"eyes to see."

"As I recall, Paul stood by and held the coats of the men who were stoning Stephen. Apparently Paul wasn't a believer at the time. In fact, I think he was regarded as the most terrible enemy of the church. And yet, he later repented, didn't he? So I suggest you think of me not as the enemy of God, but as an apostle who has not yet been stopped on the road to Damascus."

-ender wiggin, speaker for the dead.

a dim reflection.

we little know what a great man walked this earth and took up our burden.

someday we will know fully.

how my heart yearns.

-----

2 corinthians 13. Job 19.

a prayer for peace.

In the midst of our current times, with all the tensions and fractures intensifying in Israel, the words of this prayer seem very fitting, and daily move my heart.

may we all pray for israel. may we all pray for God's people. may we all pray for peace.

section 19 of the amidah prayer, a prayer for peace:

"Grant peace, welfare, blessing, grace, loving kindness and mercy to us and to all Israel your people. Bless us, Oh our Father, one and all, with the light of your countenance; for by the light of your countenance you have given us, Oh L-rd our G-d, a Torah of life, loving kindness and salvation, blessing, mercy, life and peace. May it please you to bless your people Israel at all times and in every hour with your peace. Blessed are you, Oh L-rd, who blesses his people Israel with peace."

amen.

here is the summons...

"here is the summons to steadfastness and to loyalty from the dedicated people of God." -revelation 13:10.

"the word for steadfastness is that great word hupomone, which does not simply mean passively bearing things; it means courageously accepting the worst that life can do, and turning it into glory.

The Christian must accept what being a Christian involves. The Christian must win his battle with the world by presenting to all men the steadfastness and the loyalty which will not be moved by the fear or the favor of men."

-william barclay.

אַיֶּכָּה - "where are thou?"

"The first question in the Bible was not asked by man. Logically it should be man asking of God, 'who am I? What am I doing here? Why did you bring me here? Why did you create me?' Not at all. The first question is when Adam flees from God and God asks, "Ayecha?" - "Where are thou?"

There is a marvelous story of a very great Hasidic master, a philosopher, a mystic, who was in jail, and the warden of the jail was a biblical scholar. So the warden came to see the master and said, 'Rabbi, I heard you were here. I know you're a great scholar, and you must answer me something. In Genesis I read that God asked, 'Ayecha?' Is is conceivable that God didn't know where Adam was?' And the Rabbi answered, 'God knew, Adam didn't.'

That is why you ask questions.

That is why we ask questions."

-elie wiesel.

our great Defender.

"in the Hebrew scriptures, satan was the angel who was the counsel for the prosecution against men in the presence of God. he was the adversary of men." -w. barclay.

i came across this passage in a revelation commentary this morning, and i found it interesting to think of satan in this way, as a prosecutor in the presence of God, bringing before heaven all the evil things that humanity has done and bringing to God's attention the selfishness that consistently resides in our hearts.

our accuser.

highlighting what we once were,
emphasizing our crooked choices,
and reminding us of all we do not deserve.

and it was such a beautiful and moving thing for me to then compare that image to Jesus.

our beautiful, compassionate, generous, powerful, victorious, and faultless Defender, sitting at the right hand of God, intimately speaking with Him on our behalf.

making hollow all those accusations of guilt.

and God, the great and merciful Judge, choosing to listen to the voice and the witness of His Son, the great Messiah of humanity, rather than the adversary.

no longer is it our own lives that stand as witness.

it is now the life of the unblemished Lamb, Son of the MOST HIGH GOD, that stands on trial as evidence in the Kingdom.

and the verdict comes in: not guilty.

and the verdict comes in:

GRACE.

-----

"the forgiveness which is in the Cross has left satan the accuser no possible accusation to make." -w. barclay.

"be strong in the grace of Jesus." -paul.

joy for jacob.

"thus said the Lord:

the people escaped from the sword,
found favor in the wilderness;
when israel was marching homeward
the Lord revealed Himself to me of old.

eternal love I conceived for you then;
therefore I continue My grace to you.
I will build you firmly again,
o maiden israel!

again you shall take up your timbrels
and go forth to the rhythm of the dancers.
again you shall plant vineyards
on the hills of samaria;
men shall plant and live to enjoy them.

for the day is coming when watchmen
shall proclaim on the heights of ephraim:
come, let us go up to zion,
to the Lord our God!

cry out in joy for jacob,
for I am ever a Father to israel."

-excerpts, jeremiah 31.