25 July 2012
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Presbyterians Week Headlines
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[1] Presbyterians Week Editor Receives Ramadan Message from Facebook “Friend”
[2] AWOL and Ennui Characterize ARP Synod 2012
[3] Two New Articles from Professor Robert A.J. Gagnon
[6] Headlines from LifeSiteNews.com
[7] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining
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[1] Presbyterians Week Editor Receives Ramadan Message from Facebook “Friend”
The editor sometimes accepts Facebook “Friend” invitations from persons unknown if said person is already a Facebook “Friend” of a known friend. Several days ago, I received the following Facebook post from one of those unknown friends (whose Facebook page contained a “Happy Ramadan” banner):
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Google Translate rendered the Arabic text as follows:
“Major signs of the Day of Resurrection:
“1 – the fall of the seven princes of the States
“2 – the emergence of Imam Mahdi
“3 – the emergence of the Antichrist
“4 – the descent of our Lord Jesus, peace be upon him
“5 – the emergence of Gog and Magog
“6 – Sunrise from the west
“7 – close the doors of repentance
“8 – an animal will show the ground to mark a sign of Muslim
“9 – Alillaab will prevail on the earth for forty days and kill all believers the right so as not to rest Ishdo signs
“10 – A great fire will cause Damaar
“11 – destruction of the Kaaba
“The Messenger of Allah may Allah bless him and God and peace
“(((The transfer of Hama news about me I will make him on the Day of Resurrection a place in Paradise)))
“Focused on the modern
“Focused on the modern
“Focused on the modern
“Focused on the modern
“Focused on the modern”
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The editor is unaware of any contextual significance to the fish photo, but invites anyone with an understanding of the relevant eschatological theology to provide Presbyterians Week readers with an explanation of this strangely syncretic greeting from a now “unfriended” Facebook “Friend”.
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+ Christian Observer, Post Office Box 1371, Lexington, Virginia 20110, christianobserver@christianobserver.org
+ Facebook, Inc., 471 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, California 94301, 650-543-4800, Fax: 650-543-4801, Contact Page
+ Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043, 650-253-0000, Fax: 650-253-0001, press@google.com
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[2] AWOL and Ennui Characterize ARP Synod 2012
An 18 July 2012 communication from Principal Clerk C. Ronald Beard of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP) titled “General Synod 2012 by the Numbers” stated:
A few Synod statistics…it really doesn’t make for good reading. For General Synod 2012, the constituted roll contained 252 ministers and 127 ruling elders for a total attendance of 379.
Here’s where the embarrassment begins. More than half of the total possible number of delegates for 2012 did not attend. Not a single counted vote came close to the number enrolled, (379), and at every session, delegates were seen in places other than the meeting in session.
When the challenge to a quorum (one-fourth of the ministers of the General Synod and elders from at least one-fourth of the congregations) was made at Thursday’s scheduled evening meeting, the number necessary to constitute a quorum was 121 ministers and seventy-two elders. Present at that point were 104 ministers and sixty-six elders.
By the time dinner was over on the second day of scheduled business (Thursday evening), 148 ministers had departed along with sixty-one elders. Over half of the ministers and elders left after staying for what was actually only one full day of business.
That business consisted of dealing with the reports from SOME of the special committees and two Boards. This meant that due to the lack of a quorum, seventeen items of business were not considered. Only two Boards, Executive and Erskine, were debated and voted on; no Standing Committee reports were received. The proposed new Form of Government, which was to be adopted and sent to the Presbyteries for their vote, is now back in the hands of the committee.
The following letter was emailed by me to the chairmen of those committees and boards:
Gentlemen:
My deepest apologies that your report was not handled by Synod 2012. As you are probably aware this is only the second time, recently at least, that a quorum call was made which ceased all further work of the Synod.
In response to the other (2010), a decision to print unhandled reports for informational purposes only was made. The decision for 2012 has not yet been made. But in my opinion, as all the materials were distributed and none of them were considered or acted upon, such a printing would not offset the additional effort or cost to reproduce again.
Therefore, I’m advising the ARP Center that the Minutes of Synod 2012 reflect only the business that was actually done.
Now, what is to be done with the unfinished business? As there exists no method of handling your reports for 2012, short of a called meeting of the Synod (which I do not see happening, at least for now), may I suggest that unless there are matters, financial or otherwise, that the Executive Board needs to handle as emergency actions on behalf of Synod, you simply place in your reports to Synod 2013 any materials you think ought to be carried over. If there are matters which the Executive Board could declare to be of an emergency nature and thus acted upon, please contact the center as soon as possible so that such matters may be scheduled for the Executive Board.
Thank you for your time and talent in serving our Lord through your work.
It is notable that Synod in years past was in session from the Monday evening worship through Friday evening (or afternoon if we behaved ourselves), and never was there any need for a quorum call.
Now we have more churches, more possible delegates, more ministers, more reports to deal with, and instead of four days of work, we have only two scheduled, and we cannot even commit to attend that. A ruling elder stood on the floor several years ago and quoted The Best of Pogo, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
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+ Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 1 Cleveland Street Suite 110, Greenville, South Carolina, 29601, 864-232-8297, Fax: 864-271-3729
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[3] Two New Articles from Professor Robert A.J. Gagnon
Dr. Robert A.J. Gagnon, Associate Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)) has published two new articles on his website:
— “Being a “Simple-Minded Jesus Lover” Is No Excuse for Really Bad Theology” – Exodus International President Alan Chambers dodges the real issue at hand and inadvertently plays the role of judge; and,
— “It’s Silly to Compare Homosexual Practice to Gluttony” – A response to Craig Gross’s CNN Belief Blog op-ed.
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+ Robert A.J. Gagnon, gagnon@pts.edu
+ Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 616 North Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206, 412-362-5610, Fax: 412-363-3260
+ Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 888-728-7228, Fax: 502-569-8005
+ Exodus International, Post Office Box 540119, Orlando, Florida 32854, 407-599-6872
+ CNN, One CNN Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, 404-878-2276, Fax: 404-827-1995
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A 21 July 2012 The Scotsman article titled “Leave Marriage Alone, Head of Free Church of Scotland Tells SNP” reports that Free Church of Scotland Moderator, the Rev. Dr. Iain Campbell called on the Scottish National Party to “leave marriage alone” and urged the government to release the results of its consultation on allowing gay marriage, saying:
“There has been much discussion on both sides of the argument in recent weeks, but the responses to the consultation are a primary matter of public interest. Why have they not been released?
“The Scottish Government went to the people of Scotland, now it’s time we heard the result. Marriage is not some sort of political football to be kicked around for the sake of political correctness.”
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+ The Scotsman, Barclay House, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AS, Scotland, 131-620-8620
+ Free Church of Scotland, 15 North Bank Street, The Mound, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 2LS, 0131-226-5286, Fax: 0131-220-0597, catherine@freechurchofscotland.org.uk
+ Scottish National Party, Gordon Lamb House, 3 Jackson’s Entry, Edinburgh EH8 8PJ Scotland, 0131 525 8900, snp.hq@snp.org
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A 22 July 2012 Ghana News Agency article titled “Ghana is Under Invasion – Presby Moderator” reports that during a sermon during the ordination of ten ministerial probationers from the Brong Ahafo, Northern, and Upper Presbyteries in Wa, Ghana, Presbyterian Church of Ghana Moderator of the General Assembly the Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Marty stated that Ghana is under invasion by foreigners and unpatriotic Ghanaians that are exploiting Ghana’s natural resources resulting in widespread lawlessness including illegal mining and armed robbery.
Marty stated: “Ghana is being raped and no one cares,” and called on the government, security agencies, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to do something to stop the exploitation and lawlessness.
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+ Ghana News Agency, Post Office Box 2118, Accra, Ghana, 233-302-662381, Fax: 233-0302-669841, ghnews@ghana.com
+ Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Post Office Box GP 1800, Accra, Ghana, 233-21-662511, Fax: 233-21-665594, pcghg@yahoo.com
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[6] Headlines from LifeSiteNews.com
— Thomas Reuters News Service Endorses Same-Sex ‘Marriage,’ Swears It Won’t Affect Its Coverage
— Pro-Life Leaders: Obama’s FBI Is Gathering Intelligence on the Pro-Life Movement
— Target Stores Now Sells Homosexual ‘Wedding’ Cards
— ‘Guilty As Charged’: Chick-Fil-A Owner Stands by Biblical Marriage Stance
— Boy Scouts of America Uphold Ban on Homosexual Leaders
— Elton John Says Its ‘Heartbreaking’ That Son Will Grow Up without a Mom
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+ LifeSiteNews.com, Incorporated, 4 Family Life Lane, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, 888-678-6008, Contact Page
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[7] Raging Heathen and Vain Imagining
Articles from the past week regarding kings and rulers setting themselves against the LORD and against his anointed:
— Indian Christians Forced into Hindu Worship, Driven from Homes
— Hidden Government Scanners Will Instantly Know Everything about You from 164 Feet Away
— Black Mobs’ Knockout Game Raising Alarms
— TSA Agents Allegedly Strip-Search Woman, Fiddle with Feeding Tube
— A Choice between Satan and Beelzebub
— Chick-Fil-A President: America Is “Inviting God’s Wrath”
— Boston Mayor Vows to Block Chick-Fil-A from City
— Owner of ‘Breastaurant’ Chain Buys Texas Town, Changes Its Name to ‘Bikinis’
— Los Angeles ‘Authorities’ in Raw Milk Raids Were Impersonating Public Officials
— Homosexuals Dishonor U.S. Uniform In Homosexual Pride Parade
— Obama Department of Defense Purchasing Combat Equipment for Domestic Contingency Planning
— Romney Quotes Book of Mormon in Speech on Aurora, Colorado Massacre
— Anaheim, California Cops Open Fire on Men, Women, Children and Babies!
— Israeli Congressmen Rip up Bible, Call Messianic Jews “Heretics,” Says Bibles Should Be Burned
— Necrophilia Replaces Pedophilia at Penn State
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+ Compass Direct News Service, Post Office Box 27250, Santa Ana, California 92799, 949-862-0304, Fax: 949-752-6536, info@compassdirect.org
+ Gawker Media, 210 Elizabeth Street, Fourth Floor, New York, New York 10012, 212-655-9524, media@gawker.com
+ Comcast Corporation, One Comcast Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, 800-266-2278, Contact Form
+ WND, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, #351, Washington DC 20006, Contact Page
+ NBC 5, 3100 Mckinnon Suite # 800, Dallas, Texas 75201, 214-745-5555, Contact Page
+ RenewAmerica.com, 811 Virginia Avenue Southeast, Washington DC 20003
+ Western Center for Journalism, 42104 North Venture Drive, Suite B-122, Anthem, Arizona 85086, 202-370-6366, Contact Page
+ THEBLAZE.COM LLC, 1270 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10036, contact@theblaze.com
+ The Daily Caller, 1050 17th Street Northwest # 900, Washington DC 20036, 202-466-3004, media@dailycaller.com
+ Front Porch Politics, Contact Page
+ Godfather Politics, 457 Nathan Dean Boulevard, Dallas, Georgia 30132
+ Salt Lake City Tribune, 90 South 400 West, Suite 700, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101, 801-257-8742, Fax: 801-257-8525, reader.advocate@sltrib.com
+ American Vision, Post Office Box 220, Powder Springs, Georgia 30127, 770-222-7266, Fax: 770-222-7269, mail@AmericanVision.org
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Articles from the past week about the religion of peace:
— Egypt’s Christians at the Mercy of Mursi
— The Olympic Spirit and the Islamic Spirit
— Taliban Bans Polio Vaccine for Children
— The Leftist-Islamic Alliance against Freedom of Speech
— Jewish Women and Children Targeted in 18 July 2012 Islamic attack in Bulgaria
— Chicago Imam: “Qital [Killing] is an Essential Element of Islam”
— Muslim Cleric Arrested for Smuggling People into Italy
— ‘Electronically Supervised’ Terrorist Arrested Near Olympic Site
— Report: FBI Didn’t Probe Ft. Hood Shooter Over ‘Political Correctness’
— Minnesota Congressman Michele Bachmann Says Muslim Brotherhood Infiltrating Obama Administration
— Britain’s Intelligence Chief Warns Iran Closing on Bomb, Predicts Israeli Attack
— Bulgaria Jihadist Mass Killer Released From Gitmo, Leftists Rejoice At Mass Slaughter of Jewish Kids
— Bulgaria: Homicide bomber Used Fake Drivers License from Michigan, Death Toll Climbs to Eight
— Syria’s Massive Chemical Weapons Stockpile Could Fall Into the Hands of Jihadists
— Aide to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Tied to Al-Qaida Front
— Muslim Man Tries to Grab the Olympic Flame from Female Bearer
— Obama Gives Statement of Recognition to Ramadan 21 July 2012
— 23 July 2012 is Deadliest Day in Iraq – 103 People Killed in Jihad Attacks
— Muslims from Europe Bringing Girls to Tolerant Britain for Genital Mutilation
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+ Atlas Shrugs, writeatlas@aol.com
+ Assyrian International News Agency
+ Newsmax, Post Office Box 20989, West Palm Beach, Florida 33416, 561-686-1165, Fax: 561-686-3350
+ WND, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, #351, Washington DC 20006, Contact Page
+ Front Porch Politics, Contact Page
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