Our Rabbi Jesus

Learn About the Life of a Shepherd

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It’s hard to read very far in your Bible before bumping into shepherds. We find them in parables, psalms and Christmas stories. Many of our biblical heroes (both men and women) herded sheep, like Jacob, Rebecca, Moses and David. And Jesus even pictured the final judgment in shepherding terms — as separating the sheep from […]

Top Ten Favorite Articles of 2012

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Here are readers’ favorite articles from Our Rabbi Jesus: His Jewish Life and Teaching over this past year. Below that I’ve shared a few that were highlights for me personally. I’m glad if my writing has blessed you, and hope to continue as the Lord gives me ability.   …Drumroll…   1. What Does the […]

The Dust Bowl and the Plagues

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Have you ever wondered what it was like during the plagues? It seems beyond imagining to endure multiple waves of destruction, as the Egyptians did. Hail wipes out your crops. Disease destroys all your cattle. And on and on, ten times. This came to mind several times as I watched a new PBS documentary by […]

Love your Neighbor…It Can Save Your Life

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In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, many neighbors who hardly knew each other are making friends, huddling together and bailing each other out, quite literally. Many are learning how essential it is to love your neighbor. I read a study a while ago that showed that loving your neighbors (or at least knowing them) can […]

Stop Book Evaporation Syndrome!

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If you’re reading this blog, chances are that you’re a little bookish, like me, and that you appreciate a good church library. So you’ll resonate with my feelings about the conversation I had this past weekend. A few years ago my church had a budget to buy a bookcase full of resources for an in-depth […]

Abortion: What the Early Church Said

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The woman in this picture is explaining how she ended her newborn daughter’s life. Believe it or not, she’s actually done this to eight of her children, all girls. In her village in India, it is common practice. You can read more of her tragic story on this blog, “The Three Deadliest Words in the […]

A Christian’s Favorite Jewish Books on the Bible

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Last week the yearly Torah study began again. The scrolls have been rewound from Deuteronomy back to Genesis, and once again, Jews will ruminate over Adam and Eden and Abel. Week by week over thousands of years, they’ve engaged in the study of the Pentateuch together. Often I’m asked what my favorite resources are for […]

Great Books for Learning to Walk Like Rabbi Jesus

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A few weeks ago I wrote a blog called “Good First Reads About Jesus’ Jewish Context” which shared what I’d give to people who are just beginning to learn about Hebraic studies. Many of you wonder what else I recommend. You’d think that the next books I’d suggest would be more history. But discipleship is […]