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[Shammu]

The Serpent of Porn

by Steve Gallagher
April 20, 2006

(AgapePress) - - Solomon intimately understood how powerful sexual temptation can be for a young man. It was with him in mind that he wrote the fifth chapter of Proverbs. "My son, give attention to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding .... For the lips of an adulteress drip honey and smoother than oil is her speech" (Proverbs 5:1-3).

Those two sentences perfectly describe both the power of sexual temptation and its antidote. The wise king understood that, if a young man is to successfully withstand the charms of the temptress, he must be prepared ahead of time. Time spent in the Word every day builds up a man's immune system against the poison of pornography. The scriptures are simply the thinking and perspectives of the Lord. As a man continually immerses himself in the Bible, he will gradually take on God's mindset toward life, people and, yes, even sexuality. a man who devotes daily time to the Word is given spiritual insight into the power of temptation and how it works.

Notice again what Solomon says about sexual sin. He personifies it as an adulteress whose lips of honey represent promised fulfillment. The temptation seems irresistible because it is laced with deception -- namely, that the act of sin will bring about tremendous pleasure and satisfaction. The tantalizing thought is presented and all thoughts of resistance are forgotten. the act of sexual sin looks absolutely intoxicating and therefore irresistible. The smooth oil represents the craftiness of the enemy .... Fully camouflaged and extremely calculating, he presents the perfect illusion, timing each consecutive attack "to steal, and kill, and destroy God's property."

The wise man, whose heart has been fortified with the Word of God, sees the devil behind that intoxicating temptation. In the Garden, Satan exposed himself as the "crafty" serpent he is. I imagine him being very much like a cobra. Known for the hideous hood it extends when preparing to attack, it actually spits into the eyes of its victim before striking. With its target blinded and helpless, the serpent could easily squirm away into the brush. But this viper is not content with escape; it enjoys killing. With bared fangs, it lunges, injecting its deadly poison into its victim's body.

Injected ... Infected ... and Helpless
This is a fitting picture of the man lured into viewing pornography. The temptation usually begins when he comes across a glimpse of flesh and/or a sexually suggestive hyper-link. It is just enough venom to temporarily blind him to the impending danger. The initial presentation is stimulating, creating a sensual atmosphere which spiritually incapacitates him.

Now the serpent moves in for the kill. That one glimpse of porn unleashes a poison that rockets into the man's soul and instantly spreads throughout his being. Just like a snakebite victim, he enters a catatonic state of mind: a sexual trance where all reason seems to abandon him. Lust rushes through his body; his face flushes with excitement; his palms get sweaty. Solomon described this spiritual stupor this way: "With her many persuasions she entices him. With her flattering lips she seduces him. Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool, until an arrow pierces through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare, so he does not know that it will cost him his life" (Proverbs 7:21-23).

Conversely, the man who "receives with meekness the engrafted word" discerns the source of temptation that comes his way. He understands that, behind the beautiful illusion of pleasure, there is a snake -- coiled and ready to strike. He has been bitten by it before and has learned the hard way the price that is paid for every indulgence. He has the heart-knowledge (much different from head-knowledge) to "be a doer of the Word" and turn away from the temptation.

Continuing in Proverbs 5, Solomon went on to speak of the "aharit" -- the end -- of sexual sin: "But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps take hold of hell." This Hebraic term describes the inevitable consequences of all sin. He would later write, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its 'aharit' is the way of death" (14:12).

Once a snake bites, its victim then becomes vulnerable to other predators. Some time ago, I watched a National Geographic special that showed a lioness who had been bitten by a cobra. For days, she suffered under the effects of its venom. Weakened to the point of collapse, she faced great danger from a roving pack of ravenous hyenas. She was helpless to defend herself from their savage attacks.

This is certainly true of the man who views pornography. Its poison, rather than dissipating after he has completed his act of lust, continues to contaminate his heart over the coming days. Its toxin remains in his system, altering his perspectives, polluting his mind, and spreading darkness over his soul. The lust it initially appealed to is now inflamed into burning desire. Rather than satisfying the man's sexual passion, it only serves to further ignite it.

Not only must the infected man deal with the after-effects of the bite, but now he is even more weakened spiritually against the enemies of his soul. He attempts to go about his daily routines, but lascivious memories continue to haunt him. These images are like Third World beggars crowding around him, clamoring for another handout. No matter how much you give them, they're never satisfied. Indeed, every gift only emboldens them to demand more.

No wonder Solomon warned: "Keep your way far from her and do not go near the door of her house, or you will give your vigor to others and your years to the cruel one" (5:8-9). The house of the adulteress -- much like an X-rated website -- is nothing more than a den of writhing vipers. It would be wise to avoid such a place!

God's Word is the Antitode
The poisoned victim's only hope for freedom is to go "cold turkey." Just as a heroin addict must lock himself up until the drug gradually works its way out of his body, so too it takes time for the venom of pornography to lose its power. Every tick of the clock could be harboring a voluptuous temptress, ready to lure him back into sin. And yet, every minute that passes without failure, delivers the man that much further out of her reach. When it comes to porn addiction, the longer he stays away, the better his chances of escaping her evil clutches for good.

Just as the Word of God prepares a man to face temptation, it is also the only antidote for the man once he has been bitten by the serpent of lust. Regular doses of Scripture are the very thing he needs to be built up spiritually and thus counteract the effects of the poison of pornography. "Precept upon precept; line upon line; here a little, and there a little ..." (Isaiah 28:10). Every word, verse and chapter he meditates upon serves to strengthen him.

Christian men must do everything within their power to avoid the "house" of the adulteress. Two practical measures a man should take would be to use an Internet filter on his computer and controlling his television viewing. However, the fact remains that we live in a snake-infested world. In our day and age, it is almost inevitable that men will face this temptation at some point. The wise believer will prepare himself for that day with the Word of God. It is only "the sword of the Spirit" that can sever the head of the serpent of porn.

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[Shammu]

PCUSA May Allow Homosexual Clergy, UMC Group Sympathetic With Pro-Homosexual Cause

by AFA Journal
April 20, 2006

(AgapePress) - - The Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) may be on the verge of allowing the ordination of homosexual clergy, despite the wishes of the majority of its members. That's the disturbing claim being made by Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry (PFFM), a group of Presbyterian clergy and laity who hope to work within the denomination to restore biblical and confessional fidelity.

The group says that in June, the General Assembly -- the denomination's highest court -- will consider the recommendations of the "Peace, Unity and Purity Report," which deals with the issue of homosexuality in the PCUSA. A PFFM letter concerning the report states that, "if approved, [it] will permit the ordination of practicing, unrepentant homosexuals in our denomination."

When the question has been put to local presbyteries in the past, nearly three-quarters have rejected the ordination of homosexuals to ministry. However, PFFM says the procedures being applied in this instance would circumvent the presbyteries, which serve a function similar to a local congressional district.

That means that should PCUSA convention delegates approve the report, "it will permit governing bodies to ordain whomever they wish regardless of the clear constitutional standards approved by 73% of the presbyteries," says PFFM. "The changes proposed by the report will not return to the presbyteries for a vote."

In order to forestall what it calls "a serious biblical and constitutional crisis" in the denomination, PFFM recommends that presbyteries carefully consider who they elect as representatives to the General Assembly.

The crisis comes at a time when the PCUSA is already facing a serious financial crunch. According to Associated Press, the denomination of approximately 2.4 million members reported that it must cut its budget over the next couple of years -- starting with a $2.7 million cut this year. In addition, AP reports the denomination will cut jobs at its headquarters for the third time in four years. Church officials say they need to cut enough jobs to save more than $14 million over the next two years. In 2002 and 2003, some 85 jobs were cut through layoffs and attrition.

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[Shammu]

'Tiktaalik' Simply Shows God's Divine Design, says Ken Ham

by Allie Martin
April 20, 2006

(AgapePress) - - The founder of a Christian apologetics ministry says a so-called "missing link" found in the Canadian arctic doesn't prove that land animals evolved from fish, despite reports in the secular press.

Earlier this month the secular press announced the discovery of a fossil known as "Tiktaalik." Scientists said the fossil -- purported to have lived 375 million years ago -- had the characteristics of a fish, but also had characteristics that made it a predecessor of amphibians, reptiles, and dinosaurs.

"Experts said the discovery, with its unusually well-preserved and complete skeletons, reveals significant new information about how the water-to-land evolution took place," reported Associated Press on April 5. And while Jennifer Clack of Cambridge University, an expert unconnected with the study, told AP that it is impossible to tell if the fossil was a direct ancestor of land vertebrates, she admitted that if a scientist set out to design a plausible candidate, "you'd probably come up with something like this."

Ken Ham, founder of the apologetics ministry known as Answers in Genesis, says Tiktaalik does not show a transitional form of animal as evolutionists claim.

"If you look at a platypus, a platypus has features of reptiles, birds, and mammals," he notes. "Now, that's not considered to be a transitional form. But what you find is that God has used optimum features in different creatures. And so you see some similarities and you see differences, and so on -- just as the forelimb of a human is similar to the forelimb of a chimp is similar to the structure of the bones in other animals, other vertebrates."

The fossil -- which Ham describes as a lobe-finned fish -- is just another example of God's divine design, he says. "They're saying that it was evolving legs. But, you know, you've got a shallow water fish here, like the lungfish," says Ham, "and they have the strength in their fins -- these lobe fins. They're different from fins of other fish."

The Answers in Genesis spokesman explains. "The lobe fins' bones give them some strength so they can crawl along the mud," he says. "I mean, so what? That's not a transitional form. That's a fish designed to do what it does do in shallow water."

Ham says if evolution is true, there would be millions of fossils representing transitional forms of animals. And he contends the secular press has once again shown its bias toward evolution by heralding the recent discovery as one that, as AP put it, "sheds new light on one of the greatest transformations in the history of animals."

Researchers have not yet discovered any remains from the hind end of the creature's body -- only from the jaw, snout, and neck areas.

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[Shammu]

Effort Aims to 'Evangelize' Families into Home Schooling

by Jim Brown
April 20, 2006

(AgapePress) - - Experienced home-schooling families are being encouraged to take part in "home-school evangelism" by bringing friends, neighbors, and relatives into home schooling.

An estimated 700,000 American families have five or more years of home-schooling experience. According to Dr. Bruce Shortt of Exodus Mandate, if just 25 percent of those families brought new families into home schooling each year, the number of home schoolers would easily double in a few years.

The idea is called "Homeschooling Family-to-Family" (HFTF), an effort started last year by Exodus Mandate to grow home schooling and strengthen state and local home-school organizations. Shortt says there are four reasons to get involved in the long-term project. The first, he says, is that helping families get started in home schooling "rescues" children from what he calls "government schools."

"Second, it's a great way to share the gospel or help disciple new Christians," he continues as he describes HFTF. "Third, when we grow home schooling, we're promoting revival in families, churches, and communities." And finally, he says, "if you don't care about anything else, every home schooler -- Christian or otherwise -- needs to understand that we're always just one election away from disaster."

Shortt, an advisor to the National Black Home Educators Resource Association, is among those heading up HFTF. He says getting involved in the effort does not require a large time commitment.

"Can you take someone along with you to a home school co-op meeting? Can you take that person with you to a home school convention or book fair?" he asks. "Can you introduce that new family to some of your home schooling friends? Can you spend a little time helping the new family decide on curriculum and provide some periodic encouragement during a first year?"

He contends the main barrier preventing most families from home schooling is fear. "[F]rankly, there are a lot of families who would begin home schooling if they had someone they know providing just a little guidance and encouragement during the first year," Short suggests.

Short, author of the book The Harsh Truth About Public Schools, believes the fruit of home-school evangelism and outreach can be immense. "Unlike the gimmicks that often pass for Christian evangelism today, Christian home schooling is true revival," he says, "and HFTF is the perfect opportunity for Christian home schoolers to become more evangelical."

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[Shammu]

Liberty Counsel Files in Indiana Case, Says Legislative Prayer Part of History

by Allie Martin
April 20, 2006

(AgapePress) - - A Christian law firm is defending the 188-year tradition of opening prayer in the Indiana Legislature. Liberty Counsel says legislative prayer is not unconstitutional and should be permitted.

Last year a federal district court ordered the Indiana Legislature to halt the tradition of opening sessions with prayers. The court said if the tradition continued, the prayers had to be non-sectarian. That decision came after a lawsuit by a state resident who was offended by prayers mentioning the name of Jesus Christ.

Now Florida-based Liberty Counsel has filed a brief in the case, arguing that legislative prayer predates the First Amendment. The group's general counsel and president says such prayers are not unconstitutional -- but that efforts to censor them are. Prayer, says Mat Staver, are "part of who we are as Americans."

"What this lower court has done is rule against much of our American history, ruled against the First Amendment, and ruled against common sense," the Liberty Counsel attorney explains. "We're asking the Federal Court of Appeals to reverse this lower-court judge and to rule that legislative prayer -- just like the Supreme Court's already found -- is indeed constitutional."

According to Staver, the case is now on appeal. "It's a very important matter because this has the ability to affect legislative prayers all around the country," he says, adding an optimistic note. "I think when this case, if it does, gets to the United States Supreme Court, with the new makeup of the current Supreme Court, that court will rule soundly in favor of legislative prayer."

The first legislative prayer dates back to at least the Constitutional Convention in 1787. And as recently as 1983, the Supreme Court upheld Nebraska's tradition of legislative prayer. That is why Staver says to eliminate such prayer would be "contrary" to the history of the nation as well as inconsistent with the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

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[Shammu]

Bush Expected to Address Human Rights During Talks with China's Hu Jintao

by Chad Groening
April 20, 2006

(AgapePress) - - An official with an organization dedicated to the persecuted Church around the world says he expects President Bush will discuss Chinese human rights violations when he meets with China's communist leader today.

Members of Congress say President Bush should insist that China respect its citizens' religious rights. That is one of the issues likely to be raised when Chinese President Hu Jintao visits the White House today. The agenda also includes China's currency, trade policies, and the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea.

At a House hearing on Wednesday, New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith said Chinese "citizens practicing a faith other than officially sanctioned religions are often subjected to torture, imprisonment and death, at which time prisoners' organs are often harvested to meet demand." Smith said that while trade, nuclear proliferation and other important issues will be on Bush's agenda, it is America's "moral duty to stand with the oppressed, not with the oppressor."

Todd Nettleton, director of media services at Voice of the Martyrs, believes President Bush will bring up the human-rights question when he meets behind closed doors with the Chinese leader.

"President Bush has brought up the issue of human rights in China [before]," notes Nettleton. "When he was in Beijing, he talked about human rights, he talked about religious freedom, and I believe it's a priority for him personally -- and I think out of that personal priority flows his conversation."

But Nettleton says it is unfortunate that the president does not have much to bargain with in order to achieve any real progress with the Chinese. "We've given [Communist China] permanent normal trade relations, the 2008 Olympics was awarded to Beijing -- you know, there is no great thing that we can say, 'Well, wait -- if you don't do this, then we're going to do this,'" he says.

"Obviously we're going to continue the trading relationships that we have, so there isn't a huge stick that he has to wave."

Still, the VOM spokesman believes President Bush will attempt to bargain with the Communist leader as best as he can. "He doesn't always bring ... up [his commitment to human rights during] real "in-your-face," public moments, but we're told that he does bring it up behind closed doors -- and he does mention it as he is briefing the news media, as he's talking to reporters," Nettleton observes. "So, hopefully that will be a part of the discussion along with the economic issues and the copyright issues and the other things that Bush is planning to discuss. "

China's communist regime has sought to rein in Christianity's rapid spread by targeting preachers for arrest and intimidation. Many have been jailed or driven into exile or deeper underground, depriving Chinese Christians of some of their best-organized and most entrepreneurial leaders. While Buddhism remains China's most popular religion, Christians are now estimated to number 35 million, up from less than one million 50 years ago. Most worship in private homes rather than in churches monitored by state-backed religious organizations.

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[Shammu]

Expletive-Filled Video Lands Teacher in Hot Water

by Jim Brown
April 20, 2006

(AgapePress) - - An Alabama lawmaker is calling on a political opponent to apologize for showing a profane, anti-George Bush Internet video to students in his eighth-grade science class.

The film shown during class by West Limestone High School teacher Mike White repeatedly uses an expletive to describe President Bush, members of his administration, and supporters. White, who is a Democratic candidate for the District 4 seat in Alabama's House of Representatives, also allegedly made a student says "John Kerry rocks" before leaving class one day.

Republican Micky Hammon, who is District 4's current representative, says he was appalled to hear White was attempting to indoctrinate students.

"That is definitely not appropriate material for 13-year-old, eighth-grade students," says Hammon. "Alabama is a conservative state. This is something you might see on the news from California or somewhere else, but not here in Alabama."

White also reportedly showed students an obscene video featuring an animated Bill Clinton. Alabama students deserve better, says Hammon.

"When I was in school years ago, we didn't know if our teachers were Republicans or Democrats, liberal or conservative or what. The thought didn't even cross our minds," he says. "And now, this is the point that we've come to. I just think it's terribly embarrassing to the state of Alabama."

Hammon says White would be wise to publicly apologize for his actions. The Democratic hopeful would not return calls seeking comment. The News Courier (Athens, Alabama) reports that White has been on administrative leave since the incident and is barred from the campus pending completion of an investigation by school system authorities.

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[Shammu]

Ministerial/Laity Group: PCUSA May Allow Homosexual Clergy

by AFA Journal
April 20, 2006

(AgapePress) - - The Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) may be on the verge of allowing the ordination of homosexual clergy, despite the wishes of the majority of its members. That's the disturbing claim being made by Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry (PFFM), a group of Presbyterian clergy and laity who hope to work within the denomination to restore biblical and confessional fidelity.

The group says that in June, the General Assembly -- the denomination's highest court -- will consider the recommendations of the "Peace, Unity and Purity Report," which deals with the issue of homosexuality in the PCUSA. A PFFM letter concerning the report states that, "if approved, [it] will permit the ordination of practicing, unrepentant homosexuals in our denomination."

When the question has been put to local presbyteries in the past, nearly three-quarters have rejected the ordination of homosexuals to ministry. However, PFFM says the procedures being applied in this instance would circumvent the presbyteries, which serve a function similar to a local congressional district.

That means that should PCUSA convention delegates approve the report, "it will permit governing bodies to ordain whomever they wish regardless of the clear constitutional standards approved by 73% of the presbyteries," says PFFM. "The changes proposed by the report will not return to the presbyteries for a vote."

In order to forestall what it calls "a serious biblical and constitutional crisis" in the denomination, PFFM recommends that presbyteries carefully consider who they elect as representatives to the General Assembly.

The crisis comes at a time when the PCUSA is already facing a serious financial crunch. According to Associated Press, the denomination of approximately 2.4 million members reported that it must cut its budget over the next couple of years -- starting with a $2.7 million cut this year. In addition, AP reports the denomination will cut jobs at its headquarters for the third time in four years. Church officials say they need to cut enough jobs to save more than $14 million over the next two years. In 2002 and 2003, some 85 jobs were cut through layoffs and attrition.

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[Shammu]

Research Shows Early Porn Exposure Has Lasting Effects

by AFA Journal
April 21, 2006

(AgapePress) - - Recent studies confirming the corruptive impact of pornography on people revealed a growing concern among both secularists and Christians regarding its effect on children, especially if they are exposed at an early age.

Author Peter Stock addressed the concern in a document titled "The Harmful Effects on Children of Exposure to Pornography," in which he noted that viewing pornography distorts the sexual development of children and adolescents. Not only does it give an inadequate perspective of human sexuality, it dehumanizes women.

"This possibly violent, very degrading image or depiction of sexuality becomes the normal depiction of sexuality in the child's mind," said Daniel Weiss of Focus on the Family Action.

Even if the exposure to graphic sexual images is accidental, research shows that it can warp a child's understanding of sexuality. This twisted view follows them through life-tainting relationships well into adulthood, and creates a plethora of problems along the way. For example, experts associate early exposure to pornography with an increase in teen pregnancy, abuse, drug and alcohol abuse and relationship problems.

According to researcher Dr. Jeffrey Satinover, these problems surface when external beauty fades after years of marriage. "The ability to see the human being on the inside and respond erotically requires that you not have set up and trained yourself in a set of completely artificial, impersonal expectations," he said.

But with constant advancements in technology, these artificial expectations are staring kids in the face while making it more difficult for parents to protect them.

As reported by the U.S. Justice Department, nine out of ten school age children are exposed to pornography, usually while doing their homework online. In addition, the New York Times recently cited a study titled "Impact of the Media on Adolescent Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors" in which it was noted that one in five children ages 10 to 17 had "inadvertently encountered explicit sexual content, and one in five had been exposed to an unwanted sexual solicitation while online."

While Internet filters are helpful when it comes to protecting children from online pornography, counselor Joann Condie also encourages parents to help their children process a good, wholesome and healthy view of sexuality.

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[Shammu]

'Conservative Pride' Celebrated in Sun Devil Country

by Jim Brown
April 24, 2006

(AgapePress) - - Conservative students at Arizona State University says they're fighting for their own opinions to be heard and respected on campus. They recently promoted a celebration focusing on the need for more academic diversity at the school.

The College Republicans (CRs) at ASU have just wrapped up their second annual "Conservative Pride Week." Last Monday (April 17) the group observed "Conservative Coming-Out Day," which featured members of the College Republicans and other conservatives coming out of an actual closet to happily proclaim their beliefs without fear of liberals on campus. On Tuesday the CRs held an "Anti-United Nations Day" in which students tossed water balloons at a picture of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.

On Wednesday, conservatives celebrated "Border Security Si Se Puede" day in protest of illegal immigration. Thursday was "Academic Diversity and Political Incorrectness Day," which was highlighted by a speech from conservative author David Horowitz on the topics of academic freedom and his new book, Professors.

Hieu Tran, director of public relations for the CRs, says there is a need for more conservative professors on campus -- especially in the political science department. In addition, he noted that a majority of columnists writing for the university newspaper are liberal.

"We have about two conservative columnists on the entire editorial board," he submits. "And I think that what really needs to happen is that conservatives need to be able to be a part of the university, an open part of the university, to have their viewpoints be expressed as well."

Reaction to the Conservative Pride Week has generally been positive, says Tran. "A lot of people are coming up, thanking us for doing this, because they're going to classes and they're hearing the other side -- but they're not hearing any of our side, the views of our side," he explains. "So they appreciate what we're doing."

"We're bringing out issues into the mainstream," Tran continues. "Also, a lot of liberals and other people in our community are coming up and saying, 'Well, why are you doing this?' And we're just saying, 'This is for debate.'"

Tran says people have not been talking lately about the corruption in the United Nations. But now they are because of the College Republicans.

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[Shammu]

In Midst of Fun, Awana 'Summit' Focuses on Applying God's Word to Life

by Allie Martin
April 21, 2006

(AgapePress) - - More than a thousand high school students from around the nation are wrapping up a four-day event designed to test teenagers' abilities in sports, fine arts, and Bible knowledge.

For 21 years now, Awana Clubs International has hosted the annual gathering in places like Omaha, St. Louis, and Fort Worth. This year, "Summit 06" drew more than 1,500 high school students to Awana's world headquarters in Streamwood, Illinois, in the suburbs of Chicago. Kevin White, manager of youth ministries for Awana Clubs International, says the four-day event is about more than intense competition.

"We're trying to challenge the students just to take in the competition, take in the fun and the games and the events and all that, but [to understand that] it doesn't matter if you come here and win awards if you can't put it to work in real life," says the ministry spokesman. "And that's just a joy to see these students [understand that].

"When you've got 1,500 high students in the same place -- what a blast, what a joy to watch them actually be the hands and feet of Christ," he adds.

According to a press release from the organization, the fine arts competition is designed to encourage the participants to develop their ministry-related gifts -- whether they be musical or non-musical. The musical competition includes piano, solo and group vocals, and instrumental. The non-musical categories include public speaking and graphic design. Awana says college scholarships are available in some fine arts categories.

Another of the competitions featured at Summit 2006 is Bible quizzing. White shares that many teens are not only willing to learn God's Word, but also are eager to apply the Word in their daily lives.

"Scripture tells us to continue to hang on to the things you learned when you were young," he states, "and if we, as a ministry, continue to help develop [young people] and build them up throughout their teenage years, they will go out and be the next generation that changes this world."

Awana Clubs International is the world's largest Bible memory program for children and youth. White obviously relishes the opportunity to participate. "It's just a joy and a blessing to be a part of this ministry and a part of this event, to see these students [learning God's Word]," he says. "What a blessing to be a part of what God has called us to do."

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[Shammu]

Author/Pastor Counsels Believers to Prepare for Da Vinci Code Fallout

by Allie Martin
April 21, 2006

(AgapePress) - - An upcoming movie based on a best-selling book that questions Christ's divinity can be challenged with fact and reason, says a Christian author. James Garlow advises Christians to be prepared to refute untruths that will be conveyed in Sony Pictures' The Da Vinci Code.

The movie, due to be released in the U.S. on May 19, is directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks. The film is based on the best-selling by Dan Brown, which asserts that Jesus and Mary Magdalene married and had children, and questions the divinity of Christ. The movie is rated PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, nudity, thematic material, brief drug references, and sexual content.

James Garlow is co-author of Cracking Da Vinci's Code, and he also compiled The Da Vinci Code Breaker. Garlow says Christians have an opportunity to counter the lies in Brown's novel with the historical truths found in scripture. He is convinced the Church must take seriously the challenge posed by the film.

"It'll either be catastrophic for the Church in terms of the unbelieving public losing a great deal of whatever confidence they may have left in the scriptures or in the person of Jesus," he says, "or if the Church is ready -- if we're able, as Peter writes, to give an answer for the hope that lies within us -- we can seize this opportunity and have fabulous evangelistic fruit ... or what I call pre-evangelism."

Christians, says the California pastor, must be willing and equipped to answer questions that will arise in the minds of non-believers about the reliability of the New Testament.

"If a person equips themselves on how to refute [the lies], they can just simply [say], 'Here, look at this information,'" he suggests, "and they can help a person establish a strong faith and even a sufficiently strong understanding of the historicity of the gospels, the historicity of Jesus and his life, even church history itself enough so that they can refute Dan Brown's notions."

Garlow's The Da Vinci Code Breaker is a sort of dictionary that contains numerous terms and facts about the people, places, and events referenced in the novel. One group -- Opus Dei, a conservative Roman Catholic group -- is depicted in the book as a murderous, power-hungry sect. The group has requested that Sony Pictures include a clarifying disclaimer in the film, saying "would be a gesture of respect toward the figure of Jesus, to the history of the Church and to the religious beliefs of viewers."

In its response, Sony does not say if a disclaimer will be attached, but insists that the film is "a work of fiction" and "not a religious tract."

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[Shammu]

Abortion Clinic 'Buffer Zone' Bounced by Florida Judge

by Allie Martin
April 21, 2006

(AgapePress) - - The city of West Palm Beach, Florida, has been ordered to stop enforcing a buffer zone designed to keep pro-life activists away from the entrances of abortion clinics. The 20-foot buffer zone, says the winning Christian attorney, was both unprecedented and unconstitutional.

The buffer zone was adopted by the West Palm Beach city commission with the backing of Mayor Lois Frankel and the owner of a local abortion clinic. A city ordinance created the zone around "healthcare" facilities in the area. But federal judge Donald Middlebrooks found not only that the zone was not necessary, but also that claims by the city were unfounded. The city had argued that the ordinance was designed to protect healthcare facilities generally; in actuality, said Middlebrooks, the ordinance targeted pro-life demonstrators at Presidential Women's Center -- an abortion clinic -- in West Palm Beach.

The Center for Law & Policy (CLP), the legal arm of the American Family Association, had sued the city on behalf of three pro-life demonstrators, claiming the buffer zone was unconstitutional. CLP senior litigation counsel Michael DePrimo says the zone made it impossible for free-speech rights to be protected.

    
Michael DePrimo
"The largest buffer zone ever upheld by the United States Supreme Court was eight feet," DePrimo explains. "Other buffer zones allowed individuals to go into the zone and stand stationary so that they could actually hand out literature to willing listeners."

But as DePrimo explains, the zone enacted by West Palm Beach was considerably more restrictive. "This particular buffer zone just completely obliterated any opportunity for any demonstrator to be able to hand out literature or to, as I say, speak face-to-face with even willing listeners," he says.

The attorney says it was vital to fight for the rights of the activists -- and ultimately the lives of the unborn children on the verge of being aborted. He shares that pro-life demonstrators have had "great success" in counseling women outside the Presidential Women's Center.

"As a matter of fact, at the hearing on the preliminary injunction, two young women testified that they gave birth to babies only after they met the demonstrators at the abortion clinic," he says. According to DePrimo, those demonstrators -- his clients -- gave the two pregnant women literature which proved to them that their babies were not "blob of tissue" but, in fact, human beings. "And both those women now have healthy babies," DePrimo adds.

The CLP attorney recalls his legal firm warning the city, before the lawsuit, that a buffer zone of the type it was considering would be challenged in federal court, on the grounds that it was both "unprecedented and unconstitutional." But DePrimo says the city commission ignored that warning. "Now the taxpayers have to pay the price for the commission's failure to exercise sound judgment," he notes.

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[Shammu]

Author Says Profs' Protest Propels Book Sales Skyward

by Jim Brown
April 21, 2006

(AgapePress) - - The author of a controversial, edgy, conservative book about what's happened to America is thanking liberal professors at Ohio State University's Mansfield campus for effectively publicizing the book.

By a 21-0 vote, with nine abstentions, faculty at OSU-Mansfield voted to have the school launch a formal investigation into the actions of librarian Scott Savage. Professors accused the devout Quaker of sexual harassment for recommending a book -- The Marketing of Evil by David Kupelian -- as required reading for the incoming freshman class. It was one of four recommended by Savage. (See earlier story)

Reportedly the charges against Savage have since been dropped -- and his attorney has not ruled out a lawsuit over the attack on the librarian's reputation. But the faculty vote apparently has had some unintended consequences. Author Kupelian says the almost two dozen professors who voted for the investigation have done him a big favor.

"It's a great irony -- a wonderful irony, from my point of view -- that these professors were so concerned about the possibility that their freshmen might read my book, that outside of the rarified air of the college campus the rest of America has heard about this story and has gone in droves to buy [the book]," he says.

Kupelian's book was published almost a year ago -- but because of the controversy on the OSU-Mansfield campus, sales have "skyrocketed," says the author. "Right now it's [number] 30 or 40 on Amazon.com -- and it's been the number-one current events book for the last three or four days," he says.

And what about the nine faculty members who abstained from voting? Kupelian says he has a theory.

"You have to wonder: why did they not vote on this matter? It can't be because they didn't have an opinion," he speculates. "I say it's because they knew that this was bogus [and] ridiculous to bring a guy up on charges of sexual harassment for recommending a book."

Consequently, he says, those professors could not vote in favor of the investigation against Scott Savage -- but at the same time they could not vote against it. Otherwise, says Kupelian, they would run the risk of being characterized along with him as "a homophobe and a bigot and a hater."

Kupelian, who is managing editor of WorldNetDaily.com, sees another irony in the whole ordeal: his book is available for purchase in the Ohio State University bookstore.

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[Shammu]

Court Tells Christian Club Its Mission Not Harmed by Non-Believing Leaders

by Allie Martin
April 24, 2006

(AgapePress) - - An attorney with the American Family Association says a Christian club at a university in California likely will appeal a federal judge's ruling that a state law school can discriminate against the club.

The University of California's Hastings College of the Law, one of the largest law schools in the U.S., is located just off Market Street in the heart of San Francisco. Last week a federal judge ruled that the school can deny funding as well as official recognition to a Christian student club that requires its members and leadership to sign a statement of faith. Hastings claimed that statement violated the school's anti-discrimination policy. The club, in return, argued that the law school had violated its rights of free speech, free exercise, free association, due process, and equal protection.

The club also claimed it could not comply with the school's anti-discrimination policy without abandoning its Christian mission. But U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey White did not see it that way, finding instead that the club did "not demonstrate how admitting [as members] [unrepentant and/or practicing] lesbian, gay, bisexual, or non-orthodox Christian students would impair its mission."

Brian Fahling, senior trial attorney with the AFA Center for Law & Policy, says Judge White's ruling was astonishing and troubling.

"The court had said that there was no evidence that the Christian mission of the club would be impaired by the admission of voting members who were practicing homosexuals or members of different faiths," Fahling summarizes -- then offers this observation: "The court took upon itself the role of determining for a particular religion what is important to it in terms of those who subscribe to it or those who are in fact a part of that faith."

In effect, says the attorney, the court said "I know better than you, or two millennia of Christian teaching, about what your faith requires."

According to Fahling, the club permitted anyone to attend meetings and to participate in club events -- but in order to preserve its "distinctly Christian mission and character," felt it necessary to limit membership and leadership roles to professed Christians. But the attorney is concerned that, because of the school's decision -- now bolstered by the court's ruling -- other universities may follow suit and re-evaluate Christian clubs on their campuses.

Fahling expects that other schools -- "certainly in the Ninth Circuit," he says -- will examine the reasoning behind Hastings' move and perhaps apply it to their own funding and recognition of campus Christian clubs.

"And I think the result of this," he continues, "... is that you will find other universities and law schools who are going to say, 'We're not going to fund you because your requirements that people be Christians and live a life in accordance with that before they can become members is a violation of our anti-discrimination policy.'"

Fahling believes it is likely that the Christian club will appeal the decision of the district court. The case is CLS Chapter of University of California, Hastings College of the Law v. Kane.

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