{"id":21749,"date":"2026-09-02T01:18:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T05:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/?p=21749"},"modified":"2026-09-05T01:38:37","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T05:38:37","slug":"journal-of-the-week-130","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/?p=21749","title":{"rendered":"Journal of the Week"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9\/4\/2026 Friday<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Replaced the 2nd (upstairs) HVAC Compressor's capacitor<\/strong> (bought from Home Depot) today. The 2nd one is a smaller capacity unit, requiring only capacitor 35+5, instead of the first's 40+5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also bought some <strong>bead ball chains for 3 toilet flush flappers<\/strong>, replacing the old chains to prevent entanglement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9\/2\/2026 Wednesday<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just watched <strong>Kate Beckinsale's 2025 Stolen Girl <\/strong>based on true story, on Amazon Prime. So I looked up the facts of this 1992 international kidnapping case by family:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#x1f3ac; Hollywood Fiction vs. &#x1f50d; Real-Life Facts<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Feature<\/th><th>The Movie (<em><strong><u><strong>Stolen Girl<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/em>)<\/th><th>The Real Story (Maureen &amp; Nadia)<\/th><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Character Names<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Maureen Danning<\/strong> &amp; her daughter <strong>Amina<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Maureen Dabbagh<\/strong> &amp; her daughter <strong>Nadia Alexandra Dabbagh<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>The Kidnapping<\/strong><\/td><td>Amina is snatched from an Ohio grocery store at <strong>age 6<\/strong>.<\/td><td>Nadia vanished during a court-approved custody swap at <strong>age 2\u00bd<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>The Destination<\/strong><\/td><td>Ex-husband Karim flees with the child to <strong>Beirut, Lebanon<\/strong>.<\/td><td>Ex-husband Hisham fled to his native country of <strong>Damascus, Syria<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>The \"Snatchback\" Mission<\/strong><\/td><td>Maureen teams up with an ex-Marine (Scott Eastwood) for a <strong>dangerous rescue operation<\/strong> in Beirut.<\/td><td>Maureen <em>did<\/em> meet former CIA director Bill Colby and attorney Mitch Rogovin, entering the shadowy \"snatchback\" industry. However, she did not pull off a tactical raid.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>The Resolution<\/strong><\/td><td>A thriller-style climax dealing with <strong>covert operations and the CIA<\/strong>.<\/td><td>A long, administrative and diplomatic legal battle. Maureen actually <strong>gained legal custody of Nadia through Syrian courts<\/strong> in 1996, though she couldn't physically bring her home until a mutual reunion in 2010.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In real life, did Nadia's father also had no choice because of working for USA government as information or something similar, but to leave his wife?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>No, that is completely false.<\/strong> In real life, Nadia's father, Mohamad Hisham Dabbagh, was not a US government informant, spy, or asset, nor was he forced by any government agency to leave his wife or flee the country. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aetv.com\/articles\/maureen-dabbagh-daughter-abduction\">1<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@joshwaotieno643\/the-true-story-behind-stolen-girl-a-mothers-17-year-search-for-her-abducted-daughter-d40900879afa\">2<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The actual facts of his background and the motivation behind the abduction are well-documented:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>His Actual Profession:<\/strong> In the United States, Hisham Dabbagh worked entirely civilian jobs in healthcare. He met Maureen while working as a <strong>medical lab technician<\/strong> in Florida, where she was a nurse. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aetv.com\/articles\/maureen-dabbagh-daughter-abduction\">1<\/a>]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Real Motivation:<\/strong> According to Maureen and court documentation, the breakdown of the marriage and the subsequent kidnapping stemmed from a <strong>severe culture clash and a custody dispute<\/strong>. Hisham wanted Maureen to adhere to a submissive role and had explicitly mentioned wanting an arranged marriage for Nadia with one of his cousins in Syria. When Maureen divorced him, he chose to illegally abduct 2-year-old Nadia to Saudi Arabia and later Syria to keep her from her mother. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/link\/bills\/106\/sres\/239?link-type=pdf\">1<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aetv.com\/articles\/maureen-dabbagh-daughter-abduction\">2<\/a>]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Intelligence Connection Misconception:<\/strong> The reason \"government informants\" or \"intelligence agencies\" are heavily associated with this story is because <strong>Maureen<\/strong> had to navigate that world to find her daughter. Frustrated by the lack of help from standard law enforcement, Maureen partnered with former CIA Director Bill Colby and high-profile attorney Mitch Rogovin, entering an underground network of ex-spies and bounty hunters to track Hisham down. [<a href=\"https:\/\/tucson.com\/news\/world\/little-help-from-feds-pushes-mom-to-join-child-snatchback\/article_d9c152dd-6c5b-5e54-99ff-244fbaad6856.html\">1<\/a>]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hisham Dabbagh was a fugitive wanted by the FBI, Interpol, and the State Department for international parental kidnapping. He was never a forced government operative. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aetv.com\/articles\/maureen-dabbagh-daughter-abduction\">1<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/link\/bills\/106\/sres\/239?link-type=pdf\">2<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What a fascinating case.<\/strong> The real reason seems to be something I think is common: severe culture clash (<strong>the loser culture taking the illegal route<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>8\/30\/2026 Sunday<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I must say, since moving to Jersey, I've never been to a <strong>Independent fundamentalist Baptist church that I would love so much<\/strong>. Nadia was having headache due to recent stress from work and not in a good mood to go to Crossroads, probably due to anticipating J. Fischer's sermon which she likes least of all at Crossroads. So, I took the opportunity to check out churches I haven't been before. The Chinese churches are mostly starting at 10am, which I missed. So I remembered that I kept getting this flyers in our mails from a Garden State Baptist Church. Thought it was some modern charismatic leaning church, based on flyer design, if memory serves, 10:45am was the service time. I hoped on the Tesla and headed there rather excitingly. Apparently there was a Sunday School, led by some Filipino, seemed boring. Only a handful of older male listeners, I think the topic was on the Holy Spirit. Do they separate male and female classes? I don't know. But the lesson was boring. Teacher kept lecturing. Went past 10:45am service hour for a few minutes that I began to wonder what did I get myself into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But patiently enough, it ended and more attendees are showing up for the real service. I was greeted by everyone. Nadine, the very skilled pianist, is a black young lady, also greeted me, then some younger black children followed her. So this is a rather diverse church. Quarter Blacks, quarter Asians, quarter Hispanics, quarter Whites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They sang from \"Bible Truth Hymns\" Hymnal book. Plenty of hymns were sung (more than 10 I would say). And I loved it. Then Pastor Jim Gent preached the sermon. I also loved it. Here's the Granola summary of it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Scripture Foundation: Witnesses and the Promise<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Luke 24:48-49: disciples called as witnesses, commanded to wait in Jerusalem for power from on high<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acts 1:4-5: Jesus commands them not to depart until baptized with the Holy Ghost<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>John 7:39: Holy Spirit \u201cnot yet given\u201d until Jesus glorified, confirming the Spirit came in fullness at Pentecost<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Key principle: no one should witness for Christ until endued with power from the Holy Spirit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Holy Spirit at Pentecost<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Acts 2:4: all filled with the Holy Ghost, began speaking in other tongues (languages)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>15+ nations represented; every man heard in his own language<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tongues = known human languages, not unintelligible speech\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pentecostal missionaries who tested this in Japan\/Korea failed; no repeat of the miracle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The gift was a one-time sign of the Spirit\u2019s arrival, not an ongoing practice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Holy Spirit now permanently indwells believers (1 Cor. 6:19: body is the temple of the Holy Spirit)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Prior to Pentecost, the Spirit could come and go; now he indwells permanently<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Three Gifts the Holy Spirit Gives Witnesses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Power (Acts 1:8)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cYe shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Same Greek word as Ephesians 3:16: Paul prays believers be \u201cstrengthened with might by his Spirit\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Power not for worldly success, but for faithfulness, even unto death (Stephen\u2019s example)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Utterance (Acts 2:4, 4:18-20, Ephesians 6:19)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Utterance: ability to speak forth the word boldly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paul in prison asks Ephesians to pray for his utterance (Eph. 6:19)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter and John told to stop preaching; replied \u201cwe cannot but speak\u201d (Acts 4:20)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Boldness (Acts 4:31)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cThey spake the word of God with boldness\u201d after being filled with the Spirit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Holy Spirit overcomes timidity; many Christians draw back from witnessing out of fear of judgment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Peter: From Denial to Boldness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>John 18:25-27: Peter denied Christ three times, even denying being in Gethsemane\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gethsemane denial called \u201cthe ultimate of timidity\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repented and wept bitterly after Jesus looked at him<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>~50 days later at Pentecost: bold, powerful preacher; thousands respond\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First word of his sermon: \u201cRepent\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The difference: Peter filled with the Holy Spirit, indwelt, baptized, sealed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit Today<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ephesians 5:18: command to all believers, \u201cBe filled with the Spirit\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Two things that block the Spirit\u2019s fullness:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Grieving the Spirit (Eph. 4:30): sin in life, bitterness, wrong speech, unloving spirit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Quenching the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19): ingratitude, unconfessed sin, throwing \u201cwater\u201d on the Spirit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prayer is always associated with being filled\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Acts 1: disciples in continuous prayer before Pentecost<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 Thess. 5:17: \u201cpray without ceasing\u201d means being a disciplined person of prayer, not casual prayer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Suggested daily prayer: \u201cLord, help me not to grieve or quench the Holy Spirit today\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Witnessing as Evidence of the Spirit<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clearest evidence of being Spirit-filled: being a witness for Jesus Christ<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acts 1-4: the Spirit\u2019s work consistently produces witness, not tongues or spectacle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Elvis Presley illustration: four Christian backup singers, sang in churches and revivals, yet never witnessed to him\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He died of a drug overdose; no one who claimed faith stepped up to help him<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cHe never had a friend\u201d who cared enough to speak truth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Challenge: surveys show most Christians do not witness\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Biblical reason: not controlled by the Holy Spirit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unwitnessing Christian = evidence of grieved or quenched Spirit, sin unconfessed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Holy Spirit mentioned 55 times in Acts; the book is fundamentally about the Spirit\u2019s witness-producing work<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If I got a chance, I would certainly visit this church again! They <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardenstatebaptist.com\/location\">appear to have an Wednesday evening Bible study<\/a> at 6:30pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think the pastor's son is Jimmy Gent who pastors <a href=\"https:\/\/gracenj.com\/pastor\">another Baptist church in NJ (Grace Church in Maplewood)<\/a>. His wife's name is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oldbridgefh.com\/obituaries\/Helen-Dorothy-Gent?obId=32315132\">Helen Dorothy Gent<\/a> who passed in 2016.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>9\/4\/2026 Friday Replaced the 2nd (upstairs) HVAC Compressor's capacitor (bought from Home Depot) today. The 2nd one is a smaller capacity unit, requiring only capacitor 35+5, instead of the first's 40+5. Also bought some bead ball chains for 3 toilet &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/?p=21749\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21749"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"http:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21749\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21773,"href":"http:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21749\/revisions\/21773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nycphantom.com\/journal\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}