05/04/2008
Emails sent to family and friends....
Good News: Update on Jena Revival/Racial Reconciliation
02/01/2008-Take a Roe IQ test 03/01/2008-"father of Christian rock music" died this week 03/04/2008-High Profile Court case being argued today in California broadcasted live 03/10/2008-Has Bush done anything right??? 03/13/2008-3 great new movies Expelled (Ben Stein).. 03/26/2008-Awesome 2 minute online videos worth sharing/And an Ex Muslim testimony of Christ/The Hutcherson story 03/29/2008-Fwd: Grandma Behind Bars 04/01/2008-Darfur, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia and Namibia: Americas' Approval Ratings Soaring in Africa 04/03/2008-Breaking Good News from Jena, Louisiana 04/05/2008-March 24th the #1 item on Blogs was... 04/09/2008-Update: Breaking Bad News for NM photographer 04/13/2008-Finally reported on in NM but... 04/15/2008-The Smithsonian/A can't miss Interview with Michael Moore/Starbucks and more??!!! 04/18/2008-You be the Judge: Official Email conversations in the NM Photographer case.. 04/21/2008-In the mouth of 2 or 3 witness'. My first 2 emails this morning were... 04/28/2008-Good News: +80% of students rally for "Teacher of the Year" who won't take his Bible off his desk... 05/04/2008-Good News: Update on Jena Revival/Racial Reconciliation 05/06/2008-What costs American Tax Payers a trillion a decade!!! 05/08/2008-Fwd: McCain Courts Judicial Conservatives 05/12/2008-Burma in depth: What Lies in Darkness? (Please be advised photos are graphic) More to come and archived emails to be added soon...
| Update on Jena:
An update to email sent out to you all on 04/03/2008.
Reminds me of the little kid with some loaves of bread and fish...Maybe there is something here in 3000 population Jena for all America and the world... "A revival meeting began at Midway Baptist Church Feb. 17. What started out as a typically planned four-day event become so much more. Little did the members of that church know that God would call on church leaders to extend that meeting from four days to 48 days, spanning nine weeks. The impact of the Jena Revival has reached far outside the worship center of Midway....What man could not do through politicians, the government and celebrities, God did in just a few short weeks using ordinary men and women who'd decided to surrender it all to Him."
Below are some testimonies from those involved in Jena. This should be making just as much headlines as the bad news did from Jena in September of last year. Where are Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and their media now?
The Beginning of the Jena Revival- "one of Jena 6 become saved"
Transformation Story from Jena- May make you cry....
Forgiveness in Jena-Racial Reconciliation. White church reaching out to black church as revival spreads and black pastor reaches out to DA involved in the Jena 6 as reconciliation spreads out from this 4 day human planned revival turn 48 day God planned community revival.
Renewal in Jena-Sweet..
Revival Impact on Jena-Sweet..
Climate in the Jena Wal-Mart-And even sweeter...
Bishop Harry Jackson and CNN commentator and Chicago radio host, Roland Martin-On Washington Watch Weekly Radio discussing Obamas' pastor and racial reconciliation. The whole show was a good one and you can sign up for free podcasts or just go to their web site each week. Even has an audio clip from openly gay Senator McCoy of Iowa accusing a conservative Iowa family organization as anti-gay and equating them to hate crimers. If some are not concerned about hatecrimes legislation/antibullying laws effecting religious speech and other points of view you have to listen to this 3 minute speech from Senator McCoy and scroll down to 3rd play button. There has got to be some other way to handle this problem without incriminating those of differing views. McCoy lost all credibility in my mind. His speech seemed pretty degrading/hateful of religious talk equating it to secular agenda.
Other News of Possible Interest:
Evolution's Critics Shift Tactics With Schools-"Which of the following statements comes closest to your views on the origin of human beings? Man developed over millions of years from less advanced life forms: 13% Man developed over millions of years, but God guided the process: 38% God created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years: 45% Source: Gallup Poll of 1,016 U.S. adults, November 2004. Margin of error: +/- 3%...Several states, including South Carolina and Pennsylvania, have passed science standards requiring students to think critically about evolution."-Should they think uncritically!!!! Wall Street Journal
American Psychiatric Association Cancels Forum on Homosexuality and Religion-"Under pressure from a homosexual bishop and his friends, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has canceled a May 5 event in Washington, D.C., that promised "balanced discussion" on the origins and treatment of homosexuality. The pro-homosexual speakers — Bishop Gene Robinson, an openly homosexual Episcopalian in New Hampshire, and Dr. David Scasta, past president of the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists — had sought "common ground and new perspectives" with two conservatives: Dr. Albert Mohler, president of South Baptist Theological Seminary and a member of the Focus on the Family board of directors; and Dr. Warren Throckmorton, associate professor of psychology at Grove City College.". This would have been great. This is what we need more of in America on these issues!!! Hopefully they reschedule!!!
Focus Hosts Debate on God in the Public Square- "Focus on the Family played host to a debate between noted atheist Michael Newdow and Focus' Dr. Chris Leland on God in the public square."-Wonderful quick 2 minute report. This is what we need more of in America on these issues!!!
Good News: Life Memorial Replaces Abortion Clinic in Alabama-"The former Center for Choice clinic performed abortions for nearly 30 years, during which time an estimated 30,000 preborn babies were killed. Hope's Corner organizers say they want to change the spirit of the building from a culture of death to a culture of life." Their is a link to the web site of the story of Claire Hope Cox who died at 8 weeks that inspired these parents to buy the buildin..."Billy Cox (the Father of Claire Hope) came up with the idea of purchasing the former abortion clinic, the same building he had walked by every day as a youngster on his way to school at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Claire's parents formed an ecumenical committee of Protestants and Catholics along with Christian business leaders to consider how the memorial would look....The building's lease expired the next month. Fittingly, the closing and handing over of the keys to the Cox family took place on Nov. 28, 2007 – exactly one year after Claire's death."-Way to go Claire!!! Read more of this story at www.Claireshope.com.
Intolerable Tolerance: "Christian Horizons is an evangelical ministry in Ontario that has cared for more than 1,400 people with developmental disabilities in 180 group homes. The group requires all employees to sign a contract agreeing to abstain from all sexual immorality, including homosexuality. When Christian Horizons fired a female employee who became involved with another woman, she complained to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, which fined the ministry $23,000 and two years back pay."-Feel free to browse the many links concerning this subject and also the actual decision made by the Canadian Courts.
International News of Possible Interest:
www.michaelyon-online.com Interesting site of a reporter in Iraq reporting alot of what is happening in Iraq from a different perspective that you don't get in mainstream media for example: Heroic Marine Throws Himself on Grenade
Focus on the family NEW!!! media center-Click on "Shows" under the video screen in Sort By: and then click on 04/24/2008 and listen thru to 05/01/2008. You can skip the message titled "Living with Messy Kids"!! But the shows entitled "Lord keep us free part 1 and 2" are the testimony of an ex-nazi and her wonderful patriotic story which are few and far between nowadays and a great sense of humour as she describes her transition from Nazi Germany to Free America and then click on "Why we must remember part 1, 2 and 3" for Ravi Zacharius speech and definitely the "part 3" for some interesting perspective from one who is currently traveling the world over. I think you all may be somewhat impressed/encouraged by Ravi. And for some good clean humour by Art Linkletter click on dates of 04/16/2008 to 04/18/2008 for about an hour and a half of Art Linkletter humour.
Eminent Psychiatrist Says Homosexuality is a Disorder that Can be Cured-"The eminent Spanish psychiatrist Enrique Rojas...Speaking at the Buenos Aires International Book Fair...characterized homosexual orientation as a "disorder" rather than an illness, and stated his opinion that 95% of cases are caused by environmental factors, according to the Spanish news service Terra. The disorder, according to Rojas, is the result of an absent father, overweening mother, or sexual abuse in childhood. Rojas blasted the homosexual movement for promoting the development of homosexual tendencies in young people.."
Famed Theologian Quits Anglican Church of Canada-"J.I. Packer, one of the world's most renowned evangelical theologians, left the Anglican Church of Canada, citing "poisonous liberalism" in the church body....Packer, 81, who was named one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in the world by Time magazine in 2005...Oxford-trained theologian...While the controversy has focused on homosexuality, Stackhouse says the issue is about more than sex. "This is about the fundamental question of how we derive any kind of Christian truth," he said, according to The Canadian Press. Packer, who has outlined a conservative Christian theology in his 1973 bestseller Knowing God, described the Bible as "absolute" authority on divine truth and that it clearly describes homosexuality as a grave sin" Swiss Grant Rights to Animals, Consider Same for Plants - Liberalize Abortion Laws-"The added protections afforded to plant and animal life stand in sharp contrast to the Swiss government's recent disregard for the life of the nation's unborn. In June 2002, the country decided to allow women to abort their children during the first trimester, provided a doctor determines that she is in an ambiguously defined "state of distress."
India PM calls aborted fetuses shameful-"Experts say up to 500,000 female fetuses are aborted in India every year because of a deep-rooted cultural preference for male children, who will help support their parents in old age and attract wives with substantial dowries. "This is a national shame and we must face this challenge squarely here and now," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a conference on ways to "Save the girl child."
Yanking Back the Balance/Filling in the Gaps/Emphasizing the Missing Headlines "I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday," Senator Obama. "Obama told reporters Tuesday that Wright's comments do not accurately portray the perspective of the black church."-AP
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InsuraSoul.com-Check out what's new. InsuraMex.com-Mexican Online Auto Insurance A can't miss for those interested!!! Debate Webcast: A Christian Response to Homosexuality-"For a 24 hour period, from 6:00 AM May 5th until 6:00 AM May 6th, you will be able to watch a free webcast of the important debate between Dr. Michael Brown, Director of the Coalition of Conscience, and Mr. Harry Knox, Director of Faith and Religion for the Human Rights Campaign, on the topic of "A Christian Response to Homosexuality." The Coalition of Conscience is a network of Christian leaders and believers working together for moral and cultural change through the gospel; the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the world's largest homosexual advocacy group...Dr. Brown suggested that both sides put the issues on the table in a mutually respectful way"-This is what we need more of in America on these issues!!! Yes!!! I am looking forward to this debate. I have never heard of Dr Brown myself nor Dr Knox but I hope this was a good and badly needed interchange of leaders from both sides coming together to get a perspective from both sides for understanding sake. To see leaders from both sides able to, with conviction, disagree but agree to lovingly disagree needs to be modeled to the American Public. Debates like this should get publicized and mediacized. I believe discussions like these can do a lot of good for objectivity and mutual understanding of one anothers positions and concerns and can really pave a way for possible legislation/law that can possibly satisfy both parties. But if not then at least there has been fair interchange and understanding given to one another which can be of great help in cooling any hot actions by either side or abuses of power without either side having to give, in principle. It seems to me that this is such a hot and passionate issue on both sides that we need more of this type of interchange for public health and the media should help out by making available programs that allow both sides of the issue to discuss with each other and America would be able to see the two sides going home still retaining their convictions but in love and not hate or frustration or with an itch to abuse power. I have yet to see this debate but it seems if it was good and fair then something like this should get public attention.
There was a program on one of the network channels over the issue of homosexuality that was the closest to balance I have yet to see though it wasn't. What they should have done was bring on the show ex-gay men and women to be able to tell their story as much as they allow for gay men and women to tell their story. What would be really really really cool is if ex-gay men and women were able to sit down with gay men and women and each give their points of view and still go home in love shaking each others hands at the end of the show as opposed to hate or frustration that can only lead to an abuse of power or further problems. This could encourage non hate on both sides and encourage a freedom to express both points of view in an atmosphere of love and respect as opposed to hate or frustration or abuse of power. What if this was modeled to the American Public I wonder if this would do a lot of good???????????? For now, we will have to wait to know!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We will have to rely upon the non popular media to rise to the occasion and this debate I hope is a good one and a step in that direction. And maybe just maybe the popular media will jump on board for the sake of those who do not have Internet or Cable TV.
It seems to me that the core issue is that the homosexual community is concerned about being bullied and discriminated against in the public arena. And the evangelical community is concerned about freedom of point of view and religious conscious in the public arena. And I think their are plenty of people on both sides that have no problem with allowing each other their rights and freedoms as long as those rights don't fringe upon each other. And that is the issue I believe on both sides. Now their are others but it seems to boil down to this for both sides. This debate may be informative and after the debate I may think otherwise. But if this is the case then the solution seems simple. Get leaders in both communities to lay down legislation that would allow for both rights to be honoured and then take it to the legislatures with both backing it. It seems to me this could be done. I don't see why not. And then if violations are made against the legislation then you have the backing of respected leaders of both sides. Then if there are flaws in the legislation as it works out then continue to revise with the backing of both sides and who knows maybe this will help for better communications between both sides and in the long run things will work out and if not at least there was an effort to do this in a way that may be the most helpful in example to the American Public. Publicization of this happening in order to serve as a good example to the public would need the backing of a highly public balanced media and it may take days, weeks and months for the respected leaders to come out with something that could be satisfactory without violating each others concerns/convictions but that would be that much more of media coverage of example. And if they can't come out with anything then even that is an interesting lesson learned but it was done in a good example kind of way. So it seems to be a no lose situation or at least better then it is now situation. Maybe this is just plain silly and idealistic but I don't see why it couldn't be tried!!! I remember many years when some of the gay community sat down with a formal dinner with some of the evangelical community and I know that those of the evangelical community were big names like Jerry Falwell so I am sure there were big names of the gay community but I believe that served a whole lot of good but it just needs the media backing to put that good on display to the general public to give some names and human faces on both sides and how they can passionately disagree but at the same time passionately love each other just as much and go home feeling that maybe they accomplished some good modeling love and not hate to the public even though both will go back to there radio shows to passionately argue their point of view. And if we can't do the above then why, why and why can we not do at least this.
I think I am going to send some emails to some of the popular media programs like 20/20, Dateline etc and see if they would see a need for this, maybe they can be the pioneers cause they are the ones that need to be but until then check out this web cast.....
Check out my email on 05/04/2008 about what was about to happen at the American Psychiatric Association concerning this very same subject. Scroll down to Other News of Possible Interest: and check out the 2nd article just below "Evolutions Critics Shift Tactics With School".
I was going to send this in the 05/04/2008 email but I thought this was of such great importance for those concern about this issue to make it a separate email for viewing since it is a one time event for tomorrow but if you miss it I believe a DVD will be made available.
Yanking Back the Balance/Filling in the Gaps/Emphasizing the Missing Headlines
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