This is from an email by Keren Hannah Pryor regarding our study of Pirkei Avot, an ancient Jewish book of ethics and wisdom. I love our study of this book!
Continue reading
Tag Archives: Forgiveness
Balance Between Confrontation & Withdrawal
This is a wonderful article that Keren Hannah Pryor shared in our Pirkei Avot group:
Finding the Balance between Confrontation & Withdrawal
Rabbi Simcha Feuerman
Continue reading
Loving the Sinner…
Ugh, I have not been able to get on to this blog to write. Sometimes life is busy, and there is only so many hours in a day.
Continue reading
Fencing vs. Swordfighting
Someone shared this on their Facebook page today. Looks like we are right in the middle of the sixteen-year-old “My Mom is so annoying.” I can’t wait to reach 25 years and hear him say, “Mom, you were right.”
Ugh, I so hate when teenagers get “snarky,” which means “critical; cutting; testy.” JJ’s snarkiness has been like Michigan weather. In Michigan, we can go for days and weeks without seeing the sun because the Lakes are cloud-makers and they hold the clouds over our state. We are used to it, although too many sunless days can get very tiresome.
How We See
I’ve learned a lot about Greek and Hebraic thinking in recent years. I know, I know, I have written about it quite a bit, but it really does affect many things, ranging from our belief about God and Scripture to life and to teaching a teenage son. One aspect of Greek thinking is that two opposite things can’t both be true–if Thing A is true then Thing B is false. Greek thinking has resulted in many church debates and denominational splits over the centuries as people argue(d) about things like “Does God choose us OR do we choose God?” or “Is God sovereign OR do we have free will?” “They can’t both be true!” Hebrew thinking, on the other hand, believes that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than our ways and there is room for mystery. Two seemingly opposite things can both be true. God chooses us AND we choose Him. God is sovereign AND we have free will. The Jews believe “these, also, are the words of God.”
Through Different Eyes
I have a teen.
Eagle, Mouse, and Ethics
All through the day today I thought about what I would write in my blog when I had the opportunity.
Acknowledge & Accept
One of my favorite books that we are reading in our homeschool is The Book of Jewish Values – A Day-by-Day Guide to Ethical Living by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. The book has taught us a lot, caused us to pondering many things, and has resulted in some interesting discussions. I HIGHLY recommend this book. Today’s reading went along with what I have been writing lately about repentance and forgiveness, so I’d like to share it:
Measure for Measure
This last week has been busy, and I have been pondering this topic, so I have not written.
In school this year, JJ and I are studying American Government and Biblical laws. The books we are using are Basic American Government, Biblical Case Law, and Tools of Dominion – The Case Laws of Exodus. I do not like particularly the title of Tools of Dominion, but it is actually a very interesting book that has caused me to ponder things that I’ve never considered before, including matters related to repentance and forgiveness. I’d like to share some of the things the book says.
Rebuilding Boundaries
Whenever I have contact with my Mom/family, I go through a cycle over and over again. With each contact, I have to re-work through what I already worked through before. Maybe some day I will hold firm to it. the cycle is:
