There is tremendous interest in biblical matters today. The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit here in Charlotte, North Carolina is drawing large crowds of people from all faiths. These ancient relics appear to confirm that the Bible we have today is remarkably intact.

The world is at war over oil! It has been going on since World War I. It used to be said that armies marched on their stomachs – and this is still true – but the food, supplies and munitions that armies have used since 1914 have mostly been delivered via oil-burning ships, aviation-fueled aircraft and trucks thirsty for gasoline.

It was just after my ordination into the ministry that it came to my attention that George (not his real name) was secretly smoking.

A church member for several years, George knew that Christians should not do anything which will ultimately cripple or kill us, since we—our bodies—are the temple of God's Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). He had already lost a lung to cancer many years before, and of all people he should have known better than to continue smoking.

Two more chilling stories of thwarted teenage school massacre plots have stunned Americans once again. Police, in April, uncovered a plan by five Riverton, Kansas teenage boys just hours before the attack. Several days later, police arrested six North Pole, Alaska seventh-graders planning to kill students and teachers.

France has been experiencing civil unrest that threatens the future of its political leaders. Germany recently faced labor strikes involving over 30,000 workers. Italy has just concluded a very rocky and divisive national election.