From the Publisher...

With this issue The Good News begins its life as a full-fledged bimonthly publication. The 32-page premier issue (September 1995) generated much interest and enthusiasm. Reaction to its contents encourages us to press on with articles that express clearly the hope that the Kingdom of God affords.

When Jesus Christ came into Galilee approximately 2,000 years ago preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God, people were astonished at His message. In a world that desperately needs good news, that message is still filled with the hope and encouragement it originally held out. Why? The simple truth is that the promised Kingdom of God on this earth is yet ahead of us, but the disciples of that Kingdom can experience a foretaste of it now. The Bible's message of a time of "restoration of all things" (Acts 3:21) is the great hope of all humanity, though many have never heard about it. The Good News will make that truth plain from issue to issue.

The year 2000 shines like a beacon for many, but centuries' ends often bring frantic speculations. When linked with religion the result can be troublesome and misleading. Our cover story cautions against attaching significance to humanly devised systems of counting years, and finds that the Bible gives balance to the overly excited prophetic imagination. Jerold Aust's contributions this month center first on another aspect of prophecy, what the original and ancient "handwriting on the wall" means for the modern world, then on the Bible patriarch Abraham in what will be a regular feature-"Profiles of Faith: Abraham God's Friend."

In a related article, Roger Foster explains what it is to be a Christian in more than name. For the contemporary Christian "Chosen, Called and Faithful" is the logical extension of Abraham's walk of faith.

At the end of a Roman calendar year and the beginning of a new one the thoughts of many turn to the birth of Christ. Mario Seiglie invites us to reconsider the Christmas tradition, while Scott Ashley expands our understanding of Christianity's founder. Jesus' ministry was a brief 31/2 years, yet it forever changed the world. The essential message that Jesus bought, however, has been poorly expressed by some who claim to understand. Bill Bradford explores the Biblical truth in "The Real Gospel of Jesus Christ," and our regular Bible Study feature focuses on the Kingdom of God.

One of the more challenging aspects of human life is the raising of children. What does the Book of books have to offer in this endeavor? Someone wisely said that child rearing is a 20-year experiment. We all make our mistakes, we can all have successes. Bill Jacobs discusses "Teaching Your Children God's Ways." From the young person's perspective the view is different. Dean Wilson surveyed a group of teenagers and discovered some very perceptive young minds. "What I Expect From My Parents" is heartwarming and direct. Finally the compassion so often lost in the rush of everyday events finds expression in Joanne Rutis' "Act of Kindness," Joan Osborn's "In the Shadow of Death" and Abbi Plagenza's "We All Have a Lot to Learn."

The Good News staff are here to serve you. Let us know what you would like to see in the magazine. We can't fulfill every request, but with the Bible as our base, there's a long future ahead for our writers! GN

-- David Hulme