Hey Native, I think what you are doing is awesome. I'd skip the advice about 'wait a couple of years'. Scripture says' Today is the day of salvation', not 'God has your number'. Also, there is freedom in Jesus. If you find yourself in a system of legalism and works/righteousness, run, run very fast. All these people here that think you should stay away from 'religion' and that you need your freedom, obviously have never experienced anything other than religious bondage. Jesus' yoke is easy and burden light and missing out on a relationship with God, or even postponing it would be, in my opinion, an unwise choice. I am glad for your post. Nice to see you :)
I have a friend on my Yahoo messenger list that is a Messianic Jew. She has basiclly said to me that it is not so much a denomination, as it is a movement. Do be careful becasue there is a group of them that is a cult and is a denomonation they are called the Messianic Communities, although they are technically Messianic jews, they are not part of the Messianic Jewish movement. Here is a link that addresses them both: http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/m00.html#messcomm
there are links there for you to also get more information.
The Jews for Jesus are indeed a specific ministry inside a larger group of "Messianic" or "completed" Jews. The J4J's have a distintively Baptist flavor and it was the Baptists that gave birth to the movement. If you're that interested look up a Messianic Congregation as opposed to the Jews for Jesus.
YERUSALYIM "Vanity! It's my favorite sin!" [Al Pacino as Satan, in "DEVIL'S ADVOCATE"]
I humbly suggest teaching them basic truths from the Bible that they can use to judge religious beliefs by. These types of truth are easy to teach because there is mostly no dispute among faiths about them so you don't have to feel you are commiting to something to soon. Principles that are important like the Bible is the standard and test for beliefs so whenever they come across an idea from your ex or otherwise they have the tools to evaluate it themselves. I don't know how old your kids are but there are things for all ages. Just reading the Bible together to see what it says and drawing lessons from that can be an easy way to teach them truth. As an adult that had a very poor upbringing I strongly believe in teaching kids the principles and truth to make decisions for themselves with.
I do not underestimate, however, the neccessity for you to study and pray and discover the truth in God's Word for yourself and to not put it off. This doesn't mean you have to pick a church right away, just that one shouldn't take for granted that they'll have time later to figure it out. Nothing is certain in this world. Life knowing God is wonderful and I highly recomend it . write if you have questions or want to talk, <>< Angie
