Elaine Goodfriend #2

OT class has proved to be both interesting and challenging.

Professor Goodfriend is sooo knowledgeable in the Word. It's so insane how she knows exactly where to go in the OT for any question you throw at her. The other day, I raised my hand and asked a question regarding adultery. Without any hesitance, her immediate reply was, "OK, lets go look in Leviticus 18:20, and 2:10. And also Deuteronomy 22." While I realize that she's probably read the Old Testament 500 bazillion times, I still admire her familiarity of the Bible.

However, I can't help me think about how hopeless her life is. Whenever Professor Goodfriend talks about Christianity (she is a devout Jew), she seems to have this bitter, cynical tone. She comments on Jesus as if Christians are stupid to believe that He is the real Messiah. As she lectures and goes on and on about the OT, I start to feel sad for her. Here is a woman with exceptional knowledge of the Bible, who follows every tradition of the Jewish faith, and lives her life according to the laws of the Old Testament....Here is a woman who proudly states to her class that she won't bathe during Yom Kippur to observe the laws of old...Here is a woman who is still waiting for her Savior. A lot of times in class, I think to myself, "Man...if she only knew the Truth, if she only knew Jesus...she could do such great things with her knowledge of the Bible. Her life could be so filled."

I can't imagine what it would be like to live life hoping daily for a Messiah to come. I can't imagine living life without the Holy Spirit. Being in that class reminds me of the hope we have in Jesus, of how blessed we are to have something to live for, of God's goodness to provide for us. It helps me to get just a tiny grasp on this unfathomable gift that God has given to us in His son.

What is knowing the Bible by heart, if I don't have Jesus?

Mochi

Every weekend when I go home, I'll spend some time playing with my dog. When I approach him, he gets super excited. He'll start jumping enthusiastically on his hind legs, beckoning me to sit and play with him. As soon as I sit on the floor with my legs crossed, Mochi, without fail, will go frantically looking for his favorite blue chew toy. When he's found it, he'll literally jump into my lap and start chewing away at his toy. He'll spread out his long body, and I can feel him relax all his muscles; he looks so content. I can tell that he loves sitting in my lap and playing. And you know what? I love just sitting there with him, doing nothing.

On Saturday, when I was doing exactly that, I realized something. It takes me a week of being occupied with school and all the other things in my life to be able to sit down for 15 minutes to play with the dog. Some weeks, that's how it is w/ God. It'll take me getting all the things I need to get done out of the way before I sit down and spend time with God. But here's the humbling part: Whether it be at the end of the day or at the end of the week, God is still the same. He doesn't turn and give me the cold shoulder, but rather He embraces me warmly.

And then there are lessons I could learn from Mochi. Take his enthusiasm for one. I ought to be like Mochi, jumping in excitement to spend time with my Lord. I should be at His feet, jumping wildly saying, "Look Father, here I am. I want to sit Your lap."

These things are elementary, aren't they? Things we all know so well in our heads, and yet in the busy-ness of life, forget so easily.

(P.S: I can't believe I practically compared God to my dog...forgive me Father. )

Dude?

There are two guys at my church, Rich and Trevor. They are especially expressive. When they get excited about something, you can see it alllll over their faces. They'll open their eyes real wide and go, "DUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE."

This is weird but, I can't think of any better way to describe how I feel about God and the things He's doing in my life right now. There is not even one thing better than the other. Just sitting and dwelling on God's goodness to me makes me go...

DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE.

Arithmetic

I've been staring at the sky tonight

Marvelling and passing time

Wondering what to do with daylight

Until I can make you mine

You are the one I want, you are the one I want

...

'Cos if I add, if I subtract
If I give it all, try to take some back
I've forgotten the freedom that comes from the fact
That you are the sum
So you are the one
I want

Elaine Goodfriend

Yesterday was my first day in my OT Survey class at LMU.

The class is taught by a cute Jewish professor named Elaine Goodfriend. When she starts to talk about the Old Testament, you can see passion and excitement ooze out of her.

The only required textbook for the class is, of course, the Bible.

Something that Professor Goodfriend said really caught my attention:

"You will be marked absent if you don't have your Bible with you."

To me, it's almost as if she said, "If you don't have your Bible with you then your presence is worthless". It's amazing how, our identity is really found in Christ. Without Him, without the Word, our presence on this earth really IS worthless. We don't count for anything in anyone's roll book.

That's all.

God and Marriage.

In Israeli culture, a canopy represented God's presence and blessings. They would create canopies using pieces of linen tied to 4 posts, and called them Hoopas. The hoopa was traditionally used during marriage ceremonies.

Two families would arrange for their children to be married. The man would offer the woman a cup; if she accepts the cup, then she has agreed to marry him. The man would then say to her, “I will go to prepare a place for you”, and he’d return to his father’s house to add on a room for his future bride. Only the father of the groom knew the exact time when the groom could go get his wife. Until the father gave his approval, the groom was to continue building the room. Meanwhile, the bride-to-be would prepare for marriage by having a candle in her window. She was to ensure that the candle was never blown out until her groom came for her; the candle represented her readiness to receive the groom. When the groom’s father was satisfied with the room, he’d give the groom his approval to leave and claim his bride. The groom would then gather all his friends together, and they’d go through the streets of that village singing and dancing until they found the candle at the bride’s window. As she heard them coming, she would get dressed and ready. The bride and groom and all their friends would then have a party from 3 to 7 days. They would exchange vows in front of the community, but the marriage would only be legitimate after consummating. So the groom would take his bride into the bridal shower, and in there was a canopy. The canopy represented God’s blessing, presence, and affirmation of their oneness and unity. To the Jews, there wasn’t a religious part of life and a nonreligious part of life, it was just life with God in His presence. So literally hanging over the bridal chamber was a hoopa, affirming their oneness in unity, and that God was a central feature in their union. After consummation, the friend of the groom would announce to everyone that they had been married and they would party, feast, and dance for 7 days. Throughout this time, the friends of the groom would hold a canopy over them.

What a blessing it is that we have a God who would use tangible illustrations to demonstrate and explain His love for us. He is my groom, and a candle shines in my window for Him.

Note To Self

Summer Musts:

Outdoor Cinema/Foodfest: http://www.outdoorcinemafoodfest.com/

Greek Festival: http://sbgreekfestival.com/index.html

Venice Beach Summer Fest: http://www.yelp.com/events/los-angeles-summer-fest-in-venice-beach

Craft Fair: http://www.renegadecraft.com/los-angeles