Biblical News: 01/01/2007

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Hit Christian Movie on a Mission 'Facing the Giants'

Hit Christian Movie on a Mission
CBN News

CBNNews.com - Sports Illustrated called it one of the most inspirational movies of the year and now "Facing the Giants" is out on DVD.

It has been dubbed "the little movie that could" because of the positive message it sent to the nation and hollywood.

It's about a high school football coach who trusts God to do the impossible which He did in the movie.

So Just What Is Iran Up to Anyway?

So Just What Is Iran Up to Anyway?

By John Jessup
CBN News
January 31, 2007

CBNNews.com - WASHINGTON- The accusations against Iran are coming from the highest level of government and include some Iraqis, too.

On Capitol Hill, the man who's preparing to direct U.S. policy in Iraq for the State Department says Iran is making progress in Iraq difficult.

"We have increasing evidence that they have been providing lethal assistance to extremist Shia groups in that country," said John Negroponte, director of National Intelligence.

Iran denies those charges, but they're getting harder to escape.

This week, a top U.S. general in Iraq told USA Today Tehran is supplying militia groups with katyusha rockets, explosively formed projectiles, and rocket propelled grenades strong enough to pierce through armor. The military has been able to trace them back to Iran through serial numbers.

There's also a report that the attackers responsible for the deaths of five American soldiers in Karbala earlier this month may have been trained and financed by Iran.

Bush, in an interview with ABC News, said the U.S. will deal with Iran to protect U.S. forces in the region.

"Some are trying to take my words and say, 'Well, what he's really trying to do is go invade Iran.' Nobody's talking about that. All options are on the table, of course, in anything. But to say that defending ourselves in Iraq means that… has some greater goal is just simply not the case," said Bush.

Minister believes he's Jesus incarnate

Note from Lighthouse:

Matthew 24:4-8
Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Matthew 24:26-27
"So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man...

*End of Note*

He Calls Himself God
A Puerto Rican minister says Christ 'integrated' with him. Others call him a cult leader and a charlatan.

By Arian Campo-Flores
Newsweek

Feb. 5, 2007 issue -
At first glance, the congregation gathered in a warehouse in Doral, Fla., seems like a typical Hispanic evangelical group. There's the 10-piece band, the singing and swaying, the whooping and hollering. But look a little more closely. There's not a cross in sight. The lectern is emblazoned with a near replica of the U.S. presidential seal, except that it reads in Spanish, government of god on earth. Off to the side stand three burly guys in dark suits with Secret Service-style earpieces. When a door by the stage opens, the guards leap into action. They surround the man with slicked-back hair who emerges and escort him to his seat. When the crowd spots him, it goes wild. People chant, "Lord! Lord! Lord!" It quickly becomes clear that they're referring to him. "It's Jesus Christ himself!" a preacher onstage announces. "Let's welcome Jesus Christ Man!"

In the rapturous eyes of his flock, Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda is, in fact, the second coming of Christ. As the head of the Growing in Grace International Ministry, he presides over a sprawling organization that includes more than 300 congregations in two dozen countries, from Argentina to Australia. He counts more than 100,000 followers and claims to reach millions more through a 24-hour TV channel, a radio show and several Web sites. He is supported by the generosity of his devotees, who have launched some 450 businesses to pour cash into Growing in Grace's coffers. Though de Jesus' followers worship him, others denounce him as a charlatan. Everyone, however, agrees on one thing: his teachings are incendiary.

A native of Puerto Rico, de Jesus, 60, spent his youth drifting from the Roman Catholics to the Pentecostals to the Baptists. Then one night in 1973, he says, he awoke to a vision of two hulking men at his bedside who announced the arrival of the Lord, who, says de Jesus, "came to me and integrated with me." In the early years after founding Growing in Grace in Miami in 1986, de Jesus didn't claim to be Christ. Instead, he worked as a pastor spreading his doctrine: that under a new covenant with God, there is no sin and no Satan, and people are predestined to be saved. But as his following expanded, his claims did, too. In 1998, de Jesus avowed that he was the reincarnation of the Apostle Paul. Two years ago at Growing in Grace's world convention in Venezuela, he declared himself Christ. And just last week, he called himself the Antichrist and revealed a "666" tattooed on his forearm. His explanation: that, as the second coming of Christ, he rejects the continued worship of Jesus of Nazareth.

Iran celebrates revolution vowing nuclear advance

Iran celebrates revolution vowing nuclear advance

Jan 31 8:32 AM US/Eastern

Iran kicks off 10 days of celebrations on Thursday marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, with officials promising the unveiling of a major advance in its controversial nuclear drive.

The festivities known as the "Decade of Fajr" (Dawn) culminate on February 11, the date 28 years ago when the US-backed Shah's regime fell to revolutionaries led by the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has already said he will announce "good news" about the development of the nation's nuclear programme during the anniversary celebrations.

Iran has defied the international community and vowed to press on with its nuclear work despite a UN resolution in December imposing sanctions over its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment.

Enrichment is the focus of Western fears that Tehran is seeking to build nuclear weapons as the process can make the fissile core of an atom bomb as well as nuclear fuel.

U.S. unveils evidence Iran fueling Iraq war

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Agents on Tehran's payroll involved in death squads hold prominent positions in the U.S.-backed Iraqi government and National Assembly, according to an expert on Iran who broke the news about the country's nuclear weapons program.

Alireza Jafarzadeh, author of the new book "The Iran threat: President Ahmadinejad and the Coming Nuclear Crisis," said the efforts by Iran to place its agents in the Iraqi government form a part of Tehran's larger plan to export its revolution.

The U.S. is having such a difficult time winning the war, he said, because Iran is fueling the Iraqis with bombs and weapons that are killing American soldiers.

Tomorrow, Jafarzadeh noted, the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad, Zalmay Khalilzad, will hold a news conference to present a dossier of Iran's efforts to fuel sectarian violence in Iraq.

Terrorist: We'll use U.S. weapons if Israel retaliates

Terrorist: We'll use U.S. weapons if Israel retaliates
Abbas-related group vows 'to use all tools at our disposal'

By Aaron Klein
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

TEL AVIV – If Israel retaliates for yesterday's suicide bombing with a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian groups will use "all tools" at their disposal to attack the Jewish state, including American weapons recently transferred to security forces associated with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah organization, a leader of Fatah's declared military wing told WND today.

"If Israel dares any major atrocities in Gaza in response to yesterday's martyrdom operation, we vow to use all tools at our disposal to attack Israel and prove to the Zionists the heavy price of entering Gaza," said Abu Ahmed, a northern Gaza leader of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror organization. "This means also the American weapons sent to Fatah as part of an American-Zionist conspiracy to generate internal fighting between us (Fatah) and Hamas."

The Brigades, the declared military wing of Fatah, took responsibility along with the Islamic Jihad terror group for yesterday's attack, which killed three people when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a bakery in the southern resort city of Eilat.

Many members of the Brigades also openly serve in Fatah's security organizations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice earlier this month told reporters the U.S. is working with Fatah to create a unified Palestinian security force. The Bush administration reportedly will grant $86.4 million to strengthen the Fatah forces, including Force 17, Abbas' security detail, which also serves as de facto police units in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

The U.S. aid is meant to bolster Fatah, which the U.S. considers moderate, against Hamas. Fatah and Hamas have engaged in nearly two months of deadly factional clashes after Abbas called for new Palestinian elections in a move widely seen as an attempt to dismantle the Hamas-led PA.

WND reported the U.S. in recent weeks transferred 7,000 assault rifles and more than 1 million rounds of ammunition to Fatah militias.

The last confirmed American arms shipment to Fatah took place in May. At first, the shipment, consisting of 3,000 rifles, was denied by the U.S. and Israel, but Olmert in June admitted the transfer took place, telling reporters, "I needed to approve the shipment to help bolster Abbas."

At the time, Abu Yousuf, a Fatah militant from Abba's Force 17 security forces, told WND while some of the weapons may be used in confrontations against Hamas, the bulk of the American arms would be utilized to "hit the Zionists."

He said if there is a major conflict with Israel, U.S. weapons provided to Fatah may be shared with other "Palestinian resistance organizations."

"The first place of these U.S. weapons will be to defend the Palestinian national project, which is reflected by the foundation of the Palestinian Authority. If Hamas or any other group under the influence of Iran and Syria wants to make a coup de tat against our institution, these weapons are there to defend the PA," said Abu Yousuf.

"We don't want to go to civil war with Hamas, because this is what both the U.S. and Israel want. This is our last option. We hope our brothers in Hamas won't oblige us to find ourselves in confrontation," Abu Yousuf said.

But the Fatah militant said the new American weapons may also be used to target Israelis. He admitted previous American arms supplied to Fatah were used in "resistance operations" against the Jewish state.

Chavez to Get Powers to Remake Venezuela

Jan 31, 10:52 AM (ET)
By FABIOLA SANCHEZ

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - A Congress wholly loyal to President Hugo Chavez met at a downtown plaza Wednesday to give the Venezuelan leader authority to enact sweeping measures by presidential decree.

Hundreds of Chavez supporters wearing red - the color of Venezuela's ruling party - gathered in the plaza, waving signs reading "Socialism is democracy!" as lawmakers read out the proposed bill giving the president special powers for 18 months to transform 11 broadly defined areas, including the economy, energy and defense.

"The people of Venezuela, not just the National Assembly, are giving this enabling power to the president of the republic," said congresswoman Iris Varela, addressing the crowd next to the National Assembly.

Chavez, who is beginning a fresh six-year term, says the legislation will be the start of a new era of "maximum revolution" during which he will consolidate Venezuela's transformation into a socialist society. His critics, however, are calling it a radical lurch toward authoritarianism by a leader with unchecked power.

The former paratroop commander has already said he will use the law to decree nationalizations of Venezuela's largest telecommunications company and the electricity sector, slap new taxes on the rich and impose greater state control over the oil and natural gas industries.

A final draft of the law shows Chavez will also be allowed to dictate unspecified measures to transform state institutions; reform banking, tax, insurance and financial regulations; decide on security and defense matters such as gun regulations and military organization; and "adapt" legislation to ensure "the equal distribution of wealth" as part of a new "social and economic model."

Chavez also plans to reorganize regional territories and carry out reforms aimed at bringing "power to the people" through thousands of newly formed Communal Councils, in which Venezuelans will have a say on spending an increasing flow of state money on neighborhood projects from public housing to road repaving.

Lawmakers were scheduled to formally approve the law Wednesday in an outdoor session in Caracas' Plaza Bolivar, next to the National Assembly.

Funerals not for shouting slogans, judge says

Funerals not for shouting slogans, judge says
Request for injunction to allow protests to continue rejected
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Posted: January 31, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

A federal judge in Missouri has ruled that a church whose members believe God is judging America by having her soldiers killed in war cannot shout those beliefs at memorial services for U.S. servicemen and women.

The ruling came on a request for a preliminary injunction in a case brought by a member of that organization, the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., against the state of Missouri, which earlier adopted a law banning protests within an hour before and after such a memorial service.

Judicial Watch, the Washington group focused on more transparency in government, had filed a brief in the case, and its chief, Tom Fitton, told WND that Missouri's restrictions on protests at funerals were "appropriate."

"The question we were trying to address is whether it is appropriate for states to regulate, to protect the rights of these families to have these funerals of fallen service family members conducted in peace," he said.

Several other states also have enacted similar laws, because of the Westboro protests. That group, founded in the 1950s, believes that God is judging America because of the nation's acceptance of homosexuality.

It has used funerals of homosexuals to stage its protests and gained famed because of its "God Hates Fags" posters around events that followed the beating death of Mathew Shepard, a homosexual student at the University of Wyoming who was attacked and beaten.

More recently, Westboro has protested at the funerals of fallen military members, saying their deaths are a judgment on America.

Judicial Watch had argued against the demand made by Westboro that the state of Missouri be ordered not to enforce its statute limiting protests "in or about" the funeral services.

The court order, from U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan, Jr., said the plaintiff in the case, Shirley Phelps-Roper, had not demonstrated that the restriction was violating her constitutional rights.

"The court order … essentially adopts Judicial Watch's argument that Missouri's 'funeral protection law' is well-grounded in Eighth Circuit judicial precedents and is consistent with the U.S. Constitution," said Judicial Watch. "Moreover, Judge Gaitan specifically cites Judicial Watch's amicus brief concern the right of family members and friends of those killed in battle to mourn their loss."

"The judge writes: '… amicus Judicial Watch notes that Missouri also has an interest in protecting funeral attendees' First Amendment rights to free exercise of religion.'"

"We're pleased the court seems to recognize the right of funeral attendees to mourn those who died defending our country without being disrupted by protesters," Fitton said. "Unlike the ACLU, most Americans believe that mourners should be able to engage in quiet and reflective prayer at funerals.

"As the court noted, '…picketing soldiers' funerals and belittling the sacrifices made by soldiers are intolerable actions…,'" he said.

7 Large Tunnels Beneath U.S.-Mexican Border Raising Security Concerns

7 Large Tunnels Beneath U.S.-Mexican Border Raising Security Concerns

SAN DIEGO — While key entrance and exit points have been plugged in some of the biggest tunnels used to ferry people and drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border, the passageways remain largely intact raising concerns smugglers reuse them, according to a published report.

In recent years, dozens of tunnels have been discovered running under the border. The smaller, more crudely constructed passages are easily destroyed, authorities say. But the larger, more elaborate tunnels require enormous amounts of material and expertise to fill.

The task to jam up an entire route also is costly and sometimes complicated if the tunnels run under private property, authorities say.

According to a report in Tuesday's Los Angeles Times, seven of the largest tunnels discovered under the U.S.-Mexico border have yet to be filled in, including the so-called Grande Tunnel found in January 2006 that extends nearly half a mile from San Diego to Tijuana.

Filling those tunnels would cost about $2.7 million, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, the newspaper said.

Michael Friel, an agency spokesman, said the department is trying to find money in its budget to complete the work. But critics say the unfilled tunnels pose an unnecessary national security risk.

Terrorists sought to blackmail Blair

Blair blackmail terror bid foiled

By GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON
Political Editor
JANUARY 31, 2007

EVIL Muslim terrorists were to kidnap a British soldier on UK streets and force him to plead with Tony Blair for his life in return for a pull-out of troops from Iraq, The Sun can reveal.

The soldier would have been filmed begging the PM to withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan in a sick propaganda stunt.

Army sources said the target was a British Muslim soldier in his 20s.

He would eventually be beheaded on film in a sick mirror of the torture and savage killing of British hostage Ken Bigley if Mr Blair refused.

Senior security sources say the plot would have put the most unbearable blackmail pressure on the Premier to act.

It would also have sent shockwaves through the entire British Armed Forces - putting the fear of God into every man and woman in uniform on or off duty.

The fact that the arrests were made in Birmingham could suggest that soldiers recovering from wounds in military hospitals there might have been targeted.

But sources say they cannot be sure of this - and are also investigating leads that a serviceman could have been picked up by the kidnappers anywhere on the mainland.

One well-placed source said: "This plot represents a staggering change of tactic.

"We have all been braced for more mainland bombs which claim many lives and cause turmoil and widespread public fear.

"This would have taken things to a new dimension. The pressure on the PM would have been unimagineable.

"And there would have been a knock-on effect in terms of military morale."

Britain's service personnel take security precautions when off duty in and around their barracks and married quarters.

But in recent years it has become common practice for them to live off their bases in normal houses along side civilians.

The demise of the IRA threat on mainland Britain means they have been allowed to be more relaxed.

Now there will be increased security measures imposed on all servicemen and women to be on their guard.

The cunning plot represents a huge change in tactics by al Qaeda and its supporters.

It proves beyond doubt that terrorist cells are active in mainland Britain - just as MI5 boss Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller warned before Christmas.

Let the porn flow, says public library

Let the porn flow, says public library
Officials reject request from families to limit open view of X-rated images
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Posted: January 31, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

While pornography itself doesn't "shoot the bullet" for sex crimes, it does "cock the trigger," and Sacramento officials who supervise their public library system have told porn addicts to go ahead and get loaded.

The Sacramento Public Library Authority Board has decided against protecting library users from explicit pornography, a move lawyers at the Pacific Justice Institute had asked them to take, and which may, in fact, violate the library's own Internet guidelines.

"The present policy is to require filters on the computers," Brad Dacus, chief of the PJI, told WND. "However, all that is needed to have access to pornography is for an adult to request that the filters be removed."

Colts chaplain partners with Dungy in imparting the faith

Colts chaplain partners with Dungy in imparting the faith

By Art Stricklin
Baptist Press

MIAMI (BP)--Pastor Ken Johnson has overcome the roughest of family situations and personal demons to become a minister, work for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and serve as the chaplain for the Indianapolis Colts.

He has seen firsthand the wonders and changes God can bring to any situation. But when he got a phone call from a person identifying himself as newly hired Colts head coach Tony Dungy, Johnson was convinced it was a prank, not God’s answer to a prayer.

“I have a good friend and we’re always playing jokes on each other. A few days after he was hired, I got a call from Tony Dungy saying he wanted to meet me,” Johnson recounted. “No coach had ever wanted to meet me, so I thought my friend was pulling my leg.

“Then Tony said he wanted to visit with me in the prisons, and I said, ‘Who is this, really?’ because no coach had ever visited in the prisons with me.”

Since Dungy was hired by the Colts in 2002, he has joined with Johnson to form one of the most active and public Christian ministries in the coaching profession.

“The first time he called me to his office, he asked me to pray for him and bless his office that God would be honored,” Johnson said.

“He is the real deal. He is going to respect everyone, but he is going to do everything in his power to be a Christ-like person.”

The same can be said of Johnson, who chronicled the challenges he endured growing up in a drug-filled and dysfunctional household in his book, “Journey to Excellence.”

Johnson was a high school football star in Texas and was a teammate at the University of Tulsa with a man who later would become the Bears head coach in Super Bowl XLI -- Lovie Smith. After college, Johnson spent time as a police office before rededicating his life to the Lord in 1982 and joining the Indianapolis FCA chapter as the urban outreach leader. He began working with the Colts shortly thereafter.

Johnson said his work has prospered since Dungy’s arrival. “We had some tough years,” he acknowledged, “but I believe God will give favor to all people who honor Him.”

“… [K]ids look up to you,” Johnson added, “and you have to proclaim the Gospel whenever you can.”

Willing to lovingly confront players who are going the wrong way, Johnson once paid a cover charge at an Indianapolis strip club to retrieve a Colts player who was inside.

“I just told him he was better than this and he needed to come with me.”

Chicago Bears’ Lovie Smith underscores his faith

Chicago Bears’ Lovie Smith underscores his faith

By Art Stricklin
Baptist Press

MIAMI (BP)--Lovie Smith had a limited amount of time during his Super Bowl XLI media session Monday, but the Chicago Bears head coach said he could spend hours talking about his star players and their efforts to get the team to their first Super Bowl berth in 21 years.

Smith also wanted to spend part of his allotted time talking about what was most important in his life, his faith in Jesus Christ.

“God is the center of my life. It controls all that I do. I hope I don’t have to spend my time telling my players I’m a Christian. I hope they see it in my life every day,” Smith said.

Since taking the helm of the Bears in 2004 -- his first head coaching job in the NFL -- he has led his team to back-to-back division titles and, now, to this year’s NFL championship game.

And he has done it in the same faith-based style of his close friend, mentor and opposing Super Bowl coach Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts.

“I could spend the rest of the day talking about Tony Dungy and what he means to me,” Smith told a ballroom full of media reps. “We have similar beliefs, and to see him go through the storms and see he’s the same person is truly encouraging.

“I’m happy we can to lead our teams to the Super Bowl. I’ve learned a lot from Tony Dungy.”

Smith grew up in a Christian home in the small east Texas town of Big Sandy, going to church regularly with his mother, his brothers and sisters.

“My mother always made sure we went to church and knew about the Lord. My faith has been with me all the time and I knew I needed God to be a part of my life,” he recounted.

Smith’s father battled alcoholism most of his life, which led his son never to drink, and his mom always emphasized to him the need for a clean mouth and a pure heart.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Ballistics data don't support charge against border agents

Ballistics data don't support charge against border agents
Investigator: U.S. attorney twisted evidence to fit case – 'guilty of malicious prosecution'
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By Jerome R. Corsi
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Ballistics reports, used in the trial of Ignacio "Nacho" Ramos, one of two Border Patrol agents convicted of shooting fleeing drug dealer Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, do not support the prosecution's claim the bullet was fired from Ramos' gun, according to documents provided to WND from Andy Ramirez, chairman of the Friends of the Border Patrol.

Despite the conclusion of a laboratory criminalist that he could not conclusively link the bullet removed from Aldrete-Davila with Ramos' service weapon, a Department of Homeland Security agent swore, in an affidavit of complaint filed against Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, that Aldrete-Davila was hit by a round fired by Ramos.

"Johnny Sutton and his assistants are guilty of malicious prosecution," Ramirez charged to WND. "The prosecutors lied to the jury and he twisted evidence to make it fit his case. And when he couldn't twist the evidence, the government demanded that the court seal evidence which would have been exculpatory to the defense."

Nearly two years after the conclusion of the trial, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas has yet to release a transcript of the trial.

WND asked Ramirez if he was aware of the seriousness of his charges.

"I am very aware and I am accusing Mr. Sutton of a felony," Ramirez told WND, "but I am basing my conclusion on the evidence I have examined in this case and the refusal by the government to provide evidence to substantiate its claim to the Congress and the American people."

"Back on Sept. 26, 2006, officials from the DHS Office of Inspector General made serious allegations against both agents Ramos and Compean to four members of Congress from the Texas delegation," Ramirez said. "The Inspector General has subsequently refused to provide their evidence to substantiate their claims to Congress. So I am also accusing the DHS Office of Inspector General of making false statements to Congress in order to prevent a congressional inquiry. I am asking the U.S. Congress to subpoena all documents pertaining to this case including the full transcripts, sealed testimony, and the sealed indictment against Aldrete-Davila in order to get to the truth of this case once and for all."

Messianic Jewish believer says nothing fair about Fairness Doctrine

Chad Groening
OneNewsNow.com
January 29, 2007

If the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" is reinstated, it would muzzle conservative talk radio -- or so says the leader of a pro-Israel ministry based in Minnesota. Jan Markell is concerned about legislation afoot on Capitol Hill that would bring back a policy rescinded by Ronald Reagan almost 20 years ago.

The head of a pro-Israel ministry says if Democrats on Capitol Hill are successful in bringing back the Fairness Doctrine, radio stations would be forced to put anti-Israel propaganda on the air, following her program.

Jan Markell, founder and director of Olive Tree Ministries, says she is deeply concerned about the efforts of New York Congressman Maurice Hinchey and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who have introduced legislation designed to bring back the Fairness Doctrine that was rescinded by Ronald Reagan in 1987, before the rise of conservative talk radio.

Markell says the Fairness Doctrine, if reinstated, would effectively muzzle her program and others like it. She claims the goal of liberals is not balance, but instead to "destroy conservative and Christian media by requiring that each segment of every show contains the counterbalancing liberal viewpoint." She adds that such "draconian hyper-monitoring" would destroy her program.

"I just see the Left rising all the time -- gaining in power, gaining in strength, and gaining in hatred," Markell asserts. "What they hate is the truth; what they hate is anything that's godly and conservative and righteous. So if they can shut us up in any way, they're going to try to do it."

Nurturing Teen Faith

Nurturing Teen Faith
By Heather Sells
CBN News

CWNews.com – The latest research on teens shows that while many may "say" they believe, their faith is often shallow or misguided. It's a big concern for church leaders and parents, who are all too aware of the stakes involved.

A recent teen rally, may have appeared to be a typical razzle-dazzle youth event, but it was much more serious.

Ron Luce, founder of Teen Mania Ministries, said, "Most people come to Christ before they're 20--about 90 percent. We've got about 5 years before most of this generation is in their 20s. "
Luce is a man on a mission. He is so concerned about today's kids not grabbing hold of their faith--that along with the National Association of Evangelicals, he's launching a campaign to double the size of youth groups at its 40,000-member churches.

"People always say 'Oh, we just care about quality, not quantity,'" Luce said. "Well why not both? Jesus didn't die for 10 quality people, he died for the world."

That's a high mark to reach for youth pastors like Nancy Stellabotta from southern Maryland.
On some nights, her group consists of just a handful of kids.

But Stellabotta knows full well she's in a battle against a culture that lures today's teens away from a walk of faith.

It's apparent in the easy 24/7 access to more provocative media, peer pressure around drinking, drugs and sex -- and a politically correct world that says anything goes.

Youth group member Jeannette Wheeler said, "Sometime you fear that people won't think less of you, but 'different' of you."

Plus, like adults, many kids are so busy that it's easy to neglect their relationship with God.
"Sometimes after work I'm so tired, I just want to go to sleep," said youth group member Carly Morasch. And then it's like, 'I'll just pray tomorrow.'"

Stellabotta's strategy is one that many youth pastors are adopting: focus more on substance and less on the fun and games.

Stellabotta said, "It needs to be a heart change. There needs to be some level of conviction that is going to carry somebody through the tough times when they get out on their own and they have to make decisions without mom and dad in their life."

Her instinct to dig deep is right on with the latest research that shows even so-called Christian kids are often clueless about the foundations of their faith.

In interviews with more than 200 adolescents, Christian Smith, an evangelical sociologist, found that many teens are content in the church of their parents.

In fact, half of all youth say their faith is "very or extremely important."

But even with so many teens saying their faith is important to them, many still have a hard time explaining what it is that they believe.

Smith said, "They didn't have a theological language to draw on. They didn't have canned answers. We would ask, 'Who's Jesus?' 'Uh.' They wouldn't know. They couldn't even say 'Son of God.' Most."

So if teens can't explain their faith -- what do they truly believe?

Smith says, in reality, many evangelical youth are practicing a New-Agey type philosophy, which is, "The purpose of life is to be happy, to be fulfilled. God does not need to be involved in our lives particularly, until we have a problem."

It's a belief system that teens may adopt without even realizing where they're headed. Some Maryland kids told us their thoughts about God.

Youth group member Carly Morasch said, "He's the only Way, and the only Person who can give you peace and fulfill you."

"I believe that He is a Comforter. He is like a Father figure," said youth group member Enoch Paku.
Youth group member Jeannette Wheeler said, "To me, God is my Father. He's the one thing in my life that keeps it from falling apart."

Eighteen-year-old Wheeler lives in rural Maryland with her mom, whose faith she greatly admires.
"I'm not half as strong as my mother," Wheeler said. "My mother's very strong."

Youth ministry has traditionally thought kids grow best spiritually with other kids -- but the thinking has changed.

Youth consultant Mark Devries said, "If you're going to learn to be a Christian adult, the best place to do that is around Christian adults."

Devries intentionally uses loads of adult volunteers in his youth group--and emphasizes the influence of parents.

It's an influence, says Smith, that has been greatly underestimated.

"A lot of parents tell me--'Now that my daughter's turned 13, she doesn't listen to me anymore.' And I can understand why that's their perception, but in most cases it's just not true. Their teenagers really are still listening to them," Smith said.

The ultimate purpose of parents and youth leaders: to nurture a faith that changes kids who then change the world around them.

Burma Government May Move to Abolish Christianity

Burma Government May Move to Abolish Christianity
By Gary Lane
CWN News

CWNews.com – Rangoon, BURMA - There are new concerns in Burma that the government is trying to destroy Christianity.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that an internal government document lays the foundation for eradicating the faith, including arresting anyone caught evangelizing.

This kind of persecution has been going for years in Burma, also known as Myanmar.

In 2005, CBN News met with Christians in Burma. These Burmese Christians sang praise songs; they worshiped openly and freely in a government-approved church in Rangoon.

But most Burmese Christians don't share their freedom. Government officials have shut down churches in this capital city and have disallowed the construction of new church buildings. The number of bibles allowed for import is limited and in-country printing of bibles and Christian literature is restricted.

Dutch Citizen Faces Terror Charges in U.S.

Dutch Citizen Faces Terror Charges in U.S.

By Lara Jakes Jordan
Associated Press Writer
January 29, 2007

CBNNews.com - WASHINGTON - An Iraqi-born Dutch citizen is facing terror charges in what the Justice Department calls the United States' first criminal prosecution of attacks targeting Americans in Iraq.

Wesam al-Delaema, 33, is scheduled to be in federal court in Washington on Monday to face terrorism conspiracy charges, Justice spokesman Dean Boyd said. Al-Delaema, who was extradited from the Netherlands over the weekend, will become the first suspect tried in a U.S. court for alleged terrorism in Iraq's bloody insurgency.

The Justice Department said he was part of a group calling themselves the "Mujahideen from Fallujah," which hid explosives on a road.

Netherlands officials said he is also charged with possession of explosives. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Al-Delaema claims he is innocent, and his lawyers have argued that the U.S. does not have the right to try him.

Evidence against him includes a videotape he filmed of a group called "Warriors of Fallujah" preparing a roadside bomb, which was widely shown on Arabic TV stations.

The tape was seized by police who raided al-Delaema's house in the Dutch city of Amersfoort in May 2005, following a tip from U.S. authorities.

Israel's Cabinet Approves Muslim Minister

Israel's Cabinet Approves Muslim Minister
By Matti Friedman
Associated Press Writer
January 29, 2007

CBNNews.com -- JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel was on the verge of installing the first Muslim Cabinet minister in its 58-year history Monday after the government overwhelmingly approved the appointment.

Parliament was scheduled to convene to give final approval to Raleb Majadele's appointment, which the government billed as a step toward equality for Muslim Arabs, Israel's largest minority.

The appointment was mired for weeks in political infighting and charges of racism. It drew criticism from hard-liners who said the move was little more than political expediency. Even Arab lawmakers dismissed the development, saying the government has little real interest in improving the lot of Israel's Arabs.

Majadele told Associated Press Television News that his goals as a Cabinet minister without portfolio would be "promoting coexistence between the two peoples inside the state, and promoting dialogue between the Palestinians and the Israelis toward negotiations and political agreement."

Majadele, a parliamentary backbencher from the centrist Labor Party, said his appointment is meant to give representation to Israel's Arabs, which make up about 20 percent of the country's 7 million citizens. He has predicted that in the future, every Israeli government will be obliged to include an Arab minister.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Public revolt quashes biometric ID chips

Public revolt quashes biometric ID chips
Citizens score success abroad while opposition to national card grows in U.S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: January 27, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

While opposition grows to a national ID card in the U.S., citizens of the southeast European nation of Serbia have successfully pressed their government to back off on a plan to make biometric data chips compulsory in the country's new citizen cards.

The decision followed a pitched battle prior to the Jan. 21 election as opponents criticized the accompanying plan for a centralized database of citizen information and the taking of fingerprints. Biometric technology uses data from sources such as fingerprints, facial features and iris scans to authenticate a person's identity.

In the U.S., the Real ID Act passed by Congress in 2005 calls for a national ID portion to go into effect by May 2008. It requires states to participate in a federal data-sharing program when issuing driver's licenses, making those licenses de facto national ID cards.

A number of state legislatures have passed nonbinding measures in opposition, including the Maine House and Senate, which yesterday almost unanimously approved a resolution refusing to implement the Real ID Act.

Global court to decide on launching first trial

Global court to decide on launching first trial
System now backed by 104 countries, but not U.S.

Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:01am ET

By Emma Thomasson

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) will decide on Monday whether there is enough evidence to try a Congolese militiaman for using children as soldiers in what would be the new court's first trial.

A decision to confirm charges against Thomas Lubanga and launch a trial would be a major landmark for the ICC that was set up as the first permanent global war crimes court in 2002 and is now backed by 104 countries.

The court could also throw out the charges, request further evidence and investigations, or ask prosecutors to consider amending a charge. Some victims' groups want the charges expanded to include crimes such as killings, rape and torture.

Jewish Sect Ostracized Over Iran Meeting

Jewish Sect Ostracized Over Iran Meeting
By RAVI NESSMAN
Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM -- For decades, the Jewish community just barely tolerated a small, fiercely anti-Zionist sect as its members traveled the world, denouncing Israel's existence and embracing its enemies.

But when a delegation from Neturei Karta hugged Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a conference questioning the Holocaust last month, that was too much.

Now, the ultra-Orthodox group is being ostracized on three continents, denounced by rabbis, banned from synagogues and harassed in the streets.

"They brought shame on the Jewish people," said Rabbi Shimon Weiss, a leader of the Eida Haredit, an umbrella group of anti-Zionist, ultra-Orthodox Jews based in Israel. "If they come to a synagogue, they will be kicked out. They disgust us."

Iran prepares people for 'messiah miracles'

Iran prepares people for 'messiah miracles'
Government broadcasts series on imminent appearance of apocalyptic Islamic 'Mahdi'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: January 27, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Official Iranian radio has completed broadcasting a lengthy series on the imminent appearance of a messianic figure who will defeat Islam's enemies and impose Islamic Shiite rule over the entire world – even speculating on specific dates the so-called "Mahdi" will be revealed.

English-language transcripts of "The World Toward Illumination" programs can be found on the website of IRIB, a public broadcast arm of Tehran.

"Be joyous my heart, miracles of the Messiah will soon be here," reads a poem used to conclude the first broadcast. "The scent of breaths of the One we know comes from near. Grieve not of sorrow and melancholy, as assured I was … last night that a Savior will come, it's clear."

After the coming of the 12th imam, or Mahdi, "liberal democratic civilization" will be found only in "history museums," explained the program.

"Contrary to the views of western theoreticians, who usually depict an ambiguous and dark future for mankind, Muslim experts believe human history, despite its many ups and downs, has a very auspicious fate," explained the program. "Muslims believe hopes for the realization of such a happy ending for the world are called 'Awaiting Redemption,' and means waiting for man's problems to be solved by the Savior at the end of time. This awaiting influences many, and inspired them with activity and enthusiasm in confronting darkness and oppression for changing the existing situation. …"

This messianic figure will be a direct descendant of Muhammad, according to the broadcasts.

"In short, when he reappears, peace, justice and security will overcome oppression and deceit and one global government, the most perfect ever, will be established," it said.

The Mahdi will appear suddenly, according to the report, in Mecca. Though no one can know the day, Shiites believe, the report actually suggests possibilities in the Muslim calendar.

The Mahdi will lead a cataclysmic battle against a descendant of Muhammad's archenemy, Abu Sofyan, culminating in the cities of Kufa and Najaf. His enemy, though, is destroyed later in Jerusalem.

"Another beautiful moment of the Savior's appearance is the coming down of Prophet Jesus (PBUH) from heaven," says the report. "Hazrat Mahdi receives him courteously and asks him to lead the prayers. But Jesus says you are more qualified for this than me. We read in the book Tazkarat ol-Olia, 'the Mahdi will come with Jesus son of Mary accompanying him.' This indicates that these two great men are (sic) complement each other. Imam Mahdi will be the leader while Prophet Jesus will act as his lieutenant in the struggle against oppression and establishment of justice in the world. Jesus had himself given the tidings of the coming of God's last messenger and will see Mohammad's ideals materialize in the time of the Mahdi."

World War III has already begun, says Israeli spy chief

World War III has already begun, says Israeli spy chief
AFP Published: 01.27.07, 20:32

Former head of Israel's intelligence service tells Portuguese newspaper it would take at least 25 years before battle against fundamentalist terrorism is won; says nuclear strike by Muslim terrorists 'very likely'

A third World War is already underway between Islamic militancy and the West but most people do not realize it, the former head of Israel’s intelligence service Mossad said in an interview published Saturday in Portugal.

‘We are in the midst of a third World War,’ former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy told weekly newspaper Expresso.

‘The world does not understand. A person walks through the streets of Tel Aviv, Barcelona or Buenos Aires and doesn’t get the sense that there is a war going on,’ said Halevy who headed Mossad between 1998 and 2003.

‘During World War I and II the entire world felt there was a war. Today no one is conscious of it. From time to time there is a terrorist attack in Madrid, London and New York and then everything stays the same.’

Violence by Islamic militants has already disrupted international travel and trade just as in the previous two world conflicts, he said.

Halevy, who was raised in war-time London, predicted it would take at least 25 years before the battle against Islamic fundamentalist terrorism is won and during this time a nuclear strike by Islamic militants was likely.

12-year-old 'transsexual' given hormone treatment

12-year-old 'transsexual' given hormone treatment
Tim to Kim: Parents support boy's choice to be world's youngest sex-change patient
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: January 28, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

A German boy, now 14, is believed to be the youngest patient in the world pursuing gender reassignment after convincing doctors two years ago he wanted to live as a female.

Doctors say the boy, born "Tim," has considered himself female since he was two.

According to his parents, Tim tried on his older sisters clothes and played with her Barbie dolls, announcing, "I'm a girl." The boy was distraught after every haircut, they said, and at four, he took a pair of scissors and threatened to "cut off my thing!" After that incident, Tim was called "Kim" by his family.

"We always saw Kim as a girl, but not as a problem," the father, who was not identified, told Der Spiegel. "In fact, our life was surprisingly normal."

Puberty brought about a drop in Kim's voice and concern for the child's future.

"At that stage we realized that she was terrified of growing facial hair and her voice breaking," said the father.

The family sought medical advice about a possible sex change for Kim, with mixed results.

"Hormone treatment! Gender adjustment! How could you possibly do this to the child?" the family's pediatrician asked the father. Some psychiatrists suggested Kim be placed under observation in a psychiatric hospital.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Church Unlikely to Gain Exemption in Gay Adoption Fight

Church Unlikely to Gain Exemption in Gay Adoption Fight

Latest reports have suggested that the Roman Catholic Church will not gain an exemption from the new anti-discrimination laws despite the recent public debate over the ethics of gay adoptions.

by Daniel Blake
Posted: Thursday, January 25, 2007, 9:11 (GMT)

Latest reports have suggested that the Roman Catholic Church will not gain an exemption from the new anti-discrimination laws despite the recent public debate on the ethics of gay adoptions.
The Church has demanded an opt-out from the new measures so that they would not be forced to place children in the care of homosexual people – something that goes against some of the core beliefs of the Church.

Rumours that Tony Blair has "caved in" to Cabinet members who are against an exemption have been described as "ridiculous" by Downing Street, according to a BBC report.

However, Downing Street has suggested agencies may be allowed time to adapt or close.

The highly controversial issue has prompted Prime Minister Tony Blair to call a meeting between Labour MPs and an announcement is expected to be made public next week.

The Equality Act, which will come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April, outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation.

The law has been touted as a further erosion of traditional Christian values, ethics and beliefs. Catholic leaders say that it simply cannot endorse the measures, as they go against some of the central elements of its faith.

The Church worries in particular that the new law will attempt to force its agencies to act against their beliefs and place children with homosexuals. If this is so and they refuse, they will be closed.

Georgians: Bomb Grade Uranium Seized

Georgians: Bomb Grade Uranium Seized

By Desmond Butler
Associated Press Writer
January 25, 2007

CBNNews.com -- WASHINGTON (AP) -- It was one of the most serious cases of smuggling of nuclear material in recent years: A Russian man, authorities allege, tried to sell a small amount of nuclear-bomb grade uranium in a plastic bag in his jacket pocket.

The buy that took place last summer, it turned out, was a setup by Republic of Georgia authorities, with the help of the CIA. Their quiet sting operation - neither U.S. nor Georgian officials have publicized it - is an unsettling reminder about the possibility of terrorists acquiring nuclear bomb-making material on the black market.

No evidence suggests this particular case was terrorist-related.

"Given the serious consequences of the detonation of an improvised nuclear explosive device, even small numbers of incidents involving HEU (highly enriched uranium) or plutonium are of very high concern," said Melissa Fleming of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency.

Details of the investigation, which also involved the FBI and Energy Department, were provided to The Associated Press by U.S. officials and Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili.

Molester Poses as Student in School

Molester Poses as Student in School
By Amanda Lee Meyers

The Associated Press
January 25, 2007

CBNNews.com -- SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- Experts on child exploitation are all too familiar with sex offenders working as scout leaders, coaches and teachers, but this was a new one - a boyish-looking man who posed as a 12-year-old and enrolled in school in what may have been a scheme to find kids to molest.

Now parents in this Phoenix suburb where 29-year-old Neil Havens Rodreick II attended a charter school for four months are asking their children if they had any contact with this "classmate."

And police are interviewing parents, students and teachers, and checking at least three other Arizona schools where Rodreick, a convicted sex offender from Oklahoma, also enrolled.

"We told him that it was a scary man who passed himself off as a kid that went to school for a bit," said Erika Ton Loy, whose 7-year-old son attends the charter school, the Imagine School. "When we heard more about it on the news, we got him up out of bed. My husband wanted to make sure he didn't recognize this guy, and he was like, `Have you seen this guy?' and he said, 'No, I don't know who the heck he is."'

Rodreick - who is about 5 feet 6 and 120 pounds, shaved his body hair and used makeup in an attempt to cover his stubble - has been charged with forgery and fraud in the school-enrollment con, as well as assault against a girl. But investigators have refused to release details of that crime and will not say whether he met the girl through the school scam.

Officials also said Thursday that a search of the home where he was staying yielded a video of Rodreick engaging in sex acts with an unidentified child.

Mexico: Transexual Const. Amendment?

Mexico: Transexual Const. Amendment?
By Michael F. Haverluck

CBNNews.com
January 25, 2007

CBNNews.com -- MEXICO CITY -- A bill to amend Mexico's constitution and change civil laws guaranteeing transexuals the right to change their name and gender legally will be submitted in March by Mexican congressman David Sanchez Camacho.

If Sanchez Camacho's bill passes, Article Four of the Mexican Constitution will have an extra paragraph asserting that "every person has the right to the recognition and free exercise of their gender identity and their gender expression."

This legislative action could ignite much contention, especially amongst conservative Mexican Catholics adhering to the biblical stance on homosexuality.

The guarantee of equal rights for men and women, along with the rights of families and children are currently contained in Article Four, with no mention of homosexuals or transexuals.

By definition, a transexual is a person who has had a sex change operation, or one who has been born with the physical anatomy of one gender, but considers himself or herself a different gender.

Indiana senator wants women to know unborn babies feel pain

Rusty Pugh
OneNewsNow.com
January 25, 2007

An Indiana lawmaker wants to pass legislation that accomplishes two major goals, both of which give women more information about the unborn child they plan to abort.

Indiana State Senator Patricia Miller's bill, if passed, defines personhood as beginning at the moment the female egg is fertilized. She maintains that any woman who is considering an abortion should know that the procedure ends a human life. And she says in order for women to make an informed decision, they should also be told that their unborn child will feel the horrible pain of being aborted.

This is not speculation but a medical fact, she says, that is backed up by videos of unborn children reacting to pain. She also points out that surgery is being performed on infants in utero -- before birth -- to correct problems.

Pro-lifer petitions federal court again for protest rights

Ed Thomas
OneNewsNow.com
January 25, 2007

Hugh Gaughan got in trouble with authorities for including as part of his protest an audio recording of a 9-1-1 call from an abortionist during a procedure with complications occurring. The charges against the pro-lifer were eventually dropped -- but his attorney says it was necessary to file legal action against the City of Cleveland because of the "overbroad and vague" ordinances used to arrest Gaughan in the first place.

A pro-life activist in Cleveland is continuing his appeal to the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a case challenging his arrests outside an abortion clinic. Hugh Gaughan was arrested twice for playing an audiotape recording of a 9-1-1 call from the clinic where he was protesting, and cited for violation of Cleveland's sound device and noise ordinances.

The recording was of a 9-1-1 call made by Martin Ruddock, the owner of the Center for Women's Health, during an abortion procedure on a 30-year-old woman with complications occurring. "I just can't stop the bleeding," Ruddock is heard to say on the tape. "I can't see what I'm doing, and I want her out of here." Gaughan says he played the recording outside the clinic to educate women about the life-threatening dangers associated with abortion.

Federal judge throws out Christian group's lawsuit

allie martin
OneNewsNow.com
January 25, 2007

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by volunteers with the Christian activist group, Repent America, who were arrested at a street festival for homosexuals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Repent America volunteers were witnessing and handing out tracts at the 2004 "Gay Pride" event when they were arrested. A judge later dismissed all criminal charges against them, saying a videotape showed they did not incite violence or threaten anyone.

Afterward, the ministry volunteers filed a lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia, claiming their constitutional rights had been violated. However, Judge Lawrence Stengel threw the case out, claiming the permit held by the homosexual pride group allowed officials to silence the Christian activists.

Repent America director Michael Marcavage feels the permit should not have allowed homosexual activists to stifle free speech. "The law requires the police to control the crowd and to deal with those acting disorderly, not tell us that we're not permitted to be there," he says.

Britain boosts intelligent-design debate

Britain boosts intelligent-design debate
But issues will be addressed in religion class, not science class

By Paul Majendie

LONDON - British teenagers may soon be debating creationism and intelligent design in religion classes that give equal time to the Darwinists and atheists who reject these views of the world’s origins.

Newly published school guidelines reflect the growing influence of a bitter battle over evolution being waged on the other side of the Atlantic, by conservative American Christians who want to put God back into the secular state school system.

The guidelines, issued by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, place the issue firmly in religious education class, rather than the science classes where American intelligent-design proponents want it to be handled.

Schools weigh inclusiveness, calendar without 'Christmas'

By Lindsay Melvin

Shelby County Schools' newest board member, Fred Johnson, wants to change "Christmas Break" to "Winter Break" on the school calendar.

"I want to make it inclusive of every religious group," he said.

Johnson's unexpected declaration, during a recent discussion of the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school calendars, did not sit well with all board members.

"This is America. Since Day One, we've recognized Christmas as Christmas and Christmas Break as Christmas Break," said board member Joe Clayton, who said he would never support a change of the wording.

Olmert's party proposes handing West Bank to Europe

Olmert's party proposes handing West Bank to Europe
Follows WND reports of secret talks to evacuate strategic territory under EU supervision
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: January 25, 2007
9:56 a.m. Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

JERUSALEM – A member of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima party yesterday proposed transferring control of the West Bank to a European task force until the establishment of a Palestinian state, at which time the strategic territory would be handed to security forces associated with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The proposal comes after WND broke the story earlier this week that, according to top European and Egyptian diplomatic sources, Israel has been conducting behind-the-scene negotiations to hand over most of the West Bank to Abbas' security forces. The sources said the transfer of security control to Abbas would be coordinated by the European Union and Jordan.

The West Bank borders Jerusalem and is within rocket-firing range of Tel Aviv and Israel's international airport.

At Israel's prestigious Herzliya Conference, Knesset Member Shlomo Breznitz, reportedly a close confidante of Olmert, said yesterday the West Bank should be transferred temporarily to the Europeans and that most of the territory's Jewish communities should be evacuated.

Federal investigation sought into abortions

Federal investigation sought into abortions
Operation Rescue plans move in battle over prosecuting Tiller
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Posted: January 25, 2007
5:45 p.m. Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Another four-day protest, "Pray in May" has been scheduled in Wichita, Kan., where late-term abortion special George Tiller has a business, as a pro-life activist group weighs its legal options in an effort to have criminal charges against Tiller heard in a court of law.

The state's former attorney general, Phill Kline, had filed 30 criminal counts against Tiller just days before Christmas, but the local prosecutor, Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Tedesco Foulston, worked with a local judge to have the counts dismissed before they could be heard.

That's despite the fact they resulted from a multi-year investigation by Kline, which had been reviewed and approved by the state Supreme Court, and the counts themselves had been reviewed and approved by two separate Kansas judges.

"This is far from over," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "Viable babies who should have the protection of Kansas law continue to be illegally killed at George R. Tiller's infamous late-term abortion mill. We must continue to seek justice, as our Christian faith demands, as long as this gross injustice continues."

Proposed law against spanking toddlers in Calif. causes stir

By Erin Roach
Baptist Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (BP)--If a Democratic assemblywoman in California has her way, parents in that state could soon be fined or even jailed for spanking their toddlers, a practice Sally Lieber said victimizes helpless children.

Lieber, who does not have children, plans to introduce a bill this week that would make California the first state to make the spanking of children 4 years old and under a misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail or a fine of up to $1,000.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Christian 'American Idol' Prepares to Air

Christian 'American Idol' Prepares to Air
'Gifted' airs it's first week on Friday on TBN

The Christian reality TV show “Gifted” will air this week on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).

Commonly compared with “American Idol,” the show will feature 16,000 contestants, 8 finalists, 3 judges, and 1 winner.

The two-hour prime time TBN television special, which will launch Friday, culminates months of nationwide searching to find and present the brightest new talent in Christian music, according to a media release.

According to the release, those tuning in that evening "will share the excitement of ’reality based TV’ with the nationwide viewing audience witnessing one contestant being awarded the top prize of a major recording contract with the EMI Christian Music Group."

For the debut telecast itself, the field of more than 16,000 contestants will be already narrowed for viewers to the eight top finalists, whose performances range from praise & worship, gospel and contemporary Christian music’s top hits of today.

Young Christians taking testimonies to the web

Allie Martin and Jody Brown
OneNewsNow.com
January 23, 2007

To counter an Internet-based attack against the Holy Spirit, a Christian website is encouraging young believers to post to the web a video message that affirms their faith in Christ.

Recently, a group calling itself the "Rational Response Squad" launched a website asking people to post video clips on YouTube.com blaspheming the Holy Spirit. The group's website says it is "fighting to free humanity from the mind disorder known as theism." In promoting its movement, the website is giving away 1001 DVDs of the documentary The God Who Wasn't There to individuals who are successful in getting their video clip on YouTube -- provided the clip includes the phrase: "I deny the Holy Spirit." Otherwise, says the website, "You may d--- yourself to hell however you would like."

To counter that call for blasphemous video postings, Michael Mickey, a Christian from Virginia, has started a website that lets Christian teenagers make a public statement about their faith in Christ. Mickey says ChallengeBlasphemy.com allows young people to witness for Christ through one of the most popular websites.

"Blasphemy Challenge has seemed to reached a lot of young people, so our hope is we can get youth leaders and pastors ... to try to get young people [particularly] to reach out to that young audience that visits YouTube and demonstrate their faith in the Lord Jesus," explains Mickey.

Joining ChallengeBlasphemy.com in the call for online video testimonies is another website -- RaptureAlert.com. According to Mickey, the project has received widespread response, along with media attention from around the country. He believes the project can send a strong message that Christian faith among America's youth is strong -- contrary to what the Rational Response Team might want to portray.

Hindu Learns to Love Christians

Hindu Learns to Love Christians
By Tim Branson
CWNews

CWNews.com – Christians make up only about 2.5 percent of India's population and believers often face persecution from Hindus.

Mahendra Prathab used to hate Christians. But his attitude changed after a visit from CBN’s World Reach ministry.

“Every Tuesday, I would go to the temple and say prayers to the god called Hanuman,” Prathab said. “I was a great believer of Hanuman. I believed that he was the one who gave me wisdom and knowledge.”

Prathab lives in the North Indian village of Burwa. He was a staunch defender of one of the most popular Hindu gods, Hanuman. But one man challenged all he believed.

“Whenever the Christian pastor preached in my village, his messages were always against idol worship,” Prathab said. “He would say that the only real God and Saviour is Jesus Christ. This really annoyed me.

Prathab tried to scare off pastor Vikram. But Vikram didn't back down.

With the help of CBN, a local ministry brought the message of Jesus Christ to Prathab’s village in a way they had never seen. Using a DVD player, a projector, and speakers provided by CBN, the ministry showed "The Jesus Film" to the entire village. Prathab was outraged.

“I was so angry I couldn't concentrate all day,” he said. “I was going to chase them out of my village.

Prathab wanted to cause trouble for the Christians, so he went to where the film was being played. But as he watched, the teachings of Jesus that he had fought against for so long entered his heart.

“I realized that Jesus Christ willingly died for me,” he said “He sacrificed his life for my sins. He loves me immensely.”

Prathab gave his life to Christ.

Iran: Israel, US will soon die

Iran: Israel, US will soon die

Ahmadinejad: Be assured that the US and Israel will soon end lives
Yaakov Lappin

Israel and the United States will soon be destroyed, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday during a meeting with Syria's foreign minister, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) website said in a report.

"Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad… assured that the United States and the Zionist regime of Israel will soon come to the end of their lives," the Iranian president was quoted as saying.

"Sparking discord among Muslims, especially between the Shiites and Sunnis, is a plot hatched by the Zionists and the US for dominating regional nations and looting their resources," Ahmadinejad added, according to the report.

N Korea helping Iran with nuclear testing

N Korea helping Iran with nuclear testing
By Con Coughlin
Last Updated: 2:29am GMT 24/01/2007

North Korea is helping Iran to prepare an underground nuclear test similar to the one Pyongyang carried out last year.

Under the terms of a new understanding between the two countries, the North Koreans have agreed to share all the data and information they received from their successful test last October with Teheran's nuclear scientists.

North Korea provoked an international outcry when it successfully fired a bomb at a secret underground location and Western intelligence officials are convinced that Iran is working on its own weapons programme.

A senior European defence official told The Daily Telegraph that North Korea had invited a team of Iranian nuclear scientists to study the results of last October's underground test to assist Teheran's preparations to conduct its own — possibly by the end of this year.

There were unconfirmed reports at the time of the Korean firing that an Iranian team was present. Iranian military advisers regularly visit North Korea to participate in missile tests.

Now the long-standing military co-operation between the countries has been extended to nuclear issues.

As a result, senior western military officials are deeply concerned that the North Koreans' technical superiority will allow the Iranians to accelerate development of their own nuclear weapon.

"The Iranians are working closely with the North Koreans to study the results of last year's North Korean nuclear bomb test," said the European defence official.

"We have identified increased activity at all of Iran's nuclear facilities since the turn of the year," he said.

"All the indications are that the Iranians are working hard to prepare for their own underground nuclear test."

Mexican Migration Officials Arrest 11 Iraqis With Fake Passports In Northern Mexico

Mexican Migration Officials Arrest 11 Iraqis With Fake Passports In Northern Mexico

MONTERREY, Mexico, January 23, 2007 - Eleven Iraqis carrying false passports and heading to California were arrested at Monterrey's airport, immigration officials said Monday.

Nine men, a woman and a two-year-old girl traveled from Madrid, Spain, to Monterrey, where they were detained Saturday, an immigration official said on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak publicly about the arrests.

None of the Iraqi citizens appear on terrorist watch lists and they told authorities they were Chaldean Christians trying to get to California were they would request asylum, the official said.

Bush's pro-life message marks 'Roe' anniversary

Bush's pro-life message marks 'Roe' anniversary
But spokesman says he won't philosophize over church policies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: January 23, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

President Bush believes the Declaration of Independence states that "every person has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," but on the day when the United States marked the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade abortion decision, which has cost at estimated 50 million lives, the president isn't going to philosophize on the application of individual church beliefs.

The comment came from Tony Snow, presidential spokesman, in response to a question from Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent at the White House.

"With regard to today's March for Life, does the president believe that the positions of Catholic Sens. (Ted) Kennedy, (Susan) Collins, (Christopher) Dodd, (Joseph) Biden, (John) Kerry, (Barbara) Mikulsi and (Patrick) Leahy and Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi on this issue, and their not being ex-communicated, means that Catholic Church opposition to all but partial-birth abortion is now as absent as the one-time voluble church opposition to contraception?" he asked.

"The president is not going to sit around and engage in the chin-pulling exercise of trying to determine how people, may, in fact, interpret Catholic dogma. His belief on the sanctity of life is well known," Snow said.

Olmert's office denies WND report

Olmert's office denies WND report
Top diplomatic sources say secret talks held on handing territory to Abbas
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Posted: January 23, 2007
5:43 p.m. Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office today denied a WND report quoting top Egyptian and European diplomatic sources stating Israel and the Palestinians have been conducting behind-the-scenes negotiations regarding handing over most of the West Bank to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The diplomatic sources said they were directly involved in the negotiations, which they said were mediated by Egypt and the European Union, with U.S. input. The sources said major changes in Israeli-Palestinian affairs are expected within a few weeks to two months.

"There were no negotiations regarding a West Bank withdrawal. This would go contrary to other things we have said in the recent past," said Olmert's spokesperson, Miri Eisin.

"Perhaps the officials talking to WorldNetDaily were referring to general expectations for movement in the Israeli-Palestinian arena," Eisin said.

But the European and Egyptian sources today stood by their statements that Israel agreed in principal to transfer security control to Abbas of most of the West Bank. The territory borders Jerusalem and is within rocket-firing range of Tel Aviv and Israel's international airport.

Feds arrest 761 in illegals sweep

Feds arrest 761 in illegals sweep
Authorities tout series of raids as among biggest in history
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Posted: January 23, 2007
5:00 p.m. Eastern

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Describing it as one of the biggest illegal immigrations sweeps in U.S. history, authorities arrested 761 in the Los Angeles area in a week-long series of raids.
The raids targeted illegal immigrants who previously had been deported for crimes or had ignored final deportation orders, the Associated Press reported.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told AP 338 illegals were arrested in their homes and another 423 were identified in local jails. The jailed illegals will be transferred to federal custody after serving their state sentences, said Virginia Kice.

The raids were part of a major crackdown called Operation Return to Sender, which has resulted in 13,000 arrests nationwide since June. Another 3,000 illegals identified in state and local jails will be deported.

Last June, federal authorities announced the arrest of 2,100 in a two-week sweep nationwide. Marc Raimondi, a spokesman for the immigration section of the Department of Homeland Security, said at the time the agency was "watching the country's borders from the inside."

In June, officials estimated there were more than 500,000 "fugitive aliens" who had been deported by judges and either returned to the country or never left.

However, that number apparently has jumped, with Kice estimating now 600,000 illegal immigrants who have ignored deportation orders are still at large.

The Southern California sweep this week netted illegal immigrants from 14 countries, including Mexico, Honduras, Ukraine, India, Japan, Poland and Trinidad, AP said.

As WND reported, more than 9,000 sex offenders have been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials through a series of stings called Operation Predator in three years of operation, a 2006 Department of Homeland Security Report says. But some experts are wondering if the efforts are enough to protect innocent American children from being preyed on by returning criminal alien sex offenders.

Foreign nationals account for roughly 85 percent of child sex offenders arrested by the operation, which was launched by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge in July 2003, officials say. And as WND previously has reported, authorities also have linked illegal aliens to a wave of gang-rapes across the U.S.

Sex assaults by teachers on students an 'epidemic'

Sex assaults by teachers on students an 'epidemic'
Organization fights uphill battle in system that protects predators
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Posted: January 23, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

Editor's note: who have assaulted male students, part of the problem of teacher-on-student assaults estimated to include millions of victims.

By Bob Unruh
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

An estimated 5 million students in United States schools have been assaulted sexually by teachers, according to a congressional report. But no one is calling for investigations or law enforcement crackdowns, there have been no campaigns to ban the offenders from schools, and in many states there aren't even any requirements such predator attacks be reported to education licensing agencies.

"We have approximately 5 million children suffering and no one is calling for an investigation, for any kind of data to be collected to find out why that many children are being hurt by teachers," said Terri Miller, who runs probably the only organization in the nation that focuses specifically on assaults by educators on students. "This is an epidemic."

In fact, in many cases, especially where the attacker is a woman and the student a male, such assaults are treated as a joke, with a hand-slap for the teacher, and some ribald locker room humor directed at the student.

WND has documented in recent months an alarming string of dozens of cases of female teacher-on-male student sexual assaults, but those are just part of the overall problem, Miller said.

Her volunteer group, called Stop Educator Sexual Abuse, Misconduct and Exploitation, often feels overwhelmed by the dearth of information, injuries to students, and obstacles posed by opponents such as the National Education Association.

But she says it's a do-or-die battle.

"I won't give up trying. I have vowed to keep trying until we have good strong legislation to hold the perpetrators criminally responsible," she told WND.

She said the problem easily could be many times larger than the scandals involving Catholic Church priests molesting children, and the hundreds of millions of dollars in civil liabilities already determined in those cases.

"You are not mandated to send your children to church, but you are mandated by law to send your children to school," she said. "And, by God, schools better be mandated to keep them safe."

'Boys as victims' don't fit expectations

'Boys as victims' don't fit expectations
But experts say they are hurt by attacks, just like girls
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Posted: January 23, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

WND has documented dozens of recent cases of women teachers assaulting underage male students, probably the least documented type of educator sexual misconduct even though almost no comprehensive statistics are kept on any category of such attacks.

The few experts on such conduct say that males can be assaulted and victimized as well as females, only for young boys society's treatment is different.

Terri Miller, who runs Stop Educator Sexual Abuse, Misconduct and Exploitation, said she does hear from men who were victims of female teachers. One man was 53, and never had been able to establish a normal relationship since he was assaulted by a female teacher at age 12.

She said the second generation of crime even could be blamed on female assailants. "Because they are not able to report with the expectation they're going to receive justice like a girl would … what ends up happening in many cases with boys [they] overcompensate and end up becoming domestically violent abusers, rapists – because of the fact a woman dominated them," she said.

Steve Braveman, a therapist who has posted an article on the SESAME website, noted that about one in six of all American boys is molested by the time he reaches 18.

Since statistics are virtually unavailable, he noted, it's not clear exactly who is molesting them every time, but he said the vast majority appear to have been victimized by someone they know. "Someone they trust very much. Someone in a position of authority."

"So, if boys are being molested by all of these kinds of people, why doesn't the public hear more about this? Part of the answer may lie in the fact than an estimated 50 percent of all molests, males and females combined, are never reported. It is also estimated that only 10 percent of molested boys ever make such reports. … Many of these unreported molestations of boys are suspected to be at the hands of a teacher, educator and/or other person in position of authority."

Republican revolt builds over border agents

Republican revolt builds over border agents
House resolution calls for tossing Ramos, Compean convictions
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Posted: January 23, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Jerome R. Corsi
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

At least 70 Republican Congress members are co-sponsoring a House resolution ordering that the convictions and sentences of Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean be vacated and that they be released from custody immediately.

Even after suggestions last week that President Bush plans to review the Ramos and Compean case, the White House has continued reaching out for support to several prominent conservatives who, so far, are rebuffing administration requests to back the Justice Department on this case.

The resolution, H.R. 563, is being introduced by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination.

Despite public suggestions to the contrary, the White House on background has continued indicating to prominent national conservative leaders that their heels are dug in on this case, denying at this point any plan to pardon the agents. Some critics contend the Bush administration's open border policy is behind its unwillingness to defend Ramos and Compean.

White House talking points continue to stress themes articulated by prosecuting U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton in El Paso, who in an exclusive interview last week with WND claimed the two agents "shot 15 times at an unarmed, fleeing man," after which the agents "decided to lie about it, cover it up, destroy the evidence, pick up all the shell casings and throw them away where we couldn't find them, destroy the crime scene and then file a false report."

In a series of briefings with conservative leaders prior to the State of the Union message scheduled for this evening, the White House indicated that while the issue of immigration will be mentioned, it will not be a major theme. The president is expected to repeat his support of a "comprehensive immigration reform" plan that would include a guest worker program, prefacing re-introduction of legislation similar to the bill co-sponsored in the previous Congress by Sens. Edward Kennedy D-Mass., and John McCain R-Ariz.

While the speech is expected to sound the theme of border security, the president is not expected to give a commitment that the administration will press Congress to appropriate all the funds needed to build the full 770-mile double-layered fence Congress approved in a Sept. 29 vote just prior to the mid-term elections. Instead, the president is expected to emphasis electronic means to secure a virtual border and what the White House believes has been recent success slowing the number of "OTMs," or "Other Than Mexicans," who illegally cross the southern border.

President Bush has no plans to mention the Ramos and Compean case in the State of the Union speech.

Border Patrol agent held in solitary confinement

Border Patrol agent held in solitary confinement
'They act like he's Charles Manson,' father-in-law tells WND
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Posted: January 23, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Jerome R. Corsi
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Imprisoned former Border Patrol agent Ignacio Ramos not only is being held in prison for trying to halt a fleeing drug smuggler, he's being held in solitary confinement treated as if he were Charles Manson, a relative told WND in an exclusive interview.

Joe Loya, Ramos' father-in-law, told WND that Ramos is being held in conditions usually reserved for extraordinarily dangerous or trouble-making inmates.

"They have Ignacio in a 6 foot by 12 foot cell," Loya told WND in a telephone interview from El Paso. "There are no bars, just a steel door, and no window. He has no television and nothing to do. He is fed in his cell and let out only for one hour after 23 hours in the cell. He is then taken to a room with a television where he is allowed to watch the TV for an hour before he is returned to solitary confinement."

Loya said his daughter met with her husband for an hour on Friday.

"Ignacio was heavily shackled," Loya said, "and he could barely hold the telephone to speak."

Loya explained that his daughter met with her husband in the prison in a room where they were separated by a glass barrier.

"It was just like Ignacio was Charlie Manson," Loya explained. "My daughter couldn't believe how her husband was being treated."

Loya told WND that the family believes that the federal prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, introduced into the trial inaccurate or incomplete testimony provided by the drug dealer, Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, as well as from other Border Patrol agents who the federal prosecutors had pressured prior to the trial.

"I can't believe how Ignacio is being treated," Loya told WND. "He has been a federal agent for years and he has been involved in many drug busts. I am convinced that the U.S. attorney has a grudge against my son-in-law and I cannot believe how mean and determined Johnny Sutton has been to see my son imprisoned for doing nothing more than trying to stop a drug smuggler he and Jose Compean believed was armed and dangerous."

Cruise 'is Christ' of Scientology

Cruise 'is Christ' of Scientology

By EMILY SMITH
US Editor
January 23, 2007

TOM Cruise is the new “Christ” of Scientology, according to leaders of the cult-like religion.

The Mission: Impossible star has been told he has been “chosen” to spread the word of his faith throughout the world.

And leader David Miscavige believes that in future, Cruise, 44, will be worshipped like Jesus for his work to raise awareness of the religion.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Super Bowl coaches Dungy, Smith known for Christian testimony

Super Bowl coaches Dungy, Smith known for Christian testimony

Jan 22, 2007
By Art Stricklin
Baptist Press

MIAMI (BP)--Super Bowl XLI will feature two teams making their first super game appearance in two-plus decades, two Midwestern teams separated by only a couple hundred miles, but most importantly two coaches who are strong believers in Jesus Christ.

Head coaches Tony Dungy of Indianapolis and close friend and fellow Christian Lovie Smith of Chicago gave credit to God following their respective teams' victories in the conference championships Jan. 21.

“The Lord set this up in a way that no one would believe it,” Dungy said following the Colts' win over New England. “The Lord tested us a lot this year, but He set this up to get all the glory.”

The news that two witnesses for their personal faith in Jesus Christ would have a two-week international spotlight for their beliefs thrilled Christian leader William Pugh, executive director of sports ministry Athletes in Action, a branch of Campus Crusade for Christ.

“We are so excited to see the Bears and Colts in the Super Bowl,” Pugh, a close friend of both head coaches, said. “We could not have picked two better coaches to represent all that is good about sports.”

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Monday, January 29, 2007

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Monday, January 22, 2007

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