Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Stocks extend their losing streak a third day, Dow falls 300 points
Tanaya Macheel
Jesse Pound
WATCH LIVE
Stocks fell for a third day on Tuesday, putting a summer market comeback in doubt as the Federal Reserve and other global central bankers continued to signal they will raise interest rates to squash inflation despite the negative consequences for economic growth and, potentially, corporate profits.
The S&P 500 fell 1.1% to 3,988.65, falling below the 4,000 level for the first time since July. The Nasdaq Composite lost 1.2%, to close at 11,877.99. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 305 points, or 0.9%, to 31,821.51.
The market added to losses that began Friday, when the S&P 500 shed more than 3% in a big rout following inflation-fighting comments from Fed Chief Jerome Powell and continued to fall this week. The benchmark's comeback from its mid-June low has been cut to 9%.
The latest comments came from New York Fed President John Williams on Tuesday. "I do think with demand far exceeding supply, we do need to get real interest rates … above zero. We need to have somewhat restrictive policy to slow demand, and we're not there yet," Williams told the Wall Street Journal.
"We're still quite a ways from that," he added.
Williams' comments follow similar sentiments voiced by European Central Bank policymaker and Estonian central bank Governor Madis Muller, who said on Tuesday the central bank should discuss a 75-basis-point rate hike in September given exceptionally high inflation.
Short-term rates continued their march higher as investors bet on more rate hikes. The 2-year Treasury yield topped its highest in nearly 15 years.
"The markets are fragile and the hawkish reception [by the Fed Friday] shows they're trying to be crystal clear that the Fed pivot is not in the cards and they're going to continue to have inflation as their number one priority," said Stephanie Lang, chief investment officer of Homrich Berg. "That narrative is going to continue to put pressure on the market. We're just going to have a lot of volatility… into year-end."
She added that all eyes are on the Friday jobs report, but a strong number would just mean more of the same rhetoric from the Fed, in terms of its commitment to lowering inflation.
"We're at a tricky juncture, but I don't think one particular data point is going to give relief to the market," Lang said. "You're going to need to see several months of the actual inflation data continue to move down for the Fed to feel any bit of comfort."
Energy prices eased on Tuesday, with West Texas Intermediate futures, the U.S. oil benchmark, falling more than 5.2%. Natural gas futures also dipped.
Who Owns More Land: Bill Gates, McDonald's or The Catholic Church?
Dan Budzyn
Mon, August 29, 2022 at 8:21 AM·4 min read
Land is the investment of choice for moguls. Bill Gates has invested heavily in farmland. People have said for years that McDonald’s Corp is actually a real estate company that sells food. You might not have realized that the Catholic Church owns lots of real estate. Which of these billion-dollar entities owns more of what might be considered the most precious commodity on earth — land? Benzinga did the research, and the results might surprise you.
The Case for Bill Gates: Microsoft Corp co-founder is largely considered the biggest private owner of farmland in the U.S. with nearly 270,000 acres. This number stems from last year's edition of The Land Report. It’s reasonable to assume that the purchases haven’t slowed down.
While Gates has said that the purchases are a result of his investment groups, he also recognizes the potential and the importance of farmland. He said in an ask-me-anything (AMA) session on Reddit that the purchases were linked to seed and biofuel development.
The Land Report reference came out in winter 2021, after which controversies circulated about Gates’ accumulation of American farmland.
Total acreage for Bill Gates: Well over 270,000 acres
The Case For McDonald’s: The McDonald’s brand is massive and has been around since 1955. Over nearly 70 years, McDonald’s currently sits at just over 39,000 locations as of January 2022. Those locations each come with approximately 1.2 acres. The research suggests that McDonald's owns about 70% of the buildings and 45% of the land at its locations worldwide. Once all the math is done, calculations show that McDonald’s owns around 47,037 acres of land.
McDonald’s only owns and operates about 15% of locations directly. The remainder is run by franchisees.
McDonald’s real business is acting as the landlord of its franchisees. It sets the ground rules and provides the layout for success. It’s been said that burgers are only sold because it’s the easiest way for its tenants to profit and pay it back.
Its intent is to purchase land, and a new McDonald’s is opened every 15 hours. As a result, McDonald’s income and land ownership continue to grow.
Total acreage for McDonald’s: 50,000 acres and growing
The case for the Catholic Church: The Catholic Church owns 177 million acres of land across the globe for its churches and schools as well as owning farmland and forest land.
If this number sounds astonishing to you, you’re not alone. The report comes from Yale Climate Connections, and its story about land ownership by the Catholic Church explains the importance its decisions can have on the environment.
The report tells the story of Molly Burhans, executive director of Goodlands, who discovered that the Catholic Church lacked a comprehensive inventory of its land ownership. Molly claimed that the Church hadn’t had an update to its inventory since the Holy Roman Empire.
After gaining permission from the Vatican, Burhans underwent a comprehensive of bringing the Church into the 21st century. A live database provides a visual of all its land holdings.
Total for the Catholic Church: 177,000,000 acres
Conclusion: The Catholic Church owns the most land, far more than McDonald’s and billionaire Bill Gates. If you are concerned about environmental change, global warming and climate change, this massive player has been flying under the radar.
Regardless if you’re an individual operating a 501(c)(3) or a massive corporation, land ownership should remain a priority. If you’re unable to take the first steps in owning property of your own, consider the following two paths.
Real estate investment trust (REIT) ownership: Purchased like a stock, these industry-specific holdings allow you to purchase property in an industry you believe in.
Crowdfunding: Real estate crowdfunding platforms allow you the opportunity to invest in fractional ownership of specific properties and real estate developments. These long-hold investments can prove to be fruitful over time.
Source
Jehovah’s Witnesses to return to door-to-door ministry for first time since before COVID-19 pandemic
Joey Gill
4 days ago
File photo of a front door. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — Jehovah’s Witnesses are returning to their trademark door-to-door ministry for the first time in two-and-a-half years.
According to the organization, it will mark “the complete restoration of all pre-pandemic in-person activities for the nearly 1.3 million Jehovah’s Witnesses in the 12,000 congregations” across the country and will be “just in time for the launch of a global campaign featuring an interactive program for Bible study.”
Houses of worship, called Kingdom Halls, were reopened on April 1, 2022. Witnessing in public places resumed on May 31, 2022, and in-person conventions are being planned for 2023.
The Jehovah’s Witness organization called the suspension “unprecedented.”
The University of South Carolina changing its mascot’s name over rooster care dispute
“Jehovah’s Witnesses had been preaching from house to house without interruption for more than 100 years through an economic depression, two world wars and global unrest, but COVID-19 demanded a different response,” said the organization in a statement.
During the pandemic, virtual meetings and conventions continued while the ministry continued communicating through letters, phone calls, and virtual Bible studies.
“This has led to growth in meeting attendance and the number of congregants, with more than 400,000 newly baptized witnesses joining the ranks of 120,000 congregations globally in just the first two years of the pandemic,” said the organization.
‘Chameleon Beard Bandit,’ Greensboro bank robber sentenced to 15 years
“We believe that the early decision to shut down all in-person activities for more than two years has saved many lives, said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses, “We’re now ready and eager to reconnect with our neighbors once again — person-to-person, face-to-face. It’s not the only way that we preach, but it has historically been the most effective way to deliver our message of comfort and hope.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses will return going door-to-door beginning Sept. 1.
Monday, August 29, 2022
Christian High School In Manhattan Hosted Mandatory Drag Show In Place Of Church Service
BY TYLER DURDEN
SATURDAY, AUG 06, 2022 - 10:00 PM
Would leftists actually target a Christian school church service with a sexualized drag show? Of course they would.
Students at Manhattan’s Grace Church High School say they were supposed to attend Wednesday church services on April 27th, 2021 when they were greeted with a surprise substitution show featuring a dancing drag queen in orange go-go boots called “Brita Filter” (the symbolism of the stage name is unknown). The event was sponsored by “Spectrum,” the school's LGBT support club and members of the school faculty.
The students allege they felt pressured to participate and had to pretend they enjoyed the event. Some Spectrum club members tapped teens on the shoulders and ordered them to stand for the show, while others handed out pride stickers and stated “Take one or you’re homophobic.” Other kids got involved in the show and began twerking in the chapel.
After the dancing was over, Brita discussed being “pansexual.”
Said one student, “It’s notable that this person consistently called themselves fabulous and talented and beautiful. Not just once or twice, but over and over this person reassured themselves that way...”
The inherent narcissism of the pride movement is easily observed.
The school website details their pride related programs and Brita Filter's performance.
Beyond the obvious affront to Christian doctrine, the trend of sexualized drag performances for kids sponsored by schools has become an epidemic. Numerous schools over the past year have been caught secretly hosting drag queen shows without asking parents for permission. The wider media exposure of these events has been met with attacks from leftists, claiming that there is no sexualization agenda in schools.
The gaslighting has been rampant and the goal behind trans indoctrination and school drag shows is openly admitted: It's about political activism and normalization.
On TikTok, Brita bragged about the event:
“I literally went to church to teach the children today...A Catholic High School here in NYC invited me to their Pride Chapel. Visibility matters and I’m so honored to have had the chance to talk to you about my work as a LGBTQ+ Drag Queen Activist.”
Grace Church Schools plan to introduce pride events to younger middle schoolers as well, with lessons on the “history of the pride flag” and what it symbolizes.
SATURDAY, AUG 06, 2022 - 10:00 PM
Would leftists actually target a Christian school church service with a sexualized drag show? Of course they would.
Students at Manhattan’s Grace Church High School say they were supposed to attend Wednesday church services on April 27th, 2021 when they were greeted with a surprise substitution show featuring a dancing drag queen in orange go-go boots called “Brita Filter” (the symbolism of the stage name is unknown). The event was sponsored by “Spectrum,” the school's LGBT support club and members of the school faculty.
The students allege they felt pressured to participate and had to pretend they enjoyed the event. Some Spectrum club members tapped teens on the shoulders and ordered them to stand for the show, while others handed out pride stickers and stated “Take one or you’re homophobic.” Other kids got involved in the show and began twerking in the chapel.
After the dancing was over, Brita discussed being “pansexual.”
Said one student, “It’s notable that this person consistently called themselves fabulous and talented and beautiful. Not just once or twice, but over and over this person reassured themselves that way...”
The inherent narcissism of the pride movement is easily observed.
The school website details their pride related programs and Brita Filter's performance.
Beyond the obvious affront to Christian doctrine, the trend of sexualized drag performances for kids sponsored by schools has become an epidemic. Numerous schools over the past year have been caught secretly hosting drag queen shows without asking parents for permission. The wider media exposure of these events has been met with attacks from leftists, claiming that there is no sexualization agenda in schools.
The gaslighting has been rampant and the goal behind trans indoctrination and school drag shows is openly admitted: It's about political activism and normalization.
On TikTok, Brita bragged about the event:
“I literally went to church to teach the children today...A Catholic High School here in NYC invited me to their Pride Chapel. Visibility matters and I’m so honored to have had the chance to talk to you about my work as a LGBTQ+ Drag Queen Activist.”
Grace Church Schools plan to introduce pride events to younger middle schoolers as well, with lessons on the “history of the pride flag” and what it symbolizes.
The Dow Fell, Apple Slipped—and What Else Happened in the Stock Market Today
The Dow Fell, Apple Slipped—and What Else Happened in the Stock Market Today
By
Jacob Sonenshine and
Joe Woelfel
Updated Aug. 29, 2022 4:12 pm ET / Original Aug. 29, 2022 3:41 am ET
Stocks fell Monday after a hawkish message from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
The stock market slid again Monday. It has had nowhere to go but down after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s hawkish speech on Friday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 184 points, or 0.6%; the S&P 500 was off 0.7%, and the Nasdaq CompositeCOMP –1.02% dropped 1%. That continues a sell-off from Friday, when the indexes had their worst day in months.
At the annual Jackson Hole symposium Friday, Powell said the Fed would lift interest rates as much as needed to combat high inflation, even if it means slowing the economy. Powell said returning the economy to price stability will take “some time” and will require bringing “some pain to households and businesses,” which he called the “unfortunate costs of reducing inflation.”
Before Friday, “the market got ahead of itself on the false premise that the Fed would be easing off the brakes,” wrote Dave Donabedian, chief investment officer of CIBC Private Wealth US.
Now, the probability that the Fed lifts the benchmark lending rate by three-quarters of a percentage point in September is 75%, according to CME Group data, up from 55% a week ago.
That has sent Treasury yields higher. The 2-year yield has risen 0.036 percentage point to 3.427%, near a multiyear high.
That, specifically, is causing the stock market to dip. If Treasury rates are on the rise that could push up rates on corporate and mortgage bonds, reducing business and household spending.
“What’s weighing on the market is the fear that Treasury bond yields will rise as the Fed reduces its balance sheet,” wrote Louis Navellier, founder of Navellier & Associates.
With rates creeping higher again, much of the stock market’s concern centers on corporate earnings. If consumers slow spending, companies’ sales and profits will get hit. Earnings in the second quarter still managed to grow year over year, with companies mostly beating expectations., though companies’ guidance was mostly disappointing. Markets can only hope the third quarter will look better than current expectations.
“Embedded in company earnings releases were multiple mentions of challenges to growth,” wrote Seema Shah, chief strategist at Principal Global Investors. “While earnings season has been positive, persistent challenges indicate an increasingly difficult operating environment, likely limiting profit persistence in the second half of the year.”
Sunday, August 28, 2022
Saturday, August 27, 2022
Friday, August 26, 2022
List of executive actions by Joe Biden
A presidential proclamation is a statement issued by a president on a matter of public policy issued under specific authority granted to the president by Congress and typically on a matter of widespread interest.[1] An administrative order (i.e., findings, letters, orders) can be issued.[2]
Administrative orders are published in the Federal Register in forms other than those of executive orders, or proclamations, have been denominated as administrative orders when reproduced in CFR Title 3 compilations.[2] A research guide by the National Archives defined administrative orders as "unnumbered signed documents through which the President of the United States conducts the administrative operations of the Federal Government" which "include but are not limited to memoranda, notices, determinations, letters, and messages."[3]
A presidential notice or a presidential sequestration order can also be issued.[4][5] The newest executive power, national security presidential memoranda,2 operate like executive orders, but are only in the area of national security. They date back to President Harry S. Truman and have been called many different names.1[6]
Executive orders, presidential memoranda, presidential determinations, presidential proclamations, administrative orders, presidential notices, presidential sequestration orders, and national security presidential memoranda are compiled by the Office of the Federal Register (within the National Archives and Records Administration) and are printed by the Government Printing Office. They are published daily, except on federal holidays. A free source of these documents is the Federal Register, which contains government agency rules, proposed rules, and public notices.[7] There are no copyright restrictions on the Federal Register; as a work of the U.S. government, it is in the public domain.[8]
Listed below are executive orders beginning with order number 13985, presidential memoranda, presidential determinations, presidential proclamations, administrative orders, presidential notices, presidential sequestration orders, and national security presidential memoranda signed by U.S. President Joe Biden.
Hidden Facts About Your Checking Account
ON SEP 19 IN ARTICLES BY WILLIAM TAYLOR REIL
A corporation cannot sign its own documents because it is a “legal fiction”. Corporate checks can only be endorsed with an “Authorized Signature”.
Definition:
An authorized signature is the signature of a person given authority to sign particular documents, such as credit card slips, bank deposits, checks, etc.
Company payroll checks will clearly list “Authorized Signature” under the endorsement line.
Micro Printing: Type printed so small that it appears to be a solid line and can only be read under magnification.
When copied or scanned, the micro print message becomes unreadable.
THE SIGNATURE LINE ON ALL PERSONAL CHECKS IS “MICRO PRINTING”, IT IS NOT AN ORDINARY STRAIGHT LINE. THE “MICRO PRINTING’ IS A REPETITION OF THE WORDS “AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE”:
AUTHORIZEDSIGNATUREAUTHORIZEDSIGNATUREAUTHORIZEDSIGNATUREAUTHORIZEDSIGN
What Does This Mean and Why is This Hidden?
“The reason the signature line on a personal check is made up of the words “AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE,” is because it is a physical impossibility that the “account holder” will ever sign the check. The “account holder” is an artificial person, e.g. “JOHN HENRY DOE,” and exists in name only. The Fed knows that every signature appearing on a personal check is the signature of the “flesh and blood” agent, the authorized representative. However, this fact must be concealed in order to cause the signer to believe that he is the principal, when he actually signs on as the accommodation party, i.e. surety, and therefore is 100% liable for everything the principal is liable for. This applies in every signature on every document, not just personal checks.”
(Cracking the Code, 3rd Edition)
UCC 3-402 (Notice the confusing legalese.)
(c) If a representative signs the name of the representative as drawer of a check without indication of the representative status and the check is payable from an account of the represented person who is identified on the check, the signer is not liable on the check if the signature is an authorized signature of the represented person.
Your name written in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS is a TRADE NAME or CORPORATE FICTION. It is not you, you are led to believe that it represents you. When you sign your Social Security card or a W-4 or a Voters Registration Card, you are signing as an “accommodation party” and become liable for your share of the Public Debt (US Bankruptcy). It is a constructive trust between the government and the “legal fiction” (ie. JOHN HENRY DOE not John Henry Doe). Look at every official document you get, your name is in ALL CAPS. When you sign a document without specifying “Authorized Representative” you become surety for the “legal fiction” and are liable for whatever was written on the document.
www.scribd.com
Knights of Malta joust with 'arbitrary' Vatican intervention
News: Order of Malta
The Pillar
Aug 25
As Pope Francis prepares to announce his decision on the future of the Order of Malta, senior knights have warned that a slate of Vatican-imposed changes to its leadership have left the order’s sovereignty in shreds, and drawn the authority of the order’s new leader - Lieutenant Grand Master John Dunlap - into question.
The Pillar
Aug 25
As Pope Francis prepares to announce his decision on the future of the Order of Malta, senior knights have warned that a slate of Vatican-imposed changes to its leadership have left the order’s sovereignty in shreds, and drawn the authority of the order’s new leader - Lieutenant Grand Master John Dunlap - into question.
Grand Magistry of the Order of Malta, Rome. Image credit: Giorgio Minguzzi/wikimedia (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Francis is expected to direct the knights soon to convene a chapter meeting, at which they will be expected to ratify a draft constitution approved by the pope before the summit. Ahead of the impending chapter, the pope has already appointed an interim leader for the Order of Malta, and his cardinal delegate reshuffled the heads of the group’’s priories around the world.
But senior members of the order have been quietly, but frantically, pushing back — begging the pope to reconsider proposals for their future governance, and warning that Vatican “arbitrary interference” in their affairs has divided their members, and pushed beyond limits the balance between the order’s sovereign legal status and its religious identity.
Some leaders warned the pope this month that plans under papal consideration might cause even “a break-up of the Order of Malta” itself.
The Order of Malta is a Catholic religious order dating back more than 900 years, it also has a unique status in international law, with the ability to maintain full diplomatic relations with nations, and a seat as a permanent observer at the United Nations. The order operates humanitarian relief efforts around the world.
The group has been in a protracted process of constitutional reform since 2017. After years of gridlock, last October Pope Francis gave his personal delegate to the order, Cardinal Silvano Tomasi, sweeping powers to change the knights’ religious life and internal governance, despite concerns that this could violate the order’s sovereign status in international law.
After a public breakdown of negotiations between Tomasi’s team and the order’s leadership, Pope Francis announced earlier this year that he would make a final decision on the reform of the knights himself, and held a series of listening sessions with Tomasi’s delegation and representatives from the knights.
As they wait for Francis’ final decision, unprecedented exchanges in recent weeks between and among the knights’ members and leaders suggest that the order may already be so divided that a workable settlement is now impossible.
In a meeting with his own advisors and the order’s leadership last week, Francis was presented with options for the order’s constitutional future — a presentation that some believe will be the pope’s final consultation on the order before he announces a decision on how it should be reformed.
Some sources suggest that decision could come as early as September 3.
The Aug. 17 meeting took place just days after the presidents of 13 national associations of the order presented the pope with a “plea for a lawful and effective reform process to avoid a possible break-up of the Order of Malta.”
“If the draft constitution proposed by [the pope’s special delegate to the order] Cardinal Tomasi remains in its current state,” the presidents warned the pope, both the order and its charitable works around the globe “would suffer massive damage.”
The letter to Pope Francis, a copy of which was obtained by The Pillar, was sent Aug. 12, and reiterated widespread concerns among the order’s leadership about plans to concentrate operational control of the order’s work among the first class knights of the order, who make religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and from whom the order’s senior officers are drawn — but who now number only 36.
In addition to being a Catholic religious order, the knights are a recognized sovereign entity in international law, issuing their own passports, maintaining bilateral diplomatic relations with other nations, and enjoying the same recognition and status at the United Nations as the Holy See.
“While these Professed Knights are valuable members to the Order,” the national presidents wrote, “it is not feasible that the work of over 13,000 heavily engaged people can be fulfilled by less than 40 people, who do not have the experience or qualifications to responsibly manage an organisation of that scale.”
“We, therefore, plead to Your Holiness to allow the newly appointed Lieutenant of the Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap, together with the elected Government and your delegate [Cardinal Tomasi] to reunite the Order and to work with all its members in good faith towards determining the most appropriate canonical structure for the Order of Malta under its valid constitution and code without arbitrary interference.”
Francis is expected to direct the knights soon to convene a chapter meeting, at which they will be expected to ratify a draft constitution approved by the pope before the summit. Ahead of the impending chapter, the pope has already appointed an interim leader for the Order of Malta, and his cardinal delegate reshuffled the heads of the group’’s priories around the world.
But senior members of the order have been quietly, but frantically, pushing back — begging the pope to reconsider proposals for their future governance, and warning that Vatican “arbitrary interference” in their affairs has divided their members, and pushed beyond limits the balance between the order’s sovereign legal status and its religious identity.
Some leaders warned the pope this month that plans under papal consideration might cause even “a break-up of the Order of Malta” itself.
The Order of Malta is a Catholic religious order dating back more than 900 years, it also has a unique status in international law, with the ability to maintain full diplomatic relations with nations, and a seat as a permanent observer at the United Nations. The order operates humanitarian relief efforts around the world.
The group has been in a protracted process of constitutional reform since 2017. After years of gridlock, last October Pope Francis gave his personal delegate to the order, Cardinal Silvano Tomasi, sweeping powers to change the knights’ religious life and internal governance, despite concerns that this could violate the order’s sovereign status in international law.
After a public breakdown of negotiations between Tomasi’s team and the order’s leadership, Pope Francis announced earlier this year that he would make a final decision on the reform of the knights himself, and held a series of listening sessions with Tomasi’s delegation and representatives from the knights.
As they wait for Francis’ final decision, unprecedented exchanges in recent weeks between and among the knights’ members and leaders suggest that the order may already be so divided that a workable settlement is now impossible.
In a meeting with his own advisors and the order’s leadership last week, Francis was presented with options for the order’s constitutional future — a presentation that some believe will be the pope’s final consultation on the order before he announces a decision on how it should be reformed.
Some sources suggest that decision could come as early as September 3.
The Aug. 17 meeting took place just days after the presidents of 13 national associations of the order presented the pope with a “plea for a lawful and effective reform process to avoid a possible break-up of the Order of Malta.”
“If the draft constitution proposed by [the pope’s special delegate to the order] Cardinal Tomasi remains in its current state,” the presidents warned the pope, both the order and its charitable works around the globe “would suffer massive damage.”
The letter to Pope Francis, a copy of which was obtained by The Pillar, was sent Aug. 12, and reiterated widespread concerns among the order’s leadership about plans to concentrate operational control of the order’s work among the first class knights of the order, who make religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and from whom the order’s senior officers are drawn — but who now number only 36.
In addition to being a Catholic religious order, the knights are a recognized sovereign entity in international law, issuing their own passports, maintaining bilateral diplomatic relations with other nations, and enjoying the same recognition and status at the United Nations as the Holy See.
“While these Professed Knights are valuable members to the Order,” the national presidents wrote, “it is not feasible that the work of over 13,000 heavily engaged people can be fulfilled by less than 40 people, who do not have the experience or qualifications to responsibly manage an organisation of that scale.”
“We, therefore, plead to Your Holiness to allow the newly appointed Lieutenant of the Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap, together with the elected Government and your delegate [Cardinal Tomasi] to reunite the Order and to work with all its members in good faith towards determining the most appropriate canonical structure for the Order of Malta under its valid constitution and code without arbitrary interference.”
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Monday, August 22, 2022
Historic climate law, signed by Biden, has Catholic fingerprints all over it
Aug 18, 2022
by Brian Roewe
Action
President Joe Biden hands the pen he used to sign the Democrats' landmark climate change and health care bill to Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Aug. 16. (AP/Susan Walsh)
With the stroke of his pen, President Joe Biden signed into law Aug. 16 the largest-ever federal action in response to climate change, pumping hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade into transitioning the nation to clean energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are rapidly heating the planet.
The more than $300 billion in climate provisions included in the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, represent a major milestone after decades of mostly failed efforts by the United States, the world's largest historical source of heat-trapping emissions, to match its response to climate change with the serious threats it poses for the country and the globe.
Faith groups who have worked for years lobbying for significant federal climate legislation celebrated the historic achievement. At the same time, they vowed to take on its shortfalls, specifically continued investments in and potential fast-tracking of new fossil fuel production that have long exposed communities of color to greater levels of pollution.
"Finally! This landmark bill comes none too soon," Susan Gunn, director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, said in a statement, referring to the heatwaves, wildfires and flooding this summer across the country and much of the world.
"The cry of the earth, which Pope Francis calls us to heed in his Laudato Si’ encyclical, finally was heard in the halls of Congress. This legislation is a strong start for the United States to do its fair share to care for our common home," she said.
In a statement after the Aug. 12 House vote sent the bill to Biden's desk, Catholic Climate Covenant executive director José Aguto praised the bill as providing "authentic hope for future generations, bringing our nation and world closer to emissions reduction goals, closer to each other, and closer to a better world."
Wind turbines operate at sunrise in the Permian Basin oil and natural gas production area in Big Spring, Texas, Feb. 12, 2019. (CNS/Reuters/Nick Oxford)
Catholic fingerprints were all over the Inflation Reduction Act and its massive climate investments.
It was Biden, the nation's second Catholic president, who signed it into law. After doing so, he gifted the pen to Catholic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. It was Manchin, the focus of intense scrutiny for his ties to the coal industry, who for months wielded his position as a critical swing vote to scale back and hold up the legislation before striking a surprise deal July 27 with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring the bill back to life, with an apparent assist from Bill Gates.
Sunday, August 21, 2022
Russia holding war games in Venezuela, sending alarming signals throughout Latin America
Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald - Friday
Snipers from Russia and other countries hostile to the United States are competing in war games being held this week in Venezuela in events described as Olympic games for soldiers that were organized not only to show that Moscow still has friends but also that some of them are in Latin America.
© Sergei Chirikov/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNSRussian President Vladimir Putin is about to shake hands with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on Sept. 25, 2019.
The international war games have been held yearly since 2015, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and Venezuela has participated from its beginning, but this year’s games are the first held in Latin America, and include participants from Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua.
Forces from Burma, Belarus, Abkhazia, Uzbekistan, China, India, Pakistan and Indonesia, among others, also participate in the competitions. These are nations that “daily condemn imperialist aggression against the peoples,” Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López declared as he inaugurated the games on Monday.
The games are held at a time when Russia is being harshly criticized for its military incursion into Ukraine, an invasion that triggered severe economic sanctions against Moscow by Europe and the United States and a chorus of condemnations around the world.
This year’s games seek to remind the world that Russia still has friends, but observers believe that the fact that they are being held in Venezuela could have a longer-lasting effect.
“In a sense, this seeks to normalize (and pave the way for) a larger military presence in Latin America,” said Joseph Humire, executive director of the Center for a Secure Free Society, a Washington-based think tank. These games could open the door “to larger military operations and games in the future” involving not only Russia, but also China and Iran.
The region already saw this a few years ago with the first flights of Iranian planes to Venezuela. The planes, whose contents remain a mystery, initially caused great alarm in Venezuela and among observers of the Nicolás Maduro regime, but then became so frequent that they ultimately went unnoticed, Humire said.
“It is already normal for Venezuelans and today there are flights from Iran that are constantly arriving, that are participating in activities that are worrisome and alarming but that people are not paying attention anymore,” Humire said.
The games are held at the Terepaima Military Fort, located in the central-western state of Lara, where specialized sniper teams from participating countries compete for bragging rights.
Although the numbers of soldiers present in Venezuela have not been disclosed, experts estimate that they could add up to hundreds of troops, given that in previous war games countries participating neared 30.
The competitions — which in the past have tested detachments of tanks, artillery and amphibious operations — are scheduled to last until Aug. 27 and show the willingness of the Caracas regime to turn Venezuela into a platform for a series of anti-American activities, said Evan Ellis, professor of Latin American studies for the U.S. Army War College.
“Venezuela wanted to host these games, wanted to be one of the organizers and host this party and the host of other anti-American activities,” Ellis said.
Venezuela’s relationship with Russia is already extensive and the games seeks to expand it further, added retired Venezuelan National Guard colonel Isidro Pérez Villalobos. But the games also seek to promote Moscow’s and other participating countries’ arms sales in the region, although not necessarily to regular armed forces, he added.
The event “serves as a conclave for merchants of sophisticated weapons to transnational terrorist organizations that operate in Latin America with the support of the Venezuelan regime,” said the Venezuelan military officer.
In a certain way, the games also highlight Maduro’s diplomatic game with the United States, which on one hand shows his willingness to participate in talks with Washington to improve relations while seeking to strengthen his relations with Moscow.
And that the United States is willing to engage Maduro shows its shortsightedness when dealing with Venezuela and in not paying sufficient attention to Russia’s, China’s and Iran’s activities in the region, Pérez Villalobos said.
“In the United States they downplay Russia’s presence in Venezuela, but they are everywhere in the country,” said Pérez Villalobos . “They are arms suppliers, they are oil and economic partners, they are political allies and now they sponsor military competitions.”
By holding these games in Venezuela, he said, “Russia is telling the United States: ‘I can also come to your backyard. You want to get into the Baltic countries, in Ukraine, and in the geo-historical spaces of Russia? Well, I also get into your spaces.”
____
©2022 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Laudato Si’ Movement launches new leadership training course
Laudato Si' Animators Movement
VATICAN
Registration is now open for a new leadership training course called “Laudato Si’ Animators Program” which seeks to train Catholics who want to serve their communities according to the teachings of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’.
VATICAN
Registration is now open for a new leadership training course called “Laudato Si’ Animators Program” which seeks to train Catholics who want to serve their communities according to the teachings of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’.
By Vatican News staff reporter
The Laudato Si’ Animators Program will feature an online training course to train Catholic leaders from all over the world on various aspects of integral ecology.
The course is free of charge and will be offered in English from August 24 to October 12, Italian from August to October 4, Portuguese from August 23 to October 22, and Spanish from October 4 to November 26.
Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, has expressed his support for the training course, saying the world needs "leaders who inspire care for our common home to stop environmental degradation."
About the training course
Focusing on the core concepts of Pope Francis encyclical Laudato si’, the online training course will center on four modules to reflect on what is happening to our common home and what we can do to effect change.
It offers a comprehensive study of the Laudato si’ text and covers topics such as how to commit to personal ecological change.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experts and leaders, develop their spirituality, and receive support for taking action in their local communities and inspire change.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be recognized as Laudato Si’ animatiors and receive an official certificate.
Laudato Si Animators Course 2022
Action to care for our common home
Over 30,000 people around the world have participated in the Laudato Si’ program so far: about 10,000 people passed the course and have received their certificate.
"This is a spiritual formation course and leadership training so that we can take action to defend our common home. We are facing a serious climate crisis, and we must do something urgently,” said Erin Lothes, the Senior Manager of the Laudato Si' Animators Program.
The Laudato Si’ Movement was launched seven years ago following the release of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on the care for creation.
Since then, the movement has grown to an international network providing training programs, community organizations and annual Laudato si’ weeks, to respond to the call of Pope Francis and turn his words on the “Care for our common home” into action.
Action to care for our common home
Over 30,000 people around the world have participated in the Laudato Si’ program so far: about 10,000 people passed the course and have received their certificate.
"This is a spiritual formation course and leadership training so that we can take action to defend our common home. We are facing a serious climate crisis, and we must do something urgently,” said Erin Lothes, the Senior Manager of the Laudato Si' Animators Program.
The Laudato Si’ Movement was launched seven years ago following the release of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on the care for creation.
Since then, the movement has grown to an international network providing training programs, community organizations and annual Laudato si’ weeks, to respond to the call of Pope Francis and turn his words on the “Care for our common home” into action.
Friday, August 19, 2022
Thursday, August 18, 2022
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
The Meaning of Conversion
August 17
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17.
The old nature, born of blood and the will of the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The old ways, the hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be given up; for grace is not inherited. The new birth consists in having new motives, new tastes, new tendencies. Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature, and in all their habits and practices they will give evidence of their relationship to Christ. When men who claim to be Christians retain all their natural defects of character and disposition, in what does their position differ from that of the worldling? They do not appreciate the truth as a sanctifier, a refiner. They have not been born again....
A genuine conversion changes hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. The religion of God is a firm fabric, composed of innumerable threads, and woven together with tact and skill. Only the wisdom which comes from God can make this fabric complete. There are a great many kinds of cloth which at first have a fine appearance, but they cannot endure the test. They wash out. The colors are not fast. Under the heat of summer they fade away and are lost. The cloth cannot endure rough handling.
So it is with the religion of many. When the warp and woof of character will not stand the test of trial, the material of which it is composed is worthless. The efforts made to patch the old with a new piece do not better the condition of things; for the old, flimsy material breaks away from the new, leaving the rent much larger than before. Patching will not do. The only way is to discard the old garment altogether, and procure one entirely new.
Christ's plan is the only safe one. He declares, “Behold, I make all things new.” “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” ... The patchwork religion is not of the least value with God. He requires the whole heart.26SDA Bible Commentary 6:1101.
Jesus gave His life ... for us, and shall we not give Him our best affections, our holiest aspirations, our fullest service? 27In Heavenly Places, 350.
Maranatha, p.237.
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Monday, August 15, 2022
Sunday, August 14, 2022
British government issues drought declaration...
British government issues drought declaration amid driest summer in 50 years
The drought declaration is the first in England since 2018 and comes as another scorching heat wave grips the country.
By Allison Finch, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Aug. 12, 2022 2:35 PM EDT | Updated Aug. 14, 2022 11:33 AM EDT
After a prolonged period of hot and dry weather that fueled wildfires, strained infrastructure and sent temperatures past the century mark in England, the British government on Friday officially declared a drought in England for the first time since 2018.
Water Minister Steve Double met with the National Drought Group, which is made up of senior members from the Environment Agency, government, water companies and key representative groups, on Friday to discuss the response to the "driest summer in fifty years."
The drought declaration covers much of England, including London, and comes as parts of the country are enduring another wave of heat.
A person sunbathes on South banks on the river Thames, in London, England, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
"We are currently experiencing a second heat wave after what was the driest July on record for parts of the country," Double said in a press release. "Action is already being taken by the Government and other partners including the Environment Agency to manage the impacts."
Britain's national weather service, The Met Office, issued an amber extreme heat warning through Sunday for much of the southern half of England and for parts of eastern Wales. In July, the Met Office issued a red extreme heat warning, the highest level on its weather alert system, for the first time ever.
On Thursday, temperatures topped out at 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit (34.2 degrees Celsius) in Wiggonholt, which is located in southern England. Temperatures soared into the low 90s F (32-34 C) during Friday and Saturday afternoons as well.
"This is a quick-hitting burst of heat that will last through Sunday across England," AccuWeather Meteorologist Reneé Duff said.
Duff explained that a "high-pressure regime over Western Europe" this summer has kept storms away from England, resulting in less precipitation than normal.
A tourist takes a refreshing drink opposite the Elizabeth Tower also known as Big Ben in London, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. Heatwaves and prolonged dry weather are damaging landscapes, gardens and wildlife, the National Trust has warned. Britain is braced for another heatwave that will last longer than July's record-breaking hot spell, with highs of up to 35 degrees Celsius expected next week.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
"July was terrible. In London, for example, the city recorded only 0.13 of an inch of rain when it averages 2.14 inches [for the month]," Duff said.
According to The Met Office, this past July was the driest July on record in England since 1935. It was also the "driest on record for East Anglia, southeast and southern England," the Met Office said.
And it wasn't just July that was dry. Since the winter, monthly precipitation totals have been below normal. Combined with the increased demand of water during the hot weather, water levels in reservoirs and rivers across the U.K. are low.
For the first time since 1976, the source of London's iconic River Thames has dried up, according to the director of policy and science at the Rivers Trust, Dr. Rob Collins, The Guardian newspaper reported. As the Thames flows out to sea, it is responsible for supplying fresh water to millions of families and businesses across one of England's most populated areas.
Members of the public cross what was an ancient packhorse bridge exposed by low water levels at Baitings Reservoir in Yorkshire as record high temperatures are seen in the UK, Ripponden, England, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. Low water levels at the reservoir have revealed the remains of the ancient road flooded to build the reservoir in the 1950s. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
This drought declaration will allow water companies to impose stricter conservation measures. Water companies have already banned the use of water hoses for watering yards or gardens, washing vehicles or filling pools.
Firefighters across England are worried the latest wave of heat and drought conditions will raise the risk of wildfires across the country.
Union officials told The New York Times after years of staffing and funding cuts from the government, firefighters are worried they are underequipped and not well prepared to "tackle such extreme weather."
"In the first week of August last year, we attended 42 grassland and wildland fires," London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Jonathan Smith told BBC News. "The same week this year, we've attended 340."
In a press release from The Met Office, Mark Hardigham, the Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) asked the public to take "steps to ensure they are keeping themselves and their communities safe" amid the already dry conditions.
"In this heat please don’t use barbecues when out in the countryside or at local parks," Hardigham said in the press release. "Be careful not to discard cigarettes without making sure they are fully stubbed out and don't drop litter. In these tinder dry conditions, it is very easy for a fire to start and spread quickly."
Firefighters battle a grass fire in the Leyton Flats, London, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. A drought has been officially declared in some parts of southern and central England, following the driest summer of the past fifty years.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Met Office also noted the scorching temperatures could raise the risk of heat-related illnesses.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a health alert until Sunday for parts of central, southern and northern England, advising people to look out for those who are more vulnerable to the heat including elderly residents and young children.
Drink breaks are being implemented for footballers who are participating in the Premier League over the weekend.
Fortunately, this wave of heat will be brief.
"The high-pressure system responsible for the building heat will start to break down early [this] week as a storm system arrives from the North Atlantic Ocean," said Duff. "This system will bring a return of cooler, cloudier and wet weather to portions of the United Kingdom.
The drought declaration is the first in England since 2018 and comes as another scorching heat wave grips the country.
By Allison Finch, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Aug. 12, 2022 2:35 PM EDT | Updated Aug. 14, 2022 11:33 AM EDT
After a prolonged period of hot and dry weather that fueled wildfires, strained infrastructure and sent temperatures past the century mark in England, the British government on Friday officially declared a drought in England for the first time since 2018.
Water Minister Steve Double met with the National Drought Group, which is made up of senior members from the Environment Agency, government, water companies and key representative groups, on Friday to discuss the response to the "driest summer in fifty years."
The drought declaration covers much of England, including London, and comes as parts of the country are enduring another wave of heat.
A person sunbathes on South banks on the river Thames, in London, England, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
"We are currently experiencing a second heat wave after what was the driest July on record for parts of the country," Double said in a press release. "Action is already being taken by the Government and other partners including the Environment Agency to manage the impacts."
Britain's national weather service, The Met Office, issued an amber extreme heat warning through Sunday for much of the southern half of England and for parts of eastern Wales. In July, the Met Office issued a red extreme heat warning, the highest level on its weather alert system, for the first time ever.
On Thursday, temperatures topped out at 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit (34.2 degrees Celsius) in Wiggonholt, which is located in southern England. Temperatures soared into the low 90s F (32-34 C) during Friday and Saturday afternoons as well.
"This is a quick-hitting burst of heat that will last through Sunday across England," AccuWeather Meteorologist Reneé Duff said.
Duff explained that a "high-pressure regime over Western Europe" this summer has kept storms away from England, resulting in less precipitation than normal.
A tourist takes a refreshing drink opposite the Elizabeth Tower also known as Big Ben in London, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. Heatwaves and prolonged dry weather are damaging landscapes, gardens and wildlife, the National Trust has warned. Britain is braced for another heatwave that will last longer than July's record-breaking hot spell, with highs of up to 35 degrees Celsius expected next week.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
"July was terrible. In London, for example, the city recorded only 0.13 of an inch of rain when it averages 2.14 inches [for the month]," Duff said.
According to The Met Office, this past July was the driest July on record in England since 1935. It was also the "driest on record for East Anglia, southeast and southern England," the Met Office said.
And it wasn't just July that was dry. Since the winter, monthly precipitation totals have been below normal. Combined with the increased demand of water during the hot weather, water levels in reservoirs and rivers across the U.K. are low.
For the first time since 1976, the source of London's iconic River Thames has dried up, according to the director of policy and science at the Rivers Trust, Dr. Rob Collins, The Guardian newspaper reported. As the Thames flows out to sea, it is responsible for supplying fresh water to millions of families and businesses across one of England's most populated areas.
Members of the public cross what was an ancient packhorse bridge exposed by low water levels at Baitings Reservoir in Yorkshire as record high temperatures are seen in the UK, Ripponden, England, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. Low water levels at the reservoir have revealed the remains of the ancient road flooded to build the reservoir in the 1950s. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
This drought declaration will allow water companies to impose stricter conservation measures. Water companies have already banned the use of water hoses for watering yards or gardens, washing vehicles or filling pools.
Firefighters across England are worried the latest wave of heat and drought conditions will raise the risk of wildfires across the country.
Union officials told The New York Times after years of staffing and funding cuts from the government, firefighters are worried they are underequipped and not well prepared to "tackle such extreme weather."
"In the first week of August last year, we attended 42 grassland and wildland fires," London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Jonathan Smith told BBC News. "The same week this year, we've attended 340."
In a press release from The Met Office, Mark Hardigham, the Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) asked the public to take "steps to ensure they are keeping themselves and their communities safe" amid the already dry conditions.
"In this heat please don’t use barbecues when out in the countryside or at local parks," Hardigham said in the press release. "Be careful not to discard cigarettes without making sure they are fully stubbed out and don't drop litter. In these tinder dry conditions, it is very easy for a fire to start and spread quickly."
Firefighters battle a grass fire in the Leyton Flats, London, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. A drought has been officially declared in some parts of southern and central England, following the driest summer of the past fifty years.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
The Met Office also noted the scorching temperatures could raise the risk of heat-related illnesses.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a health alert until Sunday for parts of central, southern and northern England, advising people to look out for those who are more vulnerable to the heat including elderly residents and young children.
Drink breaks are being implemented for footballers who are participating in the Premier League over the weekend.
Fortunately, this wave of heat will be brief.
"The high-pressure system responsible for the building heat will start to break down early [this] week as a storm system arrives from the North Atlantic Ocean," said Duff. "This system will bring a return of cooler, cloudier and wet weather to portions of the United Kingdom.
It’s Mosquito Week
It’s Mosquito Week
425,822 views
Aug 17, 2020
Bill Gates
2.9M subscribers
Sharks are wimps, compared to this beast. Learn more about the world’s deadliest killer at https://gatesnot.es/324mMNs
Saturday, August 13, 2022
Friday, August 12, 2022
The Doctrine of Eternal Torment
It is beyond the power of the human mind to estimate the evil which has been wrought by the heresy of eternal torment. The religion of the Bible, full of love and goodness, and abounding in compassion, is darkened by superstition and clothed with terror. When we consider in what false colors Satan has painted the character of God, can we wonder that our merciful Creator is feared, dreaded, and even hated? The appalling views of God which have spread over the world from the teachings of the pulpit have made thousands, yes, millions, of skeptics and infidels.
The theory of eternal torment is one of the false doctrines that constitute the wine of the abomination of Babylon, of which she makes all nations drink. Revelation 14:8; 17:2. That ministers of Christ should have accepted this heresy and proclaimed it from the sacred desk is indeed a mystery. They received it from Rome, as they received the false sabbath. True, it has been taught by great and good men; but the light on this subject had not come to them as it has come to us. They were responsible only for the light which shone in their time; we are accountable for that which shines in our day. If we turn from the testimony of God's word, and accept false doctrines because our fathers taught them, we fall under the condemnation pronounced upon Babylon; we are drinking of the wine of her abomination.
A large class to whom the doctrine of eternal torment is revolting are driven to the opposite error. They see that the Scriptures represent God as a being of love and compassion, and they cannot believe that He will consign His creatures to the fires of an eternally burning hell. But holding that the soul is naturally immortal, they see no alternative but to conclude that all mankind will finally be saved. Many regard the threatenings of the Bible as designed merely to frighten men into obedience, and not to be literally fulfilled. Thus the sinner can live in selfish pleasure, disregarding the requirements of God, and yet expect to be finally received into His favor. Such a doctrine, presuming upon God's mercy, but ignoring His justice, pleases the carnal heart and emboldens the wicked in their iniquity.
Great Controversy, pp. 536,537.
Thursday, August 11, 2022
An Epidemic of Crime
We are living in the midst of an “epidemic of crime,” at which thoughtful, God-fearing men everywhere stand aghast. The corruption that prevails, it is beyond the power of the human pen to describe. Every day brings fresh revelations of political strife, bribery, and fraud. Every day brings its heart-sickening record of violence and lawlessness, of indifference to human suffering, of brutal, fiendish destruction of human life. Every day testifies to the increase of insanity, murder, and suicide. Who can doubt that satanic agencies are at work among men with increasing activity to distract and corrupt the mind, and defile and destroy the body?—The Ministry of Healing, 142, 143.
The spirit of anarchy is permeating all nations, and the outbreaks that from time to time excite the horror of the world are but indications of the pent-up fires of passion and lawlessness that, having once escaped control, will fill the earth with woe and desolation. The picture which Inspiration has given of the antediluvian world, represents too truly the condition to which modern society is fast hastening. Even now, in the present century, and in professedly Christian lands, there are crimes daily perpetrated, as black and terrible as those for which the old-world sinners were destroyed. Before the flood, God sent Noah to warn the world, that the people might be led to repentance, and thus escape the threatened destruction. As the time of Christ's second appearing draws near, the Lord sends His servants with a warning to the world to prepare for that great event. Multitudes have been living in transgression of God's law, and now He in mercy calls them to obey its sacred precepts. All who will put away their sins by repentance toward God and faith in Christ, are offered pardon.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 102.
The condition of things in the world shows that troublous times are right upon us. The daily papers are full of indications of a terrible conflict in the near future. Bold robberies are of frequent occurrence. Strikes are common. Thefts and murders are committed on every hand. Men possessed of demons are taking the lives of men, women, and little children. Men have become infatuated with vice, and every species of evil prevails.—Testimonies for the Church 9:11.
Christian Service, pp. 53,54.
Countdown to Ecumenical Youth Gathering...
Countdown to Ecumenical Youth Gathering: the contributions of young people to the ecumenical movement
The Ecumenical Youth Gathering to be held on 27-30 August before the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany, aims to bring together around 400 young people from various churches and ecumenical partners to discuss a common message. The event is designed to provide an opportunity for young people to participate in intergenerational dialogue and develop a more inclusive agenda for the movement.
Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC
11 August 2022
Ecumenical Youth Gathering
The Ecumenical Youth Gathering prior to the assembly includes the Pre-assembly Youth, the Youth Leadership Program, and the Stewards Programme to celebrate the global ecumenical movement.
”It feels good to celebrate Ecumenical International Youth Day in Karlsruhe during the WCC assembly. I’m really happy that our Indigenous youth can gather together in Karlsruhe to meet, share, and learn from and with each other. It is also important to build bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth. Hope they can find life-lasting friendships. I believe celebrating Ecumenical International Youth Day during the assembly makes our Indigenous youth more visible,” said Mari Valjakka, moderator, Indigenous Peoples Reference Group, WCC.
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The Ecumenical Youth Gathering recently released a book that is designed to help people reflect on the issues affecting Indigenous peoples. Moreover, the Ecumenical Youth Gathering has also released a toolkit that will help churches around the world prepare for a prayer event, “Reconnecting with Mother Nature and the planet,” that will be held on 12 August, marking International Youth Day. It will be held in conjunction with the Ecumenical Youth Gathering’s hybrid-style gathering in Germany on 30 August.
Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC
The Ecumenical Youth Gathering recently released a book that is designed to help people reflect on the issues affecting Indigenous peoples. Moreover, the Ecumenical Youth Gathering has also released a toolkit that will help churches around the world prepare for a prayer event, “Reconnecting with Mother Nature and the planet,” that will be held on 12 August, marking International Youth Day. It will be held in conjunction with the Ecumenical Youth Gathering’s hybrid-style gathering in Germany on 30 August.
Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC
“This year's Ecumenical International Youth Day toolkit is an invitation to partnership and active solidarity in understanding the importance of land to Indigenous peoples as well as creative ways of engaging in advocacy and activism from the perspective of Indigenous youth. In this respect, the toolkit is both an important contribution and resource to the global ecumenical fellowship,” said Rev. Dr Seforosa Carroll, programme executive, Mission from the Margins/Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples Network.
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Tuesday, August 09, 2022
Monday, August 08, 2022
Satan’s Chief Work is at the Headquarters of our Faith
2022
July
8
Adventists, Apostasy, Remnants, SDA
Spread the love
The great heart of the work is at —–; and, as the human heart throws its living current of blood into all parts of the body, so does the management at this place, the headquarters of our church, affect the whole body of believers. If the physical heart is healthy, the blood that is sent from it through the system is also healthy; but if this fountain is impure, the whole organism becomes diseased by the poison of the vital fluid. So it is with us. If the heart of the work becomes corrupt, the whole church, in its various branches and interests, scattered abroad over the face of the earth, suffers in consequence. 4T 210.4
Satan’s chief work is at the headquarters of our faith. He spares no pains to corrupt men in responsible positions and to persuade them to be unfaithful to their several trusts. He insinuates his suspicions and jealousies into the minds of those whose business it is to do God’s work faithfully. While God is testing and proving these helpers, and fitting them for their posts, Satan is doing his utmost to deceive and allure them, that they may not only be destroyed themselves, but may influence others to do wrong and to injure the great work. He seeks by all the means in his power to shake the confidence of God’s people in the voice of warning and reproof through which God designs to purify the church and prosper His cause. 4T 210.5
It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction. 4T 211.1
Satan has gained marked advantage in —– because the people of God have not guarded the outposts. The very men whose labors God has signified that He would accept if they were fully consecrated have been the ones to be deceived, to fail in their duties, and to prove a terrible burden and discouragement, instead of the help and blessing that they should have been. These men who have been trusted to keep the fort have well-nigh betrayed it into the hands of the enemy. They have opened the gates to a wily foe, who has sought to destroy them. 4T 211.2
Men of experience have seen stealthy hands slipping the bolts that Satan might enter; yet they have held their peace with apparent indifference as to the results. Some have been glad to see this, as it seemed an extenuation of their past neglect, which made it a necessity to call for others to fill the posts of responsibility that they had abused or neglected. This lack of watchfulness on the part of these newer incumbents seemed to excuse the former for their own want of faithfulness, as it showed that others were fully as derelict in duty. These persons do not realize that God holds them responsible for every advantage gained by the foe who is admitted to the fort. The desolation and ruin following lie at the door of the unfaithful sentinels, who, by their neglect, become agents in the hands of the adversary to win souls to destruction. Men in responsible positions should seek wisdom and guidance of God, and not trust to their own judgment and knowledge. Like Solomon they should earnestly pray for faith and light, and God will give them freely of His abundant supply. 4T 211.3
Spread the love
The great heart of the work is at —–; and, as the human heart throws its living current of blood into all parts of the body, so does the management at this place, the headquarters of our church, affect the whole body of believers. If the physical heart is healthy, the blood that is sent from it through the system is also healthy; but if this fountain is impure, the whole organism becomes diseased by the poison of the vital fluid. So it is with us. If the heart of the work becomes corrupt, the whole church, in its various branches and interests, scattered abroad over the face of the earth, suffers in consequence. 4T 210.4
Satan’s chief work is at the headquarters of our faith. He spares no pains to corrupt men in responsible positions and to persuade them to be unfaithful to their several trusts. He insinuates his suspicions and jealousies into the minds of those whose business it is to do God’s work faithfully. While God is testing and proving these helpers, and fitting them for their posts, Satan is doing his utmost to deceive and allure them, that they may not only be destroyed themselves, but may influence others to do wrong and to injure the great work. He seeks by all the means in his power to shake the confidence of God’s people in the voice of warning and reproof through which God designs to purify the church and prosper His cause. 4T 210.5
It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies. Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction. 4T 211.1
Satan has gained marked advantage in —– because the people of God have not guarded the outposts. The very men whose labors God has signified that He would accept if they were fully consecrated have been the ones to be deceived, to fail in their duties, and to prove a terrible burden and discouragement, instead of the help and blessing that they should have been. These men who have been trusted to keep the fort have well-nigh betrayed it into the hands of the enemy. They have opened the gates to a wily foe, who has sought to destroy them. 4T 211.2
Men of experience have seen stealthy hands slipping the bolts that Satan might enter; yet they have held their peace with apparent indifference as to the results. Some have been glad to see this, as it seemed an extenuation of their past neglect, which made it a necessity to call for others to fill the posts of responsibility that they had abused or neglected. This lack of watchfulness on the part of these newer incumbents seemed to excuse the former for their own want of faithfulness, as it showed that others were fully as derelict in duty. These persons do not realize that God holds them responsible for every advantage gained by the foe who is admitted to the fort. The desolation and ruin following lie at the door of the unfaithful sentinels, who, by their neglect, become agents in the hands of the adversary to win souls to destruction. Men in responsible positions should seek wisdom and guidance of God, and not trust to their own judgment and knowledge. Like Solomon they should earnestly pray for faith and light, and God will give them freely of His abundant supply. 4T 211.3
Sunday, August 07, 2022
24 Democratic House members call on Biden to help bring justice for two Jesuits murdered in Mexico
Mexican Jesuits Father Javier Campos Morales and Father Joaquín César Mora Salazar were murdered in their rural parish June 20, 2022, while providing shelter to an individual fleeing a gunman. U.S. members of Congress are calling for action about the slayings of the two Jesuits. (CNS photo/courtesy The Jesuit province in Mexico)
A group of two dozen Democratic House members wrote to President Biden this week, urging his administration to assist the Mexican government in bringing to justice the individual allegedly responsible for the murder of two Jesuit priests and a local tour guide in Chihuahua, Mexico, in June.
“This tragedy is emblematic of the rampant violence that plagues many regions of Mexico and takes a devastating humanitarian toll on the Mexican people,” the lawmakers wrote. “We write to urge your administration to work closely with the Mexican government to ensure prompt and full justice for these killings and to encourage the implementation of policies to end the cycle of violence.”
“We write to urge your administration to work closely with the Mexican government to ensure prompt and full justice for these killings and to encourage the implementation of policies to end the cycle of violence.”
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The two priests, Javier Campos, 79, and Joaquin Mora, 80, were murdered on June 20 after discovering inside the church a local tour guide, Pedro Palma, bleeding from gunshot wounds. Reports say that one of the priests began anointing Mr. Palma, when the suspected gunman shot him and the second priest. A third priest arrived, reported The Guardian, who listened to the suspect’s confession before he fled with the three bodies. The bodies were found days later.
The church is located in a region of Mexico suffering violence associated with the illegal drug trade. Police say the suspect in the killings is José Noriel Portillo Gil, who is already wanted in the murder of a U.S. tourist in 2018.
[Related: The Jesuit priests killed in Mexico were more than just names in a headline]
In the letter to President Biden, the members of Congress pointed to the unique threats facing clergy in Mexico.
“Members of the clergy are particularly vulnerable to violence because they serve disadvantaged communities where organized crime is most prevalent,” the lawmakers wrote. “They also act as peacemakers, mediating disputes between gangs in regions with minimal government presence.”
“By increasing our efforts to address the crisis of violence afflicting our Mexican neighbors, we will honor the legacies of Fathers Campos and Mora and all those lost to this senseless bloodshed.”
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Violence at the hands of drug cartels has roiled rural Mexico in recent years, which the lawmakers highlighted in their letter. Last year, the letter states, there were more than 33,000 recorded homicides in Mexico, up from about 16,000 in 2014.
The most recent murders of the two priests drew condemnation from the Jesuits and Pope Francis and is just the latest homicide involving Catholic clergy in Mexico. According to church sources, more than 30 priests have been killed there since 2012, most of which remain open cases.
Catholic leaders in Mexico have renewed their calls for the government to do more to combat the violence, raising the ire of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The members of Congress asked the Biden administration to help with problems caused by corruption and a lack of resources for law enforcement.
“We urge your administration to deepen cooperation with the Mexican government and civil society groups to root out corruption, increase the investigative capacity of Mexican law enforcement, and strengthen the independence of prosecutors and judges in Mexico,” the letter states. “By increasing our efforts to address the crisis of violence afflicting our Mexican neighbors, we will honor the legacies of Fathers Campos and Mora and all those lost to this senseless bloodshed.”
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