Forbidden Fruit?

Psalm 27:14

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

“You never know.”   Brent Spiner as Bob Wheeler on Night Court

Julie and I are on our way home from The Big Apple – New York City after a couple days there. Just that fact that we went is still somewhat surprising to me!

I started out in acting, and one would think New York would have been my destination. I had friends, however, who tried their luck in the Big Apple and came back as apple sauce.  One just couldn’t handle the lifestyle, and the other just couldn’t make it there, even though she’d done very well in Chicago.

Between that and my own misgivings about 911, who did what when, etc., that there were no terrorists, no planes, and our government did it to us, and the controlled implosions of the three buildings, well, I just wasn’t sure I wanted anything to do with it.

Lest you think I’ve drunk some Konspiracy Kool-aid, I’ll tell you I saw a billboard in two spots in Manhattan advertising a documentary of some sort where requests for public records have been stonewalled, and these questions are being raised in the open. One was on one of the Times Square jumbo-trons!  However…

…I have not come to “bury” New York, but to praise it. We had a good time.

The only reason to go was the chance to meet a former colleague, and Australian who came from Down Under on a “splurge” vacation with his wife; Bob and Marilyn.

We took a tour boat around the southern part of Manhattan, got close to the Statue of Liberty for photo ops, then got off near One World Trade. Bob and Marilyn wanted to go up to the observation deck and visit the memorial.  Julie and I went along; we figured they’d come a LOT farther than we had, so…

The view was spectacular, but the vista was so grand that I had a hard time seeing it all as being real. It felt like a could have been watching a projection.

The memorial site was impactful. If you’re not familiar with the memorial site, Google it.  I don’t think I could write a description to do it justice.  There were signs reminding people to remain respectful, so it was an area of reflection.

Yesterday we were on our own and visited the USS Intrepid, a WWII aircraft carrier. We also saw the shuttle Enterprise in an enclosure on the aft flight deck.  As a bonus – for me anyway – underneath Enterprise was the original shuttle craft Galileo from the original Star Trek series, fully restored.  For the record, I was NOT more impressed by it than Enterprise no matter what Julie said!

The last thing we saw there was one of the last diesel subs before the nuclear fleet started being produced; the USS Growler. It was the first ship to carry guided missiles, a forerunner of the Cruise missile.  It took 15 minutes for a practiced crew to unload them from their containers on deck and set them up to fire.  Their guidance systems were about as powerful as what you’d find most kids’ toys today.

So that was our visit to NYC. I never thought I’d leave North America once upon a time, but ended up going to England twice, Scotland, Paris, Germany, Strasbourg, and Puerto Rice twice.  I never had a real desire to go to NYC.  Friends had gone and returned.  The reputation for crime held me back.  The size, the crowded conditions, etc. all had me thinking it wasn’t going to happen.  I’d never have a reason to go.  Ever!

Then two friends from Australia make vacation plans there, and there I was; New York City! It was better than I expected.  I still don’t think I would like living there, but I know I could, if it came to that.  There are some fun restaurants; Serendipity comes to mind!  As a pedestrian, the auto traffic can be entertaining, especially with the horn blowing.  I did NOT get a chance to use my favorite al Pacino line; “HEY!  I’m WALKIN’ here!!”  Probably just was well.

Saying goodbye to Bob and Marilyn, I told her how I never thought I’d find myself in NYC. I never thought I’d see Bob again.  This was likely the last chance we’d ever have to meet up like this.  But Marilyn made the point of this article.

“Don’t say that! You never know what’s to come.”

That got me to thinking how true that is! All of the travels I’ve had to Europe were never expected.  The chances I’ve had to serve God and my fellow man, like Terence, have always come at the most unexpected times (see ELABORATE PLANS; https://jeffreyhking.wordpress.com/2015/12/28/elaborate-plans/).

When I met Julie, I was so very lonely, thinking I’d never find a spouse, but then she came along. What seemed impossible or at least improbable happened wonderfully (talkin’ to you, Beauty)!

I wasn’t able to meet up with another friend, but have a raincheck for the next time I’m in New York. After Marilyn’s sage observation, I think it’s possible.  Even though it did take me 59 years to make it this time!  Maybe I’ll see her and ol’ Dodgy Bob again, even though he’s 67 and I’m going to be 60 next year.

Wait on the Lord. What should happen will.  You just need to keep your eyes open, don’t worry, and be patient.  God gives us all opportunities to give and opportunities to receive.  The more you can focus on giving, the more you’ll enjoy and appreciate the surprise receiving.  Because, guess what?

You never know!

America and Syria; Closer than You Think

“So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel.”   Numbers 25:3

“Then the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Ba’als and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Syria…”   Judges 10:6

What do America and ancient Syria have in common? Nothing comes to mind?  That’s because, until now, the media have ignored and buried this story; The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave is going to erect a life-sized replica of The Temple of Ba’al in Times Square.  Our allies across the pond will be doing the same thing at the same time in Trafalgar Square, downtown London, right in front of their National Gallery.

“Next month, a symbol of Biblical paganism which was stamped out after monotheism appeared with the patriarch Abraham will rise in two of the major cultural centers of the world, London and New York, the New York Times reported.” Breaking Israel News, March 29, 2016

Lord Byron would be awfully put out!

ISIS destroyed the 2000 year old original in Palmyra, Syria last August to the howls of archeologists the world over. In a show of…what? Solidarity? Sympathy? The US and British governments have decided to erect permanent, carefully reconstructed copies in two of the greatest cultural centers of the world. Maybe this is a case of hitting back at Ken Ham and his full scale ark replica.

“Using a database of thousands of photos, the Institute for Digital Archaeology will create a full-sized, 15-meter tall, 3D-printed replica of the entrance arch to the Temple of Palmyra, one of the few elements of the destroyed temple still standing. The pieces will be made off-site and then assembled in place in London’s Trafalgar Square and New York’s Times Square.”

I guess the media feels safe cracking the lid on this as “next month” from the article is this month, April. It’s a fait accompli. Try and stop it now.

No, I don’t suppose anyone is going to start worshipping Ba’al again…right away. But I suppose we’ll know when that does start happening. The historical record is quite clear on the hallmark traits of Ba’al worship. Let’ see now; there’s…

“…burning babies alive and bisexual orgies…Promiscuity was not penalized, as unwanted children could be offered up to the god, nor was procreation valued, as homosexual relations were encouraged. Pantheistic, they worshipped Mother Nature while rejecting the concept of a creator.”

Imagine a society that is perfectly fine with promiscuity and killing unwanted babies that result from carefree sex! Wait, that’s…

US(A)?

At least we don’t burn the babies alive. No, we cut them up alive inside the mother and use a medically-approved Hoover to suck them out. Unless, of course, we can make a little extra cash on the side, pulling them out whole and THEN cutting them up to sell their parts for medical research. To save lives. If you’ve never quite gotten the hang of irony, just keep re-reading this paragraph. It’ll come to you. Sarcasm for dessert.

The former Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, Rabbi Lord Jonathon Sachs, is quoted thusly;

“A tsunami of wishful thinking has washed across the West saying that you can have sex without the responsibility of marriage, children without the responsibility of parenthood, social order without the responsibility of citizenship, liberty without the responsibility of morality and self-esteem without the responsibility of work and earned achievement.”

So perfectly expressed, that is the appropriate end for this post. All that’s left for me to do is paste in the link so you can read the article yourself.

http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/64582/temple-baal-ancient-idol-worshiped-biblical-times-will-stand-times-square-biblical-zionism/#AR0QadhfqiPdbpuy.97