TOPIC: Tennessee Attorney General's Office and Tennessee State Commissioner Involved in Attempted Murder Cover-Up
Article from christiansunite.com
Motions are being filed with the Tennessee Claims Commission in reference to the attempted murder of a missionary.
On May 18, 2006, Christian missionary George Raudenbush was abducted and tortured for two hours. Local authorities were contacted immediately after the abduction. Later, it was discovered by a witness that local law enforcement officials knew the identities of the individuals involved who conspired to murder and then transport the victim's body out of the county. [Could the attacker have been a Mr. Leonard James Ahearn? Some are saying Ahearn hired the men who attacked Raudenbush.]
When their plan failed, they left Mr. Raudenbush (in critical condition) covered in blood. The Monroe County Sheriffs Department, Tellico Plains Police Department and the 10th Judicial District Attorney General's Office was contacted and informed. No response of interest has been indicated by any of the above agencies.
Mr. Raudenbush appeared before Tennessee State Commission on April 20, 2007 to give direct testimony as to his brutal abduction and torture. Commissioner William O. Shults over the Tennessee Claims Commission heard the testimony of Mr. Raudenbush and first hand witnesses to events.
Letters and evidence showing a cover up had take place were sent to Tennessee State Attorney General, Robert E. Cooper Jr., regarding judicial misconduct and corruption in the ranks of the Court of the Judiciary and lower courts. Leigh A. Jones, Chief of Staff to the State Attorney's Office responded by letter on April 27, 2007 referring Mr. Raudenbush back to the Judge that Mr. Raudenbush was filing a complaint against, Judge J. Steven Stafford. Certified letters were sent back to the Attorney General clarifying the situation however no response has been received from the Attorney General's office.
On May 10, 2007 Judge William O. Shults denied Mr. Raudenbush's claim for victim compensation after Mr. Raudenbush gave direct testimony about his abduction and his injuries. The state failed to appear to prosecute the claim and make a determination.
Judge William O. Shults made the following appalling statement with no evidence to support his conclusion, "somehow he was at least partially responsible for the precipitating the attack against him."
Motions are currently being filed against activist Judges in Tennessee who practice judicial misconduct, having self-serving agendas other than that of good consciousness in upholding their oath to office.

Background: Full account of the attack on National Missions Coordinator George Raudenbush with photos (WARNING: The pictures are rather gory). For Legislative Amendment Reform in your state, go to www.jail4judges.org.

TOPIC: Cindy Sheehan Will Crawl Back Under Her Rock? YEAH!
The totally clueless and hopelessly lost in liberalism Cindy Sheehan has "resigned" as "the face" of the anti-war movement. Good. It's about time her lies and irrelevant banter took their toll -- and forced her into "retirement". Now, she can live off the government (through speaking fees, etc.) she spews venom about with each waking breath.
On the Daily KOS, Mrs. Sheehan wrote:

"I have invested everything I have into trying to bring peace with justice to a country that wants neither. If an individual wants both, then normally he/she is not willing to do more than walk in a protest march or sit behind his/her computer criticizing others. I have spent every available cent I got from the money a "grateful" country gave me when they killed my son and every penny that I have received in speaking or book fees since then. I have sacrificed a 29 year marriage and have traveled for extended periods of time away from Casey’s brother and sisters and my health has suffered and my hospital bills from last summer (when I almost died) are in collection because I have used all my energy trying to stop this country from slaughtering innocent human beings."

How can any one individual be so totally off base and ignorant to the facts of reality? Peace and justice? Sheehan has spread lies, misinformation and ridicule for almost three solid years now. How is that working for peace or justice?
Casey Sheehan was not killed by his country, but by Islamo-fascist thugs (sometimes called insurgents) in Iraq. These are the same type of people who came to America and killed thousands of American citizens when they flew plane loads of truly innocent people into the towers of the World Trade Center. And Cindy Sheehan has the audacity to say our country is "slaughtering innocent human beings"?!? What a load of crap! Even in "resigning", Cindy Sheehan continues to twist the truth into liberal logic.

The one thing I did find credible in her final statement is in regard to the so-called "peace movement". Of that group of misfits and illogical idiots, she writes:

"I have also tried to work within a peace movement that often puts personal egos above peace and human life. This group won’t work with that group; he won’t attend an event if she is going to be there; and why does Cindy Sheehan get all the attention anyway? It is hard to work for peace when the very movement that is named after it has so many divisions."

As the Daily Kos titled the peace, so I say to Cindy Sheehan, "Good riddance attention whore!" You will NOT be missed. Crawl back under your rock and stay there. Turn you attention to where it should have been all along -- your family and not trying spreading lies about the government that not only keeps you safe, but allows you the right of free speech to vent your venom.

QOTD: Determine to live, so as to be missed. Be missed for kind words, good deeds, short notes, quick calls and good laughs. -- Alistair Begg

TOPIC: Outrageous Homosexual Bill Passes California Senate
SB 777 a serious assault on religious freedom in schools
by Christiansunite.com Staff
The California State Senate voted Thursday (23-13) to pass SB 777 (Kuehl), legislation that will ban textbooks and teachers from any instruction that "reflects or promotes bias against" homosexuality, transgenders, bisexuals or those with perceived gender issues. SB 777 is similar to last session's highly controversial SB 1437, which passed the legislature but was vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"SB 777 is designed to transform our public schools into institutions that disregard all notions of the traditional family unit," said Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute. "This reverse discrimination is an outright attack on the religious and moral beliefs of California citizens." Earlier this month homosexual advocacy group Equality California attacked CRI's opposition to the bill. A board member for the radical group sent an e-mail and video to CRI declaring that they would "bury" CRI if we "continued our efforts" in opposing this outrageous legislation. CRI also received hate mail from the so-called "tolerant" supporters of Equality California and the homosexual "tolerance" agenda.

"The shocking hate mail we received shows that those behind this legislation do not promote true tolerance," stated England. "Only politically correct speech will be tolerated. Those with religious or traditional moral beliefs will not be allowed to express their opinions in public schools."

SB 777 not only affects textbooks and instructional materials for kindergarten and grades 1-12, it also affects all school-sponsored activities. School-sponsored activities include everything from cheerleading and sports activities to the prom. Under SB 777 school districts could potentially be prohibited from having a "prom king and queen" because that would show bias based on gender and sexual orientation.
"Los Angeles Unified School District has already implemented the policies in this bill," said Meredith Turney, Legislative Liaison for Capitol Resource Institute. "In that district, boys who perceive themselves as girls may enter the girls' locker room and restroom. Teachers and school officials are required to hide the gender identity of a transgender student if the parents are unaware of what's taking place at school. This astonishing policy will be expanded to every school in the state if SB 777 becomes law."

The Sope-Bocks: Californians need to contact their state representatives NOW! The slippery slope that SB 777 provides is one that many generations will pay a heavy price for -- if this sort of intolerant legislation is allowed to become law. EVERYONE should be protected by the First Amendment -- not just those who choose to engage in the homosexual lifestyle.

Poll: 1 in 4 U.S. Young Muslims OK With Homicide Bombings Against Civilians

Article from FOXNews.com

One out of four young U.S. Muslims believe homicide bombings against civilians are OK to "defend Islam," according to a new poll. The poll by the Pew Research Center also finds some Muslim Americans seem to be separating from mainstream America in their attitudes toward the War on Terror and U.S. Mideast policy.
The study found that among the nation's younger Muslims, 26 percent say homicide bombings can at least rarely be justified "in order to defend Islam from its enemies." "It is a hair-raising number," said Radwan Masmoudi, president of the Washington-based Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, which promotes the compatibility of Islam with democracy.
The poll briefly describes the rationales for and against "suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets" and then asks, "Do you personally feel that this kind of violence is often justified to defend Islam, sometimes justified, rarely justified, or never justified?" Younger U.S. Muslims under the age of 30 are much more willing to accept homicide bombing in the defense of Islam than are their older counterparts, the study found. While 69 percent of Muslims under 30 say homicide bombings are never justified, 2 percent say they're often justified, 13 percent say bombings are sometimes justified and 11 percent say they are rarely justified. Only 9 percent of older U.S. Muslims said homicide attacks are at least rarely justified.
In addition to young Muslims' attitudes towards homicide bombings, the study found that only 40 percent of U.S. Muslims believe that Arabs carried out the Sept. 11 attacks. Another 28 percent said they don't believe it. Since the Sept. 11 attacks, 53 percent said it's been more difficult to be Muslim in America. The Pew poll also found that almost half of the nation's Muslims are more likely to identify themselves as Muslims first and then Americans, with 47 percent placing religious affiliation above nationality. Three out of four people surveyed said the decision to go to war in Iraq was wrong, and 48 percent said using force in Afghanistan was wrong. Five percent of those surveyed had a "very favorable" or "somewhat favorable" view of Al Qaeda, while 58 percent had a "very unfavorable" opinion of the terror group. But the study also found that most of the nation's Muslim community is "largely assimilated, happy with their lives, and moderate with respect to many of the issues that have divided Muslims and Westerners around the world."
The poll also found that U.S. Muslims reject Islamic extremism by larger margins than do Muslim minorities in Western European countries. In Pew surveys last year, support in some Muslim countries exceeded 50 percent, while it was considered justifiable by about one in four Muslims in Britain and Spain, and one in three in France. "We have crazies just like other faiths have them," said Eide Alawan, who directs interfaith outreach at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Mich., one of the nation's largest mosques. He said killing innocent people contradicts Islam.
The survey included more than 1,000 of the nation's estimated 2.35 million Muslims and was conducted in English and several foreign languages. Andrew Kohut, Pew director, said in an interview that support for the attacks represented "one of the few trouble spots" in the survey.

The Sope-Bocks: There is troubling information in the Pew Research poll results. It is estimated that there are upwards of 3 millions so-called U.S. Muslims -- though some groups' estimates are double that figure. If the Pew poll results are truly indicative of the Muslim population in America, that means that nearly 1 MILLION "Muslim-Americans" believe it's acceptable to kill civilians in order to "defend" their religion.
Couple that with the fact that Islam is hellbent on ridding the world of infidels through voluntary or forced conversion -- and the result is America is in a very dangerous predicament.
Why? Well, Islamists consider themselves to be Muslim ahead of being American. Therefore, they would put their religious fervor above the health and well-being of their fellow non-Muslim American neighbor. IOW, they would kill or allow the killing of other Americans because of their Muslim beliefs before they would defend the country they live in.
Americans may be subjected to a new definition of "melting pot" if we aren't careful in how we handle the radicals among us. Political correctness has NO PLACE in defending our nation against the extremes of Islamo-fascist element.

OnThisDay: May 21st
1804 - Lewis & Clark Expedition began
1819 - First bicycles (swift walkers) in US introduced in New York City
1832 - First Democratic National Convention (Baltimore, MD)
1881 - American Red Cross founded by Clara Barton
1908 - First horror movie (Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde) premiered in Chicago, IL
1914 - Greyhound Bus Company began business in Minnesota
1917 - Leo Pinckney became the first American to be drafted during WWI
1927 - Charles Lindbergh landed in Paris, France, after first solo air crossing of Atlantic
1932 - First transatlantic solo flight by a woman (Amelia Earhart) lands
1941 - First US ship sunk by a U-boat (SS Robin Moore)
1980 - Star Wars "The Empire Strikes Back" premiered
1990 - Dow Jones average hit a record 2,844.68

TOPIC: Phony Soldier Charged With Making Up Claims of Atrocities in Iraq

Article from FOXNews.com
Photo from Wikipedia.org

A man who tried to position himself as a leader of the anti-war movement by claiming to have participated in war crimes while serving in Iraq is facing federal charges of falsifying his record. Jesse Adam Macbeth, 23, formerly of Phoenix, garnered attention on blogs and in some alternative media after he began claiming in 2005 to have been awarded a Purple Heart for his service, which he said included slaughtering innocents in a Fallujah mosque.
His story was contradicted by his discharge form, showing that he was kicked out of the Army after six weeks at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2003 because of his “entry level performance and conduct.” A complaint unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle charged him with one count of using or possessing a forged or altered military discharge certificate, and one count of making false statements in seeking benefits from the Veterans Administration. Macbeth’s public defender, Jay Stansell, declined to comment.
Organizations that opposed the war, including Iraq Veterans Against the War, posted videos or statements containing Macbeth’s claims on their Web sites. In one videotaped interview, a skinny, stuttering Macbeth, dressed in a camouflage jacket, described slaughtering hundreds of people in a mosque: “We would burn their bodies ... hang their bodies from the rafters in the mosque,” he said.
Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and other organizations removed the claims after learning they were false. “He approached us in early 2006, posing as a war veteran. He seemed very emotionally distressed about his experiences,” said Amadee Braxton, a spokeswoman for Iraq Veterans Against the War, based in Philadelphia. Macbeth claimed in an application for benefits to have served from May 2001 to June 2004, to have been shot in Iraq and to have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), LaMont E. Stokes, an agent with the VA’s Office of the Inspector General, wrote in the charging papers. He also collected more than $10,400 in benefits to which he was not entitled, Stokes wrote. Stokes said he interviewed Jessie Macbeth in a Tacoma jail, where he has been serving a sentence for fourth-degree assault, and that Macbeth admitted falsifying the documents because he was homeless and wanted to “sucker” anything he could out of the government.

The Sope-Bocks: This just goes to show how low the liars opposing the war will go to try and make their point. It also shows how gullible and dis-credible the organizations who spew this garbage are.

TOPIC: Adolescents With High-risk Sexual Attitudes Attract Peers With Similar Attitudes

Article from ScienceDaily

High-risk sexual behavior in adolescents appears to be influenced by the sexual attitudes of peers, and young people select friends whose attitudes about sex are consistent with their own attitudes. These are the conclusions of a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and published in the May/June 2007 issue of the journal Child Development.
The study addressed issues of peer influence. Researchers sought to determine how adolescents come to resemble their peers in risky attitudes and behaviors, attempting to learn whether they are encouraged by peers to adopt certain behaviors or gravitate toward others with similar attitudes and behaviors. They also examined the role of peer attitudes in the development of high-risk behaviors. The study analyzed data on 1,350 15- to 18-year-old male and female students taking part in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationwide study of individual, peer, family, school, and community factors related to health.
High-risk sexual behavior was defined by the number of partners with whom adolescents had intercourse without a condom, since having multiple sex partners without using condoms puts adolescents at risk for contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases [STDs]. The researchers also constructed a measure of attitudes about the undesirable consequences of sex. These measures of sexual behavior and attitudes, from individual adolescents and their friends, were compared over time.
Some of the study's findings showed that peers influence adolescent attitudes and behavior. Adolescents whose friends had intercourse without a condom were more likely to have intercourse without a condom the following year. Those whose friends believed that sex had undesirable consequences were likely to change attitudes to be similar to those of their friends, and were less likely to have intercourse without a condom the following year. The effect of friends' attitudes on sexual behavior was stronger for females than for males.
Other findings showed that adolescents choose new friends with attitudes that are similar to their own. Teens who believed that sex had undesirable consequences were likely to choose new friends and retain existing friends with similar attitudes. This occurred to a similar extent in males and females, but occurred less often among Hispanic adolescents than among non-Hispanic white and African American adolescents. "This study has two implications for prevention," according to David B. Henry, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the study's lead author. "First, it supports the use of adolescent leaders for preventive interventions. Second, it suggests that interventions that use attitude change to change behavior may be more effective among females than among males."
The study was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Summarized from Child Development, Vol. 78, Issue 3, Peer Selection and Socialization Effects on Adolescent Intercourse without a Condom and Attitudes about the Costs of Sex by Henry, DB, Schoeny, ME, Deptula, DP, and Slavick, JT (University of Illinois at Chicago). Copyright 2007 / The Society for Research in Child Development, Inc. All rights reserved.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Society for Research in Child Development.

TOPIC: Sickening: Soul Searching in Japan Over Drop Box for Unwanted Children

Article from FOXNews.com

A Japanese drop box for unwanted babies triggered a wave of nationwide soul searching Wednesday, a day after it was discovered a preschooler — and not an infant — had been dumped there by his father on its first day of operation. Nationally circulated newspapers warned that the anonymous drop-off, known as "Stork's Cradle," is open for abuse and could traumatize youngsters. They also condemned the father, saying his action could spur copycats.
The drop-off was opened last Thursday by the Catholic-run Jikei Hospital in the southern city of Kumamoto to discourage abortions and the abandonment of children in unsafe public places. The same day, a boy believed to be 3 was found inside. The boy, who was in good health, reportedly said he was dropped off by his father, who was seen holding the youngster's hand as they approached the hospital. They apparently rode Japan's bullet train to Kumamoto, but it was unclear where they lived.
"I came with Daddy," the boy was quoted as saying by the Mainichi newspaper. The find triggered a wave of outrage among political leaders on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying "Anonymously throwing out a child is unacceptable." He urged parents to consult social workers for help if raising children gets too tough. Local media reported that the boy was able to identify himself by name. But it was unclear whether the father had been identified. The hospital has refused to comment on the case, citing privacy concerns, but said there were age limits on its drop-off service.
Police have decided no crime was committed in the current case because the child was left in a situation in which it was not exposed to immediate harm, Kyodo News reported Wednesday. "We must rethink the meaning of the baby drop-off," the conservative Sankei newspaper said in an editorial. "Unlike a baby, a toddler may suffer from trauma. ... This little boy must be experiencing great loneliness. We urge his mother or father to come forward," the newspaper said, calling his abandonment "unforgivable."
The Yomiuri newspaper said it was too early to judge the baby-drop, but said that it must be used for its original purpose of receiving newborns, not young children. Parents should also be encouraged to seek outside help before dumping their offspring. The Mainichi said the misuse of the box could inspire copycats. A small hatch on the side of the hospital has been set up to allow people to drop off babies into an incubator 24 hours a day. The drop box was created after a series of high-profile cases in which newborn babies were left behind in parks and supermarkets, triggering a public outcry and government warnings against abandoning babies.

The Sope-Bocks: This a sickening development in human history. Parents abandoning their children in a "drop box" -- for "unwanted" kids. Oh, my stomach churns just thinking about a child being shoved into a drop box on the side of a building -- and then the parent just walking away. How can ANYONE who does this sort of thing live with themselves?!? If you don't want children, don't have coitus sex. If you're not married, you have no business being sexually intimate with anyone, anyway. It's really that simple. I've said it before and I'll say it again -- We WILL reap what we have sewn. Merciful God...

TOPIC: Jerry Falwell Has Passed On To Eternal Life

By staff at christiansunite.com

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, a noted televangelist, founder of Liberty University and frequent political commentator, died yesterday at the age of 73. His efforts to mold conservative Christianity into a political force altered the American political landscape and were a decisive factor in the ascendancy of Evangelicals as a formidable voting block. Often one of the first to be quoted by the mainstream media on controversial social issues, Falwell was frequently a nexus of controversy in the engagement between religion and politics in America.

IRD UM Action Director Mark Tooley commented:

"Rev. Falwell helped bring millions of previously politically unengaged evangelicals into the forefront of American public life. He challenged religious people to apply their faith in the political sphere. In the late 1970's and through the 1980's, he was instrumental in the creation of what became known as the "Reagan Coalition," of which evangelicals were a key component.
As the founding pastor of a congregation that now numbers over 24,000 members, Rev. Falwell also foreshadowed the mega-church movement in America, which now involves millions of American Christians. Rev. Falwell was central in bringing and keeping issues involving family structure and sexual ethics in public debates, when many others, even among conservatives, would have preferred to ignore them.
During the course of Rev. Falwell's career, evangelicals went from the sideline of American religious and political life to the mainstream, where they are now America's largest religious and political demographic.For all of his polarizing statements and controversies, Falwell undeniably initiated a season of growing Evangelical influence in American politics. He will be remembered in history as a decisive figure in our nation's political and religious life in the second half of the 20th century."

The Institute on Religion and Democracy, founded in 1981, is an ecumenical alliance of U.S. Christians working to reform their churches' social witness, in accord with biblical and historic Christian teachings, thereby contributing to the renewal of democratic society at home and abroad.

TOPIC: Christians Told to Convert to Islam or Die!
Christian residents of Charsadda in the Northwest Province of Pakistan received a threatening letter with an ultimatum of 10 days to convert to Islam or face dire consequences and bomb explosions. The deadline of the ultimatum expires on May 17, 2007. According to All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), copies of the letter are being distributed among the Christians in Charsadda, a town in NWFP where Islamic militants have a heavy presence and are attacking video, audio and barber shops.
APMA says the militants are harassing women to veil themselves and not to attend schools and threatening barber shops to stop shaving beards and mustaches. Charsadda is a town where Federal interior minister of Pakistan, Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, narrowly escaped a suicidal attack last month that killed 28 people and injured several. More than 50 Christian families are residing in a Muslim Majority area of Charsadda. Police officials were informed about the letters and security is being stepped up. An e-mail from APMA obtained by ANS [ASSIST News Service] says:

"Over the past years, the influence of religious extremist groups has increased in NWFP and other parts of Pakistan. These pro-Taliban extremists are committing violence in the name of religion to impose their own radical and Taliban style concept of Islam by force, which is worrisome particularly when these elements are taking law in to their own hands, blowing themselves as suicidal bombers and policing the society."

APMA says the ultimatum has further aggravated the sense of insecurity and fear among the Christians of Charsadda as they are spending their days and nights in fear and many are thinking to vacate the area due to threats and possible attacks. "Christians of Pakistan are already facing victimization and discrimination; many innocent Christians are incarcerated and killed and many become targets due to the misuse of blasphemy law by the extremist elements," the organization says. APMA also says:

"Attacks on Churches, Christian schools and other institutions have been experienced by the Christians of Pakistan in the past few years and now the uprise of vigilante groups and the threats have further aggravated the situation. In these circumstances, the government is unable to control the violent activities of militant organizations in Pakistan or provide protection to its citizens. It is noteworthy that Northwest province is ruled by Muthaida Mjlis -e- Amal, MMA (Coalition of pro-Taliban Islamic parties)."

An APMA team visited Charsadda to express their solidarity with the Christians of the area and higher authorities are being informed and asked to increase the security measures and provide protection to the lives and properties of innocent Christians. Christian residents of Charsadda told the APMA team that although they fear for their lives and are mindful that the militants can kill them, they trust God for their protection and cannot succumb to the demands of the Islamic militants.
APMA asks that concerned Christians kindly pray for the protection and safety of Christians of Charsadda, who continue to remain in siege, but undefeated spiritually and continue to uphold their faith in these difficult times. Please also pray for government of Pakistan that God may provide them wisdom and courage to make sincere efforts to control the situation and violence.

From Islamabad, AsiaNews.it reports the same threatening letter was sent to Christian communities in Charsadda and Mardan, ordering the closure of churches and conversion to Islam within 10 days on pain of execution. The police are treating it as a joke. The bishop of Islamabad has expressed deep fear and called for the support of the government the world. The AsiaNews report says: "Convert to Islam within 10 days and shut down all the country's churches: the ultimatum was delivered in a threatening letter that Muslim fundamentalists sent to Christian communities in Charsadda and Mardan, in northern Pakistan. If their orders are not obeyed, 'all Christians will be executed.'" AsiaNews says the letter was sent on May 7 to local churches, who immediately took it to the police. Feroz Shah, district inspector of Charsadda, said he had investigated the matter. "For him," says AsiaNews "'it's a 'joke', and so 'there is no need to make any arrests'. Christians, he added, 'are safe and well-protected in the area.'"
Mgr Anthony Lobo, bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, does not share the inspector's view. He told AsiaNews: "This letter is not a joke, but a threat that needs to be taken seriously. It has left the Christian community of Pakistan very frightened. We have already appealed to higher powers in the country to ask for help and we will continue to do so." According to AsiaNews, the bishop said it was important "to understand that even jokes, if aimed at minorities, could become reality. Even if this letter is the work of an isolated madman, it's possible that he may commit some atrocity against Christians."
The bishop added: "Now we must pray, but we cannot stop at that. We have already protested against this situation of fear and uncertainty and we will continue to do so. In the meantime, I appeal to the world to help us in this dangerous struggle against fundamentalism."

The Sope-Bocks: I wonder if the hate crimes pundits in the US will speak out against the letter and the group that sent it. Let me guess -- NO, they will not say a single word in support of Christians in Pakistan.

Article from christiansunite.com

TOPIC: Deonte Edward Bradley is a PUNK!
Please excuse the following tirade and inappropriate language, BUT I have some anger issues with this punk and I'm going to vent in a base way that he can understand...

An open letter to Deonte Bradley: Bring your punk ass down to North Carolina and we'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget! Beating the crap out of a 91 year old man may be easy. It takes a real "tough guy" to do that. I personally challenge you to try it on me or any one of the other Southern fellas waiting to beat the hell out of a thug like you. So, when you get out of jail, head south on I-95. Make sure to say goodbye to your mama (if you have one) and your hoes (since some dumb chick probably thinks you're a man - what a joke!). We'll treat you right in the South -- and send you back to Detroit in good shape -- pummeled just like you did Mr. Leonard Sims (pictured at right).
Personally, I'll gladly allow you the opportunity to try and take my car. And then beat the hell out of you while you cry like a baby on the ground wishing you'd never even thought about hitting anyone else or carjacking.
BTW, Southerners don't stand around watching old men get beat up in parking lots like the wimps in Detroit. We'd kick the shit out of a lowlife ass like you Deonte -- and then make sure you get arrested. We're not afraid and we won't stand for punks like you beating up elderly men. The same goes for all the other teenage thugs who think it's cool or funny or exciting to beat up elderly people. There are plenty guys in the South who CHALLENGE you to try carjacking us at the local convenience store. As the rednecks say, "We got somethin' for yur ass!"

UPDATE 5.24.07: Deonte Bradley will stand trial. Bradley's attorney asked for him not to be placed in the general population at the jail -- due to threats. It seems that even those who commit crimes know what a punk Deonte Bradley is -- and plan to kick the crap out of him (which is what he truly deserves).
FOXNews.com has the latest.

OnThisDay: May 12
1777 - First ice cream advertisement (Philip Lenzi in the New York Gazette)
1932 - Body of kidnapped son of Charles Lindbergh was found in Hopewell, NJ
1932 - "Goofy", aka Dippy Dawg, first appeared in 'Mickey's Revue' by Walt Disney
1937 - King George VI's coronation in Great Britain
1963 - Race riot in Birmingham, AL
1982 - US Football League formed
1993 - Last broadcast of "Cheers" on NBC-TV

TOPIC: Egos and Division in the Church Body

Cartoon from Church Mice

This Church Mice cartoon depicts a situation that is so true in many churches. We major on the minor things -- like paint, carpet & meals -- and minor on the major things -- like doctrine and biblical truth. The world around us is crumbling! We need to get together -- regardless of denominational differences -- and show the world that they (and we) need Jesus. Focus on Him and spread the gospel of His life saving love.

Devotion: Guilty Silence
By Tony Beckett and Woodrow Kroll
2 Kings 7-9, John 1:1-28
Key Verse: 2 Kings 7:9

Early one Saturday there was a knock on the door. The friend standing there asked, "What size suit do you wear?" I told him. He then said, "There's a garage sale two streets over and they are selling suits your size. You might want to check it out." I did. And I bought five designer suits in excellent condition for $10 each! Only one needed any altering. My friend had brought good news.
Having good news is one thing; sharing it is another. If later my friend had said, "I should have told you about the garage sale near you," the news would not have been as good. Getting a good deal on a suit is pretty minor compared to the good news God has given us - the good news of the Gospel. Knowing it and not sharing it is not right.
Four lepers understood that principle. The city of Samaria was under siege and the people expected to starve to death. These men decided to surrender to the enemy, since they figured they were going to die anyway. When they got to the enemy camp, they found that God had cause the Arameans to flee, leaving behind everything. The lepers ate, drank and plundered. "Then they said to each other, 'We're not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves'" (v. 9). Out of fear of punishment, they returned to the city and reported the good news.
We face a similar situation. Our city may not be under siege, but we have good news - Jesus saves! The principle remains: Having good news is one thing; sharing it is another. We have good news that we must tell others. When we keep it to ourselves, how will they hear?

TOPIC: Atheists' Mockery at ABC's 'Face Off' on God's Existence
by staff at christiansunite.com
A 100-year-old Baptist church in the heart of New York was the venue Saturday for an ABC debate on the existence of God. Actor Kirk Cameron and best-selling author Ray Comfort "faced off" against two atheists from the "Rational Response Squad," in a debate moderated by ABC Nightline's Martin Bashir.

"We were delighted ABC gave us the opportunity to present our case," said Comfort, "but we were taken aback by the aggressive nature of the debate. The audience was evenly divided between believers and atheists. The believers were very polite and quiet, while the atheists were extremely vocal. 'Nasty' is an appropriate word. We felt life a couple of goldfish in a pool of hungry Piranhas, and were getting a sense of what the early Christians must have felt in a Roman coliseum."

In the debate, Comfort presented proof for the existence of God, while Cameron offered evidence to show that the theory of Darwinian evolution is unreasonable and unscientific. They pointed evolutionists to www.IntelligentDesignVersusEvolution.com, where they're offering $10,000 to anyone who can provide a genuine, living transitional form supporting evolutionary claims. The debate also addressed such questions as "Who made God?" and "What about the heathen in Africa who've never heard about God?"

"The atheists made it very clear they didn't like what we said," Cameron explained. "They were full of mockery and sarcasm, belittling the many great scientists and intellectuals who recognize the existence of a Supreme Being. But the average American isn't viciously anti-God. In fact, polls show that more than 90 percent believe in His existence. Our hope is that the program will cause people to think deeply about the evidence presented, and challenge them to consider this most important issue of life."

While Comfort and Cameron will have to wait until Wednesday [tonight] to see what the public thinks of the debate, they report that they've already received encouraging email from one audience member who commended their presentation: "Good job last night! Although I received my invitation to the show via the atheist camp, I must confess that I was impressed with the two of you (and that I was embarrassed by at least two atheist audience members, whose hostile questions bordered on heckling--I admired your calm and courteous responses). ...I find the 'Design means there was a Designer' argument to be perfectly logical. I just have yet to come across convincing evidence that this Master Designer of the Universe inspired the Judeo-Christian Bible.'
Another encouragement, Comfort added, was that both mothers of the two atheists in the debate are Christians--one of whom was in the front row of the audience. Comfort stated, "Both sincerely thanked us for our stand, and said that they were earnestly praying for us."

The entire debate will be streamed on abcnews.go.com/abcnewsnow on Wednesday, May 9, at 2:00 p.m. EDT (11:00 a.m. PST) and an excerpt will be aired that night [tonight] on ABC's Nightline.

TOPIC: Sure, I Believe in Science...

Source: AfterEden

I just don't believe that science accurately answers all questions. Anyone who does is "all wet". Over the centuries, science has been proven wrong thousands of times. Yet, the Holy Bible has never been proven to be wrong. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord -- and trust His Word, the Bible.

OnThisDay: May 7th
1789 - First US presidential inaugural ball (for George Washington; in New York City, NY)
1824 - Beethoven's 9th (Chorale) Symphony, premiered in Vienna
1847 - American Medical Association (AMA) organized in Philadelphia, PA.
1888 - George Eastman patented the "Kodak box camera"
1912 - Columbia University approved plans for awarding the Pulitzer Prize in several categories
1914 - US Congress established Mother's Day holiday
1915 - Lusitania sunk by German submarine; 1198 lives lost
1970 - Beatles "Long & Winding Road" released; becomes their last American release
1975 - US President Gerald R. Ford declared an end to "Vietnam Era"
1982 - IBM released PC-DOS version 1.1

TOPIC: 56th National Day of Prayer
This year’s National Day of Prayer will be celebrated May 3rd.

From Shirley Dobson, NDP Chairman:
On Thursday, May 3rd, all across our nation in church events and public venues from coast to coast, hearts and hands will be joined together for the 56th Annual National Day of Prayer. This year’s theme, “America, Unite in Prayer,” comes from the promise the Lord gave us in II Chronicles 7:14:

“If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

We hope this message will not only serve as a catalyst to encourage God’s people to take prayer for our nation seriously, but that it will draw believers closer together as they intercede corporately on behalf of our country. I truly believe God is calling His people to be faithful for such a time as this. If you would like more information on how you might unite with your fellow citizens to intercede on behalf of this great nation, I invite you to visit our Web site at www.nationaldayofprayer.org.

Hear the Prayer for NDP 2007 from Honorary Chairman Chuck Swindoll. Watch a video message from Dr. Swindoll. For further reading: What Makes Prayer Work? Read the NDOP proclamation signed by President George W. Bush.

QOTD: I am no policy expert, but I know the price of inaction and indifference. We need people to think about orphans not as a burden but as a great opportunity. -- Angelina Jolie
(GAC / See the video or read more here)

TOPIC: Worldly Values and a Christian World View

It's no wonder unbelievers see Christians in a bad light. People look for something different, something that is important and fulfilling. When we, as Believers, live the same way as "the world", they have little reason to use our lives as an a reason for turning to Christ.
Check your priorities and then ACT like a Christian (or stop claiming to be one). Bear fruit and be an encourager. Love your neighbor as yourself and esteem others more highly than yourself. In an "it's all about me" world, Believers needs to be servants and examples of the things that REALLY make a difference.