Posts
.
"And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel ... And he did evil in the sight of the LORD... and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. "
- I Kings 15:25-26
"...began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel... And he did evil in the sight of the LORD... and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin."
- I Kings 15:34
A leader leads by example.
So if the leader is corrupt, the people will be corrupt as well.
Let's skip ahead to the famous judge after Deborah- Gideon. What kind of a leader was he?
"...and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise..." - Judges 7:16-17
Okay... a little weird. But inspiring! And, as it turns out, he got the job done.
And why?
Inspiration.
"...it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do." (Judges 7:17)
If I've learned anything from every sports movie, every camp movie, every Michelle Pfeiffer-tough-teacher-in-the-Hood movie... it's that people might not NEED an inspiring leader to be victorious... but it certainly helps.
... also, soundtrack from Coolio doesn't hurt.
"The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on."
-- Walter Lippmann
.
Wednesday, February 10
"Sugar and Spice..."
.
There is a tendency to focus on all the dudes of the Bible and gloss over the ladies.
Why?
Because, for most of recorded history, dudes have called the shots.
"The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob..."
(Exodus 3:16)
So we remember Eve as a sinful apple eater, Delilah as a sneaky temptress/barber, and Jezebel as... well... Bette Davis!
It just isn't so!
In the very beginning of the Exodus story, Pharaoh kills all the male Israelite babies (1:22), Moses kills the taskmaster (2:12), and God (traditionally portrayed as male) kills many people in the ten plagues and the Red Sea--
"The LORD is a man of war... Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea..." (15:3-4).
Meanwhile, two Egyptian midwives Shiphrah and Puah "feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive" (1:15); and Yocheved hid her son and saved his life (2:3), the infant's sister watched over him to make sure he's be okay (2:4) and Pharaoh's daughter adopted the infant and raised him as her son (2:10).
So all the MEN in this story are murderous and blood-thirsty, and the WOMEN save lives!
Hm.
.
There is a tendency to focus on all the dudes of the Bible and gloss over the ladies.
Why?
Because, for most of recorded history, dudes have called the shots.
"The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob..."
(Exodus 3:16)
So we remember Eve as a sinful apple eater, Delilah as a sneaky temptress/barber, and Jezebel as... well... Bette Davis!
It just isn't so!
In the very beginning of the Exodus story, Pharaoh kills all the male Israelite babies (1:22), Moses kills the taskmaster (2:12), and God (traditionally portrayed as male) kills many people in the ten plagues and the Red Sea--
"The LORD is a man of war... Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea..." (15:3-4).
Meanwhile, two Egyptian midwives Shiphrah and Puah "feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive" (1:15); and Yocheved hid her son and saved his life (2:3), the infant's sister watched over him to make sure he's be okay (2:4) and Pharaoh's daughter adopted the infant and raised him as her son (2:10).
So all the MEN in this story are murderous and blood-thirsty, and the WOMEN save lives!
Hm.
.
Gimme a 'G'-- Gimme an 'O'-- Gimme a 'D'...
.
"And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances."
-Exodus 15:20
For years I attended Passover Seders (traditional meal during Passover, recounting the Israelites' exodus from Egypt), and women at the table would sing a song on behalf of Miriam.
And, naturally, I mocked them.
People often mock that which they don't understand... also, it's fun!
But reading about Miriam and all she did, I came to appreciate her... plus, Sandra Bullock did her voice in "Prince of Egypt"!
Sure, Moses led the people out of Egypt/slavery.
But remember, he was "not eloquent," rather, he was "slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." (Ex. 4:10)
Meanwhile, Miriam was bold and outgoing-- she convinced Pharaoh's daughter to use Moses' birth mom as a wet-nurse for baby Moses (Ex.2:7-9).
She helped save his life.
Then, when the Israelites needed a cheer-- by george, Miriam helped out big time.
She helped make the freeing of the Israelites a joyous occasion!
A rave needs a DJ, a cabaret needs an emcee, and Miriam filled those sandals!
She was more than just a cheerleader, Miriam helped lift the spirits of the Israelites... and saved Moses' life.
Not that she was perfect-- she'd later talk some smack about Moses and his Ethiopian wife, Tziporrah, and God smote her with leprosy for it (Numbers 12:1-10).
But THAT is what's so great about the BIBLE! The characters are flawed, human, real-- they make mistakes. This let's us know it's okay for us to make mistakes, too... but try to avoid leprosy.
.
"And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances."
-Exodus 15:20
For years I attended Passover Seders (traditional meal during Passover, recounting the Israelites' exodus from Egypt), and women at the table would sing a song on behalf of Miriam.
And, naturally, I mocked them.
People often mock that which they don't understand... also, it's fun!
But reading about Miriam and all she did, I came to appreciate her... plus, Sandra Bullock did her voice in "Prince of Egypt"!
Sure, Moses led the people out of Egypt/slavery.
But remember, he was "not eloquent," rather, he was "slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." (Ex. 4:10)
Meanwhile, Miriam was bold and outgoing-- she convinced Pharaoh's daughter to use Moses' birth mom as a wet-nurse for baby Moses (Ex.2:7-9).
She helped save his life.
Then, when the Israelites needed a cheer-- by george, Miriam helped out big time.
She helped make the freeing of the Israelites a joyous occasion!
A rave needs a DJ, a cabaret needs an emcee, and Miriam filled those sandals!
She was more than just a cheerleader, Miriam helped lift the spirits of the Israelites... and saved Moses' life.
Not that she was perfect-- she'd later talk some smack about Moses and his Ethiopian wife, Tziporrah, and God smote her with leprosy for it (Numbers 12:1-10).
But THAT is what's so great about the BIBLE! The characters are flawed, human, real-- they make mistakes. This let's us know it's okay for us to make mistakes, too... but try to avoid leprosy.
.
Helen Keller
.
"Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD."
-- Leviticus 19:14
There are so many great Helen Keller jokes, it's not even funny.
Okay, it's pretty darn funny.
Why couldn't Helen Keller drive?
She was a woman.
How did Helen Keller burn her ear?
She answered the iron.
Why did Helen Keller's dog run away?
You would too, if your name was Ghhhhaaarrrfffllemmm.
Tasteless? Yup.
Insensitive? Sure.
Funny?
... Yes.
But Helen Keller is also venerated and revered and more of an abstract concept/figure to us these days, rather than an individual with feelings.
... or so I tell myself so I don't feel guilty.
I used to say it's easy to mock deaf people... it's not like they're gonna hear it!
Or feel free to make goofy faces at blind people... no harm, no foul!
Well... that's wrong.
It IS so easy, which is why we shouldn't do it!
It doesn't say, "Thou shalt not mock the 7 foot tall, 300 pound NFL linebacker."
Because we wouldn't do that... we're terrified!
And fear is a chief motivator for most laws.
But someone who can't see or hear us?
Like taking candy from a blind baby
(that's sad, I know... but it WOULD be easier than taking candy from a baby who could see)
Also, that's why the verse ends by telling us to "fear thy God"-- because God KNOWS we won't fear the blind of deaf people. They're not intimidating!... But God is.
.
"Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD."
-- Leviticus 19:14
There are so many great Helen Keller jokes, it's not even funny.
Okay, it's pretty darn funny.
Why couldn't Helen Keller drive?
She was a woman.
How did Helen Keller burn her ear?
She answered the iron.
Why did Helen Keller's dog run away?
You would too, if your name was Ghhhhaaarrrfffllemmm.
Tasteless? Yup.
Insensitive? Sure.
Funny?
... Yes.
But Helen Keller is also venerated and revered and more of an abstract concept/figure to us these days, rather than an individual with feelings.
... or so I tell myself so I don't feel guilty.
I used to say it's easy to mock deaf people... it's not like they're gonna hear it!
Or feel free to make goofy faces at blind people... no harm, no foul!
Well... that's wrong.
It IS so easy, which is why we shouldn't do it!
It doesn't say, "Thou shalt not mock the 7 foot tall, 300 pound NFL linebacker."
Because we wouldn't do that... we're terrified!
And fear is a chief motivator for most laws.
But someone who can't see or hear us?
Like taking candy from a blind baby
(that's sad, I know... but it WOULD be easier than taking candy from a baby who could see)
Also, that's why the verse ends by telling us to "fear thy God"-- because God KNOWS we won't fear the blind of deaf people. They're not intimidating!... But God is.
.
Inclined Plane
.
We're all inclined towards certain behavior.
I know I am likely to play Solitaire on my computer more than, say... build a house for Habitat for Humanity.
Or more likely to eat an entire bag of Twizzlers than fold all the clean laundry.
That's just my natural inclination.
And I know that.
Well, guess what-- the Bible knows it, too!
"If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again"
-- Ex. 23:4
The next verse elaborates, if you the animal of "him that hateth thee" struggling under a heavy burden of some kind "and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help..."
Not only must you help the animal, you must do it BECAUSE you're inclined NOT to.
There is an old rabbinic teaching-- If you see your friend needs help AND your enemy needs help, you should help your enemy FIRST.
Why?
Because it goes against our natural inclination, and our goal in life should be to be good people, even when we don't WANT to be.
That's why the Bible doesn't say, "Thou shalt eat pizza and Ben & Jerry's"-- or
"Be usre thou watchest DVDs and love Tom Hanks and hate Paris Hilton."
These are our natural inclinations, we don't need to be TOLD to do this stuff. We'll do it anyway.
But to help our enemy's animal? We need to be told.
Another example:
"If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated," and they both have sons, but the hated wife's son is older, then the man "may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated;... he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn" (Deut. 21:15-17)
See, the Bible KNOWS that a fellow would be inclined to favor his beloved wife's son as the eldest and deserving of the inheritance, but the Bible says NOPE! Fair is fair. Loved or hated, the eldest son is the eldest son.
"Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart" (Leviticus 19:17)
Wow-- that is not easy... anyone who's ever driven through Jerusalem or traveled on New York City Mass Transit knows what a challenge that can be.
But that's the rub! Anyone can be nice to his/her friends... that's not an accomplishment! Like beating a toddler at Connect Four... big deal.
But to smile and be polite to someone you detest! Or to best a toddler at pants-pooping competition. Now THAT is something to be proud of.
.
there's no need.
We're all inclined towards certain behavior.
I know I am likely to play Solitaire on my computer more than, say... build a house for Habitat for Humanity.
Or more likely to eat an entire bag of Twizzlers than fold all the clean laundry.
That's just my natural inclination.
And I know that.
Well, guess what-- the Bible knows it, too!
"If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again"
-- Ex. 23:4
The next verse elaborates, if you the animal of "him that hateth thee" struggling under a heavy burden of some kind "and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help..."
Not only must you help the animal, you must do it BECAUSE you're inclined NOT to.
There is an old rabbinic teaching-- If you see your friend needs help AND your enemy needs help, you should help your enemy FIRST.
Why?
Because it goes against our natural inclination, and our goal in life should be to be good people, even when we don't WANT to be.
That's why the Bible doesn't say, "Thou shalt eat pizza and Ben & Jerry's"-- or
"Be usre thou watchest DVDs and love Tom Hanks and hate Paris Hilton."
These are our natural inclinations, we don't need to be TOLD to do this stuff. We'll do it anyway.
But to help our enemy's animal? We need to be told.
Another example:
"If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated," and they both have sons, but the hated wife's son is older, then the man "may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated;... he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn" (Deut. 21:15-17)
See, the Bible KNOWS that a fellow would be inclined to favor his beloved wife's son as the eldest and deserving of the inheritance, but the Bible says NOPE! Fair is fair. Loved or hated, the eldest son is the eldest son.
"Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart" (Leviticus 19:17)
Wow-- that is not easy... anyone who's ever driven through Jerusalem or traveled on New York City Mass Transit knows what a challenge that can be.
But that's the rub! Anyone can be nice to his/her friends... that's not an accomplishment! Like beating a toddler at Connect Four... big deal.
But to smile and be polite to someone you detest! Or to best a toddler at pants-pooping competition. Now THAT is something to be proud of.
.
there's no need.
Ma and Pa
One of my favorite teachings concerns the 5th commandment:
Thou shalt not buy retail.
zing!
Actually it's as follows:
"Honour thy father and mother..." -- Exodus 20:12
Curious considering the following:
"Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father..." (Leviticus 19:3)
The most important rule in commentating on the Bible:
Always ask WHY!
So... what's the deal?
Why does the order change?
Honor Dad and Mom,
but Fear Mom and Dad?
If someone said,
"I love Jack and Diane... I respect Diane and Jack."
Oooooh.
That means something!
Well, according to the Rabbis, "Honour" is more closely connected to adoration, concern, the desire to care for.
Meanwhile, "Fear" refers to awe and respect.
So... why does the Bible say to adore your dad and mom, and be in awe of one's mom and dad?
Think about...
Time's up-- I love the reason many commentators give:
The Bible KNOWS our predispositions.
The Bible assumes a very stereotypical relationship one had towards one's parents.
To fear the father, and feel strong love for the mother.
The Bible warns us-- Hey! Compensate for your natural disposition.
You gotta respect your mama, too. And show your dad some sensitivity and affection!
Everybody needs both of those things now and then.
It's not enough to just respect someone, you gotta love them.
But just love isn't enough, either.
You gotta show a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Find out what it means... to everyone.
Listen to Mom, Hug Dad.
... or whatever parental figures pop up in your life.
.
Thou shalt not buy retail.
zing!
Actually it's as follows:
"Honour thy father and mother..." -- Exodus 20:12
Curious considering the following:
"Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father..." (Leviticus 19:3)
The most important rule in commentating on the Bible:
Always ask WHY!
So... what's the deal?
Why does the order change?
Honor Dad and Mom,
but Fear Mom and Dad?
If someone said,
"I love Jack and Diane... I respect Diane and Jack."
Oooooh.
That means something!
Well, according to the Rabbis, "Honour" is more closely connected to adoration, concern, the desire to care for.
Meanwhile, "Fear" refers to awe and respect.
So... why does the Bible say to adore your dad and mom, and be in awe of one's mom and dad?
Think about...
Time's up-- I love the reason many commentators give:
The Bible KNOWS our predispositions.
The Bible assumes a very stereotypical relationship one had towards one's parents.
To fear the father, and feel strong love for the mother.
The Bible warns us-- Hey! Compensate for your natural disposition.
You gotta respect your mama, too. And show your dad some sensitivity and affection!
Everybody needs both of those things now and then.
It's not enough to just respect someone, you gotta love them.
But just love isn't enough, either.
You gotta show a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Find out what it means... to everyone.
Listen to Mom, Hug Dad.
... or whatever parental figures pop up in your life.
.
Appreciation Day
.
One of the many times when the Israelites ticked off God by praying to "other gods," the Almighty tells the petulant people:
"Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation."
- Judges 10:13-14
Woah!
And the Passive-Agressive Award goes to... God!
Doesn't the Lord sound just like a spurned lover or bitter parent?
"Oh, you love the Canaanites' gods so much, go complain to them!"
"Why don't you just have that little Egyptian cat god cook you up some manna? If he's so great? Pray to your golden calf, see how far that gets you."
Moral of the story: No one likes being taken for granted-- human or diety.
It stinks.
With a somewhat antiquated and 1950s mindset, I remember coming home from college for vacation, weeks at a time, and my mom didn't always make dinner.
I know! What the hell?!
I thought, "What's going on here? What do I do? How do I eat?"
When my wife isn't home for dinner, I often resort to what my father's evening cuisine, served only when mom wasn't home: ice cream, bread and whatever condiments were in the fridge.
(sigh)
Don't ever take people for granted, especially the women in your life.
Tell them exactly how much they mean to you.
... or they might forsake you for another... like the Canaanites.
.
.
One of the many times when the Israelites ticked off God by praying to "other gods," the Almighty tells the petulant people:
"Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation."
- Judges 10:13-14
Woah!
And the Passive-Agressive Award goes to... God!
Doesn't the Lord sound just like a spurned lover or bitter parent?
"Oh, you love the Canaanites' gods so much, go complain to them!"
"Why don't you just have that little Egyptian cat god cook you up some manna? If he's so great? Pray to your golden calf, see how far that gets you."
Moral of the story: No one likes being taken for granted-- human or diety.
It stinks.
With a somewhat antiquated and 1950s mindset, I remember coming home from college for vacation, weeks at a time, and my mom didn't always make dinner.
I know! What the hell?!
I thought, "What's going on here? What do I do? How do I eat?"
When my wife isn't home for dinner, I often resort to what my father's evening cuisine, served only when mom wasn't home: ice cream, bread and whatever condiments were in the fridge.
(sigh)
Don't ever take people for granted, especially the women in your life.
Tell them exactly how much they mean to you.
... or they might forsake you for another... like the Canaanites.
.
.
It's All Relative
.
I think Einstein had it right-- It's all relative.
"And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her." (Gen. 29:20)
You said, Bible!
There is an old quotation that I will now butcher:
When there is love between two people, they can sleep on a bed the width of a blade.
When there is hatred between two people, not even the entire world is big enough.
Amen.
When two people are getting along, they can drive cross-country in a VW bug.
If they're fighting, they can't drive to the drugstore three blocks away in the Partridge Family bus.
It's all relative.
The best bagel I've ever had was a plain, half-frozen Lender's bagel that I ate right after I finished the Yom Kippur fast one year.
My dad once went on a complete liquid diet, he didn't eat solid food for a week.
He thought he would completely lose his mind.
Then, one day, he was feeding his dog, and as he was scooping out the dog food from the can, he felt himself start to salivate.
"Y'know" he thought, "it doesn't look half bad."
That's when he decided to put down the can, go into the fridge and eat an apple.
He said it was the best damn apple he's ever had in his life.
It's all relative
.
I think Einstein had it right-- It's all relative.
"And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her." (Gen. 29:20)
You said, Bible!
There is an old quotation that I will now butcher:
When there is love between two people, they can sleep on a bed the width of a blade.
When there is hatred between two people, not even the entire world is big enough.
Amen.
When two people are getting along, they can drive cross-country in a VW bug.
If they're fighting, they can't drive to the drugstore three blocks away in the Partridge Family bus.
It's all relative.
The best bagel I've ever had was a plain, half-frozen Lender's bagel that I ate right after I finished the Yom Kippur fast one year.
My dad once went on a complete liquid diet, he didn't eat solid food for a week.
He thought he would completely lose his mind.
Then, one day, he was feeding his dog, and as he was scooping out the dog food from the can, he felt himself start to salivate.
"Y'know" he thought, "it doesn't look half bad."
That's when he decided to put down the can, go into the fridge and eat an apple.
He said it was the best damn apple he's ever had in his life.
It's all relative
.
"Who are you? Who? Who? Who? Who?" -- The Who
.
“When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot, because she had covered her face” (v.15)
In case you forgot, Judah was the Tamar's Father-in-law! Ewwww.
Of course, his two sons that had been married to Tamar were dead at that point, and Judah's wife was dead, too... but still, ewwwwwww.
And remember—
Rachel and Leah-- Laban wanted to marry off his eldest daughter, Leah, so he tricked Jacob into marrying her instead of Rachel.
(Gen.29)
"Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured" (v.17)
And what happened?
"... and he loved also Rachel more than Leah..." (v.30)
Two instances when women's identity were concealed and it wreaked havoc!
Stop deceiving! No more veils!
This did not elicit the laughs of an "I Love Lucy" episode or "Bosom Buddies" storyline (which is a shame, because that would've been HILARIOUS!).
To quote the Genie from "Aladdin"-- "Remember: Beeee yourself."
It's who you are, and you'll end up being yourself anyway, so the sooner you embrace it, the better.
But God, being the ultimate practical joker, knew to even the scales:
"And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren." (v.31)
You can't have it all. Nobody is great at everything. Something's gotta give. All's fair... 'I' before 'E'... Don't tell me not to sit and putter...
.
“When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot, because she had covered her face” (v.15)
In case you forgot, Judah was the Tamar's Father-in-law! Ewwww.
Of course, his two sons that had been married to Tamar were dead at that point, and Judah's wife was dead, too... but still, ewwwwwww.
And remember—
Rachel and Leah-- Laban wanted to marry off his eldest daughter, Leah, so he tricked Jacob into marrying her instead of Rachel.
(Gen.29)
"Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured" (v.17)
And what happened?
"... and he loved also Rachel more than Leah..." (v.30)
Two instances when women's identity were concealed and it wreaked havoc!
Stop deceiving! No more veils!
This did not elicit the laughs of an "I Love Lucy" episode or "Bosom Buddies" storyline (which is a shame, because that would've been HILARIOUS!).
To quote the Genie from "Aladdin"-- "Remember: Beeee yourself."
It's who you are, and you'll end up being yourself anyway, so the sooner you embrace it, the better.
But God, being the ultimate practical joker, knew to even the scales:
"And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren." (v.31)
You can't have it all. Nobody is great at everything. Something's gotta give. All's fair... 'I' before 'E'... Don't tell me not to sit and putter...
.
A Man's Word is his Bond
.
After the Israelites enter Canaan, Joshua dies and Judah takes over and they send spies into the land.
"And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy. And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family."
-- Judges 1:24-25
All right! Be a man of word!
When you say you're gonna do something, you do it!
Like Joe Namath before Super Bowl III in 1967.
Or Scarlett O'Hara at the end of "Gone with the Wind"
(I assume she never went hungry again... there was no sequel to the film, so I guess it all worked out okay after that).
I make a habit of agreeing to do favors for people, when I know I probably won't follow through on them. My wife hates this.
"Can you pick up some eggs and milk today?"
"Absolutely."
[In my head: "...probably not gonna happen"]
I have learned it is better to just be honest...
If you're laying siege on a city and you honestly don't think you can spare the life of a friendly native, just be honest and kill him right then and there.
.
After the Israelites enter Canaan, Joshua dies and Judah takes over and they send spies into the land.
"And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy. And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family."
-- Judges 1:24-25
All right! Be a man of word!
When you say you're gonna do something, you do it!
Like Joe Namath before Super Bowl III in 1967.
Or Scarlett O'Hara at the end of "Gone with the Wind"
(I assume she never went hungry again... there was no sequel to the film, so I guess it all worked out okay after that).
I make a habit of agreeing to do favors for people, when I know I probably won't follow through on them. My wife hates this.
"Can you pick up some eggs and milk today?"
"Absolutely."
[In my head: "...probably not gonna happen"]
I have learned it is better to just be honest...
If you're laying siege on a city and you honestly don't think you can spare the life of a friendly native, just be honest and kill him right then and there.
.
Don't Let Murder Slow You Down
.
An important lesson in the Bible and in life is "Don't judge!"
Or, judge slowly.
or
-- Give people the benefit of the doubt.
Because you never know what they might be dealing with.
Moses is raised in the palace of the Pharaoh in Egypt, (Exodus 2:10).
But the first action he takes (that's mentioned in the Bible) is to murder a guy!
He saw a taskmaster "he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew" (Ex. 2:11).
Then what?
"And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand." (Ex. 2:12)
Woah! It wasn't like in "Prince of Egypt", where Moses is so upset and overcome with pity/rage that he pushes the taskmaster off scaffolding!
No!
He looked "this way and that way" to make sure nobody saw, killed the guy and hid the body!
If the film "Goodfellas" taught me anything, it's that you MUST hide the body.
Moses must have seen that, too.
But hey-- Moses goes on to do great things, is arguably the most venerated and righteous dude in the Bible... until that other guy comes along... Annakin... I mean Jesus.
So... the road to success is paved with failure... and murder!
Pobody's Nerfect.
.
An important lesson in the Bible and in life is "Don't judge!"
Or, judge slowly.
or
-- Give people the benefit of the doubt.
Because you never know what they might be dealing with.
Moses is raised in the palace of the Pharaoh in Egypt, (Exodus 2:10).
But the first action he takes (that's mentioned in the Bible) is to murder a guy!
He saw a taskmaster "he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew" (Ex. 2:11).
Then what?
"And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand." (Ex. 2:12)
Woah! It wasn't like in "Prince of Egypt", where Moses is so upset and overcome with pity/rage that he pushes the taskmaster off scaffolding!
No!
He looked "this way and that way" to make sure nobody saw, killed the guy and hid the body!
If the film "Goodfellas" taught me anything, it's that you MUST hide the body.
Moses must have seen that, too.
But hey-- Moses goes on to do great things, is arguably the most venerated and righteous dude in the Bible... until that other guy comes along... Annakin... I mean Jesus.
So... the road to success is paved with failure... and murder!
Pobody's Nerfect.
.
The Name Game
.
The Bible places great emphasis on names and their meaning.
Ya'akov was so named because "his hand took hold on Esau's heel, and his name was Jacob" (Gen.25:26) because the Hebrew word for heel is "Ekev" and that turns into Ya'akov.
Brilliant!
When my older brother was living in South Dakota about ten summers back, he stayed with a family of Native Americans. The N.A. closest in age to my brother was named Raymond, his last name... I am not kidding... "Uses The Knife." I know this because when my brother would call home the caller I.D. would show "USES THE KNI," because that's all the room there was on the little I.D. screen. My Dad would ask, "Are you sure it's your older brother calling?"
Hm... Yeah, Dad, pretty sure. Unless our phone is turning "super-computer smart" and urging me to begin murdering on its behalf.
And my mom would tell friends, "Yes, our eldest son is living with a Native American fellow, Raymond Holds The Knife."
I would interrupt-- "Mom! It's USES The Knife!"
To which she would respond, "So what? It's probably like Goldsteen and Goldstein."
You say Tomato.... I say Potato.
"I'm American, Sweetie. Our names don't mean shit."
-- Butch, "Pulp Fiction"
(Quentin Tarantino)
.
The Bible places great emphasis on names and their meaning.
Ya'akov was so named because "his hand took hold on Esau's heel, and his name was Jacob" (Gen.25:26) because the Hebrew word for heel is "Ekev" and that turns into Ya'akov.
Brilliant!
When my older brother was living in South Dakota about ten summers back, he stayed with a family of Native Americans. The N.A. closest in age to my brother was named Raymond, his last name... I am not kidding... "Uses The Knife." I know this because when my brother would call home the caller I.D. would show "USES THE KNI," because that's all the room there was on the little I.D. screen. My Dad would ask, "Are you sure it's your older brother calling?"
Hm... Yeah, Dad, pretty sure. Unless our phone is turning "super-computer smart" and urging me to begin murdering on its behalf.
And my mom would tell friends, "Yes, our eldest son is living with a Native American fellow, Raymond Holds The Knife."
I would interrupt-- "Mom! It's USES The Knife!"
To which she would respond, "So what? It's probably like Goldsteen and Goldstein."
You say Tomato.... I say Potato.
"I'm American, Sweetie. Our names don't mean shit."
-- Butch, "Pulp Fiction"
(Quentin Tarantino)
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)