Another gifted artist and singer, Amy Winehouse, dies before her prime

Obituary: Amy Winehouse

With her gravelly voice and eclectic style, Amy Winehouse, 27, who has been found dead in London, won comparison with some of the great female singers such as Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone.

But like another great singer, Janis Joplin, she had a talent for self destruction, and fought a long battle against substance abuse.

Amy Jade Winehouse was born on 14 September 1983 in the well-to-do area of Southgate, north London.

Her taxi driver father, Mitchell, was a jazz enthusiast and often sang songs to his daughter as she grew up.

She trained at the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School from the age of eight and, by the time she was 10, had formed a rap group with one of her best friends.

Winehouse later attended the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School.

She began writing music at the age of 14 and a former boyfriend sent a tape of her singing with a jazz band to an A&R man.

Critical praise

It led to a contract with the Island/Universal record label and a publishing deal with EMI.

Her debut album Frank, released in 2003, was described by The Times newspaper as "earthy, warm, lived-in and astonishingly versatile".

She co-wrote all but two of the songs and won praise for what one reviewer described as "the cool, critical gaze" in the lyrics.

Frank was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize for album of the year in 2004, and Winehouse won the Ivor Novello songwriting award for best contemporary song with Stronger Than Me.

But it was the critical praise that followed the release of her follow-up album in October 2006 that propelled her to international stardom.

Rehab, the first track released from Back to Black, reached number seven in the UK singles chart.

The song, about her refusal to attend an alcohol rehabilitation centre, generated huge publicity, with Winehouse frequently being photographed drinking on stage and in pubs.

In February 2007, she scooped the title for best British female at the Brit Awards and, four months later, she picked up song of the year at the Mojo Awards.

Winehouse was again nominated for the Mercury Prize and went on to be named artist of the year at the MTV Europe Music Awards in November.

But as her popularity soared, her health began to suffer and her behaviour became more erratic.

She appeared to be drunk on Channel 4's The Charlotte Church Show in 2006, and took part in Never Mind The Buzzcocks in a similar state.

Marriage

Her weight plummeted during an exhausting schedule of promotional appearances and concerts in the UK and US.

She admitted punching a female fan at a gig in London and attacking her boyfriend when he tried to calm her down.

She confessed to self-harming and spoke of battles with eating disorders. And she shocked a journalist from US magazine Spin when she carved the name of then-boyfriend Blake Fielder-Civil into her stomach with a shard of mirror during an interview.

It was a break-up with Fielder-Civil that inspired much of Back To Black.

But she surprised fans, and her own family, when she secretly married him during a trip to Florida in May 2007.

In November of that year, there was further turmoil when Fielder-Civil was arrested and accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Winehouse herself was arrested and released on bail in December 2007 but no charges were brought against her.

A month later she went into a rehab facility following the publication, by a tabloid newspaper, of pictures of a woman they claimed was Winehouse, allegedly smoking crack cocaine.

She played a number of gigs in 2008 but it became increasingly apparent that the turmoil of her private life was having a severe effect on her ability to perform.

Time out

Following a diagnosis of what could have been the onset of emphysema, she managed a creditable performance at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert in June 2008.

But her performance at Glastonbury a few days later was described by one critic as "dismal" and tabloid interest centred on an incident where she appeared to punch a fan.

Amy Winehouse took some time off after a slew of festival appearances in 2008.

In 2009, she was found not guilty of assaulting a burlesque dancer at a charity ball in central London.

She made a low-key return to the stage in a surprise performance at her local pub in London in October 2010.

Earlier this year, Winehouse was admitted for treatment at the Priory clinic in south-west London.

Last month, she pulled out of her European tour after she was jeered at the first gig in Serbia for appearing to be too drunk to perform.

For 90 minutes, she mumbled through parts of songs and at times left the stage - leaving her band to fill in.

In her short career Winehouse gave us just a glimpse of what might have been, before she was undone by her own personal demons.

But the songs she recorded, and the string of awards they brought her, served to underline what a talent she was.

via BBC

Living in Escher's World?

We Are All On A Journey #4 - Epic failures in the Bible

You could end up in a ditch or a desert wilderness


    Of course, there are occasional problems that come up, detours that may happen, and those inevitable mistakes that we make along the way. These things are frustrating, aggravating, and troubling, being that the only person we can blame for these situations is ourselves. But even then,  there is no reason to think that there is no way out of the mess. The lives of many famous entrepreneurs have many failures prior to the great successes we know them for. Thomas Edison tried thousands of different substances for the filament of his incandescent light bulb before finding the right combination of materials. Howard Shore, of Starbuck's fame, ran a small three store chain of coffee stores before he developed it into the famous brand it is today. Many men and women have endured bankruptcy, foreclosure, and economic failure before finding the right way to thrive. 
    Two great epic failures in the Bible are notable in regards to ditches and deserts. When the children of Israel had come triumphantly through the Red Sea and travelled to the great mountain of God's presence, Mount Sinai, some of the people decided that Moses had been gone up into the mountain too long, and that it might be a good idea to make a new god for themselves out of the gold they had gotten from the Egyptians. They decided on a calf for some reason, and of all people Aaron, Moses' brother, made the idol for the people. A bad news/good news scenario was presented at this point. The bad news was that God was ticked off because He had personally spoken before the entire nation of Israel only days before about His feeling regarding other Gods, which was pretty much that they were totally off limits, no exceptions, period. And the good news was that God was in a listening mood when Moses asked that God spare the people because it would look bad to the other nations if God wiped out the Israelites and started over with another group of folks. Even Aaron was allowed to continue to live and he even served as the first High Priest of God's tabernacle, which was the first place of worship and gathering established for the nation. 
    Epic failure number two was when David, the young man and not a king yet at this point, was chased away from King Saul's court and looked to a find shelter in the court of Achish, the King of Gath, a city of the Philistines. That's right, I said the Philistines. Now why would that be a problem, you say?  Well, you see, David became famous when he was young by killing a giant man named Goliath. Any guess as to where Goliath was from? You got it, Philistia. And then there was the pop song of the day that must have been quite a catchy tune, because even the Philistines knew it. One servant turned to the other and said,  “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands,and David his ten thousands’?” Great lyrics for sure, but there was a problem with the whole "and David his ten-thousands." Ten thousands of who? Philistines, that's who! To get out of this situation alive, David had to slobber all over himself and pretend to be a madman, and slink away as quick as possible. He then spent several years wandering the deserts and being chased by the power crazy King Saul. 
    While it is possible to make light of these total epic failures from the Bible, the real truth here is that even though Aaron really shouldn't have made the idol for the children of Israel, he did eventually get to his place of calling and destiny by becoming the High Priest of God and being the father of the entire Aaronic priesthood. And David didn't just live a life of being chased through the desert by evil kings. He brought together into one nation all of the tribes of Israel and became their King and reigned for a long time in success. Of course, both of these guys had more mistakes than just one. However, even with those failures, God honored their faith and perseverance and used them in ways that are remembered as examples to us all. So even when we make huge blunders in life, God is able to make things come together in the end. 

ACLU and Liberals wigging out over prayer event

Gov. Perry's Invitation to The Response from The Response USA on Vimeo.


Fellow Americans,
Right now, America is in crisis: we have been besieged by financial debt, terrorism, and a multitude of natural disasters. As a nation, we must come together and call upon Jesus to guide us through unprecedented struggles, and thank Him for the blessings of freedom we so richly enjoy.
Some problems are beyond our power to solve, and according to the Book of Joel, Chapter 2, this historic hour demands a historic response. Therefore, on August 6, thousands will gather to pray for a historic breakthrough for our country and a renewed sense of moral purpose.
I sincerely hope you’ll join me in Houston on August 6th and take your place in Reliant Stadium with praying people asking God’s forgiveness, wisdom and provision for our state and nation. There is hope for America. It lies in heaven, and we will find it on our knees.
Sincerely,

Governor Rick Perry

_____________________________________
From Charisma Magazine Online:

As Aug. 6 approaches, secular humanist opposition is mounting against Texas Gov. Rick Perry's The Response: A Call to Prayer for a Nation in Crisis.

Last week, the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a federal lawsuit aiming to block Perry from participating in the event at Houston's Reliant Stadium. Now, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas is asking Perry and other officials to disclose the amount of tax-payer dollars and other state or local government resources used to promote the prayer event.

“We are concerned that Gov. Perry is using public office to endorse a sectarian religious event and to advance specific Christian beliefs,” says Lisa Graybill, legal director of the ACLU of Texas. “We are seeking information on the degree to which state resources have been or will be used for the planning and promotion of this event and for state officials’ participation in it.”

Under the state’s open records law, government officials have 10 business days to respond to open records requests. The ACLU of Texas expects a response on or before August 3.

But Perry, who may run for president in 2012, is getting support from fellow politicians and pastors alike.

Governor Paul LePage of Maine has issued a proclamation naming August 6 as a "Day of Prayer and Fasting for Our Nation." The Maine Legislative Prayer Caucus is urging Maine citizens to participate in The Response. And James O. Davis, cofounder of the Billion Soul Network, is convinced that Perry is following the Holy Spirit's leading.

"We need a sweeping, weeping, reaping revival in America," Davis says. "The sins that use to embarrass us now entertain us; the sins that us to amaze us now amuse us; the sins that use to make us weep now make us laugh; the sins that use to slink down back alleys now parade down main street. We will either have revival or face ruin in this generation."


Triangle: Why freak out over something you think isn't real? It's just all of those people in the flyover zone clinging to their guns and religion. Right?

Forced to watch paint dry for fun?

We Are All On A Journey #3 - Not exactly point A to point B

Your path may not be straight from point A to point B


    As in many adventures, your life may not be a straight line from point A to point B, because that is really the exception and not the rule. Not many people are just, born, go to school, choose a mate and a career and retire. Most of us are doing things a little less directly. And some of us have had a few setbacks, a few challenges, and maybe just a few good old fashioned messes. 
    Have you heard about little Much-Afraid? She is the main character in the famous devotional classic Hinds Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard. She was a little maiden who had been called by The Shepherd to a journey to the High Places of Love. But often, her way led to shores of loneliness, deserts and even dangers and storms, but in the end she was transformed into the kind of adventurer that could leap on the heights and live in the high places. This book makes the great and beautiful point that even though you may not be in the very midst of your ideal understanding of your life's purpose, God is a Great Shepherd that can get you to the place He plans for you to go, and that even the seeming detours along the way are part of your preparation for the ultimate fulfillment of your destiny. 
    We all know the situation with Moses proves this point, because we've seen the movie. You remember that Moses was raised in the house of Pharaoh, but then was rejected when he began to identify with his true people, Israel. But all of the things that he learned along the way were used by God in the bigger story that was going on around him. Daniel, the prophet, was kidnapped as a young man, but became a great leader that served several kings. Of course, probably the best picture in the Old Testament of this principle of God causing bad things to turn to the good is in the life of Joseph. Maybe you've seen that movie, too. Time after time Joseph brings blessing and favor with him to a situation, only to be betrayed. First his brothers sold him onto slavery. Then his Master's wife lies about him, accusing him of unwanted sexual advances. Then, in the midst of prison, Joseph helps the prison warden run the prison, and he gets his big break interpreting dreams for the cupbearer to the king. Years later, he finally is brought before Pharaoh and interprets the famous dream and becomes the Prime Minister of the entire nation of Egypt. And everything he did as Prime Minister was what he had learned throughout all those years of obscurity. In the end, his statement about the betrayal against him was, speaking to his brothers, "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.(Genesis 50:20) The Apostle Paul, also betrayed and in danger often, had a similar attitude. He said, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose.(Romans 8:28, NASB) So when things begin to unravel from the way you expect them to be, just remember that this little detour is leading to your ultimate destination, no matter how things may appear. 

We Are All On A Journey #2 - Leave it all behind

To go on a journey, you must leave other things behind


    Willingness to part with everything you know as familiar and comfortable is just the start of the adjustments you must make before you blast off into the wild blue yonder. Abram left every place and person familiar to him based on a voice he heard, the Voice of God. He was seventy-five years old, married and had a lot of people and property that he was responsible for. But he was willing to go when he heard that voice. Contrast this attitude with another famous adventurer in the Bible, Moses. 
    In the story of the Exodus, Moses responds to the voice of God by responding a little differently than Abram. "But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”(Exodus 3:11) Moses' answer was basically, "No thanks. I'm not up to the job." You see, he had an early dream of saving his people from their oppression, but tried to do it in his own power and timing and failed miserably, so much so that he was exiled from the country, running for his life. 
    Both of these great men of faith had something to leave in order to step forward toward the real plan and purpose for their lives. Both of them had former successes, and failures. Moses had to leave the comfort of a life that was ordered and simple and well controlled. He had to recapture his idea of God's promises that he had heard earlier in his life. He needed an update of his original dream. In fact, his hopes and dreams needed to be resurrected to new life. God did this by coming near to him and by answering Moses' prayers time and time again in a miraculous way. Abram, on the other hand, had had a life of relative success, and needed to come to a place of humility and reliance upon God, when he had been used to taking care of things on his own terms. 

Taxo Increaseum!

Senator Barack Obama on Raising the Debt Ceiling

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our government’s reckless fiscal policies . . . Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that “the buck stops here.” Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."

- Barack H. Obama, March 20, 2006 

Five Reasons Why I Believe Texas Governor Rick Perry Will Be Our President In 2013 - Kevin McCullough

Current Texas Governor Rick Perry will, in all likelihood, be president of the United States in January of 2013.
Having already made that bold statement in the electronic media during appearances on Fox News and on the nationally syndicated Mancow Radio Experience, now it's time for to put down in "print" why I believe Perry will be our next president.
I did the same thing in December 2006. I was the first political commentator to predict that Barack Obama would be the next president, and I said that would be especially true if John McCain were his opponent.
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The story of how my prediction turned into our nation's current nightmare is documented in my new best selling book, "No He Can't: How Barack Obama is Dismantling Hope and Change."
So far, the 2012 GOP presidential field has felt odd and disjointed to me, especially since former Arkansas and Alaska Governors Huckabee and Palin were long in making their up their minds about whether to get into the presidential race.
Even now we still don't know the mind of the former Alaskan governor about 2012. But polling data was clear in the period between February 2010 - April 2010 that if President Obama had been forced to face former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee he would lose.
The rest of the current field is interesting, but essentially so much alike that while there are contrasts between the candidates they are hard to discern.
Enter the candidate who has not even announced yet, the three-term governor from Texas: Rick Perry.
As I did in my 2006 piece predicting the Obama presidency let me lay out the five reasons Governor Perry would win if he chooses to enter the race:
1. Perry Has Created More Jobs Than Obama
Of all the issues that will face the nation in 2012, the one that weighs even now most on the minds of those around household dinner tables is where they will find the next month's paycheck.
In my book I detail the deterioration and the inexplicable refusal of solutions that will work by the Obama administration.
President Obama was hired by the America people to make the economy better, to lower unemployment, to see Americans grow their wealth, and at every level he has failed.
It's bad enough that one out of ten workers can't find work. But the most damning statistic is that one out of five families is working as hard as they possibly can, but still can't pay their bills.
Meanwhile over that same time period Governor Perry has overseen job growth in Texas that sits at 47% of all jobs created in the entirety of the United States -- just during the two and half years Obama's been in office.
2. Perry Respects the Importance of Small Business
While President Obama has been loading up the tax burden, fees, fines, and penalties for small businesses with his ObamaCare plan, the threat of higher taxes, and environmental pipe-dreams like "cap-and-trade," Governor Perry has reduced trivial regulation and has made Texas a dynamic environment to grow business. He's been so successful that corporations are relocating from the troubled states of California and New York. They're coming to the Lone Star State to set up shop, provide better service, and pay their workers better wages.
Gov. Perry was even invited just a few months ago to the California Assembly to chat with lawmakers about how to create small business growth. One of those Assemblymen was so inspired by the governor he started the "draft Perry" movement.
3. Perry Understands the Issue of State Sovereignty
Governor Perry has been famous for not exactly playing ball with the folks Washington, D.C. He has tried to use everything from humor to a serious demeanor in his opportunities for dialogue with President Obama and his administration to convince them of the problems that can happen when the federal government oversteps, overreaches, and over spends.
He has refused federal monies for programs his state did not need. Even when Texas was experiencing massive wildfires his behavior was counter-intuitive for most politicians.
He did not immediately turn to Washington with his hand out. Yet when his state's resources had been depleted he did come forward and ask for federal disaster aid in fighting the blazes. He's still waiting for an answer to his multiple requests for help from the administration.
As an aside, let me say that the administration's silence on the Texas wildfires looks like pure politics.
4. Perry Has Core Convictions
Recently Governor Perry allowed his Labrador Retriever to accompany him on his daily six mile jog. While on his run, he and his pet were accosted by a menacing coyote. After remaining still and waiting to see what the wild coyote would do, the governor pulled out a .380 Ruger and shot the coyote dead when it become apparent the coyote was after his pup.
When he returned to the governor's office he was queried about his "heartless" actions towards "innocent" animals. After answering more than one question on the matter, and in a mildly exasperated manner he replied, "Don't go after my dog!"  In other words while the press was confused about his value system, he saw it in very simple terms.
Gov. Perry's commonsense approach to problems and his core convictions resonate with the average American voter. There is such a thing as right and wrong. Not everything or everyone needs a presidential Blue Ribbon Commission to determine what's wrong and what's right.
5. He Appeals to All Three Categories of Conservatives
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the first Republican candidate to bring together the conservatives across the economic, social values, and strong military spectrums. Governor Rick Perry has already demonstrated his ability to do the same.
His economic abilities have already been cited. But he also supported the "loser pays" tort-reform bill in Texas. Trivial lawsuits will automatically diminish in the future because those bringing them will have little incentive to try to shake down an organization by merely attempting to wear them out.
He also supported the sonogram law, pleasing pro-family advocates, which allows a legal abortion in Texas only after the mother of the unborn child is able to see her child with her own eyes first.
He also pushed for passage of a voter ID law which will go a long way to insure the integrity of the voting process in future Texas elections.
His shared values of faith, his belief in the decency of America, and his lack of apology for sticking to his beliefs contrast very well with a current president who is best described as "ruthlessly pragmatic."
Obviously there is much ground yet to cover before the elections of 2012. But Governor Rick Perry of Texas appears to this New Yorker to have the moxie, the methods, and material success in office to challenge President Obama on his rather lackluster "credentials" over the last two years--which is all he had to begin with.
I also love the fact that Gov. Perry wasn't even interested in the 2012 presidential race until recently. Maybe it's a good thing not to have people who lust for power live only to achieve it.
He's not even in the race yet, and this column is not an endorsement, it's a prediction. As a nationally syndicated talk show host, I am committed to having all of the candidates seeking the GOP nomination on my program. Friday, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty joined me. and will ask each of them the very same important questions of our economy, our national security and our future.
All that being said, if this economy keeps feeling like a dead coyote on an empty Texas highway, all bets are off.
Kevin McCullough is the nationally syndicated host of "The Kevin McCullough Show" weekdays (7-9 a.m. ET) & "Baldwin/McCullough Radio" Saturdays (9-11 p.m. ET) on 265 stations. His latest book, "No He Can't: How Barack Obama is Dismantling Hope and Change" is available now.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/06/24/five-reasons-why-believe-texas-governor-rick-perry-will-be-our-president-in/#ixzz1SOqKQppz

We Are All On A Journey #1 - A journey begins with a summons or call

A journey begins with a summons or call


    Western literature is full of stories of journeys. From Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, stories of great adventures have fascinated and instructed for millennia. Think also of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Jack Kerouac's On The Road. Dante wrote a story about a journey through hell and up to heaven. A journey usually begins with some sort of summons or call, some instruction to achieve a certain purpose or goal. The journey is a metaphor for our lives, with all of the twists and turns and improbable situations that come with it, and as we listen to the stories of the journeys of others we learn at a deeper level about our own. 
    The Bible has some great journeys in it, and the first one is taken by a man named Abram. Abram had a unique gift for people in his day, He could hear the voice of God. God said to go to a place and He would let Him know when he finally arrived. God just said, "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house,To a land that I will show you." You could imagine that Abram might have been a little bit hesitant about just up and leaving the place that he had known as home most of his life. It's one thing to just go wherever you want as an individual, but when this involves a whole tribe of people, servants, and most of your extended family, this is a much bigger deal than just a road trip. When you start on this kind of journey, you are not planning on coming back. You are committed to this as your only plan, no matter what. 
    The Book of Genesis reports that God actually spoke things into being. Genesis 1:3 says "Then God said, 'Let there be..." God's "let there be" statements begin a time of transition towards a redemptive goal that He has in mind. And for us, when He speaks to us we are then propelled toward a new future and adventure with God. In Isaiah  55:11 God says "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." When the voice of the God speaks forth, and we perceive it, we begin the next chapter of our lives, and with Abram, go ahead to a new land that we may not recognize until we get there.  
    We have the same decisions to make as Abram did. To find the place of calling and destiny for our lives, we must listen to the voice that is leading us towards our future and put away all other voices. We must be single-minded in our focus upon this goal of living out our dreams and desires. Have you heard the voice of a vision or call leading you out to a wilderness that you really don't quite understand in it's depth or importance right now? Or have you heard this voice and are just waiting for a confirmation of the direction? This moment has much mystery bound up in it, and how you respond to this call will decide the next several seasons of your life. It's important to take the time and work necessary to be confident of your direction before you launch out on your own great adventure.

Your Unique View Of The World #5 - Jesus has a Worldview

Jesus has a Worldview


    Jesus Christ has his own view of the world, and it is well worth considering the implications of this. Jesus affirmed the truths of the Old Testament, He regularly quoted the Old Testament scriptures as historically and theologically accurate. He affirmed the understanding of God from the Old Covenant, and further, he quoted the scriptures that were fulfilled in Him and said as much very directly. Jesus declared the Law to be authoritative to all people, and affirmed the role of the Davidic covenant and that it was also fulfilled in Him. Several times the gospels declare "then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet..." Notably, Jesus declared the prophecies of the 61st chapter of Isaiah concerning the Messiah to be specifically about him, when he declared in the synagogue: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor;  He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives  And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”  His response, having read this scripture aloud, was to simply say "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."(Luke 4:18-30) Jesus clearly believed and affirmed the things written in the Law and the prophets, and used them as the bedrock basis of his view of the world.
    Jesus also affirmed the dual nature of reality as existing on two planes, the spiritual and the physical. Jesus not  only believed in the existence of angels, demons, and other supernatural phenomena, but He taught others about them as a normative experience of day to day life. In His instructions to his followers, he taught them that His message, the message of the Kingdom of God, was to be demonstrated together with actions to prove the presence of His Kingdom. In Matthew 10:7 He said, " And as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." So as a major point of His worldview he believed in the reality of the non-material, spiritual realm. 
    As a consequence of the understanding of the existence and power of the spiritual realms, Jesus also affirmed that there is a kind of ongoing battle going on between the advancing forces of His kingdom, and the retreating forces of the dark one, Satan. While in our day of politically correct speech this kind of warfare talk may seem a little distasteful, it does describe the current situation between the two kingdoms and the kingdom struggle very well. The apostle Paul further discussed and expanded the understanding of this cosmic struggle in several of his letters, particularly that of the letter to the Ephesians. In the sixth chapter, he describes this warfare and the levels at which it is occurring, from the close-up battle for the mind to the universal battle for the souls of men and women and the nations of the world. 
    Jesus also taught a particular view of history. He taught that history is linear, having a beginning somewhere back in time and space, and culminating in the consummation of all ages when He Himself will rule and reign on earth from a seat of power and honor. The last two chapters of the Bible describe a time when all justice has been dealt, when every tear is dried, and every sorrow comforted. This is the fulfillment of His Kingdom, the answer to the prayer prayed by every believer in every time, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Who's Gonna Walk Next?

Happy Independence Day, South Sudan! (from BBC News)

South Sudan's flag raised at independence ceremony

Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have watched the raising of the new country's flag at an independence ceremony in the capital, Juba.

Salva Kiir signed the constitution and took his oath of office in front of the jubilant crowds, becoming the president of the world's newest nation.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and UN chief Ban Ki-moon are among dignitaries watching the historic events.

Sudan earlier became the first state to officially recognise its new neighbour.

The world's newest nation was born at midnight local South Sudanese time (2100 GMT), the climax of a process made possible by the 2005 peace deal that ended a long civil war.

The south's independence follows decades of conflict with the north in which some 1.5 million people died.

South Sudan became the 193rd country recognised by the UN and the 54th UN member state in Africa.

Celebrations in Juba began at midnight (2100 GMT). A countdown clock in the city centre reached zero and the new national anthem was played on television.

Saturday's independence ceremony is being held at the mausoleum of the late rebel leader John Garang, who died just months after signing the peace deal that ended Africa's longest-running conflict.

The BBC's Will Ross in Juba says people have flocked to the event on a baking hot day - some of them climbing trees to get a view.

There is a heartfelt display of excitement mixed with relief that after many years of feeling oppressed the tie with the north has finally been cut, he says.

The Speaker of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly, James Wani Igga, read out the Proclamation of the Independence.

Crowds then cheered as Sudan's national flag was lowered and the new flag of South Sudan was raised as trumpets played the new national anthem.

Afterwards the master of ceremonies told the crowd that President Kiir has decided not to hand over the flag of the Republic of Sudan.

"It shall be kept be kept in the archives of South Sudan in recognition of the common history that we have lived together," he told the crowd.

Our reporter says people in the crowds have been saying it is a moment to celebrate but they are also talking about the many lost relatives who died during the war.

'Southern brothers'

Mr Bashir, who agreed the 2005 peace deal with the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), also spoke at the ceremony.

"We congratulate our brothers in the south for the establishment of their new state," Reuters news agency quotes him as saying.

Continue reading the main story

"The will of the people of the south has to be respected."

Other dignitaries attending the celebrations include former US Secretary of State Colin Powell and the US permanent representative to the UN, Susan Rice.

Meanwhile, in Khartoum, for most people it has been a low-key day, though scores of men gathered near the Blue Nile holding giant Sudanese flags and shouting: "Allahu Akbar [God is great], the BBC James Copnall reports from the northern capital.

"I'm very happy today. We feel this is our independence day too, our real independence day," one man said.

But not everyone in the north feels that way, our reporter says.

Famous actor Ali Mahdi told the BBC he was sad, although he respected the choice of South Sudanese.

He felt is could also be the opportunity for Sudan to become a more democratic country.

Under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, a referendum was held on independence, which was approved by more than 99% of voters.

The new country is rich in oil, but one of the least developed countries in the world, where one in seven children dies before the age of five.

Unresolved disputes between the north and south, particularly over the new border, have also raised the possibility of renewed conflict.

Fears of fresh violence resurfaced after recent fighting in two border areas, Abyei and South Kordofan, where some 170,000 people have been forced from their homes.

But separate deals - and the withdrawal of rival forces from the border - have calmed tensions.

The UN Security Council has passed a resolution approving a 7,000-strong peacekeeping force for South Sudan - but this is basically a rebranding of the force that was already in Sudan, mostly in the south.

Our correspondent says keeping both the north and the south stable long after the celebratory parties have ended will be a challenge.

The two sides must still decide on issues such as drawing up the new border and how to divide Sudan's debts and oil wealth.

Analysts say the priority for Khartoum will be to negotiate a favourable deal on oil revenue, as most oilfields lie in the south. At present, the revenues are being shared equally.

Khartoum has some leverage, as most of the oil pipelines flow north to Port Sudan on the Red Sea.

Citizenship is also a key sticking point. A new law passed by the National Assembly in Khartoum has withdrawn Sudanese citizenship from all southerners.

The UN refugee agency has urged both governments to prevent statelessness.

Your Unique View Of The World #4 - Judeo-Christian Theism, Pantheism and Paganism

Judeo-Christian Theism


    Judeo-Christian Theism, while having been pronounced dead over and over throughout the last several hundred years, most notably by Nietzsche, is actually the backbone belief of the West, and accounts for the great strength of our current culture, however far backwards we may have gone in the last few decades.  The motto of the great theists of history is "To the glory of God." Theism is the belief system of the Founders of the American experiment and the men of the Renaissance and Reformation. Judeo-Christian Theism teaches a constrained view of man, in that man is in need of a rule of law and responsibility, although originally made in the very image of God. This view at once acknowledges God's hand in making man and the man's fall into sin. Man is free to follow God or not and may exercise an immense amount of freedom while also remaining accountable to God's law. This view is supernatural in that it allows for the God who made the universe to act upon it. Men are held together in relationship by the dual responsibility to God and to others. There is a deep and profound respect for truth in this view, with an emphasis on absolutes. All people are responsible to the revelation of truth as revealed in nature and the creation itself. Judeo-Christian Theism also insists that God is a knowable, personal being that speaks, acts in history, reveals His will and desires all people to have relationship with Him.



New Age Pantheism and Paganism


    Pantheism is the worldview of the eastern religions of Buddhism, Taoism and Hinduism, as well as that of the New Age movement. The phrase that describes Pantheism is "All is God, and God is all." This view is primarily concerned with the spiritual, since it holds that matter, and by extension the world itself,  is an illusion. The dominant goal for a pantheist is to escape into the ultimate nothingness that is God. The concept of sin for a pantheist is simply that he or she does not understand their own deity. The familiar picture is often given of a man pouring milk into a cup, and is explained as "this is god pouring god into god." Pantheism is relativistic in it's concept of truth, having a belief that good and evil are just two sides of the same coin. Reincarnation is the idea in pantheistic religions of life as a constantly repeating loop of experience on which the individual must attempt to come to the perfect spiritual state, and thus succeed in escaping the loop. This view sees the individual and the universe as ultimately impersonal. Pantheistic religions are also well known for their positive aspects of emphasis on meditation and the search for personal peace. 


    Although the numbers of people involved in pagan practices is not nearly the great percentage of people in the world as it once was, paganism has had a great resurgence in the last few years, particularly in the U.K. and Europe, as well as parts of the U.S. In their attempt to "go back to nature" many have sought to resurrect the old nature based religions of the old cultures of Ireland, Scotland, and Europe. The term "Pagan" used to be understood to mean basically "those who are not of the Christian faith." This new resurgence is an attempt to revive the Goddess religions and  practices, and is most known in the group known as "Wiccan." Technically they would be best described as "Neo-Pagan." There is also an interest in the old religions of many ancient cultures, like those of the Native Americans and the  tribal religions of Greece and Sumeria and the pre-Christian Celts. If there was an old religion somewhere, rest assured there is probably someone who is trying to bring it back. It is also possible that this movement owes it's strength to the influence of Postmodernism. Don't be surprised to run into someone in your travels who holds this view, because their numbers are indeed growing.

J. Lee Grady - Justice, Judgmentalism and the Casey Anthony Verdict

Her “not guilty” verdict made a lot of people mad. But before we vent any more anger we may need an attitude check.
Where were you on July 5 when the Casey Anthony verdict was released? Just before the 2:15 p.m. announcement, I was in a restaurant in Orlando with my family—and our waitress was so anxious to hear the outcome of the trial that she brought up the topic after we ordered our lunch. Not since the 1995 O.J. Simpson trial have Americans invested so much emotional energy in a courtroom drama.

Because I live near Orlando where the trial was held, I’ve grown weary of the never-ending local news coverage, which included stories on how much Casey was allowed to spend on toiletries every week at the Orange County jail and how long out-of-town visitors waited in line to get tickets to the trial. I remember when 2-year-old Caylee Anthony went missing in 2008. I remember when her decomposed remains were found six months later in some woods near her home. I listened to the blur of reports about duct tape, the suspicious odor in the trunk of the car, the chloroform, and her mother’s partying habits.

“Before you spend any more time analyzing the evidence, complaining about the jury or judging Casey’s motives, ask God to touch her. Could God have actually been involved in this unexpected verdict to give Casey more time to discover Him?”

People became engrossed in the case of the so-called Tot Mom. Many became armchair prosecutors. Some of them flew to Orlando to get a seat in the courtroom. Millions more followed every detail of the trial through Nancy Grace, Dateline and other news programs. Many amateur crime solvers were convinced Casey killed her little daughter—and they were ready to hand her a death sentence.

After the verdict was read on Tuesday, many Americans were shocked—mostly because Casey’s lies during the lengthy ordeal destroyed her credibility. Thousands of angry Twitterers formed a virtual lynch mob. Their words were harsh, exemplified by these tweets from people who referenced God:

* “The jury may have found her ‘not guilty,’ but she'll get what’s coming to her. God will make sure of that!”

* “Casey, you didn't win. You have a dead daughter, a guilty conscience, a society that hates you and a date with God.”

* “Dear Casey Anthony, God will deal with you. Good luck finding a lawyer that will help you lie to Him.”

Maybe I’m in the minority, but it disturbs me when I hear Christians spewing vindictive statements about God’s judgment in anybody’s direction—especially toward a woman who has just been pronounced not guilty in an American courtroom. Yes, I feel horrible for little Caylee, whose life was stolen from her. Yes, I think Casey’s story seemed to be full of holes. And no, I don’t believe the not guilty verdict brought the kind of “closure” Casey’s parents claim to have now. We’re not any closer to solving the mystery of her death.

But in the end, people who follow Christ should not be grabbing pitchforks and demanding vigilante justice just because a trial didn’t turn out the way we thought it should. Our response should be tempered with redemption. I’d recommend the following:

Thank God for His mercy toward you. Every one of us deserves a guilty verdict from God because of our sins (see Romans 3:23), but in His perfect love He engineered a way to satisfy justice and yet grant us full pardon. If you truly know the forgiveness of Christ you cannot cold-heartedly desire revenge for others. Our attitude should be guided by Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven you. (NASB)”

Pray for Casey Anthony and her family. Before you spend any more time analyzing the evidence, complaining about the jury or judging Casey’s motives, ask God to touch her. Do you believe He loves her? Could God have actually been involved in this unexpected verdict to give Casey more time to discover Him? Pray that Casey and her parents will come to know His salvation in a personal way. (P.S. This whole thing has reminded me that I’ve not spent too much time praying for O.J. Simpson, either.)

Pray for the children who are abused every day and don’t get news coverage. According to the organization Child Help, a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds. Almost five children die every day in the United States as a result of child abuse, and more than three out of four are like Caylee Anthony—under the age of 4.

If Christians become more aggressive in addressing child abuse in all its forms—and channel our righteous anger in a positive direction—Caylee’s death will not have been in vain.

From the Fire In My Bones blog:

J. Lee Grady is contributing editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. His most recent book is 10 Lies Men Believe (Charisma House).

Your Unique View Of The World #3 - Worldview

Major Worldview Overview

Secular Humanism and Post-Modernism


    Secular Humanism is a view of the world that puts man, the human, squarely in the center. The motto of Secular Humanism is "Man is the center and measure of all things." In this view Man is responsible to pull himself up from the primordial darkness and project himself forward into the future, being responsible to no god, but relying on his own cunning and strength of will. Secular Humanism is basically a materialistic belief system, with the concept of the soul relegated to the brain, as in the phrase "the mind is what the brain does. He uses his knowledge of science and technology to make the world in the image of his own dictates. This view affords a high view of man as a being that is good at the heart and able to rise high above difficult circumstances by a focus on education and training towards excellence. The main view of man is that of an unconstrained vision, where men are trusted to do the highest and best without accompanying rules or strictures. Men who fall short of this great goal are simply in need of help and education. Evil in this view is seen as not within the man, but the result of the wrong environmental situation. Given a better environment, the man is able to right his wrongs and reform positively.
    Postmodernism is a relatively new take or twist on an old view of the world, called Nihilism. Postmodernism is the main driving worldview of the American pop culture. The motto of Postmodernism is "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."  This view is really somewhat similar to the atmosphere of that of the New Testament in the times of Jesus. The New Testament period was full of competing and various conceptions of life and reality. There were many competing ideas of the function of the physical versus the material, with some elevating the natural world, and others emphasizing the spiritual. Today, along with a pervasive relativism and emphasis on experience, the Postmodern also rejects anything objective in favor of the subjective. There is a deep distrust and cynicism within postmodernism, causing a sense of purposelessness that is then embraced irrationally as liberation. The "reality tv" craze is a postmodern phenomena. It is the idea of the point of life as being the goal of having your "fifteen minutes of fame." In Postmodernism there is no real freedom, because there is belief that we are merely caught in a trap from which we cannot escape. The Postmodern is concerned with the here and now, and caught up with the idea that all things are entertainment, mere events and mere experiences. Postmodernism is full of rhetoric that speaks of "progress" while losing the respect for European and Western cultural distinctives. To the postmodern, any one who believes a narrative as true and real is considered to be unenlightened and close-minded. Just like it's older brother Nihilism, Postmodernism simply posits a future and a hope, but then cynically denies the reality or possibility of meaning and purpose in the universe, opting instead for an intellectual sounding but empty philosophy. 


from JavaJazzJesus

Your Honor, We Find the Cable News Shows Guilty

Dennis Prager: A Fourth of July Celebration Ceremony

Four years ago, I wrote a column titled "America Needs a July Fourth Seder." In it, I explained that "national memory dies without national ritual. And without a national memory, a nation dies." Many readers and listeners to my radio show responded by creating their own rituals to make the day far more meaningful than watching fireworks and eating hot dogs.

I now present a simple 10-minute ceremony that every American can easily use on July Fourth. It is a product of the Internet-based Prager University that I founded nearly two years ago. We call it the Fourth of July Declaration, and here it is. (A paginated and printed version can be downloaded at the website www.prageruniversity.com).

It begins with a note to the individual leading the ritual, the "host."

NOTE TO HOST *

We hope this day finds you, your family and your friends in good health, enjoying another glorious Fourth together. We all love barbecues, parties and fireworks, but if that's all the Fourth of July is about, the day has lost its meaning and we lose a vital connection to our American past.

Welcome to our Fourth of July Declaration!

We have modeled this Declaration on the best-known commemoration of a historical event in the world -- the Jewish Passover meal. It has successfully kept the memory of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt alive for over 3,000 years.

As Americans, we need to reconnect with our Founding. We need to rediscover the meaning of our country's creation. And we need to do it every year. That is the reason for ritual -- to enable us to remember. Without ritual, the memory fades. And without memory, life -- whether of the individual or of a nation -- loses its meaning.

That's where this Fourth of July Declaration comes in.

In keeping with the philosophy of Prager University that profound concepts can be taught in five minutes, this Declaration is brief.

If you follow this simple ceremony, this holiday will not just be another barbecue. It will be the meaningful day it was meant to be: a celebration of the birth of our exceptional country, the United States of America.

You are encouraged to add more to your Fourth of July Declaration. This ceremony is only a starting point. But even doing this minimum will mean a lot -- to you, to your family and friends, and to the nation.

* Feel free to read this "note to host" to those assembled at your celebration of the day.

MATERIALS AND FOOD NEEDED FOR THE CEREMONY

-- Iced Tea

-- Salty pretzels

-- Strawberries and blueberries and whipped cream. (But any goodie colored red, white and blue will do.)

-- A small bell

The ringer on your cell phone will do in a pinch

-- An American coin

The bigger, the better. A half-dollar is ideal, but a quarter will do.

-- A printed (unsigned) Declaration of Independence.

-- Lyrics to "God Bless America" for all your guests. Download the lyrics. (www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/godblessamerica.html)

THE CEREMONY BEGINS

DIRECTION: Everyone gathers around the table.

HOST SPEAKS: Today, we take a few minutes to remember what the Fourth of July is about and to remind ourselves how fortunate we are to be Americans.

Before America was a nation, it was a dream -- a dream shared by many people, from many nations, over many generations.

It began with the Pilgrims in 1620, who fled Europe so that they could be free to practice their religion. It continued through the 17th century, as more and more people arrived in a place that came to be known as the New World. In this new world, where you were from didn't matter; what mattered was where you were headed.

As more and more people settled, they started to see themselves as new people -- Americans.

They felt blessed: The land was spacious. The opportunities limitless.

By 1776, a century and a half after the first Pilgrims landed, this new liberty-loving people was ready to create a new nation.

And on July 4 of that year, they did just that. They pronounced themselves to be free of the rule of the English king. We know this statement as the Declaration of Independence.

DIRECTION: Host invites the young people (generally ages 7 and older) present to read and to answer the following:

YOUNG READERS:

Q: Why do we celebrate the Fourth of July?

A: Because the Fourth of July is the birthday of the American people -- the day we chose to become the United States of America, a free nation.

Q: Why was America different from all other countries?

A: Because in 1776, all countries were based on nationality, religion, ethnicity or geography. But America was created on the basis of a set of ideas. This is still true today.

Q: What are those ideas?

A: Three ideas summarize what America is all about. They are engraved on every American coin. They are "Liberty," "In God We Trust" and "E Pluribus Unum."

DIRECTION: Host passes around an American coin and chooses readers from the group to read the following:

READER No. 1: "Liberty" means that we are free to pursue our dreams and to go as far in life as hard work and good luck will take us.

READER No. 2: "In God We Trust" means that America was founded on the belief that our rights and liberties have been granted to us by the Creator. Therefore they cannot be taken away by people.

READER No. 3: "E Pluribus Unum" is a Latin phrase meaning "From Many, One." Unlike other countries, America is composed of people of every religious, racial, ethnic, cultural and national origin -- and regards every one of them as equally American. Therefore, "out of many (people we become) one" -- Americans.

HOST: We have on our table items that symbolize the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War that won our freedom.

DIRECTION: Host holds up each symbolic item as he explains its symbolic meaning.

-- We drink iced tea to remember the Boston Tea Party. "No taxation without representation" was the patriots' chant as they dumped British tea into the Boston Harbor.

-- We eat a salty pretzel to remember the tears shed by the families who lost loved ones in the struggle for freedom in The Revolutionary War and all the wars of freedom that followed.

-- We ring a bell to recall the Liberty Bell, which was rung to announce the surrender of the King's army. On the bell are inscribed these words from the Book of Leviticus: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof."

-- We eat strawberries and blueberries dipped in whipped cream to celebrate the red, white and blue of our flag.

HOST: We celebrate America's greatness without denying its flaws. There are no perfect individuals, so there can certainly be no perfect country. Our national history has its share of shame. The greatest of these is the shame of slavery, which existed at our founding, as it existed throughout the world at that time.

But let it never be forgotten that we fought a terrible civil war in which hundreds of thousands of American died. And the reason for that war was slavery.

Let it also not be forgotten that America has fought in more wars for the freedom of other peoples than any nation in history.

America's history is one that we can be proud of.

DIRECTION: Host holds up a copy of the Declaration of Independence.

We now close with one more ritual. Let each of us sign our names to the Declaration of Independence. While it is a replica of the one our founders signed, the words and sentiments are eternal.

DIRECTION: Everyone present signs their name to the Declaration of Independence. As each one signs, the host hands each person the lyrics to "God Bless America."

HOST: Everyone sing with me.

DIRECTION: Everyone sings (hopefully).

HOST: Happy Birthday, America. Happy Fourth of July. Now let's eat.

from townhall.com