A Turning Point?

The world is struggling or is it just me? I have had a rough week with so much murder and mayhem in the news. It all comes down to the spiritual battle in our hearts. 1 Kings 18:21- (the prophet Elijah asked the undecided people) How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; if Baal, follow Him.” But the people answered him not a word. 

Just where are we heading in this next stage of human existence? What will the meaning of our lives be when artificial intelligence takes over a lot of our jobs? I think we better have a plan for that eventuality, don’t you? What are we to make of all the latest crazy worldwide events? This is a test so you better get the answers right if you want to graduate!

“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”- Genesis 12:3.                                                                                                        

The United Nations overwhelmingly voted to create a Palestinian State. A what? Land that the Roman Empire named Palestine as an affront to the Jewish peoples will now officially be divided? The problem is that God gave that land to the Jewish nation. Also, didn’t the United Nations speak about this after World War II by creating Jordan as a homeland for the Arabs and Israel to finally be recognized for what it had been for thousands of years i.e. the homeland of the Jewish people? The majority of land in the Middle East belongs to the Arab and Iranian people but, not this little spit of land. The good news is that the ten nations that voted against the partition of Israel and the twelve nations that abstained from voting will be blessed. The bad news is that one hundred and forty two nations will begin to come under God’s curse. 

Joel 3:1-4-For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 

I will also gather all the nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 

And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. 

Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? Will ye render me a recompense? And if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head.

Aren’t terrorists getting rewarded for doing a civilian massacre on October 7, 2023? This Hamas massacre also included the plan to use rape and hostage torture as part of their strategy? Technically isn’t that an international war crime? Is this the best the United Nations can do about that situation? They are a morally failed institution. Not to mention how they have not settled the Russian-Ukrainian War. What are they even good for?

China has so many people that it is very easy to whip up a military parade to show the world its’ intentions. We had Russia, China, India and North Korea all joining hands in a grand show of friendship at that event. I think we all got the message. Russia, invaded Ukraine and, as of late made incursions unto Polish and Romanian airspace. Note: any accident that the Russians chose a moment after the Chinese pow-wow to insult Polish and Romanian airspace and then do a military exercise on their border? I think not. These countries are forming a partnership for certain but is there any honor there?

Let’s start with North Korea. The North Koreans are hunkered down in some cult-like isolation chamber experiment. In complete isolation from the rest of the world the only thing we know about them comes from the occasional person lucky enough to escape its’ clutches and tell their story to the world. From there it is often a harrowing journey towards wellness for people so brutalized. Ruling by fear and psychological manipulation keeps people in lockstep to the Kim family tempo. I don’t want to live that way, do you? India, Russia, China: show me your friends and I’ll show you yourself! Do not be misled:”Bad company corrupts good character”- 1 Corinthians 15:33

The above countries all benefit from this alliance in many ways. Russia gets soldiers from North Korea. I can’t imagine how terrible that soldier’s assignment would be or maybe I can. India and China are getting great energy deals on the backs of a wronged Ukrainian population who have always been menaced by the Russian Bear. Maternity wards and preschools have been bombed and while Russian children go back to school many Ukrainian children will be studying in underground shelters. Those Ukrainian children lucky enough to not get kidnapped for re-education in Russia. China’s and India’s cheap energy comes with a bloody price. China and India should not be helping finance Russia’s war. 

And could it be that even Europe is bowing to Russia in exchange for that cheap energy? If they support Ukraine as much as they are always saying they do, couldn’t they just buy energy from the United States or Israel?  Europe is paying for its’ impractical environmental policies and now they can not meet their own energy needs. Europe has an identity crisis too. Judging by recent protests around Europe, there are many Europeans who know that the mass migrations that have flooded their lands will destroy their identity and more. 

However, the leaders in charge don’t seem to be listening or care. Europe hounded and cruelly mistreated the Jews in their historical past and they seem to be back to their old ways of Jew-hating judging by their recent vote at the United Nations and divestments from Jewish business and cultural ties. It’s Europe being Europe and I thought they had outgrown this. All of the countries of the world have tried for greatness but instead have failed because we need God in our hearts, communities, and nations for any real progress. The kind of progress that the collective world’s heart really wants.

Then we have the cold-blooded murder of 31 year old Charlie Kirk. A husband, father, committed Christian and free speech advocate was assassinated on a college campus while answering questions on transgender violence only to became one of the statistics of that violence . He was killed by a gay man living with his transgender partner while advocating for biblical truth. He was killed for being a Christian. Killed for standing up for traditional values. Charlie Kirk exercised his right to free speech and was gunned down in the least free zone that exists in the United States today which happens to be the college campuses. 

Today the United States campus is a no-go zone for Christians and traditional people of any type. The grades and professionships are rigged in favor of Marxist thinking. Send in your scholars, and receive back professional agitators, anarchists, feminists and generally subversive individuals. Think Tyler Robinson or Luigi Mangione. It seems to be an epidemic and we have no one to blame but ourselves. We let insanity build and build until ka-boom, the revolution is here. We should have stood for something then but it is never too late.

What do you stand for? Charlie Kirk stood for something good and now he is gone because the democrats can’t tolerate people who don’t agree with them. They take life lightly and even joke and applaud the killing of political adversaries. They hate Christians. We most not hate them back. We must pray for people who persecute us. It is not easy to do this but, we must. Romans 12:21- be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Since Charlie Kirk died Christians, conservatives and republicans all over the United States have gathered for prayer vigils. What did democrats and their supporters do when George Floyd died? They looted, robbed and killed people. That’s what they always do. This cost one billion dollars in losses. The conservatives are praying. 

Newscasters have used their visibility to push forth their twisted views of life to their captive viewership. Thankfully, one has been fired. A liberal got fired for taking money and then refusing to print out prayer vigil posters for Charlie Kirk. A New Jersey nurse who reported a doctor for his gleeful and ghoulish comments is now the one getting in trouble. Of course she is in this world gone mad. I would not wish to be treated by this doctor because I think he could not carry out his duties to uphold life if the patient happened to be a conservative Christian. There is simply no respect for the dead or for people of faith.

Remember the shooting at Charlie Hebdo?  “Je suits Charlie.” That phrase may have new meaning. It may now mean that we will get off the sidelines and take the mantle of responsibility for everything that is going on. The things that Charlie Kirk was doing. Bring decency back to our communities, integrity back to our governments and Christ back in our hearts. Do it for God and in remembrance of Charlie Kirk.

Acts 2:21- And it shall come to pass that whosoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

Psalm 112:7-8- He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

Galatians 6:9- Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

2 Corinthians 1:3- Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.

The Green-Eyed Monster

I had a long text message exchange with a Christian friend on the topic of jealousy. My friend lives in Russia. Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine occurred we have not been able to see each other in person. Before the invasion, she was planning to spend a semester of her school year in the United States studying English as a foreign exchange student. Those dreams were dashed as international sanctions mounted against Russia after the war began. What a disappointment to Anya* to miss out on studying the English language in the United States. I was also sorely disappointed because I was looking forward to spending time with my Christian friend. I first met Anya on the Christian missions field serving those in need. The powerful bond that one forms in such a setting is not easily broken. 

The damage to lives and to international relations that Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine has caused are immense. On a microcosm we see the relationships that are interrupted, on a macrocosm we see families torn apart, lives lost, and the world facing a re-ordering. The Bible tells us what is to be next. It has all been foretold in the Good Book. 

However, getting back to that microcosm leads me to that text conversation with Anya that I mentioned earlier. I was sharing the story of a special moment recently enjoyed at my husband’s birthday party. My husband had just finished opening his birthday gifts when he asked me if I knew which was his best gift?When I modestly exclaimed “no,” he replied, “you,” are my best gift. It was one of those countless romantic moments that I have enjoyed over the years with my husband.

When I happened to mention this to Anya, she good-naturedly feigned “white jealousy.” I had never really heard the term “white jealousy” before but surmised it to be a small jealousy, just as a white lie is considered a small lie. From there, our text messages blew up and we were feverishly texting back and forth. As is my habit I first waxed poetic on the general human condition of jealousy. Here is some of our conversation:

ANYA: Actually, I believe that you are indeed *******’s best gift. Your husband is a naturally sweet and romantic man. I honestly sometimes envy you. In Russia it’s called, “cool white jealousy.” It is when you are glad that your friend or family member has something cool but at the same time you want it! “Black jealousy” is generally considered a flaw and a bad trait. It’s when you angrily think that if you don’t get it, nobody else should. 

Ivan* (Anya’s boyfriend) is not a romantic. It’s hard for him to open up that often, even in front of me or his own mother. However, he can be sweet and supportive when he feels you truly need him. Most of my boyfriends have not been romantic. I guess I am looking for other things. Ivan has a good sense of humor. It is very similar to mine, it’s both silly and serious. He is responsible and mature. He cares for his mother and other family members. He is handsome, and as big as a bear. Last but not least he’s intellectually gifted and in some ways his intellectual capacities exceed my own. I was looking for an equal.

ME: The topic of jealousy is an interesting one! What does culture say about it, and what does God say about it? Throughout the ages, the stories of people reflect the white and black jealousies that we go through. It’s one of those emotions that are quite uncomfortable (think Rachel and Leah). When it is white, it is under control and when it is black, jealousy can lead to crime (think Cain and Abel). The world’s cultures have sang songs about it, made operas and movies about it. Great writer’s have made jealousy the central theme of a deep study of humanity.

The Bible teaches us to let go of the feelings of jealousy and instead to realize that each one of us is loved by God equally. God specifically chose not to give any of us every gift for our own good. But, that leaves us knowing that someone else has something that we do not have and that often turns to jealousy.

God wants us to be happy for one another, for example when someone else gets a great job or marries well. When people work together combining their talents in a godly way, it makes the world a better place. 

ANYA: Jealousy is a common trait in the sport in which I compete. When you are competing, you sometimes wish that your rival performed worse than you because you want to win. When I win a gold medal, some of the other girls wish that it were they who had won instead. When some other girl takes the gold I wish that it were my victory….embarrassing but true. Can you relate?

ME: Of course I can relate. It takes time and consideration to work through my feelings of jealousy and I have done that and will continue to do that throughout my entire life. I love the German word “shadenfreude.” It perfectly expresses the worst part of jealousy which is being happy at someone’s misfortune. The meaning of that word makes me work hard at being happy for people because shadenfreude is quite ugly and represents the worst of me.

Shadenfreude is showcased often in social media. I have to “click off” when I see it lest I get tempted to go along with the sentiment.

ANYA: yes, the worst type of jealousy is when you find someone’s misfortune pleasant. I know that most people are like that sometimes. That’s pretty normal but you must keep it under control like you said. If you jealousy is controlled-it’s safe for you and others. 

I realize that the feeling of jealousy is often inevitable throughout our lives. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’re “bad.” White jealousy is not bad and it’s not poisonous. For instance, yes, I admit that I am a bit jealous of you. But, it doesn’t mean that I wish you the worst.

Me: The Bible says that we are all bad people, the consequence of the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. Our bad thoughts mean that we are bad people. It is what makes us a sinner. The only solution for sin is to admit our wrong and go to God for forgiveness, redemption and new direction. God is good to make our sin go as far away as “the east is from the West.” Next, if we allow it, God helps us to do better from year to year.

I have come to terms with the truth that I am both good and bad. Knowing Jesus means that he has my back. He has taken the price for that jealousy and other things that I have done. I am grateful that we have someone who has taken up our cause. 

Post Script: Clearly Anya is not looking for a romantic type of guy and it is other attributes that win her heart. So why did the Green-Eyed Monster emerge when I discussed a romantic moment? Well, why was I jealous when a friend told me about her Vermont summer cottage? I prefer to take different trips every year and not be tied down to one summer experience year after year. I’m an explorer. So why did I experience that uncomfortable emotion? Why indeed! 

Numbers 5:14 (KJV) And the Spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she if defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be.

Proverbs 27:4 (NKJV) Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent. But who is able to stand before jealousy?

One more thing: *******’s romantic and has many wonderful attributes but just like Ivan he is not perfect. 

******’s- my husband. 

* the names are changed to protect privacy.