Wallace G. Smith

The front page headline of the Wall Street Journal on October 8, 2010, should grab every American's attention: "Dollar's Fall Roils World."  The article points out how the U.S. dollar has fallen to historic lows against many of the world's currencies.  Why?  Other nations' continuing fear of the Federal Reserve's reckless injections of "Monopoly money" into the financial markets to prop up America's faltering economy.

My family and I watch our share of nature documentaries, and we are always entertained by scenes of newborn animals—gazelles, giraffes, etc.—struggling, mere moments after birth, to walk. As they struggle on their wobbly legs, instinct pushes them to walk and run as soon as possible, lest they fall as quick prey to predators or become a burden on their herds.

Apparently, there is a growing topic of concern in Christianity these days: "Should children be in church?" One morning, as I sat going through the day's news, I read an interesting article on the matter in the Wall Street Journal—"Seen and Not Heard in Church," by Laura Vanderkam.

In a helpful previous commentary, Karl Harmdierks covered the occult concepts behind the Twilight stories that are so terribly popular these days – both in printed word and on silver screen – and even more could be said.  However, there is an additional aspect about these stories that make them very dangerous to their obsessively devoted young fans – and to their not-so-young fans, as well.

It has come to my attention this week—September 21, specifically—is the 34th annual International Day of Peace, declared by the United Nations: a time to focus on "peacebuilding" and putting an end to war and conflict. A noble idea, to be sure. But in its celebration, will the essential ingredients to peace be discussed anywhere, by anyone?