Message summary: Today our message is based on the pretzel. How are we impressing God's truths upon our children, grandchildren and all whom we may influence? The ancient Jews used the phylactery, middle-aged monks used the pretzel. Now, as much as any time in history, we need to see God's truths expressed and impressed upon those who may imitate us. Are you doing your part? What type of "pretzel" (reinforcement) are you using?

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"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

Yesterday we visited Lititz, a neighboring town, which is hosting their annual Fire and Ice festival. I'm not sure where the fires were but they had a lot of rapidly melting ice sculptures.

We walked through the town and met friends to tour Sturgis Pretzel House, the oldest commercial pretzel bakery in the US. It was at this very location Julius Sturgis began making pretzels in 1861. We took a tour and learned about the history of the company and the pretzel. At one time Lititz had so many pretzel makers that the mascot for the high school teams was the "Pretzels".

Pretzels have an ancient history, although their origin remains a mystery. There are many stories as to how the first pretzel was created, the most common being that in 610 A.D. Italian monks used scraps of dough to form the shape of children’s arms in prayer,* with three holes to represent the Christian Trinity. They were called "pretiola" in Latin or "little reward" and were given to children who learned their Bible verses and prayers. Of course our word "pretzel" came from this.

We still try to incentivize children in learning Bible verses and other spiritual disciplines. We also look for object lessons and crafts that can serve as reminders of spiritual truths much like the pretzel. Many will remember trying to explain the trinity using an egg.

Today's Scripture text is one of the most important to the Jewish people. It is known as the Shema and is an affirmation of God’s singularity. Its daily recitation is regarded by traditionally observant Jews as a biblical commandment.

Today we want to focus on a command to parents concerning God's commands, "Impress them on your children".

Moses then lists several specific means of how we are to impress: "Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

The command to "Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads" seems unusual culturally to many of us . But observant Jews still practice this by wearing a phylactery, a small leather box containing Hebrew texts on vellum, worn by Jewish men at morning prayer as a reminder to keep the law.

A thought to consider today: How are we impressing God's truths upon our children, grandchildren and all whom we may influence? The ancient Jews used the phylactery, middle-aged monks used the pretzel. Now, as much as any time in history, we need to see God's truths expressed and impressed upon those who may imitate us. Are you doing your part? What type of "pretzel" (reinforcement) are you using?

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber