Have you ever heard of the term “tough love?”  People will say, “I think that person needs some tough love.” There is a new saying that is true that I heard the other day, and I think it’s the opposite of that term because “love is tough.”

Valentine’s Day just passed, and it is easy to love on special occasions like that. However, there are still many days left out of the year where some days are easy to show love, and some days, we have to work hard at showing love to others. How about showing someone love who doesn’t love you back or even someone who may not treat you the way you believe you deserve to be treated.

COLOSSIANS 3:14

14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

NLT

When we clothe ourselves with love, as this verse says, then love is all over us. Love should be a big part of our lives. Love is something meant to be expressed, not something to be kept a secret. It seems like people even have a hard time saying “I love you” when we should say it all the time, and we should also show it all the time. It is tough sometimes, but it is not impossible.

1 PETER 4:8

8 Above all things, have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].

AMP

I must say that this verse is very hard to live out without God’s help. We have to understand that we need God’s help to love others in the same way that He loves us.  We always want to put conditions on love, but God does not do that to us. We speak with our actions and say I will love you if you do this for me, treat me this way, or buy me this, etc. God does not work on the point system and neither should we. God tells us to love others, period. There are no conditions on that love. God does not say love someone if they (fill in your own blank). God says love each other, and if God tells us to, then we must be able to do it. Love is so many things, but it is not conditional. Let’s look at what love is.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud

5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

NLT

Love gives us the ability to be sensitive to the needs, hurts and desires of others and also to feel with them and experience the world from their perspective. Love gives us the ability to give with no conditions or expectations. Love builds up and encourages; it is determining what is best for someone and doing it. Pray and ask God to help you love the way He loves and He will help you. I LOVE YOU!

Pastor Tony Guadagnino

Christian Love Fellowship Church

Meet the Candidates Forum, Dist. 2

Friday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m.

Deerfield Beach Woman’s Clubhouse

910 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Candidates: Gloria Battle; Commissioner Sylvia Poitier; Benjamin Preston; Annette Woods. Also Women’s club fundraising garage sale – Feb. 12, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., 314 NE 2 St., Pompano Beach, FL 33060.

Boca Raton Green Market

Saturday, Feb. 12, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Royal Palm Plaza SW parking lot (intersection of S. Fed. Hwy. & S. Mizner Blvd), Boca Raton, FL 33432

561-239-1536 or www.cmboca.org.

Luminotti plays

Saturday, Feb. 12, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Kahuna Bar & Grill

249 NE 21 Ave. (across from JB’s), Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Classic Rock cover band. 954-725-0244.

Wine & Roses Fashion Show

Saturday, Feb. 12

11:30 a.m.: Social

12:15 p.m.: Luncheon

Lighthouse Point Yacht Club

2701 NE 42 St., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Sponsored by St. Gabriel Council of Catholic Women.  Raffles, door prizes and more.  Donations: $35.  Reservations required. 954-786-0667.

19th annual Renaissance Festival

Saturday, Feb. 12 & Sunday, Feb. 13 (Weekends until March 13) 10 a.m. to sunset

Quiet Waters Park

401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Travel back in time, enjoy more than 100 costumed performers, more than 20 stage acts. Practice archery or sword fighting, munch on turkey leg while cheering during jousting! Huzzah! Open on President’s Day. This weekend is Romance Weekend. www.ren-fest.com.

Deerfield Beach Democratic Club meets

Monday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m.

Century Village, Activity Center

3501 W. Dr., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Roger Messinger will speak. Topic: “Who owns the sun?” 954-415-5658.

Lois Club meets

Tuesday, Feb. 15, noon

Cheesecake Factory

5530 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431

Is your name Lois? Then, this is the club for you! Good way to make friends. Current members: Wear your Lois buttons. Call Lois Radding for directions or to get a ride: 954-425-6922.

History at High Noon

Wednesday, Feb. 16, noon to 1 p.m.

Old School Museum

232 NE 2 St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Free. Topic: Women in History. Donations welcome.
954-429-0378.

LHP Senior Girl’s Softball Registration

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m.

Dan Witt Park, 4521 NE 22 Ave.

Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Ages 11 to 15. 954-784-3439.

Democratic Women’s Club of NE Broward celebrates Black History Month

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m.

Emma Lou Olson Civic Center

1801 NE 6 St.   , Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Discussion of black women in Broward County and civil, voting rights restoration in Florida. Speaker: Roshawn Banks, Broward attorney and former ACLU Board member. Refreshments served. 954-942-8711.

By Dave Montalbano

While nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, Biutiful will be remembered for the Best Performance nomination of Javier Bardem. It is the first time a performance entirely in Spanish  has been nominated for an Academy Award. As Uxbal, Bardem is given a complicated role as father, husband, underworld broker and cancer patient. Bardem pulls off this complexity and is likely to give Jeff Bridges and Colin Firth a run for the golden idol.

Set in the black market district of Barcelona, Spain, Uxbal helps sweatshops find cheap labor. Neglecting his health, Uxbal’s untreated prostate cancer spreads to his liver, making his prognosis terminal. A single father with two children, Uxbal contemplates their future with their bi-polar mother. Despite his best intentions, Uxbal confronts consistent failure with every action.

Biutiful is one of the most depressing movies released since the Bush Admin-istration. It is a family movie about important things that are not said. Yet, there are moments of pure family joy between a son, a daughter, an estranged mother and a callow, but responsible father. It is these tragic and tender moments that give Biutiful a heart that will haunt the ticket buyer days after the movie concludes.

For those seeking a more uplifting experience, The Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery IMAX theater opens its new documentary, The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3-D this weekend. Mixing Oceanography and surfing, it seeks to explain the confluence of natural forces that control wave creation in the oceans.

Surfer celebrity Kelly Slater challenges Tahiti’s most extreme surf break known as Teahupo’o. Located in the Pacific Ocean, the famed Teahupo’o is widely regarded as being on the ‘must-surf’ list of every real surfer.

Fortunately, Deerfield Beach neighbors have local surfing legend, Kali “da Big Kahuna” Montero, who will be offering surfing demonstration at the Museum. Before the afternoon screenings, Kali will talk about the history of surfing and Tahitian dance.  Between shows, there will be a Polynesian Dancing show produced by the Polynesian Proud company, along with arts, crafts and Poi tasting.

In South Florida, we take for granted the festivities offered locally.  Yet if one sees the poverty presented in a film like Biutiful, one appreciates how good we have it in the gold old U.S.A.

Rabbi Erin Glazer, of Westfield, NJ, used to lead services at the Hebrew Association of the Deaf in Manhattan. The Rabbi points out that the Siddur (prayer book) that they use has translations with more meaning to those who cannot use their ears. Think about that for a moment; if you can’t hear, then what do the words, “Hear, Oh Israel” mean to you?

So, they took out the word “Hear” and inserted the words “Pay attention.” While I think that was a great switch, the sad part is that most of us who are able to hear simply don’t pay enough attention. We don’t pay attention to the prayer and we don’t pay attention to the Mitzvot. Sadly, there are far too many times we are guilty of being as hard-hearted as Pharaoh.

If I have your ear, if you are paying attention, let me teach you a lesson using opposites. What is the opposite of paying attention? Believe it or not, the opposite of paying attention is being inattentive … or in a state of inattention. Inattention refers to someone who is inconsiderate or unconcerned, as in, they don’t really give a “you know what” about anyone else. They see someone who is hungry and they could care less as long as they have food for themselves. They see someone who is cold and they could care less, as long as they have a coat or a blanket themselves.

And get this, which is what makes the words “Pay attention” such a perfect fit to the Shema — to be inattentive means “to turn a deaf ear.” Wow, that is exactly what we are talking about here.

Moshe Rabbenu gives us the laws of the Torah and we respond in unison, “We will do and we will … pay attention.” If we start by saying that we will do it, then why do we have to add we will pay attention? Let me go back to the example of someone who is deaf for a moment. How does someone who cannot hear know when someone is calling? How does someone who is deaf avoid being hit by a car that is speeding down the street? How does someone who is deaf know such simple things?

That’s right, they pay attention. They pay attention to a flashing light. They pay attention to what is around them. In some ways, a deaf person pays more attention to the world around them than many of us do. So to heed the commandments, we must pay attention. We must be ever-alert to the cries of those in need. We must be ever-watchful for signs of where we are needed, of places where we have the opportunity to be of help; and then, we must be willing to attend to those who are in need.

Heed the Shema my friends. Pay attention and attend to those in need. Pay attention. Are you listening?

Shalom My Friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is a Hospice Chaplain and Member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. He also provides Professional Pastoral Care Services to a number of health centers in Broward County.

Hello from Cairo

RE: These are the times that try men’s souls

By Andrea Freygang

DEERFIELD BEACH

Feb. 1 A stereo and $1,000 was stolen from a home on NE 20 Avenue.

Feb. 2 Thieves entered an unlocked door on SE 14 Court and stole a TV, jewelry and glass jar with change.

Feb. 2 A fight at Deerfield Beach Middle School was broken up and the victim sent to North Broward Medical Center with minor injuries.

Feb. 4 Marlon McKay of Pompano was arrested for possession of cocaine.

Feb. 4 Robert Ostrover was arrested near Lob Lolly Lane for multiple burglaries in the area.

Feb. 6 Jorge Paiton of Lake Worth was arrested for urinating in public and exposing himself off Hillsboro Blvd. He also had no driver’s license.

DEERFIELD – District 4

Feb. 5 Grand theft, Waterford Homes, 1392 SW 27 Ave., between  5:30 p.m. and 1:45 a.m.
Unknown suspect(s) stole the headlight assemblies and rear view mirror from a vehicle while parked in the driveway.

Feb. 5 Conveyance burglary, Ruby Tuesday, 3887 W. Hillsboro Blvd., between noon and 3 p.m. Complainant reported that unknown person broke into her vehicle by smashing the side window. Complainant’s purse was taken. Vehicle was processed for latent prints and the area was canvassed.

Feb. 6 BSO detectives worked around the clock late Friday through Saturday morning to solve the recent residential burglaries in Deer Creek. A suspect has been arrested and charged with the burglaries on Lob Lolly Lane, Deer Creek Run, and another in Starlight Cove.

Suspect was taken into custody for an active warrant on Friday afternoon. During questioning, suspect admitted to committing several burglaries in Deer Creek (Lob Lolly and Deer Creek Run) and one in Starlight Cove off NW 38 Avenue. Suspect was able to provide specific details to the crimes including location, timeframe, entry method and property description. Some property has been recovered, however ,detectives are still attempting to match it with the crimes committed.

Detectives used witness information, evidence, investigative technology, and interviewing skills to solve these cases. Suspect is in custody without bond for several counts of burglary (occupied and unoccupied), grand theft, and an outstanding warrant.

One of the most important details of this situation is that the break in the case came from information received from a resident. Remember, if you see suspicious activity, call 911 immediately.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

Jan. 30 A LHP resident moving out of NE 44 Street reported that movers had stolen her laptop computer.

Jan. 30 Police inspected sheen on the canal behind NE 31 Court and found it on all canals in the south end of Lighthouse Point. There was no smell of fuel, so it seemed a dirty bilge had been pumped into the canals. They didn’t locate the source and reported the problem to water management.

Jan. 31 Simonize on Federal Highway was burglarized. Police arrived as glass was still falling from the break in the door. Police did not locate a suspect.

By Diane Emeott

Senior citizens Earl & Marjorie Sexton came down from Boynton Beach, where they are wintering. She said she gets e-mails from a lot of groups. ‘We need to keep after our president and congressmen. We need to stop what we’re doing, supporting a dictator,” she said, while holding up a sign.

For more from the rally, see the Feb. 10 Observer newspaper.

Dinosaurs take over South Florida Bible College

TONIGHT, Feb. 3, 3 & 7 p.m.

747 S. Federal Hwy., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Come see fossils of the “terrible lizards” that once roamed the Earth, including Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Pteranodon and Albertosaur, to name a few. Learn about the Creationist point of view as presented by the Creation Truth Foundation, Inc., who came from Noble, OK to bring their Mobile Museum of Earth History treasures. 954-426-8652. www.creationtruth.com.

Acoustically Yours: An Acoustic Concert

Friday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, Feb. 6, 7 to 9 p.m.

Sol Children Theatre

3333 N. Federal Hwy., Boca Raton, FL 33431

Tickets $12. Reservations suggested. 561-447-8829 or www.solchild.org.

Flower show

Saturday, Feb. 5, 1 to 5 p.m.

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Education Hall

2700 NE 36 St. (E. Sample Rd.), Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Juried horticulture, floral design and educational exhibits. Free. www.browardgardenclubs.org.

Boca Raton Green Market

Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Royal Palm Plaza SW parking lot, (intersection of S. Fed. Hwy. & S. Mizner Blvd.)

Boca Raton, FL 33432

Fresh picked fruits/vegetables from local growers, baked goods, gourmet foods, fish, seafood, plants, herbs, soaps, doggie treats, community service organizations, live music and more.  561-239-1536 or www.cmboca.org.

Condo Boot camp required for board members

Saturday, Feb. 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Century Village Clubhouse

2400 Century Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33422

Free, meets requirements of new Florida law for newly elected or appointed directors of Florida condo associations. tchristiana@canfl.com or 954-315-0372.

Beach Roast Coffee & Tea

Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Flagler & NE 1 St., Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Will showcase artisan bakery items, coffees from around the world and a wide variety of specialty teas. Owner Mary Kaiser will do two demonstrations: “Cupcake Decorating 101” at 10 a.m. and “Coffee 101” at 11 a.m. 954-292-8040 or greenmarketpompano.com

Deerfield Beach Green Market

Sunday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sullivan Park

1724 Riverview Rd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Offers shoppers locally-grown fresh produce, as well as a variety of artisanal foods and crafts. For information on how to become a vendor, call 305-531-0038. Parking available on the east side of Cove Shopping Center.
954-480-4317.

American Association of University Women meeting

Monday, Feb. 7, 12:30 p.m.

Emma Lou Olsen Center

1801 NE 6 St., Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Following brief membership meeting, guest speaker to discuss safety. New members welcome. No charge. RSVP: 954-524-2938.

Toastmasters International

Monday, Feb. 7, 7 to 8 p.m.

Deerfield Beach Chamber of Commerce

1601 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Improve your speaking skills. 954-803-2122 or www.toastmasters.org.

Women’s Club of Deerfield monthly meeting

Tuesday, Feb. 8, 1 p.m.

910 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Guest speaker, Joanne Guise, of Canine Companions, with special guest, “Wagner.” Refreshments. New members welcome. 954-360-7641.

Coach Pitch Baseball registration

Wednesday, Feb. 9, 6 p.m.

Dan Witt Park

4521 NE 22 Ave., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Ages 7 through 9. 954-784-3439.

Sisterhood of Temple Beth Israel monthly meeting

Thursday, Feb. 10, 11:30 a.m.

201 S. Military Tr., Deerfield Beach, FL  33442

Guest speaker, Abe Gittleson.  Mini lunch served.  $2.50 donation, requested. 954-421-7060.

Save the Date:

11th Annual Keeper Days

Lighthouse Point’s annual festival is back and themed, this year, “Paradise in the Point.”

Friday, Feb 11,

6 p.m. – Dinner, LHP Yacht Club, 701 NE 42 St., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064. Limited seating. RSVP: Don Trudel – 954-784-3439.

Saturday, Feb 12

10 a.m. – Parade, from Pink Church, 2331 NE 26 Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33062, to Frank McDonough Park, 3500 NE 27 Ave., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Entertainment & activities, Frank McDonough Park.

6 to 9 p.m. – Concert, entertainment & fireworks, Dan Witt Park, 4521 NE 22 Ave., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Sunday, Feb. 13

1 to 4:30 p.m. –  Family Sports Day, Frank McDonough Park

For more information, call 954-943-6500.

A Fire Department run by BSO?

Dear Editor:

Circa 1967, Ordinance 617, by referendum vote, was created to govern the hiring, promotions and disciplinary procedures of the Fire Department.This was the will of the people. Two years ago, the city commission through labor negotiations, eliminated Ordinance 617. Logically, it would seem that rules created through referendum could only be changed by referendum.

Not so in Deerfield, where special interest groups, the mayor and commissioners can join together and supercede the people’s will.

Currently, the city is talking with Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) to take control of our Fire Department.  Three years ago, by referendum vote, we, the people, overwhelmingly (70 percent) opposed this action and voted to keep our Fire Department.

There is no indication that our leaders will enforce the people’s will, but rather impose their own.  Couple this with back-to-back years of tax increases and one can see how history repeats itself. Taxation without representation … sounds familiar and much like the tyranny we revolted against in 1776. So welcome to Deerfield Beach, where Democracy is not alive and well, and your vote, the people’s will, means nothing.

Gary Lother

Deerfield Beach

These are the times that try men’s souls

Dear Editor:

In January, certain city employees were faced with giving back city money that placed them above the cap on their salaries. It seems as though the choices were made selectively since not all who benefitted were asked to pay back. Who was responsible for the choices that were made?

While the city was nickel-and-diming the non-uniform employees, a fire captain was allowed to accumulate $111,000 in overtime pay in the last three years. How did that happen? His final pension payout will be obscenely generous.

The commission itself has cost the taxpayers.

• Failure to schedule a vote on the increase in cost of beach parking stickers resulted in a loss of $83,500 when 1,670 were sold at the bargain rate of $50.

• Authorization of an $80,000 Kessler report that was full of smoke and mirrors thanks to the allegations of a vindictive blogger.

• The commission spent $1,200 for an outside attorney to tell them how to read the charter.

Explain to the taxpayers the overtime being collected by Fire Department personnel.

What needs to be done:

• An audit of city overtime expenditures and a cap on the amount that can be added to enhance pension payouts.

• Stop penalizing the worker bees and have those earning in excess of $100,000 a year, take a 10 percent pay cut.

• Make a change in one of the services that costs us the most. The trend is to regionalize police and fire and transportation and water. Deerfield should join the parade to save money, and start negotiating with BSO for fire and emergency services.

• Turn back the increase in the mayor and commissioners’ salaries that were mandated by Ordinance 2004/035. The commission cannot increase their salary, but they can sure decrease them. They are part-timers. Why do they have pensions? Eliminate them, as no other part-time employee in the city is eligible for such a bonus. Indeed these are the times that try men’s souls, but it is also the time of economic downturn. No matter how much rhetoric is being put out there, the commission cannot claim to have been fiscally responsible. The public spoke at the final hearing setting the millage rate, but nobody on the Board listened.

Jean Robb

Deerfield Beach

Thanks for supporting Festival of Arts

Dear Editor:

Thank you Deerfield Beach for your overwhelming support for the 31st Annual Festival of the Arts. We on the Cultural Committee are truly moved by all of the positive responses we have received from the public. We can
hardly wait until next year. Check our website www.DeerfieldBeachFestivals.com or our Facebook page (Deerfield Beach Cultural Committee).

Judi Stanich

Deerfield Beach