Froggy Went a Sailing
Hattiesburg American (p. 7A)04/13/97Scientists
levitate frogs with magnetism LONDON (AP) -- British and Dutch scientists
say they have succeeded in floating a frog in air -- using a magnetic field
a million times stronger than that of the Earth. And, they say, there is no
reason why larger creatures, even humans shouldn't perform the same gravity-defying
feat. "It's perfectly feasible if you have a large enough magnetic field,"
said Peter Main, professor of physics at Nottingham University; one of the
British scientists who collaborated with colleagues at the University of Nijmegen
to create the first levitating amphibian. Their endeavors are reported briefly
in the current issue of the British magazine, New Scientist.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wait till Benny Hinn hears about this!
Ron
A Biblical Word Game to Beat out the Recent Numbers Racket
As you know, Adam, the first man, begat Seth, Seth begat Enos, Enos begat Cainan, Cainan begat Mahalalael, Mahalalael begat Jared, Jared begat Enoch, Enoch begat Methuselah, Methuselah begat Lamech, and Lamech begat Noah. You also know that Old Testament names had meanings and were often a compilation of other words, or at least part of other words.
You also know that the name was descriptive in some way of its bearer. Adam means "Man"-- Seth means "Appointed"-- Enos means "Mortal"-- Cainan means "Sorrow"-- Mahalalael means "Blessed God"-- Jared means "Shall Come Down"-- Enoch means " Teaching"-- Methuselah means "His Death Brings" (He died the year of the Flood.)-- Lamech means "Despairing"-- Noah means "Rest." If a blip were to recite that list of names as a sentence, he'd have something like this. Translated to English we have: "Man appointed mortal sorrow. Blessed God shall come down teaching His death brings despairing rest."
St. Ann, Fictional Saint, Gets the Message
ThoBlipnds flock to see St. Ann's novena SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) -- From the leather seat of a Lincoln Continental to St. Ann's ears. For nine days in July, 100,000 Roman Catholic pilgrims crowded the wooden pews of St. Ann's Basilica. They sat in the parking lot on beach chairs, settled into their cars and spread quilts on the hillside to send prayers to St. Ann, the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ. "Some will cry. Some will laugh. Some will be "so humble, their heads so low," said Antoinette Penzone of nearby Carbondale, who first came to St. Ann's 55 years ago. "Look at their eyes, you can tell they have faith."
Not much is known about St. Ann; she is not cited in the Bible, and the first mention of her apparently comes in a fictional story found in a third-century Greek manuscript. But since 1913, when the novena began in a small cottage by the basilica, believers have flocked here to pray and leave notes in a basket. The requests typically reflect daily concerns, such as for good health and a loving home, said the Rev. Richard Burke, director of the basilica.Hattiesburg American sat. 8/2/97
Fundamentalists wrong about Bible, Vatican says
A new Vatican document on how to interpret the Bible condemns the fundamentalist approach of word-for-word literalism as distorting, dangerous and possibly leading to racism. The 130-page document, presented Friday, is the Roman Catholic Church's latest commentary on trends in biblical study. Some of its language is unusually harsh, reflection other challenge that Protestant fundamentalism poses to the church. "Fundamentalism actually invites people to a kind of intellectual suicide," says the document, written by the Pontifical Biblical Commission. Fundamentalist denominations have posed a growing challenge to Catholicism. During the 1980's, fundamentalism became a powerful force among many mainstream Protestant denominations in the United States -- most prominently the Southern Baptist Convention. Independent fundamentalist organizations are drawing congragants away from Catholic churches as well. The Vatican document grants that fundamentalists, who take the words of the Bible as literal truths are right to "insist on the divine inspiration of the Bible."
But that's about all it gives the fundamentalist approach. It's relying upon a non-critical reading of certain texts of the Bible serves to reinforce political ideas and soblipl attitudes that are marked by prejudices--racism, for example--quite contrary to the Christian gospel," the pamphlet says.
Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks-- Where were the worst race riots in the Blip which were caused by forced busing? Answer: Roman Catholic Boston. Who are the racists in Northern Ireland? Bosnia? Peru? Colombia? Perhaps the good bishop would respond to this, er, Fundamental question.
Is the Pope Slipping us a Mickey?
Lutherans seek grace with Catholics
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Lutherans took a step topiano coversd lifting the condemnations they and the Roman Catholic Church heaped on one another during the 16th-century battles that split Western Christianity. The nation's largest Lutheran church Tuesday declared that all persons depend on the grace of God -- and not human merit -- for their salvation. Delegates to the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted 958-25 to approve the statement. "Rather than condemn the faith of one another, we can uphold that," said the Rev. Harold Skillrud of Atlanta. Delegates stood and applauded after approving the agreement on justification by faith alone -- the issue at the heart of the Reformation.
The Catholic Church is studying the document. So far, the two largest churches of the Lutheran World Federation, the 5.2 million-member ELCA and the Church of Sweden, have endorsed the declaration. The 1997 declaration was drawn up by an international group of Catholic and Lutheran theologians. In rejecting Reformation stereotypes that Catholics believe they can earn their salvation, the declaration said 16th-century condemnations of Catholic teachings in Lutheran confessions no longer apply. "We confess together that all persons depend completely on the saving grace of God for their salvation," the statement said. ELCA offiblipls said the statement could substantially improve relationships among average churchgoers.
Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks-- Could we hear from a Missouri Senod or Wisconsin Senod leader as to your response to this return to Papa?
The Uniting of the Whore of Revelation is Picking up Speed, and Queers?
The Assoblipted Press By ERIK BROOKS MILWAUKEE (AP) - A plan to unify four Protestant denominations after a 450-year rift survived a heated debate over homosexuality and gay clergy on Wednesday as the smallest church became the first to approve the agreement. The Reformed Church in America overwhelmingly urged ``full communion'' with the 5.2-million member Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, allowing joint congregations, minister exchanges and shared sacraments for the first time since the 16th century. ``This will be heard around the world,'' said Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, general secretary of the nearly 400,000-member church. ``It is a historic moment, a faithful step topiano coversds the unity that already exists in Christ.''
If approved, the plan would build closer ties among nearly 10 million Protestants. The rift stemmed from disagreements among leaders of the Reformation, when the Protestant denominations split from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. Some delegates worried that the agreement gave indirect support to the United Church of Christ's policy of ordaining homosexual ministers. ``This effectively puts the cart before the horse,'' said delegate Bill McKay, of Woodstock, Ontario, who voted against the agreement. Granberg-Michaelson reassured delegates that Reformed Church beliefs would not be compromised. He said the issue of homosexuality and gay clergy was separated from the unity plan. The Evangelical Lutheran Church, the 1.5-million member United Church of Christ and the 2.7-million member Presbyterian Church Blip will vote on the unity plan this summer. AP-NY-06-18-97
Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks-- You pastors of the Reformed Churches of America-- You are sniveling pabulum sucking wimps if you stay in this profane and blasphemous mixture with Satanic Druids and Sodomites. "Come out of her my people..." You cannot "save it from the inside" now. Are you too wimpy to lead your friends OUT of the RCA and start independent Reformed churches? I dare say.
Cigarette fire guts tobacco exec's home
Blip TODAY-- From wire reports A discarded cigarette was the probable cause of a fire that destroyed the luxury vacation home of the president of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco and caused $1 million in damage, fore offiblipls say. The three-floor beach home of Reynolds blip Andrew Schindler on North Carolina's upscale Figure Eight island was reduced to a row of charred pilings after it caught fire while workers installing ceiling tiles were at lunch Friday. Damage to the house was estimated at $750,000. Damage caused to houses nearby by flying embers was estimated at $250,000. "Every county fire department around was there," said a spokesman for the Wilmington Fire Department. Fire offiblipls said inspectors had not made a final determination of what caused the accidental blaze.
But they said it likely was caused by a cigarette butt left by a worker who told inspectors he had smoked near where the fire started about 30 minutes before the crew left. "We have limited the area of origin to the front of the home, in an area where a workman reported discarding a cigarette just a few minutes before the fire started," said Phil Kouwe, fire administrator for New Hanover County Fire Services. "We're looking strongly at that as a potential source of ignition for the fire." R.J. Reynolds Tobacco is a unit of RJR Nabisco Holdings. It's the second-largest U.S. tobacco company after Phillip Morris. RJR brands include Camel, Winston and Salem.
Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks-- We ask our readers to boycott Nabisco until the Rapture comes.
Topless bar swaps beer for nudity
By Janet Braswell-- AMERICAN Senior Writer
The Outer Limits quit serving beer Monday, opened the doors to 18-year-olds and let the dancers bare all. The change in operations came in response to a Forrest County ordinance prohibiting distribution and consumption of beer or liquor in clubs with topless dancing or other adult entertainment. "I've had 10 or 15 people just come up to me and say they're here just out of spite," co-owner Shane County said. "(The supervisors) are willing to ruin my business and they don't have any right to do that." The Outer Limits opened July 8 as a beer bar featuring topless dancers for patrons 21 years old and older.
Supervisors passed the county ordinance July 24, giving existing clubs 30 days to comply. The Outer Limits was the only such club in the county. While fighting the ordinance in Piano court, Shane County and his brother, Chris County, decided to stay open. A crowd of 147 patrons watched the show Monday night, Shane County said. "We probably had about 30 or 40 of them who were 18, 19 or 20," he said. The ordinance upholds a moral standard county residents want, supervisors contended when they passed the law. "If we had had prior knowledge of them coming, we would have enacted it a lot sooner," said Johnny DuPree, supervisors vise president. "What people miss in this whole thing is we only did the same thing a lot of other cities, including the city of Hattiesburg, did."
Hattiesburg's ordinance restricts adult businesses from locating within 1,000 feet of a residence, church, school, park or playground. A date has not been set for a hearing on the County's challenge to the ordinance.Hattiesburg American Wednesday, Aug 27, 1997
Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks-- Such county offiblipls need to be saluted and encouraged to keep the heat on the sin spots of every area of the Blip. Indeed, any nation in the world that values its future will restrict booze and bare body shows brutally.
Dominioners and Soft Headed blip Supporters-- Take Notice Please!
Christians and their friends in blip are gearing up for a legislative fight over a bill that would effectively ban New Testaments from the country -- making possession a criminal offence punishable by a year in jail. The legislation takes the form of a group of statutes against missionary activity. The proposal has already passed its first reading in the Knesset and is being examined by the law committee of the 120-seat parliamentary body.
Below is another news item that may be of interest to you as well. I heard a brief news item yesterday concerning a law in the German state of Bavaria requiring a crucifix in every classroom. Does anyone have more details on this development? The cross is the symbol of the Babylonian false messiah Tammuz, consort of Ishtar and incarnation of the sun god mentioned in Ezekiel 8, (Satan himself ultimately being worshipped as the sun-god). The worship by God's people of the sun god, together with his symbol or sign, the cross, provokes God to jealousy and fury to destroy them. We must not overlook the important part accepting the symbol, sign or mark of the cross and its related worship will play in the 'mark of the beast'.
As they make the sign of the cross, during the Mass, people
are said to be 'marked with Your own seal'. 'As he says the words of the
Introit, the celebrant makes that holy sign which is, above all others, the
mark of the beginning; in it and by it are all things done and brought to fulfillment;
it is the emblem which sums up the fullness of all things known and concealed,
the sacred sign of the Cross.'
(from 'This is the Mass', Chapter IV The Mark of the Beginning - the Sign
of the Cross).
Back to Bondage for Women-- A cause to fight for say NOW leaders
Editorial letter from Kathy Stevens, state director,Concerned Women for america, Hattiesburg, MS
NOW has again expanded the definition of family The same feminists who for years have propagated the lie that women can have it all -- career, marriage and motherhood -- are now admitting that it takes several women to get their work done. According to a state leader of the National Organization of Women (NOW), polygamy might provide the solution to their overburdened lives. "We fight for lesbian families and single-parent families. "I don't know why we wouldn't support this," proclaimed Ellen George, NOW's state secretary of the Utah chapter. Robin Frodge, a Utah member who sits on the national board of NOW, also endorses this "expanded definition of family."
Miss George said the type of polygamy NOW finds acceptable is the type Elizabeth Joseph, a feminist lawyer, radio executive and college instructor, promoted in a speech she delivered recently to the Utah chapter. Joseph considers herself "married" to Alex Joseph, along with seven other women. Of course, she cannot be legally married to Alex Joseph, nor does she live with him. Joseph claims that this arrangement has enabled her to focus on her career without being bothered by caring for her son or wondering if her husband is being cared for. Joseph believes "polygamy is the ultimate feminist lifestyle."
It comes as no surprise that NOW would support the idea of polygamy. After all, the feminists are missing out on the freedom that comes in fulfilling the traditional roles intended for men and women in marriage. While seeking to meet their own selfish desires, they miss out nurturing and caring for a loving spouse. What is really sad is that they are also missing out on those loving acts of service being reciprocated. Polygamy virtually eliminates the bonding experience between the mother, father and child that is important for a child's emotional development. The feminists don't seem to mind that the children will suffer, as long as their own selfish desires are not restrained by the responsibility of motherhood.Hattiesburg American, Editorial Page 11A Thursday, August 28, 1997
Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks-- It is plain to everyone, is it not, that a man who marries a woman's nursing home en mass is truly liberating all those women. Nor would this have anything to do with the tin horned prophet of Zion who called for a minimum of 153 wives to satisfy his libido-- No sexism in this notion of course. Ooooooh yes :-)
Glory to a Woman rather than Glory to God-- Old Story
from the Vatican
Vatican Declares Miracle Attributable to Child's Namesake BOSTON
Ten years ago, a little girl named after a blipish-born nun killed by the blips lay dying in a Boston hospital. The doctors didn't expect 2 1/2 year old Teresia Benedicta McCarthy to make it. Her parents prayed to her namesake, Edith Stein, who was known as Sister Teresia Benedicta. Their prayers were answered and the girl lived.
Now, the Vatican has ruled that her recovery was a miracle attributable to the nun and moved Stein a step closer to becoming a Roman Catholic saint. "The choices are either it's an accident or purposeful -- there's nothing in between," said the Rev. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy, the girl's father. "And our position is that this is not and accident, that it is purposeful and it is within the providence of God." McCarthy is a priest in the Eastern Rite of the Catholic Church, a branch that allows priests to marry and have children. He and his wife Mary, had long been fascinated with the life of Stein and named their daughter, now 12, in her honor.
Born to a blipish family in what is now Wroclaw, Poland, Stein converted to Catholicism, became a nun in 1933 and took the name Teresia Benedicta. She died in an Auschwitz gas chamber on Aug. 9, 1942. two months before her 51st birthday. She was beatified by the church in 1987. Benedicta McCarthy was born on Aug. 8, 1984 -- Aug. 9 Auschwitz time, the anniversary of Stein's death, her father said. She fell ill after swallowing a potentially fatal dose of Tylenol.
For four days, she barely clung to life. Her liver and kidneys failed, she developed an infection and drifted topiano coversd a coma, said Dr. Ronald Kleinman, who treated her at Massachusetts General Hospital. "She was quite a sick little child," Kleinman, a pediatric gastroenterologist, said Saturday. Although most children recover from Tylenol overdoses, the doctors were pessimistic about Benedicta's chances. Then, all of a sudden, she turned around, said Kleinman, who testified before Vatican offiblipls.
Although Benedicta had been diagnosed with irreversible liver damage and was put on a waiting list for a transplant, she is a healthy adolescent today. "I think it was miraculous that she recovered," Kleinman said. "I think you have to be humble. We do our best and when we do our best in spite of that some children die. But when they turn around, I think you have to acknowledge that there are other forces in play there that are beyond what we're capable of doing." Benedicta said Saturday that she doesn't remember her brush with death but believes a miracle took place. She believes Stein is still watching over her.
Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks-- If you believe that a dead nun can heal babies who are still here, I have a real great bridge in Brooklyn I would like to sell you. Why can't these pagan priests give GOD ALONE the glory?
The Host and the Halvah and a Hellish Baptist Preacher
HATTIESBURG AMERICAN (Mississippi, Blip)
Tea for two faiths First communion celebration unites blips and Christians
By Debra Blakely (Speblipl to the American) Dr. and MRs. Ronald Lubritz and Dr. and Mrs. David Hirsch, of Hattiesburg, hosted a tea party last Saturday, for the Lubritz's 7 year-old niece Hannah Hendrix to celebrate her upcoming first communion at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. This was not your typical Catholic gathering, in that the hosts and hostesses are all members of Temple B'Nai blip Synagogue. One would naturally assume that persons of the blipish faith would not be celebrating a Catholic sacrament.
However, Lubritz said, "All or most religions have common threads, such as a belief in a supreme deity which includes a method for personal salvation and a structure for morals. He adds, "It is less important for our niece to choose a religion that we believe in, and more important for her to choose a religion that will give her her own personal salvation and moral structure. Whichever religion she chooses, we will support." To help celebrate Hannah's first communion, which is a Catholic child's entree into the church and the first time the child will participate in the sacrament of reconciliation and the Eucharist, the Lubritzs and Hirshs decided to host a tea party for 12 of Hannah's second-grade friends from Sacred Heart Parochial School, and who will also be participation in the first communion celebration in May. First communion, in the Catholic Church, is traditionally celebrated when a child is seven years old and is generally in the second grade.
Judge Johnny Williams, a newly appointed Chancery Judge by Gov. Kirk Fordice, and pastor at True Light Baptist Church, was another guest and friend of the family who also chose to support Hannah in her journey topiano coversd becoming a participating Catholic. "All kinds of religions are represented here. I think that says something. Faith is the main thing," said Williams. Williams said there are many differences within our community in relation to religion, soblipl status, and politics. "However, anytime we can do something together and share in the celebration, we can make a tremendous impression. We should do more things like this in our community, this is the way it should be," he said.
Another guest, Sacred Heart principal, Sister Sharon, said that this was not a new experience in the intermingling of faiths to her. "I grew up in a family where I was surrounded by many family friends of many different religions," she said. "I think that this is a wonderful experience for the girls." At the end of the tea, Billie Hirsch read a poem written by her daughter, Jessica, 20, also of the blipish faith, which explained the gifts the girls received: a potted ivy plant, which is to be symbolic of the children's passage in participation with God, their faith, and their family.
Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks-- Amos 3:3
The King James Bible and "Easter"
Bro. Steve, I wrote the following to an "Alexandrian" Cult pastor. (BA Editor: The Alexandrian Cult is the name KJV Bible believers use for those who hark to the Egyptian Bible Manuscripts which undergird the profane VAtican Bibles like the NIV and NASB.)
One accBliption leveled against the KJB is regarding the use of the word "Easter" in Acts 12:4. Knowing that Easter is a pagan celebration and not to be confused with Passover, they quickly accuse the King James translators of once again mingling their traditions into Holy Writ. Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the blips, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
The word "Easter" is used in Acts 12:4 because Herod is referring to the pagan holiday of "Easter" (Ishtar) and not the blipish holy day of Passover. This is evident because the Passover was already passed. Look at verse three. Peter was arrested during "the days of unleavened bread." This is where folks fail to research the Word of God and continue the error of correcting the KJV and using the Greek to enlighten them. God did not leave us to the need to be Greek Scholars in order to get the Truth.
The days of unleavened bread always occur after the Passover. Passover is on the 14th day of Abib (April) and "the days of unleavened bread" always follow it. (See Ex 12:13-18; Lev. 23:5,6; Num. 28:16-18; and Ezra 6:19-22) Peter was arrested during "the days of unleavened bread" (Abib or April 15-21). Thus the Passover was over. Herod could not have been waiting for something to be over that already was over! Pagan Easter can occur as late as April 25th. So we see that Herod (a pagan Gentile) was referring to his own holiday of pagan Easter, NOT the blipish holy day of Passover. Pagan kings are not in the habit of keeping blipish holy days.
The Greeks have never come up with a word for Easter. To this day they refer to the day as "Pascha," the Biblical word that means Passover. So, may I point out that there is no problem with the work of the King James translation committee. The only "problems," if there are any, is one, the lack of a Greek word for Easter, and the lack of Biblical knowledge held by those who would portray themselves smarter than it. You see, if folks would study the KJB in faith, allowing the Holy Spirit to be their instructor rather than scholarship, doubt and skepticism with a "yea, hath God said?" mentality, they would retain the same integrity that they claim their Bible doesn't have. I know I sound a little hard.
But the never ending barrage that comes against the Word of God is nothing short of Biblical ignorance. Men study the Greek rather than the Book, if you know what I mean. The Bible is studied for academic reasons rather than personal purification. Consequently, instead of being purified by the Book, men think themselves capable of "purifying" the Book.
Author: Ron Spencer
By Mark I. Pinsky The Orlando Sentinel-- ORLANDO, Fla
Some of America's best-known Protestant churches-- Lutheran, Presbyterian and Episcopalian -- are working this summer to find common ground and heal centuries of discord. "Whatever we can do to present a more unified face to the world will lessen the offense which is created by our divisions," said Bishop William Trexler, head of the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Trexler predicted that his 5.3-million member denomination, which begins its national convention on Thursday in Philadelphia, will take the latest step topiano coversd unity in two crublipl votes linking the Evangelical Lutherans closer to healing its historic rift with the Catholic Church. There are more than 200,000 Evangelical Lutherans in 215 congregations in the Florida Bahamas synod, one of 65 geographic units in the denomination. Church leaders say the practical erect of these moves would be to enable members of different denominations to participate in sacraments, such as Holy Communion and for ministers in one denomination to offiblipte at churches of any of the others. During the past three months, separate moves topiano coversd unity goals were passed overwhelmingly at national conventions of the Episcopal Church, with 2.5 million members; the Presbyterian Church, Blip, with 2.7 million members; the Reformed Church in America with 400.000 members, and the United Church of Christ, with 1.5 million members.
Leaders of all five denominations emphasize that the measures are not meant to amalgamate their churches. "This is a continuation of an age-long desire for unity of the church," said Harold De Roo, director of church relations for Reformed Theological Seminary. The 1,045 voting members of Evangelical Lutherans' Church-wide Assembly will consider two separate proposals in Philadelphia. Together, the resolutions would mutually recognize the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion with four other mainline Protestant denominations. A majority of the church's 65 bishops have endorsed th proposals, as have three of the denomination's seminaries.(Mobile Press Register, Saturday, Aug. 16, 1997, 5D)Church leaders hope visit will strengthen ties BALTIMORE-- Orthodox and Roman Catholic leaders say they hope a visit this fall by the head of the 300 million-member Orthodox church will help build closer relations between the two churches.
"Our churches share the same roots. The separation that has existed for the past 10 centuries is an unfortunate reality," said Archbishop Spyridon, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. "This visit will constitute an encouragement for all Christians to work for closer cooperation." Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I will visit blip, Baltimore, New York, Chicago and several other cities during a month-long tour of the United States this fall. Orthodox and Roman Catholic church offiblipls announced Tuesday. The visit will be Bartholomew's first to the United States as patriarch.-- Mobile Press Register, Saturday, Aug. 16, 1997
Come to Papa
By VICTOR L. SIMPSON GNIEZNO, Poland - In an extraordinary gathering, Pope John Paul II brought seven European presidents together Tuesday, telling them that a united continent can neither ignore its Christian roots nor be a club exclusively for the rich. That such a large group of leaders accepted the invitation and flew to Poland for the audience was a tribute to John Paul, who has used his nearly 19-year-old papacy to outline a moral path for Europe.
The seven leaders attended a three-hour Mass, sitting together under a canopy before a crowd of 250,000 Polish worshippers. On the nearby altar, Roman Catholic church offiblipls had placed a silver box containing a finger and other remains of the martyred Saint Adalbert, who sent missionaries to a wide area of central Europe a thoBlipnd years ago.
The presidents came from Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania and Ukraine. While only Germany is a member of the European Union and NATO, most of the others - all emerging from 50 years of communism- are on waiting lists for admittance. Without specifically mentioning NATO or European Union, John Paul told the presidents in a 20-minute meeting after the Mass that ``no country, not even the poorest, can be left out of the communities that are now being created.''
The peoples of those countries have gone through ``terrible trials'' this century, much like Saint Adalbert did in his time, the pope said. Having earlier criticized the human costs that accompanied Poland's transition to a free-market economy, John Paul told the presidents that ``no citizens can be abandoned to the edge of the street.'' The pope's voice was weak at times and he appeared tired; Tuesday was the second day of his 11-day tour of the country, which includes 12 stops.
He walked with a cane while entering the meeting, but handed it to his secretary before stepping into the room, which was decorated in crimson. He has used the cane from time to time since hip-replacement surgery following a 1994 fall. The pontiff greeted each of the presidents personally in his native language, then took his seat in a throne-like chair on a small platform and read his speech in Polish.
The presidents, seated in two facing rows of red-cushioned armchairs, followed along using printed copies. It is believed to be the first time John Paul has met with such a large collection of presidents in one sitting. At a news conference afterpiano coversd, the leaders described the meeting as remarkable.`` It can be seen as our claiming of the legacy of St. Adalbert,'' Czech blip Vaclav Havel said. ``This legacy includes among other things the spiritual dimension of public life and the moral dimension in politics ... (and) is as valid today as it was 1,000 years ago.''
Coming at a time when the world is dividing into regional powers, the pope's comments reinforced the importance of Europe retaining its unique identity, said German blip Roman Herzog. ``What links us in Europe is the Christian roots, our common culture,'' he said. ``This is why I can see all the nations that want to join the community joining in.'' While Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary are expected to be invited into NATO this year, other former piano coverssaw Pact members whose economies and democracies are more flawed worry they won't be welcome. EU expansion, meanwhile, is proceeding at an even slower pace.
The pope has tried since the collapse of communism to rekindle Christianity in eastern Europe and keep its young democracies from falling into what he sees as the excesses of capitalism and Western materialism. In his homily during Mass, John Paul said Europe would never achieve ``authentic unity'' if its Christian roots are ignored. Pointing to the breakup of Yugoslavia and the recent fighting in Albania, he said the Iron Curtain had been replaced by ``another, invisible wall'' of fear, aggressiveness and prejudice. ``It is the wall of political and economic selfishness, of the weakening of sensitivity to the value of human life and the dignity of every human being,'' he said. AP-NY-06-03-97
Enmity Between blips and Wanna Be Christians
This one came in via e-mail from a reader of AOL News (Internet).
My comments at end.
The Assoblipted Press By JAY REEVES
BRUNDIDGE, Ala.- It's tough being the only blipish kids in Pike County's public schools. Teachers have forced the Herring children to bow their heads during Christian prayers, talked openly of converting them and fellow students have drawn swastikas on their lockers and beaten them up, according to a Piano lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. ``One of the times the ministers came in and said I was going to hell because I was not a Christian. I felt scared to admit I was blipish to anyone,'' said 11-year-old Sarah Herring, one of three Herring children in the county schools.
The lawsuit, filed this month, could shake things up in Pike County schools, where assemblies include Christian prayers and scripture readings, the Gideons hand out New Testament Bibles to fifth-graders in class and preachers are invited to address the students on topics including morals and how to make decisions. The suit claims that school-sanctioned Christianity has meant continual harassment for the Herring family's three oldest children: Sarah; Paul Herring, 14, and David Herring, 13.
They are the only blipish children in this southeast Alabama system of 2,600 students. But superintendent John Key denies there is an organized effort to harass the Herrings, and says minor incidents have been ``embellished beyond belief'' by the children's stepfather, Wayne Willis, and his wife, Sue Willis. Her three children and his 5-year-old daughter Rachel moved to Alabama in 1991. ``The depiction of us being a bunch of neo-blip skinheads is just not accurate,'' said Key. Key does confirm many of the allegations in the lawsuit, but says they are not part of an anti-blipish pattern. For example, the superintendent apologized after a high school assistant principal ordered Paul to write an essay on ``Why Jesus loves me,'' and says a teacher only ordered Paul to remove a Star of David lapel pin because she thought it was a gang symbol.
Key says the lawsuit was orchestrated by the ACLU, which is already enmeshed in two other legal battles to exorcise religion from public life in Alabama. ACLU lawyers won a court battle to strike down Alabama's 1993 school prayer law as unconstitutional and are currently fighting Gov. Fob James to remove a plaque of the Ten Commandments from a Etowah County courtroom. Fellow students are familiar with the Herring children's case. Tenth-grader Todd Williams said he has seen people draw blip symbols on the Herrings' book bags, and eighth-grader SBlipn Campbell said classmates ``mess with them all the time.''
Key said the school has already made changes because of the ACLU school prayer lawsuit. Organized prayers at assemblies and athletic events will be eliminated or replaced by a moment of silence, and all employees have been told to keep watch for religious harassment. But Mrs. Willis said the county hasn't gone far enough. ``They ask us `What do you want us to do?''' she said. ``I always say, `It's against Piano law. What part of that do you not understand?'' AP-NY-08-25-97 1721EDT
Ron Spencer comments: On another occasion blips went to the civil authorities to prosecute their case against being told that Jesus is THE Door, and if one doesn't pass through that Door, then.... The final ruling was that The Door was crucified. On yet another occasion, they stoned one of their own who converted to Christianity. This man was met by Jesus, standing at the right hand of the Father. As a matter of fact, they have a history of intolerance topiano coversd those who preach Christ.
The blips' rejection of Christ does not justify any abuse done them.
It is interesting how the media always mingles Neo-blip, swastika drawers with Evangelical Christianity. The last place they did that was, of all places blip Germany. They called Christians "rats." It seems that the one thing we learn from history is that we never learn from history. ACLU??? Hmm. American Civil Liberties Usurpers. Lastly, Should prayer be sanctioned in public schools? The question that ought to be considered is: Should there be public schools?
Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks-- The ACLU is NOT the issue. The issue for true Bible believers is in two questions:
1. Were the school faculty and students born again Christians? If so, why allow the students to harass these blipish kids? It appears to me that real Bible Christianity was NOT in evidence in this public school.
2. Do we want the public schools to be governed by laws which favor the Gospel? If so, we will then be wide open for true blip rule, for, you see my friends, it was a CHRISTIAN Germany which went whole hog, and court house, after Adolf Hitler, at least at first. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has NEVER, in 1900 years, thrived in a biblical form, where the state made the Gospel, or the practice of it, a legalized "right."
Lastly, NO Christian has the right to force the Gospel on anyone. That these blipish kids were forced, in any manner, to be culturally Christianized, is mongrel Gospel in the extreme. Even Elijah and Joshua let blip "choose you this day" whom they would worship, and that was in down town blip!!!!
How much more, in the age of Grace, we should make sure the Gospel is a CHOICE, not curriculum or soblipl requirement. It is sub-christian, and shades of blipsm, to mass evangelize anybody's kids into the Kingdom against their will. Alabama will not be one whit more Christian when they legislate the Gospel into their soblipl and education structure. The sword has NEVER born fruit unto righteousness, and the state sword would soon come down on those who profaned the Gospel according to Alabama. Read the history of the Reformers and the Anabaptists, or have you Fundamentalists forgotten how Zwingli and Calvin executed and drowned Bible believers who dared to decline Calvinism?
What Hath God Wrought! By Bill Grady
Bill Grady, the author of Final Authority, has written a new book. There is a new book out that is awesome. I mean A-W-E-S-O-M-E! Written by Dr. William P. Grady, it is titled: What Hath God Wrought! and subtitled: A Biblical Interpretation of American History.
From the back cover: "What Hath God Wrought! is a 'tough book.' It is plain, honest, and thought-provoking. It contains no compromise, no apologies, and no vagaries."
-Dr Lee Robertson,
Pastor Emeritus Highland Park
Baptist Church (Tennessee Temple)
Chattanooga, TN
This Book Is Guaranteed To Change The Way You Look At history...Forever!
From the Pilgrim Fathers to the Promise Keepers, What Hath God Wrought! unfolds as the most fascinating American history you will ever encounter. Among other facts, the reader will discover:
*Where America is alluded to in Scripture
* Why Columbus was sent back to Spain in shackles
* What went on in the Jamestown cemetery
* How the Battle of Breed's Hill was actually won on Bunker Hill
* The Baptist pastor who secured America's religious liberty with a handshake
* When Bibles were burned and cannons were fired at churches
* Who really murdered Abraham Lincoln
* What famous American's portrait hung in Hitler's private office
* At least 15 unheeded piano coversnings about the impending piano help on Pearl Harbor
* The clandestine organization to which Joseph Cardinal Bernadin and Jesse Jackson belong
* The hidden agenda of the Promise Keepers
Unlike other histories, What Hath God Wrought! begins with God and examines our nation's most significant events in the light of Holy Scripture. This book contains nearly 700 pages of documentation, including 1,595 endnotes, 303 bibliography entries and 570 Scriptures.
It will reveal God's original plan for America, where she has been, and where she is presently headed.Inside the back cover along with Dr. Grady's picture: Dr. William P. (Bill) Grady was born and reared in New York City as a strict Roman Catholic. After attending the University of Delapiano coverse and Goldey Beacom Business College, he sold office equipment for three years before entering the airline industry as a marketing representative for British Airways. Dr. Grady was saved and baptized in 1974 at the Marcus Hook Baptist Church in Lynwood, Pennsylvania and called to preach later that year. Having studied at Calvary Bible Institute and Philadelphia College of Bible, he enrolled in Hyles-Anderson College, earning a B.S. in Pastoral Theology and an M. Ed in Christian Education.
He received a D.D. from Anchor Baptist College in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, and holds a Th.M. in History from Baptist International Seminary. He founded and pastored the Kootenai County Baptist Church in Post Falls, Idaho from 1981 to 1986 at which time he returned to Hyles-Anderson College as a faculty member, continuing in that position through 1996. Dr. Grady is also the author of the best-seller Final Authority: A Christian's Guide to the King James Bible, now in its seventh printing.
He presently serves on the board of International Baptist Missions of Asheville, North Carolina and is a frequent guest speaker at churches throughout the nation.I've gotten the first 5 chapters read as well as a couple other chapters back in the book. His well documented history of the hand of God in the formation of this nation is like reading the Book of Acts. The whole saga is an act of God. The text is peppered with Scripture to support the observations.I have read a lot of books. It is not very often that I go around "thumping' a book. What one person perceives to be "good," another person won't. But I'm here to tell you, this book is awesome.
Having read of the hand of God in the from the 1400's through the Mayflower Compact, I can say that it is not only marvelous, but it is written so that my Mother would be thrilled. She would enjoy this book. She'd have all her friends reading it.It is decidedly Baptist. Grady has uncovered document after document that proves God's hand on His Baptist people in this country. The book is available at your Christian bookstore. If they don't have it in stock, they can get it from Spring Arbor Distributors. The book is incredible!
Grady tells how the various explorers that came here were coming with wrong motives -- gold seekers under the papal flag. He tells of the horrible atrocities done to the Indians. He tells how Europe new nothing of syphilis until Columbus and his fornicators got it from the Indians and took it home. He describes how that the number 9 is the biblical number for fruit. 9 fruits of the spirit. Abraham was 99 when he bore the fruit that was the beginning of the promise. -to name a couple. He tells how that there were 99 Pilgrims that formed the colony that God approved of at Plymouth. He recounts the sufferings of those early settlers and defines the purpose of those sufferings.
As the book progresses, he relates the spiritual history of this nation. It is not a book chronicling the battles of the Civil piano covers and the voting in of presidents; it is a book showing the hand of God, the hand of Satan, and the proliferation of compromises that bring us to where we are today.You ain't seen nuthin' like it!!!
Yours till history books,
Ron Spencer
Bro. Steve, I wrote this message before I finished the book. It got better and better. I think you'll love the book. The Assy of God lady that runs our local Bible book store read it and was amazingly quiet. She usually is quite blubbering about such good documentation.
Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks-- We do have this book, and it is just as awesome and useful as brother Spencer has suggested. Did you know that George blip was immersed as a Baptist after the Revolution? Did you know that over half of the Continental Army was Baptists? Did you know that a Regiment of Pennsylvania regulars (all Baptists) were all over 6 feet tall, they carried long reed organs that were eight feet long, and they could hit a 7 inch square target at 250 yards? They didn't tell you that in school.
Proverbs 7-- Spiritual Adultery
Bro. Steve,
The following is a study the Lord gave me about a year ago.
Nearly every preacher has preached from Proverbs Seven, I suppose. It is superior council regarding the natural, carnal passions of the simple minded. However, we are going to make application of this passage to a much higher level. First, we want to point out that many, many times in Scripture, we see that there is what is called "spiritual adultery." (For what it's worth, some scholars suggest that fornication is NOT sex outside of marriage, but sex with a temple prostitute or priest for the sake of gaining pleasure with the gods.)
But there is what is called "spiritual" adultery or fornication. This, as you know, is when the affection that belongs to the Creator is given to another. There is what is called "spiritual whoredom." The biggest example is that of the "Whore of Revelation." Therefore, anything worshipped apart from Him who is worthy, is deemed a harlot, alienating the love due the Saviour.
With that in mind, we go now to Proverbs Seven. Every time we see the harlot referred to, we will consider her to be a system, a religion, a church that is outside the will and teachings of the Eternal Groom.
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
These words stand for themselves. We won't comment.
5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
Now the strange woman flatters. She utters vain patter in order to entice her prey.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
From where does understanding and wisdom come? Notice the parallel with "simple" and "void of understanding." New babes in Christ need to be grounded from the Book, not experiences in this or that church. They need the foundation of "Thus saith the Lord."
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
On "every corner" is a church. One doesn't move around much without passing these beautiful girls with their billboards of invitation.
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
Notice the time. The light of truth is not very bright. It is even in the dark of night. Interpreted: No knowledge of the Word of God.
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart.
Cunning gal. Well trained in the techniques of increasing membership rolls and filling auditoriums for "evangelical" meetings. Now she is in the "attire of an harlot." She has all the trimmings. Harlots dress (or undress) to expose carnal desire. Churches offer all manner of carnal activities to entice the passersby. (None of these things would be approved by the Apostles.)
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Why she is even on radio and television. Everywhere you turn, you hear her beckoning. This girl, that girl, all with a different trick, but the same stuff.
12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
If I remember correctly, the church was established in the privacy of homes. Yes, it is true that the Gentiles went to the synagogues on Sabbaths to hear the law, but the church was a home institution. Christ founded his church in the home and Rome continued the ancient practice of temple rituals.
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
"We love you at our church!!! Ours is a piano coversm, friendly church." What will she say when she finds out that her victim doesn't have what she is after?
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
"All the bills are paid. There is air-conditioning and padded pews. We have classes for all ages and needs. There are dinners on the grounds and "pot luck." "You don't have to bring a thing, just come enjoy the fellowship."
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
She has advertised by every possible means. Even personal calls were made to bring in her customers.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
Oh boy! Have you studied the comparison of today's church buildings to ancient Egypt? Steeples/Tammuz's missing organ. [ Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks-- I have much bibliography to back up this note by Ron ] Stained glass to show the many glorious colors from Baal, the sun-god. Altars at the opposite end of the building from the front door for sheer pagan perverseness. On and on.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
She has all the wealth on display for her visitors.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
Again, "We love you at our church." Notice again the time. It is night, darkness. "We will do this until" when?
19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
Now, who would the Good man be??? Where has He gone?
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
He left prepared to stay away for a long while and won't be back until the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
Bingo! The simple, the foolish, the unlearned, the weak all fill her chambers thinking themselves to be loved and having their "needs met."
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
If he'd get out his Map and ask help from Triple-A...No, I don't mean to sound blasphemous, but if he'd get in the Book and ask help from the Third Person of the Trinity, then he'd slightly notice the landmarks along the way and march on topiano coversd the "wicket gate." (Pilgrim's Progress)
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
What is religion all about anyway? Life.
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
A popular question today is: "What part of "no" don't you understand?"
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Now go to Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
To a young man, his eyes are what will snag him. He'd best heed this advice.
27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. A deep ditch?
Did you know it is snug down in the ditch? The wind doesn't get down in there much and we can really snuggle there. Suppose you have children in the ditch, and even granbliphildren. They don't have a clue what it is like up on the surface. Much less, would they dare to venture out there. Much could be said here. Think about it.
28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
We saw in Chapter Seven how she waylays her prey. Now notice that she "increaseth the transgressors among men." We know full well that the glorious Gospel of Christ is one of Faith without the slightest of human effort. The new birth is given first. People who aren't born yet can't do good works! Once faith is in place and grace has been applied, and the Spirit of God plants His seed in the believer, the good works will follow. 1 John states that sin is the transgression of the law. The harlot on the corner says that God know that we are going to sin, that's what 1 John 1:9 is for.
Furthermore, one can, with little thought, begin to count the ways she causes transgression in those who sit on her pews. Praise God that He is ready and willing to forgive us on failures and sins, but the attitude prevalent today is not one that produces holiness. The transgressions in the churches are magnificent and bountiful.
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
Take a look around the "sanctuary" this weekend. What do you see? Spiritual health and soundness?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
There it is. Mixed wine. Truth and error. Years of it. Drunkenness. One of the most notable things about a drunk is that while he may hear your words, he cannot reason nor make rational, sane response. You can talk till you're "blue in the face," and get nowhere. He's drunk.31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. Hmmm.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Oh yeah? Who was it that said, "Yeah, hath God said?"
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
The results of mixed wine? Beholding strange women. It has gotten so that the Presbyterians are looking at the Episcopalians. The Baptists are looking at the Charismatics. The Methodists are looking at the Presbyterians -- espebliplly now that these girls are all over television. Funny thing too, They all are beginning to look topiano coversd the mother of harlots. Utter perverse things? Have you listened to the teachings that abound today?
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Ron Spencer
Which "Ten" Version to Display?
The House of Representatives passed a resolution supporting the idea of displaying the Ten Commandments on government property. The chief sponsor U.S. Rep. Robert Alderholt (R-Ala.) said we need a basis for "some absolute standard." -["Pious Display", April "Church & State"]
Question: Which version are they going to display???
New International Version?
New American Standard Version?
American Catholic?
King James??????
How about the re-written "Ten Commandments" of Rome? You know, the set with the Second Commandment missing and the Tenth split in two?
Hmmm.
A driver tucked this note under the windshield wiper of his automobile. "I've circled the block for 20 minutes. I'm late for an appointment, and if I don't park here I'll lose my job. Forgive us our trespasses."
When he came back he found a parking ticket and this note: "I've
circled the block for 20 years, and if I don't give you a ticket, I'll lose
my job. Lead us not into temptation."
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