The message in the Torah portion for this week (Vayelek, Deuteronomy chapter 31) is an elegant, and concise, summary of what Moshe told those who were about to enter the Promised Land. It’s also an elegant, concise warning that is every bit as vital to understand today, in such as time as this, as it was thousands of years ago.
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for this week’s teaching of “Ki Tetzi,” (Deuteronomy 21:10 through all of chapter 25), which AGAIN seems to literally exemplify so much of what is ABSOLUTELY WRONG with the western world today, especially because this is so politically INcorrect that it speaks volumes!
The Erev Shabbat overview starts with the concept of the “war bride,” and that’s just for starters…
For several weeks running now, the Sabbath Day teaching is arguably even more NOT ‘politically-correct’ than the week before. And this time, there needs to be an “<strong>adult content” warning</strong> as well, since the topics include marriage, sexuality, virginity, and a few things that will be even more offensive to a world which genuinely seems to HATE His Word, especially “as Written”.
From ‘transgenderism’ and ‘sodomy’ to the issue of multiple wives, there is plenty in Scripture that is so at odds with what men say He SHOULD have said if He was as smart as they think they are, it’s no wonder the world is such a mess.
The emphasis, however, MUST be on what is actually Written. What we have “heard it said” is NOT necessarily what He Wrote, for our blessing. So, be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11).
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for this week’s teaching of “Ekev,” (Deuteronomy 7:12 through 11:25), where ‘because’ (the way the portion begins) really IS only the beginning of the story.
And the Erev Shabbat overview of course begins there, and follows the text, including still more insight into Moses’ continuing theme, “hear,” obey,” do, and LIVE:
The Sabbath Day teaching starts with some understanding that the Hebrew words don’t necessarily mean exactly how they’re [mis]translated into English. A word like “shema/shemar”, for example, is actually even more than “hear and OBEY”, because that obedience is an INFORMED choice, if we ‘love Him’.
And how can we “love” Him, trust Him, even “obey Him” if we have not only ‘forgotten Him,’ but can’t even “hear” Him?
And on such “trivial” distinctions, civilizations fall.
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for this week’s teaching of “Vaetchanon,” (Deuteronomy 3:23 through 7:11), arguably one of THE most “central” and fundamental teachings in the entire Torah.
The Erev Shabbat overview begins at “and I besought”, the opening words, “V’etchanan” through the warnings about idolatry, and not “adding to,” or “subtracting from” (still VERY popular with both exiled houses!) to the Ten Debarim (commandments, or sayings) and what is described by the Torah Made Flesh as THE most important commandment in Scripture. The main theme, however, is not just “hear,” but “obey,” and “DO!”:
Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for this week’s teaching of “Pinchas,” (Numbers 25:10 through 30:1), which includes one of the most “problematic” examples and rewards in the Torah. How can what might be described as murder be rewarded by Yahuah with a perpetual Covenant of Peace?
The Erev Shabbat overview describes the “rest of the story,” since the major action actually took place at the end of last week’s parsh, and then what might seem to be a variety of disjointed other bits and pieces, from a second ‘head count’ to a recap of His ‘moedim’ (appointed times and feasts).
The Sabbath Day teaching explores what it means to be “zealous” for YHVH not only in a bit more depth, but in ‘context’ as well. Pinchas (Phineas) acted to save lives by making a public demonstration against those who — by their actions — acted in open defiance of Yahuah. But he was also “in the camp”, taking action to keep it clean.
If nothing else, Mark proves, while we are still in exile, the world we live in could hardly pass for a clean camp.
And it certainly shouldn’t surprise us that the portion is again SO relevant to the “times and seasons” today. It even has more to say about what constitutes “blasphemy” against His Ruach.
This week, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship teaches parsha “Chukat,” (Numbers chapters 19 through 21) and THE element described as the very essence of what a “chuk” is — aka “statute”, but really, ‘just DO IT because your Creator said to.’ This one is particularly poignant, because not only are the lessons NOT “done away with”, or obsolete, but some understanding of death is central to loving life, and living it in spite of challenges and worse.
The Erev Shabbat overview begins with that most famous, and perplexing ‘chuk’ of the Red Heifer. But it turns out that the story is far more intricate, and interconnected, than we may have thought.
Alternative link to the Erev Shabbat teaching via Hebrew Nation Radio:
The Sabbath Day teaching this week comes with a warning up front, because not only is the primary subject of this parsha DEATH, but Mark more than suggests that “death” has become so ingrained in this culture and ‘the church’ that the warnings, the metaphor, the ‘picture’ that YHVH is painting here has not only been lost in twisting and idolatry, but turned on its head.
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa teaches the double-portion “Behar/Bechukotai” (Leviticus chapters 25 through 27) that wraps up the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra) and not only speaks volumes about why the “Olde” testament is not only vital to our understanding, but is perhaps THE warning in Scripture that most particularly describes precisely why things are where they are today.
The Erev Shabbat overview, which begins a bit differently this week, because “current events” are so viscerally reflected in the warnings that conclude this Book:
The Sabbath Day teaching explores the major themes of the portion, including what it really means to be “adversarial” to YHVH. (The Hebrew word ‘shatan’, or even HaSatan, “THE adversary” are reflected in English words like ‘satanic’. But that just begins to describe what is outlined here.)
Follow along as Mark again “pulls no punches,” and addresses not ONLY a whole lot of anti-Scriptural doctrine, but why so much of what is going on as we approach a Cursing Climax of literally “Biblical Proportions” can only be described as outright “Satanic”.
Note: Obviously, more NOT “PC” Content. If terms like “whore church,” which so explicitly describe much of ‘xtianity today’ are a bit offensive, what this portion says will be downright shocking.
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa teaches the parsha “Emor” (Leviticus chapters 21 through 24) and addresses “head-on” the issue of why what He Wrote about a line of priests that we have been told – erroneously – no longer matters, still does.
The Erev Shabbat overview focuses on WHO the people are that YHVH says to “Speak” (Emor) to, starting with the “kohenim,” or ‘priests,’ meaning the sons of Aaron. They are not to defile themselves with death. They are to be “qadosh” — holy, perhaps, but more accurately “set apart” to Yahuah. There are specifications for sexuality, and marriage, and even some pretty “politically-incorrect” formulations for how He wants those who serve Him to be.
The fact that such a priesthood doesn’t really exist any more (for reasons that are key to our understanding as well) only help make the point about why all of this still matter anyway!
The Sabbath Day teaching explores the major themes of the portion, from the continuing issue of why it still matters at all, to how the specifications for His “set-apart” priesthood pretty well eliminate most of the doctrine of ‘churchianity’ from having anything to do with it.
Follow along as Mark again “pulls no punches,” and addresses a whole lot of “xtian doctrine” that may sell on sun-god-day, but turns Scripture literally upside-down.
<strong><em>Note: Obviously, more NOT “PC” Content. Some ‘priests of another god’ may be offended. But it isn’t like the Messiah didn’t warn all of us in advance anyway.</strong>
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa teaches the double-parsha “Acharei Mot / Kedoshim” (Leviticus/Vayikra chapters 16 through 20) — a portion that literally goes to the very heart of the ‘wicked fruit’ that describes why AmeriKa (in particular, but arguably the whole ‘WORLD’) may be in the process (birth pangs, if you will) of being “vomited out”.
The Erev Shabbat overview is again a look at the parsha “in order,” from what happens “after the death” (acharei mot) of Aaron’s two sons, to what might seem to be a disjointed set of miscellaneous statues and commandments that might SEEM like a “shotgun blast”, but do share a common thread. And, again, there’s not only a lot of the NOT ‘politically correct’ in there, but perhaps one of the Most Verbotten passages in the Bible. (It’s probably called a ‘hate crime’ on Kalifornia campuses of Higher Indoctrination if you even quote it!)
The Sabbath Day teaching continues with the major theme of why “boundaries” not only matter, but are being destroyed NOW, for obvious reasons.
Follow along as Mark again “pulls no punches,” and points out why Scripture “love” is properly seen as a verb (known by fruits) as opposed to a ‘feeling’, and twisting the meaning of that word, and the two most important commandments in Scripture as a consequence, are at the root of how evil is being called good.
<strong><em>Note: As you might suspect, there is Adult Content in this series.</em>
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa teaches the Torah and related portions having to do with this season, and the first of the Spring Feasts.
The Erev Shabbat overview teaching begins with the for each house to select a lamb — of either sheep OR goats — for the instruction that follows. And it is THAT instruction which has been so neglected, and explains much of why “we are where we are”.
The central message of ‘the telling,’ is that we are to TELL, and TEACH, our children. Many of us have to learn it now, because our fathers’-fathers’-fathers’ have failed for so long to do so!
The Sabbath Day teaching is a deeper look at what Mark contends are two houses, each with a part of the Larger Truth, and yet each with a “selective blindness”. What follows will undoubtedly upset a lot of people who have never heard the actual story, “as Written,” of what, when, and how, these ‘prophetic pictures’ actually unfolded.
Follow along as Mark takes an detailed look at ‘the four Gospels’, and compares what they say to what we have been TOLD they should have said. And, yes, there are clearly errors, and contradictions, even in the King James. And when we “study to show ourselves approved,” we can in fact TELL the Story, as Written.