Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Sarah






My princess or Sarai: the name originally meaning of the name Sarah (Genesis 11:31; 17:15). Easton’s Bible Dictionary

WOMEN’S EXPERIENCE; Sarah must have expectations to her role in life. She must have contemplated that before her marriage and what her marriage would mean to her.
Comment: Sarai changed to Sarah and Abram to Abraham when the ceremony of circumcision with God; a covenant to them and their marriage; where she was to bare the child of inheritance.

WOMEN’S EXPERIENCE: Prophecy to be the mother of nations.
Sarah
Princess, the wife and at the same time the half sister of Abraham (Genesis 11:29’ 20:12). This name was given to her at the time that it was announced to Abraham that she should be the mother of the promised child. Her story is from her marriage identified with that of the patriarch till the time of her death. Her death, at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven years (the only instance in Scripture where the age of a woman is recorded), was the occasion of Abraham’s purchasing the cave of Machpelah as a family burying-place.

In the allegory of Galatians 4:22-31 she is the type of the “Jerusalem which is above.” She is also mentioned as Sara in Hebrews 11:11 among the Old Testament worthies, who “all died in faith.” (See ABRAHAM) Easton’s Bible Dictionary

Princess: She is referred to in the New Testament as a type of conjugal obedience in I Peter 3:6. Sarah the daughter of Asher Numbers 26:46 Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Allegory

Gill Laverne McCain, “The Story of Hagar: God’s Blueprint for Justice,” in Daughter’s of Dignity Women in the Bible and the Virtues of Black Womanhood, (Ohio: The Pilgrim Press, 2000) 10-25.
Gill Laverne McCain, “Reflecting on Hagar,” in Daughter’s of Dignity Women in the Bible and the Womanhood Virtues of Black Womanhood, (Ohio: The Pilgrim Press, 2000) 26-28.

Customary Law
Sarah as principal wife of Abraham

WOMEN’S EXPERIENCE
Code of Hammurabi Section 146

If a man take a wife and she give this man a maid-servant as wife and she bear him children, and then this maid assume equality with the wife: because she has borne him children her master shall not sell her for money, but he may keep her as a slave, reckoning her among the maid-servants.

Abraham’s Dispute with Abimelech

Key terms: Beer-Sheba “well of the oath,” Abimelech guaranteed Abraham’s loyalty by an oath shown in verse 31 chapter 21; the story begins at Genesis Chapter 20. Abraham and Sarah were in Gerar and the story is parallels that of Genesis chapter 12.10-20 and comparison are 26.6-11. This is an ethical problem. Abraham’s role is that of an intercessory prophet.

Beer-Sheba “Well of seven”: Genesis 21 verses 25-26 and 28-30, a dispute over a well

Abraham is promised a son

Genesis chapter 15.7-21: God makes a covenant with Abraham. This is the covenant of circumcision. Likewise it is known as the early tradition of Jewish literature that is part of the received text of Genesis. Abraham had a vision and heard the word of the LORD. Abraham told of his concern that he was childless and had been given no offspring. The heir of his house was Elie’zer (slave)
WOMEN’S EXPERIENCE: Sarah as the principal wife of Abraham….

Twelve Tribes of Israel





Jacob and twelve sons and their mothers…

REUBEN: Genesis 29.32(See a son) the firstborn son of Jacob born by Leah... Jacob's blessing Gen 49.3(unstable as water) Judges 5.15... Deborah "By the streams of Reuben"

SIMEON: Genesis 29.33 (the LORD has heard) the second son of Jacob borne by Leah... Jacob's blessing Gen 49.5-7 "weapons of violence are their swords'...

LEVI: (this time my husband will be joined unto me) Genesis 29.34 the third son of Jacob born by Leah... Jacob's blessing was the same "weapons of violence are their swords" becomes a priestly class...


JUDAH: Genesis 29.35 (this time I will praise the LORD) Jacob's blessing "your brother's shall praise you"

DAN: Genesis 30.6 the fifth son of Jacob borne by Billah the maidservant of Rachel... (He is judged... God has judged me and also heard my voice) Jacob's blessing "Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel"

NAPHTALI: Genesis 30.8 (struggle and wrestle with) the sixth son of Jacob borne by Billah as wife to Jacob from Rachel... (Mighty wrestling’s I have wrestled with my sister) Jacob's blessing "a hind let loose; idea of freedom, agility, and vitality; one who gives beautiful words)...

GAD: Genesis 30.11(a band of good fortune) the seventh son of Jacob borne by Zilpah the wife to Jacob from Leah...Jacob's blessing "Raider's shall be a troop against him; bravery in repelling the enemy"...

ASHER: Genesis 30.12-13 (happy and happiness I am) the eighth son of Jacob borne by Zilpah the wife of Jacob given by Leah... Jacob's blessing "the food shall be rich and he shall yield royal dainties"....

ISSACHAR: Genesis 30.18 (God has given me my hire) the ninth son born to Jacob by Leah....Jacob's blessing “the mandrakes a potato like plant was thought to stimulate conception; he was to receive the covenant"...

ZEBULUN: (dwelling; habitation) the tenth son of Jacob born by Leah who says 'now my husband will honor me, God has endowed me with a good dowry'....Jacob's blessing "shall dwell at the shore of the sea and shall become a haven for ships; his border will be at Sidon"...

DINAH: a daughter was born to Jacob next...

JOSEPH: Genesis 30.23 born to Rachel and Jacob the eleventh son... (Increaser; God hath taken away my reproach; May the LORD add to me another son) Jacob's blessing was preeminent for "he was the fruitful bough by a spring, his arms made agile by the Mighty One of Jacob; with the blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep, blessings of the breasts and of the womb, receive the ancestral blessing, may they be on his head the one who was separate from his brothers"...

BENJAMIN: Genesis 35.18 last son born to Jacob and the mother was Rachel in childbirth death came, her last breath 'son of my pain' (son of the right hand) Abraham changed his name to Benjamin 'son of the south'... Jacob's blessing to the tribe of the Benjamites "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey, and at even dividing the spoil.

These are the twelve tribes of Israel....
Jacob Wrestles with an Angel
Genesis 32.22-32
Jacob was renamed Israel (Israel means “wrestles (or strives) with God”.

Rachel




Jacob meets Rachel.
Genesis 29.6 He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!”
This verse details the first appearance of Rachel to Jacob and the “fall in love at first sight” notion toward their relationship.
Genesis 29.9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep; for she kept them.
Rachel worked by keeping the sheep, she was required to work, or she wanted to keep the sheep, Laban the son of Nahor felt it was all right and safe for his daughter to do this.
Genesis 29.11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and wept aloud.
Rachel must have been overwhelmed with not knowing who Jacob was; this man had kissed her in public. Jacob had wept aloud (moaning and muttering maybe) and she is the center of attention while the herdsmen stand there looking on.
Genesis 29.12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son; and she ran and told her father.
Rachel probably couldn’t believe what she was hearing, however it must be true. This man Jacob was her father’s kinsman. Jacob’s mother was Laban’s sister Rebekah. Likely that Laban has told Rebekah and his other children that his sister’s name was Rebekah. There was even a real possibility that Laban knew who Jacob was from family and friends traveling passing this information along to each other’s family.
Genesis 29.17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful and lovely.
Leah was of a common beauty it is assumed and Rachel was full of beauty and lovely to look at. Rachel was probably accustomed to being stared at because of her good appearance. Leah was not second to Rachel for she was the older daughter. Rachel must have respected Leah and looked to her for guidance on some things. They had the bond of being sister’s that must have fostered some type of mutual relationship. They probably shared girl talk; even spoke to each other about marriage and how to prepare and how they would remain family.
Genesis 29.30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.
Rachel became officially married to Jacob and she knew him sexually and consummated her marriage. Rachel also had a covenant with her father Laban through Jacob, where he was contracted to work seven years for her also, because Leah also married Jacob; so the previous seven years had gone to Leah’s dowry. Although Leah was the first wife, Rachel remained a principal wife to Jacob. This time in life Rachel had become to know adult responsibility and was a woman responsible for her share of the home. Rachel was under the protection of Jacob also now.
Genesis 29.31 When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
Leah wasn’t Jacob’s favorite wife and the LORD God Almighty saw fit to give her the fruit of the womb and not Rachel. Leah enduring her pregnancy and withstanding the birth of their child; Jacob was required to be affectionate toward her. Rachel was a witness to Jacob showering attention onto his wife and new child. These actions only made Rachel want to bear children like her sister wife. Rachel was left to learn the significance of the birthright in the family. The lesson she learned most of all that family is important and getting along did matter. Apparently Leah could do something better than her sister wife that Jacob loved so well. Rachel must have been jealous, however not jealous enough to harm Leah or discredit her in any way.
Genesis 30.1 When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister; and she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” Rachel’s Character
Rachel is completely distraught that she has no children. Leah was happy and Rachel wanted to be just as happy, yet that was impossible to Rachel without children. The words she spoke to Jacob assumed that he had control of the life giving anointing. Rachel is probably depressed that she can’t share in community with a child for Jacob.
Genesis 30.2 Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
Jacob hoped to get understanding from Rachel, however she was obsessed with childbirth. Jacob informed Rachel in no uncertain terms that their heavenly father was the reason she was childless. How did she expect him to change places with the heavenly father. Surely, Rachel needed prayer and would she ask the LORD God Jehovah to sustain her.
Later Rachel ask Leah for mandrakes, an aphrodisiac, which Ruben had found in the field. Whether it was used for food, drug or potion of sexual arousal later becomes clear. Leah’s price for her mandrakes is a night with Jacob as man and wife. Leah becomes pregnant and receives a new son portion when she sleeps with Jacob.

Tamar





Revised Standard Version commentary: on Judah and Tamar.
Theology or God how deal's with a woman's part in the LORD's promise that Abraham will have a great prosperity.

The marriage with Shuah's daughter reflects territorial expansion of the tribe of Judah and the consequent intermarriage with Canaanites. Shua was the mother of Er Onan and Shelah. The woman experience here is marriage and acceptance of the LORD's religion and moving away never to return to a cult worship. However her autobiography is scant and not known except her father accepted Judah as her husband. The previous worship they performed must have lead them to the new life in the Mosaic Law.
The early and childless death of Er is attributed to a divine act, almost demonic in character. Remember that the LORD God is the provider against all demonic force, whome we call Satan. Then jealousy and other things considered into the mix that lead to suspicion of poison and so on. The woman's religious experience here is being childless, a widow, accepting the Israelite religion unto death and having come from a background that worshipped Ishtar.

Mosiac Law that is called Levirate marriage (Dt. 25.5-10), the duty of a brother-in-law was to raise up a male descendant for his deceased brother and thus perpetuate his name and inheritance. Remember, the refusal of Onan to put his sperm in Tamar was refusing the levriate obligation. This is customary law in African culture also. Once again Tamar becomes a widow under circumstances that people become suspicious of her behavior whether she is virtuous or a troublemaker.

Judah feared the death of his two son's resulted from Tamar's sinister power.

Suspecting that Judah's promise (v. 11) was insincere,
Tamar took steps to make him perform the levirate duty. Tamar was taken to be a cult prostitute (v. 21), a devotee of the mother-goddess Ishtar. Prostitution was connected with the worship of the nature gods of fertility (Dt. 23.18; IKg. 14.24; 2 Kg. 23.7; Hos. 4.13; Am. 2.7). The signet was a ring or cyclinder, used to stamp one's signature. In Israel stoning was the usual punishment for a harlot (Dt. 22.23-24; compare Jn. 8.5), although burning was prescribed for exceptional cases (Lev. 21.9). So you see Judah thought all along that Tamar was exceptional.

Tamar takes on a virtue of necessity, making the most of a difficult situation. We now understand that Shelah is grown and to Tamar that is unsatisfactory to her that she be left in her father's house. Tamar is determined to go along with the levirate customs. Tamar here is conforming to the moral principles of Judah's clan. The introduction from her father made this a binding pledge that she must carry out throughout her life.

Theology of God dealing with Tamar, how she is singled out for approval, for judged by the levirate obligation, she was more righteous (see 6.9) than Judah. Tamar's morality toward Judah is seen as righteousness. Tamar is the weak link in this family circle and yet she preserves to become the the legitimate authority. Tamar has been annointed with the virtue of an order of angels.

The birth of the twins (25.21-26) portrays the rivalry of Perez and Zerah, two clans of Judah (Num.26.19-22) who were partially Canaanite, Perez, the first born, was an ancestor of David (Ru. 4.18-22). Above all Tamar's natural virtue of fortitude has attained a womanly status, a virtue of goodness. Tamar is aware of justice, temperance, prudence, and fortitude the natural virtues assimilating them to acieve her goals. Her charm will bring the power and potent force of the savior Jesus Christ

Thursday, March 20, 2008





Examine Your Vote Carefully
Group Study Guide

Christian Principles in an Election Year

Your church, your communion, and the National Council of Churches USA do not endorse any political party or any candidate.
Be that as it may, our Christian faith compels us to address the world through the lens of our relationship to God and to one another. Public discourse is enhanced as we engage civic leaders on the values and ethics affirmed by our faith. At the same time, religious liberty and the integrity of our democracy will be protected as candidates refrain from using faith-based organizations and institutions for partisan gain. We offer these 10 principles to those seeking to accept the responsibility that comes with holding public office.

1. War is contrary to the will of God. While the use of violent force may, at times, be a necessity of last resort, Christ pronounces his blessing on the peacemakers. We look for political leaders who will make peace with justice a top priority and who will actively seek nonviolent solutions to conflict.

2. God calls us to live in communities shaped by peace and cooperation. We reject policies that abandon large segments of our inner city and rural populations to hopelessness. We look for political leaders who will re-build our communities and bring an end to the cycles of violence and killing.

3. God created us for each other, and thus our security depends on the well being of our global neighbors. We look for political leaders for whom a foreign policy based on cooperation and global justice is an urgent concern.

4. God calls us to be advocates for those who are most vulnerable in our society. We look for political leaders who yearn for economic justice and who will seek to reduce the growing disparity between rich and poor.

5. Each human being is created in the image of God and is of infinite worth. We look for political leaders who actively promote racial justice and equal opportunity for everyone.

6. The earth belongs to God and is intrinsically good. We look for political leaders who recognize the earth's goodness, champion environmental justice, and uphold our responsibility to be stewards of God’s creation.

7. Christians have a biblical mandate to welcome strangers. We look for political leaders who will pursue fair immigration policies and speak out against xenophobia.

8. Those who follow Christ are called to heal the sick. We look for political leaders who will support adequate, affordable and accessible health care for all.

9. Because of the transforming power of God’s grace, all humans are called to be in right relationship with each other. We look for political leaders who seek a restorative, not retributive, approach to the criminal justice system and the individuals within it.

10. Providing enriched learning environments for all of God’s children is a moral imperative. We look for political leaders who advocate for equal educational opportunity and abundant funding for children’s services.

Finally, our religious tradition admonishes us not to bear false witness against our neighbor and to love our enemies. We ask that the campaigns of political candidates and the coverage of the media in this election season be conducted according to principles of fairness, honesty and integrity.

These principles were developed buy the National Council of Churches USA’s Justice and Advocacy Commission and approved by the NCC’s Executive Committee.




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For more information, visit www.ncccusa.org, or write the National Council of Churches USA, Attn: Justice and Advocacy Commission, 110 Maryland Ave. N.E., Washington, DC 20002, 202-544-2350.

Group Study Guide

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Jazz Cafe at Gospel Impact Radio







Psalm 139.3 Though searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with
all my ways.
This is your omnipotent savior and redeemer brought to you in the form of His
gracious salvation.

Psalm 32.8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel
you with my eye upon you

We need to know the spirit in our lives. Yes there is a creator. Have you
discovered your heavenly father? Religion is something that most people in the world
participate in. The three major world religions are Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism.

Proverbs 2.3-5 Making your ear attentive to wisdom

Listen and read the bible daily. Wisdom calls out and will be heard. What we must realize is that only those asking to hear will be able to listen. How do we contact the holy of holies? We take our time and go to the father in prayer.

Does God have a plan for our lives?

What should I do to find out what God has planned for me?

I John 5.15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have
obtained the requests made of him.

What are we doing about material culture. Do we need a new car? All the while
knowing that we are barely making payments on the used car that we now have.
Which works perfectly well. God does have a plan for us, to live an abundant and fruitful life within his glorious domain; following his plan of righteousness. Seek God and the way will be found, where you become acquainted and know peace.

Jeremiah 29.11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare
and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

God's will for each of our lives. That is the good news. To be involved and part of our soul salvation. Not to be apart from the heavenly father. Man broke the law and we received the precious communion of His only Son our savior Jesus Christ; so that we may live and come to know loving kindness and righteousness.

That one true being is the LORD, God almighty. The greatest virtue of all is love. Learn to love and you have began to know and understand the meaning of his presence. Love is kind, patient and forgiving of others we disdain. Love your enemy, for when you do acceptance and tolerance begins within your soul. We can dislike a person and still recognize that they are apart from our spiritual reality. The responsiblity we have is to show the way to redemption.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Coming to America.....

Obama's grandmother is watching the primaries also from Kogelo, Kenya. She is second principle wife of Obama's grandfather who became and took the muslim name Hussein. Obama and his grandmother have translators when they talk. That is great she being 86years old and keeping track of the election.
There will be a primary in Wyoming Saturday March 08, wellspring to Obama and hope to Clinton has been the say so of voters here in this United States. John McCain will lead the Republican party to another term of war in Iraq. So it seems that bringing a military base to Iraq is somehow easier than a war. I didn't care for the war, however I felt it must be necessary. Now, I want the leadership to get us out of Iraq befor the economic's begin to destroy our country.
Prayer: Lift holy hands in the name of LORD and savior Jesus Christ. God we ask that we make good decisions in times of need and make better choices for the benefit of all. Protect our leaders and show them in the ways of righteousness; where justice leads to caring for our neighbors as a priority and right relationship with the creator and humanity. Amen!

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Black Women in America!

The African American woman is challenged to make great relatinship decisions. The pool of suitable males in her own race is dwindling or near non existent unless she accepts something. Ritual of Understanding comes into play when we become determined to engage in relationship's that may lead to a family. Intellectual compaionship is an assets that a partner is expected to possess. Have you ever been in contact with a learned man? Such a person whom you speak with that engages you in conversation and awareness that your togetherness is special. Must this type of person be a docotr of medicine or of the arts and sciences? Which idea is compulsive imagination or necessity? Then there comes the rennaisance man, the ideal Africanist who is willing and able to provide and teach his children the meaning of community. There are these guys out there, we just have to find them. What that means is to be happy in our relations we need to be actively promoting love and peace. Tolerance is the key word in relationship's, where another is accepted for who and what they are. I'm not saying that we must accept faults blindly; we must improve what we want to be better. Likewise we are not a doormat, we are sensitive individuals who care to bond in the heavenly places.
Sometime's we feel doubt within ourselves as to whether or not we are capable of sustaining a relationship. We do need to reflect and remember that Eve came to Adam so that he need not be alone. So stress less on the idea of self and more on the ideal of harmony in marriage and there is the victory. Feel justified in career life and family as a economic reality inside the 21st century school. What experience has taught us is that creating families and sustaining them no matter what is the right thing to do. Similarly others are happier than this group or that crowd. What we need to focus on is that each of us is speacial and when we do our part, this will change the statistic of the one parent family. When children don't notice there are two parent families very much, then the status quo is placed on a very limited bell curve. The US population is not about to become a polygny portal any way soon. Case studies abound where women need to stop sharing that man and respect themself and their child and find happiness with someone who is more mature. I really believe that persona is a greedy person that can not settle for himself one way or another. Be justified in the realization that his capability is limited, do not make yourself limited to possibilities. That type of Black male has done nothing less than perpetuate institutional discrimination against his sister companion.
Nightly News Special Report: Redefining Black Families


GAZA

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