Thursday, June 27, 2013

Buoyed by a new pope, priests gather to urge church reform


David Gibson | Jun 14, 2013

(RNS) The death of liberal Catholicism has been proclaimed so often in recent decades that few even bother to check to see if the body still has a pulse.




Father Ernie Davis blesses the communion during Catholic mass at St. Therese Little Flower parish in Kansas City, Mo. RNS file photo by Sally Morrow.

This image available for Web and print publication. For questions, contact Sally Morrow.



But a fledgling organization of priests believes the obituaries are premature, and as the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests gathers this month to discuss an agenda for church reform, its leaders are pointing to support from the laity as well as inspiration from the top: Pope Francis.

“For me, his papacy so far has been a lifesaver,” said the Rev. Dave Cooper, a priest from Milwaukee who is head of the AUSCP, which will hold its second annual assembly at Seattle University from June 24-27.

Not that Francis is a starry-eyed liberal who is about to ordain women priests or turn the church into a representative democracy. He’s not. Rather, it is the new pope’s repeated exhortations for the church to engage the world, to be humble and open to dialogue, and above all to show people – including Catholics – a welcoming face that has buoyed Cooper and others in the AUSCP.

“The pastoral style is most encouraging to me personally,” Cooper said. “I hope it will grow and deepen and continue.”

The AUSCP was started in August 2011 by about two dozen priests from 11 states who met at a seminary near Chicago with the goal of trying “to keep the best of Vatican II alive,” referring to the landmark church council of the 1960s that opened Catholicism to the modern world.

Like similar groups of reform-minded clergy in Ireland, Austria and elsewhere, these priests were, as one put it, “more than mildly distressed by the ecclesial turn of events” in the past 30 years that has seen the Vatican and local bishops take strong measures to enforce orthodoxy and curb anything that smacks of dissent.

From that modest start two years ago, the AUSCP has grown to nearly 1,000 members from about 120 of the 195 dioceses in the country.

This month’s meeting is expected to draw about 250 of those priests, who will listen to church experts and debate 15 proposals that focus on promoting collaboration and transparency in the church. Proposals include a call for lay people and priests to have a say in selecting bishops, who are now chosen solely by the pope through a secret process.

But one proposal bumps up against the third rail of orthodoxy by calling for a study of ordaining women and married men to the priesthood. Just raising the ordination topic publicly raises the hackles of conservatives — especially younger clergy who entered the priesthood under Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI and tend to be more orthodox.

One of the critics is the Rev. Martin Fox, who wrote a long blog post ripping the AUSCP as the “swan song” of aging liberal Catholics who were enamored with a “spirit of Vatican II” that has been quashed by a younger, more tradition-minded generation of clergy and laity. “Utterly pointless,” Fox said of the AUSCP’s agenda.

What’s telling is that Fox is not just any priest, but heads the Office of Priestly Formation for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. After a few of his fellow clerics objected to the broadside, Fox later apologized for some of his remarks and amended his original post.

But the thrust of his objections – which have been standard fare among church leaders for years – remained, and underscored a division that may not be overcome anytime soon. “If we keep inviting them, that’s all we can do,” Cooper said of his conservative brethren.

Another AUSCP leader, the Rev. Bob Bonnot of Youngstown, Ohio, rejected the idea that the association is a rallying point for disaffected older priests. “There is no question of dissent,” Bonnot said. “These are open questions in the life of the church and various priests want us, as priests, to discuss them.”

What’s more, he said, almost all of the proposals – the calls for collegiality, ordaining women as deacons, and allowing use of the previous translations of the Mass – are ones that have been debated and sometimes supported by top church leaders.

“Are all the cardinals dissenters because they discuss these items?” he added.

Bonnot noted that the “vast majority” of his members are workaday parish priests rather than clerics who work in academia or church bureaucracies, and their proposals reflect the concerns of parishioners that they serve.

“Regardless of the ages of the priests that might be involved, the issues are enduring issues that are very much in play,” he said.


And discussing those issues openly is vital to the future of the church, said Cooper.

“The Catholic Church is a living organism and all living organisms change and adapt. As the Catholic Church continues to grow and expand, the genius of Vatican II would say that it must take root and grow among the people,”
he said.

“We have to be where the people are. That is our passion.”


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They made their hearts as an adamant stone



8 And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying,

9 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:

10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.

12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.

13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts:

14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.


Zechariah :8-14.
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Obama: 'I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act'





WED JUN 26, 2013 AT 08:49 AM PDT


by Barbara Morrill Follow for Daily Kos






President Obama on today's Supreme Court decision striking down DOMA:

I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act. This was discrimination enshrined in law. It treated loving, committed gay and lesbian couples as a separate and lesser class of people. The Supreme Court has righted that wrong, and our country is better off for it. We are a people who declared that we are all created equal – and the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.
This ruling is a victory for couples who have long fought for equal treatment under the law; for children whose parents’ marriages will now be recognized, rightly, as legitimate; for families that, at long last, will get the respect and protection they deserve; and for friends and supporters who have wanted nothing more than to see their loved ones treated fairly and have worked hard to persuade their nation to change for the better.
So we welcome today’s decision, and I’ve directed the Attorney General to work with other members of my Cabinet to review all relevant federal statutes to ensure this decision, including its implications for Federal benefits and obligations, is implemented swiftly and smoothly. [...]
The laws of our land are catching up to the fundamental truth that millions of Americans hold in our hearts: when all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.


Amen.

Read the complete statement here.



I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act. This was discrimination enshrined in law. It treated loving, committed gay and lesbian couples as a separate and lesser class of people. The Supreme Court has righted that wrong, and our country is better off for it. We are a people who declared that we are all created equal – and the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.
This ruling is a victory for couples who have long fought for equal treatment under the law; for children whose parents’ marriages will now be recognized, rightly, as legitimate; for families that, at long last, will get the respect and protection they deserve; and for friends and supporters who have wanted nothing more than to see their loved ones treated fairly and have worked hard to persuade their nation to change for the better.
So we welcome today’s decision, and I’ve directed the Attorney General to work with other members of my Cabinet to review all relevant federal statutes to ensure this decision, including its implications for Federal benefits and obligations, is implemented swiftly and smoothly.
On an issue as sensitive as this, knowing that Americans hold a wide range of views based on deeply held beliefs, maintaining our nation’s commitment to religious freedom is also vital. How religious institutions define and consecrate marriage has always been up to those institutions. Nothing about this decision – which applies only to civil marriages – changes that.

The laws of our land are catching up to the fundamental truth that millions of Americans hold in our hearts: when all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.




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The Terminal - Snowden Sequel


Edward Snowden stars in the latest installment from Hollywood:  The Terminal: The Snowden Stall

Ed

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MOST IMPORTANT End Time Message for the World!!





mark122west

Published on Jun 22, 2013


The three angel's messages found in Revelation 14 are the most important messages this world needs to hear today.

Videos made by Repairerofthebreach
http://www.youtube.com/user/Repairero...

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Supreme Court Strikes Down Federal Defense of Marriage Act


Supreme Court Strikes Down Federal Defense of Marriage Act


Wall Street Journal
3 minutes ago


Written byJess Bravin

WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act, which denied federal benefits to lawfully married same-sex couples.


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14 Incredibly Creepy Surveillance Technologies That Big Brother Will Be Using To Spy On You


By Michael, on July 9th, 2012




Most of us don’t think much about it, but the truth is that people are being watched, tracked and monitored more today than at any other time in human history. The explosive growth of technology in recent years has given governments, spy agencies and big corporations monitoring tools that the despots and dictators of the past could only dream of. Previous generations never had to deal with “pre-crime” surveillance cameras that use body language to spot criminals or unmanned drones watching them from far above. Previous generations would have never even dreamed that street lights and refrigerators might be spying on them. Many of the incredibly creepy surveillance technologies that you are about to read about are likely to absolutely astound you. We are rapidly heading toward a world where there will be no such thing as privacy anymore. Big Brother is becoming all-pervasive, and thousands of new technologies are currently being developed that will make it even easier to spy on you. The world is changing at a breathtaking pace, and a lot of the changes are definitely not for the better.

The following are 14 incredibly creepy surveillance technologies that Big Brother will be using to watch you….

#1 “Pre-Crime” Surveillance Cameras

A company known as BRS Labs has developed “pre-crime” surveillance cameras that can supposedly determine if you are a terrorist or a criminal even before you commit a crime.

Does that sound insane?

Well, authorities are taking this technology quite seriously. In fact, dozens of these cameras are being installed at major transportation hubs in San Francisco….


In its latest project BRS Labs is to install its devices on the transport system in San Francisco, which includes buses, trams and subways.

The company says will put them in 12 stations with up to 22 cameras in each, bringing the total number to 288.

The cameras will be able to track up to 150 people at a time in real time and will gradually build up a ‘memory’ of suspicious behaviour to work out what is suspicious.

#2 Capturing Fingerprints From 20 Feet Away

Can you imagine someone reading your fingerprints from 20 feet away without you ever knowing it?

This kind of technology is actually already here according to POPSCI….


Gaining access to your gym or office building could soon be as simple as waving a hand at the front door. A Hunsville, Ala.-based company called IDair is developing a system that can scan and identify a fingerprint from nearly 20 feet away. Coupled with other biometrics, it could soon allow security systems to grant or deny access from a distance, without requiring users to stop and scan a fingerprint, swipe an ID card, or otherwise lose a moment dealing with technology.

Currently IDair’s primary customer is the military, but the startup wants to open up commercially to any business or enterprise that wants to put a layer of security between its facilities and the larger world. A gym chain is already beta testing the system (no more using your roommate’s gym ID to get in a free workout), and IDair’s founder says that at some point his technology could enable purchases to be made biometrically, using fingerprints and irises as unique identifiers rather than credit card numbers and data embedded in magnetic strips or RFID chips.

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MasterCard readies smart cards for Iraqi welfare reforms



12 June 2013 




MasterCard is partnering with the UN World Food Programme (WPF) to promote the use of smart cards for the distribution of welfare benefits such as healthcare and education credits and food vouchers in Iraq.
Details of an initial pilot for the potential introduction of electronic food vouchers in the Iraqi Public Distribution System (PDS) are being hammered out in a two-day technical workshop comprising representatives from the Iraqi government, the WPF and MasterCard.

"We expect that this workshop and the subsequent national consultative seminar will pave the way to implement a pilot project in specific areas in Iraq to examine the feasibility and benefits of adopting electronic cards to provide Iraqi citizens with an improved service and a food basket that will help improve food security in Iraq and contribute to the growth of our national economy," says Deputy Minister of Planning Mahdi M. Al-Alak. "The evaluation of the results of the pilot project will inform our decision on the possibility of adopting electronic cards within the PDS on a national scale."

Electronic vouchers are more financially secure than traditional cash transfers, and they act as a flexible tool that can help harmonise the distribution of many types of social welfare, argues WPF: "They could also be considered as a means to transfer not only credits for food, but for health care, education and other items."

The two-day workshop will be followed by a consultative meeting on 12 June to discuss a timetable for welfare reform.


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Google should not be forced to remove personal data from internet, says European Court of Justice adviser


Non-binding opinion prompted by dispute between search engine corporation and Spanish data protection agency




Google Glass. The search engine corporation welcomed the decision of European Court of Justice advocate general Niilo Jääskinen on personal data. Photograph: Reuters/Google


Tue, Jun 25, 2013, 18:37


First published:Tue, Jun 25, 2013, 18:36



In what is likely to be a landmark case for internet regulation, an advisor to the European Court of Justice has said Google should not be forced to remove sensitive personal information that it processes or adhere to a “right to be forgotten”.

Eliminating such data from search engines would amount to censorship, Court of Justice advocate general Niilo Jääskinen said yesterday.

The non-binding opinion was prompted by a dispute between Google and Spain’s Agency for Data Protection (AEPD). The AEPD wanted the California-based search engine giant to remove posts relating to about 200 cases in which individuals were negatively affected. Spain’s high court referred the case to the European Court of Justice.

The advocate general said “requesting search engine providers to suppress legitimate and legal information that has entered the public domain would entail an interference with the freedom of expression of the publisher of the web page”.

He also said that “a right to be forgotten” on the internet was not contained in any existing regulation.

The decision related specifically to the case of Mario Costeja, who owed Spanish authorities about €1,700 in social security payments in 1998. At the time, La Vanguardia published details of the debt and the auctioning of Mr Costeja’s home to pay it back. When Lae newspaper digitalised its archives several years later, the debt and auction frequently came up next to Mr Costeja’s name in Google searches.

Mr Costeja (55) says his reputation as a forensic graphologist, and therefore his income, were hampered by the fact the debt remained associated with him for years, even though he settled it in 1998.

“The first thing you do when you’re going to hire someone is look for them on Google to see who this person is,” he told The Irish Times yesterday. “For a while this affected me badly.”

He said he was not surprised at the advocate’s decision, although the court itself is yet to deliver a final ruling.

“Google is a new phenomenon and there is no legislation covering it,” he said. “People ask me what I think of Google and I always tell them that Google’s the best invention since the wheel. But even the wheel had to improve – when it started out it was made of stone.”

Google welcomed the decision, with spokesman William Echikson posting on the company’s blog: “In order to achieve all the social, cultural and economic benefits of the internet, it must be kept free and open.”


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NH Boy Scouts Hospitalized After Lightning Strike


June 24, 2013 11:26 PM



BELMONT, N.H. (AP) — A lightning strike at a New Hampshire Boy Scouts camp has injured nearly two dozen scouts.

Scouts spokesman Greg Osborn says no one was directly hit by the lightning Monday at the Griswold Scout Reservation.



Griswold Scout Reservation


He says some of the 23 scouts and three adults who were injured complained of tingling and burning sensations and all were treated by camp nurses before being hospitalized as a precaution.

He says those who were treated are doing well and are in good spirits.

The lightning struck during a big evening storm just outside Belmont at Camp Bell, one of two camps at the reservation. The camp offers activities including rock climbing and sailing.

Firefighters say the lightning struck near where the Boy Scouts had gathered. Osborn says the Scouts were under shelter at the time.


Source
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Scott Lively Says 'Celebration' of Same-Sex Marriage 'Sign of End Times'





(Photo: Screenshot/YouTube)
Pastor Scott Lively, president of Abiding Truth Ministries, recently sat down with Sandy Rios of American Family Radio to discuss his belief that homosexuality is a sign of the end times.


By Katherine Weber , Christian Post Reporter
January 11, 2013|4:26 pm


Scott Lively, founder and president of Abiding Truth Ministries, a conservative Christian group, recently told the American Family Association that he believes the open celebration of same-sex marriage is a sign of the end times.

In a Jan. 8 radio interview with Sandy Rios of "American Family Radio Talk," a division of the American Family Association, Lively appeared to reference rabbinical commentaries on the biblical book of Genesis that state that Noah's flood did not occur until people began writing same-sex marriage deeds.

"We need to remember that in the time leading up to the flood what the rabbis teach, about the last straw for God before He brought the flood, was when they started writing wedding songs to homosexual marriage, and Jesus said that you'll know the End Times because it will be like the days of Noah," Lively told Rios of the American Family Association, a nonprofit organization that promotes conservative Christian values.

"There's never been a time in the history of the world since before the flood when homosexual marriage has been open and celebrated, and that's another sign that I believe we're close to the end," Lively added.

When Rios asked Lively what advice he would give to pastors and Christians in the U.S. on the topic of homosexuality, Livey replied:

"I think this is the issue of the end times, homosexuality. It's present, if you do a careful examination of all the scriptures dealing with this from the beginning and all the way to the end, God is painting a very clear picture that this represents the outer extent of rebellion against Him in a society and the last thing that happens before wrath comes."

Lively's lawyers recently filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit being brought against him by Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), a Uganda-based pro-gay rights group accusing Lively of working closely with political leaders in the African country to spread negative propaganda about homosexuality.

As The Christian Post previously reported, the Liberty Counsel, which legally represents Lively, said in a dismissal request that the alleged "crimes against humanity" which Lively has been accused of are "actually nothing more than civil, non-violent political discourse in the public square on a subject of great public concern, which occupies the highest run of First Amendment protection."

Lively has previously stated on his website that he supports Uganda's recently revised "Anti-Homosexuality Bill," which dropped the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" and criminalizes homosexual acts in the country.

"In my opinion, the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill is still too harsh in the letter. I would prefer something closer to the approach several American states have taken toward marijuana: criminalize it but minimize the penalty and turn a blind eye toward discrete violations," Lively wrote in a Dec. 2012 post.

"However, since I didn't write the Ugandan bill and have no power to redraft it on my own terms, and since the alternative to passing this bill is to allow the continuing, rapid, foreigner-driven homosexualization of Ugandan culture, I am giving the revised Anti-Homosexuality Bill my support," Lively added.

Uganda's "Anti-Homosexuality Bill" has reportedly received a wide amount of support among local residents and is due to pass in the near future.



Source: http://global.christianpost.com/news/scott-lively-says-acceptance-of-homosexuality-sign-of-end-times-88134/#Sla3QfoFXrdrDzhP.99

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On the cusp of a cultural moment, all eyes are on the Supreme Court




June 25
BY MICHAEL DOYLE
McClatchy Washington Bureau


WASHINGTON — History comes alive at 10 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, as the Supreme Court is set to announce decisions in two standout cases involving same-sex marriage.

Stretching the judicial drama to the final day of a term that started in October, the court’s nine justices will reveal their conclusions concerning California’s Proposition 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The respective rulings may well be relatively narrow, but their legal and political consequences could be profound.

“The justices are not likely to announce that the ongoing debate over same-sex marriage is now over,” said Richard W. Garnett, a University of Notre Dame Law School professor.

He said it appears that “a majority of the justices are not looking to issue sweeping and definitive rulings on hot-button questions and are instead finding ways to resolve these cases that allow other actors, including Congress, to play the leading role.”

Certainly, for each question answered Wednesday, many new ones will arise.

The main Proposition 8 question is what the court will do with the California ballot measure that prohibited same-sex marriage. The follow-up questions could range from how the reasoning affects other states that block gay couples from marrying, to precisely what happens next in California.

The main Defense of Marriage Act question concerns the future of a federal law that bars same-sex couples from receiving the federal rights and benefits afforded opposite-sex couples. The follow-ups could include exactly how to apply the 1,100-plus provisions of federal law in which marriage matters, from tax deductions to immigration status.

“While we can’t predict what the court will say, the past few years building up to this day have seen a sea change in accepting the idea that all loving and committed couples . . . deserve the protections and dignity that only come with marriage,” James Esseks, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said Tuesday.

Advocates from all sides are ready for prime time once the decisions come.

At New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, Edith Windsor, the now 84-year-old woman who challenged the Defense of Marriage Act, will be appearing at a noon press conference. Ninety minutes later, in Los Angeles, California Attorney General Kamala Harris is convening her own event. Twitter, social media and a tidal wave of press releases are poised to explode.

“I would say both (Windsor), and the rest of America, are ready for a fair ruling,” said Esseks, director of the ACLU’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and AIDS Project.

The California case arose after the state Supreme Court ruled same-sex couples had the right to marry. Voters subsequently changed the state’s constitution in 2008, in the Proposition 8 ballot measure, to limit marriages to those between one man and one woman.

The challenge to Proposition 8 was brought on behalf of several same-sex couples, including Kristin M. Perry and her partner Sandra Stier, who were denied marriage licenses.

“I’m a 45-year-old woman,” Perry testified during the 2010 trial. “I have been in love with a woman for 10 years and I don’t have a word to tell anybody about that.”

One relatively narrow option for the Supreme Court now is to conclude Proposition 8 supporters lacked the legal standing to bring a case. Standing is the legal term for being eligible to file a lawsuit. To have standing, an individual must have must have either suffered an injury or face an imminent threat of injury.

California officials declined to defend the same-sex marriage ban. Instead, a conservative former Southern California state legislator and allies argued on the proposition’s behalf. At least some justices during oral arguments in March suggested skepticism about their standing.

“They really are no more than a group of five people who feel really strongly that we should vindicate this public interest,” Justice Stephen Breyer said at the time.

If the Supreme Court concludes the Proposition 8 supporters lacked standing, the case will be kicked back to the trial judge’s decision. At most, then, the decision would only affect marriage rights in California. This possibility might entice justices who are leery of making a sweeping national judgment.

The other case involves Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, which declares that, for the purposes of providing federal benefits, only opposite-sex marriages count. The definition is important because it determines eligibility for a host of federal rights, benefits and privileges.


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Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/06/25/4313269/on-the-cusp-of-a-cultural-moment.html#storylink=cpy

Seventh-day Adventist Response to Same-Sex Unions--A Reaffirmation of Christian Marriage



Over the past several decades the Seventh-day Adventist Church has felt it necessary to clearly state in various ways its position in regards to marriage, the family, and human sexuality. These subjects are at the heart of many pressing issues facing society. That which for centuries has been considered to be basic Christian morality in the marriage setting is now increasingly called into question, not only in secular society but within Christian churches themselves.

The institutions of marriage and family are under attack and facing growing centrifugal forces that are tearing them apart. An increasing number of nations are not only debating the topic of "same-sex unions," but some have already passed various pieces of legislation, thus making it a world issue. The public discussion has engendered strong emotions. In light of these developments, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is clearly restating its position.

We reaffirm, without hesitation, our long-standing position as expressed in the Church's Fundamental Beliefs: "Marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman in loving companionship."1 Though "sin has perverted God's ideals for marriage and family," "the family tie is the closest, the most tender and sacred of any human relationship," and thus "families need to experience renewal and reformation in their relationships" (An Affirmation of Family, 1990).2 God instituted "marriage, a covenant-based union of two genders [male and female] physically, emotionally, and spiritually, spoken of in Scripture as 'one flesh.'" "The monogamous union in marriage of a man and a woman is . . . the only morally appropriate locus of genital or related intimate sexual expression." "Any lowering of this high view is to that extent a lowering of the heavenly ideal" (An Affirmation of Marriage, 1996).3

Homosexuality is a manifestation of the disturbance and brokenness in human inclinations and relations caused by the entrance of sin into the world. While everyone is subject to fallen human nature, "we also believe that by God's grace and through the encouragement of the community of faith, an individual may live in harmony with the principles of God's Word" (Seventh-day Adventist Position Statement on Homosexuality, 2012). 4

We hold that all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, are loved by God. We do not condone singling out any group for scorn and derision, let alone abuse. Still, God's Word that transcends time and culture does not permit a homosexual lifestyle. The Bible's opposition to same-sex unions/marriage is anchored in God's plan at creation for marriage (Gen 1:26-28; 2:20-24), in divine legislation (Lev 18:22; 20:13; 1 Cor 6:9 11), and in Jesus' explicit confirmation of a permanent, monogamous, and heterosexual marriage relationship (Matt 19:4 6).



1Seventh-day Adventists Believe: An exposition of the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh?day Adventist Church, Doctrine 23 on 'Marriage and the Family."

2Public Statement, An Affirmation of Family, released July 5, 1990, at the General Conference Session, Indianapolis, Indiana.

3Statement voted by the General Conference Administrative Committee on April 23, 1996.

4Statement voted by the Annual Council of the General Conference Executive Committee, October 17, 2012.



This document was approved and voted by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Executive Committee, October 17, 2012.



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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Southern Baptist Resolution (in 1936) on 'The Christian Sabbath'




SBC Resolutions



RESOLUTION ON THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH
May 1936


1. That we renew our efforts to preserve the Christian sabbath and urge our people everywhere to abstain from purely secular and worldly engagements on the Lord's day.

2. That we especially deplore the wide use of the radio for advertising and for flippant jazz entertainment on the Lord's day, and we would favor legislation to prevent all Sunday advertising over the radio and all cheap vaudeville programs on Sunday.


St. Louis, Missouri


Source

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Southern Baptist Wiley Drake proposes celebration of the Sabbath as well as the Lord's day.



Two of the motions presented by Wiley Drake, messenger from First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, Calif., were ruled out of order because they expressed an opinion best accomplished through a resolution and sought to give responsibility to the SBC President not in the scope of his work:

-- that the SBC president lead the convention to observe the "Biblical Celebration of the Saturday Sabbath, along with our Lord's Day on Sunday."
-- that the SBC president lead the convention to follow the www.call2fall.com project with the 1.5 million people of the Family Research Council from Washington, D.C., and designate Call 2 Fall in June 2013.


Read more

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Pro-Life Priest Calls on Pelosi to Renounce Catholic Faith



Monday, 24 Jun 2013 01:14 PM

By Melanie Batley


A Catholic priest active in the pro-life movement said if Nancy Pelosi continues her refusal to condemn abortion, she should renounce her Catholic faith.

The Rev. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, sent the House minority leader a strongly worded letter demanding she explain her position on late-term abortion.

His letter followed Pelosi's June 13 news conference at which Pavone contends she sidestepped the issue.

"We simply want to express frustration that has been long-standing about Pelosi: You can't say you're a Catholic and then betray the faith," Pavone said during a Fox News interview.

"All she has to do is answer a question that she refused to answer in that press briefing: What is the difference between a late-term abortion and killing a baby outside the womb?" he said.

Pelosi said during her news briefing, "As a practicing and respectful Catholic, this is sacred ground to me when we talk about this. I don’t think it should have anything to do with politics."

Addressing her comments in his letter, Pavone wrote, "With this statement, you make a mockery of the Catholic faith and of the tens of millions of Americans who consider themselves 'practicing and respectful Catholics' and who find the killing of children — whether inside or outside the womb — reprehensible.

"Whatever Catholic faith you claim to respect and practice, it is not the faith that the Catholic Church teaches. And I speak for countless Catholics when I say that it’s time for you to stop speaking as if it were."

Pavone concluded: "Mrs. Pelosi, for decades you have gotten away with betraying and misrepresenting the Catholic faith as well as the responsibilities of public office. We have had enough of it. Either exercise your duties as a public servant and a Catholic, or have the honesty to formally renounce them."


Source
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Will this be 'The New Normal'?

Just one question:
Considering all the rapid changes taking place in our world - - -   

Will this soon be the NEW NORMAL?

Lord forbid!
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Awaiting the Supreme Court's gay marriage decisions



Live coverage from SCOTUSblog

By SCOTUSblog | Yahoo! News – 6 hrs ago



Reuters/REUTERS - Reporters wait to hear which rulings are handed down at the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, June 13, 2013. The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday issued a mixed ruling in a case concerning …more


The Supreme Court is expected to hand down several rulings Tuesday, two of which have the potential to drastically expand the rights of gays and lesbians in the country.

As the term draws to a close at the end of this week, the nine justices still have not released decisions in two highly anticipatedgay marriage cases—Perry v. Hollingsworth and Windsor v. United States—as well as one key case involving race, Shelby County v. Holder.

At 9:00 a.m., the experts at SCOTUSblog—SCOTUS stands for Supreme Court of the United States—will begin analyzing what the Court might do in the liveblog below, and when a decision is handed down, this liveblog will likely be the first place to break the news.

In the Perry case, the court is expected decide whether California voters discriminated against gay people when they voted to ban same-sex marriage. In Windsor, the court is weighing whether the federal Defense of Marriage Act—which limits all federal marriage benefits to opposite sex couples--violates the constitutional rights of same-sex couples.

In Shelby, the justices could significantly scale back the federal government's right to supervise states with a history of voting discrimination against minorities.

The Court will begin issuing opinions at 10 a.m. ET.


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The-USA-in-Bible-Prophecy




Can it really be true? America in Bible prophecy - absolutely! When you think about it, it makes sense that the most powerful and influential nation on earth will play a vital role in the final stunning events of the world's closing history. But even more surprises await you as the Bible reveals how the leading nation of the world came to exist and why! Please read Revelation 13:11-18 before beginning this guide, because these eight verses give a prophetic picture of America in the days ahead.



1. Two world powers are symbolized in Revelation chapter 13. What is the first power?

Answer: The beast with seven heads (Revelation 13:1-10) is none other than the Roman papacy. (See Study Guide 15 for a complete study on this topic.) Remember that beasts in Bible prophecy symbolize nations or world powers (Daniel 7:17, 23).





2. In what year was the papacy predicted to lose its world influence and power?

"Power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." Revelation 13:5.

Answer: The Bible predicted that the papacy would lose its world influence and power at the end of the 42 months. This prophecy was fulfilled in 1798, when Napoleon's General Berthier took the pope captive and the papal power received its deadly wound. (For the full details, see Study Guide 15.)




3. Which nation was predicted to arise around the same time the papacy was receiving its deadly wound?

"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." Revelation 13:11.

Answer: The papal captivity mentioned in verse 10 took place in 1798, and the new power (verse 11) was seen emerging at that time. The United States declared its independence in 1776, voted the Constitution in 1787, adopted the Bill of Rights in 1791, and was clearly recognized as a world power by 1798. The timing obviously fits America. No other power could possibly qualify.




4. What is the significance of the beast "coming up out of the earth?"

Answer: This nation arises "out of the earth" instead of out of the water as did the other nations mentioned in Daniel and Revelation. We know from Revelation that water symbolizes areas of the world that have a large population. "The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Revelation 17:15. Therefore, the earth represents the opposite. It means that this new nation would arise in an area of the world that had been virtually unpopulated before the late 1700s. It could not arise among the crowded and struggling nations of the Old World. It had to come up in a sparsely populated continent.


5. What is symbolized by its two lamb-like horns and absence of crowns?

Answer: Horns represent kings and kingdoms, or governments (Daniel 7:24; 8:21). In this case, they represent America's two governing principles: civil and religious liberty. These two governing principles have also been labeled "republicanism" (a government without a king) and "Protestantism" (a church without a pope). Other nations since ancient times had taxed people to support a state religion. Most had also oppressed religious dissidents. But America established something entirely new: Freedom to worship as you wish without government interference or control--and with government protection. Absence of crowns signifies a republican form of government, rather than a monarchy. Lamb-like horns denote an innocent, young, non-oppressive, peace-loving, and spiritual nation. Jesus is referred to as a lamb 28 times in Revelation. So this new government was trying to uphold His principles. No other power on earth could possibly fit the characteristics and time slot of the lamb-horned beast, except America.

Special Note: How we wish we could stop right here in Jesus' description of America--but we can't, because He didn't. What comes next is jolting and disquieting. America is truly a great country--with its freedom of conscience, press, speech, and enterprise; the protection it provides; its golden opportunities; its sense of fair play; its sympathy for the underdog; and its strong Christian orientation. It is not perfect, but even still a host of people from other countries hasten to become American citizens every year. If America's doors were opened wide, a vast portion of the people of the world would move to the United States at once--to "heaven on earth" as they perceive it. Sadly, this richly blessed country will change drastically in the days just ahead, precipitating unparalleled heartache and woe for God's people. We report it with reticence and deep concern.




6. What does it mean when the prophecy in Revelation 13:11 says America will speak "as a dragon"?

Answer: As we learned in Study Guide 20, the dragon is Satan, who works through various governments of the earth to establish his evil kingdom and crush God's church by persecuting and destroying His people. Satan's aim always has been to usurp God's power and throne and to force people to worship and obey him. (See Study Guide 2 for details.) So "speaking as a dragon" means that the United States (under the influence of Satan) will, in the end time, force people to worship contrary to conscience or be punished.



7. What specifically will America do that will cause it to speak as a dragon?

Answer: Notice the four crucial points:

A. "Exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him." Revelation 13:12. America will become a persecuting power that will force people to go against their conscience, as did papal Rome--which is portrayed in the first half of Revelation chapter 13.

B. "Causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." Revelation 13:12. The United States will lead the nations of the world in forcing worship of, and allegiance to, the papal Antichrist. The issue is always worship. Who will you worship and obey? Will it be Christ your Creator and Redeemer, or Antichrist? Every soul on earth will finally worship one or the other. The entire approach will appear to be deeply spiritual. Incredible miracles will be wrought (Revelation 13:14, 15) which will deceive billions (Revelation 13:3). Those who refuse to join this movement will be considered godless radicals. Jesus labels Protestant America of the end time a "false prophet" (Revelation 19:20; 20:10), because it will appear spiritual and trustworthy but instead will be satanic in its conduct.

All this may seem impossible, but Jesus' words are always totally reliable and true (Titus 1:2). He foretold the rise and fall of the four world empires and the Antichrist (Daniel chapters 2 and 7) at a time when such predictions seemed outlandish and incredible. But all came to pass precisely as predicted. His warning to us today regarding prophecy is, "I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe." John 14:29.

C. "Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." Revelation 13:14. The United States will make an image to the beast by legislating religious practice. It will pass laws requiring worship and force people to either obey them or face death. This action is a copy or image of the church-state combination that the papacy utilized at the height of her power during the Middle Ages, when millions were slain for their faith. America will combine civil government and apostate Protestantism in a "marriage" that will support the papacy. It will then influence all the nations of the world to follow her example. Thus, the papacy will gain worldwide support.

D. "And cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Revelation 13:15. The United States, as head of this international movement, will next influence the nations of the world to impose a universal death sentence upon all who refuse to worship the beast or his image. Another name for this worldwide coalition is "Babylon the Great." (Study Guide 22 will provide more information.) This worldwide alliance will, in the name of Christ, substitute the policeman's power for the Holy Spirit's persuasion and will force worship.





8. Over what specific issues will force be utilized and the death sentence passed?

"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:15-17.

Answer: The final points of contention will be worshiping and obeying the beast and receiving his mark--Sunday as a holy day--versus worshiping and obeying Christ and receiving His mark--His holy seventh-day Sabbath. (For details, see Study Guide 20.) When the issues become clear and people are forced either to worship on Sunday and break the Sabbath or be killed, those who then choose Sunday rather than Sabbath will be, in essence, worshiping the beast. They will have chosen to obey the word of a creature, a man, instead of the word of their Creator, Jesus Christ. Here is the papacy's own statement: "The church changed Sabbath to Sunday and all the world bows down and worships upon that day in silent obedience to the mandates of the Catholic Church." Hartford Weekly Call, February 22, 1884.




9. Could a government really control buying and selling?

Answer: During World War II, buying was controlled for some items (such as sugar, tires, and auto fuel) by requiring ration stamps. Without stamps, money was worthless. In this highly computerized age, a system based on your Social Security number could easily be set up. Unless you agreed to cooperate with the worldwide coalition, your number, when punched in before a purchase, could show you disqualified. We do not know precisely how all this will come about. But we can be positive it will happen because in Revelation 13:16, 17, God says it will.

Two Emerging Powers
Revelation chapter 13 is clear. Two superpowers will emerge in the end time: the United States of America and the papacy. The United States of America will support the papacy by leading a drive to force the people of the world to worship the beast (papacy) and receive his mark or else face death. The next two questions will evaluate the strengths of these two superpowers.
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10. How strong and influential is the papacy today?

Answer: She is by far the strongest religio-political power in the world. Virtually every leading country of the world has an official ambassador or state representative at the Vatican. Notice the following facts:

A. The papacy is so influential and powerful that nearly every major country consults her before making major policy moves. Her "large diplomatic corps maintains relations with more than 100 nations." U.S. News and World Report, October 30, 1978, p. 24.

B. She takes the credit for the demise of communism, saying that Mary, Jesus' mother, guided the pope's strategy that brought down communism. "Handmaid or Feminist," Time, December 30, 1991, pp. 64, 65.



The pope is an extremely popular world leader.

C. The aim of the pope is to unify the Christian world under the leadership of the papacy by the end of this century. He has made more than 40 world trips to lay the ground work for this goal. Gene H. Hogberg, The Plain Truth, November/December 1989, pp. 24, 25.

D. The worldwide response has been almost overwhelming. During the Iraqi crisis, the pope and America's president sometimes discussed world affairs weekly by phone. U.S. News and World Report, August 13, 1990, p. 18.

E. On June 7, 1982, former President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II met for 50 minutes at the Vatican and structured a plan to eliminate communism. The United States shipped tons of modern communication equipment to Poland (the starting place) to help spread necessary information to the masses. "The Holy Alliance," Time, February 1992, pp. 28, 31, 35.

F. Gorbachev said, "Everything which took place in Eastern Europe in recent years would have been impossible without the Pope's efforts and the enormous role, including the political role, which he played in the world arena." Mikhail Gorbachev, Toronto Star, March 9, 1992.

The papacy, which formerly referred to Protestants as "heretics," is now calling them "separated brethren" and graciously suggesting that all work and pray together for peace and God's presence. Millions of Protestants are deeply impressed. In fact, several Protestant denominations have had official dialog with the papacy to try to settle the differences that caused the Reformation.






11. How strong and influential is the United States today?

Answer: The United States is regarded as the world's number one military power and center of influence. Note the following:

A. "[America is] the planet's sole remaining superpower." "The U.N. Obsession," Time, May 9, 1994, p. 86.

B. "There is no prospect in the immediate future of any power to rival the United States." Charles Krauthammer, "The Lonely Superpower", The New Republic, July 29, 1992, p. 23.

C. Yassir Arafat labeled America "the new Rome" because, as old Rome was the undisputed superpower of its age, America is now number one. Newsweek, August 12, 1991, p. 33.

D. "America's power will now determine all major global events." Jim Hoagland, "Of Heroes ...", The Washington Post, August 21, 1991, p. A-23.

When a Marxist group overthrew the government of Ethiopia, America was asked to negotiate. When Boris Yeltsin took office as president of the newly independent Russia, he visited America first. Former U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev turned to America in his crisis. When Kuwait was invaded, its government called on America. The U.S.-led war against Iraq rallied the support of almost the entire world. A National Public Radio correspondent called the American president the "president of the world." We now have "a highly unusual world structure with a single power, the United States, at the apex of the international system." Krauthammer, The New Republic, p. 23.





12. It is clear that the influence and power of both the United States and the papacy are escalating with rapidity. What other factors could possibly help set the stage for a worldwide law to execute those who refuse to violate conscience?

Answer: We cannot name them with certainty, but a few looming possibilities are as follows:

A. The activity of terrorists.
B. Riots and escalating crime and evil.
C. Drug wars.
D. A major economic crash.
E. AIDS and other epidemics.
F. Nuclear threats from radical nations.
G. Political corruption.
H. Gross miscarriage of justice by the courts.
I. Welfare abuse.
J. Increasing taxes.
K. Pornography and sickening immorality.
L. Appalling global disasters.
M. Radical "special interest" groups.
N. The abortion crisis.

All world nations now look to the United States for protection and support.
A backlash against corruption, lawlessness, immorality, permissiveness, injustice, poverty, weak and ineffective political leaders, and many similar woes could easily precipitate a demand for strong, specific laws to be rigidly enforced.


13. As world conditions worsen, what will Satan do to deceive the masses?

"And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." Revelation 13:13, 14.

Answer: America will experience a counterfeit, worldwide revival and will insist that religious laws be passed to force every person to participate. (This is represented by "an image to the beast" in Revelation 13:14.) People will be forced to disregard God's holy, seventh-day Sabbath and worship instead on the beast's "holy" day--Sunday. Some will also comply simply for social or economic reasons. World conditions will become so intolerable that a worldwide "back to God and prayer" movement, with all joining in worship and prayer on Sunday, will seem to be the only solution. Satan will deceive the world into believing that they must compromise Bible truth and keep Sunday holy. But in reality, obedience to and worship of the beast will shut people out of God's kingdom. No wonder Jesus makes such an issue in Revelation over worshiping the beast and receiving his mark!





14. While interest in the counterfeit revival heightens, what will be happening to the genuine worldwide revival sponsored by God's end-time people?

Answer:
The Bible says the entire world will be "lightened" with its glory (Revelation 18:1). Every person on earth will be reached (Mark 16:15) with God's end-time, three-point message of Revelation 14:6-14. God's last-day church will grow with amazing speed as millions join God's people and accept His offer of salvation by free grace and faith in Jesus, which transforms them into His obedient servants. Many people and leaders from all countries of the world will refuse to worship the beast and embrace his false teachings. Instead, they will worship and obey Jesus only. They will then receive His holy Sabbath sign, or mark, in their foreheads (Revelation 7:2, 3), thus sealing them for eternity.

Spiralling Growth Infuriates Counterfeit Movement
This spiralling growth among God's people will infuriate the counterfeit movement. Its leaders will become fully convinced that those who refuse to cooperate with the worldwide counterfeit revival are the cause of all the world's woes (Daniel 11:44). They will disqualify them from buying and selling (Revelation 13:16, 17), but God will feed His people (Isaiah 33:16) and protect them (Psalms 34:7).

15. In desperation, the U.S.-led coalition will next decide to impose the death sentence on its enemies (Revelation 13:15). What does Revelation 13:13, 14 say its leaders will do to convince people that God is with them?

Answer: They will work miracles--so convincing that everyone except God's faithful end-time people will be persuaded (Matthew 24:24). Utilizing the spirits (or fallen angels) of Satan (Revelation 16:13, 14), they will impersonate dead loved ones of the people through sorcery (Revelation 18:23) and probably even pose as Bible prophets and apostles. These lying (John 8:44), demonic spirits will doubtless claim that God has sent them to urge all to cooperate.




His Angels Pose as Christian Ministers

Satan's angels will also appear as godly clergymen, and Satan will appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). As his crowning miracle, Satan will claim to be Jesus (Matthew 24:23, 24). Satan, while impersonating Christ, could easily claim that he changed Sabbath to Sunday and urge his followers to proceed with their worldwide revival and uphold his "holy" day--Sunday.

As his crowning miracle, Satan will impersonate Jesus.

Billions Are Deceived
Billions, believing that Satan is Jesus, will bow at his feet and join the counterfeit movement. "and all the world wondered after the beast." Revelation 13:3, NEB.* The deception will be overwhelmingly effective. But God's end-time people will not be deceived, because they test everything by the Bible (Isaiah 8:19, 20; 2 Timothy 2:15). The Bible says God's law cannot be changed (Matthew 5:18). It also says that when Jesus returns, every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7) and He will not touch the earth but will remain in the cloud and call His people to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

*The New English Bible, (C) 1961, 1970 by the Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press. Used by permission. *


16. How can we be safe from powerful end-time deceptions?

Answer:
A. Test every teaching by the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11; Isaiah 8:19, 20).
B. Follow truth as Jesus reveals it. Jesus promises that those who do His will never end up in error (John 7:17).
C. Stay close to Jesus daily (John 15:5).

Reminder: This is the sixth Study Guide in our series of nine on the three angels' messages. The next Study Guide will reveal how Christian churches and other religions worldwide will relate to the events of the end time.


17. Are you willing to worship and obey Jesus even if it means ridicule, persecution, and finally the death sentence?

Answer:


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*King James Bible is public domain and not copyrighted.

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The King James Bible is Not Copyrighted






LuvWorkingAtHome


Uploaded on Apr 25, 2009


This is a short explanation that the King James Bible is Public Domain and not copyrighted by anyone. If the inside pages of your King James Bible says it's copyrighted it is referring to the notes, maps, charts, commentary, concordances, or any other material between the covers. The actual text of the King James Bible from Genesis 1:1 thru Revelation 22:21 is Public Domain. You or anyone could print thousands and thousands of King James Version Bibles to give away and not be in violation of copyright laws. You wouldn't have to ask permission, nor pay any commissions.

The publishers of the new bibles are not stupid. They know that many people will only buy a King James Bible so, they provide one for them. The KJV is often less expensive than the other versions because the publisher does not have to pay any commissions or royalties to do so. They only have to pay for the ink, paper, cost of printing, etc, everything else is pure profit for them.

The King James Bible is the Word of God. No man hold any exclusive rights to it. It's certainly not owned by a man like the wicked, profane, pornographer & owner of the NIV; nor the corrupt, liberal and wicked organization that owns 90 plus percent rights to the ESV.

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To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear?



1 O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.

2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.

3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

4 Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

5 Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

6 For thus hath the Lord of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

7 As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds.

8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

9 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.

10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the Lord; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.

12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord.

13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.

16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

20 To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.

21 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.

22 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.

23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.

26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

27 I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.

28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.

29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.

30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them.

Jeremiah 6
King James Version (KJV)
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Weapons of Mass Distraction 6/25/13


Monday, June 24, 2013

Whistleblower: NSA wiretapped Obama, Petraeus, Alito, others





corbettreport

Published on Jun 24, 2013


Russ Tice interview: http://www.corbettreport.com/?p=7540

Last week, NSA whistleblower Russell Tice conducted interviews on BoilingFrogsPost and The Corbett Report where he revealed shocking new details of the NSA spying scandal. In addition to detailing how the NSA is collecting and storing the content of all electronic communications passing through the United States, he also revealed for the first time some of the specific targets of past NSA wiretapping operations, including senior Congressional leaders, the former White House Press Secretary, high-ranking military generals, the entire Supreme Court, and even then-Senator from Illinois and future President, Barack Obama.


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Sell, sell, sell on Wall Street Monday as Dow drops as much as 1.7%


12:25 pm by Deborah Bacal


As of just about noon ET, the Dow was down 239 points to 14,560, after hitting a day low of 14,551.27, while the Nasdaq shed 61 points to 3,296, and the S&P 500 lost 31 points to 1,561.

U.S. markets embarked on another sharp slide Monday as Shanghai stocks plummeted 5.3%, the worst percentage fall since 2009, on growing fears over a liquidity crunch in China, the world’s second-largest economy.

As of just about noon ET, the Dow was down 239 points to 14,560, after hitting a day low of 14,551.27, while the Nasdaq shed 61 points to 3,296, and the S&P 500 lost 31 points to 1,561.

In China, the Shanghai Composite index (SHA:CN:SHCOMP) plunged 5.3% to 1,963.24 as banking stocks slid on fears Beijing officials could be unwilling to ease the liquidity crunch, with the country's central bank saying that the nation's banks need to control liquidity better. On top of this, Goldman Sachs also downgraded its GDP growth forecasts for China to 7.4% and 7.7% for 2013 and 2014, respectively, down from 7.8% and 8.4%, previously.

In the U.S. Monday, the economic calendar was relatively quiet, with data kicking off on Tuesday, in a week set to be dominated by durable goods, new home sales, consumer confidence, pending home sales, and Chicago PMI, amid a heavy raft of Fed speakers that starts later today with Richard Fisher. Investors were thus left to focus Monday on China's dire straits, with the drama taking its toll on commodities, for which the country is a major consumer.

The sell-off today comes after a major rout for markets last week in the U.S. The Dow lost 1.8% last week after the Fed suggested that its bond buying could be slowed later this year with an eventual halt to the policy in the middle of 2014, while the Nasdaq finished down 1.9% and the S&P 500 lost 2.1%.

In corporate news Monday, Boeing (NYSE:BA) led the decliners in the Dow, falling almost 3% after its 787 Dreamliner nightmare continues, this time grounding one of its planes flown by United Airlines due to a brake problem. The jet, traveling from Houston to Denver, had to make an emergency landing, and returned to Texas.

In other news, Tenet Healthcare (NYSE:THC) has agreed to acquire Vanguard Health (NYSE:VHS) for about $1.63 billion, or $21 per share in cash - a 70% premium to Vanguard's closing price on Friday. Shares of Vanguard surged almost 69%.

Elsewhere, Vodafone (NASDAQ:VOD) shares edged down in the U.S. after it said it has agreed to acquire Kabel Deutschland (KBDHY.OB) for 7.7 billion euros in what will be the U.K. operator's largest acquisition since its entry into India in 2007.

Shares of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) lost 3.3% Monday after Jefferies cut its price target on the iPhone developer to $405 from $420 previously on the possibility of the company slowing iPhone production.

Meanwhile, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) has confirmed that the Federal Trade Commission is carrying out an antitrust review on its purchase of Waze, given Google's dominant position in the online/mobile maps market. Shares of Google shed 1.7% on Monday.

Commodities

Gold futures fell a further $12 to $1,280 an ounce Monday after closing down more than 6% last week, with Goldman Sachs also cutting its outlook on gold prices today for this year and next on an improving U.S. economy. The bank now expects gold to end the year at $1,300 a troy ounce, a 9.4% drop from its previous forecast, while it now sees the yellow metal finishing 2014 at $1,050 an ounce, a decline of 17.3% from its prior outlook.

Crude for July delivery lost 2 cents to $93.65 a barrel.

Europe

European markets finished sharply lower today with shares in France leading the region. The CAC 40 finished down 1.71% while Britain's FTSE 100 was off 1.42% and Germany's DAX fell lower by 1.24%.


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