— Did Ben Franklin Speak “According to the Analogia of the Faith”? : “Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” – Romans 3:3 Geneva Bible – by Christian Observer Contributing Editor David Brand – Part 20 in a continuing series examining the effects upon the church of the change in meaning of the Greek word pistis from faith to faithfulness by the English Revised Version Committee that began meeting in February 1870;

— Islam in America’s Public Schools, Education or Indoctrination? – By Christian Observer Contributing Editor Dr. Joe Renfro – The increasing emphasis by U.S. public schools to indoctrinate students into a positive image of Islam while marginalizing, misrepresenting, or ignoring Judaism and Christianity;

— Empty Arms? – By Nona L. Ellington – the story of Eagles Restoration Ministries, an outreach to the hurting and wounded, and especially to those affected by abortion and to those who have been or are being abused and/or are going through or have been through a divorce;

Plus, regular features including weekly Sabbath School Lessons by Christian Observer Assistant Editor Dr. Robert LaMay, and Daily Devotionals by T.M. Moore, dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe

+ Christian Observer, Post Office Box 1371, Lexington, Virginia 24450, christianobserver@christianobserver.org

[2] Reformed Presbyterian Church – Hanover Presbytery Meets in Manassas, Virginia on 26 September 2013

The Reformed Presbyterian Church – Hanover Presbytery held its 2013 meeting on 26 September 2013 at the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Manassas, Virginia.

The editor, a Probationer and Licentiate in the Hanover Presbytery, spent a lot of time on his feet during the meeting, delivering the opening message titled “God’s Chastening Hand” from Haggai 2:15-19 and being examined for almost two hours by the church court for ordination to the Gospel ministry for the specific call of editing the Christian Observer and Presbyterians Week, and for a future call for a church pastorate if and when God should provide a call. The examination was sustained unanimously, and the editor’s thoughts about the outcome are best summarized by the abbreviation “SDG!” An ordination service is to be scheduled in the near future.

Mr. Garry Moes, Director of Development and Recruiting at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (GPTS) spoke to the assembly about the programs and course offerings at GPTS, including courses of study for ruling elders and the like to better prepare for service in lay ministry.

Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church of Evansville, Indiana, pastored by Hanover minister the Rev. Brian A. Abshire, formally requested admission to the Hanover Presbytery. The request was unanimously approved by the assembly.

+ Reformed Presbyterian Church-Hanover Presbytery , hanoverpresbyter@yahoo.com

+ Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 200 East Main Street, Post Office Box 690, Taylors, South Carolina, 29687, 864-322-2717, Fax: 864-322-2719, info@gpts.edu

[Editor’s Note: Having only become aware of this matter late last week, it is with great sadness that this article is presented to Presbyterians Week readers. The editor has known Tom Patterson since the mid-1990’s, and worked directly with him in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s in the Alliance of Loyal Laity (A.L.L, independent ARP organization) and with the ARP Synod Lay Committee. Please bring in prayer to the throne of grace the alleged victims, Tom Patterson, and the North Carolina judicial system.]

Former Christian Observer News Editor (1988-2007), Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP) Moderator of Synod, ARP First Presbytery Stated Clerk, and ARP Highroad for A.L.L. Editor John Thomas (Tom) Patterson Jr., 65, of Mooresville, North Carolina, was jailed in April 2013 in lieu of US$700,000 bond on 207 counts of indecent liberties with children and one count of first-degree sex offense. The alleged offenses involve fourteen former students of Mount Mourne Elementary School in Mooresville, North Carolina, where the offenses allegedly occurred while Patterson taught fourth grade there from 1978 until 1987. Tom Patterson subsequently posted bail and is currently out of jail.

+ Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 1 Cleveland Street Suite 110, Greenville, South Carolina, 29601, 864-232-8297, Fax: 864-271-3729

+ ARP First Presbytery, c/o 4784 Styers Ferry Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104, 336-624-9529

[4] Church of Scotland Minister’s Mother Killed in Muslim Terrorist Attack on All Saint’s Church in Peshawar, Pakistan

A 1 October 2013 Falkirk Herald article by Jill Buchanan titled “Grangemouth Minister’s Mum Killed in Terrorist Atrocity” reports that three family members including the mother, niece, and nephew of Church of Scotland minister the Rev. Aftab Gohar, minister of Abbotsgrange Church in Grangemouth, Scotland, were killed in the 29 September 2013 bombing of All Saints Church in Peshwar, Pakistan, by Muslim terrorists.

Eighty-five people in all were killed, along with more than 100 injured, when the bomb was detonated as the congregation exited the church at the end of the Sunday service.

+ Falkirk Herald, Unit 4A, Gateway Business Park, Beancross Road, Grangemouth FK3 8WX, Scotland, 01324-690222, enquiries@falkirkherald.co.uk

+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225-5722

[5] Christian Leader Flies to Turkey/Iran Today on Rescue Mission to Secure the Release of Pastor Saeed

Reformed Presbyterian minister and Director of the Christian Defense Coalition the Rev. Pat Mahoney on 29 September 2013 flew to Turkey to meet with Iranian officials in an attempt to secure a meeting in Tehran, Iran with President Rouhani and Iranian government leaders to discuss the imprisonment of Pastor Saeed.

Pastor Mahoney comments:

“Around the world, every person should be afforded the right to express their faith traditions free from government persecution, harassment and intimidation. No one should have to suffer violence or brutality because of what they believe.

“I am flying to Turkey/Iran in hopes of securing the release of Pastor Saeed who is serving an eight year prison sentence because of his Christian beliefs.

“I will be appealing to the new Iranian leadership which has expressed a desire to have a more open and moderate attitude toward human rights and personal freedoms and work toward building better relationships with their global neighbors.

“On this historic mission, I will not be going as a representative of the United States government, but rather as a faith leader sharing the heart of Christ and calling upon Iran’s leaders to show compassion and mercy and allow Saeed to return to his family in America.

“The power of faith transcends governments and leaders and can transform nations and societies. If I have the opportunity to meet with President Rouhani, I will not be speaking to him on a political level but rather as one faith leader to another.”

Pastor Mahoney met with Iranian officials upon arrival in Turkey, and presented to the officials a letter concerning Pastor Saeed addressed to the Iranian president, which the officials promised to deliver.

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Christian Defense Coalition, Post Office Box 77168, Washington DC 20013, 202-547-1735, ChristianDefense@gmail.com

[6] American Center for Democracy Official Panelist Says Colorado Springs Waldo Canyon Fire Set by Muslim Jihadi Arsonists

The following YouTube video was recorded at an American Center for Democracy presentation called Economic Warfare Super Panel where William Scott, former editor, Aviation Week; former official, National Security Agency; and author of Space Wars presented evidence that the recent Colorado Springs, Colorado Waldo Canyon fire and several 2012 California wildfires were set by Muslim terrorists waging economic warfare on the U.S. by a campaign of arson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=SFHM0rd9cX8

+ American Center for Democracy, 330 West 56th Street, Suite #24E, New York, New York 10019, 212-399-4246, Fax: 212-246-0920, info@acdemocracy.org

+ YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Avenue, San Bruno, California 94066, 650-253-0000, Fax: 650-253-0001, press@youtube.com

[7] News from the Deepest Recesses of Hell

— Kermit Gosnell Said His Drug Operation Helped the Poor and ‘Probably Lowered the Crime Rate’

— Obamacare State Exchanges May Fund 111,500 Abortions a Year with Taxpayer Dollars

— Abortionist: We Invite Moms to Hold Their Babies after Abortions

+ LifeSiteNews.com, Incorporated, 4 Family Life Lane, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, 888-678-6008, Contact Page

+ LifeNews.com, Post Office Box 270841, Fort Collins, Colorado 80527, news@lifenews.com

[8] Headlines from The Christian Institute

Headlines of the past week from The Christian Institute:

— Christians Forced Out of B&B Told: ‘It’s Your Own Fault’

— Call for Right to Remove Kids from Homosexual Marriage Lessons

+ The Christian Institute, Wilberforce House, 4 Park Road, Gosforth Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne NE12 8DG, England, 44-0-191-281-5664, Fax: 44-0-191-281-4272, info@christian.org.uk

[9] Articles from LifesiteNews.com

Articles from the past week from LifesiteNews.com:

— U.S. Senate Unanimously Confirms First Openly Homosexual Federal Appeals Judge, One Notch below Supreme Court

— New Jersey Judge Rules State Must Recognize Homosexual ‘Marriage’: Cites Supremes’ DOMA Ruling

— Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush Acts As Witness at Homosexual ‘Wedding’

+ LifeSiteNews.com, Incorporated, 4 Family Life Lane, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, 888-678-6008, Contact Page

[10] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining

Articles from the past week regarding kings and rulers setting themselves against the LORD and against his anointed:

— Former U.S. President Bill Clinton Says Americans Will Get Used to Communism

— Pastor Fired for Marrying His Son to another Man

— Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Bans Church Volunteers from Feeding the Needy and Homeless

— Health Department Raids Community Picnic in Overton, Nevada and Destroys All Food with Bleach