What To Say When Ticked

 Hello Grafted In Reader,

Today is August 28 in my corner of blog land. For those who observe an ancient faith practice known as Judaism, it is the month of Elul, which is the final month on the Jewish calendar. It is a time when many take stock and decide in what ways they will improve themselves. I like observing this month since Fall seems to usher in new starts in western culture for North America.

I was curious as I take stock of myself, are there synonyms that can become effective expletives to speak when we find ourselves totally tick offed at someone or something?

We often use expletives known culturally to express our disgust at something or someone's behavior. I do, and you probably do also.

Let's dive in and look at two key samples.

Suggested alternatives are from Thesaurus.com.

Asshole

Ass, bastard,  jackass, dickhead, mother-f...er, shit, SOB, asshat,  asswipe,  idiot,  jerk,  schmuck

F..K

bang,  bonk,  copulate,  fornicate,  hump,  lay,  score,  sleep with,  shag,  schtup

Of the first group, idiot, jerk, and schmuck seem more preferred than the others.

Of the second group, I like the sound of schtup.

It may send someone running to their online dictionary, but hey, improving expression is more less what this is all about.

Consider These

- I think you're being impudent, which means rude, disrespectful. Be careful, one might think you said, impotent.

- I think you're being indolent, which means lazy, idle, lacking inertia.

- I am feeling indignant toward you. Meaning disgruntled, dissatisfied, discontented.

If all fails, resort to the words, Oh schtup!

May YHVH be with us throughout our days.

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell

 

Let's Do Elul Together?

Hello Grafted In Reader,

For those who have followed this blog for some time, in earlier days focus was given to elements of the Christian faith that are known to be inherited from the Jewish faith. One such is upcoming, the month of Elul on the Jewish calendar.

In 2023, this 30-day period of self examination and returning to G-d, begins the evening of August 16.

Below, I am pasting an article from August 2021 by Jewish Voice Ministries, that gives and overview of Elul, and recommendations for one to utilize if choosing to observe this month.

Or, you may search for information on your own regarding the month of Elul.

Please share this with someone who may be interested.

 Elul: Preparing Your Heart for the Fall Feasts

August 03, 2021

''

What is Elul? Elul is a month on the Jewish calendar preceding the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These holidays are about repentance and right standing with the Holy God of Israel, and one doesn’t enter such a season lightly. Engaging well with the Lord on these matters requires preparation. That’s how Jewish people and Messianic Jews spend the Hebrew month of Elul.

Elul sits on the calendar between the time of year when Israel committed two of her great sins against the Lord (the golden calf and the 10 spies’ bad report) and the High Holy Days. It proves a fitting time of year to dedicate extra focus to self-examination, repentance and seeking right standing with God for the coming year. Some scholars believe this period overlapped with Yeshua’s 40 days of fasting in the wilderness. Jewish tradition holds that on Rosh Hashanah, God pronounces a judgment on each Jewish person for the coming year and, 10 days later, on Yom Kippur, He seals that judgment.

Elul is a month of intentional time reflecting on our lives with the Lord. As the days progress, our focus intensifies as we pray and ask God to reveal where we have fallen short of His laws and desires for our lives. We humble ourselves before Him in repentance, seek forgiveness and make amends with others as needed.

sign-jewish-holidays-and-cultu…

Learn more about Jewish rhythms and traditions 

Want to live more like Yeshua (Jesus)? Take ownership of the heritage you've been grafted into by learning to embrace the traditions and cultures that Jesus Himself celebrated. Sign up to get helpful tips, education, devotions, and more that will draw you closer to Jesus and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! 

Sign Up Now

What is Repentance?

The Jewish tradition of repentance is called teshuvah, which means “returning.” Teshuvah includes three aspects: confession, regret and a commitment not to repeat the sin. As the Lord reveals our sins to us, we agree with Him that they are wrong, express genuine remorse and turn from them with a determination to forsake them in the future.

Elul Traditions

Along with taking stock of one’s life before the Lord, Elul traditions include blowing the shofar every morning (except on Shabbats) during the month. The shofar serves as a call to awaken the soul to repentance. Special prayers of repentance, called selichot, are recited during Elul. Another custom is to read Psalm 27 twice each day of the month and through the last day of the Feast of Sukkot, following Yom Kippur.

Preparing Your Heart for the New Year

As Messianic Jews who believe in Jesus, we understand that we have been sealed in the Holy Spirit. Still, reflection and repentance should be an ongoing part of our relationships with God. The time preceding the High Holidays is a perfect time to dedicate extra focus to assessing our lives before the Lord.

To help you participate in this season of prayerful searching, we’ve put together a list of Scriptures, one for each day of Elul, that you can meditate on, pray over and listen to the Lord regarding. We’ve alternated Scriptures centered on examination, sin and repentance with the verses of Psalm 27.

Daily Scriptures for Elul Meditations

A Jewish day begins and ends at sunset, so we’ve listed both Gregorian calendar dates that coincide with each Elul date of the Jewish calendar. For instance, Elul 1 begins at sunset on August 8 and ends at sundown on August 9.

Start your journey by praying to have an open heart, willing to hear what the Lord has to say to you. May you encounter Him more personally and intimately than ever before this Elul. May you discover afresh His love and forgiveness along with new mercies every day. And may you know His power to restore and revive you as you return to Him.

Elul 1, August 8/9, 2021                  Psalm 85:8 

Elul 2, August 9/10, 2021                Psalm 27:1

Elul 3, August 10/11, 2021              Psalm 139:23–24

Elul 4, August 11/12, 2021              Psalm 27:2

Elul 5, August 12/13, 2021              Psalm 38:18

Elul 6, August 13/14, 2021              Psalm 27:3

Elul 7, August 14/15, 2021              Psalm 51:10

Elul 8, August 15/16, 2021              Psalm 27:4

Elul 9, August 16/17, 2021              Psalm 19:12

Elul 10, August 17/18, 2021            Psalm 27:5

Elul 11, August 18/19, 2021            Isaiah 30:15

Elul 12, August 19/20, 2021            Psalm 27:6

Elul 13, August 20/21, 2021            Psalm 26:2

Elul 14, August 21/22, 2021            Psalm 27:7

Elul 15, August 22/23, 2021            Psalm 51:1–2

Elul 16, August 23/24, 2021            Psalm 27:8

Elul 17, August 24/25, 2021            Lamentations 3:40

Elul 18, August 25/26, 2021            Psalm 27:9

Elul 19, August 26/27, 2021            Psalm 119:59

Elul 20, August 27/28, 2021            Psalm 27:10

Elul 21, August 28/29, 2021            Psalm 86:11

Elul 22, August 29/30, 2021            Psalm 27:11

Elul 23, August 30/31, 2021            Psalm 51:1–2

Elul 24, Aug 31/Sept 1, 2021           Psalm 27:12

Elul 25, September 1/2, 2021         Psalm 25:11

Elul 26, September 2/3, 2021         Psalm 27:13

Elul 27, September 3/4, 2021         Matthew 3:8

Elul 28, September 4/5, 2021         Psalm 27:14

Elul 29, September 5/6, 2021         Psalm 32:5

 End

 

 

© 2023, Jewish Voice Ministries International

Icon For Arrow-up

 

I recommend we either read Psalm 27 each day during Elul and make it personal.

Or, Let's read each of the daily verses and make that personal to us.

If you agree to do this, consider liking this post. Thanks!

Meantime, Kevod Yeheveh, the presence of G-d be with us every hour, every day.

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell, Author        

New Book: Human Being Human Doing

Hello Grafted In Readers,

Today Is August 1, 2023 in my corner of blog land. Thank you for checking up on me occasionally to see if and when I reappear. I hope to renew our visits at least once monthly. Let me know if interested by liking this post please.

Since May 23rd this year, I have been busy with writing projects. 

I published "Human Being Human Doing" in May to most of the major online vendors.

Here is a link to get you started on searching out the ins and outs of this title that took about one year to produce:

Human Being Human Doing by David C. Russell

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/human-being-human-doinghttps://www.goodreads.com › 

If this did not show as a link, I suggest you google the following:

"book human being human doing david c. russell goodreads"

and that will take you to some basic info and a review or two.

Also, over Spring and most of summer, a co-writer and I entered a contest to produce a 50-paragraph story where the contest provides the first and last line. Each take turns doing alternate paragraphs two through forty-nine.

We just submitted this entry today and will find out how we placed in December.

I have been doing quite a bit of reading per usual. "The Road" and "Child Of God" by the late Cormac McCarthy are the most recent reads and enjoyed!

I am working on a new title called, "Moments With David".

These are short topical vignettes and hope to publish in 2024. I need to add another forty to fifty vignettes first.

As my Mom used to often entone, All good things come to an end.

Such is the case with our visit. We have previously focused on faith matters and or health tips. Would you like this to continue, or should we consider other general subject matter?

I would like to involve you in the further shaping of this, our blog.

See you in September, Lord Willing. It is nearing the season of the High Holidays, one of my favorite occasions in the year as a Hebraic Christian.

Kevod Yeheveh, the presence of YHVH be with us.

Mellow Rock

David C. Russell, Author