Year 2, Day 244 (Have We Really Become So Jaded?)

The other day there were multiple protests/attacks on our embassies in the Middle East, more specifically, Egypt and Libya. Ironically this occurred on 9/11, yet our inept media outlets, such as CNN, even have the audacity to ask if the attacks were related?! Not only were they coordinated with one another, but with the date thay were to take place. In Egypt, it's reported that Ambassador Anne Patterson did not permit the Marine guards to have live ammunition. In Libya, Ambassador Christopher Stevens and several others were killed in the attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. What infuriates me is that our Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, actually made the statement that Libyan citizens were "carrying the Ambassador to the hospital." Just because she is clueless about Middle Eastern culture doesn't mean the rest of us are. I have not gone to school and studied their culture, but I do have a better understanding then the majority of people I know.

I'll let you in on how I've come to this basic level of understanding: the Bible. For Christians, and their pastors, in America - which has their origins from a European mindset, but deeply rooted from a Greek/Roman cultural mindset - and study from the Bible - which was written in a Middle Eastern mindset - yet expect it to make sense, is not only absurd, but also futile. For example (and this will shed some light on current events), for the Libyans to drag the body of Ambassador Stevens through the street is not only an insult, but the severest form of disrespect and desecration. It's in the Old Testament.
Muslims demanded that we honor their religious practices when Osama bin Laden was killed. The Muslims are not stupid. They are not even brilliant. But they use against us what we ourselves fail to use: common sense. They know we have a predominately "politically correct" society; they know we want to "honor" other religions and not offend them; they know that we have judges, lawyers, and lawmakers that are sympathetic to the Muslim religion, and want to be sure they are afforded certain leniencies in a court of law, that the rest of us would be fully prosecuted for. The Muslims know all of these things... and exploit them! Think of the states whose courts allow for Sharia Law exemptions. So much for separation of Church and State.

There is a reference I have made in the past when talking about the U.N. making resolutions against Iraq (and Saddam Hussein) in the years following Desert Storm, and I think it still holds true today for us. Many of you remember the Looney Toons cartoons. There is one where Bugs Bunny is confronted by Yosemite Sam. Bugs draws the line in the sand and tells Sam, "I dare you to cross this line!" When Sam does, Bugs draws another line and repeats the same words, the process is repeated several times.

We are Bugs, the Muslims are Sam.

Only this time, Bugs Bunny is the one that will fall off the cliff.

Year 2, Day 236 (This Week Is Nearly Over)

Today, being the Sabbath, is a much welcomed day, not only for its benefit of rest, but because it marks the end of this past week... which I do not care to repeat. Ever. I have found that when I spend time in the Scriptures daily, and try diligently to do no work on the Sabbath, but focus more upon G-d, the week I have just completed seems like a burden lifted, and the week to come is less stressful. This past week, though it was an anomaly, I view as more of a test. As servants of HaShem (God), and believers in Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah), we get spiritual tests in order to strengthen our faith and refine our character.

Though this past week was low on the productivity scale, HaShem gave me a peace and joy regardless of the sitting I had been doing, or the sudden hurdles that arose. Just so I'm not misunderstood, serving HaShem is a joy, not a burden... and He is certainly NOT a "quick fix" for all your problems. It takes devotion, study, and perseverance. Anything of a spiritual nature that can be fixed right away, won't last for very long. When we stay devoted to our studies, and keep our hearts focused on The Holy One, Blessed is He, then over time we can reflect upon our lives and attitudes and see what positive changes had transpired... we can see how our lives have been - and continue to be - transformed, by seeking His guidance, and studying His Scriptures for a deeper understanding of who He is. By doing so we also gain a deeper understanding of His Commandments (there's more than just 10).

If you have questions, feel free to drop me a line. I may not be a Torah scholar, but I will try to seek an answer, and send you in the direction that will give you your own deeper understanding of The Scriptures and their meaning.

Year 2, Day 212 (On The Final Stretch)

I had hoped to make it to the customer last night before I shut down, but with the hours I had available - and the various delays along the way - I ended up shutting down in Ripley, TN, just 15 miles away and only 7 minutes left on my logbook. I parked at a Walmart for the night only because there was no truck stop. Once I started moving around this morning, and had read today's section of this week's Torah portion, I made my way to the customer to do a drop & hook. I had to make a stop in the North Little Rock terminal to take care of a few things before heading home.

I have enjoyed having Nathan with me for these last few weeks. I was rather bummed than I was unable to secure a load that would take us to the northwest, but at least he was able to get into Canada. This may be a difficult year for my wife and I, for the simple fact that Nathan - the youngest of four boys - will be graduating from high school this upcoming school year. His plans are to go to college, but it's still hard because we will be faced, after all the years, with the "empty nest".

Maybe we'll throw a party.

Year 2, Day 201 (A Re-Start On The Sabbarh)

After making my way to Mt. Juliet, TN yesterday to re-power a load, I shut down in Knoxville, TN and decided to get a re-start here. I may have put more work on myself by doing so, since the load is due in Bethlehem, PA at 1000 (ET) on Monday, but I felt it was more important - for me, anyway - to honor the Sabbath... a day of rest. I actually feel more rested and at peace today, after spending all afternoon getting caught up on my readings of The Daily Dose Of Torah, and especially after reading this week's portion with my son Nathan. I find myself more relaxed, especially since I have pushed out all work-related thoughts, and focused more upon HaShem, and more importantly, how I can seek G-d's guidance to be more of a positive influence in a society presently riddled with negativity.

It says in Scripture how we are to always remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy (Exodus 20:8 is the first place where this is mentioned), and I've always jumped at the opportunity to shut down for the Sabbath, and, basically, "unplug" from whatever circumstances are going on around me, yet if there is a chance to share with another about what my studies have taught me, I want to be open and receptive to the guidance of HaShem's Spirit to do so.

May you all be blessed.

Year 2, Day 166 (A Revelation During Torah Study)

John and I arrived in South Bend, IN just as we ran out of hours for the day. He lives about 30 minutes away, in Michigan, so I allowed him to go home for the night. I must have been pretty wiped out from yesterday, since I didn't even hear my alarm go off this morning. Instead I awoke to the sound of John opening up the door. He climbed in, cheerily saying, "Good morning, sunshine!" I replied with a "Bah, humbug!" to which he handed me a Starbucks cup... that only makes for a tolerable morning. What would have made it a good morning is if that cup were being handed to me by my wife, Tikvah.

We left out around 0945 and continued heading west. I had us make a stop at the terminal outside of Gary, IN. I took a shower at the Pilot last night in South Bend... but they didn't have any laundry facilities (not good!). It worked out, kinda, because I did get my clothes washed at the Gary terminal, but the dryers: one was out of service, and the other was not far from it. So I did what any Marine would do - improvise, adapt, overcome.

On the way, I engaged in this week's Torah portion (Numbers 13:1 - 15:41) and the accompanying Haftarah (Joshua 2:1-24), to which the Spirit of The L-rd opened my eyes to a parallel between the two that was not brought up in the commentaries. In the Torah portion, you can see where The L-rd is preparing to lead the Children of Israel into the land that He promised them, at the original time. However, the Children of Israel wanted to sent in spies to check out the area beforehand, to which HaShem acquiesced. There were 12 leaders that were chosen: one from each of the tribes, except Levi (for that, there was one taken from Manasseh and one from Joseph). Of those 12, 10 of them gave their report from a negative standpoint, which lowered the morale of the rest of the nation. The two that gave a positive report were Caleb and Joshua. That's when the "40 years of wandering" began, because the nation chose to believe the negative reports. Then, 40 years later, when the Haftarah took place, the leader, Joshua (also the successor of Moses, and the same Joshua who gave the positive report), sent in spies. Though this time it was onlytwo - symbolic of the 2 spies that were obedient, and stood strong in their faith to the word of The L-rd.

I found that parallel to be quite interesting.