Displaying items by tag: Yeshua

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for Monday, May 11th was whinge.

to complain fretfully : whine

In their "Did you know?" section, M-W provided the following:

"Whinge" isn't just a spelling variant of "whine." "Whinge" and "whine" are actually entirely different words with separate histories. "Whine" traces to an Old English verb, "hwinan," which means "to make a humming or whirring sound." When "hwinan" became "whinen"in Middle English, it meant "to wail distressfully"; "whine" didn't acquire its "complain" sense until the 16th century. "Whinge," on the other hand, comes from a different Old English verb, "hwinsian," which means "to wail or moan discontentedly." "Whinge" retains that original sense today, though nowadays it puts less emphasis on the sound of the complaining and more on the discontentment behind the complaint.

This brings to mind an admonition from Scripture:

The Merriam-Webster Word of the Day for Sunday, May 10th was fidelity.

1 : the quality or state of being faithful

2 : accuracy

 

This was the etymological information they provided for the word:

"The Program on Public Values" at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn recently published a study that indicated an increasing number of Americans are claiming no religion.  A recent Foxnews.com article about the study revealed some interesting points:

1990- 8.2% of Americans claim they have no religion 2001- 14.2% of Americans claim they have no religion 2008- 15.0% of Americans claim they have no religion

Based upon this information we can see that Americans are becoming increasing secular.

Consider our society (not science, medicine, technology... but our culture, our society) in 1990 as compared to today.

Which is better in your estimation?

The Merriam-Webster's word of the day for February 23rd was exorbitant.  M-W defined the word as follows:

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for February 24th 2009 is onerous.

1 : involving, imposing, or constituting a burden : troublesome

2 : having legal obligations that outweigh the advantages

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 was cognate.

1 : of the same or similar nature 2 : related; especially : related by descent from the same ancestral language

This brings to mind one of the very first word studies I ever did.  I was using Vine's Expository Dictionary [ed- the paper version... not online.  I don't think there was an "online" back then. :) ]

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for Thursday, January 29th was indubitable.

This takes me back to childhood memories of the Three Stooges (who were Jewish!) and their statements using "indubitably". :)

M-W provides this definition:

too evident to be doubted : unquestionable

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for Wednesday, January 28th was primogeniture.

M-W provided the following definition:

1 : the state of being the firstborn of the children of the same parents 2 : an exclusive right of inheritance belonging to the eldest son

 

This brings to mind a passage from Colossians:

"I sought him, but I found him not." — Song 3:1

Tell me where you lost the company of Christ, and I will tell you the most likely place to find Him. Have you lost Christ in the closet by restraining prayer? Then it is there you must seek and find Him. Did you lose Christ by sin? You will find Christ in no other way but by the giving up of the sin, and seeking by the Holy Spirit to mortify the member in which the lust doth dwell. Did you lose Christ by neglecting the Scriptures? You must find Christ in the Scriptures.

Unless you are already familiar with the term you might be upset if you heard someone use Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 24th to describe Messiah.

The word is cynosure and M-W provides the following definition:

1 : the northern constellation Ursa Minor; also : North Star

2 : one that serves to direct or guide

3 : a center of attraction or attention

Merriam Webster's Word of the Day for Monday, January 26th was engender.

1 : beget, procreate

2 : to cause to exist or to develop : produce

3 : to assume form : originate

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for January 22nd was reconcile.  Here is the definition:

1 a : to restore to friendship or harmony b : settle, resolve 2 : to cause to submit to or accept something unpleasant 3 a : to check (a financial account) against another for accuracy b : to account for

Some very obvious references can be made with Scripture.  Here is the etymology:

After a long break from words that brought anything Scriptural to mind...

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for January 21st was "palatable".  These meanings were given:

1 : agreeable to the palate or taste

2 : agreeable or acceptable to the mind

If we were to be transported back in time to the first century and were to study “Moses and the Prophets” as Jesus, the disciples, and the two men on the road to Emmaus did (Luke 24:27), what would we learn? What portraits of the Messiah would we find? Come… join our band of believers and study Scripture in the footsteps and pattern of our Lord and Savior.

If we were to be transported back in time to the first century and were to study “Moses and the Prophets” as Jesus, the disciples, and the two men on the road to Emmaus did (Luke 24:27), what would we learn? What portraits of the Messiah would we find? Come… join our band of believers and study Scripture in the footsteps and pattern of our Lord and Savior.

The bedrock foundation of first-century studies included an annual reading of the Torah: Genesis through Deuteronomy. The passages that are studied this time of year are found in the book of Genesis chapters 37:1-40:23. The chapter and verse numbers that we use to identify passages of Scripture today did not exist in the days of the Master. Instead, they identified the weekly passages, known as a parashah (”portion”) by the first word or two of that passage. This week’s parashah is known as Vayeshev (pronounced vye yeh SHEV). This Hebrew word means “and he lived” as it is written in the beginning of our portion:

If we were to be transported back in time to the first century and were to study "Moses and the Prophets" as Jesus, the disciples, and the two men on the road to Emmaus did (Luke 24:27), what would we learn? What portraits of the Messiah would we find? Come… join our band of believers and study Scripture in the footsteps and pattern of our Lord and Savior.

The bedrock foundation of first-century studies included an annual reading of the Torah: Genesis through Deuteronomy. The passages that are studied this time of year are found in the book of Genesis chapters 32:3-36-43. The chapter and verse numbers that we use to identify passages of Scripture today did not exist in the days of the Master. Instead, they identified the weekly passages, known as a parashah (”portion”) by the first word or two of that passage. This week’s parashah is known as Vayishlach (pronounced vye eesh LOCK). This Hebrew word means “and he sent” as it is written in the beginning of our portion:

“Then Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.” - Genesis 32:3 (NASB)

The first article of this series provided some reasons for observing Torah.  First and foremost among them was the reason that Messiah Yeshua was Torah-observant and as his disciples we, too, should follow Torah.

This second article (and subsequent articles) in the series intends to address the myths  and misinterpretations of Scripture that might confuse believers seeking the Truth of G-d's Word.  Yeshua is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6) so when we seek the Truth, we seek Him... in all His Torah-observant glory and holiness.

Myth #1: Paul tells believers to disregard the Sabbath.

This post begins a short series of blog entries entitled "In Support of Torah Observance".

In these articles I would like to address reasons why believers in Yeshua [Jesus] should be obedient to Torah and refute a number of misinterpretations of Scripture used against those who seek to obey Torah.

1) Yeshua did it.

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. - John 15:1-2

There is a pattern of studying Scripture that has existed since the time of Nehemiah, Ezra, and the men of the Great Assembly. It is this pattern that existed in the time of Messiah and it is within this pattern that He revealed himself through the words of Scripture to the men on the road to Emmaus.

"Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures." - Luke 24:27 (NASB).

Genesis 1:27 tells us that G-d made man in His image:

G-d created man in His own image, in the image of G-d He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 9:6 reiterates this:

Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of G-d He made man.

Who or what, then, is this "image"? 

In Revelation 3:14 it is written:

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

In Revelation 19:11 it is written:

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

The Sabbath day began at the end of the first week of creation (Genesis 2:2).  The Word of G-d tells us that He blessed the seventh day and separated it as a holy day (Genesis 2:3).  If the Sabbath was given before Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob's time and was created for them for them to observe was it also not created for us?  If we are to be doers and hearers of the Word, shouldn’t we observe the Sabbath just as our Lord and Savior did?

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for October 14th was "facetious":

1 : joking or jesting often inappropriately : waggish 2 : meant to be humorous or funny : not serious

The Merriam-Webster Word of the Day for October 9th was indagate which means "to search into; investigate".

Although slightly different in meaning it brought to mind this passage in 1Thes 5:21-

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

The Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for Friday 9/26/2008 was "prodigy":

1. something extraordinary : wonder 2 : a highly talented child

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for Monday, September 29th was exonerate:

1 : to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship 2 : to clear from accusation or blame

Merriam- Webster's word of the day for Sunday, September 14th, 2008 was "eponymous":

of, relating to, or being one for whom or which something is or is believed to  be named

That is the question.  But what is the answer?

Yes, that was a riff on Shakespeare's famous "to be or not to be... " line from Hamlet. Let me be fair and clarify the question:

The question I am trying to answer is whether or not the Talmud should serve as a guide regarding Torah observance.  One group in my congregation says "yes!"... another group in my congregation says "no!".  I wanted to jot down my thoughts about both sides of the issue.  I don't know if I will come to an answer any time soon (likely not!) but it's cathartic nonetheless.

Merriam Webster's word of the day for Tuesday, September 9th was circumlocution:

1 : the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea 2 : evasion in speech

Here are some passages from Scripture to consider in regards to Torah. I will update this blog entry from time to time with other passages as I find them:

"I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My Torot [plural of Torah]." - Genesis 26:4-5

Bind up the testimony, seal the Torah among my disciples. - Isaiah 8:16

"The same Torah shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you." - Exodus 12:49

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for Saturday, August 30th was exasperate:

1 : to excite the anger of : enrage 2 : to cause irritation or annoyance to

Merriam-Webster's word of the day for Tuesday 8/26/2008 is sophistry:

1 : subtly deceptive reasoning or argumentation 2 : an argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid; especially : such an argument used to deceive

"An argument used to deceive. "  Hmmm... that got me to thinking of the words of the serpent in the Garden:

"Hath God said...?"

Fox News.com reported Monday that a scientific study presented evidence that "a sensory cell can process an alternative sensation".  They differentiated this process from the already previously known condition named synesthesia where some people are able to feel, hear, and taste colors.   In essence the study has found that our auditory nervous system can send auditory signals to the image processing centers of the brain for faster tracking of sounds.

"Where is this found in Scripture" you might ask?

Merriam-Webster's Word for the Day on Monday, August 11th was anathema.  I read the WOTD email and thought "Wow.  That's a word I haven't heard used outside of Scripture."

Here is how M-W defined it:

1 a : one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority b: someone or something intensely disliked or loathed 2 a : a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication b : a vigorous denunciation : curse

Merriam-Webster's word of the day for Tuesday August 5th was "steadfast" which they defined as such:

1 a : firmly fixed in place : immovable   b : not subject to change 2 : firm in belief, determination, or adherence : loyal

This brought to mind James 1:17.

Words for thought. It's been a rather interesting week for words.  Merriam-Webster's word of the day for August 7th was plausible which they defined as such:

1 : seemingly fair, reasonable, or valuable but often not  so

2 : superficially pleasing or persuasive

3 : appearing worthy of belief

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for Monday, July 21st was epigone.  M-W defined the word as:

follower, disciple; also: an inferior imitator

America's founders apparently did not intend for there to be a separation of  God and state... at least in the sense it is being pursued by some today. This is shown by the fact that all 50 states acknowledge God in their state constitutions.

Alabama (1901), Preamble: We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution ...

Alaska (1956), Preamble: We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land ...

Arizona (1911), Preamble: We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

About a month ago I met with a group of men with whom I regularly study Scripture.  We were studying Romans 7:7-12

What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.  (NASB)

We discussed the word for "sin" in Hebrew (chata) and that it means to "miss the mark".  Initially the discussion centered around an archery target with a bulls eye in the center and how we shoot and hit all around the bulls eye but never quite hit it dead-center.

There was a moment of revelation in our discussion when I realized there is another way to look at "missing the mark" is to "fall short". 

Fox News reports that satellite data has confirmed a theory that solar radiation colliding with the Earth's magnetic field generates a series of "chirps and whistles".  The story briefly explains the science behind the discovery and closes with the observation

Our planet is also known to hum, a mysterious low-frequency sound thought to be caused by the churning ocean or the roiling atmosphere.

I put together this brief list of ten reasons I keep Torah:

10. My prayer would not be heard and would be a sin (Proverbs 28:9, Jeremiah 7:8-16).  

9. When Messiah returns those who follow him will be obeying Torah and keeping the festivals (Ezekiel 45:16, Zechariah 14:16, Jeremiah 33:14-18).  

8. There are over 1,089 commands from the Torah in the "New Testament".  

7. If you obey one part of the Torah (such as "love your neighbor as yourself" or "Love the Lord your G-d with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind") you are required to keep the entire Torah (Galatians 5:3).

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for Monday, June 16th was obeisance.  They defined it as such:

1 : a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission : bow 2 : acknowledgment of another’s superiority or importance : homage

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for Saturday, May 31st was "impeccable" a word defined thusly:

1. not capable of sinning or liable to sin
2. free from fault or  blame : flawless

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for Saturday, May 17th was "incandescent" a noun which M-W defined as such:

• a : white, glowing, or luminous with intense heat  b : marked by brilliance  especially of expression  c : characterized by glowing zeal : ardent
• a  : of, relating to, or being light produced by incandescence b : producing light  by incandescence

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for Monday, May 12th was iconoclast, a noun which M-W defined as:

1 : a person who destroys religious images or opposes their veneration 2 : a person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions

The Merriam-Webster Word of the Day for Tuesday, May 13th was "attitudinize", a verb meaning to assume a certain posture. Here is what M-W had to say about it:

The English word "attitude" was first used in the 17th century to describe the posture of a sculptured or painted figure. The word was borrowed from French and formed from the Italian word "attitudine", meaning "aptitude" or "natural tendency". By the early 18th century, "attitude" was also being used for the posture a person assumed for a specific purpose. And by mid-century, "attitudinarians," people who study and practice attitudes, were being talked about. The verb "attitudinize" followed in 1784.

As we draw into the final week before the moed of Pesach/Chag HaMatzot we should give heed to the instruction found in the Torah:

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses; for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.

-Exodus 12:15

As always, the physical commandment provides us with a picture of the spiritual truth.  Both should be obeyed.  We should clean the leaven from our homes both physically and spiritually.

Some time ago I was trying to explain to my children how our deeds have greater value after we are redeemed than before we are redeemed.

The analogy of a coupon came to mind:

The inherent value of the coupon is only 1/100 of a cent. You would have to gather up 100 coupons to get a single penny! That is like our deeds before we are redeemed:

...And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment...

- Isaiah 64:6

Front time to time I receive messages from a dear brother in Messiah, Kevin Smithson.  He travels extensively with his bride, Heather, and shares amazing stories of faith.  Here is his latest:

I have desired to get information out to you all about some awesome things GOD is doing and our many travels since getting back to TX.  However, I have not made the time to get it done.  When I saw this I definitely wanted to get this great story to you.   So, even though it is nearly a month since he sent it, here it is.

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our  iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we  are healed."- Isaiah 53:5

I was thinking of this passage this morning as I was wrapping tefillin.  For  those of you who aren't familiar with tefillin they look like this:

During a men's study today an interesting analogy I have been using was further fleshed out by a friend of mine, Jon Coll.  The analogy is one involving football and faith.

By coming to faith in Yeshua we have "joined His team" so to speak.  We are each called to "play in the game" we are assigned.  We are also called to play by the rules: to act honorably (Hebrew 13:18) and to stop sinning (1 Corinthians 15:34) .  The basic rules that apply to every player are the "rules" found in Torah: the traditionally counted 613 commandments.  Everyone has the same "out of bounds", the same rules regarding fouls, etc.  Even though every person plays by the same rules the "Coach" gives each person individual assignments and tasks to carry out.