grafted in and on the journey

Hi and shalom! Today is December 22 and nearly 32 degrees in my corner of the world. I was not intending to post until January but after receiving this week's Media Review from the Mission Organization, Caspari Center felt it necessary. Would you consider making a donation to the ministry of Caspari Center PO Box 147 Wheaton, Illinois to honor the 2 victims of this report, one of whom formerly worked with Caspari Center apparently. I think the ministry may need to know other believers care and also words of comfort may be appreciated if so led. If you google caspari center media review, you can get the web site and contact info that way. This is lengthy and the details are not pretty. See you next year. This week's Review includes a report on the assault on Kay Wilson - a former editor of the Media Review - and the death of her friend Kristine Luken after they were attacked by two men while hiking. (Most of the articles mistakenly spelled the name Christine Logan. The Review ha...

Hi and shalom! Today remains chilly in my corner of the blogosphere, 25 when getting out of the sack this morning. This time of year Holiday music is played on the radio, and I often think back to attending concert performances by the DSO (Detroit Symphony Orchestra) of Handel's Messiah, in the early-mid 1970s. There were plenty of solos amid the choral pieces, and the climax always seemed to be the audience standing and singing The Hallelujah Chorus with the performing orchestra and choir. Quite moving! Someone on a forum I participate reminded us that Yeshua HaMashiach is not only King Messiah but brother and servant Messiah to those who by faith believe in Him. Most the liturgical churches forget He is a Jewish Savior, think of Him as a baby and then a King, and are steeped in replacement theology though many of them have professed to come out of that. Perhaps like old habits, doctrine too dies hard. Where I attend the pastor neglected to mention Easter referring to a goddess...

Hi and shalom! Today is Wednesday, October 27 and my morning pattern is evolving into one where an hour is devoted to prayer and Bible study. This morning thankfully is without exception. My spouse and I together are reading the book, Eternity In Their Hearts, showing how in remote tribes, God witnesses of Himself to those He has created. It's a fascinating read! In a couple or 3 days we will again be observing the weekly Sabbath. Consider this, from Appointed Times With God as you and I head for, or find ourselves in this special Day. Would appreciate a hello from you! Our God is the Source of Light and the One who enlightens. The Light of the world, who reveals Himself in the light of His Word. Indeed, the Sabbath lights radiantly reflect the light of Yeshua, who as the Word Incarnate said: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life". “And whoever sees me sees Him [our Father-Creator, the God of Israe...

Hi and Shalom, Today is Friday August 13 but more importantly Elul 3. I resubscribed to the weekly newsletter from Beth Haderech Congreation of Toronto CA and want to share the following lengthy exercise one can do this month. Perhaps each of us are doing this to some extent or other. We belong to the Savior and have been brought with a price, let's continue to turn away from sin together.. This Rosh Chodesh, New Moon, marks the start of the month of Elul. Elul 1 is 30 days from the Feast of Trumpets and 40 days before the Day of Atonement. "Elul" has been interpreted as an acronym, with its Hebrew letters "Aleph," "Lamed," "Vav," "Lamed" representing the words "Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li," Song of Songs 6:3. This gives us a hint of the intimacy that should be between the Almighty and His people during these days. Indeed, the next month is a special time. As we are approaching the Fall Feast Days may we cleanse our souls ...

Hi and shalom! The concept of "remember" in Scripture refers to more than just not forgetting someone or something, but is an action word, a decided choice to love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, soul, mind, strength, and neighbor as yourself. When we collectively don't spend time, i.e. remember God, it gives rise to the following as posted in The Week online edition. My comment before, during and after is start making Shabbat a consistent rhythm in your life. Increasingly, technology not only lets us control our lives in innovative ways, but offers to do so on our behalf. The number of products, applications, and gadgets designed to combat our baser instincts — forcing us to eat less, behave better, and otherwise live cleaner, more respectable lives — is on the rise. This week, for example, saw the release of an application that warns you if your e-mail text could be interpreted as rude (see below). Here's a list of 6 vices, and the technological gadgets that...

Hi and shalom! Have you ever had prayers answered seemingly in quick fashion, like the turn-around time expected on a given project that you are responsible for ensuring happens? That happened for me this week to where I could observe it, God has great turn-around time on our petitions. I have been working on a novella that will take longer to get out there then I dreamed. Also the method it will get out there and form are probably being worked out as I write this. Someone shared, ultimately we want to do God's will not our own, I say oops. Still feel the frustration though that was stated by a flustered mom in that 60s headache commercial, I would rather do it myself! The other was from another friend who shared with me on living and working with other believers even though my perspective is a minority one. Read this: Find the most open-minded and thoughtful Christian community you can. Study on your own. Truly be in community. Here's the toughy, resist the urge to see othe...

Hi and Shalom! Today I want to share with you an excerpt from the weekly Torah Commentary called the UONYC Teaching Letter from the Union of Ysraelite Nazarene Congregations, a group within the Messianic faith. There is some timeless wisdom here as it relates to the last book of the Torah, Deuteronomy. May we all be encouraged, and His presence be with us today! Shabbat Shalom Kol Yisrael. It is our great pleasure to present this week's Torah Parsha commentary by Nazarene Yisraelite Rabbi T. (Mordecai) Mitchell, Rabbi and Rosh Zaken of B'nai Yeshurun Nazarene Yisraelite Synagogue, Kittanning, Pa., board member of the Union of Nazarene Yisraelite Congregations. Our Parsha this week is D'varim (Words) Debarim (Deuteronomy 1:1 – 3:22. Our Haftarah is YeshaYahu (Isaiah) 1:1 – 27. Our suggested Brit Chadasha readings are: Yochanan (John) 15:1 – 17 and Ibrim (Hebrews) 3:7 – 4:11. Also please read Tehillim (Psalms) 106 and 124. Please note that this Parsha is read annually on the ...

Hi and shalom! We haven't spent much time the past few posts in the book title, Bound for Freedom by Goran Larsson, and thought it was good time to return to this. The annual Torah reading cycle begins Deuteronomy this week, the first 3 chapters. Deuteronomy is thought to be Moses' synopsis of the wilderness years and by God's direction, encourages Joshua and the sojourners to continue walking with our LORD. With Mr. Larsson, we last visited his title as he was discussing the feast of Pentecost. I pick up there. "Pentecost is no less a part of God's miracle of liberation than is Passover. Therefore it is crucial that every generation places itself at Mt. Sinai, listens to the same heavenly voice, and utters the same confession as their forefathers. The words of Torah should be new to you as though they were given this very day. It is well-known that the liberation from Egypt is celebrated year after year at Passover. We also know fairly well how this feast has...

Hi and shalom! It is the first of July here as I write, mostly sunny and in the low 70s. Not bad for summer. I have been pondering the phrase, at God's urging, today. A friend sent me a personal e-mail telling me she did not feel fit for the task she felt God our Father was asking her to do but would proceed. I said in response, May he give you ideas to express yourself in artistry that is intended for others to see. I have been working on a novel and feel much like my friend having never done this previously. At God's urging applies to a thought or idea or sentence that may come along and make for good content to the novel. May it be so for all of us as we set out to do our special services, at God's urging. I plan to have a reasonably relaxing weekend, and thank God for our independence and interdependence as citizens of His Kingdom and residents here on earth. See you next post, comment whenever you desire as I enjoy reading them! Mellow Roc

Hi and shalom, For the past several months, I have been participating in many of the on line Life Of Yeshua Bible studies offered free of charge from www.hebrewroots.com a UK Messianic web site. This is chronologically going through the birth and life of our Savior, Yeshua the Messiah. Here is a sample from week 17. WEEK 17 : The Childhood of Yeshua 1. SCRIPTURE Luke 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Lk. 2:40 Luke 2:40 (NKJV) Other versions ... 2. COMMENTARY With this one statement the development of Yeshua from the age of four until the age of twelve is summarized by stating that physically He waxed strong; mentally He was filled with wisdom; and spiritually the grace of God was upon Him. The question is: what kind of an upbringing did Yeshua have? Although the Bible does not give that much information concerning Yeshua’s early years, the Mishnah gives the breaking down of the ages of development of a Jewish c...

Hi and shalom, This article, lengthy excerpt here, may cause many Sacramentalists to ponder and I don't mean those residing in California but those who believe Holy Communion is a God-given sacrament. See below from author Bruce Chilton in the BAR resource, 24 hours that changed the world, an Easter discussion. What Jesus was doing at the Last Supper has not been understood for the better part of 2,000 years. The reason for the misunderstanding is that Jesus, a Jewish teacher who was concerned with the sacrificial worship of Israel, has been treated as if he were the deity in a Hellenistic cult. A generation after Jesus’ death, when the Gospels were written, the Romans had destroyed the Jerusalem Temple (in 70 C.E.); the most influential centers of Christianity were cities of the Mediterranean world such as Alexandria, Antioch, Corinth, Damascus, Ephesus and Rome. Although large numbers of Jews were also followers of Jesus, non-Jews came to predominate in the early Church. They c...

Hi and shalom, Today is the last day of March and Passover was on Monday evening to Tuesday evening, a Jewish day typically starts at sunset til the next sunset, and now in a 7-week period of counting the days to Shavuot/Pentecost which celebrates God communicating with us in giving the Torah and giving His Spirit, respectively at 2 separate occasions in history. I wanted to share the daily Omer count email which I receive from UMJC, Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations. To think of our journey as a process to be mobilized is refreshing. Each week the emphasis will be on a different aspect of the mobilization. Here is today's sample, day 2. As we continue 49 days of spiritual mobilization in prayer, we can pray to become mobilized ourselves. When you count the Omer tonight, ask, "Am I working on my character? Are those around me affected positively by my example of Messiah Yeshua?" Counting the Omer is a time for personal spiritual renewal, as well as for our shared ...

Hi and shalom, After the morning rush here at home, listening to Morning Edition on NPR, felt it was time to say a few words about the world in which we live. I am thankful for the new person following as well as the rest of you, and hope you will frequent often and comment whenever moved to do so! Gotta deal? OK. Hearing about the relief effort in Haiti, establishment of short-term care being provided by hospitals across the country to victims of the earthquake in Haiti, the doings with Toyota, and preparations for the pending snowfall in and around the Washington, D.C. area this weekend, are quite a platter full to consider. There is more to life than my little world, raising 2 teens with my wife, promoting a small group study of the Jewish roots of Christianity, etc etc. However, what goes on in our respective worlds, influences the world at large probably indirectly most times but on occasion directly too. Here's to the mechanics replacing parts on the recalled Toyota vehi...