Presence Ministry

Credibility is most certainly (and quickly) gained through physical presence. The old saying is quite true, quote it with me, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” As cliché as it is, it still holds true. In parenting, many parents have bought into the lie of quality time. This is sad, because what kids need (and are formed by) is quantity time. Time with a person is both formation and instructional. The only way to get to know a person is by spending time with them, and in a variety of settings and experiences. It is true in parenting as it is true in ministering.


The ministry of presence can speak more to a person than words. This is especially true in crisis and grief situations. Within the first few months of coming on staff at my church, the father of one of my teens suddenly died from a massive heart attack. I had very few words to offer to this teen for comfort. In fact, she really didn't need any more words. She needed to know I was there for her. I stayed with her and the family as much as possible (and as was appropriate for the situation).


Looking at the example of Jesus, the disciples spent almost all their time with Jesus. As disciples and under-studies, they knew the way to truly know the teacher was to commit to time with him. Even though they scattered during the crucifixion, the results speak for themselves when their fear and mourning turned to furious, faithful zeal after the resurrection. What they knew about Jesus was fueled by their faith.


Physical presence gains credibility because of what it says to the other. It effectively says, “I have no better place to be than here right now.” It conveys value and worth to the other by saying, “Being with you is well worth my time and effort.” It distinguishes the other by affirming them and saying, “You are important to me; you are loved.”


Our role as a shepherd, then, is one of solidarity with the people. This is different than being “one of them;” instead it is “one with them.” Our people need to see us around them, doing things with them, and being one present with them in the Spirit.

Study of the importance of barley in the Bible

Barley

Barley (se`orah) is one of the most important of the cereal grains in the Bible. It is also the hardiest of them all. In the Bible (as in modern times) the failure of this crop was a national disaster (Joel 1:11). The Israelites successfully practiced agriculture in Palestine, so they grew it as a primary food product. The land lent itself for barley growing and was described as "a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey" (Deuteronomy 8:8). Barley was and still is used as an ingredient for bread, second only to wheat. It was usually the food of horses, cattle, and/or donkeys (1 Kings 4:28). However, barley was frequently baked into a bread used for food for the poor, common people – especially in country districts (Judges 7:13; 2 Kings 4:42). It was also a valuable grain (as barley millet) that was useful for making malt, from which beer, ale, and whisky could be made.

This bread was the principal basis of food among the Hebrews. Meat, vegetables, and liquids served only to supplement the meal. As the chief food of the poor, this primitive bread was unleavened and was called "mazzot." The shape of the bread was commonly a round, circular loaf which would be conducive for traveling. It was with five barley loaves and two fish that Jesus fed the five thousand (John 6:8-13).

Barley bread is mentioned seldom in the Bible, especially when compared to the more refined wheat bread. Wheat bread was the superior product, but as barley bread was the food of the poor, wheat was not always affordable or available. As a result, the most commonly occurring form of bread was made from a mixture of both barley and wheat, especially the latter, “spelt” or "kussemet," being particularly used in special cases (Ezekiel 4:9). In ritual, barley flour seems to have been used exclusively for the meal Offering of Jealousy (Numbers 5:15).

Several varieties of barely were grown in the area of Palestine. It was sown in the autumn, after the "early rains." Later in the year, the harvest was a well-marked season, corresponding with the month of Nisan (April), the time of Passover. On the second day of Passover, the Hebrews offered a sheaf of barley as the first-fruits of the harvest of the year. Also, the unleavened nature of the bread made it able to be used during the Passover ritual as the “bread of affliction” (Deuteronomy 16:3).

Originally the ears of barley or wheat were simply roasted. However, in order to make barley bread, the earliest and most simple way of preparation was by crushing the grain. This consisted of pounding it in a mortar until it produced coarse flour. In order to obtain finer flour, the grain was often pulverized and ground between two stones in a mill. As far back as can be traced, the Israelites used a mill for preparing this finer flour. Furthermore, each household prepared its own flour. This helps to explain the prohibition against taking a hand mill in pledge from the poor (Deuteronomy 24:6). Consequently, the work of grinding was the task of the women, the female slaves (Isaiah 47:2; Matthew 24:41), and/or of captives. The women were also the ones who baked the bread.

In his Summa Theologica, St. Thomas Aquinas suggested that barley bread serves to represent the hardness of the Old Testament (Old Covenant) Law – especially as it has a role in Holy Communion. Taking into account the hardness of the bread and the hardiness of the flour, the bread seems to represent the incredible burden of keeping the Law and the hardness of the peoples’ heart, who are still led by carnal desires. This would certainly be a worthwhile comparison to the Hebrews of the Old Testament.