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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Brookings Institution -- Partner on Internet CONTENT regulation?


Javier Solana who has long since been dismayed by fundamentalists "taking full advantage of the global village", i.e. Internet, now joins an institution that appears to be on the same page -- the Brookings Institution. The Brookings Institution is headed by Strobe Talbott who was a close confederate of one of his World Federalist Society presidency predecessors, Donald Keys. A speech was just delivered there by the high level Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski who apologetically explained that when he talked about INTERNET REGULATION he met regulating INTERNET CONTENT, not INTERNET LINES.

I suspect the party is about to get much rougher for us.

Stay tuned!

Constance

155 comments:

  1. DavidinBattleCreek5:51 PM

    I still think Solana is a better candidate than Raj Patel. Solana's been around and has a great deal of worldly influence. I know Creme said Maitreya/antichrist had an interview on American television and the internet recently, but it's hard to take what he says as truthful. Unlike Patel Solana has played advisor in the Israel-Palestine issue.

    Only God knows for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous8:21 PM

    i was thinking ac could be "javi" and false prophet could be "raji". the false prophet will be the leader of the one world religion while the ac will be leader of the one world government/economy. when the time comes for the abomination of desolation the false prophet will point people to the ac who will require their worship. the false prophet will turn over the saints to the ac.

    so sorry i don't have the scripture references. this is how i understand it.

    cagey

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very, very interesting article/interview from somebody from Azerbaijan who was at the Munich Security Conference last weekend. Needs reading and digesting by all here:

    http://en.trend.az/news/politics/foreign/1634848.html

    Constance

    ReplyDelete
  4. Here's an article from Raj Patel responding to the Maitreya rumors.

    http://rajpatel.org/2010/01/25/call-me-brian/

    or http://tinyurl.com/yd2bdl4

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous11:14 PM

    Lots of talk on the net about this new South Carolina law. From one of the blogs:

    If you are planning on overthrowing a government in the US, you must register yourself and your group with the South Carolina Government:

    http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t23c029.htm

    Quote:
    Every subversive organization and organization subject to foreign control shall register with the Secretary of State on forms prescribed by him within thirty days after coming into existence in this State.

    No, it's not a joke. Read the whole thing. Other groups are included.

    Dorothy

    ReplyDelete
  6. Constance

    What immediately jumps out at me.

    The world has become multipolar. It is difficult for one power or bloc to cope with issues and challenges of the 21-st century. Modern states should cooperate not only with such large countries as China, India, Brazil, but also with small countries as, for example, Azerbaijan. These issues must be resolved not only by political leaders but also representatives of NGOs, private businesses, foundations and international organizations. The world is on the threshold of major changes. It is important for a modern security system to be able to adapt to new realities.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dorothy,

    Of course it all is subjective to what remains the definition of subversive.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous11:17 PM

    http://forums.narutofan.com/showthread.php?t=592424

    FITSNews, a South Carolina web site, ridiculed the law in an anonymous post.

    "In the long and storied history of utterly retarded legislation in South Carolina, we may have finally found the legal statute that takes the cake for sheer stupidity, which we think you'll agree is saying something."

    The state charges a $5 filing fee per organization. The required form can be found at the Secretary of State's web site and requires respondents to check "yes" or "no" after the following question:

    "Do you or your organization directly or indirectly advocate, advise, teach or practice the duty or necessity of controlling, seizing or overthrowing the government of the United States, the state of South Carolina or any political division thereof?

    If yes, please outline the fundamental beliefs. If applicable, attach a copy of the bylaws or minutes of meetings from the last year."

    Punishment for violating the law includes a maximum of $25,000 and/or 10 years in prison.

    This isn't the first law in South Carolina requiring a criminal, or someone who intends to commit a crime, to voluntarily cooperate with the state. South Carolina is one of several states that also tries to tax marijuana and other illegal drugs.

    Title 12, Chapter 21 of the state code of laws, known as the "Marijuana and Controlled Substance Tax Act", states that, "No dealer may possess any marijuana or controlled substance upon which a tax is imposed unless the tax has been paid on the marijuana or other controlled substance as evidenced by a stamp or other official indicia."

    Dealers are not required to give identifying information when paying the tax and are not given immunity from being prosecuted for possessing or dealing drugs.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Constance, Pete, and anyone else in on the Euro Collapse column,

    I made a comment about the Transatlantic Economic Council that I want to ellaborate on. In April 2007 Barrosso, Merkel, and Pres. Bush signed
    Framework for Advancing Transatlantic Economic Integration between the United States of America and the European Union. This document is exactly what its name suggests. In the years since its inception TEC has slowly been working to integrate both economies. There are many aspects to this but I thought it might be relevant to the Euro crash scenario. As in seeing the old being torn down so the new can rise. If this is the case I would almost expect things to get rough here as well.

    http://tinyurl.com/y8fv3bk

    ReplyDelete
  10. JD
    I would certainly expect things to get rough there.

    God bless
    Pete

    ReplyDelete
  11. DavidinBattleCreek12:09 PM

    Dorothy,

    Maybe it's not a joke, but I sure am laughing. It is quite humorous.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous12:55 PM

    Although these laws sound silly, my guess would be that it is a way for the state to increase it's legal recourse against criminals. For example if someone were charged with dealing drugs they could also be charged with tax evation. In the case of a subversive groups, if they were discovered prior to actually doing anything wrong they could be charged with not having registered with the state.

    I'm not a lawyer so maybe Constance could confirm if what I am saying makes sense or not.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous1:50 PM

    Liberal Methodists declare we are ready to merge with CoE.

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7023713.ece


    Savvy

    ReplyDelete
  14. DavidinBattleCreek3:15 PM

    I wasn't able to link to the article, Savvy. I am Methodist and have not heard of any merger with the Church of England at least here in the U.S. There are a few Methodist denominations. The largest, as far as I know, is the United Methodist Church. Yes, there are a large amount of liberals in the church. However, there is still a large conservative presence. Methodism historically was an off-shoot of the Church of England. In the U.S. the Church of England is called the Episcopal Church.

    There are liberal influences in the church as well as New Age influences. However, I still believe by and large we are led by the Holy Spirit. Unlike are Episcopal brethren, we do not allow gays into the clergy, although there are people who wish to change this. It's certainly contentious.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous5:15 PM

    DavidinBattlefieldCreek,

    The Report quotes the President Rev. David Gamble. I don't know if he represents all Methodists or just the ones in England.

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7023713.ece


    Savvy

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous5:16 PM

    DavidinBattleCreek,

    I don't know why the full link does not appear when I post it. Just google this.


    Savvy

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous5:46 PM

    Michelle Obama to launch initiative fighting child obesity - Raj Patel likes that!

    http://rajpatel.org/

    see links on RH side.

    - as reported on the 5 Doves website.

    P.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Re The SC legislation

    For the record, I never did approve of McCarthyism!

    Constance

    ReplyDelete
  19. DavidinBattleCreek9:53 PM

    I did Google this merger. The Methodist church you're referring to is not the same denomination as the United Methodist Church here in America. Perhaps at one point there was a split, but I couldn't tell you anything. Anyway, this is why I never heard of the proposed merger. It's not the same denomination. Besides, John Wesley never intended to even start a new denomination, but make reforms in the Church of England. Such as, the Bible should be the only source of doctrine. But one thing led to another and these "reformers" were called methodists, a derogatory term at the time.

    By the way, the United Methodist Church sure isn't perfect, but we do have great potlucks.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous10:17 PM

    Thanks for clarifying this DavidinBattleCreek.

    I thought the conservatives in the UMC, voted to separate a while back.


    Savvy

    ReplyDelete
  21. Susanna12:31 AM

    David in Battle Creek

    Just for the record, my English and Scottish ancestors were Methodists from Vermont.

    A good many of the Vermont Methodists were also zealous abolitionists.

    Two of my ancestors - my 2nd great-grandfather and my fifth cousin volunteered to serve in the Union Army during the Civil War when President Lincoln called for volunteers.

    They were among the Union veterans known as the "Vermonters" who were highly regarded among the "brass" within the Union Army both for their zeal and for the valor with which they acquitted themselves upon the field of battle.

    Both returned from the war as severely disabled veterans - my 5th cousin having lost his left arm in the famous Battle of Winchester.

    As you said, there are liberal as well as conservative influences within Methodism. I know some of the conservative Methodists and they are truly fine Christians.

    I will refrain from presuming to pass any judgement on the liberals. LOL

    My grandparents can be said to have entered into a "mixed marriage."

    LOL My grandmother was a "big stink" in the Democratic Party.

    My grandfather, on the other hand, was a staunch Republican.....on account of the fact that his own great grandfather was a charter member of the Republican Party!!!

    But what you need to know is that at that time, the Democrat and Republican parties are not what they are today.

    In fact, I would tend to agree with the person who said that if John F. Kennedy were alive today, he might been able to credibly run as a Republican.

    Perhaps this is the measure of how much BOTH parties have moved to the LEFT......as I have suggested in past comments to this blog and to the blog hosted by my friend, the late Carrie Tomko.

    ReplyDelete
  22. DavidinBattleCreek8:47 AM

    Here's a disturbing story from USA Today:

    http://tinyurl.com/ylkbzuk

    Christian churches in Canada fading out: USA next?

    Olympics fans heading to Vancouver might want to visit a vanishing cultural treasure while they're in Canada -- local churches.


    Canada has become a "post-Christian society" where once-dominant Anglicanism has "moved to the margins of public life," according to a bleak study reported by Michael Valpy at the Globe and Mail.

    A new assessment of the state of the church in Canada looks at the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia and then across the country and concludes that,

    ... at the present rate of decline -- a loss of 13,000 members per year -- only one Anglican would be left in Canada by 2061.

    ... Nationally, between 1961 and 2001, the church lost 53 per cent of its membership, declining to 642,000 from 1.36 million. Between 1991 and 2001 alone, it declined by 20 per cent.

    The report zeros in on Vancouver and the adjacent Gulf Islands, suggesting closing or preparing to shutter nearly two in three of its Anglican churches now that the Anglican population is

    ... one generation away from extinction ... The unchurched are not coming to us.

    Only the Roman Catholic Church is holding steady and the report attributes that to immigration.

    Religious studies professor David Seljak of St. Jerome's University in Waterloo, Ont., observes that "Canadians increasingly say they're generically "Christian" rather than Anglican, Presbyterian or Pentecostal."

    Gee, where have we heard this before?


    Surveys in the USA aren't nearly so grim -- yet. But, in the American Religious Identification Survey's three studies over two decades, there's clear evidence of a shift from denominational ties to generic Christian ties -- or out the church doors altogether. The ARIS co-author Barry Kosmin said,

    More than ever before, people are just making up their own stories of who they are. They say, "I'm everything. I'm nothing. I believe in myself."


    A pastor once told me that he wanted his church's neighbors, even if they never entered the doors, to say, "We're glad you're here."

    When happens if -- or when -- they're not? Would you miss your neighboring churches, even if you don't attend?

    ReplyDelete
  23. DavidinBattleCreek9:05 AM

    I haven't heard of a split in the UMC, but if liberal ideas, particularily over homosexuality, become church policy than it could definitely lead to that. This is certainly the case with our Episcopalian brethren and I want to say Presbyterians, but I'm unsure. There are individual UMC congregations that are more liberal than others, especially in urban areas. As long as they stay within the core tenets of the faith and stick with church policy, we think and let think.

    My own particular church is sort of in the middle. I've written before over some of the new age type practices my church has implemented over the years. A prayer labyrinth, occasional centering prayer. Plus, the Purpose-driven stuff. I haven't seen anyone lose the core faith over any of this, however. We do have a good music program, especially our chancel choir (you should hear our tenor section!)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dave in BC said:

    "A prayer labyrinth, occasional centering prayer. Plus, the Purpose-driven stuff. I haven't seen anyone lose the core faith over any of this, however."

    For me, this is an important thing to always keep in the back of our minds.

    While it is certainly crucial to keep watch and issue warnings about deceptions creeping into the church - ie, everything the people at this blog are already doing - God knows the heart, and where in one instance (like prayer labyrinths, or prayer stations as I've heard them called, if they are indeed the same thing) something can be done by an individual whose heart is far from God, and therefore opens them up to spiritual influences from the enemy, another who is truly seeking God with all their heart will find Him. ("You will seek me and find me when you seek Me with all your heart." -- Jeremiah 29:13)

    Wow. That was tortured grammar. I hope all y'all followed that.

    Short version, getting angry over a Christian brother or sister being fed spiritual Twinkies and Mountain Dew is not the same degree of anger as what we should feel when our brothers and sisters (and also those who aren't yet in the Body of Christ) are fed spiritual poison.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous11:37 AM

    That's DavidinBC,

    Yes, I did read the report on Churches in Canada. It seems that more Liberal a church is, and away from Orthodoxy, the more it starts to die out. Even in the Catholic Church the numbers are more in the more Orthodox churches faithful to the magisterium.

    Who said Liberalism sells?

    Savvy

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous11:51 AM

    The Shift Network presents The Sacred Awakenings series, 40 days with 40 spiritual leaders Feb 17- April 3.
    sacredawakeningseries.com/

    The Shift, a movie "by the collective for the collective" - if you sign up your name will be in the credits (fifteen seconds of fame).
    the shift movie.com/

    VW

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous1:47 PM

    Are people starting to wake up?


    Va. Lawmakers Oppose Forced Microchip Implantation, and the Antichrist

    The Virgina House of Delegates on Wednesday approved a measure that could protect Virginia residents from overbearing employers, and possibly the apocalypse.

    The law would make it illegal to implant an identification or tracking device into a person's body without their written consent. As the use of implanted microchips becomes more common -- people use them to track pets and could possibly use them for purposes such as securing one's medical history -- lawmakers are starting to address concerns. Some are concerned their use among humans would lead to a lack of privacy or abuse from employers. Others, the Washington Post reports, are also concerned the use of microchips could be the "mark of the beast" -- or the coming of the antichrist.

    "My understanding -- I'm not a theologian -- but there's a prophecy in the Bible that says you'll have to receive a mark, or you can neither buy nor sell things in end times," Del. Mark L. Cole, the bill's sponsor, told the Post. "Some people think these computer chips might be that mark."

    Cole reportedly said that he primarily sponsored the bill because of the privacy issues.


    Dave in CA

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dave,

    First Georgia and now Virginia. Are the states trying to make a statement? Are they openly telling people what they expect to see pushed by Washington in the relatively near future?

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous5:13 PM

    JD and Dave

    Wisconsin passed a law against chipping humans in 2006, also Tommy Thompson was Governor of WI until 2001 before DHHS.

    VW

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous5:37 PM

    JD

    I believe they probably are. And the fed may then say "no chip? No access to fed buildings, airplanes...."

    Dave in CA

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous5:45 PM

    David iin Battle Creek

    Emergent and contemplative practices are very dangerous to ortodox Chritianity. Please see:

    www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog

    This site has a lot of excellent information that is critical to what your church is doing.

    Dave In CA

    ReplyDelete
  32. DavidinBattleCreek10:06 PM

    I've read all that from Lighthouse Trail Research. I have yet to see anyone from our church lose the core faith. All church member, I'm confident, would tell you their faith lies in Jesus Christ and no other. Yes, contemplative prayer is potentially dangerous, but so is sin, gossiping, anger, quarreling and so on. These things, unfortunately, rear their ugly heads from time to time, even the Apostles weren't immune to these. That's why we traditionally have had confessional prayer.

    We also have a nice breakfast served between both services. Singing in the choir makes me hungry, so it's nice.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous12:02 AM

    Invictus movie: looks like communist propaganda

    http://www.frontline.org.za/
    articles/Film%20Review%20
    Invictus.htm

    ReplyDelete
  34. Just read this article and it seems pretty major to me.

    NETANYAHU AT AUSCHWITZ SAYS PROPHECIES OF EZEKIEL 37 HAVE BEEN FULFILLED!

    http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous12:26 PM

    "The financial minister of Greece announced yesterday that from 1/1/2011 all financial transactions of sums above 1500 euros in cash, will be banned. For any transaction above 1500 euros, only credit cards and checks will be legal...this new law of banning cash transactions above 1500 euros is just another step towards cashless society, and is being implemented in Greece as a testing phase. I strongly believe it is a matter of time before most western nations see similar laws."

    http://tinyurl.com/ybq22zt

    http://www.henrymakow.com/nwo_bitch_--_young_greek_conte.html

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi Constance,

    I didn't know where to post this and therefore has nothing to do with the subject here.

    I guess you are already familiar with Benjamin Creme's statement on the 14th of January.

    http://www.share-international.org/av/v_maitreya_emergence.htm

    All the best

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous4:56 PM

    http://vigilantcitizen.com/?p=2282
    The Occult Roots of The Wizard of Oz

    http://vigilantcitizen.com/?p=142
    Sinister Sites – The EU Parliament

    Warning:
    This website analyzes some of the occult aspects in several movies among other things which will be offensive to some readers here, not because they are anti-Christian or other groups, but because occasionally "adult", actually juvenile, comments are made by posters.

    I also haven't explored the entire website.

    Dorothy

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous5:28 PM

    My son has a friend who does a nice blog. Well written.
    http://atomic-fungus.livejournal.com/
    (just giving credit to the source of the following information0

    http://wattsupwiththat.com
    http://tinyurl.com/ygb45e6
    Specific story
    Solar geomagnetic index reaches unprecedented low – only “zero” could be lower – in a month when sunspots became more active

    I don't understand all of that science either, but I just thought it doesn't sound good for the global warming folks.

    Dorothy

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous6:17 PM

    Dorothy,

    This guy who runs the Vigilant Citizen, website does sound like he knows what he's talking about, but tends to see everything as an Illuminati, Jewish Conspiracy. Now where have we heard that before?

    Savvy

    ReplyDelete
  40. Anonymous10:02 PM

    Savvy, As I said, I didn't go over the entire website, but I didn't see the Illuminati=Jews part. Where was it?

    Dorothy

    ReplyDelete
  41. This man's testimony is incredible and I believe it... God allowed him to endure hell for a brief time and this is his story. I broke down weeping at several points during his story in utter sadness and desperation over my lost friends that I love.. and also at the awesomeness of Christ... please watch and listen...

    http://tinyurl.com/ybmz3s6

    ReplyDelete
  42. Anonymous2:41 AM

    Lo,

    Seen that information and only have to view about 30 seconds of it to know it is garbage. See it delineates "demons" being in charge of torture. That is fale. Hell was made for demons. The kind of accounts make it seem hell was made for humans and demons allowed to tortue. It is a twist from faher of lies.

    ReplyDelete
  43. @ peacebringer...
    The man mentions MANY times throughout his story that hell was made for satan and his demons... if you would have actually viewed it before criticizing you would have heard him.

    Is it so hard to believe that a multitude of demons while enduring their own torment would be assigned to torment hell's human occupants as well?

    This man has tons of scriptural support for all of his claims and in most interviews makes it a point to say that he doesn't care whether or not people believe his story, he just wants to lead people to Christ and to investigate the word of God for themselves. He is not out for self gain or glory.

    Do you immediately write this story off because its a man claiming he has seen hell? Do not put limitations on what God can and cannot do. If you believe we are living in the end days it should not surprise you at all that He is pouring out his spirit and revealing things in incredible ways to several of His people.

    Peace...

    ReplyDelete
  44. Anonymous8:51 AM

    Lo, I can't find any Bible references to demons or devils torturing or having dominion over lost human souls in hell. Can you tell me the chapters and verses so I can find them please? If not, please apologize to Peacebringer7.

    Thanks, Danny.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Anonymous9:07 AM

    Savvy, The Illuminati has nothing to do with the Jews and everything to do with the NWO NAM conspiracy. If you think that either the Illuminati = the Jews or has ever been so, or if you think the Illuminati (alias the Ultras) no longer exists and is not behind the NWO NAM, you have fallen for their deception.

    Danny.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Anonymous9:14 AM

    Savvy, The Illuminati are against Jews, Christians and Muslims. They want to create a 3rd World War and blame it on these three groups, having the Jews set up as the pretended 'Illuminati'. The real Illuminati is Satanic and pagan, not Jewish, and yes, they do exist! We were warned by Washington in his writings in 1799 about them. (13 years after the Illuminati supposedly disbanded, they obviously didn't!) Many others warned about them. Others promoted them. Who do you think the '1000 points of light' were that George Bush Snr was refering to?

    Danny.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Anonymous9:30 AM

    Lo,
    There is a thing called discernment. Admittedly I haven't watch the Holy thing, because as I said just need to hear a few seconds to know it is not based on truth. I have dug furher into his account without listening to it and reviewed text and while it is interesting, it is not based nor can it be link with God's Holy Word. Any vision that is not validated by scripture needs to be set aside. Now I do not doubt the mans sincerity and certainly believe he believes he spent 23 minues in Hell. But the Hell he describes corresponds not with scripture. Also not sure how anyone would get a concept that "specific" descriptions of demonic and "ugliness" is anything that draws attention to God.

    Danny, I took no offense at what Lo said.

    ReplyDelete
  48. @ peacebringer

    I had SUCH a long night with that man's testimony last night... I have been born again.. and at several points through that sermon my heart was completely broken for sinners and at other points I was literally sobbing with my hands in the air saying "oh Lord, oh Lord!"

    This is one reason i was so certain that this was true, because it gave me such an urgency to spread the Gospel and see souls won for Christ...

    However... I posted the link here immediately after viewing the video in need of affirmation... I was wanting older Christians than myself to look at it and confirm, "yes, this man's story touched my heart as well and is genuine." Why did I need this confirmation? Because some of the things he says are wrong... He seems to take the stand that heaven is heaven because God is there, and hell is hell because God is not there... Of course we know that hell is hell because it is God's righteous and just wrath poured out on sinners... I thought that perhaps his story is true, but being a fallen man, he's still liable to say incorrect things in his 13 years of telling this story. He isn't a theologian, after all.

    One other thing that bothered me... Its very funny that i should wake up today and see that you mention discernment. Last night as I was going from site to site looking at conversations about this man's testimony I found nothing but hard headed Christians mis using scripture and arguing back and forth, quite wrongly, about BOTH sides of the issue. Finally I just closed my eyes in utter desperation and prayed that the Holy Spirit give me wisdom and discernment. Something happened as soon as i finished saying discernment. I felt something... I said it again out loud.. "dis..cern...ment.." The next words that came out of my mouth were, "Its false... Its not true."

    Whether or not this was my brain exploring the possibility, or a true revelation, I do not know. I woke up this morning still unsure of what I think. This mans presentation ends up giving so much glory to Christ and to the Gospel its hard to believe it could all be a lie. If it is, this man will have so much to answer for on the day of judgment and i pity him... I suppose its best not to dwell on these kinds of things.

    Either way, thanks for the response, peacebringer. I was looking for affirmation but I suppose that's not always what we need.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Just to clear something up. While re-reading my post I thought I should point out that when I said I was born again, I was just informing you, I in no way was attributing that to the viewing of this mans testimony.

    love yall.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Lo,

    When people become emotionally invested in information it is often difficult for them to openly admit that they may have been wrong about something. You not only did so, but did so humbley. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Dorothy,

    Thanks for the link to the site explaining the Wizzard of Oz. I've known that Baum was a theosophist and that the book/movie contained many symbols. It's good to have this site as a reference tool to explain to others.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Anonymous7:20 PM

    Lo, I agree with JD 100%. Hey, sorry for sounding sharp but I wanted to provoke you to really ponder this issue and search it out and you did. Praise be to God. Your reasons for posting the video obviously stem from a sincere Christian love for others, borne out by your later remarks. Again, sorry for my modus operandi, and well done!

    Danny.

    ReplyDelete
  53. marko7:21 PM

    I want to affirm what JD said to Lo:

    If we all could be more like Lo's example of humbly living in submission to brothers and sisters in Christ, there'd be a lot less division in the Body.

    As far as the urge to spread the Gospel is concerned, Paul said it well:

    "It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice...." (Phl 1:15-18)

    Now, I haven't watched it, but if the Gospel is preached, then should we not rejoice about that part of it? The erroneous parts we can take issue with of course, but not the preaching of the Gospel.

    "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.'" (Isaiah 55:11)

    ReplyDelete
  54. Anonymous7:37 PM

    Lo,

    I understand that peope need to sort things for themselves and did not expect you to listent to me right off hand. I am glad you did what you did and check it out for yourself. The individual is very sincere but has gotten caught up in a false and deceptive vision. We can certainly use all sorts of things that are false to stir up emotive responses focused on God.

    Also note, that being broken and crying out for the lost is a good thing. Everyone around us is lost in darkness, if they have not turned to Jesus. The darkness is pervasive and their are bringers of false light as this blog delineates. But the Gospel is light and life. ANd Lo, I have certainly my share of moments of being touched by a good in something only later to find that the source is flawed and deceptive. I take what GOd did in me and sort out what is distorting what God was showing me.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Anonymous10:09 PM

    http://readersupportednews.org/
    off-site-news-section/46-afghanistan/
    863-un-in-secret-peace-talks-with-taliban

    UN in secret peace talks with taliban

    ReplyDelete
  56. I've been offline this weekend. Just catching up --

    Davos Conference featured on 60 Minutes tonight -- concurrent phone call prevented me from seeing it, but the little I heard sounded IMPORTANT. I am going to check to see if segment is available on YouTube or elsewhere on line.

    EARTHQUAKES: Cuba struck with a 5.4 earthquake tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Anonymous11:12 PM

    Obama's "dossier"....

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FlEbBZLzo0&feature=youtube_gdata

    ReplyDelete
  58. Anonymous12:12 AM

    i remember a few of you mentioning ihop. i have enough knowledge to have a small alarm go off in my soul when it is mentioned but nothing substantive. in the last few days 3 families have mentioned their involvement with ihop. could someone please explain or send me a link as to why this is dangerous. these folks are becoming close to my children.

    thanks so much!!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Anonymous12:21 AM

    anony 12:12,
    I don't have a direct link at moment. IHOP teaches what they call Forerunner theology and essentially teach a "church" is to bring revelation attitude with the book as a battle plan. I will try and dig up links later. If you send me an email at peacebringer@gmail.com I can send you a balanced article that was published in CRJ by Dr. Andrew Jackson. It also has been heavily influence and part and parcel of Elijah list false prophets and the likes of Wagner, Joyner and others

    ReplyDelete
  60. Anonymous1:36 AM

    Lo 12:33 am

    Hell is a one time fiery judgement, not an eternal state of being. If we read The Book instead of getting our religion from mistranslated, cute, numbered sound bites taken out of context and completely removed from the original audience or writer, and fed to us on a silvery spoon, we can see the truth.

    Honestly, why would you worship a God who would actually send people FOR ETERNITY to a place like the traditional hell?

    What did the serpent say to Eve in the garden? "Ye shall not surely die." And the church is still believing him, and repeating him, to this day.

    Try reading what Jesus promised - "eternal life". If you already had eternal life in some form, why did He come and die for us?

    Read Ecclesiastes, Gen 3:19, John 3:13

    ReplyDelete
  61. Anonymous1:53 AM

    Lo,

    I posted in haste to your post about hell. I get so upset that people keep repeating that wicked lie about our merciful and gracious God and creator, I react. As I finished reading I saw that you had found truth as truth should be found, by the revelation of the Spirit.

    Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you...


    I am so overjoyed that you are crying out to God in heaven and are seeking a relationship with the Savior. Praise be to Him!

    Above all else, compare what you are taught or hear, with what the words in context are actually saying. Try to leave all preconcieved doctrine out when you study and search for truth in The Bible.

    May you be blessed with truth and all graciousness from The Heavenly Father through His son, Yahshuah haMashiach.

    My apologies for sounding harsh.

    Anon 1:36am

    ReplyDelete
  62. @ anon 1:56

    No worries...

    My reason for doubting this mans testimony are varied... however... the fact that he believes hell lasts an eternity is not one of them.

    I'm not being dogmatic and saying for certain that hell lasts forever... but if you think about it, it isn't totally out of the question. God is perfect in all of his attributes... meaning that he is perfectly just and righteous. That is why HE is the one who had to die on the cross for us. His infinite worth... and the fact that no one except God could ever withstand the full wrath of God and raise again from the dead.

    Also... staying on the subject of his perfect justice. The problem with hell in the minds of MOST men is that it is of eternal duration. How could this possibly be? Well.. in my eyes.. we have spent our lives sinning against an INFINITELY worthy and holy and loving God. We can NEVER, EVER grasp the severity of this because we will never be able to fully grasp who God is... Now if you ask me... perfect justice for a life of rebellion against an infinitely worthy God would mean infinite punishment.

    That is how I see it when I try to look at it logically. Of course we know that love is the calculations error. Again... not dogmatic about that fact... and we won't know for sure until we are with Him. Just something to think about... Our God is a God of love AND wrath.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Climategate U-turn as scientist at centre of row admits: There has been no global warming since 1995


    http://tiny.cc/Li8a7

    ReplyDelete
  64. Anonymous10:00 AM

    Creepy mural in the UN Security Council Chamber

    "A central feature of the Security Council Chamber is the oil canvas mural painted by the Norwegian artist Per Krogh. It depicts a phoenix rising from its ashes, as a symbol of the world being rebuilt after the Second World War. Above the dark sinister colours at the bottom different images in bright colours symbolizing the hope for a better future are depicted. Equality is symbolized by a group of people weighing out grain for all to share."

    low res: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2030/2400769285_6bd4f0f30f.jpg

    high res:
    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2030/2400769285_c8a2ee97be_o.jpg

    ReplyDelete
  65. Image did not want to load. Try this one.

    http://tiny.cc/9j4kC

    ReplyDelete
  66. DavidinBattleCreek2:09 PM

    Something I found on "Born to Watch" website.

    http://www.borntowatch.com/

    Is Greece The Test Ground For Implementation Of The New World Order

    I am 26 years old and live in Greece. I am writing this letter in order to let you know about a new law in Greece announced yesterday. The financial minister of Greece announced yesterday that from 1/1/2011 all financial transactions of sums above 1500 euros in cash, will be banned. For any transaction above 1500 euros, only credit cards and checks will be legal. The formal explanation for this law is it will combat those who do not pay taxes. But we all know this is not the case...
    It seems the new world order wants to make Greece a testing ground for their new laws. For the past months, Greece have been attacked without mercy. We have been called liars, frauds, cheaters, thieves. They are threatening us constantly with banning from the euro zone and default. [These charges are] not true. ... The problem is, based on their accusations and (the virtual) bad situation of Greek finances, they will pass their experimental laws of their new world order.
    The fairly new Government of the socialist party, elected 4 months ago, forgot all its promises, and is determined to pass laws giving citizenship to illegal immigrants after 5 years, without any trade-off. We are 10 million Greeks here, and almost 3 million mostly illegal immigrants, who will obtain Greek nationality and will gain the right to bring their families here too... In Pakistan there are even ads saying "for 5000 euros we get you to Greece, to study free, work, make families, and obtain EU passports"...
    And now this... The previous government created a new ID card, to collect data from people since childbirth. This government will ban transactions in cash over 1500 euros, in order to make all of us have credit cards. The obvious first step is to ban all cash transactions, then merge this new ID card with the credit system, then, well.... insert this merged ID card into our bodies...
    The reason I wrote you my previous letter is because this new law of banning cash transactions above 1500 euros is just another step towards cashless society, and is being implemented in Greece as a testing phase. I strongly believe it is a matter of time before most western nations see similar laws.

    Read more of at:
    http://tinyurl.com/ybq22zt

    ReplyDelete
  67. Interestingly, the Davos Conference invitations are both scarce and highly coveted. Cristina Gallach, Javier Solana's spokeswoman was there.

    See

    http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/02/prweb3603554.htm

    Meanwhile, Catherine Ashton is taking much "public image" criticism.

    Constance
    or http://tinyurl.com/y8bt3op

    ReplyDelete
  68. IHOP?

    INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER

    OR

    INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES?

    Just wondering?

    Constance

    ReplyDelete
  69. If it is INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER, please download my book A PLANNED DECEPTION and go to the section,"A SECRET KINGDOM?" to read the segment on THE MANIFEST SONS OF GOD.

    Constance

    ReplyDelete
  70. Anonymous10:20 PM

    constance,

    ihop has delicious harvest grain and nut pancakes. the garden crepe is also excellent!

    but yes, i was talking about the other. our youth pastor just returned from their conference.i will download your book. i have been meaning to for so long. i've learned amazing things from everyone here. thank you all for what you do.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Anonymous10:22 PM

    peacebringer, thanks so much for answering my question about ihop. i just don't feel safe to put my email address up but i will check into the leads you provided. if you come across the link and can post it i'd sure appreciate it. i'm very concerned.

    ReplyDelete
  72. Anonymous12:58 AM

    anony 10:20 you can email me at peacebringer@gmail.com
    I generally am out there enough on internet folks can track me down. I have no reason to hold back my email. Feel free to drop me a line. I thought I had already just asked you to email me, not post your email. That was my intent.

    If you want to learn some more look into the likes of Paul Cain and there is another name am forgetting at moment. Also some inter-connections with Lonnie Frisbee (who also has connections with John Crowders wife-He of "toking the ghost" fame)

    ReplyDelete
  73. Anonymous1:00 AM

    anony, the article I cannot post as copyrighted by CRJ and had author send it to me. If you are on face book look up Dr. Andrew Jackson and he probably will gladly send you a copy of the article if you feel uncomfortable sending me a stranger to you an email. If you do not feel comfortable trusting sending me an email feel free to check me out. Not that hard to find information about me.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Anonymous1:02 AM

    heck, annony, you could even leave a comment on my blog, which I would delete. It is all a matter of trust, understand you have no reason to trust me. Offer stands.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Craig8:19 PM

    Anon 10:20pm

    Sorry I've been incommunicado of late. I wish to make some comments to help you in your search re: IHOP. I will write more later this evening.

    For now, Mike Bickle has stated in his teachings that Paul Cain and Bob Jones provided "foundational revelation." Each of these men have been disgraced [at least to anyone with mustard seed of discernment] to be not only false prophets but sexual deviants. Jones had asked women to undress before him to be 'naked as unto the Lord' to receive a 'prophetic word'

    Paul Cain, after claiming to have been supernaturally delivered from a sex drive so as to remain celebate was later found to be a homosexual.

    Here's some info here:
    http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/orrel19.html

    I will add more links later.

    ReplyDelete
  76. Craig9:15 PM

    More on IHOP:

    IHOP believes in 24 hour prayer through 'intercessory missionaries.' So, what is an intecessory missionary exactly? I see this as an oxymoron.

    Anyway, here's a link from a former IHOP intern:

    http://tinyurl.com/yl68ofq

    ReplyDelete
  77. Craig9:27 PM

    The deceptioninthechurch link above is a veritable who's who of false prophets/teachers. Rick Joyner is one of the most dangerous. He is currently 'restoring' Todd Bentley who was the former ringleader of the Lakeland, Florida 'revival.' This 'restoration' is due to Bentley's adulterous affair with an intern who he has now married after divorcing his wife while leaving behind his 3 (or is it 2?) kids. Bentley is currently 'ministering' under Joyner's tutelage in NC.

    While Bickle did not come right out and endorse Lakeland directly, he at least did indirectly. Certainly, he never denounced it; but, quite a few members of IHOP-KC did endorse it as I was in communication with a few [on various blogs] at the height of the Lakeland debaucle.

    IHOP had their own 'revival' recently just before the close of 2009 and into 2010. Mysticism is something all these 'revivals' have in common.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Craig9:44 PM

    Since IHOP has been the subject of numerous controversies they have a whole page dedicated to 'Affirmations and Denials.' One has to wonder why they would neet to do this in the first place. The answer: damage control. Here's the link:

    http://tinyurl.com/yjuqgzn

    Unfortunatley, while they deny these things -- some only in part -- in real practice they do adhere to some of these heretical beliefs. Of course, those involved well vehemently deny it.

    IHOP is based on the whole idea of 24/7 prayer. This came from a 'word' of Bob Jones which was later 'confirmed' to Bickle by a 'word from the Lord' to Mike himself. In an attempt to back up Biblically, Bickle mangles scripture. I wrote about this in an article posted here:

    http://tinyurl.com/y9bsk3t

    I was blogging at the time under my middle name of Lee. Also, please note that all three links in the article have changed. I reference the corrected ones in the last comment on this thread.

    The article may seem to be overly technical; but, the main point is that they make their 'words' fit bible passages rather than searching the scriptures to see if their 'words' line up with scripture.

    ReplyDelete
  79. Re IHOP:

    In another article I wrote regarding New Age influence in the church I compared some quotes with one from Theosphist Alice A. Bailey. Note the similarities:

    -----------------------------------
    In the Alice A. Bailey esoteric/occultic book From Bethlehem to Calvary she – actually Tibetan Master DK (Djwal Khul) who channeled through her – states:



    Christianity will not be superseded. It will be transcended, its work of preparation being triumphantly accomplished, and Christ will again give us the next revelation of divinity.



    …Can there not be revelations of God utterly unprecedented, and for which we have no words or adequate means of expression? The ancient mysteries, so shortly to be restored, must be re-interpreted in the light of Christianity, and readapted to meet modern need…




    Compare this to some statements by Mike Bickle [currently of the International House of Prayer (IHOP)] formerly of Kansas City Fellowship (KCF); Bob Jones, formerly one of the 'Kansas City Prophets'of KCF; and, Rick Joyner of MorningStar Ministries:



    “The Lord said simply, ‘I will change the understanding and expression of Christianity in the earth in one generation.’” (Mike Bickle; Growing in the Prophetic)



    “They themselves will be that generation that’s raised up to death itself underneath their feet…a Church that has reached the full maturity of the god-man!…This generation of young people that are coming are going to see the beginning of the worldwide new order…It is going to change the expression of Christianity in a generation.” (Bob Jones; Kansas City Fellowship Interview tape with Mike Bickle, 1988 as quoted by Jewel van der Merwe {Grewe}) [note: this is Manifest Sons of God teaching]



    “What is about to come upon the earth is not just a revival or another awakening; it is a veritable revolution. This vision was given in order to begin awakening those who are destined to radically change the course and even the very definition of Christianity.”(Rick Joyner The Harvest) [also shades of Manifest Sons of God teaching]

    Link here with references to above quotes:

    http://tinyurl.com/nyyscc

    ReplyDelete
  80. One of Mike Bickle's teachings over at IHOP is called the "Bridal Paradigm." Basically, he's literalized a metaphor. Yes, we Christians are the bride of Christ COLLECTIVELY; however, we are NOT individual brides of Christ. This view leads to a 'Jesus is your boyfriend' type of mentality. In many of the lyrics of IHOP-based songs you'll hear references of Jesus being 'lovesick' for His bride and vice versa. This causes even more gender confusion to males who are already struggling in this regard.

    The basic teaching is that the Song of Songs/Solomon is metaphor for Christ and the church. But, what does one do with the obvious sexual references such as 4:5 and 7:3? I submit that this book is meant to epitomize the love relationship of a husband and wife.

    I personally have an ex-friend (woman) who apparently had an experience that if not outrightly a sexual experience certainly bordered on it. My jaw was agape as she told me of the experience over the phone. Since I was not sure exactly what she meant I told her I had read of an account of a woman -- Carol Arnott [who as in Toronto at the height of the 'Toronto Blessing'] who referred to her 'bridal encounter' as "better than sex" to see what her response would be. She said, "it's similar to pent up sexual frustration released."

    Then, she actually said allowed, "I wondered what it would be like for a man." !!!!! Then, she told me that a man she knew said, it felt as if "sucked through a vortex; sensed fear of the Lord; waves of love; as if Lord was a lion roaring."

    Now, where have I heard about a roaring lion? Oh yeah, right here in 1 Peter 5:8:

    Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

    Here's an article on Bridal Paradigm (BP):

    http://tinyurl.com/yd46hk8

    Here's an IHOPper giving his two cents on the BP. Note the first comment:

    http://tinyurl.com/yhdu5bo

    If you do a look up on the 'net, you'll find lots of references to the BP.

    ReplyDelete
  81. re: above:

    The basic teaching is that the Song of Songs/Solomon is metaphor for Christ and the church.

    I meant to write an ALLEGORY for Christ and the church.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Here's another testimony from a former IHOPper:

    http://tinyurl.com/ykkhel8

    Here she cites numerous heresies and heretical teachings such as those of Kenneth Hagin [Word of Faith], contemplative prayer, false prophecies [even one regarding Bickle's own brother], their heretical version of spiritual warfare, their insistence on 'city churches' under 'Apostolic leadership' [modern day self-appointed Apostles] (why do you think they call themselves the INTERNATIONAL House of Prayer?), etc.

    All these posts and I've not even gotten into 'Joel's Army' and the coming 'Civil War' in the church between the "blues" -- those who believe in extra-biblical revelation -- and the 'greys' -- referring to 'grey matter'; ie, those who stick strictly to the Bible. Battle lines have been drawn...

    ReplyDelete
  83. Anonymous11:07 PM

    Constance,

    Jewish author Gabriel Wilensky, has come out with a disturbing book called Six Million Crucifixions, where he blames Christianity for the Holocaust. It's disturbing because propaganda like this is exactly what the New Age wants. Gabriel has a website too.

    http://www.sixmillioncrucifixions.com/Home.html

    I don't deny Christian anti-semitism, but I don't think we should be blamed for something we did not do.

    Savvy

    ReplyDelete
  84. Craig
    A very rounded and robust analysis of the dangers of IHOP.
    God bless you.
    Pete

    ReplyDelete
  85. Anonymous9:06 AM

    craig thank you so much for your answer to my question. i am going to dig through each piece with a fine tooth come, then the hard part will come. i'll need to talk to our youth pastor and pastor. please pray for this as it must come up.

    peacebringer7 thank you too for all of your help. i have received the article and will read through everything. i also am glad to have a new blog to follow.

    so thankful for this blog and all here!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  86. Anonymous9:48 AM

    CRAIG,

    Do you know of any connection between IHOP and Eugene Peterson, author of "The Message"? Seems to me Peterson's demonic version of scripture fits right into their agenda:

    "Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best -
    As above, so below.
    Keep us alive with three square meals.
    Keep us forgiven with you
    and forgiving others.
    Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
    You're in charge!"

    Yes, "as above, so below"....that's really the main "message" isn't it?


    omots

    ReplyDelete
  87. omots:

    The only connection I'm aware of is tenuous at best. Peterson openly endorses William P. Young's heretical The Shack which while stating to be a novel rather than biographical has enough 'Christianese' to confuse those new in the faith or those exploring the faith. The book's depiction of the Trinity is absolutely blasphemous. The connection: it's apparently in the IHOP bookstore along with other questionable material. At minimum some IHOPpers tend to love this book. I was told by one on her own blog that it helped her understand the Trinity better. Oh boy...

    ReplyDelete
  88. Anonymous2:03 PM

    Before anyone gets too excited, know the book Six Million Crucifixions is a self-published book. It is not on Amazon.com. It appears to be the opinions of one individual and probably won't reach the larger Jewish community except by fluke.

    It's impossible to convince everyone to think alike.

    Dorothy

    ReplyDelete
  89. Craig2:03 PM

    More on IHOP:

    I just perused their bookstore:

    http://tinyurl.com/y8r9pr4

    Here is a list of some questionable authors/teachers:

    Madame Jeanne Guyon [Roman Catholic Mystic]
    St John of the Crosss [Roman Catholic Mystic]
    Richard Foster
    Rolland & Heidi Baker
    John G. Lake
    Ed Silvoso
    James (Jim) and Michal Goll
    Sid Roth
    Bill Johnson
    Rick Joyner
    Dutch Sheets
    Lou Engle
    Watchman Nee

    I've left off a few others that are perhaps borderline. I did note that the do not have The Shack. I'm surprised.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Craig2:07 PM

    omots:

    By the way, are you aware of the outright blasphemy - using God's name in vain -- that Peterson uses in his paraphrase of Micah 3:5? I won't even post it here; but, you can check it out yourself on various sites like biblegateway.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Anonymous2:13 PM

    Debt-challenged Greece loses EU voting power in blow to sovereignty:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/7252288/Greece-loses-EU-voting-power-in-blow-to-sovereignty.html

    or

    http://tinyurl.com/ya8vx7c

    ***

    It's Official. No Cash Transaction Above 1,500 Euros in Greece:

    http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE61824V20100209

    or

    http://tinyurl.com/yz22hls

    ***

    Note: Greece is one of the 10 full members of the military organization, the Western European Union (WEU), as are also Portugal, Italy, and Spain, who are also facing financial difficulties (Spain less so, according to one article):

    http://www.fulfilledprophecy.com/page/the-10-nations/

    ReplyDelete
  92. Anonymous2:15 PM

    P.S. The WEU is also known as the modified Brussels Treaty Powers.

    ReplyDelete
  93. Constance,

    Please check your gmail for Part 2 of my series. The title is Traceability Pt2.

    ReplyDelete
  94. Anonymous5:47 PM

    Talking about the problems in Greece, Henry Makow has this article written by a Greek -
    "Alex Zachus in Athens

    (for Henrymakow.com)


    Greece is a boiling pot ready to explode. Things are going to turn ugly and soon as society here is fed up with illegal immigration and the deconstruction of our founding values. And I dont mean the "orange" riots of December 2008. I mean real riots... Here is how we got to this crisis:"

    http://www.savethemales.ca/

    P.

    ReplyDelete
  95. Anonymous8:02 PM

    Yes I have Craig, thanks.

    Here's a link to a 15 page overview, with verse comparison and word counts. The author, (I don't know anything about him) is Terry Watkins of Dial the Truth Ministries.

    In this review, Watkins cites Constance and Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow numerous times, while pointing out the similarities between Peterson's paraphrase and the teachings of Theosophy. The verses paraphrased in The Message do compare quite favorably to the writings of Alice Bailey, Blavatsky, Marilyn Ferguson, etc.

    This ungodly mess has been used in my own little conservative non-denominational Bible believing church fellowship as recently as last week.

    And yes, I did, in fact, interrupt the speaker. I think my exact words were, "What are you reading from?" This was after trying to read the same verses in my own NKJV and not finding any similarities or being exposed to any "extra light". (I guess I'm just a dullard!)

    Anyway, when the response came that the speaker was reading from Eugene Peterson's Message "bible", I replied, "You should burn that version!"

    My little outburst garnered a lot of sideways glances. Obviously I had annoyed many of my fellow church goers. (Oh well, just another indicator of the rough road ahead.)

    Afterwards, our pastor tried to defend the usage, saying, "It's just a paraphrase." After I told him what I thought about it, he said, "Well, Peterson didn't write it all by himself. A lot of well known and highly respected theologians have acclaimed it and stand behind it."

    I have no doubt about that.


    "The Message Bible: A Mystic Mess"

    http://www.av1611.org/kjv/mess_bible.html



    omots

    ReplyDelete
  96. Craig8:44 PM

    omots:

    I've seen that site awhile back; but, I've not gone back. Watkins does a good job.

    Coincidentally, I was listening to Chuck Swindol's Insight for Living about a month ago; and, he referenced The Message in a sermon about false teachers! What irony. I've never contacted this ministry before this; but, I decided to send a note via their website. I took about an hour of my time on a Friday night.

    After carefully and diplomatically laying down my concerns, I received a response (not from Swindol directly) which went about defending Swindol. To be fair, I catch him every once in a while on the radio here; and, I've never heard him use it before. So, I gave him the benefit of the doubt assuming he was not aware of the problems with it. Here are excerpts from the response. Notice how he refers to it as "transalation" rather than a paraphrase (which I identified it as in my query). It appears he assumed I was a "KJV only" guy which I'm not:

    ...We do get a number of requests concerning translations and how each preserves the integrity of the original languages. One problem is that we do not have the original Greek or Hebrew manuscripts. With the discoveries in the last several decades we do have manuscripts or parts of them that date back to the early second century. Modern Bible translations have the advantage of these earlier manuscripts plus a growing knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek used at the time that the books were written.

    ...Chuck preaches from the New American Standard Version (NASV), which is also one of my favorites. When I was in seminary, this translation was considered the closest to the Greek text. I believe Chuck thinks this to also be the case. He does also highly value the New International Version (NIV) which is a good translation and very readable. This is why Chuck still uses it also.

    ...Eugene Peterson began this paraphrase as an attempt to bring the book of Galatians into the current language or idiom... ... Chuck uses some phrases occasionally if they help get the text into street language. His study is done in the NASV, NIV and the original languages. He uses a variety of translations in order to bring the clear meaning of the text home to his listeners.

    A good study into how that translation came into being would be good for you. It relied on a few sources...


    Then he instructs me to do research! And, I quoted the 'Lord's Prayer' and the Micah 3:5 verse. If that doesn't convince anyone they are either TOTALLY blinded or willfully deceiving!

    ReplyDelete
  97. Anonymous9:26 PM

    Greece...

    Could some of the almost bankrupt EU countries be the three plucked up by the little horn in Dan 7:8? (Greece is part of the WEU, the original 10 EU nations -10 horns?, the ones who are given military authority.)

    Dan. 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.


    Dave in CA

    ReplyDelete
  98. DaveinCa,

    I believe what we are seeing in Greece may be a leveling of the playing field in Europe, leading to assimilation. Keep in mind that there are other nations in far worse shape, such as Spain. However all of the hoopla is being focused on Greece, which leaves me wondering why the intense focus on this nation. The only logical answer I can come to is that Greece is one of the original WEU 10. You may be right in your assertion of Greece being one of the three plcuked as this nation has now lost their vote. However I also believe the nation as a whole will be assimilated into a larger subsection. Most likely as a quasi WEU based economic agreement, effectively nullifying the nation as a whole, while working toward the ultimate goal of a completely integrated economic system. If this is the case one might expect to see two more of the ten default in the near future. I find it interesting that this is happening on Spain's watch, being that Spain was the 11th to join, and what prophecy has to say about the power that followed the initial 10.

    ReplyDelete
  99. Dave in CA.

    I wondering the same thing.

    ReplyDelete
  100. Anonymous1:44 AM

    A friend, Scarlett, passed this on.

    http://www.gen-we.com/

    and the endorsements

    http://www.gen-we.com/endorsements

    Dorothy

    ReplyDelete
  101. Greece's economic decision making power has been curtailed for a while.

    The E.U will not allow individual members to upset the apple cart, it will begin to assume its newly granted authority and intervene in the domestic economic decisions of struggling members.

    I think that we will see the real power of the E.U constitution at work now.

    Cuts are already being implemented here in the U.K.

    God bless
    Pete

    ReplyDelete
  102. I have been rereading sections of Foster Bailey's (Lucis Trust) book RUNNING GOD'S PLAN. He had a chapter on "World Government." He referenced Elizabeth Mann Borghese and her work on the "Law of the Sea", Pacem in Maribus." I decided to see what that currently was up to and am finding much. One significant "partnering" effort with them was ENDING GLOBAL POVERTY 2015
    http://www.endpoverty2015.org/about

    I am working with JD to simplify the links so his (and Susanna's) valuable research is more easily understood and digested.)

    The International Ocean Institute is also of interest.

    Constance

    ReplyDelete
  103. Here's an interesting book available for free download. I don't know much yet about who compiled it and what their agenda might have been, but it is an interesting and valuable compilation on work about Lucis Trust and related subjects:

    http://www.terrorism-illuminati.com/age-of-aquarius

    ReplyDelete
  104. "Embedded" version of that book is available at Scribd:

    http://www.terrorism-illuminati.com/content/embedded-version

    ReplyDelete
  105. David Livingstone has written articles for Conspiracy Archive.Com.
    He has some interesting insights although his work on the Rothschild and the Grail bloodline veers to closely to Holy Blood Holy Grail/Fritz Springmeyer sources which makes it suspect.
    It is ironic that many of the more fringe elements of the Conspiracy comunity feel the need to embellish their material.

    The old saying "Truth is stranger than fiction" is never more relevent.

    God bless
    Pete

    ReplyDelete
  106. Anonymous8:18 AM

    More propaganda on BBC to soften up the public into believing UFO nonsense. Yet another attack against the Love of the Truth by the TRAITORS within our government and media here!

    Was [BRITISH] MP Michael Howard buzzed by aliens?

    The files contain verbal and drawn accounts of UFO encounters
    Reports of a UFO hovering over former Home Secretary Michael Howard's home are among thousands of odd sketches, strange sightings and alleged close encounters detailed in newly released UK documents.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8520717.stm

    or

    http://tinyurl.com/yl2gdxg


    Notably, with regards to Michael Howard MP, perhaps Anne Widdecome expressed a depth of meaning to an 'inside joke' when she remarked: "He has something of the night about him".

    God bless,

    Rob in London.

    ReplyDelete
  107. Rob in London,

    Well, it must be true! Even CNN is featuring it as the main feature on this morning's website!

    (Please don't beat me up folks. My tongue is in my cheek.)

    ReplyDelete
  108. Jaclyn8:58 AM

    After the Rockefeller Supriem story, I learned just how unreliable CNN really is, having said that, most of the public does not understand this.

    I think it is significant that UFO stories are making their way into "mainstream" media...we know hollywood has made a concerted effort to prime the public, now it's in the news, perhaps a foretaste of things to come.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Anonymous8:59 AM

    YesNaSpanishTown, well if CNN is reporting it, I guess the evidence is consolidated then. Lol!

    God bless brother,

    Rob in London.

    ReplyDelete
  110. Anonymous9:23 AM

    Jaclyn, absolutely spot on!

    'During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.' George Orwell.


    God bless you,

    Rob in London.

    ReplyDelete
  111. SURFACE TEMPERATURE RECORDS: POLICY DRIVEN DECEPTION?
    by Joseph D’Aleo and Anthony Watts
    Jan. 29, 2010
    (111 page Science and Public Policy Institute Original Paper)

    http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/images/stories/papers/originals/surface_temp.pdf

    SUMMARY FOR POLICYMAKERS

    1. Instrumental temperature data for the pre-satellite era (1850-1980) have been so widely, systematically, and unidirectionally tampered with that it cannot be credibly asserted there has been any significant “global warming” in the 20th century.


    2. All terrestrial surface-temperature databases exhibit very serious problems that render them useless for determining accurate long-term temperature trends.


    3. All of the problems have skewed the data so as greatly to overstate observed warming both regionally and globally.


    4. Global terrestrial temperature data are gravely compromised because more than three-quarters of the 6,000 stations that once existed are no longer reporting.


    5. There has been a severe bias towards removing higher-altitude, higher-latitude, and rural stations, leading to a further serious overstatement of warming.

    ReplyDelete
  112. Continued

    6. Contamination by urbanization, changes in land use, improper siting, and inadequately-calibrated instrument upgrades further overstates warming.


    7. Numerous peer-reviewed papers in recent years have shown the overstatement of observed longer term warming is 30-50% from heat-island contamination alone.


    8. Cherry-picking of observing sites combined with interpolation to vacant data grids may make heat-island bias greater than 50% of 20th-century warming.


    9. In the oceans, data are missing and uncertainties are substantial. Comprehensive coverage has only been available since 2003, and shows no warming.


    10. Satellite temperature monitoring has provided an alternative to terrestrial stations in compiling the global lower-troposphere temperature record. Their findings are increasingly diverging from the station-based constructions in a manner consistent with evidence of a warm bias in the surface temperature record.


    11. NOAA and NASA, along with CRU, were the driving forces behind the systematic hyping of 20th-century “global warming”.


    12. Changes have been made to alter the historical record to mask cyclical changes that could be readily explained by natural factors like multidecadal ocean and solar changes.


    13. Global terrestrial data bases are seriously flawed and can no longer be trusted to assess climate trends or VALIDATE model forecasts.


    14. An inclusive external assessment is essential of the surface temperature record of CRU, GISS and NCDC “chaired and paneled by mutually agreed to climate scientists who do not have a vested interest in the outcome of the evaluations.”


    15. Reliance on the global data by both the UNIPCC and the US GCRP/CCSP also requires a full investigation and audit.


    Money quotes:

    Ronald Coase, Nobel Laureate in economics for 1991, once said: “If we torture the data long enough, it will confess.”

    In addition to the slow degradation of the observing system, there has been a coordinated effort to manipulate instrumental data. This manipulation has produced an exaggerated warming that is blamed on man’s influence. ---

    I will be the first to admit that man does have some climate effect, but the effect is largely localized. As we will show, half or more of the reported warming since 1900 is attributable to land use changes and urbanization.

    (Many of the measurement stations are proximate to warming sources.)

    The Climategate whistleblower proved what those of us dealing with data for decades already knew. The data were not merely degrading in quantity and quality: they were being manipulated. The IPCC and the scientists supporting it have worked to remove the pesky Medieval Warm Period, the Little Ice Age, and the period emailer Tom Wigley referred to as the “warm 1940s blip.” They have also worked to pump up the recent warm cycle that ended in 2001. And inexplicably, adjustments cooled many locations in the early record, which augmented the apparent trend.

    ReplyDelete
  113. Tiny URL for complete climate report is:

    http://tinyurl.com/y8ghyrr

    ReplyDelete
  114. U.N. Climate Chief Resigns

    By JOHN M. BRODER
    Published: February 18, 2010

    WASHINGTON — Yvo de Boer, the stolid Dutch bureaucrat who led the international climate change negotiations over four tumultuous years, is resigning his post as of July 1, the United Nations said on Thursday.

    In a statement announcing his departure, Mr. de Boer expressed disappointment that the December climate change conference of nearly 200 nations in Copenhagen had failed to produce an enforceable agreement to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that climate scientists say are contributing to the warming of the planet.

    http://tinyurl.com/yz75fxn

    Of course the resignation had nothing to do with all the adverse publicity about "man-made climate change" which useed to be known as "man-made global warming." The next iteration will undoubtedly be "man-made pseudoscience."

    ReplyDelete
  115. “If we torture the data long enough, it will confess.”

    Lol Explains why inflation is soooo low yet a loaf of bread is £1.30

    ReplyDelete
  116. Anonymous11:12 AM

    Constance,

    Have you been following King Juan Carlos' meetings? You should listen to Barry Chamash on Dr. Monteith's site. He's been following Spanish machinations related to Spain's EU Presidency, Spain's control of UNIFIL forces (through its new Spanish commander), the Mediterranean Union, President Obama, and Israel. Also, if you see the headlines on Drudge about Israel's assination of a Hamas leader in Dubai, he covered that weeks ago - before it has been played out in the mainstream press.

    How do you suppose Mr. Solana is involved behind the scenes?

    ReplyDelete
  117. Anonymous11:26 AM

    Constance,

    Thanks for posting this link:

    http://www.terrorism-illuminati.com/age-of-aquarius

    Len,

    We can get the same climate info off of Drudge.

    What is your response to the information found in the link Constance provided?

    Was Freud right when he stated that the Lurianic Kabbalah is "gold"? Was Freud really a follower of Shabbetai Zevi?

    What is the "Lurianic Kabbalah" and who was Shabbetai Zevi? What did he teach, and is this, or is this not, significant to the NAM?

    You seem to be a supporter of some form of Kabbalah, (a subject I admit to being woefully ignorant of), so I would be very interested in understanding your opinion on the information provided on the "Terrorism and the Illuminati" link.


    omots

    ReplyDelete
  118. Constance,

    I have finished adding the hyper links to Part1. Both Part 1&2 should be available to you in your Google Documents under 'shared with me'. If you have trouble accessing them let me know.

    ReplyDelete
  119. Anonymous12:07 PM

    2/18/2010

    I presume you are referring to the following in context:

    The Frankfurt School

    There are two approaches involved in mind-control. The first is manipulation of the individual, to fulfill specific tasks, and the second is indoctrination of entire societies, to comply with certain objectives. MK-Ultra grew out of the experimentation in psychiatry related to the field of eugenics, first developed by the Germans prior to WWII. Through the Tavistock Institute, three families, the Rockefellers, Warburgs, and Harrimans, together with British Crown agencies, jointly sponsored much of these social engineering projects, which called for the killing or sterilization of people whose heredity made them a public burden.[5]

    The Tavistock Institute’s projects were a follow-up on the work of the German scientists, known as Frankfurt Institute for Social Research, or the Frankfurt School, which focused on the study and criticism of culture developed from the thought of Freud. As an atheist, Freud believed that conventional morality is an unnatural repression of the sexual urges imposed during childhood. David Bakan, in Sigmund Freud and The Jewish Mystical Tradition, has shown that Freud was a “crypto-Shabbatean”. Freud, when he was made aware of the Lurianic Kabbalah exclaimed “This is gold!” and asked why these ideas had never previously been brought to his attention.[6]

    In his book Moses and Monotheism, Freud makes clear that, as in the case of the Pharaohs of Egypt, incest confers god-like status on its perpetrators. In the same book, Freud claims that Moses was an Egyptian, in an attempt to discredit the origin of the Law conferred by him. Commenting on these passages, Bakan claims that Freud was a follower of Shabbetai Zevi, and that his attack on Moses was an attempt to abolish the law in the same way that Zevi did.[7]

    End quote:

    More

    ReplyDelete
  120. 2/18/2010

    I cannot verify many of the assertions made in the essay.

    Associating all those wierd beliefs and practices with Kabbala is as valid as associating them with Christianity.

    Briefly, Isaac Luria was a great man and mainstream Kabbala is largely based on his contributions:

    http://tinyurl.com/3b3sha

    Shabbatai Zevi was a charlatan who dabbled in Kabbala, as some charlatans do today. He developed a following, was considered a messiah by his followers, and eventually converted to Islam.

    Freud was -- Freud. He was an atheist so he could not have been a seriouss kabbalist. His theoris of dreams have a basis in t6he Talmud which says: "A dream misunderstood is like a letter left unopened." He was a brilliant psychiatrist but I have no clue about his involvement with Kabbala or the significance of the "gold" quote.

    The mere association of these three individuals shows the article to be a slapdash use of buckshot to prove its thesis.

    Kabbala can be profound in its theosophical insight but it is a side road to Torah and Talmud; not the main road. People either love it or hate it. I happen to be of the former, am well read, but am far from an expert.

    I hope this helps and will try to respond to focused questions.

    ReplyDelete
  121. Anonymous12:45 PM

    Constance, warning, that illuminati-terrorism website does have an antisemitic agenda. Looking through the books they offer showed me that.

    Standard operating procedure for propaganda, some good information mixed with mind controlling garbage.

    Remember folks, when they come after the Jews, they come after Christians next.

    Dorothy

    ReplyDelete
  122. Anonymous2:04 PM

    Although not necessarily an endorsement of Farmer's blog, he does have some invaluable information in his latest entries:

    http://www.freiberg.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  123. All,

    As most of you are probably aware by now, there is an incident unfolding in Texas in which a man has burned his house down and flown a small plane into a building. It is now being heavily reported on CNN that his reasoning was a grudge with the IRS. I am bringing this up because I would like every one to remember the DHS report about domestic terrorists, and specificly the section about groups and people who were anti-federal government. The IRS was mentioned specificly as a possible target for these groups. I'm not speculating beyond this, other than I find it suspect.

    ReplyDelete
  124. Anonymous3:09 PM

    JD, this is the man's suicide note. I don't think he was part of any tax protest group.

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,586627,00.html

    ReplyDelete
  125. Anon 3:09,

    To my knowledge he wasn't. However the note itself speaks of his reasoning being a vendetta with the IRS. He was being audited and apparently took it pretty personally. CNN's coverage is almost completely exclusive of any other information other than this grudge.

    ReplyDelete
  126. Anonymous3:28 PM

    Anon 2:04pm

    Farmers blog discusses Solana's position in La Caixa whose blue star logo looked familiar to me -
    for science buffs, Hubble recently captured images of a blue star - asteroid P2010A2

    Some are calling it the prophesied Blue Star of the Hopi, others a flying pentagram.

    www.antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/
    ap100203.html

    VW

    ReplyDelete
  127. Anonymous3:35 PM

    Phoenix Journal #163

    http://www.fourwinds10.com/journals/UnPublished/J163.pdf

    ReplyDelete
  128. Anonymous4:10 PM

    pdf UN soldiers & NWO agenda etc

    Phoenix Journal #163

    http://tinyurl.com/y96skhk

    ReplyDelete
  129. Anonymous6:43 PM

    Bjorn re-instated at Fulfilled Prophecy. nonymouse and Holly looks like they are going to unlock Bjorn. Bjorn's related blogposts are in full action.

    ReplyDelete
  130. Craig7:58 PM

    More on IHOP:

    In this very recent video you can hear Mike Bickle say in his own words @ 8:40:

    http://tinyurl.com/y88tba2

    ...and the Lord said, "I will change the understanding and expression of Christianity in the whole earth in one generation."

    There's a lot of other interesting things on here as well.

    I should also say that I know someone personally whose son is at IHOP. She's posted her story on quite a few blogs over the 'net. Apparently, someone in a leadership position instructed her son to cease all communication with his mom after she and the young man's step-father referred to IHOP as a cult. Up until near the 1.5 year mark there was no communication; however, she briefly heard from him on Mother's Day last year. She has a grandbaby she's not even seen yet. So, what about honoring your mother and father?...

    I've not kept up with her recently; so, I'm not sure of the present status. I'm assuming nothing has changed as I believe this would show up on the blogs.

    ReplyDelete
  131. Craig8:00 PM

    btw, this mother of the IHOPper goes by the name "Sadparent."

    ReplyDelete
  132. Constance, what do you know please about connections between Moon and the New Apostolic Reformation of C Peter Wagner, Todd Bentley, Patricia King etc. We have some proof of their combining forces to smear and discredit and harass their outspoken critics? See the bottom of this article for instance for one recent event -

    http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2010/02/18/the-blasphemous-revd-sun-myung-moon-conducts-more-moonie-mass-weddings/

    ReplyDelete
  133. Anonymous8:45 PM

    Len,

    Thanks for the response.

    omots

    ReplyDelete
  134. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  135. More on the Frued-Kabbalah link

    http://tiny.cc/WTLR4

    This might just indicate the extent to which Kabbalah has pervaded the popular subconcious.

    God bless
    Pete

    ReplyDelete
  136. Craig7:03 AM

    Muslim activists at UC Irvine attempt to quell speech of Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w96UR79TBw

    ReplyDelete
  137. Anonymous9:00 AM

    'Herr Artzt (DR)' John Holdren, Obama's Science Policy Czar, advocated enforced sterilisation and abortion, promoting population reduction in a book he wrote in 1977, 'Ecoscience: Population, Resources,Environment.' [Sorry, I can't get italics to work here]

    The entire book can be downloaded from scribd.

    http://www.scribd.com/doc/22480029/Ecoscience-Population-Resources-Environment-1649-Pgs-John-holdren

    or

    http://tinyurl.com/y9dksw7

    God bless,

    Rob in London.

    ReplyDelete
  138. Anonymous10:10 AM

    Pete Mc said...
    ' “If we torture the data long enough, it will confess.” '

    ' Lol Explains why inflation is soooo low yet a loaf of bread is £1.30'

    Exactly Pete!

    God bless brother,

    Rob.

    ReplyDelete
  139. Anonymous11:06 AM

    Important note on downloading scribd docs, some docs have been heavily doctored. For example, the scribd download I've initially found for Zbigniew Brzezinski's, 'Between Two Ages: America's Role in the Technotronic Era', has only 123 pages, yet the Library of Congress Catalog Record lists the same book as having 334 pages. Something very fishy indeed!

    http://www.scribd.com/doc/2520536/Zbigniew-Brzezinski-Between-Two-Ages

    or

    http://tinyurl.com/64dyto


    And,

    http://lccn.loc.gov/76104162



    God bless,

    Rob in London.

    ReplyDelete
  140. Anonymous11:18 AM

    The bibliocyclopedes website has the same 123pp doctored version of Brzezinski Zbigniew's, 'Between Two Ages: America's Role in the Technetronic Era'. Looks like the 334pp book is worth buying... second-hand of course! There is obviously alot within its putrid pages that needs exposing.

    God bless,

    Rob in London.

    ReplyDelete
  141. Anonymous11:24 AM

    Sorry for putting the first name after the surname (as I'd copied and pasted for expediency), regards Z. Brzezinski, his muck still needs exposing and throwing salt over though.

    God bless,

    Rob in London.

    ReplyDelete
  142. 2/19/2010

    Pete Mc 4:42 AM -- 4:42 AM??? -- providede an interesting link to the relationship, such as it is, of Kabbala and psuchoanalysis. Thanks Pete.

    Here is a summary of a long paper on the subject by Dr. Domb:

    SUMMARY

    The author (Dr. Domb) considers the report of a Lithuanian rabbi, Chayyim Bloch, that Freud exclaimed “This is gold” when presented with a German translation of one of the works of Chayyim Vital, a 17th century Kabbalist and disciple of Isaac Luria. The psychological significance of the Lurianic Kabbalah is explored, and the Kabbalah is shown to be an important historical antecedent to psychoanalysis, and source for contemporary psychotherapeutic practice. Specifically, the Kabbalists, in their theory of the concealment, shattering, and restoration of the light of the infinite God, provide a theosophical analog to the psychoanalytic theory of libido, repression, and therapy. The Kabbalistic symbol of “the other side” is seen to be a theosophical version of the unconscious. Further, the notion of tikkun haolom, the “restoration of the world”, through which divine sexual energy, entrapped in the “husks” of the other side, is restored to God’s service, is interpreted as a metaphor for the therapeutic processes of “making the unconscious conscious” and restoring the libido to the service of the individual. Finally, the psychotherapeutic implications of several Lurianic symbols, including Ein-sof (the infinite godhead), tzimtzum (concealment/ contraction), the sefirot (the archetypes of creation), shevirat hakelim (the breaking of the vessels) and tikkun haolom (the restoration of the world) are explored.

    From my pov, the article is interesting though complex. As Kabbala itself is complex, its metaphoric relationship to psychology and psychoanalysis is that much more complex and I don't pretend to understand it all. I am glad that Dr. Domb does.

    Notwithstanding, use of this by that earlier website is far-fetched and grasping at straws.

    Len

    ReplyDelete
  143. 2/19/2010

    Craig said... "Muslim activists at UC Irvine attempt to quell speech of Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren:"

    This would be disturbing in itself but it isw far more disturbing to recognize it as part of a pattern by which the Nazi-like Islamists and leftists are attempting to violently stamp out both dissent and freedom. Heere is a message I received that illustrates the pattern with several other examples. Sadly, Obama is feeding into this trend by appointing allies of these Nazis to high positions.

    Continued:

    ReplyDelete
  144. In a message dated 2/17/2010 5:56:48 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, gart@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
    SAMUEL M. EDELMAN: A WEEK OF UNCIVIL DISCOURSE ON CAMPUS
    By • Samuel Edelman, Exec Dir SPME
    Published in: The Cutting Edge February 15, 2010

    http://www.thecuttingedgenews.com/index.php?article=11969

    Anti-Israel individuals and groups on college campuses are
    beginning to show a pattern underlying a shift in the form of
    their anti-Israel activities which attack the very core of
    what many consider the most important aspect of the university
    experience, the free flow of information and opinion. Just in
    the last week we have seen the following events take place at
    UC Irvine, UCLA, and York University in Canada, Cambridge and
    Oxford Universities in Great Britain.

    On February 1, at York University in Toronto, 20 Jewish
    students who had gathered to raise awareness of captured
    Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and terrorist acts committed by
    Hamas were surrounded by about 50 protestors chanting
    anti-Israel and anti-Semitic slurs. Two of the Jewish students
    were slapped, one on the arm and one across the face
    (http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=168116
    ).

    On February 3, during his lecture at Oxford University,
    Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon was heckled by a
    Muslim student who shouted, among other things, "Itbah
    Al-Yahud" - "kill the Jews"
    (http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=168320 ).

    Continued

    ReplyDelete
  145. On February 7, the Israel Society at Cambridge University
    canceled a talk by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
    historian Benny Morris after protesters accused him of
    "Islamophobia" and "racism"
    (http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=167972
    ).

    On February 8, at UCLA School of Law, members of Law Students
    for Justice in Palestine (LSJP), an undergraduate group
    Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and the local Women in
    Black disrupted a lecture by Daniel Taub, Principal Deputy
    Legal Advisor of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    (http://www.jewishjournal.com/community/article/protesters_interrupt_ucla_lecture_on_goldstone_report_20100209/
    )
    Also on February 8, at the University of California, Irvine,
    hecklers tried to disrupt a lecture by Michael Oren, Israeli
    ambassador to the United States, who is also a distinguished
    academic (http://www.chancellor.uci.edu/100209_disruption.php ).

    That these five events had very little press coverage outside
    of the Jewish community is telling all by itself.
    The disruption of pro-Israel speakers on campuses has been
    around for some time now. We witnessed another such act last
    year in February at San Jose State University when Israeli
    Consul General Akiva Tor was interrupted in his speech on
    campus by anti-Israel demonstrators who were both from the
    campus and from outside groups. At this time no students or
    groups were punished by the San Jose State administration for
    this act on incivility. To see five such events in one week
    shows a kind of escalation.

    The ultimate result, beyond the drama of the confrontation, is
    to stifle dialogue and even debate, to restrict information
    that may be in opposition to the views of the protestors and
    to intimidate. What is most interesting is the makeup of the
    groups involved in these attacks on civil discourse. The
    groups are often a mélange of representatives of Muslim
    Student Associations, Students for Justice in Palestine, and
    other such Palestinian student groups and a variety of leftist
    groups and in some cases rightwing groups. Sometimes we see
    these groups joined by anti-Israel Jews of varying political
    perspectives. In all cases, no matter the makeup of the
    protesting groups, the goal is the disruption of civil discourse.

    This attack on civil discourse is not new. We have seen it
    played out time and again in the US debate on healthcare
    reform as well. What makes these recent attacks on civil
    discourse significant is that each and every one of them has
    been held in a public forum on a university campus.

    Continued

    ReplyDelete
  146. This week Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, an
    international academic organization fighting for civil
    discourse on Israel and the Middle East on college and
    universities all over the world issued the following statement:

    There has been a recent upsurge of public attacks upon, and
    disruptions of, Israeli diplomats and scholars, as they seek
    to present their views in the “marketplace of ideas” and at
    institutions traditionally committed to the preservation of
    free speech. Recent events at the University of
    California-Irvine, Oxford University, York University, and
    Cambridge University have targeted these speakers in the most
    racist and hostile terms, and have seriously damaged these
    universities’ right to call themselves “institutions of higher
    learning.”

    We believe that the failure to prevent such disruptions and
    the feeble response to them after the fact is cause for deep
    concern. Speaking for academics worldwide, the Board of
    Directors of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East
    (representing nearly 30,000 faculty worldwide) strongly
    condemns these calculated and venomous acts.

    The SPME Board also urges the presidents and leadership of
    these universities (and all others) to strongly condemn these
    actions and to prosecute offenders to the full extent that
    their institutional policies and community legal standards
    will allow for. The SPME Board believes that such incitement
    deserves indictment.

    We also urge university officials worldwide to adopt the
    principles outlined in The Civility Project
    (http://www.civilityproject.org/ ), and to make the “Civility
    Pledge” a requirement for all their faculty and students:

    • I will be civil in my public discourse and behavior.
    • I will be respectful of others whether or not I agree with them.
    • I will stand against incivility when I see it.

    Peter Haas, president of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East
    wrote this week that, “the elimination of serious discussion
    and debate has come to characterize much of the Muslim world
    and now seems to being brought onto our campuses here and in
    Europe… Serious speakers from all sides, and from all
    perspectives, should be allowed to be heard and to be
    questioned in respectful ways. This is also an Israeli value,
    being the only truly functioning democracy in its region. Most
    academic institutions have published rules regarding free
    speech and disruptive behavior. It is time for university and
    college administrators to enforce them."

    In the end, universities who do not punish or sanction
    individuals or groups who abridge the freedom of speech of
    others become silent partners in the death of civil discourse
    on the campus. They are affirming that the protestors have a
    veto over who may or may not speak on a campus. Freedom of
    speech is not an unlimited right. When one’s freedom of speech
    ends another’s freedom of speech then something must be done
    and done fast before we see an epidemic of campus uncivil
    behavior. We must always remember that it took the Nazis only
    ten years or so to completely destroy a functioning democracy
    and start a world war. One of the early places they began was
    on German university campuses disrupting the speeches of those
    they opposed.

    Cutting Edge contributor Samuel M. Edelman is executive
    director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East.
    "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch"
    Garrison Keillor

    Lawrence M. Gartner, M.D., FAAP
    Professor Emeritus
    Departments of Pediatrics and OB/GYN
    The University of Chicago
    28398 Alamar Road
    Valley Center, CA 92082-6452

    ReplyDelete
  147. The article contained many linkss for which I did not bother to obtain tiny urls. If anyone wants them I will have to send you the original by email.

    Len

    ReplyDelete
  148. 2/19/2010

    More Nazi-like Islamist and leftist campus behavior -- and they are distubingly influencing university administration.

    A New Threat to Free Speech on Campus

    http://tinyurl.com/y9wovc8

    ReplyDelete
  149. Len,
    Regarding this latest upswing
    of anti semitism that you point out,
    my pov is, ( as Dorothy said ),
    that after they have come after the
    Jews, the Christians will be next.
    This pattern is sadly so old and so
    well known, yet so persistant like
    a virus that hides for years in
    a body.
    It's essentially the same as
    is was for Moses when he got
    exasperated with those children of
    Israel who were complaining about
    him and he said to them "It's not
    me that you hate, but God"

    It's not really the Jews that they
    hate as much as it is God, the
    true God, as opposed to the
    idol that Mumet invented, the
    god who hates the Jews and
    the Christians, like he says
    over and over in the q'ran
    when it calls Christians and
    Jews infidels.
    I believe that there are wrong-
    headed Jews and wrong-headed
    Christians, but I don't believe that
    there are any right-headed Muslims

    This trampling of free speech
    in universities by Islamists
    is a huge step down, into chaos.
    Academics who frustrate free
    speech are just like scientists
    who would fudge climate data
    for political reasons.
    They both throw all their credibility
    out the window.

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  150. Anonymous10:58 PM

    Seems to me the so-called science of psychology is nothing more than an effort towards gaining a fuller understanding of the knowledge of good and evil.

    I am completely ignorant of Kabbalah, except for having read a few pages of the Zohar and the brief comments here, (thanks Pete, thanks Len). But could not the same be said for Kabbalah as well?

    I'm not trying to insult anyone, but I would appreciate an answer to my "focused question".

    Which psychoanalyist does one study or listen to in order to obtain the best advice? Which kabbalist (or branch there of) does one read/follow to obtain the best insights?

    How much "knowledge" is enough?

    And no, I'm not attacking Jews. We "christians" are even worse....

    Which televangelist is best (or worst?) Which denomination has it right? (or has it the most wrong?) What preacher can add one sentence to clarify the Word of God so that even a child could understand it? What author by writing what book reveals the truth of scripture better than scripture itself?

    Seems to me we make things waaay too complicated. The commandments are pretty straightforward...

    I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;

    Do not have any other gods before me.

    You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

    You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me,

    but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

    You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

    Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

    For six days you shall labour and do all your work.

    But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.

    For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.

    Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

    You shall not murder.

    You shall not commit adultery.

    You shall not steal.

    You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

    You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

    Last I checked, the Gospel was pretty straightforward as well. Unless somebody changed it. Maybe I'd better go back and read it again.

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  151. Anonymous10:59 PM

    Sorry, that 10:58 post was me...

    omots

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  152. Omots you are welcome.
    I posted the link up for research purposes. Just for the record... I am a Bible believing Christian and not a Kabbalist.
    I believe that Kabbalah is a major tool of the enemy, the root of western esotericism and a method of "connecting" with the fallen angels.

    God bless
    Pete

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  153. 22/21/2010

    Omots asked: " Which kabbalist (or branch there of) does one read/follow to obtain the best insights?"

    When asked to explain the whole Torah while standing on one leg Hillel replied, "Do not do to others what is hateful to you. The rest is commentary. Now go and study."

    Since Kabbala is about Torah I could paraphrase Hillel. But Kabbala should be studied after one has studied and assimilated Torah; not before. It is not a necessary branch of knowledge but rather icing on the cake.

    There are all kinds of people with different levels of intelligence, cognition and motivation. The revealed Torah is for all of them but there are more advanced levels of understanding that are suitable for the more sagacious and more involved.

    On the basic level. Duet. tells us:

    Deut. 29:9 You are all standing this day before the Lord, your God the leaders of your tribes, your elders and your officers, every man of Israel, 10 your young children, your women, and your convert who is within your camp both your woodcutters and your water drawers, 11 that you may enter the covenant of the Lord, your God, and His oath, which the Lord, your God, is making with you this day,

    And:

    Deut. 30:11 For this commandment which I command you this day, is not concealed from you, nor is it far away. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will go up to heaven for us and fetch it for us, to tell [it] to us, so that we can fulfill it?" 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, "Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us and fetch it for us, to tell [it] to us, so that we can fulfill it?" 14 Rather,[this] thing is very close to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can fulfill it.

    But the sages also pointed out that the Torah can be understood on four levels:

    Peshat: The evident meaning of verses

    Remez: Deeper meanings hinted at through gematria, the numerical values of lettere, acronyms, etc.

    Derash: Homiletic exegesis

    Sod: Kabbalistic (secret) interpretations

    An acronym of these four letters is PaRDeS. This means "orchard." A single Torah thought is like a delicious fruit. When understood in all four ways the verse is like an orchard of many delicious fruits.

    But the sages taught that the four levels are not for everyone. They tell of four spiritual giants who entereed Pardes; Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Akher and Rabbi Akiva.

    Ben Azzai gazed and died. Ben Zoma gazed and went mad. Akher gazed and became a heretic. Rabbi Akiva entered and left in peace.

    The angels wished to cast R' Akiva down but God said: "Leave him alone for he is worthy of making use of My glory." (Talmud Chagigah 14b, Rashi Tosefta 2)

    Continued

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  154. The deeper one delves into knowledge, the greater the satisfaction but the greater the danger. That is why the sages said one should not study Kabbala till after the age of 40. However both of the Kabbalists, Moshe Chayim Luzatto zt"l and Aryeh Kaplan zt"l, died before reaching this age.

    An opposing perspective was given by another Kabbalist, the great first chief rabbi of Palestine, Abraham Isaac Kook zt"l.

    "Whoever feels within himself, after many trials, that his inner being can find peace only by pursuing the secret teachings of the Torah must know with certainty that it is for this that he was created. Let him not be troubled by any impediments in the world, whether spiritual or physical, from hastening after what is the essence of life and his true perfection. He may assume that it is not only his own perfection and deliverance that hinges on the improvement of his character, but also on the deliverance of the community and the perfection of the world. Every soul that has reached fulfillment always perfects the general character of the world. All life is blessed through the truly enlightened ones, when they press resolutely on their course, without being restrained by life's obstacles... But everything is dependent on the degree of the person's humility." ("Those Destined for the Mystical" from the rabbi's essays, "Lights of Holiness.")

    My own rabbi, a very smart man, says that he has more than enough to do to master the revealed, exoteric Torah without getting involved in the esoteric Torah.

    The best introductory book is the classical "Derekh Hashem" (The Way of God), by Moshe Chayim Luzatto (Feldheim). Other good, more advanced, introductions are, "Faith and Folly -- The Occult in Torah Perspective" by Rabbi Yaakov Hillel (Feldheim), "Inner Space" by Aryeh Kaplan, "The Thirteen Petaled Rose," by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, and "Sefer Yetzirah" with translation and commentary by Aryeh Kaplan (Weiser).

    On the web, a good introduction is provided in the Judaism 101 web site:

    http://www.jewfaq.org/kabbalah.htm

    I hope all this helps.

    I will be on vacation for the next week so do not expect quick responses.

    Peace and blessing,
    Len

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