PropheZine # 51 December 1,1997 Ray Gano Sr. Editor Kim Koster Asst. Editor Mimi Nila Asst. Editor Mimi Nila.................Welcome to PropheZine ARTICLES Steven C. Wright .........Persecution Is Increasing Worldwide W. B. Howard............. United Religions Initiative 2000 John L. Terry, III CEC ...Financial Woes Continue Gary North............... Blind Man's Bluff In The Year 2000 John Ankerberg............Thanksgiving: Giving Thanks to God for the Christian Author Unknown............A Love Story PROPHEZINE NEWSBYTES Lee Underwood .......F.Y.I. - Israel in the News Paul M. Rodriguez....Is There Nothing Sacred? Penny Nance..........Disney Boycott Having An Effect Peter LaBarbara......If You Disapprove of Homosexual Behavior You Could Go to Jail Barbara G. Baker.....Christian Prisoner Escapes Armed Attack In Pakistan Share International .British futurist says 'World Teacher' will be seen on TV within five weeks. Point Of View..... ..Earth Day Religion Weekend News Today ..Spy photos sharpen focus on Noah's Ark C.E. Carlson...... ..Compromising Religious Monitoring www.persecution.com..No One Will Believe It NEW ON VIDEO.........The Mysterious Bible Codes By Grant Jeffrey BASICALLY SPEAKING R.g. Wallace....... .THE COPYBOOK *************************************************** Welcome all, I want to welcome everyone to PropheZine Newsletter # 51, the after Thanksgiving Issue. I am sure everyone is still feeding on some leftovers from Thanksgiving day as we are at my home. This issueâs focus is Christian persecution as well as the end time events that will rapidly unfold in the coming years. Ray unearthed a startling article on the Year 2000 glitches, which is mind boggling. It hit home for me since Year 2000 work is what I am currently employed at. I must say the article is right on the money with most of what I have been reading in the computer trade journals. Government agencies donât seem to fare too well in the commentaries. A very special poem by Author Unknown will be something you may want to share. I found it extremely convicting and comforting at the same time. Arenât these the ways of our God? Admonishing but comforting all in the same moment. 2 Corinthians 1:3 (asv) Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; I would like to take a moment to thank our glorious Almighty God for allowing me the opportunity to share in the many gifts of prophecy teaching he has bestowed upon the many authors we work with. Please join with me in continuing to pray for our Prophecy Ministry Leaders/Teachers for they and their families must be under attack continually. And of course since this issue deals with Christian persecution let us lift up our brothers and sisters who are persecuted as martyrs for Christ, in prayer as well. Prayer is our most powerful weapon against the enemy. Proverbs 15:29 (asv) Jehovah is far from the wicked; But he heareth the prayer of the righteous. In His Service, Mimi Nila mnila@ibm.net ************************************ Persecution Is Increasing Worldwide By Steven C. Wright, Author and Prophecy Teacher "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the gentiles," (How long?) "until the times (dispensation) of the gentiles be fulfilled." Luke 21:24 Since the early 1990s, I have taught and lectured on "The End of Gentile Evangelism." All of the talk of revival blazing across North America that is reaching the world simply is not true. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. I often say, if there is any doubt, we should ask Jesus because He certainly would know. Here in Luke 21:24, Jesus is foretelling how Jerusalem would be controlled by gentile influence "until" a specific time in history, during the final generation which witnesses His return. I am so glad He didn't leave it to the self-acclaimed modern day apostles and prophets to decide when. Jesus gave us a sign, which grabbed the attention of the entire world, and that, was the 1967 war when the Jews once again gained control of Jerusalem as their capital. Notice also what was to happen: "the times of the gentiles be fulfilled." In other words, God's dealing with gentiles as a main focus would begin to phase out. I personally am what little fruit still remains from the Jesus movement of the mid to late 1960s, and there has been no major revival since then (no matter how much some preachers have tried to make it happen). According to "Newswatch Magazine", "The 700 Club", Dr. Jack Van Impe, Don McAlvany and many other sources yet still in the minority, a larger percentage of Christians world wide are experiencing greater persecution than ever before in history. I believe without question "the times of the gentiles" have been fulfilled as a main focus. Of course, gentiles will continue to be saved, but increasingly it is getting more difficult to win people to Christ. In America over the past three decades, there has been the biggest drop in church attendance and membership since records have been kept. A thirty- percent drop was recorded just in the 1980s alone. Even the IRS has published the fact that tithes and offerings to non-profit organizations have dropped in recent years. In Russia, "perestroika" and "glasnost" had little to do with openness and freedom. Since 1992 the Russian communists have been cracking down on the Christian church while they allow drugs and sex to be sold right in Red Square. According to a recent article by Lawrence Uzzel, "Russia's 1993 constitution, which declares religious freedom to be a human right, in the bill's preamble, which proclaims the parliament's respect for just specifically named traditional religions: Orthodoxy, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism." Christianity is not listed as a basic human right! The fact that Islam is protected can be found in Ezekiel 38:4-7. Every nation listed by Ezekiel is Islamic. For the self acclaimed prophets to tell us revival has broken out all over these nations is not true. These prophets are prophesying falsehood as in the days of old. Jeremiah 23:16, "Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD." The prophets who tell us of the big revival in Russia, Eastern Europe, Africa, Poland, Turkey, and the other socialist communist nations is opposite of what is happening and against what the true Bible prophets warned. Prophets like Ezekiel and Zechariah foretold of the rise of hatred toward God's people, a revival of Islam and other false religions, and a phasing out of gentile evangelism. "China Cracks Down on Religious Freedom A Second Time" was a front-page article of the St. Petersburg Times in 1992. Christian persecution in China is not new, but it has increased dramatically in the 1990s. I will not describe the torture, but it is happening. I expect this to increase in spite of most of what we are told while being seated in our comfortable churches here in America. Jeremiah 16:14-16: "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that is shall no more be said, the LORD, liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, the LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from the lands (plural) whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land (Israel) that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes in the rocks." Here Jeremiah foretells of two attempts by God to get His Jewish people out of the North, what I believe to be Russia, which He did after Israel's independence of May 14, 1948. What followed was that many fishers reached out to them to bring the Jews back to their homeland. However, according to Jeremiah, there will be a second and final attempt to get the remaining Jews out, and this time God is going to go hunting for them. Hunting is much more violent and militant than fishing. Something has to happen fairly soon to drive the Jews who did not leave the first time, to want to leave, like a prey when it knows it is being hunted after (its life will depend upon it). Because of the aggressiveness described by Jeremiah, I expect anti-semitism to greatly accelerate to finally force the Jews back to their homeland, especially from the North or Russia, where in the 1990s anti-semitism is on the rise. Isaiah 49:12 "Behold, these (Jews) shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north (Russia) and from the west (especially the United States); and these (Jewish people) from the land of Sinim." Hong Kong is now under Chinese communist rule, which is very key in Bible prophecy. While working on the expanded edition of my first published book Superpowers In Prophecy in 1990, I found out Sinim apparently has a large group of Jewish people located there. Within the next five to ten years or so, they will be forced out more than likely by anti-Semites at the same time as their Jewish brothers and sisters from Russia and America. I believe that if Hong Kong is not ancient Sinim, they are at least somehow tied in together. Sinim, in the footnote of my Amplified Bible, is referred to as "China". According to my Fausset's Bible Dictionary, it is more specific - "southern China". I mentioned this at a Bible prophecy conference in Denver, Colorado in 1995, and a lady present spoke to me about this truth. She sent me some printed materials confirming the fact there are underground worshipping Christians and Jewish people located exactly where I said they were. When I found out in February 1991 that the government of China, with its religious persecution, is the role model for the coming persecution of Christians and Jews here in America, this scripture came to mind: Proverbs 22:3, "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished." Matthew 28:20, "...and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." No matter what may come down in America and the world, true Christian believers are assured that Jesus Christ has not forsaken His followers. 1 Peter 4:14, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:" The Greek word used here for glory is doxa which literally means "glory that appears". Even in times of pressure and persecution, the true Bible believing Christian can know that our Lord has not left him alone. According to the apostle Peter when Christians experience trying times and in some cases outright persecution for their faith and testimony, the glory of God is indeed resting upon them. Steven C. Wright, author of several books including "Superpowers in Prophecy," which was first smuggled into Poland and Russia to be printed underground during the cold war of the mid 1980's. In the 1960's, Mr. Wright worked as a professional drummer and was born again during the "Jesus Movement." He is a teacher and has lectured on college campuses and in conferences throughout the United States. He has appeared on nearly 200 secular TV and radio talk shows and has been interviewed with a number of leading political and military leaders including Benjamin Netanyahu, the current Prime Minister of Israel. Currently Mr. Wright is host of "Prophetic Perspective, a syndicated weekly call-in radio talk show on the Amerinet Broadcasting system. Steven Wright was a speaker at the Alta Loma PropheZine Conference that was held in September of this year. If you would like to order his tapes, please go to the PropheZine www site for more details. http://www.prophezine.com/index.shtml ************************************ Report: United Religions Initiative 2000 By: W. B. Howard...Editor of Despatch November 15th, 1997 Satan's latest attempt to destroy the Truth of God's Word, and reduce all worship to a pagan, Goddess Mary, Earth centered, dark mystic botch has emerged in the United Religions Initiative 2000 (URI). A powerful figure in this URI is Bishop William Swing, San Francisco's dominant Episcopal bishop. Here in Australia amazing developments have taken place this year, 1997. I have personally been to Melbourne to attend a United Religions' conference, political and religious leaders from our own country, and international religious leaders were there. Written reports have been sent out by our organization, Endtime Ministries. Christian Born-again believers need to understand the facts concerning this plot of Satan's, so that we may pray, witness, warn and exhort with added awareness. We should uncover the works of darkness. Paul gave warning in his day of those who speak perverse things, he was not ashamed to warn and expose evil doctrine and practices. Here is what Paul says: "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse (or corrupt and depraved) things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore WATCH, and REMEMBER, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." (Acts 20:28-32). Jude wrote: "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto, and EXHORT you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Jude 1:3. Contend = to argue, battle, assert and affirm the truth of the Biblical faith. The Scriptures have given us vital information in regard to the rise of the Antichrist religion of UNITY of all faiths which will happen in the Last Days. The many prophecies are too numerous for our purposes here, but we will look at just a few. It appears that without a shadow of a doubt what we are encountering in the United Religions for an entire planet, based on paganism, witchcraft, mystical New Age religions and Goddess worship, is the predicted One World Church of the Beast of Revelation. We are living in spectacular times as we speed towards AD 2000, Christians need great discernment and boldness. 11 Peter 3:3,4 reveals that those who realize that the days are so evil that Christ Jesus will soon return, will be scoffed at. They will be considered deluded fanatics, this opposition comes from religious leaders today who call themselves "christian": Last Days' scoffers, walking in their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His Coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." II Thess.2:3 warns us that there will be a great falling away into apostasy, and that the Day of the Lord will not come UNTIL there come a great falling away FIRST. "Let no man deceive you by any means: for THAT DAY (the day of the Lord) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." II Peter 2:1,2 warns against FALSE TEACHERS, who will be in the churches, calling themselves Christians. These will pamper the unsaved church-goers with ear-tickling doctrines, which will please them, which are novel, sensational and entertaining. There will a "turning away" to "damnable heresies", MANY will follow their "pernicious ways". "Pernicious ways" = "deadly, fatal, lethal, damaging" ways. MANY will follow like lambs to the butcher. The Bible warns that there will be an increase in SPIRITISM, as many depart from the faith written in the Biblical Scriptures. I Timothy 4:1 warns that this will happen in the LATTER TIMES (the Last Days of this Dispensation). There will be those who profess to be `christian', who will give heed to SEDUCING SPIRITS and DOCTRINES OF DEVILS. "Now the spirit SPEAKETH (He gives Divine revelation on the subject) EXPRESSLY (explicitly or exactly) that in the LATTER TIMES some shall depart from the faith (that is, the Body of THE faith in the Word, it does not mean they are saved people who lose their salvation), giving heed to seducing spirits. and doctrines of devils (or demons)." I Timothy 4:1. The Bible reveals that the phony "christian" churches will join with all other religions, and make up the OneWorld Church of Satan - in the Latter Days. "...ALL the world wondered after the Beast. And they (ALL who did not go in the Rapture) WORSHIPPED the DRAGON (a massive religion arises) which gave power unto the beast, saying who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him ( the Beast) a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; ...he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." (Revelation 13:3-6). This will come to full fruition in the Tribulation period, but the lead up to this is already taking place, the religions of the world are uniting in order to worship a God (or gods) who are NOT the Biblical God! He is Lucifer of the New Age. If any saved believer was asked," what do you consider the greatest apostasy of all might be?" I'm sure we would agree, that apostasy against the Saving Grace of God and Christ Jesus' death on the Cross, this would fit the bill! There is "another Gospel", which is not another, but an awful perversion of the True Gospel. "Another Gospel", of which we are warned in Galatians 1:6 and II Corinthians 11:4. It may come in a number of deceptive forms, but there is one thing the preachers of "another Gospel" agree upon, they without exception deny the sufficiency of grace alone to save, and to keep the redeemed, and make every saved one perfect. They always add human merit in some way, and never grasp the tremendous glory of the SHED BLOOD OF OUR LORD AT CALVARY. The Scriptures predict the FUTURE of the visible churches of Christendom as being APOSTASY. But the true Church, the invisible Body of Christ, has quite a different future, one of GLORY. What a contrast! How immensely important to have a GLORY FUTURE and not an APOSTASY FUTURE! Have you been truly born-again? APOSTASY FUTURE of organized Christendom, the visible churches, is found in Luke 18:8: II Tim. 3:1-8. "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Read through the II Timothy passage for yourself, it shows perilous times in the Latter Days, terrible evil doers who "have a form of godliness", resisting the Truth, men and women with corrupt and reprobate minds. Reprobate = "no principles" "degenerate" "villainous". THE GLORY FUTURE of the Invisible Body of Christ is found in Matt.13:36-43; Romans 8:18-23. I Thess.4:14-17. I will quote three verses only: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father, who hath ears to hear, let him hear." "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." "Then we which are ALIVE AND REMAIN shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." What a GLORY the Rapture is, not a cop-out or a wimpish fancy. WHAT IS THIS UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE 2000? If you could view the official United Religions Initiative document I am looking at, you would see it is an invitation. An invitation to ALL religions to unite under the leadership of Theosophical global powers. URI can mean U-you, R-are, I-Invited. You would note on the bottom of the official invitation these three names: The Rt. Rev. William Swing Bishop, Chancellor, Diocese of California. Mrs. Judith Hollister, Founder of the Temple of Understanding. Dr. Robert Muller, UN Peace University. If you have studied our Website on One World Schooling - 666, or indeed had done only a reasonable amount of research into the New World Order, you will recognize the name Dr. Robert Muller. He is the father of the World Core educational Curriculum for the globe, with UNESCO. Muller gets his directions from a demon spirit guide Djwhal Khul or D.K., who is supposed to be a 2000 year old Tibetan! Muller often acknowledges the former Secretary General of the UN, U Thant, he too was a follower of the Alice Bailey "Tibetan", D.K.! Muller's book, "New Genesis; Reshaping a Global Spirituality" actually has one chapter entitled "The Reappearance of the Christ." This is the title also of the evil, Luciferian book by the Theosophist, Alice Bailey. This data on Judith Hollister is from Dr. Dennis Cuddy's (Ph.D.) book, "Now is the Dawning of the New Age New World Order" p.143 "In 1959, Mrs. J. Dickerman Hollister thought of the idea of a Temple of Under-standing (the term was suggested by Mrs. Ellsworth Bunker, who was the wife of the American ambassador to India). Mrs. Hollister received encouragement from The Ford Foundation that same year, and the next year the syncretistic temple was founded by Juliet Hollister, with partial financing by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The temple listed its "Founding Friends" as including Pope John XXIII, Thomas Merton, U. Thant, the Dalai Lama, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Listed among its advisory council members were Father Thomas Berry, Dr Robert Muller, and Brother David Steindl-Rast." THEOSOPHISTS, the Vatican and New Age leaders began the Temple of Understanding of the UN, and the Theosophists, Muller and Hollister are on the invitation from the URI. (II Timothy 4:1-8). "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove. rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itchy ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.....a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." ============================================================= Visit our Aussie site: http://www.cth.com.au/corp/despatch/ ============================================================= W.B. Howard...Director & Editor of Despatch Magazine Endtime Ministries/Christian Resource Center [pub.Q'rtly.Despatch mag.], $30 Aust. Curr. (overseas +Post & Curr) which exposes the Infiltration of the N.A.N.W.O. in our Churches and Society in General. ============================================================== P.O.B.238,Landsborough.Q.4550.Aust.Phone:07 54941672;Fax:07 54948617 ************************* FINANCIAL WOES CONTINUE...PANIC SELLING A POSSIBILITY November 25, 1997 By: John L. Terry, III CEC One of Japan's leading brokerage houses, Yamaichi Securities, announced earlier this week that it was halting operations due to an announced $24 billion ($3 trillion Yen) in liabilities. This makes this failure the largest corporate collapse in Japan since the end of World War II. The U.S. Markets reacted to this news on Monday, falling over 100 points. The Tokyo Markets plunged over 5%, as investors feared the possible collapse of Japan's financial system. Reports from the investment community said the drop was due, in part, to concerns that Yamaichi may sell off its stock holdings to cover part of its debt. The European Markets have also felt the impact of Yamaichi's failure. Financial officials in Japan have called for calm, and the Bank of Japan pledged to take swift measures to protect customers and shareholders from "paying the bill" for Yamaichi's failure. While this may work in the short run, Japan's Central Bank could run out of funds if it must bail out a number of weak banks and brokerage houses. Bond prices moved sharply lower today, based on speculation the Japanese government will increase the issuance of bonds, using tax dollars to resolve bad debt problems among Japan's weakened financial institutions. A report from the Japanese Cabinet today said the government will begin to look into the use of public funds to bolster confidence in the financial system. Of major concern are the country's banks, which are severely encumbered with debt. A major concern to investors, especially here in the United States, is the fact that Yamaichi holds some $320 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds. Should Yamaichi dump these bonds in an effort to raise capital to settle its liabilities, a global panic could follow, bringing the economies of the world to their knees...or worse, deliver the "knockout punch" that would cause a global economic collapse. What caused the Yamaichi collapse? PRIDE! The Japanese institutions have been corrupt for some time, and have lived under a motto of "failure at no cost". Yamaichi officials knew the failure of their corporation was imminent, yet they continued to "window dress" their operation simply to keep the illusion alive. Rather than taking their losses, admitting to failure, and restructuring to retain theviability of the company, these officials retained the illusion to the very end, just in a vain attempt to "save face" in the eyes of their peers. The Bible speaks clearly, "...the love of money is the root of all evil." While God uses money as a means to further His economy on this planet, it was intended to be nothing more than a medium of exchange for goods and services. As believers, we are called to be stewards of God's possessions in our keeping, and we are to understand that the money God places in our hands has two purposes: (1) to meet our personal needs, (2) to meet the needs of others, being God's hand extended to the world. When the acquisition of money becomes more important than anything else, money ceases to be a medium of exchange and becomes an idol, which stands between man and God. Solomon reminds us, "Pride comes before a fall...". Is the economic shaking over? Temporarily. We still face the spectre of Y2K compliance (more on this in a later article), and a Global economy which bases the "value" of its currency on the debt of other nations. When the dominoes start to fall, the economic collapse will be unstoppable. Should such a collapse occur, what are the possible outcomes? A New Economy? A One World economy? Most certainly. What we are witnessing at this time is the Hand of God, serving notice on a greedy, self-serving world that He is in control and anything not built on Christ will not stand. The economies of the world MUST fall to help usher in a New World Order and lay the foundation for a "savior" to come to the world's rescue. When will it happen? The Year 2000 poses a life threatening problem to the world's economic system. At this point in time, the possibility of a significant financial shake-up in the Year 2000 is a definite possibility. Investors should have their holdings reviewed for Y2k compliance, and consider making adjustments to their portfolios as the Year 2000 approaches. What do we do in the interim? Occupy until He comes. God's word states that the righteous have never been forsaken nor have His children been without His provision. Be light and salt! Acknowledge God as your source, not your employer. If you are in debt, make every effort to become debt-free. When the financial institutions begin to fall, the economy will falter. A financial institution cannot repossess what you own, only what you are still paying on. Remember the Parable of the Stewards in Matthew 25. When the Master returns, what will you have to show for the portion of His kingdom He has left in your care? Remember it all belongs to God, we are simply caretakers. Lastly, remember it is the world's economic system which will collapse. God's economic system has never suffered a recession, and it never will. ---BIO--- John Terry is the author of "Dollars and Sense, A Kingdom Look at Finances", currently used as a textbook by the Christian Life School of Theology in America and by pastors in Europe and Africa. John is a contributing economic and financial editor to various regional and national newsletters and teaches Biblical economics in churches across America. He is a Registered Representative with the NASD, and an affiliate of Rushmore Securities Corporation and Rushmore Investment Advisors, Inc. He is also a licensed insurance agent and a Certified Estate Counselor. He owns Terry and Associates, a Financial Management Center. He offers debt management, insurance, investment, and financial planning services to individuals and businesses. e-mail address is: jterry@cswnet.com EDITORS NOTE: John will be writing regularly for PropheZine. He will be covering Digital Currency, The Global Ecconomy, and The Year 2000 Bug or Y2K and how it is going to effect the financial markets and banking. So look for his articles in the upcoming issues of PropheZine. ********************************* BLIND MAN'S BLUFF IN THE YEAR 2000 By: Gary North http://www.garynorth.com What are you going to be doing for a living in the year 2001? Unless you're a fix-it man living in a small town, you won't be doing what you do today. If you make your living in financial services, you will surely be doing something else. If you're a journalist, you will be in a new profession. But what? What other useful service canyou provide? You have very little time to make the switch. Let me show you why. We live in a world that depends on a high division of labor. That world has less than three years to go. In one gigantic collapse, the division of labor will implode. This implosion will begin in 1999. It will accelerate in 2000 and thereafter. Those who work in highly specialized fields will find little or no demand for their skills, in the face of an enormous supply of desperate, low-wage competition. Any job classification that did not exist in 1945 will probably not have a lot of demand in 2001, with one exception: computer software programming. The June 2 issue of Newsweek ran a front-cover story on the looming computer crisis of the Year 2000 - called y2k (Year 2 K -- shorthand for a thousand). In the week it the article appeared (late May), the Dow Jones Industrial Average set a record new high. (It was beaten a week later.) If investors believed the information reported in the Newsweek article, the world's stock markets would have collapsed. Clearly, people don't believe it. That's why a small handful of people can get out now -- out of the stock market, the bond market, and any city over 25,000. Not everyone can get out at the top of a bull market. This includes the "bull market" known as modern industrial society. Pull the plug on the local power utility for 30 days, and every city on earth becomes unlivable. What if the plug gets pulled for five years? How do you rebuild the shattered economy if the computers go down, taking public utilities with them? Without electricity, you can't run the computers. Without computers, you can't fix computers. How can you assemble teams of programmers to fix the mess? More to the point, how do you pay them if the banks are empty? Chase Manhattan Bank has 200 million lines of code to check and then repair. Citicorp has 400 million lines. All big banks are similarly afflicted. And even if this could be fixed, bank by bank, there is no universal repair standard. Thus, the computers, even if fixed (highly doubtful) will not work together after the individual repairs. A non compliant bank's data will then make every compliant bank non compliant. Thus, the world banking system will crash in 2000. When the public figures this out in 1999, the bank runs will begin. You probably will not have your present job in 2001. "It Just Can't Be True!" You don't believe me, of course. Not yet. But I have published the evidence on this Web site. You can verify what I'm saying. But you still won't believe it. Why not? Because it's too painful. In their book, The Sovereign Individual, Davidson and Rees-Mogg make a very important observation: A recent psychological study disguised as a public opinion poll showed that members of individual occupational groups were almost uniformly unwilling to accept any conclusion that implied a loss of income for them, no matter how airtight the logic supporting it. Given increased specialization, most of the interpretive information about most specialized occupational groups is designed to cater to the interests of the groups themselves. They have little interest in views that might be impolite, unprofitable, or politically incorrect (p. 339). My views are all three: impolite, unprofitable, and politically incorrect. Impolite, because I am saying this: (1) those advising you are as blind as an eighth-century Israelite king; (2) they have given you information that will prove to be wildly unprofitable; (3) all the hype about your getting rich -- the world's getting rich -- is a clap-trap. We are heading for a disaster greater than anything the world has experienced since the bubonic plague of the mid-14th century. Because the year 2000 begins on a Saturday, millions of victims will not be aware of their dilemma until the following Monday or Tuesday. They will pay no attention to advance warnings, such as this one, that they are at risk. As you read this report, I want you to think to yourself: "How will this affect me? Is my business at risk? Is my income at risk? What should I do?" I also want you to visit my Web site, http://www.garynorth.com and examine the accumulating evidence, week by week. The Origin of the Problem Here is the problem. Over three decades ago, computer programmers who wrote mainframe computer software saved disk space -- in those days, very valuable space -- by designating year codes as two-digit entries: 67 instead of 1967, 78 instead of 1978, etc. Back then, saving this seemingly minuscule amount of disk space seemed like an economically wise decision. This may prove to be the most expensive forecasting error since Noah's flood. What the programmers ignored for three decades is this: in the year 2000, the two digits will be 00. The computer will sit there, looking for a year. At midnight, January 1, 2000, every mainframe computer using unrevised software dies. If old acquaintances are in the computer, they will indeed be forgot. Programmers who recognized the implications of this change did not care. They assumed that their software would be updated by year 2000. That assumption now threatens every piece of custom software sitting on every mainframe computer, unless the owner of the computer has had the code rewritten. In some cases, this involves coordinating half a billion million lines of code. (Example: AT&T) One error on one line can shut down the whole system, the way that America Online was shut down for a day in 1996 because of a one-digit error. The handful of reporters who have investigated this problem have met a wall of indifference. "We're all using microcomputers now." "This is a problem only for a few companies that are still using mainframes." "Cheap solutions will appear as soon as there is demand." "The software will be updated soon, and I'll buy it then." "If this were a serious problem, we'd have heard about it." Yet this last response is given to someone -- a reporter -- who is trying to tell people about the problem. I first read about this problem years ago in a book by the pseudonymous author, Robert X. Cringely: Accidental Empires. It is not as though the computer industry has been unaware of it. Only a few weeks ago, I read a Wall Street Journal column on computers that mentioned it. The writer wrote that his editor is getting tired of having him mention it. This is typical. The general public hasn't heard about it, yet editors are already tired of hearing about it. "It's old news." Well, it's new news for most people. What does it matter, really? We use microcomputers. Microsoft has solved the Year 2000 problem, we assume. So have most software companies. Everyone uses desktop computers or, at the largest, minicomputers, right? Wrong. Governments Rely on Aging Mainframes and Software On September 24, 1996, Congressman Stephen Horn, who is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Management, Information, and Technology, submitted to the full committee a report on the Year 2000 problem. The Subcommittee held hearings on April 16. (Just one day of hearings. This indicates the degree of concern that the government has.) He said that these hearings revealed "a serious lack of awareness of the problem on the part of a great number of people in business and government. Even more alarming was the cost estimate reported to the Subcommittee to remedy the problem, which was said to be $30 billion for the Federal Government alone." Then he announced: Without greater urgency, those agencies risk being unable to provide services or perform functions that they are charged by law with performing. Senior agency management officials must take aggressive action if these problems are to be avoided. Yet despite Horn's valid warning, nothing visible is happening. He knows this. These agencies must shift hundreds of millions of dollars from their existing budgets to hire outside programmers to rewrite the code that runs these agencies. This isn't being done. More to the point, the longer they delay, the worse the problem gets. You can't just go out and hire programmers who are familiar with the code. As businesses find out what threatens them, the demand for these highly specialized services will soar. (If businessmen don't figure this out in time, payment will come due in January of 2000.) The Subcommittee's report warns: "This issue may cause banks, securities firms and insurance companies to ascertain whether the companies they finance or insure are year 2000 compliant before making investment decisions." It also says that companies will start demanding contractual warranties guaranteeing against Year 2000 breakdowns. A memorandum from the Library of Congress Research Service (CRS) has warned that "it may be too late to correct all of the nation's systems." So, the question arises: Which systems will survive and which ones won't? Here are some problem areas, according to CRS: Miscalculation by the Social Security Administration of the ages of citizens, causing payments to be sent to people who are not eligible for benefits while ending or not beginning payments to those who are eligible; Miscalculation by the Internal Revenue Service of the standard deduction on income tax returns for persons over age 65, causing incorrect records of revenues and payments due; Malfunctioning of certain Defense Department weapon systems; Erroneous flight schedules generated by the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic controllers; State and local computer systems becoming corrupted with false records, causing errors in income and property tax records, payroll, retirement systems, motor vehicle registrations, utilities regulations, and a breakdown of some public transportation systems. I don't think these are small issues. They will probably start receiving media attention when it is so late in the process that there will be massive foul-ups in coordinating the revisions. Notice, the biggest one is missing: an international bank run, as depositors demand cash. From that day on, all exchanges will be local: the collapse of the division of labor. When the computers' clocks think it's 1900, it soon will be. I realize that there has been tremendous progress in microcomputer power, but does anyone really think that all of the Federal government's forms -- not an infinite number, but approaching infinity as a limit -- can be put on three dozen Compaq desktop computers and run with, say, Lotus Approach or Microsoft Access? And even if they could, how would you re-train all of the bureaucrats to use the new systems? How fast will they learn? How fast do bureaucracies adapt? The Subcommittee's report warns: The clock is ticking and most Federal agencies have not inventoried their major systems in order to detect where the problem lies within and among each Federal department, field office and division. The date for completion of this project cannot slip. By "cannot," the Subcommittee's report-writer meant "must not." The date can surely be allowed to slip. It almost certainly will be allowed to slip. Additionally, the task may be more difficult for the public sector, where systems have been in use for decades, may lack software documentation and therefore increase the time it takes from the inventory phase to solution. Did you get that? The software code's records are gone! Remember also that we're not just talking about the United States government. We're talking about every government -- national, state, and local -- anywhere on earth that has its data stored on an unrevised mainframe computer system or which relies on any third-party computer service that uses uncorrected software. As the year 2000 approaches, word will slowly begin to spread: "After the three-day weekend that will inaugurate the year 2000, there is going to be a hangover the likes of which we have never seen before." For some, it will be a time of celebration. For others, it will be the end of their dreams. It depends on whether they are being squeezed by the government or dependent on it. But it's not just government that is at risk. It's private industry. Kiss Medicare Goodbye Some 38 million people will receive Medicare payments in 1997. In 2000, an estimated one billion claims will be filed, totalling over $288 billion. This, according to a May 16, 1997 report of the General Accounting Office (GAO): "Medicare Transaction System." Problem: the Medicare system won't make it through 2000. The same GAO report shows why. Medicare claims are not actually administered by Medicare. It's administered by 70 private agencies. These agencies have been informed that their contracts will not be renewed in 2000. The agency that officially supervises Medicare has plans for one huge computer system that will bring the program in-house. It is the same dream that motivated the Internal Revenue Service for the past 11 years. The IRS announced earlier this year that after 11 years and $4 billion, the attempt had failed. Medicare now knows that it has a problem with its computers. They are not Year 2000-compliant. So, to make sure that they will be compliant, Medicare has issued an appeal to the 70 newly canned companies: please fix the year 2000 problem for us before you leave. As the GAO report puts it, "contractors may not have a particularly high incentive to properly make these conversions. . . ." What if the system fails? (What if? Are they kidding? When!) The report says that the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), which is responsible for running Medicare, has not made contingency plans. "HCFA officials are relying on the contractors to identify and complete the necessary work in time to avoid problems. Yet the . . . . contractors not only have not developed contingency plans, they have said that they do not intend to do so because they believe that this is HCFA's responsibility." Kiss the IRS Goodbye The IRS has 100 million lines of code. Their code is not year 2000-compliant. After the failure of the 11-year project to upgrade the system, Chief Information Officer Arthur Gross announced that getting the IRS year 2000- compliant is the "highest priority for the IRS." The IRS has nearly 50,000 code applications to coordinate and correct. This task will require the IRS to move 300 full-time computer programmers to the new project. (Reported in "TechWeb," April 21, 1997). For comparison purposes, consider the fact that the Social Security Administration began working on its year 2000 repair in 1991. Social Security has 30 million lines of code. By June, 1996, the SSA's 400 programmers had fixed 6 million lines. What if the IRS isn't technically equipped to pursue tax evaders after December 31, 1999? What if the IRS computer system isn't fully integrated with all of its branch offices? What if the system's massive quantities of forms are not stored in a computer system that is Year 2000-compliant? More to the point, what if 20% of America's taxpayers believe that the IRS can't get them if they fail to file a return? In 1999, the IRS may find a drop in compliance from self-employed people. If the IRS can't prosecute these people after 1999, there will be a defection of compliance by the self-employed. When word spreads to the general public, there will be a hue and cry -- maybe at first against the evaders, but then against employers who are sending in employees' money when self-employed people are escaping. Meanwhile, cash-only, self-employed businesses will begin to lure business away from tax-compliant businesses by offering big discounts. This will start happening all over the world. Once it begins, it will not easily be reversed. The tax system rests on this faith: (1) the government will pay us what it owes us; (2) the government can get us if we stop paying. Both aspects of this faith will be called into question in the year 2000 if the governments' computers are not in compliance. Big Brother is no more powerful than his software. On January 1, 2000, this strength may fall to zero. Actually, double zero. If the IRS cannot collect taxes, and if all the other mainframe computer-dependent tax collection agencies on earth do not fix this, what will happen to the government debt markets worldwide? To interest rates? To the government-guaranteed mortgage market? Kiss them all goodbye. "No Problem! Trust me!" There are a few conservative financial newsletter writers who have heard about y2k. They deny its economic relevance. A shut-down of all mainframe computers would mean that newsletter writers will be out of business after 1999 -- a thought too terrifying for them. So, they brush y2k aside with some version of this rebuttal: "Of course, the government may not get its computers fixed." This is supposed to calm you. It should terrify you. Ask yourself: What happens to T-bills and T-bonds if the IRS computer breaks down and a tax revolt spreads because taxpayers know the IRS will never find them, and that if they pay their taxes, they won't get their refunds? What happens to money market funds and bond funds that invest heavily in government debt when investors realize that if the IRS can't collect taxes, the government will default on its debt? What happens to the banks when depositors figure out that the FDIC is bankrupt and that nobody insures their accounts any more? What happens to your job when the banks close because of bank runs, and no business can borrow money or even write a check to its employees? What happens to the delivery of food into cities when money fails because the banks are busted? What happens to the delivery of public utilities when money fails because the banks are busted? What happens to your retirement fund when ERISA, the government pension guarantee program, goes bankrupt? What happens to the 38 million people in the U.S. who are dependent on Medicare? What happens to 42 million people on Social Security? What happens to every state government? What happens to crime rates when the state cannot imprison violent criminals and may have to release those who are locked up because they can't be fed? What happens to the world economy when this scenario is multiplied across every government? Kiss your job goodbye. Especially if you're a journalist. I know. I am one. I figure I'll be out of work -- forced retirement -- January 1, 2000. I'm making plans to be in small-scale agriculture. I'm out of debt. What about you? Psychological Deferral Those in authority prefer to defer thinking about this. They are playing Scarlett O'Hara: "I'll think about it tomorrow," followed by, "Well, fiddle dee-dee." Deferral is a normal response to distant problems. The question is: What can we afford to defer? People defer making this assessment. The fact that you have not read much about this looming problem doesn't mean that it isn't a problem. If your employer has not actively sought solutions to this problem, your firm had better not use mainframe computers or be dependent on suppliers that rely on mainframe computers. Everyone assumes that someone else is doing something to solve these problems. "It's being taken care of." The problem here is the passive voice. Who, exactly, is taking care of it? What, exactly, is this person doing? Is he on schedule? How do you know for sure? Are you taking his word for it? Anyone who takes the word of a computer programmer that he is on schedule is a person of very great faith. If the programmer says "Sorry, I didn't make it" on December 31, 1999, you're dead in the water. Meanwhile, he moves on. What You Should Do, Beginning Today First, you investigate whether what I'm saying is true. Second, think through what happens to you if the local power company and the local water and sewage company shut down in your city for six months. "Who ya gonna call?" Especially if your phone is dead? And if you do get through, how ya gonna pay if your local bank is defunct? Third, here is my personal strategy. I have adopted a question: "Can I prove on paper that he owes it to me?" I want hard copy print-outs of everything I do with the government. If you are owed money from Social Security, and you're dependent on this income, contact the Social Security Administration every year and get a letter telling you what you're owed. This is true of every government pension system. Do you have a copy of your birth certificate? If not, write to your place of birth and get it. Even if that community has not computerized the records, do it now. Even if it keeps the records in a desktop, do it. If word starts to spread, they may be buried in requests in 1999. You want your paperwork completed before word gets out. Do you have a copy of your college transcripts? If not, get it. The same goes for your work record history. Assume that your records are in some company's mainframe computer. Assume also that the company has failed to update the software. Do you have a print-out of all of your insurance records? Would they stand up in court? If not, get what you need, now. Have you spoken with your local insurance agent? Is he fully aware of the problem? Ask him straight out if he has scheduled an update of his software if he relies on vendor-supplied software. He deserves to know what is coming. So do you. (If you want to photocopy this issue to send him, go ahead.) Think through this problem in advance, before it gets out and creates a banking panic, all over the world. This story will get out eventually. In 1999, when reporters are running around looking for sensational Year 2000-third millennium stories, this one will at last surface. It already has: in Newsweek. At that point, every government bureaucrat whose agency is at risk will start playing the "No problem" game. "It's being taken care of." The bureaucrat's number-one rule is to evade responsibility. No one with any authority is going to admit that his malfeasance in office is going to create a disaster on Jan. 1, 2000. The basic response will be this: "There's no problem here, and furthermore, I'm not responsible when everything collapses next year!" Keep visiting my Web site for updated information: http://www.garynorth.com ***************************** Thanksgiving: Giving Thanks to God for the Christian By: John Ankerberg Everyone loves a great Thanksgiving feast but the real meaning behind Thanksgiving is much more than turkey and gravy. That wonderful colony of Pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts who gave it to us in 1621 intended a day of thanks for the truly bounteous blessings of God upon them in their new home of America-a bounty symbolized by a great feast. Sadly today, most Americans may have forgotten God's blessings to them personally-in life itself, health, joy, family, and so on. We also wonder if Americans are really thankful for the Christian Church. That Church has been a tremendous blessing to America and the world, yet few even recognize this. In 2,000 years no single institution has done more good for the world-ever-in building hospitals, and orphanages and almost all the great universities of the West (Princeton, Harvard, Dartmouth, Cambridge, Oxford, etc.), in transforming pagan lands and improving socially and spiritually the lives of millions of people, in feeding the poor and hungry, in showing love and compassion to those hostile or unlovely, in producing literate societies from illiterate (e.g., Hawaii)-indeed even in largely producing modern science and its incalculable benefits to mankind.1 Western civilization itself, in its finest sense, can be traced directly to the influence of Christianity. This is why encyclopedias routinely comment upon the great influence of the Christian faith and Scriptures, e.g., "The Bible has had an incalculable influence on the thought, attitudes, beliefs, art, sciences and politics of Western society."2 Especially in our day of skepticism and cynicism, its easy to be critical of the Church. It is true the Church faces formidable difficulties including battles within and without. Yet given the nature of humanity and the conditions of the world, not to mention the devil, the problems we find in the Church are only to be expected. But for each of us individually, the Church is where we can find much greater blessings than those we find in the world. As one person stated, Almost everyone can come up with at least a handful of complaints against the Church.... Even so, the Church receives more criticism than it is due. Problems with the Church boil down to one problem all people have-sin.... Every organization that has people will have sin.... However... I could write a book of the good Jesus has brought about in me and through me in my time in the Church. My greatest pleasures, accomplishments and growth have occurred in the Church.... What's wrong with the Church? Don't bother to make a list-that's Satan's business. Instead, be an intimate, active member of His body, the Church, and you, too, will give and receive great blessings as a result!3 Whatever problems the Church faces, let us also remember that in the end, the Church has been promised complete victory by none less than God Himself: "the gates of hell shall not overpower it;" before Jesus "every knee will bow" and He will "reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet" (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Philippians 2:10). So what's right with the Church? Plenty. The Church is a constant source of amazement and testimony to God's grace. Given the subtlety and power of such enemies as the world, the flesh, and the devil, it is nothing short of amazing that the Church has accomplished all She has in 2,000 years. Today most people in the world have actually heard the biblical gospel at least once-it is further estimated that each day around the world some 70,000 people accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. What's more, the Scriptures are now translated into over 1600 different languages! Truly, the Church of Jesus Christ and every society which honors Her, has innumerable blessings to be thankful for. Yet we sometimes wonder if most Christians recognize the tremendous blessings that come to them merely from the fact of their salvation or how powerfully the knowledge of even basic theology and apologetics can dramatically impact their lives: Do people know what biblical doctrines such as propitiation/atonement, election, calling, regeneration, conversion, union with Christ, imputation, justification, adoption, sanctification, redemption and glorification actually mean for them personally? Do they really know the infinite and eternal riches they possess merely by being a simple believer in the Lord Jesus Christ?4 Do they recognize the impact a knowledge of Christian evidences can have in their lives? Do they know the innumerable promises that God has given them personally in His Word? I am with you always even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20, NASB) All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28, NASB) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ...For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, not any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35a, 38-39, NIV) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, NASB) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5, NIV) See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. (1 John 3:1, NASB) If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31b, NIV) Even the severely persecuted Apostle Paul could say, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18, NIV). Indeed, only the length of eternity itself will reveal to each believer the incalculable love God has for them reflected at the Cross-and the joys, glory and adventures yet to be ours. Incredibly, Christians have the immeasurable privilege of leading others to this very same eternity. So not only does the Christian have access to all the novelty and pleasures of this world that all men have-the comfort of friends and family, the awesome beauty of nature, the privilege and challenge of work, the fun of entertainment, the pleasure of intimacy, the joy of learning, the luxuries of food and drink, etc., the Christian will soon get them in an infinitely perfected form-for all eternity, no less. As if the spice of life weren't enough to be thankful for, the Christian can find literally dozens of other areas for gratitude. For example, a positive correlation is known to exist between active Christian faith and physical and mental health. This has been observed in scores of different studies undertaken by many researchers in numerous countries, throughout this century, using a large number of independent and dependent variables. Those having religious values are at a significantly lower risk statistically for heart disease, stroke, different types of cancers, mental illness, suicide, tuberculosis, and other diseases.5 So we want to encourage our Christian readers to remember "to give thanks." Many have not found what we have. Unfortunately, many never will. And yet all around us are those who, incredibly, object to our Christian heritage-even, in a sense, to the very celebration of Thanksgiving Day. In 1993, a news release supplement in Free Inquiry, a secular humanist magazine, actually proposed we institute a "National Day of Blame." It stated God should be blamed for much of our problems!: "If we have much for which we should be thankful, it logically follows that there may be much for which we should be angry." The article proposed, "that on this day [Day of Blame] we blame God for the absurdities, atrocities, contradictions and inconsistencies in His religious texts... and why so many innocent people are made to suffer." Therefore, "The National Day of Blame is an idea whose time has come."6 But why charge God with all the problems of various non-Christian religious texts when He had nothing to do with them in the first place? Why blame God for the evil in the world when it is people who committed such evil contrary to their own God-given conscience (Romans 2:14-15) and to God's stated will in His Word, the Bible? The humanist "Day of Blame" hardly belongs at God's doorstep-it belongs at ours-and, just perhaps, also at that of the humanists who do so easily condemn God for the world's problems, failing to comprehend the moral, logical and other consequences of their own skeptical philosophy in a world whose greatest need is that of finding, knowing and loving God. God has never sat idly by in the heavens, oblivious to human need. First, God actually sent His own beloved Son to die for the world's sin-to pay the just penalty for all the evil that men do. He willingly did this so that in His great love He could freely forgive men and graciously offer them the gift of eternal life: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). And second, in many ways known only to each individual, God has faithfully shown love and mercy far beyond what we deserve. As the psalmist declared, "The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down....The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them" (Psalm 145:13-14, 17-19, NIV). Millions of Christians, and non-Christians as well, could echo the sentiments of noted Professor Frank Sullivan when he recalled: "When you look back over your life, carefully, you remember all kinds of moments when you felt God near you; when you felt that somehow or other you lucked out; when you got something you didn't deserve."7 Or, of famous racing jockey William Shoemaker, "I must admit that I'm really not very religious... sometimes in my life I have asked him [God] to help me.... That's happened to me many times, and I think he's helped me. I think he's been great to me."8 Or, of novelist William Peter Blatty of "Exorcist" screenplay fame, "And I do trust him, I trust God very definitely. There have been so many personal interventions in my life."9 And now the Humanists want a special holiday set aside to blame God for all the evil which men do. How's that for being grateful? So we still believe that of all people on earth, the Christian should be the most thankful. He should be on his knees before God in gratitude for what God has done for him, expectantly looking toward that glory soon to be revealed, willing in the meantime to sacrifice all for Christ's kingdom. Have a blessed Thanksgiving! FOOTNOTES 1. E.g., on science see Eugene M. Klaaren (Ph.D. Harvard) who cogently argues for this viewpoint in Religious Origins of Modern Science (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1977). R. Hookyas is the author of over 125 science publications and professor of the History of Science, University of Utrech; he argues similarly in Religion and the Rise of Modern Science (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1972). Robert E. D. Clark (Ph.D. organic chemistry, Cambridge University) is an honors scholar at St. John's College, Cambridge. He emphasizes, "Christianity has contributed profoundly to the development of modern science" and "scientific development has occurred only in a Christian culture." (R. E. D. Clark, Science and Christianity: A Partnership (Omaha, NE: Pacific Press Publishing, 1972), pp. 11, 21. 2. The New American Desk Encyclopedia (NY: Signet, 1993), p. 151, emphasis added. 3. Personal Freedom Outreach Journal, April-June 1989, p. 2.he a 4. J. I. Packer, God's Words (Downer's Grove, IL: InterVarsityn Re, 1986). 5. E.g., "Religion and Health", Social Science and Medicine, 1Cam994, volume 28, pp. 1475-82 cited in Family Research Report, July-August, 1994, p. 8. foun 6. "Humanist Calls for National Day of Blame," Free Inquiry D. CNews Release, supplement (Fall 1993 issue). 7. Terrance A. Sweeney, God & Sign (Minneapolis, MN: Winston Press, 1979), p. 127. 8. Ibid., p. 150.51, e 9. Ibid., p. 45 The John Ankerberg Show can now be seen nationwide on the Inspirational Network Sunday: 7:30 pm Eastern Time, 6:30 pm Central Time, 5:30 pm Mountain Time, 4:30 pm Pacific Time. http://www.ankerberg.com/ e-mail atri@ankerberg.com ************************** A LOVE STORY Author Unknown One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise. Ah the beauty of God's creation is beyond description. As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work. As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me. He asked me, "Do you love me?" I answered, "Of course, God! You are my Lord and Saviour!" Then He asked, "If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?" I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn't; be able to do, the things that I took for granted. And I answered, "It would be tough Lord, but I would still loveYou." Then the Lord said, "If you were blind, would you still love my creation?" How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation. So I answered, "Its hard to think of it, but I would still love you." The Lord then asked me, "If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?" How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God's Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered, "It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word." The Lord then asked, "If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?" How could I praise without a voice? Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks. So I answered, "Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name. And the Lord asked, "Do you really love Me?" With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly,"Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!" I thought I had answered well, but... God asked, "THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?" I answered, "Because I am only human. I am not perfect." "THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST? WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?" No answers. Only tears. The Lord continued: "Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?" The tears continued to roll down my cheeks. "Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?" I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give. "You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all." "DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME ?" I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? When I my heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said, " Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child." The Lord answered, "That is My Grace, My child." I asked, "Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?" The Lord answered, "Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you. When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you. When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you. When you are down, I will encourage you. When you fall, I will raise you up. When you are tired, I will carry you. I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever." Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done? I asked God, "How much do You love me?" The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Saviour. And for the first time, I truly prayed. Author Unknown. ************************* PROPHEZINE NEWSBYTES F.Y.I. - Israel in the News By: Lee Underwood Week Ending: November 29, 1997/29 Cheshvan 5758 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "My anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the male goats; For the L-rd of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like His majestic horse in battle." Zechariah 10.3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (This edition is being published late due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. Although the week ended on Saturday (11-29-97), we will also cover a few other items that occurred today [Sunday]. - Editor) GOVERNMENT VOTES TO WITHDRAW: After a seven-hour meeting Sunday (11-30-97), the Israeli Cabinet reaffirmed its determination to make progress in the negotiations with the Palestinians. The Cabinet decided that before the permanent settlement, a further redeployment will be carried out in Judea and Samaria. The Cabinet will soon present its plan on this matter, whose implementation will be conditioned on the Palestinians fulfilling their commitments, (as detailed in the appendix to the file of 15 January, 1997 -- The Mutual Commitments Following the Hebron Agreement). The Cabinet will hold an intensive debate before formulating its plan for a permanent settlement, including the security zones necessary for the State of Israel, settlement areas and other vital interests, in particular in the fields of water resources and historical Jewish sites. The Cabinet will take the necessary steps to continue the existence and strengthening of settlements in Judea and Samaria, steps to decrease friction between the populations in Judea and Samaria and to increase the security of the Jewish and Arab residents. The government approved the actions by a vote of 16-0; the two National Religious Party (NRP) ministers abstained. The NRP ministers later said that the decision is the best that could have been achieved, and that they succeeded in their attempt to "restrict" the withdrawal. The government decision largely matched the proposal of the ministers of the NRP, namely, that the government would not consider another withdrawal until it formulates its permanent-status principles. It was further promised, according to NRP Knesset faction head Chanan Porat, that in any event there will be no withdrawal until Arafat fulfills his Hebron-agreement commitments. These include the changing of the Palestinian charter, extradition of terrorists, the reduction of the Palestinian para-military police force, and more. The full text of the Hebron-agreement commitments can be seen in the "Note for the Record" on the Internet at http://www.tzemach.org/fyi/docs/note.htm. Ha'aretz reported Sunday that the American administration rejects Prime Minister Netanyahu's withdrawal plan. Senior American sources told Ha'aretz that Netanyahu's pre-conditions - the skipping of the third withdrawal and the beginning of the permanent-status talks instead - cannot be made unilaterally. The sources were quoted as saying that the conditions place in doubt the sincerity of Netanyahu's intentions to make concrete progress in the negotiations. Meanwhile, the Yesha Council has requested an urgent meeting with Acting US Ambassador to Israel Richard Roth. A telegram sent by the Council to Roth explaining the reason for the meeting was entitled "The Americans, too, Must Keep their Agreements." It mentions that former US Secretary of State Warren Christopher promised, on the eve of the signing of the Hebron agreement, that the US would not pressure Israel to continue with the Oslo process if Arafat does not fulfill all of his commitments. (GPO, Arutz Sheva) 'SHOOTERS CAME FROM AUTONOMOUS AREAS: Senior commanders in the Israel Defense Force (IDF) Central Command believe the terrorists responsible for the shooting attack in Jerusalem, in which one yeshiva student was killed and another seriously injured, came from Palestinian Authority (PA) autonomous areas and received assistance from Arab residents of the capital. Senior IDF commanders in the Central Command and agents of the General Security Service (GSS/Shin-Bet) stated they are concerned over the fact that a terror cell (which they believe numbered at least five persons), made its way to Jerusalem with the assistance of residents of the capital and carried out an attack using automatic weaponry. "They managed to enter into the capital with automatic weapons without being apprehended and following the attack, managed to make a clean getaway," stated an unnamed senior officer. The IDF is working diligently together with the GSS to track down the terror cell. Some of the Jerusalem Arab residents arrested following the attack, remain in jail. Police believe they assisted the attackers in some way, prior to the attack. Meanwhile, Binyamin Dell, 18, who was seriously injured in the terror attack last week in Jerusalem's Old City, is reported to be doing better. Dell was transferred out of the Hadassah Ein Kerem intensive care unit to a surgical unit. Due to the gunshot wounds he sustained in his jaw, Dell cannot speak at this time but is able to communicate by writing. (IINS) 10,000 CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF UN PARTITION VOTE: Some 10,000 people participated Saturday night in a street celebration in Tel Aviv marking the 50th anniversary of the UN partition resolution that led to the creation of the State of Israel. The event recreated the moments of waiting for the results of the UN vote 50 years ago and the celebrating that occurred after it. The international body voted 33 countries in favor, 13 opposed, and 10 abstentions. Tel Aviv Mayor Ronni Milo presented the ambassadors of the 33 UN member nations that approved the resolution with a gift of appreciation, at a ceremony at Independence Hall. The Cabinet discussed the issue of the events to mark the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel. Regarding the events to mark the anniversary, the Prime Minister said that, "in the past 50 years, the story of the most amazing revival of the 20th century took place here. What has happened in the Land of Israel is the greatest victory of the Jewish people. The Jewish people, which was almost eliminated during the Holocaust, is, today, an important factor in the world; this is a victory for the Jewish people." Yitzhak Moda'i, who is in charge of events for the anniversary, presented the Cabinet with the program of events which are planned to mark the anniversary. Ministers may add their own proposals, so that the program will be approved at an upcoming Cabinet meeting. (Jerusalem Post, GPO/MED) ON THE NORTHERN FRONT: Three South Lebanese Army (SLA) soldiers were killed and five Nahal Brigade (IDF) troops slightly wounded in separate attacks in south Lebanon Saturday. Hizb'Allah claimed responsibility for the attacks. Later Israel Air Force (IAF) warplanes blasted targets west of Jezzine. Five IDF soldiers were injured Friday evening when a roadside bomb exploded in the eastern sector of the Security Zone of southern Lebanon. Fighting was reported throughout most of the day Tuesday, in various sectors of the Security Zone. During the afternoon a roadside bomb exploded in the western sector of the Security Zone, adjacent to a SLA patrol. Later in the day, mortars were fired at SLA positions in the western and northeastern sectors of the Security Zone. During the late evening hours, it was reported that mortars were being fired at IDF outposts in the eastern sector of the Security Zone. No injuries were reported in all of the incidents. Two or three terrorists were Killed in southern Lebanon Monday morning, in an engagement with IDF armored forces. There were no Israeli casualties. Exchange of fire continued for hours in Lebanon between Hizb'Allah and the IDF. Foreign news stations reported that Israeli helicopters attacked Hizb'Allah bases. Last Sunday (11-23-97) fifteen people were injured when the Syrian- and Iranian-backed Amal and Hizb'Allah groups fired mortars and Katyusha rockets at the village of Beit Lief, in the Security Zone, about three km (1.8 miles) from the Israeli border. Of the fifteen killed, seven were civilians and four of them children. Up to 20 mortars and rockets hit the village. Some rockets landed in the western Galilee, without causing any injuries or damage. Hizb'Allah likes to portray itself as a liberation movement, dedicated to freeing the oppressed south Lebanese from cruel Israeli occupation. Israel submitted strong complaints over the incidents to the five-nation group monitoring the rules of engagement established in southern Lebanon last year. Israel showed the committee, which is overseeing the implementation of agreements reached following Operation Grapes of Wrath, parts of the shells used in the attack which bore the insignia of Iranian military hardware. This evidence refutes Iran's previous claims that its support of Lebanese terrorists was exclusively humanitarian. Meanwhile, following rumors attributed to OC Northern Command, calling for a unilateral IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon, Defense Minister Mordechai stated that the IDF Senior Command has been conducting serious discussions over the situation in the Security Zone. Mordechai stated that the IDF Senior Command has decided that the time is not right to consider such a move and for now, IDF troops must remain in the Security Zone, to repel Hizb'Allah terror attacks on northern Israel. (Jerusalem Post, IINS, Arutz Sheva, ICEJ, Israel Line) STRIKES OCCUR ALL OVER THE LAND: In an on-going scenario, doctors struck this past week in all hospitals, including geriatric and psychiatric institutions. The doctors are demanding several hundred additional positions for doctors in the health system. Municipal employees of Netanya struck also. The strike included all municipal services in the city, including schools. The nation's schools were hit with partial strikes, affecting 4th, 7th and 10th grades. Members of the Histadrut union of clerical workers went on strike Sunday (11-30-97) in protest against the government's plan for pension reform and privatization. The strike will affect local authorities throughout the country, Histadrut institutions, religious councils, the Jewish Agency, the Jewish National Fund, Magen David Adom first aid services and day care services of WIZO and NAAMAT. Administrative workers at Ichilov hospital in Tel Aviv and Rothchild hospital in Haifa are also on strike. Schools are not affected. Monday the strike will spread to administrative workers at Kupat Cholim Clalit and the universities. (IINS, Kol Yisrael/MED) RUSSIA AIDS IRAN MISSILE DEVELOPMENT: Iran is advancing towards the development of a missile with a 2,000 km (1,200 mile) range carrying a 1,000 kg (2,200 pounds warhead, and it may even have a 3,000 km (1,800 mile) range with a 500 kg (1,100 pounds) warhead. The missile is being developed with Russian assistance. The development of the missile, named Shahab 4 by the Iranians, is an extremely important project, which both Israel and Western countries are monitoring. Sources quoted said Teheran has so far paid Moscow several hundred million dollars for cooperation in developing the missile. International military experts say that a missile like this would give Iran strategic offensive capability against the whole of the Middle East, and even Central Europe and East Asia. Successful development of the missile will enable Iran to start producing it before the end of the present decade, and to introduce it into use by its army at the beginning of the next century. Iran will thus realize her aim of gaining recognized status as a foremost regional power, and an influential country. (Globes/Med ) WHERE DOES THE UN STAND ON ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM? One of the United Nations world wide web sites (http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/infonation/e_infonation.htm), indicates that the State of Israel should remain as it was prior to June 1967. If one attempts to access the database, calling for the capital of Israel, the following response is obtained: "Country Capital Israel Jerusalem (cf. InfoNation Notes)1 Notes: 1. Designation and data provided by Israel. The position of the United Nations on the question of Jerusalem is contained in General Assembly resolution 181 (II) and subsequent resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council concerning this question. Question of Palestine- The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled 'Question of Palestine', Recalling its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, in which, inter alia, it called for the establishment of an Arab State and a Jewish State in Palestine, Mindful of the special responsibility of the United Nations to achieve a just solution to the question of Palestine, Aware of the proclamation of the State of Palestine by the Palestine National Council in line with General Assembly resolution 181 (II) and in exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Affirming the urgent need to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement in the Middle East which, inter alia, provides for peaceful coexistence for all States in the region, Recalling its resolution 3237 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974 on the observer status for the Palestine Liberation Organization and subsequent relevant resolutions, 1. Acknowledges the proclamation of the State of Palestine by the Palestine National Council on 15 November 1988; 2. Affirms the need to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their sovereignty over their territory occupied since 1967; 3. Decides that, effective as of 15 December 1988, the designation "Palestine" should be used in place of the designation "Palestine Liberation Organization" in the United Nations system, without prejudice to the observer status and functions of the Palestine Liberation Organization within the United Nations system, in conformity with relevant United Nations resolutions and practice; 4. Requests the Secretary General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution." (IINS) IRAQ COULD DESTROY THE WORLD: US Defense Secretary William Cohen says Iraq is continuing to "evade and deceive" UN weapons inspectors seeking to destroy its weapons of mass destruction. Cohen said Baghdad may have produced enough of the deadly chemical VX to kill everyone on earth. "Originally they indicated they had just a small quantity of VX. One drop on your finger would produce death in a few moments. Now the UN believes that Saddam may have produced as much as 200 tons of VX. This would theoretically be enough to kill every man, woman and child on the face of the earth." said Cohen. Speaking before the Knesset's Committee on Foreign and Security Affairs, Maj. Gen. Moshe Ya'alon, Head of IDF Intelligence, spoke on Tuesday about Iraq's non-conventional weapons programs, Ha'aretz reported. Ya'alon said that within a year, Iraq's nuclear weapons development will reach the same stage it had achieved in 1990, prior to the Gulf War. Ya'alon explained that Iraq still has the necessary knowledge and professional manpower, and now only needs the raw materials to realize its nuclear capability. (Kol Yisrael/MED, Israel Line) GAZA COMMUNITIES THREATENED: Palestinian Authority officials in Gaza are engaged in various activities designed to stunt the growth of Israeli communities there. Abu al-Asal, commander of Palestinian forces in the area, admitted that the PA has begun to construct a military camp adjacent to the community of Netzarim. In addition, Gaza Arabs have been instructed to farm the areas adjacent to the fences of the Jewish communities, in order to prevent their expansion. Al-Asal said that the activities are not in violation of the agreements because they are being carried out within PA territory. (Arutz Sheva) ANOTHER ARAB LAND DEALER KILLED: Nafa Mardawi, an Arab land dealer, died last week while in a PA jail, it was reported last week. The outcry has diminished over the PA's announcement earlier this year that the selling of land to Jews was considered a crime punishable by death. Yet the policy apparently continues to be enforced. Mardawi, who was arrested on suspicion of selling land to Jews, died in police cells at Shechem. Although many cases are believed to have gone unreported, at least five Arab land merchants have now been killed this year. Dozens more have been arrested, in some cases being abducted from Israeli-controlled areas. (ICEJ, Arutz Sheva) SHARON SAYS PALESTINIAN STATE INEVITABLE: Minister of National Infrastructure Ariel Sharon has stated the establishment of a Palestinian state is a matter of time. Sharon stated a Palestinian state is a fact that must be accepted. Sharon stated the PA will declare a state when it chooses to, even if Israel objects. Sharon added, that most of the world is ready to accept such a declaration and it is not in Israel's power to prevent it. Leaders of the Jewish communities throughout Judea, Samaria and Gaza, as well as the leadership of the Yesha Council have expressed their anger and disappointment over the remarks made by Sharon. Sharon, who is considered a hawk, regarding his political views, has always been a staunch ally of the Yesha communities. (IINS) A HAMAS EXHIBITION IN THE AL-NAJAH UNIVERSITY: Last Saturday (11-22-97) the activities of "A Week of Telling the Story of Palestinian Resistance and the Intifada" opened in Shechem, with ceremonies and many celebrations. The exhibit, which was organized and supervised by the supporters of the Hamas movement in the Al-Najah University, presented the realities of the intifada years. The University's campus was turned into a Palestinian city during the intifada-tens of veiled-face individuals carrying [fake] sub-machine guns, five machine guns on the shoulders, swords and other sharp objects which created the intifada's unique culture. At the entrance to the "Martyrs' Exhibit" enormous pictures of Shahids [holy martyrs] who ascended to heaven were drawn ... as well as a huge drawing of a veiled-faced youth, carrying a stone in order to throw it on an occupation patrol. Marking the opening of the "Struggle Week" activities, veiled-faced youths blew up and burnt an Israeli bus, symbolizing the suicide bombings carried out by Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam's squads. In one of the corners there was a large tent called "The Shahid's Tent," which presented the clothes of Shahids who were killed during the intifada. Nearby the "Tent of the Expelled" was erected ... while the suffering of the detainees was presented in the "Prison Tent". In one corner there was equipment and materials which the occupation used to oppress the residents during the intifada, in addition to the personal belongings of soldiers. The body of a man who was executed during the intifada after being blamed of collaborating with the occupation ['body' is probably a reference to an effigy] was hung on the stem of a palm tree. Meanwhile, a bus traveling in the Gush Etzion (Judea) area Wednesday morning was bombarded by Arab stone-throwers. Soldiers escorting the bus fired in the air. Since the previous Israeli redeployment from areas throughout Judea and Samaria, all public buses and schoolbuses have been armor-plated to withstand shooting attacks, in anticipation of increased Arab violence following the signing of the peace accords with the PLO Authority (PA). No one was injured in this morning's attack but the bus sustained damage from the stones. (PMR, IINS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FYI - Israel In The News "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest" Isaiah 62:1 'F.Y.I.' may be reproduced & distributed in any form. Please give proper credit. Send comments and subscription requests to Lee Underwood at: fyi@tzemach.org Web site: http://www.tzemach.org/fyi +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ IS THERE NOTHING SACRED? Insight Magazine December 8th, 1997 Issue www.insightmag.com/ By Paul M. Rodriguez Burial plots in the national war cemeteries, including Arlington, allegedly have been 'bought' by fat-cat donors to Clinton's reelection committee and the DNC who aren't even veterans. Pressure from political bigwigs at the White House and within the Democratic Party apparently helped gain coveted waivers from top brass at the Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs for dozens of big-time political donors or friends of the Clintons -- civilians who wanted themselves or family members buried in America's most precious grounds, the national war cemeteries including Arlington National, Insight has learned. Such waivers for unqualified people wishing to be interred at U.S. national cemeteries were approved by Clinton officials, including Secretary of the Army Togo West, who now wants to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA. Arlington National Cemetery, the resting-place of many of the nation's greatest military heroes, is controlled by the Army, while 114 other national cemeteries located in 38 states are operated by the National Cemetery System, or NCS, under the authority of the VA. Burial in the national cemeteries is open to members of the armed forces and veterans discharged under honorable or higher conditions. Their spouses, UN remarried widows or widowers, minor children and, under certain conditions, unmarried adult children also are eligible for such burial. Also eligible are members of reserve components and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, Commissioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, public health service officers, World War II merchant marines and certain "others" designated by the secretaries of the Army, VA or Air Force. An Insight investigation of "waivers" needed for an otherwise ineligible person to be buried at any of these cemeteries, especially Arlington National, reveals that even eligible individuals often have a difficult time being placed. For example, a U.S. Marine with three Bronze Stars including a "V" denoting combat action could not be buried at Arlington because of new rules requiring a minimum of a Silver Star or a Purple Heart. "It's very tough to get buried at Arlington, even for those who seemingly qualify or qualified without a doubt in earlier years," says an official at the cemetery. "We are overcrowded and therefore we are forced to select only the most decorated or the most service-qualified." But a review of confidential waiver lists held by Department of Defense, or DOD, sources suggests that far more than Lincoln Bedroom sleep overs and presidential coffee-klatsches were exchanged for large donations to the Clinton-Gore campaign or DNC. In fact, Clinton & Co. may have "sold" not only burial plots for recently deceased but also future rights to those hallowed grounds without regard for the deceased's status as a veteran. "The numbers right now are small estimated to be about a dozen or 20, but what price can you place on such ground?" asks one of several senior military, legal and VA officials familiar with this brewing scandal. "Look at the roll call of the men and women who lay buried at these cemeteries. This does more than cheapen their sacrifice -- it cheapens the honor of what it means to be granted rights to such hallowed ground," says a high-level source speaking on condition of anonymity. "If nothing else, this is corruption of the worst kind and it ought to be prosecuted because it is against the law to sell 'public lands' in any fashion," says the same source. "It is an outrage if even one plot was 'waived' for political money." A DOD source that works with the Army says the "sale" of burial plots came to light amid nervousness of senior Clinton administration officials about the ongoing fund-raising scandals. "They didn't want this information coming out," the official said. "There are not many apolitical waivers with respect to Arlington of the percentage of total requests, but there are a few and some of them clearly do not qualify." Waiver requests, which the Army says, number in the thousands and come from high-ranking officials in both political parties, are granted only after careful consideration of an individual's background and service to the country. Apparently the White House has cleared at least half a dozen and West about a dozen or so, according to documents held by Arlington National Cemetery officials. Lists at other national cemeteries suggest similar incidents, say sources. In some cases, West overruled cemetery administrators for what some believe were political considerations. Repeated calls to West and Army spokesmen able to discuss the issue were ignored. "The requirements are very difficult, and most requests are denied," says an Arlington source. Beyond the fact that most veterans can't even qualify, the requirements for nonveterans is substantially higher, according to other cemetery sources. "You're talking about an elder statesman or somebody of tremendous personal stature -- for example, a senior ambassador or a speaker of the House or a first lady." "It doesn't happen often that requests for waivers of completely unqualified people are granted," says one former political/military officer. "You'd have to be a real jerk to try and get somebody in who has no veteran status and doesn't fit the exceptions rule concerning status," this source says. When asked what criteria might be cited to explain why some or all of the waivers were requested and approved, one military source said: "Some gave money to Clinton" -- in a few cases, tens of thousands of dollars. A well-placed DNC official confirms that military brass quietly have been making inquiries to determine whether recent burials -- or those approved for future burials -- may have received waivers as a result of political pressure by the White House or by West. Sources tell Insight that answers have angered career military personnel and, in turn, their politically appointed civilian superiors are in full panic. "We've had some people crawling around here lately asking us to put together our lists," a source at Arlington says, identifying the visitors initially as "low-levels" working for West -- then identifying them as "very senior DOD people" after press inquiries began. Attempts to reach Defense Secretary William Cohen and the White House were unsuccessful. All these offices and others, including offices of national cemetery directors, failed to honor repeated requests for official comments. Insight's queries were prompted by military families who had heard rumors of alleged sales of burial plots. The Army Times reported in mid-June that West had granted an unusual number of waivers since 1993, whereupon the Army secretary denied his motives were political. Following further investigation by this magazine, a hush-hush review began at the highest levels of the Army. This led to "field orders" asking for the names of any reporter or news organization seeking access to the waiver lists. "I was to inform Togo West's office immediately if any of the press asked for a copy of these lists," says one of the cemetery officials who refused to comply with what they believe is a political cover-up. "It is a huge honor to be buried at one of our sites," says a national cemetery official -- especially to be buried at Arlington. "It is also a huge dishonor to bury anyone there who has not rightly earned it. It'd be a big scandal if the country were to learn that this hallowed ground was being sold for political contributions." This source and Arlington National sources talked to Insight because, they say, they are outraged that the Clinton White House has applied pressure to gain waivers for fat-cat political donors. "This has been going on for years," one of the sources says. But while past administrations have done it, they granted waivers only to civilians who had served in the military and were Pillars in private sector. This could not be confirmed immediately but is generally believed, military sources say. Under West and Clinton, the number of such waivers has quadrupled to approximately 60 to 75 in the last four to five years. "It's a disgrace what's happened lately," says one of the military sources. "And now with all these Clinton fund-raising investigations going on, they're trying to keep it out of the press." A review of some names on the waiver lists does, in fact, show that some individuals approved for burial at the national cemeteries -- including Arlington National -- gave large sums of money to the Clinton-Gore campaign and to the DNC. But based on an ongoing review of these lists, the number of political moneybags remains small compared with the full roster of names. "That doesn't make any difference," says an Army official familiar with the issue. "If there's even one person on there only because he gave Clinton money, that's one person too many. It's disgraceful."A disgruntled national cemetery official adds, "Congress ought to look into this." Another source says, "There are names that clearly don't belong.... These plots are sacred. They belong to the men and women who died or risked their lives bravely for their country. They don't belong to the politicians." "If former Rep. Dan Rostenkowski can go to jail over the selling of a few office chairs, then somebody over at the White House and Pentagon ought to be convicted for selling America's most sacred public property," says a high-ranking administration official briefed on the situation. Indeed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Disney Boycott Having An Effect Penny Young Nance of Concerned Women for America reported that the boycott of the Walt Disney Company and it1/4s subsidiaries is already having a noticeable effect. Boycott supporters contend that Disney changed policy in the past few years to favor entertainment that is damaging to traditional family values. Nance pointed out a recent USA Today poll found almost 50% of those surveyed supported the boycott. She also noted that Disney stock prices have declined over the past few months, attendance at Disney theme parks is down, ratings for Disney-owned ABC-TV are low and Disney's ³Hercules' movie did not gross as much at the box office as expected. She said that those supporting the boycott realize the results of the boycott won't cause the company to change it's policies right away, and that they plan to continue the boycott ³for the long haul." Contact'Penny Nance at 202/488-7000. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If You Disapprove of Homosexual Behavior You Could Go to Jail By: Peter LaBarbara Peter LaBarbara, publisher of the Lambda Report, provided an analysis of the current strategies of the homosexual advocacy movement, of President Clinton1/4s recent remarks advocating teaching children not to disapprove of homosexuality in the public schools, and of the recently-rejected initiative in Washington state to make homosexuality, bi-sexuality and transgenderism a protected class under state law. He emphasized that the main strategy currently employed by homosexuality advocates is to marginalize, and, ultimately, criminalize speech disapproving of homosexual, bi-sexual or transgender behavior. He noted that in Canada people who say they disapprove of homosexual, bi-sexual or transgender behavior, even a minister in a pulpit, can be reported to a government human rights commission and sentenced to a jail term. He also reported on a case in Wisconsin in which a homosexual and a former homosexual got into a public argument about the nature of homosexuality, following which the ex-homosexual (who never struck or touched the other man) was reported to the government for committing a ³hate crime.3/4 He may now receive up to a two year prison term. LaBarbara noted that cases like this are more common than most people realize, and said that a report providing details of similar incidents, ³The Other Side of Tolerance,3/4 is available upon request. LaBarbara also discussed a severely flawed study claiming that 1/3 of all youth suicides are among youngsters who believe themselves to be homosexual, explained why the report is flawed, and how homosexual advocates have nonetheless used the study effectively to lobby for teaching advocacy of homosexuality, bi-sexuality and transgenderism in the public schools. He distributed materials. Contact Peter LaBarbara at 202/393-2100. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FLASH NEWS from COMPASS DIRECT Global News from the Frontlines CHRISTIAN PRISONER ESCAPES ARMED ATTACK IN PAKISTAN Ongoing Religious Violence Intimidates Judges over Blasphemy Cases by Barbara G. Baker ISTANBUL, November 19 (Compass)--A bullet barely missed Christian defendant Ayub Masih November 6, as the chained prisoner waited outside a Pakistani courthouse in Sahiwal for another hearing in his year-long blasphemy trial. Although several eyewitnesses identified Masih's would-be assailant, so far local police have refused to lodge a case of armed assault against the young Muslim accused of firing the pistol shot. The attack, which took place in broad daylight on the Sahiwal Courthouse verandah, came while Masih waited outside with another prisoner to be called for their respective hearings. Catholic Bishop John Joseph of Faisalabad told Compass that Masih's parents and three of his brothers were with the defendant when the incident occurred. According to one of Masih's brothers, the policeman on guard duty pointed to Masih and declared loudly, "Oh, so YOU are Ayub Masih!" Seconds later, a shot was fired at Masih. Eyewitnesses said that the bullet passed under Masih's arm and did not injure anyone. When Masih's brothers shouted at the policeman to protect the prisoner from his attacker, the guard reportedly told them that he could not return fire because he had removed all the bullets from his rifle. After a shaken Masih was escorted into the courtroom, the presiding justice of the Sahiwal Sessions Court called for a busload of policemen to be brought to the scene. He then adjourned the hearing "sine die" (without any date), requesting a stay on any further hearings on Masih's case from the Lahore High Court until the Punjab provincial government could guarantee the safety of the prisoner, judges, and lawyers involved in the case. Subsequently, Compass has learned, the Lahore High Court declined to respond to the Sahiwal court's requested stay order. Instead, Lahore forwarded it to the High Court in Multan, which has direct jurisdiction over the Sahiwal district. "Maybe they are all afraid," Bishop Joseph said, "but we are not going to let it go at that. We are going to make a very strong protest over this action." According to local Christians, members of Pakistan's judiciary have been seriously intimidated by the October 10 assassination of retired justice Arif Iqbal Bhatti, a Muslim who as a senior High Court judge acquitted two Christians in a well-known blasphemy case two years ago. Masih's family has attempted to lodge a case of armed assault against the assailant, whom they said they recognized as Mohammed Akram, their former neighbor who had filed formal charges of alleged blasphemy against Masih in October 1996. "They were told, 'Nobody was hurt, so be grateful to God,'" Bishop Joseph said. According to Masih's mother, the Superintendent of Police told her, "Why are you sheltering him? Your son spoke against Mohammed. There is nothing we can do with him, and we will do nothing for him." Bishop Joseph stated that a judicial order to stay Masih's hearings would very likely shelve the case for many months, if not several years, without any possibility of bail for the defendant. "So he could stay in jail for five years, exactly like they have done to Anwar Masih!" Bishop Joseph said, referring to another Christian accused of blasphemy who has remained behind bars since his arrest in Sammundri early in 1993. Ayub Masih, now 31, had been arrested on October 14 of last year in his home village of Arifwala, where Akram filed claims at a local police station that he had slandered the prophet Mohammed. Local Christians claimed that the case was fabricated as a cover-up for a land dispute against Masih's family. Shortly after his arrest, all 14 Christian families in the village, located in the Pakpatan district of Punjab, were forced to abandon their homes, animals and belongings to flee mob violence. They remain displaced in a nearby village. *** In a related development, the lawyer for Christian defendant Anwar Masih managed to secure a copy this week of a mid-October judgment proving that his client's case has been transferred out of Pakistan's established courts into the controversial new Special Courts established earlier this year by the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997. Jailed nearly five years ago on charges of blaspheming against the prophet Mohammed, Anwar Masih faces the death penalty if convicted of violating Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code. Bishop Joseph, who last visited Anwar Masih in the Central Jail of Faisalabad on November 16, said the prisoner told him he had been kept in his cell 24 hours a day for the past three months. When the bishop protested to the jail superintendent about this treatment, he said he was told, "This is for his safety. We have come to know that a group wants to kill him." Since a mandatory death penalty was added to Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws in 1993, more than a dozen Pakistani Christians have been jailed on fabricated charges, with four of their number killed by Islamist fanatics. All these Christians accused of blasphemy against either Islam, the Koran or the prophet Mohammed have been eventually acquitted, after spending long years in prison without bail. ********** Compass Direct Flash News is distributed as available to raise awareness of Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith. For subscription information, contact: Compass Direct PO Box 27250 Santa Ana CA 92799 USA TEL: 714-862-0300 FAX: 714-752-6536 compassdr@compuserve.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EDITORS NOTE: Many of you have been following this gentleman named Maitreya and Benjamin Creme for quiet some time now. For those of you who have not or do not know who these 2 are, here is a short history lesson. Maitreya, many believe could be the Antichrist. He / Tara Center / Share International have VERY strong ties to the United Nations. He appears to crowds in one part of the world and then to another crowd in another part of the world within minutes/hours. He supposedly "heals" people and "charges water" with his healing powers in most of the places he appears. He is seen not only as Christ, Mohammed, Buddha, etc., but claims to be all of them. He is the first person to claim this sort of claim. Thus merging all the worlds religions into one single religion. He is viewed by many in the New Age Religions to be the "World Teacher" that will take man into the next quantum leap. To get more information about Maitreya go to , http://www.shareintl.org/maitreya.html ************* British futurist says 'World Teacher' will be seen on TV within five weeks. From: http://www.shareintl.org/newsrelease.html LOS ANGELES, 25 November- At his first American press conference in 15 years, British futurist Benjamin Creme stated that Maitreya - World Teacher for the coming age-will be interviewed on a major American network before the end of the year. This will be followed by appearances on other networks around the world and, within months, will lead to a global satellite hook-up where Maitreya can speak to all people simultaneously-in their own language. ÊMaitreya, according to Creme, is the great spiritual teacher expected by people of all religions, although they know him by different names: Christ, Messiah, Krishna, Imam Mahdi, Maitreya Buddha and others. In 1982 Creme challenged the world's media to cover this story as it was then just beginning to unfold. Although major media largely ignored Creme's challenge, citing lack of tangible evidence, small groups of journalists pursued the story over the years, making it possible for Maitreya to exert a growing influence in world affairs. Creme says that now, fifteen years later, evidence of Maitreya's presence is abundant and points to: ÊRelease by Maitreya of amazingly accurate forecasts of world events, demonstrating his extraordinary insight and understanding of the Law of Cause and Effect. ÊDramatic, unexpected and benevolent world changes, such as the fall of communism in the Soviet Union, the end of apartheid in South Africa, peace initiatives in the Middle East and Northern Ireland, and the growing power of the 'people's voice'. Maitreya's 'out of the blue' appearances to religious groups throughout the world, many of whom recognize him immediately as their long-awaited teacher. ÊA continuous wave of miraculous phenomena including crosses of light, manifestations of Jesus and Mary in the clouds, weeping statues of the Madonna, milk-drinking Hindu icons, wells of healing water in Mexico, Germany and elsewhere, and other super-normal events. Hundreds of letters sent to Share International magazine, of which Creme is Chief Editor, documenting personal experiences of Maitreya. ÊMaitreya's upcoming interview, says Creme, will be an opportunity to present his priorities. His chief concern is the divisions in the world that allow 35,000 people a day to die from starvation and one-fifth of the world's population to live in absolute poverty. His next priority is to restore ecological balance and sustainable use of the Earth's resources. By creating awareness of what is actually taking place in the world, by awakening human compassion, and by galvanizing us into action, Maitreya, says Creme, will help us completely transform the world over the next 15-20 years. One example of what we can expect, Creme predicts, is a new science-the Technology of Light-which will provide all the power needed on Earth and make possible the regeneration of human organs. Creme described the extraordinary heart-felt response of people everywhere to Princess Diana as a prelude to the experience on Maitreya's 'Day of Declaration'. "Every individual will feel as if he has embraced them personally," says Creme. "A new livingness will begin from that moment." Note: The exact timing of this interview will be arranged, at the appropriate moment, between Maitreya and the program's producers. ÊThe identity of the network may not be revealed ahead of time. ÊWe do not expect that Maitreya will be introduced under that name, or as 'the Christ', 'the Messiah', etc. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EDITOR NOTE: A look into the "otherside's" camp. EARTH DAY RELIGION POINT OF VIEW - APRIL 22, 1997 From: http://www.usaradio.com Earth Day was a big day in Miami this year - people from all over the world gathered downtown to celebrate the environment and the need to preserve it. The following pledge was led by "Earth Man (dressed as a globe) and the Project Earth Band:" "I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE EARTH . . . MY HOME . . . THE PLANET OF MY BIRTH . . . FROM THE MOUNTAINS. . . TO THE DEEPEST SEAS. . . FROM THE FARMLANDS. . . TO THE TALLEST TREES. . . FROM THE LOVE IN YOU . . . TO THE LOVE WITHIN ME . . . I PLEDGE . . . ALLEGIANCE TO THEE." The following is taken from the February 14, 1997, issue of Human Events: The Ten Commandments of Mother Earth Earth Worship Mocks Moses’c Law Radical environmentalists do not believe in the Ten Commandments of the Bible, but instead embrace an atheistic, materialistic code, which, among other things, calls for human beings to curb their desire to procreate because it harms great "Mother Earth." The following "Ten Commandments," being distributed by the Earth Community Center, is the new, modern environmental equivalent of the ancient Mosaic Law. I. Thou shalt love and honor the Earth for it blesses thy life and governs thy survival. II. Thou shalt keep each day sacred to the Earth and celebrate the turning of its seasons. III. Thou shalt not hold thyself above other living things nor drive them to extinction. IV. Thou shalt give thanks for thy food, to the creatures and plants that nourish thee. V. Thou shalt limit thy offspring for multitudes of people are a burden unto the Earth. VI. Thou shall not kill, nor waste Earth’s riches upon weapons of war. VII. Thou shalt not pursue profit at the Earth’s expense but strive to restore its damaged majesty. VIII. Thou shalt not hide from thyself or others the consequences of thy actions upon the Earth. IX. Thou shalt not steal from future generations by impoverishing or poisoning the Earth. X. Thou shalt consume material goods in moderation so all may share the Earth’s bounty. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Spy photos sharpen focus on Noah's Ark Reported By: Weekend News Today Source: The Washington Times 11/18/97 - Dino A. Brugioni, a retired CIA photographic specialist who was directed to study the high-resolution photographs of the unusual Mount Ararat site two decades ago, say soon-to-be-released U.S. spy photographs of the odd formation high on Turkey's Mount Ararat could reveal something far more explosive: the remnants of Noah's Ark, the ancient vessel from the Bible that safely preserved a pair of every creature on Earth in the midst of a global flood, The Washington Times reported Tuesday. A series of images snapped by a U-2 spy plane at the end of a 3,000-mile reconnaissance flight from what was then the Soviet Union to Turkey caught the attention of a photo interpreter in his section. For more than two decades, highflying U.S. reconnaissance aircraft and satellites routinely photographed the "Ararat Anomaly" site. But over the next few months, the CIA will begin releasing more detailed high-resolution spy pictures of the distinctive formation near the summit. High-level U.S. government interest in the search for Noah's Ark led to a study by the CIA's National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC) of the Ararat Anomaly back in the 1970s, and the Defense Intelligence Agency conducted a second, more recent analysis. The Bible in Genesis tells of God's command to Noah to build an ark 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high. (A cubit is an ancient measurement of about 20 inches, making the ark approximately 500 feet long, 83.3 feet wide, and 50 feet high.) God then made it rain for 40 days "and the waters increased and bore up the ark and it rose high above the earth ... so mightily upon the earth that all the high mountains under the heavens were covered," the Bible says. According to the CIA, the U-2 photographs of the Ararat Anomaly will be released in the next few months as part of a batch of hundreds of thousands of spy photographs taken on U-2 and SR-71 spy plane missions between the 1950s and mid-1970s. CIA spokesman Tom Crispell said the release of the U-2 photographs will contain pictures of the Ararat Anomaly. But other photos taken by KH-9 and KH-11 high-resolution spy satellites are not likely to be made public any time soon, intelligence sources said. World famous linguist Charles Berlitz's 1987 book "The Lost Ship of Noah" describes several expeditions, including a 1916 discovery by the Russian Imperial Air Force, which sent 150 men up the mountain to explore a large object measuring as long as a city block. The ark, the book said, was found to have hundreds of small rooms and several that were quite large, as if designed to hold beasts larger than elephants. It included a 20-square-foot doorway. Other rooms were lined with tiers of cages and everything was heavily painted with a waxlike substance resembling shellac. The wood used throughout was oleander, a member of the cypress family and the "gopher wood" of the Genesis account. Because of its frozen condition under 50 feet of ice, the boat had been perfectly preserved for several millenniums, the book reported. Getting to the site on Ararat's southeastern slope is a mountaineer's nighmare, as it takes three days to scale the 16,945-foot mountain, a dormant volcano whose peak is usually hidden by clouds. Even in peak climbing season during July and August, the remote mountain is loaded with obstacles: winds reaching up to 150 mph, snow, mist, wild animals, falling boulders and even bandits who prey on travelers. The mostly Muslim Turks had long been reluctant to allow exploration of Mount Ararat because a discovery of the ark would not square with an account in the Koran which says the ark came to rest on Mount Judi, 200 miles southwest of Ararat. Because the ark is in a politically sensitive area bordering Russia and Iran, Turkish authorities closed the area in 1990. The search for the ark on Mount Ararat has been greatly complicated after the Turkish government closed off the area to visitors. The government cited problems with Kurdish rebels and the site's proximity to borders with Iran and Armenia. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ COMPROMISING RELIGIOUS MONITORING By: C.E. Carlson The ill-named and malignant FREEDOM FROM RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION ACT has now encountered resistance in Congress, according to Congressman Matt Salmon of Arizona, the pillar of opposition.(1) The principal promoters of HR2431 have begun to talk of compromise and a host of friendly amendments to the bill are designed to water it down sufficiently to slide it through Congress either in the closing hours of this session, or early in the January session. Newt Gingrich and Trent Lott have committed to passing the bill. It appears sponsor Congressmen Frank Wolf of Virginia and Christopher Smith of New Jersey and the promoters at FREEDOM HOUSE and HUDSON INSTITUTE want to divert attention from the substance of the bill to an argument over details. This is a bold move to create a new federal agency with power to monitor religions from a White House Office, and to sanction other nations and groups anywhere on account of their religious practices. Therefore, it is unacceptable in any form. Michael Horowitz, the bill's Godfather, has turned his efforts from lauding the nobleness of the bill to attacking the credibility of its detractors, among them WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS. This is a good sign that the truth stings, and that HR2431 may be is in more trouble than we knew. HR2431 ran into its first snag because of a grass roots movement rising up within the rank and file of American Christians, many of whom are now challenging their own organizations' support of the bill. Faced with growing common sense opposition, the Warmaker-promoters of HR2431 are now talking of amending out the more obvious faults. In response to this first real opposition to the juggernaut "Freedom >From Religious Persecution Act", Michael Horowitz of the Hudson Institute, has talked to both friend and foe of compromise. It is likely that compromise was always the Warmaker's contingency plan, for HR2431 and was written in the blunt and specific terms of the oligarchic contract that invites compromise. The Warmakers need only to establish the OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION MONITORING in any form or size. It will then metastasize as agencies always have and will. But to accept any compromise on HR2431 is to allow the camel's whole body in the tent. LOVING YOUR ENEMIES WARMAKER STYLE On the first of October the principal promoters of the bill launched an attack on the primary opponent to the bill, "We Hold These Truths". Horowitz signed a two page letter on the letterhead of "Hudson Institute" stating, "Here's a quick point-by-point response to the claims made in the letter from Nolan P. Cox to C.E.Carlson. Hopefully, you and others can write to Cox and Carlson -- with the letters serving as means of definitively rebutting their campaign. It's now clear to me that this needs to be done asap."(2)(3) WHTT discovered the circulation of a similar letter authored by Paul Nagy, President of the NEW HAMPSHIRE CHRISTIAN COALITION, in which he attempted to ridicule Nolan Cox, President of AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA, and WHTT, mentioning "black helicopter in my back yard".(4) Within a few days a third letter appeared on cue from The Reverend Dr. David Adams, OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION, LUTHERAN CHURCH-MISSOURI SYNOD in Washington.(5) Dr. Adams, in his cover letter states, "having examined Mr. Carlson's assertions in some detail I find them to be baseless, misleading and irresponsible." His ten page critique of WILL AMERICA ACCEPT RELIGIOUS MONITORING by WHTT, entitled, AN ANALYSIS OF CERTAIN CLAIMS ABOUT THE FREEDOM FROM RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION ACT BEING DISTRIBUTED BY MR. C. E.CARLSON, is being widely circulated. Dr. Adams arguments are based upon the simple but untrue assumptions that a new government agency will never expand beyond its expressed powers or grow beyond the size originally implied by Congress. One has only to examine the EPA or the Department of Energy to see the fallacy of this argument. Dr. Adams also simply ignores the glaring power loopholes in this bill granting dictatorial, Orwellian power at the outset. However, Reverend David Adams' most revealing statement is found in a footnote to his paper pertaining to Nina Shea's IN THE LION'S DEN. (6) Adams, in attempting to defend Nina Shea's seemingly exaggerated deathfigures in Sudan, has called attention to technique used in her distortion of facts. David Adams writes, "As an aside it is worth noting that Mr. Carlson misrepresents Nina Shea's comments about the number of deaths in Sudan in her book In the Lion's Den. Mr. Carlson appears to believe that Ms. Shea says that of all of the estimated 1.3 million killed in the Khartoum government's Jihad against NON-MUSLIMS ARE CHRISTIANS. She says no such thing. In writing a book on persecution of Christians, Ms. Shea does emphasize that Christians have been killed in the Jihad, but she clearly says that the Jihad includes the persecution of ANIMISTS (practicers of traditional African religions), as well as CHRISTIANS. It is undoubtedly true that the majority of those killed in the Jihad have been animists rather than Christians, but neither Nina Shea nor anyone else has claimed otherwise." (EMPHASIS IS OURS) But a close examination of Mr. Adams' words when compared to Ms. Shea's exact quote from her book suggests Ms. Shea may have intended to deceive with careful word selection, and Dr. Adams now is covering for her, as follows: >From "In The Lion's Den", page 32, "The war has pitted the predominately Muslim north against THE PREDOMINATELY CHRISTIAN AND ANIMIST south." -EDITOR'S NOTE: Ms. Shea's careful placement of "Christians" ahead of "Animists", implying Christians are the majority of the persons cited. As Dr. Adams points out above, this is untrue. Also page 32, "The militant Islamic governments scorched-earth and forced starvation tactics as it prosecutes its religious war in the southern, Christian part of the country have resulted in the deaths of more than 1.3 million people and displacement of more that 3 million others, MOSTLY CHRISTIANS AND NON-MUSLIMS." EDITORS' NOTE: again Ms. Shea's clear but untrue statement that the southern part of the country is "Christian", clearly implying they are the majority. As Adams points out, this is untrue. Later in the same sentence "Christians" is placed ahead of "non-Muslims" implying they are the majority of those killed and displaced, again deceptive and untrue. Ms. Shea repeatedly makes it appear that most of the 1.3 million persons she claims to have been killed were Christians. In so doing she not only contradicts common usage but also some law. Ms. Shea is a lawyer so knows knows about abuse of words. If Ms. Shea was in the ketchup business she could go to jail. Examine the label on any can or bottle you purchase and you will find the ingredients are named in order of the quantity contained. The ketchup label begins with the most abundant component, tomatoes followed by water, vinegar, sugar, salt, and finally vegetable flavorings, the least abundant product listed last. To list them otherwise would be consumer fraud. IN THE LIARS' DEN Mr. Adams in covering for Ms. Shea, properly reversed the order placing "animists" ahead of "Christians" and tells us, "IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY TRUE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE KILLED IN THE JIHAD HAVE BEEN ANIMISTS RATHER THAN CHRISTIANS, BUT NEITHER NINA SHEA NOR ANYONE ELSE HAS CLAIMED OTHERWISE." Is his statement true? No, everyone has been told over and over again by the promoters of this bill that the victims are predominately Christians, an enormous factual distortion. In fact, it is likely that only 5 to 10% of those killed were Christians, not the vast majority, as we have been consistently led to believe. This is about the percentage of Christians in the Sudanese population, so Ms. Shea and those who follow her lead are probably exaggerating by about ninety percent. Furthermore, how then can Dr. Adams label this war a "Jihad against Christians?" Why is this statistical fudging so important in this day and age of Madison Avenue journalism? It is important because Nina Shea has been elevated to the authority on Christian persecution in Sudan. Her book, "In the Lion's Den", has become the standard, often quoted by others. But, if her basic figures are misleading, how valid are her conclusions? It is she, with her close ally, Caroline Cox of CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY INTERNATIONAL, who have sold the idea of Christian slave trade in Sudan, moreover, her total body count of 1.3 million persons must also be examined with a jaundiced eye. Others who promote HR2431 have repeated Nina Shea's precise words about death and slavery in Sudan over and over again until all but a few have come to accept them. One of hundreds of examples of this cloned distortion is found in THE PRAYER JOURNAL FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH, which has been sponsored by many of the same organizations that have taken the lead in selling HR2431. On page 13 under a heading "Sudan" we read almost the exact same verbiage as Ms. Shea, except that the death number has grown to 1.5 million and homeless has been expanded to 5 million. Distortions grow!(7) SCAPEGOATING SUDAN In order to have a fuller understanding of the powers behind HR2431 it is now time to examine the third fraudulent element in the plan to establish a federal "Office Of Religious Persecution Monitoring", a smooth, highly visible publicity campaign to promote war through the idea of wide scale Christian persecution in Muslim countries. It is unlikely that any country as poor and defenseless as Sudan has ever been more vilified with less cause. The Freedom From Religious Persecution Act contains in its body the mechanism for the most far reaching economic warfare ever waged upon a foreign nation. As written, the act would isolate and strangle the African Nation of Sudan, a country Americans, including American Congressmen, know little about. Judging from interviews with eyewitnesses in Sudan and results of similar UN Sanctions on Iraq, the result of the proposed sanctions will cause the death by starvation and deprivation of an unknown number of children, for it has always been the children who suffer from economic sanctions, never the political leaders. Paradoxically, this legislation is being moved toward passage by the mobilized and coordinated political strength of leaders of Christian organizations, TV churches and the political action committees of major denominations. It is time grass roots Christians learn more about the intended victims, the Republic of Sudan, for the government of Sudan is painted as an international tyrant or "renegade government" deserving of destruction under HR2431. Sanctions are endorsed by a number of prominent national Christian and conservative leaders. None of them have, to our knowledge, made an official, legal visit to Sudan, at least not since 1989 when the current government came to power. There is a Sudanese Embassy in Washington where visas are available. A careful examination of Ms. Shea's book and the writings of other promoters of HR2431 indicate most, if not all of them, appear to admit they have entered Sudan illegally and or surreptitiously, if indeed they have been there at all.(8) LEGISLATIVE LEADER VISITS SUDAN LEGALLY What Christian legislator would dare go to Sudan, a place we are told, where the so-called "Khartoum Government" makes it a top priority to starve, enslave and torture Christians. Pennsylvania State Representative Harold James joined a small group, including several other state legislators in a fact-finding visit to Sudan on February 17-25 of this year.(9 ) James is a five-term legislators, a member of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS and is also a retired 22-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department. He stated he had "always had an interest in Africa, heard about the reported genocide and wanted to see for himself." In his press release of March 20, 1997, James stated, "There were no signs whatsoever of any kind of this activity by the Sudanese. I saw true working relationships between different religious groups, and freedom of religion. I personally visited a Mosque, the Catholic Cathedral, and a Coptic Christian Church and witnessed that freedom for myself. There is also an excellent system of political inclusion there at all levels of government, including women, Christians, Muslims and many others." James wrote, " The lies against Sudan seem designed to justify economic sanctions by the United Nations, and further military attacks against that nation by neighboring countries, such as Uganda and Ethiopia--." James called upon Congress to send its own delegation to Sudan, and he closed by stating, "The truth about the situation in Sudan must be told based upon first hand observation. Meantime, it is urgent to call off the push for sanctions against Sudan." But James' reports received little publicity in the establishment press. Instead the fanatical anti-Sudanese sentiment expressed in the nationalmedia has continued to dominate American thought. He related an interesting anecdote about watching CNN NEWS from his hotel room in Khartoum, the capital city and viewing an unchallenged news report from Washington featuring Baroness Carolyn Cox, director of "Christian Solidarity International", who proclaimed that slavery was rampant in Sudan, and that Khartoum was about to be overrun by rebel forces at the time. Mr. James, with a hint of humor, recorded the program on his portable video camera. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS In an interview with We Hold These Truths on October 22, 1997, Representative James stated he met with many officials of the government, including the President of the Sudanese Supreme Court who had just completed a study and report on the claims of slavery. He "freely mingled with ordinary members of the public in non-threatening and unsupervised circumstances both in Khartoum, and in rural areas that he visited." Mr. James pointed out that he served five years as an undercover policeman, and he was accustomed having people try to fool him and hide things, and he felt that "nothing was hidden" from him in Sudan. Representative James said he attended several Christian church services and walked to one service from his hotel room. He found the churches well attended, the Catholic Cathedral "jam-packed". During one visit to a mosque he was invited to stay for dinner, but was was mildly amused when he found himself eating from a common bowl with his fingers, as is the custom, but he "enjoyed it" and seemed genuinely comfortable with the people. He stated many people in the cities speak English, and the only complaints he heard against the government was at a meeting organized by the World Council of Churches, and he noted that they are allowed to meet and express their views. Heard nothing whatsoever from ordinary civilians about repression of religion or slavery. James, A former Philadelphia policeman commented on the "relative freedom from street crime, drugs and alcoholism evident in the capital city." He observed that the government appeared to be making efforts to organize and provide care for the large number of refugees that were streaming north to escape the war zone to the south. He pointed out that the refugees "showed no visible signs of fearing the government," but were in search of help. What he did find was "a well educated, high spirited people defending their country." From his own observance and from talking to others who have visited Sudan, Mr. James considered the war was against insurgents "controlled from outside," rather than from groups within the country, as our press reports. He felt that "Sudan's strong agricultural assets and potential for oil self-sufficiency might be the target of foreign interests." Representative James traveled four hundred miles south of the national capital by motorcar to the Blue Nile State near the Ethiopian border, where 600 villagers were reported killed in January in attacks by insurgent forces from Ethiopia. There he visited the Rosieres, hydroelectric plant that supplies most of the power to the country near the town of Damzian. The Dam was the apparent target of the insurgent attacks. James described his visit to a 4300 person refugee camp and hospital near the Ethiopian border where recent battles had taken place. He freely talked to patients through English speaking nurses and aids, and he commented that he observed no apparent fear of the government troops, but rather a dependency and "a good bit of appreciation for them." Mr. James observed no starvation in Sudan and commented about the favorable food supply in the parts of the country he visited. When asked what effect the proposed international air embargo under HR2431 would have, James stated it would be "bad for the people of Sudan, and would no doubt kill children by disease and starvation." Mr. James stated be believes the statements of Sudanese aid groups who say that almost all manufactured drugs, medical supplies, refrigerated vaccines and chemicals, milk products for babies, antibiotics, and medicines are all imported exclusively by air, and will be cut off by an air embargo on the capital city of Khartoum. Representative James asked "We Holds These Truths" a rhetorical question, "why would anybody want to sanction a country like that, they are trying to take care of their people and make peace?" Who can possibly benefit from placing what amounts to an air blockade against the poor people to the Republic of Sudan? The answer is, the Warmakers will benefit.(1) It is "We Hold These Truth's" objective that in the next few months the entire fabric of distortion about Sudan's Jihad, forced starvation, slavery, forced religious conversions and crucifixions will come tumbling down around the shoulders of those promoting HR2431. The weakness of the Warmaker's position is now being propped up by a gigantic effort to compromise details of the bill in order to establish the Office. Mr. Horowitz and his eastern establishment backers have no desire to face the Christian perspective; namely where in the Christian Bible are Jesus followers allowed to destroy those who persecute them? Christian leaders must be brought to face this question. Mr. George Ganem's letter to Reverend Dr. David Adams addresses this issue from a Christian perspective. Christian leaders need to read it. (9) To have any chance of overcoming this political strategy opponents must be able to see through all the distortions and outright lies we will continue to hear about Sudan. A Congressional delegation must go to Sudan legally, as Representative James did, to see for themselves. The truth must be exposed in the churches and grass root organizations of America. The TV evangelist and mail-order missionaries who have aided in promotion of HR2431 apparently must be educated by their own supporters; the tail must stop wagging the dog. Learn about our Cloud Seeder's program, and contact us if you want to help. C.E. Carlson, (cecarl@ionet.net) October 25, 1997 FOOTNOTES: (1.) "Will AmericansAccept Religious Monitoring", basic report, "Please, Don't Throw Me in the Briar Patch", the reason President William Jefferson Clinton's says he opposes the bill, "The Beast Weakens". WHTT Webpage. (2.) Cox, Nolan, President, American Family Association of Georgia, September 22, 1997, Cox, Nolan, to Whom It May Concern, October 2, 1997. WHTT Webpage soon. (3.) Horowitz, Michael, undated, on or before October 1, 1997, to David Adams, with copies to Faith McD, Rich Cizik, Wil Dobson, Steven Snyder (Christian Solidarity International) Heidi Stirrup, Melissa McClard. WHTT Webpage soon. (4.) Nagy, Paul, President, New Hampshire Christian Coalition, Webpage soon. (5). Adams, Reverend Dr. David, October 1, 1987, WHTT Webpage soon. (6.) Shea, Nina, "In The Lion's Den", 1997 Broadman and Holman. (7.) "The Prayer Journal for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church", Box WEF, Wheaton Ill, 60189. (8.) "Missionary" and human rights organizations that have admitted illegal entry into Sudan: Christian Solidarity International, Frontline Fellowships, Voice of Martyrs, Open Door With Brother Andrew. (9.) James, Howard, House of Representative, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania March 20, 1997, Press Release, 717-787-9477, Webpage soon. (10. Ganem, George , letter to Reverend Dr. David Adams, dated October 19, 1997. This article first appeared on : WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS 4839 E. Greenway Rd., #151 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Tel.: (602) 443-0204; Fax: (602) 596-9501 Web Site: http://www.whtt.org Email: info@whtt.org +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ No One Will Believe It From: http://www.persecution.com When Pastor Richard Wurmbrand first arrived in the United States in the late 1960s, one of his first desires was to write of his experiences in Romanian prisons so that the Christians living in the free world would know of the tragedies suffered by our fellow members in the Body. Pastor Wurmbrand wrote examples of persecution and the overcoming faith shared by those who had passed years of torture and imprisonment at the hands of the Communists. He recounted his own memoirs of solitary confinement, repeated beatings on the soles of his feet, and being stripped of clothing and locked in a refrigerated cell where he was brought within minutes of freezing to death. Upon sending the manuscript to major Christian publishing houses here in the West, he soon learned that no one was willing to publish his testimony. "Who would believe it?" they asked. "And even if they did, who wants to read such horrors?" Numerous publishers were approached, until finally a secular company took a chance with Pastor Wurmbrand and published the first edition of Tortured for Christ. A great deal has happened in the past 30 years, and we owe thanks to God for men like Richard Wurmbrand, Harlan Popov, and others who brought the message of the underground Church to an ignorant America. Through the decades, tens of thousands of Christians have dedicated themselves to the service of the persecuted. Organizations have been formed, books published, and mass protests carried out on behalf of those in bonds. But have we done enough? Have the testimonies of today's modern-day martyrs strengthened our faith? Have we raised our children with the knowledge of the persecuted Church and the honor God bestows on those to whom suffering is given? Have we taken a minute during each Christian gathering to pray for those in restricted nations? Have we been willing to bleed? A Voice for the Martyrs The time has come to awaken the Western Church to the cry of today's persecuted. We no longer have an excuse. We cannot say, " When did we see You in prison...?" In the past 24 months, almost every major Christian publication, radio, and television program has done a feature on today's persecution of Christians. Secular media such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Reader's Digest have followed suit. The story has been told. The resources are available to us. It is time to stand with our forgotten brothers and sisters in Sudan, China, Vietnam, and nearly 40 other nations where serving Christ comes at a great cost. Together we can raise the voice of today's persecuted church! The Voice of the Martyrs has been actively serving the persecuted church for almost 30 years. Our mission is clear. With the continued persecution of Christ's body around the world, we strive to bring practical and spiritual assistance while making their voice heard. The Voice of the Martyrs was founded by pastor Richard Wurmbrand. During the hard line Communist rule of Romania, Pastor Wurmbrand spent fourteen years in prison for his ministry with the underground church. He underwent frequent tortures. In 1964, Pastor Wurmbrand, his wife Sabina, and their son, Mihai, were ransomed from Romania for $10,000. Expecting to see a feeble, defeated man, the world witnessed a spiritual giant who overcame desperate situations through his love for Christ. His calling became clear as he established the ministry of The Voice of the Martyrs around the world and quickly became known as "the voice of the underground church." www.persecution.com e-mail vomusa@aol.com Postal and phone P.O. Box 443 Bartlesville, OK. 74005 (918) 337 8015 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EDITORS NOTE: Grant Jeffrey is a good friend to PropheZine. We at PropheZine try to keep you the reader informed as to new books, tapes and videos. We believe that we as "Watchmen on the wall" need to stay informed with the many aspects to Bible Prophecy and World Events. Grant's Video is one of those items for all of the watchmen out there. I highly recommend this and advise you to go to Grant's www site and purchase this very informative piece. ..Ray Gano PZ THE MYSTERIOUS BIBLE CODES By Grant Jeffries Based on Grant Jeffrey's new bestseller, The Handwritting of God, this outstanding companion video explores startling and authoitative discoveries that have been buried beneath the surface text of the Hebrew Scriptures for over 3000 years. Now, Grant Jeffrey brings you the real truth behind the Bible Codes by means of this powerful and definitive video presentaion. Compelling computer animation with convincing documentaion graphically illustrated will demonstrate to even the most skeptical mind the supernatural orgin of the Scriptures. There is a war raging for the souls and minds of humanity and the main battleground is the issue of biblical authority. Only in this generation with high speed computers could th Bible Codes truly be discovered revealing the names of "Arafat", "PLO", "Shimon Peres", Peace Treaty", the "Oklahoma bombing" and much more.No human writer could have known the significance of these words in ancient times. Here's the video that breaks new ground from a Christian perspective in exploring the sacred mysteries of the Bible and providing new evidence that the Bible is "without error" and trustworthy despite the attacks on its authority. Explore these fascinating Topics: *Astonishing New Bible Code Discoveries *The Christian Perspective on the Bible Codes *Jesus and His disciples' names revealed in the Old Testament *Is Christianity Credible? *Can We Still Trust The Bible? Includes astonishing new code discoveries about the Middle East Peace Process, Rabin's assassination, The Gulf War, the Oklahoma Bombing, and startling new codes about Jesus and His disciples in Is. 53 as well as Ex. 30:16. The Mysterious Bible Codes - 90 minutes - 2 video package $30.00 Retail in bookstores or available from Frontier Research Publications Inc. at (800) 883-1812 or on our web site Grant Jeffrey Ministries = http://www.grantjeffrey.com This video will bring the Bible to life and re-awaken your passion and excitement for Jesus Christ and the great truths of the Word of God. A great faith-building and witnessing video. ******************************** BASICALLY SPEAKING Foundations in Bible Truth By R.g. Wallace THE COPYBOOK One of the most descriptive and functional images of Jesus lies hidden deep in the word pictures of the Greek language. We find at 1 Peter 2:21, "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." The word, example, translates the Greek word, hupogrammos which occurs only here in the New Testament. The word is formed from the preposition, "hupo," which means under, and "grammos" which means, writing or letter. For example, the word scribe, is grammateus and means one who is skilled in letters or writing. This word means a "copybook" like what was used as an education tool. It provided either some image or letter to trace over, or a letter or image to "copy" underneath. Jesus is our copybook. We focus on His image written on the pages of Scripture and seek to write it in our own life through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. As we imitate the copybook of Christ's life by "underwriting" His character in our soul, we will learn to follow in His steps and reflect His love and righteousness. John describes this at 1 John 2:6, "the one who says he abides in Him, ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked." Peter continues, by giving us two "general" descriptions of Christ's life and one "specific" description. At verse 22, we have a summary of His sinlessness. WHO COMMITTED NO SIN: This refers to overt sin and gives us the example of moral obedience as amplified by the 10 Commandments, which provides a guideline of how the believer should treat his fellow man. Paul writes concerning this at Romans 13:9-10, For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of {the} law. In application to us, we should observe "how" Jesus loved and through that, come to understand what TRUE Christian love really means instead of trying to do what society or even religion dictates as an expression of Christian love. Jesus said of his life and ministry, "I always do the things that are pleasing to Him (The Father)." (John 8:29) It is this that really fulfills Christian love and the Christian calling - to please the Father. Paul tells us at Romans 14:17-18, "for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this manner serves Christ is PLEASING to God and approved by men," (BFT). Thus, as we "practice" in our COPYBOOK, we learn to become "imitators of God as beloved children" and to "walk in LOVE, just as Christ loved," (Eph. 5:1-2). NEITHER WAS THERE ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH: Deceit is the word, dolos, and refers to the mental deception that eventually expresses itself outwardly in speech and action. This then summarizes the "character" of Christ as being always truthful, never misleading, and ever trying to meet the spiritual needs of the people around Him, and ultimately, for the whole world. It refers to a genuine "God-centered" motivation for everything He did while here on earth. Jesus had no "personal" agenda of selfishness or pride. He came to do the Father's will (Heb. 10:9). Indeed, every word He spoke was "the word that you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me," (John 14:24). Just moments before He was led forth to be crucified, Jesus said to Pilate, "For this I have been born, and for this I came into the world, to bear witness to THE TRUTH." (John 18:37). At the age of 12, He was found in the temple in Jerusalem and answered the concerns of His worried parents, "did you not know that it was necessary for me to be involved with the things of My Father?" (Luke 2:49, BFT). At His baptism, which symbolically portrayed His dedication to doing the Father's will, Jesus told John, "Permit it now, for in this manner, it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness," (Mat. 3:15, BFT). And during His ministry, "I have come a light into the world, with the result that everyone who believes in Me, does not remain in darkness," (John 12:46, BFT). And again, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me," (John 6:38). Should we not likewise cultivate a life and character that promotes God's truth in the world? Should we not be diligent to "proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His awesome light?" (1 Pet. 2:9, BFT). Did not Jesus speak of us as "the light of the world" which should not be placed under a basket? (Mat. 5:14-16) And Paul writes at Col. 2:14-16a, BFT), "Do all things without emotional reaction or intellectual rationalization, so that you may become blameless and non-compromized, children of God above reproach in the midst of a (morally) perverse and (spiritually) distorted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, by continually holding forth the word of life." At 1 Peter 2:23, Peter summarizes the character of Jesus as it was expressed during His trials and crucifixion. "AND WHILE BEING REVILED: The word, revile, means to speak abusively to someone, criticize, insult, ridicule and disdain. Verbal abuse, the trademark of both fear and arrogance, was hurled at our Lord Jesus in such a way that the offenders are described "as a ravening and roaring lion," (Psalm 22:13). And yet, Jesus, ever relaxed, patient and loving - HE DID NOT REVILE IN RETURN: He did not return "name" for "name," or "adjective" for "adjective," but instead, quite calmly pleaded, "Father, forgive them for they don't understand what they do," (Luke 23:34). What then, of our attitude toward those who may disdain and revile us? Peter writes, "not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult, but speaking well instead," (1 Pet. 3:9). This indeed takes much growth as we build up in our soul the virtues of Christ's love, but we should ever hold before us the exhortation of Paul found at Romans 12:17-21 (NASB), Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath {of God,} for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS UPON HIS HEAD." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Jesus is further described by Peter as - WHILE SUFFERING, HE UTTERED NO THREATS: Jesus knew that God's plan was perfect and that nothing could frustrate it, except perhaps His own failure to, "become obedient, even to the point of death on the cross," (Philip. 2:8). Accordingly, He was never intimidated by the ridicule and threats of the men who crucified Him. He never gave in to the temptation to retort back at them, "just wait till I get down from here!" Not even did He use the reality of their future judgment as a threat by saying, "You will sing a different song when you're swimming in fire!" But quite the opposite! Not only did He forgive them for their personal attacks against Him, but "He gave Himself as a ransom for all," (1 Tim. 2:6), paying sin's penalty even for those who deny Him (2 Pet. 2:1). Finally, all of this is neatly summarized by Peter with the statement - BUT KEPT ENTRUSTING HIMSELF: The word, "entrust," is from paradidomi and means to give to the side of someone. The idea here is that you "turn yourself over" to the authority and character of someone else. This is a perfect picture of total trust and dependence on God in the face of every situation in life. This word communicates the functional reality of the Faith-Rest life, which we have previoulsy studied. And in Jesus, we once again have the perfect example. With absolute confidence in the plan and character of God, Jesus was able to face the physical pain of the cross and the terror of spiritual death, as He would bear the sins of the world, with no fears, no doubts and no hesitation. As He faced the mental pressure, contemplating what was before Him, He was able to totally trust in The Father. Without "blinking an eye," as it were, He prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; YET not as I will, BUT AS YOU WILL." (Mat. 26:39). Notice that the object of this trust is - THE ONE WHO JUDGES RIGHTEOUSLY: Jesus knew that The Father would always be perfectly just and ever "bring about justice for His elect" (Luke 18:7). Accordingly, "for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame," (Heb. 12:2) and once more gives us the example we need for endurance - "for consider Him Who has endured such hostility of sinners against Himself, so that you might not become weary by giving up in your souls," (Heb. 12:3, BFT). The Copybook lays open before us all, freely and clearly displayed, so that not only are we exhorted to imitate it, but indeed, CAN actually produce the very image of Christ in our own lives. "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror (The Copybook) the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit," (2 Cor. 3:18). "But PUT ON the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not be making plans for the flesh (sin nature) concerning its lusts," (Rom. 13:14, BFT). "Now be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," (2 Pet. 3:18). ronw@best.com Visit the Bible Fragrances website: http://best.com/~ronw/bible.shtml