At this time of year we get to celebrate the Fall Holy days. We are about half way through them. Sukkot is still coming up, but here's some pictures from the first part... and some extras.
Everything ready for Rosh HaShannah (Jewish New Year) dinner!
Yom Kippur - While it is a day of fasting, we still had Shabbat dinner, but because the local stores weren't making Challah for Shabbat, we made our own.
Campfire one evening to hang out at,
Yom Kippur.
Everything closes down for the day, all the road as empty. The usual noises of traffic are absent. The only cars out are police or ambulance.
And so you can walk in the middle of a major road... just because you can.
Yesterday was Rosh Hashannah, the Jewish New Year.
We celebrated with a group of friends and dinner together! It was a lot fun. I enjoy celebrating these holidays, not just for the sake of extra holidays, but they seem to be very applicable to New Testament as well.
It is a celebration of new starts and making things right. From my understanding it starts a season of making things right with each other before Yom Kippur - the day of Judgement. It is a time of celebration, but also has a piece of introspection attached to it.
This music video might give you an idea of what Rosh Hashannah is celebrating
My thoughts go back to forgiving.
It is hard. It is more than I'm sorry, it is more than pretending it is alright. It is a deep down heart change that refuses to look at that person as an enemy but pleads with God to let me see that person as God sees them. And however long that process takes, however painful that it is, pursuing that perspective until when I think of that person I think of them I no longer think of them with the hurt they caused, but as one loved by God.
When I neglect to extend forgiveness I have neglected to recognize that they are also a child of God. I have forgotten that I too was in that place totally undeserving of grace. In a way it requires humbleness to forgive, because to truly forgive is because we have been forgiven first.
1 John 4:19 We love because Christ first loved us.
All too often I don't pursue or reject forgiving, I just ignore it. I avoid confrontation. I would rather just pretend it didn't exist and walk away and maybe someday it will all be better. But as a Christian, covered by the grace of God's love I'm called to extend it to others. Maybe the grace they see from me is the only shadow of God's grace they will see, and to cover them in that shadow I must be close to them.
These thought have been rolling around in my mind over the past couple years as I struggle and learn more about forgiveness and God's love. It is easy to say these thing as concepts, just like the rich man with whom Jesus talked could accept the command 'love your neighbour'. But the part that he struggled with was when it was further define who his 'neighbour' was.
What if God loves... the perpetrator of evil?
What if God loves... the radical terrorist?
What if God loves... the government who is allowing so much injustice?
What if God loves... the one who hurt your family or friend?
What if God loves... the one who hurt you?
What if God loves... the one who is still hurting?
What if God loves... the person I hate?
What if God loves... me?
God does.
Forgiveness is not justifying their actions. It is not saying that it is ok! God never said, "It's all ok" he said, "go and sin no more". If we stop counting their actions and starting asking how God ought to have us love them then maybe we can start in a better place. Maybe the best way to love someone who is hurting you or who has hurt you includes setting up and supporting appropriate boundaries like not being alone with them. Maybe it includes taking a stand and voicing the truth. But above all, it is to seek restoration rather than retribution.
In any case, if we want to truly love and extend God's grace to our neighbours, it is not going to be a cookie cutter "I'm sorry" and "I forgive you". It seeks the best for them, it seeks to love them as Christ loves them. It is to desperately pursue a perspective that they are actively loved by God and to respond to them in an appropriate manner.
Sometime I see or hear of people who feel ostracized from a Christian communities because of their past or their history. Their participation and freedom is limited, instead of finding ways to welcome and support them. All the while they are told that God can save everyone - and even the vilest murder can be accepted into the Kingdom of Heaven, but they fail to be accepted them into the kingdom of heaven here on earth. So, either we don't really believe that they will be accepted (Romans 10:13), or we don't believe that the kingdom of heaven is here (Luke 17:21).
I want to see more communities that embraces the truth that God change hearts and celebrated that God makes beautiful things out of our broken pieces.
It is hard. But within that difficulty I have learned more about God's love for me in ways I can't describe, and the value of forgiveness, both towards me and from me.
This might be some heavy thoughts at a time of celebration. But rejoice in this, if you have accepted Christ, you are covered by his grace. You are forgiven, and if those are just words, ask that He shows you value of that forgiveness. As we understand and can rejoice in the grace that covers us, let us freely give.
As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10:7-8
The first weeks are past and I think I am getting into the rhythm of things again.
Here are a couple things from this past week :)
Hebrew is a constant work this semester... it will probably stay like that, but hopefully I'll get more comfortable with it as it goes.
The sunsets are fairly quick, but they are beautiful!
Spent the weekend camping with the young adults group from church. It was an awesome time together and relaxing. This dock provided a great place to hang out.
I was surprised by how windy it got the one afternoon,
The last morning we did our Bible study at the hexagon pools, a beautiful spring fed pool. The water was cold, but refreshing (it is still quite warm here)
Waterfalls to climb up :)
Shady spot for the Bible study!
I love how camping always seems to quickly get people to know each other and connect with each other in new ways. I'm thankful for the 'family' that I have found there!
It is good to be back. I miss friends and family back home, but it is good to be back.
I enjoyed to slightly spontaneous get together with Taryn before leaving!
We were at the Brantford AirShow, couldn't stay too long, but it was fun to see some of the stunts and planes.
My new room in Jerusalem has quite the view! the first couple windows are to my room. The door next to mine is the door to the roof. I will definitely get my practice with stairs!
Has a great view of the Hinnom Valley, and of the concert that take place in the valley. This was a concert on Thursday night. Sound travels very well in the valley, so it was easy to hear everything going on there too.
Classes have started up along with readings, homework and Hebrew. It will keep me busy, but I am enjoying it too!
In the past month I have been hearing a lot about what is going on in the Middle East, in particular with Israel and Gaza. And even though I am not equipped to comment on the political status and the current going-ons over there, I feel as if I can and am in a place to say something.
I realized today that it is two weeks tomorrow until I leave to go back. I understand that people are concerned, the news doesn't portray a good picture of life in Israel right now, but I am not afraid. (I'm actually excited to go back :) )
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
Jesus told this to his disciples just before he was crucified. If any time was a stressful and uneasy time, watching your teacher and leader be arrested and sentenced to death has to at least be near the top of the list. Yet, despite what a normal reaction would be, Jesus tells them not to be troubled.
God's peace is different than the peace the world looks for and desires. I get the feeling that if someone was to describe the desired 'peace' in the middle east it would include not firing rockets at each other, no racial/religious/ethnic divides, and maybe even living in way that beneficial to all nations in that area.
If that was all that there was to 'peace' we would be left unsatisfied and desiring something more. God's peace is more than that. I have always heard that שלומ (shalom) is a wholeness, complete, healing, and everything the way that is suppose to. We can know the way that everything is suppose to be by looking back to the Garden of Eden. God looked at all that He had made and said that it was very good. If it pleased God's heart, then that is the way that things are suppose to be.
I have peace because I have a hope of what is to come. I do not need to be afraid because I know that God is going to make all things new. Revelations uses the imagery of a river with trees, almost like a garden but with a city too, and I don't think that is just coincidental that the Bible begins and ends in a garden where everything is the way that it is suppose be, where שלומ will reign. And deep within there is a sense excitement and longing to experience that garden!
Paul mentions in his letter to the Philippians that "to live is Christ and to die is gain", and although I do not see any reason to fear for my life, there is incredible peace having the hope of the life to come. That hope does not come without a certain sense of urgency and purpose as well, if we know and have such a hope we ought to share that with the people around us, wherever that may be.
Another aspect of God that brings me incredible peace is His sovereignty. He is powerful and knows what is truly best. If he did not want me in a certain place, there would be no way for me to get there, if he wanted me in a certain place, as long as I am following Him, I will get there.
It is easy to 'trust' God where we are comfortable, but I wonder if that is really trust, or are we just saying that it is because we fear to actually step and follow him further. God will never lead us to somewhere he is not.
Thanksgiving is mentioned all over in God's word.
I can say that I am being thankful, but I find if I don't actually put it into words, that I forget very quickly.
So I thought I that I would start a list, adding to it little by little whenever I think about it.
1. Quiet times to work - reminds me that I am working for God, not just the next thing.
2. Thunderstorms - make the world feel refreshed, and an awesome show of God's power
3. My Bicycle
4. Air Conditioning :)
5. Internet - being able to communicate so quickly is awesome!
