Joined To HaShem Newsletter, July 14, 2011

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Mike Clayton and his ministery
That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

July 14, 2011 Joined To Hashem Newsletter In this issue...   July Update Torah Commentary Quick Links... Mike's Itinerary Resources Torah Is Life Web Site Links Kingdom Paths Linen Hebraic Woodworking Join our mailing list! TEACHING THE HEBRAIC PERSPECTIVE OF FAITH IN AND OBEDIENCE TO THE ONE TRUE GOD July Update What does a lesson in fire building have to do with the current world situation? More than you may have imagined. If you have ever wondered what it sounds like when I try to did myself out of a hole, this is a good time to listen! VIDEO Torah Commentary Pinchas "Phineas" Numbers 25:10-30:1 1 Kings 18:46-19:21 Zeal In The Camp Reading about the Hebrews and their journey through the wilderness has taken on so much meaning in the past few years. With each passing year it becomes more and more special to read about their lives.

Joined To HaShem Newsletter, May 5, 2011

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Mike Clayton and his ministery?

That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

		May 5, 2011
	Joined To Hashem Newsletter
	In this issue...   NEW!! Streaming Video Series Torah Commentary Quick Links... Mike's Itinerary Resources Torah Is Life Web Site Links Kingdom Paths Linen Hebraic Woodworking Join our mailing list!	TEACHING THE HEBRAIC PERSPECTIVE OF FAITH IN AND OBEDIENCE TO THE ONE TRUE GOD NEW!! Streaming Video Series This week begins a new video series. I am planning a monthly commentary on current events as well as teaching on a variety of subjects. Click the link to go to the video page and learn more.

Joined To HaShem Newsletter, March 17, 2011

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Mike Clayton and his ministery?

That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

		March 17, 2011
	Joined To Hashem Newsletter
	In this issue...   Streaming Video Message of the Month- "Last Man Standing" Torah Commentary Quick Links... Mike's Itinerary Resources Torah Is Life Web Site Links Kingdom Paths Linen Hebraic Woodworking Join our mailing list!	TEACHING THE HEBRAIC PERSPECTIVE OF FAITH IN AND OBEDIENCE TO THE ONE TRUE GOD Streaming Video Tzav "Command" Leviticus 6:1-8:36 Jeremiah 7:21-8:3; 9:22-23 *Archived teaching from 2010* VIDEO Message of the Month- "Last Man Standing" Do you have what it takes to be the "Last Man Standing" when He returns? This may be an interesting question to ask, but is it the right question. In this message we consider not the what and how of the End TImes, but rather the why of the End Times. To ordering information click the link below. ORDER Torah Commentary Tzav "Command" Leviticus 6:1-8:36 Jeremiah 7:21-8:3; 9:22-23 A Robe Fit for a King It must have been an incredible sight that first day! All of the garments for the priests had been sown to exact details. Each item was laid out in proper order for the priests and for the high priest. Each of them must have looked to the garments they were about to put on with a sense of awe.

Joined To HaShem Newsletter, March 3, 2011

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Mike Clayton and his ministry?

That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

		March 3, 2011
	Joined To Hashem Newsletter
	In this issue... Streaming Video Itinerary Torah Commentary Quick Links... Mike's Itinerary Resources Torah Is Life Web Site Links Kingdom Paths Linen Hebraic Woodworking Join our mailing list!	TEACHING THE HEBRAIC PERSPECTIVE OF FAITH IN AND OBEDIENCE TO THE ONE TRUE GOD Streaming Video Due to the Hebrew leap year the Torah video and commentary is being repeated from last week. Vayak'hel "And assembled" Exodus 35:1-38:20 / 38:21-40:38 1 Kings 7:51-8:21 *Archived teaching from 2010* VIDEO Itinerary Over the next three weeks I will be speaking in MO, FL and SC. How is that for a "Shabbatical"? Torah Commentary Vayak'hel "And assembled" Exodus 35:1-38:20 / 38:21-40:38 1 Kings 7:51-8:21 His Glory We come to the end of Exodus this week. It has been quite a journey for the Hebrews as well as for us as we have relived their lives from bondage to freedom.

Joined To HaShem Newsletter, February 17, 2011

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Mike Clayton and his ministry ?

That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

February 17, 2011 Joined To Hashem Newsletter In this issue...   Streaming Video Torah Commentary Quick Links... Mike's Itinerary Resources Torah Is Life Web Site Links Kingdom Paths Linen Hebraic Woodworking Join our mailing list! TEACHING THE HEBRAIC PERSPECTIVE OF FAITH IN AND OBEDIENCE TO THE ONE TRUE GOD Streaming Video Ki Tisa "When you take" Exodus 30:11-34:35 1 Kings 18:1-39 *Archived teaching from 2010* VIDEO Torah Commentary Ki Tisa "When you take" Exodus 30:11-34:35 1 Kings 18:1-39 Only If You Go Too! Any parent should be able to understand this Torah portion well. We have all experienced those times that our children disobey, but once in a while they do something that makes us look at them and say, "Just get out of my sight for a while!" It is one thing when our children do this to us, but this week we read how the Hebrews crossed the line to the point that Abba told Moses he was to take the people from there, but He really did not want them in His presence anymore. When we think back to what they had done, one can hardly blame Yah for not wanting to be with these folks anymore. Just think for a moment about this golden calf episode and you will have to admit this one is really over the top bad. To give the jewelry Yah has given you to make a tent for Him and use it to make a golden calf to worship is pretty bad. Place on top of this that as they were worshipping the calf the people were saying that it was the calf that brought them out of Egypt. Adding the lies of how the calf was formed just adds insult to injury. And by the way, did Aaron really think his brother was going to buy that one of throwing the gold in the fire and a calf popping out the other side? Now really, Aaron? It is no wonder HaShem said he did not want to go any further with these folks. Moses finds himself in a real dilemma here though. Yah tells Moses to take the people from there, but He is not going with them. Now think about it, if Yah does not go with them then the cloud does not go with them. If the cloud does not go with them, how do they know which way to go? And what about if the cloud leaves, will the manna leave with it? And if the manna stops, what will happen to the rock that is giving them water? This calf thing is really starting to cost them, and Moses knows full well that if His presence does not go with these people they will soon be bones scattered through the desert. It is coming down to this Presence thing being a life and death situation. In the midst of it all Moses makes maybe the best decision of his lifetime when he looks to the heavens and says point blank, "If your presence does not go with us, don't make us go from here." Moses understands very well that the first step he takes without the presence of Yah will be the step that marks the end to him and to the people he is leading. How much can we learn from Moses this week? Even asking that question seems a bit silly to me, but it is one we all should consider. Well maybe we should ask ourselves another question first, something like, "Just how much of life are we living without His presence already?" Stop and think about that for a moment. How many decisions do we make on a daily basis that do not involve Him? How many days do we begin without any time in His Word or without even a thought of what His plans may be for us that day? Maybe we should not be making the same statement that Moses made, that he was not going on if Abba withdrew His presence. Maybe what we should be asking is for us to not be allowed to go one more step without His presence being restored unto us. Maybe the best thing we could do is repent for going as far as we have without His presence, doing things based not on His direction, but rather based on our own golden calf of self-reliance. At this point in our Torah journey maybe we should not look down our noses at the Hebrews and how bad they behaved toward Abba. A more effective approach is to begin grinding up our own golden calves, and ask that not one more day be lived without His presence being restored unto us. Either way though, may we come into full agreement with Moses that if His presence does not go with us from this day forward, we should not be thinking about going anywhere! Greater exodus? Not without Him we don't! Shabbat Shalom, Mike PRINT VERSION email: hineni@mac.com phone: 405 257 6277 web: http://www.joinedtohashem.org

Joined To HaShem Newsletter, February 11, 2011

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Mike Clayton and his ministry?

That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

February 11, 2011 Joined To Hashem Newsletter In this issue...   Streaming Video Torah Commentary Quick Links... Mike's Itinerary Resources Torah Is Life Web Site Links Kingdom Paths Linen Hebraic Woodworking Join our mailing list! TEACHING THE HEBRAIC PERSPECTIVE OF FAITH IN AND OBEDIENCE TO THE ONE TRUE GOD Streaming Video Tetzaveh "You shall command" Exodus 27:20-30:10 Ezekiel 43:10-27 *Archived teaching from 2010* VIDEO Torah Commentary Tetzaveh "You shall command" Exodus 27:20-30:10 Ezekiel 43:10-27 A Matter of the Heart This week we go from the details of the Tabernacle to the details of Aaron's garments. Again, we can become so enamored with the details of the prophetic shadows and types that we forget about the true meaning. We can miss the "heart" of the matter. Aaron and his sons were chosen to be representatives of the people of Israel unto HaShem. They were to go into the Tabernacle and perform their duties on a daily, weekly and yearly basis. This service was to be a representation of what the children of Israel were doing as they walked out their daily lives. The children of Israel were called to walk each day in repentance, with thanksgiving, praise and worship unto the God they were serving. The Tabernacle services of Aaron were really a tangible manifestation of what was supposed to be lived out in the camp every day. The smoke rising from the altar and the aroma of the sacrifices and the incense were to be reminders to the camp of the responsibilities each person had on a daily basis to be his own priest unto HaShem. When Aaron put the garments on his body, the last item he was to place was the breastplate. The breastplate held the stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel and the foreigners who had been adopted into the family. The breastplate was to be worn upon his heart as a reminder to himself and to all who saw, that this calling was not about pomp and circumstance, it was not about religious practices and the like. It was not about programs and structure. The calling was about a people whom God always holds close to His heart, a family made up of individuals whom He loves very deeply. Years ago a man won a presidential election by daily looking to a motto, "It's the economy, stupid!" No matter how the other candidates in debate hammered, he continued to come back to the focus of what he saw as the most important subject of the minds of the people of that day. Though I may disagree with most every word and action this man had then and continues to hold now, a lesson can be learned from his campaign, and that is to find the heart of the issue and never allow anyone to move you from it. From the beginning of Genesis to the last words of Revelation we see the struggle of focus. Man's desire is to look to the robe and to lose focus of the details of the robe. Man desires to make the position into an end all its own. Man desires to forget that God's plan is not about religious liturgies and practices, but about a people whom He holds close to His heart. The Pharisees of the time of Yeshua are a prime example of forgetting God's heart. They came time after time to try and trap Yeshua. They were not concerned about the people and in fact they were not concerned about the God they said they served. They had taken the robes of the priesthood, but had forgotten that those were robes of servanthood to God and to His people. They did not see that the instructions of Torah were about the Heart of the Father and not about how to control and enslave people to their own power. This is why toward the end of the chapter Yeshua sums up the Torah by taking them to the heart of the Torah, the Shema. Yeshua was not telling the Pharisees that the rest of the Torah was done away with as He spoke these words. Instead he was making them come face to face with their attitudes toward the Torah and also the family of God. He was telling them to look back to where Aaron held the breastplate containing the stones of the tribes. He was showing them that their heart was not about serving people, but controlling people. There are many so-called leaders today that could learn a great lesson from the robes and breastplate of Aaron. In fact, most of us would do well to take a close look at these items ourselves. Where are we carrying His family? Are they being carried simply on our minds as an exercise in intellect? Are they carried on our feet as items to be walked on and used? Are they carried in our back pockets so we can see how much we can get out of them? Or is the family of God carried in the same place Aaron carried them, the same place God carries them? Are they carried on our hearts so we may never forget to love and cherish the family He calls His own, a family we should do the same with! Shabbat Shalom, Mike PRINT VERSION email: hineni@mac.com phone: 405 257 6277 web: http://www.joinedtohashem.org

Joined To HaShem Newsletter, February 3, 2011

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Mike Clayton and his ministry?

That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

 

		February 3, 2011
	Joined To Hashem Newsletter
	In this issue...   Streaming Video IT'S A BOY! Itinerary Torah Commentary Quick Links... Mike's Itinerary Resources Torah Is Life Web Site Links Kingdom Paths Linen Hebraic Woodworking Join our mailing list!	TEACHING THE HEBRAIC PERSPECTIVE OF FAITH IN AND OBEDIENCE TO THE ONE TRUE GOD Streaming Video Terumah "Heave offering" Exodus 25:1-27:19 1 Kings 5:26-6:13 *Archived teaching from 2010* VIDEO IT'S A BOY! Yes, I am a grandfather! Hold the jokes please!!! Congratulations to Krystle and Justin. Chase Yagi was born Tuesday afternoon. For all you ladies, he was 6 lb 10 oz and 19 inches long. I will try to post a picture next week. Itinerary I will be speaking this Shabbat in Tulsa. Check the web site for details. Torah Commentary Terumah "Heave offering" Exodus 25:1-27:19 1 Kings 5:26-6:13 It Is All About Him The Hebrews have gone through quite a few changes over the past months. One major change is the amount of riches they possess. Just days before they left Egypt they had been slaves and we all know that slaves are not known for having great possessions. An interesting thing had happened just before they left Egypt. It was something they certainly had not expected and probably had tried to understand during their journey. Why did they now have all this "stuff" from the Egyptians? Gold, silver, fine linen and the like were now theirs. But why? There was not a single place out in the wilderness where they could sell or barter these items. So why were they carrying gold and silver through the desert? The answer comes just as unexpectedly as the treasures had come, as Moses receives instructions to build a Tabernacle for YH VH to dwell in. It does make sense once we think about it. Everyone except Him has a tent in the camp. Since He is going to be traveling with them, is it not right for Him to have a tent also? But His is not to be just a normal tent. Considering that He is the one who brought them out of slavery, feeds them daily, and gives them unlimited water from a rock that is following them, is it not appropriate that He have the best tent in the camp? I vote yes. There is one problem that has to be addressed though. Yah does not have any materials to build His tent with. Of course after all the miracles He has done over the past year or so, I am sure He could make a pretty good tent appear out of nowhere. But that would not bring forth His plans. His desire was to have the people involved in building His tent, as an earthly example of His Kingdom. That would not be a kingdom like they had known in Egypt, one where the king rules with hatred. Rather this would be a kingdom in which the King would rule with the love a groom shows toward his bride. He would allow the people to give of what He had already given to them. It would be a way of testing their hearts toward Him once again. The Hebrews find themselves with a dilemma they had never known before. They now have possessions, but they are being asked to give a portion so that a tent can be built for this God they are now to serve. Many thoughts had to be going through their minds as they pondered this thought. "What if Moses is just trying to steal all our riches and use them for himself?" "Why does this God need a tent?" "Does not the whole plan seem a bit excessive in the first place?" "Why does that lamp thing need to be solid gold?" "Would not gold plating look just as good?" "Who appointed Him king anyway?" "Why does Moses get to say where all of this goes and how it is used?" In the end the Hebrews would do the right thing and bring the offerings to Moses so that the Deliverer would have a tent to dwell in. The presence of YH VH dwelling in the midst of the Hebrews is what would truly make them different from all other peoples. The Tabernacle would be something that the Hebrews could look to for all ages and know they had built it together. Because everyone had done their part, the Tabernacle would be a witness forever to His glory in their midst. In the Book of Acts we read of another Tabernacle. This one would not be built with hands or with natural materials, but rather be built as people of flesh and blood came together and made a dwelling place for YH VH to once again inhabit. The common denominator of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the tabernacle called "Congregation" in Acts is that although the Tabernacle of Acts was a spiritual one, they both called for people to give of natural means. In Exodus, Moses took earthly riches and brought the people together to build a place for YH VH to dwell in. A close look at Acts shows no real difference in the outcome. As the people gave of their possessions, had everything in common and showed forth true love, His Presence came. There is however a marked difference between the Tabernacle in Exodus and the one in Acts. In Exodus we read about the Tabernacle being finished. In Acts we see its foundation being laid. But from our perspective we can see that is still being built today within each person who comes to redemption in Messiah, Yeshua. So the question arises, "Is our giving linked to His Presence in our midst?" The pattern certainly points to this being true. Giving was what built the Tabernacle of Exodus so His glory could dwell in their midst. Giving is also linked to His Presence in Acts. I just wonder if giving is somehow linked to His Presence in our midst today? I think I will just let you ponder that one on your own! p> Shabbat Shalom, Mike PRINT VERSION
	email: hineni@mac.com phone: 405 257 6277 web: http://www.joinedtohashem.org