Messianic Jew (OPEN)

[Desperate4Him2]

Well, my mileage is getting up there, but I agree with you, Antsy! Your post was what I could have wished mine was!

 

[Snowy]

So do I begin with the Torah?

 

[jgonz]

Yes, a good foundation is the Torah. Actually, The foundation is Torah! lol Everything else is built upon it.

I see sooo many Christians (and I used to be one of them) who are running around immersed in Only the New Testament, not understanding that they have no foundation. Constantly looking to be fed... running from one Bible study to another... always looking for more "meat" but not really understanding what that meat is...

I started reading the Torah portions 3.5 yrs ago, and I'm still amazed at how Grounded I feel (especially compared to how I felt before... 2 services a week and a ladies' Bible study still didn't make me feel "full" like reading the Torah portions does.)

 

[jgonz]

I wanted to add something about eating kosher... I understand completely why some Messianics eat only meats marked Kosher, however my DH & I are not led in that direction. We eat Biblically kosher (we eat only the animals G-d says are food in Leviticus), but we don't go as far as buying only kosher meat from a kosher market. The L-rd has impressed on my DH & I the importance of grass-fed beef and free-range poultry (because of the steroids, hormones, and antibiotics in mainstream meats), so I only buy meats from my health food store.

Just wanted to throw in a little difference in how some do things.

 

[sing4777]

I wanted to add something about eating kosher... I understand completely why some Messianics eat only meats marked Kosher, however my DH & I are not led in that direction. We eat Biblically kosher (we eat only the animals G-d says are food in Leviticus), but we don't go as far as buying only kosher meat from a kosher market. The L-rd has impressed on my DH & I the importance of grass-fed beef and free-range poultry (because of the steroids, hormones, and antibiotics in mainstream meats), so I only buy meats from my health food store.

Just wanted to throw in a little difference in how some do things.

We do the same in our house.
When I buy beef it is the hormone, antibiotic free meat.
I do however make sure that I soak it in Kosher salt water to get all the blood out.
I read that "somatids"(sp?) remain in the blood
and remain alive and that it contains the DNA of the
animal or person...
So of we eat bloody meat, we are technically eating the
DNA (life) that is contained in it.
It's really disgusting when you think about it.

 

[Snowy]

We do the same in our house.
When I buy beef it is the hormone, antibiotic free meat.
I do however make sure that I soak it in Kosher salt water to get all the blood out.
I read that "somatids"(sp?) remain in the blood
and remain alive and that it contains the DNA of the
animal or person...
So of we eat bloody meat, we are technically eating the
DNA (life) that is contained in it.
It's really disgusting when you think about it.

when you put it that way...that is sick

I read that when you cook hamburger you cook the blood into the meat which I never thought of until now. Plus all the things they put in the meat that makes us sick and we don't even know it. It makes my stomach roll to even think about it.

I can imagine going to the doctor for a checkup and being asked why I have cow DNA in my body That puts a new perspective on you are what you eat

 

[Snowy]

Yes, a good foundation is the Torah. Actually, The foundation is Torah! lol Everything else is built upon it.

I see sooo many Christians (and I used to be one of them) who are running around immersed in Only the New Testament, not understanding that they have no foundation. Constantly looking to be fed... running from one Bible study to another... always looking for more "meat" but not really understanding what that meat is...

I started reading the Torah portions 3.5 yrs ago, and I'm still amazed at how Grounded I feel (especially compared to how I felt before... 2 services a week and a ladies' Bible study still didn't make me feel "full" like reading the Torah portions does.)

I have read the first 3 and have to say Genesis and Exodus are fine but Leviticus is a challenge but I got through it. I haven't even started Numbers yet

 

[Desperate4Him2]

Numbers is fun, Snowy. It can seem dry, but remember that God included all those numbers and statistics in His book for a reason. So when you read something that bores you, try to tease out why it's so important!

Do you have a Parasha schedule yet? If you do, do you have access to Messianic and Jewish midrash about the parasha - there are many which can be sent to you by email. I read them all - some I incorporate into my worldview and some I toss!

Edited to add: Leviticus - definitely a challenge to our PC worldview. But remember that the Israelites did not have prisons. And we know from the rest of the OT that a little yeast spoils the whole lump. It's worthwhile to spend time figuring out why some things are against God's law.

 

[Snowy]

Numbers is fun, Snowy. It can seem dry, but remember that God included all those numbers and statistics in His book for a reason. So when you read something that bores you, try to tease out why it's so important!

Do you have a Parasha schedule yet? If you do, do you have access to Messianic and Jewish midrash about the parasha - there are many which can be sent to you by email. I read them all - some I incorporate into my worldview and some I toss!

Edited to add: Leviticus - definitely a challenge to our PC worldview. But remember that the Israelites did not have prisons. And we know from the rest of the OT that a little yeast spoils the whole lump. It's worthwhile to spend time figuring out why some things are against God's law.

I found one but at the moment can't print it

 

[Wags]

You can get a one year reading schedule here: http://ffoz.org/

They also have a short weekly commentary on the portions - that you can either read at their site or have emailed to you.

You can get a 3 year schedule here: http://www.torahresource.com/
They also have commentary on the weekly portion on the site.

 

[sing4777]

when you put it that way...that is sick

I read that when you cook hamburger you cook the blood into the meat which I never thought of until now. Plus all the things they put in the meat that makes us sick and we don't even know it. It makes my stomach roll to even think about it.

I can imagine going to the doctor for a checkup and being asked why I have cow DNA in my body That puts a new perspective on you are what you eat

LOL
I know... When I first found that out - I was pretty
wigged out just at the thought. The good thing is that
before we went Kosher I didn't like pink or bloody meat
anyway.

 

[Snowy]

I finally got my printer to work the other day so I was able to print out the parasha

 

[Hadassah]

Cool. Holler if you need any help, or feel free to start a thread asking questions and I'm sure we'll all do our best to answer your questions.

 

[Snowy]

I do like Numbers have only read a few chapters and can't understand why people say it is hard to read

 

[Hadassah]

I love Numbers too.

Most people find it hard because of all the names, dates, items and quantities.


But when you look at it as a point to look up names and better understand the story being presented, why it's happening etc... it gets really cool

My problem is that I get over-excited and people freak out that I'm excited about reading Numbers. LOL

 

[Snowy]

I love Numbers too.

Most people find it hard because of all the names, dates, items and quantities.


But when you look at it as a point to look up names and better understand the story being presented, why it's happening etc... it gets really cool

My problem is that I get over-excited and people freak out that I'm excited about reading Numbers. LOL

Genesis, Exodus, & Numbers aren't hard but Leviticus was a challenge for me. I haven't got to Deut. yet.

 

[Hadassah]

Have you heard of the "WALK" series?

I haven't a copy of them, but when I first started studying in a Messianic light, the elders at my congregation were using this series to help along question/answer sessions.

I wouldn't mind having them honestly.

I've found a lot of different parsha commentaries within the messianic community since, and try to take time out from time to time and check them out to see what kind of perspectives people have, and what they were able to draw out and study that I might have missed.

I get an emailed ones and have been just saving them for now, I think I'll get more use out of them when I know that fellowship is more scarce (when I move).

 

[shoshanarose]

Snowy,
To encourage you on your journey; I have a few thoughts I would like to share with you...My husband's grandmother is Jewish but he was not raised Jewish. I gave him the book called the Genesis Diet by Dr. Gordon Tessler (a Jewish believer in Yeshua) and it helped to explain why I ate kosher and why I kept Hashems commandments (for LIFE) for us...
It opened his eyes to the biblical and scriptural truths of the kosher laws in Leviticus. He has now been eating scriptural kosher for over 8 years (our marriage) and we do not intend to 'revert'...He is a godly man and loves Yeshua with all his heart...that is where it all starts. We also keep Shabbat not out of religion but a sincere desire to love Hashem with all that we have...to follow His commandments; not for salvation...that was purchased by Yeshua but for pleasing Hashem through our obedience. (It is better than sacrifice)

The most important thing is to desire to live your life to please Hashem (God) and to love Him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and to love Your neighbor as yourself...When you desire this, He increasingly shows you HOW you can please him...(that is where the Torah comes in...instruction for LIFE) Many Christians have had their faiths "opened"...(I have heard from a 180 degree to a 360 degree turn when they realized that Yeshua was Jewish!) Messiah Yeshua is in the OT-Torah and Tanakh also as well as the NT; Brit Chadesha)...He is the living Torah!!

(((Wags))) I love FFOZ...met Boaz Michael and even sang for a FFOZ convention of theirs in our area years ago. What a blessing. Their teaching is awesome.

Better than meat is some good Hummus (or falafel...)with pita bread and homemade tabbouleh...my favorites.

Blessings and Shalom on your journey...If you seek, you shall find...

 

[Snowy]

I was reading Numbers today and came across something in my Bible called The Book of the Wars of the Lord while reading Numbers 21:14 so I did a search on it and found this The Book of the Wars of the Lord

I did find other books that are referenced in the Bible


In Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18 The Book of Jasher or also called The Book of the Upright is mentioned.

 

[Hadassah]

I've read a copy of Yasher/Jasher before - very interesting stuff.

I have heard of this one via the scriptures, but I am unsure if this is something we will find more info on here in our lives or it will wait until Y'shua returns...