Seven Things Humans Can Do (reflection from torah.org)

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is the last Monday in August, 2016. It is a mild warm summer day in my corner of blog land.

Today, my post is going to focus on Jewish roots. What does that mean?

For people who profess faith in the one true G-d, we inherit certain imperatives that are given to us by the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. One site I often like to read is www.torah.org.

I found a Torah Commentary called "Lifeline" and this particular Torah summary is about Noah, (Noach) Genesis chapters 6 through 9, generally speaking.)

Within this segment, are seven categories that are incumbent on all humanity, especially persons of faith. Most the churches ignore these things or take credit for having innovated them since their beginnings as an institution. You decide!

These categories are given to humanity by G-d.
-Not to eat meat or a limb severed from a live animal.
-Not to curse the name of G-d;
-Not to steal or rob:
Not to worship idols;
-Not to commit adultery or have forbidden sexual relations with another;
-Not to murder another human;
-To establish courts of justice and ensure observance of the previous laws or categories.

Lord God, enable us to hide your Word in our being so that we naturally choose to live it in our daily lives with one another.

Kevod Yeheveh, His presence be with us.

Mellow Roc
David Russell

Speak (Acoustic, Nickel Creek)

Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is Thursday, August 25 in my corner of blog land. Our last post featured a brief exposition by Ester T about the use of banana peels to remove or help remove metals from tainted water supplies. Ester asked that I mention that for best results, peels from organic grown bananas are seen to give best results. (See post dated August 22).

I titled this post, "Speak" for the following reasons or reminders to each of us:
-You have a voice be it verbal or written.
-You have something to say and communicate.
-It is one of our freedoms.
-You will either experience great humility or great pride from the experience of expression.
-You have something to teach others.

There are numerous other reasons that could be added here, but I am conveying the idea to use our gift of vocalizing.

Kevod Yeheveh, His presence be seen in what you speak.

Mellow Roc
David Russell

Starve The Idol

Hello Grafted In Readers,

We all have heard the addage, or something similar to itk, one gets out of something what they put into it. I like to read "Today's Word" by author and D-Phil, Skip Moen. A recent writing asserts that with the help of God, also known as YHVH, we can starve those gods that demand our time and attention: surgical enhancements, accounts, items, instant gratifications, etc. Those idols will eventually starve to death from not getting our input.

We are not victims of or to sin, nor are we fully capable of rescuing ourselves without God. Augustine and Luther were two men who strongly influenced the idea of inability to say no to sin. Of course, this all assumes that there is such a thing as sin, that humanity chose to disobey God through the first couple's choice, and that Yeshua the Messiah provided our pardon or atonement through his life, death, and resurrection!

May the Lord be with us as we consider our idols, name them, and choose to put them on the starvation plan. May we be filled with desires that make ourselves and our world the type of place YHVH intends.

I hope to hear from you, comments are always welcome and now should be a functional feature!

If you want, send your email and I will be happy to carry on further conversation.

Mellow Roc
David Russell

My Worth Is Not In What I Own (Acoustic, The Gettys)

Hello Grafted In Readers,

Over the weekend, My wife and I were listening to, Great Hymns of Faith, from UCB Canada. An acoustic song for which this post is titled was played and the words are worth pondering. The artists, Keith and Kristyn Getty have a pure sound, an acoustic/folk music type of blend. I jotted down the lyrics, but hope you will take this a step further and listen for yourself as the song is on YouTube.

"My worth is not in what I own, not in the strength of flesh and bone.

But at the costly warmth of love, at the cross.

"My worth is not in skill or make, win or lose, pride or shape;

but in the blood of Christ that flows, at the cross."

Note, I did jot down the lyrics from the recording and that is what I'm sharing with you!

Kevod Yeheveh, may we value YHVH and find him to be truly beyond worth and beyond measure!

Mellow Roc