Human Characteristics of G-D

I love the book of Isaiah. It doesn't matter how many times I read it, I always come away with something new that I missed the last time through, or I discover things about G-D, such as the idea that He is way more complicated and human like then I had ever really considered.Now before you break out the stakes and fire consider this; if we are made in the image and likeness of G-D, as we were according to Genesis, then it stands to reason that many of our characteristics can be found originating with G-D.

Did you know that G-D can be a very angry G-D? The flood came about because G-D was sorry that He had ever created man because of their continued and increasing wickedness. World wide destruction came as a result. In the time of Moses we have G-D bringing plague after plague onto the Egyptians and in the end He caused their first born to die. Time and time again the Israelite s angered G-D and He destroyed many of them, in the wilderness ,eventually killing all of those of that first generation,including Moses, before they ever reached the promised land. After the children of Israel conquered the promised land, they were punished time and again for disobeying G-D and chasing after false gods and the heathen practices of their neighbors.

 The writings of the prophets are filled with G-D's wrath, not only on the Jews, but on the entire world because of the way that the Jews are treated. If this was all there was to G-D it would be very scary, but there is much more, and again it's very human like.

 You see there is another part of this picture that we seem to forget. Like every human parent, G-D warned the people of what was to come if they didn't change their ways or come back to Him, and like every good human parent, when your child still continues to disobey, you mete out the appropriate and foretold punishment. Yes you give them a chance to change things, but eventually you have to follow up on your threats or you, as a parent, will have no credibility with your children. Why would they obey if there is no real threat of punishment?

 My son learned obedience at an early age. When I told him not to do something and he did it anyways I punished him just as I said I would. This was a lesson he learned well and he tried to pass on to one of his friends. One day while my wife and I were watching some friends kids, I warned one of the boys that if he didn't behave there was going to be punishment coming, he continued what he was doing and tried to ignore me in the process. As you can guess I wound up punishing him just as a said I would but not before my son tried to warn him by saying "you'd better do what my daddy says because he will do it." If I, as a human father, will punish my kids when it is needed, and my children figured that out, why are we so surprised when G-D does the same, especially after He warned that He would?

 Even though G-D is a G-D of justice ,and He will punish as needed and as foretold, He is also a G-D of compassion and forgiveness and peace. Go back and re read the stories. Yes He punished for a time, but then he had compassion. How many of you have ever stayed permanently angry with your children? Don't you come to that point of where you have forgiven? Does your love go away simply because you are punishing your child? I know that at least for me I don't stay angry with my children for very long and I never lose my love for them. This is called unconditional love and this is how G-D treats us as well. He punishes, He gets angry, but He also forgives and He heals. Look at Isa. 65:17-25.

 “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered,nor will they come to mind.But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create,for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.“Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child;the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them,or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.

G-D ,through Isaiah, has told us that the day is coming when everything as we know it will be changed forever. What I have quoted here is but one of a multitude of texts telling of what some of the changes will be. Yes G-D gets angry,and Yes He punishes, but in the end He is compassionate and He will heal the world. Some of you may doubt that, but I would humbly submit to you that if the punishments that He warned about came to be,and they have, just ask the Jewish people, then you can also know that the healing and compassion will come as well.
 Shalom

The Hope Of Passover and Easter

This morning, as my usual habits are, I made the mistake of spending some time looking at the news on line. I say mistake because after such a wonderful weekend I was shoved back into the very real and very ugly world of politics and the workings of evil people. This past weekend saw my family and I having a full passover Seder at our house and then going to the Temple on Shabbat. I saw all the multitudes of posts of my Christian friends enjoying the wonders of Easter and I got up this morning thinking to myself that all is well in my world and the worlds of most of my friends. Then I looked at the news. Corruption, war and hatred fill the pages. People rushing headlong into insanity and destruction, and wanting to take the world with them, is the norm now instead of the exception, and this is what I greeted the day with. I don't suppose, realistically speaking, that it really changed anything about this weekend or the joy it brought to me and countless others, but I am always amazed at just how quickly all that can be forgotten in just a matter of minutes. So why bother to celebrate these holy days if it doesn't change anything in this world? I think there are two reasons, one is because it brings us closer to G-D when we remember His deliverance, and really that's what both holidays are about, and because these holy days bring us hope. Both holidays, remind us of divine deliverance from intense evil against all human odds. They remind us that even in the midst of things that we can't even begin comprehend, G-D is there. And it's a reminder to us that one individual can make a difference if they so choose. Islam can't offer that. To them we are all infidels worthy of nothing but death if we don't convert to their oppressive form of religion. Atheism can't offer it because all they rely on is science and have no hope of anything after this life. In our hurry to be PC and to appease those that hate us we have forgotten the very principals, the very hope, that we were originally founded on, principals that can be found in most of the worlds religions. Instead we have opted out for revisionists who try to tell us that the founders were not godly ,religious men, and that our Constitution was not founded on those basic moral principals. In it's own subtle way, trying to kill the hope of the future we once had. If we ignore G-D or pretend that he doesn't exist, then where does our hope come from? Where does the founding principals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness come from? The point is this, we need these holy days to remind us of the love and mercy of G-D. We need these holidays to remind us that our hope comes from him and not man and that in the midst of all the chaos, G-D is still there and He is still directing events in this world and that in the end His will, will prevail. Shalom.

How would Jesus Vote?

So here is a question for you that may sound surprising coming from me; what would Jesus do? Better yet, how would Jesus vote? I ask this question in all sincerity to my Christian brothers and sisters out there who are not only religiously minded but have an ear towards politics. I am also asking this question based on a trend that I have noticed from a lot of those leaders that belong to the Evangelical world from both sides of the aisle. This trend tending to be that because they are well known and popular amongst their congregations and audiences across the nation that this somehow allows for them to be the voice of G-D on many issues, including politics, and their belief that G-D seems to believe the same way that they do. Before I go on, so there is no confusion, I don't believe that Jesus was a god of any kind , a rabbi certainly, but not G-D. But I present these questions and comments because many of you do and I respect your beliefs even when I disagree. So would Jesus be a socialist or into social justice? Would he be a conservative wearing a suit and tie? What Issues would be important to him? Does anyone really know or does it really matter? I think it does matter, to a certain degree, because most of the time your opinions seems to be based on who you listen to. If you follow those on the right, the reason that we are in such trouble in this country is due to everything from secularization to the ACLU and all points in between. Obama is the anti Christ, gays and lesbians are dangerous to families. Every form of evil comes from those who dare to disagree with the idea that everything in the bible is entirely accurate or you question their interpretation of the scripture. If you follow those on the left, you are condemned for taking the bible literally, and the only way that you could possibly be following Jesus is if we have so called social justice and spread the wealth. The real evil is those who actually cling to their god, their guns and the bible. Oh yes , the GOP is the devil incarnate. So we have some very differing, opposing views of G-D, wrapped in politics, and all believe that they are right. So lets look at the subject at hand it could simplify this a whole lot. If Jesus was walking the earth today, what would his politics be? First we know that he was a casual dresser, didn't own any form of transportation and essentially had no place to live. He walked everywhere, hung out with those that were the dregs of society, made followers of fishermen and prostitutes. We have been told He healed many people, and he fed thousands with almost nothing and let us not forget the things that he preached as recorded by others years later. He never spoke of homosexuality, for or against, rather he told his followers to love G-D first and foremost and to love each other, that was what the kingdom was really all about. It almost sounds like he was a liberal democrat who was extremely into love of people and of G-D. The problem with that though is that he never forced anyone to take his help, we hear many stories of those that were healed but I have to wonder how many more said no. How about the story of the rich young ruler? He only told the young man what he should do, not that he had to do it. He paid his taxes even while speaking against the Romans and he wasn't afraid to make his opinions heard when he went into the temple to overturn the money tables with a whip. He also said that he had come to bring a sword and not peace. He didn't spend his time condemning the average person, rather he would tell them to go and sin no more, at the same time getting on the leadership of his nation for their pompous arrogance. Sounds like a conservative to me. So what does all this make him? A liberal? Conservative? A Democrat? A Republican? Who's opinion should you listen to and adhere to? I have an answer for you. How about none of the above. I am tired of people,especially religious leaders, assuming that some how they know what the mind and the will of G-D is when the Scriptures make it very clear that none of us can even begin to comprehend the mind of G-D. All your so called education is but a drop in the bucket of the things of G-D and to assume that you know better then the rest of us is nothing more then arrogance on your part. If you have an opinion, fine. It's your opinion and you are allowed, but don't claim to speak for G-d in the course of making that opinion public. Some of the most hateful and dangerous speeches and proclamations ever made throughout history have all come boxed up in the name of G-D, and millions have died as a result.

Perspective on Justice

“You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the Lord your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment." Deut. 16:18.

Many years ago ,on this blog, I commented on how many things that we see or believe are really a matter of perception. I had been looking at low hanging clouds over a place in Vermont where you see across the valley to Mt. Washington and there were a lot of clouds hanging low, with trailers, on them and it really looked beautiful. Yet had I been looking at them in Tornado country, such as Arkansas, I would have been in panic mode because they would have looked like funnel type clouds.
Perspective.

I didn't panic because I knew the truth of things. I knew the facts. I was in Vermont, where tornadoes are rare, though not unheard of, and it was the wrong time of the year for them.

Perspective and facts need to apply to the case in Florida of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman. We don't have all the information, we have little more then a one sided view of what happened and yet people are so angry that some have put a bounty on the head of Zimmerman.

The only thing that is known 100% is that there was an altercation between Martin and Zimmerman and that in that altercation Martin was shot and killed. That's it. You might think that's enough to convict someone of murder, but it's not. You can't even claim that it was a hate crime because there isn't any hard evidence. All the facts, in this case, are simply not known.There is no proper perspective.

As a teenager I was convicted for a crime that I never committed on nothing more then hearsay and some pretty poor circumstantial evidence. No witnesses to said crime and the only real "proof" was the confession of the kid that actually did commit the crime and a sneaker print that was within a size or two of my own shoes. Not much to go on but I was convicted and humiliated none the less.

I also understand being hated because of race. I am of the half breed Hispanic variety and I have been hated at various times and places and threatened simply based on my skin color or my name. This has happened as recently as 3 weeks ago. I do understand.

So as you can see I am sympathetic to both families involved, but again I submit to you, lets have all the facts and a proper perspective before anyone else gets hurt.

God calls on us to have a fair and impartial justice system “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the Lord your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment." Deut. 16:18. In Joshua chapter 20 they established cities of refuge so that someone, who accidentally killed someone, could flee there for protection, until which time they could stand trial, see verses 6 and 9. Justice and proper perspective working together.

We don't know what happened. The accused, by the media , not the police, is in hiding and in fear of his life. The Black Panthers have put a price on his head. Jesse Jackson, who claims to be a Christian and should know better then to do this, along with Al Sharpton, are fueling the fire of hatred and prejudice, the very things that they would have marched against back in the 60's. And, lest we forget, there is a dead young man and a grieving family. This is not the way to handle things. Never has been.This is not justice or a proper perspective.

If after ALL the evidence is presented it is found that Zimmerman is guilty, then let justice take it's course because only then will we have the perspective that is needed to convict, but do not make the mistake of convicting a man of a crime,especially one as bad as this one, with out due process and without all the evidence being presented in a court of law.

Only once all the evidence is made clear, will you have the proper perspective and only then can justice can be served.

Shalom.

Clean Insults

After a week or so of listening to the whole media storm over the Rush Limbaugh comments and the lack of coverage of the rest of the media ,who's vulgarity is much worse, I thought instead of attempting to wax eloquent as to their vile conduct, I thought, (I know me thinking is a scary concept) rather, that I would attempt to help them understand that the English language is by far more colorful then the rather crude sexual metaphors that they have been using. In this attempt I hope that some of the American public might take notice that it is possible to speak without being crude, and let the hot air bags of self righteous un-evolved monkeys know that enough is enough.

Here goes nothing.

You sir are a bumbling idiot. This phrase, while short, certainly gets right to the heart of the matter but also leaves some room for improvement on the part of the one being insulted.

For the sports aficionado I present " You (sir or madam) are as screwed up as a football bat. If this comment makes no sense to you then perhaps it was meant for you.

For my southern friends, Bless your heart, if you was any dumber your brain would be on the side of a milk carton, again if you don't get it , it probably applies, just sayin...

This one would work in political circles, though it could be applied all most any where; You are a loud mouthed, toothless buffoon who has about as much sense as a dog chasing a cat in traffic.

You have the serious taste of the Dung Beetle, Your body odor would be offensive to Skunks, You are dumber then a rock..and that's an insult to the rock.....

So whats my point? I just took a few minutes and off the top of my head found ways to insult people with out being crude or vulgar about it. If with my minimal education, and some would suggest, minimal intellect , can come up with a few insults without the help of a writer or a teleprompter, how can it be that these people who get paid millions to speak in public every day can't do it?

I have been known from time to time, to get ugly with people and call some one an idgit or a fool, particularly when angry, but I would like to think in this so called progressive , enlightened, world that we could just leave the crude insults behind and rather discusses the issues in a loud but much less disgusting way.

Someone once said to me that words don't really mean anything unless you give them permission to mean something. I would have to disagree. We know what these crude words mean, and we know that when used as an insult that they are meant to hurt and destroy a person, if you don't think that is true, then just imagine it being your daughter who is being insulted in such a crude manner and then come back and tell me it doesn't really matter.

The bottom line is that I think the Bible has some pretty good ideas of how to handle our words and if we followed it we might find that we can debate with out being crude and sound a lot more intelligent doing it.

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Prov. 16:24

Do not be rash with your mouth,And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.For God is in heaven, and you on earth;Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words. Eccl. 5:2-3
Shalom

Is It Bad To Be Poor?

Here is a question for you. Is it OK to make fun of the poor? Is there some precedent that has been set by the upper crust of society that makes it OK to mock those that are less fortunate? I think that there must be, between politicians who seem not to worry to much about the poor, they of course being amongst the wealthy, and some preachers who seem to believe that one is poor because they don't have enough faith in G-D, it seems to me that they are saying that there is something wrong with being poor, that we are ,in some intangible way, less deserving of something that I haven't quite put my finger on... I will admit that not having much money in America can be quite a challenge but I find no small amount of irony that in both of the above mentioned cases, we are talking about people who claim to be religious and yet don't seem to follow their worshiped leader in poverty. Jesus was poor from what I remember, so if it was good enough for him why not for them and, for that matter, why wouldn't that be good for all of us? I recently heard about a colleague of a friend of mine who goes out of her way to make fun of those that are poor, or ,should I say, make less money then her and her husband make. She thinks it's stupid that anyone should live in a development area in a ranch style home even suggesting that there is something wrong with you if you are living like that. It's kind of hard for me to digest that kind of thinking, because it's just not the way I think. Most of my friends have a more then I do but I don't begrudge them that, I rather prefer to rejoice in their good fortune rather then wallow in some sort of self pity, so in the reverse I don't really understand why anyone would look down on the poor, unless of course they are jealous. That must be it, they are actually jealous of our poorness, it has to be. Think about it. I don't worry that my friends are angling to get something from me, I don't have anything that they would want, financially speaking, and even if I did,we have all been poor together, so to help them, if I was able ,wouldn't be an issue. When your poor you learn who your real friends are. As a poor person, I don't have to concern myself with stocks and bonds and investments in the stock market. That thing could crash and it wouldn't change anything for me, most wealthy folks can't say that. Don't take me wrong, I am not against wealth per se, I wouldn't be upset if I suddenly found myself well off, but I think the real problem for most is that they forget where they have come from, if they started at the bottom that is, and their desires tend to go way beyond their needs. This , I'm guessing anyhow, is what makes them unhappy and tends to make them scornful of those who don't share, or don't have the means to share, those same desires. Seems to me that if you keep your needs and desires simple, then you will be able to easier fulfill them and as a result you will be a happier person. One last thought on poverty. There have been many rich and famous people who have died recently, some from natural causes , some under tragic circumstances, yet somewhere down the road their names will be forgotten. Yet there are any number of poor folks who will be remembered forever because they changed the world in their poverty. Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Jesus, Abraham ( he became wealthy but he was still a nomad) just to name a few that come to mind. All of these people had nothing and yet they changed the course of history, the course of their country or at the very least they changed the lives of many people and they did it with nothing. So I guess in being poor ,in this country anyhow, I'm in some pretty good company. Shalom

Be Still

Psalm 46: 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! I have had that verse running through my head this morning and I have to admit that I am finding it difficult to do. The " be still" part that is. There was a time, in this country, that a religious person was given an amount of respect, because ,while not everyone was religious, most believed that at some point you would have to answer to G-D for your soul, so you didn't want to mock people of faith and add to your sins. How times have changed. Not only is there little to no respect of anyone religious, but our nation has gone to the opposite extreme, if your Christian or Jew, anyhow. Today both Judaism and Christianity are mocked and ridiculed by the elites in the government and Hollywood. Essentially your moral values and or beliefs, are worthless, unless they agree with the state policy or what Hollywood is trying to promote. This is what we have become. You may believe what you wish and worship or not as you see fit, or at least you should be able to under the Constitution, but apparently that's not the case anymore. You will do as the government tells you too and if you don't like it you will be fined and or imprisoned ,your morals and conscience doesn't matter anymore. Strange how Hollywood can produce movies that suggests that there are no consequences to free sex and yet those same people will push for forced compliance for religious institutions to pay for abortions and birth control which they, religious institutions, believe to be morally wrong. Perhaps the better solution is to let the Hollywood elite pay for all of it seeings how they are constantly telling us it's OK to be sexually free. I have tried to tell people that if we go down this path on religion, that it's only a matter of time before they come after something that you believe in. No one ,so it seems any how, is listening. So be it. So I go right back to "Be still and know that I am G-D" in the end G-d will not be mocked, in the end ,as it says in the verse, "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." It really doesn't matter if anyone listens to me, I have done my part, but when G-D speaks there will be no doubt who is in charge, so I will be still, and everyone will know that He is G-D.