In the Book of Genesis, Chapter 11 we read about the Tower of Babel, and how God said that because they had just one language and all the people were unified, they would be able to accomplish anything. In order to stop them from building the tower which was, in reality, an edifice to self-righteousness, God broke their unity by confusing them with different languages and scattered them all over the earth.

Subsequently, war and inter-personal animosity became world-wide.

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The level of animosity we have in the USA today is at an all-time high. Racial, religious, and political intolerance is rampant, exacerbated by technology which allows anyone to say anything they want to on the Internet. The real problem is that humans, for the most part, when hearing something told to them over and over, no matter how absurd it may be, will eventually accept it as truth.

And once they do, they won’t easily change their minds.

Add to this the innate iniquity (desire to sin) that we all have, as well as the self-indulgent society we have all been indoctrinated into, and you have a recipe for… well, for what we have today: disunity on a national scale.

Today we are hearing a lot about unity. And I believe it is a bunch of political rhetoric, meaning that it sounds nice but the reality is that it won’t ever come to be because there is an essential part of the formula for unity that is missing, from the top down, and has been absent for many years now.

That essential ingredient, that foundation, that keystone to unity is: compassion.

Today everyone wants you to talk to them with compassion for their feelings, but no one wants to make the effort to listen with compassion; no one wants to consider, if they are upset by what you say, that maybe you are feeling bad or having troubles! Hell, no- you said something I don’t like and therefore YOU are wrong!

In my many years in the corporate world, I have seen how filing a complaint with Human Resources (which used to be called Personnel, but they aren’t personable anymore) means that the first one to complain wins. No longer do we get together and try to work out our differences to form a closer relationship, no! Nowadays, you complain about me and I am wrong. Period; end of story; don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

There can never be unity without compassion. As I stated above, and which is confirmed many times in the Bible, humans are selfish, stiff-necked, and self-absorbed beings who want only to sin. The only way we can overcome sin is by following the way God tells us to worship, live, and treat each other. That is possible only because when we accept God and his Messiah, we are given the gift of the Ruach haKodesh (the Holy Spirit) which doesn’t force us to do anything but gently teaches and guides us to do what is right.

Compassion is not something we can demand: it is something we must earn, like trust, by first showing we have it for others. Then they will return it. Think of compassion as a beneficial disease, one that can be contagious, but yet it remains a rare disease.

I have no answer for how to create unity in the world, let alone just trying to get it started here in the US. We are really in trouble, and personally, I believe we are being judged by God for our sinfulness over the past 70 years (reminds me of the exile we read about in Jeremiah.) Ever since 1950, we have become more and more sexually perverse, more and more individually centered, and less and less nationalistic, to the point where today the government supports murdering children, sexual perversity, and has kicked God out of our society, schools, and courtrooms.

The best thing I can think to do is persevere and try to show compassion in how I deal with everyone, especially within the religious discussion groups I am a member of. It is so sad to see within many different groups, groups of so-called believers in God and Messiah, the animosity, intolerance, and lack of compassion they have for each other.

I mean, really? If those who believe in God and Messiah can’t demonstrate self-restraint, tolerance, and compassion for each other, then what chance does the world have?

I know all about not having compassion because I don’t have any. I can never be a Rabbi because I really don’t like people, and have little compassion for them. I especially have no patience for fools, but I try. That is the best I can do, and by trying, even if by accident, I will show compassion and that is (at least) something.

The problem is so few in the world today are even willing to try. People forget the old adage that when you point your finger at someone, there are 3 fingers pointing back to you. As Yeshua said, first remove the log from your own eye before telling your brother (or sister) to remove the splinter from theirs.

So, try being more compassionate in how you talk and even more importantly, how you listen to people. If someone is saying really nasty things, even as your blood pressure rises, control yourself and think about the times that you said mean things you didn’t mean but said because you were hurting. Mean people are always people in pain, and if we can remember that and deal with them compassionately, well, you will be surprised at how quickly they can turn around and return your goodwill.

Proverbs tells us many times that we should treat those who mistreat us with compassion and how a gentle word will turn away anger.

If only people would do that, but they don’t, so it is up to us, the ones who worship God, accept Messiah Yeshua and have received the Holy Spirit, to show them how.

Thank you for being here and please share these messages, subscribe to my YouTube channel and the website ministry, and remember that I always welcome your comments.

That’s it for now, so l’hitraot and Baruch HaShem!

I don’t have anything on my calendar to talk about today so I thought I would just check-in with you and ask how you are doing with all the mishigas in the world today.

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Oh, how are we doing? Well, thanks for asking: Donna and I are doing very well. We each have schedules that we enjoy. Donna volunteers twice a week at a local animal hospital specifically for native wildlife and is also on their committees for fund-raising and educational activities.

I post to this ministry three times a week, golf twice a week (weather permitting- it has been unusually wet this winter) and ride my bicycle three times a week. I also like to work-out once a week at Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventure, which is a sort of obstacle course in the air. If you’re interested, here is a link to a YouTube of me doing one of the courses: Steve playing Tarzan.

But how are YOU doing? With the polarization of Americans at an all-time high, animosity at an all-time high, and unity at an all-time low, not to mention the hyper-hyping of this pandemic, most everyone is ready to pop about 30 Prozac a day!

Oy! What a mess!

If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed and miss being able to get together with friends and family or travel, I have often posted how I believe that those who are concerned for their health should take whatever precautions they need to, but not force it on anyone else. Our governments, both federal and state, have taken charge of our lives and forced people to “be considerate”, i.e. wear masks and stop socializing in order to stem the spread of COVID, but really? Has it worked?

It’s been a year and the numbers climb every time we open up a little, so it seems clear, at least to me, that whatever we are doing is not stopping anything, it is just delaying it. Now with an “approved” vaccine, maybe once enough people have been vaccinated (and no, I have no intention of taking it) we will be able to get back to a normal life.

Of course, given the current level of racial tensions in America, not to mention how the recent election has been used to “justify” domestic terrorism (which is also at an all-time high), I can’t help but think that as badly as the economy has suffered due to the way the pandemic was handled, we haven’t hit bottom, yet.

I think there is still another shoe to drop.

So, nu? Where am I going with all this? Frankly, nowhere: I am rambling on and hoping that something will pop into my head, or maybe into your head and you will make a comment that can help us feel better.

I know that God is in charge, and I know, also, from having been “in charge” for most of my professional career, that being in charge doesn’t always mean running the show. Sometimes being in charge means allowing things to progress on their own, and then straightening it all out later.

I believe that the physical things we are suffering with now – racial tensions, political polarization, disunity, and rampant animosity- are just the outer covering for what is really happening, which is the spiritual judgment that is falling on this country. We have sinned against God for so long, in so many ways, that we are now going to feel his wrath. His justified and well-deserved wrath.

So how are ya doin? Are you financially OK? Are you in good health? Are you still working? Well, if you are OK with all of these things, thank God for that. But, still and all, you better buckle up, Baby, because the ride is just starting!

When you know what is coming, you can be better prepared for it, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually. If you are not a godly person, well what the heck are doing here? I mean, it’s great that you are, and hopefully, you will listen and repent. And if you are already a godly person, which is why you are here, then steel yourself, gird on that armor of God (Ephesians 6) and watch your “6” because when the stuff hits the fan, you won’t know your friends from your enemies.

We are just beginning to feel the birth pains of what is still to come. I don’t know if this is the final judgment, the Acharit HaYamim (End Days), or just a judgment on the USA for having rejected God, but it is here and you can’t avoid it. So, as I said, buckle up and try to last out the ride.

Remember that perseverance builds faith, and we can all use more faith, so look to the end and try not to let the current situation get you down. God is, ultimately, in charge and even though others think they are running the show, they aren’t and HE is!

And God will never abandon those who love him.

Thank you for being here and please subscribe, share these messages (yes, even this one) with everyone you know, and I always welcome your comments.

That’s it for now, so l’hitraot and Baruch HaShem!

Isn’t it sad how so many of those who profess to be Believers in Messiah and to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob treat each other like non-Believers do?

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We all see it, all the time: if someone disagrees with someone else, they first try to change the person’s mind, then they devolve into accusations, insults, and eventually berate the person, judging them as faithless or sinful or state that they aren’t really saved.

If you ask me, that is one of the greatest sins we commit against God- that’s right, against G-O-D! When we sin, any sin, it is not only against each other but, as David knew and said in Psalm 51, every single sin is first and foremost a sin against God!

And so often, actually almost all the time, the person sinning against another is doing so over a topic that isn’t even a salvation issue.

When I use the term “salvation issue”, I mean a topic that is a foundation stone of our forgiveness and salvation through Messiah Yeshua. For example, accepting that Yeshua (Jesus) IS the Messiah God promised to send is a salvation issue, but how to pronounce his name is not. Another example: faith that God does exist and that he is the one and only true God is a salvation issue, but whether or not we should celebrate traditional holidays that honor him or just the ones he told us to do (in Leviticus 23) is not a “make or break” salvation decision.

Praying to God using a name for him that you have always known to mean the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is not wrong. But, when you tell someone else when praying to the “Lord” is calling on the pagan god Ba’al, that IS wrong! God knows who we mean- he sees and knows the heart! And to tell someone praying to God that they are really calling on a pagan god is, well, I believe it is a sin against God. Why? Because you are telling someone else what God thinks. And, if you think you are right in doing that, I suggest you read the Book of Job; at the end of the book you will find out what God says about people who speak for him.

Spoiler Alert: God wasn’t very happy about it!

We need to treat everyone, Believer or not, in the way God says we should. That is one of the two main reasons he gave us his commandments: one is to know how he wants us to worship him, and the other is to know how he wants us to treat each other. Yeshua said the whole of the Torah is based on two commandments: to love God and to love each other, so when we have discussions, and yes – even heated discussions- we must NOT be like the pagans are and accuse each other of stupidity, lack of faith, or ignorance.

Even if someone is ignorant, it is not for us to tell them that.

For myself, if this helps at all, I try to always listen to what the other person says and verify their source. I learned as a Salesman (and I was successful at it because of this) that people will always tell you how to close them if you ask the right questions and listen to what they are saying. The same goes for discussions about God, the Messiah, or interpreting the Bible. When there are different opinions, you should listen and analyze what the other is saying, then approach each part of their argument, agreeing where there may be agreement, and when disagreeing, not telling them that they are wrong, but simply saying why you believe differently.

I can guarantee that you will rarely (if ever) win an argument by telling the other person they are wrong. The way to change someone’s mind is to first make them doubt what they believe, and that is done not by attacking them but by asking them why they believe what they do. Then, for each reason they give you, if it is based on incorrect information or is just plain wrong, don’t tell them that. Instead, tell them why you believe what you do, and make an excellent argument with proof of why you believe this way.

Then leave it up to them.

After having explained to them what you “know” to be right, it is better for all if you leave them believing something that is wrong and allow God to work on their heart. God gave everyone the right to make up their own mind, we call it Free Will, and when we try to take away that right we are acting against what God has done.

As the expression goes, don’t burn your bridges behind you, and when we have many different people in discussion groups discussing and debating about many different spiritual and theological issues, you don’t want to burn bridges for anyone else, either. I have seen too many people leave a group or ignore any further discussion about a topic because of the way someone has treated them.

We can’t afford to treat each other in a way that weakens the bond of brethren within the body of Messiah. It is enough to have the outside world attack and persecute us- do we really need to add to that by destroying each other? Didn’t Yeshua tell us that a house divided against itself cannot stand?

So, please, going forward be aware of how you deal with others in these inevitable debates about the Bible, God, and religious rites. We will always have people who disagree, but we can’t let that cause strife and division within the body of Believers.

Let me finish with this: when one person in a discussion begins to attack the other person on a personal basis, then all is lost. It is no longer a discussion, it is now a battle of pride. DO NOT return fire; shake the dust off your sandals and move on.

If you do this, you will be avoiding sin and that is always pleasing to God.

Thank you for being here and please share these messages to help this ministry grow, subscribe to my website and YouTube channel, as well, and I always welcome your comments.

That’s it for today, so l’hitraot and Baruch HaShem!