Summer Reading-Part 1

“Summer Reading” is special to me. That habit harkens back to the childhood joy felt, especially in the summer months when reading. When the school season was over and vacation began, it was then that I could embark upon my own adventures in reading. No teachers directing my every reading move. I could be on the South China Sea one second, and the next moment be in the laboratory of Marie Curie. I imagined myself living in biblical times. I was a dreamer alright and reading took me everywhere that I wanted to go. 

Even though it has been a while since those good old school days, I still get excited every year when it comes to deciding what books to pick up during the summer. I usually go overboard and choose a bevy of books and topics to delve into. This year is no different. With all the very confusing news coming out about the Russian-Ukrainian War, I decided on two books that could give me some insight into that situation. One is David Browder’s book, “Freezing Order.” The other is a recent Pushkin Literary Award winning book entitled, “Overreach” by Owen Matthews. 

Both books offer huge prospective on the history behind the current events unfolding between Russia and Ukraine. Little did I know that a third book that I was recently gifted with, would also have bearing upon the study of this war, i.e. “Laptop From Hell” by Miranda Devine. 

Another book that I have almost completed, is about a murder that occurred in Westchester County, New York. It has the long title of, “The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions by Jonathan Rosen. More about that later.

If that is not enough, I am also tackling “Dombey and Son” by Charles Dickens. This is yet another book that has themes that touch upon another summer reading choice that I have made. Specifically, “Dombey and Son” has analysis of the parent-child relationship. It helped me to gain further insight into the relationships of Hunter, Beau and their father Joe Biden as outlined in Miranda Devine’s book. 

Many rumors of corruption and influence peddling have swirled about the Biden family for years. These scandals largely factor into current world events, such as the Russian-Ukranian War and should be examined. The security of the United States has been compromised by the Biden family and world wide calamity has ensued. 

So there you have it, my five summer reading choices. These I will ponder, agree and disagree with, and philosophize about. I will probably struggle with concepts and meaning but, in the end, as with any book I hope to gain some knowledge about events and the world around me. I feel some scriptural clarification coming soon..

Suddenly, a “staycation” is not so confining after all. This summer I can finally get a remodel done in my kitchen. It seems wonderful of course but, with all the work involved in refurbishing my kitchen, a beach holiday is out of the question. International travel? Not now.

Before my contractors could touch my kitchen I had to pack up all the stuff that was loaded in there and move it elsewhere. This has taken weeks to accomplish and it will take weeks more to get my kitchen back in working order.  I would guess that my kitchen is the most densely packed room in my house. There are big items and small items. I have a crêpe maker, a raclette maker and two or three fondue makers. That’s just my Swiss/French stuff.  My philosophy, biblical in nature, always reminds me not to have more than I need and to only buy that which I will use. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”-Matthew 6:19-21. So, it is not like I have overstuffed my cupboards and draws but, there is a lot of organizational work to be done for sure.

Work began this week on my kitchen. Bang-bang, whoosh-whoosh go the machines but, besides my usual duties at home, I can always escape the work zone through my “Summer Reading.” Let’s explore these books a little further. It is interesting reading a variety of books all from different perspectives. The above authors are about as different as different gets. 

What can Charles Dickens a nineteenth century British author have to say about familial relationships of today? Say, for example Joe, Hunter and Beau Biden? If you don’t let yourself think about Ivy League Schools and their censorship of such materials then it gets interesting. “Dombey and Son,” explores a wealthy man’s relationship with his two children. One is the child, Paul, that he places all his hopes and dreams upon. Then there is his other child, Florence. His exchanges and treatment of Florence causes feminists to cry evil male Patriarch! However, Dickens, ever the keen social observer, always saw deeply into all that was going on around him. 

There are so many factors in parenting which can add up to the appearance, if not the actual favoritism or one child over another. So many reasons for this, come to mind. There is always the parent-child fit to keep in mind. For example, is it easier to love and be proud of the athletically inclined child if I myself am a sports enthusiast? Or, what of parent burnout when a particular child is born? How does that affect the treatment of the child? As a Christian I know that we can not be perfect parents. We strive with God’s help to do what is right and try to help our children to do the same. For all of our moral failures we must make a decision to go to God in earnest repentance.

Miranda Devine’s book about the abandoned laptop of Hunter Biden contains emails between him (Hunter) and his father (Joe) showcasing a very dysfunctional relationship. Hunter felt used and abused financially by his father.  And, Joe Biden appears to have had plans for his children. His son Beau, would be the golden child. He was to have a stellar political career with a trajectory to the White House. Hunter, was to do all the dirty work so, that Joe and Beau would not be implicated. 

Charles Dickens main character Mr. Dombey has a similar path in mind for his son Paul. Paul embodied all of Mr. Dombey’ s hopes and dreams for his posterity. Paul was to be groomed to join his father in his business, hence the book title “Dombey and Son.” What of Florence’s role, what of Hunter’s role? They were to be taken care of for sure, but not emotionally. 

“Freezing Order” takes us back to the beginnings of the post Soviet era with the story of Bill Browder and his battle with Vladimir Putin. As the Soviet Union crumbled into the pages of history, the industries which were once state owned got parceled out to political allies and thus were born the current Russian oligarchs. 

Men like Bill Browder, with knowledge and connections to Russia, as well as financial expertise rush in to make money in this new market. He started the hedge fund Hermitage Fund. His detailed descriptions of corruption in the Putin regime, and the communist legacy of brutality weigh heavily upon my mind as I try to make sense of the current war. The sanction game that the West has been playing with Putin may have had its’ beginnings in the international legislation that Bill Browder helped enact to financially punish Russia for its’ role in the death of his Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. 

No analysis of the current Russian-Ukrainian War would be complete without a look at the coming end-times line up of allies and how the current crises lines up. For instance, Iran, China and Turkey have rushed in to support Vladimir Putin’s war efforts against Ukraine. “Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel.” -Ezekiel 39:1-2. 

The current realignment of worldwide alliances lines up perfectly with end-time prophesy.  Gog is associated with Russia, Meschech and Tubal appear to be associated with Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey. Meshech and Tubal were grandsons of Noah, see Genesis 10:1-2. The region of Meschech going by ancient descriptions and names refers to areas north of the Black Sea. This is geography that we are now very familiar with since the war began between Russia and Ukraine. Meschech refers to Russia, Ukraine and probably Georgia. Is it any wonder that worldwide action is happening there? Tubal by the same metric of ancient description would be associated with what is now Turkey. Other prophesy points to Persia, or current day Iran being in the coalition against God too.

The Bible’s predictions are 100 % correct  because it is the Word of God. I would stay tuned for Bible prophesy to be fulfilled if I were you. Proverb 3:25–26- Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. 

Next week: Summer Reading-Part 2.