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| HAPPY REFORMATION DAY |
| 31.10.04 |
On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther posted the following on the church door at Wittenberg:
Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences Commonly Known as The 95 Theses
by Dr. Martin Luther
Out of love and concern for the truth, and with the object of eliciting it, the following heads will be the subject of a public discussion at Wittenberg under the presidency of the reverend father, Martin Luther, Augustinian, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and duly appointed Lecturer on these subjects in that place. He requests that whoever cannot be present personally to debate the matter orally will do so in absence in writing.
1. When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said "Repent", He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.
2. The word cannot be properly understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, i.e. confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.
3. Yet its meaning is not restricted to repentance in one's heart; for such repentance is null unless it produces outward signs in various mortifications of the flesh.
4. As long as hatred of self abides (i.e. true inward repentance) the penalty of sin abides, viz., until we enter the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope has neither the will nor the power to remit any penalties beyond those imposed either at his own discretion or by canon law.
6. The pope himself cannot remit guilt, but only declare and confirm that it has been remitted by God; or, at most, he can remit it in cases reserved to his discretion. Except for these cases, the guilt remains untouched.
7. God never remits guilt to anyone without, at the same time, making him humbly submissive to the priest, His representative.
8. The penitential canons apply only to men who are still alive, and, according to the canons themselves, none applies to the dead.
9. Accordingly, the Holy Spirit, acting in the person of the pope, manifests grace to us, by the fact that the papal regulations always cease to apply at death, or in any hard case.
10. It is a wrongful act, due to ignorance, when priests retain the canonical penalties on the dead in purgatory.
11. When canonical penalties were changed and made to apply to purgatory, surely it would seem that tares were sown while the bishops were asleep.
12. In former days, the canonical penalties were imposed, not after, but before absolution was pronounced; and were intended to be tests of true contrition.
13. Death puts an end to all the claims of the Church; even the dying are already dead to the canon laws, and are no longer bound by them.
14. Defective piety or love in a dying person is necessarily accompanied by great fear, which is greatest where the piety or love is least.
15. This fear or horror is sufficient in itself, whatever else might be said, to constitute the pain of purgatory, since it approaches very closely to the horror of despair.
16. There seems to be the same difference between hell, purgatory, and heaven as between despair, uncertainty, and assurance.
17. Of a truth, the pains of souls in purgatory ought to be abated, and charity ought to be proportionately increased.
18. Moreover, it does not seem proved, on any grounds of reason or Scripture, that these souls are outside the state of merit, or unable to grow in grace.
19. Nor does it seem proved to be always the case that they are certain and assured of salvation, even if we are very certain ourselves.
20. Therefore the pope, in speaking of the plenary remission of all penalties, does not mean "all" in the strict sense, but only those imposed by himself.
21. Hence those who preach indulgences are in error when they say that a man is absolved and saved from every penalty by the pope's indulgences.
22. Indeed, he cannot remit to souls in purgatory any penalty which canon law declares should be suffered in the present life.
23. If plenary remission could be granted to anyone at all, it would be only in the cases of the most perfect, i.e. to very few.
24. It must therefore be the case that the major part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and high-sounding promise of relief from penalty.
25. The same power as the pope exercises in general over purgatory is exercised in particular by every single bishop in his bishopric and priest in his parish.
26. The pope does excellently when he grants remission to the souls in purgatory on account of intercessions made on their behalf, and not by the power of the keys (which he cannot exercise for them).
27. There is no divine authority for preaching that the soul flies out of the purgatory immediately the money clinks in the bottom of the chest.
28. It is certainly possible that when the money clinks in the bottom of the chest avarice and greed increase; but when the church offers intercession, all depends in the will of God.
29. Who knows whether all souls in purgatory wish to be redeemed in view of what is said of St. Severinus and St. Pascal? (Note: Paschal I, pope 817-24. The legend is that he and Severinus were willing to endure the pains of purgatory for the benefit of the faithful).
30. No one is sure of the reality of his own contrition, much less of receiving plenary forgiveness.
31. One who bona fide buys indulgence is a rare as a bona fide penitent man, i.e. very rare indeed.
32. All those who believe themselves certain of their own salvation by means of letters of indulgence, will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.
33. We should be most carefully on our guard against those who say that the papal indulgences are an inestimable divine gift, and that a man is reconciled to God by them.
34. For the grace conveyed by these indulgences relates simply to the penalties of the sacramental "satisfactions" decreed merely by man.
35. It is not in accordance with Christian doctrines to preach and teach that those who buy off souls, or purchase confessional licenses, have no need to repent of their own sins.
36. Any Christian whatsoever, who is truly repentant, enjoys plenary remission from penalty and guilt, and this is given him without letters of indulgence.
37. Any true Christian whatsoever, living or dead, participates in all the benefits of Christ and the Church; and this participation is granted to him by God without letters of indulgence.
38. Yet the pope's remission and dispensation are in no way to be despised, for, as already said, they proclaim the divine remission.
39. It is very difficult, even for the most learned theologians, to extol to the people the great bounty contained in the indulgences, while, at the same time, praising contrition as a virtue.
40. A truly contrite sinner seeks out, and loves to pay, the penalties of his sins; whereas the very multitude of indulgences dulls men's consciences, and tends to make them hate the penalties.
41. Papal indulgences should only be preached with caution, lest people gain a wrong understanding, and think that they are preferable to other good works: those of love.
42. Christians should be taught that the pope does not at all intend that the purchase of indulgences should be understood as at all comparable with the works of mercy.
43. Christians should be taught that one who gives to the poor, or lends to the needy, does a better action than if he purchases indulgences.
44. Because, by works of love, love grows and a man becomes a better man; whereas, by indulgences, he does not become a better man, but only escapes certain penalties.
45. Christians should be taught that he who sees a needy person, but passes him by although he gives money for indulgences, gains no benefit from the pope's pardon, but only incurs the wrath of God.
46. Christians should be taught that, unless they have more than they need, they are bound to retain what is only necessary for the upkeep of their home, and should in no way squander it on indulgences.
47. Christians should be taught that they purchase indulgences voluntarily, and are not under obligation to do so.
48. Christians should be taught that, in granting indulgences, the pope has more need, and more desire, for devout prayer on his own behalf than for ready money.
49. Christians should be taught that the pope's indulgences are useful only if one does not rely on them, but most harmful if one loses the fear of God through them.
50. Christians should be taught that, if the pope knew the exactions of the indulgence-preachers, he would rather the church of St. Peter were reduced to ashes than be built with the skin, flesh, and bones of the sheep.
51. Christians should be taught that the pope would be willing, as he ought if necessity should arise, to sell the church of St. Peter, and give, too, his own money to many of those from whom the pardon-merchants conjure money.
52. It is vain to rely on salvation by letters of indulgence, even if the commissary, or indeed the pope himself, were to pledge his own soul for their validity.
53. Those are enemies of Christ and the pope who forbid the word of God to be preached at all in some churches, in order that indulgences may be preached in others.
54. The word of God suffers injury if, in the same sermon, an equal or longer time is devoted to indulgences than to that word.
55. The pope cannot help taking the view that if indulgences (very small matters) are celebrated by one bell, one pageant, or one ceremony, the gospel (a very great matter) should be preached to the accompaniment of a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
56. The treasures of the church, out of which the pope dispenses indulgences, are not sufficiently spoken of or known among the people of Christ.
57. That these treasures are not temporal are clear from the fact that many of the merchants do not grant them freely, but only collect them.
58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the saints, because, even apart from the pope, these merits are always working grace in the inner man, and working the cross, death, and hell in the outer man.
59. St. Laurence said that the poor were the treasures of the church, but he used the term in accordance with the custom of his own time.
60. We do not speak rashly in saying that the treasures of the church are the keys of the church, and are bestowed by the merits of Christ.
61. For it is clear that the power of the pope suffices, by itself, for the remission of penalties and reserved cases.
62. The true treasure of the church is the Holy gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
63. It is right to regard this treasure as most odious, for it makes the first to be the last.
64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is most acceptable, for it makes the last to be the first.
65. Therefore the treasures of the gospel are nets which, in former times, they used to fish for men of wealth.
66. The treasures of the indulgences are the nets to-day which they use to fish for men of wealth.
67. The indulgences, which the merchants extol as the greatest of favours, are seen to be, in fact, a favourite means for money-getting.
68. Nevertheless, they are not to be compared with the grace of God and the compassion shown in the Cross.
69. Bishops and curates, in duty bound, must receive the commissaries of the papal indulgences with all reverence.
70. But they are under a much greater obligation to watch closely and attend carefully lest these men preach their own fancies instead of what the pope commissioned.
71. Let him be anathema and accursed who denies the apostolic character of the indulgences.
72. On the other hand, let him be blessed who is on his guard against the wantonness and license of the pardon-merchant's words.
73. In the same way, the pope rightly excommunicates those who make any plans to the detriment of the trade in indulgences.
74. It is much more in keeping with his views to excommunicate those who use the pretext of indulgences to plot anything to the detriment of holy love and truth.
75. It is foolish to think that papal indulgences have so much power that they can absolve a man even if he has done the impossible and violated the mother of God.
76. We assert the contrary, and say that the pope's pardons are not able to remove the least venial of sins as far as their guilt is concerned.
77. When it is said that not even St. Peter, if he were now pope, could grant a greater grace, it is blasphemy against St. Peter and the pope.
78. We assert the contrary, and say that he, and any pope whatever, possesses greater graces, viz., the gospel, spiritual powers, gifts of healing, etc., as is declared in I Corinthians 12 [:28].
79. It is blasphemy to say that the insignia of the cross with the papal arms are of equal value to the cross on which Christ died.
80. The bishops, curates, and theologians, who permit assertions of that kind to be made to the people without let or hindrance, will have to answer for it.
81. This unbridled preaching of indulgences makes it difficult for learned men to guard the respect due to the pope against false accusations, or at least from the keen criticisms of the laity.
82. They ask, e.g.: Why does not the pope liberate everyone from purgatory for the sake of love (a most holy thing) and because of the supreme necessity of their souls? This would be morally the best of all reasons. Meanwhile he redeems innumerable souls for money, a most perishable thing, with which to build St. Peter's church, a very minor purpose.
83. Again: Why should funeral and anniversary masses for the dead continue to be said? And why does not the pope repay, or permit to be repaid, the benefactions instituted for these purposes, since it is wrong to pray for those souls who are now redeemed?
84. Again: Surely this is a new sort of compassion, on the part of God and the pope, when an impious man, an enemy of God, is allowed to pay money to redeem a devout soul, a friend of God; while yet that devout and beloved soul is not allowed to be redeemed without payment, for love's sake, and just because of its need of redemption.
85. Again: Why are the penitential canon laws, which in fact, if not in practice, have long been obsolete and dead in themselves,—why are they, to-day, still used in imposing fines in money, through the granting of indulgences, as if all the penitential canons were fully operative?
86. Again: since the pope's income to-day is larger than that of the wealthiest of wealthy men, why does he not build this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of indigent believers?
87. Again: What does the pope remit or dispense to people who, by their perfect repentance, have a right to plenary remission or dispensation?
88. Again: Surely a greater good could be done to the church if the pope were to bestow these remissions and dispensations, not once, as now, but a hundred times a day, for the benefit of any believer whatever.
89. What the pope seeks by indulgences is not money, but rather the salvation of souls; why then does he suspend the letters and indulgences formerly conceded, and still as efficacious as ever?
90. These questions are serious matters of conscience to the laity. To suppress them by force alone, and not to refute them by giving reasons, is to expose the church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christian people unhappy.
91. If therefore, indulgences were preached in accordance with the spirit and mind of the pope, all these difficulties would be easily overcome, and indeed, cease to exist.
92. Away, then, with those prophets who say to Christ's people, "Peace, peace," where in there is no peace.
93. Hail, hail to all those prophets who say to Christ's people, "The cross, the cross," where there is no cross.
94. Christians should be exhorted to be zealous to follow Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hells.
95. And let them thus be more confident of entering heaven through many tribulations rather than through a false assurance of peace. |
posted by pregador27 @ 12:18   |
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| So, God Wants Kerry? |
| 30.10.04 |
Sen. Tom Harkin says John Kerry has been gaining in the polls every day since Oct. 21, and George Bush has been going down every day.
"That's how God wants it to be," Harkin told a group of about 25 people at the Benton County Headquarters in Vinton on Thursday afternoon.
I would hasten to disagree with Mr. Harkin. I do not see God supporting someone who is pro-gay marriage, pro-abortion (PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION AT THAT), a Vietnam war fleeing coward wanting hero status, and who states that his works as a Senator do not match his faith.
John Kerry is a liar and has poor character. Would God want him in office (unless to lead the United States into judgment for rejecting Him)? Who would Jesus vote for? I know Jesus, and I know it would not be John Kerry.
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| posted by pregador27 @ 14:54 |
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| Not all Democrats are DemocRATS |
| 28.10.04 |
I was speaking to a friend who is from New York and a Democrat. He said he is voting for Bush as is his wife because Kerry is "a liar." He also sang the praises of George W. Bush for his approach toward the War on Terror and his domestic policies. If only more Americans were as sensible as my friend Sid and his wife Marina. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 20:02 |
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| Report About Potential Attack on Fallujah |
| 27.10.04 |
This AP report has this bit of information in the midst of it:
A series of policy mistakes by the U.S. military and the Bush administration have transformed Fallujah from a shabby, dusty backwater known regionally for mosques and tasty kebabs into a symbol of Arab pride and defiance of the United States throughout the Islamic world.
Now when I was in elementary school, I remember doing exercizes that had me determine whether something was fact or opinion. Mr. Reid (the "Journalist") must have either failed that class or negelcted to take the class. The "series of policy mistakes" seems to be another pro-Kerry jab at the President of the United States of America George W. Bush.
However, my focus is on the timing and need for this confrontation. It is good that the US will (hopefully) attack Fallujah and take out the mainly foreign (non-Iraqi) terrorists in control there. It is also good that with a decisive victory there, George W. Bush should get a boost with American voters.
I wish we would put aside the politically correct playbook and kick the tar out of the terrorists where they hide. My other hope is that the US troops trap Abu Musab al-Zarqawi like the rat he is and parade him for the world to see. Turn him over to the Iraqi government for judgment and nuts to the UN- death penalty is possible, no- probable.
PS- John Kerry is a doofus. He would have surrendered by now- in true French fashion. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 21:29 |
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| Iranian Militia Offers to Observe US Election |
| 20.10.04 |
Militia Monitors?
Iran's Basij militia — the hard-line branch of the Iranian army that insists President Bush is "the Great Satan" — has written a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, urging him to let their leaders send observers to the U.S. presidential election.
After all, the Basij militia says, "[T]he presence of observers from the Islamic republic of Iran, the most democratic regime in the world, is necessary to guarantee the smooth running of the American elections."
And the militia says, "We want to ridicule the so-called democratic slogans of the American leaders."
I bet the democRATS would invite the Iranian militias in. Afterall, they support Kerry's bid for the presidency of the United States. They have company: Fidel Castro, Jacques Chirac, Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, and the like. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 19:30 |
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| Australia To UN On Troop Request: Stick It In Yer Ear! |
| 18.10.04 |
AUSTRALIA has quietly rejected diplomatic overtures from the United Nations and the US to contribute to a military force to protect UN officials in Iraq.
Good for Australia! Don't be do-boys for the UN. They want protection, but they were happy to let hundreds of thousands of Iraqis die from Saddam Hussein's butchery.
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| posted by pregador27 @ 07:18 |
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| Absentee Ballots... |
| 17.10.04 |
I heard Drudge talking about how to steal an election, and they touched on absentee ballots. I have never liked them, I feel they are a way for the lazy to vote. If you are not motivated enough to get to the polling place, don't vote.
Furthermore, if you don't feel it is important enough to travel to the polling place, don't vote. And if you don't feel it's important enough to be in the country at election time, don't vote. (Only the military should get a chance to vote while out of the country- and they are about 75% in favor of Bush according to the Army Times poll.
And the get out the vote issue- if you are too dumb to vote, don't vote. If you need us to beg you to vote, don't vote. If you need us to drag you in to vote, don't vote. And- IF YOU ARE TOTALLY CLUELESS AND UNINFORMED, DON'T VOTE!! |
| posted by pregador27 @ 23:13 |
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| Kerry Snubs Church over "No Politics" Conditions |
| 15.10.04 |
Kerry cancels visit to West Virginia church
By WSAZ NewsChannel 3
WSAZ-TV
Huntington, WVUSA - A visit to West Virginia by Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry has been put on hold.
Kerry was scheduled to attended services at the Apostolic Christ Cathedral in Guyandotte on Sunday.
West Virginia Senators Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller were to attend with Kerry.
The church pastor, Reverend E. S. Harper, said they were not welcome if they planned to discuss politics during the service.
The Kerry campaign says the church issue did not affect the decision to cancel the trip.
Does anyone really believe Mr. Kerry isn't snubbing this church because it won't let him lie from behind the pulpit or politicize a service dedicated to the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Maybe Kerry and his cohorts misjudged the convictions of the Pastor and congregation at the Apostolic Life Cathedral. It is funny that democRATS and liberals are allowed to use churches for political endorsements and to make political statements, but Conservatives are not. Where is the ACLU and People for the Separation of Church and State then? |
| posted by pregador27 @ 20:47 |
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| LAST WORD AFTER THE DEBATE |
| 14.10.04 |
CLICK HERE for the debate transcript
Pete's Quote:
I QUESTION MR. KERRY'S PATRIOTISM AND DENY HIS CLAIMS TO WAR HERO STATUS!
DemocRATS/liberals:
If you're too dumb to vote, don't. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 01:30 |
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| Kerry's Words #4 |
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Now, I think that it a matter of fundamental right that if we raise the minimum wage, 15 million Americans would be positively affected. We'd put money into the hands of people who work hard, who obey the rules, who play for the American Dream.
Most people on minimum wage are too lazy to learn skills or are in school- mainly high school. The minimum wage is fine. People with a skill often earn around $7/hour. What will happen to them? Will Mr. Kerry assume that companies will be able to afford to give raises to those who are skilled and only earn around $7/hour? If high schoolers and unskilled workers earn $7/hour it devalues the wage skilled and educated workers earn. $10/hour means a lot less if skill-less earn $7/hour to start.
It really means little to a punk like Kerry who lives off his wife's ill-gotten gains. The toady traitor who brings up Viet Nam and then demonizes anyone who points out that his record was very tainted- that he was a traitor who hurt POW's more than Jane Fonda ever could have.
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| posted by pregador27 @ 01:22 |
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| Bush Quote #3 |
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Take, for example, the ban on partial birth abortion. It's a brutal practice. People from both political parties came together in the halls of Congress and voted overwhelmingly to ban that practice. It made a lot of sense. My opponent, in that he's out of the mainstream, voted against that law.
Another fine choice of words to go to the core of Kerry's lack of character. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 01:17 |
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| Kerry's Words #3 |
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My faith affects everything that I do, in truth. There's a great passage of the Bible that says, "What does it mean, my brother, to say you have faith if there are no deeds? Faith without works is dead."
And I think that everything you do in public life has to be guided by your faith, affected by your faith, but without transferring it in any official way to other people.
That's why I fight against poverty. That's why I fight to clean up the environment and protect this earth.
That's why I fight for equality and justice. All of those things come out of that fundamental teaching and belief of faith.
But I know this, that President Kennedy in his inaugural address told all of us that here on Earth, God's work must truly be our own. And that's what we have to — I think that's the test of public service.
This is doublespeak and totally ingenuine. He speaks a load full of contradictions. "Without transferring it to other people" and "All of those things come out of that fundamental teaching and belief of faith" do not correlate. If things proceed from your faith it is being transferred. And his faith is contradicting his political stands apparently. Is he personally pro-life or pro-abortion? |
| posted by pregador27 @ 01:11 |
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| Kerry's Words #2 |
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We're all God's children, Bob. And I think if you were to talk to Dick Cheney's daughter, who is a lesbian, she would tell you that she's being who she was, she's being who she was born as.
If I were Cheney I would deck Kerry hard for using my daughter against me and my campaign. Low blow using people's family members. Bush and Cheney can really use Theresa Heinz-Kerry if they want to stoop that low- she gives enough ammo with her unwise comments. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 01:06 |
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| Bush Quote #2 |
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You know, there's a main stream in American politics and you sit right on the far left bank. As a matter of fact, your record is such that Ted Kennedy, your colleague, is the conservative senator from Massachusetts.
Good shot. Ted Kennedy is a great weapon against Kerry. Especially when Kerry is to the left of him. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 01:05 |
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| Bush Quote |
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It's your money. The way my opponent talks, he said, "We're going to spend the government's money." No, we're spending your money. And when you have more money in your pocket, you're able to better afford things you want.
EXCELLENT POINT!! |
| posted by pregador27 @ 01:03 |
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| Kerry's Words #1 |
| 13.10.04 |
But I pledge this to you, America: I will do it in the way that Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan and John Kennedy and others did, where we build the strongest alliances, where the world joins together, where we have the best intelligence and where we are able, ultimately, to be more safe and secure.
How dare he name Ronald Reagan in his own support! He is the anti-Reagan. He stands against everything Reagan was for. Kerry should be ashamed. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 23:56 |
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| Saddam: the Baby Killer |
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Bodies of babies found in Saddam's 'killing field'
By Joe Murphy, Evening Standard Political Editor
13 October 2004
A mass grave containing the bodies of children, babies and their mothers has been unearthed in Iraq.
Shocked investigators reported finding "thighbones the size of matchsticks" at what they believe is the site of one of Saddam Hussein's atrocities. Among the findings-were the skeletons of unborn babies and toddlers clutching toys.
A baby had been shot in the back of its head and was found still being clutched by its mother, who had been shot in the face.
This is why Saddam had to be brought down. It does not matter about WMDs, even though I am not convinced he was innocent on those charges. As a Christian, I support this war because it rescued many people. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 13:50 |
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| To Love God... |
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| What does it really mean- practically- to love God? Do I really love Him? How do I show it? Something to ponder for a subjective answer. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 01:13 |
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| Jeremiah 15.19 |
| 11.10.04 |
A Message I preached several years ago is posted on several churches' websites (in Português and English), so I figured I'd post it here too:
Jeremiah 15.19, Jeremias 15.19
Rev. Pete Garbacki
Mission.Brasil
Recently, God made a deep change in our lives. As we have continued to grow, God has been challenging us with His
Word. Today, we would like to share what He showed us from Jeremiah.
Recentemente,Deus fez uma grande mudança em nossas vidas. Nós continuamos crescendo. Deus tem nos
mudado com a palavra Dele. Hoje, nós gostaríamos de compartilhar oque Ele
nos mostrou em Jeremias.
Jeremiah 15.19 "Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'If you repent, I
will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless,
words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must
not turn to them.'"
Jeremias 15.19 "Portanto assim diz o Senhor: Se tu te arrependeres, eu te
farei voltar e estarás diante de mim; se apartares o precioso do vil, serás
a minha boca; e eles se tornarão a ti, mas tu não passarás para o lado
deles."
God showed us three things in this verse of Scripture. We believe it is as
true now as we prepare to see a world overcome by the Anti-Christ as it was
in the time of the Prophet Jeremiah. Whether we will be here for the
Tribulation or not, we must be prepared in a proper way.
Deus tem nos mostrado três coisas nessse versículo.Nós cremos nisso e
estamos nos preparando para vêr um mundo vencido através do Anti- Cristo
como nos tempos do Profeta Jeremias. Se vamos estar aqui para as tribulações
ou não, precisamos estar preparados no caminho certo.
First, God calls us to repent so that He can restore us. Simple. Turn from
our sin and allow Him to change us from the inside out.
Primeiro, Deus nos chamou para o arrependimento so então Ele pode nos
restaurar. É simples. Abandonemos nossos pecados e permitamos que Ele
nos mude de dentro para fora.
Second, speak only what is worth saying, not worthless words, and He will
use us as His spokesmen. You know those dirty jokes that go around? Don't
participate in them. You know how some of us tend to be sarcastic? Time to
stop. It's difficult. I've had a lot of work to do on that at work.
Segundo, falar somente oque é valioso, não palavras inúteis e Ele irá nos
usar como porta-voz Dele. Você conhece algumas brincadeiras sujas que
estão por aí? Não participe delas.Você sabe que alguns de nós queremos
ser sacárstico, fazendo alguém de idiota? É hora de parar . É difícil. Nós
temos tido muito trabalho para que isso funcione.
Finally, let the people turn to you (God's message), DO NOT turn to them!
Jesus said that He is the only Way to the Father. All other ways are false.
Do not allow yourself to compromise for the sake of making people happy.
Stand up for the truth.
Finalmente, deixe que as pessoas se deixem levar por você ( Menssagem de
Deus), NÃO se deixe ser levado por elas! Jesus disse que Ele é o único
caminho que leva ao Pai. Todos os outros caminhos são falsos. NÃO siga a
você mesmo com o compromisso de se considerar um fazedor de pessoas
felizes. Defenda a verdade.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless all of you abundantly.
Que o nosso Senhor e Salvador Jesus Cristo abençõe todos vocês
abundantemente.
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| posted by pregador27 @ 09:45 |
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| UN Leaves Innocent Sudanese At Mercy of Murderers |
| 10.10.04 |
U.S. on Lonely Mission in Sudan
Saturday, October 09, 2004
By Heather Nauert
PADAK, Sudan — America is on a lonely mission to end the crisis in Sudan.
The United States is pushing for U.N. sanctions against the east African nation. But U.S.-sponsored resolutions have met resistance in the U.N. Security Council — particularly from China and Pakistan, which have major oil deals in the African country. Algeria, which is a fellow Arab league member, also is an obstacle.
John Danforth (search), the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (search), said “the government of Sudan has been complicit in a terrible disaster that’s been imposed upon the people of Darfur,” the western Sudanese province where 50,000 black Africans have died following attacks by government-supported Arab militias.
“The position of the U.S. is that we’re just not going to do nothing,” said Danforth, an Episcopalian minister and former Republican U.S. senator from Missouri, who began his work at the United Nations earlier this year. On Sept. 6, 2001, President Bush appointed Danforth special envoy to Sudan.
The United States doesn't want a repeat of genocide in Rwanda, when 800,000 Tutsis were slaughtered. Plus, officials are constantly concerned that instability could attract terrorists like Usama bin Laden (search), who once lived in Sudan.
The Sundanese government is targeting Christians and the United Nations does not care. The UN is anti-Israel and anti-Christian (therefore also anti-Christ). Why is the UN irrelevant? Because it picks and chooses which nations and peoples it will help solely on a political basis.
The UN has its political aganda in Africa to prevent millions from dying from AIDS, but the UN is perfectly willing to allow millions to die from murder by a corrupt government. Idi Amin ring a bell? The UN is impotent to do good. It is more concerned with resolutions promoting abortion and state control and ownership of children.
More information from Voice of the Matryrs:
Africa’s largest country is experiencing an onslaught of persecution. The Muslim government of Khartoum in the North has declared a jihad, or holy war, against the mostly Christian South. Omar Hassan al-Turabi, an Islamic leader, has stated that anyone who opposes Islam “has no future.” Muslim students are recruited out of universities and told that they can keep whatever they pillage if they join the war against non-Muslims. Since 1985, approximately two million have perished due to the genocide. Because of the war, famine has plagued the country as people are unable to plant and harvest. Families in the South are terrorized—fathers killed, mothers raped, and children sold into slavery. Yet in the midst of these atrocities, the Body in Sudan remains strong, worshiping their Savior and leading others to Him. Pray that Omar Hassan al-Turabi will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 02:33 |
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| Polish President Recognizes Kerry's Insult |
| 5.10.04 |
According to the Drudge Report:
XXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX TUE OCT 05, 2004 14:05:38 ET XXXXX
POLISH PRESIDENT SLAMS KERRY AFTER DEBATE SNUB
Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski has slammed Dem president hopeful John Kerry for not recognizing Poland's contributions and sacrifice to the war in Iraq.
"It is sad that a senator with 20 years of experience does not recognize Polish contribution. This is immoral," Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski told FACTS in an interview commenting on the US Presidential Debate.
"It is sad that a senator with 20 years of experience underestimates Polish sacrifice, this is sad."
The Polish President added however that one should consider this was a part of the ongoing electoral campaign.
"I do not think this was out of ignorance," the president emphasized on the TVN Facts.
"There is one thing which should be stated clearly: this coalition is not just the United States, Great Britain, Australia alone; it also involves participation of Polish, Ukrainian, Bulgarian and Spanish soldiers who have died. It is immoral not to recognize the involvement we contributed based on our conviction that there should be unity in fighting terrorism, that there was a need to display international solidarity and that Saddam Hussein was a dangerous individual of this world."
"President Bush acted like a real Texan gentleman, he made sure to show appreciation for other countries' involvement in the coalition," Kwasniewski pointed out.
When a candidate for president discounts the sacrifice of about 30 nations, he should be disqualified from the job. John Kerry is the epitome of an UGLY AMERICAN. The Polish president recognizes the insult and had the backbone to respond. John Kerry only recognizes the cowardice of France and Germany as valid. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 10:35 |
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| About the Tongue... Lesson to Learn |
| 2.10.04 |
"And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell." (James 3.6 NASB)
The Lord quickened this verse to my heart today. I sometimes forget how easily words can injure. (Proverbs 18.21: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.") They can injure a person, a reputation or a testimony. Case in point:
Orgies are the way to ease social tensions, claims US judge
Oliver Burkeman in New York
Friday October 1, 2004
The Guardian
He is the conservative bastion of the US supreme court, a favourite of President Bush, and a hunting partner of the vice-president. He has argued vociferously against abortion rights, and in favour of anti-sodomy laws.
But it turns out that there is another side to Justice Antonin Scalia: he thinks Americans ought to be having more orgies.
Challenged about his views on sexual morality, Justice Scalia surprised his audience at Harvard University, telling them: "I even take the position that sexual orgies eliminate social tensions and ought to be encouraged."
It seems unlikely that this is what President Bush meant when he promised to appoint more judges like Scalia to the court, should the opportunity arise. Crucially, Justice Scalia is one of the judges in favour of overturning Roe v Wade, the landmark judgment protecting abortion as a constitutional right.
One audience member also asked the judge "whether you have any gay friends, and, if not, whether you'd like to be my friend," the Harvard Crimson newspaper reported.
"I probably do have some gay friends, but I have never pressed the point," Justice Scalia responded. He offered no clue to the logic behind his claim that orgies eliminate social tensions.
Nobody asked him whether he was familiar with Rick Moody's novel The Ice Storm, turned into a movie by Ang Lee, which appeared to suggest the exact opposite.
Now I really want to dissect this article and give my opinion of the reporter's bias, but that is not the focus of this post. Justice Scalia was most likely joking, maybe not. He has, however, opened himself up for much criticism. He is known as one of the minority of Convervative judges on the Supreme Court of the United States. This statement clashes with Conservative values, and has tarnished his image. Whether it was a joke or not is immaterial to the underlying point in this post. Words are powerful. They can be destructive.
Justice Scalia has been compared to Joycelyn Elders who was fired by ex-president Clinton presumably due to her sometimes outlandish comments. He made one statement that, for many, has tainted his reputation as a Conservative judge, and has possibly undermined the value of his moral and Conservative judgments and opinions.
Just a few words. Serious or not. Ephesians 4.29 says: "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." (NASB) Unwholesome words, careless words, hasty words- they can all destroy a person. Remember Howard Cosell? His comments about a football player caused much outrage (probably undeserved). And Jimmy the Greek? He was fired for a comment and his career was over.
It's about the words. Some words mark a person's legacy: Ronald Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Bill Clinton's "I did not have sexual relations with that woman... Miss Lewenski." General MacArthur's "I shall return." John Paul Jones' "I have not yet begun to fight."
We need to take seriously the damage words can do. And with the power of the Holy Spirit changing us from within (if we are among those who John mentions in John 1.12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name..." NASB) and helping us to desire the things of God (Psalm 37.4: "Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart." NASB) we can have victory over the tongue and the words that proceed out of our mouths. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 01:56 |
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| Bible Pamphlet Causes democRAT Uproar |
| 1.10.04 |
Senators Slam Republican Party for Bible Pamphlet
Sep 30, 5:42 PM (ET)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. senators from the electoral battleground states of West Virginia and Arkansas slammed the Republican National Committee on Thursday for a pamphlet that suggested liberals would ban the Bible.
"Two weeks ago, the Republican National Committee sent a mass mailing to West Virginians suggesting that liberals -- in other words, everyone but Republicans -- are out to ban the Bible," Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, said on the Senate floor.
If the democRATS do not want that picture to be easily applied to them, they need to stop supporting things that go against the Bible (gay marriage, partial birth abortion and any other form of abortion, adultery, drug use, removal of God from American society {the enforcement of the mythical "seperation of Church and state"}, etc.)
"What a ridiculous claim! It is a flat-out, no-doubt-about-it, silly, sophomoric charge," Byrd said. "The Republican National Committee is spreading this tripe to smear Democrats, and the president ought to demand that the Republican National Committee apologize to the people of West Virginia."
Maybe Mr. Byrd should apologize to the black Americans he railed against in his past
"I hope that there will be an apology for their claims that Democrats want to ban the Bible and the inference that Democrats for some reason cannot have a faith as close or as deeply held as the other party," Lincoln said on the Senate floor. "I find that to be the pit, the absolute bottom of what is wrong in the political process."
A spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee confirmed the mailing was sent to Arkansas and West Virginia, stressing it addressed the issue of "activist judges."
"When the Massachusetts Supreme Court sanctioned same sex marriage and people in other states realized they could be compelled to recognize those laws, same sex marriage became an issue. Activist judges also want to remove the words 'under God' from the pledge of allegiance," spokeswoman Christine Iverson said in an e-mail.
The e-mail noted the mailing did not mention the word "Democrats."
This last part tells it all. The pamphlet does not even mention democRATS, but they know they are guilty and they take offense at their sins being brought to the light. (In John 3.19-20 Jesus says, "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." NKJV) |
| posted by pregador27 @ 05:30 |
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| President Bush v. Kerry Debate (#1) |
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I found it funny that Kerry mentioned foreign powers we should be working with, and specifically said, "the United States, France and Germany..." Methinks he wants the USA to join the European Union. He definately wants the USA to be submissive to the united nations.
John Kerry (according to my 3 year old: the "Poopy-Doo guy"- we do reprimand her for the language, but it is funny!) was condescending and annoying to me, but I am a Bush supporter. I think George Bush could have been more forceful, but I think he held his own for sure. I heard that Kerry was on the debate team in college- probably did that longer than he was in Vietnam- so I was concerned with President Bush having to face Kerry in a debate. So I give this debate to President George W. Bush. I think he held even and had more substance than Kerry- as usual.
I would like to see Kerry's plans. What I saw on johnkerry.com was shallow drivel. It was spin and propaganda.
Fox News has an article showing both candidates stretches. For me it was too "fair and balanced," I wanted to see only Kerry's stretches. But it was good to compare the two. I give President Bush the edge there too.
One thing that bothers me: Kerry continues to call the war in Iraq a "unilateral policy." But there are about 30 nations working together in Iraq- meaning troops deployed. That means Kerry continuously insults our allies and minimizes their sacrifices. Good foreign policy in the making there. Can't we make Kerry the ambassador to Antartica? He can stay in the Igloo Embassy. |
| posted by pregador27 @ 01:16 |
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