This morning I awoke early and made sourdough pancakes, and then ate them with whipped cream and maple syrup while listening to Bob Dylan.

"A man who will make any sacrifice to get his poems in print is also probably only a mediocre writer. A man who will sacrifice anything merely in order to write almost certainly loves writing enough to become, sooner or later, some kind of a good writer. [James] Joyce did that, and he was a good writer. The best in our time." -Thomas Merton

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Yeshua Rabbeinu


I've been teaching my younger brother Justice the Hebrew language. He knows the aleph-bet quite well now, and he's picking up on the vowel markings quite easily. I'm thrilled. In a couple months he could be reading the Torah! Baruch Hashem! I like teaching. Passing on information, sharpening minds, encouraging hands, implanting world-views, ensuring that truth is safe in the hearts of another generation.

The giant community sukkah is almost finished. Last night we put up the roof frame (designed by Brad) and covered the walls in poly plastic. All that remains is to cover the roof. I'm so excited. Meanwhile, my Dad built a fine sukkah in my family's backyard. I want to start decorating it today.

"Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths (sukkot), as it is written." Nehemiah 8:15

OK, Yom Kippur has passed, and we're all still alive. I'm so thankful that I have a great high priest named Yeshua, who shed his own blood and atoned for every sin I will ever commit.

May Your Kingdom come, let Your will be done.

The Day is approaching. Less than 24 hours left to prepare.

Suicide bombing in Jerusalem. Here's what Leah, who lives in Jerusalem, has to say about it.

"I just heard from my son that there was a terrorist attack in Jerusalem in French Hill. It's not at any route where my kids would have been travelling. My daughter just set out by bus to meet me downtown to buy some shoes. This is what people do here when there is a terrorist attack. You get on the next bus and go."

from jerusalemgypsy.blogspot.com

A useful article about the significance of Shemini Atzeret.

I went to the Cook and Regier homestead today and helped build the frame for our giant community sukkah. We made it out of logs and standing trees. An afternoon well spent.

Shanah Tovah to the world. A sweet new year ya'll. Yom Teruah came and I found myself unprepared. I wasn't ready. But I'm realizing that it's kind of a practice day for the upcoming feast days. The shofar's blast reminds me that Yom Kippur and Sukkot are coming soon, and it's a life and death matter to be ready for Yom Kippur. Prepare me, Yahweh my father.

I went to the synagogue in town, Congregation Agudas Israel for the Rosh Hashanah morning service. I enjoyed the liturgy, and the excellent shofar blowing by Mr. Scharfstein. And as always I enjoyed David Green's merry smile!

"I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art Yahweh my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yeah, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith Yahweh." Jer.31:18-20

I have been listening to this album: 'Passion' by Peter Gabriel. This album was composed as the soundtrack for the controversial film 'The Last Temptation of Christ,' a film I have never seen. If, dear reader, you have a taste for that broad genre of "world-music," then find this album immediately and listen, listen, listen. I got it for free here.

I studied Bible with the bros at the Granary tonight. A jolly time it was. I'm thankful for these guys, because they're like a mirror to me; I can see a clearer reflection of myself in them than I do in my own mind. Letting all my thoughts bounce around inside my head for a long time can be maddening. It's good to sound them and hear others' perspective. It's healthy.

Good week to everyone. I was reading through the journal I wrote last fall when I was in Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) and was reminded of some important truths from a particular entry, written on the 28th day of the 8th month. I was staying with Eyal Hershfeld and his family, believers in Yeshua that live in the little village of Ezuz in the Negev desert. This is what I wrote: "I really admire this family [the Hershfeld family]. They work hard raising their children and building their homestead. They've planted fruit trees, and they have a garden, and chickens, and a dog, and even two goats. But Eyal says that although he's putting lots of work into their home, he'd be willing to leave it all behind if the Lord told him to. He says that the journey is as important as the destination. The destination is New Jerusalem, and we'll arrive there, no matter what. But God wants to do a work in our hearts along the way. It doesn't matter so much what we do with our time; if we build huge cities, or bridges, or countries. What matters is how our hearts are built. It's a day to day thing: living life to the fullest today, and letting God work on your heart today. There's no need to make big plans, just do what you know is right today. And why spend lots of time on theology, and endless repetition of ideas? Instead, live out the commands of God."

That's so important to remember. Yahweh's working on our hearts folks, and it doesn't matter who you are or what you do for a living. We're all heading for physical death of our bodies and the final judgement, and, for the believers in Messiah, eternal life in New Jerusalem. But on the way there Yah is working on our hearts, trying to get our attention and mold our hearts. What an exciting journey to be on!

I made a pie, a rhubarb pie for Shabbat dinner. I can't wait to taste it! Good Sabbath one and all!

Speaking of vegan's, I saw one of my all time favourite vegans yesterday: the illustrious Andrew Keith. I was sitting at McNally Robinson booskstore perusing a Hebrew grammar book, when suddenly, there he stood before me, with his dredlocks swept up into a nice green cap. Apparently he works in the Bistro there.

Word of love to Paul Daniel, because he's special, and it's his birthday.

O Vegan, eat thy heart out. I just ate a big elk steak, courtesy of my Uncle Lawrence. Yummy!

A quote I just read: "It is a certain fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain, and exceptionally painful, that almost all terrorists are Muslims." -Abdel Rahman al-Rashed

Also, good music I've been listening to: Miriam Makeba, and Shakti.

images of yesterday. i went with my family to visit my uncle lawrence and aunt laurie (aunt laurie is my father's sister) at their house near melfort. i also got to see my cousin sarah, her husband kevin, and their two awesome little boys. i went wading in the carrot river (which flows directly behind their house) and i fired a rifle for the first time in my life. a nice day.

I saw a lot of people this week that I haven't seen in months. Last night I had supper with some friends: Luke, Jessalynn, Vanessa, Shawn, and Tyler. We all used to be in a bible study group together, and I've shared a lot of intimate experiences with these guys over the years. I spent my teen years growing up with all of them (except Shawn, a relative newcomer in my life), and wrestling together with the major issues in life. I've learned so much from these guys! I am so grateful to Yahweh for placing each of them in my life. I really enjoyed myself last night. I mean that; I feel like some loose-ends have been wrapped up for me, because I got to have a good talk with all my friends, and observe them, and get a feeling of where they're all at in life before they're scattered afar. Soon Vanessa will be in B.C., Jess in Alberta, and Tyler left for Manitoba this morning. And Shawn, Luke, and I remain in Saskatoon. For now, at least.

It's Shabbat, and the world that Yahweh created is soooo beautiful. The sixth day is over, and now we rest. Shabbat Shalom.