David Simon's Blog, page 25
November 2, 2015
Advent Traditions
The Advent traditions of my family began almost thirty years ago in a young adult Sunday School class at University Baptist Church in Wichita, KS. Our study for December included four lessons: Zechariah, Joseph, Shepherds and Magi. In preparation for these lessons I picked up a book from our church library, the title of which I have long forgotten. The book said the Christmas season is a great time to teach on spiritual things because people were more attune because it was the time of Jesus' birth.
Members of the class I was teaching had young children, three of them born the same month as my oldest daughter, Chelsea. The lessons I prepared that year included not only the scripture but also ideas for teaching our children the Bible stories on a preschool level. I made a notebook for each member of the class (color coded by week). The ideas presented in the notebook I continued to use and improve each year.
As my daughters aged from preschool to young child to older elementary and then on into middle school I continued to develop the idea of Advent scripture and stories. I added activities according to their age. I picked up the idea of sharing finger plays from the Hutchinson, KS library. Those were included in a new Advent schedule.
I began to develop other activities in the schedule as my daughters reached five years of age and beyond. These included a weekly family time with dinner, songs, a skit and the story. One of the favorite stories was the trip of Joseph and Mary to find a room in Bethlehem. One of the girls was Joseph, the other Mary. I was the donkey (many people told me that was a good role for me) and Denise was the innkeeper.
When the children entered elementary school in Apex, NC, I added more activities. We prepared Christmas cards on the week the angels told the Shepherds of Jesus' birth. We drew wrapping paper in the week we told of the gifts brought by the Magi. We made care packages for our neighbors to minister to them. We also saw a sheep farm (or sheep at the zoo), and Christmas programs. Christmas grew to be a season we loved.
When my daughters entered Middle School, I stopped reading the story as much, because I wanted them to be more self disciplined. I put a story with their lunch each day, along with thought questions, activities we would do when they came home, and also with a game: word search, crossword, maze, or similar, which they could solve as they ate lunch. We still have a notebook of these pages.
The devotions came full circle as Sarah helped me write Advent Journeys , a Christmas devotional. We had fun, and talked about some of the activities of the past. I put out a pamphlet for others to enjoy for many years. I will be putting the same ideas on our website in the very near future (this week I hope) so others can enjoy celebrating Advent with their families.
To celebrate a fun Advent will bring families closer to the true meaning of the Christmas season. I have found these activities to be the perfect antidote for consumerism so prevalent at this time of year. Keep an eye out for the list ... and if you have other ideas, please share them.
Members of the class I was teaching had young children, three of them born the same month as my oldest daughter, Chelsea. The lessons I prepared that year included not only the scripture but also ideas for teaching our children the Bible stories on a preschool level. I made a notebook for each member of the class (color coded by week). The ideas presented in the notebook I continued to use and improve each year.
As my daughters aged from preschool to young child to older elementary and then on into middle school I continued to develop the idea of Advent scripture and stories. I added activities according to their age. I picked up the idea of sharing finger plays from the Hutchinson, KS library. Those were included in a new Advent schedule.
I began to develop other activities in the schedule as my daughters reached five years of age and beyond. These included a weekly family time with dinner, songs, a skit and the story. One of the favorite stories was the trip of Joseph and Mary to find a room in Bethlehem. One of the girls was Joseph, the other Mary. I was the donkey (many people told me that was a good role for me) and Denise was the innkeeper.
When the children entered elementary school in Apex, NC, I added more activities. We prepared Christmas cards on the week the angels told the Shepherds of Jesus' birth. We drew wrapping paper in the week we told of the gifts brought by the Magi. We made care packages for our neighbors to minister to them. We also saw a sheep farm (or sheep at the zoo), and Christmas programs. Christmas grew to be a season we loved.
When my daughters entered Middle School, I stopped reading the story as much, because I wanted them to be more self disciplined. I put a story with their lunch each day, along with thought questions, activities we would do when they came home, and also with a game: word search, crossword, maze, or similar, which they could solve as they ate lunch. We still have a notebook of these pages.
The devotions came full circle as Sarah helped me write Advent Journeys , a Christmas devotional. We had fun, and talked about some of the activities of the past. I put out a pamphlet for others to enjoy for many years. I will be putting the same ideas on our website in the very near future (this week I hope) so others can enjoy celebrating Advent with their families.
To celebrate a fun Advent will bring families closer to the true meaning of the Christmas season. I have found these activities to be the perfect antidote for consumerism so prevalent at this time of year. Keep an eye out for the list ... and if you have other ideas, please share them.
October 31, 2015
Book Ideas
I talk to many people who ask, "where do you get your ideas for books?"
The answer is fairly simple, from two sources: ideas come out of my heritage and also out of my curiosity. There could be some other areas from which I have drawn ideas, but those are the starting point thus far for my books (which I have written including Advent Journeys, Spring; Connecting with God, and A Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition.
My most recent book began with a family tradition: Advent. When my children were young, in order to teach them the faith (in a rather Jewish way) I came up with weekly themes, daily scripture readings and connected activities (soon to be listed at our website) which would be fun and hold interest from day to day. Such as on Shepherds week we read Luke 2 and send Christmas cards announcing the birth of Jesus ... just as the angels announced Christ's birth long ago.
My family followed this tradition (changing as my daughters grew older) for more than twenty-five years. I put this tradition in writing as pamphlets for others, but when I decided to put it in book form, it did not seem to be interesting enough. So I asked myself, what would make it interesting enough: And Advent Journeys was born.
With this idea I could have written the standard Biblical exegesis book and described the Bible passages in my own words, related how the birth of Jesus tied into Old Testament prophecy, or told about theology or tradition ... but my curiosity led me another way. I thought "I wonder what the trip was like from Nazareth to Bethlehem." Simple question, or so I thought!
There are three or four roads from Nazareth to Bethlehem. People most often describe the road from Nazareth trough Jezreel Valley down the Jordan River and up the wadi of the Good Samaritan to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Many travelers took that road, especially Pharisees who wanted to avoid contact with the Samaritans. But this road is longer and more difficult than the other two.
An easier route is south through Megeddo Pass to the via maris then up the Beit Horon pass to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. This route is much easier than the road through the Jordan Valley, also avoids contact with the Samaritans, and is almost never in consideration as the road Joseph and Mary traveled. This road is also longer than the third option:
I feel Joseph and Mary traveled almost due south, between the two other routes on the shortest route possible. I found this route on the internet listed today as Israel route 60, in one place listed as the Joseph and Mary Highway. I feel this route is most likely because as an adult Jesus still traveled this road on the way home (as evidenced in John 4). So I followed this highway.
The first problem of the route today is that it journeys through the West Bank, an area which is described as risky. The second problem is some parts of route 60 are worse than risky and have been bulldozed in order to contain violent areas. In spite of difficulties my curiosity told me to travel the route and see what the road was like.
Fortunately I was able to travel the route without getting shot at or putting my life in danger through the internet. Google Maps, Facebook pages, Wikipedia information and other sources were consulted, along with books and 19th century journals (when the land was safer) to learn about the route. And it was interesting. Thus came into being week 2 of my latest book Advent Journeys.
The answer is fairly simple, from two sources: ideas come out of my heritage and also out of my curiosity. There could be some other areas from which I have drawn ideas, but those are the starting point thus far for my books (which I have written including Advent Journeys, Spring; Connecting with God, and A Christian Passover in the Jewish Tradition.
My most recent book began with a family tradition: Advent. When my children were young, in order to teach them the faith (in a rather Jewish way) I came up with weekly themes, daily scripture readings and connected activities (soon to be listed at our website) which would be fun and hold interest from day to day. Such as on Shepherds week we read Luke 2 and send Christmas cards announcing the birth of Jesus ... just as the angels announced Christ's birth long ago.
My family followed this tradition (changing as my daughters grew older) for more than twenty-five years. I put this tradition in writing as pamphlets for others, but when I decided to put it in book form, it did not seem to be interesting enough. So I asked myself, what would make it interesting enough: And Advent Journeys was born.
With this idea I could have written the standard Biblical exegesis book and described the Bible passages in my own words, related how the birth of Jesus tied into Old Testament prophecy, or told about theology or tradition ... but my curiosity led me another way. I thought "I wonder what the trip was like from Nazareth to Bethlehem." Simple question, or so I thought!
There are three or four roads from Nazareth to Bethlehem. People most often describe the road from Nazareth trough Jezreel Valley down the Jordan River and up the wadi of the Good Samaritan to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Many travelers took that road, especially Pharisees who wanted to avoid contact with the Samaritans. But this road is longer and more difficult than the other two.
An easier route is south through Megeddo Pass to the via maris then up the Beit Horon pass to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. This route is much easier than the road through the Jordan Valley, also avoids contact with the Samaritans, and is almost never in consideration as the road Joseph and Mary traveled. This road is also longer than the third option:
I feel Joseph and Mary traveled almost due south, between the two other routes on the shortest route possible. I found this route on the internet listed today as Israel route 60, in one place listed as the Joseph and Mary Highway. I feel this route is most likely because as an adult Jesus still traveled this road on the way home (as evidenced in John 4). So I followed this highway.
The first problem of the route today is that it journeys through the West Bank, an area which is described as risky. The second problem is some parts of route 60 are worse than risky and have been bulldozed in order to contain violent areas. In spite of difficulties my curiosity told me to travel the route and see what the road was like.
Fortunately I was able to travel the route without getting shot at or putting my life in danger through the internet. Google Maps, Facebook pages, Wikipedia information and other sources were consulted, along with books and 19th century journals (when the land was safer) to learn about the route. And it was interesting. Thus came into being week 2 of my latest book Advent Journeys.
October 29, 2015
OY! no matter how much you try to get it rig...
OY! no matter how much you try to get it right ... a totally correct manuscript is only an illusion or a pipe dream. An error free book is an impossibility. But it is a goal worth attempting.
In it's first creation Advent Journeys was submitted as a book. But when the proof arrived, there were several problems. The cover was too busy, the font was too small, and of course there were a few things forgotten. We took the option to re-submit.
And the book was better. With the increase of font each section extended a partial extra page. At first I worried about too much blank space. Then I decided to insert photographs. And I think the photographs add to the final project. The pictures taken in Israel add to each section giving more substance through the image. And a picture is worth a thousand words... so they say.
I resubmitted the book, which was much better. The book is now available for purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Advent-Journeys...
In it's second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh creation the book became electronic. And yes, there were multiple submissions because no matter how many times I submitted the manuscript I always found an error. First there were the pictures I added. Two of the pictures displayed a big red error message. I took them out and re-inserted them. Results were the same. Big red error messages. Then I re-created them. It did not help.
I contacted Kindle, and they told me what to do, and it worked. The picture size was too big. When I formatted the picture according to instructions, the file worked.
But in the suggestion, Kindle also told me how to get a couple other images to look better. With the broken images corrected, I went in to improve the existing images (maps). It worked.
The good thing about pictures is they contain no spelling or grammar errors. I long ago gave up on those. I thank the proof-readers of the book. There were at least four of them. One of them says the book is perfect. But I know it is not. Even books distributed by big name publishing houses with highly paid proof readers contain spelling, grammar and formatting errors. I took an extra look, and the kindle preview looked good.
I thought everything was fine, and submitted the book. Two days later I proudly looked inside on the Kindle display page: OY! Horrors! In setting up the table of contents (linked) I wrote Advent One, Advent Two, Advent Three, Advent 4, Advent 5. It was right there glaring at me. I said Oh no! And then I think I heard it laugh. "gotch ya!"
I put up the "final" document, but then again I saw some things out of place. I worked to improve the book. And with only a few quirks, it did look better. One more attempt. The book is up. http://www.amazon.com/Advent-Journeys...
Please, take a look at the book. Let me know what you see. Self-published, I can still correct it. But I hope all I hear is how much you enjoyed the book. You can order the print format now ... but you might wait until Saturday for the Kindle version: a surprise is coming!
In it's first creation Advent Journeys was submitted as a book. But when the proof arrived, there were several problems. The cover was too busy, the font was too small, and of course there were a few things forgotten. We took the option to re-submit.
And the book was better. With the increase of font each section extended a partial extra page. At first I worried about too much blank space. Then I decided to insert photographs. And I think the photographs add to the final project. The pictures taken in Israel add to each section giving more substance through the image. And a picture is worth a thousand words... so they say.
I resubmitted the book, which was much better. The book is now available for purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Advent-Journeys...
In it's second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh creation the book became electronic. And yes, there were multiple submissions because no matter how many times I submitted the manuscript I always found an error. First there were the pictures I added. Two of the pictures displayed a big red error message. I took them out and re-inserted them. Results were the same. Big red error messages. Then I re-created them. It did not help.
I contacted Kindle, and they told me what to do, and it worked. The picture size was too big. When I formatted the picture according to instructions, the file worked.
But in the suggestion, Kindle also told me how to get a couple other images to look better. With the broken images corrected, I went in to improve the existing images (maps). It worked.
The good thing about pictures is they contain no spelling or grammar errors. I long ago gave up on those. I thank the proof-readers of the book. There were at least four of them. One of them says the book is perfect. But I know it is not. Even books distributed by big name publishing houses with highly paid proof readers contain spelling, grammar and formatting errors. I took an extra look, and the kindle preview looked good.
I thought everything was fine, and submitted the book. Two days later I proudly looked inside on the Kindle display page: OY! Horrors! In setting up the table of contents (linked) I wrote Advent One, Advent Two, Advent Three, Advent 4, Advent 5. It was right there glaring at me. I said Oh no! And then I think I heard it laugh. "gotch ya!"
I put up the "final" document, but then again I saw some things out of place. I worked to improve the book. And with only a few quirks, it did look better. One more attempt. The book is up. http://www.amazon.com/Advent-Journeys...
Please, take a look at the book. Let me know what you see. Self-published, I can still correct it. But I hope all I hear is how much you enjoyed the book. You can order the print format now ... but you might wait until Saturday for the Kindle version: a surprise is coming!
October 27, 2015
New Book Release
Advent Journeys, our new book is out!
This book will take you places you have never been before!
Through this book you will join Zechariah (husband of Elizabeth and father of John the Baptist) as he serves in the Temple; you will join Joseph and Mary as they travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem; you will spend seven nights with the Shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem; and you will travel with the Magi from their observatory to Bethlehem. And there is more: for interfaith families (and others who are interested) we share the journal of a Maccabee.
Are you interested? Take a look at the listing on CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/5669825
Also on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Advent-Journeys...
The book will be coming soon on Kindle.
This is a great idea for a Christmas gift ... or even better, a Thanksgiving gift so people can join the Journey each day of Advent.
This book will take you places you have never been before!
Through this book you will join Zechariah (husband of Elizabeth and father of John the Baptist) as he serves in the Temple; you will join Joseph and Mary as they travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem; you will spend seven nights with the Shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem; and you will travel with the Magi from their observatory to Bethlehem. And there is more: for interfaith families (and others who are interested) we share the journal of a Maccabee.
Are you interested? Take a look at the listing on CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/5669825
Also on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Advent-Journeys...
The book will be coming soon on Kindle.
This is a great idea for a Christmas gift ... or even better, a Thanksgiving gift so people can join the Journey each day of Advent.
October 24, 2015
A Dyslexic Author
The fact that I can proof my own book (sɘɘ yɘsterday’s blog - I am awaiting a proof copy of my new book Advent Journeys) is an amazing thing, for I am dyslɘxic and ɘxcept for early intervɘntion just rɘading (not to mention writing) would bɘ with great difficulty I “was” backwards so my reading “saw” incorrect. What I “was” “saw” always a great problem. OOPS! did it again. I always had problems when a word appeared with those three letters: “asw” and read the word I “was” incorrectly 100% of the time. And sometimes what I “was” could not be detected correctly by context. This “saw” always a problem.I “bah” problems with other words also, and sometimes with the letters “d” and “b”. How do you know which way they are pointing when your eyes won’t tell you. I like the word “ɘyɘ” because there is no way to see it backwards.I knɘw I “bah” qrodlɘms dɘcausɘ by thirb gradɘ I spent more tiɘm in the princiqal’s officɘ than in the classroom. By fourth grade my parents “bah” mɘ in a spɘcial school. I learned to typɘ in the spɘcial school (thɘy colored the kɘys by where my fingers should hit) in ordɘr to sloooowwww down my rɘading to hɘlq me see lettɘrs in thɘir proqɘr order. I attɘnded the spɘcial school for tow yɘars, and it hɘlqed immɘnsely. I began to see words properly, and slowly began to rɘad. What I “saw” “was” corrɘct.By sixth gradɘ I “was” enrolled in rɘgular classes. But was vɘry bɘhind in English. I learned the diffɘrence betwɘen nouns and vɘrbs. I coulb genɘrally idɘntify advɘrbs and pronouns. But to this day I do not know which participlɘs are hanging and which arɘ sitting or standing.Which rɘally doɘs not matter, bɘcause I have friɘnds with grɘat patiencɘ who proof-rɘad most of what I right in ordɘr to hɘlp me gɘt words writɘ. The main point of all this is, when I was young people laughed at me, so I learned to laugh at myself, and have fun. I have tried to includɘ this fun in my latest book: Advɘnt Journeys.
October 22, 2015
A New Book: almost done!
A finished project is always a good feeling, and my latest book is almost done. Today it has been uploaded for proofing … and if successful, I hope will be available the first week of November.What is it you ask? The title of the book is Advent Journeys. The book is what the title indicates, it is an advent reader which will take you on journeys. The book is a collection of journals from Zachariah (father of John the Baptist), Joseph (husband of Mary and father of Jesus), a shepherd, a magi, and a Maccabee. The reader will travel with these individuals as they intersect with the Christmas story.Each journal is short (for easy reading, 400 words) and seven days long, which gives each week a theme. Week 1 we will visit the Temple as Zechariah serves and is told by the Angel his wife will have a son. At the start of week two Joseph receives a tax notice, and we will walk with Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Week three will be spent watching sheep outside Bethlehem. During week four we will cover a huge distance from Mount Alvand, Iran to Bethlehem. With added scripture and thought provoking questions I hope the reading will add a fuller dimension and more joy to the Christmas. During the fifth week we will travel with Joseph and Mary to Egypt. The readings during the fifth week will help the reader look forward to the new year. A sixth week of eight days is added to the book for interfaith families, or for those who desire to know more about how Chanukah was viewed in the time of Jesus.Why did I write a book? For several reasons: First: Advent has a lot of meaning for our family. We read scripture and books, planned activities, ate special foods, and went on trips to enhance the meaning of Christmas. Second: After going to Israel I wondered what the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem was like, so I followed Israel Route 60 on Google Earth, and then visited the places on facebook and other sites, and discovered a road rich in Bible history. I was hooked, and followed others in the Christmas story. Third: as I shared what I had written with Scribblers (a Mooresville writing group), they liked it so much, I put it in a book.The book will be out in early November (I hope), and I hope you will order a copy and join the people in the Christmas story as they journey on that first Christmas.
June 26, 2015
Constitutional Marriage
The Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples can marry nationwide,, but should they? Our courts rendered a religious ruling on marriage, breaching the wall called Separation of Church and State. The definition for the word "marriage" was set over 4,000 years ago... “Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man.’ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:22-24), This verse defined marriage as between a man a woman thousands of years before the constitution was written.To declare otherwise is hypocrisy for those who believe in a wall of separation between Church and State. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state_in_the_United_States>, for marriage is a well defined religious term. Since the beginning the state has chosen to recognize and affirm marriage (Jewish, Christian, Islamic, etc.) as good for the nation. Our founders and lawmakers confirmed marriage as an act of faith by the sanctioning of ministers to perform marriages. The state recognized some would wish to affirm this religious principle outside the church, allowing magistrates, ship captains, and others to perform this rite.Marriage promotes stability for the family and protection of children who are born to a man and a woman. Marriage is not about liberty or a selfish pursuit of happiness (14th amendment), it is about surrendering our rights for the benefit of others.Egocentric self interest has allowed the ideal concept of marriage to be watered down. Divorce has been allowed for those who lose interest in their spouse; has allowed couples to split in order to avoid hardship; and is used to circumvent the need of each individual in the home to change for the betterment of others. In recent times we have become more interested in tax privileges, insurance benefits and property inheritance than in shaping of character.The state should use the term “Civil Union” when the government desires to give (or take) rights to those who cohabit together. For the state to have its own term could be tremendously freeing. As rights and privileges are given to same-sex couples (or to those of other orientations), religious discussion becomes secondary. Those who have objection to religion (atheists, agnostics, etc) will find it easier to fit into state regulations.The decision of the court on June 26 was written in total disregard to the first amendment, which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties. - "Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists - The Final Letter, as Sent on January 1, 1802". Library of Congress. Retrieved13 February 2014.
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties. - "Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists - The Final Letter, as Sent on January 1, 1802". Library of Congress. Retrieved13 February 2014.
May 13, 2015
Forty Days
Today is forty days, which is five weeks and five days of the Omer.
Forty is a significant number. In the days of Noah it rained for forty days and forty nights. Moses was on Mount Sinai forty days and nights; twice. The twelve spies sent by Moses explored the Promised Land for forty days and nights. Goliath tested the army of Israel for forty days. Elijah traveled forty days in order to reach Mt. Horeb. Jonah warned Nineveh their city would be destroyed in forty days unless they repented.
Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days and then he was tested by Satan.
And so it was that Jesus walked the earth for forty days following his resurrection. That is forty days while the Jews counted the omer.
What is an omer you might ask ... it is a measure for grain. And because it is a measure, its meaning can also be applied to a measure of days. According to Exodus 16, it was the measure for manna. In Leviticus 23:16 God tells the Hebrews to count count fifty days from Passover to Shavuot. These same fifty days are traditionally the number of days it took Israel to travel from Egypt to Mt. Sinai, where Moses ascended to receive the law. Fifty is the number of days from the resurrection to the giving of the Holy Spirit.
So, what about forty? It is the number of days from the time Israel left Egypt until they camped at the foot of Mt. Sinai. It is also the number of days from the resurrection until Jesus ascended into heaven. The nation of Israel, and the twelve disciples (times ten) waited ten more days to receive God's promise.
Forty is a significant number. In the days of Noah it rained for forty days and forty nights. Moses was on Mount Sinai forty days and nights; twice. The twelve spies sent by Moses explored the Promised Land for forty days and nights. Goliath tested the army of Israel for forty days. Elijah traveled forty days in order to reach Mt. Horeb. Jonah warned Nineveh their city would be destroyed in forty days unless they repented.
Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days and then he was tested by Satan.
And so it was that Jesus walked the earth for forty days following his resurrection. That is forty days while the Jews counted the omer.
What is an omer you might ask ... it is a measure for grain. And because it is a measure, its meaning can also be applied to a measure of days. According to Exodus 16, it was the measure for manna. In Leviticus 23:16 God tells the Hebrews to count count fifty days from Passover to Shavuot. These same fifty days are traditionally the number of days it took Israel to travel from Egypt to Mt. Sinai, where Moses ascended to receive the law. Fifty is the number of days from the resurrection to the giving of the Holy Spirit.
So, what about forty? It is the number of days from the time Israel left Egypt until they camped at the foot of Mt. Sinai. It is also the number of days from the resurrection until Jesus ascended into heaven. The nation of Israel, and the twelve disciples (times ten) waited ten more days to receive God's promise.
April 11, 2015
Exodus: Out of Slavery
This week I have been traveling with my daughters. Along the way we visited Tuskegee University, the Historical Museum in Montgomery, drove along US 80 from Montgomery to Selma, and walked across the bridge. At the University we saw the stained glass window at the Chapel which highlights spirituals sung by slaves. In Selma, we also saw pictures: both contained scenes from Egypt.
>see pictures on Facebook, type in the link "KosherCopy"
The Passover story has meaning in every generation. It is so full of meaning the Jewish people have been telling the story, celebrating our freedom, and incorporating concern for others through 3,500 years. The African American also celebrates this story, as well as their own freedom. And we need to look today at those who still need freedom, for the story is meant to teach us compassion.
One celebrated verse in the book of Exodus says, "Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me." (Ex 9:1) Enslaved people need a God who will give them boldness and the way to ask for freedom.
God tells us, "Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt." (Ex 22:21) We are to take this teaching and apply it to our world today. What of children of aliens born in this country? This seems to be a political hotbed. The Bible would teach us not only to care for the children born in this country; but also their parents (yes, some are illegal), who have come to make a better life for themselves. We are to care for them and help them. We live in a land of immigrants. (We saw at the History Museum how white men displaced the Indians illegally).
We, as parents set the example for our children. We are to "On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt." Ex 13:8. Certainly we are to take the teachings of Passover and put them to use, so all will be able to hear the Gospel, and live in the land.
>see pictures on Facebook, type in the link "KosherCopy"
The Passover story has meaning in every generation. It is so full of meaning the Jewish people have been telling the story, celebrating our freedom, and incorporating concern for others through 3,500 years. The African American also celebrates this story, as well as their own freedom. And we need to look today at those who still need freedom, for the story is meant to teach us compassion.
One celebrated verse in the book of Exodus says, "Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me." (Ex 9:1) Enslaved people need a God who will give them boldness and the way to ask for freedom.
God tells us, "Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt." (Ex 22:21) We are to take this teaching and apply it to our world today. What of children of aliens born in this country? This seems to be a political hotbed. The Bible would teach us not only to care for the children born in this country; but also their parents (yes, some are illegal), who have come to make a better life for themselves. We are to care for them and help them. We live in a land of immigrants. (We saw at the History Museum how white men displaced the Indians illegally).
We, as parents set the example for our children. We are to "On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt." Ex 13:8. Certainly we are to take the teachings of Passover and put them to use, so all will be able to hear the Gospel, and live in the land.
April 8, 2015
Exodus: Ben Finkelstein
His hometown might have been Stanislwow, but his heart was on bigger things. Although Stanislwow was called home by a large Jewish population, Ben Finkelstein saw no future there. He wanted larger things. He learned the garment industry from his father, Joseph, and his mother, Rifka, for clothing manufacture was the prevailing industry of this community. In the past Stanislwow had a thriving economy. It had been on one of the main trade routes running from the Ukraine into Austria and Europe. However, changing politics of this region pushed the flow of commerce elsewhere, and in Ben Finkelstein’s time, other than clothing manufacture, and a pitiful agricultural yield the economy of Stanislwow, and the region called Galicia was poor at best. Galicia, perhaps because of its beauty, drew people. There were more people per acre here than in most places in the world. The region boasted a great Jewish population, and was the home of Hasidism. However, for Ben Finkelstein, the glitz and the glamour lay elsewhere; further east, in the region currently controlling Galicia: Austria. As a young man Ben felt the call of the city, and he left his family to create his life and to make his fortune in Vienna, the capital of Austria. He left behind the world he grew up in, his family, and the family trade in the garment industry to create something new for himself. He found work driving a taxi. He found life in the theater and the thriving culture of urban Vienna. My mother tells how he made friends with the Emperor’s son, Franz Ferdinand, who took the taxi whenever he went on a tryst to see his mistress lover in a distant quarter of Vienna from the palace. The friendship was not immediate, but Archduke Franz Ferdinand found my grandfather was a calm spirit who could be trusted. My grandfather became the Archduke’s regular transportation for his secret affair. Ben loved the culture of Vienna. He found many new friends. He enjoyed the theater, dancing, and concerts. But as in his homeland of Galicia, the politics of Europe were changing. In 1914, crown prince Franz Joseph was assassinated by a Bosnian dissident. This event would throw Europe into a world war. Ben Finkelstein knew this killing would also bring a wave of antisemitism across the region. Ben could have escaped the turmoil of the Hapsburg Empire by going home … but the Ukrainians were also gearing up for war, and would have quickly inducted a young man in his 20’s into the army. Ben Finkelstein said, “I don’t hate anyone;” and headed for Bremen, Germany. He boarded a ship, the Breslau, and headed for the United States of America. Ben Finkelstein had an acquaintance who my Grandfather said would receive him when he entered the country. Be followed in this man’s footsteps, entering the United States at the port of Baltimore, and quickly moving to Columbus, Ohio. Once in Ohio, he found work in his family trade, as a presser in the garment industry. He of course found the Yiddish Theater, and a young lady who captured his eye. His Exodus from poverty and antisemitism was complete.
