What in the World Is Going On?

Here it is the second day of summer and the temperatures are about 15 degrees below normal for this time of year. What a spring it was here in Minnesota! More days of clouds than sun. Rain much above normal. With the exception of two days in early June, temperatures have been well below normal. Perhaps this is the new normal.

It seems that everywhere weather conditions are drastic. Wildfires in West Texas, Arizona and New Mexico almost defy imaginations by their magnitude. Flooding in North Dakota is of historic proportions with no immediate end in sight due to the incredible amounts of snow yet to be melted in the mountains of Montana. Parts of the nation are still recovering from devastating tornadoes earlier this spring. I was in conversation with a friend a week or so ago and we were talking about the weather phenomenon that even has seasoned meteorologists talking. Are these signs of the approaching end of the age? Could this be God's judgment upon us because of our failure to repent of our sins? Is there a relationship between these weirdly abnormal weather patterns which really are impacting many nations around the world and the world's intent to divide Jerusalem and the land of Israel into two parts? I am not sure I have answers to those questions but I do believe these are not just coincidental occurrences. They are part of God's plan.

Eyes have been focused upon Greece and their severe economic problems. It looks as if the IMF will give them the necessary loan to keep the country going, but the cuts in programs and social services will be severe. Over the weekend we saw Greek people rioting in the streets over the forced cuts in pay and services. When a people become accustomed to the "handouts" that come from government and begin to develop a mentality that they are entitled to those "handouts," then there is cause of rioting when they disappear. I no longer know what to do for myself. Where do I now turn for medical care; the government has always told me what to do. Where do I go for food and other necessities; the government has always given me food stamps. There is a spirit of helplessness because we have forgotten how to take care of ourselves. These are the consequences of an entitlement mentality. I believe what we have seen in Greece is only a small mirrored image of what will happen here when the inevitable collapse happens. How we need to be prepared NOW!

Although the Palestinian Authority (Fatah) and Hamas have agreed in principle to a unity government, they have agreed on little else when it comes to the implementation of such a government. PA Chairman, Mahmoud Abbas, has stated that the PA should decide who the next Prime Minister should be, and, of course, he has chosen his own Prime Minister for that post. Hamas leadership has cried "Foul!" So, a major stumbling block from the very first. Truthfully, about the only thing they can agree on is the need for the destruction of Israel as a nation.

The presidential campaigns are beginning to heat-up, now that we are getting closer to July 4. Perhaps you are like me in not having a candidate that you are strongly behind. But it is time to pray for God's hand to be upon the right candidate of His choosing. What happens in 2012, I believe, will have a decisive influence upon the future history of our nation. So, I am not taking these early days of jockeying by the candidates lightly. And neither should you!

Let me close by saying that the attitude you have toward what is happening in the world can be a major testimony. If you are terrified and fearful of what tomorrow will hold, how can you then witness to an unsaved colleague and tell them of the peace that Jesus brings? But, if you are full of hope and eagerly anticipating the return of Christ, then that optimism will draw responses from those around you. Keep looking up. Keep a joyful look within your heart. Be a model of God's peace to others.