There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy 12:7 As Sukkot wraps up, the festival of Simchat Torah (The Rejoicing of the Torah) occurs. I still freshly remember witnessing it in Jerusalem four years ago. The Torah scrolls were out. People were dancing in the streets with them and singing. What a joyous occasion! I don’t remember ever being in a Christian church seeing people nearly as excited about having a Bible. As […]
Category Archives: Other
Not Permanent
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 2 Corinthians 5:4 Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) began with the blood moon Sunday evening. I was finishing constructing my sukkah as the moon was eclipsing. I’m still too nervous about constructing it outside, so it’s in my living room. I must confess that it does not meet sukkah standards. The Lord said to set up and spend time in […]
An Appointment
The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover. Leviticus 16:2 Today is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Biblical calendar. When the tabernacle and temple stood, it was the one day each year which the high priest could enter into the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant rested. Unlike […]
Something New
The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the LORD. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.’” Leviticus 25:1-4 Shana Tova! Happy New Year! It’s Rosh Hoshanah again. Another Jewish new year has arrived. The […]
Ten Years Ago
When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for […]
Seven Weeks Later
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:35-38 Seven weeks ago was Easter Sunday. That makes today Pentecost Sunday. Interestingly enough, this year Jewish and Christian Pentecost fall on the […]
Political Shift
The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” But Samuel said, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me.” The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, `I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You […]
Welcome to the Future!
“Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now. Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, each of them will turn from his wicked way; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin.” Jeremiah 36:2-3 We are a week into 2015. I’ve been looking forward to this year because the Back to the Future movies set the “future” in this year. […]
Nativity Scene
I remember from a young age the various nativity scenes that were among our Christmas decorations. Picture your generic nativity scene. There’s Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in a wooden manger with some hay. They’re in a wooden stable. There’s a couple shepherds with a couple sheep. There’s the three wisemen with their gifts and perhaps camels. Maybe there’s also the star overhead. Perhaps an angel is present, too. Finally, there’s a donkey and an ox in the stable, too. Sound familiar? There are the usual errors like the wooden manger and stable (they would have been stone). But at […]
That December Holiday
One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. Psalm 145:4-7 A few years ago I told my small group that at our next meeting we would discuss “that December holiday mentioned in the Bible.” What do you think we talked about? Hanukkah, of course! While […]