Thursday, May 05, 2011

Allen West Offers National Day of Prayer Speech

Photo (Courtesy) http://weaselzippers.us/2011/05/05/allen-west-america-rooted-in-its-judeo-christian-faith/

Kevin Derby's blog Posted: May 5, 2011 11:13 AM

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West offered the following speech on Thursday on the National Day of Prayer:

"A Mighty Fortress is our God"

Psalm 91 "The Soldiers Psalm" ... Verse 2; "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."

Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea."

Psalm 11:3 "If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?"

We have come here this morning on a day set aside to remember from whence our strength comes. This week began with a great piece of news for America, the personification of evil, Osama bin Laden was killed by our U.S. Navy SEAL special operators.

On this National Day of Prayer, I can attest without any doubt that before those brave Warriors launched their mission, they prayed. Prayer is the means by which we can find refuge in our Lord God as we face trials, tribulations, and tumultuous times.

When the foundations of America were attacked and destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001, we found ourselves as a Nation doing that which is best, praying. We found ourselves doing as it says in Psalm 34:6, "This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him And saved him out of all his troubles."

In our congressional office there is a simple portrait hanging on the wall facing my desk. It is a portrait that reminds me where great leaders find strength in times of troubles. It is a portrait which reminds me of the faith and conviction that enabled a ragtag bunch of 13 colonies to come together and triumph.

It is the portrait of General George Washington kneeling beside his horse, hands clasped, and head bowed in the snow of Valley Forge.

It was a time characterized by the immortal words of Thomas Paine, "These are the times which try men's souls. The summer Soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that STANDS it now, deserves the love and thanks of men and women."

I know that before you can stand against the evils, trials, and challenges we all face ... we must first kneel in prayer.

As we trust in God through the power of prayer we can say as it says in Romans 8:31, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us."

This America is rooted in a Judeo-Christian faith tradition which finds its cornerstone of communication, prayer.

Thomas Jefferson stated, "Can the liberties of a Nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my Country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever."

And George Washington stated, "No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States ... We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious [favorable] smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a Nation which disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself ordained."

Psalm 11:3 asks us a simple question, "If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?"

The answer is simple, this Nation will pray when its foundations are being destroyed.

We must pray for our economic security and the blessings of long-term sustainable job-growth policies.

We must pray for our national security to ensure this great Republic, the grand experiment in individual liberty is preserved for future generations.

We must pray for the restoration of the American family and the sanctity of innocent life.

We must pray that the ideological chasm which now separates our America can be closed.

We must pray as it states in II Chronicles 7:14, "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and PRAY and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and HEAL their land."

Yes, I believe as it states in Jeremiah 29:11-13 ... "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and PRAY to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."

I know that this is a time when the restoration of our faith and belief in the power of prayer as a Nation will result in the promise of Romans 5:3-4, "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" ... and not a hope in Man."

As it says in Phillipians 4:13 ... "we can do ALL things" ... which is why I know the greatest days of America lie ahead as we remember this day and the power of Prayer.

In closing, I know that certain individuals and their media allies will be chomping to attack these words I share today. They shall cry separation of church and State ... but that principle does not apply to separating me from my faith and belief in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, our Savior Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the power of prayer. And it does not apply to separating this great Nation from its Judeo-Christian faith heritage.

We must never dwell in the realm of fear nor shy away from our convictions if we believe the simple admonition of Isaiah 54:17, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from me, Says the Lord."

I am not a perfect Man, but my daily prayer is the Lord's Prayer as found in Matthew, Chapter 6, and the prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10, "O that you would bless Me indeed and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, to protect me from evil, so that I will not cause harm, and God granted him as he requested."

Therefore, on this 60th Annual National Day of Prayer, I implore this Nation and all of you here to lift your eyes unto the Hills, where we shall find our strength. Mount up with wings like Eagles. Run and never grow weary. Walk and never faint.

And never forget, that before you STAND strong, you must first kneel in prayer.

God bless you all, God bless America.

Steadfast and Loyal!

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The War Time President REDUX



Wednesday, May 04, 2011

The NEW Investigative Journal



Added Apr 16, 2011, Under: Headlines




When I was broadcasting shows on Genesis Broadcasting (GCN) and Republic Broadcasting (RBN), things got dicey when I began concentrating almost daily on Vatican and Jesuit intrigue RBN cut me off the air when I would not quit talking about the Vatican. During my tenure there, station management brought on several Jew bashing shows to counteract my concentration on Rome.

After Republic cut me off back in 2006, I left GCN on my own accord since there was a station rule saying one host could not criticize another one on air. This rule was designed to protect Alex Jones. Although Alex criticized me, I know if I returned the favor, I’d be gone. Furthermore, I am positive Alex is a Vatican shill and so I realized this station, like RBN, were set up as gatekeeper networks.

I spent the next several years broadcasting mostly on a small Christian network called Liberty Radio Live. Listenership there is minimal and I left six months ago when it became exceedingly difficult to make ends meet.

I will be back live Monday after technical computer difficulties with First Amendment Radio who will play my live broadcast every afternoon at 5pm Eastern time. My archives will then be placed here on The Arctic Beacon on a subscription pay to play basis. There will be a nominal subscription cost which should make it at least sensible to continue on.

Just click on the link below and here is an old broadcast if you would like to get a small taste of what’s ahead in March.

—Greg Szymanski

watch?v=VRFG9K_Nf_8&feature=player_embedded

http://arcticbeacon.com/audio/2008/2008-LRN/02-2008-LRN/0204-2008/0204-2008-LRN-Hr1-Hr2.mp3

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None Dare Call It Treason




A review of John Stormer's book by Carrie Hurd
Note: Carrie wrote this review for our local homeschool support group's April, 2001 newsletter.

As we have shared in past newsletters, we love to haunt any place that sells books. I recently picked up a book at the local food bank garage sale whose author looked familiar. With a quick read of the back cover the little old paperback went into my bag. It wasn't until a few weeks later that my oldest daughter, Lindsey, came to me saying, "Mom, have you read any of this book yet? You've got to read this, it is fascinating." Again, a few days later she came to me and said "Mom, at least read this chapter on education." Thus was my introduction to one of the most intriguing books I have read in some time.

The book, None Dare Call It Treason, by John A. Stormer was written in 1964 and sold over a million copies in just 6 months. It is a very readable compilation of facts from hundreds of Congressional investigations of communism and books written at that time on communism and socialism. I don't remember learning much about communism in high school or college, and never learned about the communist takeovers of Poland, Rumania, China, Korea and Cuba. This book defines and exposes communism from the 1940's - 1960's and also the part many in our government played in supporting the Communists -- fascinating!

This book is a must read for us as homeschoolers, if for no other reason than the chapter on education. Stormer presents an excellent history of John Dewey and other education reformers and their communist influence on the American education system. This book reads a bit like present day conspiracy theory book, but it was written 40 years ago, and the things he wrote about have happened and are present realities that we see all around us. Some of the other topics included in this chapter are: Textbook Revisions, Class Hatred (multiculturalism), Anti-Free Enterprise (look at Bill Gates), In the Lower Grades (the intentional erosion of academic achievement) and Internationalism (vs. patriotism).

I guess the most amazing and shocking revelation for me was the full understanding of the enslavement and murder of 600 million people under Lenin and Stalin. Add to this the millions who are still enslaved in communist China. We should think of these men and women in China, who today are being forced to abort their children and who are mutilated and killed if they dare go against the communist government and have more than one child. Communism is not dead. We and our children need to understand it and remember that it still very much exists today.

In the middle of reading None Dare Call It Treason, I providentially began reading The Pastor's Wife by Sabina Wurmbrand. I didn't even think about it being related to the Stormer book until I was half way through it (I could not put it down, I was worthless for almost an entire day). In 1949, when Soviet propaganda was asserting that free Christian worship was being tolerated behind the Iron Curtain, the communists arrested Pastor Richard Wurmbrand in Rumania for secret Christian activities. He was in prison for 14 years and Sabina, his wife was imprisoned and enslaved in different work camps for over 3 years. Pastor and Mrs. Wurmbrand lived and wrote, first-hand of the horrors of communism that John Stormer was writing about to enlighten the American people in his book. What these saints went through at the hands of the communists is unimaginable. They faithfully worked to build the church in spite of persecution. They only left Rumania when they were made aware that the churches outside the Iron Curtain had no idea what the communists were doing to people, specifically Christians. They testified in the early 60's in some of the congressional hearings that Stormer sited in his book.

If you are not familiar with The Voice of the Martyrs, you should be. It was established by Richard Wurmbrand to help persecuted Christians all over the world. Mr. Wurmbrand also wrote a book entitled Tortured for Christ and was active in his ministry until his recent death. The Wurmbrand books can be reasonably purchased from The Voice of the Martyers, PO Box 443, Bartlesville, OK 74005. (There are some passages in The Pastor's Wife that frankly discusses sexual matters, so I would not give this book to any of my children before reading it myself. I don't recommend it for anyone under at least 16.)

I think communism would be an excellent unit study for any of our older homeschool children. I have found two other excellent resources that should be great to include. Veritas Press offers One Day In the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn in its 9th grade curriculum. My two older daughters have both read and enjoyed this book (I plan to read it soon). Here is a quote from the back of the book: "This extraordinary novel is one of the most significant and outspoken literary documents ever to come out of Soviet Russia. It is both a brutally graphic picture of life in a Stalinist work camp and a moving tribute to man's will to prevail over relentless dehumanization. A masterpiece of modern Russian fiction." Veritas offers a $15 hardback, you should be able to find a soft back at Half Price Books for just a few dollars.

In the early 90's TBN produced the movie China Cry, which was the true story of Nora Lam. Set in China some thirty years before the bloody Tiananmen Square massacre, this movie portrays the harsh reality of the repressive communist regime and Nora Lam's indomitable will to survive. You should be able to get this at Blockbuster.

I understand from Rick and Lynette Driggers that there is an excellent video on communism narrated by Ronald Reagan. Sorry, I was unable to get more information from them before this had to be submitted. It should be well worth searching for.

It appears that None Dare Call It Treason is out of print. Zshops at Amazon.com show to have 39 copies for as little as $2.00 for a hardcover. John Stormer has more recently written None Dare Call It Education: What's Happening to Our Schools & Our Children? My good friend Michelle tells me that another of his books, Growing Up God's Way is her all-time favorite child-training book, especially recommending his chapter on Character. Both are currently available at Amazon.




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Tuesday, May 03, 2011

COMECE Bishops see in the Arab Spring a clear sign of hope










#138 - Mai 2011



The COMECE Bishops dedicated their Spring Plenary Session to “Christian Churches in Maghreb and Mashriq”.

Although there has been ferment for quite some time in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, few people could have anticipated the revolutions and regime changes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. In his opening address at the Plenary Session, Mgr Adrianus van Luyn, President of COMECE, admitted, “When we decided at the beginning of January that the next Plenary Assembly should focus on the Middle East, we were still recovering from the shock of the bloody attacks against Christian churches in Egypt and Iraq. The pressing plight of Christians in these countries seemed to us sufficiently important for us to occupy ourselves with this more thoroughly at our meeting. Despite the developments in recent weeks, the position of religious minorities – not only Christians – remains precarious.” However, following the different popular uprisings occurring in the past few months, great expectations as well as many questions were raised that became more pressing than the question of Christians in the Middle East: What developments should we expect following the retreat, even the expulsion, of the former dictators? Is there any real chance that western-style democracy could gain foothold in these countries when, in contrast with the political changes in 1989, there is no earlier tradition of democracy to provide firm ground? What can the new European External Action Service actually do in this area?

Looking for answers to all these questions, the COMECE Bishops had the opportunity to listen to reports from experts from several European institutions, especially the EU’s new European External Action Service. Furthermore, in order to better understand the new situation in the Arab world, COMECE invited Professor Khalife, a specialist in geopolitics, Mgr Soueif, the Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus (and also the special Secretary of the recent Synod on the Middle East), and Cardinal Antonius Naguib, Catholic Patriarch of the Copts in Alexandria. All three had already met together in Strasbourg during the European Parliament’s Plenary Session in April, to report to the MEPs and the media on the situation of Christians in the Arab world.

Worries and hopes arising from the Arab Spring

Cardinal Naguib’s report to the COMECE Bishops dwelled in particular on a number of concrete issues that were causing problems with respect to the Egyptian Constitution. In its Articles 40 and 46 the Constitution states that citizens are equal under the law, whatever their race, language or creed, and that the State guarantees freedom of conscience and freedom of practice of religious rites. In parallel, Article 2 of the Egyptian Constitution stipulates that Islam is the State religion, Arabic its official language and that Sharia (Islamic jurisprudence) is the principal source of legislation. This article, the second of the 211 articles making up the Egyptian Constitution, has a dominant position and all articles that follow are subordinate to it. Practice bears this out : the law courts of the country clearly make the principles of freedom subordinate to the Islamic Sharia law. Similarly, observance of Sharia law influences how Egypt ratifies international Treaties, sometimes to the point of cancelling out their effectiveness. This is the case with the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Egypt in 1982.

Despite these reservations, Cardinal Naguib added “The 25th of January revolution generated hope that the constitution would be changed. In consideration and anticipation of the criticality of the early post-revolution phase, the Churches decided not to raise the issue of Article 2. The objective is clearly to enhance the national cohesion that emerged during the revolutionary movement... It is, however, the intention to re-address this crucial topic in a later phase, in which a change of constitution will take place.”

Cardinal Naguib sees two advantages in this Arab Spring – it is multiconvictional and led by the younger generation. “That’s why we were so happy to see the harmonious and total unity between Moslems and Christians at the beginning of the revolution. We have seen the Egyptians come together, drawn by a common cause and a common objective: Copts and Muslims joined hands against the regime of President Hosni Mubarak .The mixed crowd chanted, ‘We are one’, holding up Qurans and Crosses.”

He further believes that the youth of this movement is also a harbinger of hope. In fact, the promoters of “Change in 2011” are mainly young people (60% of the population of the Middle East and of North Africa are aged under 30) who have had the advantage of a mostly good education and are perfectly able to use the internet and its possibilities. But their prospects for the future are bleak indeed.

He therefore called upon the COMECE Bishops to support this movement of hope, particularly by helping young people to acquire some knowledge of politics and democracy and to train themselves in leadership.

Echoing the conclusions of the Synod on the Middle East, the COMECE Bishops, at the end of their Plenary Assembly, declared their strong belief that Christians in these countries share the same citizenship with their fellow citizens of other religions and that every one of them belongs fully to their societies. The Bishops called upon them to play their part, on the basis of their faith, in the change towards democracy in their countries, side by side with their fellow citizens.

These are the recommendations that the COMECE Bishops wish to present to the European Union:

- Greater and more concrete solidarity among the Member States of the EU is urgently needed to help in facing the inflow of migrants and refugees from North Africa and the Middle East (as provisioned in Directive 2001/55/EC on temporary protection)

- the EU should help in improving the deplorable situation in these countries by developing new tools to efficiently foster modernisation and democratisation in their societies

-in the context of changes in the Arab world, the EU should stress the importance of granting equal rights to all citizens of those countries, irrespective their ethnic or religious origin; including Christians.

For their part, the Bishops discussed the following possible actions:

- to organise regular exchanges with the Bishops’ Conferences of North Africa and the Middle East in order to assess better the expectations of their local population towards the EU;

- to encourage reflexion on “Democracy and Religion” together with Christians and Muslims from North Africa and the Middle East;

- to promote the social and political education of young people from North Africa and the Middle East

They also addressed a letter to their fellow Bishops in the Middle East and North Africa in which they expressed their solidarity and shared communion in prayers.

The insecurity and threats that Christian minorities are facing increasingly often in the Arab World are clearly intolerable. The COMECE Bishops expressed similar concern about the way religious minorities are sometimes treated in Europe. They therefore called upon all citizens, especially Christians, as well as the political leaders in Europe to assume their responsibilities for promoting dialogue between cultures and civilisations in Europe as well as in the rest of the world.

As Mgr van Luyn acknowledged, the Catholic Church has no coherent strategy, nor plans of action or ready-made responses to face this challenge. On the other hand, she is able to offer her help in discussing and drawing up solutions. Hence the COMECE Bishops have taken concrete actions in support of this movement of hope in the Arab world, and from analysing the situation they have drawn several lessons for application to we Europeans: the duty of majorities towards the minorities in Europe and the need for dialogue between religious communities.



Johanna Touzel

translated from the original French

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Words of Counsel

Photo (Courtesy) http://hillsidechristianschools.com.p4.hostingprod.com/


It is in the order of God that the physical as well as the mental powers shall be trained; but the character of the physical exercise taken should be in complete harmony with the lessons given by Christ to His disciples. Those lessons should be exemplified in the lives of Christians so that in all the education and self-training of teachers and students the heavenly agencies may not record of them that they are "lovers of pleasures." This is the record now being made of a large number, "Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." 2 Timothy 3:4. Thus Satan and his angels are laying their snares for souls. They are working upon the minds of teachers and students to induce them to engage in exercises and amusements which become intensely absorbing, and which are of a character to strengthen the lower passions and to create appetites and passions that will counteract the operations of the Spirit of God upon human hearts. {CT .281.1

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All the teachers in a school need exercise, a change of employment. God has pointed out what this should be-- useful, practical work. But many have turned away from God's plan to follow human inventions to the detriment of spiritual life. Amusements are doing more to counteract the working of the Holy Spirit than anything else, and the Lord is grieved. {CT 281.2}

Those teachers who have not a progressive religious experience, who are not learning daily lessons in the school of Christ, that they may be examples to the flock, but who accept their wages as the main consideration, are not fit for the solemn position they occupy. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves," the word of God declares, "and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind." Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:2. These words are spoken to the teachers in all our schools, which are established, as God designed they should be, after the example of the schools of the prophets, to impart knowledge of a high order, not mingling dross with the silver. But false ideas and unsound practices are leavening that which should ever be kept pure, institutions in which the love and fear of God should ever be first. {CT 281.3}

Let the teachers learn daily lessons in the school of Christ. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me," He says; "for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:29. There is altogether too little of Christ and too much of self. But those who are under the dictation of the Spirit of God, under the rule of Christ, will be ensamples to the flock. When the Chief Shepherd shall appear, these will receive the crown of life that fadeth not away. {CT 282.1}
"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." I Peter 5:5, 6. {CT 282.2}

All self-uplifting works out the natural result--making character of which God cannot approve. Work and teach; work in Christ's lines, and then you will never work in your own weak ability, but will have the co-operation of the divine. {CT 283.1}

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Verse 8. He is on the playground, watching your amusements, and catching every soul whom he finds off guard, sowing his seeds in human hearts, and gaining control of human minds. He is present in every exercise in the schoolroom. Those students who allow their minds to be deeply excited over games are not in the best condition to receive the instruction, the counsel, the reproof, most essential for them. {CT 283.2}

Physical exercise was marked out by the God of wisdom. Some hours each day should be devoted to useful education in lines of work that will help the students in learning the duties of practical life, which are essential for all our youth. {CT 283.3}

There is need of everyone in every school and in every other institution being, as was Daniel, in such close connection with the Source of all wisdom that he will be enabled to reach the highest standard in every line. The love and fear of God was before Daniel; and conscious of his amenability to God, he trained all his powers to respond as far as possible to the loving care of the Great Teacher. The four Hebrew children would not allow selfish motives and love of amusements to occupy the golden moments of life. They worked with willing heart and ready mind. This is no higher standard than every Christian youth may reach.

Our workers--ministers, teachers, physicians, directors--all need to remember that they are pledged to co-operate with Christ, to obey His directions, to follow His guidance. Every hour they are to ask and receive power from on high. They are to cherish a constant sense of the Saviour's love, of His efficiency, His watchfulness, His tenderness. They are to look to Him as the shepherd and bishop of their souls. Then they will have the sympathy and support of the heavenly angels. Christ will be their joy and crown of rejoicing. Their hearts will be controlled by the Holy Spirit, and they will have a knowledge of the truth which merely nominal believers can never gain. {CT 284.1}
We do not half comprehend the significance of the Saviour's lessons. We do not realize how much they mean to the beings He has created. He loves the human race. Do you ask how much? I point you to Calvary. But earthly cares and earthly interests hide from our view the things of heavenly origin, so that their importance is not understood. If ministers and teachers had a deeper sense of their spiritual need, they would enter upon their work filled with the realization of the sacredness of their trust, and a higher life would circulate through our churches and institutions. {CT 284.2}

Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students (1913), pp.281-284.



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David Wilkerson Laid to Rest

Tue, May. 03 2011 06:27 AM EDT

By Alison Matheson


(Photo: Times Square Church via The Christian Post)
Times Square Church Senior Pastor Carter Conlon preaches to the congregation. The megachurch in New York City held its own private funeral to remember the late David Wilkerson, founding pastor of Times Square Church, on Sunday, May 1, 2011. Wilkerson died on April 27 in a car accident.


Times Square Church and Teen Challenge founder the Rev. David Wilkerson was laid to rest at a private funeral on Monday.

Wilkerson, who also founded World Challenge Ministries, was driving with his wife in Tyler, Texas, last Wednesday when his car collided with a truck.

He died at the scene, while his wife was rushed to hospital where she remains under observation. He was 79.

The funeral at Rose Heights Church of God, in Tyler, was attended by members of Wilkerson's family and close friends, including evangelist Nicky Cruz.

Current Times Square Church pastor Carter Conlon was also present at the service.

He was quoted by Charisma Magazine as saying, "It's hard to honor a great man."

Times Square Church has confirmed that a memorial service will be held in New York City on May 14 at 2 p.m. ET to give members of the church and the public the chance to pay their respects.

The service will be streamed live worldwide via the church's website.

A simultaneous translation of the service will be available in 10 different languages via conference call lines, details of which will also be posted on the church's live stream page.

Anticipating a crowd of thousands during the memorial service, Conlon chose to lead his congregation in their own private time of mourning on Sunday.

“It's our time to mourn and to celebrate the life of our beloved founding pastor, David Wilkerson,” the senior pastor said. “By May 14, cameras and the eyes of the world will be on this church. People will be coming from all over the world.”

Paying tribute to “Brother Dave,” as he liked to be called, Conlon spoke of the nearly 17 years he was trained by Wilkerson at Times Square Church. He was taught to be humble and to constantly seek the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Every time we look at the glory of this sanctuary ... we're going to have that constant reminder of our founding pastor and how he let Jesus Christ so use his life and so brought glory to the name of Christ and touched our lives and led us in a way that we should go,” Conlon said.

“One of the hallmarks of Brother Dave's life and ministry is that people were radically transformed by the power of almighty God,” he said to applause. “Many went on into ministry and became great soul winners.”

Reading the official obituary, Conlon described Wilkerson as a man of unlimited faith, a fearless witness of Christ’s saving power, and a spiritual father to generation upon generation.

And he wasn’t one for fanfare, he continued, noting that Wilkerson turned down invitations to meet with world leaders. Rather, he was an advocate for the poorest of the poor and a friend to the outcast and hurting.

“He ran his race well. He lived life to the very fullest … with a radical love for Jesus.”

Tributes have poured in since last Wednesday's accident. One relative, Rick Wilkerson Jr., described Wilkerson as a "true hero" and "a man of conviction not convenience."

"He lived what he preached. We will miss him greatly!" he tweeted.

Joel Houston, son of Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston, paid testimony to the impact of Wilkerson's bestselling book, The Cross and the Switchblade, in which he gave an account of his ministry among New York gang members and drug users.

It was this book that "seeded NYC in my heart" as a place for ministry, said Houston, who is now helping to lead Hillsong NYC, the Australian-based church's first U.S. plant.

"So grateful for the life and legacy of David Wilkerson," he tweeted.

Over 50 million copies of the book have been sold and it has been translated into 30 languages.

Conlon announced that they are currently searching for a larger venue to accommodate the crowd expected to show up for the memorial service later this month. Madison Square Garden was ruled out because it is currently under renovation.

Prepping the congregation for the large crowd, Conlon informed them that they will be called to serve and comfort others who also have been impacted by Wilkerson.

“We are most likely going to be called as a congregation to give our place and to allow those who are coming from around the world to gather here and to mourn and to say goodbye to their friend,” he said.

“The days of mourning will be upon us for a while but ... joy is coming again in the morning. Thank God for the joy.”

Speaking from a personal standpoint, the senior pastor added, “I get tremendous personal comfort from the thought of Brother Dave dancing around the throne of God.”
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Monday, May 02, 2011

Where is the body? Not everyone believes bin Laden is dead

10:33 AM Tuesday May 3, 2011


A man watches a TV broadcast on the death of Osama bin Laden in Seoul, South Korea. Photo / AP



Knowing there would be disbelievers, the US says it used convincing means to confirm Osama bin Laden's identity during and after the firefight that killed him. But the mystique that surrounded the terrorist chieftain in life is persisting in death.

Was it really him? How do we know? Where are the pictures?

Already, those questions are spreading in Pakistan and surely beyond. In the absence of photos and with his body given up to the sea, many people do not want to believe that bin Laden - the Great Emir to some, the fabled escape artist of the Tora Bora mountains to foe and friend alike - is really dead.

US officials are balancing that skepticism with the sensitivities that might be inflamed by showing images they say they have of the dead al-Qaida leader and video of his burial at sea. Still, it appeared likely that photographic evidence would be produced.

"We are going to do everything we can to make sure that nobody has any basis to try to deny that we got Osama bin Laden," John Brennan, President Barack Obama's counterterrorism adviser, said Monday. He said the US will "share what we can because we want to make sure that not only the American people but the world understand exactly what happened."

In July 2003, the US took heat but also quieted most conspiracy theorists by releasing graphic photos of the corpses of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's two powerful sons to prove American forces had killed them.

So far, the US has cited evidence that satisfied the Navy SEAL force, and at least most of the world, that they had the right man in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The helicopter-borne raiding squad that swarmed the luxury compound identified bin Laden by appearance. A woman in the compound who was identified as his wife was said to have called out bin Laden's name in the melee.

Officials produced a quick DNA match from his remains that they said established bin Laden's identity, even absent the other techniques, with 99.9 per cent certainty. US officials also said bin Laden was identified through photo comparisons and other methods.

Tellingly, an al-Qaida spokesman, in vowing vengeance against America, called him a martyr, offering no challenge to the US account of his death.

Even so, it is almost inevitable that the bin Laden mythology will not end with the bullet in his head. If it suits extremist ends to spin a fantastical tale of survival or trickery to gullible ears, expect to hear it.

In the immediate aftermath, people in Abbottabad expressed widespread disbelief that bin Laden had died - or ever lived - among them.

"I'm not ready to buy bin Laden was here," said Haris Rasheed, 22, who works in a fast food restaurant. "How come no one knew he was here and why did they bury him so quickly? This is all fake - a drama, and a crude one."

Kamal Khan, 25, who is unemployed, said the official story "looks fishy to me."

The burial from an aircraft carrier in the North Arabian Sea was videotaped aboard the ship, according to a senior defence official who spoke on condition of anonymity because a decision on whether to release the video was not final. The official said it was highly likely that the video, along with photographs of bin Laden's body, would be made public in coming days.

The swiftness of the burial may have raised suspicions but was in accord with Islamic traditions. Islamic scholars, however, challenged US assertions that a burial at sea was an appropriate fate for a Muslim who had died on land.

The act denied al-Qaida any sort of burial shrine for their slain leader. Once again, bin Laden had vanished, but this time at the hands of the United States and in a way that ensures he is gone forever.

If that satisfies US goals and its sense of justice, Brad Sagarin, a psychologist at Northern Illinois University who studies persuasion, said the rapid disposition of the body "would certainly be a rich sort of kernel for somebody to grasp onto if they were motivated to disbelieve this."

Also expected to come out is a tape made by bin Laden, before US forces bore down on him, that may provide fodder to those who insist he is alive.

Pakistan, for one, is a land of conspiracy theorists, and far-fetched rumors abound on the streets and in blogs throughout the Arab world. But that's not just a characteristic of the Islamic pipeline. Many ordinary Americans - and one billionaire - persistently questioned whether Obama was born in the US despite lacking any evidence that he wasn't.

Sagarin said most people will probably be convinced bin Laden is dead because they cannot imagine the government maintaining such an extraordinary lie to the contrary in this day and age.

Yet, he said, "as with the birther conspiracy, there's going to be a set of people who are never going to be convinced. People filter the information they receive through their current attitudes, their current perspectives."

To be sure, even photos and video, subject to digital manipulation, may not provide the final word to everyone. But Seth Jones, a RAND Corp. political scientist who advised the commander of US special operations forces in Afghanistan, said the administration should do all it can to minimize doubts.

"There are always conspiracy theories," he said. "There are individuals who believe that bin Laden wasn't involved in the 9/11 attacks."

-AP

.


,

Sunday, May 01, 2011

Obama: No Time For 'Silliness'

Last week, President Obama expressed that he had no time for silliness - while referring to the interest in his birth certificate; He stated so the same day he released the document.

Yesterday at the annual White House Correspondent Dinner he became a comedian, making light of all those who doubted his transparency, he also made Donald Trump the butt of his jokes.
*POTUS can dish it out, but he hates when he has to take it. It must be really great being Obama!

Related:






Uploaded by UpTakeVideo on May 1, 2011

President Obama has a lot of fun at Donald Trump's expense during the 2011 White House correspondent's dinner. Bits with music that can't legally be on You Tube have been removed :-(

Under Siege, Part 2, Violent Planet



Under Siege, Part 2, Violent Planet W[click to listen]
May 2011


Dear Friend, Welcome to Keep the Faith Ministry. I hope that you are walking by faith and learning to live by all the counsel of the Lord. He has given us much light and we need every ray. We have recently seen some extraordinary events take place that are very... READ MORE



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Catholics under attack



BY Ian Dunn April 28

— Next Scottish Government is challenged to tackle anti-Catholic sectarianism after letter bombs and Cardinal O’Brien’s receipt of a bullet by post

A Church spokesman has challenged the next Scottish Government to beat the scourge of sectarianism after revelations that Cardinal Keith O’Brien received a bullet in the post and that a fourth letter bomb targeting Catholics had been intercepted.

Call to action

Peter Kearney, director of the Scottish Catholic Media Office, made the comments to the SCO after news that Cardinal O’Brien, Britain’s most senior Catholic clergyman, was sent a bullet in the post as a death threat against Pope Benedict XVI and three high profile Catholics linked to Celtic Football Club were targeted by bombs in the post last week. Police revealed this week that Cairde na hÉireann, an Irish Republican supporters’ group based in Scotland, had also been the target of a parcel bomb, intercepted in Northern Ireland. Officers from Strathclyde Police believe it originally entered the postal system at about the same time as the devices already under investigation.

Mr Kearney said he hoped that these events would prompt the next Scottish Government to finally start taking anti-Catholic bigotry seriously.

“We can only hope that immediately after the election, whoever is elected will enter into a meaningful debate with the Catholic Church and Catholic community about how to deal with this problem because it’s clear that we’re dealing with anti-Catholic bigotry and Catholics’ views must be sought on how to resolve it,” he said. “We now need to move past the old ‘one side is as bad as the other,’ ‘one size fits all’ approach to sectarianism.”

Bullet threat

Cardinal O’Brien revealed last week that he had been sent a live bullet in the mail just before the Papal visit last year.

The malicious letter, which the cardinal opened himself, is believed to have been sent by a person associating themselves with the Ulster Volunteer Force. Headed ‘No Surrender,’ it read ‘If you bring the Pope here, this is what he will get.’

“This was a horrific incitement to violence and deeply regrettable, but in the end it did not detract from the welcome the Pope received from the vast majority of Scots of all and no affiliations,” the cardinal said. “It’s not made any difference to my way of life. I’m just going on as normal and getting on with my work.”

Police launched an investigation into the letter last year but were unable to trace its origin. The Catholic Church did not make the incident public at the time for fear it would cast a pall over the Papal visit. The news was released after Neil Lennon, the Celtic FC manager, and his lawyer, Paul McBride QC and former Labour MSP Trish Godman were all targeted by nail bombs sent through the Royal Mail.

“Last year we didn’t want to let anything affect the climate of anticipation and excitement in the build up to the Pope’s visit,” Mr Kearney said. “But this year we felt that expressions of extreme intolerance do need to be acknowledged and put on the record.”

Danger warning

Mr Kearney and the cardinal were among the high-profile Catholics warned to be careful when opening mail in the wake of the intercepted devices.

The first suspect package was intercepted by the Royal Mail in East Dunbartonshire, on March 26 and was addressed to Mr Lennon at Celtic’s training ground in nearby Lennoxtown. Two days later a device was delivered to Labour politician Ms Godman’s constituency office in Renfrewshire. The third package, from Ayrshire, was addressed to Mr McBride at the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh.

Celtic target

Mr Lennon, a 39-year-old Catholic from Lurgan, County Armagh, has endured threats, abuse and violence since joining Celtic FC in 2000. In January this year bullets addressed to the Celtic FC manager were intercepted at a sorting office in Glasgow.

“It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth,” Mr Lennon said. “This has gone on another level in terms of this package… Obviously, my thoughts go out to Paul and Trish as well.”

Condemnation

“The person or people sending these packages are clearly determined to cause fear and alarm to the individuals or organisations concerned,” Chief Superintendent Ruaraidh Nicolson, of Strathclyde Police, said. “This is an utterly despicable crime.”

Political leaders also united to condemn the bombing campaign.

First Minister Alex Salmond called on all Scots to remain composed in the face of the threat.

“Everyone should remain calm in light of this new discovery and continue to give Strathclyde Police our full support,” he said.

“Let’s be quite clear—the individual or individuals responsible for these disgraceful actions will be apprehended and dealt with with the full force of the law.”

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray called for a ‘renewed momentum’ on sectarianism and a cross-party campaign after next month’s Scottish Parliamentary elections.

ian@sconews.co.uk




Increasing Knowledge And A Time Of Trouble!



Volume XXX Issue V May 2011
Last Trumpet Ministries, PO Box 806, Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Fax: 920-887-2626 Internet: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/





Increasing Knowledge And A Time Of Trouble!

"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."

Daniel 12:1-4



"Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Matthew 10: 26-28



"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."

James 5:7-8



In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will once again examine the current events in light of God's Holy Word and take a close look at the driving forces behind the turmoil people are facing in our world today. We now live in an age when even the most adamant naysayer can no longer deny that we live in very troubling times.

Over the centuries there has been a lot of talk about "making the world a better place." Yet, in many regards the circumstances of our lives are worse than they have ever been. It is certainly true that we have seen many technological and medical advances. However, the level of sin that abounds all around us has only grown and intensified, and the invention of many new technologies may actually be doing more harm than good. Instead of trying to make this world a better place, we should focus on getting to a better place and helping as many other people as we can get there too. For as Peter wrote in II Peter 3:13, "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

It is my hope and prayer that the contents of this newsletter will strengthen your faith and inspire you to draw closer to God. If you have not yet given your heart to the Lord, I encourage you to do so now. As you call out to God in sincere and humble repentance, He will hear you, deliver you, and abide within your heart.

How Technology Transformed The World!

I have always been fascinated by technology. During the 1980s, I would watch my older siblings use our family's Apple Macintosh computer and be amazed at what could be done with the machine. In the early 1990s when my father purchased a Packard Bell computer running the MS-DOS operating system, I would watch intently as he used it to write the newsletter with the hope that he would someday let me use the machine too when I was old enough. In the late 1990s, my father purchased the first computer for family use, and a few years after that I was designing and building computer systems of my own. Over the years we have seen the introduction and proliferation of new devices such as laptop computers, smart phones, iPods, iPads, GPS navigation systems, and e-book readers. The world has grown increasingly connected; we now live in a world where our personal communication devices, entertainment devices, and workplace devices are all intertwined and interact with each other over the Internet. It's literally everywhere we go; and even if you choose to not own a computer, the banks, grocery stores, gas stations, and other locations where you conduct business are all interfacing with the Internet and in some cases, putting your information online.

While this new era of innovation is touted by many as a great benefit to society, there is an insidious side to the technology we have today. It has caused great detriment to personal privacy, and it can now be used to keep tabs on everything we do and everywhere we go. If you carry a mobile phone, you can be found. If you have a GPS navigation system in your car, your location can be pinpointed. If you use a discount card at the grocery store, your purchases can be tracked.

To make matters worse, the government agencies and the private corporations that collect your data often do not take adequate measures to protect the information. Every year there are new stories of "data breaches" at companies tasked with compiling and storing your personal information. One such recent breach occurred at a company known as Epsilon Interactive. According to a press release by Epsilon's parent company, Alliance Data Systems Corporation, a hacker was able to gain access to Epsilon's email system and steal the names and email addresses of 2% of their total client base, which is a percentage that amounts to millions of records. (1)

In the state of Texas, a far more serious data breach was recently brought to light. Staffers at the office of the State Comptroller discovered that the records of 3.5 million Texans, some of which included social security numbers, were accidentally placed on an unencrypted web server and left exposed for over a year to anyone with a basic knowledge of the Internet. (2)

Another incident took place on April 6, 2011, in the state of Oklahoma. A laptop computer containing the records of about 133,000 Oklahomans was stolen from the car of a state employee who had stopped for lunch at a restaurant. The records contain names, addresses, social security numbers, medical information and other data. (3)

While it is very troubling to see so much personal information at risk, what is even more worrisome, especially for the U.S. military, is the growing concern over potential cyber attacks by foreign enemies or terrorists. Peter Pace, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated at a recent conference, "We are way late in being ready to defend ourselves against a cyber attack and we are highly vulnerable as a nation. We have the most capability on the planet to attack (in cyberspace). But like every other nation, we are vulnerable." (4) The entire infrastructure of the United States, as well as the banking and economic systems, are all run on computer systems.

Here let it be noted that hackers in Red China have been using cyber attacks to infiltrate foreign governments for years. Attacks which took place last February against Australia targeted the email of the Australian prime minister and at least ten federal ministries. China also launched cyber attacks which infiltrated the computers of the finance, defense and treasury departments in Canada. (5) In the past, China has also launched cyber attacks against the United States, and they will likely continue to do so in the future. In fact, according to a report from the Pentagon, Chinese hackers have a detailed plan to disable America's aircraft battle carrier fleet using cyber attacks if war should ever break out between the United States and China. Larry M. Wortzel, the author of the US Army War College report was quoted as saying, "The thing that should give us pause is that in many Chinese military manuals they identify the US as the country they are most likely to go to war with. They are moving very rapidly to master this new form of warfare." (6) How crippling could cyber warfare against the United States be? Sami Saydjari, a cyber defense specialist at the Pentagon, testified on April 25, 2007, that a mass cyber attack could leave seventy percent of the United States without electricity for six months. (7)

In addition to the loss of privacy and the security threats we now face due to the implementation of modern technology, the Internet has also given millions of users quick and easy access to sin. Pornography is especially rampant with twelve percent of all websites on the Internet providing explicit adult content. Additionally, one quarter of all Internet searches and thirty-five percent of all downloads are related to pornography. (8) Unfortunately, the adult content so prevalent on the Internet has already destroyed marriages and ruined many lives. It is a problem even among those who identify themselves are Christians. According to a 2006 survey of 1000 respondents, the poll found that 50% of self-identified Christian men and 20% of self-identified Christian women admitted to viewing pornography. (9) Perhaps what is most distressing, though, is the impact this unseemly content is having on our impressionable youth. According to an August 2009 survey conducted by the Journal of Adolescent Health, 55.4 percent of teenage respondents admitted that they had visited sexually explicit websites. (10)

Even though I enjoy working with computers and some of the gadgets we now have access to these days, I have to admit that much of our technology has had a profoundly negative impact on our lives. While the Internet can be used for good or even innocuous purposes, it is far too often used for evil. Furthermore, it is the technological advances, or the "increases in knowledge," that have given the governments of this world the ability to track, tag, and follow those of us they consider ordinary people. New technologies have also been killing off entire sectors of industry, including wired phone services, photo processing, and newspaper publishing. In fact, a recent study by a research firm known as IBISWorld found that within its database of seven hundred industries, two hundred of them are in decline. (11)

The United States Economy - Still On The Ropes!

When the American people suffer through an economic downturn, there is always an expectation that things will eventually get better. However, the United States has now been "recovering" from the Great Recession for nearly two years. If there is a slight improvement in unemployment data, economic growth data, or any other relevant data, the mainstream media plays it up big and purports that our country has finally turned the corner and the recovery is taking hold. Yet, the news stories I am seeing now as I write this newsletter in mid April indicate that the economy is once again slowing down. Robert Dye, a senior economist at PNC Financial Services, stated, "It does look like (first quarter) growth will be in the neighborhood of 2 percent. There has been a steady dialing down of expectations. We are facing increased headwinds from higher oil prices and slower demand from Japan and supply bottlenecks." (12)

Of course, unemployment is one of the most important factors, if not the most important, when we consider the health of the economy. In the April 2011 issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, I explained how many of the new jobs being created at this time do not measure up to the old jobs that were lost. In confirmation of what I had previously written, I now have a rather bleak report in front of me with the headline "Future Jobs Won't Support Decent Living Standard." According to this report, the U.S. Labor Department is projecting that fewer than thirteen percent of jobs to be created by the year 2018 will provide enough income for a single parent family with two children. Only forty-three percent of those jobs will provide enough income for a two income family. (13)

As we watch the cost of food and fuel continue to rise, many economists and experts are now sounding off about the direction in which we are heading, and things do not look pretty. Peter Schiff, CEO of Euro Pacific Capital, stated, "If people think that gas prices are high now and that food prices are high now, just wait for another couple of years. Prices are going to be up in the stratosphere." (14) Bill Simon, the CEO of Walmart, has also warned that inflation is going to be a serious problem, stating, "We're seeing cost increases starting to come through at a pretty rapid rate." (15)

Although President Obama and the politicians in Washington have been putting an emphasis on the national debt and how to reduce it, very little has actually been done to correct the situation so far. Yes, they gave us a grandiose show of theatrics as Republicans threatened to shut down the government if there were not cuts to the budget, but in the end their efforts only yielded what they claimed was a 38.5 billion dollar cut in spending. However, an article published by the Washington Post cited an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office of the true reduction, and it only amounted to 352 million dollars. (16) It is important to note that the United States budget deficit for the month of March 2011 alone was 188 billion dollars. (17) Therefore a reduction in spending, whether it be 352 million dollars or 38.5 billion dollars, does very little to actually help resolve the American debt crisis.

The problem is very serious, insomuch that it prompted Richard Fisher, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas, to warn, "If we continue down on the path on which the fiscal authorities put us, we will become insolvent, the question is when." He later went on to say, "I think we are at the beginning of the process and it's going to be very painful." (18)

On April 13, 2011, Barack Obama gave a speech regarding the debt crisis and what he plans to do about it. After being sure to pass off all blame for the current economic predicament to the previous administration, he went on to describe the situation here in the United States as follows, "Even after our economy recovers, our government will still be on track to spend more money than it takes in throughout this decade and beyond. That means we'll have to keep borrowing more from countries like China. That means more of your tax dollars each year will go towards paying off the interest on all the loans that we keep taking out. By the end of this decade, the interest that we owe on our debt could rise to nearly $1 trillion. Think about that. That's the interest -- just the interest payments." (19) The solution Obama later presented in his speech was to raise taxes on the wealthy. However, anyone with a reasonable amount of common sense should be able to discern that simply raising the taxes of those who are well off will not be a solution sufficient enough to correct this crisis. I find it unlikely that only the wealthy would see tax increases. Obama also hinted that there would have to be reductions to entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Considering the fact that we will also soon be forced to bear the burden of Obama's new health care program, we could be looking at some very hard times ahead.

As the U.S. dollar continues to weaken due to inflation and the ever-increasing level of debt in the United States, the prices of precious metals, such as gold and silver, have been steadily climbing. Gavin Wendt, an analyst with a company known as Minelife Pty, stated, "Commodities, including gold, will continue to be the focus of investors. There's no compelling reason to own the U.S. dollar and I see little significant recovery ahead for the currency." (20) As of this writing, the price of gold is now $1486.37 per ounce. (21) It is interesting to note that the price of gold in April 2001, which was only ten short years ago, was approximately $260 per ounce. (22)

In these times of uncertainty, it is very easy to become discouraged and worried about the future. I am sure many people are wondering how they will be able to afford the cost of gasoline this summer or how they will put food on the table. Thankfully, we serve a mighty God who dearly loves his people. He can make a way where there is no way. Our Lord Jesus demonstrated his ability to provide in the 17th chapter of the gospel of Matthew. When tribute collectors came to Peter seeking payment, Jesus sent him out to go fishing. Upon catching a fish, there was a piece of money in the fish's mouth sufficient enough to cover the tribute for both Jesus and Peter. I firmly believe that the Lord is able and willing to provide for our needs if we seek his kingdom first.

The True Motivation Behind The "Green" Movement!

"Green" seems to be everywhere we turn these days. Automakers are trying to sell us "green" cars, stores are trying to sell us "green" appliances, and politicians in Washington are pushing for "green" energy. These days it has become popular to label anything considered environmentally friendly to be "green." While I am no fan of pollution and I don't mind recycling my used cans, I also know a gimmick when I see one. The truth is that if you can brainwash the public into thinking they are helping to save the planet by purchasing your "green" products, you can earn billions of dollars in profits. Corporations can also earn tax credits and other special considerations from the government by adopting environmentally friendly policies. That is one of the reasons why huge companies such as General Electric can get away without paying income tax. Instead, General Electric receives a rebate from the government worth 3.2 billion dollars. (23)

The green movement goes beyond being a simple gimmick, however. There is a strong religious underpinning to the whole concept, and it is based on beliefs that have been around for thousands of years. Ancient pagan cultures from years gone by were known for worshipping the earth, and it is a practice that is still widespread among witches and other pagan groups to this day. Those involved in pagan religions put a great deal of emphasis on saving "mother earth" because to them the earth is their "mother goddess."

Unfortunately, the green movement has caught up many people in earth worship who do not even realize that they are involved in pagan practices. Devotion to the earth is not Biblical, and the driving force behind it has caused many people to go spiritually insane. For example, the European Commission recently proposed that automobiles be removed from all European cities by the year 2050. Siim Kallas of the EU Transport Commission indicated that there will be directives and new taxes on fuel that would force people to use alternative forms of transportation. "That means no more conventionally fueled cars in our city centres. Action will follow, legislation, real action to change behavior," stated Kallas. This ridiculous proposal stirred Hugh Bladon, a spokesman for the Association of British Drivers, to say, "I suggest that he goes and finds himself a space in the local mental asylum. If he wants to bring everywhere to a grinding halt and to plunge us into a new dark age, he is on the right track." (24)

It has also come to light that the South American nation of Bolivia is in the process of drafting an United Nations' treaty that would recognize "mother earth" as a living entity with rights equal to those of humans. Pablo Salon, Bolivia's ambassador to the United Nations, stated, "If you want to have balance, and you think that the only (entities) who have rights are humans or companies, then how can you reach balance? But if you recognize that nature too has rights, and (if you provide) legal forms to protect and preserve those rights, then you can achieve balance." (25) The treaty also calls for the establishment of a "Ministry of Mother Earth," which would be put in place to respond to nature's complaints. (26)

Folks, we as Christians should not be concerned with trying to "save the planet." We certainly shouldn't be giving reverence to "mother earth." As Christians, our devotion is to our Almighty God, not this planet. The fate of this world has already been foretold, for as it says in II Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." Any and all efforts to save the planet will be futile in the end.

Is The United States Of America Really A Free Country?

Throughout the very brief history of the United States, there has always been a great emphasis on freedom and liberty. The American National Anthem calls it "the land of the free and the home of the brave." But is the United States of America still a free country? The following are some recent events in America that might make you think otherwise.

In the city of Hazelwood, Missouri, two sisters were banned from selling Girl Scout cookies from a stand on their front lawn. Apparently their cookie stand ran afoul with a local ordinance which prohibits the sale of commodities from a residence. (27)

In Houston, Texas, a couple which had been providing meals nightly to between 60 and 120 homeless people were shut down by officials because they did not have a permit and in all likelihood would not be approved for one if they applied. (28)

Little Village Academy in Chicago, Illinois, has enacted a new rule which prohibits children from bringing packed lunches to the school. Instead, the children are forced to eat the cafeteria food. Principal Elsa Carmona stated, "Nutrition wise, it is better for the children to eat at the school. It's about the nutrition and the excellent quality food that they are able to serve (in the lunchroom). It's milk versus a Coke. But with allergies and any medical issue, of course, we would make an exception." (29) Apparently, Ms. Carmona doesn't feel that parents can be trusted to make sound decisions about the food their children should be eating.

In Detroit, Michigan, when a mother who had been homeschooling her daughter decided to send the child to public school, the young girl was required to receive numerous immunizations. Upon receiving the shots, the child began acting out of character with strange facial grimaces and an unusual level of irritability. The mother was then told to give her child an anti-psychotic drug known as Risperdal. However, the medication only made the girl's condition worst, so her mother ceased administering the drug to her child. Upon learning that administration of the drug had stopped, Child Protective Services decided that the mother was medically neglecting her daughter and came to her home accompanied by police officers to take the girl away. According to reports, the mother fired a gun at the police officers, and in response a SWAT team with automatic rifles descended upon the woman's home. In the end, there was a ten hour standoff; the mother is now in jail, and the child is in custody of Child Protective Services. (30)

It is a strange time in America. Those running the system are slowly tightening their grip and closing in on the people. If we have authorities telling us that our children cannot sell cookies from their front lawn or that we cannot feed the homeless without a permit, how much longer will it be before more liberties are taken away? If parents are forced against their will to drug their children, what else will the authorities try to force upon Americans? We need God's help now more than ever.

Food Research And A Dirty Secret!

In this modern era of the twenty-first century, there are many different sins plaguing the United States. However, of all the sins people and entities are committing, I believe abortion is the most grievous to the Lord. Abortion is not only murder, but it is murder of human beings in their most fragile and innocent state.

Sadly, not only are innocent babies being butchered by the millions, but their cells are also being used for research after the fact. A company known as Senomyx has been using cell lines from aborted babies to test flavor enhancers for some of America's largest food manufacturers. "Using isolated human taste receptors, we created proprietary taste receptor-based assay systems that provide a biochemical or electronic readout when a flavor ingredient interacts with the receptor," states the Senomyx website. The cells that the company are using are called HEK 293, and they come from the embryonic kidney cells of aborted babies. Pepsico, Nestle, and Kraft Foods are among the companies utilizing Senomyx's services. (31)

Earth - A Planet Continually Trembling!

Despite the fact that the 9.0-magnitude earthquake which struck Japan occurred a little over a month ago as of this writing, the small Asian nation is still in chaos as workers struggle to regain control over the situation. Numerous aftershock earthquakes have been reported, some of which were quite significant. Japan is still shaking, and those aftershocks are only making it more difficult to contain the disaster which occurred at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant after a tsunami swept through on March 11, 2011, and knocked out power to the plant's cooling systems.

The nuclear disaster has resulted in vast amounts of radiation escaping into the atmosphere and large quantities of radioactive water seeping into the ocean. In fact, the level of radioactive iodine-131 in the seawater has climbed to 6,500 times the legal limit according to an Associated Press report dated April 16, 2011. (32) The same reported indicated that the levels of cesium-134 and cesium-137 in the water has increased fourfold. (33) The contaminated water has raised concerns about the safety of seafood caught in the regions close to the disaster area. "Even if the government says the fish is safe, people won't want to buy seafood from Fukushima. We probably can't fish there for several years," said Ichiro Yamagata, a local fisherman. (34) Unfortunately, the contamination does not only affect seafood, and the contamination is not limited to only Japan. On April 5, 2011, it was reported that radioactive iodine-131 was detected in rainwater and milk in the European nation of France. (35) Just how far this disaster will reach remains to be seen, and the long-term health effects remain to be known.

Will there be more disastrous earthquakes happening? Some experts seem to think so. Jerry Thompson, a writer, director, and journalist who has covered earthquakes and tsunamis for twenty-five years, has warned that the west coast of Canada will suffer from a mega earthquake at some point in the future. (36) It is interesting to note that before the devastating 2004 earthquake and tsunami that took place in Indonesia there had not been a earthquake of that magnitude since 1967. With extremely powerful earthquakes occurring in Indonesia, Chile, and Japan within just a few years time, scientist Richard Aster of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology has stated that we may be "in the middle of a new age of larger earthquakes." (37) Interestingly enough, there have been a swarm of earthquakes in Hawthorne, Nevada, where hundreds of earthquakes have occurred over just a matter of days. (38) We are truly living in a period of time when the whole earth is shaking, and I believe that it is one the many signs that our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, will be coming again very, very soon.

In closing, I wish to thank each and every one of you who so generously support this ministry. It is your contributions that allow us to do what we do here at Last Trumpet Ministries, and I am very grateful. I appreciate the kind letters, the newspaper clippings, and the articles that are sent. I know that many of you miss my father and often wonder what he would say about all the things we see happening. I often wonder the same thing, but I believe that if he were still with us, he would tell us to keep our hearts ready for the soon coming of our Lord. The signs are all around us, and as Jesus told us in Luke 21-28, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

If you have any prayer requests, please feel free to send them to us. Our intercessors will give each prayer request individual attention and carry your petition before the throne of the Almighty. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.


Samuel David Meyer

Acknowledgements
01. Press Release, April 6, 2011, By Alliance Data Systems Corporation, http://epsilon.com.
02. PC World Magazine, April 11, 2011, By Kevin Fogarty, http://pcworld.com.
03. NewsOK, April 13, 2011, By Sonya Colberg, http://newsok.com.
04. The Gazette, April 11, 2011, By Wayne Heilman, http://gazette.com.
05. The Epoch Times, March 31, 2011, By Joshua Philipp, http://theepochtimes.com.
06. The Times, September 8, 2007, By Time Reid, http://timesonline.co.uk.
07. Ibid.
08. The Daily Mail, February 11, 2009, By Barbara Davies, http://dailymail.co.uk.
09. Market Wire, August 7, 2006, By ChristiaNet, Houston, TX.
10. Covenant Eyes Special Report, By Covenant Eyes, http://covenanteyes.com.
11. The Street, April 4, 2011, By Joe Mont, http://thestreet.com.
12. Reuters News Service, April 14, 2011, By Lucia Mutikani, Washington, D.C.
13. Yahoo News!, April 1, 2011, By Zachary Roth, http://news.yahoo.com.
14. The Daily Ticker, March 28, 2011, By Stacy Curtin, http://finance.yahoo.com.
15. USA Today, April 1, 2011, By Jayne O-Donnell, http://usatoday.com.
16. Associated Press, April 13, 2011, By Associated Press, Washington, D.C.
17. MarketWatch Pulse, April 12, 2011, By MarketWatch Pulse, Washington, D.C.
18. CNBC, March 22, 2011, By Reuters with CNBC, http://cnbc.com.
19. Presidential Speech at George Washington University, April 13, 2011, By Barack Obama.
20. Bloomberg Businessweek, April 14, 2011, By Kim Kyoungwha and Nicholas Larkin, http://businessweek.com.
21. Gold Price, April 15, 2011, http://goldprice.org.
22. Kitco, Historical Gold Prices Graph, http://kitco.com.
23. The Daily Mail, March 25, 2011, By Daniel Bates, http://dailymail.co.uk.
24. The Telegraph, March 28, 2011, By Bruno Waterfield, http://telegraph.co.uk.
25. PostMedia News, April 13, 2011, By Steven Edwards, http://canada.com.
26. Ibid.
27. KMOV News, March 24, 2011, By John Knicely, http://kmov.com.
28. Houston Chronicle, January 13, 2011, By Bradley Olson, http://chron.com.
29. Chicago Tribune, April 11, 2011, By Monica Eng and Joel Hood, http://chicagotribune.com.
30. The Daily Mail, April 15, 2011, By Daily Mail Reporter, http://dailymail.co.uk.
31. LifeSiteNews, March 29, 2011, By Rebecca Millette, Largo, FL.
32. Associated Press, April 16, 2011, By Mari Yamaguchi, Tokyo, Japan.
33. Ibid.
34. Associated Press, April 5, 2011, By Malcolm Foster and Ryan Nakashima, Tokyo, Japan.
35. Euractiv, April 4, 2011, By Euractiv, http://euractiv.com.
36. Winnipeg Free Press, April 16, 2011, By Ian Ferguson, http://winnipegfreepress.com.
37. LiveScience, April 8, 2011, By Becky Ham, http://livescience.com.
38. MyNews4, April 15, 2011, By Brooke Boon, http://mynews4.com.

Special Note: A new tribute website for Pastor David J. Meyer can now be accessed at http://pastormeyer.org.

Comments regarding this newsletter or topic suggestions may be submitted to editor@lasttrumpetnewsletter.org.
If you would like to submit a prayer request, you may send email to prayer@ltmmail.org or mail it to our postal address.

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May Day, May Day, May Day!



May Day nuggets:




  • Obama bags Osama. What a game changer for the constant campaigner?


  • Ratzinger beatifies his successor John Paul II. JP 2 beatified more "saints" than all previous popes combined.


  • Another anniversary of the Jesuit Adam Weishaupt's founding of the Illuminati. So,that's what all this hoopla about May Day is all about?



Photo (credit) http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/osama-bin-laden-killed/story?id=13505703
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Saturday, April 30, 2011

The Truth about Catholicism: Mother of Harlots


(An excerpt of the article follows)


“The Holy Roman Catholic Church” (the accepted earthly title for that ungodly abomination, according to the news media and governments of the world) is called by the Lord, “the great whore”. [This institution is truly “Roman” and “catholic” (meaning “universal”), but it is in no wise “Holy”, and can rightly be called “the church” only when referred to as the church of Satan. Some salient points follow.


Read more

Satan's Goal: Destroy All Sabbathkeepers



Says the great deceiver: . . . "Our principal concern is to silence this sect of Sabbathkeepers. . . . We will finally have a law to exterminate all who will not submit to our authority."--TM 472, 473 (1884). {LDE 255.4}

It is the purpose of Satan to cause them to be blotted from the earth in order that his supremacy of the world may not be disputed.--TM 37 (1893). {LDE 255.5}

The remnant church will be brought into great trial and distress. Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of the dragon and his hosts. Satan numbers the world as his subjects. He has gained control of the apostate churches; but here is a little company that are resisting his supremacy. If he could blot them from the earth, his triumph would be complete. As he influenced the heathen nations to destroy Israel, so in the near future he will stir up the wicked powers of earth to destroy the people of God.--9T 231 (1909). {LDE 256.1}

Last Day Events, pp.255-256.



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Influence and impact of the King James Bible

The culture-shaping King James Bible is remembered on it's four-hundred year anniversary.



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Friday, April 29, 2011

Meat Eating




Sunnyside, Cooranbong, Nov. 5, 1896.

Dear Brother and Sister Maxson:--


I have had the letter of August 12, written to you for a long time, but I decided to send that which I have already sent you, withholding that which I now send. You cannot understand how much more effectual your services in the religious interest would be, and how much more satisfactory to yourself, if you would follow the light which has been given you. But it is a phase of your character to strenuously hold to your own ideas, and if possible, carry them out. Every soul of us is in danger, and if we refuse the light, darkness will come upon all. We never proposed to establish sanitariums to have them run in nearly the same grooves as other institutions. If we do not have a sanitarium which is in many things decidedly contrary to other institutions, we can see nothing gained. Shall our appetites, habits, and practices be of that order that you will educate those who are connected with you to make excuses similar to those you have made for the indulgence of eating the flesh of animals? {SpM 45.2}

The Lord intends to bring His people back to live upon simple fruits, vegetables, and grains. He led the children of Israel into the wilderness where they could not get a flesh diet; and He gave them bread from heaven. Man did eat angel's food. But they craved the flesh pots of Egypt, and mourned and cried for flesh, notwithstanding that the Lord had proposed that if they would submit to His will, He would carry them into the land of Canaan, and establish them there, a pure, holy, happy people, and there would not be a feeble one in all their habitations, for He would take away all sickness from among them. But although they had a plain "thus saith the Lord," they mourned, and wept, and murmured, and complained, it displeased the Lord; and the Lord burnt among them and consumed them that were in the uttermost part of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burnt among them. And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish we did eat in Egypt so freely; and the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic. But now our soul is dried away; and there is nothing at all besides this manna before our eyes." Because they were so determined to have the flesh of dead animals, He gave them the very diet He had withheld from them. {SpM 45.3}

The Lord would have given them flesh had it been essential for their health, but He who created and redeemed them led them the long journey in the wilderness to educate, discipline, and train them in correct habits. The Lord understood what influence flesh-eating would have upon the human system. He would have a people that would, in their physical appearance, bear the divine credentials, notwithstanding their long journey. {SpM 46.1}

When I read your letter, I was forcibly reminded of the complaining of the children of Israel because they were not favored with a meat diet. The diet of the animals is vegetables and grains. Must the vegetables be animalized, must they be incorporated in the systems of animals before we get them? Must we obtain our vegetable diet by eating the flesh of dead creatures? God provided fruit in its natural state for our first parents. He gave to Adam charge of the garden, to dress it and to care for it, saying, "To you it shall be for meat." One animal was not to destroy another animal for food. After the fall, the eating of flesh was suffered, in order to shorten the period of the existence of the long-lived race. It was allowed because of the hardness of the hearts of men. One of the great errors that many insist upon is that muscular strength is dependent upon animal food. But the simple grains, fruits of trees, and vegetables have all the nutrition necessary to make good blood. This a flesh diet can not do. {SpM 46.2}

When a limb is broken, physicians recommend their patients not to eat meat, as there would be danger of inflammation setting in. Condiments and spices used in the preparation of food for the table, and in the digestion (cause indigestion?) in the same way that tea, coffee, and liquor are supposed to help a laboring man to prepare his tasks. After the immediate effects are gone, they drop as low correspondingly below par as they were elevated above par by those stimulating influences. The system is weakened, the blood is contaminated, and inflammation is the sure result. {SpM 46.3}

The less condiments and desserts are placed on our tables the better it will be for all who partake of the food. All mixed and complicated foods are injurious to the health of human beings. Dumb animals would never eat such a mixture as is placed in the human stomach. Hot bread and biscuit, fresh from the oven, is not healthful. The heated gases need to be evaporated. Hot soda biscuits are often spread with butter and eaten as a choice diet. But the enfeebled digestion can not but feel the abuse placed upon it. Unhealthful habits of eating are killing their thousands and ten thousands. Food should be thoroughly cooked, nicely prepared, and appetizing. My brother, after all the light that has been given on the diet question, your lamentations because you can not exercise freedom in meat-eating is apparently similar to the complaining lamentations and weeping children of Israel in the ears of the Lord. I tell you that from the light the Lord has been pleased to give me there is a continual taxing of the human stomach with a wrong quality of food, also with too large a quantity. The stomach is overloaded and worn out when it should be capable of performing good work. The amount of cooking done is not at all necessary, neither should there be any poverty-stricken diet, either in quality or quantity, but the richness of the food and complicated mixtures are destroying. Highly seasoned meats, followed by rich pastry, is wearing out the vital organs of digestion of children. Were they accustomed to plain, wholesome food, their appetites would not crave unnatural luxuries and mixed preparations. Education, habit, and custom make it difficult to reconstruct the family arrangements. Meat given to children is not the best thing to insure success. Make fruit the article of diet to be placed upon your table which shall constitute the bill of fare. The pieces of fruit mingled with the bread will be highly enjoyed. Good, ripe, undecayed fruit is the thing we should thank God for because it is beneficial to the health. Try it. To educate your children to subsist upon a meat diet would be hurtful to them. It is much easier to create an unnatural appetite than to correct and reform the taste after it has become second nature. {SpM 46.4}

Our sanitariums should never be conducted after the fashion of a hotel, I am very sorry that it is such a difficult matter for you to deny your appetite and reform your habits of eating and drinking. A meat diet changes the disposition, and strengthens the animalism. We are composed of what we eat, and eating much flesh will diminish intellectual activity. Students would accomplish much more in their studies if they never tasted meat. When the animal part of the human agent is strengthened by meat-eating, the intellectual diminish proportionately. A religious life can be more successfully gained and maintained if meat is discarded; for this diet stimulates into intense activity lustful propensities and enfeebles the moral and spiritual nature. The flesh warreth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. We need to greatly encourage and cultivate pure, chaste thoughts and to strengthen the moral powers, rather than the lower and carnal powers. God help us to wake from our self-indulgent appetites. {SpM 47.1}

The idea of eating dead flesh is abhorrent to me. One living animal eating the flesh of another animal is shocking. There is no call for it. All your excuses made in regard to faintness is an argument why you should eat no more meat.

Cancer, tumors, and all inflammatory diseases are largely caused by meat-eating. From the light which God has given me, the prevalence of cancers, and tumors is due to gross living on dead flesh. I sincerely and prayerfully hope that as a physician you will not forever be blind upon this subject. For blindness mingled with a want of moral courage to deny your appetite, to lift the cross, which means to take up the very duties that cut across the natural appetite and passion. Feeding on flesh the juices and fluids of what we eat passes into the circulation of our blood, and as we are composed of what we eat, we become animalized. Thus a feverish condition is created because the animals are diseased and by partaking of their flesh we plant the seeds of disease in our own tissue and blood. Then when exposed to the changes in a malarious atmosphere, these are more sensibly felt. Also when we are exposed to prevailing epidemics and contagious diseases, the system is not in a condition to resist the disease. I have the subject presented to me in different aspects. The mortality caused by meat-eating is not discerned. If it were, we should hear no more arguments and excuses in favor of the indulgence of the appetite for dead flesh. We have plenty of good things to satisfy hunger without bringing corpses upon our tables to compose our bill of fare. I might go on to any length upon this subject, but I will forbear. {SpM 47.2}

I do hope that you, as a physician, will come to your senses, and will not, by precept and example, counterwork that which the Lord has given to enlighten minds and bring in thorough reforms. I am working earnestly on these lines and shall never cease to work against the practice of meat-eating. I have had opened before me the stumbling blocks which this diet question has been to your spiritual advancement, and what a stumbling block you have placed in the way of others and all because your own sensibilities were blunted through selfish gratification of appetite. For Christ's sake look deeper; study deeper, and act in accordance with the light God has been pleased to give you and others on this subject. I forbear writing more. I love your souls, and I want you both to accept every ray of light that the Lord has been pleased to give, and then cooperate with the Great Teacher by giving that light to others.


In love,


E. G. White

Spalding and Magan Collection, pp.45-48.