natsab

Man Shall Not Live by Bread Alone…

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Another article by Travis Hughey:

We’ve heard it said by preachers and people (not that preachers aren’t people, though some might argue that point) speaking about the temptation of Yahshua after fasting forty days (between Passover and Shavuot/Pentecost (He would have NEVER observed anything like Lent)) by Satan with bread to eat (Matt. 4, Luke 4). He quoted scriptures to do battle with the enemy (2 Cor. 10:4).

Where did these quotes come from? Let’s take a look so we can get context. After all text without context is pretext.

These words are from Deuteronomy 8:1-3,

“All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your forefathers. ²You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. ³He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you ^[a]understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

So, the children of Israel were in the wilderness (not a desert as many believe) 40 years. Manna was a test of their heart (see Exodus 16:4) to see if they would follow Yehovah’s commandments. So how do we find these “words of God” (our life and weapons)? Here’s an easy way to tell. Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Post | Tagged Apostle Paul, commandments, fables, obedience, traditions | 3 Comments

Tales from the Bus. Salt.

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Pete Rambo

I inherited a route that is more than unruly. In driver parlance, I received a ‘party bus.’

The primary reason is probably that the retiring driver has been ill and many subs have bounced through the bus while admin steps were taken for the benefit of the driver, but the result is a group of undisciplined children in need of direction and love.

These first two weeks have been very challenging with me vacillating between ‘going drill sergeant’ on them and cajoling/complimenting as necessary to elicit the correct responses.

So, last night I was lying in bed discussing the latest adventures with my wife when it hit me! “I need to salt the threshold!” Continue reading →

Posted in Deeper Study | Tagged abraham, covenant, memra, salt covenant, school bus, Targum Onkelos, threshold | Comments Off

When the Bear Arises: Ukraine’s Crisis and the Fate of Messianic Believers

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Pete Rambo

When the Bear Arises: Ukraine’s Crisis and the Fate of Messianic Believers.

Here is an excellent article worthy of your time. It asks/discusses some pressing questions in regards to Messianic Jews, Messianic non-Jews and persecution. Time is short and events seem to be accelerating….

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Theological Jenga??

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Deuteronomy 12:32 Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.

Revelation 22:18-19 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; ¹⁹and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and ^[a]from the holy city, which are written in this book.

Hmmm…. This game is kind like Russian Roulette… except all players lose.

Posted in A Thought... | Tagged commandments, games, Jenga, Russian Roulette | 9 Comments

Tales from the Bus. A Gift.

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Pete Rambo

A day or two ago I shared that I drive a school bus. I also mentioned that it leads to some stories… While many I cannot tell, for privacy reasons, there are some I can share. Here is one…

My boys’ music teacher heard that I drive a school bus for elementary children. He had two nice small coats and thought that there may be a student or two who could use them. My wife accepted them and brought them home to be laundered before gifting them.

Two days ago, I took them with me for the afternoon run and was praying on the way to work asking Father who I should give them to. I could not think of any child getting on the bus without a jacket, but then, I have been so busy learning other things as I adjust to the route that those details may have escaped me. So, as I am praying a particular family comes to mind, but I really puzzled over how to give them the jackets without showing favoritism. There are many needy families on my route.

Once on the bus, with the jackets, I headed to the school where I pick-up and, as is my usual habit, I arrive 20 minutes early so I can read and study. While sitting in the lot, I ‘chickened out’ on giving the jackets to the family in mind and decided Continue reading →

Posted in A Thought... | Tagged Abba, blessings, index card, jacket, Numbers, school bus | 4 Comments

The Camera and the Torah

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Pete Rambo

To make ends meet, I supplement our family income by driving a school bus for the local public school system. I finished training late last year and have a CDL B license with most of the ‘bells and whistles’ and all of the extra responsibility. For the last couple months I have been a regular substitute, but have recently inherited a route.

Typically, I am out of bed at 4:30 a.m. and in the lot warming up my bus by 5:25. Roll at 5:43 so I can hit my first stop at 6:08. Have them at school at 7:25 and park the bus back at the main terminal by 7:45. The afternoon begins around 1:50 and I get home by 5 o’clockish.

My route is very specific with particular procedures at every single stop, particular timing parameters and safety actions. Add the constant attention to students in establishing and maintaining discipline and safety for 50+ grade schoolers, and it is a recipe for myriad problems.

Over my head as well as midway back on the bus are cameras that capture audio and video. They are connected to an on-board GPS connected computer that tracks Continue reading →

Posted in A Thought... | Tagged driver, GPS, school bus, standard, students, Torah, video | Comments Off

Blindness Test

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Good friend and fellow pilgrim, Travis Hughey, recently wrote and sent this to me. So poignant considering I have been thinking of doing a series called ‘The (Not So) Quotable Church Fathers.’

________________________________

BLINDNESS TEST

Following quote from Martin Luther’s commentary on Galatians (page 108)

Can you see the contradiction (one of many)?

—————————————————————————————————————

VERSES 8, 9.

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

This concludes Paul’s discourse on justification. From now to the end of the Epistle the Apostle writes mostly of Christian conduct. But before he follows up his doctrinal discourse with practical precepts he once more reproves the Galatians. He is deeply displeased with them for relinquishing their divine doctrine. He tells them: Continue reading →

Posted in A Thought... | Tagged Galatians, Martin Luther, reformed theology | 15 Comments

Let’s try this again… (To all my regulars…) Vayikra.

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Pete Rambo

When I started this blog more than a year ago, I desired to put up a weekly Torah Portion thread for comments and general input/discussion. I did not intend for it to be my work, but a joint collection of thoughts, impressions, questions, etc.

At the time, when I ‘spoke’ in here, there was a distinct echo… LOL! Now, this blog has more than a couple hundred hits a day and there are a number of regulars who have a solid Torah base to bring insight and discussion.

So, let’s try this again!

Each week at the beginning of the week I’ll simply open a thread with the Torah portion as well as Haftorah and Gospel references. Throughout the week, let’s each add thoughts, etc. Through this we can each learn, grow and share some of what we are seeing!

Torah Portion: Vayikra “and He called” Leviticus 1:1-6:7

Haftorah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23

Gospel: Mark 7:1-30

Looking forward to your thoughts and will share a few of mine shortly…

Posted in Torah Portion | Tagged echo, Leviticus, Messiah Yeshua, sacrifice, salt covenant, vayikra | 10 Comments

Grace and Intentional Sin

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Pete Rambo

This week begins the annual cycle through Leviticus with the first Torah portion, Vayikra, Lev. 1:1-6:7.

As we were reading chapters 4 and 5 this morning, I was again reminded of the gravity of intentional sin and and our propensity to justify with ‘cheap grace’ the lusts of our heart because we do not understand the Law.

First off, let me begin by saying that Scripture has very little to say about intentional sin. In fact, willful sin or intentional sin is regarded as high treason against the covenant. Leviticus opens with a number of explanations about proper sacrifice and peace offerings. Interestingly, over and over the phrase, ‘sins unintentionally,’ or something very similar appears in many of these instructions.

Notice:

4:2 If a person sins unintentionally… Continue reading →

Posted in A Thought... | Tagged grace, sacrifice | 10 Comments

Prophecy! Major step right here…

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Pete Rambo

I really am speechless! Pentecostal evangelicals returning to Rome.

Someone mentioned this at our Shabbat service yesterday, but seeing it first-hand just blows me away!

Wow!

Posted in Guest Post | Tagged apostacy, endtimes, Kenneth Copeland, Pope Francis, prophecy, Roman Catholic Church | 11 Comments

Potiphar’s wife and Yeshua…

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Several months ago I wrote and posted a series of articles considering the prophetic significance of Joseph’s life as a picture of Messiah Yeshua. They can be found here: Jesus / Yeshua as Pictured in Joseph. Part 1. Part 2. Part 3.

Occasionally, another connection will bubble to the surface and I’ll add it to my list, but recently I had one interesting enough to make a quick post.

Joseph is sold to Potiphar and becomes the head servant. Potiphar’s wife decides to use him for her pleasure and he escapes without his clothes/garments. Reading something else recently, as I thought about this, led led me to wonder if this is a picture of the ‘woman who rides the beast’ stripping Yeshua of His identity when ‘He got to Rome.’

It is interesting to note that the very Hebrew/Jewish Yeshua was converted to a Gentile Jesus in Rome by the stripping of His identity and He was ‘held in prison’ for more than a thousand years. Then, He began His ascension in the eyes of the nations at/near the time of the Reformation, but His true identity, the Jewish Messiah Yeshua is only now really becoming widely known! Continue reading →

Posted in A Thought... | Tagged Great Tribulation, Hebrew Roots, Joseph and Jesus, Potiphar's wife, prophecy, Woman that rides the beast, Yeshua | 4 Comments

Pekudei and the Book of Revelation

Posted on March 1, 2014 by Pete Rambo

An excellent teaching from Kimberly Rogers on this week’s Torah Portion, Pekudei. I really appreciate her prophetic connections and she provides MUCH food for thought!

You will be challenged and blessed.

Pekudei 2014: What In The World Does Pekudei
Have To Do With The Book Of Revelation?

Shabbat shalom!

Posted in Guest Post | Tagged Kimberly Rogers, Nicolaitans, Pekudei, prophecy, Revelation, seven churches | Leave a comment

One Law = Erasing Jewish Distinctives? Baloney!

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Pete Rambo

While skimming a friend’s Google+ page, a post caught my eye and I had an electric thought!!

This is what I saw:

Tia Tita

Shared publicly – Feb 7, 2014

“One hope to heal our land”
2Ch 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

I Am America – Krista Branch

Before I even saw the video (which I liked, but is not really relevant) I had an awesome thought!! ‘Melting pot!!’ Continue reading →

Posted in A Thought... | Tagged bilateral ecclesiology, Bride of Messiah, Israel, Krista Branch, One Body, one law two law | 5 Comments

Before the Foundation of the World! Implications…

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Pete Rambo

Last week I was pondering something interesting. “The law is spiritual, therefore, it can’t be done away with!”

I had determined to study and write about it, but you can tell by recent content that I have not had time to focus on writing some deeper posts. (I think that is working itself out..)

Then, last night, several interesting pieces suddenly came into focus!!

Our fellowship’s Wednesday evening Torah study group has been watching/working through Dr. Hollisa Alewine’s Creation Gospel video series. Our normal practice is to watch the whole video and then discuss. Well, in the middle of part 6a, a much shorter segment than most, Brother Dean turns to me and asks, ‘Uhmm, can we pause that?’

‘Sure! I was thinking the same thing!!’

As soon as I hit ‘pause,’ Sis Paulette exclaimed, ‘Wow! Thank you! I am just blown away…’ And, a spirited discussion began Continue reading →