The Trial of Yeshua

Archaeological evidence shows that we do know the most probable place where Yeshua was sentenced to death -- at a rarely visited area just outside the walls of the Old City.

Join Tom as he explains the archaeological proof in part 1.

Things you look for in toothpaste...

I'm not talking about the 'Liquid Calcium' promoted on this tube, or the 'Maximum Cavity Protection', although those things are great. I'm referring to the words in yellow: כשר לפסח. Kosher L'Pesach = Kosher for Passover. Important details to look out for when you live in Israel.

Great is your faith

On the 15th of July our Hebrew-speaking kehilah, קהילה (congregation/community), had a time of blessing the new babies. Since Emmylou's birth at the end of February four more babies have been born in the small community and two of the other families were present for this time of prayer and rejoicing. Standing in front of so many believing Jews who live in Israel was a bit incredible. To have a child in Jerusalem is a blessing, and so is the opportunity to raise her, and Cassidy, with an awareness of their spiritual family roots. The importance of the Jewish people changes when it leaves the pages of the Bible and enters into every day life. They are not spiritual beings but friends with whom we break bread and laugh and pray. 

That morning Eddie passed the microphone from each mother and we prayed for our daughters (Hallel and Eliyah and Emmylou). Without much time to prepare the one thing that was pressed upon my heart was Emmylou's identity: She is grafted into this family of Jewish believers, to be a help, not a hindrance, and ultimately she is a child of the Most High. 

Why did I pray this? After all, her name has so much meaning. I could have prayed into her role as a warrior, or the goodness of the Father to give us another child after the absence of our sons. But in the situation, surrounded by people who have given up so much to live in the land of their fathers and to hold firmly to their Jewish Messiah I was overwhelmed with the desire to call her into her role as a Messianic Gentile. It's an important role, a calling worth pursuing. 

As if to prove my point Asher taught on faith and referenced Matthew 15:22-28,

And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O L-rd, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "L-rd, help me!" But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." And she said, "Yes, L-rd, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. 

Asher admonished us to pray with the passion and trust of the Canaanite woman. For us, as Gentiles, it's a powerful message. This Canaanite mother recognized Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah, connecting him with King David even though her background was not Jewish. Acknowledging Yeshua as the Son of David is a powerful statement for anyone to make.

Yet even when Yeshua tells her that He's come only for 'the house of Israel' and not her she presses Him further. She acknowledges she is not Jewish but does not let this stop her from pursuing His healing. She persists in asking for His "crumbs" (because anything from His table is better than nothing!) and He is clearly moved. He not only heals her daughter but describes her emunah, אמונה (faith/trust), as great. 

This teaching seems a perfect fit for the blessing of Emmylou Achinoam, and our whole family for that matter. There aren't many stories of Yeshua interacting with Gentiles, but this one (and the centurion who recognized Yeshua's authority) shows us that He hears the cries of our hearts, especially when we know our identities within the Body. Knowing our roles as Gentiles, or Jews, brings about greater power and unity within the Body of Yeshua. We are not all the same and that is okay. In fact, that's the way He designed it!

Last Saturday we stood with our Jewish brothers and sisters, heard their prayers for our daughter (thanks to our friend Simcha's translation) and we rejoiced together as "one new man", Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2 -- Go ahead, read the whole chapter).

10 Years and counting

Last night we sat in our living room, finishing off our triple chocolate cake from Kadosh Cafe and watching the candles burn down in our olive wood candlesticks.  As our daughters slept Tom and I talked only briefly about the highs and lows of the last ten years of our marriage -- they seemed pretty obvious. Instead we talked about the possibilities of our future. In some sense this seems futile; we know that our lives are not our own. But in recognizing that He is the One who holds our future then we know that anything is possible. 

Mike Bickle argues through Song of Songs that we should seek two things: to pursue our inheritance and to be Yeshua's inheritance. It's a complicated dance: running after the desires of our hearts, all the while keeping our hearts set on His face. When we attempt this we see the greatest struggles and the greatest victories. It's definitely the reality for us right now. We are excited by the reality that we live in Jerusalem and yet struggle being in a foreign land. This tension creates reliance upon the One who brought us here, and we look for His leading every day in order to make the most of this life. It's not easy, we're not always successful, but we know one thing very well: In our shortcomings, struggles and doubts He pours out grace. I think He allows these complicated situations so we will realize just how big He really is.

O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of G-d! How inscrutable are his judgments! How unsearchable are his ways! For, 'Who has known the mind of the L-rd? Who has been his counselor?' Or, 'Who has given him anything and made him pay it back?' For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)
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Shavuot in Jerusalem

Happy Shavuot -- let's celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit!

If you can't see the video click here

Was Yeshua a short-hair?!

After spending a year here in Israel we've learned many things. Living in the land, experiencing the seasons and engaging with the environment has given us a different understanding of the Bible. For instance, was Yeshua long-haired like all of the movies and paintings suggest, or did he have a shorter hairstyle?

*Archaeologists have found lice dating back to the first century. "One of the more fascinating finds in this tomb, one that has not received much attention, was the preservation of a sample of Jewish male hair. The hair was lice-free, and trimmed or cut evenly, probably indicating that the family buried in this tomb practiced good hygiene and grooming. The length of the hair was medium to short, averaging 3-4 inches. The color was reddish." This hair was found at an on-going dig Tom hopes to participate in this summer with Shimon Gibson.

Unleavened Shopping

No matter where you live shopping during holidays is different from any other time. The items change with the seasons -- more cranberries and pumpkin at Thanksgiving; candy canes and wrapping paper at Christmas; fluffy bunnies and pastel eggs at Easter. During Passover in Israel the shelves also change -- unleavened specialty items pop up and plastic wrap covers all items containing chametz (leaven).  

This is the baking aisle. See what I mean? No flour or baking soda for anyone.

But if you're shopping in Israel, whether it's Passover or just a regular day of the year, then you'll eventually bump into a soldier. And most times they're carrying large backpacks or guns, or both. 

I think Cassidy finds the plastic-covered shelves more surprising than the IDF soldier carrying the M-16. Just one more reason you feel safe in the city -- no one's going to take your kid or your purse when guys like this are strolling through the grocery looking for matzah.