Full Version: Is Obama A Closet Jesuit?
QUOTE
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
The New Deal for Election 2008 represents plans and commitment in leadership of our nation. It is a set of blue prints for our strategic future with the message to leave no American behind. Its focus is on the reform of the government with respect to the information age, the economy in order to bring it into the 21st century, and provide personal empowerment in a secure nation that has workable foreign policy. We can pay back the over burdened foreign debt without major cost to the taxpayer, bring momentum back into our economy, return industry to US soil, build strong labor unions, and have personal empowerment when it comes to having real health care, employment, and good educational systems. The nation is moved by the people's voice. As being a blue print, in voting for the New Deal in November 2008, it's do-able, and that's the bottom line.
Product Description
The New Deal for Election 2008 represents plans and commitment in leadership of our nation. It is a set of blue prints for our strategic future with the message to leave no American behind. Its focus is on the reform of the government with respect to the information age, the economy in order to bring it into the 21st century, and provide personal empowerment in a secure nation that has workable foreign policy. We can pay back the over burdened foreign debt without major cost to the taxpayer, bring momentum back into our economy, return industry to US soil, build strong labor unions, and have personal empowerment when it comes to having real health care, employment, and good educational systems. The nation is moved by the people's voice. As being a blue print, in voting for the New Deal in November 2008, it's do-able, and that's the bottom line.
The cards have been shuffled since Teddy Roosevelt 'took control'...but now there's a new hand coming. But l will say this Marcus. God is in control and the good men in the Lord will find hope and clarity. They will lean on the love of God through brothers and sisters in the Lord and God's unmistakable intervention will be seen with clarity and the strength to carry on will come after this chastising is done.
(We thought we saw big government then...just wait...)
What was one nation under God hangs by a string..but the final thread will be cut. It will be one nation under the federal government... It's doomed to fail.
Of Witches, Warlocks, Jesuits, and Obama
by: Cliff Kincaid, June 26, 2008
While Senator Barack Obama struggles to keep the public in the dark about the nature of his pro-U.N. Global Poverty Act, a recent “Bay Area Interfaith Leaders’ Luncheon” was held to lobby for Senate passage of the bill, whose cost has been estimated at $845 billion. An actual witch who spoke at a “Pagan Pride” festival in San Francisco was one of the listed participants.
The witch, known as the “Elder Donald Frew” of the “Wiccan Community,” was interviewed by the Reverend Don Lewis of “Witch School International” for a “reality” show called “Magick TV” and is shown talking about his involvement in the United Nations-backed United Religions Initiative. Magick TV features a “daily spell.”
Representatives of the United Religions Initiative and the World Parliament of Religions were also among those included in the controversial Bay Area conference, which was held at the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit Catholic institution with a “global perspective,” under the auspices of the Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought.
A local paper described the event as an “unprecedented lobbying effort” that was “paired with a call to the Bay Area’s myriad faith communities to join in what the religious leaders see as the defining issue facing the globe today.”
Meanwhile, a concerned parent alerted us to the fact that a Christian preschool in Long Island, New York was handing out a coloring page for children which included a plea for Congress to pass Obama’s Global Poverty Act. “Dear Parents,” said the letter that was sent home. “We would like to join efforts with the congregation of St. David’s to stop world hunger. You and your child can help by coloring and signing the enclosed sheet. This sheet will be sent along with many others to our representatives in Washington, D.C…Thanks for supporting such a great cause. Sincerely, St. David’s Christian Preschool.”
The sheet said “Dear Senator: At Preschool, I learned to thank God for the food I eat. I also collect coins to help those who don’t have enough. Today, I ask you to help, too, with more and better aid for the world’s poorest countries. We want Congress to pass the Global Poverty Act. Please cosponsor S. 2433. Thank you.” The child’s name and age were supposed to be filled in.
The pictures to be colored included what appeared to be an angel holding a bowl of food (with a Valentine heart on the robe and the bowl) and a basket with apples.
The Real Agenda
The plea for “more and better” foreign aid money conflicts with the claims of those who insist the Obama bill doesn’t authorize the expenditure of more federal funds. As AIM has documented, the bill amounts to a mandate on the federal government to force compliance with the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.
Despite the importance the left-wing religious activists attach to Obama’s Global Poverty Act, the senator failed to even mention the bill in a patriotic TV ad that is supposed to highlight his legislative activities. As AIM revealed, media “watchdogs” and “fact-checkers” at the Washington Post and the Annenberg Political Fact-Check project failed to note the omission. The cover-up undoubtedly reflects awareness of the unpopularity of spending massive amounts of new foreign aid money on U.N. causes and the fact that Obama’s sponsorship of this bill could badly backfire on the candidate.
But lobbying for passage of the legislation continues behind-the-scenes. The bill has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and awaits action by the full Senate.
Frew’s reported participation was significant. A featured speaker at a “Pagan Pride” festival in San Franciso, he is described as an Elder in both the New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn and Gardnerian traditions of modern Wicca and a High Priest of Coven Trismegiston in Berkeley, California. Other attractions at the “Pagan Pride” festival included a firewalking instructor, a magician, and a belly dancer.
The popular Internet site myspace.com features an entry about Donald Frew’s Coven Trismegiston and a video about the “laws of Wicca.” It begins with the words, “Hear now the words of the witches.”
According to his bio, Frew “has been very active in interfaith work on behalf of the Craft for over 17 years and is the National Interfaith Representative for the Covenant of the Goddess (the largest Wiccan religious organization on Earth).” He has represented Covenant of the Goddess at both Parliaments of the World’s Religions and serves on the Global Council of the U.N.-affiliated United Religions Initiative. Frew claims pagan religions make up one-fourth of the world’s population and are increasing their influence in the U.S.
A Muslim representative to the Bay Area conference was identified as Iftekhar Hai of the United Muslims of America (UMA). The UMA is a member of the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), an umbrella organization that includes controversial groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The AMT’s “political advisory” urges support for a candidate promising constitutional rights for suspected terrorists, an immigration policy that is “fair” to “undocumented workers,” and an end to the U.S. “occupation” of Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Real Cost
Even though Obama’s backers in the media and elsewhere are trying to insist that his Global Poverty Act costs nothing in additional foreign aid and simply reorganizes federal agencies, one of the main themes of the conference was passing the bill and committing the U.S. to “Point 7 Now and the Millennium Development Goals” of the United Nations.
The official conference brochure explained, “The phrase ‘Point 7 Now’ refers to the commitment made by developed countries through the 2002 Monterey Consensus to increase foreign aid to poor countries to 0.7% of a developed country’s national income.” It added, “The United States is currently at 0.2%.” The difference, according to Jeffrey Sachs of the United Nations, is $65 billion a year. As we have repeatedly pointed out, from 2002 to the target date of reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, this adds up to $845 billion more in foreign aid spending for the U.S.
“We are asking our federal legislators for real and effective support for increasing the amount of aid that the United States provides so that the MDGs can be implemented and the goal of eliminating the worst of the world’s poverty can be accomplished by 2015,” stated the official conference literature. “Specifically, we are lobbying the Senate to pass the Global Poverty Act of 2007 making support of the MDGs official US policy. We invite you to be part of this effort.”
Conference organizers distributed a letter signed by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal.) declaring her support for increasing the foreign aid budget.
One of the key presentations of the "Point Seven Now" concept at the event was given by George Wesolke, Director of the Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco. A "legislative analysis" was provided by David Gist, legislative advocate for the Bread for the World organization. The Master of Ceremonies was Dr. Mike Duffy, the director of the Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought at the University of San Francisco.
Platform for Obama?
It turns out that this event, held in February, was just the forerunner to a larger conference of liberal and left-wing religious movements that are shaping up to be among Barack Obama’s major supporters.
The Lane Center is one of several co-sponsors of the upcoming July 11-13 Convention for the Common Good, which will feature a presidential candidates forum, as well as a speech by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. Sweeney is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, a group of longtime backers of Barack Obama. The AFL-CIO is expected to announce on Thursday that it is officially endorsing Obama for president.
The “common good” convention is being convened by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and NETWORK, a “National Catholic Social Justice Lobby” that claims to have 100,000 members. The complete list of sponsoring organizations includes Pax Christi USA; Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; Center of Concern; Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good; NETWORK, A National Social Justice Lobby; Sisters of Mercy; National Catholic Rural Life Conference; Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities; Ignatian Solidarity Network; US Catholic Mission Association; Conference of Major Superiors of Men; Oblates of St. Francis De Sales; AFL-CIO; Franciscan Mission Service; Franciscan Action Network; Catholics United; Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice; University of San Francisco, Lane Center for Catholic Social Thought.
It says a “Platform for the Common Good” will be ratified at the convention and then “sent to presidential candidates and both national political parties as a way to influence the debate over the defining moral and political issues of our time.”
by: Cliff Kincaid, June 26, 2008
While Senator Barack Obama struggles to keep the public in the dark about the nature of his pro-U.N. Global Poverty Act, a recent “Bay Area Interfaith Leaders’ Luncheon” was held to lobby for Senate passage of the bill, whose cost has been estimated at $845 billion. An actual witch who spoke at a “Pagan Pride” festival in San Francisco was one of the listed participants.
The witch, known as the “Elder Donald Frew” of the “Wiccan Community,” was interviewed by the Reverend Don Lewis of “Witch School International” for a “reality” show called “Magick TV” and is shown talking about his involvement in the United Nations-backed United Religions Initiative. Magick TV features a “daily spell.”
Representatives of the United Religions Initiative and the World Parliament of Religions were also among those included in the controversial Bay Area conference, which was held at the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit Catholic institution with a “global perspective,” under the auspices of the Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought.
A local paper described the event as an “unprecedented lobbying effort” that was “paired with a call to the Bay Area’s myriad faith communities to join in what the religious leaders see as the defining issue facing the globe today.”
Meanwhile, a concerned parent alerted us to the fact that a Christian preschool in Long Island, New York was handing out a coloring page for children which included a plea for Congress to pass Obama’s Global Poverty Act. “Dear Parents,” said the letter that was sent home. “We would like to join efforts with the congregation of St. David’s to stop world hunger. You and your child can help by coloring and signing the enclosed sheet. This sheet will be sent along with many others to our representatives in Washington, D.C…Thanks for supporting such a great cause. Sincerely, St. David’s Christian Preschool.”
The sheet said “Dear Senator: At Preschool, I learned to thank God for the food I eat. I also collect coins to help those who don’t have enough. Today, I ask you to help, too, with more and better aid for the world’s poorest countries. We want Congress to pass the Global Poverty Act. Please cosponsor S. 2433. Thank you.” The child’s name and age were supposed to be filled in.
The pictures to be colored included what appeared to be an angel holding a bowl of food (with a Valentine heart on the robe and the bowl) and a basket with apples.
The Real Agenda
The plea for “more and better” foreign aid money conflicts with the claims of those who insist the Obama bill doesn’t authorize the expenditure of more federal funds. As AIM has documented, the bill amounts to a mandate on the federal government to force compliance with the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.
Despite the importance the left-wing religious activists attach to Obama’s Global Poverty Act, the senator failed to even mention the bill in a patriotic TV ad that is supposed to highlight his legislative activities. As AIM revealed, media “watchdogs” and “fact-checkers” at the Washington Post and the Annenberg Political Fact-Check project failed to note the omission. The cover-up undoubtedly reflects awareness of the unpopularity of spending massive amounts of new foreign aid money on U.N. causes and the fact that Obama’s sponsorship of this bill could badly backfire on the candidate.
But lobbying for passage of the legislation continues behind-the-scenes. The bill has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and awaits action by the full Senate.
Frew’s reported participation was significant. A featured speaker at a “Pagan Pride” festival in San Franciso, he is described as an Elder in both the New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn and Gardnerian traditions of modern Wicca and a High Priest of Coven Trismegiston in Berkeley, California. Other attractions at the “Pagan Pride” festival included a firewalking instructor, a magician, and a belly dancer.
The popular Internet site myspace.com features an entry about Donald Frew’s Coven Trismegiston and a video about the “laws of Wicca.” It begins with the words, “Hear now the words of the witches.”
According to his bio, Frew “has been very active in interfaith work on behalf of the Craft for over 17 years and is the National Interfaith Representative for the Covenant of the Goddess (the largest Wiccan religious organization on Earth).” He has represented Covenant of the Goddess at both Parliaments of the World’s Religions and serves on the Global Council of the U.N.-affiliated United Religions Initiative. Frew claims pagan religions make up one-fourth of the world’s population and are increasing their influence in the U.S.
A Muslim representative to the Bay Area conference was identified as Iftekhar Hai of the United Muslims of America (UMA). The UMA is a member of the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT), an umbrella organization that includes controversial groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The AMT’s “political advisory” urges support for a candidate promising constitutional rights for suspected terrorists, an immigration policy that is “fair” to “undocumented workers,” and an end to the U.S. “occupation” of Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Real Cost
Even though Obama’s backers in the media and elsewhere are trying to insist that his Global Poverty Act costs nothing in additional foreign aid and simply reorganizes federal agencies, one of the main themes of the conference was passing the bill and committing the U.S. to “Point 7 Now and the Millennium Development Goals” of the United Nations.
The official conference brochure explained, “The phrase ‘Point 7 Now’ refers to the commitment made by developed countries through the 2002 Monterey Consensus to increase foreign aid to poor countries to 0.7% of a developed country’s national income.” It added, “The United States is currently at 0.2%.” The difference, according to Jeffrey Sachs of the United Nations, is $65 billion a year. As we have repeatedly pointed out, from 2002 to the target date of reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, this adds up to $845 billion more in foreign aid spending for the U.S.
“We are asking our federal legislators for real and effective support for increasing the amount of aid that the United States provides so that the MDGs can be implemented and the goal of eliminating the worst of the world’s poverty can be accomplished by 2015,” stated the official conference literature. “Specifically, we are lobbying the Senate to pass the Global Poverty Act of 2007 making support of the MDGs official US policy. We invite you to be part of this effort.”
Conference organizers distributed a letter signed by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal.) declaring her support for increasing the foreign aid budget.
One of the key presentations of the "Point Seven Now" concept at the event was given by George Wesolke, Director of the Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco. A "legislative analysis" was provided by David Gist, legislative advocate for the Bread for the World organization. The Master of Ceremonies was Dr. Mike Duffy, the director of the Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought at the University of San Francisco.
Platform for Obama?
It turns out that this event, held in February, was just the forerunner to a larger conference of liberal and left-wing religious movements that are shaping up to be among Barack Obama’s major supporters.
The Lane Center is one of several co-sponsors of the upcoming July 11-13 Convention for the Common Good, which will feature a presidential candidates forum, as well as a speech by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. Sweeney is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, a group of longtime backers of Barack Obama. The AFL-CIO is expected to announce on Thursday that it is officially endorsing Obama for president.
The “common good” convention is being convened by Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and NETWORK, a “National Catholic Social Justice Lobby” that claims to have 100,000 members. The complete list of sponsoring organizations includes Pax Christi USA; Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; Center of Concern; Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good; NETWORK, A National Social Justice Lobby; Sisters of Mercy; National Catholic Rural Life Conference; Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities; Ignatian Solidarity Network; US Catholic Mission Association; Conference of Major Superiors of Men; Oblates of St. Francis De Sales; AFL-CIO; Franciscan Mission Service; Franciscan Action Network; Catholics United; Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice; University of San Francisco, Lane Center for Catholic Social Thought.
It says a “Platform for the Common Good” will be ratified at the convention and then “sent to presidential candidates and both national political parties as a way to influence the debate over the defining moral and political issues of our time.”
Barack Obama's Jesuit Connections On The Catholic National Advisory Board
CATHOLIC DISSIDENTS ADVISE OBAMA
May 2, 2008
When Sen. Barack Obama recently announced the formation of his Catholic National Advisory Council, he said he was “deeply honored to have the support and counsel of these committed Catholic leaders, scholars and advocates.”
Commenting on this group is Catholic League president Bill Donohue: “The best advice I can give Sen. Obama about his Catholic National Advisory Council is to dissolve it immediately."
Of the 26 Catholic former or current public office holders he has listed as either National Co-Chairs (5), or as members of the National Leadership Committee (21), there is not one who agrees with the Catholic Church on all three major public policy issues: abortion, embryonic stem cell research and school vouchers. “Indeed, on the issue of abortion, their record is disgraceful." Consider the scorecard as issued by the most radical pro-abortion organization in the nation—NARAL.
Of the two National Co-Chairs who have a NARAL tally, one agrees with the extremist group 65 percent of the time and the other agrees 100 percent of the time. Of the 20 National Leadership Committee members with a NARAL score, 17 have earned a 100 percent rating.
Of those who have less than a perfect score, not one is in favor of school vouchers. [Click here for the evidence.] “Practicing Catholics have every right to be insulted by Obama’s advisory group. What is the purpose of having an advisory group about matters Catholic when most of its members reject the Catholic position? If Obama wanted input from gay leaders, would he choose those who don’t reflect the sentiments of the gay community?
In short, to choose Catholic dissidents to advise him about Catholic concerns is mind-boggling.
“If these are the best ‘committed Catholic leaders, scholars and advocates’ Obama can find, then it is evident that he has a ‘Wright’ problem when it comes to picking Catholic advisers.”
Bill Donohue
Obama's list of Catholic advisers.
National Co-Chairs
Senator Bob Casey Jesuit educated at Holy Cross
Representative Patrick Murphy (PA-08)
Former Congressman Tim Roemer, President of the Center for National Policy
Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas
Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia was a Jesuit Volunteer in Honduras
Tom Chabolla, a member of PICO, founded by a Jesuit
Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Sen. Ted Kennedy's second wife
Sr. Jamie Phelps, O.P.
Sr. Catherine Pinkerton, Congregation of St. Joseph. Long association with Jesuits
National Steering Committee
Mary Jo Bane, Professor, Harvard Kennedy School
Nicholas P. Cafardi, Jesuit educated at Georgian University in Rome and Media Relations for USCCB
Lisa Cahill, Professor of Theology, at Jesuit Boston College
M. Shawn Copeland, Associate Professor of Theology, Boston College
Ron Cruz, Hispanic Affairs Director for USCCB
Sharon Daly, Vice President for Social Policy at Catholic Charities USA
Richard Gaillardetz, vocal advocate for women priests.
Grant Gallicho, Associate Editor, Commonweal Magazine
Sr. Margaret Gannon, IHM, A Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, PA
Don Guter, Judge Advocate General of the Navy (2000-2002); Rear Admiral, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Pittsburgh, PA
Cathleen Kaveny, Professor of Law and Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
Jim Kesteloot, President at Chicago Lighthouse, Jesuit educated at Loyola University in Chicago
Vincent Miller, Associate Professor of Theology,at Jesuit Georgetown University
David O'Brien, Loyola Professor of Catholic Studies at the Jesuit College of the Holy Cross
Peter Quaranto, Senior Researcher and Conflict Analyst, Resolve Uganda (Notre Dame Class of 2006)
Dave Robinson, Pax Cristi leadership,
Vincent Rougeau, Associate Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame, was a professor at Loyola University Chicago
Mary Wright, Inter-Faith Liaison, Louisville, KY
National Leadership Committee
Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin
Former Senator Majority Leader Tom Daschle , visiting professor at the Jesuit Georgetown University.
Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois , a gradute of the Jesuit Georgetown University.
Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts
Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts , the toast of the Jesuits "BC Law" and a graduate.
Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont , a gradute of the Jesuit Georgetown University
Representative Xavier Becerra of California
Representative Mike Capuano of Massachusetts , a gradute of the Jesuits "BC Law"
Representative Lacy Clay of Missouri
Representative Jerry Costello of Illinois
Representative Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts , a gradute of the Jesuits "BC Law"
Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut,
Representative Anna Eshoo of California
Representative Raul Grijalva of Arizona
Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island , Ted Kennedy's son
Representative John Larson of Connecticut
Representative George Miller of California
Representative James Oberstar of Minnesota , a student of the Jesuits Georgetown University.
Representative Linda Sanchez of California
Representative Carol Shea Porter of New Hampshire
Representative Peter Welch of Vermont , a graduate of the Jesuit College of the Holy Cross
CATHOLIC DISSIDENTS ADVISE OBAMA
May 2, 2008
When Sen. Barack Obama recently announced the formation of his Catholic National Advisory Council, he said he was “deeply honored to have the support and counsel of these committed Catholic leaders, scholars and advocates.”
Commenting on this group is Catholic League president Bill Donohue: “The best advice I can give Sen. Obama about his Catholic National Advisory Council is to dissolve it immediately."
Of the 26 Catholic former or current public office holders he has listed as either National Co-Chairs (5), or as members of the National Leadership Committee (21), there is not one who agrees with the Catholic Church on all three major public policy issues: abortion, embryonic stem cell research and school vouchers. “Indeed, on the issue of abortion, their record is disgraceful." Consider the scorecard as issued by the most radical pro-abortion organization in the nation—NARAL.
Of the two National Co-Chairs who have a NARAL tally, one agrees with the extremist group 65 percent of the time and the other agrees 100 percent of the time. Of the 20 National Leadership Committee members with a NARAL score, 17 have earned a 100 percent rating.
Of those who have less than a perfect score, not one is in favor of school vouchers. [Click here for the evidence.] “Practicing Catholics have every right to be insulted by Obama’s advisory group. What is the purpose of having an advisory group about matters Catholic when most of its members reject the Catholic position? If Obama wanted input from gay leaders, would he choose those who don’t reflect the sentiments of the gay community?
In short, to choose Catholic dissidents to advise him about Catholic concerns is mind-boggling.
“If these are the best ‘committed Catholic leaders, scholars and advocates’ Obama can find, then it is evident that he has a ‘Wright’ problem when it comes to picking Catholic advisers.”
Bill Donohue
Obama's list of Catholic advisers.
National Co-Chairs
Senator Bob Casey Jesuit educated at Holy Cross
Representative Patrick Murphy (PA-08)
Former Congressman Tim Roemer, President of the Center for National Policy
Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas
Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia was a Jesuit Volunteer in Honduras
Tom Chabolla, a member of PICO, founded by a Jesuit
Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Sen. Ted Kennedy's second wife
Sr. Jamie Phelps, O.P.
Sr. Catherine Pinkerton, Congregation of St. Joseph. Long association with Jesuits
National Steering Committee
Mary Jo Bane, Professor, Harvard Kennedy School
Nicholas P. Cafardi, Jesuit educated at Georgian University in Rome and Media Relations for USCCB
Lisa Cahill, Professor of Theology, at Jesuit Boston College
M. Shawn Copeland, Associate Professor of Theology, Boston College
Ron Cruz, Hispanic Affairs Director for USCCB
Sharon Daly, Vice President for Social Policy at Catholic Charities USA
Richard Gaillardetz, vocal advocate for women priests.
Grant Gallicho, Associate Editor, Commonweal Magazine
Sr. Margaret Gannon, IHM, A Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, PA
Don Guter, Judge Advocate General of the Navy (2000-2002); Rear Admiral, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Pittsburgh, PA
Cathleen Kaveny, Professor of Law and Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
Jim Kesteloot, President at Chicago Lighthouse, Jesuit educated at Loyola University in Chicago
Vincent Miller, Associate Professor of Theology,at Jesuit Georgetown University
David O'Brien, Loyola Professor of Catholic Studies at the Jesuit College of the Holy Cross
Peter Quaranto, Senior Researcher and Conflict Analyst, Resolve Uganda (Notre Dame Class of 2006)
Dave Robinson, Pax Cristi leadership,
Vincent Rougeau, Associate Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame, was a professor at Loyola University Chicago
Mary Wright, Inter-Faith Liaison, Louisville, KY
National Leadership Committee
Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin
Former Senator Majority Leader Tom Daschle , visiting professor at the Jesuit Georgetown University.
Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois , a gradute of the Jesuit Georgetown University.
Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts
Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts , the toast of the Jesuits "BC Law" and a graduate.
Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont , a gradute of the Jesuit Georgetown University
Representative Xavier Becerra of California
Representative Mike Capuano of Massachusetts , a gradute of the Jesuits "BC Law"
Representative Lacy Clay of Missouri
Representative Jerry Costello of Illinois
Representative Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts , a gradute of the Jesuits "BC Law"
Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut,
Representative Anna Eshoo of California
Representative Raul Grijalva of Arizona
Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island , Ted Kennedy's son
Representative John Larson of Connecticut
Representative George Miller of California
Representative James Oberstar of Minnesota , a student of the Jesuits Georgetown University.
Representative Linda Sanchez of California
Representative Carol Shea Porter of New Hampshire
Representative Peter Welch of Vermont , a graduate of the Jesuit College of the Holy Cross
QUOTE (Simple @ Jul 8 2008, 07:36 AM) 
Barack Obama's Jesuit Connections On The Catholic National Advisory Board
CATHOLIC DISSIDENTS ADVISE OBAMA
May 2, 2008
When Sen. Barack Obama recently announced the formation of his Catholic National Advisory Council, he said he was “deeply honored to have the support and counsel of these committed Catholic leaders, scholars and advocates.”
Commenting on this group is Catholic League president Bill Donohue: “The best advice I can give Sen. Obama about his Catholic National Advisory Council is to dissolve it immediately."
CATHOLIC DISSIDENTS ADVISE OBAMA
May 2, 2008
When Sen. Barack Obama recently announced the formation of his Catholic National Advisory Council, he said he was “deeply honored to have the support and counsel of these committed Catholic leaders, scholars and advocates.”
Commenting on this group is Catholic League president Bill Donohue: “The best advice I can give Sen. Obama about his Catholic National Advisory Council is to dissolve it immediately."
I could only hope that our American citizens...those that can vote, were as informed as you Simple. However, I know they are not.
There's a greater message here. Why are the poor poor?
Why the curse? What does God tell us to do. Bring help in Jesus name but it doesn't tell us to give a blank check and become an enabler of those being chastised. We are to tell them. If your child is walking in disobedience ... how long do you give him a hand out? This strategy is against God. It says I'm OK..You're OK"
But here's what God says.
The article is long and you don't have to read the whole thing to get the point but it was a good article so l post the whole thing.
Why the curse? What does God tell us to do. Bring help in Jesus name but it doesn't tell us to give a blank check and become an enabler of those being chastised. We are to tell them. If your child is walking in disobedience ... how long do you give him a hand out? This strategy is against God. It says I'm OK..You're OK"
But here's what God says.
The article is long and you don't have to read the whole thing to get the point but it was a good article so l post the whole thing.
QUOTE
Great Chapters of the Bible
Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses
A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 28th chapter of Deuteronomy is the ultimate representative of the proverbial "Good News - Bad News" routine.
Here's one of my favorite "Good News - Bad News" stories. Dusty, the Crop Duster was sitting on the bench outside the General Store when a friend came by and sat next to him. "You're looking kind of banged up, Dusty, what happened?" "Well," answered Dusty rather slowly, "I was doing the field east of town when my engine gave out." "That's bad!" "Thankfully I had my parachute on and jumped out." "That's good!" "But my parachute didn't open." "That's bad!" "There was a large haystack right below me." "That's good!" "There was a pitchfork in the middle of the haystack." "That's bad!" "I missed the pitchfork." "That's good!" "No, that's bad - I missed the haystack!"
Here in Deuteronomy 28, the good news about Blessings is really good, but the bad news about Curses is really bad.
In order to make sure the people would not forget these Blessings and Curses, Moses established a plan, and according to Joshua 8:30, his successor carried it out.
It was a little known ritual that Moses established. They were to build up a pillar made of field stones which were not to be embellished with tools. They were then to put plaster on this pillar, and in the plaster, engrave the words of the law.
Then the people were to be divided according to their tribes. The members of six tribes would stand on the mountainside of Mt. Gerizim, and recite the blessings. The other six tribes would stand on the facing mountainside of Mt. Ebal and recite the curses.
Divided into two groups the congregation would then call back and forth to each other the Blessings and the Curses. Perhaps it would be like this:
From Mt. Gerizim, a Blessing: "If you obey the LORD your God, you will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country."
From Mt. Ebal, a Curse: "If you do not obey the LORD your God You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country."
From Mt. Gerizim, a Blessing: "If you obey the LORD your God, the fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks."
From Mt. Ebal, a Curse: "If you do not obey the LORD your God The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks."
From Mt. Gerizim, a Blessing: "If you obey the LORD your God, your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed."
From Mt. Ebal, a Curse: "If you do not obey the LORD your God Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed."
From Mt. Gerizim, a Blessing: "If you obey the LORD your God, you will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out."
From Mt. Ebal, a Curse: "If you do not obey the LORD your God You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out."
Now, let's listen to the "Good News" - the Blessings promised if the people of God obey Him and walk in His ways.
The opening fourteen verses are dedicated to the Blessings which were promised by Moses if the newly formed nation of Israel would obey God's commands and refuse to follow other gods.
The structure of this speech is quite simple. An opening statement identifies the conditions for receiving God's Blessing, there is a general review of the Blessings which are being offered to city dwellers as well as country folk; the Blessings will cover what they do not have control over (produce) as well as what they do ("kneading"), and all their day to day activities ("when you come in and go out"). Then follows a few added items with some amplification, and a closing recital of the condition.
The Blessed will receive Protection, Prosperity, and Priority - they will have victory over their enemies; they will be wealthy; and they will be respected among the nations.
Fourteen verses; seven specific blessings; two conditions: obey God and don't serve other gods. (Not worshipping other gods for them was a very real temptation, a "big deal". Even today, adding another god is no problem for Hindus, Parsees and many other religions, but renouncing all others to accept the reality of One True God, is a problem.)
Before moving on, the question arises, "Can we lay claim to these Blessings, or were they only meant for Israel?" When I was growing up, there was a chorus we used to sing, "Every promise in the book is mine, every chapter every verse every line." Really? Can we claim "every" promise?
Well, actually, when a promise is delivered to a specific individual, it may not have universal application. Let me provide four examples:
God promised to make a great nation from Abraham;
He promised David that one of his descendants would always sit on the throne;
In Luke's birth narratives we learn about Simeon who received a promise that he would not see death until he would see, with his own eyes, the Messiah;
A promise was made to Paul that he would testify before Caesar. These are all promises which we cannot claim - they were meant for particular persons at a particular time.
Furthermore, the prophets are filled with promises specifically made to the nations that are named. For example, a whole section of Isaiah is given over to prophetic utterances for Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, and Tyre. (Isaiah 14-23) In the midst of this section there is also a prophecy for Jerusalem. Other prophets follow a similar pattern, and we understand that promises contained in those passages had to do with those nations, at that time in history. Concerning the Jews, there are specific promises which have to do with their nationhood, such as the promise that they will be returned to their homeland.
However, when these two rules do not apply, it is appropriate to claim the promises of God's Word.
Besides, when Paul tells Timothy that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16), what Scripture was he referring to? What we now call the Old Testament - certainly this must include the blessings of Deuteronomy 28!
Perhaps that's what Paul had in mind when he wrote, "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come." (I Corinthians 10:11)
In the Blessings of Deuteronomy, there are some parts intended solely for Israel: "the Lord will set you high above the nations of the earth" (v.1); "You will lend to many nations but borrow from none" (v.12). However, the overall message of promised Blessings is for everyone who fulfills the conditions.
You see, God deals with His people essentially the same, as James says, God "does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)
When the "Rich Young Ruler" asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" what did Jesus answer? "Keep the commandments. " The same condition still applies, so also will the Blessings; after all, what greater blessing is there than to inherit eternal life?
Please understand, God does have a purpose for the seed of Israel, but it is important to understand clearly the Blessing of salvation and eternal life are for all who believe. The New Testament leaders grappled with this. At first there was a significant portion who wanted converts to come through the door of Judaism - if they had been successful, Christianity would have been nothing more than a sect of Judaism. Paul, the former "Pharisee of Pharisees" rejected this. He saw the value of Israel: they had the "oracles", the law and the temple. Paul also wanted His people to be saved; to the "Jew first" was a strategy he adopted. However, Paul also taught that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek - circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. As for salvation, all come through the one gate which is Jesus; but as to function, the nation of Israel had, and will ultimately fulfill a special God-given purpose. Theirs is not a privileged class, but a responsible people - and their responsibility is yet to be completely fulfilled.
So we can confidently say, the Good News is that the essence of the pronounced Blessings is available for all who fulfill the conditions.
That opens up the big box called "Prosperity Gospel" - the so called Good News that God wants His children to live like King's Kids, to dress fancy, to drive big cars, to live in palaces. Do you really want that? Do you really want "Paparazzi"? Do you want your every sneeze recorded and every gesture analyzed? PTL founder and former president, Jim Bakker, preached it for many years, and he showed us what it would look like: glitz, glamour and girls. But he now sadly admits that he spent very little time with his kids, when their birthdays would come, an assistant bought the gift. He lost his marriage, he lost his integrity, and for five years he lost his liberty. Today if you ask Jim Bakker if he believes in the "Prosperity Gospel", he will flat out say "no way" - today he humbly admits he was wrong all those years.
In his recent book, Bakker tells about a man who wanted to know, "Where's my hundred houses? I'm waiting for my hundred houses." Of course he got that idea from Jesus when He said to His disciples, "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:29) To this man the question about his 100 houses was serious, to us it is too silly to even warrant a response. It seems that only in materialistic America could such a religious doctrine take a foothold. It certainly doesn't take much depth of insight to understand that spirituality and faith should never be measured merely by bucks, bricks or Buicks.
There's another obvious question which arises when we declare that the obedient will prosper but the disobedient will not. This is a question asked from the first days of the writing of the Bible (Job 10:3; 21:7). At times it seems that just the opposite is true - the wicked prosper and the righteous wear rags. Some of the saintliest people you will ever meet on earth live in poverty, while some of the most foul-mouthed, womanizing, wagering, worldly, wicked fly in private jets between luxurious homes on three continents!
Yet any schoolboy can make a comparison between the now defunct, atheistic USSR with the God-fearing US of A and see that the contrast is stark. Prosperity comes to a people whose God is the Lord.
By the way, did you notice verse 47+48)? "Because you did not serve the LORD your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you." This certainly is a warning for us who do bathe in the opulence of the American economy.
So, that's the "God News", God's rich Blessings upon those who obey His laws.
Now comes the "Bad News", the Curses.
For the Curses, 53 verses are dedicated, almost 4 times as many as given to the Blessings. Notice also that as for the Blessings, they will "come upon you" (v.2), like soft falling rain, but with the Curses, they will "pursue you and overcome you." (v.45) And there are many more Curses than Blessings - I counted at least 36 different Curses.
Not only do the Curses carry the threat of physical calamity, but also of emotional and mental distress:
* "madness, blindness and confusion of mind." (v.28)
* "The sights you see will drive you mad." (v.34)
* "the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day" ( vs.65,66)
Also, there are spiritual, or religious consequences. Twice the Israelites are told that they will end up worshipping "other gods--gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known." (v. 64, also v. 36)
There will be severe and lingering diseases (v.21, 59). As for these cursed diseases, the KJV makes it alarmingly vivid:
"The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish." (v.22)
"The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed. " (v.27)
And if that's not enough, here's an "etcetera" statement: "Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed." (v.61)
For the disobedient, there will also be:
* Defeat (v.25); failure (v.29) and frustration (v.30).
* They will be driven out into an alien, heathen nation (v.36);
* They will suffer famine (v.38); be disgraced and demoralized (v.43);
* They will become hungry, naked, and poor, serving as slaves to the Lord's enemies (v.48);
* There will be harsh and prolonged disasters (v.59).
No matter how you look at it, these curses are horrible!
* The sky which should produce rain will become like bronze, and the ground which should produce crops like iron (v.23); instead of rain, there will be dust storms (v.24).
* Their dead bodies, slain by their victorious enemies will become food for the birds, and what's more, "there will be no one to frighten them away" (v.26). * They will be oppressed and robbed, but there will be no one to rescue them (v.29).
* They will lose their sons and daughters to foreign slave traders, (listen to the pathos) they will wear out their eyes "watching for them day after day, powerless to lift a hand." (v.32)
* The locusts will eat the harvest, the worms will destroy the grapes, and the olives will fall off the trees. (vs.38-40)
Some Curse results are not only mentioned once, but repeated for special emphasis. (vs. 21, 59)
The climax of this tale of woes is that due to the threatened siege of an enemy, they will stoop to eating their own offspring! (vs.53-57)
But the ultimate indication of the Curse is that they will be taken back to Egypt from where they had been miraculously delivered (v.68); the Exodus will be reversed, they'll be back in slavery, but now offering themselves willingly as the only hope for survival. Then comes this final word, "but no one will buy you"!
These are terrible, and we ask, "What kind of loving Creator God would do such things to His own people?" And look at verse 63, "Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you." God gets pleasure out of inflicting these terrible things!
"Why in the world would you want to categorize this among the 'Great Chapters of the Bible?'" you may ask. "This chapter should be left out of the Bible all together!" Who knows, maybe this is why some Christians want to throw out the Old Testament. "Not only is this God revealed as One who brings terrible Curses upon those who disobey Him, He even gets some satisfaction from doing it!" However, if we are "People of the Book", and if we believe that "all Scripture is inspired", then we must accept this too as a valid representation of who God is.
Earlier we were eager to claim the Blessings, to be reassured, at least in principle, that the Blessings promised to obedient Israel would also accrue to the obedient of the Gentile believers. Here's the flip-side, if the Blessings are for us, so are the Curses. Like sings the song, "You can't have one without the other."
Now it's clear to me that the Apostle Paul must have been reading Deuteronomy when he wrote Galatians chapter 3: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." (verse 10)
How can it ever be possible for anyone to avoid coming under the Curse? Obviously Israel didn't. Paul was known to be one of the truly bright stars of Judaism, "a Hebrew of Hebrews . . . a Pharisee . . . as for legalistic righteousness, faultless." (Philippians 3:5,6) And yet he too had come to the conclusion that he was under the Curse of God. So we are all doomed! All these terrible diseases, defeats, disasters, desolations, and deprivations are going to pursue us - there is no escaping them!
But then, in a burst of inspiration, two verses later, Paul says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'"
Can you guess the location referred to in the words, "it is written"? Deuteronomy!
"If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance." (Deuteronomy 21:22,23)
This is a remarkable connection made by Paul, because the Israelites of Moses' day knew nothing of the later Roman practice of crucifixion. What Moses' Law provided for was a brief public display of the dead body after the condemned person had been stoned - this was to be evidence that they were under the Curse of God. When Jesus died, His body was also hung on a tree, and taken down that same day to show that He was momentarily under a curse. Paul makes it very clear, Jesus was under the curse intended for you and me.
We are immensely thankful for the abundant Blessings. We are amazed and sobered by the horrible Curses. But more than anything, we are humbled by the awareness that Jesus suffered them in our stead so that through faith in Him, we might have eternal life.
The summary for Deuteronomy 28 comes in chapter 30, verses 19 and 20: "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life."
Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses
A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 28th chapter of Deuteronomy is the ultimate representative of the proverbial "Good News - Bad News" routine.
Here's one of my favorite "Good News - Bad News" stories. Dusty, the Crop Duster was sitting on the bench outside the General Store when a friend came by and sat next to him. "You're looking kind of banged up, Dusty, what happened?" "Well," answered Dusty rather slowly, "I was doing the field east of town when my engine gave out." "That's bad!" "Thankfully I had my parachute on and jumped out." "That's good!" "But my parachute didn't open." "That's bad!" "There was a large haystack right below me." "That's good!" "There was a pitchfork in the middle of the haystack." "That's bad!" "I missed the pitchfork." "That's good!" "No, that's bad - I missed the haystack!"
Here in Deuteronomy 28, the good news about Blessings is really good, but the bad news about Curses is really bad.
In order to make sure the people would not forget these Blessings and Curses, Moses established a plan, and according to Joshua 8:30, his successor carried it out.
It was a little known ritual that Moses established. They were to build up a pillar made of field stones which were not to be embellished with tools. They were then to put plaster on this pillar, and in the plaster, engrave the words of the law.
Then the people were to be divided according to their tribes. The members of six tribes would stand on the mountainside of Mt. Gerizim, and recite the blessings. The other six tribes would stand on the facing mountainside of Mt. Ebal and recite the curses.
Divided into two groups the congregation would then call back and forth to each other the Blessings and the Curses. Perhaps it would be like this:
From Mt. Gerizim, a Blessing: "If you obey the LORD your God, you will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country."
From Mt. Ebal, a Curse: "If you do not obey the LORD your God You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country."
From Mt. Gerizim, a Blessing: "If you obey the LORD your God, the fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks."
From Mt. Ebal, a Curse: "If you do not obey the LORD your God The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks."
From Mt. Gerizim, a Blessing: "If you obey the LORD your God, your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed."
From Mt. Ebal, a Curse: "If you do not obey the LORD your God Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed."
From Mt. Gerizim, a Blessing: "If you obey the LORD your God, you will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out."
From Mt. Ebal, a Curse: "If you do not obey the LORD your God You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out."
Now, let's listen to the "Good News" - the Blessings promised if the people of God obey Him and walk in His ways.
The opening fourteen verses are dedicated to the Blessings which were promised by Moses if the newly formed nation of Israel would obey God's commands and refuse to follow other gods.
The structure of this speech is quite simple. An opening statement identifies the conditions for receiving God's Blessing, there is a general review of the Blessings which are being offered to city dwellers as well as country folk; the Blessings will cover what they do not have control over (produce) as well as what they do ("kneading"), and all their day to day activities ("when you come in and go out"). Then follows a few added items with some amplification, and a closing recital of the condition.
The Blessed will receive Protection, Prosperity, and Priority - they will have victory over their enemies; they will be wealthy; and they will be respected among the nations.
Fourteen verses; seven specific blessings; two conditions: obey God and don't serve other gods. (Not worshipping other gods for them was a very real temptation, a "big deal". Even today, adding another god is no problem for Hindus, Parsees and many other religions, but renouncing all others to accept the reality of One True God, is a problem.)
Before moving on, the question arises, "Can we lay claim to these Blessings, or were they only meant for Israel?" When I was growing up, there was a chorus we used to sing, "Every promise in the book is mine, every chapter every verse every line." Really? Can we claim "every" promise?
Well, actually, when a promise is delivered to a specific individual, it may not have universal application. Let me provide four examples:
God promised to make a great nation from Abraham;
He promised David that one of his descendants would always sit on the throne;
In Luke's birth narratives we learn about Simeon who received a promise that he would not see death until he would see, with his own eyes, the Messiah;
A promise was made to Paul that he would testify before Caesar. These are all promises which we cannot claim - they were meant for particular persons at a particular time.
Furthermore, the prophets are filled with promises specifically made to the nations that are named. For example, a whole section of Isaiah is given over to prophetic utterances for Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, and Tyre. (Isaiah 14-23) In the midst of this section there is also a prophecy for Jerusalem. Other prophets follow a similar pattern, and we understand that promises contained in those passages had to do with those nations, at that time in history. Concerning the Jews, there are specific promises which have to do with their nationhood, such as the promise that they will be returned to their homeland.
However, when these two rules do not apply, it is appropriate to claim the promises of God's Word.
Besides, when Paul tells Timothy that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:16), what Scripture was he referring to? What we now call the Old Testament - certainly this must include the blessings of Deuteronomy 28!
Perhaps that's what Paul had in mind when he wrote, "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come." (I Corinthians 10:11)
In the Blessings of Deuteronomy, there are some parts intended solely for Israel: "the Lord will set you high above the nations of the earth" (v.1); "You will lend to many nations but borrow from none" (v.12). However, the overall message of promised Blessings is for everyone who fulfills the conditions.
You see, God deals with His people essentially the same, as James says, God "does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)
When the "Rich Young Ruler" asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" what did Jesus answer? "Keep the commandments. " The same condition still applies, so also will the Blessings; after all, what greater blessing is there than to inherit eternal life?
Please understand, God does have a purpose for the seed of Israel, but it is important to understand clearly the Blessing of salvation and eternal life are for all who believe. The New Testament leaders grappled with this. At first there was a significant portion who wanted converts to come through the door of Judaism - if they had been successful, Christianity would have been nothing more than a sect of Judaism. Paul, the former "Pharisee of Pharisees" rejected this. He saw the value of Israel: they had the "oracles", the law and the temple. Paul also wanted His people to be saved; to the "Jew first" was a strategy he adopted. However, Paul also taught that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek - circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. As for salvation, all come through the one gate which is Jesus; but as to function, the nation of Israel had, and will ultimately fulfill a special God-given purpose. Theirs is not a privileged class, but a responsible people - and their responsibility is yet to be completely fulfilled.
So we can confidently say, the Good News is that the essence of the pronounced Blessings is available for all who fulfill the conditions.
That opens up the big box called "Prosperity Gospel" - the so called Good News that God wants His children to live like King's Kids, to dress fancy, to drive big cars, to live in palaces. Do you really want that? Do you really want "Paparazzi"? Do you want your every sneeze recorded and every gesture analyzed? PTL founder and former president, Jim Bakker, preached it for many years, and he showed us what it would look like: glitz, glamour and girls. But he now sadly admits that he spent very little time with his kids, when their birthdays would come, an assistant bought the gift. He lost his marriage, he lost his integrity, and for five years he lost his liberty. Today if you ask Jim Bakker if he believes in the "Prosperity Gospel", he will flat out say "no way" - today he humbly admits he was wrong all those years.
In his recent book, Bakker tells about a man who wanted to know, "Where's my hundred houses? I'm waiting for my hundred houses." Of course he got that idea from Jesus when He said to His disciples, "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:29) To this man the question about his 100 houses was serious, to us it is too silly to even warrant a response. It seems that only in materialistic America could such a religious doctrine take a foothold. It certainly doesn't take much depth of insight to understand that spirituality and faith should never be measured merely by bucks, bricks or Buicks.
There's another obvious question which arises when we declare that the obedient will prosper but the disobedient will not. This is a question asked from the first days of the writing of the Bible (Job 10:3; 21:7). At times it seems that just the opposite is true - the wicked prosper and the righteous wear rags. Some of the saintliest people you will ever meet on earth live in poverty, while some of the most foul-mouthed, womanizing, wagering, worldly, wicked fly in private jets between luxurious homes on three continents!
Yet any schoolboy can make a comparison between the now defunct, atheistic USSR with the God-fearing US of A and see that the contrast is stark. Prosperity comes to a people whose God is the Lord.
By the way, did you notice verse 47+48)? "Because you did not serve the LORD your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you." This certainly is a warning for us who do bathe in the opulence of the American economy.
So, that's the "God News", God's rich Blessings upon those who obey His laws.
Now comes the "Bad News", the Curses.
For the Curses, 53 verses are dedicated, almost 4 times as many as given to the Blessings. Notice also that as for the Blessings, they will "come upon you" (v.2), like soft falling rain, but with the Curses, they will "pursue you and overcome you." (v.45) And there are many more Curses than Blessings - I counted at least 36 different Curses.
Not only do the Curses carry the threat of physical calamity, but also of emotional and mental distress:
* "madness, blindness and confusion of mind." (v.28)
* "The sights you see will drive you mad." (v.34)
* "the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day" ( vs.65,66)
Also, there are spiritual, or religious consequences. Twice the Israelites are told that they will end up worshipping "other gods--gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known." (v. 64, also v. 36)
There will be severe and lingering diseases (v.21, 59). As for these cursed diseases, the KJV makes it alarmingly vivid:
"The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish." (v.22)
"The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed. " (v.27)
And if that's not enough, here's an "etcetera" statement: "Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed." (v.61)
For the disobedient, there will also be:
* Defeat (v.25); failure (v.29) and frustration (v.30).
* They will be driven out into an alien, heathen nation (v.36);
* They will suffer famine (v.38); be disgraced and demoralized (v.43);
* They will become hungry, naked, and poor, serving as slaves to the Lord's enemies (v.48);
* There will be harsh and prolonged disasters (v.59).
No matter how you look at it, these curses are horrible!
* The sky which should produce rain will become like bronze, and the ground which should produce crops like iron (v.23); instead of rain, there will be dust storms (v.24).
* Their dead bodies, slain by their victorious enemies will become food for the birds, and what's more, "there will be no one to frighten them away" (v.26). * They will be oppressed and robbed, but there will be no one to rescue them (v.29).
* They will lose their sons and daughters to foreign slave traders, (listen to the pathos) they will wear out their eyes "watching for them day after day, powerless to lift a hand." (v.32)
* The locusts will eat the harvest, the worms will destroy the grapes, and the olives will fall off the trees. (vs.38-40)
Some Curse results are not only mentioned once, but repeated for special emphasis. (vs. 21, 59)
The climax of this tale of woes is that due to the threatened siege of an enemy, they will stoop to eating their own offspring! (vs.53-57)
But the ultimate indication of the Curse is that they will be taken back to Egypt from where they had been miraculously delivered (v.68); the Exodus will be reversed, they'll be back in slavery, but now offering themselves willingly as the only hope for survival. Then comes this final word, "but no one will buy you"!
These are terrible, and we ask, "What kind of loving Creator God would do such things to His own people?" And look at verse 63, "Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you." God gets pleasure out of inflicting these terrible things!
"Why in the world would you want to categorize this among the 'Great Chapters of the Bible?'" you may ask. "This chapter should be left out of the Bible all together!" Who knows, maybe this is why some Christians want to throw out the Old Testament. "Not only is this God revealed as One who brings terrible Curses upon those who disobey Him, He even gets some satisfaction from doing it!" However, if we are "People of the Book", and if we believe that "all Scripture is inspired", then we must accept this too as a valid representation of who God is.
Earlier we were eager to claim the Blessings, to be reassured, at least in principle, that the Blessings promised to obedient Israel would also accrue to the obedient of the Gentile believers. Here's the flip-side, if the Blessings are for us, so are the Curses. Like sings the song, "You can't have one without the other."
Now it's clear to me that the Apostle Paul must have been reading Deuteronomy when he wrote Galatians chapter 3: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." (verse 10)
How can it ever be possible for anyone to avoid coming under the Curse? Obviously Israel didn't. Paul was known to be one of the truly bright stars of Judaism, "a Hebrew of Hebrews . . . a Pharisee . . . as for legalistic righteousness, faultless." (Philippians 3:5,6) And yet he too had come to the conclusion that he was under the Curse of God. So we are all doomed! All these terrible diseases, defeats, disasters, desolations, and deprivations are going to pursue us - there is no escaping them!
But then, in a burst of inspiration, two verses later, Paul says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'"
Can you guess the location referred to in the words, "it is written"? Deuteronomy!
"If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance." (Deuteronomy 21:22,23)
This is a remarkable connection made by Paul, because the Israelites of Moses' day knew nothing of the later Roman practice of crucifixion. What Moses' Law provided for was a brief public display of the dead body after the condemned person had been stoned - this was to be evidence that they were under the Curse of God. When Jesus died, His body was also hung on a tree, and taken down that same day to show that He was momentarily under a curse. Paul makes it very clear, Jesus was under the curse intended for you and me.
We are immensely thankful for the abundant Blessings. We are amazed and sobered by the horrible Curses. But more than anything, we are humbled by the awareness that Jesus suffered them in our stead so that through faith in Him, we might have eternal life.
The summary for Deuteronomy 28 comes in chapter 30, verses 19 and 20: "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life."
hi~
mr. obama is involved for two distinct observations - to be in a position of power through babylon, especially in the political game ruled by masons, illuminists...satanists or whatever they decide to call themselves these days -- patriotic conservative leaders, etc., one has to be tied to the jesuit order & the devil's agenda. for the second, mr. obama's campaign graphic shows the sun rising in the east.......
'nuff said.
~levite-7
mr. obama is involved for two distinct observations - to be in a position of power through babylon, especially in the political game ruled by masons, illuminists...satanists or whatever they decide to call themselves these days -- patriotic conservative leaders, etc., one has to be tied to the jesuit order & the devil's agenda. for the second, mr. obama's campaign graphic shows the sun rising in the east.......
'nuff said.
~levite-7
The Jesuits are the controllers; they are instruments of God's judgment. The presidential election and all that it entails is completely driven by the Jesuits through the Committee of 300 and the Bilderbergers, who select the new president. The whole election process with its two party system, is just a facade.
It is not the American people who choose the President and Vice President of the United States of America, but rather the super secret "shadow government" called the Illuminati/New World Order who choose them!
http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=3674
Obama, Freemason, Related To Both Bush And Cheney
Obama is also a 32nd degree Prince Hall Freemason loyal to the Craft and devoted to his principles so forget about the “changes” and start thinking about the same old , same old , coming once again into power.
Obama is illuminati aristocracy. his appearance from ‘nowhere’, and subsequent rocket to the front of the political line are no coincidence. Believe it or not, Barack Obama is related to both President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney as you can check here:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10172007/news/...ama__cheney.htm
http://illuminatipress.wordpress.com/2008/...ush-and-cheney/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5RW2K9C7r0
It's important to know that the Jesuits are over the CFR, Committee of 300, Bilderbergers and all of Freemasonry.
http://www.vaticanassassins.org/kolvenbach.htm
THE JESUITS THEN AND NOW - PART 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waCivXnzJ84
"Jesuits are not really priests but a private army, they have been thrown out of many countries because of their intrigues. only for them to go back in and resume their trouble making. Look up the word Jesuit in a dictionary, is means hypocrite. Ignatious Loyolla was arrested in the Spanish inquisition and accused of being a sect of witchcraft called the Alumbrados or “enlightened” ones.
In the Catholic church the Jesuits are the bullies, even the white pope is always followed by the head of the Society of Jesus, he is called a Black Pope it is either because he is evil or he is the shadow of the white Pope."
http://dawkinswatch.wordpress.com/2008/05/...ation-theology/
It is not the American people who choose the President and Vice President of the United States of America, but rather the super secret "shadow government" called the Illuminati/New World Order who choose them!
http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=3674
Obama, Freemason, Related To Both Bush And Cheney
Obama is also a 32nd degree Prince Hall Freemason loyal to the Craft and devoted to his principles so forget about the “changes” and start thinking about the same old , same old , coming once again into power.
Obama is illuminati aristocracy. his appearance from ‘nowhere’, and subsequent rocket to the front of the political line are no coincidence. Believe it or not, Barack Obama is related to both President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney as you can check here:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10172007/news/...ama__cheney.htm
http://illuminatipress.wordpress.com/2008/...ush-and-cheney/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5RW2K9C7r0
It's important to know that the Jesuits are over the CFR, Committee of 300, Bilderbergers and all of Freemasonry.
http://www.vaticanassassins.org/kolvenbach.htm
THE JESUITS THEN AND NOW - PART 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waCivXnzJ84
"Jesuits are not really priests but a private army, they have been thrown out of many countries because of their intrigues. only for them to go back in and resume their trouble making. Look up the word Jesuit in a dictionary, is means hypocrite. Ignatious Loyolla was arrested in the Spanish inquisition and accused of being a sect of witchcraft called the Alumbrados or “enlightened” ones.
In the Catholic church the Jesuits are the bullies, even the white pope is always followed by the head of the Society of Jesus, he is called a Black Pope it is either because he is evil or he is the shadow of the white Pope."
http://dawkinswatch.wordpress.com/2008/05/...ation-theology/
QUOTE
It is not the American people who choose the President and Vice President of the United States of America, but rather the super secret "shadow government" called the Illuminati/New World Order who choose them!
God is in control. He hasn't forgotten the George Bailey's... Mr. Potter gets his due. God will remember and lift and remember the prodigal as he calls on his name.
God is in control... and performs His will and purpose through His creation.
The Jesuits and Illuminati...and their pyramid of earthly power... are God's instruments of judgment.
http://www.vaticanassassins.org/kolvenbach.htm
They will all be cast into the Lake of Fire when their job is complete. (Revelation 19:20)
"...The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." -Psalms 2:1-3
THE EVIL ONES ARE INSTRUMENTS OF GOD'S JUDGMENT
God commands us to depart from evil and not try to make evil good
God’s faithfulness is demonstrated as much by His judgment upon the wicked as it is by His mercy upon the repentant.
God can delay judgment because of the tender hearts and repentance of the people of God. (Ahab- 1Kings 21:25-29 and Josiah- 2Kings 22:18-20)
The Jesuits and Illuminati...and their pyramid of earthly power... are God's instruments of judgment.
http://www.vaticanassassins.org/kolvenbach.htm
They will all be cast into the Lake of Fire when their job is complete. (Revelation 19:20)
"...The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." -Psalms 2:1-3
THE EVIL ONES ARE INSTRUMENTS OF GOD'S JUDGMENT
God commands us to depart from evil and not try to make evil good
God’s faithfulness is demonstrated as much by His judgment upon the wicked as it is by His mercy upon the repentant.
God can delay judgment because of the tender hearts and repentance of the people of God. (Ahab- 1Kings 21:25-29 and Josiah- 2Kings 22:18-20)
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