Free Download I put together a table for use in studying the Book Of Revelation and the Seven Assemblies. I encourage you to chart them out, using this helpful chart. This will be a unique… More
Sukkot In December
Manger Zone
This past Tuesday, the daughters and I had a little movie date. We watched the new film, “Journey To Bethlehem” at the theater.
I am often conflicted about Bible movies. Sometimes they are good. Sometimes they are bad (Noah Movie with Russell Crowe). However, they are never perfect. How can they be, right? For instance, I have never seen “The Chosen.” Don’t judge. I simply haven’t seen the need. I hear good things about it. I don’t campaign against it, but I may be fine without it.
A Musical!?
“Journey to Bethlehem” is a good film. My family enjoyed it. We have been playing the music in the house throughout this past super-long weekend. That is why I must share the music with you. Today, I am sharing an entire playlist. If you intend to see the film, you can thank me for this preview. You can get a jump on the music so you can sing out loud and annoy all the people in the theater. Enjoy.
The Playlist can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqWIm_koLmA&list=PLi3TM32-7ZIKanIZ-ndDbryGMWsUimQYC
Have a blessed Hanukkah season.
Music Monday
Happy day two. Today, I start a new series of blog posts.
Each Monday, I will post a song. That’s about it. Sometimes it’s hard to find messianic music. I’m featuring music to add to your messianic playlist. It’s my hope that you will not only enjoy the music, but be blessed by it and, in turn, bless the artist that is featured.
This week: The song, and the message is one of comfort in worshipping a mighty God. “Fear Not” by Oxana Eliahu
Thank you Richard for sharing this song. I needed this scriptural reminder.
Pride? Why Not Humility?
Stewart And His Marbles
By Paul Bass
Is A Smile Contagious?
It’s OK To Say “Happy Hanukkah.”
The miracles we miss are the ones we choose to ignore.
I used to work for a ministry that did good work in helping to defend the rights of Christians to express their faith during December. In a time when many people were seeing their nativity scenes taken down, this ministry stood up and rallied the troops to defend the right to display baby Jesus.
You have probably seen their buttons and their bumper stickers displayed proudly during the Christmas season. Some people just keep the stickers and magnets up all year. When I see that, I can just about guess if that person has a few lights still dangling off the side of their roof. Why take ’em down, right? Just unplug them until November… Or October, maybe?
Who Took My Baby Jesus?
When we visited the Sight and Sound Theater in Branson, MO a few years ago, we had a baby doll thief in our midst. Our own baby, looked at the Life sized nativity scene and saw a baby doll which just so happened to be portraying the Christ Child in a manger. As we were walking about, waiting the next play performance, I noticed our little girl (about age 2) was clinging to baby Jesus – swaddling cloths and all. She had helped herself to the doll. Quickly I rescued the plastic baby from her clutches and tried to slip it/him back in the authentic feeding trough.
Well, ever since I started celebrating Hanukkah, many Christians have looked at me as if I were a baby Jesus thief. Not kidding. It’s essentially the most popular reaction from fellow Christians.
I once remained silent in a room with a small group of Christian leaders. These ministers were belly aching over retail companies acknowledging Hanukkah during December. They were upset at the concept of advertising and in-store graphics which included greetings that said something other than the sacred words “merry” and “Christmas.” Not all of them were angry, but none of them acted as if Hanukkah was a real thing.
Sometimes the zeal for Christmas convinces me all the more for the case for Hanukkah. Many consider it another Kwanzaa, or at least, a substitute Christmas. The fact is Hanukkah was here first. I suggest that if we are convinced of our holidays, other people must be equally excited during their festivities.
If people take offense when people say, “Happy Holidays,” I want to ask them why their Christmas is not considered by them to be “holy.” One should accept tidings of good will, right? The Golden rule of holidays should be, “do unto others’ not-mass as you would have them do to your Christ-mass.”
Replacement Feast-ology
Hanukkah itself was about the rededication of the temple. This happened after biblical feasts and practices were replaced with those of the pagan dictator.
After the cleaning project was completed, the people of God fortified the temple and city and drove out the bad guys.
The maccabees did NOT go to Greece and take away their practices.
If you are happy with your celebration, with your sacred times, maybe you should enjoy them and “be ye firmly convinced in your heart.”
The point is this. If we are free to celebrate and wish people well, then others must be free to do the same. If not, then it’s just a matter of war. Then, eventually one side wins.
At that point, maybe Christmas is king. Maybe Hanukkah. Or maybe some kind of winter solstice observance, who knows?
We Need A Little Hanukkah
So, this year, if you have a nativity play and exchange gifts in the name of Christmas, maybe it would benefit everyone if you add a little Hanukkah education to your December of joy. After all, you may actually discover eternal truths as you kindle the lamp of reverence in your heart toward God and His chosen people.
While bad actors want all the “Christ” out of Christmas, that’s not a “Jewish conspiracy.” Mean people are just mean. Not everyone who celebrates something other than Christmas wants to steal your Baby Jesus.
The evil emperor Antiochus Epiphanies tried to steal baby Jesus by killing away Jews and replacing the sacred lamp of God with a statue of a pagan deity.
The Jews Survived
And Jesus was born. So, if you like to celebrate that, you should welcome the special time of Hanukkah, as Jesus did in John 10.
Enjoy this opportunity to rededicate your heart (the temple of the Holy Spirit) and proclaim the testimony of the miracles that Jesus performed for you and all of the family of God.
Happy Holiday! Or Holidays, if you have more days than one.
I leave you with a link to this movie. This is a good one. If you want an example of how people can respect each other’s observations during the holidays, this will do the trick. I have watched it twice already. It’s family friendly, but beware. There is a shooting depicted near the beginning of the hour-long film.
His Torah Is… Perfect. Christian, Do You Believe?
How can I not start at Psalm 19?
“The law of YHWH [is] perfect, refreshing the soul,
The testimonies of YHWH [are] steadfast, Making the simple wise,
The precepts of YHWH [are] upright, Rejoicing the heart,
The command of YHWH [is] pure, enlightening the eyes,
The fear of YHWH [is] clean, standing for all time,
The judgments of YHWH [are] true, They have been righteous—together... In keeping them [is] a great reward.”” (Psa 19:7-11, LSV)
Do you want your soul refreshed?
How do we refresh our soul? Caffeine? Yoga? 30 Day Challenges? Well, repentance did it for me. I speak to my fellow Christian. Do you remember when you first humbled yourself in the sight of this man Jesus? Do you remember putting trust in the promise of eternity with the Creator of the Universe?
It’s almost mind blowing. He spoke the world into existence. Also, He died to reach out and save my life from death itself.
The perfect God did not create an imperfect Torah. His instructions are a part of His gift (inheritance) to His children.
This is why I celebrate.
I once was lost, but now I’m found. When I was lost, I had no direction. I had no “way.”
Now that my Jesus brought me back into His flock, I need His Rod and His Staff to guide me and keep me away from danger.
Many people will tell you that the “Law of Moses” is bad news, that it should be avoided at all costs.
I tell you, I was there, I thought like that. I spoke like that. But God’s Word says that Torah is more precious than gold and that it is sweeter than honey. God promises me that if I seek Torah, there is great reward.
I like rewards.
Shouldn’t you? Shouldn’t we all?
Next post: More “why’s” in my return to Torah.
Torah Is 