grafted in and on the journey

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today is the continuation of Hanukkah in the Jewish tradition, and Christmas Day in the Christian tradition. One aspect of the Christian tradition in my opinion has been shall we say, Catholicized" - that being the phrase, Wrapped in swadling clothes." This refers to Luke's description of how Yeshua the Messiah was kept safe from environmental harms rather than the parents, Miryam and Yosef, dedicating themselves to raise this child to be upright. I offer you this reflection by Chaim Ben Torah to elucidate on this phrase banished by traditional Christianity and current Christianity as it is by and large anti-Jewish. ---------- Luke 2:7, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Ezekiel 16:3-4, “And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity [is] of the land of Canaan; thy father [was] an Amorite, an...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today is December 3, 2019 in my corner of blog land. I thought we would just visit this post and catch you up on what's happening in and around me. Feel free to reply and do the same, okay? Writing: I am working on a story about a young man who has a dream of becoming a professional baseball player. His girlfriend seeks his help and support when discovering her dad is involved in sinister business practices, human trafficking. I haven't finished the story yet and uncertain of its final destiny. I have a brief paragraph where players from the '60s are mentioned. Do you remember: Don Wert, Norm Cash, Bill Freehan, Willie Horton, Al Kayline and Jake Wood? Each played for the Detroit Tigers in the mid 1960s. Family: We had a nice US Thanksgiving weekend. I played piano for diners at a local restaurant Thanksgiving Day, and on Saturday our daughter and her two children came over for dinner. We had other guests too, but it was a nice occasion! S...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today is Monday, November 25 in my corner of blog land. How goes it? We are headed into that time of year known as the holiday season. Faith practices observe special occasions over the next four to six weeks before we head into a new year, 2020. People in general internationally may celebrate things relative to this time of year. It also may bring up unfinished business, unresolved hurts, unresolved personal goals, etc etc. I don't have or provide answers to quickly fix the above, but the Mayo Clinic folk recommend something called patience. There are three ways, according to them, that we can produce more patience in our life. I would add, pray, and learn patience through struggle with the every day. That seems to be the Biblical method. The Mayo Clinic method for learning patience is in three ways: - MBSR, mind-based stress reduction to improve those brain areas concerned with emotion. Often taught in six-to-eight week public courses. - Medi...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today is Thursday, November 21 in my corner of blog land. I just finished typing an article for the freelance service whom employ me part-time. It was about a man who has 25 years of service in the US Military and in 2008, started his own global risk management company. One hallmark of this guy is his willingness to do the "menial tasks" to keep the office running comfortably. He is about service as is his company and products. For Spiritual growth, I have been a subscriber to Hebrew Word Study by one Chaim ben Torah. The latest article is posted below for you to consider. If you have a faith practice, what does "holy" mean to you? Most mainline churches lip these words as part of Christianees but spend little time knowing the meaning from Hebrew and Greek. Do enjoy this reflection, and drop by often to see this post or past posts.Thanks! ---------- HEBREW WORD STUDY – AN INVITATION – QADESH קדש   Qop Daleth Shin Isaiah 6:2-4:  “...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today is November 11 in my corner of blog land. Here, we are expecting a major snowfall of anywhere from four to eight inches in the next few hours. How exciting! I mentioned in a recent post that I would like your thoughts and prayers for my aging father's health. Though somewhat stable, it is in decline, and he is currently receiving Hospice care in his home. As his siblings, we are all monitoring this as best we can, though one lives 10 minutes away from him and the rest of us are several hundred miles away. As God would provide, the Mayo Clinic newsletter, Housecall, has a timely guide for caring at a distance. The highlights include: - Educate yourself about their illness, aging, etc. - Research available services including respite care or daily home care. - Manage the phone calls and communications concerning medical and insurance issues. - Have the recipient's bills forwarded, or pay online if need be. - Research care facilities in th...

Hello Grafted in Reader, Today is November 5, 2019 in my corner of blog land. In brief: - My dad is receiving palliative (comfort) care from hospice at his home in another state. Please pray with us for wisdom to make decisions that are best for him and all concerned. - This post I will highlight a couple health matters and also recommend a lengthy article for those interested in faith heritage. Eyes Remember the Jackson Brown song, Dr. My Eyes? The Mayo Clinic newsletter, Housecall, reports Artificial Tears applied to the eyes may help reduce dryness that occurs with aging, or other health factors including those environmental. These are available at most pharmacies as over the counter eyedrops. Blood pressure readings can vary between your arms. If this is so, google what this may indicate? Example Blood Pressure Differences Between Arms Faith Heritage There are several online documents that address faith matters as they relate to antisemitism or anti-Jewish teaching ...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today Is October 25 in my corner of blog land. October in my life history continues to present some memorable events: My first piano gig occurred in October when in college, I was introduced to the woman who would become my wife in October, my parents were married in October, my dad is in declining health this October at age 94, and for the past thirteen Octobers, I have observed the beginning of a new cycle in reading The Torah. It's a new beginning! Thus I am pasting the Hebrew Word Study for this date from Chaim ben Torah.org on having a hunger for God! May it reach your soul as it has mine. Thanks too for dropping by. ---------- Chaim Bentorah HEBREW WORD STUDY – A BLEATING LAMB – TA’ROG תערג Taw Ayin Resh Gimmel As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God?" Psalm 42:1,2 How I can sense the heart of David to know o...

Hello Grafted in Reader, Today is Tuesday, Oct. 15 in my corner of blog-land. It is also the second day of the festival, Feast of Tabernacles or Booths on the Jewish faith calendar. This feast is seven days in length and recalls God caring for the Exodus when they wandered in the wilderness forty years. So too, God cares for us in our respective life periods. I am quietly observing this feast, as my aging father in another state is moving from independence to semi-dependence. He is going on age 95, and is a very real reminder that we don't have qualities of infallibility. I will be visiting him later this week for three days. Our health column from the Mayo Clinic this week offers some info about infections. Did you know viruses or viri are smaller than bacteria? According to the Mayo newsletter, Housecall, Viruses require a host albeit person, plant, or animal. Once comfy inside, they get assertive and order the cell machinery to make more of them. The common cold, T...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today, on the Jewish Calendar is Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement. For those of us who practice faith with the Jewish calendar in mind, it is a very "proper" feeling day and also one of personal vulnerability before our Creator. We profess one God, and not to be that god. We admit that we as human beings slight others, gossip when we should not, fantasize about the "what if" in our personal lives to an extent that may be harmful, ask forgiveness and aid to turn from those things which hinder us and our world, and literally beg Hashem to be loving and kind, merciful is the theological word. It is October 9, 2019. An article recently in "Breaking Israel News" cites that more Christians around the world are starting to embrace observing Yom Kippur to not only identify with Israel, but also observe the Holy Day and its implications. So, if you are among those observing today as Yom Kippur, Fear not. God is not willing that you or ...

Not Another Episcopal Church Blog: Episcopal Decline: Living it Locally : The statistics reported by the Episcopal organization are further confirmation of what we have been witnessing and discussing on these page...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today is the fourth day of Autumn - September 26, in my corner of blog land; perhaps it is the fourth day of Spring in your corner. Regardless the season, may you be filled with Kevod Yeheveh, the presence of God, King of the Universe, Creator of our world and the world to come! For those of us who observe the Jewish calendar as a framework for faith practice, Sunday evening, September 29 begins the High Holidays: Rosh Hashanah, which opens with the Feast of Shofars or Trumpets waking us to God being in our lives and goings on. For ten days we indulge in soul searching, introspection, and recognizing God's presence in our world and lives: nature, personal activities, stresses, accomplishments, etc etc. This is followed by the Day of Covering, Atonement, and then the celebration of God being our security or Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot. This feast period is eight days in length. Then a new Torah cycle begins the following Sabbath! Here is a closing th...

Hello Grafted in Reader, Today is Monday, Sept. 9 in my corner of blog land. Health topics and a writing update are our conversation piece this post. Have you heard of a device-guided apparatus called Resperate? The US Food and Drug Admin along with the American Heart Association give this and other similar instruments a heads up for its repeated use to lower blood pressure, stress, and doesn't require a prescription or a bottle for pills. The user sets aside about 15 minutes time three to four days a week to do the prescribed breathing exercises. For more info google Resperate or see the Mayo Clinic Housecall Newsletter for Sept. 5, 2019. Writing and Reading This past week, I submitted a short story to the website Spillwords.com, and hope they may approve to publish online. I will let you know if this occurs. I am finishing "The Best American Mysteries, 2010, and then planning to read a biography of former US President, Gerald Ford. The book is titled, "Write It ...

Hello Grafted in Readers, Today is Sept. 3 in my corner of blog land, mostly sunny and mild outdoors. We are in the Jewish Calendar month of Elul, which precedes the High Holiday period and has as its overall theme, God Calling to his children: I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine, is often a phrase attributed to this month. It's a time of taking stock, reflection, and making plans to exercise change in our personal lives. Another practice is a daily reading of Psalm 27. So, on this September morn, I bid us shalom during Elul. Health News In brief, these items were noted by myself in the recent past: - Drink green tea for bloating or heartburn. It contains polyphenols and catechins that likely help the food digestion process. - A bowl of oatmeal, handful of almonds, can lower the bad cholesterol level. They contain what are known as soluble fibers as do apples, kidney beans and brussel sprouts. - Battle back high blood pressure with exercise and eating healthier foo...

Hello Grafted In Reader, Much of this post is going to return to the original intent for this blog, and that was to help those of us who profess faith recognize that we are sons and daughters of the Jewish Patriarch, Abraham, or Avraham if you prefer. So what, you ask. Jesus or Yeshua says he did not come to start a new faith, religion, but he came to fill the Torah, law, full of meaning by his living example. So, as a result of his birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection, many of us believe that we are grafted into the people of Israel as Spiritual citizens. That means, We - of the nations, existing outside of the physical nation of Israel. Hebrews, Jewish men and women, boys and girls, are not grafted into Christianity, nor have they been shoved off the planet and out of God's desire. We who are non-Jews by ethnicity and faith are grafted into them by the mercy and favor of God! I recently have been having discussion with a friend about the 16th century reformation, Ma...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Couple things on this warm August 13, 2019 in my corner of blog land. Are you a fan or have you ever read any of the Best American Short Stories, series? Evidently, these have been in production every year since 1915. I am going to sample the annual one from 1984 which is in audio form for those of us with vision impairments through the Talking Book Program. I hope to read more of these on my iPad or computer. Share your opinion via a comment, okay? While we are discussing hearing and things heard, this one is new to me that was posted in the current "Housecall" Mayo Clinic newsletter: Proponents of ear stapling claim that the staples stimulate a pressure point that controls appetite, leading to weight loss. Small surgical staples are placed into the inner cartilage of each ear. The staples can be left in place for several weeks or even months. Although some studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce appetite, ear stapling hasn't been ...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today is August 7 in my corner of blog land. If you know Jeannine Russell, wish her a happy birthday for me! It is coming up soon. This post we are going to talk a little about reactions or allergies to aspirin. Also, a couple facts from the nation of our faith in G-d, Israel, which the mainline church in north america basically spurns. Aspirin According to the Mayo Clinic and others, many over-the-counter medicines include aspirin as one of their ingredients. It is more common than not for people to have some type of reaction to aspirin. The reaction does not mean you have a given condition, but it may be worth a consult with your healthcare provider. Reactions include: itchy skin, runny nose, hives, or chronic hives also called urticaria, swelling in the tongue, lips or face, respiratory issues. Some Facts Concerning Israel - Government statistics according to resources indicate nearly 25 percent of Israel's population are impoverished. Thes...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today, I wish to share with you some answers about weight loss offered from Mayo Clinic in a recent edition of its newsletter, Housecall. Weight Loss Pills On Western TV, one can view the latest dietary supplement proclaimed to work like none other in helping one reduce belly fat. The Mayo Clinic comments on the effectiveness of weight loss supplements in this way: The most effective way to losing weight and keeping it off, is by eating a low-calorie diet and being more physically active. Weight loss supplements are all at best, tools that may help with weight loss. Anyone up for a walk during a cool evening? From the Dictionary I like to take rare or obsolete words from the dictionary and use them on occasion as article titles or a town name. I recently worked on a story where I have a care facility set in a rural town named Clamber Falls. The personality of the town is in the definition offered by a leading dictionary. Clamber: (verb) Climb, ...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today is July 23 in my corner of blog land. This post is lengthy, excerpted from "House Call, Mayo Clinic" and all about creating a heart healthy diet. Note the things to eat and grocery shop for from this article. Be well! 1. Control your portion size How much you eat is just as important as what you eat. Overloading your plate, taking seconds and eating until you feel stuffed can lead to eating more calories than you should. Portions served in restaurants are often more than anyone needs. Use a small plate or bowl to help control your portions. Eat larger portions of low-calorie, nutrient-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, and smaller portions of high-calorie, high-sodium foods, such as refined, processed or fast foods. This strategy can shape up your diet as well as your heart and waistline. Keep track of the number of servings you eat. The recommended number of servings per food group may vary depending on the specific diet or gu...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Mid July here and so is the heat of summer. It has been a rather warm week in my part of blog land. I still though enjoy coffee throughout my day, and probably would be helped by consuming a couple cups less. On occasion, I bring up a health topic from the Mayo Clinic newsletter, and this post follows suit. In "Housecall" the question is raised about coffee helping with weight loss? My response, I wish it did. Their response is urged caution in using coffee or caffeinated products to help with losing weight. For adults, 400 mg of coffee is recommended, which I am guessing is one or two cups period. Side effects from too much coffee, according to the Mayo staff, include high blood pressure, nervousness, nausea and insomnia. From The Torah In passing, just want to mention that while many Christian Bible translations may use the word "saint or saints" to refer to a group of adherents, some Jewish translations use the word, "ke...

Hello Grafted In Readers, First, I would like to wish Canadian and North American readers an early Happy Canada Day and Independence Day, nationally respective. Below, I am pasting an article of general interest and socially encouraging from "Breaking Israel News." It is not my intention to be divisive, but some of us with God's help endeavor to keep Torah. Please Consider: Straight Pride March set to take Place in Israel By David Sidman June 27, 2019 , 8:58 am If a man lies with a male as one lies with a woman, the two of them have done an abhorrent thing Exodus 20:13 (The Israel Bible™) In an effort to counter the gay “pride” march, a group of Jewish Israelis from Haifa and the surrounding areas are embarking on something similar to the ‘Straight Pride March’ in Boston called Mitzad Hamishpacha (the Family March).  The event’s main organizer, Attorney Naama Sela, told Breaking Israel News that the march was the initiative of both religious and secular Israeli...

Hello Grafted In Reader, In the faith practice world, we are just a few days away from the annual celebration of Shavuot or Pentecost. It is also called the Feast of Weeks, and celebrates the harvest, giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and Christians believe the Holy Spirit was fully manifest at this time, too. If you observe this time, may it be one of refreshment and renewal. On June 5, Breaking Israel News reported on how ten million Parkinson disease sufferers look to Israeli research for help in understanding early detection. In essence early detection is noted by super-resolution microscopy. On June 4, the BBC News reported that research in England is working on a patch for the heart to aid heart attack victims in having cellular restoration and fully functioning heart muscle. The patch is in its final development stages and could be available as soon as 2021. There is much to be thankful for this time of year. Whether you are in winter or approaching summer, what goes o...

Hello Grafted In Readers, The month of April is just about "in the books" as they say, and it began with myself and my youngest brother and his son returning from a four-day visit with our dad in another state. We had a fun time and made some memories for sure. I have titled this post, Antiseptic Greeting, for a good reason. In the Bible there is a book titled The Gospel of John, which records much of the activity occurring during the earthly life of Yeshua, or Jesus if you prefer. One such encounter is following his resurrection, which is why Christians celebrate what is known as Easter. In this encounter, John chapter 20, the disciples of Jesus are meeting together behind locked doors. This verse is perhaps translated more accurately than standard Christian translations. Read as follows: 19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Judeans, Yeshua came and ...

Hello Grafted In Readers, A considerable amount of life events have passed since last posting on March 04. The Festival of Pesach (Passover) is a week from Saturday, and many celebrate Holy Week, beginning this Sunday with what is known as the Catholic ceremony of Palms Sunday. I say Catholic, because the occasion of this coming week is man-made. Here is an excerpt from an article that if you are a professing believer in Messiah Jesus, you are welcomed to consider. It is in full at https://www.jewishvoice.org I will highlight the past month after the excerpt: Should Non-Jewish Believers Celebrate the Passover? Jewish man and boy Jewish and Christian leaders, both in history and in the present day, offer considerable objection to Christian observance of the Passover. It seems that neither official Judaism nor official Christianity is very tolerant of Christians who confuse and confound the clear delineation between these two faiths by attempting to observe the traditional Passov...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Today is March 4, 2019. I may only be doing one post this month. Are you per chance observing National Reading Month? Would you like to? Below is an opportunity with a lengthy article from the Jerusalem Post about the Lutheran/Anglican history of service in Jerusalem dating back to the mid 1800s. Today is March 4, and in two days many will observe the period of church season called Lent. I would challenge those who observe this period to read this article to appreciate our ancestry as believers and as children of Adonai. ------- Lutheran fortress d h k c l submit to reddit Share on VK submit to flipboard share on stumbleupon With a view of Jerusalem and environs, Augusta Victoria tower is formidable in its Teutonic architecture. Lutheran fortress lutheran church 88. (photo credit: ) dShare on Facebook hShare on Twitter Coming up to Jerusalem on Jericho Road, as pilgrims surmount the Ascent of Adumim, their first view of the holy city is the Mou...

Hello Grafted in Readers, Today is February 7 in my corner of blog land. Winter is here though snow is minimal. I want to do something a bit different this post and be informative perhaps. Some of you know I write for what is called a content mill. I recently produced a 500-word article on heroin use and treatment in America. Just wanted to share the findings with you that come mostly from NIDA, The National Institute on Drug Abuse. I'll be back afterword to just add some final words. ---------- According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIDA, heroin use in its addictive form is considered heroin use disorder. Heroin is classified an external opioid. It has a significant effect on brain chemistry also called neurotransmitters. Treatment options found to be most reliable combine a behavioral therapy model with pharmacologic medication. Symptoms of withdrawal may be severe. The symptoms of withdrawal include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Heroin contains the chemical m...

Hello Grafted In Readers, Can you believe that half the month of January is now behind us? Time doesn't speed up but it seems to as we age or remain active. I found a quote in The Guardian digital news service online that is worth some thought: Let’s all be better, without trying so hard to be perfect Eva Wiseman Ms. Wiseman is a columnist who writes in The Guardian lifestyle section. This is but a snippet from a recent essay written by her on making changes each new year. Since our last visit, I have been busy with writing, playing piano for two local restaurants two evenings a week, and a Sunday brunch, and am now revising the 2017 publication, Waiting For Messiah, available on Smashwords in its original form. The revision will be imagined accounts of people from the Bible time or life waiting for Messiah. I may re-publish this in several months. My memoir, "Homecoming: A Memoir" is currently on special via a public coupon through March 2019. https://www.smash...

Hello and Happy 2019 Grafted In Reader, Why is this blog here? -BLOG EMPHASIS IS ON ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER ON THEIR JOURNEY OF FAITH IN YESHUA OUR MESSIAH, LIGHT OF OUR WORLD, REDEEMER AND CHIEF RABBI. --PROVIDING THE OCCASIONAL VERBAL SIPEYR - SAPHIRE, A PRICELESS TREASURE TO SPUR ONE ON IN THEIR LIFE. -ENCOURAGE DISCOVERY THAT "THERE IS NO FREEDOM WITHOUT THE LEARNING OF THE TORAH." This first week of the new year may have us thinking about changes we want to make in our life: exercise more, eat less, engage with others, support something, retain health, on and on until ad nauseum. Personally, I am doing abdominal crunches at least three times a week, eating more fiber content, reading a book a month, honoring commitments to my wife, family and writing forums, and retaining my gigs as a freelance writer and pianist for a couple local restaurants. One of my email subscriptions is to the newsletter produced by My Jewish Learning. I encourage you to gi...