Revisiting the Shemitah Judgment

The completion of the Shemitah has occurred without too much of a disruption.  I have not published a post for some time due to other obligations but wanted to post on this subject. 


Various notable events in history have occurred during the Shemitah.  It has been proposed by some that a major judgment occurs during this year. In a post, that I posted last year I suggested judgment may occur during this year because of a lack understanding and misapplying its purpose.  Perhaps judgment was held off this last year because of considering the seventh year of debt release.  Perhaps several congregations have dropped their unscriptural teaching of the continual annual tithing and repented. Perhaps some creditors became soft on insisting debts to be paid.  I am sure that things like this did occur.  Wouldn't it be possible that a discipline to occur on me if I held a debt over a brother in a Shemitah year?  Perhaps by some with understanding repented and held off a major judgment. Something to think about.


And by the way there was something major that did occur, the stock market averages incurred a significant drop of 9.75% in the last three months of the Shemitah.

Why Not Pray in Joshua's name then?

I know that I may be getting technical here but humor me if you are one of the slim few that happen to visit this blog. I have a question.   Why is that English speaking people do not use the name, Joshua, when praying to Jesus?  Just follow me on this,  the typical argument in this is that perhaps I am being too technical in this endeavor and request but if this is the case then I would have asked why we don't pray in the Hebrew name of Christ, Yeshua, that is. To go on a bit further, you don't hear Spanish speaking people saying Jesus but rather the name that is closer to the Latin form for Jesus.  So again,  why do English speaking people don't use the English form of Jesus, Joshua, and instead use the Greek form.  I will close this post on a final note on this and I think that this may please those who read this post.  The meaning of His name means, "salvation" and that although I do pray to Him addressed in Greek at times, I do use at times use the Hebrew form. Above all, Jesus saves.

The Marathon of Life

As the Apostle Paul engages in explaining discipling concerning Hebraic things to Greeks, he brings up what I believe is the most beautiful segue into a matter relevance for them.  As a marathon was a major celebration for the Greeks to watch and be a part of, Paul uses this analogy of the marathon to provide a platform to live out the Christian life.  As the course of this life can be long so is a marathon.  Also, the use of the marathon designates the idea of getting into motion not a static position.  It also designates an idea for a runner to carefully pace themselves so as to not ware out to quickly and to give careful prudence to the course of action that they need to take in order to finish strong.  I have to admit that in being deeply enriched of the Hebraic Roots movement, I must not lose sight of life's marathon and to give careful consideration course I need to take in ministry and life in that grace Christ gives for motion and running it out.


The illustration of the marathon is one of motion where the rewards on at the end not during the present course of a race.  It avoids the inclination of seeking any type of celebrity status presently,  Also, as the writer of Hebrews also points out about the cloud of witnesses where the runner is to remember of those who have gone before and have finished the race by faith. There is such inspiration in doing this during the difficult times of life's marathon.   The link to the video below illustrates this well. 

Concerning Christ on Planks and Splinters, It's Not Quite What You See

Something to consider when Jesus makes the statement on judging "the splinter in a bother's eye and ignoring the plank in our own eye."  The illustration is not quite what may a Calvinist maybe actually observing concerning one's own depravity and needs some clarification.  In considering the passage, Jesus does not use dirt or mud indicating that this is about personal sins or uncleanliness. He does not use any type of illustration of examining innate personal sins before examining a brother's sins. Actually, by a careful examination of illustration, the lesson is in about examining a brother's contribution toward another brother's sins.  To make the point further, ever get a splinter in your hand?  You have to brush up against another piece of wood or plank.   They don't casually occur.  


As Christ constantly clarifies matters concerning the Torah, he makes the point clear concerning Torah as well, "be careful in judging a brother's behavior, when you may actually contributed in this."  To paraphrase, if one examines the source in their own life then they will be able to clear up the matter.  Furthermore, it does not mean that in ALL situations the source is you either.  Jesus constantly dealt with Torah matters to bring clarity.  There was no eradication or only two laws governing Christians.   For examine, I can't declare that just because I am hard with myself that I can be hard in expectations toward others.  I need to examine my demeanor that may have provoked the matter.