Posts tagged: Addiction

This week (May 26) on Shabbat Night Live, it’s difficult to truly understand Yeshua’s love without understanding what it means to be adopted — to have all the rights, privileges, and freedoms of a member of a family that we don’t belong to.

Rodney Thompson helps us grasp what it means to be grafted in by sharing his own story of being forgiven and brought into the family of YeHoVaH.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section, and let’s get some discussion going!

1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 14:00) How can the prophecy in Malachi 4:4 be viewed as a relevant, if not ominous, warning to both believers and skeptics in our contemporary world? Are there any legitimate latter-day Elijahs who have provided us with convincing evidence from scripture that anticipates our need for urgent repentance and reform before we invoke the wrath of YeHoVaH?
2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 18:00) Similarly, why is the imperative construction of this verse – “Remember the Law of Moses” – particularly applicable to both the faithful and the lukewarm in light of today’s culture of death and the material avarice which sustains it? Is it fair to state that our world has reached a point of spiritual ignorance that is more dangerous than forgetfulness or outright rejection?
3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 22:00) How can the current state of affairs regarding faith and spirituality in a hostile world be viewed as a result of the refusal to recognize the continuity between the narratives of Moses and Yeshua as a standard that must be followed? How do many current pop hymns like those of Marty Haugen or Dan Schutte express an egalitarianism that essentially rejects the notion of “following the rules of the house” with regard to sin? 
4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 26:00) While controversies over the “true meaning of Christmas” are likely to continue between secular materialists and believers, Easter has seemingly taken on a more threatening aspect for the forces of agnosticism and unbelief in our Western world.  Why has this holiday been so aggressively criticized over the past decade by advocates of atheism and even vulgarized toward children by powerful commercial interests?
5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 30:00) Similarly, how has our society become decadent by failing to recognize the notion of adoption as a valid social practice that ultimately derives from the divine premise of the faithful as YeHoVaH’s children? Why has the evil practice of abortion become so insistently promoted as the sole alternative to unwanted pregnancy?  And how does this represent Satan’s campaign of destruction toward the intact family?
6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 35:00) What are some examples of a latter-day recognition and rejection of syncretism throughout the Christian world? How does this coincide with revelations of financial and sexual corruption among many clergy or denominational figureheads?  Is this likely to remain a short-lived, reactionary phenomenon, or is this a manifestation of a genuine and widespread search for truth among seekers of salvation?
7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 38:00) Similarly, how does syncretism reflect our fallen human weakness for pagan influence in worship and belief? How can the practices described here be tenably viewed as our own unwitting attempt to unify and reconcile large groups of antithetical forms of worship in our evangelism rather than to demarcate and adhere to a formidable standard that challenges the vague conceit of a diverse and permissive religion for all peoples?
8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 42:00) What are some typical examples of the “Jonah Complex” in the experiences of many believers who face stubborn dilemmas in their evangelism and faith lives? How does YeHoVaH often challenge us with unexpected evil that we must confront, or compel us to recognize our own failures of discernment with his seeming silence?  How has Jonah become an enduring exemplar of the renewal of faith following persecution?
9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 46:00) How do the closing verses of Galatians 5 constitute a similar challenge to all who accept and profess the truth of Yeshua, especially in a world that is increasingly fraught with narcissism, division, and threats to personal freedom? How is the cultivation of self-control a particularly significant virtue as part of an apostolate?  How does its absence serve to exemplify a failure to “walk in the Spirit” rather than pay mere lip service?
10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 50:00) What are some contemporary examples within both faith communities and the greater world of the remnant influence of the Law of Moses, even among those citizens and subjects who profess no ethnic, cultural, or spiritual affinity with the Hebrews?  How does this suggest a yearning, however inarticulate, for a transcendent standard amid a global environment that is increasingly hostile to the notion of such intangible concerns as spirituality?

This week (May 19) on Shabbat Night Live, YeHoVaH has always guided us and protected us — even while we strayed from him. That’s the realization that Rodney Thompson had after being arrested and committed to a mental hospital.

In this episode, in his own words, you will hear why Rodney felt he “deserved hell” but was spared thanks to the obedience of Yeshua’s servants.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section, and let’s get some discussion going!

1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 16:00) As noted previously, a private epiphany is often the most representative expression of YeHoVaH’s will in our lives. How does our exercise of free will to the point of our own degradation serve to impact our conscience in a more significant way than outside efforts such as rehabilitation or family pressure, however well-intentioned?
2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) Similarly, how do benevolent but superficial gestures like the slogan, “Relax, God has a plan” tend to trivialize the subtle truth of private revelation? How do these experiences in the lives of believers dramatize both divine grace and the unavoidability of recognizing and following Yeshua as Messiah, as illustrated by Peter’s testimony?
3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) How does this testimony reflect the challenge for the faithful that is offered by the parable of the Good Samaritan? How must we face the inherent risk of generosity toward others as exemplified by Yeshua’s words and by John the disciple’s reminder to “love one another” in light of our inherent human weakness regarding our choice between good and evil? 
4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) Similarly, how does the experience of conversion recounted here dramatize the difficulty of responding to the promptings of YeHoVaH in light of our own level of spiritual formation, however flawed? How do the words of Jeremiah 16:19 regarding false received wisdom remind us of the need for discernment between the truth and the influence of human conceits?
5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) How is the gift of evangelism often perceived unimaginatively as an elusive or pedestrian gesture, one that must be relegated to private devotion or professional activity by members of the clergy? What are some contemporary examples of individuals who have responded to the “great commission” (Matthew 28:16-20) in their diverse professional capacities as lay apostles?
6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 37:00) How does 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 pose a challenge to all believers with respect to obedience and the imperative to evangelize? How must the faithful attempt to negotiate their engagement with unbelievers and even heretics without becoming vulnerable to the temptations of idolatry or unclean practices?  How does this recall Yeshua’s gesture of dining with sinners in three gospel accounts?
7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 41:00) How does the providential meeting between Abraham’s servant and Rebekah in Genesis 24 dramatize the importance of marriage in YeHoVaH’s plan for our salvation and its influence in the complex process of evangelization? Why is the phenomenon of conversion within marriage so often overlooked as a divinely-inspired example of conveying truth and bolstering unity within families?
8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 45:00) How must an individual who has accepted the call of YeHoVaH also answer for his past misdeeds in this earthly life without compromising either his faith in redemption or his debt to society? How does the unexpected return of the “badde peny” as described in Langland’s 14^th-century homily in Piers Plowman compel us to keep our sins in perspective as we cultivate a lifestyle that is predicated on obedience?
9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 49:00) Similarly, how does the example of out-of-court settlements for serious crimes demonstrate the power of forgiveness as well as the inherent limitations of legalism? How must believers be willing to “render unto Caesar” while still recognizing both the prospect of unexpected grace and the need for avoiding deception and self-serving testimony?
10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 55:00) How does the reference to Elijah in Malachi 4:4-6 serve to remind the faithful of the example of this largely overlooked prophet with regard to his presence in the final judgement? How does his defense against Baal worship and his suffering while fleeing from Ahab serve to dramatize our experience as mortals who must endure trials while avoiding temptation toward paganism and remaining obedient to the commands of YeHoVaH?

This week (May 12) on Shabbat Night Live, Rodney Thompson knows what it means to be addicted. He started using drugs as a teen, but it didn’t stop there. His habit turned into an addiction he couldn’t escape.

This episode is an especially powerful lesson for parents and relatives of someone trapped in addiction.

Watch the episode — included on this blog post.

While you watch, consider the questions below. The timeline for each discussion topic in the video is noted on each question. Post your answers in the comments section and let’s get some discussion going!

1. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 16:00) Why are so many believers reluctant to recognize the will of YeHoVaH in personal experiences that might seem circumstantial or even trivial in their individual apostolates? How might more seekers of salvation be able to develop their spirituality through the example of Elijah, who discerned the divine presence in the “still small voice” that followed the wind, the earthquake, and the fire (1 Kings 19:12)?
2. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 20:00) How does the “orphan spirit” resonate with the fundamental ethos of our opportunity to follow YeHoVaH? How has its potential for an orientation toward sin and self-destruction tended to overshadow its affirmative challenge to obey the divine law by turning from sin and recognizing the range of meaning in Yeshua’s claim to bring “not peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34) into the lives of his followers?
3. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 24:00) How can many contemporary social ills be attributed to the failure of many fathers to discern the true nature of their influence in family life? How does the exploitation of authority in the form of domestic bullying and verbal abuse potentially allow for the insinuation of the demonic, as indicated in Colossians 3:21’s exhortation against fathers discouraging their children? 
4. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 28:00) Similarly, how can the influence of the demonic be discerned in the prevalence and range of addiction in virtually every present-day socioeconomic level? Has this presence been the result of a decadent search for novelty by affluent individuals, or have we allowed our materialism to deprive us of our divinely-given ability to make choices based on the knowledge of good and evil?
5. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 32:00) If indeed such institutions as rehabilitation centers and the pharmacology industry may be viewed as false gods by those believers who are suffering from addiction, how does this support the notion of substance abuse as a tool of Satan? How has the widespread advocacy of prescription medication in schools served to encourage dependency and the rationalization of questionable lifestyle choices within families?
6. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 38:00) Similarly, how has the phenomenon of opiate addiction among citizens who lead otherwise conservative or abstemious lifestyles served to demonstrate our essential vulnerability as human beings and our need for vigilance against temptation? Have we unwittingly lost a crucial measure of self-control in our dependence upon medication, despite its identity as a means of ensuring health and longevity?
7. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 42:00) Can the advent of crack cocaine be tenably viewed as a decisive intrusion of the demonic into virtually all sectors of society? How does its propensity for causing what has been described as “instant addiction” represent Satan’s orientation toward targeting the family as a means of destroying YeHoVaH’s creation, to say nothing of eminent show business personalities who have become casualties of the “white powder madness”?
8. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 46:00) How do experiences such as those recounted here demonstrate the severe yet affirmative power of YeHoVaH to allow our sins to reach a point of near-fatal danger as a message of the need for repentance? How must we often “contend with God” as denoted by the name of the patriarch Jacob before we may discern the divine will that serves to direct our futures away from sin and toward redemption?
9. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 50:00) Again, how can the crack cocaine epidemic be viewed as a machination of Satan in light of its ability to subvert our judgement, even to the extent of depriving us of our divinely-given free will to choose between right and wrong? Moreover, how has this been exacerbated by personal testimonies of recovery that are given sensationalist presentation in the mainstream media, often by the very institutions that encouraged the addiction?
10. (VIDEO TIMELINE: 54:00) As noted at the outset, the presence of YeHoVaH often manifests itself to us through subtle whispers rather than cataclysms. Why is this impetus toward repentance and reform so often overlooked by believers in their desire to receive proof of divine influence in their faith lives?  How does the private epiphany by the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:19 dramatize this reflex in his willingness to return to his father as a mere hired servant?