I am selfish. How can I change? Selfishness comes from the desire to survive, blown way out of shape. So how can one who is selfish change? I would think the only answers are through prayer and practice: pray for heart-change and act out not to be selfish by giving, until not being selfish becomes a habit.
I have also asked myself why I want to be holy before G-d. Is it for me, so that I will be able to look you in the face and unflinchingly tell you, "I am holy!" The thought is ludicrous, yet I know that in my past, there were people who did this, and it didn't bother them at all. In fact it didn't bother any of us who heard them, until after I had left there. Now, it seems so foreign to me. Certainly as I gain holiness, I will gain humility? Then, would it even cross my mind to tell you, "I am holy now"? Somehow, it just doesn't seem to connect.
I found the following Scripture to be very descriptive of sanctification:
◌ James 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
1:24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
1:25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Since I looked at the elements of holy living, I thought it necessary to also look at the elements of the unholy life. First, I shall look at the Ten Words, which tell us, succinctly, how to live. The Ten Words give us the basics:
From Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5
◌ 1. I AM the L-RD who brought you out of Egypt.
If we have been born again, we have been, each one, delivered from our personal Egypt. We can say this right along with the rest of Israel!
◌ 2. Have no other gods
Nothing should take the place reserved for G-d and G-d alone, so that time, those finances, that worship, that charity, etc. should never go to any place other than to that He desires.
◌ 3. Don't take My Name in vain
Some believe that this is only in speech. I don't. According to the readings in Torah, which explain the Ten Words, it is how we act, how we respond, how we think (which leads to our actions) as believers. Taking His Name in vain is also attributing to G-d the things He did not do. It can also be making religious claims for which He is not responsible.
◌ 4. Remember Sabbath
Keeping it holy, set apart, special, making it a delight; worshiping alone and together as a community, and yes, studying to show ourselves approved.
◌ 5. Honor your parents
G-d blessed me with parents who let me live to see the day I would come to know Him, would have my own precious children, and would have my own precious grandchildren. On top of that, I get to have a whole eternity to enjoy!! Do I deserve more? What more can I ask? G-d is good!
(A little off-topic, but I have come across people who believe that both G-d and life owe them much more. I have heard them say (Have I also said it?), "I deserve more" or "I deserve better!" Never ask for what you deserve -- you would not want that! Life (or simply common sense?) has taught me that such persons have not yet learned to be thankful.)
◌ 6. Do not murder
Well, I can happily write that I haven't murdered anyone lately! Have I?
James 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
3:5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
"Their tongue is a deadly arrow; It speaks deceit; With his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor, But inwardly he sets an ambush for him" [Jeremiah 9:8].
◌ 7. Do not commit adultery
Well, haven't done that, either. Have I? Not even, as Jimmy Carter made famous, in my heart?
◌ 8. Do not steal
Is this Word only about kidnapping as has been taught? And shall we say, "Well, the IRS is different." Or shall we say that the cashier gave us the extra change, so it's her fault; he'll learn by it; it's not my problem. What about library books, bank pens we took accidentally and have not returned, personal copies on the machine at work, the hammer I "borrowed' from work.
◌ 9. Do not bear false witness
Most of us don't have that much opportunity to witness in court, but this goes much further. What about at work, when we are called to make an honest assessment about an issue, an employee, or an employer? Anything untrue that is said, written, or insinuated of anyone or any entity is also false witness.
◌ 10. Do not covet
And the final Word covers it all, because it appears that all the other nine come from covetousness: (1) not recognizing G-d's place; (2) putting other things/people in the place only G-d should occupy in our lives; (3) misusing His name for vain purposes; (4) not setting apart the one day out of seven for Him; (5) demanding more than G-d, by His unique and personal design for you, gave you; (6) murdering with the lips for our personal jollies; (7) adultery with the eyes and thoughts because we have objectified someone for whom Yeshua died!; (8) theft is obviously nearly 100% from covetousness; (9) false witness is almost invariably a selfish act
Sunday, January 31, 2010
You Shall Not Steal
Telushkin tells the story of a 19th-century rabbi who asked different ones what they would do if they found a wallet with a lot of cash inside. One man answered, "I'd return it to the owner immediately." Another said, "I'd keep it. When else will I have an opportunity to get money so easily?" A third answered, "How can I be certain what I'd do? I know that I must return it, but how can I be sure that I would? I pray to G-d that I would have the strength to overcome my evil inclination and return it."
While I think all three were being honest in their answers, the rabbi was only pleased with the final answer. It was, indeed, a good and honest answer -- the answer of one who had searched her/his own heart! And who is to know what one might do in a case of extreme poverty?
However, as a believer in Yeshua, if this person were also a believer in Yeshua, I would find the answer very disturbing. For this reason, I wanted to skip this part here. Why bother, I reasoned: this is so elementary that I don't think it would be of any use here. But is it elementary? Really?
Some time back, my husband found a large business "wallet," like a large zippered binder, at a gas station, when he pulled up to fill the van's tank. He picked it up, and it was full of catalogued credit cards of all sorts as well as hundreds of dollars in cash. He called the person whose name was in the case, leaving a message on the answering machine. They called after he got home, and my husband went directly to the man's home to return it.
The man was so grateful, of course. He wanted to reward my husband, but he said no. The man asked, then, if my husband had a favorite charity where he could send a reward. My husband chose one where I work, and a couple or three weeks later, a check came in the mail.
. . . Two men, both evidencing integrity in this situation.
Honestly, however, I would expect nothing less of my husband. Why would he even question what he would do? Of course, he would return the wallet with everything as he had found it. This is the life touched by Yeshua: He makes the difference.
The Bible is clear: "You shall not steal" [Exodus 20:15, Deuteronomy 5:19] Many other Scriptures stress this concept, stressing the importance of respecting one's own possessions/property and more so, that of others'.
The Pirkei Avot says:
"Let your friend's money be more dear to you than our own." (2:17) It also says that if one puts one's hand out to take an item unto themselves, that one must be very aware of the grave responsibility that one is taking before HaShem!
While I think all three were being honest in their answers, the rabbi was only pleased with the final answer. It was, indeed, a good and honest answer -- the answer of one who had searched her/his own heart! And who is to know what one might do in a case of extreme poverty?
However, as a believer in Yeshua, if this person were also a believer in Yeshua, I would find the answer very disturbing. For this reason, I wanted to skip this part here. Why bother, I reasoned: this is so elementary that I don't think it would be of any use here. But is it elementary? Really?
Some time back, my husband found a large business "wallet," like a large zippered binder, at a gas station, when he pulled up to fill the van's tank. He picked it up, and it was full of catalogued credit cards of all sorts as well as hundreds of dollars in cash. He called the person whose name was in the case, leaving a message on the answering machine. They called after he got home, and my husband went directly to the man's home to return it.
The man was so grateful, of course. He wanted to reward my husband, but he said no. The man asked, then, if my husband had a favorite charity where he could send a reward. My husband chose one where I work, and a couple or three weeks later, a check came in the mail.
. . . Two men, both evidencing integrity in this situation.
Honestly, however, I would expect nothing less of my husband. Why would he even question what he would do? Of course, he would return the wallet with everything as he had found it. This is the life touched by Yeshua: He makes the difference.
The Bible is clear: "You shall not steal" [Exodus 20:15, Deuteronomy 5:19] Many other Scriptures stress this concept, stressing the importance of respecting one's own possessions/property and more so, that of others'.
The Pirkei Avot says:
"Let your friend's money be more dear to you than our own." (2:17) It also says that if one puts one's hand out to take an item unto themselves, that one must be very aware of the grave responsibility that one is taking before HaShem!
Fruit Inspection
◌ The fruit of the H Spirit:
The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth proving what is acceptable unto Adonai (Ephesians 5:9 - 10)
The fruits * of the Spirit are * (see note below)
love
joy
peace
patience
gentleness (kindness)
goodness
faith(faithfulness)
meekness
self-control (Galatians 5:22)
Some Scriptures to consider:
walk in love (Ephesians 5:2)
There is no fear in love [of G-d] (1 John 4:18)
righteousness is sown in peace (James 3:18)
peaceable fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11)
Be thankful (Colossians 3:15)
[rather than sin] giving of thanks (Ephesians 5:4)
meekness of wisdom (James 3:13)
made free from sin . . . fruit of holiness (Romans 6:22)
I noticed in my studies last night the fruit of the Spirit is basically nouns and that Leviticus 17:10 - 20:27 tells how to live them out, making them action-verbs.
The L-rd sanctifies us (sets us apart), but he also commands us to sanctify ourselves (set ourselves apart).
He Sanctifies Us:
Exodus 31:13 through the sign of the Sabbath
Leviticus 20:9 through keeping His Torah
Ezekiel 20:12 Sabbath as a gift of knowledge
John 17:17 through truth -- His word
Ephesians 5:26 through His word
1 Thessalonians 5:23 the G-d of peace sanctifies us wholly
Hebrews 13:12 by the shed blood of Yeshua
We Are Commanded to Sanctify Ourselves:
Leviticus 11:44 by what we eat
Leviticus 20:7 by worshiping G-d alone
2 Chronicles 35:6 obedience
John 17:17 through His word
1 Peter 3:15 sanctify G-d in our hearts
James 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and {all} that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for {once} he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the {law} of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his {own} heart, this man's religion is worthless.
27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of {our} God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, {and} to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Other Scriptures to aid in biblical ethics/sanctification:
The book of James
The Beatitudes
The Sermon on the Mount
The Ten Words and their Commentaries
But the bottom line is: "Love your neighbor as yourself. I AM the L-rd." -- The Royal Torah! Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31-33; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 28
* Where I used to attend, they strongly taught that it was the "fruit," not "fruits," of the H Spirit. Indeed, that is the way it is translated into English. But their purpose was to say that a believer has, at all times, the full strength of every part displayed at all times in their life: always walking in full love, always joyful, always peaceful, always patient (yet they spoke of being fearful of praying for patience!), always gentle (kindness), always displaying goodness, always walking in faith (but again, they feared praying for patience), always meek, always having self-control.
But what they did not realize is that the Greek word for Fruit is like the English word, fruit: it can intend a single fruit, more than one of a single kind of fruit, or different kinds of fruit.
For example, both of these examples in English are correct:
1. Question "What kind if fruit is in that salad?" Answer: "Apple."
2. Question "What kind if fruit is in that salad?" Answer: "Apples, grapes, bananas, papaya, and pineapple."
The same sentences, in Greek, would be correct.
The premise I was taught was that if one fruit was depleted at anytime, then none of the fruit was present at all, because it is one fruit. No. Sometimes, one may be quite depleted (as through a one's own or a loved one's illness, through stress, through want, etc.). This does not at all mean, then, that the H Spirit has left the person as I had been taught -- not at all.
Our admitted weaknesses are the very places where the light of G-d's holiness and salvation shine through: through my admitted weakness, He is made strong, because any successes I have are obviously His!
Salvation is through the Redeemer alone! Salvation cannot be "worked up."
The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth proving what is acceptable unto Adonai (Ephesians 5:9 - 10)
The fruits * of the Spirit are * (see note below)
love
joy
peace
patience
gentleness (kindness)
goodness
faith(faithfulness)
meekness
self-control (Galatians 5:22)
Some Scriptures to consider:
walk in love (Ephesians 5:2)
There is no fear in love [of G-d] (1 John 4:18)
righteousness is sown in peace (James 3:18)
peaceable fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11)
Be thankful (Colossians 3:15)
[rather than sin] giving of thanks (Ephesians 5:4)
meekness of wisdom (James 3:13)
made free from sin . . . fruit of holiness (Romans 6:22)
I noticed in my studies last night the fruit of the Spirit is basically nouns and that Leviticus 17:10 - 20:27 tells how to live them out, making them action-verbs.
The L-rd sanctifies us (sets us apart), but he also commands us to sanctify ourselves (set ourselves apart).
He Sanctifies Us:
Exodus 31:13 through the sign of the Sabbath
Leviticus 20:9 through keeping His Torah
Ezekiel 20:12 Sabbath as a gift of knowledge
John 17:17 through truth -- His word
Ephesians 5:26 through His word
1 Thessalonians 5:23 the G-d of peace sanctifies us wholly
Hebrews 13:12 by the shed blood of Yeshua
We Are Commanded to Sanctify Ourselves:
Leviticus 11:44 by what we eat
Leviticus 20:7 by worshiping G-d alone
2 Chronicles 35:6 obedience
John 17:17 through His word
1 Peter 3:15 sanctify G-d in our hearts
James 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and {all} that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for {once} he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the {law} of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his {own} heart, this man's religion is worthless.
27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of {our} God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, {and} to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Other Scriptures to aid in biblical ethics/sanctification:
The book of James
The Beatitudes
The Sermon on the Mount
The Ten Words and their Commentaries
But the bottom line is: "Love your neighbor as yourself. I AM the L-rd." -- The Royal Torah! Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31-33; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 28
* Where I used to attend, they strongly taught that it was the "fruit," not "fruits," of the H Spirit. Indeed, that is the way it is translated into English. But their purpose was to say that a believer has, at all times, the full strength of every part displayed at all times in their life: always walking in full love, always joyful, always peaceful, always patient (yet they spoke of being fearful of praying for patience!), always gentle (kindness), always displaying goodness, always walking in faith (but again, they feared praying for patience), always meek, always having self-control.
But what they did not realize is that the Greek word for Fruit is like the English word, fruit: it can intend a single fruit, more than one of a single kind of fruit, or different kinds of fruit.
For example, both of these examples in English are correct:
1. Question "What kind if fruit is in that salad?" Answer: "Apple."
2. Question "What kind if fruit is in that salad?" Answer: "Apples, grapes, bananas, papaya, and pineapple."
The same sentences, in Greek, would be correct.
The premise I was taught was that if one fruit was depleted at anytime, then none of the fruit was present at all, because it is one fruit. No. Sometimes, one may be quite depleted (as through a one's own or a loved one's illness, through stress, through want, etc.). This does not at all mean, then, that the H Spirit has left the person as I had been taught -- not at all.
Our admitted weaknesses are the very places where the light of G-d's holiness and salvation shine through: through my admitted weakness, He is made strong, because any successes I have are obviously His!
Salvation is through the Redeemer alone! Salvation cannot be "worked up."
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Examination Reprise
I haven't been doing well, haven't been exercising, haven't . . . blah, blah, blah. The point is that I am back on it! At 2 a.m., I wrote, "I was thinking that I am so disappointed with me, but at the same time, I am not who I once was. G-d has been so good to me. He has brought me so far. Who am I to be disappointed with His work?"
The L-rd must have thought that I really needed a good laugh. Matthew 20:17. ". . . And Yeshua going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart on the way . . . ."
I just totally cracked up! That really struck me as funny!
Last night, I went through the questions that were asked and thought about how they effect me with regard to the fruit of the Spirit. You may look at them differently than I do, but to me, that's what it's all about: how we live out biblical ethics -- the sanctified life.
This is how I saw them (shortened version, at least). The bold areas are where I think I need the most help.
Am I prone to anger? No, I don't have an anger issue; it takes a long, long time for me to reach anger. (My daughter says I am too forgiving.) However, I know that when that "long, long time" finally arrives, I make those adults disappear through ignoring them, not looking at them, avoiding them.
Fruit: peace, patience, kindness, meekness, self-control
Do I judge others fairly, or am I harshly critical (both in what I say and what I think)? I believe I do judge fairly. I write this with a caveat. **(note below)
Fruit: love, patience, kindness
Am I stingy with my money or my time? Yes, I can be stingy with both money and time. While I know that it comes from sometimes not knowing how to say "No," I also know that I should be more generous.
Fruit: love, goodness, faithfulness *
Do I speak curtly, making people feel that I have no time for them? (This is unkind, even when we are busy.) Yes. I have been working on this, learning.
Fruit: love, gentleness, meekness, patience *
Do I avoid saying or doing what I believe is right because I fear how others will react or what they will think of me? (The question we should ask ourselves is not "What will others think?" but "What does G-d want me to do?") No.
Fruit: love
Am I moody? New answer after more thought: Sometimes, especially when I get "down" on myself.
Fruit: love, joy
Do I treat strangers with more consideration than members of my own family? No.
Fruit: love, peace, patience, faithfulness
Do I take other people's kind behavior for granted, or do I go out of my way to express thanks and help those who have been kind to me? I think I do at times. Maybe. But I am a thankful person most of the time.
Fruit: love, kindness *
Do I blame my wrongful actions and mistakes on others, or do I take responsibility for the wrong I do? No. But I have learned not to. I used to be a "blamer" regarding certain things, but G-d called my attention to that last year.
Fruit: self-control
Do I jump to conclusions and blame other people before I know the facts? Yes, I do. I need to work on this.
Fruit: love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control *
Am I able to control my impulses, or do I give in to temptation easily? I am able to control most of my impulses. G-d is good!
Fruit: love, faithfulness, self-control
Do I bear grudges and remain angry at others for a long time after an argument? No.
Fruit: patience, gentleness, self-control
Am I tardy, and thereby waste other peoplefs time by keeping them waiting? No. I may be aggrivating because I am early, however.
Fruit: meekness, peace, self-control
Do I rationalize dishonesty with such excuses as "Business is different"? No.
Fruit: goodness, faithfulness, self-control
When I hear of other people's suffering or misfortune, do I find ways to help them, or do I feel sadness in my heart but do nothing? I need to work on this. A lot. I tend to do nothing. I fear doing/saying the wrong thing, getting in the way, being a bother. I should have learned long ago that these are not true.
Fruit: love, kindness, goodness *
Am I jealous of the success of others? Do I begrudge others their good fortune? No.
Fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, self-control
Through this exercise, I may be seeing the areas in which I need the most help, but thank G-d, He sees me more clearly than I do myself, and He knows the areas He will be working on. Praise G-d! It is not all up to me: He carries much of the load. More about that later.
Areas in which I need to apply the most work now (from above).
Fruit of the Spirit:
1. * love /////
2. * kindness ///
2. * goodness ///
3. patience //
3. faithfulness //
3. meekness //
4. peace /
4. gentleness /
4. self-control /
** The question above was: Do I judge others fairly, or am I harshly critical (both in what I say and what I think)? I answered: I believe I do judge fairly. I believe that there is a strong possibility that a large group of people from my past would disagree with this. However, I believe I am answering honestly. I am now trying to do my best to judge those persons as fairly as I humanly can. Perhaps it is best that I write nothing more than this at this time.
The L-rd must have thought that I really needed a good laugh. Matthew 20:17. ". . . And Yeshua going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart on the way . . . ."
I just totally cracked up! That really struck me as funny!
Last night, I went through the questions that were asked and thought about how they effect me with regard to the fruit of the Spirit. You may look at them differently than I do, but to me, that's what it's all about: how we live out biblical ethics -- the sanctified life.
This is how I saw them (shortened version, at least). The bold areas are where I think I need the most help.
Am I prone to anger? No, I don't have an anger issue; it takes a long, long time for me to reach anger. (My daughter says I am too forgiving.) However, I know that when that "long, long time" finally arrives, I make those adults disappear through ignoring them, not looking at them, avoiding them.
Fruit: peace, patience, kindness, meekness, self-control
Do I judge others fairly, or am I harshly critical (both in what I say and what I think)? I believe I do judge fairly. I write this with a caveat. **(note below)
Fruit: love, patience, kindness
Am I stingy with my money or my time? Yes, I can be stingy with both money and time. While I know that it comes from sometimes not knowing how to say "No," I also know that I should be more generous.
Fruit: love, goodness, faithfulness *
Do I speak curtly, making people feel that I have no time for them? (This is unkind, even when we are busy.) Yes. I have been working on this, learning.
Fruit: love, gentleness, meekness, patience *
Do I avoid saying or doing what I believe is right because I fear how others will react or what they will think of me? (The question we should ask ourselves is not "What will others think?" but "What does G-d want me to do?") No.
Fruit: love
Am I moody? New answer after more thought: Sometimes, especially when I get "down" on myself.
Fruit: love, joy
Do I treat strangers with more consideration than members of my own family? No.
Fruit: love, peace, patience, faithfulness
Do I take other people's kind behavior for granted, or do I go out of my way to express thanks and help those who have been kind to me? I think I do at times. Maybe. But I am a thankful person most of the time.
Fruit: love, kindness *
Do I blame my wrongful actions and mistakes on others, or do I take responsibility for the wrong I do? No. But I have learned not to. I used to be a "blamer" regarding certain things, but G-d called my attention to that last year.
Fruit: self-control
Do I jump to conclusions and blame other people before I know the facts? Yes, I do. I need to work on this.
Fruit: love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control *
Am I able to control my impulses, or do I give in to temptation easily? I am able to control most of my impulses. G-d is good!
Fruit: love, faithfulness, self-control
Do I bear grudges and remain angry at others for a long time after an argument? No.
Fruit: patience, gentleness, self-control
Am I tardy, and thereby waste other peoplefs time by keeping them waiting? No. I may be aggrivating because I am early, however.
Fruit: meekness, peace, self-control
Do I rationalize dishonesty with such excuses as "Business is different"? No.
Fruit: goodness, faithfulness, self-control
When I hear of other people's suffering or misfortune, do I find ways to help them, or do I feel sadness in my heart but do nothing? I need to work on this. A lot. I tend to do nothing. I fear doing/saying the wrong thing, getting in the way, being a bother. I should have learned long ago that these are not true.
Fruit: love, kindness, goodness *
Am I jealous of the success of others? Do I begrudge others their good fortune? No.
Fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, self-control
Through this exercise, I may be seeing the areas in which I need the most help, but thank G-d, He sees me more clearly than I do myself, and He knows the areas He will be working on. Praise G-d! It is not all up to me: He carries much of the load. More about that later.
Areas in which I need to apply the most work now (from above).
Fruit of the Spirit:
1. * love /////
2. * kindness ///
2. * goodness ///
3. patience //
3. faithfulness //
3. meekness //
4. peace /
4. gentleness /
4. self-control /
** The question above was: Do I judge others fairly, or am I harshly critical (both in what I say and what I think)? I answered: I believe I do judge fairly. I believe that there is a strong possibility that a large group of people from my past would disagree with this. However, I believe I am answering honestly. I am now trying to do my best to judge those persons as fairly as I humanly can. Perhaps it is best that I write nothing more than this at this time.
Redrawing My Portrait: It's Not a Solitary Work
I have learned that I can't prevail over myself in way too many areas. But at the same time, I have learned that through my G-d, He can! However, I cannot just pray and do nothing! Like Timothy, I must study to show myself approved, and He has given me all the words I need in His Book, as well as provided me with people who love Him and are willing to come along-side me to guide me toward what is right. Thank G-d!
◌ "One who controls his passion is better than one who conquers a city" Proverbs 16:22.
Following this, Telushkin writes a series of questions that the reader is to answer. I will type them here and answer them for myself. Confession is good for the soul!
Am I prone to anger? When I am angry, do I overreact and say or do things that inflict pain on others? Or am I the sort of person who, if asked, will deny that I am angry, yet will treat other people with coldness, disdain, and annoyance?
No, I don't have an anger issue; it takes a long, long time for me to reach anger. (My daughter says I am too forgiving.) However, I know that when that "long, long time" finally arrives, I make those adults disappear through ignoring them, not looking at them, avoiding them.
Do I judge others fairly, or am I harshly critical (both in what I say and what I think)?
I believe I do judge fairly. I try to.
Am I stingy with my money or my time?
Yes, I can be stingy with both money and time. While I know that I sometimes do not know how to say "no" when I should, I also know that I should be more generous.
Do I speak curtly, making people feel that I have no time for them? (This is unkind, even when we are busy.)
Yes. I have been working on this, learning.
Do I avoid saying or doing what I believe is right because I fear how others will react or what they will think of me? (The question we should ask ourselves is not What will others think? but What does G-d want me to do?)
No.
Am I moody? Do I make people around me feel that they are somehow responsible for my moods? Does my unhappiness affect the atmosphere in my home, transforming, often in a matter of minutes, a general feeling of pleasantness and goodwill into one of tension and sadness? (Taking away the good mood of those around us an lowering their spirits is a cruel, even if unintentional, act of aggression.)
No.
Do I treat strangers with more consideration than members of my own family?
No, but I recognize that my consideration of my family is very skewed. I believe that the more I leave them alone, the better it is for them. I feel like such a bother, such a pain. While they have told me that these things are not true, this is what I believe. I believe it to the deepest place of my being, and this also spills over to other family members and to those friends I love the most
Do I take other people’s kind behavior for granted, or do I go out of my way to express thanks and help those who have been kind to me?
I think I do at times. Maybe. But I am a thankful person most of the time.
Do I blame my wrongful actions and mistakes on others, or do I take responsibility for the wrong I do?
No. But I have learned not to. I used to be a "blamer" regarding certain things, but G-d called my attention to that a couple years ago.
Do I jump to conclusions and blame other people before I know the facts?
Yes, I do. I need desperately to work on this and have been.
Am I able to control my impulses, or do I give in to temptation easily?
I am able to control most of my impulses. G-d is good!
Do I bear grudges and remain angry at others for a long time after an argument?
No.
Am I tardy, and thereby waste other people’s time by keeping them waiting?
No. I may be aggravating because I am early, however.
Do I rationalize dishonesty with such excuses as "Business is different"?
No.
When I hear of other people's suffering or misfortune, do I find ways to help them, or do I feel sadness in my heart but do nothing?
I need to work on this. A lot. I tend to do nothing. I fear doing/saying the wrong thing, getting in the way, being a bother. I should have learned long ago that these are not true.
Am I jealous of the success of others? Do I begrudge others their good fortune?
No.
Telushkin says that once you have drawn up your list, do not become discouraged even if you find that you have many weaknesses. Drawing up a list is the first most important step in changing your character for the better.
He advices to work on improving one quality at a time. If you try to work on several areas at once, you may become overwhelmed and give up.
Friday, January 29, 2010
I Know My Rights . . .
My collective word carries my character: it is a perfect, complete portrait of the me. If that worries me (and it does), I must change not only my word but also my thought patterns. Even my words will not return to me void! Wow! My word carry blessing or cursing, wisdom or foolishness, joy or sadness, laughter or weeping. I am not what I tell you I am; I am what I say (and do) collectively!
This is really hopeless -- this idea of walking in holiness. I can't do it; it is impossible. But then I realized that my helplessness -- my hopelessness -- is what can be used by G-d to show me that it is He who is able. Otherwise, I would quit in disappointment, because I can't do this.
Earlier, I had written:
So last night, we came home from my daughter's. A lot of people were gathered these neighbors' yard. One of the adults living there had died.
Yes, in America, we still have laws in place that should have prevented the noise, but I just wanted my rights -- to sleep without being awakened. Did I pray for these people? No. Was I friendly toward them at any time? No. In fact, I didn't want anything to do with these impolite partiers. Now, one of them is in eternity with no recourse, no second chance. And I strongly question my actions, motives, and everything else.
I wanted to give up. But I am being taught that when I make a mistake, keep plodding on. But then, again, I am not sure I made a mistake to demand that they quiet down!
Does a sanctified person just roll over? And if not, how how do we handle such situations as neighbors like this? I simply Do Not Know. And especially, I don't know what to do now. Take them food? Sure. But Big Deal!
But I wrote in my journal:
"I didn't do well yesterday. I don't feel like working on this; I feel like giving up. But I know that holiness is something worth fighting for. Still, honestly, if I had not started doing this, I know I would at least take a break -- and likely quit. And so, I cry out to G-d, 'Make me holy, because You are holy!' and I will stumble on."
This is really hopeless -- this idea of walking in holiness. I can't do it; it is impossible. But then I realized that my helplessness -- my hopelessness -- is what can be used by G-d to show me that it is He who is able. Otherwise, I would quit in disappointment, because I can't do this.
Earlier, I had written:
◌ "Holiness demands suitable conduct."
That would almost seem to be a given, but I need to be reminded -- often.
At around 3:15 a.m. on the morning I had written this, two persons parked their van across my driveway and chatted loudly for 45 minutes, I needed to be reminded. When they left their van blocking our driveway, to go down to the house down the street that is a "party house" on weekends, I needed to be reminded.
I did open the door and ask them to please move their van so we could use their driveway, and only by the pure grace of G-d was I nice about it. I thanked G-d as I returned to my bed. It wasn't the attitude of the "me" at the door this morning.
When one of their visitors woke me again by playing their vehicle stereo (or whatever they are called today) very loudly, I was highly irritated! I marched myself outside and down the street, dialogue on my mind. But I stopped, hands on my hips, and hoped my stare would be enough. It was. Thank G-d.
I asked myself, "What would be the best way to handle this?" Let it go? Roll over? Let the parties continue without saying anything? And I asked myself: what would be the kindest thing to do? In my opinion, the kindest thing to do is get involved. I am not the only one they keep awake every weekend, and being three houses up, I am not the one it bothers the most. So I will get together with my neighbors and see what they are thinking. . . .
So last night, we came home from my daughter's. A lot of people were gathered these neighbors' yard. One of the adults living there had died.
Yes, in America, we still have laws in place that should have prevented the noise, but I just wanted my rights -- to sleep without being awakened. Did I pray for these people? No. Was I friendly toward them at any time? No. In fact, I didn't want anything to do with these impolite partiers. Now, one of them is in eternity with no recourse, no second chance. And I strongly question my actions, motives, and everything else.
I wanted to give up. But I am being taught that when I make a mistake, keep plodding on. But then, again, I am not sure I made a mistake to demand that they quiet down!
Does a sanctified person just roll over? And if not, how how do we handle such situations as neighbors like this? I simply Do Not Know. And especially, I don't know what to do now. Take them food? Sure. But Big Deal!
But I wrote in my journal:
"I didn't do well yesterday. I don't feel like working on this; I feel like giving up. But I know that holiness is something worth fighting for. Still, honestly, if I had not started doing this, I know I would at least take a break -- and likely quit. And so, I cry out to G-d, 'Make me holy, because You are holy!' and I will stumble on."
Steps Toward the Aspired Life
To become kind, practice kindness; to become ethical, practice ethical behavior; to become holy, practice holiness. This is my job daily, hourly, minute-by-minute. At the same time, there will be failure, but failure tells me to move on in repentance.
I have known many people who are good, ethical people, but they will say bluntly that they do not know our G-d. However, there are no good works that can commend me to the Father. All that I ever do that may be called "good" must be the result of a changed life through the blood of the risen Savior.
Seek good and kind people; assemble with those who love both peace and justice.
◌ "It is the nature of human beings to be influenced in their opinions and actions by their friends and neighbors. . . . Therefore, a person should strive to become friendly with righteous people, and to stay in the presence of those who are wise" Maimonides in Laws of Character Development 6:1
◌ "Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers" Psalm 1:1, 2
◌ "Try to live up to the reputation you aspire to." ~~ Joseph Telushkin
◌ "See every act you do as being of great significance." ~~ Joseph Telushkin
◌ Push the ethics pendulum hard to the extreme, until you learn where the middle is.
◌ Avoid sins that seem minor because "One sin will lead to another" ~~ Ethics of the Fathers 4:2
Read 1 Kings 21. Ahab's violation of Word 10 led to violation of Word 9, then violation of Word 6, followed by violation of Word 8.
I have known many people who are good, ethical people, but they will say bluntly that they do not know our G-d. However, there are no good works that can commend me to the Father. All that I ever do that may be called "good" must be the result of a changed life through the blood of the risen Savior.
Seek good and kind people; assemble with those who love both peace and justice.
◌ "It is the nature of human beings to be influenced in their opinions and actions by their friends and neighbors. . . . Therefore, a person should strive to become friendly with righteous people, and to stay in the presence of those who are wise" Maimonides in Laws of Character Development 6:1
◌ "Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers" Psalm 1:1, 2
◌ "Try to live up to the reputation you aspire to." ~~ Joseph Telushkin
◌ "See every act you do as being of great significance." ~~ Joseph Telushkin
◌ Push the ethics pendulum hard to the extreme, until you learn where the middle is.
◌ Avoid sins that seem minor because "One sin will lead to another" ~~ Ethics of the Fathers 4:2
Read 1 Kings 21. Ahab's violation of Word 10 led to violation of Word 9, then violation of Word 6, followed by violation of Word 8.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
A Step Closer
◌ "Are we growing in honesty, kindness, and compassion? If we are not [significantly] more compassionate and empathetic at sixty than we were at twenty, we have lived a failed life" ~~ Joseph Telushkin.
A very fitting quotation for me in this blog.
◌ "People become virtuous by practicing virtues" ~~ Joseph Telushkin.
◌ "We become just by just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts" ~~ Maimonides.
◌ "A person has three names; the one that his father and mother call him, the one that his [friends] call him [i.e. how others talk about him], and the one he acquires [by the way he acts]. And this last one is better than all the others" ~~ Tanhuma VaYakel #1 (40).
I have been grieving my loss -- that I have lived so wickedly rather than, as Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, who "never knowingly caused hurt to another human being." Today, however, my regret is coupled with gratitude that knowing and repenting my sins brings me closer to my goal of holiness. For me, it is like the leaven that is used only twice in the Temple service: once a year at Shavuot and when one brings a thanksgiving offering. The leaven in my life is remembered and brought before HaShem who forgives me as I repent, bringing me another step closer to holiness.
A very fitting quotation for me in this blog.
◌ "People become virtuous by practicing virtues" ~~ Joseph Telushkin.
◌ "We become just by just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts" ~~ Maimonides.
◌ "A person has three names; the one that his father and mother call him, the one that his [friends] call him [i.e. how others talk about him], and the one he acquires [by the way he acts]. And this last one is better than all the others" ~~ Tanhuma VaYakel #1 (40).
I have been grieving my loss -- that I have lived so wickedly rather than, as Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, who "never knowingly caused hurt to another human being." Today, however, my regret is coupled with gratitude that knowing and repenting my sins brings me closer to my goal of holiness. For me, it is like the leaven that is used only twice in the Temple service: once a year at Shavuot and when one brings a thanksgiving offering. The leaven in my life is remembered and brought before HaShem who forgives me as I repent, bringing me another step closer to holiness.
More Quotations #2
◌ Proverbs 37: 30, 31 [Wisdom's] ways are the ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.
◌ Psalm 37:30, 31 The righteous speak wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The Torah of Adonai is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
◌ James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding? Let that one show this by ethical behavior in the gentleness of wisdom.
◌ James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition [or strife] in your heart, do not be arrogant and lie against the Truth.
◌ James 3:15 - 18 This wisdom is not . . . from above but is earthly, natural (unspiritual), demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exists, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom [remember: Proverbs 28:7. Whoever keeps Torah is wise. Also see Jeremiah 8:8 - 9] from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruit [remember Galatians 5:22 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control] unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousnesws is sown in peace by [for] those who make peace.
◌ Rabbi Leo Baeck prayed this prayer before the congregation in Germany in 1935 on Yom Kippur and was shortly arrested: "We pronounce our abhorrence . . . [of] the lies which are turned against us, and the slander directed against our religion and its character . . . Who has revealed to the world the sense for the purity of conduct, for the purity of family? Who has given to the world the command of righteousness, of social responsibility? The spirit of the prophets in Israel, the revelation of G-d to the Jewish people, has produced all of them." ~~ Days of Sorrow and Pain, p 205 - 6, Baker.
◌ Ain shaliach ledvar aveirah --
"There is no messenger in a case of sin."
Meaning: No one forces another to sin; it is the choice of the sinner. Examples:
Shifra and Puah (Exodus 1:15 - 21)
Daniel, the three "Hebrew children"
Evil Doeg (1 Samuel 22:9 - 23)
Evil Joab (2 Samuel 11:14 - 25)
Saul's evil officers toward Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:24 - 45
◌ tzaddik -- a righteous person
Yetzer hatov -- good inclination
yetzer hara -- evil inclination
Unfortunately, motives must be constantly checked. Is it the yetzer hatov or the yetzer hara that takes precedence in our generosity? If asked for help, would we have given more if we'd known it would be reported in the newspaper for all to see?
◌ Psalm 37:30, 31 The righteous speak wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The Torah of Adonai is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
◌ James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding? Let that one show this by ethical behavior in the gentleness of wisdom.
◌ James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition [or strife] in your heart, do not be arrogant and lie against the Truth.
◌ James 3:15 - 18 This wisdom is not . . . from above but is earthly, natural (unspiritual), demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exists, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom [remember: Proverbs 28:7. Whoever keeps Torah is wise. Also see Jeremiah 8:8 - 9] from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruit [remember Galatians 5:22 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control] unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousnesws is sown in peace by [for] those who make peace.
◌ Rabbi Leo Baeck prayed this prayer before the congregation in Germany in 1935 on Yom Kippur and was shortly arrested: "We pronounce our abhorrence . . . [of] the lies which are turned against us, and the slander directed against our religion and its character . . . Who has revealed to the world the sense for the purity of conduct, for the purity of family? Who has given to the world the command of righteousness, of social responsibility? The spirit of the prophets in Israel, the revelation of G-d to the Jewish people, has produced all of them." ~~ Days of Sorrow and Pain, p 205 - 6, Baker.
◌ Ain shaliach ledvar aveirah --
"There is no messenger in a case of sin."
Meaning: No one forces another to sin; it is the choice of the sinner. Examples:
Shifra and Puah (Exodus 1:15 - 21)
Daniel, the three "Hebrew children"
Evil Doeg (1 Samuel 22:9 - 23)
Evil Joab (2 Samuel 11:14 - 25)
Saul's evil officers toward Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:24 - 45
◌ tzaddik -- a righteous person
Yetzer hatov -- good inclination
yetzer hara -- evil inclination
Unfortunately, motives must be constantly checked. Is it the yetzer hatov or the yetzer hara that takes precedence in our generosity? If asked for help, would we have given more if we'd known it would be reported in the newspaper for all to see?
You Shall Be Holy
◌ Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895 - 1986), an expert on Torah, was asked why he was so revered. He responded, "All my life I never knowingly caused hurt to another human being."
Reading this, it deeply grieves me: I have been his opposite. As a very young child, I strove to entertain, in order to make those around me happy, so that there would be peace for me. It was a selfish motive, and as I grew older, when it no longer worked, I hated G-d for that, turning against Him.
At the age of 14, realizing that this choice did not work either, I wanted an alliance with G-d. I turned to HaShem, asking for forgiveness, desiring repentance, but I had been taught to worship a false god -- the church I was in.
Purposeful worship of a false god prevents the Teacher, the H Spirit of HaShem, from teaching -- from instilling empathy, ethics, and love in the individual (Deut 12:31; 23:18 - 19; Lev 21:5; Amos 1 & 2). Fortunately, HaShem placed people in my life who taught me important lessons the church was not teaching. In chronological order: Joey S., my first boyfriend; Ethel Johnson; Pat, my first husband; my daughter; my son; Bryant Avenue Baptist School; My present husband; Tim H.; my shul; Katy L.; Tony J.; Mary H.; Heather P.; Carol S.; and Pamela B. -- and throughout all this, one person from the old church, Denise W. Each one of these had their specific lesson to teach me, and some taught me many things. Those still living continue to teach me. They were ordained for me by the H Spirit.
Two years ago (or more) I was stunned by the personal knowledge of how mean, demanding, obstinate, cruel, and belligerent I was. Since then, I have applied myself to repentance. It has not been easy to face myself in order to acknowledge these things and change, but He is changing me.
This blog chronicles the things I want to change in my 60th year, my study of biblical ethics, realized changes, and my failures.
G-d says, "You shall be holy." I want to be holy.
Reading this, it deeply grieves me: I have been his opposite. As a very young child, I strove to entertain, in order to make those around me happy, so that there would be peace for me. It was a selfish motive, and as I grew older, when it no longer worked, I hated G-d for that, turning against Him.
At the age of 14, realizing that this choice did not work either, I wanted an alliance with G-d. I turned to HaShem, asking for forgiveness, desiring repentance, but I had been taught to worship a false god -- the church I was in.
Purposeful worship of a false god prevents the Teacher, the H Spirit of HaShem, from teaching -- from instilling empathy, ethics, and love in the individual (Deut 12:31; 23:18 - 19; Lev 21:5; Amos 1 & 2). Fortunately, HaShem placed people in my life who taught me important lessons the church was not teaching. In chronological order: Joey S., my first boyfriend; Ethel Johnson; Pat, my first husband; my daughter; my son; Bryant Avenue Baptist School; My present husband; Tim H.; my shul; Katy L.; Tony J.; Mary H.; Heather P.; Carol S.; and Pamela B. -- and throughout all this, one person from the old church, Denise W. Each one of these had their specific lesson to teach me, and some taught me many things. Those still living continue to teach me. They were ordained for me by the H Spirit.
Two years ago (or more) I was stunned by the personal knowledge of how mean, demanding, obstinate, cruel, and belligerent I was. Since then, I have applied myself to repentance. It has not been easy to face myself in order to acknowledge these things and change, but He is changing me.
This blog chronicles the things I want to change in my 60th year, my study of biblical ethics, realized changes, and my failures.
G-d says, "You shall be holy." I want to be holy.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Chesed
◌ Holiness demands suitable conduct.
That would almost seem to be a given, but I need to be reminded -- often. At around 3:15 a.m. this morning, when two persons parked their van across my driveway and chatted loudly for 45 minutes, I needed to be reminded. When they left their van there, to go down to the house down the street that is a "party house" on weekends, I needed to be reminded.
I did open the door and ask them to please move their van so we could use our driveway, and only by the pure grace of G-d was I nice about it. I thanked G-d as I returned to my bed. That sure wasn't the attitude of the "me" at the door this morning!
When one of their visitors woke me again by playing their vehicle stereo (or whatever they are called today) very loudly, I was highly irritated! I marched myself outside and down the street, dialogue on my mind. But I stopped, hands on my hips, and hoped my stare would be enough. It was.
Thank G-d!
So I asked myself, "What would be the best way to handle this?" Let it go? Roll over? Let the parties continue without saying anything? And I asked myself: what would be the kindest thing to do? In my opinion, the kindest thing to do is get involved. I am not the only one they keep awake every weekend, and being three houses up, I am not the one it bothers the most. So I will get together with my neighbors and see what they are thinking . . . .
◌ "A person who believes that he is already perfect will not admit that he is in need of completion, in which case the Torah will have been given to him in vain" ~~ Derashos HaKahoral.
◌ "The commandments of HaShem are only found in Torah. All other places we find them discussed in Scripture refer back to Torah. Keeping the commandments has, built into them, the blessings of HaShem. Ignoring them brings only judgment" ~~ Dan dV.
◌ To do what is right and just is more desired by G-d than sacrifice" Proverbs 21:3.
◌ Sodom's sin was "arrogance, abundant food and careless ease while not helping the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me" Ezekiel 16:49, 50.
chesed: kindness
rav hachesed: master of kindness
That would almost seem to be a given, but I need to be reminded -- often. At around 3:15 a.m. this morning, when two persons parked their van across my driveway and chatted loudly for 45 minutes, I needed to be reminded. When they left their van there, to go down to the house down the street that is a "party house" on weekends, I needed to be reminded.
I did open the door and ask them to please move their van so we could use our driveway, and only by the pure grace of G-d was I nice about it. I thanked G-d as I returned to my bed. That sure wasn't the attitude of the "me" at the door this morning!
When one of their visitors woke me again by playing their vehicle stereo (or whatever they are called today) very loudly, I was highly irritated! I marched myself outside and down the street, dialogue on my mind. But I stopped, hands on my hips, and hoped my stare would be enough. It was.
Thank G-d!
So I asked myself, "What would be the best way to handle this?" Let it go? Roll over? Let the parties continue without saying anything? And I asked myself: what would be the kindest thing to do? In my opinion, the kindest thing to do is get involved. I am not the only one they keep awake every weekend, and being three houses up, I am not the one it bothers the most. So I will get together with my neighbors and see what they are thinking . . . .
◌ "A person who believes that he is already perfect will not admit that he is in need of completion, in which case the Torah will have been given to him in vain" ~~ Derashos HaKahoral.
◌ "The commandments of HaShem are only found in Torah. All other places we find them discussed in Scripture refer back to Torah. Keeping the commandments has, built into them, the blessings of HaShem. Ignoring them brings only judgment" ~~ Dan dV.
◌ To do what is right and just is more desired by G-d than sacrifice" Proverbs 21:3.
◌ Sodom's sin was "arrogance, abundant food and careless ease while not helping the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me" Ezekiel 16:49, 50.
chesed: kindness
rav hachesed: master of kindness
Monday, January 18, 2010
Warning: I enjoy quotations . . .
. . . biblical, others' witty statements, interesting sayings, and even some I consider incredibly ignorant, so part of this blog will occasionally include many of each. Some will have reference to the main subject matter of this blog, and some will have nothing at all to do with it! This page would be a good place to start.
A note regarding biblical references: Sometimes, I copy the Scriptures from a Hebrew Bible, so the verses may occasionally not match those of the commonly-used English Bibles in our country. Please pardon me if I sometimes forget to switch back to the verse numbers most of us use most of the time.
◌ People are rarely afraid of a known lie; they are afraid of the truth.
◌ The power of sin is secrecy. ~~Tim H
◌ Fear is based mainly upon ignorance.
◌ Model your thought patterns after your personal hero.
◌ Ego: your false self.
◌ Some say, "Don't judge!" The Bible says, "Judge righteously."
◌ The testimony of the Decalogue seems overwhelming: Moral rules . . . are primary. Morality is the essence. ~~Rabbi Shubert Spero
◌ Gerber believers: those who open up their "mouths" and just "swallow." ~~ Tim H
◌ The 613 Mitzvot, distilled down to six: (1) Practice righteousness. (2) Speak truthfully. (3) Spurn dishonest gain. (4) Refuse bribes. (5) Close your ears to blood. (6) Close your eyes to seeing evil [from Isaiah 33:13 - 17].
◌ The L-rd does not delight in the things we prize: not in wisdom, might, or riches; He only glories in this: when we understand and know Him, "that I AM the L-rd, who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness . . . in these I delight," says the L-rd [see Jeremiah 7:23-24; Isaiah 1:15; 58:5-7].
◌ Ethics: the blue "tzitzit" string that binds Torah together.
◌ "Do what is right in the eyes of G-d" [Deut 6:18].
◌ "What does the L-rd require of you? To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with G-d" [Micah 6:8].
◌ "Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice well up as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream" [Amos 5:22 - 24].
◌ "Do we not all have one father? has not G-d created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?" [Malachi 2:10].
◌ "Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor, and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another" [Zechariah 7:8-10].
◌ "The sins against Torah are listed: idolatry [leads to unethical acts], oppressing the poor, perverting justice, unjust weights, accepting bribes, lying, murder, theft, adultery, swearing falsely, improper wages, and disregarding property rights" [Amos 2:7; 5:7; Micah 6:10-11; 3:11; Jeremiah 9:4; 7:9; 5:8; 5:2; 22:13; Micah 2:2].
◌ "Who will abide in your tent? Who will dwell in Your holy mountain? One who is (1) blameless (2) works righteousness (3) speaks truth in the heart (4) does not decieve (5) has not done evil to others (6) is not reproached for acts toward others (7) who abhors contemptible persons (8) honors those who fear the L-rd (9) stands by their oath and will not change (10) will not lend money for interest (11) will not accept a bribe against the innocent" [Psalm 15:1-5].
◌ "Our preachers aren't always right, but they're never in doubt." ~~ Mark Lowry
And finally:
◌ Pharaoh's daughter was the first stockbroker: she took a little prophet from the rushes on the banks.
A note regarding biblical references: Sometimes, I copy the Scriptures from a Hebrew Bible, so the verses may occasionally not match those of the commonly-used English Bibles in our country. Please pardon me if I sometimes forget to switch back to the verse numbers most of us use most of the time.
◌ People are rarely afraid of a known lie; they are afraid of the truth.
◌ The power of sin is secrecy. ~~Tim H
◌ Fear is based mainly upon ignorance.
◌ Model your thought patterns after your personal hero.
◌ Ego: your false self.
◌ Some say, "Don't judge!" The Bible says, "Judge righteously."
◌ The testimony of the Decalogue seems overwhelming: Moral rules . . . are primary. Morality is the essence. ~~Rabbi Shubert Spero
◌ Gerber believers: those who open up their "mouths" and just "swallow." ~~ Tim H
◌ The 613 Mitzvot, distilled down to six: (1) Practice righteousness. (2) Speak truthfully. (3) Spurn dishonest gain. (4) Refuse bribes. (5) Close your ears to blood. (6) Close your eyes to seeing evil [from Isaiah 33:13 - 17].
◌ The L-rd does not delight in the things we prize: not in wisdom, might, or riches; He only glories in this: when we understand and know Him, "that I AM the L-rd, who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness . . . in these I delight," says the L-rd [see Jeremiah 7:23-24; Isaiah 1:15; 58:5-7].
◌ Ethics: the blue "tzitzit" string that binds Torah together.
◌ "Do what is right in the eyes of G-d" [Deut 6:18].
◌ "What does the L-rd require of you? To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with G-d" [Micah 6:8].
◌ "Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice well up as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream" [Amos 5:22 - 24].
◌ "Do we not all have one father? has not G-d created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?" [Malachi 2:10].
◌ "Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor, and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another" [Zechariah 7:8-10].
◌ "The sins against Torah are listed: idolatry [leads to unethical acts], oppressing the poor, perverting justice, unjust weights, accepting bribes, lying, murder, theft, adultery, swearing falsely, improper wages, and disregarding property rights" [Amos 2:7; 5:7; Micah 6:10-11; 3:11; Jeremiah 9:4; 7:9; 5:8; 5:2; 22:13; Micah 2:2].
◌ "Who will abide in your tent? Who will dwell in Your holy mountain? One who is (1) blameless (2) works righteousness (3) speaks truth in the heart (4) does not decieve (5) has not done evil to others (6) is not reproached for acts toward others (7) who abhors contemptible persons (8) honors those who fear the L-rd (9) stands by their oath and will not change (10) will not lend money for interest (11) will not accept a bribe against the innocent" [Psalm 15:1-5].
◌ "Our preachers aren't always right, but they're never in doubt." ~~ Mark Lowry
And finally:
◌ Pharaoh's daughter was the first stockbroker: she took a little prophet from the rushes on the banks.
Growing In the L-rd: Learning Biblical Ethics
I was reared in a "holiness church," which stressed, above everything else, an outside, visible, standard of holiness. Having grown up in that, I have rejected it, because my experience was that I did not see biblical holiness commonly lived out there. However, I am in pursuit of holiness. Not the froufrou of the outside stuff -- of what to wear, how to wear my hair, whether or not I wear a hat, don't do this, don't do that, etc.
That is not enough. I want biblical holiness.
So first, I ask myself this: what do I know right now of biblical holiness -- off the top of my head, without the research? Then this is how I understand it:
◌ Biblical holiness does not mean being weird or odd in how I dress, etc., as is sometimes taught.
◌ Biblical holiness does mean set apart unto G-d. "Set apart unto G-d" means living in the world but separate from it in that I do not have the attributes of those who are without G-d; that means I must live as though I have had a profound, life-changing encounter with the Almighty.
From what I presently understand, when I say I am in pursuit of holiness, I am simply in pursuit of doing what He asks in all areas of my life at all times under all conditions, not in pursuit of seeing myself on some high ledge so that I can look over it at all those "below." I do not believe that holiness will turn me into some holier-than-thou persona who sits enthroned in her own place, high and lifted up. Rather, I believe it will bring humility, servanthood, and a desire to follow biblical concepts as far as I am humanly able through the gifts, presence, and enabling of the H Spirit, the Teacher.
In other words, I am in pursuit of biblical ethics. In that pursuit, besides the Bible (usually the NASB), one of the main books I am using is Telushkin's A Code of Jewish Ethics, Volume 1, You Shall Be Holy, copyright 2006, Bell Tower, NY, ISBN 978-1-4000-4835-9. This book will be quoted, and its ideas mention -- often.
I intend to write what I learn, as well as the ways I fail, in that pursuit: this is my goal.
So here, I stand; here, I begin.
That is not enough. I want biblical holiness.
So first, I ask myself this: what do I know right now of biblical holiness -- off the top of my head, without the research? Then this is how I understand it:
◌ Biblical holiness does not mean being weird or odd in how I dress, etc., as is sometimes taught.
◌ Biblical holiness does mean set apart unto G-d. "Set apart unto G-d" means living in the world but separate from it in that I do not have the attributes of those who are without G-d; that means I must live as though I have had a profound, life-changing encounter with the Almighty.
From what I presently understand, when I say I am in pursuit of holiness, I am simply in pursuit of doing what He asks in all areas of my life at all times under all conditions, not in pursuit of seeing myself on some high ledge so that I can look over it at all those "below." I do not believe that holiness will turn me into some holier-than-thou persona who sits enthroned in her own place, high and lifted up. Rather, I believe it will bring humility, servanthood, and a desire to follow biblical concepts as far as I am humanly able through the gifts, presence, and enabling of the H Spirit, the Teacher.
In other words, I am in pursuit of biblical ethics. In that pursuit, besides the Bible (usually the NASB), one of the main books I am using is Telushkin's A Code of Jewish Ethics, Volume 1, You Shall Be Holy, copyright 2006, Bell Tower, NY, ISBN 978-1-4000-4835-9. This book will be quoted, and its ideas mention -- often.
I intend to write what I learn, as well as the ways I fail, in that pursuit: this is my goal.
So here, I stand; here, I begin.
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