Monday, January 07, 2008

JESUITS GATHER TO ELECT NEW "BLACK POPE"

Jesuits gather in Rome to elect new "black pope"

src="http://www.catholicpressphoto.com/servizi/2008-01-07-gesuiti/images/thumbs/2008-01-07-Jesuits%2002.jpg">

Mon 7 Jan 2008, 11:13 GMT

By Philip Pullella

ROME (Reuters) - There won't be any white smoke to tell the world he has been elected, but another sort of secret conclave began in Rome on Monday -- to chose the worldwide Jesuit leader who is known as the "the black pope".

At Jesuit headquarters a block from the Vatican, 225 delegates from around the world will choose a new superior general to run the largest and perhaps most influential, controversial and prestigious Catholic clerical order.

Their leader is traditionally known as "the black pope" because of the colour of the simple cassock he wears and because -- like the pope who dresses in white -- he has worldwide influence and usually keeps the position for life.

But this year's general congregation, as the meeting is known, is different. The current superior general, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, 79, received permission from Pope Benedict to retire for reasons of age.

A soft-spoken Dutchman with white hair and a goatee, Kolvenbach has been in the job since 1983 and has won widespread praise for steering the Jesuits through one of their most difficult periods in their 468-year history.

Kolvenbach's charismatic predecessor, a Basque named Pedro Arrupe, had several conflicts with Benedict's predecessor, Pope John Paul, who believed the order had become too independent, leftist and political, particularly in Latin America.

When Arrupe suffered a stroke in the early 1980s Pope John Paul appointed a personal delegate to run the order to make sure it would not drift further leftwards, a move some Jesuits at the time resented as "papal martial law".

Kolvenbach, by contrast, has been credited with re-establishing good relations with the Vatican over the past 25 years while dealing with issues such as declining vocations and the future of the order founded by St Ignatius Loyola in 1540.

DECLINING VOCATIONS

In the 1960s, the all-male order officially known as the Society of Jesus peaked with some 36,000 members worldwide. It now has about 19,200 members involved in education, refugee help and other social services.

The election of Kolvenbach's successor is expected to take place in mid-January after days of prayer and what is known in Latin as "murmuratio", or murmurings, among the delegates about who might make a good superior general.

While politicking for the post is strictly banned -- delegates are obliged to 'turn in' anyone who actively seeks the top job -- some names have already circulated in religious media.

One is Father Lisbert D'Sousa of India, and some Jesuits have said it is time for the top job to go to someone from the developing world.

"This (the developing world) is not only the new center of gravity for the Society of Jesus but for the Church," Father James Martin wrote in America, the weekly of the U.S. Jesuits.

"And an election of a developing world general would be interesting as a possible bellwether for the next papal conclave, whenever that will be," he wrote.

The new Jesuit leader is elected by a secret ballot. After he is chosen, the delegates are not allowed to leave the room until Pope Benedict is informed, in keeping with a centuries-old tradition that the "white pope" be the first to know who the new "black pope" is.

But unlike a conclave to elect the real pope, a Jesuit general congregation can continue for weeks or even months after the new head has been elected in order to discuss the order's future challenges and priorities.

Source: http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL06467965.html

JESUITS PRAY FOR GUIDANCE IN ELECTION

JESUITS-OPEN Jan-7-2008 (630 words) xxxi

Before St. Ignatius' tomb, Jesuits pray for guidance with election

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Credit: ©ALESSIA GIULIANI/CPP
http://www.catholicpressphoto.com/servizi/2008-01-07-gesuiti/images/thumbs/2008-01-07-suits%


By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

ROME (CNS) -- Before the tomb of their founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola, 225 Jesuits prayed that God would be present with them as they elect a new superior general and that he would make his will known to them.

The Jesuits' General Congregation opened Jan. 7 with Mass in Rome's Church of the Gesu, which houses the tomb of St. Ignatius.

At the end of the Mass, the current superior, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, 79, lighted an oil lamp before the founder's tomb and led his confreres in reciting St. Ignatius' "Suscipe" prayer:

"Take, Lord, and receive, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess; you have given it all to me, I now give it back to you, O Lord. All of it is yours now, dispose of it according to your will; give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me."

Father Kolvenbach convoked the General Congregation to consider his request to retire, to elect a new superior and to discuss major issues facing the Society of Jesus and its more than 19,000 members.

Cardinal Franc Rode, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass, thanked Father Kolvenbach for his leadership and encouraged the Jesuits to elect a successor who would help all the Jesuits remain united and devoted to the church, its members and its hierarchy.

"Consecration in service to Christ cannot be separated from consecration in service to the church," Cardinal Rode said.

The cardinal told the Jesuits that it is with "sorrow and anxiety" that he has seen even members of religious orders weaken their attachment to the institutional church and their fidelity to its official teaching.

"Love for the church in every sense of the word -- be it the church as the people of God or the hierarchical church -- is not a human sentiment, which comes and goes" depending on who its leaders and members are at any given moment in history, Cardinal Rode said.

"Love for the church is a love based on faith, a gift of the Lord which, precisely because he loves us, he gives us faith in him and his spouse, which is the church," he said.

"With sadness and anxiety, I also see a growing distancing from the hierarchy," he said, emphasizing that St. Ignatius insisted his companions exercise their ministry under a particularly close bond of obedience to the pope.

"The fundamental nucleus of Ignatian spirituality consists in uniting love for God with love for the hierarchical church," Cardinal Rode said.

The cardinal said the world urgently needs to hear the proclamation of the truth revealed in Scripture and tradition and authenticated by the official teaching of the church.

"The doctrinal diversity of those who ... by vocation and mission are called to announce the kingdom of truth and love, disorients the faithful and leads to a relativism without limits," he said.

The cardinal also urged the members of the General Congregation to continue and to strengthen the work of the Jesuits and their institutions in stemming and reversing a separation between faith and culture, especially by being men of deep prayer as well as highly educated.

"It is not possible to transform the world or to respond to the challenges of a world which has forgotten love, without being firmly rooted in love," Cardinal Rode told them.

As they elect a new superior and make decisions for the order's future, the Jesuits must give priority to imitating St. Ignatius, whose life was marked by generosity, penance, apostolic zeal, obedience, charity, fidelity and "love for the hierarchical church," Cardinal Rode said.


Source: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0800087.htm

THE CRIME: RFK ASSASSINATION 1968


The Crime

This is the official version of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, as put forward by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the LA District Attourney's office (LADA).

On 5th June 1968, 12.15am, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was making his way from the ballroom at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, to give a press conference, after winning the California Primary. The prearranged route went through a food service pantry. While making his way through this area, a Palastinian Arab, Sirhan Sirhan, stepped forward and fired a .22 revolver at the Senator. Although Sirhan was quickly subdued, Kennedy and five others were wounded, although only Kennedy was fatally wounded. Sirhan was arrested at the scene, charged and convicted of first degree murder. He was to have been executed, but the U.S. Supreme Court voided the constitutionality of the death sentence before the sentence could be carried out. Sirhan has been incarcerated at Corcoran State Prison, California, since then. Under Californian law, he should have been automatically scheduled for release in 1984, but this was not the case.

Uploaded - 22nd July 1996
Last Update - 6th April 1998


Source: http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~dlewis/crime.htm

HILLARY CLINTON'S 9/12 RESPONSE TO 9/11.

Hillary Clinton’s 9/12 Response To 9/11 Attacks

From Senator Clinton’s website:

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Statement On The Floor of The United States Senate In Response to the World Trade Center and Pentagon Attacks

September 12, 2001

Thank you, Mr. President, and I thank my colleagues for their outpouring of support, their concerns and their many offers of additional aid that have come to the rescue of our people as a result of this devastating travesty.

You know, yesterday dawned a beautiful day in New York. My daughter told me that it was one of those days where the skies were totally clear and there was a breeze and people were starting to line up at the polling places to vote because it was primary day, election day — a continuation of the commitment to democracy and self-government that has set us apart from every society that has ever existed because of the longevity of our democracy and the will of our people to constantly renew ourselves. New Yorkers went from standing in line to vote to standing in line to donate blood in just a few hours. I don’t think any of us will get out of our minds the images that we saw on television of the plane going into the first tower, the plane going into the second tower, the plane going into the Pentagon. But there were tens of thousands of our fellow Americans, people that live in New York and New Jersey and Connecticut — people literally from every part of our country and indeed the world for whom this was not an event that they watched in horror on television, but they lived through and in too many instances did not survive.

We are beginning to find out what that was like. Chuck [Schumer] and I have a lot of friends who worked in those towers, worked in the center, worked near by. We are hearing the stories of husbands and wives grabbing cell phones and calling home to say I love you, good-bye. We know and I am sure every person in this body and in the House and many, many of our fellow citizens, when we finally know the names of those killed and injured, will know someone. This was an attack on New York, but it was really an attack on America. I have been very gratified, as I know that Chuck has and all our colleagues in the House by the strong support we have received from the President, and I am very grateful. We have expressed our appreciation. Chuck and I will be going to New York this afternoon with FEMA. We could not have asked for more than we have received in the immediate aftermath of this horrific attack. But we are by no means anywhere near the end of what it will take to continue the search and rescue efforts. We are finding people even as we speak. Yet we know that there is a very grim task ahead to do everything we can to find every person, to account for every single person who went to work. That is all they did: they went to work, on a beautiful September day in New York.

We will also stand united behind our President as he and his advisors plan the necessary actions to demonstrate America’s resolve and commitment. Not only to seek out an exact punishment on the perpetrators, but to make very clear that not only those who harbor terrorists, but those who in any way aid or comfort them whatsoever will now face the wrath of our country. And I hope that that message has gotten through to everywhere it needs to be heard. You are either with America in our time of need or you are not.

We also stand united behind our resolve — as this resolution so clearly states — to recover and rebuild in the aftermath of these tragic acts. You know, New York was not an accidental choice for these madmen, these terrorists, and these instruments of evil. They deliberately chose to strike at a city, which is a global city — it is the city of the Twenty First century, it epitomizes who we are as Americans. And so this in a very real sense was an attack on America, on our values, on our power, and on who we are as a people. And I know — because I know America — that America will stand behind New York. That America will offer whatever resources, aid, comfort, support that New Yorkers and New York require. Because the greatest rebuke we can offer to those who attack our way of life is to demonstrate clearly that we are not cowed in any way whatsoever.

I hope that within a short period, Senator Warner, we will see scaffolding on the sides of the Pentagon after we finish the search and recovery work that is being carried out heroically. I hope we all see a clear signal that we are rebuilding and our defenses are more resolute than ever. I hope similarly that lower Manhattan has the same kind of image of project because the reality will be that we are rebuilding and reconstructing and making clear that just as our military might is unchallenged and un-cowed so is our economics, our social, our political values epitomized by New York.

I have expressed my strong support for the President. Not only as the Senator from New York, but as someone for eight years who has some sense of the burdens and responsibilities that fall on the shoulders of the human being we make our President. It is an awesome and an oftentimes awful responsibility for any person. I know we are up to it. I know we are ready for it. And I know every one in this body represents every American in making clear we are united and stronger than ever. So it is with a heavy heart, really a sense of heartbreak that I rise today in support of this resolution.

But it is also with a great sense of pride. First in the people of New York who responded as New Yorkers always do when times get tough. There was not a sense of panic, there was order, and there was an immediate outpouring of help. And those men and women we sent in to rescue our fellow Americans — there is no way adequately to express our gratitude. To our firefighters, our police officers, our emergency personal, our doctors, and nurses and medical personnel. They responded at a height of a tragic, unexpected attack with the kind of grit and courage we expect from New Yorkers. And to all of those who are missing a loved one, there are no words any of us can express, except to tell you in the clearest possible terms we will — in a united American response — support you, offer assistance to you, stand with you, and pursue those who reached deep into your family homes yesterday and took someone you loved away from you.

There will be a lot of work ahead of us in this body and in the House and we will pursue that and I am grateful for the support we have received.

Thank you very much.

My favorite passage:

We will also stand united behind our President as he and his advisors plan the necessary actions to demonstrate America’s resolve and commitment. Not only to seek out an exact punishment on the perpetrators, but to make very clear that not only those who harbor terrorists, but those who in any way aid or comfort them whatsoever will now face the wrath of our country. And I hope that that message has gotten through to everywhere it needs to be heard. You are either with America in our time of need or you are not.

But those were just words. And for Hillary words are just a means to power.

They have no other meaning.

This article was posted by Steve Gilbert on Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 at 2:59 pm.

THE GRAND DECEPTION

The Grand Deception

(2nd Edition)
A Second Look at the War on Terrorism

by G. Edward Griffin

The concepts I would like to share with you today were set to paper three days after the terrorist attack against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. I printed about a dozen copies and gave them to family and friends. Since then I have added historical data, but the concepts and the message remain unchanged. Many of the predictions I made have already come to pass; but any pride I might have in being right is far offset by the grim substance of those predictions.
After completing
The Creature from Jekyll Island, I felt that I still had one more book to write and that it would be called The Freedom Manifesto. I also knew that I would need a dramatic issue in the first chapter to capture attention. Well, the terrorist attack on September 11 was certainly that – and more.

Click on The Grand Deception below for more:

The Grand Deception (by G. Edward Griffin)

Source: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20Government/Police%20State/the_grand_deception-g_edward_griffin.htm

DECEPTION, WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Matthew 24:4-14.

6And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

7Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

10And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

16I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Revelation 22:6,7,10,12,14-17.

***

Once upon a time there was a man called J. Edgar Hoover, he was the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations; He declared a War on Crime (Organized Crime) during The Roosevelt New Deal Era, to combat the rising crime and violence of the day.

During the post Kennedy assasination time line, President Lyndon B. Johnson, declared War on Poverty, as part of his New Deal; Poverty became a matter of national concern, and there were set in motion a series of Federal programs to address the issue.

Nixon's modern-day War on Drugs began in 1969. He characterized the abuse of illicit substances as "public enemy number one in the United States" at a press conference given on June 17th, 1971 [2], although the Shafer Commission recommended legalizing possession and sale of small amounts of marijuana [3]. Under Nixon, the U.S. Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. This legislation is the foundation on which the modern drug war exists. Responsibility for enforcement of this new law was given to the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and then in 1973 to the newly formed Drug Enforcement Administration.1

Enacted in 1973, when Nelson Rockefeller was governor, the Rockefeller Drug Laws require harsh prison terms for the possession or sale of relatively small amounts of drugs.2

The strangest factor of this War on Drugs is "The Drug Czar" (as in pre-Bolshevik Russia?).

As an immediate response to the attacks of September 11, 2001; President Gerge W. Bush declared "War on Terror". Committing our armed and intelligence forces to apprehend and bring to justice (dead or alive) the culprits of the dastardly attacks. This 'War' is against an enemy that can only be defined as Al Qaeda, and Muslim Extremist elements. Of all the above named wars, this one is the most ambiguous, and open ended. WHO knows how long this war will take? Your guess's as good as mine. Maybe 30 years?

Take heed that no man deceive you!

Arsenio.

1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_Drugs

2 http://www.droptherock.org/

FIRST IT WAS A WAR ON CRIME, THEN DRUGS..

First, It Was War On Crime, Then Drugs, Next Terror, Now It’s War On Americans

December 10th, 2007 ·

Going back through history, I remember when the “War on Crime” began, and that was almost thirty (30) years ago. Then came the “War on Drugs,” and now approximately 1 in every 31 adults in the United States is behind bars or under court supervision. Why are we so cruel to our own people? LINK Now that the “War on Terror” is being expanded, and the Senate is getting ready to pass S 1959, its apparent the government is now starting a new “War” - and this one is aimed squarely at anyone and everyone that doesn’t agree with a government that dances to the tune of corporations and special interest groups rather than the people themselves. Now that Congress has ample evidence to successfully impeach George. W. Bush and Vice-President Dick (Darth) Cheney, and they still refuse to uphold the Constitution and protect the people they pledged to serve in their oaths of office, the people know that Congress is complicit in the destruction of democracy, instead opting for the money and/or acting in cowardice and fear as fascism is rapidly taking-over the governance of the United States.

The facts that have been released to the mainstream news media these last few days have been damning for the Bush administration, and even more evidence of criminality is available on the Internet for all to see; however, you in Congress must take note that President Bush has lied to a nation, and now we know that the recent NIE was only released because several senior intelligence analysts were willing to go to jail in order to insure that the people of America and the world community were apprised of the truth, not what Bush and Cheney were attempting to coerce them to say. LINK

When the President and Vice-President have flagrantly broken our laws and commit “high crimes and misdemeanors”, it is the duty of the Congress, not whether you “decide” to impeach or not. The constitution is very clear on that matter, and when an administration is flagrantly guilty of several crimes, the Congress in compelled to impeach, not decide beforehand whether they feel it will win or lose. The Congress would do well to understand the meaning of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” and the argument of whether those herein cited are applicable under the actual definition of this phrase in our constitution is necessary for all to know and understand; most of the public believe “High Crimes” are felonies and crimes of such magnitude that Congress has to have an iron-clad case to bring the matter to the House of Representatives for arguments and evidence; Nothing could be further from the truth! To hear arguments that Bush hasn’t committed a crime that falls into this category is patently false and those who use such frivolous arguments against impeachment would do well to understand exactly what it entails:


The Constitution says a President can be impeached for “high crimes and misdemeanors,” but it doesn’t define the term. Who decides what that means? Columbus, Ohio - 5/3/00

The Congress decides the definition: by majority vote in the House for impeachment, and by 2/3 vote in the Senate for conviction. The Framers of the Constitution deliberately put impeachment into the hands of the legislative branch rather than the judicial branch, thus transforming it from strictly a matter of legal definition to a matter of political judgment. Then Representative Gerald Ford put it into practical perspective in 1970, when he said an impeachable offense is “whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history.”

“High crimes and misdemeanors” entered the text of the Constitution due to George Mason and James Madison. Mason had argued that the reasons given for impeachment — treason and bribery — were not enough. He worried that other “great and dangerous offenses” might not be covered, and suggested adding the word “maladministration.” Madison argued that term was too vague, so Mason then proposed “high crimes and misdemeanors,” a phrase well-known in English common law. In 18th century language, a “misdemeanor” meant “mis-demeanor,”or bad behavior (neglect of duty and corruption were given as examples), while “high crimes” was roughly equivalent to “great offenses.” MUCH MORE

This passage I found on AfterdowningStreet.Org mirrors my feelings, and countless millions of other patriotic Americas that feel the same way. What the general public doesn’t know is that internment camps, concentration camps, and/or expanded prison capability designed to hold more than a million detainees are being built or renovated in almost every state in the union. LINK LINK LINK For the Mainstream News Media to have knowledge of these camps and not ask pertinent questions necessary to awaken the public and warn them of this danger is unconscionable, and they choose to remain silent, pleased that soon their critics may disappear while a public lulled into complacency is enslaved by the people they believed would be their saviors.

“With the recent NIE report on Iran, it is ever clearer that the administration’s deceptions have only grown in scope. If after this Congress still does not take up the call for impeachment, it is itself open to charges of collusion in high crimes against the Republic,” said Niranjan Ramakrishnan, a political analyst.

Ramakrishnan criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for pledging ‘to keep impeachment off the table’ in an October interview, describing the pledge as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘criminal’.

“To leave unchallenged the deliberate misleading of the country to war, (and the effort to do the same a second time), makes her party a knowing accessory to the same misdeeds,” he said. LINK

This is a quote from a publication that was written in 2006, and all of you know that several more crimes have manifested themselves after the publication of these words:

The Military Commission Act retroactively approved the use of torture to the beginning of the 9/11 Wars.
Congress’s reaction to the ACLU report in October of 2005 was to pass legislation banning further use of the
Freedom of Information Act to request documents on current military operations.
We are in a time of extremism, permanent war, and the unilateral manifestation of ethnocentrism and power by
an openly public cabal of people in the U.S. government. Those in power are set on the U.S. military domination
of the world. They seem willing to defy the foundational values of the American people to achieve their ends. We
have no choice but to declare openly our belief in universal human rights and demand the immediate
impeachment of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney and a full accounting of those in their administration.
Peter Phillips is a professor of sociology at Sonoma State University and director of Project Censored. He is
co-editor with Dennis Loo of the new book “Impeach the President: the Case Against Bush and Cheney,”
available at: http://www.projectcensored.org/impeach.htm LINK

To reiterate the many crimes of the Bush administration would be a waste of time, as all of you in Congress know they are guilty; several books have been written on the subject, and now, placing all technicalities to the side, even the class dunce would conclude, based on the mountains of evidence and the necessity to save our country from further war and violence, the immediate necessity to impeach George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

To those Republicans and “Blue-Dog Democrats,” and Independent Joe Lieberman, please be advised that the public, whom are awakening at a remarkable rate, are watching those of you whom still defiantly support this President, and to all of you, I say that your continued support of an administration that has been proven to be liars and have spat on our Constitution and Rule of Law is causing the people to wonder if you too are guilty of, or have actively enabled their crimes. It is time for all of you to awaken to the reality that as a majority, the people of the United States want George Bush and Dick Cheney impeached, and we demand, not ask, that you fulfill your constitutionally mandated duty to impeach these tyrants before they can inflict more damage and embarrassment on the people of America and the world at large.

In regard Nancy Pelosi, we have just learned that in September of 2002, Nancy Pelosi was one of the “Gang of Four”, along with Representative Jane Harmon, who was briefed on the type(s) of torture the CIA were using to interrogate high value detainees, and none of those four objected at that time. Ms. Pelosi, knowing that the CIA was actively conducting torture, which is against our own laws as well as the Geneva Convention, failed to object and even though she was apprised the United States was actively breaking US and international law - she chose to remain silent instead of attempting to do everything in her power to rectify the situation. It is this writer’s opinion that she abdicated her duty, and in spite of Ms. Harmon’s recent statement that she couldn’t talk about it because:

“When you serve on intelligence committee you sign a second oath — one of secrecy,” she said. “I was briefed, but the information was closely held to just the Gang of Four. I was not free to disclose anything.” LINK

The above argument is inappropriate when both Democratic Representatives learned that the United States was actively committing crimes. If they had learned we were covertly executing some of those detainees, would they have spoken out then? A crime is a crime, especially when those crimes place our own soldiers in jeopardy of being tortured themselves because of our flagrant violation of international law. Based on Speaker Pelosi’s inability to muster the courage necessary to defy a President that was actively breaking our own laws, I believe this act alone disqualifies her from ascending to the Presidency when Bush and Cheney are impeached, hence the triple-impeachment to assure the people that those who enabled the Bush administration are denied access to further power and authority.

An urgent matter the Congress also must take up is the unconscionable behavior of the Mainstream News Media. They are large corporate owned media conglomerates that somehow believe they have the right to distort the news and continue the lies and propaganda of the Bush administration, and as a private citizen, I believe that it is within my constitutional rights to demand that they be truthful and fair. We as a nation are not children, and to allow the news media to lie and distort the truth is a slap in the face to the people at large, and we’re tired of it. To read how bad this issue is, please read this brief synopsis. LINK If you doubt that impeachment could be a successful endeavor, it’s because of a complicit MSM, and your speeches and Press Conferences can alert the rest of the people of the necessity to impeach this Presidency and begin the healing process that may take decades to accomplish based on the national debt and the horrible loss of credibility that we as a nation have suffered under the leadership of the Bush administration. Congress may believe the MSM is protecting them, but the word is rapidly spreading that the opposite is true, and slowly but surely, the MSM is losing the battle to hide the truth from the American public.

To label a show as “news” and refuse to tell the truth, distort the truth, or blatantly lie have as some of the networks have done borders on fraud, and lying to the public disguising it as “news” is not a fair representation of free speech, especially as it concerns those who are charged with keeping the nation informed of important news. For the Congress to allow this to continue unabated is a sign that the entire Congress is complicit with the Bush administration. And if that is the case, each and every one of you will be losing your seats in Congress, because the people are watching this Congress as they never have before, and a host of people are taking notes and chronicling those who refuse to stand-up for the people.

The last, but not unimportant issue, is that the Mainstream News Media, once again is attempting to interfere with a federal election, and it’s my belief that their poor coverage of Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul smacks of attempting to influence an election by not fairly representing all of the candidates that are running for election. Dennis Kucinich, who last month won the most votes in a survey conducted by Democracy for America, has now come out on top of an on-line poll of members of Progressive Democrats for America, has not been represented fairly. I am also hearing that the Ron Paul campaign in gaining steam, and even though I’m personally a Kucinich supporter, it is as important to hear the message of Ron Paul too so the nation is able to make a fair and informed opinion of the candidates, not those the MSM are cramming down our collective throats. The aforementioned candidates appear to have a huge movements developing in their favor, and to allow the MSM to keep them without equal news coverage is an attempt at dumbing-down America, and to those of you who believe it’s working, I assure you, it’s not, and more and more Americans are awakening to the corruption that grips Washington, and we as a nation want change, and we demand the Congress of the United States represent the people, and now, while you still can.

The challenges Congress face is real, but we as citizens must remember that it’s us paying these absurd gas, milk, and soaring food costs while our wages remain stagnant, and it is our Congress that are paid well and keep increasing their pay while ours goes down, many of whom are millionaires of their own accord. It is almost impossible for them to identify with what is occurring across this great nation - and it’s high time they understand that the people ARE awakening and we demand change, now, not tomorrow or the next day, but for Congress to take-up these important issues immediately and represent the people; this may be their last chance before the upcoming passage of S 1959 in the Senate, and we are also watching on that Bill. We know there have been thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of emails and phone calls made to Congress on this issue, and yet not a word has been mentioned by the MSM or any other source. Why? This is another matter the Congress of the United States needs to pay heed to the people, not their corporate sponsors or pressure from the Bush administration. This Bill represents the most egregious assault on our constitution since this country was incepted, and the people will not allow this Bill to pass. Again, if this Bill does pass the Senate, it will be another slap in the face of the people, this time it would be a vicious slap that would eventually effect Free Speech, and no one in this nation will forgive Congress if this odious Bill is allowed to pass.

Just yesterday, I learned that several groups in FACEBOOK have also joined-in to send emails and call the Congress LINK, and they are spreading the word as fast as they can, yet a complicit MSM refuses to report upon the massive amount of emails and phone calls of those who are protesting against this unconstitutional Bill! Citizens from all fifty states are emailing and calling Congress on this issue, yet the MSM remains mute, as does our Congress. The protest is far from over, and Congress should acknowledge the concerns of the people instead of ignoring what is a legitimate outpouring of Americans concerned that the very foundation of freedom and democracy could be stripped away from us - and when freedom of speech dies, so does our country and what used to be “The American Way of Life.”

President Bush stated we were either “for him or against him” in similar words, and as we watch a Congress that refuses to perform their duties, it’s time for them to decide that same question. Are they for the American people, or are they against us? The answer to that question is how this Congress will act now that Bush and company have been caught red-handed attempting to “cook” the intelligence to fit their ambitions to bomb Iran, even though the military and the country at large are against starting another war. I speak as an individual, however base this opinion on the many comments made to CNN in their Blog, the many Internet sites and discussion forums that actively post their concern and fear of this Presidency, and the mood and demeanor of the Average American when asked about this Presidency. I believe that my view is shared by countless millions of Americans, and we are all waiting and watching; will Congress allow our country to descend into total fascism and dictatorship, or will they stand tall and fight for our Constitution, Bill of Rights and The Rule of Law?The “answer will manifest itself in the next couple of months, but if the Senate passes S 1959, and Congress still refuses to perform their duty, we can all say good-bye to a free and democratic America.

William Cormier

Now We Know Why There’s A Press Blackout On S 1959 - It’s Called “ENDGAME” By DHS

Source: http://justanothercoverup.com/?p=342

Saturday, January 05, 2008

POLICE STATE AMERICA

Police State America - A Look Back and Ahead

Click Name for Bio of Stephen Lendman
Wednesday, 19 December 2007

by Stephen Lendman

Year end is a good time to look back and reflect on what's ahead. If past is prologue, however, the outlook isn't good, and nothing on the horizon suggests otherwise. Voters last November wanted change but got betrayal from the bipartisan criminal class in Washington. Their attitude shows in an October Reuters/Zogby (RZ) opinion poll with George Bush at 24% that tops Richard Nixon's worst showing of 25% at his lowest 1974 Watergate point. And if that looks bad, consider Congress with "The Hill" reporting from the same RZ Index that our legislators scored a "staggering 11%, the lowest (congressional) rating in history," but there's room yet to hit bottom and a year left to do it. Why not with lawmakers' consistent voter sellout and failure record that keeps getting worse.


Read more

Source: http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/3059/81/


IF RON PAUL LOSES, WE STILL WIN

If Ron Paul Loses, We Still Win

Although some of his supporters might be disappointed with Ron Paul's fifth place showing in the Iowa caucus, it certainly is not the end or the last we have heard from him. Many have lost early primaries and have gone on to win the nomination. Iowa demonstrated that his Internet presence can translate into real support on the ground. Many forget that not so long ago he was polling in low single digit numbers, therefore to finish with 10% of the vote can only be seen as positive. This is a huge victory because not only does it build more momentum and set the stage
for New Hampshire, but it ensures that his message will reach more people. To exclude him from any debates at this point is a travesty of justice, and denies the American people the opportunity to hear his simple but popular message of hope and freedom.
It would have been nice to finish ahead of both McCain and Thompson, but Ron Paul supporters can take some comfort in placing ahead of Giuliani, who finished with 4% of the vote. Giuliani did make more visits to Iowa than Paul, but he still wasn't expected to win. Paul beat him more than 2-1, and managed to capture one out of every ten votes. He is posed to build off that and if he can finish with 15% or higher in New Hampshire, this could put him in the top three. If the field remains close, this could also favor him. In a tight race, a split in votes could lead to Ron Paul coming right up the middle. He has more money and resources than some of his opponents, and this puts him at an advantage. The nomination could go down to the wire, with Paul winning or playing a key role.


Throughout the campaign, Ron Paul has been ridiculed and attacked for his views, as well as ignored and excluded from polls and debates. Nevertheless, he has shown remarkable resiliency. His huge Internet support, his ability to raise substantial amounts of money, and his 10% of the vote in Iowa have made ignoring him that much harder. He has never been one of the establishment media-preferred candidates, but with his support and polling numbers on the rise, there is no reason for him to be excluded from the Fox News debate. He deserves to be heard. Let the American people make their choice. Trying to suppress his message could have the reverse effect. It is because of his powerful message that he has been catapulted from relative obscurity to legitimate contender and possible spoiler. In the fourth quarter he raised close to $20 million, more than any Democrat or Republican candidate. His support hasn't peaked and he has more room to grow. Nothing seems to be able to derail the Ron Paul revolution, and the longer he stays in the race, the more of a threat he will become.


There is no doubt that a lot of money and resources have been poured into New Hampshire. It is important to have another strong showing, and anything less could torpedo Ron Paul's whole campaign. He doesn't have to win, but another impressive showing will further boast his campaign, and carry over into the next primaries. As the field dwindles down, if he can somehow hang around, the differences between himself and his opponents will become more apparent to the American people and will help his cause. To write off Ron Paul might prove to be unwise, and to underestimate him and his support plays to his advantage. Try as they might, the mainstream media can't ignore this revolution. Ron Paul is still in this race and very much alive.


It shouldn't be all that surprising that Ron Paul's message of freedom, limited government, lower taxes, following the Constitution, defending American sovereignty, and his non-interventionist policy has been so popular. Some who were disinterested in politics are taking action for the first time. He has restored faith with many who had given up on the whole political process and those sick of the governments lies and corruption. His message of freedom crosses all party lines, and we have him to thank for bringing many key issues to the forefront. This revolution is bigger than Ron Paul- it has given hope and a sense of power back to the people. No longer will our voices be silent, and the actions of his supporters have spawned a movement that will remain in place no matter if he wins or loses. If he does fail in his bid to win the Republican nomination, he will have the support, money, and organizational infrastructure in place to make a serious third party challenge.


The Ron Paul revolution of hope and change has come a long way in a short period of time. After the Iowa results Paul said, “This is not the end. This is the beginning.” He is exactly right, but the big question is, can he win? He could pull off a stunning victory, but regardless, supporting him is the right thing to do. This movement goes well beyond Paul. It is about taking our government and country back. He may be America's last hope, and it is up to use to seize this opportunity and make history. His campaign will continue to astonish his supporters, critics, and the so-called experts. Win or lose, Ron Paul and his supporters have changed the rules and the political landscape forever. Ron Paul's message, his dream, his passion and his legacy will live on.

HOW THE GREEKS DESTROYED 'THE CHURCH'

How the Greeks Destroyed the Jewish Church

September 2004

By Pastor Hal Mayer

One of the most incredible changes ever to happen to God's church took place at a time in which there IS no biblical record. Yet the changes were so profound and so devastating that it is vital that we study them. The Jews were led by Satan to the ultimate rebellion and to their rejection as God's church. There are many lessons for us today that we had better learn if we are going to avoid making a similar mistake in our day.

Please turn with me in your bibles to the book of 1 Corinthians chapter one, vs. 18. Now, before we read God's holy word, we must bow our heads and ask for his wisdom to understand what He wants to tell us today.

Our Father in heaven. Thank you for your holy word and the TRUTH that it contains for us today. Please send your Holy Spirit to speak to us about this truth and help us to understand what you wish to say to us. Help us to see how that what happened to the Jews before Christ came to this earth has its parallel today. And we thank you in Jesus name, Amen.

Now reading from the 18 th verse. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

Notice the contrast between the preaching of the cross and the thinking of the Jews. The Jews were looking for sensational manifestations of truth in order to be willing to believe. They were in some ways like the charismatics of today, who want a religion that mostly involves their senses and feelings, but is largely ignores the intellectual. On the other hand, notice that the Greeks were emphasizing the intellectual and avoiding the emotional.. "The Greeks seek after wisdom," Paul said. Vs. 22. Paul saw that something happened between these two groups of people, the Jews and the Greeks, that he believed would also threaten God's church. He could see what had happened to the Jews under the influence of the Greeks and he warned all of God's people down to the end of time what was to come.

Originally, the educational system God gave the Jews was simple, practical, natural, and designed to create love and loyalty to God, and an understanding of His law in their hearts. If Israel had remained loyal, God would have blessed them so much that they would have been the admiration of the world and consulted regularly. God's educational plan would have prepared Israel to announce Messiah's salvation to the world.

But God's chosen people stoned the prophets, went whoring after idols, languished in Babylon, and ultimately rejected Christ the Messiah. After returning from captivity, being fearful of idolatry they hedged themselves with rules and regulations to prevent apostasy. Satan knew it would be extremely difficult to entice Israel into rank idolatry again, so he tried another angle.

At the end of the Medo-Persian Empire, Alexander the Great conquered the civilized world, but his sudden death left the empire divided between his four generals. The Greek empire championed worldly masters of wisdom. Aristotle, Socrates and Plato laid the foundation of Western Culture. They tried to solve the moral dilemmas of society using worldly, pagan philosophy. Though Greek civilization flourished economically, their system of philosophy and education failed to produce the moral system that could change the heart and make it truly noble. It had no divine system of evaluating right and wrong.

Sophisticated Greek culture required highly developed colonization and city life. The city state was the only social concept of mature Greek culture. But it was not a city with walls and fortifications. They were more interested in the usefulness of the city in which to engage Greek culture. Grecian kings were known for establishing large cities, colonizing and mixing cultures together under Greek principles.1 Colonizing large cities removed people from the natural simple influences of the country and engaged them in the complex, man-made and the artificial.

Previous empires forcefully imposed their culture and religion on those nations they conquered, but it was always difficult. Alexander was the first emperor to leave national culture and religion alone from a military standpoint.2 Nevertheless Hellenistic philosophy, economics, lifestyle, language, and the arts sunk in very deeply. By popularizing their culture and education they could integrate it into other cultures, resulting in one vast "Greekdom" under their intellectual masters.3 This strategy was very effective, not by creating an empire controlled by military power, but by creating a cultural empire built on ideas and a way of thinking that would influence nations throughout all time.4 What Babylon and Medo-Persia had failed to do by force of arms, the Greeks did by force of intellect. Though their military power was relatively short-lived, the power of Greek intellectualism is still with us today in every aspect of our lives. No wonder Paul wrote what he did in first Corinthians. He was very concerned that the philosophy of the Greeks would compromise the church. He could see that these ideas were very attractive to the unregenerate heart.

Devastating effect on the Jewish church

The effect of Hellenistic culture on God's church during the 400 years between the last Old Testament prophet and the time of Christ is instructive to His church today. There were no prophets to speak to God's church, and the Bible is otherwise silent concerning the history and condition of the church during this period. Interestingly many of the same principles the Greeks used on the Jewish church, which led to its terrible rejection of Christ, are being used on God's church today to prevent it from receiving the latter rain.

One of the four generals that took control of the southern part of the Greek empire after the death of Alexander the Great was Ptolemy I. He began the Ptolemy dynasty that ruled from Alexandria, Egypt. This kingdom had the most influence of the Jews during the 400 years just before Christ came to this earth.

The Ptolemys were very willing to let other nation's leaders close to the circles of power in Alexandria. They invited these leaders to participate in at least certain aspects of their government. This strategy was effectively used to strengthen the cultural integration back home. The pagan Greeks were very friendly to the Jews. Alexander and Ptolemy I offered them equal rights, benefits and protections with all other citizens.5 This friendly relationship between the Jews and the Greeks caused large Jewish communities to arise in Alexandria, Egypt.

The Ptolemy strategy to integrate Greek culture into Jewish life was a multi-pronged approach through their educational system, economy, entertainment and the arts. The Jews were intrigued by the intellectualism of the Greeks, and eventually became enthralled with it.

The Ptolemy dynasty controlled Egypt in the south and Judea, Phoenicia and the surrounding regions. One of the Ptolemy kings strategically commissioned a large number of rabbi scholars to come to Alexandria and translate the Old Testament (their sacred oracles) into the Greek language.6 This would no doubt open opportunities for the Jews to become more familiar with the culture of the Greeks by exchanging ideas with the Greek master philosophers. The Jews would have vainly seen it as an opportunity to influence the Greeks with their own sacred texts.

Promising and talented Jewish youth were no doubt invited to Alexandria's schools and then with their degrees came back to teach in Jewish schools. Because Greek culture was becoming quite popular, the Jews thought this a good way to bring fresh thinking and new perspectives into Jewish life. The average Jew was enamored with Greek lifestyle and materialism. And the prospect of wealth strengthened the Jewish fascination with Greek thinking and culture. Meanwhile Greek intellectualism crept into Palestine.

Economic influence

The Jewish priests had made themselves singularly wealthy from the offerings of the people and had become corrupted. Their chief aim it seemed was to gain money.7 What does the scripture say, "The Love of money is the root of all evil." Since the priests were essentially the national leaders, they guided the course of their country according to their ambitions and became easy prey to Hellenic influences which improved their chances of increasing their wealth even further.

But a broader economic principle was to come into play in Judea which would effect everybody, not just the priests. The Ptolemy king made a certain Jew the head of tax collection from Phoenicia to the borders of Egypt. He in turn appointed his own countrymen to help him. These enriched themselves and in turn invested in Judea, showering it with money and wealth and improving economic conditions. This investment in Palestine raised the people from poverty to prosperity and changed the course of Judean history.8

The newfound wealth helped turned admiration for the Greeks into emulation. Jewish tastes became more refined. They became interested in less practical arts, especially painting. Their homes became more beautiful. Their clothing copied the fashions of the Greeks. But the simple habits and customs of the Jews designed to keep them loyal to God and separate from pagan idolaters was lost.9 Though they no longer bowed down to idols, they were guilty of a new idolatry to the gods of reason, materialism and fashion.

It was the Jewish leaders that led the "yuppies" of the day to adopt extravagant habits and frivolous customs. They copied the Greeks in everything from eating and drinking to fashion and finances. They indulged in wine, music, drama, theater and other entertainments. They placed more importance on making money than on spiritual values.10 Greek fashions became customary in Judea. Youth would exercise under Greek hats,11 and flaunted the popular Greek country dress through the streets of Jerusalem.12 As the new educational system advanced within Jewish society, so did the corresponding love of worldliness and monetary gain. These enchantments greatly appealed to the youth who were quickly drawn into dissipation and unchastity.13

The Greeks loved their festivals which consumed a large share of public life.14 Some important Jews, familiar with Ptolemy's court, witnessed, and even participated in the corrupt orgies connected with the numerous Greek festivals. These leading Jews brazenly introduced them at Jerusalem, including the wine, dancing women and pagan music.15 The result was that there was less interest in the festivals that God had given to His people to inspire them with truth and soul-saving education. You see, the Jews were being re-educated into the thinking of the world.

Greek Education

Some of the leading Jews knew that in order to Hellenize the Jewish church, they would have to control the education of the young so the Jews could become as much like the Greeks as possible. Some of the most influential Jews shamelessly conspired to systematically Hellenize the Jews through education and eventually abolish the faith of their fathers. The goal of these "liberals" was the complete incorporation of Jewish life and customs into worldly Greek culture.16

Greek education put a high priority on sports. The Jewish revisionists introduced games, races, wrestling matches and contests of all sorts in Jewish schools, even though Jewish law sternly opposed these innovations. One of the High Priests named Jason introduced the Olympian games into Judea and built a gymnasium for this purpose in the heart of the city close to the temple.17 Jewish youth flocked to this Olympic shrine within their own borders. Greek sports masters were hired to teach their games. The Jews crowded the stadium. Even the Priests neglected their duties in the temple so they could participate in the games.18

There was one embarrassment to the Jews. The participants in the Olympic games were required to compete naked. One of the distinctive marks of Jewish singleness to God was circumcision. Yet this became a mark of shame under the influence of the Greeks. To prevent derision, Jewish Olympians undertook a special operation to disguise this.19 And little wonder. Competitive sports are contrary to God's system of education, and this symbol of their singleness to God was a constant reminder of their new idolatry.

Loss of Distinctive Doctrines and the Sanctuary Message

The decline in standards fostered by the liberal leaders led to a general disregard and even denial of the fundamental truths of the Jewish faith.20 "By the act of its own people, Jerusalem had renounced its age-long isolation and come into line with the great Hellenic world."21 The increasing fascination with Hellenic culture led to less interest in the old Jewish laws and ways. Little by little the things that made the Jews distinct; their very identity, became open for discussion. Even conservative Jews began to question their old traditional beliefs. They wondered if the teachings of Judaism were actually correct. They could see that their old teachings were in conflict with Greek reasoning. Yet the Greeks were so "successful," could it not be the blessing of God that they were so beneficial to Jewish economy? They gradually replaced God's definition of success with Greek ideas. They even began to wonder if God really required self denial, and whether God was really concerned about man at all.22 You see, these two things go hand in hand. How can we understand that God loves us deeply, and sacrificed Himself for us if we ourselves have no desire to help others and sacrifice for them? Self-sacrifice is one of the ways that God helps us understand His love for us. God ordained sacrifice to help us grasp the principles of heaven.

The rabbinical schools of the Jews continued to operate. But as Alexandria-trained rabbis held sway over the curriculum, the training in these schools became greatly compromised. Increasingly they were less practical, less biblical, and more theoretical. Sports, games, wealth and luxury were glorified. Worldly motivation replaced service in God's cause.

Year after year the word of God was studied less as the educational curriculum moved toward intellectualism and rationalism. Year after year man was exalted and God was less thought of. The degreed rabbi was extolled and the unlearned depreciated. Ceremony increased as piety diminished. More emphasis was placed on the Mishna and the Gemara. The Mishna was a commentary on the Bible which added many laws and ceremonies. The Gemara was a commentary on the Mishna which again added more regulations and rules. There was a saying in "The Ethics of the Fathers" which went something like this; "A child of five years should study the Bible, at ten the Mishna and at fifteen the Gamara.23 As a student advanced in years and increased in mental ability, he studied God's word less and man's writings more.

What do you think this did to the principles of the sanctuary which were designed to protect God's people from worldliness and teach them the way of salvation? In the Jewish mind these things began to become less and less important. Fidelity to God's law was seen as too narrow and restricting. Attendance at temple services was less and less. The simple truths of the sanctuary message failed to impress their minds anymore.

The Peril of Prosperity

Liberal compromises do not bring peace and unity. By the second century B.C. the degeneration of the Jewish faith led to severe internal conflicts creating a reaction. Those that opposed this liberalization banded together and formed the Chasidim or "The Pious." The conflict between the liberals and the conservatives pushed both parties to opposite extremes so that they could not comprehend each other. The conservatives accused the liberals of backsliding, "breaking the law" and of "fearful sin." The liberals accused the conservatives of folly in retaining the old landmarks and of undermining national progress, prosperity and stability.24 As you can see the conservatives trying to uphold the principles were accused of causing the disunity. Does this sound familiar?

Arguments arose on all fronts. Disagreements about sports, food, medicine worldliness, and philosophical problems created general discord. Both parties struggled for political influence. The liberal Hellenizers wanted one of their number to replace the conservative high priest and soon the burning question was whether it was really necessary that the high priest be a descendant of Aaron, leading to fears that the liberals would desecrate the high office.25

The people generally took the middle course. They enjoyed the luxuries, refinements, entertainments such as drama and theater, and the ever-present sports, but disapproved of the extreme liberal excesses because they did not want to break their connection with the past. Some even began to rationalize that since the Jews were the special objects of God's affection, these changes to society, buttressed by economic strength, were actually blessings from God and should be accommodated.26

The conflict and strife in Jerusalem with its political intrigues drew the attention of Antiochus Epiphanies, who marched on Jerusalem. In 169 B. C. Antiochus desecrated the temple, and made the keeping of the Sabbath and circumcision capital crimes, while forcing the Jews to keep the pagan festival to Dionysias.27 The revolt of the Maccabees and subsequent wars eventually restored the temple and Jewish nationality under the control of conservatives. But the infiltration of Greek principles was never eradicated.

The Jews had departed from God again, and to supply the lack of spirit, the conservative rabbis made the Jewish religion much more legalistic in order to restrict Hellenism's progress.28 Yet the religious leaders had lost sight of the true object of their religion. They multiplied ceremonies without understanding their real purpose. Meanwhile, the Jewish church had become so compromised that full reform was essentially impossible. By the time of Christ, it is obvious that even He could not change them and had to start a new church.

"As the Jews had departed from God, faith grew dim, and hope had well-nigh ceased to illuminate the future. The words of the prophets were uncomprehended."29 The influences of pagan culture, philosophy and lifestyle had so gutted the religious life of the Jews that when Jesus came to them, only a few humble souls recognized and welcomed Him. Even the masses who followed Him daily looked for a temporal kingdom, and when threatened by the religious leaders, they deserted Him.

Can you imagine how sad heaven must have been to see the reaction of the Jews to Jesus? Imagine their horror at the hatred that was directed at Christ. Imagine the heartsick angels that ministered to Christ as we was persecuted by the priests, as He anguished in Gethsemane, beaten by the Romans, and hung on a cruel cross. Imagine the shock and amazement of heavenly beings as the church leaders mocked him and derided him there as he hang on that cross. Unbelievable! Satan had been so subtle and so slick in captivating the minds of the Jews with all these liberal compromises, and then creating a conflict that prevented them from coming back into the balance of the truth. It is difficult to imagine it perhaps, but is it possible that Satan is working to do the same things to God's church today? As difficult as this may be to accept, it is true. Here is how.

Application to Modern Times

In our day, there has been a similar loss of the core principles of the truth in God's church, and the parallels are phenomenal. For example, to meet accreditation standards, teachers attend evangelical and secular seminaries for advanced degrees (in the Greek tradition no less) and bring evangelical teachings back into our seminaries, compromising the training of younger pastors.

Years ago, the liberals knew that the only way to change the church was to control the educational system. This they have done successfully. Our schools have replaced agriculture with the Greek pagan concept of games and sports and have tried to become as much like secular schools as possible. Have you noticed that many churches have gymnasiums built across the parking lot. The distinctive features of God's educational system that were to set our educational system apart from the world have been largely eliminated. Academic curriculums now emphasize less Bible and more evangelical theology and ecumenical teachings.

Like the Jews, we have developed an entertainment mentality which includes celebration style worship services, mimes and clowns, movies and theater, amusement parks, computer games, dancy music and the ever present sports. Many of us live in city environments where these entertainments are more easily available. Similar to the Jews, affluence consumes our time and energies, providing little time for God and family. Many are more concerned about making money than about their spiritual life or the eternal salvation of others. And many among us try to become as much like the worldlings around us as possible.

Like the Jews, many now question the distinctive features of our faith. Many "progressive" leaders (as liberals like to be called) are determined to incorporate evangelical religious culture into our Adventist lifestyle and completely do away with the faith of our fathers. Many of us have become ashamed of the distinctives of our faith and like those Jewish athletes, want to hide or minimize them. It's interesting to note that Jewish distinctives, such as the Sabbath and circumcision, once compromised, eventually became a target of repression under Antiochus. Will similar compromises lead to persecution of those who uphold our distinctive truths that God has entrusted to us, perhaps even by those of our own house of faith? Conflicts between liberals and conservatives today have gotten to the point where they often can't understand each other.

God's plan of true education, designed to strengthen the loyalties of God's people to the Law of God is almost wholly extinct today. Except for a few self-supporting schools such as Hartland College, where young people learn the biblical principles of our faith, there would be no place for youth to avoid, what God calls foolish Greek principles (see 1 Cor. 1:18-28) that prevail in our educational institutions. Compromise has gutted denominational education to the point that many graduates have little or no motivation to serve God's cause.

Even most self-supporting institutions are silent; fearful of speaking up against the Hellenization of Adventism and the lowering of standards, for fear of being "blackballed" by leadership. By the way, one interesting difference exists. The old Jews had a conservative leader in the high priest to help the conservative cause. We don't have that luxury today. Therefore we cannot hope that a political change in Adventism is going to restore the faith once delivered to the saints. The burden rests on you and me!!! We are the ones that must keep the faith, uphold the faith, reveal the faith in our characters and live like we believe that Jesus is coming very soon.

The Messiah not recognized

The Jews were so steeped in Greek education and lifestyle that they could not discern that among them was the Promised One - Jesus the Messiah. They viewed him as unlearned and lower class because he never studied in their schools. They hated his pointed public accounting of their infidelity to the Law of God. They despised his simple teaching about how to be saved. But most of all they were angry that he refused to obey their authority and follow their rules. They may well have been upset that He accepted donations and perhaps even some tithe and taught his disciples to do it too (Read Luke 10:3-12). The Greek system of education and philosophy had destroyed the Jews capability to comprehend Jesus' mission and they ended by crucifying him. Oh, that is sad!

The Latter Rain

Is it possible that many of us are so steeped in worldly (Greek) principles that we will treat the genuine manifestation of the Holy Spirit similar to the way the Jews treated Christ? Is it possible that many will miss the latter rain while it is falling all around them because they have refused to follow God's simple plan of education? How many among us will miss the last opportunity to cooperate with heaven in the final warning message to the world because they have frittered away their preparation time in sports, entertainment, or other worldly pursuits?

Perhaps we need to rethink our relationship to Christ and the world around us and find where we are personally compromised, and do all in our power to recover our faith and live by it in our homes, schools and churches. Perhaps we could gain much by restudying the sanctuary services that God gave to Israel to illustrate His principles of salvation. If we understood what Christ has done for us and His powerful love for each of us personally, we could see the pathway through all the temptations and attractions that the Devil would throw at us.

Christ and Him crucified is to be the center of our lives. If that is our focus, we will escape the dangers of worldliness and selfishness.

How is it with you? How is it with me? Are we striving to become part of the last group of people that will understand and reflect the fullness of the character of God through Jesus Christ? Will you join me in living for Jesus today, no matter how much ridicule, no matter how much persecution, no matter how difficult it will be? Will you join me in pleading with God for a true experience with Jesus? Will you join me in digging deeply in His word for truth?

Let us pray. Father, it is in Jesus name that we come to you today. We know that we have often compromised our faith and have adopted worldly principles in our lives, even after we have professed to accept Jesus and the truth for these last days. Help us to see how dangerous it is to play with Satan's devices. Help us to see how to come apart and be separate from the world. Help us to leave these things behind and look only to heaven, for that is where our home is. We are on the borders of the promised land - our heavenly home. May you sanctify us and purify us, and make us ready, so that when the crisis comes to us and the Holy Spirit is poured out, we will be part of that great final warning message, and that we will not reject Him and miss out on this crucial time. This is our prayer in Jesus name, Amen.

1. Bevan, Edwyn, Jerusalem Under the High-Priests, (London, 1904, Edward Arnold & Co.), pp. 31-33. See also Graetz, H. History of the Jews, (Philadelphia, 1891, The Jewish Publication Society of America), pg. 419.

2. Graetz, pg. 415; Beven, p. 33-34.

3. Graetz, pp 411.

4. Bevan, pp. 18.

5. Stanley, Arthur Penrhyn, Lectures on the History of the Jewish Church (New York, 1884, Charles Scribner's Sons), Vol. 3, pp. 221.

6. Josephus, Flavius, The Works of Flavius Josephus... Translated by William Whiston (Philadelphia, The International Press, The John C. Winston Co.) Book XII, Chapter II. pp. 349 -350; Bevan , pp. 44 .

7. Op. cit., Stanley, pp. 217; Bevan, pp. 45.

8. Op. cit., Graetz, pp. 426, 427.

9. Ibid., pp. 427.

10. Ibid., pp. 427.

11. Mathews, Shailer, A History of New Testament Times in Palestine (New York, 1927, The MacMillan Company) pp. 8; Bevan, pp. 79; Graetz, pp. 435.

12. Op. cit., Bevan, pp. 79.

13. Op. cit., Graetz, pp. 427-429.

14. Op. cit. Bevan, pp. 36.

15. Op. cit. Graetz, pp. 428, 429.

16. Ibid., pp. 435.

17. Schurer, Emil, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Christ, (Edinburgh, 1890, T. & T. Clark), Div. 1, pp. 202, 203; Bevan, pp. 79;

18. Op. cit., Graetz pp. 435, 445, 446; Shurer, pp. 203

19. Op. cit., Mathews, pp. 8; Graetz, pp. 445, 446.; Shurer, Div 1, pp. 203.

20. Op. cit., Graetz, pp. 446.

21. Op. cit. Bevan, pp. 79.

22. Op. cit. Graetz, pp. 429.

23. Incorporated in "Jewish Daily Prayer Book," (New York, 1890, Rosenbaum & Werbelowsky).

24. Op cit., Graetz, pp. 435, 436.

25. Ibid. pp. 435-437, 440.

26. Ibid., pp. 436.

27. Op. cit. Shurer, pp. 207.

28. White, Ellen G., The Desire of Ages, (Mountain View, CA, 1940), pp. 29.

Source: http://www.ktfministry.org/resources/sermons/ser_hm004.htm

29. Ibid., pp. 32.

HOW GREAT THOU ART

HOW GREAT THOU ART

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

words & music by Carl G. Boberg and R.J. Hughes

PSALM 121

Psalm 121

1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

PRINCE CHARLES TO APPEAR IN HOLOGRAM

Prince Charles will appear at conference as a hologram

Last updated at 22:54pm on 15th December 2007

His detractors may argue that his green principles do not stand up to close examination.

But now Prince Charles is set to confound his critics by addressing an energy conference - as a hologram.

Determined to keep his environmental damage to a minimum, Charles will save the 15 tons of carbon that would have been generated by flying himself and his staff 7,000 miles to the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

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Instead, a three-dimensional image of the Prince will be seen giving a five-minute talk.

Charles recorded the message at Highgrove last month. It will be transformed into a hologram-style image using technology based on a Victorian music-hall technique called "ghosting".

A video projector will beam an image of the Prince on to the floor.

It is then reflected up on to a paper-thin sheet of foil to create an optical illusion that makes him appear as a 3-D image on stage.

Former US Vice-President Al Gore used similar technology to appear as a hologram at Wembley Stadium at the beginning of the Live Earth concerts earlier this year.

Charles was heavily criticised in January when he and the Duchess of Cornwall flew to Philadelphia with 12 staff to pick up an award from Mr Gore honouring him as an environmentalist.

That trip created 20 tons of carbon dioxide.

The idea of the virtual Prince came from the Abu Dhabi conference organisers, who asked British events firm Revolution to produce special events for the three-day summit which starts on January 21.

Revolution managing director

Matt Sims said: "He will appear as a three-dimensional holographic image. All credit to His Royal Highness who was very keen to do it.

"It's all about zero carbon emissions."

Ironically, the biggest hurdle to setting up the holographic speech was Royal protocol, Mr Sims said, as Prince Andrew - dubbed "Air Miles Andy" for his jet-set lifestyle - will also be there.

"Protocol forbids two Royals from being on the same stage, and so the whole thing was coming into question," Mr Sims said.

"I was at a very eye-opening meeting at which they were asking 'Do we allow two Royals on the same stage at the same time?'

"Because Prince Charles isn't actually going to be there, it was decided that this did not breach protocol.

But they said they might have to rewrite protocol to take holograms into account in the future."

The Prince wore a light-coloured suit to film the speech - if he had worn dark clothes, only his head would be visible.

He will be seen standing, making gestures and moving around the stage.

The video is not a true hologram as you cannot see different parts of the image by moving around.

The technology is only a little more expensive than shooting a standard high-definition video, Mr Sims added.

A Clarence House spokeswoman said: "His Royal Highness was happy to do it.

He often does video messages but this is his first hologram."

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=502599&in_page_id=1770