The following articles are compiled by:

Leo Wong

Leo@WatchmenWatching.com

 

 

Rough-looking bikers are a pastor's best friend

Source: christianpost.com

 

April 20, 2007 -- Glad Tidings Assembly of God is not only a biker-friendly church, but it gives motorcyclists the best parking spots in the church.

 

Rough-looking, leather-clad bikers are a familiar bunch at the Pentecostal church in Decatur, Ill.

 

"Someone comes in looking rough, and people automatically assume they're one of pastor's friends," B.G. Nevitt, pastor of the church and also a biker, said with a laugh, according to the Assemblies of God News Service.

 

Nevitt has a "true AG (Assembly of God) original" – a custom chopper with AG and “Light for the Lost” logos, a seat that has "Heroes of the Faith" and AG logos embroidered into it, a hand-painted “Light for the Lost” logo and AG World Missions and U.S. Missions scrolls, and other custom touches. The motorcycle was designed and built by Ron Masten, executive pastor of First Assembly of God, McAlester, Okla., along with members and friends of the church.

 

When bikers, or the pastor's friends, enter the church, congregants are quick to welcome them as they help them find the best seat or buy them a cup of coffee – "whatever it takes," said Nevitt.

 

Glad Tidings plans to work with the local Harley-Davidson dealer to host "Blessing of the Bikes" on Sunday, Apr. 22. Nevitt expects to see more than 1,500 bikers and bikes at the weekend event to receive a prayer of safety.

 

Just last month, Greenville Church of God in North Carolina saw more than 500 people attend a bike show and blessings at the church's first "Biker Sunday."

 

Participating motorcycles in Biker Sunday were marked with blue stickers that read "I was blessed in '07: Jesus loves you."

 

"There has been nothing in this area like this before," said Eddie Moore, who organized the event, according to The Daily Reflector. "Lots of churches are looking at it."

 

Derek Bossolono, senior pastor of the church, alluded to a passage in the Bible that teaches people to be fishers of men.

 

"There is more than one fish in the water, and you are going to have to use different bait to catch them. My policy is, if it's not illegal, and it's not immoral, then I'll do it to get people saved," said Bossolono, according to the Reflector.

 

Comments:  After high school, I worked with unsaved bikers in a receiving dock.  They were a motley crew for sure.  They instilled constant fear in me; that summer job certainly wasn’t boring as I was tossed around like a rag doll and I was cussed out a lot.  I wasn’t yet saved back then.  After Jesus saved me in 1977, I ran into a bunch of bikers for Jesus.  They dressed the same, smoked, drank bottled beer and their language although not nearly as bad as the unsaved was shocking to my ears nevertheless.  I have yet to meet Christian bikers who have exhibited humility.  My body shakes when around them.  They have this exterior macho image they must maintain while on the road.

 

When I read this article, I couldn’t help but noticed the respect (due out of fear perhaps) church congregants accorded these bikers.  This seemed to be a two‑tier church, a sort of clique system.  The bikers get the royal treatment and the rest of the congregation hold them up on a pedestal.  Jesus should be the object of worship and adoration.  God is not the author of fear.  After we’ve been saved, Jesus made us new creatures in Christ.  Old things ought to drop off and replaced with a different demeanour and attire.  Bikers riding Harleys are symbolic of the Hells Angels and other biker gangs selling drugs, promoting prostitution, money laundering, extortion and murders.  This public image is seared in the minds of common folks.  Like the Emergent Church members who drink beer with the unsaved in order to get them saved, biking believers ride the highways on their souped up choppers getting into brawls and afterwards, preach the Gospel to the vanquished who have blood and spit flowing down their battered faces.  2 Corinthians 5:[17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

No referendum needed on revised EU treaty, says Blair

Source: EUObserver.com

 

April 20, 2007 -- UK prime minister Tony Blair has said he will come to an EU summit in June ready to endorse a fast-track adoption of the basic institutional changes foreseen by the bloc's disputed constitution - something that will not require a referendum in Britain.

 

"For us, we are going to get attacked whatever we do, but Europe needs to do it to move forward," Mr Blair said in an interview with European newspapers on Thursday (19 April).

 

"These issues aren't going to go away. It's better to resolve them sooner rather than later," he added, according to Financial Times.

 

German chancellor Angela Merkel is planning at the 20-21 June summit to present a roadmap on solving the EU's treaty impasse following the constitution's rejection by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

 

The UK is one of nine countries that has not ratified the constitution and was originally planning to hold a popular vote on it.

 

But Mr Blair - due to step down as the British prime minister after the June summit and likely to be succeeded by the current finance minister Gordon Brown - says that a limited new treaty would not have to be ratified by referendum.

 

Comments:  Tony Blair is a veritable see-saw.  This dude is set to leave political life in the near future yet he has to give his final kick at the can pertaining to this EU treaty impasse.  He flip flops more than seal on dry land.  The other day he said the EU constitution ought to be dropped and now he is agreeable to revisions, but there would be no need for a referendum.  It’s all or nothing in order to expedite the passage of the constitution.  He does have a point there though.  This EU thingy has dragged on way too long already.  18 member nations have already ratified it and the foot dragging countries have to either get on board soon or be relegated to the sidelines.

 

Again, we need to stress the fact that until the EU constitution is signed into law, there cannot be a full-time EU president elected to lead this emerging superstate.  Until that happens, the fractured EU remains in its effective condition of having a 6‑month rotating presidency.  With most major nations, a 4-year elected term isn’t sufficient time for a new president or prime minister to put his mark on a new political agenda let alone a 6-month term.  We have stated before that the Revived Roman Empire will really blast off into the stratosphere once the Rapture occurs.  Until then, it will muddle along step by step.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Aspers’ dream of human rights museum becomes a reality

Source: Winnipeg Free Press Online

 

April 21, 2007 -- The Forks in Winnipeg will be home to the first national museum outside Ottawa, Prime Minister Stephen Harper confirmed Friday, but he didn't come bearing cold, hard cash for the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.

 

"This museum, the realization of Izzy Asper's vision, will celebrate and promote awareness of human rights in Canada and it will bring Canadian and international visitors to Winnipeg so they can see and hear the Canadian human rights story," said Harper, whose afternoon visit put in some doubt the provincial election call that came a few minutes after he left the city.

 

Harper made the standing-room-only announcement at the Fairmont Hotel. It's an announcement that's been in the works for years and clears the way to begin construction on the project, the brainchild of media mogul Izzy Asper. It confirmed that the federal government will adopt the museum as a national institution, which means day-to-day operating funds are guaranteed.

 

Though Harper was mum on an exact cash commitment, it's expected to amount to about $9 million a year once the $265-million museum is open in 2011.

 

But the shovels aren't in the ground yet. Before Ottawa will sign off on the final plan, museum champion Gail Asper said she must raise the last $30 million from private donors. She's giving herself a year to do it, and she said she's very confident, since many donors were reluctant to dig deep into their pockets until Ottawa committed to the operating funding.

 

She said the project hasn't yet been scaled back from its original plan, which includes an abstract, iceberg-like glass building and a tower that rises as high as the buildings at Portage and Main.

 

'It will be more than a tableau of past events. It will be an education centre dedicated to promoting understanding and respect of ethnic, religious and racial diversity, especially among our youth'

 

It will cost $22 million a year to run the museum. Some of that will come from admission fees, and about $6 million is earmarked for student travel that will be funded from the endowment and ongoing fundraising. The raw, day-to-day cost of running the museum is about $9 million and that will be covered by Ottawa.

 

It's still not clear what role the Asper family will have in running the museum. Harper said a board will be appointed that include representatives from all over the country and recognizes the contribution of some leading donors.

 

Asper said she has no qualms about that, or about turning over control of the project to Ottawa.

 

Comments:  On the surface, a Canadian human rights museum is laudable.  But, when you see whose family name is championing this noble cause, then you wonder what the donors and public must be thinking?  The Asper family, promoters of human rights?  Are you out of your mind?  The Aspers are legendary for bullying and harassing their employees.  Case in point, go to: http://canadiancoalition.com/forum/messages/9979.shtml.  Sexual harassment, workplace abuse and public berating of employees are not exactly congruent with human rights observance.  Family own businesses are notorious of mistreating their employees because they can.  The law means nothing to them, even the Canadian Human Rights Code.

 

It’s ironic that in a democratic society such as the U.S. and Canada where everyone seems to extol the virtues of freedom that the vast majority of workplaces are predominately authoritarian, non‑supportive, controlling, abusive and treat employees as objects/machines.  It’s the ‘old boy’ network at its worst.  It’s not surprising that most workers hate their jobs, feel they have no control over what they do, work is drudgery, and 5:00 p.m. can’t come too soon for them.  They resort to drink, abuse their wives and children, and take stress leave. Management and workers deny such oppression is prevalent in the workplace.  Workers aren’t their most valuable asset; they should be.  Hypocrisy abounds.  Thank God that we Christians have true freedom in Jesus and we’ll be out of here soon.  Those who are left behind will continue to toil for Satan’s slave masters and ultimately for the Antichrist, the cruellest of the lot.  Revelation 18:[13] And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Pakistan’s Musharaf wants to mediate Middle East peace

Source: Jerusalem Post

          

April 21, 2007 -- Pakistan took initiative Saturday to bring about stability to the Middle East - by first attempting to make peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

 

Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf announced during a televised interview with Al-Arabiya that he was willing to act as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, saying that would be responsible for a dramatic breaking point that would result in the arrival of a peaceful solution.

 

Musharaf said that if he were accepted as a neutral mediator by both sides, he could very well succeed. The president said that he was interested in meeting Israelis and Palestinians if they received his offer.

 

He added that meeting with Israeli representatives could be undertaken on neutral meeting ground - not necessarily in Israel. While willing to act as mediator, Musharaf said that so long as an independent Palestinian state was not erected, Pakistan would not recognize Israel.

 

Comments:  Pakistan’s president can’t be serious.  Pakistan is a Muslim country so how can it viewed as being a neutral party?  Even the U.S. cannot be considered unbiased because of the powerful Jewish lobbyists in the U.S. Congress.  No, anything Jewish or Muslim has to be discounted as being neutral.  Nuclear Pakistan will not be trusted by the Israeli leadership.  Besides, how can Pakistan expect to succeed when the major players have hit the wall of impasse over and over again.  Only a powerful man with extraordinary statesmanship acumen and a knack for the dramatic will succeed in getting Israel to agree to peace conditions with all her neighbours.  That man will be Satan’s chosen man of sin, the Antichrist who will mesmerize the world through signs and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:[9]).

 

It seems that “everyone wants to get into the act” as the late comedian Jimmy Durante used to like to say.  Countries such as Jordan, Japan and now, Pakistan, want to be peacemakers.  This just shows how desperate Satan is to get Israel to sign on the peace documents’ dotted lines.  He knows the Bible from cover to cover.  He’s aware of the Rapture event and he knows his time is short.  All this political posturing is intended to get God to bring on the Rapture so Satan can really get going with his post-Rapture agenda.  But, only God knows the timing of the Rapture.  Jesus’ shout may be given at any moment and then Stan is off to the races, i.e. the first of four horsemen.  Revelation 6:[2] And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Study: Sudden sea level surges threaten 1 billion people

Source: CNN.com

 

April 22, 2007 -- More than 1 billion people live in low-lying areas where a sudden surge in sea level could prove as disastrous as the 2004 Asian tsunami, according to new research presented on Thursday.

 

New mapping techniques show how much land would be lost and how many people affected by rapid sea level rises that are often triggered by storms and earthquakes, a U.S. Geological Survey-led team determined.

 

E. Lynn Usery, who led the team, said nearly one-quarter of the world's population lives below 100 feet above sea level -- the size of the biggest surge during the 2004 tsunami that pulverized villages along the Indian Ocean and killed 230,000 people.

 

"What we are suggesting is what kind of areas are at risk (in) a catastrophic event," Usery told a meeting of the Association of American Geographers.

 

"The fact that there are that many people living at that sea level means there are probably a lot of people potentially in harm's way."

 

The team also found that a 100-foot rise in sea level would cover 3.7 million square miles of land worldwide.

 

A rise of just 16 feet would affect 669 million people and 2 million square miles of land would be lost.

 

Sea levels are currently rising about 0.04 to 0.08 inches each year, making it unlikely such a scenario would suddenly occur across the globe, Usery said.

 

But he said 10,000 years ago sea levels rose 20 meters in 500 years -- a relatively short span -- after the collapse of the continental ice sheets.

 

"It can happen in a short period of time if we look at the historical data," Usery said.

 

Comments:  God holds the sands of time.  He can change the natural laws of physics and effect global warming or cooling if He so chooses.  A lot is made of man’s contribution to global warming, but it’s God who can and will change Earth’s ecosystem at His whim.  Much of this world does not believe in the upcoming 7-year Tribulation Period in which God will whack this planet to and fro.  Entire geological strata will be moved.  The sun’s temperature will rise and cause mercury thermometers to burst.  The blazing sun will scorch the earth’s vegetation, animals and mankind.  The moon will be affected which in turn will cause Earth’s tides to rise.  Hurricanes will increase in numbers and in intensity.  Volcanoes will turn from dormant to fiery cauldrons and spew their molten ashes into the atmosphere.  The heated earth will melt artic glaciers and send them crashing into the oceans.  Aquatic life will die off.  Men will blaspheme the God of Heaven.  1 billion inhabitants will either move inland or be drowned?  Yes, this is entirely plausible.  In fact, God’s wrath and the Antichrist’s killing spree will exterminate the vast majority of the 6 billion people now living.

 

Scientists and the Bible are warning everyone of the global catastrophes to come, but who really is listening?  Many go on with their lives as if this world will continue for another 6,000 years oblivious to all the warning signs. Such is human nature. 2 Peter 3:[3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, [4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

What and when Is Earth Day?

Source: John McConnell, Founder of Earth Day

 

April 22, 2007 -- When I first conceived of Earth Day, a global holiday to celebrate the wonder of life on our planet, I thought long and hard about the day on which it should fall. It must be meaningful. One that might be accepted universally for all of humankind.

 

When the Vernal Equinox dawned on me, I immediately knew it was right. The Earth tremor that shook our California dwelling at that moment seemed an omen of confirmation. What could be more appropriate than the first moment of Spring, when day and night are equal around the world and hearts and minds can join together with thoughts of harmony and Earth's rejuvenation. Just as a single prayer can be significant, how much more so when hundreds, thousands, millions of people throughout the world join in peaceful thoughts and prayers to nurture neighbour and nature.

 

And so it came to pass we initiated the celebration of Earth Day on March 21, 1970. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology. Designating the First Day of Spring, March 21, 1970 to be Earth Day, this day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a Proclamation signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations where it is observed each year. Earth Day was firmly established for all time on a sound basis as an annual event to deepen reverence and care for life on our planet.

 

Every effort to encourage Earth care is to be commended. But just as more than one birthday each year for an individual would diminish the real birthday, calling other dates Earth Day detracts from the authentic day -- which can provide a more meaningful focus and obtain more unity in our diversity. The nature of the March equinox provides a reason for an event at the same time all over the world.

 

Other events leading up to or following could be called Earth Festivals, or given other names. Then events can complement each other and increase awareness and care for our planet and its people. In the midst of this will be Earth Day, where the United Nations Peace Bell rings at the moment Spring begins and hearts and minds join all over the world.

 

Comments:  Romans 1:[25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  Earth Day is a day when the inhabitants pay homage to this planet of ours.  God is left out in the cold so to speak.  Mother Earth (mother nature), Gaia, Terra, the creation of God is bowed down to.  Anything that’s blessed of the U.N. cannot be of any good.  The U.N. is man’s united effort to bring about peace, love and harmony.  The worship of Earth has its roots in paganism which itself is the worship of Satan and his demons.  The Babylonians were idolaters which thereafter sprouted the Roman Catholic Church which is a mixture of paganism and Christianity.  Thus, one can see the connection of Earth Day with Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology.

 

Each Earth Day, the world’s inhabitants think of doing something to save and preserve this planet.  Whether it’s using one less napkin, walk or cycle to Earth Day festivals and concerts, drink filtered water and not bottled water, plant a tree, or whatever, each Earth citizen is fixated on what can be done for future generations.  The unthinkable, i.e. a legacy of filth for our grandchildren and their offshoots, cannot be allow to happen.  People, not God, can make it happen.  “Get on the ecology bandwagon now!  You’re either the problem or the solution to Earth’s pollution.  Every little bit counts” so says Oprah Winfrey and her contingent of earth dwellers bent on creating a heaven on Earth without God and without Jesus.

 

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

Keep watching (Matt 24:42)!

 

Until next time,

Shalom!

 

 

Watchmen Watching HOME PAGE

Millennium Weekend Ministries Home Page