Entertainment:
http://www.belladvds.com/- "Bella is the #1 rated film of 2007 by the users of the biggest film review website in the world, Rotten Tomatoes.com with a 96.5 rating. Bella was also #1 while in theaters by users of Yahoo!, Fandango and NY Times Readers Poll."-wow!!! Grassroots baby!!! Who needs Hollywood or a Hollywood advertising/production budget or the media when you've got "we the people"!!!
Bella is the No. 1 pre-sale romantic movie on Amazon.com-"Producer Leo Severino told LifeSiteNews.com that the movie has been instrumental in saving at least 15 preborn babies from abortion."-I'm excited to find out what becomes of these 15!!!
Rebelution:
Rebelution- Web site of brothers of Joshua Harris who wrote "I kissed dating GoodBye" and "Sex Is Not The Problem (Lust Is)" dedicated to teens rebelling against low expectations of teens. Listen to an interview of them here and scroll down to 05/08/5008. It takes a while to download but thats normal. I just start doing something else while I am waiting. Makes the wait go by fast. "Instead of serving as the launching pad of life, the teen years are seen as a vacation from responsibility. We call it the "myth of adolescence." And the Rebelution is all about busting that myth."
Iraq:
US Military deaths down over 26 year average-"In 2005, a total of 1,942 U.S. military personnel were killed in all causes, including accidents, hostile action, homicides, illnesses, suicides, etc...That compares to 2,392 in 1980, the last year of President Jimmy Carter's administration....the first year of the peacetime Clinton administration, 1,293 U.S. servicemen lost their lives -- just 649 fewer than in 2005, the hottest year of the Iraq war."-04/25/2008.
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles have sharply reduced the lethality of insurgent roadside bomb attacks in Iraq.
Fall in violence lures Iraqis home-"According to the latest figures available from the Iraqi government, about 30,000 Iraqis had returned home through March."-05/04/2008 USA Today.
Seven weeks into its own surge, the city of Basra has been largely quited "to the initial surprise and growing delight of many inhabitants."
For a great conservative think tank and the largest think tank in the world period then check out The Heritage Foundation and you can sign up for their daily emails just for a differing point of view sake then the popular media and balance sake in ones own political understanding though they are not themselves at all balanced nor claim to be. Here is the web site of The Heritage Foundations' counterpart from the left wing web site http://www.americanprogress.org/. You will probabily note that most of their views are promoted in the media anyways so it may be nothing new but none the less feel free to compare and check out and then see if whether or not you agree that the popular media seems to highly favor one side over the other.
Online Dating Sevice:
EHarmony Sued for Gay Discrimination-"Linda Carlson says she tried to use the eHarmony site to meet another woman, but could not, based on her sexual orientation...Originally a Christian website, the company has sought out more secular audiences in recent years."-06/2007. Not only is EHarmonys' services not available for the promotion of homosexual couples but neither are their services available for the promotion of heterosexual "one-night stands"...
eHarmony and 'one-night stands' incompatible-"eHarmony has retracted a column advocating "one-night stands" after a newlywed Christian couple who met on the popular website accused the online dating service of departing from its "Christian, pro-marriage beginnings" and embracing the "hook-up" culture"-04/2008.
Update on Academic Freedom Legislation:
Four States Consider Permitting Academic Freedom on Evolution-"The effort to protect the academic freedom of the nation's educators received a blow, as a Florida bill protecting the right of teachers to examine the strengths and weaknesses of Darwin's theory of evolution died on Friday with the end of the state legislative session. However, Michigan, Louisiana, Alabama, and Missouri currently have similar legislation under consideration."-So now there are 5 states working on this type of legislation. I reported on Florida, Lousiana and Missouri and for actual wording of bills and success in Florida click on 04/28/2008 and scroll down Recent legislation inacted to support Academic Freedom:. Keep in mind this email is an update to Florida that even though the bills past both House and Senate that the bills were still being worked on but the legislative session ended so it stopped. I don't know what happens from there.
Burma: What lies in Darkness?:
Praying for Morning to Break in Burma-"March 11th is the Global Day of Prayer for Burma.....Last month, a young Chin woman named Cheery Zahau presented the United Nations with fresh evidence of atrocities conducted by the Burmese Army. She told of gang rapes and the raping of victims as young as 12 years old in Burma's Chin State. Zahau reportedly testified, "Often the rapes have been carried out with extreme brutality and in some cases they resulted in the death of the victim. In one case, a woman was stripped naked and hung on a cross, in a deliberate act of mockery against her Christian religion."-03/09/2007
Bush Urges U.N. to Spread Freedom-"Taking center stage in front the world, Bush announced that the United States would impose new sanctions against the military dictatorship in Myanmar..."Americans are outraged by the situation in Burma," President Bush said. The Asian country was renamed Myanmar from Burma by its military junta. However, the United States does not recognize that name change..."-09/25/2007
Text President Bush's Speech to the U.N.-"This morning, I'm announcing a series of steps to help bring peaceful change to Burma. The United States will tighten economic sanctions on the leaders of the regime and their financial backers. We will impose an expanded visa ban on those responsible for the most egregious violations of human rights, as well as their family members. We'll continue to support the efforts of humanitarian groups working to alleviate suffering in Burma. And I urge the United Nations and all nations to use their diplomatic and economic leverage to help the Burmese people reclaim their freedom."-09/27/2007.
Nine Dead as Burma Military Fires on Crowds-"Witnesses have reported that soldiers smashed windows and doors, and beat the sleeping monks. While some monks managed to get away, hundreds of others were taken away in military trucks...Bono said everyone should offer their support to the Burmese people. "In Britain, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has shown some leadership as has President George Bush. Everyone should keep their fingers crossed and say your prayers for them," the rock star said."-09/27/2007.
Tribal Christians Find New Life in U.S.-"The Htoo family is part of a tribe called the Karen, which lives in the mountains of northern Burma. The tribe is primarily Christian, thanks to the efforts of American missionaries in the 1850's. Just after World War II, the country of Burma was taken over by a Buddhist military dictatorship. Since then, the government has engaged in genocidal persecution of the Christian ethnic minorities within their borders....a country that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has recently called on the U.N. Security Council to consider action against its government....After years of lobbying, the U.S. government agreed to allow up to 10,000 refugees from Burma to resettle in the U.S."-09/28/2007.
Burmese Christians Pray for Hope-"In the midst of the seemingly hopeless situation, Burmese Christians are interceding for their country. Christians inside the country, and even those who fled to the jungles of neighboring countries are praying. They believe that no amount of protests can topple the iron rule in Burma. Only prayer, they say, can change their nation."-03/07/2008
Global Day of Prayer 2008 Brochure. "We believe that: 1. God loves the people of Burma and we should be strong in the mighty power of God. 2. The rider on the white horse (Rev 19:11-14) will fight for the oppressed. 3. We should go deep and go ahead, not broad or shallow or sideways. 4. God reveals what lies in darkness."-03/09/2008
Enters Cyclone: 05/03/2008
First Lady Laura Bush on Myanmar-Notice she didn't once recognize Myanmar as neither did her Husband in his speech to the UN back in 09/2007 (see above Bush Urges U.N. to spread freedom for further detail as to maybe why). "On Saturday, Cyclone Nargis swept through Burma. The storm affected more than 2 million people, and according to the Burmese media, killed thousands. The aftermath has left cities paralyzed, families separated and houses and businesses destroyed. It's troubling that many of the Burmese people learned of this impending disaster only when foreign outlets -- such as Radio Free Asia and Voice of America -- sounded the alarm. Although they were aware of the threat, Burma's state-run media failed to issue a timely warning to citizens in the storm's path...he United States stands prepared to provide an assistance team and much needed supplies to Burma as soon as the Burmese government accepts our offer. The government of Burma should accept this team quickly, as well as other offers of international assistance...In response to the regime's continued repression, President Bush has instructed the U.S. Treasury Department to freeze assets of Burmese state-owned companies that are held in U.S. banks. This adds to actions last year to expand U.S. sanctions against Burma's regime, and to tighten sanctions against its top leaders. We thank the European Union, Canada and Australia for joining the United States in imposing similar restrictions. And we appeal to China, India, and Burma's fellow ASEAN members to use their influence to encourage a democratic transition...Watch more of her press conference"-05/07/2008.
Myanmar Slow to Accept International Aid-"Despite the cyclone, the government indicated that a referendum on the country's draft constitution would proceed as planned on May 10. "It's only a few days left before the coming referendum and people are eager to cast their vote," the state-owned newspaper Myanma Ahlin said Monday. Should the junta be perceived as failing disaster victims, voters who already hold the regime liable for ruining the economy and squashing democracy could take out their frustrations at the ballot box."-05/07/2008
First Round of Int'l Aid Reaches Myanmar-"The first round of International aid began with 800 tons of food for Myanmar's homeless, the U.N.'s World Food Program.." And check this out as was mentioned in Laura Bushs' speech above..."The cyclone came only a week ahead of a key referendum on a constitution that Myanmar's military leaders hoped would go smoothly in its favor. But the disaster could stir the already tense political situation."-05/07/2008
Myanmar Junta Hands Out Aid Boxes-Check this out in light of last 2 reports above!!! "Myanmar's military regime distributed international aid Saturday but plastered the boxes with the names of top generals in an apparent effort to turn the relief effort for last week's devastating cyclone into a propaganda exercise...Despite international appeals to postpone a referendum on a controversial proposed constitution, voting began Saturday in all but the hardest hit parts of the country. With voters going to the polls, state-run television continuously ran images of top generals including junta leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, handing out boxes of aid at elaborate ceremonies."-05/10/2008. Wow!!!
First U.S. Relief Airlift Heads to Myanmar-"Still, the reclusive junta insists it will handle the aid distribution itself, through its feared military, which has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1962. Many people have complained that they are getting rotting rice and that soldiers are keeping the best food for themselves. "The government is very controlling," said U Patanyale, the abbot of a monastery in Kyi Bui Khaw village. "Those who want to give directly to the victims get into trouble. They have to give to the government or do it secretly. They follow international aid trucks everywhere. They don't want others to take credit. That's the Myanmar government," he said."-05/12/2008
Maybe this email can be used in what little way it can in answer to the prayer of those in Burma of "...what Lies in Darkness..." and who knows but maybe in some tragic way larger scale attention will be continually brought to this area because of this tragedy...
Faith Based Christian NGO's also helping out:
Mission agency among first responders in Burma-"Thousands of Burmese cyclone victims are finding relief through a well-known mission agency. While international aid teams were trying to get permission to enter Burma, more than 500 Gospel For Asia (GFA) missionaries were already on the ground, providing relief to those who lost family members, friends, and all their possessions. And one GFA Bible College in Rangoon now serves as a makeshift shelter for those left homeless by the deadly cyclone."-05/08/2008
GFA Missionaries Seeking Cyclone Survivors
"The teams included students from GFA's Bible college in Yangon, which has become a center of ministry to survivors in Myanmar's largest city....The GFA country leader is directing the relief efforts at the college, which includes providing desperately needed food and water to survivors staying on and near the campus..."The number of dead will probably be over 100,000," K.P. reported...A few U.N. aid flights have been allowed to land in Rangoon, but only a handful of outside aid workers have been granted visas. "For us, the issue is not as much visas as it is getting supplies into the affected areas," K.P. explained. "Our people are already on the ground. Our national leader is organizing the relief efforts. And he is trying to arrange for our materials to get in. But they need much more—and they need much prayer. "We are working to get some of our workers into Burma from India," he noted, "but right now we are relying on our Burmese workers and church members who are helping every way they can to alleviate the suffering...Most importantly, they are bringing the hope of Jesus Christ into the situation...One of the things we learned in the wake of the Asian tsunami was that even when we bring physical aid, the emotional and spiritual needs are even greater. "I still remember when one of our missionaries read Scripture to a woman who was about to walk into the ocean and drown herself because she had lost everything in the tsunami," he recounted. "She had received food and clothing and shelter—but she had lost her entire family and didn't want to live anymore. It was only the Good News of the Gospel that saved her...Even as we minister in the wake of this cyclone, we must never forget what man's deepest needs are."-05/08/2008
OBI Brings Food to Myanmar Orphans-"Watch the full report on the player. It includes video from inside Myanmar and a phone interview with an Operation Blessing International aid worker."
http://www.myowneyes.org/-"With My Own Eyes is a firsthand, eyewitness account offering users the opportunity to see some of the most devastated, disaster-ravaged and previously inaccessible places in the world, as well as a look at Operation Blessing's efforts to help people that live there.This multimedia site features video footage, photos and the personal diary entries of team leaders from Operation Blessing International"
A can't miss footage of food getting to people via Operation Blessing (a christian relief organization) without government labels on the food!!!!!-See real faces and damage caused by cyclone.
Christians Concerned for Burma-"Map of Burma showing the state regions belonging to Burma's different ethnic nationalities." And many more resources. And just added is a link to photos of the human devastation you can get to here labeled Please be advised that photos are graphic.
Lastly:
A God of suffering?-Video of a christian response to the problem of suffering in the world. This video was made during Hurricane Katrina by a pastor who himself had underwent suffering in his own life and remember the only God in the history of humanity to partake in sufferings Himself is Jesus Christ and thus the only God that has a right to relationally speak on the subject for He has decided to personally relate on this issue with humanity.
Get Answers: Death and Suffering-For those without video and for further information and in more detail this issue is dealt with here.
I just want to add that since God is also, all just (not only all powerful and all loving) that all evils committed in the world will one day be as though they never even were "they shall be as though they had not been."-Obadiah 1:16 speaking of men who commit evil. If we trust to God's power of justice (or ability to make all wrongs right) then all evil will be reversed. But if we trust not to God what is our option??? Feel free to fill in the blanks. It seems that if we really want wrongs to be made right we are forced to believe that God is 1. all powerful 2. all loving and 3. all just??? Its almost as if the desire to right all the wrongs committed from beginning to end in our world presupposes a faith in such a God!!! Or rather it is the only position that will satisfy that thirst. So if we see evil in the world and we really truely desire for the wrongs to be righted then we must believe in God. And lastly since God is not bound to time like we are in one sense HE HAS ALREADY RIGHTED THE WRONGS!!!! So if you add to point 1., 2. and 3. above that God is 4. the creator of time and not subject to its laws sort of speak being outside and above His creation then by the eyes of faith we can know that they have been dealt with already in His mind if this is the God that does exist and we being subject to time and space must wait and see this glorious good desire of ours (that of justice) fulfilled. It seems as though it is an impossibility humanly speaking but as that which is with men impossible, with God is quite another thing and maybe this is one of those glorious acts that is already in His mind fulfilled but by believing maybe one day we will see the fulfillment of in some obviously unhuman way "as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."-I Corinthians 2:9. So when we are tempted to play the part of doubting Thomas "he (Thomas)..Except I shall see....I will not believe" may we take the counsel of Christ to bear in heart and mind, "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." And so the message of the cross is the most hopefilled relational/rational message from God to man for those in great suffering and pain desiring to see the righting of all these wrongs as opposed to their greatest enemy as many atheist would have us believe. What do the atheist provide but just that this is the way it is so releive as much pain and suffering as you can and so learn to live with it(no hell below us, above us only sky...and no religion too...and may I add it ain't pretty as it is and no justice too)!!! After all its been the way of the universe for billions of years who are we to complain and have any sense or need of justice if all we are is a result of chance over the chance of time!!!??? I suppose there are only so many things to have faith in!!! But God brings a proposition that satisfies our sense of justice and hope for such dire situations as Burma if we have any hope left after our many years of training in the schools of organized religious atheism!!! Good thing we don't act like all has its roots in naturalistic chancism!!!! I suppose if we did we really would have no justified logical reason to be concerned at all with what is happening tragically anywhere let alone our own back yard. Thank God that atheists act contrary to their beliefs!!!! And God save us if they ever do!!!! I say this with a little humour and not seriously though making a serious philosophical point of a flaw in atheism and not to be viewed as attacking any atheist personally or that all atheist are bad or anything like that. But just responding with the dangers of atheism if atheism weeded out all hypocrisy, after all atheists are always proclaiming the dangers of religion and such so just reasoning in a similar fashion relatable to atheistics own thinking to point out flaws in atheism is all I am attempting to do no matter how successful or unsuccessful. Take care all.
I understand that this is a more rational response to death and suffering as opposed to an emotionally supportive one. But just knowing that the Creator of the Universe chose to relate with us in our sufferings by suffering Himself on a cross for our sins especially when He didn't have to thus willingly/lovingly can bring great healing and help to us and those in tragedies like this. And that He can and does help us thru difficult times if we ask Him and sometimes even before we ask Him and then again at certain times appointed and planned He decides to take us and our loved ones home....Take care all....
Yanking Back the Balance/Filling in the Gaps/Emphasizing the Missing Headlines
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?...I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people....They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture...Ye that fear the LORD, praise him....For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard."-Selected verses from Psalm 22 fulfilled in Christ on the cross for our sins!!! See Matthew 27:32-55
