Dear Fellow Believers,

This is the big day. Rodney and I are starting a new series today on the book of Hebrews. These hundred shows or so were recorded by Your's Truly in Windber, Pennsylvania between 2013 and 2014.

You will hear three shows today, each one a little less than 15 minutes in length.

Hebrews is a vital letter—helpful and practical—written to the Jews sometime between 64 and 69 AD. It was written by Paul to comfort his countrymen concerning the kingdom withdrawing from the front burner of expectation to the back burner of "you're going to have to wait a little longer, just like the heroes of faith of your history."

In Romans chapters nine through eleven, Paul explains to the nations what has happened to Israel. Paul explains this same thing to the Jews in Hebrews, though in far greater detail. In Romans, he simply gives the outline, yet here he delves into everything held precious by the Jews, especially the priesthood and their now-Messiah, Jesus Christ. He has arisen from the earth, but He will return. He will bring with Him a better covenant and a better priesthood than the old one they were used to. THAT covenant was earthly in nature, but this one would originate from heaven. Unlike the first, old covenant, this one would succeed in that God would put His law in the hearts of all worthy Israelites.

Jesus Christ replaces Aaron, Joshua, and Moses.

God inspired Paul to write Hebrews in answer to the question of the disciples in Acts 1:6 when they asked the Lord, "Are you at this time restoring the kingdom to Israel?" At that time, Jesus said, "It is not yours to know the times or the seasons." Here in Hebrews, through Paul, God gives them the times and the seasons.

I was really excited to see what Rodney would do with the beginning of this new series. He did not disappoint.

Personally, this was a difficult time in my life. I had moved to Windber, Pennsylvania from Colorado Springs at the invitation of Clyde Pilkington and his family following a devastating time for me, emotionally, in Colorado. I am not much adept at getting over emotional hurts. It takes me a long time. Whenever I have been devastated emotionally, I have always been saved by this work. It was no different in Windber.

I set up a little makeshift studio in one of Clyde's son's bedrooms and went there every afternoon at around 4 pm. to record. Besides the work, the only way I survived this time was by drinking wine. I never got drunk, but I shimmied up to the line every afternoon. I took a large glass of dry Cabernet cut with Manischewitz up to the recording room every afternoon after returning from a workout at the YMCA in Johnstown. I would drop off my gym bag at my apartment, walk over to Clyde's, pour a glass before going upstairs, tip the glass to Clyde (always at work in his office) and say, "Liquid courage."

And so I honestly confess to you here that I am under the influence of alcohol during the entire 2-month Hebrew series. But have a listen for yourself: it serves me well.

God gave us wine to make the heart of man glad (Psalm 104:15). It definitely helped me through this devastating, sad period. So: thank you, God.

And thanks to all of you for supporting this work then and now. You all have been such friends to me, through thick and thin, through hell and high water—as they say. I love you all.

I am remaining yours, now from the Floridan Peninsula. I expect the next move to be vertical.

Grace, peace, and love,

—Martin