Darris McNeely

Our lives are tormented by a Chechen warlord whose spirit could not be settled, because a Russian Czar could not rule with justice and righteousness and sent wave after wave of slaughter across a land of those who would not yield to anyone. What happened on the streets of Boston last week, or any other scene of mindless raw terror has its origins among peoples and tongues far beyond what we can know, imagine or care about. Seeds of hate and evil sprout where bitter winds of war and terror blow them. And no one today can give a clear understanding of why.

A bomb at an event that brings people together from all over the world. Patriot's Day. The Boston Marathon. A Red Sox game. All major celebrations in a city already known for another massacre, long ago.

Who was the target? The American running for the sheer joy of an event? The African who runs for the proud legacy of his people? Or was it the Muslim, oblivious to the voices of extremism—just happy to be taking part in an event that honors freedom and patriotism. All faiths and all nationalities were represented on this day.

Change the terms, remove the stigma of shame, and all behavior is equal. That's what is happening with two critical issues today.

Last night I was watching Bill O'Reilly on Fox News. He was discussing the culture wars and specifically why traditional voices are losing the battle on two key issues: abortion and same-sex marriage. Since I am not a regular viewer of the program, but am always watching the ongoing culture wars, I stopped to hear what he had to say.

Pope Francis I (Francis the First) steps onto the world stage as the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina will face a load of work in taking on the role of pope. First reports say he is a man of people, one who rides a bus with the public (although those days are over!) and is man with his own mind. The church will soon discover just what this man will become.

Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
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Last Thursday was Pope Benedict XVI's last day on the job. By resigning the papacy he set a new precedent for any future Pope who reaches an age where he cannot function in the job. He also created a new title for a retired Pope, Roman Pontus Emeritus. 

A couple of gleanings from today's Financial Times  merit BT Media's  attention.

The Wall Street Journal seemed the first this morning to report on the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Not even the Drudge Report got it up so quick. At least that's how I saw it through the blur of my wakeup period during the first cup of coffee. Now we are off to another round of reporting and speculation about who will succeed to the world's most powerful religious office.

Former New York City Mayor Edward Koch died last week at age 88. Mr. Koch, a Jew, is said to have asked these words be inscribed on his tomb stone. "My father is Jewish, my mother is Jewish, I am Jewish". These are the last words of Daniel Pearl the wall Street Journal reporter slain by terrorists in 2002.

What would your last words be? Words that affirm your faith and forever define your identity? Think this through. By words we live and by words we can shape our eternity in the family of God. To distille a life into one phrase is to know oneself.

For years you have seen people wearing them. A symbol of solidarity with a sports icon who represented courage in the face of adversity and what was thought to be excellence in his field.

On a recent edition of CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight" the host engaged Saddleback Church's Rick Warren in a debate about same sex marriage and gay rights. Morgan suggested the Bible needed to be "amended" to accommodate modern social mores. Warren's reply was, "not a chance." Warren is right, it is not going to happen.

Could there be a devil, the source of all evil in this world?

Watching this week's Beyond Today program reminded me how serious the murder of unborn children is every day, in all parts of the world. For the United Church of God to take on this subject is a stepping stone for us. Raising the awareness of this modern plaque of society is a first, and I expect, not the last effort for us. Regardless of how many responses we receive, we have made a direct statement. That's what matters most.

We watched this storm develop several days in advance. As it approached the coast it was apparent the forecasters were not wrong in their predictions. 90 mile an hour winds lashed New York City and the New Jersey coastline. The water surge flooded subways and tunnels. Power is out to millions. It is stunning to realize the world's financial capital is shut down because of a natural occurrence. In our recent memory the only thing that has done this is was 9/11.

The simplicity of the land tells us the most basic and important principles. On a recent trip to Kenya in East Africa I looked out my hotel window and was reminded of a teaching Jesus gave His disciples.

Today marks the beginning of the London Olympic Games. They start on schedule and over budget, a common practice of such operations. But whose counting, it's only a few billion pounds.

Beyond Today Media spends time focusing on the Middle East for good reason. It is a focal point of both current international affairs and Bible prophecy. What happens in the Middle East has long-term implications.

Words without action are meaningless. How often do we learn this the hard way? How often have we made bold resolutions, filled with hope, but failed to deliver on the promise?

Is a tough German-style fiscal union on the horizon for Europe? We're closer today than a month ago.

One of our BT Dailies this week focused on the Eurozone crisis and the impact of a Greek departure should their debt crisis remain unrelieved. The exit of Greece from the Eurozone would have unknown consequences on the future of the union, especially for the other nations like, Spain and Portugal who are struggling with debt problems. The humiliation of the Greek people is another incalculable matter. Leaving the neighborhood association and striking out alone creates another set of problems.