I can't speak for Yada (YY's author), of course, but my modus operandi (in FH and TOM) is to compel you guys to NOT take my word for anything, but rather do your own research---and your own thinking. So if I'm quoting somebody, I'll list the source in situ, but if its a significant historical tidbit I ran across in my travels (such as Bar Kochba's revolt commencing in a Jubilee year, 133, for example) I'll leave it up to you to confirm my information on your own. That's what Google is there for. Actually, though, there's very little of that sort of thing going on in my books. I explain Hebrew and Greek word meanings all the time, but all of that is based on the standard reference works and lexicons, available to anybody. And if I actually quote a source, I always list it.

All I'm really bringing to the party is whatever insight the Spirit provides to let me explain how these facts (if they are facts) fit the scriptural picture overall. In other words, I'm not just reguritating somebody else's opinions. Frankly, a lot of what I've written (especially in TOM) I've never heard anybody say---and I've been listening hard for a long, long time. But I'm not writing scripture here (though I quote a ton of it). The conclusions are my own. There's nothing to footnote. If you find them helpful, then use them. If not, then don't.

(And if you find my opinions of no value, I'll even give you your money back. Oh, wait---it's all free. I'll let you guys decide whether that means "worthless" or "priceless" :-)

kp

Thank you for the replies. I appreciate it.

I am feeling some definite uneasiness about leaving Christianity behind (which I guess is pretty easy to see). Thus, my wanting to know where all of this info comes from. Plus, I don't want to lead others astray with the wrong things, you know? I want to be really sure. And I also don't want to just use the internet to find evidence to back up yall's claims, but actual credible scholars. Actually, I guess I should say "credible" scholars. Good research, bad conclusions. The narrow path is REALLY, really narrow...

The worst part is that I feel this is all right, I feel that what you guys generally say lines up with scripture, but I don't feel I could adequately defend these claims myself. And as someone who comes from the evangelical/pentecostal/charismatic movement, I am intimately aware with the difference between feeling something is right, and it actually being so.

But basically, I guess I just needed a place to start. So thanks for that. I received a good list of books from James on a different topic of mine, as well as the advice to learn Hebrew. Good in my book.

So, any advice on how to start that? I'm thinking something a little cheaper than the Logos package to start off with (especially since I don't have a computer of my own yet). Something where I could learn biblical Hebrew, the alphabet, some words, pronunciations, some basic grammer and culture. Anything like that out there?

Again, thanks guys. I've learned a lot.

http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/ is a place that J&M recommended me. It has you reading pretty quick tbh - I need to spend some more time there :)

Y777,
I agree with the suggestion to begin a list of sources we all might use to confirm what we read here. My most used tool is just the regular old search engine. But I also have bookmarked and regularly use:

- Study Light lexicons: http://www.studylight.org/lex/
- Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/
- Biblos study tools: http://biblos.com/
- Sacred Scriptures Family of Yah edition (restores Yahweh's name): http://www.wordofyah.org/scriptures/
- Ancient Hebrew Research Center, including a Word of the Day Archive where I found a great definition of the wonderful word "asher": http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/word/archive.html

Yada's list in the first chapter is overwhelming to me ... I often tell myself I need a cp (common person) version of Yada and KP - including that resource list. I run into frustration when the tools I use to look up a word have a different spelling than what Yada uses, maybe due to vowel pointing? In the beginning, I was so frustrated not being able to confirm that term "Yshayah'el" - God exists as man. I still haven't found it in any study tool, but can't seem to stay too long on any one issue/word - there's so much to read/absorb. You can email Yada at the email@yadayahweh.com address.

I have had little success encouraging Christian friends/family to seriously consider this website. They either don't have the time or don't seem to follow/appreciate the indepth amplifications. And with the soul shaking/grieving that happens when people begin to discover that almost all they thought to be true is false - or a clever counterfeit - these things can just put people over the top. One site that I think does a good job to gently begin the journey is www.hisnameisyahweh.org.

Thanks for beginning this topic. We can all benefit from one another's study habits and tools.

I hope you are better at it than me! lol (I forget the alphabet almost as soon as I have learnt it...)