Heaven on Earth

Heaven on Earth
We need it now
I'm sick of all of this
Hanging around

Sick of sorrow
I'm sick of the pain
I'm sick of hearing
Again and again
That there's gonna be
Peace on Earth

More great reading this weekend from Velvet Elvis. Buy the book and read it, delve into it, question it and comment on it.
Bell gave an amazing recount of the Jewish life during Jesus' time.
According to Bell, students learned the way of the Torah (the first five books in the Bible) and each believed the Torah to be the way, the truth and the life (someone else claimed to be the way, the truth and the life).
From the age of six, students would learn and memorize the Torah. By the age of 10 most would have the Torah memorized. I'm such a slacker.
Also by the age of 10, the students would begin to sort themselves out. Those with natural abilities towards the Scriptures would continue their studies, the others would go home and learn the family trade.
By age 13 or 13, the top students had the entire Old Testament memorized.
Around 14 or 15 the students would apply to be a disciple or talmidim of a rabbi. If the rabbi felt the student was strong enough, he would take the student under his guidance and teach him all he could about his yolk, or understanding of the scripture.
The disciples would follow the rabbi everywhere.
Now picture Andrew and Peter. They're working as fishermen having learned their father's trade. They weren't good enough for the other rabbi's. But then one rabbi comes along one day and says, "Come follow me."
They immediately drop everything and follow Jesus.
Same for James and John.
Only they're with their father, and probably younger and still learning their fathers trade. They may not be older than 16 and Jesus said, "Come follow me."
If a rabbi calls you to be his disciple, then he believes you can actually be like him.
God has an increadible view of people.
"I have been told that I need to believe in Jesus. Which is a good thing. But what I am learning is that Jesus believes in me.
I have been told that I need to believe in God. Which is a good thing. But what I am learning is that God believes in me.
The rabbi thinks we can be like him."

... more to come.