(It is our policy not to divulge either the names or locations of those who write us, unless requested by the writer, Hebrew Roots reserves the right to condense letters to save space. Every effort will be made to retain the essence of the communication, Responses are given directly following the letter to which it pertains. Responses may be for clarification, or for the general edification of our readership and are not necessarily directed toward the person writing the letter.)

Dear Dean & Susan Wheelock,
         Thanks again for your new magazine. I just finished reading the July/August issue from cover to cover without stopping (I just couldn't put it down for a breath). It just tells me how much we didn't know (in the Churches of God) and what the potential is, since we have been scattered and put to work by God in so many ways. Thanks again, I'm looking forward to the next issue.

                  FT

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Shalom Aleichem FT,
         Thank you for the kind words. We are pleased that you are finding Hebrew Roots to be of value in your spiritual life. However, we know that it is really God that is working with you as a loving Father works with His faithful son. it is indeed humbling to us to hear that the publication is being used to trigger a revitalized spiritual life in so many people.

                  May the shalom of God
                  be with you always,
                  DEW

Dear Publishers,
         I obtained a copy of your May/June 1996 issue of your newsletter and found it most fascinating and helpful. Please add me to your mailing list for future editions.
         I am so pleased to find so many people striving to serve in so many capacities and their willingness to give and share. I just look forward to continued learning, unfortunately I can't become expert in everything at once, so I am glad that those who have the abilities and resources to delve deeper are more than willing to share information.

                  SK

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Shalom Aleichem SK,
         You make an excellent point that there are so many people who are beginning to serve in ways they never thought possible only a few years (in some cases only a few months) ago.
         We are all a part of the Bride of Messiah, awaiting Him to come and complete His marriage to us. In the meanti me, the Bride needs to be preparing Herself. Every part of the Bride (all the members) will be in perfect harmony and health by the time of the wedding. We can help this to happen if all of us work together, in whatever capacity we find available to us, to fully prepare the Bride. Of course, in the end, we will all realize that God was really doing it all, but He chooses to do it through us. Isn't that a magnificent opportunity?
         What many do not realize is that preparing the Bride is not just writing, making tapes, radio broadcasts and TV shows. The most important work is for each member of the Bride to work at becoming fully righteous and to help other members to become fully righteous. This is the real work; an interactive fellowship and working with each other, as well as helping new members to become an integral part of the Bride. The work is indeed great, and everyone has a part. It is no longer pay and pray (although the prayer part is extremely important). Rather it is working together in true, agape love,

                  May the peace of God
                  be with you always,

                  DEW

Dear Dean & Susan,
         I enjoyed reading your letter. ... and I were wondering about Hebrew Roots, so now that we've read what you sent I have to respond to your request for feed back. I even filled out your name and address slip first. Now I will try to explain my second thoughts about being on your mailing list.
         First -- I started looking into the Bible back in 1960, so it's rather late to want to reread quoted scripture that I've heard or read over and over and over and over till I guess I can't take anymore. Maybe that's scriptural 'burn out.' Anyway, I don't need anymore.
         I listen now and watch a teacher, not a minister, of God's word, and he doesn't quote scripture, he reads the Bible verse by verse and chapter by chapter to me, for almost three years already.
         If you truly believe Jesus was a Jew, you have been sadly deceived. Matt. 16:16 says he is the Son of the living God. Now think this through. Was God, is God a Jew? Was Mary, his mother, or her family, any of them Jews? If you move to Russia, will that make you a Russian by birth? So you see how easily we can be deceived and that is what we must be so very careful about NOT being.
         So why am I returning your material? When I started listening to Pastor (teacher) ... I could see immediately I should discard all my previous "religious" material to the local recycling program. They were happy to get all of it, that more than filled my car trunk!
         Thank you,

                  MS

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Shalom Aleichem MS,
         Thank you for your letter and your response to Hebrew Roots. You have raised some valid issues. Let me say that I appreciate the fact, other than saying we are deceived, that you do not rail on us because we disagree on some things. We receive some letters which just should not be published because of the hateful tone in which they are written. Such letters are not edifying to the Body. Your letter was obviously written in Loving concern, and that is greatly appreciated.
         It is easy to understand 'scriptural burnout' if you were ever part of a church or organization that used scripture to beat their members into submission. This approach has caused an untold amount of damage to a great number of people. However, the Scriptures, (both Old and New Testaments,) are the very Word of God, and are said to be profitable for our instruction. They are the lifeblood of our spiritual lives. Therefore, they must be quoted if we are to learn and grow spiritually.
         You said the man you listen to does not quote scripture, rather he reads scripture to you. Is this really any different? Obviously, he comments on it as well. One can read scripture and make comments, or one can take a topic and quote scripture. Both are valid form of teaching. The problem with the first is that you may not be making connections with all of the scriptures pertaining to an issue. Thus you miss things the scriptures have to say on that subject. The problem with the second is that scriptures can be quoted out of context. Neither method is perfect.
         You also mentioned that the man you study under is a teacher, not a minister, yet you refer to him as 'Pastor.' it would seem that if he is teaching you truth, then he is also ministering to you. Many people have also become 'burned out' on those who claim to be ministers (servers) yet act like lords.
         We desire to make Hebrew Roots a teaching ministry. That is, we wish to serve our brethren through this publication and/or tapes that we produce. Our purpose is not to make money or even support ourselves through this ministry. it is solely to serve our Father in heaven, our Saviour Yeshua and our brothers and sisters in the Body of Messiah.
         Obviously, not everyone wishes to hear that Yeshua was a Jew. Their reasons for rejecting this truth are their own, and we do not wish to question anyone's motives. There are an untold number of scriptures that indicate the Messiah was to be brought forth on the earth as a literal descendent of the house of David, from the tribe of Judah. One can understand your position that Yeshua is the Son of the Living God. Of course He is. If He were not, then our faith is in vain. But to say that His human mother Miriam (Mary) was not a Jew is absolutely false. Her genealogy is given in Luke chapter 3. I won't quote it to you, you can read it there for yourself.
         Our Saviour, Yeshua, was born to a Jewish mother, He was reared by a Jewish stepfather, it was His custom to attend a Jewish synagogue each Sabbath, He kept the festivals, He wore fringes on His garment and He taught in a traditional Jewish manner. He did not accept all of the traditions of the Jews, especially those which contradicted the Torah, which He kept perfectly, for He was without sin. One could go on and on, but it is evident from the Scriptures that Yeshua was both the Son of God, and the Jewish son of a human, Jewish, mother. While He tabernacled here on earth He was completely human, and when He died he was completely dead, for three days and three nights. When He was resurrected He was accepted by His Father as the perfect and ultimate sacrifice, to fulfill all sacrifices. He was then able to inhabit both the spiritual and physical realm, just as He could before He was born of the virgin.
         One must be very careful not to rely totally on the teachings of one man. While the gentleman you mentioned teaches many truths, I believe that he also makes some gross distortions of the Scriptures. Please do not isolate yourself and become the follower of a single mans teaching. This is not to say that you must subscribe to Hebrew Roots. There is a lot of worthwhile material available that will stimulate you through the Holy Spirit that indwells you. If you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, you will be able develop a discerning spirit so that you will not follow anyone into error.
         God is working in a great many places. He has not seen fit to give all of His truth to any one man, church or organization. It behooves each of us to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling" (sorry, I just had to quote one scripture) and I sense that you are trying to do that. May God be with you in your walk and I look forward to meeting you in His Family, if not in the flesh.

                  May the peace of God
                  be with you always,

                  DEW

Dear Brother Dean,
         I received your issue of Hebrew Roots Part II and it's amazing when I read the part that some people have the feeling again as when they got baptized, and to tell the truth Dean, I feel the same way. Thanks anyway on the second issue of Hebrew Roots.

         Thanks also, Dean, for the tapes Roots of Our Faith, and True Love. You know, the tape True Love made me get closer to our brethren. You know what I think, Dean my brother, all the Church should have this tape, it's very encouraging to my judgment.

         Well, Dean, I have been keeping you in my prayers. May God Bless and take care brother, until next time. May the LORD be with you and also with your wife, Susan.

                  Your brother in Christ,

                  FC

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Shalom Aleichem FC,
         We surely do appreciate your kind words and especially your prayers. All of us need to be praying for each other's well-being and that we all stay close to God.

         You are also correct when you indicate that the brethren need to exercise their love for one another. After all, if you were to boil the Word of God down into one single word, that word would have to be LOVE. If we truly love one another, and act on that love, we would never break the Torah. For as Paul said; "... against such there is no law." (Gal. 5:23)
         So keep loving the brethren and praying for them and you in turn will be richly blest.

                  May the peace of God
                  be with you always,

                  DEW

Dear Dean and Susan,
         Thank you for the work you do for the scattered Brethren. When problems arose in our congregation we felt very much alone. But what it made us realize is we are not alone. In fact, we are more secure than before because we saw that Messiah is with us always wherever or whenever we worship. We now look to Him instead of men and congregations, daily and not just on Sabbaths. We get help, of course, from ..., but most of our help is from the instruction of Our Father's words and through prayer, and from brothers and sisters who always pray for the church.
         Thank you again for your labor in Christ.

                  SD

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Shalom Aleichem SD,
         It is always traumatic to have upset within the Body of Messiah (the Church). It is very much like having an illness within our physical bodies. It leaves us feeling tired, drained and ill. But with God's help, both kinds of illness can be healed. The key for the Body of Messiah is for all of the cells (members) to want to be healed. If everyone truly seeks healing, it will take place. If people wish to see the healing take place on their own terms, it will never take place. This is the great lesson we must learn from our Church related problems. Again the key is to keep loving one another.
         We pray that just such a healing can take place in your congregation.

                  May the peace of God
                  be with you always,

                  DEW

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