When You Can't Fix Things

May 10, 2026

Pastor Patrick presented today's message, "When You Can't Fix Things" A video of today's message is here on YouTube. It may help to be familiar with the message but that is not required to enjoy the thoughts below.

Here's an essay I wrote about the Bread of Life, manna, which was briefly mentioned today.

The Hebrew word for bread is lechem (לֶחֶם) and the word for house/household is bayith (בּיִת). Putting forms of the two words together produces Beth-lehem (בֵּית לֶחֶם), literally "House of Bread." And it's from there that comes Jesus, the "Bread of Life" (John 6:35). Bethlehem (see map below) is also known as Ephrath or Ephrat(h)ah as early as Genesis 35:19, "So Rachel [Abraham's wife] died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)" (NIV). You may recognize the "Beth" or "Beit" as often being the first word of a Jewish synagogue's name which means "House of". One such synagogue here in Colorado Springs is Temple Beit Torah (Temple House of Torah). Torah is the first five books of the Old Testament, the most sacred texts of Judaism, sometimes called the Books of the Law, Genesis through Deuteronomy. As Patrick suggested, the word bread, lechem, as well as the Greek artos (ἄρτος), can mean anything from bread on the table to all manner of provision.



Ever hear the expression "Hazzah!"? It's usually used as an expression of realization. It's something of an Ah-Ha moment. There's a related Old Testament (OT) word, chazah (חָזָה). While more commonly translated as see or behold, the King James Version of the Bible sometimes uses "provide" as a translation, as if to say, "God has provided an answer." The first use in the OT is Exodus 18:21, "Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens." It's part of the advice Moses gets from his father-in-law Jethro about how to govern over the people. God's provision of advice can come from unexpected places, like a pagan Midianite priest!

Recognizing God's provision is an Hazzah moment.

Bonus

National Sabbath May 15-16

For the first time in American history, a sitting president has invited people to observe a National Sabbath. From the proclamation: "In special honor of 250 glorious years of American independence and on the weekend of Rededicate 250 - a national jubilee of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving - Jewish Americans are encouraged to observe a national Sabbath. From sundown on May 15 to nightfall on May 16, friends, families, and communities of all backgrounds may come together in gratitude for our great nation. This day will recognize the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection and gratitude to the Almighty."

This event is sometimes referred to as "Sabbath 250" as this coming 4th of July, we'll celebrate the country's 250th birthday (signing of the Declaration of Independence). See America250.org.

"Rededicate 250," mentioned in the proclamation quoted above, is a "National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving" focusing on May 17 as a day of prayer and worship. An event will be held on the National Mall in DC and livestreamed nationwide through partner churches, ministries, and organizations.

For background, see Exodus 20:8-11.

Bonus2

The Oldest Computer

"The oldest computer was owned by Adam and Eve. It was an Apple with very limited memory. Just one byte and everything crashed."

As seen on Facebook.

😇

Bonus3

Honor Your Father and Your Mother

The 5th Commandment, Exodus 20:12: "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

Watch this PragerU 5-minute video about the importance and meaning in that simple sentence: Honor Your Father and Mother.

Today is Mothers Day. In a few weeks we'll have Fathers Day. In very real ways and for very good reasons, every day should be Parents Day.

Bonus4

Creation to Mt. Sinai in 23 Minutes

PragerU has four 5-minute videos by Dennis Prager that summarize the narratives of Genesis and the first parts of Exodus (other series pickup with the Ten Commandments, etc.):

• Creation to Adam & Eve
• Cain & Abel to Joseph
• Between Two Pharaohs
• Let My People Go

Bonus5

Run for the Wall (RFTW)

From the RFTW.US website: "Run For The Wall® (also known as RFTW) is an organized cross-country motorcycle ride to honor our veterans, their families and friends and to raise awareness of those still missing – Prisoners of War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA). The ride, or 'run' as many motorcyclists call it, starts in Ontario, California and ten days later ends at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in our nation's capital, Washington, D.C. We then have a 3-day 'run' from D.C. to the Middle East Conflicts Wall in Marseilles, IL. 'Wall to Wall'."

This year's run starts May 13, 2026, gets to DC on May 23, and then back to Illinois.

The Central Route (1 of 4) will bring the riders to Fountain, CO around 2pm this Saturday, May 16th. They will pick up a police escort at Fountain (I-25 exit 132) around 2pm and proceed northeast through Colorado Springs using Highway 24, and eventually overnight in Limon, CO.

Godspeed.