Sabbath – 11:3 Restoration

Under Construction. Home Fellowships.

Abba is doing amazing things as He awakens His people to the roots of their faith and what it means to walk as Yeshua walked.

We have been doing some remodeling to update and improve the interior of this 80+ year old home. Still, Shabbat comes and we were hosting this week. So, Friday afternoon we frantically removed tools, lumber, drywall, etc and

cleaned/vacuumed in anticipation of facilitating fellowship here.

Here are a couple pics from our home Shabbat gathering. It is not always this big, but we are happy to host whoever He brings and yesterday was an amazing day of fellowship, midrash and worship.

Here we are gathering and getting situated…

Then, worship and dance. (Yes, we managed to squeeze a dance circle in!!) Boys seated on the scaffold used to drywall the 10′ ceilings… projector taped to boxes on top of the scaffold aimed at a sheet hastily tacked on the wall…

Notice the biggest blessing in the room?? Teenagers outnumbered adults almost 2:1!!! Total numbers were about 50 Heebs.

We spent about two hours in worship and discussion of the Torah portion before breaking to eat and the fellowship spilled outside into the cooling evening until about 10 pm when families packed up to head home.

Abba is doing something amazing in our day. We need only be willing to be used and be bridge builders among His people, facilitating and letting Him guide and direct.

I encourage you out there, find and get in fellowship. Then, as it grows and the Father leads, be willing to facilitate a group. You do not need special degrees or training. The Holy Spirit brought you this far… read, study and let Abba lead!! Seek peace and unity in all love and humility. This is where you will find the Father’s blessing!

Big Shabbat at the Rambo’s (Lots of pics…)

About once per quarter we are blessed to host a gathering of multiple area home fellowships. One most encouraging thing about Western SC is that there are home fellowships springing up everywhere and we are striving to walk in peace and harmony as a testimony to our King.

The Torah and the Body of Messiah was NEVER meant to function as a ‘church,’ rather, we are to function as a community!! Israel, kol Israel, is to function as a community with gathering for worship and prayer at the center of all other community activities. We are learning to walk together and function more and more as a community.

Following is a gallery of a bunch of pictures from yesterday. Continue reading “Big Shabbat at the Rambo’s (Lots of pics…)”

Hermeneutics and Theological Cockelburs

Not long ago, an old friend from seminary visited. Unlike most friends in ministry who jettisoned us after we began this Messianic journey, they have remained close, though we rarely have a Scriptural discussion of real substance. This visit was different as we enjoyed a spirited discussion that they closed with the simple statement, “Well, you’ve given me a lot to think about.”

During that discussion, we talked briefly about the Sabbath and upon reflection, I noticed something fascinating that will prove beneficial in future conversations.

When we attended seminary at Columbia International University (class of ’02), one of the annual requirements was signing and submitting to the policies of the Standards Handbook. Because the Christian college and seminary are Biblically very conservative, one of the standards we were required to agree to was Continue reading “Hermeneutics and Theological Cockelburs”

Guilt-free Rest!

I am a bit of a workaholic. Some might say, ‘more than a bit.’

If I think I can squeeze something else onto my plate, I will find a way to do it. It is just the way I am wired. Part of the issue is that I love to work, part is that so many others do not. If I see something that needs to be done, I do it. Etc.

Whether this is good or bad is not my point. What being a workaholic does lead to is exhaustion and that is not our Creator’s desire for any of His creation. He desires that we be creative and accomplish much, but He also ~~desires~~ commands that we rest.

Most workaholics have trouble resting. Like me, they feel guilty if they are sitting still. I mean, isn’t there something that needs to be done??

Well, this morning, I woke with the phrase, ‘guilt-free rest’ playing on my mind. I was sleeping late as I do most Saturdays and experiencing the very reason why I LOVE this day, Continue reading “Guilt-free Rest!”

FOREVER. (Chag Sameach)

At least a half dozen times we are told that Passover is a statute to be kept ‘forever’ in ‘all your dwelling places.’

Does your preacher affirm this?

Worth asking the very hard questions!! What a blessing last night and today fellowshipping with families as we celebrate God’s Feast in God’s way.

If this is bondage, lock me up and throw away the key!! 🙂

http://bible.com/59/exo.12.14.ESV

Noach, some useful stuff…

I learned today from Ray Gardner that this Portion, Noach, is his favorite Torah Parasha because of all the end times themes. I have posted his Study Notes on the Torah Portion Page. While my favorites are the Joseph portions, I have to say that Noach ranks very high on my list. So much so that one of the most useful insights I have gleaned from Noach, I have made into several different teachings. You may really enjoy these as a means of sharing the Truth with others.

First, an image from YouVersion friend, Steve King:

This portion offers an amazing defense of the seventh day Sabbath. Here are several version of the teaching Continue reading “Noach, some useful stuff…”

Thoughts from B’reisheet

Today began the new year’s cycle of Torah portions. Our family attended a small fellowship in Columbia and enjoyed participating in a fun discussion/midrash that took a jaunt through Genesis 1:1-6:8, this week’s portion. We also participated in their ongoing study in both Romans and Joel. Certainly, a blessed way to spend several hours on a Shabbat!

Following are a couple thoughts from this week and our discussion:

– ‘God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it….’

“Central to rejecting Creation is the rejection of the seventh day Sabbath.”

I don’t remember who said it, or if that is the exact quote, but that is what I heard as our discussion concerning the creation week touched on evolution Continue reading “Thoughts from B’reisheet”