Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Ask God -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DLL who wrote (15425)	5/9/1998 6:33:00 PM
From: O'Hara	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 39621

Hi Donald,How about the liberty to worship traditionally? Forgive me but I don't understand your question? ____________ ____________ Please let me know if I offend you or anyone. You have asked this question numerous times and I for one certainly have nothing to be offended about. Again I just don't know what you are referring to in specific, please forgive my ignorance. Donald,does your rabbi allow the people in his congregation to wear crosses? The reason I am asking is because we started to attend a messianic congregation some time last year. We thought we would enjoy it tremendously. On our second visit we noticed that an acquaintance of ours was putting on his cross when he got outside. I thought it fell off, and so I said to him that is a beautiful cross, better not put it back on until you get the chain fixed. He told me there was nothing wrong with the chain. He said that the rabbi told the congregation that they shouldn't wear crosses of any kind, no rings, no chains, and especially no earrings. The rabbi said the cross would be offensive to the the jewish non-believers who also attended. Most male Jewish believers and non-believers attended in yarmulkes, shawls, and special prayer books. The men stood in the corners rocking back and forth during most of the service. They told us that this was the traditional way to worship God. The star of David was worn by most of the congregation unbelievers and believers alike. When asked, the rabbi said that there was no clear origin of this charm, so I researched it and he was basically right, except there was some evidence that it was first used in a synagogue 1800 yrs. ago. (Other references connected it with some spell casters and some other unsavory practices)..but who really knows? . They also said that it probably had no connection at all to King David. They said that what they did find was that between 1300 and 1700 Jewish mystics (kabbalists) used the term Shield of David usually in connection with discussions about magic. In 17th century Prague it first appeared on the official seal of the community and on printed paper. In 1897 it was adopted by the first Zionist Congress as it's symbol, and in 1948 it became the central figure in the flag of the new state of Israel....all of this info I got from a book called, The Jewish Book of Why....pretty interesting The readings were always from the OT only. We were told that all synagogues around the world would be reading from the same book, and scriptures on the same day. This is tradition. The book and scriptures to be read, are plotted out yrs.in advance. We stopped going to that congregation after the second time. They also paid strict observance to the kosher laws. It was Resurrection season and they were having a big gathering of people and food. We asked if we should bring a dish, and the rabbi asked, "are you Jewish and do you observe kosher laws"? Of course we answered no to both questions,(The closest we get to that is, we eat knishes and enjoy matzo ball soup, and some falafil)... the rabbi proceeded to tell us that they were catering it from a jewish deli, in order to assure the people that everything was kosher. The rabbi taught that his way of worshipping and observing kosher laws the true traditional way. They observed many Jewish traditions and laws. We then started going to another messianic congregation, where crosses were not banned, but also were not encouraged, and they said so. The two pastors did not refer to themselves as rabbi, although they are Jewish. They were both kind and quite gregarious fellows. The congregation had many wonderful people who attended and most of the Jewish believers also called themselves Christians. The praise and worship there was truly beautiful. We attended for about 2 months and,was sincerely enjoying the fellowship, but then we began to hear doctrine that was quite contrary to scripture, and because we were not yet members decided it was not our place to question their beliefs, so we just quietly left. We enjoyed the praise and worship so much we bought some really great CDs in a Christian book store...We listen to them quite often. Don't know if you have any but if you don't I am sure you would enjoy them, here are a few. 1.Sing and Rejoice....Maranatha 2.Under His Wings....This one is ACapella by Johanthan Settel 3.Messianic Praise...Hosanna Music 4.Up to Zion....Hosanna Music 5.America's 25 Best Messianic Songs...Hosanna Music These CDs are wonderful praise and worship for all of those who call Jesus their Lord and Saviour....Try em, you'll like em. But my all time favorite CD is called "Fill this Temple" which is not messianic, It is done by a 75 person choir. Really magnificent hymns. Hope I didn't bore you with all this....It was kind of long winded..<gg> Have a blessed day. Love in our Lord Jesus the Christ Shalom...><>