And the flood waters rise

The Torah lesson for Noach is the story of Noah and the flood. Many of us are familiar with that story from Sunday school. But that story always makes me think of another…

A man was sitting in his house when the local flood waters began to rise. The Police Department came knocking on the door telling it was time to evacuate. He replied, “I trust in God he will keep me safe.” A few hours later he was on the second story of his house because the flood waters were that high. There was a knock on the window. It was the Sheriff’s Department in a row boat telling him it was time to evacuate. He replied, “I trust in God he will keep me safe.” Eventually, the waters rose till he was on the roof of his house and the Coast Guard came with a helicopter telling him it was time to evacuate. He replied, “I trust in God he will keep me safe.” The man soon drowned. As he was standing before the throne of God he said, “Lord, I trusted in you to keep me safe and I drowned. How come to you did not keep me safe?” “SAFE?!” God replied, “I sent the Police, Sherriff and the Coast Guard, what more could I do?!”

As a pastor I get a lot of people who come to me with theological questions and stories. In fact, I can’t meet a new person who does not give them their whole theological life story when I meet them. I also get the ever popular, “Yeh, I have not been to Church in a while, I suppose I should get back.” But, there are some common things I hear. “I wish I had more time to rest.” “I wish I had more support as I raise my family.” And “I wish God would tell me what he expects of me.” Interestingly enough these are just like the Police, Sherriff and Coast Guard from the above story.

God knows that people get wound too tight. He knows that people will have a hard time carving out space in their lives for God and family. So he gave us the Sabbath. Sabbath is a time in our lives when we STOP and focus our attention on God. It is a sacred day in which we gather with family and catch up with each other. It is a day when rest from our work and enjoy this gift that God has given us. Yet few of us avail ourselves of this gift and the flood waters rise.

God knows that we cannot do it alone. He knows that there are challenges of life that often need community. I remember when we started having children people kept telling us to buy this book and that book on child rearing. Little did they know we have the best resource of them all. We had a whole congregation full of women and men that had already raised children. They provided so much help and direction. Much of their advice has saved us from danger with our children. Yet, many of us do not want to depend on others. We do not want to reach out and let people know we are hurting, grieving, struggling, or in need of prayer. So we make the attempt at going it alone, refuse the God given gift of community and the flood waters rise.

God knows that humans need direction. We need guidance. We need a map, a plan, or an instruction to get us through all that this world will throw at us. The Torah is God’s instruction for his people. In fact the word Torah means ‘instruction.’ God gives to us all that we need to navigate the storms and tumult of this present age and gives a glimpse into the age to come. Yet many of us reject the instruction of God. We call it out dated. Not for our time. Or too confining and we turn our backs on the ways of God and tell him to try again…next time come up with something more ‘fun’. And the flood waters rise.

Noah saw what happens when the world turns its back on HaShem (Hebrew word meaning “the Name” that refers to God). We look at the story of Noah and think that those people must have been really bad to have turned their backs on God. However, they may not be any different than us. To turn your back on God is to turn your back on God. There are not different levels of disobedience. “Well, at least I am not as bad as THEY are.” Comparing ourselves to others and their behavior is not a good indicator of how we are doing. We have to compare ourselves against God’s standards. And that is the Torah.

To study the Torah is to study the very character and nature of HaShem. It is to see how he wants us to live, conduct business, be in community, celebrate, etc…. If we truly believe that God is eternal than his word is eternal. If his word is eternal so is his grace. When we see God’s grace as eternal than we truly see how amazing it is.

Do not allow the floods of this world to carry you away in judgment. Cling to the ark that is the command and trust of HaShem. Learn his word, live his word, and when the trials of this life start to drown you he has given you others to lift you out of the muck and the mire and cling to the Rock of our salvation.

The 9th of Av

Today (July 30, 2009) is the 9th of Av on the Hebrew calendar. On this date many things happened according to both history and tradition.

- The spies came back from spying out the land of Canaan. 10 of the spies gave a bad report and the believed them.
- Both Temples were destroyed on this day.
- The Jews were expelled from England 1290
- The Jews were expelled from Spain 1492
- Hitler signed the “Final Solution”
- An only four years ago the Jews were expelled from the Gaza Strip.

So what does the 9th of Av have to do with us Christians? It goes back to the reason for the Temple destruction and the teachings of Jesus. According to the Talmud the Temple was destroyed because of “baseless hatred”. People were speaking evil against each other. People were not caring for each other. And we see this reflected n the teachings of Jesus.

In the book of Luke Jesus tells a story of a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell on some robbers. A priest who must serve in the Temple comes by but knows if he touches the man he will be unclean and cannot engage in his Temple services. The Levite the same. What is wrong with this? The Temple services were VERY important? Yes! But not above human need and suffering. That is the kind of baseless hatred that existed in the days of the Second Temple.

The Temple was destroyed because of the actions of the people. So, today is a day of mourning and grief, fasting and prayer. But, it is also a day of self examination and repentance. How might we be missing the needs of the injured and bleeding among us? How might we be speaking evil of others? How might we correct the errors of our ways so God can once again dwell in our midst?

This day is like a mini Lent, and it is aptly timed. Many of us are in the summer months when we are relaxing and vacationing and faith takes a back seat. This is out midsummer chance to jump start our faith. May you be blessed on this day as you examine your life to see how God wants you to grow. Who will you be a neighbor to?

Shalom,
Bill

Bring Sean Home

I have been captivated by this story…

The family is hoping for people to contact their congressman and senators about this issue. Here is a link to the web page blog where you can read more. You can also get information on what to say to your Representatives. I have written mine twice already.

http://bringseanhome.org/wordpress/

Think about it…pray about it…and let’s bring Sean home.

Shalom,
Bill

Your absolute best!

This is my favorite scene from the movie “Facing the Giants.” It is a great reminder to me that all too often I can give up when I know I have more in me. Over the years I have watched people leave the Torah behind the minute things got a little hard. I have also watch people leave the faith all together when they got to the 50 when they could have gone all the way. (Watch the clip).

Anyway, I thought I would share this as a reminder that the journey of faith can be difficult, but we have to keep pushing, keep driving, and keep our eyes on Yeshua/Jesus. In the end the rewards with benefit not only us, but the people of God.

‘Tis the Season

Happy Chanukkah!

Embarrasing Others

“Rabbi Elazar of Modin said, one who desecrates sacred objects, one who disgraces the festivals, one who shames his fellow in public, one who annuls the covenant of our forefather Abraham, or one who interprets the Torah not according to Jewish law — even if he has Torah [study] and good deeds, he has no share in the World to Come.” Pirkei Avot 3:15

I have always loved watching this video. Not just because of the humor. But, if you watch closely at time code 0.25 Annie Potts finds herself in a dilema. Shelly Winters has obviously forgotten working with Annie Potts in a movie. Ms. Potts is trying very hard not to embarrass Ms. Winters, but eventually is given permission to help her remember. What a difference this is from our culture!

It seems that we strive in our culture to embarass people at every possible juncture. But, this is wrong, not only according to the Ethics of the Father quoted above, but by the prinicples of God. Each human is made in the image of God and so as we act and react to each other we should act and react as if we were in the presence of God. When we dishonor or shame our fellow we are showing who we really are as the people of God.

Let us remember to strive to build each other up and not tear each other down in embarassment.

Patience

I have had this video in my favorites for a long time. It often reminds me that sometimes no matter how good we explain things people just might not get it.

As we live and teach the Torah in our lives some people are just not going to get it. We have to continue to be patient and strive to help them understand. Remember as we live our lives HaShem is working in the hearts and minds of others. We may have no idea what our part is, but HaShem is working.

Never stop being patient. Never stop trying to help people see that the Torah, both living and written is alive.

Shalom,
Bill

Beresheet

This week is the beginning of the new Torah cycle for the Hebrew year 5769. We begin reading with the story of creation. It is a good time for me to return to blogging.

To those who had not heard…about six weeks ago I was hit by a truck while crossing a street in our town. My leg and pelvis were broken, but did not require any surgery. However, my left arm was in need of some repair and thanks to titanium I now have a new elbow. I am healing well.

Also, First Fruits of Zion has launched a new web site called Torah portions. You can access it by clicking here. It is a great site to not only keep track of what we are reading each week, but it will also have festival readings. You can also listen to the parasha for those of you who are auditory learners.

Shalom,
Bill

Self Examination

As I have mentioned before this is the month of Elul in the Hebrew calendar. And the month of Elul is to be a month of self examination and introspection. It seems as if this is not without its biblical presendence…

2Co 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the test?

As I sat back and began to think about how I was going to examine myself I soon realized that was going to be next to impossible. You see, I am a sinful creature. I am a self centered human being. If I were indeed to sit down with myself and examine my life and my faith can you guess what I would say about myself? You are right! “I am doing just fine!” ” I am a great guy!” “God really loves me and all that I do.” “Everyone else is sooooo messed up, if they could all just be more like me.” OY! What a mess sin makes of our lives in so many ways.

So how can I go about doing a true self evaluation of who I am? How can I examine myself and my faith to find areas where I need to correct error or strengthen that which remains and is about to die. (Rev. 3:2) I have found two things that really help me in the area of self examination.

1. I ask God to search me and reveal to me areas where I am falling short. Psalm 26:2 reads, “Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.” I ask God to find ways to illumintate my mind and my heart to areas of improvement. Many time HaShem has placed in front of me scriptures where characteristics of my life that need improving are reflected in the lives of others in the scriptures. It is a clear sign that I need to work on this or that.

2. (And only attempt this one is you are brave and truley ready to hear what people have to say) I go to the people around me that I trust and I ask them if they have noticed in me areas where I need to improve my life and my faith. I also ask if I have wronged them in anyway and ask their forgivenss. Also, I will often do this with my enemies. People who I have been in serious conflict with and often times it has brought reconciliation and better friendship.

Sometimes it really helps to go to people that you have had confliict with (i.e. the enemy) and ask them to give you some suggestions on how you can improve yourself. When I do this kind of exercise I will often have to fight the yetzer hara in me that wants to argue with their conslusions. But, I limit myself to simply saying “Thank you” and that then frees me up to step back and see if indeed they are correct.

This can be a difficult process and it can be very hard to hear the things that people have to say about us. But, it is important since our view of ourselves is skewed by our own sinfullness. But, it can indeed be very beneficial and indeed a great way to bring about the time of repentence and Atonement coming up on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Set Time for Prayer

As I consider my Elul-lian* journey I am beginning to look at the areas of my life that I would like to change. One of those areas is getting better at the set time of prayer. I once heard a statistic that pastor’s on average spend less than three minutes a day in prayer. I certainly do not want to be average…never have – never will!

One of the things that I have come to admire and respect of my study into Judaism is the set times of daily prayer. These set times coincide with the sacrfices in the Temple and some even think they coincide with the death and burial of Jesus. There is evidence to show from scripture that even in the days of Yeshua the disciples were following a set time of prayer in their lives. Being as they were Jewish we can assume that it was the tradition of morning, afternoon and evening prayers.

To this day, people around the world gather at the break of day (Shacarit), in the middle of the day (Mincha), and at the beginning of the evening (Maariv) for set prayers. These times are traditional to the Jewish culture. One of the things that I found humbling and fascinating about this is that as people all over the world are engaging in prayer at these times and with the time zone changes all over the world, there is never a moment on this planet where one is not engaged in prayer in this tradtion. It is hard to feel alone when you know that somewhere in the world someone is with you in prayer.

So, one of the things that I am going to continue working on is setting aside the set time each day (3 times) to meet with G-d. What a wonderful gift. What a great means of accountability. For more on the set times of prayer click here.

Shalom,
Bill

* Do you like the new word I made up? This is the Hebrew month of Elul. Traditionally this is a time of repentance and self examination as we approach the fall festivals of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Being very similar to the tradition of Lent in the Church we can see Elul as a journey as well. Our destination? The Day of Atonement!