A big welcome to every child of God as you browse through this blog site!
I have been praying in the past week or so, about the idea of creating a blog for Church Arise! as a kind of more-easily managed medium for maintaining a presence at cyberspace, compared with website management. (By the grace of God, www.churcharise.org will also be put back on-line as soon as He enables us). So, just thought to close the evening by checking some basic tips on how to create a blog, and pronto, here we are!
Following the steps was so easy that I decided to straight away start the blog. For now, I have posted the articles in the current edition of Church Arise!
Hopefully, this format will enable easier interactions between us. Please, kindly spread the word about this blog.
Looking forward to a splendid New Year together, by His grace.
Joshua
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Cover Letter to Church Arise! Vol 10 No 6
Ile-Ife, 24th December, 2007
Beloved comrade in the Lord’s end-time army,
First, let me wish you compliments of the season, as we mark the
manifestation of the Creator of the entire Universe in flesh, on planet
earth.
By the grace of the Lord Emmanuel, it is my joy again to present to
you, your regular bi-monthly briefing on the state of the world and that of
the Church; as the end-time conflict continues to rage towards its climax.
I trust you will find it edifying and challenging. As usual, I’d like to
request you kindly help forward to as many as you believe will benefit
from going through the materials. Your feedbacks are valued and are most
welcome.
“If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema
Maranatha. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Joshua Ojo (Ph.D)
Editor
Beloved comrade in the Lord’s end-time army,
First, let me wish you compliments of the season, as we mark the
manifestation of the Creator of the entire Universe in flesh, on planet
earth.
By the grace of the Lord Emmanuel, it is my joy again to present to
you, your regular bi-monthly briefing on the state of the world and that of
the Church; as the end-time conflict continues to rage towards its climax.
I trust you will find it edifying and challenging. As usual, I’d like to
request you kindly help forward to as many as you believe will benefit
from going through the materials. Your feedbacks are valued and are most
welcome.
“If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema
Maranatha. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Joshua Ojo (Ph.D)
Editor
EXHORTATION: According to the Scriptures (By Dave Hunt)
The Bible makes uncompromisingly clear to all mankind its claim to be the infallible, inerrant Word of the only true and living God. It denounces all other gods and scriptures as false, as well as the religions they represent. Of Jesus, God's Word declares, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (Jn 3:36). Peter told Jewish religious leaders (and was beaten, imprisoned, and killed for testifying to Christ's resurrection): “There is none other name...given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Such unequivocal statements cannot be misunderstood. Jews would not have been persecuted and killed had they presented Yahweh as just one more god to be added to the Roman Pantheon. Christians were considered an even greater threat because in obedience to Christ they preached the gospel everywhere and thereby “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6 ). Even they would not have been persecuted and killed had they presented Jesus Christ as merely one of many possible saviors. It was their firm proclamation of Christ's claim, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”(Jn 14:6), that threatened Caesar and aroused such vicious hatred. Today, however, to avoid the objectionable exclusivity of their faith, “Christians” often compromise and many ecumenically deny the biblical gospel.
Christianity is a biblical faith, and the Bible is not an “ecumenical” book. It makes no compromise with any of the world's religions. Those who support ecumenism to any extent, no matter how loudly they defend their orthodoxy, are not Bible-believing Christians. At worst they are deliberate frauds; at best they are confused into simultaneously professing two contradictory beliefs (syncretism). Which do they really believe? Speaking out of both sides of their mouths is a popular ploy today of both political and “Christian” Leaders.
The New Testament explains, “That he, by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb 2:9). That death would have had to include the experience of the “lake of fire [which is] the second death” (Rev 20:14) for all mankind for eternity.
May we stand firm in our love for all, robbing no one of heaven by compromising the biblical gospel, which alone is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom 1:16.)
Dave Hunt.
(Culled from The Berean Call, Dec 1, 2007)
See full article at www.thebereancall.org/node/6242)
Such unequivocal statements cannot be misunderstood. Jews would not have been persecuted and killed had they presented Yahweh as just one more god to be added to the Roman Pantheon. Christians were considered an even greater threat because in obedience to Christ they preached the gospel everywhere and thereby “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6 ). Even they would not have been persecuted and killed had they presented Jesus Christ as merely one of many possible saviors. It was their firm proclamation of Christ's claim, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”(Jn 14:6), that threatened Caesar and aroused such vicious hatred. Today, however, to avoid the objectionable exclusivity of their faith, “Christians” often compromise and many ecumenically deny the biblical gospel.
Christianity is a biblical faith, and the Bible is not an “ecumenical” book. It makes no compromise with any of the world's religions. Those who support ecumenism to any extent, no matter how loudly they defend their orthodoxy, are not Bible-believing Christians. At worst they are deliberate frauds; at best they are confused into simultaneously professing two contradictory beliefs (syncretism). Which do they really believe? Speaking out of both sides of their mouths is a popular ploy today of both political and “Christian” Leaders.
The New Testament explains, “That he, by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb 2:9). That death would have had to include the experience of the “lake of fire [which is] the second death” (Rev 20:14) for all mankind for eternity.
May we stand firm in our love for all, robbing no one of heaven by compromising the biblical gospel, which alone is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom 1:16.)
Dave Hunt.
(Culled from The Berean Call, Dec 1, 2007)
See full article at www.thebereancall.org/node/6242)
Revealed: Israel agreed to forfeit Temple Mount
Even while Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert continues to deny that he has agreed to relinquish Israel’s sovereignty over the Temple Mount (the holiest place in Judaism), and a chief Palestinian negotiator (speaking anonymously with WND) insisting that Olmert was lying; recently declassified documents made public on December 13, have shown that Israel had actually declared it was not so interested in controlling the Temple Mount since 2000! According to the documents, as reported by the WND, then Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, agreed at the Camp David meeting that the “sovereignty over the Temple Mount would be either "ambiguous" or control would be determined based on the bond of each party to the site. The Palestinians would therefore control the upper sections of the Mount, which houses the Al Aqsa Mosque and also is the site of the First and Second Jewish Temples”. (www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=59188)
In the last edition of CA!, we showed that the real struggle in Israel is between the secular left and the religious right. The secular left (the group wielding political power at the moment) has little qualms in giving over religious sites in its effort to break the backbone of the religious right. The Arabs seem the lesser evil in the coming global government plan!
According to the anonymous negotiator, Olmert position at the Annapolis meeting last November is that Israel would evacuate the Mount but not to turn it over to the Palestinians alone. The negotiator said both sides agreed, the Temple Mount would be given to joint Egypt, Jordan and PA control.
Despite harsh criticism from ministers regarding the results of the Annapolis peace summit, the Israeli Cabinet has eventually decided to support agreements reached regarding final-status negotiations with Palestinians (www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3478031,00.html). Olmert had consistently insisted that failure to negotiate a two-state solution with the Palestinians would spell the end of the State of Israel. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7118937.stm)
In the last edition of CA!, we showed that the real struggle in Israel is between the secular left and the religious right. The secular left (the group wielding political power at the moment) has little qualms in giving over religious sites in its effort to break the backbone of the religious right. The Arabs seem the lesser evil in the coming global government plan!
According to the anonymous negotiator, Olmert position at the Annapolis meeting last November is that Israel would evacuate the Mount but not to turn it over to the Palestinians alone. The negotiator said both sides agreed, the Temple Mount would be given to joint Egypt, Jordan and PA control.
Despite harsh criticism from ministers regarding the results of the Annapolis peace summit, the Israeli Cabinet has eventually decided to support agreements reached regarding final-status negotiations with Palestinians (www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3478031,00.html). Olmert had consistently insisted that failure to negotiate a two-state solution with the Palestinians would spell the end of the State of Israel. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7118937.stm)
Recent Interfaith meetings Highlights:
> LEADERS of the world's main religions kicked off an annual interfaith peace summit in Naples today with calls for a global organisation uniting their faiths.Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Israel's chief rabbi Yona Metzger and the imam of the United Arab Emirates, Ibrahim Ezzeddin, were among those attending the gathering. Hey, do you know what’s going on around you, even right now? What alliances YOUR church are entering into on your behalf?
> On November 6th, 2007, in an unprecedented event, Pope Benedict XVI received the Islamic King of Saudi Arabia at the Vatican for an undisclosed agenda. At the meeting King Abdullah presented the Pope with a golden sword studded with jewels. (Associated Press, Nov. 6, 2007).
> On November 13th, 2007, a gathering of leaders from the Eastern Orthodox churches met with Pope Benedict who declared the following: 1. The Pope is the first and highest over all Orthodox patriarchs. 2. Rome is the first “Bench” or headquarters. 3. The Church of Rome will prevail and govern with love. (ERT News, Nov. 15, 2007, ERT Radio, Athens, Greece.)
But ‘intolerant’ Pentecostals can’t be tolerated!
Apparently the only religious group whose views cannot be accommodate by the Pope in the unfolding new religion, is the Bible-believing “Jesus is the only way to the Father” (Jhn 14:6) Pentecostal movement. Earlier in May, on a trip to Brazil, Pope Benedict XVI had described Pentecostal churches as “sects” which use aggressive tactics to win souls. The Pope’s grouse is not unconnected with the drastic drop in number of catholics (from 90% of the population in the 1960s to only 67% in 2005 as noted by the Associated Press. This, the Vatican ascribed to the “increasing rise of Protestant evangelical communities in Latin America, Africa and elsewhere” (www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312650,00.html)
In the UK, daughter of Imam under police guard for converting to Christianity
Meanwhile, while the debate about the “Common Word” rages, the daughter of a British imam has been taken into police protection after she received death threats from her family for converting to Christianity.
The woman, aged 32, whose father is a Muslim imam in Lancashire, has moved house 45 times to escape detection by her family since she became a Christian 15 years ago. Hanna, as her pseudoname is, told The Times that she became a Christian after she ran away from home at 16 to escape an arranged marriage. The threats against her became more serious a month ago with a text message from one of her brothers, warning that he could not be responsible for his actions if she did not return to Islam. This has now prompted the police to offer her protection in case of an attempt on her life. According to the Times, a Policy Exchange study earlier in the year had reported that 36 per cent of British Muslims aged between 16 and 24 believed those who converted to another religion should be punished by death. See the full story at www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3007677.ece
In a similar vein, an Indonesian court has sentenced 41 Christian leaders to five years imprisonment on charges of blasphemy because they openly prayed that Muslims "come to know Christ," www.persecution.org/suffering/newsdetail.php?newscode=6359
> On November 6th, 2007, in an unprecedented event, Pope Benedict XVI received the Islamic King of Saudi Arabia at the Vatican for an undisclosed agenda. At the meeting King Abdullah presented the Pope with a golden sword studded with jewels. (Associated Press, Nov. 6, 2007).
> On November 13th, 2007, a gathering of leaders from the Eastern Orthodox churches met with Pope Benedict who declared the following: 1. The Pope is the first and highest over all Orthodox patriarchs. 2. Rome is the first “Bench” or headquarters. 3. The Church of Rome will prevail and govern with love. (ERT News, Nov. 15, 2007, ERT Radio, Athens, Greece.)
But ‘intolerant’ Pentecostals can’t be tolerated!
Apparently the only religious group whose views cannot be accommodate by the Pope in the unfolding new religion, is the Bible-believing “Jesus is the only way to the Father” (Jhn 14:6) Pentecostal movement. Earlier in May, on a trip to Brazil, Pope Benedict XVI had described Pentecostal churches as “sects” which use aggressive tactics to win souls. The Pope’s grouse is not unconnected with the drastic drop in number of catholics (from 90% of the population in the 1960s to only 67% in 2005 as noted by the Associated Press. This, the Vatican ascribed to the “increasing rise of Protestant evangelical communities in Latin America, Africa and elsewhere” (www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312650,00.html)
In the UK, daughter of Imam under police guard for converting to Christianity
Meanwhile, while the debate about the “Common Word” rages, the daughter of a British imam has been taken into police protection after she received death threats from her family for converting to Christianity.
The woman, aged 32, whose father is a Muslim imam in Lancashire, has moved house 45 times to escape detection by her family since she became a Christian 15 years ago. Hanna, as her pseudoname is, told The Times that she became a Christian after she ran away from home at 16 to escape an arranged marriage. The threats against her became more serious a month ago with a text message from one of her brothers, warning that he could not be responsible for his actions if she did not return to Islam. This has now prompted the police to offer her protection in case of an attempt on her life. According to the Times, a Policy Exchange study earlier in the year had reported that 36 per cent of British Muslims aged between 16 and 24 believed those who converted to another religion should be punished by death. See the full story at www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3007677.ece
In a similar vein, an Indonesian court has sentenced 41 Christian leaders to five years imprisonment on charges of blasphemy because they openly prayed that Muslims "come to know Christ," www.persecution.org/suffering/newsdetail.php?newscode=6359
RESPONSES TO THE COMMON WORD APPEAL
In his own response to the Islamic reasoning, Pope Benedict praised the ''positive spirit'' of the letter. Obviously, the Pope has decided to pipe down from his initial aggressive posture towards Islam, deciding now to pursue the path initiated by his predecessor, Pope John Paul - who actually initiated the modern interfaith movement with his gathering of all manner of religious and spiritual expressions together at Assissi in 1986 (see CA! Vol 2 No 6) To demonstrate his seriousness, the pope further requested to meet the head of the Institute for Islamic Thought in Amman ,Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, as well as the signatories to the letter. For other responses to the letter, particularly of Evangelical pastors, see www.acommonword.com./index.php?lang=en&page=responses.
Paul Proctor of News with Views however, has provided a very useful commentary on all these responses. Paul saw the falling of Christian leaders over themselves to accommodate the latest Islamic initiative as nothing short of betrayal of Christ for the sake of the mirage called ‘world peace.’ He showed that, what the interfaith advocates are heading for is the elimination of both genuine Christianity as well as the original Islam, and the emergence of a brand new world religion!
First, Paul painstakingly showed that any plan requiring that Christians should unite with other religions and their deities is unscriptural and only amount to a disregard for God’s values in the name of tolerance/love. Scriptures cited include James 4:4, 2 Cor. 6:14-17, Ephesians 5:11 and Matthew 12:30
On whether the same God is served by both faiths, Paul simply reminded that “Jesus Christ is not the Son of Allah; and to even imply that He is by claiming to love the same “God” as Muslims is not only being dangerously deceitful - it's blasphemy!”
Responding to the joint statement endorsed by some 300 evangelical christian leaders,
to the effect that “Peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians stand as one of the central challenges of this century, and perhaps of the whole present epoch,” and that “If we can achieve religious peace between these two religious communities, peace in the world will clearly be easier to attain”, Paul Proctor reminds that Jesus directly disagreed with such views in passages such as Matthew 10:34-36. Evangelism and soul winning, Paul insisted is the central challenge in Christianity!
To read the whole article by Paul Proctor, visit
www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctor137.htm
At Church Arise! we believe that while members of all faiths must learn to co-exist peacefully with mutual respect for one another, nevertheless each religion must be allowed to freely espouse its tenets and whosoever wishes to try any of them, should be free so to do. This is the ultimate test of tolerance and true love!
“WHO IS HE THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD, BUT HE THAT BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD? “ 1 JOHN 5:5
Paul Proctor of News with Views however, has provided a very useful commentary on all these responses. Paul saw the falling of Christian leaders over themselves to accommodate the latest Islamic initiative as nothing short of betrayal of Christ for the sake of the mirage called ‘world peace.’ He showed that, what the interfaith advocates are heading for is the elimination of both genuine Christianity as well as the original Islam, and the emergence of a brand new world religion!
First, Paul painstakingly showed that any plan requiring that Christians should unite with other religions and their deities is unscriptural and only amount to a disregard for God’s values in the name of tolerance/love. Scriptures cited include James 4:4, 2 Cor. 6:14-17, Ephesians 5:11 and Matthew 12:30
On whether the same God is served by both faiths, Paul simply reminded that “Jesus Christ is not the Son of Allah; and to even imply that He is by claiming to love the same “God” as Muslims is not only being dangerously deceitful - it's blasphemy!”
Responding to the joint statement endorsed by some 300 evangelical christian leaders,
to the effect that “Peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians stand as one of the central challenges of this century, and perhaps of the whole present epoch,” and that “If we can achieve religious peace between these two religious communities, peace in the world will clearly be easier to attain”, Paul Proctor reminds that Jesus directly disagreed with such views in passages such as Matthew 10:34-36. Evangelism and soul winning, Paul insisted is the central challenge in Christianity!
To read the whole article by Paul Proctor, visit
www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctor137.htm
At Church Arise! we believe that while members of all faiths must learn to co-exist peacefully with mutual respect for one another, nevertheless each religion must be allowed to freely espouse its tenets and whosoever wishes to try any of them, should be free so to do. This is the ultimate test of tolerance and true love!
“WHO IS HE THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD, BUT HE THAT BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD? “ 1 JOHN 5:5
Challenges of “A Common Word”
On Wednesday October 10, to mark the anniversary of a letter written by 38 top Islamic clerics to the Pope following his apparent criticism of Islam last year, a new 29-page letter was released, signed by 138 influential Islamic clerics, under the auspices of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Amman, Jordan. The missive challenged the Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and 25 other named Christian leaders, together with "Leaders of Christian Churches, everywhere" that it is time that Muslims and Christians recognized just how similar they are; and how that since between them, they comprised of 55% of the entire mankind— the fate of the world depends on their entering into a sustained religious dialogue. At the London edition of the world-wide launching of the letter, David Ford, Director of the Inter-Faith Program at the University of Cambridge, observed that the signatories cover “all the branches of Islam”.
. Quoting from both the Koran and the Bible, and while noting that ".. Islam and Christianity are obviously different religions," the letter nevertheless harped on what it deems as common grounds between the two religions. These, in the opinion of the Moslem scholar-authors, include: 1) both require believers to believe in only one god, and it's the same god. 2) Both religions are founded on goodwill, not violence, and 3) that many of the fundamental truths, particularly the requirement to love fellow human beings — are the same in both religions. Based on these, the letter says, “Muslims are duty-bound by the Koran to treat believers of other faiths with respect and friendship — and that Muslims expect the same in return.” (Read the letter at
www.acommonword.com./index.php?lang=en&page=option1)
At Church Arise! we certainly wish this latter “duty” were true: then we would not have had to feature with such regularity (see the front page of this edition, again), pathetic stories about moslems mauling and killing Christians – and that’s talking of just Nigeria alone! Could it not be that the three premises identified above, and on which this “duty” is based, are shaky in the first place?
How lovely, noble and altogether reasonable, the final proposition is the Islamic letter!: "So let our differences not cause hatred and strife between us. Let us vie with each other only in righteousness and good works" . But why would the moslem zealots, from Bauchi to Sokoto to Somalia, not heed this sound advice coming from their own rank? The crucial issue, as we have often highlighted over the years, is whether individuals should be allowed (not to say encouraged), if they wish, to freely move from either of these two religions to the other? For the Christian faith, denying such liberty would tantamount to a negation of the clear last command of the risen Saviour and would usher in nothing but sure death of the faith. This then is the uncommon ground that needs to be addressed!
. Quoting from both the Koran and the Bible, and while noting that ".. Islam and Christianity are obviously different religions," the letter nevertheless harped on what it deems as common grounds between the two religions. These, in the opinion of the Moslem scholar-authors, include: 1) both require believers to believe in only one god, and it's the same god. 2) Both religions are founded on goodwill, not violence, and 3) that many of the fundamental truths, particularly the requirement to love fellow human beings — are the same in both religions. Based on these, the letter says, “Muslims are duty-bound by the Koran to treat believers of other faiths with respect and friendship — and that Muslims expect the same in return.” (Read the letter at
www.acommonword.com./index.php?lang=en&page=option1)
At Church Arise! we certainly wish this latter “duty” were true: then we would not have had to feature with such regularity (see the front page of this edition, again), pathetic stories about moslems mauling and killing Christians – and that’s talking of just Nigeria alone! Could it not be that the three premises identified above, and on which this “duty” is based, are shaky in the first place?
How lovely, noble and altogether reasonable, the final proposition is the Islamic letter!: "So let our differences not cause hatred and strife between us. Let us vie with each other only in righteousness and good works" . But why would the moslem zealots, from Bauchi to Sokoto to Somalia, not heed this sound advice coming from their own rank? The crucial issue, as we have often highlighted over the years, is whether individuals should be allowed (not to say encouraged), if they wish, to freely move from either of these two religions to the other? For the Christian faith, denying such liberty would tantamount to a negation of the clear last command of the risen Saviour and would usher in nothing but sure death of the faith. This then is the uncommon ground that needs to be addressed!
In the UK chip goes for autistic pupils.
In the past 2 editions, we have seen serious efforts to forcefully implant the microchip. These include certain vulnerable segments of society with limited human rights status such as HIV patients (Papua), soldiers (USA), and Alzheimer patients (USA). In line with this trend is the report from the UK that children with autism, a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, are being chosen for a school scheme that tracks pupils using chips “embroidered into uniform jumpers with smart threads”. It’s amazing that such “intermediate step”, shy of direct chip implantation into skin, is still effective in making some people to doubt where exactly the chip is eventually heading for!
Sane voices like that of Margaret Morrissey, of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher
Associations, are however challenging the touted benefits of this chip tracking efforts. In her words:
“We are going down a dangerous road to do something that we have managed to do for years without these microchips. I have a lot of questions about what the benefits are going to be.” (Details at http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2216309,00.html)
Sane voices like that of Margaret Morrissey, of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher
Associations, are however challenging the touted benefits of this chip tracking efforts. In her words:
“We are going down a dangerous road to do something that we have managed to do for years without these microchips. I have a lot of questions about what the benefits are going to be.” (Details at http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2216309,00.html)
Microchip-Mind connection no longer hushed information
A recent article, in Technology Review of Nov 12, describes latest improvements in the functionality of microchips implanted within the head of people with disabilities to enable them “move a computer cursor, move their wheelchair or jerkily pinch at something with a simple robotic clamp with nothing more than the power of their minds.
According to the article, Andrew Schwartz is trying to take that functionality to a new level, with the development by his research team of a robotic arm that is controlled by the mind of a monkey. “The arm is fully functional, unlike it’s simple predecessor. With it, the monkey can pick up food and feed itself by means of a neural implant in the motor cortex, the part of the brain that controls movement. Previous attempts have never allowed for such a wide range of motion or movement of fingers at the same time. It all looks so seamless.”
This article concludes that the technology will also benefit individuals who suffered a massive stroke on one side of their brain as the implanted device will help link the mind to both sides of the body, allowing them to regain control of the damaged side. www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/21918/.
This development confirms our position that no efforts will be spared until the implanted chip is eventually embraced by a coerced or mesmerized public. The implanted chip, with its now no-longer-hidden connections with the mind, is one sure way the anti-christ will eventually control the world in his ultimate battle against the soon coming Lord Jesus Christ. Such a device is described in Rev 13:16-18 and called the “Mark of the Beast”. See previous editions of CA! for details of the link of such an implant not only with motion, but also with emotion in the implanted person.
According to the article, Andrew Schwartz is trying to take that functionality to a new level, with the development by his research team of a robotic arm that is controlled by the mind of a monkey. “The arm is fully functional, unlike it’s simple predecessor. With it, the monkey can pick up food and feed itself by means of a neural implant in the motor cortex, the part of the brain that controls movement. Previous attempts have never allowed for such a wide range of motion or movement of fingers at the same time. It all looks so seamless.”
This article concludes that the technology will also benefit individuals who suffered a massive stroke on one side of their brain as the implanted device will help link the mind to both sides of the body, allowing them to regain control of the damaged side. www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/21918/.
This development confirms our position that no efforts will be spared until the implanted chip is eventually embraced by a coerced or mesmerized public. The implanted chip, with its now no-longer-hidden connections with the mind, is one sure way the anti-christ will eventually control the world in his ultimate battle against the soon coming Lord Jesus Christ. Such a device is described in Rev 13:16-18 and called the “Mark of the Beast”. See previous editions of CA! for details of the link of such an implant not only with motion, but also with emotion in the implanted person.
Mass Murders indicate a dying society
Unfortunately, Mass Murder is becoming increasingly rampant, a clear pointer to the degree of decay in society (and job for the Church – Mat 5:13). Below is listed some headline catching mass murders this year! The list is for the US alone and does not include terrorist suicide bombers (say in the Middle East) or homicide cases as the young man who beat his father to death at Ntak Inyang, Uyo, in November.
(www.thenewsng.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3821)
>Feb 12, 2007: Sulejman Taloviæ entered a shopping mall at Trolley Square, Salk Lake City, Utah (US) and shot five people dead as well as wounding four others before being fatally shot by police.
>April 16: Seung-Hui Cho opened fire in a Virginia Tech university dormitory and classroom building, in Blacksburg, Virginia, killing 32 and wounding many, before committing suicide. (http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3048108)
>Oct 7: Forest County Deputy Sheriff Tyler Peterson opened fire with an AR-15 assault rifle during a homecoming party, killing six people--including his ex-girlfriend--and wounding one before committing suicide. At Crandon, Wisconsin (http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/10/09/wisconsin.shooting/)
> Dec. 5, 2007: Robert A. Hawkins opened fire with a rifle at the Von Maur department store in Omaha, Nebraska, killing eight people before taking his own life. Five more people were wounded, two critically. (edition.cnn.com/2007/US/12/05/mall.shooting/index.html)
(www.thenewsng.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3821)
>Feb 12, 2007: Sulejman Taloviæ entered a shopping mall at Trolley Square, Salk Lake City, Utah (US) and shot five people dead as well as wounding four others before being fatally shot by police.
>April 16: Seung-Hui Cho opened fire in a Virginia Tech university dormitory and classroom building, in Blacksburg, Virginia, killing 32 and wounding many, before committing suicide. (http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3048108)
>Oct 7: Forest County Deputy Sheriff Tyler Peterson opened fire with an AR-15 assault rifle during a homecoming party, killing six people--including his ex-girlfriend--and wounding one before committing suicide. At Crandon, Wisconsin (http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/10/09/wisconsin.shooting/)
> Dec. 5, 2007: Robert A. Hawkins opened fire with a rifle at the Von Maur department store in Omaha, Nebraska, killing eight people before taking his own life. Five more people were wounded, two critically. (edition.cnn.com/2007/US/12/05/mall.shooting/index.html)
High School student kills 8 to prove Evolution theory correct
Wed Nov 7, 18 year old Pekka-Eric Auvinen gunned down 8 pupils and the headteacher of his school, the Jokela high school near Tuusula, in Finland. He himself died later in the hospital from the self-inflicted gun shot injuries to the head. Prior to this dastard act, he had posted a video clip on you-tube predicting the massacre and explaining his motives. His astonishing video reveals the evolutionary indoctrination he was subjected to when he said things such as:
• ‘Evolution is both a theory and a fact, creationism is neither one.’
• ‘Human life is not sacred. Humans are just a species among other animals and [the] world does not exist only for humans.’
In the video, sporting a tee shirt that reads “Humanity is overrated”, he ranted: "I am prepared to fight and die for my cause. I, as a natural selector, will eliminate all who I see unfit, disgraces of human race and failures of natural selection." He further wrote how he hoped "my actions will inspire all the intelligent people of the world and start some sort of revolution against the current systems".
(http://education.guardian.co.uk/schoolsworldwide/story/0,,2206652,00.html) Now those who think the Evolution-Creation debate is merely academic can think twice!
• ‘Evolution is both a theory and a fact, creationism is neither one.’
• ‘Human life is not sacred. Humans are just a species among other animals and [the] world does not exist only for humans.’
In the video, sporting a tee shirt that reads “Humanity is overrated”, he ranted: "I am prepared to fight and die for my cause. I, as a natural selector, will eliminate all who I see unfit, disgraces of human race and failures of natural selection." He further wrote how he hoped "my actions will inspire all the intelligent people of the world and start some sort of revolution against the current systems".
(http://education.guardian.co.uk/schoolsworldwide/story/0,,2206652,00.html) Now those who think the Evolution-Creation debate is merely academic can think twice!
Liberal lifestyle incompatible with sustainable environment...Yet Divorce is getting easier!
A recently concluded research on the Environmental Impact of Divorce, has demonstrated convincingly that liberal lifestyle, particularly divorce, can be very bad for the environment!
The logic is simple, really: each time a family dissolves the result is two new households.
According to Jianguo Liu, the author of the article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, "A married household actually uses resources more efficiently than a divorced household," More households means more use of land, water and energy, three critical resources.
The critical concept here is sharing. A household uses the same amount of heat or air conditioning whether there are two or four people living there. A refrigerator used the same power whether there is one person home or several. Two people living apart run two dishwashers, instead of just one. Likewise, multiple people can use the same stove, watch the same TV or eat under the same lights.
According to Liu’s calculations, in the United States alone, with 16.5 million households headed by a divorced person (2005 data), that translates to some $6.9 billion in extra utility costs per year, plus an added $3.6 billion for water, in addition to other costs such as land use. When other countries are taken into the picture, then it is clear that the impact on divorce on the environment is quite substantial. According to Liu, "People have been talking about how to protect the environment and combat climate change, but divorce is an overlooked factor that needs to be considered." (www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22086806/)
Yet Divorce is getting easier!
Just like the case we reported in Vol 10 No 4, where despite proven serious deleterious effects of abortion pills on the environment, notable green groups insisted that campaigning against abortion is a no-go area in their fight to protect the environment; we predict no attention will be given to the above publication by Jianguo Liu! If anything, getting a divorce is not only being encouraged more and more, it is also becoming more and more simplified and accessible.
For example, a report from the Sun Sentinel indicates that in Broward County, Florida (US), “residents now can file for a divorce without leaving the house.” This is because of the new online service launched in November by the Broward County Clerk of Courts, which steers citizens through the application process for filing divorce actions. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbclerk1112nbnov12,0,3701326.story
Similarly, in an article titled Breaking up not hard to do for China's "me" generation , Reuters reported one little-known repercussion of China’s aggressive one child policy. This is the evolution of a generation of spoilt, over-pampered only-children, doted on by parents and grandparents who are ready to cater to their every whim, in an increasingly affluent society. This so-called “me” generation children, unlike their parents, “often put their needs before anything and anyone else”. Not surprisingly, they are unable to sustain relationships with some marriages barely lasting a few weeks. Divorce therefore is becoming big business, and can now be obtained in less than 20 minutes! www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSPEK33230720071128
The logic is simple, really: each time a family dissolves the result is two new households.
According to Jianguo Liu, the author of the article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, "A married household actually uses resources more efficiently than a divorced household," More households means more use of land, water and energy, three critical resources.
The critical concept here is sharing. A household uses the same amount of heat or air conditioning whether there are two or four people living there. A refrigerator used the same power whether there is one person home or several. Two people living apart run two dishwashers, instead of just one. Likewise, multiple people can use the same stove, watch the same TV or eat under the same lights.
According to Liu’s calculations, in the United States alone, with 16.5 million households headed by a divorced person (2005 data), that translates to some $6.9 billion in extra utility costs per year, plus an added $3.6 billion for water, in addition to other costs such as land use. When other countries are taken into the picture, then it is clear that the impact on divorce on the environment is quite substantial. According to Liu, "People have been talking about how to protect the environment and combat climate change, but divorce is an overlooked factor that needs to be considered." (www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22086806/)
Yet Divorce is getting easier!
Just like the case we reported in Vol 10 No 4, where despite proven serious deleterious effects of abortion pills on the environment, notable green groups insisted that campaigning against abortion is a no-go area in their fight to protect the environment; we predict no attention will be given to the above publication by Jianguo Liu! If anything, getting a divorce is not only being encouraged more and more, it is also becoming more and more simplified and accessible.
For example, a report from the Sun Sentinel indicates that in Broward County, Florida (US), “residents now can file for a divorce without leaving the house.” This is because of the new online service launched in November by the Broward County Clerk of Courts, which steers citizens through the application process for filing divorce actions. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbclerk1112nbnov12,0,3701326.story
Similarly, in an article titled Breaking up not hard to do for China's "me" generation , Reuters reported one little-known repercussion of China’s aggressive one child policy. This is the evolution of a generation of spoilt, over-pampered only-children, doted on by parents and grandparents who are ready to cater to their every whim, in an increasingly affluent society. This so-called “me” generation children, unlike their parents, “often put their needs before anything and anyone else”. Not surprisingly, they are unable to sustain relationships with some marriages barely lasting a few weeks. Divorce therefore is becoming big business, and can now be obtained in less than 20 minutes! www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSPEK33230720071128
RCCG faces burden of success
When critics, usually with not-so-hidden agenda, attack the RCCG, they often do so hammering on one minor point or the other, but blown up as an admixture with many other perceived evils pertaining to Pentecostal Churches in general. As seen in one of the most virulent attacks of this sort in recent times by columnist Duro Onabule of the 29th June, 2007, most of these ‘evils’ include tithes payment, noisy prayers and worship, promotion of miracles, general seeking for reliefs from pain and poverty, causing traffic jams etc.
However, there have been two recent points of attacks, which the RCCG (and others can sure learn from them) will do well to immediately take heed to and address. First, was the much hyped but apparently not- without-a-substance- issue of some priviledged members of the Church having abused the tax-free concession granted the Church by the FG, in importing materials for its massive, unprecedented building projects. There was the allegation that a number of “luxury cars” which were later traded at the Nigerian market, were incorporated into the legitimate tax-free imports. Understandably, the writers at the regional newspaper who forcefully hammered on this incident were not as keen to divulge that the proceedings of those illegal transactions in “luxury cars” went into the pockets of the greedy Judas(es) involved, unknown to the Church leadership! (story in PH Telegraph, Nov 12, 2007)
The second issue, which will soon be shown to be related, is actually the central point of attack by Mr Onabule in his article already cited. This had to do with Pastor Adeboye’s mentioning to his US-based ministers at their annual conference in that country, that former president OBJ avoided him stridently on the 3rd term issue. In Mr Onabule’s fanciful opinion, such a statement, rather than indicating the actual level of intimacy between the two personalities, must be seen as a betrayal by Pastor Adeboye of someone who MUST certainly be a bosom friend!
So why are we highlighting these probably inconsequential but connected cases? Well, the latter case demonstrates, first of all, that there will be apparently rational people, who would nevertheless pretend not to know that there is little a charity organization [Christian for that matter] can do to rebuff reasonable friendship offers from the Number One citizen of the land in which it is operating – even if for some reason it wanted to do so! [Saharareporters years ago, actually conceded that efforts by late General Sanni Abacha to court Pastor Adeboye were futile, http://saharareporters.com/www/news/detail/?prevpage=0&startpage=10018&x=2&id=80]
This further leads to the more important issue of the possibility of such similar unavoidable advances being made to the RCCG by people in authorities in other nations of the world, where the Church currently operates or seeks to operate from. And how, as the first case demonstrates, certain individuals may abuse such an advance irrespective of the Church’s official operating principles! This situation, we consider as the burden of success, which can only be borne with the help of the Holy Spirit.
The possibilities we address are certainly not far-fetched. For instance, on Nov. 14, the Prince of Wales, the heir to the most powerful throne in the world chose a Parish of the RCCG in the UK (Jesus House) as the place to mark his 59th birthday. Any Church, except perhaps the Buckingham Palace chapel itself, must consider that choice a mark of recognition, honour and goodwill by royalty and should wish to reciprocate. However, while Prince Charles stands to gain considerable political points by associating with “black majority churches”, represented in this case by the RCCG, the gains to the Church are very questionable!
For one, the possibility of getting the Prince to have a re-think of his now well-articulated interfaith agenda (which could have made the whole association very well worth the while) is so remote; with the opposite, the contamination of the Church with the prince’s peculiar form of humanism, being much more likely. In fact, the Prince, at the occasion of the visit, specifically directed a personal assistant to begin the integration of his Princes’ Trust with the RCCG’s social work departments. (see his speech at http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speechesandarticles/a_speech_by_hrh_the_prince_of_wales_during_a_visit_to_jesus__409885750.html). Thus, if the RCCG leadership does not remain careful and sober, it might soon find itself on the same slippery unscriptural grounds that Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, in the US has found himself, as we have been articulating in this newsletter over the past few years. Gradually, Mr Warren has become engulfed in his five-point humanitarian P.E.A.C.E. programme (which has de-facto become an extension of the UN millennium programme,) sincerely seeking to reform mankind via humanistic means, in association with other religious faiths, rather than through an unwavering faith in the undiluted Gospel as the power of God unto salvation! (please see CA! vol 9 No 6 or online www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/warren.htm)
In fact, a few days to his visit to the RCCG, the schedule of the British heir had taken him to places including the largest Hindu Temple in Europe, where he had enthusiastically worshipped with them (www.princeofwales.gov.uk/.../trh_visit_the_shri_swaminarayan_mandir_in_neasden_north_west_1487329830.html). Also, his intense romance with Islam is well known, and he indeed is a patron to the UK’s Centre for Islamic Studies (see for example, CA! Vol 10 No 2 or http://www.faithfreedom.org/oped/sina51103.htm).
Fortunately, the RCCG leadership seems to be well aware of all these inter-faith and humanistic interests at play. In the 5 minutes sermon he was allowed at the occasion, host Pastor Agu Irukwu of the RCCG Jesus House, according to the Punch, “encouraged the congregation to invest in the nourishing of not only their bodies but of their spirit and their souls.” (www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200711250322993)
However, there have been two recent points of attacks, which the RCCG (and others can sure learn from them) will do well to immediately take heed to and address. First, was the much hyped but apparently not- without-a-substance- issue of some priviledged members of the Church having abused the tax-free concession granted the Church by the FG, in importing materials for its massive, unprecedented building projects. There was the allegation that a number of “luxury cars” which were later traded at the Nigerian market, were incorporated into the legitimate tax-free imports. Understandably, the writers at the regional newspaper who forcefully hammered on this incident were not as keen to divulge that the proceedings of those illegal transactions in “luxury cars” went into the pockets of the greedy Judas(es) involved, unknown to the Church leadership! (story in PH Telegraph, Nov 12, 2007)
The second issue, which will soon be shown to be related, is actually the central point of attack by Mr Onabule in his article already cited. This had to do with Pastor Adeboye’s mentioning to his US-based ministers at their annual conference in that country, that former president OBJ avoided him stridently on the 3rd term issue. In Mr Onabule’s fanciful opinion, such a statement, rather than indicating the actual level of intimacy between the two personalities, must be seen as a betrayal by Pastor Adeboye of someone who MUST certainly be a bosom friend!
So why are we highlighting these probably inconsequential but connected cases? Well, the latter case demonstrates, first of all, that there will be apparently rational people, who would nevertheless pretend not to know that there is little a charity organization [Christian for that matter] can do to rebuff reasonable friendship offers from the Number One citizen of the land in which it is operating – even if for some reason it wanted to do so! [Saharareporters years ago, actually conceded that efforts by late General Sanni Abacha to court Pastor Adeboye were futile, http://saharareporters.com/www/news/detail/?prevpage=0&startpage=10018&x=2&id=80]
This further leads to the more important issue of the possibility of such similar unavoidable advances being made to the RCCG by people in authorities in other nations of the world, where the Church currently operates or seeks to operate from. And how, as the first case demonstrates, certain individuals may abuse such an advance irrespective of the Church’s official operating principles! This situation, we consider as the burden of success, which can only be borne with the help of the Holy Spirit.
The possibilities we address are certainly not far-fetched. For instance, on Nov. 14, the Prince of Wales, the heir to the most powerful throne in the world chose a Parish of the RCCG in the UK (Jesus House) as the place to mark his 59th birthday. Any Church, except perhaps the Buckingham Palace chapel itself, must consider that choice a mark of recognition, honour and goodwill by royalty and should wish to reciprocate. However, while Prince Charles stands to gain considerable political points by associating with “black majority churches”, represented in this case by the RCCG, the gains to the Church are very questionable!
For one, the possibility of getting the Prince to have a re-think of his now well-articulated interfaith agenda (which could have made the whole association very well worth the while) is so remote; with the opposite, the contamination of the Church with the prince’s peculiar form of humanism, being much more likely. In fact, the Prince, at the occasion of the visit, specifically directed a personal assistant to begin the integration of his Princes’ Trust with the RCCG’s social work departments. (see his speech at http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speechesandarticles/a_speech_by_hrh_the_prince_of_wales_during_a_visit_to_jesus__409885750.html). Thus, if the RCCG leadership does not remain careful and sober, it might soon find itself on the same slippery unscriptural grounds that Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, in the US has found himself, as we have been articulating in this newsletter over the past few years. Gradually, Mr Warren has become engulfed in his five-point humanitarian P.E.A.C.E. programme (which has de-facto become an extension of the UN millennium programme,) sincerely seeking to reform mankind via humanistic means, in association with other religious faiths, rather than through an unwavering faith in the undiluted Gospel as the power of God unto salvation! (please see CA! vol 9 No 6 or online www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/warren.htm)
In fact, a few days to his visit to the RCCG, the schedule of the British heir had taken him to places including the largest Hindu Temple in Europe, where he had enthusiastically worshipped with them (www.princeofwales.gov.uk/.../trh_visit_the_shri_swaminarayan_mandir_in_neasden_north_west_1487329830.html). Also, his intense romance with Islam is well known, and he indeed is a patron to the UK’s Centre for Islamic Studies (see for example, CA! Vol 10 No 2 or http://www.faithfreedom.org/oped/sina51103.htm).
Fortunately, the RCCG leadership seems to be well aware of all these inter-faith and humanistic interests at play. In the 5 minutes sermon he was allowed at the occasion, host Pastor Agu Irukwu of the RCCG Jesus House, according to the Punch, “encouraged the congregation to invest in the nourishing of not only their bodies but of their spirit and their souls.” (www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200711250322993)
Cross dressing agenda vigorously being pushed in the US
With the wide acceptance of females dressing in trousers and pants already a fait-accompli in most parts of the world, the next efforts in the agenda of those who would blur the line between the genders is now the promotion of men to put on skirts and dresses. This is following hard on the heels of the string of successes already being achieved by the Movement in getting men to embrace what used to be considered female fashion – including earrings and braided hair. It’s all part of the abominable homosexual agenda which is already well established in the western world, as we have taken pains to report in several past editions of CA!
In a report by WND, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air have announced a new Christmas bonanza, offering a 10% discount to passengers who book in through the gay page on the Airlines’ website. Not only that, “They are giving preferences to male passengers who want to wear dresses on the planes, and giving them preference over married couples.” (www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58929).
The cross dressing agenda is rapidly taking firm foothold in the United States as attested to by the fact that even a leading Republican candidate, Rudy Giuliani is well-known to cross-dress at work and in other public places. Sometimes called “Julie Annie” on account of this behaviour, Mr Guliani is said to prefer “tight skirts, makeup, and a bushy blond wig”. Popular conservative TV preacher, Pat Robertson recently (Nov 8) endorsed Guliani for the presidency of the United States!
www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-robertson8nov08,0,2060626.story?coll=la-politics-campaign
But this is not to say that cross dressing is not facing a good deal of opposition even in the US. As usual, the battle ground is the high school environment, where the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) has already developed a curriculum spanning kindergarten to the third grade, promoting cross-dressing (visit http://glsen.traditionalvalues.org/). In addition, various cross-dressing events meant to blur the gender line, sponsored by various homosexual groups, are constantly being promoted. Such events come in various suggestive names, such as “Gender bender”, “Gender switch”, etc.
One such “Gender Switch cross dressing” event was announced at the Adam Middle School in Brentwood, CA, for Friday Nov. 2. With posters already fixed all over the Campus, students were required to come to school dressed as opposite sex. However, one outraged mother was able to garner enough support to force the school to cancel the event. (http://www.pacificjustice.org/resources/news/focusdetails.cfm?ID=PR071030a)
Authorities at public schools in the Des Moines area, Iowa were however more determined. They refused to cancel their own “Gender Bender event”, slated as part of the celebrations of the centenary of schools in the area. Hundreds of aggrieved parents responded by withdrawing their children for homeschooling (www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58914)
According to one livid parent, “Our children were [told] to participate in the cross-dressing. When they refused they were told they would get a bad grade...” As the saying goes, “Aluta Continua!”
In a report by WND, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air have announced a new Christmas bonanza, offering a 10% discount to passengers who book in through the gay page on the Airlines’ website. Not only that, “They are giving preferences to male passengers who want to wear dresses on the planes, and giving them preference over married couples.” (www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58929).
The cross dressing agenda is rapidly taking firm foothold in the United States as attested to by the fact that even a leading Republican candidate, Rudy Giuliani is well-known to cross-dress at work and in other public places. Sometimes called “Julie Annie” on account of this behaviour, Mr Guliani is said to prefer “tight skirts, makeup, and a bushy blond wig”. Popular conservative TV preacher, Pat Robertson recently (Nov 8) endorsed Guliani for the presidency of the United States!
www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-robertson8nov08,0,2060626.story?coll=la-politics-campaign
But this is not to say that cross dressing is not facing a good deal of opposition even in the US. As usual, the battle ground is the high school environment, where the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) has already developed a curriculum spanning kindergarten to the third grade, promoting cross-dressing (visit http://glsen.traditionalvalues.org/). In addition, various cross-dressing events meant to blur the gender line, sponsored by various homosexual groups, are constantly being promoted. Such events come in various suggestive names, such as “Gender bender”, “Gender switch”, etc.
One such “Gender Switch cross dressing” event was announced at the Adam Middle School in Brentwood, CA, for Friday Nov. 2. With posters already fixed all over the Campus, students were required to come to school dressed as opposite sex. However, one outraged mother was able to garner enough support to force the school to cancel the event. (http://www.pacificjustice.org/resources/news/focusdetails.cfm?ID=PR071030a)
Authorities at public schools in the Des Moines area, Iowa were however more determined. They refused to cancel their own “Gender Bender event”, slated as part of the celebrations of the centenary of schools in the area. Hundreds of aggrieved parents responded by withdrawing their children for homeschooling (www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58914)
According to one livid parent, “Our children were [told] to participate in the cross-dressing. When they refused they were told they would get a bad grade...” As the saying goes, “Aluta Continua!”
Temple Institute Announces: High Priest's Crown is Ready!
Amidst all the post-Annapolis wrangling and analyses, groups who believe that somehow the 4th Temple is about to be rebuilt on its original site, implying that the control of the Temple Mount is about to revert to Jewish hands again, continue their confident waiting for the Jewish Messiah to manifest and take his place in this to-be-rebuilt Temple.
Accordingly, The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has announced the completion of the Tzitz, the High Priest's headplate. Fabricated at a cost of about $30,000, the tzitz is made of pure gold, was fashioned over the course of more than a year by the craftsmen of the Temple Institute, and is ready to be worn by the High Priest in the rebuilt Holy Temple in Jerusalem. (www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/124443).
Accordingly, The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has announced the completion of the Tzitz, the High Priest's headplate. Fabricated at a cost of about $30,000, the tzitz is made of pure gold, was fashioned over the course of more than a year by the craftsmen of the Temple Institute, and is ready to be worn by the High Priest in the rebuilt Holy Temple in Jerusalem. (www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/124443).
Tenth Edition of Holy Ghost Congress held at Redemption Camp
Miracles, Healings, Fulfilment, breakthroughs – all these apart, one commonly over-looked integral component of the annual Holy Ghost Congress (HGC) organized by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is the rich display of authentic African culture – music, poetry and language, attire, dance steps, etc, all employed in praise of the LORD. Not just by a group on stage (even though there is indeed the exciting African Praise Team presentations) but by millions of bubbling Nigerians full of hope, gratitude and joy before the God of all the earth.
This shouldn’t be much of a surprise. After all, the precursor for the HGC is ‘the Congress,’ which started in 1977 as a radical Christian protest, and alternative to the then FESTAC (World Black Festival of Arts and Culture) hosted by Nigeria. Most people would have laughed at the ‘David vs Goliath’ kind of efforts of Pastor E.A. Adeboye to protest at that time, the world-shaking international Festival which had as ultimate agenda the revival of the several ancient, and at that time, fading spiritual (daemonic) entities. Today nobody could deride anymore.While it has not proven possible to organize another edition of the FESTAC, the then Congress still continues today, now in two streams. On the one hand, the Congress gave birth to the now bi-annual “Go-A-Fishing” Programme of the RCCG; while on the other, we have the annual Holy Ghost Congress, (formerly called the Holy Ghost Festival.) The tenth edition of this international, interdenominational week-long event held this year 10th to 15th December at the Redemption Camp. The attendance at Friday night of the event, at a conservative 4.5 million, was about the entire population of Singapore - as pointed out by a guest Singaporean minister at the meeting. It can also be compared with the 2.6 million people performing the Islamic Hajj at Mecca at the same period of time.
(www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=104766&d=18&m=12&y=2007; www.hajinformation.com/main/l.htm).
Incredibly, all these millions (or at least most of them) were hosted in one single auditorium - the very largest auditorium anywhere on the face of planet earth. Well, even though size is no big deal with God, but the image of such multitudes seriously keeping Heaven in view, is surely heart-warming. With the sound clear expositions of the Christian gospel, powerful prophetic words to destroy yokes and besetting sins in the lives of many, heavy concerted prayers directed at various strategic needs of Nigeria – not to mention the various seminars on practical issues as entrepreneurship, living the Christian life at the workplace, home-making, etc, everyone who loves the Kingdom of God must feel a tug in their heart, beholding the spectacle! We certainly wouldn’t rather it was the gathering of cultists that is attracting such figures! To the glory of God, the very night the millions were at Redemption Camp, another impressive number of Christians congregated at Cannanland, Ota, less than an hour away, for Shiloh 2007. Guess who is being intimidated by all these figures!
10 Killed, 3 churches burnt in Bauchi
Two weeks to the end of the year 2007, the ubiquitous Islamic “hoodlums” in Nigeria, have struck again, this time in Bauchi killing ten persons and setting ablaze dozens of homes, and at least three Churches.
According to an eye-witness account related to Compass Direct News, the problem started at the Government Day Secondary School (also known as Baba Tanko Secondary School) Kagadama, in the Yelwa Tudu area. Muslim students at the 3,655-student school had noticed on Monday December 2, that 2 blocks had been removed from the foundation of the school Mosque which they had started building the previous day. Two days later, after the issue had appeared to have been resolved, hell was suddenly let loose as, according to the eye-witness, Muslim students started to spontaneously troop out from the classes in the middle of on-going end-of-term examinations. They converged at the site of the school mosque and “began chanting Allahu Akbar.” Thereafter, they returned to the classes and from destroying chairs and desks, moved on to attacking “their Christian colleagues with knives and daggers.”
The Rev. Ishaya Danyaya, pastor in charge of ECWA-3 Church in Yelwa, took up the account of the story as the riot snowballed into town. According to the 57 year old minister, as soon as the rioting began, Islamic and Christian leaders, along with security agents, met at the house of the Muslim village head of Yelwa, Sarkin Yelwa, to discuss how to prevent the riots from spreading further.
“We met and resolved that we should not allow this incident spread to us,” he said. “We were told to nominate six members to serve in a security committee, and Muslims too were asked to do so. Four policemen were also appointed into this committee, and they were all mandated to keep watch over our area.”
However, the arrangement was a sham, as Muslims in the Yelwa area began attacking Christians. According to Rev. Danyaya, right in front “of the house of the Yelwa, the Muslim village head, Muslims cut the head of a female Christian student with a machete and injured the leg of a pastor.” “It was in the presence of Sarkin Yelwa that the Assemblies of God Church here had fire set on it,” he added. Two other Churches, belonging to the Redeemed Christian Church of God and the ElimChurch, were similarly set ablaze. Most of the houses burnt belonged to Pastors. One of them, Umaru Sule of ECWA3 in Yelwa, barely managed to escape with his life, but he lost every other possession he had to the fire. Speaking to Compass, Sule said: “Not even a Bible now do I have,”
Official figures claim only one life was lost – that of a Christian security agent with the State Security Service. Identified by eyewitnesses only by his surname, Bogoro, he is a member of the Church of Christ in Nigeria, in Yelwa. Eyewitnesses however told Compass they saw nine other corpses thrown and buried together in a common grave on the morning of Friday 14th December.
Even when the targets have been clearly Christians, the governor of the State, Isa Yuguda, insists that the riot had nothing to do with religion. According to the governor and his officials, the disturbance was only an attempt by political adversaries to discredit his All Nigeria Peoples’ Party administration. It might be true of course that the fire of this riot was kindled by politicians to achieve their own ends [who removed those 2 blocks?], but no one can deny that the perpetrators of the murders and maiming and wanton destruction have been Muslims; that the targets have been Christians, with clear identities; and sad to note, that most of the killings and destructions were witnessed by Moslem elders, including even the village head! Meanwhile nothing has been heard again from either the NIREC or the FG government about the last massacre of Christians in Kano (see last edition of CA!)
This report is compiled from reports from the Compass News Direct, ThisDay 12/12/07; Daily Champion 12/12/07,and Daily Trust. For details check http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&length=long&lang=en&idelement=5157
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