Category: A Thought…

Bilateral Ecclesiology. Antisemitism…. In Reverse?

A book I read recently hit a nerve.  Frankly, I didn’t realize it was such a sore spot until that moment.

More than a few times in the last couple months, I have run into a theological debate/discussion about ecclesiology.  Specifically, Bilateral Ecclesiology.  Now, before you run for the exit, let me explain what the words mean and why it is important to understand.

In theological terms, the study of the ‘church,’ is called ‘ecclesiology, from the Greek word ‘ekklesia.’  ‘Bilateral,’ of course, means ‘two parts, two sides, two parties…’  So, Bilateral Ecclesiology is the coined term for those who believe the ‘ekklesia,’ in this use meaning the ‘Bride/Body of Messiah,’ has two parts.

The place this has really sprung to the forefront is in Messianic circles Continue reading “Bilateral Ecclesiology. Antisemitism…. In Reverse?”

Puttin’ lipstick on a pig! A lil’ dab’ll do ya!

Lipstickpig

My, the lengths we go to to justify behaving like the world.  Do we understand the damage it does to us and to our children?

Here is an invitation we received…  followed by some thoughts.

____________________________
October 31, 2013 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm please join us at (redacted:  A conservative church I once served in)  for Reformation Celebration.
  5:30-6:15 –  Medieval Feast ( food for the family)
   6:15-7:25 –   Games: hayride, burning the bull, musical chairs, throwing ink wells @ Satan,   fishers of men, thunderstorm
   7:30-8:00 – Sanctuary:  Nice (sic) Creed, Reformation Skit, singing, and Benediction

Some additional notes on Evan, the Cornerstone!

After the study I put up the other day on the Hebrew word ‘אבן‘  (even or evan) meaning ‘stone,’ I decided to build on it for our congregation’s Wednesday evening Torah study.  I dug up a few more verses with the Hebrew word and we had a ‘ball’ just looking stone_2at familiar texts and ‘seeing’ new things as remez insights for Messiah.

Now, not all verses with the word ‘evan’ point to Mashiach, or at least we didn’t ‘see’ Him under every stone…  pun intended, but we found some really cool verses that you will enjoy, and they’ll peak your interest in other references as you read.

If you have not read the ‘אבן‘ study, you need to do so to understand the rest of this post… 😉 Continue reading “Some additional notes on Evan, the Cornerstone!”

Thus says Yahweh, …

Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
“I am Yahweh your God, who teaches you what is best for you,
Who leads you in the way you should go.
“If only you had paid attention to My commandments!
Then your peace would have been like a river,
And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”

Isaiah 48:17-18

Why do people spend so much time doing theological gymnastics in order to find reasons why His commandments aren’t really for them?  In the next three weeks, modern Christendom will miss the most blessed days of the year because of willful disobedience!

If you will not pay attention to His commandments, you will not find peace and righteousness….  Ouch!!

Ready for the Fall Feasts?  The ones He hasn’t fulfilled yet?  The ones that tell of His coming and judgment?

Christian Pastor: Why you should celebrate Halloween.

75 seconds that will blow your mind!  Paganism defined, justified, embraced.

From the pulpit.

Wow!

Original post with comments.

Sharing my journey… Some of the pain…

A few days ago I was reviewing the ‘About’ page trying to ‘see’ what others ‘see.’  You know, a sort of self assessment.

I noticed on the page that I had written that my goal for this blog is to ‘share the journey’ and ‘explain what I am learning.’  Well, it is pretty clear that I love sharing the fire in my soul that burns daily with new ways to challenge the reader to action and growth, but I realized that I have missed widely on the other ‘goal’ for the blog.  Sharing my journey.

While I don’t have  a particular story or encounter to share, I thought I’d take a post to give some general thoughts and experiences over the last two years as this transformation in my understanding of Scripture has happened.  Certainly, my post on Antisemitism was heart wrenching, and the early RT series more personal as I related the early parts of this ‘walk’ but I have missed that area a bit lately. Continue reading “Sharing my journey… Some of the pain…”

Excellent passage defending Messianic Torah observance!!

Here is an interesting passage that I already knew was a solid defense for Torah observance by the believer in Yeshua (Jesus), but, while referring to it in today’s Shabbat message, I noticed a couple words that have been there all along!  Funny how we can read verses and not SEE what is actually there.

Before we look at it, I want you to notice, this is a ‘last days’ passage.  Verse two gets quoted with the coming of Yeshua, but most never notice the context is decidedly eschatological…  End times!  Last days!  Has ‘not yet happened!!’

“[a]For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, Continue reading “Excellent passage defending Messianic Torah observance!!”

I Should Have Seen It Coming….

I have recently written several posts highlighting glaring translator error or bias.  Predictably, I have received multiple requests about Bible translation recommendations, or thoughts on a particular version…  I should have seen that coming!  So, here is a short post with a few thoughts..

While I am no expert on translations, I think there a few assertions I can safely make: