“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalms 46:10)
The year 2009 began with realization that the US had just elected the first mulatto (mixed black and white) president and by one of the largest margins in recent presidential elections. This was partially because of his charm, charisma and eloquence on the stump. But also, his campaign, for the first time, took real advantage of the pervasiveness of the Internet and obviously, the opposition party was in almost complete disarray.
The new president seems to be a very nice young man with good intentions, but the world is in such turmoil with growing unrest, economic woes, wars, revolutions, and anarchy, he or any other leader of the fallen human race has little chance of making a great deal of positive difference.
NATURAL DISASTERS: Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, and diseases all strike anywhere on earth, often without warning. Tornadoes have been reported in Great Britain, India, Argentina, and other countries, but most tornadoes occur in the United States. All of these “natural” disasters seem to be proliferating along with indications of climate warming.
WORLD EVENTS
“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa, 11:9)
Between 1990 and 2004, lions attacked 815 people in Tanzania, killing 563. Some of the victims were pulled out of bed during the night after lions forced their way inside huts. Between January 2000 and March 2004, crocodiles in Namibia attacked 35 people, killing 23. In the 34 months from January 2005 to October 2007, leopards in the Indian state of Kashmir attacked 18 people, killing 16. In the Sundarban swamps of Bangladesh, tigers killed at least 20 people last year. There also have been deaths from attacks by bears, cougars, sharks and a number of other wild beasts.
In September a man was attacked by a large black bear in his Aspen, Colorado home. He was on the first floor of his home checking on his three barking dogs when the bear struck him in the head. The man suffered no life threatening injuries and was treated at a local hospital. It is unknown how the bear entered his home.
Recorded deaths from bear attacks for the
21st century through October 2009 in the US including Alaska and Canada is 31 men, women and children. Also there have been a number of non-fatal injures. In most cases, these attacks were unprovoked and a number of them took place in the homes, cabins or tents of the victims.
Comment: In the first account of the lower animals furnished in the Scriptures there is nothing to imply that they were wild, vicious and at enmity with mankind; on the contrary the implication is that they were all thoroughly in subjection to the perfect man. Adam was crowned with dignity and honor as the lord and master of earth, with dominion over the beasts of the field, the fowl of the heavens and the fishes of the sea, in likeness of his Creator, the Lord and Ruler over all things. Dominion over the animals is one of the things that Adam lost when he sinned and will be restored when mankind is perfected in the Millennial Kingdom.
“ONE BILLION PEOPLE HUNGRY: World hunger, rising faster than population, hits grim milestone. ROME ─ The global financial meltdown has pushed the ranks of the worlds’ hungry to a record one billion; a dire figure that poses a threat to peace and security, U.N. food officials said Friday.
“Because of war, drought, political instability, high food prices and poverty, hunger now affects one in six people, by the U.N. estimate.
“The financial meltdown has compounded the crisis in what the head of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization called a ‘devastating combination for the world’s most vulnerable.’
“Compared with last year, 100 million more people are hungry, meaning they consume fewer than 1,800 calories a day, the agency said.
“‘No part of the world is immune,’ FAO’s Director-General Jacques Diouf said. ‘All world regions have been affected by the rise of food insecurity.’
(Excerpts by Alessandra Rizzo, Associated Press, June 20, 2009)
“SEVEN KILLED AT TRAILER PARK: BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA ─ Seven people were found slain and two critically injured Saturday at a mobile home park built on the grounds of a historic plantation in southeastern Georgia, police said.
“Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering called it the worst mass slaying in his 25 years of police work in this costal Georgia County. He wouldn’t say how the victims died.
“‘This is a record for us. We’ve never had such an incident with so many victims,’ Doering told reporters. ‘It’s not a scene that I would want anybody to see.’
At an afternoon news conference, Doering declined to say whether police believe the killer was among the dead or remained at large. (Orlando Sentinel, August 30, 2009)
“A MOTHER AND HER FIVE CHIL-DREN WERE KILLED BY HER HUSBAND AND FATHER OF THE CHILDREN: A Naples, Florida man admitted to reporters that he killed his wife and five children, adding that he wants to be executed ‘right away’ so he can be buried with them on Saturday.
“The father, Mesac Damas spoke with reporters in Haiti, saying a ‘spirit’ drove him to kill his wife and children.
“Mesac Damas, 32, said he wanted to take his own life, but did not have the courage to go through with it, ‘because if you kill yourself, you're not going to heaven.’
“Damas made the statements to a Naples Daily News reporter as he was being led into a Haitian police vehicle in Port-au-Prince. Damas was returned to the United States late Tuesday following his capture in Haiti.
“Damas left the US for Haiti before the murders were discovered. He faces six counts of premeditated first-degree murder in the deaths of his wife, Guerline Damas, 32; and the couple's five children - Michzach, 9; Marven, 6; Maven, 5; Megan, 3; and Morgan, 11 months, police have said. The six bodies were found September 17 in the family's North Naples, Florida, home after relatives called police saying they had not heard from them. Apparently their throats had been slit on September 15.
“Asked by the reporter in Haiti why he killed his family, Damas responded, ‘Only God knows.’ Questioned further, he blamed the crime on his mother-in-law. ‘Her mom pretty much made me do it ─ the devil, her spirit, whatever she worships,’ he said.
“Damas added, ‘When I did it, [my] eyes [were] closed but right now my eyes are open.’ He repeatedly asked the reporter, ‘Do you believe in Jesus Christ,’ and stated, ‘The devil exists.’” (Naples Daily News, September 22, 2009 and various Web. Reports)
Comment: It is difficult to accept the fact that man has fallen to such a degree. Those who can plan murder, and who are full of malice and hatred, will not hesitate to support their evil way by fraud, deception, lying. Those who yield to evil influences may subsequently learn valuable lessons there from, and that we may entertain hope for their recovery to righteousness. This is a part of our hope respecting the world in the coming Millennial Age ─ that present experiences with sin, envy, hatred and strife will prove valuable to them by and by, when they shall have experienced some of the retributions and have learned a more excellent way, under the judgments of that time.
“GUNS TURN OFF TRAVEL GURU: PHOENIX, ARIZONA ─ Travel icon Arthur Frommer says he won’t be spending his tourism dollars at the Grand Canyon, or anywhere else in Arizona, because the state’s laws allow people he described as ‘thugs’ and ‘extremists’ to openly carry firearms.
“The author of budget-travel guides said on his blog Wednesday that he was ‘shocked beyond measure’ by reports that protesters openly carried guns outside a Phoenix site where President Barack Obama spoke Monday.
“Frommer says he won’t travel in a state where civilians carry loaded weapons as a means of political protest. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said he invited Frommer to visit the city to clear up any misconceptions about safety.” (Orlando Sentinel, August 22, 2009)
Comment: Every year, almost one million people die from suicide; a “global” mortality rate of 16 per 100,000, or one death every 40 seconds.
In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years in some countries, and the second leading cause of death in the 10-24 years age group; these figures do not include suicide attempts which are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicide. This is indication of the continuing devolution of man in this present world.
“AS MUSLIMS MARK RAMADAN, OBAMA RENEWS CALL FOR ‘NEW BEGINNING’: INDONESIA ─ Muslim women pray during the beginning of Ramadan in Jakarta. In a video marking the occasion, President Barack Obama cast U.S. military efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of his drive to forge a new relationship between America and the Muslim world. ‘At this time of renewal, I want to reiterate my commitment to a new beginning between America and Muslims around the world.’” (Orlando, Sentinel, August 22, 2009)
“PRO-WEST LEADER TO BE PM: BEIRUT, LEBANON ─ Western-backed billionaire Saad Hariri pledged Saturday to work for a national unity government that includes his Hezbollah rivals shortly after he was appointed by the president to become the country’s next prime minister.
“An alliance led by the 39-year-old, son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, fended off a serious challenge from the Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies in parliamentary elections earlier this month.
“Hariri’s nomination ─ and his conciliatory statements ─ signal more willingness on the majority’s part to placate Hezbollah and its allies, who had serious misgivings about the previous Prime Minister, Fuad Saniora.” (Orlando Sentinel, June 28, 2009)
“COURT TOSSES $5M VERDICT AGAINST FUNERAL PROTESTERS: RICHMOND, VA. ─ A federal appeals court tossed out a $5 million verdict against protesters who carried sign with inflammatory messages like ‘Thank God for dead soldiers’ outside the Maryland funeral of a U.S, Marine killed in Iraq.
“A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S, Circuit Court of Appeals last week said the signs contained ‘imaginative and hyperbolic rhetoric’ protected by the First Amendment. Such messages are intended to spark debate and cannot be reasonable read as factual assertions, the court said.
“A jury in Baltimore had awarded Albert Snyder damages for emotional distress and invasion of privacy. The 2006 funeral of Snyder’s son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder in Westminster, Md., was among many military funerals that have been picketed by members of the fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. Albert Snyder’s attorney, Sean Summers, said he would appeal.” (Associated Press, September 27, 2009)
IN FINANCE
Last year we wrote 2008 was some year. Clearly the U.S. economy was on the ropes. 2009 has brought more joblessness and large banks have been merged. Wachovia, one of the largest, was merged with Wells Fargo and Merrill Lynch with Bank of America. Two great names over 100 years old are gone.
The government’s stimulus package has tried to save companies like General Motors and Chrysler. In the 1930's, 40's and 50's the words “millionaire,” “billionaire” and “trillionaire” were words not used in the average person’s vocabulary.
Unemployment is the highest since the great depression of the 1930's. Economists have predicted the economy will get better in late 2010 but unemployment will still be high. But if unemployment is still high, how can the economy get any better?
Economists are predicting the GDP will have moderate gains, the Prime rate will increase and inflation should be 2%. Oil will average $70-$80 a barrel and holiday retail sales will be flat. The world is in an uproar and the U.S. is tagging right along. Congress is working very hard to get the economy in better shape but so far they are not making much headway.
Companies are getting away with paying large bonuses and some are cheating the public. For example:
Bernard Lawrence "Bernie" Madoff (born April 29, 1938) is the former Chairman of the NASDAC stock exchange and the admitted operator of the Ponzi scheme that might be the largest investment fraud in Wall Street history.
In March 2009, Madoff pleaded guilty to 11felonies and admitted to turning his wealth management business into a massive Ponzi scheme that defrauded thousands of investors of billions of dollars. Though Madoff said he began the Ponzi scheme in the early 1990’, Federal investigators believe the fraud began as early as the 1980’s, and may never have been legitimate. The amount missing from client accounts, including fabricated gains, was almost $65 billion. On June 29, 2009 he was sentenced to 150 years in prison, the maximum allowed.
A number of major victims are said to have objected to the court's acceptance of the guilty plea and wanted a full-blown public trial. This could not be allowed because discovery of all the wrong doing of much of Wall Street, including banks, would be so destructive it would turn the world’s financial systems into further chaos.
Since we are in the Time of Trouble and it is difficult to predict the future, our advice is “Seek ye the Lord, all the meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.” (Zeph. 2:3)
IN RELIGION
“BIBLE TO BE REVISED: COLORADO ─ The top-selling Bible in North America will undergo its first revision in 25 years, modernizing the language in some sections and promising to reopen a contentious debate about changing gender terms in the sacred text.
“The New International Version, the Bible of choice for conservative evangelicals, will be revised to reflect changes in English usage and advances in Biblical scholarship, it was announced Tuesday. The revision is scheduled to be completed late next year and published in 2011.
“‘We want to reach English speakers across the globe with a Bible that is accurate, accessible and that speaks to its readers in a language they can understand,’ said Keith Danby, global president and CEO of Biblica, a Colorado Springs, Colorado-based Christian ministry that holds the NIV copyright.” (Orlando Sentinel, September, 2, 2009)
Comment: Some rumors have it that the chief reason for the revision is to eliminate all the “liberal” bias. Besides, the NIV of the Bible is seldom the version of choice for English speaking people who seek truth. The KJV has plenty of mistranslations and alterations of its own, but it has the beautiful language that makes it a pure pleasure to study and to rightly divide the Word of Truth, “here a little there a little.” (See Isa. 28:10)
“BONES IN ST. PAUL’S TOMB ANALYZED: Pope says carbon dating tests seem to confirm that the remains really are the apostle’s. ROME ─ The first-ever scientific tests on what are believed to be the remains of the Apostle Paul ‘seem to conclude’ that they do belong to the Roman Catholic saint, Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday.
“Archaeologists recently unearthed and opened the white marble sarcophagus under the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome, which for some 2,000 years has been believed by the faithful to be the tomb of St. Paul.
“Benedict said scientists had conducted carbon dating tests on bone fragments inside the sarcophagus and confirmed that they date from the first or second century.
“‘This seems to confirm the unanimous and uncontested tradition that they are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul,’ Benedict said, announcing the findings at a service in the basilica to mark the end of the Vatican’s Paoline year, in honor of the apostle.
“Paul and Peter are the two main figures known for spreading the Christian faith after the death of Christ.
“According to tradition, St. Paul was beheaded in Rome in the first century during the persecution of early Christians by Roman emperors. Popular belief holds that bone fragments from his head are in another Rome basilica, St. John Lateran, with his other remains inside the sarcophagus.
“The pope said that when archaeologists opened the sarcophagus, they discovered alongside the bone fragments some grains of incense, a ‘precious’ piece of purple linen with gold sequins and a blue fabric with linen filaments.
“Vatican archaeologists in 2002 began excavating the 8-foot-Iong coffin, which dates from at least AD. 390 and was buried under the basilica’s main altar. The decision to unearth it was made after pilgrims who came to Rome during the Roman Catholic Church’s 2000 Jubilee year expressed disappointment at finding that the saint’s tomb ─ buried under layers of plaster and further hidden by an iron grate ─ could not be visited or touched.
“The top of the coffin has small openings ─ subsequently covered with mortar ─ because in ancient times Christians would insert offerings or try to touch the remains.
“Today is the feast of Saints Peter and Paul during which the pope will bestow a woolen pallium, or scarf, on all the new archbishops he has recently named.”
(By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press, June 29, 2009)
“VATICAN MAKES ANGLICANS OFFER: Return to the Catholic church. ─ The Vatican has opened an express lane to traditional Anglicans ─ who are unhappy with their own church’s moves toward accepting female and gay bishops ─ to reunite with the Roman Catholic Church their forebears left nearly 500 years ago.
“In a surprise announcement from Rome, Pope Benedict XVI approved a provision that will allow Anglicans to join the Catholic Church in a format similar to Greek, Ukrainian or Eastern Rite Catholics, keeping their liturgy and married priests, but not married bishops.
“The announcement Tuesday stunned many in the 77-milIion worldwide Anglican Communion, particularly the Church of England, where the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has wrestled for years with factions who oppose female bishops.
“Williams, in a joint news conference in Rome with Cardinal William Levada, the Vatican’s chief doctrinal official, said the provision ‘would have no negative impact’ on interfaith relations.
“Catholic officials say they’re not poaching converts; rather, Levada says, they are easing the way for people to be reunited with the Catholic Church. The 2-million-member Episcopal Church is led by a woman, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, and already permits gay bishops.
“Archbishop Robert Duncan, head of the breakaway traditionalist Anglican Church in North America, called the move ‘a momentous offer’ and blessed those who choose that path.
“But Duncan made clear he didn't think most of the new church’s members would be interested, citing ‘our historic differences over church governance, dogmas regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary’ and the nature of the priesthood.” (By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA Today, October 21, 2009)
“PROTESTANTS AT CROSSROADS: Several denominations facing showdown on gays’ role in church. ─ The nation's Protestant denominations have quarreled for years over the role of gays and lesbians in church life, but those debates promise to grow even more intense and acrimonious this summer. The conflicts could influence whether some denominations remain intact or splinter into factions.
“California's Supreme Court is expected to rule Tuesday on that state’s ban on same-sex marriage. For the faithful in a number of churches, the hard-fought legal battles over civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples run parallel to similar religious struggles.
“One of the most visible denominational skirmishes will occur in July, when leaders of the 2.2 million-member Episcopal Church consider proposals at their national convention to sanction a religious rite for blessing same-sex unions and ease restrictions on the ordination of gay and lesbian bishops.
“If approved, the steps could further alienate theological conservatives, giving them new reasons to join four Episcopal dioceses and hundreds of parishes that split away last year to form a separate church.
“In August, the country’s largest Lutheran denomination is scheduled to consider a statement on human sexuality that says that Christian tradition recognizes marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman.
“Even as they acknowledge deep divisions over homosexuality, members of the 4.7-million member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will decide at their meeting in Minneapolis whether they should enable local congregations to recognize same-sex unions and allow ‘practicing homosexuals’ in committed relationships to serve in the ministry.
“Other Protestant groups are embroiled in similar struggles, including the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Methodist Church.
“But scholars are especially watching the Episcopalians and Evangelical Lutherans.
“‘What has been emerging for the last several years is becoming even clearer now: We're on a trajectory toward the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people,’ said Rev. Jay Johnson, a professor of theology at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, Calif., and director of academic research at its Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry.
“But Johnson added: ‘It may mean when there are breakthroughs in these churches, we see more breakaways.’
“Few denominations have been as torn as the Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of the 77million-member Anglican Communion.
“The conflict between liberals and conservatives escalated in 2003 with the consecration of an openly gay priest, V. Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire.
(By Duke Helfand, Tribune Newspapers, May 26, 2009)
“THE FUTURE: ‘ROCK OF AGES’ OR ROCK BAND??: Many tradition-bound churches are struggling to attract new members and pay their bills, while a smaller group of churches has discovered prosperity by embracing change and attracting younger members.
“‘The old way of doing things doesn’t work for many groups,’ said David A. Roozen, professor of religion and society at Hartford Seminary in Connecticut, which conducted the survey.
“In the past 5 years: 64% of churches that added contemporary elements grew; 41% of those that stayed with traditional elements grew; 60% with fewer than 10% of members older than 65 grew; 31% where at least half of members were older than 65 grew.
“The survey found that less than 20 percent of the churches said they were in good financial health in 2008 ─ down from 31 percent in 2000. Just 48 percent of the churches reported even modest growth in 2008, compared with 58 percent in 2005.
“The Faith Communities Today 2008 survey of primarily Christian congregations found the decline was universal: mainstream Protestant, evangelical Protestant and Catholic. The study concludes that the picture of American churches is a story of persistent and broad-based decline, but also the story of pockets of vitality.
“A church, founded in 1879, has undergone tremendous change in recent years. Its membership has increased from 1,300 a decade ago to more than 4,000 today. It added a contemporary worship service with a rock band replacing the choir about four years ago that attracts a younger-than-50 crowd. Recently, for the first time, the contemporary service out-drew the traditional service.
“The Pastor was promoting his Facebook site and next week’s ‘Bring a Friend Sunday’ in which he vowed not to preach about tithing or anything else that might scare the newcomers away. Afterward, there will be T-shirts and pizza.
“‘You bring a guest, you get a T-shirt, they get a T-shirt, we eat some pizza and I get to meet them,’ said the pastor, the church’s pastor for 16 years.”
(Excerpts from Orlando Sentinel, by Jeff Kunerth, September 15, 2009)
“A CHURCH DIVIDED: After vote this week gives gays more rights, Episcopalians face a widening split. ANAHEIM, CALIF. ─ The resolution that lifted a de facto ban on gay bishops passed by a nearly 3-to1 margin Tuesday, despite warnings that it would threaten unity with sister churches in the wider Anglican Communion.
“But the resolution’s overwhelming margin of victory served clear notice that liberal Episcopalians are gaining more ground, particularly since four dioceses and dozens of parishes seceded in recent years to form a conservative alternative to the Episcopal Church.
“Another sign from this week’s convention: Episcopal bishops approved a resolution, 104-30, that allows flexibility in devising blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples. It moves to lay and clergy delegates in the House of Deputies, where it must be approved before becoming church law.
“‘The changing circumstances in the United States and in other nations’ in legalizing gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships ‘call forth a renewed pastoral response from this Church,’ the resolution reads.
“Eleven conservative parishes ─ including two large historic churches ─ have seceded and joined the rival Anglican Church in North America. Like the Episcopal Church at large, the diocese has tilted to the left after the defections, according to some members.”
(Excerpts by Daniel Burke, Religion News Service July 16, 2009)
“A RIVAL DENOMINATION: Conser-vatives alienated from the Episcopal Church announced in December they were founding their own rival denomination.
“In previous years, before the formation of this American Anglican alternative, some Episcopalians who wanted to leave the church but remain in the Anglican Communion put themselves under the authority of bishops in Africa and Latin America.
“The Anglican Communion, the world’s third-largest Christian body, is made up of 38 provinces around the world that trace their roots to the Church of England and its spiritual leader, the archbishop of Canterbury.
“Though individual churches and even dioceses have been leaving the Episcopal Church for years, it’s the only official branch of the Anglican Communion in the United States. It wants to stay that way, resisting challenges from conservatives who want to leave and take church property with them.”
(By Tim Funk, Charlotte Observer, July 16, 2009, Edited to fit)
“TELEVANGELIST BUILDS $4 MILLION HOME WHILE EMPLOYEES LOSE JOBS: Senator Charles Grassley, the crotchety, plain-speaking Republican from Iowa, has been trying for a couple of years to pry open the books of televangelists he suspects of living decidedly unhumble lives on the donations they receive. He questions whether they deserve the tax exemption they enjoy. A recent report that Inspiration Network’s CEO David Cerullo spent around $4 million on his new mansion could provide more fuel for this smoldering investigation.
“Cerullo’s new 9,000 square-foot home and 2,000 square-foot porch overlook Lake Keowee. Meanwhile, Inspiration and its subsidiaries have laid off a number of workers, frozen wages, stopped 401K contributions, and turned the thermostat in its headquarters down to 65 degrees last winter.
“According to the Charlotte Observer, Cerullo’s network will bring in close to $100 million this year, much of it donations. Over the past few years it has also received up to $26 million in incentives from the state of South Carolina. These were given to lure the network from its former home in Charlotte. Cerullo receives over $1.5 million a year in salary.
“Grassley launched an investigation of six noted televangelists in 2007, challenging them to defend their expenditures and justify their tax exemptions. Included were the ministries of Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Several have cooperated fully, a couple partially. Creflo Dollar continues to hold out. Kenneth Copeland Ministries pulled a clever dodge, offering to cooperate with the IRS should it choose to investigate the ministry. IRS investigations are not made public.
“Grassley points to the tax code language prohibiting not-for-profit organizations from paying unreasonable compensation to the executives. What is reasonable, he asks? In this case, I think the people to answer that question are those who donated to the Inspiration Network. Are you content that some of your money went for a $4 million home for Cerullo?”
(By Tom Barlow, AOL.com, July 7, 2009)
“The Mormon church’s vigorous, well-heeled support for Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California last year, has turned the Utah-based faith into a lightning rod for gay rights activism, including a nationwide ‘kiss-in’ Saturday.
The event came after gay couples in Salt Lake City, San Antonio and El Paso, Texas, were arrested, cited for trespassing or harassed by police for publicly kissing. In Utah, the July 9 trespassing incident occurred after security guards observed a couple on a downtown park-like plaza owned by the 13 million-member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The court case was dismissed, but the kiss sparked a community backlash and criticism of the church.”
(Associated Press, August 16, 2009)
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Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the many beautiful Christmas cards received expressing love and prayers. Be assured that our warm Christian love and prayers are ever with you. We wish for all our readers that they will grow in Grace and Knowledge of the Lord for a blessed New Year as “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18)
ANNOUNCEMENT: The date of our Memorial is