MessianicMusings.com

Christmas gift ideas are not something most messianics have to worry about for themselves, but by celebrating the Jewish calendar, we can find occasions to give gifts to each other. The most typical is Hanukkah, but it doesn’t always have to be that.

For example, Purim was another excellent holiday for gift-giving. What better time to exchange gifts than at a time when we celebrate freedom from oppression and escape from genocide?

Birthdays and marriage anniversaries are also excellent occasions. And hey, there’s always the shabbat of the L-rd. Sure, it happens every week, but would it be such a bad idea to spruce one up by surprising your spouse with an unexpected gift?

In other words, you don’t need Christmas to give gifts to those you love. You just need a willing and open, giving heart. Just don’t tell that to the retailers.

In the times of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, Adonai could tell someone to get up, move somewhere else, and they could trust G-d to provide a home for them. That’s a bit harder in today’s society. One might be told by G-d to pull up stakes and move to Florida, but once you’re there, you’ll probably still need to deal with things like Miami flat fee MLS

I do think things were simpler back then, but that doesn’t mean more faith is required these days. In some ways, perhaps less faith is required. When called by G-d to pull up stakes, we usually know where we’re going and use such modern conveniences so that when we arrive, everything’s ready for us.

Biblical figures didn’t have such assurances. G-d would often tell them something general like, “Head west,” and leave the rest a mystery. Of course, I suppose each generation has their challenges to living a life of trusting G-d.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to go back in time to view some of the most important events in history? While I know most believers would want to witness the birth of Yeshua, there are many other events that would be wonderful to witness first-hand as well, from the comfort of theater seating, to boot!

I would love to watch the events of the exodus unfold. From the plagues to the parting to the giving of the 10 commandments, I’m certain the reality would put even the best work of Cecil B. DeMille to shame.

Now, sure, faith with evidence is no faith at all, but I’m not talking about needing to see it in order to believe. I’m talking about taking in the wonder of such events.

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of irresponsible authors - most of them Christian in orientation - talking about Biblical diets and how G-dly living can produce healthful results. I’m going to step on a lot of toes saying this, but: hogwash!

Biblical principles are not some divine substitution that was laying around until mankind could invent diet pills and the diet patch to help you lose weight, nor is it some secret formula to a longer, healthier life. If that were true, Orthodox Jews from the time of Yeshua would still be around to offer us eyewitness testimony to his messiahship.

Fasting is not a way to lose weight, either, nor is it what fasting was about. With our fast food culture, it might be hard for many to get their brains wrapped around this, but 2,000 years ago, making two or three meals a day was a completely “from scratch” affair and what fasting was about was allowing folks to free up the time they spent making meals, eating them and cleaning up afterward, so they could all spend more time in prayer.

It’s about your spiritual health, not your physical health, people. Time to stop defining G-d’s Word by your own time and culture and start learning what he REALLY means.

Poker tables are not a standard part of any self-respecting messianic synagogue. There’s a good reason why. We know there is a biblical prohibition against gambling, for one.

But a more important one, I think, comes from the crucifixtion of Messiah Yeshua. I’m fairly certain Adonai was not pleased with the soldiers who sat at the foot of the cross, gambling for Yeshua’s clothes.

Plus, we also know he wasn’t happy with those who simply exchanged money for sacrificial animals in the temple, casting them out of Adonai’s house of worship.

Not bringing gambling into a house of worship - no matter what shade of Judaic or Christian faith one practices, would seem to be a no brainer.

So, tell me, why again are bingo tournaments held have church services in so many denomonations?

One of the less appealing duties of a shabbat school teacher is having to tell parents when their kids need to make more of an effort, or have in some other way performed below expectations. I’m not carpentry-inclined, but I’d rather deal with cabinet hardware sometimes, than tell a parent their kid could be trying harder or behaving better.

But ultimately, most parents understand. It’s not that some kids are better or worse than others. It’s that kids are kids. Sometimes they try hard and sometimes… they’re kids.

I’ve been busy all summer teaching the bar and bat mitzveh class at my congregation, Kehilat Sar Shalom. Though not without a bump here and there, it’s been rewarding work because I feel at age 40 I’ve finally found my “voice” as a teacher and am able to capture enough of my students’ respect that I can actually teach them something.

So this week, I felt like it was time to reward the kids for nearly a summer’s worth of hard work. I wanted to do something nice, but it’s not like I could afford a gund stuffed animal for each of them or anything.

So I settled on the universal uniter: food. But it’s harder than ever to choose food wisely. Not only must something be found that is within kosher laws - easily met by going with baked goods - but with so many allergies going around these days, it’s hard to find something that’s safe for everyone.

We have at least one family in our congregation with the peanut allergy, so my first choice of M&M Cookies had to be put aside, since the package confessed it was made in a kitchen where exposure to trace amounts of peanuts might be present.

What I finally settled on was little white mini-cupcakes. It was a very vanilla selection, but at least no one got sick from it.

Every once in a while, even a religiously-themed blog like Messianic Musings has to take a time-out for one post and acknowledge one of the sponsors that helps keep this blog up and running. In this case, it’s a nice little site for expectant mothers, Kiki’s Fashions. The company specializes in maternity clothes that are a bit more stylish than most of the things you’ll find on display in the average department store maternity clothes section.

We ordered one for a friend of ours who is about six or seven months along and she loved it. A messianic like my wife and me, she has worn the top regularly since we gave it to her and certainly seems to enjoy it. “It goes better with my skirt than what I had on today,” was her first reaction after trying it on.

Of course, some of their fashions are a bit sheer and revealing for some messianic believers, but if, like a lot of messianic women, you wear more than one layer of clothing, then the top fits right in to just about any ensemble, especially when adding a prayer shawl or wrap over the top of it.

My wife and I were pleased to find something for our expectant friend. If you know of someone who’s “showing,” it’s a great little place to check out, and the prices are reasonable.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled theological musings.

The main thing on my mind, heart and spirit right now is this: we can chat here all we want about Yeshua the messiah, about our actions still mattering even though there is grace in messiah, about any number of messianic-related topics.

But it’s like I’ve told the bar- and bat-mitzvah kids I’ve been teaching: unless you start allowing what you’re learning here to make a difference in how you live, it’s all nothing more than a big waste of time.

Ask anyone in drug rehab. You could have the best doctors in the world, and unless a patient wants to stop drinking and using drugs, it’s all a waste of time.

Same thing with religion. Too many of us go only because we have this vague feeling that it’s good for us and it’s what we’re supposed to do to get into heaven.

But unless we start practicing what we believe, living it out instead of letting our flesh rule our actions, it’s all wasted time. We’d be better off watching Saturday Morning cartoons.

Food for thought… and action.

Messianic worship artist Paul Wilbur came to the Twin Cities this weekend, accompanied as always by the worship and dance group that tries to go with him on his ministry tours. But this time, there was a change. In the name of that group.

For years called “For Zion’s Sake,” the group now goes by the less Hebraic, less “Jewish-sounding” name of “For His Name’s Sake.” Although their performances are beautiful, and their ministry need significant (transporting a team of at least 60 performers and crew around the world isn’t cheap … just consider all the Samsonite luggage alone!) I can’t help but be disappointed in the name change.

I expect mainstream Christianity to do everything they can to “sanitize” their religion of any sign of Hebrew roots. They’ve been doing it for the better part of 2,000 years!

But when the messianic movement starts doing it, too? The messianic movement is in trouble. And worse, because we’re supposed to know better. We worship a Jewish G-d and his Jewish messiah. What’s to be ashamed of?

I’ve noticed that mainline Christian believers are as susceptible as anyone to blaming Adonai for the death of a loved one. The thought generally goes that believing in the resurrection is easy… until someone close to you actually has need of it. Then it’s time to say G-d failed at his job of returning before you or anyone you love passes away.

Selfish, really. Maybe they need a retreat at a Pigeon Forge cabin rental to get their head back on straight, I don’t know.

But by reciting kaddish, the purpose is actually to battle against that. To put Adonai back on his rightful place, as a the just G-d of heaven and the L-rd of your life. Seems rather wise to me as a way to battle the natural “blame G-d in your grief” instincts we all struggle with.

Kaddish is all about forgiving G-d, really. Even though it’s something he’s not responsible for. Even death was our choice. Once you’re in eternity… ask Adam.

At our congregation, we’ve lost a few folks in the past year, so reciting the Kaddish has become a bit of a regular thing at Kehilat Sar Shalom. When I first heard the prayer many years ago, I just couldn’t appreciate it.

Where was the message about the hope of the resurrection in this? Where was the talk about our loved ones merely falling asleep, and our ultimate reunion with them in Yeshua? Where was all that talk about the lilies of the field? Or the silk trees, for that matter?

But as time’s gone by, I think I’ve understood a bit of the wisdom in it. I came close to losing my mom in the past couple weeks to a stroke. It was a hard thing, to face my mom’s mortality. And while G-d has decided to extend her days so far, I know they’re numbered.

Given this experience, I think I understand the mourner’s prayer better now. All that talk of a deceased loved one keeps the mourner’s focus on… the deceased loved one, not on Adonai and his messiah, Yeshua, where it belongs.

Take a look and see what I mean:

Kaddish

Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen.

May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.

Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.

May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.