"I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book." -- President Abraham Lincoln
"For we must consider that we shall be as a City upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword throughout the world." --John Winthrop, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1630
"America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness, which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scriptures. Part of the destiny of Americans lies in their daily perusal of this great book of revelations. That if they would see America free and pure they will make their own spirits free and pure by this baptism of the Holy Spirit." --President Woodrow Wilson
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here." --Patrick Henry, original member of the Continental Congress
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Q: Why is 'Thought & Humor' so long? A: All newspapers & magazines are long!
Q: What if I can't read all of it? A: Delete it. Most folks don't read every word in every newspaper/magazine either?
Q: Am I required to memorize each article? A: Nope! Delete what you don't have time for or save for another time.
Q: Is 'T & H' Spam? A: No, it's made entirely of ham.
Q: Can I forward to friends & family? A: Please do.
Q: How many people have had opportunity to read 'T & H' E-Mail Newspapers? A: Well over 1 million + many forwards by you.
Q: Who is Howdy? A: We let him think he's the boss...
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Four important things to KNOW:
1) For ALL (Americans, Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Hindus, Buddhist, Asians, Presbyterians, Europeans, Baptist, Brazilians, Mormons, Methodist, French, etc.) have sinned & fall short of the glory of God.
2) For the wages of above (see #1) are DEATH (Hell, eternal separation from God, & damnation) but the Gift (free & at no charge to you) of God (Creator, Jehovah, & Trinity) is Eternal Life (Heaven) through (in union with) Jesus Christ (God, Lord, 2nd Person of The Trinity, Messiah, Prince of Peace & Savior of the World).
3) For God so greatly loved & dearly prized the world (Americans, Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Hindus, Buddhist, Asians, Presbyterians, Europeans, Baptist, Brazilians, Mormons, Methodist, French, etc.) that He even gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, that whosoever (anyone, anywhere, anytime - while still living) believes (trust in, relies on, clings to, depends completely on) Him shall have eternal (everlasting) life (Heaven).
4) Jesus said: "I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, & THE LIFE. No one (male/female - American, Muslim, Jew, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist, Asian, Presbyterian, European, Baptist, Brazilian, Mormons, Methodist, French, etc. ) comes (arrives) to the Father (with GOD in Heaven) EXCEPT BY (through) ME (no other name).
This wonderful loving GOD gives you the choice - - - (Rev. 3:20)
{Please note that church membership, baptism, doing good things, etc. are not requirements for becoming a Christian - however they are great afterwards!!!} Ref: http://www.gty.org/IssuesandAnswers/archive/baptism.htm
Jesus said, "Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction (Hell, damnation, eternal punishment), and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life (Heaven, eternal happiness, forever with God), and only a few find it. --Matthew 7:13-14
Seven women have died during the past five years, most notably four in California, after having taken the abortion pill RU-486. This last Thursday, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, in part to discuss the dangers of RU-486, and whether it makes women more susceptible to deadly infection.
It is important to note that researchers believe that a bacterium, and not the RU-486 drug, directly caused these women's deaths. The women died from toxic shock caused by a Clostridium sordellii bacterium infection. C. sordellii exists in the vaginas of about one in every 1000 women without causing much harm. Only in certain cases has the bacterium caused sepsis and toxic shock following an abortion, miscarriage, and even live birth. Some physicians think that if placental or fetal tissue is left in the vagina after an abortion or birth, it offers the C. sordellii bacterium a place to quickly reproduce - leading to deadly infection.
Dr. Ralph Miech, a pharmacology professor at Brown University, has another idea. At the Atlanta summit, he suggested that the abortion pill negatively affects the immune system. He believes that these women died after taking the RU-486 pill because their bodies could no longer keep the dangerous bacterium in check.
The father of one of the victims doesn't care whether the drug was directly or indirectly responsible. He wants the FDA to withdraw its approval for the drug. Monty Patterson, father of 18-year-old Holly, who died in 2003 after taking the RU-486 abortion pill, offered the panel of scientists almost 400 articles from medical journals to support his position that the abortion drug is unsafe.
Several doctors argued that the danger from the drug is relatively low, and that it only has a death risk of about 1 in 100,000. Still, the different groups of scientists and doctors conceded that more testing and scrutiny of RU-486 needs to be done. "They all agreed there needs to be further collaborative (laboratory) research," Patterson said.
Operation Rescue, a pro-life Christian organization, has asked the FDA to pull RU-486 from the market, and last week Judicial Watch released a report that argues that the Clinton Administration put the drug on the market too quickly, before all necessary safety testing could be done.
"We call on the FDA to immediately pull RU-486 from the market in the interest of public safety," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "To leave it on the market is to unnecessarily place politics above women’s lives and the lives of their pre-born babies. This is unethical, immoral, and unacceptable."
Have you ever wondered why the Bible contains four accounts of the life of Christ? Each of the four Gospels presents Jesus Christ from a different point of emphasis.
Matthew
Matthew, being a Levite, emphasizes Jesus as the Messiah, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Each of the subtleties of his design supports this primary theme. His genealogy begins with the "first Jew," Abraham, and continues through David and the royal line to the legal father of Jesus, Joseph. Matthew's emphasis is on the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Tenach, the Old Testament.
As a customs official, Matthew was skilled in shorthand, an essential asset in a culture that did not have the advantages of printing, copiers, and the like. Matthew focuses on what Jesus said, and includes the extensive discourses, which he probably was able to take down verbatim. Matthew's first miracle is the cleansing of a leper, a Jewish metaphor for sin itself. Matthew concludes with the resurrection, also a distinctive Jewish preoccupation.
Luke
Luke was a Gentile and a doctor, and his Gospel reflects a very distinctive point of view, emphasizing Jesus as the Son of Man. His genealogy begins with Adam, the first man. From Abraham to David, his list is identical to that of Matthew. However, when he gets to David, he doesn't track through Solomon (the first surviving son of Bathsheba) but through a different son, Nathan (the second surviving son of Bathsheba). He continues through to Heli, the father of Mary (Joseph is the son-in-law of Heli). The term in Luke 3:23 is nomizo in Greek: reckoned as by law. Joseph was adopted by Heli in accordance to the exception in the Torah for inheritance through brotherless sisters given to Zelophehad (Numbers 27:1-11; Joshua 17:3-6; Ezra 2:61; cf. Nehemiah 7:63; Numbers 32:41; 1 Chronicles 2:21-23, 34-35) As a Gentile, Luke's emphasis is different. His emphasis is Christ's humanity; he focuses on what Jesus felt. His first miracle is the expulsion of a demon, a very human concern. Luke concludes with the promise of the giving of the Holy Spirit, which is a natural bridge to his subsequent volume, The Book of Acts.
Mark
Mark is the amanuensis (secretary) for Peter, and he emphasizes Jesus as the obedient Servant of YHWH. His is the only Gospel with no concern for pedigree or genealogy. He focuses on what Jesus did; it deals in graphic images, almost like a movie or video shooting script. Mark concludes with the final visual appearance, the Ascension.
John
John had a very distinctive view, emphasizing Jesus as the Son of God. He focuses on who Jesus was. His "genealogy" is that of the Preexistent One, constituting his opening verses: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” His Gospel is organized around seven miracles, seven discourses, and seven "I AM" statements.
John's first miracle involves the use of the water of purification being changed to wine at Cana, a private demonstration to the disciples that Jesus was preeminent even over the Levitical priesthood. John concludes with the promise of Jesus' return, and becomes the appropriate prequel to John's final tome, The Revelation.
The Four Faces Around the Throne
It is interesting that each time we encounter the "super-angels" (variously called cherubim or seraphim) that surround the Throne of God, we note that there are four "faces" involved: a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle (Ezekiel 1:10; 10:14; Revelation 4:7). These also were the principal tribal standards that rallied the four "camps" of Israel (each camp consisting of three tribes) that encamped around the Tabernacle (Numbers 2). Each of these "faces" are suggestive of each of the four Gospels: Matthew, presenting the Lion of the Judah; Mark, the ox (the classic emblem of servanthood); Luke, the Son of Man; and John, the Son of God in the heavens.
Question: How many days in a week? Answer: 6 Saturdays, 1 Sunday
Question: When is a retiree's bedtime? Answer: Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch.
Question: How many retirees does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Only one, but it might take all day.
Question: What's the biggest gripe of retirees? Answer: There is not enough time to get everything done.
Question: Why don't retirees mind being called Seniors? Answer: The term comes with a 10% discount.
Question: Among retirees what is considered formal attire? Answer: Tied shoes.
Question: Why do retirees count pennies? Answer: They are the only ones who have the time.
Question: What is the common term for someone who enjoys work and refuses to retire? Answer: NUTS!
Question: Why are retirees so slow to clean out the basement, attic or garage? Answer: They know that as soon as they do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there.
Question: What do retirees call a long lunch? Answer: Normal.
Question: What is the best way to describe retirement? Answers: The never ending Coffee Break.
Question: What's the biggest advantage of going back to school as a retiree? Answer: If you cut classes, no one calls your parents.
Question: Why does a retiree often say he doesn't miss work, but misses the people he used to work with? Answer: He is too polite to tell the whole truth.
CAMBODIA (VOM-Canada) On Friday, April 28th, a partially built church building in Boeng Krum Leu, 30 km east of Phnom Penh, was destroyed by approximately 300 local Buddhists. Che Saren, chief of the district, told the Associated Press the Buddhists felt threatened by the visible presence of another religion. Chanting "Destroy the church," and "Long live Buddhism," the villagers tore down the building and burned the rubble. According to Ros Sithoeun, a local Christian, the police gave the villagers a lecture on the laws governing religious freedom, and the two sides have come to a peaceful agreement. The Christians did not file complaints with the authorities nor demand restitution. There are currently 20 to 30 Christians in the village.
Pray the Christians in Boeng Krum Leu will be able to continue worshipping the Lord without further opposition. Give thanks to God that the Buddhists are not continuing to harass Christians. Pray the sacrificial attitude of these believers will draw others to Christ.
TURKMENISTAN (Compass Direct) Police in Turkmenistan's capital city broke up a Christian house group meeting on May 3rd, confiscating personal belongings and subjecting the group to extensive interrogation. More than 15 officials stormed the unregistered gathering of 13 members of the Soygi (Love) Church in Ashgabat just hours after U.S. officials recommended Turkmenistan be labeled one of the world's worst violators of religious freedom. Members of the secret police, Hyakimlik (local administration), foreigner registration office, Committee for Religious Affairs, and the regular police force entered the house without a warrant and searched the premises. The officers seized Bibles, discipleship texts and videos, as well as personal pictures and a notebook computer. Church members were then forced to re-enact their meeting activities while police videotaped them. By holding unregistered meetings, the 35 Christians who attend Soygi Church's Sunday services are technically breaking the law. But, registration in Turkmenistan can be extremely difficult, and repressive government interference often cripples the activities of registered religious communities. Expecting continued police harassment, the Turkmen congregation appealed to fellow Christians around the world to pray for them. "We are now being investigated. We want prayer desperately."
Pray the Lord will use the video to lead the authorities to Christ, working His purposes in this raid to His glory. Pray the Holy Spirit will overpower the spirit of false religion that wars against Christ in Turkmenistan.
VIETNAM (ASSIST News Service) The Montagnard Foundation, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the rights of the indigenous people of Vietnam's Central Highlands, reports the torture and death of Siu Lul, a Degar Christian. On April 20th, Siu Lul was denied food and water by Vietnamese authorities in Ha Nam prison where he was beaten and tortured. Lul was 62 years old and from the village of Ploi Kueng, Habong commune, Cu Se District, Gia Lai province. He had been arrested, tortured and imprisoned at the prison facility in Ha Nam since 2004. A media advisory obtained by ANS says: "On April 24, 2006, he succumbed from the effects of torture and lack of water and food. The authorities wanted the family to take his body back to his village, but his family did not have money to pay for the transportation and he was buried in Ha Nam." The Montagnard Foundation notes there are still over 350 Degar prisoners of conscience who remain imprisoned in Vietnam's brutal prison system. The indigenous Montagnard Degar peoples have suffered decades of persecution by the government of Vietnam, namely confiscation of their ancestral lands, Christian religious repression, torture, killings and imprisonment.
Pray the Lord will shine the light of His love and comfort on Siu Lul's family and friends. Pray God will empower Degar Christians to be strong witnesses of His love as they forgive those who treated their brother so cruelly. Pray the Lord will work a miracle of His power as He leads many communists to faith in His Son.
CUBA (VOM sources) Pastor Carlos Lamelas remains in La Villa Marista Detention Center, where his weight and blood pressure continue to drop to unhealthy levels. He was arrested in his La Lisa neighborhood home in Havana, Cuba, by five security policemen on February 20th, for allegedly aiding refugees to emigrate illegally. Officers searched his entire home, confiscated his computer, printer, personal files and other office items. No formal charges have been brought against Cuba's former President of the Church of God, as the police-appointed "instructor" has still not briefed Carlos on the reason for his detainment. It is widely accepted Pastor Lamelas was targeted by the Castro regime ever since he refused to sign (and sing) government rhetoric sent to him in a document more then three years ago. Christians were urged to follow suit "if they wanted to be on the safe side of the government." He didn't, and was thrown in prison twice before his latest arrest when he was falsely accused of working for the CIA and of being a counterrevolutionary. Carlos' wife, Uramis Lamelas, is only allowed to visit him for 15 minutes every Monday morning while three policemen sit around them to limit their conversations. The meetings take place at La Villa Marista Detention Center in the La Vibora area of Havana's Arroyo Naranjo borough. The pastor's 12-year-old daughter, Estefania, has only been allowed to visit him once, and his 6-year-old daughter, Daniela, is continuing to pray for his release.
Pray Pastor Lamelas' physical condition will move the prison authorities to allow his release. Pray Christians worldwide will pray and write letters to encourage Pastor Lamelas with the knowledge that many are praying for him. Pray God will move in love and power with an outpouring of His Holy Spirit on the whole country of Cuba.
To encourage Pastor Lamelas and his family, his wife may receive letters addressed to: Uramis Frometa Salvat de Lamelas 220 No. 6910 Entre 69 t 71 La Lisa, Habana, Cuba Tel: 011-53-7-260-0200
To write a letter of advocacy, call or e-mail on Pastor Lamelas' behalf, contact: Cuban Interest Section Swiss Embassy 2630 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Tel: (202) 797 8518 Fax: (202) 797-8521 E-mail: Informacion1@sicuw.org
Or directly send a letter of encouragement to: Carlos Lamelas La Villa Marista Detention Center La Vibora, Habana, Cuba