tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017749649876066369.post2839180762329675642..comments2023-07-16T09:01:35.556-05:00Comments on Mark Brand - Antioch Church Dallas: Ezekiel's Glimpse of God's GloryPastor Mark Brandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396308015471448164noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017749649876066369.post-37769091883774548752006-08-29T21:40:00.000-05:002006-08-29T21:40:00.000-05:00Pastor Mark - I walked away from church on Sunday ...Pastor Mark - I walked away from church on Sunday with an even stronger desire to see God's presence in our church - our homes - our lives! <br><br>I know all too well what it's like living "without" His presence (don't we all!). I'm excited too see us moving forward with a hunger / desire to settle for nothing less than Him.<br><br>Bless you!<br><br>DennisDennis Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07612747540904327140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017749649876066369.post-52872097891915705262006-08-28T17:36:00.000-05:002006-08-28T17:36:00.000-05:00As my father (who is a retired pastor) has always ...As my father (who is a retired pastor) has always put it, "God started His church the way He wanted it and He wants it the way He started it!"<br><br>The thought of Hebrew origins to New Testaments documents really is fascinating...I remember reading an article in the Paris newspaper when we lived in France that dealt with the issue at some length and thinking, "Wow! Hope they discover them if they exist!"<br><br>A very good, concise, though scholarly, book on the subject of the origins of New Testament documents is F.F. Bruce's, "The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?" (ISBN: 0802822193) I think there are copies in the Dallas Public Library that can be checked out for free or you can find it on Amazon.com by cutting and pasting the following link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802822193/sr=8-1/qid=1156803614/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-2371957-0090544?ie=UTF8<br><br>Blessings to you, Connie, and thanks for your comments! <br><br>Pastor MarkMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396308015471448164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017749649876066369.post-15113029483993661792006-08-28T17:08:00.000-05:002006-08-28T17:08:00.000-05:00Thank you for your response and adjusting my histo...Thank you for your response and adjusting my history of the greek and hebrew writings of the old and new testment. <br><br>Wanting to see the sick healed, the broken hearted mended and captives freed is something we all want. Your Ezekiel's Glimpse of God's Glory article really has shown what the Church was supposed to be and live in as individuals and as a group. In the Bible it said we can walk like Jesus walked. I take it to mean we can operate the same way he did -- Why after all this time are we not as individuals and as a Church functioning at this level or even more -- Jesus said even greater shall you do -- Maybe a lot has been lost and God is bringing our attention to that fact since we are not always so receptive. Maybe it is time to go back to where the Church lost it and start from there.<br>Thank you. Connie GraggConnie Graggnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017749649876066369.post-83846749616664843052006-08-28T16:32:00.000-05:002006-08-28T16:32:00.000-05:00Thanks for your thoughts, Connie! I agree that Gen...Thanks for your thoughts, Connie! <br><br>I agree that Gentile believers can learn much from studying the Jewish roots of our faith. So many texts in the Bible become clear when one gains a knowledge of the original context in which they were written, and we certainly do owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the Jewish people. As the Apostle Paul put it, "1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God." (Romans 3:1-2 NIV).<br><br>As far as learning from the English translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, as far as I know, the Old Testament portion of virtually every English Bible in print has been translated from the Hebrew. Only the New Testament portions have been translated from Greek, since that is the language of all the copies of New Testament source documents we have to work with. <br><br>Some scholars suspect that there may have been written texts in Hebrew that were used as research sources when certain New Testament portions were written. Luke, for example, says in the beginning of his Gospel (1:1-4) that he has done a lot of research into what he is writing so Theophilus can rest assured that the facts Luke sets forth in his account have been scrupulously verified by thorough investigation. In the same verses, Luke also clearly states that other written accounts had been drawn up of Christ's life. Some of those other accounts may well have been written in Hebrew, and certain scholars theorize that some of the Gospels themselves may have originally been written in Hebrew, given certain phrases, etc., but no copy of any Hebrew language New Testament writings have ever been found, to my knowledge. <br><br>Of one thing I am completely certain - the God who has so wonderfully and carefully watched over His Word for so many centuries to ensure that we receive its truth and can respond in faith to its message will cause Hebrew originals of New Testament writings to surface if they in fact exist and He thinks it is needful for our faith for us to know about them.<br><br>Blessings!<br><br>Pastor MarkMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396308015471448164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017749649876066369.post-7371454990105515992006-08-28T16:09:00.000-05:002006-08-28T16:09:00.000-05:00I also have been looking to see the Church be at l...I also have been looking to see the Church be at least the same or perferrably more than the first church in signs, wonders, miracles, healings, oneness with God in Heaven - sadly these things have become so sparse. Why? After so many years of knowing something was missing and not sure what to look for, I can say God does give direction - Jewish Roots -- after only a year of studying (just scratching the surface) I realize how important it is to know my spiritual heritage.(I was looking for my spiritual heritage somewhere in my family's history -- thank God he has a sense of humor and the ability to rechannel my direction). When we obey and honor God the way He has asked for and given the instruction, written and oral law to Moses at Mt. Sinai, he will acknowledge to us in return via signs, wonders, miracles, and rich revelation, healings and His Power.<br>Thank you Pastor for asking the question so we can look for the answer. I have found so many times God presents questions to get me moving in His direction. It is time we as Christians welcome in our Jewish Brothers and Sisters, practice that common ground of understanding of the Bible in the english translation of Hebrew (not Greek)and worship God together as One Nation. We all owe the Jewish Nation more than we can ever repay them. The Jewish Nation brought to us the Torah (oral and written law), the Midrash, the Talmud, and much more - Without God's word we would still be worshipping pagan gods and all that it brings. Thank you for the opportunity to respond. Connie GraggConnie Graggnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017749649876066369.post-17811714348152395352006-08-28T12:27:00.000-05:002006-08-28T12:27:00.000-05:00Thanks PastorThanks PastorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com