More e-sword freebies!!

I have previously mentioned the powerful FREE Bible study software called e-sword!

Well, I found a great resource for additional free modules!!  (They do have a link to make donations, if you feel so led.)

Take a look at Bible Support for a whole plethora of study tools and modules…  Specifically, I was searching for the Yonatan and Onkelos Targumim, and they have both, now in my ‘library’ in my e-sword!!  Membership on the site is required, but it is quick, free and painless.

They have the base e-sword as well as most anything you could want…  More reading than I’ll accomplish in the next few years!  Again, for a preloaded Hebrew roots specific e-sword, go here.

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The Maker of the Universe

I was reminded of this awesome song the other day…  Incredible poignancy in the lyrics.  How mighty is our KING!

 

The Maker of the universe
As Man for man was made a curse
The claims of Law which He had made
Unto the uttermost He paid.

His holy fingers made the bough
Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow Continue reading

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He Judges By…. Smell?!?

Seriously!!  One attribute of the Mashiach is that He judges by smell!

(This promises to be an interesting and unconventional post that will pull some odd things together…  )

Man cooking, smelling aroma   Original Filename: 200357416-001.jpgAfter the midrash at this week’s Shabbat (parsha, Toldot), a bunch of the guys were sitting around batting topics and savoring the weekly covered dish selections.  Usually, the topics discussed can be as varied as the smorgasbord on the side table.  This week however, proved special…  I threw a really odd, off-the-wall topic on the table.

While reading The Return of the Kosher Pig, by Rabbi Itzhak Shapira, (recently reviewed here) I was introduced to an interesting concept about the Messiah in Judaic thought.

The Messiah will judge by smell!

Really?!?

Having learned to read and study further, as there is often great value in pursuing the Rabbinic thought process, I was astounded to not only see the connection, but to confirm it from multiple places in Scripture.  Before sharing the potential really odd connection (nephilim), let me explain how they ‘got there’ and why it has a lot of validity! Continue reading

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The 3 signs of apostasy, and how to deal with doubt in your life

Following post reblogged.  Excellent!!  HIGHLY recommended for all to read!!

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Are there signs in a person’s life that they are headed towards apostasy, loss of faith?

What can a person dealing with doubt do to renew faith and grow stronger?

What can a man do to initiate again that growing edge of faith, one that drives his life, strengthens him as an upstanding man for righteousness, feeding on God’s word?

With the recent apostasy of Messianic Judaism blogger Gene Shlomovich, I’ve been reflecting on these questions deeply and in sincerity.

Apostasy is not new or shocking to me;  Continue reading at Kineti L’Tziyon…

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The Divine Messiah in Judaism!

I just LOVE Rabbi Itzhak Shapira’s teachings!  Much depth and passion.  Pray for him that our Father use him to open eyes of those seeking Messiah!

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The Veiled Messiah

Encouraging video!  May Abba open eyes!!

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The Grass Withers….

If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a hundred times.

flower fadesThe grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever. 

Isaiah 40:8 and 1st Peter 1:24-25

Pastors commonly quote this verse immediately after reading a passage of Scripture to rightly remind the hearer that ‘the word of our God stands forever.

How many, I wonder, have this verse come to mind when they proceed to misuse the Apostle Paul and lead the hearer to wrongly agree with the preacher that ‘the Law has been done away with.’  You know, the breathed ‘word of God that stands forever?’   Hmmmm….

But that is not really what this post is about…  LOL!  While looking at that verse, and then comparing the surrounding context, I saw something that had previously escaped me!!  Continue reading

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Thank you, Judah!!

I wrote, in a very recent post , “Are there some things very special about Judah that we need to acknowledge?  Absolutely!! ”

Interview-Thank-You-NotesEven as I wrote it, I was thinking of a few things I am very thankful to my brother Judah, or the Jews, for.  Only later did I think, “I’m not sure I’ve ever said ‘thank you’ publicly!”

Indeed, all mankind has much to thank the Jews for as a cursory look at Nobel Winners will reveal a wildly disproportionate number of winners that are of Judaic decent.  Countless inventions, scientific findings, technologies, etc are directly attributable to those of Jewish descent.

But this is more personal.  As a believer Continue reading

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A Christian Teacher Has Questions About Messianic Judaism

A Christian Teacher Has Questions About Messianic Judaism.

Reposted from a thread on our fellowship’s site.  Good overview email and a link to another blog I enjoy.

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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

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A few more book recommendations…

So, I’ve been catching up on my reading…  The pile hasn’t shrunk much, but at least I am getting through some of them.  (More coming tomorrow… LOL!)

Here are two recommendations, the first without reservations, the second with a caveat.

lifting veil AYThe Lifting of the Veil; Acts 15:20-21, by Avram Yehoshua is a fantastic scholarly work!!

There is NO better treatment of Acts 15:20-21 on the planet, than this book!

If there are two verses that Christianity has misinterpreted or misrepresented more than these two, I’m not sure what they are!  One of the cornerstones to ‘abolishing the Law’ is the wrongful use of these verses.

Unfortunately, most ‘scholars’ are not really willing to listen to the average ‘joe’ who has awakened from lawless stupor, because the ‘joe’ does not have any ‘credibility’ in scholastic circles…  Scholars, theologians even, have a need for peer acceptance.  Thus, peer review!  As such, a conundrum is created that prevents those who understand that the Torah still applies today from being accepted by established theology that has stated for 1700 years that it no longer applies.  Yehoshua, understanding this dilemma, uses their own sources and writing to expose and dismantle centuries of  errant understanding of Acts 15:20-21 and the resultant wrong theology. Continue reading

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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.

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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
 Wear a costume if you like Continue reading
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Defining ‘Apostasy’ and ‘THE Man of Sin’

II Thessalonians 2:3, in a passage about the last days, says,

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 

Ever wondered what the ‘falling away’ or, in some translations, ‘apostasy’ will be?  How does it relate to ‘the man of sin?’

This will be a short study to help the reader identify and understand what the ‘apostasy’ is and what the defining characteristic is of THE man of sin.  Students of prophecy will be particularly interested.  (A quick side note:  We should ALL be students of prophecy for two very good reasons:  1.) More than 1/3 of Scripture is prophetic on some level!!  and 2.) The testimony of Yeshua IS the Spirit of Prophecy!) Continue reading

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‘In Abraham by faith’ really means…

While reading in Genesis yesterday, I noticed a verse that dispels a couple common misconceptions, or false defenses in both Christendom and in Judaism/Messianic Judaism.

In Christendom, a common objection to keeping Torah is the idea that ‘I am of Abraham’s seed and don’t need to do that.’ Generally, the finger is pointed at Rav Shaul (Apostle Paul) and the Jerusalem Council, Acts 15, as indication that they do not have to keep (any of) the Torah.

A similar defense for many ‘two-law’ groups who think that believing Gentiles have a ‘different path’ than Jews is argued from the Acts 15 passage.

BOTH ideas are exposed as fallacies in Continue reading

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The Law only does three things…

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