​Today we have arrived at the fifth month on the Hebrew calendar. It is called Av, and its literal meaning is "father." It is said that this month is the low point on the Jewish calendar because on the 9th of Av the people of Israel chose to believe the negative report from ten of the spies who scouted out the Promised Land. Because of their unbelief in the power and faithfulness of God to do what He promised, a cycle of devastating events has taken place over the years on this very date. The enemy of their souls took advantage of their agreement with his kingdom and has used it to bring about devastating moments in history. These include the destruction of the first and second temple, the expulsion of the Jews from England and Spain, the deportation of the Jews to death camps in 1942, and the beginning of the expulsion of the Jews from Gaza. I can only imagine what the Jews in Israel will be thinking as they remember the horrors of this day.
 
It was twenty years ago, between the dates August 15 and September 12 on our calendars, that twenty-one Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip were dismantled and about 9,000 residents forcibly removed by their own people. They were caught in an impossible position because Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and members of the Knesset agreed to unilaterally disengage from Gaza in the hope that giving the "Palestinians" their own strip of land would lead to peace. The Jews left behind beautiful orchards, fields of grain, and greenhouses that produced most of Israel's produce and flowers. So much was grown that the bounty was shared with the world. It is still inconceivable to me that all of the growing areas were destroyed by those who moved in.
 
Least anyone wonder about the Jews' claim to the land in Gaza, let us remember that both Abraham and Isaac lived in Gerar. (Genesis 20:1 and 26:1 and 17) Gerar is located in the modern-day Gaza Strip. Josephus tells us that Simon Maccabee started a Jewish settlement in Gaza. Also, there was a large Jewish community living in Gaza between 10 and 220 AD and in the Byzantine period between 330 and 1453 AD. During World War One the Jews were deported from Gaza, but they returned in 1970. Under the direction of Israel's Prime Minister, Golda Meir, they remained there, building communities and supporting themselves through the planting of trees and flowers, and the construction of greenhouses. The thought that the implementation of The Disengagement Plan would lead to less terror attacks and greater levels of security proved false. Shortly after the Jews were removed from Gaza, the Palestinian Authority took charge. Two years later, when Hamas seized control of Gaza, it became obvious that the fears of those expelled from Gaza became true. Their leaders have no respect for human life or property.
 
Israel is now at a crossroad. The success of the recent twelve-day war brings new hope that Israel's security may improve. There are those who want Israel to take back Gaza and develop a plan for the resettlement of it by the Jews. However, international opinion may not let this happen. In the meantime, as Av 9 (called Tisha B'Av) approaches, the Jews will fast for 25 hours, dim their lights, and cover the cabinet holding the Torah scrolls (called Aron Ha Kodesh) in black. The Shabbat following their fast is called Shabbat Nachamu or Shabbat of Comfort, and the period following this day is Menachem Av, the Comforter of Av. The readings from their Scriptures will be about comfort and consolation.
 
You may think there is no hope for the fifth month of Av, but this is not so. With the Lord there is always redemption! While it is true that the people of Israel have had much to mourn in their history, God's grace is greater than His judgment. The prophet Isaiah promised that there would be "the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isaiah 61:3) In addition, Zechariah gives us great hope. This is what he tells us: "This is what the Lord Almighty says, 'The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore, love truth and peace.'" (Zechariah 8:19) What started centuries ago with Israel's unbelief can be redeemed. Let us use this month as one to agree with the voice of faith. Let us believe God's promises and enter into His blessings for us and the people of Israel.

​I had no sooner finished sending out our email about Tammuz 17 and the significant events that occurred for the people of Israel on that date, when fire sirens began to blow. We were about to have our own Tammuz 17 encounter. The sirens got louder and louder until I realized fire engines were coming to the building we live in along with seven other families. A total of four fire trucks, including an aerial ladder truck, pulled into our parking lot. Along with them came an ambulance, three police vehicles, and two PECO trucks. One could smell the smoke from the fire that was coming from our next-door neighbor's condominium.
 
We learned later that the fire started when a charging cell phone exploded. The firemen put on their suits and then they went to work. First, they broke the bedroom window where the fire burned. Thick black smoke poured out of the window. The hose was attached to the fire hydrant and ran to the front door and up the stairs of the second-story condo so water could be poured on the fire. The lone teenager was out of the unit, but his cat was trapped upstairs. Four firemen went inside looking for her and were able to rescue her.
 
As I stood on my deck watching all the activity at our neighbor's condo, I began to wonder if we needed to evacuate and, if so, what I should grab and bring to safety. I could feel the panic begin to set in. Now, I know that Scripture tells us that our treasures are in heaven, but I confess that I have earthly treasures that I have collected over the years. I have multiple Bibles with personal notes in them, books that I have read and kept, and photographs showing treasured moments with family and friends. In addition, I have collected shells, rocks, and souvenirs from various sites I have visited. Then, there is my "Wesley" clock that God arranged for me to purchase after I fell in love with it at the store. I could go on!
 
I was put at ease when one of the firefighters yelled to me that he would like to come upstairs and check our bedroom to be sure there were no hot spots. He explained to me that there is a firewall between our units. It was doing its job of protecting us, which meant we did not have to evacuate. Praise God! Just after the fireman left, peace started to invade my soul as I remembered Scriptures. The first one that came to mind was Isaiah 43:1-3. "But now, this is what the Lord says—He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: Fear not for I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..."  
 
The Lord is our firewall! This word, I learned, can apply to construction or computer network traffic. In construction it is a fire-resistant wall that compartmentalizes a building. In computer transmissions, it is a barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted one. My attention has now been shifted to all the people in our nation who are dealing with great loss of loved ones, homes, and possessions from floods, hurricanes, fires, and volcanoes. The losses are staggering! In these times, it seems that tragedy slips by “our firewall.” This is a mystery, locked in the heart of God. Yet, we must not negate the Word of God because of tragic circumstances. Faith assures us that He will be with us during heartache. Psalm 144:2 still applies. "He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer my shield in whom I take refuge..." He walks with us in all seasons of life and lifts us up to help us travel through what may look like impossible situations. This week, may I ask you to join me in prayer for all those who have been traumatized by great loss. May the God of Israel and our Lord and Savior bless them with peace, guide them with wisdom, assure them of His love, and redeem all that has been lost.

Tammuz, the fourth month on the Hebrew calendar, is significant for the events that took place and the lessons we can learn. Today I want to highlight the seventeenth of Tammuz that starts a three-week period that ends on the ninth of Av. (Av 9 is another significant day that goes down in history as a day of infamy.) The three-week time period between Tammuz 17 and Av 9 that we are now entering has become known as "The Dire Straits." Observant Jews will set the three weeks aside to repent and ask for forgiveness from God for the sins of their fathers. Five catastrophes occurred in Biblical history on Tammuz 17.
 
Here is how the prophet Jeremiah describes the three weeks called "The Dire Straits." "Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: She dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: All her persecutors overtook her between the straits. (Lamentations 1:3 - KJV) The first of the five catastrophes occurred when the children of Israel came to Mount Sinai. Moses was with God receiving Torah. The Israelites became impatient and decided to make their own god. They collected and squandered the wealth God had arranged for them to take from Egypt to make an idol—the golden calf. God's desire was to see His people prosper, but because they did not know their true identity, they worshiped a false god.
 
During "The Dire Straits," the daily offerings brought to the first Temple were suspended in 586 BC. This is because Nebuchadnezzar's army began their siege of Jerusalem. It was in 70 AD that the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Roman Empire during the second Temple period. Prior to the Bar Kokhba Revolt, a Roman military leader named Apostamos burned a Torah scroll. This burning set a precedent for the burning of Jewish books and Torah scrolls throughout the world. Finally, the sanctuary of the Temple was desecrated when an idolatrous image was placed there. There is controversy over who did this. Some say the Babylonians, while others say it was Apostamos.
 
How can remembering these events help us to move out of seasons of difficulty that seem to repeat themselves during similar periods of time each year? As I said before, we must recognize our true identity in Christ Jesus. Because we are God's children, we have favor with Him and the ability to break out of destructive patterns in life. Our enemies are defeated foes because of our position in Christ. "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6) In addition, we are told in Romans 8:37 that "...We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." 
 
Since we are grafted into the family of God, the enemy of our souls may try to disrupt our lives with conflict and disasters during this same time period. He wants us to agree with the decrees of his kingdom rather than the decrees from the Kingdom of Heaven. We must be vigilant not to allow the schemes of the enemy to take hold of us. The power of the risen Christ is available to everyone who believes and confesses that He is Lord. Our confession must be, "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me...forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14)

​Our founding fathers knew that God was orchestrating the destiny of America. The plans they made for our future were heavily influenced by this truth. On July 4, 2025, our president started a celebration of the 250th anniversary of our nation which will occur on July 4, 2026. It is common, as we come to a crossroad, to look back in history and forward in time. We must learn from our past and plan for our future.
 
I hope that we can agree that our Founders were deeply influenced by Judeo-Christian principles. They recognized that God's hand was with our fledgling nation to protect and encourage us. They overcame impossible odds only by the help of God. The liberties that we have clearly come from the God of the Bible. On July 4, 1776, our nation declared through its leaders that it would no longer be a colony of England, but an independent nation. Leading citizens, at their own peril, signed the Declaration of Independence. Fifty-six members of the Continental Congress willingly placed their signatures on this document giving Britain notice that they would be the leaders of an independent country. The last sentence of the Declaration of Independence reads, "...for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."
 
In our 249 years of living out what some called "The Holy Experiment," we have had a multitude of challenges and struggles. Some of these have made us forget our "high calling" to take the gospel of the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth. Others intentionally embrace a divisive spirit and worship false idols. Rifts between people groups in our country have tested the rule of law and made some forget the importance of personal responsibility and the dignity of an individual. The prophet Micah gives us direction through the words in Chapter 6, Verse 8 of his book. "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." 
 
On July 4, 1926, Calvin Coolidge spoke in Philadelphia, PA, to acknowledge the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. He said, "If we are to maintain the great heritage which has been bequeathed to us, we must be like-minded as the Founders who created it. We must not sink into a pagan materialism. We must cultivate the reverence they had for the things that are holy. We must follow the spiritual and moral leadership which they showed. We must keep replenished, that they may glow with a more compelling flame, the altar fires before which they worshiped."
 
The words that President Coolidge spoke in 1926 bear repeating. We must remain true to the principles upon which our nation was founded. As President Trump began to celebrate the anniversary of our country, he reminded us that "We are one nation under God." The milestone anniversary that is coming upon us could be an opportunity for a national reset. It is a reminder of the importance of our faith in God and that none of the blessings we have received can be maintained without thankfulness to Him. Our responsibility is to educate the next generation about our founding and the sacrifices that were made to secure our freedoms. We must reflect on our nation’s freedoms and give thanks to God for our Judeo-Christian roots and all the blessings that He has poured upon us. Let us remember what we are told in Psalm 33:12.
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord..." Amen!