11:3 Restoration

How to Divide a Family… A Thought.

Recently, I happened across a Bethany Christian Services magazine and was reading a couple articles about adoption, and no, that is not something we are considering at this time. But, a point in one of the articles prompted some thought about family unity and division.

A short conversation this morning in the comments section of another blog connected the thoughts to the One Law v. Two Law debates/discussions I have had before!

A much debated subject in the Messianic movement is whether the Torah is just for the Jews, or is it the revelation of righteousness for all mankind. We’ve looked at this topic multiple times from various angles, a list of links below, but here is another thought: ‘How to Divide a Family…’ Simple, have different standards and rewards for the adopted children as you have for the natural born.

Seriously, think about it! If you had a child and then you adopted another child, would it not cause bitterness, anger, jealousy, resentment and myriad other sins if you treated the two radically differently in terms of rules and expectations? Continue reading “How to Divide a Family… A Thought.”

Tales from the Bus: Fog and Faith

This morning was particularly foggy! I’ve had several such mornings, but for whatever reason, today I felt much more vulnerable as I strained to see past the end of the hood. I found myself wishing for a nice bus route through town with all the attendant street lights and fairly well marked intersections.

Out in the country, there are multiple turns that are hard enough in the reduced visibility of darkness, but with the pressing fog, I felt myself desiring a really long red-tipped cane or a seeing-eye dog to hang out of my window…. to no avail.

At one place on my route, I have a very dark hard left-hand turn that drops off on a single paved track between heavy trees and a massive stone sign. What I would do for some light offering security as I drop into the grade and hold my breath waiting for the headlights to sweep and catch up, confirming the pavement that I know is there, but can’t see. (Who is the knucklehead that put the kibosh on Tucker’s invention of headlights that follow the steering wheel?? Okay, so it wasn’t entirely Tucker’s idea, but that is another story..)

And, as I make the turn with some trepidation, I think of ‘faith.’ Continue reading “Tales from the Bus: Fog and Faith”

‘Unity’ does not mean ‘Homogenous’

We have the luxury of having milk goats and therefore, fresh milk. One of the interesting things about fresh milk is that the cream rises to the top. Most know this, however, the dairy industry has virtually erased the examples from our refrigerators by taking some cream off the milk, then homogenizing the rest.

The process of homogenizing is a bit violent in that the milk is processed in such a manner that the fat globules in the remaining cream are broken up to such a degree that they will remain suspended in the milk rather than rise to the top. As such, every tablespoon of milk, from top to bottom in a gallon will look exactly the same. supposedly, consumers like this.

Me? I know better. I love skimming cream off of the top of a couple quarts of fresh milk for my coffee, or to enrichen some delicious dish. Mashed potatoes with fresh cream… (Now, that is ‘the bomb.’)

Recently, I’ve had several conversations concerning the divisions in the Hebraic movement. There are so many divisions that it is hard to fathom Yeshua’s final prayer with the disciples. He prayed for, among other things, unity!! He prayed they (us) would be ‘one.’ Echad!

Yet, a cursory look at Christendom and we find little unity… even less among the Hebraic. The Adversary must be delighted! (But, I digress.)

Does ‘unity’ mean ‘homogenous?’ Let’s consider the definitions and some Scripture.

ho·mo·ge·neous

adjective ˌhō-mə-ˈjē-nē-əs, -nyəs

: made up of the same kind of people or things Continue reading “‘Unity’ does not mean ‘Homogenous’”

Happy Belated “Saint” Patrick’s Day!!

Regretfully, I missed the celebration this year… I won’t next year, though my celebration may look a little different than the prevailing culture!!

Yesterday, good friend and tipster, Travis Hughey, shared a terrific article with me about who the REAL Patrick was, and he was NOT the man of the ‘St. Patrick Mythology.’ You can read the article for yourself as it is fairly short, but the claims are worthy of further research!! Here are the salient details!

Patrick was not, nor ever claimed to be connected to the Roman Catholic Church or any Bishop from Rome!
Patrick was much closer to the later Scots-Irish Presbyterians, though he would be rejected by them today and embraced by Messianics!! #Ireland #whoreofbabylon #stpatrick Continue reading “Happy Belated “Saint” Patrick’s Day!!”

More on the upcoming Blood Moons!! (Two videos!!)

A reader sent me a video link this morning that is very interesting. Marl Biltz is interviewed on Prophecy In The News about the upcoming Blood Moon Tetrad. You will find the video informative with maybe a little new information. I do know, Mark’s enthusiasm is contagious, and not unlike the sense in my spirit as we approach this Pesach. (Please overlook the multiple product promotions on the video… they have bills to pay…)

Frankly, I, nor anyone else KNOWS what will or won’t happen in conjunction with these celestial events, but they bear all the weight of possible/probable signs in the heavens, just as Scripture declares. Continue reading “More on the upcoming Blood Moons!! (Two videos!!)”

Acts 1:6-7 – Yeshua on the Kingdom of Israel…

I still remember distinctly the last conversation I had with my father. It was nearly 16 years ago and, though neither of us knew it would be the last time we spoke in this life, his words have proved prophetic.

While the content of that conversation is not the point, had he known it was to be our last conversation, I am confident he would have been even more pointed in his wisdom as we parted company.

Yeshua had 40 final days with His disciples and I am confident that the conversations were deeply instructive revelations from the Scripture. (Recall, the only Scripture they had was the Tanak, misnamed, the “Old Testament!”) He knew that He was leaving and would be gone for a while.

We are not told the content of those conversations, however, we can take a few hints from the ‘Road to Emmaus’ conversation, and several other passages. One such passage is the very final conversation Yeshua had with His disciples. Let’s read and consider,

⁶So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He said to them, Continue reading “Acts 1:6-7 – Yeshua on the Kingdom of Israel…”

John 3:16 and works…

Today, I was having a conversation with good friend and occasional natsab author, Travis Hughey, when he shared something with me I had never noticed. (Seems to be happening a lot latelty… LOL!)

The context of his focus on these verses is the fact that in recent weeks he has been trying to see how many passages of Scripture he can find that demonstrate the connection between faith and works. The compiled list is getting pretty extensive and interesting.

In our conversation about myriad other topics and passages, he said, ‘Oh, you gotta see this. Turn to John 3:16!’

Trying to stay ahead of the curve, I rapidly scanned the passage for context using the new Hebraic lens the Father has been developing in me over the last two years. And, as fast as Travis could read, I was calling out the key words. Read this and see what you catch, then we can discuss…

“For God so loved the world Continue reading “John 3:16 and works…”

Ignorance of the Law is no excuse….

‘Ignorance of the law is no excuse’ is a common cliche.

About eight months ago now, we moved to our current location. As I drove into a nearby one-light town, I was ‘welcomed’ by one of the friendly uniformed tour guides. After he asked for my license and registration, he informed me I was doing 55 in a 35!!

YOWZA!

I rapidly explained that I was new to the area and had not seen the sign, which he pointed out a couple hundred yards back up the road… (He was camped out at that little spot, so apparently this had something to do with supporting the local municipality.) He was gracious enough to give me a warning, but I knew, if that sign said what he said it said (it did, I checked…), then I was absolutely in the wrong. My ignorance was no excuse.

Did you know that in Torah there is a provision that says, ‘Ignorance of the Law is no excuse?’ Continue reading “Ignorance of the Law is no excuse….”

Psalm 51. Noticing the obvious. (A few thoughts.)

Some things are so obvious one wonders how they ever missed them!!

I was reading and pondering some Psalms the other day when I came to Psalm 51, a popular Psalm of confession and contrition. As I read it, I suddenly saw some parts from a perspective different than the traditions I was steeped in. (Shedding these traditions is like trying to UNmarinate a piece of meat!! Certainly, a lengthy process and, at times, seemingly impossible!! With Yahweh, all things are possible!!)

My focus was on the latter half of the Psalm and a number of spoken/unspoken traditions we hear in Christendom.

Create ^[j]in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew ^[k]a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
¹³Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will ^[l]be converted to You.

¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
¹⁵O Lord, ^[m]open my lips, Continue reading “Psalm 51. Noticing the obvious. (A few thoughts.)”

Theological Jenga??

Deuteronomy 12:32 Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.

Revelation 22:18-19 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; ¹⁹and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and ^[a]from the holy city, which are written in this book.

Hmmm…. This game is kind like Russian Roulette… except all players lose.