Constantinople was for 1,000 years the Byzantine capital!

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about the fall of Constantinople. This follows this post about a constitution for Egypt. For a free magazine subscription or to get the book shown for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

Media Principles From the Prophets

article by Graemme Marshall





God's encouragement to Jeremiah and Ezekiel can help us in our approach to preaching the gospel today.



Constantinople was for 1,000 years the Byzantine capital of the eastern Roman empire with Christianity its religion from the fourth century In 1453 that all changed for the next nearly 500 years.



Muhammed II laid siege to the city to make it capital of the Ottoman empire which at its height stretched from the Danube to the Euphrates. That empire lasted until World War I. He climaxed the siege by taking his navy and enormous bronze cannons overland to bypass chains across the harbor mouth. He then shelled the city from the inner harbor. On May 29, 1453, the walls were breached and Ottoman soldiers poured into Constantinople subjugating the local Christian and Jewish populations. A story from that time tells how Christian scholars in the besieged city (within days of becoming Muslim for the next 500 years!) were preoccupied with the following theological questions:



What color eyes had the virgin?



If a fly falls into holy water, is the water defiled or the fly sanctified?



Whether true or not, there's an unsettling parallel with our times. With the fabric of society tearing apart, many today seem preoccupied with similar debates. But we don't have to fall into that trap. We can be motivated by these dangerous times to get on with the job we've been given of preaching the gospel in all the world.



God's Church Always Involved in Promoting the Gospel



Recent home office news illustrates how we seem once again poised to grow. Treasurer Tom Kirkpatrick, commenting on the Church's income, said, "Our financial stability now gives us the ability to continue strongly fulfilling the commission of the Church." This is evidenced by requests for literature more than double last year. Some callers responding to the new radio broadcast ask, "Are you the same program as Herbert Armstrong?"



We indeed strive to continue the calling and commission of our recent past. It also parallels that given Jeremiah and Ezekiel. We can learn much about media challenges from what these two prophets were instructed by God.



Jeremiah and Ezekiel's Problems



Jeremiah was called to preach God's message in Jerusalem as Ezekiel was called, 700 miles away in Babylon. Jeremiah was told the problems he'd encounter and that, no matter, he was to fulfill his calling. His immediate response quite lacked enthusiasm. Like Moses he pleaded inadequacy, saying he was too young (Jeremiah 1:6Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.



See All...). He may have meant he was too young as a priest and felt inexperienced. Or it could have reflected his introspective nature and that he, by temperament, felt personal inadequacy. Paraphrasing God's response as it applies to us: "Don't you think I know what I'm doing in calling you? Don't be afraid of the looks on their faces because I will give you the right words to say" (verses 7-8).



We too can feel overwhelmed by God's calling and feel inadequate for the task. God anticipated negative reactions to preaching His truth. He told Jeremiah to not be dismayed about it. We get discouraged at the lack of seriousness from others when we speak on God's behalf. There was a personal warning too, that if Jeremiah allowed unresponsive attitudes to deter him from doing the job, God would trouble Jeremiah before his detractors (verse 17). God knew people would fight against him, but He assured Jeremiah they would not succeed because God would be with him (verse 19).



Now it seems Ezekiel had a different personality, but he faced the same problems. In graphic language God described his audience as a "rebellious house, impudent and stubborn" (Ezekiel 2:3-4 [3] And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.

[4] For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.





See All...). Whether they would listen, or whether they wouldn't (because after all "they are a rebellious house"), Ezekiel was to still take God's message to them (verse 5). God's purpose includes making sure our peoples will in the future come to know that a prophet has been among them. Much of our effort may not bear fruit until later. Understanding how His human instruments can become discouraged, God sympathetically outlined to Ezekiel the people's attitudes: though we may be hurt by resistance, and words and looks make us afraid, we are NOT to be deterred from the task. We are told the people's reaction to truth will be like briers, thorns and scorpions (verse 6). Thorns prick our skin and make us bleed. Scorpions sting with burning pain. In a similar way their words and looks can psychologically demoralize and weaken our resolve. God emphasizes that whether they hear or refuse, we are to still do the job and make sure we aren't rebellious like them (Ezekiel 2:6-8 [6] And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

[7] And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

[8] But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.





See All...). In comforting Ezekiel God further explains the reason they won't listen to us is that they will not listen to Him. They are unreceptive because their nature is "impudent and hardhearted" (Ezekiel 3:7-9 [7] But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.

[8] Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.

[9] As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.





See All...). While preaching God's truth we must remember they will NOT listen because of insolent hard hearts.



As with Jeremiah and Ezekiel, a lack of response shouldn't put us off. Dirty looks and hurtful words are a natural result from a rebellious nation.



Relatives and Friends Can Discourage Too



Interestingly, even family may at times hinder the gospel. In Jeremiah's case close family, probably embarrassed before friends by what he was saying, enlisted others to deter his public preaching. God makes clear that Jeremiah was in danger of being deceived by family (Jeremiah 12:6For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.



See All...).



Today we can have similar difficulty with unbelieving relatives. Strangely, too, some opposition to the gospel comes from within our Church family. Perhaps we err by a desire to placate others when we should step out in faith and stand for truth.



Yet, There Is Hope



God explains to Ezekiel that, even though they have eyes that can't see and ears that won't hear, he should still go ahead and preach as "it may be that they will consider" (Ezekiel 12:2-3 [2] Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.

[3] Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.





See All...). This is very comforting. It makes our efforts worthwhile when just one person responds to God's calling. Ezekiel would become a sign later when the people realized the words he had spoken had come to pass. God explains that a lack of response has to do with attitudes of people who conclude, "The vision is for many days, he prophesies of days far off" (verses 6, 25-27). Isn't this true in our history? What the Church has preached hasn't happened, so they put off involvement. The task of the prophets was to be accomplished whether people listened or not. They would at a later time come to know a prophet of God had been among them (Ezekiel 33:31-33 [31] And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

[32] And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

[33] And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.





See All...).Yet, despite our knowing this, a lack of response can make us feel we aren't achieving much. Elijah felt this, which puts us in great company! It seems strange that after the triumph on Mount Carmel and the execution of the priests of Baal, he would throw in the towel just because of a death threat from Jezebel. She had been trying to kill him for years. But stress can become the last straw that breaks our emotional back and he fled.



God succored Elijah for a while, then informed him of something he didn't realize. There were 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal nor kissed the idol. Elijah probably didn't know of these people. When the paganism of Ahab and Jezebel reigned supreme, God-fearing people would have quietly hid themselves. This illustration of people who remain faithful to God's covenant was used by Paul about a remnant in Israel (Romans 11:1-5 [1] I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

[2] God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

[3] Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

[4] But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

[5] Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.





See All...).



What of New Testament Times?



Although Justus, Crispus and many others believed and were baptized through Paul's preaching in Corinth, he became upset at stubborn attitudes against him. It deterred him enough to quit Corinth and plan to go elsewhere (Acts 18:6-11 [6] And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

[7] And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

[8] And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

[9] Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

[10] For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

[11] And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.





See All...). Paul concluded his work there was over. But God knew better. Because Paul was determined to leave, God gave a vision one night saying: "I have many people in this city. So don't be afraid, no one will attack you, and I will be with you." Paul obediently stayed another 18 months. We can be so short-sighted and demoralized by resistance to our efforts.As John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ's first coming, so too Christ's Church prepares the way for His second coming (Mark 1:2-4 [2] As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

[3] The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

[4] John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.





See All...).We have a commission and obligation to preach the gospel. Paul expressed his role this way: "Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me" (1 Corinthians 9:16-17 [16] For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

[17] For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.





See All..., NIV). It was Paul's preference to sacrifice and from the heart see the gospel made available. He asked how can anyone hear the truth unless there are those who make it known (Romans 10:14-17 [14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

[15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

[16] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

[17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.





See All...)? If we sit back uninvolved, how will people who could have been reached by our efforts ever hear? Christ was busy with His Father's work when He was on earth. He said, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.



See All...).



Society ever rots around us. Can we afford to idly sit back and let darkness overtake us? Have the courage and heart for the gospel. Be involved in sowing the seed! UN

.

The Man Who Saved Millions of Lives - Norman Borlaug

An interesting article from www.wnponline.org about a man who saved millions of lives. You can send this article to your HEALTH NUT FOOD POLICE friends. This follows this post about the Greek bailout.For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.



The Man Who Saved Millions of Lives
by wnponline
He saved more lives than any human who ever lived. Yet you probably do not know his name. Some say he was the “person of the twentieth century”. He would certainly have my vote. I first heard of his work forty years ago but thought by now he had died until I read a book about the world food crisis last month and saw that at age 95 he was still working. His name was Norman Borlaug and he died this week.

Norman Borlaug
Borlaug was a plant scientist who led a research effort during the 1950’s and 60’s that started what became known as the “Green Revolution”. His work in Mexico led to the development of a variety of hybrid grains that could be grown in many climates, was immune to many common diseases and produced larger yields. The result was larger harvests to feed the worlds growing populations.
The Wall Street Journal writes that from the time of the Civil War through the Great Depression of the 1930’s the average American farm produced 24 bushels of corn per acre. By 2006 output had multiplied to near 155 bushels per acre. The same results have occurred around the world and are the key reason the world’s burgeoning population has been fed and kept alive. The article goes on to say, “In 2006, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization declared that malnutrition stands “at the lowest level in human history,” despite the global population having trebled in a single century.” (“The Man Who Defused the ‘Population Bomb’”, September 16, 2006)
In 1968 a book was written by Dr. Paul Ehrlich called “The Population Bomb”. Ehrlich predicted a dire scenario of famine and death for millions in the developing world because of a lack of food. No doubt many would have died had not a revolution in plant science, le by Borlaug, produced the means for increased food production. Thankfully, Ehrlich’s predictions, and those of others, did not come to pass.
Borlaug’s work has been heavily criticized because of its reliance on lots of fertilizer and pesticides. Fears of genetically modified food keep some grains out of world markets. But the poor who survived and grew to adulthood because they were fed do not have the luxury of such debates. They lived and grew to adulthood as humans created in the m=image of God. At a future point on God’s timeline they will come to know Him in the fullest and truest sense and have opportunity take their place within the family of God. There comes a time when we have to let God sort out the issues of life of this planet. The value and dignity of human life outweighs all other considerations. Borlaug’s work allowed a quality of life for many millions.
Unfortunately, food shortages and resulting famine within developing nations has not been eliminated. Weather upsets, government policies and political corruption have created pockets of famine resulting in the deaths of many hundreds of thousands. Those problems continue and Bible prophecy show us will one day result in the ride of the black horseman of famine foretold in Revelation 6:5, 6. For more information on this prophecy click here.
The world continues to face potential shortages of the basic resources of food and water. There will be a time when the problems will be too great and simply overwhelm humanity. Fortunately, the same prophecies tell us God will step in to end the suffering and save the world from an unimaginable destruction.
Until then it is good celebrate people like Norman Borlaug. Borlaug turned his back on wealth and fame to continue working in the trenches for the good of all. It is sad commentary on the shallow American culture that most do not know this man’s name. Now you do. Be glad he lived.

John Murtha: Requiem for a Corruptocrat

This is an interesting post from Michelle Malkin of http://www.vdare.com/ about a congressman that died earlier this week. It talks about the dangers that fighting a Middle East dictatorship can have, which is a follow up to this post here about a more current problem. For more posts like this click here



John Murtha: Requiem for a Corruptocrat

By Michelle Malkin
We are not supposed to speak ill of the dead. But those whom the deceased viciously smeared and humiliated deserve to be defended. Entrenched Democratic Rep. John Murtha passed away on Feb. 8 after a botched gallbladder surgery. He has been hailed as a "military advocate" (Associated Press) and "one of the greatest patriots ever to serve in Congress" (former Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr.). These obsequious obituaries leave out inconvenient truths:
John "Jack" Murtha was an unrepentant smear merchant and corruptocrat to the bitter end.
In May 2006, during an MSNBC TV show appearance that Marines and their families will never forget or forgive, Murtha accused U.S. troops of wantonly killing some two dozen civilians, including children, in the terrorist stronghold of Haditha, Iraq. Bellowed Murtha: "Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood." Murtha publicly indicted the Marines before military investigations had been completed. His remarks opened military-bashing floodgates around the world.
In the wake of Murtha's reckless blabbing, MSNBC executioner Keith Olbermann accused the Haditha Marines of "willful targeted brutality." The Nation magazine claimed that "members of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment perpetrated a massacre." The New York Times dubbed Haditha the "defining atrocity" of the Iraq war. International papers piled on with Vietnam-era "My Lai" allusions. Murtha cold-bloodedly sat back and enjoyed the ride while the Marines were left twisting in the wind.
By 2008, seven of the Marines charged in the incident had been exonerated or had charges against them dropped. Lt. Andrew Grayson was acquitted. Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum, Capt. Lucas McConnell, Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz and Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani all had their cases dismissed. Sgt. Frank Wuterich, the last of the Marines facing charges, awaits a long, dragged-out trial this year.
Murtha, the so-called "military advocate," went to his deathbed refusing to apologize or retract the attacks on the Haditha Marines (several of whom unsuccessfully sued him for libel to restore their honor). Decent people would call this intransigent treachery. Murtha's friends apparently consider it great patriotism.
The ego-bloated, big-mouthed lawmaker treated his own constituents with trademark contempt. During his last congressional campaign, he mocked voters in his district as bigots. "There's no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Responding to mounting criticism on both sides of the aisle about his logrolling orgies on the Hill, he sniffed: "If I'm corrupt, it's because I take care of my district."
First, foremost and forever, Jack Murtha took care of Jack Murtha. The glowing encomiums from his liberal colleagues have glossed over the 19-term Democrat's defining moment of political self-service. In 1980, Murtha was an unindicted co-conspirator in a massive bribery probe—in which undercover FBI agents videotaped Murtha entertaining a $50,000 bribe from agents posing as emissaries for Arab sheiks trying to enter our country illegally. From transcripts of those conversations published by the late newspaper columnist Jack Anderson, Murtha's true colors shined:
"I want to deal with you guys awhile before I make any transactions at all, period. … After we've done some business, well, then I might change my mind. …"

"I'm going to tell you this. If anybody can do it—I'm not B.S.-ing you fellows—I can get it done my way," he boasted. "There's no question about it."[Murtha and Abscam: A Sad Spectacle, August 6, 1980]
Murtha worried not about his integrity or how his constituents might be harmed, but about getting ratted out:
"All at once," he said, "some dumb (expletive deleted) would go start talking eight years from now about this whole thing and say (expletive deleted), this happened. Then in order to get immunity so he doesn't go to jail, he starts talking and fingering people. So the (S.O.B.) falls apart."

"You give us the banks where you want the money deposited," offered one of the bagmen.

"All right," agreed Murtha. "How much money we talking about?"

"Well, you tell me."
By the time of his death, Murtha had been caught intervening on behalf of a law-breaking Pennsylvania company convicted of selling military equipment parts illegally overseas; had steered unprecedented billions in federal earmarks to friends, family and donors; had earned multiple "most corrupt in Congress" designations from both the left-leaning Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and the right-leaning Judicial Watch; and had remained intimately tied to PMA Group, a former lobbying firm under federal investigation, and Kuchera Industries, a defense contractor also under federal investigation.
From his character assassination of innocents to his insatiable appetite for pork and power, Jack Murtha embodied everything that is wrong with Washington. If only the culture of corruption he serviced could be buried six feet under with him.

Michelle Malkin [email her] is the author of Invasion: How America Still Welcomes Terrorists, Criminals, and Other Foreign Menaces to Our Shores. Click here for Peter Brimelow’s review. Click here for Michelle Malkin's website. Michelle Malkin is also author of Unhinged: Exposing Liberals Gone Wild and the just-released Culture of Corruption: Obama and his Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks & Cronies.

A Movie about Iran you should see!!

This is an interesting movie review from http://www.debbieschlussel.com/ about a movie that you can watch to help understand and show solidarity with what is going on in Iran. There are similar events happening in Venezuela. and the case could be made that the whole Tea Party movement in the United States is a means of preventing any of this from happening here. You can get this movie from your library or from Amazon or from your video store and for more Posts like this click here

* “Persepolis“:

When I screened this with other Detroit-area movie critics, most of them didn’t get it and were quite ignorant. One said to me, “See, Debbie, not all Arabs are bad.” But, in fact, this movie is not about “Arabs.” It’s about Iran, where they are non-Arab Muslims. And it’s definitely about Islam, and what happens when believers in this religion take over. It’s also about what happens to secular Muslims when that happens–they are crushed like bugs and their human rights are taken away.
“Religion of Peace”: No, These Are Not NunsAnother critic, Jeff Meyers of “The Metro Times,” suggested that the Detroit Film Institute, part of the Detroit Institute of Art–which is, sadly and ironically, showing this movie along with the “Man From Plains” fake-umentary glorifying Jimmy Carter–have a joint showing with the National Arab American Museum of Dearbornistan. But that museum features hijab and burqa fashion sohws and stands for the promotion of Islamicization of the world, where as this movie, “Persepolis,” shows the deadly results of that movement. Myers–quite ignorant of the ongoing activities of the falsely-named museum, which stands for Islam and not Arabs–took great offense when I doubted his suggestion. He clearly hasn’t visited the building.“Persepolis” should be viewed by all Americans–make that, all Westerners–who believe that faux “reformers” can do anything to change the Islamo-fascist world. Where now, the Bush Administration has engineered the near overthrow of a pro-Western dictator of Pakistan and incited (with its insistence that Musharraf allow the late Benazir Bhutto back into the country) the worst violent and instability in Pakistan in decades, our country did the same when Jimmy Carter ushered the Shah of Iran out of office in favor of “free,” “democratic” elections, which brought almost three decades and counting of crushing Islamist rule.Animated and in black and white, this movie by graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi–an Iranian refugee living in France–illustrates what happened after intellectuals and revolutionaries, including her own parents, overthrew the Shah. At first, they thought they’d bought their golden ticket to freedom, democracy, and paradise. But they soon realized that life under the Shah–which they so actively protested and succeeded in ending–was far more desirable than what their “revolution” wrought.Not for kids, the movie shows how Iranians lived then (and now) in eternal fear and persecution. Kidnappings, tortures, murders–all sponsored by the Islamist Khomeini government–became a way of life in response to the most benign of comments and actions by average Iranian citizens. We are told how Iranian kids were forced to run through minefields, to explode the remaining mines. We’re also told how–because it is against Islam to kill a virgin–guards in Iranian prisons married and raped girls, so they could then be executed.The movie is autobiographical, as we watch Marji (the young Marjane Satrapi) grow up in the stiltifying aftermath of the Islamic revolution in Iran. Though Islam is never mentioned by name, it’s quite clear who is the cause of this extremism. Women in hijabs and religious police take over every institution and school. Marji is almost beaten for wearing “radical” Chuck Taylor basketball shoes and a “Punk is Not Ded [sic]” T-shirt, along with her Muslim headcovering. The headcovering is the symbol of the oppression that has set in, the rights that have been taken away, the persecution that becomes a way of life.We see how Islamism and religious intolerance invades–and ruins–nearly every aspect of Marji’s life and that of her family. Eventually she escapes to Europe, never to return, but being forced to leave her family in that hellhole. (In French with English subtitles.)