Wooden Hearts and Paper Roses
I love using AI image creators to make designs that appear to be either paper cut or wood cut. I do not have the talent or patience to do those crafts in real life, but I’ve seen them up close, and the detail is no comparison to the imitation. Still, I’m thankful for this form of media that allows my imagination to soar–even if it’s on artificial wings.
But as we look at all the abilities of AI, we’re faced with the fact that people can use these tools to create imitations of things they want others to see as real. Deep fake videos have made the subjects wonder how the creators got the detail so perfect that the subject felt as if they were looking into a mirror. Of course motivation is the real behind-the-scenes catalyst that determines if the project is just fun or truly nefarious.
Well before AI and computers, and even before the invention of plastic, real love was being imitated to all sorts of audiences for all sorts of reasons. Usually, the motivations were manipulation. Like Samson and Delilah, someone acts like they love someone else in order to cause that someone else to feel trusting enough to yield to requests. Delilah’s power of manipulation was so great that after she’d proven more than once that she was going to sell her lover out, he showed back up on her doorstep until the one confession too many that cost him his eyesight, his freedom, and eventually his life.
No one really likes the fake stuff, and even less when it’s fake love. My title combines two song titles decrying fake love, or real love coming to an end. Elvis said he didn’t have a wooden heart, so he would feel all the pain of loss if his love interest said goodbye. Linda Ronstadt begged her fake love to take away the real flowers he’d sent her for an (apparently fake) apology and replace them with fake paper flowers to match his imitation love. And though I didn’t add a teddy bear to the design, it’s worth mentioning that Barbara Fairchild sings a lament of a failed love that made her wish she was just a stuffed teddy bear on the shelf of a toy store. By only speaking a programmed “Isn’t it a lovely day” sentiment at the pull of a string, she wouldn’t have to feel the pain of fake love or real abandonment ever again.
There are many more songs with lovers begging each other for honesty and faithfulness. People want to be loved for real, and they want to give their love without fear of it being rejected or abused. And we want those things because we are made in the image of a God who is also called “Love” and has proven He’s not fake in a zillion different ways. And what does He want in return? The same thing back. He doesn’t have a wooden heart so He feels our rejection. He doesn’t want paper roses or Sunday only attention. And, He has no desire to just be a toy waiting for someone to pull His string for a miracle or blessing. Like us, He too wants true love. And in return, He promises real, satisfying love forever.
Matthew 28:20 CSB
[20] teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
https://bible.com/bible/1713/mat.28.20.CSB
And I love the way this promise is stated in The Message Bible...
Hebrews 13:5-6 MSG
[5-6] Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?
https://bible.com/bible/97/heb.13.5-6.MSG
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A Covenant God
The reading for today is all in Genesis 9 and is a very short set of verses from 8 through 17. Noah, his family, and the animals are off the boat. Noah has offered the first sacrifice to show his thankfulness for their salvation. And now, with this family ready to replenish the earth, God has made a promise, and he has given a sign for that promise that we still see today; the rainbow.
I downloaded an image I really like by rwangsa at Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwangsa/452128709/)…
You know, there are many gods out there that people try to please with various works, but most of them are just trying to get those gods to carry them to an eternal paradise. They will give it all for a promise that may or may not be true. But our God and Creator, Yahveh Almighty, has promised us so much more than an eternity in paradise. He has plans so awesome that He says they haven’t even found a way to enter into our thoughts or imaginations.
I was talking with a friend today, and we were discussing what we have with God that so many others do not have with their gods. The greatest thing we have of course is His Love. It’s not just an end game, but a gift He desires to shower on us in every moment. He wants us to trust Him so much that you will see many covenants He makes with His people throughout Scripture. This covenant in today’s reading is not only a promise, but a promise that comes with a sign both to us and to Him. He says that when we see it, we can remember His promise to us. And He says that whenever He brings clouds upon the earth, He Himself will see the sign and remember His promises. It’s like two best friends that tie a string around each others’ wrists or pinky fingers to remind the other that they will be best friends forever. God is our best Friend, a covenant Friend and a covenant God, who will be there for us…forever! Hallelu-Yah!!!
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Merciful God from the Beginning
Not only was I out and about after reading today’s portion from Genesis 3:22 through 4:26 (end of chapter 4), I was driving, so I couldn’t do the entry from my phone app as I intended to do on days when I’m running. I just got home and looked at the clock, so time is short, which means I’ll have to keep this short. But I’m determined to make my best effort to write every day.
Yesterday, the Scripture ended with man and woman knowing they were naked and sewing fig leaves together to cover themselves. And then God shed the first blood to cover them completely. It was only after I began studying the Hebrew roots of my faith and falling in love with the old testament that I saw God in a new and merciful light, and this is the first place I saw Him that way. I had always believed in God as the “Big Meanie” in the old testament who got nice when He robed Himself in flesh in the new testament. But now, I see Him wanting to visit with Adam and Eve, and feeling pain because of the sin that has now divided them. Scripture says that for God, associating with the flesh is “strife” ( see Genesis 6:3), and He will not have it that way forever.
So, here is God with the new creation, the ones He called “very good,” and it’s hurting Him to even visit with them. What does He do? He causes Himself a bit more pain by slaying yet another of that which He has created, so the blood can temporarily cover the sin and allow Him to fellowship with them once more. I believe He hurt over killing that animal even more than most animal lovers would hurt. I don’t think it was a small thing for Him with that sacrifice or any sacrifice He demanded later. But it was a necessary sacrifice in order for God to participate in the lives of those He made in His very own image.
As this reading begins, we have God setting up angels to guard the “Tree of Life” to make sure that mankind cannot touch it and eat and live forever. That is a huge act of mercy because had they eaten from that tree after being in the sinful state caused by their eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they would have been doomed to live in that terrible state forever. Imagine having a front row seat to all the darkness and evil in the world and having to sit and watch it forever. That would have been their fate if God had not intervened with His mercy. Yahveh God purposely caused the knowledge of evil to shorten their lives, so they would not have to live forever in hopelessness. Not only is that a great mercy from Him, it is still only the beginning of what He would do to give hope and a future to those who love Him. Amazing!
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Crystal Writes A Blog 
Who Do You Think You Are?
DNA Strand by Flickr User Polygon Medical Animation, CC License = Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works
Click on image to open new tab to access original image and user’s photo stream at Flickr.
I haven’t watched the show yet, but my mom thinks the show Who Do You Think You Are is the greatest. It apparently tells the genealogy of celebrities, and I could see how finding out if someone you admire is in your family line could be interesting. I’m actually surprised that hubby, who loves doing genealogical research, hasn’t tried to watch it, but it could just be our busy schedules. Never-the-less, I ask the question because I wonder which of the patriarchs I might be connected to if I were able to trace my DNA all the way back to the Torah.
In today’s reading from Exodus 12:21 through Exodus 12:28, we find Moses and Aaron giving instruction to the children of Israel on how to select and prepare the Passover lamb. If you click on it, you’ll see the Hebrew word for Passover, which is Pesach. As an interesting note here: the Greek word for the same, used in the New Testament, is Pascha. In many translations, it is written in English as Easter, but the actual word there should be Passover. You will see how this is important as I continue.
So, after the lamb is slaughtered, each household is to dip leaves in the blood, and use that blood to paint the top and sides of the door of the house. After they apply the blood, they are not to go out until the morning. When the death angel comes into Egypt, He will “Pass Over” the houses where the blood is applied, and the first-born children in those homes will not be killed.
As this instruction is given, the children of Israel are told this will be a law to be observed by them and their descendants FOREVER. And this is where the genealogy comes in. Do you know whether or not you are a descendant of any of the children of Israel? Should the descendants of Israel still be adhering to that law since forever isn’t over yet? Now, consider this, since “forever” includes “eternity,” does that mean Passover will be celebrated in Heaven?
Here are my answers to the above questions…
I believe the original Passover was done as a physical type and shadow of what was finalized by the death of Yahshua, and I also believe that to fully understand that, we should understand the original feast and law. If I told you that a particular piece of candy tasted just like a real cherry, but you had not tasted a real cherry, then how would you know? Again, I urge readers to find a Messianic Passover Seder to attend this year, but if you cannot find one, there are places online to view and download the booklet that gives the teachings from the dinner celebration. I will add those when we get closer to this year’s feast time.
Our reading today ends with a reminder to the children of Israel to remember these things when they have come into the new land and provisions from Yahveh Almighty. The people bowed in worship, and they did all that Moses and Aaron taught them to do. May you, my friends, be blessed as you study and apply God’s Holy Word to your own lives and families.
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January 8, 2014 Posted by Crystal A Murray (aka CrystalWriter) | Bible Study, Nonfiction, Torah Commentary | Aaron, Adonai, Almighty, Bible, Bible Gateway, Bible reading, Bible study, Complete Jewish Bible, Creator, crystalwriter, descendant, Egypt, eternity, Exodus, forever, genealogy, God, Holy Bible, Israel, lamb, Lord, Moses, Old Covenant, Old Testament, Parashah, Passover, Portions, Scripture, The Complete Jewish Bible, Torah, Torah commentary, Torah Portions, Torah Reading, Word, Word of God, Word of the Lord, www.biblegateway.com, Yahveh, Yahweh | Leave a comment