Sadly, and unfortunately, our beloved Lebanon and up till today is merely an Iranian occupied and oppressed country by all means and in accordance to all global standards. 

In this occupational and oppressive context, and despite all the on going presidential derailing day dreaming and delusional media rhetoric chaos, confusion and false debates that we are encountering, the Iranian occupier through its denominational, criminal and terrorist Army, Hezbollah, will appoint the new Lebanese Maronite Christian President no matter what are our stances or wishes.

In reality, and according to the current occupational status quo, the Iranian Lebanese appointed president will be totally a puppet and will be entrusted not to serve the Lebanese people, Lebanon's interests, or safeguard the Lebanese constitution, but to blindly serve the Iranian occupation, and its Mullahs' colonial expansional, denominational, terrorist agendas and schemes against both Lebanon and all the regional countries.. 

This appointed president no matter who is he, will actually be a Trojan no more, no less and his name will make no difference at all.

Our last three presidents, Elias Hrawi, Emile Lahoud and Michael Suleiman were all appointed by the Syrian occupier, and not elected or chosen by the Lebanese, and this same humiliating and devastating scenario will keep on replicating itself as long as our beloved Lebanon remains occupied and UN Resolutions 1559 and 1701 are not implemented.

It is worth mentioning that in 2005 the Syrian occupation was over, but since than this occupation was replaced by an Iranian one through Hezbollah Army, with the evil help of a punch of Lebanese mercenary political parties and politicians like Micheal Aoun, Suleiman Frangea, Walid Jumblat, Nabih Berri, and many others including prominent clergymen among them our derailed Maronite Patriarch, Bchara Al Raei.

In summary, Lebanon is still an occupied country by all means and standards, and the occupier is the Iranian Mullahs' dictatorship regime through it Hezbollah terrorist army.

The new Iranian chosen Lebanese president might be Suleiman Frangea, Michael Aoun, John Khawagi, John Obeyed, or any one else that is cut from the same mercenary garment, while politically, enslaved and castrated. 

Accordingly, all the Lebanese efforts and on levels and all domains needs to be focusing on ending the Iranian occupation which is the main cancerous and devastating problem, and not to naively and stupidly be totally pre-occupied with the symptoms of this occupational cancer and keeping a blind eve on the disease it self.

In the realm of Lebanon's Iranian occupation we, the sovereign and free will Lebanese citizens from all sects and walks of life be in Lebanon or Diaspora are ought not to be fooled by the blinding evil manoeuvres of the current rotten politicians in both 8th or 14th of March coalitions due to the fact that the majority of them are puppets, merchants, cowards, opportunists, hypocrites and their priorities are to serve their own interests, riches, personal gains and not the country and its citizens.

In conclusion, with the current status quo, and as long as Lebanon is occupied by the Iranian Mullahs regime and its army, Hezbollah controls the country and oppresses its people, the Iranian Lebanese appointed president will make no difference no matter who is he.

*Elias Bejjani

"Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!" (Lydia M. Child, U.S. Author)  

Canadians observe Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June. It is a day for people to show their appreciation for fathers, grandfathers, godfathers and fatherly figures. Father figures may include stepfathers, fathers-in-law, guardians, foster parent, and family friends. 

Hopefully, all men will have the blessed grace of being fathers. Being a father is a heavenly endowment, a great satisfaction, and a fulfilling Godly obligation as the Holy Bible teaches us: "Genesis 1:28 "God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it."

Almighty God has blessed both parents, fathers and mothers and recommended that they be honored, respected, cared for, and obeyed by their children. God's fifth commandment delineates this heavenly obligation and duty: ""Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which The Lord your God gives you." (Exodus 20:12 )

God is our Holy Father, and we all, men and women, are His beloved children. Fathers on Earth are God's servants who are entrusted by Him to safeguard, raise, embrace, support, provide and teach their children. Meanwhile fathers are required to carry their holy duties in raising their children in the fear of God, with the best of their knowledge, all their resource and means, full devotion and with all required sacrifices. 

Fathers are the cornerstone of their families upon which children depend, learn, nurture, hold fast and shape their lives. Caring, devoted and righteous fathers are always given a hand by God and blessed for their rearing and erection of boundaries. Today we are celebrating "Fathers' Day", with all those who cherish fathers, appreciate their sacrifices and honor their Godly role. Best wishes to all fathers hoping they will be shown today all the due gratitude from their sons and daughters. On this very special day our deceased fathers' and mothers' spirits are roaming around sharing with us our joy and happiness, God bless their souls. 

Attitudes of gratitude or ingratitude towards fathers on Fathers' Day, are very sensitive issues that affect and touch the hearts and minds of many people. These two contradicting attitudes exhibit how much a person is either appreciative or ungrateful. The majority of people hold on dear to their fathers and do all that they can to always show them their great and deeply felt gratitude, while sadly there are those odd ones out who show no gratitude, abandon them and even at times endeavour to ruin their lives and inflict harm and pain on them. By doing so and negating God's commandments that stress an utmost respect for parents, these people make themselves enemies of Christ Himself. Definitely God will be angry about such condemned conduct. This deviation from all human norms occur because of ignorance, selfishness, lack of faith and hope. These people fall into temptation, become proud of what they should be ashamed of, worship things that belong to this world and forget all about "Judgment Day".

Colossians 3/20: "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord". 

Leviticus 20/09: "For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him" 

Fathers no matter what must be loved, honored, dignified and respected. God Himself is a Father and He will not bless those who deny their fathers' heavenly right of fatherhood and respect. In this context, Billy Graham says: "A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society." The Holy Bible in tens of its verses warns and puts on notice all those with callous hearts and numbed conscience who show no gratitude to their fathers and break their hearts. 

Isaiah 46:4: "Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save."

Even when fathers are abandoned by their children and denied their heavenly rights, they never ever hold any grudges, feelings of hatred or hostility against them. No matter what, fathers always wish their children health, prosperity and success. One of our Lebanese deeply rooted sayings portray how fathers constantly feel towards their ungrateful children: " My heart beats for my son no matter what, while my son's heart is callous like a rock". Many verses in the Holy Bible overtly call on the children to treat their parents with love, endurance, affection and utmost care. At the same time the Bible instructs parents to value the Godly delegation to them to raise their children with all means of righteous, protection and provision.

Proverbs 23/22: "Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old". 

Ephesians 06/01-02: "Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. Respect your father and mother is the first commandment that has a promise added: so that all may go well with you, and you may live a long time in the land".

Many grown-up men and women do not appreciate their parents' sacrifices unless they themselves have become parents. Back home in Lebanon where the family has always been sacred, we have a saying that shows how important it is in the eyes of the God that parents are always to be respected, honored and loved. "God will not bless or facilitate the life of those who mistreat their parents and He will reply to the parents' wrath when they ask for punishment for their ungrateful children". Good, loving , faithful and God-fearing fathers know no hatred, grudges or despair. They remain, always, hopeful and keep on praying to Almighty God that their children, (grateful or ungrateful ) are constantly healthy, prosperous, happy, and successful . 

Philippians 04/04-07: "May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice! Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.". 

Happy Fathers' Day to all Fathers. 

Micheal Aoun is a real cancer that is devouring the Chastain's presence and coexistence in Lebanon piece by piece in a bid to serve his own selfish agenda and presidential delusions. He is not going anywhere with his evil dreams and will never ever sit on the Baabda presidential chair or carry the title.

Practically the man is completely detached from reality, lives in a world of his own, hears only his voices and sees only his scaring and distorted image via his broken home mirrors. This politically and patriotically derailed Micheal Aoun has no actual conscience or any values at all. Aoun has with no shame what so ever sold himself to the terrorist Hezbollah and to its two Syrian and Iranian masters.

Meanwhile his childish and arrogant disgusting son-in-law the dwarf Jobran Bassil is a cheap trumpet and a greedy and vulgar mouthpiece for the terrorist Hezbollah. This political merchant, Jobran Bassil has nothing to do with the Lebanese Christian's representation, hopes aspirations and fears.

In the same context, sadly the Maronite Patriarch Bchara Al Raei and his close team of clergy and politicians are totally pro the Iranian-Syrian Axis of evil. Simply they can not be trusted and those who naively do always harvest failure, disappointments and humiliation.

On the Hezbollah's frontier, apparently the Shiite community in Lebanon is not able any more to tolerate more human loses in Syria. Nasrallah is trying to contain its anger by lies, fabrications and through playing on its fears.

At the present time, Hezbollah's vicious and criminal scheme is evidently a bloody denominational cleansing of the Sunni Ersal Bekaa town. Its leadership wants the Lebanese army to carry this dirty job. Aoun, Bassil, Lahoud, Rahme and all the other Trojans of March 08th coalition are advocating for this massacre through threats, lies and instigations.

In conclusion Hezbollah is an occupier and an Iranian terrorist army and accordingly all those Lebanese who support him are partners in his occupation and in all the crimes that he is committing in Lebanon, Syria and all other countries where its men are fighting Iran's battles.

 Believe it or not, on May 25 each year since 2000 Lebanon has been celebrating a so-called "Liberation & Resistance Day." Sadly, this celebration commemorates a bogus event, and a phony heroism that did not actually take place. 

 On May 22, 2000 the Israeli Army unilaterally and for solely Israeli domestic reasons withdrew from the security zone of South Lebanon in accordance with UN Resolution 425. The withdrawal was a fatal Israeli decision that has inspired the Hamas terrorism acts and the on-going havoc in the Palestinian Gaza strip.

 The unilateral Israeli withdrawal created a security vacuum in south Lebanon. The Syrians who were occupying Lebanon at that time and fully controlling its government, did not allow the Lebanese Army to deploy in the south and fill this vacuum after the Israeli withdrawal. Instead Syria helped the Hezbollah militia to militarily control the whole southern region, and even patrol the Israeli-Lebanese border.

 It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army's withdrawal was executed without any military battles, or even minor skirmishes with Hezbollah, or the Lebanese and Syrian armies. The Syrian regime, in a bid to justify both its on going occupation of Lebanon and the avoidance of disarming Hezbollah, came up with the "Shabaa Farms occupation big lie" and declared Hezbollah a Liberator, alleging it had forced Israel to withdrawal from South Lebanon. 

 Syria, in the same camouflaging and devious context, dictated to both the Lebanese parliament and government to declare May 25th a National Day under the tag of "Liberation & Reistance Day".

 In reality Hezbollah did not force the Israeli withdrawal, and did not play any role in the Liberation of the southern Lebanese region. In fact both Hezbollah and Syria deliberately hindered and delayed the Israeli withdrawal for more than 14 years. 

 Every time the Israelis called on the Lebanese government to engage in a joint, serious effort under the United Nations umbrella to ensure a safe and mutually organized withdrawal of its army from South Lebanon, the Lebanese government refused to cooperate, did not agree to deploy its army in the south, and accused the Israelis of plotting to divide and split the Syrian-Lebanese joint track. This approach to the Israeli calls was an official Syrian decision dictated to all the Lebanese puppet governments during the Syrian occupation era.

 Since then, Hezbollah has been hijacking Lebanon and its people, refusing to disarm and advocating for the annihilation of Israel. This Iranian mullahs' terrorist army stationed in Lebanon, is viciously hiding behind labels of resistance, liberation and religion. Hezbollah has recklessly jeopardized the Lebanese peoples' lives, safety, security and livelihood. It has been growing bolder and bolder since year 2000 and mercilessly taking the Lebanese state and the Lebanese people hostage through terrorism, force and organized crime. 

 Sadly, Hezbollah is systematically devouring Lebanon day after day, and piece by piece, while at the same time marginalizing all its governmental institutions in a bid to topple the Lebanese state and erect in its place a Shiite Muslim regime, a replica of the Iranian Shiite mullahs' fundamentalist republic. Meanwhile the free world and Arabic countries are totally silent, indifferent, and idly watching from far away the horrible crime unfolding without taking any practical or tangible measures to put an end to this anti-Lebanese Syria-Iranian scheme that is executed through their spearhead, the Hezbollah armed militia.

 Who is to be blamed for Hezbollah's current odd and bizarre status? Definitely the Syrians who have occupied Lebanon for more than 28 years (1976-2005). During their bloody and criminal occupation, Syria helped the Iranian Hezbollah militia build a state within Lebanon and fully control the Lebanese Shiite community.

 But also the majority of the Lebanese politicians, leaders, officials and clergymen share the responsibility because they were subservient and acted in a dire Dhimmitude, selfish and cowardly manner. If these so-called Lebanese leaders had been courageous and patriotic and had not appeased Hezbollah and turned a blind eye to all its vicious and human rights atrocities, intimidation tactics, crimes and expansionism schemes, this Iranian Shiite fundamentalist militia would not have been able to erect its own mini-state in the southern suburb of Beirut, and its numerous mini-cantons in the Bekaa Valley and the South; nor would Hezbollah have been able to build its mighty military power, with 70 thousand militiamen, or stockpile more than 150 thousand missiles and force the Iranian "Wilayat Al-Faqih" religious doctrine on the Lebanese Shiite community and confiscate its decision making process and freedoms. 

 Since Hezbollah's emergence in 1982, these politicians have been serving their own selfish interests and not the interests of the Lebanese people and the nation. They went along with Hezbollah's schemes, deluding themselves that its militia and weaponry would remain in South Lebanon and would not turn against them. 

 This failure to serve the people of Lebanon allowed Hezbollah to make many Lebanese and most of the Arab-Muslim countries through its terrorism propaganda to blindly swallow its big lie of theatrical, faked resistance and Liberation. 

 Hezbollah would not have been able to refuse to disarm in 1991, like all the other Lebanese militias in accordance to the "Taef Accord," which called for the disarmament of all militias. Hezbollah would not have become a state inside the Lebanese state, and a world-wide terrorism Iranian-Syrian tool which turned against them all after its war with Israel in year 2006 and after the UN troops were deployed on the Lebanese - Israeli borders in accordance with the UN Resolution 1701. 

 In conclusion, Hezbollah is a deadly dragon that the Lebanese politicians have been allowing him to feed on sacrifices from the southern Lebanese citizens, especially on those who were living in the "Security Zone" and who fled to Israel in May 2000 after the Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon. This dragon who enjoyed devouring his southern sacrifices has now turned on all the Lebanese and if they do not stand for their rights and dignity, he will keep on devouring them all one after the other.

 We call on the Lebanese on all the free and patriotic Lebanese politicians and leaders to cancel the May 25 National Day, because it is not national at all, and also to stop calling Hezbollah a resistance, put an end for its mini-state, cantons and weaponry, and secure a dignified, honorable and safe return for all the Lebanese citizens who have been taking refuge in Israel since May 2000.

Once again the Iranian-Syrian Evil Of Axis Criminals brutally assassinate a patriotic, peaceful and intellectual Lebanese dignitary.  Today, in occupied and oppressed  Lebanon, the former Lebanese minister Mohamad Chatah was murdered in a massive car bomb blast that killed also and seriously injured tens of innocent citizens in Lebanon's capital, Beirut. 

Mohamad Chatah, the courageous outspoken 62 years old moderate academic and noble political figure strongly believed in a free and sovereign Lebanon, dialogue, the language of reason, and in the right to different views and political stances. 

Sadly, this morning, Chatah joined all the other patriotic and heroic Lebanese martyrs who with faith and devotion fell while struggling to reclaim Lebanon's confiscated independence, sovereignty and freedoms.  

There is no doubt that the Assad dictatorship intelligence and the terrorist Hezbollah Iranian militia are behind this horrible crime, as they were with evilness and shame accountable for all other similar crimes that occurred since 1960 and targeted Lebanese patriotic leaders, clergymen, officials and politicians.

It is worth mentioning that Chatah's assassination took place three weeks before the long-delayed opening of a trial of five Hezbollah suspects indicted for the 2005 bombing that killed former Lebanese PM Rafik al-Hariri with 21 other individuals. 

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), trial is due to start next month in Hague. The suspects are all prominent Hezbollah military members. Meanwhile this terrorist Iranian organization has strongly refused to cooperate with the court, alleging it is politically motivated.

In my capacity as a Canadian - Lebanese Human Rights Activist and political commentator, I strongly and with the harshest terms condemn  this barbaric and terrorist crime and call on the free world countries to help the Lebanese people and its patriotic and peaceful leaders by all available means and resources to reclaim Lebanon's independence that is confiscated by Hezbollah,  the Iranian-Syrian Axis of Evil military proxy

Deepest sympathies are extended to the families and friends of those killed in today, and all wish for a speedy recovery to all the injured. 

May the souls of all those innocent victims that were killed today rest in peace.

John 12:24: "Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit." 

 On September 14, 1982, on the day Lebanon was celebrating the Day of the Holy Cross, its President-elect, Sheik Bachir Gemayel, passed away into the hands of the Almighty God after carrying the cross of the country to heaven. He was not even 34 years old, but what he achieved for the freedom and dignity of Lebanon places him among the great men who left a stamp of glory on the history of Lebanon. 

Bachir, the hero, dreamt of a sovereign, free and independent Lebanon, and his dream became the objective of all free-minded Lebanese men and women. And even as the hands of evil and hatred took him away through a cowardly assassination plot (14/09/82), his dream lives on in the fiber of our people and their conscience for as long as the Cedars of Lebanon tower over the country from their peaks.  

Today we remember Bachir in our prayers. We also remember his fallen comrades who gave so much for our beloved country, and we learn from their sacrifice many a lesson. With this 31 remembrance day, our hopes are renewed, our determination is re-energized, and our commitment to the cause is re-confirmed.

 Bachir’s bright star was high in the skies of Lebanon and with it the hopes of the Lebanese people. But the joy was killed and the hopes dashed when his star fell from the skies, a martyr to his noble ambitions aiming at building a strong Lebanon, confirmed in its sovereignty and independence.  

Bachir believed that "the one Lebanon is the Lebanon of the 10,452 km2, that the Lebanese must win back completely so that it belongs to its sons and daughters in all their communities, creeds, and beliefs". But even as he departed, what he believed in remains in the hearts and minds of all the Lebanese people. 

Bachir was raised on the cross of Lebanon on the day we remember the Cross. He was killed in a political act at the intersection of the interests of nations, individuals, and terrorist groups that feared for their own egotistical interests should a unified, free and sovereign Lebanon rise from its ashes. Bachir established the framework and then was unjustly taken from us too soon.

Those same regimes of evil, Syria and Iran, and groups and factions like the terrorists, Hezbollah, continue today to hold the Lebanese people and their country hostage to their greed, hatred, and savage schemes. They have mastered the art of subservience and bowing at the doorstep of the forces of occupation. They are shepherds of doom who have reneged on every pledge they made and abandoned their flock. 

They are factions whose job is to drive wedges between the free people of the Land of the Cedars, assassinating their aspirations and hopes in deed, thought, decision and execution. They assassinate Lebanon every morning and every hour of their waking day, killing its sovereignty, its free decision-making, its democracy and culture. 

Bachir's venomous assassination still lingers to this day in all its ugliness, its corruption and its neglect.  It still lingers in its displacement and emigration, dhimmitude, apostasy, with economic, social, financial, political, security and patriotic decline.

It still lingers with the rule of personal over national interests. It still lingers with the dismemberment of the political parties; the politicization of the judiciary; the truncation of sovereignty with the imposition of foreign interference, and the abandonment of human, religious and ethical values. 

Bachir’s dream is here to stay and will never disappear, because it is the dream of a people who want a dignified life, a dream that calls upon unity, sovereignty and peace. 

We are today together to remember the martyrdom of Bachir and his 22 comrades, lifting our eyes and hearts in the midst of danger and trouble to the redeemer of suffering humanity, Jesus-Christ, who said "And if I were to rise above the earth, I shall take with me everyone" (John12/32). We ask Him for light, faith, strength, and hope to continue our march forward and lift ourselves, our homeland, and our people to victory, to peace, to righteousness, to freedom and to all that is good in this world. For Bachir is alive in our beings and in our minds. 

Sheik Bachir, Lebanon's elected president who was assassinated before assuming his presidential responsibilities was and still is the patriotic blessed yeast that was brewed and produced solid foundations of freedom, sovereignty and independence, as well as perseverance and hope in all Lebanese minds and hearts. 

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp0_NJaLhb4 .

Terrorists and powers of evil could not destroy the dream that Bachir left for us. Even the gates of  hell shall not be able to shake our deeply-rooted faith in peace, love and democracy. Bachir is the grain of wheat and the yeast. Bachir's dream is alive and glowing.  As expressed in Galatians 5:9: "A little yeast grows through the whole lump".

John13/15: "The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them".

Lebanon and its free patriotic citizens, all over the world will remember today 23/13 with pride, honour and pain  Sheik Bachir's 31 presidential Election anniversary . The "Dream" leader Sheik Bachir Gemayel was elected president for Lebanon on 23 August/1982.

Sadly Sheik Bachir was assassinated by Syrian agents before he was able to assume his presidential responsibilities because these stone age terrorists feared his honesty, nationalism, devotion, determination, courage and strong will.

Sheik Bachir who successfully led the Lebanese Christian resistance against the PLO and the Arab dictatorships, fanatic regimes and their terrorist organizations is seen as a unique national and patriotic hero in many Lebanese eyes. He is still considered to be a remarkable leader that they love, adore and cherish. God bless his soul.

Sheik Bachir was extremely faithful, devoted to Lebanon's cause of freedom, committed to the Lebanese rights and dignity, never compromised on his solid and transparent national stances or cajoled or appeased on the account of his Lebanese holy cause.

With strong self confidence, self respect, dignity and fear of Almighty God he continuously witnessed for the truth no matter what and openly and loudly uttered what must be said. He loved both his people and his country and accepted with no fear or hesitation to be a sacrifice on their alter.

Thirty years after his departure his dream, vision, and leadership role model are still vivid and alive in the souls hears and minds of many Lebanese in Lebanon and all over the world.

The Syrian Bathist assassins who are now killing and murdering their own people, were able to kill his body, but definitely failed to kill his dream in a sovereign, free and independent Lebanon.

Thirty years passed and the free Lebanese still strongly believe in Bachir's dream and are struggling with courage and faith to make it happen and become a reality. By God's will and blessings they will achieve this goal no matter what the sacrifices will be.

Sadly the majority of the current corrupted and deviated Lebanese officials, religious and political leaders are dead in the eyes of the many free Lebanese, while in reality these leaders are still alive and breathing.

Meanwhile Bachir who was assassinated 3o years ago is still alive in the hearts and minds of many patriotic Lebanese.

Those criminals and terrorists who killed Bachir, killed only his ash body, but failed to kill his dream or his the deeply rooted love in the hearts of the Lebanese

Every Free and Patriotic Lebanese is Bachir, and that's why Bachir is still alive as well as his dream.

Long Live Freedom

In Christianity Virgin Merry is envisaged by many believers and numerous cultures as the number one role model for the righteous, devote, loving , caring, giving, and humble mothers. Today while in Canada we are happily and joyfully celebrating the Mothers' Day, let us all pray that Almighty God will keep granting all mothers all over the world the needed graces of wisdom, meekness and faith to highly remain under all circumstances honoring this holy role model and to stay as Virgin Merry fully devoted to their families.

In all religions and cultures all over the world, honoring, respecting and obeying parents is not a favor that people either chose to practice or not. No not at all,  honoring, respecting and obeying parents is a holy obligation that each and every faithful individual who believes in God MUST fulfill, no matter what.

Almighty God in His10 Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 ) made the honoring of both parents (commandment number five) a holy obligation, and not a choice or a favor.
�Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you".  (Exodus 20:12)

Reading the Bible, both the Old and New Testament shows with no doubt that honoring parents is a cornerstone and a pillar in faith and righteousness for all believers. All other religions and cultures share with Christians this holy concept and obligation.

�Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.� (Deuteronomy 5:16)

"You shall each revere your mother and father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.� (Leviticus 19:3).

Back home in Lebanon we have a popular proverb that says: "If you do not have an elderly figure in your family to bless you, go and search for one"

How true is this proverb, because there will be no value, or meaning for our lives if not blessed and flavored by the wisdom, love and blessings of our parents and of other elder members. He who does not honor the elderly, sympathize and empathize with them, especially his own parents is a person with a hardened heart, and a numbed conscience, who does not know the meaning of gratitude.

History teaches us that the easiest route for destroying a nation is to destroy, its cornerstone, the family. Once the family code of respect is belittled and not honored, the family is divided and loses all its Godly blessings. "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls" (Luke 11-17"

One very important concept and an extremely wise approach MUST apply and prevail when reading the Holy Bible in a bid to understand its contents and observe the Godly instructions and life guidelines that are enlisted. The concept needs to be a faith one with an open frame of mind free from doubts, questions and challenges.

Meanwhile the approach and interpretation MUST both be kept within the abstract manner, thinking and mentality frame, and not in the concrete way of  interpretation.

We read in (Matthew 15/04: "For God said, Respect your father and your mother, and If you curse your father or your mother, you are to be put to death).

Do we have to read this verse concretely and take it merely in its verbatim content?

I posted this verse in both English and Arabic on my Face Book page last year and the kind of comments that it generated shocked me. Below are three of these comments:

1-"I pray that this does not apply to teenagers?"

2-"Who else would it apply to? From teenagers to adults to parents...Until their own parents die; then they weep and wail"

3- "Thank goodness because I think we would all be dead if it applied to teenagers at some point, just learning about the "teenage years" with my oldest"

This verse simply dwells on The Fifth Biblical Commandment: "Honor your Father and Mother". To grasp its meaning rightfully and put it in its right faith content one should understand that death in the Bible is not the death of the body as we experience and see on earth. DEATH in the Bible means the SIN that leads to eternal anguish in Hell.

The Bible teaches us that through His crucifixion, death and resurrection Jesus defeated death in its ancient human, earthly concept. He broke the death thorn and since than, the actual death became the sin. Those who commit the sin die and on the judgment day are outcast to the eternal fire. Death for the believers is a temporary sleep on the hope of resurrection.

Accordingly the verse "If you curse your father or your mother, you are to be put to death", means that those who do not honor their parents, help, support and respect them commit a deadly sin and God on the Judgment Day will make them accountable if they do not repent and honor their parents.

God is a Father, a loving, passionate and caring One, and in this context He made the honoring of parents one of the Ten Commandments.

In conclusion: The abstract and faith interpretation of Matthew 15/04 verse must not be related to children or teenagers who because of an age and maturity factors might temporarily repel against their parents and disobey them.

Hopefully, each and every one of us, no matter what religion or denomination he/she is affiliated to will never ever ignore his parents and commit the deadly SIN of not honoring them through every way and mean especially when they are old and unable to take care of themselves.

For all those of us whose mothers have passed away, let us mention them in our daily prayers and ask Almighty God to endow their souls the eternal rest in His heavenly dwellings.
 

Happy Mothers' Day to all mothers

Isaiah 5/20-30/ "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink;  who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent! Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Yahweh of Armies, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.  (Isaiah 5/20-30)

For those evil, envious, creatures who have no conscience, mercy or faith in their hearts, for those who falsely and unfairly accuse our Lebanese who are taking refuge in Israel to be agents and traitors, we loudly say: Your stance is wrong, not fair, not right, and not informed.

Please take note that our beloved people who took refuge in Israel in year 2000 are patriotic, decent, faithful, loving, caring and heroes. They never ever betrayed our dear Lebanon, the land of the Holy Cedars, or our Lebanese cause of freedom, independence, sovereignty and rights.

Do not ignore facts or keep a blind eye on history events and actual realities. It is a must to know that  for 25 years our people in south Lebanon (those are now living in Israel) were totally abandoned by all the Lebanese governments (between 1975- 2000) and left alone to fight and defend their for lives, honour, properties, existence and land against all sorts of Islamists, Terrorists, and Arabists.

Initially they courageously fought the Palestinian and Arab armed militias (PLO and other factions) who by force tried to turn their land in a battlefield in a bid to wage military terrorist attacks against Israel and after that they stood against the Iranian terrorist Hezbollah thugs.

They accepted the Israeli help and had no other choice as did all the Christians in Lebanon during the war era between 1975-1990. They were never puppets or agents for Israel or any other regional powers, on the contrary they were decent and honest allies with Israel with very solid mutual understanding to this reality.

Meanwhile Hezbollah, Amal Shiite Movement, the Arabist groups, the Fundamentalists etc were and still are mere mercenaries for Syria, Iran, and other regional countries.

In year 2000 Israel withdraw from South Lebanon and was not forced militarily by any means to do so. The withdrawal was unilateral and for mere domestic Israeli reasons and not because of the terrorist Iranian Hezbollah. Hezbollah therefore did not liberate the South Lebanon from the Israeli occupation as falsely alleges, brags and lies

6000 Southern Lebanese, Muslims, Druze and Christians took refuge in Israel because Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader openly threatened to cut their neck and slaughter them.

Since than they were not allowed to return to Lebanon peacefully and without persecution and forged trials. Those who did risk and return were put exposed to unfair and biased trials on charges of betrayal, treason and ripped of their civil rights.

In this patriotic context all those who pass away in Israel have all left a will to be buried In Lebanon because they love their land and want to embrace its soil till the Judgment Day.

 Our people in Israel deserve to be awarded with the highest medals of appreciation and honour and not evilly and unfairly tagged with treason and betrayal false charges.

In conclusion, our people in Israel are true Lebanese, soul, heart, patriotism and mind. They are not traitors, never were and never ever will be. Their case is righteous and needs to be dealt with fairly as soon as possible. But Sadly the Lebanese government is totally controlled by the terrorist Hezbollah who is viciously and vindictively hindering their honourable return to their beloved country. By the end, sooner or later, Hezbollah is going to be defeated and Lebanon shall be free again and our people in Israel will happily return to their beloved Lebanon.

The Lost (prodigal) Son's parable is a road map for repentance and forgiveness. It shows us how much Almighty God our Father loves us, we His children, and how He is always ready with open arms, and willing to forgive our sins and trespasses when we come back to our senses, recognize right from wrong, admit our weaknesses and wrongdoings, eagerly and freely return to Him and with faith and repentance ask for His forgiveness.

In our Maronite Catholic Church's rite, on the Fourth Lent Sunday, that fall this year on March 03, we recall and cite the biblical Lost Son's parable that is known also as The Prodigal Son. This impulsive, selfish and thoughtless son, as the parable tells us, fell prey to evil's temptation and decided to take his share of his father's inheritance and leave the parental dwelling.

This Lost Son, who became a slave for his bodily earthly instincts' motives and pleasure urges travelled to a far-away city where he indulged badly in all evil conducts of pleasure and corruption until he lost all his money and became penniless. He experienced severe poverty, starvation, humiliation and loneliness. In the midst of his dire hardships he felt nostalgic, came back to his senses and decided with great self confidence to return back to his father's house, kneel on his feet and ask him for forgiveness. On his return his loving and kind father received him with rejoice, open arms, accepted his repentance, and happily forgave him all his misdeeds. Because of his sincere repentance his Father gave him back all his privileges as a son.

The Lost (prodigal) Son's parable:
Luke 15/11-32: "Jesus went on to say, �There was once a man who had two sons. The younger one said to him, �Father, give me my share of the property now.� So the man divided his property between his two sons.  After a few days the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money. He went to a country far away, where he wasted his money in reckless living.  He spent everything he had. Then a severe famine spread over that country, and he was left without a thing.  So he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him out to his farm to take care of the pigs. He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat.  At last he came to his senses and said, �All my father's hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve!  I will get up and go to my father and say, �Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers.�� So he got up and started back to his father." He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him. �Father,� the son said, �I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.� But the father called to his servants. �Hurry!� he said. �Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.  Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast! For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.� And so the feasting began. �In the meantime the older son was out in the field. On his way back, when he came close to the house, he heard the music and dancing.  So he called one of the servants and asked him, �What's going on?� �Your brother has come back home,� the servant answered, �and your father has killed the prize calf, because he got him back safe and sound.� The older brother was so angry that he would not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in. But he spoke back to his father, �Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! But this son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!� �My son,� the father answered, �you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.��

Almighty God is ready and always willing to turn everything around and take the hands of those who seriously and honestly pursue His mercy with perseverance forgiveness and repentance. He, with love and extreme happiness leads their steps towards all virtues of righteousness. He who in the Cana Wedding changed the water into wine and cured the Leper is willing all the time also to transform our minds and consciences from wickedness to goodness and salvation if and when we call for His help.

Lent is a prime time for spiritual change through genuine praying, serious and in depth self-examination, return to the roots of faith, repentance and forgiveness. Meanwhile fasting is not a mere act of abstaining from eating for 12 hours during the Lens day, but a time for temporary detachment and dissociation from all instincts urges and all that is earthly.

Lent is a precious time for learning via a very personal experience how to share in acts and not in words the poor, deprived, persecuted, alienated and sick. And most importantly to seriously remind ourselves that we are just transient visitors on this earth, no matter how big are our earthly riches and how much influential our power and authority might be. Reality is that once Our Al Mighty God takes back His gift of life, (soul), our bodies parish and with a very short period of time disintegrates and become dust from which it was basically made.

"By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return". (Genesis 03:19)

During the Lent time we are required to go through a thorough self - examination process to cleanse our thoughts, conscience and mind from all that is instincts' motives and urges. We need to peruse genuinely self peace and  reach to every body else for a comprehensive peace. Talking directly with God through praying helps in reach these two sorts of peace.

"Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don�t they come from your pleasures that war in your members? You lust, and don�t have. You kill, covet, and can�t obtain. You fight and make war. You don�t have, because you don�t ask. You ask, and don�t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures. You adulterers and adulteresses, don�t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, �The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously�?  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, �God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you."
(James 4/01-10)

Asking Almighty God for what ever we need is exactly what the Holy Bible instructs us to do when encountering all kinds of doubt, weaknesses, stumbling, hard times, sickness, loneliness, persecution, injustice etc.
"And so I say to you: Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For those who ask will receive, and those who seek will find, and the door will be opened to anyone who knocks. Would any of you who are fathers give your son a snake when he asks for fish?  Or would you give him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11/09-13)

We are not left alone at any time, especially when in trouble, no matter how far we distance ourselves from God and disobey His Holy bible. He is a Father, a loving, caring and forgiving Father. What is definite is that in spite of our foolishness, stupidity, ignorance, defiance and ingratitude He never ever abandons us or gives up on our salvation. He loves us because we His are children. He happily sent His only begotten son to be tortured, humiliated and crucified in a bid to absolve our original sin.

God, Our Father, carries our burdens and helps us to fight all kinds of Evil temptations if we call for His help and believe in Him. He is our loving and caring Father, and we are His children. A loving father never abandons his children and what we have to is ask.
"Come to me, all you who labour and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.� (Matthew11/28-30)

God is waiting for our repentance, let us run to Him and ask for forgiveness before it is too late. "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21/22)

*Elias Bejjani

Today the Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi is going to pay an ecclesiastical visit to Syria under the pretext of participation in the ordination of the newly elected Orthodox patriarch. Al-Rahi's visit is the first to Syria for a Maronite Patriarch since the mid-forties.

Al-Rahi is stepping on the fact that the bloody Syrian regime is taking our beloved country, Lebanon, and its people hostages and aborting by force, assassinations, crime, intimidation and terrorism all efforts aiming to reclaim Lebanon's confiscated independence, sovereignty and freedom.

While al-Rahi is openly and boldly supporting Syria's butcher, al-Assad, and his criminal regime via his condemned visit, hundreds of innocent Lebanese citizens from all denominations, including two Maronite monks, are still arbitrarily being detained in the horrible Syrian jails without any knowledge or information about their fate. This awkward visit does not represent the majority of the Maronites in both Lebanon and the Diaspora.

Sadly, numerous Middle East Christian Patriarchs and high-ranking clergymen will be in Damascus today to attend the mass held for the occasion of this special ordination. What is infuriating, disgusting and disappointing about this unjustified religious charade is that the Syrian butcher, President Bashar al-Assad, is organizing, supervising and most probably he or one of his representatives will attend the event.

There is no doubt that al-Assad will joyfully take advantage of this very special religious gathering to camouflage, disguise and falsely show the world that he is the actual protector and guardian of the Middle East Christians and other minorities. One wonders if the very bizarre conduct of this high-ranging clergyman is acceptable or godly in accordance with any faith, freedom, liberty, patriotism or ethical criteria.

Apparently these men of the cloth are living in their own earthly world of fantasy and ignoring the solid and proven fact that al-Assad's brutal regime is oppressing, torturing, and massacring its own people with no mercy or any human feeling.

It is worth mentioning that during the past two years al-Assad's regime in cold blood and without conscience has savagely murdered more than 80,000 of its civilian citizens, forced two million to leave everything behind and run for their lives and take refuge in neighboring countries. Meanwhile, he unlawfully detains about 200,000 Syrian citizens who oppose his dictatorship under unacceptable illegal and inhumane health-threatening circumstances.

On top of all his criminal and unprecedented terrible atrocities al-Assad is shamelessly challenging the wishes of his own people, and demands from the whole world to step down in a bid to put an end to the ongoing bloodshed in his own country.

The whole world must be aware that al-Assad is not protecting the minorities in Syria or in Lebanon, but on the contrary he is holding them hostage and depriving them of all their rights. Al-Assad is a ruthless killer no more no less and all dealings and relationship with him must be based on this fact.

We condemn the clergymen�s participation, especially that of our Maronite Patriarch al-Rahi, and firmly believe that this vehemently denounced conduct has nothing to do with the Christian faith.

We strongly support the Syrian people�s revolution against al-Assad's dictatorship and consider all those countries, organizations, clergymen and individuals that support this dictatorship by any means to be partners in all the atrocities that are inflicted on both the Syrian and Lebanese people.

Fouad Afram Boustani, (1904- 1994), the Lebanese Maronite historian described the Maronite denomination as, a faith of intelligence, an identification of life, a solid belief in Catholicism, a love for others, an ongoing struggle for righteousness, a mentality of openness on the whole world, and on its different civilizations, and a vehicle for martyrdom. The Maronites established the state of Lebanon and made it an oasis for the persecuted in the middle East. They believed and practiced  multiculturalism and pluralism. They created with the help of other minorities in the Middle East the unique nation of Lebanon.

The Maronites made Lebanon their homeland since the 4th century after converting its native inhabitants to Christianity. They were identified by it, and it was identified by them, they were and still are one entity. The Maronite people were always hopeful, faithful and strong believers in the Christian Catholic doctrine. They made victories of defeats, joy of sorrow and hope of despair. The Maronites successfully created with hard work and a great deal of faith and sacrifices, the Maronite nation by fulfilling its four basic pillars, a land, a people, a civilization and a politically independent entity. They constantly fight for what was theirs, and never ever surrendered to despair.

On the ninth of February for the past 1600 years, Maronites in Lebanon and all over the world have been celebrating the annual commemoration of St. Maroun, the founder of their Christian Catholic denomination.

Every year, on the ninth of February, more than ten million Maronites from all over the world celebrate St. Maroun�s day. On this day, they pay their respect to the great founder of the Maronite Church, Maroun the priest, the hermit, the father, the leader and the Saint. They remember what they have been exposed to, since the 4th century, both good and bad times. They reminisce through the past, examine the present and contemplate the future. They pray for peace, democracy and freedom in Lebanon, their homeland, and all over the world.

Who was this Saint, how did he establish his church, where did he live, and who are his people, the Maronites?

St. Maroun, according to the late great Lebanese philosopher and historian, Fouad Afram Al-Bustani, was raised in the city of Kouroch. This city is located northeast of Antioch (presently in Turkey), and to the northwest of Herapolos (Manbieg), the capital of the third Syria (Al-Furatia). Kouroch is still presently in existence in Turkey, it is located 15 kilometers to the northwest of Kalas city, and about 70 kilometers to the north of the Syrian city, Aleppo.

As stated by the historians, Father Boutrous Daou and Fouad Fram Bustani, Maroun chose a very high location at the Semaan Mountain (called in the past, Nabo Mountain, after the pagan god, Nabo). Geographically, the Semaan Mountain is located between Antioch and Aleppo. People had abandoned the mountain for years, and the area was completely deserted.

The ruins of a historic pagan temple that existed on the mountain attracted Maroun. Boustan stated that St. Maroun moved to this mountain and decided to follow the life of a hermit. He made the ruined temple his residence after excoriating it from devils, but used it only for masses and offerings of the holy Eucharist. He used to spend all his time in the open air, praying, fasting and depriving his body from all means of comfort. He became very famous in the whole area for his faith, holiness and power of curing. Thousands of believers came to him seeking help and advice.

St. Maroun, was an excellent knowledgeable preacher and a very stubborn believer in Christ and in Christianity. He was a mystic who started a new ascetic-spiritual method that attracted many people from all over the Antiochian Empire. He was a zealous missionary with a passion to spread the message of Christ by preaching it to others. He sought not only to cure the physical ailments that people suffered, but had a great quest for nurturing and healing the "lost souls" of both pagans and Christians of his time. Maroun�s holiness and countless miracles drew attention throughout the Antiochian Empire. St. John of Chrysostom sent him a letter around 405 AD expressing his great love and respect asking St. Maroun to pray for him.

St. Maroun's way was deeply monastic with emphasis on the spiritual and ascetic aspects of living. For him, all was connected to God and God was connected to all. He did not separate the physical and spiritual world and actually used the physical world to deepen his faith and spiritual experience with God. St. Maroun embraced the quiet solitude of the Semaan Mountain life. He lived in the open air exposed to the forces of nature such as sun, rain, hail and snow. His extraordinary desire to come to know God�s presence in all things allowed him to transcend such forces, and discover an intimate union with God. He was able to free himself from the physical world by his passion and eagerness for prayer and enter into a mystical relationship of love with the creator.

St. Maroun attracted hundreds of monks and priests who came to live with him and become his disciples and loyal Christian followers. Maroun�s disciples preached the Bible in the Antiochan Empire (known at the present time as Syria), Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Israel, They built hundreds of Churches and abbeys as well as schools and were known for their faith, devotion and perseverance.

At the age of seventy, in the year 410 AD, and after completing his holy mission, St. Maroun died peacefully while surrounded by his disciples and followers. His will was to be buried in the same grave with his beloved teacher, the great monk, Zabena, in the town of Kena, next to Kouroch city, where a temple was built in Zabena�s name. St. Maroun�s will was not fulfilled, because the residents of a nearby town were able to take his body and bury him in their town and build a huge church on his grave. This church was a shrine for Christians for hundreds of years, and its ruins are still apparent in that town.

After Maroun�s death, his disciples built a huge monastery in honor of his name, adjacent to the ornate spring, (Naher Al-Assi, located at the Syrian-Lebanese border). The monastery served for hundreds of years as a pillar for faith, education, martyrhood and holiness. It was destroyed at the beginning of the tenth century that witnessed the worst Christian persecution era. During the savage attack on the monastery more than 300 Maronite priests were killed. The surviving priests moved to the mountains of Lebanon where with the Marada people and the native Lebanese were successful in establishing the Maronite nation. They converted the Lebanese mountains to a fortress of faith and a symbol for martyrhood, endurance and perseverance.

Initially the Maronite movement reached Lebanon when St. Maroun's first disciple Abraham of Cyrrhus, who was called the Apostle of Lebanon, realized that paganism was thriving in Lebanon, so he set out to convert the pagans to Christianity by introducing them to the way of St. Maroun. St. Maroun is considered to be the Father of the spiritual and monastic movement now called the Maronite Church. This movement had a profound influence on northern Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus and on many other countries all over the world where the Maronites currently live. The biggest Maronite community at the present time lives in Brazil. More than six million Lebanese descendents made Brazil their home after the massive  emigration that took place from Lebanon in the beginning of this century.

God Bless all those who struggle for freedom and liberty all over the world

 I wish that all those who read or follow my work in both Arabic and English will share with me a Biblical new year resolution that is derived from context of below Biblical Verse. A resolution and a vow to fight all through this new year the evil inside our minds and to tame all our instincts' of destructive lust and desires.

 "What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.  For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do. If the Spirit leads you, then you are not subject to the Law. What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions;  in worship of idols and witchcraft. People become enemies and they fight; they become jealous, angry, and ambitious. They separate into parties and groups;  they are envious, get drunk, have orgies, and do other things like these. I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God. But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires. The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives. We must not be proud or irritate one another or be jealous of one another. (Galatians 05/16-26)

Definitely it is very difficult to abide by this Godly resolution, BUT if we belief in ourselves and trust in Almighty God, Our loving Father, we shall make the resolution a reality and an achievement.

With a spirit of faith and self-trust, let us all welcome the new year, with an open hearts and extended hands to all others, especially to those family members, relatives, friends and acquaintances with whom we were not in good terms during the last year.

Let us on day one of this new year close the last year's messy page and open a new and totally blank one with full readiness for forgiveness, and a genuine willingness for recognizing our wrongdoings in a bid to come with a practical plan for repentance.

Let us all put our burdens, pain, sickness, deprivation, persecution, separation, broken hearts, disappointments, frustrations, bereavements, injustice, abandonment, and anger in the hands of Almighty God and follow the teachings of His Gospel. God, with his gracious wisdom and abundant generosity, shall definitely see in every way possible that we all safely overcome with faith and hope all kinds of failure temptations, hardships and difficulties. Let us all trust in Him and recognize that we are all His beloved children and that He has created us in his image.

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God." (Romans 08:16-19)

We should never ever doubt God's deep love for each and every one of us. How could He not love us when we are His children. How could He abandon us when He has sent his only son, Jesus Christ to defeat death, give us the eternal life, suffer and be crucified so we, His children, can become purified and absolved from the original sin and be helped to walk safely the path of eternal salvation.

Let us ask Almighty God to help us live in peace and harmony with ourselves and others. Lead our steps into the righteous paths and grant us the strength of endurance and hold us back from the sin of hurting or hating others.

In this new year, Our Father, Almighty God, Grant us the graces of love, meekness, humbleness, transparency, honesty and forgiveness. Maintain our hearts and minds pure, and free from grudges and selfishness. Help us to remember that vengeance is evil and forgiveness is a Godly grace. We ask you not to allow vengeance take control of our lives.

Being faithful to God's holy teachings, is being loving and forgiving. For when we trust God and believe in His justice, we ought to leave Him punish those who are evil.
"Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear". (Matthew 13:43)

God's teachings in regards to vengeance is very clear: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, �Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." ( Romans 12:19-21)

This verse frees us from the burden of taking justice into our own hands. It tells us "Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.� God will repay those who are righteous"..

Since God is going to take up our cause and see to it that justice is done, we should lay it down, work hard not to succumb to our human destructive and evil instincts.

Let us pray that during this new year, we don�t have to carry anger, bitterness, resentment or revenge no matter what is our burden because refusal to forgive will make it impossible for us to understand and experience the forgiveness of God for us. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). Then commenting on that prayer, Jesus said, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15).

Saint Paul says leave it to the wrath of God. �Then the wrath of God is defined further as God�s vengeance, �Vengeance is mine.� So wrath is connected with God�s response to something that deserves vengeance. And then it says, �I will repay.� So God�s wrath is treated as a repayment to man for something man has done. This simply means that the wrath of God is God�s settled anger toward sin expressed in the repayment of suitable vengeance on the guilty sinner. God will and shall see that justice is done on the Day of Judgment. So let us be forgiving and avoid any sort of vengeance.

With the 2013 new year, let us pray from the depth of our hearts for all those who hate and hold grudges against us. Let us ask almighty God to cure them from these evil ailments and grant us the grace of forgiveness and the strength of faith to keep loving them.

No one should forget that our live on this earth is too short, and that we must be righteous to deserve the eternal one in Heaven where there will be no pain or fights, but happiness and peace.

With the beginning of the new year, let us all ask almighty God to shower on every one the graces of health, prosperity, peace, faith, and hope. Let us pray for peace and tranquility in all countries, especially where devastating wars, conflicts, and discrimination are going on.

Happy New Year

As his educating and clear crystal superb interview with the LBC TV shows, this Lebanese Sunni MP, Jamal Al Jarah proved without a shed of doubt that  he is really great in both Knowledge and patriotism. He  bravely witnessed for Lebanon and the truth.

Personally, as a Maronite Lebanese Diaspora advocate I did enjoy much his logic, analysis, self respect and love for peace and democracy. I did at the same time admire and hail  his appealing intelligence in calling the shots as they are without any cosmetics or cajoling. People like him are real Lebanese soul and heart.

In occupied Lebanon, (the occupier is the Iranian-Syrian Axis of Evil), We need his likes and those real men of his Lebanese caliber to be Lebanon's MP'S, politicians and leaders. Mean while definitely and without any sort of hesitation or any doubt the Lebanese do not want or even dream to have now or in the future any chameleons, opportunist, and heartless Lebanese dignitaries in any position that sadly resemble the derailed Maronite MP, Michael Aoun and the arrogant and pro Axis of Evil Maronite Patriarch, Buchara Al Raei.

In my own modest, but surely extreme Lebanese opinion as a Maronite, and with a peaceful conscience and full conviction believe that if Maronitism (being a Christian  Lebanese Maronite) is courage, nationalism, love for Lebanon, sacrifice, championing of freedom, independence and rights, Mr. Jamal Al Jarah the Muslim Sunni Lebanese MP, is a more Maronite than both  Maronites Alraei and Aoun.

The free Lebanese from all walks of life and denominations in both Lebanon and Diaspora have a national and ethical obligation to give all the credits that Al Jarah deserves, and the at same time expose the anti Lebanese and pro Axis of Evil stances, rhetoric, advocacy and alliances adopted by Michael Aoun, Al Raei, Bishop Mazloum and all the other 8th of March puppet Christians who are in reality notorious temple merchants.

Al Jarah in his interview listed with documentations, proves and actuality the devastating dangers and hazards of the Iranian armed Shiite Lebanese Militia on every thing that is Lebanese, peace, law, judiciary, coexistence, human rights, equality, freedom, democracy and civilization.

Al Jarah enumerated tens of out law and shameful atrocities from all kinds and on all levels that Hezbollah and his puppets like Michael Aoun and others are blatantly and openly committing, including embezzlement, bribery, stealing the Lebanese institutions, not paying taxes, trafficking, planting and manufacturing all addictive drugs, organized crime, terrorism, planning and executing mercenary assignments as dictated by the Iranian Mullahs all over the world.

According to Al Jarah, Hezbollah does not believe in the Lebanese state or in its constitution, and according directly and indirectly, covertly and overtly is endeavoring  via well organized set of schemes to destroy all Lebanon's institutions and totally marginalize its governing bodies.

In regards to the Maronite Christian, MP, Michael and his followers, Al Jarah stated that Hezbollah has bribed Aoun with the telecommunication and the electricity ministries' portfolios where Hezbollah Leadership cover with a blind eye all the stealing, bribery, embezzlement and other outlaw activities that pro Aoun officials commit on daily basis.

In reality, Hezbollah has nothing to do with resistance, liberation or any actual patriotic Lebanese or Arabic causes by any means. Hezbollah is an Iranian militant brigade, a division of Iran's notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Revolutionary_Guards_Corps). According to dozens of well documented and trustworthy reports, Hezbollah continues to run a vast, well organized and extremely sophisticated global network of drug trafficking, crime, terrorism and arms trafficking, infiltrating many Arab states, Israel, Mexico, Canada, Australia, United States, Europe, South America and numerous previous Islamic states of the USSR.

It worth mentioning that Hezbollah's leadership and its mujahedin are totally entrapped in their own world of Iranian denominational fantasies and dogmas. Accordingly, the criteria and standards of what is right and wrong to which they abide, honor and follow are totally set up and shaped by the Iranian mullahs. These anti-democratic and oppressive criteria and standards are continuously manipulated, changed, adjusted and shuffled by the Iranian mullahs to suit their dream of reviving the Persian Empire. Accordingly and due to this twisted psychological and radical Islamic religious training and breeding, Hezbollah's leadership is unpredictable and cannot be trusted by any means. They are blood merchants and sadly their merchandise is the people of Lebanon, including their own community members. They do not care who starves or even who dies. They have no actual or permanent allies or friends, only hired and temporary followers and mercenaries, who have been bought with the Iranian petrodollar "Clean Money".

In conclusion Al Jarah emphasized that Lebanon can not by any way reclaim its confiscated independence, freedom, sovereignty, endangered coexistence and actual identity as long as the terrorist Hezbollah remains armed, running his own ministate, fully controlling the country's decision making process by force and intimidation while holding with a monopoly grip on the war and peace decision.