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Post by Elizabeth on Apr 4, 2015 9:52:08 GMT -8
I cleaned the house of all the leavening I could find. I also implemented a new family tradition; throw out the old toaster to make room for the new. 
I don't feel like now is the time for me to go to a Seder, which worked out because there is none in my area to go to.
This Passover has had an unusual feel. It hasn't been  , but a little empty. Based on that, I focused a lot on it being a Memorial. I remembered the people, their child-like faith as they didn't know all that would happen next, and the loneliness Yeshua felt the same night so many years later. The tone of the evening was somber but hopeful. This felt right for me and where I am on my own little journey.
After dinner, I put on some music remembering how Yeshua and His disciples sang a hymn. The song that came on was "I'll Fly Away". What a Gentiley song wrapped up with Sunday memories.
Anyway, it was perfect. Memories of my family, life, and moments from my past that played a part in getting me here flooded over me. I felt Him telling me, "These are my memories too."
We should cherish all of this uncertainty and insecurity that comes with being a Messianic Believer. Let G-d be glorified as we pray our way through just doing the best we can. This is a good place to be when it's only supposed to be about Him anyway.
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Post by alon on Apr 4, 2015 11:15:44 GMT -8
Sounds like you are taking the first steps. Maybe next year you can have a demonstration Seder in your own home. This is a good way to introduce loved ones to the importance of what you are doing and its relevance to their own faith. At some point they may even come to see it all transcends their faith, taking us back to the faith of the disciples and apostles. Start now collecting recipes which don't use leavening and practice through the year. That way your family won't spend a week in agony (or sneaking out to McDonalds) while you do without leaven. The meats and vegetables are pretty much the same, just be careful with things like gravy because it must be cooked and eaten within 20 minutes of coming into contact with water, when the leavening process is said to begin. And get used to reading labels, Surprising how much we eat has leaven in it. Stock up on matza instead of crackers (which have leaven). If you can't find a simple Seder let me know and I'll get one typed up. I should do that anyway, but with making these tefillin and other items for the store I havn't had a lot of extra time.
Chag sameach! And congratz on taking the first step!
Dan C
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Post by garrett on Apr 4, 2015 19:59:05 GMT -8
I cleaned the house of all the leavening I could find. I also implemented a new family tradition; throw out the old toaster to make room for the new.
I don't feel like now is the time for me to go to a Seder, which worked out because there is none in my area to go to.
This Passover has had an unusual feel. It hasn't been , but a little empty. Based on that, I focused a lot on it being a Memorial. I remembered the people, their child-like faith as they didn't know all that would happen next, and the loneliness Yeshua felt the same night so many years later. The tone of the evening was somber but hopeful. This felt right for me and where I am on my own little journey.
After dinner, I put on some music remembering how Yeshua and His disciples sang a hymn. The song that came on was "I'll Fly Away". What a Gentiley song wrapped up with Sunday memories.
Anyway, it was perfect. Memories of my family, life, and moments from my past that played a part in getting me here flooded over me. I felt Him telling me, "These are my memories too."
We should cherish all of this uncertainty and insecurity that comes with being a Messianic Believer. Let G-d be glorified as we pray our way through just doing the best we can. This is a good place to be when it's only supposed to be about Him anyway. Chag Sameach and Yom Tov! My wife and I had a very nice Pesach Seder at home last night. She did a lot of work in preparation, in which I am very grateful. We did the Sabbath blessing, conducted the Seder and our eyes watered from the horseradish  . It must have taken us almost three hours! And yes Alon, Yeshua runs throughout the Haggadah. He is unavoidable. Elizabeth, you said it felt a little empty and somber. It did for me too. This year's observation of Pesach has been the most emotional. Some of it is because people have been observing the Passover for over three thousand years. It felt good to know there were people throughout the world doing the very same thing. And personally, I get (when I really think about it) about all the Hebrew baby boys being thrown into the river Nile, disappearing under the calm water. Then I think about G-d turning that same river into blood - showing Pharoah and the Egyptians that He did NOT forget what they had done to those boys (and how it affected their mothers and fathers). Had G-d not delivered the Children of Israel the path might not have been paved for Yeshua (just like when Herod was killing all the Hebrew boys in his time). Maybe I am daydreaming but it seems the Children of Israel were delivered up to Canaan from Egypt just as Yeshua and His parents were, after Herod was gone. All in the nick of time. ...we went to the shul for an almost three hour service, but it went by fast. And everyone, completeley covered under his tallit received the priestly blessing (!). Then we came home, ate more food with matzah and SLEPT. A very emotional and meaningful Shabbat and Pesach at the same time. I pray for G-d's blessing on all of you - garrett |
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Post by garrett on Apr 4, 2015 20:00:53 GMT -8
Elizabeth's quote is the top portion ....mine is the second half. I promise, in no less than ten years I will get better at quoting, posting, etc.! I'm tired... I fixed it- didn't think you'd mind. Check your PM's.  Dan |
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Post by garrett on Apr 4, 2015 22:51:36 GMT -8
Thank you "Administrator Dan!"
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Post by alon on Apr 5, 2015 3:52:32 GMT -8
Thank you "Administrator Dan!"
Seriously, having a couple of genes in the pool is interesting, but it does not make one Jewish. I've said it here before that I wasn't raised in a Jewish household, didn't attend shul. My education was pagan gentile both at school and at church on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday night and any other timed the doors were opened. I'm the product of a pagan Greco-Romano culture and that is how my mind works. I have a lot of rethinking and relearning to do in order to start to think like Yeshua and His talmidim did; to think as the men who wrote both the TNK and B'rith Chadasha, and to understand as those Jews who read those documents. To even think as a modern Jew is tough. So a couple of genes drowning in the pool of life only means I'll have to work harder to even understand my wife- raised a Jew, now a Christian, and a type A personality female type woman- my demise may be more imminent than previously thought!
I'm not a Jew. I am a proselyte to Messianic Judaism, still learning. I am grafted into the root stalk of Israel by the work of Yeshua and my absolute acceptance of Him and gratitude that He would stoop to pull someone like me from life's gutter. This is why I am Messianic- because he saves an arrogant jerk like me and I want to worship Him HOW and WHEN He said He wanted me to worship Him.
Yochanan 14:15 (OJB) If you have ahavah for me, you will be shomer mitzvot regarding my commandments.
I feel a brotherhood to the Jewish people first because God said they were His people, and God never revokes a calling. So if I claim the name of God, I must also claim His people. Second, whether the Jews like it or not (and for that matter whether most Christians like it) I am grafted onto the rootstalk of Israel by way of my salvation. (Rom 11). So even though they deny me, I must claim the Hebrews as my adoptive family. That the church has this twisted so that a Jew who accepts Jesus must be grafted onto their pagan rootstalk is a perversion of scripture on the same level as practicing witchcraft. And last but certainly not least of all I married a Jew- one who embraces Christianity in a big way. Her family is still Jewish, and those I've met of them are good people; caring and giving almost to a fault. Her father and uncle were courageous men. Alpine guides, they walked out of Germany just ahead of the Brown Shirts. Making their way to England, Her father learned dentistry at the same time he learned English. Her uncle never told of his role in the war or what department he worked for. He took those secrets to his grave. So I not only love them, I have a lot of respect for those Jews I know through my marriage.(and yes wife that includes your crazy sisters- love 'em to death!)(oh, and you too- almost demised myself right there!)
Dan (still with us) C
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Post by garrett on Apr 10, 2015 5:57:42 GMT -8
Two more days and I'm back to the leavened bread....sweet sweet leaven.
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Post by alon on Apr 10, 2015 13:34:43 GMT -8
Two more days and I'm back to the leavened bread....sweet sweet leaven.
Edit: Well, now it is time to confess. In my sleep deprived, drug hazed and confused mind, I messed up. I ate leavened bread on the seventh day. In talking to another Messianic person I now know what happened- I confused the solar Gregorian calendar we commonly use and the Biblical lunar calendar of Hillel, which is commonly used as the "Jewish" calendar when I counted seven days.
Garrett, you are apparently doing the Rabbinical eight days of maza in the diaspora thing. Had I been doing that it would have been as a fence and I would not have transgressed. You apparently didn't confuse your calendars either. I apologize if I caused you any confusion.
Not the only bad mistake I've made this week, and of course the enemy is having a go at me; I'm unworthy, I shouldn't be doing this, why even try- you all know his spiel. But I've said before, we are all new to this and we will make mistakes. So all we can do is confess before God and, in cases like this where I questioned you publically before each other. I also PM'd Rav S, but he is on his trip to Israel so I haven't heard back from him. And we move forward, learning as we go. Hopefully putting this up will save someone later down the road from making the same mistake.
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Post by garrett on Apr 11, 2015 17:16:47 GMT -8
Two more days and I'm back to the leavened bread....sweet sweet leaven.
Edit: Well, now it is time to confess. In my sleep deprived, drug hazed and confused mind, I messed up. I ate leavened bread on the seventh day. In talking to another Messianic person I now know what happened- I confused the solar Gregorian calendar we commonly use and the Biblical lunar calendar of Hillel, which is commonly used as the "Jewish" calendar when I counted seven days.
Garrett, you are apparently doing the Rabbinical eight days of maza in the diaspora thing. Had I been doing that it would have been as a fence and I would not have transgressed. You apparently didn't confuse your calendars either. I apologize if I caused you any confusion.
Not the only bad mistake I've made this week, and of course the enemy is having a go at me; I'm unworthy, I shouldn't be doing this, why even try- you all know his spiel. But I've said before, we are all new to this and we will make mistakes. So all we can do is confess before God and, in cases like this where I questioned you publically before each other. I also PM'd Rav S, but he is on his trip to Israel so I haven't heard back from him. And we move forward, learning as we go. Hopefully putting this up will save someone later down the road from making the same mistake.
Hi Alon, I just saw your post here. Yes, I was doing the eight days of Passover for the Diaspora. I go a little nutty staring at the calendar and checking online to see if my dates and times are close to the different feasts, etc. Don't be so hard on yourself, the enemy tries to work wonders on me as well; "you're a fraud, such a sinner, you'll make no difference for G-d or to G-d". The same garbage from the father of lies. Please be encouraged because, speaking for myself, you keep this site alive. I'm impressed with your knowledge of truth and ability to convey so much biblical information in such a short time. This is no public "mutual admiration society" display, it's just what I really think about you. Your contribution here has helped me a lot!! I've learned a lot from this site. And I think a lot about you guys (and gals) too. As for falling short one day on eating matzot...just close your eyes and imagine you were in the old section of Jerusalem when you stopped...now you are right on time! May G-d Bless You - garrett |
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Post by Elizabeth on Apr 12, 2015 11:35:10 GMT -8
I may have messed up too. I counted seven days according to what I understood, which took me to Friday after sunset. I am not familiar with the 8 day/7 day distinction so I just did the best I knew to do based on what I understood. Garrett is right, don't beat yourself up over being human. G-d made you that way. Besides, now you just found some more leaven to throw out. Satan knows Yeshua is perfect so we don't have to be. |
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Post by alon on Apr 12, 2015 13:54:25 GMT -8
I may have messed up too. I counted seven days according to what I understood, which took me to Friday after sunset. I am not familiar with the 8 day/7 day distinction so I just did the best I knew to do based on what I understood.
Another thing about the eighth day though is that for Messianics and Jews alike this day looks forward to the coming (we believe the return) of HaMoshiach. The rest of Passover looks back to the physical salvation of the nation of Israel from Egypt, as well as the more personal and metaphoric salvation from our own sinful lives.
Most Conservative and Orthodox Synagogues I believe have Isaiah 10:32–12:6 as the Haftarah reading. This is a well known passage which predicts the Messianic age. It identifies Messiach as from the line of Melech Dovid:
Yeshayah 11:1-2 (OJB) And there shall come forth a Khoter (Branch) out of the Geza (Stem, Stump, Stock) of Yishai, and a Netzer [Branch [see Tzemach, Moshiach Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zech 3:8; 6:12, Ezra 3:8 which give as Moshiach’s Namesake Yehoshua/Yeshua; compare Mt.2:23 OJBC] shall bear fruit of his roots: And the Ruach [Hakodesh] of Hashem shall rest upon Him, the Ruach of Chochmah and Binah, the Ruach of Etzah (Counsel [see Isaiah 9:5) and Gevurah, the Ruach of Da’as and of the Yir’at Hashem;
That word geza is an important word. Usually translated "stump", which it can mean, this gives us a picture of HaMoshiach coming from something dead; or possibly rising from the dead. However the word can also mean the trunk of a living tree. This gives a completely different picture of something that doesn't die, something eternal, growing, reaching upward and moving forward through history.
We both, Jew and Messianic, look forward to the time prophesied by Isaiah where the throne of this world is returned to the line of Melech Dovid and HaMoshiach reigns in justice, and the world finally once more has peace. So while seven days is the requirement, and is halacha for my synagogue, I think the eighth day can be a beautiful expression of looking to the future. There is no proscription to not add another day, and as I said it makes a good fence. I will probably adopt this next year as I'm sure I'll still be on the same meds and my sleep does not look to be improving either.
Dan C
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Post by alon on Apr 13, 2015 17:32:31 GMT -8
File this one under "Misery Loves Company" I guess, but a friend of ours who is self employed makes her appointments electronically. Somehow she brought up the Greek Orthodox Calendar instead of the Gregorian and started making appointments on that. So now she is frantically calling people and changing appointments.
Dan C
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Post by alon on Apr 15, 2015 0:48:02 GMT -8
Just so you all know, I've contacted both Rav S. and R Reuel, and we are good on the issue of my messing up the calendar count. I have to do 5 strikes of self flagellation with a cat-o-nine-tails and 100 Lekadem Bi'Vrachah Miriams with these beaded things ...
Just kidding. They were easier on me than I was on myself. Thanks for all the understanding and support from everyone. I felt bad about it, not to mention really stupid. But I'm pressing on now so thanks. This is one of the advantages of a board like this is we do have some support when we really think we've just messed it all up.
Dan C
edit: Lekadem Bi'Vrachah Miriams- Hail Marry's
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Post by Elizabeth on Apr 15, 2015 7:08:54 GMT -8
lol, the cycle of guilt and penance - giving me flashbacks.
It's one thing to break a commandment because you have an insufficient regard for G-d's will, and you live life in a way that abuses the grace G-d gives us. It's an entirely different thing to find humility and gratitude for His grace when you transgress because you are reminded why you need it.
We simply can't do and be enough no matter how hard we try. That's the reason G-d gives us His grace. You don't need to feel guilty, only humbled and grateful.
Glad you feel better about things.
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Post by garrett on Apr 15, 2015 12:10:42 GMT -8
That's right - guilt usually has a traveling companion. And he's no good....
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, but a little empty. Based on that, I focused a lot on it being a Memorial. I remembered the people, their child-like faith as they didn't know all that would happen next, and the loneliness Yeshua felt the same night so many years later. The tone of the evening was somber but hopeful. This felt right for me and where I am on my own little journey. 
- there are 70 faces to 
. It must have taken us almost three hours! And yes Alon, Yeshua runs throughout the Haggadah. He is unavoidable.
