Musing – When we ask “How are you?” do we really care?

Hebraic Musing – When we ask “How are you?” do we really care?

  God’s word speaks to this in these verses.  Proverbs 14:13 is a head scratcher but contains a critical message.   Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.  NIV    Just because someone is laughing, does that mean they are happy?  Just because someone appears to be enjoying life, does that mean they are ok? BTW – the suicide rate is highest in the holiday season; some people are really hurting.

How might this relate to Lev. 19:16 “… Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life”?  In this section God lists a series of admonishments telling us how to be neighborly?  We know we are to “love your neighbor as yourself” and love means not being indifferent to another person’s pain.

Let’s re-phrase the question.  When we ask someone “How are you?” are we too willing to take their glib answer as the whole truth?   An Australian recognized the danger of this “mask-wearing” and instituted a national “R U OK Day.”  He was the son of a successful businessman whom everyone thought was thriving in life. However, his father was not ok, and tragically, he took his own life.  To do something positive with the tragedy of losing his father, he started the “R U OK Day” organization to get people to look at others beneath the surface and check in on how they are really doing.

I know I am especially guilty of coming up with cute, comical, glib ways of responding when I am asked “How are you?”  I wear the “mask” all too often.   During the traditional church “greeting” ceremony of shaking hands or hugging during the service, the game seems to be to see how many hands we can shake.  Maybe we should shake fewer hands and take time to build relationships that allow us to share more deeply… and become true friends?  A lot of people need help, but don’t ask for it; including myself sometimes.

All too often in prayer circle situations our friends and fellow congregants will share by asking for prayer for a relative or friend of theirs.  Maybe we should ask them a second question like “What do you need?” and then take the time needed to wait for a meaningful answer.

Point to ponder

What might happen if we answer honestly when friends ask how we are doing?

How might you help someone by asking “R U OK”?

During your quiet time, does Jesus ask “How are you?”

R U OK?                                                                                 December 15, 2015    

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,  

Musing – Do we treat our souls as well as we treat our bodies?

Hebraic Musing – Do we treat our souls as well as we treat our bodies?

All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied. Eccl 6:7  NKJV   (Interesting topic at this time of holiday feasting!) If you are like me, you eat the traditional three meals a day.  And as we have been trained to do, we pray before each meal. There are interesting explanations for this three times a day prayer custom.

1.      The NT contains numerous examples of prayers being said before eating -- Matthew 14:19–21 tells us Jesus prayed before the miracle of loaves and fishes; in Luke 24:30 & Acts 27:35 Jesus blessed the bread and gave thanks before the meal; and many more NT examples link prayer and meals.

2.      Jewish Sages tell us that the custom of praying three times a day was based on the three Patriarchs:

a.       Abraham introduced prayer in the morning in Genesis 19:27: “Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD.”  Morning prayer is at a time when things are bright as we look forward to the day He is giving us. We find ourselves praying while things are still going well.

b.      Isaac prayed mid-day in Genesis 24:63 “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field…..”  It sure seems like a good idea to pause when toiling in the middle of the day to get guidance and to acknowledge His presence during our daily toils.

c.       Jacob introduced prayer at night in Genesis 28:11 “When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set.”  Jacob experienced a lot of hardship and uncertainty in his life.  So he shows us the need for prayer during the darkest times of our lives, at night, a time of darkness and uncertainty as we process the events of the day gone by.

3.      Daniel was caught praying three times a day when he heard there was an edict against praying to anyone beside the Babylonian king; and Daniel knew the Lion’s Den was the punishment. “Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Dan 6:10    By custom Daniel would have been praying the traditional “Sh’ma” loudly three times a day -- “Hear, O Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD is One." 

4.      When we were at dinner with our group in a Tel Aviv hotel, the Maître De pointed out he knew we were Christians.  “How did you know that?” I asked.  He said that Christians pray before their meal, Jews pray after the meal. Hebrew thinking accepts that everything God created was for our pleasure.  It would therefore be insulting for us to pray before eating in order to sanctify the food (although I’ve heard that sometimes missionaries do pray very hard for their food!).  Our food is already blessed by the Creator by virtue of the fact He gave it to us. Jewish/Hebrew mindset wants to be thankful for the bounty, thus offering a prayer of thanksgiving after the meal. They are obeying Deut. 8:10 “When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.”

Whether you pray three times a day, before or after meals, or morning, noon and night; we are to be in touch with God throughout the day, in all situations. He’s always listening and wants to hear from us.

Point to ponder

Is God okay with hearing from us only three times a day?

Were Abe, Ike, Jake or Dan asking for something from Him?
                             Or just talking to Him?

Please give Him my regards the next time you talk to Him.                          December 8, 2015      

Musing – Would Jesus Post on FaceBook?

Hebraic Musing – Would Jesus Post on FaceBook?

We get a kick out of cartoons like this but this technology is here to stay and has become the today’s M.O. (Modus Operando). Should we embrace it and utilize it?  WWJD? 

In Deuteronomy 6:6-9 we are told to talk 24/7 about God’s plan for us - “These commandments … are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as SYMBOLS ON YOUR HANDS and bind them on your foreheads….”  NIV  

I didn’t think I’d ever support social media’s infringement on face-to-face communication; however, I have come to admit that use of FB keeps me in touch with way more friends and family than I could without it.  Phones and e-mail lack the spontaneity of FB or texting. 

The biggest objection I’ve heard from Christians has to do with the casual nature of relationships in social media.  Can or should FB and Twitter be accepted and supported by Christians?   BTW I still do have meaningful relationships and face-to-face access to friends, family and associates; and communication with FB friends & family represent contact that I would not otherwise have if it were not for FB, and texting.  Since social media is often viewed as impersonal without depth of relationships; how can we develop an accountability relationship?  Is it too easy to ”unfriend” someone with whom you disagree? 

Let’s ask a bigger question, how would Jesus use social media?  WWJD?

·      Would Jesus fear being “unfriended” for posting photos of those outlandish miracles as testimonials?

·      Would He want ushers to confiscate phones being used during the service for texting, posting, etc.?

·      Would Jesus use the posts to preach?  Or to tell people His location and where he will be going next for those interested in following Him?

·      Would He “friend” someone who smokes, drinks or posts smutty stuff?  Would He “friend” non-Christians?  Would He “Un-friend” someone who posts stupid stuff?  Would He ever “unfriend” anybody?

·      Would He put His phone down when talking to His Father?  Or when ministering, talking to or counselling with someone in need?  Or when He’s talking to you?

·      Would Jesus use FaceBook to replace face-to-face meeting opportunities with people?

·      Would Jesus be “unfriended” if He posted too many Bible verses?  Or would He wisely mix in a goodly amount of fun pics and humor? 

·      Would He critique bothersome examples of hypocrisy in the news?

·      Would Jesus post content of those private moments He has with friends, family, you or anyone?

If you think too much time/space is wasted with FB postings of meals and pets, etc., how can we make our own posts and tweets more purposeful, and Christ-like? 

Point to ponder

What do you think?  Would Jesus “friend” you on FB?  Twitter?
Would He “unfriend” you if you disagreed with Him?
Is there any reason why you would “unfriend” Him?

Shalom y’all                                                                                        December 1, 2015      

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd,   Author:                       

“Hebraic Insights”  “Biblical_Marriage” “Musings v.1 – A Victorious Life”
“Musings v.2 – The Torah and New Testament” Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   www.InsightsByYosef.com

For Facebook---

Would Jesus Post on FaceBook?

We get a kick out of cartoons like this but this technology is here to stay and has become the world’s way. Embrace it or utilize it?  WWJD? 

In Deuteronomy 6:6-9 we are told to talk 24/7 about God’s plan for us - “These commandments … Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as SYMBOLS ON YOUR HANDS …… ”  NIV  

I didn’t think I’d ever support social media’s infringement on face-to-face communication, but I’ve come to admit that use of FB has kept me in touch with way more friends and family than I could without it. 

Let’s ask a bigger question, how would Jesus use social media?  WWJD?

·      Would Jesus fear being “unfriended” for posting some of those outlandish miracles as testimonials?

·      Would He want ushers to confiscate phones being used during the service for texting, posting, etc.?

·      Would Jesus use the posts to preach?  Or to tell people His location, and where he will be next, for those interested in following Him?

·      Would Jesus “friend” somebody who smokes, drinks or posts smutty stuff?  Would He “friend” non-Christians? 

·      Would He “Un-friend” someone who posts stupid stuff?  Would He ever “unfriend” anybody?

·      Would He put His phone down when talking to His Father?  Or when ministering, talking to or counselling someone in need?  Or when He’s talking to you?

·      Would Jesus use FaceBook to replace face-to-face meetings with people?

·      Would Jesus be “unfriended” because He posted too many Bible verses?  Or would He mix in a goodly amount of fun pics and humor?  Would He critique bothersome examples of hypocrisy in the news?

·      Would Jesus post content of the private moments He has with friends, family or anyone?

If you think too much time/space is wasted with FB posts of meals and pets, etc., how can we make our posts and tweets more purposeful? 

Point to ponder

Would Jesus “friend” you on FB?  Twitter?

Would He “unfriend” you if you disagreed with Him?

Is there any reason why you would “unfriend” Him?

What do you think?