A 27 August 2013 European Union Times article titled “Putin Orders Massive Strike Against Saudi Arabia If West Attacks Syria” reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin on 27 August 2013 issued an “urgent action memorandum” to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation ordering a “massive military strike” against Saudi Arabia in the event that the West attacks Syria.

The article stated that Kremlin sources say “Putin became “enraged” after his early August meeting with Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan who warned that if Russia did not accept the defeat of Syria, Saudi Arabia would unleash Chechen terrorists under their control to cause mass death and chaos during the Winter Olympics scheduled to be held 7-23 February 2014 in Sochi, Russia.”

+ European Union Times, 90 Vasall Road, London SW9 6JA, England, 44-0-208-371-2356, Contact Page

[2] Erskine College and Theological Seminary 15-16 August 2013 Board Meeting Highlights

Some of the highlights of the 15-16 August 2013 meeting of the Board of Erskine College and Theological Seminary include:

— Responded to an affirmation from General Synod with a similar statement:

“In grateful acknowledgement of the 175-year relationship between the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and Erskine College and Seminary, the Erskine College Board of Trustees hereby reaffirms Erskine as a valuable agency of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and covenants to maintain a close working relationship with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in order to continue preparing Christian leaders for service to the church and community.”

— Charged the presidential search committee with it duties:

“In its search for a new president for Erskine College, the Board of Trustees charges the search committee to search for, identify and recommend an individual whose qualifications include a personal profession of faith fully and enthusiastically in line with the Synod’s Definition of an Evangelical, the ability to communicate a Biblical World and Life View and the application of it in undergraduate liberal arts and graduate theological education, and affirmation and articulation of the doctrine of inerrancy as embraced by the Board of Trustees and as stated by the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, agreement with the philosophy of Christian Higher Education with a clear vision of implementing it into the life of Erskine College and Theological Seminary, subscription to the Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and the educational qualifications, leadership experience, personal skills, and significant fundraising background that demonstrate the competencies necessary to accomplish the stated mission of the institution.”

— Affirmed the presidential search committee:

“The board affirms the appointment of the Presidential Search Committee and the process by which the committee members were appointed under the bylaws and that it expresses its full confidence that the Presidential Search Committee will act in accordance with the directives of the Board of Trustees and of Synod.”

+ Erskine College and Theological Seminary, 2 Washington Street, Due West, South Carolina 29639, 864-379-2131, Fax: 864-379-8167, nbc@erskine.edu

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

[3] United Church of Christ Minister’s Campaign for LGBT Rights Returns to North Carolina

Anthony Moujaes reported 21August 2013that United Church of Christ minister the Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara has taken the Campaign for Southern Equality into her home state of North Carolina as the latest step in the quest for marriage equality in the South. The WE DO Campaign, an initiative of the Campaign for Southern Equality, visited Madison County, North Carolina on 21 August to stand with same-sex couples as they asked their local register of deeds to issue a marriage license as an act of conscience.

+ United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, 216-736-2100, ogm@ucc.org

[4] Christian Reformed World Missions Staff in Egypt Request Urgent Prayer

Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM) and Back to God Ministries (BTGMI) report that their staff and the staff of their partners in Egypt are not in immediate danger. But escalating conflicts and attacks on religious institutions in Egypt are continuing and prompt a call to urgent prayer.

“We are taking precautions; staying alert,” one staff member wrote to CRWM director Gary Bekker.

“As I’m sure you’ve seen on the news, yesterday and today, Egypt is once again in the midst of turmoil and violence. In fact, what’s been happening over these past forty-eight hours is the worst violence that Egypt has seen in decades.”

BTGMI director Kurt Selles also received an update from the agency’s Arabic leader. “Security concerns have kept MERF’s ministry center in Egypt closed for several days. “ [MERF is the BTGMI and Words of Hope Arabic media ministry partner in the Middle East.]

“So far, no staff or ministry partners have been physically hurt. Several Egyptian staff are able to work from home.”

Both World Missions and Back to God Ministries are asking Christians in North America and elsewhere to “Join us in urgent prayer for the safety of staff in Egypt. Please pray also for peace and justice in that that country and that God’s people there would live and speak wisely for our Lord at this point in their nation’s history.”

+ Christian Reformed Church in North America, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560, 616-241-1691, Fax: 616-224-0803 crcna@crcna.org

[5] News from the Deepest Recesses of Hell

— New York City Mayoral Candidate Christine Quinn Wants Morning After Pill for Eleven-Year-Olds

— Botched RU 486 Abortions Injure Forty-Two Women in Ohio as Planned Parenthood Defies U.S. Food and Drug Administration

— Ireland Newspaper Falsely Claims First Abortion Done Under New Irish Law

— Bill Would Let Non-Physicians Perform Abortions in California

— Belgium: Ninety-Five Percent of Euthanasia Requests Get Rubber Stamp Okay by Doctors

— Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office May Take 10 Years to Release Babies Murdered by Abortionist Kermit Gosnell

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

+ American Vision, 3150-A Florence Road, Suite 2, Powder Springs, Georgia 30127, 800-628-9460, Fax: 770-222-7269, Comments@AmericanVision.org

+ 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] Headlines from Christian Concern

Headlines of the past week from Christian Concern:

— Christian Girl Guide and Brownie Leaders in North Yorkshire Face Expulsion for Refusing to Drop God from Promise

— Egypt Seeing Worst Persecution of Christians since 1321

— Germany to Become First Country in Europe to Introduce Indeterminate Gender on Birth Certificates

— Pair Arrested over Plans to Take Pensioner to Swiss Suicide Clinic

+ Christian Concern, 70 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8AX, England, 020 7935 1488, Contact Page

[7] Headlines from The Christian Institute

Headlines of the past week from The Christian Institute:

— Bring on Multi-Partner Marriage, Says Writer

— Canada: Atheist Wins Case against Gideons in Schools

+ 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

[8] Articles from LifesiteNews.com

Articles from the past week from LifesiteNews.com:

— New Mexico Supreme Court: Christian Photographers Must Shoot Gay ‘Commitment Ceremony’

— Parents Should Let Kids Have Sex Sleepovers, Abortion Advocate Says in USA Today

— U.S. Air Force Hosts Drag Queen Performance for ‘Diversity Day’

— U.S. Federal Judge Allows Lawsuit against Pastor for Opposing Homosexuality in Uganda

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

[9] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining

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

— New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Undermines Parental Rights and Truth by Signing Bill Banning Reparative Therapy for Minors, Claiming Homosexuality is Innate and Not a Sin

— Former Senior High Teacher in Montana Gets 30 Days for Statutory Rape of Fourteen-Year-Old Student Who Later Committed Suicide

— ‘Gay’ Lawmaker to Christians: ‘We’ll Take Your Children’