Why is this so hard?

Paradigm shifts are rarely easy. And, for those on the cutting edge, they can be particularly difficult.

Many readers are in some stage of ‘coming to’ or beginning Torah observance, and the whole process is challenging. But, why? In theory, this should be easy, right? Read the Scriptures. See truth. Walk in it.

As humans, we tend to act like pack animals. We have way too much of a herd mentality. Deep inside, whether a lie of the adversary or voice from our flesh, we do not want to be different or perceived as ‘outside’ the fold. We even know that Yeshua clearly taught that following Him was the antithesis to crowd following.

Yet, we follow. Comfortably. And, justify it.

In truth, this should be simple, but we make it hard. Too, hard. We should simply say, ‘Abba, You call, I haul! Just show me truth in Your Word and I’ll walk in it.’

That’s it! No dickering or negotiating. No checking with men and their doctrines. No worrying about what the neighbors or family members will say.

Just see it, believe it and walk it out.

I pray each of you cease to negotiate the price. Stop trying to find the easy path. Give up on pleasing the folks around you. Just focus on the Word and what it actually says.

Selah!

Restoring kol Israel: The ‘lost’ first post…

I’m sitting here staring at my screen.  Writing feels a bit like blood letting. Yet, my brain is totally full and I have no idea where to begin, which string to pull first so the dam will beak.

For weeks, months even, I have been pondering the many facets of the restoration of kol Israel. One might call it a minor obsession because it is where my thoughts go when nothing else pressing is at the forefront.  Among those thoughts, I have been juggling the hot potatoes that few have the courage to touch, subjects that draw extreme ire and irrational unbiblical pushback. Post titles float across my mind, titles like Feminism and the Destruction of Western Culture, or Patriarchy, God’s Solution that Everybody Hates, or Where have all the Men Gone and Why don’t they Care?

Most whom I have conversations with concerning the restoration of Israel, the return of the whole House of Israel and what it will look like, have a lilting dreamy character to their voice until they understand that to be successful, we must divorce ourselves from Western Greek influences.  It is one thing for most to erase Christmas or Easter and the many unbiblical elements absorbed from the nations, but it is another matter entirely to realize that future Israel will Continue reading “Restoring kol Israel: The ‘lost’ first post…”

The Global Fertility Crash

Two or three evenings ago, my eldest son read some information to me regarding the growing global fertility crisis. He is working on his Masters level degree as a Nurse Practitioner and is immersed in all things health related, so his interest being peaked by a report on fertility rates crashing was no surprise.

We had an excellent discussion about the relationship between the fertility rate and the rate at which women embrace the God-ordained role of bearing children and caring for the home instead of pursuing education and careers. I further explained that reversing this and walking according to Scripture in the whole area of patriarchy, family structure and marriage is imperative for the restoration of kol Israel. (Did I mention this blog has a whole series on the subject?)

Continue reading “The Global Fertility Crash”

Restoring Kol Israel: Patriarchy to Thrive Societally!!

Over the last several months, we have been unfolding this series on headship and patriarchy from a Biblical perspective. The Bible is clear concerning the structure of family and marriage, but we are sure the average reader has harbored the ‘why does God do it this way?’ question. And, we could simply say, ‘Because He can…’ but for many, that would be too simplistic or even entirely unsatisfactory.

Susan B. Anthony, unwitting instigator in the destruction of America.

Personally, I accept Scripture as truth. Period. End of story. But, as with many other areas where the wisdom of Elohim proves true, what if there are very solid sociological reasons why headship and patriarchy are the best route to go?

Today, I read an amazing article that exactly explains the ‘why?’

How Getting Marriage ‘Wrong’ Destroyed Every Great Civilization in World History

The article is long with a pile of research, but it is well worth your time to read and process if you want to understand the major underlying reason why civilizations fail. And, more significantly, why God mandates patriarchy.

Continue reading “Restoring Kol Israel: Patriarchy to Thrive Societally!!”

Our focus for the next Torah cycle…

Opportunities abound in each new journey through the Torah and now is the time to prayerfully ask Abba what He may have for you.

Free Torah Portion cards available through FFOZ.

As most readers know, we are just a couple Shabbats away from returning to the beginning and again taking up the annual journey through the Torah portions. Each year I seek what the Father would have me focus on as an overarching theme. In some years I have shared from those studies and in others it has been a more personal matter.

Well, this year, I will be paying special attention to elements of headship, patriarchy, marriage, roles of men and women as well as how this all plays out in community with a goal of understanding more about the restoration of kol Israel at the family and then clan levels. Blog co-author, Jeremy, and I have the ambitious goal of releasing a weekly blog post sharing some of what we are learning from each Torah portion.

We hope you will seek the Father and see what His focus would be for you, and if He leads you to join us on this journey, we ask you to participate in comment and discussion after each weekly post. Pray for us and walk with us in this critical journey.

Prophecy blindness?

Kelly and I are back in the Land, aka Israel, for the next three glorious weeks. We are blessed to have the opportunity to lead the Ani Yosef Sukkot trip and to attend a couple small conferences concerning the restoration of Israel.

After a late start this morning due to little sleep while traveling we headed out for a several hour hike out of the moshav and through a part of the Hakedoshim Forest. The ‘Forest of the Holy Ones.’

We walked and talked. Stopped a couple places to pray and simply drink in the beauty.

As we talked, she mentioned, “I look forward to the day when everything is green again.”

I said, “It is green! Everywhere.”

“I’m not color-blind,” she immediately responded.

“I understand what you are saying, dear, but I already see it as green.” Then it hit me. I pondered and as we kept walking, I said, “I think often we are prophecy-blind like being color-blind. We don’t see things by faith as if they already are!”

Continue reading “Prophecy blindness?”

Vision and Restoration…

Why are you alive? Fifty years after you die, what will have been the value of your life? How will people remember you? Will they remember you?

While ultimately, life is not so self centered as to be about my or your existence, few of us think deeply enough about our reason for being or living.

Recently, my wife and I, along with our eldest, attended a retreat focused on Biblical headship and patriarchy, our third such with this group. It was a refreshing gathering of believers from a number of different Christian/Hebraic backgrounds with the common passion for understanding marriage and headship from a decidedly Biblical perspective. Besides the interesting fact that is was fun to rub shoulders with Christians who don’t see or understand Torah as necessary while decidedly rejecting feminism and matriarchy based on the ‘old Testament Law,’ it was cathartic to hear from others who have experienced rejection from friends and family because they choose truth over tradition in this area. But, I digress.

Continue reading “Vision and Restoration…”

Musings re: Headship and Numbers 30-31

Headship and the Biblical order in both family and nation has been a recurring theme in our fellowship. Over the last few months we have been intensely challenged by the Father to consider HIS model for how men/women/family/clan/tribe/nation are supposed to function and operate. Yesterday was no different. While we had a ‘double portion’ in Mattot and Massei, we never actually got out of the first two chapters.

I thought I’d share a few thoughts that came out of our discussion as it directly relates to the ongoing series on this blog regarding the restoration of kol Israel and the roles of men and women. Consider them food for thought or discussion as we did not fully develop them, nor am I attempting to share every detail of our conversation…

Numbers 30:

Continue reading “Musings re: Headship and Numbers 30-31”