Taking Stock
http://www.fulfilledprophecy.com/commentary/taking-stock-what-holly-thinks/
Was the new European Neighbourhood Policy, launched on Jan. 1, 2007, a sign that the 70th Week of Daniel has begun?
What Needs to Happen
Did we enter the 70th Week of Daniel on Jan. 1, 2007? Let’s look at what’s happened in the past year and a half and see if this theory still holds up.
At least three things will occur in the first half of the 70th Week, according to Bible prophecy. The late Herb Peters, the founder of this Web site, listed them in his Overview and Timeline of Events.
The gradual dawn of false peace over the Middle East with the return of Israel’s temple sacrifices
The rise of a global religious movement that will include evangelical leaders
The establishment of a new global order
Let’s look at each of these.
Peace in the Middle East
Starting with the Annapolis Conference last November, the current push for peace in the Middle East is unprecedented. An article (http://www.theglobalist.com/storyid.aspx?StoryId=7124) that appeared in The Globalist on Tuesday says the new urgency is due to regional dynamics in the wake of the Iraq War — the threat of Iran and the rise of Muslim extremism. The only way to stem the tide of these threats is for Israel and Sunni Muslim nations to make peace.
Even Syria has begun indirect talks with Israel. During the launch of the Union for the Mediterranean on Sunday, Syrian president Bashar Assad said Syria has no choice but to make peace with Israel (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1215330963438). An Israeli-Syrian peace deal could be the domino that knocks down all the other dominoes — leading to peace between Israel and its other neighbors, including the Palestinians and Lebanese, according to this article (http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=26561). A movement to rebuild the temple and reinstate Jewish sacrifices would follow.
Global Interfaith Movement
Calls for a global interfaith movement are growing louder. The United Nations continues to expand its religious dialogue through the Alliance of Civilizations, and the Tony Blair Faith Foundation has recruited Rick Warren and other evangelical leaders to its cause: getting religions to join forces and solve the world’s problems. Such a movement — one that seeks to create a utopian world apart from Christ — will play directly into the hands of the Antichrist. A growing false apostles and false prophets movement — seen in the so-called Lakeland Revival in Florida — is prepping Christians to embrace the False Prophet.
New Global Order
The European Union’s plans to create a global order are detailed in my father’s book, Recommendation 666 (http://www.fulfilledprophecy.com/page/recommendation-666-the-rise-of-the-beast-from-the/), published in 2003. Since then, the need for global governance has become obvious to all. Global threats like climate change and WMDs must be met with a global response. U.S. presidential hopeful Barak Obama spoke of the need for a “new era of international cooperation” on Tuesday, when he laid out his foreign policy plans. See his speech titled “A New Strategy for a New World” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/15/read-obamas-iraq-speech-a_n_112871.html) and his remarks to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs (http://usforeignpolicy.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=usforeignpolicy&cdn=newsissues&tm=3&f=10&tt=11&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/04/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam.html). Obama intends to throw America’s weight behind the efforts of Europe and the United Nations to forge a global order.
Where We’re At
Recent events bolster the theory that the 70th Week has begun. We’ll have to see if they continue to unfold this way. In the meantime, the important things are that we’re watching for the signs of Christ’s return and we’re ready for it.
If you haven’t trusted Christ for your salvation, then you need to do so. If you’re already a Christian, then make sure you know what the Bible teaches — really know it — so you’re not taken in by religious deception. And, of course, urge others to be ready.
McCain Ad Hits Obama on Iraq Policy
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/412267.aspx
CBNNews.com - WASHINGTON - Republican John McCain launched a new television ad Friday that accuses presidential rival Barack Obama of switching positions on Iraq "to help himself become president" just as the Democratic candidate prepared to make a high profile trip to Baghdad.
McCain's sharply worded criticism was not limited to the ad. He said Friday that Obama would be facing a far less secure Iraq "if we had done what he wanted to do."
The 30-second ad, running on national cable and in 11 battleground states, is the hardest hit aimed at Obama so far by McCain.
"Barack Obama never held a single Senate hearing on Afghanistan," the ad's announcer says. "He hasn't been to Iraq in years. He voted against funding our troops. Positions that helped him win his nomination. Now Obama is changing to help himself become president."
The ad suggests that Obama was placing politics ahead of the country's interests. "John McCain has always supported our troops and the surge that's working. McCain. Country first," the ad states.
McCain could have let the Republican National Committee air the commercial, as it did with another critical portrayal of Obama. But McCain aides say Iraq and national security are issues that McCain is eager to debate with Obama and saw no reason to put distance between himself and the criticism.
The ad is airing as Obama prepares to make a high-profile foreign trip designed to ease voter concerns about his national security credentials. It also airs as Obama's commitment to withdrawing combat troops within 16 months of becoming president has come under question.
Obama has said he remains steadfast in his goal to end the war. But while he had earlier said he would "immediately" begin to remove troops, he now says he would immediately give his commanders a mission to end the war.
McCain has been a staunch proponent of a military escalation that has increased security in Iraq. Obama opposed that surge in troops.
"He will land in a very different Baghdad than the one he would have landed in ... if we had done what he wanted to do," McCain said at a Detroit fundraising lunch Friday. "He wants to set a date for withdrawal. He said the surge couldn't work. He said it couldn't work. He said it wasn't working and to this day he has yet to acknowledge that the surge was working."
McCain also called on Obama to thank Gen. David Petraeus for the military success during the last year and a half.
The ad's reference to Obama not holding hearings on Afghanistan refers to Obama's status as chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs. The subcommittee's jurisdiction includes "all matters, policies and problems concerning the continent of Europe, including the European member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization." NATO forces are fighting in Afghanistan.
Obama was last in Iraq in 2006; McCain was there in March of this year.
Only once has Obama voted against money for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan - in May 2007. The bill passed overwhelmingly anyway. Otherwise, he has voted for every bill that financed the troops since he has been in the Senate.
"While Barack Obama wants to change American foreign policy to wind down the war in Iraq and address the grave threat posed by a resurgent al-Qaida and Taliban in Afghanistan, John McCain offers this patently misleading negative ad," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said. "Given his calls for a civil campaign, it's disappointing that Sen. McCain has slipped so easily into the same, tired campaign tactics that have become so familiar to the American people."
The commercial is McCain's first negative television ad against Obama, although the Republican National Committee has aired ads critical of Obama's stance on energy. McCain also aired a Spanish language radio ad that stated that "the other candidate has just discovered the importance of the Hispanic vote." And a McCain ad on the Web site of the Jerusalem Post shows pictures of Obama and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "Is it OK to unconditionally meet with anti-American foreign leaders?" the ad asks.
Last week, in a response to the RNC ad, Obama aired a commercial that described McCain as "part of the problem" of high gas prices. It only aired in the same four states where the RNC ad appeared.
Barack Obama: Fact vs. Rhetoric on Abortion - SBA List Highlights Obama's Record
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07409.shtml
WASHINGTON, July 9 (christiansunite.com) -- Senator Barack Obama attempted to qualify his support for partial-birth abortion this week, stating that he did not feel "mental distress" was an acceptable health exception for obtaining a partial-birth abortion, adding "it is not just a matter of feeling blue." The Susan B. Anthony List offered a response and facts on Obama's record:
"Barack Obama knows his extreme record on abortion doesn't resonate with everyday American voters, so now he's trying to soften his image," said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "It won't work. From his active opposition to the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act to his support for the radical Freedom of Choice Act, Barack Obama is anything but moderate on abortion. Obama's abortion-friendly voting record shows his commitment to abortion on- demand, at any time, for any reason, funded by American taxpayers."
Barack Obama's actual record on Abortion:
0% rating with the National Right to Life Committee and 100% rating with NARAL Pro-Choice America
Co-Sponsor of the "Freedom of Choice Act" (S.1173), legislation that would nullify nearly all state and federal limitations on abortion, including the federal ban on partial-birth abortion, parental notification laws and waiting periods. It would also allow for taxpayer funding of abortions. Obama told members of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund at their conference, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing I'd do." (July 17, 2007)
Voted against an amendment to allow states to provide health insurance for an unborn child through the federal State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). (August 2, 2007, Roll Call No. 302)
Opposed the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act as an Illinois State Senator, legislation intended to protect babies who survived abortions. Obama spoke against the bill and voted against it three times. President Bush signed a federal version of this legislation in 2002.
Criticized Gonzales v. Carhart, the Supreme Court ruling upholding the federal ban on partial-birth abortion, saying, "I strongly disagree with today's Supreme Court ruling. . .I am extremely concerned that this ruling will embolden state legislatures to enact further measures to restrict a woman's right to choose, and that the conservative Supreme Court justices will look for other opportunities to erode Roe v. Wade, which is established federal law and a matter of equal rights for women."
Endorsed by the two major abortion organizations: NARAL Pro-Choice America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 146,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process. www.sba-list.org
Crossing the Line -- Protecting Children from Interstate Abortion
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07410.shtml
WASHINGTON, (christiansunite.com) -- Yesterday, Representatives on the House Constitution Subcommittee hosted a forum to draw attention to the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA). CIANA would prohibit any person, other than a parent or guardian, from knowingly transporting a minor across a state line to obtain an abortion.
Planned Parenthood committed over 290,000 abortions last year alone and is the largest abortion provider in the United States. Many minors who obtain abortions may do so under intimidation and without the consent of a parent or guardian.
The author of CIANA, Representative Ileana Ros- Lehtinen (R-Florida), said the bill will "protect minors from exploitation from the abortion industry, promote strong family ties, and will help foster respect for state laws."
Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America (CWA), said, "Parents know their children best, love them most, and have the natural desire to protect them. Yet as it is now, minor girls can be taken across state lines by a stranger and coerced into an abortion without their parents' knowledge. The law needs to catch up to the reality that parents' rights extend beyond state lines, especially when it involves an invasive procedure that kills a human being and can scar their daughter for life."
Shari Rendall, Director of Legislation and Public Policy for CWA, said, "At a time when schools are fearful of being sued for supplying a student with aspirin without parental consent, it is incomprehensible that there is no law to prohibit an adult from taking a child across state lines to obtain an abortion and circumvent parental notification laws. It is essential to protect children and ensure they are not coerced into making an adult decision without the guidance and wisdom of their parents."
Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy women's organization.
SBA List President, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) Call for De-Funding of Planned Parenthood, 'Wal-Mart of Big Abortion'
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07412.shtml
WASHINGTON, (christiansunite.com) -- Yesterday Representatives Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) organized a special order on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to call for an end to federal taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood.
"The idea that Planned Parenthood cares one wit about reducing the 'need for abortion' is absurd," said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. "But even if this were a sincere claim on their part, they have failed miserably by their own measure. The number of abortions Planned Parenthood performs continually rises, this year reaching 290,000. It is past time to de-fund Planned Parenthood. It is time for a taxpayers' revolt."
Planned Parenthood is the nation's number one abortion provider, providing 290,000 abortions last year. Planned Parenthood provided nearly one in five abortions nationwide in 2005, the latest year nationwide abortion statistics are available.
In her testimony on the House floor, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) referenced a recent Wall Street Journal investigation highlighting Planned Parenthood's recent appeal to the affluent in her congressional district. The article cited opening of "express centers in wealthy Minnesota suburbs" with the purposes of appealing to women who are "already doing their grocery shopping, picking up their Starbucks, living their daily lives."
"They are big business. They are the Wal-Mart of big abortion," said Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). "They are the big box retailer. It's time to end their tax exempt status. It's a fraud. It is time to stop the public financing of Planned Parenthood -- it is the right thing to do."
According to its latest annual report, Planned Parenthood posted total revenues of $1,017,900,000 - over one billion dollars. Nearly one third of that -- $336.7 million - came from "government grants and contracts." In 2007, the U.S. Congress under new Democratic Leadership approved a $17 million dollar increase in federal taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood through the Title X Program. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and the Susan B. Anthony List opposed the increase.
The Susan B. Anthony List is a nationwide network of Americans, over 146,000 residing in all 50 states, dedicated to mobilizing, advancing, and representing pro-life women in politics. Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in the political process. www.sba-list.org
Citigroup Report Sparks Wall Street Open
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/411972.aspx
CBNNews.com - NEW YORK -- Wall Street headed for a higher open Friday after Citigroup Inc. issued a better-than-expected earnings report, offsetting disappointing results from several other big companies.
The nation's largest bank reported a $2.5 billion second-quarter loss due to write-downs tied to deteriorating credit markets. However, that was still better than analysts' forecasts, and it appeared that the Dow Jones industrials would be able to extend their biggest two-day rally since 2002 when trading opens at 9:30 a.m. EDT.
Citi's report followed stronger-than-expected reports from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co. that helped relieve some of investors' worries about the health of the banking sector. Wall Street has grown concerned that souring mortgage debt would force some banks to go under. The Dow had triple digit gains Wednesday and Thursday in response to the banks' reports.
Futures began the day lower after Google Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., and Microsoft Corp. had all posted quarterly results that missed analysts' expectations after the closing bell on Thursday. Meanwhile, oil prices moved higher after falling $15 over three days amid news of an output cut in Nigeria.
Dow futures rose 40, or 0.32 percent, to 11,441.
Standard & Poor's 500 index futures added 5.30, or 0.42 percent, to 1,258.70. Nasdaq 100 index futures rose 1.25, or 0.07 percent, to 1,841.00.
Bond prices slid on Friday. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, fell to 4.06 percent from 4.00 percent from late Thursday.
The dollar was mixed against other major currencies, while gold prices fell.
Oil prices moved higher. Light, sweet crude rose $1.49 to $130.78 in premarket electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude oil had declined $15 over straight days, feeding perceptions that the boom in raw materials may be cooling off.
With no economic data slated for release Friday, investors weighed a slew of earnings reports in recent days.
Honeywell International Inc. reported Friday that second-quarter earnings rose 18 percent, driven by higher sales in its aerospace and building control systems businesses. Results surpassed forecasts, and the company also boosted its 2008 forecast.
Toy maker Mattel Inc. said its second-quarter profit fell by nearly half, hurt by lower global demand for Barbie toys and higher costs, but results still beat Wall Street expectations. The maker of Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price toys reported quarterly profit dropped 48 percent to $11.8 million.
Israeli drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. said Thursday it will buy rival generic drug company Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. for more than $7 billion, in a move to expand its presence in U.S. and Eastern European markets. Teva will also assume $1.5 billion of Barr's debt.
Google's earnings growth bogged down more than investors anticipated during the second quarter, raising worries that the ailing U.S. economy is starting to sap the Internet search leader. The company missed Wall Street projections.
Merrill Lynch reported it lost $4.89 billion during the second quarter, hurt by almost $10 billion of write-downs and charges. The world's largest brokerage also sold its stake in news and data provider Bloomberg LP, and will sell its stake in First Data Services Inc., to raise capital.
Microsoft reported fiscal fourth-quarter profit jumped 42 percent - or 13 percent factoring in a hefty charge a year ago. However, it missed Wall Street projections.
Overseas, Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 0.65 percent. In morning trading, Britain's FTSE 100 rose 1.16 percent, Germany's DAX index added 1.63 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 0.70 percent.
Government Takes First Step to Overturn Judge's Dismissal of Charges Against LtCol Chessani
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07404.shtml
ANN ARBOR, MI (christiansunite.com) - In Iraq, LtCol Jeffrey Chessani, one of America's most effective combat commanders, led the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines - one of the Marine Corps' most decorated units. After devoting over 20 years of his life to the Corps, and three tours of duty in Iraq, he was criminally charged by government prosecutors for the combat action taken by four of his Marines who engaged insurgents in a fierce house-to-house, room-by-room battle, after being ambushed in Haditha, Iraq on November 19, 2005.
On June 17, 2008 Military Judge, Col Steven Folsom, USMC, dismissed all charges against LtCol Chessani, on the grounds of unlawful command influence.
Attempting to revive their failed prosecution, Government prosecutors yesterday took the required second step in their appeal of the Judge's ruling by filing the authenticated record of trial with the Navy and Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals (NMCCA). The government now must file their appellate brief within twenty days - no later than July 29, 2008.
LtCol Chessani is represented by the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Once the government's brief is filed, the Law Center has twenty days to respond.
The Law Center intends to request oral argument in front of the NMCCA's three-judge panel which consists of Navy and Marine officers. The panel holds its hearings in Washington, DC. The NMCCA can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months to render an opinion after oral arguments are heard.
The losing party has the right to request an appeal to the next level, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF), which is composed entirely of civilian judges.
Moreover, if the government losses all of its appeals, it still has the option of re-filing the charges against LtCol Chessani.
"This is certainly a David versus Goliath battle, " said Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center, "but we will fight this unjust prosecution as long as it takes."
LtCol Chessani has been under investigation and prosecution since March 2006 involving the November 19, 2005 battle of Haditha.
The Thomas More Law Center fights in the courts to preserve America's Christian heritage and moral values. It defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through litigation, education, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)3 organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit their website at www.thomasmore.org.
Story of 20th Century Icon Billy Graham Comes to the Big Screen in 'Billy: The Early Years', Releasing Nationwide October 10, 2008
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07407.shtml
NASHVILLE, Tenn., (christiansunite.com) -- The coming-of-age story of 20th century icon Billy Graham will be seen on the big screen this fall through the release of the film Billy: The Early Years. This highly anticipated film will be released theatrically on October 10, 2008 across the country.
Billy: The Early Years captures the true essence of Graham's life's journey from an earnest young man at the crossroads of faith and doubt, to ultimately facing the moment of decision that launched one of history's most influential evangelists. Starting out with the tranquility of the Graham dairy farm in North Carolina, Billy: The Early Years depicts the look and feel of the Depression-era as we accompany Graham to the tent revival where he finally heeds the altar call, and follows him through the struggle of doubt and resolution of the next decade of his life.
The film paints a vivid portrait of Graham against the backdrop of his relationship with the evangelical star of the 1940's, Charles Templeton, a gifted young preacher whose faith would not withstand the onslaught of scientific skepticism. Templeton and Graham eventually part ways, and in the film, Templeton comes to personify the rising tide of disbelief into which Graham launched his crusades. The movie's power lies in it's honest portrayal of Graham's struggle with the ideas represented in Templeton's eventual unbelief and shows how Graham's faith, so compellingly represented in the film, goes on to change the face of modern evangelism in the second half of the 20th Century.
Graham is portrayed in the film by rising young star, Armie Hammer (Veronica Mars, Flicka), who was announced as the upcoming Batman/Bruce Wayne in the new film, Justice League: Mortal. Hammer plays an incredibly authentic and poignant Graham, and takes the viewer deep into the heart of this iconic world- renowned yet humble figure.
Directed by veteran Actor/Director and Golden Globe nominee, Robby Benson (the voice of the Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Ode To Billy Joe, Ice Castles, The Greatest Story Ever Told), the Billy: The Early Years' cast includes well- known Hollywood talent including Oscar-winner Martin Landau (Mission: Impossible, Ed Wood) and Lindsay Wagner (The Bionic Woman); as well as Stefanie Butler (CSI: NY), daughter of ex-Atlanta Brave Brett Butler; Kristoffer Polaha (North Shore) and platinum selling country sensation Josh Turner ("Long Black Train") as singer George Beverly Shea. John Carter Cash, son of John and June Carter Cash, serves as music producer.
Together with Rocky Mountain Pictures, In Service America, Interlinc and other additional marketing partners, the Billy: The Early Years marketing plan will seek to create significant grassroots traction while radio, television and newspaper advertising and promotions will work in conjunction with additional aspects of the campaign. The film launch will also encompass a number of strategic marketing elements, including more than 50 VIP screenings in key markets, a soundtrack highlighting Christian and country music artists, key events built around Graham's 90th birthday, a novel of the work published by Thomas Nelson Publishers and an upcoming home entertainment DVD release.
Nashville based Landis Entertainment & Media Partners, run by Barry Landis, will spearhead all marketing aspects of the film, in association with the distributor Solex/MATP. Landis, a long time entertainment marketer of faith-based properties for major, high level entertainment and corporate conglomerates such as Wrigley's and AT&T was also the head of companies such as Atlantic Records, Warner Bros. and KOCH Records Christian divisions, has made a solid mark on the entertainment world through his visionary accomplishments and multiple career achievements.
Producers Larry Mortorff and Martin Shiel commented, "We are extremely excited to be surrounded with such an amazing team and have tremendous confidence in their ability to market this distinguished and touching new film." Producer Bill McKay said, "Barry Landis is a blend of an entertainment strategist as well as a great wrangler and distiller of the group's ideas."
Filmed in and around Nashville, Tennessee with a 90% Tennessee crew, Billy: The Early Years made perfect use of the new incentive plan from the state of Tennessee that grants up to a 32% cash rebate. "This particular film is definitely in Tennessee's 'sweet spot'," said Perry Gibson, executive director of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission. "We love the subject matter and were bowled over at how the producers put together such a talented Tennessee cast and crew, as well as garnered some the top names in the Nashville music industry. We'd welcome them back anytime, they were really terrific."
For more information about the film, please visit www.billytheearlyyears.com. To view the movie trailers, visit www.sendspace.com/file/rbqbb5 (Billy Graham Trailer Part 1 of 2) and www.sendspace.com/file/5iup1m (Billy Graham Trailer Part 2 of 2).
About Solex/MATP
Solex/MATP is distributing Billy: The Early Years in association with Rocky Mountain Pictures. The company is a formidable partnership forged between producers Martin Shiel, Larry Mortorff and Bill McKay, who have between them produced more than 50 movies and documentaries as well as programs for TV. Mortorff is known for his family films, ANDRE, the JUNGLE BOOK, TARZAN and the LOST CITY OF OPAR as well as the live action PINOCCHIO, and he and McKay produced AGAINST ALL ODDS for TBN. Mortorff also produced Christian films THE OMEGA CODE and ONE NIGHT with the KING. Martin Shiel of Solex Productions is an accomplished director and producer in film and TV. McKay also produced documentaries on some of the most famous people in the world, such as Pope John Paul, Mother Teresa, Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Ellie Weisel.
About Landis Entertainment & Media Partners
LE&MP is a veteran marketing agency focusing on strategic faith-based solutions and execution to industry leaders, connecting Nashville and the entertainment world at the highest levels, specifically in the areas of music, film and technology. In addition to film marketing, Landis runs the Christian division of KOCH Records, the largest independent distributor of music in the world and is a partner in the social networking site, Circlebuilder. Landis has also allied with Collective IQ, a merchant banking organization to provide unique access to the financial world and is the executive director of The Briner Institute, a non-profit entertainment industry think tank associated with Vanderbilt University.
Transparency of Joyce Meyer Ministries Confirmed by Senator Grassley
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07403.shtml
MEDIA ADVISORY, (christiansunite.com) -- U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, has confirmed in a July 7, 2008 release that, "Joyce Meyer Ministries provided extensive answers to all questions," in response to a November 6, 2007 letter of inquiry.
In this most recent release, Senator Grassley's office confirmed that Joyce Meyer Ministries has "...engaged in open and honest dialogue with committee staff. They have not only provided responses to every question, but, in the spirit of true cooperation, also have provided information over and above what was requested."
Last year Senator Grassley submitted a standardized list of questions requesting further information to the leadership of Joyce Meyer Ministries and several other ministries.
As a demonstration of the ministry's respect for the democratic process and our long-standing commitment to fiscal responsibility, all requested documents were released to Senator Grassley's office without hesitation before the requested date. Since then, Joyce Meyer Ministries has found the senator's staff to be thorough and committed to the review.
For over twenty years, Joyce Meyer Ministries has operated with the highest standards of excellence and integrity, and we are committed to being good stewards over the funds entrusted to this ministry by our partners and friends. In 2007, 83 percent of total expenses were spent on outreaches and programs directed toward reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and meeting the physical needs of the poor and needy worldwide.
"Transparency has been and will continue to be a standard of this ministry," said Joyce Meyer. "We hold a deep commitment to our ministry partners and friends, and this is why we have a tradition of going above and beyond what is required by law. We are committed to the truth and to our purpose."
Although the inquiry has included the ministry in a cloud of unwarranted and often cynical inaccuracy, the ministry welcomed Senator Grassley's inquiry and supports his goal of general oversight of nonprofit, charitable operations. Each year, Joyce Meyer Ministries voluntarily undergoes an independent financial and legal audit to ensure its goals of accountability and excellence.
Delanie Trusty, CFO for Joyce Meyer Ministries, states, "As our ministry grows, we continually examine how we can most efficiently serve and minister to people. We embraced this opportunity to examine in detail the daily operations of the ministry, and we have reconfirmed our commitment to the high standards we hold ourselves to."
The Joyce Meyer Ministries 2007 Annual Report is available online at www.joycemeyer.org/annualreport. Annual reports from previous years are also available.
Joyce Meyer Ministries is an international nonprofit organization that focuses on reaching people through media-with a potential audience of 3 billion people. In addition, Joyce Meyer Ministries provides millions of meals to people every year as well as supports and operates major medical outreaches in remote areas, operates and fully supports 49 children's homes worldwide and provides other humanitarian and disaster relief around the world. For more information, please visit www.joycemeyer.org.
Faith, Business, and Social Sector Leaders Converge for Worldwide Leadership Summit
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07408.shtml
SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill., (christiansunite.com) -- A veritable brain trust of church, business, and social sector leaders will assemble for The Leadership Summit 2008, an annual global gathering of 100,000 church and business leaders in more than 230 cities worldwide. The Leadership Summit, which originates from Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., will be beamed live via satellite to 123 locations in North America, Thursday, Aug. 7 - Friday, Aug. 8, and will be videocast to an additional 108 cities worldwide in the fall.
Now in its 13th year, The Summit's principles of dynamic leadership have transcended the walls of the church as companies now routinely send teams to The Summit and use it as one of their core annual training events. The Leadership Summit provides inspiration and motivation for those with leadership abilities or responsibilities.
Among this year's speakers are: Wendy Kopp, founder and CEO of Teach for America, and recently named in TIME magazine as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world; Brad Anderson, CEO of Best Buy; and Chuck Colson, former legal counsel to President Nixon and founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries. Speakers at The Leadership Summit 2008 will present motivation and innovative principles on topics that are applicable in both the boardroom and church and ministry settings, with topics including leadership challenges, team building, implementing strategy, and leveraging leadership through social justice and compassion. Other speakers will include:
Bill Hybels -- International leadership expert, presidential counselor, founder and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., rated the "Most Influential Church" in the U.S. in 2007; author of Courageous Leadership and Axiom: The Language of Leadership.
Craig Groeschel -- Senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, one of the country's first multi-campus churches and recently rated as the Most Innovative Church in the U.S.
Bill George -- Harvard Business School professor and former CEO of Medtronic, the world's leading medical technology company; author of the best- selling books True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership and Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value.
Catherine Rohr -- CEO and founder of the nonprofit Prison Entrepreneurship Program, a one-of- a-kind program providing training, mentoring, and support to prison inmates resulting in a 98 percent employment rate and the launching of 40 entrepreneurial businesses.
Gary Haugen -- Founder and CEO of International Justice Mission (IJM) an international agency that rescues victims of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery, and oppression worldwide. Haugen and the work of IJM have been featured on "Dateline NBC" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
This year's Leadership Summit will also feature the awarding of the second annual "Courageous Leadership Award." A handful of churches will be awarded $200,000 for demonstrating outstanding involvement and effectiveness in the fight against AIDS.
For information about local satellite sites or to register for The Leadership Summit 2008, visit www.willowcreek.com/summit or call (800) 570-9812. The Willow Creek Association (WCA), host of the annual Leadership Summit, is a growing multi- denominational worldwide network of nearly 13,000 churches from 90 denominations and 35 countries. The WCA equips churches and church leaders with strategic vision, training, and resources.
European Terrorists a Threat to the U.S.?
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/411681.aspx
CBNNews.com - Homeland Security says European terrorists are trying to get in to the U.S. And they're focusing on recruiting people with legitimate Western European passports.
"The terrorists are deliberately focusing on people who have legitimate Western European passports, who don't appear to have records as terrorists," Secretary Michael Chertoff told lawmakers.
"I have a good degree of confidence we can catch people coming in. But I have to tell you. there's no guarantee. And they are working very hard to slip by us," he said.
Chertoff did not offer any new information about specific threats or an imminent attack, but he and other intelligence officials have issued similar warnings in the past.
Chertoff drew attention to other types of terrorist threats facing the U.S., namely terrorists smuggling radiological material into the country on small boats or private aircraft.
The Homeland Security Department has a strategy to protect against this small boat vulnerability. They are also testing radiation detection equipment in Seattle and San Diego ports.
Chertoff said one of his top priorities is getting a regulation to prescreen and enhance security of general aviation aircraft coming to the U.S. from overseas.
He also said he expects to approve new radiation detection technology this fall.
Some analysts believe terrorists may focus on the time between the election and the inauguration of the next President in January.
Global church at 'critical' juncture, denominational leaders hear
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/global.church.at.critical.juncture.pope.denominational.leaders.hear/20633.htm
(REUTERS/Mick Tsikas) Pope Benedict, speaking as the Anglican Church is facing one of the deepest crises in its history, said on Friday that relations between Christian religions were at a critical crossroad.
The Pope made his comment in an address to other Christian leaders in Australia, where he is presiding at the Roman Catholic Church's World Youth Day celebrations.
"I think you would agree that the ecumenical movement has reached a critical juncture," he told representatives of various Christian Churches in Australia, including Anglicans, Lutherans and Methodists.
While he did not elaborate on his comment, the Pope appeared to be referring to the crisis gripping the 77-million-member worldwide Anglican community, with which the Vatican is engaged in dialogue aimed at eventual Christian unity.
The Anglican communion is deeply divided over the issue of gay bishops and women bishops.
A quarter of the world's Anglican bishops have boycotted the Lambeth Conference, the once-a-decade gathering of Anglican leaders being staged in the English cathedral city of Canterbury, spiritual home of the Church.
Liberal and conservative clergy have been brought to the brink of schism over the ordination in 2003 of Gene Robinson in New Hampshire, the first openly gay bishop in the Church's 450-year history.
Conservative Anglican leaders staged their own conference in Jerusalem last month at which they pledged to form a council of bishops to provide an alternative to churches who they say are preaching a "false gospel" of sexual immorality.
The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) said member churches would continue sponsoring breakaway conservative parishes in the liberal Western member countries and called for a separate conservative province in North America.
Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, the worldwide Anglican leader, also faces another battle in the Church of England, the Anglican mother church, over plans to ordain women bishops.
Those plans have sparked threats of a mass walkout by conservative clergy and some have expressed a desire to convert to Catholicism.
The Catholic Church does not allow women priests, saying that Christ willingly chose only men as his apostles.
The Pope has already publicly expressed his concern over the future of Anglican Church, telling reporters aboard his plane earlier this week that he hoped it could avoid a schism.
"My essential contribution can only be prayer," he said. "The desire is that schisms and new fractures can be avoided," he said, adding that Catholic Church would not "intervene immediately" in their decisions.
In his address on Friday, the Pope said "we must continually ask God to renew our minds" in the search for Christian unity.
Chinese restaurant evangelism taking Gospel to Europe’s immigrant Chinese
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/chinese.restaurant.evangelism.taking.gospel.to.europes.immigrant.chinese/20640.htm
(Reuters) The Chinese Christian Herald Crusade Restaurant Gospel Ministry (CCHC) is taking the Gospel to hundreds of Chinese restaurant workers across Europe this summer.
The CCHC has already hit the German city of Hamburg, where it worked in partnership with local Chinese churches. The group will head to Brussels in Belgium next month.
During the week of outreach in Hamburg in June, the CCHC missionaries took the good news of the Gospel to around 500 Chinese restaurants in and around the city under the motto of “A Flavourful Life”.
The mission effort was supported by Rev Deng, senior pastor of Lord Glory Mission to Chinese, who provided a week of training prior to the outreach.
The week concluded with the establishment of the Restaurant Gospel Fellowship in Germany, marking another significant stride forward for the Restaurant Gospel Ministry in Europe.
In Brussels, the CCHC will partner with the Belgium Chinese Christian Church with the shared aim of visiting 250 Chinese restaurants in Brussels. The team of around 35 missionaries will hold seminars on restaurant gospel ministry and leadership training.
The CCHC was started in England in 1992 by the Rev David Cheung, a Chinese Christian who used to own several Chinese restaurants. When he felt the calling of the Lord, he sold all his restaurants to begin evangelising others in the Chinese restaurant industry.
Restaurant Gospel Ministries have since been established in Scotland, Ireland, Luxemburg, Norway and Sweden and in 2004 a Europe-wide alliance of Restaurant Gospel Ministries was set up.
Most Chinese immigrants to Europe work in the restaurant industry. Although Chinese immigrants are beginning to branch out into other professions, Chinese restaurants are still regarded as the ‘financial pillar’ of Europe’s Chinese immigrant community.
Energy-Rich Russia Puts Pressure on Europe
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,386502,00.html
BERLIN — High-cost energy supplies and Europe's dependence on Russian fuel have some observers wary of a new Cold War between Russia and the West, being fought once again on German soil.
In Berlin and elsewhere there are many reminders of Russia’s energy clout, with huge electric plants using Russian natural gas to power German homes and factories.
“The bear is back. Not with nuclear missiles and tanks, but with gas and cash,” said Edward Lucas, author of “The New Cold War: Putin's Russia and the Threat to the West.”
Germany gets 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia, though German government officials say they’re not overly worried about their dependence on Russian gas.
“It’s never ideal to rely on one source, but we don’t really have much concern for Russia,” said Hartmut Schneider, deputy director general of Germany’s Ministry of Economics.
But Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says energy policy is integral to Russian diplomacy, and other Russian energy clients, like Ukraine and Belarus, had their supplies cut off in recent years following political squabbles.
While Russia hasn’t made a direct a move on Germany, critics say Moscow could still be influencing German policy — to the detriment of the U.S. — on matters like NATO and EU expansion in the former Eastern Bloc, as well as the installation of missile sites there.
“Russia has discovered that oil and gas are central instruments to raise its political ambitions on the world stage,” said Alexander Rahr, director of the Russia/Eurasia program at the Berlin-based German Council on Foreign Relations.
A principal tool in Russia’s arsenal is the Kremlin-dominated gas firm Gazprom, which sponsors a German soccer team, has offices in Berlin and stakes in German energy companies — and has many German friends.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was hired to handle a major Gazprom-related pipeline deal shortly after leaving office.
Gazprom spokesman Burkhard Welki, a former Berlin official himself, said these relations are just healthy energy interdependence, but offered a warning for Europeans who want to stand up to Russia.
“If someone wants to keep us out of the European Union, Western Europe, that’s a problem,” he said. “Because to say it very clearly: We have the gas.”
Yet soaring energy prices, which have given Russia much of its new power, may also be its undoing. Even as Russia pressures its former satellites, Europe is looking for alternative fuel sources and alternative energy, which could take the flex out of Russia's energy muscle.
Britain officially ratifies EU treaty
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5idLlw1Ox6m3BVuJzpgjX_JwdeO-Q
LONDON (AFP) — Britain has formally ratified the European Union's Lisbon Treaty by filing the official documents required in Rome, a Foreign Office spokesman said Thursday.
"The documents were lodged in Rome yesterday," said the spokesman, adding that Foreign Secretary David Miliband would make a statement on the issue later in the day.
Bush and Blair faced al Qaeda threats in Israel and Gaza
http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5443
DEBKAfile’s counter-terror sources report that the Shin Bet internal intelligence agency is now diverting resources from Palestinian terror to al Qaeda, in view of recent threats to Western leaders and the Islamist group’s intensified efforts to plant covert terror and spy cells in Israeli Arab communities.
Six Arabs were detained in Jerusalem Friday, July 18, for trying to set up an al Qaeda cell in Israel to shoot down President George W. Bush’s helicopter during a recent visit.
DEBKAfile’s counter-terror sources disclose: On one site, the Saudi Hamza al-Ghamdi wrote: “Oh God, the idea occurred to me of kidnapping him and slaughtering him.”
Blair cancelled his visit to Gaza.
Friday, a Shin Bet inquiry led to the detention of 4 Palestinian residents of Jerusalem and two Israeli Arabs from the northern towns of Nazareth and Taibe. They were said to have met several times at Jerusalem’s al Aqsa mosque to try and organize a local al Qaeda network. One of them, Muhammad Nijam, from Nazareth, a chemistry student at the Hebrew University, used his mobile phone to film helicopters at the university stadium used as a landing site for the Bush party during his Jerusalem visits in January and May. A Marines detail of bodyguards was located there.
Their leader is Yusuf Sumarin from the Beit Hanina suburb of Jerusalem, an ex-security convict.
Al Qaeda’s second-in-command Ayman Zawahri and its regional operations chief have claimed that the cells planted among Israel Arabs are on the point of going operational. Earlier this month, two Israeli Bedouin citizens, brothers from the Negev town of Rahat, were indicted for joining al Qaeda in 2006 and gathering intelligence to aid attacks on Israeli military camps, the Tel Aviv Azrieli tower and Ben-Gurion international airport. The pair were instructed to prepare to guide terror teams from Saudi Arabia and Iraq through the West Bank to their targets.
Israel Arrests Six Men with al-Qaeda Links
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/412178.aspx
CBNNews.com - Israeli authorities have arrested six men suspected of trying to set up a terror-network linked to al-Qaeda, including one who expressed an interest in shooting down President Bush's helicopter earlier this year, security officials said Friday.
Two of the men are Arab citizens of Israel, both students at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, officials said. The other four are Palestinian residents of east Jerusalem. The men range in age from 21 to 24.
Investigators found bomb-making instructions on the personal computers of several of the suspects. Officials gave no indication that their activities ever moved beyond the planning stage.
None face charges of active involvement in any attacks.
Officials say the indictments are further indication of an al-Qaeda presence in Israel.
Israel Foreign Ministry Addresses Arab World
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/411979.aspx
CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - Israel's Foreign Ministry embarked on a new initiative to speak directly with the Arab world via the Internet.
In a videotaped message posted on YouTube, a deputy director from the Foreign Ministry talked about "the real" Samir Kuntar, the best known of the five Lebanese terrorists released in yesterday's "prisoner exchange."
"For Hezbollah, Samir Kuntar is a first-rate hero, while for Israel and the rest of the civilized world, he is the most despicable of murderers," said Ofir Gendelman, deputy director of the Arab press and public affairs department.
"This is a child killer whom Hezbollah is welcoming with praises, cries and parades," Gendelman says.
"Hezbollah is a radical terror organization that is working under Iranian leadership. Hezbollah is proud of [this] cold-blooded murderer," he said.
At the conclusion of the brief statement, the deputy minister issued a warning.
"Respected viewers, just one last word -- if Hezbollah tries to carry out another kidnapping, the Israeli response will be tougher than it was in July 2006."
Ben-Eliezer: Israeli people prepared to pay price for true peace with Syria
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1215331015373
The people of Israel are prepared to pay a price for true peace Syria and "we know the required price," National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Friday on a visit to Turkey.
Ben-Eliezer thanked Turkey for its mediation efforts in the Israel-Syria negotiations and asked the country to help in talks to secure the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit.
Concerning Iran, the minister said that Israel would overcome every threat and that it knew how to defend itself. Nevertheless, said Ben-Eliezer, Sunni Muslim countries, Gulf states, North African nations and even European countries should worry more about the Iranian nuclear threat.
Ben-Eliezer was in Ankara to advance his plan on the construction of a natural gas pipeline that would stretch from Turkey to Israel and increase Israel's energy sources.
The Future of Jerusalem
http://www.theglobalist.com/StoryId.aspx?StoryId=7129
It is now accepted as a given by the vast majority of Israelis that sooner rather than later, a Palestinian state will be established in Gaza and in most of the West Bank. No consensus has formed, however, about whether East Jerusalem will be its capital. Alon Ben-Meir argues that once other difficult issues are resolved, a solution to the future of Jerusalem may not be as elusive as some skeptics argue.
During the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations at Camp David in the summer of 2000, President Clinton and Prime Minister Ehud Barak (currently Israel’s Defense Minister) conceded that the Arab part of East Jerusalem should be the capital of the Palestinian state.
Surely, the Olmert government does not subscribe fully to the Clinton Parameters. Still, a solution to the future of Jerusalem may not be as insurmountable as it may seem.
Affinity to Jerusalem
The Jewish affinity for Jerusalem extends over millennia and represents the embodiment of Jewish existence and freedom.
The Jews’ holiest shrine, the Temple Mount, the remnant of the Second Temple — the Western Wall — is in Jerusalem, and no Israeli government would survive should it contemplate physically dividing the city again.
For the Arabs, Jerusalem is equally sacred. Two of the holiest Arab shrines, the al Aksa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, along with many Muslim educational institutions, are in East Jerusalem.
Amicable solution
At the Taba negotiations both sides accepted the principle of control over each other’s respective holy sites.
According to this principle, Israel’s sovereignty over the Western Wall would be recognized although there remains a dispute over the delineation of the area covered by the Western wall and especially the link to what is referred to — in President Clinton’s idea — as the space sacred to Judaism of which it is part.
An open city
There were several other issues over which the two sides continue to disagree but there was a shred of sentiment that an amicable solution would eventually be found.
Since more than 250,000 Palestinians live in the city, and no artificial separation or wall can be erected that can effectively isolate the interspersed Arab and Jewish communities from each other, both sides favored the idea of an open city.
The Israeli side suggested the establishment of an open city whose geographical scope encompasses the Old City of Jerusalem plus the area defined as the Holy Basin.
Reality on the ground
Conversely, while the Palestinian side was also in favor of an Open City they insisted that continuity and contiguity were preserved.
The Palestinians emphasized that the Open City is only acceptable if its geographical scope encompasses the full municipal borders of both East and West Jerusalem.
Future of Israel
Here too, while both sides held fast to their positions, they felt that the reality on the ground will ultimately fashion a mutually accepted formula.
Indeed, many Israelis and Palestinians envision Jerusalem as becoming a microcosm of Israeli-Palestinian coexistence. Thus, once other difficult issues are resolved, a solution to the future of Jerusalem may not be as elusive as some skeptics argue.
Although no agreement was reached regarding the political line that would separate East from West Jerusalem, it is important to note that during these negotiations at Taba, the Israeli side accepted that the City of Jerusalem be the capital of the two states: Yerushalaim, capital of Israel and Al-Quds, capital of the state of Palestine.
Iran Calls Nuclear Talks Positive
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/411974.aspx
CBNNews.com - ANKARA, Turkey -- Iran's Foreign Minister said Friday that forthcoming nuclear talks in Geneva and the participation of a U.S. diplomat for the first time look positive and he expects progress.
U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns was expected to attend the talks in Geneva on Saturday - the first time the U.S. has had such a presence - and join colleagues from other world powers to meet with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator.
"The new negotiation process (and) the participation of a U.S. diplomat look positive from the outset, but we hope that is reflected in the talks," Mottaki told a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan.
He said the presence of U.S. representative "is a new positive approach."
Meanwhile, Burns met Friday for about 20 minutes with International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed Elbaradei to discuss Iran's contentious atompic program. He did not speak to reporters before leaving.
The U.S. has shifted from its confrontational policy of isolating Iran in favor of a diplomatic approach.
The U.S. administration is also floating a proposal to open a de facto U.S. Embassy in Tehran. U.S. diplomats would go to Iran for the first time in almost 30 years, since the countries broke relations after the 1979 Islamic revolution
"I think there might be an agreement both on the issue of opening a U.S. interest protection bureau in Iran and on the issue of direct flights to Iran," Mottaki said.
The six-nation group - the group of five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia, the U.S. and Germany - has offered Iran incentives to halt activities that could lead to development of nuclear weapons.
U.S. officials say Burns will be listening, not negotiating, at the meeting that they insist is a "one-time event." But his mere presence signals a significant change in Bush's approach toward Iran, a charter member of what he termed the "axis of evil" in 2002.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday that "the United States is firmly behind this diplomacy, firmly behind and unified with our allies and hopefully the Iranians will take that message."
Washington insists it will not negotiate with Iran as it has with North Korea until Tehran halts enriching and reprocessing uranium. But it is supporting an effort led by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana that would allow early talks with others in the six-nation group before such a step.
Iran has rebuffed the attempt to persuade it to stop enrichment and reprocessing, which can produce the key ingredient for atomic weapons, and insists its nuclear program is designed only to produce electric power. Others, particularly the United States and Israel, maintain it is a cover for weapons development.
As part of its diplomatic efforts, the U.S. administration is also floating a proposal to open a de-facto U.S. Embassy in Tehran. U.S. diplomats would go to Iran for the first time in almost 30 years, since the countries broke relations after the 1979 Islamic revoluqtion.
Mottaki, however, insisted on specifically calling a U.S. mission "a U.S. interest-protection bureau," instead of a diplomatic mission.
Turkey, a close U.S. ally, supports Iran's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful use but calls on Tehran to be transparent about its controversial nuclear program.
Murder for the Sake of Honor
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/257974.aspx
CBNNews.com - AMMAN, Jordan - Every year 5,000 women are murdered in so-called 'honor killings' where members of a family kill one of their own women, like a mother or a sister because they believe her actions have shamed the family.
Rana Husseini says that honor is restored only when the woman is dead. Husseini has documented the practice of honor killings as a reporter for The Times of Jordan.
"Living in a patriarchal society, women somehow tend to be always blamed," said Hussein. "Her family holds her responsible for their reputation and so the minute this woman does something wrong they see no solution but to kill her. For them blood cleanses honor."
Stoned for Love
On April 7, 2007, just outside Iraq's northern city of Mosul, 17-year-old Du'a Khalil Aswad was dragged by a group of relatives, including her brother and uncle, into the village square.
Hundreds of townspeople watched as she was stripped, kicked and repeatedly stoned. Her gruesome killing was caught on a video cell phone.
Aswad's crime: She was in love with a young man and members of her family disapproved.
Thousands of Women killed for Family 'Honor'
Each year, hundreds, if not thousands, of people worldwide are shot, stabbed, strangled, stoned or burned to death. And almost always the victim is a woman accused of tarnishing her family's honor.
"Families decide to kill for these reasons: rumors, suspicion, rape, if a woman is raped sometimes they blame her for the rape; incest also they might kill her,"Choosing her own man to get married to, talking to a man, losing her virginity, becoming pregnant out of wedlock," Husseini told CBN News from her office in downtown Amman.
Husseini is now on a mission to end the silence surrounding this horrific practice.
"I'm here to speak in the name of these women who have no voices," Hussein said as she glanced through the hundreds of articles she'd written over the years.
Her upcoming book, Murder in the Name of Honor documents the rise of honor crimes worldwide.
"The typical honor killer usually is the brother and sometimes, some families are very knowledgeable about the law, sometimes they choose minors to commit the crime," she said. "Because in such crimes they get away with very lenient sentences. It could range from three months to two years."
Crimes of Honor
It's difficult to get precise numbers, but the United Nations estimates that worldwide at least 13 people are killed a day - at least 5,000 a year.
And while the majority of these crimes occur in Arab and Muslim countries, a growing number take place in immigrant communities in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere.
The crime of honor killings is not just limited to Muslim communities in the Middle East. According to Husseini, Christian families are also taking part in this horrific crime.
"The proof is that in Jordan, I've covered several cases lets say five or six cases of Christian women who were killed by their families because they tarnished their family's honor," said Husseini.
Women as Property
But the problem is generally more prevalent in Islamic cultures where women are often viewed as property with no rights.
A few months before Du'a Khalil's murder, Fareeda, also from Northern Iraq, was kidnapped from her home and taken to the Turkish city of Silopi. There she was drugged, raped, and sold into prostitution.
"I was treated like an animal," said Fareeda as she fought back tears. "I was used like a piece of meat."
Fareeda was discovered by Turkish authorities and sent back to Iraq. But instead of being welcomed home, her family now wants her dead.
"To them I am dirty and worthless," Fareeda said.
Fareeda is being protected by a group of human rights activists at an undisclosed location. But the day CBN News met her, she had tried to kill herself by jumping from this window.
"I don't want to live anymore," she said. "I am as good as dead to my family."
Protective Custody
In Jordan, if a woman is afraid that her family wants to kill her, she can check herself into the local prison. That's what Wadid did after she was raped.
"A few months later I found out I was pregnant. I was afraid to tell my family, so I kept my mouth shut until my pregnancy started to show. When I was due, I went to hospital and gave birth," said Wadid with her face covered with a white cloth to protect her identity. "They asked me for the family ID card, but I did not have one. They told the police and that's why I'm here."
The only problem is that Wadid can't check herself out of prison. The only person who can check her out is a male relative.
"And most of the time if the family decides they want to release their female, 99 percent it's to kill them," said reporter Husseini.
Nourhan Fakoury, a human rights expert based in Amman, says dozens of women are languishing under this so-called 'protective' custody in Jordanian prisons.
"Actually some of the women, they've been in the prison for more than five years," Fakoury told CBN News from her home on the outskirts of Amman.
Escaping Honor Killings
Zaina and Shadi got out last year only after agreeing to get married in prison.
"We had a child outside of marriage," said Shadi, whose last name and face have been concealed for security reasons. "This is considered adultery in Jordan."
Zaina chimed in saying, "The only way to restore our family's honor was to get married or else risk being killed."
Honor killings are technically illegal in Jordan, but tradition and social pressure make it difficult to amend laws that allow killers to get off with little or no punishment.
"We just can't abandon these traditions quickly it will take time," said Imad Maayah, a Jordanian member of Parliament. "We are making progress and things are going to get better."
Ending Violence Against Women
Social, religious and political groups are steering a public debate on the topic. But challenges remain. Husseini receives numerous death threats and is accused of being anti-Islamic.
Still, she is trying to convince her society and others around the world that life is more important than some distorted view of honor.
"The right of life is something very holy and it's not for anyone on this planet to take someone else's life," said Hussein. "God created us and God takes us."
Bush Agrees to Time Horizon on Troop Cuts
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/412115.aspx
CBNNews.com - WASHINGTON - President Bush and Iraq's prime minister have agreed to set a "general time horizon" for bringing more U.S. troops home from the war, a dramatic shift from the administration's once-ironclad unwillingness to talk about any kind of deadline or timetable.
The announcement Friday put Bush in the position of offering to talk with Iraqi leaders about a politically charged issue that he adamantly has refused to discuss with the Democratic-led Congress at home. It also could complicate the presidential campaign arguments of Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama who have staked out starkly opposite stands about the unpopular war.
What's changed? The sharp reduction in violence in Iraq - to the lowest level in four years - has made the country's leaders increasingly confident and more assertive about its sovereignty, giving rise to demands for a specific plan for American forces to leave.
Iraq has leverage because the White House is struggling to salvage negotiations for a long-term agreement covering U.S. military operations there. The White House said its goal is to conclude that deal by the end of this month.
Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki talked about the stalled negotiations during a secure video conference on Thursday, agreeing "on a common way forward to conclude these negotiations as soon as possible," a White House statement said.
The two leaders agreed that improvements in security should allow for the negotiations "to include a general time horizon for meeting aspirational goals, such as the resumption of Iraqi security control in their cities and provinces and the further reduction of U.S. combat forces from Iraq," the White House said.
Bush repeatedly has vetoed legislation approved by Congress setting deadlines for American troop cutbacks.
Friday's White House statement was intentionally vague and did not specify what kind of timelines were envisioned. That allows Iraqi officials, who are facing elections in the fall, to argue they are not beholden to Washington or willing to tolerate a permanent military presence in Iraq. For Bush, it points the way toward a legal framework for keeping American troops in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires on Dec. 31.
"The agreement will look at goal dates for transition of responsibilities and missions," said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for Bush's National Security Council. "The focus is on the Iraqi assumption of missions, not on what troop levels will be."
As for the campaign to elect a new commander in chief, McCain firmly opposes any withdrawal timetable while Obama pledges to pull out combat troops within 16 months. By talking about a "time horizon," Bush appeared at odds with McCain and could make his own GOP administration a tougher target for Obama's anti-war barbs.
McCain issued a statement saying, "Progress between the United States and Iraq on a time horizon for American troop presence is further evidence that the surge has succeeded. ... If we had followed Sen. Obama's policy, Iraq would have descended into chaos, American casualties would be far higher, and the region would be destabilized."
However, Ben Rose, a senior adviser to Obama, said, "It's another indication that the administration is moving toward ... Sen. Obama's position on negotiating the removal of our forces as part of our ongoing discussions with the Iraqi government."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Bush wasn't going far enough. "After rejecting 18 months of attempts by the Democratic majority in Congress to adopt redeployment timetables, the president now proposes a vague general time horizon that falls far short of a commitment to ending our involvement in Iraq," she said.
Democratic Rep. William Delahunt of Massachusetts, who has led House hearings on the planned agreement with Iraq, said the "time horizon" cited by the White House was "very vague and nebulous." He also said the agreement taking shape seemed "far less grandiose than what was initially articulated."
Iraq has proposed requiring U.S. forces to fully withdraw five years after the Iraqis take the lead on security nationwide - though that condition could take years to meet. Iraq's national security adviser, Mouwaffak al-Rubaie, said this month that Baghdad would not accept any security deal unless it contained specific dates for U.S. troop withdrawals.
So far, the United States has handed control of 10 of 18 provinces to Iraqi officials. "Obviously, if Iraqis are assuming more missions, then you need less American troops," Johndroe said.
The White House sought to make a distinction between talking with Iraqis about withdrawals and attempts by Congress to force cutbacks.
"I think it's important to remember that the discussions about timeline issues previously were from Democrats in Congress who wanted to arbitrarily retreat from Iraq without consideration of conditions on the ground," said White House deputy press secretary Scott Stanzel, who was traveling with Bush in Tucson, Ariz.
"All of the discussions that we have always had have been based on conditions on the ground and making progress in the country, and we are doing just that," Stanzel said. "We are making progress on the security situation. The number of attacks has dropped dramatically in recent months."
A major troop buildup ordered by Bush in January 2007 has ended. In recent days, the 3rd Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade, the last of the five additional combat brigades sent in last year, left the country. There are still 150,000 U.S. troops in Iraq - as many as 15,000 more than before the buildup began.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Wednesday that he is likely to recommend further troop reductions this fall because security has improved.
Christians Attacked in Sri Lanka
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07406.shtml
There were at least two incidents of violence against Christians in Sri Lanka in recent weeks, according to a July 7 report from the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka.
Unidentified assailants set fire to the house of an Assemblies of God church pastor in the city of Middeniya on the evening of July 3. The pastor, his wife and his two children awoke to find that a fire had been started by the main door of their house. The family managed to put the blaze before it caused extensive damage and no one was injured. Local villagers opposed to the pastor's church have reportedly been threatening him and his family in recent weeks.
On July 6, a mob attacked the Calvary Church after false rumours about Christians attacking a temple spread in the district of Colombo. At approximately 9:30 a.m., five Buddhist monks charged into the church building during a worship service and demanded that the service cease. The pastor led the monks outside where they told him that there was no need for Christians in the village and th reatened to destroy all local churches. By the time the police arrived on scene a large mob had gathered around the building. Fearing violence, the pastor sent his congregation away. The mob then attacked the building, completely destroying the contents. They beat the pastor and at least five others with clubs and rods. The pastor and his father were severely injured while others sustained minor injuries.
Ask God to strengthen and heal the victims of these attacks. Pray that the faithfulness of Christians in Sri Lanka will be a light that draws others to Christ (Matthew 5:14-16).
For more information on the challenges facing Sri Lanka's Christians, go to www.persecution.net/country/srilanka.htm.
Siloam helping at-risk children in India
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/siloam.helping.atrisk.children.in.india/20642.htm
Childhood should not include your mother’s suicide, being cruelly tormented about your squint eye condition and forced into slave labour. But that is the experience of Asha (name changed for security reasons), a young girl in India receiving the care and support of Siloam Christian Ministries.
Throughout her home area, Siloam Christian Ministries partnering with Childcare Worldwide has been able to rescue her and other vulnerable children.
Asha’s mother committed suicide when she was four years old and her father’s second wife has been abusive toward her. Her father sent her to work as a house maid to avoid the negative remarks about her eye, where she stayed for two years before coming under the wing of Siloam.
Today Asha is a happy twelve-year-old, fulfilling her dream of attending school. Having suffered taunts because of her eye condition, she is also benefitting from Siloam’s long established eye care which began in India. Their extensive work includes a dedicated team of Indian doctors.
When Asha was examined, she was selected for surgery which will require a specialist who can operate on her in September.
Yet Asha’s young life still may be subject to vulnerability. Her father only agreed that she could leave her forced labour after lengthy talks and arranged sponsorship. Now his alcoholic condition has led to his hospital admission. In the event of his death, his second wife may be able to demand that Asha live with her, being subjected to the cruel treatment of forced labour as a slave.
Commenting on the outlook for Asha, Siloam Executive Director David Sutharsanam in India said, "Her future really is at stake because we don’t know how long they will allow her to go to school. We are trying to bring her into one of our children’s homes. Please pray that we may be able to save this child from her terrible situation."
Siloam runs sponsorship programmes for rescued children and provides safe and loving environments in their children's homes.
On the web: www.siloam.org.uk
Christian Rights Activist Evicted in Beijing, China
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07411.shtml
(christiansunite.com) - Hua Huiqi, a Christian rights activist and house church leader, was evicted from his home by Public Security Bureau officers on July 2, according to a July 2 report from China Aid Association. At approximately 8:30 p.m., the officers broke down the doors and locks of Huiqi's rental apartment with a hammer and forcibly entered the residence. They beat Huiqi's brother, badly injuring his eye. Huiqi and his family, including his 90-year-old father, were then forced onto the street with their furniture. The family is in search of a new home and is currently being hosted by a Christian family in Beijing.
The Chinese government has branded Huiqi and other human rights activists "troublemakers" and is reportedly determined to stop them from attending the Olympic Games in August. Authorities have expressed their intention to either detain Huiqi until September 20 or remove him and his family from Beijing until the Olympics is finished.
Pray that Huiqi and his family will experience the peace of the Lord as they suffer for His sake (John 14:27). Pray for Chinese authorities to respect the rights of Chinese Christians to worship God freely.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in China, go to www.persecution.net/country/china.htm
House Church Banned, Leader Questioned by Police in Hegang, China
http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07405.shtml
(christiansunite.com) - A house church missionary, Jiao Chunbao, was detained by government securi ty officers while on his way to a worship service in the city of Hegang, Heilongjiang province on July 2, according to a July 7 report from China Aid Association.
The officers forcibly escorted Chunbao to the police station where he was told that his church was banned from meeting together for worship and threatened with re-arrest if meetings continued. Two female members of the house church were also taken to the police station and questioned.
Pray for Christ's peace and grace to fill the hearts of Chunbao and the house church members (Philippians 4:7). Ask God to embolden Chinese Christians to continue spreading the Gospel despite increasing pressure from the authorities.
For more information on the persecution facing Christians in China, go to www.persecution.net/country/china.htm.
Christian Vietnamese asylum seekers protest in Cambodian capital
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christian.vietnamese.asylum.seekers.protest.in.cambodian.capital/20634.htm
Ethnic minority asylum seekers protested in the Cambodian capital on Friday against the forced return of their friends and relatives to neighbouring Vietnam.
Around 60 Montagnards, the mainly Christian tribespeople from Vietnam's Central Highlands, stormed out of their refugee camp in Phnom Penh to stage the demonstration triggered by the repatriation of 28 refugees.
The four-hour protest ended when 40 riot police armed with automatic rifles, batons and shields arrived on the scene and threatened to break up the rally.
"We do not want to go back to Vietnam because they will imprison us. Some of our friends are dying in Vietnam's jails," Kosal Xuan, 21, told Reuters.
The group, including children and woman carrying babies, shouted "freedom, freedom!". One of their banners said: "Demonstration! We have the right to ask for freedom and justice."
Vietnam's government, accused of rights abuses against the Montagnards who sided with the Americans during the Vietnam War, has given assurances that returnees will not face discrimination.
Some 450 Montagnards are in United Nations holding centres in Phnom Penh while their refugee claims are being processed. A spokesman for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said 28 had been repatriated to Vietnam early on Friday.
"They are upset that their friends have to go back to Vietnam," UNHCR spokesman Toshi Kawauchi said at the scene of the protest.
The Montagnards fled to Cambodia in 2001 following anti-Vietnamese government demonstrations in the Central Highlands over their ancestral lands and religious freedoms.
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