Musing – Were you created “For Such A Time As This”?

 Hebraic Musing – Were you created “For Such A Time As This”?

This timing question is the key message in the book of Esther.  The book tells about overcoming a plot to annihilate the Jewish nation!  The plot builds to the point that Queen Esther, an undercover Jewess, desperately seeks “what to do?” advice from her Uncle Mordecai.  His answer to Esther - “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  Esther 4:14

The Jews celebrate the events in this book each year as “Purim.”  The literal meaning of the Hebrew word of ‘Purim’ is ‘lots that are cast’. This is in reference to how Haman (Booo) cast lots to decide on which day he would order the attack and killing of the Jewish people.

Purim celebrates the dramatic turn-around events recorded in the book of Esther, where the wicked Haman (“Booo”) tried to annihilate the Jewish people of ancient Persia.  The Jews were saved through God’s miraculous arranging of events, as expressed by the heroics of Mordechai and Esther.

Reading the book of Esther is enjoyable and unique.  It reads like (a) a History Report; and (b)a mystery novel, and (c) a lesson for us from the Almighty.  The book has no mention of God; and it is positioned in the Bible as historical, but it also serves as a transition to the poetic books.

As might be expected when celebrating salvation from a failed massacre, Purim can get a little raucous, thus Jewish Purim celebration customs typically include:
  - Reading the scroll of Esther (shouting “Booo” whenever Haman’s name is mentioned)
  - Hamantaschen, a sweet triangular cookie filled with jam, preserves or chocolate.
  - Sending Food to Friends and Gifts to the Poor
  - Rejoicing & enjoyment of the Purim Feast

How do the Jews summarize the Purim feast/celebration?  “They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat.”

Our Bible does provide many other examples of those who stood strong and won; for example:

·      Ordinary men – “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

·      God placed you here and now – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

·      Jesus obediently fulfilled His FSATAT – “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.“ John 17:4

·      What did Paul consider his FSATAT purpose to be?  “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me...” Acts 20:24 NIV

As we Christians find ourselves experiencing anti-godly events in these latter days, we have choices:

Do we complain about the pitiful world we have to deal with compared to the America of years gone by?
   or    
Do we do whatever our Almighty Omniscient Creator needs us to do For Such A Time As This? (FSATAT)

Points to Ponder

Has your purpose in life been to prepare FSATAT?

Do you think God has your FSATAT behind you?  Or ahead of you?

How should we proceed?
Obey Mary; she told us “Whatever He says to you, do it.”  John 2:5

Are we “ordinary” enough to be like Peter and John?

Someday, might we be saying – “They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat.”

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                            August 1, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”  

Note - All scripture references are from the NKJV unless noted

Musing – World-view or Biblical “Love”; What’s the Difference?

 Hebraic Musing – World-view or Biblical “Love”; What’s the Difference?

We Christians like to point out that “God is Love.”  But what does “Love” mean?  How many ways is the word “Love” used in our everyday language?  There are at least seven types of “Love” in the Greek language (see Notes below).  Here are examples of how we use the word “Love” today (with the Greek word for each):

- I love my brother-in-law. (Storge, familial)

- I obviously love myself.  ♫ “... I think I’m grand, when I go to the show, I hold my hand...” ♫ (Philautic)

- I love my neighbors, they are good people. (Philia, a friendly, platonic relationship as in Philadelphia)

- I loved the flirtatious times Irene and I had during courtship. (Ludus, easy & fun times)

- I enjoy making love and all those erotic, passionate, lustful and pleasurable emotions!!! (Eros, as in erotic)

- I desperately try to love everybody without conditions, the way God loves us. (Agape, perfect, unconditional)

- My love for Irene has grown & matured. (Pragma, matured, devoted & committed)

- I love coffee. (a traditional misuse of the word love, I should use the non-relational “Like”)

While we try to be Christ-followers and learn about love by reading our Bibles, we have in our heads at least eight distinctly different definitions or descriptions for that critical word “Love”!  Our Bible focuses on only four of these forms of “Love”:

The four types of “Love” described in the Bible:

Agape – The highest and most noble form of love is reserved for the perfect, self-sacrificial and unconditional love that God has for us.  Agape, pronounced uh-GAH-pay, is what Jesus demonstrated on the cross for us by sacrificing his life and taking on the entire burden of sin for all mankind so that all may have life everlasting with Him in Heaven.

Storge – Pronounced stor-JAY.  Storge refers to love between family members. Think of how many examples of Storge you can find in the Bible between the many families mentioned: Noah and his children, fathers and mothers devoted to their children, Ruth and Naomi, just to name a few!  And we belong to the family of God!

Phileo/Philia – Philia is brotherly love in the Bible; have you ever heard the city of Philadelphia referred to as the city of “Brotherly Love?”  That’s because this form of love is Greek for the deep, emotional bonds that connect people to one another.  Often this is exemplified in friendship, but really it is also extended to those who show love and a natural care for others out of their love for people around them, like their neighbors.  We see examples of this kind of love between figures like David and Jonathan and especially in John 13:35 – “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” NKJV

Eros – Pronounced AIR-os.  Eros is what we would call physical love and/or lust.  This includes love found in Song of Solomon; and also includes the love found in unhealthy places where adultery and sexual immorality become idols for certain communities.

In SUMMARY – I would love to say that I love sharing God’s Word; BUT instead, I should say...
     I appreciate the opportunity to pass on what His Holy Spirit has shared with me.

Points to Ponder

Are we safe in taking the world’s use of the word “Love” at face value?

Love is the strongest emotion; it is the most profound, intense and life changing.

“While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”   Why?

“For God so loved the world that he gave...”

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     July 25, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”      Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   

Note - Seven of the types of “Love” in the Greek language:

Eros: Romantic Love
Eros is named after the Greek god of love and fertility. It involves passion, lust, and pleasure. It’s also where we got the term “erotica.” Cupid is modeled after Eros. This is the love that can act as a drug. We get high off of this type of love and experience deep sadness when it is tainted or taken away.

The Ancient Greeks believed Eros to be dangerous as it feeds off of our primal impulse to procreate and involves a loss of control. It stimulates romantic and sexual feelings that aren’t duplicated with other forms of love. For many, this makes it close to irresistible.

Philia: Friendly Love
The second type of love is Philia, which is authentic, intimate friendship. From Philia stems the idea of “platonic” relationships, meaning “without physical attraction.” The term was named after Greek philosopher Plato who felt that physical attraction was not a necessary element of love.

Agape: Universal Love
Agape is selfless, empathetic love. Such as the love for strangers and people whom we don’t know well. Agape love is bigger than you and me as it exhibits boundless compassion that is extended to everyone regardless of our connection to them. It is pure and sacrificial. It is perfect.

Ludus: Flirtatious Love
The Ancient Greeks thought of Ludus as a playful form of love. Think of a teenage crush or the affection demonstrated between young lovers. We were so light and free back then. Relationships were fun, and love felt easy.

Storge: Familial Love
The affection experienced among family members is Storge. This kinship-based love is protective, caring, nurturing, and unconditional. Storge is most common between parents and their children.

Pragma: Committed Love
Pragma is devoted, companionate love such as marriage and life-partnership. It is a love built on understanding, patience, and long-term investment. Pragma has matured over time — tried and tested by the challenges of life.

Philautic: Self-Love
The Ancient Greeks understood well that to effectively care for others, we must first learn to care for ourselves. Philautic sets the tone as self-love is the faucet from which all other love flows.

Musing – What’s the Difference Between a Hearer and a Doer?

 

Hebraic Musing – What’s the Difference Between a Hearer and a Doer?

Life is a trial; James recognized that in the first chapter of his book.  “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.  Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:19-21 NKJV   Personal confession, my nature is not “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”.  Therefore, James had to remind us to lay aside the stuff that does not lead to salvation of souls.

My favorite Bible verse might be the very next verse - “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22   Considering the preceding three verses, opening with the word “But” makes sense.  Three reasons we should be concerned about being a “Doer” instead of simply a “Hearer”:

First concern would be knowing that Jesus’ final command to us was to “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, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;…” Matthew 28:19-20   That is a call to action, the doing that Jesus commanded of us, His disciples!  The early Christians were “Doers”, thus, they took the Gospel to the entire known world within a few hundred years! 

Our Second concern should be for those folks around us every day.  We have ministry opportunities in our own family before even going out the door.  And do we know the Spiritual status of co-workers?  And what about servers and clerks and salespeople and others we encounter throughout the day?

A Third concern would be our own appreciation of what God’s grace and salvation has meant for us personally!  What better gift to share than our salvation testimony and the joy we’ve experienced?  Didn’t we learn to share in kindergarten?  How effective might your personal testimony be as a witnessing tool?!?!

Charles Spurgeon - “I fear we have many such in all congregations; admiring hearers, affectionate hearers, attached hearers, but all the while unblest hearers, because they are not doers of the word.”

Will hearing and knowing God’s Word help us in evangelism?  Should it increase out desire to share God’s Word?  What’s our purpose(s) for going to church one, two or three times a week?

 - Fellowship; personal encouragement.  (But to do what?)
 - Obedience to God.  (As an example to your family only?)
 - Save souls.  (But there are probably more opportunities to do that at Walmart!?!?)
 - To grow in understanding of our role in the Kingdom.  (But what is our role in His Kingdom?)
 - To enjoy fellowshipping during ministries & Bible studies.  (But why?)
 - Habit & a good one.  (But why?)
 - To hear God’s Word.  (But what will we do with it?)

Points to Ponder

What eternal value is there in simply being a masterful student of the Bible?

Will the question at the pearly gate be –
How much of the Bible did you memorize?   or    How often did you attend church?  
Maybe God is more likely to ask “What did you do to build My Kingdom?”

Do we have our Salvation Testimonies prepared and ready to share?
Does your neighbor know our testimony?
How much do we love our neighbor(s)?

“… be doers of the word, and not hearers only,..” James 1:22

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     July 18, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Musing – Have We Already Been Silenced?

 Hebraic Musing – Have We Already Been Silenced?

In his book, “We Will Not Be Silenced”, Erwin Lutzer, the 36-year pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, describes the multi-faceted challenges we Christians are facing.  Are like the proverbial frog in the frying pan who does not jump out as the heat is turned up.  How are we to survive the insidious, multi-faceted onslaught?  And to what extent “Have We Already Been Silenced?”

The Left thinks America cannot be fixed; therefore, it must be destroyed; and the vestige of our Judeo-Christian heritage and Biblical teachings are in the way.  They think that “Cultural Marxism” is the answer.  So, what are the fixes the Left wants to do? 

Here are the headings and teaser samplings of points made in each of the ten chapters of the book:

1. How we got here.  Cultural Marxism; Destruction of traditional marriage; Destruction of the Nuclear family; Victimology; Women’s movement – (Margaret Sanger’s solution was birth control and Women in the workforce and their changed roles); Media control; Silent church.

2. Rewrite the past to control the Future.  Destroy/remove statues & other reminders; Pay Reparations; Rewrite history books.

3. Use Diversity to Divide and Destroy. Social Justice; Intersectionality; CRT; “Equality”; White Guilt.

4. Freedom of Speech for Me; but Not for Thee.  Arguments for & against Free Speech; Love your neighbor (which definition of “Love”?); Open Borders; Reinterpret the Constitution; Silence the Church.

5. Sell it as a Noble Clause.  How propaganda works; New Justice; Slogans; Collective demonization; Sexual revolution; “Equality”; Gaslighting.

6. Sexualize the Children.  Corrupted public schools; Children belong to the State; Culture goes WOKE; Change flag to Rainbow; Trafficking; Satanic transgendering.

7. Capitalism is the Disease; Socialism is the Cure.  Marx rules from the grave; Democratic Socialism; Covid, Bailouts & push for socialism; Claims that Bible teaches Socialism; Economics & Human nature; Greed & Corruption; Free Stuff; Promises of freeing us from poverty, racism; white supremacy; people are basically good!

8. Join with Radical Islam to destroy America.  9/11 impact; Unity of Mosque & State; Muslim Immigration; Deception of Political Correctness (vs. Common Sense); Response (or lack) of the Church.

9. Vilify! Vilify! Vilify!   Ridicule &/or Criticize; Public Shaming; Hitler’s “brownshirts” & ANTIFA; LGBTQ’s search for allies; Global Warming; coming soon to your church.

10. Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains.  Hear Jesus’ voice; Words from Jesus...” We must have the courage to both engage the culture and stand against it.” & “Christianity without courage is cultural atheism.”

The purpose of sounding the alarm is not to take America back.  The Church has neither the will nor the clout to reverse these issues!  Has the Silent Church stepped up to seize the moral high ground?  Y/N?

Points to Ponder

How well do we know and understand and recognize our enemy’s strategies?

What do we need to do if America is non-recoverable?
Like the church in Sardis - “Wake up! Strengthen what remains...” Rev.3:2 NIV

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9 

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     July 11, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Inspired by & recapped from “We Will Not Be Silenced” by Erwin Lutzer, cc 2020. (Amazon - $11.26)

Musing – Did God make a Mistake?

 Hebraic Musing – Did God make a Mistake?

Our favorite plaque in our kitchen says “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, …. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 NIV   I’ve heard some contend that instead of God allowing us to choose, He could just as easily make all His creation His Children.  Why didn’t He just make us all to love Him? 

As I remember the childhood story of Pinocchio, there was a poor and lonely man named Geppetto who wanted a boy; so he made a marionette and named it Pinocchio.  Although Geppetto loved Pinocchio, his creation, he was disappointed that Pinocchio could not choose to return the love.  Sadly, Pinocchio was only a puppet.  Finally, Pinocchio was given life as a real live boy and could return Geppetto’s love.  Pinocchio could and did choose to love his creator, Geppetto!  And that made Geppetto very happy!  What a beautiful ending!  (This is how I remember the story of Pinocchio; not the Hollywood rendition.)

A simple truth jumps out at me.  While God indeed created us, He desperately wants our love in return.  He does not want puppets like Pinocchio.  So God had to provide the opportunity for us.  What did God have to do to show us His love for us?  “God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love.  It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10  NLT

The requirement to choose who we will serve is found back in Deuteronomy 30:19 with God’s renewal of His covenant with His people. “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” NIV

Our Bible and history contain many examples of saints choosing to obey, choosing to make Jesus their Lord. 

·         Ruth - “Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16 NIV 

·         Elijah - “How long will you waver between two opinions?  If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” 1 Kings 18:21

·         Eleazar Ben Ya’ir’s final words as leader at Masada - “Since we long ago resolved never to be servants to the Romans, nor to any other than to God Himself, Who alone is the true and just Lord of mankind, the time is now come that obliges us to make that resolution true in practice.”

·         Peter & John - “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.  For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20

And Jesus is awaiting our response.  “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Rev.3:20 NIV

SUMMARY – Did God make a mistake when He required us to choose?

Points to Ponder

What choices are we going to have to make in this life? 
How often do we make choices?

On which issues might we have to take a stand?

Maybe our most important power is our power to choose!

What does it take to choose Jesus as your LORD?

♫  Are you ready? Are you ready?  Are you ready for the judgment day? ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     July 4, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com