Over the last two years there has been an increased attack on the idea of godly masculinity. The idea of what masculinity is—and the need for it—has been constantly debated. The last presidential campaign highlighted this attack. Even simply not voting for former Secretary of State and U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was condemned by some as an assault against women. Since the election, extremism among many within the feminist movement has increased in strength and urgency. Many women are being taught that men are the reason for all of their problems.

Archaeologists excavating near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem recently unearthed small, impressed clay pieces (bullae) bearing the seal of King Hezekiah and the name of Isaiah (Biblical Archaeology Review, March-June 2018). The Isaiah bulla was missing a piece which may have had an additional letter.

Dictators appear to be increasing in number while a growing number of local and national leaders are stepping down under corruption allegations. The global corruption watchdog Transparency International recently released its Corruption Perceptions Index, which reported over two-thirds of nations are corrupt (Deutsche Welle, February 21, 2018). The nations of New Zealand, Western Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan and the U.S.

There’s a saying that a woman’s work is never done. I think for many of us that statement rings true. As a mother, I wanted to jump on every opportunity my family had in getting our daughters involved in extracurricular activities, in addition to their busy days chock full of schoolwork. But before I knew it, every evening was full of activities—from dance practices, to evening sports, to 4-H meetings. It couldn’t go on forever, and the effects started to show.

Some names live in infamy. The memory and names of those individuals have been seared into the historical fabric of the countries and cultures in which they did treacherous deeds. It seems that no country or region has lacked ignominious characters whose names have become reviled. In the United States, the name of Benedict Arnold—the general who, greedy for recognition and money, treacherously betrayed General George Washington and the fledgling Colonial States of America during the Revolutionary War—still is used as a synonym for traitor.