Prayer about Kyle...and congress

Prayer about Kyle... and congress
12:07 A.M., September 28, 2008

Our Father, our King. Whom have we in heaven but You, and having You, there is none on earth that we desire. We beseech Your attention now to a growing problem at this very hour of 12:07 A.M., approaching Sunday morning, September 28, 2008.

From You the Guardian of Israel, who watches all creation, we request mercy and intervention for the entire Eastern sea coast and the Northeast shoreline of the United States. A tropical storm named Kyle, has suddenly been upgraded to a category one hurricane. Forecasters say that winds of possible 75 miles per hour may batter the coast, with waves, and much water. We are concerned now because of possible loss of human lives, and rains have already saturated many coastal areas.

Forgive us for lack of earlier interest about this, since we had listened to weather reports which had indicated only a tropical storm and heading to the North in a projected path. And we had assumed an overly calm demeanor. For the sake of all others affected by this development, we plead with You to have mercy upon the land and the people of our nation. Spare the nation from the fury of that storm, just as You have done on previous occasions. We ask that lives be saved, and homes be spared, beach erosion be minimized, and emergency needs be met. Whatever is dear to the hearts of people, their livestock, their pets, belongings or property.

Father, there is not much time, and reports suggest that by Sunday evening all those regions will have been impacted. But, You are El Elyon, and there is no limit to Your ability to intervene. You made the thunder, the lightning, the winds, and the rain. You the God of Elijah, who spoke in a still small voice in the midst of winds and storm at the mountain. Get glory and honor for the sake of Your people and Your name. Speak now please. Speak now and calm the storm.

We close this prayer with another petition, and also offer praise to You for our great nation and its good people. Help our congress and leaders, as they seek a way to deal with and correct financial problems on Wall Street, banking, homeowners, construction, and Insurance groups. Forgive us for collective greed, and spiritual wickedness in high political places. May our hearts be turned to You, and to ethics, integrity, and honesty. Grant unity among our leaders, so that a good plan shall be implemented on behalf of all the people, with oversight, accountability, and success.

On account of Your great compassion we ask, and we ask not on the basis of our own righteousness, goodness, or merit. In Your Divine name we pray and trust.

Jesus...Judaism...and the fringe

blog#22,
Jesus...Judaism...and the prayer shawl

Moses had written and commanded Israel under Gods direction, that every male should have “fringes” (KJV), on the border of his garment. The English Translation wording is found in Numbers 15:38-40, as follows:

“Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that you may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them.”...

The Hebrew Bible term for fringes is tzitzit (plural tzitziot). The verses refer to a garment known today as “tallit katan” (small prayer shawl), differentiating between the “tallit gadol,” which is the larger tallit and used mostly when praying. The smaller tallit is worn during the day by observant male Jews. Looking on a fringe or tzitzit (some render it tassel), was to be a constant reminder to the Jew, to remember and to do all the Lord’s commandments, as given by Moses from God.

A good question is: Did Jesus wear the tzitzit garment? Does the Christian Bible provide any information which indicates that Jesus kept or obeyed that teaching? The simple answer to both questions posed is yes. I will provide some verses, but we should first learn some important detail related to the word tzitzit.

The Talmud relates in Nedarim 25a, the wearing of the tzitzit equals the observe of the whole Torah. How can that be? Explanation is found in the knowledge that the Hebrew language also has a numerical value for each alphabet letter. The number value of the word tzitzit is 600. Sages then added the number of threads and knots in one of the four corners of the garment, which is 13 (eight threads and five knots), and the sum is 613. This is also the exact number of Torah commandments. Thus, the Talmudic statement about tzitzit, and Torah commands, equal the same in number value.

In Mark 6:56, an account is given of Jesus and his followers: “And whithersoever he entered, into villages or city or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched it were made whole.”

Notice the terms “border of his garment.” Then we should examine the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, under the italicized number 2899, for a link to the Greek word rendered border. The word is “kras’pedon.” The definitions are listed as; fringe or tassel.

Similar gatherings and events are mentioned in the Gospels (see Matthew 9:20-21, Matthew 14:36, and Mark 5:27-28). In each case the separate gospel authors used the same root term “kras’pedon.” How can we doubt that this was simply the fringe or tzitzit?

Jesus was wearing the fringed garment, and the people were crowded around him, pressing and surging forward to touch it. And in the process, folks were being made well and healed.

More evidence exists beyond the gospel verses. The translation word used in the Septuagint Greek, that is rendered from the Hebrew text in Numbers 15:38-40, and refer to tzitzit, is the same as used in Christian Greek Testament copies. The word is “kras’peda.” Keep in mind that the Five Torah books are reported to have been made around the date 285 BCE, for Jews of Alexandria, who possibly had lost the use of their mother tongue.

In Jesus’ early ministry, many people sought healing from him. Some trusted any word he might say to them. Others wanted him or his disciples to lay hands on them and anoint and pray. But in numerous gospel narratives, and perhaps because of huge crowds, they sought only to touch the hem of his garment, and as many as touched “it,” were made whole. Heaven rewarded the faith of those who reached and touched.

prayer for the Jews

Ron’s prayer for Jews-Christians

Heavenly Father, please open the gates of heaven to receive our prayers. Your great and manifold compassions, make us aware that we may gain Your favor and generous mercies in our petition. Likewise, Your tremendous love for Your people, gives us reason to seek Your Presence.

We are involved in sensitive and difficult situations at times, as we interact with the “people of the book.” They are Your people, and we ask for guidance, assistance, and favor from You, as we befriend and love them in Your name.

Much harm has been done the Jews, bringing suffering, death, and disgrace to many families. History shows that Christians have caused such damage among Jews, and it makes us feel very saddened and ashamed. Our fathers and leaders of the church, bear some responsibility, whether by direct influence or indirect. And, although we ourselves have not participated in forms of anti Shemitic conduct or words, we feel a compulsion to mention it to You.

We do now make public disapproval of any and all anti-Shemitic conduct, past or present. Forgive us, if in any way we have been too silent concerning this horrible history.

We understand that terrible and horribly deep scars have been etched into Jewish minds because of the crusades wherein many innocents were murdered by Christian Crusaders. Please help all those families today. Enable relatives and survivors to rise anew with hope in You. Heal the wounds as only You can do.

May we who are Christians, begin a new history today. May our dealings with the Jews be based sincerely on actions and words of profound respect. May we always be honest and without deceit. May we all from this day forward, be a greater and true blessing to one another.

Our hearts are heavy about these things, so please, if it is Your will, respond quickly. Open a new door of mutual respect, so that in the end, Your Torah teachings and concepts and words, can enable us to walk and work together in a basic unity.

We know that beside You, there is no other. We ask these favors and mercies in the name of Him, whose word is exalted with His Name. Amen.

Hurricane Ike

Third hurricane prayer (about Ike) Sept. 4th, Thursday, 11:00 a.m.

Heavenly Father, Most High God, You are the Almighty. Again we offer thanks to You for all that we have, and possess, and all that we are. Because of Your changeless great compassion and kindness, we exist, as does Your people Israel.

We come once again with a third request, and beseech You to not be weary with our imploring and pleading. Remember Your servant Avraham who besought You repeatedly on behalf of sparing the righteous. In the light of destructive Hurricane Ike’s force, and its present direction, toward the U.S. Eastern sea coast, we ask that You be pleased to direct it away from our coasts, so as to greatly lessen the potential impact.

As always, we have only Your compassion and wisdom to rely upon in this regard. O Thou who hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Continue to give us mercy, spare human lives, provide for all needs, including emergency food and water where needed. Enable human agencies to assist the people with necessary clothing and shelter.

Remember the request of Your servant, who petitioned You no less than 6 times in Genesis 18, about one particular matter. Remember us for good, and forgive us all our transgressions and failure, both national and personal. Turn away the angry force of wrath, and accept our humility in Your Presence. We ask these things in Your name. Amen.

Holy Spirit... in Mark's Gospel?

blog#21

The Introduction of the term “Holy Spirit” (ruach hakodesh), in Mark’s Gospel 1:8, at first glance, appears to be non-Jewish phraseology. Some explanation is required for the Jewish perspective, in order to establish a proper Christian understanding of the Jewish view.

The Jewish religion is strictly monotheistic (One God), and does not promote a multiple persons god, as is common to Christian theology. Their creed of faith is somewhat defined in the word “shema” (hear). The Hebrew words then explain to Israel, that the Lord your God is One. The term for “one” is “ekhad,” and it is a cardinal number when counting. It does not in this verse, refer to a unity or collective noun. If we were counting in Hebrew to number one, we should say: ekhad (masculine form for the number one).

Christians identify the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as three separate god persons within a unity. Some define with the term Trinity, others use the word Triune. This method of explanation is generally given, in spite of the fact that various gospel verses plainly state, that the Father of Jesus is the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit). A reading of Matthew 1:18, and Matthew 1:20, shows that the miraculous conception reported in that gospel, was caused by the Holy Spirit. This of course is not reference to God having sexual activity with a woman, rather a stress upon fatherhood via miraculous means, and identifying the One who caused the child to be.

Luke’s Gospel author identifies the Father of Jesus as the “Highest,” the “Holy Spirit,” and “God” (read Luke 1:31-35). Somehow, Christian theologians had developed a concept that the Holy Spirit is a separate god person than the Heavenly Father.

Truth is; the terminology “Holy Spirit” (Heb.= ruach hakodesh), was not unknown or unused by sages and Rabbis of Judaism. Educated Jews who are familiar with oral traditions, Talmud, and writings of the sages, run across the term Holy Spirit in various writings. Even in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), the term Holy Spirit occurs three times. Notice Isaiah 63:10, Isaiah 63:11, and Psalm 51:13 (Hebrew verse numbering). The Hebrew readings confirm that God is called the Holy Spirit (ruach hakodesh) in those verse locations.

The penitent Psalm of David (Psa. 51:13), says: “ruach kadshikha al tikach mimeni,” Don’t take Your Holy spirit from me. He was addressing God when he prayed this prayer of repentance requesting forgiveness.

But among Jewish leaders and teachers, the Holy Spirit was not known as a different entity then the Father in Heaven. Whereas, among Christians, belief exists that the Father and the Holy Spirit are separate entities, detractors could easily debate that two separate god persons are the father of a divine son. It might be argued in defense, that such logic is not faith based. But, it was we Christians who introduced the term “persons” to define God. Big Mistake! Persons usually always mean “people.” We admit that logic is not always faith, but bible based logic rests solidly on cumulative bible verses.

In John’s Gospel 4:24, Jesus properly identified his belief in God saying: God is a Spirit, and they who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth. He properly asserted that God is Spirit. Joshua used “wholeheartedly” in a similar verse, which reflects what Joshua told Israel in Joshua 24:14. “And now fear Hashem, and serve Him with wholeheartedness and truth.”

When using combinations of gospel verses as a basis for a belief system, we could come to recognize that the Father and the Holy Spirit are the same entity. If as in Judaism, they represent Divine names for the One God, then the terms Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, could be understood as more links by Christians, in a chain of revelation, of the One God with many names.

The Holy Spirit phraseology, when understood in Jewish context, is a referral to the actions and activities of the One God, who alone rules in the heavens and the earth. It is the Divine spirit emanating from God. Often in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), the term used is Spirit of the Lord, or Spirit of God. Jewish writers agree that the phrase “Holy Spirit” is more or less synonymous with God. Sometimes it signifies His sustaining and inspiring presence. It seems a shocker to some Jews, when they learn that the term Holy Spirit was used among prophets, sages, and kings.

It’s a term that indicates the “nearness of God, and at times is quite identical to another Hebrew phrase; the shechinah (dwelling, presence); which expresses the Divine immanence in the world. More often, the sages say, it is employed to describe the endowment of a person with special gifts or prophecy; God’s direct influence upon man.

It was said that, “men of prehistoric times, being able to use the Holy Spirit, gave names to their children which indicated events that were to happen to them later in their lives” (see Genesis 10 and Gen. R. XXXVII. 7). The same teaching admitted: “we on the other hand, who cannot employ the Holy Spirit, name our children after our ancestors.”

Mark’s Gospel author spoke of one coming after the forerunner who would baptize or inundate repentant and observant ones with the Holy Spirit, in a manner similar to how the Baptist used water. Did Mark’s author know about the rabbinic concept that the Shechinah and the Holy Spirit indicate the nearness of God? Was that author aware of an oral teaching which was later written in the Talmud, that as surely as the wicked drive away the Divine presence by sins, that the righteous restore its blessing to the human race?

Tradition has originally stated that the Holy Spirit was in the lower regions; ‘when Adam sinned it ascended to the first heaven; when Cain sinned to the second; In Enoch’s generation to the third; In the flood generation to the fourth; In the Tower of Bavel generation to the fifth; the men of Sodom caused the Divine Presence to depart to the sixth; and the Egyptians in the time of Avraham to the seventh heaven.’

In contradistinction, seven righteous men arose and made the Shechinah descend, beginning with Avraham and ending with Moses (Moshe), who caused it to come down from above to below on earth. The coming one written about by Mark, and declared by the Baptist-was he the prophet beyond Joshua, and like Moses, and mentioned by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:18-19? In some way the Baptizer knew things about the restoration of the Holy Spirit to the lower levels, and indicated that one coming after him, would begin the process anew.

These questions and many others are under constant investigation by bible students who not only look for basic foundational truths established in biblical history, but examine the same verses to see if any other hints and omens are provable and pertinent.

hurricane Hanna blog

Second hurricane prayer (about Hanna)

Our Father, God of Avraham, Yitzhak, and Yaakov. Lord, God of Elijah, El Elyon are You. We offer thanks to You, the calves of our lips giving honor to Your name. Thanks for the mercies and kindness manifest throughout hurricane Gustav, and the consideration You so freely gave to our petition. Thanks for all the detail You involved Yourself in to assist our people.

Once again, we are faced with media reports of other approaching hurricanes named Hanna and Ike. We do need Your Divine assistance and intervention. We are nearly powerless except for limited human preparation, against such potentially destructive force of nature. Turn Hanna away from the Gulf Coast region and remember the Atlantic Seaboard. Show the nations and the people, that Your kindness and compassion is far greater than the destructive force of nature.

You alone, know the exact amount of rain and fresh water needed for our sustenance and supply. Please be mindful for our sakes. Likewise, You alone know the amount of wind force we can tolerate in any storm. Limit these forces in accordance with Your Divine wisdom. We also ask that You remember all the people of the islands, who have faced the torrents of water pouring down, and the windy gusts which have brought devastation and suffering. May it be that food, water, clothing, and shelter, arrive for every person's storm need.

Not on account of our righteousness do we ask, but on account of Your great mercies.
Again, we ask all these great favors in Your Divine name. Amen.

hurricane prayer

blog prayer

Heavenly Father, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Lord God of Elijah, God of mercies and great compassion:

We invoke your Divine name on behalf of the U.S. Gulf Coast and all its residents and properties. Reports are telling us of a Hurricane Gustav approaching and about to hit near New Orleans Louisiana any moment, described as category three in force. We ask Your help for the entire Gulf Coast Region.

It is written that You make the deep to boil like a pot, and that You have Your way in the wind and in the whirlwind. No force exceeds Your word and will, and all forces are under Your command.

Please now, protect all the involved people and their properties, their animals and possessions. Spare from injury and harm. Lessen the impacts of the winds and preserve the lives of all personnel who of necessity remain behind to serve and protect. Let the line of supplies of food and water be speedy and precise. May no good strategy fail the emergency teams. Remember all travellers in the regions.

We trust in You, who at the word of Your servant Elijah caused rains to come to Israel in time of drought, and by that same word and servant, caused the rains and winds to cease in the appointed time. Quickly calm these hurricane winds and waves in Your great wisdom and power.

These favors are asked in the Divine name and because of the knowledge of your great mercies.

Amen.