This Week In The News
Current Events
by Norbert Link
We begin with President Trump’s dangerous and potentially very costly policies for American consumers, causing a potential global tariff and trade war; and publish excerpts from an insightful article in the conservative Wall Street Journal, charging Trump and his administration with the mishandling of two major emergencies. We also report on Trump’s last minute agreement to postpone tariffs against Canada and Mexico for one month, pending further negotiations, but he did not exempt China which has already begun to retaliate. Trump’s threats against Europe continue, and so does Europe’s commitment to respond in kind.
We also report on Trump’s bombshell announcement to take over Gaza, prompting worldwide condemnation.
Please view in this context our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Trump—the Man of Destiny?”
We continue with ISIS terrorists in Somalia and Iran’s nuclear ambitions; Belgium’s new government; the contentions between China and the Philippines; and we conclude with the political fight in a deeply divided Germany.
Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.
Editorial
Where Do We Go?
The story of Abraham’s departure from the land he was living in has been on my mind lately. What is interesting is that the Bible talks about the tower of Babel in Genesis 11 and then it reports much genealogy which gets us to the story of Abraham.
The interesting part I think is that we see the genealogy of Abraham laid out for us: Noah → Shem → Arphaxad → Shelah → Eber → Peleg → Reu → Serug → Nahor → Terah → Abram. There was much going on between the time of Noah and Abram. It is hard to say how long this time frame was, but it is estimated to have lasted somewhere between 350 to 400 years. That’s a long time for the Bible not to mention anyone else as playing a role in the Bible.
And then we are thrust upon the scene of Abram being told by God that he was to pack up everything and leave when he was 75 years old. He had come to live in Haran on the way to the land of Cannan, because his father had moved his family there (Genesis 11:31). So Abram listens to God and moves his family and his nephew’s family as instructed. They leave on this journey. They have considerable livestock. The journey if we look at where he travels is somewhere approximately 1,100 – 1,500 miles long. The Bible doesn’t tell us how long this journey took, but if they traveled 10-15 miles per day, the journey could have lasted several months to a year. The whole time God is telling Abram, don’t worry where you are going! I’m going to take you there and it’s going to be amazing.
Continue reading "Where Do We Go?"Q&A
What does Paul teach us in the letter to the Ephesians about a successful marriage?
Many years ago, I heard an interesting sermon by a minister of the (now defunct) Worldwide Church of God, in which he applied many passages in Ephesians 4 and 5 to the Christian marriage. I took notes (still in my possession) and have thought about this concept many times. I do not remember the minister’s name, but I do remember his message.
Using some of those interesting thoughts, and elaborating on them, let us review in this Q&A some of Paul’s statements in Ephesians 4 and 5, which definitely have meaning, application to, and relevance for a successful marriage.
Ephesians 4:14-15 reads:
“… that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ…”
Continue reading "What does Paul teach us in the letter to the Ephesians about a successful marriage?"