David Simon's Blog, page 24

Psalms of Ascent, Going to Jerusalem

During the first week, in our new book Advent Journeys, we walk with Zechariah the priest.  Zechariah was the husband of Elizabeth and the father of John the Baptist as recorded in Luke 1 of the New Testament.  In the introduction we learn Zechariah was a priest of the order of Abijah and he and his wife were without children.As I wrote the chapter on Zechariah, the first thing I noted was that he was of the order of Abijah.  Abijah is one of twenty-four orders of the Levitical priesthood of Israel.  These divisions of priests first organized by King David are called Mishmarot & Ma'amadot.  In the times of Jesus each division of priests would serve five weeks per year (three weeks of harvest festivals where all Priests were to serve and two other weeks served in a rotation of divisions). {more on this tomorrow}We are told that Zechariah and Elizabeth are advanced in age and can not have children.  This bears similarity to the stories of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel, and Elkanah and Hannah.  According to the Torah Zechariah was advanced in age, but he was still serving in the Temple.  This means he must have been about fifty years of age (Numbers 8:25).  And as all of the other aged parents, Zechariah was a man who was faithful to God.Because Zechariah was faithful to God, it can be read between the lines that he enjoyed his week of service in the Temple.  I tried to capture this joy as I wrote the first week of journals for Zechariah in the book Advent Journeys.  On his way to the Temple for his work duty Zechariah would have recited (or sung) the Psalms of Ascent: Psalms 120-134.  These Psalms, as I read them, captured a sense of things which impacted the life of Zechariah.  I placed one or two Psalms of Ascent as a scripture reading each day during the first week of Advent. The journal of Zechariah will often reflect something in these Psalms.In our twenty-first century world I hope we, as believers, can reflect the joy Zechariah felt as he approached the Temple.  I hope this joy is evident as we attend worship service each week, and also in our daily lives as a reflection of our love for the Lord.

Over the River and Thru the Woods

Over the years I sang “Over the RIver” with my family.  At first I sang the song as we drove over Biscayne Bay to spend Thanksgiving with my grandmother.  Later I sang this song with my children as we traveled to either grandparents in the east across the James River; or the grandparents in the west across the Arkansas River.  Our trips wer fun, the food was great, and it is always fun to be with family.Thanksgiving is a festival which calls us to remember our God and our faith. Traditionally we remember our Pilgrim forefathers on this holiday.  These English Puritans and separatists crossed the river called the Atlantic Ocean to find religious freedom in the colonies.  When you read the story of hardship as these colonists settled in New England you can really understand why they would gather with the Indians in gratitude to worship God and give thanks for their first rich harvest season.Our Pilgrim forefathers looked to the people of Israel as they talked about faith.  The people of Israel also crossed a river, the Red Sea, as they crossed out of Egypt and set the foundation for their harvest festival, Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles.  Every year this festival is celebrated to remember how my ancestors were cared for by God during forty years in the wilderness before crossing a river (the Jordan) into the promised land.Thanksgiving is a festival for people who launch out in faith, departing persecution in order to find a new home.  This Christmas we will remember how Joseph and Mary took Advent Journeys to pay taxes in Bethlehem and to escape the intended murder of their Son at the hands of King Herod.Many in our world still travel over the river and through the woods because of religious persecution.  We must pray for them, care for them as God said, “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.” and give thanks to our God that we have been cared for and enjoy bounties of this life because of His Giving.

Advent: It doesn’t just happen!

In our high speed world you can have anything almost instantly. We would like the easy road to be best; but it isn’t always.  The best things in life take a little preparation.Take Christmas for instance.  We all want to give the best gifts, which until the age of cyber shopping required multiple trips to the stores, and a never ending search for the “perfect” gift.  Now we can sit at home and shop (Some places would say in three easy clicks); but it is not that easy.  We still have to find the “perfect” gift, and to satisfy ourselves we look for the “best” price.  The experience requires visiting multiple sites in order for the gift to match the likes of each person for whom we are shopping.We would like to have the best decorated home on the block in just three easy steps.  But anyone who has decorated their home will tell you even the simplest design requires more than three steps.  To place pre-strung icicles on the eaves of a one story home takes at least six steps on the ladder … in multiple locations!Ask anyone, simple is a lot harder than it looks.We all desire the perfect Christmas filled with closeness to Christ and filled with Christian love.  But the Christmas experience we really desire does not just happen.  A spirit filled Christmas requires preparation.For my children I wrote an Advent guide.  Then I placed each activity on an Advent Calendar to make sure it got done.  Over time I produced pamphlets to share with others.  (This year my daughter and I printed a book.)  As we diligently followed through on our plans for each day, when Christmas Day arrived we found it was more than the presents: Christmas was Christ. it was more than just a day: December 25th became the high point of a season.  Our preparation made a great difference.And not only did the preparation make a great difference each year … now that my children have grown and I hear them talk about their Christmas this year: the effort and preparation I put into each year as they were growing up paid dividends.  For they carry with them the memories and the desire to keep the real Christmas alive for themselves, and share with others.What will your Christmas look like?  Rather than just letting Christmas “happen,”  I would recommend a plan.  And one plan (if you want it as simple as it could be) I would recommend is to buy our book Advent Journeys and use it for personal and dinner table devotions this year.

Two Months & the Road

It came in September … our new car.  At first I thought life would continue as it was; but it didn’t.  At first we went on a planned journey to Cincinnati and Kansas.  Both were fun.  We did some fix-up and sight seeing with Chelsea in Cincinnati.  (And I am looking forward to other trips).  I happened to be there for the Clifton 5k race.  We saw where my grandparents lived, visited Jerusalem (via the Omnimax theater in the museum … we will have to see the rest of the exhibits), Saw the tabernacle at the Temple and at Hebrew Union.  And we ate skyline chili, Bagelman’s best breakfasts - and other foods.We took the North road (I-70) to Kansas to see family and friends.  It was great to see, and stay with those we have known for so long.  On our return we visited Oz in Wamego.  We took the south road (I-64) through Louisville.  The landscape changed from planes to prairie to mountains and the eastern woodlands.  We crossed the Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio and Kanawha rivers.For my birthday Sarah flew to Cincinnati, then we met in Beckley, WV.  We enjoyed a coal mine, and the New River Bridge.  To celebrate my 39th Birthday Denise and I bought our Senior Adult National Park passes.After a week at home, it was in the car again.  This time to take Sarah back to New Orleans.  We visited the Tuskegee Airmen along the way, a two hour diversion.  We visited Preservation Hall and heard some great music.  Then went to church in Gulfport, MS.A couple weeks later, it was in the car again.  This time to Pawley’s Island to visit my sister’s new condo.  We had a great experience visiting both the beach near her home and Bull’s Island.  We stepped over alligators and saw birds, turtles, frogs and butterflies.  We had a great time.The result … over 7,000 miles!  I traveled through 15 states.  The car worked great, and averaged 35.5 mpg.  We saw gas as low as $1.68.  So, what’s ahead?  Two trips to Knoxville, TN for Thanksgiving and an Ice Skating show … then who knows.And of course I will take Advent Journeys.  Yes, my new book: on Kindle and in print (and maybe for free if you win the drawing).  I invite you to go with me, for each day during our reading, I will put extras on this blog.  Sign up and follow for a reminder in your in-box.  We will have fun together in December as we take journeys together with Zechariah, Joseph, Mary, the Shepherds, the Magi, and some Chanukah journeys.

Interfaith on the Holidays

Chanukah or Christmas, Chanumas or Christikah … that is the question.  In the olden days our faith was often more consistent and predictable, but in today’s world many families are interfaith.  How does a family celebrate the holidays when one parent is a Christian and the other is Jewish?  Families could choose to avoid, but with all the seasonal displays for a family not to celebrate something is like the ostrich which places its head in the ground.As people we are created with  a desire to believe … something.  History teaches this: every culture which has ever existed has a faith component.  Absence of faith causes people to desire; weak faith causes people to look for something stronger.  In a world with radicalized faith options, it is important for parents to teach good faith in a strong way.  So, where should a family begin?The discussion about the holiday season should start with one statement: Jesus was Jewish.  Jesus would have celebrated Chanukah.  This statement tells us not to battle and invites us to do something a little different.  Christianity grew out of Judaism, and to bring these two traditions together accentuating the great stories of each with their identical moral base can create an environment of peace rather than battles.How does a family bring both holidays together?  The beginning point is to talk about what is important.  Both faith traditions should enjoy a presence in the month of december, and because there are differences each celebration can own a place of its own.  Unique elements of each season: the stories of Christmas and Chanukah should be told and retold all month.  The trim of the holidays such as the tree, the dreidels, latkes, candles and lights should co-exist and be enjoyed by all.To make plans for seasonal harmony take a look at the calendar.  Chanukah occurs at a different time every year.  The lighting of the menorah should occupy its rightful place, and can lead to a discussion on how we got our calendar … and the differences between a lunar cycle and a solar calendar.Christmas occupies December 24-25 each year.  Worship experiences on these days, as well as other special events should be honored in families.  Young children will enjoy the festivities.  As children grow they will ask questions.  Answering questions will bring growth for parents and learning to children.  Teenagers will begin to challenge each faith, and through the challenge the parent obtains the ability to show how the love and hope of each faith should bring people together rather than split them apart.How can this work, and how can a parent fill in some perceived gaps?  The new book Advent Journeys can serve as a guide.  This book not only shares the stories and traditions of both holidays; it also shares Jewish cultural backgrounds which are many times remain unseen as we read the New Testament.  As we see and understand the unique culture into which Jesus was born we can begin the discussion which will help us live together and celebrate both faith traditions.The Christian faith and the Jewish faith should fit together.  Across the centuries these two religions have drifted apart, forged individual identifications and set up battle zones.  And in so doing each group has obliterated the fact that Christianity was born out of Judaism.  Judaism contains the foundation and some important keys to really understanding the world and teachings of Jesus.

Is Advent Christian?

Recently two friends (from different churches) shared with me the saga of a man who is upset and visiting other churches because his church is promoting Advent.  It is the belief of this man that Advent is a highly liturgical invention of the Catholic Church.  He feels participation in Advent redirects people’s attention away from God and has the potential of destroying the faith.The feelings of this man show a lack of understanding about the true idea behind an Advent celebration.  Advent in its purest and simplest form is a period of waiting in anticipation for the beginning or advent of a future, expected, anticipated event.  Advent is a season of preparing our hearts to receive Christ.  One book says the secular world is more interested in spiritual things during December than at any other time of year.  Advent makes a difference!The dictionary defines Advent as the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.  synonyms include arrival, appearance, emergence, materialization, occurrence, dawn, birth, development; approach, and coming.  One illustration for this word given in the dictionary is a child awaiting the advent of the new school year.  Another definition which drives the current series of blogs is the world’s awaiting the advent of the Savior.  During Christmas we anticipate the coming of Christmas Day with it’s story and activities.Historically Advent was inspired by Lent, a season of prayer and fasting to encourage preparation for Good Friday and Easter.  In 380 AD the Council of Saragosa, Spain established a three week period before Epiphany for spiritual preparation.  The Council of Macion, France followed suit 200 years later.  The first Advent liturgies are attributed to Pope St. Gelasius I (d. 496).It should be noted that the early developments leading to Advent as we know it today were all spiritual.  These were based in prayer, scripture reading and self denial; not pagan practices, movies or commercial consumerism which fills the pre-Christmas period today.  Advent candles, Christmas Trees, stockings hung by the chimney with care, presents, holiday sales, Christmas parades, bowl games, and other trappings of the season are all late arrivals to the Advent season.Advent ideas seen in many calendars, or as shown on my website (under Advent 2015 tab) are designed to draw people closer to the real Christmas.  The book Advent Journeys was written to take the reader back to the first Christmas.  In the pages of this book a reader will discover the personalities, desires and efforts of the cast and characters of the Christmas story of the Bible.Advent is a season to discover God’s love … for God so loved the world He sent His only begotten Son into the world to bring forgiveness and salvation.  This is the Joy of the Christmas season.

Christmas on a Child’s Level

Christmas is a wonderful time of year.  We talk about Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.  We light candles, and in church we enjoy wonderful worship services.  Life is busy during December with events and parties and various celebrations.  We spend time in stores shopping for those we love, and for those we are obligated to buy for.  And we come home exhausted because of all our activities.But have you ever looked at the Advent season through the eyes of your child?  Hope and Peace are concepts which are  often too difficult for young children to grasp.  (Joy and Love can also be difficult depending on how they are presented.)  The more we are gone for events, the less time we spend with our children.  And we drag our children on shopping trips only the hear them whine because they want us to go to the toy department rather than understanding we must select just the right gifts for family members, friends, co-workers and others.The result of all this can be boredom, fatigue and hearing our children whine.Christmas must be better.  The season can be a foundation of learning and joy if we manage our time well.  But during December, that means we must plan our time ahead so it does not get ahead of us.  On my regular website called KosherCopy I have included free resources under the Advent 2015 tab to help parents plan.  I have developed and shared this plan for thirty years.  The plan has been used in my family with my children with great success.  If you will work with the plan and use it, it can change your family’s Christmas.I often tell parents the greatest gift you can give your children at Christmas, the gift of Love is spelled TIME.  Your children want undivided time with you more than anything else.  And in a season where time is limited, you must plan ahead in order to share this commodity in love.  Which is why I have put free resources for planning on my website. Development of an Advent plan for children begins with your personal calendar and the free resources  on my website.  Your calendar will show what obligations you have which can not be moved.  Under the headings:ADVENT WEEK ONE - ZECHARIAH THE PRIESTADVENT WEEK TWO - JOSEPH AND MARYADVENT WEEK THREE - THE SHEPHERDSADVENT WEEK FOUR - THE MAGI -  select an activity to place on your calendar to do as a gift for your children each day of December.  Each day - no exceptions.  You will notice that some activities require undivided time and attention to your children.  These are to be placed on days which are most open on your calendar … and reserved so nothing else can crowd in.  Other activities require only a few resources (which you must make available), and almost no time.  These are to be placed on busy days.  You will find that planning ahead for December, placing ideas on your calendar and having the resources available before Thanksgiving will buy you time and great Peace in December. (Yes, your children are quiet and better behaved when you keep them busy).The activities from the calendar should be developed according to your child’s age and interests.  Include activities and events in your community (concerts, readings for children at the library, etc….) in your community as part of the plan and your giving of time.  Then take and place these on a calendar for your children.  (I made paper chains: one link for each day with two scriptures and one promised activity.  We took the link off at breakfast each morning so my children could hold me to the promise.)  Day after day you will notice your children becoming more involved in the message (not the mess) of Christmas … learning the true meaning Christ wants us to learn in this, His season, which will bring great Hope to your children.  Hope, Peace, Joy and Love can be part of your Advent Journey with the investment of planning ahead and reserving a little time.  (the plan links to our book , Advent Journeys which can be read to children grade 3 and above)

Advent: A Family idea

Many years ago, when my children were very young, I read a book about Advent.  The author said during the Advent (Christmas) season people are more interested in spiritual things than any other time of the year.  The book gave many ideas for sharing Christmas with others.  In one chapter the book presented an idea that the best gift which could be given within families at Christmas was time.The author said that Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year with activities, parties, shopping and travel.  Often we rob our children of the quality time they need and deserve in order to accomplish the tasks which seem so urgent.  The book suggested one way to reposition our family into their proper place of importance is to plan activites for the family and place them on the calendar as appointments.I took the author’s suggestion, and created a calendar.  The first appointment I placed on the calendar was to eat either breakfast or dinner with my children every day. (Depending on school and church schedules this could vary … and was not easy to do.  But because I looked ahead and put this priority as an appointment, it did happen most days).  During our meal together we would read two short scriptures which were part of the Christmas story (I have a suggested calendar posted at http://www.koshercopy.com/ - look for the tab on the top bar which says “2015 Advent”).  I also placed on the calendar at least one activity per day which connected with the Christmas story.Sometimes (when I was busy) the activity would be something our children could do with very little guidance (color wrapping paper; design and color cards for grandparents).  Other times the activities were more involved.  We went on field trips, acted out parts of the story, and every week we took one evening for a family night.Family nights involved a dinner together.  Sometimes we tied these to the story, such as, during the week we highlighted the angel’s visit to the shepherds we built a fire in our fireplace and roasted hot dogs.  (I am sure the shepherds built a fire on cool nights - and because they had a fire, they must have roasted hot dogs and s’mores).  We also sang songs, told stories, and created skits in which we acted.  (My daughters like the skit where one of them was Joseph, the other was Mary, my wife was the Innkeeper, and I was the donkey.  Yes, Mary got to ride the donkey with Joseph leading).All of these activities created memories.  And these memories proved to be much more powerful than the gifts we gave on Christmas day.  The end result: Christmas is about Jesus.
I have placed on our website the pamphlet with activities.  These activities are linked with our new book Advent Journeys.  The Journey diaries of Zechariah, Joseph, the Shepherd, the Magi and the Maccabee can be understood by most children in third grade and above.  The scripture (Calendar) along with the journal and activities shared with family members can lead to a most memorable Christmas.  Plan ahead and give it a try … starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Advent & Christmas Celebrations

   Advent is a favorite time for our family.  Every year from the time my daughters were in Preschool the month of December became a very special time of year.  Christmas was planned into each day of the year, but not with gifts, but with a special activity.  We planned crafts, field trips, games, music, special foods, and more.  Every activity highlighted and added meaning to part of the story.  Taken together these activities brought our family closer to the true reason for Christmas.
   Our Advent idea began as a Sunday School class activity.  The project continued as an activity packet I shared with parents of preschoolers.  As my children grew, so did the idea with more and more complex activities.  When my daughters entered Middle School Advent packets took the shape of daily lunchtime stories and games which appeared in their lunch boxes.  The impact in their lives is worth sharing.
   I attempted to put the idea in a book, but it did not quite work that way.  But the idea is still good and can impact families with young children.  I am sharing the plan on our KosherCopy web page.  You can proceed from this page to look at our new book: Advent Journeys.  The best part is ... the plan is free, just take it and use it with your family (or share with friends).  If you put the plan into use, I can promise a fantastic Christmas.
   The Advent ideas and calendar on our KosherCopy website is linked to the book Advent Journeys, so they can be read and accomplished together.  The book Advent Journeys is readable to a 10 or 11 year old (on up).  Through daily reading adults and children will better understand events which took place over 2,000 years ago.
   Advent, it is a wonderful time of the year.  The Advent season starts the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  When the family participates in short daily readings and activities which go along with the scriptures, members of the family can not but help come away with a real connection to the true meaning of Christmas.
   And when you understand the true meaning of Christmas, it overpowers the trappings and gifts which have become part of a secular Christmas.  You do not have to do away with the gifts to have a true Christmas experience ... they are a fun part of the season ... All you have to do for a Great Christmas is to include Jesus in every part and every day.
   Take a look at our website this week.  And if you like the packet and calendar, please share with others.  And purchase our book this week, so you can read along to bring even greater enhancement to your Christmas.

Finding Jesus of the First Century

   I was destined to be different.  I could not help it, for you see I was born into a Jewish home.  And while Heinrich Heine said, "The Jews are like everybody else only more so," we all know this is not exactly true.  While I was raised in a home of faith I was always taught to question and examine the beliefs of my people in order to fully understand each concept.  In this way I learned my faith.   One point in my faith which escaped me was how to know 100% for sure that my name was written in the book of life.  I learned a process of seeking to be right with man and with God, but still, assurance was lacking.  Christian friends tried to tell me of how Jesus died for my sins, but I pushed them away ... until ... I read Psalm 22.  Within the words of this Psalm I saw Jesus on the cross in my scriptures.  Then I understood His sacrificial death and resurrection were the assurance of forgiveness and acceptance by God that I sought.
   At the age of 17 I condemned myself to really be different: I joined (and remained in) the Baptist church.  It should be fairly obvious that Reform Jews and Southern Baptists are both different.  And while on the surface I created an image to seem like a Southern Baptist, I continued to follow in the pattern developed in me since childhood: question and examine to fully understand each concept.   It is not that I lived two lives, I simply learned to fit into the culture of the people with whom I lived, whether Jewish or Baptist, or Floridian, or Midwestern, or Western or Southern.  Even when I go on mission assignments, I seek to relate to people according to their preferred style so as not to create barriers.  I listen a lot (in order to learn), and seek to communicate so people can understand.   In matters of faith I sought to put together the parts of my old faith and my new faith.  I learned from the people I was around, so I could share in a relevant way as a Baptist, and understand both Old and New Testament against the background of my Jewish heritage.  I met many people along the way who sought to break out of their faith by destroying all they had learned in order to come to something new.  I continued in my faith, never really finding a reason to destroy the faith because it worked for me.  Both Jewish and Baptist where they agree and disagree, I continued to question and examine and learn.   In the process of my learning I checked a book out of the library called the Mishnah.  This volume could be called a preservation of Jewish tradition from the times in which Jesus lived.  The book contains quotes of the Rabbis and detailed instructions for carrying out the rituals and traditions of the Jews.    I began to explore, for my faith is a twenty-first century faith, and their faith was a first century faith.  Some things from both parts of my faith practices I took for granted, like dreidels and latkes at Chanukah did not exist in the first century; neither did yarmulkes, or the hymns in the Baptist hymn book.  I saw in the pages of the Mishnah details I had never seen about the faith of Jesus.  I was fascinated.   Through reading about the practices of the Levites in the Temple and the Pharisees in the Synagogues I began to enter the world where Jesus lived.  Jesus was Jewish, and the foundation of the Christian faith.  To Him they were not different, but the same.  Jesus came to provide the path of salvation and to lead us to become closer to God.  The words of our New Testament had their origins in the first century faith of Jesus.  As I questioned and examined the words of the New Testament against the culture traditions in which Jesus lived they became even more real.   I write books to help people understand the world of the first century, and the faith of Jesus.  I want Jesus to become alive for people so they can share in the reality of His love.