The Creator of all things orchestrated before the dawn of time all the events to transpire while giving humans free will. (Genesis 2:4-3:24) The stage was set in the Garden of Eden where free will to abandon the Father and choose a life of hard work and death was the result. In the events to follow, the Son- Yeshua left his rightful place to be mediator between the Father and mankind offering himself as the ultimate sacrifice to bridge the chasm between His holiness and the sin that separates mankind from the Father (Philippians 2:5-7). Those who, place their faith and trust in Yeshua are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, by which we learn from, and help others to grow in community. (John 14:26)
We believe the Holy scriptures to be without error holding full integrity from the original languages. (Hebrew and Greek) and hold to translations as helpful to the accuracy of original intent. (2 Timothy 3:16)
Family is the microcosm of the intent from the beginning. As the Creator loves the Son and the Holy Spirit perfectly, we are to love one another unconditionally, wholly and completely creating a healthy atmosphere where we can multiply this love in the world. (Genesis 1:28, Exodus 20:12, Psalm 133:1, Ephesians 5:25, Colossians 3:13)
We partake of the Lord's Supper, learn about the High Holy days; (Sabbath, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Passover and Shavuot) We honor believer's baptism. Twice a year we exercise foot-washing service when weather permits.
I spent the first few years of my life deaf and very sick. I did not grow up into what many would call a faith based environment. I was drawn to drums and pursued drumming. I thrived in the music business playing drums as both a performing and studio musician. Music was truly my god. It did me good, and I got by knowing and meeting people of all walks of life. I dabbled in different religions, and never found true satisfaction in any of them. All religions are the same. They are all good in a way. Many of them are based on "If you do good...you will get to go to heaven." Or; "If you do good in this life, you will be granted a better position in the next life." I found out in my journey that the one main core of all religions is this: Do good, and you'll get good. (Except of course the religion of modern Satanism) which is based on self-indulgence and the creed is: Do thy own will.
It was on a cold night in January 1996 when I was recording for a major record label and about to embark on a life of good fortune with the music business when I met the one True G_d. I had been performing at a showcase in NYC with a prominent recording deal when I had heard this: "Natan, I have so much more instore for you than this."
It was that night I became truly "born from above" thus, baptized by the Holy Spirit, (1st Corinthians 12:12-13) and I walked away from the music business. 3 years later, I had started teaching Sunday School in a historic but beautiful church in Philadelphia. A few years later I received my Master of Divinity degree and started pastoring full time.
What can I say? Rabbi Paul said, " I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." (Romans 17:15-20) My desire is to sin less, and be more like my teacher, friend, master, Lord and Savior Yeshua each and every day.
The difference between religion and what I am on about is this one word: Relationship. It is my personal desire (Luke 9:23-24) that I become more like the Rabbi each and every day, falling in love with Him over and over, until I am forever in the lasting arms of my Messiah Jesus the Christ. (Yeshua HaMashiach).