We are in the closing hours of a year that showered us with extremes. Extreme drought on the West Coast produced some of the deadliest wildfires those states that border the Pacific Ocean had ever seen. Extreme rainfalls on the East Coast prompted historic flooding in Virginia and the Carolinas, and that, coupled with the appearance of Hurricane Floyd brought misery to the Eastern Seaboard. The stock market kept us all wondering what was going to happen as it yoyoed through the early part of the spring and summer, but then it took a real "header off the cliff" in October and has plunged into numbers not seen since 2008.
And the political scene provided its share of drama this past year. The midterm elections were among the most contentious ever seen. The vitriol that was hurled by candidates toward one another has rarely been as intense as it was this year. And the manner in which the mainstream media has attacked President Trump for what he either did or did not do is almost unparalleled in American history. I think its closest comparison would be the attacks upon President Lincoln during those tumultuous days of the Civil War. Americans have forgotten how to have civil conversations. We have forgotten the art of debate rather than the heat of argument. We have given vent to anger rather than seeking compromise. And I am greatly saddened by this new reality. I believe it bodes ill-will as we attempt to move forward as a nation. I am not very optimistic that our now "divided government" will truly accomplish anything of significance in the coming year. The animosity appears to be too great - at least as we enter into the seating of a new Congress.
This past year saw the continued extremes within the international community. The civil war in Syria almost appears to be a war without an ending. It appears, at least from my perspective, that if that war is declared over, nothing will have changed. President Assad, the tyrant that he is, will still be in power. The Iranians and Russians, who were already embedded within the Syrian governmental structure, will also still be present. And those whose opposition to President Assad began this nearly decade-long civil war will still be opposed, but will have lost their strength and voice. What will be the impact when American forces are withdrawn from Syria? What impact will that have upon those rebel forces, including the Kurds, with which we have allied ourselves?
Of concern to Israel is the presence of Iranian forces near the border with Syria and within Lebanon. Just a few days ago, Israel launched a military airstrike against an Iranian supply depot near Damascus. According to Syrian sources, the Russian-supplied anti-missile defense system destroyed several of the air-to-ground missiles, yet some got through to create damage. And within the past few weeks, Israeli IDF officers have uncovered several Hezbollah tunnels under the Lebanese border, preventing what might possibly have been a serious terrorist attack upon Israel's northern-most cities. And there is still the problem of the Gaza Strip and of Hamas. One of the casualties of that "almost war" is the collapse of the Netanyahu coalition, thus creating the need for the dissolving of the Knesset and the calling of new elections in April 2019. What will Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran do during this time of political upheaval? Will they perceive this to be a time of weakness within Israel that could be exploited?
This past year saw an escalation in the persecution of Christians around the globe. Reports coming from China indicate that the Chinese government of President Xi-Xingping is clamping down upon those Christian churches that have not identified with the government-approved Three-Self Church movement. We read of Christians being murdered in Cameroons and in Nigeria and in Indonesia. We have read of the attacks upon expressions of faith right here within our own country. The expressions of faith within the public arenas have become targets by those who have a hatred of God. From school teachers and administrators to florists and bakers the risk of expressing your personal faith can have both financial and legal consequences. Yet I am free to express my contempt for God without any fear of reprisals. Something is definitely wrong with this picture.
And the crisis at America's southern border has reached a critical point. This crisis is the test of whether we continue to value the rule of law or do we cave to the demands of the mob. There is a legal way to enter into our country and we have welcome people through that portal for over two hundred years. And they have been received graciously. If we allow the mob to rule, then, essentially we will have no immigration laws. The Progressives and Socialists will have won with their "open borders." No one will be stopped. Criminal elements will traverse our borders as if they were merely going to the store. Security walls do work - just ask the Israelis. Yes, let's be welcoming to those who desire to come, but let's do it in the right way.
Friends, articles are stacking up on my desk that I want to share with you as we enter into 2019. Some of them are alarming, while others are affirming. So, let's keep the dialogue going for another year.
As I close, isn't it great to know that, although we truly have no definitive sense of what will happen in 2019, we can say with confidence that we know Who is in control of 2019 and He is the one who will see us through the mountains and valleys that will define 2019. Perhaps 2019 will be the year that The King returns. Until that trumpet blows, let us resolve that we will remain faithful to Him and to His calling upon our lives. May He find us faithful when He comes.
God bless you all as you enter into a New Year.
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