Month: September 2025

Yahoshua: The Biblical Model for Living Faithfully

Yahoshua: The Biblical Model for Living Faithfully

If Yahoshua did it, and Paul says, “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah,” what then? What is the excuse to do anything else? The idiom, “May you walk in the dust of your Rabbi.” Means to become like him, that you emulate him, in every way. May you be so close to him that he rubs off on you.

Yahoshua kept the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:1-8)
“At this time Yahoshua went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they questioned Yahoshua. “Look, why do Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” From here most skip the full answer and focus only on Yahoshua’s final statement. “For the Son of Man is Master of the Sabbath.” I chose this particular instance of Yahoshua’s Sabbath keeping for a few reasons.

First, what seems to get ignored, is that the accusation was against Yahoshua’s disciples, and not Yahoshua Himself. Second, as He responded to Satan in the wilderness so He responded to the Pharisees. “Have you not read?” Is basically the same as “It is written.” The Pharisees should have known better than to put man’s tradition over Scripture. Here Yahoshua gives two examples from the Scriptures.

Yahoshua, which remember means, Yah’s Salvation or Yah is Salvation. Here at the end of this exchange He quotes from Hosea which the name means, ‘deliverer’. “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of Elohim rather than burnt offerings.” He says, “Had you known the meaning of this Scripture you would not have condemned the guiltless.” All this relates around the idea that Yahoshua, the Living Word of Elohim was with them. And the Pharisees were to wrapped up in their oral tradition to see the Words popping of the parchment.

Yahoshua’s final statement now makes much more sense in light of the context and cultural significance. “For the Son of Man is Master of the Sabbath.” It is not Him assuming the role of the Sabbath Day. It is not Him profaning the Sabbath Day. For had He done so He would not have been sinless and therefore unable to make atonement for sin. It was simply another declaration of His authority, His position, and His command of Scripture. It was not a license to break the Sabbath. It was not a license to go against the Words written by Moses and the Prophets. He wasn’t placing Himself over the Word, He IS THE WORD made flesh, as John describes.

Yahoshua kept the Feast Days.
“Halfway through the Feast of Booths, Yahoshua went up to the temple and started to teach.  Astonished, the Jewish leaders asked, ‘He’s never been taught! How has he mastered the Torah?’” (John 7:14-15).
“The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Yahoshua was coming to Jerusalem.” (John 12:12).
Here we see in John that Yahoshua clearly partook in the Feasts. There is even mention of Him being present for the Festival of Dedication. Which commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple or as we know it today, Hanukkah.
“Three times a year every male among you must appear before the presence of Adonai your Elohim. In the location He will select. At the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths.” (Deuteronomy 16:16).
Elohim, is clear about the celebration of His Feast Days. In fact had Yahoshua not celebrated them He would have been in opposition to the Word of Elohim. But, that is impossible because, He is the Word made flesh and He was sinless. Don’t you want to celebrate what Yahoshua celebrated?

Yahoshua forgave.
A recent global broadcast of a memorial service highlighted an important fact. It mentioned that Yahoshua forgave those who put Him to death. “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.” Forgiveness is the most difficult calling. In some instances it seems unfathomable to do so. Yet, our Messiah, who was beaten beyond recognition, while breathing His last, did so. There is nothing that equals the torture of Messiah. “Father, forgive them.” I read these words and ask myself, would I be able to do the same?

Yahoshua kept the Commandments. (Matthew 5:17-20)
“Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not even a yud will disappear from the Torah. A stroke will stay as well. — Not until everything that must happen has happened. Anyone who disobeys the least of these commandments will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. This includes those who teach others to do so. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Your righteousness must be far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and Pharisees. Only then will you certainly enter the Kingdom of Heaven!”

First, let’s talk about the word here, fulfill. The word has also been translated as complete. Both are poor choices. Even in the Strong’s Concordance which is popular among western Christians for defining words has the full definition.

G4137 πληρόω – to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally.
to fulfill, i.e. to cause God’s will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God’s promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfillment –

Second, the idea of being more righteous than the teachers of Torah and Pharisees. The Scribes and the Pharisees that Yahoshua is referring to were more concerned about the oral traditions. They were self-righteous within their traditions. Yahoshua’s entire ministry was pointing out the right way to live out the commandments of Elohim. He did not slack in any of them. In fact, He brought clearer understanding to them. He said, “If you love Me, you will keep my commands“. Yahoshua is the Word made flesh, He is the walking Torah scroll. Don’t you want to love Him in a way He recognizes?

Yahoshua is the Word made flesh.
“In the beginning was the Word,
    and the Word was with Elohim,
and the Word was Elohim.
    He was with Elohim in the beginning.”
(John 1:1-2)

“The Word became flesh
    and made His home among us.
We have seen his glory,
    glory like that of a Father’s only Son,
        full of grace and truth.”
(John 1:14)

The Word, what was the Word being referenced here by John? Well, when it was written there was not a collection of books known as the ‘New Testament.’ Therefore, we can conclude that the Word being referred to is the Torah, perhaps even the Tanakh. That is Genesis to Deuteronomy, or through Malachi. If Yahoshua is the Word who came ‘to cause Elohim’s Word to be obeyed as it should be.’ Shouldn’t we want to live in obedience to the Word?

Yahoshua is Yah’s Salvation.
Yahoshua, quoting Isaiah in Matthew says, “‘These people honor me with their lips. But their hearts are far away from Me. Their worship of Me is useless, because they teach man-made rules as if they were doctrines.’” How can we say we know someone while using a name that has been poorly transliterated. Poorly, I say, because it is through the Greek and has been altered with the introduction of the letter ‘J’. Just say the name Jesus and then say the name Yahoshua. Do they even sound the same? We’re not talking about the name William and Bill, we are talking about Yah’s Salvation. The Fathers name within the Son’s name proclaiming Salvation to all who call on Him!

Moving on, when the angel Gabriel came to Joseph, he didn’t say name the boy Jesus. He actually said, name the boy Yahoshua. To really get the significance here we need to go back further. Moses, by Elohim’s instruction, appointed Joshua as his successor. However, Joshua wasn’t always Joshua, his name was Hoshea, which means, salvation. If you didn’t already know, names in the Scriptures are important. They have meaning, and purpose, and help drive the narrative of Elohim’s story.

Moses, changes Hoshea to Yahoshua, (Numbers 13:16) or in English, Joshua, which means YAH is SALVATION. Joshua was going to lead Israel into the promise land but it was through YAH (Yahweh). The true meaning of the name Jesus is simply Salvation, like the name Hoshea. Some good pastors and teachers who study have added to the meaning of Jesus, God-Saves or God is Salvation. It’s at least a step in the right direction but why the change? Compromise? We know the real name and its meaning is glorious. Yahoshua, the only begotten Son of Elohim, came to reconcile us to the Father. Through His blood, we are brought into the promise land. Yah truly is salvation. “I and My Father are ONE.” (John 10:30). Wouldn’t you want to call your best friend by their actual name? Shouldn’t we consider calling the Savior of the World by His given name?

Let’s wrap it up.
Simply put we can say we love Yahoshua. We can say we love the Father. We can say we want the Holy Spirit. However, as Yahoshua said, “These people honor Me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me.” He said this because there needs to be genuine heart change. There needs to be sincerity. There needs to be a dying to ourselves and a putting on of the new self. “If you love Me . . .” Let us walk in the dust of the Rabbi.

This is the way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

From Milk to Solid Food: Deepening Your Faith

From Milk to Solid Food: Deepening Your Faith

“Always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the Truth.” Is this what i have become? Heaven forbid! But i can’t help but wonder. At what point does someone put down the spoon for the fork? As Paul writes, “I gave you milk, not solid food, because you were not yet ready for it. But you aren’t ready for it now either!” This is a rebuke of the Corinthians who claimed themselves to be followers of the Way.

When I train new employees, I start them with the basics. I don’t overwhelm them with every detail of the job. In fact some aspects of the job are better learned by doing. Simply putting into practice what is desired or expected is often the best teacher. Trial and error. When I served in the military it was the same way. They trained us a little at a time. They didn’t start us off on a twenty-mile road march in full gear. They started us on a two-mile road march with empty rucksacks. They built us up gradually. Over time, we reached a significant milestone. At the end of training, we handled twenty miles in full gear. Had they left us in sneakers and empty rucks throughout our training, we would not have been prepared. We wouldn’t have been ready in the end.

This is what the Modern Christian Church has done. They look at one verse and say, “see this is all we need to do.” When in reality the message of the whole Word of Elohim is learn and grow, learn and grow. For example, many point to Acts and say look the Jerusalem council said, “XYZ”. Specifically:
“Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to Elohim. But we should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols. They should also abstain from sexual immorality. Additionally, they should avoid what has been strangled and from blood.” This is where they will stop. However, it continues as to why. “For from ancient generations, Moses has had those in every city who proclaim him. He is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” Can you see it, they were saying here is the basics. This will get you started. Now, learn and grow, by hearing the Word proclaimed in the synagogue every Sabbath.

Two take away items here. First, the Word, we need it in order to grow. Second, every Sabbath, it was the appointed time. Today, we have access to the Word every where we go on our phones. We don’t need to wait until the Sabbath to hear it read to us. Yet still, we are to gather and as we can read throughout Acts specifically, they gathered on the Sabbath.

In training, whether it is a new employee or a soldier, the goal is to replicate yourself. In making disciples as we are commanded to do the goal is the same. “Therefore, go and make people from all nations into disciples. Immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). Teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.” Do you see the charge before us? It isn’t to sit stagnant in a pew collecting dust like the Bible on the coffee table. We are to be about His work. Work isn’t a bad word. It is a command.

Paul admonishes us to be like him as he imitates Messiah. “Imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” To walk like the Teacher. This is the Way of the Rabbi. The very idea of the Way, the Truth, and the Life, is answering the call to obey. “If you love Me, obey My commandments.” Yahoshua, also ask, “Why do you call Me Adonai, Adonai, and not do what I command?”

In learning and growing as a disciple we take ground, gain knowledge and wisdom. We don’t stop there we are to examine ourselves and continue to learn and grow. We are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. “My dear friends, you have always obeyed when I was with you. It is even more important to obey now. You must do this even when I am away from you. Keep working out your deliverance with fear and trembling. For Elohim is the one working among you both the willing and the working for what pleases Him.” In this same letter to the Philippians Paul writes this challenge.

“It is not that I have already obtained it or already reached the goal. No, I keep pursuing it. This in the hope of taking hold of that for which the Messiah Yahoshua took hold of me. Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having yet gotten hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead. I keep pursuing the goal. In order to win the prize offered by Elohim’s upward calling in the Messiah Yahoshua. Therefore, as many of us as are mature, let us keep paying attention to this. And if you are differently minded about anything, Elohim will also reveal this to you. Only let our conduct fit the level we have already reached. Brothers, join in imitating me. Also, pay attention to those who live according to the pattern we have set for you.”

Will you continue to sip the cup of milk? Or will you take up the fork and knife and cut into the steak? Isaiah said, “To whom will He teach knowledge, and to whom will He explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast. For it is precept upon precept, line upon line, truth upon truth, here a little there a little.” (Isaiah 28:9-10) – Today, and this week, ask yourself, what does this mean? It is time to take hold of the calling, of which you have been called, in Messiah Yahoshua.

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

Reviving the Sabbath: A Call to Return

Reviving the Sabbath: A Call to Return

Have you ever noticed that there is a day for everything? There are food days like ‘National Pie Day,’ or ‘National Hamburger Day.’ Food isn’t your thing? Try ‘Talk like a Pirate Day,’ or even ‘National Old Rock Day.’ if you can think it, it probably has a day. For instance, there is a day called ‘World Lazy Day.’ If being lazy isn’t appealing because of the labels, disguise your laziness with ‘National Sleep Day.’ I have known for sometime of a day known as ‘National Back to Church Sunday.’ Probably even promoted it a time or two.

It is a great concept really. Picking up on the idea of holidays, and focusing one on getting back to Church. An opportunity to invite friends through general conversation, masked in funny holiday’s. For instance this year National Talk like a Pirate Day is the Friday before Back to Church. Imagine you and your friends standing around the water-cooler. You say, “Arg ya mateys, won’t ya be joining me this Sunday for church and after some libations?” Churches have been known to put on extravagant services to entice interest, or to be more welcoming. A more salvation based message, friendly, loving, encouraging. The state of the world is troubling. It is clear that a day to come together in prayer and unity is needed.

Now imagine going to Scripture. Rather than focusing on a man made day of worship, we could focus on the Sabbath. We could call it ‘Back to the Sabbath, Sabbath’ or “National 7th Day Sabbath” instead of back to Church Sunday? After all, one is found in Scripture, the other in Rome.

 “Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for Elohim. You have six days to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat for Adonai your Elohim. On it, you are not to do any kind of work — not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. 11 For in six days, Adonai made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. This is why Adonai blessed the day, Shabbat, and separated it for himself.” (Exodus 20:8-11)

The Sabbath is a weekly National Day of Rest. It is a true National Day. I work for a company that was open on Labor Day. Now Labor Day is a day to honor the Laborers. However, they honored their employees by being open and making them work. If they were honoring Elohim, they would have given us the day off. They would also do so every week on the Sabbath, the seventh-day, we know today as Saturday. (I have written more on Sabbath and calendars here).

The Sabbath day isn’t just a mandate from Elohim, a statute, an ordinance, a commandment. It is a day He Himself observed in the beginning. “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them. On the seventh-day Elohim was finished with His work which He had made, so He rested on the seventh-day from all His work which He had made. Elohim blessed the seventh-day and separated it as holy; because on that day Elohim rested from all His work which He had created, so that it itself could produce.” (Genesis 2:1-3)

Blessed is the man who does this. Blessed is the son of man who holds it fast. He keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it. He keeps his hand from doing any evil.” (Isaiah 56:2)

Many modern theologians will say that the Sabbath is done away and base that belief on Yahoshua. Sadly, they do not know Hebrew culture, they don’t know terms and idioms, they simply don’t understand. They don’t understand Matthew 5 or 12, Mark 2, John 5, Romans 14, Colossians 2, or Hebrews 4. Or when the disciples asked Paul to speak again on the first day of the week in Acts. They would rather cherry pick their verses than take the Scripture as a whole. What they claim the Pharisees of doing, they do themselves with their man made Sunday worship. And they are blind to it.

Imagine, a Church who calls on the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Who accept His Son Yahoshua as their Savior, the Messiah of Elohim. Would stop looking for loopholes and instead learn from the Messiah and His Apostles who kept the Sabbath Day. To turn back their foot from not keeping the Sabbath to keeping it. Oh, what a revival, we would see then.

“If you hold back your foot on Shabbat
from pursuing your own interests on My Holy Day;
if you call Shabbat a delight,
Adonai’s Holy Day, worth honoring;
then honor it by not doing your usual things
or pursuing your interests or speaking about them.
If you do, you will find delight in Adonai —
I will make you ride on the heights of the land
and feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob,
for the mouth of Adonai has spoken.”
Isaiah 58:13-14

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

Lessons from My Grandfather on Discernment

Lessons from My Grandfather on Discernment
Daily writing prompt
Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.
View all responses

When I was younger in ministry, just starting out. my grandfather, who was an ordained minister, served as a Conference Superintendent for his denomination. He also served as the Director of Interracial Evangelism and worked with an inner city school in Shreveport Louisiana. Writer of many books and editor of a once greatly sought after ministry magazine, ‘The Sermon Builder.’ Said to me, “Don’t ever think that you know everything, so that you remain teachable. However, know the Word, so that you can discern Truth from lies.”

I held to that lesson from my grandpa. I taught on it. Used it in many a sermon illustration. I would have told you that I was living that advice. Yet, I was more interested in what others had to say about the Word than the Word itself. Which didn’t allow for true discernment. Oh, I knew chapter and verse just fine. But I leaned more on voices I thought were in my circle of influence and therefore must be right, right?

I lacked the Truth of the Word, to discern properly. I simply regurgitated what I was fed. My awakening to the wholeness of Scripture was stirring for years. It started to gain traction however after hearing the testimony of an Africa Region, Missionary. It was Fall. He talked about his first time in America. He saw all the pumpkins on the porches of ‘Christian’ homes. He expressed the confusion and sorrow of his heart in that moment. “Do Americans not know the symbolism of a lit gourd?” My heart was stirred and I turned to the pages of Scripture. We are called to be set apart, not to assimilate. We are not to Worship as the pagans do.

I put down books that repeated what I had been told is true. I set aside opinions and doctrines of men. I picked up the Word and began to read, and read, and read. I recalled the words of wisdom from my grandfather. My heart was broken for the many wasted years. These were years filled with misunderstandings, poor translations, and Christian hypocrisy.

I felt like I had grasped my grandfathers wisdom. That I had learned that lesson. Unfortunately, I had not. I missed the most important part of his wisdom, “Know the WORD, so that you can discern TRUTH from LIES.” I am now a student of the Word, not of man. My eyes are open. I have taken up the cause. I do not wish to enter arguments. Instead, I want to stir desires within others to read, and read, and read the WORD. In doing so, they can gain TRUTH, so others can discern the Way of the Rabbi. Had I learned this lesson earlier in ministry, perhaps I could have avoided the many pitfalls I have found myself in.

“But you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, recalling the people from whom you learned it; and recalling too how from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can give you the wisdom that leads to deliverance through trusting in Yahoshua the Messiah. All Scripture is breathed by Elohim and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; thus anyone who belongs to Elohim may be fully equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Why Yahoshua’s Name Matters: A Cultural Perspective

Why Yahoshua’s Name Matters: A Cultural Perspective

“Now, Adonai, according to Your word, Your servant is at peace as You let him go; for I have seen with my own eyes Your Yahoshua, which you prepared in the presence of all peoples – a light that will bring revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)

Open up another common translation. In verse 30, it will read, “For I have seen with my own eyes Your salvation.” Verse 33 says: “Yahoshua’s father and mother were marveling at the things Simeon was saying about Him.” i know that i am beating a drum here but how sweet a name is Yahoshua? The name means salvation which is why most translations render it so. Yet I can’t help but wonder. What have we lost by rendering such a name outside of its proper culture and context?

This double meaning is fitting for there is Salvation in no one else but Yahoshua. The very meaning of His name. Imagine, you meet a man and someone tells you his name is John. He happens to be Hispanic. You go days calling him John. No one corrects you. Therefore, there is no reason to think you are wrong. Time goes by and you have a chance to meet him in person. He reaches out his hand and introduces himself. “Hi my name is Juan and I am from Guadalajara Mexico.” You respond cordially, “Hello John, it’s nice to meet you. I am Ignoramus from America.

Later in your room someone tells you that the man you met is named Juan. You being inquisitive, although daft, say, “I thought his name was John?” “Oh surely it is John in English but his given name is Juan. He is after all Hispanic and from Mexico.” The person responds. You shrug your shoulders. “Oh well, John is easier to say and I have been calling him John so. Not to mention everyone I know also calls him John so it can’t be wrong. He’s in America now. I am sure he understands”

Why, should be the question asked, has history tried so hard to scrub the Jewishness of Yahoshua? The ‘Church’ is as guilty as all historians. The fact that we don’t want to know or even explore our Messiah’s Hebraic upbringing is puzzling. The church is content to understand Israel’s Promised Messiah from a westernized cultural perspective. It limits us and it allows for misinterpretations, misunderstandings, and heresies.

I understand that this can be said for all Biblical names and it’s true. Why not harp on that? In some cases I have. However, the reason I feel more and more conviction about the name of our Messiah is He is our Messiah! Isaiah writes, “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty El, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” In light of what Isaiah (Yesha’yahu) writes one must wonder if Exodus 20 means anything? “You shall not take the name of Adonai your Elohim in vain, for Adonai will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

Yahoshua, quoting Isaiah in Matthew says, “‘These people honor me with their lips. But their hearts are far away from Me. Their worship of Me is useless, because they teach man-made rules as if they were doctrines.’” How can we say we know someone while using a name that has been poorly transliterated. Poorly, I say, because it is through the Greek and has been altered with the introduction of the letter ‘J’. Just say the name Jesus and then say the name Yahoshua. Do they even sound the same? We’re not talking about the name William and Bill, we are talking about Yah’s Salvation. The Fathers name within the Son’s name proclaiming Salvation to all who call on Him!

So what’s in a name? A lot!

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

Understanding the Fall Feasts: Traditions and Reflections

Understanding the Fall Feasts: Traditions and Reflections
Daily writing prompt
How do you celebrate holidays?
View all responses

With the Fall Feasts just around the corner this is a fitting prompt. When I began to dive into the idea of the Biblical Feasts I made a hard right turn. Every other holiday, especially Halloween, Christmas and Easter, became pagan. Although, I still know their roots I have taken a different stance. Joshua tells the people of Israel to pick a side. If you are going to honor Elohim then one should find out how to do it.

“Now therefore fear Yahweh and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve Yahweh. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve Yahweh, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.” Joshua 24:14-15

In the Torah Elohim explains these Feasts and how to celebrate them. They are essentially giant block parties. They are fantastic food filled, family oriented, jubilees. They demand rest and relaxation. They require celebration. Each one has a point of focus and remembrance, as well a forward looking expectation and hopefulness about them. Seven amazing Feasts, beginning in the Spring with Passover and the last one in the Fall, the Feast of Tabernacles. John the Baptist declared, “Behold the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sin of the world!” He was pointing to Yahoshua when he said this, Yahoshua is the fulfillment of Passover as our Passover Lamb.

As the Fall Feasts approach we have the Feast of Trumpets, a call to right living. A period of self reflection and preparation of heart, soul and mind. Ten days later the day of Atonement, which is a day of Fasting. A day we reflect on a Holy Elohim. Who calls us to be separate and live as chosen people. Reflecting not the nature of the people around us but that of our Holy Creator. After this period of soul searching and repentance, we enter into the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast looks back at the time when Yahweh dwelt with His people Israel. It also looks forward to His soon return in which He will rule and reign over His people.

I have written more on the Feasts and Holidays. I invite you to take a deep dive into learning more of these great Feasts. Why do we always replace the ways of Elohim for man made traditions? It’s time we take a serious look at how we honor Elohim for His return is fast approaching.

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

What Makes a Great Leader? Insights & Reflections

What Makes a Great Leader? Insights & Reflections
Daily writing prompt
Do you see yourself as a leader?
View all responses

i often wonder about the idea of leadership. i don’t feel like a very good leader that is for sure. However, for as long as i can remember i have been in leadership roles. Sometimes i have been successful at it. However, i am also my own worst critic. Never good enough, lacking true lasting motivational skills. i can lite a fire in others but it burns out quickly. i have good personal discipline for myself, meet deadlines, showing up ready and able to get the job done. All the while in my mind wondering what it is that i actually do.

To me leadership is done from the middle. Yes, there are times when one must lead from the front. A strong leader also recognizes when leading from behind is required. Still, the majority of the time one should lead from the middle. However, few leaders from the middle are remembered for their leadership. This leads to the question, “What is it that I actually do?” In the end, i don’t think my leadership is what i want to be remembered for. My life’s goal is to ‘Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly’. i want people to think of me for my writing and my philosophy. A leader of words and ideas that motivated them to try harder, be better, love more.

i have made more mistakes than i care to admit. i have let people down and look back and wonder how just was that action? How merciful? How humble? In many cases i lacked empathy. i try to learn from that experience and do better the next time. i take every challenge as a learning opportunity. At the end of the day i want to be a better person. If that makes me a better leader than so be it. But my aim is to be a better human, a better man.

“Do you see yourself as a leader?” i see myself as an example.

You are loved,
cj

Transforming Inconveniences into Adventures

Transforming Inconveniences into Adventures

Every morning I get an email from an online news organization. The purpose of the email is to highlight four or five top stories. At the top of the email they put a quote from someone to inspire reflection. This is actually the part of the email i look forward to the most. The other day the quote was from G.K. Chesterton. He said:

“An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered;
an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.”

Recently my dad who just turned 83 years old took a train to New York City. Where he experienced an inconvenience with his luggage. i don’t know how baggage on trains work really. The last time i was on a train other than the one that circles Disneyland was many, many moons ago. i might have been 8. Anyway, at one of the stops along the way a lady grabbed my dad’s suitcase. Apparently hers looked very similar, so thinking it was hers she picked it up and exited the train. my dad was completely unaware of this occurring riding on and enjoying the scenery. That is until, he received a phone call. Surprisingly, it was the lady who mistakenly had taken his suitcase. Thankfully my dad had his name and number on the luggage tag. She apologized profusely. She was able to get the suitcase on the next train to Chicago where my dad had a layover. It arrived untouched for the most part before my dad continued his journey, now an adventure to New York.

my dad couldn’t really do anything but hope and wait. However, the lady with my dad’s bag had a task before her. Thankfully trains haven’t advanced much since their inception so they pretty much still work the same. Unlike many of the cumbersome safety protocols now associated with air travel. An unattended bag brought by a passenger on another flight? i don’t think this would have been an easy sell to airport security. Train security on the other-hand, seems right in line with baggage policy. Regardless, the lady seemed to have the situation well in hand. Obviously, living near the train station helped. She got all the way home before the discovery of the mistake. Apparently having some knowledge as to trains and how things work she talked to the right people. She made the appropriate arrangements. Which limited my dad’s inconvenience considerably. Hers on the other-hand, not so much. i wonder if she ever got her bag back since it was never in my dad’s possession he doesn’t know.

They say knowledge is power. It’s true. If you know how things work you can work things out. If you know where to gather information, information can be gathered. Information properly used can inform and educate. Wisdom is rightly using the information you gather, no matter how much or how little. What will you do with the information you gather? What will you do as you read through the posts of The Way of the Rabbi? What questions will you ask? What information will you seek? What knowledge will you put to power?

A young preacher, pastor of a small congregation of new believers was being encouraged by a veteran. There were some changes afoot within the faith. It was being called “new” but it wasn’t fully new. It was known and practiced, but there was a new understanding. There was an example given. There was explanations and clarifications. Still the source did not change immediately, nor should it have, even over time. Sources add, yes, but manuscripts deleted? Never! In a letter to the young preacher, the older, wiser, seasoned and tested instructor wrote the following words.

“But you must continue with the things you have learned and found convincing. You know who taught you. Since childhood you have known the holy scriptures. They help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Messiah Yahoshua. Every scripture is inspired by Elohim! It is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character. So that the person who belongs to Elohim can be equipped to do everything that is good.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Paul was telling Timothy that all his questions had answers. Those answers, were found in his knowledge of the scriptures. Those scriptures were the Tanakh and the Torah. He reminded him that they will help him be wise. Even stated that within the scrolls of his childhood faith he would be led to faith in Messiah Yahoshua. The writings that were collected over time, like, this one to Timothy are great! Even “inspired by Elohim.” When used to supplement and support the Tanakh as Paul encourages, they are masterful. Life springs forth from the pages of the Gospel’s when you understand the culture in which they were written. Understanding and knowledge will be your friend. As you read through the illustration that the covenant went from stones to flesh. From written with a finger, to written in blood.

Nothing new was invented. It is the same. Knowledge leads you to understand that what has changed is associated with the atonement. The process in which one is cleansed. It went from a ritual performed by priests. To one sacrifice by the High Priest Yahoshua in the order of Melchizedek. The atonement kaphar (כָּפַר), closely connected with the word, Kippur (כִּפּוּר), which means to “cover over a wrong”. To תְּמוּרָה (temurah) which means to exchange. The priests could only cover ritual sacrifices. This was a shadow of the exchange coming in Messiah. Due to the Hellenization of the Israelite’s Greek was the language and that is where we get the term, antallagí (ανταλλαγή). We translate it atonement, which isn’t wrong but isn’t the full picture either. Yahoshua took our place, He doesn’t cover our sin, He wipes it away. He took it, exchanging His righteousness for our depravity. He who knew no sin became sin, so that we who were sin could be made whole in Him.

“An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.” Don’t be discouraged by what some perceive to be inconvenient. Rather take on the adventure of knowing Elohim through the fullness of His Word. Build upon the foundational faith you have in Messiah Yahoshua by searching the Tanakh and the Torah. Do this in order to know Him better. Enter into covenant relationship with Yahoshua the living Word of Elohim. The Word says, “Elohim is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” If true, we must realize that what happened 2000 years ago was not new. It was a rebirth and an exchange written in red.

If things got easier like so many believe today every pew in every church would be full. But as Paul tells Timothy earlier in the same letter. “And indeed, all who want to live a life in Elohim, united with the Messiah Yahoshua will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.” i hope you will explore more here at the way of the Rabbi. Unlock the curiosity to challenge your old way of thinking. Embrace The Way of the Rabbi Yahoshua.

This is the way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

Discovering the Way of the Rabbi: Insights and Inspiration

Discovering the Way of the Rabbi: Insights and Inspiration

When i began writing this blog back in 2016 my intention was to write short 500 word motivational pieces. Occasionally, they were longer with more teaching and instruction. However, the underlying theme was to be motivational. As time went on teaching and instruction became more of the driving force behind my posts. That is still true to this day. There is however, yet another driving force behind each post and that is to stir a desire. To cause the reader to be like the Berean’s of Acts 17:11. To eagerly listen to the message. Then check the Tanakh to verify if what i have written is true. There is one other aspect i hope to accomplish with these writings. It is intended for those who do not share my faith in Yahoshua. The idea also comes from Acts 17 just a few verse down from eleven. In Acts 17:32-34 it records this:

“When they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some began to ridicule Paul. However, others said, “We’ll hear from you about this again.” At that, Paul left the council. Some people joined him and came to believe, including Dionysius, a member of the council on Mars Hill, a woman named Damaris, and several others.”

Ridicule will come because some people are simply mean spirited. i can’t let that get to me, although, at times i do. i try not to think about them too much. Now, on the other hand, those who want to hear more inspire me. Those who want to follow the Way of the Rabbi also inspire me to write more. Over the years because of my own writing and research i have come to new understandings. i believe differently than i once did. Like many who were under Paul’s teaching. They believed one way, they believed they had it right but then Paul showed them the truth. It caused them to pause, reflect, and adjust their beliefs. Sometimes this is very difficult because we have held beliefs for a long time, a very long time. We couldn’t possibly have been wrong that entire time could we? When faced with this it requires a great deal of prayer and study. One must be willing to ask, is what I am being shown true? Is what I have known been wrong, misquoted, or misinterpreted? No one wants to be wrong, i can assure you of that.

In Psalm 19 the Psalmist writes:
“Adonai’s Torah is perfect,
    reviving one’s very being.
Adonai’s instructions are faithful,
    making naive people wise.
Adonai’s regulations are right,
    gladdening the heart.
Adonai’s commands are pure,
    giving light to the eyes.
 Honoring Adonai is correct,
    lasting forever.
Adonai’s judgments are true.
    All of these are righteous!”

Many have come to believe that the Torah has been done away or was too difficult to maintain. In believing this they must ignore David’s words above. They have to ignore many other passages within the Tanakh as well. We cannot pick and choose what we find acceptable and discard what we find difficult. The Torah, has been translated Law within the majority of biblical translations. However, this is a terrible rendering. For the Torah as David describes is instructions, it is regulations, it is commands, it is judgments. It is also to be honored, and kept. For in doing so it brings revival, wisdom, gladness, light, and truth, that lasts forever.

David wraps up this Psalm by writing these words. “May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in your presence. For You Adonai, are my Rock and Redeemer.” He ends this Psalm about the goodness of Torah with a request. A verse most people memorize today, for it is also their hearts desire. Yet they don’t grasp the enormity of his words, that they are wrapped around Torah. The very written Word of Elohim. May you read these posts, may they grab your heart and your attention. May they lead you to seek the Way of the Rabbi. May you be drawn into a love for the Torah and the Tanakh. May you understand that the Apostles used the Torah as a foundation in their writings. That they shared David’s heart, as revealed in this Psalm.

This was also Paul’s desire to a young preacher known as Timothy. (2 Timothy 3:14-17).
“But you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, recalling the people from whom you learned it; 15 and recalling too how from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can give you the wisdom that leads to deliverance through trusting in Yahoshua the Messiah. 16 All Scripture is Elohim-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; 17 thus anyone who belongs to Elohim may be fully equipped for every good work.” We need to be more diligent in our study of the Tanakh. We should focus specifically on the Torah, taking the advice of Paul.

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

Are You the Temple? Embracing Your Spiritual Identity

Are You the Temple? Embracing Your Spiritual Identity

“Don’t you know that you are Elohim’s temple and that Elohim’s Spirit lives in you? So if anyone destroys Elohim’s temple, Elohim will destroy him. For Elohim’s temple is holy, and you yourselves are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

“Or don’t you know that your body is a temple for the Ruach HaKodesh who lives inside you, whom you received from Elohim? The fact is, you don’t belong to yourselves; for you were bought at a price. So use your bodies to glorify Elohim.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Have you ever stopped to think what it means to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit? The very Spirit of Elohim, His presence, dwelling within. First we need to understand that in the first passage above the term translated as ‘you’ is plural. We do not have an equivalent word in English so it is simply translated ‘you’. However, in both Hebrew and Greek there are terms for a plural form without adding adjectives. Translators should have rendered the passage, “you people”. A short grammar lesson here. In order to keep ‘YOU’ as the noun they remove ‘people’ since with it ‘you’ becomes an adjective. Now, when Paul writes, “your body,” later he indeed means the individual. So they weren’t entirely wrong but we need to understand the difference. The Holy Spirit, (Ruach HaKodesh), dwells within the Ekklesia. He also dwells within the individual believer. Each one comes with deeper understanding of how we should worship.

To be identified as the Temple we must understand what Paul is trying to express. He didn’t just say, the Spirit dwells in you. But rather specifying that the Ekklesia as well as the individual are representations of the Temple of Elohim. What is a Temple, or more specifically, the Temple of Elohim? The Temple had very specific construction. It was an earthly representation of the Heavenly structure. A mirror image made with human hands. It also came with a set of rules. A very specific set of rules. All intended to keep the holiness of the Temple intact. For the very presence of Elohim in all His splendor and Holiness dwelt there. Today, it remains the same. Until the New Jerusalem and the Heavenly Temple are established in the millennium, we are the Temple.

So, if we are the Temple, both corporately and individually, what set of rules should we follow? Let’s begin to explore this by taking a look inside the Holy space. “And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is Adonai Elohim Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 4:8. Contrast that with a glimpse of the earthly Holy place. “And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of Yahweh, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of Elohim filled the house of Yahweh.” 1 Kings 8:10-11. Does this begin to open your eyes to the significance of what it means to be the Temple of Elohim?

With this picture, think about your corporate gathering. Does it look like Elohim’s presence is welcome there? Are the folks anticipating the HOLY presence of Elohim? Or does it look like a concert hall where everyone is looking to be entertained? “You know I just didn’t get anything out of worship today.” In the Temple there was an order, a structure, a purpose for everything. From the show bread, to the Menorah, to the Ark and the Altar, each had their place and function. The Priests had specific responsibilities within the Temple and had to be cleansed before participating. For too long now we have had a lackadaisical approach to corporate worship. As Priests it is our responsibility to change that perspective and approach. “But you are a chosen people! A royal priesthood! A holy nation! Elohim’s special possession! That you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Now, as an individual. What are you thinking about? What are you reading, listening to or watching? Who or what are you inviting into your personal space? What are you eating and drinking? Are these things edifying the Temple of Elohim or would you be embarrassed if Yahoshua was standing next to you? Well, if Scripture is true not only is He standing next to you, He dwells within you. If you are feeling distant from Elohim, wondering why He seems afar off. You might need to evaluate how you are treating the Temple of Elohim. If you think the Temple idea was just an illustration and isn’t important. Or that it was only a Jewish thing. Let me leave you with Ephesians 2:19-22.

“So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, you are fellow-citizens with Elohim’s people and members of Elohim’s family. You have been built on the foundation of the emissaries and the prophets, with the cornerstone being Yahoshua the Messiah Himself. In union with Him the whole building is held together, and it is growing into a holy temple in union with Adonai. Yes, in union with Him, you yourselves are being built together into a spiritual dwelling-place for Elohim!”

For more understanding on the Temple read 1 Kings 8. It’s time we get back to a sense of awe and wonder for the Day of Adonai is quickly approaching! You don’t want to be left outside of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The good news is if you have breath in your lungs you have time. Begin to get your Temple in order, become the light, share the bread, make disciples, serve your Ekklesia.

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj