Introduction:

“It was the best of times and it was the worst of times.”
-Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

The Best of Times?

By many reckonings, it appears to be the best of times in America: We enjoy a robust economy, reinforced by continually advancing technologies. At least one computer in every home, and a personal telephone on almost everyone’s belt. People are buying their 3rd and 4th cars. Our military is the most feared throughout the world. Indeed, in many ways, it seems like the best of times.

Judgment on the Horizon?

However, let’s assess the State of the Union in the mirror of God’s Word. Homosexuality is accepted as simply “an alternative lifestyle.” We murder babies that are socially inconvenient. We change marriage partners like a fashion statement. We have abandoned the sanctity of commitments in our families and in our businesses. Immorality and deceit have come to characterize the highest offices in our land; our politics have condoned and covered up more murders than we dare list. Our public enterprises have been prostituted to the convenience of the elite. Our mainline media takes pride in forming public opinion rather than informing it, which had been its sacred role in a representative republic. Our culture has disconnected character from destiny. Our entertainments celebrate adultery, fornication, violence, aberrant sexual practices and every imaginable form of evil. We have become the primary exporters of everything that God abhors.

One of the major theological mysteries is why hasn’t God judged America? The parallels in Bible (Cf. Hosea 4-14; Isaiah 5; et al) would suggest that it is long overdue. The only ostensible answer is God’s commitment in Genesis 12:2-3, in which He promises Abraham that He “will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee.” It may well be that America has been spared-so far-due to its support of the nation of Israel. But that, too, may be short lived...

Conspicuous by Its Absence?

One of the mysteries in the Biblical prophetic scenario, is where does America appear?

The final battle-the Battle of Armageddon-is a four-power conflict: triggered by the “Kings of the South” (Egypt?), responded to by the “Kings of the North” (Syria? Russia? ...various opinions), and dominated by a Western Confederacy (The Antichrist, et al) until the “Kings of the East” are drawn in.

Where is the United States? There are many conjectures among scholars. Some assume that we will ultimately be somehow associated with the Western Confederacy. The continuing erosion of our constitutional republic, plus the increasing move toward a police state to “fight terrorism,” seems consistent with the growing tide toward a global government.

Others assume that America simply will not be a major player at that time. As variations of this second view, some suggest that America will have become economically and militarily less relevant by then. Others (disturbed by the hint in Ezekiel 39:6), fear that we may have been the subject of a major nuclear exchange over the growing tensions in the Middle East.

Life Cycle of Nations

As we study the rise and fall of nations, there is a disturbing sequence throughout history. The sequence of nations, as observed by Alexander Tyler, 1750, follows a predictable pattern “from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependency; from dependence back again into bondage." It is hard to deny that we may well be at the zenith of that sequence. If you ask the average American what is the biggest problem facing our nation, Is it ignorance or apathy? He will likely answer, “I don’t know and I don’t care!”

It remains to be seen whether the wake-up call of September 11, 2001, will prove to be more effective than simply a brief spasm of patriotism, or whether it may lead to a more serious revival and return to our heritage. In any case, we each need to prepare and to rise to the opportunities that present themselves for a spiritual revival and we must begin with ourselves. God has declared an immutable principle:

If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

Notice that this isn’t addressed to the Congress, or the Administration, or to the pagan left. It is addressed to His people, who are called by His name. It is the members of the Body of Christ that are standing in the way of what God would prefer to do in our land. A revival needs to begin with us.

NEW! Freedom Ain't Free June 30, 2009

Christians and Cohabitation June 16, 2009

Religious Freedom: Alive And Well In America June 09, 2009

Who Is Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor? May 26, 2009

Abortion and Abstinence: Where the Funds Go May 12, 2009

National Day of Prayer is May 7 May 05, 2009

Souter Retiring; Supreme Court Choice Time For Obama May 05, 2009

Teaching the Bible in Schools: The Legal Issues April 21, 2009

Same-Sex Marriage States Double In Number April 07, 2009

Domestic Terrorism In The Name Of Animal Rights March 24, 2009

Religious Freedoms Protected By Lawyers? March 17, 2009

Pro-Abortion Sebelius New HHS Nominee March 03, 2009

Education Choices: We Don't Need No Thought Control February 24, 2009

On Liberty: Happy Birthday President Lincoln February 10, 2009

Is Marriage Unnecessary? February 10, 2009

Mr. Daschle Steps Down, But The Tarnish Remains February 03, 2009

Healing From Roe January 20, 2009

Intelligent Design v. Metaphysical Naturalism in LA January 13, 2009

Offending the Little Ones - The Blight of Human Trafficking December 23, 2008

Patterns of Illegal Activity in Abortion Industry December 16, 2008

Assisted Suicide Spreading in Northwest December 09, 2008

Newsweek: The Bible and Gay Marriage December 09, 2008

'Freedom of Choice' Act Promotes Extreme Abortion Agenda December 02, 2008

The Bailout Bait and Switch November 18, 2008

House Church Movement Growing November 11, 2008

Socialism Is Still Bad News November 04, 2008

What's at Stake on November 4 October 28, 2008

Your Vote Counts October 21, 2008

In God We Still Trust October 07, 2008

There Is No Quick Fix September 30, 2008

Squeezing Traditional Education Back into Liberal Universities September 23, 2008

Sleeping in America September 09, 2008

Abstinence Programs Work September 02, 2008

Back to Home School September 02, 2008

Political Correctness v. A Good Conscience August 26, 2008

Solar Power is Getting Hotter August 19, 2008

Washington's Dirty Little Secret August 19, 2008

Florida Voucher Program Has Another Chance August 05, 2008

Indymac and the Global Credit Crisis July 29, 2008

Save A Child, Shoot A Television July 22, 2008

Pro-Controversy Act Made Law in Louisiana July 15, 2008

Our Continuing “Vortex” Series: The Impending Storm by Chuck Missler

A Forecast for 2008: The Turbulence Ahead by Chuck Missler

The Vortex Strategy: Part 3 Guarding Your Liquidity by Chuck Missler

Updated Briefing: The Vortex Strategy: Part 2 by Chuck Missler

Updated Briefing The Vortex Strategy: Part 1 by Chuck Missler

Excerpt from Prophecy 20/20 The American Challenge by Chuck Missler

For the Fourth Understanding the Worth of our Nation by Frank Salvato

In Memoriam The Passing of the Constitution by Chuck Missler

An Alternate Scenario: The Twilight’s Last Gleaming? by voicefromzion.org

A New Threat on the Horizon: The Quiet Game by Chuck Missler

An Interesting Perspective: The Denial of Guilt by Bruce Malone

An Additional Perspective: Katrina's Geopolitical Legacy by Chuck Missler

A Respite for America? An Election Mandate by Chuck Missler

Hosea, Can You See?: Hosea's Challenge to America by Chuck Missler

Twilight's Last Gleaming: Clinton's War on Hate Bans Christian Values by John Loeffler and Berit Kjos

None Dare Call It Fascism: Reflections on Our Republic by Chuck Missler

A Personal Challenge: Our Desperate Warfare by Chuck Missler

Freedom of the Press? Media Madness by Chuck Missler

Twilight's Last Gleaming? Judgment on the Horizon by Chuck Missler

The Federal Reserve: The Engine of Power by Chuck Missler

News Sources

NEW! Conservative Teachers To Confront NEA On Abortion - Conservative teachers within the NEA will call for the union to drop its support of abortion. The National Education Association will convene for their national meeting in San Diego July 1-6. Jeralee Smith, one of the co-founders of the NEA Conservative Educators Caucus, says one of the items her group has placed on the agenda is abortion.

Supreme Court Won't Hear Challenge To Don't Ask Don't Tell - The US Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a case challenging the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy for gays in the military. Prior to 1993, when "Don't Ask Don't Tell" was implemented, homosexuals were completely banned from the military. Since 1993, gays and lesbians can only be dismissed if they are open about their same-sex attraction. Homosexual activist groups are waiting for President Obama to fulfill campaign promises to promote even more openness for gays in the military, but the White House has put that agenda on the back burner for now.

New Hampshire Passes Gay Marriage Bill - New Hampshire's Democratic-controlled House of Representatives endorsed gay marriage in a 198-176 vote, hours after the state Senate approved the legislation 14-10 along party lines, making the state the fourth this year to back gay marriage in the United States. Governor John Lynch, a Democrat, signed the bill, which goes into effect on January 1.

Pravda Opinion Piece Mourns Demise of US Capitalism - A commentary published in the once-official newspaper of the Soviet Union heralded America's "descent into Marxism" citing the United States' takeover of General Motors, poor education standards, and the election of Barack Obama as president. The opinion piece in Pravda, one of the Soviet-era newspapers still published in Russia, carried the headline, "American Capitalism Gone with a Whimper," and was written by Stanislav Mishin, who runs the blog "Mat Rodina."

Dow Jumps 221 Points Despite GM Bankruptcy - Inspired by fresh signs the US economy is slowly healing, the Dow climbed more than 200 points on Monday even as General Motors became the largest industrial bankruptcy in American history. "Obviously people knew [the GM filing] would happen. Now that it's out of the way, there's almost some relief. Everyone can stop focusing on it," said Ryan Detrick, equity analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

Court Rules No Reading Bible To Kindergarten Class - A kindergartner's mother cannot read Scripture during show and tell, even if the Bible is the boy's favorite book, a US appeals court said Monday in the latest challenge over religion in public schools. Schools can more tightly control speech presented to younger students, who may not distinguish a parent from their teacher, the ruling said. Busch argued that the class heard stories related to Passover, Christmas and other religious holidays, but the court concluded there was a "significant difference" between identifying such holidays and reading from Scripture.

CA's Same-Sex Marriage Ban Will Stand - The state Supreme Court has upheld a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, but also decided that the estimated 18,000 gay couples who tied the knot before the law took effect will stay wed. The decision Tuesday rejected an argument from gay rights activists that the ban revised the California constitution's equal protection clause to such a dramatic degree that it first needed the Legislature's approval.

Majority of Americans Now Pro-Life - Fifty-one percent of Americans consider themselves "pro-life," the first time a majority of the country has stated a personal objection to abortion since Gallup polls began tracking the data 15 years ago. The Gallup poll released Friday also marks a massive shift from one year ago, when 50 percent of Americans called themselves pro-choice, and just 44 percent said they were pro-life. Today 42 percent say they are pro-choice, by far the lowest level of support for abortion ever measured by the Gallup poll.

US Gov't To Borrow Nearly Half What It Spends - The government will have to borrow nearly 50 cents for every dollar it spends this year, exploding the record federal deficit past $1.8 trillion under new White House estimates. Budget office figures released Monday would add $89 billion to the 2009 red ink — increasing it to more than four times last year's all-time high as the government hands out billions more than expected for people who have lost jobs and takes in less tax revenue from people and companies making less money.

'Hate' Back In Congress - The House Judiciary Committee has already approved Barney Frank's bill, H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The full House is expected to vote on the bill April 29. The bill would make it a federal crime to willfully cause bodily injury to someone (or to attempt to do so with firearms or explosives) because of his or her actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The bill also violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection by codifying the notion that certain groups of citizens, such as homosexuals, are entitled to greater legal protection than others, such as, say, older ladies.

Same-Sex Marriage Becomes Official In Iowa - Same-sex couples can marry legally in Iowa starting on Monday, April 27, but out-of-state couples will not be able to take any of the legal rights back across to the border to their home states. The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) prevents the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, and permits states to ignore them if they choose. Legal experts expect the issue to hit the US Supreme Court in the not-so-distant future.

Adam, Eve, and The Iowa Supreme Court - The Iowa Supreme Court recently declared the ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, and devoted several pages of its decision to attacking the "religious opposition to same-sex marriage" -which was not even on Polk County's list of reasons to support the ban...

Evolutionists Inject Religion Into Texas Debate - Evolution was back in the headlines recently as the Texas State Board of Education voted 13-2 to require students to "analyze and evaluate" major evolutionary concepts such as common ancestry, natural selection, and mutations, as well as adopting a critical thinking standard calling on students to "critique" and examine "all sides of scientific evidence." Evolutionists typically cast themselves as the champions of secular reason against superstition, but in Texas they tried to inject religion into the debate at every turn.

Morning After Pill Available to 17-Year-Olds OTC - A New York federal court ruled on Monday that the morning-after pill could be given to 17-year-old girls over-the-counter. The ruling gives girls access to the pill without requiring that they first talk to parents or a doctor. Those who oppose over-the-counter status for Plan B argue that raped women or sexually abused minors might be coerced into using the pill. They also argue it encourages sexually irresponsible behavior, and allows young women to bypass medical screenings that could detect diseases and other health problems.

California Supreme Court Hears Same-Sex Marriage Arguments - The state Supreme Court heard Thursday oral arguments challenging the legality of Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that state voters approved last November banning same-sex marriage. A central question the court faces is whether Proposition 8 amounts to a violation of human rights or falls within the limits of people's power to change the state's Constitution. And if the ballot measure stands, what would be the status of some 18,000 same-sex marriages already performed?

Late-Term Abortionist George Tiller Goes To Trial - Jury selection for the trial of infamous abortionist George Tiller started on Monday. Tiller is charged with 19 counts of performing late-term abortions without getting the independent 2nd opinion required by Kansas law. Oral arguments and testimony are scheduled to start March 23. If convicted, Tiller faces one year in jail or a $2500 fine for each count.

Vermont Begins Hearings on Same-Sex Marriage Bill - Nine years after it played host to a bitter fight over civil unions, Vermont's Statehouse is again a gay rights battleground. More than 200 same-sex marriage opponents, cheering and wearing buttons that read "Marriage -- A Mother & Father for Every Child," converged Monday on Montpelier as lawmakers began a week's worth of hearings on a bill that would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. If approved, Vermont would join Massachusetts and Connecticut as the only U.S. states that allow gay marriage.

Stephen Baldwin Slams Hollywood's Vulgarity - The violence, vulgarity, and anti-family fare produced in excess in Hollywood contributes to social decay and the higher rates of youth suicide and teen pregnancy, actor and media personality Stephen Baldwin told CNSNews.com. He added that pro-family films sell well and more conservatives should move into the industry to control the content and produce the types of films that many American families desire.

Obama to Rescind Freedom of Conscience Protection - President Barack Obama wants to rescind a Bush administration rule that strengthened job protections for doctors and nurses who refuse for moral reasons to perform abortions. Federal law has long forbidden discrimination against health care professionals who refuse to perform abortions or provide referrals for them on religious or moral grounds. The Bush administration's rule adds a requirement that institutions that get federal money certify their compliance with laws protecting the rights of moral objectors.

Sex Trafficking Busts Rescue 48 Teen Prostitutes - The FBI has rescued 48 suspected teenage prostitutes, some as young as 13, in a nationwide sweep to remove kids from the illegal sex trade and punish their accused pimps. Over a three-night initiative called Operation Cross Country, federal agents working with local law enforcement also arrested more than 571 suspects on a variety of federal and state prostitution-related charges, the bureau said.

Alliance Defense Fund To Defend Wisconsin Public Prayer - Americans United for Separation of Church and State has threatened legal action against La Crosse, along with Dodge and Vernon counties, unless they stop permitting invocations at the beginning of public meetings. ADF has offered to help all three groups.

Irate Professor Censors and Threatens Christian Student - Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Jonathan Lopez, a student whose class presentation was cut short by an irate professor who berated and threatened to get him expelled for giving a pro-marriage speech as a class assignment. "Public institutions of higher learning cannot selectively censor Christian speech," said ADF Senior Counsel David French. "This student was speaking well within the confines of his professor's assignment when he was censored and ultimately threatened with expulsion."

The Dow Takes A Cliff Dive - The Dow plunged nearly 300 points and barely avoided making a new six-year low Tuesday as the markets continue to worry the government's rescue efforts won't stop the nation's economic bleeding any time soon. "We are concerned that the three-pronged approach - stimulus package, financial rescue and foreclosure initiatives - is just going to take a whole lot longer than we thought a month ago. That should've been something we wrapped our arms around a while ago," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Jefferies & Co.

Is America Rolling Over Into Socialism? - Government spending within the majority of European Union nations averages 47.1 percent of the GDP, meaning the US is roughly seven points behind -- closer than ever before. But whether that equates to socialism here depends on whom you ask.

Australia Now Alone In Restricting Abortion Aid - President Obama's decision to rescind the 'Mexico City Policy' – which denies aid funds to non-governmental organizations that promote or perform abortions – is providing new impetus for activists in Australia who want their government to remove similar regulations in place there. The US policy shift will reportedly leave Australia alone among donor nations to implement abortion-related restrictions on overseas development aid.

Bush Rated Most Pro-Life President in History - On Thursday, President Bush declared Jan. 18 "National Sanctity of Human Life Day." Bush's declaration was the culmination of eight years of pro-life policies that included sustained opposition to embryonic stem cell research; the appointment of two pro-life Supreme Court Justices; an executive order barring federal funds to be used for abortion-related projects abroad; and a rule protecting federally funded health employees from taking part in abortion-related activities or other practices that conflicted with their religious views.

Newdow Fails To Keep 'So Help Me God' Out of Obama's Oath - US District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton refused to stop Barack Obama from repeating the words 'so help me God' at his inauguration Tuesday. He also refused to block prayers at the inaugural – leaving the Reverends Rick Warren and Joseph Lowery free to give the invocation and benediction at Obama's swearing-in. Newdow had sued to prevent the addition of "so help me God" to the oath and the prayers claiming they were unconstitutional and violated the "separation of church and state."

Gideons No Longer Allowed to Evangelize To Soldiers - Americans entering the military often receive Bibles, courtesy of the Gideons International. But the Gideons have been told that while they can leave complimentary Bibles at most military induction stations, they cannot stay there to proselytize or preach to the recruits. The policy was recently established after concerns were raised by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Bush to Defend His Record in Prime-Time Address Thursday Night - White House press secretary Dana Perino said Monday that Bush will "uphold the tradition of presidents using farewell addresses to look forward - by sharing his thoughts on greatest challenges facing the country, and on what it will take to meet them." The president also will defend his record, Perino said.

40-day Right to Life Campaign Starts Soon - "As America approaches the 36th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade US Supreme Court ruling that imposed abortion on our nation, pro-life advocates are launching the next wave of a unique pro-life campaign, 40 Days for Life," said David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life. "From February 25 until April 5, people will join together for 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion..."

Texas Legislature Starts Session With Pro-Life Push - The Texas state legislature is already looking at two proposed bills on abortion. The first proposed bill aims at making a specialty "choose life" license plate available to Texas drivers. The other bill, if passed, would make ultrasounds mandatory before a woman could have an abortion.

VIDEO: The End of Wall Street - How It Happened - Journal reporters explain how easy money led to the collapse of Wall Street's biggest firms.

Mom Sues School District Over 'Back to the Book' Classes - While a 1952 US Supreme Court ruling permits 'released time' religious instruction, the ACLU is alleging that since Huntington County's programs are housed in trailers on school property, they violate the First Amendment's Establishment Clause.

How a Public Health Plan Will Erode Private Care - Obama has proposed (1) the creation of a new national health plan, run by the federal government and financed by the taxpayers; (2) an employer mandate enforced by a payroll tax; and 3) a congressionally created national health insurance exchange in which the public health plan, subsidized by taxpayers and armed with special advantages, would compete unfairly with private health insurance.

Pacific Justice Protects Those Intimidated Over Prop 8 - Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) is vowing to support anyone intimidated for their support of Proposition 8, California's recently approved constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage. According to a PJI attorney, "tactics of fear and intimidation" have been employed against individuals, businesses, and churches that supported the ballot measure.

Students Lie, Cheat, Steal, But Say They're Good - In the past year, 30 percent of U.S. high school students have stolen from a store and 64 percent have cheated on a test, according to a survey suggesting that Americans are too apathetic about ethical standards. "What we need to learn from these survey results is that our moral infrastructure is unsound and in serious need of repair. This is not a time to lament and whine but to take thoughtful, positive actions."

The Original Meaning of the Constitution - Decades of jurists' calling the US Constitution a 'living document' (which means they can shoehorn into it whatever they want) has weakened the very law on which America was built. The original view of the Constitution - as a sturdy code of law with specific purpose and meaning - is regaining popularity according to Justice Scalia.

PBS to Air 'Bible's Buried Secrets' - A two-hour program set to air Tuesday night claims to have "new discoveries that shake the foundation of biblical archaeology," echoing claims by other contested documentaries such as "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," which aired last year on The Discovery Channel.

ACLU Attacks City's Promotion of Christian Bands at Festival - The Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union fired off a letter to the mayor of Thibodaux, LA, warning that the small town's promotion of a city festival featuring Christian bands may be a violation of the First Amendment.

Ballot Initiatives to Curtail Abortions Defeated - Voters in Colorado, South Dakota and California rejected ballot measures that would have banned or restricted abortions. The most prominent initiative was a measure put on the ballot in South Dakota to outlaw most abortions in hope of triggering a Supreme Court showdown over the landmark 1973 case Roe vs. Wade.

California Voters Pass Ban on Gay Marriage - California voters have adopted Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage, overturning the state Supreme Court decision that just months ago gave gay couples the right to wed.

Legislators ask California Supreme Court to Void Prop. 8 - Forty-three Democratic legislators, including leaders of the California Senate and Assembly, filed a brief Monday urging the California Supreme Court to void Proposition 8.

Atheist Ads to Run During Christmas Season - Advertisements proclaiming, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake," will appear on Washington DC buses starting next week and running through December. The ads are the most recent development in what has become a perennial debate over commercialism, religion in the public square and the meaning of Christmas.

Abortion Ban Returns to Ballot in South Dakota - Two years after South Dakotans rejected a nearly total ban on abortion, voters on Nov. 4 will decide another sweeping but less restrictive ballot measure that would probably send a legal challenge of Roe v. Wade to the US Supreme Court. The initiative would outlaw abortions but includes exceptions for rape, incest and pregnancies that threaten the life or health of the woman. Some voters said they wanted those exceptions when they rejected the tougher 2006 measure 56 percent to 44 percent.

'The Love Dare' Achieves Record Sales - 'The Love Dare' has hit the top spot on the New York Times bestseller list (in the advice category). The book is featured in the new movie Fireproof. The book, which was initially just a plot device in the movie, is already in its seventh printing. It is currently #10 among all books listed on Amazon, according to Associated Press. The movie has attained similar success, earning close $21 million at the box office - more than 40 times what it cost to produce.

Gay Couples Rush to Wed Ahead of Vote - Same-sex couples from around California and the nation are feverishly tying the knot ahead of Election Day to avoid missing out if voters approve a ballot initiative aimed at banning gay marriage. Proposition 8 would amend the California state constitution to limit marriage to a man and a woman. If approved, it would overturn a California Supreme Court ruling that made the state only the second, after Massachusetts, to legalize same-sex marriage. On Friday in Connecticut, the state Supreme Court ruled the state would be the third to allow gay marriage.

US May Guarantee $2 Trillion for Banks - The government may guarantee nearly $2 trillion in U.S. banks' debt and deposit accounts for more than three years in an effort to break the crippling logjam in bank-to-bank lending. That's the equivalent of about 20 percent of the national debt, which recently blew past $10 trillion, and roughly 14 percent of U.S. gross domestic product — the economy's total output of goods and services.

Federal Budget Deficit Hits Record High - The federal budget deficit soared to $454.8 billion in 2008 as a housing collapse and efforts to combat the economic slowdown pushed the tide of government red ink to the highest level in history. Some analysts believe that next year's deficit could easily top $700 billion.

Creation Museum Draws Half a Million Visitors - The museum exhibits are taken from the Old Testament, but the special effects are pure Hollywood: a state-of-the-art planetarium, animatronics and a massive model of Noah's Ark, all intended to explain the origins of the universe from a biblical viewpoint. More than a half-million people have toured the Kentucky attraction since its May 2007 opening. The Creation Museum teaches life's beginnings through a literal interpretation of the Bible.

Fireproof Still a Box Office Hit - In its second week at the box office, "Fireproof" topped $12 million in total receipts. Fireproof averaged $4,776 in 852 theaters, placing it at No. 5 in average revenue per theater. The movie pulled in just over $4 million overall, claiming the No. 8 spot in total weekend revenue. On October 10, Fireproof's distributor will add another 200 theaters to the movie's initial 850-theater run. Also enjoying popularity is a book called "The Love Dare," which started as a plot device for the film but has reached No. 8 on Amazon's best-seller list.

Police Chaplains Told 'Don't Pray in Jesus Name' - A new policy banning Virginia State Police chaplains from saying "Jesus Christ" during prayer is stirring up a lot of controversy. Six chaplains have already resigned over the issue.

World Reactions to US Economic Crisis - Rarely does an event capture the world's attention as the American financial crisis has in the past few days. The crisis, which has caused the spectacular failure of storied banks like Lehman Bros. and Wachovia, and probably more to come, hasn't caused a global financial meltdown (yet). But its effects are being felt on minds and pocketbooks around the world. Here - from Newsweek correspondents in Britain, France, China, Germany, South Korea and Japan - are glimpses of the international reaction to the panic on Wall Street.

Federal Budget Deficit Climbs to $407 Billion - The federal government will run a near-record deficit of $407 billion for the budget year ending September 30, according to new Congressional Budget Office figures released Tuesday. That number could go even higher as the government takes over mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Home foreclosure filings up 55 percent in July - US foreclosure activity in July rose 55 percent from a year earlier as a slump in once-sizzling housing markets forced yet more borrowers to default on their mortgages.

Higher Inflation Brings Lower Standard of Living - A recent report on consumer inflation helps to confirm what many American households have suspected for months — that rising prices are forcing consumers to lower their standard of living to make ends meet. US consumer prices shot up faster than expected in July, fueling the biggest year-over-year jump in more than 17 years.

California Court OKs Homeschooling - Parents have the right to homeschool their children even without a teaching credential, a state appeals court ruled Friday to the applause of conservative groups. The ruling, made by the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles, reverses a decision the court made in February that required parents to have a teaching credential if educating children at home, potentially threatening an estimated 166,000 homeschoolers in California.

America's Minors Exposed to R-rated Entertainment - A newly released study by Dartmouth College experts reveals that movie ratings are ineffective when it comes to barring minors from R-rated (18+) films.

40 Million Credit Card Numbers Stolen - The Department of Justice announced Tuesday the indictment of 11 people whom they say stole millions of credit card numbers from major retailers. Investigators say the thieves stole over 40 million credit and debit card numbers making this the largest credit card fraud and identity theft scheme ever in our nation's history.

Study Says Too Much Unmarried Sex on TV - A new study by the Parents Television Council includes a strongly worded condemnation of prime-time TV, contending it "seems to be actively seeking to undermine marriage by consistently painting it in a negative light." Scenes involving unmarried couples outnumbered scenes with married couples by a ratio of 4 to 1.

Massachusetts House Approves Out-of-State Gay Marriage - Out-of-state gay couples should soon be allowed to marry in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts House voted 118-35 Tuesday to repeal a law that bans couples from marrying in the state if the unions would not be legal in their own states. The Senate voted in favor of repealing the law earlier this month and Governor Deval Patrick has said he will also approve it.

Home prices Fell at Record Pace in May - Prices of US single-family homes plunged at a record pace in May, prices fell nearly 16 percent. A new report shows US consumer confidence remains near a 16-year low.

More Banks in Danger - The chairwoman of the FDIC said Tuesday more banks are in danger of failing, and that the government agency expects to raise premiums to restore its reserve fund after paying out billions of dollars to depositors at IndyMac Bank.

South Dakota Abortion Law Goes Into Effect - This past Friday, a law mandating that South Dakota's physicians tell all women seeking an abortion that they are "terminating the life of a whole separate, unique living human being" went into effect.

Gay Marriage Out-of-State Restriction May Be Lifted - The Massachusetts Senate voted Tuesday to repeal a 1913 law used to bar out-of-state gay couples from marrying in Massachusetts. The law prohibits couples from obtaining marriage licenses if they could not legally wed in their home states. The House is also expected to vote on the repeal later this week.

Bush to Lift Offshore Drilling Ban - In another push to deal with soaring gas prices, President Bush will lift an executive ban on offshore drilling. But the move, by itself, will do nothing unless Congress acts as well. There are two prohibitions on offshore drilling, one imposed by Congress and another by executive order signed by former President Bush in 1990.

Analysts Say More Banks Will Fail - Many investors are on edge after federal regulators seized the California lender, IndyMac Bank, one of the nation's largest savings and loans, last week. With $32 billion in assets, IndyMac, a spinoff of the Countrywide Financial Corporation, was the biggest American lender to fail in more than two decades.

Hosea, Can You See? - Chuck Missler Chuck Missler sheds some light on the startling and humbling parallels between our society and that of the prophet Hosea. These are warning we would be wise not to ignore. Click for more information - Audio Cassette

Abandonment Theology - John W. Chalfant The Clergy and the Decline of American Christianity. Click for more information - Audio Cassette

Thanksgiving: America's Challenge - Chuck Missler How did the Thanksgiving holiday first begin? Click for more information - Audio Cassette