freedom – 11:3 Restoration

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!

Spirit-filled Orthodox Jews? Paradigm-shifting.

My right knee is pretty sore. I really should have stretched before starting to inline skate, but such is the way with a 49 year old that thinks he is 19 years old! The bottom line is that I am thankful I have nothing more than a stretched (strained) ligament in my knee and though it is quite sore, I will recover.

I have learned that our Father is a bit more tender than the pavement in stretching us and generally, He is quite patient if we will work with Him and allow Him to stretch us. My family and I began this Hebraic/Messianic walk about five years ago and it has been a process of stretching and recovering from each successive step that our Father has led us through.

Each step has taken us out of this box or that box, shifting our paradigms and helping us to learn and grow and understand Him and His Word more. Some steps have been HUGE. The first six to eight months of this journey was like wrapping my mouth on a firehose. My head almost exploded! But, graciously, after each new step, Father gives us periods of time wherein we can recover and process and adjust to our new paradigm before He leads us farther forward.

The past five weeks or so have been one stretching paradigm-shifting event after another. We had been in a somewhat relaxed/recovery phase before our recent trip to Israel, but He shook us up good on this trip and so stretched us that it has been much like those early days drinking from a fire hose. I am still processing so much. Continue reading “Spirit-filled Orthodox Jews? Paradigm-shifting.”

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

Jubilee, Yom Kippur and Isaiah 61

This week’s Torah Portion, Behar (‘on the Mount’), is primarily about the seventh year Sabbaths and the year of Jubilee. Leviticus 25 gives us many details of this joyous event of freedom that was commanded to occur every

From Wiki:Shofar... Old Jerusalem Yochanan ben Zakkai synagogue - A flask of oil and a shofar for the anointing of the eagerly-awaited Mashiach.[1] — From Wiki:Shofar… Old Jerusalem Yochanan ben Zakkai synagogue – A flask of oil and a shofar for the anointing of the eagerly-awaited Mashiach.[1]

50 years in Israel’s calendar. On this date that began a Sabbatical year, slaves received freedom, debts were cancelled and land was returned to families who might have lost it during difficult circumstances. What joy!

In our Torah study today at Davar Chaim, I pondered aloud the juxtaposition of this first day of Jubilees occurring on Yom Kippur, traditionally a day of mourning, of ashes, and of weakness induced by fasting. Here is the verse,

⁸‘You are also to count off seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years, so that you have the time of the seven sabbaths of years, namely, forty-nine years. ⁹You shall then sound a ram’s horn abroad on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the day of atonement Continue reading “Jubilee, Yom Kippur and Isaiah 61”

R U N the 1%?

If Jesus came into your church, would you recognize Him? While my guess is completely subjective, I would guess that fewer than 1% would recognize the Messiah, King of Israel, if He walked into your church building.

No, He likely won’t come dressed as a homeless guy, though we should receive the homeless with love and concern.

He won’t be in a long robe and probably won’t have longish hair. He will have a beard.

In fact, 99% of the images and ideas we have of Him are wrong based on simple reading of Scripture.

You won’t know based on a ‘gut feeling.’ Your emotions will fail you EVERY time.

You MUST be able to tell based on facts that are verifiable. Scars? May or may not work…

How then will you KNOW without a shadow of a doubt who He is and that He is the REAL deal?

Scripture tells us exactly Continue reading “R U N the 1%?”

A Great Irony in Christian Theology…

So, let me get this straight…

Israel was free when they were obedient to God’s Torah, but sent into bondage when they repeatedly disobeyed it, but Christendom is ‘free’ when they ignore God’s Torah and ‘in bondage’ if they rightly choose obedience?

Say wha…?

Here is the TRUTH:

The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law (Torah). Proverbs 4:2

Got Torah?