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From the Editor

2004 was a year marked by disasters. The world was hit by many natural disasters, from the devastating hurricanes that ripped through the Caribbean Sea and the southeastern United States, to great earthquakes that left scores of thousands dead in Iran and throughout the region of the Indian Ocean.

The world also saw political disasters, like the ratifying of a new constitution of the European Union, one which serves as a de facto Declaration of Independence from God.

2004 was also the year for moral disasters, not the least of which was the legalization of so-called gay marriage around the world from Canada to Spain, and even right here in the U. S. of A. - in Massachusetts no less, where Puritans once set their foot to establish a nation to shine the light of righteousness to an ungodly world.

As the Word of God declares, the time will come when the iniquity of the ungodly will come to its fulness. It is at that point, when, as the inhabitants of Canaan discovered, that God will rend the rulership of the land from the hands of sinners, and give it to Jesus Christ, who will rule and reign over it in righteousness.

God said their would be turmoil in the world: natural disasters, distress of nations, wars, and moral decay would be characteristic of the days before the return of the Lord. But He also told us how to keep a sure footing. "The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure" (Isa. 33:5-6).

In recent times, nothing can quite compare to the sheer loss of life caused by the earthquake, and subsequent tsunami, off the coast of Indonesia. What is more troubling, is that this tragedy occurred in the area of the world that has been reached the least by the Gospel. So many died, never knowing the hope and peace in the arms of Jesus that you and I enjoy. I pray that God blesses the many efforts that are now being made to get the good news to those people.

With that in mind, I imagine that many of you have desired to help those efforts in some way. In our area, we are blessed to enjoy the inspirational and informational Christian programming of the Information Radio Network (www.irnnews.com). IRN has recommended Mentawi Venture as an organization for donations to aid in the Tsunami relief efforts. IRN's CEO is one of the founders, and the organization, which sends medical teams (all volunteers) on a regular basis to the three Mentawi islands, has no paid staff. The islands sit 100 miles off the coast of West Sumatra in the Indian Ocean and are at risk of disease from the death and destruction. Volunteer teams left the U.S. on December 29^th. The Mentawi Venture is a Colarado 501 c (3) non-profit corporation, and all donations are tax deductible. Their address is:

Mentawi Venture
21944 Plateau Circle
Morrison, CO 80465

God bless you all, and keep you all safe in His arms, as we quickly approach the hour of our Lord's return.

David M. McNabb
Editor & Bible Guy