A Few Comments Before You Come To The Column Below Written By Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

by Ken Pullen

ACP

Friday, December 19th, 2014

I find it ironic, sad, and painful (to my spirit and soul) that in these times greater numbers of people, especially those professing to be Christian harbor distaste, disdain, and outright hatred towards Jews. Just research what many so-called Christian denominations have enacted towards Israel and Jews in the past 12 to 18 months, much of which readers can find here on “A Crooked Path.”

Where is being the salt of the earth, and a light unto the world in such attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, and practices? How can one profess to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, supposed to be the “salt of the earth” and “a light unto the world” — words which came directly from God come to earth as man Who ought to be Lord of every professed Christians life!?

Ironic in that at this time of year Christians take the hard stance their pagan decorated trees — which have nothing to do with honoring God, or worshipping Jesus the Lord, Messiah, and Saviour, but are definitely pagan in nature — just read Jeremiah 10 — as is Santa Claus, which I have witnessed many professed Christians telling their children he exists, and they have erected images of him in their yards, on their homes, in their homes, and on those pagan centered nothing to do with God or Jesus Christ decorated trees!

Sad that so many — literally over a billion, over a billion and many more hundreds of millions of so-called professed Christians find nothing wrong in their idol and pagan worship. In their gross purchasing, shopping, buying of gifts using the inordinate and lame excuse “Well, the wise men came bearing gifts!”

Yes, to a young child — not a baby in a manger as it took them many months to arrive from when they saw the star — they presented gifts befitting a king to a young child as in their spirits they knew He was a King!

Sorry, but that iphone 6, that new laptop and HDTV, those high heels, that new car, all those toys made in China you bought for your children have NOTHING to do with Jesus the Lord, Messiah, and Saviour. They have nothing to do with God or God’s word — except OPPOSE the instructions of God to not partake of pagan customs and festivals and traditions, and not to worship idols.

And as this time of year ramps up and amps up — beginning in July at this point in time — and the frenzy increases, the spending increases, so does the animosity towards Israel and Jews by those professing to be children of God, disciples of Jesus the Lord, Messiah, and Saviour, Who, oh ,yeah — He was and IS a Jew!

He will renew His partaking of Passover once this earth and heavens have been removed and vanished, and there is a new earth and heavens and everything known becomes forgotten as every soul enters eternity — either in heaven, or in hell.

How can a professed disciple of Jesus Christ the Messiah be anti-Israel and anti-Jew? Please, tell me how this aligns with the word of God and the teachings of Jesus, the apostles, and the prophets?

Few professing to be Christian have any clue as to what Hanukkah truly is and means. It is my sincere prayer and hope that at least one person comes out from the darkness and into the light, the Eternal burning Light where no darkness can abide, and that at least one person comes into the light of the errant practices taking place among hundreds of millions, over a billion professed Christians, and that they learn of  Hanukkah, and its miracles, a miracle of God for His chosen people — and all Jews and all Gentiles who believe upon Him, and heed His instructions, and believe upon His Son, Jesus, Yeshua, the Lord, Messiah, and Saviour, and live to serve Them and to obey Them and to be a true disciple of Yeshua’s all their days — are God’s chosen people.

I pray at least one person come out of the darkness and into the light — and I never doubt the power of the Spirit of God, nor the ability for a darkened mind and heart warming and turning to God, Jesus, and the Light. Miracles can and do happen. And at this time of year as a professed Christian instead of listening to “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” how about making the angels of heaven sing in rejoicing as one professed Christian sets aside the pagan ways and practices, heeds the instruction of God Almighty, and turns closer to God, closer to Jesus [a Jew, always a Jew] and into the light to have the Truth, the Life, and the Light guide them the remainder of their days!?

The Light of Hope

December 18, 2014

Of David.
The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid? — Psalm 27:1

Today is the second day of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, a celebration of two miracles: the victory of the Jews over the Greeks and the single flask of oil that kept the Temple menorah burning for eight days.

Hanukkah is best known for the miracle that occurred when one night’s worth of oil kept the Temple menorah lit for that night and an additional seven more nights. However, if that’s the case, then shouldn’t we celebrate Hanukkah for only seven nights? It was natural for the oil to last the first night; nothing miraculous about that. Only the seven following nights went beyond nature.

The Jewish sages explain that the miracle of the first night of Hanukkah was that they found the oil at all. When the Jews recaptured the Temple and entered it for the first time, it was a heart-wrenching site. The beloved House of God was completely in ruins; the holy site, defiled. The Jews searched for oil to light the menorah, to bring some light to the darkness. But every jar that they found had been opened and defiled. Finally, one tiny jar was found that remained intact with the seal of the High Priest, indicating that the oil was pure. It would take eight days to produce more pure oil, but on that night, the Jews rejoiced at the miracle that they could at least have light for one day and night. That was the miracle of the first night.

As we now know, that one night turned into eight nights. By the time the flames went out, new oil was ready and new flames were lit. From the moment the small jar of oil was found, the Jews never had to go a day without light again.

The Hanukkah story is about hope and miracles. In the darkness, there can be light. Against all odds, that one pure jug of oil was found. Impossibly, but miraculously, the oil lasted for eight nights. Hanukkah is the only Jewish holiday that centers on night – the time of darkness. We are only permitted to light our menorahs once it is dark outside.

In addition, Hanukkah is celebrated at the darkest time of year – when the days are shortest and the nights are longest. This is because Hanukkah is about times of darkness – times of challenges and difficulties. In that darkness, we light our candles and bring light. We bring a message of hope and encouragement. No matter how dark things may be, we can still find the light. No matter how impossible things may seem, God can make miracles. “The LORD is my light.”

This Hanukkah, light a candle with us. The flame is small but the light is big. Just one candle can light up an entire room of darkness. So, too, just a bit of faith can light up our darkest hours. Our God is a God of miracles – never give up hope!

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein