Glad to find Michael Reed McGowan !

Actually, my wife last week ran across facebook posts (from his TikTok account, it appears) by Michael Reed McGowan.

I'd long ago put facebook 'WAY on my back-burner.  O.K. maybe for short quips and memes ...but no format for long-form, thoughtful interaction: especially anything of Spiritual import.

I further discounted facebook's value after Mark Zuckerberg announced (just before Trump's inauguration) that facebook would no longer use third-party fact-checkers to keep harmful misinformation off his platform.  To me, that indicates facebook puts no value whatever on THE TRUTH (John 14:6).

But then my wife ran across MRM's posts: short and direct videos that contrast scripture's teachings with those of today's American "Christianity."

They may not be strictly theological "Christian values," or charismata, per se: but I have to think God is the Author of  "commonsense" and "honesty"...and is pleased when we give or receive such wisdom.

There is so little of either in American Christians' current discourse, and we are overwhelmed with the contrary kind.  So I highly recommend Michael Reed McGowan's facebook posts.

https://www.facebook.com/mikemcgowannyc

Gaza

 

Before the Battle of Mons Graupius in northern Scotland in 83 A.D., the Roman historian Tacitus attributed to the Caledonian chief Calgacus a speech in which he famously said Roman armies "make a desert and call it peace."

The above is a photo of Gaza, taken in February this year, months before Israel's current "final push" to wipe out Hamas, which Israel's leaders say is the only way to secure peace.

Not quite desert yet...but getting there.

But Gaza makes me remember most of all Jesus' lament over Jerusalem as He went to death at the hands of its leaders, Roman and Jewish:

"If you had known...the things which make for peace !  But now they have been hidden from your eyes" (Luke 19:42).

The many photos of Gaza also remind me of Jesus' characterization of the enemy, that "...the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." (John 10:10).

Does today's Israeli campaign in Gaza mirror Calgacus' words about the actions of Rome's armies ?  Of Jesus' words about satan's actions ?