How to: Building Bridges with the House of Judah

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Pete Rambo

Lately, I have had multiple interesting articles/emails come across my desk regarding the building of bridges between Jews and non-Jews.  The sources have been both Jew and non- with perspectives that have been varied, but a largely unified message:

bridge buildingSensitivity in language and culture when speaking to or about Jews concerning things of Scripture.

Like most of you, I came out of Christendom and have a considerable amount of ‘Christianese’ in my vocabulary that means one thing to me and something altogether different to those of Judah.  We may be well meaning, but our terminology, lingo and expectations can be heard as decidedly antisemitic.  Friend and fellow blogger, Peter Vest, recently published a post titled, Unintentional Antisemitism: Why Christian Institutions and Ideologies are Antisemitic Despite the Philosemitism of Individual Christians.  It is a short but instructive read about underlying expectations of Christendom upon Jews that have negative consequences.

Another recent source is a forwarded email I received from OvadYah Avrahami of Kol Hator titled We need to delete the word ‘conversion’ from our vocabulory.  He writes, Continue reading →

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Countdown to December 5th!!!

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Pete Rambo

countdown-oWe are just seven days away from December 5th and a statewide National Shabbat gathering for South Carolina!!  In South Carolina we are really pushing to get the word out and have many, many people committed to coming, but still have room for more!!

If you are not from SC, but curious about a National Shabbat or just want to gather with a bunch of like-minded Messianics for worship, dancing and fellowship, come on!!  There are tons of hotels w/in 10 miles of the site.  Just search for Elgin, Blythewood and Fort Jackson area!!

Those in SC, or who know Messianic believers in SC, please contact those you know in SC and make sure they know this is happening and that they are invited!

For all who read this, worldwide, please Continue reading →

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Help an orphan have a home…

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Pete Rambo

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

fam

Nick, Courtney and Kori with super soft Prissy!

There is no better way to ‘visit an orphan in their distress’ than to provide them with a loving Godly home!!

Dear friends, Nick and Courtney Rebovich, are all about spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom and modeling, in every way, their love of Messiah Yeshua!  They came into this walk about the same time we did and our paths crossed at a Messianic fellowship in Prosperity, SC.  Their contagious fire motivated all of us to dig deeper in the Scriptures and take our King at His Word.

In time, they, along with their beautiful daughter, Kori, were moved to begin facilitating a home fellowship in Greenwood, SC that has grown to the point it now needs to multiply into two fellowships.  In addition to homeshooling and helping to coordinate many aspects of the Messianic community in Western South Carolina, she also participates in prison ministry and outreach to the needy.  But, they have a heart for more!!

As I have previously written, our fellowships are brimming with children and over the last year the Rebovichs have felt a growing desire from Abba to Continue reading →

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**Update** SC National Shabbat Details!!

Posted on November 22, 2015 by Pete Rambo

IMG_20151122_150959265Read carefully.  New notes added into original post!

Mark your calendar!!!  We have a venue and a band, and I am really excited to tell you about it!!  South Carolina will have a National Shabbat gathering!!

Rich, in Washington, DC, saw the need for a location and after calling them, emailed me with details of a campground in Elgin, SC owned by a Messianic for Messianics.  Interestingly, I met the owner, Ron Cowart, almost three years ago at a shofar making class I taught.  When we met, he shared his vision of a private campground available to Messianics for Sukkot and other gatherings.

Tommy and Dorothy Wilson as well as Kelly and I visited the facility and we are very excited to have this event at Ron Cowart’s beautiful campground.  We each experienced this immediate peace upon entering the grounds.  Neat confirmation.

So, here are the details we know so far!!  Mark your calendar!

Location: 1117 Flaming Arrow Rd, Elgin, SC 29045

Date: December 5, 2015

Time: Continue reading →

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AQABA, JORDAN???

Posted on November 22, 2015 by Pete Rambo

Here is a detailed post from friends, John and Sue, who recently moved to Aqaba, Jordan.

Abba has been moving many of His people to very interesting places. Aqaba, while seeming counter-intuitive, is actually a very interesting move for multiple reasons. We pray the day comes when we hear His voice and can got to the place He has chosen for us. For now, we do the work we are called to do and listen expectantly for the call the Land.

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URGENT!!! Global prayer event for Israel in a couple hours!!

Posted on November 22, 2015 by Pete Rambo

Praying Together TODAY! – http://wp.me/p5ofGX-h4

See the post linked above.  On it is a link to http://tikkunolami.com/ with a countdown clock and downloadable prayer guide with 10 Psalms of David for the protection of Israel!

Join in!!  And, pass the word. QUICK!!

[Update for those that cannot download the Psalms to be prayed, they are: 16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137, and 150]

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Puzzling Theology

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Pete Rambo

I love jigsaw puzzles.  There is something both compelling and satisfying in assembling the pieces of a puzzle and watching a picture slowly emerge.

IMG_20151116_053153691A few days ago a co-worker brought a puzzle to work and many in the office helped assemble the 1000 piece seaside scene over the course of a week.  While the social dynamic of passersby stopping to add a piece or two was interesting, I pondered the unspoken pattern which was naturally followed by all of the participants.  First the corners and border were put in place, then major obvious parts of the image before the less clear and detailed pieces were assembled.

I’ve put puzzles together with many groups and the largely unspoken pattern is almost always followed.   Start with the most obvious and work toward the less clear. Continue reading →

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How To Build a Fire Pit…

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Pete Rambo

IMG_20151030_191528927We love hanging out around a fire….  Who doesn’t?

18 months ago we sold our little homestead and then moved here.  We have worked hard at getting the basics set up for our present location…  barn for the goats, small orchard in a quarter acre grazing area for our laying hens, garden spots, trellis and vines, etc…

Still more fencing to go, the itch to build a fire pit and special company coming for a weekend was all the impetus I needed to get serious.  Here is how we did it.

The pit I envisioned will be part of an outdoor kitchen gazebo for hosting friends and family, but is nice as a stand-alone project and IMG_20151020_182405651makes a good focal point for gathering.  We leveled the ground and laid out the forms for concrete.

Because I wanted a circle, I chose 1/4″ luann plywood, cut into 4″ wide strips for my form.  We drove a stake in the ground and measured an 8′ piece of string, then pulled it taut and drove 2 x 4 stakes into the ground every 3′ or so, then screwed the luan to the inside of the stakes.  Continue reading →

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“If you do your part…” (part 2)

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Pete Rambo

Or, ‘What is a pushkan?’

Yesterday, I gave a little background from a discussion over the weekend at the North Georgia National Shabbat gathering.  Tzefanyah led off the discussion with the statement, “If you do your part, God does His…”

IMG_20151114_170703603Nearing the end of the discussion, Tzefanyah asked that a box on a chair off to the side be passed forward.  Once he received it, he began relating a little of the history of the ‘pushkan,’ a Yiddish word meaning ‘box or can.’

While the history of a collection box for specific purposes can be traced all the way back into the repairs made on the first Temple, the charitable acts the idea is based on goes back even further to our father, Abraham.  It was from this long history of collection for various charities in every synagogue that the idea developed for a ‘pushkan‘ in every home before the founding of modern Israel to help fund the effort.

And, that is where Tzefanyah was going. Continue reading →

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“If you do your part, God does His part…”

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Pete Rambo

I was raised as a Calvinist leaning believer who later attended seminary and became convinced of TULIP, the five points of Calvinism.  Central to all of that is the supremacy of if thenGod and His Work while man only responds to His Spirit.  Now, this is over generalized, but it is the central element of good Reformed Presbyterian Calvinism.

A statement like “If you do your part, God does His part” would make my skin crawl!! Seriously, the ‘Arminian‘ idea that man can initiate action with God was anathema!  (I attended a seminary that was not denominationally affiliated and was about 40/60 Calvinists to Arminians, and countless lively lunchroom and classroom discussion erupted over the differences in the two schools of thought. Sometimes, VERY lively.)

The pursuit of Truth that led me out of the pulpit and into a more Hebraic understanding of God’s Word brought me to a place where I see the responsibility of man in  a whole new light.  So, yesterday, when Tzefanyah’s opening comment at National Shabbat in North Georgia was, “If you do your part, God does His part,” I understood what he was saying.

As I began studying the Scriptures with newfound clarity, I began to notice ‘if-then’ statements all over the place.  Because logic and/or basic computer programming are no longer taught in schools, I offer a quick explanation Continue reading →

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I will send for many hunters….

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Pete Rambo

I’m sitting in a deer blind with my youngest son, Silas.  He’s crazy about

imagehunting, but me not so much.  I got that out of my system in the army….  LOL.  Anyway, in the quiet, I am thinking about other hunters.

Yesterday, the world witnessed the next step in the rise of the hunters.  ISIS in Paris.

Terrorist acts just like this are coming to the whole planet.  With thousands of known ISIS operatives already in Europe and likely as many in the US, it is inevitable….  But, why?

The prophet Jeremiah tells us exactly why.  Continue reading →

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Thy Kingdom come…

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Pete Rambo

DSCN1052

Early this morning I was greeted by this email from Ephraim and Rimona Frank, of Israel.  Parts of it really resonated with me and I immediately wanted to share it, but I had to head to work.

Ephraim makes (or echoes) three very important points that we all need to take to heart:

  • A divided Kingdom cannot stand
  • A uniting Kingdom will be intentional to that end
  • Justice, mercy and compassion must be central in our efforts

I would be so direct with my readers to ask, ‘what specific steps are you taking to build community and foster unity within the Body of Messiah and with our brother Judah?’

Make today count!

 

Shalom Fellow Israelite,

Last night when we met at Kibbutz Merchavia in the Jezreel Valley with Craig and Jan O’dell and others from the Gates to Zion congregation to celebrate the coming 9th month. Craig shared with us a scripture from Zechariah that was actually uttered on the 9th month. We all really felt the impact of the Spirit telling us that it is a word for today’s redeemed body of Yeshua, especially as we move toward the restoration of our national identity. “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:24-25).  I might add a nation divided against itself also will not stand.

“Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of YHVH of the Armies came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev…  “Thus says YHVH of the Armies: ‘Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother.  Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother’” (Zechariah 7:1; 9-10). 

Tragically our ancestors refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear.  “Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the Torah and the words which YHVH of the Armies had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath/anger came from YHVH of the Armies” (Zechariah 7:11-12).   We know that this behavior displayed by our ancestry can and does get passed along in the generations, unless there is some serious repentance and heeding in obedience to these words from the prophets.   Continue reading →

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Region 35 Conference Update, November 8, 2015

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Pete Rambo

Here is more detail on the upcoming Region 35 Conference.  An important theme Al is incorporating is reconciliation of the growing Hebrew roots movement with Christianity as well as repentance for sins against Judah.  This conference, while very focused on what God is doing in our day regarding the Houses of Israel and Judah, is not excluding those who might see things differently.

Regardless of what part of the country you are from, if you are able to attend, I highly recommend this event.  For those in south central United States, please strongly consider this conference and certainly, we can all be in prayer for Abba to direct and move in this event!

___________________

In less than one month the B’Ney Yosef Region 35 Conference will convene in Denton, TX!  Just one month ago this conference was merely an idea thrown out in a conversation at our Feast of Tabernacles celebration.  Now we are one month from the event itself.  Registration is in full swing.  There is still plenty of room, but remember to register and pay by the deadline of November 28 to secure your place in this historic undertaking.  To register please visit our website at:

http://bneyosef35.com/2015conference/

There is much to share in this update.  First of all, our list of speakers and presenters is now complete.  We will be blessed to hear from:

Continue reading: Region 35 Conference Update, November 8, 2015

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Portion Notes for Toldot

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Pete Rambo

The weekly Torah Portion notes from Ray Gardner and the Hebrew Insights from Ephraim and Rimona Frank are on the Torah Portion Page.  Ephraim and Rimona have been including a Hebrew language lesson at the end of each insights email along with a Vocaroo link.  At some point, I hope to begin consolidating those on a dedicated page…  For now, be sure to use and practice the lessons.

Enjoy!!

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Cave of Makhpelah

Posted on November 8, 2015 by Pete Rambo

Earlier this week I put up a post titled Let the children (NOT!!) come unto Me…. regarding the propensity of some home groups and fellowships to exclude children for various

Not my plat....

Not my plat….

reasons. In the post I mentioned our attitude toward children and out intentional efforts to include them at every level so that we worship and learn as families while inculcating them with thought process, culture and acceptance.

Here is a post from Hebrew Roots Homestead that reminded me of part of our Torah discussion. In an effort to include and help the children understand, I sat in the living room floor with the plat and purchase contract for our home and small homestead property. Without explaining it to the children, I asked them to read it and tell me what it was. It took them a few minutes, but eventually, they excitedly began to identify clues until they figured out they were sitting in the living room of the property described.

We talked about ownership, deeds, markers, purchase price, etc… Then, we read and discussed Genesis 23, finishing with the point that anyone who violates this property by trying to take it away from Isaac, the inheritor of Abraham’s property and promises (Genesis 25:6 & 11), would be standing against Yehovah!

HRH’s notes on the Cave of Makhpelah and UN meddling touches on this very point…

hrhome7's avatarHebrew Roots Homestead

Yesterday’s Torah portion touched on a very recent current event.  If you recall, I mentioned in a post on October 16th that UNESCO (a division of the United Nations) was considering whether to declare the Western Wall (and other Hebrew sites) to be Muslim.  Indeed, they did part of that.  While they dropped the part about the Western Wall specifically, they did “recognize” Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem and the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron as Muslim sites.  This was based on a request brought to them by six Arab nations on behalf of the Palestinians.  The Tomb of the Patriarchs is where Abraham buried Sarah, and where he, Isaac, Jacob, Rebecca and Leah were all eventually buried as well.  The Biblical account of Abraham’s legal purchase of this site is explicitly described in Genesis 23.  Of course, Adonai knew this would happen in our day.  It makes me tremble to think of the…

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