LOL.  Well, sorry you took what I was saying as an "us men folks" kind of
thing.  That's not what I said.  As a disabled person (yes, still a man last
time I looked but that's beside the point) I'm the last one to say who
should and shouldn't be doing anything in the church since we all know the
disabled are discriminated against receiving a decent service most of the
time, much less being clergy.  I was just stating the facts of the context
of the specific blessing Helen quoted.

This debate is far older than any of us, even Ned.  Smile.  One side quotes
the punishment of Miriam with leprosy for saying she had as much right as
Moses to do holy things, and the punishment of Saul when he made the
sacrifice and was punished for it.  The other side quotes the Scriptures
about David eating the Showbread and about women (folk, smile) being just as
filled with the Holy Spirit, especially at the end times, and just as
gifted.  It's a denomination thing, not a man and woman thing, although one
could argue (and some folks like to argue) that the major denominations have
been controlled, rightly or wrongly, by men over the ages.

Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "Helen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 9:38 AM
Subject: Fwd: Re: Blessing


> Wake up, Carol, so you can hear my great big AMEN!!
>
> Helen  <smile
>
> At 02:31 PM 1/6/04 +0000, you wrote:
> Hmmm!
>
> (Carol sleepily responds):
>
> Well, you men may understand all these "do's" and "do not's".  As for
Helen
> and myself, we just pray blessings on all and, those who are there to
> receive will receive;  those who won't will just not get blessed!
>
> Amen!
>
> (Back to sleep for me!)
>
>
> --
> Carol
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Helen" <[log in to unmask]
> To: <[log in to unmask]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 2:24 PM
> Subject: Re: Blessing
>
>
>   Paul wrote:  But blessing is always to be used very carefully, as
>   we can see from the many instances of blessing or promising safety to
the
>   wrong people which haunted Israel most of their days.
>
>   Helen responds:  Well, at that time, I had no such things in my mind or
> heart.
>   I wasn't thinking "well, I'm a priest in Christ Jesus, so I can bless
> these
>   people with this Aaronic blessing".......my blessing to them came from a
>   prompting by the Holy Spirit out of love for them......no more and no
>   less.  And if anyone was looking at me, they may have seen that shikinah
>   glory shining in my face, too.  I knew nothing of any blessings being
made
>   to the wrong people.  It was an innocent and loving gesture by me to
them,
>   and if they were not willing to receive it as such, then the blessing
came
>   back to me.
>   I am so thankful to God this morning that my relationship with Him has
no
>   need for a formal priest or minister to dictate to my heart what I can
or
>   cannot do in ministering to others.  The ministry of reconciliation is
> mine
>   just as much as it is theirs.
>
>   Helen
>
>
>
>   At 09:04 AM 1/6/04 -0500, you wrote:
>   I get your point, Helen, but in the example you give that is the Aaronic
> or
>   priestly blessing, to be given only by the priests (that's what the LORD
> is
>   saying, this isn't to be done by the members of the congregation, but by
> you
>   priests).  Your point (whether you realize it or not, smile) is the
>   priesthood of all Believers which would give you the right to bless
> others
>   in the Name of JESUS.  But blessing is always to be used very carefully,
> as
>   we can see from the many instances of blessing or promising safety to
the
>   wrong people which haunted Israel most of their days.
>
>   One interesting thing which there is no historical proof of but is still
>   something to think about is that the priests hold their hands out over
> the
>   congregation as they say the Blessing because, originally, when Aaron
and
>   the priests said the Blessing, the Shikinah Glory of the LORD, the
> Eminance
>   or Glowing that came from the face of Moses actually came out of their
> hands
>   and extended fingers onto the Congregation like an anointing.
>
>   Wow, huh?  Smile.
>
>   Paul
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: "Helen" <[log in to unmask]
>   To: <[log in to unmask]
>   Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 8:57 AM
>   Subject: Re: Blessing
>
>
>     And God told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to bless the children of
>     Israel saying:
>
>     24  The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
>     25  The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
>     26  The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
>     (Numbers 6)
>
>     Of course, some denominations keep the blessing of this blessing for
> the
>     high and mighty clergy to place upon their congregants, and it's a
> no-no
>     for a mere lay person to use it to bless anyone.  I used it once as I
> was
>     leaving a private meeting in the home of another member, sincerely
>   desiring
>     that God bless the others, and I was sharply taken to task by an
> elder,
>     telling me I couldn't do that, but only the minister of the church was
>     allowed to use it.
>
>     Helen
>
>
>
>     At 08:38 AM 1/6/04 -0500, you wrote:
>     Hey, John
>
>     I can't think of a specific case (or of much of anything else this
>   morning.
>     Smile.)  but I'm sure Lutherans and Episcopalians (Anglicans in
> England)
>     also do blessings as well as the other liturgical folks at baptisms
> and
>     dedications.
>
>     Paul