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Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
Tonight starts the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah. The Jewish people have a civil new year and a religious new year. Which is why this new year celebration falls in the seventh month of their calendar. That's really not as strange as it sounds. As westerners, we have a calendar year starting in January -…
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Heartache

Heartache
Mary and Martha experienced just this when their brother Lazarus died (John 11). Jesus heard His close friend was sick but he waited before coming to their side. By the time He got there, Lazarus was gone. The grieving sisters met Jesus – “If only you had been here – he wouldn’t have died.” You…
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Spill it

Spill it
The psalms were written in a desert context and the pictures in them are rich. Close your eyes and put yourself in a tribal tent on a hot day. Can you hear David's words? "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;  you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."  Psalm 23:5…
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Before or After?

Before or After?
Why not both? I’m talking about our mealtime prayers. Our cultural traditions lead us to thank God before we eat. After all, Jesus blessed God before He broke the bread during the last supper. Many of our Jewish friends, however, bless God at the end of the meal. Taking from the text: “And you shall…
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