Congregations that maturely invite and allow the Holy Spirit to act, also show greater power in evangelism and motivating people to give their all to the Kingdom of God.  I have been observing this now for over 40 years. This was so true in the days when I pastored. However, most congregations that say they… Read more »

I recently got an earful of anti-Bible and anti-Christian vilification from an unbeliever.  It made me realize that the Bible and Christianity were being understood by the narrative of the secular anti-Christian culture. That narrative claims the Bible is anti-women, pro-slavery, and sends people to Hell lightly.  This evaluation is unfair. People should seek to… Read more »

Messianic Judaism has to maintain five foundational foundations.  One of the five is a negative point that keeps us from aberrations.  Messianic Judaism is based on these foundations.  The basic points are in bold.  Jews who come to faith in Yeshua are called to identify as Jews, and live as Jews – as part of… Read more »

A few days ago in my devotions, I was reading II Corinthians 6. These verses were highlighted to me by the Holy Spirit. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness. Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What harmony does Messiah have with Belial? What… Read more »

Recently I read a great book that describes building a truly loving community.   The authors call it a “hesed” community using the Hebrew word that has been translated covenant love, steadfast love, loving-kindness and more.  The book is The Other Half of the Church by Michal Hendricks and Jim Wilder.  They call their vision… Read more »

Many years ago, Bob Wright, an apostle leading a network with which we were close in the 1980s, gave some profound insights into training people for congregational leadership.  Previous to this time, I had come to the conclusion that I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 standards for elders required them to have a good marriage and… Read more »

Over many years my convictions have not changed in regard to the priorities of giving for Christians who want to support Israel. The greatest support from Christian giving goes to humanitarian causes in the Land through organizations that do not confess Yeshua. This by far outstrips all other giving. One organization is the recipient of… Read more »

I have written extensively about this subject, especially in my book Jewish Roots which is a Biblical theology from a Messianic Jewish point of view.  I have also written several published papers on this topic.  Here I want to make a few foundational statements so that my readers can fix these as principles for their evaluation of the… Read more »

Some of you have asked me to tell my version of how the journey of “Tikkun” began. After Patty and I got married and served initially in the Chicago area, we were called to Beth Messiah Congregation just north of Washington D.C. (the congregation that gave birth to Tikkun). I became the senior leader of… Read more »

The last issue of the Jerusalem Post Weekend Supplement contained a full spread on near-death experiences with a minor theme on those who experience realms beyond this life.  It also touched on reincarnation and the memory of past lives.   David Brinn was the author.  The article in general was quite open and did not deny the possibility that… Read more »