A Thought… – Page 16 – 11:3 Restoration

Transitioning from congregations to communities

I received a somewhat cryptic text yesterday morning from a dear friend and regular reader.

By definition, moving a large grouip 'by their hosts' requires organization and leaders. Exampled here in picture are Americans troops marching down the Champs Elysees upon the liberation of Paris. — By definition, moving a large group ‘by their hosts’ requires organization and leaders. Exampled here in picture are Americans troops marching down the Champs-Elysees upon the liberation of Paris.

It said,

Bney thought on second exodus-last parsha in 6:26 says they left out in their ranks… not as a mish mosh….. There was leadership in place.

The single criticism I have heard most often of B’ney Yosef is that it is not our job to become organized. The Mashiach, according to general criticism, does everything. We don’t need to do anything, we simply need to, in the words of another good friend, “decide what flavor ice cream we want.”

While I have long been convinced that the Messiah doesn’t magically snap his fingers and make everything better, I am increasingly understanding that the transition from this age to the Messianic age will require a considerable amount of sweat on our part and a willingness to work. Hard. And, that includes the hard work of humbling ourselves and coming together to walk in unity! And, coming together requires organization.

Following is a terrific article by Ephraim and Rimona Frank about what this transition might look like. Continue reading “Transitioning from congregations to communities”

Paradigm shift: BE the Kingdom v. TO the Kingdom

Recently, Al McCarn and I have been having a really good running conversation discussing some changing thoughts on the nature of the Millennial Kingdom. As we continue to study and grow, we continue to re-evaluate the traditions we inherited from our fathers and try to bring them more into line with Scripture. I will reserve the Millennial discussion for another day because it will be quite long and I have more to sort out. Suffice it to say that I am experiencing another paradigm shift…

In our most recent exchange, Al said something very profound that immediately brought clarity to that portion of our conversation. He said,

All this time we [Christendom] have focused entirely on getting to the Kingdom. If this is so, then our focus should be on how to BE the Kingdom. It’s the greatest paradigm shift of all.

(brackets and emphasis mine)

Wow! That is a mouthful and enough of a thought to make one’s head explode. I think back over decades of living in Christendom and the last six years as a Torah-keeping believer in Yeshua and I can tell you, the statement rings true!!

In general there has always been a focus on head knowledge Continue reading “Paradigm shift: BE the Kingdom v. TO the Kingdom”

But, is this good for Israel??

The new American President, Donald Trump, has been inaugurated. Attitudes at my job ranged from very negative doldrums to positive exuberance. In my head, I kept asking, ‘but, is this good for Israel?’

As a US Army veteran who undertook this Hebrew roots transformation, my understanding of myself and Israel have been radically transformed such that my view of this election and the last couple years of American policy have changed considerably. My guiding thought, regarding American politics, has been, ‘but, is this good for Israel?’

Some years ago, even before I began asking the really hard questions of Scripture, I found myself coming to a place where I could no longer pledge allegiance to the United States of America. Not that I do not love this country, but I could no longer write a blank check of allegiance to a nation that was, and continues to be, so involved in immoral activities and actions, both here and abroad. Continue reading “But, is this good for Israel??”

Does Bethlehem belong to Ephraim?

client_part_1483669287684_vzm-img_20170105_212046 I have recently begun reading a small book titled Joseph is Alive by B. Michael Blaine. Published in 1995, I am very surprised that I had not heard of it until Dorothy Wilson mentioned it on a recent visit.

As I read yesterday morning the author made a statement that shocked me and piqued my curiosity. He said,

Bethlehem, a village in the hill country of Judah, was given to Ephraim, a northern tribe, for a possession. (pg.22)

I dropped my book and grabbed my Bible, but didn’t see anything obvious. Thinking, “how did I miss that,” I continued reading as Blaine began to assemble a compelling case that indeed, Bethlehem, or part of it, belongs to Ephraim!! Continue reading “Does Bethlehem belong to Ephraim?”

There shall be signs in the heavens….

12 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; ²and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

Revelation 12 relates a sign that will appear in the heavens. Significantly, it is a sign that is associated with the Geulah, Redemption! It is a sign that has only happened once in the history of the world, September 11, 3 BC and it will happen only again once in the foreseeable future/next couple thousand years. The picture below is from free astronomy software, Stellarium, seen from Jerusalem at sunset on September 23, 2017. Interestingly, this is on Yom Teruah, the Day of Trumpets. Take a look at the picture below and tell me what you see…. Continue reading “There shall be signs in the heavens….”

Camp Mashiach, Messianic Youth Camp. Registration is open….

Hey all, a quick note to remind you that NOW is the time to get your sons and daughters, ages 13-18, registered for Camp Mashiach, a Messianic/Hebrew roots Youth camp!

Earlier today we watched Camp Yeshua sell out about 350 camper slots in a short 16 hours from opening of registration! Camp Mashiach, in its second year, is a fantastic choice, modeled after Camp Yeshua. Last year, three of our sons attended Camp Mashiach and had a blast while experiencing spiritual growth.

I highly recommend. Do not delay… Registration is open!

Jerusalem has become a cup of trembling…. Buckle your seat belt!

It is hard to understate the enormity of recent happenings regarding the fate of Jerusalem. I am still trying to process it all, but I do think it safe to say that we, mankind, have crossed a threshold into prophetically uncharted waters.

If you have not heard, on Kislev 23, 5777, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2334 that condemns any Israeli activity beyond its 1967 borders. Further, the Resolution gives teeth to the international body to begin using lawsuits and eventually military action against not only Israel, but any who would side with her. According to the enforceable text of the Resolution, the Old City, the Western Wall as well as multiple Jewish suburbs around Jerusalem now belong to a non-existent people group commonly called ‘Palestinians.’

The political intrigue leading up to its passing is an interesting study in multiple characters. Continue reading “Jerusalem has become a cup of trembling…. Buckle your seat belt!”

Being without excuse..

I know. People would rather not be faced with truth, but sometimes, it is so blindingly obvious that it can’t be avoided and we are therefore without excuse.

Our local TV station ran a story on their website, and maybe in their visual media as well, two days before Christmas. On searching for it to save the link a similar I stumbled on a link for an even more direct story that was run on the same day in the Baltimore Sun newspaper. Amazingly, the Baltimore Sun article claims that they do this every year to insure truth is being told…

Here are two headlines and links to prove that the masses are without excuse on the matter! Continue reading “Being without excuse..”

Watch “How well do you REALLY know God’s chosen city?” on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=gfzjnsTFzoY

Make it a PRIORITY to visit Jerusalem in the coming year. And,to make the trip extra special, I recommend doing it during one of the pilgrim feasts.

In living color…

Someone recently intimated that I should leave behind all I have learned the last five years and return to the church…. I was speechless! It would be like quitting high def color TV and returning to the monstrous black and white sets of two generations ago!

Only when I began actually doing what the Torah says, i.e., keeping Shabbat and the feasts, eating clean, etc, did the Bible really come alive. Then, like living color, I began to see and understand parts that I only thought I understood before.

Do you want blessings, wisdom and understanding? Begin to walk Torah. Anything else is just grainy black and white.

But his delight is in the Torah of Adonai, and on His Torah he meditates day and night. He will be like a planted tree over streams of water, producing its fruit during its season. Its leaf never droops— but in all he does, he succeeds.
Psalms 1:2‭-‬3 TLV

http://bible.com/314/psa.1.2-3.TLV