The Set Your Heart Messianic Blog

There's only ONE Moses

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:53:00 +0000

Moses views the land from Mount Nebo.

One of the saddest pictures in the Torah is that of Moses coming to the border of Israel, at the edge of the wilderness, and then dying. Although he was specifically selected by God for the task of leading the people out of slavery in Egypt and into a land flowing with milk and honey, Moses was not allowed to complete his mission because of his sin. His forty year journey would end in the wilderness at Shittim, in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, just opposite Jericho.

In our parashah this week Adonai tells Moses to go up on a mountain and view the land. After he sees it, he would die. Before he ascends the mountain Moses is moved, once again, to intercede for the people. This time he prays that Adonai would not leave the people leaderless, or shepherd-less. Moses loved the flock in his care. Adonai then appoints Joshua, the son of Nun, as Moses' successor. It's not a surprise that Joshua replaced Moses; but, although he would now lead the people, Joshua's role would not be identical to Moses'.

The Torah tells us that Adonai only spoke with Moses face-to-face (Ex 33:11, Nu 12:6-8). Nobody else had this privilege. In fact, before the ordinances regarding the Kohen Gadol were in place, and possibly even afterward, Moses would enter into the Holy of Holies to speak with Adonai who would meet with him from above the mercy seat (Ex 25:22). Remember, only the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest, could enter the Holy of Holies once a year on Yom Kippur, to atone for the sins of the nation. But Moses had special access to Adonai that nobody else did, not even his successor, Joshua. Regarding Joshua, the parashah says, "...he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD." (Nu 27:21) In other words, Joshua would hear from God through Eleazar, the High Priest. Joshua would be a mediator between the High Priest and the people. He would convey to the people the words from Adonai that were given through the High Priest. Although Joshua was called a prophet, he was not the Prophet (Du 18:15-18) that would come after Moses. While Joshua was a great leader, he was not equal to Moses. Joshua's main task was to see that the mission of Moses came to fruition. This is why he is exhorted to "be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded..." (Jos 1:6-9) Joshua did not add to the Torah, he followed it.

Last night as we read this passage as a family, my children already knew that Joshua was not like Moses. I was amazed at their understanding of this fact because this is not something that we've talked about before; not in our devotional time anyway. But they understood that only Moses spoke with Adonai face-to-face because only he had a special relationship with Him. Nobody had a relationship with Adonai like Moses did.

It is important to understand that Moses had a unique role in Israel's history. He was not given a specific title and/or responsibilities like Aaron, his brother the High Priest; nor was his job established as a perpetual postion. Aaron's job, on the other hand, was a position that was supposed to continue, from generation to generation, through his sons (Ex 40:12-15). Although Moses' role was not ongoing, his mission needed to be completed, hence the appointment of Joshua. Here's another important fact—since Moses and the High Priest were the only two men who could come into the presence of Almighty God in the Holy of Holies, both Moses and the position of the High Priest were types of the Messiah-to-come, Yeshua. Knowing this, it is safe for us to establish the following two points:

Moses, the prophet, is a type of the Prophet, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jn 6:14; Ac 3:22-23).
The role of the High Priest is a type of the High Priest, Yeshua HaMashiach (Heb 5:1-10).

Today, we do not have a leader like Moses and our High Priest is currently serving in the heavenly tabernacle (Heb 8:1-6). Nevertheless, it is the practice of some congregations to base their hierarchical structure of church government after the Levitical priesthood (Nu 18:1-7) or the shoftim, the judges of the cities in Israel (Du 16:18), with the Senior Pastor serving in the role of the High Priest or Moses. But remember, Moses and the High Priest were types of Yeshua, so equating the modern day position of the Senior Pastor with that of Moses and/or the High Priest would be a dangerous and potentially heretical and blasphemous stance. To equate the Senior Pastor to the shoftim is not as bad, it's just not accurate. The reason is that Torah is not the law of the land today, here in the US or in Israel; and Senior Pastor does not have the same authority in a persons life that a judge did in Biblical times. Be careful if they tell you that they do.

It has been my experience that churches that lean toward a Levitical priesthood or shoftim model of church government (also known as the Jethro model or Moses' ecclesiastical government) are authoritarian in nature and therefore, heavy-handed in their leadership style. This results in the abuse of authority over the laity, time and time again. This stance is not the position of Messianic scholars but rather the position of fringe Torah teachers.

The Biblical model for the government of Israel was for the nation in the land with a functioning Temple and priesthood. This model was never intended to be used in small church communities outside of Israel under foreign governments. Sure we may see some parallels between the Levitical priests and the church leadership and we may see some parallels between the common Israelite people and the church members; but these are only parallels; similarities. We may also find wisdom in Jethro's model of delegation for Moses because it makes sense; it's the inspired Word of God. But we need to remember, there's only one Moses and the Senior Pastor is not functioning in his role.

We are not in Israel with a functioning Temple and Levitical priesthood. We are in the Diaspora, without a Temple and without a Levitical priesthood. So how should we govern our churches? In some of Paul's epistles we can find his God-inspired, Torah-based instructions on church government that he gave to the churches in the Diaspora. If you already have a knowledge of Torah, this would be a good place to start. For a clear explanation of how to run and establish a Messianic congregation, I recommend the TorahResource course "I Will Build My Ekklesia" – An Introduction to Ecclesiology. In this important teaching, Tim Hegg explains the necessity of a plurality of leaders (elders) which was the foundation of the governmental structure in the early church.

Related Articles:

Elders, be an Example to the Flock
Set Your Heart, June 9, 2011

Who owns your Church?
Set Your Heart, July 8, 2010

"I Will Build My Ekklesia" – An Introduction to Ecclesiology
By Tim Hegg, TorahResource.com

Bet Din
By Jacqueline Shields, The Jewish Virtual Library

Synagogues, Shuls and Temples
Judaism 101

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TV Commercials without the TV

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:42:00 +0000

The current in-store advertisements at Walmart.

One of the reasons we stopped watching television eleven years ago was because of the commercials. Although my career, at the time, was in the advertising industry, I didn't like being bombarded with televised junk mail. Don't get me wrong, I like good commercials. I like the creative process and the thinking behind the concepts. That kind of stuff motivates me. I just didn't want it consuming a large portion of my time. I wanted less distractions in my life. One of the benefits we found in moving to Colorado was the small number of billboards on the side of the highway. Less distractions—I like it. But while I was at the store this past weekend, I realized that television commercials don't need television anymore. Commercials are now played on dedicated flatscreens that are strategically placed throughout the store. Great. Now we've got our own personal i-billboards to distract us.

Blade Runner, 1982 (Ridley Scott)
The strange Japanese advertisement on the side of a building
and later seen on the side of a blimp.

Although these in-store video advertisements have been around for a few of years now, I'm still not used to them. I usually ignore them and walk past as if they are not even there. I'd feel weird standing there watching a commercial. Wouldn't you? Actually, when I first saw one of these commercial screens, I was reminded of the commercial on the giant screen on the side of the skyscraper in the movie Blade Runner. Remember the geisha lady taking a pill and smiling into the camera? Check out the clip below. Bizarre stuff, eh? Anyway, this was one of the production details that made this futuristic world believable. The story was set in Los Angeles 2019; which is only seven years away! Although the movie was made back in 1982, the execution still holds up today. The Blade Runner screenplay was an adaption of the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968), by Philip K. Dick (1928-1982). If you don't know much about Philip Dick and you like sci-fi, you should check him out and check out the other films based on his works.

Eight of Philip Dick's novels or stories were made into movies. The most recent is The Adjustment Bureau (2011). Another one of Dick's story-turned-movie, Total Recall (1990), won an Academy Award for special effects. If you were to watch this movie now, the effects would seem hokey; but back in the day, they were cutting edge—I promise. Actually, a remake of Total Recall is coming out this August. I'm hoping to go see it.

Minority Report, 2002 (Steven Spielberg)
The personalized, retinal-scan powered advertisements
that seem to be all over the city.

Minority Report (2002) was a popular Philip Dick story/movie that incorporated advertising in the plot. The story is set in Washington DC, 2054, where retinal scanning technology is used by the government to monitor the population. The media also uses this technology to deliver personalized advertisements. John Anderton (Tom Cruise) is a cop on the run. In the clip below, he realizes that he cannot hide in the city because of all the retinal scanners that are mounted everywhere. Big brother is watching his every move.

Anderton is trying to solve a murder mystery while simultaneously evading the police; but in order to move about the city undetected, he has to undergo an eye transplant. He needs new retinas which will provide him a new identity. In the clip below, he enters a Gap store where he learns his new identity.

Mr. Yakamoto, that's hilarious! Get it, he's not Japanese! Anyway, Minority Report is set in 2054, that's thirty-five years away. Do you think we will have this kind of technology in 2054? I mean, right now our computers let folks know what city we are in, websites track our purchases and offer suggestions the next time we visit. Our phones tell everyone where we've been and where we're at; and these are only a few of the basic tasks that simple computers can do today. Technology seems to be advancing at a faster and faster rate which effects all areas of our lives, even advertising.

It's hard to imagine that this story was first published in 1956. I know the screenwriters adapted the story to make it relevant for today; but I also know the advertising of today is much more distracting than the advertising of the 50's. It's probably true that the advertising of the future will be much more distracting than it is today. So I guess the impersonal flatscreens aren't that bad after all. I guess I can tolerate them or at least continue to ignore them. But once they start interacting with me on a personal level, I'm going to look into getting eye transplant insurance.

Related Links:

In-Store TV Still Fighting for Respect -- and Marketing Dollars
Ad Age, 2010

Does 'Minority Report' Portray a Scary Future?
ClickZ, 2002

The Philip K. Dick Website

Total Recall, 2012
Release date - August 3, 2012

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A Cure for Cabin Fever

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:35:00 +0000

Miryam (7), Isaac (9), and Aaron (5) exert a little energy.

I had to get these three out of the house this morning in an attempt to cure their cabin fever. They've been cooped up for about a week and needed to exert a little energy. Aaron's been wanting to show us, for the past year, that he knows how to get to the church on foot, so we thought we'd give him a shot. For a five year old kid, he's got a pretty good sense of direction. Here are some shots of our walk to the church and then back home again. Click on the photos for a larger view.

First stop, the bunch of trees down the street.
It's a great place for photos in the fall. We're a bit late.

This is a great open space to watch the sun set.
It's up on a hill; great view of the mountains.

From the top of this hill you can see downtown Denver.
Look right over Isaacs left shoulder,
you can barely make out the Denver skyline.

Here we are at the church. This is where our congregation meets.
Good job Aaron!

We took the long way home
and swung by the new 80th Street bridge.

There were some shoes in the creek.
The kids got a kick out of it.

Last stop, Mr. Mike's house to check out his bike.

Hurt People Hurt People

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:16:00 +0000

Comic Book and Movie Villains are nothing more than bullies.
In The Incredibles (2004), little Buddy Pine grows up to become
the malevolent villain, Syndrome.

As part of my son's Gracie Jiu-Jitsu training, the coach will put the students in imaginary but 'real world' confrontations and then teach them how to protect themselves and get out of the situation. The common scenario he puts them in is the schoolyard bully who is trying take their lunch money by force. It's an old cliché but it's an all too real situation that children still encounter today. In the news more and more stories of bullied children are being told. Some of these children have been bullied to the point of suicide. Because of these horrific instances, anti-bullying laws are now being pushed to protect the vulnerable.

But bullying isn't only found on the playground or in grade schools. Many child bullies grow up to become adult bullies; and adult bullies can be more intimidating and more threatening than their younger counterparts. Adult bullies can be found in the workplace, in social clubs, in the neighborhood and even in the church. So, why do bullies bully?

The cute little orphan, Goob, grows up to become the menacing
Bowler Hat Guy in Disney's Meet the Robinsons (2007)

After years of reading comic books and watching movies, it has become clear to me that villains are usually nothing more than big bullies. Some villains are thieves and some are monsters but usually, they're just bullies. Villains are usually out for revenge. They want to make the people who hurt them in the past, pay and pay dearly. Their broken past and the injustices they faced, usually as a child, are the catalysts that made them a villain. In fact, Tip #2 of the Seven Tips on Creating a Fantastic Fantasy Villain, found on the Fantasy Faction website, touches on this.

To create a Lovable Villain you need to make them characters with whom readers can relate. There are ways of doing this that will help our readers empathise with the most miserable antagonist. Villains can own their own set of injustices. If they feel they are ‘hard done by’, by society, life or circumstance, they not only have an understandable reason for maladjusted behaviour, but they will have enough logic for their actions to allow the reader to have some sympathy towards their plight. From a single human frailty, such as fear, jealousy, or loneliness your villain can still generate evil but they will also have at least one character trait for a reader to relate to. Child abuse, neglect, ridicule in their early life could well influence a villain’s lack of self esteem and arouse a sense of sympathy from the reader.

To make them seem 'real' to their audience, authors and screen writers will give their villains a history that is believable; something people can relate to. Two recent, animated villains with a troubling past come to mind, Syndrome (The Incredibles, 2004) and the Bowler Hat Guy (Meet the Robinsons, 2007). In the movie clip below, Syndrome reveals the childhood rejection that made him a bitter villain.

In the next clip, the Bowler Hat Guy goes back in time and runs into himself as a child. Jump ahead to 2:06 or just watch the whole video.

These are a couple of fun, fictitious examples of how villains are made, but I think there may be some truth to them. I'm no expert on this subject but I have noticed that some people who come from broken backgrounds do end up as bullies; not all, but some. I know because I've experienced a few of these people in my life. Although I grew up in a rough neighborhood, I had a pleasant childhood. I didn't have any traumatic experiences so I cannot relate to how a person like this may feel; but I know they must be hurting. Because they are hurting, they hurt others.

Now, I have to mention that in comic books and movies, the hero usually has a past too. The hero usually comes from a broken background too; but the difference is that the hero has turned his bad experiences into something good. He becomes a fighter for justice and not a menacing villain. So, maybe bullies are not just victims of their circumstances. Maybe they do have a choice to do the right thing but they choose not to.

"People who are bullies haven't dealt with their own insecurities of low self esteem and self-worth. By controlling and manipulating and coercing they hide their own insecurities."

(from Steve Hutto's blog post Bullies In The Church?)

So, what about us, the disciples of Yeshua? If we are born again and if we've put away the sinfulness of our past and we are trying to live a godly life, why are there bullies in the church? I like what Steve Hutto says in his blog post about bullies in the church -- "People who are bullies haven't dealt with their own insecurities of low self esteem and self-worth. By controlling and manipulating and coercing they hide their own insecurities." When we are born again, there is a change that happens within us but this change does not erase our past. In fact, after we have accepted Messiah, we may still be affected by our past sins and/or the past sins done against us. This is why we have to intentionally address them. We need to accept forgiveness from God for our sins and know in our hearts that He truly has forgiven us. This will remove the guilt. Then we need to truly forgive those who have sinned against us. We need to release them to God and in doing so the anger toward them and the need to get revenge is removed. Being forgiven and forgiving others will release us from the bondage of sin. Hutto goes on to say, "The problem is that a bully doesn't trust God in the areas of his/her insecurities. They look to their own 'strengths' instead [of] acknowledging their weaknesses. Thus the power of Christ is not free to move in and through them." A disciple of Yeshua who is a bully, who has not addressed their past, will not be able to move in the fullness of the Spirit. There will always be this, their past hurts, holding them back. They will not be as effective as they could be in their job of advancing the Kingdom.

Hurt people hurt people; but forgiven people forgive people.

Related Links:
The Serial Bully
www.BullyOnline.org

Bullies In The Church?
Steve Hutto's Blog

Big Bad Bully
Psychology Today

Healing Past Hurts
www.LordsLaw.com

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Jewish Tradition and our Messianic Community

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:56:00 +0000

The Jewish Symbols Floor Puzzle from All Things Jewish

During our past four midrash meetings we've discussed Jewish Tradition and its place in the Messianic Community; more specifically our Messianic Community. This discussion brought up related topics that we briefly addressed but I may, however, elaborate on them in the future. The timing of our series of discussions was interesting. In the middle of the discussions a new issue of FFOZ's Messianic Journal was released. In it was an article called Halachic Authority in the Life of the Messianic Community which addresses this issue from their perspective. We didn't discuss this article as a group, and since only one person had a copy, we provided those involved an opportunity to read it. Another interesting coincidence that happened about the same time was the Ralph Messer/Eddie Long incident. We spent some time discussing this event because we found it relevant to the topic of Jewish Tradition in the Messianic Community.

The reason for the discussion was to get an idea of the feelings and thoughts that the community has toward Jewish Tradition. I've got my own thoughts and opinions but I wanted to hear what others had to say before we make any changes to our services. Most of the folks in our congregation have a Protestant/Evangelical background. I, on the other hand, have a Roman Catholic background with very little exposure to the Christian church. I was brought up in a very liturgical form of worship and most of the other folks have not.

As expected, the feelings and thoughts spanned the gamut from pro-Jewish Tradition to no-Jewish Tradition. The related topics ranged from tzitzit ties to Two-House theology. We weren't trying to come to a conclusion, we were just talking. But the final consensus was to continue to approach Jewish Tradition in the same way that we have been—one tradition at a time, weighing each tradition against Scripture and against our core beliefs and then asking ourselves if it is helpful, relevant and meaningful. It was a good exercise and helpful to find out where everyone stands. As we continue to grow, we may not have the opportunity to have intimate discussions like this again. I want to take advantage of this while I can.

We are Messianic but not Messianic Jewish. We realize that since most of us are not Jewish, we will be criticized for adopting and altering Jewish Tradition to fit our needs. We are prepared for this and after watching what happened down in Georgia, we know what not to do.

There is so much more to say about this topic. This is why tradition will be left as an ongoing conversation in our community.

Related Articles:
The place of Rabbinic Tradition in Messianic Judiasm
by Dr. Michael L. Brown, 1988

Traditions: Some Thoughts on the Place of Tradition in Torah Communities
by Tim Hegg, 2001

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Video Of The Day - 02/15/12

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:38:00 +0000

Little Mo likes the baby in the mirror.

Matthew 5:11

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:43:00 +0000

From time to time I will receive emails with words of encouragement or heartfelt exhortations. As they pray for me, believing friends and family will send Scripture passages that they feel led to share.

A second ago, someone sent this passage to me...

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,

and persecute you,

and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,

for my sake."

KJV

That was the whole email, Matthew 5:11.

I wonder what they heard now. On second thought, I don't care. Just keep praying for me folks. I need it and I greatly appreciate it.

Hands to the plow...

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21—The Threefold 7

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:24:00 +0000

Margaret and I at Michaela's Bat Mitzvah, December 18, 2011.

Happy Anniversary Margaret!

I Love You!

It's hard to believe that this past Saturday was our 21st wedding anniversary. Before we were married, Margaret and I had been dating for four years; starting in the tenth grade. We were barely twenty years old when we were married. Soon after our wedding, I remember someone telling me that if we could make it past the first seven years, our marriage would have a chance. Margaret and I agree that the first seven years were the hardest. We find it curious that for the first seven years we didn't have children. We didn't plan it like this, it just happened this way. In fact, our first child was born fifteen days after our seventh anniversary. Looking back, it seems that this new life was an indication of the new life that we would soon experience in our marriage. Two years later, Margaret gave birth to our second child and this same year Margaret and I committed our lives to Yeshua. We were born again and given a new life, eternal life. Since then our marriage has become stronger and stronger.

We believe that marriage is forever and I'm sure most people do; otherwise why would traditional wedding vows include the phrase 'til death do us part?' I'm not saying that divorce doesn't happen. My point is that nobody gets married thinking they are going to divorce. If that's the case then why get married in the first place? Why go through all the trouble? Marriage is a lifetime commitment. It is a total commitment but not a perfect commitment. We give our whole life to our spouse not just part of it. But since we are human and we err, our commitment will not be a perfect one. Marriage is not something that we accomplish but something we work at. Our marriages need constant care and attention. They need to be nurtured and not neglected. We need to remember that there is no such thing as a perfect marriage because there are no perfect people.

At Front Range, we believe we are called to a multigenerational faith. This means that it is our responsibility to pass our faith on to the next generation. We are commanded to pass, to our children, the ways of God; and a strong marriage is necessary in accomplishing this task. A healthy marriage is a visual image, or representation, of the relationship that our God has with us. A dysfunctional marriage diminishes this image of God. This is why, at Front Range, it is our desire to help strengthen the marriages in our community. After Shabbat Service, on the first and third Saturdays, we hold a men's time. This is a time of strengthening and encouraging the men in the community to step up and be the men that God has called them to be -- the spiritual leaders in their homes. And then after service on the second and fourth Saturdays, we hold a women's time. This is a time of equipping and encouraging the women of the community -- young and old, single and married. Strong marriages will make healthy families and a healthy family is the proper environment to raise and disciple our children.

I thank God daily for the gift of my beautiful wife. I pray that He will continue to conform me into the man that I need to be, to lead and protect her.

Facebook Friends and Brothers in Messiah

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:52:00 +0000

"I prefer face-to-face interactions or hand written sentiments"
- Paul Blart, Mall Cop (2009)

When communicating something of importance to anybody, it would do us well to adopt the views of Paul Blart (Kevin James), the protagonist of the comedy Mall Cop. When asked if he owned a mobile phone, Paul Blart responds by saying:

"I prefer face-to-face interactions or hand written sentiments."

This is my new motto. After a few bad text, email, and facebook experiences, I have decided not to engage in e-conversations if the topic is of a sensitive nature and/or if the exchange begins to go south. There is a place for electronic media in our lives today, but it should not replace face-to-face meetings.

When dealing with any sensitive issues or confronting a wayward brother or sister, avoid using text, email, or facebook. If a face-to-face meeting is possible, we should choose this method of interaction first. If meeting face-to-face is not possible, try a phone call. Nowadays everyone has access to a telephone or mobile phone; but still, there are some folks who don't feel comfortable addressing sensitive issues over the phone. As an alternative to the phone call, or if the phone call is not possible, try the good old fashioned 'hand written' (or typed) personal letter. Letters are actually a very Jewish way of communicating important information, like halakha. Consider the Apostle Paul and his method of communicating to Churches that were where many miles away. If we can't meet in person or make a phone call, a personal letter is the next best thing.

As electronic media becomes more and more a part of our daily lives, we cannot neglect our need for personal interaction. Don't mistake emails for conversations. Don't mistake facebook for your community. Don't hide behind your computer screen. Get out and socialize the old fashioned way. Spend time in person with a family member or a friend; meet for coffee, go for a walk. Spending time together is what makes the memories that build relationships. We can have thousands of facebook friends and ‘zero’ relationships. Facebook is fun, but it should not replace the personal interaction that is necessary in building relationships and community. Besides, there is no real accountability in a long distance facebook friend. There may be some opportunities to ‘plant seeds’ online, but true discipleship is best done in person, side-by-side. When Messiah said, “in the world” I don’t think He was talking about facebook.

Related Links:
Facebook Etiquette: 10 Rules for Better Socializing
PC World Magazine

How Not to Be Hated on Facebook: 10 More Rules
Time Magazine

Essential Facebook Etiquette: 10 Dos And Don’ts
Hongkiat, online tips for designers and bloggers.

Top 10 Facebook Etiquette Rules
Your Tango, a digital media company dedicated to love and relationships.

Email and texting etiquette
Stephen Crippen, Seattle based Therapist

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It's February? Already? Really?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:05:00 +0000

Moses chillin' in his basket.

So the first month of the new year has already flown by. Where did it go? I was taken by surprise this morning when I realized it was February 1st. My pile of 'stuff to read' and my list of 'things to do' are still sitting there; actually, I think they've grown. But, a better indication that time if flying by is when I look at my children. They're all growing so fast and each of them are growing in their own way. I sometimes feel like there isn't enough time to properly equip them before they are adults. I feel like the time is getting away from me and they will not be ready to face this world of darkness.

Today I heard a great episode of the Focus On The Family Daily Broadcast. The guest speaker, Gary Thomas, talked about parenting as a form of worship. It is an inspiring and encouraging message for parents with children of all ages. I heard Part 2, but plan on listening Part 1 soon. Click the links below to hear them.

We have a limited amount of time to teach and influence our children. If you have young children, don't let this time get away from you. Be intentional in raising them in God's ways, putting them on His path; and don't forget to pray for them daily.

Related Links:

Embracing God's Design for Parenting (Part 1 of 2)
Focus on the Family Broadcast, 01/31/12

Embracing God's Design for Parenting (Part 2 of 2)
Focus on the Family Broadcast, 02/01/12

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The Stock Show, A Multigenerational Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:17:00 +0000

Cattle on display at the North Western Stock Show.

The Stock Show was a yearly highlight for me as a child growing up in Fort Worth, Texas. Since we were city-folk and never got out to the country to actually see livestock, the Stock Show was our chance to see (and smell) God’s creation up close. Since we’ve been in Colorado, we’ve tried to go to the National Western Stock Show every year. It’s fun and it can be inexpensive if you plan for it. Since we’ve been homeschooling our children, we’ve tossed around the idea of gathering like minded families to join us on our yearly visit to the cattle yards. This year we made it official. We registered as a homeschool group, gathered some friends, and went for a trip to the Stock Show.

After our guided tour of the Stock Show grounds, my friend, Duane, made a comment that resonated with me. He noticed that the farm families included every family member in caring for their livestock. Everyone had a job; everyone had a responsibility. The farm family life is a good example of the mentor-apprentice model of education. But for farm families, it's more than just a model of education, it's a way of life. This thought brought me back to our faith and the responsibility we have in making our faith a lifestyle and our children our apprentices or disciples. In the same way that it was obvious that these families were indeed farm families, our lives should reflect the fact that we are indeed followers of Yeshua HaMashiach; and making disciples is an indication that we are one of His followers.

If you are a Believer in Yeshua, who are your disciples?

Related Links:
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
National Western Stock Show
What is a Cowboy?
Future Farmers of America
4-H Youth Development Organization

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Jewish Apologetics, Dr. Brown Style

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:48:00 +0000

Dr. Michael Brown at Denver Seminary, 01/09/12

So I'm taking this class on Jewish Apologetics with one of my modern-day heros of the faith, Dr. Michael Brown; and I'm really enjoying it. Even though I've read the texts years ago (see list below), I don't mind going through them again. I like to sit in a classroom, watching and listening to a lecture, and interacting with the instructor. I think if I was a single guy without any responsibilities, I'd probably be a professional student. Anyway...

When most folks think of Apologetics a typical image that comes to mind is 'debating in order to win someone to Messiah', in other words 'getting them saved.' However, Apologetics is not necessarily a tool to bring people to faith. Leading someone to Messiah through Apologetics can and does happen, but these instances are not the norm. The goal of Apologetics is to equip the Believer. A study in Apologetics prepares Believers for potential questions and arguments about their faith. This class is on Jewish Apologetics or defending our faith when 'debating' a Jewish person, religious or not. Dr. Brown is an expert in this area. As a Messianic Jew, Dr. Brown has been speaking with and debating religious Jews since he was very young. His five volume book series Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus are based on these personal experiences.

Dr. Brown started the discussion last night by sharing two principles of Apologetics that he finds fundamental. These principles are:

1) Adequately understanding the actual objection. Before we can begin a debate, we need to clearly understand what our opponent's objection is. We need to be patient and spend some time seeking clarity. This could be in the form of repeating their objection back to them but in our own words.

2) Feel the weight of the objection. Once we clearly understand what the objection, it is important that we are sympathetic to their point of view. We should take the time to put ourselves in their shoes; see the world through their eyes. We need to step back and resist 'pulling the trigger' on our response, even if we know we are right.

From Dr. Brown's perspective, the current Christian methods of Jewish Apologetics are nothing more than giving "answers that make us feel good." When Christians respond to Jewish arguments they are not addressing the real issues, and not doing it sympathetically, but rather "getting a monkey off of their backs." In other words, their answers and reasoning sounds good to Christians but the Jews don't buy it and are usually insulted by the Christian response. The Christian answers to Jewish questions are spoken in Christian-ese and not in a way that Jewish people can understand and accept. Christians need to approach Jewish arguments from a Jewish perspective if they want to be effective.

This can be said about any opponent in an argument or debate. When trying to reach any people group, we need to communicate to them in a way that is familiar to them and with respect. I see this all the time when Messianics try to win their Christian friends to Torah by telling them about the pagan origins of their traditions. Is that being sympathetic to their point of view? Messianics will arrogantly ask "What DID Jesus Do?" as if Christians are going to say, "Okay! I will now drop all of my beliefs and traditions just because you asked that clever question." That's an insult; a slap in the face. I'm guilty of this as much as any zealous Messianic, but over the past few years I've taken a new approach; and this class is helping me shape my approach.

In the Messianic camp folks are big on prophecy and prophets. Everyone wants to be a prophet and blow someone out of the water with the word of God and exclaim, "I showed them!" I remember once inviting our Messianic community and our neighbors to a Sukkot party at our house. Two of our Messianic friends blasted an elderly Christian neighbor for worshipping God on Sunday. They later gloated about running this little old lady out of the party. How did that interaction glorify God? It sure didn't win her to Torah.

It would do Messianics some good to keep Dr. Brown's two fundamental principles in mind when answering questions and addressing arguments with Jews and Christians.

I'm looking forward to tonights class—continuing Historical Objections and then on to Theological Objections. Rock'n Roll!

Related Links:
Jewish Apologetics - Christianity's Ongoing and Unique Challenge
Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: General and Historical Objections (Vol. 1)
Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: Theological Objections (Vol. 2)
Twenty-Six Reasons Why Jews Don't Believe in Jesus

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Richard Merrill Westfall Levi, 1956-2011

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:39:00 +0000

I received an email the week before last; someone had just lost a dear friend and they were hoping to honor him with a proper burial. He didn't have any money. He didn't have any immediate family. His extended family was probably not going to show up. All he had were his three cats - ‘King’ Kirk, Tasha, and Trina. He claimed to be a Messianic Jew, descending from the tribe of Levi; so, in keeping with his wishes, I was contacted in hopes that a Messianic Rabbi/Leader would assist in his celebration of life ceremony. How could I say no?

I had no idea who Richard Westfall was; I had never met him. In order to give him a proper eulogy, I invited his friends to come up and share their experiences and memories of Richard. As they spoke, I found out that he was quite an extraordinary person.

Richard was a Colorado native. He graduated from North High School in 1975. He attended and worked at the University of Colorado in Boulder in the Math, Chemistry and Physics departments. Although he went on to be a Nuclear Physicist, Richard never received a degree. He felt that the required Gen. Ed. courses that were necessary to secure a degree were a waste of his time. Richard had a brilliant mind; he was a genius with an IQ of 192. He was the recipient of three US Patents in the field of electrolytic crystal production for use in semiconductor device manufacture and other technologies. He presented many papers at various conferences and conventions in his field. He also co-authored various technical publications. Just prior to his death, his lastest projects were in the area of space mining and colonization.

Because of his superior mind, Richard had a hard time relating to people of average intellect. As a result, depression and loneliness took a toll on him. At low points, he often found solace in substance and alcohol abuse.

Richard left behind a wealth of ideas and concepts that may very well change the future of space exploration and nuclear power. He also left behind many fond memories with his friends and colleagues. As they came up and shared their stories about Richard, I looked around the room and saw the smiles on their faces and eyes beaming with joy as the remembered their dear friend. It truly was a celebration of his life. I was honored to participate.

Related Links:
Richard Westfall, Obituary
Richard Merrill Westfall Levi, Resume
Richard's Website

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Chanukah: It's a Tradition, Not a Commandment

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:44:00 +0000

My Chanukiah Menorah

Like I mentioned before, some Messianics pagan-ize everything. I was told that a guest at our Chanukah Fair was making a fuss that Chanukiahs, Dreidels, and other Jewish traditions—are pagan. But I saw this individual playing with a Dreidel, so maybe it's not that pagan? I don't know how this pagan-izing thing works because everything seems to be pagan. How do these kinds of people function in this pagan society? I do admit that some Chanukah traditions have come from other cultures, but it does not mean that they are pagan. I would say they are secular, or neutral. To quote from a previous blog post:

In case you haven’t noticed, borrowing from surrounding cultures is a very Jewish thing. Think about it; Klezmer music, the Yiddish language, gefilte fish, lox and bagels, dreidels, latkes, homentashn, kreplach, kugel – all of these are considered to be Jewish customs and traditions, however they were all influenced by the Eastern European culture that surrounded the Ashkenazi Jews. - Are Chanukah Presents Pagan? Dec 20, 2011

Chanukiahs (9-branched candelabras), Dreidels (spinning tops), Latkes (potato pancakes) and Sufganiot (donuts) are man-made Chanukah traditions. Chanukah is a man-made tradition. Because of this fact, and because of its close proximity to Christmas, you will find all kinds of gimmicks and mixtures out there in order to make a buck. Chanukah Bushes, Chrismukkah Decorations and Santa Dreidels are only a few examples. I’ve seen Chanukiah Menorahs with Sports themes, Disney themes, and even one with a Star Trek theme. I’ve seen Chanukiahs made out of Liquor Bottles, Beer Bottles, Pez Dispensers and Surfboards. I’ve seen them shaped like Automobiles, Animals and even People. But, I guarantee, you will not find a 7-branched Menorah shaped like a person in an Orthodox Synagogue. This is because the 7-branched Menorah represents the Presence of Hashem. However, observant Jews will use the ‘creatively shaped’ Chanukiah Menorahs in their homes during Chanukah. They believe these Chanukiahs are okay to use because Chanukah is not a Biblical Festival.

You typically do not find this same kind of 'mixing' with the traditions of the commanded Biblical Festivals like Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) or Shabbat (Sabbath). You may stumble upon a grocery store with a sale on ham for Passover, but that is out of total ignorance. Have you ever noticed that the other minor Jewish festival, Purim, does not get as much attention from retailers as Chanukah? Retailers can make much more money on Chanukah because it falls so close to Christmas and it’s 8-days of gift giving, for some anyway; and Purim does not have a popular, nationwide holiday that is close to it. Mardi Gras? Maybe. But we will talk about that later.

Another thing—Chanukiahs, Latkes and Sufganiot commemorate the so-called Miracle of the Oil. Did it really happen? I don’t know. And where are Dreidels mentioned in the books of the Maccabees? They’re not. These Chanukah traditions do not do justice to the real story and the real miracle, which is the Maccabees victory over the Greeks and their fight against forced assimilation. During Chanukah, I focus on the Maccabee story with my family. Yes we do the traditional stuff too, but I make sure that the Maccabee story is central.

While it is true that Hashem performed miracles for the Maccabees and delivered the mighty Greek army into their hands, it was they, the Maccabees—not Hashem, who instituted this celebration. Although we recognize it, celebrate it and participate in the traditional festivities, there is a big difference between Chanukah and the Moedim (Appointed Times). Chanukah is a man-made tradition but Hashem commands us to celebrate the Moedim.

Finally, are Dreidels pagan? No. They're secular. They're neutral. The Dreidel, or Sevivon in Hebrew, is a traditional, cultural toy. The spinning top is not unique to the Jewish people and no, the Maccabees did not invent it. Many cultures have their own version of a spinning top game and some date back to before the time of the Maccabees. Is the Dreidel holy? No. If it is, then so are Latkes, Sufganiot and all of those crazy shaped Chanukiahs. These things are only traditions and most of them are borrowed from and/or influenced by other cultures.

We should not be afraid to enjoy these traditions. However, we do need to be on the lookout for mixtures that would not be honoring to Hashem. Below are some unique Chanukiah and Dreidel ideas that I found on the Internet. Some are pretty cool, some are downright wrong.

Chanukiot

This is nice. I'd use this one. Would be a nightmare to clean though.

I don't think I'd make a Chanukiah like this in my house.

I'm not a Disney fan. Would probably pass on this one.

Very interesting.

Shoes? Really?

I love this country but I'm not too wild about the Eagle or the Lady Liberty image.

Definitely staying away from this one.

Dreidels

Eh, I don't think so.

Again, I'm not a Disney fan.

Reminds me of my D&D days. Not for me.

I've always had a problem with snow globes.

What is this?

I know it's not a real Dreidel, I thought it was funny.

These guys took the Dreidel game to another level.
I've never tried it but I've been told it's fun.

We bought one of these this year for our family
and we gave 3 away as prizes. This is a blast!

Red flag. Stay away.

I thought this was a joke but you can actually buy this one—but don't.

Worship And Praise Are Not The Same Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:03:00 +0000

I'm not a fan of the sermon series and, actually, I don't know of too many local pastors who can pull them off well. This past weekend, however, I heard the first sermon in a series on worship and praise and I know it's going to be a great series. I'm really excited about it and I've been thinking about it all day. The pastor started a great foundation for this teaching. I've heard this guy teach before and I know he is good at staying on topic and carefully covering everything he sets out to. That's why I know it's going to be good. Anyway, I wanted to put down some thoughts and visuals that came to mind when I heard this teaching...

Figure 1.1

People usually refer to the 'music and singing' part of a service as 'Praise and Worship.' However, 'Praise and Worship' are not the same thing. Anything you do to honor God as God is worship (Figure 1.1). Obedience is honoring to God. Praying to God is honoring to God. Putting your faith in God is honoring to God. Praising God is honoring to God.

So, praise is a form of worship.

Figure 1.2

Praise isn't just speaking words of admiration and homage. Praise is an emotional expression of delight in God. Praise can come in many forms, to name a few - musically, with singing, with dancing, and with words (Figure 1.2).

Finally, joy is the foundation of our praises to God.

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said,

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth..."

- Luke 10:21, NIV

Where does the joy come from?

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Chanukah and the Legacy of Mattityahu

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:05:00 +0000

The Rockin' 3rd Annual Front Range Messianic Chanukah Fair

Imagine what it would be like to change history, to actually make history. What would it take? Being in the right place at the right time would be a good start; but more importantly it would take courage. Enough courage to actually make history happen. Keep in mind, making history and watching history being made are two totally different things—and I'm not talking about watching.

This year as I went through the Chankuah story with my family I couldn't help but notice that Mattityahu (aka Mattathias) was a model father. As he mourned for the sins committed in Judea and Jerusalem, Mattityahu and his sons tore their clothes and donned sackcloth and ashes. He didn't mourn alone, his sons joined him. Mattityahu was a priest and a descendent of Pinchas (Phineas) the grandson of Aharon (Aaron). Because he was a priest we can conclude that he taught his children the traditions of the Jewish people and showed them how to have a close relationship with Hashem. This was the duty of the lineage of Aharon, to pass along the traditions from generation to generation. Even the officials in Antiochus' army recognize Mattityahu as an influencial leader and a man who was well respected by his family. After Antiochus' officials try to persuade him with money and recognition, he speaks up for his entire family:

19 Mattathias answered in a loud voice, "I don't care if every Gentile in this empire has obeyed the king and yielded to the command to abandon the religion of his ancestors.
20 My children, my relatives, and I will continue to keep the covenant that God made with our ancestors.
21 With God's help we will never abandon his Law or disobey his commands.
22 We will not obey the king's decree, and we will not change our way of worship in the least."
(1 Maccabees 2:19-22, GNT)

After making this statement, a Jewish man steps up to offer a sacrifice to the pagan idol but Mattityahu kills him. He then gathers those who were still faithful to the Torah and along with his sons, they flee to the wilderness and began a campaign of guerilla warfare against Antiochus and his mighty army.

When it came time for Mattityahu to die, on his deathbed he charged his sons to remain faithful to the Torah and to defend it with their very lives. He encouraged them by recounting the faithfulness of their ancestors Abraham, Joseph, Phineas, Joshua, Caleb, David, Elijah, Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael and Daniel. After his death, all of Israel mourned for the great Mattityahu.

Before he died, Mattityahu placed his son, Judah, as the new leader of the small Jewish army. Judah was also a man of great faith. He fasted and prayed with his men and consulted the Torah on how they were to conduct themselves in the absence of the Temple. He led the Jews to victory after victory, giving all the glory to Hashem. Once they captured the Temple, they cleaned it up, made new vessels and instruments, and rededicated it to Hashem. Then they celebrated for eight days, like Sukkot. This was the first Chanukah.

Once a year for two millennia Jews have celebrated the miracles that Hashem did for the Maccabees and the Maccabees are remembered for their courage and great faith to step out and actually make history. Chanukah is like a tribute to the legacy of Mattityahu. A father who diligently taught his children the Torah of Hashem and the traditions of the Jewish people. He was a father who demonstrated great faith, courage and self sacrifice. He is a father that we can all learn from.

Are you raising world changers? Are you leaving behind a legacy like Mattityahu?

Suggested Reading:
1 Maccabees 1 (GNT)
2 Maccabees 1 (GNT)

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Sej Kandelikas - Six Little Candles

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:13:00 +0000

Chanukah 2011
Moses (6 mo), Michaela (13), Miryam (7), Aaron (5), Isaac (9), Maya (11)

The days of celebrating Chanukah will come to a close as the sun sets this evening. This has been a very fun and fulfilling Chanukah for our family and our community. Late last night, my children began the process of flaking the multi-colored wax off of their menorahs. As I listened to them laughing and joking around in the living room, I could tell that they had a good time this year; I hope a memorable one. At dinner last night Aaron said to me, "I am so happy. Our Chanukah has made me happy. I like Chanukah, Sukkot and Shabbat; but I like Shabbat the best." He's right. The Moedim and Minor Festivals come once a year, but Shabbat is celebrated fifty two times a year - that is, once a week.

We are a Messianic family, there is no question about it. My children have been brought up in the Torah, this is all they know. I pray that they, like the Maccabees, are able to come against the allure of the world around them and the temptation to assimilate and be absorbed into secular and pagan cultures. May they walk with Messiah Yeshua all the days of their lives. May their lights shine brightly in this dark world.

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Are Chanukah Presents Pagan?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:09:00 +0000

In the Messianic Movement we tend to ‘pagan-ize’ everything about all of the traditions we have forsaken. We link the gifts given at Christmas to ancient pagan child sacrifices; therefore giving gifts during this season is typically avoided by some Messianics. I never made this connection growing up in a Roman Catholic home. I was taught that the gifts were connected to our gift of the baby Jesus and/or the gifts given by the three wise men. However, as I got older I began to despise the gift-giving part of Christmas. The gifts became more and more the central part of Christmas overshadowing the birth of Jesus. It is common knowledge that the song ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ and Christmas advertisements by Coca-Cola helped to create the image of Santa Claus in the US. Since then, the commercialization of Christmas (i.e, gift-giving) took off. The biggest money making season for the US retail market begins on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and ends on Christmas. Christmas is now a huge money making machine and a bona fide American tradition.

Just because pagans practice gift giving doesn’t make gift-giving pagan. Pagans do a lot of things that believers do. They light candles, they sing, they dance, they offer sacrifices and they hold communal meals. The practice of these things is not bad, but who, what, when, where, why, and how they are done is the important part.

Keep in mind that Chanukah is not a commanded festival (Leviticus 23). Did Yeshua recognize it? Yes (John 10:22), and He took advantage of it’s significance; but Chanukah is more like a ‘civil’ celebration than a Moed (Appointed Time) of Hashem. Therefore, the celebration of it is all tradition. Who makes the traditions? We do. In case you haven’t noticed, borrowing from surrounding cultures is a very Jewish thing. Think about it; Klezmer music, the Yiddish language, gefilte fish, lox and bagels, dreidels, latkes, homentashn, kreplach, kugel – all of these are considered to be Jewish customs and traditions, however they were all influenced by the Eastern European culture that surrounded the Ashkenazi Jews.

I’ve heard that there was a Jewish tradition to give roaming Torah Teachers gelt at the end of the year, around wintertime. This tradition evolved into giving the gelt to children, which has now evolved into giving gifts during Chanukah. Is this true? I’m not sure, but I have also heard that gift giving during Chanukah is an American Jewish tradition and not done so much in Israel.

So, when American Jews give gifts during Chanukah, are they borrowing from American culture or are they offering ancient pagan child sacrifices to Hashem? All the Jewish folks that I’ve talked to admit that gift giving during Chanukah is only a concession because of Christmas. It is an attempt to make Chanukah more appealing in order keep their children connected to the Jewish faith while living in a materialistic culture. Is that really a bad thing? I wouldn’t recommend going into debt to give gifts to your children, but spending a couple of dollars might be worth it.

If giving gifts during this ‘civil’ holiday bugs you, the next ‘civil’ holiday, Purim, is another opportunity for you to give gifts. In fact, Esther and Mordechai actually recommended that during Purim, everyone should give “gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” (Esther 9:19, 22)

Look at it all with a ‘grain of discernment’ and during Chanukah, give gifts as you feel led. My only caveat is to be careful not to make the gifts the central theme of your celebrations.

Related Articles:
Hanukkah, American Style, (MyJewishLearning.com)
Re-inventing Chanukah in America (Washington Post, by David Saperstein, December 24, 2011)

Angels and Giants?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:14:00 +0000

Nephilim in Denver?
(This photo has not been altered in any way, I promise.)

Over the past decade of studying and walking in the Torah I have noticed that, in the Messianic Movement, there are a few nonessential issues that seem to distract the well intentioned. These incidental topics seem to rise above the essentials and are given more time than they require. One of these subjects is the identity of the Sons of God and the Nephilim found in Genesis 6:1-4. I have to admit, early on in my Torah journey I was enamored with this topic. I marveled at the idea of a race of giant people who were part-human and part-angelic being. Not only were these men extremely large, they were also believed to have extraordinary superhuman abilities. This took me back to childhood fantasies of the mythological characters Hercules and Perseus. The belief is that, because of the sin between these fallen angels and man, and because of the product of that sin (i.e., these enormous wicked mutant half-breeds) Adonai flooded the earth.

The belief that the Sons of God were angels is not unique to the Messianic Community and it is not a new concept. This debate has been around for a long, long time and it has been the topic of many articles, books, conferences, and websites. Because of it's popularity as a fascinating subject some Bible teachers focus their entire ministries on this and other unusual Biblical topics and conspiracy theories. It is important to note that there are many well-known and well-respected scholars who believe that the sons of God were angels. Likewise, there are many well-known and well-respected scholars who do not. The fact that not all scholars agree on this issue should give us a clue that we are not going to figure out who is right anytime soon, but that's okay. We don't have to figure it out because it is a nonessential issue; but it is also okay to have a stance on the subject. We can have varying perspectives on this topic and still fellowship with each other because it is not a reason to divide.

In October 2009 we began a three-year journey through the Torah as a community. We slowly covered the book of Genesis over a period of one year. After this slow and deliberate study I have come to the conclusion that the Sons of God were not angels but men. Once I understood the context of the passage in the chapter and how it fit into the context of the Book, it was clear to me that the Sons of God could not be angelic beings. Here's a quick overview of my new perspective:

1 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 3Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.- Genesis 6:1-4, NAS

Leading up to this passage we have The Creation account in Chapters 1 and 2, The Fall of Man in Chapter 3, Cain and Abel in Chapter 4, and The Generations of Adam leading up to Noah in Chapter 5. In The Creation account Adonai made everything and it was ALL good. With The Fall, sin enters the picture and with Cain and Abel we see the result of sin, which is death. The descendants of Cain are then traced down to the 7th generation. The generations of Cain prove to be an ungodly line of men. These wicked men are contrasted against the line of Seth, who was born to Adam as a 'replacement' for the righteous son, Abel, who was killed by Cain. After the birth of Seth, the text says that "men began to call upon the name of the LORD" (Genesis 4:26, NAS). This event was a revival that kicked-off a line of godly men that lead up to Noah, who was righteous, blameless and walked with Adonai. The generations of Adam through Seth proved to be godly sons, righteous men.

I believe that the Sons of God are the descendants of the godly line of Seth and the daughters of men are the descendants of the wicked line of Cain. Back in Genesis 3:15 Adonai promises to put enmity between the serpent and the woman, and between the serpent's seed and the woman's seed. This promised seed of the woman would bruise the serpent on the head, and the serpent would bruise the promised seed on the heel. We understand that this promised seed who was to come from the woman was Yeshua. Do you think Adonai would allow His promised seed to come from the generations of wicked Cain? Of course not. This is why Seth is born to replace Abel; and when Adonai saw that the godly line of Seth was becoming tainted by the wicked descendants of Cain, He was grieved. The result of the marriages between Seth's descendants and Cain's descendants was a generation of violent people or Nephilim. We don't know for sure what Nephilim means. Some hypothesize that it is a name derived from the Hebrew word naphal which means 'to fall upon' as in an attack. Were the Nephilim giants or a race of extremely tall people? Could be. Were they superhuman-mutant half-breeds? I don't think so.

That's a quick overview of my take on the Sons of God. It's not a new perspective but it's the one that I see fits the overall context of the Scriptures. In my opinion, angels and giant superhuman-mutants are a distraction that lead well intentioned believers down the wrong path wasting their time. Besides, there are some significant problems with idea that the Sons of God are angels. Here are two:

Yeshua said that angels don't marry (Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25; Luke 20:34). But in Genesis 6:2 it says the Sons of God took the daughters of men to be their wives (i.e., marriage). I know, "He said 'don't' not 'can't'. These were bad angels and they didn't follow the rules!" The point is that angels do not reproduce, they are asexual beings.
Adonai only judged man (i.e., human beings). If the Sons of God were angels, and they were the ones who seduced the daughters of men, wouldn't they be punished too? In the garden didn't Adonai mete out justice to the serpent first for his part in the whole deal before judging Adam and Eve? Why are the angels in this passage allowed to get away without any consequences?

If you don't agree with me, before we talk about this topic, I challenge you to reread and closely study Genesis 1-7 and remember, the entire book of Genesis is tracing the line to the seed promised in Genesis 3. This is why the phrase 'these are the generations of...' is repeated over and over again throughout the book.

Remember, this is a nonessential issue so if you don't agree with me, we can still be friends ;)

Related Links:
Who Are The Sons of God?
(A post from the Front Range Messianic Community website.)

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The Smooth Tongue of the Foreign Woman

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;
And reproofs for discipline are the way of life
To keep you from the evil woman,
From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
- Proverbs 6:23,24 (NAS)

In the Proverbs there are two types of women described in detail. One we warn our sons to stay away from, the other we encourage them to look for as a wife. One we teach our daughters not to be like, the other we encourage them to model their lives after. The latter half of Proverbs 6 is about the one that boys should avoid and girls should not emulate. Verses 20-35 contain a parental warning to a son to stay away, far away, from her because she is an adulteress woman.

Some Bibles translate 'the adulteress' (nok-ree': foreigner or foreign woman - i.e. harlot) as the wayward wife, the promiscuous woman, the strange woman, the estranged woman, the loose woman, the vile woman, and the seductress. Obviously she's not a good person to 'hook-up' with. She's trouble, big trouble and if you get involved with her you will regret it for the rest of your life.

We can surmise by the use of the word 'adulteress' that she is a married woman. She already has a husband so why is she looking for another man? Well, she's evil; she's worldly. Her desire is for self gratification; she lives for the moment. She is a foreigner; a pagan. Her standards are contrary to the standards of Adonai; covenant faithfulness is not something she is concerned about. Stay away from her. She is seductive and will only lead you down the path of destruction.

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What commandment is a lamp and what teaching is light?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:47:00 +0000

When you walk about, they will guide you;
When you sleep, they will watch over you;
And when you awake, they will talk to you.
For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;
And reproofs for discipline are the way of life
- Proverbs 6:22-23 (NAS)

This morning during family devotions we continued our trek through Proverbs. Today we looked at Proverbs 6:20-23. In the context of the passage the commandment and the teaching that are being referenced are the commandment and teaching of parents. If we keep reading, in verse 24 we learn the reason for the parental instructions. The parents are sharing wisdom "to keep [their son] from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress." Although the world is a much different place today than it was during Solomon's time, we still have these same immorality problems. Sin seems to transcend time but so does The Word of God. The principles found in the Proverbs still applies for us today.

Children are commanded to honor their father and their mother; this includes obeying them. The commandment and teaching of the parents in Proverbs 6 are basically their interpretation and application of the Torah in the daily life of their family. In the Torah, Adonai commands us not to commit adultery. In Proverbs 6, these parents share some insights with their son explaining to him how he can avoid adultery by telling him what or who to stay away from. They also explain to him the consequences if he does succumb to this serious transgression.

As parents, we must impart godly wisdom to our children. We have to take the time to teach them the Word of God and to help them apply these principles to their lives in our modern society. The times have changed but the Word of God remains the same.

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The Many Flavors of Messianic Communities

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:41:00 +0000

Messianic Congregations vary in flavor like these fruits.

Recently, while talking to an 'old-timer' in the Messianic Movement, I mentioned the idea of fellowship between the congregations in the Greater Messianic Community of our local area. He said, "Greater Messianic Community? There is no local Messianic Community in our area because Messianic doesn't mean anything anymore." He went on to explain that back-in-the-day (in the early 80's) the title 'Messianic' meant one thing which basically included Yeshua, the Torah, Jews and Gentiles. Nowadays the title 'Messianic' is used to describe a very wide variety of congregations with varying beliefs, doctrines and values. He lamented over the changes that he has witnessed in the Messianic Movement over the past 30 years. To him, this change has not been positive.

I began my walk in Torah at a charismatic Messianic congregation in 2000. Coming from a Catholic background with no exposure to Christian denominations, I found this charismatic expression of worship very interesting and I assumed that all Messianic congregations were just like it; but after visiting a few others I realized that they were not. Also, after investigating the Christian Church and Rabbinic Synagogues over the past 10 years, it seems to me that some Messianic congregations are just Christian Churches with a Jewish veneer and others are just Rabbinic Synagogues with Yeshua inserted here and there. There are even some congregations who call themselves 'Messianic' but deny the divinity of Yeshua! Oy vey!

I can understand why this 'old-timer' was not happy with the changes that he has seen. I've only been doing this for a decade and I've seen some changes that I don't like; but just like God gave people their individuality, I believe every community will be and should be unique. It's the people who attend that make the community unique and special. The people are the DNA of the community.

Are you looking for a Messianic Community in Colorado? Visit: messianiccolorado.com

I'm Upgrading, Again

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:38:00 +0000

Oodles of old, stretched wrapped CRT Monitors
sit on pallets in the Goodwill warehouse.

It's been about two and a half weeks since my last post (which, by the way, generated close to 1,000 unique visits in just 2 days! A new record for www.SetYourHeart.org!). It's hard to follow a post like that. Besides, I've got a lot of 'stuff' in the hopper these days; plus, I've been feeling like old, sluggish hardware. You know, when you get a new computer it's fast, fun and exciting. There are new gadgets, software and options to explore. It's inspiring. When you get a new, larger monitor the picture is clearer. You can see more of the desktop. You can open windows larger. You can get more done, or so it seems. I'm needing to make some changes in my life in order to ignite that fire of creativity and inspiration. I'm needing an upgrade, or should I say—I am in the process of upgrading.

Lately, it's been a very busy, but a very creative time for me, my family and our community. More ideas and more projects are popping up and some are just over the horizon. It's time for a change—I am changing.

Suggested Reading:
How To Change Your Church

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Culture of Death In Children's Clothes

noreply@blogger.com (Michael David Gonzales) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:12:00 +0000

A cute array of clothes for boys (0-24 mos)

I haven't been to the mall in a long time. Actually, last year I went to the Apple Store, but that was an in-and-out visit. I'm not a mall shopper. Anyway, Margaret was on a quest for the sturdiest boys pants. In the past we got the boy's pants at Walmart, but they don't last very long. One time Aaron wore a hole in his Walmart pants in one day! We stopped by Old Navy but the pants there seemed a bit thin too. Margaret recalled a pair of pants that Isaac had from the Gap that withstood his rough handling, so we went there to see what they had.

Because we are followers of Yeshua and observers of His Torah, I knew that the whole mall would be filled with fashions and designs that we would not agree with. I knew that in the Gap there would be clothes that we would not want for our children; but what I saw really took me by surprise. I did not expect to see this. Keep in mind, today is November 16th, two weeks after Halloween. All of the Halloween decorations are gone. The mall is now covered with Christmas colors and embellishments; Christmas songs are played in most of the stores and Santa hats are on all of the mannequins. Like the other stores, the Gap had their winter clothes prominently displayed in their windows.

As I walked through the boys clothes in the Gap, I noticed a green and blue argyle sweater that I thought would look nice on Isaac. After I picked it up and looked at it closer, I noticed that it had skulls woven into the pattern! I couldn't believe it. Why? Why would anyone want skulls on their children's clothing? How is this acceptable? I thought maybe it was a leftover sweater from Halloween, but it was a new item. As I continued to walk through the boys clothes I noticed more skull patterns and prints on many of the shirts, sweaters, jackets and hats. These clothes were not dark and creepy looking, but were bright and with fun colors. It's as if skulls have become an acceptable image to wear on our everyday clothing. Are skulls no longer associated with the occult and death but now accepted in our society as ordinary symbols? How did this happen? It's a juxtaposition of images, colors and children that I cannot fathom.

What was even more alarming to me was that these patterns were not only on the boys clothes, they were also on the baby's clothing. Below are photos of the clothes for baby boys 0-24 months old. Click on the photos below to see them in detail. Would you put these clothes on your baby boy?

Flannel skull shirt

Printed skull socks

Skull shawl cardigan

Argyle skull hat

Skull argyle sweater vest

Related Links:
Gap - Baby Boys (0-24 Mos)
Punk Baby Clothes
Crazy Baby Clothing

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