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Operation Renewed Hope Introduction

by Staff
December 19, 2007

MEDIA ADVISORY, (christiansunite.com) -- Operation Renewed Hope is a medical mission agency dedicated to the following mission statement: (1) The salvation of all men through faith in Christ. (2) The relief of suffering of all men regardless of their beliefs or nationality. (3) The sending of part-time and full-time medical missionaries. The agency began in 1992 and is supported by individual and church funds.

ORH conducts evangelistic medical clinics around the world working through Biblically-based missionaries. >From these clinics, ORH leaves established local churches for the continued care of the people.

ORH acquires, warehouses, and ships thousands of pounds of medical equipment to hospitals in need. Over the years, ORH has shipped to over twenty nations.

ORH recruits and trains teens and adults to participate in the evangelistic medical clinics. The training is rigorous and instructive. The boot camp students receive instructions in jungle survival, medical care, and medical assistance.

ORH offers help to the sick outside of the United States through medical resources found in the United States. Recently, a 1 year old received corrective surgery for a desperate heart condition.

ORH also supports Homes of Hope. These homes are conducted by nationals and missionaries and must meet the regulations set forth by ORH. The homes generally are under-supported and in difficult regions of the world. ORH salutes these selfless people who seek in the purest fashion to help children in greatest need.

Operation Renewed Hope plans to begin a program of instruction for medical missionary training. This program will take the student through an Associate in Nursing and add two years of training in the needs of remote medical work.

ORH conducts relief work in disaster areas. After hurricane Katrina, ORH brought food, water, and restoration teams to thousands. Hurricane Mitch and the Tsunami of 2004 were met with major efforts by those of the ORH team.

Current nations of interest for ORH are Cambodia, Uganda, Guyana, Honduras, Sudan, Mexico, Indonesia, and India. These nations are targeted for conducting remote medical clinics. Other nations in which ORH has worked are Russia, Panama, Mali, Romania, Bosnia, and many others.

The goal is simple. ORH seeks to help every person that can possibly be helped requiring no religious test for help. The help is distributed equally regardless of race, nationality, or creed. That is what Jesus would do.

Operation Renewed Hope Introduction (http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06719.shtml)

Near Jesus' Birthplace - a Birthplace of Hope-Bethlehem Hospital is Safe Haven for Expectant Mothers

by Staff
December 19, 2007

BETHLEHEM, (christiansunite.com) -- A mere 500 yards away from the traditional site where the laboring Mary found shelter in a stable and a safe manger to deliver the Baby Jesus, the poor women of Bethlehem find hope and a safe place to give birth. Holy Family Hospital is an obstetrical/gynecological facility - the only one in the region that can handle the complicated medical conditions of women living in extreme poverty. Here modern state-of-the-art birthing facilities and neonatal intensive care units for preemies serve the needs of all Bethlehem women regardless of creed, ethnicity or ability to pay.

The need is great. Living in poverty and under pervasive political stress creates a high-risk-situation for pregnant women. Twenty-five percent of the women served by the hospital live in refugee camps. The hospital is the designated care provider for four refugee camps operated by the UN and every month over 200 women overcome curfews, road closures and roadblocks to deliver here. Thirteen percent of the infants born need intensive neonatal care and Holy Family Hospital is the only facility in the region to serve this need. Despite all these hazards and hardships, since 1990 the hospital has delivered over 40,000 babies.

Colleen Marotta, Executive Director of the U.S. based Foundation which supports the work of the hospital, sees the facility as a birthplace of hope for the expectant mothers and fathers, "The women who give birth may have different traditions but they are united in that primal need of all laboring women for safety and care as they bring their children into the world. Like Mary and Joseph, these families are on a journey to find a place of refuge, a place of hope and promise, a place where their babies can be delivered safely. In the entire Bethlehem region, only one place is their destination - Holy Family Hospital".

In 1989, at the request of Pope John Paul II, the Order of Malta, an international charitable organization, took over the hospital facilities -- a former general hospital, -- and determined to provide medical services to women and infants. In the year 2000, the late Holy Father named Holy Family Hospital one of his top 100 priorities for the new millennium.

According to the familiar Christmas story, the Virgin Mary traveled with Joseph to the city of Bethlehem, arriving just as her labor began. Desperate for lodging that could both shelter them and provide a safe place to give birth; they found "no room at the inn" and were forced to make do with a stable. This may all make for charming nativity scenes with oxen and donkeys and hay-filled mangers, but there is not an expectant mother in the world who would not want better accommodations for her own newborn.

Says Marotta, "Outside Holy Family Hospital's doors, the primitive conditions in which Our Lord was born still exist and women often find themselves delivering their babies in the most unsanitary and unsafe of conditions. Holy Family Hospital is a haven for the Mary and Josephs of the modern day"

Near Jesus' Birthplace - a Birthplace of Hope-Bethlehem Hospital is Safe Haven for Expectant Mothers (http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion06717.shtml)

Dad, 3 kids alive after 3 days in snow

By JULIET WILLIAMS, Associated Press Writer 16 minutes ago

PARADISE, Calif. - A father and three children who vanished on a Christmas tree-cutting trip in the Northern California mountains were found alive Wednesday after huddling in a culvert for warmth during three days of heavy snow.

"I'm just amazed how well they did," Lisa Sams said after seeing her children and ex-husband for the first time since they were rescued. "It was like butterflies in my stomach, like if you were going to go on a very first date."

A California Highway Patrol helicopter crew spotted Frederick Dominguez atop a small bridge and landed nearby, sinking into 2 feet of snow, flight officer David White said. The family had taken shelter in a culvert beneath the bridge and stomped "help" in the snow, White said.

White said it was the last opportunity for the helicopter, with snow falling heavily as it descended.

"With another storm coming in, they were just happy to get out of there and get home," he said.

The helicopter ferried the family to safety in two trips; Alexis, 14, and Joshua, 12, were taken out of the woods first. Dominguez, 38, smiled at cheering family and friends as he and 18-year-old Christopher emerged from the helicopter a short time later.

"Our hearts are all full right now," said Cory Stahl, who closed his pest control business so his employees could help look for Dominguez, a co-worker. "It's a very merry Christmas now."

All four were talking and drinking hot chocolate while being checked at Feather River Hospital for dehydration, hypothermia and frostbite, treating physician Kurt Bower said. He expected them to be released later in the day.

Bower said the family had some water but nothing to eat during their ordeal.

"I'm surprised how good they are," he said. "There's a miracle from God in there somewhere."

More than a foot of snow had fallen in the area since the family disappeared, covering any tracks leading from the truck. Drifts ranged from 1 to 7 feet deep across the heavily wooded and canyon-crossed area.

The rescue teams had been racing time and the elements to find the four, as a powerful storm carrying even more snow was headed into the region. The search effort expanded with a break in the weather Wednesday morning, and the helicopter was able to join the search around midday after low-lying clouds lifted.

Dominguez and his children had been missing since Sunday in the region about 100 miles north of Sacramento. Dominguez's pickup truck was found Monday night parked along a mountain road some 25 miles northeast of Chico.

The family also appeared better equipped than rescuers initially thought. Earlier reports said the family went into the woods wearing T-shirts and light jackets, but all four were wearing heavy winter coats when they emerged from the helicopters, and some had wool caps.

Dominguez's co-workers said he is devoted to his children and takes them to church every Sunday, as he did this weekend before heading out in search of a Christmas tree.

"He lives for his family," said Mairleen Grove, the pest company's office manager. "When he walks in the door, he makes everybody smile."

Dominguez parked his Chevrolet pickup along a road near the mountain hamlet of Inskip on Sunday afternoon, then likely walked downhill into the woods with his children and became lost, Butte County Search and Rescue spokeswoman Madde Watt said.

"You could get turned around very quickly," she said.

It was clear at the time and for hours after the family entered the woods. The first storm wave didn't hit until Monday.

Because Dominguez had custody of his children at the time, his ex-wife did not know they were missing until she discovered that her youngest child failed to show up at school Monday. Authorities were alerted at 8 p.m. Monday and immediately began a search.

They quickly found the pickup — a bare spot beneath it, indicating little snow when the trek began — but at least 8 inches of snow was covering the ground, hurting efforts to track them.

The search effort expanded significantly Wednesday morning, as snow had stopped falling for the first time since the family went missing.

About 2 feet of snow was expected to fall Wednesday night and Thursday morning in the area where the family had been missing, said Jared Leighton, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Sacramento.

Dad, 3 kids alive after 3 days in snow (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071220/ap_on_re_us/missing_family;_ylt=AkxvDUfXDyBWubDjg_GMMXWs0NUE)

Surviving Girl Evacuated in Panama Crash
Dec 26 09:02 PM US/Eastern
By ARNULFO FRANCO
Associated Press Writer

DAVID, Panama (AP) - The sole survivor of a plane crash was reunited with her family Wednesday after rescue workers trekked for five hours to carry the 12- year-old American girl out of a remote mountain area, then airlifted her to a hospital.

Francesca Lewis, wearing a neck brace and with one arm bandaged, met with her parents at a hospital in the town of David, capital of Chiriqui province.

Michael Klein, a prominent California businessman, and his 13-year-old daughter Talia—a friend of Francesca—were killed in Sunday's crash near the jungle-flanked slopes of the Baru volcano, 270 miles west of the capital, Panama City. The Panamanian pilot Edwin Lasso, 23, was also killed.

Francesca was in stable condition at a private hospital with hypothermia, contusions and muscle injuries, and does not remember much about the crash, said Samuel Cattan, the doctor treating her.

"She lost consciousness, and she only remembers (the plane) falling into a cloud, and then she saw trees," said Cattan.

He said Francesca will probably remain hospitalized for at least a week.

Francesca's mother, father, uncle and sister came down from the United States to care for her. Earlier Wednesday, her mother, Valerie Lewis, told The Associated Press her daughter could walk, but had apparently suffered a broken arm and hypothermia.

"My husband spoke to her by phone this morning," Lewis said. "She sounded good. She just said 'Hi, daddy. See you soon.'"

Rescue workers struggled for five hours against heavy rains and high- altitude winds to carry Francesca by stretcher from the crash site to a spot where a helicopter could land, Chiriqui Civil Protection Director Armando Palacios told AP.

A preliminary investigation showed the Cessna 172 struck a tree and split in two, said National Civil Protection Director Roberto Velasquez.

"It is miraculous that the girl could survive that impact," he said.

Rescuers spent two days combing the mountainous area before finding Francesca and the bodies of the three others Tuesday. But cold, wet weather prevented her immediate evacuation, and she was initially treated in a makeshift shelter.

Michael Klein, 37, was the chief executive officer of Pacificor LLC, a Santa Barbara-based company that manages several hedge funds. He founded two companies in the 1990s before becoming president and CEO of eGroups Inc., which was the world's largest group e-mail communication service. Yahoo Inc. purchased eGroups for $450 million in August 2000 and it is now known as Yahoo Groups.

Aviation authorities said the cause of the crash was not yet known, but Panama's RPC radio reported that witnesses saw the plane flying at a very low altitude around noon Sunday amid buffeting winds.

Michael Klein was on vacation with the two girls at an eco-resort he owns in the Central American nation, according to Kim Klein, his ex- wife and Talia's mother. The three had been scheduled to return to Santa Barbara on Monday, she told the AP from Boquete, Panama, an area close to David, on Tuesday.

Their plane disappeared after departing from Islas Secas off Panama's Pacific coast, heading for the Chiriqui volcano, about 285 miles west of the capital.

A colleague described Klein as a brilliant businessman who skipped high school and graduated from college at age 17.

"One of the most interesting people you could ever speak to on any ... myriad of subjects," Kurt Benjamin, the vice president of business development at Pacificor, told KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. "He's just an unbelievable individual."

Benjamin said Klein was close to his daughter.

"Her father was so proud of her," he said. "She was an amazing, accomplished horseback rider—just an absolute winner. Solid, solid young girl."

Surviving Girl Evacuated in Panama Crash (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8TPGGF00&show_article=1)

Assyrian revival stirs in Turkey
By Sarah Rainsford
BBC News, Istanbul

In a corner of 21st Century Turkey, a congregation still worships in the language of Christ.

At an early morning Sunday church service, chanting in Aramaic fills the air together with the sweet scent of incense.

Men pray standing, their palms open to heaven. Most of the women are behind a wooden lattice at the back, their heads covered in scarves.

These people are Assyrians and the region they know as Tur Abdin was once the heartland of their ancient Christian church.

At the turn of the last century an estimated 200,000 Assyrians still lived here. Today there are fewer than 3,000 left.

But recently, there have been signs of a possible revival.

Homecoming

In the nearby village of Elbeyendi, Aziz Demir contemplates what remains of his home - just the walls and a jumble of loose rocks.

Two decades ago, the Assyrians were caught up in the Kurdish conflict here.

Unwilling to side with the insurgents or Turkish troops, Aziz, his neighbours and thousands like them fled to Europe.

Their abandoned homes crumbled to ruin.

It was just the latest Assyrian exodus from the region. Many had fled nationalist oppression before or left to seek economic opportunity.

But now Aziz and 10 other families have come back.

"It was our dream to return to the land of our ancestors. We had so many comforts in Europe but something was always missing," Aziz says.

"We also want to prove to other Assyrians that it is possible to return and be settled here."

Reconstruction

What the families found in Elbeyendi though was utter destruction.

Just behind Aziz's old house is the village church, thought to date to the 4th Century.

It is still standing, just, but unsafe.

Inside, the walls are covered in graffiti left by soldiers who fought here: pictures of snakes and daggers, and a skull and crossed-bones.

Outside, family graves have been opened over the years and robbed.

"It is hard to express our feelings when we arrived from Europe and saw what had happened. We just asked, 'Why?'," says Aziz's wife, Semso, standing in front of the ruins of the house where she got married.

"But the situation is better now. We are trying to look forward without forgetting what happened in the past," she adds.

On the edge of the old village, the beginnings of a new one has sprung up.

The community has built 17 enormous stone villas so far and a new church will open next year.

The Kurdish conflict has not ended but this area is safe now.

Looking ahead

The Assyrians say Turkey's accession talks with the EU also convinced them to return.

"We lived through many difficulties here but Turkey is more concerned with human rights now - it is more democratic," believes Yakup Demir.

"That is why we came back, because we believe the future here will be better."

But if this return is to prove enduring, the next generation has to be equally convinced - and they have spent their entire lives until now in Europe.

"There is nothing here, just a pile of rocks," complains 17-year-old Ishok, who was brought up in Switzerland and speaks no Turkish.

He has no plans to stay here.

"There is no internet here, I have no real friends. It is boring," he shrugs.

A short drive from Elbeyendi though, there are further tentative signs of renewal.

Dayrul Zafaran monastery, the Saffron Monastery, was the seat of the Syriac Orthodox church in the days when tens of thousands of Assyrians lived here.

Today, EU cash is helping fund restoration work on the 5th Century, honey-coloured brickwork and a new archbishop has re-invigorated the spiritual side of life.

Twenty local boys are being schooled in the monastery in the hope some may become the next generation of much-needed Syriac priests.

There is a constant flow of visitors through the gates, many of them curious Turks.

Optimism

Christians have recently become the targets of a surge of nationalist feeling in Turkey.

Three missionaries were murdered this year, two priests were attacked and one Syriac monk was even kidnapped.

But the mood at the monastery is determinedly optimistic.

"We believe the project of the EU means democracy, human rights and tolerance," says Archbishop Saliba Ozmen.

"We believe that through this project our community too will be more tolerated. We will be happier people as Turkish citizens," he says.

With such a turbulent history, the relative stability in this region now has encouraged the Assyrians' positive outlook.

It has also prompted some community members living abroad to send money to help protect what's left of their heritage here.

For now though, only a handful have chosen to return to Turkey themselves.

The hope of those pioneers is that - eventually - others may follow.

Assyrian revival stirs in Turkey (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7156590.stm)

Dallas Man Regains Freedom to Distribute Gospel Tracts
By Lawrence Jones
Christian Post Reporter
Sat, Jan. 12 2008 01:20 PM ET

A Christian man who was told by police that he needed to purchase a ticket in order to share his faith outside a Dallas area transit station will no longer face those restrictions.

For two years, Daniel Bailey had been peacefully sharing his faith and passing out Gospel tracts to passers-by at the Dallas Area Transit Station until an officer told the disabled man that he must either purchase a ticket or leave the area.

When Bailey contacted a DART personnel who had given him permission to witness at the station two years ago, he was told that a passed Code of Conduct prohibits his activities.

Upon learning of Bailey's case, Christian legal group Alliance Defense Center contacted transit officials to defend his free speech rights.

The prohibition of free speech was unconstitutional, read a letter written by ADF senior legal counsel Erik Stanley to DART's president and executive director Gary C. Thomas.

In a response letter, Thomas agreed to allow Bailey to express his faith at the station without having to purchase a ticket.

“Christians should not be treated as second-class citizens simply because they choose to exercise their faith in public,” said Stanley.

“We appreciate the quick and courteous response of DART officials in resolving this matter and are pleased that Mr. Bailey will now be able to return to his activities,” said Stanley.

Dallas Man Regains Freedom to Distribute Gospel Tracts (http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080112/30831_Dallas_Man_Regains_Freedom_to_Distribute_Gospel_Tracts.htm)

Australia WW2 warship found and ends 66-year mystery
Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:55am GMT

By Rob Taylor

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia's greatest military mystery was solved on Monday with the discovery of a World War Two warship which went down with all 645 crew in a fierce battle with a German vessel more than 66 years ago.

A day after searchers located the wreck of the German merchant raider HSK Kormoran off the West Australian coast, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said they had also found the Australian battlecruiser HMAS Sydney, sunk by the German ship.

Rudd, flanked by top military commanders, said it was "a historic day for all Australians, and a sad day for all Australians".

"It's very important to understand that this is a tomb and there are 645 Australian sailors entombed there," he said, adding both ships would be declared war graves.

The sinking of the HMAS Sydney II is Australia's greatest naval tragedy, with all hands lost after a 30-minute battle with the German ship on November 19, 1941.

The cruiser was also the biggest ship lost with no survivors from any World War Two nation, historians said, vanishing after sailing ablaze over the horizon at the end of the encounter.

News of the sinking devastated Australians, plunging the nation into a deep wartime gloom, and the mystery of its disappearance had remained a national obsession. Several false discoveries of the ship's wreck have occurred before.

"It's so many emotions that all I can do is cry," said Debra Malycha-Coombs, whose uncle Walter Leslie Curwood was a 23-year-old wire operator on the Sydney. "My mother died over 20 years ago not knowing where he was," she said.

The only witnesses to the battle were the 317 survivors on the Kormoran, which was disguised as a Dutch freighter, the Straat Malakka, when it encountered the Australian ship.

The Sydney was found by a government-funded research ship at a depth of 2,470 metres (8100 feet), about 240 km (150 miles) west of Shark Bay, off the coast of Western Australia, Rudd said.

While a photographic survey would not be carried out until next week, high-resolution sonar images showed the wreck was near intact and a protection order was placed over the ship.

The Sydney was found 22 km (14 miles) from the Kormoran by American wreck hunter David Mearns, who located the British cruiser HMS Hood and Germany's battleship Bismarck in their North Atlantic graves.

Germany's government had also been informed of Kormoran's discovery and the resting place of 80 German crew, Rudd said.

The navy's official version of the battle (www.navy.gov.au), based on incomplete accounts from Kormoran survivors, says the German ship lured the more heavily-armed Sydney in close and then opened fire with torpedoes and six-inch guns.

Before the wreck's discovery, the only trace of the Sydney came from last year's discovery of the remains of an unknown sailor buried on remote Christmas Island after his body washed up in a bullet-riddled life raft in February 1942.

Australia's navy chief Vice-Admiral Russ Shalders said there was no doubt the wreck belonged to Sydney as sonar images perfectly matched the 6,800 tonne cruiser, which had previously distinguished itself in the Mediterranean.

"For 66 years, this nation has wondered where the Sydney was and what occurred to her. We've uncovered the first part of that mystery. The next part of the mystery, of course, is what happened," Shalders said.

Australia WW2 warship found and ends 66-year mystery (http://uk.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=UKSP11295520080317)
~~~~~~~~~~

I know this isn't exactally Christian news...........

German leader stresses support for Israel

by Anke Landmesser Mon Mar 17, 11:42 AM ET

JERUSALEM (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday underlined her country's support for Israel and largely sidestepped questions about controversial Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

"Germany is aware that Israel must fight daily for its right to exist," Merkel said after a first-ever joint Israeli-German ministerial meeting.

As Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stressed settlement actvity will continue, Merkel, who was in Israel to mark the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state, would only say the issue was a complex one.

"The practical situation is more complicated than the way one sees it from afar," Merkel said in response to a question after a joint news conference.

While she declined to go into details at the news conference, she said she and Olmert had "open and very direct" talks on the issue, widely seen as a major hurdle in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

But Olmert stressed Israel will continue settlement construction in annexed east Jerusalem.

"There are places that we will not give up as part of a final (peace) agreement and that is why there is no reason that we stop building there," he said, alluding to large Israeli settlement blocs in the West Bank.

Merkel focused largely on bilateral issues, but asked about almost daily rocket fire launched at southern Israel by Palestinian militants in Gaza, she said: "there are conditions that don't make talks any easier."

In a joint statement, Merkel and Olmert underlined bilateral cooperation in "the fight against international terrorism."

"Cross-border terror networks can only be countered through joint action by the international community."

The two sides also discussed Iran's controversial nuclear policies.

"Israel and Germany share the same serious concerns over Iran's efforts to obtain a nuclear arsenal," Olmert said.

"We also agreed on the need to continue establishing a series of measures to halt this process," he said.

In a highlight of her largely symbolic visit, Merkel laid a wreath at Israel's Holocaust memorial earlier in the day.

Accompanied by Olmert and several Israeli ministers, a sombre-faced Merkel turned up the eternal flame in the Hall of Remembrance at the Yad Vashem memorial before laying a wreath and pausing for several seconds of silence.

Dressed in a black suit, Merkel -- the first German chancellor born after World War II -- also visited the Children's Memorial and signed the guestbook at the end of her third visit to Yad Vashem since taking office.

"In view of Germany's responsibility for the Shoah (Holocaust), the German government... underlines its determination to build a future together," she said.

On Tuesday, Merkel will become the first German chancellor to address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, an honour normally reserved for heads of state.

Upon arrival on Sunday, she visited the grave and home of Israel's founder and first prime minister David Ben Gurion at the Sde Boker kibbutz in the heart of the Negev desert.

Her three-day visit is designed to mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of Israel, which will be officially celebrated in May.

More than six decades since the Holocaust, in which the Nazis killed six million Jews, Germany is Israel's most important political and trading partner in Europe.

German leader stresses support for Israel (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080317/wl_mideast_afp/mideastdiplomacyisraelgermany)

Vietnamese Christians organize against abortion

Abortions now outnumber live births in Vietnam while a center in Ho Chi Minh City is taking in unmarried pregnant women for care.

By Asia News

In a Hồ Chí Minh City suburb Redemptorist Fathers celebrated a Mass on December 28, Holy Innocents' Day, dedicated to praying for those who abort out of “cowardice.” About 30 unmarried pregnant women from a Redemptorist-run home and people from a pro-life group took part in the function.

Co-celebrant Fr Joseph Le Quang Uy urged those present to pray “for those who abort out of cowardice” because they are concerned that “children will affect their income and work” and “their reputation among neighbours” if the latter are born out of wedlock. Sadly too often so “parents drive away pregnant unmarried daughters or ask them to abort.”

For him abortion is a crime against humanity. For this reason pro-life activists must be supported through prayers that they may be able to convince women who want to abort not to do so. By contrast, “aborted children do not need our prayers because they become angels,” Father Uy said.

Redemptorists founded a pro-life group in 2005 whose members visit pregnant women seeking abortions at state-run hospitals and health-care centres and encourage them not to do it.

Martha Hoàng Thị Hoa, 29, told UCA News that in order to bring her pregnancy to term she had to leave her paternal home. She works for a local garment company and earns a million dong (US$ 62.5) a month, not enough for her needs and those of her son, so she plans to collect used items to make money.

“My father, a parish council member, is a straight-laced man, so he never accepted my unwanted pregnancy,” she said.

At the shelter where she is staying women have to leave two months after they give birth so that other pregnant women can take their place.

Marie Nguyễn Thị My, 22, is a college student from Vinh City, in northern Vietnam. She decided not to abort after talking to a priest. “I will protect the child God gives me,” she said.

My, who is seven-month pregnant, still prays for her boyfriend to return to her so that their son might have both parents to raise him.

Another woman, who is six-month pregnant, said the more than 1,000 cement containers hold the ashes of aborted foetuses the Redemptorists have cremated. Members of the pro-life group the former founded collect around 50 to 200 aborted foetuses every day from hospitals and clinics in the city for a decent disposal. A Redemptorist father said that each 10-by-10-by-30-centimetre container can hold the ashes of some 50 to 70 aborted foetuses. Hundreds of the containers are kept in the chapel's sanctuary.

According to the Hồ Chí Minh City-based Center for Protection of Health of Mothers and Children and Family Planning, more than 100,000 abortions take place in the city each year and that, in recent years, abortions outnumbered births. According to its own data, there were 114,002 abortions and 112,426 births in 2003 compared to 108,193 abortions and 107,314 births in 2004.

Vietnamese Christians organize against abortion (http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=13637)

Power of Prayer Changing Lives in Indonesia
By Lucille Talusan
CWN Southeast Asia Correspondent
May 9, 2008

CWN.org - NORTH SULAWESI, Indonesia -- Christian World News is taking a closer look at how the power of prayer transforms lives.

Few people know that power more than the young people you are about to read about. Once they lived the party lifestyle of drugs, alcohol and casual sex. Today, they still have fun, but in a different way and for a very different reason.

If not for the lyrics of their songs, people might think this group of young people was high on drugs or drunk with wine. But instead, they're filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

It's a typical Saturday night for the Frontline Youth Ministry. It's a far cry from the miserable lives most of these kids used to lead.

Maria Poli shares how scared she was three years ago, when at the age of 17 she learned that she was pregnant.

"I was raised in a Christian family, but I wanted to try new things in my life, including smoking, drinking and free sex," she told CWN News. "When I became pregnant, I was scared my parents would disown me, so I decided to get an abortion. I felt so broken, I wanted to die."

Erick Ilham was raised in a strict Muslim family and he blames his parents' harsh religious practices for leading him to drugs.

"I don't understand why my parents always beat me until my head was bleeding," he said. "I thought maybe that was the way to teach me to be a good person. But they hurt me and I hated them. I used to drink and get high on drugs, but when I got desperate for drugs, I cut my arm and sipped my own blood."

Maria and Erick are only some of the teens who share the same sad experiences of being abandoned, desperate and lost. They all came to Christ through the ministry of Frontline fellowship.

"Today, Jesus is my saviour and my Lord," Ilham said. "If my family finds out i am a Christian, they will kill me. But I have peace. I can feel God in my life."

While the Frontliners worship and intercede for their nation, another group of young people from the City Worship Church are getting prepared for their street ministry.

Christian World News joined the teens as they were going out to the streets in Manado. It was drizzling but they didn't care at all. What they thought was more important was to share their testimonies and bring Christ to the people that night.

Doni Kowaas, a former street kid himself, leads the team as they pray for the youth. He shared his testimony of how God got him off of the streets.

"At the age of 12, I was forced to live in the streets," Kowaas said. "I got into drugs and all kinds of trouble until a Pastor invited me to a retreat. There I gave my life to Jesus. I want these people to experience God's love and let them know that God can change their lives."

These young people realize how important their role is in the transformation of their nation.

"As we preach the good news, we should be good role models and influence the people to live for God," said Frontline Ministry's Imelda Tampi. "This is the only way that our city can be reconciled with God, not only our city but the whole Indonesia."

Power of Prayer Changing Lives in Indonesia (http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/372367.aspx)

German Court Rules Muslim Girl Can't Skip Swimming Lessons

Thursday , May 08, 2008

FC1
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A German court on Wednesday ruled that a Muslim student cannot skip co-ed swimming lessons because her religion prohibits form-fitting clothes that do not cover her body, The Local reported.

The 12-year-old girl’s parents sued a school in the northern city of Remscheid after it refused to let the girl skip the lessons. The court sided with the school, saying that the state’s responsibility to educate the girl outweighed an infringement on her religious freedom.

Last year the girl’s parents rejected an offer from the school saying she could swim in leggings and a T-shirt. They argued that her body still would be visible through wet clothes, The Local reported.

The court concluded that because the swim lessons take place in water, there would be very little time that her body would be seen.

The parents’ attorney said the family will appeal the decision.

German Court Rules Muslim Girl Can't Skip Swimming Lessons (http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,354571,00.html)
~~~~~~~~~
Many countries are increasing scrutiny on Christians, all the while kowtowing to islam.

Well, I'm glad of the ruling, however, the court case can be used as precedent against Christians later. Homeschooling is outlawed in that country. The government and schools are going against Christians more and more as well. Germany has been targeting Christians and home schoolers and taking the kids away from the families. People have been moving away from the country to avoid the growing persecution. Of course, you don't read about it much in the mainstream news media.

Israel's Messianic Jews: Some Call it a Miracle
By Wendy Griffith
CBN News Senior Reporter
July 22, 2008

CBNNews.com - In Israel, a resurgence in the number of Jews who believe in Jesus is getting a lot of attention. Many leaders say it's the strongest growth since the time of Jesus and that the Messianic movement could be on the brink of a great revival.

"This is the first time where we've seen Israeli society in general being so open to consider who Yeshua is," said Messianic leader Asher Intrater. "This is a real miracle, and there's beginning to be grace and favor with us in the land."

Although Jesus and the early disciples were Jewish, for nearly 2,000 years the gospel has been viewed as a religion mainly for Gentiles. Even the name Jesus or Yeshua has been a forbidden word among many Jews. But in the last few years, Messianic leaders in Israel say something important is happening.

"I believe with all my heart, after we have come back to the land, we are seeing the Lord, the Holy Spirit, is removing the veil from the eyes of the Jews and more and more Jews are realizing," Tel Aviv pastor Avi Mizrachi said.

Although nobody knows for sure how many Messianic Jews live in Israel, it's believed there are about 120 congregations now and 10,000-15,000 Jewish believers in Jesus.

That may not sound like many given Israel's nearly six million Jews, but it's a far cry from 10 years ago when there were only about 3,500 Jewish believers and 80 congregations.

A good example is Shemen Sasson in Jerusalem, where attendance has nearly tripled over the past four years. Today, close to 300 people attend the meetings, most of them Jewish or people married to Jews. And salvations are increasing.

Meet the Ronens. Daniel, Ayelet and their five children are Israeli believers. Ayelet is an Israeli Jew and Daniel is a Finnish Gentile. But his family has been here since before Israel became a nation. They believe Jesus is the Jewish Messiah.

"When Jesus came, when Yeshua came, he came to talk to our people," Ayelet Ronen said. "He walked on our land, He spoke our language, He spoke in our synagogues. Really, He came for us!

Yad-Hashmona is a beautiful little village about 10 miles outside Jerusalem, and the only one home to just Messianic Jewish believers like the Ronens.

For this family, being Israeli and believing in Jesus is a natural fit. They keep the Jewish feasts, circumcise their sons, keep the Sabbath and serve in the army. And even though they live in a Messianic village, they don't feel secluded from the rest of Israeli society.

"Our kids go with everybody else to school... I go to work outside...Our principle is to go out and be part of society," Daniel Ronen explained.

Their children sometimes face challenges but have used those occasions to witness.

"My friends started to know I'm a believer and they ask me if I'm a believer. I tell them I'm a believer in Yeshua and it's really good to believe in Him and that maybe you can one day believe in him, too," third grader Adan said.

The Ronens are sometimes accused of being missionaries, a very bad word in Israel. But they insist they are not.

"My point is to share my faith with anyone who wants to hear me and I will gladly share the Good News of my faith," Ayelet said. "I never speak of y'ou should do, and you should change."'

In addition to Israeli-born believers, many are from other countries. American Jews Eddie and Jackie Santoro became believers during the1970s Jesus Movement.

They made aliyah to Israel 11 years ago, learned Hebrew, and now lead a growing congregation in Jerusalem.

"Our current congregation, we started almost two years ago with about 20 people. Today we have over 100," Eddie Santoro explained. "We see salvations here and there, but we feel like there's something yet to come. It's definitely growing."

But being a Jewish believer in Israel isn't easy.

"I think probably the greatest challenge is that you always feel that the rest of society isn't accepting you. And so when you meet somebody and you want to talk to them and you want to tell them who you are, there's always that challenge of, 'should I say something,";Jackie Santoro said.

For the first time, the secular media are saying something, even mentioning Messianic Jews in a more favorable light. A recent wave of persecution, including the bombing of a young Jewish believer, have put Messianic Jews on the front page.

"At least we see that believers are being asked to explain who they are, what they believe in, why they are here...how they can be Israeli and believe in Jesus and be given an opportunity to tell their story and share their testimony," Knut Hoyland of the Caspari Center said.

What does this movement mean for the Body of Christ?

"It really is ultimately a battle for the return of the Lord - because Jesus will not return until the Jewish people say Baruch h'abba B'shem Adonai - Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord," said worship leader Karen Davis.

"One of our other banner statements is from Romans 11, that all Israel will be saved. So we are focused, not just on growth in the body here and revival - but as I said, ultimately, bringing Yeshua back and His Kingdom being established on the Earth," Asher said.

Ayelet said, "If it wasn't for Yeshua, we would be lost - just like the lost sheep of Israel we would be. It's because of Him there is that completion in our life and hope for the future."

"If it wasn't for Yeshua, we would be lost," Ayelet said. (AMEN!! - DW)

Israel's Messianic Jews: Some Call it a Miracle (http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/407139.aspx)
~~~~~~~

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Bikers take their Christian message and ministry off the beaten path

By Lindsay Melvin (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Monday, August 4, 2008

Cruising through Memphis on a fire-apple red motorcycle, the wind whipping through his hair and scenery rolling past, Earnest "Ribbone" Bearden knows it's all God's doing.

With a passion for black leather and the Bible, Bearden is among roughly 30 Memphis-area Christian bikers that make up the Wheels of Grace ministry.
Wheels of Grace member Richard "Pontiac" Lowery (middle), with fellow members, prays during the benediction at the opening ceremonies last week of the River City Bikers Roundup at the Mid-South Fairgrounds.

"We all have a passion and desire to ride but it all belongs to God and we use it for his glory," said Bearden, the group's president.

Wheels of Grace is the Memphis Chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, an interdenominational ministry in 18 countries.

For nearly a decade, the burley gang has been taking its Christian message to biker hangouts, bars and even prisons.

They usually can be found on Wednesdays out on

Beale Street for Bike-Night or other local biker hangouts with an ample supply of mini Bibles and shop rags with scripture.

Straddling their shiny rides, they appear an intimidating bunch with shaggy hair, vests and bandanas.

But because they share a love for loud pipes and have a knowledge of biker lingo, they are part of a motorcycle brotherhood that allows them to go places the church can't, says the group.

"I've done more work in ministry out here than in the church," said three-year member Jerome Gray.

A former youth pastor who's now a deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Gray's shiny new Honda Gold Wing recently helped him befriend and bring Jesus into the life of a fellow biker and recovering alcoholic, he said.

"Motorcycles are a great conversation tool," he said.

And wherever the evangelical group rides, they bring their faith.

The head of Jesus with a crown of thorns is on the side of Bearden's Kawasaki Volken with the words "RIDING FOR THE SON" while the sound system on Gray's bike pulses with gospel music.

This week, Wheels of Grace rolled their hogs up to the River City Bikers Round Up at the Fairgrounds for Memphis' largest biker gathering of the year.

Amid engines being revved and the smell of meat grilling, the group set up a water and lemonade station.

Like most motorcycle rallies they attend across the country, they estimated by late evening there would be some hard partying and a need for proper hydration.

"Jesus went where the sinners went," said Jack "JT" Sedory, who like the rest of the group was easily recognizable by the Christian Motorcyclists Association logo on his motorcycle vest.

But when mingling with other bikers, they don't expect any hit-and-run conversions.

The group prides itself on staying away from what Bearden called, "In your face evangelism." Instead, he said, they focus on building relationships before saving souls.

When they're out, they offer bike blessings, or what he calls "a foot in the door," where they pray over the bike and its owner for a safe ride.

Their slogan, says Bearden, "We're here for you if you need us.".

Bikers take their Christian message and ministry off the beaten path (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/aug/04/cruising-for-christ/)

Woman Told of Fetal Abnormalities: "I Will Not be the Killing Hand."

By Tim Waggoner

OTTAWA, August 5, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - 20 weeks into her pregnancy, a happily married Catholic teacher was informed her baby had holoprocencephaly - a hole in the brain stem - as well as fluid in the brain and a severe heart condition. After being given her medical "options", including the choice to terminate her baby's life, she informed her doctor that she refused to be the one responsible for her child's death, trusting that God had a plan for her son.

"Termination was not an option for me, and I informed the doctor of this immediately," said the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous. "He is our creation and God's creation and we will take him as he comes."

The woman related the details of her story to LifeSiteNews.com in a telephone interview and a letter. The woman, who is still pregnant with her child, decided to come forward with her story in the hope that it would encourage other women, in similar circumstances, to embrace the challenges of going through with a difficult pregnancy, even when the prognosis for the child is extremely grim. No matter how seemingly certain the imminent death of an unborn child may be, she said, we can never be justified in taking innocent life.

"With each new day, I learn to accept this situation," she said. "For example, I know that I cannot change my circumstances, and therefore must proceed with the daily grind of life. In other ways, it becomes more difficult. It is a very odd experience to be pregnant, knowing that I may never get to bring my baby home from the hospital, and that instead of anticipating his whole life, I may have to prepare for his funeral and burial."

"Quality of life" considerations were given by doctors as reasons to kill the child in the womb; however, once the mother informed her doctor that she would not take the life of her baby, she says she had "100 percent support" from the medical professionals looking after her.

She did say, however, "had I not been so definitely opposed, the option of abortion may have been the end of my story (except for future psychiatric pills)" - referring to the morally neutral manner in which abortion is presented as an "option" to patients and the well-known negative psychological effects that arise as a consequence.

"I am sure that for many women, abortion is strongly recommended in cases like mine, especially if women do not have a strong belief about it originally," she said.

Yet, she issued words of encouragement to other women in her situation, speaking adamantly to the fact that a child's apparent lesser "quality of life" based on a grim medical diagnosis does not discount the fact that the child has been given the gift of life for a reason - even if it is unbeknown to others.

She observed that in her own case her doctor's initial "certain" prognosis that her child would not live outside the womb soon transformed into the doctor saying he could not predict when the baby will die. Furthermore, her child has already defied the probabilities, as many unborn babies with such severe health conditions would have self-aborted within the first few months of gestation.

"I say he must really be extraordinary to be discounting all medical theories with respect to chromosome-gene results, and his longevity," she said of her child. "I tell him that even the doctors aren't sure why he's lived so long (most babies with these abnormalities self-abort long before now), and that he is special because of this. I tell you this because I want you to know that, despite the grim outlook… I am carrying this baby as long as he will let me, and will not be the killing hand."

The woman hopes that her story will help make others aware of the side of the abortion debate not usually covered by the mainstream media, the side that affirms the intrinsic goodness and beauty of human life, no matter how short-lived, or seemingly "useless" it may be.

"I wish with my heart of hearts that they know of the good that will come," she explained.

"The little one in my womb is moving around, kicking his mother, and hopefully enjoying a refreshing swim. I am told that he knows no pain, and that while he is in the uterus, he is as safe as can be. I walk him every day, talk to him often, and pray for him always," she said.

As for what she and her husband expect in the long run, she said, "Our prayer is simple: That we will get to meet our little one, tell him that we love him, and watch him fall deep into a sleep that will bring him to heaven."

Woman Told of Fetal Abnormalities: "I Will Not be the Killing Hand." (http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/aug/08080604.html)
~~~~~~~

Praise God, for all life is a gift from God!!

Quote

As for what she and her husband expect in the long run, she said, "Our prayer is simple: That we will get to meet our little one, tell him that we love him, and watch him fall deep into a sleep that will bring him to heaven."

Now this, brought tears to my eyes. :'(

Son of Hamas Leader Turns Back on Islam and Embraces Christianity
Tuesday , August 12, 2008
By Jonathan Hunt

Mosab Hassan Yousef is an extraordinary young man with an extraordinary story. He was born the son of one of the most influential leaders of the militant Hamas organization in the West Bank and grew up in a strict Islamic family.

Now, at 30 years old, he attends an evangelical Christian church, Barabbas Road in San Diego, Calif. He renounced his Muslim faith, left his family behind in Ramallah and is seeking asylum in the United States.

The story of how his life unfolded is truly amazing, whether you agree or disagree with his views. Below is a transcript on an exclusive FOX News interview with Hassan as he tells firsthand how a West Bank Muslim became a West Coast Christian.

Click here to view video of Mosab Hassan Yousef speaking out. (http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,402483,00.html#)

Click here to view video 'Renouncing Islam.' (http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,402483,00.html#)

JONATHAN HUNT: Why, after 25 years, did you change?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: I believe that all those walls that Islam built for the last 1,400 years are not existing (sic) anymore. They don't recognize this. They built those walls and made people ignorant because they're afraid. They didn't want people to discuss anything about the reality of Islam, about the big questions of Islam and they asked their followers, the Muslims, 'Don't ask about those certain questions.'

But now, people have media. If the father closes the door for his daughter not to leave the house, she's going to go behind her computer and travel the world. So people easily can get information, knowledge, searching (sic) engines, so it's very, very available for everybody to study about Islam, about other religions. Not from the Islam point of view, but from other points of view.

So for the next 25 years this is for sure going to make huge change in the Muslim and the Arab world.

JONATHAN HUNT: You speak from a unique perspective, a man who grew up not just in an Islamic family but as part of an organization seen by many people around the world as an extreme force in Islam: Hamas. What is the reality of Islam? You say people don't see the reality; What is the reality of Islam?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: There are two facts that Muslims don't understand ... I'd say about more than 95 percent of Muslims don't understand their own religion. It came with a much stronger language than the language that they speak so they don't understand it ... they rely only on religious people to get their knowledge about this religion.

Second, they don't understand anything about other religions. Christian communities live between Muslims and they're minority and they (would) rather not to go speak out and tell people about Jesus because it's dangerous for them.

So, all their ideas about other religions on earth are from Islamic perspectives. So those two realities, most people don't understand.

If people, if Muslims, start to understand their religion — first of all, their religion — and see how awful stuff is in there, they'll start to figure out, this can't (be) ... because most religious people focus on certain points of Islam. They have many points that they are very embarrassed to talk about.

JONATHAN HUNT: Such as?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Such as Muhammad's wives. You will never go to a mosque and hear about anyone talking about Muhammad's wives, which is like more than 50 wives — and nobody knows (this), by the way. If you ask the majority of Muslims, they will not know this fact.

So they're embarrassed to talk about this, but they talk about the glory of Islam, they talk about the victory, the victories that Muhammad made. So, when people just like look at themselves and see they're defeated, they have ignorance, they're not educated, they're not leading the world as they're expected to do. They’re think they want to get back to that victory by doing the same, what Muhammad did, but disregarding (sic) the timing. They forget that this happened 1,400 years ago and it's not going to happen again.

JONATHAN HUNT: Do they want to destroy Christianity?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Islam destroyed Christianity from the beginning and Muslims don't recognize that they stabbed Christianity (in) its heart when they said that Jesus wasn't killed on the cross. They think that they honor him in this way.

Basically, any Christians understand that this way, (but Muslims) tell Jesus, okay, we don't care, you didn't die for us. Someone sacrificed his life for you, (but) you tell him, okay, you didn't do it!

This is what Muslims are doing basically. But they don't understand that this is the most important part of Christianity: the cross!

So, they are ignorant, they don't know what they are doing and it explains what an evil idea it is behind this Islam.

JONATHAN HUNT: What specific event or events began to change your mind about Islam?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Since I was a child I started to ask very difficult questions, even my family was telling me all the time, 'You're a very difficult person and we were having trouble answering your questions. Why are you asking so many questions?' This was from the beginning, to be honest with you.

But I felt that everybody — and my father was a good example for me because he was a very honest, humble person, very nice to my mother, to us, and raised us on the principle of forgiveness, okay? I thought that everybody in Islam was like this.

When I was 18 years old, and I was arrested by the Israelis and was in an Israeli jail under the Israeli administration, Hamas had control of its members inside the jail and I saw their torture; (they were) torturing people in a very, very bad way.

JONATHAN HUNT: Hamas members torturing other Hamas members?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Hamas leaders! Hamas leaders that we see on TV now, and big leaders, responsible for torturing their own members. They didn't torture me, but that was a shock for me, to see them torturing people: putting needles under their nails, burning their bodies. And they killed lots of them.

JONATHAN HUNT: Why were they torturing people?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Because they suspected that they had relations with the Israelis and (were) co-operating with the Israeli occupation against Hamas ... So hundreds of people were victims for this, and I was a witness for about a year for this torture. So that was a huge change in my life. I started to open my (eyes), but, the point (is) that I got that there are good Muslims and bad Muslims. Good Muslims, such as my father, and bad Muslims, like those Hamas members in the jail torturing people.

So that was the beginning of opening my eyes wide.

Cont'd next post

JONATHAN HUNT: You talk about the good Muslims, like your father, yet you still now renounce the faith of your father. Could you have not been a good Muslim?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Now, here's the reality: after I studied Christianity — which I had a big misunderstanding about, because I studied about Christianity from Islam, which is, there is nothing true about Christianity when you study it from Islam, and that was the only source.

When I studied the Bible carefully verse by verse, I made sure that that was the book of God, the word of God for sure, so I started to see things in a different way, which was difficult for me, to say Islam is wrong.

Islam is my father. I grew up for (one) father — 22 years for that father — and another father came to me and told me, 'I'm sorry, I'm your father.' And I was like, 'What are you talking about? Like, I have my own father, and it's Islam!' And the father of Christianity told me, 'No, I'm your father. I was in jail, and this (Islam) is not your father.'

So basically this is what happened. It's not easy to believe this (Islam) is not your father anymore. So I had to study Islam again from a different point of view to figure out all the mistakes, the huge mistakes and its effects, not only on Muslims — (of) which I hated the values ... I didn't like all those traditions that make people's lives more difficult — but its effects also on humanity. On humanity! People killing each other (in) the name of God.

So definitely I started to figure out the problem is Islam, not the Muslims and those people — I can't hate them because God loved them from the beginning. And God doesn't create junk. God created good people that he loved, but they're sick, they have the wrong idea. I don't hate those people anymore but I feel very sorry for them and the only way for them to be changed (is) by knowing the word of God and the real way to him.

JONATHAN HUNT: Does it worry you that in saying these things — and given your background and your words carrying extra weight — there is a danger that you will increase the difficulties, the hatred between Christians and Muslims in the world right now?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: This could happen if a Christian person will go talk to them about the reality of Islam. They put Christians on the enemy list anyway, before you talk to them about Islam. So if you go to them and tell them, as a Christian, they will be offended immediately and they will hate you and this will definitely increase the vacuum between both religions — but what made someone like me change?

Years ago, years ago, when I was there, God opened my eyes, my mind also, and I became a completely different person. So now, I can do this duty, while you as Christians can help me do it, but maybe you wouldn't be able to. (Muslims) have no excuse now.

JONATHAN HUNT: How difficult a process has this been for you to effectively walk away from your family, leave your home behind? How difficult is that?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Taking your skin off your bones, that's what happened. I love my family, they love me. And my little brothers, they’re like my sons. I raised them. Basically, it was the biggest decision in my life.

I left everything behind me, not only family. When you decide to convert to Christianity or any other religion from Islam, it's not (enough) to just say goodbye and leave, you know? It's not like that. You're saying goodbye to culture, civilization, traditions, society, family, religion, God — what you thought was God for so many years! So it's not easy. It's very complicated. People think it's that easy, like it doesn't matter. Now I'm here in the U.S. and I got my freedom and it's great, but at the same time, nothing is like family, you know. To lose your family —

JONATHAN HUNT: Have you lost your family?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: My family is educated and it was very difficult for them. They asked me many times, especially for the first two days, to keep my faith to myself and not go to the media and announce it.

But for me it was a duty from God to announce his name and praise him (around) the world because my reward is going to be that he's going to do the same for me. So I did it, basically, as a duty. I (wonder) how many people can do what I can do today? I didn't find any.

So, I had to be strong about that. That was very challenging. That was the most difficult decision in my life and I didn't do it for fun. I didn't do it for anything from this world. I did it only for one reason: I believed in it. People are suffering every day because of wrong ideas. I can help them get out of this endless circle ... the track the devil (laid) for them.

JONATHAN HUNT: Have you spoken to your father recently?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: There is no chance to communicate with my father because he's in jail now and there is (sic) no phones in the jail to communicate with him.

JONATHAN HUNT: Have other members of your family told you how he's reacted?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: They've visited him from time to time. Till this moment, I don't know his reaction exactly but I'm sure he's very sad (over) a decision like this. But at the same time, he's going to understand, because he knows me and he knows that I don't make any decisions without (believing strongly in them).

JONATHAN HUNT: Is it making his life more difficult among fellow Hamas members?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Definitely. My family, including my father, had to carry this cross with me. It wasn't their choice. It was my choice, but they had to carry this cross with me and I ask God — I pray for (my father), all my brothers and my sisters here in this church, praying all the time for them — 'God, open their eyes, their minds, to come to Christ. And bless them because they had to carry this cross with me.'

JONATHAN HUNT: Tell me about Hamas and the way it works. Is Hamas a purely Islamic religious organization as you see it, and that's where, in your eyes, its faults lie, or are there other parts of it which are a problem for you? Or is Hamas a good organization? What is Hamas to you?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: If we talk about people, there are good people everywhere. Everywhere. I mean, good people that God created.

Do they do their own things? Yes, they do their own things. I know people who support Hamas but they never got involved in terrorist attacks, for example ... They follow Hamas because they love God and they think that Hamas represents God. They don’t have knowledge, they don't know the real God and they never studied Christianity. But Hamas, as representative for Islam, it's a big problem.

The problem is not Hamas, the problem is not people. The root of the problem is Islam itself as an idea, as an idea. And about Hamas as an organization, of course, the Hamas leadership, including my father, they're responsible; they're responsible for all the violence that happened from the organization. I know they describe it as reaction to Israeli aggression, but still, they are part of it and they had to make decisions in those operations against Israel, (for) which there was the killing of many civilians.

Cont'd next post

JONATHAN HUNT: Do you believe Israel blameless in the conflict?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Occupation is bad. I can't say Israel — I'm not against any nation. We can't say Israelis, we can't say Palestinians, we're talking about ideas. Israel has the right to defend itself, nobody can (argue) against this. But sometimes they use (too much) aggression against civilians. Sometimes many civilians were killed because those soldiers weren't responsible enough, how they treat people at the checkpoints.

My message even to the Israeli soldiers: at least treat people in a good way at the checkpoints. You don't have to look really bad and it's not about nations, it's about just wrong ideas on both sides and the only way for two nations really to get out of the endless circle is to know the principles that Jesus brought to this earth: grace, love, forgiveness. Without this, they will never be able to move on, or break this endless circle.

JONATHAN HUNT: You've seen your father jailed, you've been in prison yourself. You've seen Hamas carry out acts of terror against Israelis, and yet you say everybody needs to rise above that?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Definitely. This is the only choice. Nobody has magic power to do something for the Middle East. No one. You can ask any politician here in the U.S., you can ask any Palestinian politician or Arab politician, Israeli leaders; no one, no one can do anything. Even if they believe in peace now: they're part of the game.

They're part of the trick. They can't, even if you find a brave person, like Rabin, who was called by an Israeli to make peace with the Palestinians and give them a state, no one, even if you find a strong leader, they can't do this. You can't force an independent country to give another country independence. (Especially when) the other country wants to destroy it.

Everybody is hurt. Israeli soldiers, they lost their friends. Palestinians, they lost their children, their fathers. (There are) many people in prison still, and many people were killed. Thousands. So everybody will never forget this. If they want to keep looking to the past, they will never get out of this circle. The only way to start (is just by) moving on. They were born under the occupation as Palestinians.

The last two generations, it's not their choice. The new generations from Israel — if we say disregarding the existence of Israel is right or wrong, what's the guilt of those people who were born in Israel and they have no other country to go to? It's their country now, that's how they see it. And they are going to keep their resistance and defense against whomever. (They will) say, 'Get out of this land!' So the only way is for both nations to start to understand the grace, love and forgiveness of God, to be able to get out of this.

JONATHAN HUNT: Do you believe that Israel can ever strike a peace deal with Hamas?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: There is no chance. Is there any chance for fire to co-exist with the water? There is no chance. Hamas can play politics for 10 years, 15 years; but ask any one of Hamas' leaders, 'Okay, what's going to happen after that? Are you just going to live and co-exist with Israel forever?' The answer is going to be no ... unless they want to do something against the Koran. But it's their ideology and they can't just say 'We're not going to do it.' So there is no chance. It's not about Israel, it's not about Hamas: it's about both ideologies. There is no chance.

JONATHAN HUNT: Aren't you terrified that somebody is going to try to kill you for saying these things — which would be approved of according to parts of the Koran?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: They got to kill my ideas first, (and) that's it, they're already out. So how are they going to kill my idea? How are they going to kill the opinions that I have? ... They can kill my body, but they can't kill my soul.

JONATHAN HUNT: You're not afraid?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: As a human, you know, I can be very brave now, I'm not thinking about it at this moment and I feel that God is on my side. But if this will be the challenge, I ask God to give me enough strength.

JONATHAN HUNT: Have you been threatened?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: No, not really. Honestly, most Muslims and Muslim leaders here in the U.S. community, European communities, they are trying to get ahold of me. They are calling my famiily, my mother, and asking for my contacts. They are telling her, 'We want to help him.'

JONATHAN HUNT: They think you need help?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Yeah, they think that Christians took advantage of me, and this is completely wrong. I've been a Christian for a long time before they knew, or anyone knew. I love Jesus, I followed him for many years now. It wasn't a secret for most of the time, and this time I just did it to glorify the name of God and praise him.

They're not dealing with a regular Muslim. They know that I'm educated, they know that I studied, they know that I studied Islam and Christianity. When I made my decision, I didn't make it because someone did magic on me or convinced me. It was completely my decision.

JONATHAN HUNT: Do you miss Ramallah?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: Definitely. You've been there and you know how a wonderful country (it is). Very, very beautiful. It's a very small spot and it has everything — this is why people are fighting for that piece of land. I definitely miss Ramallah. Jereusalem. The Old City.

JONATHAN HUNT: Do you believe you will ever be able to go back?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: I think I belong to that land, and sooner or later I'm going to go back, no matter what. If they want to kill me, they (will) do whatever they want to do. I have a family there, they love me, they completely support me now with my decisions. Maybe they don't want me to talk to the media but they believe that I made a decision that I completely believe in. So they support me, so I love my family. I'm going to go back there again one day. I love my town.

JONATHAN HUNT: Do you think you'll ever go back to a Middle East living in peace?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: There will be a 100-person peace when Jesus comes back, when he judges everybody. His kingdom's going to be 1,000 years and it's going to be completely peaceful and it's going to be the kingdom of God.

JONATHAN HUNT: What is your basic message to any Muslim listening to this right now?

MOSAB HASSAN YOUSEF: My message to them is, first of all, to open their minds. They were born to Muslim families — this is how they got Islam and this is just like ... any other religion, like growing up (in) a Christian family, or growing up (in) a Jewish family.

So my point is that I want those people to open their eyes, their minds, to start to understand and imagine that they weren't born for a Muslim famiily. And use their minds.

Why did God give them minds? Open their hearts. Read the Bible. Study their religion. I want to open the gate for them, I want them to be free. They will find a good life on earth just by following God — and they're also going to guarantee the other life.

Son of Hamas Leader Turns Back on Islam and Embraces Christianity (http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,402483,00.html)

Minister preaches on his 100th birthday

Posted on Aug 20, 2008 | by Staff

MT. JULIET, Tenn. (BP)--"I thought I was going to get all of this when I got to heaven," W.L. Baker said on his 100th birthday.

Nearly 500 people turned out to hear Baker preach, and citations from President George W. Bush and Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen were among the honors he received for his longevity -– and 75-plus years in the ministry.

But the highlight of the celebration was Baker himself, particularly when he stood to deliver his sermon on Deuteronomy 34 during the morning worship service Silver Springs Baptist Church at Mt. Juliet, Tenn.

"Moses linked his whole life to a worthy cause and he spent all of his last day on earth climbing, and I hope to do the same," Baker told the gathering.

"On Moses' last day, when he climbed the mountain, the Lord was waiting for him at the top," Baker said. "I am excited about that time when my last day comes and my Lord greets me in death and smiles. Until then, I want to press on.... God didn't put us in the world to look at small things, but big things."

He challenged the audience: "You are not living for today. This morning you are living for eternity."

Baker, who retired in 1973 after 24 years as pastor of First Baptist Church in Donelson, Tenn., never really "retired." Since 1973 he has held 28 interim pastorates and served as interim director of missions for the Wilson County Baptist Association just east of Nashville.

In addition, Baker serves as associate pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tenn., where he leads the Wednesday night prayer meeting and Bible study.

He also preaches on Sunday mornings and evenings at every opportunity. Baker regularly fills the pulpit the first Sunday evening of every month at Dry Creek Baptist Church in Dowelltown, Tenn., where his longtime friend Donald Owens is pastor.

Silver Springs pastor Russ Stephens asked Baker three years ago to preach at the church on the Sunday closest to his 100th birthday. When Stephens realized the date would actually be Baker's birthday, he worked with Baker's daughter Ann Sloan to plan a celebration.

Stephens and others emphasize, however, that Baker's life is not just about longevity.

"It is what he has done with his life," Stephens said, describing Baker as his mentor, role model and friend.

Stephens said he still marvels at Baker's "unique insight into Scripture, as well as his physical activities. It is a joy to hear him tell of his experiences with some of the great Baptist giants of times past -– L.R. Scarborough, W.O. Carver, George W. Truett, A.T. Robertson and others."

Most of his experiences with those men were during his seminary days, first for a year at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and then at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., where he graduated in 1932 and is counted as the oldest living alumus.

"There's no way to describe how much those two years meant to me," Baker said of his studies at Southern Seminary. "Dr. [E.Y.] Mullins was gone by then, but Dr. [John R.] Sampey was there and Dr. Carver was one of my instructors. Anyone who went in Dr. Carver's class and stayed long and didn't come out with his heart burning for missions, then something was wrong with him."

The most valuable lesson he learned at Southern Seminary? Baker does not hesitate with an answer: "Love for the Bible. They instilled in me a great love for the Lord and the Bible."

For the ensuing four decades Baker pastored three churches in Tennessee: Hopewell Baptist Church in Springfield (1932-42), First Baptist Church in Jonesboro (1942-49) and First Baptist Church in Donelson (1949-73). Baker has outlived two wives. His first, Bonnie, died of cancer in 1952. Their union produced Baker's only child, Ann. His second wife, Olive, also died of cancer, in 1982.

Born in New Middleton, Tenn., in 1908, Baker grew up in a devoted Christian home and was converted at age 9.

One of the keys to his longevity and continuing fruitfulness, Baker says, is very simple: watch the diet and exercise. He executes a brief regimen of exercises each day and takes regular walks. The key to his longevity and usefulness in the ministry? Baker says that answer is equally simple: "Memorize the Scriptures."

Baker is noted for his recitation of the Sermon on the Mount and has presented it from memory in more than 50 churches.

"I would tell young ministers to memorize as much of the Bible as possible while they have the mind to do it," Baker said. "The highlight of my life along that line was when I was at my first church and I was wrestling with the problem of what to preach the next Sunday. I wrestled with that quite a while and in three or four weeks was doing it again, and I felt an impression come to me, 'Why don't I preach Jesus' sermon?' So I committed the Sermon on the Mount to memory and it has been the greatest blessing in my ministry."

Minister preaches on his 100th birthday (http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=28734)

Son of Nazi doctor seeks to donate father's money to Holocaust education
By The Associated Press
24/08/2008

A son of notorious Nazi doctor Aribert Heim was quoted as saying Sunday that he wants his father declared legally dead so he can take control of his money and donate some of it to help document the suffering that occurred at a former concentration camp.

Ruediger Heim told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that his father - dubbed Dr. Death and atop the Simon Wiesenthal Center's list of most-wanted suspected Nazi war criminals - should officially be declared missing and then dead.

He reiterated he has not had any contact with his father since he fled Germany in 1962, save two short notes in his family's mailbox.

"Between 1962 and 1967, two notes appeared in our mailbox. There was a single sentence written on them, 'I am doing fine.' But if those letters were really from my father, I do not know," the paper quoted him as saying.

Heim also said that he has no idea if his father, who would be 94 today, is alive or dead. He told the paper he is working with a lawyer to see how he can have his wanted father declared missing and then dead so as to get control of the former Nazi's bank account.

He said he, his brother and sister only discovered in 1997 that a bank account in his father's name existed. If he could get control of the money, he told the newspaper he would donate to help document suffering in the Mauthausen concentration camp near Linz, Austria, where his father worked as camp doctor in October and November 1941.

So far, Heim's children have made no claim to a bank account with 1.2 million euros ($1.78 million) and other investments in his name. To do that, they would have to produce proof that their father is dead.

In July, the world's top Nazi-hunter said he had made progress in finding the 94-year-old Doctor Death, who stands accused of torturing Jewish prisoners at Mauthausen and who may have been living for decades in Argentina or Chile.

Efraim Zuroff, head of the Israeli branch of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, told a news conference that his mission to the southern reaches of the Americas led him to at least four people who claimed to have seen Aribert Heim in the 45 days leading up to his visit.

Zuroff's two-week mission took him to the southern Chilean fishing town of Puerto Montt, where Heim's daughter lives, and to the town of San Carlos de Bariloche, across the border in Argentina.

The Nazi hunter believes Heim is hiding out somewhere between the two towns, separated by the Andes mountain range.

Son of Nazi doctor seeks to donate father's money to Holocaust education (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1014781.html)

Ex-Muslim Appointed New President of Baptist College Printer Friendly Forward to a Friend

A former Sunni Muslim has been elected as the new president of Truett-McConnell College in Georgia.

Dr. Emir Caner, who was the founding dean of the College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, was voted by Truett-McConnell’s board of trustees to become its eighth president on Aug. 8, according to the Cleveland, Ga.-based college.

His new appointment makes him the first former Muslim to be elected as president of a Southern Baptist college or university.

He officially began his duties on Aug. 18.

“It’s a great day in the life of Truett-McConnell College and Georgia Baptists! The TMC Board of Trustees is extremely excited about the future of our school under the leadership of Dr. Emir Caner,” said Terrell J. Williams, chairman of the Truett-McConnell Board of Trustees, in a statement.

Truett-McConnell is financially supported by the Georgia Baptist Convention, which also elects its trustees.

Caner, 37, is the son of a devout Islamic leader and most of his family, including his father, has disowned him. He converted to Christianity in 1982 with the help of a Christian friend who invited him to a prayer meeting at a Southern Baptist church.

After accepting Christ as his savior, he attended Criswell College in Dallas and earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies. He went on to earn a master of divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., and a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Texas.

Caner has written and contributed to a total of 16 books, including Unveiling Islam, which won the Gold Medallion Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.

“Dr. Caner is a scholar, a professor, a writer, a preacher and an experienced administrator - a powerful combination of gifts,” said Dr. J. Robert White, executive director/CEO of the Georgia Baptist Convention, in a statement. “At the same time, he has a vibrant personality and is easy to know. He has a contagious warmth, is enjoyable to be with and is an excellent conversationalist.”

He is the youngest president to ever lead Truett-McConnell.

His brother, Ergun Caner, who also converted to Christianity, is president and dean of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va. Ergun Caner was the first former Muslim to be elected president of a seminary.

Texas to teachers: Bible will be taught
Plan requires instruction in both Old and New Testaments
Posted: August 29, 2008
8:17 pm Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2008 WorldNetDaily

The Bible's history and literature will be required to be taught in public schools in Texas under a new law that has been clarified by the state attorney general to mean exactly what it says.

"This is a huge victory for the people of Texas and, I think, for people across the country for academic freedom," said Jonathan Saenz, a lawyer for Liberty Legal. "There are 1,300 references to the Bible in the works of Shakespeare alone. Over 60 percent of the allusions studied in [advanced placement] English come from the Bible. Students are going to be better academically and culturally when they hear about the Bible."

The decision is a result of work by the state legislature as well as an opinion from Greg Abbott, the state's attorney general, in a letter to Education Commissioner Robert Scott. House Bill 1287 was approved by state lawmakers in the spring of 2008, and it was signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry. It states all school districts must offer the course as an elective at the high school level by the 2009-2010 school year.

Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, the author of the plan, said if 15 or more students express interest in the course, districts must provide it.

"A lot of schools don't know they can have the course, and this bill notifies them that the Supreme Court ruled school districts can offer it," Chisum said earlier in advocating for the plan. "School districts should know they can offer the course because it better prepares students for college literature and history classes."

Kevin Franck, of the People for the American Way, told the San Antonio newspaper his group isn't necessarily opposed to the plan, but will be watching its implementation.

And Chisum said the legislature specifically addressed the Bible, not the Quran or any other religious writing, because "the Bible as a text … has historical and literary value."

"It can't go off into other religious philosophies because then it would be teaching religion, when the course is meant to teach literature," he said.

Saenz told WND the actual curriculum – whether schools use only the Bible or another text – is left up to the local school district boards.

"Students more and more have been demanding the courses," he said. "The problem has been that school districts have been threatened [by activists] for offering the courses.

"Now they've got the state board of education's clear guidelines, and support from the attorney general," he said.

He said his organization has been involved in the adoption of the law from its beginning. Counting members of both houses in the legislature, the vote in Texas was 167-3 for the plan.

Liberty Legal, a group committed to defending religious freedoms and First Amendment rights, had been asked to submit a brief on the issue of requiring schools to teach the Bible.

Saenz told WND the requirement allows such education to be either in a regular class or a separate class.

He noted that in one school district close to Dallas, already 160 students have signed up for the class.

Among the subjects that must now be taught in Texas are English, math, science, social students, health, physical education, fine arts, economics, technology and "religious literature, including the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament."

"A school district must, of course, offer instruction in the subject matter … 'as required curriculum,'" said the attorney general's opinion, confirming for state education officials the legislature's intent. "The Legislature did not mandate that this curriculum instruction be provided in independent courses.'

One group, the Greensboro, N.C.-based National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools, promotes its curriculum as the only one that uses the Bible as its primary textbook. Supporters include the conservative American Family Association, Eagle Forum and Plano-based Liberty Legal.

Council President Elizabeth Ridenour said the group's material already is being used in 54 Texas school districts. There also are other curriculums that use their own textbooks.

No Gay Sex, Please; We're from Virginia

Virginians' Guidebooks to Minneapolis Returned to Publisher Due to Gay Nightlife Section
By BRIAN ROSS, MADDY SAUER and ANNA SCHECTER

September 3, 2008—

A campaign official for the Virginia Lieutenant Governor cancelled an order for 150 guidebooks to entertainment in Minneapolis-St. Paul after discovering they included a 6-8 page section for gay and lesbian nightclubs.

"Having a section dedicated solely to GLBT will be a BIG problem for many of our folks. We simply can't hand them out," wrote the aide, Melissa Busse, in an email to the guidebook publisher, Rake Publishing, obtained by ABC affiliate KSTP.

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling said he was not aware of the decision by his aide and disagrees with it.

The books, intended as welcome gifts to members of the Virginia delegation, were called "Secrets of the City."

Rake's website features information and listings for an array of nightlife activities for gays and lesbians in the Minneapolis area, including "queer speed dating", trivia night, and dildo bingo.

Rake's COO did not immediately return calls for comment.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul area has a large and vibrant gay nightlife, where club managers said many Republicans were expected this week.

"We've had quite a spike, mostly people who are curious come down and they wind up leaving and having a good time," said Robert Parker, the manager of the Gay 90's club in downtown Minneapolis which features a popular "drag queen" show.

"Mississippi, Alabama, California, Arizona, I've seen people from all over, said Parker.

"Shame on them" for not distributing the guidebooks", said Parker. ;D He said his club "is all about inclusiveness, including everybody no matter who and what you are, and I think if perhaps Republicans come and see that and they would come in and see that the world could be that way, and they may learn something."

In a statement, Virginia Lt. Gov Bolling said he was sorry the cancellation occurred "and wish it had not happened." He said the delegation would reimburse the publisher for his costs. >:(

No Gay Sex, Please; We're from Virginia (http://www.abcnews.go.com/print?id=5716664)

US rally against attacks on Christians in India
28 Oct 2008, 1431 hrs IST, PTI

NEW YORK: Accusing the Indian government of failing to stop violence against Christians, people from all faiths staged a rally in Philadelphia and demanded strong action against those responsible for the attacks.

Addressing the demonstrators, their leaders faulted the Indian government for not taking strong action to end the violence against Christians, especially in Orissa.

"Despite numerous pleas for help, the Indian Government has not sufficiently responded to the situation," said the pamphlets distributed by the organisers, including representatives of local Indian churches.

The protesters carrying placards reading "Stop Religious Persecution in India," "We Want Justice" and "No Justification for Murder," were led by Rev Biju Thomas of St Thomas Evangelical Church of Philadelphia and Fr Jacob Christy of St Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of Philadelphia.

The rally began with a prayer and was followed by singing of both American and Indian national anthems and a prayer was also conducted by priests and pastors for both the "persecuted and the persecutors."

The rally ended with the chanting of "We Shall Overcome" in English, Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and Gujarati which was specifically chosen to symbolise their faith and belief that the situation would normalise and peace will prevail in India, the organisers said.

US rally against attacks on Christians in India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/US_rally_against_attacks_on_Christians_in_India/articleshow/3648900.cms?TOI_latestnews)

Fort Worth is 4th Episcopal Diocese to Break Away
By Rachel Zoll
AP Religion Writer
Sun, Nov. 16 2008

NEW YORK – The theologically conservative Diocese of Fort Worth voted Saturday to split from the liberal-leaning Episcopal Church, the fourth traditional diocese to do so in a long-running debate over the Bible, gay relationships and other issues.

About 80 percent of clergy and parishioners in the Texas diocese supported the break in a series of votes at a diocesan convention.

The Steering Committee North Texas Episcopalians, an umbrella group for those who want to stay with the denomination, plans to reorganize the diocese. They promised that "the Episcopal Church's work of Christian ministry and evangelization will go forward" in the region.

A lengthy, expensive legal battle is expected over who owns Episcopal property and funds. The Fort Worth diocese oversees more than 50 parishes and missions serving about 19,000 people. The Steering Committee estimates that at least five parishes and hundreds of other churchgoers will remain with the New York-based national church.

The other seceding dioceses are Pittsburgh; Quincy, Ill.; and San Joaquin, based in Fresno, Calif., where a legal fight over assets is already under way. National church leaders are helping local parishioners reorganize each diocese.

All four withdrawing dioceses are aligning with the like-minded Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, based in Argentina, to try to keep their place in the world Anglican Communion.

The vote is the latest fallout from the 2003 consecration of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

The 77-million-member Anglican fellowship, which includes the U.S. Episcopal Church, has roots in the missionary work of the Church of England. Most overseas Anglicans hold traditional views of the Bible and Robinson's consecration has moved the global communion toward the brink of schism. Breakaway U.S. leaders hope to form an Anglican province in North America.

Years before Robinson's election, Episcopalians and Anglicans were already divided over how they should interpret Scripture on issues ranging from salvation to sexuality. That rift broke wide open when the New Hampshire bishop was installed.

"Some have encouraged us to stay and fight as the faithful remnant in (the denomination), to work for reform from within," Bishop Jack Iker said in his speech before the balloting.

"I can only reply by quoting the saying that `the definition of insanity is to keep on doing the same thing, expecting different results,'" he said. "The time has come to choose a new path and direction, to secure a spiritual future for our children and our grandchildren."

Of the four withdrawing dioceses, only Pittsburgh ordains women. In 2006, the Episcopal Church elected its first female leader, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.

Nationally, most of the 2.1 million Episcopalians don't consider their theological differences cause to leave the denomination, which has more than 100 dioceses. Outside the four that are splitting off, church officials estimate that about 100 additional parishes of a total of more than 7,000 have withdrawn on their own.

However, the secessions have a large cost to the national church, not only in legal expenses and lost donations from the dioceses, but also in damage to the Episcopal public image as the U.S. church struggles to keep its place in the global Anglican family.

Fort Worth is 4th Episcopal Diocese to Break Away (http://christianpost.com/article/20081116/fort-worth-is-4th-episcopal-diocese-to-break-away.htm)

I Reject Islam and Love Israel
by "X-Muslim"

A great burden has been lifted from my heart.

Shalom. As an Arab Muslim I once asked myself: Why do I hate Israel? I really thought about this question. After only a little deliberation, the answer was clear: because I am a Muslim and Islam is extremely intolerant.

It's intolerance to everything non-Muslim that is the problem. But today I have rejected the teachings of Islam for this very reason. I have left Islam.

As an Arab "Palestinian", living in an Arab country, coming from a Muslim family, I was brought up with hatred of Jews, Christians and all non-Muslims. Now I'm older, I have matured enough to view the world from a different perspective. I reviewed real history and studied the sequence of events before and since the restoration of the State of Israel. I decided to step outside the mindset of a typical Muslim. It didn't take long to realize that I was on the wrong track and I moved quickly to the other side. In order to be at peace with myself, I have come to reject the hatred of Israel and now love my former enemy. I have not embraced another religion, but I am seeking a new spiritual path.

Why do the Arabs and Muslims have to reject the presence of a Jewish state in a tiny percentage of the land of the Middle East? Why does Islamic intolerance forbid other nations their right to exist in their own land? The whole world should realize that Islam is at war with all nations on the planet. In our Muslim societies it is not "the extremists", but the whole society infected with this hatred. It is in the mosques, the schools, in the media and in the homes of nearly every Muslim family. It isn't just Israel they hate, but America and Christians as well. Islam hates all other religions.

In the case of Israel, its only fault is that it's a Jewish state that wants to live in peace within its borders. It's not a struggle of so-called "Palestinians" to establish a country and retain some land, which was never theirs - I know, because I studied the real history. The real problem is racism and the intolerance of Muslims, the blind hatred and jealousy when seeing a flourishing, strong and modern country where people from other faiths can live peacefully.

Why are the Jews forbidden to have a country? These people have contributed much to the world's culture and offered the best scientists, artists, doctors; and they have been victims of intolerance throughout history. Why are they forbidden to live in their national Zionist dream and return to their homeland, which was some desert which they cultivated and transformed into one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth? Why do the Arabs and the Muslim world have to take everything and claim every land they step on as theirs?

"Palestine" never existed and should never exist - and this is coming from me, an Arab classified as a "Palestinian." The creation of a Palestinian state would be the biggest threat to the existence of Israel and would not bring one day of peace to Israel. I know how my people think. Promoting such a state would be the equivalent of supporting the Nazis in their quest to destroy the Jews.

Israel has already made the mistake twice of giving land for peace, once in Southern Lebanon and secondly in Gaza. We all know the terrible results: the expansion of Hizbullah's power in Lebanon and the creation of a terrorist state in Gaza. Hamas and other terrorist organizations now have the space to launch more terrorist attacks and hostile activities on Israeli cities and villages.

Israel's right to exist shouldn't be open for discussion. Hamas, Hizbullah or Islamic Jihad, and the people behind them, must be destroyed. Nothing should hinder Israel's army to do whatever it takes to protect their people and ensure the safety of Israel, from Tel Aviv to the smallest settlement inside Israel, which should include Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).

I don't blame the Israeli army for any defensive measure it takes. It fought Islamic terrorism long before any other nation faced their atrocities. The Israeli soldiers have been on the front line on behalf of the whole free world. I am proud to support the Israeli Defense Forces, the most civilized and humane army in the world, no matter how the media might try to portray them.

One can't but respect the brave Israeli army, which puts its soldiers' lives at risk in order to protect civilian life in Gaza or Southern Lebanon, the same civilians who, in both places, voted terrorist organizations in to power. The same "innocent civilians" who deny Israel's right to exist, who never are held accountable for the democratic choices they have made. Yet still, the Israeli army, and in the most critical times of war, tries as much as possible to avoid harming them, even at the expense of losing lives on their side, as well as suffering tactical and strategic disadvantages because of their moral behavior. I salute the Israeli army; I can't but support these heroes, and bow in respect to the memory of their fallen ones. I can't but stand with Israel in its fight for its existence in this crazy part of the world.

I used to hate Israel with a passion, but today I am proud to say that I have shed my hatred for Israel and it has transformed to a deep love, passion and respect for Zionism and all the values it stands for.

I am proud that today I support the full restoration of Jerusalem. For the first time in my life I'm at peace with myself and in great harmony with what I believe in; standing with Israel and the Jewish people, who are the most forgiving and tolerant people on Earth. They must be praised for their deep dedication to their cause, and for their patience in their endurance of harm and hatred.

Jerusalem should never be divided and the Temple Mount should also be liberated. All other religious groups in the world have free access to their most sacred sites; yet, the Jews still watch their holiest place, Solomon's Temple, under occupation. I can't but feel compassion for their dream; and I know that their fight is now my fight.

Israel's existence and survival is really a test and responsibility for the whole civilized world. It's the battle against Islam's imperial quest to conquer the whole world. Israel is the fortress and stronghold for freedom and tolerance in the Middle East, the front line in the world's war against the tyranny of Islam.

I have held my tongue for too long, but today a great burden has been lifted from my heart. I don't care if I've been considered a traitor by my people for loving Israel. It's an honor for me. If supporting Israel's right to exist is a sin, then I'm a sinner. I'm proud to be an Arab who stands with a country that should be emulated by all its neighbors. For the sake of its people and for the sake of the world's stability and freedom, I'm proud to say I love Israel. Even if I don't have Jewish blood in my veins, I know I am Israeli at heart.

Long live Israel!

I Reject Islam and Love Israel (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/8366)
~~~~~~~~~~~

Good for him, that's one that got away, hopefully more can escape this cult of death.

Hollywood Conservatives Encouraged to Come Out of the Closet

Monday , January 05, 2009
By SE Cupp

A once-timid group of social outcasts is emerging from the shadows in Hollywood. If the past year is any indication, Tinseltown may have to get accustomed to the loud presence of a growing minority.

After years of silence, conservatives are coming out of the closet.

Andrew Breitbart, the conservative founder of Breitbart and author of "Hollywood Interrupted: Insanity Chic in Babylon," is launching a Web site he hopes will help challenge the status quo in what he believes has been a one-party, left-tilting town. Set to debut on Jan. 6, "Big Hollywood" will be a place where center, right and libertarian-leaning celebrities and industry-insiders can weigh in on Hollywood politics, offer film, television and movie reviews, and have an open forum for political discussion. (I've used his website for the news in the past.)

"Our goal," says Breitbart, who lives in Los Angeles, "is to create an atmosphere of tolerance — something that does not exist in this town."

Breitbart has invited a number of conservative politicians, commentators and journalists to write regularly about the cult of celebrity, liberalism in popular culture, and politics. Among the names who will be contributing, he says, are Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va), political commentator Tucker Carlson, and former Tennessee Senator and Republican presidential contender Fred Thompson.

The site will also feature the punditry of some well-known Hollywood actors, directors, producers, and writers, Breitbart says.

As celebrities like Jon Voight, Gary Sinise, Charlton Heston, Patricia Heaton, Stephen Baldwin and Kelsey Grammer came out publicly with their political ideas over the past few years, the news that there were, in fact, conservatives in Hollywood, had many wondering who would be next.

Recently, there have been rumors that Robert Downey Jr. is a closet Republican, though his publicist will neither confirm nor deny it, saying only, "We unfortunately have no comment, as RDJ does not comment on political matters."

But Breitbart says the goal of Big Hollywood is not to "out" conservative celebrities, and he will not pressure celebrities like Downey to jump into the fray. He says conservative celebs who aren't comfortable with full transparency will be allowed to write under an alias.

"I want them to come on their own volition," he says. "'Big Hollywood is going to have to be a compelling daily read that speaks to Hollywood conservatives' unique burden before some will stick their necks out and choose to speak up for what they believe."

Sticking their necks out has not always been good for business. Mark Vafiades, president of the Hollywood Congress of Republicans, says, "I'm hoping that one day politics won't make a difference in Hollywood. But because there is still subtle intolerance here, conservatives remain somewhat shy.

"If you come to an audition wearing a Bush or McCain button, the casting director will most likely pick another actor. Just being on a set you hear people bashing Bush and the right, because they assume everyone agrees."

Some have suggested the purported anti-conservative tilt in Hollywood is overstated — if it exists at all. Perez Hilton, the self-proclaimed "Queen of All Media" and author of his eponymous gossip site, said, "I think Hollywood is very tolerant. They may mock you for your political beliefs, but at least they'll do it to your face!

"It won't ever interfere with people getting a job. Kelsey Grammer still works!"

But some conservatives in the entertainment industry say there may not be a literal blacklist in Hollywood, but there is pressure to keep silent.

"Conservatives don't necessarily have to be covert about their politics, but in many cases they are because the liberals aren't fair and balanced towards those with differing points of view," says Jerry Molen, the Oscar-winning producer of big Hollywood hits like "Schindler's List," "Jurassic Park" and "Rain Man."

"In too many cases, conservatives are immediately labeled racist, homophobic, bigoted, hateful, demonic, or even un-American without the benefit of debate, and are locked out of the hiring process, with a few exceptions."

But the doors may be slowly opening "An American Carol," a conservative parody that lampooned liberal Hollywood this year, galvanized conservative celebrities like Robert Davi, Dennis Hopper, Kevin Farley, Voight and Grammer, all of whom had roles in the film.

And conservative film festivals, including the American Film Renaissance and the Liberty Film Festival, have also helped bring to market conservative projects that a few years ago might have had a difficult time getting made.

Some industry insiders credit John McCain with helping to embolden Hollywood conservatives during this year's presidential election. Andrew Klavan, a conservative author and screenwriter of psychological thrillers including True Crime and Don't Say A Word, said, "For people who had a lot to lose, McCain gave them some cover. He wasn't a true Republican like Bush was. He was someone even the left liked, whereas Bush was demonized. Hollywood conservatives could support McCain without necessarily supporting the GOP."

Klavan suggested that a spate of recent political movies like "Rendition" and "Redaction" also strengthened the conservative cause.

"These movies are genuinely anti-American. Never before have we had anti-war movies made while our troops were at war. Many people like me were ashamed of the industry, and there's been a bit of a backlash."

Vafiades says increasing numbers of conservatives have joined his organization in the past year, and more organizations like his are sprouting up.

But hush-hush groups like "Friends of Abe," a secretive society of Hollywood conservatives, still operate well under the radar. And the increased spotlight on conservative celebrities has not changed the political climate as much as Breitbart, Vafiades, Molen and Klavan would like.

They say liberal celebrities still have an easier time "being political" than conservatives do.

"Sean Penn is out dancing with dictators, and no one gives him flak. Instead they give him Oscar nominations," says Klavan. "Jon Voight may have some semblance of job security, but he still has to be careful about what he says."

Hollywood Conservatives Encouraged to Come Out of the Closet (http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,476165,00.html)

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