I make no apologies for this whatsoever

The Intention of The Heart

I was up earlier then normal this morning, due to not sleeping well last night. As I was sending some email, I was IMed by someone who had gotten my name from the AOL directory profile, which is more or less an occupational hazard when you’re a missionary with a public profile. He struck up a conversation, and was really stuck on how to properly address God. He is of the belief that unless we know the “proper” manner in which to address God (by which he explained that he meant a particular name), we can unknowingly actually be calling on false gods and idols. He seemed to believe that failure to use “the One True Name” would actually affect someone’s salvation before God.

Now I don’t for a moment believe this to be true. Scripture is pretty clear that it is through the grace of God that our salvation comes, not through any action on our part. It was the death of Jesus on the cross that bought my salvation, not any works of mine.

The IM did get me thinking about weighty subjects much earlier than I’m used to doing. I mean, let a guy have that 2nd cup of coffee before you spring such matters on him unsuspecting! In my years as a believer, I have heard so many different ways that people address God that I couldn’t count them. One thing that I remember learning as a fairly new believer is the Hebrew word kavenah, which refers to the intention of one’s heart. By way of example, when Jews recite the Sh’ma, the cornerstone prayer of Judaism, the rabbis teach that unless one’s kavenah is to fully direct the prayer towards God, it’s as if one didn’t even say it.

So what, as my dad likes to say, does this have to do with the price of tea in China?

Simply this: if the intention of your heart is to direct something towards the true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, it simply can’t go to any false god or idol. This idea is often relevant at this time of year to many Jewish believers in Jesus. Sometimes Jewish believers get hung up on the celebration of Christmas, because there are some in the Messianic movement who firmly believe that Christmas shouldn’t be celebrated on the grounds that it has pagan origins. Christmas may indeed, as some claim, have pagan origins, but today it is celebrated to honor the birth of the Messiah. If your intention when celebrating it is to honor the birth of God’s son, there can be nothing pagan about it. There’s a really good article on the subject here.

My early morning IMer seemed to lose interest pretty quickly when I told him what I thought, quite obviously disagreeing with me. And it doesn’t matter to me whether he agrees with me or not; I just pray he examines his kavenah before he tells anyone else something that just might keep them further from God.

Leaving and cleaving

With the wedding now in 16 days, I have found myself turning often to read Genesis 2:24,

“Then a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

This is a verse that Jesus quoted and expounded upon in the Gospels of both Matthew and Mark. As I have meditated upon this in my morning devotional times, it’s come to me that marriage will be not just a new season of my personal life, but also of my ministry life.

For example, I have already experienced that Kathleen often has insights — spiritual or otherwise — that I do not. Sometimes she is simply able to point out to me a different aspect of something I am wrestling with. I think that this is as it should be … after all, to be a little Jerry MacGuire about it, shouldn’t a wife complete her husband? I look forward to discovering how God is going to us her to expand and deepen my ministry.

Christmas and Hanukkah…The Differences

As someone who is about to become part of an inter-married couple, the subject of Christmas and Hanukkah is one of great importance. Kat and I have had a lot of talks about what we will do when the holidays roll around. With that in mind, here is a humorous look at the differences between the two holidays.

1. Christmas is one day, same day every year, December 25. Jews also love December 25th. It’s another paid day off work. We go to the movies and out for Chinese food and Israeli dancing. Chanukah is 8 days. It starts the evening of the 24th of Kislev, whenever that falls. No one is ever sure. Jews never know until a non-Jewish friend asks when Chanukah starts, forcing us to consult a calendar so we don’t look like idiots. We all have the same calendar, provided free with a donation from the World Jewish Congress, the kosher butcher or the local Sinai Memorial Chapel (especially in Florida)or other Jewish funeral home.

2. Christmas is a major holiday. Chanukah is a minor holiday with thesame theme as most Jewish holidays: They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat.

3. Christians get wonderful presents such as jewelry, perfume, stereos, etc. Jews get practical presents such as underwear, socks or the collected works of the Rambam, which looks impressive on the bookshelf.

4. There is only one way to spell Christmas. No one can decide how to spell Chanukah, Chanukkah, Chanukka, Channukah, Hanukah, Hannukah, etc.

5. Christmas is a time of great pressure for husbands and boyfriends. Their partners expect special gifts. Jewish men are relieved of that burden. No one expects a diamond ring on Chanukah.

6. Christmas brings enormous electric bills. Candles are used for Chanukah. Not only are we spared enormous electric bills, but we get to feel good about not contributing to the energy crisis.

7. Christmas carols are beautiful…Silent Night, Come All Ye Faithful.Chanukah songs are about dreidels made from clay or having a party and dancing the hora. Of course, we are secretly pleased that many of the beautiful carols were composed and written by our tribal brethren. And don’t Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond sing them beautifully?

8. A home preparing for Christmas smells wonderful. The sweet smell of cookies and cakes baking. Happy people are gathered around in festive moods. A home preparing for Chanukah smells of oil, potatoes and onions.The home, as always, is full of loud people all talking at once.

9. Christian women have fun baking Christmas cookies. Jewish women burn their eyes and cut their hands grating potatoes and onions for latkeson Chanukah. Another reminder of our suffering through the ages.

10. Parents deliver presents to their children during Christmas. Jewishparents have no qualms about withholding a gift on any of the eight nights.

11. The players in the Christmas story have easy to pronounce names such as Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The players in the Chanukah story are Antiochus, Judah Maccabee and Matta whatever. No one can spell it or pronounce it. On the plus side, we can tell our friends anything and they believe we are wonderfully versed in our history.

12. Many Christians believe in the virgin birth. Jews think, “Yossela, Bubela, snap out of it. Your woman is pregnant, you didn’t sleep with her, and now you want to blame G-d? Here’s the number of my shrink.”

13. In recent years, Christmas has become more and more commercialized. The same holds true for Chanukah, even though it is a minor holiday. It makes sense. How could we market a major holiday such as Yom Kippur? Forget about celebrating. Think observing. Come to synagogue, starve yourself for 27 hours, become one with your dehydrated soul, beat your chest, confess your sins, a guaranteed good time for you and your family. Tickets a mere $200 per person. Better stick with Chanukah!