Category Archives: Love

Missing Mysticism in the Bible

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Derek Leman

I have been surprised recently by several requests to speak on the subject of mystical faith. An episcopal church in Tennessee mentioned that when I come in March for an all day seminar, they hope I’ll address the mystical way … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Love, Mysticism | 1 Comment

More on Congregations of Yeshua (Jesus)

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Derek Leman

The second part of my notes over on the Yeshua in Context blog about what the gospels say about community. These are simply notes, not a fully fleshed-out publication on community and Yeshua. “Applying Yeshua Communally, Part 2.” If you … Continue reading →

Posted in Love, Yeshua, Yeshua In Context | Leave a comment

Miracles (C.S. Lewis), #1

Posted on November 16, 2010 by Derek Leman

See yesterdays “God in Search of Man, #1” for an explanation of this series exploring a Jewish and a Christian thinker who have much in common. I am much more familiar with Lewis than Heschel, having a fair collection of … Continue reading →

Posted in C.S. Lewis, Christian, Faith, Love, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Philosophy | 2 Comments

A love that never stops…

Posted on November 14, 2010 by Derek Leman

From George MacDonald, Unspoken Sermons, 1867: Nothing is inexorable but love. Love which will yield to prayer is imperfect and poor. Nor is it then the love that yields, but its alloy . . . For love loves unto purity. … Continue reading →

Posted in C.S. Lewis, Love | Tagged | Leave a comment

Elul Meditation: Even Mother and Father

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Derek Leman

Psalm 27 is read morning and evening throughout this month of Elul and to the end of Sukkot. Perhaps the most poignant verse in Psalm 27 is vs. 10. It is odd in its surrounding of petitions. Is it an … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Holidays, Judaism, Love, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The Difference Yeshua Makes

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Derek Leman

Someone asked me a good question last night. He’s been to a few Messianic synagogues now and is trying to understand from a Christian point of view what Jewish life in Messiah is all about. He said, “Do you guys … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian, Faith, Judaism, Life to Come, Love, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Theology, Yeshua | Tagged | 6 Comments

Devekut, Yeshua, and MJ Living

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Derek Leman

DEVEKUT A way of living with constant awareness of God’s presence which is derived from the Hebrew Bible, is taught in Hasidic Jewish writings, and which works together with the traditional practices of godliness. That is, keeping the mitzvot (commandments) … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Judaism, Love, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Spirituality, Yeshua | Tagged | Leave a comment

BOOK EXCERPT: Love in the World to Come

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Derek Leman

The following is the beginning of the eleventh chapter of my book, The World to Come. I watched The Book of Eli last night. Whatever the critics say about the movie, it had a few really good lines. Not least … Continue reading →

Posted in Derek's Writings, Life to Come, Love, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Kiss in Christian and Jewish Midrash

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Derek Leman

Okay, midrash isn’t really a Christian word. A midrash is a reaction to scripture, a sort of derived extension of the words of the Bible into the larger ideas and stories of faith. Sometimes a midrash becomes an extra-biblical story … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian, Judaism, Life to Come, Love, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Spirituality | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

The edgy, the radical, the mystical

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Derek Leman

This weekend I went back and slowly reread the first chapter of Paul Philip Levertoff’s Love in the Messianic Age. Thoughts like a flood of many streams came to me. I also spent a little time in a stack of … Continue reading →

Posted in Love, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Spirituality | Tagged , , , , | 47 Comments

Love Actually . . .

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Derek Leman

People have told me a dozen time at least that I should watch the 2003 movie “Love Actually.” Last night I did. Only once in a while a movie doesn’t just entertain you but rather knocks you over. (Beware if … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Love, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Love in the Messianic Age, Paul Philip Levertoff

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Derek Leman

A friend just told me yesterday he is going to graduate school with a concentration in Jewish mysticism and its history. I myself have read very little Jewish mysticism and kabbalah and so forth. I remarked that my own plans … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, FFOZ, Love, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Spirituality | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

More Live Blogging from Hashivenu: MJ at the Margins

Posted on January 29, 2008 by Derek Leman

I’m still in Los Angeles at the 2008 Hashivenu Forum, a forum on theology and matters of Jewish practice. We are members of the Messianic Jewish Community discussing how to build a new Judaism centered around Messiah Yeshua . . … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, Judaism, Love, Messianic Jewish, Spirituality, Theology, Torah, Yeshua | Leave a comment

Sabbath Meditation: Almsgiving

Posted on January 25, 2008 by Derek Leman

I hope you are preparing a beautiful table, as we are at the Leman house. We are laying ours with a burgundy table cloth tonight and using our Jerusalem candlesticks. The few moments you take to make your Sabbath meal … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian, Judaism, Love, Messianic Jewish, Sabbath, Spirituality | Leave a comment

Lashon Hara, Part 3

Posted on August 28, 2007 by Derek Leman

This topic of Lashon Hara is particularly capturing my heart and attention right now. I want to be better prepared for the High Holidays this year. I want my life to exhibit fruit, to be a good tree bearing good … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, Love, Messianic Jewish, Torah | Leave a comment

Sabbath Meditation, Picking You Up Off the Floor

Posted on May 4, 2007 by Derek Leman

Shalom all, Shabbat is approaching. If you are Jewish or Torah-observant, I hope your table is lovely and your family or your guests are ready to meet with God at the dinner table. For my Christian friends who do not … Continue reading →

Posted in Love, Messianic Jewish, Sabbath | 6 Comments

A Hasidic Parable on Love

Posted on January 7, 2007 by Derek Leman

Well, I’m studying for my final exam in “Shaping Messianic Jewish Theology,” an online course offered by the Messianic Jewish Theological Institute (mjti.org). I’m going back over some things we read in Michael Wyschogrod’s The Body of Faith (full of … Continue reading →

Posted in Life to Come, Love, Messianic Jewish, Theology | 4 Comments