4-25-2013 Offended

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely accuse you of all kinds of evil because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

                     Matthew 5:11-12

Lord, I have to admit, I should have expected this, but I simply wasn’t prepared. You’ve warned me it would happen and yet I think deep within my soul dwells a sense of naivety – I didn’t want the possibility to exist. I have discovered just how blind to the reality I’ve been.

            Several days ago, I was leaving work and greeted a person who works in another department. He is a confessed agnostic at best, viewing Your existence as only a possibility; defining Your character as removed and isolated from the day-to-day events in our lives. The concept of Your desiring interaction with us has no meaning for him.

His history with Christianity is unpleasant and this well-read skeptic appears to spend a lot of time reading and researching what he believes to be evidence of all religions’ ill effect on the world.    

Master, as You know, I’ve had numerous conversations with this young man in the past and I’ve shared my testimony with him, not pressing for conversion, but sharing, as best as I’ve been able, how You have changed my life.

            Up to this point, It’s been me answering his questions. I had a genuine hope that, in spite of whatever injury from others he has experienced in the past, maybe, just maybe I could show him how a true relationship with You (as opposed to some ceremonial ritual or declaration) can impact one individual.

            But on this particular day, the young man lashed out. “I believe You Christians actually want the rest of us to go to this hell you say exists.

            He went on to condemn me based not necessarily on my actions, but on what he claimed were the insensitive acts of an unjust God: War, famine, earthquakes, poverty, and of course on the examples of those who have committed atrocities in Your name. He went on to pronounce me guilty by association with anyone who claimed their actions to be authorized by You. Some issues he listed (the Crusades being an obvious lightning rod), I’ve had struggles with as well.

I wanted to explain to him that I know, as often happens; righteous beginnings are frequently twisted into disastrous results through mankind perverting Your intentions and desire.   I wanted to share mutual regret with him, but at that moment, he stepped over the line, “I reject a Judeo Christian God. I’m offended by you and your God who would allow such cruelty to others.”

The anger in him towards me and You was palpable. I think at that moment Adonai, I acquired a better appreciation for the persecution of the Jews and martyrs of Christianity. I felt sadness for both my adversary and myself – there would be no opportunity for exploring with one another, Your incredible loving kindness.

When the young man made his declaration, blaming the world's condition on me and You, my God, I wanted also to blame someone! Was it him? Was it those who have misrepresented You over the course of history.

Then a thought hit me. Am I indeed at fault? I need to be alert and honest from the standpoint that I do engage in actions, speak words and frequently leave things undone that adversely affect others. I don’t need to be guilty by association – I’ve got my own baggage and regrets I can easily confess.

OK, YHWH, I understand my involvement in all of this, but what got my attention was that I found myself also being offended by the young man’s accusation against You. I wanted to speak truth, into the man – that You do NOT have baggage; You instead have a plan to dispose of my baggage. You are God, not an offending party.

Then I realized that, all he was measuring You by―what most people measure You by―are the actions and inactions of Your followers.

In life, I will be the offender – it doesn’t matter, only You matter and I need to remember that. As a Christ Follower, with You completing my incomplete and pathetic efforts, I’m viewed by others through a prism of contempt, measured by a standard I can neither live up to nor escape: Only you Yeshua have measured up – and for that you were crucified!

Messiah, even in that moment of death, you offered forgiveness. I may not ever be forgiven by the young man, but the model I’ll follow is yours – I forgive him.  With Your help I'll work at not being offended – instead, I’ll strive even more to become a testimony to others of Your love as You are a testimony of love to me!

            Do I feel persecuted? Yes. It’s a strange sensation for I believe with all my heart that I am striving to better serve my fellow man as You, my God have taught me to do. I would hope that the world would recognize that desire. I would hope they’d recognize that same striving by Your people in the land of Israel and that of Your people in the land where I currently reside and in the hearts all of Your people.

Whether by choice or blindness, the world of nonbelievers doesn’t recognize it. I need to accept it is the world’s problem – not Your intent.

            I get it, Lord. It means I not only must accept persecution as a reality, but that, the more I strive to follow Your way, the more I’ll be blamed without forgiveness for both my negligent actions and for those of my fellow believers.  I’ll even be blamed and judged harshly for believing in You and for serving righteously.

So, how will You have me follow Your intent Father – show me more – how do I live ­the lifestyle; dying to self yet living for You in such a way that world is inspired rather than offended? Spirit – I understand, it is You who inspires. My role is only to obey.

Persecution appears to be increasing in Israel, here, and throughout the world toward Your people. Lord, Your will is not always easy to follow, even as you, Yeshua demonstrated on the cross. So I ask for one thing from You to help me, to help all who offend through their belief in You.

Please give us Shalom to endure.

Mark C.

3-27-2013 Yada Haggadah

   I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
   There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.       Ephesians 4:1-6

Adonai, I’m witnessing a growing interest by Christians regarding the Feast and Festivals; Seder suppers and Shabbat celebrations appear to be on the rise; discussions concerning the true meaning of Torah and its relevance today are increasing. Sensitivity and attention to the country of Israel is increasing: What’s happening Lord, what is this Spiritual energy that is appears to be on the increase?

You continue to amaze. Just as You’ve awakened me to the incredible correlation of Your physical birth with the season of Hanukah; now You are broadening my understanding of the parallels between Passover/Pesach and the events leading up to Your Resurrection.

For those of the Jewish faith, there were several covenants You offered in return for their devotion. Among those covenants – You promised them a Land, You assured they would continuously multiply in number; You distinguished them by establishing a separate and distinct relationship with them, unlike any other on Earth.

And then through them, You became a man so that You could not only live with all of mankind, but also die for them.  It’s all written out, it’s all historically and spiritually set in stone. Not just a once-a-year Exodus story for Jewish children to hear, but a Universal Haggadah (a telling by You) of Salvation: From Genesis to Revelation; to the all of us – Jew and Gentile alike – for the choosing.

Master, I now see the vastness of Your plan and can no longer ignore or diminish the significant bond I share with my Jewish brothers and sisters. Without their messianic roots for Your created vine, I could not, would not be grafted into Your love. Without my witness of personal redemption; how can they see that You have indeed already risen for them as well? You never intended to save only a particular people or culture. But You did create a partnership with Israel’s decedents in order to demonstrate how anyone willing to obey and follow can be reclaimed to a relationship with You.

Elohim even in the midst of realization – recognizing the increased positive dialogue emerging among Your chosen – I sense spiritual confusion in the wind of our time. There is a growing effort on the part of some – in the Jewish, Christian, secular and para-faith communities – to create hostility and resentment within our ranks. They would minimalize the significance of all Your covenants through all time.

Is not the word “everlasting” symbiotically infused to Your agreements just as Your first people are bound to You? How can we depend on future eternity with You if we can’t rely on Your historical assurances?  

Which brings me full circle, El Shaddai – As Patti and I reach out to others about our hopes for a second mission trip to The Land, we have come to realize that we’re not the only ones in our community who are being convicted. Others’ eyes and ears are being opened to reconsider the relevance of Your first chosen people in relation to all Your chosen people; reaching out to better understand the connections, rather than the separations of faith between Jew and Christian. So many people we know are stirred, just as others were spiritually uplifted by the events of Your birth in a cave, and Your resurrection from a cave. Whether, skeptic or believer, Jew, Christian or other; none can deny the power of the message: There is a God who actually cares and He has a plan for redemption – choose to seek Him deeply or reject Him and perish.

Your message for me through all of this, Lord? I hear You saying loud and clear – “Now is the time. Experience the Telling…Yada Haggadah ! Honor all my covenants with all my people. Remember the order of them; remember My purpose and love for them just as I remember My purpose and love for you. Do it now, do it always.

You are at work Elohim, no doubt about it – just as in ancient days doorways were being prepared for Your power to reveal itself, so You are now telling us to unite as one family for Your return. The only question that remains – Are we ready, individually and as one people, to receive our King?

Adonai, Ahnee Yada, Adonai Ahnee Yadah (You Lord, I remember, You Lord, I praise),

Mark C.

1-14-13 Tracing the Source

Mosaic depiction of the Via Dolorosa walk

When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice. For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.

For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of.   Deuteronomy 4:30-32

Ein Gedi Nature Trail

Conventional wisdom encourages me to look forward, freeing myself from the past and always considering the “New”.  Mankind is evolving, I’m told. Science is advancing; products and life are improving. Even the Good News associated with Your coming to walk the earth is proclaimed as the New Testament. What is it then Lord that causes me to keep glancing back?

I know that I’m not to live in the past, but that doesn’t mean I can’t learn from it, or that I shouldn’t study its purpose. Your scriptures reference time after time when You, Jesus, spoke scriptural history into the hearts of your audience.

Church of  The Annunciation

You alluded to the writings of Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel and many of the other prophets in order to reveal Yourself as Messiah. When you warned your disciples of the tribulation to come, suggesting a reference in Isaiah, we as believers are compelled to trust in that passage. When You Savior, said, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings,” referencing Hosea; we willingly acknowledge You and strive to follow Your example of mercy and grace.

So if you gave Your blessing to these scriptures in the Tenackh, as truth, what does that say of the entire writings of those same prophets? You, God of all wisdom, wouldn’t pick one piece of fruit from a tree without blessing the whole crop. You said it Yourself,

          

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”

Genesaret

Abraham's Tent

Am I to assume from Your endorsement of the prophets, that all they had to say is truth?  If one verse of one prophet’s pen is validated by You, Jesus, doesn’t that mean all the words of that Prophet must be taken as truth? Can I separate one from the other? 

So when You tell us to participate in specific feasts and festivals and then use the word “forever”, am I to ignore You? And when You command me to love my neighbor as myself referencing Deuteronomy, does that suggest I love them only when convenient to my purposes and only under the conditions I interpret to be necessary?

Source of the Jordan River

You, the Logos who created all things of this planet, once went to Jerusalem on the Feast of Booths (Sukkot) and proclaimed Yourself the source of Living Water. Because of Your reference to Zechariah, many on that day realized You to be the Messiah. Do I acknowledge the same? Is my faith rooted in scriptural prophecy, what does that mean regarding the truth of the rest of those messengers?

I don’t know why it has taken me so long to connect the dots relating to Your word, but now it makes sense: You Jesus had no hidden agenda –Your message concerning the prophecies and scripture is clear and precise;

Buy into all of it or be a part of none of it.

I was taught  in the Boy Scouts, Lord, that if you wanted to find the freshest (untainted, unpolluted) water, you would follow a river or stream to get as close as possible to its original source. Apparently the Boy Scouts learned that from You and I need to remember that You as creator, made no mistake in creating truth. If so, forgive me for my past efforts to deny Your truth and the scriptures that illuminate it.

Which brings us to the future, Master: If this Reverse Scriptural Reasoning applies to things which have happened, shouldn’t those Biblical verses pointing to times present and beyond also be taken seriously? What does that imply of Isaiah’s words:

On that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven, in heaven,                                       and the kings of the earth, on the earth.

…or when he explains:

Samaria

Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; but you shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.

Am I to respond to Zachariah’s edict when he writes:

Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths.  And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them.

Cliffs of the Gospel Trail

Adonai, maybe, just maybe I’m not evolving. Perhaps the world is not improving, but is the same as it has always been. And maybe You, El Shaddai have been consistent and steady down to the least jot and tittle. If these things are true, then what else can be true? Who is it who must be willing to change in order to honor this truth…You, or me?

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD:                                      look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry                                                       from which you were dug. Isa 51:1

Bitcho bo (Trust in Him),

Mark C.

1-1-2013 Living Prophecy

Second Temple

 

And the man said to me, "Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in 

order  that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel."

                                                                                                           Ezekiel 40:4

Entrance to Church of Jacob's Well

All the Christmas festivities are history for 2012, El Shaddai and many might look at Your entire story in the same way – a history lesson rather than a living lesson. As Patti and I look toward the New Year, we pray that our walk with You is not one of hope based on how we have served, but rather based on how we will continue to honor You.

With that mindset we approach You now. We have felt called by You, to lead a group to visit Israel in the fall of 2013. We pray now that, if this is truly Your will; those interested in studying about and personally experiencing Living Prophecy in the country are provided with the conviction and resources necessary for such a journey.

Path to The Sea of Galilee

We ask that You guide us with wisdom and understanding; that all involved will be changed (as we continue to be changed) through actual contact with the people and the land. Keep us mindful of Your purpose and Your desire, that the world may know that You are God alone (Elohim echad) through our example passion to know You better.

We pray for our eyes to see and our ears to hear – in the name of Jesus, our risen Lord and Savior, who first walked and taught in the land, that we may learn and live by his example.

B’rakah, Adonai (Blessings, Lord),

Amen

12-8-2012 Brighteousness

What shall I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. I walk slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul. O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit. Oh restore me to health and make me live! Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back. For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness. The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.  The LORD will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the LORD.                      Isaiah 38:15-20

Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil." Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely separate me from his people"; and let not the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree." For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. "And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant-- these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, "I will gather yet others to him      besides those already gathered." Isaiah 56:1-8

I was speaking with my friends Tommy and Chris about the challenge of reviving the dialogue between Christians and Jews – both, Your people Adonai, though each claims favoritism in Your sight. Tommy emphasized his ongoing efforts to enter into midrash – the quest for deeper understanding of Your spiritual/historical narrative – with Rabbis and Christian pastors, only to be rebuked by both. The Jewish people still resent how they have been treated throughout history by Christians, while we followers of Jesus, whether intentionally or by ignorance, have claimed false rights under a banner of Replacement Theology. Many in the Church today suggest that the Jews are “Non-players” in the End-Times story which is unfolding. After all, Your first chosen people reject Jesus as Messiah, how could they possibly still be acceptable in Your sight?

            Father in Heaven, it frustrates me to no end that we, as Christians, have become so dogmatic. In fact there appears to be more to the story than meets the casual study we have put into Your text. As well, the Hebrew spiritual culture has also drawn a spiteful line in the sand, claiming authority that does not appear (anywhere that I can find) to have been granted them in Your word.

            At this time of year especially, Your history presents an opportunity. I look at two celebrations: The Festival of Lights – Hanukkah; and that of the entry of Hope into the world in the birth of you, Jesus, whom we Christians claim as Messiah. Immediately Lord, alarm bells might be going off in the hearts and minds of those from both camps who may be reading these words. Each will wonder at the audacity to suggest any connection between these two events. And so I pray for Your midrash, not ours, to enter in.

As I understand, Hanukkah focuses on the efforts of the priest Matthias and his supporters during the Greek/Syrian occupation of Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem resisted and ultimately won a great victory establishing their right to worship You. During this revolt, the Temple mount had been desecrated and the priests barricaded themselves in the Temple in protest. Part of the rituals performed in the temple included keeping an eternal flame – Your light – burning at all times using consecrated oil. During the eight-day Temple blockade, only one vessel of oil – good for one day’s illumination – remained. The priests prayed and fasted during their occupation and You answered by keeping the flame lit for the eight-day duration – demonstrating to the people and to their aggressors, Your presence and commitment to honor Your covenant with Israel.

            To me, the celebration of Christmas centers on the birth of a child, Jesus of Nazareth, during the reign of Herod the Great. Prior to the birth, the child’s mother, named Mary, was visited by the Angel Gabriel and told that she would conceive a child, through Your Spirit, who would fulfill the Messianic prophesies – weaving an extraordinarily human component into the telling – offering great hope for mankind, even speaking of a star, guiding kings and dignitaries from foreign lands, to offer tribute and honor to the child who would one day also be proclaimed Savior and King.

            So how does it start – the dialogue and quest for unity - the willingness to find the deeper meaning You have always meant for all of us to possess? How do we join with our Jewish brothers and sisters – our “kin” – in the hunger to understand Your desire? What (or who) can change our hearts and compel us to take first steps together onto common ground? Only Your Spirit, of course, has the ability to move us in the same direction. Are we ready to hear… to “Shema”?

I’m certainly not the first to connect the dots regarding these two events, El Shaddai. Others have noted the reference to light and Your Shekinah Glory – Your tangible presence – being involved in both Hanukkah and Christmas. You, The God of the universe doing something no-one would expect, reaching out with a plan to save people – who don’t deserve saving – from physical and spiritual desolation.

But being first or last to recognize the power of Your love is not enough. It’s what we do now with Your love received. HaShem, prayer appears to be where understanding and common ground always begin. What would happen if Jews and Christians actually prayed together for enlightenment regarding one another’s traditions and beliefs? What could happen if we found commonality in Your words and Your blessing for all of us? What might each of us learn and how might we be inspired?

            I have no idea because, frankly, I’m just a voice crying in the wilderness. I don’t hear many others asking these questions or wanting the answers.

            You, Master, in Your wisdom created light so that we could see to become righteous. And that righteousness, in Your eyes, requires us to walk with our eyes open – not only to make sure we’re headed the right direction in seeking You, but I suspect also to avoid bumping into all the others that You are inviting to Your table. As I heard my friends discussing the dilemma of dialogue between Old and New Testament, a new word popped into my head: “Brighteousness” – the sight of those who walk, regardless of their past, toward a completed understanding of Your kingdom to come.

            So Elohim, I pray for a beginning – where two or more gathered, might grow to become a multitude of worshipers, all as one, reaching out, all seeking Your love. All finding in Your ancient scripture, new revelation: tearing down the walls of separation and denominations; inviting to both Jew and Gentile, reconciliation and restoration.

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Brighteousness to all His children,

Mark C.

Zevah ha-shelamim (Join me in sacrifice)!

11-22-2012 Why Thanks?

‎"Says the LORD who made the earth, Elohim Adonai who formed it to establish it--YHWH is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:2-3 



Why do we even give thanks? What is it inside each of us that compels anything more than simple appreciation for the food and provisions we enjoy? Why do I hear whispers within me that say "Do more - give thanks!" Is is just the groaning of my stomach? Give thanks to whom? Those who grew the food, prepared the food, shared the table? Sure, but how did all this come about? Is there a greater Thanks to offer?

10-28-2012 The Last Two Thousand Years

Flags of the Nations at  Ein Bokek by the Dead Sea

He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many

peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears

into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither

shall they learn war anymore.  Isaiah 2:4

Lord, I was listening the other day to some music by an interesting Jewish artist by the name of Batshava; in particular a song she sings about the historical persecution of the Jews. She sings the phrase,

Jewish Worshiper at the Western Wall

“Why should they remember and add their tears

to the fountain of the last two thousand years?”

To my selfish way of thinking, my existence has been completely altered for the better by an event that happened two thousand years ago – the amazing life, death and resurrection of You, Messiah Yeshua – when You took on my sins, mankind’s sins and offered an eternal relationship for any who believe in Your relationship as one with The Father. I’m one of those who believe with my whole heart that You are the Son of The Most High.

Battle between Satan and Jesus portrayed in
mural at the Church of Jacob's Well

Yet for a Jew, who also recognizes You, YHWH as Elohim Adonai echad – The One Lord God – but who still waits for a Messianic appearance, things seemed to change for the worst around 70 AD. The Diaspora resulting from the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome and the ongoing pogroms and holocaust to follow; further crushed the spirit of Your elect. Their hope remains a tattered remnant. Still, the Jewish people persist in their hope, and that gives me hope that one day we all will recognize the same Messiah as Lord and Savior.

Depiction of Jesus enduring the Via Dolorosa

Because of the supposed dichotomy in our perspectives, I’m compelled to ask You a question, Lord. Are we Christians and our Jewish brothers and sisters really that different? A friend of mine who founded a ministry called HaYovel, which serves Israel, has also spoken about the Jewish perspective: That, in the back of the mind of many Jews, there is a harbored resentment for Christians because of cultural and political persecution at the hands of some so-called believers who thought themselves privileged to deliver.

Ironically, The Body of Christ, of which I am but a tiny appendage, also suffered in those early times after Your resurrection. Persecution, social/political ostracization, torture and death have been an ongoing part of our heritage as well – it should be the part of our history that we weep over together with our Jewish brothers; not one pointing to the other in accusation.

Church Face in East Jerusalem

And so I hunger to consider our commonality – the fact that we believe in and honor You, Elohim, the One true God. You, My Redeemer, are compelling me to consider – and ask both Your Jewish and Gentile followers to consider with me – another difficult thing; something else we should be adding our tears to and praying about: What about those for whom the last two thousand years mean nothing at all, or for whom any time is one empty of Your presence and therefore void of true hope? How do we reach out to them, walk with them and share our hope in You?

Peace Greeting at Hope School in Beit Jala

I’m concerned that we don’t have another two thousand years before “the end of the age”. At that time, no matter what or whom we blame, no matter in what or whom we believe, all things will change. And those who reject You, YHWH, will suffer not just for a day or a year. Their tears will be for an eternal abandonment. How can a Jew or a Christian not hope against that?

Should we not be coming together, rather than accusing one another, in our efforts to demonstrate Your love, Your covenants and Your commandments to the nations? Haven’t You clearly instructed us, Jew and Christian, to do this? Is this how You plan to bring all of Your children into relationship with one another?

Maybe for too long we have been blinded by selfish tears for our personal suffering rather than look clearly through new ways at Your Long Suffering, Self-Sacrificing example. Whatever time we have left, Adonai, whether one more second or two thousand years, help us to join together, with You, to share Your plan and Your desire (not ours) with the world.

Yadah Elohim Adonai!

Mark C.

PS to any others reading this blog – if you are interested in the 

                                    music of Batsheva, visit her site at www.ibatshevasinger.com.