Blood red moon during an eclipse (AP photo)

It’s 1:12am in Denver, and I’m awake with my wife, Lynn, our oldest son, Caleb, and my nephew, Luke. We’re watching the first total lunar eclipse — a startling blood red moon — during the Winter solstice since 1638. The next one like this doesn’t occur until December 21, 2094.

It’s particularly interesting in light of two Bible prophecies:

• “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” (Joel 2:31)
• “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.” (Luke 21:25)

It’s also curious given the enormous number of natural disasters that have occured this year, including devastating earthquakes, volcanoes, blizzards and floods.

HEADLINES WORTH TRACKING:

• Haaretz: Is the Middle East on the threshold of collapse? Iran is at the brink of nuclear capability, Lebanon could be heading toward civil war, and the Palestinians may declare statehood. Where should we go from here?
• Jerusalem Post: Girl, 14, injured as Kassam [rocket] lands near Ashkelon-area school
• Ynet News: PM to US: How will you handle Iran? Leaked document reveals that on April 2009, shortly after taking office, Netanyahu met with American lawmakers and asked them at least three times what US planned to do about nuclear threat

>> GIVE A GIFT TO ISRAEL FOR CHRISTMAS BY INVESTING IN THE JOSHUA FUND— Please prayerfully considering helping The Joshua Fund raise $1.5 million December so we can stay on track with the projects we are engaged in to educate and mobilize Christians around the world about God’s love and plan Israel and her neighbors, and to continue distributing food, clothing, medical supplies and other humanitarian relief to the poor and needy, and to those affected by the recent fires.

>> PRICES REDUCED! — GIVE THE GIFT OF ISRAEL TO YOUR LOVED ONES THIS CHRISTMAS: Come with The Joshua Fund to Israel and the Epicenter Conference next May, and bring a loved one. Prices from several gateway cities have been reduced by several hundred dollars. See full details — including a video describing the tour — by clicking here.