Preparing to Return to Israel!

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Pete Rambo

As if the last few months haven’t been busy enough, we have begun the process of planning a return trip to Israel.  Along with friends, we have booked plane reservations and have IMG_20150518_143948445 (1)rented a house just outside Jerusalem for Sukkot and will stay in Israel for the Second Bney Yosef Congress.

When we returned from our first trip last May, our boys met us at the door and said we could not go back without taking them.  As it stands, it looks like we are taking most of them with us this Fall, so now we begin to figure out what we want to see, where we all want to go and what events in the Old City that we want to attend.

At the top of our list is participating in the Parade of Nations in Jerusalem.  What makes this special event so exciting to look forward to is that dozens of friends will be there! I. CAN’T. WAIT!

We will be Continue reading →

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Zealous? For what?

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Pete Rambo

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Acts 21:20 relates that a mark of the apostolic kahal/ekklesia/congregation was being zealous for the Law.

How does the Church today view those ‘zealous for the Law?’. How does God view those ‘zealous for the Law?’

If the Law, the Torah, defines sin and righteousness, how should we view those who denigrate or teach against lawFULL behavior?  Is it just possible that Christendom is wrong and walking contrary to God’s ways?  Is it possible that for the last 1800+ years Christian pastors and theologians commit the same error of the religious leaders Yeshua chastised for elevating their traditions above the simple written Word?

God’s Word says that the Torah brings life, righteousness, blessings and sanctification.  Are you keeping the Sabbath, His Feasts, a clean diet, etc?  Pete Rambo doesn’t say that is ‘the Way,’ God does.

Shema!!  Yeshua died to redeem you from lawLESSness so that you might walk lawfully.

… Messiah Yeshua… gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Titus 2 NASB
http://bible.com/100/tit.2.14.NASB

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The Blessings of Obedience to Torah

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Pete Rambo

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto DSC_0250the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.  Blessed shalt thou be in ….. the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

Blessings have overtaken us!!  Almost more than we can handle…

Over and over in God’s Word we are promised that when we honor Him and obey His commandments, even the statutes and the ordinances, He will bless us.  My family has experienced His abundant blessings over the last eight weeks or so, not that He hasn’t been blessing us, but the recent abundance has been overwhelming.

Last Fall we determined that we had four does that we wanted to cross with a Saanen buck that has given some beautiful, if all white, kids. DSC_0255 So, we took our girls for their annual conjugal visit.  Assuming they were all pregnant, we decided that we would breed our six Saanen/Nubian yearlings to Blackjack, a Nubian buck from another part of the state.

We brought him here and, as God is my witness, in four weeks, I saw him only mount one girl.  Seriously!!  Now, he went through and over the fence to get to seven of our very young ladies that we determined were too young to breed this year.  Still, I never saw him perform his duties…  He just kept tearing the fence down. Continue reading →

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Finally!! Exodus Road’s first album!!

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Pete Rambo

Yesterday, as I sat at my desk, my cell phone rang and Tony Boyatt’s number came up.  I answered and he jumped right in, “Its finally finished.  The album you’ve been waiting for, Exodus Roadcan I send you a copy?”

After a little chit chat and getting details he mentioned it was on the web and gave me the web address.  Before our five minute conversation was over I had purchased and downloaded the album!

I’ve said it before, I just love their sound and their focus!  Hailing from North Georgia, this talented group of musicians and vocalist have a sound that brings serious mountain influence to the Messianic/Hebraic scene.  Gospel with a hint of bluegrass, heavy on the strings, I believe they have a very unique sound to offer.

This album opens with Song of Glory, the first tune I ever heard Exodus Road play.  This is a Hebraic mountain sound that will pleasantly get stuck in your head!  Continue reading →

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Why is the earth judged by fire? (Short)

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Pete Rambo

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Scripture is very clear.  The EARTH and ALL its inhabitants are judged for breaking Torah.  Christendom teaches the earth is judged because of sin.  Well, if sin is breaking Torah (1 Jn 3:4), the wise will learn to keep Torah.

Simple.

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The best video on the Six Day War you will ever see

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Pete Rambo

Forty-nine years ago, as America led the West in the self-indulgent Summer of Love, Israel was fighting for its life in the Six Day War. The outcomes could not have been more distinct:  the United …

Source: The best video on the Six Day War you will ever see

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Living in ‘no man’s land’ … but, there is hope!!

Posted on June 4, 2016 by Pete Rambo

no mans landGrowing up in the Christian church, it was hard for me to understand why a Jew was utterly rejected by his family, friends and culture if he professed Jesus as his Messiah.  Essentially, the Jew who dared to breath the name of Jesus in anything other than an epithet or curse was cast out of the family and community as a pariah and treated as dead.  Understanding the complicated and multifaceted issues, not the least of which is a Torah-less Egyptian/Gentile looking Jesus who bears no real resemblance or connection to Yeshua, the Jewish Rabbi of Scripture, began to help me understand why Jews so violently and radically reject Jesus, a false Messiah.

Christendom generally expects and historically has required any Jew who believes Jesus/Yeshua is the Messiah to reject the Torah, a radical ‘no-no’ according to much Scripture.  I could not relate to how ‘out of place’ this forced the Jew to be until the Holy Spirit began to awaken me to the everlasting unchanging Torah that is the Way of Righteousness, even today!  It was at this point that I could not only understand the plight of the Jew cast out of his community, but could empathize.  I had committed the ‘unpardonable sin’ Continue reading →

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Modern inquisitions and being burned at the stake…

Posted on June 4, 2016 by Pete Rambo

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs is a volume every believer shouldburned-at-the-stake read.  It is at once sad, amazing and instructive to read the accounts of those who stood in the face of the religious establishment, even going to the flame.  Convinced of Scripture over the religious traditions and self appointed authorities of their day, men and women refused to back down from the crush of an all-powerful establishment preferring death to compromise.

Protestantism reveres the many martyrs who paved the way not only for the Reformation, but the spread of the ideas of the Reformation that broke the choke hold a few religious elites had on the Word of God.  Ironically, those self-same elites would burn others at the stake who do not agree with their narrow understanding of Scripture, even when clearly shown Scripture that contradicts their assertions.  More in a minute.

The Torah awakening that has been and continues to sweep the globe is not without many warriors who have paid a serious price to face off against the establishment.  Anyone who has been on this walk for any period of time will receive serious confrontation by religious elites who don’t like their little boats rocked.  This movement that began nearly thirty years ago, and now numbers in the millions, has battle hardened – and weary – leaders who have the wounds and scars of persecution from the establishment.

At the BYNA Summit several months ago I had the rare opportunity to enjoy dinner with Continue reading →

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How to Be Healed of Spiritual Blindness

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Pete Rambo

One of the curious things about spiritual blindness is that the one affected usually has no awareness of being blind!

Friend and blogger, Anne Elliott of Anne’s Coffee Break, has recently written an interesting piece exploring blindness.  Much good meat in this piece to consider.

How to Be Healed of Spiritual Blindness

May 13, 2016 by 3 Comments

Last week, I studied what the Bible has to say about healing, especially since I’ve been pondering blindness. This week, a verse in Revelation jumped off the page at me, and I knew I needed to study it further.

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

“‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”’” (Revelation 3:14-22, NKJV).

I thought about the spiritual blindness that is permeating our country — no, the churches of our country — and yet, as Yeshua says, we do not know that we are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”

If 78% of Americans consider themselves Christians, according to an August 2015 report by the Barna Group, then why do we see such rampant sin in America? Why do we see “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21), which Scripture tells us have no part in the kingdom of God?

And how can this be healed? (Continue Reading…)

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Kelly’s tallit is almost finished!! (pics)

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Pete Rambo

Last night, I received an email followed closely by a phone call from Chana (Anita) who has been hand-weaving a custom tallit for Kelly.  You may recall a few of the updates I have posted besides the original article about meeting this very dear gifted lady.

Well, the pics of this beautifully crafted piece are well worth sharing!!  Several have come earlier, but last night’s detail of the eyelets for the tallit are special!  Enjoy!

013 May11.1 May11.4It appears she has tied off the fringes, so the next step, as I understand it, is to wash and work it a little which will tighten up the weave and make it look like cloth versus a screen.  Then, she will throw a few stitches in it to shape it so that Kelly can wear it without having it fall off of her very small frame.

We are very excited about this work of art!  For those interested in a hand woven article of any type, from challah covers and pot holders to full dresses and shirts as well as tallitot and all types of Judaica, please contact Chana.  Her email address is in a previous post.  😉

 

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Messiah ben David ( Jesus / Yeshua ) and the Torah

Posted on May 22, 2016 by Pete Rambo

Yesterday evening, my wife and I had the special privilege of leading Second Passover Seder for a couple of ladies who are beginning to understand more of God’s Word and had never celebrated any Feast of the Lord.  The Haggadah that we used included parts of Psalm 89 in the latter portion of the feast, and in preparation for the evening, I reread all of the Psalm and was struck by a couple sections.

torah-heartI will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever;
To all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.
2 For I have said, “Lovingkindness will be built up forever;
In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.”
3 “I have made a covenant with My chosen;
I have sworn to David My servant,
4 I will establish your seed forever
And build up your throne to all generations.” [d]Selah.

I cannot read this passage without  remembering a chorus we would sing on the missionfields of Colombia, South America in the early 70’s:

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing, I will sing.  I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing, yes I will sing.

With my mouth will I make known, Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness, with my mouth will  make known Thy faithfulness to all generations!

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing, yes I will sing!

The chorus specifically comes from Psalm 89 and a recounting of God’s covenant with David and his descendant, the Messiah, who will sit on the throne forever.  Significantly, as a covenantal God, He clearly connects ‘covenant’ and ‘forever’ in this passage.

Most of Christendom would agree that Jesus, or more correctly, Yeshua will physically sit on that throne.  If you are Christian in a Protestant church, I ask you to take ten quick minutes and continue reading some Scriptures about this King’s reign and what it will look like.  I promise you that these Scriptures are going to challenge some of the things you have been taught Continue reading →

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Shabbat, the Blessed Command

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Pete Rambo

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When we first began celebrating Shabbat, it was so hard to rest.  The command seemed to prevent me from doing some of the things I thought I wanted to do.

Then, over time, I began to transition to a right understanding and observance.  If the Sabbath was made for man, then Abba knows we need rest.  How wonderful now to know for this 24 hours, because it is His time and He says ‘Rest!’ that I can really shut down and not worry about anything.  My duty is to rest.  A most pleasurable duty.

Wonderful!!

‘For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the Lord in all your dwellings.
Leviticus 23 NASB
http://bible.com/100/lev.23.3.NASB

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Christian and Jihad Conquest

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Pete Rambo

Breaking Israel News has pulled no punches in honestly reporting the Pope’s idea of ‘evangelism.’  Seriously, we have had this discussion on here and across the web with some pope-arabparties vigorously defending the redeemability of the term ‘evangelize’ and then the Pope comes along and clearly demonstrates that he embraces the history of ‘conquest,’ validating every fear any reasonable Jew ever had.

The following article by Breaking Israel News clearly demonstrates why we must distance ourselves not just from the terms but the history of ‘Christian missionizing.’  The Papacy not only embraces and defends jihad, but they also seek to assist Islam into what they hope will be peaceful coexistence, a demonstrable disaster.

I’m just shaking my head in disbelief at this article and the plethora of errors it demonstrates from the assumed leader of Christianity. Wow.  Just more evidence the ride is gonna get bumpy and we need to draw near to God and to our brother Judah while distancing ourselves from the falsehoods our fathers walked in.

Pope Francis Defends Jihad, Says Christianity Has Similar Roots in Idea of Conquest

By Abra Forman May 18, 2016 , 1:30 pm

Islam and Christianity share the “same idea of conquest”, and for that reason, Islam should not be viewed as a threat, said Pope Francis in a newspaper interview this week.

“It is true that the idea of conquest is inherent in the soul of Islam,” he conceded to the French Catholic newspaper La Croix. “However, it is also possible to interpret the objective in Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus sends his disciples to all nations, in terms of the same idea of conquest.”

Ostensibly, the Pope was drawing a parallel between the Islamic “conquest” known as jihad, a holy war or struggle waged against infidels, and Christian missionizing.  Continue reading article…

 

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Second Passover: Sundown, May 22, 2016

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Pete Rambo

Is the Second Passover significant?

Quite possibly, it is VERY significant.  Consider, Numbers 9:1-15.

….Then Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If any one of you or of your generations becomes unclean because of a dead [f]person, or is on a distant journey, he may, however, observe the Passover to Yehovah. 11 In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight, they shall observe it;

In numbers 9 we read the story of some men who were not able to partake of the Passover at the appointed time in the first month because they were unclean.  Moshe is then instructed by Yehovah to tell them to partake in the second month, on the fourteenth day according to the guidelines.

Several very interesting items pop out from, or are connected with, these verses:

  • Passover is so important that if one misses it due to ritual uncleanness, there is a provision for a second partaking.  No other feast has such an allowance.
  • Moshe requests on behalf of those unclean, but Abba adds an allowance.  those on a distant journey.  Who but Ephraim, and those returning home, are on a distant journey?
  • Noah entered the ark and was saved.  Studying the story seems to indicate that the animals came on the 10th day of the second month and they were shut up as the rain came on the 17th day of the month.  Certainly the story has Passover implications, but is it possible that Noah celebrated Second Passover and was ‘waved’ before Yehovah on the waters on First Fruits?  Consider, Methusalah died in the year that Noah floated, so was Noah unclean at the first Passover due to burying his grandfather?  Quite possibly.  (And, significantly, does this little picture have a meaning for those of us who live in a time period that is ‘as in the days of Noah?’)

Here’s the simple point:  If you missed Pesach, or know someone who did and wants to celebrate, there is still time!!  The evening of May 22 is the beginning of Second Passover and you have time to prepare!!  My wife and I have been invited to lead a small private Pesach for a couple people who missed Passover this year.  We will lead them in their first Feast and first Passover, ever!  We, and they, as so excited!! (Pray for this little gathering!)

Shalom and blessings!

 

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Evangelism, Heresy and the Eighth Article

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Pete Rambo

I have a friend, Tom, who just returned from his 15th or 20th trip to Israel.  He is a believer in Yeshua who looks very much like an Orthodox brother of Judah. For the last five or six years he has journeyed to Jerusalem for all of the pilgrim feasts, this time taking his 17 year old son for Pesach.

Each trip he prays for and is blessed with Divine appointments wherein he can share why he walks Torah and why he believes Yeshua is the Moshiach.  The stories are interesting and varied.  He does not have to initiate conversations and never pushes for some preconceived response.  Rather, he simply tells his story.

On this trip, a mutual friend invited he and his son to join her for Erev Shabbat with an Orthodox couple.  Upon arriving at the home, they found out the man of the house had not yet arrived, so the lady of the house and the lady who brought them began having a conversation.  Tom and his son were shown to the patio and, to Tom’s curiosity, the patio door slowly slid shut Continue reading →

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