Sound The Midnight Cry

“It’s The Super Bowl Of Shopping!”

We are in the midst of the biggest shopping weekend of the year—Black Friday through Cyber Monday. People camp out on sidewalks all night to be able to get one of the few special items that stores stock to get you to enter their business in hopes of getting you to let go of those precious dollars.

For some people, these events are on par with the Super Bowl—it’s the Super Bowl of shopping. They plan their routes of travel for maximum speed for multiple purchases from various stores. They plot their purchases for minimum impact to their wallets while getting the most for their precious greenback. Later they gather with friends to brag about the great deals on stuff they bought that they really didn’t need—but after all, it was a deal. Yes, it’s the Super Bowl of shopping and God help the person that puts their hands on the last item in stock that forty other people are determined to take home.

Now don’t get me wrong—I love finding a deal! But I have learned some time ago that a deal is not a deal if it really isn’t a necessity. Finding a roast on sale when you only have a few dollars to spend is a deal (last I looked; eating was still considered a necessity). Fact is that many people last year that spent hours camping out for those Black Friday specials won’t be doing so this year. Job losses, company closures and cutbacks, financial losses in their retirement accounts are helping to clarify the words “luxury” and “necessity.”

It reminds me of a story: A mother was recently approached by her teenage daughter, who asked for a new one hundred and sixty dollar piece of electronics equipment to replace her old one. Her old one, by the way, was only a year old and was working fine. The wise mom said she would think about it, but first, she asked if her daughter could help her with some errands that afternoon.

That afternoon, the mother and daughter climbed into their car and headed for the local grocery store. Once there, the mom went straight to the bulk food section and started loading food in the carts. Soon two shopping carts were overflowing with bags of generic rice, sacks of potatoes, boxes of ramen noodles, cases of canned vegetables, jars of peanut butter and jelly, and loaves upon loaves of bread. Without a word, the mom headed straight for the checkout lines, paid for the food, and loaded up the car. The daughter was curious but said nothing.

The mom then drove in silence straight to a local food bank. Without a sound, she started to carry in the groceries while her startled daughter helped. Soon, both of them were filling up the empty shelves while the workers and needy families looked on. After a few seconds, however, both of them were showered with teary eyes, crushed with hugs, and thanked with more “God bless you’s” than the daughter had ever heard before.

As they were driving home, the mom finally smiled and handed her daughter the receipt for the groceries. The total was $162 and change. “That is what $160 is really worth,” the mom said. “Next week, we can buy you that gadget you want or we can make another trip to shop for the food bank that helped keep us alive and together when you were just a baby. It's up to you.”

The daughter smiled and with tears in her eyes said, “I'll be shopping with you, Mom!”

Jesus said, “When you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto me.”

There isn't a better deal than that!

Things Are Heating Up In Iran - Rhetoric or Reality?

Iran to Hold War Games to Protect Nuclear Sites

Iran will begin large-scale air defense war games Sunday aimed at protecting its nuclear facilities from possible attack, a senior military commander said Saturday, reflecting the country's concern that Israel could make good on threats to strike militarily. story

Iran: We'll hit Tel Aviv if attacked

Iranian cleric says ballistic missiles would be fired at heart of Tel Aviv should Israel strike Islamic republic; Iran army official charges Russian delay in supplying advanced missile system to Tehran result of pressure by 'Zionist lobby'. story

Interview by Stanford University’s Hoover Foundation of Victor David Hanson and John Baer on the growing concerns on Iran

“Give Thanks!”

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. Although this feast is considered by many to the very first Thanksgiving celebration, it was actually in keeping with a long tradition of celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops.

Earlier on December 4, 1619, at a site near the Charles River, 38 British settlers led by Captain John Woodlief knelt in prayer and pledged “Thanksgiving” to God for their healthy arrival after a long voyage across the Atlantic. They declared, “Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

The legacy of thanks, and particularly of the feast, have survived the centuries as people throughout the United States gather family, friends, and enormous amounts of food for the yearly Thanksgiving Day meal.

Historians aren't completely certain about the menu that first Thanksgiving, however, the two items that historians know for sure were on the menu are venison and wild fowl. This is a far cry from the pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and other items that will grace the tables of households across America this coming week.

Yet, in the midst of the parades, sporting events and turkey revelry, a disturbing trend is growing that recently came to light. More than 49 million Americans –one in seven—struggled to get enough to eat in 2008. This is the highest total in 14 years of a federal survey on “food insecurity.” The number of Americans receiving food stamp assistance soaring above 36 million for the first time in August, the eighth month in a row that enrollment set a record. These numbers are expected to rise throughout 2009 due to the current recession and climbing unemployment rate.

These statistics point out two different thoughts to consider this Thanksgiving Day. The first is that Revelation 6:6 tells us that in the last days, cost of basic food items will escalate (A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay.) The further we go in these last days; we shouldn’t be surprised by inflationary prices. This is especially true in the light of our nations past and current fiscal policies. Creating money out of thin air will only see it one day evaporate.

Second, difficult times have always been moments for the Church to show forth the love of Christ. It starts by being sensitive to the needs of others and doing what you can no matter how small it may be. And above all, be thankful…truly grateful for what you have. Thanksgiving is not a date on a calendar nor is it parades, sporting events or food. It is an attitude of the heart!

Give thanks!

“How Important Is ‘Really Important’”

How many times have you had someone ask, “Do you have a minute, I have something really important to tell you?” Or maybe someone stated, “This isn’t a laughing matter, it’s really important?”

It’s those two words “really important” embedded in my subconscious that woke me from a deep sleep last night. I don’t know why it did so but it woke me enough to lay there and ponder the meaning and the reason someone might use it.

The word “important” is defined as “mattering much; entitled to more than ordinary consideration or notice; of much or great significance or consequence” (as in an important event in world history). When coupled with the word “real or really”, the importance seems to take on an added dimension of significance.

Maybe that’s why it escaped from my subconscious to my cognizance. I remembered reading a headline this week, “Israeli leaders hint meeting with Obama was really important”. This was in reference of an unscheduled visit with President Obama in Washington D.C. by Israeli PM Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. The one-hour-and-forty-minute discussion was accompanied by an unusual news blackout, as the standard photo op and press availability were not held. Instead a brief statement put out by the White House after the Monday evening meeting.

Now secrecy only begets suspicion as to what is not being said. Interestingly, the Israeli prime minister broadly hinted that the “importance of the visit will become clear in the future.” Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak also emphasized the great importance of the US meetings stating, “The visit of myself and Prime Minister Netanyahu to Washington and the White House was very important” reiterating that Israel's security, “once again became clear.”

So in summary: this important meeting refers to an important future event (how future remains to be seen) that involves the importance of Israel’s security.

I’m reminded of Jesus’ words: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Now that’s a “really important” future event that is closer than we think!

“How Long Is Forever?”

This past week I had to fly to South Florida to care for my mom after major surgery. As I attended to her needs each day, I had flashbacks to how many times as a child she did the same thing for me. I guess things in life really do come full circle.

As I sat next to her bed as she slept, I was reminded of many childhood memories. Inevitably, I remembered a particular Christmas that seemed to torment me in how slow it was in arriving.

I vividly recalled coming in each day and asking her “how many more days until Christmas?” Probably to save her sanity from answering that question over and over, she gave me a crayon and the calendar. She circled on the calendar December 25th and then showed me the current date. She had me put an “X” through that day and instructed me to do the same each day. I could then count the remaining days myself and not have to ask her what must have sounded like a broken record (if you don’t know what a record is, just ignore that statement).

I remember after several days of counting the days getting a little frustrated and loudly exclaimed “Christmas is taking forever to get here!” It’s amazing how clear that memory still is in my mind after all these years.

‘Forever’—that’s a long time to anyone. To a 7 year old child, a week can be ‘forever’. To a couple in love, forever might be a few years or a lifetime. To a person experiencing a tragedy, a day can seem like eternity.

But in world politics, it would seem that ‘forever’ doesn’t mean the same to everyone. I’m referring to the statement this past week by Secretary of State Clinton concerning the building of Israeli settlements.

Earlier in the week, Secretary Clinton stood with Israeli PM Netanyahu and praised his offer to limit settlement construction without halting it. A few days later standing with the Arab leadership in Egypt, she declared, “Washington does not accept the legitimacy of the West Bank enclaves and wants to see their construction halted ‘forever.'"

The problem with the desire of the U.S. administration is that it is in conflict with God; who He is and what He is doing. And when it comes to God and His promises, the term “forever” denotes continuity (without a break) of action, being or state of being. In other words, when God makes a promise, it means as long as God exists, so does the promise.

When God made a covenant with Abraham that wherever he put his feet, the land would be his and his descendants “forever”, that pledge has not expired or ceased being—no matter what Washington wants. And anyone that thinks otherwise, better think again!