The following articles are compiled by:

Leo Wong

Leo@WatchmenWatching.com

 

 

 

 

No blessing for same-sex unions: Many Anglicans in tears; bishops tip the scales

Source: Canadian Press/Winnipeg Free Press Online

 

Some members of the Anglican Church of Canada were in tears Sunday, after a motion to bless same-sex unions lost by only two votes.

The motion was supported by a vote of combined clergy and laity at the group's national meeting, but two bishops who opposed the idea were the deciding factor.

 

To pass, the motion needed to garner a majority of both groups, but the bishops defeated it 21-19.

 

The decision shocked many same-sex supporters who thought the motion would pass, after earlier in the day Anglicans voted that same-sex blessings were not in conflict with the church's doctrine.

 

Chris Ambidge, national spokesman for an Anglican group that supports same-sex unions, said the national meeting sent mixed messages to Anglicans across Canada and was confusing to everyone who voted.

 

"What is wrong with having rights of blessing when you've already said it's OK? I just don't understand that."

 

Primate-elect Frederick Hiltz said the vote's outcome showed that some bishops still want to wait and study the issue further. He said there will be an ongoing conversation about same-sex unions and that it will likely come up again at the next national meeting in 2010.

 

Comments:  The Anglican Church of Canada (equivalent to the Episcopalians in America) just dodged a bullet, albeit temporarily until 2010.  Between now and 2010, the pro-gay love thine gays as thyself congregants will be clamouring for the “old fuddy duddy” bishops to seriously rethink their “old fashioned traditional” ways and vote YES the next time around or else.  The “or else” might mean militant action will be taken to boot the dissenting bishops from their lofty positions.  Western society has generally embraced same sex lifestyle and unions so why haven’t the majority of so called liberal Protestant denominations?  “Go with the flow”, they say.  The way the trend being toward the acceptance same-sex unions doesn’t bode well for the Canadian Anglicans.  Through constant pressure being applied to the church leaders to conform to society’s norms, the eventual acquiescence is certain.  Readers, these last days are days of gross apostasy in the churches (that no longer read the Bible and abide by it) as predicted by the Apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:[3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.

 

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North Pole swim a wake-up call on climate change

Source: Canadian Press/Winnipeg Free Press Online

 

A British man is hoping to wake up politicians in Canada and around the world to the threat of climate change by completing a kilometre-long swim in open water at the North Pole.

 

“I don’t think anyone has ever done a swim in -1.8-degree water in a Speedo,” said Lewis Gordon Pugh, who has already completed epic swims in waters from the Antarctic to the Indian Ocean.

 

“(But) ultimately, this is a political swim.”

 

Pugh, speaking from northern Norway where he is training in glacier-fed lakes, said he will ride up to the Pole in a Russian icebreaker.

 

On July 8, he will disembark with members of his team and ski around until they find the nearest stretch of open water that seems likely to stay open and is free of polar bears.

 

“One of the members of my team has been to the North Pole 17 times,” said Pugh.

   

“For the last five years, he’s seen open water close to the North Pole. I’m certain we’ll find some.”

 

Once he’s found his swimming pool, Pugh will then strip down to his bathing trunks, cap and goggles, and dive in. The swim will be a kilometre in length, which Pugh expects to take a little over 20 minutes.

 

Training for the event has already involved 50 kilometre-long swims in zero-degree water. Pugh says he can stay in water that cold for 30 minutes at a time.

 

But the greatest challenges will be mental, not physical.

 

“I’m really, really focused,” Pugh said.

 

Pugh will place the flags of 10 countries at 100-metre intervals in the snow alongside his path through the water, representing the homes of the people on his team. The fifth flag will be Canada’s.

 

Assistants will monitor his heart rate, body temperature and stroke rate from along the ice in case his body temperature drops too quickly. The real danger, though, will come after he gets out of the water, when his heart begins to pump blood back into his frigid extremities.

 

That cold blood circulating back into the centre of his body is likely to keep lowering Pugh’s core temperature even after he’s dry and wrapped in blankets. “When I get out of the water I’m at the most vulnerable stage,” he said.

 

As quickly as possible, Pugh will be hustled off the ice and back on board the icebreaker for a hot shower.

 

“It doesn’t scare me now, but when I’m (sailing to) the North Pole and crunching through ice for a whole week, I’ll get a bit nervous.”

 

The point, he said, is to shock decision-makers with the incongruity of images showing someone swimming where there should be unbroken, solid ice.

 

“One shouldn’t be able to swim at the North Pole,” Pugh said.

 

Comments:  What a buffoon Lewis Gordon Pugh is.  Duped by the Devil’s propaganda that global warming is due to mankind’s wonton burning of fossil fuels, Pugh is risking his life and limbs to send a message to anybody who’s willing to listen.  He has probably never done the research in which noted scientists have written that said cyclical warming and cooling have been with us since before man was placed on Earth some 6,000+ years ago.  Man’s gas consuming automobiles have very little impact on the rise in global temperature, perhaps 5% at most.  It is God Who controls the temperature.  Of course, the vast majority of humans do not believe in God/Jesus preferring to attribute credence in the Devil’s lies.  The Devil’s own workers slave tirelessly to shove the “Save Earth” agenda down people’s throats.  Their motive is to galvanize the world into loving and worshipping the New Age Mother Earth/Nature which is essentially paganism and idolatry.  The ultimate aim is the worship of Satan’s man, the New Age Antichrist.  Mr. Pugh might die from hypothermia.  I can hear the grotesque laughter ringing from the Devil’s lair and the weeping and gnashing of teeth by Pugh in the caverns of Hell. 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.

 

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Hamas shuns Al-Qaida’s support

Source: Associated Press/Jerusalem Post

 

Hamas announced Tuesday that it rejected comments by Osama bin Laden's top deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, who expressed Al-Qaida's support for Hamas and its control of the Gaza Strip.

 

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told the London-based al-Hayat newspaper that "our movement has its own platform. We make our own decisions based on the ways of our official institutions and certainly not on remarks sent to us by leaders of such groups and others far away from here."

 

Al-Qaida's deputy leader on Monday had called on Muslims around the world to back Hamas with weapons, money and attacks on US and Israeli interests in a Web audiotape, urging the Palestinian group to unite with al-Qaida's "holy warriors" after its takeover of Gaza.

 

Comments:  The fear of rejection is the main reason why men are hesitant to approach a pretty woman.  In al-Qaida's case, this public spurning by Hamas hits deep into its self-esteem.  It didn’t bother to send out any feelers to gauge Hamas’ receptiveness before its official overture.  It automatically assumed that because they both detest the Jewish state and want her destruction that this commonality would forge a natural alliance.  Such a presumption is indicative of the self confidence of the terrorists.  Well, Hamas doesn’t need or want al‑Qaida's assistance or moral support.  Hamas marches solely to the tune of Iran from which it gets its funding and military arsenal.

 

It could be that Hamas didn’t want the world community to isolate it if it associated itself with al-Qaida which is No. 1 on the Terrorists Wanted list.  Or it could be the “too many cooks” spoil the broth thingy.  When you team up with another outfit, there are bound to be disputes about who leads and when to strike, therefore by going it alone, Hamas is more focused on its objective, i.e. destroy Israel from staging platforms within the Gaza Strip.  Israel would have loved a Hamas-al-Qaida duet.  Israel is intending to deal a fatal blow to Hamas and targeting al-Qaida at the same time would have been icing on the cake.

 

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Mideast negotiators meet in Jerusalem, expects to name Tony Blair senior negotiator

Source: Associated Press/Jerusalem Post

 

International Mideast negotiators met in Jerusalem on Tuesday, searching for ways to revive peace talks in the wake of Hamas's violent takeover of the Gaza Strip earlier this month.

 

The gathering of the so-called Quartet of Mideast peace makers came a day after the Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian and Jordanian leaders held a summit in a unified stance against Hamas.

 

 

Heading into the meeting, UN spokesman said the envoys had "no set agenda" and would discuss "recent developments and the way forward." The talks were the first by the Quartet since Hamas took control of Gaza, a development that has complicated peace prospects. The Islamic militant Hamas is sworn to Israel's destruction.

 

The Quartet representatives were expected to name outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a senior negotiator to the region, US officials said, speaking on condition pending a formal announcement.

 

Blair did not rule out the idea when asked in London Tuesday.

 

"I think that anybody who cares about greater peace and stability in the world knows that a lasting and enduring resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian issue is essential," Blair said. "As I have said on many occasions, I would do whatever I could to help such a resolution come about."

 

Comments:  Tony Blair hasn’t even left his present job as Britain’s prime minister and already he has another job lined up.  Don’t expect him at the unemployment line.  This bloke is your typical white collar hard working lunch bucket carrying Brit worker ready to tackle any and all challenges.  From being a big wig in London to being entrusted to negotiate Mideast peace on the behest of the Quartet, that says a lot about this ‘man of peace’.  He proved himself worthy to President Bush in his unwavering support in fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq and now he is being aptly rewarded.  His youthful enthusiasm in tackling this arduous task will be put to the ultimate test.  Whereas his predecessors Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Dennis Ross, Maddy Albright, Colin Powell, Condi Rice and al couldn’t get the mule over the finish line, Mr. Blair is more than positive that he will be the ‘man’ to forge the impossible dream of Israel and her long time foes shaking hands and offering hugs as they dance and waltz on the peace settlement stage.

 

Readers, Mideast peace is no longer ‘if’ but ‘when’.  As long as we Christians are still here on Earth, the Antichrist cannot be revealed and Mideast peace cannot be consummated.  Prior to the Rapture event, we’re seeing step by step manoeuvres leading to a comprehensive peace.  2 Thessalonians 2:[7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

 

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Beatles/Rolling Stones Bible Study coming to your church?

Source: Ingrid Schlueter of www.christianworldviewnetwork.com

 

I don’t often give out a Hall of Shame Award at my Christian news blog, Slice of Laodicea, but today, I did just that. I awarded this dubious honor to Standard Publishing for their contribution to the spiritual decline in evangelical churches after the company sent out a press release promoting their new line of culturally relevant “Bible Studies”.  Here is what they say about their new product:

 

“The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Eagles, and George Strait—not exactly what you’d expect to find on the covers of newly-released small group Bible studies.

 

But with discussions ranging from, ‘Yellow Submarine,’ ‘Hotel California’, ‘Check Yes or No’ and ‘Satisfaction,’ that’s exactly what you do get with the new small group series called Tuning Into God (Standard Publishing, 2007).

 

Tuning Into God provides four six-week, stand-alone sessions for adult small groups, and is a fun, entertaining way to introduce seekers to Bible study, or challenge growing Christians to develop in their faith by tackling some of life’s difficult questions.

 

Each study uses an album of classic songs from one of four pop icons to prompt discussion of biblical truth.  The Beatles’ series, for example, includes a session based on ‘The Long and Winding Road,’ to prompt discussion of Jeremiah 29 and God’s promise of plans for his followers…Other well-known songs used include ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want,’ in the Rolling Stones-themed study, ‘Take it Easy’, the study themed by the Eagles, and “Living and Living Well’ in the George Strait-themed study.

 

Here’s the real kicker line in the press release.

 

Although the topics deal with serious subjects, the studies also include fun elements such as background stories on the writing of each song, a page of ‘Fast Facts’ about each group, and ice breaker questions.  Each book features website lists for locating Bible study tools, information on each band, and sources for obtaining the music.

 

It’s really come to this, hasn’t it?  Prostitutional, profit-driven publishers are polluting the Word of God with the cultural filth and spiritual rebellion of groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. In an act of breath-taking spiritual whoredom, Standard Publishing quotes the Bible on the one hand and gives “seekers” information on where to get the music these bands produced on the other.  The spirit of anti-Christ and the decades old historical record of the moral and spiritual condition of the Beatles and Rolling Stones matters not. Who cares if John Lennon called Jesus Christ a “garlic eating bastard.” The Beatles will help us sell our cool new group studies, they say. Who cares about the sexual perversion and degeneracy and the occult involvement that the Beatles and Rolling Stones lived and promoted? So what if the Stones had “Sympathy for the Devil”? There’s money to be had.

 

Instead of opening the sacred pages of the Word of God and teaching from it, Bible study leaders can do fun quizzes and teach “fast facts” on the bands involved. I can only imagine what that sounds like at your local church small group meeting.

 

“Ok, Ok, quiet down everybody. We're starting our church Bible study on the rockers of the 60's off with a quick quiz on the Beatles and the Stones. I hope you're ready. Here goes!

 

1.      How many members of the Rolling Stones and the Beatles suffer from venereal diseases due to the serial fornication they boasted about?

 

2.      How many times did Mick Jagger use LSD within a two-week period in 1968?

 

3.   What names of Hindu deity did George Harrison refer to in his hit song “My Sweet Lord”?

 

3.      What famous filthy and blasphemous name did John Lennon once call Jesus Christ?

 

Comments:  I totally concur with the viewpoint of Ingrid Schlueter.  We’re living in the day of the Laodicean Church when professing Christians have changed evil into good and vice versa and lukewarmness defines the mood of the day.  How else can you explain Rock and Roll’s two greatest groups from the pit of Hell are being critiqued in Bible Study classes as if they have something Christian to offer believers?  Just mind boggling!  The Beatles and the Rolling Stones are the poster boys for mind altering drug consumption, Eastern religions and mysticism, witchcraft, Satanism and hedonism.   Remember the public persona of love, love, love, bring down the establishment, give peace a chance, and freedom for the common man and all that hypocrisy?  Well, these foul mouthed utterly vile British rockers were in only for themselves.  While the typical hippie back in the 1960s and early 1970s shunned materialism, McCartney and Jagger were amassing a sizeable fortune.  Both were knighted by Queen Elizabeth (whom they used to scorn) and now have ‘Sir’ in front of their names.

 

The mixing and blending of Christianity with the Devil’s brew has become prevalent these days that hardly anyone in the post-modern seeker sensitive and emergent churches hardly bats an eye.  Those who do are shown the door, plain and simple.  What they’re saying is: Everything is relative. What’s evil in your eyes is art in my estimation. The Beatles and Stones have their good points and we can learn from them and decipher the spiritual side they were trying to convey to their followers.  Such is the moral declining state of Christendom today.

 

 

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Keep watching (Matt 24:42)!

 

Until next time,

Shalom!

 

 

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