{"id":2681,"date":"2021-07-17T22:36:42","date_gmt":"2021-07-18T03:36:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nazarenespace.com\/blog\/?p=2681"},"modified":"2021-10-04T13:47:47","modified_gmt":"2021-10-04T18:47:47","slug":"in-memory-of-rabbi-robert-o-miller","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nazarenespace.com\/blog\/2021\/07\/17\/in-memory-of-rabbi-robert-o-miller\/","title":{"rendered":"In Memory of Rabbi Robert O. Miller"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Rabbi Rob Miller (left) and James Trimm (right) the day we first met.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My old friend Rabbi Rob Miller passed away today. While he did not directly call it Covid-19, he did say he was concerned about being censored and that he was sick with something that “had been in the news for the last 2 years and is worse than the flu”. Rob and I were best friends and fellows in ministry until he made a life changing decision seven years ago. We still remained friends, but had to agree to disagree after that. Rob was an amazing individual. When my wife Kitty Trimm and I went thru a crisis in 2006, it was Rob who counseled us thru it and literally saved our marriage. And that marriage celebrated its 31st anniversary just yesterday. There are no words! Shakespeare makes Marc Anthony to say in memoriam of Julius Caesar “The evil that men do lives after them, but the good is often entered with their bones, so let it be with Caesar” but let this not be with Rob. Let the good that he did live after him and let his personal failures be now forgotten. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rob and I used to make the rounds to the used book stores together looking for interesting theology books, and make the rounds of the comic book shops. We were both comic book nerds. He was into the Green Hornet and Flash Gordon, I was into The Shadow (among others)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Robert Owen Miller was born in Killeen Texas on September 24, 1957. After he graduated from Killeen High School he attended Southern Bible College and Berean Bible College. He was licensed with the Assemblies of God; Full Gospel Fellowship of Ministers & Churches Intl. I recall that he once told me that Dr. Gene Scott, then in good standing with the Assemblies of God, handed him and his classmates their certificates of ordination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Later Rob studied at the Chabad (an ultra-orthodox Jewish rabbinical school) in Austin Texas for 2 1\/2 years. On October 15th 1996 he formed Agudat Bris congregation in Temple Texas, which he led until he resigned that position in 2014 and relocated to Thailand were he spent the rest of his years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On January 19th 2000 Agudat Bris became members of the Messianic Israel Alliance, and on April 4th 2001 they became members of the Union of Two House Messianic Congregations later known as the Union of Nazarene Yisrael Congregations. In 2004 Agudat Bris became a member of the Worldwide Nazarene Assembly of Elohim. Rob served as the traveling shepherd for the Union of Nazarene Yisrael Congregations for several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On Wednesday July 14th Rob posted that he had gotten sick on Friday July 9th:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then on Thursday July 15th he posted “it is serious… my lungs hurt I have difficulty breathing”:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Two days later, on Saturday July 17th (the eve on the 9th of Av) Rob collapsed and could not be revived. He will be missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Testament of Rabbi Rob<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2005, in the event of his passing, Rabbi Rob asked to have this message shared. It was originally narrated to a video which is now lost:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are reading this well, I\u2019m dead. \u201c[Theres] A time to be born, and a time to die. (Ecclesiastes 3:2)\u201d Seemed just as good a time as any. You know the Word says: \u201cA good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. (Ecclesiastes 7:1)\u201d It also says, \u201c\u2026it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Messiah was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:27)\u201d You’ve got a day, you’ve got a time and you’ve got a place and your name is on it. People keep that appointment every day, three every second, 180 people every minute keep that appointment, 11,000 people very hour keep that appointment, 260,000 today kept that appointment. This year 95 million people will keep this appointment. You cannot delay it and you cannot deny it. As you can see, I kept my appointment. Remember, life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting.. “Wow!! What a Ride!!” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To my son, RJ, I love you very much. You have always been a breath of sunshine in my life. You could always make me laugh even when I was blue. We\u2019ve been through some ups and downs together and that served to bring us closer. I\u2019m thankful that it could not destroy our bond. I\u2019m proud of you son. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To my daughter Alyssa, you were always the tender one. It always hurt me to see you cry. When you cared for someone you cared deeply and that is admirable. Never let anyone steal that quality from you. I\u2019ll always remember the 28th of Feb. 1991, it was the saddest day of my life. I waited for you to go to bed and then I just broke down and cried. It seemed my whole life was imploding and there was nothing I could do about it. You got out of bed, crawled up on the couch put my head in your lap and petted my brow and told me it would be alright and that you still loved me. That meant the world to me. I love you very much. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To my daughter Megan, you are my miracle. You weren\u2019t suppose to happen but you are. Stuck in the middle of RJ and Alyssa you bare there best qualities and some of your own. Your witty, wiley, and fun. I have never known quite what to expect from you and I\u2019m never disappointed. I love you very much. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To my son Scotty, thank you for coming back into my life. I was with you the first three years of your life and they were some of the happiest moments I cherish. You were always in my heart. I wanted you so very much that I would have waited indefinitely. It is interesting how all my children have the Miller sense of humor. We are definitely marked. I love you very much. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the children my precious wife gave me. Jeanie, John and Jason, you were easy to love. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeanie and Ronnie you gave me two handsome grandchildren that I love very much. Raise them in the fear and adminition of the Heavenly Father. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason, do not forget what I taught you. You have been an exceptionally good son to me and I love you very much.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John make a new start in life based on a relationship with Yahweh. You hit bottom now push upward. This is a whole new beginning. I love you very much. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I may I want to talk to you about death. Not the tragic deaths of innocent babies and children, nor of those who languish in comas or with advanced disease for years. Rather about a death after a life well-lived. My death. It still seems a tragic loss in your lives. However, for me, death is a natural punctuation point on my life \u2013 I like to view it as rather an exclamation point as far as punctuation goes. But I digress. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now don\u2019t get me wrong, death is no friend. Death is an ugly intruder that tears the soul and body asunder but it can\u2019t touch my spirit. The reality is, we don’t have to be afraid of death. King Messiah YahShua came to “release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:15). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These words might sound arrogant to those who do not espouse the messianic perspective of a Netzarim. For us, death is but a last enemy we must deal with before our expiration causes us to go though the door through which we pass from the Olam Hezeh (Present World) into the Tabernacle not made with hands into the presence of our Messiash Who currently is ministering as High Priest before the Golden Altar.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto Yahweh who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7)\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Sheol 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. When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the spirits of those who had been slain because of the word of Yahweh and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign King, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:8-10)\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That gives us a unique look into where the dead are and where I am right now. You see, since a disembodied righteous spirit is not allowed to roam around we must go to our next phase of ministry \u2013 interceding, albeit in a personal mode, for the manifestation of the Kingdom of Yahweh. We uniquely become part of the concentrated ministry of our High Priest MelechiTzaddik Messiah YahShua. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you know I believe a righteous man may know the end of his days. So I can tell you, He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophet. I know it was my time to die. “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away\u2026So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:10, 12). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is time for us, as mishpochah, to speak frankly, no I don\u2019t look good, I look dead. \u201cFor\u2026the body without the spirit is dead (James 2:26).\u201d And had better not catch one person trying to communicate with me \u2013 no body, period! That is necromancy and strictly forbidden by Torah. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve got to tell you this story, you see a minister, a priest and a rabbi were all discussing death. The minister asked ‘When you are in your casket, and friends, family, and congregants are mourning over you, what would you like to hear them say?’ I would like to hear them say that I was a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader, and a great family man. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The priest said, ‘I would like to hear that I was a wonderful teacher and mentor who made a huge difference in people’s lives.’ <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rabbi replied, ‘I would like to hear them say, ‘Look, he’s moving!’ I know death is a harsh reality, but it is better to endure reality and act through knowledge than to be bop through life by an illusion. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hear from someone who received a revelation of Who Messiah YahShua is for every Believer: “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.\u2026Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Sheol, where is your victory?'” (1 Corinthians 15:53-55). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All my ministry I\u2019ve been preaching about Zion. I am interested in that land because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for many years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money and without price. But the donor purchased it for me at a tremendous sacrifice. I am not holding it for speculation since the title is non-transferable. It is not a vacant lot. Since the age of 5 I have been sending material out of which the greatest architect and builder of the universe has been building a home for me, which will never need to be repaired because it will suit me perfectly, individually, and will never grow old. Termites can never undermine its foundation for it rests upon the Rock of Ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away. No locks or bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no advesary can ever enter that land where my dwelling stands, now almost completed and ready for me to enter it and abide in peace eternally without fear of being ejected. There just a few more things I must do first. There is a valley of deep shadow between the place where I live and that to which I shall journey in a very short time. I cannot reach my home in the City of Yahweh without passing through the dark valley of shadows. But I am not afraid, because the best friend that I have ever had went through the same valley alone, a long, long, time ago and drove away all the gloom. He has stuck by me through thick and thin since we first met and became acquainted years ago, and I hold His promise in printed form, never to forsake nor to leave me alone. He will be with me as I walk through the valley of shadows, and I shall not lose my way when He is with me. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has called me to a great prayer meeting in the Heavenlies. There I will intercede for our next mission. Then I will meet you all again as I come galloping to Petra to join you in the Valley of Jehosaphat.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I understand what Rabbi Sha\u2019ul, that the world knows as Paul, was trying to say when he said he was caught between two worlds. \u201cYes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Messiah YahShua, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Messiah will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Messiah and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Messiah, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Messiah YahShua will overflow on account of me. (Philippians 1:18-26)\u201d That dynamic changed when Yahweh said, it\u2019s time. I could not argue nor complain, it was time. So now I am present in that Great Tabernacle in the Heavenlies enjoying the direct presence of Messiah YahShua \u2013 the express image of Yahweh. \u201cFor this Elohim is our Elohim for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death. (Psalms 48:14)\u201d \u201cPrecious in the sight of Yahweh is the death of his saints. (Psalms 116:15)\u201d Let Yahweh be glorified and sanctified throughout the world; let the world become a perfect place soon in YOUR lifetime and let us say: Amien. \u201c[Yahweh] will swallow up death in victory; and the Sovereign Yahweh will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for Yahweh hath spoken it. (Isaiah 25:8)\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The following is a poem my wife Inga “Kitty” Trimm composed to memorialize his passing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Must Be In Heaven<\/strong>
Never ever fond of religion
I know seem strange for me to say
So may people with opinions
Then I met you one day.
You were not like the rest
A smile, a warm presence
I definitely put you to the test
But somehow I saw your difference.
An honesty in your face
A loving tender kindness
Your laugh and your warm embrace
Your soul filled with lightness
No matter where you went
Or who was at your table
The WORD you always would represent
So ever loving kind and gentle
You came really into my life
When at a time it was so unstable
When I thought I was alone and in strife
You showed at my door willing and able
To help the one in sin
You came and counseled
You didn\u2019t let them give in
With their ensuing embattled
Because of you we celebrate
Our marriage 31 years
Never knowing it was to late
To help with your own fears
So many you help lead the right way
Even though you were led astray
Trying to help you in all we could
Now knowing we never really could.
So does a sin wash away all your good?
To those you help down the right path?
I think really it is so misunderstood
Hindsight so clear in its aftermath.
No one is perfect except the MOST HIGH
I think we tend to forget that we are imperfect
All we do is judge and justify
Condemning those who we feel are incorrect
Now comes a time we don\u2019t want to admit
That when one dies we tend to reflect
Was their sin so wrong that it merits
A turning a way, a reject?
May this be a reminder to all
That we are just as guilty
A sinner just a like and just as small
We Have ALL disappointed the ALMIGHTY
So I like to think and I believe
You did more good than misdeeds
You help so many to achieve
The path on which we were meant to be
My friend there is no more pain.
Be at rest Be at peace
I will see you once again
You have finally been released
So I would like to say
In Heaven your soul must be
Elohim called you home today
Your soul is finally free
And even though I mourn your passing
And will feel your presence missing
Let us remind ourselves Elohim is everlasting
Forgiveness is HIS ultimate blessing<\/em>
Author
Ingrid \u201cKitty” Trimm
All Rights Reserved
\u00a9 July 17, 2021
For my friend Robert O Miller
I love and will miss you my friend.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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