Candlelighters
a place for women who cherish the TorahArchive for December, 2010
Death vs. Sin
by cndllighter
In a conversation I had, my attention was recently brought to the fact that we should hate sin more than anything – even the death of a loved one. I pondered this for a moment, taking it in. Death is very serious in the Jewish culture, and as you know, the death of a loved one is mourned every year, with the annual reminder of their yahrzeit. The point was clarified with the following quote by Thomas Watson:
We must grieve more for offending G-d than for the loss of dear relations. Sorrow for sin must exceed sorrow at the grave, and with good reason; for in the burial of the dead it is only a friend who departs, but in sin…G-d departs.
We must hate it, dread it, flee from it, and fear the places where it inhabits; for G-d is watching over all.
Mindful Jewish Living: Chapter 3b
by torahgirl
As I started to look at Chapter 4, the last page of the previous chapter caught my attention… so instead of moving on, I {mindfully} stepped back to re-examine the closing thoughts of Chapter 3. This post really inspired me and I hope it does the same for you!
“I shall not die, but live.” That is a vain expression, a boast that will not stand, unless it is attached to the end of the verse: “and I will proclaim the works of Adonai.” {Psalm 118.17}
-p. 76
Mindfulness is realizing that the “works of Adonai” are in this moment, right now. If we can experience blessing in this moment, without worrying about pain or mortality in the future, we will live gratefully! “Every breath is a blessing, each moment a gift” because “This is the day Adonai has made, let us exult and rejoice in it.” {Psalm 118.24} We are alive and we live in G-d’s presence! For this reason, cherish your life. Seek to fill your moments with meaning. Do your best in every way. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of Yeshua HaMashiach, giving thanks to G-d the Father through Him.” {Colossians 3.17}
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One Nation or Two Houses
by torahgirl
Notes from yesterday’s analysis of the Two House position…
What were the promises given to Abraham?
- great name, a blessing to ALL people {Genesis 12, 18, 28; Zechariah 8}
- multiply exceedingly & father a multitude of nations {Genesis 17, 46, 48}
- relationship with HaShem {Genesis 17}
- the Land of Canaan {Genesis 17}
What are the tenets of Two House?
- the Northern tribes {known as “Ephraim”} were captured and did not return from Babylon – they never rejoined the Southern tribes {known as “Judah”}.
- the Southern tribes {“Judah”} are what we know as Jews today, while the Northern tribes {“Ephraim”} are still lost and have been entirely assimilated into modern-day Gentile kingdoms.
- the blessing given to Ephraim in Genesis 49 is fulfilled by the infiltration of Israel into all nations.
- when Christians start keeping Torah we assume they have a hidden Jewish soul inside, which is why they were ‘drawn’ to the Torah of Israel in the first place.
- Judah {the Southern tribes} and Ephraim {the Northern tribes} comprise completed Israel.
It’s That Time of Year
by torahgirl
Peace amid chaos.
That’s what I keep coming back to this season. You know, I used to love the chaos. I used to revel in the “Christmas Spirit” of gifts and parties. I sense the difference in my heart this year, total indifference to what is happening in the world of commerce. Holiday spending is up 3% this year, I heard today… but that statistic doesn’t include me. Life continues peacefully {well… as peaceful as can be when one is getting married in 2 months} {grin} yet the world “outside” seems like it’s spinning out of control, with frantic last-minute shopping, holiday baking, travel, etc.
Mediocre
by madison kiley
Lush trees and the far off Blue Ridge Mountains rushed by as I rode through the Virginia countryside this morning. Beautiful scenery always causes me to reflect on important things…and this morning I thought about all the people I come across as a photographer.
Fast paced people, slow, easy-going people, sluggish people who act twice their age, people who are enthusiastic about life, and some that are annoyed by everything or simply don’t care.
Which was I?
Enthusiastic at times, excited about life for sure, fast paced, but am I easily annoyed? Do I get discouraged too easily? In 10 years will I act twice my age and simply not care about life anymore?
Identity & One Torah Review, Part 5
by torahgirl
Agreeing on the reliability and authority of the Scriptures, as well as the centrality of Yeshua, is essential to sustaining One Torah communities. Moses wrote the Torah with hindsight {possibly starting in Exodus and backtracking}; Torah is the foundation, and building on it we get progressive revelation. G-d’s promise plan is revealed more and more over time. We rely on divine inspiration of the Scriptures – including preservation through time.
Note: What about oral Torah? Does it “belong” to the Jews? No, they received it. We can use traditions which honor the Torah without doing any disservice to the Jewish people.
This has been an extensive review of “Identity & One Torah” – thank you for your patience! As I mentioned at the beginning, the audio recording of this seminar will be an excellent resource. For more about Divine Invitation theology, I recommend Tim Hegg’s paper “An Assessment of the ‘Divine Invitation’ Teaching” {also available on paper or in audio format}.
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear G-d and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
For G-d will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
-Ecclesiastes 12.13-14
=)
Identity & One Torah Review, part 4
by torahgirl
{this post contains notes from Session 4 of Tim Hegg’s Identity & One Torah seminar, continuing to address the issue of Divine Invitation theology. It’s a lot of material, but if you’re at all familiar with DI, please take the time to read through it.}
The premise of DI: only Jews are members of the Sinai Covenant and required to keep it. Gentiles are invited to participate but must remain distinct.
There seems to be a lack of Scriptural support for this premise. The Tanach contains several covenants, each one carrying a single promise – if we are “in Messiah,” we are members of the covenant (Ephesians 2.12). The Abrahamic covenant, irrevocably tied with the Sinaitic covenant, is an unconditional process of sanctification. Yeshua is the mediator of the New Covenant {which cannot annul an earlier covenant} and we {the nations} are part of His final fulfillment.
Syncretism
by torahgirl
Now that we’ve officially entered December, the holiday craze is in full swing… If you haven’t read Tim Hegg’s article “Why I Don’t Celebrate Christmas,” take a few minutes to look at it. I saw this article for the first time this year – it’s an amazingly clear explanation of where most Christmas traditions come from, along with Tim’s reasons for not participating in one of Christianity’s most important days. The bottom line is a concept called syncretism: mixing things that essentially differ. I’ve come back to this concept over and over since reading the article a few weeks ago… it has really put my personal “holiday” lifestyle into perspective. This year I find myself wondering about activities that might be considered acceptable even by people, like myself, who don’t “celebrate Christmas.” For instance, should we be:
- Listening to the radio stations play Christmas music?
- Joining friends to go Christmas caroling at a nursing home?
- Going to hear a symphony performance of classical holiday music?
- Displaying a collection of gingerbread houses?
- Decorating the outside of our homes with lights, wreaths, or candles?
My family has evolved over the past several years from wholeheartedly embracing Christmas (“Jesus is the reason for the season!”) to a meaningful celebration of the Festival of Lights. I say evolved because it didn’t happen overnight – our transition was much more gradual… and it’s still going! Each year we add more depth to our observance of Hanukkah and remove ourselves a little more from the world as we learn to recognize and avoid syncretism.
Chag Chanukkah Sameach! May this Festival of Lights be a season of joy and rededication for you!
=)
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