The Desecration Of A Sanctuary-Pittsburgh Synagogue Massacre

My husband and I have many Jewish friends.  We've attended all their sons bar mitzvahs and weddings. We've been in temple with them for special occasions. We've prayed with them and their family. We all grew up together in Old Mill Basin and then later Marine Park, Brooklyn. In those areas of Brooklyn, NY, (and other NYC neighborhoods as well), it didn't matter what religion you were. We all played together, had similar values and our cultural and religious differences were not important.
It's unimaginable that someone can be so mentally disturbed and so filled with hate that they can walk into a place of worship, where innocent people are praying and kill them. What kind of world is this?
Those who were killed were the most dedicated, committed people, the ones who showed up early at the synagogue, and began early morning prayer. And yet in what should be a holy, sacred, safe place, evil flew through the door. One member of the congregation said, "We are questioning everything." I would be too. I do believe we need better security in places of worship, (and schools) so we can all feel safer while worshipping God or learning. This is the new reality.
Why are there always so many warning signs on social media and yet violent people fall through the cracks and are able to carry out heinous crimes? People blatantly post hateful threats which go unnoticed or unchecked. None of it makes sense to me.
God bless those poor, innocent people who were killed, as they prayed and their families who grieve.
God weeps.
NJA

Reason To Hope-Kim Jong-un Extends Invitation to Pope Francis

For the people, religious, priests and bishops of South Korea and others who have been praying for the people of North Korea,  and the conversion of Kim Jong-un, I consider it a miracle that South Korea's President relayed to the Pope at a meeting, at the Vatican this week, that Kim Jong-un would like Pope Francis to visit North Korea. What? Can it really be true?
After watching a documentary about North Korea about two years ago, I've been praying for the repentance and conversion of Kim Jong-un, since the people of North Korea are not free to worship God openly or read the Bible or take part in religious services. Sadly, Christians and Christian missionaries are persecuted in North Korea, and apparently there are thousands suffering in labor camps. According to a U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, "The North Korean government's approach to religion and belief is among the most hostile and repressive in the world." Watching the documentary, it struck me that North Koreans have to have a picture of Kim Jong-un in their house to honor. I thought when I watched the show on CNN, wouldn't it be wonderful if Christ's picture could be hung alongside Kim Jong-un. I brought it up at my prayer group and we prayed for those suffering oppression in North Korea and for the conversion of Kim Jong-un. And I continue to pray.......
So when I heard this news, I was beside myself. It sounded too good to be true.
Let us all pray for the repentance and conversion of Kim Jong-un and the people of North Korea and for all those suffering in labor camps. I pray the Pope will visit North Korea for an historic meeting between the leaders,  and be able to help the imprisoned Christians there.  Pope Francis can witness to faith and belief in God and all the benefits that brings and give hope to Christians in that part of the world.
It's such wonderful, hope-filled news!
NJA