What Have We Done?

When asked, “What religion and/or denomination are you?” I would usually reply “Christian and/or Independent Protestant.” Over the years we have attended a slew of churches: Independent, Baptist, Alliance, Pentecostal, Methodist… you get the picture. Where we felt God lead, we followed. Almost four years ago, for the fun of it, my family and I visited a Messianic Synagogue a couple times and had a blast. Our weekends were pretty jam-packed and we were members of a Baptist church at the time, so we didn’t go back.

About a year and a half ago we left that Baptist church and have been on the lookout for another place to worship. Twice we thought we found what we were looking for but after six months or so we went our separate ways. In our town, churches are slim pickin’s. There are the mega churches, the wanna-be mega churches and maybe five teeny-tiny ones.

Where to go, we asked ourselves. Then we remembered the Messianic Synagogue that we visited a while ago. We had to rearrange our schedules but decided to try it again. It was a little bit different from the previous time; they met in the basement instead of the sanctuary (a Methodist church lends their building to them) and they have a different Rabstor (Rabbi/Pastor) but we liked it. The Shofar is blown. Men and woman both wear the Tallit (Jewish prayer shawl). Blessings are given to the children. Messianic songs are sung and prayers are said first in Hebrew, then in English.

My family and I- we’re not Jewish. We speculate we may have Jewish heritage, but none of that has been proven. We are very much Gentile, if you catch my drift. Yet, I have always been drawn to Judaism and Jewish history. At first I only read about the religion for a novel I was writing, but now it fascinates me. I always thought that if I didn’t believe in Jesus, I would convert to Judaism.

So, I guess this Messianic Synagogue gives me the best of both worlds. Jesus is the center of it all and it is Jewish. I hope to post more about our adventures in regards to this new way of worshiping.

Ban on Male Circumcision Proposed in California City

Ban on Male Circumcision


Santa Monica – Residents in Santa Monica, CA may be voting on a new ballot initiative in 2012. The group, MGM Bill has a proposal that would make it a a misdemeanor to circumcise a male before age 18. Female circumcision, or also called female genital mutilation, is already outlawed in California and the U.S.

Jena Troutman, a spokeswoman for the group MGM Bill and founder of the website wholebabyrevolution.com, says males should get the same protection from genital mutilation as females. She notes that the bill they are proposing is identical to one that already prohibits female genital mutilation.

The proposal contains no religious exemptions and has raised questions regarding a possible First Amendment violation.

Peter Eliasberg, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said the measure might pass a First Amendment challenge. "If there is some support [among medical doctors or psychologists] for the idea that circumcision hurts children, the government could do this," he said.

However, David David Lahrer, a Jewish leader, told the Los Angeles Times in an article published Tuesday that the proposal “takes the notion of the mommy state to a ridiculous extreme.” He even stated that “it probably touches on being anti-Semitic.”

But Troutman takes the constitutional argument in a different direction stating that it’s an issue of equal protection as stated in the 14th Amendment.
“This bill is identical to a female genital mutilation bill that has already passed,” Troutman told Foxnews.com.

But Lahrer says that it is "idiotic" to compare circumcision to female genital mutilation.
Whether Santa Monica voters get their say on the measure or not, the campaign has already sparked heated debate.

“We just need 6,000 signatures. We are very optimistic," Troutman said confidently. "The whole baby revolution is sweeping the nation, and I’m trying to educate parents.”



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Personal Opinion:

I find it ironic that these are the same people who are okay with abortion. They want to protect a baby, just as long as its not in the womb.

Random Chanukah Thoughts

I wish that I could celebrate Chanukah, and other Jewish holidays too. I suppose that there is nothing really preventing me from doing it except my own ignorance of the holiday and laziness. Despite my belief that we have Jewish heritage, we’re Protestant and have never observed the holiday. I know some about it but not nearly enough to celebrate it properly. There is a Messianic Synagogue in town and we have attended it and could probably celebrate it with them, but the last few Saturdays have been too hectic to visit.

Thanks to my Mom, I first learned about Chanukah when I was a teenager. She had heard about it from my Grandma. Actually, the word “Chanukah” wasn’t mentioned at all; we called it the story of the Maccabees. Where Grandma picked up the story of the Maccabees, I don’t know, but early on in my parents’ marriage, she shared the story with my Mom. Then later on Mom passed it on down to me. When I started doing research about Judaism I learned that Chanukah was the result of the Maccabees. Not only that, I discovered that Chanukah was not the Jewish version of Christmas, as I had thought. It was a holiday that proceeded Christmas by several hundred years.

I wish my church, and all Christian denominations, observed Chanukah and the other Jewish holidays. I mean there is more of a Scriptural basis for the Jewish holidays than there are for the Christian ones. Jesus really wasn’t born on December 25; the 25th was originally a pagan holiday and the early church replaced that holiday with “Jesus’ birthday.” Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas and I do my best to remember Christ at this time of year. But I think adding Chanukah and the other Jewish holidays to our “Christian” calendar would increase our understanding of the Bible and the Jewish roots of our religion.

Whenever I study about Judaism, I feel closer to Christ. He was a Jew; He celebrated Chanukah, Purim, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, etc. I think Chanukah ought to be as respected and as valued as Christmas. Whenever I spot a menorah in someone’s window, I think “right on.” It’s something to be proud of and I wish that I could share in that pride.

Oh well, maybe we can celebrate it next year. Have a Happy Chanukah!

“The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Psalm 23 Mysteries,” by Debbie Viguie

Being a church secretary seemed like such a boring job… until the bodies started piling up.




Author Bio:
Debbie Viguie’s love for writing brought her from working as a church secretary to a successful career writing supernatural fiction. She is the author of “Midnight Pearls,” “Scarlet Moon,” and “Charmed: Pied Piper,” and the young adult “Sweet Seasons” series. She also is co-author of the New York Times best-selling “Wicked” book series. Debbie graduated from the University of California at Davis, where she majored in English. She and her husband, an attorney, live in Hawaii. For more information about Debbie Viguie and her books, visit her website: http://www.debbieviguie.com.





Book Description:
As church secretary Cindy Preston prepares for the Easter service, she literally stumbles across a dead body in the sanctuary. A prominent church member has been stabbed to death in the locked church. With whispers and suspicions surrounding the members of the congregation, Rabbi Jeremiah Silverman next door, helps Cindy search for the truth. As Easter Sunday draws near, the pressure mounts when the killer leaves clues that more deaths should be expected. Fighting against time, the rabbi and the church secretary work together, learning more about each other and their faiths as they seek to expose the truth. But what secret is the rabbi hiding?

My Thoughts:
Finally, a book in the Christian market that isn’t dripping with unrealistic romantic mush! I am not a big fan of fictional murder mysteries (I like to watch TV shows and movies on the subject) because on the whole they’re more about romance than the mystery. “The Lord is My Shepherd,” follows Cindy Preston and Rabbi Jeremiah Silverman from the moment they discover the first body, onto the friendship that develops between them as well as the developments of the case, to Easter Sunday when the murder is solved. Despite the suspicion of others, Cindy and Jeremiah maintain a platonic friendship that could evolve into something more, but with both being devoted to their faiths, it won’t be likely unless one of them has a change of heart. Another thing I liked was that Cindy wasn’t out to convert Jeremiah and his congregation; the faith aspect of the book was subtle, but more genuine than most of the Christian fiction that is out there.

Veronica Goes to Confession

1. I never wear shoes when I’m at home. In fact, I go around barefoot whenever possible.
2. I can make a strange purring sound at the back of my throat like a cat does.
3. The first time I ever kissed a boy I was seven and in the first grade. Hopefully I won’t get sued for sexual harassment. After all it was only on the cheek.
4. I can still put one of my ankles behind my head.
5. The more I study Judaism and Jewish history, the closer I feel to Jesus.
6. I’ve borrowed so many books and movies about Nazism and the Third Reich from the library, that the librarians think I’m a Nazi.
7. I love to eat peanut butter sandwiches with kosher dill pickles on the side.
8. Swing/Big Band is my favorite genre of music now.
9. My life is a cross between “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and “Little Women” with a side of “Secondhand Lions.”
10. Growing up I read too much “Sweet Valley Twins, ” “Goosebumps” and ridiculous romances that I neglected the classics. So I have to go back and read the great authors of the past.
11. Give me a good war movie or holocaust film rather than a romance any day.
12. My favorite movie is either “Little Women” with Winona Ryder or “Sophie Scholl: The Last Days” with Julia Jentsche.
13. I hope someday to write a coming of age series based in Indiana.
14. Though I love to write, I often speak with bad grammar. It’s just part of who I am.
15. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the world than in the Wabash Valley, Indiana.

New American Girl!!!

Hey all, guess what! There is a new American girl coming out, named Rebecca Rubin. She is a Russian-Jewish immigrant who lives in New York in 1914. Written by Jacqueline Dembar Greene. According to wikipedia, characters Samantha Parkington and Nellie O'Malley are to be retired, which is unfortunate and they will be missed. But I think this new character sounds really exciting. Anyway, here's the titles of the books in Rebecca's series and a description of each book.

Meet Rebecca
Rebecca Rubin is a lively nine-year-old girl growing up in a big Jewish family in New York in 1914. She dreams of becoming an actress, but her parents and grandparents have traditional ideas and don’t think young ladies should perform. When Rebecca learns that her cousins in Russia are in great danger and must escape to America, she puts on a show to raise money–until her disapproving grandmother steps in. Unexpectedly, Rebecca finds another way to earn money. But for her plan to work, she’ll have to keep it a secret. Includes an illustrated “Looking Back” essay about Jewish immigration and culture.

Rebecca and Ana
At last, Rebecca’s cousin, Ana, has made the long journey from Russia to Ellis Island. It’s crowded with two families living in one small apartment, but Rebecca is happy to share everything with Ana. At school, she is determined to help Ana learn English. But when the teacher tells her to include Ana in a special performance, Rebecca panics–Ana’s broken English will ruin the show! As the big day draws near, Rebecca learns an important lesson about what matters most. Includes an illustrated “Looking Back” section about urban schools in 1914.

Candlelight for Rebecca
Rebecca is troubled when her teacher assigns her class to make Christmas decorations. Rebecca’s family is Jewish and doesn’t celebrate Christmas, but her teacher says Christmas is a national holiday, for all Americans to celebrate. Yet Rebecca knows she’s as American as anyone else, even without celebrating Christmas! She wants to please her teacher, but she’s sure her family will be upset. Then, on the first night of Hanukkah, Rebecca finds kindness in an unexpected place, and learns the real meaning of the holiday season. Includes an illustrated “Looking Back” section about Christmas and Hanukkah in 1914.

Rebecca and the Movies
On her tenth birthday, Rebecca can hardly believe it when her cousin Max, the actor, invites her to come to his movie studio! Although her parents don’t approve of actors or movies, Mama relents and says Rebecca may go. When the camera begins to roll, Rebecca finds herself facing an opportunity she never imagined in her wildest dreams. Does she have the nerve for it? And what would her parents say if they knew? Includes an illustrated “Looking Back” section about the early days of silent movies.

Rebecca to the Rescue (In the description for the boxed set, it says Rebecca Saves the Day)
Rebecca is thrilled to spend a day at the Coney Island amusement park with her cousins. If only Papa hadn’t put her bossy brother Victor in charge of all the games and rides! Fuming, Rebecca resolves to show Victor that girls can do anything boys can do. When the boys tease and laugh at her, she and Ana decide to leave their brothers and have fun on their own. Then the Ferris wheel gets stuck and Ana disappears–and the girls get more excitement than they bargained for. Includes an illustrated “Looking Back” section about Coney Island in 1914.

Changes for Rebecca
Rebecca thinks it’s a grand idea to make a movie with her cousin Ana, but when gentle Ana plays the role of a cruel factory boss, the fun turns sour. Later Rebecca goes to the factory where Ana’s brother and father work, and she’s horrified at the terrible conditions-but she knows the workers desperately need their jobs. There’s got to be a way to make things better at the factory, and Rebecca is determined to do her part–even if it means marching straight into danger. Includes an illustrated “Looking Back” section about the labor movement in Rebecca’s time.