Independence is good; repentance is better. Happy 4th-of-July to our listeners here in the US; it's always good to remember the birth of our nation and the role that Providence played in it. Today as Pastor Jim concludes his sermon on Zechariah 12, we see another nation on an even more momentous day in the future: I'm talking about the day that Israel's eyes are opened, and they recognize their messiah. It will be a day of tears, not fireworks - but what a glorious day it will be.

Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

We call it the "Middle East Crisis," but at this point it's a chronic affliction. One day it really will be a "crisis." Zechariah prophesied that tensions will come to a head sometime in the future: the Gentile nations will gather against Israel and Jerusalem. Outnumbered, and with no hope but God, God will intervene. And that will be one of the watershed events of human history. We're in Zechariah 12, noticing that God does "take sides" when it comes to our affairs.

Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Want to solve the "Jerusalem problem?" You may be going on a fool's errand. Throughout my lifetime politicians, religious leaders, and other do-gooders have tried to mediate peace in the City of Peace. It certainly seems like a worthy goal. But if they had read the book of Zechariah they might have done something else instead. God said He would make Jerusalem a "cup of reeling" and a "burdensome stone" that cuts those who try to lift it.

Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

It would be unthinkable that the Jews would reject the Messiah they had waited so long for; but Zechariah foresaw it. We're opening our Bibles to a very sobering passage today. The "30 pieces of silver," the rejection of Christ, the devastating judgment on Jerusalem - all laid out for Israel 500 years beforehand. If there's a "silver lining" to this prophecy it's that none of this caught God by surprise.

Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Zechariah starred in a one-man play...about as far "off Broadway" as you could get! Prophets were sometimes known to use visual aids, but Zechariah's play had props, costumes...and 2 acts. It was a drama about good and bad shepherds, and rebellious sheep. In one performance only, God was spelling out for Israel exactly what was going to happen to them, and why. We're in Zechariah 11, but we'll start with a quick summary of chapter 10. Here's Pastor Jim with a theatrical Right Start.

Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Zechariah made some wild predictions! Imagine someone today predicting that China and America would fall from world dominance. That's what it must have sounded like to Zechariah's audience when he prophesied the fall of Egypt and Assyria. But of course Zechariah was right about that because the prediction came not from him, but from the Lord of history.

Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Leaders bear a heavy responsibility. God expects His shepherds to feed the sheep, not eat the sheep! All of us sheep are accountable for our own thoughts, words and actions. But leaders will answer for the trust that is placed in them: I mean the trust of the flock, and the trust granted them by the Good Shepherd. When we open Zechariah again today we'll see some bad leaders, and how God deals with them; and we'll look at one good Leader.

Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Are the "times of the Gentiles" drawing to a close? Jesus prophesied that Jerusalem would be "trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." And those "times" have stretched to a couple of thousand years, so far. But is this phase of God's plan almost complete? We've been studying Zechariah; today Pastor Jim will "zoom out," to get a broader prophetic picture. In fact we'll start off in the New Testament - Luke, chapter 21 - for today's Right Start.

Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Peace is a righteous goal...when it comes at the right time. Every person of good will yearns for "peace." The question is, at what price? Peace built on oppression, injustice, and rebellion against God will crumble. A true, global peace will only be possible when the righteous King, Jesus, sits on the throne of the world. And we have prophecies assuring us that it will happen.

Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Zechariah wrote a term paper on Alexander the Great, almost 200 years before Alex was born! One of the reasons we can have complete confidence that biblical prophecy will be fulfilled, is that much of it has already been fulfilled. Take Zechariah's predictions in chapter 9 of his book. Some of these words pertain to the time of the end, one was accomplished by Jesus, and one seems to fit neatly with the career of Alexander.

Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand.