The 2 Spies |
|
Posted: 08 Sep 2013
We have listened to the sound of the shofar 100 times this past few days during Rosh HaShanah. The sound of this natural 'trumpet' is to awaken our hearts to the stirring of G-d, to assess our lives, motives and how we are spending the time He has given us. Over these next few days we continue to take an assessment, to ask for forgiveness where necessary and make the decision to follow Torah more closely and with a more pure heart.
The 2 Spies recently read an article that explains what happens scientifically in our bodies when we listen to the shofar. We thought our friends would find it interesting also. It comes from AISH.com We will still have time to respond to the sound of the shofar as there will be one more opportunity on Yom Kippur. Shana Tova,
The 2 Spies
Click here for their blog: The 2 Spies Blog
 The Science of ShofarHow our body’s reaction to hearing the shofar’s blast primes us for real change.by Yvette Alt Miller
Each day of Rosh Hashanah, our synagogue services are punctuated by a hundred calls from the shofar, a ram’s horn that reverberates with a distinctive, alarm-like cry.
The shofar's rousing blast speaks to us more intensely than words ever can. It’s a personal call to each of us to wake up and use the opportunity of Rosh Hashanah to change.
Sometimes called the “fight or flight” response, the physical changes we undergo when confronted with a sudden, urgent alarms helps us deal with immediate threats. During Rosh Hashanah, these changes can help us see the world differently, giving us a different perspective and helping us see areas where we need to grow. 1. Our senses are sharpened.When we’re startled, the hypothalamus in our brain immediately starts producing hormones, altering our physiological state. One of the first is Neuropeptide-S, a small protein that makes us more alert. It decreases our need for sleep, and sharpens our alertness and feelings of energy.Our brains also send a signal to our adrenal glands to start releasing adrenaline and norepinephrine, two hormones that increase our heart and breathing rates and sharpen our sense of concentration. Within moments, we’re transformed into a new state of alertness, able to see dangers and details we overlooked before. On Rosh Hashanah, these moments are invaluable. The energy we gain as we hear the shofar’s loud blasts gives us – for a moment – a new, sharper state of consciousness, and a different way of looking at the world. 2. Emotion grows stronger.Another effect of sudden stress is simplification in our thought processes. When we’re startled, our brains release catecholamines, neurotransmitters which stimulate a part of our brain called the amygdale, a center that relies on emotional – rather than purely rational – thought.This shift helps us to not overload on details or become bogged down as we make decisions: it’s the part of our fight-or-flight response that helps us decide to “run!” in times of danger. It can also give us the clarity to see our behavior clearly, without the rationalization that’s part of more nuanced, everyday thought. Thinking with our amygdale in the moments after the shofar’s blasts helps us to see ourselves more honestly, to perceive our behavior as good or bad, without the rationalizations. It can give us the courage to admit our shortcomings and the clarity to know what to do in the future. 3. Long-term memory is switched on.At the same time our amygdale is stimulated, so is our brain’s nearby hippocampus, the region that stores long-term memories. It helps make sure we don’t waste these moments, that we learn from the stress we’ve just experienced.This means that anything we’re about to experience in our newly heightened state will make a lasting imprint on us, remaining lodged in our memories longer than ordinary experiences. This helps to ensure that our Rosh Hashanah resolutions have a more lasting impact. All our thoughts – our emotions, our resolutions and decisions to change – will all become a deep part of us, lodged in our long-term memory. When we hear the loud shofar blasts, our brains become more sensitive; knowing this can help make sure that we use these precious moments to instill positive messages and resolutions to grow deep in our memories, to draw from all year long. 4. Our brain becomes more active.While all these changes are taking place, during times of stress our brains become more active overall. Nerve cells in our brains receive more messages than normal, and we experience increased brain activity. We’re able to process much more information than during less-intense moments.Judaism teaches that it’s possible to make even major decisions and change our lives in an instant. The extra capacity we have for thought and mental activity during this period makes change more possible. As we listen to the urgent, loud sounds of the shofar, our bodies are perfectly calibrated to react to this loud, insistent call by giving us greater energy and focus. Let’s use it to analyze our past deeds and resolve to grow in the coming year.   |
Circuit Riders Released With Power
And He said that, "I have been testing the people in small things and I've given them small routes, like small rings. But now I'm going to enlarge their rings. And those who have been totally obedient, I'm going to enlarge their rings worldwide and they shall deliver the mail to the saints over the whole earth. They shall deliver the Father's message, which is the message of love."
In a trance I saw earth that had been spaded up like with one spade. I looked at the earth and on top of it was a coin. I looked at the coin and it was a silver shekel. I asked, "What is this?" The Lord told me, "That which is lost has been found and it's two places in Scripture." The same coin was like two stories; the parable of the lost coin from Luke 15 and the temple tax from Mark 17.
Peter and Jesus went up to the temple to pray. When they got to the temple the guards wouldn't let them in because there was a temple tax of ½ shekel a piece. Jesus was the Temple but they didn't recognize Him. He and Peter went outside and the Lord told Peter to go down to the lake and there will be a fish that you'll catch. When you do, take the coin out of the fish's mouth. 
The circuit riders will go forth throughout the whole earth with the breaker anointing releasing power of the Word as the Holy Spirit endues them with power from on high. This power goes forth on the wind (Ecclesiastes 1:6) so everyone born of the Spirit will recognize its sound, and salvation shall be plentiful as the prodigals come home.