One major issue that arose for discussion among several Nigerian Christian internet groups is the question of what should constitute appropriate response to intelligence reports about planned Islamic violence – given that there was abundance intelligence report that the Boko Haram uprising was brewing? Of truth, hardly any of the murderous actions of the Jihadists over the years happened without prior intelligence warnings. In fact this is the central issue in the protest letter organized by the Washington DC based International Christian Concerns (icc@persecution.org) to the Nigerian government (Sept 18): that the Nigerian government has failed repeatedly to take basic reasonable proactive actions to protect Christian lives in Northern Nigeria.
According to the ICC, “Since the introduction of Sharia law in northern Nigeria in 1999, religious violence has resulted in the death of 12,000 Nigerians…… The violence and the resulting wanton destruction of lives and property are avoidable. Nigerian security officials have repeatedly failed to take preventive measures before such attacks occur. Also, Nigerian officials repeatedly fail to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice.”
The ICC summarized the petition by citing the 2009 Annual Report by the United States Commission for International Freedom,: “The response of the government of Nigeria to persistent religious freedom violations and violent sectarian and communal conflicts along religious lines has been inadequate and ineffectual. Years of inaction by Nigeria‘s federal, state and local governments has created a climate of impunity, resulting in thousands of deaths.”
But the issue of contention among Nigerian internet discussion groups however is, could Nigerian Christians not have themselves taken more actions – other than prayers – in the face of warnings of imminent Islamic-inspired bloodbaths? Suggestions ranged from at least effectively disseminating such intelligence data from Church pulpits so that most people are no longer caught unawares, to actually forming Christian militias. CA! thinks however, that the answer lies between these two options. As demonstrated several times in the life of Apostle Paul, early Christians made effective use of intelligence information, not only taking actions that frustrated enemies counsel (e.g. Acts 9:23-25; 14:6; 17:10,14; ) but also by wisely engaging state machinery and authority figures in ways that could not be ignored (e.g. Acts 23:16ff). As for individuals, the PFN is still sticking, perhaps more emphatically, to the position it announced in 2002 (see CA! Vol 5 No 1). Speaking in the wake of the Boko Haram incident, PFN National Secretary, Pastor Wale Adefarasin suggested: "It has been said by Mr. President that everyone has the right to defend himself. Anybody whose life is threatened should defend himself."
And while on the subject, latest reports (surprising as it may be) is that Jihadist elements are again making plans to foment new trouble - this time, in Cross Rivers State, well in Southern Nigeria. According to Tayo Babalobi <lampstandletters@ yahoo.com>, at a meeting of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria PFN Calabar, on September 9, it was reported that two lorry loads of arms and ammunition were sighted at the Hausa quarters of the town. This was in addition to an earlier noticed influx of 12 lorry loads of “Hausas” to augment over 500 Nigeriens (from Niger Republic) who operate mainly as motorcycle riders in Calabar. The build-up, it is reported, has been on-going since the beginning of the year and could be in preparation towards a Jihad attack in the town.
So, back to the crux of this article: in the face of such information as this, what next?
Saturday, October 10, 2009
United States going the same way as the UK, very rapidly
Stories as above abound in several countries in the Western world showing the continued marginalization of the Church in her erstwhile stronghold, now taken over by atheism and Islam. Apparently, the last battleground, in this war, is “God’s own country” itself – the United States. A few recent examples: According to Fox News (June 8), the Child Evangelism Fellowship which has worked with underprivileged kids for over 70 years has now been banned from conducting Bible study classes in public housing projects in Tulsa, Oklahoma – within the so-called “Bible Belt”. This is despite of a US Supreme court ruling that religious groups are not to be discriminated against in the use of public institutions. CEF has been hosting its summer program in these particular housing projects for over 20 years. The program was designed to keep children from falling victim to the temptations of drugs and crime.
A bewildered local chapter leader of CEF told the press: "They said they have a policy now whereby we can't come in and talk about God or Christ, We can come in and play games and talk about moral things, but we can't mention the name of God."
In the same God’s own country, a federal district judge, Casey Rodgers, has instigated criminal charges against Frank Lay, a high school principal, and his athletic director, Robert Freeman for the crime of praying. According to court records, Lay is accused of asking Freeman to offer a blessing before a luncheon at Pace (Florida) High School for people who helped with the school's new fieldhouse. The two-some ‘trouble makers’ face possible jail terms. (Pensacola News Journal).
Even more chilling are the signs of things yet to come in the United States. At the current time, a bill requiring anyone receiving school loans, among others, to serve at least three months as part of a volunteer brigade has smoothly sailed through the House of Reps. This is in line with one of the key campaign themes of President Obama. The Bill HR1388, titled "Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education" (GIVE) intends to recruit one million American youth into what is being called the Obama Youth Brigade.
The real problem are the restrictions to be imposed on any student that wishes to participate in the brigade. According to Section 125 (42 U.S.C. 12575) of the bill, “A participant in an approved national service position under this subtitle may not among other conditions, engage “in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization. ..” (see www.snopes.com/politics/obama/give.asp). In other words, if you want a government loan for school, you must stop serving in Church or sharing the gospel. Absolutely incredible!
A bewildered local chapter leader of CEF told the press: "They said they have a policy now whereby we can't come in and talk about God or Christ, We can come in and play games and talk about moral things, but we can't mention the name of God."
In the same God’s own country, a federal district judge, Casey Rodgers, has instigated criminal charges against Frank Lay, a high school principal, and his athletic director, Robert Freeman for the crime of praying. According to court records, Lay is accused of asking Freeman to offer a blessing before a luncheon at Pace (Florida) High School for people who helped with the school's new fieldhouse. The two-some ‘trouble makers’ face possible jail terms. (Pensacola News Journal).
Even more chilling are the signs of things yet to come in the United States. At the current time, a bill requiring anyone receiving school loans, among others, to serve at least three months as part of a volunteer brigade has smoothly sailed through the House of Reps. This is in line with one of the key campaign themes of President Obama. The Bill HR1388, titled "Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education" (GIVE) intends to recruit one million American youth into what is being called the Obama Youth Brigade.
The real problem are the restrictions to be imposed on any student that wishes to participate in the brigade. According to Section 125 (42 U.S.C. 12575) of the bill, “A participant in an approved national service position under this subtitle may not among other conditions, engage “in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization. ..” (see www.snopes.com/politics/obama/give.asp). In other words, if you want a government loan for school, you must stop serving in Church or sharing the gospel. Absolutely incredible!
Kicking Christianity around in the UK
A study in Britain has found that more than half of polled thousands of Britain’s Churchgoers had suffered some form of persecution for being a Christian. These soft assaults ranged from being turned down for promotion to being rejected by family members because of their faith. (LONDON SUNDAY TELEGRAPH - May 30, 2009.) Furthermore, some new guidelines drawn up under the auspices of the Equality and Human Rights Commission [by the British Humanist Association (BHA)] now prescribes dismissal for anyone who attempts to share their faith with colleagues at work. Even without the guidelines, 71 year old Anand Rao, has been relieved of his job as a nurse (after 40 years of practice) because, during a role play session of a training course, he suggested to the ‘patient’ that she could go to Church to relieve stress. According to Mr Rao: 'The "patient" told me that her doctor had informed her that she would not live long and this had created stress. 'I called on my spiritual point of view and told her it would be wise to go to Church to ease her stress and if God wished she might live a little longer.' [LONDON DAILY MAIL , May 26, 2009].
More recently, a Christian couple have been charged with a criminal offence after taking part in what they regarded as a reasonable discussion about religion with guests at their hotel. Although the facts are disputed, it is thought that during the conversation the couple were challenged over their Christian beliefs; and they suggested, as part of their defence that Mohammed, the founder of Islam, was a warlord and that traditional Muslim dress for women was a form of bondage. The couple, whose trial has been set for December, face a fine of up to £5,000 and a CRIMINAL record if they are convicted. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1214666/Christian-hotel-owners-hauled-court-defending-beliefs-discussion-Muslim-guest.html). Indeed, Moslems in the UK have become such eggshells that must be treated with utmost respect that Home Office staff were officially warned not to eat in front of their fasting Muslim colleagues during the last Ramadan – in case it made them feel hungry! (http://www.jihadwatch.org/2009/09/uk-home-office-staff-officially-warned-not-to-eat-in-front-of-muslims-during-ramadan---in-case-it-ma.html)
Even a medal personally established by the Queen of England is being withdrawn after it was deemed offensive to Muslims and Hindus. The honour - known as The Trinity Cross of the Order of Trinity - has been ruled unlawful and too christian. It has been awarded to 62 distinguished residents of the former colony of Trinidad and Tobago over more than 40 years. Watch out as the same treatment is extended to those military “crosses” for gallantry, et cetera.
More recently, a Christian couple have been charged with a criminal offence after taking part in what they regarded as a reasonable discussion about religion with guests at their hotel. Although the facts are disputed, it is thought that during the conversation the couple were challenged over their Christian beliefs; and they suggested, as part of their defence that Mohammed, the founder of Islam, was a warlord and that traditional Muslim dress for women was a form of bondage. The couple, whose trial has been set for December, face a fine of up to £5,000 and a CRIMINAL record if they are convicted. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1214666/Christian-hotel-owners-hauled-court-defending-beliefs-discussion-Muslim-guest.html). Indeed, Moslems in the UK have become such eggshells that must be treated with utmost respect that Home Office staff were officially warned not to eat in front of their fasting Muslim colleagues during the last Ramadan – in case it made them feel hungry! (http://www.jihadwatch.org/2009/09/uk-home-office-staff-officially-warned-not-to-eat-in-front-of-muslims-during-ramadan---in-case-it-ma.html)
Even a medal personally established by the Queen of England is being withdrawn after it was deemed offensive to Muslims and Hindus. The honour - known as The Trinity Cross of the Order of Trinity - has been ruled unlawful and too christian. It has been awarded to 62 distinguished residents of the former colony of Trinidad and Tobago over more than 40 years. Watch out as the same treatment is extended to those military “crosses” for gallantry, et cetera.
New test case in Islamization of America: Convert from Islam fights for dear life
One very high profile on-going case in the United States which highlights the increasing clout of Moslem extremists in mainstream American life is that of Rifqa Bary, a 17-year-old girl from a family of Sri Lankan expatriates who have been Moslems, according to Rifqa, for 150 generations. A brilliant student and High School cheerleader girl, Rifqa decided to give her life to Jesus; and for four years, as she claims – backed up by a FaceBook webpage captured by Pamela Geller – she practiced Christianity in her closet. However, words eventually flitered to her parents, who are members of the radical Noor Islamic Center in Columbus, Ohio, and soon, brutal attacks (one of which her classmates felt compelled to report to the school’s counselor [bruises on Rifqa's limbs] began to be inflicted upon her by her father. Fearing for dear life, especially after direct threats by her father to that effect, Rifqa fled Ohio in July for the relative safety of Orlando, Florida, where she found temporary refuge with Reverend Blake Lorenz, pastor of the Orlando-based Global Revolution Church, whom she had met through an online Facebook group.
However, backed by the notorious Hamas-linked Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Noor Mosque, Rifqa’s biological father is mounting a serious legal (and media) battle, demanding that Rifqa should be returned home to him. This is despite numerous well known cases of Moslem parents killing their “unsubmissive” children and kins in the infamous “Honour Killing” phenomenon – several of which have been reported in previous editions of CA! For instance, on new year day, last year, Amina and Sarah Said, were allegedly murdered by their father in Texas for having non-muslim boyfriends. They had fled home, just like Rifqa, but their mum lured them back home. They were dead within twenty-four hours of their return (www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,3036,00.html).
Thankfully, due to a surprisingly massive Christian interest and supports (mainly via the Internet), the judge had ruled that Rifqa be left alone in Florida (next hearing on Oct 13). Rifqa’s story is well covered by Pamela Geller on her site, AtlasShrugs http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/rifqa-bary-slow-motion-honor-killing/; while her 6-minute interview on a local TV station is now posted on the YouTube.
However, backed by the notorious Hamas-linked Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Noor Mosque, Rifqa’s biological father is mounting a serious legal (and media) battle, demanding that Rifqa should be returned home to him. This is despite numerous well known cases of Moslem parents killing their “unsubmissive” children and kins in the infamous “Honour Killing” phenomenon – several of which have been reported in previous editions of CA! For instance, on new year day, last year, Amina and Sarah Said, were allegedly murdered by their father in Texas for having non-muslim boyfriends. They had fled home, just like Rifqa, but their mum lured them back home. They were dead within twenty-four hours of their return (www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,3036,00.html).
Thankfully, due to a surprisingly massive Christian interest and supports (mainly via the Internet), the judge had ruled that Rifqa be left alone in Florida (next hearing on Oct 13). Rifqa’s story is well covered by Pamela Geller on her site, AtlasShrugs http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/rifqa-bary-slow-motion-honor-killing/; while her 6-minute interview on a local TV station is now posted on the YouTube.
Somalia Islamic Militants Behead Four Christian Orphanage Workers
For refusing to renounce their faith in Christ, four Christian orphanage workers in Somalia were beheaded in August by the country’s main Islamic insurgent group al-Shabab. According to the International Christian Concern (ICC), a major advocacy group investigating reports of religious persecution, an unidentified junior member of al-Shabab, notified families of Fatima Sultan, Ali Ma'ow, Sheik Mohammed Abdi and Maaddey Diil, that the four Christians kidnapped earlier on July 27 in the coastal town of Merca. had been beheaded for apostasy. "All the four apostates were given an opportunity to return to Islam to be released but they all declined the generous offer," a witness of the beheading was reported as saying.
Earlier in July, the al-Shabab beheaded seven people in the southwestern town of Baidoa after accusing them of converting to Christianity and spying for the transitional federal government of Somalia, The group was also responsible for the deaths of 11 African Union (from Burundi and Uganda) peacekeepers who they targeted while they were attending a Sunday Church service in Mogadishu earlier in the year.
In a related development, human rights groups in South Korea say North Korea has stepped up executions of Christians, some of them in public. A recent report described one particular case of a woman allegedly publicly executed in June in a northern town close to the Chinese border. She was accused of distributing Bibles, spying for South Korea and the United States and helping to organise dissidents. Her parents, husband, and children were sent to a prison camp. It is estimated that up to 30,000 North Koreans practice Christianity secretly in their homes.
Similarly, two young Iranian women arrested and being tried for converting to Christianity, Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh, have adamantly refused to recant their faith in Christ, despite great pressure being mounted on them. Originally arrested on March 5, 2009 the two women have suffered greatly while in prison, suffering ill health, solitary confinement and interrogations for many hours while blindfolded. In a dramatic court room session, the deputy prosecutor, Mr. Haddad, questioned Maryam and Marzieh about their faith and told them that they had to recant in both verbal and written form. According to the Assyrian International News Agency (Aug 11), they responded, "We will not deny our faith."
Earlier in July, the al-Shabab beheaded seven people in the southwestern town of Baidoa after accusing them of converting to Christianity and spying for the transitional federal government of Somalia, The group was also responsible for the deaths of 11 African Union (from Burundi and Uganda) peacekeepers who they targeted while they were attending a Sunday Church service in Mogadishu earlier in the year.
In a related development, human rights groups in South Korea say North Korea has stepped up executions of Christians, some of them in public. A recent report described one particular case of a woman allegedly publicly executed in June in a northern town close to the Chinese border. She was accused of distributing Bibles, spying for South Korea and the United States and helping to organise dissidents. Her parents, husband, and children were sent to a prison camp. It is estimated that up to 30,000 North Koreans practice Christianity secretly in their homes.
Similarly, two young Iranian women arrested and being tried for converting to Christianity, Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh, have adamantly refused to recant their faith in Christ, despite great pressure being mounted on them. Originally arrested on March 5, 2009 the two women have suffered greatly while in prison, suffering ill health, solitary confinement and interrogations for many hours while blindfolded. In a dramatic court room session, the deputy prosecutor, Mr. Haddad, questioned Maryam and Marzieh about their faith and told them that they had to recant in both verbal and written form. According to the Assyrian International News Agency (Aug 11), they responded, "We will not deny our faith."
Martyrdom of Christians intensifies, even in modern times.
One of the clear marks of the end of time is the increasing intolerance Satan is displaying towards Christianity. Even when “tolerance” has become the mantra used by the devil to corrupt humanity, (see article on homosexuality above), demonic entities just could not hide their lust for seeing Christian blood flow.
In recent times, apart from the Boko Haram incidence in Northern Nigeria mentioned elsewhere in this edition, several gallons of Christian blood have been shed in recent weeks, in places ranging from Pakistan, to Somalia, Iraq, China and North Korea.
In Pakistan following rumours (announced over mosque loudspeakers), that a Koran had been defaced during a wedding at a Christian home, thousands of Moslems rose up to the occasion vandalizing Churches and Bibles in the town of Gojra. In the course of looting over 100 Christian houses, and burning half of them, at least eight precious innocent people were ”either burned or shot to death.” The Times of London (Aug 3) citing residents, reported that the casualties were much higher - in the dozens – as many bodies still remained under the rubble of collapsed buildings. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6736696.ece]; while the New York Times reported that the incident lasted about eight hours and involved as many as 20,000 Moslem mob! Armed policemen stood aside, watching while their fellow Moslems unleashed terror in the small Christian colony. At the end of the day, it was confirmed that no Koran had actually been desecrated.
Meanwhile fellow Moslems continue to desecrate the Koran with impunity!
We had expressed before, our cynicism of the fervor which pious Moslems claim is generated in them to defend their holy book. In Vol 10 No 4, we cited the case in Sokoto, where in a feud between two warring Moslem factions, the first objects that were seized and destroyed were the opponents’ Koran!
In a more recent situation (late August), while innocent Christians were being burnt in their own homes by Islamic zealots on rumour of desecration of Koran in Pakistan, some pious Moslems were actually using their Korans to smuggle heroins in Jarkata, Indonesia! You bet, Moslems only see this as a simple case of attempted smuggling. No question of Koran defilement! http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/027300.php
In recent times, apart from the Boko Haram incidence in Northern Nigeria mentioned elsewhere in this edition, several gallons of Christian blood have been shed in recent weeks, in places ranging from Pakistan, to Somalia, Iraq, China and North Korea.
In Pakistan following rumours (announced over mosque loudspeakers), that a Koran had been defaced during a wedding at a Christian home, thousands of Moslems rose up to the occasion vandalizing Churches and Bibles in the town of Gojra. In the course of looting over 100 Christian houses, and burning half of them, at least eight precious innocent people were ”either burned or shot to death.” The Times of London (Aug 3) citing residents, reported that the casualties were much higher - in the dozens – as many bodies still remained under the rubble of collapsed buildings. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6736696.ece]; while the New York Times reported that the incident lasted about eight hours and involved as many as 20,000 Moslem mob! Armed policemen stood aside, watching while their fellow Moslems unleashed terror in the small Christian colony. At the end of the day, it was confirmed that no Koran had actually been desecrated.
Meanwhile fellow Moslems continue to desecrate the Koran with impunity!
We had expressed before, our cynicism of the fervor which pious Moslems claim is generated in them to defend their holy book. In Vol 10 No 4, we cited the case in Sokoto, where in a feud between two warring Moslem factions, the first objects that were seized and destroyed were the opponents’ Koran!
In a more recent situation (late August), while innocent Christians were being burnt in their own homes by Islamic zealots on rumour of desecration of Koran in Pakistan, some pious Moslems were actually using their Korans to smuggle heroins in Jarkata, Indonesia! You bet, Moslems only see this as a simple case of attempted smuggling. No question of Koran defilement! http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/027300.php
French unease at telecom suicides
French Labour Minister Xavier Darcos is to meet the head of the country's main telecommunications company to discuss a number of suicides among its staff. Twenty-three employees of France Telecom have killed themselves since the beginning of 2008.
Unions blame tough management methods at the multinational, which was privatised in 1998. In the latest suicide occurred on Friday, when a 32-year-old woman leapt to her death at a France Telecom office in Paris.
Two days earlier, a 49-year-old man in Troyes, east of Paris, had plunged a knife into his own stomach during a meeting in which he had been told he was being transferred.
The unions say a never-ending drive for efficiency is causing emotional havoc in the workforce - especially among older employees recruited when France Telecom was part of the public sector. Since privatisation in 1998 some 40,000 jobs have gone, and unions say there is pressure on many employees either to leave or to accept new working conditions. Tough life!
Unions blame tough management methods at the multinational, which was privatised in 1998. In the latest suicide occurred on Friday, when a 32-year-old woman leapt to her death at a France Telecom office in Paris.
Two days earlier, a 49-year-old man in Troyes, east of Paris, had plunged a knife into his own stomach during a meeting in which he had been told he was being transferred.
The unions say a never-ending drive for efficiency is causing emotional havoc in the workforce - especially among older employees recruited when France Telecom was part of the public sector. Since privatisation in 1998 some 40,000 jobs have gone, and unions say there is pressure on many employees either to leave or to accept new working conditions. Tough life!
SILENCING THE CHRISTIAN VOICE ON HOMOSEXUALITY
The Gay movement, flourishing under the banner of the New World Order movement, continues to attack Christian voices with increasing intensity. We cite a few recent examples: Kwabena Peat, a senior teacher in the UK who had to audacity to complain about a training day for staff being used to promote gay rights was promptly suspended from his £50,000-a-year job (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1173579/What-makes-think-natural-heterosexual--Christian-teacher-suspended-gay-rights-promotion-row.html), About the same time David Booker, a 44 year old hostel support worker was also suspended from his job when, in response to a colleague’s question during private chat at a late shift, he had expressed his opposition to same-sex marriages and homosexual clergy. David had even added (in that private conversation) that he did not hate homosexuals as individuals and that he actually had some homosexual friends. Nevertheless, the supposedly Christian hostel he was working for felt that he had "seriously breached" the charity's code of conduct "by promoting your religious views which contained discriminatory comments regarding a person's sexual orientation". The suspension was imposed "to safeguard both residents and staff", he was advised. (www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6093378.ece)
Even a Bishop in the Church of England who attempted to defend the Scriptural position on homosexuality was soon taken to the cleaners in the newspapers. After more than half a million people, including UK’s Prime Minister’s wife, Sarah Brown, had taken to the streets of London to celebrate gay culture at the annual Pride festival in July, the bold Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali had told The Sunday Telegraph: "The Bible's teaching shows that marriage is between a man and a woman. That is the way to express our sexual nature. We welcome homosexuals, we don't want to exclude people, but we want them to repent and be changed."
Gay advocates promptly pounced on the good Bishop. Equality campaigner Peter Tatchell said it was the Bishop who needed to repent of his homophobia which Mr Tatchell claims is “against Jesus's teachings of love and compassion.”
"Homophobia is a social and moral evil, just like racism. Bigotry, even in the guise of religion, has no place in a compassionate, caring society.” Derek Munn, director of public affairs for gay rights group Stonewall, also lampooned Dr Nazir-Ali. It is unfortunate that in 2009, a Church leader should continue to promote inequality and intolerance," he told the affirming journalists.( http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/condemnation-for-bishop-who-called-for-gay-people-to-repent-1732755.html).
In a similar public celebration of homosexuality in the US, President Obama hosted a celebration of Gay Pride Month at the White House where he reiterated his strong commitment to selling the homosexuality agenda to the American people. Addressing the homosexuals, Obama had declared: ""There are good and decent people in this country who don't yet fully embrace their gay brothers and sisters -- not yet.…That's why I've spoken about these issues -- not just in front of you -- but in front of unlikely audiences, in front of African-American Church members." http://onenewsnow.com/
With Prime Ministers and Presidents now the major spokespersons for homosexuality, it sure takes courage and conviction for some government official to voice a different opinion!
Even a Bishop in the Church of England who attempted to defend the Scriptural position on homosexuality was soon taken to the cleaners in the newspapers. After more than half a million people, including UK’s Prime Minister’s wife, Sarah Brown, had taken to the streets of London to celebrate gay culture at the annual Pride festival in July, the bold Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali had told The Sunday Telegraph: "The Bible's teaching shows that marriage is between a man and a woman. That is the way to express our sexual nature. We welcome homosexuals, we don't want to exclude people, but we want them to repent and be changed."
Gay advocates promptly pounced on the good Bishop. Equality campaigner Peter Tatchell said it was the Bishop who needed to repent of his homophobia which Mr Tatchell claims is “against Jesus's teachings of love and compassion.”
"Homophobia is a social and moral evil, just like racism. Bigotry, even in the guise of religion, has no place in a compassionate, caring society.” Derek Munn, director of public affairs for gay rights group Stonewall, also lampooned Dr Nazir-Ali. It is unfortunate that in 2009, a Church leader should continue to promote inequality and intolerance," he told the affirming journalists.( http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/condemnation-for-bishop-who-called-for-gay-people-to-repent-1732755.html).
In a similar public celebration of homosexuality in the US, President Obama hosted a celebration of Gay Pride Month at the White House where he reiterated his strong commitment to selling the homosexuality agenda to the American people. Addressing the homosexuals, Obama had declared: ""There are good and decent people in this country who don't yet fully embrace their gay brothers and sisters -- not yet.…That's why I've spoken about these issues -- not just in front of you -- but in front of unlikely audiences, in front of African-American Church members." http://onenewsnow.com/
With Prime Ministers and Presidents now the major spokespersons for homosexuality, it sure takes courage and conviction for some government official to voice a different opinion!
Stakes High as Planned Parenthood Launches Major Assault on Abortion Laws
The US Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) is calling attention to two on-going crucial court cases- having to do with abortion- which “are almost certain to have a nation-shaping impact”.
The cases, one filed by Planned Parenthood (PP) in Arizona and the other, filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights at the federal level, are reactions by these professed female interests advocates to a new law passed in Arizona. The strongly worded law seeks to protect women, their preborn children as well as the legal interests of the medical personnel involved in abortion, by requiring, among other things:
* That women visit a doctor 24 hours prior to having the child removed to hear all the medical implications of the "procedure"
* That parents provide notarized consent for their minor children to have an abortion, or alternatively a judge can review the request
* That abortions be performed only by physicians, and not nurse practitioners, and
* That doctors, pharmacists, and other medical professionals be allowed follow their consciences and not be forced to participate in abortions or in the prescription and preparation of abortion-inducing drugs.
One would have thought that organizations that have long presented themselves as vanguards for women’s reproductive health will welcome such reasonable conditions accompanying the traumatic decision any woman might have to make to abort the budding new life she is carrying.
Not so! PP, rather contends that the regulations would impose an “undue burden” on women. Most reasonable unbiased people will not buy into that kind of lame argument. Apart from the clear interest that PP has in promoting sexual promiscuity for a number of reasons as highlighted in several past editions of CA!, the ADF has pointed out another major reason for the outrage being expressed by PP: money!
In requesting for the prayer of every Christian as its attorneys prosecute this landmark case, the ADF explains: “…after years of posing as the great defender of women's health, Planned Parenthood is now opposing laws that ensure strong medical care for pregnant women. Why? Because these laws will make a deep dent in the organization's income.”
This situation is akin to what the Yoruba people call the love you have for the chicken in your poultry business! For latest development on the case, visit: www.adfmedia.org/News/PRDetail/3091
The cases, one filed by Planned Parenthood (PP) in Arizona and the other, filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights at the federal level, are reactions by these professed female interests advocates to a new law passed in Arizona. The strongly worded law seeks to protect women, their preborn children as well as the legal interests of the medical personnel involved in abortion, by requiring, among other things:
* That women visit a doctor 24 hours prior to having the child removed to hear all the medical implications of the "procedure"
* That parents provide notarized consent for their minor children to have an abortion, or alternatively a judge can review the request
* That abortions be performed only by physicians, and not nurse practitioners, and
* That doctors, pharmacists, and other medical professionals be allowed follow their consciences and not be forced to participate in abortions or in the prescription and preparation of abortion-inducing drugs.
One would have thought that organizations that have long presented themselves as vanguards for women’s reproductive health will welcome such reasonable conditions accompanying the traumatic decision any woman might have to make to abort the budding new life she is carrying.
Not so! PP, rather contends that the regulations would impose an “undue burden” on women. Most reasonable unbiased people will not buy into that kind of lame argument. Apart from the clear interest that PP has in promoting sexual promiscuity for a number of reasons as highlighted in several past editions of CA!, the ADF has pointed out another major reason for the outrage being expressed by PP: money!
In requesting for the prayer of every Christian as its attorneys prosecute this landmark case, the ADF explains: “…after years of posing as the great defender of women's health, Planned Parenthood is now opposing laws that ensure strong medical care for pregnant women. Why? Because these laws will make a deep dent in the organization's income.”
This situation is akin to what the Yoruba people call the love you have for the chicken in your poultry business! For latest development on the case, visit: www.adfmedia.org/News/PRDetail/3091
Meanwhile, UN rushes final decisions on Global Warming ahead of contrary hard scientific evidences
One of the key issues tabled at the just-ended 64th General Assembly of the UN was the global response to Global Warming. A special session on the issue was chaired by the US president himself, underscoring the new partnership between the erstwhile rival entities, the UN and the US, to bring about a one world government. (In previous editions, we have discussed the UN-US rivalry and predicted, based on Scriptures, that the UN would swallow up the US; while the US, probably through NATO, will drastically alter the present face of the UN in return).
According to the US President, the UN special session was actually meant to soften the grounds ahead of the G20 meeting slated for Copenhagen later in the year.
Claiming that America is just now recognizing “the magnitude of the climate threat” President Obama proclaims the arrival of “ a new day” and “ a new era”. According to him, the US has “done more to …. reduce carbon pollution in the last eight months than at any other time in our history.” Speaking further on, Obama boldly asserted: “We know what needs to be done. We know that our planet's future depends on a global commitment to permanently reduce greenhouse gas pollution.” The job at Copenhagen, he said would be “to seek sweeping but necessary change” not minding the global recession. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/us/politics/23obama.text.html?_r=2)
Fine words as usual. The problem however is that the clear scientific data do not back all the confident assertions about carbon and greenhouse gas pollution. And it was well that the US President had to try to stampede the other nations into dubious action now, (claiming his country which used to be the major cog in the wheel has now repented), for further absolutely irrefutable scientific data are streaming out daily from well-respected sources to contradict the basis on which Mr Obama and his friends in the New Age movement are building their arguments.
For instance Professor Richard Lindzen of MIT has just published a paper which proves that IPCC models being used by the UN are overstating by 6 times, the relevance of CO2 in Earth’s Atmosphere. Dr. Lindzen has found out, based on ACTUAL MEASUREMENTS, that heat is radiated out in to space at a far higher rate than any modeling system to date can account for. (Portland Civil Rights Examiner August 18)
In the July 2009 edition of its monthly CO2 report, The Science and Public Policy Institute, (SPPI, www.scienceandpublicpolicy.org) presented a compilation of a number of fresh, cutting edge REAL DATA, showing clearly that the MODELS on which the UN decisions are based are far off the mark. According to SPPI editor, Christopher Monckton, “ NO LONGER can it be credibly argued that “global warming” is worse than previously thought. No longer can it be argued that “global warming” was, is, or will be any sort of global crisis. Recent papers in the peer-reviewed literature, combined with streams of ACTUAL DATA from satellites and thermometers, now provide a complete picture of why it is that the UN’s climate panel, the worldwide political class, and other “global warming” profiteers are wrong in their assumption that the enterprises of humankind will disastrously warm the Earth.”
(Editorial: The science is in. the scare is out. Recent papers and data give a complete picture of why the UN is wrong.- http://scienceandpublicpolicy.ort/images/stories/papers/originals/co2_report_july_09.pdf).
The environmental lobby of the New Age movement would want irreversible political actions to have already taken place (as in Copenhagen) before such facts as above become common knowledge.
It is clear that the global warming issue is nothing more than another strategy to foist upon the world a global government – just as the Scriptures predicted, some thousands of years ago. Christian watchmen have been sounding this warning for decades now, even before the beginning of the global warming hype! While we may not be able to stop the Movement, all these developments should be a wake-up call for us to take more interests in prophecy, especially as it pertains to Man’s stewardship of the planet earth. It is time to draw much closer to the Almighty God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. The only true Potentate.
According to the US President, the UN special session was actually meant to soften the grounds ahead of the G20 meeting slated for Copenhagen later in the year.
Claiming that America is just now recognizing “the magnitude of the climate threat” President Obama proclaims the arrival of “ a new day” and “ a new era”. According to him, the US has “done more to …. reduce carbon pollution in the last eight months than at any other time in our history.” Speaking further on, Obama boldly asserted: “We know what needs to be done. We know that our planet's future depends on a global commitment to permanently reduce greenhouse gas pollution.” The job at Copenhagen, he said would be “to seek sweeping but necessary change” not minding the global recession. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/us/politics/23obama.text.html?_r=2)
Fine words as usual. The problem however is that the clear scientific data do not back all the confident assertions about carbon and greenhouse gas pollution. And it was well that the US President had to try to stampede the other nations into dubious action now, (claiming his country which used to be the major cog in the wheel has now repented), for further absolutely irrefutable scientific data are streaming out daily from well-respected sources to contradict the basis on which Mr Obama and his friends in the New Age movement are building their arguments.
For instance Professor Richard Lindzen of MIT has just published a paper which proves that IPCC models being used by the UN are overstating by 6 times, the relevance of CO2 in Earth’s Atmosphere. Dr. Lindzen has found out, based on ACTUAL MEASUREMENTS, that heat is radiated out in to space at a far higher rate than any modeling system to date can account for. (Portland Civil Rights Examiner August 18)
In the July 2009 edition of its monthly CO2 report, The Science and Public Policy Institute, (SPPI, www.scienceandpublicpolicy.org) presented a compilation of a number of fresh, cutting edge REAL DATA, showing clearly that the MODELS on which the UN decisions are based are far off the mark. According to SPPI editor, Christopher Monckton, “ NO LONGER can it be credibly argued that “global warming” is worse than previously thought. No longer can it be argued that “global warming” was, is, or will be any sort of global crisis. Recent papers in the peer-reviewed literature, combined with streams of ACTUAL DATA from satellites and thermometers, now provide a complete picture of why it is that the UN’s climate panel, the worldwide political class, and other “global warming” profiteers are wrong in their assumption that the enterprises of humankind will disastrously warm the Earth.”
(Editorial: The science is in. the scare is out. Recent papers and data give a complete picture of why the UN is wrong.- http://scienceandpublicpolicy.ort/images/stories/papers/originals/co2_report_july_09.pdf).
The environmental lobby of the New Age movement would want irreversible political actions to have already taken place (as in Copenhagen) before such facts as above become common knowledge.
It is clear that the global warming issue is nothing more than another strategy to foist upon the world a global government – just as the Scriptures predicted, some thousands of years ago. Christian watchmen have been sounding this warning for decades now, even before the beginning of the global warming hype! While we may not be able to stop the Movement, all these developments should be a wake-up call for us to take more interests in prophecy, especially as it pertains to Man’s stewardship of the planet earth. It is time to draw much closer to the Almighty God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. The only true Potentate.
US EPA REDEPLOYS STAFF WHO PRESENTED SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING
With New World Order advocates already making good progress in their agenda of using the Environmental platform to gather the nations of Planet Earth under a common (theirs) authority, any report threatening to throw spanners in the work – even if based on sound evidence and logic – is certainly a pain in the neck and is most unwelcome.
This is what Alan Carlin, an employee at US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Center for Environmental Economics has found out, following his 98-page internal report in which he questioned EPA’s clamour for regulating gases like carbon dioxide as a way to reduce global warming. According to a news item on Foxnews (June 29), Carlin’s report had shown that the information the EPA was using was out of date, and that even as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, global temperatures have declined. According to FOX news, “Specifically, the report noted that global temperatures were on a downward trend over the past 11 years, that scientists do not necessarily believe that storms will become more frequent or more intense due to global warming, and that the theory that temperatures will cause Greenland ice to rapidly melt has been "greatly diminished."”
The response to the report was swift. Carlin got an e-mail from his immediate boss, the Center’s Director Al McGartland, pulling him off the climate change issue. "I don't want you to spend any additional EPA time on climate change. No papers, no research, etc., at least until we see what EPA is going to do with climate," McGartland wrote. In another communication, McGartland indicated he was under pressure from above to act the way he did: "It was reassigning you or losing my job, and I didn't want to lose my job," Carlin paraphrased what he claimed McGartland told him.
Does this kind of situation get someone thinking what’s really going on? We pray it does!
Click here to read Carlin's report. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/projects/pdf/epa_report2.pdf
This is what Alan Carlin, an employee at US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Center for Environmental Economics has found out, following his 98-page internal report in which he questioned EPA’s clamour for regulating gases like carbon dioxide as a way to reduce global warming. According to a news item on Foxnews (June 29), Carlin’s report had shown that the information the EPA was using was out of date, and that even as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, global temperatures have declined. According to FOX news, “Specifically, the report noted that global temperatures were on a downward trend over the past 11 years, that scientists do not necessarily believe that storms will become more frequent or more intense due to global warming, and that the theory that temperatures will cause Greenland ice to rapidly melt has been "greatly diminished."”
The response to the report was swift. Carlin got an e-mail from his immediate boss, the Center’s Director Al McGartland, pulling him off the climate change issue. "I don't want you to spend any additional EPA time on climate change. No papers, no research, etc., at least until we see what EPA is going to do with climate," McGartland wrote. In another communication, McGartland indicated he was under pressure from above to act the way he did: "It was reassigning you or losing my job, and I didn't want to lose my job," Carlin paraphrased what he claimed McGartland told him.
Does this kind of situation get someone thinking what’s really going on? We pray it does!
Click here to read Carlin's report. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/projects/pdf/epa_report2.pdf
TECHWATCH: Israeli Researchers Generating Electricity from Road Traffic
Researchers at Haifa's Technion Institute of Technology in Israel have started testing a new system for generating electricity from road traffic. Based on piezo electricity, the system uses pads of metallic crystals buried over hundreds of meters of road to generate electricity when put under the pressure of quickly moving traffic. It is a novel application to a well-known concept (used for instance in loudspeakers). It is estimated that one truck can generate 2,000 volts which could already be used to power traffic lights or street lamps. A kilometer of "electric road" could generate enough power for 40 houses, and progress in the technology could generate enough electricity to feed the national power grid. It is planned to extend the technology to railways in the future. (Israeli National News - July 12, 2009)
Verichip implants – new life for a nearly failed project
In Vol 11 No 3, we wrote that the company spearheading the promotion of microchip implants into people, Verichip of Florida, was embarking on a final “do or die” blitzkrieg campaign to sell its unwelcome products. At that time, the CEO and Chairman of the company, Scott Silverman, had declared: "If, three months from now, nobody gets the chip, we will have to look at our business model.” http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/articleview/4055/2/1/. Well, Verichip and its products are, (not surprising to us), weathering the storm. Even if it is at the expense of former secret allies coming up into the open to shore up the company’s shares with private funds – literally, making donations!
One massive boost has come from public funds however - at the direct instance of the President of the US, Barak Obama. Many people cried ‘foul’ reading in a press release that Verichip now has access to generous support from the “stimulus funds” provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. (http://www.verichipcorp.com/pressreleases/082409.html). Little wonder, the fortunes of Verichip has been improving in leaps as it continues to come out with more of her dubious products, which more government departments are coming out to patronize on behalf of a still skeptical public. Earlier in August, VeriChip announced a new product, VeriTrace, developed for “emergency preparedness”, to be used on dead people. A statement released by the company announced the sale of a VeriTrace system, including 1,000 RFID microchips, to Kentucky's Green River District Health Department "for disaster preparedness and emergency management needs."
The company explains that VeriTrace, was created in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, where it was used by the Federal Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team. The microchips are implanted in human remains following a disaster or duct-taped to bones, in order to maintain detailed records, particularly in events that result in “hundreds or thousands” of fatalities. According to the RFID Journal, since Hurricane Katrina, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Hawaii Department of Health, the Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations Response System and the medical examiner's office in the Department of Heath in Erie County, N.Y, have all acquired VeriTrace systems (www.rfidjournal.com/article/print/3729). Earlier in the year, VeriChip itself announced sales to Maryland's Calvert Memorial Hospital and to Mercer and Atlantic counties in New Jersey (http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-202254400.html).
But the biggest breakthrough is yet to come for the Verichip it seems. And again, it’s all thanks to President Obama. Many people were shocked to discover that tucked in between the 1,017 pages of the highly contended Obamacare bill, (the proposed reforms in the health sector, - details of which are, in the main, the exact opposite of positions passionately canvassed by Ben Carson in his book, The Big Picture) is an incredulous proposal: The implanted chip would be an integral part of the package! (see http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/aahca.pdf).
Specifically, on page 1004, the bill introduced a class II implantable device, described as an “implantable radio-frequency transponder system for patient identification and health information.” Apparently, according to the new proposal, such an implant would be needed to collect data in medical patients such as “claims data, patient survey data, standardized analytic files that allow for the pooling and analysis of data from disparate data environments, electronic health records, and any other data deemed appropriate by the Secretary.”
Directly incorporating the Verichip implant into the new Health Care package in this way, not only guarantees more steady, massive funding for the chip, but will virtually make it mandatory, as the alternatives [private health insurance, like private education] would be priced far out of the reach of millions of common folks in the US! Furthermore, in the newly proposed Obamacare, any child “born in the United States who at the time of birth is not otherwise covered under acceptable coverage” will automatically be placed into the CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), which incorporates, (need it be said?), the implanted microchip (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text)
In the meantime, new “solutions” are constantly being proposed - for non-existent problems - as advocates of microchip implants get more brazen, and probably desperate, to stamp their mark on society. In one of the latest developments, according to WND, “Over half the birthing facilities in Ohio are being equipped with an RFID infant protection system placed on infants [as anklets] at birth to prevent them from being abducted from the hospital or from being given to the wrong mother.” However, as pointed out by Katherine Albrecht, founder and director of CASPIAN, (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering), "Baby snatching from hospital facilities is a diaper full of nonsense," She cited a January 2003 report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which concluded that of approximately 4.2 million births per year at 3,500 birthing centers in the U.S., abductions by non-family members are estimated at between zero and 12 per year. And even then, in 95% of those cases, the mother is re-united with the child. “The VeriChip infant security system is a technology looking for a solution," Albrecht concluded. [For more details, see http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=45542]
As we have reported previously, proposals are rife, to make the implanted chip MANDATORY for all, beginning with various classes of people with poorly defined human rights. Such include all immigrants into the US (http://www.newswithviews.com/McIntyre/Liz5.htm), pilgrims to Saudi Arabia (see CA! vol 12 no 3), HIV carriers in Indonesia’s Papua New Guinea ( Vol 10 No 4), Soldiers and Alzheimer’s patients in the US (Vol 10 Nos 4 and 5); and in the UK, autistic children, Prisoners, and Policemen (vol 10 no6, vol 11 nos 1 and 2). The Missionary Loren Davis also authoritatively affirmed that “the U.N. has already attempted to insert these microchips in refugees in African refugee camps.” (see http://www.lorendavis.com/news_articles1.html.
A new development that might very well result in millions of confused people worldwide jostling to receive an implant is the current considerably-hyped H1N1 (swine flu) scare! Announcing a new partnership with a Minnesota company, Receptors LLC, Verichip described a new product that will incorporate virus-detection technology, enabling the automatic detection of swine flu or other viruses deemed a “bio-threat” in the host’s bloodstream. (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId;=107588 )
Meanwhile, as we wrote in Vol 11 No 4, the Verichip might as well be a mere distraction afterall. A much more to-be-taken-serious organization, the US DARPA, working with well-known eccentric but highly gifted scientists like Prof Kevin Warwick, is making much progress in developing a much advanced implantable chip, the Multi Micro Electrode Array (MMEA) with far more advanced capabilities, beyond what can be contemplated by the Verichip. All this away from the prying eyes of the public who are continually mesmerized by Verichip, the mere John-the-Baptist product!
It is indeed appropriate to tremble for fear of what is coming upon the world, if you do not yet have the Lord Jesus Christ as your Ally!
One massive boost has come from public funds however - at the direct instance of the President of the US, Barak Obama. Many people cried ‘foul’ reading in a press release that Verichip now has access to generous support from the “stimulus funds” provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. (http://www.verichipcorp.com/pressreleases/082409.html). Little wonder, the fortunes of Verichip has been improving in leaps as it continues to come out with more of her dubious products, which more government departments are coming out to patronize on behalf of a still skeptical public. Earlier in August, VeriChip announced a new product, VeriTrace, developed for “emergency preparedness”, to be used on dead people. A statement released by the company announced the sale of a VeriTrace system, including 1,000 RFID microchips, to Kentucky's Green River District Health Department "for disaster preparedness and emergency management needs."
The company explains that VeriTrace, was created in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, where it was used by the Federal Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team. The microchips are implanted in human remains following a disaster or duct-taped to bones, in order to maintain detailed records, particularly in events that result in “hundreds or thousands” of fatalities. According to the RFID Journal, since Hurricane Katrina, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Hawaii Department of Health, the Florida Emergency Mortuary Operations Response System and the medical examiner's office in the Department of Heath in Erie County, N.Y, have all acquired VeriTrace systems (www.rfidjournal.com/article/print/3729). Earlier in the year, VeriChip itself announced sales to Maryland's Calvert Memorial Hospital and to Mercer and Atlantic counties in New Jersey (http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-202254400.html).
But the biggest breakthrough is yet to come for the Verichip it seems. And again, it’s all thanks to President Obama. Many people were shocked to discover that tucked in between the 1,017 pages of the highly contended Obamacare bill, (the proposed reforms in the health sector, - details of which are, in the main, the exact opposite of positions passionately canvassed by Ben Carson in his book, The Big Picture) is an incredulous proposal: The implanted chip would be an integral part of the package! (see http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/aahca.pdf).
Specifically, on page 1004, the bill introduced a class II implantable device, described as an “implantable radio-frequency transponder system for patient identification and health information.” Apparently, according to the new proposal, such an implant would be needed to collect data in medical patients such as “claims data, patient survey data, standardized analytic files that allow for the pooling and analysis of data from disparate data environments, electronic health records, and any other data deemed appropriate by the Secretary.”
Directly incorporating the Verichip implant into the new Health Care package in this way, not only guarantees more steady, massive funding for the chip, but will virtually make it mandatory, as the alternatives [private health insurance, like private education] would be priced far out of the reach of millions of common folks in the US! Furthermore, in the newly proposed Obamacare, any child “born in the United States who at the time of birth is not otherwise covered under acceptable coverage” will automatically be placed into the CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), which incorporates, (need it be said?), the implanted microchip (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text)
In the meantime, new “solutions” are constantly being proposed - for non-existent problems - as advocates of microchip implants get more brazen, and probably desperate, to stamp their mark on society. In one of the latest developments, according to WND, “Over half the birthing facilities in Ohio are being equipped with an RFID infant protection system placed on infants [as anklets] at birth to prevent them from being abducted from the hospital or from being given to the wrong mother.” However, as pointed out by Katherine Albrecht, founder and director of CASPIAN, (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering), "Baby snatching from hospital facilities is a diaper full of nonsense," She cited a January 2003 report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which concluded that of approximately 4.2 million births per year at 3,500 birthing centers in the U.S., abductions by non-family members are estimated at between zero and 12 per year. And even then, in 95% of those cases, the mother is re-united with the child. “The VeriChip infant security system is a technology looking for a solution," Albrecht concluded. [For more details, see http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=45542]
As we have reported previously, proposals are rife, to make the implanted chip MANDATORY for all, beginning with various classes of people with poorly defined human rights. Such include all immigrants into the US (http://www.newswithviews.com/McIntyre/Liz5.htm), pilgrims to Saudi Arabia (see CA! vol 12 no 3), HIV carriers in Indonesia’s Papua New Guinea ( Vol 10 No 4), Soldiers and Alzheimer’s patients in the US (Vol 10 Nos 4 and 5); and in the UK, autistic children, Prisoners, and Policemen (vol 10 no6, vol 11 nos 1 and 2). The Missionary Loren Davis also authoritatively affirmed that “the U.N. has already attempted to insert these microchips in refugees in African refugee camps.” (see http://www.lorendavis.com/news_articles1.html.
A new development that might very well result in millions of confused people worldwide jostling to receive an implant is the current considerably-hyped H1N1 (swine flu) scare! Announcing a new partnership with a Minnesota company, Receptors LLC, Verichip described a new product that will incorporate virus-detection technology, enabling the automatic detection of swine flu or other viruses deemed a “bio-threat” in the host’s bloodstream. (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId;=107588 )
Meanwhile, as we wrote in Vol 11 No 4, the Verichip might as well be a mere distraction afterall. A much more to-be-taken-serious organization, the US DARPA, working with well-known eccentric but highly gifted scientists like Prof Kevin Warwick, is making much progress in developing a much advanced implantable chip, the Multi Micro Electrode Array (MMEA) with far more advanced capabilities, beyond what can be contemplated by the Verichip. All this away from the prying eyes of the public who are continually mesmerized by Verichip, the mere John-the-Baptist product!
It is indeed appropriate to tremble for fear of what is coming upon the world, if you do not yet have the Lord Jesus Christ as your Ally!
Pastor Adeboye leads prayers at the UN
The recent 64th General Assembly of the United Nations was significant for Nigeria not only in the conspicuous absence of the Nigerian President (who was attending the opening of a University in Saudi Arabia, where he was reportedly not listed as a guest – suggesting there are other factors for his absence at the UN); but also in its featuring of a Nigerian pastor to lead the pre-Summit prayers. Leading ambassadors and representatives of more than 68 nations in the prayers organized by the UN International Prayer Council at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday Sept 10 was Pastor E.A Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Of course, it requires nothing short of the wisdom and courage of a Daniel to speak the gospel truth to a body so obviously committed to World Governance and a global (see-no-evil) religion, under the guise of “good works” and “tolerance”. Many a pastor, notably US Rick Warren (aka the UN Pastor), have fallen prey to the glamour and pressure for “diplomatic civility”, instigated by the UN, eventually leading them to compromise the Christian message. This serious issue has been addressed in several past editions of Church Arise!
Thank God for the man of God from Nigeria. According to news reports (see for example, http://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=8017), Pastor Adeboye first gently re-directed the emphasis of the meeting, tagged "Uniting in prayer for the United Nations," and advertised as “open to all Christians and Moslems at the UN”, from an innocuous inter-faith affair to a clear Christian tone.
In his presentations as the keynote speaker at the event, Pastor Adeboye told the gathering that "the greatest problem the world is facing today is not the one we are trying to grapple with here. It is the attack on our youths, our children, our tomorrow, while we are busy planning strategy." According to Pastor Adeboye, the fire on the roof of all nations at the moment is the Internet, through which the enemy is quietly luring children and youths into pornography, terrorism and similar dangerous endeavours. In his words, by teaching youths that the value system of their parents is unduly restrictive, “the Internet … has become an avenue for the enemy to attack humanity. This is a problem facing every nation, rich or poor, first world or third world." The big challenge then, according to Pastor Adeboye is: "How do you fight an enemy you cannot see, an enemy you cannot defeat by force of arms, an enemy you cannot legislate against, an enemy you cannot fight with diplomacy?”
Having thus prepared the grounds, Pastor Adeboye brought in the gospel message: the situation is not hopeless, but there is only one hope. In his words: "It is best to use the age-old method of warfare by calling in on the ally. The greatest Ally is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of hosts."
Very well put. More grace to you sir, in Jesus name!
Of course, it requires nothing short of the wisdom and courage of a Daniel to speak the gospel truth to a body so obviously committed to World Governance and a global (see-no-evil) religion, under the guise of “good works” and “tolerance”. Many a pastor, notably US Rick Warren (aka the UN Pastor), have fallen prey to the glamour and pressure for “diplomatic civility”, instigated by the UN, eventually leading them to compromise the Christian message. This serious issue has been addressed in several past editions of Church Arise!
Thank God for the man of God from Nigeria. According to news reports (see for example, http://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=8017), Pastor Adeboye first gently re-directed the emphasis of the meeting, tagged "Uniting in prayer for the United Nations," and advertised as “open to all Christians and Moslems at the UN”, from an innocuous inter-faith affair to a clear Christian tone.
In his presentations as the keynote speaker at the event, Pastor Adeboye told the gathering that "the greatest problem the world is facing today is not the one we are trying to grapple with here. It is the attack on our youths, our children, our tomorrow, while we are busy planning strategy." According to Pastor Adeboye, the fire on the roof of all nations at the moment is the Internet, through which the enemy is quietly luring children and youths into pornography, terrorism and similar dangerous endeavours. In his words, by teaching youths that the value system of their parents is unduly restrictive, “the Internet … has become an avenue for the enemy to attack humanity. This is a problem facing every nation, rich or poor, first world or third world." The big challenge then, according to Pastor Adeboye is: "How do you fight an enemy you cannot see, an enemy you cannot defeat by force of arms, an enemy you cannot legislate against, an enemy you cannot fight with diplomacy?”
Having thus prepared the grounds, Pastor Adeboye brought in the gospel message: the situation is not hopeless, but there is only one hope. In his words: "It is best to use the age-old method of warfare by calling in on the ally. The greatest Ally is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of hosts."
Very well put. More grace to you sir, in Jesus name!
Tell my people I died well – Rev George Orji
Recently, the Christian community in Nigeria at least came up with some measure of response to the perennial killing with impunity of Christians by so-called fundamentalist Moslems – who never seem to be in short supply! Following the latest wave of killings, the Boko Haram uprising, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) successfully put together a well-publicised and befitting Service of Songs (on Thursday Sept 10) in the memory of Christian pastors brutally killed, cold blooded, in the latest adventure by the Jihadists. The service held simultaneously in Abuja and in London.
Although several Christians were unfortunately caught in the crossfire, the Boko Haram incident could actually be seen as God instigating the fighting force of militant Islam in Nigeria against their double-faced masters and sponsors – and exposing their ugly secrets. One surprising element of the Boko Haram movement is the wide spread of its membership, cutting across all strata of society – from highly placed public officers (including an ex-member of a state cabinet), former lecturers in institutions of higher learning, to thousands of street urchins.
On one hand, it was truly saddening, to read about scores of teenagers, brainwashed by the Boko Haram sect, pouring out like mindless robots, to be mowed down by the Nigerian military. Teenagers that could have contributed to the greatness of Nigeria were turned into vermins under the guise of Islamic education with active, even if informal, support of state governments. It is an open secret that the core of the Islamic killing machine deployed against Christians in many a religious crises in Northern Nigeria in recent times (eg Jos crises) has been recruited from Bauchi, well within Boko Haram catchment area. Even though the key leaders of the Boko Haram (including those who voluntarily turned in themselves) were summarily killed while in police custody, no doubt to protect the identity of their sponsors, no one could doubt the involvement of key state government officials - at the topmost levels. Akin to the report in the last edition of CA!, of Talibans buying children in Pakistan to be recruited as suicide bombers, the story of Boko Haram is no less pathetic. As is usual for any case involving Islam however, none of the usually vocal “Child Rights” advocacy NGOs seems to either have noticed the situation or find voice to ask for government investigations to address similar existing situations.
Nevertheless, several innocent Christians were caught in the crossfires between this Moslem killing machinery and their state sponsors. According to eye-witness accounts, in the face of stark terror, many nominal Christians hurriedly agreed to dump their “faith” for Islam in order to save their necks. (Many of them were killed nevertheless, either by the jihadists or soldiers’ stray bullets!). Thank God for those who like Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego, readily embraced the ultimate price, calmly preferring to be slaughtered rather than denounce their Lord. In this honorable group are Pastor Sabo Yakubu, of Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), Reverend Sylvester O Akpan of National Evangelical Mission, and Reverend George Orji of Good News of Christ Church . The Lord providentially allowed some other faithful brethren to escape the Jihadist long knives, so that the world may learn of the faith and courage of our martyred brethren (Heb 12:35). The message sent by Rev George Orji through a co-captive, “[in case you make it out,] tell my people I died well” made the headlines all over the world. Details of some eye-witness accounts of the incident can be found at www.tribune.com.ng/07082009/features.html or at news.onlinenigeria.com/?a=6864. Delivering the sermon during the funeral rites for late Rev. Sabo Yakubu, COCIN Regional chairman, Rev Bulus Azi urged Christians to be prepared for death, anytime as their calling may demand.
The Christian community seems to have given up trying to get the Nigerian government to live up to its responsibility of protecting innocent citizens or compensating their losses in the hands of militant Islamists. In the Sept 10 event, the PFN rolled out the drums, according to its National Secretary, “to honor these Christian heroes and also draw international attention to the systemic problem that has led to the death of adherents of Christian faith in Northern Nigeria.” In his message, National President of the PFN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, urged the congregation not to mourn the Christians who died in the crisis as the service was a celebration in the hope of Christ. He later led other Christian leaders in giving personal donations in cash and kind to the families of the slain pastors – in addition to corporate gifts by the Fellowship. Read an account at http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/sunday_magazine/article05//indexn3_html?pdate=130909&ptitle=Boko%20Haram:%20Christian%20Body%20Brings%20Hope,%20Succour%20To%20Victims%27%20Families&cpdate=180909
Although several Christians were unfortunately caught in the crossfire, the Boko Haram incident could actually be seen as God instigating the fighting force of militant Islam in Nigeria against their double-faced masters and sponsors – and exposing their ugly secrets. One surprising element of the Boko Haram movement is the wide spread of its membership, cutting across all strata of society – from highly placed public officers (including an ex-member of a state cabinet), former lecturers in institutions of higher learning, to thousands of street urchins.
On one hand, it was truly saddening, to read about scores of teenagers, brainwashed by the Boko Haram sect, pouring out like mindless robots, to be mowed down by the Nigerian military. Teenagers that could have contributed to the greatness of Nigeria were turned into vermins under the guise of Islamic education with active, even if informal, support of state governments. It is an open secret that the core of the Islamic killing machine deployed against Christians in many a religious crises in Northern Nigeria in recent times (eg Jos crises) has been recruited from Bauchi, well within Boko Haram catchment area. Even though the key leaders of the Boko Haram (including those who voluntarily turned in themselves) were summarily killed while in police custody, no doubt to protect the identity of their sponsors, no one could doubt the involvement of key state government officials - at the topmost levels. Akin to the report in the last edition of CA!, of Talibans buying children in Pakistan to be recruited as suicide bombers, the story of Boko Haram is no less pathetic. As is usual for any case involving Islam however, none of the usually vocal “Child Rights” advocacy NGOs seems to either have noticed the situation or find voice to ask for government investigations to address similar existing situations.
Nevertheless, several innocent Christians were caught in the crossfires between this Moslem killing machinery and their state sponsors. According to eye-witness accounts, in the face of stark terror, many nominal Christians hurriedly agreed to dump their “faith” for Islam in order to save their necks. (Many of them were killed nevertheless, either by the jihadists or soldiers’ stray bullets!). Thank God for those who like Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego, readily embraced the ultimate price, calmly preferring to be slaughtered rather than denounce their Lord. In this honorable group are Pastor Sabo Yakubu, of Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), Reverend Sylvester O Akpan of National Evangelical Mission, and Reverend George Orji of Good News of Christ Church . The Lord providentially allowed some other faithful brethren to escape the Jihadist long knives, so that the world may learn of the faith and courage of our martyred brethren (Heb 12:35). The message sent by Rev George Orji through a co-captive, “[in case you make it out,] tell my people I died well” made the headlines all over the world. Details of some eye-witness accounts of the incident can be found at www.tribune.com.ng/07082009/features.html or at news.onlinenigeria.com/?a=6864. Delivering the sermon during the funeral rites for late Rev. Sabo Yakubu, COCIN Regional chairman, Rev Bulus Azi urged Christians to be prepared for death, anytime as their calling may demand.
The Christian community seems to have given up trying to get the Nigerian government to live up to its responsibility of protecting innocent citizens or compensating their losses in the hands of militant Islamists. In the Sept 10 event, the PFN rolled out the drums, according to its National Secretary, “to honor these Christian heroes and also draw international attention to the systemic problem that has led to the death of adherents of Christian faith in Northern Nigeria.” In his message, National President of the PFN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, urged the congregation not to mourn the Christians who died in the crisis as the service was a celebration in the hope of Christ. He later led other Christian leaders in giving personal donations in cash and kind to the families of the slain pastors – in addition to corporate gifts by the Fellowship. Read an account at http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/sunday_magazine/article05//indexn3_html?pdate=130909&ptitle=Boko%20Haram:%20Christian%20Body%20Brings%20Hope,%20Succour%20To%20Victims%27%20Families&cpdate=180909
JUBILEE NIGERIA!
Against a great deal of odds, Nigeria survived seven sabbaths of years (49 years) as an independent Nation on October 1, 2009. Now according to Scriptural principles, the fiftieth year is the year of release, the year of Jubilee. By God’s law, for those who understand and believe, all clocks pertaining to captivity and curses (involving either people or property) could be re-set after 49 years (Lev.25:10). Based on this principle, several Christian leaders in Nigeria have been mobilizing their congregations to be spiritually alert as Nigeria enters her year of Jubilee. One major umbrella organization spearheading the move is the Nigeria Jubilee 2010 (www.NigeriaJubilee2010.org). There are evidences that many Churches are taking the situation quite seriously. For instance, at the RCCG, all members were encouraged to fast and pray for 7 days, while Pastors and Ministers were encouraged to undergo a 5-day “marathon” fasting for the country in this remarkable season.
Church Arise! intensely believes that Nigeria’s time has indeed come. Even though it looks as if the country’s spirit is at one of her lowest ebbs ever (especially with so many surrogate maximum leaders – leading to a phenomenon one newspaper described as “out-sourced leadership”), it is true that the onset of dawn is characterized by intense darkness. We pray that unlike the economic expert at Samaria (2 Kings 7:1ff), Nigerian readers of CA! will not only see the unbelievable upcoming transformation, but will also fully partake in it - as well as be available as agents to sustain it!
Nigeria at various times, even at her most inglorious moments, has been somehow used of the LORD to frustrate and destabilize the careful calculations of New World Order mafias. She has proved to be an enigmatic and totally unpredictable entity defying all political and socio-economic theories! Watch out as Nigeria rises to play this role in more glorious and positive manner, as the coming of the Lord draws even nearer still. Congratulations Nigeria: you made it afterall!
"In that day, Egypt (Africa) shall rank with Israel... a blessing in the midst of the earth" - Isaiah 19:19-24
Church Arise! intensely believes that Nigeria’s time has indeed come. Even though it looks as if the country’s spirit is at one of her lowest ebbs ever (especially with so many surrogate maximum leaders – leading to a phenomenon one newspaper described as “out-sourced leadership”), it is true that the onset of dawn is characterized by intense darkness. We pray that unlike the economic expert at Samaria (2 Kings 7:1ff), Nigerian readers of CA! will not only see the unbelievable upcoming transformation, but will also fully partake in it - as well as be available as agents to sustain it!
Nigeria at various times, even at her most inglorious moments, has been somehow used of the LORD to frustrate and destabilize the careful calculations of New World Order mafias. She has proved to be an enigmatic and totally unpredictable entity defying all political and socio-economic theories! Watch out as Nigeria rises to play this role in more glorious and positive manner, as the coming of the Lord draws even nearer still. Congratulations Nigeria: you made it afterall!
"In that day, Egypt (Africa) shall rank with Israel... a blessing in the midst of the earth" - Isaiah 19:19-24
Middle East Rumblings
While the world grimly awaits the expected sudden unleashing of Israeli’s Air Force on Iranian nuclear facilities, the real groundwork of equally monumental proportions were the recent exchanges between US President Obama and Israeli’s PM, Bibi Netanyahu. Two historic speeches, made by the duo in the month of June, are central to the issue of peace and security in the Middle East. These speeches might as well go down as among the most important speeches of our generation. Here we present some analyses.
Barack Obama’s Speech
Obama’s speech given at the Cairo University on June 4 left most of the official Arab world reeling with enthusiasm. (The same cannot be said for the Jews though!) Americans and most of the rest of the world praised the speech, basically for its political sagacity and craftiness. It requires much astituteness to even attempt to officially broach most of the topics discussed by Obama, right there on Arab soil. The zenith of the praises and adulation certainly must be the remarks by Newsweek editor, Evan Thomas, who declared on MSNBC: "I mean in a way Obama's standing above the country, above the world, he's sort of God."
(www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=100660)
In the speech, meant to be frank and direct, Obama in his usual fashion, presented his impressive credentials – Moslem background, marginalized minority, etc. Thereafter he quickly began to shower platitudes on Islam which he praised for carrying "the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment." He further praised "innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed." Most of these statements were later to be challenged by commentators as gross inaccurate exaggerations (for example see Spencer at www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026426.php).
Of course, the kernel of the speech was to seek “a new beginning” in the relationship between the US and the Islamic world; but invariably, it would appear that the gift Obama was offering in exchange for this new relationship was the destiny of the nation Israel. In one of the later-to-be most widely criticized portions of his speech, Obama equated the Holocaust to Palestinian "dislocation." While seemingly countering the silly ideas popularized by people like Iran’s Ahmadinejhad that the holocaust- in which about 6 million Jews were brutally murdered by Hitler- did not actually happen, Obama went ahead to suggest that not only did the event happen, it was the main justification for Israel to have a place in their ancestral homeland. (The Jewish response to this is mentioned under Bibi’s speech below)
It is understandable that Obama should try to be as even-handed and polite as the occasion demanded; but one wonders if he could not, given his noted oratory and communication prowess, have mentioned at least some of the serious on-going human-rights abuse cases notoriously going on in the Arab world. Such as those being meted out especially to Egyptian Christian Copts, not to talk of the non-Arabs in Darfur. Amazingly, Obama even managed to create the opposite impression – praising the “misunderstood” moslems for their tolerance. And that, in the face of the general unhidden rash religious intolerance from most of the Moslem world where conversion from Islam remains a capital crime! It is hard to say whether Obama himself believes all the sweet things he was saying; or was only using them as a strategy of irony to get the Islamic world thinking!
Whatever be the case, Obama revealed his [or at least his speech writers] closer affinity to Islam than Christianity in his use of words. For instance he described Arabia as the place where Islam was first “revealed” (rather than “founded” – as a non-muslim would most likely have said); and he used the Islamic expression “Peace be unto him”, not only for the Islamic founding prophet, but also for the Lord Jesus Christ. No Christian, would of course have used the equivalent of “may His soul rest in peace” for a living Saviour!
An Islamic response making non-sense of most of Obama’s unspoken hopes and exposing the raw nerves he was trying to glibly gloss over, was made by fellow American, Abu Mansour al-Amriki. A Moslem who left the US to join an Al Qaeda-linked group in Somalia, Al-Amriki in a tape released on July 9 and posted on several jihadist web sites, strongly condemned his President’s efforts to seek “a new beginning” with the Muslim world, mocking Obama's “magic of charisma” and warning of more attacks against U.S. interests. FoxNews, carried a transcript:
“Despite the fact that you have been ... forced [by Muslim fighters] to at least pretend to extend your hand in peace to the Muslims, we cannot and shall not extend our hands. . Rather, we shall extend to you our swords, until you leave our lands.”
Continuing in the 20-minute audiotape, Al-Amriki said: “Let this not come as a surprise to those who are mesmerized by Obama’s speech in Cairo, our positions ... have not changed in the least. ……A Muslim doesn’t look to peace, security, education, work, or the love of any other number of things as his ultimate goals…,” All these coming from a fellow American? Clearly, Obama is overlooking some basic facts!
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Speech(es)
On Sunday June 14, at the Bar-Ilan University, Tel Aviv, Netanyahu gave an official response to Obama’s Cairo speech. (The complete, unedited text of the speech can be found here
(www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2009/Address_PM_Netanyahu_Bar-Ilan_University_14-Jun-2009.htm)
In the speech, Netanyahu, following Obama’s approach, went all out to declare Israel’s desire and unwavering commitment to peace. Alluding in particular to the scripture of swords being turned to plowshare (Isa. 2:4), he said it was Jewish prophets that gave the world a vision of global end-time peace.
Addressing the Arabs directly he said at one place: I turn to all Arab leaders tonight and I say: “Let us meet. Let us speak of peace and let us make peace. I am ready to meet with you at any time. I am willing to go to Damascus, to Riyadh, to Beirut, to any place- including Jerusalem…” In another place he said: “I turn to you, our Palestinian neighbors, ..and I say: Let’s begin negotiations immediately without preconditions.”.
What then is the stumbling block to peace? According to Netanyahu many are merely suggesting simplistic solutions, by overlooking the real problems. In his words, “the simple truth is that the root of the conflict was, and remains, the refusal to recognize the right of the Jewish people to a state of their own, in their historic homeland”. Again he said: “Those who think that the continued enmity toward Israel is a product of our presence in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, (are) confusing cause and consequence.”
He then catalogued how the Arabs had rejected the UN partition plan of 1947 mandating the creation of two separate states - A Jewish State and an Arab state. This is exactly what people like Barack Obama are clamouring for today as the only solution! Has anything changed since 1947? Netanyahu went on to cite various efforts of the Arabs since 1948 to annihilate the state of Israel, despite repeated concessions and appeasement by Israel. In emotional words, he said:
“I know the face of war. I have experienced battle. I lost close friends, I lost a brother. I have seen the pain of bereaved families. I do not want war. No one in Israel wants war.”
What then are Bibi’s solution towards getting a Peace Agreement? Yes, two economically prospering contiguous states indeed, but for Israel’s security, the new Palestinian state must be demilitarized. Furthermore, just as “tiny Israel (had) successfully absorbed tens of thousands of Jewish refugees who left their homes and belongings in Arab countries”, the Arab refugees (who had voluntarily fled Israel in expectation that the attacking Arab forces were about overrunning the tiny state - now fuelling the “right-of-return” issue) must be absorbed by the Arab world.
Netanyahu used the issue of Judea and Samaria to debunk notions (e.g. by Obama) that Israel’s right to the land derived from Hitler’s holocaust. Rather he affirmed Israel’s connection with the land (“historic homeland”) since the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – thousands of years ago. Based on this, as he later affirmed at another event, even while Judea and Samaria might end up being conceded to the new Palestinian State, it does not mean that the land must be cleansed of Jewish presence! Afterall Arabs also live and flourish in Israel, even as citizens! The implication of this position is that while no new settlements would be established in the disputed region, developments would not be frozen in existing settlements. And of course, Jerusalem would have to remain the undivided capital of the Jewish state.
Addressing the Knesset on the occasion of his 100th day in office, Netanyahu, for the sake of US President Obama, again clearly summarized his position:
“I told President Obama when I was in Washington that if we could agree on the substance, then the terminology would not pose a problem. And here is the substance that I now state clearly:
“If we receive this guarantee regarding demilitirization and Israel’s security needs, and if the Palestinians recognize Israel as the State of the Jewish people, then we will be ready in a future peace agreement to reach a solution where a demilitarized Palestinian state exists alongside the Jewish state. ”
The Bible makes it clear that after the rapture of the Church (see Rom 11:25), Israel will be left on planet earth as sole witness to the only true God, for a space of seven years (which 7 years have remained unfulfilled from the prophesied “70 weeks of years”, following the introduction of the Church some 2,000 years ago). These final seven years (see Dan. 9:27) would be ushered in by a 7 year Peace Agreement between Israel and the Arabs, to be brokered by the antichrist. Surely these long-awaited days are finally upon us!
Barack Obama’s Speech
Obama’s speech given at the Cairo University on June 4 left most of the official Arab world reeling with enthusiasm. (The same cannot be said for the Jews though!) Americans and most of the rest of the world praised the speech, basically for its political sagacity and craftiness. It requires much astituteness to even attempt to officially broach most of the topics discussed by Obama, right there on Arab soil. The zenith of the praises and adulation certainly must be the remarks by Newsweek editor, Evan Thomas, who declared on MSNBC: "I mean in a way Obama's standing above the country, above the world, he's sort of God."
(www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=100660)
In the speech, meant to be frank and direct, Obama in his usual fashion, presented his impressive credentials – Moslem background, marginalized minority, etc. Thereafter he quickly began to shower platitudes on Islam which he praised for carrying "the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment." He further praised "innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed." Most of these statements were later to be challenged by commentators as gross inaccurate exaggerations (for example see Spencer at www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026426.php).
Of course, the kernel of the speech was to seek “a new beginning” in the relationship between the US and the Islamic world; but invariably, it would appear that the gift Obama was offering in exchange for this new relationship was the destiny of the nation Israel. In one of the later-to-be most widely criticized portions of his speech, Obama equated the Holocaust to Palestinian "dislocation." While seemingly countering the silly ideas popularized by people like Iran’s Ahmadinejhad that the holocaust- in which about 6 million Jews were brutally murdered by Hitler- did not actually happen, Obama went ahead to suggest that not only did the event happen, it was the main justification for Israel to have a place in their ancestral homeland. (The Jewish response to this is mentioned under Bibi’s speech below)
It is understandable that Obama should try to be as even-handed and polite as the occasion demanded; but one wonders if he could not, given his noted oratory and communication prowess, have mentioned at least some of the serious on-going human-rights abuse cases notoriously going on in the Arab world. Such as those being meted out especially to Egyptian Christian Copts, not to talk of the non-Arabs in Darfur. Amazingly, Obama even managed to create the opposite impression – praising the “misunderstood” moslems for their tolerance. And that, in the face of the general unhidden rash religious intolerance from most of the Moslem world where conversion from Islam remains a capital crime! It is hard to say whether Obama himself believes all the sweet things he was saying; or was only using them as a strategy of irony to get the Islamic world thinking!
Whatever be the case, Obama revealed his [or at least his speech writers] closer affinity to Islam than Christianity in his use of words. For instance he described Arabia as the place where Islam was first “revealed” (rather than “founded” – as a non-muslim would most likely have said); and he used the Islamic expression “Peace be unto him”, not only for the Islamic founding prophet, but also for the Lord Jesus Christ. No Christian, would of course have used the equivalent of “may His soul rest in peace” for a living Saviour!
An Islamic response making non-sense of most of Obama’s unspoken hopes and exposing the raw nerves he was trying to glibly gloss over, was made by fellow American, Abu Mansour al-Amriki. A Moslem who left the US to join an Al Qaeda-linked group in Somalia, Al-Amriki in a tape released on July 9 and posted on several jihadist web sites, strongly condemned his President’s efforts to seek “a new beginning” with the Muslim world, mocking Obama's “magic of charisma” and warning of more attacks against U.S. interests. FoxNews, carried a transcript:
“Despite the fact that you have been ... forced [by Muslim fighters] to at least pretend to extend your hand in peace to the Muslims, we cannot and shall not extend our hands. . Rather, we shall extend to you our swords, until you leave our lands.”
Continuing in the 20-minute audiotape, Al-Amriki said: “Let this not come as a surprise to those who are mesmerized by Obama’s speech in Cairo, our positions ... have not changed in the least. ……A Muslim doesn’t look to peace, security, education, work, or the love of any other number of things as his ultimate goals…,” All these coming from a fellow American? Clearly, Obama is overlooking some basic facts!
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Speech(es)
On Sunday June 14, at the Bar-Ilan University, Tel Aviv, Netanyahu gave an official response to Obama’s Cairo speech. (The complete, unedited text of the speech can be found here
(www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2009/Address_PM_Netanyahu_Bar-Ilan_University_14-Jun-2009.htm)
In the speech, Netanyahu, following Obama’s approach, went all out to declare Israel’s desire and unwavering commitment to peace. Alluding in particular to the scripture of swords being turned to plowshare (Isa. 2:4), he said it was Jewish prophets that gave the world a vision of global end-time peace.
Addressing the Arabs directly he said at one place: I turn to all Arab leaders tonight and I say: “Let us meet. Let us speak of peace and let us make peace. I am ready to meet with you at any time. I am willing to go to Damascus, to Riyadh, to Beirut, to any place- including Jerusalem…” In another place he said: “I turn to you, our Palestinian neighbors, ..and I say: Let’s begin negotiations immediately without preconditions.”.
What then is the stumbling block to peace? According to Netanyahu many are merely suggesting simplistic solutions, by overlooking the real problems. In his words, “the simple truth is that the root of the conflict was, and remains, the refusal to recognize the right of the Jewish people to a state of their own, in their historic homeland”. Again he said: “Those who think that the continued enmity toward Israel is a product of our presence in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, (are) confusing cause and consequence.”
He then catalogued how the Arabs had rejected the UN partition plan of 1947 mandating the creation of two separate states - A Jewish State and an Arab state. This is exactly what people like Barack Obama are clamouring for today as the only solution! Has anything changed since 1947? Netanyahu went on to cite various efforts of the Arabs since 1948 to annihilate the state of Israel, despite repeated concessions and appeasement by Israel. In emotional words, he said:
“I know the face of war. I have experienced battle. I lost close friends, I lost a brother. I have seen the pain of bereaved families. I do not want war. No one in Israel wants war.”
What then are Bibi’s solution towards getting a Peace Agreement? Yes, two economically prospering contiguous states indeed, but for Israel’s security, the new Palestinian state must be demilitarized. Furthermore, just as “tiny Israel (had) successfully absorbed tens of thousands of Jewish refugees who left their homes and belongings in Arab countries”, the Arab refugees (who had voluntarily fled Israel in expectation that the attacking Arab forces were about overrunning the tiny state - now fuelling the “right-of-return” issue) must be absorbed by the Arab world.
Netanyahu used the issue of Judea and Samaria to debunk notions (e.g. by Obama) that Israel’s right to the land derived from Hitler’s holocaust. Rather he affirmed Israel’s connection with the land (“historic homeland”) since the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – thousands of years ago. Based on this, as he later affirmed at another event, even while Judea and Samaria might end up being conceded to the new Palestinian State, it does not mean that the land must be cleansed of Jewish presence! Afterall Arabs also live and flourish in Israel, even as citizens! The implication of this position is that while no new settlements would be established in the disputed region, developments would not be frozen in existing settlements. And of course, Jerusalem would have to remain the undivided capital of the Jewish state.
Addressing the Knesset on the occasion of his 100th day in office, Netanyahu, for the sake of US President Obama, again clearly summarized his position:
“I told President Obama when I was in Washington that if we could agree on the substance, then the terminology would not pose a problem. And here is the substance that I now state clearly:
“If we receive this guarantee regarding demilitirization and Israel’s security needs, and if the Palestinians recognize Israel as the State of the Jewish people, then we will be ready in a future peace agreement to reach a solution where a demilitarized Palestinian state exists alongside the Jewish state. ”
The Bible makes it clear that after the rapture of the Church (see Rom 11:25), Israel will be left on planet earth as sole witness to the only true God, for a space of seven years (which 7 years have remained unfulfilled from the prophesied “70 weeks of years”, following the introduction of the Church some 2,000 years ago). These final seven years (see Dan. 9:27) would be ushered in by a 7 year Peace Agreement between Israel and the Arabs, to be brokered by the antichrist. Surely these long-awaited days are finally upon us!
Islamic “Honour Killings” of women unabating
Honour killings continue to strike terror in female folks in the Islamic world. A recent study in Pakistan now lists “honour killing” as a major portion of the country’s homicides. Recent incidents include the report from Jordan about the teenager who stabbed his 22-year-old sister to death "to cleanse the family honor because she left the house too often" ; or the case in Germany, where a 20 year old Kurdish boy lured her triplet sister to an isolated side road, choked her unconscious with a clothes line before clubbing her to death. The girl who was to be forced into marriage was discovered not to be a virgin.
www.jihadwatch.org/archives/ 025568.php
In a case from Turkey where a 16-year-old was given a gun by his mother and made to shoot his sister-in-law, several times, in the presence of other family members; the courts decided that “the region’s tradition placed an incredible burden on the two families” to do what they did as the victim was rumored to be having an extra-marital affair. The shooter, especially being a minor, thus received only a very light sentence. http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026122.php
Sexual immorality is not the only dishonorable thing a woman can do to earn her (and not her male accomplice!), an instant death sentence. For ultra-orthodox muslims, a girl going to school could be just as bad. This has been a major issue in Afghanistan (and other sharia-enclaves such as Somalia), where girls’ schools face continual assaults. In one of the latest of such, 84 girls were hospitalized following the release of airborne poisonous chemicals in the school environment. The incident reported here was the third of such in three weeks directed at girls schools.
Meanwhile, the forced marriage of a young Saudi girl (aged 8) to a man in his 50s, which attracted worldwide attention and a court action by the girl’s mother, has mercifully now being annulled. Since the Islamic courts found nothing wrong with the development (the Islamic founding prophet married one of his wives, Aisha, at the age of 6), an out-of-court settlement had to be sought as a face-saving device for the Saudi Kingdom. The girl's father is said to have married her off against her mother's wishes to a close friend in order that he could pay off a debt. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8026545.stm
www.jihadwatch.org/archives/ 025568.php
In a case from Turkey where a 16-year-old was given a gun by his mother and made to shoot his sister-in-law, several times, in the presence of other family members; the courts decided that “the region’s tradition placed an incredible burden on the two families” to do what they did as the victim was rumored to be having an extra-marital affair. The shooter, especially being a minor, thus received only a very light sentence. http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026122.php
Sexual immorality is not the only dishonorable thing a woman can do to earn her (and not her male accomplice!), an instant death sentence. For ultra-orthodox muslims, a girl going to school could be just as bad. This has been a major issue in Afghanistan (and other sharia-enclaves such as Somalia), where girls’ schools face continual assaults. In one of the latest of such, 84 girls were hospitalized following the release of airborne poisonous chemicals in the school environment. The incident reported here
Meanwhile, the forced marriage of a young Saudi girl (aged 8) to a man in his 50s, which attracted worldwide attention and a court action by the girl’s mother, has mercifully now being annulled. Since the Islamic courts found nothing wrong with the development (the Islamic founding prophet married one of his wives, Aisha, at the age of 6), an out-of-court settlement had to be sought as a face-saving device for the Saudi Kingdom. The girl's father is said to have married her off against her mother's wishes to a close friend in order that he could pay off a debt. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8026545.stm
The Display That Watches You
Researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS), Germany have created a display that doubles as a camera. By interlacing photodetector cells--similar to those used to capture light in a camera--with display pixels, the researchers have built a system that can display a moving image while also detecting movement directly in front of it. One immediate application is that a user could flip through menu options on a screen simply by looking at the right part of the screen. MIT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW (June 5, 2009) . Other less benign applications are certainly possible!
We have described before some devices that could allow people activate menu options simply with their minds, but those require that a chip be first implanted in the user. Such applications confirm the interaction between human mind and an implanted chip and have direct implication for mind control.
Meanwhile in Wales, children on buses will now be tracked by satellite on public transport. The scheme includes 'Bus Angels', aged 14 and above, who covertly report incidents of bad behaviour. LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH [Barclay] - April 23, 2009
We have described before some devices that could allow people activate menu options simply with their minds, but those require that a chip be first implanted in the user. Such applications confirm the interaction between human mind and an implanted chip and have direct implication for mind control.
Meanwhile in Wales, children on buses will now be tracked by satellite on public transport. The scheme includes 'Bus Angels', aged 14 and above, who covertly report incidents of bad behaviour. LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH [Barclay] - April 23, 2009
RFID could be in all cell phones by 2010
All cell phones will come packed with an RFID chip by next summer . According to Ericsson's vice-president of systems architecture, Håkan Djuphammar: "A year from now, basically every new phone sold will have [near field communication]. It's a two-way, bio-directional RFID communication link that makes this device work as a tag or reader."
Djuphammar said devices with RFID chips will have a secure environment on the SIM card. This will enable phones to take on other roles, such as the keys for your car or house, or a credit card or concert ticket. Using RFID in this way could enable a mobile to be assigned to open a door for a certain period of time only, meaning the company could better manage access to its facilities, while also replacing the hassle of dealing with thousands of physical keys.
Mobile phones could also become instruments of fraud detection. Djuphammar said credit card companies could make use of mobile user location data and IP mapping to ascertain whether a transaction is taking place in the vicinity of the official card holder, thereby judging whether the transaction is likely to be genuine or not. (Safe from Chinese hackers!)
Finally, according to the Ericsson chief, location data of phones could be leveraged to create real-time road traffic maps generated by analysing the speed of the mobile phone base station hand-off to ascertain how fast cars are travelling. This data could then be sold to GPS device companies, enabling them to provide dynamic travel information to motorists. "That is a typical win-win, situation” he enthused. http://news.zdnet.com/
Meanwhile, in the UK, there is now a directory of mobile phone users. Connectivity, the company that’s offering the services, bought the records from brokers and now has on its starting database about 16 million names (~ 40% of UK’s regular phones).
Djuphammar said devices with RFID chips will have a secure environment on the SIM card. This will enable phones to take on other roles, such as the keys for your car or house, or a credit card or concert ticket. Using RFID in this way could enable a mobile to be assigned to open a door for a certain period of time only, meaning the company could better manage access to its facilities, while also replacing the hassle of dealing with thousands of physical keys.
Mobile phones could also become instruments of fraud detection. Djuphammar said credit card companies could make use of mobile user location data and IP mapping to ascertain whether a transaction is taking place in the vicinity of the official card holder, thereby judging whether the transaction is likely to be genuine or not. (Safe from Chinese hackers!)
Finally, according to the Ericsson chief, location data of phones could be leveraged to create real-time road traffic maps generated by analysing the speed of the mobile phone base station hand-off to ascertain how fast cars are travelling. This data could then be sold to GPS device companies, enabling them to provide dynamic travel information to motorists. "That is a typical win-win, situation” he enthused. http://news.zdnet.com/
Meanwhile, in the UK, there is now a directory of mobile phone users. Connectivity, the company that’s offering the services, bought the records from brokers and now has on its starting database about 16 million names (~ 40% of UK’s regular phones).
International Planned Parenthood Launches 'Sexual Rights' Campaign
The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has begun a petition drive to advocate “access to sexual and reproductive health services” for all people, “regardless of age.” (The Bulletin, May 12, 2009)
According to John Connolly of The Bulletin, quoting the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), the petition commemorates the 15th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, a 1994 conference in Cairo that outlined the new medical goals of the U.N. Population Fund. The petition campaign is called “15 and Counting.”
Some IPPF’s literature say the new campaign was launched in an attempt to get governments to provide “access to affordable condoms to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.”
The “15 and Counting” campaign plans to present hundreds of thousands of signatures to the U.N. secretary-general by November 2009. C-FAM reported only 1,000 signatures have been gathered so far. Oops!
According to John Connolly of The Bulletin, quoting the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), the petition commemorates the 15th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, a 1994 conference in Cairo that outlined the new medical goals of the U.N. Population Fund. The petition campaign is called “15 and Counting.”
Some IPPF’s literature say the new campaign was launched in an attempt to get governments to provide “access to affordable condoms to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.”
The “15 and Counting” campaign plans to present hundreds of thousands of signatures to the U.N. secretary-general by November 2009. C-FAM reported only 1,000 signatures have been gathered so far. Oops!
Men, women to share rooms at U. of C.
Starting from considerations of unisex rest-rooms for transgenders, University of Chicago has now evolved a new housing policy which allows that male-female undergraduate pairs may now share same rooms. The 117 year-old University is considered one of the conservative universities in the United States. Did you say more grounds for abortion? Read the next piece!
US Justice: Government Should Subsidize Abortion In Unwanted Populations
A Justice in the US Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, apparently had a slip of the tongue when she said in an interview that government should pay for abortions because such funding will help curb “growth in populations that we don't want to have too many of.”
The question is, who could those “populations” be probably referring to?
Statistics in the US indicate that, "A minority woman is five times more likely to abort her child than a white woman, and far more likely to have a government subsidized abortion clinic in her neighborhood. According to abortion providers, a shocking 50 percent of African-American pregnancies end in abortion." Life News.
The question is, who could those “populations” be probably referring to?
Statistics in the US indicate that, "A minority woman is five times more likely to abort her child than a white woman, and far more likely to have a government subsidized abortion clinic in her neighborhood. According to abortion providers, a shocking 50 percent of African-American pregnancies end in abortion." Life News.
GUESS WHO’S ON THE COUNCIL OF BLAIR’S INTER-FAITH PROJECT?
One of the most serious groups bent on achieving the One World Religion dream is Tony Blair’s Faith Foundation. That’s particularly significant considering Blair’s increasing roles in the complementary One World Government project: First as the arrow head coordinating the efforts of the Quartet (US, Europe, Russia and the UN) to bring in the Middle East peace treaty, and secondly as we report elsewhere in this edition, as the President-in-waiting for Europe. With these credentials, it is not for nothing that he has been a leading contender, among speculators, for the position of the antichrist!
Now his Inter-Faith Foundation has an International Religious Advisory Council (apart from the traditional Board of Trustees) which, according to a statement on the Foundation’s website, “is composed of individuals from each of the six faiths with which the Foundation initially intends to work. The members are either religious leaders or significant scholars. They…. keep the Foundation attentive to the religious nuances and implications of the Foundation's work…..”
Readers of Church Arise! will be interested in two names on this 12-man Council: The Reverend Rick Warren, Founding and Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church (of whom we have had much to write); and Right Reverend Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Bishop of Kaduna. Yea, right from here in Nigeria.
Now his Inter-Faith Foundation has an International Religious Advisory Council (apart from the traditional Board of Trustees) which, according to a statement on the Foundation’s website, “is composed of individuals from each of the six faiths with which the Foundation initially intends to work. The members are either religious leaders or significant scholars. They…. keep the Foundation attentive to the religious nuances and implications of the Foundation's work…..”
Readers of Church Arise! will be interested in two names on this 12-man Council: The Reverend Rick Warren, Founding and Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church (of whom we have had much to write); and Right Reverend Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Bishop of Kaduna. Yea, right from here in Nigeria.
Taliban buying children, turning them into suicide bombers
Just as child soldiers were fielded in the genocides in Liberia and Sierra Leone, and children were (ab)used by Palestinian Arabs as human shield to force Israeli’s planes to turn back, Children are again being abused, perhaps this time in more outrageous fashion, in Pakistan – as suicide bombers! As reported in the Washington Times, (July 2): U.S. Defense Department and Pakistani officials have confirmed that Pakistan's top Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, is buying children as young as 7 to serve as suicide bombers in the growing spate of attacks against Pakistani, Afghan and U.S. targets. The going price for a child bomber is between $7,000 to $14,000 - still much cheaper than a jet bomber
Rick Warren seeks coalition with Muslims to solve World Problems
Yes, we feature Rev. Rick Warren again in two straight editions. In his latest efforts to sell the evangelical platform to the religious arm of the New World Order movement, Warren gave the keynote address at the 46th Annual Conference of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) held in Washington D.C., on 4th July.
Ordinarily there should be nothing wrong with seizing what could be an unusual opportunity to share one’s faith: but not only is ISNA known to be committed to groups involved in radical jihad, Warren went there not to promote the Gospel, but effectively, in the words of Paul McGuire, “to disinfect and rehabilitate a group that is dangerous and subversive to U.S. national security”. The secular Washington Post in covering the event, specifically noted that Warren “was sparse in mentioning Jesus or God.”
As noted by Jan Markell, no one exactly expects Warren to make an altar call at such a meeting, but he (as a Pastor) should have “lifted high the Name of the Prince of Peace who is coming again”; and might we add, Who has made definite promises with regards to the very theme being discussed at the Convention: "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"
Paul McGuire, who was obviously distraught at having to address an open letter to Warren, whom he says was a regular listener and caller to his nationally syndicated radio show, (broadcasted from Southern California for over 10 years), was however blunt in criticizing Warren’s action: “I do not believe that Christians can have any serious discussions with Islam as long as they continue to make public statements denying the Holocaust and calling for the complete destruction of Jews and Israel. To ignore those statements, is like Chamberlain ignoring Adolph Hitler's statements before he killed [6] million Jews.”
Warren insists that the Church needs the Islamic platform to “team tackle” poverty, war, diseases and promote “dignity” and “civility”. But as again noted by McGuire, “militant Islam is the primary force in the world today causing war, poverty and disease. ”
In an internal document recovered by security forces from the militant Muslim Brotherhood, titled: "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Brotherhood in North America" the Muslim Brotherhood stated that it is dedicated to "a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and 'sabotaging' its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and Allah's religion is made victorious over all other religions."
The Memorandum concludes with a "list of our organizations and the organizations of our friends", prominent among which is the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).(JIHAD WATCH - Robert Spencer - July 1, 2009, http://www.jihadwatch.org/)
Warren, who once boasted of his membership of the infamous US Council on Foreign Relations (see CA! Vol 10 No 1, or www.newswithviews.com/BeritKjos/kjos67.htm) apparently sees himself more as a politician/statesman, than a spiritual leader. However, the issues Warren is so fixated on will remain with us, till the Lord’s second coming; and are best left for politicians (who of course must work together, irrespective of their religious backgrounds). While Christians may address these issues on a secondary note, there is absolutely no basis for seeking any “coalition” in doing so. Much more a coalition that would in turn render us ineffective in fulfilling our primary mission – preaching of the Gospel!
Al Amriki, the American Jihadist we cite on page 6 of this edition of CA! is apparently more spiritually discerning than Warren, and he debunks Warren’s social Christianity when he said: “A Muslim doesn’t look to peace, security, education, work, or the love of any other number of things as his ultimate goals …”
Scott Brisk of Moriel has provided an excellent compilation of reports and commentaries on Rick Warren’s misadventure at the ISNA conference. All the references cited in this article can be found on the compilation. It can be accessed at Moriel’s site, www.moriel.org (under Be Alert section)
Ordinarily there should be nothing wrong with seizing what could be an unusual opportunity to share one’s faith: but not only is ISNA known to be committed to groups involved in radical jihad, Warren went there not to promote the Gospel, but effectively, in the words of Paul McGuire, “to disinfect and rehabilitate a group that is dangerous and subversive to U.S. national security”. The secular Washington Post in covering the event, specifically noted that Warren “was sparse in mentioning Jesus or God.”
As noted by Jan Markell, no one exactly expects Warren to make an altar call at such a meeting, but he (as a Pastor) should have “lifted high the Name of the Prince of Peace who is coming again”; and might we add, Who has made definite promises with regards to the very theme being discussed at the Convention: "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"
Paul McGuire, who was obviously distraught at having to address an open letter to Warren, whom he says was a regular listener and caller to his nationally syndicated radio show, (broadcasted from Southern California for over 10 years), was however blunt in criticizing Warren’s action: “I do not believe that Christians can have any serious discussions with Islam as long as they continue to make public statements denying the Holocaust and calling for the complete destruction of Jews and Israel. To ignore those statements, is like Chamberlain ignoring Adolph Hitler's statements before he killed [6] million Jews.”
Warren insists that the Church needs the Islamic platform to “team tackle” poverty, war, diseases and promote “dignity” and “civility”. But as again noted by McGuire, “militant Islam is the primary force in the world today causing war, poverty and disease. ”
In an internal document recovered by security forces from the militant Muslim Brotherhood, titled: "An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Brotherhood in North America" the Muslim Brotherhood stated that it is dedicated to "a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and 'sabotaging' its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and Allah's religion is made victorious over all other religions."
The Memorandum concludes with a "list of our organizations and the organizations of our friends", prominent among which is the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).(JIHAD WATCH - Robert Spencer - July 1, 2009, http://www.jihadwatch.org/)
Warren, who once boasted of his membership of the infamous US Council on Foreign Relations (see CA! Vol 10 No 1, or www.newswithviews.com/BeritKjos/kjos67.htm) apparently sees himself more as a politician/statesman, than a spiritual leader. However, the issues Warren is so fixated on will remain with us, till the Lord’s second coming; and are best left for politicians (who of course must work together, irrespective of their religious backgrounds). While Christians may address these issues on a secondary note, there is absolutely no basis for seeking any “coalition” in doing so. Much more a coalition that would in turn render us ineffective in fulfilling our primary mission – preaching of the Gospel!
Al Amriki, the American Jihadist we cite on page 6 of this edition of CA! is apparently more spiritually discerning than Warren, and he debunks Warren’s social Christianity when he said: “A Muslim doesn’t look to peace, security, education, work, or the love of any other number of things as his ultimate goals …”
Scott Brisk of Moriel has provided an excellent compilation of reports and commentaries on Rick Warren’s misadventure at the ISNA conference. All the references cited in this article can be found on the compilation. It can be accessed at Moriel’s site, www.moriel.org (under Be Alert section)
One World Government Edges closer to reality
With the favourable settings being provided by the current global economic meltdown, environmental and health hypes (think of global warming, swine flus, etc), world wide terrorism (from Al Qaeda to local versions, e.g. Somali’s pirates and Nigeria’s MEND), advocates for the establishment of a One World Government are beating the iron while it is hot.
As we have repeated over and over, the strategy is first to form coalitions of regional governments, which will in turn coalesce into one eventual authority under the antichrist (Rev 17:17). Come with us as we examine some of the developments along this line in the past 2-3 months:
African Union develops new structures
In Africa, Libya’s Muammar Ghaddhafi literally arm-twisted his colleagues into getting the African Union (AU) to give its executive arm enhanced powers, creating a new structure that will include a President (for which Ghaddafi is top candidate), a Vice-President, and a Secretary of Peace and Security and common defence. In the arrangement, which must first be ratified by member states before it could become effective, other Secretaries will also replace the current union's commissioners (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8131941.stm)
Further reporting on the July 1 meeting which held in Sirte, Libya, the Reuters news agency said, the new African Authority will "represent the common interests of the member states of the union and speak in their name in international forums on international trade.”
The compromise, insisted upon mainly by Nigeria and South Africa after “hours of heated debate in a closed session”, however, is that the African Authority will not be able to act internationally unless it has a mandate from heads of state. The two countries have obvious concerns about losing sovereignty over their own defence and foreign policy issues in the eventual United States of Africa which Ghaddafi is so openly trying to achieve. Benin's Foreign Minister Jean-Marie Ehouzou summarized the situation: "The states are ready to cede a little bit a part of their sovereignty for the benefit of the [union]," he said.
Ceding “a little bit” of sovereignty at a time is what the Hegelian change towards the New World Order is all about. Only that the frequency for making demands for such series of “little changes” is rapidly increasing, driven by global developments such as those mentioned in the opening paragraph of this report.
In Europe, Tony Blair braces up to become Executive President
The EU, of course, is far ahead of the other Unions being patterned after it all round the globe, in achieving Regional governments as a prelude to a One World government. In her case, a decision to appoint a new sitting European president, for a maximum of five years, is to be taken before the end of the year - if Ireland votes “yes” in October in a referendum on the Lisbon treaty streamlining the way the EU is run and also creating the new post. Just as we have mentioned in the past, former UK’s Prime Minister Tony Blair is set to be appointed to this yet-to-be-created office. This position has not changed significantly despite expressed oppositions by Sweden and Spain - the countries whose tenures at the EU Presidency, (under the current arrangement of 6-monthly rotational presidency), would be affected if the new structure is adopted this year.
According to The Independent, UK (April 5, 2009), Gordon Brown has grudgingly supported Blair’s candidature. The unstated job description for the post (reserved exclusively for ex-PMs) includes a high-profile and particularly cozy relationship with the US.
And now, see who else is calling for the establishment of a Global Authority with “real teeth” – The Pope!
The Catholic pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI has on July 7, called for an “urgent” institution “of a true world political authority" whose task would be "to manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result."
In his new encyclical titled “Charity in Truth” released on that day, the Pope specifically called for a “reform of the United Nations Organization, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth.”
Explaining what he means by “real teeth”, the Pope said that the new Authority “would need to be universally recognized and to be vested with the effective power to ensure security for all.”
“Obviously it would have to have the authority to ensure compliance with its decisions from all parties” he added.
It is hardly a coincidence that the Pope’s call for global governance came out at a time when various organizations and groups are now openly working assiduously to achieve the very same objective – which is the one major pillar on which all the prophecies about a coming antichrist in the end times squarely rests.
The World’s richest eight countries, the G8, was meeting at the backside of the Vatican (L’Aquila, Italy) at the time of release of the papal encyclical. Their major agenda was the Economy, which US President Obama tried to weave in with the Environment when he chaired a session on Global Warming.
Earlier in April, the Group of 20 nations, G20, had met and taken steps further drawing the world closer to a global currency
(www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/5096524/The-G20-moves-the-world-a-step-closer-to-a-global-currency.html)
Other groups working towards the actualization of a Global Government are more publicity-shy, preferring that the citizens of the world remain completely oblivious to their existence and activities. One of such groups is the Bilderbergers, which had its 57th Annual secret meeting in Vouliagmeni, Greece between May 14-17. Attendees of the Bilderberger’s strictly-by-invitation conference are not allowed to speak a word of what was discussed in the meeting outside of the group. The group has no website and no minutes are kept of the meetings to ensure secrecy. According to the BBC "It's officially described as a private gathering, but with a guest list including the heads of European and American corporations, political leaders and a few intellectuals, it's one of the most influential organizations on the planet."
www.prisonplanet.com/bilderberg_group_meeting_near_dc.html
Shortly after this year’s meetings began, Bilderberg tracker Jim Tucker, based on inside sources revealed that the group has on its agenda “the plan for a global department of health, a global treasury and a shortened depression rather than a longer economic downturn.” Swedish Foreign Minister and former Prime Minister, Carl Bildt was said to have articulated making such transformation under the auspices of the United Nations. All these are in tandem with what the Pope later called for in his latest encyclical.
After the meetings finished, another Bilderberg tracker, Daniel Estulin, reported that “One of Bilderberg's primary concerns is the danger that their zeal to reshape the world by engineering chaos in order to implement their long term agenda could cause the situation to spiral out of control and eventually lead to a scenario where Bilderberg and the global elite in general are overwhelmed by events and end up losing their control over the planet.”
[http://blog.oldthinkernews.com/?p=241].
This scenario is straight from the prophetic Scriptures which predict the pouring out of “the wrath of God” on the world of the antichrist, presumably after his first 3 ½ years experimental atheistic global governance.
Apart from the usual political and business heavyweights (the Rockefellers and Ackermanns) attending Bilderberger’s meetings, there were also the Royalties. This year’s royal attendees included Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (the largest single shareholder in Royal Dutch Shell, one of the world's largest corporations), Prince Philippe of Belgium, and Queen Sofia of Spain. See the whole list here www.infowars.com/bilderberg-2009-attendee-list/,
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=98469
And Finally, Yet a new debutant: The Good Club
To further complete the story of secretive meetings by influential folks intent on foisting a global government of their choice on mankind in the days ahead, a meeting of American’s multi billionaires was convened on May 5. Co-hosted by Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and David Rockefeller, the secret meeting held at the home of Sir Paul Nurse, a British Nobel prize biochemist and president of the private Rockefeller University, in Manhattan. In attendance at what an attendee dubbed the Good Club were “a dozen of the richest people in the world”, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the financier George Soros, Eli Broad, and the media moguls, Oprah Winfrey and Ted Turner.
According to the UK newspaper The Times, (May 25) these “leading billionaires have met secretly to consider how their wealth could be used to slow the growth of the world's population,” and that they “discussed joining forces to overcome political and religious obstacles to change.” Obviously, in the context of a global downturn in economy, these super-rich philanthropists could now wield an ever larger influence in the world. Bill Gates, son of a Planned Parenthood activist, has repeatedly stated his belief that a drastically reduced global human population is a necessary pre-requisite to a healthy and prosperous future on planet earth. The UK Times observed that this position “could result in a challenge to some Third World politicians” ideas about “traditional values.”
The Times however further pointed out that these ideas of the American multi-billionaires are in sharp contrast to the views espoused by some prominent demographers in the film “Demographic Winter”: that under-population rather than overpopulation is the greater danger facing mankind in the future. Celebrated columnist Don Feder was further quoted as saying that the demographic problem of worldwide declining birthrates "could result in the greatest crisis humanity will confront in this century" as "all over the world, children are disappearing."
But why a secret meeting? Stacy Palmer, editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy, said the summit was unprecedented. "We only learnt about it afterwards, by accident. Normally these people are happy to talk good causes, but this is different - maybe because they don't want to be seen as a global cabal," he said. But how could anyone think that of these nice people!
As we have repeated over and over, the strategy is first to form coalitions of regional governments, which will in turn coalesce into one eventual authority under the antichrist (Rev 17:17). Come with us as we examine some of the developments along this line in the past 2-3 months:
African Union develops new structures
In Africa, Libya’s Muammar Ghaddhafi literally arm-twisted his colleagues into getting the African Union (AU) to give its executive arm enhanced powers, creating a new structure that will include a President (for which Ghaddafi is top candidate), a Vice-President, and a Secretary of Peace and Security and common defence. In the arrangement, which must first be ratified by member states before it could become effective, other Secretaries will also replace the current union's commissioners (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8131941.stm)
Further reporting on the July 1 meeting which held in Sirte, Libya, the Reuters news agency said, the new African Authority will "represent the common interests of the member states of the union and speak in their name in international forums on international trade.”
The compromise, insisted upon mainly by Nigeria and South Africa after “hours of heated debate in a closed session”, however, is that the African Authority will not be able to act internationally unless it has a mandate from heads of state. The two countries have obvious concerns about losing sovereignty over their own defence and foreign policy issues in the eventual United States of Africa which Ghaddafi is so openly trying to achieve. Benin's Foreign Minister Jean-Marie Ehouzou summarized the situation: "The states are ready to cede a little bit a part of their sovereignty for the benefit of the [union]," he said.
Ceding “a little bit” of sovereignty at a time is what the Hegelian change towards the New World Order is all about. Only that the frequency for making demands for such series of “little changes” is rapidly increasing, driven by global developments such as those mentioned in the opening paragraph of this report.
In Europe, Tony Blair braces up to become Executive President
The EU, of course, is far ahead of the other Unions being patterned after it all round the globe, in achieving Regional governments as a prelude to a One World government. In her case, a decision to appoint a new sitting European president, for a maximum of five years, is to be taken before the end of the year - if Ireland votes “yes” in October in a referendum on the Lisbon treaty streamlining the way the EU is run and also creating the new post. Just as we have mentioned in the past, former UK’s Prime Minister Tony Blair is set to be appointed to this yet-to-be-created office. This position has not changed significantly despite expressed oppositions by Sweden and Spain - the countries whose tenures at the EU Presidency, (under the current arrangement of 6-monthly rotational presidency), would be affected if the new structure is adopted this year.
According to The Independent, UK (April 5, 2009), Gordon Brown has grudgingly supported Blair’s candidature. The unstated job description for the post (reserved exclusively for ex-PMs) includes a high-profile and particularly cozy relationship with the US.
And now, see who else is calling for the establishment of a Global Authority with “real teeth” – The Pope!
The Catholic pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI has on July 7, called for an “urgent” institution “of a true world political authority" whose task would be "to manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result."
In his new encyclical titled “Charity in Truth” released on that day, the Pope specifically called for a “reform of the United Nations Organization, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth.”
Explaining what he means by “real teeth”, the Pope said that the new Authority “would need to be universally recognized and to be vested with the effective power to ensure security for all.”
“Obviously it would have to have the authority to ensure compliance with its decisions from all parties” he added.
It is hardly a coincidence that the Pope’s call for global governance came out at a time when various organizations and groups are now openly working assiduously to achieve the very same objective – which is the one major pillar on which all the prophecies about a coming antichrist in the end times squarely rests.
The World’s richest eight countries, the G8, was meeting at the backside of the Vatican (L’Aquila, Italy) at the time of release of the papal encyclical. Their major agenda was the Economy, which US President Obama tried to weave in with the Environment when he chaired a session on Global Warming.
Earlier in April, the Group of 20 nations, G20, had met and taken steps further drawing the world closer to a global currency
(www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/5096524/The-G20-moves-the-world-a-step-closer-to-a-global-currency.html)
Other groups working towards the actualization of a Global Government are more publicity-shy, preferring that the citizens of the world remain completely oblivious to their existence and activities. One of such groups is the Bilderbergers, which had its 57th Annual secret meeting in Vouliagmeni, Greece between May 14-17. Attendees of the Bilderberger’s strictly-by-invitation conference are not allowed to speak a word of what was discussed in the meeting outside of the group. The group has no website and no minutes are kept of the meetings to ensure secrecy. According to the BBC "It's officially described as a private gathering, but with a guest list including the heads of European and American corporations, political leaders and a few intellectuals, it's one of the most influential organizations on the planet."
www.prisonplanet.com/bilderberg_group_meeting_near_dc.html
Shortly after this year’s meetings began, Bilderberg tracker Jim Tucker, based on inside sources revealed that the group has on its agenda “the plan for a global department of health, a global treasury and a shortened depression rather than a longer economic downturn.” Swedish Foreign Minister and former Prime Minister, Carl Bildt was said to have articulated making such transformation under the auspices of the United Nations. All these are in tandem with what the Pope later called for in his latest encyclical.
After the meetings finished, another Bilderberg tracker, Daniel Estulin, reported that “One of Bilderberg's primary concerns is the danger that their zeal to reshape the world by engineering chaos in order to implement their long term agenda could cause the situation to spiral out of control and eventually lead to a scenario where Bilderberg and the global elite in general are overwhelmed by events and end up losing their control over the planet.”
[http://blog.oldthinkernews.com/?p=241].
This scenario is straight from the prophetic Scriptures which predict the pouring out of “the wrath of God” on the world of the antichrist, presumably after his first 3 ½ years experimental atheistic global governance.
Apart from the usual political and business heavyweights (the Rockefellers and Ackermanns) attending Bilderberger’s meetings, there were also the Royalties. This year’s royal attendees included Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (the largest single shareholder in Royal Dutch Shell, one of the world's largest corporations), Prince Philippe of Belgium, and Queen Sofia of Spain. See the whole list here www.infowars.com/bilderberg-2009-attendee-list/,
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=98469
And Finally, Yet a new debutant: The Good Club
To further complete the story of secretive meetings by influential folks intent on foisting a global government of their choice on mankind in the days ahead, a meeting of American’s multi billionaires was convened on May 5. Co-hosted by Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and David Rockefeller, the secret meeting held at the home of Sir Paul Nurse, a British Nobel prize biochemist and president of the private Rockefeller University, in Manhattan. In attendance at what an attendee dubbed the Good Club were “a dozen of the richest people in the world”, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the financier George Soros, Eli Broad, and the media moguls, Oprah Winfrey and Ted Turner.
According to the UK newspaper The Times, (May 25) these “leading billionaires have met secretly to consider how their wealth could be used to slow the growth of the world's population,” and that they “discussed joining forces to overcome political and religious obstacles to change.” Obviously, in the context of a global downturn in economy, these super-rich philanthropists could now wield an ever larger influence in the world. Bill Gates, son of a Planned Parenthood activist, has repeatedly stated his belief that a drastically reduced global human population is a necessary pre-requisite to a healthy and prosperous future on planet earth. The UK Times observed that this position “could result in a challenge to some Third World politicians” ideas about “traditional values.”
The Times however further pointed out that these ideas of the American multi-billionaires are in sharp contrast to the views espoused by some prominent demographers in the film “Demographic Winter”: that under-population rather than overpopulation is the greater danger facing mankind in the future. Celebrated columnist Don Feder was further quoted as saying that the demographic problem of worldwide declining birthrates "could result in the greatest crisis humanity will confront in this century" as "all over the world, children are disappearing."
But why a secret meeting? Stacy Palmer, editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy, said the summit was unprecedented. "We only learnt about it afterwards, by accident. Normally these people are happy to talk good causes, but this is different - maybe because they don't want to be seen as a global cabal," he said. But how could anyone think that of these nice people!
Radical Muslims Razed Down Church Buildings In Zanzibar
Typifying on-going assaults by radical Islam on Christianity in several regions of the world, two church buildings were razed down on the night of Sunday June 28 on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar after worship services, according to Compass Direct News (June 30).
Radical Muslims set the church buildings on fire on the outskirts of Unguja Township, on the island off the coast of East Africa. Earlier they had dropped a flier at the door of Charles Odilo, who had donated the plot on which the Evangelical Assemblies of God in Tanzania (EAGT) building stood. “We don’t want churches on our street,” read the flier. “Today we are going to burn the church, and if you continue we are going to burn your house also.” www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026770.php
Islam is King in the UK
Contrast the quite familiar story above with the situation in the UK where radical Moslem preacher Anjem Choudary continues, with impunity, his Islamic Roadshows on the streets of Birmingham. A message on Choudary’s website informs that “Conversion packs are already provided to those who revert to Islam in the Islamic Roadshows.”
One of such new converts was captured on video which Choudary proudly shows around. According to the newspaper Sunday Mercury, the convert is a “bewildered-looking 11 year-old, who gives his name as Sean”. Sean was filmed repeating Arabic chants after Choudary, and swearing allegiance to Allah.
When contacted by the Sunday Mercury, Choudary defended the young boy’s “reversion” to Islam, - admitting that his parents were not with him and were not consulted. “The child was genuinely interested in Islam,” he said.
“The boy told us he wanted to become a Muslim and, of course, some people are intellectually more mature than they are physically” the Islamic luminary reasoned.
In Vol 12 No 2, we featured the story of a registered Foster Parent in the same UK who lost her practice of 10 years because a 16 year old moslem girl in her home decided to become a Christian, and would not be persuaded otherwise. Of course, merely attempting to distribute Christian tracts on the streets has led to the summary killing of many a Christian worldwide, ranging from Izom, Niger state in Nigeria to several Arab nations. (see for instance CA! vol 9 no 4)
In the UK, even in jail, Islamic extremists continue to call the shot. Terrorists at Wakefield jail first refused praying in the jail’s multi-faith chapel because it was used by "non-believers"; and later on requested that female warders not be allowed to supervise them – on religious ground. This latter request was refused, but according to Mirror newspaper, “it's feared they could now take their complaint to the European Court and use the Human Rights Act to claim they are being victimised.” (Mirror, May 24; www.mirror.co.uk)
Radical Muslims set the church buildings on fire on the outskirts of Unguja Township, on the island off the coast of East Africa. Earlier they had dropped a flier at the door of Charles Odilo, who had donated the plot on which the Evangelical Assemblies of God in Tanzania (EAGT) building stood. “We don’t want churches on our street,” read the flier. “Today we are going to burn the church, and if you continue we are going to burn your house also.” www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026770.php
Islam is King in the UK
Contrast the quite familiar story above with the situation in the UK where radical Moslem preacher Anjem Choudary continues, with impunity, his Islamic Roadshows on the streets of Birmingham. A message on Choudary’s website informs that “Conversion packs are already provided to those who revert to Islam in the Islamic Roadshows.”
One of such new converts was captured on video which Choudary proudly shows around. According to the newspaper Sunday Mercury, the convert is a “bewildered-looking 11 year-old, who gives his name as Sean”. Sean was filmed repeating Arabic chants after Choudary, and swearing allegiance to Allah.
When contacted by the Sunday Mercury, Choudary defended the young boy’s “reversion” to Islam, - admitting that his parents were not with him and were not consulted. “The child was genuinely interested in Islam,” he said.
“The boy told us he wanted to become a Muslim and, of course, some people are intellectually more mature than they are physically” the Islamic luminary reasoned.
In Vol 12 No 2, we featured the story of a registered Foster Parent in the same UK who lost her practice of 10 years because a 16 year old moslem girl in her home decided to become a Christian, and would not be persuaded otherwise. Of course, merely attempting to distribute Christian tracts on the streets has led to the summary killing of many a Christian worldwide, ranging from Izom, Niger state in Nigeria to several Arab nations. (see for instance CA! vol 9 no 4)
In the UK, even in jail, Islamic extremists continue to call the shot. Terrorists at Wakefield jail first refused praying in the jail’s multi-faith chapel because it was used by "non-believers"; and later on requested that female warders not be allowed to supervise them – on religious ground. This latter request was refused, but according to Mirror newspaper, “it's feared they could now take their complaint to the European Court and use the Human Rights Act to claim they are being victimised.” (Mirror, May 24; www.mirror.co.uk)
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