It is a time to look skyward, as we recall the landing on the moon and witness an unusual solar eclipse and as so many report unusual lights or cloud formations.

In Matthew Jesus said there would be signs in the heavens, but does that pertain to various episodes in history -- turning points, as we are now at a turning point, in the modern world -- or only to the final apocalypse? "Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?" the Lord asked (in Matthew 16:3).

Or there is Joel, who was told (Acts 2:19): "I will grant wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below."

We are interested in prophecy because, well, it is interesting; and there was that mysterious verbiage in an alleged mystical locution we have often quoted (an "addendum" to the "1990 prophecy").

"When the huge light is seen," it claimed (as a "word" from the Lord), "I will act in a way I have not acted before."

We can, if nothing else, note that the sun is acting in a peculiar fashion. There have been swerves in sunspot activity (at times hardly any such spots), although recently an enormous one -- some say the largest ever -- was spotted.

The sunspot (up to eighty times the size of earth) may cause the planet's atmosphere to heat up, potentially creating problems to power lines, radio transmitters and delicate equipment such as mobile phones and computers, says one report.

Then there is Betelgeuse ("hand of the central one"), a red "supergiant" star in the constellation Orion. It's shrinking, indicating it could become a supernova at any time or, in fact, already has, as the light from such an explosion must first travel 400 to 600 light years before reaching earth.

A viewer reminds us that some scientists predict a spectacular light show, including a bright flash of undetermined length plus a glowing object in the sky brighter than the full moon. (Watch to the east.)

Recently, there have been unusual displays of the northern lights (as there were also after September 11, and as part of the Fatima "sign"); mysterious glowing clouds; and a big bang on Jupiter (apparently a huge asteroid or comet striking that planet and creating an impact zone the size of earth).

The things that can happen if we are not protected by God! Are there patterns in weather? We are sent a peculiar (there is that word again) formation in meteorological water vapor images from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently. See above left and right, over northwestern Mexico and southern Arizona and New Mexico. There are always eclipses. There are always some displays of the northern lights. There are always clouds (see: mammatus). When do they reach the threshold of a "sign"?

And on the earth below?

Oh, the secular media like to have fun with all those who claim to see little hints from God in formations in nature. They ridicule this, and in  fact perhaps some is pareidolia. Is it all? We're willing to consider such issues. (You don't have to, if you don't want to.)

"I am sending some attached photos to share with you," wrote a woman from Spokane, Washington, named Peggy Miller. "There were two very tall pine trees growing in my front yard -- on either side of the walkway leading to the front porch.  I have lived here in this house for ten years.  It was built in 1911. The trees were very much a part of the charm of the old cottage house. But, because of the heavy (record) snow fall this past winter, one of the trees lost an enormous amount of branches. It was very sad because I knew the tree may have to come down. The middle of the tree had also been hit several times by huge lightening bolts and once caught on fire. The tree is called a Douglas fir and was about 100-feet tall. On the other side of the walkway was a ponderosa pine and it seemed alright but decided to take that one down too, for symmetrical reasons.

"After both trees were chopped down and cut into 14-inch logs, some friends came over to take the logs to split and use for firewood. As the last dozen or so logs from the fir tree were left on the lawn and ready to be carted off to the truck, I noticed this one log with a particular image in it.   It really amazed me and needless to say, I kept that log for a treasure. Hope you see in the image what my family and friends and I see. Also, if the log is turned 'upside-down' -- the other way -- there seems to be another image. I counted the rings in the logs from each tree and both trees' logs had 98 rings: same age as the house. The image was at the bottom of the trunk of the 100-foot tree -- made  long before I was born! It blessed me and I hope it blesses you too. I am the grateful recipient of God's Love! We are never alone!"

Can we at least agree on that?