Have you ever needed a reminder...no, a wake-up call, that everything happening around you might not be as bad as it seems? In this day of living through a world pandemic, it can be a tremendous challenge to see things as positive!

For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. (Lev. 25:3-4)

Here is how I began last month’s newsletter article: “As I reflect on my life having recently reached the age of 68, and within those 68 years having reached the 40th anniversary of my ordination as a missionary, mission executive, pastor, and currently as a Bible Teacher to Israel, it amazes me at how much of that time I have spent battling Satan and the spiritual warfare he has attempted to inflict on my life and career.”

You shall dwell in Sukkot seven days, every citizen in Israel shall dwell in Sukkot, so that your descendants shall know that in sukkot I caused the Children of Israel to dwell when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. (Lev. 23:42-43)

Did you ever get the “fixer-upper” bug? During this Covid era, Nancy and I have enjoyed watching TV programs showing updates and upgrades made to homes. Of course, that gave us some ideas of our own. One project was to enhance our fireplace from plain gas logs to a nicer option. We did our homework, found out what we wanted and ordered a unit to fit in our fireplace. That was January, 2021. We were told it would take six weeks for production.

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. (Lamentations 3:40).

Summer is coming to an end, and the High Holy Days – Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) – are just around the corner. Although many people consider these holidays to be “Jewish holidays,” they are, in fact, God’s holy days and festivals.