Iron Sharpens Iron

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 to the letters may be for clarification, or for the general edification of our readership and are not necessarily directed toward the person writing the letter.
Please be advised that we are unable to answer all of the letters which we receive. However, we do read them and appreciate your input.

Dear Hebrew Roots,
I want to thank you for the informative spiritual food you are feeding me.
I just wanted to let you know how much this is helping me know more about God and His ways, and to thank you for taking the time to do this for me. I feel very blessed that there is someone out there that cares about God’s people.

Shalom Aleichem JH,
Thank so much for your kind words. Some days it seems to us that this task is just too difficult to continue, but when we get letters like yours it makes our struggle worth every drop of blood, sweat and tears.

Dear Dean & Susan Wheelock,
    Thank you for sending me the packet of Hebrew Roots that I recently requested.
    I am impressed with the tolerance, charity and humility with which you express your beliefs and the manner in which you expound on scripture. Your publication is the best I have ever read (in my 65 years). Although I believe that the holy name of our heavenly Father is to be proclaimed and spoken (awesome as it is) it is easier for me to understand that Yahshua came in his Father’s name Yahweh than to accept J---s as coming in the name of his father G-d.
    However, when we ask our Father for truth and guidance I know he gives it in measured amounts as is fit and I am still learning--thankfully.
    Perhaps you are able to touch more hearts, and minds are more receptive in the manner in which you are guided to present your material.
    I do wish to make a contribution to help further these efforts and outreach.
        Shalom,

Shalom Aleichem PS,
    Thank you for your letter of encouragement and for your financial support. The issue of the Sacred Names is a sometimes volatile one and it pleases us that you are willing to accept our methods of presenting Him to our readers.
    Your observation about our Father giving us measured amounts of truth as we are able to bear them is quite true. Certainly, twenty years ago I (Dean) would have rejected the ‘Jewish’ roots of the faith without a second thought. There was probably a little anti-Semitism in my thinking at that time, fueled by my church background. Yet here we are, voices crying in the wilderness about the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. Our Father in heaven does work miracles!
    Our prayer is that we all will continue to grow in grace and knowledge until we come into the fullness of the faith.

Dear Hebrew Roots,
    The Winston Dictionary says, a Christian is:
    A PERSON WHOSE LIFE, AND CHARACTER CONFORM TO CHRIST’S TEACHING’S:
    I have one question? Why is the Church following Paul???
    Why is it the Church looks more like the World than Christ? Thank you for teaching’s and the truth of the Bible. That is one reason I don’t care to go back to ________________. Where everything but God’s Word is preached. There little Gods, but the one problem: MONEY.

Shalom Aleichem SA,
    There is no more mis-interpreted writer in all of Scripture that the Apostle Paul. His words have been mistranslated, twisted and abused to the point where it makes it look like he started a completely new religion. In fact, this is what most people (both Christian and Jew) would have you believe. It is simply not true.
    There are some fine books which clearly show what the writings of Paul actually say, and how they in no way conflict with what Yeshua taught, or with the Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament.
    Two of them are:
    Torah Rediscovered
        and
    Take Hold

Both of these books are written by Ariel and D’vorah Berkowitz. They can be obtained from: First Fruits of Zion, P0 Box 620099, Littleton, CO 80162, (800) 775-4807.
Another book that addresses this subject is Paul the Jewish Theologian. by Brad Young. This book should be available from a good Christian Bookstore.

Dear Dean and Susan Wheelock,
    Please continue our subscription to your enlightening publication, Hebrew Roots. The information you provide and the thoughts and understanding that you share help us to fill in the rich tapestry of history in which God’s word is embedded. I have a few somewhat related comments.
    The new covenant’s benefits, such as its gift of the Holy Spirit as comforter and down payment for the promise of eternal life as children of God in the Kingdom of God, are a quantum jump ahead of the Mosaic covenant’s benefits. I have come to understand it does not guarantee however, that a Christian with that Spirit down payment, will have a corresponding quantum jump advantage in understanding and wisdom over a Mosaic covenant servant of God who is without that Spint down payment, but who has set his heart to know and submit to God. The writings of those servants of God can contain many nuggets of wisdom and truth.
    It is wonderful to see someone who hungers and thirsts after righteousness and truth, but does not use the nuggets of truth he believes he has found to stone his neighbor who does not see the same value in those nuggets that are pummeling him! I have come to understand that the Word of God, a sword sharp enough to discern the difference between soul and spirit, should be used to cut away falsehood, ignorance and hate that hide truth. It should not be used to fillet one’s neighbor. Sadly human history shows that man has used many false gods and misused the name of the One true God to hate instead of love his neighbor.
    ...man has a great human potential for good or for evil. God has set before some the way of life and the ways of death and commanded them to choose life! Because of their stiff necks, hard hearts and blindness from Satan, they have usually chosen the ways of death. Thank God all humans will eventually have an opportunity to make a fully informed choice!
    May God bless you as you seek fulfillment through Him and please keep a light (Hebrew Roots) on for us. May His Kingdom come soon!

Shalom Aleichem D & AH,
Thank you so much for your uplifting letter, for your prayers and for your support.

Keep Your Fork
Author Unknown

    There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So, as she was getting her things in order she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.
    The woman also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible.
    Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. "There’s one more thing," she said excitedly.
    "What’s that," came the pastor’s reply.
    "This is very important," the woman continued, "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say. "That surprises you, doesn’t it?" the woman asked.
    "Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request," said the pastor.
    The woman explained, "In all my years of attending church meetings, socials, fund-raisers and potluck dinners, I always remember that whdmi the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over say, ‘keep your fork.’ It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming ... like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful and with substance!" "So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder ‘What’s with the fork?’ Then I want you to tell them: "Keep Your Fork ... the best is yet to come!"
    The pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy, as he hugged the woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But, he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of eternal life than he did. She KNEW that something better was coming.
    At the funeral, people were walking by the woman s casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over the pastor heard the question "What’s with the fork?" And over and over again, he smiled. During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.
    He was right. So, the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you, oh so gently, that the best is yet to come!!