Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

The Roots of Rage At a Town Hall Meeting
Aug 12th, 2009
Daily NewsThe New York Times
Categories: Today's Headlines

Sen. Specter faces angry, rowdy crowd at Pa. auditorium

LEBANON, Pa. - They got up before dawn in large numbers with angry signs and American flag T-shirts, and many were seething with frustration at issues that went far beyond overhauling health care.

More than 1,000 people showed up here Tuesday morning in this largely Republican town in central Pennsylvania for a town-hall-style meeting with Senator Arlen Specter, though the auditorium could seat only 250. Like many of the dozens of such meetings held by members of Congress over the last few weeks, this one was punctuated with rowdy moments, and interviews with many of those who showed up made it clear just how much underlying dissent motivated them.

Many said the Obama administration’s plans for a new health care system were just another example of a federal government that had again gone too far, just as it had, they said, with the economic stimulus, the auto industry bailout and the cap-and-trade program.

“This is about the dismantling of this country,” Katy Abram, 35, shouted at Mr. Specter, drawing one of the most prolonged rounds of applause. “We don’t want this country to turn into Russia.”

Ms. Abram described herself as a stay-at-home mother from Lebanon, and in many ways she was representative of the almost entirely white and irritable crowd, most of whom were from the area. Based on interviews with several dozen people who attended, it appeared that about 80 percent of those who showed up opposed the planned changes to the health care system.

Many said they heard about the meeting from e-mail alerts sent by conservative and antitax groups like the Constitutional Organization of Liberty and the Berks County Tea Party, along with Mr. Specter’s own mailings. Some voiced sentiments that were heard recently on conservative radio shows, though those interviewed said they resented being characterized as mobs or puppets of lobbyists, emphasizing that they represented only themselves. “I demand my voice!” read one sign outside. “You work for me,” was a refrain yelled inside the auditorium.

Study: Homeschoolers Score 37 Points Higher
Aug 12th, 2009
Daily NewsWND - Bob Unruh
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Costs also average $500, compared to $10,000 at public school

A newly released study from the Home School Legal Defense Association shows that not only do homeschoolers incur expenses only 5 percent of what public schools spend on each student, they score nearly 40 points higher on standardized achievement tests.

"These results validate the dedication of thousands of homeschool parents who are giving their children the best education possible," said Michael Smith, president of the advocacy organization.

The HSLDA said homeschooling in the United States already includes about 4 percent of the school-aged population and is growing at about 7 percent a year, now involving some two million children.

The survey included 11,739 homeschool students in all 50 states for the 2007-2009 academic year, and the HSLDA said the results were consistent with previous studies on homeschoolers' achievements.

Drawing on the results from 15 independent testing services, the Progress Report 2009, the most comprehensive homeschool academic study ever completed, showed homeschoolers who participated in the California Achievement Test, Iowa Tests of Basic Skills and Stanford Achievement Test scored 37 percentile points above public school students on standardized tests.

The study also showed that achievement gaps common in public schools and linked to income levels and other factors mostly were absent or minimal in the homeschool community.

The study showed homeschooled boys scored at the 87th percentile and girls were at the 88th percentile. Students where the household income was under $35,000 scored at the 85th percentile and students in homes with a household income over $70,000 were at the 89th percentile.

There was only slightly more variance linked to parental education, too. Children whose parents did not have college degrees were at the 83rd percentile and children in homes where both parents held college degrees were at the 90th percentile.

"Because of the one-on-one instruction homeschoolers receive, we are prepared academically to be productive and contributing members of today's society," Smith said.

"Homeschooling is a rapidly growing, thriving education movement that is challenging the conventional wisdom about the best way to raise and educate the next generation," said Smith.

Regarding costs, the average public school spends nearly $10,000 per child per year, but the Progress Report said the average homeschool parent spends about $500 per child per year.

Ian Slatter, director of media relations for the HSLDA, cited the 100,000 students graduated each year from homeschools as a reason the activity is getting more and more attention.

"Despite much resistance from outside the homeschool movement, whether from teachers unions, politicians, school administrators, judges, social service workers, or even family members, over the past few decades homeschoolers have slowly but surely won acceptance as a mainstream education alternative. This has been due in part to the commissioning of research which demonstrates the academic success of the average homeschooler," the HSLDA report said.

Homeschoolers achieved the 89th percentile in reading, 84th in language, 84th in math, 86th in science and 84th in social studies.

The 37-point margin was significantly higher than the 30-point margin reported in a 1998 study on the issue, the HSLDA said.

"This particular study is the most comprehensive ever undertaken. It attempts to build upon and improve on the previous research. One criticism of the Rudner [1998] study was that it only drew students from one large testing service. Although there was no reason to believe that homeschoolers participating with that service were automatically non-representative of the broader homeschool community, HSLDA decided to answer this criticism by using 15 independent testing services for this new study. There can be no doubt that homeschoolers from all walks of life and backgrounds participated in the "Progress Report."

He reported, "Educational research does not indicate any positive correlation between teacher qualifications and student performance. Many courts have found teacher qualification requirements on homeschoolers to be too excessive or not appropriate. The trend in state legislatures across the country indicates an abandonment of teacher qualification requirements for homeschool teachers. In fact, Americans, in general, are realizing that the necessity of teacher qualifications is a myth. The teachers' unions and other members of the educational establishment make up the small minority still lobbying for teacher certification in order to protect their disintegrating monopoly on education."

The assessment said, "One of the most significant studies in this area was performed by Dr. Eric Hanushek of the University of Rochester, who surveyed the results of 113 studies on the impact of teachers' qualifications on their students' academic achievement. Eighty-five percent of the studies found no positive correlation between the educational performance of the students and the teacher's educational background.

"Although 7 percent of the studies did find a positive correlation, 5 percent found a negative impact," the report said.

Art's  Commentary......Hats off to homeschoolers!

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Revelation 13:2
Aug 12th, 2009
Exploring RevelationArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Prophecy

"And the beast which I saw". This beast is first seen as a great empire rising out of the midst of a troubled world. Secondly this beast is an actual man, the Antichrist, he does not simply represent a movement. It is sometimes difficult to separate the king from the kingdom, the term beast is used interchangeably for the man and the kingdom.

Daniel foretells of four great world empires that were to come, each one is represented as a beast. Babylon was a lion,  Medio/Persia was a bear, Greece was a leopard.  Rome is represented as a composite figure. The beast that represents Rome is a fierce creature made up of all of the characteristicsof the first three. In our text today the beast represents the Revived Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Antichrist.

After the church is raptured Antichrist will appear on the scene as the head of the Revived Roman Empire. We learned in verse one that this kingdom will be made up of ten kings, as represented by the ten horns of Daniel's vision.

This leader will have great power over the whole world. The source of his power will be Satan himself, "And the dragon gave him his power,", The dragon is Satan, and he gives this power to his chosen man. We are reminded of Satan offering the Lord Jesus this same power in Luke 4:5-6. "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, And the devil said unto him, all this will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it." Our Lord refused Satan's offer, but Antichrist will accept the offer.

Notice it refers to, "His seat", Satan will make his man the absolute ruler of the entire world. We read that ultimately no one will buy or sell without the permission of this man. "And great authority", God has granted Satan great authority over the kingdoms of this world. We read in 1 John 5:19, "....and the whole world lieth in wickedness". The word wickedness is translated in verse 18 as "wicked one", So we actually can read, "The whole world lieth in the wicked one". For a time God will allow Satan total domination over the kingdoms of this world, and that authority will be placed in this man Satan has chosen.

Antichrist will be Satan incarnate. That which Antichrist  will accomplish will be due to the working of Satan. "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders" (2 Thess. 2:9).

This coming hour will be the moment which Satan has longed for since his rebellion against God in heaven. Remember his boasting, "I will be like the most High", it is as if the Lord is saying to Satan, go ahead Satan, see what you can do. The record will show that Satan is totally inadequate to rule this world, the world will be in ashes as Satan's opportunity comes to an end. That truth has to be revealed before the true ruler, The Prince of Peace comes in power and glory to bring peace and righteousness to the world.

Even at this moment the infrastructure of the Revived Roman Empire is being prepared. Satan no doubt, has his man in readiness to come to power.

Most U.S. Jewish Obama Backers Oppose His Israel Policies
Aug 12th, 2009
Daily NewsJpost
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

American Jewish Democrats are breaking with the Obama administration over its policies in Israel, according to the results of a survey designed by a former pollster for president Bill Clinton.

The survey, initiated by pollster Dick Morris, found that the majority of respondents - some 58 percent - think President Obama is doing a good job promoting peace in the Middle East. But 55% said the president is "naive in thinking that the Palestinians would make peace" and that Palestinians "will just use the new land as a base to attack Israel like they did in Gaza."

Christian Orphanage Workers Beheaded
Aug 12th, 2009
Daily NewsWND - Bob Unruh
Categories: Today's Headlines;Persecution

Militant linked to al-Qaida tells families of penalties for apostasy

Four Christians working in Somalia to provide services to orphans have been executed by beheading by al-Qaida-linked interests who told their families that is the penalty for apostasy.

The report on the outrage comes from International Christian Concern which said the executions happened sometime after the kidnapping of the Christians on July 27, but it only discovered the tragedy recently.

The organization identified the Christian orphanage workers as Fatima Sultan, Ali Ma'ow, Sheik Mohammed Abdi and Maaddey Diil. They had been kidnapped in the coastal Somalian town of Merca, about 50 miles from Mogadishu.

According to ICC, al-Shabaab, an Islamic extremist organization, claimed responsibility, and confirmed the Christians were killed when they refused to renounce their faith in Jesus.

The ICC report said it was on Aug. 4 when a junior al-Shabaab militant notified the families of the victims the four were beheaded for apostasy. ICC said the militant described the Christians as promoters of "fitna," a Muslim term for religious discord.

'moderate' Fatah Elects Violent New Leaders
Aug 12th, 2009
Daily NewsIsraelNN
Categories: One World Church;Anti-Israel

Once again, Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, the Palestinian faction the international community wants everyone to view as "moderate," has proved itself to be anything but.

At the conclusion of the Fatah convention in Bethlehem on Tuesday, party members voted out most of the "old guard" Central Committee members and replaced them with younger party activists that the international media is trying to paint as "reformers."

Fatah has been plagued by corruption and mismanagement, and the new Central Committee members may indeed do something to remedy that, if for no other reason than to stop losing political ground to Hamas.

But these "fresh faces," as some media outlets referred to them, are some of Fatah's most violent and blood-soaked personalities.

Leading the list is Marwan Barghouti, who is serving several life sentences in an Israeli prison for his role as leader of the Fatah-aligned terror group the Al Aksa Brigades, which killed numerous Israelis at the start of the recent terror war.

Lebanon-based Fatah strongman Sultn Abu al-Aynain, who was described by Fatah insiders who spoke to the Jerusalem Post as a "ruthless thug," is also near the top of the list.

Favorites of past US presidents, Mohammed Dahlan and Jibril Rajoub, also won places on the powerful Central Committee. During their time as the Palestinian Authority security chiefs in Gaza and the "West Bank," respectively, Dahlan and Rajoub actively facilitated terrorist activity against Israel.

As a top advisor to Abbas today, Dahlan openly advocates a return to near open warfare with Israel.

Indeed, earlier in the week all of the new members of the Central Committee voted in favor of a new Fatah party platform that officially places the option of renewed terrorism against Israel back on the table, in violation of the PA's signed peace agreements.

The new party platform also officially endorses Barghouti's Al Aksa Brigades as an integral part of the Palestinian "security" forces.