Building a future is not something easy or an easy process. A person has to evaluate his abilities and try to see how he can achieve his goals using these capabilities. The same thing for any country, any country must set goals based on its capabilities and the abilities of their people. Unfortunately, with whats going around the world right now from wars and chaos, countries exhaust their resources not in building futures but on contrary in running futures for the coming generation.

After everyone thought it came to an end, Trump decided to declare his peace plan causing great controversy among supporters and denouncers. Yet, nobody tried to read the situation through its two parties, one of them is approaching elections at the end of the year to be re-elected President of America, and is in bad need to get the support of the Jewish lobby in America. The second party is the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has been Prime Minister of Israel since 2009 and will enter this year an election to secure in which he tries to secure a majority in the Knesset, who almost lost his majority in the previous elections. He is also facing charges of corruption that may lead him and his wife to prison. On the other hand, we can find the recipients of the offer are seeking protection from Iran, such as the Gulf countries, and more countries are threatened, divided, torn apart or seeking American protection and fund. The Palestinians are also divided without a state and work under a weak government. Even Egypt is threatened by the Renaissance Dam though it offered a lot to the Palestinian cause. In short, the general situation for everyone is bad, and if it is a deal it is an electoral deal for its sponsors, and a protection deal for the Arab party. Politics is now a trade to give and take.

I had written an article 7 years ago on our beloved news website (Copts united) about the story of the 9 years old child Abd al-Masih who was acquitted by Beni Suef misdemeanor court from charges of stealing 5 loaves of bread from a bakery. The owner of the bakery filed a lawsuit against the child and got a ruling to place him in a juvenile rehabilitation centre. The child was in fact working at the bakery and the rules allow him to take the bread he needs. This case revealed corruption of our rules since some people claimed honor and justice to condemn the child, and others took it as a sectarian case since the child name is Christian and translated slave of Christ!

It is unfortunate that we find some important values collapsing in our society, with many people with no culture leading media and spreading ignorance in the community. We can see such danger when we ask our youth about the great Egyptian writers and thinkers like: Muhammad Abdo, Taha Hussein, Al-Akkad, Tawfiq Al-Hakim, Naguib Mahfouz, Sayed Darwish and Salama Moussa. They don t even realize who they are as if we are infected with some virus to destroy our cultural identity. Those writers are the authentic cultural symbols who presented enlightenment ideology and participated in building this country. Now, the media is presenting bad models who lack knowledge and morals as well. This happens with the retardation of education, culture and art. This makes me say that our cultural identity is in danger since it is a number of cultural and epistemological accumulations, including the knowledge that comes from the traditions and customs of the family and the community surrounding it. I think that there is a plan to destroy our cultural identity, which is implemented slowly and effectively. Thus, we have to take care before we lose our customs, traditions, civilization and history.

While senate discussing impeachment of trump, we suddenly heard about the “deal of the century” again. At the same time, Israel announced for the first time that Israeli people can travel to Saudi Arabia while Saudi Arabia denied. Trump seems confident that this impeachment thing is going nowhere and will continue in his plan as he promised his people. He moved the Israel embassy to Jerusalem, He mad first trad deal with Chia, he is talking about the deal of the century and American people see him does what he promised.

Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River in wonderful humility, among the crowds of penitents. Yes, he didn t commit any sin, but he was baptized in order to explain to us our faith in the Holy Trinity and the sacrament of baptism. HG Bishop Bakhomius, former Acting Patriarch, in his article Baptism and the Theophania , explained the faith in the Holy Trinity and the sacrament of baptism through the glorious feast of Epiphany. Christ was in the water and the Holy Spirit came upon him in the form of a dove, and the Father saying: This is my beloved son The baptism of Jesus Christ confirms our belief in sacred baptism, which is based on three things: firstly, repentance, which is necessary in the baptism of adults, secondly, believing in Jesus Christ and his redemption, and thirdly, the acceptance of new born from water and spirit. Baptism in our faith is carried out by immersion, and it bears profound dogmatic faith and spiritual messages.

I met today at the Subway 9 young ladies under 15 years old. 5 of them were wearing Niqab (full face cover) and the rest are wearing Hijab. They were revising a book of ‘Islamic culture’ on their way to the exam. They book was discussing how to deal with non-Muslims? Is it permissible to exchange gifts with them? What people from other religions should do to Muslims? Furhtermore, it was describing Niqab as an appearance of chastity! I wonder what is the return on the state from religious education like Al-Azhar, which costs annually about one billion dollars? We should be teaching young people about life, technology, medicine and geology instead of teaching them about racism and extremism? Would they benefit humanity with such kind of education? People all over the world are seeking solutions for illness at the time we are seeking answers to questions like: is it permissible to congratulate Christians on their feasts? Instead, we should be teaching them history of their country and great grandparents. Many new countries have developed at the time we are suffering from retardation. This is not strange since we will reap extremism as long as we plant its seeds . Police and army will be offering martyrs in the war against terrorism, but the clergy won’t stop fueling the fire.

Dr. Mina Wagdy Ibrahim is a doctor who works at the Mercy Mosque Clinic in Safat al-Laban, Cairo. However it is a little bit strange to find a Christian doctor in an Islamic clinic, Dr. Mina decided to donate his time and work for free in service of the Muslims in the neighborhood. Head of the Islamic Sharia Association said that Dr. Mina made a good reputation by serving the people. Furthermore, one of the patients said that he found it strange in the beginning to deal with a Coptic Christian doctor, whose name is revealing his identity. Yet, the patient said he realized that Dr. Mina doesn’t differentiate between his patients based on their religion. Yes, there is no difference between people when it comes to illness. It is either you are human or not. I salute Dr. Mina and those who deal with him who realized there is no difference between people.

A few days ago, Egypt witnessed a major historical military achievement as President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi opened the South Bernese military base, in the presence of a number of Arab and foreign heads of state and defense ministers and high-ranking diplomatic figures. The South Bernice Military Base was built in a record time, as it took only one year to build one of the giant military fortresses on the southern strategic direction with a strike force in the sea, air and land linked to various regional and international challenges and raises the global classification of the Egyptian armed forces. The South Bernice base is a strong addition to the capabilities of the Egyptian armed forces and represents one of the support hubs in the Red Sea region and Bab al-Mandab Strait, using advanced weapons and improving Egypt’s chance to to become the largest naval air base in the Middle East to be built on an area of 150 A thousand acres. The base aims to protect and secure the southern Egyptian coasts and protect and serve the giant development projects that Egypt has witnessed in recent years since power support development and peace. During the opening ceremony marking the inauguration of the South Bernice base, an air naval exercise with live ammunition (Qadir 2020) was carried out. Various advanced weapons participated in the maneuver, including the Mistral aircraft carrier, the French Raval fighters, the American F-11, the Russian MiG 29, the American Apache attack helicopter, the Russian Kamov, the German submarine 209 and other huge naval vessels, as well as the missiles that were used for the first time. The great Egyptian army has sent messages of reassurance to all Egyptians and the Arab brothers, as well as warning messages for anyone who thinks or tries to threaten Egyptian or Arab national security. Long live Egypt.

Recently, the US and China signed trade agreement known as “Phase one deal”after almost 18 months of tariffs and retaliation between two parts. The trade deal has a lot of pros and cons for both sides but what is the most important that both could reach this agreement which hurt the market and the global economy so much.

We live in a world that raises slogans of freedom of worship, but tear them apart on daily basis with increasing hatred, sectarian attacks and persecution. This is wrong and I believe such sectarian violence should come to an end some day. Yet, the latest annual accounting from Open Doors USA revealed that the world is only increasing persecution against Christians with 245 Million persecuted people this year compared to 215 Million last year. The World Watch List 2019 reporting period showed that 4,136 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons, which means that on average 11 Christians were killed every day for their faith. 1.266 churches or Christian buildings were attacked. 2.625 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned. The rise in the number of persecuted Christians in the top 50 countries is 14% on the World Watch List and sadly enough they experience high levels of persecution. The countries on top of the list where Christians suffer from extreme persecution are North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Sudan, Eritrea, Yemen, Iran, India and Syria. Since 1 in 9 Christians experience high levels of persecution worldwide, the lucky 8 Christians should not only be grateful and thankful, but also praying for the persecuted ones. Moreover, the whole world should be praying for peace and progress and working hard to spread love rather than hatred and division.

Our deeds and sins are exposed and revealed before the eyes of the Lord as He says in the Book of Hosea Now their own deeds have surrounded them; They are before My face. (Hosea 7:2) This should be a good reason for man not to sin. This was explained by Archbishop Bachomious of Behira, Matrouh and Northern Africa. He said in his aricle ’Spiritual Lessons in the Book of Hosea’ that the Lord revealed the sins of his people in the book of Hosea including the sins of their superiors. God also revealed the penalty for trespassing on the will, which represents a personal message for each of us to pay attention to our sins before they destroy our lives. One of the sins that God warned against the bad company with the people of the world and imitating them. God has also warned against being lazy in worshipping and serving the brothers, seeking excuses for the soul that hurts God’s heart, and the sin of pride that comes when a person feels that he no longer needs the Lord. Such sins lead man to lose wisdom and purity and being void of spiritual fruits. Another sin of the chiefs that the Lord announced in the Book of Hosea is the failure of kings to provide service and care to their people and when the head is sick the whole body becomes ill. Thus, the sins of the chiefs are great, for this the church prays special ritual prayers for the kings and the presidents and we must always pray for for God to give all leaders wisdom and understanding.

Egypt has several achievements in the field of sports. The most recent one was a gold medal for the Egyptian champion Ahmed El-Gendy who won the Polish International Championship for adults for the International Modern Pentathlon Union, which is comprising the contemporary sports of pistol shooting, fencing, swimming, horse riding and running. The 19 years old young man has big dreams to achieve to be the world champion in that hard challenge. Yet, he works hard to achieve them through spectacular performances and remarkable results in the sport.

A Coptic woman called Catharine Ramzy survived slay attempt in Warraq, Cairo, after a fanatic called Mamdouh Ramadan has dragged her in the street and attacked her with white weapon saying this is what she get for walking without wearing a hijab. She has hardly survived the attack by a man who don’t even know her! The man was arrested by police and the matter is currently under investigation that revealed he suffers from mental illness and he had attacked another woman in 2017. However, such statement came without even getting him inspected by doctors! Moreover, if he do suffer from such illness, why wasn’t he locked in proper hospital instead of leaving him kill in peace! There is a big difference between being a murderer and being a psychopaths. Yet, this man has prepared a white weapon and attacked more than once, and needs a real investigation to protect the community and achieve general deterrence.

In Egypt there is a famous proverb says “The homes of the careless man destroyed before the house of the tyrant man” and that exactly apply on the Egyptian hospitals. People most of the time go to hospitals and can t find anyone to cure them or take care of them, not just that but also, when there is an accident and people need an emergency, they can t find the emergency service that could help save their life.

The Holy bible says: Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Jesus Christ took flesh from the Virgin Mary without a human father. It is a miracle of the Holy Spirit. Father Benjamin Al-Muharraqi in his article We glorify your unaware birth explained that the divine incarnation without human father is not impossible, since Adam was created from dust and then God created Eve from Adam s rib. Both of them were created without sexual reproduction. The divine incarnation was also without sexual reproduction as St. Cyril of Jerusalem said that Eve was born from the side of Adam without sexual reproduction and so did the Virgin Mary who gave birth to Jesus Christ and this is how we understand the Immaculate Conception. On the other hand, we find Saint Cyril the great explaining to us the goal of the Incarnation saying that the Lord Jesus became a human being like us in order to transform our nature and give us a new spiritual birth by the Holy Spirit. Thus, we call God as Father, and we are called sons of God after taking a new nature emanating from the nature of the Lord Jesus. We pray to God to grant us blessings of His incarnation and to preserve our new nature in Jesus Christ.

There is no doubt that festivals bring special joy, especially the religious holidays that raise minds and hearts to heaven. It brings our souls closer to God. Then we enjoy his presence like the bible says: “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her. (Hosea 2: 14) Christmas has its own magic go bringing joy into our hearts and enlightenment to our souls. This happens no matter how much evil and darkness in the world. It reminds us of what the angels said on Christmas Eve to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid! Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy for all the people. The heaven tells us not to be afraid and to put our faith in God. We need to show love and mercy and to be the change we need to see in the world. Perhaps we turn to the born child who incarnated to save humans and to show us how to love one another. The magi followed the star from a far at the time Herod decided to kill the child in order to save his fleeting throne.

We studied in the university that countries have to follow international law when it comes to declaring wars or any act of the war, however, we see recently that a lot of countries don t follow the international law but it follows and uses the rule of power. For example, Russia invaded Ukraine and that was against the international law, US invaded Iraq and that was against the international law, Iran seizes British tanker in Strait of Hormuz and that was against international law.

In the new year, I will not write about personal achievements and heavenly gifts, but about the year that has passed from our lives. Each step we make takes us closer to the end of our life. This inevitable end that each man has to face, which is death. Such end means we will have to meet with God at the end, even if we don’t know when. God gives us a chance to make better relationship with him and with the others. Shall we benefit from such great opportunity in the new year? I hope we can use it since no guarantee that such chance will be on the table forever! Many happy returns on the new year and best wishes to fulfill your dreams and wishes in 2020.