Saints, according to Scripture…

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Here is a YouVersion image from good friend, Steve King.  How do the Scriptures define ‘saint?’  You may have the testimony of Yeshua, but do you keep the commandments of God?

Malachi 4 says the generation in the days of Elijah will keep the Law of Moses…  EVEN the statutes and ordinances!!

Got Torah?  Might be a good time to investigate…

http://bible.com/59/rev.14.12.ESV

Is Ezekiel 37 Being Fulfilled Right Before Our Eyes?

About a week ago, I introduced Commonwealth of Yisrael to you.  Following is an article about the project with many comments by co-founder, Kellen Davison.  As a matter of full disclosure and to help my readers put pieces together there are three items you need to know:

  • I am on the board of Commonwealth of Yisrael and covet your fervent prayer as we undertake this project.
  • I am heavily involved in the leadership of B’ney Yosef North America (BYNA), a fledgling organization that seeks to bring unity to the House of Joseph in North America as part of a larger project that is international!  All readers in North America should be considering getting involved with BYNA as I indirectly represent them to Commonwealth of Yisrael.  (Strength in numbers…)
  • My stance and that of BYNA is that those of us from the nations who seek to be united to Judah as part of Kol Yisrael only have rights through the restored covenant in Messiah Yeshua, He who came for the lost sheep of the House of Yisrael.  I.e., We will not deny Him and He comes with us… (More on this later.)

Is Ezekiel 37 Being Fulfilled Right Before Our Eyes?

“’And thou, son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it: For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions; then take another stick, and write upon it: For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and of all the house of Israel his companions; and join them for thee one to another into one stick, that they may become one in thy hand.” (Ezekiel 37:16-17)

During the recent Jewish holidays in September 2015, the Reconciliation with Israel Conference in Jerusalem, hosted by Kellen Davison, focused on recognizing the commonalities and addressing the areas that divide the two Abrahamic religions: Judaism and Christianity. As a result of conclusions made at the conference, Davison initiated the Commonwealth of Yisrael Project to help non-Jews join together in their common goal of bringing the Messiah Ben David, alongside the Jewish people, in a way that is mutually acceptable, conforming to Jewish law and Christian beliefs, and beneficial to all concerned.

The Commonwealth of Yisrael Project is intended to bring together non-Jews that love the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and recognize God’s eternal covenant with Israel, unifying them with each other and connecting them with the Jews. Davison spoke to Breaking Israel News, explaining that in order to succeed, the project must focus on the strong points that join people together.
Read more at http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/60606/commonwealth-israel-project-aims-fulfill-ezekiel-37-today-biblical-zionism/#EftLHqB2xIRycJiu.99

Ten Lepers Cleansed: Another Perspective

Not long ago, I shared a post concerning the Good Samaritan and a different perspective I had never seen.  In fact, like The Good Samaritan Parable, there are lepermany events and parables in the life of Yeshua that point to the Two Stick Prophecy and the restoration of All Yisrael in one way or another.  I was reminded this morning of another that is likely much more familiar to us.  Here are my thoughts on some of the details..

Luke 17:11 While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing [a]between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; 13 and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16 and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18 [b]Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith [c]has made you well.”

A couple obvious connections pop out, but be patient.  Let’s start from the top!  Every detail matters. Continue reading “Ten Lepers Cleansed: Another Perspective”

Can Pastors preach lies?

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I have been reading the Book of Jeremiah again and continually grapple with the blindness of Christendom and their/our rejection of the Torah as God’s everlasting standard of righteousness.  It is the partial blindness of Israel that Paul spoke of in Romans 9-11.

It does not take a rocket scientist to see that on every page of the Bible is a pointer back to the ancient paths, the Torah!! Why then do we listen to preachers who state otherwise?  Isaiah says of them, Continue reading “Can Pastors preach lies?”

Introducing: Commonwealth of Yisrael

Over the last couple months, I have been in communication with OvadYah Avrihami of Kol ha Tor in Israel.  You will remember the advert from the Jerusalem Post that I wrote about titled Yosef Is Alive!!  The originator of that advert was Kol ha Tor (Voice of the Dove).

Long story short, Kellen Davison of Vancouver, BC and fellow Ephramite who longs for reunification of the divided and scattered family, partnered with OvadYah and an organization called Commonwealth of Yisrael was born.  Commonwealth of Yisrael’s purpose is to facilitate dialoge betwen Ephraim and Judah in a ‘safe’ environment while at the same time helping Kol ha Tor represent Ephraim to Judah.

In the coming days, I will share more, with at least one big announcement likely coming in the next month or so.  For now, here is a neat abbreviated history of the division and what we can begin doing about it.  Enjoy…

My yoke is easy..

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I have noticed before the direct connection of Yeshua’s famous quote, “Come unto Me, all who labor….” and Jeremiah 6:16’s ‘..you shall find rest for your souls,’ but this morning I saw another close connection in Jeremiah 5:5.   Here, ‘the way of the Lord’ and ‘ordinances,’ clearly meaning Torah, are described as a ‘yoke’ the people refused.

There is little difference today as the Word of the Lord calls out for obedience to the everlasting Covenant, but people refused, preferring the traditions of men.

Dear followers of Jesus, soften your hearts and cry out for the Living Waters of righteousness, the good way, and walk in it!!!

http://bible.com/100/jer.5.5.NASB

A Reward Worth Pursuing…

I was only in the US Army for about four years, IMG_20160128_180358573but was blessed to attend multiple special skills schools as well as a nice variety of deployments to several parts of the globe.  When Napolean Bonaparte said, “a soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon,” he might have been speaking of me.  No question, I loved the challenge of hard schools and difficult duties.  In a twisted way, suffering is fun.  It separates the men from the posers.

In spite of the fact that I recognize those bits of colored ribbon fade and will eventually be destroyed by fire, I still pine for those days of testosterone, sweat and tears.  Maybe it’s just the way I’m wired.

Being wired that way, though, is not necessarily a bad thing…  Maybe it has usefulness for the Kingdom.  Throughout Scripture, over and over, we witness God taking simple and seemingly insignificant men and women to do significant works.  We remember Gideon, David, Ruth, Esther, Josiah, etc.  The list could go on and on.

Well, you and I, though we may feel insignificant in a world gone mad, live in a time of history wherein it is clear God is raising up men and women from among the ‘nobodys’ and ‘who is thats’ to do an amazing work in our day.  But, what ‘bit of colored ribbon’ motivates us to fight long and hard?

You may think, ‘I don’t need no stinking ribbon…’, but Scripture actually speaks of an everlasting reward and acknowledgement that is well worth pursuing.  Continue reading “A Reward Worth Pursuing…”

71 years ago today…

Seventy-one years ago today, a group of people was released from the prison in which they had unjustly been placed.  But, only a remnant walked out.  Most had been incinerated, shot, gassed and other attrocities…  all at the hands of a madman who used Christian doctrine to justify his inhumanity.

January 27, 1945 was the day that the Jews were liberated from the concentration and extermination camps of Auschwitz.  It is a generation on and Christendom has largely not taken responsibility evidenced by the fact that there is little notice of knifings and terror attacks in Israel today.  Why aren’t there more tears?

Following is an article that caught my eye about this day and thoughts from someone in the Land.  In it he refers to an article I wrote some time back as part of a series.  I hope both articles challenge you to consider deeply the roots of antiSemitism in Christianity and what we must do about it.  And, ignoring it is NOT the right answer…


Why We Should All Remember January 27th {with tears}

Many dates stick in people’s memories—February 14th, July 4th, December 25th—but I doubt January 27th is one that stands out in yours.  For most, this date is insignificant. So much so that one website diminishes the importance of the day down to “Chocolate Cake Day”1. The day comes and goes each year with little or no acknowledgement.

But for some, this day is honored and remembered every year.

Seventy-one years ago today, on January 27, 1945, the Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz were liberated by Soviet Soldiers. This was one of the largest sets of camps freed and one of the final steps in the fall of Nazi Germany.

Today, January 27th is remembered as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Being in Israel, the country restored to the Jewish people just three years after their liberation, makes this date more surreal than ever.

In my first class here, I learned about Israeli history, Jewish beliefs, and the horrific words and actions of “Christians” throughout history towards Jewish people. (Continue…)