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What does it mean to be ‘stiffnecked?’

Sometimes, I think the Father places thoughts in my head leading me on particular studies.  I will suddenly think of a term, word or concept and the Spirit will compel me to study it out.

One such thought that had the other day was, ‘what does it mean to be ‘stiff-necked?’  I immediately thought I had a pretty good idea, but the intent of the Spirit/Ruach was to read and confirm or alter my understanding.

Indeed, the study actually opened several neat doors that I will cover in the coming days.  All of it is intensely relevant for those who profess belief today!

Multiple passages confirmed what I thought I knew, but did so in a much clearer and precise way than I expected.  Continue reading “What does it mean to be ‘stiffnecked?’”

Evolution v. Intelligent Design and Shifting Paradigms

Recently, a friend in our fellowship loaned me a neat documentary titled, Unlocking the Mystery of Life.  The premise is a conversation with leading scientists who, as adherents to the Theory of Evolution, began to find alternate truth in their research.  Each relates parts of their journey from ‘evolutionist’ to a belief they collectively refer to as ‘intelligent design.’homersapien

The information presented in the video, as well as the excellent animation of molecular structures, etc, is fascinating, both as a general overview of the strong case for intelligent design and as an example of how new/deeper understanding can lead to a paradigm shift. Through the documentary we meet established, published and well respected scientists, some the world leaders in their field, who came to a point when they realized that the evidence they were seeing did not fit the evolutionary paradigm they were inculcated/indoctrinated with.  They had a choice… Continue reading “Evolution v. Intelligent Design and Shifting Paradigms”

Brick v Stone as a Building Material

A couple of days ago, I was delivering some metalwork to a customer in the upstate of South Carolina.  While in the area, I called a good friend and brother, Jeff, to see if we could meet-up for lunch.  What a blessed time of fellowship, open Bibles in the restaurant and animated discussion of the Word!

During our conversation he began talking about the difference in building with bricks and stones as an illustration in the context of Exodus 20:24-25.  Let’s read,

24 You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it.

I could immediately identify with his illustration as I had written a related article almost a year ago.  His angle was slightly different, but the points are inextricably connected. Continue reading “Brick v Stone as a Building Material”

R U N the 1%?

If Jesus came into your church, would you recognize Him?  While my guess is completely subjective, I would guess that fewer than 1% would recognize the Messiah, King of Israel, if He walked into your church building.

No, He likely won’t come dressed as a homeless guy, though we should receive the homeless with love and concern.

He won’t be in a long robe and probably won’t have longish hair.  He will have a beard.

In fact, 99% of the images and ideas we have of Him are wrong based on simple reading of Scripture.

You won’t know based on a ‘gut feeling.’  Your emotions will fail you EVERY time.

You MUST be able to tell based on facts that are verifiable.  Scars?  May or may not work…

How then will you KNOW without a shadow of a doubt who He is and that He is the REAL deal?

Scripture tells us exactly Continue reading “R U N the 1%?”

Which ordinance of God is “unrighteous?”

I carry my Bible practically everywhere I go.  (ALWAYS ready to make a defense for the Truth of our Messiah and His Torah…)  In my Bible case, I keep a little yellow note pad to jot ideas or thoughts to pursue, or comment on, or write about.  Maybe a book, a thought, a verse, etc…  Some days, like today, are particularly fertile and I wind up adding four or five new ideas or thoughts to develop for this blog or for personal study.

Recently, I posted one of the most popular posts I’ve written.  It was short, to the point and something I thought I was the only one who had overlooked…  But, something connected.  Well, this goes very well with that post…

We enjoyed the day in the company of some Messianic friends and, as I love to do, I cruised a few of the books they had laying around.  I found a little gem Continue reading “Which ordinance of God is “unrighteous?””

R. Shapira Discussing Yeshua’s Name in Rosh Hashanah Liturgy

I really can’t tell you how much I enjoy listening to R. Shapira explain the presences of Yeshua and His identity in Jewish literature.  It is a whole world of new wonders as Messiah is revealed and present with brother Judah…  now being revealed!  Here is an amazing video with beautiful views into Person of the Metatron and His presence in the Rosh Hashanah liturgy recited by every observant Jew!!

Here is part 2!! Continue reading “R. Shapira Discussing Yeshua’s Name in Rosh Hashanah Liturgy”

Whose Calendar are We Celebrating?

Does Scripture have to say anything about the Creator’s thoughts on time and seasons? When does HE think the year begins?

We could spend a good bit of time digging out the details, but a simple reading of Scripture would demonstrate that tonight is NOT HIS plan…

14 Then God said, “Let there be [a]lights in the [b]expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; 15 and let them be for [c]lights in the [d]expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.  Genesis 1:14-15

Later, our Father tells us exactly how to ‘read’/understand what season and what month are the beginning of a year… Continue reading “Whose Calendar are We Celebrating?”

Chewing gum for the brain…

As I have mentioned before, I am reading/enjoying/re-reading J. K. McKee’s The New Testament Validates Torah.  Frankly, this is the single best systematic addressing of Torah for the Messianic.  I believe more and broader scholarly works will emerge as time passes, but it will be hard to top this 400+ page work!  EVERY Messianic believer needs this on their shelf, and any pastor wanting to understand or get a comprehensive look needs to read this book.

Advertisement aside, there are so many terrific quotes on every page.  I want to share three from pages 91-93.  The first two are cites of other authors and the last is his.

Take the time to read and ponder each!  I’ll list the original sources from McKee’s footnotes.

What would we think of a presidential candidate who assured his voters that he would only UPHOLD the requirements and FULFILL the goals of the Constitution and never ABOLISH our country’s customs and laws, yet two years after his election, plunged the country into complete anarchy?  Would this be FULFILLMENT of the Constitution of ABOLITION of the Constitution? Continue reading “Chewing gum for the brain…”

Blessed is the man…

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the Torah of the Lord,
And in His Torah he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.  Psalm 1:1-3

Marinate.