[For some reason, this article is frequently clicked! First posted January 2, 2014, it was originally intended to commemorate the ‘new year’ according to the biblical or Jewish calendar. A review of any year is always relevant at any time; we learn something from recalling where we were and if we have progressed from that point.
Here’s the introduction to the original post:
At the start of yet another year, the message in this post is worth rereading even if the original occasion was the Day of Atonement 2013. After all, this feast that YHWH includes in ‘MY appointed times’ is a time of reflection, particularly on how one’s life has progressed so far, what needs to continue and what needs to change. It ends with what could be a good new year resolution for all:
Today I shall …
- try to enrich my life
- by living it according to the Divine will,
- bringing greater glory to His Name –
- and therefore greater meaning to my life.–Admin1.]
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The complete verse is this:
Remember us for life,
O King Who desires life,
and inscribe us in the book of life,
for Your sake,
O living God
(Amidah, Ten Days of Penitence).
Sinaites have agreed to properly observe for the first time, individually and as a community, the Day of Atonement . . . . Yom Kippur.
We started our pilgrimage toward the Sinai revelation in Tishrei 5772.
We wrote a commemorative article on Tishrei 5773 :
“And He Called”: Celebrating the Fall Festivals in the biblical calendar – 5773 (September 2012)
And here we are in Tishrei 5774, two years older, in many ways wiser . . . and even more determined to continue learning, for we realize that we have simply taken baby steps in this search for YHWH’s unadulterated Truth. At this time, we have reached no farther than Bemidbar/Numbers 17, ever conscious of reviewing and backtracking in case we’ve missed significant clues because we’re dependent on translators’ word choices and limited by our lack of knowledge of the Hebrew language.
It has been a slow but steady, serious and totally self-dedicated journey of faith into the uncharted territory of the Hebrew Scriptures in which are recorded the Torah of the God who revealed Himself and His Way for humanity, to the custodians of His revelation—-Israel. We say “uncharted” only because until two years ago, we had not seriously ventured into these books, not as Christians and not even as Messianics.
The ‘People of the Book’ have, for millennia now, dissected every word and thought and have arrived at various conclusions as recorded in their supplementary books; from them, we continue to learn and absorb wisdom that constantly surprise us, making us think: ‘now why had we not thought of that?’
We also learn from independent thinkers who are many miles ahead of us, both Jews and Gentiles who ‘think out of the box’ and they too surprise us with perspectives that make us say again, ‘now why had we not thought of that?’ They’re all over the modern wondrous internet highway, with whom we catch up on that same pathway to the Sinai revelation.
There is much to learn from others though in the process, we’ve also learned the most important lesson when you’re faced with so many opposing views: to be discerning first and ultimately, to undertake your own study to your satisfaction and only then, make decisions . . . but keep your mind open.
This website is, in effect, a logbook or journal of new discoveries as well as a continuing review of past learnings, if only to determine what we could hold on to and what we must let go of. We have not totally discarded old views and habits of our former faith affiliations even as we completely let go of the god we formerly mistakenly worshipped.
As we embark on yet another exciting year of exploring the heights and depths of the revelation of the God we have embraced and worship,
- whose commandments we are endeavoring to obey,
- whose Way we are aligning our ways to,
—-we continue to share our ‘notes’ on discussions, agreements and disagreements, resolved as well as unresolved issues. In so doing, we hope we are encouraging others to do the same, for there is nothing more fulfilling than immersing oneself in the recorded words that reflect the Mind of our Creator God.
What little we learn for the time we are allotted to on this earth, that in itself is what matters . . . but only if it adds one more enlightened mind and inspired heart that decides to turn from the worship of the non-gods of world religions toward the knowledge and worship of YHWH and live His Torah.
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The prayer quoted at the beginning is from this post from one of our favorite Jewish websites, AISH.COM.
The article is by Abraham Twerski whose book we have yet to feature in our MUST READ/MUST OWN series:
Twerski on Prayer: Creating the Bond Between Man and his Maker
[Reformatted and highlighted for this post:]
What is the meaning of for Your sake? How can the extension of life to a person be for the sake of God?
We might read the verse a bit differently.
“Inscribe us into the book of a life that is lived for Your sake.“
In other words, we pray
- not only for life,
- but for a quality of life
- that is meaningful
- and purposeful,
- one that will be lived for the greater glory of God.
Some people find life boring, and it is little wonder that such people seek escape from its boredom. Some turn to intoxicating chemicals, and others to a quest for thrills and entertaining pastimes which, while not destructive, have no purpose except an escape.
But why should there be a need to escape? Why should life ever be boring? A person whose goal is to amass great wealth never tires of adding more to his already sizable fortune. If we have the kind of goal in life that allows us to add to it continually, we will never be bored.
Of course, we wish to be inscribed in the book of life,
- but it should be a life that we wish to be in
- rather than one that we seek to escape from.
Today I shall …
- try to enrich my life
- by living it according to the Divine will,
- bringing greater glory to His Name –
- and therefore greater meaning to my life.
In behalf of Sinai6000 Core Community,
NSB@S6K