My Weekly Devotional

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Seeler ------your quote -----Have faith in God, and that faith (trust) will overcome fear.

unsafe says ---
This is a very important teaching Seeler ---May The Holy Spirit Guide you in your Preaching of this subject ----

I don't know how in depth your Preaching on this subject will go as this is just not a simple task to Preach that our faith in God will overcome Fear ---I wish it were that simple but this statement you have made here entails a lot of explaining ------- you need to know that all your Church has a Spiritual understanding of where fear and Faith comes from -----your speaking of A Spiritual God who says Fear is a Spirit and God tells us how to keep fear away from us -----We can have Faith in God and allow Fear to creep in ------An understanding of how Faith and Fear works is needed ------There are 3 types of Faith for example ---James describes the different faiths --------What Faith are you talking about here ?------

The Disciples had Trust in God but allowed Fear to grip them at times -----so there Faith didn't overcome the Fear --the Fear polarized their Faith ---
You are right to say when your in Faith your not in Fear and when your in Fear your Faith is not present -----

Peter had Great Faith --Trust in Jesus who told him to get out of the boat and come to Him and he put that Faith into action ----but then what happened ---Fear took over and he sank ------Peter gave Satan who is the Spirit of Fear access unto himself ------

Job is another who had Faith in God --but allowed fear to creep in ---

The Fist Great Command is to Love The Lord your God with all your Heart --Soul and Mind and obey His Word ----- Faith alone will not overcome Fear unless we are Grounded and Rooted in God's word and obey His will which shows our Faith in Him and our Love for Him ---- Love drives out fear


1 John 4:18New International Version (NIV)
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,(A)because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.


Abraham showed his love for God when he obeyed his command to leave his homeland and go to where God would tell him to go ----and when he offered up his Son at God's command ---there was no fear there -----


Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego showed there Great Faith and Great Love for God when they refused to worship an idol and went into the fiery furnace ---they had no fear -----

Noah showed no fear in what people might say about him building the Ark -----he had Faith in what God said would come to pass and showed his love for God by obeying Him without question and followed His command ------

Great Subject to Preach on ---May you do well --
 
Do you know that in Jewish lore, Abraham is considered a more-righteous righteous man than Noah? Why? Because when Godde spoke to Noah and told him to build the ark, and pack up his family and go, he simply obeyed. When Abraham was told to warn Sodom of her impending destruction, he argued with Godde about how many righteous people would allow Godde to save the city.
 
revsdd ----Sorry for posting comments that are not pertaining to your Weekly Devotional but felt that I should answer these posts ---I enjoy reading your weekly devotionals ---thank you for posting them ------


BetteTheRed ----your quote ------Do you know that in Jewish lore, Abraham is considered a more-righteous righteous man than Noah?

unsafe says ----and posted link ---
Is there where you got that BetteTheRed -----

https://mosaicmagazine.com/observat...-jewish-tradition-hold-noah-in-higher-esteem/
Why Doesn't the Jewish Tradition Hold Noah in Higher Esteem?
Abraham and Moses are considered wholly righteous men, but Noah isn’t quite. That’s because, unlike them, he does what he’s told without question.

unsafe says ----
I would say their Jewish lore is very mixed up according to what the Scriptures actually say -------they have made up their own conclusions in my opinion -----

In the Old Testament God dealt directly with the people Himself ------In God's eyes your either righteous or your not ----God doesn't show favouritism to any people in their righteousness by making one more righteous than the other -----Noah was Righteous in God's eyes because of his faith in God -- --Abraham was deemed righteous because of his Faith in God----

Righteousness had nothing to do with asking questions of God ------- being right with God in the Old Testament was all about having Faith in Him --

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unsafe said:
I would say their Jewish lore is very mixed up according to what the Scriptures actually say -------they have made up their own conclusions in my opinion -----
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As examples of irony go, this one is museum quality.


unsafe said:
In the Old Testament God dealt directly with the people Himself ------In God's eyes your either righteous or your not ----God doesn't show favouritism to any people in their righteousness by making one more righteous than the other -----Noah was Righteous in God's eyes because of his faith in God -- --Abraham was deemed righteous because of his Faith in God----

Righteousness had nothing to do with asking questions of God ------- being right with God in the Old Testament was all about having Faith in Him --
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So, people who had faith in God were righteous. This being the God who, at that time, actually came down and visited people with some regularity. And they still called it "faith". Huh.

Today, God can't manage to hold on to believers. I wonder if God has considered this might be because he hasn't taken that elevator down for thousands of years? Someone give him the idea. It could solve his credibility problem.
 
unsafe said:
revsdd ----Sorry for posting comments that are not pertaining to your Weekly Devotional but felt that I should answer these posts ---I enjoy reading your weekly devotionals ---thank you for posting them ------


BetteTheRed ----your quote ------Do you know that in Jewish lore, Abraham is considered a more-righteous righteous man than Noah?

unsafe says ----and posted link ---
Is there where you got that BetteTheRed -----

https://mosaicmagazine.com/observat...-jewish-tradition-hold-noah-in-higher-esteem/
Why Doesn't the Jewish Tradition Hold Noah in Higher Esteem?
Abraham and Moses are considered wholly righteous men, but Noah isn’t quite. That’s because, unlike them, he does what he’s told without question.

unsafe says ----
I would say their Jewish lore is very mixed up according to what the Scriptures actually say -------they have made up their own conclusions in my opinion -----

In the Old Testament God dealt directly with the people Himself ------In God's eyes your either righteous or your not ----God doesn't show favouritism to any people in their righteousness by making one more righteous than the other -----Noah was Righteous in God's eyes because of his faith in God -- --Abraham was deemed righteous because of his Faith in God----

Righteousness had nothing to do with asking questions of God ------- being right with God in the Old Testament was all about having Faith in Him --

images
images
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Where did I get this from? Talking to a rabbi. You see, unsafe, as unsettling as you might find it, the Jewish tradition is NOT to confirm ONE right way to read every passage. The Jewish way is to yack and argue and discuss the text. It is absolutely and hilariously legit for 3 Jews talking Torah to come to 4 conclusions.
 
chansen said:
"Talking Torah" needs to be a show on local cable.
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Vision used to have a show or two like that produced by various Jewish groups back when it was still a religion channel. Doubt it's on now that Zoomer Znaimer has it in his clutches.

Isn't it sad when your joke turns out to be reality?

Not that that ever happens to me.:whistle:
 
Not many of my jokes don't have an element of truth to them. If they didn't, they wouldn't be funny.

Quiet in the back.
 
unsafe said:
revsdd ----Sorry for posting comments that are not pertaining to your Weekly Devotional but felt that I should answer these posts ---I enjoy reading your weekly devotionals ---thank you for posting them ------
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No worries, unsafe. People were starting to say that there was nothing new being posted, so since I share these devotions elsewhere (mostly with my congregation but with anyone else who finds them on my blog) I thought I'd start posting them here just to spur some discussion from time to time. They're serving that purpose, so it's all good. Glad you enjoy them.
 
revsdd -----thanks for your reply -----appreciate your words ----as long as you keep posting ---I'll keep reading ----:)
 
Hi,

Read a book about the Hasidim. One conversation stands out in memory. For three years the rabbis discussed whether it was good to tie a shoelace come undone on the Sabbath or not. The matter reached no final conclusion. All along the way the diverse perspectives made available insight, encouragement, challenge and much more. Their diverse perspectives harmonized by respect and humility.

Rabbinic literature is rich in pun, metaphor, irony and humour. Quite a contrast to our press for precise definition and clear articulation of verifiable fact.

One day G-d walks into a Jewish shop. He addresses the owner. Today I am opening my book of judgements against you. Hold on says the shopkeeper, reaching below the counter and bringing up a thick file folder. He addresses G-d. Here are my judgements against you.

George
 
GeoFee said:
Hi,

Read a book about the Hasidim. One conversation stands out in memory. For three years the rabbis discussed whether it was good to tie a shoelace come undone on the Sabbath or not. The matter reached no final conclusion. All along the way the diverse perspectives made available insight, encouragement, challenge and much more. Their diverse perspectives harmonized by respect and humility.

Rabbinic literature is rich in pun, metaphor, irony and humour. Quite a contrast to our press for precise definition and clear articulation of verifiable fact.

One day G-d walks into a Jewish shop. He addresses the owner. Today I am opening my book of judgements against you. Hold on says the shopkeeper, reaching below the counter and bringing up a thick file folder. He addresses G-d. Here are my judgements against you.

George
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Tis why God gave the Hasidim ... Hebrew ... to support the ambiguity that later became satyr ... Hebrew is said to be worse than English but I'd joke about that as a "fixed tongue" too! I would be supported by James Joyce in his Joies ...
 
revsdd said:
Something a little bit lighter this week. I'm reflecting on the importance of laughter in life - not just at the unexpected blessings and miracles, and not even at the funny jokes - but just being able to laugh with delight at the normal, every day things that we see and experience.
http://randomfaiththoughts.blogspot.ca/2017/04/a-thought-for-week-of-april-24-2017.html
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Heh heh, saw this on your Twitter already. Loved it.

One of my beefs with Christianity, at least as practiced in my youth, was that piety always seemed to be about solemn, serious obeisance (in mainstream churches) or sweaty, rapturous exultation (in the evangelical world). Laughter, dancing with joy, and so on seemed to be treated as not serious enough or even sacrilegious.

I think that has changed to some degree in some churches, but even in the UU world, I find that there is still this seriousness about spirituality. Discovering your connection to what is fundamental, whether or not you call it "God", should be joyous, at least at times.
 
I hope that you followed up with Voices United #624 Give to Us Laughter.
The men in our Presbytery have added a fifth verse. It goes something like "Ha, ha, ha, hee, hee, hee ... "
 
revsdd said:
Why do some people demand signs, while others are able to see God clearly without them. That's the basis of my reflection this week, stemming from the demand of the Pharisees that Jesus give them a sign.

http://randomfaiththoughts.blogspot.ca/2017/05/a-thought-for-week-of-may-1-2017.html
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Interesting as always.

I don't necessarily need "signs" to believe (I assume that by signs we mean something a bit splashier than one person's "wow" insight; healings, water into wine, miracles of some order). I just need to feel that there is something there to believe in; something more than just what I see, hear, etc. or can test in some way with simple science.

In fact, big splashy signs (healings, etc.) don't necessarily impress me. They can all be faked in some way or to some degree, whether through conscious fraud or subconscious desire. James Randi and other debunkers have proven that adequately.

What would make me believe would be to just feel that something was out there beyond my understanding; beyond what I know through my senses or reading about science. I don't think someone else can make that happen through signs or otherwise. It would have to be a direct experience of some kind by me of something that (IME & IMO) could only be called "God".

IOW, for me to believe, I want to "see" (as in experience, not necessarily see in the simple visual sense) God in some, not just signs. I just don't seem to have that capacity right now.
 
Makes me wonder why Jesus even resorted to doing miracles at all seeing as this could also be a sign of a false Messiah.
 
Mendalla said:
Interesting as always.

I don't necessarily need "signs" to believe (I assume that by signs we mean something a bit splashier than one person's "wow" insight; healings, water into wine, miracles of some order). I just need to feel that there is something there to believe in; something more than just what I see, hear, etc. or can test in some way with simple science.

In fact, big splashy signs (healings, etc.) don't necessarily impress me. They can all be faked in some way or to some degree, whether through conscious fraud or subconscious desire. James Randi and other debunkers have proven that adequately.

What would make me believe would be to just feel that something was out there beyond my understanding; beyond what I know through my senses or reading about science. I don't think someone else can make that happen through signs or otherwise. It would have to be a direct experience of some kind by me of something that (IME & IMO) could only be called "God".

IOW, for me to believe, I want to "see" (as in experience, not necessarily see in the simple visual sense) God in some, not just signs. I just don't seem to have that capacity right now.
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I often think what would have been seen as a miracle 2000 years ago would make us yawn in boredom today. Perhaps the world unfolding from our increased knowledge is the miracle and that whatever time we are born in we are amazed. Is it us creating through science or is science the vehicle that opens our eyes to what was always there?
 
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