---

The following articles are compiled by:

Leo Wong

Leo@WatchmenWatching.com

 

 

 

 

Grim global warming view

Source: Winnipeg Free Press Online

 

April 5, 2007 -- Climate change is rearranging the global landscape, threatening to wipe out 20 to 30 per cent all the life forms on earth and flood hundreds of millions people out of their homes, according to the authors of an international report to be released Friday.

 

Comments:  This godless world chastises mankind for heating up this planet through the unrelenting burning of fossil fuels.  Because it denies that there’s a God in Heaven who controls all things and He could be the person who’s causing Earth’s temperature to rise, mankind places the blame of every Earth citizen instead.  You hear the terms “Mother Nature” and “Mother Earth” all the time alluding to the worship of the creature rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).  God is a non-factor.  Even professing Christians and some true believers have bought into the scare campaign that unless we stop driving gas powered cars and trucks and shut down coal burning factories, Earth will be doomed.  Christendom has pretty well settled down comfortably in this world and the prospect of irreversible environmental damage bursts their plan for creating heaven on Earth.

 

Why global warming and why at this juncture in time?  I think it’s the signs of the times that Jesus told us to watch for preceding His 2nd coming.  The 7-year Tribulation Period will be a time of unparallel environmental calamities perpetrated by both mankind and God.  Trees, grass, the seas and rivers, the sun and the ground strata will all be affected.  This earth will stagger to and fro like a drunken sailor.  Revelation 7:[3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. Revelation 8:[7] The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.  Revelation 16:[9] And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.  Revelation 16:[4] And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Missouri's most powerful Baptist takes on the 'emerging church'

Source: STLtoday.com

 

April 5, 2007 -- For Roger Moran, the most powerful Baptist in Missouri, the past represents victory and personal grace.

 

His target: a young band of moderate Christians that he believes is trying to steal back the convention, undercutting his empire. It's a growing movement he'd like to see disappear.

 

"You begin to see this new generation of moderates rising up and giving cover to the more liberal factions of this movement," Moran says. "And the point I'm trying to make is, 'Folks, this thing is coming in under the radar.'"

 

This "thing," according to Moran, is the emerging church — a term that has come to define a broad swath of churches that attract younger Christians by tapping into a secular culture. The movement — which promotes alternative ways of attracting young people, including rock music and alcohol — makes traditional Christian leaders nervous.

 

The emerging church is "one of the most dangerous and deceptive movements to infiltrate the ranks of Southern Baptist life," he told the executive committee.

 

Moran is especially worried about Acts 29, a network of about 90 emerging churches across the country. One member, The Journey, is a successful, socially moderate, theologically conservative church in St. Louis that has ties to both the Missouri and Southern Baptist conventions.

 

The Journey doesn't consider itself Baptist and calls itself "inter-denominational," but in 2005 it borrowed $200,000 from the Missouri Baptist Convention to help buy and renovate a former Catholic church in south St. Louis. The church holds one of its outreach ministries at the Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood, where theological conversations take place at the bar, sometimes over beers.

 

In December, Moran began publicly questioning The Journey's loyalty to Baptist doctrine.

 

Most Southern Baptists oppose the consumption of alcohol, and Moran has seized on the issue of beer in the emerging church as proof that a younger generation will compromise established doctrine to attract souls.

 

But the emerging church has made other Southern Baptist leaders nervous as well, said Bill Leonard, dean of Wake Forest Divinity School.

 

"The Southern Baptist Convention is growing increasingly terrified that they've spent all this time recreating the denomination in this (conservative) image, and now nobody cares," he said. "Young seminarians are challenging them on issues and saying, 'Your vision of reality is not ours.'"

 

Patrick, pastor of The Journey, said Moran had never called or approached him to talk about the issues.

 

"He has no desire to understand," Patrick said. "He just wants to antagonize. That's the heart of the problem, and it's unbiblical."

 

Moran acknowledges that what emerging churches offer is attractive to young people.

 

"What we've got now is a church where you can drink beer in the bar, you can talk about rock 'n' roll, you can watch R-rated movies on film night," he said.

 

Moran believes that some in the emerging church may be theologically sound but that its leaders are caught up in the culture that is leading most Americans astray.

 

"They say they have a passion for reaching people for Christ … and I think that they do," he said. "But I think they cross the line in becoming so much like the world."

 

Comments:  There’s a vicious battle for souls out there.  Long time conservatives versus modern day emerging churches.  Even Rick Warren’s seeker sensitive churches are falling by the wayside to the new kid on the block.  Emerging churches are gathering members like a well tuned Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner picks up carpet debris.  Beer and pubs make ideal places to reach the lost and perishing and tell them about Jesus Christ and His offer of salvation.  The end justifies the means.  Since the unsaved won’t come to church, let us go to where they are, mingle with them, dress like them, talk and cuss like them and bring out the Bud Light.  Or perhaps go to clubs and singles bars, bump and grind to Justin Timberlake, Avril Lavigne and Nickleback.  How about taking that cool chick back to your apartment to spend the night and in the morning, break open the Jesus box cereal.

 

God does care what methods we use to reach the unsaved. Carnal methods just won’t cut the mustard with God. Are the so called converts really saved? 1 Thessalonians 5:[22] Abstain from all appearance of evil.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Report: Syrian President Assad will mediate in release of Israeli captive troops

Source: Jerusalem Post

 

April 5, 2007 -- Syrian President Bashar Assad made a promise to US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi that he would make efforts to bring about an agreement between Hizbullah, Hamas and Israel regarding the release of kidnapped IDF soldiers, London-based newspaper al-Hayat reported on Thursday.

 

According to the report, Assad told Pelosi, who visited Syria on Wednesday that Damascus "will invest all its efforts" in order to prompt Hizbullah and Hamas to finalize agreements with Israel to release reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, captured in July 2006, and Cpl. Gilad Schalit, captured in June of the same year.

 

In related news, Israeli officials commented on Assad's interest to begin peace negotiations. Immigrant Absorption Minister Ze'ev Boim said the Syrian president should illustrate his intentions toward coexistence with Israel through actions, even minor ones, if peace talks between the two nations are to be resumed.

 

"The fact that he is holding an olive branch in his beak still doesn't turn him into someone who really wants peace with Israel," Boim told Israel Radio. "We are not asking that he totally stop, just do something even minor that will show a real intention through some sort of action."

 

Boim said Israel would be willing to give up the Golan Heights as part of an eventual deal. Past negotiations with Syria have centered on the strategic plateau, but the sides could not agree on the scope of the withdrawal.

 

"We know that the price will be, in the end, that Israel will come down from the Golan Heights," Boim said.

 

Comments:   With the Syrian president getting involved, the release of the captured Israeli soldiers would appear to be imminent.  Assad is a very powerful man and when he demands that Hizbullah turn over the soldiers to him, Hizbullah must comply.  The only catch here is that Iran (which also commands Hizbullah) might put a monkey wrench into Assad’s gears.  Iran doesn’t want peace in the Middle East region no matter what recriminations will ensue.  Assad’s obsession with the return of the Golan Heights makes him more than eager to accommodate Israel’s demand, but that doesn’t sway Iran one bit.  Expect Iran to pressure Hizbullah to resist Assad’s overture.

 

If the Saudi Peace Plan ever gets moving in the direction Saudi King Abdullah wants it to go, he needs all his Arab League colleagues rowing in the same direction.  Syria is a key player and Assad is willing and able, but will he deliver the goods (the captured soldiers)?  This is the first test and by passing it, would convince Israel that the Arab League of nations is sincere about  comprehensive Middle East peace.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Big 3 EU states gaining power despite enlargement

Source: EUObserver

 

April 5, 2007 -- Despite recent enlargement, the biggest EU states - France, the UK and Germany - have increased their power over EU decision-making, a Swedish study suggests. But Italy is punching below its weight, while sheer charisma helps some small EU countries boost their influence.

 

The overcrowded negotiating table in the European Council - EU leaders' meetings which normally take place four times a year - has made the bloc's big players more eager to pool their powers in coalitions and bilateral agreements where size really matters, the report "Bargaining power in the European Council" says.

 

Comments:  Daniel 7:[8] I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn (the Antichrist), before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

 

The next big event is the Rapture of the Bride of Christ to Heaven.  Shortly thereafter, the Antichrist will be revealed.  Once he has been elected leader of the Revived Roman Empire, one of his first major tasks is to level the power playing field.  He will pluck out (remove) three of the original members of the EU who pose a threat to his autocratic rule.  A dictator doesn’t want anyone with enormous power to challenge him.  The three EU states might very well turn out to be France, the UK and Germany.  They will be cast aside and will be on the outside looking in.  This shocking development will send a clear message to all that the Antichrist means business and you don’t mess with the boss.  Cleaning house is common among leaders coming into office.  Out with the old and in with the new.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Did the Red Sea part? No evidence, Egyptian archaeologist says

Source: The New York Times

 

April 5, 2007-- On the eve of Passover, the Jewish holiday that celebrates the story of Moses leading the Israelites through this wilderness out of slavery, Egypt’s chief archaeologist took a bus full of journalists into the North Sinai to showcase his agency’s latest discovery.

 

A grave containing a female skeleton near the military fort. Egyptian archaeologists say no evidence has surfaced to confirm the Exodus story.

It didn’t look like much — some ancient buried walls of a military fort and a few pieces of volcanic lava. The archaeologist, Dr. Zahi Hawass, often promotes mummies and tombs and pharaonic antiquities that command international attention and high ticket prices. But this bleak landscape, broken only by electric pylons, excited him because it provided physical evidence of stories told in hieroglyphics. It was proof of accounts from antiquity.

 

That prompted a reporter to ask about the Exodus, and if the new evidence was linked in any way to the story of Passover. The archaeological discoveries roughly coincided with the timing of the Israelites’ biblical flight from Egypt and the 40 years of wandering the desert in search of the Promised Land.

 

“Really, it’s a myth,” Dr. Hawass said of the story of the Exodus, as he stood at the foot of a wall built during what is called the New Kingdom.

 

Egypt is one of the world’s primary warehouses of ancient history. People here joke that wherever you stick a shovel in the ground you find antiquities. When workers built a sewage system in the downtown Cairo neighborhood of Dokki, they accidentally scattered shards of Roman pottery. In the middle-class neighborhood of Heliopolis, tombs have been discovered beneath homes.

 

But Egypt is also a spiritual center, where for centuries men have searched for the meaning of life. Sometimes the two converge, and sometimes the archaeological record confirms the history of the faithful. Often it does not, however, as Dr. Hawass said with detached certainty.

 

“If they get upset, I don’t care,” Dr. Hawass said. “This is my career as an archaeologist. I should tell them the truth. If the people are upset, that is not my problem.”

 

The story of the Exodus is celebrated as the pivotal moment in the creation of the Jewish people. As the Bible tells it, Moses was born the son of a Jewish slave, who cast him into the Nile in a basket so the baby could escape being killed by the pharaoh. He was saved by the pharaoh’s daughter, raised in the royal court, discovered his Jewish roots and, with divine help, led the Jewish people to freedom. Moses is said to have ascended Mt. Sinai, where God appeared in a burning bush and Moses received the Ten Commandments.

 

In Egypt today, visitors to Mount Sinai are sometimes shown a bush by tour guides and told it is the actual bush that burned before Moses.

 

But archaeologists who have worked here have never turned up evidence to support the account in the Bible, and there is only one archaeological find that even suggests the Jews were ever in Egypt. Books have been written on the topic, but the discussion has, for the most part, remained low-key as the empirically minded have tried not to incite the spiritually minded.

 

“Sometimes as archaeologists we have to say that never happened because there is no historical evidence,” Dr. Hawass said, as he led the journalists across a rutted field of stiff and rocky sand.

 

Comments:  Do you get the sense that this denial of the Exodus event by this Egyptian archaeologist is similar to the Holocaust denials?  Both involve the Jewish people and the deniers are anti-Semites like Nazi sympathizers, Iran’s president, and this Egyptian man.  With the Holocaust, some 6 millions Jews and a few millions of Gentiles were exterminated in Nazi concentration camps.  That’s a historical fact.  The Exodus from Egypt’s slavery by the children of Israel was recorded by Moses who was there as he led them out of Egypt.  The Book of Exodus was inspired by God’s Holy Spirit who led Moses’ hand as he recorded that event in history.  Now, I would not be amiss if I quote the following verse from the Bible.  Romans 3:[4] God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.  If you don’t agree the Bible is God’s Word, then take it up with Him.  He created you and to call Him a liar is to invite His judgment upon you.  We don’t need archaeological digs to confirm God’s truth.  Such earthly finds may have been placed there by the agents of the Devil to cause doubts.  It’s best to believe that if God said it, it has to be true.  The first 5 books of the Old Testament have been under constant attacks by godless learned men.  The attacks will accelerate as the last days culminate in the physical return of Jesus Christ.  2 Peter 3:[3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers…

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

Keep watching (Matt 24:42)!

 

Until next time,

Shalom!

 

 

Watchmen Watching HOME PAGE

Millennium Weekend Ministries Home Page