Jonathots Daily Blog
(3979)
A. He actually eats him
B. He sometimes chokes on the wool—while eating him
C. Has to excuse himself for slurping—while eating the lamb
D. Regrets not having mint jelly—during eating the lamb
E. Forgets to say a word of grace
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(3834)
It is thoroughly possible, plausible and even necessary to separate Christianity from Judaism without being considered an anti-Semite.
Jesus spent the majority of his ministry providing parameters for a New Covenant, which was followed by the Apostle Paul becoming downright blunt over the need to extract the message of Jesus from the Jewish tradition.
Yet most evangelicals and many mainline denominational churches continue to foster a sense of equivalency between the Old Testament and the New Testament simply because they know two important factors about their congregations:
So actually, the teachings of Jesus, the personality of the Nazarene and the mindset of the Christ are often considered to be an intrusion to the organized church instead of welcomed as an infusion.
Simply put, Jesus did not come to contradict the Old Testament–but he certainly did arrive to countermand it. If you’re not familiar with that word, it is most often used in military circles to explain why some officer, usually of a higher rank, comes along to revoke or change the orders of the previous commander. It’s a nice way of saying, “We’re going to change things up.”
Jesus cleverly referred to it as “fulfilling the law.” What an excellent, political word! He then turns around, and in fulfilling that Law, disassembles the instructions of Moses by referring to those who founded Oral Law and taught it as “men of old.”
If we want to become a Jesonian church, infusing the lifestyle of Jesus instead of viewing it as an intrusion, we must understand that, as Hebrews the First Chapter explains, God used to speak through Moses and the prophets, but not anymore. Now He speaks through Jesus.
So stop using Old Testament patriarchs to try to countermand Jesus.
Case in point: it is no longer the Kingdom of Israel–Jesus describes it as the Kingdom of God, which is located inside each and every believer. The new Holy Land is within your soul.
The challenge in this generation is to cease looking at our example, Jesus, as an intrusion, and begin to take his choices and use them as an infusion into our everyday existence.
It should keep us busy–because it’s very difficult to insist that Jesus was a Jewish prophet when he said things like:
“Before Abraham was, I am.”
“God can take stones and make children of Abraham.”
And “Your house is left to you desolate.”
Jesus was a new day.
Jesus was a new way.
And he came along proclaiming
“What you say? Go my way.”
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(3628)
For thirty-six hours, God walked away and left humanity to dangle in its notorious decisions.
Long ago, from six o’clock Friday to six o’clock on Sunday morning, the conclusions derived by the honoring of religion, the promotion of politics and the inclusion of jealousy reigned supreme on the Earth.
In the process, a hapless lamb was slaughtered so that a less-than-noble tribe of Bedouins could believe they were special because their ancestors had the fortitude to escape Egypt.
A governor of Judea slinked away to Caesarea to spend a quiet weekend with his wife, only to discover that she was enraged because he had failed to take her dream into consideration when judging an innocent man.
A betrayer from Kerioth who was blindly jealous of his Master, his best friend, climbed a small hill, tied a rope around his neck and hung himself from a tree.
Soldiers were demanded to guard a tomb to make sure that nobody went in, or for that matter, nobody came out.
Disciples who had followed a messenger of love were scared into hiding because they simply believed that “loving your neighbor as yourself” was not a greeting-card sentiment.
Repairmen came to clean up after an unexpected earthquake shook the region, leaving behind great damage, even in the Temple.
The world proceeded with a nauseating sameness, which gained the smugness of superiority because it appeared that any variables were nailed down and silenced.
The kingdom of religion seemed to succeed–a philosophy contending that tradition must decide.
The kingdom of politics stomped around the Great Hall, believing that greed decides.
And the kingdom of jealousy slithered away to lick its wounds, confident of temporary victory because fear had made its decision.
For thirty-six hours, God removed Himself from the circumstances, leaving religion, politics and jealousy to win the day.
It seemed that the obvious forces in power were as formidable as advertised–because everything which had objected, contradicted or shared a different approach was beaten, crucified and buried.
At first sight, there was no light.
And then God returned.
Actually, it was the Kingdom of God, which is within us. It is a Kingdom where faith decides because we are the ones who offer the input.
Even though the disciples of the slain Master were still tucked away, three women bravely made their way to a tomb.
They were not expecting a resurrection.
They were not anticipating finding a miracle.
They did what women have done since the beginning of time–they viewed how men had screwed everything up and they came to clean up the mess.
No bands played, no dignitaries arrived with a key to the city, no men who had pledged eternal allegiance surfaced.
Just three women carrying a bunch of spices, which they immediately dropped when they saw an empty tomb.
Easter is a time when we celebrate more than a resurrection. It is a moment in history when God shows us that even though insanity may temporarily take control, His grace, mercy, understanding and wisdom are never far away.
It was not easy to survive thirty-six hours without God. But because those thirty-six hours showed us the foolishness of religion, politics and jealousy, we can now revel with great joy in the Kingdom of God, which allows our faith to decide.
*****
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*******
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(2417)
I rhyme with ham
Also with roast lamb
Sliced, candied, with marshmallows
What’s a sweet potato?
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Jonathots Daily Blog 
