What do you think?

I'm sitting here at the computer getting some work done while outside the snow has already started to fall . . . again. This is like the 3rd or 4th snow we've had in the last couple of months! Oy vey!

So I had the following question and wanted to present it to you, dear reader, to get your feedback.

Does God know everything? What do you think?

I look forward to reading your thoughts.

Missing in Action

Recently, the Lord has been dealing with me about prayer. It's probably a sad truth that most of us don't pray as frequently as we should. I know that I fall into that category. But God has been convicting me, not only about my responsibility to pray, but also about the profound Power we can access when we pray. Leonard Ravenhill, one of the great Christian pioneers of prayer in the early and mid 20th century, once said that sermons move men, prayer moves God. I can't help but believe this is true. I'm learning that many of the challenges I'm facing have their solutions found only in much prayer and supplication before God. I find that, when I pray, I'm a better person and tend to interact with greater grace toward myself and others. I find, too, that repentance and true prayer often go hand in hand, a journey that leads to shalom (peace). These are valuable lessons indeed!

Good weekend . . .

This last Friday evening we had a guest choir sing at the synagogue. "The Voices of St. Mark" from St. Mark AME Zion Church blessed us with music and ministry. Now, I must confess, I love gospel music. That might sound strange coming from a Midwestern Jewish man but there is something about gospel music that lifts my soul and encourages my spirit. I could listen to it for hours and sometimes do! My personal passion for gospel music is not what drove me to invite the choir, however. There is a deeper motivation . . . .

Above everything else, I want to see my brothers the Jews come to a saving revelation of the Messiah Y'shua (Jesus). The Bible tells us that the Jewish people are to be driven to jealousy, and witnessed too, by the Gentile believers (see Romans chapter 11. Good stuff in there). This is the calling of the Gentile believers, to reach the world with the saving Truth of Y'shua, to the Jew FIRST, then also to the Gentile (Romans 1:16). The calling of the Jewish people is to be a light to the Gentiles (Exodus 19).

Let me clarify something here and, in so doing, address some concerns that have come to my attention. I am not trying to turn Beth Emanuel Messianic Synagogue into a "church". I am not trying to "Christianize" Messianic Judaism. Why did I invite a Gospel choir? Why did a Christian pastor come and speak at our Saturday Torah service? Because, according to the Scriptures above (and many others), we as Messianic Jews are part of the global Body of Messiah and, as such, need them as much as they need us. Taking it one step further, the Gentiles have an anointing from God to reach the Jewish people with Messiah! (see the Scriptures referred to above). The stronger bonds we as a synagogue have with our Gentile brothers and sisters in Messiah, the more they realize their Biblical obligation to reach my people! The more they reach my people, the more the Jews will become born-again (John 3). The more Jews find their true identity in Y'shua, the more they live out their calling to be a light to the Gentiles and the more the unbelieving Gentiles will get saved! As Rabbi Paul wrote in Romans, "If the falling away of them [the Jews] means the salvation of the Gentiles, what shall the restoration of them [the Jews] mean but life from the dead"!

So, we will continue to reach out to the Jewish people while at the same time ministering to our Gentile brothers and sisters about their calling. As we strengthen these bonds, we will have a greater impact on the Jewish community. Pretty cool how God planned all of this out, huh?

Introduction

Shalom! My name is Troy Joseph (Yosi) Fuller and I'm the Senior Rabbi of Beth Emanuel Messianic Synagogue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

First, I have to admit a bit of wonder at our current digital age. Through this medium I am able to share with you thoughts and concerns and keep you abreast of the ongoing hope and heartache that is ministry. I plan on updating often and look forward to sharing with you this journey called Messianic Judaism. Be warned, however; Messianic Judaism, like every other move of God throughout history, can often be challenging and is just as often misunderstood!

I hope our times together will be both a blessing and encouragement. Thank you, dear reader, for taking the time to peruse these pages! I look forward to sharing with you in the coming days and months!