In this week’s teaching Ross begins to cover the story of Joseph. These stories are among the most cherished in the history of writing. The story of Joseph has a way of connecting people to the Bible as no other story does. In fact, Ross begins this week to show that we may be connected to these stories in a deeper way than many might think. Ross takes a slightly different approach in this week’s class, carefully working through the texts and pointing out interesting connections. We can learn a great deal by following these patriarchal narratives. You will not want to miss this teaching as it sets the stage for the next several weeks.
To Listen to this class, click here or follow this link:
http://rootsoffaith.org/2011/12/17/the-joseph-saga-part-one.htm
In this week’s Torah portion, Jacob prepares to meet his brother Esau as he begins his journey home to the land of promise. The one who has struggled from the womb faces his greatest fears as well as his past. He divides his household into two camps and prepares to fulfill the command to go home. On his way, he faces the struggle of his life with a mysterious opponent. Who is this with whom he wrestles? Ross shows that the events described in this week’s reading point beyond the historical to a prophetic glimpse of Israel’s future return to the land. He takes the listener through several prophetic texts that shed light on what is to come. You will not want to miss this class.
Click here to listen to this teaching, or follow this link:
http://rootsoffaith.org/2011/12/10/jacob-returns-home.htm
This week, Ross formally announces the long awaited Roots of Faith Tour to the Holy Land. In his teaching today he began to teach on the subject of the return of Israel to the land promised to the Children of Israel. Basing his teaching on the famed “Dream of Jacob”, he covers the departure of Jacob from his father’s house to find a wife for himself (Hosea 12:12) and of the subsequent years working for Laban. This week’s lesson is written in such a way to show that the twenty years covered in this reading went by at a fast pace. This is the only Torah Reading with no breaks in the texts (from Genesis 28:10-32:3). With the exception of Benjamin, all of Israel’s sons are born in this portion. The focus of the Dream was to assure Jacob that YHVH would be with him while he was away and that He would be faithful to bring him back to the land. Bringing Jacob home to the promised land is the one thing that YHVH promises to do with “all His heart and soul” (Jeremiah 32:36-41) You will not want to miss this class.
To listen to this class, click here or follow this link:
http://rootsoffaith.org/2011/12/03/jacobs-dream-and-gods-promise.htm
In this week’s Torah portion, Ross tells the story of the generations of Isaac. He begins by showing that Isaac was unique among the patriarchs in many ways. And yet, while the reading is named for Isaac, it is his wife Rivkah (traditionally known as Rebbecca that is center stage. She is the one in whom YHVH trusts with the information that “the older son will serve the younger.” Ross shows from the texts that there is more to the story than meets the eye. In fact he reveals several important teaching points from this week’s reading that are relevant for us today. He focuses in on the ancient idea of the birthright or the right of the firstborn. This lesson is worth listening to and sharing. Check it out and share it with others.
To listen to this teaching, click here.
By the end of this week’s Torah portion, Sarah, Abraham and Ishmael are all dead. Ross begins with the words of Isaiah 51, where the pursuers of righteousness and those who seek Yehovah are told to look to Abraham and Sarah. What can we learn by looking to the first patriarch and matriarch? After Sarah’s death, Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac. Ross expounds on the idea expressed throughout this text of “biblical prosperity”. His teaching helps us to understand what is meant by the Hebrew word often translated as prosperity – and it has nothing to do with monetary wealth! When Abraham seeks to purchase a parcel of land from the sons of Cheth, he describes himself as a stranger and a sojourner. Ross covers this in an attempt to illustrate the importance of these words throughout the Bible. You will not want to miss this teaching. Listen and share it with others who love the Bible.
Click here to listen to this teaching.
In this week’s Torah reading, we cover several well known stories. Abraham is visited by three mysterious guests, one of whom is called YHVH. We read of the story of Sodom. What was the sin of Sodom? We read the story of Lot and of two sons born to him. We read of the birth of Isaac, the sending away of Hagar, Abraham’s Egyptian wife and of a final test for Abraham. Ross touches on each of these stories and reveals some common threads and draws out some points that many have missed in their reading of these stories. You will not want to miss this teaching.
Click here to listen to this teaching.
In this week’s lesson, Ross begins to explore the life of Abram – one who is called the “friend of God”. What was it about Abram that caused YHVH to chose him? From this point on in our journey through the Torah, the Biblical plan shifts from a universal plan to the story of a single man and his “seed”. What does the Bible mean when it speaks of the “seed of Abraham?” Does this point to a single figure or to a group? Isaiah tells us to look to Abraham. What will we see when we look to him? What are the promises to Abraham? The call begins with a charge to Abram to “walk for yourself.” What does this imply? You will not want to miss this class as it serves as a foundation for the upcoming Patriarchal narratives.
Click here to listen or follow the link:
http://rootsoffaith.org/2011/11/05/walk-for-yourself.htm
Classes are also available from iTunes
Tonight marks the beginning of the Muslim feast of Eid al Adha (lit. “feast of the sacrifice”) with an estimated 3 million people gathering in Saudia Arabia for the Hajj. This is the major festival on the Islamic calendar, commemorating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael (sic. Isaac) and choosing a ram instead. In memory of that sacrifice every Muslim on the planet, not just those who have gathered for the Hajj, will participate in the sacrifice of a cow, camel, or sheep tonight. The slaughters are done directly by the families, not in slaughter houses. An estimated 100 million animals will die worldwide. There is so much excess meat in Saudia Arabia that meat canning factories have been built right in the area. The meat is consumed in a feast for the next two days, with excess given away to the poor or to relatives but there is so much meat it can not be all disposed of
This is all quite visible of course but it pales in significance to the slaughter of the hundreds of millions of captive animals slaughtered daily, but behind closed doors, in our worldwide industrial animal killing operations, along with the daily direct slaughter that goes on in the second and third world societies on the planet.
The words of the Prophets come to mind, Hosea 6 of course but especially Amos 5:21-24–the last verse of which, along with Jeremiah 7:21-22, makes clear that Israel in the wilderness did not sacrifice at YHVH’s command for those 40 years of Sukkah living which was meat free–even though they at one point begged for meat and got it aplenty–till it nauseated them when they ate so much it came out their noses (see Numbers 11). Another ideal, worldwide, slaughter free time is coming according to Isaiah 11 & 65 for all humanity–and the covenant will be with the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and the land creatures of the earth (Hosea 2)–back to Eden it seems:
Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
They shall not hurt or destroy (slaughter)
in all my holy mountain,” says YHVH.
For the earth be filled with the knowledge
of YHVH as the waters cover the sea…
As I have written before to this group I believe it can be shown that the “Millennium” of ancient Jewish and Christian hope has already arrived, strictly speaking, sometime around the Gregorian year 2000 as is obvious to all who have tallied up the Masoretic chronological tradition. Accordingly, now more than ever “Let us do the Millennial thing.” (see attached article) We can begin to model right now the peaceful kingdom of the Prophets in this small but significant way by living by the ideals of Eden, where every green seeing bearing plant and tree was given for food.
Peace upon all creatures great and small…
In this week’s teaching, Ross covers the story of Noah. He begins by showing that the Torah reading named for Noah, presents two distinct pictures; one – of the heart of man and the other, of the heart of God. By exploring these, Ross illustrates some important points about God and man. Does God “test” man? Are there any righteous among mankind? These questions and more are answered from the texts of the Scriptures. The answers may not be what you have been taught to believe. Ross shows that it truly comes down to a matter of the heart. He also compares the “waters of Noah” to the exile of the House of Israel based upon the reading of the prophet Isaiah. Ross also introduces the idea of “covenant”, a major concept in Biblical studies and one which will be expanded in coming weeks. You will not want to miss this teaching. Share it with others who may be interested.
Click here to listen, or follow this link:
http://rootsoffaith.org/2011/10/29/noah-a-righteous-man.htm
Classes are also available from iTunes
This week, Ross begins again with the regular cycle of Torah readings. He concentrates on some fundamental points from the reading this week; namely, the Creator’s identity, the role of Man and the consequences of sin. In order to fully grasp the Torah’s message we must look at it on its own terms. Many errors in theology are based upon misunderstandings of the initial stories in the Bible. Ross explains that we must begin on a solid and clear understanding to avoid doctrinal pitfalls as we continue through the Scriptures. You will not want to miss this class. Listen to it and share it with others.
Click here to listen, or follow this link:
http://rootsoffaith.org/2011/10/22/in-beginning.htm