We included this video in our e-newsletter last month, but in case you don't get it, or didn't read it, here is a video about why we hyphenate the name of G-d. We've had good feedback on it and hope it sheds some light on the subject.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Portion Metzorah
Here's a helpful and entertaining video about the second part of this week's portion reading.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Independence Day, 64 Years Young
Cassie's school has been preparing for Independence day this week: she made this incredible Israeli flag (notice her name she wrote in Hebrew at the top, ), as well as did a numbers worksheet that included counting airplanes and tanks.
The irony of the two following videos is pretty funny. The first one is from our day at the park. They flew over for about 10 minutes and it was incredible to see their tight formations and hear the roar of the planes. And then there's the fireworks. I think they speak for themselves...
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Never Again
In your distress, when all these things have come upon you, in the acharit-hayamim, you will return to ADONAI your G-d and listen to what He says; for ADONAI your G-d is a merciful G-d. He will not fail you, destroy you, or forget the covenant with your ancestors which He swore to them.
(vv. 30-31)
And please pray for the people of Israel, both in the land and scattered among the nations.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
His Timing is Perfect, Counting the Omer
Leviticus 23:15 & 16 says,
Why did G-d ask His people to count 50 days after Firstfruits (this first fruits is synonymous with resurrection day!)? Well, up until the time of Yeshua, the Jewish people were celebrating the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. This holiday is called Shavuot or Pentecost and was celebrated by the followers of Yeshua in the first century as recorded in the book of Acts:
It is during this time of counting that Yeshua walked on the Earth in His resurrected body for 40 days. Shavuot is the celebration of the giving of G-d's holy law (Exodus 20) and His promise to write it on our hearts through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, according to the New Covenant text found in Jeremiah 31. This unique day brings together the promises of G-d to lead us with His word and His Spirit.
In our home we count the omer in a way that incorporates the kids. As we gathered the other night to count, Cassidy said, "I like the omer. Wyatt always liked it, too." We have two glasses: one we fill with buckwheat (you can use other grain) and one that is empty. Every day after supper we say a blessing and a prayer and then Cassidy counts the day and takes a pinch of the wheat and puts it into the empty glass. She then takes money and puts it into the tzedakah box ("tzedakah" being the Hebrew word for righteous). At the end of the counting we take the money and donate it to a Messianic Jewish organization. Watching the glass fill up reminds us that we should be filled with anticipation for His hand to move mightily.
Personally we are using this prayer guide from the UMJC, the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations. It lays out the weeks with the blessing for the omer as well as scripture and prayers according to weekly topics.
Seeing how the L-rd timed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with the giving of the law fills us with excitement for what lies ahead. When we align ourselves with His heart we can see Him move in magnificent ways; let's join together for the sake of His Kingdom.
From the day after the day of rest -- that is, from the day you bring the sheaf waving --
you are to count seven full weeks, until the day after the seventh week;
you are to count fifty days...
The counting began last Sunday, the same day that celebrates Firstfruits and the resurrection of Yeshua!
Why did G-d ask His people to count 50 days after Firstfruits (this first fruits is synonymous with resurrection day!)? Well, up until the time of Yeshua, the Jewish people were celebrating the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. This holiday is called Shavuot or Pentecost and was celebrated by the followers of Yeshua in the first century as recorded in the book of Acts:
The festival of Shavu'ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting... They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak" (Acts 2:1-4).
It is during this time of counting that Yeshua walked on the Earth in His resurrected body for 40 days. Shavuot is the celebration of the giving of G-d's holy law (Exodus 20) and His promise to write it on our hearts through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, according to the New Covenant text found in Jeremiah 31. This unique day brings together the promises of G-d to lead us with His word and His Spirit.
In our home we count the omer in a way that incorporates the kids. As we gathered the other night to count, Cassidy said, "I like the omer. Wyatt always liked it, too." We have two glasses: one we fill with buckwheat (you can use other grain) and one that is empty. Every day after supper we say a blessing and a prayer and then Cassidy counts the day and takes a pinch of the wheat and puts it into the empty glass. She then takes money and puts it into the tzedakah box ("tzedakah" being the Hebrew word for righteous). At the end of the counting we take the money and donate it to a Messianic Jewish organization. Watching the glass fill up reminds us that we should be filled with anticipation for His hand to move mightily.
Personally we are using this prayer guide from the UMJC, the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations. It lays out the weeks with the blessing for the omer as well as scripture and prayers according to weekly topics.
Seeing how the L-rd timed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with the giving of the law fills us with excitement for what lies ahead. When we align ourselves with His heart we can see Him move in magnificent ways; let's join together for the sake of His Kingdom.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Passover, Firstfruits & the Feast of Unleavened Bread
This is a great week to celebrate our freedom from sin through Yeshua; the Lamb who laid down His life has called us into His flock (John 10:16). We hope you all celebrated the resurrection of Yeshua this Sunday with joy and thanksgiving.
The week here was filled with excitement: the Palm Sunday walk into the Old City; a moving Maundy Thursday service at Christ Church with a walk to the Russian Garden of Gethsemane; a fun Pesach Seder in Haifa with new friends Friday night; and on Sunday, at King of Kings, we had a celebration that He didn't stay in the grave but instead conquered death.
We encourage you read the portion for this week, specifically Exodus 12:21-51 and Numbers 28:16-25, as well as Leviticus 23:4-21. Passover, Firstfruits, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Shavuot (Pentacost) are great illustrations that G-d's word is alive, and there's more to come!
We are still in the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and since all items containing leaven are not permitted we're getting creative with our food (we're not traditionally a gluten-free family). Here is a sweet and tasty recipe worth making during this week, to remember how good it is to live without sin (leaven) and how sweet it is to live in Yeshua.
Caramel & Chocolate Covered Matzo
(Courtesy of www.thekitchn.com)
4 to 5 pieces of matzo
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate, or semi-sweet chocolate chips
Toppings, as desired, sea salt, peanut butter chips
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit,
and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and/or parchment paper.
Place the matzo in one layer on the baking sheet, breaking it when necessary to fill the pan completely. Set aside.
In a large sauce pan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Once the mixture reaches a boil, continue to cook for an additional three minutes, still stirring, until thickened and just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan. Remove from heat and pour over the matzo, spreading an even layer with a heat-proof spatula.
Put the pan in the oven, then immediately turn the heat down to 350 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes, watching to make sure it doesn't burn. If it looks like it is starting to burn, turn heat down to 325.
After 15 minutes, the toffee should have bubbled up and turned a rich golden brown. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate over the pan. Let sit for five minutes, then spread the now-melted chocolate evenly with a spatula.
You can leave it just as is, enjoying the simplicity. Or add your favorite toppings while the chocolate is still melted.
Let cool completely, (I put mine in the fridge so it will cool faster) then break into smaller pieces and store in an airtight container.
The week here was filled with excitement: the Palm Sunday walk into the Old City; a moving Maundy Thursday service at Christ Church with a walk to the Russian Garden of Gethsemane; a fun Pesach Seder in Haifa with new friends Friday night; and on Sunday, at King of Kings, we had a celebration that He didn't stay in the grave but instead conquered death.
We encourage you read the portion for this week, specifically Exodus 12:21-51 and Numbers 28:16-25, as well as Leviticus 23:4-21. Passover, Firstfruits, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Shavuot (Pentacost) are great illustrations that G-d's word is alive, and there's more to come!
We are still in the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and since all items containing leaven are not permitted we're getting creative with our food (we're not traditionally a gluten-free family). Here is a sweet and tasty recipe worth making during this week, to remember how good it is to live without sin (leaven) and how sweet it is to live in Yeshua.
 |
| Chocolate & salt for me and Cassidy; caramel & salt for Tom |
Caramel & Chocolate Covered Matzo
(Courtesy of www.thekitchn.com)
4 to 5 pieces of matzo
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate, or semi-sweet chocolate chips
Toppings, as desired, sea salt, peanut butter chips
Place the matzo in one layer on the baking sheet, breaking it when necessary to fill the pan completely. Set aside.
In a large sauce pan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Once the mixture reaches a boil, continue to cook for an additional three minutes, still stirring, until thickened and just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan. Remove from heat and pour over the matzo, spreading an even layer with a heat-proof spatula.
Put the pan in the oven, then immediately turn the heat down to 350 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes, watching to make sure it doesn't burn. If it looks like it is starting to burn, turn heat down to 325.
After 15 minutes, the toffee should have bubbled up and turned a rich golden brown. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate over the pan. Let sit for five minutes, then spread the now-melted chocolate evenly with a spatula.
You can leave it just as is, enjoying the simplicity. Or add your favorite toppings while the chocolate is still melted.
Let cool completely, (I put mine in the fridge so it will cool faster) then break into smaller pieces and store in an airtight container.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Hoshana, Please Save Us
In Israel people are preparing for a very important week: Friday is Passover and Sunday is Resurrection Morning. This year the celebration of Yeshua's death and resurrection line up with the Hebrew calendar so the anticipation for this weekend is thick.
Last Sunday we participated in the pilgrimage walk from the Mount of Olives to the Old City, through the Lion's Gate. Thousands of people were there: Orthodox Christians, Arab Catholics, Roman Catholics, Franciscans, Protestants and different ethnicities as well. Some groups sang or read scripture and many had large palm branches that they waved. It was about a two hour walk and we enjoyed walking through this area of the city, feeling the excitement of the day and explaining different things to Cassidy.
As we approached the entrance at the Old City and passed the tombs Tom recalled the passage about Yeshua's return to the east quoted in Zechariah 14:4 & 9, "On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies to the east of Yerushalayim; and the Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, to make a huge valley...Then ADONAI will be king over the whole world. On that day ADONAI will be the only one, and his name will be the only name."
Once we got close to the Old City the crowd became more dense and Tom put Cassidy on his shoulders. Entering the Lion's Gate shoulder to shoulder amongst so many people with Yeshua at the forefront of our minds was a meaningful moment. According to Ezekiel 44 when He returns He will come through the Golden Gate again (not the Lion's Gate), but the Muslims have closed off this gate...as though that will stop Him!
We hope this season will remind you of G-d's faithfulness to His people -- from the exodusout of Egypt to the resurrection of the Messiah, He is the same powerful Creator who calls us into covenantel relationship with Himself! Hosanna in the highest.
As we approached the entrance at the Old City and passed the tombs Tom recalled the passage about Yeshua's return to the east quoted in Zechariah 14:4 & 9, "On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies to the east of Yerushalayim; and the Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, to make a huge valley...Then ADONAI will be king over the whole world. On that day ADONAI will be the only one, and his name will be the only name."
We hope this season will remind you of G-d's faithfulness to His people -- from the exodusout of Egypt to the resurrection of the Messiah, He is the same powerful Creator who calls us into covenantel relationship with Himself! Hosanna in the highest.
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