the "givers" to take a hard look at themselves, amend their ways, and save all of us "receivers" a lot of grief. But perhaps I am avoiding the question of "What to do...?" by passing the buck back to the givers?
Maybe I just need to take the responsibility of deciding and acting on who and what I allow to come into my life?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)