Back to The Way
DAY 0
My wife, Monica, doesn't usually find the time to read my books, yet she read this last one, "How the Church lost The Way ... and how it can find it again". As my harshest critic I was pleasantly surprised that she was pleasantly surprised at what she read, but then she turned to me and uttered these words .... You hypocrite!
Me a hypocrite?! Of course I am. Those who have read the book would see a marvellous picture painted of how things could be if we Christians returned to the authentic Hebrew roots of our faith and de-programmed ourselves of the pagan thinking, attitudes and lifestyles that are so much of our modern culture. A case of getting back to the early Jewish Church of the Book of Acts, known as "The Way", before the Church was infiltrated by the ideas of the Greek philosophers and their followers. Or - to put it simply - BACK TO THE WAY. It was very much a case of 'listen to what I'm saying' rather than 'watch what I'm doing'. I talked the talk, but certainly wasn't 'walking the walk'. Consequently the cry of 'hypocrite' was apt and it has haunted me ever since.
So what are these Hebrew Roots and how can we start to think Hebraically, rather than 'Greekly'? Would I need to eat kosher? What about the Sabbath and the laws of the Torah? All these are what folk mean when they talk about Hebrew Roots, aren't they? In fact they are not, it goes an awful lot deeper than that. It's about attitudes and what makes you tick, your inner mindset, rather than the externals. It's a case of getting the inner life sorted and watch what flows out of you.
In fact, the very issue of Hebrew thinking only becomes a stumbling block if you think about it ... Greekly! Whereas the Greek way of approaching situations is very cut and dry and exact and logical, not so much with all things Hebraic. As Christians (more so if we are 'messianic' believers), we are provided a window into the Hebraic world, through the Bible and Jesus and the certainties of our faith, but our conditioning, our mental processes and outlook is very much dictated by the education system of the Western world. That's the problem, that's the challenge.
And a challenge it is. Monica and I are ready to take up the gauntlet and explore this whole new World. We're not sure where it's going to take us, or even what we're meant to do, but we've found a good starting point. It's a piece of Scripture, Paul's letter to the Colossians, Chapter 2, verse 6 to the end.
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."
We are looking for other to join us on this exciting journey. We want to get to know our Lord and our God better and we are fed up with the formulae, schemes and promises of "apostles", "prophets" and "teachers", how ever earnest they may have been. There is only one way of truly going forwards, we believe and that is by returning to where we came from. Back to The Way.
Are you up for the challenge? Let us know.
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What seems to me to be my calling
I am a "baby Christian" more or less, although I call myself a Messianic believer.
I feel I am being lead and my whole life has prepared me to take exactly this path.
One thing I believe everybody seems to overlook though is this.
All of my life I have declared myself Agnostic, I had looked many times for truth (as I know many others who have). The problem was everytime I looked I would run into these Pagan Rituals. I was looking for something that was 100% truth and was run off many times because I couldn't find 100& truth in any church I looked.
To make a long story short, eventually I had given up. Nothing left me feeling fullfilled, and somehow I knew finding G-d was the only answer for me. I prayed to G-d (not knowing who he was) and the spirit took care of the rest.
All I think about is serving G-d, all I do is study both Hebrew language culture and scripture. I know it's what I am supposed to be doing right now. I am fortunate because I was not raised into any religions (other than the worship of money). This allows me to study the Bible without any preconcieved predjuces.
I have a friend who runs a school here in Michigan, her father is a bible scholar and I have been given the opportunity to study under him in the near future. They have also contacted me and asked to serve into their ministry! (without saying a word we all felt the same!)
What I am saying is this is waaay bigger than maybe all of you realize. Most intelligenbt people I know not raised in a "G-d household", I feel are also waiting to recieve this same truth. I estimate the potential to grow this church to possibly one of the biggest in the world is simply a matter of time.
There are countless people out there just waiting for a religion to present be presented to them that is 100% origional and 100% Truth.
I don't know where my journey will lead me, but I am finally able to enjoy every step.
I would like us all to stick together and possibly start an organization of some sort. At times it seems to me that because I want to learn from the Bible and my Spirit and ONLY from those 2 things that it makes me the minority. The Bible is my instruction book and it is complete.
My point is for those of us that feel this is their calling lets get together, share our ideas and give each other help and prayers in any way we can.
G-d bless you all,
Matt
msanow@comcast.net
Greetings and Contact
Thanks for the article. Interesting to read your thoughts.
I am teaching the bible from a Torah point of view. My teachings go out each Shabbat from www.sightedmoon.com and www.sightedmoonnl.com to groups and people around the world. And iin many languages.
I am wondering if you are interested in working together and how we would do this.
My web site focuses on the Sabbatical and Jubilee year curses and the Prophecies of Abraham. Any way I am trying to make contact with many groups in some sort of league. Please drop me a line and let me know. admin@sightedmoon.com
Shalom
Joseph F Dumond
www.sightedmoon.com
Back to the way
If we believe God exists at all, we must give Him credit for knowing which way we need to go. It makes no sense to think He gave man one way long ago and now wants to change that way. It only makes sense that He still wants us to continue the original way. Forgive my frequent quotes from Enoch, but it can't be helped, I must quote here from book one of our three part Bible. Enoch calls The Lords rules, "the eternal law". Clearly The Lord gave this information to man in the first Age of the world, otherwise it would not have been fair to kill most all of them. And The Lord is always fair, He created fair and put it into our heads. The point is, the spirit or meaning of the law has not changed since the beginning and it clearly will still be in effect after the Judgement. The only difference in this Middle Age is we don't have the proper understanding or the proper regard for His eternal laws. Evil has become so common in this world it is difficult to imagine what is good. It has become like conditions in Egypt when Moses was following the commandment of passover. In those days it was illegal to kill animals in that fashon. Nowadays, if you catch someone defiling themselves with a beast and kill the beast according to the law, you will go to prison and the beastiality person will be given support, against the law of God. Things in this country are upside down the way they were prophesied to be at the end of days.
Ron Cash
roncash326@gmail.com
Hello, my name is Daniel i am
Hello, my name is Daniel i am 22 years old, i was born and raised in Massachusetts, was raised being taught about the pagan jesus. Until the real Jesus, or His real name, Yeshua, showed me who He really was, and gave me His TRUE LIFE. He revealed Himself to me (a gentile) as the Hebrew Yeshua the Messiah not the greek jesus christ and when i brought this revelation into my church when i was 18 they rejected the teaching. I was also rejected when i gave them a reason for them to accept it was showing the Son of Man reverence. So now im like all these churches suck, they are powerless, they don't do anything but waterdown and washout the TRUTH in GOD'S word. they rape it's people for money, even the churchs that claim to be good are full of greed and judgmental ignorant Pastors who c laim God wont bless you if you give money; their eyes are in eachother and no ones eyes are truly on the King and what He has really done. They are pretending to be of God but not really of Him. MERRY PAGAN CHRISTMAS
Back to the way
I was reading basicly the same thing in an eBook called the "Two natures of the child of God." It mentions everything that is in your blog. It seems the Greek way is full of good works, and not following Y'shua. No wonder the Western Church is so screwed up. If it be possible to go back to the way, it just might settle things down, and we won't act like a dog chasing his tail.
God knew we would need answers for these questions
God knew we would need answers
My goodness me - My head was in a whirl in trying to follow your train of thought. Indeed God knew answers were needed from Day 1 - and has provided us with The Only and Final Answer, a simple answer that simple folk like me have no difficulty with. I have to say, that to write of 'misdirected, grandstanding preachers,' etc. etc. is not a good way to speak of our fellow men, and not in keeping with the first two and vital Commandments which are all encompassing. You say 'it will not be as easy this time' - Surely, it has never been easy! "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it". (Mt 7:13) By the Grace of God we have the Holy Spirit, completion of the Trinity, left with us since Pentecost as our Guide, Counsellor and Friend when we are born again, thus becoming a new creation with a new attitude of mind, and live in humility and in obedience Having found answers to your questions which you are happy with, after 30 years of diligent hunting, I hope you will now find that amazing peace that only God can give, and rest in Him throughout the rest of your journey as you seek to serve Our Lord. With every blessing,
Mustard seed
following the way
i work as a Lutheran priest in Sweden but the last 4 years of my life have been a very interesting journey.
i would encourage any person who wants to have a deep relationship with G_d to explore the journey of opening the door to the Hebraic roots of our faith.
but before you do weigh the costs well. many well meaning believers will not understand you, even if they love you and are members of your family. many will accuse you of being legalistic or being false. Sometimes that can hurt.
Sometimes as messianic followers of Yeshua we can think that we are better or have a more true insight into life in obedience to G_d. we need to pray for those who do not understand.
okay, i am already on the journey but I have found out that if i allow the Scriptures to lead me it can mean a lot of changes in your life. it has for me.
i now stand on a precipice waiting for the next step. I know that Yeshua is Messiah. I cannot turn back. My faith in our G_d has increased and I have a greater sense of peace. The Bible makes more sense to me now more than it ever has.
This journey has led me to reject that Yeshua came to start another religion. But that does not mean that rabbinical Judaism is the answer either. sometimes I am aided by the Mishnah in understanding what Yeshua means but many times I see how the sages have gone far beyond
the scope of the text. But so has mainstream Christianity.
so how much of Yeshuas life do I follow? If he lived perfectly and in everything he did he pleased G_d, then should I not follow him in all of his ways? do I not follow some of his practices because it would cause me great distress or even my job?
Yeshua celebrated the feasts, Sabbath, ate according to the dietary laws of Lev 11 and never wore clothes that were sewn of different kinds of thread (only 100% cotton, or wool, or leather or linnen). which laws did he reject? I can find none of them.
so where do I turn? So many people make smug comments and look down upon us just because we want to follow Yeshua's footsteps, regardless where they lead.
for all of the troubles, it has been worth it. my only regret is that I did not do this earlier. i am striving to live maximally for G_d. I do this by following in Yeshua's footsteps.
take the plunge but do it mindfully.
shalom
Edward
back to the way
Frustrating. Discouraging. Demoralising. But enough about how the 'church' makes me feel.
How much of the bible talks about Israel, the Jews, Yeshua (a Jew) or things Hebrew? 90% 92% 95%? Yet how often do I hear any of these mentioned in the baptist 'church' I attend? 0% 1%?
We have gone soooooooooo far off the course which this faith of ours was meant to be. Consequently the 'church' is lost and possibly/probably deceived, chasing after things which will be burned up like stubble.
Mention any of the foregoing to churchgoers (gently) and they either think you are an alien or are a poor soul. How patronising!
How I long for like minded people to fellowship with in my area (Stirling, Scotland). I don't tick the boxes. I am a square peg, I don't fit!
How long can the 'churches' go down the road of assimilating false teachers/teaching and trying to manufacture faith, experiences, 'worship', emotions, finances and whatever else tickles their ears.
I'll take the remnant every time - if I can find it!
Don't be discouraged
We have all b een there. The Roman Church did a good job of brainwashing us, God being rich in mercy and lovem for his children, has brought all of us together, and maybe this is what is going to take for the Way to return. If we stick to G-d's word we can't fail. It will take some decompressing.
Back to the way
I and I am sure many others understand the frustration, but be careful before you jump anywhere. I know there is at least one Messianic synagogue in Scotland, I think it is in Glasgow ( I do'nt know how far that is from you). Try putting UBMJC in your browser at least you can get some guidance.
Back to the Way
I left church earlier this year when i was challenged by a fellow believer who has never attended the organisation of church.
I tried to get him to change his views, but he remained adamant after seeking Jesus' face, fasting and searching Scripture... I was surprised to find that he is right.
The Church, as an organisation definitely does have pagan roots; thus it seems that it is easier for them to accept the lifestyles of pagans than a lifestyle of holiness as is mentioned right throughout Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. The true Church is any believer who has Christ as their head and is therefore ingrafted to the Israel of God, i believe. This seems to me, to be the way.
The Way
I am a Jew well half, my Father was from a strict jewish background and my Mother Irish, and 22 years ago I became a Believer in Yeshua, so Yep im up for the Journey.
winklers7@optusnet.com.au
The Ancient Paths...
So many here in America are seeking... and finding... the Ancient Paths.
Count us in!! After growing up in denominational Christianity (35+ years).... and still hungering for something more.... we found that we could actually trust HIM to be our guide, and lead us and guide us into all truth.
If we really serve our Messiah, and follow Him... He may open our eyes to leave some of the very institutions who claim to bare his Name, yet who are mixing His WORDS with paganism, and vain philosophies....
Seems many from around the world are hearing the cry to "COME OUT from among them", and they are making "the journey OUT" of the mixed belief systems, and institutions, and denominations, and following our Messiah, who is faithfully leading us back to the ancient paths, THE WAY!
We are loving your website, and look forward to reading more.
Shalom!
Deborah D, Atlanta Ga. USA
Returning to Hebrew roots ?
Why if it important that you return [teshuvah] , you still use the Greek terminology?
Jesus?
Church?
hypocrites?
Shalom
The name of the Messiah
I do believe that the name is very important. The name that God gave to the Messiah is Yeshua, Yeshua salvation. The 3 time mistransliteration of Jesus does not have a meaning and it is not the Messiah's name. Yeshua is the name above all names, Yehsua is the only name which we can be saved.
Returning to Hebrew roots ?
What is important to you ? terminology or the heart ?
SHALOM !
Mustard seed
Terminalogy or heart
In Romans 10 it says, "If yopu believe in your heart and confess with your mouth you are saved." Not if you know the terminalogy.
unity
I share your excitement- what we all see coming - the journey back to our roots. Don''t count us out here in the U.S. I currently live in Missouri where God is bringing unity to all the denominations of our small town. The ultimate unity of course will be to come together in the roots of our Hebrew background. I've never been so excited to study the Sriptures as I have since God has shown me that the "past" is the only way to move forward into spiritual unity with all God's people. We will soon be moving to Austin,Texas where we hope to find a place to worship with both Messianic Jews and Christians together. I visited a Messianic church in Kansas City last year, I was brought to tears more than once . The service was amazing. We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord!
messianic fellowship
I believe Messianic is the way .Word of truth declared like never before .Believer for 20 years could not find a home ,now I am home among fellow believers ,learning about the Word ,I,m only a babe now being fed real food .Thank God.
replying to 'Messianic fellowship'
"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off". (Matt.18.13. NIV)
Shalom ! Mustard seed.
Unity
Amen - dear guest. We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, and what a glorious place to be.
Mustard seed
Back to The Way
Happy to see Saltshakers having a resurrection! It was the place I turned to when I first began the walk away from Greek thinking and explored Hebrew thinking.
I live in Norway up high on the side of a mountain overlooking a fjord; it is truly a high place and a good place to learn about hinds feet.
I have had some devastating experiences in the past several years in local free churches. I have learned a measure of what Jesus spoke against in regards to religious life and mindset. Having now been exposed to spiritual abuse by those who not only do not understand how to correctly intrepet scripture, but use it to betray, trap and imprison believers, I am seriously concerned with what kind of biblical interpretations you will espouse.
IMHO the essential message of Christ to believers of The Way was summed up in His words regarding the first and greatest commandment. Those who are so concerned about returning to Torah practice, when and on what day to worship, what and how and with whom to eat and meet are missing Christ's message to His followers.
Truly "The Church" as it presently practices the faith has become little better than the old Synagogue complete with Sanhedrin etc. It is my sincere hope that your work will advance how to find, be in relationship with, live out and share Christ in a safe community of both believers and seekers. I am so weary of hearing about "sin" as the main topic and a specific way to salvation as the only valid thing. I am tired of criticisms, bible bashing, judgments, hierarchical systems and begging for money.
Count me in for an authentic study of scripture to discover what it is really saying and how to love, know and share the love Christ places in our hearts without needing to place burdens.
Leah Garhovd
Norway
Back to the Way
Stay with us Leah - Blessings.
'Mustard seed'
Torah observance
I believe Torah observance is the key, but not Torah observance as understood in Rabbinic Judaism. I would believe that Yeshua summarized God’s teachings (Torah) in Matthew 5:3-12 and expanded on this in the rest of the ‘Beatitudes.’ Paul certainly gave a detailed summary of those that were not Torah observant in Romans 1:18-32. The ‘general’ revelation of God through Creation should lead man to ‘Torah observance’ naturally. Although Rabbinic Judaism has held the Jewish people together for nearly 2000 years it has perpetuated Pharisaic error for all that time. Hopefully, both Jew and Gentile will be able to see through the veil thrown up by the church and Judaism and find understanding through the plain sense of Scripture.
Blessings once again,
Ian Carter
Torah observance
I believe one should distinguish between the Torah of Moshe and the Torah of Yeshua (Jesus). I put it somewhat more in length here:
http://sites.google.com/site/vinishsky/
God bless you
Shlomo Vinishsky
sorry, more exact link:
http://sites.google.com/site/vinishsky/tora-of-the-messiah
Thank you to 'sorry, more exact link:
That's all - a simple 'thank you' for this link.
Mustard Seed.
Agreed
Still, many believe that Rabbinical Judaism is the "religion" into which Yahusha was born, but it was still in its developing stages. The true way has always been the Torah of Yahuah, and the teachings of Yahusha and His talmidim remain fully within those boundaries. Where people get side-tracked about things is through the writings of Shaul, which are easily misunderstood. Galatians discusses the "law" (nomia) concerning circumcision for adult male converts, but the casual reader can easily miss the topic and apply the word "law" to the Decalogue - and live lawlessly, in illegalism.
Before Christianity, there was Torah. That's what Yahusha lived and taught.
Lew
Agreed,
Yes, Lew, you've got it. That's exactally what's happening. People are reading a translation of a translation which has lost the distinction between the ten different definitions of the word 'law'. Paul never meant to say we are not under the law in general or in spirit. It should be obvious when he says the law is good and bad in the same chapter that something is wrong with the translation, don't you think?
Ron Cash
Back to the Way
Whilst I fully endorse the need to get back to the immediate 'post-pentecost' church which most surely embraced all the gracious attributes of resurrection power, and a remarkable 'agape' harmony mostly missing today, as Steve says - a lot of thinking will be necessary here. Yes, I know, God provides - but does He? Do we not have to exercise a level of faith to even begin to change things, because, in essence the Word already provides us with everything in Christ. The first awesome problem is that huge swathes of seekers after truth and thereby eternal security, are absolutely convinced that they are saved to the uttermost. They can barely be dislodged in their thinking. Secondly, 'post-pentecost' implies Baptism in (the) Holy Spirit essential for an empowered church, and what do we need more than anything in today's church (I use the word church loosly) I think Steve has mentioned in passing the author David Pawson - who has written two excellent books that dove tail well into this blog conversation. I'll finish here for the moment, am awaiting a new pass word from you!
Abraham East Midlands UK
Back to 'The Way' - Abraham's response
Hi Abraham, when my eyes were opened to the truth of how much the roots of our Christian faith lays with Israel and God's chosen people the Jews, it deepened my faith. Maturing it like a full bodied wine. That was some years ago as I studied the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans chapters 9 to 11 inclusive. What I have learned since then is that it truly is a gift in the same way as our awakening to the awesome gift of our salvation. You're quite right in saying that many in the church feel they have done all they need in order to secure their salvation. None of us can ever say we have arrived or that God has no more to give or teach us. However, as your own faith matures with this teaching, this realisation of the awesome debt we owe the Jewish nation, this return to the original text and culture of the early church 'BC' (Before Constantine)others will see the new depth your faith has taken you to and will want to join you on this amazing Journey. In truth I guess I have a vested interest. I have a Jewish spiritual brother called Jesus and a physical Jewish daughter called Hannah. So being a Gentile doesn't hold me back, rather it spurs me on all the more to encourage those who have yet to taste of this mature wine, how much closer they will feel to our Lord and Saviour Yeshua ha Mashiac when their eyes have been opened as they drink it in. Hope you won't pull rank on me with such an awesome name Abraham! Shalom and blessings to you and yours.
Back to the Way. response to Abraham
Dear Abraham, just as a PS. for a good lesson on 'Love one another' - download sermon under that title, part of a series on "Life in the Vine" by Pastor Mark Weeden, worthingtab.org.uk . Enjoy and be blessed. Enid.
Back to the Way. response to Abraham
Dear Abraham, God has indeed provided what we need through the Holy Spirit and The Word. Both are vital as is the armour of God - even on the internet. You are so right in your observation of huge swathes being absolutely convinced that they are saved to the uttermost, which is the sadness of our day and a result of modern liberal teaching, but let us not forget there are good Ministers and Preachers who hold fast to the Scriptures - tough and uncomfortable for us as it sometimes may be, and they have a hard task in today's society. In joining this undertaking with Steve, are we not acknowledging that we are Travellers on The Way, beginning with the Old Testament and growing through the New; ever learning to the very end, seeking the guidance of Word and Spirit, in obedience and in awesome wonder at the Might and Mercy of our Everlasting Father.
There are some excellent and helpful books, including David Pawson's "Unlocking the Bible Omnibus" - but if we hold Corinthians 1.13 in our hearts, and seek to know the character of God, which shows each of us so clearly where we fall short, whatever our individual trials may be, seeing ourselves primarily not as Jew or Gentile, but as travellers on The Way and children of God, we will perhaps be doing rather better than we have in the past. I sent the following first and last verses of a poem to Steve recently, written by a saintly man who would I think cringe at the church today, and would like to add it to this column. With love, Enid.
There is a book, who runs may read,
Which heavenly truth imparts,
And all the lore its scholars need,
Pure eyes and Christian hearts.
Thou, who hast given me eyes to see
And love this sight so fair,
Give me a heart to find out thee,
And read thee everywhere.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Words: John Keble, 1827
back to the way
my heart is thumping... i can feel the excitement rising in me. this is good, so very good. i wait in anticipation for what God is going to do. Oh Lord, Holy Spirit, move among Your people now. Move in power, and move us...By My Spirit, says The Lord...
Back to the Way
I can't help feeling very excited about what the Lord has laid upon your heart. I belong to a small (in numbers only) Fellowship which has felt for some years now that the only way forward is to go back. Back to Acts 2 and the church of Acts 2. I've already read your book "The truth is out there" and intend buying your latest one. I feel also that you are a man of sincerity and integrity. I have also read a number of books and teaching aids from Chris and Lindy Hill and am on their mailing list so I know you have a good, sound network supporting you. We all need solid, sound Bible teaching and, with this in mind, I pray the Lord will bless and empower this website and the message of hope it will bring. The world needs it.
Yours in Christ Jesus
Gordon
Back to the Way
You can sure count me in. You know that feeling you get during the opening frames of a movie or pages of a book that tells you, 'This looks good'. You hit the pause button, grab a brew and settle down with great anticipation as you continue with the adventure. Your writings have never disappointed me Steve and this latest edition is no exception. I lack the vocabulary to express how deeply I feel the frustrations with you of how much the church has lost 'The Way' and how clearly you have explained it in your book. [Tell Monica I will not pay for any door widening in your home!] Seriously, and my apologies if this should shiver your timbers, however, I think it is time for a return to 'The Way' type or style of meetings. To suggest starting up your own church or denomination would be to completely annul what 'The Way'was intended to be. So, what I feel inspired to suggest is 'House Groups' or meetings in one another's homes under the auspices of 'The Way'. Inspired volun-teers, Disciples, who are in full agreement, and are confident they can commit themselves, and have a deep desire to be a part of this Godly ministry, should register with you. This commitment would require the opening up of their homes for one evening on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on available resources, for a house meeting. As these people register with you from all over the UK, perhaps from other parts of the World, those unable to hold a meeting in their own home could be directed towards their nearest 'Branch'. Well, we are all branches aren't we! Sorry, am I going to fast for you! Each 'House Meeting' could follow suggested teachings from the studies you have done in the past concerning our Jewish roots. I know you are trying to get away from formal worship and 'Church' type get togethers and I agree which is why I feel the best way forward for this inspired ministry is to get it out on the streets and into our homes. This would provide great opportunities to get together in harmony. To worship, study and to pray for Israel and our Jewish brethren who continue to suffer throughout the world. To be united in Yeshua's Holy Spirit as we revive those awesome days of 'The Way' we read about in Acts. I hope this inspiration you have had for a return to 'The Way' will never subside through lack of support. If you recognise that God is completely behind you in this then you have all the support you will ever need. However, I would like those who read this to sit back and take a moment to reflect on how they prioritise the various aspects of their lives and how much of what currently occupies their lives do they seriously believe will make a difference to the world around them. What kind of a legacy will they leave behind for their children and grandchildren. There may be suggestions about spending their time more fruitfully in evangelism. Well, if they take a look at the account of the early church in Acts they will see the formula used by the followers came from their Godly inspired hearts and thus the church was being added to daily. I'm sure I will have further input later but for now I would urge people reading this to consider seriously their role in God's command for us to 'Make Disciples' of all nations and to return to our Hebraic roots as God intended for us all. Shalom my friends.
Wow, Michael! Spot on, I
Wow, Michael!
Spot on, I think, but it's early days yet and we have barely got going. Let's pray that the Lord may use this website as a rallying point for like minded folk and then let us see where it takes us next. Exciting, eh?
Blessings.
Steve
Let's do it!
We need a facility on the front page of your web site where those who feel they would like to commit their time to this ministry register their details with you. You already have Enid and myself. This would also require publishing a map of the UK with green dots representing those who are willing to open up their home for meetings and blue dots representing those who would like to attend such meetings. You can put me down for a Green or a Blue in the Blackburn area. We would also need a link on your site to the studies you have already completed on the church's Hebraic roots. I'm sure CFOI would be happy to help with 'Kesher' courses. Even if we can bring together just two people in the same area on a regular basis, it would be wonderful for them to study together in the same spirit of Yeshua. And if they begin to live their lives in the same spirit of the early church why shouldn't they be added to daily? This is an exciting ministry with awesome prospects! Somebody hold me down! Shalom and blessings my friends.
where in blackburn
Read this site with interest, cant now remember how i came to hear about it, no matter.
Two questions - where in the blackburn area are you ? i live in preston at the moment, but the Lord is moving us on. tThe other is what is a 'kesher' course ?
mary
Where in Blackburn? Reply to mary
Hi Mary, Glad you dropped by. I am near the Oswaldtwistle end but I put Blackburn as it is the major town in the area. If you have an interest in the Hebraic roots of our Christian Faith and of Israel I know of a number of people in the Preston area who would gladly welcome your fellowship before you move on. If you let me have your email address I will forward their contact details. They regularly get together to pray for Israel at a friend's home in the Fulwood / Ribbleton area.
Kesher is a ten week course, which aims: To enrich our understanding of Jesus. To deepen our trust in God's faithfulness. To give us a better understanding of current events in the Middle East. You can visit www.keshercourse.co.uk to find out more. But be sure to return here! I helped run a course some years ago and it was wonderful fellowship. For one of the sessions the ladies got together and created a lovely buffet that consisted of Jewish foods. Really tasty. Shalom and blessings my friends
Michael, you're on fire!
Michael, you're on fire! You've obviously been holding this back for some time. My answer is, "let's wait for the Lord, let's see how this all pans out". I'm sure there are many of us out there, dissatisfied with the current Church - but let's not run before we can walk ;-)
reply to 'Wow, Michael !spot on
Count me in Steve. You know my address when you do get to compile a register. I live in a 'park home' on the edge of a beautiful field - it is totally tranquil and visitors always are struck by the peace. (call in if you are ever in my area) The home was given a blessing by my Pastor when I moved in. That was six years ago and although a total believing Gentile - I named it 'Shalom'. Shalom to all God's great family, and if it be His will, may He make The Way clear. In His Love,
Enid