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The notion that the continued presence of Anglicized names of Biblical figures into English translations of the Bible is driven primarily by conservative politics not only plays into the (discredited and arguably racist) Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, but is easily disproven by Messianic Jewish translation which re-Hebraicize the names and are used by primarily by political conservatives.
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If you’re celebrities that love the weather
Catch me like the wind.
As the saying goes,
“Caught wind of him…”
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I just saw the guy who raped me in college in my favorite bagel spot. I want to throw up. I accidentally parked near him but as soon as I saw that truck I wanted to scream.
I should’ve left but I didn’t. I sat in my car paralyzed. He knocked on my window. I rolled it down.
He said “I see you’ve gained some weight!”
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Keti Koti stadswandeling in Haarlem: eer het verzet tegen slavernij
Op 8 juli om 13 uur bij het Provinciehuis vindt er een belangrijke viering plaats in Haarlem ter ere van Keti Koti, de herdenking en viering van de afschaffing van de slavernij. De Communistische Jongerenbeweging van Nederland (CJB) organiseert een bijzonder evenement om het verzet tegen slavernij te eren en de onderbelichte verhalen te delen.
Keti Koti is een symbolische dag waarop de slavernij in het Nederlandse koloniale verleden wordt herdacht en de vrijheid wordt gevierd. Er zal aandacht worden besteed aan het verzet van inheemse volkeren in het Caribisch gebied, de strijd van Indonesiërs en de heldhaftige acties van tot slaaf gemaakte Afrikanen. Ook het verzet vanuit de arbeidersklasse tegen slavernij zal worden belicht. Deze verhalen tonen aan dat emancipatie wordt afgedwongen en niet wordt gegeven.
De CJB nodigt iedereen van harte uit om aanwezig te zijn bij dit belangrijke evenement. Het is een gelegenheid om te reflecteren op ons gedeelde verleden en om inspiratie te putten uit het verzet van destijds, voor de strijd voor een meer rechtvaardige wereld vandaag de dag.
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Hope deferred and the tree of life…
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
— Proverbs 13:12 | Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Cross References: proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 13:11; Proverbs 13:13; Revelation 2:7
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JAMES 1
1) From: Ya‘akov, a slave of God and of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah To: The Twelve Tribes in the Diaspora: Shalom !
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:1 CJB
2-3) Regard it all as joy, my brothers, when you face various kinds of temptations; for you know that the testing of your trust produces perseverance.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:2-3 CJB
Such a weird passage. While I may not personally take joy in the trials I face, I am to take a step back and look at my trials from the perspective of, “this is a growing experience.”
Often when we undergo trials we have character flaws that need to be worked out. Right now, my life trials have me working on patience, respect for others, and grace for those with whom I disagree.
4) But let perseverance do its complete work; so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:4 CJB
Facing trials builds up perseverance so that the next time we go through a similar trial, we have experience and can weather it better. Sometimes (if not all the time) it is better to go through a trial than to ask for deliverance from it.
5) Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:5 CJB
One thing God loves to give in abundance is wisdom, and it is free to us if we ask for it. Wisdom can be attained not just through prayer, but through diligent study and application of the Word.
6-8) But let him ask in trust, doubting nothing; for the doubter is like a wave in the sea being tossed and driven by the wind. Indeed that person should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord, because he is double-minded, unstable in all his ways.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:6-8 CJB
When we ask for wisdom, we need to ask with faith that it will be given to us. “Seek and ye shall find, ask and ye shall be given.” God does not want us to doubt Him either in terms of ability to grant us wisdom, nor in His desire to grant us wisdom.
9-11) Let the brother in humble circumstances boast about his high position. But let the rich brother boast about his being humbled; since, like a wildflower, he will pass away. For just as the sun rises with the sharav and dries up the plant, so that its flower falls off and its beauty is destroyed, so too the rich person going about his business will wither away.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:9-11 CJB
Not sure about the first part, but the second part is pretty clear. Everything fades away: wealth, power, and position. Enjoy it while you can but don’t boast about it because you could lose it all tomorrow.
12) How blessed is the man who perseveres through temptation! For after he has passed the test, he will receive as his crown the Life which God has promised to those who love him.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:12 CJB
Temptations and trials make us stronger. Sometimes we have to go through difficult things for God to get us where He wants us to be.
13) No one being tempted should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, and God himself tempts no one.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:13 CJB
God doesn’t tempt us, but He does allow us to be tempted.
14-16) Rather, each person is being tempted whenever he is being dragged off and enticed by the bait of his own desire. Then, having conceived, the desire gives birth to sin; and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. Don’t delude yourselves, my dear brothers.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:14-16 CJB
We are tempted based on our own desires. Everyone has their own selfish wants, and those wants give a foothold for temptation. Temptation itself is not bad. Temptation simply presents us with choices. Responding to the temptation by choosing sin is bad.
17) Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who made the heavenly lights; with him there is neither variation nor darkness caused by turning.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:17 CJB
God is constant. The phrase “darkness caused by turning” refers to heavenly bodies rotating, thus causing lighting on them to change. God is not like This. He is constant.
18) Having made his decision, he gave birth to us through a Word that can be relied upon, in order that we should be a kind of firstfruits of all that he created.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:18 CJB
God didn’t just create us and then adopt the attitude of, “well, you’re on your own now. Good luck!”
He gave us written instructions that like Him are unchanging and able to be relied upon.
19-20) Therefore, my dear brothers, let every person be quick to listen but slow to speak, slow to get angry; for a person’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness!
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:19-20 CJB
Listen more than you speak. When you speak, keep your speech succinct and to the point. Don’t respond with anger. God’s righteousness, correction and love can’t be seen when delivered through anger.
21-22) So rid yourselves of all vulgarity and obvious evil, and receive meekly the Word implanted in you that can save your lives. Don’t deceive yourselves by only hearing what the Word says, but do it!
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:21-22 CJB
It’s not enough for us to know Truth; we must also live it. If we have obvious sins, we need to rid ourselves of those first. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that knowing is enough. Salvation requires action.
23-24) For whoever hears the Word but doesn’t do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror, who looks at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:23-24 CJB
Knowing but not acting on what we know is worthless. Dangerous even.
25) But if a person looks closely into the perfect Torah , which gives freedom, and continues, becoming not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work it requires, then he will be blessed in what he does.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:25 CJB
When we are obedient to God and earnestly seek to honor and obey the Bible, our efforts will be blessed. “Seek and ye shall find.”
This is not an easy process. Verse 25 tells us to look closely when reading the Bible. Don’t read it just to read it.
26) Anyone who thinks he is religiously observant but does not control his tongue is deceiving himself, and his observance counts for nothing.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:26 CJB
Your actions identify you. There are so many people that believe they are saved, believe they are going to Heaven, believe they have a relationship with God. But if you have a true relationship with God, your actions will show it. You will be more like Him and less like you.
It literally says that person’s religion counts for nothing.
27) The religious observance that God the Father considers pure and faultless is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being contaminated by the world.
Ya'akov (Jas) 1:27 CJB
Wow. I have read before about pure religion being caring for others, specifically widows and orphans, but I’ve never read the part about not becoming contaminated by the world.
That hits me deep. That is my biggest struggle, and probably everyone’s biggest struggle. It’s so easy to be influenced by the world. TV, music, video games, movies, comics, books, Internet articles, youtube… we are constantly bombarded with distractions and contamination.
The bigger problem is that we not only allow ourselves to be contaminated by the world, but we run to it as a means of distraction and “healing” or “comfort” when we need it, rather than running toward God and seeking shelter in Him.
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1) Better to be poor and live one’s life uprightly than engage in crooked speech, for such a one is a fool.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:1 CJB
Better to be poor and righteous than to have money and be corrupt.
2) To act without knowing how you function is not good; and if you rush ahead, you will miss your goal.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:2 CJB
Don’t be hasty; be intentional with your time and plan wisely.
3) A person’s own folly is what ruins his way, but he rages in his heart against Adonai .
Mishlei (Pro) 19:3 CJB
Be careful before you blame God for bad things that happen to you; our choices have consequences and can lead to our own destruction. God may love and protect us, but He also allows us to make our own choices, and our choices don’t always have positive consequences.
4) Wealth brings in many friends, but the poor man loses the one friend he has.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:4 CJB
Money attracts people, but are those people there for you, or your wealth?
5) A false witness will not go unpunished; whoever breathes out lies will not escape.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:5 CJB
God really hates lying, especially bearing false witness against someone else, and it will not go unpunished
6) Many ask favors of a generous person — to a giver of gifts, everyone is a friend.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:6 CJB
Generous people are often taken advantage of, but no one hates generous people.
7) A poor man’s relatives all hate him; even more his friends stay away from him. He may pursue them with entreaties, but they aren’t there to be found.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:7 CJB
Life is rough for those that are monetarily poor.
While we are not to seek wealth specifically, we do need to be able to provide for our families. People get tired of being asked for handouts and will avoid people who continually ask for them.
8) To acquire good sense is to love oneself; to treasure discernment is to prosper.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:8 CJB
Wisdom and discernment are valuable.
9) A false witness will not go unpunished; whoever breathes out lies will perish.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:9 CJB
Again, God really hates lying.
10) It isn’t fitting for a fool to live in luxury, and even less for a slave to govern princes.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:10 CJB
Prosperity is difficult for wise men to not be corrupted by, therefore how much more a struggle for a fool to not become corrupted.
This verse does not serve to push for keeping servants in servitude, it is saying that is not for ignorant men to rule over wiser men.
11) People with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offense.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:11 CJB
Be slow to anger and quick to forgive. Let it go.
12) A king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:12 CJB
An angry leader/boss/etc can bring destruction upon you, but being in their favor brings peace. This doesn’t mean to suck up to them, rather, do your job to the best of your ability. It will be difficult for them not to find favor with you.
13) A son who is a fool is his father’s ruin, and a nagging wife is like a leak that keeps dripping.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:13 CJB
As a parent, our goal is to raise self-sufficient children that can not only take care of themselves, but others. If we raise children that are unable to do that, it will feel like failure.
No one likes to be nagged. Wives, say it once and let it be. Husbands, pay attention and make it a priority to fix the kitchen sink when she asks you the first time.
14) A house and wealth are inherited from ancestors, but a sensible wife is from Adonai .
Mishlei (Pro) 19:14 CJB
Inheritance is great, but a wife that has wisdom, discernment and grace is better. Thank God for her.
15) Laziness makes people fall asleep, and an idle person will go hungry.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:15 CJB
You don’t work, you don’t eat. “Falling asleep” can also refer to closing your eyes and not seeing things that happen around you; not being aware and on guard. Becoming complacent.
16) He who keeps a mitzvah keeps himself safe, but he who doesn’t care how he lives will die.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:16 CJB
Mitzvah = commandment commanded by God
God has rules in place in order to keep us safe, not to limit us. His plan isn’t to remove happiness and joy from our lives but to give us the most fulfilling lives possible. He who lives with no rules or restrictions will come to destruction.
17) He who is kind to the poor is lending to Adonai ; and he will repay him for his good deed.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:17 CJB
As Christ said, “whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me.” God repays kindness and compassion-it doesn’t go overlooked
18) Discipline your child while there is hope, but don’t get so angry that you kill him!
Mishlei (Pro) 19:18 CJB
Discipline = guide, correct, lead, teach
Teach your children right from wrong while you have influence over them. Correct them when they make mistakes, but do not physically abuse them. Physical correction may be necessary, but should not be done in anger so you don’t begin to abuse them.
19) A violent-tempered person will be punished; if you try to save him from it, you make things worse.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:19 CJB
Violent-tempered individuals make choices out of anger that often result in misfortune for themselves. If you try to shield them from the consequences of their actions, you reinforce and encourage their behavior, potentially making it worse than before.
20) Listen to advice, and accept discipline, so that in the end you will be wise.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:20 CJB
Don’t be proud and ignore sage advice from others with wisdom. Don’t be butt-hurt when you are corrected, take correction in stride, learn from it, apply it appropriately.
21) One can devise many plans in one’s mind, but Adonai ’s plan will prevail.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:21 CJB
We can make all the plans for our life that we want, but in the end God will get you where He wants you to be. Read Jonah.
22) A man’s lust is his shame, and a poor man is better than a liar.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:22 CJB
While this talks specifically about sexual lust, it can apply to lust for wealth, power, attention, etc.
Better to be poor and honest than rich and a known liar.
23) The fear of Adonai leads to life; one who has it is satisfied and rests untouched by evil.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:23 CJB
One who respects God and lives by His commandments can rest easy; God will bless him.
24) The lazy person buries his hand in the dish but doesn’t even bother to bring it to his mouth.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:24 CJB
This passage talks about someone that is literally too lazy to feed themselves (possibly expecting a servant to feed them). This can also be applied to our reliance on modern conveniences, smart devices, etc. Don’t give in to the trap of sloth. Just because you can automate something doesn’t necessarily mean you should.
25) If you strike a scorner, the simple will learn to act wisely; if you reprove the intelligent, he will understand what you mean.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:25 CJB
Correcting a scorner may not change them or do them any good, but other witnessing it may learn from the correction and apply it to themselves.
Those who understand the correction need only verbal reminders to heed the correction; they don’t need as severe a punishment as the scorner.
26) One who mistreats his father and evicts his mother is a son who brings them shame and disgrace.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:26 CJB
Respect your parents. They may not always “deserve” respect, but respect them anyway. Disrespecting them brings shame on yourself.
27) My son, if you stop heeding discipline, you will stray from the principles of knowledge.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:27 CJB
Receiving and applying discipline from the spiritually wise builds knowledge and character.
28) A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked swallows wrongdoing.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:28 CJB
A worthless witness has no respect for God, laws, or other people and will say whatever they have to in order to avoid trouble, consequence, etc.
The wicked man thrives on sin and wrongdoing (devours with his mouth).
29) Judgments are in store for scorners and blows for the backs of fools.
Mishlei (Pro) 19:29 CJB
Scorners (those who know wrong and do it anyway) will receive their judgment from God.
Fools will receive discipline and be given the chance to learn from their mistakes.
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1-2) So imitate God, as his dear children; and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance.
Ephesians (Eph) 5:1-2 CJB
“Love as the Messiah loved us… on our behalf gave Himself up as an offering… a slaughtered sacrifice to God…”
That’s deep. Like, immensely deep. Jesus loved us so much that he died for us, and in return we are called to love others with the same intensity and willingness.
In this specific passage Paul may be speaking specifically about loving those of the Church body, but he may also be speaking in general about loving everybody. In my mind it would make more sense to be talking about loving everybody because that’s what Christ did.
That’s hard. I have a hard time having civil thoughts toward my next-door neighbor most of the time. They are definitely not people I would jump at the chance to die for, yet it seems that is what we are called to do.
3-4) Among you there should not even be mentioned sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or greed; these are utterly inappropriate for God’s holy people. Also out of place are obscenity and stupid talk or coarse language; instead, you should be giving thanks.
Ephesians (Eph) 5:3-4 CJB
We are called to live a higher moral standard than the rest of the world. We are to keep ourselves morally clean, inside and out.
Not only should we seek to abstain from immoral actions, but (according to verse four) we need to have positive attitudes. Instead of obscenity, foul language, and sarcasm we should be giving thanks to God. It’s difficult to maintain a bad attitude when you are thanking God.
5) For of this you can be sure: every sexually immoral, impure or greedy person — that is, every idol-worshipper — has no share in the Kingdom of the Messiah and of God.
Ephesians (Eph) 5:5 CJB
This goes hand-in-hand with the notion that while our good works are not enough to earn us Salvation, our actions do matter. We all make mistakes and sin repeatedly. While our day-to-day sin screw ups may not remove us from His hand, have we chosen to stay in His hand if we chose lifestyles of sin? If we truly have been transformed by and are in relationship with Him, would our actions and lifestyles not reflect that? Would we not strive to live the most holy and righteous lifestyles possible in order to please and honor Him?
6-7) Let no one deceive you with empty talk; for it is because of these things that God’s judgment is coming on those who disobey him. So don’t become partners with them!
Ephesians (Eph) 5:6-7 CJB
According to BibleStudyTools.com, “empty talk” refers to “vain philosophy and vain babblings,” and not to allow yourself to believe others when they try to convince you that greed, sexual immorality and other impurites are “small sins” or “not really sins.” This is the way the world thinks and it is dangerous.
I have many friends who live in worldliness and this is their ideology, and it can be easy to slip into agreement with them. Verse 8 tells us not to be close to them; closeness allows influence.
8-10) For you used to be darkness; but now, united with the Lord, you are light. Live like children of light, for the fruit of the light is in every kind of goodness, rightness and truth — try to determine what will please the Lord.
Ephesians (Eph) 5:8-10 CJB
Not only are we born into sin, but most (if not all) of us have background in sin. We were once of the world, but Christ came in order to separate and set us apart from the world. He brought us into the light. We are to reflect His light by living in righteousness. We are to live lives that please God.
11-14) Have nothing to do with the deeds produced by darkness, but instead expose them, for it is shameful even to speak of the things these people do in secret. But everything exposed to the light is revealed clearly for what it is, since anything revealed is a light. This is why it says, “Get up, sleeper! Arise from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you!”
Ephesians (Eph) 5:11-14 CJB
Again, we are set apart. We are called to live righteously in the light, not to partake in the darkness of sin.
15-17) Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely. Use your time well, for these are evil days. So don’t be foolish, but try to understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians (Eph) 5:15-17 CJB
Live intentionally, don’t just let life happen to you. Make the most of your time both in terms of personal satisfaction and spiritual effectiveness (which will bring personal satisfaction).
18-20) Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit — sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other; sing to the Lord and make music in your heart to him; always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
Ephesians (Eph) 5:18-20 CJB
Some people turn to alcohol to make themselves feel better or as a way to cope with stress and the events of life, but alcohol has detrimental effects on us and causes us to lose self-control.
A more effective and healthy way to cope with stress and life events is to praise God. It’s very difficult to continue to feel negatively when we are praising Him, and praise brings us closer to Him which in turn lifts our spirits.
21-24) Submit to one another in fear of the Messiah. Wives should submit to their husbands as they do to the Lord; because the husband is head of the wife, just as the Messiah, as head of the Messianic Community, is himself the one who keeps the body safe. Just as the Messianic Community submits to the Messiah, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Ephesians (Eph) 5:21-24 CJB
Submitting does not mean making yourself a doormat. Submitting to one’s husband means when it comes to decisions, he has the final say. This does not make the wife’s perspective or opinion invalid. The husband is head of the family, and thus ultimately is held responsible and accountable for familial decisions.
25-27) As for husbands, love your wives, just as the Messiah loved the Messianic Community, indeed, gave himself up on its behalf, in order to set it apart for God, making it clean through immersion in the mikveh , so to speak, in order to present the Messianic Community to himself as a bride to be proud of, without a spot, wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without defect.
Ephesians (Eph) 5:25-27 CJB
Mikveh = a bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion to achieve ritual purity
Husbands are to not only love but to cherish their wives. They are to treat wives the way Christ treats the Church; He gave His life for the Church in the most horrendous way. Likewise, husbands are to love their wives with the same fervor and commitment.
28-30) This is how husbands ought to love their wives — like their own bodies; for the man who loves his wife is loving himself. Why, no one ever hated his own flesh! On the contrary, he feeds it well and takes care of it, just as the Messiah does the Messianic Community, because we are parts of his Body.
Ephesians (Eph) 5:28-30 CJB
Husbands are to love their wives as they love themselves; as equals, not as subordinates.
31-33) “Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and remain with his wife, and the two will become one.” There is profound truth hidden here, which I say concerns the Messiah and the Messianic Community. However, the text also applies to each of you individually: let each man love his wife as he does himself, and see that the wife respects her husband.
Ephesians (Eph) 5:31-33 CJB