OK I have a question. Dumb I know, but I'm asking it nonetheless. What is
Kosher foods? I mean what is Kosher, besides a pickle type lol.
Brad
At 01/05/2004 on Monday, you wrote:
>Yeah, Brad, that's why I mentioned Paul and his chiding that people were
>taking the LORD's Supper unworthily. Don't forget his background, a
>Pharisee among Pharisees. A lot like me wigging out coming into
>Protestantism from Catholicism and seeing a lack of respect (as I perceived
>it) in comparison. Paul was saying to reverence the LORD's Supper as much
>as they reverenced the whole process of the Sacrifice in the Temple, for
>JESUS is the fulfillment of the Sacrifice.
>
>As for sacrificial lambs at Wal-Mart, I can tell you that Jewish friends do
>have a tough time at finding Kosher food down here in the South. Oh,
>there's some stuff, of course, but not much of a selection, especially of
>the specialty holiday foods. Most folks go to specialty shops or shop
>online for most of their items. One of the markets here (I forget which...I
>think it was Kroger's) put in a special section of Kosher foods for the
>holidays and people from all over South Carolina flocked in. When I can, I
>buy Hebrew National hot dogs only because, as hot dogs go, you're not going
>to get much healthier ones. (But I realize the term healthy hot dogs is an
>oxymoron. Smile.)
>
>Saul, I mean Paul, clean up on aisle 5
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "BD" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 12:38 PM
>Subject: Re: Today's events are tomorrow's testimony... if you let them
>
>
> > True but Jesus was the atonement sacrifice and not from the sheep
> > department of Wal-mart hehehe. But yes I understand your mention. Wouldn't
> > it be great if we were allowed off those extra days of work too? Due us
> > good eh.
> >
> > Brad
> >
> >
> > At 01/05/2004 on Monday, you wrote:
> > >The whole idea of atonement requires us to face the sin that we've
> > >committed, repent and choose a better way, Brad. So in that way alone
>any
> > >self-evaluation would require us to examine ourselves, whether in ancient
> > >days or today.
> > >
> > >Paul
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "BD" <[log in to unmask]>
> > >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > >Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 11:20 AM
> > >Subject: Re: Today's events are tomorrow's testimony... if you let them
> > >
> > >
> > > > Paul,
> > > >
> > > > Been a while since I read that account in Leviticus. One question. Do
>you
> > > > think Wal-mart handles unblemished sacrificial lambs hahaha. They
>sure
> > >had
> > > > quite a few days of... how do they say... "no laborious work".
>Although I
> > > > don't really see an examination of their lives toward God in print,
>they
> > > > must have done something with that time off. They honored god with the
> > > > tasks performed per his request but examining and commiting to various
> > > > changes of improvement in their lives as we might do at year's
>beginning,
> > > > where is that there? Yom Kippur doesn't show up in my dictionaries
> > > > unfortunately.
> > > >
> > > > Brad
> > > >
> > > > At 01/05/2004 on Monday, you wrote:
> > > > >Paul,
> > > > >
> > > > >I'll read up about that more. Thanks for the clue. And yes it is good
>to
> > >do
> > > > >just that, but with conviction to actually and sincerely look at our
> > >lives
> > > > >with a true heart based on God's principles to change what we find.
>This
> > >is
> > > > >why I do not care for the term New Year's Resolutions, as it has
>become
> > > > >diluted in principle and joked about more than taken serious. I think
>it
> > >is
> > > > >natural to use the mark of a new year to make such a review, and yet
>that
> > > > >review ought not be limited to just that time of year but to keep
>our
> > > > >heart in check frequently and examine if we are continuing on a path
> > >closer
> > > > >to God's own heart, or ours. I'll look up the festival in PC Study
>Bible
> > > > >and read more on it. If people ihn general put as much conviction in
> > >eating
> > > > >as they seem to do for New Year's Resolutions, they'd binge for a
>week
> > >and
> > > > >die of starvation a month later. I guess the difference between the
> > > > >festival and resolutions might be the same as worshipping to music or
> > >just
> > > > >singing songs.
> > > > >
> > > > >Brad
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >At 01/05/2004 on Monday, you wrote:
> > > > > >Hey, Brad
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Amen to your main point. I just wanted to remind folks that the
> > >recognition
> > > > > >of the new year and evaluating our lives at the New Year is not a
> > >secular
> > > > > >thing. It is something established by GOD Himself as the festival
>of
> > >Yom
> > > > > >Kippur (Leviticus 23). There's some debate over whether the
>holiday of
> > >Rosh
> > > > > >Hashanah celebrated today was really the new year of the Old
>Testament,
> > >but
> > > > > >either way, the LORD did establish that at least once a year we are
>to
> > > > > >examine our hearts before Him and the path our lives are taking.
>It
> > >could
> > > > > >be argued that this type of thing goes along with examining
>ourselves
> > >at any
> > > > > >sacrifice in the pre-Crucifixion days and, today, at the taking of
>the
> > > > > >LORD's Supper which Paul warns about taking with a wrong heart. (1
> > > > > >Corinthians 11:28).
> > > > > >
> > > > > >So the blessings you mention are all the stronger for the fact that
>the
> > >LORD
> > > > > >has sewn these things into the fabric of our Life with Him so that
>we
> > >can
> > > > > >keep track of those events and milestones more easily. (As witness
>the
> > >fact
> > > > > >that the LORD told folks repeatedly to write things down so that
>they
> > >could
> > > > > >look back on them and we could profit from them even today).
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Thanks for the reminder!
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Paul
> > > > > >----- Original Message -----
> > > > > >From: "BD" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > > >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > > >Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 8:38 AM
> > > > > >Subject: Today's events are tomorrow's testimony... if you let them
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > With the ringing in of the new year came also my regenerated
>hope
> > >for new
> > > > > > > beginnings based not off of the fad driven knee-jerk response to
>a
> > >new
> > > > > >year
> > > > > > > accompanied by a false desire to make New Year's Resolutions,
>fueled
> > >by
> > > > > > > pressures of society or family and friends who are doing
>similar,
> > >but
> > > > > that
> > > > > > > of simply reviewing some facets of my life, making a conscious
> > > > > decision to
> > > > > > > change some old habits and increase various aspects of my daily
> > >life.
> > > > > Many
> > > > > > > times, often times, people make New Year's resolutions because
>they
> > >are
> > > > > > > just that "re-solutions" to the same problems they had a year
> > >earlier.
> > > > > > > You've heard them all I'm sure, I know I have before and from my
>own
> > > > > mouth
> > > > > > > at that. Things like... loose weight, begin working out, quit
> > >smoking,
> > > > > > > spend more time with family, or if a Christian, more time with
>God
> > > > > >perhaps.
> > > > > > > And I suppose I need to recognize that even my desire to review
>some
> > > > > daily
> > > > > > > habits is due to the convenient mark of a new year falling upon
>me,
> > >but
> > > > > > > hopefully the commitments I make near this time of year, do not
>come
> > > > > to be
> > > > > > > New Year's re-commitments next year at this time with excuses of
> > > > > > > circumstances that caused a change in plans, but rather have
>looked
> > >back
> > > > > >to
> > > > > > > see I stood the test of endurance with God's help to overcome
>those
> > > > > > > circumstances and complete what I feel he is telling me to do.
>Still
> > >yet
> > > > > >we
> > > > > > > ought never lose hope of erasing the slate and starting over, we
> > >have a
> > > > > >God
> > > > > > > of allowing us many beginnings in our trek to keep focused on
>him,
> > >but as
> > > > > > > he also said let our yeses be yeses and our noes be noes. With
>that
> > >mind
> > > > > > > set, we ought have a more serious motivation of those things we
>feel
> > >we
> > > > > > > need to change. Also ringing in the New Year this morning, after
> > >coming
> > > > > >out
> > > > > > > on top of a battle with some sort of infection/illness, was the
> > > > > ringing of
> > > > > > > my alarm clock. Bright and early it beeped only once at 4:30 AM,
>and
> > >only
> > > > > > > once because I was already awake with excitement of not only
>feeling
> > > > > > > somewhat human again, but also to begin making the most of the
>days
> > > > > ahead.
> > > > > > > Still yet in some planning stages, I knew however that my days
>would
> > > > > start
> > > > > > > with an early rise, something to drink, time with the Lord in
>either
> > > > > > > reading of his word or taped sermon, and prayer.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Having hit the snooze button, and then turned off the alarm
>clock, I
> > > > > > > started up the coffee pot with the half and half, decaf and
>regular
> > > > > coffee
> > > > > > > to continue my trek to decaffeinate myself, I then carefully and
> > >quietly
> > > > > > > grabbed up my tape player and a tape to listen while I let the
>warm
> > >drink
> > > > > > > soothe a recovering throat. The tape I listened to was not the
> > >preacher I
> > > > > > > had hoped but I had decided to listen anyway. As he began to
>preach
> > > > > he had
> > > > > > > a very pointed, very short message with four points regarding
>having
> > > > > faith
> > > > > > > to endure through things we may find ourselves plowing through.
>One,
> > >keep
> > > > > > > your eyes on Jesus. Two, remember who God is. Three, remember
>who
> > >you are
> > > > > > > in Christ. And four, trust in God 100% to take you through. He
>then
> > > > > > > proceeded to give a testimony of his adopted daughter. This man
>and
> > >his
> > > > > > > wife are missionaries to Thailand. They happened across a young
>lady
> > > > > whose
> > > > > > > mother was a prostitute and the daughter, or mother for that
> > >matter, had
> > > > > > > no idea who the father was. This man and his wife had taken her
>in
> > >and
> > > > > > > helped bring her up for just over a year now. She attended
>school in
> > > > > > > Thailand and of course Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist
>country.
> > > > > > > Fortunately the leader of that country had past two articles in
> > >their
> > > > > > > government. One that gives freedom of religion, and the other to
> > >have
> > > > > > > freedom to express that religion. It happened then that this
>young
> > >lady,
> > > > > > > Ann, was to attend a drug prevention class in her school based
>from
> > > > > > > Buddhist precepts. She did not want to attend so this man and
>his
> > >wife
> > > > > > > wrote a note to the teacher stating they wished them to honor
>Ann's
> > > > > > > request to not attend. The teacher tried to tell Ann to attend
> > >anyway,
> > > > > > > because her parents would never know the difference. Well Ann,
> > >walked out
> > > > > > > the room and placed a call to this man and wife, who she now
>calls
> > > > > mom and
> > > > > > > dad. They go to meet the principle of the school and after an
>hour
> > >and a
> > > > > > > half of Ann preaching at the principle, he finally said "OK!
>OK!
> > >you do
> > > > > > > not have to attend". She then became the target of verbal abuse
> > >stating
> > > > > >she
> > > > > > > was a trader to her country and heritage, trader to her race,
>and
> > >this by
> > > > > > > teachers not, just students. She came home that day and they
>prayed
> > >about
> > > > > > > what to do with a nasty situation now on their hands. They
>decided
> > >to let
> > > > > > > God take control. She went to school the next day and no one
>abused
> > >her
> > > > > > > verbally. In fact there were some kids that never before wanted
>to
> > >be her
> > > > > > > friend, now wanted to be her friend. And three weeks later the
> > >principle
> > > > > > > and many of the teachers, the ones that assaulted her verbally,
>were
> > > > > > > removed from the school for corruption.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I sat back and pondered about how a 17-year-old girl, in a
>foreign
> > > > > > > country, with a foreign religion to that land, was strong
>enough to
> > >take
> > > > > > > on her school and make such a difference. I thought how great
>that
> > >sounds
> > > > > > > after it is all said and done. How powerful it is and like our
> > >pastor
> > > > > from
> > > > > > > our former church mentioned afterwards, it is so much different
> > >hearing
> > > > > > > such testimonies from those who lived it, as it tells so quickly
>but
> > > > > lasts
> > > > > > > so long. And with my repeated rendition of it, I'm sure it does
>it
> > >an
> > > > > > > injustice, but for the purposes of my point of ponder hopefully
>it
> > >will
> > > > > > > suffice. It sure sounded great, the power and passion in this
>man's
> > >voice
> > > > > > > of the details of how this all came to pass in a country where
> > > > > >Christianity
> > > > > > > is a minority and persecution is on the rise all over the world.
>How
> > >he
> > > > > > > encouraged his newly found daughter to count herself honored to
>be
> > >in
> > > > > good
> > > > > > > company as Peter, John, James and of course the rest of Christ's
> > > > > followers
> > > > > > > as well Jesus Christ himself, to be persecuted for upholding the
> > >truth.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > When I hear these stories I look at my own life as a point of
> > >reflection
> > > > > > > and see how a 17 year old young lady has proved more courage,
>lived
> > >out a
> > > > > > > testimony, and made a difference in those around her more than I
>had
> > >in a
> > > > > > > long time living in a Christian based country with persecution
>being
> > > > > > > primarily that of "Oh don't preach religion to me" or "Oh save
>your
> > > > > > > preaching for the next guy". It also occurred to me that in the
> > >midst of
> > > > > > > this family's encounter, had they recognized that that day's
>event
> > >is
> > > > > > > tomorrow's testimony in the making? If they hadn't, they will
>from
> > >here
> > > > > > > out, based on the four points that accompanied this testimony.
>If
> > >they
> > > > > >went
> > > > > > > in that situation with the four points he made, that of
>focusing on
> > > > > >Jesus,
> > > > > > > knowing who God is, knowing who they were in God, and trusting
>god,
> > >then
> > > > > > > they had to be conscious of what they were living was a
>testimony in
> > >the
> > > > > > > making.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > This realization helps give a new sense of expectation in my
>life.
> > >An
> > > > > > > expectation to recognize that what we are living now, this
>minute,
> > >is
> > > > > part
> > > > > > > of some sort of testimony in the future to how God has worked in
>our
> > > > > life,
> > > > > > > and if it is not, than am I really living life with God as
>center?
> > >Have I
> > > > > > > gotten side tracked to where I do not recognize or have
>expectations
> > >of
> > > > > >his
> > > > > > > hand in my life? Testimonies do not have to be a dramatically
>wowing
> > >of
> > > > > > > awesome proportions but it may well be walking away from a
> > >conversation
> > > > > > > knowing God gave you the words to say to help that person better
> > >know
> > > > > God,
> > > > > > > or a step closer to knowing him for the first time. It could be
> > >standing
> > > > > >in
> > > > > > > the midst of financial difficulties and seeing provision coming
>in,
> > >or it
> > > > > > > could be standing in front of hundreds or thousands of people
>citing
> > >how
> > > > > > > God spared your life miraculously while doing his work and
>having
> > >many of
> > > > > > > those want that loving God in their life and accept him at that
> > > > > time. And
> > > > > > > when we cannot seem to find a testimony complete or having
>reached
> > >a
> > > > > > > solution, we certainly can stand with expectation knowing that
>what
> > >we
> > > > > >are
> > > > > > > living now is tomorrows testimony, and that hope will cause us
>to
> > >look
> > > > > > > harder for God in a situation, to listen closer for his voice.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I know this man's points were focus on Christ, know who God is,
>know
> > > > > who I
> > > > > > > am in God, and trust in God, but what I remember hearing most
> > >in-between
> > > > > > > his words, in the pauses of his testimony, is the summation
>"today's
> > > > > >events
> > > > > > > are tomorrows testimonies".
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Brad
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