This page is written for the many people I call friends, both jew and christian that have asked about what it is I believe. I call myself neither jew nor christian. In fact, I eschew labels altogether. I am simply a believer. My beliefs are diverse. There are things that make me likeminded with jews. There are things about which I agree with christians. There are even many agnostics and atheists among my friends, and I agree with them on some issues. Where do you and I agree or disagree? We shall see. Perhaps you are right or perhaps I am. Let us search for truth together. My loyalties are not to any church, or sect, or people, but only to the Creator Himself, to whom I owe all.

The Messianic Path...

Generally the first thing a christian asks is why a believer should be Torah observant. "I thought the 'Old Testament' was done away with." Before answering that, I would like you to consider a couple things. What is Torah? And why did G-d give Torah in the first place?

As you can see Torah is not simply "The Law" but all of the instruction of G-d unto us, His children. Why would we put aside this instruction from a G-d we claim to love?

I believe Torah (or OT) is for us today.
Does this mean I am being legalistic?

"Leagalistic: of or pertaining to the law." Unfortunately there is a modern connotation that implies "resting on works for salvation". I assure you, this I do not do.

Isaiah 64:6
...and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;

Christians today believe that in the OT, one was saved by the Law but now there is grace. First, grace is an "Old Testament" concept.

Genesis 6:8
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Ex 33:17
And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

Ezra 9:8
And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

Jer 31:2
Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness...

And second, the Law NEVER saved.

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith...

Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he [1] considered him faithful who had made the promise.
12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,
18 even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."
19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
23 By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.
26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

People were saved then as now, by faith.

Malachi 3:6
I the LORD do not change.

And notice this faith was an active faith; it caused them to DO things, not just believe things.

This misconception of "law vs. grace" is the entire foundation of the Christian's desire to "not live under the Law."

We do not live "under the Law" but "under His instruction".

In His love for us, G-d shows us two things by His word. First, He shows His plan to redeem us. Secondly He tells us how we may please Him. I can never earn my salvation but having been given grace, my desire should be to please G-d.

Acts 13:22
After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'

Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Luke 3:22
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

1 Kings 3:10
And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.

Galatians 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

If this is also your desire, there is delight in the service of the Lord.

Matt 11:30
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

So it is not a matter of legalism but of obedience.

John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

What I Do

* Sorry, still under construction. I generally do not link pages under construction, but I wanted you to have the Easter page in a timely manor. Please excuse our dust.

My Lifestyle