Exploring Christianity from a Hebraic Perspective with The Briggs

Dear friend,

Yours truly, Martin & Kayla, have crafted this message with anticipation of connecting with fellow believers in Jesus like yourself. We share an appreciation for the Hebrew roots of our faith and a desire to explore the deeper connection between Christianity and the founding fathers of our faith in the 'Old Testament,' also known as the Tanach (comprising the books of law, the prophets, and collected writings).

The greatest day for any believer is the moment we find our savior Jesus and become grafted into his family as sons and daughters, as coheirs of his kingdom. Jesus stated in his word, Matthew 5:17-20:

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

When Yeshua stated he has come to fulfill the word, that means to us that the law or the instruction of the Old Testament was a gift from God in development from the time of Adam through the prophet John the Baptist. These Laws would be sealed and now fully ready for delivery to the world after the death and ultimately the resurrection of Jesus. For greater clarity, if we said we owned a 'fulfillment center', what would that mean? It is a place for something to be developed, packaged, and ready for delivery. That is exactly what Jesus meant when he said I have come to fulfill the law. Meaning before his time on Earth, the law was a gift from God being processed, developed from the time of Adam through John the Baptist. This new product is now sealed and delivered to the world for use. Which means, as he said, the law is not abolished but now ready for instruction and utilization. Therefore, it's crucial to understand that every 'New Testament' writer aimed not to abolish the law but to guide us in its practice.

With that being said, it is very important that Gentiles understand that it is us who are being grafted into the family of the Old Testament, from Adam through John the Baptist. We are meant to practice and worship God as He instructed the Kingdom of Israel. In your journey to reestablish the heritage of your forefathers, you will begin to explore the following practices:

• Abstaining from certain foods.
• Obedience to the Ten Commandments.
• Weekly Shabbat practiced from Friday evening through Saturday evening.
• The annual holidays appointed by God Himself, known as biblical feasts, include Passover, Shavuot (also known as Pentecost), and all the Fall festivals such as the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.

These four observances, coupled with the acceptance of Jesus as our eternal Lord and Savior, constitute what we perceive as the non-negotiables of faith. There are also a total of nearly 1,700 other commands that we are instructed to follow from Genesis to Revelation. Certainly, we believe the reason the Lord our God made so many commands is to emphasize that our righteousness will never be good enough to enter into the Kingdom of God without the blood sacrifice of Jesus.  According to the word of God,

'All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.' --Isaiah 64:6

While we are commanded to follow all the laws of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, it is impossible to do so entirely. This could be due to our lack of awareness of certain laws, our inability to adhere to them fully, or because we perceive some laws as irrelevant or unachievable in today's context. In any case, no one has or ever will fully comply with the letter of the law; we all fall short. Thus, we rely on the grace of Jesus to bridge the gap.  We can say that as you navigate your journey to find your walk with God through a Hebraic perspective, you will find the greatest controversies related to the following topics:

• Sexuality and marriage
• Defining the weekly Sabbath (Shabbat)    
• The practice of Easter, Halloween, and Christmas
• Dietary rules
• 'Law' vs 'Grace'  
• The sacrifice of circumcision 
• Outward expression of devotion to God including hair, makeup, and apparel styles

As each one declares our path of faith, we can guarantee you one thing: each person will have their own unique relationship with God, and no one is fit to judge anyone else's walk with God as better or lesser than their own.

The significance of the Jewish people

In ancient biblical times, the nation of Israel consisted of twelve family tribes, divided into northern and southern territories. The Northern region encompassed all the tribes of Israel except for two. Notably, the tribe of Judah, led by King David, functions as the patriarch of our familial heritage and the leader of the household, alongside Rueben, comprising the Southern part of the nation of Israel. The historical narrative reveals that while the tribe of Rueben remained united with Judah, tensions and disputes within the northern tribes precipitated a significant split. This division, fueled by deep-rooted disagreements, resulted in the separation of the ten tribes from the leadership of David's lineage. As a consequence, the once-united nation faced bitter strife, leading to the distinct separation of the other ten tribes from the tribe of Judah. Meanwhile, the Southern region, dominated by King David's tribe Judah, represents the lineage of King David and, consequently, the royal lineage culminating in King Jesus.

Approximately 124 years prior to the exile of the Southern Kingdom of Israel to Babylon, the other ten tribes of Northern Israel were dispersed globally. Consequently, any individual claiming descent from the Northern Kingdom is recognized as a citizen and part of the family of Israel, fulfilling the promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. As Genesis 15:5 states: 

'He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."'

Those identifying as Jews trace their heritage to the Southern Kingdom, thus carrying the responsibility of setting a pattern of worship for the world to follow. The Jewish people play a pivotal role in the ongoing development of the body of Christ on Earth. They are called to lead by example in all domains, including religion, politics, business, education, and beyond, guiding nations towards the light of the Lord.

The significance of the Jewish people resonates deeply in biblical accounts, particularly when Jesus, Himself a Jew, selected twelve Jewish men as His disciples to inaugurate the kingdom of heaven on earth. Their pivotal role is further accentuated by the inscription of their names on the twelve foundations of the eternal new Holy City of Jerusalem to come, as depicted in the book of Revelation. This underscores the perpetual responsibility of the Jewish people to guide the nations of the world towards the divine light of God.

As practicing Jewish individuals of faith recognize Jesus as their Messiah and impart teachings to others, they illuminate the path to God for all nations. It's crucial for nations to learn from the Jewish people's heritage and walk with God, rather than imposing different traditions onto them.

As Jewish believers set the example and embrace King Jesus, the Church moves closer to reflecting the vibrant community depicted in Acts 2. In this community, conversions flourish, and spiritual growth thrives amidst the backdrop of miracles, signs, and wonders. Notably, it's essential to recognize that each biblical leader and writer of the New Testament was deeply rooted in Jewish faith and tradition, ultimately embracing Jesus as the Messiah.

Exploring our journey back to the origins of our faith aims to honor the entirety of God's word and follow His instructions. It's essential to clarify that we are not attempting to adopt 'Jewish' customs or become Jewish. Instead, we are embracing the rich heritage of our Hebraic ancestry and teachings embedded within Scripture.

Resources to consider for next steps 

I.  Four Cups: God's Timeless Promises for a Life of Fulfillment, Author: Pastor Chris Hodges

Kayla's existing interest in exploring Hebrew Roots was further ignited by Pastor Chris Hodges' profound insights in "Four Cups." This book delves into the timeless promises of God, enriching our understanding of faith and fulfillment.

II.  The Mystery of the Shemitah, Author: Jonathan Cahn

Inspired by Dr. Martin Williams' teachings on the impact of the Shemitah cycle, we encountered Jonathan Cahn's profound insights into biblical prophecy. His books, "The Harbinger" and "The Mystery of The Shemitah," offer compelling revelations about God's patterns and promises.

III.  Celebrating Jesus in the Biblical Feasts: Discovering Their Significance to You as a Christian, Author: Dr. Richard Booker

Randall Burcham's encouragement led us to explore the significance of biblical feasts in our Christian walk. Dr. Richard Booker's insightful work deepened our understanding of how these feasts enrich our spiritual journey and relationship with Jesus.

IV.  Be One Ministries a Hebrew Institute and Teaching Ministry led by Rabbi Jeff and Sherri Friedlander

Our journey reached new depths through the teachings of Rabbi Jeff and Sherri Friedlander. Be One Ministries, encompassing the Hebrew Institute and their teaching ministry, has been most instrumental in shaping our understanding of Hebrew heritage and its relevance to our faith today.

V. Our Highest Recommendations for next Steps   

In moving forward on your exploration of the Hebraic path, we highly recommend starting with Rabbi Jeff Friedlander's insightful YouTube series, "S.O.P. According to G-d." These insightful teachings offer profound perspectives on living out our faith in alignment with God's divine principles.

May these resources be a guiding light as you embark on your own journey of discovery and faith.

Pass Through: A 90-Day Transformative Weight Loss and Vitality Plan

Embark on a 90-day journey to not only revitalize your overall well-being but also achieve significant weight loss. Commit to eliminating or significantly reducing the following:

1. 1. Dairy: Bid farewell to dairy including cheese to enhance respiratory health by clearing mucus and blockages in the nose and oral passages.

2. 
   

3. 2. Refined Foods: Say no to bread, pasta, fried, bakery, or battered foods, reducing inflammation, bloating, and shedding excess weight.

4. 
   

5. 3. 'White' Sugar: Eliminate 'white' sugar from carbonated beverages, candy, chocolate, and juices. This step promotes detoxification, aiding in weight loss.

6. 
   

7. Generally, any food packaged or containing more than 3-5 ingredients is likely counterproductive to achieving a transformative impact on health. Refraining from pork and shellfish is spiritually beneficial.

Welcome Foods:

Embrace a nourishing diet crafted by the natural design of G-d, incorporating

• Fruits
• Rice
• Potatoes
• Grains
• Oats
• Nuts
• Beef
• Poultry
• Vegetables

For optimized weight loss and gut girth reduction, consider a mindful reduction in fruit and starch intake.

Beverages:

Water is your best option for hydration. If needed, you can also enjoy non-sweetened tea and coffee. When looking for a touch of sweetness, consider natural options like agave nectar.

Progressive Benefits:

• From my experience I have notice the following when I practice this 90-Day Transformation plan.
• 
  
• Day 30: Experience remarkable improvements in overall health and an initial boost in weight loss.
• Day 60: Observe a noticeable increase in fitness levels and continued weight loss.
• Day 90: Revel in a profound sense of restoration, fitness, vitality, and significant weight loss.

Note: Individual outcomes may differ due to variations in dietary discipline, exercise routines, and overall bodily functions. For optimal results, I recommend strict adherence to The Pass Through plan for one quarter of every year—three months consecutively. Additionally, strive to maintain it as your foundational diet for the rest of the year as much as possible

Biblical Solutions: Living Healthy in a Virus Ridden Land, a video teaching series by Rabbi Jeff Friedlander, offers valuable spiritual insights to complement the Pass Through journey.

- Written by:

Martin A. Briggs

Special thanks to my wife Dr. Kayla L. Briggs and so many other advisors for helping me to reach these conclusions to improved health.

2 Sam 7 - The Key of David

These scriptures are the Key of David and are the inheritance of the kings of Jesus.  

Revelation 1:6; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 3:7; 2 Samuel 7:11-16; Mt. 26:17–30, Mk. 14:12–26, Lk. 22:7–39, Jn. 13:1–17:2

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches

This promise to the kings of the Kings of Kings king Jesus can be said to any of them in their name.   

“‘I the Lord declare to you, KMBriggs, that I the Lord myself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish your kingdom.  KMBriggs, you will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of your kingdom forever.  I am your father, and you are my son and daughter. When you do wrong, I will punish you with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my mercy will never be taken away from you, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from your forefather King David.  Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”

Notes for celebration:   

Passover Sunday, March 27th & 28th through Saturday, April 3 

Easter is Sunday, April 3

Q2 - 21 Quarterly Market Thursday, April 8th

Jewish Calendar, Calendar in general 

Please Please I can't Breathe Your Knee is my Neck

According to Revelation 19:11-13 the Bible says 

With justice, the Word of God judges and wages war.

or put another way 

With righteousness, the Word of God judges and makes war.

There are people screaming all over the world everyday Please Please I can't Breathe Your Knee is my Neck.  

Are we searching for them?  When we see them are we judging their lives through the lens of the word of God?  Are we actively fighting injustice with justice?  

Leading with an eye for Justice 

The challenges the oppressed face the most are not in fact the ones causing abuse.  The greatest foe are Christians that do not carry at all times an active eye of justice.  Actively seeking areas in their personal lives of injustice.  Looking for injustice within their own homes, within their church, within your work and school arenas, within their community, and then the world around them.   Satan is placing his knee on the neck of many people and you do not need to look far to identify injustice and use the 'privilege' the Lord our God has given you to step in and free a person from harm.  

Waging War with the Word of God

With your active eye judging the entire world around you it is important to wage war with the oppressor using the Word of God.  Far too often we judge the world around us using an earthly perspective.  In the case of George Floyd, the officers judged him as a criminal who is a drug addict.  Although those things are possibly true that is not the frame of reference one should wage war with.  Had they used the Word of God as their place of waging war they would have first seen Mr. Floyd as a child of God worthy of salvation and redemption.  

Let us rise as a Church body and actively seek people in our homes, in our schools, in our places of work, in our communities, and in our world that Satan has placed a spiritual knee of affliction, abuse, or oppression.  Let us wage war against all forms of injustice using the living Word of God as our weapon to tear down evil strongholds in our homes and communities. 

Satan get your knee off their neck in Jesus name!  

enclosure

Four Powers – C SD M Mitigation Industry

CONCEPTION - The conception of the ULECx Market occurred in the winter of 2004 at 1112 North 40^th Street Suite #1 Omaha, NE 68131.  A vision appeared to Martin & Kayla Briggs and together, on a snowy day, they mapped a collage made of magazine clippings to express the meaning of the vision.  From that day forth, Martin and Kayla committed their lives to successfully establishing the foundation of ULEC Exchange. 

KM Briggs Dream Wall Winter of 2004

STRATEGY - C SD M Organized Services: The ULECx Market is a for-profit investment entity organized to respond to the four powers of the Pale Horse Rider and the hell that follows him: “the sword, famine, pestilence, and the wild beast of the earth” 

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.  (Rev 6:7-8)

These four biblical forces 'sword', 'famine', 'plague', and 'wild beasts' are present on the Earth and will continue to rapidly increase over time.  We call these forces the 'four powers' and have given each force a name to help define a mitigation industry with the acronym of CSDM:   

1)     Conflict - a fight, battle, or struggle, especially a prolonged struggle; strife

2)     Scarcity – severe shortage, want, lack, paucity even up to the point of death 

3)     Disease – a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.

4)     Murder – lethal beings of all kinds including humans, animals, insects, plants, etc 

There are at least three ways Christians will thrive both on the earth and maintain spiritual harmony with heaven in a CSDM environment:   

1)     Peacemaker  - services include dispute management, defensive protection, organizational consolidation services, health & human services etc

2)     Gateway – connector (or communications of) material and non-material resources

3)     Supplier – operations that address, organize, maintain, manage, store, restoration, and/or dispose of the byproduct of CSDM will have the greatest economic returns.  In general, the supplier role will be the least challenging to maintain and will endure over a long period of time.       

FOCUS: The KMBriggs strategy to develop the world’s most influential organization is limited to geographic parameters and to the gates of CSDM within the realm of Health and Human Services. The core of our geographic emphasis is Birmingham, AL with plans to expand to the state lines of Alabama.  Our growth strategy firmly entails establishing CSDM Organized Services within the realm of Health and Human Services to the point of saturation within the region of Birmingham, AL.  We will slowly move outward toward the state borders.  Upon accomplishing such the aforementioned goals within Alabama, we will concentrically expand our network beyond state borders.  There is far greater value in fostering CSDM market penetration and saturation in tightly focused geographic areas with circumferential growth, over an interest in broadly dispersed geographic locales and industry diversification.  Our father Joseph the Vizier of Egypt ruled the earth without leaving his thrown.  The world came to him.   

MIRACLES:  The ULECx Market will successfully manage and reap from CSDM through the power of miracles given to us by the grace of the Pishon Spring.  The Fathers Grace abounds upon us from the sacrifices we submit before His anointed son the Lord of the Gihon Spring.  We shall return to the King of Havilah all power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise!  We shall thrive and abound with youthful vigor to the very day the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack us, and overpower and kill us in the year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 3834 A.D.   

*Miracle - an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the fifth horse rider named Word of God and Lord of Lord and King of Kings who is sovereign over all things.  Praise God that in all seasons no power has ever or will ever be greater than The Word of God.     Revelation 19:11-16  

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords. 

Book Reflection: Buffettology by Mary Buffett and David Clark

- the very wealthy are different from you and me...the oddest being the code of silence that they demand of family and friends page 15

- like any sophisticated collector, was very careful about the price he was willing to pay for one of those trophy businesses.  In fact, the price for the business absolutely determined whether he would buy it. page 18

- In the process I will become, like Warren, an intelligent investor.  page 19 

- Folly and discipline are the key elements of Warren Buffett's philosophy of investing - other people's follies and Warren's discipline.  pge 21

- Warren is the only billionaire who made it to the Forbes list of four hundred richest Americans solely by investing in the stock market. pg 21

- Determining a business's intrinsic value is a key to deciphering Warren's investment philosophy.  To Warren the intrinsic value of an investment is the projected annual compounding rate of return the investment will produce.  page 22

- It is this projected annual compounding rate of return that Warren uses to determine if the investment makes business sense.  What Warren is doing is projecting a future value for the business, say, ten years out; then he compares the price he going to pay for the business against the business's future, projected value, and the length of time required for the business's future, projected value, and the length of time required for the business reach that projected value.  pg 23

- Warren focuses on the predictability of future earnings; and he believes that without some predictability of future earnings, any calculations of a future value is mere speculation, and speculation in an invitation to folly.  page 23

- Warren's great secretes for successful investing from a business perspective are
1) predictable earnings
2) favorable economies
3) consistent factors
4) purchase price
5) price patience
6) expect 15%+ annual pounding ROI
7) OPM - others people's money   

https://www.nerdwallet.com/banking/calculator/compound-interest-calculator

- investment is most intelligent when it is most businesslike page 27

- He will discus the details of his philosophy only with members of his family and inner circle.  To the rest of the world he feeds tidbits, and then only enough to pique interest.  page 29

- Warren is also willing to hold a stock forever as long as the economies of the business remain at least the same as when he bought it.  This ensures that he will benefit from the compounding effect of the retained earnings.   It ensures also that he will avoid the profit-eroding taxes that would be imposed if he sold his investment. page 30

- a business perspective on investing is more about discipline than philosophy, and once the concept is understood, it demands absolute devotion... It is a discipline that tends to tell the investor as much if not more what not to buy as to what to buy.  page 31

- a business venture that you anticipate will in five to ten years produce for you an annual compounding rate of return of 15% or better page 32

- You will learn that diversification is something people do to protect themselves from their own stupidity, not because of investment savy page 32

- You will learn that a $1,500 per share stock may be cheap and a $2 stock may be grossly expensive page 32

- It means that one stops thinking of the stock market as as end unto itself and begins thinking about the economies of ownership of those businesses that the common stock represent page 33

- But common stocks are in fact tangible representations of the equity owner's interest in a particular business page 33

- Warren's chief idea is to buy excellent businesses at a price that makes business sense...making business sense means that the venture invested in will offer you, the investor, the highest predictable annual compounding rate of return possible with the least amount risk.   page 33

- So if a company earns $5 a share and Warren owns one hundred share of the company, he is of the opinion that he just earned $500 ($5 x 100 = $500)...he also believes that the company has the choice of either paying that $500 out to him via a dividend or retaining those earnings and reinvesting them for him, thus increasing the underlying value of the company.  page 35

- In the early eighties the stock of Warren's holding company, Berkshire Hathway, traded at $500 a share.  Today it trades at around $45,000 a share, and it still has never paid a dividend. page 35

- Warren believes also that since dividends are taxed as personal income, there is a tax incentive to letting the corporation retain all its earnings page 36

- Warren places a great amount of weight on the quality of a company's management when he makes his investment decisions.  page 37

- A $10 per share asking price for the company's stock against annual net per share earnings of $2 a share equates to a rate of return of 20%.  Understand, though, that the integrity of the calculation is wholly dependent upon the predictability of the company's earnings. 

- In real life, if you were to buy a local business you would want to know how much it earned each year and how much it was selling for.  With those two numbers you could calculate the annual rate of return on your prospective investment by simply dividing the business's yearly earnings by its asking price page 38

- The price you pay determines your rate of return page...the higher the price, the lower the rate of return.  The lower the price, the higher the rate of return.  Pay more, get less.  Pay less, get more page 40

- We can even figure out the annual compounding rate of return on an investment if we know (1) the present value, (2) the future value, and (3) the holding period of the investment.

- Three variables when using Warren's system
1) the yearly per share earnings figure
2) its predictability
3) the market price of the security page 42 

My Character Development During Quarantine

From February 14th through May 15th, 2020 by the power of the Holy Spirit, I was homebound and quarantined due to suffering a high ankle sprain that included a tibia fracture.  During that same time period the entire world was quarantine due to COVID-19.  In those three months of isolation, I was able to face spiritual baggage I was carrying and make adjustments in my character and habits that otherwise would not have been so readily addressed. 

I am thankful that I was able to identify areas of darkness that lurked in my soul that has been removed and replaced with a greater Spirit of worship.  Kayla and I had lengthy discussions regarding my working so many hours as I was commonly working until 7PM each night.  Also, my cell phone was constantly with me and I checked in with it almost every 10 minutes during just about every waking hour.  These challenges were destroying the quality of time I was spending with my wife.  We have addressed all those concerns and I truly feel that we are so much healthier because of the quarantine.   

My pastor Chris Hodges spoke a message entitled Building Healthy Emotions that really helped me to clearly see the path I needed to take to escape the challenges I was facing and the spiritual direction the Lord wanted time to travel.  

Pastor Chris list three pillars to obtain optimal success and fulfillment.  He likens these principals as stages of building a strong house: 

1. The foundation of relationships and connectedness.

2. The structure of purpose and routines

3. The beautifying of trust and self-control.

I will forever be grateful for these principals as I have rearranged the pattern of my life to optimize the quality of my relationships, the fruitfulness of my productivity, and honestly the quality and longevity of my health in general.  

Notable changes I have made include: 

- valuing relationships in general and having a greater sense of presence for everyone especially my beloved wife Kayla  

- waking up at 5AM on weekdays and spending the first hour of the day with the Lord our God Jesus the Holy Spirit whom I love the most     

- cutting off all work by 6PM Monday - Friday
- dedicating Monday's exclusively to marketing and sales 

- keeping my cell phone at a docking station when I am not working 

- to increase my presence I removed important obligations and relationships that were spreading me too thin    

Thank you so much dear Lord I am forever thankful for you and am so grateful for my relationship with you.

Sincerely,

Martin