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If you've turned on a television, read a newspaper, or gotten anywhere near the office watercooler in the last couple of days then you no doubt know all about the turmoil on Wall Street and in our nation's capital. The United States is currently in a state of economic uncertainty. Our current predicament is the result of years of bad economic policies, out-of-control spending, lax accountability, and greedy and irresponsible behavior. The 700 billion dollar bailout bill was defeated in the House of Representatives on Monday. The result of the vote had a dramatic impact on Wall Street and has left lawmakers in Washington scrambling to find an alternative.

The outcome of the vote caused panic on Wall Street. On Monday the market experienced its worst day since the 1987 crash, worse even than the day following the September 11 attacks. The S&P 500 plunged almost 9 percent and the Dow Jones industrial average fell nearly 778 points. The sell-off resulted in the loss of more than 1.2 trillion dollars from the US stock market.

The economic troubles we now face did not happen overnight, and they will not be fixed overnight. However that is exactly what Congress and the President are trying to do. Our elected leaders in Washington are currently attempting to pass far-reaching economic legislation without taking the time to consider the long-term consequences. Congress is rushing to make a decision in just a few days on an issue that could impact us for decades to come.

Congress is considering giving the treasury department a blank check and the power to buy up almost a trillion dollars in "toxic debts" from financial institutions at above market prices. The plan has received mixed reactions. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson claim that if Congress does not take action now the economy may go into a deep recession. Others say that the American taxpayers shouldn't be expected to bailout irresponsible lenders to the detriment of future generations.

Some bankers, market analysts and prominent public figures have suggested what they believe is a more common sense solution to the current economic crisis - one that won't cost US taxpayers almost a trillion dollars. Various individuals, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and financial talk-radio host Dave Ramsey, have suggested relaxing mark-to-market accounting rules, abolishing the capital gains tax, and extending insurance in order to free up the market and allow it recover on its own over time. This alternative solution could work, but Congress still seems intent on getting us even further into debt.

Congress needs to slow down and think about the consequences of its actions. Acting in haste could have disastrous results. To learn more about this topic, click on the links below.

This week Jewish communities throughout the world will celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah literally means "head of the year" and commemorates the anniversary of the creation of the world. It is celebrated on the first day of the month of Tishri. This year, Rosh Hashanah will begin at sundown on September 29th and end at nightfall on September 30th. 

The commandment to observe Rosh Hashanah is found in Leviticus 23:23-25: "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 'Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.'"

It is also mentioned in Numbers 29:1: "And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you."

One of the central features of Rosh Hashanah is the shofar. The shofar is an instrument made from a ram's horn that sounds somewhat like a trumpet. In the Bible, Rosh Hashanah is referred to as Yom Teruah, the day of the sounding of the shofar, otherwise known as the Feast of Trumpets. The shofar is often representative of Abraham offering Isaac to God as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22). It was then that God provided Abraham with a ram, caught by its horns in a thicket, as a substitute for Isaac.

Rosh Hashanah is a time of both celebration and repentance. It is a time of spiritual renewal through prayer and deep personal reflection leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, on the 10th day of Tishri (Leviticus 23:26-28). Rosh Hashanah is when the Jewish people recognize God as King and Judge over all living things. On Rosh Hashanah we celebrate the creation of the world, when "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good (Genesis 1:31)."

The vast majority of Christians are unfamiliar with most of the traditional Jewish holidays. Yet they hold great spiritual and prophetic significance. In Colossians 2:16-17 it says, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come." For more information about Rosh Hashanah or other Jewish holy days and their prophetic significance refer to our briefing The Feasts of Israel.

Rosh Hashanah is a time of forgiveness and new beginnings. Please take some time out of your week for serious introspection. Examine your heart before God and spend time in prayer.

May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.

[Editor’s Note: This is the first installment of a three part series on the fall feasts of Israel. Next week’s article will cover Yom Kippur, otherwise known as the Day of Atonement.]

Devout Muslims believe that Islam will eventually take over the world, which will be ruled by the 12th Imam, the Muslim messiah. There is an effort by militant Islam to get the world to submit to Allah as part of the whole plan. That's the Muslim idea of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus never told his followers to take up swords and take over the world in order to prepare for his Second Coming. In fact, he said, "The meek shall inherit the earth." Yet, while we wait for Him, there is a spiritual war going on. Jesus never said we were not to fight. In fact, he said that the "gates of hell" would not prevail against the Church.

That's good news. Prayer is our first line of offense against the true enemy - the enemy of our souls. Here are some of the things people are doing to use that primary weapon.

Human Trafficking

Millions of children go missing every year. When three-year-old Madeleine McCann was kidnapped out of her parents' hotel room in Portugal last year, many Christians started to pray for the safe recovery of the little girl. The Madeleine Prayer Circle was formed to continually pray for her safety and recovery. Participants are also praying against human trafficking in Europe in general, where countless children are being bought and sold and put in serious danger.

John Wearne of the Madeleine Prayer Circle explains their purpose. "We feel that the battle is spiritual and by going through prayer that God will listen to the cries of His people and that this will sway the spiritual balance in Madeleine's favour," said Wearne.

The Salvation Army also promotes prayer for victims of human trafficking. This past weekend, prayer walks were organized in consolidation with the third annual International Weekend of Prayer and Fasting for the Victims of Sexual Trafficking, to raise awareness of this massive worldwide travesty.

India

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) workers are uniting to pray for the situation in India, where tens of thousands of Christians have been forced to flee their homes in the face of Hindu attacks. An anti-Christian Hindu leader was killed in late August and, in response, radical Hindus have attacked and burned Christian homes and churches. Authorities have declared that Maoists were responsible for the assassination, but attacks against Christians continue. YWAM reports that members of its ministry in the Orissa state of India have been beaten and have lost their homes. Team members are working hard in the area to provide for the basic needs of refugees.

YWAM is calling for its workers around the world to take this Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to pray and fast, just as Esther and her maids did when Haman wanted to wipe out the Jews.

"Our brothers and sisters in India are suffering in a way many of us have never faced and we must stand with them, strengthening them with our prayers as they pursue God's purposes in that nation," said one of the YWAM leaders in India.

Gangs

Chief Police J.O. Menindez has a heart for gang members and has been reaching out and leading prayers for gangs in his community. The results have been extremely encouraging. After a month, the gang-member-filled youth group at his church has 40 members and is growing. Praying for and reaching out to gang members in the love Christ is much better than having to throw them in jail in a few years.

See You At The Pole

Thousands of teens across America met at their school flag poles last Wednesday to pray together for their schools and country and the things important to them. This gathering time has become an annual tradition since the movement started in 1990 in Burlseon, Texas. See You At The Pole is held every year on the fourth Wednesday of September.

Forty Days of Prayer

The Bible tells of several 40-day time periods that brought about significant change. With that example in mind, especially Jesus' own 40 days in the wilderness, churches across America are taking the 40 days before the elections to call people to fasting and prayer.

For the Unborn: Pro-life advocates across America and the U.S. territories are unifying to pray and fast for the unborn in the weeks leading up to the elections. For forty days, these people will pray both on their own and together in groups, and will also gather to hold peaceful vigils at abortion clinics.

For the Nation: Others are taking those same weeks to pray and fast for America as a whole. Hundreds of churches are taking this time to petition God about the economy, moral issues, terrorism, and about the future president. It's a time for humbling and putting day-to-day concerns aside in order to get at the heart of God.

As one pastor said, the purpose of the time is, "Where people are not consumed with their own things, their own thoughts, their own lives, but are totally dedicated to what God's will is and what God's plan is for us as a church."

All of Us

It's easy to get overwhelmed by the world’s troubles. There are not enough hours in the day to pray for all the problems out there! It's easier to focus on the things in our own lives, our own family members and our own finances and troubles. It's harder to care deeply and daily about people whose faces we've never seen.

Yet, even as we pour out our hearts to God for the things important in our own lives, we need to remember something vital Jesus said in Matthew 6:33:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

God knows we need to pay our bills. He knows we want Him to protect and guide our children. He knows we need His direction. And, we should definitely keep praying for these things and trusting Him for them daily. Even so, we should also take some time every day to simply seek God's Kingdom.

How can we partner with God in accomplishing His will in the darkest places on earth? It could be that God is ready to do something wonderful in a life, or a town, or a country, if only His people are willing to ask Him for it.

Seek ye first His Kingdom. Jesus says if we do, all those other things we need taken care of will be taken care of. Keep praying. The gates of Hell will not prevail if we do.