Hi friends! I hope you enjoyed Christmas with family and friends, and took time to reflect on Jesus’ birth that opened up the door of salvation for us all.

Following a very busy two months, I have welcomed opportunities for quality time with my family, quiet study, and catching up on recent news. Among the news reports I found is an editorial from the Washington Post, published December 20.  Because of its usual ultra-liberal bent, The Post is not a publication I typically read.  However, an article entitled Iran provokes the world as Obama does nothing caught my attention.

In a column typically favorable to the current administration were these words:

Iran is following through on the nuclear deal it struck with a U.S.-led coalition in an utterly predictable way: It is racing to fulfill those parts of the accord that will allow it to collect $100 billion in frozen funds and end sanctions on its oil exports and banking system, while expanding its belligerent and illegal activities in other areas — and daring the West to respond.

Unfortunately, the Obama administration’s response to these provocations has also been familiar. It is doing its best to downplay them — and thereby encouraging Tehran to press for still-greater advantage.

The article goes on to acknowledge Iran’s illegal missile launches in October and November, and Obama’s reluctance to do anything that might derail the nuclear deal.

If even the liberal press sees the current administration as “feckless” in its dealings with Iran, why does the White House and the State Department not recognize the ill-fated path?

As long as American leadership refuses to identify and name the enemy, the enemy cannot be defeated. To be clear, the enemy is not Iran and its people, but what is becoming known as “Apocalyptic Islam.” That simply refers to regimes (including those of the Ayatollah Khamenei in Iran, and ISIS leadership) who are driven by the belief that they have been called by their messiah (“Mahdi”) to establish a worldwide caliphate by developing weapons and methods that will destroy any and all who disagree with their false religion.

They move forward, as America and most other nations on the planet are silent and sit idly by.

But friends, we just celebrated the birth of the Savior of the World…the One who was from the beginning (John 1:1-5), and who actively guards (Psalm 121:8) and upholds (Psalm 43:13) us today!  We need not fear.  Our eternal security is forever guaranteed in Jesus Christ our Lord! Aren’t you thankful for His birth!

Happy Lord’s Day!