11:3 Restoration

How RtB changed a man’s life and marriage

The tension between them was visible and he was clearly not comfortable. My wife and I sat to the left of them for dinner on the first evening of the Second B’ney Yosef North America Summit in Mesa AZ. His somewhat pointed and at times combative conversation with the gentleman to his right was curious, particularly because he was aggressive towards the Messianic perspective, yet he was in attendance at a BYNA event!

I listened a few minutes and realized his wife was ‘all in’ and he, not understanding even basic Hebraic thought, was here to protect her. Later, I found out she was fervently praying for him and was happy that he had even come to dinner. His plan, as I understood it, was to not participate at all.

My passion is to compassionately and clearly explain what we believe, and why, from the Scriptures. I have a Masters of Divinity and ten years of experience in the pulpit of a Presbyterian church, yet the Father opened my eyes and showed me much more than the Reformed traditions I was reared with. When this gentleman we were providentially seated next to mentioned his Presbyterian background, I had my opening.

We talked about twenty minutes in a conversation that began tensely Continue reading “How RtB changed a man’s life and marriage”

Big Shabbat at the Rambo’s (Lots of pics…)

About once per quarter we are blessed to host a gathering of multiple area home fellowships. One most encouraging thing about Western SC is that there are home fellowships springing up everywhere and we are striving to walk in peace and harmony as a testimony to our King.

The Torah and the Body of Messiah was NEVER meant to function as a ‘church,’ rather, we are to function as a community!! Israel, kol Israel, is to function as a community with gathering for worship and prayer at the center of all other community activities. We are learning to walk together and function more and more as a community.

Following is a gallery of a bunch of pictures from yesterday. Continue reading “Big Shabbat at the Rambo’s (Lots of pics…)”

North Korea Threatens Israel!!!

A couple days ago I posted a quick blog about the interesting development that North Korea may have been prophesied as an endtimes player. Then, imagine my surprise when this morning I wake and find a Jerusalem Post article titled, “North Korea threatens Israel with ‘merciless, thousand-fold punishment’.”

REALLY?! You can’t make this stuff up. Now, I am pondering this new development and considering that if Ephraim was scattered to the ends of the earth, why would the redemption not begin from the ends of the earth? Does not the enemy come from the North?

Ironic (or, not) that Pyongyang was once known as the Jerusalem of the East!

Watching this carefully as it unfolds….

Breaking Israel News also has a related article up.

Kickstarter Update #1

The campaign is underway and it is exciting to see pledges come in. Currently, we are sitting at 10% with about 10% of our time gone… Please pass the word, share, etc. If you need a banner or sidebar to promote this, check out what Hebrew Nation Radio has on their home page…

This is a very special opportunity to reach many, many people with the message of the Hebrew roots of our faith!!

To make a contribution, the Kickstarter page is here.

Yom haShoah

We remember.

Repairing the Breach! Kickstarter campaign!!

WorldNetDaily’s World Ahead Press would like to republish Repairing the Breach and advertise it through WND’s powerful media voice. This is an incredible opportunity to introduce the Hebraic roots message to a very large audience with potentially millions hearing the message. We need your help!!

After prayer and considerable discussion with wise counsel, we are undertaking a Kickstarter campaign. Together, I believe we can have a major impact!

Please pray, share this campaign on Facebook and your other social media accounts, and strongly consider helping. Blessings!!

Repairing the Breach Kickstarter Campaign

(Or, click the ‘K’ in the video below.)

Can we accelerate the coming of the Messiah?

Last night, as we sat around the Pesach table, we enjoyed a wonderful romp through Scripture. A small affair, with only three guests besides my family, we embraced the freedom to pursue Scripture and thought trails induced by the haggadah. Two of the three guests, never having participated in a Passover, had insightful questions and opened doors for significant discussion.

As we discussed Scripture and the scattering of the house of Israel, I brought up an interesting connection in Scripture: Both Matthew 24:31 and Deuteronomy 30:4 use the phrase ‘from the ends of the sky’ when speaking of the gathering of Yah’s people. (I have discussed this connection before and recommend this article as background.)

This morning, I woke thinking about the coming of the Messiah and how to speed it!

Christian and Rabbinic thought differ on whether we can speed or affect prophecy, a point that I made at our table last evening. We were enjoying a wonderful bottle of Jozef from Har Bracha Winery in Samaria, Israel, my selection for Pesach. I explained to our guests that the bottle is a fulfillment of prophecy and poignant reminder of the difference in Christian and Judaic perspectives on prophecy.

Nir (pronounced, Neer), the owner of Har Bracha, Continue reading “Can we accelerate the coming of the Messiah?”

Taste and see that the Lord is good!!

While generally understood in a metaphorical sense, yesterday, I was reminded of the real physical sense that our Father expects us to understand His Word when it says,

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Ps. 34:8

We gathered with a dozen or more families yesterday to participate in a mock Seder (Passover) meal. Most all of us will celebrate Passover in the coming day or so, but we had guests and visitors who had never experienced a Passover and, planning to celebrate with families in their homes for the first time, needed to ‘see’ and experience in order to more fully understand the meaning of the feast and how to lead it.

This will be about our sixth Passover and each is more rich than the previous as I learn and understand more fully the great depth of YHVH’s Word. Yesterday was no different as I made new connections with Scripture and even this morning, I woke thinking, ‘Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!’

It is so easy to fall into the trap Continue reading “Taste and see that the Lord is good!!”

Matzah Truffles and Pesach Delicacies…

Two years ago, I offered a terrific compilation of delicious Pesach recipes using matzah.

Well, the truffles have been so well received the last two years that I thought I’d kick the dark chocolate and sea salt truffles up a notch… Here is a selection of what I made late yesterday a I relaxed in the kitchen.

Dark chocolate truffles made with matzah. Clockwise from top left: Coconut, Raspberry, White Chocolate with Macadamia Nut, Manischewitz Glaze, Fireball Whiskey Glaze and Cappuccino. (Poor photography: mine.)

Because we have been improving our diet and have been particularly intentional about adding coconut oil to our diet (google: health benefits of coconut oil!!), I made a few little substitutions to the base recipe. Continue reading “Matzah Truffles and Pesach Delicacies…”

Should Christians celebrate Passover?

A recent commenter on my blog asked the question, “Should Christians celebrate Passover?” While this is certainly a controversial topic, it is absolutely one that needs to be visited on a regular basis, and the answer needs to be Scriptural, not based on man’s traditions and doctrines.

I will seek, in a short post, to demonstrate that Scripture clearly points Christians to celebrating Passover. Numerous links to expanded explanations in previous blog posts will be provided.

The early chapters of Exodus recount the miraculous redemption of Israel from Egypt. Central to the story is the celebration of Passover ‘as a sign’…’on your hand and on your forehead.’ (13:9) As part of the commandment, the Lord (YHVH) states clearly, multiple times, that Passover is an ordinance that is to be celebrated annually, forever. Here are a few verses from Exodus 12 and 13:

^{Ex. 12:14}‘Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as ^[a]a permanent ordinance.

^{Ex. 12:24}And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.

^{Ex. 13:10}Therefore, you shall keep this ordinance at its appointed time from ^[a]year to year.