Most of us are alarmed at the rapid decline of our once-great country. Our elected officials pass laws they haven’t studied, exempt themselves from the burdens they impose on others, and become the pawns of the power brokers rather than faithfully representing their own constituents. All this at a time when our own economy is irresponsibly ignored.

We conclude our three-part China series this month with an exploration of the affects of Communism and the struggles facing the current regime.

The Torah—the five books of Moses—details seven feasts during the Hebrew calendar:

2008 is an election year, and it also triggers a very significant change in our demographics: the first of 77 million retiring Baby Boomers becomes eligible for Social Security benefits, which will create one of the greatest economic challenges of the 21st century.

We are in the middle of a series covering China in depth—we will not bring you the latest “flash in the pan” news about China but rather reveal the undercurrents that have dictated the path of China’s meteoric rise. With that in mind, we continue with part two of our series in which we will explore how capitalism has changed China and what its future holds.

This month I would like to share about a rather unfamiliar topic: Being “friends with God.” (This is still a part of our Reflections of His Image series.)

For several months now, we have been sharing on the subject of “Reflecting God’s Image,” which is the purpose of our lives. Reflecting and glorifying God is a topic that should dominate our lives. John 14:13 tells us that we are to make His glory the aim of everything we do. In short, our lives should continually reflect His person, His character and His Love and should cause others to look upon Him.

Everyone today is chafing under the increased costs of fuel for their cars (and air travel). Many are jumping to the conclusion that this is all due to “manipulation” by the energy barons and profiteers, etc. Strangely, the current focus on oil can cause us to miss the more salient issues that we all are victims of. There are far more serious concerns facing us than simply our miles per gallon!

These are easy questions only to those who have not studied them seriously! The Epistle to the Galatians is regarded as the supreme rebuttal to legalism of any kind.

As most of you know, China is portrayed as a major world superpower in the Biblical end-times scenario. As such, we have made The Rise of China a major trend, and we do our best to keep you updated.

The Epistle to the Hebrews is widely regarded as one of the most difficult of books, enigmatic to those who fail to recognize the status of (and the issues confronting) the specific readers who are being addressed. In our previous article on this challenging book, we focused on the mysteries surrounding its authorship and its role in the Trilogy on Habakkuk 2:4.

Continuing our study on worship, we said worship is important because it releases blessings in two directions: we come into the Lord’s presence by loving and adoring Him; He, then, makes Himself known by communicating His Love back to us through revelation, insight and love. Worship, in other words, is a two-way communication.

Over the last several months, we have been exploring the war that is continually fought between God’s Spirit in our hearts and the sin and self that reside in our soul and body (the “flesh”).

The Epistle to the Hebrews is one of the two greatest theological treatises of the New Testament. This letter is, in a real sense, the “Leviticus” of the New Testament, detailing how the Lord Jesus Christ is both the fulfillment and the successor to all that had gone on before.

(In our March issue, we explored the limits to “smallness”—particle physics—and that our known universe is but a “shadow” of a larger reality. In this issue we will review the attempt this summer to probe the present limits of “smallness.”)

I am excited. I mean, really excited! I have been hearing that everyone needs to be in a small group. Chuck always says, “If you can’t find one, start one. It’s easier than you think and we’ll help you.”

You may ask: “Doesn’t Jesus suffer when we mistrust Him? Doesn’t the Lord grieve when we waver and question His Word and His faithfulness?” Yes, yes, He absolutely does. But those who have failed in faith can still keep their eyes on Jesus.

On May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence and was immediately at war with its Arab neighbors. Today Israel’s enemies are once again preparing for war and, again, the goal is Israel’s complete annihilation. In the 60 years that have passed since the creation of the modern state of Israel, this tiny nation has fought for its survival against all odds. It has survived several major wars and decades of violence.

In recent weeks you might have noticed your grocery bill rising. If so, you’re not alone. Food prices are soaring worldwide. Consumers in many western nations are just beginning to notice the change; however, in many parts of the world the rising cost of food has already reached crisis levels.

Over the last two months, we have been exploring the practical application of how we “put off” the flesh and “put on” Christ. The Scripture that explains this cleansing process is Ephesians 4:22-24, 31, which instructs us to “put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”