Today, June 15th, marks the 20th anniversary of getting baptized and committing my life to Jesus. The following story is how I went from bass guitar to shofar. 

I grew up with a love for music. I would spend hours at my local record store. Before graduating high school, I was playing bass guitar for a rock band in the night clubs of downtown Atlanta. We recorded albums and our music was played on college radio stations. As well as playing music, I started making and selling musical instruments like Didgeridoos. Music was my life, and I didn’t have any room for God.

While working for an audio & video company that provided space for a cable access show, I met my wife who came in as an intern for the show. We hit it off very quickly and through a series of events she helped me become a believer in Jesus.
 A few days after making my profession of faith and getting baptized on Father’s Day 2003, I opened the Bible and started reading the book of Ephesians. For the first time in my life the words of the Bible were alive and active, speaking to my spirit and soul like nothing I had ever experienced. I realized that something had changed within me and now I know it’s what Jesus spoke of in John chapter 3 when He said, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”. He has filled me with the Holy Spirit and has given me a burning passion for Him. I have received forgiveness for my sins and have been brought into a relationship with the creator of heaven and earth. The words and instructions of the Bible are alive to me. No longer are they black and white words on a page but words of living color as they now speak to my spirit and soul. Transforming my thoughts and actions in a way that can only be supernatural. Showing me how-to walk-in holiness and show love to others. No longer bound by unforgiveness, bitterness, addictions, or ungodly attitudes. Not only I, but untold millions of others have experienced personal revelation from God’s word after believing that Jesus died on a cross to pay the price for their sins and rose from the dead on the third day so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life and escape the judgment of hell.
 
After surrendering my life to Jesus, God gave me a passion to share His message with others. The Shofar has become a great witnessing tool for me.  After hearing stories of American missionaries sharing the Gospel in other countries by using musical instruments to gather crowds in public settings, I felt that God was telling me to use the Shofar for evangelism. This ancient Jewish instrument is a perfect conversation starter. I sound the Shofar, and as people take interest, I share its history and how it relates to Jesus. By using this tool, I have been able to share the Gospel with a multitude of people with diverse backgrounds. Almost everyone loves to hear the trumpet blast of the Shofar.

Now that I have been walking with Jesus for 20 years, I can say with extreme confidence, there is nothing in this world that compares to knowing God and following Him. I’ve experienced supernatural events that can only be the hand of God. I’ve seen His supernatural provision and healing. I’ve heard the testimonies of countless others that verify what the Holy Scriptures say and what I have experienced.

​It is my desire for you and everyone who reads this post to experience the transforming power and love that comes from a life devoted to Jesus.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2Corinthians 5:17  
​
Blessings,
Scott   

In various parts of the United States, you will find African Americans  who claim to be the original Israelites of the Bible. They believe  after their dispersion from the land of Israel, they came to America via  the trans-Atlantic slave trade of the 1600's. There are historical documents showing that some African American slaves have Jewish heritage, but to make the claim that only the descendants of North American slaves are the real Jews is not factual. Deuteronomy 28:68 is one  of their main proof texts for their assertions.

“And the LORD will take you back to Egypt in ships, by the way of which  I said to you, ‘You shall never see it again.’ And there you shall be  offered for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one  will buy you.” Deuteronomy 28:68
 
Please notice that the slaves in this passage were sent to Egypt, not  North America. As the slaves arrived no one bought them. However, the  slaves of the trans-Atlantic trade were bought and sold. Also notice that  in the same 28th chapter of Deuteronomy, it states that they will eat one another while being besieged at their gates and never find rest. North American slaves never had to eat one another and have found rest.

Many Black Hebrew Israelites will metaphorize Deuteronomy 28:68 and say that Egypt means ‘House of Bondage’ and that not being bought means ‘No Redemption’. If their interpretation is true, the curse is still in effect and the descendants of the disobedient Israelites are being cut off and dying without redemption or salvation (House of bondage with no redemption). This Chapter mentions being ‘Destroyed’ six times; Verse 20,24,45,48,51 & 61. This would answer the question ‘Why did the North America Israelites lose their Identity?’
  
 The Black Hebrew Israelites believe Caucasians are the descendants of  Esau and refer to them as Edomites. They justify their dislike for Edomites  based on scriptures referring to God’s love for Jacob and His hatred for  Esau. (Ref. Romans 9:13 & Malachi 1:2-3) However, in the Holy Scriptures,  which Black Hebrew Israelites claim to believe, God specifically refers to the Edomites as the brothers of the Israelites.

“You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother…”  Deuteronomy 23:7
’Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. “Thus says your brother Israel: ‘You know all the hardship that has befallen us’ Numbers 20:14
(Also see Obadiah 1:8-12)

Anyone who hates the Edomites (Israel’s Brother) will not inherit salvation.
​
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1John 3:15 
​
God can hate whoever He wants but He has commanded us to love and forgive our enemies. 
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, Matthew 5:44

Revelation chapter 5 reveals to us that God will make kings and priests  from people of every tribe, tongue and nation. (Ref. Revelation 5:9-10) However, Black Hebrew Israelites believe that Caucasians will be slaves  in the kingdom of God. There are no slaves in Christ Jesus according to Galatians 3:28,
 
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is  neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

The extreme views of the Black Hebrew Israelites that God will  grant salvation or favor to someone based on their genetic or racial  background is in direct contradiction to God’s proclamation in the  scriptures that He is no respecter of men but accepts anyone who fears Him.

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God  shows no partiality. “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works  righteousness is accepted by Him. Acts 10:34-35
“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on  all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times  and the boundaries of their dwellings, Acts 17:26               
where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised,  barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.  Colossians 3:11 

The Apostle Paul warns against making genealogies an issue.  

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings  about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Titus 3:9 

Black Hebrew Israelite teachings have led people to believe that Caucasian Jews of European descent are fake Jews. Israel has always been a multicultural mix race. Joseph married an Egyptian, Moses married an Ethiopian, a mixed multitude came out of Egypt (Exodus 12:38), Rahab the Harlot, Ruth the Moabite, many converts to Judaism from India to Ethiopia during the time of Esther (Esther 1:1 & 8:17), 32,000 Midianite virgins grafted into Israel (Numbers 31:35). God has always accepted converts from any nation including the nations of Europe. 

If the Israelites have always been a mixture, why is it hard to believe that there could be white Israelites today? 

Doctrines of hate against any group of people are not from God. He has called us to love our enemies.
Jesus died on the cross for all people, rose from the dead on the third day, so that whoever believes in Him and commits their life to Him will have eternal life with the Most High.     

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and  heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29  

We are saved by grace not by race! 

Greetings Everyone,
I hope this post will bring encouragement to all who read it as I share some ministry highlights from 2021. God opened the door for some amazing encounters this year. I was given the opportunity to witness to approximately 27 Mormons at various places from January to July. With Mormons, I normally start the conversation by sharing my salvation testimony. I highlight the fact that after surrendering my life to Jesus, God filled me with the Holy Spirit, opened my eyes to understand the Scriptures and set me on fire for Him. Then I will explain to them that all this occurred without ever reading the Book of Mormon. This approach always leads to very fruitful conversations.
 
So, the Mormons are still very active in my community. However, the Jehovah Witnesses have disappeared, except for a personal letter campaign. At the first of the year, I received 2 separate outreach letters from the Jehovah Witness. I responded to both with my testimony and an invitation to study the Scriptures with me. This led to a four-month weekly zoom meeting with multiple Jehovah Witness. I learned more about their beliefs and planted many seeds of truth to them. 

Unfortunately, I had to attend 2 funerals and 1 memorial service this year. As sad as it is to say goodbye to loved ones, these events are great witnessing opportunities. I find people to be extremely open to the Gospel and spiritual conversations at these services. 
I started working a new job this year, for a company with a very multi-cultural workforce. Thankfully, God has allowed me to share the Gospel there on breaks and after hours with many co-workers including 4 Muslims, a Black Hebrew Israelite and even a Christian that doesn’t believe in the trinity. 

I have also discovered a new question that opens the door for spiritual conversations during the Christmas season. Just ask someone “Are you ready for Christmas?” I had a lady respond with “No, I’m a Jehovah Witness”.
​
Blessings to you all in 2022 and remember that we plant and water, but God brings the increase.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.  So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 1Corinthians 3:6-8 
Love, Scott 

Welcome to Adventures in Witnessing. If you love talking to people about God
then chances are you will come across an anti-Semite, someone who is against the Jewish people. 

There are 2 lies that you will commonly hear about the Jewish people. 
1.  Jews control the world and are the instigators of most of the world’s problems.                 
2.  Most of the Jews today are not real Jews but imposters and these imposters are
     responsible for most of the world’s problems.

Before I address these, let’s look at what God’s Word says about Israel and the Jewish people. 

In Genesis 12:1-3 God says to Abram “I will make you a great nation… I will bless those who bless you,
and I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

For You have made Israel Your very own people forever. (Ref. 2 Samuel 7:24)

To Israel as an everlasting covenant,… I will give the land of Canaan… (Ref. Psalm 105:10-11)

The Lord will scatter Israel. (Ref. Jeremiah 31:10)

The Lord will bring them back to their land which He gave to their fathers. (Ref. Jeremiah 16:15)

Jerusalem will be a city of controversy. (Ref. Zechariah 12:2)

The Jewish messiah who is the savior of the world will return and stand on the Mount of Olives which
​faces Jerusalem. (Ref. Zechariah 14: 3-4)



So, God has chosen a unique people to be His very own people forever. He gave them their own land to
be theirs forever and He decided to reveal Himself to the world as a Jew, Jesus the Messiah. 

But now that Jesus has come, is God finished with the Jewish people?
Again, let’s look at what the Scriptures say… 

Has God cast away His people? Certainly not! (Ref. Romans 11:1)

To the Israelites pertain the service of God and the promises. (Ref. Romans 9:4)

Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for
the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. (Ref. Romans 11:28-29)

Do not be ignorant of this mystery… that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved… (Ref. Romans 11:25-26)

When the Messiah returns they will look on Him whom they pierced and mourn for Him and all Israel
will believe in Jesus. (Ref. Zechariah 12:10-11) 



​So, clearly God is not finished with His people. He has chosen them, made promises to them and has a
special purpose for them. 

Now what about the lies?
Let’s start with the one that says, ‘most of the Jews today are not real Jews but imposters and especially
those with European descent.’ They claim that these Jews are false converts whose blood does not go back
to Abraham. Here’s my issue with this claim; Abraham’s blood line has changed many times. Joseph married
an Egyptian, Moses married an Ethiopian, Israel took in 32,000 Midianite virgins, and don’t forget about
Rahab the harlot and Ruth the Moabite who are in the genealogy of Jesus. God has never had a problem
with gentiles becoming Israelites, which means the blood line has changed many times.
 
Another question that must be asked… Would God allow imposters to fulfill Biblical prophecy?
As in the case with the 1948 rebirth of the nation of Israel.   


Now, do the Jews control the world? Are they responsible for most of the world's problems? Let’s look at
the facts; Jewish people have suffered more persecution throughout the ages than any other people
group. Look at the way the UN treats Israel to this day. Even though being small in numbers, Jews have consistently risen to the top of society in awards, accolades, and achievements. God’s favor on the Jewish
people has preserved them and His Biblical principles have helped them succeed in almost ever country
where they have lived. This is one of the reasons why people lie about the Jews and the other reason
belongs to the devil. Satan tries to influence people against God’s chosen people. 

Now please heed this warning from the Scriptures,
’Do not boast against the branches (The Jewish people)… for you do not support the root, but the root
supports you…Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity,
but toward you goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
(Ref. Romans 11:18-22)

And to Abram He said, “I will make you a great nation… I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse
him who curses you.” (Ref. Genesis 12:1-3)


Now for the bottom line! God chose a people to be His very own people forever and we are not to
boast against them, but we are to love and support them. 

So, will you help me stand with Israel? 

Praying For The Lost...
After you have reached out to someone with the greatest news they will ever hear (The Gospel), start praying for them.

Pray that God will give them a dream. Many people, including myself, have come to faith as a result of a dream or vision.
 Job 33:15-18  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man; he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

Pray that God would bring them under conviction regarding sin, righteousness and the judgment to come.
Acts 24:25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."

Pray for those divine appointments where God brings someone else into their path to encourage them in the ways of the Lord.
Acts 10:22  And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say." 

Also, pray that God would open their heart to the message of His love.
Acts 16:14  One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

Pray for dreams, conviction, divine appointments and a move of God in the lives of others. 

Blessings, 
Scott 


  

    
When reaching out to Jewish people with the Gospel you will get a variety of responses from people with diverse Jewish backgrounds. First, let me bring some clarity on a point of confusion for some. Just like the very first followers of Jesus in the New Testament, there are Jewish believers in Jesus today called Messianic Jews. Although Messianic Jews represent a small percentage of Jews worldwide they are growing in number. It’s wonderful to worship and fellowship with Jewish believers.

I have encounter non-believing Jews with secular, mildly religious and very religious backgrounds. Many American Jews seem to have a negative view of Jesus so I try to put them at ease by saying “I’m a Christian that loves the Jewish people and I try to support Israel.” 

While doing outreaches with my shofar, Jewish people will approach me with excitement. I share with them how the Rosh Hashanah celebration and the shofar relates to Jesus. Many Jews find joy in the sound of the shofar and ask me to sound it repeatedly.

Most Jews are familiar with the ‘Passover’ and the ‘Binding of Isaac’ passages from the Bible. These are great scriptures to share and show how they point to Jesus the Messiah. Isaiah 53 is one of the most powerful messianic prophecies that has helped many Jewish people come to faith in Jesus.
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  Isaiah 53:5-6  

Whether it’s a secular or religious Jew you can always ask them my favorite spiritual question, “If you died tonight and God asked you, “Why should I let you into My kingdom?” What would your answer be?” Most people will tell you about their good deeds and then you can take them through the ‘good person test’ which we covered in ‘Adventures in Witnessing Volume Three.'

The following evidence was put together with help from the teachings of Dr. Michael Brown, showing from the Jewish scriptures and the Talmud that Jesus is the Messiah.

What every Jewish person should know about Yeshua
He is the most influential Jew in the history of the world. More people have come to know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob because of Him than any other Jew. He is a light to the nations. (Ref. Isaiah 49:6)  
Because of Him former atheists, agnostics, Muslims, Hindus, and all types of God haters from around the world have come to love the God of Israel and the Jewish people. Through Him Gentiles from around the world cherish the Hebrew Scriptures and are able to keep the ethical requirements of the Law. The reason we have a “Common Era- CE” and a “Before Common Era- BCE” is because of Him. (Ref. Isaiah 42:6)

What did the prophets say?
He was born where the prophets said...
Out of Bethlehem shall come the One to be Ruler in Israel. (Ref. Micah 5:2)
He suffered, died and rose from the dead just as the prophets said...
His hands and feet where pierced. They divided His garments among them. He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. He was cut off from the land of the living but His soul was not left in Sheol nor was He allowed to see corruption. (Ref. Psalm 22:1-18, Isaiah 53:1-12, & Psalm 16:10)

He lived the way the prophets said...
He preached good tidings to the poor, healed the brokenhearted and proclaimed liberty to the captives. (Ref. Isaiah 61:1-2)

He had to come before the destruction of the 2nd Temple
The Lord, suddenly came to the 2nd Temple to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity and bring in everlasting righteousness before its destruction. Haggai states that the glory of the 2nd Temple would be greater than the glory of the 1st Temple. The scriptures reveal that the Messiah had to come before the demise of 2nd Temple. ( Ref. Malachi 3:1, Daniel 9:24-26 & Haggai 2:7-9)

Yoma 39b
The Talmud states that during the Yom Kippur service in the Temple, a red thread would be tied to the doorway of the sanctuary. If the sacrifice was acceptable and Israel’s sins forgiven, then the thread would turn white. The Talmud shows that during the last 40 years of the 2nd Temple, this miracle ceased to occur and the thread would remain red.
Yeshua died and rose from the dead 40 years before the destruction of the 2nd Temple; this signifies that the sacrificial system was no longer effective and that another system for atonement had been established.    
 
The Forever Commandments
The priest shall make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year. It's an everlasting statute. (Ref. Leviticus 16:32-34)
If Yeshua is not the Messiah then God gave Israel commandments and left them without a way to keep them since there’s no standing temple. Yeshua is the Messiah and the Torah commandments are fulfilled in Him. Yeshua said: "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (Ref.Matthew 5:17)

Yeshua is Jesus
Yeshua took care of the sin problem by going to the cross and dying as the perfect sacrifice, paying the price for our disobedience. He rose from the dead so that whoever follows and confesses Him will have his name written in the Book of Life. He will return again to fulfill the remaining messianic prophecies, establish His kingdom and then be recognized by all the world as the Messiah. Jesus came the first time lowly and riding on a donkey. Died on Passover as the Lamb of God. Rose from the dead on the feast of firstfruits. He sits at the right hand of the Father and will return with the clouds of heaven as the trumpet sounds. (Ref. Zechariah 9:9, John 1:29, Luke 24:46,Psalm 110:1, Daniel 7:13 & Zechariah 9:14)

Yeshua the Messiah said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (Ref. John 14:6)

For more tips on Jewish evangelism go to www.realmessiah.com