News from The Kingdom

After nearly two centuries of humiliation and decline, the imperial Chinese Dragon is stirring again and moving purposefully toward the center of the world stage. China, once termed “a slumbering giant” and the “sick man of Asia,” is rapidly emerging as the new epicenter of Asian industry, trade, finance—and military power!  As the most populous nation on earth with the world’s largest army, newly assertive China is generating concern throughout East Asia and beyond. This ancient and cunning “dragon” is determined to reclaim a position of dominance in the 21st century that she believes is rightfully hers. The appearance of an ambitious and militant superpower in the Far East is extremely significant and will have ominous consequences for America and the West. (more…)

Today’s headlines focus on the political campaign and the economic crisis. Who will win the White House this November, Republicans or Democrats? Will another major financial institution go bankrupt, signalling further weakness of the economy? There are many urgent problems confronting today’s world, but their size and complexity can lead us to punch the “ignore” button on the world. But we cannot, we must not, fall into that trap and tune out the momentous signs on the world horizon. (more…)

Money is a necessary evil, or so the saying goes. It is certainly a necessary medium of exchange, but it doesn’t have to be evil. Whether money is a good or bad influence depends on our approach to it.

Jesus Christ wasn’t opposed to wealth or a high standard of living. He said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The Bible is a guidebook toward the abundant life He wants us to enjoy. Money can be an integral part of the right kind of success.

On the other hand, the love of money has corrupted and twisted the lives of many people and is a root cause of much evil (1 Timothy 6:10). The Phillips Modern English translation captures the essence well and serves as a worthy commentary on this particular passage: “For loving money leads to all kinds of evil, and some men in the struggle to be rich have lost their faith and caused themselves untold agonies of mind.” (more…)