22 For while Jews [demandingly] ask for signs and miracles and Greeks pursue philosophyand wisdom,
23 We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandaland an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense.
24 But to those who are called, whether Jew or Greek (Gentile), Christ [is] the Power of God and the Wisdom of God.
25 [This is] because the foolish thing [that has its source in] God is wiser than men, and the weak thing [that springs] from God is stronger than men.
The left, the right, the middle, atheist, agnostic, anarchist--- its not supposed to matter if you agree or disagree! You are blessed to live in America and are free because some really brave folks got together and had a Revolution based on their belief they were endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights - among them the right to worship God as you want and run your mouth as you damn well please!!! (Remember sticks and stones & all that jazz?!)
Being politically correct is Anti American in every way shape or form.
If we don't understand our freedoms and defend them- they will be taken away from us.
Look at whats happening around you folks - really look.
When your government has taken on the majority of characteristics as the Ministry of Truth, and the general public sounds like their using Newspeak, we may need to start paying attention. #Less1984More1776
Jefferson called for a Revolution with each generation, we're long overdue.
Being politically correct is Anti American in every way shape or form.
Who we are is offensive. We are Cowboys, Rebels, Independent Thinkers!
#Freedomisoffensive and it should be.
The most offensive thing this world has ever seen was an innocent man, beaten-humiliated and strung on a cross 2000 years ago - they're still talking about it. #Hediedtomakeyoufree
Remember who you are America. But most of all I implore you, do not perish for a lack of knowledge.
I have never struggled with saying 'I'm sorry', I do however have a real difficult time admitting I'm wrong. Stubborn, willful, stiff necked - yup that's me. On this eve of Yom Kippur it's time for me to reflect on that negative personality trait, and do my best to fix it. I have some work to do, but God knows I am getting better all the time. I am grateful for His grace and mercy in my life.
"The Talmud, an ancient collection of Jewish law and stories, claims that God created repentance before creating the universe. Whether one believes in God or not, it's a compelling concept, one that emphasizes how we are fated to misstep, but that we also have the capacity to undo some or all of the harm we cause." - Elissa Strauss
I was recently asked why I observe the "Jewish" holidays. I was not born a Jew and it has caused moderate discomfort to family and friends at times over the last 5 or so years that I no longer participate in traditional Christian observances like Christmas.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the prophesied Jewish Messiah, for many years I did not. Spending my early twenties as a soft boiled atheist I was however, always seeking, looking for answers. As an avid student of history, I compared the world's mythologies discovering there were some common themes. For many years I lumped Jesus of Nazareth in with all the other 'wise teachers' of the ages. This was until I read the scriptures with different eyes - examining them in the context in which they were written. My personal discovery was that this itinerant poor preacher from the Galilee, was different. The whole book, from beginning to end, was unique in the world. The God of the Hebrews stands out among all the other gods, this 'myth' is not like the rest.
Coming to understand the significance of the seasons and cycles, commandments and times of the Lord has added richness, depth and substance to my faith. Making the leap of faith was a difficult one for me, understanding the Hebrew roots of Christianity helped to provide me with a foundation of evidence from which to make that leap. This knowledge is not reserved for the Jews, these are the feasts of the LORD, Jesus came for everybody. Hallelujah and AMEN!
I recommend: ARTICLE Why even non-Jews should celebrate Yom Kippur Elissa Strauss writes: "The act of teshuvah discourages such thinking, pulling us away from the idea that misunderstandings and indiscretions can be so easily resolved. Here is how you do it:
1. Beregretful: This involves thinking hard about what you did wrong, and what kind of harm was experienced as a result.
2. Stop the offending behavior: You can't sincerely apologize for something you are still doing.
3. Confess to the sin and ask for forgiveness. Jewish law prescribes that this be done verbally, and that we remain humble and contrite in our request.
4. Commit to never repeating it. This one is tough."
"Then came the day of the unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He said to Peter and John 'go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat...'" Luke 22:7-8
"And as they were eating, Jesus took the bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat, this is my body' " - Matthew 26:26
"Christ came as high Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle...not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood He entered the most holy place once and for all, having obtained eternal redemption. " -Hebrews 9:11-12
I'm sorry but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible; Jew, Gentile, black men, white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each others' happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.
Greed has poisoned men's souls; has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge as made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in man; cries out for universal brotherhood; for the unity of us all.
Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women, and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me, I say "Do not despair." The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.
Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you; who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder! Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men---machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have a love of humanity in your hearts! You don't hate! Only the unloved hate; the unloved and the unnatural.
Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the seventeenth chapter of St. Luke, it’s written “the kingdom of God is within man”, not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people, have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy, let us use that power.
Let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill their promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world! To do away with national barriers! To do away with greed, with hate and intolerance! Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us all unite! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1476662
The first scripture I ever highlighted in any bible was Hebrews 12:12-13. At the time, I was 15 or 16 years old and can only be described as incredibly self absorbed. Faith was far from me, I was working hard to be an atheist - the earth was too messed up to have a benevolent "god" running the show. I spent most of my time feeling sorry for myself and being grateful for nothing.
Oh, what a silly girl; I had never been homeless, gone hungry or been abused - and yet my gratitude did not abound. As I sat crying on my bed overwhelmed by the world that day, somehow my Mother's Living Bible had found its way in to my hand, it fell open - and there it was before me: Hebrews 12:12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
Sitting there reading, it was as if this was a message written explicitly for me, speaking directly to my heart. I'd love to say that as my eyes devoured the words on the page before me that I had a great revelation - that I became a better person instantly- faithful, giving, grateful, a strong leader - but that's not what happened. It would be almost a decade before I would consider setting my own self and desires aside for a greater good, before I would even begin to understand how much I had to be thankful for.
That day however, there was a shift in me, and the path I was on changed course. While I would continue to struggle with belief, faith, self pity and weakness, wanting to give up whenever any adversity presented itself in life, a new voice was now whispering in my ear. A voice proclaiming the knowledge that most importantly we must be strong not for ourselves, but for the others. Yes, God can seem far away and unknowable. Yes, life is hard. Yes, we are tired and weak. We have reason and must, however, walk on.
How easily we forget facts we've memorized, lessons we've learned, memories fade as life presses in. When it seemed I was under attack, when I just wanted to throw in the towel - I would most generally turn to Hebrews 12 to be reminded, it was not about me - but the others. When I neglected to turn to this scripture, wallowing in my own despair, somehow it would find me.
On a day most like any other, with the exception that on this one, I could not seem to get beyond the horror and sadness that my dear Grandmother was losing her battle with Alzheimer's. The long goodbye was more painful than it seemed I could bear, on this day, the scripture found me. First, it was shared on the radio in my kitchen - giving me a glimmer of hope for a moment - but the dark shadow cast across my heart was too big to be overcome with a mere reminder. Then I walked in to my living room, as I passed the television it happened to be tuned to the Crystal Cathedral program and as I went to change the channel, Dr. Robert Schuller proceeded to begin reading from the book of Hebrews, and not just any chapter - you guessed it, Chapter 12. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck, I knew I was not alone.
God gave me the strength to care for my Grandmother Mahota as Alzheimer's claimed her personality, mind, body and finally life. Spending days with her laughing at silly things like children, feeding her and clothing her as she had done for me. Near the very end, when she was confined to a hospital bed in the front room of her home, mostly unresponsive and not able to communicate, my dear friends "The Glory Girls" singing group stopped in to share some hymns. We sat around Mahota's bed, the words of "Amazing Grace" and "In the garden" bringing us all some peace. Then as we began "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", Mahota not only sat up - but lifted her hand into the air- keeping time with the music. An Okie, a lady of the Southwest at heart - I know the words of that hymn for my Grandmother were a sign from the Heavens -just as Hebrews 12 has been for me. Reaching her in her lost state, she knew she was not alone.
This fall I dropped my son off for his Freshman year at college, 17 years flew by and as we carried his things in to his dorm room I kept seeing him as a baby just learning to walk - a 4 year old just learning to read... the vision of the grown man before me seeming surreal. His is a private Catholic school nestled on a mountain side in New Hampshire, we were blessed to attend a beautiful mass before leaving him that Sunday in September. As the Priest opened the book, my broken mother's heart was looking for some sign that this was the place for my son - that he would be okay here, that I could let go... "our reading today", he said, "is from the book of Hebrews, Chapter 12."
None of us is alone.
