“The Southern Baptist Convention voted [...] to sever its 99-year relationship with the Baptist World Alliance [...] because the worldwide umbrella group also includes American Baptist Churches USA, which has about 30 congregations that call themselves ‘welcoming and affirming’ to homosexuals.

In a speech to the convention, the Rev. Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, said, [...] ‘What you give your name and your money to, you give your tacit approval to’ [...] adding that the Convention ‘can no longer afford to be aligned in any way’ with such churches at a time when homosexual ‘marriage’ is one of the nation’s leading public issues. [...]” By Julia Duin, The Washington Times

“The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled [...] that Israel’s security barrier in the West Bank is illegal and ordered Israel to tear down the structure and pay reparations to Palestinians whose property was destroyed during its construction.

Building the barrier, which eventually will be 425 miles long, is ‘tantamount to de facto annexaton’ and impedes Palestinians’ right to self-determination, court President Shi Jiuyong said. [...]

Israel says it’s building the barrier to keep out suicide bombers, but the court sided with the Palestinian interpretation. [...]

Israel rejected the ruling, dismissing it as a ‘politically motivated maneuver.’ [...]” By Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, Knight Ridder Newspapers

“The United States is strongly committed, and I am strongly committed, to the the security of Israel as a vibrant Jewish state. Israel is a democracy and a friend, and has every right to defend itself from terror.” From a speech by President George W. Bush

“China’s economy is expanding at a blistering pace. [...]

After two decades of rapid growth, China’s economy is having a global impact in all kinds of surprising ways. [...] Its voracious appetite for raw materials has driven up prices worldwide and created shortages. China consumes 55 percent of the world’s cement, 40 percent of its steel and 25 percent of its aluminum. China’s growing demand for oil is one reason crude prices are so high. [...]

China is now the world’s sixth-largest economy, comparable in size to France or Italy. But unlike France and Italy, it’s growing rapidly, giving it disproportionate influence. [...]” By Ken Moritsugu and Tim Johnson, Knight Ridder Newspapers

“The Christian History Project chronicles the history of the faith in a format that is both scholarly and reader-friendly. The Veil is Torn is the first in a 15-volume series called The Christians: The First Two Thousand Years. [...]

‘These books read like an adventure, a grand tale of epic proportions, recounting Christendom’s most significant events and people,’ said AFA Journal editor Randall Murphree. [...]

Canadian editor Ten Byfield [...] thinks this history of the faith is imperative because of what the culture has done in recent decades to diminish Christianity’s impact. [...]

Byfield told the Edmonton Journal (Alberta, Canada) that increasing anti-Christian bias in North America portends impending persecution. ‘If I make a statement against Jews or Muslims,’ he said, ‘I’m accused immediately of bigotry. If I make them against Christians, which appear all the time, that’s not bigotry, it’s a brownie point in [my] favor.’

The volumes are being marketed via Internet and telephone (1-800-853-5402).” AFA Journal

There is still time to register to vote. I pray that all qualified Christians will take part in this election, raising our voices and casting our votes in favor of righteousness wherever possible. Working together, we will do our best to stem the tide of evil.

The Bible assures us that in the end, good, and God, will triumph. But along the way we will encounter terrible opposition from the Enemy. Even in this blessed Church Age, when God has given us an open door of opportunity, we will face trials and challenges of mounting intensity as we move closer to the Rapture of the Church.