As the “Noughties” draw to a close and major cities around the world welcome the New Year with firework displays, we look back at a decade of earth-shaking events, starting with the 9/11 Attack in 2001 and ending with a World-wide Recession in 2009. In between, we had the Iraq War and many natural disasters (tsunami, earthquake, flo
oding and wild fire). The events brought about greater co-operations and interdependence among the nations. The past decade ended with 192 nations coming together in Copenhagen, trying to agree on measures to tackle global warming. In the next decade, I foresee a New World Order of total interdependence of all the nations emerging. 
In the UK, we are expecting an election year in 2010. Major political parties are positioning themselves, with the opposition Conservative trying to unseat the incumbent Labour. The latest polls show the Conservatives with an average lead of 11 points.
In the election battle, the nation’s economy and finance will no doubt take centre-stage. This year, the UK government's debt as a percentage of its overall economic output will hit almost 70%, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Leading credit rat
ings agencies have expressed concern and suggested the UK's AAA rating - reserved for only the very safest borrowers - is under threat, sparking widespread hysteria in the media that UK debt is spiralling out of control. Reading some headlines, you might even be forgiven for thinking UK plc is on the verge of going bust. The truth is that the UK has the lowest level of debt of all the leading developed economies of the world. Its 68.7% of GDP compares favourably with the US (84.8%), Italy (115.8%) and Japan (218.6%) in particular.
Ahead of the general election, which must be calle
d by June 2010, Prime Minister Gordon Brown will warn economic recovery is still fragile. His New Year message will outline priorities for the coming year - in which Labour will seek to be re-elected for a fourth successive term. These will include cutting the deficit, reforming public services, cleaning up politics, and "maintaining Britain's global strength".
David Cameron, the opposition Conservative leader, has written that there are "reasons to be cheerful" despite t
he economic and meterological gloom. His challenge is how to mix the grim, economic realism of spending cuts with a positive message about how the Tories might change Britain. The aim will be to persuade voters that the Tories are about more than just cutting the deficit, that they still have policies to reform the public services, and welfare state. The pitch, broadly, will be that spending cuts will restore the growth that can help mend what David Cameron calls Britain's broken society. Get that right and Mr Cameron might just win the election with a small majority. Get that wrong, the 3rd largest party Liberal Democrat may have an outside chance to share power, allowing their leader Nick Clegg a taste of leading the nation, albeit jointly.
Whichever party wins the election, 2010 will be a difficult year for many. Unemployment will continue to rise as UK comes out of recession and moves slowly into positive growth again. But in my personal opinion, uncertain times are also opportune times!
When people realize that no political party has all the answers to their problems, hopefully many will turn to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Owner of Planet Earth and the Universe. Let us humbly come to Him and say “My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quietened my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me….. hope in the LORD both now and for evermore. [Ps 131:1-3 NIV]
We can learn so much from the kings of Israel and Judah in the O/T times. Whenever a leader walks with God, God’s blessings will come to him and his people. “Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for fifty-two years…….He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD….He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.” [2 Chron 26:3-5, 14-18 NIV] Will we see a God-fearing man leading the UK again? Not in a 21st century politician, I don’t think, unfortunately!
Our only hope is in our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come….” [Eph 1:15-23 NIV]
In the midst of all these uncertainties and not so encouraging news, it is therefore encouraging to know that “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases………There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD [Prov 21:1-3,30-31 NIV]
Amen and amen!
oding and wild fire). The events brought about greater co-operations and interdependence among the nations. The past decade ended with 192 nations coming together in Copenhagen, trying to agree on measures to tackle global warming. In the next decade, I foresee a New World Order of total interdependence of all the nations emerging. 
In the UK, we are expecting an election year in 2010. Major political parties are positioning themselves, with the opposition Conservative trying to unseat the incumbent Labour. The latest polls show the Conservatives with an average lead of 11 points.
In the election battle, the nation’s economy and finance will no doubt take centre-stage. This year, the UK government's debt as a percentage of its overall economic output will hit almost 70%, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Leading credit rat
ings agencies have expressed concern and suggested the UK's AAA rating - reserved for only the very safest borrowers - is under threat, sparking widespread hysteria in the media that UK debt is spiralling out of control. Reading some headlines, you might even be forgiven for thinking UK plc is on the verge of going bust. The truth is that the UK has the lowest level of debt of all the leading developed economies of the world. Its 68.7% of GDP compares favourably with the US (84.8%), Italy (115.8%) and Japan (218.6%) in particular.Ahead of the general election, which must be calle
d by June 2010, Prime Minister Gordon Brown will warn economic recovery is still fragile. His New Year message will outline priorities for the coming year - in which Labour will seek to be re-elected for a fourth successive term. These will include cutting the deficit, reforming public services, cleaning up politics, and "maintaining Britain's global strength".David Cameron, the opposition Conservative leader, has written that there are "reasons to be cheerful" despite t
he economic and meterological gloom. His challenge is how to mix the grim, economic realism of spending cuts with a positive message about how the Tories might change Britain. The aim will be to persuade voters that the Tories are about more than just cutting the deficit, that they still have policies to reform the public services, and welfare state. The pitch, broadly, will be that spending cuts will restore the growth that can help mend what David Cameron calls Britain's broken society. Get that right and Mr Cameron might just win the election with a small majority. Get that wrong, the 3rd largest party Liberal Democrat may have an outside chance to share power, allowing their leader Nick Clegg a taste of leading the nation, albeit jointly.
Whichever party wins the election, 2010 will be a difficult year for many. Unemployment will continue to rise as UK comes out of recession and moves slowly into positive growth again. But in my personal opinion, uncertain times are also opportune times!
When people realize that no political party has all the answers to their problems, hopefully many will turn to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Owner of Planet Earth and the Universe. Let us humbly come to Him and say “My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quietened my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me….. hope in the LORD both now and for evermore. [Ps 131:1-3 NIV]
We can learn so much from the kings of Israel and Judah in the O/T times. Whenever a leader walks with God, God’s blessings will come to him and his people. “Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for fifty-two years…….He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD….He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.” [2 Chron 26:3-5, 14-18 NIV] Will we see a God-fearing man leading the UK again? Not in a 21st century politician, I don’t think, unfortunately!
Our only hope is in our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come….” [Eph 1:15-23 NIV]
In the midst of all these uncertainties and not so encouraging news, it is therefore encouraging to know that “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases………There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD [Prov 21:1-3,30-31 NIV]
Amen and amen!
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