Holy Spirit, ‘fake news’ and the heart of Ruth The Feast of Shavuot/Weeks is upon us (Deuteronomy 16:10). Fifty days have now passed between Pesach/Passover and Shavuot (Leviticus 23:16 – the counting of the Omer, a peck measurement and first-fruits prophetic promise of a coming full harvest). The crest of those calculations has been reached, and now the wave of fulfillment crashes down onto this fourth celebration of God’s seven …Read More
Replacement Blowback
Newton’s third law of motion states that “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” This principle also manifests itself in politics, in war and in religion. The intelligence community uses the term ‘blowback’ to describe an analogous dynamic – the unintended consequences, unwanted side-effects or repercussions of a black operation that backfires. Replacement Theology (an anti-Semitic expression of Christian theology that raised its head in the 2nd Century …Read More
Bringing greater balance in understanding the sabbatical year
In recent years among some Christians there has been a revived interest in the Hebrew calendar, which Moses described in his Five Books as also being God’s calendar: “YHVH spoke again to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, “YHVH’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations/gatherings – these are My appointed times” (Leviticus 23:1-2). As believers around the world are rediscovering the Jewish roots of …Read More
The Sanballat Syndrome
Bob Dylan said it well. “The enemy is subtle. How be it we are deceived, when the truth’s in our hearts and we still don’t believe…” (“Precious Angel”, © Special Rider Music, 1979). As Islamist terror stretches its icy fingers across oceans from Amsterdam to Paris, and from New York to Jerusalem, the world continually enters into a brief season of shock, to be followed by a determined burying of …Read More
Eating grass and drinking wine
The last three months have seen elections in America, Israel and Jordan. The results have for the most part not brought healing, satisfaction or decisive change. Re-interpreting the Founding Fathers At the U.S. Inauguration (www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/01/21/inaugural-address-president-barack-obama) President Obama boldly advocated for homosexual marriage, placing it on an “Olympic podium” along with votes for women and civil rights for people of color. The President made reference to three events beginning with the …Read More
Israel – hope in the midst of threats
The evening of July 27, 2012, was the 9th day of Av (Tish’a B’Av) according to the Jewish calendar. In 586 BC and in 70 AD, on the 9th of Av, both the First and Second Temples were destroyed. Ensconced in tradition, this day is remembered yearly. Jews in Mumbai, Moscow, Munich, Madrid, Mexico City and Miami all recollect and mourn these events which happened up to 2,600 years ago. …Read More