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The tally of fugitive illegal aliens in the United States numbered 506,232 people as of Sunday, September 5, according to Homeland Security. These half-million persons do not include all illegal aliens in the US, mind you; they consist of only those who failed to show up on their court dates after having been caught and released. The actual number of aliens in America illegally is an awesomely high number.  Naturally, Arizona bears a heavy portion of the weight, but the courts have done a steady job of binding the state's hands in finding and expelling these invaders. 

In Justice:
Approximately 12 million illegal aliens reside in America, and 500,000 live in Arizona alone. Some of those residents attend college at Arizona schools... illegally.  Maricopa County Community College District in Phoenix had been dealing with the problem by asking foreign nationals to show their green cards in order to be employed in the 10-college system. Monday, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit to say, "You can't do that."  

The suit accuses the school district of discrimination "by imposing unnecessary and discriminatory hurdles to employment for work authorized non-citizens," and seeks to charge $1,100 for each of the identified 247 legal immigrants who were asked for more ID than required by law. One of those named, Zainul Singaporewalla, stated that he was denied employment after producing a driver's license and a social security card because he was not able to also produce a green card. His frustration is understandable. This situation and others like it present a constant tension between protecting the rights of those allowed to be in America and protecting states like Arizona from the flood of illegals.

Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio criticized the Justice Department, saying the lawsuit made it "abundantly clear that Arizona, including this sheriff, is Washington's new whipping boy. Now it's time to take the gloves off," he said.

Injuction:
On July 28th, US District Judge Susan Bolton effectively stripped the gears from Arizona's SB 1070, which would have made illegal residency a state crime, not just a federal one, and would have given the state's law enforcement more power to detain, punish, and deport illegal immigrants.

Though President Obama has remained largely silent on the highly controversial immigration proposal, he took time out this spring to publicly declare his opposition to Senate Bill 1070. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed the bill in April, and it was set to take effect on Thursday July 28th, but in the eleventh hour, Clinton-appointed federal judge Susan Bolton put the kibosh on several of its controversial points.

Bolton blocked provisions which:
-allowed for an immigration check on any arrested individual;
-required police officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws – if the officer had reasonable suspicion and the effort to do the check did not interfere with an investigation or a person's need for medical attention;
-required immigrants to carry papers at all times;
-banned immigrants from blocking public thoroughfares while soliciting employment, or from soliciting employment in public places.

Judge Bolton decided that the law would overburden the system if every arrest led to an immigration status check through the federal government. Critics of the bill also argued that the law would lead to racial profiling - asking for the "papers please" of every individual of Hispanic appearance. Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio comfortably asserted to ABC's Good Morning America that officers are not now engaged in racial profiling during the enforcement of other laws and crimes among its citizens, and enforcing immigration law should be not be any different.

Bolton, though indicating that she understood and sympathized with points in the bill, ("The Court by no means disregards Arizona's interests in controlling illegal immigration," she writes) she bowed to the President and federal judges on two points: 1) that the bill would preempt federal authority, thereby undermining unified national authority 2) that the bill would cause an undue workload and financial strain on federal resources better used on matters already deemed higher priority to the federal government. The bill would "divert resources from the federal government's other responsibilities and priorities," according to Bolton.

She also cited the human rights of individuals in commenting that there was "substantial likelihood that officers will wrongfully arrest legal resident aliens" (and foreign tourists), and implied that the United States may appear, if accepting the bill, to be going the way of police states that have little to do with American freedom, pointing to "the intrusion of police presence into the lives of legally present aliens (and even United States citizens), who will necessarily be swept up" in the law's enforcement.  Bolton has a legitimate point there.  At the same time, Arizona's illegal immigration problem poses a serious national security threat, and the Federal Government has thus far proved anemic in its response.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is appealing the injunction. The debate in Bolton's courtroom over the constitutionality of the disputed portions of SB 1070 could take months.

In Jugs:
Not only has that recent ruling protected Arizona's inhabitants (both legal and illegal) from questioning by law enforcement, but a ruling in a separate case last week protects those Arizona citizens who go out of their way to help illegal aliens. A federal appeals court on Thursday decided in favor of a man who had been stashing water in the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. Dan Millis had been convicted of littering because he placed jugs of water out in the wildlife refuge to aid illegals crossing through  the parched land. In a 2-1 ruling, the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals said that the jugs were not "garbage" because they had been intentionally left with drinking water in them, and the law against dumping on federal lands was "sufficiently ambiguous in this context that the rule of lenity should apply."

Arizona is not the only state seeking immediate and more decisive action from federal immigration authorities against illegals who commit crimes; 22 states are drafting or seeking to pass legislation similar to Arizona's illegal immigration law. According to ABC polls, 60 percent of Americans support the AZ immigration law, while 46 percent feel that states should be responsible for making and enforcing their own immigration laws. The states are watching and waiting carefully to see how Arizona, the guinea pig, plays her cards and makes history. At stake is the age-old battle between state and federal control and who should make and enforce immigration law. 

Jan Brewer's bill will set a precedent if it passes: it would be the first case in which a state is given the power to carry out penalties for illegal immigration, which until now has been the jurisdiction of the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service. The issue of illegal immigration has festered in the wings of the White House since George W. Bush laid aside his immigration reform attempts in 2007 amid criticism and public outcry.

In the meanwhile, John McCain said he would like President Obama to come down and take a look at the border himself. If "anybody hasn't seen what's going on south of our border, they have been oblivious to the terrible, terrible struggle that's going on down there -- 28,000 Mexican citizens being killed, the murders taking place just south of our border, the invasions and the insecurity in the southern part of our state," the Arizona senator said on Fox News Sunday. McCain pressed the importance of securing the border, saying, "I'd love for the president to come and visit the border. Unfortunately, he hasn't had time to do so." 

Maybe he'll get around to it.  In the meanwhile, the state will struggle to protect its face with wrists shackled.

A man who has pressed through the darkness, suffered and struggled in grief and blindness, rejoices to the core of his being when he catches glimpses of the sun.  One of the first things he wants to do is call to his loved ones, "Come over here! The sky is real!  Come quickly and see!"  For those of us who know Jesus Christ as our hero and King, our brother and Savior, the aching desire in our hearts is to show him to the rest of the world, to all those others struggling through the darkness.

Some people want to find the light as well, and we get to have joyful times with them talking about the great things God has done.   Others, though, don't want to hear at all. 

"I don't want to be in the light," some say.  "It exposes me."   Or perhaps even more tragic - "Other people have told me there was a light, but they only hurt me.  They led me deeper into darkness.  It's a lie.  Leave me alone."

How do we reach these people, often our family and friends, people we care deeply about? How do we approach them? 

God has already given us plenty of instruction on the matter, and we're leaving it to Him to teach us.   It's vital that we understand the heart of God for the Lost and remember certain principles as we reach out to them. After all, these people are precious.  Jesus died for them.  He cares more about our loved ones than we do.  He knows them more intimately than they know themselves, and only He can save them:

Matthew 18:13-14:
"And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."

2 Peter 3:9:
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

John 13:34-35:
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Ephesians 4:24-25:
"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another." 

Ephesians 4:14-15:
"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"

Romans 14:1:
"Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations."

2 Timothy 2:15:
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Colossians 4:5-6:
"Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

2 Timothy 2:23-26:
"But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

2 Corinthians 4:2: "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."

Romans 14:4:
"Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand."

Romans 14:13:
"Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." 

Galatians 6:1-2:
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

Proverbs 25:21:
"If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:" 

1 Corinthians 9:19-22:
"For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."

Proverbs 19:21:
"There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand."

Psalms 27:8:
"When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek."

1 Corinthians 2:12-13:
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

2 Corinthians 4:4-6:
"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

Colossians 4:2-4:
"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:  That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak."

Psalm 39:1-3:
"I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.  I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue..."

Acts 4:29-30:
"And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus."

Acts 4:31:
"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." 

1 Corinthians 4:5:
"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."

Proverbs 25:8:
"Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame."

Proverbs 25:15:
"By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone."

Proverbs 25:17:
"Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee."

Isaiah 35:3-4:
"Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you." 

Hebrews 12:12-14:
"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" 

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, which this year starts at sundown on Wednesday, September 8th and ends at nightfall on September 9th.

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's 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 Paul 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.

[This is the first installment of a three part series on the fall feasts of Israel. Next week’s article will cover Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement.]