UPFRONT December 27, 2010 Issue

HONEY OR GIANTS?

STEVE GRAHAM, MANAGING EDITOR, SENTINEL, JOURNAL, AND HERALD

That was the topic of debate after the Israelites had looked out into the land of Canaan, at the request of their leader Moses. They'd gone to survey the country and report back. Some saw a country that flowed "with milk and honey." Others could only see a threatening population of giants that made them feel the size of grasshoppers. Caleb was of the former opinion—he wasn't worried about the imposing natives that made his comrades shake in their shoes. Speaking of the experience later on, after the Israelites had successfully occupied Canaan, he summed it up: "My brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God" (Josh. 14:8).

With 2010 about to roll into 2011, this Sentinel issue borrows a page from Caleb's approach—and examines the power of relying on God and making a spiritual assessment of what lies ahead.

Certainly there's no shortage of drab, if not dire, predictions about gigantic threats to the economy, national security, sustainable energy, physical and environmental health. But as we discuss in this issue, each of us can do something besides shake in our shoes. There is a way forward through trust in God. As Walt Rodgers writes in our lead article, "The teaching of Christian Science afford and opportunity, and the power, to counter suggestions of evil, and to practice forecasting a steady flow of health and goodness throughout everyone's experience" (p. 15). Sandra Broks goes on to tell how a growing understanding of this had practical, healing implications in her life (p. 16). And don't miss Mark Swinney's discussion of the vital, hope-producing prayers you can make for the world, both now and in the coming years (p. 18).

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