Marriage Retreat

A short time ago, my husband and I went on a Marriage Retreat Weekend. It is held every year at the Tuscarora Inn and Christian Convention Center, in Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania. It is deeply impactful and meaningful to attend such an event and to reflect upon the meaning of marriage and think about your marriage in particular.
Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

For weeks before the event occurred, I kept feeling like I had too much to do to get away. Then, just days before we were slated to attend the event, I started to get nervous thinking about all the issues that could come up and how imperfect our marriage really was. Why is it that we take better care of our cars than our marriages?
1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

My father told me to always take care of my car. "Make sure you change your oil regularly, rotate those tires, and winterize your car before the onset of bad weather." I enjoyed splashing around with the garden hose during the many times my father would regularly wash and wax his car. I think that I was more prepared for having a clean and well-maintened vehicle than a thriving marriage. In case you're wondering, my car looks great!

When we arrived, I only knew one couple from our church, Ben* and Jean.* Everyone except us seemed to know each other. A number of church groups came together. **Note to self: get together a church group for next year! In the course of the weekend that would all change and I would make deep an meaningful connections with other married couples.

Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Tuscarora is perfectly situated on the beautiful Delaware river. It is a deeply peaceful place where one can truly leave the world behind and take time to relax, re-tool and re-focus. After dinner on Friday night we had an amazing husband and wife team from a local church open the event with carefully chosen worship songs which helped me prepare my heart and quite my mind as we prepared to hear the message about marriage.

On to the stage, walked a small and unassuming 79 year old couple named Gordon and Gail MacDonald. The husband and wife were both soft spoken with the husband exuding a shy and frail presence. They settled into two talk show host style chairs and proceeded to do a sound check. The couple introduced themselves and shared the format that their discussions would follow. The unusual technique involved them facing each other, and not the audience. From the audiences perspective it felt at first as if were somehow eavesdropping on a couples private conversation.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."

Later, it felt as if we had the good fortune of being on the inside of a half-century old marriage and could learn all of the inside secrets. I believe that is exactly what they had in mind as they went down memory lane and gave a decade-by-decade, blow-by-blow account of their life. With special emphasis upon the challenges that each age and stage of marriage brings, they were able to prepare their audience for what the problems might be.
Mark 10:9: “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

As they did this, there were plenty of scriptures and positive God-centered advise on how to overcome theses common pitfalls. Life gets busy. Every day there are many things that need to be done: taking the garbage out, washing the dishes, laundry, work, school, sports, friend, and family commitments. Sometimes a couple simply grows apart due to the pressures and responsibilities of their life. In this flurry of activity please make sure to invest time and energy into making your marriage grow. It is not easy. I know, because my husband and I came to a point in our lives where we did not make that a priority and we both suffered the consequences.
Malachi 2:14-15: “But you say, 'Why does he not?' Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant."

Attending a marriage retreat is one way to divorce proof a marriage. No doubt, It will take you out of your comfort zone as it did me. But, you can rest assured that you will leave the marriage retreat a better person than when you came. That is the reason I learned, that many people return to these events, year after year.
Ephesians 4:2-3: “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

*names are changed. **Note to self.

What The Devil is Wrong?

A deep spiritual malaise exists in many areas of our world today. In our homes, schools and workplaces there are many dark situations. We see this manifested in different ways: selfish attitudes, bullying, lack of purpose, superficiality and worse. This does not bode well for the greater society since the above mentioned institutions are foundational to the teaching, maintaining and promoting of a happy and well-functioning society. Some headlines bring this to mind.

HOME: While many are laughing about the thirty year old New York man, whose parents were forced to take him to court in order to get him out of their house, I think it is anything but a laughing matter. It has been an historical fact that throughout much of human history that many generations of one family resided together under one roof. Ususally, it meant laboring together for the good of the extended family. It meant pooling the resources of the family for both work, survival and safety. Now, it represents a "failure to launch."
Proverbs 12:11 "Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chose fantasies have not sense."

Then, there is the recent television interview of two grandparents, whose daughter was accused of murdering their granddaughter. Casey Anthony, who beat that murder wrap, became known as the most hated mom in America. This case, which occurred ten years ago continues to fascinate the public. Why? I think there are many answers to that. One of them is the incomprehensibiliry of the act. The question of why this happened, and what does it portend; weigh upon the collective conscience.
Matthew 15:19 "For out of the heart come evil thoughts- murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander."

SCHOOL: What of the recent school shootings in Florida and Texas? Schools have and always will be a bellweather expressing the deep core issues of any people in any place. As long as I can remember now, schools in the U.S. have been a place of cruelty. A place best described by the classic 1954 novel, "The Lord Of The Flies" by Nobel Prize-winning writer William Golding. Golding describes a group of students who get marooned on a remote island. With no adult supervision, their attempts to create a just and sane environment are not possible. Left to their own devises they create a destructive and hellish existence.

What an apt description of the state of the American teen! Left to their own devices by pre-occupied and self-centered parents who are more concerned with their phones then their children's well-being, schools are no longer all they could be. It is very easy to blame the teachers or guns, but the Bible is explicit that parents are to train a child in the way that they should go, and when they are old they will not depart. We are seeing bad behavior because of the direction that our parenting has taken.
Titus 2:7-8 "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."

WORKPLACES: Frankie* had worked for a social services agency long before he ever became a Christian. Things he had long experienced however, took on a different hue when viewed through the lens of his Christian values.  It no longer seemed right to him to observe the million little day in and day out corruptions that exist in that workplace: the petty and not so petty battles going on. The acting out of jealousies or greed. The lack of a work ethic.
Psalm 90:17 "May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us-yes establish the work of our hands."

No one seemed to care about creating the type of cooperation which would make that agency operate smoothly. Furthermore, where was the gratitude or accountability to the citizens whose taxes paid for their salaries and benefits? No, to Frankie it seemed many were in this job for what they could get, and nothing more. Does this seem familiar to you?
COLOSSIANS 3:23 "Whatever you do,work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not human masters."

WHAT THE DEVIL IS WRONG? Beyond the headlines and our daily life there are deeper spiritual truths revealing themselves. In the opening chapter of the book of Job, we meet God and Satan (your adversary). We learn that the devil, who is real, walks to and fro, and up and down among us. We learn that there is a supernatural battle that is being waged for our souls. We are not merely passing through a meaningless life. Our thoughts and our actions matter. Not just to us, and those around us, but also to God and the Devil. Those thoughts and actions can make our home, school and work zones a better place. Although we can never hope to achieve perfection, understanding and accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, can be our ticket to a clear understanding of how we ought to live.

Are you ready to make some changes in your life, because you know that you have been wrong? As you read this post, consider if you need to change your relationships at home, in school or at work? It all begins with a self-inventory. The Bible tells us that we are all sinners. It makes it clear that we are to look at ourselves honestly and consider the kind of person that we are and the things that we have done. Only then, can we understand our need for the Savior Jesus Christ. This will not be easy because Satan, in the guise of popular culture, tells you that you are basically a good person. This is a lie and it will not lead you to God nor toward being your best self.
Luke 1:37 "For no Word from God will ever fail."

I hope that we all realize that WHAT THE DEVIL IS WRONG is US and the choices that we have made and the effect that they have. There is a gargantuan battle going on for the direction of our world. The question is will you choose to follow God or the Devil in your home, in your school, or on your job?
Acts 2:38 "Peter replied, repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of  Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."


*the names were changed.

Entertainment Reboot?

What are you watching these days? Do you get all your news from your favorite news app in the morning? Seen any good movies lately? Do you have any weekly shows that you follow or, are you binge watching a series that you need to catch up on? No matter which of the above questions you may have answered yes to, it is important from time to time to consider the effects that your viewing habits may be having upon you.

I hope that the things which you see and hear on social media, the news and in the various entertainments that you choose to partake of, enhance and uplift your life. But, from time to time I test that premise out in my own life. You can too! Below is a series of questions and things to reflect upon as you watch your favorite videos, movies etc. For a week write down the name of every social media account, video, movie or news show that you see thusly:

What I Watch.          How I Feel Before The Show.      How I Feel After The Show.
Where appropriate, look more closely at the programming that you consume and reflect on the following questions:

1.What does this program say about dating, marriage and the family?
2. Does it depict family relationships in a godly way?
3. How do people treat one another in (business, school, church or at leisure)? Compare and contrast that with biblical standards.
4. What philosophical principles are revealed?
5. What does the Bible say about the issues raised in that article, movie, or other entertainment?

Is all the bad news that you read or see in entertainment causing you stress? Sometimes we don't realize how the bad news or depressing outcome of a show might effect us. More and more people are choosing to not watch the news because the bad news is overwhelming to them. I would not suggest ignoring the events occurring in our world, but I would advise against staying glued to the screen as news media outlets go over and over bad things.

Seek positive news sources and websites and bookmark or subscribe to them. Read the Bible and contemplate God's plan for you everyday. Pray for God's guidance. Take a walk and listen to the birds sing or sit by a local lake or river weekly. Even an easy to care for plant in your apartment can have a positive health benefit for you. Make time for things which will be uplifting daily. As I think about my social media presence or before I plunk myself in front of a screen, I ask myself what is the best way to utilize my time and energy. When we only have a few hours to influence our children for the day, or to spend time with our spouse, is it really a priority to check our Facebook page for comments?

What about reaching out to a lonely relative, friend or neighbor? Perhaps do some volunteer work? Don't ignore your household chores or else they will just pile up and you will have more to do later. Find a church and do a weekly bible study. When entertainment is done in a healthy and balanced way, it is part of the leisure and fun God intended us to add to our life's work. Sometimes, social media gives us updates, and FaceTime helps us stay in touch with those we love who are far away but, it can not replace the hugs and kisses nor the up-close and personal attention that is needed to maintain and thrive your relationships.

If you are not where you know you should be in some area of your life, this time of reflection may be helpful. We can assertain if our time spent with our devices is taking needed time away from doing homework, reaching out to meet new people, or if it is serving to hide us away from the world because we are suffering from depression or fear. Wendy* is struggling from the effects that result from the chronic disease Lupus. She is clearly depressed and anxious and needs help to deal with the psychological toll that the disease has taken on her. Instead, she is hold up in her Upper East Side Manhattan apartment shopping on all the home shopping networks and chatting on Facebook all-day long.

Or, there is Mikhail*, who plays video games whenever he can. His first year at college was more challenging than he thought. The pressure to keep his grades high plus the challenge of making new friends has overwhelmed him. It was hard to go from the popular and smart boy at his Brooklyn prep school to socially marginalized in one year. These two stories are cautionary for all of us. It is important to regularly evaluate our use or misuse of the things that we call tools or entertainment. How are you doing, okay? If not, it may be time for an Entertainment Reboot!


*Names are changed.

The Christian Wars: The Bible

The Christian Wars of today entail the many battles being fought which will effect the direction of the many churches affiliated with the message of Jesus Christ. What are some of the battles being fought? It would be beyond the scope of my weekly blog post to handle them all at once. Let's just say that if I wanted to, I could post a battle a week. Of course, it will come as no surprise to you that a religion begun thousands of years ago with sixty-six books and approximately thirty-one thousand, one-hundred and two verses would lend itself to debate!

Yet, on a daily basis these battles are rather brutal. The first thing that I would like to mention is don't assume when you are looking for a Church to attend that you should choose the one which is closest to your home. I wish that was an option for all of us. I wish every Church bearing the images and symbols that we have come to associate with Jesus Christ was worthy of our Lord and Savior and your attendance. No, just because a building bears a cross and stain-glass window or, you hear some awesome singing coming out of it, does not mean that it is a place of worship, learning or fellowship.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

A case in point: I could scarcely believe my eyes when I just so happened to peruse a local Westchester County, New York Church website. There is a woman, that I attend Bible Study with, who happens to love thrift stores, church tag sales and flea markets. She literally knows every one happening in this vicinity. She asked me if I had ever attended a huge one not very far from the church I attend. I said, "no," but afterwards went online to find out more details about this event.

The tag sale looked amazing but I lost my desire to shop when just out of curiosity I looked at the Mission statement of that Church. "We do not believe that the Bible is inerrant." "We aren't too concerned about creeds and formal theological statements, believing that everyone's faith is a matter of personal conscience." "We are open and affirming." "We answer only to the highest authority."
Titus 1:16-They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

My question is: just who is that highest authority? On the surface, there are bits and pieces of the truth reflected in this and other assertions made on this church website.  But, look a little closer and you see the kind of deception that is at the heart of The Christian Wars. It starts with the Bible. The Bible as far as I'm concerned is the revealed Will and Word of God Almighty.
2 Timothy 3:5-having a form of godliness, but denying he power thereof: from such turn away.

So what is this church saying when it states that the Bible is not inerrant? Is it that God makes mistakes? He created the heavens and the earth. God could assure the synchronicity of the sun, moon and earth but, He could not find a way to let His Will be known correctly in the Bible? Or, are they hinting that other entities, other than the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit sometimes give us the greater truth? Or sometimes Jesus is right and sometimes ********** is right? Clearly, what this church proposes is outright Christian Civil War.

And, how lacksidasical to state that, "we aren't too concerned about creeds." Creeds explain the truths believed and confirm unity of purpose. So, this church is allowing any and all types of philosophy in and don't think that is so important. Sort of the "I'm okay, you're okay" thing. It may feel good but is hopelessly in error of the story and message of the Bible.
Ephesians 4:14-That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive

God is the author and finisher of our salvation and the Bible is a conduit to receiving that. The greatest minds in opposition to this life-changing book have fought to diminish its' credibility and hence its' importance because of this. Yet, they have not succeeded. Where they seek to tear it apart from literary, or through various scientific scrutinies, new evidence emerges pointing to the Bible's veracity.

I was raised in a tradition that mixed Biblical truth with traditions that had historically infiltrated the Church. These traditions arose in part to answer questions and appease those seeking to both follow God and their own past traditions. So, in other words, many sought to have the blessings and the peace that faith in God brings, as well as engage in whatever forbidden practices they may have wanted to continue.

Also, rather than trust in God to fulfill and reveal His message, people sought to answer questions by tweeking the gospel message to tantalize the listener. This caused people who did not truly understand the message to convert, but, in a superficial way. So, perhaps we can see now that no matter how well-intentioned our motive was or is, that there is no short-cut or soft-sell of salvation. Salvation is that point when we meet God and fully accept and understand the covenant that he has extended to us.
Isaiah 29:13-and the Lord said: Forasmuch as this people draw near, and with their mouth and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear of Me is a commandment of men learned by rote

I understand the above described Church's desire to be welcoming and loving, for these are truly godly attributes. However, Jesus said, "you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." -John 8:32.The truth that Jesus refers to is contained in the Bible. We know that Jesus dramatically inaugurated His earthly Ministry by publicly reading from the scroll of Isaiah ( The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel-Isaiah 61:1) God anointed His Son to preach the gospel. Jesus then anointed us to do the same. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost"-Matthew 28:18. We begin as Jesus did to teach, but, are we teaching the unadulterated life-changing message of Jesus Christ or some facsimile?













**********- place the name of any other religious entity know the

Babylon, Then And Now

What comes to mind when you think of ancient Babylon? I think of the fertile agricultural region of Mesopotamia and the area which would come to be called a "cradle of civilization." I also think of one of the ancient wonders of the world, the Hanging Gardens. 'The king spoke, saying,"is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?"-Daniel 4:30. Tales of ancient Babylon also brings to mind biblical accounts of the Jewish nations captivity. When the Babylonian Empire was at its' height it had conquered nearly all of the Middle East, including the lands inhabited by the Israelites.

While some take issue with the biblical accounts of this time period, in my studies of the topic, I have found that quite often evidence has come to light which show how right and true the story of the Babylonian captivity was told in the Bible. The story begins with a people struggling to follow God Almighty. The Israelites wavered between living in the fashion God Himself had taught them and the cultural and social forces that conflicted with that practice.

In the books of first and second Kings and first and second Chronicles we further see the descendants of those lead to the Promised Land first by Moses and then by Joshua in civil division and living in animosity with one another. As that story unfolded God sent divine assistance in the form of prophets to mercifully re-direct His people. We are told the story of Kings such as Hezakiah who prayed for the nation of Judah (2 Kings 19:15-19). Yet, these efforts did not convince the people to change their ways of living, nor their relationship with God.

God, like any good parent, let them know what the consequences of their actions would be, yet, they persisted and chose the wrong path. In this case, this lead to what would come to be known as the Babylonian Captivity. Dragged from the land that the Jews were given by God and had battled to possess, they were now back where they had started in Egypt, slaves. The captivity in Babylon lasted 70 years. Through the prophet Daniel, God revealed many things to us including the number of years that the captivity of the Israelites would last.

It is from the revelations given to Daniel that we learn more of Babylon, Then And Now. Daniel was born into the upper echelons of the Jewish society of his time. However, all that was interrupted during the first incursions by the Babylonians into the Holy Land. It was then that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded and began what would be the first of three invasions leading to death, destruction and slavery for the Hebrew nation.

Daniel was probably about sixteen at the time that these events took place. His societal position made him a target for kidnapping. It was a common practice, in those times, to kidnap people of higher rank in order to extort money and ensure cooperation by invading armies. So, it was, that he was one of a small group that were taken hostage. (Daniel 1:1-4)

For most of us, it is hard to imagine what it would be like to be ripped from the bosom of your home and family by force and then taken to a strange land. Nothing was familiar to him, not the people, the clothing and even the language. The history of the world is full of such stories and even now it continues to happen. We know some terrible things happened to Daniel. Physical, and psychological abuse and even sexual atrocities may have been committed. The cruel sexual abuse of people in history may have included Daniel himself. "And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon"-2 Kings 20:18. We know that Babylon, Then And Now is replete with stories such as this. Think of the Yazidis and Christians who were abused by the ISIS forces in what was the territory of the former Babylonian Empire.

For those who have been so cruelly used, there is hope of healing after the abuse. Daniel's relationship with God was a key factor in surviving and even thriving. Indeed, there is nothing that this world can do to you that God can not bring you through. The Book of Daniel, Chapter 3 details how his captors tried to burn him to death but God brought him out unscathed. Daniel was used by God in a mighty way.

His gifts and favor with God emerged even in the harsh environment of the Babylonian captivity. He excelled when forced to learn the language and literature of his captives. He kept to God's commandments, and statutes even as he was persecuted for it. Has persecution ever happened to you in your family or at work just because you wanted to follow God? God blessed Daniel with revelations about the course of human history. These revelations were and still are shocking!

He was able to have the comfort of knowing that his people the Jews would be restored to their homeland seventy years into the future. God gave him a glimpse of the empires that were and would rule the region:  Babylon, Persia/Media, Greece and then Rome (Daniel 8:20-22 & Daniel 11). Daniel described in his writings, through the symbols that God had given to him, the eventual collapse of these regimes. But that's not all.

Daniel imparted to us a timeline for the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Daniel 9:24). Forever, highlighting in yellow, the plan that God had to send His Son and when! The Book of Daniel is also prerequisite reading to understand the final book in the 66 book collection that is the Bible. Of all places, I recently got to explain this to a couple that I knew when in a library parking lot near my home.

I was running into the library to return some books that my husband had borrowed, when I ran into Michael*and his wife Jill*. Michael is a well-known political figure in Westchester County, NY. He and his family have been involved in local politics for a long time. He is also well-known by some as a shameless flirt. It seems that the charm and power of his position had enticed more than a few woman throughout the years. However, today I found a different Michael. He had gotten quite a bit older since I saw him last, and he had purposely called me over to ask a question about the Bible.

Apparently, Michael, not a church-goer, had picked up the Bible and rather than read the whole thing he just skipped ahead to the end. I have been known to do that while pressed for a deadline during my school years. Anyway, he was deeply disturbed by the images and ideas that he found in the book of Revelation. His first comments to me on the subject were an attack.  Having done his share of drugs as a young man he told me that he was sure this Apostle John, who wrote the book, must have been high on something.

I asked him had he "read the Book of Daniel?" "No", was his reply. I told him that "in order to understand  the book of Revelation, it is essential to have read the book of Daniel." Further, that "the images and ideas in the Book of Revelation run as threads throughout the whole Bible." I explained that "highly sensitive information has and always will be cloaked in secrecy. Symbols, codes and secret names have been used in every culture and nation on earth, especially during times of war. What bigger war is there than the battle between God and Satan, good and evil. So, is it any surprise that the Books of Daniel and Revelation, which heavily deal with such matters would be written that way?"

Daniel, was able to behold one of the greatest wonders of his time, the city of Babylon. The splendor of the Babylonian Empire extended to science, technology, and architecture to name but a few of its' accolades. Babylon, or present day Iraq, again came to prominence under the former dictator Sadam Hussein, who often referenced the glory of that former empire in referring to his own achievements.

Daniel was truly a visionary because he saw, with God's help, much more than those who live in the moment do. He saw beneath the surface of his situation and beyond the grandeur of ancient Babylon. God gave Daniel a picture of Babylon, Then and Now because it represents and points to the ultimate battle of good and evil that has and will continue to be waged for the souls of humanity. Many of the things and types of things that occurred in Babylon need to be understood so that we may be able to understand the prophetic events that are unfolding now and in the future. God did not want us to be ignorant of these events and told us to be watchful.


* the names and a fact is changed to protect identity.

Assyria,Then And Now

So many crazy things are happening in the world. Has it always been this way? It might have been but, the stakes are high with intercontinental ballistic missiles, and advanced biological warfare among other things. International intrigue is part of the history recorded in the Bible. Why would that be? Furthermore, the Bible contains predictions of future intrigue to come.

It has been determined that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un's half-brother, Kim Jong Nam was not only slated for execution by his own half-brother, but the agent used to kill him was none other than VX nerve gas. This happened at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Right now (March 2018), the trial of two young women who committed the murder is underway. Were they recruited by the North Korean government or just two foolish women who got drawn into what they thought was some sort of reality game show? What about the North Korean military base in Syria? What are they doing over there?

Meanwhile, halfway around the world in the United Kingdom, a similar incident has occurred. A former Russian double agent and his daughter are fighting for their life in a hospital. The toxicology reports have indicated that a similar substance, a nerve agent, was used. Nerve agents work by attacking the central nervous system and result in organ failures in what is a painful death. They were banned by a treaty among some nations (Chemical Weapons Convention of 1997). That is because they are cruel killing agents.

They also remain present in the environment for a long time and can continue to sicken people even after their initial application. Who can forget the horrible pictures of 5,000 dead Kurds at the hands of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 1988? Mostly, women, children and the elderly, their deaths showed the evidence of the devastating effects that these highly toxic chemicals can have. The nerve agent rumored to have been used in the Salisbury attack is called "novichok" meaning newcomer. This is perhaps ten times more powerful than any nerve agent thus known. It s a new class of toxin created by Russian scientists. One of the creators was so alarmed that he told the world of this new nerve agent before defecting to the United States.

President Trump will move the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018. The date of the grand opening will coincide with the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the modern Jewish state. This, as Israel's enemies plot and plan to disrupt and ultimately destroy this tiny country. Russia, Iran, and Turkey seemed poised to take their place in the ever-increasing power vacuum of the Middle East. China is doing a lot of business there too.

The United States is increasing its handprint in the area as well. We recently shot down Russian military units hostile to Israel in Syria resulting in the death of people involved in military operations. Forces all around this little democracy in the desert are gathering weapons and making alliances with the express purpose of killing the Jews. With that in mind, the United States has just finished joint military maneuvers with Israel to practice for a war on multiple fronts and from multiple neighbors.

What interesting parallels exist between current events and the bible study that I am doing at home. Every morning, my husband and I read the Bible before our days' work begins. We have just finished the part of the Bible (Kings and Chronicles) that tells of  the historical battles that ancient Israel fought. What is happening today mirrors what I just read in the Bible. The chapters give record to the Jewish battle to survive amid continual battles fought with neighbors. Those devastating battles were fought with the progeny of the present day countries of Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey.

"The Assyrians came down like the wolf on the fold"-from The Destruction of Sennacherib by Lord Byron
In 1 Chronicles 5:26 we see the devasting unslaught that the Assyrians brought upon the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. The Assyrians were one of the most brutal empires ever known. Their barbarity created fear among those around them. They were formidable enough to battle the world powers at the time, such as Egypt, Persia and the Hittites. Much like today, we see the ancient Jewsish nation seeking to form alliances against their brutal enemies. The godly King Hezekiah tries appeasement in 2 Kings 18:13-16. Yet, evil King Sennacherib sends his awful message to the King of Judah telling him that he must surrender or be killed (2 Chronicles 32:9-19 & 2 Kings 18 & 19).

I am, by far, not the first one to have seen the similarities between ancient Assyria and the modern Islamic State (ISIS). Everything from the territory they had conquered during the height of their power to the shocking torture and brutality they inflicted upon others has vast similarities. Although ISIS appears to be defeated at the moment, the Word of God does prophesize a coalition of many nations cooperating in an attack on Israel in the future. Many of the alliances described in prophesy exist today. The ancient enemies of Israel plus some novichok like Russia seemed closer than they have been for a very long time to the scenarios described in the Bible when speaking of the end-times. If you don't read the Bible the insane machinations in the Middle East just don't make any sense.


P.S. To learn more about why we should support Israel scroll down and read my post from 2016 entitled:" Report from the Jerusalem Post Conference 2016."

Next Week: Babylon, Then and Now

Is Love All You Need?

If love was all that we needed, then why are so many people miserable after following that philosophy? The feelings that we have that draw us to another person are very powerful. Let's explore this for a moment. God has divinely created a powerful inclination within us to couple. It is so powerful that, like driving a racing car you can quickly get into a wreck if you don't know how to drive it. The consequences to ourselves, our families and communities are powerful, it is essential that we understand this. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"-Jeremiah 17:9

Shannon* is a case in point. Her very messy divorce (chronicled in Love Gone Wrong) left her hurt and broken. She tried to hang tough but she was very afraid of the depression and anger that now engulfed her. Her husband took her for everything that he could and hooked up with a younger woman. When someone has a trauma such as this, it is critically important to process everything that occurred and make some sense of it. This is not easy of course. "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."-3John2

In order to move on, Shannon has to understand the lifelong pattern that she has of being lead of her emotions. Jõao* is the same way. He loves to be in love! He loves that all-encompassing, all-powerful sexual, and emotional feeling that he gets when he mets a new woman and falls for her. It becomes his obsession. He will text that woman all day, and spend every waking moment thinking about her. He seems to only really be happy though during the early romantic chase and quickly falls into drama and dysfunction soon after that. "How blessed is the man that finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding."-Proverbs 3:13

Many people think Jõao is a player but, they don't really understand that he has just been looking for love in all the wrong places. I met Jõao at a Bible study some years ago. He came to church seeking answers after he became separated from his wife. He felt as if he had been used and abused after he had given his wife Amanda* everything. He made good money as a plumber and had gained favor as a contractor on many expensive construction projects in Westchester County, N.Y. He and Amanda used to be living the good life but now it seems that he is spending all his money on lawyers. "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us--how will he also, along with him,graciously give us all things."-Romans 8:31-32

Just as in the case of Shannon, Jõao is being driven to unsatisfying relationships because of patterns in his life that he constantly repeats. He and Shannon both make decisions about love by what their feelings tell them. "I can't help how I feel. You have to be sexually attracted to someone don't you?" Over the years, I have had people tell me that : "I only date (tall,short, big this, small that, blondes, brunettes, black, Asian or well-dressed people)." The list goes on and on : she/he must be (confident, financially successful, handsome, beautiful or do what I like sexually). "Enter ye by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it."-Matthew 7:13

None of these criteria will ensure a happy ending for your romance. You could be acting out a childhood trauma. Do you find yourself declining a date with a person who is godly, nice and whom you have lots in common with, only to find yourself on a date with some type that you seem to be stuck on (see above list)? This is something that you should reflect upon. There is a better way. If you want better relationships and you are willing to do some spiritual and emotional work things can get better. The roads to a bad love life are many but when we follow God and do things His way, healing comes into our love life.  "The Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire."-Isaiah 58:11


* the name is changed

Flu Cure

As many of you know, there are a multitude of places in the world which are dealing with terrible and life-threatening strains of the flu. The dominant strain this year is the Influenza A : H3N2 strain, and the flu shots are not very effective against it. I have thus far read reports of cases in: Australia, China, Korea, the U.K. and in the United States. I have also read about the severity and speed with which this illness has sickened and killed many people of all ages. Chances are that wherever you live on this planet (I have readers all-over the globe) you may know someone or have heard of the flu hitting somewhere near your vicinity. Visits to doctor's offices and other medical settings for flu symptoms this winter 2017/2018 surpasses every year since 2009/2010 in the United States. This is something that effects us all, and we need to slow down the speed of disease transmission.

With this flu season adding up to be a serious one, we need to remember all the things that our mothers told us. Remember to cover your mouth when coughing and your nose while sneezing. Even if you do not have the flu, this will help ensure cutting down the rate of disease transmission. Wash your hands frequently. Be conservative when you feel ill. In other words, stay home from work, or don't attend a party, if you have some inkling that you might be coming down with something. Don't send your children to school to infect others either.  You may be strong enough to overcome the flu but what if you or your child infects someone and they die from it? As a Christian, thinking this through does come under the banner of Christian caring.  We are to remember, what the Bible says in Luke 6:30 -"and as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

As believers, let us try to be in the forefront of caring for one another. Make sure to ask an elderly neighbor or family member how they are doing and if there is anything that you can help them with. Are you willing to lend a hand to the aging population in your community or in your family? I know that it is not easy with your busy schedule but it is part of the social contract and the mark of Christian virtue in your life. Romans 15:1- "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves."

With all that is at stake we as Christians ought to be in the forefront of this dialogue. Talk to your child's teacher or school administrator and ask what sanitizing methods are in place to stem the tide of flu transmission. Some schools in the United States did a poor job of being proactive resulting in a large number of student sickness and even some school closings. Let's try to prevent that from happening especially when we know that young people have died from this flu strain.
Matthew 25:44-45- "They also will answer, 'Lord when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."

While you are at it, let your Pastor or one of the elders at your church know of your concern for the health of the congregation. I once got the flu at a gym so remember to mention your concern the next time you work out. Don't forget to have a hand sanitizer for the next couple of weeks. When in doubt use it. Avoid shaking hands and ask your boss to recommend working from home to those employees who might be sick. Bring alcohol swabs to work to sanitize any shared surfaces such as door knobs, and shared computers. If enough people speak up in their spheres of influence, we might be able to make some positive contribution to slowing the spread of the flu. Hebrews 6:10- "God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them."

Most importantly, let us all commit to praying daily over this matter. The power of God to protect, to heal and to save is just a prayer away. "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up. And if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."-James 5:15

The Hymn Wars

There are hymn wars going on in some Westchester County, N.Y. churches. Some churches love and tout the virtue of their old-time hymns while other churches wouldn't be caught dead playing anything written before the year 2000. On my part, I feel like a kid caught between its' two divorcing parents. Why? Because, I love them both! Yes, my dirty little secret is out. I have never met a song sung to the Lord that left me cold. Just like a child caught in the middle of a bad parental divorce, I hate it when each side bad-mouths the other.

When Lisa* invited me to her marriage re-dedication ceremony, at her new church, she gushed more over the churches' music than her husband. When I asked her what motivated her to leave her old church after fifteen years, her reply surprised me. Well, she said, the music is so amazing! I never liked the music at my old church. People sway to the music, they clap their hands and I am inspired!" She never did explain what she was inspired of.

Bill* was the exact opposite of Lisa. Bill had moved in with his son in Eastchester, N.Y. because he needed a little help. At 77 years of age his health issues necessitated moving in with family and living in a whole new community. He had been born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. and it was with deep regret he would be leaving behind friends at his church that he had known his whole life. His son, who did not attend church, was very supportive in helping his father find a new church home. The problem? The rock band / rock concert atmosphere of many of the churches he visited.

He told his son Dwayne*, five minutes after arrival at one such church, that he simply could not stay because he felt that the Church music might do permanent hearing damage to them both. He even followed up Monday morning with a call to a local environmental agency to check if it were even legal to play music that could possibly cause health damage to its' congregants!

Discussions concerning church music can get quite contentious with people passionate on either side. Some decry the lack of theology and focus of modern Christian music. Those folks feel the lyrics, sound and lightening often add up to a man-centered rather than a God-focused worship. On the other hand, those in the other camp disagree. Claiming instead, that some in the younger set don't even understand some of the antiquated language contained in some of those old hymns.

People on both sides agree that music often effects Church attendance and that various music modes can aide or detract from a Sunday worship service. What both camps never seem to focus on or understand is the damage that they are doing to the greater body of Christ. Would you deny the elders among you the comfort, understanding and closeness to God that they derive from hearing their childhood hymns?

Or what sensible grandparent in the group would rather their grandchild hear a raunchy and ungodly mainstream music lyric and not offer them the alternative that most modern Christian music can bring. Today, Christian artists are singing hymns to God in all the major music genres. These songs offer Godly perspective on the issues of our day. Oh, but the older hymns, while not as issue driven do offer quiet contemplative direction to the listener.

Get the point? This issue is creating segregated churches. You will see churches with primarily a younger congregation, with a few hipster senior citizens involved. Or, there are the churches with a primarily older congregation with a few young people peppered in. Any mature Church of God should be age representative of the community at large. You should see young to old represented in the pews. Jesus Christ declared that he wanted us all to be one in him. Why would we stop going to Church because we don't like the music? We would we oppose having opportunities for people to experience music that might be more understandable to them?

Selfishness, appears to be the answer. Sometimes in our quest for our perfect church experience, we forget what church is all about. We forget how different generations can enhance and teach each other many things. We have forgotten what it means to be a family in our greater society and so, we bring that to all our institutions, including our own churches. The church, on its' part, must be ready to teach godly principles of living, including the concept of serving others. To many people today service to others is some esoteric philosophical value.

Many have grown up in families which did not show what service to others really meant. Some may be in jobs or professions where it just seems to be "every man for himself." Our churches have a real opportunity to teach, nurture and set people in the proper direction. We must take that mantle of responsibility seriously and stop making things like music an obstacle to being closer to one another. Why not try to enjoy each other's music, so that we may better serve one another.









*names have been changed.

The Anatomy Of A Sin

Just as my husband and I were getting caught up in all the fun of Christmas activities, the harsh reality of sin reared its' ugly head. We had just finished dinner in a well-known French restaurant in Westchester County New York. Even though Jean-Jâcques Pâtisserie serves some of the best dessserts in Westchester, tonight we would not partake. Instead, we were looking forward to a party that evening at Church that was billed as "Christ, Carols &Cookies." We were laughing about, I don't remember what, as we walked out into the restaurant parking lot. Our mood immediately changed as we saw a large minivan maneuvering strangely right beside the front of our car. The Anatomy Of A Sin! Running toward our car I realized that the driver had just hit our car and dislodged its' bumper. I looked at his license plate number and partially memorized it. As he was about to leave the parking lot, I ran up to the car and frantically called out to the driver.

"Excuse me, excuse me" I said, "but I think you hit our car!" He rolled done his window and in a less than innocent way remarked, "oh, I didn't think I did." The Anatomy Of A Sin! After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence (where I felt as if I could see the inner workings of his conscience contemplating what it should do), he said "I guess I ought to take a look at it." He then proceeds to back his car up until the car behind him, (trying to exit the parking lot), honks because he's about to hit them too!

He tells me that he will exit and then circle back into the parking lot so as to let the cars out behind him. He was skittish,very skittish. At this point, I wondered if he was about to flee. After all, if we had come out to the parking lot one minute later than we did, we would not have caught him in the act. Further, although I feel he was hesitating at the parking lot exit, he had been about to leave when I caught him. No note on the car or anything and he was leaving. The Anatomy Of A Sin

Happily, he did indeed come around, get out of his car and examine the damage. My husband and he, both tried to get the bumper back into place to no avail. We exchanged names and telephone numbers at this point. His name was Jotham Hull.* I definitely was not on the ball that night, all caught up in the holiday season as I was, or else why was I so stupid? I didn't even get the man's full license plate number. He could simply have given us some phony name and telephone number. To my defense, I have never had a fender bender before. A friend later advised me that the thing to do in such a case would be : to take a photo with my phone of the license plate.

As we assessed the damage, I wondered aloud if we would make it to church that night or should we just head home. This seemed to peek Jotham's interest. He remarked, "are you going someplace?" Feeling nervous to reveal anything of a personal nature to this man of a questionable character, I reluctantly related our Christmas party plans. And, from that moment on, I sensed something in his demeanor change. A lightening up perhaps.

I told Jotham that I would take the car to a local body shop and get an estimate of the damage and then call him. Jotham assured us that he would take care of the bill. I thanked him. His response was that "of course I will take care of the bill, after all wouldn't I want someone to pay for damages if they had hit my car?" Furthermore he remarked, "my son just had his car damaged in a train parking lot. Someone hit his car and then just drove away. It cost a thousand dollars to fix it!"

Jotham seemed to be saying all the right things, but was he being truthful or just trying to throw us off the scent? I wondered if mentioning Church and alluding to the holy had not kickstarted his conscience into operation. I would not know the answer until a few days later. In the meantime, I wondered a lot about what is the Anatomy Of A Sin? How does the wrong that we do in our life come about? Is it just the way we are, the way we were raised or something else? When does what we have learned and practiced become our responsibility? After all we all do have a free will. 

The word sin connotes missing the mark, as when a spear thrower or archer fails to hit their designated target. If you think of all your actions as archery practice, it is very easy to understand how you could not possibly hit the target every time. The Bible confirms this and says, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of the Lord -Romans 3:23.  Sin is part of the human condition and we all do it. In fact, I have always been amazed at the fact that you can't read very far in the first book of the Bible before you read about sin, i.e., the Garden of Eden, and Cain and Abel.

God said to Cain : "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But, if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it"-Genesis 4:7. This is the situation in a nutshell. Sin is ever-waiting to ensnare us. It is always at the door waiting to come into our life. We have to realize that fact and get a hold of ourselves the way Jotham apparently did. According to the mechanic at my body shop, there is no way that the driver of the car that hit us did not know that he had almost dragged our bumper off. The Anatomy Of A Sin!

Yet, what made him almost drive off and leave the scene of a collision? What made him hesitate at the exit? He may have saw us and assumed that we had gotten his license plate number. Or, perhaps, he went through a battle with sin and won. I have reason to believe it is the former and not the latter, because a few days later when I called the telephone number that he had given me, he did answer the phone. Then, he had complete mastery over any sin that may have been present. He happily took care of the repair bill, assumed moral responsibility and apologized profusely for putting a damper on our Christmas holiday. He told me during that phone conversation, that he was a committed Christian. I was amazed if not speechless.

Dear readers, to be a Christian does not make us perfect. We are and always will be sinners. Knowing what is right and choosing to fight and rule over our very nature will produce victory in our daily life.  We can do this with God's help. Jotham said that he hoped to see us sometime at Jean-Jâcques Pâtisserie in the future, and I could honestly say that I hoped so too. Jotham even sent us a New Years's card with a very nice message. Isn't this the way every auto collision should end?



* the names have been changed.