Florida Revolution

One of the issues currently troubling the people of God is the debate on same sex civil union and marriage resulting from the increasing acceptance of homosexual behavior. Speaking on behalf of the leadership of the Florida Revolution, we believe and teach that marriage is a covenantal relationship between one man and one woman and that same sex “unions” and “marriages” are therefore a reckless rejection of God and His Word. Our understanding of the Biblical teaching about homosexual practice is: 1) marriage is between one man and one woman; 2) homosexuality is a sin; and 3) God forgives repentant sinners. For a further development of our position go to www.vinelifecommunities.org  and select the ARTICLES Button, then select the COMMENTARIES Button and the Paper on SAME SEX MARRIAGE.

Most of us were shocked at the carnage that took place in Tucson as a mentally ill young man shot twenty people, killing six of them. Accusations flew as a few far left liberals attempted to politicize the tragedy by blaming conservatives who have spoken out against the Obama administration for the young man’s actions. More mature people on both sides of the political divide have attempted to calm the situation and have spoken to the issue from a factual position rather than an ideological/opportunistic one. Then the President called for the observation of a “MOMENT OF SILENCE.” Note: He did not call for a moment of prayer…, but a moment of silence. I believe that it was and is just as political to be “politically correct” and ignore God in this critical time in America as it is to exploit it to attack the conservative majority in America. We do not need political correctness in America…, we need God! “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Dave In Florida

Why Hebrew Roots?

You may ask me, “With so much emphasis in Evangelical circles regarding ‘discovering our Jewish roots,’ why do you focus on Hebrew roots?” Great question! I thought you would never ask. Firstly, because I am not from the tribe of Judah therefore I am not a Jew. However, after some personal investigation into my ancestry I may well be a descendant of one of the ten lost tribes of Israel.

Secondly, I am Abraham’s offspring and an heir according to promise (Gal. 3:29, Gen. 17:1-6). I might add that Abram the Hebrew (Gen. 14:13) was renamed Abraham by God in Genesis 17:5, and he remained a Hebrew. Allow me to further point out the scripture does not say a “spiritual heir” of Abraham, but an heir…, period! Therefore, as a Believer, I am an heir of Abraham the Hebrew and I have a vested interest as an heir in my Hebrew roots!

Dave in Florida

In our vision statement for L’Chaim Fellowship we mention that we are a “fellowship of contemporary believers who recognize our Hebrew roots and fully embrace the lifestyle of Yeshua (Jesus) our Lord and Savior.” Note that we neither claim that we are attempting to discover our “Jewish” roots nor that we are a messianic fellowship. Many who are on the messianic path become so overly enamored with Judaism and its laws that they lose sight of the fact that part of what Yeshua came to accomplish was to set captives free. Yes, that includes freedom from religious legalism. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). Yeshua was a Jew (from the tribe of Judah) but He was constantly correcting the Jewish religious hierarchy. On one occasion He said to the Pharisees, “You nicely set aside the commandment of God in order to keep your traditions.” (Mark 7:9) Their doctrines were the traditions of man and these traditions rendered ineffective the word of God! Later, these same Jewish leaders threw the Messiah’s followers out of their synagogues and persecuted them because they rejected the traditions of men (rabbinical regulations – takenots).

Brethren, you were called to freedom. In your search for truth do not become bound again to the yoke of slavery that comes with religious legalism!

The closer we come to the fall 2010 elections the more vile the politicians attack and slander one another. I for one, will be happy to get the elections over with.

By the same token, the closer we come to the return of Yeshua the more people who call themselves Christians attack and slander one another. What ever happened to, “Judge not that you be not judged,” in the so-called, Christian world? Every where you go people who call themselves Christians are slandering other Christians and labeling them as “false prophets, heretics,” or some other degrading name to try to destroy their witness or ministry. God have mercy on this generation!

Dave in Florida

It seems that the Lord has truly been dealing with me personally and with the house church that I am part of regarding God’s appointed times. We have learned in the last several months that the Feasts that many call the Feasts of Israel are in fact the Feasts of God. We have also learned that the Shabbat (Sabbath) is an appointed time with God and has never been intended to be relegated to the use of legalistic people to use as a weapon against the rest that we have in the Father and the freedom that we have in Yeshua by demanding that their interpretation of the Sabbath and their rituals be adopted by other Christians. It also appears that all signs are now pointing to Yeshua’s soon return and, according to Matthew 24, that will be right after the tribulation. As a result we are discussing ways that we are to be prepared both spiritually and practically for the time of tribulation that we have entered and for its intensifying in the very near future. It surely would be encouraging to hear your input on some of these topics.

Dave In Florida

Last evening I participated in my first Seder. Several of us had gathered at our friends, Lance and Toni’s house and were waiting on one more person to arrive before we started the Seder. Our friends have their house up for sale and had a FOR SALE sign posted in their front yard. A very small auto stopped in front of the house and the couple in it asked if they could speak to the owner’s. Toni and Lance went outside to talk with them and the next thing we knew the couple, who were at that time strangers to all us, agreed to join with us for the evening!

We soon discovered that the couple, Jerry and Marsha, were from Palmetto, Florida, and were camping nearby. They decided to ride around and look at some houses for sale and “Papa” brought them to Floral City.

We have a very loving and relational house church and it wasn’t long before Jerry and Marsha were no longer strangers, but just a part of “Papa’s” family that entered into our worship of Yeshua through the Seder meal. Praise You, Lord! What a wonderful evening!

Dave in Florida

If you have checked out this blog in the last year you know that I have been absent from it. God has been shaking up my paradigm with some questions that make me uncomfortable. So…, I am in the process of working through those items.

Also, I am involved in updating both the Florida Revolution site and the VineLife Communities site. Got my hands full! Pray for me.

David

In my first blog of 2009, I want to share with you some helpful thoughts on handling the criticisms that will come your way this year. A primary consideration for handling criticism is to consider its source. Some critics can be your “best friends” in whatever you are attempting to accomplish. God puts such people in our paths for our benefit. Others can be detrimental to us if we take them too seriously. They may well be obstacles to our Christian health if we accept their criticism out of a false sense of “piety and obligation.”  We may find ourselves being tossed about “by every wind” of criticism.

Jesus did not accept every criticism leveled at Him! It seems like He was always being criticized, mostly by “religious” people. His reaction was to discern their spirits, and then respond to them accordingly.

A very wise man once said, “I will accept criticism only from someone who has something to gain from my success. Some think you ought to keep an open mind, but if you keep it too open, people throw garbage in it.”

Here are some questions that may help discern our critic’s spirit:

            A. “What action on your part brought on the criticism?”

            B. “What motivated the person to criticize?”

            C. “Do they have a critical spirit?’

            D. “Is their intent to help or hurt us.., constructive or destructive?”

Asking questions of this kind will help us identify genuine, honest, interested critics who have our best at heart. These critics feel a responsibility for our welfare, or that of the organization, and are the easiest to turn into coaches! They usually have thought of a solution to the problem they are criticizing! These people are like buoys in the river: they help to keep you in the channel.  Value them!

The ideal would be for us to always be able to turn critics into coaches. Realistically, this just will not happen. One way of having a greater success ratio, however, would be to model what we want. In other words, if we want people to have a right spirit and a right purpose when they criticize, we must also be sure of our motives when and if we criticize! Is our criticism motivated by a desire to see them succeed in their gifts and callings.? Can we offer a legitimate solution to the problem? If not, then we need to restrain our tongue. “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness!” Invalid criticism is like “cursing the darkness.” I have found that it doesn’t really change things.

DaveinFlorida