Dear Friends,
As I said, great job! Let's keep it up!
For this next week, there are some supplementary materials you will need. I am sending most of those today, the rest, tomorrow when I get back to my synagogue where the computer/internet set-up is due to be fixed tomorrow.
So, I have sent you some materials by email today, and the rest tomorrow.
The following is an outline of what you will need to do this week:
READ
* Goldstein and Knobel - Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, (also related sections from the syllabus)
* Kugel 3, 6, 7, 10 (also related sections from the syllabus)
If you feel the urge to read more. also read chapters 11-12 in Goldstein and Knobel; and all of Kugel, the best short book there is to give a feeling for the texture of Jewish spirituality
WATCH
DVD's 1.5 - 2.4 Inclusive
DO
* Generate three questions for me by Wednesday midnite, as was done last week.
* Outline a seven stage summary of your spiritual journey, focusing especially on the twists and turns in the road--your paradigm shifts, and various stages. This is modeled after the Seven Circles Model you will see on the DVD's. The purpose of this is for you to reflect on where you have come from, where you appear to be now, and maybe, where you are going. This summary does not have to read like a prose biography, but rather outlines your journey thus far. You will be expected to post this on the blog by MIdnight THURSDAY. It will also enable all of us to get to know each other better.
I SENT YOU THE FOLLOWING:
* Section P of your Syllabus Pack - "The Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise"
* SL401 Charts on Prayer
* The Seven Circles
* The Holographic Model
I WILL BE SENDING TOMORROW
* Sermon - The Two Ways/Two Tablets of the Law
* Materials on the Emmanuel Service
And by the way, when the DVD's get into students sharing their Seven Circles reflections, you will find it easy sledding. This week will feel easier than last week for you, but no less catalytic than the past two weeks. Enjoy!
Carry on!
Stuart
About Me
- Stuart Dauermann
- Brooklyn born, I have four degrees: two in music and two in Intercultural Studies. These areas of education correspond to my vocational history. I started out as a professional musician, then became a Jr. HS music teacher in the Holy Land [Brooklyn, NY], before becoming music director of a religious organization in the context of devoting myself to the task of interpreting Yeshua of Nazareth to the American Jewish context. I am known as "The Father of Messianic Jewish Music." I pursued an MA and PhD in Intercultural Studies, and am focused on developing credible Jewish communities that honor and embody Yeshua the Messiah in the context of covenant faithfulness, and to developing a mature Messianic Judaism. I have been married since 1975 to Naomi. We are parents of three children and the servants of too many pets. My dissertation, "The Rabbi as a Surrogate Priest," explores how the role of the congregational rabbi developed in Jewish life, incorporating functions formerly performed by priests and levites.
17 comments:
Paul's Seven Circles:
I. Agnostic Upbringing
Born in Hoboken, NJ in 1964 and raised between Union City, NJ and Merrick, NY (Long Island), my parents were lapsed Catholics; my great-uncle, Father Richard Kugelman, was a Catholic Priest who baptized me - rumor has it that he asked me if I wanted to become a priest - my response a clear "no!" No real religious connection until 1992, but I get ahead of myself; also, at about 11 years old, G-d tells me that I need to serve Him. With where I was at the time, I had no idea what that meant but I clearly recall it.
II. Unfettered Hedonism
My father graduated college when I was 9 - NYU Electrical Engineer; went to work for DuPont so we moved to Martinsville, VA, to Newark, DE, to Camden, SC - 8 different school systems and three different high schools; went to The Citadel in 1983 - lots of drinking to excess from High School into my late 20's
III. I seek G-d
Needless to say, while my professional career seemed to be excellent, my personal life was a total wreck; my wife left me for another man; it was then I began seeking but I wasn't sure what. I went to the local Catholic church and walked the grounds to find a bench across from a statue of Yeshua; it was dirty so I cleaned it off and had a good long talk (no responses yet); it was at that time I determined to go to law school and I kept praying - asking to go. Then, at some point, and not due to anything I can attribute to myself, I told G-d, "I just want to do what you want me to do." And that is when things took off.
IV. Regent University
I was accepted into Regent University's College of Law to begin with the 1993 class; needless to say, the Charismatic service that commenced orientation left me flabberghasted - I had never seen anything like it - what's more, being in the front row I felt like I had to play along; through a series of coincidences I wound up with a roommate who had a solid relationship with G-d and we talked a lot. It was during that time that I accepted Yeshua. Not too much later, I met my current wife, which is a blessing of enormous proportions in and of itself.
Also, during my first year, G-d again calls me, directing me to enter seminary, but I declined, using my newly acquired legal acumen to astound G-d with my irrefutable reasoning. (As if...)
V. Tikvat Israel/Jamie Cowen
While I was in Roanoke practicing law, I began to get into my roots just because and discovered that my 5G grandfather was a rabbi, Joseph Michael Kugelman. It was interesting. But my then pastor told me that this heritage was quite a blessing. I shared this with my wife. Not too long after that, maybe 6-10 months, we move to Richmond; while we are in the process of seeking a place to worship, my wife comes across an advert for Tikvat Israel and encourages me to try it given my roots. So we do and have been there since.
VI. No excuses left
While taking the trash out and after we had been at Tikvat for about two years, G-d really speaks to me - not a Bat Kol, but really clearly - You need to serve me. What excuses do you have now? Well, I remembered my list of reasons why I had not entered seminary before, and not one reason remained. So I went to Jamie who steered me towards what is now MJTI.
VII. The Shape of Messianic Judaism
MJTI has been more like a paradigm slam than shift. Mark Kinzer's class the Shape of Messianic Judaism was a life changing class. There is not enough time to adequately describe what happened to me during that class, but it tied up so many loose ends for me. Carl Kinbar and Stuart Dauermann, like Tefillin, have left their marks too.
I have now been asked to take the leadership of a small congregation in Fredericksburg,VA. This is a very interesting time for me.
Paul's Short Addendum to his Seven Circles:
It stretches from the just before V through the present. My son, John, who is now 9, is autistic. At times it has taken very deliberate and repeated decisions to maintain my faith in G-d. First there is the issue of the affliction in and of itself and then G-d's failure to meet my expectation to heal. On top of that, I have had people, who I thought were mature believers, tell me things like he would be healed if I only had enough faith and that G-d afflicted John so that He can show His glory. Through this, my faith in G-d has grown stronger.
John's Seven Circles:
1."Destiny"
Grandparents were Turkish Jews evacuated by the British Navy to the island of Malta(British colony at that time).Mother born in Malta but again evacuated to Portsmouth England just before the War.When my mother married my father(catholic) she had some sort of "vision"? of Yeshua and under the instruction of a Roman catholic priest kissed goodbye to all that was Jewish in her life ,although the rest of the family(aunts/uncles)stayed othodox.Messianic Jewish belief was NOT an option in England at that time!
2." Aunt's covenant faithfulness"
Some involvment with Jewish life continued through my Aunt (othodox) who prayed and sang with me and deeply affected me with her devotion to G_D and her calm through her battle with cancer from which she died at a very young age.During studies for this course she seems strangely present to me again...
3."It's not the virtuosity but the musicality"
Flute teacher inspires me to seek "the other" through music at age 14:Ended up going to the Juillard/Lincoln Center on a scholarship.
4."Nauseated by egoism of competitive music"
After a few years at the Juillard I realised that the life I was living was far too self centered.Saw the gap between rich and poor in Harlem/in Detroit/etc.Urgent need to give myself to something other than my own ego trip!
Still had not heard of Messianic movement and as I believed in Yeshua had no option but to "drop the football(jewishness)".Joined Roman Catholic monastic brotherhood of Charles de Foucauld(Missionary who lived in Africa among poor).For the next 7 years lived in some of the slums of Europe,hoping by sharing the same conditions of life as the poor, a witness to Yeshua would become "more real/relevant".
5."Bat Kol"
Before making final commitment to religious life(celibate life also!)
I met a young lady and fell deeply I love with her.Whilst praying for direction about whether to remain a brother or whether to consider marriage during a retreat in France a "voice"??!! came saying..."What on earth are you doing here praying to me before this Tabernacle ,when you should be with her!" I was married shortly afterwards (13 years ago) and we have 4 children.
6."My G-d My G-d,Why have you abandoned me"
David, a Messianic Jew, invited me to share Shabbat with other Messianics and ...it all started coming back to me..(Prayers my Mother+ Aunt would sing at home,..occasional Sabbaths...grandfathers Teffilin..)
I didn't "jump in " straight away however.The sealing point for me,that brought me back to my Jewish roots,was during a Good Friday service at the Evangelical Baptist church.Those last words of Yeshua on the cross " My G-d My G-d,Why have you abandoned me?" I always wanted to rip this passage out of the bible..I showed Yeshua had sinned...lost hope in his Father,etc. Now it all made sense to me:AS A JEW STEEPED IN SCRIPTURE, YESHUA WAS JUST QUOTING PSALM 22!I WAS JUST NATURAL FOR HIM TO DO THIS. THIS LAST CRY TIED HIM TO THE TANAKH,TO TORAH ,TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE..
The full weight of my Jewishness and my responsability to it came upon me and has fired my life since.
7."revealing the Yeshua who is already there in the Jewish community"
Worship leadership and childrens's ministry at local Evangelical church is a marvellous opportunity for me to serve the L-rd with talents he has given me ...
Also involved with hospital chaplians and rabbi's at Hospital where I work.
We hope to start a Messianic synagogue in the near future in Switzerland where I now live.. and where there is none (Nearest is in France or UK).
I don't need to "beat Jews over he head with Yeshua"..I believe the witness is 99% covenant faithfulness and righteous living..the rest we leave to G-d.Most of my "buddies" in the Evangelical world would certainly NOT go along with this..but I love them anyway!
Paul’s Three Questions:
(1) As a movement, can we legitimately hope to maintain our integrity with the Jewish community without halakhah? And with that, do we assume the approach advocated in “Duties of the Soul” or of “On Being a Jew?” Finally, as leaders and as a movement, what standard do we point towards, even if we “are not there yet?”
(2) Without a strong sense of halakhah, for how many generations will our movement maintain its Jewish identity? Put another way, if just being a Jew is enough, how do we convey that sense to our posterity in a meaningful way? If we are going to adopt the “just being a Jew is enough” approach, how do we, over the next two or three generations, avoid becoming a class of secularized Jews who happen to believe in Yeshua? Will they understand what being Jewish means?
(3) If we reject halakhah, are we rejecting Yeshua’s authority? He did say that the rabbis sit in Moshe’s seat that that we are to do what they tell us to do. On what basis do we reject any of it?
John's three questions for this week:
First question:
1.
There's something I can't grasp.How is it possible that writers like Herschel,and Rabbi Steinsaltz can write on the "lived spiritual experience" and that it rings so completely true for us.How is it possible,despite Yeshua rejection,that we still share a very similar spiritual experience with tradition forms of Judaism? Mystery? I would even go as far as to say that they reveal the heart of the Father like many other "Christian" books fail to do.Many examples, of deep,deep rivers of profound transcendance ,indicating a continued "open" dialogue with HaShem.(as in Kugel:If a space (miskhan) is made for G-d, G-d always fills that void swiftly").
On a more practical level and related to this question: Following this idea of really being quite "planned" in prayer as shown in the diagram going from one stage to the next ,in what way can we use this "traditional Jewish format" when praying for folks who come for help at (usually) the end of our services.It seems to me we shoot right into praying for this and that,for healing,for words of knowledge,..Maybe we should take people down the road of knowing who they are before G-d,with moments spent in praising his authority,power,presence,etc... before we even talk of problems to be solved in prayer/or the Ruach HaKodesh!!
2.Second question:
Following what was said on Rabbinics on the DVD,and the guest article on Halakhic interpretation,(very helful):Practically,can we start,or should we aim at starting to bring Oral Torah/Talmud into our sermons,worship,prayers in the Messianic synagogue.How can we practically do this without offending an awful lot of people who come to the services.(Brilliant comment on the DVD by one participant stating:"many are embarrassed by Oral Torah because they have little knowledge of it..have ignored it).
(Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz; "Teshuvah": "Ignorance of Oral Torah is MORE serious than ignorance of scripture.A certain knowledge of the Talmud constitutes a basis for almost all the other fields of Judaism..as ALL are nutured by it!).Don't we need to redress our balance in the teaching in our synagogues to load it more towards Talmud:How? Simple Tracts,Selected readings,or the whole selected work taken in it's own context?(without having to focus it all through the lens of Yeshua).
3.John's third question:
I don't want this to sound at all scientific,but it is something I believe to be important:How can we measure how far along we are into being ready to accept a paradigm shift?(does a measure exist?). I ask this after reading"seeds,weeds,and high wire".Some of the most respected thinkers in the movement,earnestly seeking G-d and his directions for the movement,seem to have undergone complete revision of their paradigm .In the DVD R.Dauerman also states "to bring Jews,through evangelisation,away from their continuity/tradition is wrong...I did not always think like this....did not always think this way"
We need to know how far people are struggling with concepts/paradigms because if we can't gauge it,how can we start to facilitate it?
Take observant lifestyle,for example. Is one way to measure the influence of a paradigm shift on ourselves(who for the most part come from a Yeshua believing background) by our willingness to restrict the use of the lens(Yeshua) to filter everything? Am I in dangerous waters here?
Robert
Q1
In session 2.1, you beautifully described “The Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise: The Continuing Priestly Privilege and Responsibility of Israel toward a Messianic Jewish Understanding of Prayer.” What seems to be the hold up in our movement towards this type of prayer especially because we participate in hastening the consummation of all things? In my experience in MJ, there has never been such an emphasis on Siddur prayers as you have placed upon it in this class. I have a great desire to learn the Siddur prayers more in depth with much Kavvana, has anyone in our movement expressed a desire to form an interactive daily prayer web-site? Maybe this can be a step towards your dream of daily MJ minyan's?
Q2
Since we know that Yeshua is the Messiah, the One Man Israel, who in Himself perfectly embodies all that Israel was meant to be and to do. Where do we find Yeshua using a rabbinical pattern of prayer, such as found in Acts 3:1 where it is very evident or do we assume that Yeshua prayed in this manner?
Q3
There was a powerful quote from “Duties of the Soul (pg. 22)
“. . . Judaism helps us know what God wants. A Jew can never pretend that he or she has no clue to the will of God; we are ignorant only of the nature of God. What God wants of us is called Torah and we know what it requires. We do not, on the other hand, always know how to do what we must do for example about divorce, or vocation or politics, but we are obligated to find out”
I was puzzled at the “we are ignorant only of the nature of God” part. How are we ignorant of God’s nature? Can you expound on this?
Robert
In response to Paul's 1st Q: he said, " Finally, as leaders and as a movement, what standard do we point towards, even if we “are not there yet?”
I see Paul's question very relevant to the MJ movement. I would think that the leaders within the UMJC are in deep dialogue towards the answering of this question and yet they can only take "baby steps" towards any certain actions? I see the MJTI (and the ordination within this institution)as a major step towards making standards of halacha within MJ.
My questions:
1. About Kugel's three kinds of synagogues: I was thinking that Messianic congregations haven't been around long enough to become effective Ceremonial Halls drawing people through lifecycle events or to be Nostalgia Centers (give us a few more decades, though) and we'd have to grow way up to become Davvening Clubs. I know none of these were ideal, but I don't even think we measure up to them. My question: as I become more and more Jewish, how do I bring along my people: Jews who don't do Jew-things and Gentiles who don't have Jewish memories?
2. I can picture Atlanta synagogues that are Ceremonial Halls and Nostalgia Centers, but where would I look to find a Davvening Club? Is this prevalent in contemporary Orthodoxy?
3. In your cube, I am curious about the difference between G'milut Hasidim and Mitzvot. Obviously G'milut Hasidim are often the same as Mitzvot (many commandments command us to help enemies, the poor, etc.). Why keep them as two separate categories? Is it to differentiate charitable acts from merely obedient ones?
Derek
Question 1:
This is based off of part 1 of Rabbi Stuarts Paper, and to start I want to just verbalize some thoughts I have on Zikkaron. R. Stuart, you talked about Zikkaron, remembrance, as being something that is helpful in pointing us towards what God has done. So by doing the very act of remembering (the very act of celebrating Pesach for example), we are doing something, we are responding to God and fellowshiping with Him. Yet we also are provoked to take further steps towards God as we do the very things that He commands us to remember. Taking Pesach again, as we obey and celebrate the feast, that in and of itself brings us near to God, but it also makes us think more about God’s mighty work on behalf of his people, thus driving us closer to Him.
So here is my question. Many people know God without celebrating any feasts, without any traditions, they know God simply because they heard the good news about the kingdom and accepted. And based on this, they can approach God. So this is officially the questions, “If Yeshua is the basis for our walk with the Lord, should we consider our remembrances, the Zikkaron, as something that builds on that foundation?
Question 2:
Chapter 1 of “Duties of the Soul” coins a very thought-provoking statement that I would like you to expand upon:
“ Colonial American Jews rapidly evolved from being what historian Jonathan Sarna has termed a ‘synagogue community’ into a ‘community of synagogues.’
Question 3:
This is a paraphrase from Chapter 2 of “Duties of the Soul”
“The whole point of doing should be pointed towards the service of God. Fundamental is ma-aseh (doing), not just Midrash (saying).”
Is it just me or does this echo James, where faith without works is dead?
John ask's if he can post another burning question even though his quota of three is past?
I 've just read Bruce stoke's article which is a summary of the postmissionary messianic Judaism book by M.Kinzar + implications that the messianic movement has on christian practice..Brilliant article..really exciting ideas that make sense to me.More important points, for me, were the suggestions:
1.Messianic Jews should seek shared congregations with the churches in which they are involved.
2.This means joint buildings,etc
3.This way divisions,misunderstandings would be ironed out.Joint services would ease tensions between Messianics and Evangelicals.
4.Links between the church and the messianic movement would be re-inforced.
5.Links between traditional judaism and Messianic judaism would be more easier to manage,as the Messianic judaism would be less "threatening" to traditional jews.(Messianic judaism seen as linked to the Christian church in the belief of Yeshua ,yet entirely different entity).
6.Gentiles wouldn't feel the need to "become Jewish" and Jews ,worshiping in their synagogue part of the building or day, wouldn't need to feel cut off from the Church!
Have we being getting the "wrong end of the stick" in moving out of the churches into synagogues.Maybe an alternative,especially in Europe where not many Messianic synagogues exist,is to "stay" within the churches..at least share their buildings,etc.This is a very exciting idea to me...more realisable in Europe that the separate entity of a "stand-alone unit" of a Messianic synagogue.
Robert’s Spiritual Journey
1. Mixed Bag – Native born Californian, born in 1968 in Encino. Most of my upbringing that I remember revolved around my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. A Spirit filled Franciscan Catholic Priest brought my parents to Yeshua in the early 60’s. So my initial years were a mixed bag between Catholic renewal services to spirit filled home group meetings.
2. The Ruach - The early stages of my spiritual journey began in the year 1973 as my father Rene Bloch was drawn by the Ruach HaKhodesh to a Messianic Jewish Congregation in Encino Ca. Dr. Hillel Goldberg was our Rabbi at that time, and to this day I thank Hashem for the things that he taught the congregation. I will never forget the day that my father leafed through the Yellow Pages under Synagogue listings and we found Temple Beth Emmanuel, later changed to Ahavat Zion Synagogue (BTW, now Rabbi Stuart’s Temple). A few hours later, there I was a seven year old boy experiencing my first Erev Shabbat service followed by a beautiful Bar Mitzvah. All of a sudden a light turned on for my whole family, and I especially began to feel like I was home in more ways than one. The fond memories of that era still encourage me to this day. I was so moved by the Kabbalat Shabbat service, along with the words the Rabbi shared during his Drash.
3. Aliyah - In 1981 we were living in Bakersfield California, and my father had a strong calling to aliyah to eretz Israel. Once the calling was confirmed and made clear enough, we began the process at the local Los Angeles Aliyah office. I was given many books to read, and was immersed in the Hebrew language being informed that our family would be placed in an absorption center in Mevaseret Zion, Israel. I can still remember the thoughts that went racing through my head. The most prominent thought that I pondered was the reality of serving in the Israeli army. As much as we felt the Ruach HaKodesh leading us as a family back to his land, somehow by divine providence we ended up landing in Rockville Maryland where we attended Beth Messiah directed by Dan Juster. So true and confirming were the words from Isaiah 55 that say “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says Adonai. I really did not understand at the time, but as time progressed I saw Hashem’s hand as he allowed our family to learn from some of the great teachers in the MJ movement such as Dan Juster, Eitan Shishkoff, Asher Intrater and many more.
4. Bat Kol - In 1991 my family moved back to California where my father was voted into a position as a spiritual leader for Beth Shalom Messianic Jewish Congregation in Colton. It was here that I transferred all my attention to college and nothing else mattered. A few years passed by, and all I can remember is the desire and the drive that I had to finish my bachelor’s degree in Management at California State University San Bernardino. So during the time I was completing my degree in the year 1994, I remember vividly Hashem moving in my heart to stand up to the task and lead the youth group at Beth Shalom. This was a bit difficult for me to accept, because I was more focused on graduating and moving on in life. I had always supported my father and his decisions all my life, and I felt that I was supportive to him as I got up early every Saturday to help set up for the Shabbat services. The routine became borderline mundane as I would set up chairs, the sound system, the tables for the Oneg so on and so forth. I did all these mitzvot feeling that I had done my duty, and then I would go around the building looking for an empty room to take a nap while my father would deliver the drash. That attitude changed as one day I drove up to Big Bear on a quest to hear from Hashem, I was desperate and wanted nothing more than G-d’s direction for my life. On some far away mountain, I was drawn to the book Mattityahu chapter 5 verses 13-16 and G-d's voice spoke clearly thru this text. I knew in my heart that Hashem had finally broken through and convicted me to lead the youth of Beth Shalom, and ever since I have been leading them.
5. Taking the Mantle– In November of 1998 I married my beloved wife Yesenia and had thee beautiful children. Shortly after in September of 2002, I was voted in by the board in our congregation to become full time alongside my father. I was voted in to this position because I was called by Hashem and because my father needed an assistant to accompany him.
6. Rabbi What? - There was a time where I felt very inadequate for position of assistant Rabbi. I thought to myself, how can I be called something that I have not really prepared for legitimately. I remember the time when I spoke to my father sharing with him that it was time for me to pursue legitimate MJ rabbinic training. Not long after that decision was made, I called Dr. Jeff Feinberg for some advice on where to go for Rabbinic Training. Jeff really took the time to answer all my questions, and at the end we prayed together recommending me to contact Carl Kinbar. Carl has been very instrumental in my life, and was a big part of this sixth paradigm shift. He was the one who really took the time to figure out the best path for me to take. He began by recommending me to take two on line Biblical Hebrew classes through RTS in order to meet MJTI prerequisites. This was a time for being prepared and empowered for the future.
7. Klal Yisrael – This paradigm is one where I am integrating more with the Jewish community where I live. Where I live there are supposedly many Jews, but only two synagogues = ours the MJ congregation and a very small Reformed temple. I am seeing the importance of my children growing up with other Jewish children regardless of the different beliefs and this in itself is a huge shift. Between Dan Juster, Carl and others, this shift is long overdue. Along with integrating with more Jews in our local area, I am being drawn more towards Jewish prayer, the only set back is finding a minyan and the practice that follows. This class is an answer to many prayers of entering into the priestly role of Jewish prayer.
Derek's Seven Circles . . .
I. Discovered the Bible and Jesus.
A. Literally discovered the Bible from a complete agnostic background (non-Jewish).
B. Read Mere Christianity and discovered Jesus.
II. Discovered the Jewishness of Jesus.
A. Within weeks of my born again experience I was shocked to discover Jesus wasn't Catholic but Jewish.
B. I could not discount his Jewishness or the Jewish culture of the New Testament; I was drawn in.
III. Discovered Dispensationalism.
A. The closest acceptable Christian theology for me because it respected Israel.
B. I bought into everything except the pre-tribulational rapture.
C. Got involved in Jewish missions, eventually as a missionary; this was the dispensationalist way to do it.
IV. Discovered the Need for Holistic Outreach.
A. Saw that getting Jews saved and dumping them in churches was wrong.
B. Turning point was when I set a new Jewish believer into the hands of a Church of Christ, where the Old Testament was strongly seen as obsolete.
C. Jogging one day, I felt God impress on me that I needed to start a congregation for the Jewish people in Atlanta.
V. Discovered My Abysmal Jewish Ignorance.
A. I thought I was an expert because I knew more than the secular Jews and Christians I talked to.
B. Only knew the melody for the Shema and my Hebrew was very slow.
C. Started to learn from UMJC colleagues, though some were not nice to me since I still worked for a mission and was a JFJ supporter (we could work on being nice to missionaries since they might someday be open to our paradigm).
VI. Discovered Tradition.
A. Attended minyan at UMJC conference and felt strangely warmed.
B. Absorbed Jewish learning through my UMJC connections and eventually through Dr. Kinzer's book.
VII. The Undiscovered Future Awaits.
A. Who knows where things will go next, but my circles are not finished; I know that.
Derek
7 Circles
I. Hebrew Christian
I was born in Brooklyn (proudly), but really grew up in Staten Island (technically NJ). I am a second generation Messianic Jew, but growing up in Staten Island, there weren’t Messianic Jews, there were Hebrew Christians. What that meant was I went to a Christian School, went to an Evangelical Church on Sundays, and went to a Hebrew Christian Bible Study on Wednesdays with my parents. I am not really sure what went on at these Bible studies, as I spent the evenings with all the other kids.
II. Messianic What?
We moved to Rockland County, NY in 1990. Interestingly enough, the Church we were attending hosted a Messianic Congregation, so we started to be involved with the Congregation that would soon become our home. So after a period of feeling out, we joined Beth Am Messiah and never looked back. For me I was just going along with the natural progression of my family. The mental switch was one from Sunday to Saturday, from eating whatever to trying to keep kosher, and from Passover celebrations at my Grandparents house, to celebrating all the feasts with fellow Messianic Believers.
III. Bar Mitzvah – Big Brother
My older brother was our congregations 1st Bar Mitzvah. I was the 2nd. My training for this was a mix of Hebrew training, followed by a short time of theological foundations with our Pastor (yeah we called him pastor). It was here that I realized that I did not know as much as I thought. So I think it was after my Bar Mitzvah, that I started to take the things of God seriously. Also 1-year after my Bar Mitzvah, my little brother Zach was born. I was and still am seriously attached to the little man, and took a personal interest in raising him. Many times people asked me if he was my son, and even thought I was a teenager, I learned from watching him, somewhat of what it’s like to be a father.
IV. High School/ College Temptations
As I entered my teenage years and my twenties, I walked the line between the kingdom and the world. I certainly wasn’t a bad kid. I was very involved in the congregation, helped out with whatever I was asked to do (youth group, sound ministry, 20’s group, praise team), was very involved in my family, and started working part time at the age of 16. I had a few jobs, but I landed a great job at a café called Temptations (fooled you didn’t I), and have worked for the owners up until this year, 8+ years altogether.
So I kept busy, and developed a walk with the Lord, but I had one foot in the world. I mostly hung out with unbelievers, dated a few unbelievers, and was living a double life, as I would “act” the part with whomever I was with. At the congregation I was the golden boy, very obedient and quick to serve. With my friends, I was funny, did take a stand for God, but was pulled in by the things of the world.
As these years went on, God was always with me, but I saw him more as a taskmaster than a friend.
V. Alan Binger / Speaking In Tongues
For most of my life, my dad has been the source of example and direction in my spiritual life. He taught me how important it is to be disciplined in reading the word, and was always giving me tapes, books, cd’s and taking me to services. We went to everything, Messianic Conferences, Full Gospel Business Men, evangelical speakers.
One night he brought me to a service where Gary Carpenter was a guest speaker. Gary Carpenter does put a strong emphasis on receiving the Spirit and on speaking in tongues. Now I have never had a problem with tongues, I just thought they were weird. So at the end of the service he asked if anyone wanted prayer to receive the Spirit. I went up (I went up to a lot of these alter calls hoping that God would know me to the floor with the rest of the crowd) and as he layed hands on me, he told me to just open my mouth and let the Spirit speak through me. So I did, and all these strange sounds came out, and I could feel God moving through me. And Gary Carpenter wouldn’t let me stop for about 5-10 minutes. I was excited, but also a little embarrassed.
Since that day, praying in the Spirit has played a part in my life, but I still a little embarrassed to pray in tongues around other people (as at times, I feel God leading me to do so).
VI. Thurman Scrivner
Around 2003 my Dad handed me a CD from one of Sid Roth’s recent radio shows. The guest was a man from texas named Thurman Scrivner. In a nutshell, he saw his practically dead granddaughter (she was in a sever car accident) go from life support to full recover by standing on God’s Word.
His story blew me away. There were like 7 steps in his granddaughters recover, and each one was a medical miracle. I’ll give you one for the sake of time. Once she was off life support, the Dr’s said that her eyes were disconnected from her brain, so she would never see. Well, Thurman prayed (I forgot the exact prayer) and a number of weeks later, while playing with his granddaughter (who was now out of ICU and the hospital altogether), she started seeing again.
So after we heard this program, Dad got a whole bunch of Thurman’s material (he became a Pastor and records cd’s and tapes and mails them out for free). In a nutshell, Thurman stresses:
1.Walking Holy and Sinless before God as a reality (made possible by knowing God’s Word and being empowered by the Spirit)
2.The Spiritual cause of every disease is demonic – This is a hardline statement, but this guy has seen nearly every disease/infirmity healed by taking authority over the enemy and standing on God’s promises
3.Our Authority in Messiah
4.Walking in absolute love and forgiveness
So I was immersed in this guy’s teachings for well over 2 years, and still listen to his teaching today. He has helped mold my theology about healing, walking in love, and our authority as believers, but my pride has gotten mixed in, so it’s been a mixed bag.
Some highlights have been laying hands on someone with a headache and God instantly healing them, and agreeing in prayer with my dad concerning some difficult situations, and seeing God do some amazing things.
VII. Advanced Discipleship
About 2 years ago I met someone named Gary Kivelowitz. Apparently, he worked with Dan Juster in Tikkun, and was our Apostle (I forgot how to spell the Hebrew), but I never met him before.
We talked and behind the scenes he was talking with our congregational leader, Jack Jacobs, about me being discipled. So he approached me and told me I needed discipleship, asked if I would like to be discipled by Jack and himself. I said sure. So I have been getting 1-on-1 mentoring locally at Beth Am Messiah with Jack Jacobs, and less frequently on the phone (plus some visits) with Gary.
2 Months ago I moved to Florida to continue the discipleship. I now am doing an intensive training program with Rabbi Ira Brawer and Ayts Chayim Messianic Synagogue. I still work with Gary, and now I am making the transition into 1-on-1 leadership training.
I am still new down here, but man, God is opening up my eyes and opening up some doors!
Cornelius' Seven Circles:
1. Variegated Religious Upbringing
Born in France to young parents of Eastern Europeon descent who were both from Poland/Western Ukraine depending on how the borders shifted.
Parents were initially Catholics who later became Protestants and exposed my two brothers and one sister to various and sundry religious groups, including Pentatcostal Christians, non-denominational Ukrainian church of which my father was one of the lay pastors, to Jehovah Witnesses to later Seventh Day Adventists.
Mother read the Bible to us children regularly. She raised us with strict no milk with meat, to eat nothing strangulated nor suffocated, had separate utensils for meats and other foods, was raised by her grandmother because her mother died when she was eight. My grandfather hid Jews from Nazi invaders knowing full well the consequences.
Father from different circumstances and much of his past unknown except that he was a tormented man who did not share much of his past and had chronic nightmares. Father was in Dresden the night it was bombed and survived. We came to Canada in 1951 from France.
2. Drifting Away
Always had a sense that God was real. Even strongly defended the Biblical world view in elementary school against a teacher teaching pro-evolution much to his chagrin.
Drifted away from anything spiritual (biblical) in high school and university because it was in opposition to selfish desires although I was always on the fringe of things such as the hippy movement and drug culture. Wound up in premed and then went to medical school in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Had a friend nicknamed Bible Bob by all my classmates because he strongly pushed his evangelical Christian viewpoint and tried to convert everyone. Met my wife and got married my last year of medical school.
My best friends during childhood and university were always Jewish and somehow I always had an unexplained affinity for Jews and still do.
Did my neurosurgical training in Vancouver, B.C. where the staff physicians ridiculed Christianity. I began reading the Bible in my on call room.
3. Early Married Life
I still had baggage I was carrying and had a difficult time adjusting to early married life and was unfaithful but did not disclose this to my spouse. Two of my children were born during residency. This prompted a return to things spiritual. However, I still did not make a profession of faith because I did not want to become a hypocrite like all those other Christians.
Moved to Dallas in 1983 and finally yielded to the irresistable pull by the Spirit to the altar call in a Baptist church.
4. Vision of Israel
Began search for which is the real Sabbath-Saturday or Sunday? Read Herbert Armstrong and we atended World Wide Church of God briefly. Saw a guy with a beard who was Jewish and talked about Jesus (Zola Levitt) in 1986 which lead to attending Baruch Ha Shem led by Marty Waldman until 1989-90.
1986 to present has been the period of revelation of God's work among the Jewish people and restoration. This began with search for the true Sabbath, Baruch Ha Shem, UMJC regional and national conferences, Yeshivas with Louis Goldberg, Rich Nichol, Russ Resnik as well as other courses with Dan Juster, Mark Kinzer, Jaime Cohen, Barney Kasdon and studying Hebrew without any logical explanation. Have been in a Presbyterian Church despite learning it was supersessionistic after being censored by the founder of PCA from talking about Israel and the Church in the early 1990's. Have been praying for the repudiation of supersessionism for the last 21 years. Dan Juster has been able to speak in one of the large Sunday school classes in the past year which would never have happened in the past.
5. Repentant Life
Read Richard Foster and Spiritual Disciplines and was rivetted especially by the chapter on the discipline of confession. I had unconfessed sin of adultery and although I had confessed it to God, I could not confess it to my wife for fear of divorce. God brought this to light in the mid 90's and this became paradoxically a relief from hiding things which blunted my spiritual walk to say the least but it really destroyed my wife emotionally and damaged my son in particular. The past 12 years have been difficult but God has been merciful and instrumental in us staying together and the family being restored.
6. The Dream
In the early 90's, I studied "Israel, the Church and the Last Days" and remember Asher Intrater speaking of this being like the book of Acts being played backward as a movie. Later, at Shady Grove Church, Marty Waldman shared his vision of TJCII with Wayne Wilks. My heart lept with gladness at this and this has been my prayer. In the late 1990's I had an unusual dream that made me wake up boldt upright and I could not get back to sleep. In this dream, I was bringing together Messianic Jewish leaders with Gentile Church leaders which seemed odd and bizarre and I still am not sure of the significance of this but it sure got my attention. Maybe, some of this is being lived out as Dan Juster has been able to speak at our church and I sense that the door is more than just ajar! My wife and I have been supporting Messianic Jewish congregations in Israel for many years and our prayer is to see Romans 15:27 fulfilled in its fullness as well as unity restored in the Body with the full inclusion of Messianic Jews in their rightfull place as the older brother and to worship in a Jewish way without having to become Baptists, Catholics, etc.
7. Discipleship
Six plus years of growing awareness of a lack of any teaching on how to walk and not merely talk the Word. Saddened by fellow believers not interested in meeting in accountability groups, confessing our sins to one another and praying together for God's purposes for the world, Israel and for the Body. Read Dan Justers' Models of Accountabilty and Relational Leadership as well as Covenant Relationship by Asher Intrater etc. Led by Dan, to James Boswell who is a discipler. My wife and I are in a discipleship group presently which is part of what the "Great Commission" is about and really in evangelical circles should be called the "Great Omission".
I know that we are learning about Messianic Jewish Spirituality but even though Gentiles are not called to become Jews how does the evangelical Church resolve its great dilemna in explaining that keeping the commandments is not works oriented and repudiatiing the dichotomous law versus grace misteaching? I like what Kugel writes in what is a very enlightening book, especially his comments in preparring a place for the Divine Presence. Wolf on page 20 on if you know God's will, then if you don't perfom it then it is sin is very thought provoking as well as the "Know before whom you stand"!
Why doesn't the evangelical Christian side look at Bible study as legalistic in lieu their looking at Torah study as being against the covenant of grace?
It's late and personally, I am overwhelmed. I love the study we are doing though especially the approach to prayer although I do find it overwhelming at present.
Post a Comment