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Monthly Archives: May 2010
PODCAST: Yeshua in Context – Born from Above
When you read the Fourth Gospel in light of its Jewish context, you realize that the focus of this gospel is narrow but profound. John focuses on a mystical theme, the union of heaven and earth, the coming down from … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged mysticism, Paul Philip Levertoff
1 Comment
The Beginnings of “the Rabbis”
Understanding where we came from, as most people realize, is actually quite helpful. Often attitudes toward modern institutions are colored by historical processes set in motion long before the most distant ancestor we can find was born. Long before the … Continue reading
Posted in History, Judaism, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Rabbinic Literature, Shaye Cohen
6 Comments
Reading and Applying the Gospels, Part 2
I am still at the MJRC meetings and busy as can be. The nights are fun though, with time to talk with friends I don’t see often enough. Yesterday, I shared some transforming elements within the gospels, things to look … Continue reading
Reading and Applying the Gospels, Pt 1
I am at the MJRC (Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council, ourabbis.org) through Tuesday. I am not a member, but I am a candidate this year to be a member (crossing my fingers). I won’t be blogging about the meetings, but will … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Derek's Writings, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
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PODCAST: Yeshua in Context – Wicked Tenants, Pt 2
The death of Yeshua is not salvation for all in Israel. For some it is a final act of doom. Yet the vineyard will be given to others, the newly constituted leaders of Israel, the twelve who have followed Yeshua … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Judaism, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Podcast, Yeshua in Context
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The Spirit of Messianic Judaism
Occasionally I am optimistic. Of course I have faith in God and so I always expect that he will keep up his end of things. But what I am saying is that sometimes I am even optimistic about the human … Continue reading
Rhetoric from the Moderate Two-House Position
If you don’t know what Two-House is and if you are not in Messianic Judaism, you may just want to skip this post or pay it little attention. We have a discussion going on in broader MJ circles that is, … Continue reading
Posted in Gentiles, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
21 Comments
Shavuot: Laws and Traditions
Shavuot (Pentecost) begins tonight. I have an incomplete (but complete enough) haggadah for Shavuot with information, readings, biblical meditations, and more. The link to the haggadah for Shavuot is here. And the following list of laws and traditions is something … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Derek's Writings, Holidays, Judaism, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Pentecost, Shavuot
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Men Without Chests
I’m having a little revival of C.S. Lewis reading. I just reorganized by Lewis bookshelf last night and ordered a few new books (note to my congregational bookkeeper: I paid for these books myself). So, it has been many years … Continue reading
Posted in C.S. Lewis, ethics, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
1 Comment
Some Recent J-BOM Reflections on Cool Blogs Near You!
Here are some thoughts by Smooth Cookies: http://smoothcookies.wordpress.com/category/j-bom/ Short but sweet: http://thehollandshomebookreview.blogspot.com/2010/05/lost-search-for-six-of-six-million.html Good stuff, Wanda: http://literallymessianic.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/the-lost-part-1/ A little less recent, but worth checking out: http://messiahconnection.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/jbom-visions-of-the-fathers-part-1/ He’s not up to date with J-BOM, but he has good things to say: http://www.diggingwithdarren.com/blog/2010/04/30/j-bom-visions-of-the-fathers/ … Continue reading
PODCAST: Yeshua in Context – Wicked Tenants, Pt 1
A recurring and definitive question in reading the story of Yeshua is where he placed himself in relation to the Israelite people and Judaism, on the one hand, and the new community he envisioned coming after him, on the other. … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Christian, Judaism, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Podcast, Yeshua in Context
1 Comment
J-BOM: The Lost, Finding Bolechow
J-BOM is the Jewish Book of the Month club. It’s about MJ’s reading great Jewish books and having, as much as online life can provide, a communal experience of reading. If you can’t read all twelve books a year that … Continue reading
Posted in Book Reviews, History, Judaism, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Daniel Mendelsohn, J-BOM, The Lost
2 Comments
To Convert or Not to Convert
A reader wrote in and suggested that I discuss some reasons Gentile Messiah-followers should not convert to Judaism. They suggested I have made my journey sound too normative and I could give people the idea that every Gentile who loves … Continue reading
Posted in Christian, Interfaith, Judaism, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Conversion
19 Comments
Expositing Acts 15: The Defining Chapter
A reader sent an email with a few questions, including this one: How do you address the word of Yaakov in Acts 15:19-21? To me, the implication is that these are the very basics…but as they learn about Moses (the … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Gentiles, Gospel, History, Mark Kinzer, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Acts 15, Bilateral Ecclesiology
59 Comments
Did You Register Yet for UMJC?
See the post here which has a link to more info and to register.
Review of a Book and Thoughts on Learning Hebrew
My first Hebrew class was in 1990 or 1991. I was at a Bible college in Chicago. The first day of class we got the syllabus, opened our textbook (Choon-Long Seow’s A Grammar For Biblical Hebrew). The professor went over … Continue reading
Posted in Book Reviews, Education, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
2 Comments
On Apologies, Heated Discussions, Going Forward
Needless to say, I’ve had a lot on my mind from Thursday till now. If you followed the comments on “Jews and Gentiles in MJ: A Discussion,” “We Must Never Forget,” and “We Must Welcome,” then you know what I … Continue reading
PODCAST: Yeshua in Context – Seeds and Fruit, Pt 2
Some people assume that Yeshua was a simple teacher, that his words were for peasants’ ears, used homey object lessons, and could be comprehended easily. It might seem unfair if the healing and compassionate prophet-messiah had an inside group or … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Podcast, Yeshua in Context
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We Must Welcome
Call me an equal opportunity offender. Perhaps it is because of my experience and history in Messianic Judaism that I see myself as a bridge between the Jewish and non-Jewish members of Messianic Judaism. In the last few days I … Continue reading
Posted in Gentiles, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
96 Comments
Summer Fun: UMJC in Seattle
One of the joys of Messianic Judaism is gathering together. There will be music, good music. There will be teaching, good soul-stirring inspiration and information. There will be dancing. There will be coffee and beer and impromptu groups laughing and … Continue reading
We Must Never Forget
In many places we have lost our way. Old priorities forgotten, the luster of glory is dull, in need of loving care to be restored and to shine again. Something beautiful is just under the dust of neglect and the … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
12 Comments
Jews and Gentiles in MJ: A Discussion
Someone emailed me today asking about the question of Gentile roles in Messianic Judaism. If you are new to this issue, here is a woefully short summary: Messianic Judaism started as a Jewish movement (in numbers and purpose), became a … Continue reading
Posted in Gentiles, Messianic Jewish
61 Comments
Tidbits and Things to Come
Sometimes I have more subjects to blog about than days in the week (and I try not to post more than one blog a day and five a week). I’m in a virtual cornucopia of good reading, upcoming projects, and … Continue reading
J-BOM: The Lost, An Introduction
J-BOM (Jewish Book of the Month) is about reading great Jewish books, one per month, and doing it together in many locations and in community. More than a dozen bloggers participate (see bottom of post for a list). This is … Continue reading
Posted in Book Reviews, History, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Daniel Mendehlson, Holocaust, J-BOM, The Lost
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