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A Publication of Rory Synoground Ministries International IN THIS ISSUE PAGE 1 MCCAIN PROPOSES GAS TAX BREAK OBAMA, CLINTON ACCUSED OF HOLDING DRED SCOTT VIEW ON ABBORTION PAGE 2 & 3 TESTIFYING OF GOD'S HEALING POWER PROPHESY WATCH PAGE 4 & 5 TRADITIONAL FAMILIES ON THE REBOUND BEN STEINS FILM PASTOR'S CORNER PAGE 6 & 7 WALLBUILDERS PAGE 8 & 9
TAX BREAK CONTINUED KIDS ZONE PAGE 10 & 11 PRINCIPLES OF PROSPERITY TEEN SPOT PAGE 12 IRAQ REPORT CARD
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December Issue 2005 April Issue 2008
MCCAIN PROPOSES GAS TAX BREAK Liz Sidoti - Associated Press Writer - 4/15/2008
John
McCain
called Tuesday for the federal government to free people from paying gasoline taxes this summer and ensure that college students can secure loans this fall, proposals aimed at stemming the public’s pain now from the troubled economy.
that no serious reform of the current tax code will come out of Congress, so now it is time to turn the decision over to the people,” McCain said in
In the longer-term, the certain Republican presidential nominee said he would double the tax exemption for dependent children and offer people the option of choosing a simpler tax system. “We know from experience
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at Carnegie Mellon University a week before Pennsylvania’s primaries. To help people weather the downturn immediately, McCain urged Congress to institute a “gas-tax holiday” by suspending the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He also renewed his call for the United States to stop adding to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and thus lessen to some extent the worldwide demand for oil. Combined, he said, the two proposals would reduce gas prices, which would have a
a sweeping economic speech
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
OBAMA, CLINTON ACCUSED OF HOLDING A ‘DRED Jim Brown - OneSCOTT’ VIEW ON ABORTION NewsNow - 4/14/2008
A prominent evangelical Christian political activist says both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama appeared “halting and uncomfortable” during a recent “Compassion Forum” on CNN when they were asked serious questions about religious liberty, when life begins, and how God created the universe.
Both Democratic presidential candidates reiterated their support for abortion-on-demand during the forum. But when asked if life begins at conception, Senator Clinton (D-New York) would only say “the potential for life begins at conception,” while Senator Obama (D-Illinois) claimed the subject was “something that I have not come to a firm resolution on.” Rob Schenck, president of the conservative National Clergy Council, says the event last
as one that believes “there are some humans who are more valuable than others; there are humans who are not really human persons. “Now that’s Dred Scott language,” he adds. “That’s what the pro-slavers believed.” night reaffirmed that neither Obama nor Clinton are “in the most important ways” compatible with the core beliefs of Evangelicals or core convictions of Christian traditionalists of any kind. “There was no room in either the thinking of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama for anyone who truly believes that all human life is precious at all stages of development from conception until natural death,” explains Schneck. “They have a stratified philosophy of the value of human life,” he continues, describing that philosophy
Schenck contends prolife voters need to “read between the lines” because both Democratic candidates are working with professional speech coaches and they will give just enough information to “beguile” voters. “We have to be extremely discerning in this -- prayerfully, carefully, biblically discerning ...” in reading what was not said, he advises. He also maintains that both Clinton and Obama have “no real moral philosophy” or any room for Christians who believe that “all human life is of equal value in the eyes of God.”
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TESTIFYING OF GOD'S HEALING POWER PHYSYICAL HEALING
I had a mass on my neck. My Doctor did an ultra sound. The results caused him much concern. He made an appointment for me at Mayo Cloinic. I went to the Prayer & Healing Center and recieved prayer. After the prayer ministers prayed, I received my healing. A biopsy done at Mayo Clinic confirmed I was healed. Praise the Lord!
SHOULDER HEALED
My left shoulder was healed during Healing School. After the service I asked Pastor Rory to pray for my shoulder. He said NO, because during the service He saw the power of God go into my shoulder. Then he got a Word from the Lord saying,. “It’s finished, It’s done.” My shoulder was healed. Pastor Rory asked me to move it like I counldn’t before. I did, and the pain was gone.
TWO HEARTS HEALED
Two small girls ages 5 & 6 were dignonsed with heart mrmurs during a physical The doctor arranged appointments at May Clinic. The day of the appointment Pastor Rory, the monther, and myself, prayed for the girls. The girls heart tests came out 100% OK! Thank You Jesus! Praise the Lord!
JESUS SAVES
H E A L I N G
H E A L I N G
HEALED FROM CANCER
I was diagnosed with 4th stage cervical cancer, and given 3-4 months to live. Pastor Rory and Prayer Ministry Team came to my house and prayed with me weekly. After two years of standing on the Word of God and prayer, I am now completely cancer free. My Doctor said that i should not be here. But my Jesus says I AM HEALED.
ARM & SHOULDER PAIN HEALED
After suffering fro three months with arm, shoulder and neck pain, with no relief from Chiropractic or message Therapy, I went forward for prayer at a Service at the Prayer and Healing Center. I instantly felt the pain leave. The Lord healed me completely and quickly. I am now able to move my shoulder and arm with no pain. My neck is pain free to. Praise the Lord!
LOVE FROM JESUS TOUCHED MY LIFE
I was emotionally distressed and depressed. I came in for prayer at the Prayer & Healing Center. I also began attending the services here at the Center. After hearing the truth and knowing the truth my life was changed. I know I would of died if my life would not have been touched by the Love of Jesus.
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PROPHECY WATCH God Is Moving “Heaven and earth are coming closer, and closer and closer together.
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The marvels and the wonders that the Master has declared to come to pass, in your and my time. Your and my day, right now, are far over and above any For the time is right, the time is now thing any human mind has ever and the time has come. When one conceived, except the mind of thought is released in heaven and Jesus. However, remember instantaneously picked that My Word says up on the earth by peoyou have the mind of ple who are aware of the Christ. You can conSpirit, and are aware of ceive it, you can see those things that heavit, you can see into it. en is directing. Where in I will reveal it to you,” times past sometimes it saith the Lord, “and took to those that are hunyears for the earth to gry, and those that pick up on what God will stay in My preswas doing and what He Prophecy given by ence, and those that was saying to the earth, Kenneth Copeland unashamedly praise because there was so Me, I’ll show it to you March 8, 2008 much doubt and unbebefore it happens. 2008 Branson lief and fear. But this is a time when God is mov- Victory Campaign And many of you will declare it, and many ing and people are movof you will be thrilled. And there ing. And people are moving, and are people God is moving and heaven and that will say ‘they are crazy, earth is coming closer, and closer they’re nuts.’ Well, they may be and closer together. And this gencrazy, but they’re walking like eration will know even greater than God, talking like God. They look any other before it, because it has like God, they sound like God. its ear tuned to the spirit of the living They’re not God, but they’re God, in the Word of the living God the people of God. And God and has learned that it can walk in himself, the Great One, creator love andwalk in faith and walk in of all things, is packing up. He power. And perfected love casteth packing up, preparing to move. out fear and Satan is in his worst He’s coming to the earth, movmoment.“This is it. God’s dream is ing heaven. materializing, and it is moving now with such overwhelming force that Heaven and earth are there is nothing on the earth that can slow it down. It can’t slow it coming together, and it down, so it certainly can’t stop it. is soon to come to pass. The days of Satan’s success are over. He’ll cause all the trouble Much sooner than even he can, but he is outnumbered on you think,” every front, hallelujah. Hallelujah.
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STATISTICS SHOW TRADITIONAL FAMILIES ON THE REBOUND Statistics released by the Census Bureau recently are being acknowledged by many pro-family advocates as a good development for the traditional notion of two-parent families.
The Census Bureau’s report of 2004 surveys says nearly 62 percent of the nation’s 73 million children live with both biological parents, within a larger figure of 70 percent overall living with two parents and two-thirds living with two married parents. The New York Times reports that the statistics represent a major trend slowdown between 2004 and a previous survey in 1990 versus a dramatic loss in two-parent homes and an increase in single-female parent homes between 1970 and 1990. Mike McManus, co-founder of Marriage Savers, says the traditional family -- and children who would otherwise suffer the devastating effects of divorce or dysfunctional homes -- could use the good news.
He calls the statistics “a good sign” and notes that “more and more marriages are staying together and fewer and fewer children are having [to suffer] these kinds of effects.” Bill Banuchi of Marriage and Family Savers Institute, which works to promote and restore families, says a biologically intact family is still the true desire of most children. “We also see in the families that we counsel that the children still have that desire for a stable family ... [and] that marriage as an ideal is still very much desired by the young people,” Banuchi contends. McManus acknowledges the part of the report which reflects 19 million children living with only unmarried biological mothers, or about 1 in 4, and 3.7 million living with one biological parent and an unmarried partner. He says that number is still too large, and that empirical evidence continues to show cohabitation is driving several major trends contributing to the deterioration of the family.
BEN STEIN’S CONTROVERSIAL FILM “EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED” TOPS THE BLOGOSPHERE According to Technoranati’s BlogPulse which surveys the hottest topics and sites in the world of blogs, a site featuring Ben Stein’s controversial new film Expelled is the #1 blog on the net.
When confronted at the screening by Myers’ friend Richard Dawkins, a prominent atheist who is himself featured in the film, as to why Myers was “expelled” from the screening, producer Mark Mathis replied that the producers were eager for Myers to screen the film but only after he had paid $10 to watch it with the rest of America after it releases on April 18th.
The web traffic spiked when P.Z. Meyers, a biology professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris, attempted to sneak into a private, invitation-only screening of Ben Stein’s highly controversial upcoming movie, “EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed.” But Myers, who is an outspoken atheist and author of the science blog “Pharyngula” got caught and has used his blog to bitterly complain about not being allowed to see the film before its release.
professors are fired from their jobs and permanently excluded from their profession for questioning Darwinism Producer Mark Mathis “It was amazing to see the reaction of Myers, Richard Dawkins and their friends when one of them wasn’t allowed to screen a film. Yet, these men applaud the fact that throughout the nation, professors are fired from their jobs and permanently excluded from their profession for questioning Darwinism.”
Myers, who was interviewed in “Expelled,” has apparently been asking supporters to sneak into the private screenings which are being conducted by marketing company Motive Entertainment (which handled grassroots marketing for blockbusters “The Passion of the Christ” and “The Chronicles of Narnia”) for various leaders as part of the grass roots marketing of the film.
“We can’t wait for all Americans, including our friend P.Z. Myers, to see the film when it opens on April 18th. We’ll even throw in some free popcorn for P.Z. if he’ll tell us which theater he’ll be attending.”
Mathis saw rich irony in Myers’ discontent with being “expelled” from “Expelled”:
Executive producer Logan Craft of Premise Media noted:
“Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” opens in theaters nationwide on April 18th.
The Freedom Publication Staff
Welcomes your COMMENTS Write to: Freedom Publications/Comments 108 E. Oakland Ave., Austin, MN 55912
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PASTOR'S CORNER Rev. Rory Synoground Founder and President of Rory Synoground Ministries International, and Pastor of Freedom Christian Center, Austin, MN
LOOK TO JESUS!
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32
Hebrews 12:3
can devour.
“Consider [Jesus] that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
So we need to keep our attention on Jesus. If we allow the enemy to pull our attention away from Jesus, from the Word of God, we are headed for disaster.
The Word of God says that we are to look to Jesus, we are to consider Him, not our circumstances, problems, or the latest gossip that is swirling around our circles. In fact, your very life depends on where you have your attention. In recent times it appears that a spirit of discouragement & weariness has been trying to work its way into our lives. These spirits work their way into our lives through all the pressures, bad news and gossip that surrounds us every day. They try to get our eyes off the Word of God by bombarding us with negative reports and lies. They try to get us to look at the storm that we’re in, instead of considering Jesus. If we let this happen, we will begin to loose our freedom. We will begin loosing strength. We will be drawn away from the very One Who has delivered us and gives us the victory. Gods Word tells us that the result of growing weak is to “be wearied and faint in your minds.” Jesus put it this way in Mark 4. He said that when the cares of this world enter into your heart, they’ll choke the Word and cause it to become unfruitful. When we allow the cares and anxieties of this present temporal world into our thinking, it will bring with it discouragement and weariness. You’re faith is the product of the Word God. If you are looking at the storm, instead of Jesus, Who is the Author, Developer, and Finisher of your faith, your faith will wither and die, it will become unproductive. You see faith comes by hearing the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) In 1 John 5:12 we read where “Faith is the Victory that overcometh the World.“ We need our faith in order to overcome the storms of life. We need our faith to be in full operation in order for us to stand against the strategies of the devil, who roams about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he
So what can we do to stop this chain reaction of discouragement and weariness?
Look to Jesus! Keep your eyes on Him! When we allow gossip, bad reports, and cares into our heart, discouragement sets in. We loose strength, we take on negative attitudes, and weariness begins pulling us away from our Father. When this happens, we become easily defeated. So keep your eyes on Jesus. He is your hope. He is your Joy, He is your Redeemer. The word “consider“, actually means to; intensely observe fully, until you understand, and come into agreement with. So to win, to overcome, to do the impossible in life, we must keep considering Jesus. We must intensely observe Him, until we agree with His Word, instead of what our circumstances are saying. Consider Him instead of the cares of this world. Consider what God says in His Word, instead of what the worlds says. Be moved by the thoughts of God, instead of the enemy’s thoughts. Let Gods thoughts become your thoughts, by keeping your attention, and focus on Him! Get your eyes off the circumstances around you and onto your heavenly source. Don’t be afraid you’re going to lose everything. God is your Source, not the world. He can take care of you regardless of what happens around you. If you’ve gotten weary, and discouraged lately, turn your eyes to the One who can & will make a difference, He is your Answer tSo look to Jesus, and experience the impossible manifest in your life today!
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WallBuilders The Founding Fathers record to doubt the truth of the theory of special creation, whether as the work of departmental gods or of one Supreme Deity, matters not – lived in Greece about the time already mentioned: six centuries before Christ.”
While uninformed laymen
erroneously believe the theory of evolution to be a product of Charles Darwin in his first major work of 1859 (The Origin of Species), the historical records are exceedingly clear that the evolutioncreation-intelligent design debate was largely formulated well before the birth of Christ. Numerous famous writings have appeared on the topic for almost two thousand years; in fact, our Founding Fathers were well-acquainted with these writings and therefore the principle theories and teachings of evolution – as well as the science and philosophy both for and against that thesis – well before Darwin synthesized those centuries-old teachings in his writings. Nobel-Prize winner Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) explains: “The general idea of evolution is very old; it is already to be found in Anaximander (sixth century B.C.). . . . [and] Descartes [1596-1650], Kant [1724-1804], and Laplace [17491827] had advocated a gradual origin for the solar system in place of sudden creation.” 1 Professor Henry Fairfield Osborn (1857-1935), a zoologist and paleontologist, agrees, declaring that there are “ancient pedigrees for all that we are apt to consider modern. Evolution has reached its present fullness by slow additions in twenty-four centuries.” 2 He continues, “Evolution as a natural explanation of the origin of the higher forms of life . . . developed from the teaching of Thales [624-546 B.C.] and Anaximander [610-546 B.C.] into those of Aristotle [384-322 B.C.]. . . . and it is startling to find him, over two thousand years ago, clearly stating, and then rejecting, the theory of the survival of the fittest as an explanation of the evolution of adaptive structures.” 3 And British anthropologist Edward Clodd (1840-1930) similarly affirms that, “The pioneers of evolution – the first on
sub-approaches: (1) intelligent-design (that which exists came into being by divine guidance, but the period of time required or the specifics of the process are unsettled, possibly unprovable, and therefore remain debatable); (2) theistic evolution (that which exists came into being over a long, slow passing of time through natural laws and processes but under divine guidance); and (3) special creation (that which exists came into being in six literal days). This, then, makes four separate historic approaches to the origins of man: three theistic, and one non-theistic.
For example, Anaximander (610-546 B.C.) introduced the theory of spontaneous generation; Diogenes (412-323 B.C.) introduced the concept of the primordial slime; Empedocles (495-455 B.C.) introduced the theory of the survival of the fittest and of natural selection; Deomocritus (460-370 B.C.) advocated the mutability and adaptation of species; the writings of Lucretius (99-55 B.C.) announced that all life sprang from “mother earth” rather In the non-theistic camp, Empedocles than from any specific deity; Bruno (15481600) published works arguing against creation and for evolution in 1584-85; Leibnitz (1646-1716) taught the theory of intermedial species; Buffon (1707-1788) taught that man was a quadruped ascended from the apes, about which Helvetius also wrote in 1758; Swedenborg (1688-1772) advocated and wrote on the nebular hypothesis (the early “big bang”) in 1734, as did Kant in 1755; etc. It is a simple fact that countless works for (and against) evolution had been written for over two millennia prior to the drafting of our governing documents and that much of today’s current phraseology surrounding the evolution debate was familiar rhetoric at the time our documents were framed. In fact, Dr. Henry Osborn (1857-1935), curator of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, identifies four periods of evolution: I. Greek Evolution – 640 B.C. to 1600 A.D.; II. Modern Evolution – 1600-1800 A.D.; III. Modern Inductive Evolution – 1730-1850 A.D.; and IV. Modern Inductive Evolution – 1858 to the present. 5 He describes the third period in the history of evolution – the period in which our Framers lived – as a period which produced the pro-evolution writings of “Linnaeus, Buffon, E[rasmus] Darwin, Lamarck, Goethe, Treviranus, Geof. St. Hilaire, St. Vincent, Is. St. Hilaire. Miscellaneous writers: Grant, Rafinesque, Virey, Dujardin, d’Halloy, Chevreul, Godron, Leidy, Unger, Carus, Lecoq, Schaafhausen, Wolff, Meckel, Von Baer, Serres, Herbert, Buch, Wells, Matthew, Naudin, Haldeman, Spencer, Chambers, Owen.” The debate over the origins of man has always been between a theistic and a nontheistic approach; and among those who embrace the theistic approach have been found (and still are found) three distinct
on
(495-435 B.C.) was the father and original proponent of the evolution theory, followed by advocates such as Democritus (460-370 B.C. ), Epicurus (342-270 B.C.), Lucretius (98-55 B.C.), Abubacer (11071185 A.D.), Bruno (1548-1600), Buffon (1707-1788), Helvetius (1715-1771), Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802), Lamarck (1744-1829), Goethe (1749-1832), Lyell (1797-1875), etc. In the theistic camp, Anaxigoras (500-428 B.C.) was the father of intelligent design; that same belief was also expounded by such distinguished scientists and philosophers Descartes (1596-1650), Harvey (1578-1657), Newton (1642-1727), Kant (1729-1804), Mendel (1822-1884), Cuvier
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Author and historian David Barton is the Founder and President of WallBuilders, a national pro-family organization which distributes historical, legal, and statistical information; and helps citizens become active in their local schools and communities. WallBuilders is a name taken from the Bible book of Nehemiah. And just as Nehemiah led a grassroots movement in Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of that city and restore its strength and honor; so, too, WallBuilders seeks to energize the grassroots today to rebuild that which makes America strong—its constitutional, moral, and religious foundations.
Creation and Evolution (1769-1827), Agassiz (1807-1873), etc. Significantly, even Charles Darwin (18091882), strongly influenced by the writings of Paley (1743- 1805), 7 embraced the intelligent design position at the time that he wrote his celebrated word, explaining: Another source of conviction in the existence of God, connected with the reason and not with the feelings, impresses me as having much more weight. This follows from the extreme difficulty, or rather impossibility, of conceiving this immense and wonderful universe, including man with his capacity of looking far backwards and far into futurity, as the result of blind chance or necessity. When thus reflecting I feel compelled to look to a First Cause
growth for organs that only later had their explain everything; in the end God must functioning – these things are increasing- be brought in to complete the picture. ly recognized with the progress of botany, zoology, paleontology, and embryology. In fact, Clarence Darrow himself (the lead Together, they added such prestige to the attorney during the famous Scopes Mondesign argument that by the later eigh- key Trial in 1925 13 ), admitted during the teenth century it was, as approved by the trial that this was a prominent position of John Dewey, an ardent 20th century pro- sciences of organic life, the central point many in that day; 14 and Dudley Malone, Darrow’s co-counsel, even declared: ponent of Darwinism, explained why the of theistic and idealistic philosophy. 9 intelligent design position – scientifically We shall show by (This position of inspeaking – was reasonable: telligent design, also "Natural selection, the testimony of learned in The marvelous adaptation of organisms called the anthropic while it explained men science and theolto their environment, of organs to the or teleological view, organism, of unlike parts of a complex is now embraced by much, could not ex- ogy that there are of people organ (like the eye) to the organ itself; an increasing numplain everything; in millions who believe in the foreshadowing by lower forms of the ber of contemporary higher; the preparation in earlier stages of distinguished scienthe end God must evolution and in the stories of cretists, non-religious be brought in to ation as set forth in though many of the Bible and who them claim to be. complete the find no conflict bepicture." tween the two. The second camp within the theistic approach is theistic evolution, which was Interestingly, writers who chronicle the first propounded by Aristotle (384-322 centuries-long history of the evolution B.C.). Other prominent expositors of this debate16 confirm that there have always view included Gregory of Nyssa (331-396 been numerous evolutionists in both the A.D.), Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D.), theistic and the non-theistic camps, and St. Gregory the First (540-604 A.D.), St. much of the proceedings in the Scopes Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Leibnitz trial reaffirmed that a belief in evolution (1646-1716), Swedenborg (1688-1772), was not incompatible with teaching theisBonnet (1720-1793), and numerous con- tic origins and a belief in a divine creator. temporary scientists. In fact, many of Darwin’s contemporaries embraced this view, The third camp, special (or literal) crebelieving that “natural selection could be ation, was championed by Francisco the means by which God has chosen to Suarez (1548-1617) and later by Pasteur (1822-1895) as well as by subsequent make man.” contemporary scientists. As confirmed by Dr. James Rachels, professor at the University of Alabama at Bir- Significantly, then, the history of this conmingham: Mivart [1827-1900, a professor troversy through recent years and even in Belgium] became the leader of a group previous centuries makes clear that subof dissident evolutionists who held that sequent scientific discovery across the although man’s body might have evolved centuries has not yet significantly altered by natural selection, his rational and spiri- any of these four views. Therefore, it was tual soul did not. At some point God had not in the absence of knowledge about interrupted the course of human history the debate over evolution but rather in to implant man’s soul in him, making him its presence, that our Framers made the something more than merely a former decision to incorporate in our governing ape. . . . Wallace [1823-1913, who advo- documents the principle of a creator. One cated natural selection prior to Darwin] example affirming the Framers’ view on took a view very similar to that of Mivart: this subject is provided by Thomas Paine. he held that the theory of natural selection Although Paine was the most openly and applies to humans, but only up to a point. aggressively anti-religious of the FoundOur bodies can be explained in this way, ers, in his 1787 “Discourse at the Society but not our brains. Our brains, he said, of Theophilanthropists in Paris,” Paine have powers that far outstrip anything nevertheless forcefully denounced the that could have been produced by natu- French educational system which taught ral selection. Thus he concluded that God students that man was the result of prehad intervened in the course of human historic cosmic accidents, or had develhistory to give man the “extra push” that oped from some other species: would enable him to reach the pinnacle Continued In The Next Issue on which he now stands. . . . Natural seof FREEDOM lection, while it explained much, could not having an intelligent mind in some degree analogous to that of man; and I deserve to be called a Theist. This conclusion was strong in my mind about the time, as far as I can remember, when I wrote the Origin of Species.
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MCCAIN PROPOSES GAS TAX BREAK CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
trickle-down effect, and “helpspread relief across the Ameritcan
economy.”
Addressing the feared fallout of the ongoing credit crunch, McCain also said the Education Department should work with the country’s governors to make sure that each state’s guarantee agency - nonprofits that traditionally back student loans issued by banks - has both the means and the manpower to be the lender-oflast-resort for student loans. Lawmakers, students and financial experts are worried that the credit crisis might make it more difficult for students and their families to find loans. Nearly two dozen lenders have dropped out of the federally backed student loan program. Students, McCain said, “should not be denied an education because the recklessness of others has made credit too hard to obtain.” Among other proposals, McCain said he would: -Require more affluent people - couples making more than $160,000 - enrolled in Medicare to pay a higher premium for their prescription drugs than less-wealthy people. -Raise the tax exemption for each dependent child from $3,500 to $7,000. -Offer people the option of choosing a simpler tax system with two tax rates and a standard deduction instead of sticking with the current system. -Suspend for one year all increases in discretionary spending for agencies other than those that cover the military and veterans while launching an expansive review of the effectiveness of federal programs. Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said McCain’s proposals offer “no change from George Bush’s failed policies by going full speed ahead with fiscally irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans,” and amount to “a gift basket of new tax cuts for corporate America at a time when some CEOs are making more in a day than some workers make in a year.” The four-term Arizona senator packaged the fresh proposals with long-standing positions in a wideranging economic speech on Tax
Day in which he faulted not only Democrats but also fellow Republicans for failing to practice prudent spending and fix pricey entitlement programs.
“In so many ways, we need to make a clean break from the worst excesses of both political parties,” McCain said, adding “somewhere along the way, too many Republicans in Congress became indistinguishable from the big-spending Democrats they used to oppose.” He also argued that Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton would impose the single largest tax increase since World War II by allowing tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 - and that McCain voted against but now wants to make permanent - to expire. “Both promise big ‘change.’ And a trillion dollars in new taxes over the next decade would certainly fit that description,” McCain said. Playing on the title of an Obama book, McCain added: “All these tax increases are the fine print under the slogan of ‘hope:’ They’re going to raise your taxes by thousands of dollars per year - and they have the audacity to hope you don’t mind.” The speech was part of McCain’s ongoing effort to counter the notion - fueled by his own previous comments - that he’s not as strong on the economy as he is on other issues. He also sought to fend off criticism from Democrats, including Obama and Clinton, that his small-government, free-market stances don’t mesh with people feeling the pinch particularly those hurting now. He made his remarks a day after he said he believes the country has already entered a recession, a label the Bush administration has resisted even as a credit crisis, a housing slump, soaring energy costs and rising layoffs combined to soften the econo-
my.
The speech also came the same morning the Labor Department reported another worrisome sign for the economy: Inflation at the wholesale level soared in March at nearly triple the rate that had been expected as the costs of energy and food both climbed rapidly. Oil prices hit a new high, rising over $112 a barrel
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ANGELS by Cheri J. Ekbom
Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son. “Wake up, son. It’s time to go to school!”
.“Bless the Lord, you mighty angels of his who carry out his orders, listening for each of his commands.” - Psalms 103:20
“But why, Mom? I don’t want to go.” “Give me two reasons why you don’t want to go.” “Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!” “Oh, that’s no reason not to go to school. Come on now and get ready.”
Angels. Do you ever think about Who won the first human race? Either Adam or Eve! It isn’t recorded.
LAUGH OUT LOUD
“Give me two reasons why I should go to school.”
Where does the gingerbread man sleep? Under a cookie sheet. . What do you call a fish that chews with his mouth open? See food! Why did the cookie go to the hospital? Because he felt crummy.
“Well, for one, you’re 42 years old. And for another, you’re the Principal!”
How do you make a hankie dance? Put a little boogie in it!
them? The Bible is full of true stories about angels. The Bible says that angels are ministering spirits sent forth to serve the children of salvation. Are you saved and do you have Jesus living in your heart? Well then, you have angels that are waiting to serve you! They are ministering spirits. What does ministering mean? It means to give aid, help, or service. They are here to help and serve you! Our verse today says that they are listening (and waiting) for a command. Now you can’t go and command them to do something that is bad or against God’s Word, like robbing a bank. But you can command them to help you and get you out of a scary situation. My youngest daughter Molly sometimes gets scared when it gets dark out and it’s time for bed. She has a little bookmark hanging next to her bed which really helps her during these times. “A bookmark?!” you ask. Yes! On the bookmark is an awesome picture of an angel. The angel is big. He is tall. He has huge muscles! He has his sword drawn
and is standing beside the bed of a little girl that is sleeping. When I think of angels, I think of a group of men that came to our church one time to talk about Jesus. They were called the “Power Team.” It was a group of Christian men that were bodybuilders. They would do all kinds of things - tear a frying pan in half, bend and break a baseball bat, rip a four-inch thick telephone book in half - all with their bare hands! The muscles in their arms were as big as your waist! They were strong. They were big. But they loved Jesus. I think your angel would be on the Power Team! Your angel is just as strong and big - only stronger and bigger! I always send my angels out with my kids when they go to school. If I’ve lost something, I command my angels to help me to find the lost item. Have you ever been shopping at the mall or grocery store with your Mom and gotten lost? Don’t be afraid. Call on your angels to help you! The Bible also says in Psalms 34:7 that “The angel of the Lord will guard and rescue you.” If you ever are in danger or are scared, you can always call on the angels for help. God gave you His angels to help and protect you. Don’t ignore them. Don’t let them sit around all day. Give them orders! Thank God for them, and just see what they can do!
What are Angels? Word Search For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11-12 Find the hidden words within the grid of letters.
TURVZTKFMQTKPFV OSIJRURSVVSSZZQ OTNSYAWLRXABEPS FADIETAEKLYWNLJ JCTSAUKGMJOFCOX CPYKXGPNYTCOLDG PE R O J DAAYM N PPLQ JSXVDVUXCCUTVBT SQDKBERIEKPRUSZ TYWAKNYRFITBNHX OCHIHANMIFHFQUY NARMOIGUARDAIXM ETFJNWUZGXTFNLN SLBGDNAMMOCORDM YJLWVWOYRGCPBLS
against concerning hands stone angels foot lift strike command guard Psalm ways
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GODLY ABUNDANCE Dr. John F. Avanzini was born in Paramaribo, Surinam, South America, in 1936. He was raised and educated in Texas, and received his doctorate in philosophy from Baptist Christian University, Shreveport, Louisiana. Dr. Avanzini now resides with his wife, Pat, in Fort Worth, Texas, where he is the Director of His Image Ministries.
God has designed one way of life
for His children—the abundant life! Abundance means “more than enough, plenty, or amply supplied.” I like to think of it as having more than enough, so you will never have to say no to God again when it comes to funding the end-time harvest. God wants His people to enjoy the abundant life! However, we come into God’s perfect will in our finances only by understanding and applying His Word to them. I believe the truth of God’s Word will set you free from the bondage of debt, so you can experience the abundant life God provides through Christ Jesus!
The Abundance of God “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). We serve an abundant God. His creation abounds all around us: water, land, mountains, animals, plants, trees, insects...it only makes sense that He wants our lives to abound “exceeding abundantly” too. The Word of God agrees. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21). This Scripture contains three critical points:
1. God wants to give us not only more than we can ask, but more than we can even think about! 2. God wants to give us this unlim-
ited blessing “according to the power that worketh in us.” His promises operate through us only to the degree that we let His power operate in us. We must totally submit to His will.
3. “Unto Him be glory!” The realm of more than we can ask or think belongs to those who seek God’s glory, not their own. When you walk in God’s abundance and go beyond simply having your basic needs like rent, groceries, utilities, and car payments met, you can do powerful things
for His kingdom. God wants to give you more than you can ask or think because His plan for you is infinitely greater than you can imagine! By faith you can break out of the devil’s insufficiency thinking and God will open new visions of abundance. He wants you to flourish so you will have more than enough to finance the end-time harvest. God’s blessings enable you to accumulate wealth. A key principle in biblical economics is: “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Prov. 10:22).
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The Purpose of Wealth God is the author of your abundance; it is part of being blessed by Him. In the Scriptures He has laid down a firm foundational plan to teach you and me how to become rich! He wants us to grow beyond simply being blessed to the point where we become blessings to others. Let’s be realistic. You cannot operate in an effective giving ministry from poverty or shortage. The only way out of these inhibitors of abundance is generous giving. Remember, whatever you give to God will always be given back to you. Be faithful over little and God will give you a lot to be faithful over. If you exercise faithfulness and patience, eventually you will find yourself in the ministry of finances and become a banker for God! Source: The Basics of Abundance by John Avanzini Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
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"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" Phillippians 4:19
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Music News--www.tvulive.com Switchfoot recently announced that Emery would be joining for almost the entire To Write Love On Her Arms Tour. Along with Emery, The Myriad will also be appearing at select shows. You can get all the details about the tour by logging on to Switchfoot’s website. Sanctus Real has also announced a brand new fall tour. Sure, fall seems a long way off, but it’s a very short tour in the Midwest so you don’t want to miss it. For more details, you can hit sanctusreal.com.
Generation Extreme youth group A PLACE TO BELONG A PLACE TO BE REAL A PLACE TO BE FREE WE MEET EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT 7:00PM at FREEDOM CHRISTIAN CENTER 108 E. Oakland Ave Austin MN 55912 FUN
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Protecting Our Hearts Alyssa, Lauren and Becca Barlow talk about how they find their worth in God. by Todd Hertz
Alyssa Barlow was praying one “The three of us really had to work day when a picture popped in her mind. “I saw this girl crying in a dark room,” Alyssa says. “There were broken pieces of a porcelain heart on the floor and she was trying to put it back together.”
Alyssa started crying, not knowing what the mental image meant. She thought, Lord, what is this?
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OPEN FRIENDS
to learn to take every thought captive and make sure it fits to a life shaped by Christ, like 2 Corinthians 10:5 says,” says Alyssa. “We believe that’s important because when you meet an amazing guy and find yourself obsessing about the last conversation you had and over what they might think of you, you’re getting too emotionally attached even if you aren’t dating. It’s OK to have romantic feelings, but you need to watch how much you’re getting caught up with someone.”
“I think God was talking to me about how often we can allow our hearts to be broken by others,” she says. “We long for approval and definition. And while we’re built for that need to draw us to God, we are quick to pass our heart to anyone who will complete, define or love us. But it’s a porcelain heart for a reason—it wasn’t meant to be passed around and treated carelessly.”
“I can sometimes meet a guy and start thinking, ‘Wow this guy is amaz ing,’ and just start getting too wrapped up in it,” Becca says. “At times like these, it’s easy to think, ‘He must be the one!’ Instead, I’ve learned to ask myself, ‘What do I like about this guy’s personality that I’d want in my future husband?’”
In the BarlowGirl song, “Porcelain Heart,” the girls sing: “This can’t be the way … something’s gotta change and mend this broken heart of mine.” Ignite asked Alyssa, Lauren and Becca: “How do you protect your porcelain hearts? How do you keep them from shattering to pieces?” Here’s what they had to say.
KEEP EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE: In addition to paying attention to how often she thinks about guys, each sister also shares what she’s thinking with her sisters and parents. In return, they often check up on each other by asking questions: “So, how’s that friendship going? Are you thinking too much about him? What qualities do you really like about him?”
FIND TRUE WORTH: “I need to let God be the one who defines me,” Lauren says. “We put so much importance on what people—especially the opposite sex—think of us. We let that determine our worth. But what God says about me is worth so much more.”
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WAIT FOR GOD’S TIMING: “God put Adam to sleep until he created the right one for him,” Alyssa says. “So we always say, ‘OK, put me to sleep until I’m ready.’ That way, my heart doesn’t get destroyed before that happens. I know my husband isn’t going to fall from the sky. But I know God has a How do you find out what God journey for us and until we’re ready, thinks? “We’ve studied the we choose to be friends with guys. Bible, such as the book of Es- We hang out in groups but we don’t ther, to see what God thinks of want to get our value from guys. We us,” Becca says. “By learning don’t expect them to fill the hole in how much he loves us, we let our hearts only God should fill. We God give us our worth.” don’t want to hand them our hearts. We need to view our hearts as a TAKE THOUGHTS gift.” CAPTIVE:
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REPUBLICANS HAPPY, DEMS UPSET WITH IRAQ REPORT CARD Jim Brown - OneNewsNow - 4/12/2008
House Republicans are
expressing optimism regarding the latest progress report from the nation’s top military commander in Iraq. General David Petraeus warned members of Congress this week that security gains in Iraq are too “fragile and reversible” to speed up the withdrawal of troops or set a timeline for all combat units to leave the country. Petraeus, who has recommended to President Bush that 20,000 extra troops be pulled from Iraq by the end of July, said he is unlikely to call for an additional troop buildup. Congressman Steve Pearce (R-New Mexico) agrees with Petraeus’ assessment, and says the general has given ample evidence the troop surge worked. “We’ve dropped violence dramatically. That doesn’t mean we’re tremendously closer to a solution, but that it’s safer as we work towards a solution,” says Pearce. “We’re seeing political progress; we’re
seeing the different elements in the Iraqi population come together. Ethnic differences are being solved; it’s a sort of report I would like to see.” Representative Tom Price (R-Georgia) also agrees, and argues the responsibility of the Iraqi government has “by and large increased” and Baghdad continues to meet the benchmarks Democrats demanded. “But what we hear from the other side over, and over, and over is that they are interested in failure at virtually any cost,” Price points out. “That’s the most striking thing to me.” When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) was asked about Petraeus’ suggestion that the U.S. should have a “45-day period of consolidation and evaluation” before withdrawing any troops from Iraq, she responded by saying the general had “kicked the can down the road over and over again” and “[t]he government of Iraq is not making necessary political decisions.” hammad Rahim.” Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
John Witherspoon Those who wish well to the State ought to choose to places of trust men of inward principle, justified by exemplary conversation. . . .[And] the people in general ought to have regard to the moral character of those whom they invest with authority either in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches. [John Witherspoon, The Works of John Witherspoon Edinburgh: J. Ogle, 1815), Vol. IV, pp. 266, 277.]