A Bit About Me - For Starters

Blessed art Thou, O Lord our G-d, King of the Universe who has returned my soul to me this Morning. Great is Thy faithfulness to me!
Amen.

Shalom! I'm excited that you have found my blog and will be journeying with me on my great adventures. Let me introduce myself:

I was born in the island of Cyprus and my family is of the tribe of Levi. My parents named me Joseph. I received my education in the Law and the Lord at Jerusalem from the great teacher Gamaliel. Such honor I brought to my parents! They were bursting with pride at how I applied myself to my studies, my devotion to the Law and to living an upright life. I was pleased with myself for strictly observing all the feasts, and avoiding 'youthful distractions'. I didn't always fit in with the other boys, but I did have a particular friend and fellow student that I connected with. That was Saul - or as many know him these days as "the Apostle Paul".

My life changed forever the first time I heard Messiah Yeshua HaMashiach - Jesus Christ. Seeing the Lord and hearing His Divine Words, my heart burned with conviction, but also with hope. He opened the eyes of my heart to what G-d's Law really means and so, filled with love for My Savior, I followed Him. Yeshua HaMashiach chose me to be one of His Seventy Apostles - what a calling! Praise G-d!

I ended up with a nickname - the other apostles got to calling me Barnabas. It's a constant challenge for me to be a humble man, but I will admit that this nickname pleased me greatly, because it means "son of encouragement". This type of ministry comes so naturally for me - to come alongside of others and counsel them, and encourage them. It's nice to have others to encourage me, too! We're really a family - though we are of many tribes. All of our time is spent together - eating, journeying, sitting at Yeshua HaMashiach's feet and learning from Him. It was only natural for me, then after He ascended to Heaven to remain with my spiritual family and continue to contribute to our needs - both spiritual and temporal. So, I sold land that I owned near Jerusalem and brought the money to the feet of the Apostles - I've given all I have to the Ekklesia. I didn't bother me to do it - Not at all! I was happy to because the Messiah is coming back soon!