By: Obed Pineda It is an undeniable truth that when conflicts arise between two parties, collateral damage is inevitable. The people closest to those engaged in a conflict are affected by the outcome, especially if a viable solution that leads to reconciliation cannot be reached. Depending on the gravity of…
By: Obed Pineda In the West Bank of modern day Palestine, the Arab Village of Beitin is inhabited by an estimated amount of 400 villagers. Its source of water is supplied by four springs which in ancient times was supplemented by a reservoir carved in the rock south of Beitin.…
By: Obed Pineda The Golden Gate is a narrow strait in California where the Pacific Ocean enters to meet the San Francisco Bay. This aquatic body spans approximately two miles with Marin County to the north of it and the city of San Francisco to its south. San Francisco was…
By: Obed Pineda Some time ago, I heard it said that not everyone has “the gift” of giving gifts. When I first heard this expression, my eyebrows furrowed in wonder as to why the expression was spoken? Admittedly, one reason for my puzzled look was out of worry and concern,…
By: Obed Pineda During our Lord Jesus’ earthly life, Palestine stretched about 120 miles from Galilee (the northernmost territory) to Judea (the southernmost territory), with the territory of Samaria in the center, sitting between them. In other words, when a resident of Judea needed to travel to Galilee, or vice…
By: Obed Pineda In central Palestine there lies a fertile, half-mile wide valley described by geographers as the best watered valley in that region. The Valley of Shechem (as the area was once known) sits between the twin mountains of Gerizim and Ebal, with the entrance to the ancient city…
By: Obed Pineda After wandering the wilderness forty years, and every Israelite over the age of twenty had perished there (with the exception of Joshua and Caleb) the time of their punishment, as designated by Jehovah God, had expired and a new generation entered and conquered the promised land under…
By: Obed Pineda It is said that one day Satan summoned all his minions because he had become irritated with the havoc that love was bringing about in his kingdom of darkness. The patience of the devil had vanished and he had decided that love had been preventing souls from…
By: Obed Pineda In 1886, Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson published his globally renowned novella, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Stevenson’s intriguing tale of a man shared by two alter egos, who are drastic opposites of one another, has transcended generations, leaving an indelible imprint in…
By: Obed Pineda It is unquestionable that the period that follows the death of a loved one is the most difficult in the life of those who mourn them. The powerlessness that one experiences due to the inability to prevent the inevitable, breeds confusion, grief, profound sorrow, and, in some…