It has always amazed me,the things that G-d will do, to get our attention sometimes. We read the Bible stories of the burning bush and the fire on Mt . Sinai and so I think we get it into our minds that these are the types of things or ways that G-d usually uses to get our attention. I have come to discover though that this is not His normal way, at least in my case, of trying to tell us some thing. Let me share with you...
For the last few weeks I have been struggling with some personal issues, amongst them, has been where do I fit into the grand scheme of G-D's plan? At one time I thought that I knew and yet as time has gone on and my beliefs in G-D have changed and developed, I have come to discover just how little that I actually do know. The more I have studied the more I have pondered as to where I fit. My wife can attest to the fact that I have spent hours pacing around outside while deep in thought and in prayer just trying to grasp a little of what He wants. I had even considered that my usefulness was over because of the physical problems in my life and the simple fact that in my writing I only have a few who even read it anymore so I found myself ,in a manner of speaking, banging my head into a wall and arguing, sort of , with G-D.
Even my very identity I have been questioning, was I or was I not a child of G-D or at least His servant?
Then I took a nap and watched a movie and I finally caught on to what He had been trying to show me.
G-D is amazing!!!
So I took a nap on Friday afternoon, nothing terribly unusual there,except that I woke up with this song going through my head that I haven't heard in many years. Some of you who ever went to Sunday/Sabbath school or perhaps even camp will likely know this song, but truly it came out of nowhere, well sort of nowhere, G-D put it there so it came from Him....
The song in question was "Father Abraham had many sons, many sons had father Abraham.." It hit me like a ton of bricks on my rather thick skull that G-D was trying to tell me that He has many children. Not all of them are going to agree on everything, but it does not change the fact that we are still His children. Then Psalm 139 came to mind where G-D asks the question; Where can you go and hide from my presence? We can't hide from G-D and there is little point in trying and we are all His children! This was the first part.
The second part came a few hours later, while watching the movie "Prince of Egypt" In the very beginning of that movie you have the children of Israel in the midst of slavery and they are crying out to G-D to deliver them from their bondage. The animation was incredible and as much as an animated movie could, it put you right in the middle of their pain and suffering. It moved me so much that it brought me to tears, but it was the part of Moses with Jethro in Midian that really touched my heart.
In that part of the movie you have a span of 40 years shown in a matter of a few minutes which had Moses going from a guest to a member of the family, but again it was the song that touched me. The songs title "Heavens Eyes" says it well but when I listened to all the lyrics it hit me once again as to what He was trying to tell me.
Remember I had mentioned earlier that I was not feeling terribly useful to G-D? Well the lyrics to the song say basically; How can you know what your worth unless you look through heavens eyes? The song talks about a single thread in a tapestry that doesn't know it's worth until it is seen from a distance combined with all the rest, then you see it's worth and it's beauty. I may not feel like I am worth much, but G-D knows my worth and someday I will see the bigger picture and I will understand that every one of us, just like the lone thread , is worth something to the eyes of Heaven.
The third part of this equation fits in a different sort of way and is directly related to this blog. I used to write several times a week because I truly enjoyed the process.I would see something or experience something and I would share it with you. Usually it had something to do with some wonder of G-D that had gotten my attention and I was eager to share.
Over time though it has changed from something light and good, something to get the mind away from the insanity of the world, into a blog I hardly recognize anymore.It was never my attention to turn this blog into a battle ground of my thoughts are better then yours, or my beliefs are far superior, and yet I am afraid that it has turned somewhat that way.
The reason that I mention this is because I was reading something the other day, concerning Jewish law, that makes it very clear that it is not my job to do the afore mentioned things, it is simply my job to live the life that G-D has given to me and to keep peace,as it is in my control, with my neighbors. To love G-D with all my heart ,mind and strength. It is not my job to judge you or anyone else who sees things differently from me or even those who blatantly disagree with me. Who am I to judge a servant of G-D? Who am I that I should point my finger at anyone and judge them. I am not in the place of G-D and therefore it is not my place to try and act as G-D.
So this is where this phase of my writing will end. I am going to go back to the type of writing that I enjoy and I will leave the religious debates and arguments behind.
I do have another blog that I write my political views on and maybe from time to time as is appropriate I will write about religion, but as far as this blog goes I am going to go back to the whole concept of "His Quiet Voice", and simply thank those of you who read this for putting up with all of it.
Shalom,
Ignacio
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Two Responses
This is a true tale of two very different responses to the same statement. I write this because I was expecting the first response but was not really expecting the second and it pleasantly surprised me. Names will not be used because regardless of the responses or lack thereof ,as you shall come to see, I care greatly for all involved and I would never go out of my way to embarrass anyone if I can help it.
As most of you may know, who have read this blog for any length of time, that I have publicly stated that I do not believe that Jesus was or is the son of G-D and that at best he was a good Rabbi and at worst he was misrepresented by others to be something that he never intended, but I have stated very clearly that I do not believe that he was ever any kind of deity. Having said that to a great many people both on and off this blog kind of started everything from crying to stone cold silence. I have had arguments and heated discussions over Hebrew words and there usage to various books trying to disprove my beliefs by using what I consider to be material that already had a predetermined outcome... the list goes on, none of which changed my mind.
Interestingly enough , what I do believe is not all that dissimilar to Christianity, I follow what is known as the Laws of Noah which are the 7 laws that were given to Noah after the flood and are considered to be binding on all of humanity no matter if you are Jew or Gentile. These Laws can be summed up simply by Saying love G-D with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. There is more to it then that but you could sum it up that simply. According to the writers Jesus preached these very things and their are even some Jews who believe that Jesus and Paul's real mission was to point Gentiles back to those Noahide laws and to remind the Jewish people that they are to be the light to the nations and teach those nations, granted this is pure educated speculation but I find it interesting...
So why tell you that? Well up until this weekend no one had ever asked me what I DO believe in. I heard all sorts of arguments as to why I was wrong by people that have my utmost respect, but not a single person even began to ask what it is that we believe and or why. I heard all sorts of stuff, quickly alluded to in the above paragraphs, but it seems that the basic assumption that I got from everyone was that we have left G-D and are on our way to hell. Until this past weekend.
This past weekend we had some good friends come to see us for the 4Th and in the course of doing up BBQ and talking , I told them that we had left Christianity and why and without even a pause his first words were; "Well then , what do you believe?"
Imagine that! No tears, no "your going to hell" not the silent treatment. Just a simple question and I gave him my answer. His response? "Nothing has really changed then, you still believe in G-D, you still study the scriptures and you believe in doing good to others, so not much has changed."
For the record that family is Christian and not only were they accepting of it, we are all planning our trip to their neck of the woods soon, and no I didn't get them to convert to my beliefs. They are what I consider to be true followers of G-d, they ask the question I gave my answer and we went on from there looking at the common ground rather then where we differ.
Two very different perspectives on the same issue.
I don't know where you find yourself in your beliefs or in your opinions of others beliefs but I can tell you if more people were accepting of others their would be a lot less fighting and a whole lot more loving going on.
Enough said,Shalom,
Ignacio
As most of you may know, who have read this blog for any length of time, that I have publicly stated that I do not believe that Jesus was or is the son of G-D and that at best he was a good Rabbi and at worst he was misrepresented by others to be something that he never intended, but I have stated very clearly that I do not believe that he was ever any kind of deity. Having said that to a great many people both on and off this blog kind of started everything from crying to stone cold silence. I have had arguments and heated discussions over Hebrew words and there usage to various books trying to disprove my beliefs by using what I consider to be material that already had a predetermined outcome... the list goes on, none of which changed my mind.
Interestingly enough , what I do believe is not all that dissimilar to Christianity, I follow what is known as the Laws of Noah which are the 7 laws that were given to Noah after the flood and are considered to be binding on all of humanity no matter if you are Jew or Gentile. These Laws can be summed up simply by Saying love G-D with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. There is more to it then that but you could sum it up that simply. According to the writers Jesus preached these very things and their are even some Jews who believe that Jesus and Paul's real mission was to point Gentiles back to those Noahide laws and to remind the Jewish people that they are to be the light to the nations and teach those nations, granted this is pure educated speculation but I find it interesting...
So why tell you that? Well up until this weekend no one had ever asked me what I DO believe in. I heard all sorts of arguments as to why I was wrong by people that have my utmost respect, but not a single person even began to ask what it is that we believe and or why. I heard all sorts of stuff, quickly alluded to in the above paragraphs, but it seems that the basic assumption that I got from everyone was that we have left G-D and are on our way to hell. Until this past weekend.
This past weekend we had some good friends come to see us for the 4Th and in the course of doing up BBQ and talking , I told them that we had left Christianity and why and without even a pause his first words were; "Well then , what do you believe?"
Imagine that! No tears, no "your going to hell" not the silent treatment. Just a simple question and I gave him my answer. His response? "Nothing has really changed then, you still believe in G-D, you still study the scriptures and you believe in doing good to others, so not much has changed."
For the record that family is Christian and not only were they accepting of it, we are all planning our trip to their neck of the woods soon, and no I didn't get them to convert to my beliefs. They are what I consider to be true followers of G-d, they ask the question I gave my answer and we went on from there looking at the common ground rather then where we differ.
Two very different perspectives on the same issue.
I don't know where you find yourself in your beliefs or in your opinions of others beliefs but I can tell you if more people were accepting of others their would be a lot less fighting and a whole lot more loving going on.
Enough said,Shalom,
Ignacio
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Leprechauns and Fairies
Last night my family and I watched a movie that has grown to be one of our favorites by the name of " The Magical Legend of The Leprechauns" created by Hallmark Entertainment. When we got to the end of the movie my newly turned 13 year old son made a comment that I thought was rather profound, not so much because it came from him but perhaps because I could understand his sentiments real well. What he said was this; "I don't know why but the end of the movie makes me sad." I understood exactly what he was talking about because it did the same thing to me, it always has ,but this was the first time that he had expressed such sentiment. Now for those of you who don't know this movie at the end their is a uniting of two kingdoms one of Fairies and the other of the Leprechauns through the wedding of the princess of the fairies to the leader of the Leprechauns son.It is a joyous occasion and there is much celebrating, but in the end the fairies and the leprechauns all start to disappear and you are left with the two humans that witnessed everything. Between all the happiness and the music it really plucks at your heart strings, but why should it make me and my son so sad? It was ,after all, a happy occasion.
I admit, that I am a romantic of sorts and that I love a good story where love wins, or the good guys triumph over all odds and the bad guys get their due but I have to wonder what about it can make me so emotional. The above mentioned movie has quite a bit of conflict in it, along with a lot of humor, before you ever get to the part of the rejoicing and wedding and so you can run the whole gambit of emotions but in the end it's just a movie so what does this to me?
I have a thought , nothing earth shattering or profound, but I wonder if G-D just kind of wired us this way. What I mean is that in our life we look at the world around us and can see that things just aren't right. So when we read a story thats really good or watch a movie, we get caught up in that world and we forget about our own, even if it's just for a few minutes, and when it's all over and the good guys have won and all is right in that world, you have to leave it and come back to this world. The sadness and craziness of our own world still waits but somewhere deep in our hearts we long for something better. Is there hope here that in the end G-D wins? Yes of course there is, but at the moment we can't see it and so it becomes easy to become a part of someone else's world and long for a better one in ours or wish that we could disappear into that one.
We have a picture on our wall that shows a log cabin, next to a lake/stream with woods and a mountain in the background, there is soft light coming out from the cabin and wood smoke coming from the chimney. I have stared at that picture at times and have wished that I could just step into it and vanish from this insane world but sadly I can't. Some might think I need to get a grip on reality, but I would submit to you that reality ,as we know it, needs to get a grip on G-D because with out His intervention our reality is going to destroy us.
I tend to believe though that our final ending is going to take on the qualities of some of our favorite movies. The scriptures, and this is true of both Christian and Jewish scripture, tells that in the end, G-D does win, His Anointed is king and we will live without fear. That is what I believe that my heart,and my sons, is longing for and that is why it makes us sad, it may have happened in the story but it hasn't happened to us yet. The day is coming, but it's just not here yet.
Meanwhile I'll keep watching fairies and leprechauns getting married and enjoy the touch of sadness...
Shalom,
Ignacio
I admit, that I am a romantic of sorts and that I love a good story where love wins, or the good guys triumph over all odds and the bad guys get their due but I have to wonder what about it can make me so emotional. The above mentioned movie has quite a bit of conflict in it, along with a lot of humor, before you ever get to the part of the rejoicing and wedding and so you can run the whole gambit of emotions but in the end it's just a movie so what does this to me?
I have a thought , nothing earth shattering or profound, but I wonder if G-D just kind of wired us this way. What I mean is that in our life we look at the world around us and can see that things just aren't right. So when we read a story thats really good or watch a movie, we get caught up in that world and we forget about our own, even if it's just for a few minutes, and when it's all over and the good guys have won and all is right in that world, you have to leave it and come back to this world. The sadness and craziness of our own world still waits but somewhere deep in our hearts we long for something better. Is there hope here that in the end G-D wins? Yes of course there is, but at the moment we can't see it and so it becomes easy to become a part of someone else's world and long for a better one in ours or wish that we could disappear into that one.
We have a picture on our wall that shows a log cabin, next to a lake/stream with woods and a mountain in the background, there is soft light coming out from the cabin and wood smoke coming from the chimney. I have stared at that picture at times and have wished that I could just step into it and vanish from this insane world but sadly I can't. Some might think I need to get a grip on reality, but I would submit to you that reality ,as we know it, needs to get a grip on G-D because with out His intervention our reality is going to destroy us.
I tend to believe though that our final ending is going to take on the qualities of some of our favorite movies. The scriptures, and this is true of both Christian and Jewish scripture, tells that in the end, G-D does win, His Anointed is king and we will live without fear. That is what I believe that my heart,and my sons, is longing for and that is why it makes us sad, it may have happened in the story but it hasn't happened to us yet. The day is coming, but it's just not here yet.
Meanwhile I'll keep watching fairies and leprechauns getting married and enjoy the touch of sadness...
Shalom,
Ignacio
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Ezekiel/ Gog and Magog
Have you ever taken the time to read the book of Ezekiel? It is the longest book in the Bible and it is not the easiest of books to read. There is much in the way of prophecy against all the nations, including Judah and Israel, and a whole lot of it isn't terribly pretty to read. I ask you this because if you haven't I would highly recommend that you do in light of all the things going on in this world ,especially in Israel ,and the entire middle east.
Ezekiel is a book that is full of dark and foreboding prophecies concerning Israel and Judah along with the nations that are around them. Judah is condemned for looking the other way when Israel is put into exile. The nations around both Israel and Judah are condemned for mocking both Israel and Judah when they are taken away and doing nothing to help them and this type of condemnation goes on and on. But then you have these brief moments where G-D speaks and says ( Uncle Iggy's condensed version ) that he would remember His people in their captivity, that he would remember those that he has scattered to the 4 winds and that he would bring them back to their ancestral homes and bring unity and peace back to Judah and Israel. In one place He even says that he will bring Egypt back under His wing along with Edom. Imagine that! That would truly be real peace in the Middle East when that day comes.
The last part of Ezekiel, chapters 40 -48 is a description of the third temple that is to come, may that day be soon, that G-D showed Ezekiel, but it's primarily Chapters 38-39 that I want to point out to you in conjunction as to what is going on in today's world.
Chapters 38-39 deal with a leader that is known as Gog and his nation Magog that decides to invade that land of Israel and destroy it. It tells how G-D is very much against him and his nation and is going to lead him and his nation against Israel so that G-d can destroy him and his nation. Along the way it speaks of many nations siding with Gog and Magog and joining in the assault against Israel. It speaks of an army so massive that it's like "a cloud covering the earth" and that they will attempt to attack the areas first that have been newly resettled by the returned people of Israel (see chapters 36-37)places that have no walls protecting them. But all of this is a part of G-D's plan. He is essentially going to lead Magog into it's own destruction as they try to destroy Israel. His purpose is two fold, first it is to punish Gog and Magog, along with the rest of the nations that join them, for their sins against G-D and the people of Israel, but it's main purpose is so that G-D's name will be honored and worshiped on the earth because all will see that G-D has done this and their will be no doubt that He has, and His eternal Kingdom will be established on the earth at that time.
This is what I like to refer to as Uncle Iggy's short condensed version because there is so much more there to read but I wanted to make it short and to the point, so please read all of it and decide for yourself.
The reason that I bring this up is it has been suggested by some religious leaders in both the Jewish world and the Evangelical world, that what we are seeing , with this flotilla is but the beginning of what is to come and is perhaps the start of Gog and Magog. Nations, Iran and Turkey, that have been identified as possible locations of Magog, and there are several others depending on who you ask, have offered to have military escorts for ships that are bringing "Aid" to Gaza. That would put Israel in a position that they would have to defend their borders against those that have vowed to wipe them off the map, Iran for instance,and further isolate them from the rest of the world. They are in a no win situation.
Israel is already surrounded by many nations that want to destroy her and, I might add, they have tried over and over, and now it would seem that all of the world, including the United States is going to take a stand against Israel this next week at the UN over the issue of the flotilla. Whats next? UN troops trying to invade Israel and keeping her from defending her borders?
The biggest battle and world event is quite possibly playing out, right in front of us,and the vast majority of the world is ignorant of it, why? Because many have taken the "Old Testament" scriptures and have either relegated them as to being irrelevant or to being nothing but a bunch of stories and fables. Or they live in a nation that doesn't allow the scriptures thus leaving the people ignorant of whats happening.
Christians see the end as being a battle over what they believe, never quite understanding that this has never been about them, but has always been about Israel and G-D's promises to both Judah and Israel. Does Christianity have a role to play in all this? Yes. You at least believe in the G-D of Israel and it may very well come down to you having to decide if you are going to stand with G-D's chosen people, Israel,and the G-D of Israel or if you are going to stand with the world in it's attempt to destroy Israel.
Some of you reading this, may discover that the prophecies that concern the return of Israel to it's land, concerns you because your ancestry is of the house of Israel, I didn't say of the house of Judah, though that is possible as well, but of the house of Israel which consisted of all the 10 tribes that were dispersed by G-D. With that thought in mind the battle lines become more clear and it becomes very personal for all of us.
Before you just disregard this as the ravings of a mad man or someone whom you consider to be "lost" go and read those chapters, in fact read from chapter 36 on , with an open heart and mind and come to your own conclusions.
I don't know for sure whether we are seeing the beginning of the end events or not, I can only live the life that G-D has given me and write that which He has put in my heart, but I do believe that we are seeing what I would believe is the set up for it, if not the main event itself.
Pray for Israel,pray that our nation will wake up to the danger before we become numbered amongst the nations with Gog and Magog.
Shalom,
Ignacio
Ezekiel is a book that is full of dark and foreboding prophecies concerning Israel and Judah along with the nations that are around them. Judah is condemned for looking the other way when Israel is put into exile. The nations around both Israel and Judah are condemned for mocking both Israel and Judah when they are taken away and doing nothing to help them and this type of condemnation goes on and on. But then you have these brief moments where G-D speaks and says ( Uncle Iggy's condensed version ) that he would remember His people in their captivity, that he would remember those that he has scattered to the 4 winds and that he would bring them back to their ancestral homes and bring unity and peace back to Judah and Israel. In one place He even says that he will bring Egypt back under His wing along with Edom. Imagine that! That would truly be real peace in the Middle East when that day comes.
The last part of Ezekiel, chapters 40 -48 is a description of the third temple that is to come, may that day be soon, that G-D showed Ezekiel, but it's primarily Chapters 38-39 that I want to point out to you in conjunction as to what is going on in today's world.
Chapters 38-39 deal with a leader that is known as Gog and his nation Magog that decides to invade that land of Israel and destroy it. It tells how G-D is very much against him and his nation and is going to lead him and his nation against Israel so that G-d can destroy him and his nation. Along the way it speaks of many nations siding with Gog and Magog and joining in the assault against Israel. It speaks of an army so massive that it's like "a cloud covering the earth" and that they will attempt to attack the areas first that have been newly resettled by the returned people of Israel (see chapters 36-37)places that have no walls protecting them. But all of this is a part of G-D's plan. He is essentially going to lead Magog into it's own destruction as they try to destroy Israel. His purpose is two fold, first it is to punish Gog and Magog, along with the rest of the nations that join them, for their sins against G-D and the people of Israel, but it's main purpose is so that G-D's name will be honored and worshiped on the earth because all will see that G-D has done this and their will be no doubt that He has, and His eternal Kingdom will be established on the earth at that time.
This is what I like to refer to as Uncle Iggy's short condensed version because there is so much more there to read but I wanted to make it short and to the point, so please read all of it and decide for yourself.
The reason that I bring this up is it has been suggested by some religious leaders in both the Jewish world and the Evangelical world, that what we are seeing , with this flotilla is but the beginning of what is to come and is perhaps the start of Gog and Magog. Nations, Iran and Turkey, that have been identified as possible locations of Magog, and there are several others depending on who you ask, have offered to have military escorts for ships that are bringing "Aid" to Gaza. That would put Israel in a position that they would have to defend their borders against those that have vowed to wipe them off the map, Iran for instance,and further isolate them from the rest of the world. They are in a no win situation.
Israel is already surrounded by many nations that want to destroy her and, I might add, they have tried over and over, and now it would seem that all of the world, including the United States is going to take a stand against Israel this next week at the UN over the issue of the flotilla. Whats next? UN troops trying to invade Israel and keeping her from defending her borders?
The biggest battle and world event is quite possibly playing out, right in front of us,and the vast majority of the world is ignorant of it, why? Because many have taken the "Old Testament" scriptures and have either relegated them as to being irrelevant or to being nothing but a bunch of stories and fables. Or they live in a nation that doesn't allow the scriptures thus leaving the people ignorant of whats happening.
Christians see the end as being a battle over what they believe, never quite understanding that this has never been about them, but has always been about Israel and G-D's promises to both Judah and Israel. Does Christianity have a role to play in all this? Yes. You at least believe in the G-D of Israel and it may very well come down to you having to decide if you are going to stand with G-D's chosen people, Israel,and the G-D of Israel or if you are going to stand with the world in it's attempt to destroy Israel.
Some of you reading this, may discover that the prophecies that concern the return of Israel to it's land, concerns you because your ancestry is of the house of Israel, I didn't say of the house of Judah, though that is possible as well, but of the house of Israel which consisted of all the 10 tribes that were dispersed by G-D. With that thought in mind the battle lines become more clear and it becomes very personal for all of us.
Before you just disregard this as the ravings of a mad man or someone whom you consider to be "lost" go and read those chapters, in fact read from chapter 36 on , with an open heart and mind and come to your own conclusions.
I don't know for sure whether we are seeing the beginning of the end events or not, I can only live the life that G-D has given me and write that which He has put in my heart, but I do believe that we are seeing what I would believe is the set up for it, if not the main event itself.
Pray for Israel,pray that our nation will wake up to the danger before we become numbered amongst the nations with Gog and Magog.
Shalom,
Ignacio
Monday, May 31, 2010
Defending Israel
Where are all the supporters of Israel today? I know it's Memorial day here in the USA but still I must ask, where are all those people who claim that they support Israel?
Perhaps it's because it's a holiday weekend here that you are not even aware of what has happened over there, if that is the case then I will take a moment to explain.
On Sunday, The IDF intercepted ships that were bound for Gaza , supposedly with relief supplies for the people of Gaza, and loaded with pro-Palestinian supporters. The incident apparently got ugly.
From what I understand, the IDF told the ships that they needed to go to the port of Ashdod and that there the supplies of humanitarian aid would be inspected and then sent overland to the Gaza strip. They refused to comply. In fact their wording was not just no, but F!#@ you! From there they were boarded and the IDF was attacked and quite appropriately defended themselves. The number of casualties seem to vary from news agency to news agency but either way this is madness that could have been avoided had the people on those ships obeyed the laws. They were warned that Gaza is a war zone and that as such they could not go any further, but they continued on and provoked what is turning out to be an international incident. You will note that I have no sympathy for the people on those ships. They had no right or business being there and Israel gave them a chance to do it the right way, but they refused. I personally believe that this had nothing to do with getting aid to Gaza, I believe that it was a well orchestrated event by Israels enemies for the sole purpose of trying to isolate Israel and drum up more support for Palestinian thugs.
I did hear one Palestinian woman, who spoke up for Israel, say to protesters in Ashdod, something to the effect that she is Palestinian but that she is an Israeli citizen and that this land has always been Israel, sorry I didn't get it exactly right, but it seems that that one woman has it figured out. She got blasted by others that were there but she stood her ground.
So again the question; Where are the supporters of Israel here in the US? I have looked at the news from many sources and nothing I see tells me that we are, as a nation, backing Israel. Of course that may have a lot to do with the fact that we are spending $500 million and using special forces troops to train the PA army, though I could be wrong on this, and we seem to have an administration that would rather kiss up to all the Arab countries so I don't suppose that I should be really looking at them to do anything.
What about the Christian Evangelicals? Where are they? I always hear how much they support the land of Israel and it's people. Is it that the only time that you wish to support Israel is when you think you might be able to convert them, but not when they are backed into a corner and in desperate need of your moral and physical support?
Tell me something , those of you of a Christian bent, Who gave the land of Canaan to Israel? Could it possibly be G-D Himself? According to the scriptures that you have, that you supposedly study, that land belongs forever to Israel but more importantly to G-D because He is the creator and He gave them what was His to give. It is forever theirs. Gift of G-D , end of argument.
Where are the Jewish leaders in this country? I realize that many were supporters of this current administration, but still I would think that with the obvious distaste that Obama and company have for Israel that they would at least walk away from him and say something in support of their G-D given land, but I have heard nothing.
So while I see little support coming from us to Israel, I am going to say with out question or remorse that I fully support Israel and their right to defend and control the land that G-D gave to them. Something else some of you may want to consider, according to the prophets, Israel will one day posses all the land that was once theirs and I can tell you it is a much larger land then the tiny strip that they currently possess.The scriptures also make it clear that those who support Israel will be blessed, those who don't will be cursed. Look around you America, we have thrown out G-D and have rejected Israel and our nation is being torn apart. If you can't see the disasters and the obvious connection to G-D then there is nothing more that I can say to you that will help.
May G-D have mercy on us who still believe in Him, follow His Torah, and may He bless Israel and keep them safe.
Shalom,
Ignacio
Perhaps it's because it's a holiday weekend here that you are not even aware of what has happened over there, if that is the case then I will take a moment to explain.
On Sunday, The IDF intercepted ships that were bound for Gaza , supposedly with relief supplies for the people of Gaza, and loaded with pro-Palestinian supporters. The incident apparently got ugly.
From what I understand, the IDF told the ships that they needed to go to the port of Ashdod and that there the supplies of humanitarian aid would be inspected and then sent overland to the Gaza strip. They refused to comply. In fact their wording was not just no, but F!#@ you! From there they were boarded and the IDF was attacked and quite appropriately defended themselves. The number of casualties seem to vary from news agency to news agency but either way this is madness that could have been avoided had the people on those ships obeyed the laws. They were warned that Gaza is a war zone and that as such they could not go any further, but they continued on and provoked what is turning out to be an international incident. You will note that I have no sympathy for the people on those ships. They had no right or business being there and Israel gave them a chance to do it the right way, but they refused. I personally believe that this had nothing to do with getting aid to Gaza, I believe that it was a well orchestrated event by Israels enemies for the sole purpose of trying to isolate Israel and drum up more support for Palestinian thugs.
I did hear one Palestinian woman, who spoke up for Israel, say to protesters in Ashdod, something to the effect that she is Palestinian but that she is an Israeli citizen and that this land has always been Israel, sorry I didn't get it exactly right, but it seems that that one woman has it figured out. She got blasted by others that were there but she stood her ground.
So again the question; Where are the supporters of Israel here in the US? I have looked at the news from many sources and nothing I see tells me that we are, as a nation, backing Israel. Of course that may have a lot to do with the fact that we are spending $500 million and using special forces troops to train the PA army, though I could be wrong on this, and we seem to have an administration that would rather kiss up to all the Arab countries so I don't suppose that I should be really looking at them to do anything.
What about the Christian Evangelicals? Where are they? I always hear how much they support the land of Israel and it's people. Is it that the only time that you wish to support Israel is when you think you might be able to convert them, but not when they are backed into a corner and in desperate need of your moral and physical support?
Tell me something , those of you of a Christian bent, Who gave the land of Canaan to Israel? Could it possibly be G-D Himself? According to the scriptures that you have, that you supposedly study, that land belongs forever to Israel but more importantly to G-D because He is the creator and He gave them what was His to give. It is forever theirs. Gift of G-D , end of argument.
Where are the Jewish leaders in this country? I realize that many were supporters of this current administration, but still I would think that with the obvious distaste that Obama and company have for Israel that they would at least walk away from him and say something in support of their G-D given land, but I have heard nothing.
So while I see little support coming from us to Israel, I am going to say with out question or remorse that I fully support Israel and their right to defend and control the land that G-D gave to them. Something else some of you may want to consider, according to the prophets, Israel will one day posses all the land that was once theirs and I can tell you it is a much larger land then the tiny strip that they currently possess.The scriptures also make it clear that those who support Israel will be blessed, those who don't will be cursed. Look around you America, we have thrown out G-D and have rejected Israel and our nation is being torn apart. If you can't see the disasters and the obvious connection to G-D then there is nothing more that I can say to you that will help.
May G-D have mercy on us who still believe in Him, follow His Torah, and may He bless Israel and keep them safe.
Shalom,
Ignacio
Monday, May 24, 2010
Holding Grudges
Early this morning the life of someone that I never got to know very well came to an end. She had been ill for quite some time so none of this comes as any surprise, but as it is with me, when there are issues concerning death it saddens me greatly.
The real tragedy though is not that she died, as I said she had been ill for a long time, but that she held onto grudges until the end.
What a waste of life. I know it's not good to speak ill of the dead but in this case I am not speaking ill I am simply speaking the truth and I should point out that the issue isn't just with her, but goes throughout her entire family.
I have never known people that will fight and bicker over such trivial issues to the point of not speaking to each other,as this family does, instead using others to be their messengers for them. Well today the messengers end and now you have nothing but your own shame and stupidity to show for it. Surprise! Life ends.
The sad part is that those in this family that need to read this won't see it. They will be busy making arrangements for the funeral and, I am hoping, regretting the years that have gone by, wasted by anger over stupid, trivial and meaningless things.
There are however some of you who may be reading this that I have hurt and offended over the years. If this is the case, or if you know someone whom I have hurt and offended in some way; I simply ask for your forgiveness, I don't want to spend another moment in anger or grudges.
I know of at least two whom I have hurt in the past. The first is my oldest daughter, but because she has G-D in her life and I apologized for what I had done, she forgave me and as a result we now have a dad/daughter relationship. I cannot make up for the years lost, but we can go on from here and we have.
The other person is someone that I grew up with,went to school with,literally from diaper days, and yet a few years ago, through a misunderstanding on my part, which I apologized for,she has come to hold a grudge against me. Thing's happen and mistakes are made but is holding a grudge really worth it?
If you are holding a grudge, let me ask you a really simple question;Why?
Who said that you or that other person is going to be alive , even as soon as later on today? Are you G-D? Do you know the length of your own days , never mind everyone else? No you don't. So why do it, why hang on to something that really is only killing you? Someone on Face Book posted a saying that goes something to the effect of "Holding a grudge is like you drinking poison and then expecting the other person to die" it's stupid and a waste of the time that G-D has given you in this life.
I have heard it said that the best time of the year to be in Israel is just before Yom Kippur, the Day Of Atonement. I have been told that it is the one time of the year where everyone is nice to each other and people go out of their way to seek out forgiveness and to grant the same to those that have done them harm. The reason for that is that they believe that on the Day of Atonement,G-D passes His judgement on everyone and that all nations and peoples fates, for the next year, are decided on that day. So ,accordingly, they wish to be right with both G-D and their fellow man.
We should live our lives everyday like that. Forgive each other, make things right with G-D and with your fellow man and or family, or you just might wake up tomorrow and find out that the time that you thought that you had has just run out.
Shalom,
Ignacio
The real tragedy though is not that she died, as I said she had been ill for a long time, but that she held onto grudges until the end.
What a waste of life. I know it's not good to speak ill of the dead but in this case I am not speaking ill I am simply speaking the truth and I should point out that the issue isn't just with her, but goes throughout her entire family.
I have never known people that will fight and bicker over such trivial issues to the point of not speaking to each other,as this family does, instead using others to be their messengers for them. Well today the messengers end and now you have nothing but your own shame and stupidity to show for it. Surprise! Life ends.
The sad part is that those in this family that need to read this won't see it. They will be busy making arrangements for the funeral and, I am hoping, regretting the years that have gone by, wasted by anger over stupid, trivial and meaningless things.
There are however some of you who may be reading this that I have hurt and offended over the years. If this is the case, or if you know someone whom I have hurt and offended in some way; I simply ask for your forgiveness, I don't want to spend another moment in anger or grudges.
I know of at least two whom I have hurt in the past. The first is my oldest daughter, but because she has G-D in her life and I apologized for what I had done, she forgave me and as a result we now have a dad/daughter relationship. I cannot make up for the years lost, but we can go on from here and we have.
The other person is someone that I grew up with,went to school with,literally from diaper days, and yet a few years ago, through a misunderstanding on my part, which I apologized for,she has come to hold a grudge against me. Thing's happen and mistakes are made but is holding a grudge really worth it?
If you are holding a grudge, let me ask you a really simple question;Why?
Who said that you or that other person is going to be alive , even as soon as later on today? Are you G-D? Do you know the length of your own days , never mind everyone else? No you don't. So why do it, why hang on to something that really is only killing you? Someone on Face Book posted a saying that goes something to the effect of "Holding a grudge is like you drinking poison and then expecting the other person to die" it's stupid and a waste of the time that G-D has given you in this life.
I have heard it said that the best time of the year to be in Israel is just before Yom Kippur, the Day Of Atonement. I have been told that it is the one time of the year where everyone is nice to each other and people go out of their way to seek out forgiveness and to grant the same to those that have done them harm. The reason for that is that they believe that on the Day of Atonement,G-D passes His judgement on everyone and that all nations and peoples fates, for the next year, are decided on that day. So ,accordingly, they wish to be right with both G-D and their fellow man.
We should live our lives everyday like that. Forgive each other, make things right with G-D and with your fellow man and or family, or you just might wake up tomorrow and find out that the time that you thought that you had has just run out.
Shalom,
Ignacio
Friday, May 14, 2010
Life lesson from a T-Ball game
Last night my family and I had the extreme pleasure of watching a whole bunch of little kids playing T-ball. T-Ball for those of you who may not know is when they put the baseball on a "T" and the kids hit the ball off of that. It is usually for kids from about the age of 3 to maybe 6 and the ball, bat and bases is about as close to real baseball as you get in one of these games.
What really made this fun to watch though was the kids themselves. They were clueless as to what they were doing out there. The kid hitting the ball would swing the bat in the general direction of the "T" and usually at least make the ball fall off the "T" and then run for all they were worth towards first base. Now I say towards it because it was rarely a straight line and many times they had to go around infielders who were more interested in the worm they found then the person running by them. There was one little girl who hit the ball and it went down the first base line and while she ran to first, the entire team on the field went after the ball. They weren't interested in getting her out, in fact I'm not sure they even realized that was the idea. No, they were more interested in being the first one to get the ball just so they could run it back over to the coach. I really thought for a moment that the girl was going to get run over by all them as they all ran to the ball, but to her credit she was paying just enough attention to what was going on to stop for a second and then go around them.
Some of the fun of all this as well was just watching what the kids were doing as they were "playing" the game. I mentioned two boys on the first base line looking at a worm they had just discovered and then there were two others that were chasing each other all over the infield. Probably the cutest sight of them all was two little girls, one on the outside of the fence and the other on the inside crouched down, talking to each other then giggling, all these kids totally oblivious as to what was going on.
The there were the parents. Most of them were sitting in chairs socializing and cheering on the kids, didn't matter which kid or team, and in general just relaxing and having some fun and lot's of laughs. They were enjoying life as it was being given to them in the moment and, so it seemed , forgetting that the rest of the world even existed for just an hour or two.
There are any number of lessons to be learned here, but the one I want to focus on for a minute is that we need to relearn the art of relaxing and enjoying the life that we have been given. I am speaking very much for myself here , but I can't help but think that there are probably a lot of others out there like me who can easily let all the troubles in this world get to them.
I am not trying to say that we can become like those little kids playing T-Ball, totally oblivious as to what is going on, but I am saying that for a little while we need to put down all our worries and cares and watch the world through their eyes for a little while. My enjoyment of the game didn't come from their great skills and talents it came from the sheer joy that the kids had going on just being out there playing. No worries, no fears, just sheer pleasure in doing what they were doing.
So what should we do then?
Solomon writes in the book of Ecclesiastes that most everything that we do on this earth, most of the stuff we strive for or to have is nothing more then chasing after vanity and the wind but I really think he sums it up well in a couple of places as to how we should treat this life and as to what we should do.
Eccl.8:15 So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.
I believe that this is one of the most important verses to found, especially for today's world. We are taught to strive and achieve and go after all the various things that the world has to offer and we are taught to do them even to the point of sacrificing everything else to achieve our goals. I know that I have known many people who strived for that proverbial nest egg/pot at the end of the rainbow, just to loose it all and their families as well. What did they gain from it? Nothing bad hard earned experience.
Solomons solution seems much simpler to me. Eat and drink and enjoy this life that G-D has given you. He is not saying don't try to do better for yourself, but I believe he is saying get your priorities straight. The parents of those kids, had the right idea, They let all the craziness of the world go away for a while and they took time to enjoy their families and the innocence of their children. This is a huge gift from G-D for all of us.
The last point I want to make with this is simple as well, though it seems that this point everyone wants to argue over, and it is the conclusion to the matter. Eccl. 12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion to the whole matter: Fear G-D and keep His commandments,For this is mans all." Simple and to the point.
So enjoy the life that G-D has given you . Fear and love G-D with all of your heart and keep His commandments. I would only add one other thing to it that hopefully would meet with Solomons approval; Get out and watch a T-Ball game and get life back into perspective.
Shalom,
Ignacio
What really made this fun to watch though was the kids themselves. They were clueless as to what they were doing out there. The kid hitting the ball would swing the bat in the general direction of the "T" and usually at least make the ball fall off the "T" and then run for all they were worth towards first base. Now I say towards it because it was rarely a straight line and many times they had to go around infielders who were more interested in the worm they found then the person running by them. There was one little girl who hit the ball and it went down the first base line and while she ran to first, the entire team on the field went after the ball. They weren't interested in getting her out, in fact I'm not sure they even realized that was the idea. No, they were more interested in being the first one to get the ball just so they could run it back over to the coach. I really thought for a moment that the girl was going to get run over by all them as they all ran to the ball, but to her credit she was paying just enough attention to what was going on to stop for a second and then go around them.
Some of the fun of all this as well was just watching what the kids were doing as they were "playing" the game. I mentioned two boys on the first base line looking at a worm they had just discovered and then there were two others that were chasing each other all over the infield. Probably the cutest sight of them all was two little girls, one on the outside of the fence and the other on the inside crouched down, talking to each other then giggling, all these kids totally oblivious as to what was going on.
The there were the parents. Most of them were sitting in chairs socializing and cheering on the kids, didn't matter which kid or team, and in general just relaxing and having some fun and lot's of laughs. They were enjoying life as it was being given to them in the moment and, so it seemed , forgetting that the rest of the world even existed for just an hour or two.
There are any number of lessons to be learned here, but the one I want to focus on for a minute is that we need to relearn the art of relaxing and enjoying the life that we have been given. I am speaking very much for myself here , but I can't help but think that there are probably a lot of others out there like me who can easily let all the troubles in this world get to them.
I am not trying to say that we can become like those little kids playing T-Ball, totally oblivious as to what is going on, but I am saying that for a little while we need to put down all our worries and cares and watch the world through their eyes for a little while. My enjoyment of the game didn't come from their great skills and talents it came from the sheer joy that the kids had going on just being out there playing. No worries, no fears, just sheer pleasure in doing what they were doing.
So what should we do then?
Solomon writes in the book of Ecclesiastes that most everything that we do on this earth, most of the stuff we strive for or to have is nothing more then chasing after vanity and the wind but I really think he sums it up well in a couple of places as to how we should treat this life and as to what we should do.
Eccl.8:15 So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.
I believe that this is one of the most important verses to found, especially for today's world. We are taught to strive and achieve and go after all the various things that the world has to offer and we are taught to do them even to the point of sacrificing everything else to achieve our goals. I know that I have known many people who strived for that proverbial nest egg/pot at the end of the rainbow, just to loose it all and their families as well. What did they gain from it? Nothing bad hard earned experience.
Solomons solution seems much simpler to me. Eat and drink and enjoy this life that G-D has given you. He is not saying don't try to do better for yourself, but I believe he is saying get your priorities straight. The parents of those kids, had the right idea, They let all the craziness of the world go away for a while and they took time to enjoy their families and the innocence of their children. This is a huge gift from G-D for all of us.
The last point I want to make with this is simple as well, though it seems that this point everyone wants to argue over, and it is the conclusion to the matter. Eccl. 12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion to the whole matter: Fear G-D and keep His commandments,For this is mans all." Simple and to the point.
So enjoy the life that G-D has given you . Fear and love G-D with all of your heart and keep His commandments. I would only add one other thing to it that hopefully would meet with Solomons approval; Get out and watch a T-Ball game and get life back into perspective.
Shalom,
Ignacio
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