Paul the Apostle, c\o Aquila the Tentmaker
Corinth, Greece
Dear Paul:
We recently received a copy of your letter to the Galatians. The committee has directed me to inform you of a number of things, which deeply concern us. First, we find your language to be somewhat intemperate. In your letter, after a brief greeting to the Galatians, you immediately attack your opponents by claiming they "want to pervert the gospel of Christ." You then say that such men should be regarded as "accursed"; and, in another place, you make reference to "false brethren." Wouldn’t it be more charitable to give them the benefit of the doubt—at least until the General Assembly has investigated and adjudicated the matter?
To make the situation worse, you later say, "I could wish those who trouble you would even cut them selves off!" Is such a statement really fitting for a Christian minister? The remark seems quite harsh and unloving.
Paul, we really feel the need to caution you about the tone of your epistles. You come across in an abrasive manner to many people. In some of your letters you’ve even mentioned names; and this practice has, no doubt, upset the friends of Hymenaeus, Alexander, and others. After all, many persons were first introduced to the Christian faith under the ministries of these men.
In one place, you wrote, "Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing." Paul, you have a tendency to describe things strictly in black and white terms, as if there are no gray areas. You need to temper your expressions, lest you become too exclusive. Otherwise, your outlook will drive away many people, and make visitors feel unwelcome. Church growth is not promoted by taking such a hard line and remaining inflexible.
In the meantime, rejoice that we all share a common profession of faith in Christ, since we have all been baptized in his name.
Sincerely,
Charles Phinney [fictional]
Coordinator, Committee on Missions
[Culled from www.crossroad.to/HisWord/notes/galatian-letter.htm. Original source: www.trinityfoundation.org]
Monday, January 16, 2012
Climategate 2: More E-mails leaked
Akin to the Wikileaks, an insider is leaking emails between prominent climate scientists, showing that these people are obsessed with selling their anthropogenic global warming position, despite clear scientific evidences to the contrary.(see for instance, vol 12 no 5, 2009). The first batch of leaks was released in 2009.
A new batch of release has now been made on November 22, just a week before the next big United Nations global-warming summit in Durban, South Africa. It is quite extensive and some sits are offering facility for individuals to search the documents for particular subjects of interest.
Significantly, the new leaks show how algorithms were systematically rigged by rogue scientists to produce skewed data. The e-mails between supposed top experts using conspiratorial language to discuss devious ways to advance “the cause”— global-warming alarmism. The e-mails also reveal discussions on how to marginalize skeptics and even illegally destroy evidence and hide data.
For comprehensive introduction to what is now being referred to as Climategate 2, please refer to Alex Newman’s article at
www.thenewamerican.com/tech-mainmenu-30/environment/9904-climategate-2-more-e-mails-leaked-ahead-of-un-summit
A new batch of release has now been made on November 22, just a week before the next big United Nations global-warming summit in Durban, South Africa. It is quite extensive and some sits are offering facility for individuals to search the documents for particular subjects of interest.
Significantly, the new leaks show how algorithms were systematically rigged by rogue scientists to produce skewed data. The e-mails between supposed top experts using conspiratorial language to discuss devious ways to advance “the cause”— global-warming alarmism. The e-mails also reveal discussions on how to marginalize skeptics and even illegally destroy evidence and hide data.
For comprehensive introduction to what is now being referred to as Climategate 2, please refer to Alex Newman’s article at
www.thenewamerican.com/tech-mainmenu-30/environment/9904-climategate-2-more-e-mails-leaked-ahead-of-un-summit
One-Third of UK Divorces Blamed on Facebook
The Christian Post (http://global.christianpost.com) has reported that as much as 33 percent of divorce petitions filed in the United Kingdom in 2011 referenced Facebook. Citing a survey carried out by a UK divorce website Divorce-Online, of 5,000 divorce petitions filed between 2009 and 2011, the Christian Post reports that the main three reasons regarding Facebook-related causes for filing a divorce were: inappropriate messages sent to the opposite sex; posting nasty comments about former partners; and friends reporting a spouse's behavior on the social media website.
Observing that “experts have been noting that the Internet has become a breeding ground for adultery, with many affairs reportedly starting online”, the Christian Post quotes Mark Keenan of Divorce-Online as counseling that "People need to be careful what they write on their walls as the courts are seeing these posts being used in financial disputes and children cases as evidence."
A Christian think tank, Pure Hope, was further cited as counting online communication as potentially harmful for marriages and relationship values as online access to pornography. According to Pure Hope, "Today, mobile technology and social media are changing society in remarkably exciting ways. At the same time, they are exposing young people to shockingly destructive sexual content, behavior, and exploitation."
While Facebook and similar social networking media obviously offer several opportunities and advantages, it is reasonable that Christians also appreciate these other negative potentials – the reality of which is demonstrated by the staggering figures cited in this report.
Observing that “experts have been noting that the Internet has become a breeding ground for adultery, with many affairs reportedly starting online”, the Christian Post quotes Mark Keenan of Divorce-Online as counseling that "People need to be careful what they write on their walls as the courts are seeing these posts being used in financial disputes and children cases as evidence."
A Christian think tank, Pure Hope, was further cited as counting online communication as potentially harmful for marriages and relationship values as online access to pornography. According to Pure Hope, "Today, mobile technology and social media are changing society in remarkably exciting ways. At the same time, they are exposing young people to shockingly destructive sexual content, behavior, and exploitation."
While Facebook and similar social networking media obviously offer several opportunities and advantages, it is reasonable that Christians also appreciate these other negative potentials – the reality of which is demonstrated by the staggering figures cited in this report.
Raymond Ibrahim: Muslim Persecution of Christians at a Crossroads
A recent article by Raymond Ibrahim in support of a petition by the Christian Solidarity International, urging US President Obama to take steps to “prevent the eradication of the endangered Christian communities and other religious minorities of the Islamic Middle East” provides a concise compilation of recent Christian persecution around the globe. We present part of it here, and urge readers to check the rest on the internet.
“When the major media reported a few months ago that Iranian Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani was set to be executed for leaving Islam, many Western people were shocked, finding it hard to believe that in the 21st century people are still being persecuted—by their governments no less—simply for being Christian.
“The fact is, Muslim persecution of Christians in the modern era has been consistently growing worse. Yet, because only one out of every few hundred or so cases ever receives major attention, few in the West have any idea that it exists.
“For instance, around the same time that the case of Pastor Nadarkhani made headlines, 129 Christians in Sudan were imprisoned, and one in Somalia was beheaded—like the pastor, simply for converting to Christianity.
“ Dozens of other documented cases of persecution were occurring at the same time, none of which received much media attention. These include Christians imprisoned, tortured, and killed for allegedly “blaspheming” Islam; Christian girls abducted and raped because they are “infidels”; churches burned, Bibles confiscated, and crucifixes destroyed—and in one instance, a Christian boy killed for refusing to conceal his crucifix.
To anyone familiar with Islam’s history and traditional teachings, none of this is surprising. Instead, all of these accounts demonstrate 14 centuries of continuity. With Islam’s resurgence and the concomitant upsurge of anti-Christian violence, however, the very existence of Christian and other non-Muslim communities is under threat. The process of religious cleansing could lead to their eradication within a generation [see CSI's Genocide Warning].
“So why is there such a lack of awareness concerning this matter in the otherwise “humanitarian” West?…
Read the rest of the article here, and be sure to sign the CSI petition. www.jihadwatch.org/2011/12/raymond-ibrahim-muslim-persecution-of-christians-at-a-crossroads----the-time-to-act-is-now-or-never.html
“When the major media reported a few months ago that Iranian Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani was set to be executed for leaving Islam, many Western people were shocked, finding it hard to believe that in the 21st century people are still being persecuted—by their governments no less—simply for being Christian.
“The fact is, Muslim persecution of Christians in the modern era has been consistently growing worse. Yet, because only one out of every few hundred or so cases ever receives major attention, few in the West have any idea that it exists.
“For instance, around the same time that the case of Pastor Nadarkhani made headlines, 129 Christians in Sudan were imprisoned, and one in Somalia was beheaded—like the pastor, simply for converting to Christianity.
“ Dozens of other documented cases of persecution were occurring at the same time, none of which received much media attention. These include Christians imprisoned, tortured, and killed for allegedly “blaspheming” Islam; Christian girls abducted and raped because they are “infidels”; churches burned, Bibles confiscated, and crucifixes destroyed—and in one instance, a Christian boy killed for refusing to conceal his crucifix.
To anyone familiar with Islam’s history and traditional teachings, none of this is surprising. Instead, all of these accounts demonstrate 14 centuries of continuity. With Islam’s resurgence and the concomitant upsurge of anti-Christian violence, however, the very existence of Christian and other non-Muslim communities is under threat. The process of religious cleansing could lead to their eradication within a generation [see CSI's Genocide Warning].
“So why is there such a lack of awareness concerning this matter in the otherwise “humanitarian” West?…
Read the rest of the article here, and be sure to sign the CSI petition. www.jihadwatch.org/2011/12/raymond-ibrahim-muslim-persecution-of-christians-at-a-crossroads----the-time-to-act-is-now-or-never.html
Google gets US patent for Driverless Car
A US patent for self-driving cars has been awarded to Google. The intellectual property rights relate to a method to switch a vehicle from a human-controlled mode into the state where it takes charge of the wheel. It explains how the car would know when to take control, where it is located and which direction to drive in.
Envisaged applications include the use of such technology to offer tours of tourist locations or to send faulty models to repair shops. It could also be used by Car Hire facilities to send cars to potential clients at remote location, with the cars returning to base on its own after the client is done with it.
Although Google submitted the patent application in May 2011, it kept the development hidden from public view until now that the patent has been issued. It was also revealed that Google has actually been testing a fleet of driverless cars for several years. The vehicles combine artificial intelligence with the firm's Google Street View maps as well as video cameras and a range of sensors.
Patent experts note that Google's patent will not however prevent others from developing rival self-drive vehicles. Experts say driverless cars could become a commercial prospect sooner than most people believe.
Meanwhile, Facebook has added a new feature called Places, that tracks users' physical locations. The issue with this introduction is the unconventional decision to automatically opt-in every single user. In other words, a Facebook user who has not consciously changed his settings has been automatically enrolled in the new feature. Their physical location from time to time is therefore available – to anybody. This is already operational, right now. (Get more details from www.bbc.co.uk)
Envisaged applications include the use of such technology to offer tours of tourist locations or to send faulty models to repair shops. It could also be used by Car Hire facilities to send cars to potential clients at remote location, with the cars returning to base on its own after the client is done with it.
Although Google submitted the patent application in May 2011, it kept the development hidden from public view until now that the patent has been issued. It was also revealed that Google has actually been testing a fleet of driverless cars for several years. The vehicles combine artificial intelligence with the firm's Google Street View maps as well as video cameras and a range of sensors.
Patent experts note that Google's patent will not however prevent others from developing rival self-drive vehicles. Experts say driverless cars could become a commercial prospect sooner than most people believe.
Meanwhile, Facebook has added a new feature called Places, that tracks users' physical locations. The issue with this introduction is the unconventional decision to automatically opt-in every single user. In other words, a Facebook user who has not consciously changed his settings has been automatically enrolled in the new feature. Their physical location from time to time is therefore available – to anybody. This is already operational, right now. (Get more details from www.bbc.co.uk)
675 Women murdered in “Honour Killings” in Pakistan in the first nine months of 2011
The AFP on December 20 reports that a total of 675 women and girls were killed in the name of “honour” across Pakistan from January to September, 2011. That’s an average of 18 women every week, all year-round. The final figures are expected to be similar to 2010’ s figure of 791 once the tally for the remaining 3 months is added. According to statistics provided by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, about 130 of the victims were killed for marrying without permission. Some 19 were killed by their sons, 49 by their fathers and 169 by their husbands. At least 71 of the victims were under the age of 18.
Even outside Pakistan, Pakistani nationals keep implementing their “honour-killing” code with all impunity. For instance in the UK, a court believed that a child born out of wedlock by a young Pakistani lady will eventually be tracked down and killed by her family for honour’s sake - even in the UK. The court therefore has ordered that the baby be put up for secret adoption (http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/uk-court-says-muslim-baby-at-risk-of-being-honor-killed-must-be-adopted/). Elsewhere, in Belgium, four members of a Pakistani family were in December sent to prison for the murder of their daughter and sister. The girl had defied the family by living with a Belgian man and refusing an arranged marriage. Figures provided on JihadWatch indicate that the Moslem world is responsible for 91% of all “honour killings” in the world.
The number of women seriously abused in the name of honour, without outright killing, are simply legion. In a recent case reported by the AFP on December 19, a Pakistani man went a step above the Islam- permitted hitting of his teenage wife, to chop off her nose and lips in the midst of a furious marital row. The 17 year old wife Salma Bibi tells her story: "He repeatedly slapped my face and then went into the room and brought with him a locally made, sharp razor. I started shouting in panic. He tied my hands and foot with a rope and chopped off my nose and lips" (for details, see http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2011/12/pakistani-muslim-chops-off-wifes-lips.html).
It’s hard to see what is honorable in these brutalities. In other cultures of the world, Nigeria for example, “honour killing” would actually suggest killing oneself, and not the other, weaker person!
Even outside Pakistan, Pakistani nationals keep implementing their “honour-killing” code with all impunity. For instance in the UK, a court believed that a child born out of wedlock by a young Pakistani lady will eventually be tracked down and killed by her family for honour’s sake - even in the UK. The court therefore has ordered that the baby be put up for secret adoption (http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/uk-court-says-muslim-baby-at-risk-of-being-honor-killed-must-be-adopted/). Elsewhere, in Belgium, four members of a Pakistani family were in December sent to prison for the murder of their daughter and sister. The girl had defied the family by living with a Belgian man and refusing an arranged marriage. Figures provided on JihadWatch indicate that the Moslem world is responsible for 91% of all “honour killings” in the world.
The number of women seriously abused in the name of honour, without outright killing, are simply legion. In a recent case reported by the AFP on December 19, a Pakistani man went a step above the Islam- permitted hitting of his teenage wife, to chop off her nose and lips in the midst of a furious marital row. The 17 year old wife Salma Bibi tells her story: "He repeatedly slapped my face and then went into the room and brought with him a locally made, sharp razor. I started shouting in panic. He tied my hands and foot with a rope and chopped off my nose and lips" (for details, see http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2011/12/pakistani-muslim-chops-off-wifes-lips.html).
It’s hard to see what is honorable in these brutalities. In other cultures of the world, Nigeria for example, “honour killing” would actually suggest killing oneself, and not the other, weaker person!
Forced Sterilization revealed in Peru
The latest scandal of mass forced sterilization is unfolding in the Latin American country of Peru. Just like the case of Brazil where millions of young women (particularly blacks) were systematically sterilized without their knowledge (see Church Arise! Vol 6 No 4, 2003), an estimated 300,000 young Peruvians were surreptitiously sterilized over a period of at least ten years, during the government of Alberto Fujimori.
Sterilization of young men and women in Peru first started as a state policy with generous funding from the US (USAID) and the UN (UNICEF). Initially, people were encouraged to volunteer, but gradually as pressure mounted on the health practitioners to meet up certain “targets” , doctors began to perform surgical sterilization on people, whenever they had the opportunity (as during caesarian delivery of babies) – without informing the patient! A notable case was Victoria Vigo who later sued the doctor and was awarded damages of about £2,000. During the trial in 2003, the doctor reportedly claimed he was only following instructions and that the practice of sterilising patients – with or without their knowledge or consent – was standard among Peru's public healthcare providers. Peru's Medical Association concurred, but insisted that its members were pressured into carrying out sterilisations, including under the threat of losing their jobs.
What is bringing back to life this once closed investigation into the issue of forced sterilizations is the case of Mamerita Mestanza. The 33-year old mother-of-seven died in 1998 from complications that developed during sterilisation surgery which health officials allegedly harassed her into accepting. In 2001, the Peruvian state agreed to an out-of-court settlement with the family of Ms Mestanza, including a compensation payment of $100,000. The case was shelved in 2009 after it was deemed to have lapsed under the statute of limitations. However, prosecutors have now reclassified the sterilisations as a crime against humanity, meaning there is no time limit for perpetrators to be brought to justice. Fujimori (already serving a 25 year jail sentence) and his three health ministers Eduardo Yong Motta, Alejandro Aguinaga and Marino Costa Bauer could therefore be facing fresh trials soon.
Victoria Ugo described the pain of helplessly watching the State intrude in the most personal aspects of her life. "Of course it has changed my life. …The instinct to be a mother is so powerful. Having that snatched away from you takes away your whole purpose in life, your reason for being." www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/sterilisation-perus-darkest-secret-6273734.html
Historically, men have always been fascinated with the idea of trying to play God in the lives of their fellow men. In vol 6 no 4 we reported on an “on-going covert mass sterilization program sponsored by the US and targeting 13 developing countries, including Nigeria and Brazil.” Brazil’s response to that development included a formal congressional inquiry which unearthed such an extensive rot that made Brazilian authorities to complain that the level of US population assistance had become “overwhelming and unnecessary!” In Volume 13 no 4, we reported on the clamour by a British Professor of Sociology and Health Sciences that “unfit” members of society (i.e. the mentally and morally ”unfit”) be permanently sterilized. (see http://churcharise.blogspot.com/2010/10/british-professor-advocates-forced.html) Also a few weeks before then, Bill Gates had called for “massive sterilizations of the world”, suggesting that vaccines be laced with sterilizing chemicals. According to Bill Gates, vaccines, if used aggressively, could help the world do “away with 1.5 billion people” (see vol 13 no 2 or /www.youtube.com/watch?v=f21fPRw9JaU for details on this apparent slip of the tongue)
An online Search for the words “forced sterilization” (on Google, for instance) will yield dozens of records of incidences of official forced sterilization spanning several countries – from America to Australia (for example, see http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/forcedsterilization.html.). Reportage often comes up only years after such mass sterilization has ceased. Curiously, the only place for which no such records exist is black Africa. Could it be that such mass sterilization programme is still on-going on the continent?
Sterilization of young men and women in Peru first started as a state policy with generous funding from the US (USAID) and the UN (UNICEF). Initially, people were encouraged to volunteer, but gradually as pressure mounted on the health practitioners to meet up certain “targets” , doctors began to perform surgical sterilization on people, whenever they had the opportunity (as during caesarian delivery of babies) – without informing the patient! A notable case was Victoria Vigo who later sued the doctor and was awarded damages of about £2,000. During the trial in 2003, the doctor reportedly claimed he was only following instructions and that the practice of sterilising patients – with or without their knowledge or consent – was standard among Peru's public healthcare providers. Peru's Medical Association concurred, but insisted that its members were pressured into carrying out sterilisations, including under the threat of losing their jobs.
What is bringing back to life this once closed investigation into the issue of forced sterilizations is the case of Mamerita Mestanza. The 33-year old mother-of-seven died in 1998 from complications that developed during sterilisation surgery which health officials allegedly harassed her into accepting. In 2001, the Peruvian state agreed to an out-of-court settlement with the family of Ms Mestanza, including a compensation payment of $100,000. The case was shelved in 2009 after it was deemed to have lapsed under the statute of limitations. However, prosecutors have now reclassified the sterilisations as a crime against humanity, meaning there is no time limit for perpetrators to be brought to justice. Fujimori (already serving a 25 year jail sentence) and his three health ministers Eduardo Yong Motta, Alejandro Aguinaga and Marino Costa Bauer could therefore be facing fresh trials soon.
Victoria Ugo described the pain of helplessly watching the State intrude in the most personal aspects of her life. "Of course it has changed my life. …The instinct to be a mother is so powerful. Having that snatched away from you takes away your whole purpose in life, your reason for being." www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/sterilisation-perus-darkest-secret-6273734.html
Historically, men have always been fascinated with the idea of trying to play God in the lives of their fellow men. In vol 6 no 4 we reported on an “on-going covert mass sterilization program sponsored by the US and targeting 13 developing countries, including Nigeria and Brazil.” Brazil’s response to that development included a formal congressional inquiry which unearthed such an extensive rot that made Brazilian authorities to complain that the level of US population assistance had become “overwhelming and unnecessary!” In Volume 13 no 4, we reported on the clamour by a British Professor of Sociology and Health Sciences that “unfit” members of society (i.e. the mentally and morally ”unfit”) be permanently sterilized. (see http://churcharise.blogspot.com/2010/10/british-professor-advocates-forced.html) Also a few weeks before then, Bill Gates had called for “massive sterilizations of the world”, suggesting that vaccines be laced with sterilizing chemicals. According to Bill Gates, vaccines, if used aggressively, could help the world do “away with 1.5 billion people” (see vol 13 no 2 or /www.youtube.com/watch?v=f21fPRw9JaU for details on this apparent slip of the tongue)
An online Search for the words “forced sterilization” (on Google, for instance) will yield dozens of records of incidences of official forced sterilization spanning several countries – from America to Australia (for example, see http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/forcedsterilization.html.). Reportage often comes up only years after such mass sterilization has ceased. Curiously, the only place for which no such records exist is black Africa. Could it be that such mass sterilization programme is still on-going on the continent?
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