Just a Thought - 02/24/2021

Greetings to all in the matchless name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

This is a reminder that unless the Lord prevents it, we will be reopening our worship facility in Spring Valley on Sunday March 7th. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, places of worship in California have been closed for an entire year, Recently however, some mosques, synagogues and churches have been reopening and we would like to do the same. As safety for our members continues to be of prime importance we would take all steps to ensure that everyone is kept covid-free. All attendees would be expected to wear a face mask and social distance as much as is possible given our limited space. Except among family members, hand shakes and hugs are discouraged and temperature checks along with hand sanitizers would be provided.

We understand that individuals who have not yet been fully vaccinated (received both doses of the vaccine) may choose to not attend services. Bible studies will continue online for at least another month when others have received their vaccines.

Now for a very brief Middle East update:

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced yesterday (February 23) that Iran had produced 17.6 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20% - a level very close to military-level weapons production. The IAEA reported in a confidential document distributed to member States and parts of it were published by the international news agencies AP, AFP and Reuters that as of February 18 Tehran had added 17.6 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20% to its reservoir. Overall, Iran has increased its enriched uranium inventory to 2,967.8 kilograms compared to 2,442.9 kilograms reported on November 2.

"The agency is deeply concerned that undeclared nuclear material may have been stored in a place not declared, and that such temporary material was provided by Iran under its defense agreement" the agency said.

The nuclear agreement (JCPOA) signed in 2015 with the United States, Germany, France, China and Russia allows Iran to hold an inventory of only 202.8 kilograms at the enrichment level of 3.67%.

Some of you may already have heard that in the last 30 days, Iran, through its proxies has conducted three separate missile attacks on American bases in Iraq. In fact only yesterday the United States Embassy compound in Iraq was attacked. What is so very startling for some is that there has been no talk of this on the American news media and of course no response from our President or military. Somehow, this does not surprise me for this is what happens when one is weak! You might also know that Israel is now preparing for a possible war with Iran on three fronts and has vowed to prevent the shiite nation from acquiring a nuclear weapon. My President's Middle East foreign policy has clearly embolden Iran. Furthermore, the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamene has given the US a deadline (February 23rd) to return to full compliance with the agreement or face the possibility that Iran would refuse to allow international inspectors to inspect its nuclear sites. Again, none of this surprises me.

President Trump as everyone knows, pulled out of the Iran deal in 2016 and imposed very heavy economic sanctions on Iran. I don't think my new President and the new US powers that be would reinstate the Iran deal as is, and I hope they don't, but we'll just have to wait and see. After all, they have been doing some very contrary things since taking office. For example, the same people who were such strong advocates for not building a wall on our southern border and claimed that walls neither worked nor are humane, have now erected a three mile wall topped with razor wire around the perimeter of our Capitol building in Washington, DC. I guess walls are effective only for those who say they are not.

Just a Thought

Pastor Chandroo