Posts with the category “rabbis-reflections”

Shalom,Psalm 51:8 Surely You desire truth in the inner being. Make me know wisdom inwardly.Our verse today starts in Hebrew (transliterated), “Hen-Emet,” meaning, “Behold the truth.”  This truth in th...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,We not only find the emotional content of favor through definitions. We see charis illustrated in some stories recorded in Scripture. In these narratives we find that Yeshua favored His fr...  Read More

Shabbat shalom,Torah Portion Tazria-Metzora Leviticus 12:1-15:33By Jeffery FreemanThis week we have a double portion. Tazria translates to “conceive” (become pregnant) and Metzorah which translates to...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:5 For I know my transgressions (Pesha) and my sin (Chatah) is ever before me. 6 Against You, You only, have I sinned (Chatah), and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are just...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:5 For I know my transgressions (Pesha) and my sin (Chatah) is ever before me. 6 Against You, You only, have I sinned (Chatah), and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are just...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:4 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.There is washing and then there is washing.  At the Seder, we wash our hands with running water (Ur’chatz).  But this w...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:3 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your mercy. According to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions.As verse 3 begins (the last part of verse 1 in most Christian Bibles)...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 51:1 For the music director: a psalm of David, 2 when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba.“King David sinned!!!”  That’s your headline.  David was Israel’s second k...  Read More

Yeshua is the perfect pattern for understanding the process of growing in God’s favor. For those who see grace primarily as undeserved favor, Yeshua growing in charis may be a difficult concept. Howev...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,_______Day 7 of counting the Omerבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶרBaruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam, As...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,_______Day 6 of counting the Omerבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶרBaruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-...  Read More

Shalom, _______Day 5 of counting the Omerבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶרBaruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam, Asher Kid...  Read More

Shalom,_______Day 4 of counting the Omerבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶרBaruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Ha-Olam, Asher Kid’...  Read More

Shalom,Rabbi Trail: You might have noticed that I don’t count the Omer the same as most of the wider Jewish community.  Ordinarily I like to go along with the customs of traditional Judaism, but this ...  Read More

Shalom,Shalom again!  Today we’re going to take a break from our series on the Psalms (we’ll pick it up tomorrow), and focus for a moment on “Yom HaBirkurim,” the day of the first fruit offering, aka ...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Sunday, April 5, 2026Shavuah Tov {{firstName}},Day 1 of counting the Omerבָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמ...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,Fellow believers, Rabbi Michael has kindly offered me the opportunity to share some thoughts on the weekly Torah portion with you. My first writing happens to occur in a week that does ...  Read More

Rabbi’s Reflections - Friday, April 3, 2026 (Early) Shabbat Shalom {{firstName}},PsalmsPsalm 50:7-15 – Part 9Psalm 50:7 “Hear, My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 50:7 “Hear, My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God. 8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, for your burnt offerings are continually ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 50:7 “Hear, My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God. 8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, for your burnt offerings are continually ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 50:6 The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. SelahHere, God is calling on heaven to speak as a witness to His righteousness.  Every court needs witnesses.  God is...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 50:6 The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. SelahThis sounds so lofty… “The heavens declare His righteousness.”  Again, if we’re being intellectually honest (whi...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,Philippians 3:10-11 “My aim is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death—if somehow I might arrive at the resurrection...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,God’s favor was manifest amongst the Corinthians in all speaking and all knowledge.I always thank my God for you because of God’s favor (charis/grace) that was given to you in Messiah Y...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 50:5 “Gather My kedoshim to Me, who cut a covenant with Me with a sacrifice.”Who are these people who are being gathered?  In Hebrew, they are identified as “Cha’si’day” (...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 50:4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.How many times have we said this?… “Faith and fear never exist in the same place at the same t...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 50:3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.“Our God (Eloheynu) shall come (Yavo).”  This is the ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 50:1 A psalm of Asaph. God, Elohim Adonai has spoken and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.Today we s...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 49:19 Though during his life he congratulates himself, and men praise you when you do well for yourself— 20 He will still join his fathers’ company, who will never see the light 21 A pomp...  Read More

Shavuah Tov,Psalm 49:17 Do not be afraid when a man gets rich, when his house’s splendor increases. 18 For when he dies he takes nothing away. His splendor will not follow him down.This theme is consi...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,In our last meditation we referenced Romans 12:3.For through the grace (charis/enabling favor) given me, I say ... (Romans 12:3a)The Apostle revealed that he spoke through God’s enablin...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 49:15 Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd and the upright will rule over them in the morning. Their image will decay in Sheol—far from its...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 49:15 Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd and the upright will rule over them in the morning. Their image will decay in Sheol—far from its lofty place. 16...  Read More

Shalom,Special Announcement:  It is with great personal sorrow that I tell you of the passing of our dear friend, Dr. Raymond Finney.  Monday at Blount Memorial Hospital, Raymond received his crown.  ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 49:12(11) Their inward thought is: Their houses are eternal, their dwellings for generation after generation. They name their lands after themselves. 13 But the pompous man will not endur...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 49:10(9) Will he live forever—and never see the Pit?Psa 49:11(10)  Surely he must see, even wise men die. The fool and the brutish will alike perish, leaving their wealth to others.Again,...  Read More

Shabbat Shalom,God’s unique favor towards the Corinthians was revealed through the wealth of their spiritual gifts. I always thank my God for you because of God’s favor (charis/grace) that was given t...  Read More

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,Psalm 49:7(6) Or those trusting in their wealth, boasting about their great riches? 8(7) No man can redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him. 9(8) For the redemption ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 49:6 Why should I fear in evil days? when the iniquity of my deceivers surrounds me?This verse is in the form of a question.  “Why should I fear?” is really the flip side of “Fear not.”  ...  Read More

Shalom,Psalm 49:1 For the music director: a psalm of the sons of Korah. 2 Hear this, all you peoples. Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world, 3 both low and high, rich and poor together. 4 My mout...  Read More