I won’t go into everything I really think about what’s been going on with Iran for the past month or so, but I found this so interesting.

Ross K. Nichols posted this in his Patreon group about an hour ago and suddenly the timing of bombs this morning is making sense. Ross is a Biblical researcher and scholar. He’s not into politics:

Today is called Shabbat Zachor, which means the Sabbath of remembrance. There are additional readings from the ancient Torah cycle today on Shabbat Zachor, 1 Sam 15, and Deuteronomy 25:17-19.

This “special” Sabbath before Purim is associated with the killing of Haman, the Jew hating descendant of Agag (Esther 3:1; 9:24), who was the king of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15).

Amalek is biblically the archenemy of God whose hand is against the throne of Yah (Exodus 17:8-16) and who attacked the weak and feeble continually (Deuteronomy 25:17-19).

The story of Haman’s foiled plot to kill the Jews in the book of Esther is the ultimate tale of turning the tables. The evil planned by Haman became the story of his own demise. The story is set in Persia, which is modern-day Iran.

Today in synagogues around the world, Jews will be hearing the message of the defeat of Amalek while the world wakes up to learn that U.S. and Israeli forces are jointly bombing targets in Iran.

As a Bible guy it’s not difficult to associate the characters of old stories with our modern cast. Let’s pray that Haman gets what he deserves, and that the world soon sees a new Cyrus leading the ancient, proud, and wonderful people of Iran. Cyrus, was, after all, the non Jewish messiah (Isaiah 45:1).

So today, I pray for the freedom of the people of Iran from the oppressive, and evil regime and for a possibility of peace that comes from this war.

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Today is also the heavenly birthday of this guy.

Brian Jones in 1967 — Happy Heavenly Birthday:

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Today is also the 5th anniversary of the death of my adoptive mother.

One of the few nice memories I have of her is how she used to read to me from books we got in the mail from the Dr. Suess “I Can Read It All By Myself” book club, in the early 1960s.

By the time I was 2 years old, my mother had explained to me that I was adopted, that I had another mother somewhere. So when this book came into our home, it really, REALLY jumped out at me:

I still have the book. And the book has a happy ending, in case you aren’t familiar with it. (And my search for my birth mom has an ongoing happy ending, too, btw.)

Me and Wayne, visiting Cherie, my birth mom, while on our honeymoon in 1993. I love her t-shirt! (“Caution: I go from 0 to bitch in 4.2 seconds”):

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Speaking of mothers…

From James Tabor — A “deep dive” into his latest book, The Lost Mary:

“The materials contrast the traditional, theological image of a silent virgin with archaeological and textual evidence of a resilient Jewish matriarch who raised eight children. By examining the socio-political climate of Roman-occupied Galilee, the sources describe Mary as a working-class survivor whose family served as skilled builders in the city of Sepphoris. Tabor argues that later church dogma systematically erased Mary’s humanity, royal lineage, and revolutionary influence to fit a specific religious narrative. Ultimately, the text reclaims Mary as a pivotal leader and the primary source of the radical social ethics later championed by her son.” (29 mins):

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Here’s this!!

The back cover copy of my upcoming novel from Parisian Phoenix Publishing, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder:

The publisher, Angel Ackerman, told me yesterday that they expect proofs and author copies in a few weeks (!!).

The official publication date will likely be in early September.

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And speaking of Jesus (sort of)!

Here’s this!

From my private desktop stash, Nick Cave onstage, drinking and sporting a JESUS tee!

And here’s this, minus the Jesus thing!

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And I think that’s it for now. I want to try to make a dent in some of the things on my “List of Things to Do Immediately” before I head into town to see my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man.

Here’s hoping we’re all gonna have a good Saturday, wherever we are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this!

I am so totally loving this show, gang! (Short) “Riot Women” on Britbox/BBC: