VISIONS - The father Ignatius series is a fun and easy read, Victor Moubarak is an excellent writer, love all his books. (Catherine)
For
such a fast read, this book was amazing. As a Catholic, the story
touched my heart deeply and should be read by other Catholics. If the
reader is not a Catholic, it should be read anyway for the way it deals
with our understanding of God’s forgiveness of sins, spiritual support
through the worst of times, and the strength a good parish can have even
if you are doubted by your peers.
This book is the first in a
series about the main character. I read a later book and enjoyed it so
much I had to go back to the beginning to follow the progression of his
career. This book does not preach, it just carries the reader along on
what could be if they believe. (Patt ONeil)
Do
you believe that God still performs miracles in today's jaded and
fallen world? What would your reaction be to three children stating
they had met Jesus in a park? Would you believe without question? Or
would you be led into doubt and disbelief instead? In Visions, Moubarak
explores these all-too-human questions through the eyes of Catholic
priest, Father Ignatius, and the ecumenical community at large. You
will be irresistibly drawn into the believable characters, and
sympathize with their questions and insecurities, while at the same
time, be compelled to examine your own heart as to its spiritual health.
This novel is a must-read for every Christian, and I would highly
recommend it, too, for those who are questioning their beliefs in
Christ, our Savior. (Martha Orlando, author, A Trip, a Tryst and a
Terror, Children in the Garden, The Moment of Truth, Revenge!,
Redemption, Revelation, all available on Amazon.)
THE PRIEST AND PROSTITUTE - This
is a very well written 'Who Done It'. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot,
and many original lines. The one I remember most was concerning a
conversation in which the old saying "If someone yells in a vacuum can
it be heard?" You have to appreciate the wit of the author and also the
surprise ending. It is a very enjoyable read and I definitely would
recommend the author. Yep, tis a fun read. (Jack Darnell)
An intriguing and riveting story that will keep readers interested and engaged through the entire story. Highly recommended! (Martha Orlando)
TO LOVE A PRIEST - Of
all Moubarak's Father Ignatius stories, this one most definitely is his
most poignant. Torn between his priestly vows and the re-emergence of a
former love, Fr. Ignatius is faced with a deep and life-changing
decision. You do not want to miss this one! (Martha Orlando)
DON'T LET THE DEVIL WIN - I
found this story so relatable ... in particular, Fr. Ignatius'
vulnerability. On more than one occasion I, too, have wondered if God
was punishing me. Good to realize, I'm not the only one. (Myra G)
If
you like a down to earth good drama, this is one to give a shot. I
enjoyed it from beginning to end as it covers the distress of a priest
who in on the verge of leaving the priest hood with all the torments and
feelings. It has a great ending, not what I expected, but it is good.
Victor writes a good book. I am protestant and Victor's hero or main character is Father Ignatius, Catholic Priest. As I read Ignatius seems
like your average 'preacher'. The same every day life and problems
associated with those in a parsonage (my dad was a preacher so I know a
little about that. LOL) Anyway, I highly advise this book, entertaining and informative. (Jack Darnell)
MURDER IN THE MONASTERY - This
is such an excellent written book, that keeps you literally on edge
till the very end. I read it through... could not put it down! WOW. Well, what a perfect thing to do on a day you have no Internet! That got solved and you will be SURPRISED reading this book. (Mariette Vedder)
A SHOT IN THE PARK - Love the Father Ignatius series, I hope that this writer keeps the series going, a very fun and suspenseful read. (Catherine)
A
Shot in the Park may well be my favorite of Victor Moubarak's books!
The storyline was both riveting and plausible. Plus, the author's
writing made it easy for this reader to visualize each of the
characters. My biggest take-away is the subject of forgiveness. That's
something I've struggled with most of my life. (Myra G)
This
book is one of the more recent books in a series by this author. The
story was entertaining and the message heart warming. I gave it 4 Stars
instead of 5 because of the narrator's "breaking the down the 4th wall"
rule, where he talked to the reader, which wasn't all that bad because
it was in a homily-like manner that helped move the plot along. I was so
impressed by the Father Ignatius character, I'm going to read the rest
of the series from the beginning. (Patt O'Neil)
LIVING THE WORD -
This writer has a knack for keeping the readers on edge to the end, hard top put book down. (Catherine)
APPOINTMENT WITH MURDER -As
ever, the author's created an entertaining, easy-to-read story
featuring some of my most unforgettable characters. I especially
enjoyed learning more about Fr. Ignatius' private struggle between right
and wrong. Despite the collar, his obvious humanity. Normally because I'm a "it's either black or white" type, I doubt that I could be as resolute. (Myra G)
THE BITTEN APPLE CONNECTION
- Be the first to leave an AMAZON Review. I rely on your reviews and
thank you most sincerely for your support and encouragement. God bless
you. (V S E Moubarak)
It's amazing how technology has advanced and what in the past we learnt from books and from schools and colleges we can now learn from the Internet. My parents, if they were alive today, would have been astounded by the Internet. Imagine writing an email and in seconds it reaches someone the other end of the world! And all those gadgets we can have at home or on our cell-phones that we ask them a question and they respond straight-away.
I know a friend who studied medicine by just reading on the Internet and asking AI to help him along. He is now a surgeon ...
and has successfully transplanted a hernia ... ...
from the left side to the right ... ... ...
on himself!
Bless him ... his heart is in the right place ... ... but I can't say the same for all his other organs.
The other day another friend told me he is asking AI to advise him on moral and religious questions and how to live his life. Can you imagine that? Asking a man-made thing to guide you in life rather than rely on God's Commandments.
But then, I remember many years ago some other people did the same thing.
There really is no limit to the amount of research I go to in order to entertain, inform and educate you in these articles I write here. Today we talk about Trompe l'oeil.
It is a French term which means to deceive the eye. Often used by painters to make you look at a particular place in their masterpieces. Like this example known as Trompe-l'Oeil Still Life with a Flower Garland and a Curtain by Adrien van der Spelt with the curtain painted by Frans van Mieris. Your eyes are drawn to the curtain (pun intended) rather than the flowers.
How about this by an unknown artist. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the fly rather than the painting itself.
Or this Lady With a Fly on her Shoulder (circa 1596) by Frans van der Mijn.
I'll admit my eyes were immediately drawn to the fly on her shoulder!
And another thing ...
Did you know that some urinals have a fly deliberately painted in them to help men aim properly? Do you know anyone who needs this help?
Why is it when I'm busy trying to do something I get as many interruptions as you can fit in a short space of time?
There I was at home busy writing an urgent report which just had to be finished for work that day when the phone rang.
"Hello ... yes, it's me. How can I help you? ... ... ... No thank you, I do not need to have new windows fitted in my house. Why? Because I live in a tent, that's why. Good bye!"
I got back to work. A few minutes later the phone rang again.
"Hello ... ... ... No thank you I do not have time right now to take part in a shopping survey ... ... ... why? Because a horse has just got in my house and left a pile on the carpet which I have to clean up before my wife gets home! The vacuum cleaner does not work. So unless you can deliver a new vacuum cleaner in the next ten seconds. Good bye!"
I put the phone down feeling proud of my impromptu response.
Why do these salesmen phone when I'm busy? I have to answer the phone personally because I'm expecting an urgent call from a work colleague; so I can't leave the answer-phone machine to take the calls.
As I got back to work, the door bell rang. Someone is standing there with a collecting tin.
"This is a collection for fallen women!" he said.
"Sorry ... I haven't got any here!" I reply flippantly.
Then, feeling a little guilty I give him a penny. (That's four pennies I have already given away so far this month.)
I hate it when people with collection tins make you feel so guilty in your own home? If it's in the street you can always avoid them by walking the other way, like in the story of the Good Samaritan.
I really don't see the point at all in being charitable. You give money away to charity and don't get any benefit from the transaction. What's so clever about that?
Anyway, after the latest interruption I got back to work and the phone rang again.
"Hello ... goodbye ... go away!" I shout.
"Oh sorry auntie ... I did not know it was you! Is it urgent? Only I have a lot to do right now ... No of course you're not interrupting auntie ... only ... I have to finish some work and then go to the vet ... No, I am not with Yvette. Yes, I know she is a wonderful young lady. Yes ... I know she has been feeling a bit down lately ever since her poinsettia plant died. I know they're delicate plants, auntie ...What is it I can do for you auntie? Can it wait or is it urgent?
No ... As I said I am not busy with Yvette. I have never been busy with Yvette or any one else for that matter ... well, my wife maybe ... every blue moon it seems! I said I was due to go to the vet ... No not a bet ... you know I don't bet. I said VET with a V for Violet ... not a B for Batty Old Aunt ... No auntie, I am not shouting. I am not with Violet either ... No Yvette and no Violet ... I am here alone. Here ... listen ... You see ... you cannot hear anything because there is no one else here ... except me.
Oh ... don't get upset auntie ... I'll come over to see you later OK? I'll buy you some flowers and some chocolates from the gas station to cheer you up. Hello? I can't hear you auntie ... I am loosing the connection ... the train is going into a tunnel and I'll lose the ..."
I put the phone down with a smile wondering whether she will ever realise she had phoned me at home and not on a train on my cell-phone.
The phone rang again within minutes.
"Hello auntie ... yes, I can hear you OK. The house has just got out of the tunnel. Bing Bong. Bing Bong. Sorry auntie. I have to go now. There's someone at the door."
I put the phone down.
It rings again immediately. It is my work's colleague. The report I am writing is not that urgent after all. Management needs it in a week's time.
Do you ever lie there in bed thinking? It happens a lot you know. Many people spend a lot of time thinking. Such a pity their thinking is not about improving the world and making it a better place.
When I was young I used to lie in bed and look up at the stars and think, "One of these days I'll have to fix that hole in the roof!"
These days of technology and gadgets it is all Apps, Apps and Apps everywhere. Perhaps if we told people that their brain is an App they'll use it more.
I think my bed is a magical place. I lie there and remember everything I forgot to do.
I was thinking the other day in bed, if we shouldn't eat at night because it causes indigestion then why is there a light in the fridge?
Is snacking and eating this and that throughout the day a sign you're unhappy or depressed? What is happiness anyway? For me, happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family living in another town or city.
Seriously though, I love my family. If it was not for them I'd be arguing with perfect strangers.
I love arguing and putting other people straight by correcting them. Sometimes I wish I was an octopus so I could slap eight people at once.
I've just realised that I have not been to the gym today. That makes it five years in a row. I've decided to change calling the bathroom the John. I know call it the Jim and feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.
Lying in bed helps me think of things I have to do. I never rush into doing things. Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet.
I've been advised to join help groups. I don't agree. I don't need anger management training. I need people to stop irritating me. My people skills are just fine. It's my tolerance of idiots that needs working on.
Like the nurse who told me I should exercise. If God wanted me to touch my toes He would have put them on my knees.
From knees my thoughts drifted to toes again. Why do ballet dancers walk on tip-toes? Why not just hire taller dancers? When did this habit start and for what reason?
Do you remember the song Tiptoe Through the Tulips by Two Lips from Amsterdam? Or was it Tiny Tim? I'll look it up on YouTube when I get up from this bed. I can't be bothered to reach out for my laptop on the bed-side table nearby.
And before you say it, yes, of course I lie in bed talking to myself; I often need expert advice.
And finally, take my advice, an apple a day keeps anyone away if you throw it hard enough!
At the Last Supper Jesus said, “Take and eat; this is my body”. (Matthew 26:26).
In the Gospel of John we read a long passage which says, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If you eat this bread,
you will live forever. The bread that I will give you is my flesh,
which I give so that the world may live." This started an angry argument among them. "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" they asked. Jesus said to them, "I am telling you the truth: if you do not eat the
flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will not have life in
yourselves. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them to life on the last day. For my flesh is the real food; my blood is the real drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me, and I live in them. The living Father sent me, and because of Him I live also. In the same way whoever eats me will live because of me. This, then, is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the
bread that your ancestors ate, but then later died. Those who eat this
bread will live forever." (John 6:51 onwards).
As a result of what He said, a number of Christ's followers could not take this teaching and got up and left. Jesus did not call them back. He did not say it was all a metaphor, a figure of speech. He stuck to what He said and let them go. He then asked His disciples, "How about you? Do you want to go as well?"
As ever, Peter was first to answer, "To whom shall we go?" he asked.
"We're in this for the duration, all the way, to the end". Or words to
that effect, signifying the he trusted Jesus without question.
The Catholic Church, (and others), teaches that during Mass at the moment of transubstantiation, when the bread is changed into Christ's body, not only His body is
present, but Christ as a whole is present ("the body and blood, together
with the soul and divinity"). The corporeal presence of Christ is in the Eucharist.
In Paul's letter to the Corinthians we read, "For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you ... ... ... This means that every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. It follows that if one of you eats the Lord's bread or drinks from His
cup in a way that dishonours Him, you are guilty of sin against the
Lord's body and blood. (1 Corinthians 11:23 onwards).
Today, the Catholic Church invites its members to believe that at Communion they are receiving the body and blood of Christ. But many do not believe this, including some priests. Many believe this is only symbolism despite it being Church doctrine.
Now this leaves me a bit puzzled. There seems to be an inconsistency here.
As Christians we believe that
through the power of the Holy Spirit a virgin can conceive the Son of God. Yet
we have difficulty believing that through the power of the same Holy Spirit a tiny
wafer becomes truly the sacred body and blood, soul and divinity of this very
same Jesus Christ the Son of God.
THE BITTEN
APPLE CONNECTION
ISBN-13 979-8306343358
A NEW NOVEL
by
Victor S E Moubarak
In this, the
ninth novel in the Father Ignatius series, we find the old priest reluctantly
embroiled in the world of crime, gambling, strip-clubs and prostitution. It is
a thin line indeed between being a priest guiding his flock in spiritual
matters, and actually stepping out and helping in a practical way his
parishioners in trouble.
In this
story of mystery and intrigue Father Ignatius is perhaps rushing in where
angels fear to tread so endangering his life and that of others. But then,
there are times when only action will do; especially when words seem to have no
effect at all. Above all, however, this story reminds us of the power of prayer
and how it can change lives where human actions fail. Throughout it all,
regardless of what he did in a practical way, it was Father Ignatius’ constant
prayers that were heard and brought real results.
This book poses many moral questions which you, the reader, have to answer in all consciousness and honesty. It will put you on the spot and make you consider seriously how you would have behaved and what you would have done in similar circumstances.
Was Father Ignatius right in everything he did? Would you have acted differently?
How would you have reacted to a quickly developing situation where others are in mortal danger?
A credible
plot-line which will keep you guessing what will happen next. Together with the
moral guidance from our favourite priest, makes this book an enjoyable read for
old and new book-lovers alike.
This new standalone novel by Vic Moubarak is available in KINDLE and paperback formats from AMAZON. Click on the link HERE.
I'm thinking of writing my memoires. I remember as a child we were poor. We did not have air-conditioning or central heating at home. To keep warm we just sat in a circle and sucked extra strong mints. That's central heating. To cool-off we just sat on blocks of ice. We didn't have many luxuries either. As a child I used to be made to walk the plank every day. We didn't have a dog at the time.
We had a parrot in a cage. If you pulled his left leg he would hum the Offenbach Can Can music. If you pulled his right leg he sang "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas". If you pulled both legs together he would fall off his perch.
For a while we had two parrots. A male and a female. We could not tell them apart. So someone told my parents to creep up on them at night and check who was doing what to whom; and the one that was doing is the male.
So my dad checked on the birds at night and when he saw them enjoying themselves he put a white collar on the male so we could tell the birds apart.
A week later the vicar visited us. The male parrot said to him: "So they caught you at it too?"
Eventually one of the parrots died, so we ate him. He kept repeating on us!
I remember as a child my parents used to play hide and seek with me. I used to lean against a tree and count to 100 and they would hide. Then I had to find them in London ... Edinburgh ... Glasgow ... Cardiff ... Birmingham ... They spared no effort to hide from me and make the game real fun.
I used to come home from school and find that they had moved. The new owners of the house used to shoo me away. This happened several times. I did not know what it felt like being wanted until the day I saw my photo on a police notice board.
Anyway ... what is all this leading to, you may well ask.
Well, it's my way of introducing this video which I have just made. Hope you like it.
I went for my regular check-up at the medics recently. They check that
my sense of humour is still intact. As I sat there in the waiting-room I
read old magazines announcing the sinking of the Titanic and the
raising of the iceberg. Why do they always have old magazines at the
doctors, hospitals and dentists?
I then turned my attention to
the many notices on the wall. Vaccines for this, injections for that,
tests for this other problem, potential cures, help and assistance for
certain conditions, and so many other illnesses and ailments. As I read I
began to realise how fortunate I am, and how much worse things could be
for me. There is always someone worse off than us in life, when we
focus on what ails us.
It's an amazing fact in human nature that
we get some sort of comfort from the fact that someone else is worse off
than us. If we're ill, we compare our illness to that of others to see
if their problem is more serious than ours. If we're in a job we don't
like, or poorly paid, we compare ourselves to someone unemployed. We
always seem to want to be better than others in our misfortunes.
It's
true, whilst sitting there in the waiting-room, I realised how many
other potential illnesses I could have by reading the various notices on
the boards around me. In a way, I was grateful; I remember saying a
thank you prayer at the time.
Then I began to think back on my
life. Funny how your mind wonders when you have nothing to do. There
have been many occasions when things did not go well for me. I call them
milestones in my life. I can almost tell you the dates for each one
when it happened. And at every milestone I am now certain that God was
there for me. Things could have turned much worse for me. But they
didn't; and now you have to suffer the agony of my sense of humour.
But that is life, I suppose. We should live it looking forwards but understanding it backwards.
Every
so often we should look back at the milestones in our lives. I'm sure
you'll see, with hindsight, that God was there for you too.
Eventually
I was called in at the doctor's insulting room. As I got in, a nun came
out crying. I asked the doctor why she was crying. He said he'd told
her she was pregnant. I asked him, "Is she really pregnant?" He replied,
"No ... but it cured her hiccups!"
You don't have to blow other peoples' candles out for yours to shine.
What I will say may be a little harsh and negative but I feel it is very true. I wish it wasn't, but I believe Christianity is in retreat.
In March 1966, John Lennon of the Beatles is reported to have said of the Group, "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. We’re more popular than Jesus now ..."
He was right then, and he is certainly right today. There are many celebrities right now from the music and entertainment and sports industries who are more popular than Jesus. There's an increasing tsunami of ignorance of Christianity and the Bible. Certainly so in the Western world. People don't read the Bible any more. Ignorance of Christianity seems to have become a badge of honour for some people. There's a lack of knowledge of one's Christian heritage as a nation and as a country, and the origins of that historical fact.
Christianity is mocked, derided and disdained in many quarters. Often by well educated influencers who see it as their role to encourage vulnerable minds to their way of thinking.
The spiritual leadership of the Church (several denominations) has let God down. Both in public utterings on moral Christian issues and from the pulpit to their congregations. The modern shepherds have lost control of their sheep. Their teachings are often flawed. Many do not believe in the Resurrection and other fundamental basic teachings of the Bible.
There is no love or respect for God any more. But then, how can you love Someone you don't really know?
God has been excluded from many families, homes, schools and other institutional places; including some churches. And a new generation is being brought up with no knowledge of Someone to honour, worship and obey.
The time to pray for a Christian revival is now.
There are no prayers in Heaven. Once you're there, what is there to pray for? Those left on earth will have to make their own decisions.
