“Before the Babylonian exile in 586 BC, God’s prophets forcefully condemned Israel and Judah for habitual Sabbath breaking.
“So when God’s people were actually taken into captivity, to a great degree thy attributed their misfortune to their lax Sabbath keeping and attempted to reform themselves. After they returned to Jerusalem, Sabbath keeping was emphasized so strongly that the Old Testament prohibitions were carefully enforced, and gradually a host of specific interpretations concerning these laws were formulated [263] which had become so detailed by Christ’s day that the Sabbath had degenerated into an institution which exemplified Jewish legalism in its worst form.
“There literally were thousands of rules forbidding various activities on the Sabbath. [Two entire tractates of the Jewish Mishnah, tractate ‘Sabbath,’ and tractate ‘Eburin,’ are devoted entirely to the countless minute Sabbath regulations which had become a part of Jewish tradition by Christ’s day.]. By plucking a few heads of wheat (Matt. 12:1) the disciples were guilty of breaking at least four Sabbath prohibitions: reaping, winnowing, threshing, and preparing a meal. Beyond this, by their actions they were condemned for carrying a burden on the Sabbath. A burden was defined as anything that weighed as much as two dried figs. A Jew could not even carry a handkerchief in his pocket, and use it to wipe his face, without violating the Sabbath. Therefore, it was common practice to sew a cloth into one’s upper garment to wipe one’s face. Once sewn into the garment it was considered part of one’s clothing and did not constitute a burden.
“On the Sabbath it was forbidden to light a fire or extinguish a lamp, to ride a beast of any kind or to travel more than a Sabbath day’s journey, which was about two-thirds of a mile.
“It was a sin to cut one’s fingernails or pluck a hair. All healing was condemned except of r life and death emergencies. Sexual intercourse was forbidden on the Sabbath. An egg laid on the Sabbath could not be eaten by a Jew. It was sinful to write more than two letters of the alphabet. It was forbidden to look in a mirror on the Sabbath, and it was even considered unlawful to spit on the ground lest thereby a blade of grass might be irrigated. Each of these things [264] constituted work, making it a violation of the Sabbath. Even to contemplate work was wrong; therefore, it is not surprising that Jesus and his disciples were constantly being accused of Sabbath breaking. [265]”
The Talmud teaches that if only Jews would perfectly observe two Sabbaths in a row, the Messiah would come immediately, (Shabbat 118b)
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Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Live Life
In 1923 a group of the world’s most successful financiers met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. Present were: the president of the largest independent steel company, the president of the largest utility company, the greatest wheat speculator, the president of the New York Stock Exchange, a member of the US cabinet, the largest bear in Wall Street, the president of the Bank of International Settlements, the head of the world’s greatest monopoly.
Collectively, these tycoons controlled more wealth than there was in the United States Treasury, and for years newspapers and magazines had been printing their success stories and urging the American youth to follow their examples.
Twenty six years later, what happened to them? The president of the largest independent steel company – Charles Schwab – lived on borrowed money the last five years of his life and died penniless. The greatest wheat speculator –Arthur Cutten – died abroad insolvent. The president of the New York Stock Exchange – Richard Whitney – was recently released from Sing Sing penitentiary.
The member of the US’ cabinet – Albert Fall – was pardoned from prison so he could die at home. The greatest bear on Wall Street – Jesse Livermore – committed suicide. The president of the Bank of International Settlements – Leon Fraser – committed suicide. The head of the world’s greatest monopoly – Ivar Kreuger – committed suicide.
All these men had learned on how to make money, but none had learned how to live.
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
.
Collectively, these tycoons controlled more wealth than there was in the United States Treasury, and for years newspapers and magazines had been printing their success stories and urging the American youth to follow their examples.
Twenty six years later, what happened to them? The president of the largest independent steel company – Charles Schwab – lived on borrowed money the last five years of his life and died penniless. The greatest wheat speculator –Arthur Cutten – died abroad insolvent. The president of the New York Stock Exchange – Richard Whitney – was recently released from Sing Sing penitentiary.
The member of the US’ cabinet – Albert Fall – was pardoned from prison so he could die at home. The greatest bear on Wall Street – Jesse Livermore – committed suicide. The president of the Bank of International Settlements – Leon Fraser – committed suicide. The head of the world’s greatest monopoly – Ivar Kreuger – committed suicide.
All these men had learned on how to make money, but none had learned how to live.
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
.
Circle of Love
One day a man saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was
still sputtering when he approached her.
Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you.
He said, 'I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.''
Well, all she had was a flat tire but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.
As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.
Bryan just smiled. As he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.
He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, 'And think of me..'
He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan ...
After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin.
There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: 'You don't owe me anything. I have been there too.. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you.'
Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard....
She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, 'Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.'
There is an old saying 'What goes around comes around...'
Good friends are like stars.....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
~GOD BLESS!~
still sputtering when he approached her.
Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you.
He said, 'I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.''
Well, all she had was a flat tire but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.
As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.
Bryan just smiled. As he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.
He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, 'And think of me..'
He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan ...
After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin.
There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: 'You don't owe me anything. I have been there too.. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you.'
Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard....
She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, 'Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.'
There is an old saying 'What goes around comes around...'
Good friends are like stars.....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
~GOD BLESS!~
Friday, January 28, 2011
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