Eeyores news and view

This is part two of a 4 part message on hell and here after
2. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
As we've seen from our previous chapter, the Scriptures plainly teach there is a place called Hell. While the reality of fire judgment seems to be the worst punishment, yet I want you to notice that in Hell they remember. Luke 16:25, "But Abraham said, Son, remember..." Memory can be a blessing or a curse. Here it will be a curse for the unsaved will remember eternally with no escape.
I read the other day about a famous picture in an art gallery in Brussels. This picture is entitled. "A View of Hell." The central figure is a man with folded arms and a familiar cocked hat on his head. There is no name given, but there is no need, for he is at once identified as Napoleon Bonaparte. On the face of the Emperor there is a look of amazement and astonishment mingled with dread and fear. He looks about him and beholds an awful scene.
In the light of the flames burning about Napoleon, you can see back of him the ranks of the slain in battle. Little children stretch out clenched fists at the emperor. Mothers with agony on their countenance surround him. They are holding up the bleeding, amputated arms and legs of the slaughtered. One woman has the head of her husband in a sack, and another carries the torso of a dead and mangled body. A raw and bloody arm, severed at the shoulder, is thrust close to the face of Napoleon. At one side is a naked body, upheaved with a sword plunged into the abdomen. On the faces of the children, the wives, and the mothers are depicted rage, horror, anger, hate, and infinite pain and sorrow. It is a terrible picture. It represents Napoleon in Hell remembering the agony which he caused through a lifetime.
I feel constrained to say that if a man has no hope in Christ he has nothing. If you are outside of Christ, no matter who you are, you are facing eternity in a place called Hell.
General William Booth of the Salvation Army used to tell the story of a family in the city of London well known to Salvation Army workers. The members of this family were avowed enemies of the gospel and infidels concerning the faith. There were four members of the household - father, mother, son, and daughter. They were so positive in their antagonism to the gospel that they had publicly declared they did not want a Christian to enter their home at any time. But a young Salvation Army girl had a great yearning for the souls of these people and she was determined to try to enter their home and bear at least one testimony for Jesus Christ. And so one day, climbing up the stairs to where they lived, she came to the landing just below the open door of their apartment. As she paused for breath, she heard the tones of a man in mature years, strong, firm and confident, saying, "Hold on, my son, hold on! You are sick now. It may be you must even die, but we know there is nothing beyond. We have reasoned it all out. We have read all the books. We know all the arguments. We have exploded the Christian myth long ago. There is nothing but a step into the dark and then sleep, peaceful and permanent. Do not be afraid. Hold on! Hold on!"
Then there was a moment's silence, after which the sobbing voice of a women cried in great and yearning tenderness: "O my precious boy! Mother's heart breaks for you, but you must not be afraid. You will be going to sleep directly as gently as ever you did when a babe on Mother's bosom. You remember that we investigated all the questions relating to any possible life beyond this. You know our faculties were all strong and vigorous when we reached the definite and deliberate conclusion that there is nothing beyond but darkness, and death is but a step into it, and then sleep. Son, hold on! Hold on!"
Again there was a heartbreaking pause. Then as the Salvation Army girl waited, she heard the voice of the boy's sister as she said, "O my brother, do not falter now. All real knowledge, conviction, and understanding of life and death came to you in the days of health. Do you not remember the books we read, the arguments we made, and the conclusions to which we came? Just hold on now for a little while, then all will be over and you will sleep. There is nothing beyond; just hold on."
And then wavering upon the air, a voice laden with great tragedy of despair, between choking gasps for breath. said, "Hold on? That is the trouble! There is nothing to hold on to! There is nothing to hold on to as I go out into the dark." My friend, without Christ, there is nothing to hold on to. If you have not placed your hand in the nail-scarred hand of Jesus, then you have nothing to hold on to. Eternity will not only mean darkness but it will be full of suffering, torment, and everlasting woe for you.
Look to Jesus. Receive Him now as your Saviour. Believe in Him. He has said, "He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die" ( John 11:25,26).
THE RESURRECTION OF THE UNSAVED
In Revelation 20:13 we read, "Death (the grave) and Hell (Hades) delivered up the dead which were in them." This is a picture of the unsaved dead being resurrected. You will recall in our previous chapter how we saw that only the spirits of the wicked dead are in Hades. The spirits of the righteous dead were taken up to Paradise with Christ and are now with Him.
The resurrection of the unsaved dead will take place one thousand years after the resurrection of the righteous, that is, one thousand years after the second coming of the Lord. This is inferred in Revelation 20:5, "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." This event leads to the Great White Throne Judgment as described in Revelation 20: 11-15: "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
God's Word teaches that there is coming a day when men and women who have rejected Christ as their Saviour must stand before God in Judgment. While the world is primarily occupied with living - making money and having things - one day the activities will cease and each unsaved person will meet God. The first fact to notice about the Great White Throne Judgment is that no righteous people from among the dead will be there. Only the dead who have rejected Christ will stand before God at this judgment. What a scene it will be! Here will stand the king and servant, the rich and poor, the high and low. There will be no escape for them.
We read in verse 12 that "the books were opened." These books will contain the names of the unsaved people of all ages as they stand before God. They will also contain the Divine record of the lives of each individual. Every sin, every evil thought, every rejection of Christ will be recorded and will be displayed on this Judgment Day. "And another book was opened, which is the book of life." In this book the records of all of God's people are kept. And if the names found in the other books are not recorded in this book then there is no hope for them. It will be Divine proof that they have rejected Christ and deserve God's judgment. "And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." God knows every sin of every sinner and the record is now being kept. In that day the record will be revealed and each sinner will be judged according to his works. We may try to hide from God now. We may succeed in hiding our sin from others. But in that day nothing will be hidden from God. The wicked works of all the unsaved will be judged.
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them." We know, of course, that death holds the bodies of the dead and Hell holds the spirits of the wicked dead. None of the wicked dead will be overlooked or forgotten. All must stand before God. "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. It is God's guarantee that sin will never enter into His new creation.
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Notice that God's final Judgment upon men and women is a judgment that takes place because their names were not written in the book of life. Their names may have been written upon the church rolls but they were absent from the book of life. They had never been born again.
http://www.tpgh.org/UAD.htm

Oklahoma braces for challenge to Ten Commandments law
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Backers of a new law authorizing a privately funded Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of Oklahoma's Capitol didn't get good news this week.
A three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that a similar display at the Haskell County Courthouse in Stigler was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion, prompting both sides to wonder if legal wrangling over the state law is next.
Chuck Thornton, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, the group that challenged the Haskell County display, said the group has concerns with the Oklahoma law but stopped short of saying a legal challenge was inevitable.
"Although I'm not going to commit to any course of action today, we at the ACLU are looking at the developments at the state Capitol concerning that monument," Thornton said.
The state bill, approved overwhelmingly last month by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Brad Henry, authorizes the placement of a privately funded a 3-by-6-foot Ten Commandments monument on the State Capitol grounds.
It also authorizes the attorney general or the Liberty Legal Institute, a Texas-based legal advocacy group, to defend the monument if it's challenged in court.
"I think everybody expects it to be challenged or they wouldn't have written a provision for defense in the bill," Attorney General Drew Edmondson said Tuesday.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that Ten Commandments displays on government property must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
The court in the Haskell County case noted that commissioners knew of the monument's religious nature when they approved of it and that they supported and defended its installation.
But the House author of the new Oklahoma law, state Rep. Mike Ritze, said he was careful to avoid referring to the monument as a religious display, saying instead he is motivated by the historical context of the Ten Commandments.
Ritze's bill even directs that the Oklahoma monument use the same words as a display on the Capitol grounds in Texas that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.
"I took great care to ensure my legislation falls in line with Supreme Court rulings that have allowed for several monuments in the U.S. to remain," said Ritze, R-Broken Arrow.
But Edmondson said the words on the display are not the crux of the case, and that the Texas monument had been on display on the Capitol grounds for more than 40 years.
"How you spell 'Thou shalt not kill' is not the issue," Edmondson said. "The issue is how did it get there, why is it there, and in what context is it there. And that's where we may have difficulties.
"I think the experience at the state Capitol is closer to the experience in Haskell County than it is closer to Texas in terms of the facts and the situation involved."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-06-09-ten-commandments_N.htm

Ohio teacher accused of preaching in class sues district

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio school teacher fired over accusations that he preached Christianity in class says in a $1 million lawsuit that his free speech and civil rights were violated.
John Freshwater, an eighth-grade teacher, also says he was harassed because of his religion, was defamed and suffered a hostile work environment.
The Mount Vernon school board created a work situation that allowed Freshwater "to be harassed by both administrators and co-workers on account of his religion," according to the lawsuit against the board and school administrators filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Columbus.
A message was left with Superintendent Steve Sharp on Wednesday seeking comment.
The Mount Vernon school board fired Freshwater last year, citing an internal investigation that found he had preached his Christian beliefs in class, in violation of the traditional separation of church and state.
Freshwater was also accused of using a scientific device to burn a cross image onto a student's arm and of keeping a Bible on his desk.
Freshwater says other teachers were permitted to keep Bibles on their desks.
Freshwater is seeking $500,000 in lost wages, pension pay and lost opportunity costs and $500,000 in punitive damages.
Freshwater also said he was discriminated against because of his involvement with the student group, Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The lawsuit said an outside consultant's report that investigated Freshwater was incomplete and contained "scandalous allegations," which the lawsuit does not detail.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-06-11-school-christianity_N.htm

Card draw decides Council election
PHOENIX The election came down to the high card.
With the final Town Council seat in the small Phoenix-area town of Cave Creek on the line, two candidates who tied with 660 votes apiece in a May runoff cut cards to decide the race.
The winner was Adam Trenk, 25, whose king of hearts beat out former Council member Thomas McGuire's six of hearts.
An obscure Arizona law dating to 1925 says election ties should be broken "by lot." It applies to all elected offices but the governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer and superintendent for public instruction. Ties in those seats are determined by the Legislature.
While a first for Cave Creek and relatively rare, such events do happen from time to time in Arizona. Last year, two local school-board candidates rolled dice to decide a winner. In 1992, a game of poker resolved a stalemate in the primary for a state legislative seat.
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/18/briefs-94987385/

Eeyore's News and View

Makes you wonder, after they call all Jews home last month and now this and all the news surrounding, iran and the other nuclear countries.
Israel stages biggest-ever war drill
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel started its biggest emergency drill in the nation's history Sunday to prepare civilians, soldiers and rescue crews for the possibility of war, the defense force said in a statement.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has expressed skepticism that Iran can be persuaded to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
The five-day drill, nicknamed Turning Point 3, comes amid the nation's rising tensions with Iran.
It will be conducted in public facilities, including schools, military bases and government offices. Students, soldiers and other civilians will practice how to gather at protected places during an emergency.
Officials said the drill will include simulated rockets, air raids and other attacks on infrastructure and essential facilities, and use of weapons on civilians.
Everyone is expected to go to a protected place at the sound of sirens, the defense force said, adding that more instructions will be broadcast on a public channel.
"It is of great importance that every civilian, institute and workplace will seriously practice in order to improve our preparedness and national resilience," Maj. Gen. Yair Golan of the Home Front Command said in a news statement.
The move comes amid tension between Israel and Tehran.
The Israeli government considers Iran's nuclear program as the dominant threat facing the country. Israel is publicly supportive of President Barack Obama administration's outreach to the Islamic state.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israeli Army Radio last week that he believes "that the chance the dialogue has of stopping Iran's nuclear efforts is very low."
Barak's views are keeping with the majority of his countrymen.
An Israeli poll released this month found that 74 percent believe that the U.S. policy of engagement with Iran will fail and 81 percent think Iran will develop a nuclear weapon capability.
Israel has conducted emergency drills the past two years, but officials said this is the biggest so far.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/31/israel.drill/index.html

Federal judge refuses to dismiss 'Day of Prayer' suit
MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) — A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by an atheist group that claims the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled this week the case brought by the Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation can proceed.
A federal law sets the first Thursday in May as the day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray.
Crabb says the nation's largest group of atheists and agnostics faces a heavy burden in proving the tradition violates the Constitution's provision for separation of church and state. But she says it should have an opportunity to do so.
The Obama administration and National Day of Prayer Task Force had filed motions to dismiss the case.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-05-29-prayer-lawsuit_N.htm

Foreclosures add to hurricane hazards
June 1, 2009 - 9:58am
By TAMARA LUSH Associated Press Writer
LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. (AP) - Mike Manikchand points toward his neighbors _ a half-dozen empty, foreclosed-upon homes, sitting on weed-strewn yards _ and he wonders: What will happen if a hurricane slams into southwest Florida this year?
His simple answer: "A lot of these places will get destroyed."
Unoccupied, these homes would be defenseless in a storm; there will be no one to put up shutters, batten down garage doors and otherwise secure homes. But that's not all. Nearby homes and their residents would also be at risk from wind-propelled debris.
Lehigh Acres and other communities at the epicenter of the nation's housing crisis are coming to realize that this year's hurricane season, beginning June 1, represents yet another pitfall. Hurricanes could make hazards of thousands of foreclosed-upon houses, and their diminished value could decrease even more.
"Here's your choice," said Julie Rochman, president of the Tampa-based Institute for Business and Home Safety. "Spend a little bit of time and money to secure the properties to withstand wind and water or not do the right thing and have the homes become damaged and are valued less."
The Associated Press Economic Stress Index _ a month-by-month analysis of foreclosure, bankruptcy and unemployment rates in more than 3,000 U.S. counties _ confirms that some of the areas most likely to be struck by a hurricane are suffering the most in this recession.
In March, there were 281,691 homes in foreclosure in Florida and coastal counties in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
Lee County, where Manikchand lives, is among the hardest-hit counties in the country. A 22-year-old pharmacy student, he took advantage of a dismal housing market and bought a foreclosed duplex for $36,000.
In coming months, he and millions of others along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts will dutifully track tropical weather forecasts and stockpile batteries, flashlights and tins of tuna, hoping that hurricanes blow harmlessly out to sea.
But who will secure all the foreclosed homes if a storm does approach? No one really knows.
In some cases, a property management company hired by the bank could do the work. Or it could be a real estate agent, a homeowners' association or even resourceful neighbors who clear debris from yards and board windows. Yet no state laws mandate who prepares buildings before a hurricane; even officials from the Florida Division of Emergency Management say that securing foreclosures isn't a concern.
"It's not an aspect that we really deal with," said John Cherry, the agency's external affairs director. "Our No. 1 concern is life safety."
Quick evacuation will be the priority, not securing vacant homes, if a major storm looms, others say. But shutterless homes can be a major safety hazard in a hurricane. And a region full of destroyed or heavily damaged homes would depress real estate values even further.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters have projected a near normal year for hurricanes. They predicted nine to 14 named tropical storms, including four to seven hurricanes. One to three of the hurricanes are expected to be major.
Randall Webster, director of the Horry County Emergency Management Department in South Carolina, said if a storm does hit, properties in foreclosure could slow recovery if the county can't immediately find the owner, "especially if it were in a neighborhood where others around it were taking care of business and this one gets in rough shape," he said.
The issue of who cares for vacant homes during a time of crisis seems simple: The legal owner is responsible for securing the property. But communities are already struggling to get banks to mow lawns, much less put up hurricane shutters _ if they weren't swiped from the foreclosed home, along with appliances, copper wiring and air conditioners.
If the bank hasn't yet taken the title of a home, the property is in a kind of limbo, and local officials or homeowners associations may have no legal right to trespass and secure it. And many hard-hit counties don't have the money or manpower to do it.
"Simple logistics tells me (the banks) don't have the staff to follow up," said Kenneth Wilkinson, property appraiser for Lee County, which in March had the third-highest foreclosure rate in the United States, after California's Merced County and Nevada's Clark County.
There are some places that are trying to board up windows and batten down garage doors, although largely to stave off crime. Wellington, in Palm Beach County, has gone to court to receive the legal OK to board up homes. And in Cape Coral, city officials have passed an ordinance that requires the owner of a foreclosed home to pay $150 to register the address and provide a contact number for the person who will maintain the property.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson has asked county attorneys to research whether it is legal to board up empty homes.
"If we board them up, we're protecting them," Aaronson said. "Hopefully we will be able to keep some of the value up."
Aaronson contends that the banks don't always maintain the homes and doesn't expect that they will in the days before a storm _ and if the county takes over that responsibility, then he wants the banks to pay.
"We want to use the full power we have as a government to levy the greatest fines that we can to penalize banks for not taking care of the properties," he said.
Horry County's Webster says there might be another way for public officials to take matters into their own hands.
"If it became deemed a public health issue or public safety hazard, the county would have some legal recourse to secure it in terms of making it off limits or safer," said Webster, whose county includes Myrtle Beach and has seen foreclosures rise over the past year.
Some banks say that they have a plan for hurricanes; JP Morgan Chase says it will use property management companies and bank field employees to make sure properties are storm-ready. And if the homes are damaged or destroyed during a storm, said Michael Fusco, a spokesman for JP Morgan Chase, the bank "acts just like a homeowner" and will file an insurance claim.
Debora Blume, a spokeswoman for Wells Fargo Bank, said her company hires local real estate agents who have been assigned to market bank-owned properties to secure homes against hurricane damage.
But one real estate agent in the Fort Myers area said the process of putting the maintenance work out to bid and then getting approval from the bank that owns the property might not be workable as a storm bears down.
"During a hurricane, we need to get out of town, not wait for approval for funding to secure a building," said Suzanne Sherer, president of the Realtors Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beaches. "I won't have time to get a bid from a handyman."
In Lee County, metal hurricane shutters cover a few new, unsold homes. Many empty homes have swing sets in the yard, garbage cans strewn in the driveway and loose roof tiles, all of which could become projectiles during a storm.
Sherer said it would be "devastating" if a powerful storm similar to Hurricane Charley, which hit nearby Charlotte County in 2004, struck Lee County.
In Galveston, Texas, where more than 17,000 home were damaged by Hurricane Ike last year, there are still many empty homes _ but not because of foreclosures. The properties were damaged during the storm and owners don't have the money to rebuild.
"These homeowners have the biggest hurdles as far as getting back into their homes," City spokeswoman Alicia Cahill said. "A lot of the homes that were affected were lower income to moderate income families who didn't have a huge insurance policy or a lot of extra cash lying around to make repairs."
Tybee, Ga., mayor Jason Buelterman says officials there haven't considered potential problems with foreclosures during storm season. Their first priority, he said, is assuring the safety of island residents and tourists if a hurricane heads their way. Dealing with foreclosed homes will be an afterthought.
Yet residents throughout the hurricane zone are worried, especially those who live in foreclosure-dotted neighborhoods. Armando Gonzalez, 72, retired from Miami to Lehigh Acres five years ago.
He and his wife moved to a small home a few blocks from the city center, in a quiet yet thriving neighborhood. But in the last two years, his neighbors left, either because of foreclosure or job loss. Now he's the only one on his block; the home next to him has a broken window and the one across the street is only half-built.
When asked what would happen to all the nearby, dilapidated homes if a hurricane hit, Gonzalez shrugged and grinned.
"I can't do anything," he said. "Maybe I'll pray. God will save me."
http://wtop.com/?nid=104&sid=1686402

At least he can keep his pledge about some stuff, it only cost us over 24 grand,
OBAMA KEEPS HIS BIG APPLE PLEDGE
Two martinis, a swank restaurant, a Broadway show -- President Obama really knows how to treat a First Lady.
"I am taking my wife to New York City because I promised her during the campaign that I would take her to a Broadway show after it was all finished," the president said yesterday after touching down at JFK for an intimate night on the town.
PHOTOS: Obama's NYC Date
The first couple left their girls, Sasha and Malia, behind at the White House yesterday afternoon, taking two helicopters and a small Air Force jet to make their way to Manhattan.
The Obamas were dressed to the nines -- Michelle in a sleeveless, black cocktail dress adorned with fringe, a pair of low, strappy heels and a turquoise clutch; and the president in a dark suit and white shirt, no tie.
The first stop was a meal at low-key, but elegant, Greenwich Village restaurant Blue Hill, which boasts farm fresh, locally grown dishes.
The Obamas were tucked into an out-of-the- way corner table where they enjoyed a multi- course feast specially prepared by the chef. They washed down the fine fare with wine, said a fellow diner, who also no ticed Michelle re laxing with a cou ple of martinis.
Photographers were kept blocks away be hind barri cades for the first couple's privacy.
"We left them alone the entire night," said Blue Hill diner Rachael Levit, of Manhattan. "Nobody asked for autographs or took any pictures. They were laughing and talking and seemed like they had a genuinely good time."
But as the Obamas departed, the respectful diners, who had been screened by Secret Service personnel before they could enter the eatery, erupted into a round of applause.
Then it was up to Broadway, where they had tickets at the Belasco Theatre for "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," a play by August Wilson about a man coming to terms with the history of slavery.
"I'm nervous, excited, honored," said Andre Holland, who plays character Jeremy Furlow, before the show. "It's like in Shakespearean times, when the king would come to the show."
Although the play's up for a Best Revival Tony Award, the first couple got the biggest standing ovation of the night as theatergoers applauded and took photos of the dashing duo for 10 minutes before the show began.
The president gallantly guided his wife to their orchestra seats with his hand on the small of her back, while shaking hands with fellow theatergoers and smiling broadly. Due to security screenings, the curtain rose an hour late.
"I couldn't think for the first 10 minutes of the show because the president was sitting right to me," said seatmate Lloyd Lederkramer.
The Obamas weren't the only celebrities in the audience. Actress Meryl Streep sat a few rows ahead of them, and Olympia Dukakis was also on hand.
"I was very honored the president took a date night with his wife and chose to see our play," said leading actor Ernie Hudson. "We were all very honored."
The Obamas sent a note to the cast afterwards saying they loved the play and wished they could go backstage, but couldn't because of security, actor Michael Cummings, 13, said.
Taxpayers footed the bill for the big night on the town, which included a total of at least $24,000 for the three aircraft used to ferry the Obamas, aides and reporters to New York and back. Dinner costs and orchestra seat tickets -- at $96.50 apiece -- were paid by the Obamas.
Obama's jet, a Gulfstream 500, served as a more modest Air Force One for the day in place of the customary presidential Boeing 747.
The White House declined to say how much the trip was costing taxpayers.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/05312009/news/nationalnews/obama_keeps_his_big_apple_pledge_171810.htm

Eeyore's News and view

We blame everything for everything. Nothing like taking a little personal responsibility for anything anymore. It is the pizza's fault for the fight, for the crime. Lets punish all of the people that don't break they law, I guess you will be able to tell i needed to get about from the "big" news today. I will try to get "serious" again tomorrow.
Adams Morgan Councilman Sets Sights on Single-slice Pizza Sales
posted 05/22/09 11:39
WASHINGTON - A proposed crackdown on single-slice pizza sales in Adams Morgan has many patrons of the nightlife hot spot perplexed, especially considering the area's other issues, including violent crime.
But Ward 1 D.C. Councilman Jim Graham, who represents Adams Morgan, says the pizza parlors selling single slices along 18th Street, some of which are open until 4:30 a.m., are part of the problem when it comes a recent rash of street fights, stabbings, muggings and even a shootout involving two plainclothes police officers.
"Even though it's a legal business and everything, they have become a nuisance," Graham said. "Behaving the way they do in terms of music, in terms of letting people hang out and also in terms of tolerating a certain level of violence."
A hidden ABC 7 camera captured an example of what Graham is talking about a couple weeks ago. Two girls began arguing in front of one of the jumbo slice businesses, the altercation turned physical when punches were thrown and people wrestled to the ground. The melee went on for 10 minutes before police arrived.
But Graham's proposal has many opponents. For many, a slice after a night out has been a part of the tradition of visiting Adams Morgan for decades.
"It's big pizza, it's cheap and it's good after a night of bar hopping in Adams Morgan," said Nicole Harrison, a Silver Spring resident.
Adams Morgan resident John Sawyko agrees the late night congregating is at times overwhelming and down right scary, but he says blaming pizza is absurd.
"The crowd out here in general is the problem," Sawyko said. "The pizza places are a small part of the issue."
Abdul Souada is the manager of one of the three jumbo slice restaurants on 18th Street. He says he is unfairly being picked on just for being to "popular"
"We are taxpayers also," he said. "Our business is the same as bar business, as the club business, as the other restaurants next door..."
While most people who spoke with ABC 7 in Adams Morgan thought the proposal was a joke, Councilman Graham said he is very serious. He says he's already talked to the mayor about the issue and is drafting legislation.
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0509/625505.html

Our Strategies for a Safe City
On Feb. 6, the Fenty administration submitted to the D.C. Council the Omnibus Anti-Crime Amendment Act of 2009, an ambitious piece of legislation that seeks to modernize a number of laws and expand the tools available to law enforcement to protect residents of the District. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty led the effort to draft the legislation; it was a collaboration that included the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, the D.C. chief of police, the U.S. attorney's office and members of the community.
With the Supreme Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, our city is entering an era in which we expect legal gun ownership to increase. The Fenty administration will comply with the ruling and ensure that law-abiding residents can possess handguns in their homes for self-defense. At the same time, criminal gun possession or use will not be tolerated.
The anti-crime bill contains several provisions designed to prevent gun crime and proposes a greater scrutiny of gun offenders from arrest through reentry into the community. The D.C. police department's aggressive gun recovery efforts and the office of the attorney general's coordinated emphasis on prosecuting gun-related crimes are showing strong results: In the past year, robberies with guns have decreased 12 percent; assaults with guns have decreased 14 percent; and overall violent crime has decreased by 5 percent in the District.
However, we can do more to ensure that violent gun offenders are not arrested and then allowed to return quickly to the communities they have victimized. The anti-crime bill would give the court more authority to detain these offenders. When an individual uses a gun in a crime of violence, illegally possesses a gun, or is a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, the act creates a presumption in favor of pretrial detention. While everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent, the courts must weigh the nature of the charged crime when considering whether it is safe to release that person back into the community before trial. The act would also increase the sentence for possession of a firearm by any person previously convicted of a violent felony.
The act would create a "gun offender registry," which would require each gun offender to register and maintain an accurate address with the D.C. police for two years after incarceration or supervision. Measures focused on gun offenders are critical because studies show that gun offenders pose a high risk of recidivism, and their subsequent arrests are more likely to involve crimes of violence. Perhaps most significant is the finding that previous gun offenders are four times more likely to be arrested for homicide than other offenders.
The act would give the D.C. attorney general the ability to seek civil injunctions against criminal gangs operating in the District. Judges would be granted the authority to issue orders designed to shut down a gang's ability to control the streets, plan crimes and recruit new members. Civil gang injunctions can be a useful tool in combating gang violence and intimidation in the District.
The Fenty administration is committed to ensuring the safety of D.C. residents. We will continue to look for the best methods to prevent violence and to work closely with the community and the criminal justice system to make this a safe city for all.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/14/AR2009031401564.html

10 out of 10 times i will come down on the right (if it is a strongly held religious conviction) of the parent to decide. I see this case as nothing different. I find it absolutely amazing at the double standard that the courts and the law enforcement community have. They will allow abortions (the murder of innocent children) and yet will force this into court.
Minn. boy, mom who dodged chemo return
A mother and her 13-year-old boy who has treatable cancer returned to Minnesota on Monday after a week on the run from court-ordered chemotherapy treatment, police said.
An arrest warrant for Colleen Hauser was dropped after she and son Daniel arrived in New Ulm, about 100 miles southwest of Minneapolis, on a charter flight, Brown County Sheriff Rich Hoffman said.
The boy and his mother "were taken home where Daniel was immediately checked over medically," Hoffman said.
He said an Orange County, Calif., lawyer, Jennifer Keller, contacted the sheriff's office Sunday "and indicated that Colleen wanted to bring Daniel home."
The sheriff said the pair returned on a flight arranged by Asgaard Media of Las Vegas and Corona, Calif.
On a video produced by Asgaard and released by the sheriff's department, Colleen Hauser described how the first chemotherapy treatment Daniel received made him sick and she said he planned to run away from home.
"Then what do I have? I mean, he was going to run," Hauser said. "And that just broke my heart. I can't have one of my children running away from something that they should face."
Hauser expresses optimism that her son can beat cancer.
At one point on the video, an unseen woman asks Daniel what he'd say to people who claim he's not old enough to decide whether he needs chemotherapy.
"I'd tell them to back off," he replies.
Daniel Hauser, who has a cancerous tumor in his chest, was being evaluated by a doctor at a hospital in the Twin Cities, said Tom Hagen, an attorney with a law office representing the parents, Colleen and Anthony Hauser.
Daniel has Hodgkin's lymphoma, a disease which doctors say has a 90% chance of being cured in children if treated with chemotherapy and radiation.
Daniel underwent one round of chemotherapy in February but stopped after that treatment, citing religious beliefs.
A judge ruled that the parents medically neglected Daniel and ordered them to get him an updated chest X-ray as well as select an oncologist for a re-evaluation. After the X-ray showed a tumor in Daniel's chest had grown, the mother and son left town.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-05-25-forced-chemo_N.htm

One of the list of broken promises. Is it surprising of course not. Being President is a lot harder then when you are running for it. When politicians have there mouth open and words are coming out, you know they are lying. I long for a true Statesman to show up again. But if they did they probably could not get elected.
Obama ducks promise to delay bill signingsComplete bills not on Web for pledged 5 days
It seemed among the easiest of his transparency pledges and is entirely under his control, but President Obama is finagling his promise to post bills on the White House Web site for comment for five days before he signs them.
Mr. Obama last week signed four bills, each just a day or two after Congress passed and sent it over to him.
The White House said it posted links from its Web site to Congress' legislative Web site about a week before Mr. Obama signed the measures, but transparency advocates say that doesn't match the president's pledge to give Americans time to comment on the final version he is about to sign.
"He didn't say, 'When there's a bill heading to my desk,' or 'When we're pretty sure a bill will soon be passed.' He said when a bill ends up on his desk - a strong implication that public review would follow the bill arriving at his desk," said Jim Harper, director of information policy studies at the Cato Institute.
During the campaign and again during the transition, Mr. Obama said opening bills up for public comment was a way of fighting back against special interests' control of the process.
"When there's a bill that ends up on my desk as president, you the public will have five days to look online and find out what's in it before I sign it, so that you know what your government's doing," Mr. Obama said in a major campaign speech laying out his goals for transparency.
Mr. Harper said that to him, the pledge means putting a copy of the bill on www.whitehouse.gov and then waiting five days to allow comments to roll in.
"That's the only interpretation of this promise that delivers solid transparency," he said. "Posting a bill late in the process doesn't give the public a chance to review the final legislation - especially last-minute amendments, which are where a lot of congressional hijinks happen."
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the clock starts ticking when a link is posted to bills when they are in their final version, such as a conference report, even if they haven't passed Congress.
"A conference report, as you know, is an unamendable piece of legislation that has to be approved by both houses, language has to be simultaneous, it gets sent down here, and we sign it," he told reporters Friday.
But that was not the case for last week's bills, at least some of which weren't in their final form until a day or two before being sent to Mr. Obama.
In the case of a Defense Department weapons acquisition bill, the White House posted its link to the Library of Congress Web site, www.Thomas.gov, on May 14, even though the conference report wasn't done until May 20. Congress passed that bill on May 21 and Mr. Obama signed it the next day.
On the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Act, the White House posted a link to Congress on May 14, but the Senate didn't finish its work until May 19; the House agreed to the Senate's version on May 20, and Mr. Obama signed it two days later.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a White House official said the link to Congress' Web site allows readers to find every version of the bill and is more up-to-date.
"We link to Thomas pages that list the latest version, so once they were amended people could still read that latest version once it got posted, as opposed to us posting text that became outdated," the official said.
The link the White House posts goes to a list of bills in various stages of the process. In the case of the military procurement measure, the White House listed two bills winding their way through Congress, because it couldn't know which version would actually be presented.
Mr. Obama has exempted emergency bills from his promise and used that to justify his signing some major measures such as the stimulus spending bill before a full five days had elapsed. But there was no stated emergency for last week's bills.
"They're certainly not making it a priority to live up to the pledge," said John Wonderlich, policy director at the Sunlight Foundation.
Sunlight is pressing for a waiting period for Congress, to prevent instances like last week, when House and Senate negotiators filed their final version of the weapons acquisition bill and put it to a vote in the Senate the same day. The House voted on it the next day.
Mr. Wonderlich said Congress is where the actual changes to a bill can happen. By the time it gets to the president, he can only sign or veto it. In light of that, Mr. Wonderlich said, some transparency advocates have questioned the value of Mr. Obama's five-day pledge.
Mr. Harper, though, said the value will come if and when Mr. Obama enforces the rule.
"Members of Congress are very skilled political risk analyzers. When the president is enforcing this rule and they know their work is going to sit for five days before signing, they're going to know they can't slip in that last earmark," he said.
He pointed to the language that allowed American International Group executives to claim bonuses as an example. That language was added in the conference committee between House and Senate negotiators, at the very end of the legislative process.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/26/obama-vow-to-delay-signing-is-subject-to-interpret/

Eeyore's News and Views

KJV, Good Enough for Paul?
« Thread Started on Jul 26, 2005, 11:19pm »
Originally published by Teno Groppi at http://www.baptistlink.com/godandcountry/kjv/kjv4paul.html
If the King James Was Good Enough for Paul, It's Good Enough for Me!
This statement is usually made in a sarcastic manner in order to embarrass Bible believers in their belief. The FACT is, the King James Bible WAS good enough for Paul, as well as Peter, Luke, and Jesus Christ.
GOOD ENOUGH FOR LUKE?
Acts 1:1-2 The former treatise (the Gospel of Luke which Luke also wrote to Theophilus) have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
Luke, in what may have been a passing comment, in the second verse of Acts chapter one, rings the death blow to the famous Nestle's Greek New Testament and also the New American Standard Version. Luke states that his "former treatise" told of all that Jesus BEGAN to do, and continued, "until the day in which he was taken up." Luke's gospel is the ONLY one of the four gospels which records any of Christ's actions PRIOR to His baptism at the age of thirty years old. (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:9 and John 1:29-34)
Luke's gospel ends with Christ being "carried up into heaven " (24:51). This correlates with Acts 1:2 "Until the day in which he was taken up."
Thus, Luke states that his gospel begins with the earliest acts of Christ and ends with His ascension. Therefore, any Greek manuscript no matter what the age, containing the Gospel of Luke which omits either of these accounts is not authentic. In an examination of the 23rd Edition of Nestle's Greek Text we find that the Greek words, "Kai anepheroto eis ton huranon," "and was carried up into the heaven" are NOT found in this text.
The footnote in the critical apparatus indicates that the authority for removing this phrase is no more than manuscript (MS) Sinaiticus, D, one majuscule MS known as number 52 and one 5th century palimpsect (a MS which has been erased and written over top of). The phrase "and carried up into heaven" is found in B, C, E, F, G, H, L, S, T, V, Y, Z, Delta, Theta, Psi, and Omega plus papyrus p75, and most remaining witnesses. Yet on the basis of only two MSS the conservative scholars of the secret Lockman Foundation have omitted this phrase from Luke 24:51 in the NASV. Hence, the NASV is not truly a reliable translation. In fact, of most modern versions, only the "liberal" scholars of the RSV agreed with the "conservative" scholars of the NASV in omitting the phrase. Thus the known Communistic liberals of the RSV and the conservatives of the NASV are in full agreement that Christ did not ascend bodily into heaven.
So we see that if Luke, the writer of Luke and Acts, could examine a King James Bible and a NASV he would declare the NASV a fraud and promptly proclaim the KJV as authentic.
If it's good enough for Luke, it's good enough for me!
GOOD ENOUGH FOR PETER?
Psalm 16:8. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
The two words "he is" are in italics. That means it was not in ANY of the manuscripts available to the KJV translators. The only Bible in existence that contained "he is", is the King James Bible.
Acts 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
So here we find the Apostle Peter quoting Psalm 16:8 italicized words and all! He quoted words that exist ONLY in the King James Bible! You would almost believe that God wanted them in there wouldn't you?
If it's good enough for Peter, it's good enough for me!
GOOD ENOUGH FOR PAUL?
Romans 10:20: But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
Isaiah 65:1 "I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name."
The words "them that" which Paul quoted exist ONLY in the italics of the King James Bible. They were in no other Bible in existence. Paul quoted a KJV, 2000 years ago!
I Corinthians 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Psalm 94:11, The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
We find the word "are" supplied by the translators. He did it again! Paul quoted a word which is found ONLY in the Authorized Bible!
I Corinthians 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
Deut 25:4: "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
Here we find Paul quoting the words "the corn" just as if they had been in the Hebrew original even though they are ONLY found in the italics of our Authorized Version! Strike three, KJV detractors, yer OUT!
If it's good enough for Paul, it's good enough for me!
GOOD ENOUGH FOR JESUS CHRIST?
We find Jesus Himself quoting a word that only exists in the italics found in the pages of the King James Bible.
Deuteronomy 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knew est not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeders out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
You will note that the word "word" is in italics, meaning of course, that it was not in the Hebrew text. Upon examination of Deuteronomy 8:3 in Hebrew one will find that the word "dabar" which is Hebrew for "word" is not found anywhere in the verse.
Yet in His contest with Satan we find Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 9:3 as follows:
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
While quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 Jesus quotes the entire verse including the King James italicized word! Even an amateur "scholar" can locate "ramati", a form of "rama", which is Greek for "word", in any Greek New Testament. Jesus Christ Himself quoted a King James Authorized Bible!
Yes, the King James was good enough for Paul, and Luke, and Peter, and Jesus Christ. It's good enough for me!
Here's another interesting phenomenon:
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
The scripture foresaw and preached? The word "scripture" is used interchangeably with God. That is some important book! Perhaps that has something to do with why the Lord Jesus Christ is called the "Word of God" (John 1:1, 1 John 5:7, Rev 19:13).
Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast MAGNIFIED THY WORD ABOVE ALL THY NAME.
Furthermore, not only did the scripture foresee and preach before the gospel, but it did so before the scripture! That promise to Abraham was recorded in Gen 12:3. It was directly spoken to Abraham by God, before there was any written scripture!
God sure does magnify His word! He equates it with Himself! God lived up to the slogan, "A man is only as good as his word."
His word is good enough to live by, and good enough to DIE by!

They say the economy is getting better, i'm just waiting to all the chickens to come home to roast.
2 more banks fail, lifting this year's tally to 23
NEW YORK (AP) - Federal regulators shut down two more banks Friday, raising the number of bank failures so far this year to 23.
The first bank was Cape Fear Bank in Wilmington, N.C., the first North Carolina bank to fail in nearly 16 years. The other bank was New Frontier Bank of Greeley, Colo., the second Colorado bank this year to collapse.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took over both banks Friday after their respective state regulators closed them down.
The FDIC did not tap a buyer for New Frontier Bank, and instead created the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Greeley. The FDIC named San Francisco-based Bank of the West to manage the entity, which will stay open for about 30 days to give New Frontier Bank's customers time to open accounts at other insured institutions.....
You can read the whole article here
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090411/D97FVGH00.html

Federal budget deficit sets March record $192.3B
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Treasury Department said Friday that the budget deficit increased by $192.3 billion in March, and is near $1 trillion just halfway through the budget year, as costs of the financial bailout and recession mount.
Last month's deficit, a record for March, was significantly higher than the $150 billion that economists expected.
The deficit already totals $956.8 billion for the first six months of the budget year, also a record for that period. The Obama administration projects the deficit for the entire year will hit $1.75 trillion.
A deficit at that level would nearly quadruple the previous annual record of $454.8 billion set last year. The March deficit was nearly four times the size of the imbalance in the same month last year.
Nearly $300 billion provided to the nation's banks and other companies to cope with the most severe financial crisis in seven decades has pushed government spending higher.
The Treasury report said that through the end of March, $293.4 billion had been provided to support companies through the $700 billion bailout fund Congress passed last October. That support has been provided primarily to banks, although insurance giant American International Group Inc. (AIG) and auto companies General Motors Corp. (GM) and Chrysler LLC also have received assistance.
Besides the bailout fund, Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) received $46 billion last month, bringing the total assistance provided to the mortgage finance companies to $59.8 billion since October. The government took control of both last September after they had suffered billions of dollars in losses on mortgage loans.
Through the first six months of the budget year that began Oct. 1, tax revenues have totaled $989.8 billion, down 13.6 percent from the year-ago period. The government's receipts have been reduced sharply by the recession, which is shaping up to be the longest of the post World War II period. The downturn began in December 2007.
Government outlays totaled $1.95 trillion through March, 33.4 percent higher than the year-ago period. Besides higher payments for the financial rescue, the government is paying more in such areas as unemployment benefits and food stamps.
The Treasury report showed benefit payments from the unemployment trust fund totaled $44.6 billion so far this budget year, up from $19.4 billion last year.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated last month that President Barack Obama's budget proposals would produce $9.3 trillion in deficits over the next decade, a figure $2.3 trillion higher than estimates made in February in the administration's first budget proposal.
The CBO review projected Obama's budget would generate deficits averaging almost $1 trillion annually over the decade ending in 2019.
The administration said it remained confident its forecasts for declining deficits over that same period could be achieved. But private economists have faulted those estimates for relying on economic assumptions they believe are too optimistic.
The administration projects that after hitting $1.75 trillion this year, the gap between spending and tax revenues will dip to $1.17 trillion in 2010, and plunge to $533 billion in 2013. If accurate, that would fulfill Obama's pledge to cut the deficit he inherited in half by the end of his current term in office.
Some economists have expressed concerns that the massive deficits being forecast could push interest rates up sharply, especially if foreign investors worry about the size of the U.S. deficit projections.
Lawrence Summers, director of Obama's National Economic Council, said Thursday there have been no indications that investors are growing worried about the size of the deficits. On the contrary, he said yields on Treasury securities have been pushed lower by increased demand from investors seeking to hold Treasury bonds as a safe haven in uncertain economic times.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090410/D97FPQ380.html

Russia test-fires intercontinental missile
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia successfully test-fired a Topol intercontinental ballistic missile on Friday as part of checks needed to extend its service life for up to 22 years, Russian media reported.
The Topol was fired from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, nestled among the forests of northern Russia, and successfully hit the test site on Russia's Pacific peninsula of Kamchatka, 6,000 km (3,700 miles) to the east.
"This launch confirmed the time extension for the Topol group of missiles for up to 22 years," Itar-Tass news agency quoted Colonel Alexander Vovk of the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces as saying.
Test launches of new missiles have become routine in recent years, and the Kremlin says the financial crisis will not discourage it from spending as much money as needed on defense. The Topol, which entered service in 1985, was last test-fired last October.
Russia has extended the highly mobile Topol's use way past the 10-year guaranteed operational life set by the manufacturer. It is designed to pierce anti-missile defense systems such as those that the United States has said it wants to build in Eastern Europe.
The RS-12M Topol, called the SS-25 Sickle by NATO, has a maximum range of 10,000 km (6,125 miles) and can carry one 550-kiloton warhead.
http://www.reuters.com/article/gc07/idUSTRE5391A320090410

Ginsburg Shares Views on Influence of Foreign Law on Her Court, and Vice Versa
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In wide-ranging remarks here, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg defended the use of foreign law by American judges, suggested that torture should not be used even when it might yield important information and reflected on her role as the Supreme Court’s only female justice. The occasion was a symposium at the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University honoring her 15 years on the court.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday at Ohio State University, where she talked freely about her work, past and present.
RelatedTimes Topics: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“I frankly don’t understand all the brouhaha lately from Congress and even from some of my colleagues about referring to foreign law,” Justice Ginsburg said in her comments on Friday.
The court’s more conservative members — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr., Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas — oppose the citation of foreign law in constitutional cases.
“If we’re relying on a decision from a German judge about what our Constitution means, no president accountable to the people appointed that judge and no Senate accountable to the people confirmed that judge,” Chief Justice Roberts said at his confirmation hearing. “And yet he’s playing a role in shaping the law that binds the people in this country.”
Justice Ginsburg said the controversy was based on the misunderstanding that citing a foreign precedent means the court considers itself bound by foreign law as opposed to merely being influenced by such power as its reasoning holds.
“Why shouldn’t we look to the wisdom of a judge from abroad with at least as much ease as we would read a law review article written by a professor?” she asked.
She added that the failure to engage foreign decisions had resulted in diminished influence for the United States Supreme Court.
The Canadian Supreme Court, she said, is “probably cited more widely abroad than the U.S. Supreme Court.” There is one reason for that, she said: “You will not be listened to if you don’t listen to others.”
She also offered a theory about why after World War II nations around the world started to create constitutional courts with the power to strike down legislation as the United States Supreme Court has.
“What happened in Europe was the Holocaust,” she said, “and people came to see that popularly elected representatives could not always be trusted to preserve the system’s most basic values.”
American hostility to the consideration of foreign law, she said, “is a passing phase.” She predicted that “we will go back to where we were in the early 19th century when there was no question that it was appropriate to refer to decisions of other courts.”
Justice Ginsburg turned 76 last month and underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer in February. Here on Friday, she was energetic, enthusiastic and characteristically precise in her answers to questions from two law professors in a 90-minute conversation. She spoke mostly about her career as a litigator specializing in women’s rights and her years on the court.
In a videotaped tribute, Chief Justice Roberts described Justice Ginsburg’s work habits — including her “total disregard for the normal day-night work schedule adhered to by everyone else since the beginning of recorded history” — and congratulated her for reaching what he said was the midpoint of her career on the court.
In her remarks, Justice Ginsburg discussed a decision by the Israeli Supreme Court concerning the use of torture to obtain information from people suspected of terrorism.
“The police think that a suspect they have apprehended knows where and when a bomb is going to go off,” she said, describing the question presented in the case. “Can the police use torture to extract that information? And in an eloquent decision by Aharon Barak, then the chief justice of Israel, the court said: ‘Torture? Never.’ ”
The message of the decision, Justice Ginsburg said, was “that we could hand our enemies no greater victory than to come to look like that enemy in our disregard for human dignity.” Then she asked, “Now why should I not read that opinion and be affected by its tremendous persuasive value?”
Justice Ginsburg also discussed her career as an advocate, one that included six Supreme Court arguments and a role in shaping the language of the law. She helped introduce the term “gender discrimination” as a synonym for “sex discrimination,” she said, explaining that her secretary had proposed the idea while typing a brief to be submitted to male judges.
“ ‘The first association of those men with the word “sex” is not what you’re talking about,’ ” the secretary said, Justice Ginsburg recalled. “ ‘Why don’t you use a grammar-book term? Use gender. It has a neutral sound, and it will ward off distracting associations.’ ”
Justice Ginsburg expressed dismay at being the only woman on the Supreme Court. “There I am all alone,” she said, “and it doesn’t look right.”
In this area, too, the Canadian Supreme Court provides a model, Justice Ginsburg said. That nine-member court has four women, including its chief justice.
Justice Ginsburg concluded her remarks with advice to the students in the audience about one of her great passions.
“For a first opera, I would say, pick ‘Butterfly’ or ‘Bohème,’ ” she said. For her part, she added, she was looking forward a little warily to a six-hour production of Wagner’s “Siegfried.”
“Wagner is a great, great composer,” she said, “but he needed a good editor.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/us/12ginsburg.html

Obama is winning praise from many Muslims
CAIRO (AP) — President Barack Obama is winning praise from many Muslims across the Mideast and elsewhere for his outreach to their religion and its people. Riad Kahwaji is director of the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis. He says Obama's recent speech in Turkey speech showed "good will toward the Muslim and the Arab world" — something he calls "nice to see and hear."But Kahwaji and many others caution that words alone won't solve America's political problems in the region. They worry a new hardline government in Israel could actually worsen tensions. Dubai's Gulf News sounded a note heard widely across the region: It praised Obama's speech but said the American president also must "take practical steps" and "move beyond mere promises."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-04-08-muslims-obama_N.htm

Eeyores News and View

Holiness vs. Separation
Should we live Separated from the World?

In everything there are extremes. In politics you have the Liberals versus the Conservatives. In lifestyles you have the Hippies versus the Amish. For every position there is an opposite view that goes to the extreme. In Christianity there are those who say we should have no part with the world and those who claim we need to be like them to win them. Which is the correct stand?
The first question that needs answered is: “Does God want us separated from the world?” The answer is relatively simple to locate. In Galatians 1:4 the Apostle Paul tells us that we needed delivered from what he calls “this present evil world.” Furthermore, in John 17:11-17 Jesus tells us that we are to be in the world but not of the world. John himself lets us know in his first epistle that we are not to love the world neither the things in the world. (1 John 2:15-17) Meanwhile James really lays it on, revealing that “the friendship of the world is enmity with God.” Jude says we should even hate the garment that is “spotted by the flesh.”
I think we would have to be pretty naive to deny that the world is extremely vile. But we would have to be blatantly dishonest to pretend that God doesn’t want His children to separate themselves from the ways and values of “this present evil world.” To be honest in this chapter, we need to determine just what “the world” is.
What is “the World”?
The world is not a friend of God nor His people. It is a number of things that are all anti-God. If we can determine what “the world” is we can have some idea of the direction we should be going as representatives of Christ.

1. “The World” is the wrong morals
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the world and the Bible are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to morals. The world sees nothing wrong with pre-marital sex, adultery or homosexuality. All of which are condemned fiercely in Scripture. Yet the world does not rest with its acceptance of loose living. It promotes it evangelistically in school and college classrooms, books, films and even in the newspapers. Furthermore, the world is so unrelenting in its rebellion against its Creator that it regularly promotes the vilest of men as hero figures. Men like Hugh Hefner, Bob Guzzione, Larry Flynt, Howard Stern and others of their ilk should be driven from the public eye by the righteous railing of the news media. But instead, that very media is a partner in crime with these monuments of immorality.
Films, news magazines and television programs not only show as much nakedness and immorality as they can but they actively promote such acts as “normal,” “good” and “healthy.” When the most vile man ever to occupy the White House, turned it instead into a whorehouse, the News Mafia was right there not only defending him but murdering anyone who stood against him.
Then if we are to be unlike the world, it is easy to say that we should take note of its moral depravation and be just the opposite.

2. “The World” is the wrong music
Music originated as a medium through which man could glorify God. Throughout Scripture we find it being used over and over to exalt and magnify Him. This music was directed at the spirit of man. It was designed to help man fulfill Revelation 4:11 in an extraordinary way.
But as the world degenerated music went along with it. Soon we heard about “soul” music. And that’s just what it was. Rather than having God as its focal point as the music of the spirit, (the classics) it made sinful Man the center of attention. From there, music has been reduced to the sensual. It is now directed at the body. It is thundered out without depth in either the tune or lyrics by mangy looking beings, whose language and gyrations while performing, violate every form of decency. The beat is toxic, the words offensive and the performers are repulsive. Both they and their by-product are happily anti-God.
Again, only a diabolical person would try to assimilate such abhorrent clatter into our churches in the name of worship. It has nothing to do with God and is even a proud trademark of the forces of the anti-Christian lifestyle.
So it should be obvious to an honest heart that anyone claiming to love the God of creation should want to separate themselves from this fountain of contamination.

3. “The World” is the wrong education
Worldly education is as aggressive against God as is worldly music. Education is not aimed at equipping a young scholar to glorify God. It is instead designed to harden the young heart against its Creator. The fantasy of “evolution” is blatantly taught as though scientific evidence upheld it. “Values clarification” is used to drive the last vestiges of morality from the hearts and minds of innocent young victims. The God that made this country great is no longer allowed to be mentioned in the classroom. Christianity is held in disdain by teacher and student alike. Today’s educational system is no friend of God...or its student body.
Therefore we should know to be wary of the leavening influences of public education.

4. “The World” is the wrong goals
The world focuses its praise on vain and inconsequential things. Sports figures are represented as though they were important to life. Someone who can shoot a basket, hit a home run or score a touchdown is upheld for all to glorify. Talent is exalted higher than the great Creator who bestowed the attribute. To this crowd the least important vocation on earth is preaching, even though a poor, ineffective minister does more good than the greatest basketball player.
So we as Christians should be careful not to incorporate the world’s misguided values into our own lives. Sports are a source of minor enjoyment but be careful not to take them too seriously.
Style and fashion are two more worldly distractions that can keep a Christian wasting his energy and resources. Nothing is more shamelessly vain than fashion. And nothing is funnier than watching some vain idiot with a sweater tied around his neck because the god of fashion told him that it was the “in” thing to do. Worrying about being in style is far less important than worrying about being in step with God.
A Christian who spends his time and money trying to keep up with the latest fashion is guaranteed to waste his time and money on frivolous things of no substantial value. So we, as God’s people, should not be putting too much emphasis on keeping in step with fashion.
Another misguided goal of the world is environmentalism. It must be noted that the goal of environmentalism is not to “save the earth.” Environmentalists are people who have an emotional relationship with dirt. I should imagine a person would have to have failed miserably at every emotional relation in life to feel compelled to turn to the relative safety of dirt. Environmentalists are misdirected in several ways. First, they focus their time and efforts trying to please a non-living entity, the earth. The earth has life on it but it is not alive itself. But environmentalists feel very righteous as a result of this love affair with dirt. Of course, loving dirt is a very safe relationship because dirt has never been known to have rejected anyone. In fact, from the seedy look that most environmentalists have, it is probably good that dirt is dead and can’t reject them or they would fail at that relationship too! Environmentalists have turned their desire to please away from God and toward the ground. This is extremely displeasing to the holy God Who made it and them.
But American environmentalism is even worse. The solitary goal of environmentalism is the destruction of the American economy. Most environmentalists are loyal subscribers to the goal of having a one world government. A strong America is the greatest single hindrance there is to that goal. Therefore, it is imperative that America be brought down to the economic level of a third world country. Every objective of environmentalists is to injure the American economy. They couldn’t care less about the environment. How do you know? In 1991 Saddam Hussein dumped raw crude oil into the Persian Gulf and set hundreds of oil wells afire. The damage to the Persian Gulf was magnitudes worse than the measly Exxon Valdez incident. Yet, just like the arch-liberal N.O.W. organization during Bill Clinton’s abuse of Monica Lewinsky, environmentalists were mute to this. They should have condemned Hussein as being very near to Adolf Hitler for his vicious attack on their “mother”. Yet they were silent. Why? Because they don’t care about the environment. They only care about financially shackling the American economy.

So we see that environmentalism is a hateful, dishonest product of the world. Yet many new converts have been deceived into thinking it is a worthy endeavor. No Christ loving Christian should be involved in the pagan rituals of environmentalism.

The World. The perfect “Bad Example”
There is a joke about a man who is such a wretched drunkard that his wife has left him, his children are ashamed of him, he can’t hold a job, his health is broken and he is lying in a gutter, homeless. But, instead of being depressed, he enthuses, “My life’s not a total waste. I can always be used as a bad example!”
The same can be said of the world. It can always be used as a bad example. If a young Christian is uncertain of how they should live their new life they can always look at the world...and go in the opposite direction. Yet today many of these very misguided goals are being espoused by our churches. And usually in the name of soul winning. The morality of our culture has been plunged to new depths by public education and the entertainment world. (world?) In order to attempt to draw these casualties of character in, some churches have turned to contemporary “Christian” music. They have heralded environmentalism as a mandatory tenant of the Christian faith. And fashion is alive and well in most Sunday morning style shows.
The new Christian should be hearing messages designed to free their minds of these wayward ideals. They should hear that their solitary purpose for being here is to be a pleasure to their Creator.

Close, but Not Quite
Some groups in Christianity recognize this trend and reject it zealously. They are called “Separationists” (“Legalists” to anyone looking for an excuse not to separate from the world.) Their favorite verse of Scripture is 2 Corinthians 6:17, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,... These folks definitely believe in separation. They have “convictions” about the length of a man’s hair, the length of a woman’s hair, the proper dress for each of the sexes, marriage and divorce, where to buy your groceries and just about anything else you can think of and some that you couldn’t think of. I have seen where two pages of rules and standards had to be fulfilled before a teenager could attend a church function. Mind you, this is far better than the free-for-all that goes on in the modernist churches. But it does get a little overbearing at times.
Are the Separationists wrong? Let’s say that they are in the right church but the wrong pew. Basically, most Separationists are militantly determined not to be corrupted by the world. They fully recognize the innate wickedness in the world system and would rather die than have it invade either their families or churches. They are steadfastly turned away from the world. Ever looking back to make sure that it does not overtake and thus pollute them. For them the easiest way to curtail the influence of the world is with what has become known as “Checklist Christianity.” You can always tell when you meet a separationist because they feel compelled to “check you out.” It won’t take long before they’ll be asking you questions like, “Do you go to movies?” “Do you believe in mixed bathing?”, “What’s your stand on marriage and divorce?” Fail to agree on one point and you’ll probably get a sermon on that subject. Failure on two and you shouldn’t hold your breath waiting for them to invite you out for fellowship. Miss too many answers and you’ll probably be anathematized and be the subject of a sermon!

Behold I show you a Better Way
Separation from the world is good. It is always good. Even if it is for the wrong reason or through the wrong manner. But we are not called to just be separated from a corrupt world system. We are called to be “saints”! (Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:2) Saints are more than just separated from the world. They are to be holy.
When a Christian realizes that they are here with the sole purpose of being a pleasure to the Lord they will examine their life for things that the Lord would find unsavory. We’re not to run from the world. We are to run to the Lord.
When you love someone you desire to please them. You find out what they like and do it. You find out what they don’t like and don’t do it. It’s that simple.
If we love the Lord we should also want to please Him. We should find what He likes and do it. We happen to know that the Lord wants to be worshiped for the great God that He is. What is the best way to worship Him? Forget your petty opinion and prejudice. God wrote down what He wants in His Book.

1 Chronicles 16:29
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 29:2
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 96:9
O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

Has a “light” come on yet? Do you have any idea of something you could add to your life that would be a pleasure to your Creator and help you fulfill your obligation of Revelation 4:11? If not, let’s see if this will “flip your switch.”

1. Our bodies are to be holy - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

(Romans 12:1)

2. The church is to be holy - That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Eph. 5:27)

3. We are to be holy as individuals - According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Eph. 1:4)

4. Our women are to be holy - There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. (1 Cor. 7:34)

5. The Pastors are to be holy - But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; (Titus 1:8)

6. The results of personal holiness -

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Col. 3:12_15)

7. He wants us holy at our presentation to Him in Heaven -

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (Col. 1:21, 22)

Now let’s look at these areas and see how establishing holiness in our lives will not only be a pleasure to God but will take care of the concerns of separation without a list.

1. Our bodies are to be holy - Forget about somebody telling you, “You can’t do that.” or, “You’re not allowed to do that anymore.” Instead ask yourself questions such as:

“How can my body be holy if I put liqueur in it?”

“How can my body be holy if I smoke?”

“How can my body be holy if I watch, read or listen to filth?”

“How can my body be holy if I............?”

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that answering those simple questions will keep you clear of wicked , unclean or just questionable practices as you strive to be holy rather than comply with somebody’s list.

2. The church is to be holy - The church, the body of Christ, is made up of individual believers. How can it be holy if we are not?
The church, local, should not only be holy due to the actions of its individual members but should be the prime mover in directing and instructing Christians to be holy.

3. We are to be holy as individuals - Just as there are questions to ask concerning the body there are questions to ask concerning us, the soul.

“How can I be holy and gossip?”

“How can I be holy and try to hurt a fellow Christian?”

“How can I be holy and be concerned only with exalting myself?”

“How can I be holy and split a church or destroy a preacher?”

“How can I be holy and do....that?”

These soul searching questions will do far more to prevent havoc in a church than all the sermons on “Touch not God’s anointed!” in the world.

4. Our women are to be holy - God made women special. They are wonderful. They are a gift from God. Because they are special to Him, He pays special attention to them in the area of holiness. Their questions may go like this:

“How can I be holy in body and in spirit and wear revealing clothing?”

“How can I be holy in body and in spirit and dress like a man?”

“How can I be holy in body and in spirit and act like a man?”

“How can I be holy in body and in spirit and not desire to please the Lord?”

Forget about “legalism”. Being holy for God will transform the hardest woman into a delicate treasure of God’s grace. I’ve seen it!

5. The Pastors are to be holy - Preachers are called of God and as such carry a much greater burden for holiness. He should ask:

“How can I be holy and touch a woman in a sensual manner?”

“How can I be holy and try to destroy a fellow minister?”

“How can I be holy and visit that Website?”

“How can I be holy and do ungodly things when I’m where no one knows me?”

“How can I be holy and be motivated to exalt only myself?”

6. The personal results of holiness - Well what do you know? We do have a list! But it isn’t a list of “Don’ts”. It is rather a list similar to those found in Romans and 2 Peter as gauges of our spiritual growth. Accomplishing holiness in our lives will also result in the additional benefits of: mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, a longsuffering attitude, forbearance, a forgiving attitude and, of course, charity.
Look how far into Christian maturity the addition of this one spiritual attribute will take you. Can you imagine what pleasure it must be for the Lord to see these properties blossom in the life of one of His children? There is so much more to the Christian life than just soul winning.

7. He wants us holy at our presentation to Him in Heaven - Notice that the passage eludes to the fact that we started this life as enemies and aliens. Yet through salvation in Christ and years of spiritual growth we can be a pleasure to our Creator in a multitude of different ways. But wait! Time and again in the Old Testament we see that a man who had been a good king failed the Lord late in his life. Imagine having lived a life in a holy manner for years, decades in fact, and then, one time an opportunity to be impure comes up that, due to weakness or some other emotional low point, we suddenly find ourselves tempted to surrender to. Think of the years wasted if we indulge.

I know you want to be holy when you are finally presented to Him in eternity. Don’t give in to weakness this late in the game.

In the previous chapter we looked at attributes that need to be added to the Christian life. Let’s take a moment to review them, adding the benefits of holiness.

1. Patience

2. Experience

3. Hope

4. Faith

5. Virtue

6. Knowledge

7. Temperance

8. Godliness

9. Brotherly kindness

10. Charity

11. Mercies

12. Kindness

13. Humbleness of mind

14. Meekness

15. A longsuffering attitude

16. Forbearance

17. A forgiving attitude

Isn’t it amazing! We end up with a list after all. But it’s not a list of things to be removed from your life. It is a list of things to be added to your life. And if these attributes are successfully incorporated into your personality over the years you will more than succeed at fulfilling anyone’s list of “Don’ts”.
The Highest Goal of all
There is great value to separationism. It will, if only by brute force, prevent some Christians from drifting into sin. But, in spite of this separation it will not produce holiness in the individual. That takes years of being submerged in the Bible and walking circumspectly. And the best part about holiness is that the benefits that we receive from it are incidental. For holiness in us is pleasure to God.
http://www.biblebelievers.com/gipp_for-pleas_ch5.html

God-less 'congregations' planned for humanists
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts — The monthly schedule is church-like, with its parenting classes, guest speakers and small group meetings to hash out shared beliefs. But God isn't part of this Cambridge congregation.
Greg Epstein, the humanist chaplain at Harvard University, is building a God-free model of community that he hopes helps humanists increase in numbers and influence across the United States.
Epstein sees potential in research showing that there are a growing number of people in the United States with no religion. In the latest American Religious Identification Survey, released this month, 15% of respondents in 2008 said they had no religion, compared to 8.2% in 1990. Epstein believes that group includes large numbers of people who are humanist, but have never identified themselves that way and can be reached.
At the same time, there is broader acceptance of those with no faith, as indicated by President Barack Obama's mention of "nonbelievers" in his inaugural address, Epstein said.
Definitions of humanism vary. Generally, humanists reject belief in the supernatural and are guided by reason, experience and compassion for others. Epstein defines the philosophy as a commitment to living ethical, personally fulfilling lives while serving the greater good.
Epstein wants to create local humanist centers nationwide that perform many of the community-building functions of a church, only in service of the humanist creed. He will promote his idea as he tours the country to promote his book, "Good Without God," which is scheduled to be published by HarperCollins in the U.S. later this year. Epstein will receive assistance and funding from groups such as the American Humanist Association and the Secular Student Alliance, which have chapters they hope to strengthen and multiply.
"There are so many millions of people out there who basically share our views, that we've got room for everybody," Epstein said. "What we're doing here has got to grow even more."
Raised as a Reform Jew, Epstein studied Taoism and Buddhism before he became a humanist. He earned a master's degree in Judaic studies from the University of Michigan and a master's of theological studies from Harvard Divinity School. In 2005, he was ordained as a rabbi by the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism. The movement says it combines reason, human experience, Jewish culture and ethical insights from Jewish tradition.

While many humanists reject anything that hints at organized religion, Epstein is freely borrowing from it — from the "small group" format familiar in evangelical churches to calling his group a "congregation."
Paul Kurtz, founder of the Council for Secular Humanism, disagrees with that approach, saying humanists are building secular communities that show people don't need religion to get together "in a joyful mood and do good works." But that's undermined when religious words are used to describe those communities.
"I don't think we should use the language of religion, that's very confusing," Kurtz said.
Though he supports Epstein, Fred Edwords of the American Humanist Association questions whether a large, untapped pool of potential humanists exists who would join congregations.
"This is a new mission field, if you will, but are those vineyards ripe for the picking?" Edwords said. "I haven't seen sufficient evidence of it."
Still, both men agree that more humanist communities are needed, for mutual support and to offset isolation humanists often feel.
Jenni Acosta, a humanist from Newton, Massachusetts, who is part of the Harvard humanist parenting group, said the group gives her needed support, and shows her 6-year-old and 10-year-old daughters that other children are being raised the same way. Acosta, 36, said she deals with family and friends who challenge her on how she can raise her kids without the moral guidance a faith provides.
"I think it's reassuring to all of us to know that we're there for each other and there's other examples of people doing it and their kids seem to be turning out OK," Acosta said.
The parenting group started in December and meets monthly with about 10 families. Acosta says trips to museums and a parenting course called "Compassionate Communication" are planned. The Harvard chaplaincy also hosts "Humanist Small Group" biweekly Sunday brunch discussion and buys drinks at biweekly "Humanist Community Pub Nights." Last month, it hosted holiday-style celebrations around Charles Darwin's 200th birthday and is hosting a talk by humanist writer and director Joss Whedon of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fame.
Richard Lints, a professor of philosophical theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a prominent evangelical school in Hamilton, Massachusetts, said the humanist desire for greater community is understandable. He believes God "hard-wired" humans to need it.
But he said he doubts humanism can sustain itself in the local congregations Epstein envisions because community is not a natural part of humanism, where the individual is the ultimate source of meaning. If humanism becomes concerned with the "greater good," and a sort of natural moral order that implies, it starts to resemble religion and humanists will back away, he said.
"At the heart of the humanist project is deep individualism," Lints said. "It's always going to be difficult to sustain a real robust community."
To those who say it can't be done, Epstein points to his community at Harvard, and nonstop requests for more services, as a rebuttal. He believes humanists are responsible to make sure their community grows more.
"Salvation is here on earth," he said. "We have evolved over 14 billion years without purpose. Now we want purpose, we need to build it into our own lives."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-03-20-humanists_N.htm

Ramos, Compean say prayers held them up
Tell talk show host Glenn Beck letters also lifted spirits
Former U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who were given long jail terms for shooting at a fleeing drug smuggler, today told Fox News Channel host Glenn Beck that they were sustained by prayers of the American people and their spirits were lifted by their letters.
The two were interviewed on Beck's program in their first television interview allowed under the terms of their probation after President Bush commuted their sentences on his last day in office. They just were released from ankle bracelet restrictions and still face limits on with whom they can talk.
One of the restrictions is that the two cannot talk to each other after they each spent about two years of their decade-long sentences in jail. Beck interviewed them separately.
Ramos said what was important was "knowing that so many people were supporting us, receiving their letters, their prayers. I can't thank everybody enough."
A few minutes later, Compean echoed the statement.
"A lot of prayers from people really helped," Compean said.
Ramos said the American people, do, in fact, have a voice in their nation.
"Me sitting here today proves that," he said.
After serving two years in federal prison in solitary confinement for shooting a fleeing Mexican drug smuggler who had brought 750 pounds of marijuana into the U.S., Ramos and Compean were released from prison a month ago, with home confinement until today ordered by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Patty Compean told Beck on his television show at her husband's release that her family needed time to spend with Jose before participating in interviews.
"They've been in solitary confinement without any human contact except for the guards and visitors for two years," she told WND when she first learned of the commutation. "Things have changed. Jose's been gone for two years. That's a lot to take in."
Ramos's attorney, David Botsford, said the families are still waiting for a decision from the Supreme Court on the cases.
"We've asked the Supreme Court to review the convictions on the remaining counts that the Fifth Circuit had not set aside because it's our goal to vindicate these gentlemen entirely and get them back on the job with law enforcement, which is what their dreams and their goals and their careers have been."
Asked when he really would feel free, Compean said the court case needed to be resolved.
In an interview with Beck when the agents were released, Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, summarized a number of falsehoods Congress had been told about the border agents' case.
"We were told that these two border agents went out that day to shoot an illegal, which is an absolute lie," he said. "We were also told that they knew that the drug dealer was unarmed. That is a lie. They both believed him to be armed. But, most importantly, the U.S. attorney's office told us … that the drug dealer didn't bring in drugs a second time. … I figured out that was a lie, too."
The congressman continued, "Both these individuals were political prisoners. We want to get to the bottom of what the involvement of the Mexican government was in prosecuting these two guys."
Poe said he believes there's a real problem on both sides of the border and that this was the only case in which the U.S. attorney's office went on a "nationwide Madison Avenue PR stunt" to justify prosecution.
"It just seems like there's a rat in the room," Poe said. "And we want to get rid of it."
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92405

Ill. pastor deflected gunshot with Bible
Jim Suhr ASSOCIATED PRESSMonday, March 9, 2009
MARYVILLE, Ill. (AP) -- A suburban St. Louis pastor shot and killed during his Sunday sermon deflected the first of the gunman's four rounds with a Bible, sending a confetti-like spray of paper into the air in a horrifying scene parishioners at first thought was a skit, police said.
The gunman strode down the aisle of the sprawling brick First Baptist Church shortly after 8 a.m., exchanged words with the Rev. Fred Winters and began firing a .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol until the gun jammed and parishioners wrestled him to the ground, said Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent.
"We thought it was part of a drama skit...when he shot, what you saw was confetti," said parishioner Linda Cunningham, whose husband is a minister of adult education at the church. "We just sat there waiting for what comes next not realizing that he had wounded the pastor."
Two parishioners then tackled the gunman as he brandished a four-inch knife, and all three suffered stab wounds, Trent said. The gunman and one victim were flown to a St. Louis hospital, where both underwent surgery. The other victim was treated for slash wounds and released.
"Things like this just don't happen in Maryville," Mayor Larry Gulledge said. "We've lost one the pillars of our community, one of our leaders."
Authorities didn't know whether Winters, a married father of two who had led the church for nearly 22 years, and the gunman knew each other, though no one at the church seemed to recognize him. Police described the gunman as a 27-year-old from nearby Troy but would not release his name pending possible charges.
"We don't know the relationship (between the gunman and pastor), why he's here or what the circumstances came about that caused him in the first place to be here," said Illinois State Police Master Trooper Ralph Timmins.
The Rev. Mark Jones, another First Baptist pastor, said he briefly saw the gunman before a weapon was pulled. Jones then walked to an adjacent room and did not see the shooting, though he heard a sound like miniature fire crackers.
"We have no idea what this guy's motives were," Jones said outside the church. "We don't know if we'll ever know that."
Trent did not have details of Winters' conversation with the gunman.
"Right now all we know is that the suspect said something to the pastor and the pastor said something back," he said.
Winters was pronounced dead on arrival at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, said hospital spokeswoman Natalie Head.
The gunman and one stabbing victim, 39-year-old Terry Bullard, were treated at St. Louis University Hospital, said spokeswoman Laura Keller. Bullard underwent surgery for stab wounds and was in serious condition Sunday, she said.
Keller said the gunman underwent surgery Sunday afternoon but could not provide his name or detail his condition or injuries.
The other victim, Keith Melton, was treated and released from Gateway Regional Medical Center, said spokeswoman Kate Allaria. A man who answered the phone at a listing for Keith Melton in Troy identified himself as Melton's stepson and said Melton had been stabbed but was going to be fine.
First Baptist had an average attendance of 32 people when Winters became senior pastor in 1987; it now has about 1,200 members, according to the church's Web site. Winters also was former president of the Illinois Baptist State Association and an adjunct professor for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, according to the site.
"Our great God is not surprised by this, or anything," Nate Adams, executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association, said in a statement. "That He allows evil and free will to have their way in tragedies like this is a mystery in many ways."
The church sits along a busy two-lane highway on the east side of Maryville, a fast-growing village of more than 7,000 about 20 miles northeast of St. Louis. A farm sits directly across from church, but subdivisions of newer homes can been easily seen from every side.
Parishioner Sharla Dryden, 62, pulled into the church parking lot for a 9:30 a.m. service Sunday to see "just a lot of chaos, lot of police, fire, and people just devastated."
"They just said there had been a shooting," Dryden said. "I would have been devastated if anyone had been shot, but to hear it was the pastor was terrible. You just never expect this to happen at a church."
Last month, a man shot and killed himself in front of a cross inside televangelist Robert H. Schuller's Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif. In November, a gunman killed his estranged wife in a New Jersey church vestibule as Sunday services let out.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/09/1-dead-illinois-church-shooting/

TESTING THE FAITH
Suit claims recognition of God violates lawBrief challenges plan to stop acknowledging prayer--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Posted: March 21, 200912:15 am Eastern© 2009 WorldNetDaily A court should reject arguments from those who seek "relentless extirpation" of any reference to religion in public life, according to a brief submitted in opposition to a Wisconsin lawsuit that challenges the National Day of Prayer. The lawsuit was filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which asserted the law that sets the first Thursday in May as "National Day of Prayer" should be declared in violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The case pending in a Wisconsin court now, however, has drawn the attention of the American Center for Law and Justice, the ACLJ, which submitted a friend-of-the-court brief asking for the case to be dismissed. The ACLJ's filing includes a list 60 pages long of presidential and other proclamations recognizing America's need for a "day of prayer" and said the concept was adopted even as the U.S. was being created as a nation. "At the end of the years 1777, 1781 and 1782 the Continental Congress recommended that the states set apart a day for prayer and thanksgiving. At the Constitutional Convention itself, Benjamin Franklin urged that 'prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business," the ACLJ argued. It was George Washington who offered the first presidential proclamation urging a "day of public thanksgiving and prayer." He said "it is in an especial manner our duty as a people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God and to implore Him to continue and confirm the blessings we experience," the filing argued. "This is another twisted legal attempt to remove prayer from public life," said the ACLJ's director, Jay Sekulow. "The fact is that a day set aside for prayer for the country is a time-honored tradition woven into the very fabric of our nation. "From the time of our Founding Fathers to the present day, such proclamations and observances reflects the nation's rich history. The courts have been clear on this issue: there is no constitutional crisis here. We're hopeful that the court will take the only action appropriate in this case and dismiss this lawsuit," he said. The brief said the U.S. Supreme Court already has addressed the dispute, too. "In 'Marsh v. Chambers,' the United States Supreme Court conducted a searching examination of the nation's history when considering a challenge to the Nebraska state legislature's practice of opening its session with prayer by a paid chaplain. Upholding the practice, the court held that 'historical evidence sheds light not only on what the draftsmen intended the Establishment Clause to mean, but also on how they thought that Clause applied to the practice authorized by the First Congress – their actions reveal their intent.'" In its brief filed with the court in Madison, Wis., the ACLJ represents itself and 31 members of the 111th Congress, including Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-Va., who chairs the Congressional Prayer Caucus. Other members of Congress represented are Robert B. Aderholt, Michele Bachmann, Roscoe G. Bartlett, John A. Boehner, John Boozman, Eric Cantor, K. Michael Conaway, Mary Fallin, Virginia Foxx, Trent Franks, Scott Garrett, Louie Gohmert, Wally Herger, Peter Hoekstra, Walter B. Jones, Jim Jordan, Doug Lamborn, Thaddeus G. McCotter, Patrick T. McHenry, Mike McIntyre, Jeff Miller, Sue Wilkins Myrick, Randy Neugebauer, Pete Olson, Mike Pence, Joseph R. Pitts, Heath Shuler, Adrian Smith, Lamar Smith and Joe Wilson. "Even the drafter of the First Amendment, James Madison, issued four proclamations in the early 1800's calling the nation to a day of prayer," the ACLJ noted. The ACLJ contends that the "strategy to purge all religious observances and references from American public life must not be indulged." The ACLJ's brief can be read here. http://www.aclj.org/media/pdf/ACLJAmicibrief-Final.pdfWND columnist Jonathan Falwell addressed the concerns in a column. "The problem with this lawsuit, as I see it, is that America has a rich history of honoring God. From our nation's very first inaugural address by George Washington – in which he requested that the Bible be opened to Deuteronomy chapter 28 – we see the tradition of publicly paying tribute to God," he wrote. "George Washington understood that this nation is a gift from the Sovereign God, and he recognized the need for the nation to honor Him. 'It is the duty of all nations,' Washington said, 'to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God and to obey His will,'" Falwell wrote. "We must fight to preserve our history, my friends, because there are those who want to ignore and destroy it," he said.
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