Cell towers creating environmental impact

Because of their flashing lights cell phone towers are causing the death of 50,000,000 birds a year. I'm not sure how they came to this figure, but it is another case of humanity versus nature. PETA and other such organizations should organize a "smash your cell-phone" so that they are not part of this devastating act of humanity. To see more about this check the following link.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0326/p16s01-sten.html

Gorbachev denies he is a Christian

New reports coming show that Gorbachev's conversion has not happened yet. He says he is still an atheist. See the following link http://cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=6326

Devil in the Church

Zeandale Community Church has made Easter a special occasion for years. The event begins the day before with the men of the church, under the direction of Jim Brazzle, getting together to make cinnamon rolls. Usually the choir is practicing upstairs at the same time with the promise that if they do well they can go downstairs and get a hot fresh cinnamon roll. You'd be surprised at how that raises the quality of the music.

Sunday begins with a true Sunrise service. We check to see at what time the sun is scheduled to rise and plan the service to be underway as the sun comes up. Only once have we been forced by bad weather to go to the church for Sunrise service.

This year it was cool--28 degrees F--but that didn't stop the crowd from coming. Ever since I have been at Zeandale I have marvelled how we can one crowd for the sunrise service, a different one for the breakfast and finally a different crowd for the cantata in the main service. If we had everyone in just one service it would be a very large service.

This year as last we had a visitor from Germany. The service is conducted at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery. That service has made me a believer in the resurrection. I will see people at the Sunrise service that I will most not likely see again until the next one.

After the Sunrise service we go to the Zeandale church for breakfast. Jim and his crew do a magnificent job of preparing scrambled eggs, ham, and those famous cinnamon rolls. I have suggested to Jim that he go into business and start a cinnamon roll shop. I have been led to believe he is not interested. Breakfast was great and when it was over several took home packages of cinnamon rolls for future breakfasts. Unfortunately my wife and I are diabetics, so we really don't need the temptation around.

Finally we reached the main service of the day. The new crowd is seated and one lady stood to read the Old Testament reading for the day. Suddenly there is a flurry in the back of the church. People are looking under the seats and pointing. Finally one man stands with his hands cupped together and leaves. Many have no idea what took place.

When the cantata was finished and we were making final announcements, this gentleman arose to apologize to the Bible reader. But he felt getting the snake out of the church justified the interruption. Yes, we had the devil in the church, but one of our faithful members carried back out into the world where he belonged.

Magdalena—released from shame--movie

Movie review—Magdalena, Released from Shame

One of the members at Zeandale Community Church received a letter about a new movie that was coming out—Magdalena, Released from Shame. The letter came into my hands and I shared it with our music director. We decided that we would like to use the video for Good Friday services if we felt comfortable with it. Melissa Boutz checked with the producers of the video and they said we could use it as long as we did not charge admission. Melissa had a copy of the movie. We both watched it and agreed that it was scripturally sound and had an excellent message.

The video is a follow-up to an older movie entitled "Jesus." The "Jesus" movie was translated into numerous languages and shown all over the world to present the story of the Messiah. World Vision and Campus Crusade among others made use of this film for evangelistic purposes.

The movie has several agendas which are aimed primarily at the Muslim world and women. Throughout the movie, which is narrated by Mary Magdalene, women in need are presented as being helped by Jesus. Mary Magdalene is delivered from demon possession and other stories of deliverance found in the scriptures.

The movie is careful to refer to Jesus as "Prophet" and "Teacher" as well as Messiah. The term Christ is never used. When Abraham is called upon to sacrifice his son, the name of the son is not given.

The production already has it in eight languages which means that it is intended for a broad audience. We can assume that other languages will be added.

I can recommend the movie for being scripturally faithful. In no sense is Mary Magdalene pictured as the lover or paramour of Jesus as is suggested by the Gnostics (both ancient and modern) and the DaVinci code gang. The production is so well done it is like a fifth gospel, simply told from the viewpoint of Mary Magdalene.

For more information on this production go to http://www.magdalenamovie.com/en/index.html

Mikhail Gorbachev now a Christian

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Communist leader of the Soviet Union, has acknowledged his Christian faith for the first time, paying a surprise visit to pray at the tomb of St Francis of Assisi.

Accompanied by his daughter Irina, Mr Gorbachev spent half an hour on his knees in silent prayer at the tomb.

His arrival in Assisi was described as "spiritual perestroika" by La Stampa, the Italian newspaper.

"St Francis is, for me, the alter Christus, the other Christ," said Mr Gorbachev. "His story fascinates me and has played a fundamental role in my life," he added.

Mr Gorbachev's surprise visit confirmed decades of rumours that, although he was forced to publicly pronounce himself an atheist, he was in fact a Christian, and casts a meeting with Pope John Paul II in 1989 in a new light.

Mr Gorbachev, 77, was baptised into the Russian Orthodox Church and his parents were Christians.

This article appeared in the London Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/19/wgorbachev119.xml

We are familiar with the fact that Gorbachev was the man who led the former Soviet Union out of communism.

2008 Iditarod

One of the greatest races involving human endurance is the famed Alaska Iditarod that begins at Anchorage Alaska and ends up in Nome, over a 1000 miles away. The race uses dog sleds that are pulled by 12-16 dogs. It is an exciting symbiotic relationship between man and dog and a few women and dogs. I have a daughter who lives in Anchorage and as a result I have a tendency to cheer for things happening in this great state to the far north.

Lance Mackey won the race for the second arriving in Nome around 1:30 am (AST). His closest competitor, Jeff King, was 80 minutes behind. Racers will be straggling in for a week as the race winds down. All of them will know they have accomplished something significant. In human sports there are two events that hold my attention--the Tour De France and the Iditarod. Both are endurance events. Engine size and horsepower mean nothing. For the Tour it is the man and his bicycle. For the Iditarod it is the man and his dogs.

Concern was raised about the so-called abuse these dogs experience. If you think that then you should see the joy with which these dogs run. They are having fun, not suffering. Veterinarians are on the trail to check out the dogs at every check point. A sick or injured dog is airlifted back to Anchorage for treatment. How many of you do that for your dog? Kevin Ingram was at Rotary the other day and talked with a vet from K-State that goes up every year to work in the Iditarod. The vets who go will tell you the dogs are well fed and well treated. The worst thing a racer could do is abuse a dog. He would be drummed out of the Iditarod and send home, never allowed again to participate. These men love their dogs and care for them as well as train them year round.

So it was an exciting day. The conclusion of one of the greatest sporting events in the world. But the lower 48 media was too busy chasing Obama, Ferraro, Spitzer, and Clinton to televise an event with some real value to it.

Demon-possession in North America

After having witnessed people who were demon-possessed in Africa and also knowing that demon possession is common in South America and Asia, I have pondered why we do not see more demon possession in America. I can honestly say that I have never seen a person who was demon possessed in North America. I am aware that there are people in the country who are demon possessed, but it does not seem to be a common problem.

Then a bit of revelation came to me (I would not necessarily credit this to the Holy Spirit, but the thoughts that follow could be wrong).

In North America and in Europe, Satan does not need to use demon-possession to demonstrate his power. Instead his approach has been much more subtle, but very effective. Satan is a pro at finding effective means of establishing his power.

In America and Europe he has used the reasoning power and wisdom of men to accomplish his goals rather than demon possession. For example, Richard Dawkins is an evangelist of atheism/evolution but I would not say that he is demon-possessed. He certainly Is delusional and is being used by Satan, but he is not demon possessed.

Note the government policies of the United States. Almost totally anti-God, anti-Bible, empowering such groups as the ACLU. Our government is not demon-possessed nor is the ACLU, as much as I dislike them. But they are being used by Satan daily to accomplish his goals—destruction, mayhem, confusion, abuse of Christians, etc.

Bottom line, anything that is opposed to the will of God as seen in the Bible, is basically anti-God and therefore a minion of the devil. So Satan doesn't need to use demon possession.

I will be interested to see if anyone can share more specific data concerning demon possession. For the moment this is my spin on things.