2017 B’ney Yosef North America Summit!! Registration is OPEN!

Hey guys, I am excited to announce that registration is open for the 2017 B’ney Yosef North America Summit. Planned for February 12-14, 2017 in Mesa, Arizona at the Phoenix Marriott Mesa, this event will help to chart the course for the coming year as we see what the next steps are that the Father has for this continent. We will have many good discussion, build bridges, and receive messages from several dynamic speakers, details being finalized.

Last year’s Summit was an incredible time with the Ruach having awesome worship and dance as well as major steps toward bringing Ephraim in North America together to begin functioning as one people. I expect this year that the Father will continue to give direction and leadership as we explore what He would have us do between now and the next B’ney Yosef Congress in early 2018. EVERY fellowship and congregation needs representation! YOU need to be there!

To read more and register, go here! I really look forward to meeting many of you there!!

The Seed of Joseph

He has done it again!! In fact, actually, he has done it a couple times recently, but I missed them!! What am I talking about? Stu Lowndes has released another couple amazing videos. As I have shared on here multiple times, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this guy’s work and how he pulls threads together.

Many thoughts and connections are a bit esoteric and require pondering to understand the significance and how the pieces fit together, but he demonstrates close ties between amazing verses that unfold deep mysteries in the Torah and Tanak.

Enjoy this one, but I highly recommend digging through his youtube channel to really feed your pinings for remez and sod connections.

The Shema WallWritten Vinyl in my office… (Pics)

A couple weeks ago, I shared the Shema wall vinyl that I had WallWritten.com make for me. Well, since then, I am guessing they have sold a few, because at least one friend and reader sent me a pic of what is now in his home. It is posted below.

I had an idea for a blank wall in my office at work that would incorporate the Hebrew text recently placed in large font on the wall of our living room. Here is a pic of the final product followed by several other related pics.

Continue reading “The Shema WallWritten Vinyl in my office… (Pics)”

MUST SEE Ari Abramowitz video!!

Following is a MUST SEE video by Rabbi Ari Abramowitz.

While we were in Jerusalem during Sukkot 5777, Ari posted an amazing video on his Facebook page from the Parade of Nations which we participated in. I included it in a post from Jerusalem.

Well, a week or two later, Ari was back in the US on a speaking tour and offered an amazing presentation to El Shaddai Congregation in Seattle Washington. I highly recommend taking the time to watch his whole talk. Our Father is doing AMAZING tings in our day and the bridge is being built that will bring the sticks together!! Please listen very carefully to what he is saying and what he is not saying….

Why Christendom MUST rethink evangelizing Jews.

Have you ever wondered why God divided Israel? By that I mean, what was His purpose? And, what does that purpose have to do with the respective roles of Judah and Ephraim? Further, how does this relate to evangelizing/missionizing? All of these are interesting and progressively more serious questions that challenge some of our established (inherited) thought patterns. So, let’s explore some recent ponderings I have had. We may not answer all of the questions, but we can begin to wrestle with a new level of understanding.

At the Second B’ney Yosef Congress, Tommy and Dorothy Wilson led the Shabbat midrash from the first Genesis portion, focusing on Adam and Chava in the second and third chapters. We considered that at the completion of creation, it was ‘tov meod,’ ‘very good,’ yet, just a few verses later we see that God says, ‘it is not good that the man should be alone…’ Adam was complete within himself, perfect, however there was something more that God wanted to do to display His glory to and in Creation. Thus, He reached into Adam and drew out a part of him that was then fashioned into Chava, the help-meet and partner.

The Creation Story is about dividing and bringing together. We see in day one a separation and gathering of light from darkness. Day two waters of earth and sky are separated and gathered. Day three water and earth are separated and gathered.

Each of these separations and gatherings shows us something of the majesty of Creation and thus the majesty of the Creator. If we had only light, we could not see the magnificent stars and Continue reading “Why Christendom MUST rethink evangelizing Jews.”

The missing ‘yod’ arrived…. (pics)

Hey, guys! A couple days ago I told you about the Shema I ordered from WallWritten.com, and some sharper eyes than mine noticed that I overlooked a missing ‘yod.’ Well, it came yesterday and I have had time this evening to finish the lettering I was using for a border on the east side of our living room. Following are a couple pics for your enjoyment.

The second two phrases are Psalm 137:5-6,

If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
May my right hand forget.

Continue reading “The missing ‘yod’ arrived…. (pics)”

The Jerusalem Debate: An excellent series on a challenging topic….

Having just returned from Jerusalem and celebrating my second feast in the Land, I can tell you that being there changes me. You may also understand from numerous travel posts concerning our most recent trip, being in Israel at the pilgrim feasts has a profound effect on Judah to see us in the Land.

Oddly, there are a number of objections given for why some people do not go up for the feasts. Following is an introduction to the subject written by Sue Wyatt with some forewords by the Barking Fox and then a series of short articles written by Bob Parham and hosted by Lamb’s Servant.

I HIGHLY recommend taking the time to think through and wrestle with this material. You will be challenged and, I think, changed! Buckle your seat belt….

The Jerusalem Debate – Introduction | The Lamb’s Servant

The Jerusalem Debate – Eleven Objections and Responses | The Lamb’s Servant

Shema!! Here is something SPECIAL for you!! (Updated!)

Wall Written has corrected MY oversight and the missing yod has been found…. 😉 Updated pics below and on their website. Available in various sizes and 0ver 45 colors!!

I am quite excited!! I was going to wait to share this cool information, but the cat is out of the bag!

We have recently repainted our living room and I wanted a border high on the wall. After playing with some ideas I came to the conclusion that it would be really cool if I could have several verses in the original Hebrew script…. But, the cost!

Well, the idea is still in development as it has continued through some additional twists, but the first part is finished as a wall vinyl… and, you too can have one at a most reasonable price, in the color and size of your choice! First, look at this shot of how the Shema will look. It even has the enlarged ayin and dalet.

It started with me reaching out to WallWritten.com and asking if they could do Hebrew Script. Melissa replied that if I could send the text, Continue reading “Shema!! Here is something SPECIAL for you!! (Updated!)”

Spirit-filled Orthodox Jews? Paradigm-shifting.

My right knee is pretty sore. I really should have stretched before starting to inline skate, but such is the way with a 49 year old that thinks he is 19 years old! The bottom line is that I am thankful I have nothing more than a stretched (strained) ligament in my knee and though it is quite sore, I will recover.

I have learned that our Father is a bit more tender than the pavement in stretching us and generally, He is quite patient if we will work with Him and allow Him to stretch us. My family and I began this Hebraic/Messianic walk about five years ago and it has been a process of stretching and recovering from each successive step that our Father has led us through.

Each step has taken us out of this box or that box, shifting our paradigms and helping us to learn and grow and understand Him and His Word more. Some steps have been HUGE. The first six to eight months of this journey was like wrapping my mouth on a firehose. My head almost exploded! But, graciously, after each new step, Father gives us periods of time wherein we can recover and process and adjust to our new paradigm before He leads us farther forward.

The past five weeks or so have been one stretching paradigm-shifting event after another. We had been in a somewhat relaxed/recovery phase before our recent trip to Israel, but He shook us up good on this trip and so stretched us that it has been much like those early days drinking from a fire hose. I am still processing so much. Continue reading “Spirit-filled Orthodox Jews? Paradigm-shifting.”

Davening in the rear galley of a 777

There are still so many stories bubbling up from our recent trip to Israel. It was such an incredible trip that I am still processing the many events. Even our flight home was ‘off the chain…’

During our 21 days in the Land, we were blessed to have many close and personal encounters with Brother Judah. It is what we had prayed for, but the Father’s answers far exceeded our expectations. I prayed for more on the flight home knowing there would be many Orthodox on the plane.

With five of us traveling and the 777 having three seats across the center section, Kelly and I chose to sit in the center section and leave the boys in the three seats that were on the window side of the aisle. I selected the aisle seat for a little more leg room and put Kelly in the center. Initially a lady was trying to get situated in the seat to Kelly’s left. I helped her put away luggage, etc… Then, just before we pushed back from the concourse in Tel Aviv, an Orthodox gentleman in black hat and coat stepped up and through very broken English asked if Kelly and I could change places. At first, I was confused by his sudden appearance, then, understanding that he was related to the woman and did not want to rub elbows with Kelly, I quickly made the switch. I wanted to protect him.

Quietly, I thanked Abba for putting him next to me.

We settled in for a 12 hour flight and I Continue reading “Davening in the rear galley of a 777”