grafted in and on the journey

Hello Grafted In Reader, I wanted to share a Scrooge-type story typical for the season. The idea is not original, but that of a mentor of an online story group in which I participate. The story is original, under 800 words, entertaining and reminds us to balance personal achievement with compassion for another. Names, places and entities are truly fictional. Please enjoy and may we live out the story's purpose today and always. D Minor For Tact Part 1 by David Russell Copyright David Russell "This morning we have Beatrice Walker as guest on the Open Line show, and are sure we will hear from several interested gracious callers. Ms. Walker is the resident conductor of the International Philharmonic and will be leading the 50-piece orchestra on a December tour through North America and throughout Ontareo," announced the host of the morning network talk show. "I am pleased to be directing this orchestra as we will be performing piano concertos by Beethoven ...

Hello Grafted In Reader, Today is December 3 in my corner of blogland. Holiday music is in full hearing on many radio stations across North America, and Cyber Monday and Black Friday are now historic cultural occurrences. This month, I want to encourage our focus to return to the first century and see our heritage not in a Roman Catholic 3rd century phenomenon, but a small town known as Bethlehem where people made yearly pilgrimage, observed Hanukkah, and identified one another either by name and birth place, or name and son of or daughter of ... I commend to your reading an article pasted here from an online copy of Slate Magazine from 2008 which I believe to be timely. Until next time, Kevod Yeheveh, His presence enfold you today and always. Yeshua is with us! Was Jesus a common name at the beginning of the first century? By Brian Palmer Jesus Christ Painting by Ary Scheffer, 1851. Photo courtesy Walters Art Museum via Wikimedia Commons Christians will soon celebrate th...

Hello Grafted In Reader, I am glad you stopped by to check on my latest rambling. This one may be a bit lengthy, so you are forewarned.. I chose this title because we all have occasions in daily life that either are a joy, blessing, pleasurable, or big a-nnoyance, (Annoyance). I had an acquaintance that used to call the annoyances ankle biters. I suspect that is a bit more tactful sounding than the "pain in the ass" that is a widely used summation. Mine was spending 2 hours on writing a freelance article, only to discover my info did not directly match the title. The red flag was there from the start, but somehow missed catching it! -A joy and pleasure were to spend part of Tuesday catching up with cyber acquaintances, and last Saturday enjoying the Public Radio broadcast, Prairie Home Companion, with my spouse. It's a radio variety show of sorts and has become a Saturday "must hear" for thousands of listeners in North America and over seas too. -On...

Hello Grafted in Reader, Today is Novembger 6 in my corner of blogland. Personally this date has significance for me. Several years ago, I left a 5-year relationship with someone that in the long-term would not have worked out for reasons known to myself and the person involved. It was one of the hardest choices ever made! Discovering that mercy means limitless loyalty was evident in the friendships with other people of faith formed thereafter. I was truly given another chance in life to choose relationships that would be mutually beneficial and not just for the sake of not being alone. I titled this post, "Give It All You Got" as there is a Hebrew blessing, long-standing, that Yeshua spoke to the disciples post resurrection, and that Jewish people share with one another still. Those words are, "Shalom Aleykhem". It is much more than the "peace" blessing practiced in liturgical churches just before the offering is collected. This blessing incl...

Hello Grafted In Reader, Today is November 3, 2014, in my corner of blog land. Of late, I have been reminded of truths that never change, and they are what we need to hear as opposed to what we want to hear. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." Psalm 23 The Hebrew Scriptures "The proving of one's faith produces patience." Apostolic Scriptures. "We learn about ourselves when placed in new situations." Author John Kellerman from the novel,"Killer: an Alex Delaware Novel" "Adversity brings out the best in us." Garison Keilor "A Prarie Home Companion, show from 11/02/2014. There seems to be widespread agreement on the above life occurrence that we call challenges, pains, annoyances and problems. An intimate trust and relationship with someone outside ourselves is what will aid us through testing trying times. Some of us believe that to be Almighty God, King of the Universe and most Holy. -This month we...

Hello Grafted in Readers, Today is October 16, 2014, and the extra day of the Fall Feast of Tabernacles. In Messianic parlance, we celebrate Yeshua as Messiah, and further accept his invitation to abide in his presence, abide in his power, and abide in his teachings. See John chapter 15, New Covenant Scriptures. -Below is an excerpt from my novel, "Winds of Change" CrossBooks, 2012, which fictionally reflects on this particular feast. ******* Note: Characters are Seth and Leah Scott, Dan and Rhonda Hansen, Pastor and Mrs. Bentley. Setting is a fictional town in northern Wisconsin, time of year is Fall. Midway through the Fall, the Scotts and Hansens decided to have a small dinner party, in part to learn more of the Hansens' involvement in a small Messianic faith community. Of course, Rhonda and Leah and discussed this on occasion at work. Dan and Jefferson occasionally spoke of it when they met. Both couples wanted to include Pastor Bentley and his wife who w...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Last post, "You Are My Hiding Place" I mentioned we would devote the next few visits to considering the Hebraic and/or Jewish roots of the Christian faith. I hope you find these short posts informative and enriching, and can use them in your daily walk. One site loaded with informations is the ongoing "hebrew4christians" and secondly, "The Ancient Hebrew Research Center". My posts will be drawing from both of these sites and others. -During Sukkot, Feast of Tabernacles, which is an annual Fall Feast to celebrate the harvest and God dwelling with us, one traditional practice is for the congregation to publicy proclaim the Hallel, from which we have the word Hallelujah. Blessed is He who comes in the Name of Adonai, the LORD. When the Temple existed, people would march around the temple during feast times proclaiming the Hallel. Tanakh, An acronym describing the parts or sections of the Hebrew Scriptures. Torah, Prophets...

Hello Grafted In Readers, For those of us who pay attention to the Jewish calendar, i.e., the appointed times or feasts as outlined in the Hebrew Scriptures, Leviticus chapter 23, within the next 36 hours the world will be in the new year, 5775. The month of Elul is drawing to a close, which in large part soberly reminds us that God is our groom and we His bride. During this time or age, He is calling to each of us to be in relationship with Him. Hence the phrase, I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine. Yet to come over the next few days are The Feast of Trumpets, Days of Awe, Day of Atonement and the 7 or 8-day Feast of Tabernacles. This is I believe a far richer observation of God and His ways compared to the Catholic tradition of Lent. So in conclusion to this blog, To everyone I would like to say Shana Tova (Happy new year) and Chag Sameach (Happy Feast). Kevod Yeheveh, His presence be with and ever merciful toward us! Mellow Roc

Hello Grafted In Reader, First, I would like to thank Phil T for his comment on my previous blog post. One never knows just where they may be heard or read! -I just started reading another Maeve Bincy novel, "A Week In Winter" said to be her last before she passed in 2012. If you enjoy a good familial generational tale, this one won't let you down! Plus, no commercials to interrupt suspenseful moments. -I have been spending some time investigating freelance writing, and discovered a web site that may be invaluable. It is www.thewritelife.com and relatively young in terms of existence. I hope to make the writing venture one that provides some immediate income in the near future. Finally, a little humorous account was found by yours truly at www.todayschuckle.com I share this in closing, and bid you Kevod Yeheveh, His presence bless you today and always! Thanks for the visit. August 20, 2014 Washing Instructions I decided to make mysel...

Hello Grafted In Readers, I want to begin by saying this post may be more for those who consider themselves believers and or Christians. -The thoughts are taken from the "Line Of Fire Blog" by Dr. Michael Brown, June 17, 2014 published on Charisma. -With the main line church in North America i.e. Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Congregational, any attending these denominations have some serious soul searching to do. -What is considered sinful today in a few years could become socially acceptable because God is revealing new things, is the mantra voiced by leaders in these bastians of Sacramentalism. Consider: I Refuse to Accept the Status-Quo American Version of Christianity I refuse to believe that what we see in churches across America is what God planned for His people. I refuse to believe that it is the God-intended norm. The Word of God is against it. Church history is against it. What the Spirit is doing around the w...

Hi Grafted In Reader, I want to thank songfacts.com for compiling a list of songs that deal with the good old verb, persevere, and wonder do you remember the addage, chin up? -This has been quite an eventful week for yours truly and collectively us as humanity. -Some started out celebrating the historic event of our Messiah Yeshua's triumphant entry into Jerusalem known to the Christian world as Palm Sunday. It has other names down through history which someone has posted at Not Another Episcopal Blog, see entry for Sunday April 13 2014 if so interested. -The week continued with the stellar lunar eclipse on Monday night, Tuesday morning. I was enthralled by a webcast of the event offered by the Slooh Observatory from the Canary Islands of South Africa. Visit www.slooh.com to learn more if so interested. -Personally the week continues with a decision to make a change and look for new employment. -I am also reading and reviewing a book by author Yolanda Shanks titled Not H...

Crimia Cats by David Russell My name is Gizmo and I live in the Ukrain but have been taken in by a kindly older woman who also provides shelter for my kind, over 50 of us in her small home. We are still fairly independent as a race though our human counterparts have seemingly fallen on hard times with a recent move to join up with the country of Russia. I used to wander the streets and would hear the music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, meow that name, and thought Russia must be majestic as indicated in his music corpus. Yet, it isn't necessarily so if addictions and hard times are a problem for many of Russia's citizens. What is a cat to do? I belong to the catawamput Society along with Buster, Dailey, Max, Sam, Ginger, Puss, and Smatha, and at our last meeting we came up with a plan to help our human Crimianites. "On October 1st we will release all the meow-mustered fury we can and have it spread to Russia and one V Putin," Smatha urged. "I will be there...

Hello Grafted In Reader, Winter is moving right along with the month of February too better than half over. -I started reading a lengthy novel this past week which this post references as its title, "Minding Frankie" and as a review on Good Reads put it, "a tale of joy, heartbreak and hope, about a motherless girl collectively raised by a close-knit Dublin community." -In reviewing some discussion about this book on Good Reads, I learned the author, Mave Binchy, is no longer with us but lived nearly 70 years. So, this is either her last work, or close to it as I can glean. -It's a good book for a parent, grandparent, young person, church or synagogue attendee, young professional, and respond to the twists and turns herein that Ms. Binchy as an author intriguingly assembles. Kevud Yeheveh, His presence be with us today in our challenges and accomplishments. Mellow Roc