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December 6,
2007 |
Dear World News and Prophecy Subscriber,
Just as news arrived that made us feel safe to go out-of-doors,
something happens to make us scramble back into our warm
and safe cocoons called home. It is still a dangerous world
out there—in spite of what they tell us.
This week a National Intelligence Estimate was released
by the U.S. government stating that Iran had "halted" its
nuclear weapons program in 2003. Did you hear that? I did
a double take! It went on to say this decision shows Iran
is "less determined to develop nuclear weapons than
we have been judging since 2005." According to this
estimate by America's intelligence agencies, Iran, heretofore
the Middle East's biggest threat, was being downgraded in
status. The world was once again safe. Or is it?
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak issued an alternative
view. Israel, the country directly in the sights of Iran
and the Arab world, has a different intelligence estimate.
They sense Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapon. It
is widely believed that Israel's Sept. 6 attack on
a Syrian facility short-circuited efforts to assemble nuclear
weapons. Israelis live in a dangerous neighborhood and have
a much different viewpoint from the rest of the world.
But sometimes our neighborhoods are dangerous too.
Yesterday at a shopping mall in Omaha, Nebraska, people
were going about the business of the country, shopping,
when a deranged gunman opened fire from the third floor
of a department store killing eight innocent people and
then turning the gun on himself. What was a pleasant afternoon
in the mall turned into another unspeakable tragedy.
Time and chance can happen to any of us. When asked about
the death of innocent people in His day, Jesus Christ said
that tragedy can unexpectedly visit a life. He added, "Unless
you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).
Life is precious, but it can be all too brief when it intersects
with people and events beyond our control. Isn't it time
that you stop and ask whether you truly understand the reason
for your life?
Christ wants you to understand the purpose for your life
and begin to fully live with that vision. Only then can
you feel safe and secure—in this world and the world
to come.
Our December
issue of World News and Prophecy is
now on the Web. We lead with an article by Melvin Rhodes
on the state of the dollar on world financial markets. Economics
is not always presented in an interesting manner, and when
we tackle the subject, we don't have the space to
go into the detail the subject deserves. But Melvin's
approach puts the matter into the context of a longer history.
Changes are in store for the American dollar on world markets,
and this article gives you an insight you won't find
elsewhere.
I have received several comments on my
earlier article, "Are
We Living in a '9/10' Economy?" One person
told me this week that it gave her a whole new perspective
on the financial landscape. There is a lot to understand
in today's fast-changing world. Stay with us and we'll
help navigate you through.
Keep watching,
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