A funny thing happened along this road of life, I hit a bump in the road or rather the bump hit me. Or more precisely it was kind of an explosive bump, one that has made a huge difference in my life, though it has taken me a while to understand just how far different it has made me.
In 2003, I was part of the original invasion or liberation, depending on your point of view, of Iraq. And I had the misfortune of getting too close and personal with a couple of explosions, one of which briefly knocked me out, doing some small amount of damage to my brain. When I came to, the only thing I noticed was a cut on my arm and a slight limp, nothing, so I thought anyhow, that would be life changing. I was wrong.
Upon my return from Iraq, there were things that I started to notice right off that weren't quite right with me. My focus was gone, the limp was worse, and I started to find things more confusing to me then I had remembered them being before. Simple things that I had taken for granted, such as balancing a check book, or remembering names or even just where I was headed had become so daunting a task that I would freak out.
In 2007, I went to the VA in Arkansas for a series of tests to determine whether or not I was suffering from some sort of Traumatic Brain Injury. After many tests and an MRI it was indeed decided that I was suffering from a mild case of it. They found three spots on my brain, but told me that they were minor and of no concern. That was the last I heard from them. They were wrong.
After moving back to New England I was assigned a doctor at the VA in Vermont and as he was looking over my record, during a check up in September, he found the results of the tests and was not happy with what he found. He immediately set up appointments for me with the TBI doctor and clinic and it was there that I found out that the injuries to my brain, though small in size, went deep into important parts of my brain, the parts that affect sight and speech as well as cognitive abilities and the nervous system. In short, everything that has been happening to me, eyesight going down, muscle twitches and spasms as well as trouble with basic cognitive things, such as speech and memory are a result of those injuries.
But here is the part that will shock you, I am thankful. Yes, I did say thankful.
While I have taken a moment to tell you some of the negative effects of what has happened to me I think the positive greatly out weighs it.
I have learned humility. I was once a very proud man who thought it was great to be able to run younger men and women into the ground and barely break a sweat. Now, many times, I need help just getting my shoes on. To walk any great distance is a massive chore, yet I am thankful, not because it is difficult but because it has made me a much more humble and compassionate man to those who are hurting.
I have had to learn that it is OK to rely on others from time to time. There are many things that I am unable to do and so I have had to seek out those who could help me and in turn I find it easier to help others when they are in need.
I have learned to love my family more and really appreciate what G-D has given me through them. My wife, in particular, has had to deal with a lot of issues with me, my health, my mental attitudes and difficulties, yet she has stuck with me when many others would have left. And through her love for me, I have learned to love the way that I should.
I have learned who my real friends are. They are not the people who expect me to be the way that I was before and have accepted what I have become without reservation. They have become the best extended family that anyone could hope to have.
I have learned to do some things differently then I might have otherwise. The fact that I am writing this is proof of that. Some years ago I would not have ever attempted to write anything, yet my brain, in all this confusion, switched gears and now I enjoy the challenge. It matters little that only a few people read it. What matters is the enjoyment and the challenge.
I have had the time to really look and study the scriptures and while much of my religious views have changed because of it I have also come to appreciate those who see the world and religion differently then I do and for that I am thankful.
In some ways I have been given a second chance at life. Yes the things that I have done in the past are still the things that touch me in the present, but I see things so much differently then before that I almost don't recognize the person from the past.
And I think that this is a good thing.
This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Deut. 30:11-14
I have spent several days thinking and writing about the verses below. I have written entire posts and deleted them never being quite happy with what I wrote so I would start again. It then hit me that the reason that I was having such difficulty in analyzing and writing about it was because the verses actually speak quite well for themselves and don't require a lot of thought. A simple analysis of these verses is that G-D doesn't make keeping His commands difficult, He makes it simple and the only real requirement is a willingness on our parts to obey. How much simpler can it be if they are put "near you" in your heart and mouth.
“For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. Deuteronomy 30:11-14.
I have heard many people say over the years that you can't keep the commandments of G-D. Really? So your calling G-D a liar then? G-D's laws are not the problem, it's our lack of willingness to obey them. Perhaps it could be better said that it's religion's rejection of His laws, while adding many of their own un- biblical rules that's the real problem. Most people instinctively know the difference especially when they are looking from the outside in,they know something isn't quite right.
If you are one of those people that don't think that you can follow His laws, or you have never read them, then I would encourage you to read them and tell me which parts about treating people good or worshiping G-D that you can't do. Yes there are many laws that only count if there was a temple and / or if you were one of the priests, but most of them are fairly common sense things, others don't apply in our society, such as how to treat slaves, but most are fairly simple and to the point. If nothing else look at the "10 commandments" and then tell me what part of that you can't do. If you don't think you can do them for some reason then go back and look at Deut. 30:11-14 to remind yourself that G-D says you can.
Shalom. The High Holy Days are coming!
“For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. Deuteronomy 30:11-14.
I have heard many people say over the years that you can't keep the commandments of G-D. Really? So your calling G-D a liar then? G-D's laws are not the problem, it's our lack of willingness to obey them. Perhaps it could be better said that it's religion's rejection of His laws, while adding many of their own un- biblical rules that's the real problem. Most people instinctively know the difference especially when they are looking from the outside in,they know something isn't quite right.
If you are one of those people that don't think that you can follow His laws, or you have never read them, then I would encourage you to read them and tell me which parts about treating people good or worshiping G-D that you can't do. Yes there are many laws that only count if there was a temple and / or if you were one of the priests, but most of them are fairly common sense things, others don't apply in our society, such as how to treat slaves, but most are fairly simple and to the point. If nothing else look at the "10 commandments" and then tell me what part of that you can't do. If you don't think you can do them for some reason then go back and look at Deut. 30:11-14 to remind yourself that G-D says you can.
Shalom. The High Holy Days are coming!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Prophecy And Israel
I am not a prophet. Let me state that right from the beginning. I don't know but one person who I would even consider to have that ability ,though there are many others who would claim to be, but It really doesn't take a prophet to point out all the mess that's going on in the world and just how close to our own destruction we are if we don't change things. You can go to just about any blog on religion or religious source and they will all prove to you , in their own way, that what is happening right now in the world had been prophesied. Some I agree with,though not completely, some I think are a joke, but one thing is for sure everyone seems to know things are happening and not much of it good.
Back in the summer of 2008 I wrote a blog about the state of the economy and just how bad it was going to get. I made it very clear that the words that I wrote then were not mine but were what I believe that G-D was telling me about what was coming. These words have proved out to be true, but it was not my words. Those were G-Ds words. I tell you this so that you will understand that what I write from this point on will be a combo of what is written in the prophets and what I believe may be coming at us soon, if not in the coming months, then in the very near future, but I am not claiming that I am any kind of prophet.
The nations of the world are ganging up on Israel. Egypt, Syria and Jordan are a mess and are threatening Israel. Turkey has war ships on the way to the Med to prevent Israel from "aggression" as Israel protects its coastline. Iran is making nuclear weapons and they have said quite clearly that they will use them to eliminate Israel. Hamas in Gaza is tossing missiles on a daily basis and in the UN the so called "Palestinians" are pushing for statehood with,at last count, 130 nations backing them. All of this to put pressure on the Jewish nation to give up more land and essentially make it impossible to defend themselves. Many believe that war is inevitable.
Zechariah 14: 1-2 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming And your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
This is what is happening today. The nations are gathering against Israel and if enough nations approve of Palestinian state hood, or the UN security council gives it's approval, knowing that Israel is never going to agree with it under forced terms, then they will have set the stage for UN intervention. The above text says the city, Jerusalem, will be divided or put into captivity, which it already is ,but also that the remnant will not be cut off. I take this to mean that while things are not going to be good for Jerusalem for a while, such as they are right now, that the Jews will never be completely removed either.
In verse 3 we start to get a picture of whats going to happen to those nations who come up against Israel and in verses 12-15 it's quite blunt.
Zech. 14:3,12-15 Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle..... And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet,Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets,And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.It shall come to pass in that day That a great panic from the LORD will be among them.Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor,And raise his hand against his neighbor’s hand;Judah also will fight at Jerusalem.And the wealth of all the surrounding nations Shall be gathered together: Gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance.Such also shall be the plague On the horse and the mule, On the camel and the donkey,And on all the cattle that will be in those camps.So shall this plague be.
This sounds to me remarkably like a Nuclear blast and or all out war or it could simply be the power of G-D. Either way it will bring about massive destruction not to just the middle east but to all the world. Look at verse 16 : And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
We are not talking about something that happens 7000 miles away in a foreign nation we are talking about an event that is world wide in it's nature and in it's destruction.
Simply put, the nations are going to go up against Israel and, perhaps, temporarily prevail. Then G-D is going to intervene on Israel's behalf and there is going to be a massive world wide destruction of those that go against His chosen people. The stage is being set for this to happen and make no mistake it WILL happen. Everything that had been predicted about Israel has happened and there is plenty of evidence that tells me that all the rest that hasn't will as well.
Remember this; if the scriptures are to be believed, which I do, then it is very clear that while G-D was angry with His people, they are still His people. They are a nation once again as was prophesied and they are a greatly blessed people. There are multitudes of biblical texts that make it very clear that in the end they will be even more blessed then they were in the former days and that G-D himself will dwell with them. Those of us who survive, after the nations try to destroy Israel, will go to Israel to worship G-D and to participate in His holy days.
It has been predicted. The stage has been set and the players and pieces are all in motion, it will happen.
Back in the summer of 2008 I wrote a blog about the state of the economy and just how bad it was going to get. I made it very clear that the words that I wrote then were not mine but were what I believe that G-D was telling me about what was coming. These words have proved out to be true, but it was not my words. Those were G-Ds words. I tell you this so that you will understand that what I write from this point on will be a combo of what is written in the prophets and what I believe may be coming at us soon, if not in the coming months, then in the very near future, but I am not claiming that I am any kind of prophet.
The nations of the world are ganging up on Israel. Egypt, Syria and Jordan are a mess and are threatening Israel. Turkey has war ships on the way to the Med to prevent Israel from "aggression" as Israel protects its coastline. Iran is making nuclear weapons and they have said quite clearly that they will use them to eliminate Israel. Hamas in Gaza is tossing missiles on a daily basis and in the UN the so called "Palestinians" are pushing for statehood with,at last count, 130 nations backing them. All of this to put pressure on the Jewish nation to give up more land and essentially make it impossible to defend themselves. Many believe that war is inevitable.
Zechariah 14: 1-2 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming And your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
This is what is happening today. The nations are gathering against Israel and if enough nations approve of Palestinian state hood, or the UN security council gives it's approval, knowing that Israel is never going to agree with it under forced terms, then they will have set the stage for UN intervention. The above text says the city, Jerusalem, will be divided or put into captivity, which it already is ,but also that the remnant will not be cut off. I take this to mean that while things are not going to be good for Jerusalem for a while, such as they are right now, that the Jews will never be completely removed either.
In verse 3 we start to get a picture of whats going to happen to those nations who come up against Israel and in verses 12-15 it's quite blunt.
Zech. 14:3,12-15 Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle..... And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet,Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets,And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.It shall come to pass in that day That a great panic from the LORD will be among them.Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor,And raise his hand against his neighbor’s hand;Judah also will fight at Jerusalem.And the wealth of all the surrounding nations Shall be gathered together: Gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance.Such also shall be the plague On the horse and the mule, On the camel and the donkey,And on all the cattle that will be in those camps.So shall this plague be.
This sounds to me remarkably like a Nuclear blast and or all out war or it could simply be the power of G-D. Either way it will bring about massive destruction not to just the middle east but to all the world. Look at verse 16 : And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
We are not talking about something that happens 7000 miles away in a foreign nation we are talking about an event that is world wide in it's nature and in it's destruction.
Simply put, the nations are going to go up against Israel and, perhaps, temporarily prevail. Then G-D is going to intervene on Israel's behalf and there is going to be a massive world wide destruction of those that go against His chosen people. The stage is being set for this to happen and make no mistake it WILL happen. Everything that had been predicted about Israel has happened and there is plenty of evidence that tells me that all the rest that hasn't will as well.
Remember this; if the scriptures are to be believed, which I do, then it is very clear that while G-D was angry with His people, they are still His people. They are a nation once again as was prophesied and they are a greatly blessed people. There are multitudes of biblical texts that make it very clear that in the end they will be even more blessed then they were in the former days and that G-D himself will dwell with them. Those of us who survive, after the nations try to destroy Israel, will go to Israel to worship G-D and to participate in His holy days.
It has been predicted. The stage has been set and the players and pieces are all in motion, it will happen.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sweet Hour Of Prayer
A few days ago I crawled out of bed just as it was starting to get light outside, I opened up the curtains pulled up a chair to the big picture window and spent an hour or so in prayer and bible reading and rediscovered something that I had been missing for awhile, peace ,quiet and the reassuring presence of G-D. To some of you this may not be a new idea and honestly it's not to me either, it has just been something that I had kind of forgotten.
My explanation really is rooted in many of the changes that we have gone through in our family, moving,loosing a house, trying to get used to a new place and all the assorted chaos that comes from that kind of economic madness. But really it has been the spiritual changes in my life that has caused some or even most of the confusion. Don't take me wrong, I was not confused about what I believe,just rather how to go about implementing what I believe.
I am not a big fan of organized religion and it's various interpretations of how to do things simply because it gets too complicated and confusing. My issue was really a matter of how does a person approach G-D in prayer, is there a right way? A wrong way? How do you do it?
If you are a Christian it will all depend on what type of Christian you are. Many are very conservative and the prayers are very formal,almost rehearsed. Some pray standing,others kneeling and some ,especially amongst the older folks, will use so many thees and thous that your never quite sure if they remember what century that they are in. Then there are those who like a less formal approach and they will be speaking in tongues, clapping their hands or have their arms up towards the heavens praying with the tears rolling down their cheeks in total ecstasy. If you are Jewish, many times the prayers are sung and a prayer book is used and,depending on the day, it will be a different prayer sung for different events. Some of it's done sitting other times it is done standing and rocking with most of it being in Hebrew.
So this has really been my source of confusion. Whats the best way to go about praying. Do I do it the way that most of the formal groups do it? Do I stand and rock? Do I sit and contemplate? Is it necessary to raise my hands or use a prayer book? What is the right way to do it? I had wrestled with this for so long that I had gotten to a place where I wasn't doing it at all. Yes I was still reading the scriptures but I had kind of left out prayer and really wasn't sure what to do. Then an old song reminded me of what to do. Sweet hour of prayer by William W. Walford, 1845
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! That calls me from a world of care,And bids me at my Father’s throne Make all my wants and wishes known. In seasons of distress and grief, My soul has often found relief, And oft escaped the tempter’s snare, By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
This song had been running through my head for a few days but it wasn't until I actually paid attention to what the words said that I finally understood. G-D tells us to come to Him in prayer but He doesn't tell us how. Why? Because all of us are different and we all have different needs and expectations of what consists of prayer and worship. What works for you may do nothing for me. What is truly important is that we take the time to pray, not how, it's as simple as that.
Sweet Hour of Prayer....
Shalom,
Ignacio
My explanation really is rooted in many of the changes that we have gone through in our family, moving,loosing a house, trying to get used to a new place and all the assorted chaos that comes from that kind of economic madness. But really it has been the spiritual changes in my life that has caused some or even most of the confusion. Don't take me wrong, I was not confused about what I believe,just rather how to go about implementing what I believe.
I am not a big fan of organized religion and it's various interpretations of how to do things simply because it gets too complicated and confusing. My issue was really a matter of how does a person approach G-D in prayer, is there a right way? A wrong way? How do you do it?
If you are a Christian it will all depend on what type of Christian you are. Many are very conservative and the prayers are very formal,almost rehearsed. Some pray standing,others kneeling and some ,especially amongst the older folks, will use so many thees and thous that your never quite sure if they remember what century that they are in. Then there are those who like a less formal approach and they will be speaking in tongues, clapping their hands or have their arms up towards the heavens praying with the tears rolling down their cheeks in total ecstasy. If you are Jewish, many times the prayers are sung and a prayer book is used and,depending on the day, it will be a different prayer sung for different events. Some of it's done sitting other times it is done standing and rocking with most of it being in Hebrew.
So this has really been my source of confusion. Whats the best way to go about praying. Do I do it the way that most of the formal groups do it? Do I stand and rock? Do I sit and contemplate? Is it necessary to raise my hands or use a prayer book? What is the right way to do it? I had wrestled with this for so long that I had gotten to a place where I wasn't doing it at all. Yes I was still reading the scriptures but I had kind of left out prayer and really wasn't sure what to do. Then an old song reminded me of what to do. Sweet hour of prayer by William W. Walford, 1845
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! That calls me from a world of care,And bids me at my Father’s throne Make all my wants and wishes known. In seasons of distress and grief, My soul has often found relief, And oft escaped the tempter’s snare, By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
This song had been running through my head for a few days but it wasn't until I actually paid attention to what the words said that I finally understood. G-D tells us to come to Him in prayer but He doesn't tell us how. Why? Because all of us are different and we all have different needs and expectations of what consists of prayer and worship. What works for you may do nothing for me. What is truly important is that we take the time to pray, not how, it's as simple as that.
Sweet Hour of Prayer....
Shalom,
Ignacio
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Not Guilty and Circumstantial Evidence.
Not guilty....two words that no one expected to hear at the end of the recent Casey Anthony trial. In fact, I would say that shock and outrage was ,and still is, the most common reaction of practically everyone who was interviewed by the media and seems to be the common sentiment across most of the social networking sights as well. People put on their porch lights for Caylee and said many a prayer and poem in her honor and many shed tears. I have to say that it seems to me that they had pretty good evidence against her, in particular the finding of Chloroform through out the trunk and on the body seems to me to be rather damning, along with not telling the police anything for a month, lying to them and going out and partying like a wild woman.....
Here is the problem though, the "evidence" was mostly circumstantial. Compelling? Yes, but still circumstantial.
I personally am appalled by the outcome, but I don't think that you can convict someone on nothing more then circumstantial evidence, there has to be no room for doubt before you convict someone and condemn them to death.
I personally know someone who was convicted for a murder based on " circumstantial " evidence, the problem was that while they may have been guilty of stupidity for hiding evidence and covering for the person who did do it, the person was not guilty of the murder. This proved to be the case when many years later a Judge from the 6th circuit looked at the case and told the state that they had to release him because they had no proof that he was even involved never mind guilty, consequently he was released from prison. There was a lot involved in that case that I won't get into here, but I'll tell you this, if his conviction had come one year later he would have received the death penalty for it.
I was convicted, as a teenager, of a crime that I didn't commit, based on circumstantial evidence as well. There were no witnesses who said that they had seen me and no real evidence except for a sneaker print that was within a "size or two" of my sneakers. The only person that was seen was a guy that I hung around with and as soon as he was arrested he pointed the finger at me. Nothing more then circumstantial evidence.
These two examples are but a small sampling of many a wrongful conviction of crimes both major and minor. Would you want to be the one to convict a person and send them to their death without real solid proof?
Our system of justice is not perfect. Too many times politics ,both national and local, play a part in bringing about a conviction. The media does not help because it goes out of its way to make you believe that a person is guilty just based on being arrested or questioned. They seem to take pleasure in insinuation and innuendo without a single shred of evidence and,as a result, we condemn people before they ever get to trial.
Is she guilty of murder? I believe so, but do I have enough compelling proof to say so 100% ? No, and apparently neither did the jury. You can't convict on a maybe, proof needs to be solid.
Just my humble opinion.
Here is the problem though, the "evidence" was mostly circumstantial. Compelling? Yes, but still circumstantial.
I personally am appalled by the outcome, but I don't think that you can convict someone on nothing more then circumstantial evidence, there has to be no room for doubt before you convict someone and condemn them to death.
I personally know someone who was convicted for a murder based on " circumstantial " evidence, the problem was that while they may have been guilty of stupidity for hiding evidence and covering for the person who did do it, the person was not guilty of the murder. This proved to be the case when many years later a Judge from the 6th circuit looked at the case and told the state that they had to release him because they had no proof that he was even involved never mind guilty, consequently he was released from prison. There was a lot involved in that case that I won't get into here, but I'll tell you this, if his conviction had come one year later he would have received the death penalty for it.
I was convicted, as a teenager, of a crime that I didn't commit, based on circumstantial evidence as well. There were no witnesses who said that they had seen me and no real evidence except for a sneaker print that was within a "size or two" of my sneakers. The only person that was seen was a guy that I hung around with and as soon as he was arrested he pointed the finger at me. Nothing more then circumstantial evidence.
These two examples are but a small sampling of many a wrongful conviction of crimes both major and minor. Would you want to be the one to convict a person and send them to their death without real solid proof?
Our system of justice is not perfect. Too many times politics ,both national and local, play a part in bringing about a conviction. The media does not help because it goes out of its way to make you believe that a person is guilty just based on being arrested or questioned. They seem to take pleasure in insinuation and innuendo without a single shred of evidence and,as a result, we condemn people before they ever get to trial.
Is she guilty of murder? I believe so, but do I have enough compelling proof to say so 100% ? No, and apparently neither did the jury. You can't convict on a maybe, proof needs to be solid.
Just my humble opinion.
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Corners Of The Field
There has been a lot of talk lately about the stalemate in congress on just how to fix our economy. There has been many a talking head and pundit criticizing this politician or the other for what is clearly a problem caused by all parties and no one has really posed anything that seems like it will work. Some have said that this has been done purposely to force us into a one world currency and / or government or that it's the bankers and the IMF that is responsible for this mess. I believe that it is because we have ignored some basic biblical principals that, if applied, could easily solve many of our economic problems.
WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR POOR
Imagine what would happen if we followed the simple biblical principal of seeing to it that the poor are taken care of? Some of you might be thinking that there are already multitudes of government programs that assist the poor, and I would agree with you, but this is not supposed to be the job of the government. The fact that so many are dependent on the government is a serious sign that we have forgotten some of these basic biblical principals given to Israel but very relevant for today.
Lev. 19:9-10 says:
‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
Please note that the verses quoted didn't put the blame on the poor for being poor, nor did it point the finger and accuse of them of doing something that made them poor, it simply points out that there are poor people among you and this is what you should do.
So why did G-D tell them to do this? Two reasons, one is so that they would understand that they were but stewards of the land and that the land and all that it produced belonged to G-D,but also give them a way that they could help and be a blessing to their poor neighbors. Those that were poor didn't have to beg for help because G-D had provided a way for them to eat without the humiliation of having to beg! In fact if you go and look through all the laws that concerned the poor, it never had anything to do with government intervention, instead it had to do with those that had more, helping those that were in need. Even in the cases where people became the servants of others it was only allowed for a certain period of time and then all debt was forgiven and the person could have a fresh start. So the short version was that it is our responsibility not the governments to take care of people.
Imagine what could happen if we followed that principal. Imagine what could happen if all the big corporations and agri- farms came to the understanding that G-D has blessed them so that they could, in turn, bless those that are less fortunate?
Here, where I live, We have a Sylvania plant that makes automobile lights. Now just imagine what would happen if the owners or the CEO of the plant looked around town an realized that there are many people out of work and they decided to do something about it. They might go out and hire several hundred more people to work at the plant but then they would loose some of their profit margin. What could they possibly gain from this? First it would increase production, more workers usually mean more production, and it would also give them a larger loyal customer base. Think about it, first you would have those that were hired being grateful for the job, thus allowing them to take care of their families, and word would get out about what they did, and I know that I would be buying all my lights from them after that, knowing that they were willing to sacrifice some profit to help those in need. I suspect that many others would feel the same. Its a win -win situation. I am not saying that this should be the motivation, just suggesting that it could be a result.
Some might say that this idea is nothing but Socialism,well I disagree. I don't believe in "redistribution of wealth" or that you should be forced to pay for my disabilities, the government sent me to war not you. What I am saying though is simply this; if everyone from individuals to business applied that one basic principal we could effectively end poverty here in the United States and ,perhaps, the world as well. If we all became our "brothers keeper" there would be no need for government intervention and ,as a result, we could fix part of our messed up economy.
This is just one principal. There are more to come.
Shalom,
Ignacio
WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR POOR
Imagine what would happen if we followed the simple biblical principal of seeing to it that the poor are taken care of? Some of you might be thinking that there are already multitudes of government programs that assist the poor, and I would agree with you, but this is not supposed to be the job of the government. The fact that so many are dependent on the government is a serious sign that we have forgotten some of these basic biblical principals given to Israel but very relevant for today.
Lev. 19:9-10 says:
‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
Please note that the verses quoted didn't put the blame on the poor for being poor, nor did it point the finger and accuse of them of doing something that made them poor, it simply points out that there are poor people among you and this is what you should do.
So why did G-D tell them to do this? Two reasons, one is so that they would understand that they were but stewards of the land and that the land and all that it produced belonged to G-D,but also give them a way that they could help and be a blessing to their poor neighbors. Those that were poor didn't have to beg for help because G-D had provided a way for them to eat without the humiliation of having to beg! In fact if you go and look through all the laws that concerned the poor, it never had anything to do with government intervention, instead it had to do with those that had more, helping those that were in need. Even in the cases where people became the servants of others it was only allowed for a certain period of time and then all debt was forgiven and the person could have a fresh start. So the short version was that it is our responsibility not the governments to take care of people.
Imagine what could happen if we followed that principal. Imagine what could happen if all the big corporations and agri- farms came to the understanding that G-D has blessed them so that they could, in turn, bless those that are less fortunate?
Here, where I live, We have a Sylvania plant that makes automobile lights. Now just imagine what would happen if the owners or the CEO of the plant looked around town an realized that there are many people out of work and they decided to do something about it. They might go out and hire several hundred more people to work at the plant but then they would loose some of their profit margin. What could they possibly gain from this? First it would increase production, more workers usually mean more production, and it would also give them a larger loyal customer base. Think about it, first you would have those that were hired being grateful for the job, thus allowing them to take care of their families, and word would get out about what they did, and I know that I would be buying all my lights from them after that, knowing that they were willing to sacrifice some profit to help those in need. I suspect that many others would feel the same. Its a win -win situation. I am not saying that this should be the motivation, just suggesting that it could be a result.
Some might say that this idea is nothing but Socialism,well I disagree. I don't believe in "redistribution of wealth" or that you should be forced to pay for my disabilities, the government sent me to war not you. What I am saying though is simply this; if everyone from individuals to business applied that one basic principal we could effectively end poverty here in the United States and ,perhaps, the world as well. If we all became our "brothers keeper" there would be no need for government intervention and ,as a result, we could fix part of our messed up economy.
This is just one principal. There are more to come.
Shalom,
Ignacio
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Live Long and Prosper!
I am a Star Trek fan. Not to the point of dressing up like characters from the show but certainly a fan enough so that I have a collection of the various TV episodes and movies. There is just something about the idea of exploring what is out there on other planets that I just find really appealing and of course the idea that, on the show anyhow,you could make up things as you go. Think about it, for those of you who have watched the show, how many times have they re arranged the Dilithuim crystals to push out energy that they didn't really have in the first place, and you sat there and watched the show and nodded in agreement with what they were doing? Had no clue as to what they were rambling on about but it sure sounded good! Of course you also knew that anyone that you didn't know who was wearing a red shirt was toast, some things were just a given.
I think , at least for me, that part of the appeal was that they lived in a harmonious world. Greed was gone, prejudice a thing of the past, war and disease eliminated, at least as far as the earth was concerned, and everyone lived comfortably. They could talk about flying off to Alpha Seti 4 just as easy as they could discuss going to San Francisco, overall life was good.
Probably one of the most famous lines ever from that show was when Spock would raise his hand, part his fingers into a "V" and say "Live long and prosper." I have thought about that line just a bit and have always kind of been curious as to what he meant by that. If you believe the scenario that they present then everyone on the planet ,and Vulcan as well I assume, is already prosperous. Remember in their universe all the things that make the world a bad place have been eliminated so what does it mean, then, to prosper? Live long is easy one, but to prosper in a world that's already as perfect as it can get? Perhaps it's a message to us, the viewers.
We don't live in that perfect world, so what does it mean to prosper? In our world when you think of prosperity you think of great wealth and having the various toys and whistles that accompany that, but is that the real definition? The dictionary defines prosper as "to be fortunate or successful or to thrive." So what does it mean then to prosper? If by "fortunate" you mean wealth , then by that definition I have failed miserably, as I suspect that most of us have,but if you mean being greatly blessed then I am indeed a fortunate man , who has a wonderful loving wife and children and some of the best friends any man could ask for. If you mean by successful that I have my own business or practice or that I am CEO of some major corporation, then no,once again, I fail the litmus test. If ,instead, you mean that I have taught my children right from wrong, have taught them the values of honesty and integrity and personal sacrifice and have shown them what it means to truly love your family then I would say that I have been successful. If by thrive you mean the accumulation of things then I have failed that as well. Quite frankly, my wife and I look for ways to make do with what we have and if we have things that are not needed or we never use ,we give them away. If there is any any thriving to be done in that , it would be that we can be a blessing to others so that they can thrive.
So I guess when it comes right down to it you have to ask yourself what does it mean to you to "prosper." For me I think I am quite prosperous but it has very little to do with the accumulation of wealth or of things. I am prosperous because I have a family that I love and they love me. I have, as I said earlier, some of the best friends a man could want and I worship a G-D who loves me, not because I can do anything that makes that so but simply because he created me. I am, indeed, a very prosperous man.
Live long and Prosper!
Ignacio
I think , at least for me, that part of the appeal was that they lived in a harmonious world. Greed was gone, prejudice a thing of the past, war and disease eliminated, at least as far as the earth was concerned, and everyone lived comfortably. They could talk about flying off to Alpha Seti 4 just as easy as they could discuss going to San Francisco, overall life was good.
Probably one of the most famous lines ever from that show was when Spock would raise his hand, part his fingers into a "V" and say "Live long and prosper." I have thought about that line just a bit and have always kind of been curious as to what he meant by that. If you believe the scenario that they present then everyone on the planet ,and Vulcan as well I assume, is already prosperous. Remember in their universe all the things that make the world a bad place have been eliminated so what does it mean, then, to prosper? Live long is easy one, but to prosper in a world that's already as perfect as it can get? Perhaps it's a message to us, the viewers.
We don't live in that perfect world, so what does it mean to prosper? In our world when you think of prosperity you think of great wealth and having the various toys and whistles that accompany that, but is that the real definition? The dictionary defines prosper as "to be fortunate or successful or to thrive." So what does it mean then to prosper? If by "fortunate" you mean wealth , then by that definition I have failed miserably, as I suspect that most of us have,but if you mean being greatly blessed then I am indeed a fortunate man , who has a wonderful loving wife and children and some of the best friends any man could ask for. If you mean by successful that I have my own business or practice or that I am CEO of some major corporation, then no,once again, I fail the litmus test. If ,instead, you mean that I have taught my children right from wrong, have taught them the values of honesty and integrity and personal sacrifice and have shown them what it means to truly love your family then I would say that I have been successful. If by thrive you mean the accumulation of things then I have failed that as well. Quite frankly, my wife and I look for ways to make do with what we have and if we have things that are not needed or we never use ,we give them away. If there is any any thriving to be done in that , it would be that we can be a blessing to others so that they can thrive.
So I guess when it comes right down to it you have to ask yourself what does it mean to you to "prosper." For me I think I am quite prosperous but it has very little to do with the accumulation of wealth or of things. I am prosperous because I have a family that I love and they love me. I have, as I said earlier, some of the best friends a man could want and I worship a G-D who loves me, not because I can do anything that makes that so but simply because he created me. I am, indeed, a very prosperous man.
Live long and Prosper!
Ignacio
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