What in the world is going on? Can we handle one more crisis? The flood of immigrants at our border with Mexico — wars in Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and now Israel with Hamas. The radical Muslim group ISIS is set to attack Jerusalem, vowing that the United States is next. How many well-placed nuclear bombs, smuggled into the U.S. by terrorists, would it take to effectively eliminate our country? And they say it’s not “if” they destroy the U.S., but “when.” In addition, numerous internal difficulties such as a confused health -care system and serious economic and employment woes. What should be our response to these crises and imminent crises? We could panic and have a nervous breakdown! We could spend time and energy finding who to blame for the disasters! Or, more positively, we could get more serious about our dedication to God and the work to which he has called us. Worship, witness, service, and prayer could become unmovable top priorities, never giving way to any lesser call. Distraction from these is the Devil’s most effective weapon in our spiritual warfare. World crises have been reversed many times in our nation’s history by spiritual revival. A promise originally given to ancient Israel is equally apropos to us today — “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal the land.” Let’s claim that promise!

REV. DR. RICHARD L. SHAW PH.D., PASTOR