The Underground


Christians Celebrate Earth Day

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 10:26 AM PDT


This year Christians throughout the United States will be celebrating Earth Day through a live simulcast nationwide, through documentaries, lectures and seminars on God’s creation and man’s stewardship of the earth.

Earth Day, slated for April 22, is intended to raise awareness and appreciation for the environment.

Now on its 40th year, Earth Day is said to be founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson.  However its concept originated from Pentecostal minister John McConnell Jr, 95, who told the Assemblies of God (AG) Heritage magazine that he first proposed Earth Day in 1969 to promote peace and unity.  He wanted it to be held in late March at the start of spring.

McConnell said he submitted his proposal for Earth Day to San Francisco city officials on Oct. 3, 1969.  The first governmental recognition of Earth Day was held March 21, 1970 supported by Congress and the United Nations.

However, it was moved by Sen. Nelson to April 22 because he had scheduled a political protest called Environmental Teach-In Day.

McConnell’s biographer, Robert Weir, said Nelson admitted that he got the idea for Earth Day from others, but he did not specify from whom. In time, he began to publicly claim full credit for Earth Day.

Christians have commonly neglected to celebrate Earth Day as it was deemed to be identified with left leaning environmentalism and implied nature worship.

However now they see Earth Day as a time to renew their stewardship of God’s gift of creation, celebrate God and to witness their faith to others.

McConnell said, “We love God … [and therefore should] have an appreciation for His creation.”

A study in 2008 by the Barna Group, a religious research organization, found that 78 percent of self-identified Christians would like to see their fellow Christians take a more active role in caring for the earth.

Some of the things that Christians are doing on Earth Day include:

  • Northland, A Church Distributed in Longwood, Fla. will hold a simulcast on April 21 that organizers say will be the largest ever faith-based gathering involving Earth Day, drawing thousands of churches.
  • Blessed Earth, founded three years ago by Dr. Matthew Sleeth of Wilmore, Ky, has organized hundreds of churches for “Hope for Creation: A Live Simulcast Event,” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.  Sleeth is the author of “Serve God and Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action.”  Since its founding, Blessed Earth has produced a 12-film series on the Bible and the environment.
  • St. Monica-St. George Parish Newman Center in Ohio will hold its annual “Thomas Merton Year,” from April 25-May 7 with the talk, “Meeting Merton Again for the First Time: Contemplative Ecologist, Ecological Prophet.”  Merton was a 20th-century Catholic monk in Gethsemani, Ky.  The talk is presented by Sister Kathleen Deignan, a GreenFaith Fellow with training in religious environmental leadership.  She wrote the books, “When the Trees Say Nothing: Writings on Nature” and “Thomas Merton: A Book of Hours.”
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Military foundation objects to Franklin Graham’s invitation to address Pentagon on National Day of Prayer

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 10:10 AM PDT


The Military Religious Freedom Foundation recently objected to an invitation that was sent to Reverend Franklin Graham to address the Pentagon on National Prayer Day.

The MRFF said they were objecting on behalf of members of the Pentagon’s Muslim community who wrote to the organization and objected to Graham’s invitation.

After the 2003 attacks of 9/11 Graham described Islam as “evil” and “wicked.”  In a forthcoming letter to the Wall Street Journal Graham wrote, “As a minister … I believe it is my responsibility to speak out against the terrible deeds that are committed as a result of Islamic teaching.”

President of the MRFF, Mikey Weinstein said in a letter that inviting evangelist Franklin Graham to speak at the National Day of Prayer on May 6 “would be like bringing someone in on national prayer day madly denigrating Christianity” or other religious groups.  It would also endanger American troops by “stirring up Muslim extremists.”

The MRFF’s Web site is headed by a quote by Weinstein which says, “When one proudly dons a U.S. military uniform, there is only one religious symbol: The American flag.  There is only one religious scripture:  The American constitution.  Finally there is only one religious faith: American patriotism.”

Weinstein also objected to the Pentagon’s “noxious” affiliation with the National Day of Prayer Task Force which is headed by Shirley Dobson, although he stressed he does not object to the Pentagon Chaplain’s Office hosting an NDP event.

Graham is the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham and president and CEO of both Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian international relief organization in Boone, N.C., and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, in Charlotte, N.C.

Franklin Graham at the podium and on the big screen at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash. in 2007. Credit:Flikr-publicjill

Graham, through a spokesman said, “As the father of a son serving in his fourth combat tour, I’d be glad to know someone was leading a prayer service at the National Day of Prayer, or any other day.”

The spokesman also said Graham will be a guest of the Pentagon and will speak only if he’s still invited.  A military spokeswoman said she was locating officials to respond to the criticism.

A federal judge in Wisconsin ruled last week that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional because it amounts to a call for religious action. The judge did not bar any observances until all appeals are exhausted.

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Sho Baraka Releases His Highly Anticipated New Album ‘Lions and Liars’

Posted: 20 Apr 2010 04:02 PM PDT


Christian Newswire/ –Reach Records recording artist Sho Baraka has released his sophomore album “Lions and Liars” to rave reviews and chart-topping sales. It debuted at No.3 on the iTunes Hip Hop chart and No.14 overall, while reaching No.3 on the Billboard Gospel chart. With his second LP, Sho Baraka challenges believers to be “lions” in this culture and master their domain for the glory of God; negating the lies that popular culture bombards us with. The album features label mates Lecrae, Tedashii, and Trip Lee; also, JAMM, Erica Cumbo, and many others. With production from Dj Official, Cheese Williams, Alex Medina, and G-Rocc, “Lions and Liars” promises to be a sonically diverse journey.

On “Lions and Liars,” Sho takes on faith, manhood, and selflessness, but not at the expense of good quality music. Tracks like “Me, Myself and I,” “Liars Anthem,” “Revolutionary Died,” and “4ever is 2morrow” reflect a biblical worldview, yet still have crossover appeal. And “Lion’s Anthem,” “Famous,” “Shut Us Down,” and “I.T.W.N.O.I.” are surefire Christian anthems that fans will be gushing over. Not to mention the album’s first single, “We Can Be More ft J.R.,” which introduces a new dimension to Christian music, even more so to Gospel Rap: a love song. The single offers a pure perspective on love and relationships, and challenges men to respect and uphold true love.

No topic is off limits on “Lions and Liars” as Sho weaves his own story into the album, offers his perspective on mainstream culture and even challenges the widely held Christian view that in order to truly impact society you need to be in full-time ministry. Sho inspires listeners to affect change wherever they are, whatever their vocation.

“Lions and Liars” is a testament to a redeemed, yet still culturally relevant artist, whose unique approach gives the album the ability to change the perceptions about hip-hop, revolutionizing the genre and its supporters. And while Sho’s style is untraditional, his biblical convictions are strong; there’s no mistaking his motivation as he raps, “Now my only job is to make [Christ] famous.”

Reach Records, which recently relocated to Atlanta, is an independent hip-hop label dedicated to producing and promoting substantive hip-hop artists like Sho Baraka.

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Atheist Group Urges Obama to Replace National Day of Prayer with National Day of Reason

Posted: 20 Apr 2010 01:13 PM PDT


The National Day of Prayer has been recognized and observed by every U.S. President since 1775.

The American Humanist Association (AHA) is at it again. The group recently embarked on a mission to replace the word “God” in the national motto “In God We Trust” with “Good” (see The Underground’s article Humanist Group Unveils “In Good We Trust” Billboards). Now they have set their sights on the National Day of Prayer, arguing instead for a “National Day of Reason,” according to CNS News.

The group’s movement started on the heels of last week’s federal court ruling that the National Day of Prayer was indeed unconstitutional because it violates the separation of church and state. U.S. District Court Judge Barbara B. Crabb wrote of the 1952 statute creating the National Day of Prayer that its “sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function,” according to the official AHA web site.

White House spokespersons have reported that President Obama will still recognize the traditional observance of the National Day of Prayer on May 6, as the court’s appeals process will not yet be exhausted by that time.

AHA Director Roy Speckhardt disagrees with the president’s decision.

“The government should not be directing citizens to pray,” he said. “In addition to being unconstitutional, it’s also specifically offensive to people who don’t believe in a god and are made to feel excluded by the observance.”

Historically, there have been several recorded National Days of Prayer, even before the 1952 ruling establishing the observance we now recognize as a nation. In 1775, the Continental Congress marked a day to designate “a time of prayer in forming a new nation.”

Former U.S. President John Adams would later declare May 9, 1798 “a day of solemn humiliation, fasting and prayer.” He asked Americans to pray “that our country may be protected from all the dangers which threaten it.”

The National Day of Prayer became a requirement of U.S. presidents’ recognition when, on April 17, 1952, former President Harry S. Truman signed a bill declaring that all subsequent presidents observe the day.

In recent years, the National Day of Prayer was reintroduced to the nation due, in part, to the efforts of the Reverend Billy Graham and certain members of both the House and the Senate. Together, these men implemented a joint resolution to mark an annual National Day of Prayer, “on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.”

Peter Spriggs, senior fellow for policy studies at Family Research Council told CNSNews.com, “The American Humanist Association and their allied groups have every right to promote a new celebration if they want to – and if they can persuade people to participate voluntarily, that’s fine, but I don’t think they have a right to do away with a long-standing tradition that is deeply rooted in our nation’s history – which is calling the people to prayer.”

Spriggs also added, “[The National Day of Prayer] is inclusive of the vast majority of Americans who believe in a Supreme Being and who do pray, and it is inclusive of the vast majority of Americans throughout the history of our country –and the vast majority of the leaders of our country through our history.”

Of Judge Barabra Crabb, Spriggs concluded, “Judge Crabb was inferring that she found something in the Constitution that every president and Congress since 1775 has not.”

The case is expected to have its day in the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Christianity swells in Indonesia despite violence

Posted: 20 Apr 2010 09:54 AM PDT


The most populous Islamic nation in the world is experiencing a heavy outpouring of Christianity, TIME magazine noted in latest issue.

Indonesia has some 215 million Islamic believers.  However, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, Christianity is Indonesia’s second largest faith and it is growing dramatically in recent years despite outpourings of violence.  In all of Asia, Christianity has some 350 million believers.

Most of the conversions in Indonesia are Pentecostal and Evangelical.  Pentecostalism is considered by many to be the fastest growing faith in the world in terms of conversions (as opposed to births).  It is estimated that by 2050 most Christians will be living in developing nations.

Troubled Past

It is believed that some of the growth of Christianity is triggered by a wave of terrorism and the rise of conservatism among Muslims in Indonesia, which has led to laws that encourage old practices like caning for drinking beer and forcing dress codes for women.

But the move toward Christianity is also seen as an offshoot of the inception of democracy in the country more than a decade ago which led to pluralism and religious conflict.

Despite some adherence to religious freedom, for the past few years dozens of churches and theological academies were destroyed or forced to shut down by Islamic groups.  They accused Christians of trying to steal Muslim believers.  Dozens of local governments have also passed Islamic-based laws that threaten Christian rights.

Last year, the Indonesia Ulema Council, an influential Islamic clerical body, decried Christian proselytization and urged Muslims to guard their faith. “There is a real fear that Christianity is on the march,” says Mike Hilliard, a Scottish minister married to an Indonesian.  They runs an orphanage outside Jakarta that has been targeted by militant Muslims. “Because of this fear, emotions are easily stirred up and mobs can form quickly.”

Although some Christians hold prominent cabinet positions, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has done little to protect religious minorities. Nevertheless, Christians on the street seem undeterred.

Unreliable Statistics

Although local statistics of growth of Christianity in Indonesia may be unreliable, evidence has shown more boldness among the faithful.  For example, in Jakarta megachurches are found in the city, as well as unofficial churches in hotels and malls.  Asia’s tallest statue of Jesus Christ is in Manado city, eastern Indonesia, and Indonesia cable TV has 24-hour Christian channels.

Pastor David Nugroho who has a church in Gesing, Indonesia with 400 worshippers, was quoted  by TIME as saying, “People think Indonesia is just a Muslim country, (but) we (Christians) are not afraid to show our faith.”

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JPL worker sues over demotion citing discrimination against his intelligent design views

Posted: 20 Apr 2010 09:50 AM PDT


A Jet Propulsion Laboratory worker filed recently a case in the Los Angeles county against his superiors for a demotion which he said was discriminatory of his views on intelligent design.

David Coppedge, an information technology specialist on the Cassini space mission exploring Saturn, claims he was demoted after he distributed religious DVDs in his office.  Coppedge had been a leader on the system administrator team for the Cassini mission.

Coppedge discussed intelligent design with JPL scientists, a theory that believes an intelligent being – not evolution or random processes – created life and the universe.

His supervisors sent him a memo telling him to stop discussing religion.  Coppedge claims he stopped talking about intelligent design with his coworkers in March 2009.  However, he was demoted the following month, in April.  The Defendants in the lawsuit include his supervisor, JPL and the California Institute of Technology, which runs JPL.

Coppedge also claims he met with his supervisors, who told him that the written warning was inappropriate, and that it would be removed from his file.  The suit calls this as an admission of liability of religious discrimination and retaliation under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.

JPL’s spokeswoman, Veronica McGregor, said that the firm hasn’t received the lawsuit so it can’t comment yet.   JPL is a federally funded research firm that is also a NASA contractor.

Coppedge is active with creationist Web sites.  He edits the blog, “Creation-Evolution Headlines” and sits on the board of directors of Illustra Media, the group that publishes the DVDs he distributed.

His lawyer William J. Becker said, “I think it’s unfortunate that JPL, which is interested in exploring the origins of the universe would be hostile to the argument of intelligent design. If anything, JPL is the premier space exploration resource in the world.  It ought to have openness to this theory.”

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Christians appeal to president Obama for national prayer day

Posted: 20 Apr 2010 09:44 AM PDT


Attorneys with the Christian legal firm Alliance Defense Fund urged President Barack Obama to appeal the decision of a federal judge’s ruling that National Prayer Day is unconstitutional recently.

Before thousands of guests, including a dozen foreign leaders, President Barack Obama called for greater understanding and cooperation among people of all faiths at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 5, 2008.

The ADF lawyers made their plea after U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb struck down a federal statute creating the “National Day of Prayer.” According to Crabb, the statute connotes endorsement and encouragement of a particular religious exercise.

But ADF Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster argues that the national prayer day is “America’s heritage” and “belongs to Americans.”  He added, “The National Day of Prayer provides an opportunity for all Americans to pray voluntarily according to their own faith – and does not promote any particular religion or form of religious observance.”

National Prayer Day (NPD) was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.  Although it has been celebrated yearly since then, a lawsuit against NPD was filed in October 2008 by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF).

The FFRF is a Madison, Wisconsin group that was founded in 1976.  They are pledged to promote separation of church and state, and to educate the public on “nontheism”.

The Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State,  praised Judge Crabb’s ruling saying, “This decision is a tremendous victory for religious liberty.  Congress has no business telling Americans when or how to pray.”

Lynn added, “The Constitution forbids the government to meddle in religious matters. Decisions about worship should be made by individuals without direction from elected officials. That’s what freedom is all about.”

Ever since 1952, US presidents have always set an annual National Day of Prayer.  Since 1988, the presidents have always designated the first Thursday of May as the National Day of Prayer.

Last year, President Obama issued a proclamation designating the first Thursday of May as the National Day of Prayer, and prayed privately.  Despite the present ruling, Obama still intends to recognize the day this year on May 6.

Shirley Dobson, chair of the National Day of Prayer Task Force said it is imperative “now more than ever before” to pray.  Dobson has organized thousands of local prayer events throughout the country, including gatherings in Washington, D.C., with government leaders.

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Christianity ’still relevant’ for most Europeans, survey finds

Posted: 19 Apr 2010 04:01 PM PDT


Warsaw (ENI). Almost two-thirds of Europeans think Christian values are still relevant to contemporary life and are ready to acknowledge the Church’s efforts to promote them, a recent survey carried out for La Croix daily newspaper has found.

“Whether rooted in Christianity or not, Europeans recognise a privileged place for this religion in its Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox forms,” France’s Roman Catholic-linked newspaper commented on 1 April.

“Yet while two-thirds think Christianity’s message is still up-to-date, this isn’t the case for the other third. So, Christianity remains an element marking the religious culture of the Old Continent, but no longer claims exclusivity,” the newspaper noted.

In the survey, conducted during March by France’s Institut Francais d’Opinion Publique (IFOP) in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, 57 percent of respondents said they believe Christians are “sufficiently visible” in society. That was compared to 28 percent who thought they were “not visible enough” and 15 percent who considered them “too visible”.

Although 61 percent of Europeans said the “message and values” of Christianity remain topical, only Italians believe churches are doing a good job in communicating and reaching out to young people, compared to between 74 and 80 percent of British, French, German and Spanish respondents who thought the opposite.

Forty-eight percent of Europeans assigned a key role to Christian values in promoting “dialogue with different cultures and religions” and “solidarity with the poor,” compared to between three and 13 percent believing these values are important in bioethics and respect for life, in “moralising capitalism” or on issues such as immigration and environmental protection.

At the same time, slightly more than 80 percent of respondents said church priorities for the 21st century should include action for world peace and combating poverty at home, while a third believe churches should be “available at life’s key moments” and one in five think their priorities should include “making Christ’s message known”.

In its commentary, La Croix said the “Christian anchorage” of Europeans appears “too deep to be shifted by the waves stirred by current events”, and has been little affected by current abuse scandals in the churches. However, it also notes strong national differences in attitudes to Christianity, with French citizens voicing stronger criticisms than their Italian neighbours.

In Britain and Germany, where religious pluralism and coexistence are a “well anchored historical reality”, according to La Croix, more citizens regret the failure of traditional churches to hold their ground against new minority faiths.

“For the English above all, religion is a private affair. The Church should be there at life’s important moments, rather than to support world peace, whereas in Germany the churches have a recognised social role as a sort of State institution,” the newspaper noted.
“By contrast, if the majority of French are strongly detached from religion, French Catholics display a more marked religious outlook than Italian or Spanish Catholics. They are also proportionately more numerous in voicing an attachment to Christian values,” it stated.

The survey by IFOP, which was founded in the 1930s, follows other poll results suggesting interest in religion remains extensive in Europe, despite what many see as the continent’s outwardly secular character.

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Word from Scotland

Posted: 19 Apr 2010 09:38 AM PDT


Serving Jesus Christ Is Full Of Painful Excitements

In Luke Chapter 22, we read of that scenario in verses 31,32, where Jesus is informing Peter that he is about to be sifted, but Jesus also reassures this man who is to lead the early church that he is being prayed for. We need to know this too in these challenging and peculiar days when so much of what we have been used to is being undermined and shaken just as the Scriptures depict.

There are times when we are sifted like flour, and put through the mill and pummelled as the dough is prepared. And after all that it is the fire to bake the bread! Read how the showbread was prepared for the table in the Tabernacle. There are profound lessons there for us, and particularly as we remember the thousands across the world who are being sorely and severely persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ in these present times.

Make sure you have access to the information provided regarding those who are having a hard time. “Release International” or “Open Doors” with Brother Andrew, or “Christian Solidarity Worldwide” or the “Barnabas Fund” are all excellent sources and resources. If you have come all this way with me through Acts and Luke then make sure you are praying for those who are suffering in a way that few of in the West experience.

But returning to our passage in Luke Chapter 22 – almost before the words of Jesus have come out of His mouth, Peter is saying, “You can count on me. I'll be with You. Some of the others in the room may not stick with You Jesus, but I'll be there.”

All this has to go. All this has to be dealt with, and dealing with this pride and arrogance and cockiness can be sore. That very night – within an hour or so – Peter went and wept bitterly, when he realised that he had denied Jesus three times.

It did lead to his conversion – to his coming back – to his becoming a new man – a man who could strengthen others. It was Peter who ran to the tomb three days later when he heard that something had happened to the body of Jesus.

From the text it looks as though they were all going to go through it to some degree, and don't we all. This has been our experience. There come times of testing and sifting, when Jesus allows things to happen to shake out the lumps, and knock off the rough edges, in order to refine us. How much more has he still to do?

Remember, it is to this man Peter, at the end of John's Gospel, that Jesus says three times, “Feed My sheep, and feed My lambs.”

Very often those who are able to minister and strengthen their brethren, and truly edify and build up the Church, are those who have experienced falling and failing.

Those who know what it is to have been through the mill and who have gone through a time of sifting and pummelling, know what it is all about, and once Jesus has dealt with them, He has lifted them up, and restored them, and given them a ministry, which otherwise would have been impossible.

Is this not one of the painful excitements of serving in the front line of the Kingdom of God?

I write this article during the week when I recall that it is now forty one years ago since the risen living and ascended Lord Jesus Christ baptised me in the Holy Spirit when I was on the point of resigning and returning to Motor Insurance. I thought I had got this ‘Call Thing’ all wrong, and then the caring concerned living Christ, who had called me when I was eight years old, met me in a room in Cowdenbeath, Scotland.

What a joy and amazing privilege it has been to know the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, for over forty one years.

Originally here:
Word from Scotland

Author bio:
Alexander “Sandy” Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness – on the Moray Firth Coast – not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40 a.m., New Orleans time, at wsho.com.

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Experts cautious in calling latest fossil find, Sediba, the ‘missing link’

Posted: 19 Apr 2010 08:37 AM PDT


Scientists are cautious about labeling the discovery two years ago of two fossils in Johannesburg, South Africa, the ‘missing link.’

The debate about the findings was renewed recently after the journal Science featured two articles on the discovery which said they may be a new species that “might help reveal the ancestor” of the genus Homo.

In fact, the authors of the two science papers do not claim themselves claim that Australopithecus Sediba is a direct ancestor of modern humans.

And like many in the science community, they reject the term “missing link” saying that it implies a chain in evolution rather than the more widely accepted ‘tree model’ of evolution.

Australopithecus Sediba, discovered  near Johannesburg, South Africa, has been deemed to be slightly less than two million years old.  The remains of a woman and a younger man, Sediba was discovered in a pit that was once part of a cave.  It is outstanding as the most complete early hominid skeletons, more so than the “Lucy” fossil in Ethiopia, and in better condition.

Scientists think the fossils were well preserved because the woman and young man probably died suddenly because of a natural disaster and were buried rapidly.

Found with Sediba were the bones of other dead animals such as a sabre-toothed cat, antelope, mice and rabbits, all appearing non-scavenged.  They were found by paleo-anthropologist Lee R. Berger of South Africa’s University of Witwatersrand.

Berger’s team of researchers are looking for any proteins that may be preserved in one of the skeletons, which they suspect might contain the remnant of the dried brain.  If soft tissue is found, there is a slim chance the researchers could yield DNA that might unlock the genetic code for Sediba.

Other points of confusion surrounding Sediba are:

  • Scientists disagree on what the individuals were.  They were included in genus Australopithecus (with ape-man “Lucy”), but some like Colin Groves of the Australian National University believe the bones should be classified as Homo instead.
  • Evolutionists have dated the bones as younger than remains that have already been labeled Homo—which would imply that the individuals discovered could not have been human ancestors.
  • Berger notes the remains have similarities with early Homo, but also have a small cranial capacity like the Australopithecine.  He says that makes it also similar to the Indonesian hobbit species, Homo floresiensis, which others say are fully human.
  • Berger says this particular portion of the fossil record “is one of the most poorly represented in the entire early hominid fossil record . . . a very small, very fragmentary record, ” which coincides with the time evolutionists believe apes were supposed to have evolved into men.

Brian Thomas of the Institute for Creation Research said, “[T]he situation seems to grow more convoluted with each newly unearthed specimen.”

Casey Luskin of the Discovery Institute said, “This fossil has been surrounded by the standard overhype we’ve come to expect from those on a campaign to evangelize for Darwin.”

Similar uproar had been raised over the “Ida” fossil in Germany last year and the “Lucy” fossil in Ethiopia five years before that.

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Bishop doubts fairness of results in recent Sudan elections

Posted: 19 Apr 2010 08:26 AM PDT


A bishop in Sudan raised doubts recently as to the fairness of the country’s recently concluded presidential elections.

Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Adwok Kur of Khartoum said, “The reports of irregularities make one wonder whether in the end these elections will qualify to be called ‘free and fair.’”

The election is viewed as a trial run for next year’s referendum which could spell independence for the largely Christian and animist southern Sudan.  Northern Sudan is primarily Muslim.

Sudanese President President Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir

The two had been at war for some 22 years until 2005, causing the death of some two million.  President Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir gave the south limited autonomy in a peace deal that included the current presidential elections and next year’s referendum in January for southern Sudan’s independence.

Sudan has five million Catholics.  Since 2005, Christian schools in northern Sudan are obligated to teach Islam, and converts from Islam to Christianity face criminal charges and death at the hands of their families.  The south enjoys religious freedom.

Ahead of polling, two key Bashir challengers — the Umma Party’s Sadiq al-Mahdi and Yasser Arman of the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – withdrew.  This paved the way for a near-certain Bashir victory.

The polls, the first competitive elections in 24 years, were marked with distrust, said former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who led a delegation from the Carter Center to monitor the elections.

Carter said “It is obvious that the elections will fall short of international standards.”  Chief EU election monitor Veronique de Keyser echoed Carter’s assessment.

Still, Carter said the vote provided the Sudanese people with “an opening to participate and present their views.” He said, “My belief is that most of the international community, as represented by their governments, will accept the result of the election.”

Some of the irregularities cited by the Carter Center and the EU were:

  • The process lacked sufficient safeguards and transparency.
  • Problems cited with ink, ballot box seals and voter identification.
  • Unequal resourcing and treatment by the authorities.
  • Problems verifying voters’ identity when registration certificates were issued.
  • Reports of underage voters casting ballots.
  • Some evidence of election officials deliberately misrepresenting the desires of some voters.
  • Intimidation, threats and use of force in the South.
  • State interference in the campaigns of opposition candidates largely in the South.
  • Much of Darfur was left out of the process.
  • Serious technical and procedural violations during the polling.
  • The boycott by the opposition, which accused Bashir’s ruling National Congress Party of fraud.
  • The election fell short of Sudan’s obligations and related international standards.

Both Carter and the EU monitors agreed nonetheless that the election process was a step in the right direction for Africa’s largest and long war torn country.

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Baptist preachers address Poland’s loss with comfort of the Gospel

Posted: 19 Apr 2010 08:19 AM PDT


As Poland mourned the loss of its president and other dignitaries, who died in a plane crash on April 10, two visiting Baptist preachers said that the answer to the country’s mourning is found in the Gospel.

Southern Baptist leaders Philip Roberts and Jerry Johnson of the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary comforted congregations in Gdansk and Sopot respectively, and shared the gospel in the aftermath of the crisis, during their 10-day trip to the country.

Polish flag with black mourning ribbon

MBTS president Roberts and academic dean Johnson were in the country to attend a conference at the Polish Baptist Seminary in Radosc.  They met with Andrzej Seweryn, president of the Polish Baptist Seminary.

Seweryn said, “For the Christians here, there is a great chance to step up and help the people work through their grief and suffering. Now is a time to help them in answering some of life’s toughest questions, including the ones about eternity that often surface when events such as this occur.”

Among the dead were Polish president Lech Kaczynsk, his wife Maria, the military’s chief of staff and the heads of Poland’s land forces, navy and air force.  Other dignitaries on board the plane included the national bank president, three military chaplains, Poland’s deputy foreign minister, head of the National Security Office, deputy parliament speaker, Olympic Committee head, civil rights commissioner and at least two presidential aides and three lawmakers, the Polish foreign ministry said.  ­

Many of the leaders killed in the crash were instrumental in the Solidarity movement and the return of liberty and democracy to the country.  They were headed to a ceremony to commemorate the World War II slaughter of Poles that had divided the nation for seven decades and galvanized the beginning of the same Solidarity movement.

Pastor Roberts, who preached in Gdansk, the home city of the Polish president, cited Matthew 10: 39 (HCSB) where Jesus said, “Anyone finding his life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it.”

The MBTS leader continued by adding that “there will be a point when life will end for our physical body on this planet. With this in mind, each of us needs to make sure we are living for the correct reasons and the correct person — Jesus Christ — because He offers the hope of eternal life beyond what we experience in this life on earth.”

Roberts said that the time of soul-searching and reflection on these events presents a great time to share the love of Jesus Christ with the Polish populace.

Some 90 percent of the Polish population is Roman Catholic, with 75 percent practicing.  The second largest faith group is Eastern Orthodox at 1.3 percent, then Protestant at 0.3 percent.   The late Pope John Paul II was Polish.

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UC Hastings’ Christian Legal Society asks Supreme Court to strike down unconstitutional anti-discrimination policy

Posted: 19 Apr 2010 08:09 AM PDT


A Supreme Court decision slated for June may be the last chance for the Christian Legal Society chapter at the University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco to run their organization in adherence to their core spiritual beliefs and still retain their school benefits.

At issue is the university’s non-discriminatory policy which bars student groups from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, sex, or sexual orientation.  The CLS believes that the non-discriminatory law is inherently discriminatory against student faith groups.

The issue arose in 2004 when the CLS asked members to pledge to core religious beliefs, including that they will not engage in a “sexually immoral lifestyle,” or “all acts of sexual conduct outside God’s design for marriage between one man and one woman.”  Failure to live by this standard would disqualify an individual from becoming a voting CLS member.

School officials viewed the pledge as discrimination.  They said the group’s faith-based by-laws reflected intent to discriminate against gay and lesbian students and others.  Under the school policy, student groups must agree to accept any student as a voting member.

The society was ordered to abide by school policy, or they would lose school recognition including school benefits such as funding, use of school facilities, and use of school communication systems to publicize meetings.

When the CLS balked, the school withheld their benefits.  The CLS sued, claiming the First Amendment rights of free speech, free association and free exercise of religion.  They said the school policy is unconstitutional.

The CLS said gay and lesbian students and others of different beliefs could attend CLS meetings and events, but if they do not sign a pledge acknowledging that they share the precise Christian beliefs of the group they would be excluded from voting, holding leadership positions, and leading Bible study discussions.

CLS’ lawyer Michael McConnell wrote in their defense brief, “To forbid groups to form on the basis of shared beliefs is to forbid freedom of association at its most fundamental level.”

McConnell added, “The policy targets solely those groups whose beliefs are based on ‘religion’ or that disapprove of a particular kind of sexual behavior.”  He said

the non-discrimination policy is “explicitly viewpoint discriminatory”  and only applies to religious beliefs–not political, social, or cultural ideals or beliefs.

So far the Hastings policy has been upheld by a federal judge.  The Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the judge’s ruling.  The Supreme Court decision in June will be the CLS last chance to run their organization according to their core beliefs and still keep their status and benefits.

Some 60 student organizations are currently registered at Hastings, all of which can receive school benefits.  If the Supreme Court supports the school’s policy, the CLS will be the only student group that was ever denied those benefits.

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Controversial Documentary on Larry Norman, “Father of Christian Rock” Will Finally be Shown

Posted: 18 Apr 2010 09:41 PM PDT


The controversial documentary on the life of Larry Norman, the “Father of Christian Rock,” will be screened on Tuesday, 6:30 pm at the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville.

After the screening of “Fallen Angel: the Outlaw Larry Norman,” director David Di Sabatino and Randy Stonehill, a longtime friend of Norman, will answer questions from the audience.

Controversial documentary on Larry Norman, ‘father of Christian rock’ to be shown after years of legal wrangling

“Fallen Angel: the Outlaw Larry Norman,” will be shown after a court judgment favoring Di Sabatino was made recently.  Norman’s family tried to block the film claiming violations of the copyright law and denying some allegations that were made in the film.

“Fallen Angel: the Outlaw Larry Norman” pays tribute to Norman’s musical genius, but also tackles his dark side, citing Norman’s relationship with Stonehill’s estranged wife, allegations of cheating his business partners out of royalties, and fathering a child out of wedlock with another woman.

Norman was a San Francisco hippie who wrote songs about Jesus, sex, drugs, war and the end times.  His music made him a hero of the 1970s Jesus freaks and his albums such as Upon This Rock, Only Visiting This Planet and So Long Ago the Garden became Christian rock classics.

From 1966 to 1968 Norman performed in concerts with The Doors, The Who, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix, among others.  His band People! scored a Billboard hit in 1968 with a cover of The Zombies’ song “I Love You.”  However, Norman left the band the day People!’s debut album was released.

His 1972 release, Only Visiting This Planet, is considered one of the best albums in Christian rock, and his music influenced that of U2, John Mellencamp, and the Pixies.

Time Magazine called Norman “the most significant artist in his field.” Over 300 cover versions of his songs have been recorded by artists such as Petula Clark, Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Black, and Cliff Richard.  His songs have also been recorded by contemporary Christian artists like DC Talk, Rebecca St. James, and Audio Adrenaline.

Norman performed for The White House twice, and also performed in the Hollywood Bowl, the Sydney Opera House, the Palladium and London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall, which he sold out six times. In the last 40 years Norman has released nearly 100 solo albums.

Of “Fallen Angel: The Outlaw Larry Norman,” Stonehill said he believed the documentary has a redemptive message and celebrates Norman’s brilliance as a musician.   Of his stormy friendship with Norman he adds, “You see us (in the film) on our best days as friends and collaborators, and on our worse days.  It’s a picture of God’s faithfulness.”

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Interreligious Group Appeals for Peace After Cathedral Bombing



Interreligious Group Appeals for Peace After Cathedral Bombing

Posted: 17 Apr 2010 10:57 PM PDT


The Interreligious Solidarity Movement for Peace appealed for harmony after the Abu Sayyaf, a militant Islamic group, set off two bombs in the Philippines Tuesday, killing 14, injuring 15 and destroying a Catholic Cathedral.

The IRSMP joined forces with the civilian Peace Advocates Zamboanga and the Consortium of Bangasamoro Civic Society  in their appeal for peace.

Of the total deaths, seven were civilians, three soldiers, three Abu Sayyaf men, and one policeman.  Another bomb that was found in front of a judge’s house and near a bus terminal was detonated by the military.

Even as the military claimed recently that Isabela, the city in which the attacks took place,  is now clear of Abu Sayyaf terrorists and that life in the Philippine province of Basilan is starting to normalize, questions are being raised as to why the attack took place, and who or what is behind the bombing.

An editorial by the Philippine Daily Inquirer  quoted senior superintendent Antonio Mendoza, Basilan police chief as saying, “Based on some accounts, they were hired, forced to wear the police uniforms and were directed to implement some attacks.  And of course, there’s money involved.”

However the PDI also noted that it is possible the police chief’s sources are at least two captured Abu Sayyaf members who could lying.

Reportedly, the two mentioned prominent political personalities behind the attack, which could be a ruse to conduct terrorism by other means or could be the truth.

Political feuds are not uncommon in Basilan, including the assassination of Rep. Wahab Akbar (himself a former Abu Sayyaf member) in Quezon City which is believed to be traced to political enemies.

Another very plausible possibility was raised by Rear Adm. Alex Pama who speculated that, based on the likely operations plan the Abu Sayyaf attempted to carry out, the objective of the group may have been to replicate the 1995 Ipil raid (now Zamboanga Sibugay) which left 50 people dead, a billion pesos looted from banks and a town center in ruins.

Pama said the Isabela attack was “a major, well-planned attack that luckily went bad in their own hands.”

The Abu Sayyaf started in the 1990s.  It is well known in America as the group that kidnapped American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham.

Upon the Burhamms’ rescue Martin was killed in the crossfire, while Gracia survived and now lives with her children in Kansas.

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‘Letters to God’ director appeals to Christian community to help keep movie in theaters




‘Letters to God’ director appeals to Christian community to help keep movie in theaters

Posted: 16 Apr 2010 10:07 PM PDT


“Letters to God” director David Nixon appealed recently to the Christian community to support his latest movie, which theatres are threatening to stop showing.

Nixon urged Christians to get their friends, family and church to see the movie this weekend, or even purchase tickets in advance for upcoming weekends, so that the movie can build up the same momentum they did with “The Passion of Christ.”

“Letters to God” made No. 10 in the box office top 10, grossing $1.1 million in 897 theatres.  It was made on a $3 million budget.

The film is averaging $1.2 thousand per theatre, but that is not enough to keep it in theatres.  On Facebook the movie has over 65,000 fans with momentum continuing.

Baptist Press film critic Phil Boatwright called “Letters to God” a triumph and “one of the best films you and your family will see all year.”  Some secular viewers however feel that the Christian message is overdone.

“Letters to God” is a true story about a boy, Tyler, who is with a malignant brain tumor and who is undergoing chemotherapy.  His mother is a single parent, so the boy’s uncle and grandmother help in his care.  Tyler deals with his sickness by sending his prayers as letters to God.  A postman, who is an alcoholic and who has lost his own son, keeps the letters and reads them.

Jackie K. Cooper, a secular film reviewer wrote, “Letters to God keeps letting the story be interrupted by the sponsor, which in this case is Christianity.”  However Cooper noted that Tanner Maguire, who played Tyler, was especially effective and could project fear, serenity and acceptance.

Cooper did admit that “Letters to God is a film that will touch your heart. Who can dismiss the validity of a young boy’s faith in the face of an almost insurmountable illness?” but concluded, “Still, you wish the filmmakers had just trusted the story to deliver the message of faith and hope rather than pack it full of ‘Christian commercials.’”

Considering the fact that one in three people will contract cancer, and one in four will die from the disease, Global Healing Center notes that “Letters to God” is, more than a movie, a mission to show people that hope can be spread through prayer and love.

The promoters of “Letters to God” are now connecting church leaders to the movie’s Web site to provide them with resources, sermons, and other materials that will promote Christ’s compassionate care.

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Debate Over Discrimination Against Christians in Britain Gains Steam



Debate Over Discrimination Against Christians in Britain Gains Steam

Posted: 14 Apr 2010 09:01 AM PDT


The issue of Christian marginalization has gained new heat as the National Secular Society (NSS) recently accused Christian church leaders, including former Archbishop Lord Carey of Canterbury, of seeking special treatment at the Court of Appeals (CA).

In a separate instance Shirley Chaplin, a nurse, was banned by Devon and Exeter NHS Trust from wearing her crucifix on the job although she had done so without incident for the last 30 years.

This has sparked new debate among Christians, Muslims and secularists about the issue of discrimination of Christians in favor of secularists.

Stephen Evans of the NSS said “Equality for all before the law must be non-negotiable.”

However, Paul Diamond of the Christian Legal Centre filed the request on behalf senior church leaders after religious activists had already lost several cases of church discrimination.

Diamond also represents Gary McFarlane, who was fired from his job for refusing to give sex therapy to gay couples.

The church is requesting that McFarlane’s case is heard by a specialist panel of five judges with a proven understanding of religious issues.  They also requested that the panel is headed by Lord Judge and the Lord Chief Justice.

The Christian Concern For Our Nation (CCFON) website noted that senior churchmen felt the CA judges are biased against them.

Lord Carey and others said that in the long term there is a need to appoint a panel of judges – of all religious faiths – to hear sensitive religious rights cases.

In a separate instance Shirley Chaplin, a nurse, was banned by Devon and Exeter NHS Trust from wearing her crucifix on the job although she had done so without incident for the last 30 years.

Others Protest

Dr. Taj Hargey, chairman of the Muslim Educational Centre of Oxford said secularism in Britain is “virulent”, and that Britain should be defending Christianity as the faith of the British majority instead of marginalizing it.

Hargey said “As a Muslim, I am filled with despair at the attitude of our politically correct officials towards Christianity” in his article entitled “What Has Britain Come to when it takes a Muslim Like me to Defend Christianity?”

Hargey expressed regret that the core of religious liberty, which was a “…cornerstone for our democratic, respectful and tolerant nation” is slowly ebbing.

Donald MacLeod, principle of the Free Church college in Edinburgh was featured in guardian.uk.com saying “Muslims may wear their burkas, gays their earrings and Sikhs their turbans, but Christians may not wear crucifixes.  Marriage is attacked because of presumed links with Christianity, and euthanasia promoted because it is presumed to have none.”

In the same article Mary Warnock said “We need an established church.  There are occasions when the cultural traditions and ceremonies of religion are essential, and nothing else will do.  Christianity is not just a private but a public matter, woven into our constitution and our shared imaginative life.”

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British Atheists Want to Arrest Pope During Visit

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 07:28 PM PDT


Atheist leaders  Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens want Pope Benedict XVI to be arrested when he visits the UK in September for “crimes against humanity,” Christian Today reported.

Dawkins and Hitchens charges come amid reports that the pope had signed a letter in 1985 when he was known as Cardinal Ratzinger on behalf of priest Stephen Kiesle who was charged with sexually abusing boys under his watch in California.

The Vatican denies they tried to stonewall Kiesle’s defrocking and say that they are victims of a hate campaign generated by their unpopular stance on several issues including birth control and same sex marriage.  They maintain that sexual abuse by priests is limited and not as rampant as some media reports maintain.

Richard Dawkins. Atheist leaders such as Dawkins want Pope Benedict XVI to be arrested during his upcoming visit to Britain

Dawkins cited as precedent the arrest of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet when he visited Britain in 1998.  Last year a British judge issued an arrest warrant for Israeli politician Tzipi Livni upon the urgings of pro-Palestinian activists, causing Livni to cancel her UK visit.

Human rights lawyers note that the Vatican is not a recognized by international law as a state, nor is it recognized by the UN.  For this reason, the pontiff’ does not merit diplomatic immunity.  However, the Vatican enjoys diplomatic relations with some 179 countries.

Pope Benedict will visit London, Glasgow and Coventry on September 16 and 19 to beatify 19th century theologian Cardinal John Henry Newman.

Historically, the only pope who was arrested was Pope Pius VII by Napoleon Bonaparte, who held the pontiff prisoner for six years for excommunicating Bonaparte.

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President Obama’s recent nomination of Goodwin Liu Worries Defense of Marriage Advocates

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 06:04 PM PDT


President Barack Obama’s recent nomination of Goodwin Liu  has raised concerns among advocates of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage as “a legal union between one man and one woman for purposes of all federal laws.”

Liu, 39, is the associate dean of Berkeley Law School.  He has advocated many liberal causes including supporting national health care, affirmative action, same-sex marriage and slavery reparations.

President Obama’s recent nomination of Goodwin Liu Worries Defense of Marriage Advocates

Liu’s appointment was preceded by several tax-paid advertisements by the U.S. Census Bureau urging same-sex couples who “consider themselves married” to fill out the Census form as a married couple.

Only five states and the District of Columbia officially recognize same-sex marriages; meanwhile, the move contradicts the Census Bureau’s July 2008 statement that same-sex couples would not be counted.

Many Republicans oppose Liu’s nomination and are set to grill him before the Judiciary Committee during his hearing which is set for Friday.  Sen. Jeff Sessions (R., Ala.) who heads the Judiciary Committee was quoted by The Philadelphia Inquirer as saying Liu is “far outside the mainstream of American jurisprudence.”

Concern had also been raised that Liu may eventually become the first Asian American on the Supreme Court.  Curt Levey, executive director of the Committee for Justice raised this point and added, “Look, he was picked because he’s a darling of the left, and that’s exactly the reason conservatives are up in arms about him.”

However, Liu also has his share of conservative supporters, including Kenneth Starr, the lawyer who investigated President Bill Clinton, and California GOP Senate candidate Tom Campbell.

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was signed into law by President Clinton in 1996 and passed with bi-partisan majorities of 342-67 in the House and 85-14 in the Senate.  It defines marriage as “a legal union between one man and one woman for purposes of all federal laws.”

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Pediatricians advise against encouragement of gender-confused behavior

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: The Underground <tifforr@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Subject: The Underground
To: tifforr@gmail.com


http://theundergroundsite.com)" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136); font-size: 22px; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">The Underground


Pediatricians advise against encouragement of gender-confused behavior

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 12:39 PM PDT


Male-femal symbols

The American College of Pediatricians has launched a new web site appealing to educators across the United States.

They are asking schools, school officials and parents not to encourage sexual experimentation among students who feel they may be homosexual or gender-confused.

The Web site, “Facts About Youth” also carries information for the students themselves.

The ACP has also sent a letter and fact sheet to more than 14,000 school superintendents.

This group of health professionals presents the theory that children and adolescents are often confused at first, but if given the chance, they grow out of it and into natural affections for the opposite sex.

Little boys and girls may switch to playing with dolls of the opposite gender. That behavior, says ACP, is usually discouraged but may actually be healthy. Most children also don’t often like the opposite sex until they are pre-adolescent.

The pediatricians say these feelings should not be a green light to encourage alternative sexual orientations or experimentation.

Some points The American College of Pediatricians brings up:
-Schools should refrain from adopting policies encouraging non-heterosexual attractions.
-Schools should not be quick to establish and accept various sexual labels.
-It should never be offered as proven fact that a homosexual or trans-gender orientation is non-changeable.

The organization refers to evidence from The National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) that homosexuality, lesbianism and bisexuality are not necessarily fixed, life-long conditions.

NARTH’s evidence has long been refuted by organizations supporting gay rights, but claims to date there is no scientific proof of a gay gene.

NARTH advises that Gender Identity Disorder (GID, transexualism) is a correctable mental disorder, but that these feelings are encouraged today instead of applying recommended treatment to correct the disposition.

The Facts for Youth website also offers information from the Centers for Disease Control about the overwhelming dangers of homosexual or bisexual activity to the health of young people.

ACP’s position runs contrary to today’s political correctness:
What the American College of Pediatricians is saying could be declared “hate speech” according to current trends in tolerance and diversity:

-In April of each year since 1996, a “Day of Silence” takes place in public schools. This day was created by GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) in conjunction with other gay rights groups to end what they consider to be the constant bullying and taunting of gay children and teens across the country.

On the Day of Silence, all students are to remain silent about the issue of homosexuality or gender confusion for an entire day. Liberty Counsel and other law firms are informing parents that it is not illegal to keep children out of school that day, as a form of protected religious free speech.

-Cities in Florida, Texas and other states have recently adopted or are considering ordinances to allow persons of various sexual orientations to use the other sex’s bathrooms in public places.

-Congress is once again set to vote on ENDA, The Employment Non-Discrimination Act,  (S. 1584/H.R. 3017 ). ENDA has circulated for years without garnering enough votes to pass. It is a measure guaranteeing, among other new rules, that schools and businesses must allow cross-dressers, transsexuals, and other gender-confused persons to appear as they wish on a daily basis without being reprimanded.

President Obama’s recent appointee to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is Chai Feldblum, one of the main authors of ENDA. Critics of ENDA fear the sexual orientation language is so broad that it could include fetishes such as bestiality.

What does the Bible say?
Bible critics state that if we obey the Old Testament’s laws about homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22-23; 20:13), we would still be stoning gays and lesbians to death. But in the New Testament, Jesus died once for all to cover our sins (Ephesians 1:7 for example).
And although same-sex behavior is still considered a sin (Romans 1:26-32, 1 Corinthians 6:8-10, 1 Timothy 1:9-11), Bible believers are in no way instructed to hate or harm the person(s) involved.

On the contrary, we are to lovingly attempt instruction and restoration of people involved in all sin. The problem is—behaviors of a sexual nature outside marriage between a man and a woman are no longer considered sin by secular society.

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Survey reveals alarming increase in television violence against women




Survey reveals alarming increase in television violence against women

Posted: 09 Apr 2010 01:30 PM PDT


The Parents Television Council has released their October 2009 survey illustrating a troublesome increase in violence against women on television shows.

Here are some highlights from the findings in Women in Peril: A Look at TV’s Disturbing New Storyline Trend:

-There’s been a 400 percent increase in the depiction of teen girls as victims across all networks from 2004 to 2009.

-Incidences of violence against women on the four main TV channels –ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC—rose 120 percent between 2004 and 2009.

-Overall violence of other types during the same time frame increased only 2 percent.

-The most frequent type of violence shown is beating (29 percent), followed by credible threats of violence (18 percent), shooting (11 percent), rape (8 percent), stabbing (6 percent), and torture (2 percent);

-Violence against women tends to be depicted rather than just described, and of the above violent story lines, the acts resulted in the woman’s death 19 percent of the time.

-Bodies are being shown close-up, with special effects carefully recreating blood and all sorts of critical or fatal injuries.

In a 2010 Survey conducted for Seventeen Magazine, a popular teen girls’ publication, over three-quarters of teen boys polled stated there is too much pressure from society to have sex; due at least in part to being influenced by pornographic images.

Almost the same percentage of boys reported having received nude or semi-nude “sexting” (phone or internet photos) from girls.

Actress Jessica Alba stars in a violent new 2010 movie.

Both studies conclude that the acts of violence along with explicit sex seen on TV may contribute to young people viewing aggression and violence against women as normal and acceptable.

The increase in violence against women doesn’t stop with TV:
The trend is growing in Hollywood films and pornographic videos. Latina Magazine online recently carried a video trailer for actress Jessica Alba’s new mainstream movie, “The Killer Inside Me.”

In the movie, Alba plays a woman involved in a sadomasochistic relationship, where she enjoys being beaten. The trailer is explicit, and you don’t need to be any certain age to call this page up on your computer.

The pornographic film industry also relies greatly on scenes depicting violent or forceful sex between men and women or same-sex female encounters. Not all the women involved are doing so willingly.

A recent Underground article by reporter Josh Givens covers a new cable TV project, “Footnote,” that aims to expose the exploitation of women in porn—a business now making over three billion dollars per year.

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‘Health of the mother clause’ has some uneasy about Executive Order No. 13535




‘Health of the mother clause’ has some uneasy about Executive Order No. 13535

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 04:08 PM PDT


In March, President Obama signed Executive Order No. 13535 to prevent federal funding of abortions in the new health care bill (properly titled The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act).

U.S. President Barack Obama signs an executive order as Vice President Joe Biden looks on.

The executive order replaces acceptance of the Stupak Amendment, which was keeping some members of Congress from signing the health care legislation.

According to the text of this executive order, the newly passed health care legislation is supposed to protect the previously existing conscience clause against abortion and prohibits discrimination against health care facilities or providers who are unwilling to participate in funding or providing abortions.

Exceptions allowing federal abortion funding will be rape, incest and “health of the mother.”

Though questioning executive orders is nothing new (Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and many presidents before them had their executive orders challenged), for some, the “health of the mother” clause of this executive order is problematic.

“Health of the mother,” according to Doe v. Bolton, the companion case to Roe v. Wade signing legal abortion into law, defines “health of the mother” as any factors decided by the woman and her doctor “that affect physical, emotional, psychological, familial and the woman’s age.”

This definition is still used today and means that some physicians may recommend abortions for some women because the “health of the mother” is at stake.

Since 1996, at least 500 physicians and surgeons, including former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, have been writing to newspapers and even testifying before Congress that abortion, especially late term, should never be used as a preferred method to terminate a pregnancy if a mother’s life is in danger.

A Wall Street Journal letter by the physician group called PHACT (Physicians’ Ad Hoc Coalition for Truth) stated that instead of protecting the mother, certain methods of abortion “pose a significant and immediate threat to both the pregnant woman’s health and fertility.”

The fact that this executive order was over the controversial issue of federal abortion funding has called attention to the entitlement of presidents to sign executive orders as an executive order is a legally binding document giving a certain direction to administration agencies within the government.

An executive order can: (1) Direct an agency in carrying out their legislative mission, or (2) interpret a declaration of policy for the public.

Each U.S. President has the “executive privilege” to initiate new executive orders, or sign executive orders overturning or amending those of a previous president.

Since the early 1900’s, records of Executive Orders have been kept. Today, the National Archives has online records, listing the executive orders by each President since the recording began.

The term “executive order” traces its origin back to President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, although presidents have been signing them as “directives” since 1789.

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Word from Scotland

Posted: 07 Apr 2010 03:23 PM PDT


Being Different Because We Are ‘in Christ’ is Seldom Easy

We are in Luke Chapter 22, and this week from verse 31. Jesus Christ is spending His last night on earth with His chosen men. That is significant.

Final words are always highly significant. They have been remembering the Passover, and Jesus has given new meaning and significance to the bread and the wine.

Then there arises that dispute. They squabble as they become so interested in what their place and position might be in the coming Kingdom, and Jesus has to tell them not to be like the world. Verse 26. Don't be like everybody else. Be different. That has its cost too. Being different is not easy, and being known for being different has its own difficulties, but this is part of our calling in Christ, and this is something we must face up to and confront.

Those who are not ‘in Christ’ may hate and detest us because of this, and others may wish they had the faith and assurance and peace which only Jesus Christ can give.

Jesus is teaching those men that they are to serve. Now, that is a word that has almost gone out of use. Serve, service and serving others – you do not see a lot of this in today’s world, and perhaps that is why Jesus had to take the time to teach its importance. Serving has never been popular!

Then Jesus indicates that these disciples are going to be sifted – put through a sieve – put through the mill – to be refined. That will remove the lumps, and knock off the rough edges.

The shewbread in the Tabernacle had to be made with refined flour.

Jesus looks at Simon Peter and spells it out clearly. “I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.” Jesus is very specific.

Peter was going to have a wild 24 hours, and be in turmoil over these next three days, but Jesus had prayed for him that his faith would not fail.

Peter is to be sifted and tested and put in the most awkward situations, and have it all written down for all to see. The wheat was being separated from the chaff, in the life of the man who was to arise and lead that young Church during the first few years of its dynamic exciting life.

In a sense it is not what you are that counts. It is what God can make of you. It is what God can do with you and in you, before He can work through you.

Originally here:
Word from Scotland

Author bio:
Alexander “Sandy” Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness – on the Moray Firth Coast – not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40 a.m., New Orleans time, at wsho.com.

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“Footnote” to Expose Truth about Porn Industry


“Footnote” to Expose Truth about Porn Industry

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 04:29 PM PDT


The producers and writers behind "Footnote" plan to uncover the real, personal, honest and raw stories of people within the pornography industry.

A new TV show premiering on cable this fall will be addressing some of society’s most controversial issues, starting with pornography. Launched by international radio, TV and publishing ministry Back to the Bible, in conjunction with Brad Knull and Cooke Pictures, “Footnote” is currently wrapping up pre-production, according to “The Christian Post.”

The show’s pilot episode will dive headfirst into the “world’s biggest industry” and ask questions like “What makes porn tick? Why is it what it is? [and] is porn, maybe, important after all?” according to the show’s official web site.

Over the last 18 months, the Christian production crew behind the show has been interviewing “porn stars, porn producers, porn addicts, and [even] a porn pastor” in an effort to uncover the raw, honest and real stories behind this industry.

In the pilot episode, ex-porn producer Donny Pauling talks about his experiences with the women he encountered and the ways the industry leaves them forever changed.

“You don’t hear in the porn credits about the girl who was curled up in a ball between takes sucking her thumb because her mind is so blown by what she has been doing,” he says.

Pauling also added, “We’d start leading them [the women] down a path. They’d be paid $500 a day just to shoot the photos and then we’d lead into harder and harder stuff, once they’re used to the money. The industry breaks them.”

The pilot episode features one such porn star, identified as Kyanna Lee, who said, “Pornography is my boyfriend. It actually hurts but we have to make it look good because we have to sell the product.”

“Footnote” writer Tyler Huckabee and Producer John Reisinger have decided they will not dub the show a “ministry,” because of the negative stereotypes modern culture tends to associate with faith-based ministries. Instead, they plan on targeting the show at individuals who have or continue to go through bouts of “disillusionment and cynicism towards the usual idea of what a ‘Christian’ should be.”

The official trailer for the pilot episode includes some staggering statistics:

  • Every second, 28,258 Internet users are watching porn
  • Last year porn earned $3,840,000,000 in the U.S. alone

Huckabee and Reisinger say the name of the show was inspired by their desire to focus on and highlight “the important things.”

In fact, “Footnote’s” official site greets its viewers with the message, “Truth is, most of our time is spent in between that big stuff. We live our lives in annotations, by the way’s, and P.S.’s. In extra details. In footnotes. We wanted this show to be about important things and to do that, we had to look for the small stuff. And what we found there was parenthetical and small. But it was also where we really found people. And life. And God Himself.”

“Footnote” will air this fall on cable with 13 episodes. You can visit their official web site www.fntv.com to find out more, watch the trailer for episode one and even read the official “Footnote” blog.

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