I need a roommate.
In general, I hate sharing my space, because...I'm not the best at sharing. However, there are some SERIOUS benefits to roommating:
1. The Free Food
I miss coming home after a long day's work to someone saying: "Did you eat? I cooked filet mignon with 7 cheese macaroni, and salad. If you want...I also made creme brulee for dessert."
OKAY, no one ever made that. But I've come home to great spaghetti, curry chicken, stews, pizza, etc. It sucks when I come home, and know that I have ZERO food (at least none that I want). Like tonight, I had fish available. But I didn't want fish. I wanted cereal, but I'm pretty sure my milk is spoiled. I don't touch it. I don't smell it. If I had a roommate, they would have complained about that milk by now. AND, it would already be replaced with a fresh milk.
Be that as it may...I totally made a great meal tonight from scraps!! Don't you love it when you make an awesome dinner from items that would have turned to mold without your stroke of genius?!
The Ingredients:
Lettuce
Scrap of tomato
Almost at the edge head of broccoli
Onion
The last banana peppers in the jar
One of the last two eggs in the fridge (boiled)
3-4 days from mush green bell pepper (chopped)
the remainder of grilled teriyaki chicken that I took home from a house party on Sunday (chopped)
All this created a pretty awesome tasting salad. FOR THE WIN!!!
Back to the list for why I need a roommate...
2. Roommates force you to keep your apartment clean.
This apartment is a wreck. Usually, I clean on Sundays and it lasts for about 2 - 3 days...until the next Sunday. But now, it's like I'm in some type of cleaning funk. It's April. It took me down, and because I'm alone I JUST DON'T CARE. I don't care about the heap of mail on my dining room table. I don't care about the volcano of dishes in my sink that is about to erupt. I don't care about the clothes strewn across my bedroom floor, and bathroom floor, and living room floor...When I had roommates, shame forced me to stay tidy.
3. Roommates are an instant hangout person when you're bored.
In truth, I don't need constant companionship. However, it's nice to come home...and be like: movies? And then we just go. Midweek. That used to be kind of great. Or that person to watch TV with (as long as they like all the same shows as you, and don't disrupt your TiVo), with delivery Chinese and a bottle of improperly paired mid-tier wine. Good times!
Short list. I really just wanted the opportunity to praise my scrap salad.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
April is evil
I know that each day is one that the Lord has made, but I haven't done much rejoicing in the 26 days of April that have passed so far. I have concluded that: April is evil.
Sorry to all those with April birthdays, but your parties will be lame, and you either will or have already noticed crows feet around your eyes this year. You will get all dressed up to go out and will stub your toe. Yes, it is THAT kind of April.
Why do I feel thus?
Well, today it's because I forgot my purse at work again and had to drive ALL the way back to get it. But other than that, it's been a pretty bad month. Let's recap:
1.) Lost my iPod
This is grievous indeed. I mean, I haven't worked out SINCE I lost it, so it's been about two weeks of sloth. I cannot continue in the way. There are songs I want to listen to at work, but I realized I didn't download them to my iTunes. So then I have to sing them to myself. It's not the same...
2.) Lost the key card to my apartment
Today of all days, this sucked the worst, as it was raining on my head and I could not gain entrance into my building. Why not buy another key card? Because it's $50!!! And plus, the intercom/buzz-in system is hooked up to my cell phone, so if I punch in my apartment code, it'll call me, I press "0" and I'm in. However, today...I forgot my cell phone at home. :'(
3.) Work has been horrific
I've worked a few 14 - 16 hour days. That's not what I signed up for. I find that I am sleepy...that I'm eating a lot of trashy food, and am missing out on quality TV. I'm so behind on Flashforward! I'm sad because prior to April, I thought my job was pretty gravy. Now, it's definitely not gravy, it's cornbread from Cracker Barrel. Note: If you like the cornbread from Cracker Barrel, you should be drowned...in gravy.
4.) My mom came to visit and I could barely spend time with her because of #3.
People who know me, know that I sometimes spontaneously say: "I want my mom." I HAD her, and she was wasted. Now she is gone, and I am bereft.
5.) Bad hair days
I'm not talking about a few fly-aways. I'm talking about one of those hair days where you AVOID mirrors. Why? If I walk past a mirror and look INTO it...a groan/shriek of terror/despair will be emitted. Then I'll groan at the fact that I groaned...then I'll try to fix it, only to admit defeat, groan yet again, kick the air, and walk away.
6.) The pimple!!
It's still lingering. It is much improved, but it's a slow process.
7.) There is no seven, but there should be.
Seven deadly sins...seven disastrous ways to describe April. Oh wait, there's a 7: It RAINS all the time!! Gloomy and sad April is.
In 5 days it will be May. She is welcome. Good riddance to April.
Sorry to all those with April birthdays, but your parties will be lame, and you either will or have already noticed crows feet around your eyes this year. You will get all dressed up to go out and will stub your toe. Yes, it is THAT kind of April.
Why do I feel thus?
Well, today it's because I forgot my purse at work again and had to drive ALL the way back to get it. But other than that, it's been a pretty bad month. Let's recap:
1.) Lost my iPod
This is grievous indeed. I mean, I haven't worked out SINCE I lost it, so it's been about two weeks of sloth. I cannot continue in the way. There are songs I want to listen to at work, but I realized I didn't download them to my iTunes. So then I have to sing them to myself. It's not the same...
2.) Lost the key card to my apartment
Today of all days, this sucked the worst, as it was raining on my head and I could not gain entrance into my building. Why not buy another key card? Because it's $50!!! And plus, the intercom/buzz-in system is hooked up to my cell phone, so if I punch in my apartment code, it'll call me, I press "0" and I'm in. However, today...I forgot my cell phone at home. :'(
3.) Work has been horrific
I've worked a few 14 - 16 hour days. That's not what I signed up for. I find that I am sleepy...that I'm eating a lot of trashy food, and am missing out on quality TV. I'm so behind on Flashforward! I'm sad because prior to April, I thought my job was pretty gravy. Now, it's definitely not gravy, it's cornbread from Cracker Barrel. Note: If you like the cornbread from Cracker Barrel, you should be drowned...in gravy.
4.) My mom came to visit and I could barely spend time with her because of #3.
People who know me, know that I sometimes spontaneously say: "I want my mom." I HAD her, and she was wasted. Now she is gone, and I am bereft.
5.) Bad hair days
I'm not talking about a few fly-aways. I'm talking about one of those hair days where you AVOID mirrors. Why? If I walk past a mirror and look INTO it...a groan/shriek of terror/despair will be emitted. Then I'll groan at the fact that I groaned...then I'll try to fix it, only to admit defeat, groan yet again, kick the air, and walk away.
6.) The pimple!!
It's still lingering. It is much improved, but it's a slow process.
7.) There is no seven, but there should be.
Seven deadly sins...seven disastrous ways to describe April. Oh wait, there's a 7: It RAINS all the time!! Gloomy and sad April is.
In 5 days it will be May. She is welcome. Good riddance to April.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Final Chapter
Why blog?
I’ve noticed recently that EVERYONE has a blog. Blogging is really just another manifestation of the “ME” generation’s self-centeredness. Everyone wants their 15 minutes. I thought that my blog was about self-expression, but really…I think I just want people to read the words that I write. I have something to say! And I want people to know it! Wacka, wacka, wacka…sounds like “Arrogance. “
Who cares what I have to say? My sister told me flat out: “your blog is boring.” I was hurt, but I realize that it’s boring to her, because it’s not about her. Everyone loves their own blog!! And people who love the blogs of others either love the blogger OR they love the blogger’s subject matter. My subject matter is ME, so really, I’m only leaving one choice to my readers. Love me of log off. Arrogance.
I’d love to have a central topic to my blog like dating, love, relationships…but let’s face it: I’m not doing ENOUGH dating for those stories to sustain my blog. Or maybe my blog could be completely spiritual? No, because it’s draining in a not cool way. I love that it keeps me reading and studying my Bible, but when you’re reading/studying in defense of or to explain something, it becomes exhausting. Why? The Bible does not provide clear-cut answers. It pushes you to rely on faith. If it were the year 35 AD…maybe I’d have a clearer understanding of everything that was written. But after translations, "ancient writings", scholarly studies, interpretations, discussions of the “original Greek text,” coupled up with personal pride, fear, and “I-know-I-have-the-truth” mentalities…faith is about all I have left! The way I read a scripture can be 100% different from the way someone else reads a scripture, and suddenly my blog would be about trying to convince or portray to someone what (to me) is a clear truth. Arrogance. I can’t let my blog get caught up in that.
So with that in mind, I’m not trying to convince anyone of anything. I simply want my voice to be heard, partly because I like the way it sounds. Arrogance.
And with that I give you the final piece of Jew 2.0 (which was the only piece I EVER had in mind—I tried to make it big, when my original thought was quite small).
Jew 2.0: The Family Tree
Jew 2.0 is a theory from the Christian point of view. As such, whether Jesus is the Messiah from a Jewish point-of-view is irrelevant. The answer to why Christians don’t call themselves Jews is probably simply:
1) So few of us our ethnically Jews.
2) The term “Judaism” is so clearly associated with the Law that Christians believe themselves to be free of.
Note: Free of its penalty. We are not free to be sinners and do whatever we want. I don’t want people to get that twisted. To be “Free in Christ” does not mean that we can spit upon Moses’ tablets and go along our merry way and call it “walking in the Spirit.” See Galatians 5:
13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
And therein lies the destruction of many Christian testimonies. Lack of love. I feel like many Christians (in times past, I as well) are so busy pointing out what is wrong in other religions and belief-systems, that our elitism and our prideful “knowledge of God” is transmuted into something very much like disdain and hatred.
This was happening in the early Church, Christians who thought they had a leg up on Jews, and made no bones about it. Sometimes, we Gentiles, forget who we are. We forget our frame. However, Paul kicked some wisdom their way in Romans 11:
15For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
16For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again
Based on the above, we can see that Gentiles were getting a little haughty about their salvation: “God broke them off to make room for me!” That right. God has limited space available: “one in, one out." You know the scripture: "For the kingdom of heaven is likened unto an overcrowded dance club..."--St. John 22:1
Puh-leeze! (SARCASM ALERT!! That was a fake scripture; please tell me you got that! I pray that you got that!! There is room at the cross for you, for you, you, you, you, you!)
For now, they abide in unbelief, but the time for them will come again (at which point the time for us Gentiles may/may not be over, it sounds like we’ll be over based on the below...):
25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
People who teach “Replacement Theology” are flat-out wrong. Gentiles are not a replacement for Jews. In fact…we’re probably more appropriately described as “the bait.” What do I mean? Check out Romans 10:
19But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
Not to demean the love of God, but it’s kind of like how when you meet someone, they like you, they’re trying to date you and you give them the “brush-off.” They stalk you a little, call all the time, make excuses for your bad treatment and dismissal of them, and they pledge their undying love for you. It’s kind of annoying...so all the while, you’re like: “whatever.” So one day they leave, and they find someone else. Once you see them with someone else, suddenly and inexplicably you want them back! Yeah…it’s like-totally-for-serious just like that! (That was my Valley Girl impression in print. Imagine me blowing a huge gum bubble; it aids in imagery).
The promises of God are sure; His undying love for the Jews is..umm…undying. Jews will not lose out, as they are the original branches of our family tree, of which God is the root. Christians (i.e. Jews 2.0), we are the wild branches who have been grafted in. Thank you Jews for our shot!!
It may be a hard pill to swallow, but even if Jesus were not the Messiah (which He is), Jewish prophesy proclaims that the situation would be the same: Jews reject, Gentiles step forth, through jealously/anger Jews come to acceptance of the Messiah and reclaim their place in the family tree. Jesus has been rejected, we (Christians) have received Him...there's really only one piece left: the hope and fulfillment of God's promise to Israel . We are ONE tree, upheld by the same Root. Original branches and wild branches. See? Jew 2.0.
THE END.
Song for the week. I figured it was time for something new. And guess who I found?! Someone quite special has dropped a new album. So I figured I'd listen to snippets and find an appropriate song, but I ended up buying the whole album because of her VOICE. NE-WAY, her style has gotten a little more contemporary, but this woman has one of the greatest and most well-known voices in gospel music. I present to some, introduce to others (haha): the great, the magnificent Karen Clark-Sheard:
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Stranger Danger
I have a problem with strangers.
Real-life situation (no point in lying about hypotheticals):
A friend of one of your newer friends is having a party at their home. Your friend invited you to this gathering. You later learn your friend will not be there. Should you go?
Choices (as they ran through my mind in a 30-42 second timeframe):
A. Of course you should go! That's how you make friends. I thought you were "shopping" for a new BFF...
B. It depends. Have you met this friend of a friend before? If you have and you're kind of cool...go.
C. No. You don't know these people. You'll be bored and uncomfortable, laughing at inside jokes and making random comments in an attempt to appear entertaining. It'll be a bunch of work. Plus, you weren't actually invited.
D. You should go. Don't expect to have fun, don't expect to be happy about it...you're going JUST so your friend can see that you're not using them as a crutch.
Reasons for Choice A: This is only appropriate for very outgoing, full-exposure individuals OR for very confident, I-don't-care-full-exposure individuals. I am neither of these persons. Therefore, I resort to A under DIRE circumstances. Dire circumstances are those when I have absolutely no friends, no friend prospects, and imagine myself dying alone in my apartment eaten by wild dogs (in the city no less!). When you feel that level of desperation, you'll go just about anywhere and yuck it up with just about anyone.
Reasons for Choice B: This is obvious. A certain sense of familiarity has been established. This could be at the budding stage. At the budding stage, I can be more myself, have my guard down; I can feel more open and safe.
--Pause--I would like to interject that I've met this friend of a friend. Nice person. But...no sense of familiarity was established. To me this person is still 95% stranger. Why? Because when someone says their name...I say "who?" And when that person is described to me, I still doubt the mental picture in my mind.--Unpause--
Reasons for Choice C: I like to be comfortable (I know: who doesn't?), and I feel like since I have a slow-to-warm up personality (inwardly) that it's best if I'm slowly introduced to a circle through someone else (when possible). This way I won't feel like I'm putting myself out there, unnecessarily.
Reasons for Choice D: Foolish pride. I don't want anyone to think I can't stand on my own two feet, or that I'm afraid of people. So I strike out...knock on what is practically the door of a stranger, and saunter in as if we've been friends for years, and say something like: "Hi! It's Marissa...right?" And they'll say something along the lines of: "Actually...It's Maureen, but come in!" That could either be a really funny moment, something we'll laugh about years from now, or it'll be the beginning of awkwardness. I would probably take it as a sign of the latter, and then the self-fulfilling prophecy of horror would begin.
Which answer is appropriate? Which reason is reasonable? When faced with this decision--which has occurred a few times in my life--I generally either default to C or D. Is that hopelessly negative? It seems sad even to me.
When I think of the friends of friends that I have befriended, it always took place in a 1-on-1 environment. Groups are a safe launching pad, which can take off into dinner, yoga class, a movie...but I think you have to feel like a legit part of the group first. But how do you ever feel legit if you never join in?
Am I too stuck in my comfort zone? Yes? No? Thoughts?
Could the choices that I consider be construed as offensive?
Real-life situation (no point in lying about hypotheticals):
A friend of one of your newer friends is having a party at their home. Your friend invited you to this gathering. You later learn your friend will not be there. Should you go?
Choices (as they ran through my mind in a 30-42 second timeframe):
A. Of course you should go! That's how you make friends. I thought you were "shopping" for a new BFF...
B. It depends. Have you met this friend of a friend before? If you have and you're kind of cool...go.
C. No. You don't know these people. You'll be bored and uncomfortable, laughing at inside jokes and making random comments in an attempt to appear entertaining. It'll be a bunch of work. Plus, you weren't actually invited.
D. You should go. Don't expect to have fun, don't expect to be happy about it...you're going JUST so your friend can see that you're not using them as a crutch.
Reasons for Choice A: This is only appropriate for very outgoing, full-exposure individuals OR for very confident, I-don't-care-full-exposure individuals. I am neither of these persons. Therefore, I resort to A under DIRE circumstances. Dire circumstances are those when I have absolutely no friends, no friend prospects, and imagine myself dying alone in my apartment eaten by wild dogs (in the city no less!). When you feel that level of desperation, you'll go just about anywhere and yuck it up with just about anyone.
Reasons for Choice B: This is obvious. A certain sense of familiarity has been established. This could be at the budding stage. At the budding stage, I can be more myself, have my guard down; I can feel more open and safe.
--Pause--I would like to interject that I've met this friend of a friend. Nice person. But...no sense of familiarity was established. To me this person is still 95% stranger. Why? Because when someone says their name...I say "who?" And when that person is described to me, I still doubt the mental picture in my mind.--Unpause--
Reasons for Choice C: I like to be comfortable (I know: who doesn't?), and I feel like since I have a slow-to-warm up personality (inwardly) that it's best if I'm slowly introduced to a circle through someone else (when possible). This way I won't feel like I'm putting myself out there, unnecessarily.
Reasons for Choice D: Foolish pride. I don't want anyone to think I can't stand on my own two feet, or that I'm afraid of people. So I strike out...knock on what is practically the door of a stranger, and saunter in as if we've been friends for years, and say something like: "Hi! It's Marissa...right?" And they'll say something along the lines of: "Actually...It's Maureen, but come in!" That could either be a really funny moment, something we'll laugh about years from now, or it'll be the beginning of awkwardness. I would probably take it as a sign of the latter, and then the self-fulfilling prophecy of horror would begin.
Which answer is appropriate? Which reason is reasonable? When faced with this decision--which has occurred a few times in my life--I generally either default to C or D. Is that hopelessly negative? It seems sad even to me.
When I think of the friends of friends that I have befriended, it always took place in a 1-on-1 environment. Groups are a safe launching pad, which can take off into dinner, yoga class, a movie...but I think you have to feel like a legit part of the group first. But how do you ever feel legit if you never join in?
Am I too stuck in my comfort zone? Yes? No? Thoughts?
Could the choices that I consider be construed as offensive?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
"For God so Loved the World..."
It's Sunday, and that means it's time for spiritual musings, ideologies, and random thoughts. I feel random today, but I will still tackle the rest of Jew 2.0. Jew 2.0 was in the crapper last week. I mean, I was just so scatterbrained. Last week was the WORST WEEK EVER, and so I was too demoralized to get back on track with my Sunday blog. And for a little while, all the questions made me think that Jew 2.0 was not well thought out. I felt like I was on the wrong track: too much me and not enough God in my research. However, this week I've got a word. I only hope I don't destroy it with exposition and build-up. Again, feel free to comment and/or ridicule.
Jew 2.0: Part Deux
Back to the main question I'm looking to answer:
"Jesus Christ himself was a Jew. If Christians wanted to follow their God, why do they not follow Judaism?"
Like I said in the previous, "I'm-too-sleepy-for-this" post the first Christians were Jews, and believe me, they had identity issues! There is a whole book of the Christian Bible that is dedicated to their identity crisis: Galatians.
Paul, a-former-persecutor-of-Christians-turned-hardcore-Jew-4-Jesus-leader-of-the-Gentile-churches, is a letter to set some people straight. I love the opening of Chapter 3:
1"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? "
Translation: Are you kidding me? Who has tricked you into not obeying the truth?! I mean...Jesus was crucified in your face!
2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Translation: Why are you moving backwards? You found faith at the start, and now you're looking back to rules and regulations to make you perfect? Explain yourselves!
Here's the crux of it all:
6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Covenant - mutual agreement or contract (between persons, between nations, or between God and humanity) with conditions and consequences spelled out.
At it's core, the squabble over Jew 2.0 in Galatia and in modern-day society has to do with the Mosaic Covenant. There's no other covenant like it in the Bible. This covenant required unfailing obedience to 613 laws. By magnitude alone, Paul had to be correct in saying:
11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
But wait! If no one is justified by the law in the sight of God...if we don't even have a real shot at it...what's the point of the Mosaic Covenant?
Paul says in Galatians 3:24 that the Law was our "schoolmaster." When I was a kid, I thought that meant that the Law was our teacher. It taught us right from wrong, so that we would have that basic knowledge when Jesus hit the scene. Not exactly. I did some research and a "schoolmaster" (in that timeframe) was a servant. This servant escorted the children of his master to and from temple from about the age of 6 until puberty. This was to make sure they were safe (kids are so immature, they get into all sorts of trouble) and to ensure they received instruction. Humanity needed a "schoolmaster" to escort us to the true teacher, which is Christ. When there are a bunch of rules that you can't follow, it just makes you aware of your inadequacy. The Law made us aware of our sinful nature, it made us aware of our disconnection from God, and it leads us to Christ, who is the fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham!
Why do we spend so much time focusing on the Mosaic Covenant? It's purpose was not salvation. Maybe I need a Jew to explain it to me, but if the Mosaic Covenant is about salvation, who is keeping all 613 laws every moment of every day? Because 24-7 compliance is what's necessary to receive "salvation" under Mosaic Covenant (if salvation is even obtainable under the Mosaic Covenant). And I guess we could say that it doesn't have to be 24-7 compliance, because you could offer sacrifices to atone for sin...but who's offering up a sacrifice? And I know, since the temple was destroyed, no sacrifices. But sacrifices were being performed prior to the construction of the temple. Sacrifices were performed in the wilderness. So...??
But regardless of whether there is a temple or not, why offer up even a single animal when Jesus Christ died as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, so that "through Abraham all families of the earth be blessed?" The Messiah is a part of the Abrahamic Covenant, Jesus came to fulfill the Law, so that only one covenant would remain: the first one! And THAT is why it's Jew 2.0. We all have access into the same covenant, through Jesus Christ.
Wait, then what's the New Covenant? Whoa, whoa. I was getting crazy with the ideas here. There is a New Covenant, but it's linked! The purpose of the New Covenant (which is prophesied first to Jews in Jeremiah 31:31) is to grant humanity access into an eternal relationship with God (the relationship God spoke to Abraham about). This is in stark contrast to the Old Covenant (Mosaic Covenant) the purpose of which was to show us that we NEEDED a savior, that on our own...we couldn't do it. That our works, on our best day, led to a breaking of the covenant.
This is getting long, so the last and FINAL part (Part Trois) will be about "The Family Tree." It won't be long, just some final thoughts.
Random Church Thought of the Day
Is it crazy that THIS is what I really wanted to talk about today? But I wanted to be true to Jew 2.0. This is short, but it's HEAVY. I was at church tonight, and the service was SO not about this, but often someone will say something that triggers something in my spirit. Or maybe God spoke this into my consciousness (though, I did not hear His voice or anything), but ANYWAY: What is the most widely quoted Bible verse ever?
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
But what struck me is "loved." And I realized, I had no inkling of the timeframe on that love. That love is past, present, AND future. But what kills me is that it's PAST. And this is also (as mentioned in my opening paragraph) on point with Jew 2.0. Jesus is the way to salvation for EVERYONE: past, present, and future. People who existed prior to the death of Jesus Christ, people who lived and died under the law, still had access to grace through Jesus. What do I mean?
There is one event, and one cool scripture that sprang to my mind when I had this thought.
The Event
What did Jesus do in that time between His crucifixion and His resurrection? He preached in Hell.
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison.” Peter 3: 18 - 19
Now do I know exactly what happened there? Nope. I just know He went! He loved them enough to be there! And He declared himself, and His good news is that He had just died for sin. All sin. Sin unlimited. WOW!
The Scripture
The following scripture takes me back to my comment about the Mosaic Covenant not leading to salvation. Because those who lived under it, those who failed under it, DESPITE their love for God, found themselves in a place that is not heaven. The concept of heaven is new. Jesus goes "to prepare a place."
Scrip is OT from the man after God's own heart--King David:
10...For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Jesus went to preach to people who were bound. And preached His gospel of redemption from sin to them, thereby freeing them. Even David. EVEN DAVID!
Randomness Continues...
Oh, wait, and there's another scripture in Hebrews 11, which is NT, but speaks to an OT subject. And I love this scripture, because it alludes to something that some Jewish scholars have said: that Moses knew everything! That God gave Moses every answer, beyond what was written on the tablets.
Let the randomness marinate. Goodnight!
I think this song is pretty.
"Jesus Christ himself was a Jew. If Christians wanted to follow their God, why do they not follow Judaism?"
Like I said in the previous, "I'm-too-sleepy-for-this" post the first Christians were Jews, and believe me, they had identity issues! There is a whole book of the Christian Bible that is dedicated to their identity crisis: Galatians.
Paul, a-former-persecutor-of-Christians-turned-hardcore-Jew-4-Jesus-leader-of-the-Gentile-churches, is a letter to set some people straight. I love the opening of Chapter 3:
1"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? "
Translation: Are you kidding me? Who has tricked you into not obeying the truth?! I mean...Jesus was crucified in your face!
2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Translation: Why are you moving backwards? You found faith at the start, and now you're looking back to rules and regulations to make you perfect? Explain yourselves!
Here's the crux of it all:
6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
This is our scripture from Part One! Except it has relocated from Genesis 12, to Galations 3!!
You know what I like about this? It says that "the scripture" foresaw. Personification is REAL. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1) DEEP!!!
Covenant - mutual agreement or contract (between persons, between nations, or between God and humanity) with conditions and consequences spelled out.
At it's core, the squabble over Jew 2.0 in Galatia and in modern-day society has to do with the Mosaic Covenant. There's no other covenant like it in the Bible. This covenant required unfailing obedience to 613 laws. By magnitude alone, Paul had to be correct in saying:
11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
But wait! If no one is justified by the law in the sight of God...if we don't even have a real shot at it...what's the point of the Mosaic Covenant?
Paul says in Galatians 3:24 that the Law was our "schoolmaster." When I was a kid, I thought that meant that the Law was our teacher. It taught us right from wrong, so that we would have that basic knowledge when Jesus hit the scene. Not exactly. I did some research and a "schoolmaster" (in that timeframe) was a servant. This servant escorted the children of his master to and from temple from about the age of 6 until puberty. This was to make sure they were safe (kids are so immature, they get into all sorts of trouble) and to ensure they received instruction. Humanity needed a "schoolmaster" to escort us to the true teacher, which is Christ. When there are a bunch of rules that you can't follow, it just makes you aware of your inadequacy. The Law made us aware of our sinful nature, it made us aware of our disconnection from God, and it leads us to Christ, who is the fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham!
Why do we spend so much time focusing on the Mosaic Covenant? It's purpose was not salvation. Maybe I need a Jew to explain it to me, but if the Mosaic Covenant is about salvation, who is keeping all 613 laws every moment of every day? Because 24-7 compliance is what's necessary to receive "salvation" under Mosaic Covenant (if salvation is even obtainable under the Mosaic Covenant). And I guess we could say that it doesn't have to be 24-7 compliance, because you could offer sacrifices to atone for sin...but who's offering up a sacrifice? And I know, since the temple was destroyed, no sacrifices. But sacrifices were being performed prior to the construction of the temple. Sacrifices were performed in the wilderness. So...??
But regardless of whether there is a temple or not, why offer up even a single animal when Jesus Christ died as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, so that "through Abraham all families of the earth be blessed?" The Messiah is a part of the Abrahamic Covenant, Jesus came to fulfill the Law, so that only one covenant would remain: the first one! And THAT is why it's Jew 2.0. We all have access into the same covenant, through Jesus Christ.
Wait, then what's the New Covenant? Whoa, whoa. I was getting crazy with the ideas here. There is a New Covenant, but it's linked! The purpose of the New Covenant (which is prophesied first to Jews in Jeremiah 31:31) is to grant humanity access into an eternal relationship with God (the relationship God spoke to Abraham about). This is in stark contrast to the Old Covenant (Mosaic Covenant) the purpose of which was to show us that we NEEDED a savior, that on our own...we couldn't do it. That our works, on our best day, led to a breaking of the covenant.
This is getting long, so the last and FINAL part (Part Trois) will be about "The Family Tree." It won't be long, just some final thoughts.
Random Church Thought of the Day
Is it crazy that THIS is what I really wanted to talk about today? But I wanted to be true to Jew 2.0. This is short, but it's HEAVY. I was at church tonight, and the service was SO not about this, but often someone will say something that triggers something in my spirit. Or maybe God spoke this into my consciousness (though, I did not hear His voice or anything), but ANYWAY: What is the most widely quoted Bible verse ever?
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
But what struck me is "loved." And I realized, I had no inkling of the timeframe on that love. That love is past, present, AND future. But what kills me is that it's PAST. And this is also (as mentioned in my opening paragraph) on point with Jew 2.0. Jesus is the way to salvation for EVERYONE: past, present, and future. People who existed prior to the death of Jesus Christ, people who lived and died under the law, still had access to grace through Jesus. What do I mean?
There is one event, and one cool scripture that sprang to my mind when I had this thought.
The Event
What did Jesus do in that time between His crucifixion and His resurrection? He preached in Hell.
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison.” Peter 3: 18 - 19
Now do I know exactly what happened there? Nope. I just know He went! He loved them enough to be there! And He declared himself, and His good news is that He had just died for sin. All sin. Sin unlimited. WOW!
The Scripture
The following scripture takes me back to my comment about the Mosaic Covenant not leading to salvation. Because those who lived under it, those who failed under it, DESPITE their love for God, found themselves in a place that is not heaven. The concept of heaven is new. Jesus goes "to prepare a place."
Scrip is OT from the man after God's own heart--King David:
10...For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Jesus went to preach to people who were bound. And preached His gospel of redemption from sin to them, thereby freeing them. Even David. EVEN DAVID!
Randomness Continues...
Oh, wait, and there's another scripture in Hebrews 11, which is NT, but speaks to an OT subject. And I love this scripture, because it alludes to something that some Jewish scholars have said: that Moses knew everything! That God gave Moses every answer, beyond what was written on the tablets.
24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Even back then, Moses knew there was SOMETHING greater. And it was more than land. What need did he have of land, being a prince in Egypt? What kinship could he have really felt with slaves, having been a prince in Egypt?! But he knew there was something bigger, that there was something greater...and he was willing to suffer and wait for it, "as seeing him who is invisible." And guess what? He probably waited in that same place that David knew Christ wouldn't leave him in. Moses saw ALL that afar off! All the greatest leaders in the Bible are huge on the faith, aren't they?Let the randomness marinate. Goodnight!
I think this song is pretty.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
In Other News...
I've decided that my Sunday post will resume on...umm...Sunday. In the meantime, I would like to catch you up on my life. Have you ever heard the expression "when it rains, it pours?" I feel like if you put that phrase to words (something dark and dreary, kind of like the theme of Phantom of the Opera) you would have the original score to my life. Or maybe I'm just being a complainer today.
In any case, things for me are going like this:
Personal Life
Non-existent. It's making me regret my rejection of Nice Guy. At the time that you decide to pass on someone, you have a stupid thought: "There's plenty of fish in the sea." This is false. There may be fish in the sea, but the older you get...the faster all the good ones swim by you. I mean, I'm almost like a grandma fish now. But be that as it may, I still wasn't feeling Nice Guy, so ultimately I made the right decision. But maybe I'll lead the next person on a little longer, so as to stave off rainy days like this one.
Work
"Everyday in every way, I'm getting angrier and angrier." What if I repeated that everyday? Would I become some kind of workplace vigilante, setting right all that has gone wrong in the world of derivatives? I would see an unreconciled account, and just lash out in a fury of red ink. Oh yeah.
But for serious...the hours have been long, and the demands kind of harsh. I know what you're thinking: "the hours can't be that long; you're at home writing in your blog." Hmm...Touche.
Adult Acne
It strikes when you least expect it! Usually, my skin is pretty clear. But I think this situation was a combination of (1) work-related stress, and (2) the use of an oil-blocking powder that I FORGOT breaks me out. Oh well. In any case, it's pretty bad. I was coping. I knew in my heart that two weeks from now, this would be a thing of the past. A distant memory, but someone at work today said: "What's up with your face?!"
...
Wow. I mean, can we say rude? That was kind of demoralizing. But at the same time, what can I do? I guess I'll call my dermatologist tomorrow to let him know that I've lost control of the situation. Perhaps he has some emergency medication that transforms pimples into smooth skin within seconds. Something that they try to keep on lock for brides on the night before their weddings. I'm willing to slide him a twenty for the hookup...
Sigh. I feel ugly now. But: This too shall pass. C'est la vie. Tomorrow is Another Day...and all that jazz.
In Other News...
"Sasha" knows (and now so do you) that I had previously been shopping for a new BFF. Note: I like all my old BFFS, it's just that after moving to Virginia, I found myself lonely and bereft; I missed my friends terribly. They're still my friends, but they are not at hand. I would write about it at length, but WHY, when someone else has already done so? Check out this article: How to find a new best friend. I saw it on CNN and found it to be quite amusing, and quite true-to-life.
Sometimes the highs/lows and tragic disappointments of the BFF search are just as bad as the brush off from a cute guy. Well...not AS bad, but kinda comparable.
Sometimes my taste in friends is just as bad as my taste in men. I'm attracted to the WRONG type. People who will ultimately play me out and break my heart. Is it crazy not to mind that? I feel like if my heart is broken, I know that at some point it was functioning. Sometimes life is so dull and so uneventful that I wonder... I'll have those crazy moments where I think: I'm really in a coma, and my whole life is a dream. Am I the only one who has those moments?
In any case, things for me are going like this:
Personal Life
Non-existent. It's making me regret my rejection of Nice Guy. At the time that you decide to pass on someone, you have a stupid thought: "There's plenty of fish in the sea." This is false. There may be fish in the sea, but the older you get...the faster all the good ones swim by you. I mean, I'm almost like a grandma fish now. But be that as it may, I still wasn't feeling Nice Guy, so ultimately I made the right decision. But maybe I'll lead the next person on a little longer, so as to stave off rainy days like this one.
Work
"Everyday in every way, I'm getting angrier and angrier." What if I repeated that everyday? Would I become some kind of workplace vigilante, setting right all that has gone wrong in the world of derivatives? I would see an unreconciled account, and just lash out in a fury of red ink. Oh yeah.
But for serious...the hours have been long, and the demands kind of harsh. I know what you're thinking: "the hours can't be that long; you're at home writing in your blog." Hmm...Touche.
Adult Acne
It strikes when you least expect it! Usually, my skin is pretty clear. But I think this situation was a combination of (1) work-related stress, and (2) the use of an oil-blocking powder that I FORGOT breaks me out. Oh well. In any case, it's pretty bad. I was coping. I knew in my heart that two weeks from now, this would be a thing of the past. A distant memory, but someone at work today said: "What's up with your face?!"
...
Wow. I mean, can we say rude? That was kind of demoralizing. But at the same time, what can I do? I guess I'll call my dermatologist tomorrow to let him know that I've lost control of the situation. Perhaps he has some emergency medication that transforms pimples into smooth skin within seconds. Something that they try to keep on lock for brides on the night before their weddings. I'm willing to slide him a twenty for the hookup...
Sigh. I feel ugly now. But: This too shall pass. C'est la vie. Tomorrow is Another Day...and all that jazz.
In Other News...
"Sasha" knows (and now so do you) that I had previously been shopping for a new BFF. Note: I like all my old BFFS, it's just that after moving to Virginia, I found myself lonely and bereft; I missed my friends terribly. They're still my friends, but they are not at hand. I would write about it at length, but WHY, when someone else has already done so? Check out this article: How to find a new best friend. I saw it on CNN and found it to be quite amusing, and quite true-to-life.
Sometimes the highs/lows and tragic disappointments of the BFF search are just as bad as the brush off from a cute guy. Well...not AS bad, but kinda comparable.
Sometimes my taste in friends is just as bad as my taste in men. I'm attracted to the WRONG type. People who will ultimately play me out and break my heart. Is it crazy not to mind that? I feel like if my heart is broken, I know that at some point it was functioning. Sometimes life is so dull and so uneventful that I wonder... I'll have those crazy moments where I think: I'm really in a coma, and my whole life is a dream. Am I the only one who has those moments?
Sunday, April 11, 2010
YOU GOT PLAYED!!
First off, I would like to thank all those who dropped comments last week; please keep them coming! At some point, I want to address those comments in full detail, and tried to do so for this week...however, it kind of derails my main point, and gets me trapped on tangents that would fill up the blog. So one Sunday, maybe two weeks from now, I'll do a "Comments Update" just so that it doesn't seem like I ignored those comments.
It's midnight...and I spent so much time trying to address comments and rundown questions asked by "Sasha" (DARN HIM!!) that I wandered WAAAAY off course. Like, into places that I never thought about. Stuff like the Third Temple, and running around with genealogies. And so...despite my desire not to go down this path, I feel like I have to first establish Jesus Christ as the Messiah. I mean, that's the gap right? And that's more than a few paragraphs. SMH.
For a while...Christianity was legitimately Judaism Reloaded. The first Christians were Jews, and they worshiped and served under the newly-created and short-lived umbrella of Judaism. Christianity started out merely as a sect of Judaism, in much the same way that Catholicism, Lutheranism, Pentecostalism, Calvinism, etc. are all sects of Christianity. Somewhere though, something (or someone...) forced a break. And it was Jesus Christ. As such, I feel that He HAS to be more clearly defined. Am I talking Godhead? No Way! That's like a 4 page blog. I'm talking: Does Jesus fit the role of Messiah? I'm planning to approach this tomorrow to make up for the fact that I played you guys tonight.
I'm really tired, and I wish I could stay up all night...but no. Be ye played! And guess what, I might play you tomorrow night as well, because I have dinner plans BUT I will do my best not to. I want to get this down, so I can move on. The main crux of Jew 2.0 has to do with a tree...
I feel very far from typing words about a tree. A family tree. An awesome family tree.
I've been feeling really down and out lately. It's work. I feel trapped into 60 hour work weeks, and I can't take breaks or get smoothies! So, I imagine myself being free...which makes me want to kick the tune this week VERY old school:
It's midnight...and I spent so much time trying to address comments and rundown questions asked by "Sasha" (DARN HIM!!) that I wandered WAAAAY off course. Like, into places that I never thought about. Stuff like the Third Temple, and running around with genealogies. And so...despite my desire not to go down this path, I feel like I have to first establish Jesus Christ as the Messiah. I mean, that's the gap right? And that's more than a few paragraphs. SMH.
For a while...Christianity was legitimately Judaism Reloaded. The first Christians were Jews, and they worshiped and served under the newly-created and short-lived umbrella of Judaism. Christianity started out merely as a sect of Judaism, in much the same way that Catholicism, Lutheranism, Pentecostalism, Calvinism, etc. are all sects of Christianity. Somewhere though, something (or someone...) forced a break. And it was Jesus Christ. As such, I feel that He HAS to be more clearly defined. Am I talking Godhead? No Way! That's like a 4 page blog. I'm talking: Does Jesus fit the role of Messiah? I'm planning to approach this tomorrow to make up for the fact that I played you guys tonight.
I'm really tired, and I wish I could stay up all night...but no. Be ye played! And guess what, I might play you tomorrow night as well, because I have dinner plans BUT I will do my best not to. I want to get this down, so I can move on. The main crux of Jew 2.0 has to do with a tree...
I feel very far from typing words about a tree. A family tree. An awesome family tree.
I've been feeling really down and out lately. It's work. I feel trapped into 60 hour work weeks, and I can't take breaks or get smoothies! So, I imagine myself being free...which makes me want to kick the tune this week VERY old school:
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Impromptu Haiku Movie Review: Why Did I Get Married Too?
Two hearts beat as one...
Not in this marital flick
TP, this film sucks
Why Did I Get Married Too? is a comedy from playwright-turned-film-director Tyler Perry. This sequel continues the saga of the annual marriage retreat, which is attended by four very unhappily married couples each year. On this retreat, they work on their marriages and remind themselves of why exactly they got married in the first place. The first movie was great. I mean...a wine bottle was smashed over someone's head. That's high drama! Sadly, this movie was an unsuccessful attempt to recapture former greatness by reversing all the progress the couples made in the first film, and then rehashing those previously resolved issues with new twists and pointless cameos (i.e. Cicely Tyson--who I honestly thought was dead, and The Rock).
As much as I try to love and support Black film...I'll put it down (way down, like 6 feet under) when it's warranted. WDIGM2? warrants such a put down. I feel like this has to be done via a list:
1. The first 20 minutes were UNBEARABLE. If I had to hear someone say the beach house was "beautiful" one more 'gain I was gonna lose it. I closed my eyes for a split second, but I realized that I paid $10.75, and I couldn't go to sleep because it might get better later. It didn't.
2. This movie makes no sense. I don't understand how Tyler Perry can write movies about the marriages of highly educated, successful, affluent Black couples and still have them acting SO hood. Something about that seems--for lack of a better word--fake. The character of Angela (played by Tasha Smith) was just so out-of-control ghetto in this movie. I mean, she was my favorite in the first film. She was that kind of witty rude/crude that is legitimately funny and belies intellect. Now she's nothing but a wealthy chicken head with an AWESOME weave. (see definition #4 at the always reliable UrbanDictionary.com; the other definitions were beyond the scope of what I mean...she's not promiscuous)
3. The movie is really depressing. I mean REALLY. I went to the theater to laugh and I cried a little. I cried for my $10.75. I spent some moments thinking of how I could have better spent that money...I mean, it was down the drain! Never to be seen again.
The movie really paints marriage in a bad light. Wait, no...a bad light would mean that marriage was somewhat illuminated. However, this cast marriage into darkness. Like Why Would I Want to Get Married? Sad.
Honorable Mentions of Grossness:
A. Tyler Perry is not sexy. I wish he would not insert himself into movies and be anyone other than Madea, because all I could see was Sharon Leal climbing all over Madea. I threw up a little bit in my mouth...
B. Janet Jackson looked really uncute for the majority of the film. I'm going to need her to take care of that. Until then, I'll hang on to my memories of Janet circa Velvet Rope.
Honorable Mentions of Greatness: These two hotties. We have Michael Jai White (remember Spawn?) to the left. And we have the GORGEOUS Lamman Rucker to the right. Are these men married? If not, I'm totally available...to either one of them. However, I love Lamman. Look at his eyes! They say: "Krissy K, will you accept this ring as a token of my love and devotion to you?" YES!!!!
All in all, it was bad beyond explanation. Use your $10.75 on something worthwhile:
Pack of gum - $1
Ice Cream - $3.99
2 Movies from RedBox - $2
Chapstick - $1.29
Two 4 pc nuggets and a med fry - $2.97
...put the rest in a tip jar, or in the cup of a homeless man
Or just keep it in your pocket and go to sleep...trust me, it's better than WDIGM2?
Not in this marital flick
TP, this film sucks
Why Did I Get Married Too? is a comedy from playwright-turned-film-director Tyler Perry. This sequel continues the saga of the annual marriage retreat, which is attended by four very unhappily married couples each year. On this retreat, they work on their marriages and remind themselves of why exactly they got married in the first place. The first movie was great. I mean...a wine bottle was smashed over someone's head. That's high drama! Sadly, this movie was an unsuccessful attempt to recapture former greatness by reversing all the progress the couples made in the first film, and then rehashing those previously resolved issues with new twists and pointless cameos (i.e. Cicely Tyson--who I honestly thought was dead, and The Rock).
As much as I try to love and support Black film...I'll put it down (way down, like 6 feet under) when it's warranted. WDIGM2? warrants such a put down. I feel like this has to be done via a list:
1. The first 20 minutes were UNBEARABLE. If I had to hear someone say the beach house was "beautiful" one more 'gain I was gonna lose it. I closed my eyes for a split second, but I realized that I paid $10.75, and I couldn't go to sleep because it might get better later. It didn't.
2. This movie makes no sense. I don't understand how Tyler Perry can write movies about the marriages of highly educated, successful, affluent Black couples and still have them acting SO hood. Something about that seems--for lack of a better word--fake. The character of Angela (played by Tasha Smith) was just so out-of-control ghetto in this movie. I mean, she was my favorite in the first film. She was that kind of witty rude/crude that is legitimately funny and belies intellect. Now she's nothing but a wealthy chicken head with an AWESOME weave. (see definition #4 at the always reliable UrbanDictionary.com; the other definitions were beyond the scope of what I mean...she's not promiscuous)
3. The movie is really depressing. I mean REALLY. I went to the theater to laugh and I cried a little. I cried for my $10.75. I spent some moments thinking of how I could have better spent that money...I mean, it was down the drain! Never to be seen again.
The movie really paints marriage in a bad light. Wait, no...a bad light would mean that marriage was somewhat illuminated. However, this cast marriage into darkness. Like Why Would I Want to Get Married? Sad.
Honorable Mentions of Grossness:
A. Tyler Perry is not sexy. I wish he would not insert himself into movies and be anyone other than Madea, because all I could see was Sharon Leal climbing all over Madea. I threw up a little bit in my mouth...
B. Janet Jackson looked really uncute for the majority of the film. I'm going to need her to take care of that. Until then, I'll hang on to my memories of Janet circa Velvet Rope.
Honorable Mentions of Greatness: These two hotties. We have Michael Jai White (remember Spawn?) to the left. And we have the GORGEOUS Lamman Rucker to the right. Are these men married? If not, I'm totally available...to either one of them. However, I love Lamman. Look at his eyes! They say: "Krissy K, will you accept this ring as a token of my love and devotion to you?" YES!!!!
All in all, it was bad beyond explanation. Use your $10.75 on something worthwhile:
Pack of gum - $1
Ice Cream - $3.99
2 Movies from RedBox - $2
Chapstick - $1.29
Two 4 pc nuggets and a med fry - $2.97
...put the rest in a tip jar, or in the cup of a homeless man
Or just keep it in your pocket and go to sleep...trust me, it's better than WDIGM2?
Friday, April 9, 2010
Ain't no sunshine...
Dear Blog,
I've missed you dearly. It's been 6 days since my last post, but you know what they say? "Distance makes the heart grow fonder..." You may be thinking: why the hiatus? Work. I have to pay those bills in order to keep the Comcast on, so that I can attend to you.
Love,
Krissy K
Nothing really to write today. I've been worked like a slave and over the past 3 days, I think I've worked 40 hrs. SAD!! I guess that makes up for all the "breaks" and smoothie runs I take. Anyway...today I ponder "the path not taken" and we will talk about this more later. Instead, click here for a Notre Dame story about a young girl I am both proud and jealous of. I'm saying "Go head!" sister; I love when Black people achieve. What can I say? I'm biased. At the same time I'm thinking: awww....shut up! I TOO matter! I count...
Anyway, I'm so sleepy right now, I'm seeing seeing double double. Goodnight cruel world!
I've missed you dearly. It's been 6 days since my last post, but you know what they say? "Distance makes the heart grow fonder..." You may be thinking: why the hiatus? Work. I have to pay those bills in order to keep the Comcast on, so that I can attend to you.
Love,
Krissy K
Nothing really to write today. I've been worked like a slave and over the past 3 days, I think I've worked 40 hrs. SAD!! I guess that makes up for all the "breaks" and smoothie runs I take. Anyway...today I ponder "the path not taken" and we will talk about this more later. Instead, click here for a Notre Dame story about a young girl I am both proud and jealous of. I'm saying "Go head!" sister; I love when Black people achieve. What can I say? I'm biased. At the same time I'm thinking: awww....shut up! I TOO matter! I count...
Anyway, I'm so sleepy right now, I'm seeing seeing double double. Goodnight cruel world!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Easter Sunday - "It's Not What You Think"
So, it's Easter Sunday: He is Risen!
I just want to take this opportunity to give honor to Jesus Christ who is the head of my life, who died that I might live. He is hardcore and I love Him!
Anyway...
I've been hinting at Jew 2.0 for a while now, so I think it's time to get something on the page; however, I think it might take a few Sundays to get it all down.
What is Jew 2.0? Jew 2.0 is what I call modern day Christians/followers of Christ. This term was created in response to a very good question:
"If Jesus was a Jew, and if Judaism and Christianity are focused on the same God, then why aren't Christians called Jews?"
I went online and found a similar question:
"Jesus Christ himself was a Jew. If Christians wanted to follow their God, why do they not follow Judaism?"
Disclaimer: this blog post only concerns being a Jew from a religious standpoint (i.e. Judaism). From an ethnic standpoint, there is no such thing as Jew 2.0. Nothing that I say here changes genealogy. This almost seems like common sense, but common sense has been getting pretty rare (zing!).
Disclaimer 2: I use sarcasm even when talking about God. I'm no heretic, so if you get a little shocked by some of the phrasing, think: sarcasm.
1. Christians are not called Jews because they are two totally different religions
A. Judaism, by definition, is a religion focused on and towards the Jews ONLY. Even the word "Jew" is derived from the name of Jacob's fourth son "Judah." The Torah, the foundational text for Judaism, is focused on the relationship between God and His "Chosen People." Judaism is centralized around the Law of Moses, the promise made to Abraham and his seed (the Israelites), and other rabbinical teachings. There is no salvation available for any other group of people.
B. Christianity, by definition, is a religion focused on the idea that ALL may come to God. Christianity is centralized around the life, teachings, and assumed divinity of a man named Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the "star" of the New Testament, the foundational text for Christianity. This is also the part of the Bible that begins where the Torah ends. Hence where the Judaism (Law of Moses) ends and the Christianity (Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law) begins.
Compelling. Based on the aforementioned, for some, this is the end of the discussion. However, the God that is mentioned in point "A" is the same God from point "B." We are all serving the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
So where do we diverge? Well, one...non-Jews shouldn't even be in the picture. Even Jesus acknowledges this when He was speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well:
"Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews." --John 4:22
What? Jesus? Et tu Brute? Then fall Christians.
But then again...in the promise God made to Abraham, Christians are alluded to:
1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.--Genesis 12:1-3
Whoa! What's that? Did I just use a New Testament scripture to support that salvation is ONLY of the Jews, and a Torah scripture to prove out that the self-same salvation was always meant to extend beyond the Jews to ALL? Heavy...this is why "all scripture is given"...but I digress.
You know what? I might have made a mistake introducing that "Jesus" character. Who cares who salvation is meant for?! He's the real sticking point, isn't he?
And this is where Part One is going to come to a close, with an Easter-relevant message about Jesus and just one of the many reasons why He is such a sticking point:
Time frame: It's Resurrection Sunday. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Joanna have just told a group of men the good news about Jesus being raised from the dead after discovering His sepulchre empty and conversing with angels.
Location: The road to Jerusalem
Players: Two men (followers of Christ who were in the group informed by the ladies) and Jesus (the risen Christ)
Our Scriptures: Luke 24:13 - 27 (give or take a few skips)
...13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
So these two guys are talking about Jesus. While they are chatting, Jesus kind of sneaks up on them, and walks with them; however they don't recognize Him.
...17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
Translation: "Where have you been dude?! You must be new in town, because you can't be from Jerusalem and NOT know what's been going down."
19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
STOP. Peep my underline. "But we trusted that it had been he..." Preconceived notions, coupled with dashed hopes, and a lack of faith can leave you missing the big picture. These two men had just been told that Christ had risen, but where is their rejoicing? They were so caught up in the circumstance...a Messiah who had died? Must not have been the Messiah at all. Despite the fact that they were just informed that He WAS NOT IN THE TOMB, they have sad faces and their sentences began with "But we trusted that it had been he."
...25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
These were followers of Christ, and He had to clear some things up for them. Imagine what other Jews may have thought. These two Jewish men, and Jews of that time in general, had a preconceived notion about who the Messiah was (a political savior), what He would do, and how He would do it. But guess what? Sometimes...it's not what you think.
To be continued...
I just want to take this opportunity to give honor to Jesus Christ who is the head of my life, who died that I might live. He is hardcore and I love Him!
Anyway...
I've been hinting at Jew 2.0 for a while now, so I think it's time to get something on the page; however, I think it might take a few Sundays to get it all down.
What is Jew 2.0? Jew 2.0 is what I call modern day Christians/followers of Christ. This term was created in response to a very good question:
"If Jesus was a Jew, and if Judaism and Christianity are focused on the same God, then why aren't Christians called Jews?"
I went online and found a similar question:
"Jesus Christ himself was a Jew. If Christians wanted to follow their God, why do they not follow Judaism?"
Disclaimer: this blog post only concerns being a Jew from a religious standpoint (i.e. Judaism). From an ethnic standpoint, there is no such thing as Jew 2.0. Nothing that I say here changes genealogy. This almost seems like common sense, but common sense has been getting pretty rare (zing!).
Disclaimer 2: I use sarcasm even when talking about God. I'm no heretic, so if you get a little shocked by some of the phrasing, think: sarcasm.
Jew 2.0 Part One
I don't have a hard and fast answer to the italicized question(s), because there are a couple of different ways to look at it. As such, I'm going to start out VERY general, before we get to my personal take on it (which could be weeks from now). I welcome comments, questions, corrections, and/or ridicule. So let's start with what I think is the main opposing view:1. Christians are not called Jews because they are two totally different religions
A. Judaism, by definition, is a religion focused on and towards the Jews ONLY. Even the word "Jew" is derived from the name of Jacob's fourth son "Judah." The Torah, the foundational text for Judaism, is focused on the relationship between God and His "Chosen People." Judaism is centralized around the Law of Moses, the promise made to Abraham and his seed (the Israelites), and other rabbinical teachings. There is no salvation available for any other group of people.
B. Christianity, by definition, is a religion focused on the idea that ALL may come to God. Christianity is centralized around the life, teachings, and assumed divinity of a man named Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the "star" of the New Testament, the foundational text for Christianity. This is also the part of the Bible that begins where the Torah ends. Hence where the Judaism (Law of Moses) ends and the Christianity (Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law) begins.
Compelling. Based on the aforementioned, for some, this is the end of the discussion. However, the God that is mentioned in point "A" is the same God from point "B." We are all serving the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
So where do we diverge? Well, one...non-Jews shouldn't even be in the picture. Even Jesus acknowledges this when He was speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well:
"Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews." --John 4:22
What? Jesus? Et tu Brute? Then fall Christians.
But then again...in the promise God made to Abraham, Christians are alluded to:
1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.--Genesis 12:1-3
Whoa! What's that? Did I just use a New Testament scripture to support that salvation is ONLY of the Jews, and a Torah scripture to prove out that the self-same salvation was always meant to extend beyond the Jews to ALL? Heavy...this is why "all scripture is given"...but I digress.
You know what? I might have made a mistake introducing that "Jesus" character. Who cares who salvation is meant for?! He's the real sticking point, isn't he?
And this is where Part One is going to come to a close, with an Easter-relevant message about Jesus and just one of the many reasons why He is such a sticking point:
Time frame: It's Resurrection Sunday. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Joanna have just told a group of men the good news about Jesus being raised from the dead after discovering His sepulchre empty and conversing with angels.
Location: The road to Jerusalem
Players: Two men (followers of Christ who were in the group informed by the ladies) and Jesus (the risen Christ)
Our Scriptures: Luke 24:13 - 27 (give or take a few skips)
...13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
So these two guys are talking about Jesus. While they are chatting, Jesus kind of sneaks up on them, and walks with them; however they don't recognize Him.
...17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
Translation: "Where have you been dude?! You must be new in town, because you can't be from Jerusalem and NOT know what's been going down."
19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
STOP. Peep my underline. "But we trusted that it had been he..." Preconceived notions, coupled with dashed hopes, and a lack of faith can leave you missing the big picture. These two men had just been told that Christ had risen, but where is their rejoicing? They were so caught up in the circumstance...a Messiah who had died? Must not have been the Messiah at all. Despite the fact that they were just informed that He WAS NOT IN THE TOMB, they have sad faces and their sentences began with "But we trusted that it had been he."
...25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
These were followers of Christ, and He had to clear some things up for them. Imagine what other Jews may have thought. These two Jewish men, and Jews of that time in general, had a preconceived notion about who the Messiah was (a political savior), what He would do, and how He would do it. But guess what? Sometimes...it's not what you think.
To be continued...
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