Musing - What happens when the “World” goes Anti--Biblical?

 Hebraic Musing - What happens when the “World” goes Anti--Biblical?

What is happening in our culture is rooted in the battle between Satan and Elohim, the “Battle of the Ages.”  Elohim’s plan was for male headship of the family.  The father is to teach the children (Deut.6:6…).  The mother has the privilege of conceiving a child, nourishing it for nine months in her body, bringing forth the child and providing love, care and bonding.  Love is foundational.  It is especially important for the father to be involved in his children’s lives and guidance.  Is the problem of absent fathers contributing to our society’s problems? 

Sexual confusion in our society is primarily seen in children who feel alone because they have not bonded and/or were traumatized as a child.  Without parental bonding to give them a connection and a sense of being loved, there is a never-ending search for love in all the wrong places.   Genesis 1:27-28 clearly states the human race was created either male or female.  “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply’…” NKJV   On the other hand, depopulation is the goal of many un-godly or anti-godly world leaders.

Satan is determined to create havoc and our society seems determined to be as un-godly as possible, seeking hedonistic and demonic pleasures; thus birth rates are dropping below replacement numbers worldwide.

Is “Global warming” a version of evolution?  Many can’t stand the idea of an Eternal Being who created everything, loves each one of us, and is providing a new heaven and a new earth for our eternity.  So, is trying to change the weather man’s fearful attempt to play “god” by using man-made means to alter our environment?

Many women are determined to have the right to kill their unborn babies.  The majority of boys are growing up without fathers, making them more likely to make bad decisions, avoid marriage and possibly end up in prison; and girls without fathers are much less likely to have stable marriages.  Is this due to the increased divorce rate?  One big reason men have stopped getting married is the probability of divorce with the woman getting half the man’s wealth!  How to get back to Biblical Marriage?  A – Boys keep pants on; Girls cross their legs.

Now, perversion has gone to a new level with transgenderism, as if it was possible to change one’s sex.  Someone who tried it reported “a transgender identity is fun at first, but over time you will find you become a slave to it.  Your heart is deceiving you.  Yes, your feelings are real, but your feelings do not determine who you are.  We must align our thoughts and feelings with reality, not attempt to alter reality to align with our feelings and desires.  Surgery, hormone injections, or anything else does not change someone’s DNA from a man’s to a woman’s or vice versa.  Transgendered men do not become women, nor do women become men.  All become feminized men or masculinized women, counterfeits, or impersonators of the sex with which they ‘identify’.”

Women who are working full time and trying to raise a family are trying to do the impossible.  Bonding between the mother and the child is a developmental stage every healthy person needs to become a healthy adult, and consistency is important.  Children (and adults) need to feel they are significant and not alone. They learn to trust the mother to be there for them, no matter what.  Many children in day-care are significantly more bonded to their caregiver than their parents.  (JH - As a psychologist, I repeatedly saw that children who have not bonded typically have low self esteem, feel like no one cares about them, and they assume they are unlovable.  And this is generally followed by acting in unacceptable ways.)

What was/is Elohim’s plan? - He created man and woman, to be fruitful and multiply.  We were created for love and commitment.  Just as with Adam and Eve, we are still under the curse caused by their disobedience.  After the covenant with Abraham and later renewed with the nation of Israel at Mt. Sinai, the Torah was given.  Many people, without even reading the Torah assume that it is not relevant to them.  Not only is it relevant, it was confirmed by Yeshua Himself!  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me … ‘Lord, Lord, have we not … cast out demons … done many wonders …’   And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV.  

What’s next?  “For nation will rise against nation, … And there will be famines, pestilences, …  Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.  And then many will be offended, …  will hate one another. … many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But…” Matt.24:7-12

Points to Ponder

What’s been happening to our nation’s society after WWII?   Consider…
“Dear John” letters, Women in workforce, Prosperity, Ten Commandments Removed, etc.

John Adams, observed, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People.
 It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Is our nation and our world going non-biblical?  Or anti-biblical?

“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matt.24:13

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          May 30, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Note - Inspired by, excerpted from Johanna Hocker (JH) “What is happening in the world?” May 12, 2023

Musing –Do We Fully Appreciate the Role of the Holy Spirit?

 Hebraic Musing –Do We Fully Appreciate the Role of the Holy Spirit?

In the Gospel message, we first hear of John the Baptist’s focus on baptism for repentance in preparation for the coming Messiah.  Then we hear that “...Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John.” in John 4:1.   And then, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the focus changed to being filled or baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ infamous final words or command to us was “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Matt.28:19 NKJV

Then what happened about 50 days later?  “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4   This happened on Shavuot (or Pentecost), one of the three feasts requiring all men to pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  Peter’s preaching to the crowd at the Temple brought 3,000 to repentance, immersion, and being empowered by the Holy Spirit.   And how did Peter conclude his first message to the crowd?  “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

BTW - Next Sunday, May 28^th, is Pentecost Sunday, today’s Christian name for the holiday which takes place the 50th day after Resurrection Sunday.  It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks or Shavuot as commanded in Deuteronomy 16:10 “Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you.”    In Israel, the Feast of Weeks is also called the Feast of the Firstfruits celebrating first harvest of the wheat; and the Firstfruits are to be sacrificed to the Lord (Leviticus 23:10).  This becomes even more special for us in the New Testament since we Christians who receive the Holy Spirit are also called the “Firstfruits.”

The Jews were surprised when the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles when Peter was preaching to Cornelius’ household.  “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.  And those of the circumcision (Jews) who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.  For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.  Then Peter answered, ‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” Acts 10:44-48

Later, when Paul was in Ephesus he encountered disciples of John; but they had not received the Holy Spirit!  “Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” Acts 19:4-6 NKJV   And those believers were thus empowered to go forth to the entire known world to spread the gospel in just a few generations!

In Galatians 5:16, Paul exhorts us to “Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” And then he reminds us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

Points to Ponder

Why do many Salvation testimonies reveal all three “baptism” experiences?  For example:
I repented to Father God that I had broken His commandments;
I accepted the atoning sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, as my Lord;
and ever since then, I’ve enjoyed the daily guidance from His precious Holy Spirit.

What are we celebrating next Sunday?  A - Pentecost.  What happened in Acts Chapter 2?  

♫ Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the Living God... ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          May 23, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Note – Inspired by Johanna Hocker’s “The Role of Immersion and the Holy Spirit” – 4/17/23

Musing - Can Grieving be a Good Thing?

 Hebraic Musing - Can Grieving be a Good Thing?

I was puzzled after March 10^th, 2012, when my wife left me for the Perfect Husband, Jesus Christ.  Traditional teachings say I should  have gone through five to ten stages of a grieving process.  So why is it that I was not devastated by this most major loss?  Many Christians think the Bible says “Grieve Not” in 1 Thess.4:13; but the whole verse is – “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.”  NIV

A dear friend¹ sent me the book “Good Grief ” by Granger Westberg; and after reading it, I am now surprisingly convinced that grieving can be a good thing.  The author states that as a result of good grieving “we come out of our grief experience at a higher level of maturity than before.”  I’m amazed at the result, a higher level of maturity.  

Let me share some of my very personal reactions to each of the author’s ten stages of grief:

Stage 1. State of Shock – No shock experienced because, graciously, I and the family of six children, their spouses & umpteen grandkids could see it coming for six years. 

Stage 2. Expressing Emotion – I am a man and I have cried and still cry. Why not – I do miss her.

Stage 3. Feeling Depressed and Lonely – I’m not alone. I have a lot of dear friends and family ‘just being there’.

Stage 4. Experiencing Physical Symptoms of Distress – Avoiding debilitating distress by accepting that things will have to change; and not wallowing in depression or disappointment.

Stage 5. Becoming Panicky – Fear of the unknown will cause panic, but I know where she is.  However, I am uneasy as it becomes obvious that my future will be different, and I don’t know what that is yet.

Stage 6. Sense of Guilt – Were there things I should have done differently?  Maybe, but introspection says we did what we lovingly thought best.  An interesting example of guilt – my father died suddenly one evening and my mother regretted for years that the last meal she gave him was only a bowl of chili.  She’s forgiven!  (And Dad loved chili.)

Stage 7. Anger and Resentment – Typically the reaction is “why did this have to happen to me?”  I am comforted in my faith that God is sovereign, so I can and will leave this event in His hands.

Stage 8. Resisting Returning – People try to help by not mentioning PeggyMom for fear of stirring up the grief cycle, but actually it is healthy to acknowledge the quirks and uniqueness that made her special.  Comments about her help keep her memory alive and lovingly show a shared burden.

Stage 9. Hope Comes Through – With family around, I am finding that other experiences and relationships in life are still very meaningful.  After all, Jesus tells Christians to look forward and not backward.

Stage 10. Struggling to Affirm Reality – Over the years, the many losses we survive and the challenges we experience mold us into a different person.  Losing Peggy (and losing our 10 month old Cathy in 1969) and being with loved ones suffering losses has molded me into a different person.  My faith in the sovereignty of Almighty God has grown with each tragedy.

Yet it is now clear that the best is yet to come. The future is still exciting, although unknown.

Point to Ponder

We all suffer many losses in life,
so how can we let grieving strengthen us instead of debilitating us?

Shalom Aleichem

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      May 16, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

¹  Shortly after the “good friend” sent the book to me, she became my wife, Irene.  She had also been through the grieving process similar to my experience with my wife’s declining health.  Irene and I always have copies of the book “Good Grief ” by Granger Westberg available to give to those we meet who are grieving over a loss.

(This musing was originally written/published exactly four months after March 10, 2012)

Musing – A Spiritual awakening or My Testimony

 Hebraic Musing – A Spiritual awakening  or   My Testimony 

While at work on January 23, 1969, I received a phone call from the Hospital that our baby daughter, Catherine Margaret, had been in an accident.  Dashed to the hospital and right there in the ER while staring at lifeless Catherine, I clearly vowed to myself “This will not break up our marriage.”  This started a Spiritual challenge. 

Seven years later… PeggyMom and I attended the next step in my Spiritual Awakening, a Marriage Encounter weekend, Feb. 14, 1976.  I don’t remember many dates, but that one was the start of My testimony.

After our Marriage Encounter experience, I became a curious seeker and enjoyed the fellowship and learnings in our monthly Renewal meetings with other couples.  One couple I especially admired was Bill and Mary Blessing.  They had something I wanted; and they frequently talked about their Cursillo weekend experience.  I did not understand what was happening; but the Holy Spirit made me desperate to go on a Cursillo week-end – a Thursday evening through Sunday Evening commitment.  I was so desperate that I bypassed the invitation process and had Bill Blessing sponsor me, even though they would be vacationing in Florida that weekend.

So on a Thursday afternoon in August 1977, I rode with friends of the Blessing the 75 miles to a pre-monastic facility outside of Momence, Illinois, for the three day retreat.  As I exited the car I asked, “Aren’t you coming in?”  They answered, “No. We were just giving you a ride” and they drove off leaving me with no car or transportation.  That act of love was the beginning of a weekend of loving experiences.

On the second day, August 26, 1977, as we were listening to speakers and sharing what we heard, Father Tony Tascheta spoke and his message, presentation and testimony was awesome.  I kept thinking that he missed his calling; he should have been a VP of Sales!!!  After his talk we started discussing the topic but I was in a daze.  Our discussion leader suggested the seven of us at the table go to the prayer room; so we all dutifully made our way to the Palanca Chapel.  “Palanca” is Spanish for leverage or crowbar and the name of the prayerful love letters we kept receiving during the weekend.

As we walked into the Palanca Chapel, I saw Father Tony Tascheta on his knees praying and thanking Jesus for all the words Jesus had given to him for the “men out there.”  Here was a man whose skill I so admired, down on his knees thanking Jesus for those words!  My knees gave out and I found myself kneeling, crying crocodile tears and saying almost out loud “Jesus Christ, you are real.  I need to learn more about you.”   At that moment I knew I would never be the same; the genuineness of that experience was validated during the next two days.

For the closing ceremony of the Cursillo weekend we entered a big hall and I saw Bill and Mary Blessing there; they had cut short their Florida vacation in order to see me at the closing!  I fell apart!  As part of the closing ceremony we each had to stand up as the Holy Spirit led and tell what the week-end had meant.  Eventually I went to the podium, froze, fell apart and finally blurted out “I talked to Jesus!”  That’s all I could say.  It may not have been much of a speech but it spoke volumes.  I was never so choked up in my life.

Very late Sunday night, or Monday morning, the Blessings gave me a ride home.  I immediately woke up Peggy and said, “Guess what happened to me on the weekend?”    She said, “Huh?”     So I repeated the question and she said, “What?”    I told her, “I talked to Jesus”.       And she said, “Does that mean you are ‘born again’?”      To that question I answered, “I don’t know what you call it, but all I know is that I talked to Jesus....  And I want you and all five kids to experience what I experienced.”       She replied, “It’s too late Joe; we already have.  We’ve all been praying for you.”  (She could have added “…for 10 years.”)

Points to Ponder

I was 39 years old on August 26^th, 1977; I know how blind a man, a husband , a non-believer can be.

Is there someone in your life who has something you want?  (I wanted what Bill Blessing had!)

Never stop praying for loved ones who do not yet know Jesus as their Lord.
Don’t underestimate the leveraging power of Palanca, prayer.

Don’t underestimate the power of your testimony.   What is yours?

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,” Rev.12:11

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                             May 9, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

P.S.  And since that day, I have had “A Joyful Life”!

Musing – Let’s Sing a few Psalms!

 Hebraic Musing – Let’s Sing a few Psalms!

The title is redundant since Psalms means Sacred Songs.  The Book of Psalms are traditionally divided into five “books,” reflecting the five books of the Torah — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.*   Psalms 90-106 are often referred to as Messianic Psalms because they speak of the coming Enthronement, Kingship or Lordship of Yeshua.  They are looking forward to the coming Lord.  Rather than studying, let’s enjoy them by reading and/or singing a sampling of the Messianic Psalms (in NKJV) and letting them bless us.

♫ “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High  Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’” (91:1-2)

♫ “For He shall give His angels charge over you,...” (91:11)

♫ “It is good to give thanks to the LORD,  And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;” (92:1)

♫ “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. (95:1-2)

♫ “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.  For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” (95:6) 

♫ “Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth.” (96:1) 

♫ “Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength.” (96:7) 

“For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.” (96:13) 

♫ “The LORD reigns; Let the earth rejoice;” (97:1) 

♫ “Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things;” (98:1) 

♫ “Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.”  (98:4) 

♫ “The LORD reigns; Let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim;” (99:1)  (Note - between the cherubim in the Temple was the Arc, the very presence of God!  Where is He now?)

♫ “Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!  Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.” (100:1-2) 

♫  “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise.” (100:4)

♫ “I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.” (101:1) 

♫ “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:” (103:1-2) 

And here is a Messianic puzzler that stumps some rabbis today.  Psalm 110:1 announces the Messiah's future Reign - “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” (110:1)  David’s Messianic reference is quoted by NT authors in Mt.24:44; Mk 12:36; Lk 20:42 and Acts 2:34.

Psalm 120 to 134 are “Psalms of Ascent” which we sang/recited as our tour bus was climbing “up to Jerusalem.”

Points to Ponder

And these were just a sampling!  Did you find yourself breaking into song?

How many treble clefs have you put in the margins of your Bible?

“be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,” Eph.5:18-19

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                             May 2, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

*    Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy (1–41, 42–72, 73–89, 90–106, 107–150)