It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,

We have been in Oklahoma City for a week. Where can I begin? So much has happened.

As many of you may recall, my daughter underwent brain surgery a couple of months ago in an effort to relieve her of ever-increasingly disruptive epilepsy. For seven weeks after her surgery she was seizure free. Every day that she lived seizure-free was a blessing. This past Tuesday we were getting ready for supper when my wife stopped me and told me to look at Hannah. Sure enough, despite our best efforts and greatest hopes, she was having a seizure. It was brief, but it was clear. We were devastated. Hannah was depressed. For seven years we have struggled with this through multiple anti-seizure medications and two surgeries. Now, after everything, she is still seizing. Of course we called her physicians in Philadelphia. They were concerned and gave me the name of a local epilepsy specialist. We appreciate prayers as we continue to bring this beast of epilepsy under control.

Despite this setback, God has reminded us of His faithfulness and ever-present reality. Today we were at the end of our rope. Vickie had a job interview this morning. She did well, but failed to land a job. We still needed a place to live. We have been living at a local hotel and our finances are drying up. By the time this afternoon rolled around, we were all pretty depressed and feeling defeated. What could we do? Where could we go? Where was God when we needed Him most? Within two hours of this crisis, God granted us a place to live with a rent that we could afford. As I type this, we have the keys to our humble duplex. It's not a palace, but it is a true miracle and we are incredibly overjoyed by God's miraculous provision. Even when our hope wavered, He remained faithful. God came through for us when it seemed there was no future.

Challenges remain: Vickie still has no job. Hannah struggles with her epilepsy. Finances are incredibly tight. I start college shortly. We are learning, though, that God is a God of provision, even when it seem impossible.

I'll keep you posted.

Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain . . . .

Well, we're here: Oklahoma, the wide-open, wind-swept American mid-west. Our original plan was to go to Kansas. That didn't work out. God opened a window in Oklahoma so here we are. Our introduction to the state has been mixed. We spent yesterday at Rosh Pinah Messianic Synagogue, a wonderful congregation led by Messianic Rabbi Michael Weygant, a godly man. The worship was wonderful and the message convicting. A very positive experience. We will be going back.

Then, after service, we drove north to a small town to look at a few houses. The town was peaceful, the homes definite fixer-uppers, and the price not so bad. On the way back to the hotel we noticed smoke billowing over the road. We spent the next three hours sitting on the interstate with hundreds of other stranded drivers as a terrible grass fire raged across the land, burning over 1000 acres. Huge clouds of pungent smoke blocked the sky as we sat there, seeing trees and even homes burn to the ground. Emergency vehicles raced past us as we sat helpless on the road. It was a pretty surreal experience.

When we finally started moving again an enormous thunderstorm drifted over the city, bringing some much needed relief from the 110 degree heat. We got back to the hotel by 10:00 pm.

We are really in a place of faith right now. Money is running out. As of yet we have no job and no place to live. We know that the Lord has moved us forward so we are eager to see what He will do. He has never failed us. I don't expect Him to do so now.

I will keep you posted.

Go West Young Man . . . .

I'm writing this from the hotel in St. Louis, MO. Outside of our window we can see a large parking lot and just across the road the St. Louis International Airport. We are headed West. In the past two days we have traversed five states and over a thousand miles. Today it's three states and our final destination.

Vickie is driving the minivan, packed with suitcases, four kids, and a cat. I'm driving the 22 foot moving van, a lugging behemoth painted an obnoxious yellow that goes from 0 to 60 in about twenty minutes. All of our earthly possessions are in this truck, mostly boxes of clothes, books, and toys and some second-hand furniture we bought at a Philadelphia thrift store. It's the kind of truck that slows to 35 miles an hour going up hill and needs to be controlled from exceeding 70 when going downhill. Quite an adventure to drive!

We have a plan for the future, but the details of it are still a little foggy. We have no place to live and job prospects, although hopeful, are uncertain at best. We know in our hearts that we are walking under God's direction. How exactly He is going to provide, however, remains yet to be seen. This has truly become a walk of faith.

I better go. The kids are up and we need to pack the vehicles for today's journey. I'll keep you posted!

Work, work, work . . .

Busyness is the word of the day.

Vickie and the kids return from her mom's this afternoon and not a moment too soon.  During the past week I spent four days in North Carolina speaking at a church followed by three days of absence from my family while they are in Maryland.  I miss them.

So, to keep my self busy and out of trouble I have spent the last few days cleaning and packing, packing and cleaning, and oh, did I mention cleaning?  Our goal is to leave the Residence cleaner and better than we found it.  The jury is still out as to whether or not that will happen.

Hannah, thank God, is doing amazingly well.  August 1st she will be able to get her head wet (swimming, showering, and the like) a date to which she is looking forward with great anticipation.  The three boys are doing well also, although the stress of upcoming move is having its toll on everyone.  Aaron, the young man who moved in with us to attend college, has been a huge help watching the kids and cleaning while we pack.  Finally Vickie is amazing as always, packing and cleaning with a typical ferocity learned after many years of military living.  After we get settled I hope to take everyone out for a relaxing day.  Maybe we'll go see a movie . . . 

It has come to my attention recently that there is a person in NJ who is again attacking my family and myself.  Two years ago this person virulently spoke evil things against us, making broad accusations.  All of the accusations were proven false.  This did not stop the evil speaking, however.  I am amazed, after two years of relative silence, that she would again come forward so aggressively, filled with rage. I am amazed even more that people are still listening to her tired judgments.  Someone once said that the way we conduct ourselves when attacked reveals who we really are, and I believe this to be true.  Every attack is really an opportunity for us to tune our selves, improve ourselves, and show our love for God and others in new ways.  Person, if you're reading this, I want you to know that we are praying for you and your family.  We pray that God's ministry, mercy, and peace will envelop you. 

Meanwhile, we have ten days left in Philadelphia before we head West.  Despite the challenges we currently face, we are all looking forward to the move.  We can't help but believe that God has wonderful things in store for us.  Indeed, during these trying times, He alone has remained our One True Hope.

Thank you for reading.  I'll keep you posted.

That Old Office . . .

It's 11:15 pm. As I write this I am sitting at my desk in the office of the synagogue. The air conditioning is running, it's a warm and humid night. Only half of the room is lit, leaving the far end of my office shrouded in shadow. I can hear the ticking of my mantel clock sitting against the far wall. Save that and the hum of the conditioner, all is quiet.

My office. In 45 minutes this room, where I have spent 3 1/2 years of my life studying, praying, interceding, and counseling, this place where I met with elders and the elderly, where I encouraged and rebuked, and where often God encouraged and rebuked me, this tiny room with the cheap wood paneling floor and windows that don't quite fit right, this sanctuary where my wife and children spent many hours and hundreds of dollars trying to get it renovated, this little place to which I've grown so fond, will pass from me to another man, a good man, a man in many ways better than myself for, at midnight tonight, I will no longer be the rabbi of Beth Emanuel Messianic Synagogue in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

I confess it's hard to leave. My family and I have met so many people here, had so many experiences, and made so many decisions, some good, some less so. God has provided for our needs time and time again. I'm an old romantic at heart I suppose and my mind even now floods with memories. My wife, however, is ready to move on. Honestly, I am too. Part of me, though, will always be with this congregation praying and hoping for God's perfect will.

I heard a couple of days ago that there is a rumor bouncing around out there that I had been fired from my position here. I could barely repress a smile when I was told this. My wife and I decided, after much prayer and thought, that this group of people could be best served by a family who could take them "to the next level" so to speak. We knew that our time here was done a couple of months ago. I learned long ago not to chase after rumors and try and put out the inevitable fires of distaste that they spark. I have neither the time nor the energy for such an effort. Instead, Vickie and I believe that Truth can stand on it's own. We also believe that if anyone wants to have the Truth clarified they will have the maturity to come to us and ask us.

So I will be unemployed in about 34 minutes. What now? With Hannah recovering from her surgery and with so many moving boxes filling our living room the future looks bright, if not a little scary as all change can be disconcerting. We have plans for the future but are clearly aware that God can change these in the blink of an eye. So we set our faces forward with hope and faith, believing that God has good things in store for both us and this congregation even though our roads at this point diverge.

I know that the future will not necessarily be easy. I've learned, though, that as believers in Y'shua (Jesus) we will NEVER walk it alone.

Two Week Mark . . .

Today marks two weeks since Hannah had her second surgery and, thanks to God, she has been entirely seizure free. She is spunky and emotional, certainly not uncommon in a thirteen year old, and we continue to take every day for what it is: a gift from God.

Vickie, meanwhile, has been a bit under the weather. We found out today after an appointment with our doctor that she somehow injured a rib in her lower right side. Thank God it doesn't seem to be broken but it is injured enough to have awaken her (and me) last night. Some simple medications and behavior modification should bring healing in about a month.

Tonight I taught my last Bible study at Beth Emanuel Messianic Synagogue. It was bittersweet closing up our discussion about the Last Days. We have been meeting on Tuesday nights and going through the Scriptures for several months now. No one really wanted to leave. We went over about an hour and finally had to say goodbye. There was such an atmosphere of finality as I closed the study in prayer and watched the people go. Never again will I teach a Bible study at this congregation as their rabbi. This coming Friday will be our last service here. It will be hard to say goodbye to all of the great folks we've met.

It's getting late. I'll let you go for now. Please keep up the prayers for Hannah and her total recovery. Thank you!

Breakfast with Hannah

This morning dawned gray and wet, the moist ground testifying to last nights summer rain. Sunday is usually our lazy family day and my only day off of work. As I write this, the family is settling around the table for a late, lazy-day breakfast. Hannah has been home for over a week now and is fully back to being herself, and then some! Already this morning she has had two arguments with her little brothers, a good sign despite the need for mom and dad to intervene. Her scars are pretty much hidden by her hair, which is looking pretty sad considering she can't fully wash it yet.

Hannah had a follow-up appointment with her neurosurgeon a couple of days ago. He was very pleased with her progress and happy to see her scars healing so well. He cautioned her not to run or jump, no easy order for an energetic thirteen year old. Hannah has tylenol for transient pain and he is keeping her on her full dose of anti-seizure medication. We have another follow-up in eleven days.

For the first time in two weeks Hannah was able to attend synagogue services this past weekend. Although she was received warmly she had a hard time. It was difficult for her to watch the dancers twirl around with such enthusiasm while she could not participate. She grabbed my arm and cried quietly until they finished. Despite her amazing progress the reality of time involved in a full recovery can be painful.

I'll let you go now. It's time to eat and referee the kids. I'll keep you posted.