The placebo effect is a medical phenomenon in which a patient’s symptoms can be alleviated by an otherwise ineffective treatment (i.e., a sugar pill). It is presumed that this is because the individual expects or believes the treatment will work. The placebo never cures the underlying disease; it only alleviates some of the symptoms temporarily.

A look at the coming year has to start with the question: Whatever happened to the much-discussed Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) with its plan for North American integration in 2010?

In Part 2 of this series, we will continue to examine a 63-year-old military intelligence review from the War Department (now the Department of Defense) archives entitled “Islam: A Threat to World Stability.”

Environmental movements cause us to ask ourselves the question, “Has God gone Green?” The answer would depend upon your definition of “green.” The short answer is “no.” He hasn’t gone green, because He was green from the beginning. Scripture tells us, “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.”

Previously, we’ve discussed the cycles of history that promise to converge to create the anticipated apocalypse of 2012—a time when life as we know it ends and a new “spiritually enlightened” world emerges.

From the War Department (now the Department of Defense) archives comes a 63-year-old military intelligence review, entitled “Islam: a Threat to World Stability,” that inadvertently provides incredible insight into the challenges faced by Christians in today’s world.

As we discussed in Part 1 of this series, wading through the mystique surrounding the popular focus of the year 2012 is actually a study in cycle theory. Without regard for the Mayan Long calendar, scholars and analysts, extrapolating from the cycles of human history, have reasoned that the coming years will be extraordinary.

Jesus declares in John 17:17, “Thy Word is Truth.” Mature believers use objective reasoning skills to compare unfamiliar or new teachings and practices with the Truth of God’s Word to prove all things.

As 2009 is rapidly passing, I have been approached by many friends asking, “What do you think of all of this 2012 nonsense?” I had to admit I hadn’t given it much thought except for the attention to the Mayan Long Calendar I had studied years ago (many years ago) in college.

During the 1980s, Bible-believing pastors, teachers, and watchmen for “The Faith” stood up and began to prevail against the New Age Movement.

On June 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey Global Warming Bill by a narrow margin of 219 to 212. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) has called the bill’s Cap and Trade system on CO2 “a great big” tax.

The headlines have been filled with speculation of either a U.S. or an Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear sites. When George Bush was in the White House, many analysts had determined that it could go either way. However, the election of Barack Obama changed the odds in the minds of many.

Dear Mr. President, You face difficult challenges in matters such as achieving peace in the Middle East and protecting America from the threat of radical Islam and terrorism. These are challenges that have vexed past presidents, going as far back as our second president, John Adams.

True they have tried, but their efforts have been cast in the pattern of an outworn tradition. Faced by failure of credit they have proposed only the lending of more money. Stripped of the lure of profit by which to induce our people to follow their false leadership, they have resorted to exhortations, pleading tearfully for restored confidence. They know only the rules of a generation of self-seekers. They have no vision, and when there is no vision the people perish.

Now we have the AIG bonuses and other outrages. Every-one is scratching their heads; others cry outrage and some dare to proclaim “immorality.” The lies, untruths and half truths and the greed are profound.

While watching the media coverage of bus loads of angry Americans protesting in front of AIG headquarters and executives’ homes, another historical political diversion came to mind—Nero feeding Christians to the lions in giant public spectacles as the unwitting victims of Nero’s accusations.

In only a matter of months, tens of millions of Americans have seen their investments, retirements, life savings, home values, and employment decimated, or even evaporate completely before their eyes. Some are expecting that the worst is yet to come.

The financial debacle we’ve all been plunged into was brought about by two bubbles: the real estate bubble and the associated credit bubble. A choreography of fiscal lunacy is well summarized in a New York Times article by Michael Lewis and David Einhorn:

2008 is an election year, and it also triggers a very significant change in our demographics: the first of 77 million retiring Baby Boomers becomes eligible for Social Security benefits, which will create one of the greatest economic challenges of the 21st century.

The Torah—the five books of Moses—details seven feasts during the Hebrew calendar:

As most of you know, China is portrayed as a major world superpower in the Biblical end-times scenario. As such, we have made The Rise of China a major trend, and we do our best to keep you updated.

On May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence and was immediately at war with its Arab neighbors. Today Israel’s enemies are once again preparing for war and, again, the goal is Israel’s complete annihilation. In the 60 years that have passed since the creation of the modern state of Israel, this tiny nation has fought for its survival against all odds. It has survived several major wars and decades of violence.

In recent weeks you might have noticed your grocery bill rising. If so, you’re not alone. Food prices are soaring worldwide. Consumers in many western nations are just beginning to notice the change; however, in many parts of the world the rising cost of food has already reached crisis levels.

As we enter the new year and survey the turbulent horizon ahead, global enigmas continue to challenge any competent analysis. Anyone who assumes that the years ahead will be smooth sailing is underinformed.

We have just returned from our latest Issachar Tour to Israel, where we were briefed by many senior officials of the Israel Defense Force and others from the intelligence community.

The traditional American Dream, especially for those of us who grew up in families that survived the depression of the 1930s, was to have a home “free and clear” of any mortgages. The security of a debt-free home was the goal of every family in the 20th-century United States. However, we are now in the next century and the horizon is changing in many ways.

Last month we reviewed the increasingly difficult predicament we face in attempting to position ourselves-and our families-in this volatile world. In addition to the terrorist threats and other geopolitical tensions, the mismanagement of our own national financial scene appears increasingly problematic.

Answer A: In political terms, the Justice and Development (AK) party, which won 47 percent of the votes in Turkey’s July 22 elections and will have almost two-thirds of the parliament seats, is a pragmatic, conservative, business-oriented moderate party despite its roots as an Islamic-oriented one.

Events over the past few years have caused many informed observers to be concerned over the increased precariousness of our strategic horizon. In addition to natural disasters-such as Hurricane Katrina-and the continuing terrorist threats promising a major sequel to “9/11,” and the probability of rogue nuclear attacks of various kinds, anyone who is relying on smooth waters over the next 12-18 months is simply among the ranks of the under-informed.

On our annual celebration of the birth of our once-proud republic, it is also fitting to pause for a nostalgic moment in recalling the celebrated document that created our nation’s freedoms and protections.