Sound The Midnight Cry

“The Countdown Begins”

Last week while in Israel, I had the opportunity to go to the Golan Heights and view from an old Israeli military site Syria and Lebanon. From that vantage point it became too clear why this is a spot of contention and why Syria wants it back: one can see for miles into the other nations territory.

Two days later while in the southern part of Israel on top of the fortress Masada, I heard the roar of Israeli fighter somewhere over the Dead Sea. As everyone was scanning the sky, I happened to glance down and see a formation of planes skimming off the water. As I pointed them out, they immediately went vertical and disappeared in the sun. Having been raised in an Air Force home, it was a thrill to watch skilled aviators operating their craft in that manner.

I said all of this because both instances were a reminder to me that this tiny country knows that it is one step from annihilation. The number of enemies that threaten them almost on a weekly basis is long.

This past week, Iran’s president bragged that the West used their “bullying powers” in an effort to stop their nuclear program, “but they could not break the will of the Iranian nation.” Iran claims it is only interested in nuclear power for civilian uses –this from the same guy that promises to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.

The Israeli Mossad estimated in 2004 that Iran was only few years from having passed the nuclear ‘point of no return’. The rest of the world took note and scoffed at the notion. However, this past week, the head of the IAEA stated that Iran would have nuclear capability in probably six months. He also stated that any attack on Iran would turn the Middle East into a "fireball”.

Iran and Syria have just taken delivery of new training simulators for the new Russian-made SA-22 surface-to-air missile system. It is one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world. Jane’s Defense Weekly reports that once the SA-22 systems are operational, the odds of Israel penetrating either Syrian or Iranian airspace without being shot down are almost non-existent. It is estimated that six more months are needed before they are fully manned and operational.

In an interview with the London Telegraph, former US Ambassador John Bolton predicted that Israel will hold off on attacking Iran until after the U.S. general elections but before the new president, whoever that might be, is sworn into office. He noted that the "optimal window" for strikes would be between the November 4 election and the inauguration on January 20, 2009.

In light of the Russian-Iranian-Syrian timetable, Bolton’s estimate sounds right on the money. Israel has six months to either act or face the prospect of nuclear annihilation on two separate fronts.

Six months from now would be January…and so the countdown begins!

"California Screaming!"

Having just returned from Israel, one only has to purchase something to realize the effect that the declining U.S. dollar has to those overseas. In one weeks time the dollar decreased in its purchasing power which is only a micro-snapshot of what has been happening over the past few years.

The glaring hint of this effect on U.S. households comes each day when the average consumer pulls into a gas station or grocery store. They wonder why the cost keeps increasing and inevitably believe the dope that the media keeps telling them about the evil oil companies. Now we have members of Congress declaring that they want to nationalize the oil companies, taking a play right out of Venezula President Hugo Chavez’s playbook.

Meanwhile, U.S. payrolls are down by a total of 260,000 in the past four months. Total U.S. business sales have plunged at a 7 percent annual rate in the three months ending in February 2008 despite a surge in wholesalers' sales. Retail sales are grinding to a halt. Unsold inventories are climbing.

As bad as these facts sound, in reality it is worse. How can it be worse? The fact is that there is a financial hole on the verge of swallowing an entire nation. USA Today reported that when you add in the exploding costs of Medicare and Social Security benefits, American taxpayers are on the hook for a record 57.3 trillion dollars [that’s with a “T”]. That is $531,472 per household when you add in the liabilities of state and local governments. That is more than four times what Americans owe in personal debt and mortgages.

There is a saying that California is a bellwether for the rest of the U.S. If California were to be measured as a standalone economy, it would be the world's seventh largest. Everything almost always happens there first before it takes place in other parts of the nation. If we were to examine conditions there today we would find the median Californian home price has fallen by 29 percent in the year to March and repossessions are increasing. Unemployment hit 6.2 percent in March, up 1.2 percent from the same month last year. These huge price drops in California are now taking place all over the U.S. and are like a sinkhole on the balance sheets of banks holding the mortgages. Now the warnings are coming to get ready for the commercial mortgage fallout that will make the housing mortgage situation look like a cake walk.

Back in the late 60’s, a number one song was titled, “California Dreaming” [I admit, it was a favorite of mine in those days…the tune still gets my foot to tapping]. Parts of the lyrics are,

“Stopped into a church I passed along the way. Well, I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray…”

Today if the song were to be released, they would have to call it “California Screaming!” And if things continue as they are, the day is coming soon when the church doors in America will need to be open 24 hours a day. I don’t think any pretend prayers will be happening then. I just wonder if the Church in America will be ready to respond or will they be a part of the mourners? Just a thought!

“What’s Wrong With Hope?”

I came home last Sunday and happened to catch an interview on TV with a national TV pastor. During the course of the dialogue the reporter mentioned that this pastor had come under scrutiny by others in the clergy for never mentioning sin and the need for repentance. The TV pastor explained that “his calling” was to “give hope, not to talk about sin.” He went on to give explanation how people already knew the things they were doing wrong and that they didn’t need him to tell them what they already knew. He justified his position stating that he was called by God to share the blessings that God wanted to give people…to give them hope.

They news program then interviewed an expert in biblical theology. This person declared that the TV pastor was wrong in not presenting the “whole truth”. When they told the TV pastor the expert’s response to his message, the pastor responded, “What’s wrong with hope? How can it be wrong to give people hope?”

It’s a good question and those words have been going around in my mind since I turned off the TV. The question has been replaying in my thoughts over and over. “What’s wrong with giving people hope?”

Finally it dawned on me why that statement was nagging at my thoughts. Hope that is founded in truth is real hope; hope founded on half-truths is a false hope. Let me explain why this is so important in making this distinction.

Hope is defined as, “To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment; a wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.” We’ve all said things like, “I hope my children grow up to be happy” or “I hope that everything works out okay”. Many times those desires come to pass but there are those times when those wishes go up in smoke. And that’s where the “rub” comes into play with the concept of giving hope based on real truths or half-truths.

The need for hope comes into play when a problem presents itself. In the same way that the need for a deliverer only becomes important when one finds themselves as a captive. Until there is a need to be delivered, looking forward with expectation of being set free becomes little more than a “get out of jail free” card to used if the need ever arises.

When it comes to the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the “good news” had to do with this one fact: “That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” [Romans 3:23] The sins of humanity pronounced a sentence upon our lives and eternal souls to which there was no remedy.

On the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter preached to the multitudes gathered in Jerusalem. The people responded to his message with a question: “What must we do to be saved?” What was Peter’s reply? “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God…to receive forgiveness for your sins.”

Their hope or expectation was that they could be delivered from their sin condition. That could only be realized by repentance from their sin. The result of repentance would be that their lives would be changed and soul would be saved. That hope was based on the truth of Jesus Christ and His calling.

Romans 10:14-15 says, “And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?”

I wonder how that scripture would be applied today when pastors don’t feel called to talk about sin and repentance? I guess we could always "hope" that they will change their minds. Just a thought!

“Prophecy Potpourri”

That’s right “potpourri”—you know the stuff that people give you as a gift when they don’t know what else to give you. By definition, it is “a mixture of flowers, herbs and spices that is usually kept in a jar and used for scent.” That’s the standard definition but it also can mean “a miscellaneous collection; a medley” to which this week’s article consists.

There are so many things are presently taking place in current events that are a part of bible prophecy. So I’m going to take the next couple weeks and highlight a few of them.

For those that think that Vladimir Putin has stepped down as Russia’s president, you may want to rethink that position. Putin may have relinquished the title but he surely didn’t “step down”. Rather he took a step up as many now refer to him as Russia’s new “Czar”.

Officially, as he serves as Prime Minister but more importantly, also as the head of the ruling United Russia Party thus forming a joint holder position of state authority. Putin grew up in a system where the real power used to be held by the Party, its general secretary and the Politburo, who made all important policy decisions. In the typical KGB style [he served as a colonel in the KGB] Putin re-energized his nation quietly to thrust his country once again to the world stage.

Putin has made it no secret that he regards the collapse of the Soviet Union as the “greatest geo-political catastrophe of the century”. With Russia’s new found riches of oil and natural gas, he has silently placed his nation as a world player. We knew this would have to happen for Ezekiel 38-39 to come into place as the Bible tells us. As he has signed new weapon sales and agreements with Libya, Syria and Iran, we’ll have to keep an eye on future developments.

Along with other news involving Russia, two weeks ago they signed an agreement with China to help that nation with its nuclear program. The deal is worth over $1 billion dollars to Russia. Beside construction help, China will be receiving partially enriched Russian uranium.

Other news out of China involves the upcoming Olympic Games. “What does that have to do with bible prophecy” you ask? It was revealed this past week that anyone attending the Olympics in Beijing this summer is going to find something unexpected embedded in their tickets: their passport information, home address and email address.

All of these details will be nicely embedded in an RFID chip in each ticket. Besides the obvious concerns of personal information being stolen, I wouldn’t want the Chinese Government to have possession of all my personal information. You never know what, where or how that data may turn up later.

This is simply another opportunity to de-sensitize people around the world to the use of RFID chips being imbedded into every day living. These are just a few of the things that Jesus referred to when he said, “all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet”— but we’re getting closer!

Is Anyone Listening?

I wonder how many times most people see a phrase that includes those three words, “Before disaster strikes”.

We see it in ads for flood insurance, fire insurance, security systems, and financial provisions. The assumption is that we must act before disaster strikes, which usually means “this is what you should do if you are smart.” Yet, if the truth be told, statistics show that most people don’t ever think it will happen to them.

Of course, here in Louisiana, the local news reported this past week that a few days had been set aside where one can purchase supplies tax free that might be needed in case of a hurricane. Then the local weather prognosticators came on and gave us the predictions for the U.S. hurricane season that begins today [June 1st for those of us living in a hurricane zone]. The number of storms, how man named tropical storms and hurricanes were given with the caveat at the end of how the forecasters had been wrong the past two years. That tagline basically said to the consumer, “I don’t need to waste money preparing for something that will probably not happen.” Ah how short our memories can be in times of safety.

Last week in the U.S., we saw incredible footage of tornadoes and devastation caused by storms that rumbled across the mid-center of our nation. One town, Hugo, Minnesota was left in shambles as a tornado roared through. One account reported how that the city had just installed a new warning system two weeks before the storms hit and attributed that system to saving lives. In another town where a warning system is yet to be installed held up by debate of this is good use of money, didn’t fare as well. “Before disaster strikes” takes on a whole, new meaning in those towns hit by the ravages of the storms. You have to wonder if anyone is listening now to the warnings that were given then.

When Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and the levies in New Orleans gave way, the flood waters rushed in taking a terrifying toll. The cost is still mounting into the millions of dollars. The small voice of those that warned for years what would happen should a storm hit the city directly [which it just missed thanks to a last minute jog to the east] fell on deaf ears. A report this past week showing seepage under the new levies built to withstand future storms is causing some people to once again sound an alarm. Time will tell whether anyone is listening.

Al Gore blames the Burma cyclone on global warming while Sharon Stone blames the earthquake in China on bad “karma”. Meteorologists are telling us that the jet streams are the cause for the increased outbreak of tornadoes this year in the U.S.

Sifting through the debris from the tornadoes people are asking, “Who is to blame for this weather?” and the answer is “no one.”

There are those that will point out that God is in charge of nature and nature seems out of control. Their conclusion leads them to believe that God is behind all these terrible acts, to which they would be incorrect.

However, there is one lesson that God might want to get across to the human race: Disasters are a megaphone from God reminding us of the shortness of life.

Some people asked Jesus about a similar situation in His day when a building collapsed and people were killed. They wanted to know who was to blame. His response to them was not about finding fault and assigning blame. Rather, Jesus told them, "Unless you repent, you shall likewise all perish" [Luke 13:3].

Not one person in Hugo, MN or Parkersburg, IA woke up last Sunday morning expecting to die that evening when funnel clouds leveled their towns. In the aftermath, of all the questions being asked, I wonder if any will ask the correct question: “God, are You trying to tell us something?” And if they do ask, will anyone be listening?