This week, Colorado’s Supreme Court decided to cause further division in this country. By ignoring the lack of Federal prosecution and law, they moved forward to deny President Trump to be on their voting ballot. By doing so, they are setting a precedent for any state to remove any candidate that they deem not worthy. Of course, this is now being sent to the U.S. Supreme Court. But due to their actions, apathetic citizens are rising up. Will this be one of the many steps YHWH takes to wake up dry bones as prophesied in Ezekiel 37? Are believers called to unite or divide?
Are you longing for a rest? If you have been fortunate enough to ever go on a vacation, I’m sure you would agree it’s on the 3rd day you finally feel “rested” enough to enjoy the break; and on the 7th day, you’re to the point of staying. I don’t know about you, but I always look forward to the seventh day of rest. It’s pure joy.
This last week, I was visiting a group of high school students in Castle Valley, Utah. My assignment was to get them ready for their upcoming concert tour, through rehearsals, private lessons, and spiritual talks in the evening. For me, I didn’t think twice about what I would teach when it came to voice. Though admittedly, I was on my knees daily when it came to knowing what to say to them regarding spiritual matters. I prayed for wisdom.
Come, and let us return to the LORD;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
After two days He will revive us;
On the third day, He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
Hosea 6:1-2
I should fear leading any one person away from the Scriptures or the Messiah.I should fear causing anyone to doubt the promises or covenant of Yah. I should fear speaking against Yahweh’s intention to judge and to love.
Last week, I confronted myself and asked, “Why should I help out at Mid-Valley Fellowship?” The resounding answer shocked me a bit, but also woke me up to a distinct directive, “Because I asked you and you are willing.” From that moment forward, Yahweh has instilled a new kind of awesome fear into my life, which says to me:
Have you ever asked the question, “Where is Yahweh?” Maybe you have asked this question due to the trials you are facing. You don’t mean to ask the question and you might even feel like the question itself is blasphemy, but yet the thought is there. Maybe you are tired of this world’s corruption, the lies, and the hate which has moved you towards a state of discouragement. Have your prayers lost their effectiveness? Does following the commands of Yah matter to you anymore? So, you continue to ask, where is Yahweh?”
VaYera brings focus to three heavenly beings who visited Abraham. Many believe that these persons were a reflection of Elohim. And that, Yeshua the Messiah revealed a part of Himself by showing His intent to dispense judgment towards those who chose sin, but to provide promise and hope to those who faithfully follow.
However in this study, we often overlook the corresponding writings of Peter the apostle, who gives testimony of Yeshua appearing hundreds of years later. Why is Peter’s testimony so important? And why are we in need of this testimony today?
Have you ever been made uncomfortable, to the point of making a serious change? Most people continue in life doing the same things they have always done, until something drastic comes along such as death, divorce, getting fired from your job, war, or a major illness or injury. It’s at these times, that change is made. Some choose for the worse and others choose for the better.
Where does anger come from? Typically, it’s born out of frustration about one’s position or people not listening to your perspective. But unchecked anger can boil over into something unproductive and even wicked. We see it in today’s world as people join sides with groups that foster hatred, even when evil is being explicitly demonstrated.
There is no greater need for Yeshua our Messiah than right now. What has occurred in Israel this last week should wake us up to the fact that evil resides on this earth.
The influence of satan and his minions has corrupted souls and DNA with a hatred that knows no bounds. Whether you believe Hamas operates on its own or if they are supported by other countries and governments, the result is still the same. Hatred borne out of a desire to kill, torture, and decapitate can only be healed by the Prince of Salvation. May we pray for Israel and the Jewish people! May we pray for His soon Return!
This week I was in Castle Valley Utah alongside the Colorado River, surrounded by massive red rock structures. The quietness of the place overwhelmed me as I kept trying to hear sound. I had to stop everything to listen. When I did, I could “hear” for miles.
The study of Ha’azinu means to “give ear.” This would lead us to a natural question, “What should we give ear to?”
The sound of a trumpet seems to cut the air like nothing else. Its musical presence can alert, direct, and even pierce the soul. A favorite trumpeter of mine is Phil Driscoll, known for his breathtaking scales and magnificent performances. He has played for four U.S. Presidents and other world figures.
An old proverb says, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Many are predicting government efforts to fool people in America once again. Rumors of lockdowns to win elections and forced vaccines for complete compliance are running rampant. Will America be fooled again? I think it will. But what about you? The remnant in these “end of days”, will be strong in the Messiah, ready to “enter in” His Kingdom. Hallelujah!
Have you ever run across a person who tries to prove something to you, by quoting one Bible verse? As a Bible teacher, I hear it constantly. Someone will point to a text and say, “See, it says it right here!” But the Scriptures deserve to be weighed beyond one verse. Especially when it comes to laws that affect the lives of people. Misquotes and misunderstandings can cause a good deal of pain or confusion.
So we think we have it bad when we speak out. But maybe we should consider the lockdowns, political injustice, and torture by the Roman Empire during the time of Yeshua. If we can’t proclaim the gospel now, do you think you would have proclaimed it back then?
One of my clients called to tell me about a “special” chiropractor who was coming to give a treatment to one of her horses. They wanted to know my thoughts about his unique practice. Naturally, I looked up his website and found his “journey of personal evolution, and healing as a student of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment® (RSE®) fosters the contemplation and creation of a practice centered around the teachings of Master Teacher – Ramtha.” This raised a huge red flag and I was immediately faced with a decision.
Why do parents count to three when they want the attention of their child? I remember when I fell into this trap. “One, two, three, . . . I said come here.” Wow. That didn’t work for so many reasons. Needless to say, I finally caught on that one command was sufficient. Though in the Torah, we find that Yahweh says “Hear O Israel” more than once. Why?
“Back in the day,” I can remember asking Grandpa about particular family stories. Hearing his words gave me a feeling of belonging; not to mention a good laugh towards incidences experienced by others that were similar to my own. His words mattered, in that they came from real personal stories. When you think about words found in The Scriptures, are they important to you, because of the problems (matters) brought about by those words, or do the words matter in that they touch your heart?
I’m sure many of you have heard or seen the following statement: “We only follow the Bible!”
It is probably the most commonly given proclamation by any church, fellowship, small home group, or individual. Why does this happen? What is the missing link, that causes believers in The Word to disagree on who has the appropriate truth? In this week’s double-portion study of Mattot/Massei, I believe we can start to find an answer.
It’s easy for us to read or hear about Biblical characters such as Phineas, Elijah, Esther, John the Baptist, the disciples, Jehu, Moses, Mary, Elisha, King David, and many many others who were zealous for Elohim. But, is there anyone willing to take a stand today? Would you be willing to confront a ruler, speak against a demon, walk into a court, call out sin, or face giants? How about just offering a prayer to someone who needs hope?
There are several Youtube videos, showing people confronting Christians who dare to preach another gospel other than “woke.” Signs that ask for “repentance” are torn from the hands of believers, while woke mobs scream, threaten, slap, hit, and even spit. And typically, even in the midst of all this, the attackers shouted, “If your God really loves, He would love me as I am!” Upon receiving this word, the Christian believer stumbles into giving a reasonable response. Why does this happen? Should the believer even be at a demonstration?
Did Korach start spreading his message of discontent in one day or do you think it started sooner? Maybe his first words sounded rather upright to others; familiar words that resonated for personal reasons. I ran across an article from FFOZ, called “How to Split a Congregation” which addresses a well-known problem . . . that of being buried in our own words of intellect, thinking we are righteous but ruled by another spirit. Read on to find out how to battle against this problem.
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“In your going up” of daily living, have you ever considered the “laws” listed in the New Testament? Believe it or not, the gospel of grace comes with a few laws–well over a thousand. But no worries, I’m thinking we should only review a small list – the ones that keep us from dying in the wilderness. Are you interested?
What would you do if a dust-throwing, coat-tearing, violent crowd accused you falsely . . . calling for your death? Would you remain strong?
How do we remain strong in YHWH? I believe our strength is found in knowing our identity.
Did you know that one cubic millimeter of brain tissue contains one petabyte of data? What’s a petabyte? It’s 1000 times larger than a terabyte, which is one quadrillion bytes. The average brain is 1,195,000 cubic millimeters in its size. This means the average human brain can hold 298,750 petabytes of data. And you thought your recently purchased computer with one terabyte was awesome?
Have you ever had someone get upset with you because you asked a question about a Biblical text? Maybe the verse or chapter you questioned wasn’t black and white or a “thus sayeth the Lord” moment, but the person responds anyway with something like, “that’s what the text says and if you don’t believe it, your faith isn’t strong.” Then, with further emphasis they add, “with YHWH all things are possible.”
Are you tired of being sick and tired? Are you tired of fear and anxiety? There is an answer. It is found in YHWH.
Last week, a good friend was sharing with me on Hebrew Nation Radio, how certain Torah concepts seem hard to understand for casual readers. This of course got us thinking. What if Torah passages were met with a question such as, “Where is Messiah in the particular passage?” We both agreed that this approach allows the reader to dig deeper and explore the workings of the Messiah. But even better, it should prepare them for end-of-day trials and His promised return.
We are told that Biblical commands give us life and are not too hard to follow (Deuteronomy 30:11) But when it comes to faith or belief, there is no mention of these being comfortable. Faith requires a heart and soul commitment, which does not come easy from our sin-filled flesh. So how do the stories of Aaron and Paul line up with this week’s Torah parshah called, “Acharei Mot?”
I don’t know very many people who enjoy being evaluated. It seems we all enjoy a bit of privacy. The first time I met my vocal coach, he asked me all kinds of questions during his assessment to find out if he wanted me as a student. I was confident he would accept me on my past experiences alone.
Over the years, there have been many discussions on how to honor these “Set Apart Days.” How to celebrate, when to celebrate, and whether we should celebrate at all, are topics that have been around for thousands of years.
What is a cult? Typically, when someone says, “you belong to a cult” they are referring to a group that is controlled by a powerful personality and who submit to teachings or rules that seek to brainwash. But in actuality, a cult by its simplest definition implies a sect or group of people that trend towards an offbeat desire to challenge mainstream beliefs.
VaYiqra or “And He Called” can be a difficult lesson to understand. It’s all about sacrifices; a topic that seems to be more suited for pagan gods and rituals, not for a God who claims to be a loving God. But here it is in Leviticus 1-6. YHWH calls to Moses and defines a sacrificial system for Israel’s personal lives as well as for their leaders and priests in areas of thanksgiving, peace, sin, and guilt. Why? And why would these sacrifices be described as a pleasing aroma unto Him?
The study of VaYak’hel follows the story of Israel turning their backs on YHWH and worshipping another god—the “golden calf” of Egypt called apis. This false god in many ways claimed the attributes of YHWH much in the same way as the antichrist who seeks to lead Yah’s people away from life.
From the viewpoint of Scripture, Israel committed a grave sin by worshipping a false god and was met with righteous judgment. Though due to the efforts of Moses to intercede, the majority of Israel experienced mercy from YHWH.
What do we elevate in our lives? The meaning of elevate can take on the action of uplifting, promoting, or to raise. With this mind, do we give people, ideas, or traditions a priority over spiritual insight?
In this week’s Torah study of Ki Tisa, we can easily see the account of Israel uplifting a golden calf in a response to the unknown. It seems to be a favorite story for most; in that it has all the elements of someone else doing something wrong and then getting caught. It almost makes us feel that we can get off the hook since we of course would never do something as bad. But is this true? I’m thinking the answer may lie closer to home than expected.
The Torah passages describing Tabernacle proceedings for the priests are full of details. Why?
I’m thinking if you were a priest performing services in the “tent of meeting,” details would be very important. Consider what YHWH said to Moses:
“And they (the priestly garments) shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they enter the Tent of Meeting, or when they approach the Altar to minister in the holy place, so that they may not bear iniquity and die.” Exodus 28:43
A little drastic don’t you think? Who would want to “sign up” for this job?
Is it possible to take the Holy Scriptures seriously without acknowledging the role of Yeshua? Throughout the Torah, Writings, and Testimony of the Bible there seems to be a common theme—the need for mankind’s sin to be covered by the Blood of the Lamb. There is no written theme surrounding the blood of prophets, a good person, or a super holy priest saving man from his sinful bondage. But instead, the opposite is true. There is only one Holy One, who can make a covenant of salvation. (John 1:1-2)
Currently, the United States spends about a trillion dollars a year on 80 different federal, state, and local welfare programs. Has it worked? Since the time of “welfare reform” the U.S. has spent over $25 trillion dollars and yet people are still locked into poverty, creating a cycle that has lasted for generations.
Under government solutions, men are encouraged to stop upholding their responsibility as the breadwinner, leaving more and more women as heads of single-parent households. And on the other side of the coin, single mothers are discouraged from marrying the fathers of their children because that reduces their benefits. In so doing, children are raised in a broken home.
Does the Torah offer a better solution? I believe it does and it is found in the ordinances and judgments given by our Creator.
Is it possible for us to understand how to approach The King of the Universe? The prophet Isaiah gives us a clue when finding himself before the throne of Yahweh and the Seraphim angel with six wings proclaiming holy, holy, holy. He states:
“Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
Isaiah 6:2-3
Domesticated elephants are chained to a stake while young. Over time, the elephant becomes convinced that he cannot break away when he is older and stronger. Eventually, he accepts his captivity, unable to change.
B’shalach means, “when he let go.” The study refers to Pharaoh, who finally releases Israel so that they can leave the chains of slavery. But what will happen to Israel when they leave their land of bondage? Will they be able to accept freedom? Will they be able to walk in faith towards a new way of life; or will they accept a stake of false belief?
“Enter” or “Go” is the name of our Torah study this week. It’s called Bo in Hebrew. Hence the question, where should one go or enter? Of course, we don’t always relate this calling to ourselves. It was Moses who was called to go and enter the courts of Pharoah and speak the words of Yahweh—not us. But is this the case?
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11
A teenage girl at a YMCA in Santee, California asserted that she encountered a biological male who identified as a transgender woman naked in the female locker room.
In her emotional complaint to the board, Phillips said that her concerns were dismissed by YMCA staff and that she was made out to be the problem. She told the council, “When I asked the YMCA management what the policy was regarding transgenders, they confirmed that the man I saw was allowed to shower wherever he pleased–as long as you are not a red flag on Megan’s Law — California sex offender registry — a grown male can shower alongside a teenage girl at YMCA locations here in Santee.”
Phillips said. “I was made to feel as though I had done something wrong.”
Has our nation moved to such a state of delusion that we are no longer able to protect young women?
“As he received his trophy, the plucky quarterback unfolded the story of how he ‘came back’. He said ‘They say behind every great man there’s a woman. While I’m not a great man, there’s a great woman behind me.’”
This week, we begin to study the book Shemot or Names found in the Torah. And yes, we do find many names who are involved in the great story of Moses, his leadership, and the nation of Israel.
Have you ever wondered how you might die? No, I’m not being morbid in asking this question. I think most of us have asked ourselves questions about death. Sometimes it’s as simple as, “Will people attend my funeral?
But many times, it’s a deeper question like, “Will I be able to say what I need to say before passing or will I truly know that I am in the hand or will of Yah? From my studies, I do know that most of us want to die in an honorable fashion. Though do we even know what that might be? I believe Jacob’s story gives us a glimpse into an honorable life while dying.
In this week’s study of VaYechi, I found three areas that Jacob was able to live while dying.
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