Of Debates, Sukkot, and World Concerns

Tonight is the much anticipated first debate between President Obama and Governor Romney.  The focus will be upon domestic topics which have taken center-stage in the campaign so far.  Many of us are asking ourselves the question, "Are we better off now than we were four years ago?"  The unemployment rate is still high and only inches downward because more and more people become so discouraged in their job search that they have given up that search entirely.  Housing prices have now begun to slowly increase, but are years away from being where they were before the housing crash in 2008.  And, while the stock market has risen in recent months, the volatility still remains; one little hiccup in either the European or Asian markets could send Wall Street reeling again.  It will be interesting this evening to see which candidate can best articulate a message of hope. 

We are in the midst of the Jewish holiday known as Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles.  You might recall that this was one of the three Jewish feasts that required Jewish males to attend services at the Temple (the other two being Passover and Pentecost, both in the spring of the year).  During Sukkot, the Jews were required to live outside in shelters or booths made from branches.  This was to remind them of their years of wandering in the wilderness while on the way from Egypt to the Promised Land.  They were to remember God's faithfulness to them.  As I reflected upon Sukkot, I wondered if we had any similar celebration within Christianity.  Certainly there is none that require us to move outside and live in tents for a period of eight days.  In fact, the closest I could come to any similarity was our celebration of Thanksgiving.  The purpose of that one-day is to remember God's faithfulness and goodness to us the past year.  Often that purpose is lost in the midst of family gatherings, football games, turkey dinners with all the trimmings, and preparations for the annual Black Friday shopping extravaganzas.  In our gratitude we demonstrate our ingratitude.  Perhaps it would do us well to erect a shelter in our backyards and spend a day therein just remembering and giving thanks.  You know, there is much we can learn from our Jewish friends. 

I read an interesting article yesterday from the Telegraph, a newspaper printed in England.  The headlines grabbed my attention: "North and South Korea 'on the verge of nuclear war'."  I searched to see if any of the American news sources had picked up this news, but found none.  Surprise, surprise!  Pak Kil-yon, North Korea's foreign minister said, "Today, due to the continued US hostile policy towards the DPRK, the vicious cycle of confrontation and aggravation of tensions is an ongoing phenomenon on the Korean Peninsula, which has become the world's most dangerous hot spot and where a spark of fire could set off a thermonuclear war."  The article concluded by saying that "South Korean media are reporting that North Korean fighter jets have stepped up training flights since July, while artillery units in the west of the country are preparing for large-scale exercises and more submarines are putting to sea."  Guess we have been so caught up with the potential nuclear threat from Iran that we have forgotten that North Korea already has the bomb. 

I want to just highlight a fascinating editorial by Dennis Prager that appeared yesterday at Townhall.com.  You can link to the article at www.townhall.com/columnists/dennisprager/2012/20/02/the_worlds_most_dynamic_religion_is.  No, the answer is not Christianity, nor is it Islam.  It is leftism.  I also highly recommend Dennis Prager's book, "Still the Best Hope: Why the World Needs American Values to Triumph."  It is an eye-opening read. 

One final article that I highly recommend was written by Daniel Pipes, one of the leading American writers on Islam.  In fact, you should read everything that Daniel Pipes writes...it will help you to better understand the Muslim mindset around the world.  Yesterday's article was titled, "Post-Mortem on the Muhammad Protests."  You can find it at www.townhall.com/columnists/danielpipes/2012/10/02/postmortem_on_the_muhammad_protests.  Let me just share the final paragraph with you.  "As someone who's been watching that clash since Khomeini's time, I ascertain three main trends.  First, Muslims increasingly devote themselves to the political imperative of preserving Muhammad's sanctity.  Second, Western governments and elites (i.e. journalists, lawyers, intellectuals, artists) have become increasingly timid over time when facing Islamist fury, willing to apologize, appease, and placate; for one appalling example, see the U.S. embassy in Cairo's effusions on this Sept.11, as a mob raged outside.  Third, Western non-elites have increasingly responded to Islamists with a You-want-to-be-insulted-well-take-this! attitude that includes Koran burnings, "Defeat Jihad" ads, belligerently offensive French cartoons, and a promised roll-out of Muhammad movies.  In combination, these three points lead me to predict that the conflict over values will continue to heat up." 

Well, we are getting close to the time of our Lord's return.  We are hoping for the best!  Praise the Lord!  I close with a verse of encouragement that Jesus shared with His disciples on that fateful night before He was betrayed.  They were in a state of shock over what He had announced there in the Upper Room.  While on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane, He said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).