Roots of Faith » Family http://rootsoffaith.org A Synagogue Without Walls - Preaching Moses Every Sabbath Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:57:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Copyright by Roots of Faith 2006 - 2011 rndavar@aol.com (Roots of Faith - Ross Nichols) rndavar@aol.com (Roots of Faith - Ross Nichols) Hebrew Bible Torah Jewish Roots 1440 http://rootsoffaith.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/RootsOfFaith-logo-144x144.png Roots of Faith http://rootsoffaith.org 144 144 Roots of Faith A Synagogue Without Walls - Preaching Moses Every Sabbath Hebrew, Bible, Torah, Roots, Tanach, Faith Roots of Faith - Ross Nichols Roots of Faith - Ross Nichols rndavar@aol.com no no Family First http://rootsoffaith.org/2008/01/19/family-first.htm http://rootsoffaith.org/2008/01/19/family-first.htm#comments Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:05:33 +0000 Ross Nichols http://rootsoffaith.org/blog-and-podcasts/2008/01/19/family-first.htm I pray that this note finds all of you in good health and searching for the good way among the Ancient Paths where you will find rest for your souls (Jeremiah 6:16).
 
I am writing this letter in an attempt to communicate some important things going on with me at this time. I feel that it will resonate with what some of you may be going through as well.
 
Many of you know that I am employed as a manager in the paper industry. I was recently promoted to a position of increased responsibility within the organization. This is how I support my family and so the demands of this job are not a variable over which I have any control at this time. I am blessed that the job is Monday through Friday and so I am off on the Sabbath. This has allowed me to work my job and fulfill my role as a congregational “leader” / Bible Teacher with Roots of Faith. My job at the paper mill requires that I work extremely long hours. For the past couple of years I have managed to work these hours and to prepare and deliver a weekly lesson every Saturday morning from the “Synagogue without Walls”.
 
Working 60+ hours per week, being on call, preparing a weekly lesson, delivering the lesson, editing the recording and posting the class as a podcast and answering emails from many wonderful people who are searching for the truth requires a good deal of time. Life is complex and I realize that I am not alone in my dealing with the “cares of this world“, and so this is not meant to be a pity party. In fact I can do all of the above and still find time to sleep. The problem is that I have neglected a very important part of ministry – my own family!
 
Many of you are aware that I am blessed with a beautiful family. My wife Bridget and I have been married for nearly 22 years. February 14th is our wedding anniversary. We first dated in the 10th grade. I spotted her at her locker one day while sitting in Geometry class – I never was good at math anyway. Something inside whispered to me that she was the girl for me. We dated for some time….she broke up with me at some point and then she came back to her senses and I won her back in our senior year. We have been together ever since. We now have 6 wonderful children. Our two oldest children (a son and a daughter – Ty and Callie) are in college. Our oldest son Ty is married to a wonderful Godly woman (Kathryn) and they have a son, our first grandchild, Asher. The third (another daughter – Emily) graduates from High School this year. Our three younger children are 14, 10 and 6 – all boys (Zachariah, Seth and Tobias).
 
I often get letters from people asking me what they should do with their children in regards to adopting a Torah based lifestyle. They are asking me for direction and advice. I have to admit that while studying and learning for the past two decades I have done very little to teach my own family of these things. In a busy family such as mine, my wife has taken on the incredible task of raising our children while I poured over the books.
 
Of late I have been praying about direction for Roots of Faith and recently while preparing a lesson for my weekly webcast on Saturday morning the words of Genesis 18:19 jumped off the page at me in a very strong way. The very purpose that God chose Abraham was so that he would command his children and his house after him that they observe the way of Yehovah – to do virtue and justice! Here it was staring me in the face. The plan of God is that we teach our children to observe the Way of Yehovah. Every morning and evening for the past year I recited the words of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41). In both of the passages from Deuteronomy there is a statement that we should teach these things to our children. It finally sunk in. The very roots of Abrahamic Faith are to pass these teachings along to our children. I have taught people over the internet that I have never met. My classes have reached those in other states and even other countries, but I have not invested the same amount of time and energy into my own family.

I have been doing some soul searching of late and it has caused me to reevaluate my priorities. This is why I am writing this letter. I feel a need to inform all of you of the decisions that are the result of my evaluation.
 
In a nut shell, I need to re-direct until I can bring things back into a proper balance.
 
So what does this mean for you and for what we have begun at Roots of Faith. I insist and desire that things continue along the path that we have begun. My friends and “extended family” at Roots of Faith will continue to meet every Sabbath in the synagogue. Remember that Acts 15:21 says that Moses of old hath THEM that preach him every Sabbath in the synagogue. I have stressed to my group that this is not, nor should it ever become the Ross Nichols Show. Yes, I love to teach and will do so again, but have to prioritize things. The Roots of Faith family is full of mature and seeking souls that desire to study to show themselves approved unto God. This is an excellent opportunity for some of the natural leaders to step forward. I would ask that those of you who have been part of the synagogue without walls to continue to log in and listen every Saturday morning at 10:30 Central and even join in the dialogue that the group has made a part of what this is all about. It remains on track with the vision that I feel God gave me early on. To my knowledge there is no place that allows people to openly participate in the ancient art of dialogue. I have not abandoned them or any of you. I will be in close communication with my local group often. They have all become my closest friends in the world and we now love and respect each other deeply.
 
As for me, I will seek to restore some balance in my home life. I want to take a deep breath, sweep my wife off her feet again (she probably wants me to begin in the kitchen with the broom), re-connect with my family and in the process I know in my heart that the movement will be advanced in many ways. By living the Torah way and walking it with my family I will establish a model (with God’s help) that I can then share with all who care to learn. I am to make this my new focus. The Roots of our Faith are tied closely with families following the Way of Yehovah!
 
I will continue to think globally but must make things right in my own tent first. I hope to find time to send out study notes on the weekly lessons, participate more in the Dialogue list, and even make some audio and video teachings from time to time.
 
I hope and pray that you all understand my reasons for pulling back for a while. By allowing me this time, I will be able to be part of what God is calling this generation to do. The last verses of Malachi are most instructive in this regard. We are told to remember the Torah of Moses, and informed that Elijah will return before the coming great and terrible day of Yehovah to turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to the fathers. The result of not uniting the heart of fathers with sons brings a curse. I seek to re-unite my heart with the hearts of my wife and children – as well as the rest of my family.
 
Thanks to all of you for your continued support of what is going on in the synagogue without walls. Please continue to support this ministry. I will keep you posted. In the meantime, I will be posting some video teachings from our archives of past teachings on the new Bible teaching network (www.Arba4.com). I have a video up now and we are currently working on editing enough video for the next several weeks. If you have not checked this site out, I encourage you to do so. I also have some upcoming speaking engagements that I will be telling you about as the time approaches.
 
I pray that balance and harmony become a focal point for all of us. The results have the potential to change the world – one family at a time. I will teach my children to pray and show them what a good and Godly family man looks like.
 
Much shalom and many blessings – from my study, Ross Nichols

]]> http://rootsoffaith.org/2008/01/19/family-first.htm/feed 0 Roots of Faith Celebrates Hanukkah http://rootsoffaith.org/2006/12/15/roots-of-faith-celebrates-hanukkah.htm http://rootsoffaith.org/2006/12/15/roots-of-faith-celebrates-hanukkah.htm#comments Sat, 16 Dec 2006 04:53:08 +0000 Ross Nichols http://rootsoffaith.org/blog-and-podcasts/2006/12/15/roots-of-faith-celebrates-hanukkah.htm  

On Friday night @ 7:00 PM, December 15th, the congregation gathered at the synagogue to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah.

It was a very special service as the Morgan family acted out the story of Hanukkah.  Chris read the story as the Morgan boys (Tanner, Collin, Garrett, Dillan, and Jarred), dressed in constumes that their mom had made, put on a star performance.  Sheree played music on the keyboard during the service.  Everyone enjoyed the show and then Sheree gave a talk on the significance of this festival for believers.

I wish you all could have been there.  We look forward to many more services by the Morgan Family!

]]> http://rootsoffaith.org/2006/12/15/roots-of-faith-celebrates-hanukkah.htm/feed 0 7 Days Under the Stars http://rootsoffaith.org/2006/10/14/7-days-under-the-stars.htm http://rootsoffaith.org/2006/10/14/7-days-under-the-stars.htm#comments Sat, 14 Oct 2006 14:25:28 +0000 Ross Nichols http://rootsoffaith.org/podcasts/2006/10/14/7-days-under-the-stars.htm This past week (October 7th-October 13th / 15 Tishri to 21 Tishri), my sons and I camped out underneath the stars to fulfill part of the command given by the hand of Moses in the Torah concerning the Festival of Tabernacles (Succoth).  I have studied this and other commandments for years but have always had excuses as to why I could not sleep in the outdoors for the full week.  Never again!

The moon was full when the festival began.  This is by design and every year it is the same.  This festival is one of the three Annual Pilgrimage Festivals.  For further study, please read Exodus 23:14-17; 34:23-24; Deuteronomy 16:16-17.  The weather was absolutely perfect and the view of the moon and the stars was breathtaking!

We saw shooting stars, told Bible Stories and just had a wonderful time together.  This week under the stars was the best week’s sleep that I have ever experienced.  I truly believe that I have never felt closer to my sons or to God.

The Festival is meant to point back to the Exodus and Passover which also takes place in the middle of the month and so it too is shined upon by the full moon, and also forward to a time when God will once again cause His people to dwell in booths.

As a result of this time with God, I felt a closeness and communion that I have never felt. I can say without reservation that my life was forever changed and I would venture to say that so were my boys.  I intend to host conferences each year and invite others to participate in these festivals with us beginning next year. Stay tuned for announcements on this front.

One of the thoughts that hit me in the tent this week comes from the book of James – the brother of Jesus. Read it for yourself in James 1:22-25.  I am a believer.

]]> http://rootsoffaith.org/2006/10/14/7-days-under-the-stars.htm/feed 0 A Family Wedding http://rootsoffaith.org/2006/10/02/a-family-wedding.htm http://rootsoffaith.org/2006/10/02/a-family-wedding.htm#comments Tue, 03 Oct 2006 03:50:13 +0000 Ross Nichols http://rootsoffaith.org/podcasts/2006/10/16/a-family-wedding.htm On October 2nd, I had the honor of performing the Wedding Ceremony for my sister Jessica and her husband Bob.  The wedding was performed in the Synagogue which made it extra special for me. 

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