(by Christopher Fredrickson) 
How amazing and awesome is our Creator?  I don't think we really realize just how amazing and awesome Hashem truly is.  Brethren, I and friends of mine have been under horrible attack the past few weeks, since Hashem has passed down more responsibility to me in areas of teaching and observance.  The enemy doesn't like it.  Every now and then the enemy creeps up with the goal of seeking and destroying.  Yet at the same time as is noted: 

The Talmud makes note that a person who has not gone 40 days and 40 nights without trial or tribulation is in danger of loosing their share in the world to come.  This is also why Rav Shaul said: 

The words of Rav Shaul relate to the passage from the Tanach which states: 

Though it seems ridiculous, to most, that we rejoice in our trials and that we actually pray for trials.  The fact is Hashem brings great blessing through our trials and He is constantly defending us if we seek in him through hitbodedut.  Hashem then reigns down the blessing.  

This year has been a major year of trial, tribulation and testing for me, that has set me up to become the individual that Hashem has called me to be.  This year, major steps were taken personally to cling tighter and closer to Hashem.  Then Hashem throws a curve ball and says, "Let's see how he reacts to this, and his reaction will determine if he gets blessing....or if he gets a curse."  Several things in my life this past year could have gone the complete and opposite way in judgement if I failed to realize "everything is from Hashem", and if I failed to respond in simcha, chesed and anavah.  If I chose to not engage in hitbodedut then I would essentially be saying "Hashem is powerless and I hold all the power."  If I questioned his ways in a way that was in saying "why are you doing this to me?" as opposed to, "what are you trying to show me for my own good?" then the outcomes of the ministries I am involved with would be much different than they have been this past week.  Several individuals, who will remain nameless, have said "I am making it my life's mission to destroy you."  Simply because they disagree with my stance on several issues.  Many want to get a reaction that is negative, in order to get validation of their self perceived superiority.  Well, they have failed, and they hopefully learned really quickly that Hashem is in control.  

I also must note, that for a few hours, I actually thought through the rumors and slander that this little group had made in order to harm me, would succeed because of how wishy washy people can be at times.  But Hashem brought me incredible shalom that very day on my way to work, the sky was lit up, there was a breeze that was absolutely perfect and I had the song Kadosh Ata playing through my speakers on the way to work.  I was reminded of the response of our Melech Mashiach: 

Matthew 27:24-32, talks about how Yeshua was beaten, he was whipped and yet....he remained silent.  In other gospels, it notes he only said, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do."  So when we are in the same situation and slandered with words, when rumors are spread, what should be our reaction if not silence.....simply this: "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do."  We pray for their hearts to be changed, we forgive immediately for we mustn't ever repay evil for evil.  

For it is also written: 

With this, we must realize, our reactions must always be for the good of the person who accuses, we must always retain our simcha and chesed.  For if we fail to do that then we fall into the hands of the enemy.  The ultimate goal of the evil within which is known as the Yetzer Hara, according to Rabbeinu Bachya is ultimately to kill you.  To kill you spiritually then with the end goal of killing you physically.  It can start through a sense of paranoia that "everyone is bad except me, so I shall trust in myself", it can start from seeing the Scripture and knowledge as only an academic thing, thus making it flat and no longer bringing a connection to Hashem that is constant in your life at all times.  And it can also do incredible harm to one through anxiety and cause them to be cut off from other believers.  It will cause them to start doubting the oral law, then the apostle Paul, then Yeshua, and ultimately the validity of Scripture and the words of Hashem.    

The fact is, if an individual puts full trust in Hashem, and realizes He is in control of all, and nothing is outside of his control.  If we respond in silence, and in prayer with chesed.  Then the results are far beyond our wildest dreams and desires.  For our Mashiach said: 

and 

The judgement from Hashem, over your ministry, over your life, over your finances, etc is dependent upon your heart and your reaction to trials and tribulations.  For it is written:  

In order to receive that heart of flesh, it is not by a divine transformation out of the blue that you did not work towards.  For one must strive to be approved by Hashem in order for this to happen outside of head knowledge.  But, in conclusion I want to show you all, what being kind, edifying, and reacting the right way to gossip and slander how it is Hashem blesses you with much when you react correctly in your actions an heart.  It is also important to note that this is a process.  This process took me several years to learn how to trust in Hashem fully and to hear His voice through trial and tribulation.  The pictures below, were G-d's reaction to me and showing me "well done faithful servant" through the most recent of trials.  

​In this first picture, I need to make note that I am lucky to get 500 views on my Torah Portion videos every week.  Within 24 hours since the most recent trials, G-d did something miraculous with increasing (what is the normal full week views) 10 fold within 24 hours.  Never, had I had a video get 5,618 views in 24 hours.  The most previously may have been 80-100.  

Now, on this one, my previous record of podcast listens in 24 hours was 14,000, which many would say is impressive but however at the same time I have been doing this for 10 years, so there is a lot of archives there.  Now, though 18,675 is not much more than 14,000 (our previous record).  I need to make note, this is after not uploading the audio into the podcast server since August.  According to Reditt, if a podcaster doesn't do a new podcast every week they are at risk of loosing over 40% of their subscribers.  These stats show that I am still gaining 50 subscribers on average according to the numbers from November 19th.  This is an impossible fete that could only have been done by Hashem. 

And finally PaRDeS Radio.  I have been so busy with everything else I have been doing that I have not devoted any time to PaRDeS Radio and updating and promoting through the email list etc.  So I was shocked when I looked at the website this morning and saw that there are 1,411 people listening to PaRDeS Radio that that moment, when on average we are lucky to get 200.  

Thus we close out with this chochmah from the Torah: 

(by Christopher Fredrickson) 
On my Twitter feed and Instagram feed I have noticed many of my Christian friends up in arms over the Starbucks "Red Cup" making no reference to Christmas.  Now I am going to look at this situation from a compassionate, objective angle.  Though I do not celebrate Christmas myself, and though I do indeed believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah, I also used to work for Starbucks and....I'm not particularly a fan of their coffee.  So lets look at the back story on this whole outrage.  
The outrage was brought about by former pastor Joshua Feuerstein who found it deeply offensive to his Christian faith that he himself holds to.  Mr Feuerstein has since protested outside his local Starbucks and had entered the Starbucks with his gun strapped to his side.  However, he has not acted violent in anyway or is that a part of his agenda.  His agenda for the gun at his side is to also protest Starbuck's anti-Second Amendment stance.  And basically, that is the story.  Since doing this, Mr Feuerstein has gotten massive attention by the mainstream media and the blogosphere, which has led to outrage by many conservative Christians over the plain "red cup".
Now, there are some facts we need to also understand.  First of all Starbucks is a secular company, who serves individuals of many different faiths and individuals of no faith.  Starbucks is also a private company, and is not receiving 501C3 tax status given to non-profit "ministries".  Starbucks has never claimed to be a "Christian company" and has always been a company that has embraced the counterculture not people of any particular faith. 
Secondly, I worked at Starbucks last year when in early November the red cups would roll out and Starbucks would have their various holiday products.  These products ranged from the "Holiday Blend", "Christmas Blend", "Pumpkin Spice Latte" to cups with snowmen and reindeer and snowflakes.  There were certain products offered for people who held a deep conviction for the term "Merry Christmas" and for those who "just want their coffee".  Starbucks balanced it very well in my opinion.  Now, since this whole fiasco with Mr Feuerstein, the impression being given is that Starbucks once had "Christmas cups" and now they don't, now they are plain red cups, thus Starbucks is anti-Christmas and anti-Christian.  When the fact is, for years the cups have been a plain red cup and not anything suggesting they held to a pro-Christmas or even anti-Christmas stance.  Suggesting there is a change in the stance of the company as being anti-Christian is dishonest at best.  
Now, as an objective individual I also must make note that I am not particularly a fan of Starbucks coffee, their coffee beans I find to personally be a substandard product.  Their espresso is burnt, and I would much rather get my coffee at an independent establishment where I would pay around the same price, sometimes more, and receive a better cup of coffee or specialty drink.  I find Starbucks to be impersonal compared to independent coffee shops as well.  So do not think I am pro-Starbucks.  Working for many years in the coffee industry and using some of the best products available on the market such as Batdorf and Bronson coffees, Monin and Ghiradelli syrups etc I was horrified when I worked at Starbucks seeing how the products were made, with fully automatic machines and the quality of the product being used.  I would have never have used such products in my coffee shop.  
The success of Starbucks is attributed not to the quality of their product but rather their marketing.  And I find it funny as a Jew who doesn't celebrate Christmas, the only product I like of their's is their Christmas Blend.  Starbucks has broken the mold in terms of marketing by working closely with many other industries, including the music industry.  Ray Charles' last album ever recorded, by the way, was a Starbucks exclusive that you could only buy there the first few weeks of distribution.  And it featured amazing duets with the likes of Diana Krall and Elton John.  So in 2004, when that album came out, you better believe I got a cup of coffee at Starbucks because I went there to get that CD.  
In terms of Mr Joshua Feuerstein's second amendment protest by bringing his gun clipped to his side, I personally find it irresponsible and childish.  I am a pro-second amendment conservative republican, I voted for President Bush twice, I voted for McCain and for Romney in the presidential elections I was old enough to vote in.  I have always been strong on conservative republican positions, as well as the religious right.  But, I also find that Mr Feuerstein is also acting like a caricature of the religious right in his actions.  And I find this action by him with the gun to his side clip to be not heroic but rather foolish. 
Those of you who know me, know I am a deeply religious Messianic Jew.  I could have written this article on the reason's why Mr Joshua Feuerstein is wrong on a theological level but I chose to take the position of objectivism and not by my religious conviction and observance.  Because Mr Joshua Feuerstein is not of the same faith as myself, and I am not of the same faith as 99% of the rest of the American population.  So this is where my objectivism has to come in.  
I am a supporter of Donald Trump and Ben Carson personally, but I find them to both be wrong on this issue stating that the red cup, this year is an attack on religious Christian values.  I think that if I wanted to open a kosher butcher storefront in the United States, that I have the right to do that.  If a Christian wanted to open an Easter egg shop they have the right to do that.  I find it comforting that I can go to my local grocery store and find certified kosher meats and other products to put in my kitchen.  The stores are not bound to do that for people of my belief but the fact is they do, and I am more apt to shop at those places because they do and because I know what I am getting.  I make the choice where I get my coffee and where I shop for other things I may want or need.  That choice is up to me, and it is an amazing freedom we have.  If a person is upset over the plain red cup thinking for some reason it is an attack on their Christian faith, then I would suggest going some place that uses the same cups all year round or one that may do an in your face Christmas cup.  That is your choice and your freedom. If this is a major concern for you and you feel as a Jew that Starbucks should cater to the Jewish holidays then, stop going to Starbucks, the same is true with Christians or those of any other faith.  But outside protests are ridiculous at best.  
I do not believe there is a war on Christmas in this country like most do.  Just like I don't think there is a war on Hanukkah or Pesach or Yom Kippur.  Have you ever seen a Jew protest that a local grocery store or department store being open during our holy days?  Or the fact that we cannot find Hannukah things during that time of year, but Wal-Mart has an overflow on Christmas decorations?  Absolutely not.  I think, to my Christian friends, this is something important to realize.