Showing posts with label Hebrew roots resources. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hebrew roots resources. Show all posts

The Truth: Reformation 2.0 Book - Interview + Giveaway!

Image of a latte in a red mug on a white table cloth next to a pair of black glasses and an open book. Caption in yellow writing reads, "hear from luke and kayte abaffy about their new book the truth: reformation 2.0"


Learn more about the new book The Truth: Reformation 2.0 by Luke Abaffy, who along with his wife Kayte, created The Way Documentary and The Christmas Question. We will be hearing from the Abaffys today and giving away a few copies of The Truth!

What is The Truth: Reformation 2.0?

This is the book I wanted when I was learning about faith. It addresses the contradictions found in our church doctrine and what the Bible says. All of those "but what about..." questions that pop up in discussions about keeping the commandments Luke answers. 

Some of the questions answered in the book:

-But didn't Jesus fulfill the law so we don't have to?
-Didn't Jesus declare all foods clean?
-Wasn't the law done away with?
-Have you read Galatians?!
-Did Jesus break the Sabbath?
-Are you going to stone your children?
-Isn't the point of the New Covenant that we don't need to keep the law anymore?!

These are the questions I had when my faith was changing, and these are questions I hear all the time, in real life and here on the blog. And yes, all of these topics and more are explained in The Truth! And you don't need to be a scholar to track with this book, which I love! The explanations are simple...most aren't longer than two or three pages...but they are thoroughly answered using Scripture. Luke gives many fun analogies and it reads like how you would talk to a friend at Bible study. I laughed out loud more than once when I read through it.



Luke and Kayte were kind enough to take a few minutes to share a bit about the book and the process of writing it with us!

Land of Honey: What inspired you to write The Truth?

Luke: For years I wanted to write a book laying out all my thoughts on theology, so our sons could read it. But I didn't think I was qualified or would be until I was an old man. I think that because of that lack of confidence in being a big wig "theologian," I ignored any prodding of the Spirit to write the book. I wasn't likely to do it for decades, or ever, as I wasn't likely to magically morph into a “big wig theologian”. Then, in the summer of 2021 I was building a deer fence for our apple trees and by a nearly impossible effort of overwhelming stupidity, I impaled my hand on a metal t-post. It severed my tendon. I was in the hospital waiting to be put under for the operation to reattach the tendon and sew up my hamburger-meat hand, when I started thinking and praying. It went like this: "Luke, if you're weirdly allergic to whatever anesthesia drug they give you and you die, would you be happy with what you've accomplished?" I lay there thinking. Then, "No, Luke, I'd have wanted to write down what I believe for my kids first." More thinking. "Then you better do that." So that was the inspiration. Lol.

Also, the reason I wanted to write this instead of making it a doc like The Way, was partially because of Milton Friedman. He was doing interviews when television was first becoming widespread. He aired his idea in radio interviews, on television and also written down in his most popular book: Capitalism and Freedom. Friedman said the best medium to get difficult ideas across was the written word. Why? People weren't distracted by the looks or presentation of the author (like with TV), or his voice and cadence (like with radio). They study his ideas via black and white words. And those ideas either make sense, on their own merit or they don't. Also, readers can go back over the page at their leisure to re-read paragraphs or whole sections easily instead of having to rewind or pause. 

Photo of an open Bible on a white table. Text says: What would Jesus do? Quit asking. Do what he did.


What did the process of writing this book look like and how long did it take?

Luke: I looked at all the questions I’d ever been asked by Christians in my life about keeping Torah. I went through tons of Torah resources where teachers answered questions and objections about our faith. Kayte posted on our Facebook page asking our community what theological truths were hardest to explain and articulate. That initial list became the content of the book. From there, we divided it into chapters that covered the book’s big ideas - things like our identity as Israel, how Yeshua lived, the goodness of the law, the character of Yah etc.

It took 8 months to do the study/research and write the first draft, but then it took another 6 months of research and editing to get it pretty nailed down to a point that we were finally willing to let it go out to some trusted readers. 

This book is "eating the elephant". It's tackling every doctrinal question and argument that mainstream Christians ask us. It's diving into all the gospels, and Paul's writings and Hebrews. So, it was a bit daunting at first. But thank goodness we were standing on the shoulders of giants. For the most part I tried to restate in a cute way, what other big brains (such as Nathan Lawrence, and 119 Ministries) had already solved. But there was a bit of new ground I think Yah let us break. So, with persistence, you eat the elephant, one bite at a time. And during all of that, our perspective changed on a few issues. That always happens when doing non fiction though. I consider it a sign that I'm being honest with the material. More on that later.

Kayte: I worked with the book cover designer and the illustrator to execute everything visual about the book. We’d made a huge list of potential illustrations for the concepts in the book and then narrowed them down to the key ones we wanted, plus some Venn Diagrams. So we drew awful stick figure sketches that gave the illustrator an idea of the composition and elements of each image, and he took them and ran and made them look great.

Luke would come home from writing at the end of the day and I would ask him what he wrote about. I’d ask question after question, trying to get him to distill the main ideas to their purest form. I’d be like, "Did you say it like THAT in the book!?" and I'd write down any good language that came out of the torturous questioning--to add to the book.

The Church and Israel = True - images shows a complete circle which says Israel = all true believers = church and a venn diagram which is two circles that say church and Israel with saved Jews overlapping in the middle. Beneath this is the word false.


How did your faith grow throughout this process?

Luke: Whenever you see the hand of Yah working in your life, your faith grows. That happened in this project throughout, just like with The WayThat was so exciting to see, because it's not only a personal confirmation that you're doing the right work for Him, but after The WayI only hoped and prayed that we could again be used where Yah's hand is apparent, and we can watch Him work throughout. 

One instance with this project was when we were looking for an artist. Kayte queried dozens of great artists and all of them were too busy to do it within our timeline, even if they were interested in the project. Frustrated, we kept looking, but Kayte reached out to an artist named Jesús Meza in Mexico. He was the first one who could make room to do this project. And they started working on concepts. In the process of trying to explain where we were coming from, Kayte was explaining about Passover and Jesús said, "Oh yeah, I know all about it. I've been keeping Passover for years." He’s a Messianic believer. We were shocked and he was totally on the same page with all the art and could thus make it come across in the manner that we needed. That's one example of how no matter what we tried to do, Yah guided everything. It was already planned. 

Kayte: The idea that Yah is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him came alive to me in this process. When answers or His direction isn’t instantaneous and you have to doggedly pursue Him, it really does reveal your heart—whether I care enough to continue seeking Him—and whether I believe that seeking His face will pay off with a deeper knowledge of who He is. Also, on the more logistical side: timing the book release around Reformation Day was totally accidental, which sounds insane given the subtitle of the book—but we didn’t plan that at all. Yah did!

I love the fun analogies used throughout the book - do you have a favorite? or one that seems to 'click' with most people?

Luke: I don't know what clicks with people yet because so far, only editors and beta readers have read it. But I think that most important are the Engine of Atonement and the Queen's Court (rules of etiquette vs atonement) as they both try to explain New Covenant and priesthood/atonement topics that were difficult for me to understand. The worst one is "Christ as Toothpick". I'll let the readers find that one for themselves. 

Text reads: Spoiler alert: if we are true believers, we are no longer Gentiles, but Israel. -The Truth: Reformation 2.0 - yellow text on a white background, with the edge of a Bible visible at the bottom


Do you have any tips for navigating sharing these truths (or the book itself) with family and friends?

Kayte: 

-Ask questions.

-Use resources like this book to fill in theological gaps  and answer questions that might still be hazy in your mind. Feeling settled in your own understanding is a good step towards more peaceful Bible conversations with friends and family.

-Think about apologetics as a pantry of pre-prepped ingredients that allow you to be ready to serve an answer to a person who’s hungry and sincerely questioning. Don’t think about loading up on apologetics like arsenal for a food fight—if I can take the analogy a bit too far :) 

-Remember that it’s the Spirit who opens eyes and our understanding.

Luke: What ties the book together is the through-line that if you believe the Torah isn't for us today, then dozens of contradictions within the Scriptures are instantly created. Following that overarching theme, we visit 25 of the unnecessary contradictions created and use them to visit all of the popular arguments brought up by mainstream Christians. 

The main audience for the book is the Torah-observant believer, with the hope that if a mainstream Christian picked it up, they wouldn't be put off or feel like we're writing in a different language (literally). If you’re planning on giving The Truth to a friend or family member who’s not on board with Torah, they would need to have a more than a passing interest in the possibility that it's true that the Torah is relevant for us today to get through it. The main goal of the book is to help harden the faith and defenses of Torah observers. The idea is to fill any cracks that might appear in their apologetic veneer through want of research. So my tip is: if you don't have an overarching framework that lets you respond to queries, attacks or debates from all directions, then check this book out. 

When will The Truth: Reformation 2.0 be released?

Kayte: The e-book is out now and the paperback version will be shipping on November 15.

Where can I get it?

Paperback and digital copies can be purchased online through The Way's website.

Hear from Luke and Kayte Abaffy about their new book The Truth: Reformation 2.0 | Land of Honey


I hope you will have a chance to check out this resource, and read more of the explanations and analogies, and see eye opening images! It will help you better understand the Bible. Congratulations to Luke and Kayte for completing such a great project and thanks to them for joining us here today!

For the giveaway! Luke and Kayte have been kind enough to donate a few copies of The Truth! We are giving away two physical copies of the book (open to US and Canadian readers only please), as well as two digital copies (open to everyone!). Feel free to enter both if you are in the US or Canada! It's open for a week and winners will be contacted via email.

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Five Books that Changed My Understanding of Scripture

Five Books that Changed My Understanding of Scripture | Land of Honey

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A question I frequently am asked is what Hebraic Bible studies I would recommend. I don't know of one in the traditional fill-in-the-blank sense. And I also don't know of many quick articles that will cause lots of people to do a 180 in how they think. But I do know several books that have changed my perception of Scripture.

It's amazing that different people can read the same passage of Scripture and arrive at completely opposite conclusions. I used to read Galatians and think that the instructions were bad, so hallelujah we are free from them. But honestly as I worked on the Hebraic Perspective on Galatians post I would read through the book and struggle to see where mainstream Christianity gets any of that argument. Same words, different understanding. 

Proverbs 31 is another example of this. That's a passage I read through a hundred times as the resume for a perfect woman or a to-do list for someone like myself. And it was discouraging to know I always fell short of that. But that's not how it's meant at all! Proverbs 31 lists the deeds of many women. Reading it with this understanding is empowering, because I see that YHWH is honored both by women who are early risers and those who stay up late--so I can serve him with my life without trying to do it all. Same words, very different understanding.

Tiny shifts like this can make all the difference. The books below have all shifted my perception of Scripture. Not that I necessarily agree with everything the authors and their related ministries have to say. But something switched on internally when I learned about Scripture in a way that is different than what I had always thought.

Aramaic English New Testament - and other Torah observant Bible study books | Land of Honey

Five books that changed my understanding of Scripture:

Restoring The Two Houses of Israel by Eddie Chumney
You can click here to read this online for free.
Did you know that there are two houses of Israel? For the longest time I did not, and I would confusedly try and make sense of the switches from the Kingdom of Israel to the Kingdom of Judah in Kings and Chronicles. This truth the book covers flips on the lights for so many passages of Scripture, from the two witnesses in Revelation to the two sticks of Ezekiel 37. Biblical scholar Edward Hine is quoted to say that not making this distinction keeps you in the dark on 7/8 of Scripture!

Guardian Angel by Skip Moen
This book has a crazy amount of insight into male and female relations! From a Hebrew perspective Moen shows that the Creator intends for women to be spiritual leaders, protectors, and providers. While the focus is women, he also covers men's rolls and expectations according to Scripture. I would highly recommend this book to anyone but especially to those preparing for marriage or to anyone who has been told their female gender means they can't be ministers or leaders.

Aramaic English New Testament by Andrew Gabriel Roth
This is a version of the New Testament and it comes with commentary on a variety of subjects, including Shabbat, the twelve tribes, 'A Prophet like Moshe', 'How much Torah do Christians already keep?' and more.

The Seven Festivals of the Messiah by Eddie Chumney
This is also available to read for free online.
This is one of the first places I learned about the Biblical holidays. I appreciate that Chumney shares prophetic significance of each set apart time as well as practical ideas for celebration. He does share many Jewish traditions for each holiday; while I don't think anything is inherently wrong most of those traditions it is important to always make the distinction between what Scripture actually says and what man has come up with. 

Back to the Melchizedek Future by Dr. David Perry
Available as a free ebook here.
This book is so helpful in understanding the priesthood of the Messiah. Melchizedek makes an appearance to Abraham in Genesis 14, and doesn't get expressly mentioned again until Psalm 110, so it is all too easy to overlook the significance of this priesthood and it's ramifications for us today. I don't think it would be possible to read this book and then read Hebrews the same way.


Five books to learn more about the Hebrew faith // Messianic bible study references | Land of Honey

Recommending these books does not mean that I agree fully with everything the authors have to say or the ministries they may be associated with. Please always use discernment and make sure that what any author or pastor or teacher says is consistent with the whole of Scripture.

Are there any books you would add to this list?

A Peek at the New Torah Sisters Magazine - Passover Special Edition

Torah Sisters Magazine Special Passover Edition | Land of Honey

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Have you seen the latest issue of Torah Sisters Magazine? It is just beautiful and stuffed full of ideas for Passover and the Spring feasts! It is 56 pages of tangible encouragement, ideas, and inspiration - not just for the feasts, but for daily life as a follower of YHWH.

Passover Bucket List in Torah Sisters Magazine | Land of Honey

Even though it's called Torah Sisters, I think Hebrew men would also enjoy its content, and there are even a few activity pages for children. With more than fifteen contributors, topics in this issue include: recipes for Passover, spiritual housecleaning, DIY tzitzit holder, 10 Scripture verses on gardening, Torah portions list, Passover bucket list, Scripture poster for Passover, how to make kombucha, plans for deep cleaning your home, saving a bad homeschool day, Passover coloring pages and lots more.

A Peek at Torah Sisters Magazine Special Passover Edition | Land of Honey

I loved this piece from Kayte Abaffy about spring cleaning your diet. It had practical and doable advice for healthier eating habits, and I especially enjoyed how she tied that into the process of cleaning the leaven out of our homes before the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Beautiful Torah Portion page in Torah Sisters Magazine | Land of Honey

The Torah portions page is just beautiful, and you can easily remove it from the magazine to put on your fridge or bulletin board or in your Bible. In this issue there is another poster, coloring pages, and my Passover Bucket List that you can also remove for real life use!

Enjoying tea in a Milk and Punny mug and the new Torah Sisters Magazine | Land of Honey

Can I just add that I even like the advertising in the magazine? I know that sounds crazy - most of the time when an article title lures me on the front of a magazine, I turn page after page of ads and eventually give up without finding what I actually wanted to see. That is definitely not the case here: there are only a few ads (maybe six in this issue?), and they are actually pertinent to your life as a believer! Advertisements are from companies selling things like Hebrew apparel, tzitzits, and resources for teaching Scripture to children. Yay!

Take a peek inside the new Torah Sisters Magazine | Land of Honey

There are lots of pictures of different ideas for Passover tablescapes. You will hear from a number of believers about how they celebrate this feast. It's so nice to have something tangible that is an inspiration for keeping Torah and celebrating the feasts. I think that it's fun and lighthearted make it easier for others to approach the Hebrew faith when they see it sticking out of your bag or in the break room at work or on your coffee table. It's a great way to start a conversation about faith!

Take a peek inside the new Torah Sisters Magazine - Passover edition | Land of Honey

You can head to the Torah Sisters website to order your copy of the magazine in time for Passover. It is also available as a PDF if a digital version would better suit your needs. Amy and Crystal have done a wonderful job of putting together a beautiful magazine that you will certainly enjoy. It would also make a great Passover gift for a friend.

Take a peek inside the new Torah Sisters Magazine - Passover edition | Land of Honey
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Get ready for the fall feasts

The Beginner's Guide to the Feast of Trumpets

Taking part in the Creator's appointed time of the Feast of Trumpets is an option for you, even if it's not something you have ever ...