The Hebron Herald

This weekend we gathered here at Hebron to praise and be encouraged and strengthened.  To spend Shabbat with those you love and are journeying the same path with is an immense blessing and privilege.  I would much rather be with a small number of like-minded people who I know love and support me than be with any number of people who do not journey the ancient paths and only tolerate me.  Although I'm sure even though these precious people do have to tolerate me at times, I know it's done with love and understanding! Spring has been a very dry and hot season this year, being more like summer.  Despite the heat this band of intrepid sojourners completed a few chores the following day. Neal and Christina extending the fenced yard to  incorporate the new beaut clotheslines Brendan and his apprentice marking out the new sheep yards. John welded extra height to the sheep panels and did some essential maintenance. I love being and eating o...

Psalm 111 Halleluyah ! I will wholeheartedly give thanks to  YHVH in the council of the upright and in the assembly. The deeds of  YHVH  are great, greatly desired by all who enjoy them. His work is full of majesty and splendour, and his righteousness continues forever. He has gained renown for his wonders. YHVH is merciful and compassionate. He gives food to those who fear him. He remembers his covenant forever. He shows his people how powerfully he works by giving them the nations as their heritage. The works of his hands are truth and justice; all his precepts can be trusted. They have been established forever and ever, to be carried out truly and honestly.   He sent redemption to his people and decreed that his covenant should last forever. His name is kadosh and fearsome: the first and foremost point of wisdom is the fear of YHVH; All those living...

It's been an eventful week so it's only appropriate that I share it with you.   We had a windy few days that created some chaos but fear not..... ...we shall rebuild! Honey is referred to throughout scripture as a blessing, provision and wisdom from the Father so it's only appropriate that Hebron should have this symbol of love.   Finding a beekeeper who was willing to part with a hive, or even a new swarm, was proving difficult so I ordered two nuc (junior) hives from a Kangaroo Island beekeeper.  The KI Ligurian bee is a pure Italian breed and has a reputation for being resilient and calm, attributes that all Hebronites should have! We bought two new bee boxes and I'll be transferring them over tomorrow to give them room to produce more bees.  I've had lots of experience working around bees and extracting honey but never worked the hives themselves so this will be quite an education.   Our gum trees are flowering at the mom...

Part of Hebron's purpose is to provide a setting for us to keep YHVH's feasts and Sukkot is the highlight of the year.  People come and go as they are able but this small expression of Yeshua's body endeavour to honour YHVH and His ways and let the hills ring out with praises. Our week together was filled with fellowship and fun, prayer and praise, love and laughter.  No one could ever accuse us of being ritualistic or highly traditional but our times of scripture, prayer and praise take pre-eminence during the week. *  *  *  *  * *  *  *  *  * *  *  *  *  * We had time to enjoy a picnic and cricket match ...  *  *  *  *  * We can be a competitive mob so a few competitions were in order as well .... *  *  *  *  * Commodore Sharkey spearheaded the inaugral pop-pop boat race and set a standard of excellence in nautical design. * ...

It's all systems go as we prepare for Sukkot so just a few pictures and words this time ... We employed a team of pavers to lay the pavers for our barbeque area ... .... and Neal is installing protective fencing to shield against the winds. A path and playground is being completed to create a garden area. A lamb and an older ewe went off to be slaughtered and dressed in preparation for the upcoming barbeques and roasts. The pine nut trees I planted 7 years ago are producing their first pine cones so I'm pretty excited to see how they develop. Sukkot begins in a couple of days and it will be a time of celebration, fellowship, reflection and worship.  I will update the blog every couple of days so that those who aren't able to be here at Hebron with us will be able to follow what we've been up to. We may not 'do' the festivals perfectly, but we come with grateful hearts to honour YHVH and His ways, testifying of the truth ...

resilience rɪˈzɪlɪəns/ noun 1 . the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity. 2 . the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. (cue sentimental inspirational poster image...) ________________________________________________________________________________ If there's one lesson we can learn from the heroes of the faith it is righteous resilience.  We do not see in scripture declarations that all will be sunshine and lollipops when we come into the Truth, but rather, we see examples of how to be faithful amidst adversity.  Comfortingly we also see examples of how to get up, brush yourself down and get on with it after falling flat on your face! Mm, not much dignity in a face plant.... During the last couple of sabbath gatherings we have been looking at what Yeshua taught about the days that were to come.  Here in the western world we are blessed to live in a culture that ...

Warning: A sentimental post ahead ..... I've always liked the verse in Psalm 68 where the psalmist says " YHVH is... a father to the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is Elohim in His kadosh habitation.  YHVH makes a home for the lonely..."   He didn't put the lonely, single or isolated person in a building, a church or a program, he placed them in a home to be part of a family.  As has been said before, there is protection and nourishment in our togetherness.  It's a healthy and natural need for us to desire to love and be loved; to know and be known.  In a busy world filled with distractions I know how easy it is to forego the time required to develop deep relationships based on a common love for YHVH, His ways and His people. Most times it's only Shabbat that I can actually gather with everyone and this is one of the primary reasons I jealously guard this special day. I see it as an immense privilege to be part of this small fellowship. ...

This week has seen one of the items ticked off my to-do list.  I've wanted to have poultry since we moved here but there wasn't enough shelter, resources or manpower to create the infrastructure required.  Trees had been planted and are now providing ample shelter, a chicken coop was gifted and I've been collecting bits of chicken wire from here and there so all it required now was a bit of initiative, which was provided in the form of two ducklings. It may not be the prettiest or strongest structure but it will do the job just fine for now and hopefully it will be enough to keep the foxes at bay.  Four chickens have now joined the menagerie and the ducks are doing their best to keep them in check. I do have grand plans of creating more space so that we can produce enough eggs for everyone, as well as raising meat chickens.  So many plans, so little time! This week we also had an untimely and unfortunate death of one of our ewes.  It was quite unex...

Genesis 24:63 (NASB) 63  Isaac went out  to  [ a ] meditate in the field toward evening; and  he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming. I wonder what Isaac was thinking and doing as he went out to the fields.  Was he thinking about the day that had been or was he considering what the future held?  Was he conversing with his Creator or was he simply enjoying the stillness that comes with dusk?   A few of us enjoying a meal together After the busyness of our time together here at Hebron I enjoy reflecting on our time together and how it has benefited my soul and relationships.  It can be easy to just focus on what was physically achieved but it can often be at the expense of what is eternal.   This shabbat we looked at Yeshua's teaching on the resurrection and considered how this differed from traditionally held beliefs.   Carol and Trevor keeping their screens company Being challenged to ...

Two newcomers have joined us here at Hebron and the father and son team will help grow the flock.  In fact the 3 year old elder leapt out of the trailer and took off to cause mayhem amongst the girls as soon as the gate was opened.  The younger one had an initial case of separation anxiety (he was hand raised) but he's blended in well now. We also had a visit from an intrepid team of tree loppers pruning a couple of our big red gums running under the power line.  This fearless trio requested that they access Bidgebar's pines from our middle paddock and my permission came at the cost of a truck load of mulch.  Unfortunately they decided to take the low soggy road along the fence line and promptly got themselves seriously bogged.  But never fear, our trusty John Deer went into action and after some slipping and sliding managed to extract them. This weekend we will be gathering together up here at Hebron on Shabbat.  It will also be New ...