May 30 2015

Should religious people stop people from driving? wheres the scripture or fun in that?

Saw this strange article today. (click to see bigger)

Seems some of the Haredi (Ultra Orthodox) Jewish leaders community in Stamford Hill say women should not drive.

I am concerned I can see this causing antisemitism as reactions that a few crazy religious leaders are trying to adapt people to conform to nonsensical rules. Have to say this is just a very small fringe group in this area that doing this idea.

Just reading this in the bible today:-

1 Samuel 25

18 Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs[b] of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19 Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead; I’ll follow you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

20 As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them. 21 David had just said, “It’s been useless—all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. 22 May God deal with David,[c] be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!”

23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say.

Gasp! In the bible Abigail was a woman who drove a vehicle!

I hope that they could show this to their religious leaders!!!

Meanwhile, seeing as women in Saudi Arabia can’t drive cars either. I propose that when the new format of Top Gear is released they could do a Haredi Jewish women verses Saudi Muslim women track day 😀

Update: I’ve just added a Youtube clip from Top Gear of when they got a Nun to drive a Monster Truck – enjoy

May 27 2015

Jeremiah 31 – The Tanakh’s warm up to the New Testament

I forgot to mention that verse from the Joshua Aaron worship song I posted a short while back.

This is by far one of my favourite passages from the Tanakh (Old testament) its like a kind of ‘warm up’ to the New Testament of what’s planned through salvation through Yeshua (Jesus)

Jeremiah 31 : 31

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares the Lord.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”

This bit is mindblowing, soon even atheist Jews in Israel will have God revealed to them!

35 This is what the Lord says,

he who appoints the sun
to shine by day,
who decrees the moon and stars
to shine by night,
who stirs up the sea
so that its waves roar—
the Lord Almighty is his name:
36 “Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,”
declares the Lord,
“will Israel ever cease
being a nation before me.”
37 This is what the Lord says:

“Only if the heavens above can be measured
and the foundations of the earth below be searched out
will I reject all the descendants of Israel
because of all they have done,”
declares the Lord.

Here, the Lord is abundantly clear that the Jewish people have a part to play, with the modern nation of Israel, with Jesus’s return in the new future.

This completely trashes the concept of “fulfillment theology” (or replacement theology, or supercessionism) common opinion that says that God’s covenant with the Jewish people is finished. Jesus fulfills the law but one of the biggest revivals will happen back in the land where it all started.

Interesting sign, turn around left and you can see the Golden Gate where Jesus will return (blocked up with Muslim cemetery in front) to the right the Mount of Olives where he will stand.

May 26 2015

Magnificent Morocco – 25. Music festival to unite the Middle East and Africa – except Israel

Conversations I’ve had with Christians involved in Israel in recent months has been “I’ve heard Morocco is an Islamic country which has great relationships with Israel and Jews” – Part of this is true looking at some of the history which is still here and treasured. But there is little information of what relationship there is between Israel and Morocco.

When I first got to Fez, I saw this poster. I love middle eastern music, and see many bands in Israel which have western and middle eastern music done by Jewish and Arab people, (like this) and this sees like my kind of thing, although I didn’t see any English or French translation.

On closer look the flags picture shows a complete omission of Israel. This street I’m on is called “Rue Palestine” – oh well 😦 I left to go and find somewhere for lunch and check into my hostel.

I did see groups of Israelis on tour here, more soon.

Previous 24. Lost in a maze on the streets of Fez

Next 26. The Aben Danan Synagogue of Fez

May 25 2015

Magnificent Morocco – 24. Lost in a maze on the streets of Fez

Fez is a big and ancient city and difficult to navigate around

Once you get past this grand entrance to the old city, it gets really difficult to navigate around.

See this map on my phone? its a lie, there is about 10 times more denser collection of the streets than this!!

The other problem is, everywhere you go folks see you as a way to make money. They will want to be friends with you and be a tour guide and offer you to go their Uncle’s shop for carpets, ornaments or spices, or in my case also, as a single man, offers of cannabis. I’m sure there’s plenty of extra interest if you happen to be female as well 😦

I’m partly used to this living in a country with this kind of culture, but it is quite hard work at times and you want to be left alone.

This is probably a country you want to get around in with as a group.

jewish door bell I often saw this diagrams on the walls around old Fez, our guide told us this for for voting, Morocco is democratic and people vote by chalking (I think) on these walls which are marked by a number and a symbol representing a political party. Several times I went past this strange door with a bell next to a message in English, Arabic, French and Hebrew, I will explain later….

Previous 23. Jewish treasures hidden in a Islamic city

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May 22 2015

Magnificent Morocco – 23. Jewish treasures hidden in a Islamic city

There is many interesting souvenir shops in Fez

A cheap popular gift is a small metal teapot (which is probably made in China)

As part of a tour I was with, we were taken into this particular store;

The man behind me is an imam, hes a Muslim priest who works part time taking tourists around Fez, and to these stores. I think they earn most of the money in commission from the shopkeepers rather than the modest cost of the tour fee itself.

Seder plate used for Passover

I love this lamp! I don’t think think these metal lamps would transport easily in my airline case though.

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Metal Torah in frame behind the shopkeeper’s counter on the wall.

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I think a lot of the Judaica items here are vintage, or recent pieces made by Muslim people who make them as a copy from another piece or from some drawings. Its hard to see any Jews left here.

I’ll explain more about the Synagogue and cemetery and Jewish history of Fez a little later on.

Previous 22. Buying a magic carpet in Fez

Next 24. Lost in a maze in Fez

May 21 2015

Worship track “New Covenant” by Joshua Aaron

Can’t get enough of this worship song “New Covenant” from an album by Messianic Jewish musician Joshua Aaron

Its the future promises of God to the Jewish people from the scripture put to some upbeat and encouraging worship track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhHGzTCouQA&feature=youtu.be

You can only buy this through iTunes or Amazon, as I don’t think its available on CD.

I was listening to this driving through the religious Jewish neighbourhood of Golders Green in London to meet up for a Shabbat meal with some Jewish believers there. Its beautiful, thought provoking and emotional as it reveals how the Lord’s plans for them soon.

May 18 2015

Magnificent Morocco – 22. Buying a magic carpet in Fez

A must have experience of visiting a country like Morocco is getting a traditional carpet. My uncle has a couple he got from when he lived in Iran in 1970s.

This is a big grand place, there was a loom upstairs with a part finished one, but don’t think the actual manufacturing is done here.

Notice the DHL poster. As part of the deal on a larger carpet, the vendor says shipping is included. One of the very large ones hung up had a price tag of $10,000

In the true style of business in this part of the world, selling handicrafts has to be done an aggressive and fun way. Here at this shop, we are given a tour of the place, some mint tea and a selection of carpets brought out for our perusal.

I think only myself and this American Jewish girl who was with our youth hostel bought a carpet (which hers was $200) which was meant to be a traditional Berber Jewish style pattern did some buying.

The purple one in the top right is now mine 🙂 I think I got it for about £65 in the end. There are cheers from the owner and his assistants as we each go over to the credit card terminals. Its part of a big well rehearsed act, even though there is guilt as I try and work out how much money I have spent over my intended budget this week.

The owner says these carpets are all made unique, they will appreciate with age as an investment and could be resold at an auction.

I call mine a magic carpet, just as Morocco is a kind of magical place and it will be something to remember these fascinating places. I was asked to give one of shop workers a small tip as he bundles the carpets upto into a neat sausage shaped bag to squeeze into my flight case for later.

After all this hard work negotiating with eager shop keepers, its time for lunch with the folks I met at my youth hostel.

Previous 21. The Tannery

Next 23. Jewish treasures hidden in a Islamic city

May 17 2015

Magnificent Morocco – 21. The tannery

The Moroccans are very talented at making jackets and bags.

I went past the tannery which has been here for centuries.

This place still uses traditional processes to dye and treat leather. These pools have men leave skins in there to achieve the desired colour then leave them to dry on the roofs and balconies.

The dyes range from vegetable (I think beetroot) and pigeon poo.

There is a nice veranda to stand on and look across the old city. On your way out you will got through the showrooms of bags, men’s wear and women’s wear where you will battle to get out without the hard sell. 🙂 I think the treated fabrics are stitched in people’s homes who then bring them to the stores to be sold.

I got a nice brown jacket for about £100. The usual practice of haggling is necessary, so much less than 50% of the original asking price is to be aimed for.

Previous 20. The palaces of Fez

Next 22. Buying a magic carpet

May 14 2015

James Tabor’s false grave of Jesus discovery is an agenda to delegitimise the gospel

When I first got interested in Israel and the Jewish foundations of my faith, I liked looking at all kinds of sources. After many years of being in ministry and meeting various people I’ve got more discernment of sorting out what’s sensationalism, what’s just weird and what has value to history of our background as believers in the Jewish Messiah. Today I worry that I have seen my friends in the UK and the US often may get excited about something that could have an agenda.

Ages ago I heard about the Talpiyot tomb which is being portrayed by a fringe movement of historians like Professor James Tabor as new possible site where a grave of Yeshua (Jesus) could of been. The tomb that Jesus was given from Joseph of Aramathea known today as ‘The Garden Tomb’ (see footnote) is most likely the correct one, but there are other possible locations I’ve seen that were intended as tombs for more wealthy Jews of that time.

From Tabor’s web site:-

the jesus tomb

The crucial point here is this tomb had bones in. These are remains of Jews may be roughly contemporary with Christ and his disciples, but not the bones of Yeshua. To proclaim it is, would be to say that the resurrection never happened. If James Tabor is a believer he needs to repent and accept Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection. If he’s not a believer Christians should have nothing to do with him.

I’m also quite familiar with the location of Tabor and Jacobovici’s own tomb. Its interesting that they found it among early 1980s built flats that are there now. I blogged about this quite a while back when I was still in Jerusalem.

Why? I used to live in Olei Ha Gardon in Talpiyot for 3 years, the very place this tomb was found. You can’t see where this tomb actually is, as the entrance is blocked and they got pictures of it using a robot sent into a small hole.

Ok, where today there is a big problem with super-sessionism (replacement theology or saying Israel and the Jews have no relevance today) and antisemitism, the regular type and the less obvious types, I’m going to talk more about the Hebrew Roots movement, I think there is a lot of dangerously destructive ideas in this which are leading believers astray.

Tabor lists on his Facebook page as being a Professor at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, he lists his friends as not evangelicals, ordinary Jews, or Israeli Messianic Jews but ex-Messianic groups who aim to destroy the gospel such as Jono ‘Truth2U’ Vandor and Jason Spiritualbabies, these are heretical revisionist groups aiming to convert Christians to Orthodox/Chabad Judaism.

Tabor seems well educated, but its crucially important for Christians to stick to sources of history only from credible sources.

2 Corinthians 11 : 1

I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! 2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

12And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Please also check my other writings on The tomb of Jesus and also Easter at the Garden Tomb 2012

May 10 2015

Lance Lambert, author, speaker, prophet and British gent in Israel 1931-2015

Got a message today to report the sad passing of Lance Lambert, a British man who was a well known author on theology and Israel in prophecy. The interesting thing was I was at my parents house last week and found and old book of his that fell out of a shelf.

Lance was someone I got know very well personally. Quite a few young people in their 20s and 30s doing volunteer work for various Christian organisations got to have bible study or get-togethers at his house. Not only was Lance a worldwide renowned speaker and author he was very hospitable, but as a single man who never married who had a few health problems, he always had people helping him at his home, cooking, looking after his pets (3 parrots, 2 dogs, 2 cats) and going on tour with him. Lance was high in demand in churches and Christian events, so would usually go to the US and Canada every summer, to the UK and other parts of Europe but when he was younger would go to China. He would always have volunteers to help with his travel arrangements and getting him on flights, hence I came good friends with Christians of similar age with folks like Nathan, Josh, Shlomo, Basti, Stephen, Richard and Michael who worked for Lance at different times.

Oddly we had a lot of fellowship when Lance was not there, as he left a budget for his housekeepers to have people over dinner. We were kept amused by films, card games, Lance’s old and fascinating house full of antiques and of course his animals. The three parrots he had, one would screech loudly, another would join in, and the other one was friendly and amenable and would talk and mimic the doorbell, telephone and the dogs barking. Lance’s house was in a historical part of Yemen Moshe, Jerusalem close to the famous King David Hotel and the “Yimca” (Israeli word for the YMCA) he emigrated in Israel from the UK in 1980, he lost some of his family in the holocaust.

Tuesday would normally be bible study for crowd of us, sometimes just 8, there could be as many as 25. Lance and his friend Chuck an American Messianic leader would discuss what was currently happening in the news, and talks usually stuck to particular book ie Romans or Revelation.

Since I left Israel in 2013, I knew the Lance’s health was causing him some challenges, but he would always speak at the Feast of Tabernacles event run by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, as many Christians would come to this event as a huge praise and worship event. Lance has given prophecies about world events these been have documented on his web site, some of these have already been realised such as the collapse of the Soviet Union.

I will miss Lance, he is a wonderful British gent who was highly knowledgeable on the bible, gracious, hospitable with a passion to speak about the Lord all over the world.

Some of Lance’s books:- (many translated to lots of different languages)

Israel a secret documentry 1975 (these years might not be right, as some of been re-printed)
Battle for Israel 1976
Uniqueness of Israel 1980
Israel The unique land the unique people 1981
Till the day dawnss 1982
God can do it without me 1991
Thou art mine 1991
Reignin with Christ 1992
Jerusalem the covenant city 2000
Jacob I have Loved 2008
The eternal purpose of God, salvation is not the end, but just the beginning 2009
Explainig Spiritual protection 2012
Let the house of God be built 2012
If any man would follow me 2012
They Shall Mount up with Wings 2012
The glory of Thy People Israel 2012
In the day of thy power 2013
Warring the Good Warfare 2013
Be ye ready 2013
Spiritual Character 2013
My house shall be a house of prayer 2014
The Battle of the Ages 2014
What is God doing? 2015
The supremacy of Jesus Christ 2015

Lance’s official web site

http://www.lancelambert.org/ – His books on Amazon UK now

lances web site From one of books;

Lance Lambert is one of the most distinguished Bible scholars and speakers in Israel today and has an itinerant teaching ministry worldwide. Born in 1931, Lance grew up in Richmond, Surrey and came to know the Lord at twelve years of age. He entered the school of African and Oriental studies at London University to prepare for work in China. He studied Classical Chinese, Mandarin, Oriental Philosophy and Far Eastern History, but the revolution closed the door to European missionaries and his entry into China. In the early 1950’s Lance served in the Royal Air Force in Egypt and later founded Halford House Christian Fellowship in Richmond, England. Having discovered his Jewish ancestry Lance became an Israeli citizen in 1980 and now has his home next to the Old City of Jerusalem. His father and many members of his family died in the Holocaust. Lance is noted for his eschatological views, which place him in the tradition of Watchman Nee and T. Austin-Sparks. He produces a widely appreciated quarterly audio recording called the Middle East Update, which gives his unique perspective on current events in the Middle East, in the light of God’s Word. He has written numerous books and is presenter of the video production, Jerusalem, the Covenant City.

Brit In Jerusalem

A Christian discovering the roots in the holy land….

Monthly Archives: May 2015