From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 1997 1:10 AM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Re: Celebrating the Sabbath
From: Sandi Brown
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Re: Shabbat
Eddie,
I would love to be able to greet the Shabbat in a tradional manner.
However, I care for an elderly lady for requires care 24/7 and I am not
free to go to services etc. Do you or anyone have suggestions as to how
I can fulfill both my obligations to G-D and my employer?
Sandi
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From: "David Lyon"
To: <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject: What to do on Shabbat ?
Eddie Shalom,
Tell me I've got it all wrong !
Earlier in the year I picked up a book from a Jewish bookstore
about Shabbat. It was a kids book, so it was aimed at my
level.
It said that Shabbat was celebrated by Avraham and Sara,
and they used to invite many people to the celebration.
Of late, G-d has put it on my heart to invite lot's of people
around and share just how good G-d can be. This usually
involves a really fine selection of barbequed food, red wine,
Challah and dips, candles etc and a dedication.
The people that come love it, and I feel that it's a good
testimony for Yeshua turning our lives from 'water to wine'.
The only problem I have is explaining is it 'Jewish?' or
'Christian?'. It's easier for me to say that it's Jewish
even if I don't really get it right.
Despite all attempts, Jews refuse to invite me to a Shabbat
meal for the reason 'If you invite a Gentile to Shabbat, they'll marry
your daughter'. This is an excuse I find hard to accept when not all
have daughters of a marriagable age, and, well I'm married anyhow.
I'd like to know just how important really is to get it
right, and what we have to do to do the biblical Shabbat.
Regards
David
From Eddie:
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Sandi and David,
If you follow these two principles you will be OK.
#1) The LETTER of the law KILLS but the SPIRIT of the law gives life
(II Corinthians 3:6)
#2) The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath
(Mark 2:27)
Simply put, the Sabbath was given by God so that we could take
one day a week to study God's Word and the Ways of His Kingdom and
allow our bodies to have a much needed day of rest after a long work
week at the same time. The Sabbath was made for the BENEFIT of man
and was not given to put man in bondage and make celebrating the
sabbath harder than working during the week. The Sabbath is a time
to focus on God and His goodness and His constant provision and to
remind ourselves to learn and know the ways of God and to teach these
ways to our children. Then, LIVE according to the ways of God the rest of
the week.
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To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
From: Ben Goodwyn
Subject: Re: Fire on Shabbat - Part II
FOLKS:
Am I missing something regarding "Fire on the Shabbath?" My
understanding is that we are not to engage in our usual vocation on
Shabbat. Turning on a burner to warm the baby's milk or flushing the
commode is not work. If a man's wife has to walk across twenty acres
of desert for two hours gathering fuel for the fire, prepare the meal,
serve, then clean the utensils...that's work!
On the other hand I know a Rabbi who has the television operating on
channel four at Friday sunset during preseason so that he can watch
the Dallas Cowboys on Shabbat.
The commandment was made to insure that we would withdraw from our
WORLDLY VOCATIONS on Shabbat and turn our attention to the Almighty,
Ruler of the Universe. The purpose is to study his word so that we do
not perish for lack of knowledge. The use of modern conveniences
which allow us to intensify our time and effort in our spiritual study
and worship are welcome. Conversely, those modern conveniences which
detract from our time and study are to be avoided even if they are
within the letter of the law.
Jer 31:33...I will put My law(instructions) in their minds and write
it on their hearts; and I will be their G_D and they shall be MY
people.
If warming your dinner in a microwave increases your exposure to the
Almighty, then push the button. On the other hand do not leave a
television engaged on a specific channel for hours so that one's
personal desires may be gratified. Do not expect the Almighty to clap
his hands at our cleverness in avoiding his law. If we do, we have
missed the whole point of the scriptures above. Our love for the
Almighty and our desire to please Him is the key to becoming His
people.
Shalom----------------benGoodwyn----------
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From: "Marsha Stevenson"
To: <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject: Re: Fire on Shabbat - Part II
I am so glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I was really
starting to get worried about this newsgroup. I have so many Christian
friends who take the letter of the law to extremes. Religion can be a
killer, but it doesn't have to be. What happens to the Godly people
who worship on Sunday because they have to work on Saturday? It seems
that if you are worried about kindling a fire(turning on your stove)
you need to concern yourself with turning off your freezer,
refrigerator, and make sure you don't blow dry your hair or curl it
with a curling iron before you go to Sabbath services. What if you
need to cook a meal for someone who is hungry? Or if in showing love
to an unsaved person, the thing God tells you to do is make them a Big
Loaf of Challah? Please don't misunderstand my intentions, but I've
seen to many people I've loved dearly living unvictorious lives
because they thought they had to obey the letter of the law and didn't
realize that God was wanting to write the Law of Love on thier hearts.
Well, that is my two cents worth.
Marsha
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From: "Larry Ching"
To: <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject: Re: Fire on Shabbat - Part II
In reading some of the posts on this subject I'm not surprised the
Apostle Paul said 'the letter kills but the spirit makes alive.' I
believe the Lord created Sabbath for the man in order to give him time
to spend with his Creator. A time of renewal and fellowship. Yikes,
I'm so glad I don't have to worry about whether or not to turn on
lights, and stoves and crockpots. I just plan ahead to have a joyous
time with my Maker without much fuss in the kitchen, or doing the
laundry, or going to an office, or cleaning house, etc. I still make
my bed, and take a shower and turn on a crockpot and put out the
cheese and bread! I'm amazed that people think God is so petty!
Think about it! There was a prohibition against kindling fires, but
gathering fuel for fire and kindling and stoking were major production
numbers (still are). Hardly like flipping a switch! I read once
where some very zealous orthodox Jews had actually trained their
bowels not to move for the 24 hour Sabbath period! I have a feeling
the Most High is more amused than impressed, but maybe it's me.
However, the Most High Himself did point out in more than one place in
the Tanach that it was not the ritual nor the sacrifice but the HEART
He was concerned with. Give yourselves a break, Dear Brothers, and
don't place yourselves under bondage with your enthusiasm for all
things Hebraic. CELEBRATE the Sabbath! Enjoy! Rejoice in your
Maker! It's really not supposed to be a heavy yoke!
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From: Web Hulon
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Re: Fire on Shabbat
The commandments of G-d are given as a gift, so that we may know His
Kingdom, His Son, His desires, etc. The Torah is full of "pictures"
for us to learn from. The Shabbat is a picture of the thousand year
reign of Yeshua on Earth. It is akso a picture of the rest that we
have already entered in the spirit, through faith in the work of
Yeshua. Each of the aspects of Shabbat observance teaches us a bit
more about these things. Naturally, the more that we observe, the more
that we will see. This means that you must choose how far you are
willing to follow Torah in order to see the pictures that are there.
I in no way mean to minimize observance, as the breaking of
commandments is sin. However, blindly keeping of statutes, without
looking for the Spirit in them, is nothing more than idolatry. It is
a worshipping of the commandments instead of a worshipping of the
Commander, Who we will learn to love by observing (looking at by
doing) His commandments. I encourage all believers to look to Torah,
but not to let the letter outweigh the spirit of Torah.
In Yeshua,
Web Hulon
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From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 1997 9:48 PM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Re: Celebrating the Sabbath
From: Teri Bell-Peacock
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Re: Celebrating the Sabbath
Dear Eddie:
As both my husband and I are ministers, I have found the discussion on
"working on the Sabbath" quite interesting. In our gentile culture which
celebrates sabbath on Sunday ( a practice Jeff and I still find unsettling
and did even before we were "rooters"), Sunday is the most exhausting day of
the week for us! We work harder on Sunday for our church than any other day.
This fact disturbed us until, after some prayer, we realized that the Sabbath
was a day set aside to study and rest. So, we have picked an alternate day
of the week for our personal Sabbath. It is a refreshing day of rest and
time with the L-rd and allows us to fulfill the duties that G-d has called us
to do. When it is possible, we make that Sabbath the Biblical one. When
church schedules conflict, we use another day of the week. We feel that the
important thing is that there IS a day of rest and time w/G-d.
May your work and ministry continue to be blessed.
Shalom,
Teri Bell-Peacock
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From: Eben Abram
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Re: Re: Celebrating the Sabbath
Shalom Alecheim
It may be that in knowledge there is levels of knowledge
and application, for instance in school of public venue grades are leveled
with numerical equivalents 1 2 3 4 5 and so on and the accompanying
level of comprehension dictates the understanding of the Teacher to
adapt the curriculum to the student. Perhaps it is so with Shabbes?
In Observance no convert to Judaism should it be that they
desired to become a Jew, becomes Observant overnight, so too a
"born-again" Christian is likewise considered for his newness of birth.
Might it be that it is true to for those who are beginning a "turn" towards
Jewish roots and perspective, much less Observance.
When approaching a level of Observance no one expects a overnight
wunderkind type of Believer much more so a Jew or gentile exercising
Observance or Mitzvot for the first time. Rather there are two
concepts I would like to pose for your consideration. One is called"
from Strength to Strength" and one way of applying that idiom would be
to say that when a level of understanding is reached with the
accompanying wisdom of How to apply to your peculiar and unique
circumstances and the Choice is to be Observant, then a beginning is
made. Let us say the sh'ma. Is it too hard to say when rising? Will it
conflict with my routine? Can I am I capable of doing so freely and
enjoyably? Do I understand it and the significance of saying it? Does
it enhance my faith and my Observance? Is it beneficial to me and my
relationship to ha shem much more so Messiah? When Yes and it becomes
a "Strength" of your to do reguarly and faithfully then you would
progress to another level of Observance or strength. One at a time. Or
as many as you can make a strength to your nefesh, ahhhh lets say
body soul and spirit. So too Shabbes grows on you, literally, also
from Strength to Strength the level and choices you make as to How to
Observe.
Another expression, idiom, or rule of thumb if you want to call
it that is "The attitude of the Heart" kavanaugh. Jewish action and
Observance recognizes the priority of the attitude of the heart being correct
so in many instance it is taken for granted, like the Attitudes to be or
Beattitudes Moshiach/Messiah taught. Do we take those for granted and
at times neglect? so too the kavanaugh can be almost forgotten unless
you consider the Joy in Judaism. That is Y'shua and for non-messianic,
basically sometimes the Almighty. It is the desire to be interrelated
to the Almighty in such a Way that indeed a Way is discovered by
reason of the Heart and the attitude towards not only what we do in
Observance but how we interrelate to G-d B"H and each other. It is the
Way of Peace, it is as Messiah wanted us to do much less to be if it
so be we choose a more Observant way, or choice. So in reality the
growth and level of experience will play a factor in your decision in
how you choose to exercise your faith irregardless of Jew ,Gentile,
Observant ,or Hebraic Root.
May it be that in the learning there of and the application
you find not only the G-d of Yisrael alive but made more apparent in and
through His son Moshiach Y'shua and so too in that which He has
commanded us to keep in Observance which is evident of Messiah
and his return.
Eben Abram
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