A Christmas Story

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate.

He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through. Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up.

"Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy, I'll just go." "Not without something hot in your belly." George said. He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew ... Made it myself. When you're done, there's coffee and it's fresh."

Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me, be right back," George said. There in the driveway was an old '53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and my car is broken." George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold, the car was dead.

"You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away. "But Mister, please help ..." The door of the office closed behind George as he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting.

"Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good." George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night. He turned and walked back inside the office.

"Glad I gave 'em the truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ."

George thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it. "Well, at least he got something in his belly," George thought.

George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the block hadn't cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can fix this," he said to聽 himself. So he put a new one on. "Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't going to drive the car anyway.

As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."

George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention. "Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease. "Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for his back. "These ought to work."

He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance." The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio.

He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area." George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain't gonna leave you."

George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your gonna be right as rain."

George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked. "None for me," said the officer. "Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same time.

The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun. "Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before. "That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt." The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now give me the cash!" The cop was reaching for his gun.

"Put that thing away," George said to the cop, "we got one too many in here now." He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that pea shooter away." George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time.

The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last week."

George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can."

He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out."

The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer." "Shut up and drink your coffee " the cop said.

George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn. "Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer. "Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?" "

GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man. Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran." George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other.

"That guy work here?" the wounded cop continued. "Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?" Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks for everything."

"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve some of your problems." George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box. "Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."

The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need."

George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's something for that little man of yours."

The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier. "And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that too," George said.

"Now git home to your family." The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."

George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you left?"

"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"

"Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and besides I was gettin' a little chubby."

The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor. The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and not take any for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man." George was taken aback by all this stranger had said.

"And how do you know all this?" asked the old man. "Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again." The stranger moved toward the door. "If you will excuse me, George, I have to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."

George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room.

"You see, George ... it's My birthday. Merry Christmas." George fell to his knees and replied, "Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus" Merry Christmas!!

THE TEMPLE MOUNT, THE NOBLE SANCTUARY, AL AQSA MOSQUE, DOME OF THE ROCK

By Gaby Kouchacji with Jason and Toni Kouchacji

 1. First, Let’s Clear Up the Confusion! 

 There has been considerable news in both the broadcasting and print media, going back many months and years, discussing the tensions and violence in Israel and in the Palestinian Authority’s territories. Much of this has centered recently on Jerusalem’s Old City and the sacred shrines within that area which are of considerable religious and historical significance to Jews and Muslims (and Christians).

Our readers are seeing many references to such places as the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Temple Mount, among others, so we will try to clarify the importance of these sites and why they are now generating so many headlines. Whether in the historical context or the present day turmoil roiling around these sacred religious sites, there often is no clear idea about exactly what is being discussed. So, let’s take a look at the “stars” of this very serious drama and tell you who they are.

The area that has been fought over for many centuries is known as the Temple Mount by Jews (and most Christians), and as the Noble Sanctuary (Haram al-Sharif or Sarif, OR the Haram al-Qudsi al-Sarif, meaning the Noble Sanctuary of Jerusalem) by Muslims.

This relatively small expanse comprises about 180,000 square yards in total size, and makes up about one sixth of the Old City of Jerusalem. It's importance for Jews is that the area includes the Foundation Stone, said in the Talmud to be the place from which the world was created, and then expanded into its present form. And, it is also the site of the First and Second Temples with the First one having been reportedly started by King David and possibly/probably finished by his son, King Solomon. The “Western Wall,” also called the “Wailing Wall”, is the only visible remaining remnant of the Second Temple and, according to most rabbinical authorities, is the holiest accessible site at which Jews can offer up their prayers.

For Muslims, there are three structures within the Noble Sanctuary sacred to Islam, all of which were constructed during the early Ummayad Caliphate. The first is the Al Aqsa Mosque, near where Muhammad ascended into Heaven on his “Night Journey,” and is regarded as the third holiest site of Islam. The Mosque itself has a darkish silver/lead dome.

Nearby is the Dome of the Rock covering the Jewish Foundation Stone, and known to Muslims as the Rock from which Muhammad ascended to Heaven. This Dome also is called the Golden Dome because its round roof currently is covered by a mix of gold leaf strengthened by aluminum, and shows up on the Jerusalem skyline as perhaps the city’s most prominent feature.

The third structure is the Dome of the Chain, immediately adjacent to the Dome of the Rock, but much smaller. It is used as a prayer house, but neither of the two Domes are mosques.

Very often, the Dome of the Rock, which is more “magnificent” looking than the Al Aqsa Mosque, is confused with it and itself called the Al Aqsa Mosque. That confusion is compounded as many Muslims refer to the Noble Sanctuary containing all three structures as the Al Aqsa area. Al Aqsa translates from the Arabic as “The Farthest” Mosque in reference to Muhammad’s Night Journey. Note:

The Dome of the Chain covers a small area where “Solomon, son of David” is said to have suspended a chain between Heaven and Earth. The chain had the interesting characteristic of serving as a place of litigation/judgment. If two men had a dispute, only “the honest and upright man” could grasp the chain, but it moved out of the reach of the “unjust man.”

 2. Religious Significance for Jews, Muslims, and Christians

 We alluded to the importance of these sacred sites above, but that brief overview does not do the Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary area justice. As noted, the Foundation Stone, also called the Pierced Stone because it has a small hole in one corner, is considered by Jews to be the holiest object/site of Judaism. Traditionally, it is the spiritual junction of Heaven and Earth and Jews face in its direction while praying since it is the location of the “Holy of Holies” in the original Temple.

A cavern beneath the rock is known as the Well of Souls. The Temple Mount also was deemed to be the location for many important Biblical events, including the Binding of Isaac (when his father, Abraham, planned to sacrifice him), Jacob’s dream, and the prayer of Isaac and Rebekah. The Bible states that King David wanted to build a sanctuary there, but it was left to his son, Solomon, to either finish it or construct it in its entirety.

Various Jewish texts also predict that the Temple Mount will be the site of the Third Temple to be built upon the coming of the Jewish Messiah.

During the period of the two Temples, complex purity laws governed entrance into the inner court of the Temple with the prohibition: “Let no foreigner enter within the parapet and the partition which surrounds the Temple precincts. Anyone caught (in violation) will be held accountable for his ensuing death.”

The stone on which this warning is inscribed in Greek was found in 1871 and is preserved in Istanbul, Turkey’s Museum of Antiquities. After the Temple’s destruction, disagreements arose as to whether the site, without the actual Temple, continued to be holy or not. It was finally decided that the holiness of the Temple itself had sanctified the site for eternity.

There is some question among Judaic religious authorities, however, as to whether the Foundation Stone actually is under the Muslim Dome of the Rock (which non-Muslims are not allowed to enter), and that it may be located a short distance away. Regardless of these details, one can imagine the frustration and pain for Jews that the Temple Mount site came under Muslim control (largely from the late 600s A.D. to the present), and that they are barred from entering it along with other non-Muslims (more about that later).

For the majority Sunni Muslims of Islam, only Mecca and Medina are more significant than the city of Jerusalem and the above mentioned sacred sites of Jerusalem’s Old City. In fact, Muhammad enjoined his followers to face towards Jerusalem in the early years of Islam, an instruction that was shortly afterwards changed to facing towards Mecca and the holy shrine of the Kaaba.

The Prophet also began his Night Journey to Heaven from the Rock (now under the Golden Dome) and met with Abraham, Jesus, and other heavenly figures. The connection of much of the Muslim traditional lore to Judaism is evident in references to the Mount as being the site of a Temple that was destroyed, and Muslim scholars even have used Jewish Torah references to discuss the details of that Temple. Since the Crusades, the Muslim community of Jerusalem has managed the sacred sites of the Noble Sanctuary without interruption.

The Dome over the Rock was constructed in the 7th century to protect Muslims who wished to view the Rock from the elements.

The Al Aqsa Mosque was built in the 8th century and technically, or popularly, now incorporates the Dome of the Rock as part of its grounds. It was intentionally built to rival the Kaaba in Mecca and draw more pilgrims, and its design was heavily influenced by the Christian Churches in Jerusalem.

As we move into more recent history, the first major Jewish-Arab riots broke out in 1929 over the rights of access to the area which included these critically important sites for both Jews and Muslims (and Christians).

Since the creation of Israel in 1948, Muslims have feared that Jews intend to destroy Al Aqsa and replace it with the Third Temple, something which some Jewish extremists have advocated, but which successive Israeli Governments have never supported.

There are several Jewish groups which indeed have urged “moving” Al Aqsa to Mecca and building a new temple. Conspiracy theories abound on both sides (more on that later).

Christians also attach considerable significance and affection to the Temple Mount, connecting it with Herod’s Temple which played a key role in the life of Jesus.

At the age of 12, Jesus went to the Temple where he astonished Jewish theologians with his knowledge of the Torah (Luke 2:41-50), and later condemned the corruption of the merchants and money changers who used the Temple for their own profit (Matthew 21:12-17).

Jesus also prophesied the destruction of the Temple (Mark 13:1-2) which did finally happen at the hands of the Romans in 70 A.D. During the Byzantine era, Jerusalem was largely Christian and pilgrims came in large numbers to view the places where Jesus had walked.

The Byzantines also allowed Jews to live in the city again. When the Crusaders took Jerusalem in 1099, the Dome of the Rock was given to the Augustinians to administer. They turned it into a church, and the Al Aqsa Mosque became the palace of King Baldwin I in 1104. The Knights Templar, believing the Mosque to be the site of Solomon’s Temple, also set up their headquarters there for most of the 12th century.

Some Christians believe that the Temple will be reconstructed before, or at the same time as, the Second Coming of Jesus, but the site has not been embraced as a “must” for Christian pilgrims. Jesus was said to have discouraged attachment to any physical place for worship in such pronouncements as “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:21-24). That said, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount area, along with Bethlehem, Nazareth, and a host of other areas in the Holy Land, attract Christian visitors in large numbers.

 3. Modern Day Controversies

The above facts, traditions, and historical notes were meant to illustrate the centrality of the physical sites in Old Jerusalem to the religious beliefs of all three Abrahamic religions.

During the British Mandate of Palestine from the end of WWI to 1948, there were frequent tensions and unpleasant incidents between the Arab and Jewish communities revolving around the Temple Mount and Al Aqsa. Despite these difficulties, a number of positive steps were taken to restore the holy sites, including very extensive renovations by the Jordanians with funding from several Arab governments and Turkey.

The most significant change in the area’s status and administration occurred as a result of the 1967 “Six Day War” between Israel and several Arab countries which resulted in a swift Israeli victory and the conquest/occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordan. In order to defuse tensions, the Israelis almost immediately transferred authority over the Temple Mount and the Muslim shrines back to the Muslim waqf (religious trust) managed from Jordan.

Since then, Israel has maintained control of the area and expanded Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, but has maintained the sanctity of the arrangement with Jordan as regards control of all the holy sites in the Noble Sanctuary/Al Aqsa area.

Interestingly, the often highly controversial prohibitive rules on who is or is not allowed to visit the sacred sites received some support from Orthodox Jewish rabbis who forbade their followers from entering the Temple Mount area without first being purified (a long rite which is considered to be impossible to perform today and under present conditions). That injunction has not ended the controversies with other rabbis and even Jewish politicians in the Israeli Knesset (parliament) pushing for greater or even unrestricted Jewish access to the Temple Mount to prevent possibly irreversible “Islamization” of the area.

The Israeli Religious Affairs Minister, Eli Ben-Dahan, stated in 2013 that his Ministry was looking at “legal ways” to allow Jews to pray at, on, or near the Muslim sites. These “political” steps continue to be touted despite reiteration by three Israeli Chief Rabbis in 2013 and 2014 that “strict prohibition remains in effect (against Jews entering) the entire area (of the Temple Mount).”

All of this has fueled Arab/Muslim anger, much of it genuine, but some artificially inflamed by efforts to put more pressure on Israel to stop blocking a truly independent Palestinian State and, eventually, to return East Jerusalem and all of the West Bank to the Palestinians.

As this is written, almost daily stabbings and other acts of violence are being committed by Arabs in East Jerusalem and the West Bank against Israelis. Israeli police and military are likewise being criticized for “over reactions” that allegedly cause greater tensions between the Jewish and Muslim populations. There is considerable fear that the present deteriorating situation could become another “intifada” (uprising) by Palestinians against the Israelis.

In the center of this storm of controversy and violence sit the holy areas of the Temple Mount and the Noble Sanctuary, still revered and venerated, but at risk due to modern day struggles that threaten their originally intended sacred significance as places of worship.

Clocks

When I Was Eleven Years Old

I was eleven years old in 1963 and that year that had such a big impact on my life. It was during that summer of 1963 my Uncle Clyde Parsons passed away. His daughter, Peggy went to Highlands. She was a beautiful and very smart girl and graduated a year before I was a student at Highlands High School.

Uncle Clyde was buried in Augusta on a very hot summer day. At eleven years of age, this was the first time someone I knew had died and I was not taking death too well. After all it might be contagious. I couldn’t bear to go into the funeral home and stayed in the car. The next day at his burial my Mom had lathered up my hair with Vitalis and made me stand by the graveside. The hot summer sun in an open field made me feel like my head was on fire.

Only a month after this, an alcoholic man that worked for my Dad passed away. I always felt sorry for Ralph. I used to go to my Dad’s grocery store and work on Saturdays. Yes, I was only eleven, but Mom wanted me to have some “Dad” time. So there, at the store was Ralph, smelling like cheap liquor and Mail Pouch tobacco. He died of cirrhosis. Ralph had a good heart. He used to put his arm around me and call me his “little piss pot”, which gave me a bad case of the jibblies, but I knew he meant well. He was quite a character.

As I was an avid television watcher, I recall the horrible race riots of 1963 that occurred in Birmingham Alabama in April and May of that year. At eleven years of age I was far too young to know what actually precipitated the riot, other that Black people were being discriminated against and were rightly tired of this treatment. 

Film of the rioting was all over the TV news. In subsequent years it became worse, even spreading to the Cincinnati area. At age eleven I did not know any Black people. I felt bad when I went to the Zoo and saw "Black Only" drinking fountains and restrooms. Who knew at the time that I was witnessing history unfolding?

 
My Cousin Eddie’s father died in the summer of this year. My Uncle George was a grumpy old guy. By this time death seemed like it was everywhere. After the funeral we returned to Eddie’s home and spent the day with my Mom’s brother, Edward and my Aunt Annette, whom I called Auntie as it sounded less cumbersome. We sat around eating sandwiches and drinking Pepsi-Cola. Uncle George’s folded US flag and his glasses were on the buffet. My Uncle Ed gave Eddie the talk, “You are now the man of the house.” At the time Eddie was only twelve years old. Eddie and I watched The Invasion of the Body Snatchers on the 4 o’clock movie. It was a great distraction.

That was the same year my Grandmother moved in with us. She was 74 and a very big woman. She was in poor health and needed some help. I had no idea she would never be going back to her apartment. I’m sure she did not either. She and Mom took control of the TV during the day to watch Ruth Lyons and their “soaps.” I called her Dandy, because I could not wrap my two year old tongue around the word Granny. That name stuck. I can remember her vacuuming the floor and crying because her son,  Clyde, had passed away at the young age of 54.

Dandy took a turn for the worse in late Fall and she had me write a letter for her to send to her sister to tell her she had a relapse. What did "relapse" mean? It sounded frightening. She promised to give me her ancient Zenith table top TV with the 9 inch screen that was powered by vacuum tubes when she died. I did not want her to die. The TV is still in the basement.

November of 1963 came along and President Kennedy was assassinated. I was sitting in the library at Samuel Woodfill School when our principal, Sam King, turned on the public address system in time for us to hear Walter Cronkite say, “The President of the United States has just been shot.” This was so surreal. I remember thinking wow, this could not happen. After all we were living in modern times. It was 1963! We were scurried back to our classrooms and found our teachers crying and hugging us. Within the next few minutes the announcement came on the intercom that President Kennedy was dead. We were sent home from school immediately. The rest of that week and that weekend school was closed.

We spent the days glued to the television which was broadcasting the events of President Kennedy’s passing, the shooting of Lee Oswald and the President’s motorcade and funeral. All of this was in glorious black and white. I believe the whole world must have been in black and white back in those days, just like it was on Dandy's television.

By that December my Grandmother was taken out of our house by an ambulance to St. Luke Hospital and she never returned. Dandy spent her final days there. I believe she passed away from colon cancer. But I never really was told of her death because death was a taboo topic in our home. I came home from school one day and learned of her death because the death certificate strategically placed on top of our television. I was in shock. 

The bright light of this year was a wonderful teacher, Virginia Bohn. She was a middle aged, very nice looking lady and she was an awesome teacher. She was willing to try anything with her class. Although it was not in the curriculum she taught us some elementary Spanish. She had us all do square dancing. I would not admit it at eleven, but it was kind of fun to dance with the girls. Ginny Bohn read to us every day from books like Snow Treasure, Heidi, A Wrinkle in Time and Kipling’s Jungle Book. I still have horrible cursive script, but Miss Bohn certainly attempted to teach this to me. Bless her heart. She was a treasure.

This same year I learned to play clarinet. Jack Kaiser was never a great teacher, but he gave me a start and I thank him for that. The vocal music teacher was Mrs. Woolfolk. She peaked my interest in music, especially when she strummed her autoharp. Music became my happy place. Yes indeed; 1963, when I was eleven was quite a year.

From Out Of The Rubble

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the left also.” 

These words from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew were found permanently exposed at Ground Zero after the attack of 9/11.

This page of the Bible was opened to this verse and permanently fused to a chunk of steel that had been part of the World Trade Center.

This artifact was discovered in 2002 by a firefighter under the Tully Road, a temporary truck route that covered the last fragments of the south tower. The firefighter called out to a nearby photographer to snap this picture.

100 Year Old End Game - ISIS / ISIL by Glenn Beck

“I think this hour will change your perspective. It will also help you understand what’s really happening with ISIS and ISIL… What is the real objective,” Glenn said. “Out of all of the peace accords and the cease-fires and the nonviolent pledges, none of them ever get to the root of the problem, and that is the ‘why.’ Until the why is addressed, the cycle of violence and hate is just going to continue.”

So how do get to the root of the why? Glenn started with a timeline that many have probably seen before. It included the 2014 Israeli/Hamas conflict, the 2012 Gaza conflict, the Second Intifada (2000), the Fist Intifada, the 1968 Six Day War, and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. While most timelines documented the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would end there, Glenn took it a step further – all the way to the beginning of World War I.

 “The world is at war for the first time, and it is divided,” Glenn said. “You have the Allied Powers… and then you have in the purple the Central Powers. The Allies: U.S., Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Serbia. And then the Central Powers, the bad guys, if you will, of World War I: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire.”

Below is a map of detailing the Allied (orange) and Central (purple) Powers: According to Glenn, this map highlights the “root” of the Middle East tensions we have come to know today, and, for the purposes of this show, Glenn was particularly interested in the Ottoman Empire.

“This is the last time the Arab world had a united Islamic state led by a religious leader, the Ottoman Empire, the caliphate,” he explained. “The Allies knew the Ottoman Empire could shut down key shipping routes effectively and then cripple Britain’s economy, France. So they knew the Ottoman Empire was going to be a problem. They had to neutralize it.”

Glenn proceeded to show a map of “Ottoman Syria” – the area that made up the caliphate: “Here is a map from 1851 of the Ottoman Syria. It encompassed present-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel, parts of Iraq and Jordan. This is so critical that you remember this map because this map plays a role today,”

Glenn said. “Reestablishing these borderlines, it’s at the center of everything that is happening today.” Neutralizing the power of the Ottoman Empire was at the center of western strategy at this point in time. 

T.E. Lawrence (Lawernce of Arabia)

Great Britain sent an army officer by the name of T.E. Lawrence to the Middle East to convince Arab leaders to fight against the Ottomans. “He promised them absolutely everything, the moon and the stars and everything underneath,” Glenn explained, “including one key thing: Rule over a new united Arab kingdom of Greater Syria.” Lawrence was successful in recruiting forces, but Britain never intended to honor the promises he made.

Instead, Britain was busy negotiating with France about how to divide the region. After all, they needed to ensure no united Arab kingdom ever got in way of their economic and societal goals.

Here enters two men who Glenn described as “critical.” Francois Georges-Picot of France and Britain’s Mark Sykes led the negotiations between the two countries that resulted in a whole new set of borders. On May 16, 1916, Britain, France, and Russia secretly agreed to the Sykes-Picot Agreement. Below is a map illustrating the new borders:

“The Middle East was now fractured, which, if you keep it fractured, the British and their allies in the region can control it. They wanted it that way,” Glenn said. “So new lines were drawn, and these new lines never existed before. There were no countries like this before, but they existed under Sykes-Picot.” The Arabs were forced to accept the agreement, and, by 1921, modern problems were starting to manifest themselves.
To give the Jews facing persecution in Nazi Germany a place to escape to, Britain drew up a two state Palestine. “Two decades before Israel was officially declared a state by the UN, this was happening. Britain and France set the entire structure up for them,”

Glenn explained. “It wasn’t about the Jews, and it wasn’t about the Arabs. They were scapegoats.” The Arab leaders new the only way to consolidate power once again was to unite around a common enemy, and that enemy was the Jews.

Through the 1920s and 30s, there were a string of violent acts carried out against Jews in the region. It culminated in the 1936 Arab revolt against British peacekeeping troops.

The true motive of the Arab world becomes clear once you consider what happened in 1947. With the British mandate in Palestine set to expire, the Palestinians were finally offered exactly what they said they wanted: Their own land. A two state solution was proposed with 56% of the land going to the Jews and 43% to the Arabs. Jerusalem would be international territory.

Below is a map of the 1947 UN Partition Plan: The Jews accepted the deal. All the Arabs need to do is sign on the dotted line, and the land will be theirs. But, alas, they refuse. Why? Because peace with Israel means the Jewish scapegoat the Arabs were using to cultivate power suddenly goes away.

“If the Palestinian homeland was the goal for the Arab world, not the Palestinians, the Arab world, all they had to do was agree. But remember, the scapegoat goes away,” Glenn said. “If you make peace with Israel, that all goes out the window. So when they were presented with what they said they wanted and always wanted, the nation of their own, they said no. And then all hell broke loose.”

 As Glenn explained, there are five key points to keep in mind when considering the history of this conflict:
1. The Sykes-Picot agreement
2. The desire for a united Arab kingdom
3. The quest to regain control of ‘Greater Syria’
4. The western desire to maintain economic control of the Middle East
5. The Jewish and Palestinian people are nothing more than pawns in this larger game

After highlighting some of the little known details of the 1948 and 1968 wars, in addition to the dark history of Arab on Arab violence, Glenn drew the all-important parallel between this historical analysis and today’s world.

“I know I read about Sykes-Picot years ago when we were at FOX, and I put up on the chalkboard, and I said, ‘Hey, this is what’s going to happen to the Middle East,’” Glenn recalled. “But it didn’t all fall into place until I learned about ISIS and ISIL and the difference between ISIS and ISIL. Now, it all makes sense to me.”

The ultimate goal of the Arab world is return the Middle East to its pre-Sykes-Picot glory. How do you do that? By destabilizing the region. “You have to go after the dictators,” Glenn explained. “Our president and all of us have cheered when we got rid of the dictators in Egypt. Yay! A revolution, totally isolated. Libya, yay! A revolution, totally isolated. Iraq, yay! A revolution, totally isolated. Now we’re going after Syria. Yeah, let’s get him! Totally isolated. Who’s next?”

Earlier this week, Glenn explained the important distinction between ISIS and ISIL on his radio program.

While ISIS stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIL stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. What modern countries make up the Levant? Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and… Israel

“The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, that’s the difference between ISIL and ISIS. The L stands for Levant. It stands for this part all the way down to Egypt,” Glenn said.

ISIL's Goal

“They’re doing nothing but remolding the map closer to their heart’s desire and what they were promised 100 years ago. Now is their opportunity to achieve what they’ve always wanted from the very beginning, a return to a unified Arab kingdom—what a surprise, a caliphate, Islamic rule.” Until this region is returned to Arab control, the fighting will not end.

There is no easy or obvious solution, but, now more than ever, it is important that Americans and westerners understand the facts so they can understand the end game.

“Our responsibility is to first tell the truth, because you know what? You know who’s a pawn? It’s the Israelis, the Palestinians,” he said. “And the American people, the Canadian citizen, the British citizen, the French citizen, all the citizens of the world that have shed their blood and their treasure over there for nothing but a mountain of lies. Tell the truth.”

“Please, take this broadcast and spread it,” Glenn concluded. “This is important information. Before we rush into another war, we’d better at least know what this one’s all about.”

You can view the information and the video here. Source

Spiritual Revolution Day in Cincinnati Ohio

March 27, 1971 was Spiritual Revolution Day, at least in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Bearing the caption “Live Jesus Trip And Pop Concert”, this virtually unknown custom press documents some of the dialogue and musical performances of the event. An unidentified “special guest” gives the opening comments – I’m pretty sure it’s Randy Matthews. 

The group God’s Children provides two songs: ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Coming Home’, both in a piano-accompanied light rock style. 

They’re followed by a like-wow-man zoned-out Jesus freak who provides a few remarks on Christ’s imminent return and baptizing some converts from the concert in the river. He then introduces the band Maranatha. 

These guys are the highlight of the lLP, delivering two tracks of good basement electric-guitar-and-organ rock that includes some rough fuzz outbursts. One of the songs is Randy Matthews’ ‘Children Come Together’. It’s a low-fi sound like Wilson McKinley’s On Stage, but nevertheless quite cool. These guys were obviously quite excited, givin’ shouts of “if you love Jesus say amen!” and “one way!” between the songs. 

Side two continues with two more fine songs by Maranatha: ‘Country Boy’ and ‘God’s Creation’, both lengthy ballads with a rural feel. 

Lillie Knauls is next with a pair of contemporary black gospel numbers including Edwin Hawkins’ ‘Come & Go With Me’. 

Lastly, someone identified only as “a brother” (I’m quite certain it’s Randy Stonehill) does a brief a cappella song (a portion of ‘Baby Out Of Wedlock’) followed by closing in prayer. 

Back cover has a small pic of a flyer advertising the concert. Arthur Blessit, Glenn Schwartz and Larry Norman are listed but they’re not on the actual recording. 

Like Jesus Sound Explosion and Jesus People, this album definitely captures the spirit and enthusiasm of the times.    (The Archivist, 4th edition by Ken Scott)

I attended the event and most of the concert. So did my then girlfriend and future wife. I wish I could find a picture of the back cover. My Linny's picture graces it.

I am not certain why some of the names were omitted on the recording. The group called Maranata was comprised of a then unknown Randy Matthews, who was director of The Cincinnati Jesus House and a student at the Cincinnati Bible Seminary, Ted Baxendale, also a student at the Seminary. Both guys sang and played guitar. 

Their friend from California joined them on stage. His name was O.J. Petersen, a former biker from Los Angeles and friend of Arthur Blessit. O.J. played organ and sang on his song Country Boy. O.J. got his nickname because he became sober and his new drink of choice was...you guessed it; orange juice.

Rich Davis sang a song he wrote about creation. Randy Stonehill was the M.C. wearing his Superman T-Shirt and a top coat.

This poster is from Spiritual Revolution Day II

Lilly Knauls was a special lady. For the second Spiritual Revolution Day which occurred two years later I picked her up at her hotel and drove her to her rehearsal.

In late fall the recording was produced in the home of the fellow that did the live recording. I was there and helped my friends decide the order of the songs and how much crowd noise should be left on the soundtrack. This was back in the days when all recording was done on tape. The "producer" was handy with a razor blade and the tape which he spliced together.

It was a wonderful day and was the day that I and my girlfriend went to the Ohio River and were baptized.

The Lord Works In Mysterious Ways

                 

I had everything planned and had told my wife I would not be going to church with her on Sunday. My wife reminded me that Sunday was the Sabbath Day and hunting a trophy buck should not be part of the Sabbath.

1. I scouted the area all summer.

2. I searched out the best location for my tree-stand.

3. I set it all up a month ahead of time.

4. I trailed the herd.

5. I picked out a trophy buck.

6. Two days before opening day I rechecked every aspect of the hunt.

7. Everything was in place.

8. Sunday morning, I woke up at 2 am.

9. I put on my camo, loaded my pack, set out for my stand.

10. This was destined to be an epic hunt.

11. As I approached my deer stand.

I found this! I called my wife and told her I had decided not to hunt on the Sabbath and would meet her at church. 

The Sunday sermon was entitled "The Lord Works In Mysterious Ways".

The Hospital Story

A sweet grandmother telephoned St. Joseph 's Hospital. 

She timidly asked, "Is it possible to speak to someone Who can tell me how a patient is doing?"

The operator said, "I'll be glad to help, dear. What's the name and room number of the patient?"

The grandmother in her weak, tremulous voice said, "Norma Findlay, Room 302."

The operator replied, "Let me put you on hold while I check with the nurse's station for that room."

After a few minutes, the operator returned to the phone and said, "I have good news. Her nurse just told me that Norma is doing well. Her blood pressure is fine; her blood work just came back normal, and her physician, Dr. Cores has scheduled her to be discharged tomorrow."

The grandmother said, "Thank you. That's wonderful. I was so worried. God bless you for the good news."

The operator replied, "You're more than welcome. Is Norma your daughter?"

The grandmother said, "No, I'm Norma Findlay in Room 302. No one tells me shit."

The Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.” You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later.

- Author Unknown