"War With North Korea Suddenly No Laughing Matter"

While American media has been engaged in a sex-scandal feeding-frenzy, North Korea "Decoders" have been frantically sounding alarms of a nuclear North Korea.

According to The Wall Street Journal:

"North Korea boasts about its nuclear weapons program by releasing photos and videos of its missiles. But in them are tiny clues to their true capability. A team of U.S. analysts, working outside the government, shows how they decode these images to determine when North Korea is bluffing--and when it is showing true power."

The consensus? North Korea isn't bluffing.

Long dismissed as a joke, North Korea "...is far more sophisticated than most people realize," claims Jeffrey Lewis of Middleberry Institute of International Studies.

Lewis' team analyzes video footage frame-by-frame and are able to determine an accurate estimate of North Korea's true capabilities, including:

• type of fuel used
• engine power
• potential distance capabilities
• size and weight of missiles
• whether they have nuclear warheads

According to Lewis and other open source independent researchers, they provide a 'check' when government public statements don't match up with private analysis.

For instance, while testifying at the U.N. Security Council, Ambassador Nikki Haley said, "North Korea has not yet passed the point of no return," in regards to nuclear weapons.

"Not true," says Lewis. "They're wrong. North Korea already has nuclear weapons. The door for a military option is basically closed."

Lewis' position is based on two assumptions:

1. some missiles are already armed with nuclear warheads
2. destroying all of North Korea's missiles wouldn't be possible

Lewis believes video footage suggests North Korea is capable of horizontal fueling, meaning the missiles can be prepared for launch hidden in tunnels without being detected.

So even a 'decapitation strike' that takes out leader Kim Jong-Un would not stop a nuclear armed North Korea. Apparently, things have gone too far for that.

A wise man once said: "I expect North Korea and Iran to simultaneously create 'war' in the near future intending to destroy, distract and/or disable Israel and the USA and this, possibly before years' end..." --Pastor Jack Hibbs, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" --John 14:27.

News:

• WashingtonTimes.com: Fresh concern over possible Iran-North Korea nuclear links; U.S. national security circles worry about depth of military cooperation.
• CNN.com: For the first time since the end of the Cold War, Hawaii will test nuclear sirens; Nikki Haley: "If war comes, we will destroy North Korea."
• HAARETZ,com: North Korea fires ballistic missile it says can reach mainland United States. Trump says: "I can only tell you that we will take care of it." 

"Who Do Atheists Thank?"

"Any casual observer to the 24-hour news cycle and the relentless buzz of social media can tell you something in contemporary culture is awry," says Jerry Pierce of Decision Magazine.

Understatement. Of. The. Year. Anyone with two functioning brain cells can see, as a society, we're going off the rails, sinking fast, going to hell in a hand-basket.

Pierce points to heightened racial tensions, sexual anarchy and political polarization to say, "Morally, society is unhinged."

(Not to mention: school, work, recreation and church-shootings).

According to Pierce, "The Apostle Paul clearly explains in Romans 1: 18-32 that failing to honor God and give Him thanks is at the root of societal collapse:

"His invisible attributes, namely His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1: 18-21).

"Romans 1 goes on to say that as people suppress the truth that is seen in nature and resist the gracious God who created it, they dive deeply into moral lawlessness," Pierce explained.

"The chaos Paul describes is progressively severe as God's wrath is revealed--by His giving sinners what they want. Idolatry and rampant sexual immorality follow.

"And yet people--even atheists--still have an impulse to be thankful," says John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center For Christian Worldview.

"I've heard atheists and agnostics describe a sense of gratefulness. Popular atheist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins has described feeling "sort of an abstract gratitude" at the wonders of the universe. But that doesn't make any sense in their worldview. It's what's called cognitive dissonance. Who are they thanking? Who are they grateful to?"

Chris Tomlin video

A wise man once said: "To observe Thanksgiving rightly, one must acknowledge the holiness and majesty of the God to whom thanks is due." -- Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

News:

• China State Media: China revealed next generation nuclear weapon capable of striking "anywhere in the world."
• Reuters: U.S. judge strikes down Texas measure to limit second-trimester abortions.
• DEKBAfile: Russia holds summit on Syria with Turkey and Iran; meanwhile Iran sends warship to Gulf of Mexico.

"Why Does God Allow Evil, Pain, and Suffering?"

"God has the power to prevent suffering and calamity--so why does He allow it?" Dr. Charles Stanley offers a biblical answer to this age old question.

You don't want to miss his 6 minute video.

"Everywhere we look," says Stanley, "there are disasters, tragedies, trauma, misery, suffering, and loss. But what happens when adversity becomes close and personal?

"Sometimes adversity comes suddenly," he continued. "Life could be going on as normal when an accident or negative report from the doctor leaves us unexpectantly devastated. We may feel helpless and have no answer for why God would allow us to go through it."

In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, the apostle Paul described the various forms of adversity he experienced while serving God: he was beaten and thrown into prison, whipped, stoned and left for dead. Ultimately, he had his head chopped off.

"Why would God allow Paul, the man who introduced the Roman world to Jesus Christ, to suffer like this and be killed?" asks Stanley.

"From a human perspective, Paul's sufferings may seem unfair, but God used his hardships and pain to accomplish His will.

"During his imprisonment in Rome, Paul wrote the books of Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. And his letter to the Philippians is filled with joy because Paul understood that through adversity God accomplishes His divine purposes and works for our ultimate good."

In other words, all the hell God allowed into Paul's life equipped him to write most of the New Testament (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) and lead countless multitudes into heaven. Paul will reap his reward for all eternity.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them" (Romans 8:28).

A wise man once said: "Are you going through a tough time? Take heart. The Lord is sovereign and He controls all adversity in our lives. That's why it's important to remember how much He loves us. If He allows us to go through pain, suffering, and loss, then He has something good He wants to accomplish in us." -- Dr. Charles Stanley

News:

• BBC News: Greece searches for the missing after deadly floods; flash floods kill 15.
• Israel News: Trump Middle East team begins draft of Israeli-Palestinian peace plan to solve decades-long conflict.
• DEBKAfile: Israel on high alert, deploys Iron Dome batteries against missile attack.

"Why Would A Good God Send Anyone To Hell?"

"If God loves people, why doesn't He just save everyone?" Greg Laurie, Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, gives the answers to life's biggest questions. Why would God send people to hell?

"While the question is good," says Laurie, "it places the blame for peoples' damnation on the wrong person: God."

"God doesn't want anyone to spend eternity in hell. In fact, He earnestly desires that everyone spend all eternity with Him in heaven."

Laurie explains, "Scripture tells us, God does not want anyone to perish, so He is giving more time for everyone to repent" (2 Peter 3:9). "Throughout the Bible we see God's loving and patient invitation for us to come to Him."

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

"Come. Let the thirsty ones come--anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge" (Revelation 22:17). 

"The truth," contends Laurie, "is that there are some things only God can do--such as cleanse us of our sin, forgive us, and justify us. At the same time, there are some things only we can do--such as come to Him, believe in Him, and repent of our sins."

Laurie concludes, "While God does indeed love everyone, He has given us a wonderful but dangerous gift. That gift is called 'free will'. It is the ability to choose between right and wrong, good and evil, God and Satan, and heaven and hell. God will not force His salvation and forgiveness upon our lives. It is our choice to say 'yes' or 'no'.

In other words--people end up in hell because they reject God's offer of forgiveness.

A wise man once said: "The gates of hell are locked from the inside." -- C.S. Lewis, author

"What makes us think that we can escape if we are indifferent to this great salvation that was announced by the Lord Jesus Himself?" (Hebrews 2:3).

If God Is Good...

News:

• The Wall Street Journal: Texas church where gunman killed 26 people last Sunday will not reopen says pastor.
• Channel 10 Israel: Mideast peace proposal coming early next year; Trump has secret plan.
• The Sun: Pope Francis Vows To Save World From Nuclear Disaster As Tensions With N.Korea Mount.

"CERN: Universe Should Not Exist"

So what's new with the CERN Research Center? You remember CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research and home to the world's largest (and most expensive) Hadron Collider. No?

Well, just outside Geneva on the Swiss/French border, deep in a round, 17 mile subterranean tunnel is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Inside the LHC are subatomic particles or protons that careen around the  17 mile electromagnetic track and bang into each other at the speed of light in hopes of re-creating the Big Bang--the explosion that supposedly jump-started the universe.

The problem? Despite major breakthroughs in quantum weirdness, scientists can't seem to figure out how matter is able to exist in our universe. Apparently, matter is made up of particles and antiparticles that should have completely destroyed one another--but haven't--leaving the scientific community dumbfounded.

"All of our observations find a complete symmetry between matter and antimatter, which is why the universe should not actually exist," said physicist Christian Smorra.

Around the globe, a multinational collaboration of scientists come together at CERN and burn the midnight oil attempting to solve the riddle of how the universe came into existence.

Yes indeedy, friends and neighbors, this is THE hot topic in modern physics.

Why doesn't someone tell them to simply open the book of Genesis and read:

"In the beginning God..."

A wise man once said: "Science offers only a 'veiled' view of an underlying reality which science cannot access." -- Bernard d'Espagnat, French physicist

"So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day, having finished His task, God rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when He rested from the work of creation" (Genesis 2:1-3).

News:

• Behold Israel: U.S. Defense Dept. holds unpublished EMP Drill Simulation this weekend to prepare for N.Korea attack.
• NBC News: N.Korea Defector Warns Military Will React To Any Sign Of U.S. Attack; N.Korean officers trained to 'press button'-ask questions later..
• DEBKAfile: Iran's Khomeini says "U.S. number one enemy".