Can't You Hear Me Calling (Crooked Still, Acoustic)

Hello Grafted In Readers,

Today is June 14, 2018 in my corner of blog land. Next Thursday will be the first day of summer officially! My son and his wife will be married one month this Saturday, happy one month you two!

On my blog intro, one of our purposes is to familiarize ourselves with some of the things we inherit from the Jewish people as we consider ourselves believers, Messianic, Hebrew Christians or some such term. Today, the newsletter from My Jewish Learning, featured an article by Rabbi Daniel Kirzane discussing the topic of the ancient sacrifice that Jewish people practiced in Biblical times. They offered animals, grain or money at the tabernacle, which were called korbanot. Rabbi Kirzane shares that the word korbanot means something that draws close. The intention was to draw the one giving closer to God. Do you ever think of your giving in that manner? It's a fresh thought for me to be honest.

The definition at the beginning of this article is of interest: Sacrifice is to give up something for someone else.

- Sports training is so athletes can be ready to give their skill to a team or particular competition.
- In Exodus we read how Moses' mother, Yocheve, sent her baby away, so that he could be protected and was raised in the palace of the Pharaoh and would later lead the exodus from Egypt.
- We sacrifice for others by doing chores.

Rabbi Kirzane ends the article with five questions that we each might ask of ourselves. Since the Temple was destroyed, prayer is one means Jewish people offer to God, as well as doing deeds of mercy and kindness and attending worship. So do other faith practitioners. Consider Rabbi Kirzane's questions below.

1. What kinds of sacrifices are present in this Torah portion? (Sacrifice for yourself, for others, or to come closer to God?)
2. When have I made that kind of sacrifice in my own life? Or when could I make that kind of sacrifice in the future?
3. Sacrifices in the Torah required very specific rituals. What are some rituals that are important to me that help me to feel Jewish or holy?
4. What are some ways I can draw close to God?
5. What might I want to teach my friends and family about sacrifice from a Jewish perspective?
Note: Consider the story of Moses from Exodus chapter 2 to answer the first question.

God bless and keep you. Thanks for stopping by!

Mellow Rock
David Russell