Sudbury Christian Messenger for January 10, 2010

07/02/10 15:16
Sudbury Christian Messenger for January 10, 2010
So do not throw away your confidence; it will
be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so
that when you have done the will of God, you
will receive what he has promised.    Amen.
                                             ( Hebrews 10:35-36 )

I have given you authority to
trample on snakes and scorpions and to over
come all the power of the enemy; nothing will
harm you.   ( Luke 10:19 )
“Words are things, and a small drop of  ink falling like dew
upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands,
perhaps millions, think.”  (Sir Aubrey De Vere)


TABLE OF CONTENTS


PRAYER REQUEST
1. Prayer for Christian Unity Week

2. Prayer for prayer mentoring opportunity

3. Prayer for upcoming international conference that is not pro-life

4. Prayer for January 25 election of European Union chairperson


PRAISE REPORTS
1. Thanks be to God for all the Christ-honoring Christmas events

2. Vote in, and enter into, Salt ‘n Light Video Contest

3. New Group for Sudbury Christian singles

4. Prayer Page added to www.sudburychristian.ca <</span>http://www.sudburychristian.ca> ….A.C.E.S. website


 LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS
1. Lodging opportunities for students in Sudbury

2. New Christian book store in Valley

3. Reminder of Red Fridays

4. Grace Family Church        French Service       Jan. 17

5. Sudbury Ministerial Lunch Gathering     Tues. Jan. 19

6. Spirituality at Work       Jan. 20           Toronto

7. Glad Tidings Winter Women’s Tea           Thursday, Jan. 21

8. Christian Unity Week to be celebrated in Sudbury    Jan. 22   Please attend!

9. Girlfriends Breakfast Club     Host: All Nations Church WoMin     Jan. 23

10. Church of the Epiphany Annual Book Sale         Jan. 23 & 24

11. St. James Heavenly Ham Supper          Jan. 23

12. Taize event to celebrate Christian Unity Week

13. Forever National Men’s Conference     Jan. 22-24        Paslinch, ON   Promise K.

14. Beth Moore event from Sudbury to Toronto   Deposit Date:  January 29

15. Christian Unity Week Service        Jan. 31    Host:  Trinity United, Garson

16. Fundraising Dance for Family Enrichment Centre          Feb. 19

17. Christian Men’s Retreat       Villa Loyola            Feb. 26-28

18. Beth Moore in Toronto      March 12 & 13       Sookram Bus Lines

19. REAL Women of Canada National Conference     North Bay      April 17

20. Lancaster, Pa trip        May 21-24           Sookram Bus Lines

21. Joyce Meyer in Toronto

22. Ruth Graham “Get Growing” Conference     Sept. 17 & 18      Belleville

23. Support request for Meagan Duhamel, our region’s aspiring “pairs” champion

24. Employment opportunity – Christian Horizons

25. Elgin Street Mission seeking volunteers

26. Door-to-Door Ministers

27. Walden Word of Life          Christian Book and Gift Seller

28. Christian Videographer          A.C.E.S. own Dan Thomson

29. Christian Photographer          Walden’s own Garth Wunsch

30. Change of e mail address?   Please let us know!

For more events that might interest Christians, please go to www.cjtk.com <</span>http://www.cjtk.com/>



PROVINCIAL
1.  Kapuskasing City Council in hot water over Knights statue approval

2.  Quebec culture lessons for immigrants questioned

      3.    Quebec announces attack against homophobia
1.


NATIONAL
1. Suicide, euthanasia bill causes disabled man profound worry, distress

2.  Yearend report from Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

3. Canada's harshest religious debates pale by global standards

4. Polygamist predicts opponents will be 'damned'

5.  Priest Editor Says Canada's Catholics Should Stop Funding KAIROS

6. Diane Francis, National Post, recommends adoption of China’s one-child policy

7. Canadian Panel to Study Euthanasia Stacked with Pro-Euthanasia Academics

8. MP Vellacott vindicated by National Cancer Institute on abortion-breast cancer link– alleges cover-up by media and cancer societies –

1


INTERNATIONAL
1.  US Bishops: Defense of Marriage "One of the Premier Social Justice Issues of Our Time"

2. Barna's year-end wrap: Relativism on the upswing

3. International Planned Parenthood Federation Pushes For Abortion Market Share Amid Economic Downturn

4. Latin America sees first non-traditional marriage

5. Thousands of Catholic Spaniards march re: abortion and marriage

6. United Families International Top Ten for 2009

7. Malaysia Says It will Appeal 'Allah' Ruling

8. British Christian Teacher “Sacked” After Offering to Pray with a Sick Student

9. Czech archbishop warns of Europe's 'islamisation'

10. CHINA  Thousands brave weather, government ban to attend bishop's funeral

11.  Worship at your own risk

12.  Hilary Clinton announces 5 year funding plan for international abortion rights


 MEDIA MARVELS
1. 1.   Huntley Street featuring the Love Dare Challenge

2. 2.   A Must See You Tube Video:  Sweden’s reality a warning to Canada:  Not only disturbing but frightening.  This is now! 

3. 3.  Ukraine’s Got Talent  - YouTube video clip     

4. 4.  Religion garnered lots of news coverage in 2009

5. 5.  Group wants Christian faith out of history books


CITIZEN RESPONSE
1. Pastor Rob Weatherby article   “the Darwin Delusion” + response + request

2. Request for petition re: Anti-Human Traffiking Bill

3. Who’s really in control here?    Article about climate change

4. The importance of political action in churches

1


DAILY CHUCKLE
1.  Why do we love children?

1


WORDS OF WISDOM
1. Thirty Good Things About 2009

2. When you thought I wasn’t looking

3. A New Year’s Wish for You

4. Gentile Israel by Skip Moen, D. Phil.
Prayers
The leadership team of A.C.E.S (Active Christians Engaging Society) believes in the power of prayer and encourage Sudbury area Christians to pray for our city and country. As we look to the Bible for instruction we can read the apostle Paul's encouragement to Timothy, as he leads the church in Ephesus, (1 Timothy 2:1-4), TO PRAY FIRST, with requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.....
1.  Christian Unity Week
There will be a number of opportunities for the Body of Christ to gather together throughout the city during the week beginning January 18th and we invite you to join us in prayer for these special services. Please visit www.sudburychristian.ca <</span>http://www.sudburychristian.ca/> for inspiration.

2.  Opportunity for Prayer Mentoring Nationally
Registration reminder!!
Join the hundreds of Canadians that have been inspired, equipped and renewed in the fire of prayer.

The Gadite Track Intercession Mentoring will ramp up your prayer life!
Even intercessors in remote areas are able to participate in this mentoring with use of technology. We meet weekly on a conference call for prayer and coaching as well as receiving bi-weekly teaching  through email. This teaching reveals powerful principles that God is using to take us nationally into tremendous breakthroughs in prayer.  The conference call mentoring groups unite intercessors from all over the nation, bridging and building wonderful friendships.

Don't miss this opportunity to benefit from being personally coached by one of the senior prayer leaders in the nation! Don't miss this opportunity to build great relationships with those with the same passion for the Lord, from every corner of Canada!
Don't miss this opportunity to grow in prayer like never before!
Special group available for men intercessors!
The Gadite Track starts the week of Feb 22/10
Click here for more information and to Register Today!
 
Sincerely,
Jane Jones & The Gadite Mentoring Team
Cityscape Prayer Ministries
info@cityscapeprayer.org
www.cityscapeprayer.org <</span>http://www.cityscapeprayer.org>


3.  Prayer request for international conference that is not pro-life
Dear Prayer Partners,
It's hard to believe that anything we do in little 'ole Goderich could have a world wide impact. Well, believe it. The following is an urgent request for prayer. Every few years there are a huge number of folks who pay a huge amount of money to fly to a city and figure out how to work against everything we do.
Please pray that their eyes will be opened and that taking life is actually a bad thing that will eventually affect their lives.
The Fourth World Conference on Women took place in Beijing, China 15 years ago. It was one of the great battles that pitted the anti-life feminists against the Catholic Church and the pro-life movement.

The enemies of unborn life tried at Beijing to get an international right to abortion. They LOST because pro-lifers defeated them.

Now, fifteen years later they are back.

In March 2010 thousands of radical feminists will gather at UN headquarters in New York and try to make up what they lost then and have continued to lose.

These radical feminists will come from such awful organizations as the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the National Organization for Women, NARAL Pro-Choice America and the worst of the worst, “Catholics” for Choice.
They will be joined by such powerful entities as the UN bureaucracy, pro-abortion UN agencies like UNFPA and sadly UNICEF, the combined might of the European Union and the World Health Organization.

They will be supported by billionaires like George Soros and huge foundations like Hewlett and Packard, Ford, Rockefeller and all the rest of the rogues-gallery of anti-lifers hard left.
There will be pro-lifers there, pro-lifers from around the world. And they will be fighting back. But they will be surrounded, outspent and outmanned.

We expect a desperate fight for two weeks in March.

And right in the middle of this fight will be the Friday Fax.
As those two weeks progress, it is likely that the only source of pro-life news coming out of that building will be from the Friday Fax. But oh what a megaphone is the Friday Fax!
We now have 200,000 subscribers. By then, I will be announcing an additional 50,000-100,000 new subscribers.
Not only will we be right in the thick of this nasty conference, we will be telling you EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING.
What I am here to ask you is for your prayers, starting right now for the success in our battle against the anti-lifers at Beijing+15. Pray for the bravery of pro-life diplomats! There are many and they need your help. Pray for their courage in standing up to the world’s pro-abortion elite
I do not believe that these pro-abortion folks are evil. I believe that they have the same goals as we do--to help young women experiencing unexpected pregnancies. It's just that they believe that killing is helping. We believe that all life is made in the image of God and that we do not take life--we protect it.
We must take the "they will be surrounded, outspent and outmanned." and see it as an opportunity for God to really show His Power.
For Life,
Nancy Bartz
The Life Centre, Goderich, ON

4.  Prayer for January 25 election:  Battle for Christian Party Chairmanship in Council of Europe Draws Lines on Social Issues

By Piero A. Tozzi, J.D.         Co-authored by Emanuele Rizzardi
     (NEW YORK – C-FAM)  A battle over leadership of the European People's Party (EPP), the Christian Democratic grouping in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), is pitting an Italian pro-life stalwart against socially-liberal counterparts from Holland and Sweden.
Volume 13, Number 5  January 14, 2010
http://www.c-fam.org/publications/id.1554/pub_detail.asp


Praise Reports
We give praise and thanks for all those who planned and provided Christmas events and services.
1.  A.C.E.S. Website has “Living Nativity” video on website archive
Many thanks to our A.C.E.S. videographer, Dan Thomson, who videotaped The Living Nativity and put it onto our website, which Dan also created and maintains at www.sudburychristian.ca <</span>http://www.sudburychristian.ca>

Check it out!
And, if you need videography done, please consider giving Dan  a chance to bid on your project ….we need to support our Christian volunteers and businesses, as they are such a blessing!    Dan can be reached at:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMAGE VIDEO SERVICES & PRODUCTIONS - Your Number One Source for Multi-Media

1210 Southview Dr.
Sudbury Ontario P3E 2L6 Canada
(705) 698-1212 –cell . (705) 523-1066 -home . (705) 523-5861 -fax

www.imagevideo.ca <</span>http://www.imagevideo.ca>




2.  CALLING ALL FILM MAKERS AND YOUTUBE ENTHUSIASTS!
      The voting for the first ever Salt n' Light YouTube contest has started. Check out the three entries and make your vote at www.ReformedPerspective.ca <</span>http://www.ReformedPerspective.ca> .

      Although voting has started, there is still time to get your entry in (the only penalty is that it doesn't have as much time to collect votes).

      There are two prizes of $250 each. One is given to the video with the most votes and the other is given to the video selected by the judges from Reformed Perspective, ARPA Canada, and CV Benefits (the sponsors of this contest).
             
The winner of the Salt n' Light YouTube Contest will be featured in Sudbury's 2010 REAL LIFE Film Festival du cinéma C'EST LA VIE! Entries feature social or political shorts from a Christian worldview. For more about this exciting contest and to learn about ARPA, located in Lethbridge, Alberta, please visit www.arpacanada.ca <</span>http://www.arpacanada.ca/>


2. 3.  NEW GROUP!
Sudbury Christian Singles (Ages 20-35)
Find it on Facebook "Sudbury Christian Singles (Young Adults)"
Don't have Facebook? E-mail christiansingles@live.com for more info Features social events, resources and a profile section to connect with available singles.
CHECK IT OUT!

3. 4.  A.C.E.S. website adds Prayer Page
Sudbury Christian Messenger is archived on the A.C.E.S. website at www.sudburychristian.ca <</span>http://www.sudburychristian.ca/> .

We are excited to announce that our volunteer web creator and web master, Dan Thomson, gave three of us editing lessons last week to be able to update the website in our respective areas of interest.
We are blessed to have a Prayer Page added to this site, courtesy of Helen Townend of our A.C.E.S. Leadership Team.
There’s lots more there to see, so please check it out.
God bless,
Diane Ikonen,
A.C.E.S. Leadership Team


Local News & Events
1. Lodging opportunities for students in Sudbury
a)  Do you know someone looking for a good peaceful place to stay. Included: internet, cable, all included...hoping for a serious student, quiet and clean..contact Lyse 670-9560, 278 Hyland, Sudbury.
b)  Student Room Available. Shared laundry, kitchen, bathroom, internet and cable T.V. Short walk to the bus stop. No smoking, drugs or pets. Please call Iris at 566-6392


2. New Christian Book Store in Valley “Revelations Books and Things”
Just a bit of info.. for the Christian Messenger readers: there is a new Christian Book Store in the Hanmer Mall called "Revelations Books and Things". Kimberly Irving just opened and is hoping to expand as time progresses. She would like to service the Valley area and would love to have anyone in that area visit her store. She is willing to order what she doesn't have in stock.
Her phone #969-9695.

3. Reminder of Red Fridays
You are encouraged to wear red every Friday, to show support for the men and women of Canada’s Armed Forces.
Red Fridays are a grassroots effort that encourages Canadians to wear red on Fridays as a symbolic gesture to show fellow Canadians and our troops that we care and honour those who fought for our freedom, our peace and our resolve. The goal is to show non-partisan support for our military troops.
The movement was started in Spring 2006 by the spouses of two soldiers posted to CFB Petawawa. For more information visit: www.redfridays.ca <</span>http://www.redfridays.ca/> (website in English only)
* * *


4.Grace Family Church EN FRANÇAIS le 17 janvier
Venez célébrer le Christ
à Grace Family Church
Chaque dimanche à 19h00
au 468 rue Antwerp, Sudbury
Tél. 673-1512


5.  Sudbury Ministerial Lunch Gathering             January 19
Hi Friends:
 
The Sudbury Ministerial will meet Tuesday, January 19th,  at St. James Anglican Church (1815 Paris Street). We will worship together from 11:30-12:00, and we will have lunch from 12:00-1:00. Bring a bagged lunch and a smile to share!
The SM meets every third Tuesday from 11:30 - 1:00 at St. James (up till June).
One goal of the Sudbury Ministerial is to create understanding and unity among ministers of Sudbury (especially between the Evangelical and mainline perspectives).
Come and befriend ministers from different denominations.
 
Shalom,  Peace of Christ,
John Harvey

6.  Church of the Ascension to hold mid-week service for Christian Unity          January 20
We will be having a mid week service for Christian unity on the Wednesday morning of that week at 9:30a.m.
Anne Germond

7.  The Centre for Spirituality at Work invites you to: The Passion Test™

with Suzanne Sherkin             January 20
Wednesday Jan 20, 2010
7:30 – 9:30 pm
At the Toronto Grace, near Yonge & Bloor, Toronto
Earlybird fee: Wed Jan 13, 2010

Do you know that you have a greater purpose in life, but are searching to discover what it is?  Are you longing to know what your passions are and how to align your worklife with them? The Passion Test™ is a simple, yet profound process to help you identify what your passions are, what you want to accomplish in your life, and how to live accordingly. You can learn to focus on those things that hold meaning for you and bring joy to everyday life, so you can live a life that involves things you care about having, things you care about doing, and people who support you in ways that are meaningful for you.

SUZANNE SHERKIN ( www.HighbornCommunications.com) is a writer, coach and professional speaker as well as the host and producer of Essential Communications, a weekly www.ThatChannel.com radio show focused on communications in the workplace.  Suzanne delivers high energy, high content workshops on how to communicate clearly and passionately. Certified to teach the Passion Test™, she brings clarity and focus to what matters most to you. Reach Suzanne at Suz@HighbornCommunications.com.

REGISTRATION: Program fee of $30 received by Wed. Jan 13 or $40 following  LOCATION: In the 2nd floor chapel of our partner, the Toronto Grace Hospital workplace, 650 Church St. at the S/W corner of Bloor St.  Just a few minutes walk from the Yonge-Bloor TTC station.  Metered parking is on Church and Hayden Streets, and a paid lot at the Grace.  Use the main northwest entrance.  www.TorontoGrace.org
 
Bring your brochures & flyers for the networking table.


Sherry Mikelic (formerly Connolly), MBA, MDiv
Founding Director
Centre for Spirituality at Work
Connecting who you are and the work you do ....
www.SpiritualityAtWork.org <</span>http://www.SpiritualityAtWork.org>

8.  Glad Tidings Host Winter Tea for Women          Jan. 21
9.  Christian Unity Week to be celebrated in Sudbury Please attend! Jan. 22

In the summer of 1910 delegates of various Protestant mission societies met in Edinburgh, Scotland. The conference, which was not a decision-making gathering, had no other aim than to help missionaries to forge a common spirit and coordinate their work. Since that time, there has been a greater move among churches throughout the world to understand and appreciate each other. Rather than emphasizing the differences between them, for the sake of unity they have thought it best to emphasize what the churches share in common: whether they are traditional or expressively enthusiastic, conservative or liberal, every Christian needs to know that they are part of a greater whole, that others from different theological persuasions throughout the world follow the teaching of Jesus Christ. Every year “Christian Unity Week” is from January 18th-25th. The theme verse this year is Luke 24:48: “You are witnesses of these things.”
Consistent with this, the Sudbury Ministerial is sponsoring an event to enhance unity among the churches of Sudbury. The event will take place on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 from 7:00-9:00 at Grace Family Church (468 Antwerp St.). The proceeds of the offering will go toward “There’s Room at the Inn” (a ministry for recovering prisoners). In addition to an address, there will be singing, prayer, and refreshments.

For more information, contact John Harvey at 929-6562 (or sudburyanglican@hotmail.com).
Peace of Jesus,
John
10.  Girlfriends Breakfast Club Women’s Ministries

 All Nations Church January 23, 2010
  Jean Mahood, Church Co-Founder, to speak

GIRLFRIENDS BREAKFAST CLUB WINTER EDITION
JEAN MAHOOD “Bargaining with God… What’s in it for me?”
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010
9:00 to 11:00AM
at the Holiday Inn
(1696 Regent Street)
Cost is $10.00. Sign up is required. 673 6110 gpasanen@allnationschurch.ca
Women’s Ministries, All Nations Church
885 Prete Street, Sudbury, ON P3E 3X9
705-673-6110 Fax: 705-673-2912
www.myallnationschurch.com/womin.htm <</span>http://www.myallnationschurch.com/womin.htm>
womin@live.ca

11.  CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY Annual Book Sale    Jan. 23 & 24
85 Larch Street, Sudbury
annual, good, used
BOOK SALE
 
INCLUDING CDs, DVDs, VIDEOS
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JANUARY 23 & 24
10 am – 2 pm
Phoenix Hall
Those who wish to donate books to the book sale may simply drop books off at the Church of the Epiphany during their office hours, daily 9-4 pm or when they are open on the weekends.

12.  St. James Anglican Church  Heavenly Ham Supper      Jan. 23

    @ St. Patrick’s   

St. James Anglican Church is hosting a HEAVENLY HAM SUPPER at St. Patrick’s Church, 39 Walford Road, at 6:15 pm on Saturday, January 23rd. Tickets are $15.00, children under 10 years $7.50.  Come and join us, everyone is welcome.  For more information, call Bonnie at 524-1175.
13.  Taize Celebration    Christian Unity Week   Sainte-Anne-des-Pins        January 24

Christian Unity Week. Sunday January 24, Taizé célebration  to pray for Christian Unity,  Sainte-Anne-des-Pins 7:00pm  Welcome to this bilingual event!


14.  Forever National Men’s Conference Promise Keepers



Puslinch, ON

January 22 - 24, 2010

Module 1 “Godly Manhood”



London, ON
March 5 & 6, 2010


Ottawa, ON
March 19 & 20, 2010


For further information, please go to: http://www.promisekeepers.ca/content/eventdetail?id=5011
15.  Beth Moore event in Toronto      Deposit Date:  January 29


16.  11th Annual Ecumenical Worship Service         Trinity United Church           January 31
You are cordially invited to attend
the 11thAnnual Ecumenical Worship Service
to celebrate
the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
 Sunday, January 31, 2009
 7:00 p.m.
Trinity United Church
 Church St. in Garson
Christians of the Falconbridge,
Garson and Skead area
*United Church* *Anglican Church*
*First Baptist Church* *Roman Catholic Church*
gather to pray for Christian Unity
Non-Perishable Food Items and Monetary Donations 
to Garson Community Food Bank
Bring your friends and families!
Come and celebrate!

17.  Fundraising Dance for Family Enrichment Centre    Feb. 19
There will be a dance held February 19th at 8:00 pm at the Caruso Club in support of the Family Enrichment Centre.  Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling the Family Enrichment Centre at 670-0606, J.C. at 674-0808 or Sue at 585-0627.  Come out and support this invaluable counseling centre that has helped many Sudburians in times of need.

18.  CHRISTIAN MEN’S RETREAT             Feb. 26-28

                         Walking in Light 1 John 1:7
Come to a serene wilderness retreat and share in a weekend with God. Bring your snowshoes or cross country skis … find “your footprints     in the snow.”
5:00 p.m. Friday February 26th, 2010 thru to Sunday February 28th 2010        Villa Loyola, 4951 Long Lake Road Sudbury, On.
$175. Includes great food, warm comfortable accommodations and a weekend that may just surprise you! (find a sponsor)
REGISTER by February 18th, 2010  (705) 674-7349                  
                             dbattaino@gmail.com
                      Bring your Bible and slippers.


19.  Institute of Marriage and Family Canada Conference

March 11, 2010
Save the date! March 11, 2010 is the IMFC Family Policy Conference. Check http://www.imfcanada.org <</span>http://www.imfcanada.org/> for more information and registration daveq@imfcanada.org www.imfcanada.org <</span>http://www.imfcanada.org/> www.FamilyIndex.net <</span>http://www.familyindex.net/> Phone 613-565-3832 Toll Free 1-866-373-4632 Fax 613-565-3803
The Institute of Marriage and Family Canada’s annual Family Policy Conference will take place on March 11, 2010, in Ottawa, ON.

In addition to exploring ways in which families are beleaguered or bolstered by current public policy, the conference will feature presentations by special guests Miriam Grossman, MD, author of You’re Teaching My Child What? and Brian Lee Crowley, PhD, author of Fearful Symmetry: The Fall and Rise of Canada’s Founding Values.
Check Imfcanada.org for more information and registration.

20.  Beth Moore “Living Proof Live” in Toronto March 12, 13
Hello!
 
Do you need a break!  Why not join other women for a couple days on what should prove to be a relaxing weekend to Toronto to hear Beth Moore live and fellowship.  Please see details below and contact Sookram Bus Lines before January 29 to book your spot - they only have 15 women registered to date and they need more for the trip to happen. 
 
Blessings to you for 2010!
Karen
 
DOOR TO DOOR MINISTERS
Reverend Michael & Karen Marcotte  B.A./B.P.H.E., B.Ed.
705.919.8138
doortodoorministers@persona.ca
www.doortodoorministers.ca <</span>http://www.doortodoorministers.ca>

Sookram bus lines needs people to register, they only have 15 to date and they would like at least 30 by the end of the month.

We at Sookram Bus Lines & Tours have several new tours coming up in 2010 that may interest your readers..

1.Beth Moore -\"Living Proof Live\"- March 12,13 Toronto, ON - Ricoh Centre

Includes: Deluxe Bus Transportation, 1 Event Ticket,1 night accommodations at Days Hotel & Conference Centre Toronto Airport East with hot Breakfast
Cost: $160-Double $150-Quad

pdf brochures are available of these 2 tours that I will send you on your email if you call me at 705-983-4347,cell 919-3834 or visit our website: www.sookram.ca <</span>http://www.sookram.ca/> Please contact me if you require any more information. Best to you. David Laari-Sookram Bus Lines & Tours

For further information, please contact David Laari info@sookram.ca Sookram Tours 2010
“Registered TICO # 50017532” and
” Trip cancellation insurance and travel health insurance is available through Sookram Bus Lines”.


Travel by deluxe highway coach to Toronto's Ricoh Coliseum to participate in this two-day event.
A fun-filled Bible study, teaching, and worship experience to enrich your mind, soul, and spirit.
• General Seating Admission at Ricoh Coliseum
• 1 night Accommodations at Days Hotel & Conference Centre ,Toronto Airport East
• Hot Breakfast included
• opportunity to meet and grow with other ladies
• Package Price: $160 per person, Double Occupancy or $ 150 per person, Quad Occupancy
Terms: $ 60 deposit required with booking. No refunds after January 12th, 2010. Balance due no later than March 01, 2010. Seating is assigned on a first come - first serve basis. Minimum # bookings are required to conduct the tour
Trip Interruption & Cancellation Insurance is available through Sookram Bus Lines provided by Royal Bank of Canada.

Call us at: 705-983-4347
________________________________________
 
Welcome to Sookram Bus Lines
 We are a mid-sized charter bus and touring company located in Sudbury, Ontario Canada. We are licensed to travel out of Sudbury to any destination within the continent of North America. Having said that, we want you to know that personal service and client satisfaction are the hallmarks of our company. Don't hesitate to contact us because no inquiry is unimportant or too small to bother with. So call now and let us help you plan your next travel occasion.
  • Nine deluxe highway coaches
  • Three school buses
  • Two passenger vans
  • Drivers are fully licensed, insured, 
     trained and responsible
  • We offer value, personal service and adventure!


Tours
 
Sookram Bus Lines offers tours for every taste and budget. If you have an idea for a great tour, we would like to hear from you.
Check out our full lineup of Tours and book your next adventure with us.


Charters
 
We offer charters for local and long distance travel. Sports teams are a specialty, ask the Sudbury Wolves (we are the official carrier). We offer highway coaches, school buses, and passenger vans. No group is too small or too large and we offer the best price/service value for your next road trip. Click Here for more information.

21.  R.E.A.L. Women of Canada, ( Realistic, Equal, Active, for Life)

2010 National Conference         April 17            North Bay
R.E.A.L. Women of Canada, ( Realistic, Equal, Active, for Life)
2010 National Conference
                                   “R.E.A.L. and Relevant”
Time: Saturday, April 17, 2010, 9-4:30, Registration begins 8am
Place: Clarion Resort Pinewood Park
          201 Pinewood Park Drive
          North Bay, Ontario, 1-800-461-9592
          www.ClarionResortPinewoodPark.com

Speaker line-up:  Gwen Landolt, "The Significance of REAL Women of Canada".
                            Pat O’Brien, “How to effectively communicate with your MP"
                            Dave Quist, "Using Language to Impact our Culture"
                            Suzanne Fortin: “ Blogging to Break the Feminist Monopoly"
Early Bird Registration Fee:  $40.00, $30.00 for spouse, includes continental breakfast, hot lunch, refreshments
Registration Fee after March 19, 2010: $50.00 per person.
Register on-line: www.realwomenca.com
    
                                          OR
By mail:   Mrs. Kathie Hogan, Conference Registrar
                 RR#3
                 Parry Sound, ON P2A 2W9
                 ( name, address, e-mail, phone, cheque)
Accommodations: Clarion Resort Pinewood Park, Ask for the special room rate for R.E.A.L. Women Conference
For more information, contact Pauline Guzik, National Conference Convenor,
   705-724-5964,  pauline.guzik@sympatico.ca.



22.  Trip to Lancaster, PA with shows of interest to Christians

May 21-24
Lancaster, PA Theatre Tour on May 21-24 2010.
2 of the 3 performances are Christian plays by Sight & Sound Theatre: “Joseph” and “Psalms of David”
The third performance is shorter and is an Amish performance: “Jacob’s Choice” giving an Amish perspective on a young man’s life choices.
Includes: Deluxe Bus Transportation, Admission to 3 Shows, 3 nights Accommodations, 1 Amish Feast, plus Touring & Shopping Cost: $ 450-Double $400-Quad --------------------------------------
pdf brochures are available of these 2 tours that I will send you on your email if you call me at 705-983-4347,cell 919-3834 or visit our website: www.sookram.ca <</span>http://www.sookram.ca/> Please contact me if you require any more information. Best to you. David Laari-Sookram Bus Lines & Tours
Registered TICO # 50017532” and
” Trip cancellation insurance and travel health insurance is available through Sookram Bus Lines”

________________________________________
Lancaster Theatre Tour 2010
May 21 to 24, 2010
Travel with us to beautiful Pennsylvania in the Spring! We will see two magnificent Sight and Sound productions which include "Joseph" and
"Psalms of David". We will tour the region and see the "Jacob's Choice" production, giving a true understanding of Amish life. Opportunities for excellent shopping, touring, and dining abound! Other tour features include:
• Deluxe Highway Coach Transportation
• Admission to 2 Sight & Sound Shows
• Admission to Amish Experience
• 3 nights accommodations at Black Horse Lodge & Suites
• Hot Breakfasts included
• Shopping at Tanger Outlet Mall
• Escorted Tour of Pennsylvania Dutch countryside
• One hearty country style meal at Good and Plenty
Tour Package Price: $ 450 per person, Double Occupancy or $ 400 per person, Quad Occupancy
Terms: $ 100 deposit required with booking. No refunds after February 21, 2010. Balance due no later than May 01, 2010. Seating is assigned on a first come - first serve basis. Minimum # bookings are required to conduct the tour. A valid passport is required for entry into United States.
Easy monthly payments are available.
Hurry and Book Soon!
Medical, Trip Interruption & Cancellation Insurance is available through Sookram Bus Lines provided by Royal Bank of Canada.
Call us at: 705-983-4347. Sookram Bus Lines reserves the right to make minor schedule adjustments

Copyright - Sookram Bus Lines • Design by www.imagevideo.ca <</span>http://www.imagevideo.ca/>


23.  Kingdom Bound         August 1-4
If you want to get a group rate, you can call Glad Tidings and ask for Brenda Sidon. She will only be taking reservations and downpayments until the end of January. I have spoken to many who attend regularly with Glad TT and everyone loves it. There is something for all ages.
 
 
Kingdom Bound 2010 Western New York's Premier Music Festival
August 1-4, 2010
Darien Lake Theme Park Resort, NY
Psalm 22:27
Connecting Families to the Kingdom
http://www.kingdombound.com/artists_and_speakers2.php

24.  Joyce Meyer in Toronto         Aug. 5-7
Joyce Meyer is coming to the Toronto Airport Center August 5th to 7th. You can check this out on her website www.joycemeyer.org



25.  Ruth Graham Get Growing Conference Sept/ 17 & 18 Belleville
http://www.ruthgrahamandfriends.org/conf_WallStreetUnited-Ontario.html


26.  Support Request for Meagan Duhamel, our region’s aspiring “pairs” champion

My daughter, Meagan will be featured on the "Aspiring Olympian" General Mills cereal(some
Grocery stores have them out already on the multi-grain cheerios) If you can please purchase a box or few and follow the instructions and vote for her, she will then get $1 or $5 per vote depending on the box of cereal. Thank you and Meagan would really appreciate the support!

Please extend this information onto your family and friends as well.
Heidi Duhamel
705-671-1000 ext 8131

Editor’s Note: I didn’t care to purchase this cereal, so contacted Meagan’s mother, Heidi Duhamel. A cheque can be sent to Meagan at her family’s address: Box 1540, Lively, ON P3Y1N2 If you want further information, please contact Meagan’s Mom at 705-671-1000 ext 8131
 May God bless our special Sudbury Olympian as she heals from her recent injury!!!!!!!!!

27.  Employment Opportunity – Christian Horizons
Employment opportunity: Looking for employment with meaning? Christian Horizons, a trans-denominational evangelical Christian organization that provides a variety of support & services for persons with developmental disabilities, is currently seeking relief/casual staff to work within our residential homes in Sudbury.
For more information please contact Karen Festing (Recruitment Manager) at Christian Horizons North District Office (705) 789-1725 x3.


28.  Elgin Street Mission is seeking Volunteers
Elgin Street Mission is in need of volunteers during the following times:
Monday - Friday from 7am - 5pm

Saturday - 5pm - 9pm

Sundays 11am - 9pm

Volunteers are asked to work the hours they are available and not expected
to fill an entire shift. If you are a available a couple hours a day or day
a week. We are flexible!


Volunteers will be expected to assist in the kitchen area helping the
daytime facilitator serve breakfast and/or helping the cook later on in the
day prepare that evening's supper.


Please contact the volunteer coordinator Eva Lachapelle at 673-2163. We look
forward to having you become part of the team!


29.  "Door to Door Ministers"
Reverend Michael & Karen Marcotte are excited to offer "Door to Door Ministers" - meeting you where you're at.



Phone: 705-919-8138.
***Editor’s Note: Karen Marcotte initiated and manages the Church Directory at www.sudburychristian.ca <</span>http://www.sudburychristian.ca/>



30.  Local Christian Book Seller a Great Resource


Gloria Monkhouse at Walden Word of Life on Fielding Road has a passionate heart for Christian Bibles, books and audio-visual materials for all ages.
Gloria will set up her portable book store at your church or event, upon request.
If you’re seeking a book on a topic or a book for Bible Study, Gloria can assist you greatly.
Give her a call at 705 682 0441 – you’ll find her to be full of wisdom and help

31.  Christian Videographer – Sudbury’s Dan Thomson
Our very own volunteer, Dan Thomson, who created our website www.sudburychristian.ca <</span>http://www.sudburychristian.ca/> and does the videography that is on it, has his own business.
Please consider Dan Thomson for your videography needs, and much more.
IMAGE VIDEO SERVICES & PRODUCTIONS - Your Number One Source for Multi-Media

1210 Southview Dr.
Sudbury Ontario P3E 2L6 Canada
(705) 698-1212 –cell . (705) 523-1066 -home . (705) 523-5861 -fax

www.imagevideo.ca <</span>http://www.imagevideo.ca/>



32.  Help us update Church List on ACES site and Sudbury Christian Messenger Database
If you haven’t already checked out the ACES (Active Christians Engaging Society) website, www.sudburychristian.ca <</span>http://www.sudburychristian.ca/> , why not do it now. Once on the website, please click on 'CHURCH DIRECTORY'. This will bring you to the list of churches we are assembling, and need your help to maintain, for the Sudbury area, along with contact information for each church. If corrections or additions are needed for your church, click on 'CONTACT US', type in the changes and press send. This website is for the benefit of everyone, so please help us maintain it by sending us corrections whenever necessary. Thank you!
As well, in order to keep reaching you, when you change your e mail address, please let the Sudbury Christian Messenger Editor, Diane Ikonen, know your new address, so that our database can be maintained, and you can continue to be an important link in our Sudbury Christian network chain.

For more events that might interest Christians, please go to www.cjtk.com <</span>http://www.cjtk.com/>


Provincial News
1.  Abortion monument draws unwanted international attention 

Posted By Mark Gentili          Northern News

Marcel Tourigny, Grand Knight of Council 2777, says he designed the anti-abortion monument and he provided this sketch of it to council.
Kapuskasing now has made an international name for itself in some circles, but not for reasons that would make any of its neighbours jealous.

The decision by Kapuskasing town council to allow the Knights of Columbus Council 2777, one of two Knights councils in Kapuskasing, to erect an anti-abortion monument in Riverside Park — a decision which council has said it will re-examine — has put the community in an unenviable position: in the middle of the contentious issue of abortion.

Mayor Alan Spacek said he has received hundreds of emails, few of them friendly, since the story broke last week, and the majority from beyond the borders of the Model Town, and many beyond the borders of Canada itself.

"I've received hundreds of emails, many of them not complimentary. Many are personal attacks," the mayor said, adding that one sender even referred to him as "Hitler". "I would say there's been a phenomenal amount of international controversy."

Most comments, Mayor Spacek said, opposed situating the monument in Riverside Park.

Besides the opinions expressed on Facebook and Twitter in regards to the monument, several pro-life sites have focussed on the story and encouraged their members to skew The Northern Times' online poll by flooding it with pro-life votes.
At last count, nearly 500 people have taken the poll, more than 300 of whom responded positively to the question of whether public spaces should be used to promote political messages.

And while council has stated it will review its decision to allow the monument at its Jan. 25 meeting, the mayor said a significant change in municipal policy designed to protect council from being blindsided again was reached at a special council meeting called last week.

"We're bringing forward a policy that presentations (to council) will not be accepted without a staff report accompanying them," Mayor Spacek said.

That policy might protect councils in the future, but the current one must still handle the fallout from their decision to allow the monument. The question most often asked of The Times has been: how could something like this slip through?

"I think our decision was probably clouded by the fact [of the Knights charity work in the community]," Mayor Spacek said. "Two members of council are Knights, and they didn't see it either."

One of those two councillors is David Plourde, chair of the Recreation and Culture Committee that recommended to council that the monument be approved. A 15-year veteran of council, he said that councillors simply "missed something", made an error, and are reviewing their decision.

Mr. Plourde, who is a member of Knights of Columbus Council 8430, already knows what his decision will be, and is not hiding it.

"Whatever my personal opinions might be, I don't think a public park is where we should be airing this kind of stuff," he said.

The mayor was also quick to defend council's decision to approve the construction of the monument without clarifying its purpose as a simple mistake.

"Council members are part-time. They give a lot of time and effort to the job and they're challenged by a lot of big issues, most of which are financial," he said. "There was no ignoring of any facts."

He also said neither the words "pro-life" nor "anti-abortion" were mentioned in Grand Knight Marcel Tourigny's presentation, suggesting that if they had been council's decision might have been different.

Mr. Tourigny said last week that councillors were given a drawing of what the monument would look like — a granite tombstone featuring a relief of a baby cradled in a pair of hands flanked by the phrase (in French and English) "The only choice is life" — and he could not understand how councillors missed the point.

Asked this week if he thought council was going to change its mind, Mr. Tourigny said he would wait and see what council decides.

"It's pretty hard to tell (what council will decide). I was told by the mayor that they are looking at what other municipalities have done, so I'm anxious to see what they do," he said.

Around 100,000 induced abortions are performed in Canada every year, according to Statistics Canada, around 30 for every 100 live births.
http://www.kapuskasingtimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2235242

2.   Quebec culture lessons for immigrants questioned
Critics call the new requirements for immigrants to attend classes and sign a declaration agreeing to abide by Quebec's “common values politically expedient and a superficial attempt at integration”.
You can view this story at: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/744087--quebec-culture-lessons-for-immigrants-questioned
          

3.  Quebec Announces Attack Against Homophobia
If anyone still doubts that the advancement of LGBT “rights” will always come in direct conflict with religious rights, they need only read Quebec’s new policy against homophobia to be fully convinced.
http://unitedfamiliesinternational.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/quebec-announces-attack-against-homophobia/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About UFI
United Families International (UFI) is a public charity devoted to maintaining and strengthening the family as the fundamental unit of society. By strengthening the family, the basic building block of society; communities, states and nations are strengthened. UFI is not affiliated with any governments, religious organizations or political parties.




National News
1.  Suicide, euthanasia bill causes disabled man profound worry, distress

 
Stephen Passmore

DEBORAH GYAPONG
CANADIAN CATHOLIC NEWS
OTTAWA - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) spokesman Stephen Passmore warned legalized euthanasia would have a dire impact on the disabled.

The 3.6 million - or one out of eight - Canadians who live with disabilities already feel unwanted, unequal and unaccepted by Canadian society, he told a Dec. 1 news conference on Parliament Hill.

He warned legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide will contribute towards those feelings of unworthiness and lead to fears they may be "terminated."

Passmore, who was born with cerebral palsy, said thousands of dollars were spent during his childhood to give him greater mobility. The attitude in the health care system was to give him everything he needed to help him be better included in Canadian society.

Under legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide, instead of health care dollars going to help someone like him be able to walk, people like him might be offered a needle, he warned.

"Once death is offered as an option, it becomes an implied suggestion," he said.


For full details, please go to:
http://www.wcr.ab.ca/news/2009/1214/bill121409.shtml
Source:  UNITED FAMILIES INTERNATIONAL
PO Box 2630
Gilbert, AZ 85299
U.S.A. Toll Free: (877) 435-7834
Phone: 480-632-5450
Fax: (480) 892-4417
Web site: www.UnitedFamilies.org <</span>http://www.UnitedFamilies.org>
E-mail: ufi@unitedfamilies.org


2.   Report from The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
EPC had many challenges in 2009.
 
Assisted suicide was legalized in Washington State, several states introduced legislation to legalize assisted suicide, court cases in Montana and Connecticut that are designed to legalize assisted suicide in those states, the organization of the Second International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide near Washington DC that included an international strategy meeting, the co-organizing of the North West Push-Back meeting in Seattle Washington, the co-sponsoring of the Wilberforce Weekend in Ottawa, the non-stop battle to stop Bill C-384, the bill by Bloc MP Francine Lalonde to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada, the decision by the Quebec (Canada) College of Physicians to support the legalization of Euthanasia, the constant financial challenges, the move by Australia’s Dr. Death – Philip Nitschke, to establish offices in North America, and more.
I have just written an article about the how the prorogation of parliament will delay the vote on Bill C-384 in Canada. Those who are following the debate realize that Lalonde has traded-backwards three times to delay the second-hour of debate and vote on C-384. Lalonde is trying to create a national debate on the issue of euthanasia. Prime Minister Harper has now prorogued (suspended) parliament until March 3rd reportedly to allow Canadians to concentrate on the Winter Olympics that will be in Vancouver, but more likely he is preparing his government for an election in May or June 2010. The earliest that C-384 will be voted on is March 17 or 24.
Blog: http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2009/12/will-bill-c-384-ever-go-to-vote.html
Bill C-384: http://www.euthanasiaprevention.on.ca/Analysis-BillC384.htm
The recent Exit International newsletter, the euthanasia lobby group that was founded by Dr. Philip Nitschke, is announcing that Nitschke is planning a speaking tour in Canada in March. He did not announce the dates and locations of the events. Nitschke has now established an office in Bellingham Washington State, only a short distance from the Canadian border. Nitschke may change the debate on C-384 in Canada.
My article on Nitschke: http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2009/12/is-philip-nitschke-dr-death-coming-to.html
EPC has organized a dinner for Wednesday, January 27th at the Huron House Restaurant in London. This is an opportunity for every local EPC supporter to come out, network and support the work of EPC. We have room for 100 people.
Information: http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2009/12/euthanasia-prevention-coalition-dinner.html
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition will face many more challenges in 2010. It appears that the battle to Stop Bill C-384 will continue. We are planning a new strategy to defeat C-384 and we will need your support to make it a reality.
 
EPC is also making plans with how to deal with Philip Nitschke. Nitschke is part of the more radical fringe of the euthanasia lobby but he is a very effective communicator.
To donate to the work of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition go to: http://www.euthanasiaprevention.on.ca/Donations.htm
Have you become a fan of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition on Facebook yet?
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Euthanasia-Prevention-Coalition/138827297524?ref=ts
If you would like to receive the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition newsletters by email please send us your name address and email address and we will only send you our newsletter by email. This offer applies to our international supporters also. In the last month 100 supporters have decided to receive the newsletter by email, rather than regular mail.
 
Alex Schadenberg
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
Toll free: 1-877-439-3348
Website: www.euthanasiaprevention.on.ca <</span>http://www.euthanasiaprevention.on.ca>
Email: euthanasiaprevention@on.aibn.com

3.  Canada's harshest religious debates pale by global standards

 
 
By Douglas Todd, Vancouver SunDecember 28, 2009
 
So you think Canadians hold harsh opinions about religion?
The Canadian arms of the World Wide Web -- not to mention the country's coffee shops and bars -- are often smoking with hot-headed views from both religious and anti-religious people.
Sometimes I have to take a deep, calming breath after reading some of the belief-bashing vitriol that passes for a "comment" on my blog, called The Search, as well as those on other Canadian websites that explore spirituality.
But, folks, Canada ain't seen nothin' when it comes to religious discord.
We live in peace and spiritual harmony compared to 70 per cent of people around the world, according to a comprehensive survey of global religious hostilities released this month by the Pew Forum for Religion and Public Life, a respected non-sectarian American research organization.
For full details, please go to
http://www.canada.com/life/Canada+harshest+religious+debates+pale+global+standards/2385259/story.html

Source:  UNITED FAMILIES INTERNATIONAL
PO Box 2630
Gilbert, AZ 85299
U.S.A. Toll Free: (877) 435-7834
Phone: 480-632-5450
Fax: (480) 892-4417
Web site: www.UnitedFamilies.org <</span>http://www.UnitedFamilies.org>
E-mail: ufi@unitedfamilies.org
1
4.  Polygamist predicts opponents will be 'damned'
.Winston Blackmore, Canada's best known polygamist, foresees a year of doom for those that deliberately break up families or interfere with a person's freedom.
The B.C. Supreme Court is expected in 2010 to be grappling with the controversial issue of polygamy in response to a constitutional reference from the B.C. government on whether Criminal Code provisions prohibiting polygamy are consistent with the guarantee of freedom of religion provided in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The case is expected to reverberate across the country, with its impact felt by various religious and immigrant groups who accept polygamy as a way of life.
Vancouver — From Monday's Globe and Mail
Published on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009 10:09PM EST
 
For complete details, please go to:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/polygamist-predicts-opponents-will-be-damned/article1413003/
Source:  UNITED FAMILIES INTERNATIONAL
PO Box 2630
Gilbert, AZ 85299
U.S.A. Toll Free: (877) 435-7834
Phone: 480-632-5450
Fax: (480) 892-4417
Web site: www.UnitedFamilies.org <</span>http://www.UnitedFamilies.org>
E-mail: ufi@unitedfamilies.org <</span>mailto:ufi@unitedfamilies.org>


5.  Priest Editor Says Canada's Catholics Should Stop Funding KAIROS
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/dec/09122210.html

6.  Canada's National Post Paper Promotes China's One-Child, Forced Abortion Policy
by Steven Ertelt   LifeNews.com Editor    December 10, 2009
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) -- Canada's nationwide newspaper, the National Post, is generating controversy today with an editorial that promote China's one-child, forced abortion policy. That's the program that makes it so couples can't have two or more children and it has been enforced with human rights abuses nationwide.
Diane Francis, of the Post writes today that, "The whole world needs to adopt China's one-child policy" -- calling it an "inconvenient truth."
…
"The 'inconvenient truth' overhanging the UN's Copenhagen conference is not that the climate is warming or cooling, but that humans are overpopulating the world," Francis writes. "A planetary law, such as China's one-child policy, is the only way to reverse the disastrous global birthrate currently, which is one million births every four days."
…
Francis says none of the policies any governments could enact will do anything to curb supposed environmental problems "unless a China one-child policy is imposed."
But, she says that won't happen because pro-life groups are around to condemn the population control position and its mandates, forced abortions and other human rights abuses -- none of which she named in her article as resulting from the Chinese policy.
"Unfortunately, there are powerful opponents. Leaders of the world's big fundamentalist religions preach in favor of procreation and fiercely oppose birth control," she lamented.
Francis doesn't just ignore the human rights abuses, forced abortions and involuntary sterilizations that happen under China's one-child family planning policy.

She ignores the fact that much of the world is experiencing severe underpopulation -- with not enough people to care for an aging population, worker shortages and, in China's case, a lack of girls that is fostering kidnapping, prostitution and sexual trafficking.
…
Economist Robert J. Samuelson wrote about depopulation graphically in a Washington Post column.
"Western Europe's population grows dramatically grayer, projects the U.S. Census Bureau. Now about one-sixth of the population is 65 and older. By 2030 that would be one-fourth, and by 2050 almost one-third," he said.
http://www.lifenews.com/int1406.html
Contact Francis with your rebuttal at dfrancis@nationalpost.com

7.  Canadian Panel to Study Euthanasia Stacked with Pro-Euthanasia Academics
By Thaddeus M. Baklinski
OTTAWA, December 21, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Royal Society of Canada, an association of scientists and scholars "dedicated to encouraging education and the advancement of knowledge in the natural and social sciences and the humanities" has established a panel of "experts" to "assess the pros and cons of permitting physician-assisted death" in Canada.
The society has appointed a six-member "Expert Panel on End-of-Life Decision Making," chaired by Dr. Udo Schuklenk, professor of philosophy and Ontario research chair in bioethics at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.
Four of the six panel members are already well known for their pro-euthanasia position, having published works in support of the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide.
…
Dr. Schuklenk is well known for his promotion of pro-euthanasia and atheistic philosophy.
In an essay explaining why he is an atheist titled "Human Self-Determination, Biomedical Progress, and God" Schuklenk wrote, "I argue not only that we have no good reason to believe that a good, all-powerful, all-knowing God exists, but also that organizations and institutions campaigning in the name of God are frequently working toward preventing desirable societal progress in a number of crucial areas affecting our daily lives.
…
Johannes van Delden is a Dutch euthanasia researcher and part of the council which promoted the legalization of euthanasia in the Netherlands.
Jocelyn Downie, author of Dying Justice, a book urging the decriminalization of both euthanasia and assisted suicide, is also a staunch abortion advocate. In her book, Downie maintains that "removing life-sustaining medical treatment" is "morally equivalent" to euthanasia or assisted suicide, and that "there is no difference between killing and letting die."
Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition repudiates this statement.
"This is a lie," Schadenberg stated simply. Schadenberg stressed the importance of properly defining euthanasia and assisted suicide, which he said are commonly misunderstood. Contrary to the popular understanding, they are not about "aid in dying," he explained, which is rather the domain of palliative care.
He emphasized that they are "about the direct and intentional cause of death," and not "about withholding or withdrawing aggressive medical treatment."  They are not, further, "about unintentional overdoses or unintentional deaths."
Sheila McLean, as well as writing in favor of legalization of assisted suicide (The Case for Assisted Suicide) has argued for the legalization of human embryo research, endorsing the claim that "the moral status of the human embryo is not established until some time into its biological development after conception" and that embryos under 14 days old do not have the "moral status" of humans.
Daniel Weinstock is one of the academics consulted in the drafting of Quebec's contentious "Ethics and Religious Culture" (ERC) program, a relativistic ethics and religious education program that promotes homosexuality as normal and declares all religions, from Christianity to Animism as equally valid, and has been forced on all Quebec student against strong parental objection.
Neither Weinstock's nor Ross Upshur's positions on euthanasia and assisted suicide are evident as yet.
American bioethicist Wesley J. Smith observed in his blog that "Expert commissions" to advise on contentious issues of public policy are usually political tools designed to come to a predetermined conclusion in order to pave the way for a desired  policy change.
"... a panel with such a clear view in favor of assisted suicide, indicates the direction in which the commission's recommendations are expected (designed) to go," Smith commented.
To contact the Royal Society of Canada:
Darren Gilmour, Director
170 Waller Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9B9 CANADA
Phone: (613) 991-5760
Fax: (613) 991-6996
Email; dgilmour@rsc-src.ca
William Leiss, Chair, Committee for Expert Panels
Phone: (613) 991-5760
Email: wleiss@rsc-src.ca

For further details, please go to:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/dec/09122109.html


8.  MP Vellacott vindicated by National Cancer Institute on abortion-breast cancer link– alleges cover-up by media and cancer societies –

 
For Immediate Release                                                            January 7, 2010
 
OTTAWA – Maurice Vellacott, MP for Saskatoon-Wanuskewin, believes that in due course, the media and cancer societies’ cover-up on the abortion-breast cancer link will be exposed, and the truth will break through. Today Vellacott said, “Women are done a horrific disservice when media and health care professionals deliberately turn a blind eye to the evidence and deny this unsettling truth.”
 
Vellacott disseminated the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer revelations in the interests of women’s health in Canada, saying, “Women have a right to know.” He posed the ominous question, “Who’s standing up for women on this issue?”
 
******************************
The Shocking Reversal: Researcher at National Cancer Institute Admits Abortions DO Raise Breast Cancer Risks
 
Karen Malec (January 7, 2010)
 
“Although the study was published nine months ago, the NCI, the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and other cancer fundraising businesses have made no efforts to reduce breast cancer rates by issuing nationwide warnings to women.”
 
Less than two months since the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued new guidelines recommending against routine mammograms for women in their forties, a second breast cancer scandal involving a U.S. government panel of experts has come to light which has implications for healthcare reform.
 
An April 2009 study by Jessica Dolle et al. of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center examining the relationship between oral contraceptives (OCs) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in women under age 45 contained an admission from U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) researcher Louise Brinton and her colleagues (including Janet Daling) that abortion raises breast cancer risk by 40%.
 
Additionally, Dolle’s team showed that women who start OCs before age 18 multiply their risk of TNBC by 3.7 times and recent users of OCs within the last one to five years multiply their risk by 4.2 times. TNBC is an aggressive form of breast cancer associated with high mortality.
 
“Although the study was published nine months ago,” observed Karen Malec, president of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, “the NCI, the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and other cancer fundraising businesses have made no efforts to reduce breast cancer rates by issuing nationwide warnings to women.”
 
Brinton was the chief organizer of the 2003 NCI workshop on the abortion-breast cancer link, which falsely assured women that the non-existence of the link was “well established.”
 
Dolle’s team reported in Table 1 a statistically significant 40% risk increase for women who have had abortions. They listed abortion among “known and suspected risk factors.”
 
Brinton and Daling had previously studied this population from the Seattle-Puget Sound area in the 1990s and reported risk increases between 20% and 50% among women with abortions. In the 2009 study, they and their co-authors wrote that their findings concerning induced abortion, OC use and certain other risk factors, “were consistent with the effects observed in previous studies on younger women.”
 
“Obviously, more women will die of breast cancer if the NCI fails in its duty to warn about the risks of OCs and abortion and if government funds are used to pay for both as a part of any healthcare bill,” said Mrs. Malec.
 
A brief analysis of the study, Dolle et al. 2009, was provided by Dr. Joel Brind, professor of biology and endocrinology and deputy chair for biology at Baruch College, City University of New York.
 
Last year, studies from Turkey and China also reported statistically significant risk increases for women who had abortions.
 
Source: Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer <</span>http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/press_releases/100106/index.htm>
 
– 30 –
 
For further comment, call (613) 992-1966 or (613) 297-2249


International News
1.  US Bishops: Defense of Marriage "One of the Premier Social Justice Issues of Our Time"

                                                                                                                                             
WASHINGTON, January 13, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage, recently praised a January 7 New Jersey State Senate vote to preserve the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.
“On behalf of the bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee, I am grateful for the courage of those New Jersey senators who stood for the truth of marriage as a bulwark of the common good,” he said.
The New Jersey Senate voted 20-14 to reject a same-sex “marriage” bill, just as the New York State Senate did when it rejected a similar measure December 2 by a 38-24 margin.
“Preserving marriage between one man and one woman is a matter of justice; indeed it is one of the premier social justice issues of our time. It does not deny but rather supports basic human rights — especially the rights of children,” Archbishop Kurtz said. “The recent New York Senate vote and the vote in New Jersey witness to this fact.”
The votes in New York and New Jersey follow closely the November victory for marriage in Maine, where the “people’s veto” overturned the legislature’s spring 2009 decision to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples.
Archbishop Kurtz noticed the timing of the votes.
“The recent decisions in Maine, New York and New Jersey are signs of hope and sources of encouragement. We are in a pivotal moment in this country on the issue of marriage, as more and more people recognize that protecting the basic rights of persons need not and should not come at the expense of the unique truth and value of marriage.
“The good of the love between husband and wife, the vital responsibilities of mothers and fathers, and the rights of children all deserve unique protection under law — all of these are indispensable to a just society that serves the dignity of all people and the common good.”

2.  Barna's year-end wrap: Relativism on the upswing

Allie Martin - OneNewsNow - 12/31/09   

Throughout the past year, the Barna Group has interviewed thousands of pastors on a variety of topics. Now the research group has released a survey focusing on the top themes regarding religion in 2009 and revealing the most prevalent finding: Americans are more interested in faith and spirituality than they are in Christianity.
 
George Barna, president of the Barna Group, explains that Americans are "more interested in feeling like they belong to a community of faith" than they are with feeling like they belong to a particular church. "They're more interested in having a faith system that addresses the needs and issues and struggles that they're dealing with than they are necessarily [with] working through a whole body of beliefs, activities, and practices that might be part of that larger faith entity," he says. "It's an interesting time."
 
Another trend the research group discovered through the study is that Americans increasingly want to shape their own faith experience -- what he calls "concoct[ing] a uniquely personal brand of faith."
 
"What they've done is they have put together a whole series of beliefs and a series of religious practices and a series of relationships and connections -- all of that that makes sense to them and helps them to feel good about themselves," Barna reports. "In some ways," he states on his website, "we are creating the ultimate ecumenical movement, where nothing is deemed right or wrong, and all ideas, beliefs, and practices are assigned equal validity."
 
The study further revealed that only one-third of Americans believe in absolute moral truth. "Pragmatism and relativism, rather than any sort of absolutism, has gained momentum," he concludes.
 Other themes coming out of the year-end wrap-up? Biblical literacy is neither a current reality nor a goal in the United States, and effective and periodic measurement of spirituality is not common right now -- and is not likely to become common in the near future.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=833174

3.  International Planned Parenthood Federation Pushes For Abortion Market Share Amid Economic Downturn

By Samantha Singson


     (NEW YORK – C-FAM)  International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) recently released its annual performance report for 2008-2009. Despite an economic downturn and a slight decrease in annual income, the abortion industry giant boasts of increased activity across all of its lines of work, including condom distribution, advocacy and abortion services.
     IPPF’s overall income for 2008 was US$119.7 million, down from over $120 million the previous year. While IPPF's total financial intake dipped, its abortion business boomed.  The organization provided almost 428,000 “abortion services” to young people alone, with a staggering 1,134,549 total number of such services – almost double the number from 2007 – across the globe.

…
     In the report, IPPF boasts of promoting its abortion agenda among its member associations in traditionally pro-life countries. IPPF highlights its work in pro-life Ireland, which maintains strict limits on abortion access despite pressure from its EU partners and abortion advocacy groups such as IPPF.  IPPF boasts that through its member associations, it has been on the ground helping to provide support for rallies and debates to challenge Ireland's pro-life laws since "public debate is often dominated by religion."
     IPPF also boasts of its successes in Spain, where abortion only had been permitted in cases of rape, fetal impairment or for the health of the mother. The IPPF report credits its Spanish Member Association for successfully campaigning in 2008 for an amendment to the abortion law to remove restrictions and legalize first trimester abortions on demand.
     The report laments the "dramatic decrease in funding for family planning" from international donors and claims that the drop "represents a decline in donor interest rather than a decline in need." IPPF intends to focus its future work on securing sustainable funding for its activities by capitalizing on statements made by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on family planning funding, and on the Obama administration's repeal of the Mexico City policy so that funding to "international sexual and reproductive health organizations" will be restored.

     IPPF views these developments as part of a "growing international interest" which "needs to be seized upon in order to drive forward the agenda for universal access to reproductive health."  IPPF will be focusing on using the "emerging momentum around maternal health to secure new support and financing" to fund abortion growth.
     Beyond its traditional emphasis on abortion, contraception, family planning and advocacy, Executive Director Gill Greer indicates IPPF will expand into new areas such as “population dynamics” and “climate change” to garner increased funding.
Volume 13, Number 3    December 31, 2009
http://www.c-fam.org/publications/id.1544/pub_detail.asp

4.  Latin America sees first non-traditional marriage
Only seven countries in the world allow gay marriages: Canada, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium. U.S. states that permit same-sex marriage are Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and New Hampshire.
Earlier this month, lawmakers in Mexico City made it the first in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage. Leftist Mayor Marcelo Ebrard was widely expected to sign the measure into law.
Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
To read full details, please go to:
http://www.newoxfordreview.org/

5.  Thousands of Spanish Catholics march against abortion and non-traditional marriage
… A survey on religion in Spain, published just before Christmas by the newspaper Público, showed there has been a steady decline in those who describe themselves as Catholics in Spain - down almost four per cent to 26.2 per cent - and an increase in atheism.
Pope Benedict XVI sent a message of support to the rally, saying a family was "founded on the marriage between a man and a woman ... because it is of paramount importance for the present and the future of humanity".
For full details, please go to:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6896330/Thousands-of-Spanish-Catholics-march-against-abortion-and-gay-marriage.html

6.  United Families International Top Ten of 2009
As 2009 comes to a close, we at United Families International have much for which to be grateful. Although those who would see the family dismantled, the culture of death cultivated, parental rights diminished, and religion abolished from society continue their destructive work, this year has been marked by encouraging advances for the pro-family cause. 

In honor of these encouraging events, we present the Top Ten Advances for Family, Life, and Religious Liberty in 2009.

1.  Former Director of Planned Parenthood Takes Stand Against Abortion

2.  Maine Overturns Same-Sex Marriage Law
3.  Public support for Abortion is Declining
4.  Spain Marches for Life
5.  UN Passes Resolution in Favor of Traditional Values
6.  FRC Releases Comprehensive Study on the Dangers of Pornography
7.  Countries Begin to Address Declining Fertility Rates
8.  UFI Success at Commission on the Status of Women
9.  12-Year-Old Girl's Pro-Life Speech Goes Viral
10.  Mexico Advances Constitutional Abortion Restriction

There many other battles fought and won to promote and defend the family in communities and nations around the world. Here at UFI we are constantly engaged, working to ensure that someone is standing to defend the family at every level of society.  Thank you for your support which has made these efforts possible. The family has a bright future as long as people like you are still working to defend it.

Best wishes and a happy New Year!
bounce@infusionmail.com; on behalf of; United Families International [ufi@unitedfamilies.org]

7.  Malaysia Says It will Appeal 'Allah' Ruling


By JAMES HOOKWAY and CELINE FERNANDEZ

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia is bracing for a potentially bruising linguistic battle after its government vowed to challenge a court ruling allowing local Roman Catholics to refer to God as Allah.
 
The legal tussle is raising tensions between Malaysia's ethnic-Malay Muslim majority, who represent about 60% of this resource-rich nation's population, and its large ethnic-Chinese and Indian minorities. Muslim groups are preparing demonstrations against a High Court ruling on New Year's Eve to overturn a three-year-old government ban on the Catholic Church using the Arabic word Allah as a translation for God in its Malay-language newspaper.
Government spokesman Tengku Sharifuddin Tengku Ahmad said Sunday the government will file an appeal against the ruling. Under Malaysian rules, an appeal must be filed within 30 days of a court judgment.
Among other things, the verdict potentially upholds the constitutional right of the church's weekly Herald newspaper to refer to Jesus Christ as the son of Allah -- something that could anger many Muslims here and hurt Prime Minister Najib Razak's efforts to bring Malaysia's different religious groups closer together.
In comments Sunday shown on Malaysian television, Mr. Najib appealed for calm on a "very sensitive issue" and said the government is fully aware of Muslims' concerns. He said the government doesn't encourage any demonstrations about the court ruling.
The Arab word Allah has been used by Malay-speaking Christians for centuries, much as it is used by Christians in Arabic-speaking countries or in Indonesia, where, like Malaysia, the concept of a single deity was introduced by Arabic-speaking traders. Rev. Lawrence Andrew, editor of the Herald, says there's no other appropriate term for God in Malay.
Many powerful Islamic leaders here disagree, however, and fear some Muslims could be misled by Christians using the word Allah. They say the word should be reserved for Islam alone.
For full details, please go to
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126252276477713845.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories

8.  British Christian Teacher Sacked after Offering to Pray for Ill Student
By Hilary White
LONDON, January 4, 2010, (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Christian teacher in the UK has been added to the long and growing list of British Christians who have faced disciplinary or legal action for expressing their beliefs. Olive Jones, 54, is being defended by the Christian Legal Centre after she was sacked for offering to pray for a student suffering from leukaemia.

Jones, a home-visit teacher, gave lessons in mathematics to children who are too ill to attend school. When on a visit with a sick student, she spoke to the child’s mother and offered to pray for the daughter. When she was told that the family were not believers, she dropped the subject, but the mother complained and Jones lost her job with Oak Hill Short Stay School and Tuition Service in Nailsea, North Somerset.
Her employers said that the offer of prayer could have been regarded as “bullying.” Jones now fears that the incident has marked her and will damage her future employment prospects.
For full details, please go to:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/jan/10010408.html


9.  Czech archbishop warns of Europe's 'islamisation'


Agence France-Presse
First Posted 03:32:00 01/06/2010
PRAGUE—Outgoing Prague archbishop and head of Czech Catholics Miloslav Vlk warned of a looming "islamization" of Europe in an interview published in Prague on Tuesday.
"Europe has denied its Christian roots from which it has risen and which could give it the strength to fend off the danger that it will be conquered by Muslims -- which is actually happening gradually," Vlk said.
"If Europe doesn't change its relation to its own roots, it will be islamized," the 77-year-old cardinal, who was named Prague archbishop by pope John Paul II in 1991, added on his website www.kardinal.cz.
He blamed immigration and Muslims' high birth rate for helping Muslims to "easily fill the vacant space created as Europeans systematically empty the Christian content of their lives".
"At the end of the Middle Ages and in the early modern age, Islam failed to conquer Europe with arms. The Christians beat them then," Vlk said.
"Today, when the fighting is done with spiritual weapons which Europe lacks while Muslims are perfectly armed, the fall of Europe is looming," added the cardinal.

For full details, go to: 
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20100106-245761/Czech-archbishop-warns-of-Europes-islamisation

10.   CHINA  Thousands brave weather, government ban to attend bishop's funeral
January 6, 2010    XIWANZI, China (UCAN) -- Some 2,500 Catholics braved freezing conditions Jan. 6 to pay their last respects to "underground" Bishop Leo Yao Liang of Xiwanzi, who had spent almost 30 years of his life behind bars.
 
Vatican-approved Coadjutor Bishop Yao, who the government recognized only as a priest, died on Dec. 30 at the age of 86.
He had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 1958 as he refused to join the independent Church movement, and released only in 1984. In 2002, he was clandestinely ordained as a bishop and had been detained several times since then.
The funeral service was held in Xiwanzi town, Chongli county, in Hebei province. Bishop Yao was referred to as "shepherd" during the service, after authorities disallowed the use of the term "bishop."
The government also banned Catholics outside the county from attending the funeral, while snow-covered roads prevented others from coming, according to sources.
Bishop Yao's death leaves the local Church in a dilemma.
Sources say that due to the difficult relations between the underground and government-approved Church communities, the Holy See is unlikely to appoint a younger coadjutor bishop to succeed Bishop Hao.
The issue of bishop succession had worried Bishop Yao before his death, sources say.
The prelate fell seriously ill in mid-December and died of multiple organ failure two weeks later. Authorities had prohibited him from leaving Xiwanzi parish after he was released from a 30-month detention in February 2008.
Bishop Yao was born in 1923 and ordained a priest in 1948. Three years later, under the Communist regime, he was banned from doing pastoral work and forced to grow vegetables and cut firewood for a living.
The late bishop is remembered for laying the foundation stone of a new Gothic church building in Xiwanzi town after the older building was demolished. The new building is still being constructed.
Catholicism was introduced to Xiwanzi more than 300 years ago. In the 19th century, the village became the headquarters of the Mongolia apostolic vicariate and the base of the Immaculate Heart of Mary congregation's missionary work in the extensive region beyond the Great Wall.
The government-approved Church had merged Xiwanzi diocese and neighboring Xuanhua diocese to form Zhangjiakou diocese in 1980. However, the two underground Church communities continue to operate despite government pressure and surveillance.
http://www.ucanews.com/2010/01/06/thosuands-brave-weather-government-ban-to-attend-bishops-funeral/


11.  Worship at your own risk

Lorne Gunter, National Post 
Published: Friday, December 18, 2009

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has just released a fascinating study on the state of religious freedom around the world. Two years in the making, with a third year needed to analyze and collate the data, the study finds that 64 of the 198 nations studied -- about one-third of the countries in the world -- have "high or very high restrictions on religion." But because many of these are among the most populous nations on Earth, in fact 70% of the world's people live in countries where practicing their faith can be difficult or even impossible.
Read more:  http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2355078

12.  Secretary Clinton Announces 5-year Funding Push, Including Abortion

By Susan Yoshihara, Ph.D.
(NEW YORK – C-FAM) In Washington last week, United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the United States would engage in a massive funding push over the next five years to promote “reproductive health care and family planning” as a “basic right” around the word. Clinton has previously stated for the record that this includes abortion. The plan includes potentially siphoning off funds currently directed towards fighting HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis and malaria. Commemorating the fifteenth anniversary of the controversial International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Clinton said there were only five years left to achieve ICPD’s goal that “all governments will make access to reproductive healthcare and family planning services a basic right.” 

http://www.c-fam.org/publications/id.1553/pub_detail.asp


Media Marvels
1. 1.  Huntley Street is featuring the Love Dare Challenge

2.

Huntley Street is featuring the Love Dare Challenge

For full details, please go to:
100huntley.com/lovedare. 

There are videos to watch and opportunities for interaction.
Editor’s Note:  Thanks to Helen for bringing this to our attention

3.  2.  Sweden’s reality a warning to Canada:  Not only disturbing but frightening.  This is now!


When the Israeli tennis team came to play in Sweden, most of the public was barred from the stadium, because the Israeli's safety could not be guaranteed.
See why in the short video below.

Click on this link and turn up your sound:  
 
 http://vodpod.com/watch/1428923-sweden-in-grip-of-islam
Editor’s Note:  What can we Christian Canadians learn from this?    Your responses would be appreciated.    Diane Ikonen

4.  3.  Ukraine’s Got Talent – amazing artist on YouTube clip

Amazing Video Clip . . first read details
 
This video shows the winner of "Ukraine's Got Talent",  Kseniya Simonova, 24,  drawing a series of pictures on an illuminated sand table showing how ordinary people were affected by the German invasion during World War II.  Her talent, which admittedly is a strange one, is mesmeric to watch.
The images, projected onto a large screen, moved many in the audience to tears and she won the top prize of about £75,000.

She begins by creating a scene showing a couple sitting holding hands on a bench under a starry sky, but then warplanes appear and the happy scene is obliterated.

It is replaced by a woman's face crying, but then a baby arrives and the woman smiles again. Once again war returns and Miss Simonova throws the sand into chaos from which a young woman's face appears.

She quickly becomes an old widow, her face wrinkled and sad, before the image turns into a monument to an Unknown Soldier.

This outdoor scene becomes framed by a window as if the viewer is looking out on the monument from within a house...

In the final scene, a mother and child appear inside and a man standing outside, with his hands pressed against the glass, saying goodbye.

The Great Patriotic War, as it is called in Ukraine, resulted in one in four of the population being killed with eight to 11 million deaths out of a population of 42 million.


Kseniya Simonova says: 
"I find it difficult enough to create art using paper and pencils or paintbrushes, but using sand and fingers is beyond me. The art, especially when the war is used as the subject matter, even brings some audience members to tears. And there's surely no bigger compliment."

Please take time out to see this amazing piece of art.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=vOhf3OvRXKg


4.  Group wants Christianity out of history books
Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow - 1/14/2010 4:00:00 AMThe Texas Board of Education is holding public hearings and will vote this week on the content of textbooks, which will impact many other states that follow Texas' lead.
 
Committees of teachers and experts have crafted the proposal that will be up for consideration by the State Board of Education today (Thursday). Dozens of amendments and ideological battles are expected. Whichever curriculum standards the board chooses will be the guideposts for teaching history and social studies to some 4.8 million K-12 students for 10 years. (More details from Associated Press)
 One of the major problems is a push by a small group that wants to censor religious information regarding historical figures from textbooks. Jonathan Saenz, director of legislative affairs at Free Market Foundation, tells OneNewsNow the group has been very aggressive.
 
"We just think it's ridiculous," he says. "If you're going to talk about history and social studies, we should be doing it accurately; we should do it in a factual way," Saenz contends. "If some of our historical events and figures, [and] part of their history and significance has to do with their religious beliefs, then students should not be banned from being taught about that."
 
Saenz cites an example of Martin Luther King, Jr., and suggests that if teachers acknowledge him, they should also be able to say he was a Christian and how that influenced his role in the civil rights movement. The legislative affairs director says opponents are bringing up the tired and false argument of separation of church and state.
 
"The reality is it's undeniable that our country has a rich religious heritage [and] that the faith of our founding fathers had a tremendous impact on our government and law," he notes. "And so to teach students...otherwise, it's just wrong and it's something that we hope the State Board of Education won't tolerate."
 
Initial votes will be conducted this week, and a final vote will be tallied in two months. Those decisions will establish textbook content for the state for the next ten years as other states will purchase and use those same textbooks.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=852762
 



Citizen Response
1.  Below is the article written by Pastor Rob Weatherby of Bethel Baptist Church, and the Letter to the Editor that responded to it in The Sudbury Star.            We encourage those who have knowledge of this issue to support Pastor Rob Weatherby’s article by sending in responses to:
The Editor
33 MacKenzie Street, Sudbury, ON   P3C 4Y1
Or        letters@thesudburystar.com
Or        Fax:  674 6834



THE  DARWIN  DELUSION   by Pastor Rob Weatherby
In 2006 Richard Dawkins wrote a controversial book called “The God Delusion” in which he explained why he believed in Darwin and not God. In 2007 Alister McGrath wrote a rebuttal book called “The Dawkins Delusion” in which he explained why he believed in God and not Darwin or Dawkins.
In light of the recently celebrated 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of his famous book “Origin of the Species”, let me join the fray with this article entitled “The Darwin Delusion”.
In 1859 Darwin’s book tried to explain that life as we know it today slowly “evolved” or developed over vast periods of time by a process he called “natural selection”. He claimed that all organisms had descended from a common ancestor and he illustrated this with his “tree of life” sketch. Slowly (over a much shorter period of time) this theory has gained popularity until today it enjoys a virtual monopoly in our science textbooks.

Alternate explanations such as the growing scientific evidence for “intelligent design” or the biblical belief in divine creation are quickly dismissed and denied equal time. In fact, they’re given no time. But how convincing is Darwin’s theory?
 
Gaping Holes
After the unearthing of innumerable fossils since Darwin’s time, scientists are still searching for the “missing links” between species. Darwin himself asked, "Why, if species have descended from other species by fine graduation, do we not everywhere see innumerable transitional forms? Why is not all nature in confusion, instead of the species being, as we see them, well defined?" Good question. Evolutionary biologist, Eric Bapteste, admits “We have no evidence at all that the tree of life is a reality.”
The Bible states that God created different “kinds” (species) of plant life (Genesis 1:11-12) and animal life (Genesis 1:24-25). Scientific evidence confirms that life can “evolve” or change within a specie but never between them. Biologist Lynn Margulis states, “New mutations don’t create new species; they create offspring that are impaired.”
Unanswered Questions
Recent discoveries about DNA and the incredible complexity of a single cell raise new questions about the theory. Biochemist Michael Behe in his book “Darwin’s Black Box” challenges evolution with the idea of “irreducible complexity”. He explains that some very complex forms (like protein) could not have evolved any more than a mouse trap could because a basic complexity is required for it to work.

Darwin’s theory also leads to some disturbing implications. If human life today is merely the accidental result of unguided, purposeless evolution over time, then what is the value and meaning of human life and what is the foundation of morality? Princeton bioethicist Peter Singer simply takes the theory to its logical conclusion when he defends the killing of handicapped babies which he believes are of less value than healthy pigs or chimpanzees!
And then there’s the unanswered question of where did it all begin. Did life evolve from “non-life”? And if so, where did the “non-life” (matter, liquids, gases) come from?
The Bottomline
Belief in evolution and belief in God both require faith. Some would say that belief in evolution takes even more faith than belief in God. The apostle Paul described man’s desire to exclude God from his belief system this way -- “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served things rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25).

I can understand why modern man desperately wants to believe in evolution. Without God in the picture, he feels free to live his life as he wants, without any moral restraint or authority to tell him otherwise. Darwin’s theory, in my mind, is a man-made delusion and attempt to write God out of existence. The awesome Creator of the universe simply laughs (Psalm 2:4) and refuses to go.

I stood over Darwin’s tomb at Westminster Abbey a couple of years ago. Somehow, I don’t think he’s deluded anymore.
Pastor Rob Weatherby serves the Bethel Baptist Church family in Whitefish and recommends the website www.faithandevolution.org for those interested in this important topic.


Creationism shouldn't get much classroom time

Re: Rob Weatherby's "The Darwin Delusion" -- Jan. 2.

In his article, "The Darwin Delusion," Pastor Rob Weatherby reiterated some common creationist babble concerning the theory of evolution. This religious propaganda is nothing more than a shameless pandering to the preconceived dogmatisms shared by his followers. An even slightly critical evaluation of his claims leaves them totally without merit.

On religion in the classroom, Weatherby notes that alternative explanations for the existence of life are not given any time in the classroom. This is incorrect, however we should still be thankful that they aren't given any more time than they already are. As a progressive society, we should strive to present our youth with the best available information -- and when it comes to the explanation for the current state of life on Earth, evolution is the only game in town; 2,500 year old mythology simply won't do.

Creationists like Weatherby will often claim that a variety of theories should be presented, and the students encouraged to discern the truth for themselves. Perhaps we should teach the stork-delivery theory of human reproduction alongside that of sexual reproduction and let our children figure it out for themselves? What an appalling waste of time and resources. The relative difference in the strengths of creationism and evolutionary theory is at least as great as the stork vs. sex example. Would you want your tax dollars supporting an education system like this? Perhaps we should teach alchemy in the chemistry classroom? How about astrology being taught alongside planetary physics?

Regarding the "Gaping Holes" in the fossil record which Weatherby speaks of, I need say only this: the theory of evolution has only ever been strengthened by fossil evidence. The fossil record displays evidence representing exactly what would be expected if evolution were true.

When the so-called "missing links" between two species are found by scientists, creationists rejoice in the fact there are now more "holes" in the fossil record (the original gap is bisected) for them to gape at.

Concerning ethics, even if evolution implied immorality and the devaluing of human life (it doesn't), this would have absolutely no bearing on the truth of evolution. I do not have the space to address his alarmist moral concerns, but I would remind Weatherby that these arguments have no place in a discussion about whether something is true. Remember: whether evolution is good or bad for humanity does not bear on the truth or falsity of it as a theory.

For those interested in this important topic, I don't suggest visiting a creationist website, as Weatherby does, but rather educating oneself in history, biology, philosophy and basic logic.

Cody Walter Lively
http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2247115
Editor’s Note:  Sudbury Christian Messenger readers …….please share these letters with those you know who are well versed in the topics of creation/intelligent design/evolution

2.  Religion garnered lots of news coverage in 2009
In spite of the widespread perception that we live in a secular society, religion made the news frequently in 2009 - as evidenced by the links to stories in the mainstream Canadian media (national print news) collected by CC.com's Peter Chattaway. Each week, he posted these links on this website, grouped according to theme. These groupings form the basis for the following analysis:
http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/100106news.html

3.  PETITION FOR TOUGHER LAWS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING


Are you a PASTOR? GROUP LEADER? CONCERNED CITIZEN?

Here is an easy opportunity to mobilize our community and let our Senators know that Canada needs tougher laws on human trafficking in Canada through the passage of Bill C-268.

MPs have already voted in favour for this bill to pass, but unfortunately it is stalled at the Senate. We are told that citizen feedback through a petition may help the Senate to see the importance and act more quickly to pass this bill into law.

PARTICIPATING IS EASY!

1. COLLECT SIGNATURES in your neighborhoods, churches, clubs, groups, dinner parties, etc.

2. MAIL completed signatures to my attention at 654 Burton Ave, Sudbury, ON, P3C 4L2 by February 1st, 2010
OR MAIL directly to Senator Platt (address on petition)
OR EMAIL me (janedjivre@gmail.com) on or before February 1st, 2010 and I will pick up the petitions and send all.

3. YOU'RE DONE!

Attached is a backgrounder sent by 4 My Canada and a copy of the petition.

PS - this is a private members bill, so we are told that when Parliament comes back in March, the Bill will still be tabled for voting!

4.  Who’s really in control here?
 They said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."  Gen 2:4
 The ongoing debate over “Climate Change” is the greatest illustration of human pride and hubris since the Tower of Babel. The basis of the entire discussion, of course, is the notion that human activity – specifically industrial activity and the emissions of so-called “greenhouse gases” – are causing worldwide changes in long term climate trends.  The “science” behind this is being increasingly brought into disrepute, but the unspoken presupposition behind all of it is the contention that cosmic trends are really controlled by people.  Poet Robert Browning’s notion that “God is in His heaven - all is right with the world” is being directly challenged by the climate change alarmists.
Underlying their shrill posturing is a worldview that expressly seeks to remove God from His throne, and replace Him with human “wisdom.”  This is becoming increasingly clear when you listen to and read some of the claims they are making. 

Just over a year ago, when I ran for office in the community where I live, one of my opponents was a well known local environmentalist who had, as the centrepiece of his platform, the notion that “every decision local government makes must be taken with an eye to how it affects ‘climate change’”.  During several all-candidates forums, he repeated the notion that “it’s time we took back control of our climate.”  I challenged him on this at one of the forums with the statement: “Peter over here thinks we have to ‘take back control of our climate’.  But I would ask each of you – when have we ever had control of our climate?  How many of you can make it rain tomorrow?  How many of you can tell me with any certainty that it'll be sunny on Thursday?  We don't control the climate, and we never have.  That is in God's hands, not ours, and for you to buy into anything else is sheer nonsense." 

This same candidate – he was roundly defeated in the election – is still pushing his agenda, demanding all kinds of things from local government in terms of addressing “climate change”.  I had an email exchange with him last year, in which I pointed out to him again the arrogance of his presupposition that we could have any “control” over something as cosmic as climate and weather.  I closed the email by quoting from Psalm 2, writing “Peter, there’s an old Hebrew Scripture which says ‘the One who sits in the heavens, laughs.’  And He’s probably laughing at both of us and our puny attempts to debate issues which are clearly - to quote Barack Obama on abortion - ‘beyond our pay grade’”  His response?  He wrote that “the God illusion is the most powerful one of all, the most resistant to science, and the most dangerous to common sense.” 

Then, just a little over a month ago, another local politician, a former federal Green Party candidate in our area, wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper bemoaning the “illegal hacking” of those computers at the Climate Research Unit of Britain’s University of East Anglia.  He insisted the so-called "ClimateGate" scandal was nothing but a fraud, and derided the media for not “investigating” the release more closely.  (The irony there, of course, is that the few reporters who did try to question participants at the recent Copenhagen climate conference about those emails were summarily dismissed.  Some simply had their microphones cut off, and one was threatened by an armed UN security guard with expulsion from the conference and loss of his credentials if he didn’t turn off his camera.  Simply search “Climategate questions” at YouTube to see this for yourself.)  But the letter to the editor from the Green party’s Simon Lindley really gets to the nub of the environmentalist worldview with the following paragraph:
“The most dangerous threat to this earth and the people that inhabit it is not the cars, the population growth, the effects of catastrophic global warming, the loss of land and biodiversity or clean drinking water.  It is the ideological extremist, the worshipper of dogma above common sense, the same ilk that has surfaced as the main force behind the sham known as 'Climategate'.  Simply Google 'creationist global warming' and you'll find all the typical bunch brooding.”
Not only is the closing statement in that quote a diversionary tactic and a classic ad hominem argument, it is one of the clearest expressions you’ll ever see of the ugly anti-Christian mindset of the “Global Warming” crowd.
And what Mr. Lindley fails to recognize is that there are far more “ideological extremists” and “worshippers of dogma above common sense” among the proponents of Anthropogenic climate change than among the so-called sceptics.  And their hypocrisy seems to know no bounds.  Take, for example, the recent goings-on in Copenhagen.

Apparently, people in Denmark aren’t that big on living the high life.  There are only half a dozen companies in Copenhagen which offer limousine service.  But for the conference, more than a thousand limo’s were pressed into service.  That meant many of them had to be driven hundreds of miles from Germany, Sweden, and other countries to meet the demand of the visiting dignitaries.  (And, in case you’re wondering, only five of those vehicles were “green” hybrids.)  Add to that the 140 private jets - ranging from Barack Obama’s Air Force One to the slightly more austere Challenger jet that took Prime Minister Harper and his entourage to the conference – and the “carbon footprint” for the event becomes huge.
 
Then again, it wasn’t that long ago that word got out that the high priest of Church of the Changing Climate, Al Gore, lives in a Tennessee mansion which consumes roughly 18 times as much electricity as an average American household.  To be fair to Gore, the house is about 4 times the size of an “average” home, but even at that, his power bills are still pretty high for a guy who’s preaching to the rest of us that we need to reduce our “carbon footprint”.
 
As to the “research” on this issue, it’s widely claimed that almost 4-thousand scientists signed on to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report upon which much of hysteria is based.  But in fact, only about 350 of those were people with actual degrees in any of the 3 core “sciences”.  The rest were reviewers - assorted hacks, flacks, and UN hangers-on - and even they were not all unanimous in support of the Panel’s conclusions.  All of this, while more than 30-thousand real scientists in America – more than 9-thousand of them with PhD’s in their chosen field - have now signed a petition urging the US government to reject the “global warming” myth.  (www.petitionproject.org <</span>http://www.petitionproject.org> )
There are also some other ominous undertones to the discussion.  While the Copenhagen conference was underway, Financial Post columnist Diane Francis showed the true colours of the environmental movement with a piece on population control.  She led her column with a fairly blunt statement.  “The ‘inconvenient truth’ overhanging the UN's Copenhagen conference,” she wrote, “is not that the climate is warming or cooling, but that humans are overpopulating the world.” And then she built on that argument with a call for a “planetary law, such as China's one-child policy, (as) the only way to reverse the disastrous global birthrate”.   There’s no mention in the column of what’s been widely identified as a looming demographic crisis because of low birthrates – especially in developing Western countries – and the column seems to implicitly endorse the dark side of China’s “one-child policy”, namely the forced abortions that are routinely performed there if women violate the law.  So not only are the global warmists anti-God, they’re also anti-people. 

There’s one other thing that’s very disturbing about this discussion – especially within the Christian community.  There appears to be a false dichotomy in the minds of many people.  On numerous occasions, when I’ve confronted folks with some of the facts and hypocrisy behind the global warming alarmism, their well-meaning response has been “So what do you think we should do?  Just keep on polluting?  That’s not right either, is it?” 

Of course it’s not.  But really, it’s not an “either-or” question.  Just because Christians don’t want to drink from the global warming kool-aid jug doesn’t negate our responsibility to be good stewards of Creation. Yes, man pollutes.  And yes, we should do all we can to curb that pollution.  But it should be done humbly, with integrity, and with a grounding in the principles of the Sovereignty of God, sound stewardship of creation, and respect for human life.  Anything else amounts to nothing but grandiose man-centred delusions about “controlling the climate.”
-30-
Al Siebring is a writer, broadcaster, and municipal councillor.  He lives in Duncan, BC.
This article be forwarded - in its entirety and by email only. 
 
More info: www.takebackcanada.com/news.html <</span>http://www.takebackcanada.com/news.html>


5.  The importance of political action in churches
…political participation goes on between elections …It is especially then that we need to be encouraging people to apply our faith to public life. Churches don’t have to worry about jeopardizing their charitable status by encouraging action in response to the evils of abortion, euthanasia, human trafficking, pornography, or by praying for their political representatives. It is something they can and must do.
Don’t let the controversy over partisan political action stop your church from being involved in non-partisan political action. There are so many issues that we need to address. Fear, intimidation, or retreat from all political issues are not the way to respond. As prophets, priests, and kings of Christ Jesus we have a calling to stand up for truth, justice, and righteousness in the public square.
ARPA Canada [mark@arpacanada.ca]

Daily Chuckle
 Why do we love children?

1) NUDITY
I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, 'Mom, that lady isn't wearing a seat belt!'
2) OPINIONS
On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, 'The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents .'
3) KETCHUP
A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone. 'Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle.'
4) MORE NUDITY
A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, 'What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?'
5) POLICE # 1
While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, 'Are you a cop? Yes,' I answered and continued writing the report. My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?' 'Yes, that's right,' I told her. 'Well, then,' she said as she extended her foot toward me, 'would you please tie my shoe?'

6) POLICE # 2
It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. 'Is that a dog you got back there?' he asked.
'It sure is,' I replied.
Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, 'What'd he do?'
7) ELDERLY
While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, 'The tooth fairy will never believe this!'
8) DRESS-UP
A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, 'Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit.'
'And why not, darling?'
'You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning.'
9) DEATH
While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased.
The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: 'Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.' (I want this line used at my funeral!)  

10) SCHOOL
A little girl had just finished her first week of school. 'I'm just wasting my time,' she said to her mother. 'I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!'
11) BIBLE
A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.
'Mama, look what I found,' the boy called out.
'What have you got there, dear?'
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, 'I think it's Adam's underwear!'
Words of Wisdom
1.  THIRTY GOOD THINGS ABOUT 2009

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." –James 1:17
A variety of consequential things occurred in 2009. The swine flu spread around the globe. Businesses failed and people lost their jobs and the governments of the world tried to spend their way out of recession. The world dealt with slaughter, nuclear proliferation and dead celebrities.  However, 2009 offered us more than tragedy. There were excellent things too, things worthy of a second glance as we celebrate the successful completion of one more year on the planet.

In January:
1. One thousand people gathered at a Harlem church to pray for Israel. The Senior Pastor of the Bethel Gospel Assembly, who organized the event, also invited Israel's Consul-General to New York to attend the prayer.

2. An US Airways Airbus A320 bound for Charlotte, NC crashed in the frigid Hudson River shortly after takeoff, and except for a pair of broken legs, all 155 passengers and crew escaped with minor injuries. The incident became known as the "miracle on the Hudson."

In February:
3. America celebrated the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth (which took place on February 12, 1809), remembering the tall, lanky man who loved true liberty, who dreamed in his day "of a place and time where America will once again be seen as the last, best hope on earth."

4. A Gallup poll released just in time for Charles Darwin's 200th birthday (the same day as Lincoln's) found that a mere 39 percent of Americans said they "believe in the theory of evolution."

5. Benjamin Netanyahu was asked to be Israel's next Prime Minister after an extremely close race with Tzipi Livni. Netanyahu is a conservative well known for his commitment to a unified Jerusalem and his support for Jewish settlers.

6. In Operation Cross Country, the FBI and police rescued 48 teen prostitutes, some as young as 13, from illegal sex trade rings in a sweep in which 571 suspects were arrested.

In March:
7. The annual Christian Youth Film Festival was held at the Fox Theater in Bakersfield, California. Joe Brown, the youth pastor at Heritage Bible Church, started the festival 15 years ago to give kids a creative outlet for their energy, one in which they create films on any topic (in line with a Christian world view.)

8. Stephen Baldwin, the youngest of the famous four Baldwin brothers, slammed the garbage coming out of Hollywood. He told CNSNews.com that Hollywood's constant violence, vulgarity, and anti-family fare lead to all sorts of social decay. He added that pro-family films sell well and encouraged more conservatives to make their way into the industry.

9. Physicist Bernard d'Espagnat won the Templeton Prize for his concept of a "veiled reality" - one that lies behind the world that we can touch and see. His work in quantum mechanics involves experiments that demonstrate that the essence of reality goes beyond merely the three dimensions that we can directly experience.

In April:
10. Americans rallied at "Tea Parties" on capitol steps across the country on April 15, inspired by Rick Santelli's famous speech made from the floor of Chicago's CME Group. (For Americans, a "tea party" is a cheerful idea. It brings to mind the great glory of a bunch of grown men dressing up like Indians to toss the East India Company's tea into Boston Harbor. It's the fleshing out of a great "Huzzah!" to standing up against mad taxation and unfair political decisions. It bellows out a love for freedom and for self-government. )

11. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas phoned new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to offer him wishes for a good Passover. Netanyahu's office called the conversation warm and friendly, and both men spoke of their interest in cooperation and peace.

12. Dozens of Diplomats walked out of a UN anti-racism conference after Iranian President Ahmadinejad described Israel as "totally racist". While this isn't good news for Ahmadinejad or the UN, it shows that Israel has at least a few friends in the world.

13. Israel celebrated its 61st Independence Day on the 5th of Iyyar (April 29 this year) marking another year of Israel's successful survival in a hostile world.

In May:
14. The 58th annual National Day of Prayer was held on May 7th. Cities and churches throughout the nation held prayer gatherings to recognize God's goodness and to thank Him for the many blessings He has poured on America. Millions gathered to seek His guidance and protection for our national and local leaders, our communities, and our families.

15. Gallup released a poll showing that a majority of Americans now consider themselves "pro-life." This is the first time the majority has swung to the "pro-life" position since Gallup began tracking the data 15 years ago.
16. Gideons International celebrated a century of ministry. On May 31, 1899, two Christian businessmen decided to band Christian commercial travelers together for the Lord's service. By making Bibles readily available in major venues like hotels and hospitals, these businessmen offer hundreds of millions of people access to a Bible at least some point in their lives.

In June:
17. The people of Iran took to the streets to protest the results of the questionable Iranian elections despite the vicious backlash of the authorities. These protests demonstrate that the Iranian people are willing to stand up against tyranny, even at serious personal risk.

18. Stephen C Meyer's new book Signature in the Cell became available, showing that new discoveries about DNA provide modern scientific support for belief in an Intelligent Designer.

19. What is believed to have been an ancient Christian hideout was found in Israel's Jordan Valley. The 2000-year-old underground refuge may have served as a Roman army base or monastery or hiding place for Christians.

In July:
20. Scientists from the University of Manchester found cell-like structures in the skin of a hadrosaur, giving these scientists a view of the cell structure of dinosaur skin. Dr Phil Manning, Senior Lecturer in Paleontology at SEAES called the discovery "absolutely gobsmacking."

In August:
21. Texas high schools offer Bible literacy classes this new school year, in accordance with a 2007 Texas law finally going into effect. As expected, plenty of people criticized Texas for weakening the Church-State boundary, but others praised the state for working to brick-in an essential part of high school education in teaching, "students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture."

In September:
22. About two million students met at their schools' flag poles for the 20th See You At The Pole prayer gathering and asked God to bring moral and spiritual awakening to their campuses and countries.

23. Judge M. Case Rodgers ruled that Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman did not violate a 2008 agreement with the ACLU when Lay asked Freeman to pray over a luncheon for Pace High's Field House dedication. Rodgers said the prayer was spontaneous, and there was seemingly no intent to violate the order. The men could have faced up to six months in jail and $5,000 each in fines if the judge had ruled differently.
In October:
24. Abby Johnson, the director of the Bryan/College Station, Texas Planned Parenthood, switched sides in the abortion debate in the middle of the 40 Days For Life prayer campaign. After having worked at the abortion center for eight years, Johnson's heart was moved for the unborn, and she resigned her job on October 6. The 40 Days For Life campaign started in Bryan/College Station five years ago and has spread across the entire country.
25. The FBI rescued more than 50 teens forced into prostitution and arrested 631 people, including 60 pimps, on state and local charges. The sting took place in 36 cities over 72 hours as part of the Innocence Lost National Initiative.

26.  Brianna Cardwell wore a T-shirt with the word "abortion" crossed out and handed out literature during non-class time as a part of the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity sponsored by Stand True Ministries. She was told by her assistant principal at Randelman High School in North Carolina to stop her activity and cover up her shirt.  The school has since backed down after a pro-life legal group stood up for Cardwell's rights.
In November:
27. Louisiana's Choose Life License Plate Fund donated $64,421.20 equally to 20 agencies that actively help pregnant women and women with babies in need. The license plate fund has been a huge help to pregnancy centers that offer women alternatives to abortion.

In December:
28. A simple Jewish home from the time of Jesus was found in Nazareth, giving archeologists more insight into what it may have been like to live there when Jesus was a boy.  "They say if the people do not speak, the stones will speak," smiled Father Jack Karam of the nearby Basilica of the Annunciation.
29. Five-year-old Natalie Flores was rescued on Christmas Day, seven hours after having been abducted from where she was playing at her apartment complex in Phoenix. That evening, Officer Mike Burns saw a truck that matched the description of the one driven by Natalie's kidnapper, and the local law enforcement were able to chase the man down and rescue the child unharmed.

30.  "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." - Hebrews 13:8
 Happy New Year to everybody, in the name of Jesus the Messiah, the great King of the Universe.


2.   When you thought I wasn’t looking

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.


When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a
prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always
talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be


When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking.'


3.  A New Year's wish for You

 
 
May you get a clean bill of health
from your dentist, your ophthalmologist, your psychiatrist,
your cardiologist, your urologist,
your proctologist, your gynaecologist, your podiatrist,
your plumber, and REVENUE CANADA.
May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift,
your love handles, and your stocks never fall,
and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides,
your cholesterol, your white blood count, your weight,
and your property assessments never increase.
May you be sensitive to the needs of others
and may you create within yourself
a balance of your own needs.
May you laugh at yourself
and realize if you were supposed to touch your toes while exercising,
the Lord would have placed them further up,
and may you realize the reason so many people
take up jogging is to hear heavy breathing again.
May what you see in the mirror delight you
and what others see in you delight them.
May someone love you enough to accept
and forgive your faults and be blind to your blemishes,
and tell the whole world about your virtues.
May you live in a world at peace,
with an awareness of the beauty of every sunset,
every flower, every child's smile,
and every wonderful astonishing beat of your own heart.
If by laughter, I can cause you to wipe one tear
from your cheek, that is my only reward.
Above all, may you continue to smile,
may your life be filled with laughter,
and may you never forget the words
found in the Book of Proverbs ...
"A gloomy spirit rots the bones; but a merry heart is like good medicine."


4.  Gentile Israel by Skip Moen, D. Phil.
“And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.  These are the words which you shall speak to the people of Israel.” Exodus 19:6

A Holy Nation – What is the difference between a Jew and a Gentile?  Don’t be too quick to answer.  You might be surprised. 

The distinction between Jew and Gentile is one of the fundamental distinctions of this world.  It is listed with two other demarcations that remain indisputable separations between all people.  Jew-Gentile, slave-free and male-female divides all Mankind. 

Technically, the difference between Jew and Gentile is about birth.  You and I have absolutely no say about who we have as parents.  I suppose some of us wish we did, but genetics doesn’t work in reverse.  At least it doesn’t seem to – until we take a very close look at this verse in Exodus and a verse from Peter’s first letter.

The Hebrew phrase for “holy nation” is goy kadosh.  But goy is the word for a Gentile, isn’t it?  The goyim are the Gentiles, not the Jews.  Of course, in this context goy means nation, but usually Israel is referred to as a “people,” using a different Hebrew term.  This verse implies that God makes these people into His holy nation, His goy kadosh.  So, the real determination is God’s choice, not genetics.

Peter recognized this important revision when he wrote, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession . . ,” quoting the Exodus passage but applying it to both Jew and Gentile followers of the Way (1 Peter 2:9).

 So, are you a Jew or a Gentile?  Of course, you are either one or the other – and you have no choice in the matter – but, as far as God is concerned, the real distinction in life is not Jew-Gentile, slave-free or male-female.  It is Israel or not Israel.  All who are chosen, all who are called, all who enter into a faithful commitment to the ways of the Lord are Israel.

 That’s why Sha’ul can thrust away the world’s classifications: “neither Jew nor Greek . . .  bond nor free . . . male nor female; for you are all one in Christ” (Galatians 3:28).  Every follower of Yeshua is part of the goy kadosh.  All other distinctions are cast aside.

Adoption into Israel is the only way into Israel.  God adopted Israel at Sinai, and He continues to adopt into His family.  That doesn’t erase our worldly classifications.  We are still Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.  Those classifications have implications for our roles and responsibilities within the goy kadosh.  But none of those classifications affect God’s adoption policy. 

If you are Jewish, thank the Lord that your ancestors were adopted into His Kingdom at Sinai.  If you are a Gentile, thank the Lord that He made a way for you to be adopted into His Kingdom too.  Same Kingdom.  Same process.  To belong to the Lord is to be part of the goy kadosh.

Now, if this is true, then why are there so many divisions within the Kingdom?  We all get there the same way.  We all have the same status before the Lord.  We all share the same constitution under the same theocratic government.  Don’t you think we need to take our similarity seriously?
Exodus 19:6, 1 Peter 2:9

Ref.:  SkipMoen.com



God knows I'm not perfect, just that I Love Him.
" Good Day and God Bless "
I remain as the sinner servant of God!!! All glory is offered to God for the conversion that all may truly live as children of God witnessing humbly to God in the power of the Resurrection of Christ.
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