The following articles are compiled by:

Leo Wong

Leo@WatchmenWatching.com

 

 

Pope Benedict: God will punish drug dealers

Source: Associated Press

 

May 11, 2007 -- Pope Benedict XVI warned drug traffickers Saturday that they would face divine justice for the scourge of illegal narcotics across Latin America, telling them that, "God will call you to account for your deeds."

 

Speaking before a crowd of 6,000 at a drug treatment center, Benedict urged "the drug-dealers to reflect on the grave harm they are inflicting on countless young people and on adults from every level of society."

 

Brazil is the second-largest consumer of cocaine after the United States, according to the U.S. State Department, and big cities across Latin America's largest nation are plagued by drug violence.

 

Addicts who listened to the pontiff said his visit was important because Brazilian drug users are often ostracized and left to beg on the streets for drug money.

 

"We are excluded from society, but we are the ones the pope is coming to see," said Diego Cleto, a 19-year-old who started taking drugs at age 13.

 

Benedict also called on Catholics to "oppose those elements of the media that ridicule the sanctity of marriage and virginity before marriage," picking a tough crowd to confront about hedonism and permissiveness.

 

More than 70 percent of Brazil's 190 million citizens may be Catholics, but sex before marriage is common.

 

Scantily clad actresses are the norm on hugely popular TV soap operas, and women on the beaches wear bikinis that leave little to the imagination. Plastic surgery to reshape breasts and buttocks is nearly as popular as orthodontia.

 

The pope may be popular among Brazilian Catholics but most probably will not heed his call when it comes to sex, said David Gibson, author of "The Rule of Benedict: Pope Benedict XVI and His Battle with the Modern World."

 

"This is enormously frustrating to Benedict or any pope; they want to have more impact," Gibson added. But "how do you go against a culture like that? It's tough."

 

While polls show Brazilians oppose expanding access to abortion, they overwhelmingly support using condoms to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases - in firm opposition to church doctrine. The government, in fact, hands out millions of condoms for free every year, especially ahead of the debauchery that is an integral part of Brazil's pre-Lent carnival.

 

Comments:  2 Timothy 3:[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  Revelation 21:[8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

 

It’s no wonder Brazil, with the largest Roman Catholic population in the world, is in such a moral mess.  Its self‑righteous leader, Pope Benedict, isn’t even saved and his messages ring hollow in the ears of unsaved millions of his faithfuls.  He can shout all he wants from the top of basilicas, but very few of his subjects will heed his plea to live a virtuous life.  Roman Catholicism is a pagan based religion devoid of the power of the Holy Spirit Who alone can transform a life of debauchery and licentiousness into a life that pleases God.  The lost and perishing cannot do anything that delights the heart of God.  Absolutely nothing.

 

People look to leaders with authoritative power and the pope is hardly such a person.  He lives luxuriously in Vatican City and his church is the world’s wealthiest institution.  Catholic priests are hardly teetotallers.  Some have been charged with child molestation, fathering children out of wedlock, and corruption is rampant in the church with cover-ups and denials.  The unsaved live for self and in a society where the Roman Catholic Church is merely an icon that people only turn to for infant baptism, Christmas and Easter Masses and funerals; drug usage, free sex and a libertine lifestyle rule the rest of the time.  Yes, God will punish the drug dealers as well as drug takers, fornicators and the pope himself for preaching a false gospel of faith plus good works.

 

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FM Tzipi Livni: Israel must hand over West Bank for two-state solution

Source: Jerusalem Post

 

May 11, 2007 -- Any future Palestinian state will require Israel to withdraw from the West Bank, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said in an interview to Egyptian newspaper al-Ahram on Saturday.

 

According to Livni, Israel is ready to move forward in negotiations with the Palestinians, and is waiting for the Palestinians to take responsibility for the violence and extreme forces within Palestinian society.

 

"The majority of the Israeli nation understands not only the need for peace, but also the need to compromise for a solution to achieve this peace.

 

"And in this context, I present the vision, shared by the majority, of a two-state solution, one for Jews and one for Palestinians… the path to the [creation of] a Palestinian state begins with the denunciation of terrorism. I am convinced that this reflects not only the interests of Israel, but also the interests of the Palestinians.

 

During the interview, which took place as part of the foreign minister's visit to Cairo, Livni said that the 2005 Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip was a necessary and crucial step in the peace process. Livni said that in order to complete this process and create a Palestinian state, Israel will need to withdraw from the West Bank as well.

 

"I can assure you that Gaza is not the last step, we are convinced that to establish a Palestinian state, we have to withdraw from other areas," she said. "We do not want to control the Palestinians."

 

Comments:  You can tell Tzipi Livni is a green behind the ear politician.  When veteran politicians read what she said in this news article, their heart will skip a beat or two, especially Benjamin Netanyahu.  What has she done wrong?  She has practically bound the hands of Israel’s negotiators. And to think that she has aspirations to become Israel’s next prime minister?  All these promises and assurances may be the eventual outcome of future peace talks, but you don’t negotiate by telling the other side that Israel will give more than these starting conditions.   You play hard ball by not giving a yard.  As the negotiations reach the serious stage where profanities are lobbed back and forth due to frustration, it’s at time that you give an inch or two.

 

So now, we know what Israel’s doves are planning to give away.  Everything, but the grease crusted kitchen sink.  100% of the West Bank (i.e. ancient Judea and Samaria) is akin to cutting off Israel in half at the torso.  Israel will be left with a sliver of what she was at the time of King David.  God is sorely displeased with this land give-away.  He will hold Israel’s leaders culpable for their disobedience and traitorous act.  Isaiah 28:[18] And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

 

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Pastor: What the church lacks most is guts  

Source: christianpost.com

 

May 12, 2007 -- The greatest problem in the Church isn't a lack of education or resources or a need for better worship or preaching. But what the church lacks most is guts, says the leader of a flourishing “twenty-something” church.

 

It's time for a leadership "gut check," said Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington.

 

Over 500 leaders of twenty- and thirty-somethings nodded their heads realizing what they needed wasn't just more information on how to do ministry, but the guts to actually put faith into practice.

 

Challenging the ministry leaders to step out and redeem the culture, Batterson told them they need more preaching guts, leadership guts, and evangelism guts.

 

And along the way of revealing some boldness, leaders are also going to have to be willing to look foolish.

 

"Faith is the willingness to look foolish," said Batterson. "If you aren't willing to look foolish, you won't experience the miracles of God."

 

Comments:  Pastor Mark Batterson sure hit the nail squarely on the head.  He’s so right about the problem with the church today.  Too many Christians doing nothing to advance the Kingdom of God.  So many lulled into a state of comfort and blending in with the mass of unsaved.  Many don’t give out the Gospel for fear of being ridiculed or lose their well paid jobs.  Complacent believers living life for self and unconcerned about the multitudes going to Hell full speed.  Where’s the love for souls and for Jesus?  2 Timothy 3:[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.

 

You can go months and even years before you meet a fellow believer on the street and in the shopping malls.  When was the last time a believer handed you a Gospel tract and gave you the Good News?  You’ll see a lot of young believers dressed like their unsaved friends, go to bars to drink, and attend worldly concerts.  Some even engage in fornication short of actual sexual intercourse. Dare to be different?  “No thanks”, say many a young person.  For these Christians, it’s all about having one’s cake and eating it too.

 

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Babies now blamed for global warming by green group

Source: USA Religious News

 

May 12, 2007 -- The global warmists are now saying that having babies is bad for the planet and that babies should be considered an environmental misdemeanor because a baby’s carbon dioxide output is equivalent to some 620 round trip flights between New York and London. According to the London Times, a green think tank called the Optimum Population Trust is publishing a report that suggests couples wanting to have children should take the environment into account. John Guillebaud, co-chairman of OPT and emeritus professor of family planning at University College London, said, “The greatest thing anyone in Britain could do to help the future of the planet would be to have one less child.”

 

The Times pointed out that the British fertility rate is 1.7, and the European Union average is 1.5. Despite this, Professor Guillebaud says rich countries should be the most concerned about family size as their children have higher per capita carbon dioxide emissions. In another commentary by environmental extremist Paul Watson, founder and president of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, mankind was compared to a virus that is destroying “Mother Earth.” Watson demanded that the population of earth be reduced by one billion people. He also said that humans should stop flying in jets, stop driving cars and stop using boats and ships.

 

These radicals are claiming that babies and mankind in general should be eliminated over time for the survival of planet earth. The message behind the message, however, is that these communist and socialist driven messages and movements want to create a controlled class of people where the economy, the family, the food, the shelter are all managed by the government, which is run by those god-like humans who know better than anyone else how to control the world. They are people who worship “Mother Earth” or the “State” as their god and their goal is to establish their one world rule over all others.

 

Comments:  The attacks on babies are relentless.  First off, mankind has killed millions of the unborn since Roe v. Wade. Then there are Planned Parenthood, birth control pills, condoms, and the morning after pill.  Now, the very young are being blamed for placing “Mother Earth” on a seemingly irreversible course to eventual extinction.  The tree huggers like Al Gore and Michael Moore have aimed their rifle cross-hairs on “selfish” couples who have more than one child.  Look at China, they say, where only one child per couple is allowed.  The Chinese are being responsible.  Earth’s population is much too large.  Reduce it to a manageable 5 billion?  Why not 4 or even 3 billion?  Don’t fret for the Antichrist will be revealed soon and he will immediately start a war to wipe out a quarter of the world’s population.  That’s 2 billion souls exterminated.  Guess what?  The coming war will also see the destruction of the earth’s vegetation and waterways.  You can’t have it both ways; get rid of 2 billion without torching Mother Earth at the same time.

 

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God debate: 'Victory' for atheists or 'Good Job' by Christians?

Source: CNSNews.com

 

May 13, 2007 -- A debate between two Christian evangelists and two atheist activists on whether God exists has drawn mixed reaction, with a humanist leader Thursday calling the event a "lopsided victory" for atheists, while a nonbeliever in the audience praised the evangelists for doing a "good job."

 

The ABC News "Nightline Face Off" pitted preacher and author Ray Comfort and former child star Kirk Cameron -- both from the "Way of the Master" ministry -- against two unnamed members of the "Rational Response Squad." The atheists obscured their identities, because they said were afraid of reprisals.

 

Comments:   1 Timothy 6:[20] O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.  All the debating back and forth between two firmly entrenched views about God won’t ever settle anything between atheists and believers of creationism.  Both sides just have to respect the other side’s position.  Of course, we know atheists are dead wrong in this life and in the afterlife when they find themselves before Judge Jesus at the Great White Throne Judgment.  The Lake of Fire will be their final destination as they ponder over and over in their mind why science failed them.  There is a God after all.

 

On the positive side, the arguments Messrs. Comfort and Cameron put forth to support their view and there’s a God in Heaven Who created all things, even science are worth the catcalls and derision.  Their words will ring in the conscience of all the atheists and agnostics (those who aren’t sure there’s a God) in the days ahead.  Through the Holy Spirit’s working, a few will have their blinded minds opened to see the light of God’s Word and they’ll receive God’s Son as their personal Saviour.  That’s the miracle of God, the same God Who spoke and the earth, moon, stars and planets all came into existence.  No Big Bang Theory, but the Triune God is the Alpha and the Omega (the beginning and the end).  The only winners in this debate were Comfort and Cameron and any from the atheist camp who jettisoned science for Christ.

 

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Jerusalem Mayor: Hamas may take over city within 12 years

Source: Jerusalem Post

 

May 13, 2007 -- Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski warned Sunday of a demographic collapse that could cause the capital to lose its Jewish majority and transfer the city into the hands of Hamas.

 

Speaking at a special cabinet meeting at the Begin Heritage Center in Mishkenot Sha'ananim in honor of the 40th anniversary of the unification of Jerusalem, Lupolianski said that Hamas could gain demographic control of the capital within twelve years.

 

Israel, he said, needs a long-term plan so that Jerusalem will forever remain Israel's capital. "We will not be satisfied with crumbs," said the mayor.

 

Comments:  So, even if there’s no comprehensive peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians, within 12 years, Jerusalem will be in Arab control regardless.  That’s a disturbing prognostication for sure.  Jews ought to be very concerned about this.  Hamas (a terrorist group) has the zeal to accelerate the take-over process because it is single‑minded in its mission to eradicate Israeli Jews and moderate Arabs from “Palestine”.  Such fervency cannot be stamped out simply through talks and consensus.  Military action is the only viable option to oust Hamas from the Palestinian territories and the sooner the better.  The stream of Arabs flowing into Jerusalem is compounded by the exodus of Jews from the city doesn’t bode well for Israel’s determination to keep Jerusalem undivided.  Some division will be part and parcel of the impending peace treaty.  There will be the Jewish portion in West Jerusalem and East Jerusalem would serve as the capital city of the new state of Palestine, i.e. if the Palestinians are to have their own country.  This is not a given since Jordan will have a big say in the matters of Jerusalem and the West Bank.  In the past, Arab nations sold out the Palestinians and it could happen again as the Palestinians have been used as pawns in the Arab world’s propaganda against Israel.

 

 

 

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Keep watching (Matt 24:42)!

 

Until next time,

Shalom!

 

 

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