As a first grader once said, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him tap dance.” The way that Yeshua fulfills the expectations and prophecies in the Hebrew Bible is both expected and unexpected.  This whole year we are learning about the Gospel of Matthew.  We dove into Matthew Chapter 2 this week; let’s see how this very Jewish story fulfills the Israel story, shows the divinity of Yeshua, and transforms our lives.

Ever had your plans blown up — not by failure, but by Heaven?

Even Moses had his doubts: “What if they don’t believe me?” “Who am I?” “But I have a stutter!” “Isn’t there anyone else you could send to Pharaoh?” 

The One who formed the mouth and who led us in the desert is with us.  Will you go in faith?

We’ve all got surprising sides — collectors of pottery and hanukkiahs, rock painters, pageant queens, airplane-card archivists, even someone who can blow a shofar with their hands. If we’re full of surprises, Kal Vachomer, how much more does Yeshua have surprising facets? This Shabbat we’ll open the first words of John, Mark, and Matthew’s Gospels and uncover the hidden connections to the Jewish people and to the Creator in the Beginning. “The Word was with God and the Word was God.”  In the beginning… there’s more than you think.

We woke up.

How can you ask God to do anything if you are not tithing?  “The silver is mine and the gold is mine,” says Adonai Tz’va’ot  “The glory of this new house will surpass that of the old,” says Adonai Tz’va’ot, “and in this place I will grant shalom,” says Adonai Tz’va’ot.

Two men went up to pray—one proud of his record, the other pleading for mercy.

Yom Kippur asks:

This year, it’s time to get dressed—

The goodness of God draws us to repentance.  The crushing of God produces perseverance and faith, so that, “Out of Zion will come forth a Redeemer who will turn ungodliness from Jacob, and He will take away their sins.”

David: God, I want to build Your house!

God: "NO U"

David: Awesome!

IWASGUNNA…

IWASGUNNA…

Ole King David, he never said 

“IWASGUNNA” because he was Heaven-led

IWASGUNNA make a house for God to the letter

But His building my house is 10 times better

IWASGUNNA

IWASGUNNA

The 5 maidens said IWASGUNNA get some oil

I had all these plans that were quickly foiled

Cause the groom came back in the middle of the night

IWASGUNNA get some oil later tonight

IWASGUNNA

IWASGUNNA

The Israelite Slaves in Egypt land

Wanted to build something grand

Then that Moses came and did what he did

But IWASGUNNA make this here pyramid!

IWASGUNNA

IWASGUNNA

IWASGUNNA do this, IWASGUNNA do that

IWASGUNNA build my wealth, IWASGUNNA buy a hat

IWASGUNNA build a kingdom, but it all got currupted

IWASGUNNA do it all before the Lord interrupted

IWASGUNNA

IWASGUNNA

IWASGUNNA sleep in, and coast along

But the Lord woke me up with his Shofar Song!

TEKIA!!!!