Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

The Dead Soul of Adam Lanza
Dec 18th, 2012
CommentaryPatrick J. Buchanan
Categories: Commentary

“No set of laws can eliminate evil from the world, or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society.”

So said President Obama in words of comfort in Newtown. The president was right to speak of evil, but mistaken when he called the massacre “senseless.”

For this was a premeditated and purposeful act of mass murder, and the devil that did it knew exactly what he was doing and why.

When he put four bullets into his mother’s head while she lay in bed, Adam Lanza wanted her life ended along with his. When he headed for Sandy Hook Elementary, with the Glocks and Bushmaster rifle, he knew he would encounter no armed resistance.

Before he went into that school to shoot 20, 30 or 40 children, barely more than babies, he knew his slaughter would be so stomach-turning and heart-wrenching that the TV crews would come running.

And by day’s end, the world would know who Adam Lanza was.

Lanza kept firing at the children until he heard the sirens. Then he pulled out one of the Glocks, put it to his head and ended it, knowing he was on his way to becoming world famous

A desire to be famous coupled with a dead conscience is the common thread running through these recurring atrocities. These loners and losers want us to know who they are. And, to succeed now, each almost has to outdo in horror those who went before.

Since the news first came in Friday from Newtown, we have argued about guns in America and mental illness, but heard little about the moral sickness of our society.

Americans have always owned guns. But in Prohibition, when gangsters like John Dillinger, “Machine Gun” Kelly and “Baby Face” Nelson were notorious, the most remembered atrocity was the “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.” Al Capone’s gang executed seven of Bugs Moran’s gang in a Chicago garage.

Yet, just two years ago, when one Washington, D.C., drive-by shooting ended with four dead on a sidewalk and five wounded, it was just local news.

Why are these atrocities growing more frequent and deadly?

We are told that it is because the guns used – especially assault rifles like Russian-made AK-47s and civilian copies of the M-16 used in Vietnam, like the Bushmaster – are all too available.

But the guns used in the Sandy Hook massacre were legally purchased by Lanza’s mother, and she and Adam lived in a state with some of the strictest gun laws in the country.

And the Bushmaster is not a machine gun but a semi-automatic, as are the 100-year-old Colt .45 and M-1 rifle used by GIs in World War II. Fully automatic weapons like the Thompson submachine gun cannot be purchased without a federal license. No fully automatic weapon has been used in any of these massacres.

Will ending all sales and transfers of assault rifles and limiting the rounds in clips and magazines reduce these massacres in malls, movie theaters and schools? Did it succeed when the assault weapons ban was in force in the Clinton years?

If assault rifles are evil things that ought not be in the hands of decent Americans, why do “shoot-to-kill” video games feature these weapons?

Why does Hollywood glamorize assault rifles in action-packed films of slaughter starring Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris and Jason Statham?

Few of America’s young have seen an assault weapon fired outside the military. Scores of millions have seen them fired on TV. Many of our movies are advertisements for the efficiency of assault weapons in the hands of good guys doing heroic deeds.

Are the folks who think America would be a better place with a more restrictive Second Amendment willing to restrict the First Amendment to stop all distribution of movies and cable shows that depict famous actors blasting enemies with assault weapons?

Not long ago, there existed in our hearts “a fear of God.”

How, we would ask ourselves, if we commit an evil act like murder, will we answer at God’s judgment seat? For He will decide if we enter what the president called in Newtown, God’s “eternal house in heaven.”

But if God is dead, not to worry. Just put the gun to your head and pull the trigger, and it’s over. No trial. No disgrace. No prison. Nothing to worry about anymore.

No voice of conscience told Adam: Do not do this evil thing! Now he is no longer a nobody, a nerd, a recluse. He is famous. Everybody is talking about him, and ruminating on what might have motivated him.

Adam wanted to be somebody. And now he is.

And out there others like him are thinking: That could be me.

Teacher Faces Suspension for Sharing Bible Verse
Dec 18th, 2012
Daily Newsfoxnews.com
Categories: Today's Headlines;Persecution

A longtime substitute teacher in Phillipsburg, NJ, faces a 90-day suspension after he was accused of sharing a Bible verse with a student – and then giving the child a Bible.

The Phillipsburg School Board said Walter Tutka broke two policies – distributing religious literature on school grounds and another policy that directs teachers to be neutral when discussing religious material.

The controversy has generated outrage among the region’s religious community – with many claiming that Tutka is being “persecuted” for simply being a Christian. The electrical company retiree is a well-respected member of the community.

“It was appalling,” said Joe Imhof, a close friend of Tutka. “They read him the riot act. They used words like separation of church and state and inclusion. And then they sent him home for violating school district policy.”

Imhof and Tutka serve together in Gideons International – a ministry known for providing Bibles to school children across the world. He was one of several people to speak at a recent school board meeting about Tutka’s fate.

In October, Tutka was standing by a door waiting on middle school students to enter the building. One student trailed behind the rest.

“Just remember, son,” Tutka told the tardy student, “The first shall be last but the last shall be first.”

A few days later the student asked about the origins of the quote. Tutka told him it was in the Bible.

“Over the next few weeks, the young student asked about a half dozen times where the quote was from in the Bible,” Imhof told Fox News. “Walt kept forgetting to look it up.”

On Oct. 12th, Tutka was eating lunch in the cafeteria when the student approached and brought up the Bible verse. So Tutka took out his Bible and showed the student the verse.

At some point the student mentioned that he did not have a Bible.

“Walt basically said, ‘would you like mine?” Imhof said. “The student said yes and so Walt gave him his personal New Testament.”

It’s unclear who reported Tutka to administration officials. But several days later he was summoned to the front office and Tutka, who had subbed for 28 out of the last 30 days, was sent home. To date, he has not been called back.

The school superintendent did not return multiple calls seeking comment.

The Express-Times received a copy of a letter from the school district recommending Tutka’s suspension for violating district policy.

“The public schools are somewhat scared to death to face the issue that the answer to some of today’s problems is in Scripture,” Imhof told Fox News. “They are trying to be so politically correct that they are totally politically ignorant about what is needed to turn the country around.”

In this case, he said Tutka’s Bible was a gift – not the distribution of religious material.

“He’s been persecuted by the school board,” he said. “The teachers locally support him but are not willing to throw their hat into the ring lest they be intimidated and persecuted by the administration.”

Tutka’s future with the district is still in limbo after board members decided to table the issue at this week’s meeting. That decision infuriated more than 100 people who attended the meeting to show their support for the embattled teacher.

“It is so awful,” said Tutka’s pastor, Chris Hussey. “I’ve never seen something so absurd in my life.”

Hussey, the pastor of Abundant Life Community Church, told Fox News that he’s been disturbed by Tutka’s treatment.

“Walt is a spiritually strong guy,” he said. “He knows not to hold any animosity or bitterness – but it is emotionally taxing on him.”

The incident has already drawn the attention of religious liberty groups — like the Liberty Institute.

“A teacher answering a child’s question honestly about the origin of a commonly used phrase and then providing documentary evidence to support the answer is educationally appropriate and legal,” said Hiram Sasser, the Institute’s director of litigation.

”If the teacher had quoted Buddha saying ‘do not dwell in the past’ and given the student a book on Buddha the PC police would be praising the teacher for his enlightenment and tolerance. ”

Pastor Hussey said the incident should serve as a stark reminder to Christians that there is a war on the culture.

“Christianity is under attack in America,” he said. “It seems our government officials are afraid of Muslims and yet they capitulate to them and any other religious group. But when it comes to Christians – they are completely intolerant of Christians.”

Both Hussey and Imhof also shared what they considered to be a chilling wakeup call for American Christians.

“One of the Gideons in our local camp is from the Soviet Union,” Imhof said. “In most countries overseas we are allowed to go into public schools and give Bibles to students. But since this is America – you can’t do it here.”

“When the Soviet Union fells, Bibles were allowed in the schools, people could pray in the schools,” Hussey said. “It seems we have more persecution in America than they do in Russia.”

Polls: Palestinians Seek Violence, Support Hamas
Dec 18th, 2012
Daily NewsIsrael Today
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel;Moral Decline

Two new public opinion polls reveal that in the wake of the recent Gaza war, Palestinians are even more in favor of violence against Israel, and would hand Hamas the reins of the Palestinian Authority if elections were held today.

A poll conducted by the Ramallah-based Arab World for Research & Development found that an overwhelming 87.7 percent of Palestinian Arabs either agree or strongly agree that "armed struggle, as adopted by Hamas, is the best means of achieving Palestinian independence."

These numbers are up after the eight-day conflict in and around Gaza last month, which saw Israel hastily agree to a ceasefire even as Hamas was still bombarding Israeli cities.

As the rulers of Gaza, Hamas immediately claimed victory, and has been reaping the benefits every since.

A second poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that if elections were held today, Hamas would again win a majority in the parliament and Gaza-based leader Ismail Haniyeh would defeat Western-backed Mahmoud Abbas for the presidency of the Palestinian Authority.

Even in the so-called "West Bank," which is Abbas' power base, Haniyeh would win an equal number of votes as the current Palestinian leader.

The results of these polls again shows how the Palestinian Authority's failure to educate its population for peace has set the stage for perpetual conflict. Even if a peace agreement can be signed, the public has been conditioned to rally around any leader or group that can prove an ability to harm Israel.

Polls: Israelis See No Peace Partner, Still Want 2 - State Solution
Dec 18th, 2012
Daily NewsIsrael Today
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

Recent polls conducted in Israel showed that a majority of Israelis believe they have no viable peace partner on the Palestinian side - especially in a Palestinian Authority that includes Hamas - but nevertheless still support a two-state solution to the conflict.

In a survey conducted by New Wave ahead of the upcoming Israeli general election, 62.4 percent of respondents said there is no genuine and viable partner for peace on the Palestinian side.

The Israeli public's view contradicts that of the international community and even some Israeli leaders, like President Shimon Peres, who insist that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is a true peace partner, despite his cozying up to Hamas.

But, while Israelis have a grim outlook on the prospects for peace, they still believe in the idea of a two-state solution.

A second poll conducted by the Smith Institute revealed that 62 percent of Israelis support the creation of a Palestinian Arab state, and 58 percent believe such a state will come into existence in the near future.

But the second poll also showed that attitudes are shifting the longer the conflict drags on. Among younger Israelis, the Palestinian leadership is increasingly seen as dishonest and manipulative, and as such only 42 percent of respondents between the ages of 18-29 still support a two-state solution.

Notice to our Readers
Dec 18th, 2012
Daily NewsArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary

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Nepal: Christians 'on Top of the World' Facing Persecution
Dec 18th, 2012
Daily NewsCBN newsonline
Categories: Commentary;Persecution

Nepal is known for being on top of the world. It's also a country where Hinduism and Maoism struggle for dominance.

Christians face widespread persecution but God is on the move. Their numbers have grown from 29 people when the first church was planted in Nepal 60 years ago, to nearly 1 million today. Most of those coming to Christ in Nepal today are former Hindus.

One young woman named Sharada said she grew up in a Hindu family.

"Before I came to Christ my life was in darkness and I didn't know God," she said.

Sharada, however, faced persecution from her own family when she left Hinduism for Christianity.

"When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior the persecution started to come into my life," she explained. "My mother asked me, 'Do you love your religion more than your parents?' I told her, I love both. She hated me for following Christ and she used to say bad words to me."

Physical attacks soon followed. Sharada said her mother threatened to kill her with a sickle and blind her with a nail.

"My mother told me, 'If you are blind you'll stop going to church.' She took the nail, pushed me to the ground and tried to stick the nail into my eyes. I moved and the nail hit my ear," she said.

Sharada escaped to the jungle where she now lives with a friend.

Churches under Fire

Christians in Nepal not only come under attack from co-workers and family members, but churches are also under fire from Maoists and Hindu militants.

One case in point is a church CBN News visited in a remote region of southwestern Nepal. Pastor Damboo Bishoo Karma explained what happened when militant Hindus attacked members of his church.

"Non-believers came to our church and demanded that we join their festivals and worship idols," Pastor Karma recalled. "We told them that we don't worship like this."

The Christians refused to help fund the Hindu festivals.

"When we didn't pay the money they came and attacked us and took our livestock," Karma said.

One church member named Mr. Choudary (NAME?) faced a raging mob outside his home.

"Two-hundred thirty villagers with sticks came here and took the two oxen that I kept," he said.

Pastor Karma said the suffering of village Christians comes of no surprise to them.

"Matthew 5:12 says in my name you will be persecuted and you will be hated," he said.

Nepali Christians are also disrespected in death. Hindus usually cremate a deceased loved one, but what happens to Christians when they die?

CBN News visited a cemetary in Kathmandu, the only one where Christians could bury their dead.

But no longer. Rarely are Christians given a place for burial. Religious extremists believe non-Hindu bodies desecrate the land.

Christians report militants often force them to dig up the buried remains of loved ones. One Christian woman reportedly kept her deceased husband's decaying body in her home because she was prevented from burying him.

Another woman helped hide church members in her house. A rampaging mob attacked them for burying a deceased Christian on village property.

Standing Firm

So what does the future hold for Nepali Christians? Pastor Karma said his church will stand firm.

"We want to keep the witness of God in this place and improve the church. Our main purpose is to influence all of the villagers," he said.

And God is working in Mr. Choudary's heart. He lost his oxen in attacks on his home.

"We are sons and daughters of God," he said. "Whatever the villagers took from us belonged to Him. We should be satisfied with His Word."

And what about Sharada? She and her aunt led Sharada's cousin, Huma, to Christ.

Sharada explained, "I told her if you find God then you will know how wonderful He is and you will know God's plan for your life."

Now, Huma said she wants to share the good news.

"After I finish my education, I want to share Jesus with those who do not know Him. I will walk with Him and share the Gospel," she said.

"Sharada says even though people offer many animals for sacrifice, they will not be forgiven," she continued. "Only Christ's blood can bring forgiveness of our sins. I now know death is not the end. God has brought me from darkness to light."

Sharada and Huma are two young, Nepali women who have found eternal hope and vision at the top of the world.

Let the Headlines Speak
Dec 18th, 2012
Daily NewsFrom the Internet
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Indonesia Earthquake Today 2012 Shakes Luwuk
Officials tell news that a strong 6.1 magnitude Indonesia earthquake today erupted off the coast of the country.

New wiper virus targets Iranian computers
­Iran's Maher Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center has issued a warning, cautioning that the new malware continuously erases data from the hard disk drives, despite the simplicity of design and functionality, as it slips into the PC without being detected by the antivirus and anti-malware programs.

Hagel nomination irks pro-Israel conservatives
The possible nomination of Chuck Hagel as the US secretary of defense is sparking criticism among pro-Israel conservatives. The former Nebraska senator and Vietnam veteran is considered the frontrunner to replace Leon Panetta and has been known to criticize Israel and the pro-Israel lobby in the US.

Japan Coast Hit With 5.0 Earthquake on Monday
Japan has been hit with 32 earthquakes since December 9; and average of 4 per day. Though many of them have been far enough out to sea, nevertheless, with so much shaking taking place, they bring the Islands that much closer to a larger land centered tremor and subsequent tsunami

Earthquake Measuring 4.8 and 4.4 Hit Oaxaca, Mexico Monday Evening
Unlike many of the previous quakes that have been off shore, these two quakes were centered on land and therefore, could have potentially caused damage and/or loss of life. It’s still early, but so far there were no reports of injuries or significant damage.

Bill of rights review findings due
An independent review into whether powers should be repatriated from Brussels in a British Bill of Rights will unveil its findings today. The commission on a Bill of Rights will reveal how a new Bill could replace the Human Rights Act which currently enshrines the European Convention on Human Rights in UK law.

Newtown buries school massacre dead
FUNERALS have begun in the little Connecticut town of Newtown after the school massacre that took the lives of 20 small children and six staff. The first burials, held under raw, wet skies, were of two six-year-old boys among those shot in Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Snow storms forecast for parts of New England, Northwest
Up to 12 inches of further snowfall is forecast for parts of northern New England - and a second wintry storm is crossing the U.S. in its wake, according to Weather Channel meteorologist Kevin Roth. Meanwhile, another cross-country storm – Winter Storm Draco – was expected to bring heavy snow to the Northwest...

Did You Know About the Surprising Views on Israel of Obama’s Likely Pick for Secretary of Defense?
Israel’s supporters...have been voicing alarm at the prospect former Sen. Chuck Hagel is likely to be tapped by President Barack Obama as the nation’s next defense secretary. That alarm is reaching fever pitch...This is due to Hagel’s past expressed hostility toward Israel’s supporters in Washington including his refusal as senator to sign onto pro-Israel and anti-terrorism statements.

Mount Lokon erupts again
"Ashes from the eruption rose to 3,000 meters. Local residents have been asked to take precautions," the chief of the Lokon and Mahawu monitoring station, Farid Ruskanda Bima, in Tomohon on Monday, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Chris Martenson: We’re Going to Have a World Class Currency Crisis
The risks are piling up in the financial system. . . . The Federal Reserve is printing, printing, printing . . . we’re going to have a world class currency crisis.” Given the current situation of a broken money system and dwindling natural resources, Martenson says, “I don’t see how you avoid a hard landing at this point.”

Is the Death of Evangelical Christianity Imminent?
...Pastor John S. Dickerson, a 30-year-old evangelical leader who is sounding the alarm to his fellow believers in an effort to help the movement adapt to changing societal paradigms. Over the weekend, Dickerson penned a New York Times piece entitled, “The Decline of Evangelical America.” On the surface, the article isn’t an upper for Christians hoping to regain cultural traction.

Japan's Shinzo Abe prepares to print money for the whole world
The profound shift in economic strategy by the world’s top creditor nation could prove a powerful tonic for the global economy, with stimulus leaking into bourses and bond markets - a variant of the "carry trade" earlier this decade but potentially on a larger scale. "We think this could be the beginning of a fresh reflation cycle for the global system, combining with the US recovery to mark a turning point in the crisis,"

Syria warns opposition could use chemical weapons, then blame government
Bashar Ja'afari reiterated in letters, circulated Monday, to the UN Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that the Syrian government is "genuinely worried" that foreign countries could provide chemical weapons to armed groups "and then claim they had been used by the Syrian government."

Fiscal cliff: Barack Obama offers new tax concession
With the Jan 1 deadline for a deal looming, Mr Obama offered a major compromise on his demand to raise tax cuts on the rich. The latest plan would raise the threshold at which higher rates would come into force to those earning $400,000 a year and above, up from the $250,000 threshold on which Mr Obama had earlier insisted.

Newtown shootings: Obama seeks 'complex' gun reform
US President Barack Obama has met senior officials to discuss how to respond to Friday's school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, in which 20 children and six adults died. The White House said curbing gun violence was a "complex" problem that required a comprehensive solution. On Sunday Mr Obama told Newtown residents he would do everything in his power to prevent further tragedies.

Iran calls Western sanctions brake; won't stop nuclear programmes
Western sanctions against Iran are "only a little brake," which will not stop the country from pursuing its nuclear programmes, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday, dpa reported. "You (West) are doing everything such as oil (embargo) and currency (halt on bank transfers) to stop the will of the Iranian nation but this might only be a little brake which will not stop us from continuing our move," the ISNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.

Russia sends warships for possible Syria evacuation - agency
Russia has sent warships to the Mediterranean Sea in case it has to evacuate Russian citizens from Syria, Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed naval source as saying on Tuesday. A group of two assault ships, a tanker and an escort vessel left a Baltic port on Monday, the source said. "They are heading to the Syrian coast to assist in a possible evacuation of Russian citizens ... Preparations for the deployment were carried out in a hurry and were heavily classified," the source was quoted as saying.

Ya’alon: Iran threat still top priority
The Iranian threat remains of primary importance to the government, Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya’alon said on Tuesday. “The media silence on Iran should not lead anyone astray,” Ya’alon said during an Army Radio interview. “This issue is still our top priority.” Ya’alon (Likud) said that Israel’s “red line” regarding Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons program remains the spring of 2013, as Netanyahu said in an address to the UN in September.

CBI Deals With Massive Influx Of Potential Gun Buyers
The day after the shooting in Connecticut a lot of people in Colorado tried to buy a gun. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation says it received 4,154 requests for background checks from potential buyers on Saturday. That was so many the CBI couldn’t process them all and the backlog grew to nearly 18 hours. The Unit could only process 3,001 checks on Saturday.

Mayan apocalypse mania grips Russia
For more than a month, Russians around the country have been buying up candles and matches, salt and torches in an effort to outsmart the apocalypse some believe will come when the Mayan calendar runs out on Friday.

Chinese authorities arrest dozens for spreading Mayan apocalypse rumours
It's the end of the world – unless you're in the Chinese Communist party. Over the past few weeks, Chinese authorities have detained over 93 people across seven provinces for spreading rumours that the end is nigh, laying bare the party's obsession with social stability and maintaining its tight grip on power.

Evan rips through Fiji as its strongest cyclone on record
Cyclone Evan, after devastating Samoa late last week, tore across Fiji Monday (local time) leaving behind a trail of destruction. The South Pacific storm, equivalent to a category 4 hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere, unleashed maximum sustained winds of up to 135 mph on Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu and just offshore to the west and northwest.

Egypt in Downward Spiral After Referendum on Islamic Constitution
Dec 18th, 2012
Daily NewsIsrael Today - Ryan Jones
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

The situation in post-revolution Egypt appeared to be deteriorating faster than most expected in the wake of last week's referendum on a new and overtly Islamic constitution. In fact, Egypt appears to be headed towards another revolution less than two years after ousting its former dictator.

The new constitution was a topic of violent debate even before it came to a vote. Drafted exclusively by the Muslim Brotherhood and other parties affiliated with a Sharia-based outlook, critics said it would turn Egypt into a new Islamic Republic and do tremendous harm to minority groups, such as Christians.

But that's precisely what the Muslim Brotherhood likely had in mind, and so the group took great pains to make sure the referendum was a success.

According to reports out of Egypt, women not wearing veils (thereby marking them as not being pious Muslims) were denied the right to vote on the referendum. Egyptian opposition groups said that Christians were also turned away at polling stations.

At the end of the day, a mere one-third of Egyptians voted on the new constitution, but that didn't stop the Muslim Brotherhood from celebrating a 57 percent victory. Opposition groups charged that there had been widespread ballot fraud, and demanded a fresh referendum. They were unlikely to get their wish.

To drive home the point of their victory, Islamic groups allied with the Muslim Brotherhood firebombed the main opposition headquarters in Cairo immediately following the referendum, and a leading Brotherhood official stated on Egyptian television that the group might start arming its members.

Essam al-Erian, deputy chief of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party in the Egyptian Parliament, told Mehwar TV that for the first time the group is considering setting up armed "youth brigades" to quell any anti-government demonstrations.

Is anyone seeing the resemblance to Nazi Germany and its "brown shirt" youth groups?

Many in Israel and abroad predicted that while the Muslim Brotherhood was by no means good for Egypt or the region, it would take at least a decade for it to impose Sharia Law and do anything too unpredictable. It would seem those assessments are a bit off, and the situation is spiraling out of control faster than most people imagined.

In the meantime, average Egyptians are in need of prayer as they live through what for many is likely a frightening reality.