August 27, 2008 6:09 AM
Sam wrote:
You know, of all the times I have read this Old Testament, this is the first time I recall the term 'wave offering' (verse 29). However, going back into earlier chapters of this same book, I find it again....29:24,26,27. I also found it in Leviticus SEVERAL times. What I have found out that this wave offering is so called because it was waved in 'front' of God during the ceremonial worships the Israelites used to do. I wonder if God came up with that term, and instructed them to do so with these offerings of peace, or if it was just a man created tradition/practice which they thought would be pleasing to God. This brings me back to the old topic of traditions. Although some traditions are good (remembering Jesus' sacrifice as a tribute to Him in what man has nomered 'Communion'; getting down on your knees to pray in a form of being humble; and attendance at regular coming togethers of the Body of Christ; etc), some traditions just seem to be a waste of time, effort, money and heart. I enjoy services that change from time to time where I don't get in a rut....where I can learn different things. I enjoy not seeing rituals like practiced in the Catholic church and affiliates, like the washing of the 'goblet' used for Communion, the rather lavish clothing worn by the speaker....hard to call them priests, especially after all the news about them in the recent past...., and the rote memory recital using beads. These things do not need to be 'waved' in front of God to see how we worship Him. What we do need to do is to simply follow Matthew 28:18-20 (how many of you can still recite those verses from memory?---a 'tradition' we had in the old ACOC). Be the light of Jesus, and wave our life in front of others---THAT is what God wants from us. Wave to Him with love for others (but not blatantly for man so you can boast---as Paul says, we should not boast, but still openly so others can see the change in your life). Next time, no, every time today, you see someone you recognize and wave to that person (whether it be a physical wave, a hug, or just a head nod), stop and talk to that person briefly about something God has done for you. That is the kind of wave God desires.
August 27, 2008 7:28 AM
rik wrote:
Mac, I apologize, I did not mean to imply you shouldn't be 'long winded' (a better term might be detailed). I just do not want to type a bunch of mumbo-jumbo simply to seem more spiritual. (I am NOT calling you blogs mumbo-jumbo, on the contrary they are often enlightening). If I have nothing to blog/teach I do not want to just make stuff up. I am doing more reading/taking scripture in then I am trying to have an opinion. I am interested in David's heart in the Psalms right now. It seem he can go from overwhelming joy to utter depression rather rapidly. I feel that way many times. the thing I am seeing in Davids Psalmy times is the fact that he consistently goes to God, weather he is joyful or sorrowful. I think many have one side of the coin or the other, but not both. some of us (mankind, not just us on the blog) will go to God when things are going good and be excited to share the good things God has done for us, others will go to God when the chips are down asking God for help or grace. I myself am a the type that goes to God when things are not so good. I tend to pray less when thing are good. It is best to go to God in all situations, yet many of us do not. It is wonderful to have a graceful God who overlooks all our faults and sees the good in us. I personally am trying to read and pray to God more then I have in the past. the lessons we hear on Wednesday and Sunday are helping tremendously! they (those in the teaching position, evangelist, and elders mostly) are really good at encouraging and challenging you without being authoritative or offensive. so I guess my quietness or lack of longer blogs is due to my studental approach to God and his word as of late. it is not because of a lack of desire (the fact is left to my self I am a extremely lazy person) like in the past. I should have explained this yesterday instead of making a smart alic comment. My comment was completely unnecessary and of a defensive nature. Mac, your detail is encouraged and respected and I appreciate you as a faithful brother in Christ and a life long friend. Reply to this
August 27, 2008 7:41 AM
Sam wrote:
I Knew how you meant your comment.....and my comment was also too smart allecy (I know that is not a word)...I was just concerned that you might not be in your Bible as much as you should be (obviously, you are) as when you do blog most of the times, your comments HAVE been real short, and not hearing from you all weekend also made me wonder...ya know? How's the closet coming? Scott and I had a great time playing Ping Pong and then a "World Championship of 9-Ball" Saturday evening. Hope you enjoyed your burgers. Reply to this
sin is always going to be present, always lurking at our sides, and again and again we will fall victim to it as a gazelle to a lion. God knows this God knows what our resistant strength is. We all know many scriptures on confessing our sins and many times on the blog we have spoke of complying with said scriptures, but have we actually shared our spiritual failures with one another, and if we have do we pray for those who struggle with their personal sins. the thing that really caught my eye this morning is part b of this vs. David is troubled by his sin. I believe this is a very healthy component of repentance. if we are not troubled by the sin we commit then we are really in trouble! If our sins have become commonplace and excepted in our day to day routine we need to dress up in sackcloth and fast, morn and weep until our disdain for said sin has come back. I know for me when I commit a sin that I am clearly aware is a sin, if it does not immediately cause some form of guilt, shame, disappointment in self, or sadness, I start to ask God to change my heart because it is very hard. We can not be perfect, but God does not demand perfection, we can however strive towards the goal of being like Jesus, who was perfect, and this God does demand, through the sacrifice of Him, the Holy One, who now sits at the right hand of God, telling God how perfect we are. Reply to this
August 28, 2008 5:52 AM
Sam wrote:
Must practice using the ctrl-a, ctrl-s routine as you finish your blog before attempting to publish....that way, you can crtl-v it back in, and, as we all know, it is something Christians, who want to be like their learder, do, because as we all know, Jesus Saves. Reply to this
August 27, 2008 10:11 PM
Tony wrote:
Detail, detail, detail. Why do you think the writer goes into so much detail? I have no clue. I do however agree with Rick's comments about sin. Sin is ever present and when we become numb to it then we are in real danger. The sins we do openly are the ones we have become numb to. Burst of anger, fits of rage,looking/listening to what we should not for just a second. Committing the obvious and then committing the not so. Sin is constantly at our doors, we need to be ever watchful and rely on each other for help when needed. Reply to this
You know, of all the times I have read this Old Testament, this is the first time I recall the term 'wave offering' (verse 29). However, going back into earlier chapters of this same book, I find it again....29:24,26,27. I also found it in Leviticus SEVERAL times. What I have found out that this wave offering is so called because it was waved in 'front' of God during the ceremonial worships the Israelites used to do. I wonder if God came up with that term, and instructed them to do so with these offerings of peace, or if it was just a man created tradition/practice which they thought would be pleasing to God. This brings me back to the old topic of traditions. Although some traditions are good (remembering Jesus' sacrifice as a tribute to Him in what man has nomered 'Communion'; getting down on your knees to pray in a form of being humble; and attendance at regular coming togethers of the Body of Christ; etc), some traditions just seem to be a waste of time, effort, money and heart. I enjoy services that change from time to time where I don't get in a rut....where I can learn different things. I enjoy not seeing rituals like practiced in the Catholic church and affiliates, like the washing of the 'goblet' used for Communion, the rather lavish clothing worn by the speaker....hard to call them priests, especially after all the news about them in the recent past...., and the rote memory recital using beads. These things do not need to be 'waved' in front of God to see how we worship Him. What we do need to do is to simply follow Matthew 28:18-20 (how many of you can still recite those verses from memory?---a 'tradition' we had in the old ACOC). Be the light of Jesus, and wave our life in front of others---THAT is what God wants from us. Wave to Him with love for others (but not blatantly for man so you can boast---as Paul says, we should not boast, but still openly so others can see the change in your life). Next time, no, every time today, you see someone you recognize and wave to that person (whether it be a physical wave, a hug, or just a head nod), stop and talk to that person briefly about something God has done for you. That is the kind of wave God desires.
Sorry if this was too long-winded.
Reply to this
Mac, I apologize, I did not mean to imply you shouldn't be 'long winded' (a better term might be detailed). I just do not want to type a bunch of mumbo-jumbo simply to seem more spiritual. (I am NOT calling you blogs mumbo-jumbo, on the contrary they are often enlightening). If I have nothing to blog/teach I do not want to just make stuff up. I am doing more reading/taking scripture in then I am trying to have an opinion. I am interested in David's heart in the Psalms right now. It seem he can go from overwhelming joy to utter depression rather rapidly. I feel that way many times. the thing I am seeing in Davids Psalmy times is the fact that he consistently goes to God, weather he is joyful or sorrowful. I think many have one side of the coin or the other, but not both. some of us (mankind, not just us on the blog) will go to God when things are going good and be excited to share the good things God has done for us, others will go to God when the chips are down asking God for help or grace. I myself am a the type that goes to God when things are not so good. I tend to pray less when thing are good. It is best to go to God in all situations, yet many of us do not. It is wonderful to have a graceful God who overlooks all our faults and sees the good in us. I personally am trying to read and pray to God more then I have in the past. the lessons we hear on Wednesday and Sunday are helping tremendously! they (those in the teaching position, evangelist, and elders mostly) are really good at encouraging and challenging you without being authoritative or offensive. so I guess my quietness or lack of longer blogs is due to my studental approach to God and his word as of late. it is not because of a lack of desire (the fact is left to my self I am a extremely lazy person) like in the past. I should have explained this yesterday instead of making a smart alic comment. My comment was completely unnecessary and of a defensive nature. Mac, your detail is encouraged and respected and I appreciate you as a faithful brother in Christ and a life long friend.
Reply to this
I Knew how you meant your comment.....and my comment was also too smart allecy (I know that is not a word)...I was just concerned that you might not be in your Bible as much as you should be (obviously, you are) as when you do blog most of the times, your comments HAVE been real short, and not hearing from you all weekend also made me wonder...ya know?
How's the closet coming?
Scott and I had a great time playing Ping Pong and then a "World Championship of 9-Ball" Saturday evening. Hope you enjoyed your burgers.
Reply to this
electric and plumbing inspections today, pray they pass!
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psalm 38: 18
I confess my iniquity;
I am troubled by my sin.
sin is always going to be present, always lurking at our sides, and again and again we will fall victim to it as a gazelle to a lion. God knows this God knows what our resistant strength is. We all know many scriptures on confessing our sins and many times on the blog we have spoke of complying with said scriptures, but have we actually shared our spiritual failures with one another, and if we have do we pray for those who struggle with their personal sins. the thing that really caught my eye this morning is part b of this vs. David is troubled by his sin. I believe this is a very healthy component of repentance. if we are not troubled by the sin we commit then we are really in trouble! If our sins have become commonplace and excepted in our day to day routine we need to dress up in sackcloth and fast, morn and weep until our disdain for said sin has come back. I know for me when I commit a sin that I am clearly aware is a sin, if it does not immediately cause some form of guilt, shame, disappointment in self, or sadness, I start to ask God to change my heart because it is very hard. We can not be perfect, but God does not demand perfection, we can however strive towards the goal of being like Jesus, who was perfect, and this God does demand, through the sacrifice of Him, the Holy One, who now sits at the right hand of God, telling God how perfect we are.
Reply to this
My long comments just got wiped out. Ughhhhh!!! Will rewrite tomorrow.
Reply to this
Must practice using the ctrl-a, ctrl-s routine as you finish your blog before attempting to publish....that way, you can crtl-v it back in, and, as we all know, it is something Christians, who want to be like their learder, do, because as we all know, Jesus Saves.
Reply to this
I mean ctrl-c, not ctrl-s
Reply to this
Detail, detail, detail. Why do you think the writer goes into so much detail? I have no clue. I do however agree with Rick's comments about sin. Sin is ever present and when we become numb to it then we are in real danger. The sins we do openly are the ones we have become numb to. Burst of anger, fits of rage,looking/listening to what we should not for just a second. Committing the obvious and then committing the not so. Sin is constantly at our doors, we need to be ever watchful and rely on each other for help when needed.
Reply to this