Think on this: “I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them, says Yahweh your God.” (Amos 9:14-15)
Pray on this: Father, by your grace we will accept your Word as the last Word — as the word that trumps all that is said and done. We confess that You alone will have the last Word. Grant that we may subject all the finding and decisions of man to the ultimate authority of your Word for indeed it is a “lamp to our feet and a light for our path.” (Psalm 119:105)
I invite you to come visit my house on the land that I legally bought in what you want to call the west bank (I call it Yehuda-Shomron, or YeSha). You can eat the olives in my garden and we can make wine from my grape vine in the back. Feast on my pomegranates, dates, passion fruit, Sabras, citrus all on my property. I know that G-d has promised me this land and you will be coming by my home towards Jerusalem (I am half way from the airport). I know that my ownership is legal and I am not leaving my home or my job in the only YeSha university. Those of you who support me get the support of the L-rd HaSh-m. Let me know when you want a tour.
My, my, JIM… Can you believe RABBI Baruch’s standing invitation BELOW?
(Or ‘BARUCH-IM HA BA-IM’ – welcome!) He (& you) both continue to make much sense. Re: our G-d Head having the last word, the 105th PSALM reference resonates (@ the 4:15 mark). It reminds me of Jan Willem Vanderhoeven’s quote: “He never said, ‘Oh, NEW YORK, NEW YORK – if I forget thee, may my right hand forget its cunning’!”
(MAY YOUR TRIBE INCREASE…)
[P.S.: Not to mention the recent estimable piece by SHELLEY NEECE on Martin Luther.]
Thanks Tom! I hadn’t heard the Jan Willem quote before but I love it. And thanks for the encouragement. Shelley
Eze 36:7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “I have raised My hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around you shall bear their own shame. 8 But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. 9 For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. 10 I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11 I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu