This Candle is a Servant-Leader
Last night our family lit the last of our Hanukkah candles. We almost didn’t make it to the end. I’ll explain: It takes a lot of candles to get all the way through Hanukkah. Since the idea is to let them burn themselves out, none of the candles can be…...
Never Too Late
Today, the eighth day of Hanukkah, began at sunset yesterday with the lighting of all nine candles on the Hanukkiah. Even though Hanukkah ends today the stories never do, because the bravery, commitment, dedication and devotion to Adonai stays with us. The Maccabees were unwilling to bow to the ruling…...
A Messianic Hanukkah
On the sixth day of Hanukkah, the Wiksells gave to me… A bunch of links to articles on Messianic Hanukkah! (OK, it doesn’t rhyme.) Messianic Jews & Gentiles find themselves in an interesting situation each year at this time. Should we celebrate Christmas, but with a Jewish twist? Should we…...
Festival(s) of Lights (Part 2)
Read Festival(s) of Lights (Part 1) It’s well-documented: Yeshua observed the Jewish Festivals. Including Hanukkah. But there’s a funny thing about this Messiah of ours. Yes, he affirmed the beauty and significance of the holidays through his participation. But he always found a way to flip things upside down. To throw…...
Festival(s) of Lights (Part 1)
First came the Solstice. Then Hanukkah. Then Christmas. Then Kwanzaa. There really is something for everyone in December; to the point where it’s officially become “Holiday of Your Choice” month. I happen to think this is no coincidence. It’s not like a clothing boutique randomly showed up on a particular block,…...
How Hanukkah Saved Christmas
What does Hanukkah have to do with Christmas, you might ask? Yes, they happen about the same time. Yes, both have lights and presents and parties and sugary treats. But the connection goes much deeper than that. I grew up celebrating Christmas – the Christmas gifts, the Christmas pageant, the…...
On being a Gentile in a Jewish Temple
“Then they came to Jerusalem. And [Yeshua] entered the Temple and started to drive out those selling and buying in the Temple. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those selling doves, and He wouldn’t let anyone carry goods through the Temple. And He began to teach them,…...
