Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Battle of Armageddon Joins


These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. Rev. 17:14.

We need to study the pouring out of the seventh vial. The powers of evil will not yield up the conflict without a struggle. But Providence has a part to act in the battle of Armageddon. When the earth is lighted with the glory of the angel of Revelation eighteen, the religious elements, good and evil, will awake from slumber, and the armies of the living God will take the field.

Four mighty angels hold back the powers of this earth till the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. The nations of the world are eager for conflict; but they are held in check by the angels. When this restraining power is removed, there will come a time of trouble and anguish. Deadly instruments of warfare will be invented. Vessels, with their living cargo, will be entombed in the great deep. All who have not the spirit of truth will unite under the leadership of satanic agencies. But they are to be kept under control till the time shall come for the great battle of Armageddon.

Every form of evil is to spring into intense activity. Evil angels unite their powers with evil men, and as they have been in constant conflict and attained an experience in the best modes of deception and battle, and have been strengthening for centuries, they will not yield the last great final contest without a desperate struggle. All the world will be on one side or the other of the question. The battle of Armageddon will be fought, and that day must find none of us sleeping. Wide awake we must be, as wise virgins having oil in our vessels with our lamps. . . .

The power of the Holy Ghost must be upon us, and the Captain of the Lord's host will stand at the head of the angels of heaven to direct the battle. Solemn events before us are yet to transpire. Trumpet after trumpet is to be sounded, vial after vial poured out one after another upon the inhabitants of the earth. Scenes of stupendous interest are right upon us.

Maranatha, p.257.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Edinburgh 2010


Centenary of the 1910 World Missionary Conference

About Edinburgh 2010

The Centenary of the World Missionary Conference, held in Edinburgh 1910, is a suggestive moment for many people seeking direction for Christian mission in the 21st century. The initial driving force behind Edinburgh 2010 was the Towards 2010 network under the leadership of Prof. Ken Ross. Since 2005 an international group has worked collaboratively to develop an intercontinental and multi-denominational project, now known as Edinburgh 2010. The project is based at New College and the Church of Scotland offices in Edinburgh, and headed by an International Director, Dr. Daryl Balia. It is governed by a 20 member General Council representative of most of the Christian family.

http://edinburgh2010.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=4646

Closing celebration at the Assembly Hall

http://edinburgh2010.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=7419#c33174
The Edinburgh 2010 General Council was established as an international body and met for the first time in September 2006. It has met twice since, once in 2008 and again in April 2009. The General Council represents all the main parts of the worldwide Church family.


Members of the Edinburgh 2010 General Council (October 2010)

* denotes member of the Executive Committee
# denotes Chairpersons


Former members of the Edinburgh 2010 General Council

Source

27 July 10 - Adventist News Network (USA)

Adventist outreach earns church role in world mission conference
by Elizabeth Lechleitner
Seventh-day Adventists were among representatives from more than 100 Christian denominations who met in Edinburgh, Scotland last month to envision the future of world mission. The event marks 100 years since the first Edinburgh World Missionary Conference, considered a watershed in the collaborative shaping of mission. While several Adentists attended the 1910 conference as delegates, church leaders participated for the first time this year, a testament to the denomination's reputation for outreach, says Ganoune Diop, director of the Adventist Church's Global Mission Study Centres. [Read full story]

The Inroads To Spiritualism by Jim Arrabito



Uploaded by on Nov 17, 2009

Please Rate and Subscribe... This man was ahead of his time! This series is more valid and easier to understand now than ever before. RIP James Arrabito!

Dependence on World Is Fatal

Dependence on World Is Fatal—[Deuteronomy 4:1, 2, 5-9; 7:1-6, 9, 10 quoted.]

Under David’s rule, the people of Israel gained strength and uprightness through obedience to God’s law. But the kings that followed strove for self-exaltation. They took to themselves glory for the greatness of the kingdom, forgetting how utterly dependent they were upon God. They regarded themselves as wise and independent, because of the honor showed them by fallible, erring man. They became corrupt, immoral, and rebelled against the Lord, turning from Him to the worship of idols.
God bore long with them, calling them often to repentance. But they refused to hear, and at last God spoke in judgment, showing them how weak they were without Him. He saw that they were determined to have their own way, and He gave them into the hands of their enemies, who spoiled their land, and took the people captive.
The alliances made by the Israelites with their heathen neighbors resulted in the loss of their identity as God’s peculiar people. They became leavened by the evil practises of those with whom they formed forbidden alliances. Affiliation with worldlings caused them to lose their first love, and their zeal for God’s service. The advantages they sold themselves to gain, brought only disappointment, and caused the loss of many souls.

The experience of Israel will be the experience of all who go to the world for strength, turning away from the living God. Those who forsake the mighty One, the source of all strength, and affiliate with worldlings, placing on them their dependence, become weak in moral power, as are those in whom they trust.

God comes with entreaties and assurances to those who are making mistakes. He seeks to show them their error, and lead them to repentance. But if they refuse to humble their hearts before Him, if they strive to exalt themselves above Him, He must speak to them in judgment. No semblance of nearness to God, no assertion of connection with Him, will be accepted from those who persist in dishonoring Him by leaning upon the arm of worldly power (The Review and Herald, August 4, 1904).

God’s Messengers as Sheep Among Wolves


—The messages of reproof that God gave through His prophets to backsliding, apostate Israel, did not lead them to repentance. Misrepresented, misunderstood, His messengers were as sheep in the midst of wolves. Many of them were cruelly put to death.

How scornfully the Jewish nation treated the message that the Lord gave to them through His prophet Jeremiah! Of his experience Jeremiah the prophet says: “O Lord, Thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: Thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.”*
So strong was the opposition against Jeremiah’s message, so often was he derided and mocked, that he said, “I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name.” Thus it has ever been. Because of the bitterness, hatred, and opposition manifested against the word of God spoken in reproof, many other messengers of God have decided to do as Jeremiah decided. But what did this prophet of the Lord do after his decision? Try as much as he would, he could not hold his peace. As soon as he came into the assemblies of the people, he found that the Spirit of the Lord was stronger than he was. The record is: “His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.”

In this generation, when God’s servants speak the word of the Lord to reprove wrong-doers, to rebuke those who bring in wrong principles, have they not had an experience similar to that which Jeremiah had? When a course of action to pervert justice and judgment is introduced, the word of the Lord must be spoken in reproof. In this our day we find the very same difficulties that the Lord’s servants found in the days of ancient Israel when they were sent to expose existing evils that were corrupting in their influence (Manuscript 56, 1902).


S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 4, p. 1156-1157.

*Bible quotes:
 Jeremiah 20:7-8;
 Jeremiah 20:9-10

Friday, September 09, 2011

The Day Is Near


11And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.


Romans 13:11-14.

Ten Years of Terror Talk

As I listen to the news about the latest dubious "chatter" of possible TERROR ATTACKS in New York and Washington D.C., it brings to mind the Newspeak that has invaded the popular media jargon:


  1. Chatter  
  2. Lock-Down
  3. Boots on the ground
  4. Up-tick
  5. Ramp-up
  6. Ratchet -up
Is this the new normal?
Is this the same country?
Are we running scared?
What's this world coming to? Specifically what has this Constitutional Republic become?  East Germany?
Pinochet's or Allende's Chile?  Or, perhaps more precisely Castro's Cuba or Chavez's Venenezuela?

As I listen I fear, not for the rumors that abound;  But, of the people that claim they have the "GREATER GOOD IN MIND".   

Arsenio.

Stocks plunge as Europe nears 'tipping point'

By Hibah Yousuf
September 9, 2011: 1:09 PM ET





NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- A sell-off in U.S. stocks accelerated Friday afternoon, as bad news out of Europe kept piling on.
Just before the opening bell, the European Central Bank announced that executive board member Juergen Stark was stepping down. Analysts say Stark is leaving amid disagreements over the ECB's bond-buying program.
The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) dropped 324 points, or 2.9%. The S&P 500 (SPX) slumped 33 points, or 2.8%, and the Nasdaq composite (COMP) lost 61 points, or 2.4%.
"There's a lot of nervousness that Greece could default this weekend, and Greek bonds yields keep rising," said Joe Saluzzi, co-head of equity trading at Themis Trading.
Reports said Germany is preparing to shore up its banks to protect them against a Greek default. If Greece's bonds become worthless, that can trigger capital-requirement problems, and a lot of major banks could go under, Saluzzi said.
"The financial contagion could be pretty bad, so investors are getting out now and waiting to see how all of this will shake out," he added.

Europe turmoil deepens as ECB official departs

Investors were on edge following the surprise announcement of Stark's resignation.
"Stark has been a fairly vocal critic over the ECB's bond purchasing program," said Michael Hewson, analyst at CMC Markets in London. "His resignation highlights the political paralysis at the heart of Europe, and the debt crisis is approaching a tipping point."
Stark's departure along with Bank of Italy Gov. Mario Draghi taking over from ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet in November (Trichet is retiring) raises questions about how the region will handle its ongoing sovereign debt problems.

Bearish bets are on the rise

"A big part of the European debt crisis has been the lack of coherent response from European officials," said Kathy Jones, fixed income strategist at Charles Schwab. "It always seems like they're behind the curve, with too little too late, and all the changes in leadership in the middle of a crisis increases the uncertainty."
Stocks in Europe took a dive following the news and ended sharply lower. Britain's FTSE (FTSE) 100 shed 2.4%, the DAX (DAX) in Germany slipped 4.1% and France's CAC (CAC) 40 fell 3.2%.
The euro slid to a nearly 7-month low against the dollar, trading at around $1.36. The greenback, a traditional safe haven, also gained strength against the Japanese yen and British pound.

The euro's meltdown

As investors searched for safety, they fled risky investments like stocks and oil and rushed into U.S. Treasuries and gold. The 10-year yield fell near record lows to 1.92% from 1.99% late Thursday, and gold prices added $10.20, or 0.6% to $1,867.70.
The VIX (VIX), Wall Street's fear gauge, shot up 18% to sit about 40. A VIX reading higher than 30 is considered a sign that investors are getting worried.
Economy: Investors also digested President Obama's stimulus plan, in which he promises to boost hiring and provide a jolt to the stalled economy, if it becomes law. Mixing $253 billion in tax cuts and $194 billion in new spending, the total bill for the plan is $447 billion.
"We know what's been promised, and the size of it is encouraging. But the big question is whether or not it will get passed, and what that process will look like," said Jones. "Nobody wants to relive this summer's debate over the debt ceiling."

Bernanke to Congress: Don't sacrifice recovery

Investors also continued to mull over also Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech delivered Thursday afternoon. Stocks ended sharply lower Thursday, as investors signaled disappointment that the Fed chief didn't offer any new solutions to the nation's economic slowdown.
Meanwhile, wholesale inventories rose 0.8% in July. Economists were expecting the figure to increase 0.7% after rising 0.6% in June.
Companies: McDonald's (MCD, Fortune 500) stock fell 4%, leading the declines on the Dow. The fast-food chain's same-store sales for August fell short of analysts' expectations.
Retailer Lululemon Athletica (LULU) beat expectations, reporting quarterly earnings of 26 cents per share. But its shares dropped 5.7% on weak guidance.

Kroger (KR, Fortune 500) topped estimates with a profit of $281 million for the second quarter, and the supermarket chain also reiterated its full-year guidance. But Kroger's stock fell 6.5% as the company's costs continued to rise and cut into profit margins.
Shares of Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500) slipped 0.6%, after a Wall Street Journal report said the bank may increase layoffs to 40,000 from the 30,000 job cuts previously reported.
World markets: Rapidly rising prices in China finally started to slow, giving some relief to consumers in the world's second-largest economy. China's Consumer Price Index showed prices rose 6.2% over the 12 months ending in August.
Asian markets ended lower. The Shanghai Composite (SHCOMP) edged lower 0.05%, the Hang Seng in Hong Kong (HSI) slid 0.23% and Japan's Nikkei (N225) dropped 0.63%. To top of page

The irrelevancy of the Obama presidency



President Obama gave one of the most impassioned speeches of his presidency when he addressed a joint session of Congress Thursday night. Too bad so many in the audience thought it was a big, fat joke.
“You should pass this jobs plan right away!” Obama exhorted. Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) chuckled.

Live Q&A, Friday Noon ET
Live Q&A, Friday Noon ET
Is Obama irrelevant?: Dana Milbank Live


“Warren Buffett pays a lower tax rate than his secretary — an outrage he has asked us to fix,” Obama went on. Widespread laughter broke out on the GOP side of the aisle.
“This isn’t political grandstanding,” Obama said. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) guffawed.
“This isn’t class warfare,” Obama said. More hysterics on the right.
“We’ve identified over 500 [regulatory] reforms, which will save billions of dollars,” the president claimed. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) giggled.
It was, in a way, more insulting than Joe Wilson’s “you lie” eruption during a previous presidential address to Congress. The lawmakers weren’t particularly hostile toward the president — they just regarded the increasingly unpopular Obama as irrelevant. And the inclination not to take the 43-percent president seriously wasn’t entirely limited to the Republicans.
The nation is in an unemployment crisis, and Obama was finally, belatedly, unveiling his proposals, but Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) thought this joint session of Congress would be a good time to ask Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to autograph a copy of the children’s book “House Mouse, Senate Mouse.”
Former representative David Wu (D-Wash.), forced to resign this summer over accusations of sexual impropriety, nevertheless showed up for the speech (in a business suit rather than his tiger suit) and took a seat among the Democrats.
House Speaker John Boehner and Vice President Biden set the tone at the start. Waiting for Obama to make his way down the center aisle, they stood before the House and had a talk — not about jobs, but about golf.
“Seven birdies, five bogies,” Boehner reported to Biden.
“You’re kidding me!” the vice president said.
“I missed a 4-foot straight-on birdie on the last hole,” Boehner said of another round.
“Whoa!” the vice president said.
“So, the next day,” Boehner went on, “I shoot an 86! Ha, ha, ha!”
“That’s incredible,” the vice president said.
Boehner went on about other memorable golf moments before an aide let the men know that their microphones were live.
Obama rose to the occasion with a bold jobs proposal that delighted liberals but also had elements conservatives grudgingly endorsed. Yet long before the speech, both sides had concluded it didn’t much matter: Obama has become too weak to enact anything big enough to do much good.
“I thought it was a great speech,” said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) But the odds of Obama getting his plan through Congress “are probably as good as the Nationals winning the league this year.”
Presidential addresses to Congress are often dramatic moments. This one felt like a sideshow. Usually, the press gallery is standing room only; this time only 26 of 90 seats were claimed by the deadline. Usually, some members arrive in the chamber hours early to score a center-aisle seat; 90 minutes before Thursday’s speech, only one Democrat was so situated.

Source

Related:

First thoughts: 'Pass this bill'

msnbc.com -
Fiery Obama: “Pass this bill”… A surprising reaction from GOP leaders: They didn't reject the speech out of hand… Obama delivers remarks at 11:35 am ET in Richmond to sell his American Jobs Act… Terror threat before 9/11 anniversary… And Romney vs.

New York on high alert over 9/11 anniversary terror threat

 

FBI says it has received 'specific but unconfirmed' intelligence on a possible attack

guardian.co.uk,

The mayor of New York warns of 'unconfirmed' intelligence that a terrorist attack is being planned on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 Link to this video
New York will be in a state of heightened alert over the 9/11 anniversary weekend, with extra bomb sweeps, dog patrols, surveillance of tunnels and bridges and even vehicle checkpoints, following what is being described as "credible but unconfirmed" information that a terrorist attack is being planned in the city or in Washington.

Only sketchy details have been given of the nature of the threat and Michael Bloomberg, New York's mayor, emphasised in a late-night press conference that the intelligence of the threat was uncorroborated. But with the world's eyes on New York ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, nobody is taking any chances.

"We know the terrorists regard the anniversary as an opportunity to strike again. We do live in a world where we must take these threats seriously," Bloomberg said.

Warnings of a plot to launch a vehicle bomb attack in New York or Washington, believed to be in the form of a single piece of intelligence, were first received on Wednesday night. President Obama and key intelligence personnel were briefed from Thursday morning.

ABC news said intelligence agencies received information that three people had entered the US with the intention of launching a "vehicle-borne" attack on the anniversary of September 11.

In a report on its website, ABC said officials believed the suspected attackers began their journey in Afghanistan, and may have passed through Iran.

Janice Fedarcyk, assistant director of the FBI in New York, said that intelligence obtained during the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden at Abbottabad in Pakistan in May had shown that al-Qaida had an interest in important dates and anniversaries such as 9/11. She said she expected more intelligence to come in over the next few days but stressed that "sometimes this reporting is credible and warrants intense focus, other times it lacks credibility and is highly unlikely to relate to real plots that are underway."

Despite the lack of certainty on the nature or the seriousness of the latest threat, New Yorkers are likely to notice a dramatic beefing up of security at least until Monday. Ray Kelly, the city's police chief, said he has ordered increased bag checks on the subway, a 30% increase in police patrols and rapid response teams, added deployment of officers specialising in detecting nuclear radiation and extra sweeps at religious and government buildings.

There will also be exercises involving several security agencies at Grand Central, Penn station and Times Square on Friday.

The city is used to the inconveniences and stresses that frequent scares of this sort have brought over the past 10 years. Bloomberg said that the NYPD was also well prepared, having helped to thwart at least 12 possible terror attacks since 9/11.

He urged people to be vigilant but defiant. "The best thing we can do to fight terror is to refuse to be intimidated by it. For the past 10 years we have not allowed terrorists to intimidate us, we have lived our lives without fear and we will continue to do so."

The homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano, told reporters last Thursday there was "a lot of chatter" around the anniversary of the attacks but there was no information about a specific threat.
Security measures around the US, including in New York and Washington, have been enhanced in the weeks leading to the anniversary on Sunday.

Source

A Little Time of Peace



For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 1 Thess. 5:3.

While the work of salvation is closing, trouble will be coming on the earth, and the nations will be angry, yet held in check so as not to prevent the work of the third angel. At that time the "latter rain," or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out.

I was shown the inhabitants of the earth in the utmost confusion. War, bloodshed, privation, want, famine, and pestilence were abroad in the land. As these things surrounded God's people, they began to press together, and to cast aside their little difficulties. Self-dignity no longer controlled them; deep humility took its place. Suffering, perplexity, and privation caused reason to resume its throne, and the passionate and unreasonable man became sane, and acted with discretion and wisdom.

My attention was then called from the scene. There seemed to be a little time of peace. Once more the inhabitants of the earth were presented before me; and again everything was in the utmost confusion. Strife, war, and bloodshed, with famine and pestilence, raged everywhere. Other nations were engaged in this war and confusion. War caused famine. Want and bloodshed caused pestilence. And then men's hearts failed them for fear, "and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth."

Angels are now restraining the winds of strife, until the world shall be warned of its coming doom; but a storm is gathering, ready to burst upon the earth, and when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture. . . .

A moment of respite has been graciously given us of God. Every power lent us of heaven is to be used in doing the work assigned us by the Lord for those who are perishing in ignorance.

Maranatha, p. 260

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Power out for sweltering Calif., Ariz., Mexico


A San Diego police official directs traffic after a power outage Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, in San Diego. A power outage is affecting millions of people across southern California, Arizona and Mexico. San Diego Gas & Electric Co. Darcel Hulce said that crews Thursday believe the outage was caused by a system breakdown and assured people it was not the result of a terror attack. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)


By JULIE WATSON, Associated Press – 1 hour ago


SAN DIEGO (AP) — A major power outage knocked out electricity to more than 2 million people in California, Arizona and Mexico on Thursday, taking two nuclear reactors offline, leaving people sweltering in the late-summer heat and disrupting flights at the San Diego airport.

San Diego bore the brunt of the blackout and most of the nation's eighth-largest city was darkened. All outgoing flights from San Diego's Lindbergh Field were grounded and police stations were using generators to accept emergency calls across the area.

The trolley system that shuttles thousands of commuters every day was shut down and freeways were clogged at rush hour. Police directed traffic at intersections where signals stopped working.

The outage extended from southern parts of Orange County to San Diego to Yuma, Arizona. It also is affecting cities south of the border across much of the state of northern Baja.

"It feels like you're in an oven and you can't escape," said Rosa Maria Gonzales, a spokeswoman with the Imperial Irrigation District in California's sizzling eastern desert. She said it was about 115 degrees when the power went out for about 150,000 of its customers.

In San Diego, Blake Albert Jordan, 20, saw a trolley come to a screeching halt as he neared the platform. Dozens of passengers emptied onto the tracks when the doors opened.

Jordan said he called about 20 friends and family to pick him up in San Diego's Mission Valley, where he was visiting a friend, to his home in suburban Lemon Grove. None offered to venture on the roads.

FBI officials ruled out terrorism while power plant authorities struggled to find the cause of the outage that started shortly before 4 p.m. PDT.

A transmitter line between Arizona and California was severed, said Mike Niggli, chief operating officer of San Diego Gas & Electric Co., causing the outage. The extreme heat in some areas also may have caused some problems with the lines.

"Essentially we have two connections from the rest of the world: One of from the north and one is to the east. Both connections are severed," Niggli said.

Power officials don't know what severed the line.

Niggli said he suspects the system was "overwhelmed by too many outages in too many places."

Niggli said relief was on its way, slowly. He said his 1.4 million customers may be without power until Friday.

The San Onofre nuclear power plant went offline at 3:38 p.m. as they are programmed to do when there is a disturbance in the power grid, said Charles Coleman, a spokesman from Southern California Edison. He said there was no danger to the public or to workers there.

The outage came more than eight years after a more severe black out in 2003 darkened a large swath of the Northeast and Midwest. More than 50 million people were affected in that outage.

In Arizona, about half of the city and about half of Yuma County had power Thursday evening after losing it earlier. Yuma County has about 200,000 residents and a little under half live in the city of Yuma.

"It's 113 degrees right now outside and 75 in my office," said Yuma city spokesman Greg Hyland, who was sitting in the dark, answering calls.

Five hundred to 2,000 SoCal Edison customers in southern Orange County and Riverside County are currently without power and there is no estimate for when power will be restored, Coleman said.

Capt. Mike Stone of the Orange County Fire Authority said several people were trapped and rescued at the tony Ritz Carlton hotel in south Orange County, Stone said.

In southern Orange County, the sheriff's department dispatched deputies to busy intersections because traffic lights were out, said John McDonald, a sheriff's spokesman. Outages were confirmed in San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Hills, he said.

Traffic was backed up in some areas, and the Orange County Register reported that fire crews were dealing with numerous calls of people being trapped in elevators.

Associated Press Writers contributing to this report include Elliot Spagat in San Diego; Gillian Flaccus in Orange County; Shaya Mohajer in Los Angeles; and Walter Berry in Phoenix.


Source

GLOBAL MARKETS-U.S. stocks slip on Bernanke; euro slumps

2011-09-08 18:26:55 GMT (Reuters)

* Investors look to government, central banks for help

* Fed's Bernanke pledges more aid but mum on details

* Markets await Obama's jobs plan, doubts over feasibility

* ECB rates unchanged, Trichet sees downside growth risks

(Recasts lead, updates action after Bernanke remarks)

By Richard Leong

NEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Wall Street stocks fell on Thursday on disappointment that a speech by the Federal Reserve chief lacked details on plans to spur economic growth, while the euro slipped on fears the euro zone debt crisis is worsening with Greece failing to meet fiscal targets.

Safe havens were still in favor with investors, with gold prices rising after a two-day fall and German and U.S. government bonds yields edging lower.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. central bank "will do all it can" to boost economic growth and reduce unemployment, but he did not disclose what monetary tools the Fed might use. For more, see [ID:nW1E7IR02M]

"The markets are going to be disappointed in this and concerned that the Fed is only acknowledging the problems without offering any real solutions," said Omer Esiner, chief market analyst at Commonwealth Foreign Exchange in Washington.

U.S. President Barack Obama will deliver a televised speech to Congress at 7 p.m. (2300 GMT), in which he is expected to propose tax cuts for middle-class households and businesses and new spending to repair roads, bridges and other infrastructure. For details, see [nN1E786157]

"Everyone's waiting for the President to give a real, good, solid speech tonight. He's got to deliver something strong and positive," said Michael Cullen, head bond trader at Wall Street Access in New York.

Later this week, G7 finance ministers and central bankers will convene in Marseilles, France with markets expecting them to pledge support to help a struggling global economy. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Graphic-interest rate outlook: http://link.reuters.com/pej23s Graphic - U.S. jobless claims: http://r.reuters.com/dym63s Graphic - U.S. trade balance: http://r.reuters.com/nym63s U.S. exports and the dollar: http://r.reuters.com/xan63s ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

An earlier U.S. government report showing an increase in weekly jobless claims and remarks by European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet about downside risks to the euro zone's economy fueled fears that both the United States and Europe are at risk of slipping into recession.

Those worries briefly pushed equities markets in negative territory before some buying emerged before Bernanke's speech.

At 2:04 p.m. (1804 GMT), the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 66.52 points, or 0.58 percent, at 11,348.34. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 8.82 points, or 0.74 percent, at 1,189.80. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 11.53 points, or 0.45 percent, at 2,537.41.

World stocks as measured by MSCI <.MIWD00000PUS> were down 0.4 percent. The MSCI index has recovered somewhat from the August correction -- the worst monthly loss since 2008 -- but is still 16 percent below the 2011 highs hit in May.

Earlier, Tokyo's Nikkei <.N225> finished up 0.3 percent, while the FTSEurofirst 300 index <.FTEU3> of top European shares ended up 0.9 percent after erasing earlier gains on the ECB's decision to leave key rates alone.

In the wake of Trichet's cautious economic outlook and the chances of no more rate hikes in the foreseeable future, the euro fell to a two-month low against the dollar. It touched a session low of $1.3943 on the EBS trading platform .

In the bond market, benchmark 10-year German Bund yields touched a historic low of 1.82 percent while the yield on U.S. 10-year Treasuries hovered at 2 percent, not far above a 60-year low of 1.9080 percent.

Spot gold prices jumped $40 at $1,856 an ounce. [GOL/]

(Additional reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak, Chris Reese, Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss in New York; Amanda Cooper, Kirsten Donovan and Jeremy Gaunt in London, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

Source

FBI Raids Solyndra Offices as Part of Probe

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011, 7:13 P.M. ET.

By THOMAS CATAN And DEBORAH SOLOMON

Solyndra LLC, a California solar-panel maker once hailed by President Barack Obama as "the future" of clean energy, is the target of a criminal investigation into whether its executives knowingly misled the government to secure more than $500 million in loan guarantees, said people familiar with the matter.

Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Thursday raided the company's headquarters in Fremont, Calif., seeking documents and records in the previously undisclosed federal probe.

The raids were conducted at the behest of the Department of Energy, and agents from the department's inspector general's office also took part, officials said. Solyndra filed for bankruptcy protection this week, leaving U.S. taxpayers on the hook for as much as $527 million.

The raids jolted Washington, where Republicans had this week criticized the White House's support for the financially stricken company. Some Democratic lawmakers also called for company executives to answer questions before Congress.

The FBI raids the offices of solar-panel company Solyndra, days after it declared bankruptcy and left U.S. taxpayers holding the bag for some $535 million in federal loans. Peter Landers has details on The News Hub. (Photo: AP.)

"The FBI raid further underscores that Solyndra was a bad bet from the beginning and put taxpayers at unnecessary risk," said Reps. Fred Upton (R., Mich.) and Cliff Stearns (R., Fla.) of the House Energy and Commerce Commitee.

A Solyndra spokesman called the raid a "total surprise" and said he didn't know what the FBI was looking for. "We are cooperating and giving them access to whatever they want," said the spokesman, David Miller.

The agencies involved in the raid declined to say what the investigation was centered on. The people familiar with the matter said the company's actions in securing federal loan guarantees were the focus of thecriminal probe.

On Thursday, a lone FBI agent stood in the driveway of Solyndra's stylish new main building, keeping nonemployees from entering. It was eerily quiet on the sunny campus as a handful of company security guards stood by the front doors and the only sound came from the whir of the freeway nearby. Solyndra has laid off more than 1,000 people and just 100 or so remain.

The collapse of Solyndra is a pockmark for a government loan-guarantee program that was created in 2005 and received billions of dollars in funding under the 2009 economic-stimulus law. The Obama administration, which pushed the program as a way of promoting renewable energy, has moved forward with it even as Solyndra, the first deal executed under the stimulus, has collapsed.

A DOE spokesman said Thursday the program has "supported a robust, diverse portfolio of more than 40 projects that are investing in pioneering companies as we work to regain American leadership in the global race for clean energy jobs."

The White House declined to comment and referred to the DOE statement.

Solyndra, which shut down its plant last week and laid off around 1,100 employees
, is racing to find a buyer to prevent a liquidation of its assets. The company found it couldn't survive the economic slowdown and competition from well-financed Chinese rivals, which pushed down solar-panel prices world-wide.

Starting in 2009, Solyndra received $527 million in loans from a federal financing agency that were guaranteed by the Energy Department. But signs of trouble emerged shortly thereafter.

In March 2010, the company disclosed that its external auditor had questioned whether it could survive.

In a special note, PricewaterhouseCoopers said the company "has suffered recurring losses from operations, negative cash flows since inception and has a net stockholders' deficit that, among other factors, raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern."

Even so, Mr. Obama visited the company in May 2010, hailing it as a model investment by the government and a "testament to American ingenuity and dynamism."

House Republicans have questioned whether the White House interfered improperly with the Solyndra deal. The family foundation of billionaire George Kaiser, who was a bundler for the president's 2008 campaign, invested in Solyndra.

On Sept. 1, two House Republicans investigating the Solyndra deal said they had evidence the White House monitored the loan deal and communicated with the Energy Department as it was being reviewed. The White House has denied any impropriety.

The House Energy Committee has scheduled a hearing on the Solyndra bankruptcy next week, and two top Democrats called for Solyndra Chief Executive Brian Harrison to testify.

Reps. Henry Waxman of California and Diana DeGette of Colorado said Mr. Harrison had told them just two months ago that the company was in a strong financial position and at little risk of failing.

"At that time, he said the company was projected to double its revenues in 2011 [and] there was 'strong demand in the United States' for its shipments," the Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter. "These assurances appear to contrast starkly with his company's decision to file for bankruptcy last week."

The company has been searching for a buyer or investor to bail it out since February, when an out-of-court restructuring reshuffled its mounting debt load. Under the restructuring, the DOE agreed that in the event of a default and liquidation, the government would be paid after private creditors providing a new $69 million loan that the company said it needed to stay afloat.

The deal was unusual for the U.S., which is usually the most senior creditor in any type of loan or guarantee. But government officials viewed the arrangement as a way to protect the $460 million in taxpayer funds that were already on the line, people familiar with the matter said. That gamble failed as the company collapsed anyway.

On Wednesday, a bankruptcy judge gave Solyndra one month to find a buyer for its assets.

—Cassandra Sweet, Brent Kendall and Ryan Tracy contributed to this article

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(Back then)

Obama @ Solyndra: "American inginuety and dynamism,.. embodied the entreprenuerial spirit,.."



Part 2


Uploaded by StartLoving3 on May 26, 2010

While traveling in California, President Obama visited Solyndra Inc., a solar panel manufacturer, and spoke to employees about the economy. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) was also in attendance.

Longshoremen clash shuts Northwest ports

A union sign left from Wednesday's clash between police and union workers is seen in the grass and dirt as police patrol an entrance at the Port of Longview in Longview, Wash., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. Hundreds of Longshore workers stormed the Port of Longview early Thursday, overpowered and held security guards, damaged railroad cars, and dumped grain that is the center of a labor dispute, said Longview Police Chief Jim Duscha.


By Nancy Bartley and Mike Carter, The Seattle Times

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Work is at a standstill at some Northwest seaports, including Seattle, as a long-simmering labor dispute turned violent Thursday morning.

At least 500 longshoremen stormed the Port of Longview, Wash., about 4:30 a.m. and broke out windows in the guard shack, according to Longview Police Chief Jim Duscha. As longshoremen wielding baseball bats and crowbars held six guards hostage, others cut brake lines on box cars and dumped grain, according to Duscha.

Fifty police officers from surrounding areas responded to the scene. No one was injured, and there were no arrests Thursday morning, Duscha said.

Roy San Filippo, spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, said the incident started Wednesday afternoon when police pepper-sprayed, struck longshoremen with clubs and “manhandled” ILWU President Robert McEllrath after the union members blocked a train on its way into the EGT Terminal at the Port of Longview. Police arrested 19 longshoremen on Wednesday.

“If he (McEllrath) was one of the crowd that surged forward, some of them were sprayed. When it’s 400 against 20, what are you going to do?” Duscha said. He said he didn’t know anything about reports that police had hit protesters with clubs.

When the longshoremen stormed the terminal Thursday morning, police were “not surprised,” Duscha said. “A lot of the protesters were telling us this is only the start.”

One police sergeant was threatened with a baseball bat and retreated, Duscha said. “One officer with hundreds of Longshoremen? He used the better part of discretion.”

There have been other incidents throughout the summer, police said, including the arrest of seven longshoremen in July for blocking a train, but San Filippo said Wednesday’s incident sparked the wildcat walk-out of Longshoremen at some Northwest ports and the destruction of property Thursday morning at the Longview port. Longshoremen were out Thursday at the Washington ports of Anacortes, Tacoma, Everett and Seattle. Port spokesmen said they have no information about when Longshoremen may return to work.

Tensions between the ILWU and EGT Development, the owner of the new train superterminal, have run hot for the past few months after contract negotiations broke down. EGT, which is jointly owned by Korean, Japanese and U.S. investors, contracted with International Union of Operating Engineers Local 701, based in Gladstone, Ore., to fill the 25 to 35 jobs at the terminal. But the Port of Longview has a contract for ILWU to do the work.

EGT sued the port in U.S. District Court in January seeking the right to pursue its own contract. EGT wants its own people — specially trained to work in the $200 million terminal and capable of unloading a 110-car train in less than four hours.

According to the lawsuit, “The lease did not impose any obligation whatsoever upon EGT to utilize union labor at the terminal, much less obligate EGT to utilize persons who are represented by Local 21 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.”

The Port of Longview disputes this, saying it had a working agreement with the union that EGT knew about when it began negotiating the lease in 2007.

“If you disagree, then we have a serious dispute” that needs to be addressed in court, wrote Port Executive Director Kenneth B. O’Hollaren in court documents.

“The Longshoremen are fighting for good middle-class jobs at the grain-handling terminal,” San Filippo said.

A federal restraining order was issued against the Longshoremen last week because the union had made death threats and was accused of assaults, Duscha said.

On Thursday, police remained at the terminal trying to assess the damage, Duscha said. After the protest, the Longshoremen returned to their union hall and set off fireworks, Duscha said.

At the union offices in Longview, the doors were locked and people who occasionally left the building declined to talk to reporters, though one complained of slanted media coverage.

“We held six people hostage? Come on,” that man said.


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Women's Ordination Debate Heats Up In Bermuda



On 26 February 2011 in Bermuda, the very first woman elder was ordained at Restoration SDA Church. This act now paves the way for the ordination of the first woman pastor in the region. It has also sparked a great debate in the membership of the church. Many individuals are searching their Bibles to see what it has to say on the subject and taking sides on which side of the argument they ascribe to. With all that is going on, we have found it necessary to assist CRCB members in understanding why arguments are being made against women's ordination. Therefore, please read the whole book, Searching the Scriptures by Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, now available here. If you do not have time to read it in its entirety, please read chapter 5. Thanks!


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The Whole World Will Be Involved in Ruin


Angels are now restraining the winds of strife that they may not blow until the world shall be warned of its coming doom, but a storm is gathering, ready to burst upon the earth, and when God shall bid His angels loose the winds there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture.--Ed 179, 180 (1903).

The Saviour's prophecy concerning the visitation of judgements upon Jerusalem is to have another fulfilment, of which that terrible desolation was but a faint shadow. In the fate of the chosen city we may behold the doom of a world that has rejected God's mercy and trampled upon His law.--GC 36 (1911).

Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.--GC 614 (1911).

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

GOP debate - September 7, 2011 (Update)



Part 1/4, GOP Republican Debate at Reagan Library - September 7, 2011

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Uploaded by PostingsPlus on Sep 8, 2011

Who do you think stood out the most as a leader in this debate? Share you thoughts on http://www.postingsplus.com, a new political social network.

"The reviews are in of last night's Republican presidential debate at the Reagan Library. The short of it is that the debate was all about Texas Gov. Rick Perry — the newest in the field and presumed "front runner" — and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

Our friend Frank James at It's All Politics has analysis. But here's what others are saying this morning:

— Politico's top take-away is that Perry has now emerged as the "clear frontrunner": The Texas governor got the most questions from questioners Brian Williams and John Harris, but he also absorbed the most punches from his competitors. When all the energy is concentrated in one direction, it underscores who is dominating the field - and last night it was Perry who was at the center of attention. Perry himself acknowledged the focus on him, saying at one point, "I feel a bit like a pinata."

— The conservative National Review polled experts after the debate and the views were mixed to say the least.

Hadley Arkes, a professor of jurisprudence at Amherst College, wrote that the debate brought out one thing of importance for him. "Rick Perry persuaded me that he was not scary, and that he won't be seen as scary by the vast public," he wrote.

Republican media consultant Alex Castellanos could not disagree more: He said that during the debate Perry stuck to his claims that Social Security is a "Ponzi scheme" and that is "scary stuff for seniors."

— The New Republic's John B. Judis makes the case that Perry will be the Republican nominee, saying he "appeared tough, confident, able to deflect criticism, and to fire back when fired upon."

Here's what he said about Romney: Romney is the Nelson Rockefeller of today's Republican party. Rockefeller, elected four times as governor of New York, was one of the most able politicians in America, but he was too liberal for the Republican party of his time. He backed civil rights and the welfare state, he was a big spender, he was pro-union. And he was also divorced. He might have won the presidency in 1960 or 1968, but he could never win the Republican nomination for president.

— Not everyone jumped on the Perry bandwagon. The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza gave the night to Romney: ... Romney showed his experience and steadied himself as the proceedings wore on — repeatedly giving answers that sounded reasonable and, dare we say it, presidential. Romney continues to execute his strategy: focus on President Obama and the economy while avoiding too much back and forth with his Republican rivals. It worked (again) tonight.

— The New York Times' Nate Silver concurred. He scored Perry's performance a B-minus and gave Romney an A-minus. He called Perry's "Ponzi scheme" remark "unwise" saying, "This particular remark is not likely to sit exceptionally well even with Republicans, conservative though they may be. A CNN poll published last month found 57 percent of Republicans opposed to major changes in Social Security and Medicare." - NPR

FACTCHECKS on statements from the Reagan Library Debate:
- http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/09/08/2011-09-08_gop_debate_in_...
- http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/09/factcheck-statemen...
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/fact-checking-the-gop-d...

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Continue watching videos from the Ronald Reagan Library Debate:

Part 1 - http://youtu.be/uM174emEhak
Part 2 - http://youtu.be/Z7SYfP-VlxU
Part 3 - http://youtu.be/xOx0HZuz2Lk
Part 4 - http://youtu.be/yIMbm-gGeis

Video Source: DakotaVoice

When the cookie jar is empty

When the cookie jar is empty...

Can you keep digging into it and find more?

Well, that's what all the stimulus and job creation schemes are; More irrational behavior.




Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.


-Albert Einstein.



Arsenio.


.