Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
Maybe my days would be filled with more praise, thankfulness and productiveness if I truly took this to heart.
Maybe I nee to be reminded of what G-d can do instead of what I cannot do.
Every moment could and should be given as it were, the blessing that it could be the last moment and thus blessed.
Our days are not only numbered by the sovereign Lord, but they are also ordered. This order is to do that which is good and right in the sight of G-d.
The apostle Peter comments about out time and purpose on earth in 1 Peter 1:17,22-25 which says;"And if you call in him as Father who judges impartially according to each ones deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile..... Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born from above, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through living and abiding word of G-d; for all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever."
The ultimate in this obedience is not that we have done much, but rather that in the obedience we have been establishing the ordered days of our stay which is in the "word of the Lord which remains forever.".
May I always be awakened out of a slumbered tolerance of self indulgence to the magnificent works of G-d. Although my flesh may fall limp as the flower that fades, my soul shall forever be sealed in in Jesus Messiah.
Bless His Holy Name. Bruch HaShem
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Seriously?
I am starting this blog with a couple of questions to myself today. "How serious do I really take this G-d thing? What in the world am I doing with this "call" of mine from G-d? Do I truly believe G-d and this call to the world to come and follow Jesus The Messiah?"
Very recently, I started looking around my own little world, which includes everywhere from my own home to work and places that I stop. I have been opened to the distinct possibility that I have become comfortable in this little world of mine.
I have have been striving after the command of Jesus; "come follow me.". I have been reading and studying The Scriptures and gaining much insight for my walk with G-d. I am pushing myself in spheres of husbandry and fatherhood and trying to imitate the Savior. I concentrate hard on my conduct in the workplace and trying to exemplify a man who has been bought and redeemed by a gracious Master.
I have however missed something so crucial to this life that G-d had to show me the connecting thought of the message of completeness. Like I said, I am starting and moving closer to follow and be with Jesus, but this is only half of the life.
There is a second part, which is not really separate, but of the same whole. This was made vividly apparent about a week ago in my car going from one job to the other.
Coming down a main street in my downtown area, I was noticing some run down buildings and also some very run down people. There were on this street many large churches, about six that I can remember. I started to wonder why, if there are so many buildings with the message of hope,could there be so many faces displaying a lack of hope?
There were so many different people on the side walks, and coming out of there homes, and general business, it was almost as if I heard a cry saying, "these are My people, here is my church."
My immediate response to this idea proposed by either my own head, or from the one who created my head was to debate. "What does that have to do with me? I don't go out talking with strangers on the wide open areas of exposure! I go out to coffee shops to read and study, and people seem to come to me. NOEL DOES NOT GO OUT TO THE STREETS!" This I firmly believed was someone elses job.
As I was bantering back and forth with this invading voice in my head, which was now dripping into my heart, I looked once again while sitting at the stop light and saw more and more faces of despair.
I drove away from that spot towards where my next job was, but I could not escape the reality of this lesson. What was this lesson I am still learning? Well, this is the second half of the whole. Jesus very clearly calls people and instructs them to come, repent, follow and obey. What was this obedience I was/am missing? Very simply, it was this; "Go!". Before the ascension of Jesus back to the Father, he left the disciples with these very demanding commands;"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."(Matt.28:19-20).
As I am living this life devoted to my G-d, I am supposed to share and not spare this gospel. I am called to leave my comfort zone and reached my lost world in which I am in contact with. I really would rather not do such things as go around neighborhoods and street corners, but the voice of G-d is so loud. The voice cries out in the faces of the drug addicts, the losers in life, the social workers and prostitutes and beckon me to come, which in turn causes me to Go. After all, the blessed Son of G-d went, when he was sent. His love is so great as to enter such a violent world and enter into its pain and misery so as to shed His light and love to the lost and dying.
So kicking and screaming, uncomfortable in this new role, I will go. Only because the Master calls; and yes, He's serious. So must I be. G-d help me and may His voice ring loudly in your heart as well, so as to come, follow and go.
Very recently, I started looking around my own little world, which includes everywhere from my own home to work and places that I stop. I have been opened to the distinct possibility that I have become comfortable in this little world of mine.
I have have been striving after the command of Jesus; "come follow me.". I have been reading and studying The Scriptures and gaining much insight for my walk with G-d. I am pushing myself in spheres of husbandry and fatherhood and trying to imitate the Savior. I concentrate hard on my conduct in the workplace and trying to exemplify a man who has been bought and redeemed by a gracious Master.
I have however missed something so crucial to this life that G-d had to show me the connecting thought of the message of completeness. Like I said, I am starting and moving closer to follow and be with Jesus, but this is only half of the life.
There is a second part, which is not really separate, but of the same whole. This was made vividly apparent about a week ago in my car going from one job to the other.
Coming down a main street in my downtown area, I was noticing some run down buildings and also some very run down people. There were on this street many large churches, about six that I can remember. I started to wonder why, if there are so many buildings with the message of hope,could there be so many faces displaying a lack of hope?
There were so many different people on the side walks, and coming out of there homes, and general business, it was almost as if I heard a cry saying, "these are My people, here is my church."
My immediate response to this idea proposed by either my own head, or from the one who created my head was to debate. "What does that have to do with me? I don't go out talking with strangers on the wide open areas of exposure! I go out to coffee shops to read and study, and people seem to come to me. NOEL DOES NOT GO OUT TO THE STREETS!" This I firmly believed was someone elses job.
As I was bantering back and forth with this invading voice in my head, which was now dripping into my heart, I looked once again while sitting at the stop light and saw more and more faces of despair.
I drove away from that spot towards where my next job was, but I could not escape the reality of this lesson. What was this lesson I am still learning? Well, this is the second half of the whole. Jesus very clearly calls people and instructs them to come, repent, follow and obey. What was this obedience I was/am missing? Very simply, it was this; "Go!". Before the ascension of Jesus back to the Father, he left the disciples with these very demanding commands;"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."(Matt.28:19-20).
As I am living this life devoted to my G-d, I am supposed to share and not spare this gospel. I am called to leave my comfort zone and reached my lost world in which I am in contact with. I really would rather not do such things as go around neighborhoods and street corners, but the voice of G-d is so loud. The voice cries out in the faces of the drug addicts, the losers in life, the social workers and prostitutes and beckon me to come, which in turn causes me to Go. After all, the blessed Son of G-d went, when he was sent. His love is so great as to enter such a violent world and enter into its pain and misery so as to shed His light and love to the lost and dying.
So kicking and screaming, uncomfortable in this new role, I will go. Only because the Master calls; and yes, He's serious. So must I be. G-d help me and may His voice ring loudly in your heart as well, so as to come, follow and go.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Sermon on the Plane
Due to the overwhelming study of the beatitudes in my group on Sunday nights, I could not help but wonder about the warning that Jesus gives in Matthew 7:15. Jesus says this;"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.".
I took this warning to be against all that Jesus had just taught and explained about walking out a godly life. So with that in mind I wanted to come up with an inverted version of the beatitudes that would fit more in line with our culture and our ways. This way we could definitely tell the difference between a good tree and a bad tree and to better discern the wolf hiding in lambs wool.
I have put the beatitudes in a paradoy form to convey in humor the route that a prophet of ravenous blood type might take. He/she might take a more subtle approach, but I think we'll grasp the thought.
Taken from The Gospel According to We The People.
NINV(Noels Inverted Version)
"Cursed are the poor, you should ask G-d for more.
Cursed are the mouneres, just be happy.
Cursed are the meek, you'll just get run over if
you are in my way, so just run with the crowd.
Cursed are the ones who hunger and thirst after
righteousness, you shouldn't take this G-d thing so
seriously.
Mercy is for losers, only the strong survive.
Cursed are the pure in heart, everyone is truly good anyway
and there really is no evil.
Just co-exist! Unless of course someone tries to hurt
you or says you might be wrong.
Don't let others revile you, give back what they deserve
with all your heart mind and soul and strength.
Persecute the prophets like your fathers did
before you.
An eye for an eye, so let it be!!
Swear falsely if it serves your needs.
If someone slaps you on the right cheek, you have every
right to use as much force as necessary to defend
your honor.
If things aren't working out with your spouse, have a
little romance on the side or get divorced.
Lay up treasure here on earth for yourself
and just call it a nest egg.
You can not serve two masters, so serve yourself
well.
Seek first your kingdom and may G-d bless
much.
Help the poor and unfortunate, it will make you
feel better about yourself.
For mine is the Kingdom, the power and
the glory.
And all the congregation said; AMEN!!"
This maybe a little far fetched, but I think this could, and has happened in our thinking. It is not far from what the prophet Jeremiah recorded in Jeremiah 6:13-15:"For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain and form prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'peace, peace', when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed they did not know how to blush....".
You see, it's always a bad thing when a group, community or a whole race of people in general become so desensitized that they have forgotten to blush, It has been replaced with the pride of applause and compromise to that which most embodies godliness. Then, at the adherence of a beatitude that sits so low on the plane of our bane ways, the teachings of our own kingdom fly high the banner of selfishness led by false teachers caring only for themselves. We then as the sheep follow to the lovely tune they play.
Let it be true for those that are disciples of Jesus Messiah, that we follow His ways and then help each other and lift each other up so as to glorify G-d in heaven.
Let's all reach above beyond the plane to the mountaintop instead shall we?
I took this warning to be against all that Jesus had just taught and explained about walking out a godly life. So with that in mind I wanted to come up with an inverted version of the beatitudes that would fit more in line with our culture and our ways. This way we could definitely tell the difference between a good tree and a bad tree and to better discern the wolf hiding in lambs wool.
I have put the beatitudes in a paradoy form to convey in humor the route that a prophet of ravenous blood type might take. He/she might take a more subtle approach, but I think we'll grasp the thought.
Taken from The Gospel According to We The People.
NINV(Noels Inverted Version)
"Cursed are the poor, you should ask G-d for more.
Cursed are the mouneres, just be happy.
Cursed are the meek, you'll just get run over if
you are in my way, so just run with the crowd.
Cursed are the ones who hunger and thirst after
righteousness, you shouldn't take this G-d thing so
seriously.
Mercy is for losers, only the strong survive.
Cursed are the pure in heart, everyone is truly good anyway
and there really is no evil.
Just co-exist! Unless of course someone tries to hurt
you or says you might be wrong.
Don't let others revile you, give back what they deserve
with all your heart mind and soul and strength.
Persecute the prophets like your fathers did
before you.
An eye for an eye, so let it be!!
Swear falsely if it serves your needs.
If someone slaps you on the right cheek, you have every
right to use as much force as necessary to defend
your honor.
If things aren't working out with your spouse, have a
little romance on the side or get divorced.
Lay up treasure here on earth for yourself
and just call it a nest egg.
You can not serve two masters, so serve yourself
well.
Seek first your kingdom and may G-d bless
much.
Help the poor and unfortunate, it will make you
feel better about yourself.
For mine is the Kingdom, the power and
the glory.
And all the congregation said; AMEN!!"
This maybe a little far fetched, but I think this could, and has happened in our thinking. It is not far from what the prophet Jeremiah recorded in Jeremiah 6:13-15:"For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain and form prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'peace, peace', when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed they did not know how to blush....".
You see, it's always a bad thing when a group, community or a whole race of people in general become so desensitized that they have forgotten to blush, It has been replaced with the pride of applause and compromise to that which most embodies godliness. Then, at the adherence of a beatitude that sits so low on the plane of our bane ways, the teachings of our own kingdom fly high the banner of selfishness led by false teachers caring only for themselves. We then as the sheep follow to the lovely tune they play.
Let it be true for those that are disciples of Jesus Messiah, that we follow His ways and then help each other and lift each other up so as to glorify G-d in heaven.
Let's all reach above beyond the plane to the mountaintop instead shall we?
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