Okay, so desire ISN'T the enemy...

Okay, so ... I can't say that "God told me"... He keeps reminding me that is NOT acceptable speech (Jer 23:38)... but I was taught yesterday...or maybe it was the day before....the days are melting together.... that DESIRE isn't in itself bad. We naturally desire things...it's how we are built. I need, instead, to observe my desire and make conscious choices free from the bondage of guilt (which usually naturally comes up when I "desire" something that I have convinced myself is evil.)

Examples are "the cookie" from this season... and now "life" (because I've labeled "clinging to life" as "bad"... but it's not "bad", it's natural. So I need to observe and learn from it and then separate the chaff from the wheat.)

I probably wrote about this experience before - but waaaaaay back in spring 2011 I had the opportunity to live with some friends. I left all I owned and knew here in North Carolina (well, except Rue - I didn't leave her, and ultimately couldn't, and that caused my ultimate "downfall" from the house-church that I joined). Anyway, I left N.C. and went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to join a house church that believed that it was possible to become sinless, to put to death the flesh and be perfect as "my Father in Heaven is perfect".

I have always battled with food/sugar addiction and I had gone to Walmart and picked up a Magnum ice cream bar.... I had so much guilt about it, I just knew I SHOULDN'T... I was about to go home and eat dinner with my friends, but I DID IT. I felt so slippery and dark... covered in LUST. I was sitting in my car devouring this bar when my friend Jen called. She asked what I was doing, and we were supposed to admit all our sins to one another - we were completely accountable to one another (which I think was really great)... and I admitted it... and you know what she said? I was sitting there suffocating in shame and barely croaked out what I felt was this dirty secret ... and she just said "What?! Why? Don't worry about that! It's just ice cream! If you want an ice cream, have one!"

I can't explain how much that tiny interaction moved me! I was FREE! (I've since put myself back under condemnation for such things - culture, family, self-image keep me in bondage.) <-- I talk to Tim about this a lot. He says "if you eat a cookie, is it the end of the world?" and I say "no, I guess you're right".... but recently I have realized that it's not the cookie, it's the TOXIC nature of it... the fact that it is POISON to my body. Is it the end of the world if I eat poison? I guess it depends on what kind of poison... but eventually, if I eat enough poison, it's the end. Ha!

This just leads me back to my original point. I need not make "desire" (itself) the enemy, but I need to instead, OBSERVE the desire, and respond intentionally with presence.


ps. I've been in a week-long healing reaction or panic attack or SOMETHING (which I don't want to label - it feels like death) and I haven't been well.... BUT God has been so close! Dr. Wilson's "The Real Self" and "The Pushing Down" exercise are so helpful. I finished the Bhagavad Gita (which was FANTASTIC - the walkthrough for westerners). I finally found The Way of Mastery audio for FREE! (It was $130 for the audio set and I just couldn't justify it... but I was lead to it on YouTube. This whole YouTube channel looks AMAZING!!! (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOdt4ugDsU0R6Qis6lfW2Ew/featured))

I need to let go of FEAR. I'm in bondage. I can be in LOVE or in FEAR. I'm in fear. Surrender. Let Go and Let God. Whatever will be, will be. Live in the present. Be Here Now. Be LOVE Now. Amen.

2018 Reading List

January 2018

At Hell’s Gate: A Soldier’s Journey from War to Peace - Claude Anshin Thomas

The Nightingale - Kristen Thomas

Texas - James A. Michener (started)

Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field - Barbara Ann Brennan

February 2018

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis - J.D. Vance

Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts 

March 2018

Little Fires Everywhere - Celeste Ng

Traditional Usui Reiki Level I, II, Master Manual - Lisa Powers

Wildlife - Richard Ford

April 2018

Penelope’s Daughter - Laurel Corona

Yin & Yang Nutrition for Dogs - Dr. Judy Morgan

May 2018

When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi

Ancient Chinese Healing Secrets - Master Mingtong Gu

Of Mess and Moxie - Jen Hatmaker (Only read a couple chapters - encouraging Christian lady speaking… entertaining…but I have better uses for my time)

God is a Verb - Kabbalah & the Practice of Mystical Judaism - Rabbi David A. Cooper

A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle - *AMAZING! Best book ever!!

Before We Were Yours - Lisa Wingate

June 2018

Harvest of Gold - Tessa Afshar

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Saffer & Annie Barrows

1984 - George Orwell

Anastasia - Vladimir Megre

July 2018

Bread of Angels - Tessa Afshar

A Course In Miracles (started) - Course in Miracles Society / Helen Schucman

The Choice Is Clear - Dr. Allen E. Banik

Land of Silence - Tessa Afshar

The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

Ishmael - Daniel Quinn

August 2018

The Art of Mending - Elizabeth Berg

The Chakra Book - Osho (GREAT!)

In The Field of Grace - Tessa Afshar

Harvest of Rubies - Tessa Afshar

What a Girl Wants - Kate Perry

The Real Self - Dr. Lawrence Wilson

September 2018

Go Set A Watchman - Harper Lee

The Mare - Mary Gaitskill

Light on a Hill - Connilyn Cossette

October 2018

Jesus - Deepak Chopra

Heal Thy Self - Saki Santorelli

Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah

All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr

November 2018

Even The Sun Will Die - Ekhart Tolle

Mohammed - Deepak Chopra

The Art of Presence - Ekhart Tolle (audio)

Thief of Corinth - Tessa Afshar

Divine - Karen Kingsbury

December 2018

Stillness Speaks - Ekhart Tolle (audio)

The Crucible - Arthur Miller

Buddha - Deepak Chopra - *loved!

Living the Liberated Life and Dealing with the Pain Body - Ekhart Tolle (audio)

Be Love Now - Ram Dass (audio)

Be Here Now - Ram Dass

The Hideaway - Lauren K. Denton

Enlightened Relationships - Ekhart Tolle (audio)

The Realization of Being - Ekhart Tolle (audio)

2017 Reading List

January 2017 

The Source - James Michener 

February 2017

Aleph - Paulo Coelho

July 2017

Nutrient Power: Heal Your Biochemistry, Heal Your Brain - Dr. William Walsh

Opening The Hand of Thought - Kosho Uchiyama 

Lady Susan - Jane Austin

Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austin

August 2017

The Light Between Oceans - M.L. Steadman

As I Lay Dying - William Faulkner

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain

Ruby - Cynthia Bond

The Chosen - Chaim Potok

September 2017

Bridge To Haven - Francine Rivers

The Atonement Child - Francine Rivers

Anatomy of An Epidemic - Robert Whitaker 

People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks

The Red Tent - Anita Diamante

Sarah - Marek Halter

The Last Sin Eater - Francine Rivers

Veronika Decides to Die - Paulo Coelho

October 2017

The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman

The Coffee Trader - David Liss

A Lineage of Grace - Francine Rivers

The Celestine Prophesy - James Redfield

The Pilgrimage - Paulo Coelho

November 2017

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

The Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu 

Leota’s Garden - Francine Rivers

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho 

The Divine Within - Aldous Huxley 

Pearl In The Sand - Tessa Afshar

See Me - Nicholas Sparks

December 2017

The Mapmaker’s Daughter - Laurel Corona

Same Kind of Different As Me - Denver Moore and Ron Hall 

The Four Seasons: A Novel of Vivaldi’s Venice - Laurel Corona

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie - Ayana Mathis

Desire

I desire a cookie (a "kitchen sink" cookie from Panera, to be exact.)
I desire to live (and not pass away before I've completed my task.)
I desire this anxiety to go away (especially the panic attack that was overcoming me when I jotted down these notes.)

All of these are bad. All of these are examples of me pressing back against my present moment. I must be content and accept/ALLOW whatever IS. 

Observe. Allow. Accept. Be.
"DESIRE" separates me from God. It is born of my ego... and it feeds it ... ego WANTS... ego desires... 

EGO CLINGS.
Stop clinging to desire. 
Stop clinging to control.


"I WANT I WANT I WANT" - the refrain Michael sings to me when I am rattling off another desire.
My flesh, my ego, my self just WANTS *THINGS* to FILL it.

Empty my self.
Deny my self.


Also:
Anxiety is inflammation

_____

I enjoyed watching Oprah interview Thich Nhat Hanh - full of wisdom. I ordered his book today "Living Buddha, Living Christ". He said in this interview that "Christ is the Buddha of the West"... and I couldn't agree more. Seems to me that they are the same. 

I'm really enjoying learning about all religion. I'm listening to "The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough For Westerners" now - I don't know much about Hindu religion... but everything I learn about all the different paths of faith makes me SEE the elephant as a whole. (You've heard the analogy about religion.... that it's like an elephant in a dark room - three men touch different parts of the elephant and define it by what they experience. "An elephant is long and tubular" - says the one who touches his trunk. "An elephant is skinny with a hairy tuft" says the one touching his tail. "An elephant is thin and flat" says the one touching the ear. They are all sure they KNOW what an elephant is ... it IS what THEY experienced... but they didn't experience the whole elephant.)  

Anyway, I'm just a baby awakening ... there's so much to learn and I'm afraid that I have already mucked this life up too much to get too many rungs up the ladder, but I must climb as high as I can. I heard in the Bhagavad Gita that no spiritual efforts are wasted. They will go with me. If I return again for another soul's journey in the flesh, I will have to re-learn much, but it won't all be lost. We'll see. Or not. I need to be okay with that and just BE HERE NOW. 

Rayah's Song

Rayah's Song 

A psalm of love and deliverance.
Written by our dear friend and author, Nancy Rich Foster in late 2017.

To you Yehovah, shall I sing my praise!
For you have looked into my very soul,
You have seen my hopeless despair,
My torment and misery, have you seen.

You have heard my voice raised in frustration,
As I raged against you, my Creator.
You have seen me sneer in anger at your truth,
As I ridiculed, harassed and laughed at your messenger.

Yet you, who created me, have withheld your anger,
And have instead, given me unconditional love.
You have lovingly withheld your judgment,
In the face of my stubborn defiance of your holy word.

You in all your wisdom, heard not the words of my mouth
But the yearning’s of my hunger for your truth,
Truth so hidden within myself that
I, even I, knew not that they were there.

Then, Oh Yehovah, in my darkest hour
As I trembled at your feet,
Tormented in mind and body,
You saw my misery, and my failings.

You looked into my very being,
You measured my worth, and found me wanting.
With all my faults and idiocies
And you loved me anyway.

You who loves me! Yes! Even me.
Opened my eyes to your warrior’s truth.
You, Oh Yehovah, have filled my emptiness.
My very soul with song, and laughter!

You have filled my heart with hope!
My life overflows with happiness.
You have given me peace, in the place of chaos.
You have blessed me with the love of Michael!

1 Year In

(written for WeAreIsrael.org in early 2017)

I’ve been meaning to write this for a while now but haven’t… so, technically we are a bit more than “1-Year In”. #delinquent! Ha! Michael took me as his woman on January 27, 2016 after I had all but begged (okay… begged) him to allow me to be under his “covering”. Have we talked about how we met before?? Probably.  Let me just do a quick recap.

In August of 2015, I read one of Michael’s blogs for the first time. Hated it. But for some reason, I kept reading… and each article gave me nuggets that both challenged and enlightened me. Michael saw things that I saw peripherally, but couldn’t yet put my finger on.

Within a month I was a regular attender of his online sabbath class where he was going through the torah line by line. A month later we were friends and beginning to talk on the phone, which progressed to talking on Skype. I helped him with artwork for his blog and we had wonderful conversations about our mutual love, Yehovah and His word.

In late October I had an extreme sense of dread overcome me… something “clicked” and I had a moment of clarity when I understood that I needed to have a covering. I longed for peace…for shalom… and understood that the beginning of finding that meant that I had to surrender my pride and control issues and start seeing myself for what I was…. a woman created for a purpose….to do the will of Yehovah…of God… and that meant humbling myself and learning to be a helper for a man (whether it is my husband, father, brother, etc.).

That first day on the phone when I asked to be Michael’s “long-distance” Amah (non-sexual female servant), he laughed at me. Apparently that isn’t a “thing”. I was deflated but understood. As an uncovered woman, I was in a pickle and often called myself “a sitting duck”. I DID ask my Dad if I could be HIS servant and live with him and help he and my Mom however I could… and if he wanted, he could find me a husband and marry me off. (I was trying to live out what I saw in the Tanakh.) My loving Daddy said I could always come home and stay with them if I needed to “get back on my feet”, but that he didn’t subscribe to the particular belief system that I was operating under. So that was out.

Long story short, Michael’s and my friendship grew and we eventually started talking in earnest about me joining him as his woman.

Fast forward a year (+) and here I am….and here he is. We live together on the opposite side of the country from where he resided before. We live on a community ranch where we have animals (a horse, 2 dogs, and chickens so far) and gardens (one in our back yard and a great spot in the community garden). We are learning and practicing life according to our created purpose.

Michael is the leader in our home. He sets the tone (and what a lovely tone it is!)!

I am becoming more and more grateful that I don’t have to make every decision for myself. I’m learning to relax into the ability to say “honey, what should I do?”…and learning to TRUST and DO what he says! (In the past I have often asked others for their opinions but ultimately looked to myself as the authority. This emasculated my previous partners, showing them that I did not really value what they said…even if I SAID I did with words, I didn’t live it.)

I’M NUMBER TWO!!

A few years ago I started to sense I was created to be a “#2” (not the “#1” I was trying to be). My pride and entitlement issues made me want to exalt myself to be a #1…but that is not who I was created to be… I’m a #2.

Years ago I was involved with one of my church’s community groups for single young professionals. The leader was kind to me and gave me responsibilities to help him and soon I looked at myself as a “co-leader” in this group. Once in this role, I often found myself judging the actual leader… I was critical and often thought I knew better. As time passed, I began to have romantic feelings for this man and those feelings naturally humbled me and made me WANT to be his “#2”. I remember journaling about that strange feeling. I think we, as women, if we tap into our “woman-ness”, will find that we desire to be soft and pliable and dependent.

It was like what I saw a couple weeks ago when my very-dominant female dog who THINKS she’s “alpha” (and acts like a crazy fool anytime another dog doesn’t RECOGNIZE that she is the BOSS) walked alongside a TRULY “alpha” dog (who was much bigger than her too)….she NATURALLY humbled herself and even tucked behind him when she was looking for protection from something that scared her on our walk. It was really neat to see. #natureinaction

It’s no one’s fault…it’s the way our society has gone, but frankly I was raised/trained to think and act like a man, not a woman. I was taught that “I am in charge” and that I can be whatever I want instead of being taught to be a help-meet/ezer kenegdo. In a partnership where all parties know their roles, everyone thrives. I still struggle with feeling like I have to “achieve and accomplish” things for myself to exalt my name. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. I’m supposed to humble myself and be one with my master and exalt HIM!

So that’s what I’m working on…still… in year 1+. 

Who's Your Master

(written for WeAreIsrael.org in 2016)

Some people think that my using the word “master” when referring to Michael is some sort of kinky code… ha! I realize there are people that participate in “S&M” and this language is used in that realm… but I assure you, that is NOT the case with my master and I.

Let me clarify that “master” is an honorific that shows respect, honor, and recognition of one’s authority or position. I use it to illustrate my submission to my beloved eesh who is the leader of our household (and also my best friend).

Some examples of folks who called another their lord or “master”:

• Abigail / David  (1 Samuel 25)
• Joseph / Potipher (Genesis 39)
• Eliezer / Abraham (Genesis 24)
• Elisha / Elijah (2 Kings 2)
• The Shunammite woman / Elisha (2 Kings 4) who calls herself Elisha’s shifkaw (H8198 – female slave).

Does this mean that I am a “slave” to my master?
The Hebrew word for a male servant is “eved”. The female equivalent is called an “amah”. Then there were also “shifkhaw” who were generally the maidservants who worked in the house and served the “isha” –  the mistress or woman/women in charge. These ladies are called “wives” in today’s society.

Slave of Jesus Christ

I am seeking understanding about how and why Abigail and the Shunammite woman call another man their master when they each have husbands at the time? I’ll just let that sit on the low burner of my heart – Yehovah will show me more in His time if it’s His will. Regardless, in both cases these women recognize a man of Elohim and revere him (as they should). They humble themselves and recognize their place under the authority of Yehovah’s man.

I recognized this in Michael – I saw that he was a man who was searching, wholeheartedly, after the life and truth that is given by Yehovah to those who diligently seek Him. He wants to know and walk in the ways of our Creator. His desire is to understand and walk out the torah of Elohim. When, by the grace of Yehovah, I was convicted that I was uncovered and not living according to the divine order set in place at the beginning of time, I knew I had to do something about it!! I came to Michael with desperation and begged him to take me under his wing – to let me be called by his name – so that I would be in line with the will and ways of Yehovah.

The dictionary defines the word slave as one who is owned by another person and works for that person without pay or a person who is strongly influenced and controlled by something. (So YES! Ha!) Okay, let me go on… it defines servant as one who performs duties for others or a devoted and helpful follower or supporter.  (Note that practically everywhere in the Tanakh both “slave” and “servant” are translated from the Hebrew word “eved” which is a “male servant”.  The translator’s discretion determines how this word is rendered in the final copy.)

So the words “slave” and “servant” are fairly similar – I think the biggest difference in the way it is played out in society is that a servant is often paid while a slave is not.  (Note, this train of thought is only relevant for the 21st century – back in the day, most “servants” lived with the family in the household or within the gates. They worked for the master and in exchange they had provision, protection, and purpose.)

Fun facts: I wasn’t raised in a family that believed in arranged marriages (unfortunately), so my coming into being as Michael’s isha was a calculated decision because I am a woman who wants to walk according to the ways outlined in Torah. I want to live my life as a faithful isha…a help meet… an ezer kenegdo (H5828 + H5048)… an aid suitable/ counterpart for my ba’al (husband/master). The language is a bit different than we are used to, but the life that leads to peace is still available to those who walk according to the ancient paths.

I want to belong to a man following The Elohim – Yehovah. I yearn for the purpose, protection, direction, and provision that Yehovah’s set apart men can offer.  Yehovah said man – eesh – will rule over me (Genesis 3:16). For me, I’m a mess on my own – I was created differently than man – with different talents, abilities, and skills. I can compliment him, but I don’t have the emotional, physical, or spiritual tools to replace him as ruler of my life. So I submit to the divine order that our Creator set in motion

I find it interesting that in the New Testament church, many call themselves a “slave (G1401) of Jesus Christ”… his “servants”…. JESUS is “master” (G1988)? How come that type of verbiage is accepted THERE but not here in “real life”? How come the same people who are on board with that language in the context of “New Testament” are so troubled when they hear it used as it was intended?

Part of the counterfeiting that keeps people in bondage to false doctrine is this separation from reality – this is making the way, truth, and life into something intangible (or into a some PERSON?!!). There is twisting and perversion galore in the NT. Please do yourself a favor and set it aside. Learn the foundation … the Torah …heck, the whole Tanakh is chock full of teaching, parables, warnings, history, and prophesy – it’s all you need. Once you master that – learn what Yeshua was talking about and then (if you still feel inclined), go back to the NT with new eyes.

I am not far into this archeological dig of the foundations of the bible, and I foresee that it will be a long time before I can get back (armed with knowledge and truth) to look at the “NT” to determine if there is real truth in it, or just bait – bite sized pieces which keep folks trapped – hook, line, and sinker – into a defiled commentary about true Israel. We’ll see. In due time. Not now. For now, I want to know the TRUTH which I heard that someone said will set you free…

I encourage you to read my master, Michael’s, series on “Adonai Is My Master”… learn what that word means and who says it to whom!

____

Regarding the grammatical value of the word “master” (and more), I found simple reality well stated in one of my master’s friend’s Facebook posts which said:

“Mr. is an abbreviation of the word “Mister” which is simply a variant of the word “Master”. A Master is the male head of household that holds the ability to use, control, or dispose of his property. Mrs. Is an abbreviation of the word “Mistress”. Mistress by definition is a female of the household that holds authority and power over servants. There is a reason these words have fallen out of use. It would be untruthful in today’s society“

Michael's Woman

(written for WeAreIsrael.org in early 2016)

Hello! My name is Rayah Didier… Michael’s woman. I’d like to tell you a little about myself and I’d love it if you would respond and tell me about yourself too! Feel free to comment below!

Not too long ago I was rescued by one of the sons/seed of Israel – an honest-to-goodness Ezrach man – I think you may have guessed who this magnificent man is?! Yes, Michael Didier!

Before I was rescued, I was unfortunately, living “uncovered“. I wasn’t “safe” and wasn’t operating according to my created purpose.  When I came into covenant with Michael, I became bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh and was given a new name and purpose.

…the man said: ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of the man.’ Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his woman, and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:23-24

What does it look like to be “one flesh”? Is that talking about SEX? Well, maybe? But more importantly, it describes how I am to operate as one – following my leader, my master (ba’al) – wherever he goes. My life is now HIS life. I am an extension of him – specially designed to be HIS ezer kenegdo (help meet / aide suitable).

I am now free to fulfill my created purpose. 

I hear you saying, “Rayah, you keep talking about this “created purpose”?! What is that?!”  Well, friends, that’s a goooood question – one that I seek knowledge, understanding, and wisdom* on each day!

*Let me pause here and ask you to please note that I link to articles and use concepts that are written for men in their relationship with Yehovah. One thing I’ve noticed is that the relationship that men are supposed to have with Yehovah is a mirror image of the relationship that women are supposed to have with their men. Even though the bible isn’t written to or for women, I think it’s fun to speculate and practice ways to make it applicable to me in my relationship with my master.

For example, Proverbs 3:5-7 says:

Trust in Yehovah with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Yehovah, and depart from evil;

Rayahized it says:

Trust MICHAEL with all my heart, and don’t lean on my own [often deceived] understanding. In all my ways acknowledge / look to Michael and HE will help me make the best decisions…(keeping me safe and in line with his will). Stop being a know-it-all, instead fear [respect and recognize the strength, value, and life/death power of] Michael and depart from rebellion.

Created Purpose as Michael’s Woman

So what is my “created purpose”? It’s quite simple in theory – a little more difficult when the rubber meets the road!  Basically, a woman pours out her life in service to her man…just as a man should pour out his life in service to Yehovah. It is the divine order set in motion by our Creator. Ultimately it boils down to the fact that the woman was created to help the man serve Yehovah.

And Yehovah Elohim said: ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.’ Genesis 2:18

We fulfill this – most often – by ministering to the physical and emotional (fleshly) needs of our men (eesh), to free him to respond to the responsibilities Yehovah puts on his plate.

My desire is to do my master GOOD and not harm all the days of my life!

She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:12

Walk With Me

Yehovah willing, I will share with you now and then about what Yehovah is teaching me about how to best fulfill my newfound role as Michael’s woman. I’ve only belonged to him for about a month and already I have been through the fire – there is so much opportunity to learn when our eyes and hearts are open to it.

Let me warn you right now that I am a mess of a person!  I want desperately to be beautiful in the eyes of my master and his Master – but I have a LONG way to go! I hope you will join me on this quest … this road… the ancient path that leads to life for a woman.

Thus saith Yehovah: Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

Testing, testing, 1-2-3....

Oh man, lots has happened since I last blogged... I've had an inkling that I should start writing again, not for anyone else, but for me. Hopefully I can be less verbose than the past... but we'll see. This is just a test blog today to see if this thing is still on....

I changed the address to crwages.blogspot.com from carissamiller.blogspot.com. It probably started as carissadrauss.blogspot.com. Lots of changes, just to get back to where I started from: Carissa Reeves Wages [Wood]... and I'm also Rayah Didier... but that's a story for another day.

Actually, I should post my Rayah Blogs here too... I wrote these a few years ago under Michael's blog, WeAreIsrael.org. I'll share them in a sec...