tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79913965125386560912024-03-04T23:09:15.914-08:00Aramaic HeraldAramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-77469820067675662412015-05-16T17:25:00.002-07:002015-05-16T17:25:57.329-07:00Acts of Thaddeus Assyrian Heritage Film
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The up-coming film “The Acts of the Apostle
Thaddeus” is an Assyrian heritage film that tells the story of Mar Addai, who
is known as the Apostle Thaddeus in English, and Mar Mari, the Apostle Mari who
founded the Assyrian Church of the East. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The script is based on the story of the Apostle
Thaddeus as recorded in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius</i>, written around 325 A.D. and two ancient
Syriac Aramaic texts, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Doctrine of
Addai</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Acts of the Apostle
Thaddeus</i>. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">According to the Gospels, the fame of Jesus spread
afar so that sick people as far as Syria came to be healed by Jesus (Matthew
4:24). An Assyrian king named Abgar, who ruled over the city-state of Edessa,
send messengers to Jesus (John 12:20-24). They arrived days before Jesus was
crucified. Jesus promised those messengers that he would send one of his
disciples to Edessa to heal the king. After the resurrection, Thomas, inspired
by the Holy Spirit, sent Thaddeus to Edessa, to spread the Good News taught by
Jesus Christ, and to heal the King. At the preaching of Thaddeus, the Assyrian
people believed and were converted. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">WALKER-CABLE PRODUCTIONS AND THE FILM-MAKING
PROCESS</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lorenzo
Lamas has agreed to play the lead role of the Apostle Thaddeus.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Linda George
has agreed to play the role of Queen Meherdath, the wife of King Abgar of
Edessa.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The production
team is Sam Cable, the producer, and Chuck Walker, the director, of WalkerCable
Production. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen
Andrew Missick has written the script and it is based on the ancient historical
sources, which are mostly in Aramaic.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chuck Walker
and Sam Cable specialize in the making of moderate to low budget movies. They
have made over twenty-five films over their career, mostly, but not
exclusively, westerns. With the rise of new technologies and independent
film-making, high quality professional movies can be made on a modest budget.
WalkerCable is capable of producing such a film.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The movie
will be filmed at Alamo Village, a set outside of San Antonio, Texas. Rev.
Missick has scouted out the set and much of it will work for biblical times.
Alamo City was built by John Wayne and has been used over the decades for
several movies. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">LORENZO LAMAS</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Lamas said, “I have worked with Walker Cable
Productions in several films on the course of the last several years and it is
my understanding that they will be producing a film on the Apostle Thaddeus in
the near future. Based on my former association with this company and the
integrity of Sam Cable and Chuck Walker as friends and film makers, I have a
strong interest in being involved in this project as an actor in the title role
of Thaddeus. I find the script interesting and captivating and look forward to
making this project a big success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
thrilled to be working on Thaddeus, the new WalkerCable production. These are
terrific guys and a wonderful production company that I have had the pleasure
of working with many, many times in the past. So, if you have the opportunity
to invest in a WalkerCable production don’t hesitate. You will not regret it.
So, I am excited about being a part of this Christian movie. I think it is an
important time for our society to embrace the Christian faith. I am looking
forward to it.”</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">WHY SUPPORT THE PROJECT</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Based on recent performance of Faith based and
Biblical based movies, “The Acts of Thaddeus” has great potential to be a
successful film.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The
film is also educational.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> It is based on the literature and
history of the ancient Assyrian Church of the East.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The
movie is cultural.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> It is a celebration of the Assyrian
culture. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The
film is timely and relevant.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> With the rise of ISIS,
radical Islam and the increase of persecution of Christians around the world
and particularly in the Middle East, “The Acts of Thaddeus” can draw attention
to and create awareness of the heritage of Middle East Christianity and the
threat it now faces.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The
movie is Ecumenical.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> It is about Christian unity. The story
of the Apostles occurred before divisions developed within Christianity.
Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Protestants and members of the Assyrian Church of
the East can embrace the story of the Apostle Thaddeus. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">In the film, Thaddeus proclaims the message of love,
forgiveness, and compassion that is the heart of the Christian faith. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">STEPHEN ANDREW MISSICK</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reverend
Stephen Andrew Missick is the author</span><span style="font-size: small;"> of
several books including </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Words of Jesus in the Original Aramaic:
Discovering the Semitic Roots of Christianity</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">and </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Assyrians: The Oldest
Christian People</span></em></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: small;">and
three articles on the history of the Assyrian Church of the East in the Journal
of Assyrian Academic Studies.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">He
is an ordained minister of the gospel. He graduated from Sam Houston State
University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a doctoral
student at Houston Graduate School of Theology. Rev. Missick has traveled
extensively throughout the Middle East and has lived among the Coptic
Christians in Egypt and Assyrian Christians in Syria. He served as a soldier in
Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2004 and</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">as
a chaplain in the Army National Guard in Baghdad in 2009 and 2010. He is
the screen writer for the upcoming Assyrian heritage film</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus</span></em></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">which is set to star Lorenzo Lamas in
the title role. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">“The Acts of
the Apostle Thaddeus” is an upcoming faith-based movie set to star Lorenzo
Lamas as Thaddeus, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. The script is
based on the Holy Bible and other ancient sources such as Eusebius’s “Church
History.” The purpose of the film is to create awareness of the Assyrian
Christians, their ancient Christian culture and the danger they now face from
ISIS as well as to promote Christian unity and the simple message of love and
compassion taught by Jesus Christ. The film is non-denominational, however, the
screen-writer has a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary and the script is endorsed by the Assyrian Church of the East, the
traditional church of Assyrian Christians</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">.
For more information about the project contact: </span></b><span style="font-size: small;">Stephen Andrew Missick PO
Box 882, Shepherd, Texas 77371 nestorius1@hotmail.com 281-592-4104. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/aramaic12">www.youtube.com/aramaic12</a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Please
support this project. We are attempting to raise $120,000 in order to meet are
budget goal. To support the project go to the Acts of Thaddeus Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/360405228/apostle-thaddeus
or </span></span><a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-acts-of-the-apostle-thaddeus/x/10257901"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;">https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-acts-of-the-apostle-thaddeus/x/10257901</span></span></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">For more
information: </span></span><a href="http://www.aramaicherald.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: small;">www.aramaicherald.blogspot.com</span></span></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-51240611726685239962015-05-11T12:29:00.000-07:002015-05-11T12:29:07.646-07:00The Apostle Thaddeus and Thomas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOUoFqk1_KDcsICmbGZoHRMq_eLM7WyPpio3cH9chpVkfzHpTchp5ebsObFuRJRMdgF7VYQ8tZKTX0uuLBkShALQ2Hadceh3uH3oI2vdZtGxP7hIdJv2Z-pR9GwlET2WOSvG3KlnfphEt/s1600/Thomas2-Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOUoFqk1_KDcsICmbGZoHRMq_eLM7WyPpio3cH9chpVkfzHpTchp5ebsObFuRJRMdgF7VYQ8tZKTX0uuLBkShALQ2Hadceh3uH3oI2vdZtGxP7hIdJv2Z-pR9GwlET2WOSvG3KlnfphEt/s320/Thomas2-Card.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Assyrian Church of the East was founded by three
Apostles, Saint Thaddeus, see the Acts Of Thaddeus, Saint Thomas, and Saint
Mari. The story of Thomas and his journey to the Assyrian city of Edessa and
his journey to India will be featured in the Acts of Thaddeus movie. Follow us
on twitter at "SaintThaddeus" or like us on facebook: Acts of
Thaddeus to keep up with our progress and for a behind the scenes look. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thomas is holding a spear in this Icon I drew-I drew-because he was martyred with a spear, according to the ancient traditions. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://twitter.com/SaintThaddeus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We still need to raise some additional funding in order to
achieve full financing of the Acts of Thaddeus movie starring Lorenzo Lamas. To
help support this project go to: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/360405228/apostle-thaddeus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-60857606515691057322015-05-11T12:20:00.000-07:002015-05-11T12:20:39.678-07:00The Acts of the Apostle ThaddeusNew Videos and other recent postings regarding "The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus"<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Promo video:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlFORNbUxOA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">historical background<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTXIcoeoBr0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chuck Walker
discusses his vision for directing Thaddeus<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht6cEDyWGMU<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Acts of the
Apostle Thaddeus location<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xmwW-_xYoo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Acts of the
Apostle Thaddeus: Artwork for the Film<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEc_rC1GM7c<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Costume Design for
The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S7aBPaLn7k"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S7aBPaLn7k</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen and Mar Awa
discuss the Thaddeus movie<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mar Awa: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id3a1r9jer4"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id3a1r9jer4</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen and Romena
Jonas Interview about Movie<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be1SbFbzCvw&feature=player_embedded<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen and Romena
Jonas Skype Interview<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-IywU6PZto"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-IywU6PZto</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen Missick and
Romena Jonas Interview (1) <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://youtu.be/aMglKf9hC1I<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Billy Haido Interview<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohp7YiaEaoY"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohp7YiaEaoY</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">AFR Video<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">AFR: </span><a href="http://youtu.be/fDmt2GdzMh0"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">http://youtu.be/fDmt2GdzMh0</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Walker Cable Demo Reel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCkClQgAkS0&list=UUUYbyISn2CGmNvKCcfb4Zgw"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCkClQgAkS0&list=UUUYbyISn2CGmNvKCcfb4Zgw</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thaddeus and the Shroud<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhIfw7bhCJU&list=UUUYbyISn2CGmNvKCcfb4Zgw"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhIfw7bhCJU&list=UUUYbyISn2CGmNvKCcfb4Zgw</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Acts of Apostle Thaddeus: historical sources:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLeQe4Fza2U&list=UUUYbyISn2CGmNvKCcfb4Zgw"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLeQe4Fza2U&list=UUUYbyISn2CGmNvKCcfb4Zgw</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Assyrians<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2uXpBbcUAM&list=UUUYbyISn2CGmNvKCcfb4Zgw"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2uXpBbcUAM&list=UUUYbyISn2CGmNvKCcfb4Zgw</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Production Art and Icons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXO3zxvo8W4&list=UUUYbyISn2CGmNvKCcfb4Zgw"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXO3zxvo8W4&list=UUUYbyISn2CGmNvKCcfb4Zgw</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why Thaddeus?<br />
</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97lenr5oiY0&list=UUUYbyISn2CGmNvKCcfb4Zgw"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97lenr5oiY0&list=UUUYbyISn2CGmNvKCcfb4Zgw</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Digital Bible Society: Acts of Thaddeus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc9BFkTc3Zg"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc9BFkTc3Zg</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Interview with Lorenzo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc51mSb4rrw"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc51mSb4rrw</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ISIS lecture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeT9W25Z_90"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeT9W25Z_90</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Kickstarter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/360405228/apostle-thaddeus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Indie Gogo:</span></o:p></div>
<o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-acts-of-the-apostle-thaddeus/x/10257901"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-acts-of-the-apostle-thaddeus/x/10257901</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
</o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
Radio:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">http://likeflintradio.com/latest-show-lfr-show-29-994<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-64873640388814389472015-03-20T08:05:00.002-07:002015-03-20T08:06:30.823-07:00I.S.I.S.’s War on Middle East Christians <br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Christians Under
Siege: There's no time to waste, we must act now<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Stephen Andrew Missick has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East
and has visited Aramaic-speaking Assyrian Christian communities along the
Khabour River Valley in Eastern Syria-communities that are now under attack by
ISIS. Who are these Christian groups being attacked by ISIS? What can
Christians in America do to help-to find out more come to lecture presented by
Stephen Missick -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Meeting at the Nathaniel Center, 804
Russell Palmer, Kingwood, Texas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">March 26, 2015, Thursday, 7 P.M., In the
Large Hebrew Classroom upstairs. For more information call 281-592-4104 or
email </span><a href="mailto:nestorius1@hotmail.com"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">nestorius1@hotmail.com</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-38288351373124805072015-03-15T12:21:00.002-07:002015-03-15T12:21:50.434-07:00The Emergent Church
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While
America Evangelicalism becomes more diverse, new leadership representing the
diversity is emerging. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In a recent edition of “Christianity Today” it was
discovered that favorite authors of Christians in Africa are Ben Carson, Joel
Osteen, Rick Warren, and Joyce Meyer. (See “Christianity Today,” October 2014,
p. 22). This indicates that leading American Evangelistic pastors carry a lot
of influence in Africa. This will probably be the case for some time to come.
What this indicates is that these men and women need to consider that Africa is
a part of their audience and thus they need to speak to Africa. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the same edition of Christianity today there is an
article about Asian American Christians entitled “Silent No More: Asian
American Christians are Growing in Influence and Audience. Will They be
Embraced by Their Broader Church Family?” by Helen Lee (Christianity Today,
October, 2014, 39-47). This was the cover story. The article contained some
interesting facts such as the Asian American community is made up of 34
nationalities, there are 7,123 Asian American churches and six ethnic groups,
Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Korean, Indian, and Japanese make up 83% of
Asian Americans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God is Back:
How the Global Revival of Faith Is Changing the World </i>written by John
Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge, who are both journalists for the Economist,
the authors visit an illegal but tech-savvy Chinese house church, and find the
Bible study leader who seems to be heavily influenced by the prosperity gospel
(pages 1-4). In my opinion, that is bad theology, but probably not surprising
to find these ideas in a culture that is attempting to become an economic
superpower. (Brother Yun, the “Heavenly Man,” has written about his experiences
in the Chinese house-church movement and the persecution that he has endured.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As America and the world becomes more diverse,
leadership is emerging that represents the diversity. This is seen even in the
Republican Party. Nikki Haley is an Asian American from a Sikh background who
is the Republican governor of South Carolina. Piyush “Bobby” Jindal, governor
of Louisiana, is from a Punjabi background. Both Haley and Jindal have
converted to Christianity. (However, apparently Haley practices both
Christianity and Sikhism.) African American leadership is also starting to
emerge in the Republican Party with Allen West, Mia Love (a Mormon), and Herman
Cain. (Ben Carson is now a Republican candidate for president.) Of course, the Democratic
Party prides itself in its diversity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ravi Zecharias is an international Evangelist from
India, who now resides in Canada. He is now one of the leaders in Christian
apologetics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Michael Youseff of Church of the Apostles in Georgia
is a native Arabic speaker born among the Coptic Christians in Egypt. Benny
Hinn is a Palestinian Christian, although he rarely admits to this. (Probably
due to the strong support for Israel among Evangelicals and the tendency to
think ill of Arabs among them.) Walid Shoebat, also a Palestinian, has become a
well-known Bible prophecy teacher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Chinese American Francis Chan has risen to prominence
in Evangelical circles with his best-selling books such as “Forgotten God,”
which is about the Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Joseph Prince pastors a mega-church in Singapore.
Joseph Prince is half-Sikh and half-Chinese. (Sikhism is a religion and an
ethnicity.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In Korea there is David Yungi Cho (formerly known as
Paul Yungi Cho) who has recently emerged from a tax evasion scandal (in which
he was fined $5 million). He was the pastor of the world’s largest church that
claims 830,000 in its membership! (He is now in semi-retirement.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Growing up in Southern Evangelical circles, the late Nora
Lam was often heard of and a movie about her testimony, entitled “China Cry”
was made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nora Lam was an evangelist who
had to flee persecution in China. Growing up I would hear of Watchman Nee and
Witness Lee often. Sometimes people question Nee, Lee, and Prince’s theology-as
if they are heretics. I don’t see any serious divergence from Christian
orthodoxy in their teachings and it seems to me that the suspicion is upon them
because they are “foreign.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This shows that God is raising up leaders from Korea,
India, the Arab world and China, among other places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Some steps are being made to make the voices coming
from the “third world” or the “developing world” to be heard within the
Evangelical community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Africa Bible Commentary is s one-volume commentary written
by 70 African Scholars and is the first ever to be produced in Africa by
African theologians to meet the needs of African pastors, students, and lay
leaders. It was edited by Tokunboh Adeyemo, the executive director of the
Centre for Biblical Transformation and has previously served as general
secretary for the Association of Evangelicals in Africa. He earned a Ph.D. from
Dallas Theological Seminary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There is also a study Bible entitled “The Africana
Bible: Reading Israel's Scriptures from Africa and the African Diaspora” that
features commentary from Africans and African Americans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God’s Spirit is moving in China. “<span class="a-size-large1"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">God Is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and
Flourished in Communist China” by Liou Yiwu and “</span></span>Jesus in
Beijing: How Christianity Is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance
of Power” by David Aikman both chronicle how Christianity is growing in China.
There is some persecution in China. The government wants to control the church
through “Three Self” churches. That is churches that are “self-governing,
self-supporting (i.e., financial independence from foreigners) and
self-propagating.” However, independent and illegal house-churches are
thriving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Evangelicals should have a world vision and should
watch for and be open to the way God is moving around the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Evangelicals in America need to be loving and
accepting of the international body of Christ. One way in which American
Christians are not inclusive regards Arabs and Middle Eastern Christians. This
is seen in Benny Hinn’s downplaying his Arab identity and claiming to be
“Greek.” He is from a Palestinian Greek Orthodox background. Evangelicals tend
to blame the existence of Islam upon Abraham’s fathering Ishmael through Hagar.
This is an incorrect reading of Scripture. In the Bible God blesses, and
doesn’t curse, Ishmael (Genesis 17:20). However, the mistake in interpretation
is that Ishmael is not the father of all Arabs, as many falsely suppose. A
genealogy of Arabs is found in Genesis 10:21-32, showing that Arabs existed
before Abraham. After Sarah died, Abraham married Keturah and sired six Arabian
tribes through her Genesis 25:1-4. In Abraham’s day, it was acceptable to take
a servant as a concubine and have children through her. Today, Abraham’s action
is looked upon as sinful and as a lack of faith. It is often preached that
Abraham’s lack of faith brought evil, the Arab people, into the world. Each of
Abraham’s eight sons became a nation in fulfillment of God’s promise that
Abraham would be the father of many nations-and not just one Jewish nation.
(Actually, two nations came from Abraham’s son Isaac; Israel and Edom.) From
the perspective of many Evangelicals, Abraham conceived Ishmael in sin
(although the Bible doesn’t say this). It is difficult to see how Abraham marrying
Keturah and having sons through her could be construed as being sinful. What
Christians are saying to the Arab people in their misinterpretation of Scripture
is that they hate them and wish that they were never born. The Bible says that
the Arabs were the first to hear and receive the Gospel (Acts 2:11, Galatians
1:17). Arabs are also confused with Muslims, while not all Arabs are Muslim and
most Muslims are not Arab. Unfortunately, these racist, anti-Arab, un-Christian
beliefs are deeply engrained in the American Evangelical community and
reinforced by the actions of Islamist terrorists. All of this also ignores the
fact that there are millions of Arab Christians and large communities of Arab
Evangelicals. Christians shouldn’t have hate towards their brothers and sisters
in Christ, nor should they twist the Scripture to affirm such false beliefs. Anti-Semitism
needs to be fought against. But many Evangelical Christians need to change
their attitudes towards their Arab brothers and sisters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As is seen above God is moving in mighty ways around
the world and in minority groups in the United States of America and Canada,
but some obstacles remain. There are other similar barriers that exist among
American Evangelicals regarding diversity. However, they must be overcome,
because Jesus is the Son of Man, which means he is the son of all Mankind, and
he died for the whole world, including Arabs, Africans, and Asians, on the
cross. Evangelicals need to align themselves with the loving heart of Jesus
Christ and accept diversity in the church and welcome the emerging leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-5362783628814552552015-03-15T12:18:00.000-07:002015-03-15T19:33:31.114-07:00Eastern Perspectives: Endo’s Jesus, “Silence,” and “God’s Chinese Son”<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Martin Scorsese is finally filming “Silence” a film
based on the book by Shusuku Endo about the persecution of Japanese Christians
under the Shoguns. (This story recently made the news because someone was
killed in an accident on the set.) Scorsese has talked about making this film
for decades. (The book has already been adapted to a film in Japan.) Shusuku Endo was a Japanese Catholic Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In this book, Endo chose to tell the story of persecuted
Japanese Christians through the perspective of European missionaries. I felt
that it would have been better to tell the story through the perspective of the
Japanese, as Endo does in "The Samurai" about <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Hasekura Rokuemon Tsunenaga (or "Francisco Felipe
Faxicura", as he was baptized in Spain) who crossed the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in a failed hope to bring the Gospel and global trade to Japan, </span>and in "Final Martyrs."</span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It would be interesting to see the story of Amakusa
Shiro (as told in “The Nobility of Failure” by Ivan Morris). Anakusa Shiro was
a teenage Samurai who fought to protect Japanese Christians from persecution.
The revolt of Japanese Christians against the oppression is called the Shimabara
Rebellion (which took place in the 1630s). Eventually, he was captured and
executed. Many Japanese Christians consider him to be a saint. (However,
although he died as a martyr, Shiro threatened to return in one hundred years
to exact vengeance for his death. Interestingly, Chinese Nestorian Christians
also accepted the idea of reincarnation. They preached that Christ freed the
believer from the cycle of reincarnation.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Japan was being won to Christianity through the
efforts of Catholic missionaries. The English and the Dutch then convinced the
Shogun that the Catholics represented a threat to his rule. (As the result of
their Calvinistic beliefs, the British and the Dutch believed that the Japanese
were non-Elect and as such, Jesus did not die on the cross for them. The
British had strictly financial and trade interests in the East and at the time
had no interest in sharing the Gospel with the local peoples, at that time.
They viewed the success of Portuguese missionaries as a threat to their
economic interests. At this time in history, Catholics engaged in missionary
work and Protestants did not. In fact, William Carey was not allowed to
Evangelize in British India and the British allowed barbaric customs such as
suttee, in which the widow was thrown into her husband’s funeral pyre, to
persist for decades under British rule.) As a result, the Shogun brutally suppressed
Christianity and closed Japan from any foreign contact (sakoku) until Commodore
Perry forced Japan to open up to the rest of the world in 1852-1853. Until that
time practice of Christianity was a capital crime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The long sustained persecution of Japanese Christians
devastated the church-however, it did survive. One of the fascinating things
about the Japanese is that Japanese Christianity survived underground for centuries.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Japanese who retained the Christian beliefs and
practices, often in garbled forms are called the “Kakure Kirishitan” meaning
the “Hidden Christians. (They attempted to write down the Bible stories as best
they could. The Kakure Kirishitan scriptures are a very interesting read. It is
admirable, how these people maintained their Christian beliefs the best they
could, without access to the Bible or missionaries.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Approximately 30,000 secret Christians, some of whom
had adopted these new ways of practicing Christianity, came out of hiding when
religious freedom was re-established in the mid-19th century, after Perry’s
visit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(Note: America dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, one
of the centers of Japanese Christianity. In fact, ground zero was very near the
Urakami Cathedral, which was destroyed in the explosion, but subsequently
rebuilt. Many Americans believe that it was necessary to use the atomic bomb to
bring a swift end to a long and terrible war. My personal feeling is that,
while it may have been necessary to develop the technology for the bomb, lest
the Nazis or Communists gain that knowledge first, it should never have been
used, especially on civilian targets as it was. I respect other peoples’
opinions, but in mine Hiroshima and Nagasaki repent crimes against humanity. Of
course, the Japanese committed many war crimes, as can be seen in the book and
the movie “Unbroken,” but a “Christian” civilization should be held to a higher
standard. The Japanese who committed atrocities against Mr. Zamperini and
others and at the Rape of Nanking should have been arrested and punished.
Unfortunately, the man who tortured Mr. Zamperini was able to get amnesty.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After Japan was opened again to the West, Nicolai
Kasatkin was able to found the Japanese Orthodox Church, which flourished until
the Russo-Japanese War, but endured through, and survived the conflict. This
was due to the respect that Saint Kasatkin was held in by the Japanese. (The
Nichorai-do, or Holy Resurrection Cathedral, founded by Saint Kasatkin still
stands in Tokyo.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Endo often wondered why Christianity has never been
able to gain ground in Japan. It seems like the one opportunity to win Japan to
Christ was blunted by the British and the Dutch. Today, Japan is less than 1%
Christian. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Christianity has had several starts in China as well.
It thrived in the Nestorian form under the Chinese and Mongolian emperors. Nestorian
churches still stand in China. They look like typical pagodas. But this is an
example of how Christianity is able to adapt to different cultures. The
Nestorian Church declined and endured as a persecuted minority until the small
and dwindling Nestorian Chinese were converted to Roman Catholicism. It is
interesting that later a form of Christianity almost took over China.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hong Xiuquan claimed to be the brother of Jesus Christ
and led the Tiaping Revolution (which took place roughly the same time as the
American “Civil” War). His new religion could be described as perhaps a Chinese
equivalent to American Mormonism. The story is told in “God's Chinese Son: The
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan” by Jonathon Spencer. Hong Xiuquan
tried to pass the state test in order to become part of the Chinese</span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Light",sans-serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">bureaucracy</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. He failed, as did all
but 5% of those who took the test. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(At
the time, China portrayed itself as a meritocracy in which anyone who passed
the state tests could rise in government.) In the height of his power, Hong
Xiuquan ruled over 30 million people. However, at least 20 million people in
the Tiaping revolt. The Manchu government was able to crush this
quasi-Christian revolt, with the help of the British and the French. (So we see
that the British were instrumental in crushing Japanese Christianity, and in
crushing a large professed Christian movement in China.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Chinese government currently holds that the
Tiaping revolution did bring needed social reform, such as sexual equality and
social justice for peasants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It is fascinating to see how China and Japan have
responded to the Gospel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Endo’s “Life of Jesus” is a retelling of the story of
Jesus from a Japanese perspective. Endo feels that the reason that Japan has
been resistant to the Gospel is because of the way it is presented from the
patriarchal Western perspective. According to Endo, it is the matriarchal
approach that the Japanese would find more appealing. This is surprising seeing
that Japan has been a strongly militaristic culture in the past. Endo’s “Life
of Jesus” is based on serious historical research. It isn’t as though Endo has
created a new Japanese Zen-Buddhist Jesus, in the way that Jesus is seemingly
presented as a Taoist sage in some of the “Jesus Sutras” Nestorian Chinese
literature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The movie “Silence” could be effective in telling the
story of the terrible persecution that Japanese Christians suffered, a story
that many in the West are unfamiliar with, and perhaps encourage people to read
Endo’s other works, such as his life of Christ, and look at the Gospel message
through a totally different, and non-Western perspective. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-36517263483693393542015-02-24T08:18:00.001-08:002015-02-24T08:18:08.140-08:00Upcoming movie "The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus" to Star Lorenzo Lamas as Apostle ThaddeusWe are trying to raise $120,000 for this film project. The contribute go to:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/360405228/the-apostle-thomas-in-india">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/360405228/the-apostle-thomas-in-india</a>Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-1958654624800509832015-02-24T08:15:00.003-08:002015-06-05T05:38:17.440-07:00Lorenzo Lamas set to star as Thaddeus in upcoming Biblical film<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lamas said, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I have worked with Walker Cable
Productions in several films on the course of the last several years and it is
my understanding that they will be producing a film on the Apostle Thaddeus in
the near future. Based on my former association with this company and the
integrity of Sam Cable and Chuck Walker as friends and film makers, I have a
strong interest in being involved in this project as an actor in the title role
of Thaddeus. I find the script interesting and captivating and look forward to making
this project a big success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
thrilled to be working on Thaddeus, the new WalkerCable production. These are
terrific guys and a wonderful production company that I have had the pleasure
of working with many, many times in the past. So, if you have the opportunity
to invest in a WalkerCable production don’t hesitate. You will not regret it.
So, I am excited about being a part of this Christian movie. I think it is an
important time for our society to embrace the Christian faith. I am looking
forward to it.” </i></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Why
should I support the Acts of Thaddeus movie?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Based
on recent performance of Faith based and Biblical based movies, </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“The Acts of Thaddeus” has great potential
to be a successful film.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The film
is also educational.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"> It is based on the literature and history of the ancient
Assyrian Church of the East.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The movie
is cultural.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"> It is a celebration of the Assyrian culture. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The film
is timely and relevant. </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the rise of ISIS, radical Islam and the increase of
persecution of Christians around the world and particularly in the Middle East,
“The Acts of Thaddeus” can draw attention to and create awareness of the
heritage of Middle East Christianity and the threat it now faces.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The movie
is Ecumenical</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">. It is about Christian unity. The story of the Apostles
occurred before divisions developed within Christianity. Catholics, Eastern
Orthodox, Protestants and members of the Assyrian Church of the East can
embrace the story of the Apostle Thaddeus. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">In
the film, Thaddeus proclaims the message of love, forgiveness, and compassion
that is the heart of the Christian faith. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-57915731331862689492015-02-24T08:08:00.001-08:002015-02-24T08:08:18.079-08:00Lorenzo Lamas set to star as Apostle Thaddeus in New Biblical Epic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5rQMYRXs_zQCUaTE8xKoI-Ni81qgAw_1sXpEreMaV0jV5JEUewes8NnhHWxBHG9ckRyygfYJCemz5jqzbamlNWssd440A4uJ_Fg9Uc7tFAXkXISU52cNpyF1uqCC6cC5f0GAyT4L2GUD/s1600/img-219084236-0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5rQMYRXs_zQCUaTE8xKoI-Ni81qgAw_1sXpEreMaV0jV5JEUewes8NnhHWxBHG9ckRyygfYJCemz5jqzbamlNWssd440A4uJ_Fg9Uc7tFAXkXISU52cNpyF1uqCC6cC5f0GAyT4L2GUD/s1600/img-219084236-0001.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.25pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Lorenzo
Lamas, 1980s heartthrob and star of the hit series “The Renegade,” is set to
portray the Apostle Thaddeus in an upcoming biblical epic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The movie will be produced by Walker Cable
Productions, and filmed near <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">San
Antonio</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The working title of the film is “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus</i>.” <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Along with Lorenzo Lamas and
Walker Cable Productions, the production crew will include three Assyrian
Americans, and at least seven Assyrian Americans will be cast in major roles.
This will enable these Assyrian Americans to learn about the art of film-making
and perhaps launch their careers in either film production or acting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being people who’s heritage the film is
depicting, they bring with them an additional layer of accuracy and
authenticity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Assyrians are currently
facing terrible challenges and persecution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They face the threat of genocide in their ancestral homeland by Islamic
militants groups, perhaps the most recognizable being <st1:place w:st="on">ISIS</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These terrorist groups are actively trying to
destroy the ancient Christian community founded by Thaddeus and Thomas. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Stephen Missick, associate
pastor of King of Saints Tabernacle in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>, is writing and producing
the biblical movie that will dramatize the story of one of the Twelve Apostles
of Jesus Christ. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The script is derived
from the Bible and other ancient sources, such as the writings of the Early
Church Fathers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The film is anticipated
to be produced by WalkerCable, Productions of Conroe, Texas. WalkerCable plans
to begin filming in early 2015. Existing movie sets at the <st1:placename w:st="on">Alamo</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Village</st1:placetype>
in <st1:city w:st="on">Brackettville</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state>,
as well as other areas around <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">San
Antonio</st1:city></st1:place>, will serve as Biblical Lands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span>Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-61420021328109017402015-02-24T07:55:00.002-08:002015-02-24T07:55:45.768-08:00ISIS captures 90 Assyrian Christians at Khabour River Valley in Eastern SyriaI have visited the Assyrian villages at the Khabour River Valley in Syria. I am appalled to learn that ISIS has captured 90 Assyrian Aramaic-speaking Christians from the area that I have visited. Please pray for these Assyrian Christians and give to organizations that help:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/02/24/activists-report-dozens-assyrian-christans-kidnapped-by-isis/">http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/02/24/activists-report-dozens-assyrian-christans-kidnapped-by-isis/</a><br />
<br />
To help: <br />
<a href="http://barnabasfund.org/">http://barnabasfund.org/</a>Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-58044080126751374512015-02-12T07:27:00.000-08:002015-02-12T07:27:01.309-08:00Assyrian Heritage Film dramatizes the Birth of the Assyrian Church of the East
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Lorenzo Lamas, 1980s
heartthrob and star of the hit series “The Renegade,” is set to portray the
Apostle Thaddeus in an upcoming biblical epic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The movie will be produced by Walker Cable Productions, and filmed near <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">San Antonio</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The working title of the film is “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Lamas said, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I
have worked with Walker Cable Productions in several films on the course of the
last several years and it is my understanding that they will be producing a
film on the Apostle Thaddeus in the near future. Based on my former association
with this company and the integrity of Sam Cable and Chuck Walker as friends
and film makers, I have a strong interest in being involved in this project as
an actor in the title role of Thaddeus. I find the script interesting and
captivating and look forward<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> to making this project a big
success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thrilled to be working on
Thaddeus, the new WalkerCable production. These are terrific guys and a
wonderful production company that I have had the pleasure of working with many,
many times in the past. So, if you have the opportunity to invest in a
WalkerCable production don’t hesitate. You will not regret it. So, I am excited
about being a part of this Christian movie. I think it is an important time for
our society to embrace the Christian faith. I am looking forward to it.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Along with Lorenzo Lamas and
Walker Cable Productions, the production crew will include three Assyrian
Americans, and at least seven Assyrian Americans will be cast in major roles.
This will enable these Assyrian Americans to learn about the art of film-making
and perhaps launch their careers in either film production or acting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being people who’s heritage the film is
depicting, they bring with them an additional layer of accuracy and
authenticity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Assyrians are currently
facing terrible challenges and persecution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They face the threat of genocide in their ancestral homeland by Islamic
militants groups, perhaps the most recognizable being <st1:place w:st="on">ISIS</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These terrorist groups are actively trying to
destroy the ancient Christian community founded by Thaddeus and Thomas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Stephen Missick, associate
pastor of King of Saints Tabernacle in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>, is writing and producing
the biblical movie that will dramatize the story of one of the Twelve Apostles
of Jesus Christ. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The script is derived
from the Bible and other ancient sources, such as the writings of the Early
Church Fathers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The film is anticipated
to be produced by WalkerCable, Productions of Conroe, Texas. WalkerCable plans
to begin filming in early 2015. Existing movie sets at the <st1:placename w:st="on">Alamo</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Village</st1:placetype>
in <st1:city w:st="on">Brackettville</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state>,
as well as other areas around <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">San
Antonio</st1:city></st1:place>, will serve as Biblical Lands. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">“From the very beginning of
the film industry, movies dramatizing stories from the Bible have been
made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of these films are classics,
such as Cecil B. DeMille’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Ten
Commandments” and Charlton Heston’s “Ben-Hur.” However, I want to do something
totally different. I want to do something that audiences have never seen before”
Missick said. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">In this movie, Pastor Missick
will be telling the story of the Apostle Thaddeus. According to early Church
Historians, Thaddeus evangelized and established Churches in what are today <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>
and southern <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Turkey</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The movie “The Acts of the Apostle
Thaddeus” is about the Apostle Thaddeus, known among Assyrian Christians as Mar
Addai, and the founding of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Assyrian</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> of the East. The
movie will be based on ancient Assyrian Christian literature, namely “The
Doctrine of Addai” and “The Acts of the Apostle Mari.” It is also based on
other ancient sources, such as the writings of the early church historian
Eusebius. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">According to Pastor Missick,
“The Acts of Thaddeus” tells the story of the origin of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Assyrian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>
of the East and the Armenian Church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor
Missick describes the story of Thaddeus as a very fascinating one: “According
to Church historians, Thaddeus was the groom at the marriage of Cana in <st1:place w:st="on">Galilee</st1:place>, where Jesus turned the water into wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also a connection between Thaddeus
and the Shroud<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Turin</st1:city></st1:place>.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Shroud of Turin is an
Icon kept in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Turin</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region></st1:place> that is believed to be the
burial shroud of Jesus, and it bears an impression of the body of a crucified
man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many Shroud experts believe that
the Shroud of Turin was known as originally known as the Image of Edessa, or
the Mandylion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It said to have been
brought to the Syriac king Abgar as a gift by Thaddeus. Missick says, “Many of
those who believe that the Shroud of Turin is authentic, also believe that
there is a connection between the Shroud and the Apostle Thaddeus. The Shroud
will be featured in the movie.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Recent cinematic history has
seen the resurgence of the Biblical Epic. “The Bible: TV Miniseries,” “The Son
of God, “ as well as “Noah,” have been very successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, faith-based films such as “God’s
Not Dead” and “Heaven is for Real” have proven there is large an underserved
market for films in the Biblical genre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soon, Biblical epics such as “Exodus: God’s and Kings” and “A.D.: After
the Bible” will arrive on both the big and small screens to serve these
markets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This project is unique in that
the story of Thaddeus and the founding of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Assyrian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>
has never before been told in film. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">If the current funding goals
are attained, we intend to begin shooting around March 15-20, 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">For more information contact</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Stephen Andrew Missick</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">,</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="mailto:stephenamissick@hotmail.com"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">stephenamissick@hotmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Promo video:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlFORNbUxOA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">historical background<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTXIcoeoBr0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chuck Walker
discusses his vision for directing Thaddeus<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht6cEDyWGMU<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Acts of the
Apostle Thaddeus location<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xmwW-_xYoo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Acts of the
Apostle Thaddeus: Artwork for the Film<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEc_rC1GM7c<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Costume Design for
The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S7aBPaLn7k"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S7aBPaLn7k</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen and Mar Awa
discuss the Thaddeus movie<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mar Awa: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id3a1r9jer4"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id3a1r9jer4</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen and Romena
Jonas Interview about Movie<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be1SbFbzCvw&feature=player_embedded<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen and Romena
Jonas Skype Interview<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-IywU6PZto"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-IywU6PZto</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen Missick and
Romena Jonas Interview (1) <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://youtu.be/aMglKf9hC1I<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Billy Haido Interview<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohp7YiaEaoY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-45153593080822134652015-01-21T06:42:00.000-08:002015-01-21T06:42:32.871-08:00The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">THE
BIRTH OF THE CHURCH IN ASSYRIA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus: The
Birth of the Church in Assyria</span></i><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;"> is an upcoming film starring Lorenzo Lamas as Thaddeus, one
of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. This movie will dramatize the story of
the Early Church and the founding of Christianity in Mesopotamia and is based
on ancient extra-biblical texts that were written in the Aramaic language that
was spoken by Jesus Christ. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Acts of
Thaddeus</i> will show the drama of the triumphs, trials, and tribulations of
the early Christians. The film will be directed by Chuck Walker and produced by
Sam Walker. The script is written by Stephen Andrew Missick. The film portrays
an important era in Assyrian history and Assyrian Americans are involved in the
production of the movie. The executive production team includes Billy Haido,
Vincent Shade and Martin Khoshaba. It is the film-makers goal to have at least
six Assyrian Americans in major roles in the film. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
information about the project and ways to be involved see: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="http://www.aramaicherald.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.aramaicherald.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen
Andrew Missick </span></span><a href="mailto:stephenamissick@hotmail.com"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">stephenamissick@hotmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> 281-592-4104, PO BOX 882, Shepherd,
Texas, 77371<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-89381497189495596112015-01-07T05:33:00.001-08:002015-01-07T05:33:59.532-08:00Thaddeus movie starring Lorenzo Lamas to tell the story of the Origin of the Assyrian Church
<br />
<h3 style="margin: 16pt 0in 4pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2a5a78;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Lorenzo Lamas to Star in upcoming Biblical Epic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
<br />
<div class="Subhead" style="margin: 0in 0in 30pt;">
<em><span style="color: #2a5a78;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The story of Thaddeus: the Apostle of Christ, to be produced
by Houston area pastor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">(Cleveland, Texas) Lorenzo
Lamas, 1980s heartthrob and star of the hit series “The Renegade,” is set to
portray the Apostle Thaddeus in an upcoming biblical epic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The movie will be produced by Walker Cable
Productions, and filmed near <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">San
Antonio</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The working title of the film is “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUKBe0Tdj6X3w4EfhtGU99b4O_SJgvKsSf82gE7IAJz6R5r1Iyix44Pya2LEVOd4SiOPJDql5WlCn8FEmGkUO-vWKYtzlDO75ufHCMwcK9pZJRXnSbS0SF_w03U4XPjCUfq23sYAZbD_u/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster3_Alt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUKBe0Tdj6X3w4EfhtGU99b4O_SJgvKsSf82gE7IAJz6R5r1Iyix44Pya2LEVOd4SiOPJDql5WlCn8FEmGkUO-vWKYtzlDO75ufHCMwcK9pZJRXnSbS0SF_w03U4XPjCUfq23sYAZbD_u/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster3_Alt.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Lamas said, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I
have worked with Walker Cable Productions in several films on the course of the
last several years and it is my understanding that they will be producing a
film on the Apostle Thaddeus in the near future. Based on my former association
with this company and the integrity of Sam Cable and Chuck Walker as friends
and film makers, I have a strong interest in being involved in this project as
an actor in the title role of Thaddeus. I find the script interesting and
captivating and look forward<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> to making this project a big
success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thrilled to be working on
Thaddeus, the new WalkerCable production. These are terrific guys and a
wonderful production company that I have had the pleasure of working with many,
many times in the past. So, if you have the opportunity to invest in a
WalkerCable production don’t hesitate. You will not regret it. So, I am excited
about being a part of this Christian movie. I think it is an important time for
our society to embrace the Christian faith. I am looking forward to it.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">“The Acts of the Apostle
Thaddeus” tells the story of the Apostle Thaddeus evangelizing Mesopotamia and
founding the Assyrian Church of the East and the Armenian Church. The story is
based on the writings of the early church fathers and traditions of Assyrian
Christians, who are the indigenous people of Mesopotamia. Along with Lorenzo
Lamas and Walker Cable Productions, the production crew will include three
Assyrian Americans, and at least six Assyrian Americans will be cast in major
roles. This will enable these Assyrian Americans to learn about the art of
film-making and perhaps launch their careers in either film production or
acting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being people who’s heritage the
film is depicting, they bring with them an additional layer of accuracy and
authenticity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Assyrian American
production team are from Strategic Entertainment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Assyrians are currently
facing terrible challenges and persecution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They face the threat of genocide in their ancestral homeland by Islamic
militants groups, perhaps the most recognizable being <st1:place w:st="on">ISIS</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These terrorist groups are actively trying to
destroy the ancient Christian community founded by Thaddeus and Thomas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Stephen Missick, associate
pastor of King of Saints Tabernacle in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>, is writing and producing
the biblical movie that will dramatize the story of one of the Twelve Apostles
of Jesus Christ. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The script is derived
from the Bible and other ancient sources, such as the writings of the Early
Church Fathers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The film is anticipated
to be produced by WalkerCable, Productions of Conroe, Texas. WalkerCable plans
to begin filming in early 2015. Existing movie sets at the <st1:placename w:st="on">Alamo</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Village</st1:placetype>
in <st1:city w:st="on">Brackettville</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state>,
as well as other areas around <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">San
Antonio</st1:city></st1:place>, will serve as Biblical Lands. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">“From the very beginning of
the film industry, movies dramatizing stories from the Bible have been
made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of these films are classics,
such as Cecil B. DeMille’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Ten
Commandments” and Charlton Heston’s “Ben-Hur.” However, I want to do something
totally different. I want to do something that audiences have never seen before”
Missick said. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">In this movie, Pastor Missick
will be telling the story of the Apostle Thaddeus. According to early Church
Historians, Thaddeus evangelized and established Churches in what are today <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>
and southern <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Turkey</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The movie “The Acts of the Apostle
Thaddeus” is about the Apostle Thaddeus, known among Assyrian Christians as Mar
Addai, and the founding of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Assyrian</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> of the East. The
movie will be based on ancient Assyrian Christian literature, namely “The
Doctrine of Addai” and “The Acts of the Apostle Mari.” It is also based on
other ancient sources, such as the writings of the early church historian
Eusebius. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">According to Pastor Missick,
“The Acts of Thaddeus” tells the story of the origin of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Assyrian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>
of the East and the Armenian Church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor
Missick describes the story of Thaddeus as a very fascinating one: “According
to Church historians, Thaddeus was the groom at the marriage of Cana in <st1:place w:st="on">Galilee</st1:place>, where Jesus turned the water into wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also a connection between Thaddeus
and the Shroud<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of Turin.” The Shroud of
Turin is an Icon kept in Turin, Italy that is believed to be the burial shroud
of Jesus, and it bears an impression of the body of a crucified man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many Shroud experts believe that the Shroud
of Turin was known as originally known as the Image of Edessa, or the Mandylion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It said to have been brought to the Syriac
king Abgar as a gift by Thaddeus. Missick says, “Many of those who believe that
the Shroud of Turin is authentic, also believe that there is a connection
between the Shroud and the Apostle Thaddeus. The Shroud will be featured in the
movie.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Recent cinematic history has
seen the resurgence of the Biblical Epic. “The Bible: TV Miniseries,” “The Son
of God, “as well as “Noah,” have been very successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, faith-based films such as “God’s
Not Dead” and “Heaven is for Real” have proven there is large an underserved
market for films in the Biblical genre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soon, Biblical epics such as “Exodus: God’s and Kings” and “A.D.: After
the Bible” will arrive on both the big and small screens to serve these
markets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This project is unique in that
the story of Thaddeus and the founding of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Assyrian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>
has never before been told in film. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">If the current funding goals
are attained, we intend to begin shooting around March 15-20, 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">For more information contact</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Stephen Andrew Missick</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">,</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="mailto:stephenamissick@hotmail.com"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">stephenamissick@hotmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">(ph) 281-592-4104 2228
FM 1725, Cleveland, Texas 77328<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;">See the kickstarter: </span></span><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/the-acts-of-thaddeus-a-dramatic-feature-film"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/the-acts-of-thaddeus-a-dramatic-feature-film</span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
To support the project by sending a check-mail the check to:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Acts of Thaddeus LLC </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
PO Box 5341</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Skokie IL 60077</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Or</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Saint Thaddeus Productions</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
PO Box 882</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Shepherd Texas 77371</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>News Story on Thaddeus Movie Project:</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong><a href="http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/cleveland-pastor-s-biblical-story-to-be-made-into-movie/article_da008ccf-e4aa-5141-b06e-2470e138d58e.html">http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/cleveland-pastor-s-biblical-story-to-be-made-into-movie/article_da008ccf-e4aa-5141-b06e-2470e138d58e.html</a></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>Video on Thaddeus Movie Project:</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-IywU6PZto" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-IywU6PZto</a><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus location<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xmwW-_xYoo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xmwW-_xYoo</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>Chuck Walker discusses his vision for directing
Thaddeus<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht6cEDyWGMU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht6cEDyWGMU</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>historical background<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTXIcoeoBr0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTXIcoeoBr0</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus: Artwork for the Film<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEc_rC1GM7c">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEc_rC1GM7c</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>Costume Design for The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S7aBPaLn7k">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S7aBPaLn7k</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><strong>Promo video</strong>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlFORNbUxOA"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlFORNbUxOA</span></span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Interview with Stephen Missick about Thaddeus Movie:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be1SbFbzCvw&feature=player_embedded">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be1SbFbzCvw&feature=player_embedded</a></span>Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-28328026274966708342014-12-11T06:46:00.002-08:002014-12-11T06:46:23.597-08:00<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 48pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text2;">Aramaic Herald<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">A
NEWSLETTER FOR CHRISTIANS WHO WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEIR ARAMAIC HERITAGE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Volume IX
Number 25<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 7;"> </span>December<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BRDswjhgEJRGezFKuWdmLW14sLW224V_fkYMpGNaXpYGF2BVeKrJPCRsJ5IJpxMrxsZT8GfpVgXEHVaDSKEYM76iQzDTAykWVvdvzwD8Q7S4rXPmQhoYPjdamjPisFubh_u90SeRfPjz/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BRDswjhgEJRGezFKuWdmLW14sLW224V_fkYMpGNaXpYGF2BVeKrJPCRsJ5IJpxMrxsZT8GfpVgXEHVaDSKEYM76iQzDTAykWVvdvzwD8Q7S4rXPmQhoYPjdamjPisFubh_u90SeRfPjz/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster3.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">New Assyrian Heritage movie in
Development<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen
Andrew Missick is producing an Assyrian heritage movie. The movie “The Acts of
the Apostle Thaddeus” is about the Apostle Thaddeus, known among Assyrian
Christians as Mar Addai, and the founding of the Assyrian Church of the East.
The movie will be based on ancient Assyrian Christian literature, namely “The
Doctrine of Addai” and “The Acts of the Apostle Mari.” It is also based on
other ancient sources, such as the writings of the early church historian
Eusebius. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
production crew will include three Assyrian Americans and at least six Assyrian
Americans will be cast in major roles. This will enable these Assyrian
Americans to learn about the art of film-making and perhaps launch their
careers in either film production or acting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr. Missick
said, “Lorenzo Lamas has shown an interest in playing the Apostle Thaddeus and
has given me a “letter of interest” in playing the role of Thaddeus. The movie
will be filmed at the Alamo Village movie set in Brackettville, Texas. The
Assyrian American actors and production crew will work with Lorenzo Lamas, who
gave me the impression that he is a friendly and approachable person. He can
most likely tell them about the ins and outs of the television and movie-making
industry. Being involved in this project may enable the Assyrian Americans who
are involved in it to launch their careers in film-making. This project has
enormous potential to benefit the global Assyrian community.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He said,
“This movie could also create cultural awareness, among the Assyrian community about
their own culture and can also create awareness about the Assyrian Christian
heritage outside of the Assyrian community. I believe this is especially
important at this time when the Assyrians are facing terrible challenges and
face the threat of genocide in their ancestral homeland. “<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He believes
that this film project has important educational, literary and cultural value.
Missick said, “It also has important ecumenical value in that it can bring
Christians of diverse denominational backgrounds together on the core message
of Jesus and his Apostles. It is my intention to tell this story in a sincere
and reverent manner.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The film
also has the potential to be profitable. Recent Biblical productions, such as
“The Bible: The Epic Miniseries,” “The Son of God, “ and “Noah,” has been
successful, as well as faith-based films such as “God’s Not Dead” and “Heaven
is for Real.” There are also upcoming Biblical epics such as “Exodus: God’s and
Kings” and “A.D.: After the Bible.” However, this project is unique in that the
story of Thaddeus and the founding of the Assyrian Church has never before been
told in film. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If the funds
are raised, we intend to begin shooting around March 15-20. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
production company is “Walker Cable Productions” of Conroe, Texas. WalkerCable
have completed several movies, mostly westerns and action movies. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr. Missick
has been able to procure costumes and props for this film that were used on
screen in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spartacus</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alexander</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rome</i>, and Dwayne Johnson’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hercules</i>.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Missick
says, “We are working to raise $120,000 for the film. Once we have raised the
money we will go into pre-production and begin auditioning actors. I intend to
film most of the major roles of the film with Assyrian Americans.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The film producer, Stephen
Andrew Missick, is the author of three papers on the history of the Assyrian
Church of the East that are published in the Journal of Assyrian Academic
Studies (www.jaas.org).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is an army
chaplain and a doctoral student at Houston Graduate School of Theology. His
doctoral thesis/project is entitled “</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FACILITATING INTERACTION BETWEEN THE
ARAMAIC ASSYRIAN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AND EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS FOR ENHANCED
UNDERSTANDING AND INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE, SPIRITUAL RENEWAL, AND HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE” in which he will work to create awareness about the humanitarian
crisis among American churches and attempt to provide aide to needy Assyrian
Christian refugees. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
information about the Thaddeus film project and the Assyrian American
production crew behind it and for ways to support the film see </span></span><a href="http://www.aramaicherald.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.aramaicherald.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The
SAINT THADDEUS MOVIE KICKSTARTER:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/the-acts-of-thaddeus-a-dramatic-feature-film"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/the-acts-of-thaddeus-a-dramatic-feature-film</span></span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">(Or
go to </span></b><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.kickstarter.com</span></span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> and enter “Thaddeus” into search
projects and it should come right up!)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">Lorenzo
Lamas Set to Star in Biblical Epic<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTd0gEi0AV2ct4uTne_yCUp2PxkagpkKSfcYwhKRMj0lZzXE9E1bBiS7YbtXamf-hf6pDSrKp5ChtNTVxrhw76yil9aF9hgExaKlLSHl_ZGFxqn_pstDQ1qP6F69orvmxEV5meOQeL0tt/s1600/lorenzo-lamas-36%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTd0gEi0AV2ct4uTne_yCUp2PxkagpkKSfcYwhKRMj0lZzXE9E1bBiS7YbtXamf-hf6pDSrKp5ChtNTVxrhw76yil9aF9hgExaKlLSHl_ZGFxqn_pstDQ1qP6F69orvmxEV5meOQeL0tt/s1600/lorenzo-lamas-36%5B1%5D.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Lorenzo Lamas is known for playing Lance Cumson on the
popular 1980s soap opera “Falcon Crest”, Reno Raines on the 1990s crime drama “Renegade,”
and Hector Ramirez on the daytime soap opera “The Bold and The Beautiful.” He
also starred in “Grease” with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lamas was born in </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica,_California" title="Santa Monica, California"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue;">Santa
Monica, California</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">, the son of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina" title="Argentina"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue;">Argentine</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-born
actor and director </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Lamas" title="Fernando Lamas"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue;">Fernando Lamas</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and actress </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlene_Dahl" title="Arlene Dahl"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue;">Arlene Dahl</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">His
autobiography “Renegade at Heart” was published in December 2014. He is married
to actress and model Shawna Craig. Lorenzo Lamas is set to star in the Spring
2015 season of “Celebrity Apprentice.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Mr. Lamas stated, “I have worked with Walker Cable
Productions in several films on the course of the last several years and it is
my understanding that they will be producing a film on the Apostle Thaddeus in
the near future. Based on my former association with this company and the
integrity of Sam Cable and Chuck Walker as friends and film makers, I have a
strong interest in being involved in this project as an actor in the title role
of Thaddeus. I find the script interesting and captivating and look forward to
making this project a big success. I am thrilled to be working on Thaddeus the
new WalkerCable production. These are terrific guys and a wonderful production
company that I have had the pleasure of working with many, many times in the
past. So, if you have the opportunity to invest in a WalkerCable production
don’t hesitate. You will not regret it. So, I am excited about being a part of
this Christian movie. I think it is an important time for our society to
embrace the Christian faith. I am looking forward to it.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Production Company<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus will be produced by
Walker Cable Productions. See </span><a href="http://www.walkercableinc.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.walkercableinc.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sam
Cable and Chuck Walker began Walker Cable Productions as a moderate budget
feature film company, soon going public under the name of MSH Entertainment
Corporation in the early nineties. The new entity expanded to include music and
television.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They produced “Vanpires”, a
live-action/animated action-adventure series which quickly became the number
one syndicated children’s show on television.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Their
company also produced the last album by the legendary John Entwistle and The
Who. As well as other headliners.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In
the last several years, Walker and Cable have re-directed their interests to
motion pictures, having produced a slate of westerns released by Lionsgate,
including “The Man Who Came Back” in which they partnered with soap icon Eric
Braeden who portrays the infamous Victor Newman on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Young and the Restless</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The movie starred Braeden as well as Academy Award Winner, George
Kennedy, Emmy Award Winner Armand Assante, Billy Zane, Sean Young and super
model, Carol Alt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The movie was the
number one non-theatrical release in the United States for its first six weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
duo produced two films last year including the action-adventure nail-biter,
“The Texas Triangle”, and “Backstabber”, starring Lorenzo Lamas and Tammy
Barr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Backstabber” recently won a
Platinum Remi Award at Worldfest International for Best Picture in the
fantasy/horror category.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Walker
Cable Productions is currently in post-production on the suspense-mystery film,
“Burned Soul” which will release this fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are poised to produce and release three films per year for the
foreseeable future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">ASSYRIAN-AMERICAN
BILLY HAIDO WILL BE THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtktZGx-MJ0zpiqOT_vZOk0o8-X4Uz5LI8Mt0se0ZM7Cx-HlgIcre3_V-mdfneszf8OjeMQFhMfzByLmE-BjWpe1QL7acZKHiRyGyiVYdQfcK5c_aPXsjpyoNwiPBKQD3yFeUtc6qpVbw/s1600/7e9b049db7aab0e9bf10f2fcf444be63_large%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtktZGx-MJ0zpiqOT_vZOk0o8-X4Uz5LI8Mt0se0ZM7Cx-HlgIcre3_V-mdfneszf8OjeMQFhMfzByLmE-BjWpe1QL7acZKHiRyGyiVYdQfcK5c_aPXsjpyoNwiPBKQD3yFeUtc6qpVbw/s1600/7e9b049db7aab0e9bf10f2fcf444be63_large%5B1%5D.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen Andrew Missick-Screenwriter
and Producer<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen Andrew Missick is the author of <u>Mar Thoma: The
Apostolic Foundation of the Assyrian Church and The Christians of Saint Thomas
in India</u>. He has written and illustrated several books such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Language of Jesus: Introducing Aramaic</i>,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Assyrians: The Oldest Christian
People</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christ the Man</i>. He
has traveled to India to work with the Christians there. He has widely traveled
throughout the Middle East. He served in the war in Iraq, in two deployments,
both as a soldier and as an army chaplain. He is an ordained Evangelical
minister. He has graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and
is a doctoral student at Houston Graduate School of Theology. He lives in the
Houston, Texas area. He has written a screenplay about Saint Thomas in India
and is the author of the Acts of Thaddeus screenplay. His papers on the history
of the Assyrian Church of the East can be viewed at </span></span><a href="http://www.jaas.org/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.jaas.org</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">His YouTube Channel is </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/aramaic12"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.youtube.com/aramaic12</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
He can be contacted at PO BOX 882, Shepherd, Texas, 77371 or </span></span><a href="mailto:nestorius1@hotmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">nestorius1@hotmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">His blog can be read at </span><a href="http://www.aramaicherald.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.aramaicherald.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguujSr85gNKb8403lp3XQjTcYyg02__h3kHXFWBZ9XlM6xbALb5OVF8k9eJHO6E51x1dI80dbf45gQuDv-GtA6f84Ku6SR10XOnlEcUQbtrfC7VAu1Of7aK5JLG69_OWUz5MJw5-SgV90m/s1600/ENDORSEMENT+FOR+FILM+THE+ACTS+OF+ST.+THADDEUS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguujSr85gNKb8403lp3XQjTcYyg02__h3kHXFWBZ9XlM6xbALb5OVF8k9eJHO6E51x1dI80dbf45gQuDv-GtA6f84Ku6SR10XOnlEcUQbtrfC7VAu1Of7aK5JLG69_OWUz5MJw5-SgV90m/s1600/ENDORSEMENT+FOR+FILM+THE+ACTS+OF+ST.+THADDEUS.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfK2SORnt9RzALnDFZcyBmIJPyjMGAHS1aLPGjqek4h4gA1TnMUfsNXLPdzbYdGCywqVBqOgbS8fv8V20OT5ZiooHlk32Gkh_llTZG_ckEw2Tj86QKwNuEPKgj9QqlhZUOBdB6s21OU22/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfK2SORnt9RzALnDFZcyBmIJPyjMGAHS1aLPGjqek4h4gA1TnMUfsNXLPdzbYdGCywqVBqOgbS8fv8V20OT5ZiooHlk32Gkh_llTZG_ckEw2Tj86QKwNuEPKgj9QqlhZUOBdB6s21OU22/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster4.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-68681474110420649792014-12-05T08:48:00.000-08:002014-12-05T08:48:14.028-08:00NEW ASSYRIAN HERITAGE MOVIE TO BE MADE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-fsz6nU2c_88SBOZwQoo6x9dO5XMl6NDZwouA34PV-AfDvyEUfFmxWSeK10u57hhpPSOfohow_PDfL7SkunovGd_s3nejqFnADCS5iXRI2i2qXtc4M6WBpdY7Matc8DJ88D0hky0J2Cz/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-fsz6nU2c_88SBOZwQoo6x9dO5XMl6NDZwouA34PV-AfDvyEUfFmxWSeK10u57hhpPSOfohow_PDfL7SkunovGd_s3nejqFnADCS5iXRI2i2qXtc4M6WBpdY7Matc8DJ88D0hky0J2Cz/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster4.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">New Assyrian Heritage movie in
Development<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen Andrew Missick is producing an Assyrian heritage
movie. The movie “The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus” is about the Apostle
Thaddeus, known among Assyrian Christians as Mar Addai, and the founding of the
Assyrian Church of the East. The movie will be based on ancient Assyrian
Christian literature, namely “The Doctrine of Addai” and “The Acts of the
Apostle Mari.” It is also based on other ancient sources, such as the writings
of the early church historian Eusebius. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The production crew will include three Assyrian Americans
and at least seven Assyrian Americans will be cast in major roles. This will
enable these Assyrian Americans to learn about the art of film-making and
perhaps launch their careers in either film production or acting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr. Missick said, “Lorenzo Lamas has shown an interest in
playing the Apostle Thaddeus and has given me a “letter of interest” in playing
the role of Thaddeus. The movie will be filmed at the Alamo Village movie set
in Brackettville, Texas. The Assyrian American actors and production crew will
work with Lorenzo Lamas, who gave me the impression that he is a friendly and
approachable person. He can most likely tell them about the ins and outs of the
television and movie-making industry. Being involved in this project may enable
the Assyrian Americans who are involved in it to launch their careers in
film-making. This project has enormous potential to benefit the global Assyrian
community.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He said, “This movie could also create cultural awareness,
among the Assyrian community about their own culture and can also create
awareness about the Assyrian Christian heritage outside of the Assyrian
community. I believe this is especially important at this time when the
Assyrians are facing terrible challenges and face the threat of genocide in
their ancestral homeland. “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He believes that this film project has important
educational, literary and cultural value. Missick said, “It also has important
ecumenical value in that it can bring Christians of diverse denominational
backgrounds together on the core message of Jesus and his Apostles. It is my
intention to tell this story in a sincere and reverent manner.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The film also has the potential to be profitable. Recent
Biblical productions, such as “The Bible: The Epic Miniseries,” “The Son of
God, “ and “Noah,” has been successful, as well as faith-based films such as
“God’s Not Dead” and “Heaven is for Real.” There are also upcoming Biblical
epics such as “Exodus: God’s and Kings” and “A.D.: After the Bible.” However,
this project is unique in that the story of Thaddeus and the founding of the
Assyrian Church has never before been told in film. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If the funds are raised, we intend to begin shooting around
March 15-20. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The production company is “Walker Cable Productions” of
Conroe, Texas. WalkerCable have completed several movies, mostly westerns and
action movies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr. Missick has been able to procure costumes and props for
this film that were used on screen in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spartacus</i>,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alexander</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rome</i>, and Dwayne Johnson’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hercules</i>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Missick says, “We are working to raise $120,000 for the
film. Once we have raised the money we will go into pre-production and begin
auditioning actors. I intend to film most of the major roles of the film with
Assyrian Americans.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To SUPPORT THIS PROJECT GO TO:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /><o:p><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/the-acts-of-thaddeus-a-dramatic-feature-film">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/the-acts-of-thaddeus-a-dramatic-feature-film</a></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The film producer, Stephen Andrew Missick, is
the author of three papers on the history of the Assyrian Church of the East
that are published in the Journal of Assyrian Academic Studies
(www.jaas.org).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is an army chaplain
and a doctoral student at Houston Graduate School of Theology. His doctoral
thesis/project is entitled “</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">FACILITATING INTERACTION
BETWEEN THE ARAMAIC ASSYRIAN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AND EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS FOR
ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING AND INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE, SPIRITUAL RENEWAL, AND HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE” in which he will work to create awareness about the</span><br />
<br />Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-16944336524056512832014-12-05T08:43:00.001-08:002014-12-05T08:43:12.965-08:00New Movie to tell the story of the founding of Christianity in Mesopotamia and Armenia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3Qn4hStO55Hs00TZ2nhTXxyBQCRAqsNnKshHrQfZ4r6XtsZEGdHA2hTPDQ01bIwmkpTO1inNmjhzr_U9zmdyG7txaiKewwwz0P374wt9GO3J9LS_FJbEF66H61rXjKGYREwbzuGK1oz1/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3Qn4hStO55Hs00TZ2nhTXxyBQCRAqsNnKshHrQfZ4r6XtsZEGdHA2hTPDQ01bIwmkpTO1inNmjhzr_U9zmdyG7txaiKewwwz0P374wt9GO3J9LS_FJbEF66H61rXjKGYREwbzuGK1oz1/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster3.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
A new film starring Lorenzo Lamas will tell the story of the founding of Christianity in the Middle East and in Armenia. <br />
It is based on ancient writings from the writings of the early church fathers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UU9rHFNETtxfTUx5psFYQOr6I7a3-ysDUuZ6BPjmV1-yRcSeYIWZM0E_8vrOdmOFk7TZsWZerzT3m-JhxTHbNXIuwpp7nda9-txLWk5nDCUUQEuuh6GAJOFxlc31Geqy10fATYuWTu6E/s1600/Lorenzo+Lamas+scan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UU9rHFNETtxfTUx5psFYQOr6I7a3-ysDUuZ6BPjmV1-yRcSeYIWZM0E_8vrOdmOFk7TZsWZerzT3m-JhxTHbNXIuwpp7nda9-txLWk5nDCUUQEuuh6GAJOFxlc31Geqy10fATYuWTu6E/s1600/Lorenzo+Lamas+scan.jpg" height="154" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT GO TO:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/the-acts-of-thaddeus-a-dramatic-feature-film">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/the-acts-of-thaddeus-a-dramatic-feature-film</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-90257956865021292122014-12-05T08:36:00.000-08:002014-12-05T08:36:30.190-08:00Lorenzo Lamas Set to Play the Apostle Thaddeus in new Biblical Epic Movie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpGS0q-oPP0hJuUmgIqbfg-J5yJuD8jvPzv9IVzrbuo4-CozfVUM8WvLmmvWf3VcPvR762EP6ivIgpwhjCa02kgm8Vk6ETnQfWa8QnmKDjhEW5DWjsr_zNlPxiMxt8lss9nH2mVPov-RH/s1600/lorenzo-lamas-36%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpGS0q-oPP0hJuUmgIqbfg-J5yJuD8jvPzv9IVzrbuo4-CozfVUM8WvLmmvWf3VcPvR762EP6ivIgpwhjCa02kgm8Vk6ETnQfWa8QnmKDjhEW5DWjsr_zNlPxiMxt8lss9nH2mVPov-RH/s1600/lorenzo-lamas-36%5B1%5D.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
Lorenzo Lamas is set to portray the Apostle Thaddeus, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, in an upcoming production of WalkerCable Productions of Conroe, Texas. The film will be titled "The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus" and it tells the story of the Apostle Thaddeus founding Christianity in what is today Iraq and Syria. The script is based on "The Doctrine of Addai," "The Church History of Eusebius" and other ancient sources. (Addai is how Thaddeus was pronounced in the Aramaic language.)<br />
Lamas has worked with Sam Cable and Chuck Walker on several films in the past.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Lorenzo Lamas is known for playing Lance Cumson on the
popular 1980s soap opera “Falcon Crest”, Reno Raines on the 1990s crime drama “Renegade,”
and Hector Ramirez on the daytime soap opera “The Bold and The Beautiful.” He
also starred in “Grease” with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lamas was born in </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica,_California" title="Santa Monica, California"><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Santa Monica, California</span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">, the son of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina" title="Argentina"><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Argentine</span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">-born actor and director </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Lamas" title="Fernando Lamas"><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Fernando Lamas</span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> and actress </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlene_Dahl" title="Arlene Dahl"><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Arlene Dahl</span></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">His autobiography “Renegade at Heart” was
published in December 2014. He is married to actress and model Shawna Craig.
Lorenzo Lamas is set to star in the Spring 2015 season of “Celebrity
Apprentice.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">To support this film project go to: <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/the-acts-of-thaddeus-a-dramatic-feature-film">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/the-acts-of-thaddeus-a-dramatic-feature-film</a></span></div>
<br />
<br />Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-48435168595506670322014-12-05T08:29:00.001-08:002014-12-05T08:29:27.738-08:00HELP SUPPORT MOVIE ON ORIGINS OF ASSYRIAN CHURCH<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxoyk9HR38dA1mt9SxVbsPRCFYaK49reM91yNSDFL2utJJA9I94QuR7ILhyphenhyphenbjGw5WHNSAbf8GFcq0Qmf-sy-Q725e0-yagjy7BD30wYycBKBkTE-8f9lWE3vsswSF5TAWuQDFSIXiQtJz/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster2_Alt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxoyk9HR38dA1mt9SxVbsPRCFYaK49reM91yNSDFL2utJJA9I94QuR7ILhyphenhyphenbjGw5WHNSAbf8GFcq0Qmf-sy-Q725e0-yagjy7BD30wYycBKBkTE-8f9lWE3vsswSF5TAWuQDFSIXiQtJz/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster2_Alt.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
Kickstarter project on Film portraying origins of the Assyrian Church of the East has launched!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/the-acts-of-thaddeus-a-dramatic-feature-film">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/the-acts-of-thaddeus-a-dramatic-feature-film</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Local Pastor to
Produce Biblical Film<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen Missick, associate pastor of King of Saints
Tabernacle on 2228 FM 1725, Cleveland, Texas, 77328 is producing a biblical
movie that dramatized the story of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The script is derived from the Bible and other ancient
sources such as the writings of the Early Church Fathers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The film is anticipated to be produced by WalkerCable,
Productions of Conroe, Texas. WalkerCable anticipates to begin filming in early
2015. Sets at Alamo Village in Brackettville, Texas will serve as Biblical
Lands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The working title of the film is “The Acts of the Apostle
Thaddeus.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘From the very beginning of the film industry, movies
dramatizing stories from the Bible have been made,” Missick said, “Many of
these films are classics, such as Cecil B. DeMille’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Ten Commandments” and Charlton Heston’s
“Ben-Hur.” However, I want to do something totally different. I was to do
something that audiences have never seen before.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this movie, Pastor Missick will be telling the story of
the Apostle Thaddeus. According to early Church Historians, Thaddeus
evangelized what is today Iraq, Iran and southern Turkey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“With the rise of ISIS, this story is timely and relevant, “
Missick said, “ ISIS is trying to destroy the ancient Christian community
founded by Thaddeus and Thomas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to Pastor Missick, “The Acts of Thadeus” tells the
story of the origin of the Assyrian Church of the East and the Armenian Church.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pastor Missick describes the story of Thaddeus as a very
fascinating one. He says, “According to Church historians, Thaddeus was the
groom at the marriage of Cana in Galilee, where Jesus turned the water into
wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, there is a connection between
Thaddeus and the Shroud<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of Turin.” The
Shroud of Turin is a relic kept in Turin, Italy that is believed to be the
burial shroud of Jesus and it bears an impression of the body of a crucified
man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many Shroud experts believe that
the Shroud of Turin was known as the image of Edessa and that it was brought to
Edessa by Thaddeus who gave it as a gift to the Syriac king Abgar. Missick
says, “Those who believe that the Shroud of Turin is authentic believe that
there is a connection between the Shroud and the Apostle Thaddeus. The Shroud
will be featured in the movie.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more information contact:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen Andrew Missick, </span><a href="mailto:stephenamissick@hotmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">stephenamissick@hotmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
281-592-4104<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2228 FM 1725, Cleveland, Texas 77328<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-74170478862492420162014-12-05T08:23:00.000-08:002014-12-05T08:23:02.892-08:00New Movie to tell the story of the first Hanukkah
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Many people associate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah
with the holiday season, but few people know of the popular festival’s
historical basis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Now, the exciting story of the first Hanukkah will be
told in an upcoming movie, based on a script written by Stephen Missick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“167 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the
Syrian Greek tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes tried to exterminate the Jewish faith. Thousands
of people were put to death because of their belief in the Holy Bible,” Missick
said, “When all seemed lost suddenly a hero appeared who rescued the Jewish
people from destruction. This hero’s name was Judah Maccabee. “Maccabee” means
“Hammerer” in Aramaic. He was probably called this because of the way he
hammered back the Greeks in order to bring deliverance to the Jewish people.
Therefore I named the comic book adaptation that I wrote and illustrated “The
Hammer of God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Stephen Missick is adapting his graphic novel “The
Hammer of God” into a film entitled “Hanukkah: The Story of the Maccabees.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Hanukkah is an incredible story. It is you have a
group of Jews with no weapons or military training who were able to defeat one
of the strongest military forces of the time. I also think that it is a very
relevant story with the threats to religious freedom around the world, even in
the United States, and also the rise of anti-Semitism that we see,” Missick
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. Missick is partnering with WalkerCable
Productions of Conroe, Texas to produce the movie. It is anticipated that the
filming will be at Alamo Village at Brackettville, Texas. “There are several
great sets in Brackettville that we can use for this movie and WalkerCable
Productions have filmed there several times before. I have also acquired a
wardrobe consisting of several screen used costumes that have been used in
various “swords and sandals” movies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Stephen Missick’s “Hanukkah: Comic and Coloring Book”
and “Judas Maccabeus: The Hammer of God” are available from Amazon and other
booksellers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Kickstarter site is at: <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/360405228/hanukkah-the-story-of-the-maccabees"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/360405228/hanukkah-the-story-of-the-maccabees</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG4A5sms9GpoWCfPJTKuGVr0-rOlwIvFIv0gbUIT2lwSPOeFf_mFW-ZJTO1Z70DRFXtrEzeVfetDKEsE1dqP24kOjDcaOqYlARcoKAO88BqAdsfWtofDN903gsay2gahffBoQEsnT65eD/s1600/Hammer+for+Godphoto_Page_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG4A5sms9GpoWCfPJTKuGVr0-rOlwIvFIv0gbUIT2lwSPOeFf_mFW-ZJTO1Z70DRFXtrEzeVfetDKEsE1dqP24kOjDcaOqYlARcoKAO88BqAdsfWtofDN903gsay2gahffBoQEsnT65eD/s1600/Hammer+for+Godphoto_Page_01.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-75535550616301124772014-12-05T08:11:00.004-08:002014-12-05T08:11:40.664-08:00Up-coming Film brings to life Richard Wagner’s “Jesus of Nazareth”
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">German Composer Richard Wagner has had a huge
influence on music and culture, from his Wedding March to the unmistakable
influence of Wagner’s “The Ring of the Nibelung” upon J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The
Lord of the Rings.” His influence can also be heard in the musical scores of
several movies; in fact, Wagner’s music was used in the scores of “Apocalypse
Now” and “Excalibur.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Now, one of Wagner’s unfinished works is coming to the
big screen. Stephen Andrew Missick is partnering with WalkerCable Productions,
of Conroe, Texas to film an adaptation of Richard Wagner’s “Jesus of Nazareth.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">“Richard Wagner created a detailed outline for a play
entitled “Jesus of Nazareth.” With it he wrote extensive notes and a Bible
study with commentary. I have written a screenplay based upon the original
writings of Richard Wagner,” Missick said. The screenplay is based on Wagner’s
writings for his unfinished “Jesus of Nazareth” play and “The Love-feast of the
Apostles.” Das Liebesmahl der Apostel (in English "The Love-Feast of the
Apostles") is a piece for orchestra and male choruses that Richard Wagner
composed in 1843 that tells story of the first Pentecost, as told in the second
chapter of the book of The Acts of the Apostles, in music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Wagner worked on the play “Jesus of Nazareth” from
1848 until 1849 before abandoning the project. It is possible Wagner used certain
aspects of “Jesus of Nazareth” in his later operas such as “Parsifal.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The score to the film “Richard Wagner’s Jesus of
Nazareth” will be completely derived from the works of Richard Wagner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The movie will be funded through kickstarter. Rev.
Missick says that he hopes to raise $175,000 on kickstarer for the project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">WalkerCable has produced several movies in a variety
of genres. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It is anticipated that the movie will be filmed on
film-sets in Texas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rev. Missick is an ordained minister and served as a
chaplain in the army during Operation Iraqi Freedom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">In the official numbering of Wagner’s works “Jesus of
Nazareth” is WWV 80 and the “Love Feast of the Apostles” is WWV 69<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The “Richard Wagner’s Jesus of Nazareth” kickstarter
is at: </span><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/360405228/richard-wagners-jesus-of-nazareth"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/360405228/richard-wagners-jesus-of-nazareth</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-27383382812199195302014-11-20T10:54:00.001-08:002014-11-21T04:45:33.517-08:00The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus: New Assyrian Heritage movie in Development<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen Andrew Missick is producing an Assyrian heritage
movie. The movie “The Acts of the Apostle Thaddeus” is about the Apostle
Thaddeus, known among Assyrian Christians as Mar Addai, and the founding of the
Assyrian Church of the East. The movie will be based on ancient Assyrian
Christian literature, namely “The Doctrine of Addai” and “The Acts of the
Apostle Mari.” It is also based on other ancient sources, such as the writings
of the early church historian Eusebius. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The production crew will include three Assyrian Americans
and at least seven Assyrian Americans will be cast in major roles. This will
enable these Assyrian Americans to learn about the art of film-making and
perhaps launch their careers in either film production or acting.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr. Missick said, “Lorenzo Lamas has shown an interest in
playing the Apostle Thaddeus and has given me a “letter of interest” in playing
the role of Thaddeus. The movie will be filmed at the Alamo Village movie set
in Brackettville, Texas. The Assyrian American actors and production crew will
work with Lorenzo Lamas, who gave me the impression that he is a friendly and
approachable person. He can most likely tell them about the ins and outs of the
television and movie-making industry. Being involved in this project may enable
the Assyrian Americans who are involved in it to launch their careers in
film-making. This project has enormous potential to benefit the global Assyrian
community.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He said, “This movie could also create cultural awareness,
among the Assyrian community about their own culture and can also create
awareness about the Assyrian Christian heritage outside of the Assyrian
community. I believe this is especially important at this time when the
Assyrians are facing terrible challenges and face the threat of genocide in
their ancestral homeland. “</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He believes that this film project has important
educational, literary and cultural value. Missick said, “It also has important
ecumenical value in that it can bring Christians of diverse denominational
backgrounds together on the core message of Jesus and his Apostles. It is my
intention to tell this story in a sincere and reverent manner.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The film also has the potential to be profitable. Recent
Biblical productions, such as “The Bible: The Epic Miniseries,” “The Son of
God, “ and “Noah,” has been successful, as well as faith-based films such as
“God’s Not Dead” and “Heaven is for Real.” There are also upcoming Biblical
epics such as “Exodus: God’s and Kings” and “A.D.: After the Bible.” However,
this project is unique in that the story of Thaddeus and the founding of the
Assyrian Church has never before been told in film. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If the funds are raised, we intend to begin shooting around
March 15-20. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The production company is “Walker Cable Productions” of
Conroe, Texas. WalkerCable have completed several movies, mostly westerns and
action movies. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr. Missick has been able to procure costumes and props for
this film that were used on screen in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spartacus</i>,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alexander</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rome</i>, and Dwayne Johnson’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hercules</i>.
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Missick says, “We are working to raise $120,000 for the
film. Once we have raised the money we will go into pre-production and begin
auditioning actors. I intend to film most of the major roles of the film with
Assyrian Americans.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The film producer, Stephen Andrew Missick, is the author
of three papers on the history of the Assyrian Church of the East that are
published in the Journal of Assyrian Academic Studies (www.jaas.org).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is an army chaplain and a doctoral student
at Houston Graduate School of Theology. His doctoral thesis/project is entitled
“<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FACILITATING INTERACTION
BETWEEN THE ARAMAIC ASSYRIAN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AND EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS FOR
ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING AND INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE, SPIRITUAL RENEWAL, AND HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE” in which he will work to create awareness about the humanitarian
crisis among American churches and attempt to provide aide to needy Assyrian
Christian refugees. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To support the project see:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #0072c6; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/1971337776?token=afcdd6da">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/210000190/1971337776?token=afcdd6da</a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #0072c6; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">or contact </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stephen A. Missick</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="mailto:stephenamissick@hotmail.com">stephenamissick@hotmail.com</a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PO Box 882 </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shepherd Texas 77371</span></span></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-43111287198024707952014-11-07T09:07:00.001-08:002014-11-07T09:07:44.657-08:00Upcoming Movie about the Founding of the Assyrian Church
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen Missick, associate pastor of King of Saints
Tabernacle on 2228 FM 1725, Cleveland, Texas, 77328 is producing a biblical
movie that dramatized the story of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The script is derived from the Bible and other ancient
sources such as the writings of the Early Church Fathers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The film is anticipated to be produced by WalkerCable,
Productions of Conroe, Texas. WalkerCable anticipates to begin filming in early
2015. Sets at Alamo Village in Brackettville, Texas will serve as Biblical
Lands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
“Sai</span>nt Thaddeus and the Holy Shroud” is an upcoming movie
about Saint Thaddeus and Saint Mari and the founding of the Assyrian Church of
the East. Lorenzo Lamas, known for his roles in “Falcon Crest,"
"Renegade" and "The Bold and the Beautiful," has agreed to
play the role of Saint Thaddeus, who is known as Mar Addai in the Assyrian
tradition. The movie chronicles the journey of faith of Thaddeus, who becomes a
disciple of Jesus and is chosen to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to
Mesopotamia. The film will dramatize the triumphs, trials, and tribulations of
the early church. The film also tells the story of the mysterious “Image of
Edessa,” a cloth that bore the image of Christ that many researchers believe to
be the Shroud of Turin. <o:p></o:p></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘From the very beginning of the film industry, movies
dramatizing stories from the Bible have been made,” Missick said, “Many of
these films are classics, such as Cecil B. DeMille’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Ten Commandments” and Charlton Heston’s
“Ben-Hur.” However, I want to do something totally different. I was to do
something that audiences have never seen before.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this movie, Pastor Missick will be telling the story of
the Apostle Thaddeus. According to early Church Historians, Thaddeus
evangelized what is today Iraq, Iran and southern Turkey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“With the rise of ISIS, this story is timely and relevant, “
Missick said, “ ISIS is trying to destroy the ancient Christian community
founded by Thaddeus and Thomas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to Pastor Missick, “The Acts of Thadeus” tells the
story of the origin of the Assyrian Church of the East and the Armenian Church.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pastor Missick describes the story of Thaddeus as a very
fascinating one. He says, “According to Church historians, Thaddeus was the
groom at the marriage of Cana in Galilee, where Jesus turned the water into
wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, there is a connection between
Thaddeus and the Shroud<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of Turin.” The
Shroud of Turin is a relic kept in Turin, Italy that is believed to be the
burial shroud of Jesus and it bears an impression of the body of a crucified
man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many Shroud experts believe that
the Shroud of Turin was known as the image of Edessa and that it was brought to
Edessa by Thaddeus who gave it as a gift to the Syriac king Abgar. Missick
says, “Those who believe that the Shroud of Turin is authentic believe that
there is a connection between the Shroud and the Apostle Thaddeus. The Shroud
will be featured in the movie.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more information contact:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen Andrew Missick, </span><a href="mailto:stephenamissick@hotmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">stephenamissick@hotmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
281-592-4104<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2228 FM 1725, Cleveland, Texas 77328<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxl0jWQjPXehF1SI26_eAgmoTuwHivhk8fR-0LhyphenhyphenxH8wySKsACqU-R5aG416bpo9qDjLGHBeM3N4oIJC4i7rrQ9SqWgfbKBmNFz0nXSECYUHCiv98ge71qlHkT0SxtmtzDkM_xnpBcobh/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxl0jWQjPXehF1SI26_eAgmoTuwHivhk8fR-0LhyphenhyphenxH8wySKsACqU-R5aG416bpo9qDjLGHBeM3N4oIJC4i7rrQ9SqWgfbKBmNFz0nXSECYUHCiv98ge71qlHkT0SxtmtzDkM_xnpBcobh/s1600/Thaddeus_Poster3.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-53501761417791103612014-08-17T15:16:00.002-07:002014-08-17T15:16:54.705-07:00CRISIS IN IRAQ
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Arabic “nun” symbol, or N, which stands for Nazarene and
refers to Christians, ominously began appearing, stamped in red, on Christian
homes in Mosul, Iraq, two weeks ago.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 27pt; margin: 13.5pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Theinhardt_Thin; font-size: 22.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">5 things you can do to help Iraq’s persecuted Christians</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6.75pt;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="color: #545454; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From Eternity Newspaper</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Updated
Friday 15 August 2014</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“They
changed our church into a mosque, ruined historic museums, and destroyed a
monastery and manuscripts that were 1000 years old. Iraq is gone. Iraq is
finished. We’re finished. It’s impossible for us to go back,” – </span></i><a href="http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/07/28/out-mosul-how-one-family-iraqi-christians-was-forced-flee-isis" target="_blank"><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #a78c49; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Iraqi
Christian</span></i></a><i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
you’re like us, you’ve probably felt outrage and despair reading about the
situation in northern Iraq. Islamic militants continue to seize Christian
towns. On Thursday (7 August) they captured Iraq’s largest Christian city,
Qaraqosh, forcing thousands more to flee. In the process, militants
continue to demand: Christians must leave, convert or die. Three weeks ago,
Iraq’s second largest city, Mosul, which is also the site of the ancient city
of Nineveh, was the first city to receive the ultimatum. It now stands empty of
Christians. Cities and towns across northern Iraq are emptying of Christians,
whose families have lived in the region for thousands of years. They are now
sheltering in mosques, churches, refuge camps in Kurdish cities without their
belongings.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So
far away from the situation, it’s easy to feel helpless. But there are
some things you CAN do. Here’s 5 things you can do to help Iraq’s persecuted
Christians:</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 27pt; margin: 13.5pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Theinhardt_Light; font-size: 15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. Stay informed</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
situation in Iraq is changing quickly, as The Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS)
seizes more and more territory every day. To support Christians in Iraq through
prayer and letting others know what’s going on, it’s a good idea to stay on top
of the news coming out of the area. <i>Eternity </i>is regularly
updating its stories on the situation, pulling news from a variety of
mainstream media sources so if you don’t have time to scan the many news
outlets, </span><a href="http://www.biblesociety.org.au/news/overwhelmed-need-christian-refugees-flood-kurdistan" target="_blank"><span lang="EN" style="color: #a78c49; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">you
can read the most recent <i>Eternity</i> summary, here</span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. It’s also got links to
other stories so you can stay informed.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 27pt; margin: 13.5pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Theinhardt_Light; font-size: 15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 2. Be active on social media</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><img alt="1546117_10152645755111995_3015375276983332481_n" border="0" height="154" src="data:image/png;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQEAYABgAAD/2wBDAAoHBwgHBgoICAgLCgoLDhgQDg0NDh0VFhEYIx8lJCIfIiEmKzcvJik0KSEiMEExNDk7Pj4+JS5ESUM8SDc9Pjv/2wBDAQoLCw4NDhwQEBw7KCIoOzs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozv/wAARCACaAJoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAHwAAAQUBAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoL/8QAtRAAAgEDAwIEAwUFBAQAAAF9AQIDAAQRBRIhMUEGE1FhByJxFDKBkaEII0KxwRVS0fAkM2JyggkKFhcYGRolJicoKSo0NTY3ODk6Q0RFRkdISUpTVFVWV1hZWmNkZWZnaGlqc3R1dnd4eXqDhIWGh4iJipKTlJWWl5iZmqKjpKWmp6ipqrKztLW2t7i5usLDxMXGx8jJytLT1NXW19jZ2uHi4+Tl5ufo6erx8vP09fb3+Pn6/8QAHwEAAwEBAQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoL/8QAtREAAgECBAQDBAcFBAQAAQJ3AAECAxEEBSExBhJBUQdhcRMiMoEIFEKRobHBCSMzUvAVYnLRChYkNOEl8RcYGRomJygpKjU2Nzg5OkNERUZHSElKU1RVVldYWVpjZGVmZ2hpanN0dXZ3eHl6goOEhYaHiImKkpOUlZaXmJmaoqOkpaanqKmqsrO0tba3uLm6wsPExcbHyMnK0tPU1dbX2Nna4uPk5ebn6Onq8vP09fb3+Pn6/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDxmiiimAUUUUAFFFFABRRRQAUU5I2f7ozUjWsqjJWlcCGilIIODSUwCiiigAooooAKKKKACiiigAooooAKKKKACiiigAp8UZlcKKZVvTmVblS3TNJ7Adp4Q8FS6q4dhthX78hHA9h712+seA9OnsVSyhEU0S4BP/LT6+9avhTVdPv9Hihs0WAxKN0IP6+9bDrkcV8xXxdZVbvSx1RhHlPnnW9Bm0+4dWjKlTgg1hkEHBr3vxfo1nfabLcTOsMkS8SN0Psa8NvkVLhgvrXu4Wv7aFzCUeVlWiiiusgKKKKACiiigAooooAKKKKACiiigAooooAKVWKnINJiigDpPD3iOfTbpHjlKMp4NevaZ430q80x7i6mWCaJcvH/AH/93/Cvn4EjpU63sqjAY1x18JTrO7LjNxO58YeM31SQxxnZCv3IwePqfeuBlkMjljQ8rSNljToIjNIFFdEIRpxsiW7kltaPcMAozWvceFb230+O9eFhFKSFb1xXV+EPC4eMXU6fu1Pf+I+ldrcWsV3aPayKNjDAHp6VwVcco1FGOxrGk2rngUsTROVIximV0PibSnsr2RduNpOa56vRjJSV0YhRRRVAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFKq5OKSrNlAZpgBSbsgLFppb3Fvcz8iO3j3sfckAD8SaoSLtOK9IvNHXSPh3E7LibU7gOfXYoOP15rzu6/1pFZUqnOmymrENFFFbEhWjoxQXalxkZGazqlglMUgYetTJXVhn0VZLaT6TbtZKFgMY2qO3rn3qCSMxvXM/DvXBMv2CRuJBlPZv/r12d1DkZr5TEU3SqtM7acro4Hx1ponhF0o6jDfUV5XKhjkKntXuutWwudKnjIyQu4fhXi2rQ+VdMPevdwFTnp27HNVjaRQooor0DIKKKKACiiigAooooAK6nwfpLajqEEAUkyyBa5dBlgK9a+F2nqLo3ZH+pQkZ9Tx/jXNiZ8lNsqKuzS+Kuy3tNPtIxtjhiO0DsOAP5V4rMcysfevXvivKWuoxnpAP5mvIH++frU4Rfu0Oe42iiiusgKKKKAOi8Lai9neRurYKsCK96ilS9s4rhekqBq+bdOk8u7U+9e/+CLgXfhuNScmJiv4da8TNKaspm9F62Jbu2BRhjhgQa8O8TQ+XeuoHQmvoKWIE4IrwjxigXUZvaQj9aWVO90Ot0OXooor3DnCiiigAooooAKKKKAJ7NPMuEHvXt/gaIWujBgOZG/QV4tpa7rpfqK9s0IeVpNuF/u5ry8xlaCRtRV2YvxOjLPFJ13RD+ZryJ/vn617h4xszqGiLKBloiQfoa8XvrdoLhgRit8HNSpImorMq0UUV2mYUUUoUscAZoAfbnEymvb/hncE6dcRE9Nrf0ryDTNJmupVIU9fSvZPBumvplszSfKZFA2968nMpx9lZvU3oxbkddJgIzk8KCTXz34rn82+kPqxP617nrd6LPQbuXOD5e1fqeK+fNan827fvzWeVQ91yCs9bGbRRRXtGAUUUUAFFFFABRRQKALulttvE+te06JIJNHgI7DFeHW7+XMre9eteCdRW5sGtiRuX5l5/OvLzGDdO/Y2ou0jqRteNopBmNxhge9efeK/B8kchmhXdE33WA/Su/wA1PA6sPLkAZD1BGRXl4fESpO62OidPmPAbjSbiFsbD+VRLp1wx+4fyr6Al8LaLfNue2MZ/6ZnFSQeAtAGG2zP7FwP6V6izGFjndJng9toNzMw+U/lXVaT4GncK8sZRfVhivYYfD+mWKZtbONWH8RG4/rVe8t8qW28iuOvmU2rQVjanQTfvHLado9rpoHloGYfxEVrwylTmo5Y9ppivg14k5TqSvJ6noKMVHQy/HuqiHSorYHl8uw/lXjFy/mTM3vXaeN9XF1eOqn5R8q/QVwxOTX2GDpezopHj1Jc0mwooorrMwooooAKKKKACgUUCgBa6Hw1rT6fdIytjaa52nI7I2RUyipKzGnY9707UINStlmiYZI+Zf7pq0DtbNeOaJ4mn0+VSshFegad4wsrpAJ/3beo5FeDXwU4u8djqhWXU6+2n7E1qW8pB5PFcrFrFgwDLdR/icVfTX9OjTMl7GMe+a5fY1OxbnHudQMMKrXEOQeOK564+IOjWkfys87DsowPzNcnrXxUuJQyWapboeMr8zfnWsMFUnurE+1UTrNWmtbBS9xKsY/uk8n8K4HX/ABiFRo7U7AeM55NcjqXiS5vZGZpGJbqSeaxZZnlOWNelh8vp03zPVmU8ROWhNe3bXUpZj3qrRRXppWMAooopgFFFFABRRRSAKKKKACiiigBelSx3csX3WIqGikBox6zcoPvn86VtauW/jP51m0UWQFmS/nk6uagaRm6k02inYA60UUUAFFFFMAooooAKKKKACiiikAUCigUAFFFFABRRRQAUUUUAFFFFMAooooAKKKKACiiigAooooA//9k=" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="154" /></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many
Christians have already changed their profile picture to the arabic letter for
“N” in solidarity with Christians who’ve had the letter painted on their homes
in Mosul.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On
the use of the “n” symbol, one Islamic expert wrote recently on Facebook:</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I
think for many years now Christians have seen the treatment of their brothers
and sisters in various places around the world and not known how to express
themselves. ISIS has inadvertently given us a symbol of solidarity for
Christians who are suffering.”</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Changing
your profile picture to the “n” symbol is one way to show solidarity. <i>Christianity
Today</i> </span><a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/july-web-only/mosul-christian-thanks-for-changing-your-wearen-photo.html" target="_blank"><span lang="EN" style="color: #a78c49; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">published
a letter</span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
from a Christian based in Iraqi Kurdistan, in the north of the country, where
many of the Christians from Mosul have fled. She said “It’s encouraging to see
that around the world people are supporting us. We are still proud to be
Christians. We will always be Christians.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another
thing you can do is share articles, photos and statuses about Iraq’s
persecuted Christians to build public awareness, because the mainstream media
isn’t giving it much attention.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 27pt; margin: 13.5pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Theinhardt_Light; font-size: 15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. Write to your MP</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What’s
the point? We’re so far away from Iraq, how could talking to our Government
help? There are a few ways it can help. Firstly, just by talking to them
about it, you are raising awareness. Secondly, you can call on the Government
to use its position on the UN Security Council to get the international
community to pay more attention to the suffering of Iraqi Christians. Some have
called what’s happening a genocide. It’s worth raising it with your local MP as
a matter needing attention. Don’t know who your MP is? Find out </span><a href="http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN" style="color: #a78c49; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">here</span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> via your electorate.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 27pt; margin: 13.5pt 0in; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Theinhardt_Light; font-size: 15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. Pray</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
first and perhaps most powerful thing you can do is: pray. Bible Society
Australia has some suggested prayers:</span></div>
<br /><br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please pray for the Iraqi Christians forced
from their homes in Mosul under threat of death.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pray for God’s protecting hand to be with
them and his provision for them is plentiful in this time of urgent need.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pray that the Bible Society team in Iraq is
safe amongst the crisis and are able to carry out their work to reach families
in desperate need.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pray that others would recognise the plight
of their brethren and provide support for them.</span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 27pt; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-top: 13.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Theinhardt_Light; font-size: 15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. Give</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- See more at: </span><a href="http://www.biblesociety.org.au/news/5-things-can-help-iraqs-persecuted-christians#.U-dR3-fgcwQ.facebook"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #0066ff;">http://www.biblesociety.org.au/news/5-things-can-help-iraqs-persecuted-christians#.U-dR3-fgcwQ.facebook</span></span></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Did
Jesus Speak Koine Greek?</span></b></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in;">
I think we have to trust scholarly consensus. which is:
Jesus spoke Aramaic. There was an Aramaic version of the Gospel of
Matthew-There is an Aramaic substratum of the New Testament. The New Testament
is full of Hebraisms, Aramaism, and Semitic figure of speech. But the bulk of
the New Testament-including the writings of Paul-were written in Greek. Certain
books may have had "original Aramaic"-we do have Aramaic New
Testaments-such as the Peshitta and the Palestinian Aramaic-but these are
translations back into the Aramaic-we don't have original Aramaic texts. I
think that arguments of Andrew Gabriel Roth-prove lthat Jesus and the Apostles
spoke Aramaic as their first language and that the Gospel was originally in
Aramaic-scholars examining the texts can say-1 Maccabees was originally written
in Hebrew, for instance-they also believe that the New Testament-as we-have
it-conceding that there is an Aramaic substratum-is Greek-</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Allen West: ‘Barack
Hussein Obama is an Islamist’ August 14, 2014 By Matthew Burke</b></div>
<div style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Former
congressman, Lt. Col. Allen West proclaimed on Wednesday that there is only one
true explanation that Obama is “purposely enabling the Islamist cause.” </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">West, a favorite among many in the
pro-freedom, pro-Constitution Tea Party movement, listed six instances where
the Obama regime has been “working counter to the security of the United States
of America”:</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 21pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. The unilateral
release of five senior Taliban back to the enemy while the enemy is still
fighting us.</span></i></div>
<div style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 21pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. Providing weapons of support to
the Muslim Brotherhood-led Egyptian government — F-16s and M1A1 Abrams tanks —
but not to the Egyptian government after the Islamist group has been removed.</span></i></div>
<div style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 21pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. Negotiations with Qatar and
Turkey, two Islamist-supporting countries.</span></i></div>
<div style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 21pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. Negotiations with Hamas, a terrorist
group.</span></i></div>
<div style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. Returning sanction money, to the tune of billions of
dollars, back to the theocratic regime led by Iran’s ayatollahs and allowing
them to march on towards nuclear capability.<br />
<br />
6. Obama’s evident support of Islamists in Libya.</span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 21pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Along with the above, West cited the
recent report that Obama has lifted longtime restrictions against Libyans
attending flight schools and receiving nuclear science training in the U.S,
only two years after the terrorism that took place in Benghazi, Libya.<br />
<br />
There is only one logical reason for the Democrat president to make these
anti-American decisions, </span><a href="http://allenbwest.com/2014/08/six-six-examples-obama-purposefully-enabling-islamist-cause/" target="_blank" title="Six (only six?) examples Obama is purposefully enabling the Islamist cause"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0066ff;">West concluded Wednesday on his website</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, that there is no other reason why Obama would prop-up
America’s enemies:</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sorry, but I can only explain this one way: Barack Hussein
Obama is an Islamist in his foreign policy perspectives and supports their
cause. You can go back and listen to his 2009 speech in Cairo, where Muslim
Brotherhood associates were seated front and center. <br />
<br />
All the circumstantial and anecdotal evidence points to that conclusion. The
pivot away from the Middle East seems to be nothing more than an opportunity to
enable Islamists and their goals. Anyone supporting this Libyan ban being
lifted is indeed an enemy of this state.</span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In June, the former congressman from
Florida </span><a href="http://www.tpnn.com/2014/06/03/exclusive-allen-west-on-obamas-terrorist-swap-its-time-for-articles-of-impeachment/" target="_blank" title="EXCLUSIVE: Allen West on Obama’s Terrorist Swap: It’s Time for Articles of IMPEACHMENT!"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0066ff;">called for Obama’s impeachment</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, following Obama’s negotiation with terrorists, releasing
military </span><a href="http://www.tpnn.com/2014/06/26/report-obama-admin-intimidating-soldiers-who-know-the-truth-about-bergdahl-2/" target="_blank" title="Report: Obama Admin Intimidating Soldiers who Know the Truth About Bergdahl"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0066ff;">deserter Bowe Bergdahl</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
in exchange for the U.S. release of five notorious Muslim terrorists from
GITMO.<br />
<br />
Barack Obama’s longtime pastor for over two decades, Jeremiah Wright, told
author Ed Klein two years ago that “</span><a href="http://nation.foxnews.com/rev-jeremiah-wright/2012/05/18/jeremiah-wright-obamas-faith-and-perhaps-being-steeped-islam" target="_blank" title="Jeremiah Wright on Obama's Faith ... and Perhaps Being 'Steeped in Islam'"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0066ff;">Barack Obama was steeped in Islam</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">” and that he “knew very little about Christianity.” </span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(204, 204, 204); color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“When I asked the Reverend Wright about this whole question
of Islam and Christianity. He said, well, you know, Barack Obama was steeped in
Islam. He knew a lot about Islam from his childhood. But he knew very little
about Christianity. And I made it easy for him to feel not guilty about
learning about Christianity without turning his back on his Islamic friends.”</span></i></div>
</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<h1 style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium Cond","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">How long will US wait to save Iraq's Christians from extinction?</span></h1>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Jay
SekulowPublished August 11, 2014FoxNews.com</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now is not the time to
allocate blame. Now is not the time to debate who “lost” Iraq – whether it’s
President Bush’s fault for starting the war or President Obama’s fault for
trying to end the war prematurely. Now is the time to act. In the aftermath of
the Holocaust, the world’s leaders made a simple vow: “Never again.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Never
again would they stand aside and watch genocide happen. Sadly, that was an
empty promise for Rwanda’s Tutsi minority and for the victim’s of Cambodia’s
killing fields. Will it be an empty promise again for Iraq’s Christians and
Yazidis? There’s little question that we’re watching genocide unfold before our
eyes. The Islamic State (formerly known as ISIS) is the </span></span><a href="http://media.aclj.org/pdf/ISIS%20Paper.pdf"><span style="color: #183a52;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">direct
descendant of Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">,
the terrorist force that our military fought to the brink of extinction during
the Surge in Iraq. Fleeing to Syria, they re-armed, formally broke with Al Qaeda
(Al Qaeda leadership viewed them as too vicious), gained battlefield success
against President Bashir al-Assad’s inept and brutal army and then returned to
Iraq, in force. They captured Mosul, one of Iraq’s largest cities.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">They
control much of the Anbar province.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">They
control a vast area of Syria.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">They
control territory the size of a nation-state, and they’ve declared the
existence of an Islamic Caliphate, a Caliphate more savage than any seen since
medieval times.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Like
the Nazis marked Jewish homes and businesses, the Islamic State is<span> </span></span><a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/383493/christian-genocide-symbolized-one-letter-christine-sisto"><span style="color: #183a52;">marking Christian homes and businesses</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">. Like their ancient forebears, the Islamic State is
demanding the Christians to “</span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-takes-iraqs-largest-christian-town-of-qaraqosh-9653789.html"><span style="color: #183a52;">leave, convert, or die</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">.”
In an action arguably even more brutal than ancient atrocities, the Islamic
State is following through on its threats by<span> </span></span><a href="http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/562237/20140811/isis-iraq-christians-genocide-pope-francis.htm"><span style="color: #183a52;">beheading Christian children</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">. And if you think that the Islamic State is content with
merely conquering parts of Iraq and Syria and slaughtering ancient Christian
communities, think again. Using a social media campaign under the hashtag
#CalamityWillBefallUS, the Islamic State has posted photos of beheaded victims<span> </span></span><a href="http://media.aclj.org/pdf/ISIS%20Paper.pdf"><span style="color: #183a52;">and
declared</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">, “We will kill your people and
transform America to a river of blood.” These are not idle threats. The Islamic
State is now the richest, most heavily armed terrorist group in world history.
The statistics are sobering. The following is from our<span> </span></span><a href="http://media.aclj.org/pdf/ISIS%20Paper.pdf"><span style="color: #183a52;">American
Center for Law and Justice report</span></a><span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222;">(which I
presented just weeks ago at an Oxford University, Exeter College course on
Middle East Affairs) on the Islamic State’s history and capabilities:</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">ISIS
has captured significant amounts of high-tech U.S. military equipment abandoned
by the Iraqi armed forces. Fifty-two 155mm M198 howitzers have been captured by
ISIS. These American-made weapons have a range of up to twenty miles and can
incorporate GPS targeting systems. In addition to the howitzers, ISIS has
captured 1,500 Humvees and 4,000 PKC machine guns that can fire close to 800
rounds per minute.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">This
weaponry has allowed it to dominate even the Kurdish “Pershmerga” militia in
open combat. Kurdish weapons simply can’t penetrate the Islamic State’s armor,
and even our bravest and most loyal Kurdish allies have been forced to retreat
in the face of Islamic State attacks, raising the terrifying specter of the
loss even of Kurdistan, our close ally and the only safe haven for Christians
in Iraq.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Faced
with this crisis, the Obama administration has responded with limited
airstrikes, but this is a half measure. While these strikes are welcome, we
have to do more. We must arm the Kurds. We have a loyal and brave ally on the
ground. We cannot allow them to be outgunned by a terrorist militia. And we
have to flood Kurdistan and other embattled Iraqi enclaves with humanitarian
aid. Christians and other religious minorities like the Yazidi are<span> </span></span><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/08/40000_of_iraqs_yazidi_muslims_in_danger_of_dying_of_thirst.html"><span style="color: #183a52;">literally dying of thirst</span></a><span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222;">in their flight from the Islamic State. In 1973 our ally
Israel faced a combined onslaught from the forces of Egypt, Syria, and Iraq.
Taken by surprise on Yom Kippur, Israel’s defensive lines strained to the
breaking point. With its ally in danger, the U.S. Air Force launched “</span><a href="http://amcmuseum.org/history/airlifts/operation_nickel_grass.php"><span style="color: #183a52;">Operation Nickel Grass</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">”
to save our ally from extinction at the hands of vastly larger forces.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Our
airlift – combined with the bravery of IDF soldiers and pilots – saved Israel.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Now,
our airlift, combined with the bravery of the Peshmerga, can save Iraq’s
Christians, save our loyal allies in Kurdistan, and stop genocide.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">What
are we waiting for?</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Impact","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">Karl Rove on Obama</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
Barack Obama believed his
legacy as president would be that he ended the Iraq war. It looks increasingly
that his legacy could be that he lost it. By their admission, President Obama
and Vice President Joe Biden inherited a war that had been won. In 2011 Mr.
Obama said America was "leaving behind a sovereign, stable and
self-reliant Iraq," and Mr. Biden proclaimed Iraq "one of the great
achievements of this administration." <span style="color: #222222;">Mr.
Obama then committed a massive error in judgment by withdrawing all U.S.
troops. That allowed the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or
ISIS, the world's most formidable, merciless and dangerous terrorist army. ISIS
is now establishing an Islamist caliphate that stretches from Aleppo in Syria
to Fallujah and Mosul in Iraq and beyond. The president was warned about the
ISIS threat for months, yet did essentially nothing. As in so many other
important moments when decisive action was required, his actions were haphazard
and reactive, his leadership detached, his will almost nonexistent.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">See
full article at the WSJ.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<h1 style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;">End of Iraq? Country we knew will be gone if persecution
of Christians, minorities continue</span></b></h1>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">David
Curry, Fox News, August 14, 2014</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Watching
and listening to reports about what is happening in Iraq, I, like you,
experience a wide array of thoughts and emotions. I am at turns broken-hearted,
outraged, and disappointed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing I
am not is surprised. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For quite some
time, I have been well aware of the atrocities perpetrated in Iraq against
Christians and other religious minority groups—and of the need for the world to
understand what is actually taking place. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 13pt;">On Wednesday, the situation
in Iraq was upgraded by the United Nations to a "Level 3 Emergency,"
the organization’s highest ranking of severity in a humanitarian crisis. As the
president of an organization that exists to serve the most persecuted religious
group in the world—Christians—Open Doors mobilizes Christian aid workers who
spend their lives on the frontlines as horrific events unfold. Open Doors
has been predicting for years that Iraq would soon be emptied of Christians and
now it is happening. ISIS is forcing people to choose between abandoning
their faith or enduring consequences that range from paying outrageous fines to
facing certain death. In the 1990’s, the Christian population in Iraq was
estimated at over 1.2 million; now, fewer than 300,000 remain. Iraq as we
know it won’t exist if the genocide and targeted persecution of Christians
continues. It will likely resemble failed states like Somalia and others that
harbor terrorists and have virtually no religious diversity. As we have seen
played out in story after story, Islamic radical groups such as ISIS seek to
annihilate any group whose beliefs differs from their own.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While I am grateful President Obama and other leaders have
finally acknowledged this genocide, I am puzzled by why it took so long. ISIS
is set on destroying a whole people group. Similar to Nazi Germany, they
are spreading over multiple countries—and marking the homes of Christians with
the Arabic Christian symbol, an action eerily similar to Nazi’s use of the Star
of David. Tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians—nearly the nation’s entire
Christian population—have been fleeing for their lives since June. Was
this not reason enough for world leaders to do something? Religious persecution
of any kind should not be tolerated. Nonetheless, I am heartened that America
has finally acknowledged this genocide and has made it a top priority. But I
can’t help but wonder how long the attention now directed towards the
persecuted of Iraq will last. One thing is certain: the persecution of
non-Muslims will persist unless something is done to stop ISIS. Open Doors has
worked with this dwindling population of Christians in Iraq for many years and
we will continue to do so by providing food and shelter for those who have been
forced from their homes. But what persecuted Christians and other religious
minorities need now, more than ever before, is courage. I implore you,
from the relative safety of your stateside home, to pray for the people of
Iraq. Pray for the aid workers risking it all to serve the persecuted, and pray
for President Obama and those advising him. Pray for our leaders to have even a
fraction of the courage these regular, ordinary Iraqi people have displayed in
the face of unspeakable terror. Finally, let the administration know that your
attention span for the safety of the persecuted is long—and you expect theirs
to be as well.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">David Curry is the President of Open Doors USA. For nearly
60 years, Open Doors has worked in the world's most oppressive countries,
empowering Christians who are persecuted for their beliefs. Christians are the
most persecuted religious group in the world. Each year, Open Doors releases
its World Watch List, a ranking of the 50 countries where Christian persecution
is worst.</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Stephen says…the Media
refuses to report on the killing of Christians-if it wasn't for the Yezidis
being targeted we probably wouldn't hear anything about the killing of
religious minorities in Iraq-seeing that the Yezidi are not Christian. In
"Crucified Again" Raymond Ibrahim explained why the media represses
stories about the killing of Christians by Muslims. Their narrative is that
Muslims are an aggrieved people-the victims of Christian victimizers-if they
reported on Islamic persecution of Christians and its 1400 year history-their
narrative would be called into question. The media doesn't want the truth to
come out because they have an anti-Christian agenda which they share with
Islam. But Fox has done a good job on reporting on the persecution of Assyrian
Christians.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-bottom: 0.25in;">
<span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Check out this article about
the Yezidi: http://www.vice.com/read/why-is-the-islamic-state-trying-to-eradicate-iraqs-yazidi-minority-813?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mainrss</span></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Troubling double
standard: Outcry over Gaza deaths but near silence over Iraq, Syria</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By </span></b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/richard-grenell"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">Richard Grenell</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, </span></b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/jeremy-stern"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">Jeremy Stern</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Published
August 08, 2014, </span></b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">FoxNews.com</span></b></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a few weeks of Israel-bashing, we are back to the
regular indifference. It seems that with Israel’s war in Gaza on the wane, so
too are the world’s humanitarian concerns. The streets of Europe are getting
quieter. Protests outside Israeli and American embassies and on the steps
of houses of worship are thinning. International committees are drafting
fewer resolutions and college students are demonstrating on fewer campuses.
With the violence in Gaza subsiding, the world seems ready to move from
bleating outrage over Israel’s actions to indicting it, in the words of UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, for a “criminal act.” For the world’s oppressed
and tyrannized, it’s an inopportune time for the outrage to run dry. From Iraq
comes news that 40,000 Yazidis, a religious minority chased from their homes by
the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), are dying from lack of food and water. These
stranded refugees are in danger of joining, in harrowing numbers, the 6,000
other Iraqi civilians butchered this year by ISIS. No less victimized at
the moment are the Kurds, gruesome photos of whom were paraded by ISIS on
Twitter, and Iraq’s Christian communities, decimated in the recent blitz of
Mosul. Renounced even by Al Qaeda for its brutality, ISIS is making life
unlivable in Iraq and beyond. Of course, it’s not just the region’s religious
minorities facing expulsion and massacre. The Syrian civil war’s death toll,
now reported with more monotony than CBO statistics, has exceeded
160,000. Conservative estimates count civilians a third of the total
dead, including 15,000 women and children; others have reported a much higher
percentage of innocents. Further east, a number of residents equal to the
entire population of Boston were recently cleared from North Waziristan so
Pakistan’s military could battle the Taliban. Children are still the primary
victims of Boko Haram in Nigeria and in South Sudan, and if anyone thinks that
innocent civilians are being spared daily horror in Libya, Mali, Eastern
Ukraine and North Korea, they haven’t been reading the news. The protestors,
commentators, NGO workers, human rights activists, and others, who spent the
last month vilifying Israel’s campaign in Gaza more than Arab regimes did, are
not ignorant of these non-Gaza tragedies. Many of those who found
themselves more outraged by Israel than by ISIS are, in fact, educated,
globally-engaged westerners who sincerely believe that Israel’s war against
Hamas violated morality and international law to a degree unsurpassed the world
over. How is that possible? Consider three reasons:</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, part of the reason that Gaza’s dead got much more
publicity than the victims of ISIS may be that, prior to the Gaza war, most of
the news coming from the Middle East was doing significant damage to the White
House. From metastasizing jihadi threats in Libya and the Levant to failed
peace talks and foundering nuclear talks with Iran, the big story from the
region was the Obama administration’s comprehensive failure. The mainstream
press was glad to relentlessly pursue the Gaza story, to the exclusion of many
others, to give a momentary reprieve to the smoldering ruin of President
Obama’s foreign policy.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second reason is simple but unpardonable ignorance. Many
western elites are outraged by Israel’s actions in Gaza far more than, say,
China’s oppression of Tibet, because they find western ‘aggression’ more
objectionable than non-western. Why for instance, does Egypt’s blockade of Gaza
draw very little ire compared with Israel’s? Besides being morally
questionable, this belief betrays a profound ignorance of facts: Israel’s
targets in Gaza, unlike China’s in Tibet, are mortal threats; and Israel,
though democratic, is not ‘western,’ but is in fact made up of mostly
persecuted Arab and Soviet refugees.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The third reason is plain old anti-Semitism, masquerading as
anti-Zionism. Observing mass protests, where Europeans hurl firebombs at local
synagogues to protest decisions being made 2,000 miles away by a government in
Jerusalem, one can see the world’s oldest hatred at work.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This combination of advocacy, ignorance and bigotry combines
to produce one of the most bizarre spectacles in the western world: a
significant cohort of well-educated, well-intentioned people working to convict
Israel of ‘war crimes’ in Gaza, while ignoring thousands of innocent children
being killed just a few miles away. This selective outrage must end.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Richard Grenell is a Fox News Contributor and
fellow with </span></i><a href="http://www.theprojecttorestoreamerica.com/"><i><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">The
Project To Restore America</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. He served as the spokesman for four U.S.
Ambassadors to the U.N. including John Negroponte, John Danforth, John Bolton
and Zalmay Khalilzad. He currently writes from Los Angeles where his
pieces can be seen at </span></i><a href="http://www.richardgrenell.com/"><i><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">www.richardgrenell.com</span></i></a><a href="http://richardgrenell.com/"><i><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">.</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Follow him on Twitter</span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell"><i><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">@RichardGrenell</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jeremy Stern is a research analyst with Capitol Media
Partners and is based in Los Angeles.</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obama authorizes airstrikes in Iraq, says 'America is
coming to help'</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Published August 08, 2014</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">FoxNews.com</span></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">President Obama announced Thursday night in a televised
address that he has authorized the U.S. military to conduct airstrikes "if
necessary" against Islamist militants in Iraq, and the military has
conducted a mission to drop humanitarian aid there to help religious minorities
stranded amid the violence.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obama said in the statement from the White House the U.S.
military is authorized to launch targeted airstrikes if Islamist militants
advance toward American personnel in northern Iraq. Declaring that
"America is coming to help," he also said that the U.S. decided to
conduct the drops to the 50,000 or so religious minorities stranded on a
mountaintop in the country's north, who have been forced to flee their homes as
the militants advanced.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obama said the religious minorities are under the threat of
genocide from militants from the Islamic State (IS), the group formerly known
as ISIS, and are stranded on the mountain without food or water. He said
airstrikes could also be used to help protect those civilians. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Yazidis, who follow an ancient religion with ties to
Zoroastrianism, fled their homes after the issued an ultimatum to convert to
Islam, pay a religious fine, flee their homes or face death.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Earlier this week, one Iraqi in the area cried to the
world, `There is no one coming to help.' Well, today, America is coming to
help," Obama said. "We're also consulting with other countries -- and
the United Nations -- who have called for action to address this humanitarian
crisis."</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The announcements reflected the deepest American engagement
in Iraq since U.S. troops withdrew in late 2011 after nearly a decade of war.
Obama has staked much of his legacy as president on ending what he once called
the "dumb war" in Iraq.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obama acknowledged that the prospect of a new round of U.S.
military action would be a cause for concern among many Americans. He vowed
anew not to put American combat troops back on the ground in Iraq and said
there was no U.S. military solution to the crisis.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"As commander in chief, I will not allow the United
States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq," Obama said.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even so, he outlined a rationale for airstrikes if the
Islamic State militants advance on American troops in the northern city of
Irbil and the U.S. consulate there in the Kurdish region of Iraq. The
troops were sent to Iraq earlier this year as part of the White House response
to the extremist group's swift movement across the border with Syria and into
Iraq. He also said he has authorized strikes "if necessary" to help
Iraqi forces break the siege of the civilians on the mountain, and protect the
people trapped there. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The United States of America cannot turn a blind eye,”
Obama said.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Both C-130 and C-17 cargo aircraft participated in the drop,
escorted by F-18 fighters. All aircraft have since safely left the immediate
airspace over the drop area.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The crisis in Iraq has escalated since IS seized control
Thursday of the country's largest Christian city, Qaraqoush. The militants told
its residents to leave, convert or die, which sent tens of thousands of
civilians and Kurdish fighters fleeing from the area, according to several
priests in northern Iraq.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week, IS also seized the northwestern town of Sinjar,
forcing tens of thousands of people from the ancient Yazidi minority to flee
into the mountains and the Kurdish region.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the U.N., between 35,000 and 50,000 fled to
nearby Mount Sinjar and other areas, "reportedly surrounded by ISIS armed
elements" and lacking water and other aid. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Earlier Thursday, the White House stopped short of
committing America's military to stopping a potential "genocide" in
Iraq, declining to say whether doing so is in "America's core
interests." </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest acknowledged the
situation is nearing a "humanitarian catastrophe" and said Obama has
demonstrated a willingness to use military force to protect America's core
interests. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But when asked repeatedly by Fox News whether preventing a
genocide counts as being in America's core interests, Earnest did not answer
directly. Asked the same question twice more, Earnest responded that "each
of these situations is evaluated on a case-by-case basis." </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, Obama later made clear in his remarks that the
decision to authorize strikes is based in part on hoping to prevent a possible
genocide. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Earnest and other administration officials nevertheless
argue there is no American military solution to Iraq's problems and the country
must seek a political solution. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The administration, along with the United Nations, is facing
increasing pressure to get more involved to prevent the crisis from worsening.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The U.N. Security Council on Thursday condemned the attacks
on minorities in Iraq and urged international support for the Iraqi government.
The council said that the attacks could constitute crimes against humanity and
that those responsible should be held accountable.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"The members of the Security Council also urge all
parties to stop human rights violations and abuses and ensure humanitarian
access and facilitate the delivery of assistance to those fleeing the
violence," said Britain's U.N. Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, who read from
a statement after an emergency consultation requested by France.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Associated Press contributed to this report.</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How the Media Craft Victory for Hamas</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ben Shapiro, August 7, 2014 - 6:14
AM</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On Tuesday, CNN's Wolf Blitzer
hosted Hamas spokesman Osama Hamden. The week before, Hamdan labeled Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "a new image of Hitler" on the
network. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now, for some reason,
Blitzer stumbled into a random act of journalism: He asked Hamdan about
comments he had made suggesting that Jews used Christian blood in matza. Hamdan
stumbled around and blamed the Jews for their action in Gaza. Blitzer called
Hamdan's comments an "awful, awful smear." The very fact that this
represented a unique moment in the media coverage of the Israel-Hamas Gaza war
demonstrates the malpractice of the media. The first questions on the media's
collective tongue should have been: What does Hamas stand for? What are its
goals? Why does it use women and children as human shields? Why does it hide
military resources in civilian areas? But that had to wait for a month. In the
meantime, CNN viewers saw an unending stream of dramatic images from Gaza of
Palestinian Arab suffering: heavy blasts from Israeli ordinance, screaming
women, bleeding children. Every so often, CNN punctuated its coverage with
death toll statistics — never mentioning that it received those statistics from
the Palestinians themselves, and neglecting to mention the Palestinians'
regular practice of classifying dead terrorists as civilians. Then CNN asked
questions about Israeli "proportionality" and wondered aloud about
whether Israeli strikes were sufficiently "targeted." If you want to
know why the conflict between the dramatically overpowering Israeli military
and the sadistically brutal Hamas has continued for weeks, look no further than
CNN and its like-minded media brethren. Hamas' goals in this conflict did not
include military victory; Hamas may be evil, but it is not stupid. Its main
goal was to shore up its base by achieving small concessions from Israel and
Egypt, as well as the Palestinian Authority; those concessions could only be
achieved if Israel could be portrayed as an international aggressor against a
terror group. And that's where the media manipulation came in. Hamas placed
heavy restrictions on journalists and even threatened them. Hamas put women and
children and mentally ill people in harm's way for the cameras, and as a
deterrent to Israeli military action. And the media went right along with it,
proclaiming balance all the way. When I was on CNN this week with Alisyn
Camerota, she maintained that CNN provided balance by presenting "both
sides," to which I responded that presenting both sides in a battle
between Hamas and Israel is not balance, but anti-Israel bias. No Western media
member would, in 1944, have assumed that balance meant quoting both Winston
Churchill and Julius Streicher. To do so would have been to forward propaganda.
But that is precisely what the media have done. They have turned balance into a
synonym for amorality. In doing so, they have handed a propaganda victory to
evil. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Media go nuts over presidential
corruption... in Nixon White House</span></span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dan Gainor</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">·Published
August 08, 2014</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">·FoxNews.com</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A White
House in disarray. The nation torn between left and right. Government agencies
used for dirty tricks against political opponents. The CIA involved in domestic
spying. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s a good
thing the American media are on the scene, giving detailed reports about the
White House’s abuse of power and the scary actions of President … Nixon.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wait. What?
The late President Richard M. Nixon? The one resigned 40 years ago on August 9?</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s
right. Journalists who snooze at the mere mention of Obama scandals, still want
to revel in the triumphs of yesteryear. No wonder. That was when the most
powerful people in America were reporters and editors because they helped take
down the president of the United States.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Forty years later, Tricky Dick
dominated the news in the past week. There were stories by CBS, PBS, MSNBC, The
New York Times, and the founder of the feast, The Washington Post. We were told
about a new Nixon documentary. Nixon’s flair for fighting the press. His art of
the non-apology, apology. Even his many mistresses. (Oops, that’s JFK.) CBS,
the network that filmed the actual resignation, did several stories leading up
to the anniversary. The network even interviewed its own cameraman – because
there’s nothing journalists love more than interviewing other journalists
telling how cool they used to be. MSNBC almost burst through your TV screen in
glee. Host after host talked Nixon – “Morning Joe” Scarborough, Chris “Tingle”
Matthews, Rachel </span></span><a href="http://m.newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2012/01/26/jeopardy-contestants-cant-identify-picture-msnbcs-rachel-maddow"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">“Jeopardy”</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Maddow and more. (Heck, they probably are airing a “Lock Up”
episode on Nixon, too.) </span></span><a href="http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/07/22/from-theblaze-mag-messnbc/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">MesSNBC</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">’s on-air “talent” were thrilled because it let them indict the
GOP for something 40 years ago and continue to hype the fiction that
Republicans plan to </span></span><a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/house/214553-dems-talk-about-impeachment-20-times-as-much-as-gop"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">impeach
Obama</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Time magazine gave readers </span></span><a href="http://time.com/3079683/richard-nixon-resignation-anniversary-watergate/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">“9
Things You Didn’t Know About Richard Nixon,”</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> from a
1952 cover story. Those included such exciting factoids as Nixon had worked as
a carnival barker and used to live next door to people who owned “a smelly,
cannibalistic brood of minks.” Perhaps that was an early press metaphor.
Sometime funnyman Stephen Colbert mock celebrated the former president. “Nixon
is my all-time favorite non-Reagan president, non-Cheney vice
president, and non-oats Quaker,” he told his audience. The Post ran 14
different stories in the five days leading up to the anniversary. Nixon
appeared in obits of former staffers, donor stories, and even had a strange
mention in the corruption trial of former Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell. Ironically,
one story involved dirty trick allegations that a Post staffer plagiarized part
of “The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan.” And books.
Lots and lots of other books about the past and very little insight about the
present. Former GOP vice presidential candidate </span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152499924013588"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">Sarah
Palin</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> noticed the connection. She mocked the Obama
administration and the media via Facebook. “Remember the 18 minute gap in
Nixon’s White House tapes during the Watergate scandal?” she asked. “Now
Obama’s IRS top dog claims a communications gap of 1,052,000 minutes. Hmm.
Wonder if the press will recognize similarities. Maybe a smidgen?” wrote Palin.
Her inquiry was largely ignored. But over every Nixon story hung an implied
question: How would journalists handle a similar scandal today? The answer is
easy. If another Republican president committed similar crimes, journalists
would hound that president every day of the rest of his life – like they tried
with George W. Bush. But if that president were a favored Dem, then the scandal
would get a bare mention and journalists would move on, ever in quest of that
elusive prey – Republicans. It’s always that way. Had Nixon been a Democrat,
his </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">liberal</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> politics would have been more than sufficient armor against
the full-court press. That’s right, liberal Nixon. Former </span></span><a href="http://buchanan.org/blog/remembering-nixons-catholic-coup-interview-pat-buchanan-6844"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">Nixon
advisor</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Pat Buchanan recently reminded PBS “NewsHour” that
Nixon was “enormously consequential.” He ticked off a series of Nixon’s
first-term accomplishments that would please almost any leftie voting today.
“He opened up China, he had negotiated arms control of the Soviet Union,
he had ended the draft, he had desegregated the South, he had enacted
the 18-year-old vote, built E.P.A. and OSHA, and the
Cancer Institute,” Buchanan explained. That’s why a Democrat Nixon would
have been spared investigation. He would have finished both terms and retired
as a popular, liberal president. Carter would likely never have happened. The
same with Reagan. The entire past 40 years of American history would have been
forever altered. Even the media would have never learned their signature maxim
that the way to advance in journalism is to smear Republicans. Who knows, maybe
they’d even investigate an Obama scandal.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dan Gainor is the </span></span></i><a href="http://www.mrc.org/"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">Media Research Center’s Vice President for
Business and Culture</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">. He writes frequently about
media for Fox News Opinion. He can also be contacted on Facebook and </span></span></i><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/08/08/media-go-nuts-over-presidential-corruption-in-nixon-white-house/www.Twitter.com/dangainor"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">Twitter</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> as dangainor.</span></span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Islamic State beheads,
crucifies in push for Syria's east<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>BEIRUT
(Reuters) - Islamic State has crushed a pocket of resistance to its control in
eastern Syria, crucifying two people and executing 23 others in the past five
days, a monitoring group said on Monday.</div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The insurgents, who are also making
rapid advances in Iraq, are tightening their grip in Syria, of which they now
controls roughly a third, mostly rural areas in the north and east.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The group, an al Qaeda offshoot, has
fought the Syrian army, Kurdish militias and Sunni Muslim tribal forces.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights, a Britain-based monitoring organization, and residents in Syria's east
said that fighters from the al-Sheitaat tribe in eastern Deir al-Zor had tried
to resist Islamic State's advance this month.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In al-Shaafa, a town on the banks of
the Euphrates river, Islamic State beheaded two men from the al-Sheitaat clan
on Sunday, the Observatory said, and gave residents a 12-hour deadline on
Monday to hand over members of the tribe.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In other parts of Deir al-Zor
province, the militants crucified two men for the crime of "dealing with
apostates" in the city of Mayadin, and two others for blasphemy in the
nearby town of al-Bulel, the Observatory said.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Islamic State has made rapid gains
in Syria since it seized northern Iraq's largest city, Mosul, on June 10, and
declared an Islamic caliphate on territory it controls in Syria and Iraq.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Observatory said a further 19
men from the al-Sheitaat tribe were executed on Thursday, 18 shot dead and one
beheaded, on the outskirts of Deir al-Zor city. It said the men worked at an
oil installation.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“No one will now dare from the other
tribes to move against Islamic State after the defeat of the al-Sheitaat,” said
Ahmad Ziyada al-Qaissi, an Islamic State sympathizer contacted by Skype from
Mayadin.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tribal sources say the conflict
between Islamic State and the al-Sheitaat tribe, who number about 70,000,
flared after Islamic State took over of two oil fields in July.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of those, al-Omar, is the
biggest oil and gas field in Deir al-Zor and has been a lucrative source of
funds for rebel groups.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The head of the al-Sheitaat tribe,
Sheikh Rafaa Aakla al-Raju, called in a video message for other tribes to join
the fight against Islamic State.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We appeal to the other tribes to
stand by us because it will be their turn next ... If (Islamic State) are done
with us the other tribes will targeted after al-Sheitaat. They are the next
target,” he said in the video, posted on YouTube on Sunday.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
Syrian human rights activist from Deir al-Zor who fled for Turkey last year
said rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad had retreated to al-Sheitaat
tribal areas from which they had been trying to mount resistance to Islamic
State's expansion.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He said, on condition of anonymity,
that the resistance had been crushed in the last few days. "The situation
is very bad, but the people can't repel them," he said. He said that in
tandem with their violent campaign, Islamic State was distributing gas,
electricity, fuel and food to garner local support. "It is a poor area.
They are winning support this way. They won a lot of support this way. They are
halting theft and punishing thieves. This is also giving them
credibility."More than 170,000 people have been killed in Syria's civil
war, which pits overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim rebels against Assad, a member of
the Shi'ite-derived Alawite minority, backed by Shi'ite militias from Iraq and
Lebanon. The insurgency is split between competing factions, with Islamic State
emerging as the most powerful. In Raqqa, Islamic State's power base in Syria,
its hold appears to be growing only firmer even as Syrian government forces
intensify air strikes on territory held by the group. One Syrian living in an
area of Islamic State control near Raqqa said the number of its fighters in the
streets had grown dramatically in the last few weeks, particularly since it
captured the army's 17th Division at the end of July. The group has carried out
beheadings, levied a tax on non-Muslims, and settled foreign fighters in confiscated
homes, said the resident, who asked for anonymity due to security concerns. But
despite that, as in Deir al-Zor, it has won a degree of respect among locals by
curbing crime using their version law of and order. For youths without work,
salaries offered by Islamic State are one of the few sources of income. "The
(Islamic) State has respect and standing and its voice is heard," said the
resident, speaking by Skype.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Additional reporting by Suleiman
al-Khalidi in Amman; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">US sending arms to
Iraq's Kurds in battle against militants, official says Published August 11,
2014</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The United States is sending weapons to Kurdish forces in
Iraq who have begun to roll back gains made by Sunni militants, a senior U.S.
official confirmed to Fox News. A senior State Department official told The
Associated Press that the Kurds are "getting arms from various sources.
They are being rearmed." Providing weapons to Kurdish forces is a reversal
of U.S. policy, which previously had only allowed for selling arms directly to
the Iraqi government. In recent days, the U.S. military has been helping
facilitate weapons deliveries from the Iraqis to the Kurds, providing
logistical assistance and transportation to the north. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sources say the weapons from the U.S. will not be provided
directly from the Pentagon. Officials wouldn't say which agency is spearheading
the effort, though the CIA historically has done similar arming operations. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf noted that the
administration previously mentioned the new arms deliveries, which she
suggested are being made to contend with the "heavy weaponry"
obtained by Islamic militants. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"The Kurds need additional arms and we're providing
those," she said in a statement.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rush Limbaugh: The “Smart”
People Took Over... And Now Where are We?</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">August 11, 2014</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/08/11/the_smart_people_took_over_and_now_where_are_we</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">RUSH: Watching MSNBC this morning by accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I assure you by accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some reason the monitor in here came on
MSNBC instead of CNN.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in a state
of disbelief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I have to tell you,
folks, it was funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, these are
all Obamaites and they look like a family in the waiting room at a hospital
when the situation is dire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, it
was funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They're clearly like the
family in the waiting room of the hospital worried about the patient. The
doctors went in trying to remove Obama's foreign policy, the latest cancer in
the administration, and they couldn't find the doctrine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They couldn't find the Obama doctrine, they
came out and they told the family of the patient, which was the MSNBC people,
and they were just totally depressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stop and think about this for a second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is almost indescribable, and yet it is the reality we face
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Starting in 2004,
barely a year after George W. Bush invades Iraq to get rid of Saddam Hussein,
starting in 2004 and continuing all through 2008, the media and the Democrat
Party launch a multiple-times-a-day assault. I mean, it's all we heard on Bush
about Iraq, about how it was wrong-headed, it was immoral, it was unnecessary.
We should have been in Afghanistan. What business do we have in Iraq. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They did everything, the Democrats, Obama. Even Obama's
speech in 2002 that put him on the map was about Iraq, about how dumb it was,
how silly it was and we ought not ever be there and we shouldn't ever go there
and he was never gonna vote for it and blah, blah, blah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we started with the body counts, and in
the midst of all this there were other scandals supposedly surrounding
Bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for essentially five years the
American media and the Democrat Party set out to summarily destroy the George
Bush administration and primarily the second term, obviously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The news was filled each day with multiple
stories about a supposedly plunging economy, that we were headed into a
recession while employment was almost full, 4.7%, while the job situation
looked good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The economy was fine. It
was soaring. We were coming out of two recessions and 9/11, and yet the media
every day, every network beating Bush up, beating Cheney up, "No blood for
oil." Every day it seemed we had a story on how our troops in Iraq were
nothing but terrorists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Kerry and
John Murtha, you name it, it was never-ending. It was a drumbeat about how no
way, no how should we ever be in Iraq. When it came time for the surge from
General Petraeus, MoveOn.org runs an ad in the New York Times called General
Betray Us, and they accuse him on the morning of testimony about the surge
before a Senate committee of lying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
hadn't even opened his mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The media
picked that up and accused Petraeus of lying, and Hillary Clinton was right
there accusing Petraeus of lying before he even said a word. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then the presidential campaign of 2008 kicks up and it's all
about Iraq, and then there are debates, and it's all about Iraq, and it's
filled with Obama saying he's gonna get us out, if it's the first thing he
does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The left wing, the American media,
was totally absorbed with Iraq.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Iraq was
in every way representative of the worst of the United States of America and
we've got to get ourselves out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact,
one of the first things Obama ever said as president was how he was going to
get us out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was as though they had
succeeded, in their own minds, of convincing everybody in this country that the
absolute worst thing this country has ever done outside of slavery was
Iraq.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember all the stories of
"torture" at Abu Ghraib? Remember all the stories of Club Gitmo and
Korans flushed down the toilet that didn't happen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember all of the lies, all of the
in-your-face lies, all of the efforts to saddle this country with a defeat in
Iraq and hang it around the neck of George W. Bush?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything they could do to destroy this
country's morale on Iraq was done -- daily, multiple times a day --- including
impugning military personnel, uniformed military personnel. I remember such
stories as John Kerry in Pasadena, California, making a speech at some school
or something and he said: You either get smart or you end up in Iraq.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Remember all of the stories about the American military and, "Oh,
how bad must America be if all of these young men and women are joining the
military!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must be that there's no
future in this country because of Bush! "They can't get an education. They
can't get into a school. They can't get a job because of the recession,"
which didn't exist, "and so the only option they had was to join the
military."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Democrat Party went
so far as to discredit volunteers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
mean, I'm just trying to remind you -- and I'm leaving out 90% of it. I'm
trying to remind you of what we lived with, what we as citizens had to put up
with in this country for five years multiple times a day, 24/7, 365 -- and now
where are we? </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Where
are we now? We're back! Because the "smart" people told us they
were gonna fix it. The "smart" people told us it should have
never happened. The "smart" people told us it was never worth a
single American life. It was never worth a single American defense
dollar. It was never worth an ounce or a moment of our time. It was
the worst boondoggle ever, and it was typical of right-wing conservative
warmongers. "They just love war, and they just love killing people,
and they can't wait," and they showed us the pictures of the torture with
the underwear on the heads of the terrorists at Abu Ghraib. They literally had
conniption fits and near strokes over the meanness of the United States and our
torture regimen and the waterboarding, and the Democrat Party promised everyone
that that would come to an end when they came to power.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">There would be no more torture, there would
be no more war, there would be no more Abu Ghraib. There would be no more
anything that George W. Bush did, because they were the "smart"
people, and they were gonna get us out of there, and they were gonna close Gitmo,
and then they were gonna get us out of Afghanistan, because none of it was
worthwhile. None of it made any sense. None of it was what the United States is
really all about. It was all illegitimate. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Democrat Party and its willing
accomplices in the American media spent five years poisoning and polluting the
minds of as many Americans as they could reach on how illegitimate the entire
Iraq and War on Terror enterprise was, in essence. When it became clear
that the war in Iraq was part of the War on Terror, then they tried to distance
it. "Oh, no, no, no, no! Iraq's not part of it. That's a sideshow that
Bush did for whatever stupid reason. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"The War on Terror is in
Afghanistan!" Well, how is that working out for the really smart
people? I am sitting here in total amazement -- actually I'm not 'cause I
know these people. But still it's surreal. After five years of
hearing how incompetent and inept and foolish and stupid and dumb George Bush
was, "the cowboy," and Dick Cheney, "Darth Vader," and Rumsfeld!
Remember? They tried to destroy all three of these men. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cheney and Rumsfeld have devoted most of their lives to serving this
country, and they attempted to destroy them. Scooter Libby outing Valerie
Plame? Remember all of this? It's all part of the Iraq
situation. Remember Valerie Plame's wonderful playboy husband, Joe
Wilson, who goes over there Niger and tries to find yellowcake and thinks it's
a Betty Crocker dessert and says there isn't any after he had first said there
was? </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It was one of the most coordinated
anti-American military efforts I have ever seen and the "smart"
people got elected to office in part because they successfully blasphemed
everybody involved in it, and promised that it would never happen again, and
promised that the world would be a place of peace and promised that the world
would once again love and respect the United States. Now the world is on fire
and the truly incompetent, totally clueless, egghead, stupid theoreticians from
the faculty lounge are finally in charge -- and, voila! Look where we
are. Barack Hussein Obama -- B. Hussein O. -- just said that the bombing
of Iraq "is more and more looking like a long-term project." B.
Hussein O., who was elected to see to it that this never happened again because
this was never worth it in the first place, because this only happened because
of incompetent, stupid idiots like Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and George W.
Bush. No, America was gonna be a better place! America was gonna have a
bigger heart. America wasn't going to torture again, and America
certainly wasn't going to defend people who didn't deserve to be
defended. America was never again gonna engage in silly foreign affairs
follies, because the truly "smart" people were now in charge. I
wonder if the media will look into the Obama investment portfolio and start
asking if he has any Halliburton stock. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Remember all of that? The Iraq war was illegitimate because of
Halliburton, where Cheney had once been the CEO, and Halliburton offers support
services like food for the troops. Halliburton also was eeeevil,
profiteers on death and mayhem. It was blood for oil, and none of it was
worth it -- and if we only elected "the smart people," why, peace
would break out! White doves would escape the Olympic flame without being baked
alive. </span>Once again the US would be loved and respected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All it would take is a presidential apology
tour and a presidential tour getting us out of every conflict in the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it's been reduced to the
point that the president of the United States boldfaced lied Saturday in front
of God and everybody, when he refused to take responsibility for the lack of
troops in Iraq. (impression) "Hey, you know what? It wasn't my idea get
out of there with no troops left in Iraq." He's blatantly, bold-faced
lying, 'cause he's rolling the dice that his sycophant, soon-to-die-of-anal-poisoning
media -- and, by the way, that has nothing to do with... That's just butt
kissing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you die of anal poisoning
it's 'cause of butt kissing. Don't let your mind run away from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've had people say, "You really
think...? That's the most insulting thing."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It's not. </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anal poisoning has to do with butt kissing, and that's what
the media does. (sigh) And did you know that I am from the Balkans?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you know that? I didn't know! I must have
been born in the Balkans 'cause Obama says the reason none of what he's doing
is working is because the media has been "Balkanized," and what he
means is me, talk radio, and Fox News.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">RUSH: How long is it gonna be before the media
starts asking Obama about the "exit strategy," hmm? Didn't we
start hearing about the exit strategy before George W. Bush even committed
troops to Iraq in 2003? Oh, yeah, "What's gonna be the exit
strategy?" George W. Bush went around this country for a year
building up support for this, United Nations, remember that? General Powell still
holds all that against him. Oh, have you heard this? Obama and Hillary...
Have you heard this? Well, that's a differently thing. Hillary
criticizing Obama. I'll get into that. That's been Syria, too, and
this is... It's gonna be a huge El Rushbo self-back pat. I mean, I was
right about this. We were supporting ISIS. We were anti-Bashar Assad. We were
supporting ISIS. I was the one who raised the possibility, and I remember being
ridiculed about it elsewhere in the Drive-Bys. But, no, Mrs. Clinton is
saying that now. She's agreeing with a general on Fox saying we supported
the wrong side in Syria. I'll get to that. No, no, no. Obama
and Hillary Clinton... Wait for it here, folks. They are blaming bad
intel for not being prepared on ISIS. I am not kidding you. I've
got it here in the Obama Iraq Stack. They are blaming bad intel.
Now, we've heard that before, right? We heard that bad intel was the
responsible for the lack of weapons of mass discovery destruction, and when
that excuse was offered, who was in there ridiculing it? Why, I think it
was Barack Obama and I think it was Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, and all of
the rest of the Wizards of Smart in this unfortunate Regime. But, yes, they
fixed this, I thought, with Panetta at the CIA. It was all gonna be
fixed, remember?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">RUSH<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">: I got an
e-mail, I checked it during the break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>"Rush, you sounded really angry in that opening
monologue."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Folks, I am angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I left something unclear, let me state it,
briefly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For five years this country was
lied to by the Democrat Party and the media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were lied to about Iraq every day, multiple times a day; lied to
about the economy; lied to about torture; lied to about the US military; lied,
lied, lied about George W. Bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
created public opinion, anti-Bush, anti-America, as it was. It created a false
public opinion that set up the election of Barack Obama under totally false
premises. </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have somebody
unqualified, unprepared, not smart, not ready for this, doesn't know what he's
doing and may not even care about foreign policy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Damn right I'm mad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not supposed to ever happen
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I listened to what they said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know how they got elected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know how they ginned up public
opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know what was done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me put it this way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't forget what was done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Folks, I am practically fit to be tied over this 'cause I had to sit
there for five years, 2004 on, I had to listen to liberals saying what stupid
idiot Bush was and he sounds like a cowboy and how he's dumb. </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then Obama comes on
the scene. I had to listen to people tell me how smart he was, and I had to
listen to people tell me how stupid Palin was, how stupid Cheney was, how
stupid Rumsfeld was, and how dangerous they were and how incompetent, and
Halliburton. For five years we all had to listen to a bunch of lies about the
American military, uniformed military personnel, generals, secretary of
defense, president, Scooter Libby, throw it all in there.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had to listen to a
set of lies all for the purpose of destroying a legitimate military
operation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They're all legitimate once
we commit to them, folks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's the
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They're all legitimate once we
commit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we commit, we win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They secured defeat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They tried to secure defeat.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I haven't forgotten any of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They did all of that to build up the Democrat
Party as the alternative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the
Democrat Party and such brilliance as Obama and Joe Biden and John Kerry and
Dianne Feinstein and Elizabeth Warren and whoever the hell else, none of this
was ever gonna happen again because they were so smart. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They'd be able to talk to bad guys. They'd be able to negotiate with
the bad guys. They'd be able to relate to the bad guys. They'd be able to
apologize to the bad guys. They'd be able to reach the bad guys where Bush
couldn't and Bush didn't want to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They'd
be able to reach out to 'em and they'd be able to speak French to 'em or
whatever and show 'em we're really erudite. We're really European, we get it.
We're really smart. We're smarter that dumb hick cowboy from Texas and that
blond bald-headed guy from Wyoming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We're smart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can deal with
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We understand your grievances
against the United States. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That's another thing that ticks me off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obama and these guys, Clinton, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clinton's out there running around all over
the world during the campaign doing this stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were all running all over the world telling our enemies, "Hey,
look, hey, look, we understand, but you'll be able to deal with us 'cause we
get it and we're no threat to you. And we, too, agree the United States has
overstepped its bounds on many occasions. And we agree with you the United
States has been X." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's what we
elected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's what we got.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it happened because for five years the
media ran poll after poll after poll, opinion number after opinion number after
opinion number, approval number after approval number, story after story lying
about the economy, lying about foreign policy, lying about Iraq, doing all
these things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what really ticked me
off was the Bush administration didn't respond to any of it at any time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They now acknowledge that was a bit of a
mistake. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the Democrats and the media
had a punching bag and they just kept hitting it and hitting it and hitting
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the American people had no
choice but to believe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no
counter-theory ever offered except here and on Fox News, and that was it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we're right back where we are and it's
worse. It is worse now than before we went into Iraq.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This bunch, ISIS and what they're doing and the free rein they think
they've got to operate, it's worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
it's not happening over there and doesn't mean anything to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's what this bunch also tried to tell us,
that what goes on in Iraq, what goes on in Afghanistan, doesn't affect us, none
of our business. We need to get out of those places. We can't impose our way.
You've heard the drill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.75pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Obama's Boldfaced Lie: It Wasn't
My Idea to Leave Iraq</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">RUSH: Now that we've had to go back in it's insult to injury with the way
Obama's explaining this. Let's go to sound bite seven. This is
Saturday morning at the White House. The president's speaking about the
Iraq air strikes before getting on the helicopter to fly to Martha's Vineyard.
Oh, yeah, and the media is all hot to trot about that. (imitating media)
"Oh, wow, it's so cool. Barry's going to the Vineyard. Yeah, we get to go
to the Vineyard, think we'll see Skip Gates? Wow, how cool, you think
we'll see Larry David? Man, we get to go to the Vineyard. Obama's going
to the Vineyard. You think we'll run into William Styron?
Wait. He died. What about his wife? Think we'll run into
William Styron's wife? Oh, man, cool. "Do you think we'll run
into Dershowitz? Dershowitz hangs out there. Wow, this is
cool. Barry's going to the Vineyard. He's gotta make a speech first
on Iraq. After he finishes that, then we get on the helicopter with him
or Air Force, we go to the Vineyard, yeah, man. We're going to the Vineyard,
'cause Obama's going to the Vineyard. Man, it's cool." Yeah, ticks
me off. This is nothing but a bunch of frat boys. Hell, I wouldn't
even give 'em that credit. Anyway, here's Obama before getting on board
Marine One and heading off to the Vineyard. OBAMA: What I just find
interesting is the degree to which this issue keeps on coming up, as if this
was --RUSH: Wait just a second. Stop that a second. My
bad. He's answering a question here and I should have read the
question. Here's the question he was asked by a reporter who couldn't
wait to get to the Vineyard with him. "Mr. President, do you have
any second thoughts about pulling out all ground troops from Iraq?"
Key question. Do you have any second thoughts about pulling all ground
troops out of Iraq, because -- hint, hint -- he did. Folks, he got elected
in large part because of that promise, because by the time he was elected the
American people had been talked into hating everything about Iraq. And
getting us out of Iraq was gonna restore us as a whole nation, and we could
party again, and we could get down, and we could get back to living as we did
without the body counts and George Bush and Cheney and the news every day that
America could be loved. It was key and Obama was gonna do it, and he promised
to do it. And close Gitmo, too. All of this stuff. "So,
Mr. President, do you have any second thoughts about pulling all ground troops
out of Iraq, and does it give you pause as the US is doing the same thing in
Afghanistan?" OBAMA: What I just find interesting is the degree to
which this issue keeps on coming up, as if this was my decision. Under
the previous administration we had turned over the country to a sovereign,
Democratically elected Iraqi government. When you hear people say,
"Do you regret, Mr. President, not leaving more troops?" that
presupposes that I would have overwritten this sovereign government that we had
turned the keys back over. RUSH: You hated 'em! OBAMA: And said,
"You know what, you're democratic, you're sovereign, except if I decide
that it's good for you to keep 10,000 or 15,000 or a 25,000 Marines in your
country, you don't have a choice." RUSH: He stood right there,
that's on the White House lawn, he lied in front of God and the country and the
world saying that (imitating Obama), "Well, you know what, everybody acts
like it's my decision to pull out of Iraq, uh, you know, there's a sovereign
government." You hated the sovereign the government. You hated
Maliki. You hated -- who's the other guy they hated? They all hated this
other guy, preceded Maliki. I'm having a mental block. I'll think
of his name. Cheney's buddy. Can't remember his name. Mental
block. He was trying to take over Iraq or become its president before
Maliki slithered in there. Anyway, so he says we had to get out because
Iraq made us. We've had this back and forth on the Status of Forces
Agreement I don't know how many times, and Obama hasn't found the truth on this
yet. Let's go back, here he is again, same Saturday morning, repeating this
lie. OBAMA: So let's just be clear. The reason that we did not have
a follow-on force in Iraq was because the Iraqis were -- a majority of Iraqis
did not want US troops there, and politically they could not pass the kind of
laws that would be required to protect our troops in Iraq. That entire
analysis is bogus and is wrong, but gets frequently peddled around here by
folks who oftentimes are trying to defend previous policies that they
themselves made. RUSH: This is just psycho-something. Still blaming
Bush. This man got elected promising to get every evidence of any
American presence out of there, and he did. And when he did, he very
proudly proclaimed it. And now he's blaming the Iraqis and Bush for what
he did. I can understand it. It's worked for him for five
years. Why stop now? Nobody's gonna defend the Iraqis, and there
aren't too many people that are gonna defend Bush. So if people still
blame Bush for the economy, let's go ahead and blame Bush for this. Yeah,
Bush screwed up. Yeah, that's exactly right. The Iraqis, they so hated America,
they didn't want any American troop presence, and they wouldn't agree to us in
a Status of Forces Agreement. Let's just play one of many sound bites that I
can play for you of Obama bragging about getting out of Iraq single-handedly,
forecasting that he was gonna get out of Iraq single-handedly, promising he was
gonna get out of Iraqi single-handedly, sound bites of him bragging about it.
But here, let's go to Boca Raton, Florida, October 22nd, 2012, the third presidential
debate between Obama and Mitt Romney. This goes by kind of quickly, 14
seconds.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">ROMNEY: You and I agreed, I believe, that there should have been a
Status of Forces Agreement.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">OBAMA: That's not true!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">ROMNEY: Oh, you didn't? You didn't want a Status of Forces
Agreement?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">OBAMA: No. What I -- what I would not have done is left 10,000
troops in Iraq that would tie us down! </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">RUSH: See?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">OBAMA: That certainly would not help us in the Middle East!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">RUSH: He's running for reelection in 2012 and he's gotta tell this
deranged base of his that he got us out of there. There weren't gonna be any
remaining American troops. Not 10,000, not 2,000, not 1,000. No Status of
Forces agreement 'cause there weren't gonna be any troops, and he's making this
point running for reelection 'cause his base is out there and they've got to
hear it. They've got to hear we're totally out of Iraq; they've got to hear
we're not going back. This Iraq business is as fundamental to Obama as
tax cuts is to a conservative candidate. He's got no wiggle room. You
can't do a George H. W. Bush and say, "Read my lips." He's got to
stick to it. Even in this debate, "No, I would not have done it. I
wouldn't have left 10,000 troops." Now he's blaming it on everybody else,
but he was taking credit for it there in the debate, taking credit for leaving
no troops there </span>The name I was trying to think of was Ahmed
Chalabi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ahmed Chalabi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He goes way back as one of the early allies
-- well, quote/unquote. Ally's a strong word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But back in the early 2000s he was one of the potential future Iraq
leaders who would happily be allied with the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never was. He ended up being corrupt like
everybody else over there is, and it didn't work out. But, ladies and
gentlemen, let me go back to this business of Obama. We talked about this last
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you deal with this, when
somebody's lying right to your face and you want so desperately to demonstrate
that other people? I think the best thing I could do is this. I sandwiched two
stories here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first one is from the
Cybercast News Service but this story is everywhere. <span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"Obama: Pulling All Troops Out of Iraq was Not My
Decision." (snorts) He got elected promising to do it; he got
reelected affirming that he did it. He has sought credit for this every
which way but Sunday, and now all of a sudden it's Bush's problem, and he also
says, well, he couldn't get the Iraqis to guarantee security for American
troops. That's what he just told Romney. He said, "What I would
not have done is left 10,000 troops in Iraq that would tie us down. That
certainly would not help us in the Middle East." Romney said, "You
and I agreed there should have been a Status of Forces agreement," and
Obama did say that but he couldn't let Romney get away with it because that
would have meant Obama agreeing with some troops staying, and Obama's base
would not tolerate even a uniform staying. So he had to tell Romney he was
wrong. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! I never signed on for a
Status of Forces Agreement! Never, never, never! I would never leave 10,000
troops! Never." </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/24/world/middleeast/us-advisory-troops-get-immunity-from-iraqi-law.html" target="_blank"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: #1f4777;">New York Times</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">, June 23rd this year, a little over a month ago. "Diplomatic
Note Promises Immunity From Iraqi Law for US Advisory Troops." Now,
what this Status of Forces Agreement really is...What Obama's trying to say is,
"I'm not gonna leave American troops over there if they aren't granted
immunity from Iraqi law." Meaning: "I don't want our troops
charged with war crimes or whatever trumped-up phoniness unless the Iraqis give
us immunity in the status of forces agreement." Well, the New York
Times ran a story a little over a month ago that says the Iraqis did indeed
promise immunity; Obama rejected it. The reason is: Obama didn't want
Bush's war in Iraq to have resulted in a stable democracy there. This
wasn't supposed to happen, either, but Iraq was never supposed to be
secure. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">That's why Obama didn't want
to leave any troops there, so he used this phony Status of Forces Agreement.
But the Iraqis did promise immunity, and the New York Times reported that in
June of this year.</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Obama's
just making it up or lying about it. I don't know how to say this. But
he didn't want a stable Iraq because he couldn't afford for anything Bush did
to look like it worked.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ergo, "Bush is responsible for this," is how it all flows
together.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">STEPHEN MISSICK: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It
is time for action in Iraq. Christians must unite against Islamic extremism. We
must expose the evil. I think it is time we try to put an end to Islamic
extremism-permanently. STOP TOLERATING ISLAMIC INTOLERANCE.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am tired of Leftist attacking Christianity
and western civilization and ignoring GENOCIDE that is happening right in front
of our faces. What is going on in Iraq right now-has been going on for 1400
years.</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ethiopia's Armenians: Long history, small numbers</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — The
numbers at the St. George Armenian Apostolic Church in Addis Ababa are not
adding up. Church records show an average of two funerals a year, but a wedding
only every three years and a baptism every five. "Some people don't come
to church vertically. Only horizontally," Vartkes Nalbandian said with a
laugh. Vartkes is among a small handful of people keeping Ethiopia's Armenian
community alive. Despite a fall in numbers from a peak of 1,200 in the 1960s to
less than 100 people today, the Armenian school, church and social club still
open their doors. "There is more to a community than just statistics. We
are proud of the Armenian contribution to Ethiopia. It's worth fighting
for," said 64-year old Vartkes, the church's fulltime acting archdeacon
since the last priest left in 2002. But given the shrinking numbers, the fight
can feel daunting. Armenian goldsmiths, traders and architects were invited to
settle in Ethiopia more than 150 years ago by Emperor Johannes IV. Buoyed by
the ties between Ethiopian and Armenian Orthodoxy, the community thrived. After
the Armenian Genocide in 1915, Haile Selassie, Ethiopia's regent who later
became Emperor, opened his arms to the Armenian people even wider, adopting 40
orphans as wards of court. In return, the Ethio-Armenians proved fiercely
loyal. One trader used his European connections to buy arms for Ethiopia's
resistance movement against the Italian occupation during World War II. Others
ran an underground newspaper. Several gave their lives in service of their
adopted homeland. "Those were the best days," said 61-year old Salpi
Nalbandian, who runs a leather business with her brother Vartkes and other
family members. "We were valued members of the court. We made the crowns
the emperors wore on their heads. We were not like the Italians, we weren't
invaders. We contributed." But the community's fortunes have changed
through the years. Ethio-Armenians had their property and businesses
confiscated when the communist Derg seized power in 1974. Many families left
then, fearing for their lives. The Nalbandians stayed, determined not to give
up on a country they had called home for four generations. Salpi and Vartkes'
musical family has made a lasting contribution to Ethiopia's heritage. Great
uncle Kervork wrote Ethiopia's first national anthem, and their father Nerses
became well known for his pioneering work in Ethio-Jazz, which blends
traditional Ethiopian five-tone scales with the diminished scales of Western
jazz. The pair have become the gatekeepers to a part of Ethiopian culture and
history that is in danger of being forgotten. Ethio-Armenians are gradually
resembling a diaspora within a diaspora. Children and grandchildren who live in
the U.S. and Canada now make pilgrimages to Addis to see the place where their
ancestors grew up. Most of the Armenian buildings in the Armenian
"safar" — or neighborhood — in Addis Ababa's city center are now
empty or gone, victim to the city's appetite for high-rise buildings that are
beginning to dominate the skyline. St. George's Church holds maybe 200 people
but seems larger because it often stands dark and empty. Golden orthodox
crosses are the only objects that catch the light from high small windows in
the church's pointed dome. The African sunshine struggles to brighten the
church's dark green walls. The remaining Armenian families are scattered around
Addis' outskirts, including the Nalbandians, who were forced to vacate their
family home. The only reason the house, which in a traditional Armenian style
has a wrap-round balcony — is still standing is because Salpi is fighting
against the local government to preserve it as a museum dedicated to her
father's life and work. She has had some help upholding her father's legacy
from Aramatz Kalayjian, an Armenian filmmaker. He has being working on
"Tezeta," a documentary about Ethio-Armenian music, since 2012. "The
only remnants of a great cross-pollination of cultures are the few Armenian
community members left, the music, history books, and memories that tell of the
relationship between Armenians and Ethiopians," Kalayjian said. Vartkes
Nalbandian disagrees with Kalayjian's view that the community is fading. He
notes that a Syrian-Armenian man recently visited the Addis community with a
view to moving there with his family. "The school is open, the church is
open, the club is open," he said. "It doesn't matter if I open the
church on a Sunday and preach to many people or just a handful. As long as our
spirit is strong, our identity is, too."</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Part of the reason Ethiopia was
so generous to the Armenians is because they belong to the same “Monophysite”
church tradition.</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">American boy killed by Hamas and
the White House says nothing</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Then there is the Obama administration’s twisted response to the
kidnapping and murder of Naftali Fraenkel, Eyal Yifrach and Gilad
Sha’ar. Over 18 days, Obama never called Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu or Palestinian leader Mahboud Abbas to voice concern over
the abduction of Fraenkel, a dual American-Israeli citizen. In fact, Obama
never publicly commented on the kidnapping of this American boy, or the
grotesque anti-Semitism and support for the kidnapping that mushroomed across
Palestinian society while he stayed silent – until the lifeless bodies of
Fraenkel and the other boys were discovered on June 30. By contrast, Obama did
call Netanyahu on July 10, complaining about the reported police maltreatment
of an American-Palestinian teenager who seems to have thought going to a riot
in a war zone was a good way to spend a summer vacation. And Obama prioritized
this case – to the highest level possible in the world of diplomacy – knowing
that the State Department had already descended on Israeli authorities within
hours, and that Israeli officials had already taken action to address it.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">To this day, the Obama administration has refused to admit there
was any Palestinian perpetrator involved in the teens’ kidnap and murder. From:
By </span></span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/anne-bayefsky"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anne Bayefsky</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">, Published July 12, 2014,</span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/"><span style="color: #183a52; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">FoxNews.com</span></span></a></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Michael Goodwin on Israel from New York
Post:</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Even
before the shooting stops between Israel and Palestinian terrorists, the one
guarantee is that Israel will get most of the blame. Already the demands from
the United Nations that Israel show “restraint” are as predictable as
Palestinian rockets. The tiny Jewish state is under fierce attack, with
millions of its citizens spending </span><a href="http://nypost.com/2014/07/12/gaza-mosque-airstrike-struck-raises-death-toll-to-120/"><span style="color: #345cc6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">long hours in bomb shelters</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">. Yet any response beyond a mere
tit-for-tat is labeled disproportionate, putting Israel in the impossible
position of being damned if it does and doomed if it doesn’t. Of course, it
must </span><a href="http://nypost.com/2014/07/12/4-israeli-soldiers-hurt-in-ground-attack-on-gaza-rocket-site/"><span style="color: #345cc6; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">strike back hard</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears
resolved that the Hamas that started this war will not be the same Hamas when
it is over. How and when we get there remains unknown, but one thing we do know
is how we got where we are. Reader Andrew Stern lays out the past in clear
terms. He writes: “According to Israel’s ambassador to the US, Hamas has fired
8,000 rockets since the Israel Defense Forces withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Aside
from the occasional one fired at a police station or military post, virtually
all have been fired randomly at civilians. In addition to being acts of war,
each is also a war crime. “The media has failed to note that unlike the West
Bank, Gaza is NOT occupied. It is free of all Israeli military presence. The
media also failed to mention that Hamas is not just a terror group. Hamas is
the democratically elected government of Gaza — one of the first ones in the
entire Arab world.“So Hamas is the government which the civilians in Gaza —
with rocket bases behind and under their homes and their children’s schools —
chose overwhelmingly to govern them, and to fire 8,000 rockets at Israel on
their behalf. This is the choice they made — AFTER Israeli forces withdrew from
Gaza.“So much for the notion that the Israeli occupation is the root of
instability in the region.” In addition to justifying a firm Israeli response,
that history also illustrates why Netanyahu resists American pressure to keep
making territorial concessions in the hope of peace. The idea of a Palestinian
state has always rested on the promise of “two states living side-by-side in
peace and security.” Over decades, versions of that promise were tied to a
formula that had Israel trade some of the land it seized in wars with other
Arabs in exchange for peace. The formula more or less worked with Egypt and
Jordan. Gaza proves its fallacy, or at least its limits. The reality is that
Gaza, an unoccupied Palestinian state with its own elected government, is a
terrorist state. It does not want to live in peace with Israel, no matter the
borders. It refuses to accept Israel’s right to exist within any borders. That
is the central fact fueling the conflict, and yet President Obama and Secretary
of State John Kerry continue to insist that Israel negotiate with a so-called
unity government that includes Hamas and the West Bank leaders of Fatah. But as
Israelis put it, how do you negotiate with someone whose single aim is to kill
you? Very, very carefully, that’s how. And you certainly don’t give up land
that will make it easier for your enemy to attack you. The demand that Israel
negotiate with Hamas is especially rich coming from Obama. He refuses even to
negotiate with Republicans, whom he seems to regard as terrorists because they
don’t agree with him. Israel, unfortunately, has to deal with the real thing. Still,
the Israeli public remains remarkably willing to accept Palestinian
independence. What it refuses to accept is that it must give up more land, and
then have only a limited right of self-defense when that land becomes a launching
pad for attacks. That makes additional disengagement from the West Bank
unlikely. That is where we are. Until the Palestinians accept Israel, there can
be no lasting peace. Israelis know that, and it’s time America’s leaders accept
it, too.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Apart from noticing it, you may
be also be wondering why? </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
<span>While this site aims to bring funny pictures,
quotes, cartoons and videos to a sad a broken world, every now and then it is
important to highlight how sad and how broken our world actually is. The
picture above is not a funny picture at all, nor is there a joke to be made
about it or any laughs to be had. It represents blatant, horrific and wicked
persecution for a group of Christians in a town called Mosul, Iraq. Please keep
reading and let me explain by answering a few quick questions:</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">What is the picture? </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The picture is simply the
letter 'N' in the Arabic script, nothing more, nothing less. </span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">But what does it stand for? </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">It is currently being used
as a shorthand way to write "Nazarene" or represent someone who
follows the most famous Nazarene - our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. </span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">How is it being used in Mosul, Iraq? </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The Islamic State
militants who are now controlling the city are trying to force Sharia law
on everyone, not just the Muslims. Every house belonging to Christians is being
marked with a large letter 'N' to show that it is a Christian home and then
given the occupants three options - to move, to pay a 'Christian' tax, or to
face death. They then have 24 hours to decide. </span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">How is it being used on the Internet? </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Christians from all over
the world have been changing their profile picture to the same letter in order
to show support (1 John 3:16-18), as a means of encouragement (Thessalonians
5:11) and also so far quite successfully to bring global media attention to the
wicked and evil persecution (1 Corinthians 4:12) faced by Christians in these
areas. </span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: circle;">
<li style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">What you can do? </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
</span><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The are three things I can immediately think
of:</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
<span>1. Share this article with others to bring even
more attention to the issue that is happening right now. </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
</span><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">2. Read more about the situation </span></span><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/07/29/mosul-iraq-christians/13238013/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: #183a52;">here (USA today)</span></span></a><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">, </span></span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/18/isis-islamic-state-issue-ultimatum-to-iraq-christians"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: #183a52;">here (The Guardian)</span></span></a><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> and/or here (</span></span><a href="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/the-left-blind-to-slaughter-of-christians/story-fni0cwl5-1227006263205"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: #183a52;">Daily Telegraph</span></span></a><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">). </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
</span><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">3. Change your profile picture. </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="border-image: none; border: 1pt windowtext; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
<span>Can you think of other things to do? Please leave
a comment below.</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> <br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Iraq crisis: Yazidis' mix of beliefs
misunderstood, maligned</span></b></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Published August 08, 2014</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.ap.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #183a52;">Associated Press</span></span></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0in;">
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Yazidis are a small,
misunderstood and long-persecuted religious sect rooted in the town of Sinjar,
in northern Iraq, and also in parts of Syria and Turkey.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">No one knows the exact size of
the Yazidi population. Estimates range from tens of thousands to 500,000 or
more. Over centuries, they have been the target of violence and purges,
including during the Ottoman empire, and have survived as a close-knit
community that does not proselytize. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Much confusion surrounds their
beliefs, but scholars say Yazidi teachings are a mix of several traditions,
borrowing from Christianity and Islam, and including some practices resembling
ancient traditions in Persia.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Yazidi believe that a supreme
being created the world but does not rule it. Instead, his will is carried out
by seven angels, chief among them the Peacock Angel, known as Malak Taus.
Yazidis believe continual rebirth leads to purification, and therefore the sect
does not believe in hell. The tomb of Sheikh Adi, in the town of Lalesh north
of Mosul, Iraq, is a Yazidi shrine and pilgrimage site.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yazidis pray to Malak Taus, who
is also known as the Fallen Angel. But unlike fallen angels in some Christian
traditions, who are banished from heaven, the Peacock Angel was redeemed.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Still, the Peacock Angel is also
known to Yazidis as "shaytan," which is the Arabic word Muslims use
for the devil. This is the source of the belief among many Iraqi Muslims that
Yazidis worship the devil, and it is among the reasons Yazidis are being
targeted by the militant Islamic State group.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/category/world/religious-persecutions"><b><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">Persecutions</span></b></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last Christians in Iraq</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/lela-gilbert"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">Lela
Gilbert</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Published July 22, 2014, </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">FoxNews.com</span></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Car by car, family by family,
frightened Iraqi Christians by the thousands fled their ancient Iraqi homeland
over the weekend. With broken hearts and little more than the clothes on their
backs, they’ve left behind their houses, businesses, and churches – everything
they’ve known.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Islamic State (ISIS) terror
group announced through their mosques on Friday afternoon that local Christians
must either convert to Islam, pay an exorbitant Muslim tax – the </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">jizya</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">,
which amounts to protection money – or leave the city. If they did not conform
to these demands by noon on Saturday, July 19, there would be </span></span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2698114/Thousands-Iraqi-Christians-pour-Mosul-ISIS-jihadis-deadline-convert-pay-face-death.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">“nothing
for them but the sword.”</span></span></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Christianity is not new to the
region. It was introduced by two of Jesus’ own disciples – St. Thomas and St.
Thaddeus (also known as St. Jude) in the 1</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Century.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But the ancient roots of Iraq’s
Christianity have now been violently ripped out of the country’s spiritual
soil.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Most of the Nineveh Plain’s
Christians – once numbering more than a hundred thousand – had already fled to
Erbil and other destinations in Kurdistan before ISIS’s recent declaration,
seeking the protection of the Kurdish Peshmerga’s warriors.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Now the rest of the refugees –
many of the last Christians in Iraq – have joined them.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It’s not surprising that the
vicious tactics of the IS/ISIS terrorists horrify most observers. As is often
reported on social media – with substantial videographic evidence – they have
beheaded, mutilated, raped, stoned and even crucified those whose behavior is
“unIslamic” or whose religious convictions displease them.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The West has managed to muster a
tepid response. For example on Sunday, a </span></span><a href="http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=7880"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">statement
emanating from the UN</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s
spokesman:</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin-left: 15pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“...condemned in the strongest
terms the systematic persecution of minority populations in Iraq by Islamic
State (IS) and associated armed groups. He is particularly disturbed by reports
of threats against Christians in Mosul and other IS-controlled parts of Iraq,
including an ultimatum to either convert, pay a tax, leave, or face imminent
execution…”</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The UN, US, EU and numerous
others have all denounced IS/ISIS. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">But the various powers’ “strongly
worded” official condemnations seem to be little more than indignant
complaints.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">President Obama, for example, has
demonstrated no inclination to apply American muscle to ISIS. Speaking about
their activities in Syria, </span></span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/22/obama-says-isis-poses-a-medium-and-long-term-threat-to-americans/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">he
explained,</span></span></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"What we can't do is think
that we're just going to play Whac-a-Mole and send U.S. troops occupying
various countries wherever these organizations pop up…."</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rather than fighting fire with
fire, western leaders apparently imagine that diplomatic endeavors – including
“strongly worded” denunciations – will stop zealous murderers in their tracks.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Really?</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Obama and his cohorts seem to
have an astonishingly high regard for their persuasive skills.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At the same time, they
demonstrate only a dim awareness of the terrorists’ fierce religious fervor.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Devoutly committed to radical
Islamist ideology – whether of the Sunni or Shia variety – fanatics like ISIS,
al-Qaeda, Hezbollah and Iran’s ayatollahs quite sincerely view the West as the
primary force of evil in the world.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Why would such “holy warriors”
negotiate with western evildoers?</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Only, perhaps, to deceive them.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and elsewhere, it is abundantly clear that
such niceties as “dialogue” are of little interest to bloodthirsty savages.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the meantime, as American
strength diminishes around the globe, the dangers posed by radical Islamist
groups like ISIS are exploding exponentially.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">And where does this leave the
Iraq’s Christians and other minorities whose lives are at stake? Sadly, they
are well aware that no host of valiant defenders is going to come to their
rescue. In fact, the Iraqi Army virtually melted away when ISIS appeared.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">So for the Christians, “Convert,
pay the </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">jizya</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> tax, or die,” means, quite simply, that there is little
alternative but to flee -- except in a small number of villages
over which Kurdistan has extended a protective umbrella. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thus, most Christians have fled.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Still, some intrepid Iraqi
Christians refuse to give up. “If we all leave, it sends the message that
there is nowhere safe for Christians to live in Iraq — and this worries me,”
Syrian Catholic Archbishop of Mosul, Yohanna Petros Mouche, told the </span></span><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/in-northern-iraq-gains-by-islamic-state-threaten-centuries-old-christian-town/2014/07/19/7088f3b6-0f53-11e4-8c9a-923ecc0c7d23_story.html?tid=hpModule_04941f10-8a79-11e2-98d9-3012c1cd8d1e"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">Washington
Post</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">. “I’m not a vagabond. This is my home, and I
will die here if necessary.”</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Such fortitude is inspiring. And
yet courage and determination cannot eclipse such excruciating losses.
Whether Iraq’s Christians stay or go, nothing can remove the devastating sense
of injury and injustice they are experiencing.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> “Many Christians
interviewed expressed a sense of utter abandonment and desolation,” </span></span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/world/middleeast/isis-forces-last-iraqi-christians-to-flee-mosul.html?_r=2"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">the
New York Times reported</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">. They remarked that the sound of
church bells mingled with the Muslim calls to prayer – a symbol of Mosul’s
long-standing religious tolerance – “would likely never be heard again.”</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lela Gilbert is author of </span></span></i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saturday-People-Sunday-Christian-Sojourner/dp/159403639X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380031757&sr=1-1&keywords=saturday+people+sunday+people&tag=f0c0b-20"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">"Saturday
People, Sunday People: Israel through the Eyes of a Christian Sojourner"</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> and co-author, with Nina Shea and Paul Marshall, of </span></span></i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Persecuted-Assault-Christians-Paul-Marshall/dp/1400204410/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380031830&sr=1-2&keywords=saturday+people+sunday+people&tag=f0c0b-20"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">"Persecuted:
The Global Assault on Christians."</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> She is an adjunct fellow at the </span></span></i><a href="http://hudson.org/"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">Hudson Institute</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> and lives in Jerusalem. For more, visit her website: </span></span></i><a href="http://www.lelagilbert.com/"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">www.lelagilbert.com</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Follow her on </span></span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/lelagilbert"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">Twitter@lelagilbert</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span></span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mideast crisis: Mr. Obama, whose side
are you on?</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By </span></span></b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/michael-goodwin"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">Michael Goodwin</span></span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Published August 04, 2014, </span></span></b><a href="http://www.nypost.com/" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">New York Post</span></span></b></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">President
Obama found numerous ways to make the United States less relevant in the last
six years, but he came up with a new one in his misbegotten foray into the Gaza
war: He’s so wrong that even Israel feels it’s safe to ignore him. The decision
by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reject Obama’s pressure for a
unilateral ceasefire and instead widen the campaign against Hamas reflects a
new low in the Obama presidency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More
important, it is impossible to argue with Netanyahu’s decision. The terror
threat is so grave that Israeli military leaders, bolstered by strong public
support, believe they can’t return to business-as-usual. They aim to deliver a
knockout punch to the rocket arsenal and the tunnel network to make sure Hamas
doesn’t emerge intact and ready for another war. Yet Obama’s push for
negotiations would have won for Hamas in peace what it failed to win in war.
Secretary of State John Kerry was advocating terms that would have granted many
of the terrorists’ demands, and guaranteed more conflict. One journalist accused
Kerry of acting like Hamas’ lawyer, and a top Israeli politician told Kerry to
“leave us alone.” Either that, or get on board. With most Arabs, led by Egypt
and including many Palestinians, agreeing with Israel that a weakened Hamas
means a more peaceful region, this is a rare moment of consensus and a chance
for real progress. But the White House’s blunder gave the Palestinians hope
they will be rewarded for their provocation — and a reason to keep fighting. Mr.
President, whose side are you on?</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Charles Krauthammer said Friday on
"Special Report with Bret Baier," that it is "astonishing"
to learn that the United States has not supplied the Kurds with weapons to hold
back Islamic militants in Iraq. "They're essentially using javelins and
harpoons here," the syndicated columnist and Fox News contributor said,
"against the ISIS army, which has captured tons of sophisticated American
weapons." Krauthammer pointed to rearming Israel during its war with Egypt
in 1973 as an example of how easy it would be to arm the pro-American Kurds. “It’s
not hard stuff to get in, it’s all sitting in our bases in Germany.”
Krauthammer said. “You could send a plane today and it would be there in 18
hours.” The reason, Krauthammer said, is that everything has to go through the
Iraqi government, which has cut off all supplies to the Kurdish area since
December of last year.</span></span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Why in God's name we don't
resupply, or supply our allies that can hold back ISIS is beyond me,"
Krauthammer said.</span></span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Only America can save Iraq's last Christians</span></span></b><br />
<br /><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Nina Shea, Published July 29, 2014, </span></span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">FoxNews.com</span></span></a><br />
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Arabic “nun” symbol, or N, which stands for Nazarene and
refers to Christians, ominously began appearing, stamped in red, on Christian
homes in Mosul, Iraq, two weeks ago.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By mid-July, it was accompanied by another statement,
painted in black, “Property of the Islamic State.” And with that, the
Christians found their worst fears confirmed.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On July 19, ISIS, the Sunni Muslim insurgent group declaring
itself the Islamic State, carried out unabated and unabashed religious
cleansing against Christians and the non-Sunni Muslim communities. Today, in
this place of Nineveh of the Bible, the ancient heart of Iraqi Christianity,
there’s not a single Christian left. All have been stripped of their possessions
and deported.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In recent years, Iraq’s Christians have experienced
relentless persecution by various extremist groups, and, along with a civil
conflict in which the Christians remain neutral, it has taken a hard toll on
their numbers. In 2003, Iraq’s Christians, at 1.4 million, were among the
region’s most robust Christian communities. Since then, more than a million of
them have fled. Their banishment from Mosul is irreversible.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whether these newly displaced people, among the last
Christians to speak Aramaic, Jesus’ own language, will be able to remain in the
region at all is likely to depend on America’s response.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remarkably, after their mass deportation, the Iraqi
government did nothing to help Mosul’s Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants,
even while the Iraqi Army failed to protect them, allowing ISIS to handily
capture Iraq’s second largest city on June 10. Baghdad, however, did manage to
send planes and bus convoys to evacuate the Shiites among the exiled
minorities. Iraq’s government facilitated the resettlement of Mosul’s Turkmen
and Shabak Shiite communities in Najaf and elsewhere in the south, reported
Archdeacon Emanuel Youkhana with the Christian Aid Program. (ISIS did not
target Turkmen and Shabak Sunnis.)</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Left to fend for themselves were the Christians and a few
remaining Yezidis (a dozen Yezidis recently in their home province of Sinjar
had their eyes gouged out and were then killed by ISIS for refusing to convert
to Islam).</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Following these events, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Sako
registered the “shock and pain” of all Iraq’s church leaders, emphasizing their
sense of raw “injustice.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“How much the Christians have shared here in our East
specifically from the beginnings of Islam. They shared every sweet and bitter
circumstance of life … .Together they built a civilization, cities and a
heritage. It is truly unjust now to treat Christians by rejecting them and
throwing them away, considering them as nothing,” the patriarch effectively
eulogized.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The eradication of the 2,000-year-old Christian presence
from Mosul is indeed shocking. The recent release of several kidnapped Orthodox
nuns and orphans had given some hope that, influenced by local Sunnis, ISIS
would eschew the barbarism that is its stock and trade in Syria.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One Mosul Muslim, law professor Mahmoud al Asali, did speak
up for moderation, but was then murdered. A Baghdad gathering of Muslims
wearing “I am a Christian” signs in solidarity was ignored. No such mercy was
to be had.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unless they converted to Islam or paid protection money, the
Christians were told, they would get “nothing but the sword.” It was now clear,
the 30,000 to 50,000 Christians who fled Mosul over the last decade wouldn’t be
able to return, and the several hundred still remaining there this month needed
to get out fast. (Iraqi Christian parliamentarian Younadam Kannan said at least
five Christian families too sick to leave renounced their faith for Islam “to
stay alive,” though one of their daughters did flee.)</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before casting out the Christians, Shiites and Yezidis,
Caliph Ibrahim, as ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi now is called, made certain
to take all the possessions of the “unbelievers.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cars, cellphones, money, wedding rings, even one man’s
chicken sandwich, were all solemnly declared “property of the Islamic State” and
confiscated. A woman who gave over tens of thousands of dollars was also
stripped of bus fare to Erbil.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With temperatures in the area reaching 120 degrees, the last
of the exiles left on foot, carrying only the small children and pushing the
grandparents in wheelchairs. Those who glanced back could see armed groups
looting their homes and loading the booty onto trucks.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">ISIS has set out to erase every Christian trace. All 30
churches were seized and their crosses stripped away. Some have been
permanently turned into mosques. One is the Mar (Saint) Ephraim Syriac Orthodox
Cathedral, newly outfitted with loudspeakers that now call Muslims to prayer.
The 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century Mar Behnam, a Syriac Catholic monastery outside
Mosul, was captured and its monks expelled, leaving behind a library of early
Christian manuscripts and wall inscriptions by 13<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>-century Mongol
pilgrims.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christian and Shiite gravesites, deemed idolatrous by ISIS,
are being deliberately blown up and destroyed, including on July 24, the tomb
of the 8<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>-century B.C. Old Testament Prophet Jonah, and the Muslim
shrine that enclosed it.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before fleeing, the Vatican reports, the Orthodox Christian
community did successfully spirit away the relics of Thomas the Apostle who, it
is said, introduced Christianity to Nineveh.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last of Mosul’s Christians, those some 5,000 professors,
doctors, lawyers, mechanics and their families that left between June 10 and
July 19, find themselves suddenly destitute and homeless because of their
faith. Some went to the nearest Nineveh Christian villages, temporarily
sheltering in schools and churches. These villages would be vulnerable to ISIS
attacks, too, but for their protection by the Kurds, who are, themselves, Sunni
Muslim. Water and electricity have been cut off for some by ISIS, who told one
Christian town official, “You don’t deserve to drink water,” reported
Archdeacon Youkhana. The residents are desperately digging wells.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many more have fled to Kurdistan, where there are ancestral
Christian villages and big cities.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On July 19, the Kurdish Regional Government issued a
statement welcoming the Christian exiles. It pledged the KRG to continue its
“efforts and abilities to help those displaced” and called on the Kurdish
people “to give all they can to aid the displaced Christian families.” It notes
the Iraqi government “did not assume its responsibilities toward the displaced
persons living in Kurdistan.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">ISIS control over Iraq’s territory presents an enormous
threat to the region.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The religious cleansing of Mosul’s minorities is only part
of the problem, but it is a grave crime against humanity, as well as a
humanitarian catastrophe, that should no longer go overlooked in U.S. policy.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nina Shea is director of Hudson Institute’s Center for
Religious Freedom</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hamas backers spend fortunes on rockets and tunnels while
Gazans live in misery</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/paul-alster"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">Paul
Alster</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Published August 08, 2014, </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">FoxNews.com</span></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">HAIFA, Israel – The latest ceasefire between Israel and
Hamas ended Friday morning when Hamas resumed its costly campaign of rocket
attacks on Israel even as its 2 million constituents suffer from wrenching
poverty.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although the millions of Palestinians packed into the small
strip suffer from chronic unemployment, and lack of electricity and running
water, Hamas and its backers such as Qatar have spent hundreds of millions of
dollars on tunnels and rockets with one goal in mind: killing Israelis.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When you look at
what Hamas did with all the cement and the materials that went into Gaza for
‘building’, and you now see that most went on the tunnels, you understand that
from their point of view the civilian side is not important,” retired Maj. Gen.
Yaakov Amidror, former national security advisor to the prime minister of
Israel and director of the Intelligence Analysis Division in Israel’s Military
Intelligence, told </span><a href="http://foxnews.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">FoxNews.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So far, Israel has destroyed some 32 terror tunnels – each
one requiring the equivalent of 350 truckloads of building supplies and costing
up to $3 million to create, according to the IDF. And 3,360 short and
medium-range rockets have been fired at Israel by Hamas and other militant
Islamist groups, likely costing millions more.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hamas’ arsenal- estimates suggest they still retain a
significant number of missiles - includes home-made crude Qassam rockets,as
well as longer-range more sophisticated weapons such as the Iranian Grad and
Fajr5, and Syrian-made M302’s. Hamas had scores of rocket launching sites, many
placed in or close to schools, mosques, and hospitals - including missiles
hidden in UNRWA schools on three separate occasions.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Regional experts argue that Hamas’ terror infrastructure
shows the terrorist group elected to power in 2006 shows its economic policies
place war on Israel above the welfare of its own people. Gaza’s total gross
domestic product is approximately $750 million, and although funding for
attacks on Israel often comes from patrons like Iran, Turkey, and Qatar, true
economic aid from Gaza’s allies should be spent to better the lives of
Palestinians, experts say.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Hamas is the same movement that runs both the civilian and
the military [in Gaza],” said Amidror. “So when the money is going to Hamas, it
is going both for civilian and military purposes. There is no question that
Qatar is the biggest funder of Hamas. In the past it was more taxes from the
tunnels that ran from the Sinai Peninsula [that funded Hamas], but today there
is no question that it is Qatar more than anyone else.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2012, the former Emir of Qatar visited Gaza and made a
donation of $400 million to Hamas, a donation The New York Times reported would
go towards “two housing complexes, rehabilitate three main roads, and create a
prosthetic center, among other projects.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hamas appear to have diverted the funds to terror projects.
The Qatari smoke screen of donating to ‘civilian projects’ fools few people,
Israeli officials say.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In one of his final speeches last month before he stepped
down as president of Israel, Shimon Peres also highlighted Qatar as the main
financier of the Gaza regime.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The <i>Jerusalem Post </i>reported that Peres “charged
Qatar, saying that Qatar had no right to spend millions of petrol dollars to
enable Hamas to build rockets and tunnels instead of developing Gaza.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meanwhile, the Palestinians who suffer under Hamas’
governance can only watch as money that could have been spent to improve their
lives is spent on rockets and tunnels now being systematically destroyed by the
IDF.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Most of Gaza’s civilians survive in substandard living
conditions without the infrastructure to support basic sanitation, running
water, and a sewer system,” said Itamar Gelbman, a former IDF special forces
lieutenant and a U.S.-based security consultant. “The unemployment rate is over
40 percent and for the lucky ones who actually do work, they have to settle for
an average salary of $16 per day.” Gelbman said instead of building terror
tunnels, Hamas could have used the same money, equipment, and engineering to
construct sewage and water treatment facilities, improve old infrastructure,
build schools, and even create beach front resorts </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While
its leaders live lavish lifestyles with luxurious villas on the Mediterranean
shore, most Gazans sit and suffer as government workers go unpaid and money
that could have been used to improve many lives continues to be squandered on
Hamas’ pursuit of destroying Israel. “Only judging by their deeds you
understand that there is no way that [Qatari] money went to civilian programs”
said Amidror. “The materials went for military purposes.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <i>Paul Alster is an Israel-based journalist. Follow
him on Twitter </i></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/paul%20_%20alster"><i><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">@paul_alster</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
and visit his website: </span></i><a href="http://www.paulalster.com/"><i><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">www.paulalster.com</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Syria and Iraq thousands of
innocents are dying every week, mostly out of the view of the international
media. Muslims killed at the hands of other Muslims, or Muslims killing
Christians, executed by Qatari and Saudi Arabian-sponsored jihadists for
refusing to convert to Islam. The international outcry, relative to that on the
Hamas-Israel conflict, is minimal.</span></span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Copperplate Gothic Bold","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;">Gaza Strip conflict: Israel
wins war but is badly wounded by media coverage</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By </span></span></b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/paul-alster"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">Paul Alster</span></span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, Published August 05, 2014, </span></span></b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">FoxNews.com</span></span></b></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Haifa,
Israel – On Monday afternoon, August 4, day 27 of the latest war between
Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed to FoxNews.com
that it has carried out 4,712 air strikes on strategic targets in the Gaza
Strip. According to Hamas figures there have been around 1,800 fatalities in
the enclave, “mostly women and children.” Israel, mainly due to its Iron
Dome missile defense system, has sustained 66 casualties, only three being
civilian. You do the math. If, as its most vociferous opponents charge,
Israel is committing war crimes in its bombardment of Gaza, a bombardment that
comes in response to more than 10,000 rockets fired indiscriminately into
Israel over recent years – and more than 3,300 in the last 27 days alone
-- how come the death toll in Gaza averages less than 1 person for close
to each three targeted Israeli strikes into what is, by common consent, one of
the most heavily populated urban areas on the globe? Does that smack of random
bombing? Does it reflect a lack of morality? Or does it reflect, as Colonel
Richard Kemp, former commander of British forces in Afghanistan has stated time
and again during this and previous Israel-Gaza conflicts, that “Israel is the
one country in the Western world today that is standing up for its morality and
for its values against the onslaught of international jihad.” There has been
scant questioning by the international media and by governments around the
world of the figures on the dead given by Hamas. There has been very little
attention paid to whether or not Hamas’ assertion that most of the dead are
women and children is correct. Previous conflicts involving Hamas have shown
them to be more than a little economical with the truth where figures are
concerned. Hamas’ policy of embedding itself in heavily populated areas, its
firing missiles from or close to schools, hospitals, and mosques, appears
to be cynically designed to draw maximum casualties. The 4,712 Israeli
airstrikes that have reportedly decimated Hamas' terror infrastructure, had
they been carried out by any other force, would likely have caused the death of
many tens if not hundreds of thousands of people. In Syria and Iraq
thousands of innocents are dying every week, mostly out of the view of the
international media. Muslims killed at the hands of other Muslims, or Muslims
killing Christians, executed by Qatari and Saudi Arabian-sponsored jihadists
for refusing to convert to Islam. The international outcry, relative to that on
the Hamas-Israel conflict, is minimal. “Don’t think for a second please that
Hamas cares for the children’s blood,” Mossab Hassan Yousef, son of Hamas
founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, explained in a Fox News television interview a
few days ago. “They want the children of Gaza to die. This is what gives
them Arab and Islamic world sympathy, and this is what will condemn Israel internationally.
This is their game and they’re happy about it<b>.” </b>Yousef has bravely
spoken out against his family’s deeply ingrained doctrine and Hamas’ terrorist <i>raison
d’etre</i><b>. </b></span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The convert
to Christianity’s life is constantly at risk as he attempts to show a world
broadly indifferent to Hamas’ macabre tactics, just what is going on, and why
-- even allowing for stray Israeli shells that have occasionally, tragically,
hit the wrong targets -- Israel has, in Yousef’s words, “No choice but to
defend itself.”</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The only
way, I believe, to fight an organization like Hamas” Yousef explains, “is to
unmask them by exposing their ideology; what they stand for. Hamas is not a
political party. It’s not even a Palestinian organization. Hamas hijacked the
so-called ‘Palestinian cause’ and infiltrated the society to push their
religious ideological agenda.”</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hamas is
sponsored, funded, armed, and given technical support and guidance primarily by
Qatar, Iran, and Turkey. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In fear of
losing world sympathy, Hamas never refers to the number of its terrorists that
have been killed. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It won’t
allow the international media to show pictures of its hundreds of dead
fighters; Israeli sources suggest that as many as 800 of the dead are
terrorists. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If Hamas did
let the media see a truer picture of Gazan casualties, the chances are that
open-minded people would soon figure out for themselves that a very significant
proportion of the dead are terrorists, something that would clearly suggest
Israel has indeed been selective in its choice of targets.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While for
most decent people the preservation of human life is paramount, Hamas has
indoctrinated its children from as soon as they can speak to believe that death
and rewards in heaven are to be prized above all else. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking on
Hamas’ Al Aqsa TV only last week, Hamas Chief of Staff, Muhammad Deif crowed,
“Today you [Israelis] are fighting divine soldiers, who love death for Allah
like you love life, and who compete among themselves for martyrdom like you
flee from death. We love death like our enemies love life!”</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But despite
the figures that appear to back up Israel’s assertion that its army is doing
all it can to minimize civilian losses, the masses of air strikes it has
aborted at the last second because the potential collateral damage (innocent
civilian count) would be too high, and the fact that it has uncovered a
dizzying network of terror tunnels dug from Gaza into Israel that had been
prepared for use in a mass terror attacks on Israeli soil, some observers feel
that Israel has been tried and summarily found guilty by a majority of the mass
media without all the relevant evidence having been duly considered.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking to </span></span><a href="http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/07/30/col-richard-kemp-israeli-pilot-aborted-gaza-strike-17-times-to-protect-civilians-jewish-people-should-be-proud-of-the-state-of-israel-interview/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">The Algemeiner</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> on July 30, Colonel Kemp put
Israel’s media dilemma in perspective.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The starting
point for so much of the world’s media, opinion-makers, political leaders,
NGOs, human rights groups, will always be that whatever Israel does is wrong…
You see images of dead babies, dead boys on the beach, women screaming about
their children, and no reality can overcome those images. It’s understandable
in a way, because it is heart-wrenching… the problem is that there’s no
reference, no open-mindedness to the fact that the only reason that these
children have been killed is because of Hamas’ aggression towards Israel.”</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paul
Alster is an Israel-based journalist. Follow him on Twitter </span></span></i><a href="http://www.twitter.com/paul%20_%20alster"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">@paul_alster</span></span></i></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and visit his website: </span></span></i><a href="http://www.paulalster.com/"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: Calibri;">www.paulalster.com</span></span></i></a><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To the
Islamist fanatics the only international law they recognize is Koranic Sharia
law-a law they falsely think comes from God (it comes from their false prophet)
and a law that they desire to make the universal and highest law on earth. To
them, its a war of conquest-conquering the world for God.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan faced a new outcry on Friday over his attitude to the media and women
after he branded a prominent female journalist a "shameless woman"
and told her "to know your place". Just ahead of Sunday's
presidential election which he is clear favourite to win, Erdogan savaged
Amberin Zaman, who writes for the Economist and the Turkish daily Taraf, over
comments she made in a television debate. She had asked the main opposition
leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the debate whether any Muslim society was capable
of challenging its authorities. Erdogan lashed out at Zaman, without mentioning
her directly by name, at an election rally in the eastern city of Malatya on
Thursday, calling her a "shameless woman". "A militant in the
guise of a journalist, a shameless woman... Know your place!" he declared.
"They gave you a pen and you are writing a column in a newspaper... and
you insult a society that is 99 percent Muslim," he said, drawing loud
boos from the crowd. This is not the first time Erdogan has lashed out at
journalists, who have come under increasing pressure in Turkey, which has more
reporters behind bars than any other country in the world. The government's
attitude towards women is also under heavy scrutiny, after Deputy Prime
Minister Bulent Arinc caused a furore by suggesting women should not laugh
loudly in public.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- 'Her safety threatened' -</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Economist released a statement
in response to the salvo, saying "we stand firmly by" its
correspondent of 15 years. "The intimidation of journalists has no place
in a democracy. Under Mr Erdogan, Turkey has become an increasingly difficult
place for independent journalism," it said. Zaman responded to Erdogan
through her column in the Taraf newspaper, writing: "You are lynching a
Muslim woman who described what you are doing. Because women are sitting
targets, aren't they?" She said she had been the target of a smear
campaign by pro-government media outlets, who had called her a "Jewish
bitch" who should become a "concubine" of Islamist jihadists in
Iraq.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Liberal News
Media is really the Democrat Propaganda machine-they won't change-therefore it is
incumbent on us to challenge the evil system and hopefully bring it down.</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Hundreds of Egyptian
women and girls kidnapped, forced into Islam, claims report</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Jack Ellis</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Published June 20,
2014</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #183a52;">FoxNews.com</span></span></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Fifteen-year-old
Amira Hafez Wahim slipped out of the Christian church in Luxor, Egypt, where
she had attended services with her mother in February, promising to dash to a
nearby store and return quickly. Five months later, she has not been seen
since, although her parents immediately suspected a 28-year-old Muslim man
named Yasser Mahmoud, who had tried to kidnap her before, had succeeded this
time. When her father went to the Civil Status Authority for a copy of her
birth certificate, his fears were confirmed: Her name had been changed and she
was now listed as Muslim. Amira is one of approximately 550 Coptic Christian
girls and women who have disappeared in Egypt over the last three years,
according to a report from the Egyptian Association of Victims of Abduction and
Enforced Disappearances. Ebnar Louis, the Cairo activist who founded the
association in 2010, said police are typically indifferent to reports of
missing girls. “We file an official police report, but it is often ignored,”
Louis told the humanitarian think tank Atlantic Council. The reasons behind
this alleged police indifference are unclear. It could be individual sectarian
bias, inadequate resources and funding, or plain incompetence. The report
concluded that many of the missing females were abducted by Salafi Muslims and
forced to convert to Islam and marry their captors once estranged from their
families. It found the abductions increased after secular strongman Hosni
Mubarak was overthrown in 2011 and replaced by Muslim Brotherhood-aligned
Mohammed Morsi. Although Morsi was in turn ousted by the military nearly a year
ago, the abductions have continued. Of the 550 missing females AVAED has
investigated, only 10 have returned home and offered testimony. But the 10 who
made it back tell a familiar tale that Louis’ group believes reveals an
organized effort by Salafi extremists to kidnap, marry and convert Coptic women
and girls. The American Center for Law and Justice, which has called on the
Obama administration to speak out for religious freedom in the Middle East and
Africa, believes there is an ominous goal behind the abductions. “The
kidnappings are increasing, and many in the Coptic community believe that it is
an attempt to systematically reduce the population of the Coptic community,”
said ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekulow. Sekulow noted that the 550 figure
far exceeds the approximately 300 Nigerian school girls recently kidnapped and
forced to convert by Muslim terrorist group Boko Haram. That case drew
international condemnation, but the lower-profile, drawn-out wave of abductions
in Egypt has gone largely under the radar.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">“The
international community must stand boldly to let the Egyptian authorities know
that this is a matter of grave concern," Sekulow said</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">The story of Coptic Christian girls
being abducted by Muslim men is unfortunately not new, but is scarcely reported
by the Democrat Liberal News Media Establishment. </span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Iraq crisis: Rarely has a US president
been so wrong about so much</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">By
Dick and Liz Cheney WSJ</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">As
the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) threaten Baghdad,
thousands of slaughtered Iraqis in their wake, it is worth recalling a few of
President Obama's past statements about ISIS and Al Qaeda. "If a J.V. team
puts on Lakers' uniforms that doesn't make them Kobe Bryant" (January 2014).
"[C]ore Al Qaeda is on its heels, has been decimated" (August 2013).
"So, let there be no doubt: The tide of war is receding" (September
2011).</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Rarely
has a U.S. president been so wrong about so much at the expense of so many. Too
many times to count, Mr. Obama has told us he is "ending" the wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan—as though wishing made it so.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">His
rhetoric has now come crashing into reality. Watching the black-clad ISIS
jihadists take territory once secured by American blood is final proof, if any
were needed, that America's enemies are not "decimated." They are
emboldened and on the march.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">The
fall of the Iraqi cities of Fallujah, Tikrit, Mosul and Tel Afar, and the
establishment of terrorist safe havens across a large swath of the Arab world, present
a strategic threat to the security of the United States. Mr. Obama's
actions—before and after ISIS's recent advances in Iraq—have the effect of
increasing that threat.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">America is Becoming a police State</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">With
so much happening internationally and the number of scandals, crises and
general screw-ups of the Obama administration here at home, it’s worth noting a
disturbing development here on the domestic front: a rapidly expanding police
state.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">On
my radio program last week I had the pleasure of speaking with Cheryl Chumley,
a reporter for The Washington Times, about her new book, “Police State USA: How
George Orwell’s Nightmare is Becoming our Reality.” The title says it all, and
aptly describes the shocking transformation of what had been our free society.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">We
all know about the scope of National Security Agency (NSA) spying. It’s fair to
say at this point in our lives that the notion of privacy is all but dead and
gone. However, it didn’t start there. In her book, Mrs. Chumley takes us on a
ride through history, reminding us of the original intentions of the Founding
Fathers versus the assault on the original design by “21st century realities.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Keep
in mind, people in the political class constantly reveal their contempt for
regular citizens. That contempt is the inevitable result of a group of people
who have convinced themselves that big government is necessary because the
little people can’t control their own lives.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">These
same politicians and bureaucrats then begin to see themselves a genuinely
better than everyone else. After all, if they were just like us, then they’d be
part of the rabble, and they can’t have that. The solution to their dilemma is
a police state.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Mrs.
Chumley’s chapters in “Police State USA” provide a treatise on all the elements
of society that are under attack as big government seeks to sustain itself
through a police state, including aspects of an expanding and increasingly
paranoid bureaucratic system that has decided the individual is the problem.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Regarding
our nation being under attack by thugs intent on creating a police state, Mrs.
Chumley notes:</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">“The
Founding Fathers wouldn’t recognize America today. The God-given freedoms they
championed in the Bill of Rights have been chipped away over the years by an
ever-intrusive government bent on controlling all aspects of our lives in the
name of safety and security. NSA wire-tapping and data collection is Orwellian
in its scope. The TSA, BLM, and IRS are all jockeying for control of our lives.
Warrantless searches are on the rise and even encouraged in some communities.
Free speech, the right to bear arms, private property, and freedom of religion
all are under attack. The Constitution has been tossed on the same trash pile
as the Bible.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Spying
is one thing, but control is, in fact, key. During the Obama administration,
most of us have grown concerned about the massive buy-up of ammunition of
various federal agencies. The U.S. Postal Service, the Department of
Agriculture, the Commerce Department and even the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, among so many other agencies, have acquired
billions of rounds of ammunition.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">In
an article for Newsmax, Mrs. Chumley spoke with Philip Van Cleave, president of
the Virginia Citizens Defense League, who asked a telling question: “Why
exactly does a weather service need ammunition?</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">“NOAA
— really? They have a need? One just doesn’t know why they’re doing this,” he
said. “The problem is, all these agencies have their own SWAT teams, their own
police departments, which is crazy. In theory, it was supposed to be the U.S.
marshals that was the armed branch for the federal government.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">In
addition to mini-police forces attached to federal agencies, Mrs. Chumley
addresses the “acquisition by police departments of major battlefield equipment
emboldens officials to strong-arm those they should be protecting.” </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">The
New York Times reports, “During the Obama administration, according to Pentagon
data, police departments have received tens of thousands of machine guns;
nearly 200,000 ammunition magazines; thousands of pieces of camouflage and
night-vision equipment; and hundreds of silencers, armored cars and aircraft.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Silencers?
Machine guns? Now why would local law enforcement need that sort of gear?</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">They
do if they’re conditioning everyone, including local law enforcement itself, to
believe that a police state is necessary and inevitable. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">The
good news is, that’s a lie. It doesn’t have to be either. </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Speaking
to a solution, Cheryl Chumley’s book concludes with a call to “Throw the bums
out — why virtue, accountability are key.”</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">It’s
one thing to have this unfold, and quite another to allow it to continue. One
of the first things necessary to take back this nation is becoming informed.
“Police State USA” is the book that will get you there and inspire you to
defend this nation from big government zealots who believe you won’t notice
what they’re up to.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Tammy
Bruce is a radio talk-show host, New York Times best-selling author and Fox
News political contributor.</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Assad's inferno: Can
Syria be saved?</span></b></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/kenneth-bandler"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #183a52;">Kenneth
Bandler</span></span></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Published June 20,
2014</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #183a52;">FoxNews.com</span></span></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Syria
continues to descend deeper and deeper into perdition, surpassing even Dante’s
legendary nine circles of hell. When President Bashar al-Assad initiated the
conflict more than three years ago, he promised that others would pay
heavily—and they have. Assad’s inferno has reached far beyond Syria’s borders. As
I write, a Muslim Frenchman, who did a year’s stint with the ISIS in Syria, is
in custody for murdering four people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels on May
24. This was an ominous act of terrorism that confirmed European and U.S. fears
about the whereabouts of the estimated hundreds, if not thousands, of jihadist
adherents who made the trek to Syria to join up with the ISIS and similar
groups. While not allied with Assad and his Iranian benefactors, ISIS continues
to thrive in Syria amidst the chaos his regime has generated and fostered. Now
it has also violently expanded its capture of territory in Iraq. It all began
in March 2011 with the arrest and torture of Syrian schoolchildren, an outrage
that sparked an outcry from their parents and led to mass, peaceful protests in
major Syrian cities. But Assad could not bear any public criticism, let alone
suggestions for reform. His regime responded with an ongoing mix of brutal
repression aimed at instilling fear among Syrians, and the desire to do maximum
damage to them and their country.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">The
UN stopped trying to keep count of the dead from the three years of conflict
last January.The official death toll of 160,000 is already out of date and
continues to rise.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Syria
has been designated the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. More than 9
million people—about 40 percent of the population—have been displaced,
one-third of them living as refugees in neighboring Jordan, Lebanon and other
countries.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">More
than 50 percent of the refugees are under age 18, constituting a lost
generation deprived of education, proper health care and other humanitarian
assistance.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">The
future for Syria’s youngsters, as well as for their families, is uncertain.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Even
if one day they could return home, what would they find? Assad’s regime has
systematically destroyed buildings, even whole neighborhoods, in cities and
towns across the country. Syria’s ancient heritage has also not been spared.
The leveling of the 400-year-old Eliyahu Hanabi Synagogue in the Damascus
suburb of Jobar, with the attendant loss of generations of Syrian Jewish
artifacts, was just the latest destructive assault on religious and cultural
sites.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Cloistered
in Damascus, insulated from much of the destruction his loyalists have
produced, Assad has outlived persistent forecasts of his demise. His staying
power is unlike other leaders in the region who were quickly felled by the Arab
Spring uprisings.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Assad
has survived, albeit with extraordinary costs to this own country, ignoring
demands for his departure and refusing even to negotiate with opponents. Two
peace conferences in Geneva failed, and two UN/Arab League envoys, Kofi Annan
and Lakhdar Brahimi, resigned in frustration.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Assad’s
reelection as president, cynically held in the midst of civil war and with the
result never in doubt, gave him a public endorsement to carry on his reign of
terror for at least another seven years. Never mind that the alleged high
turnout took into account only those who could find places to vote inside
war-torn Syria, or to line up at some embassies in other countries. Among the
first to congratulate Assad upon his victory was the head of the Iranian
election monitors team which, along with representatives of Venezuela and other
self-styled bastions of democracy, gave full approval to the voting process and
the results. Iran has been an Assad ally like no other, sending regular
shipments of arms, often through Iraqi airspace, and also supplying the
Lebanon-based Hezbollah, another foreign force that entered the Syrian war to
help Assad.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Iran’s
role in the Syria conflict, however, has been mostly disregarded in the P5+1
talks focusing on its nuclear program. “No deal is better than a bad deal” is
the current mantra, but will “no deal” actually prevent Tehran from achieving
the capacity to build a nuclear weapon? Finding a way to extend the talks
beyond the July 20th deadline is vital. And, if all the parties agree, adding
the Syria file to the agenda will also be critical. That will give the five UN
Security Council members – Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S. -- and
Germany another chance to devise a common approach on the Syria crisis, however
difficult Russia in particular, largely supported by China, has proved to be in
forging a consensus on Syria. Saving Syria and preventing its war from further
inflaming the region, and beyond, should be an urgent international priority.
The U.S. can exert leadership, but without cooperation from others, there will
be no way out of the intricate maze of hell Assad has fashioned.</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Kenneth
Bandler is the American Jewish Committee’s director of media relations.</span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<br /><br />
<h1 style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin: 0.67em 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";">State vs. faith: What’s at stake in the Hobby Lobby case</span></h1>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By </span></span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/michael-zigarelli"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">Michael Zigarelli</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">, Published June 27, 2014, </span></span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">FoxNews.com</span></span></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Monday the U.S. Supreme Court will decide </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sebelius v. Hobby
Lobby Stores</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">, a case that will clarify whether business owners can express
their religious beliefs through their business policies.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here’s the issue. Hobby Lobby, a nationwide chain of
arts-and-crafts stores, objects to providing the so-called “morning-after pill”
to its employees as mandated by the Affordable Care Act (the “ObamaCare”
law). The company already provides generous health care benefits to its
13,000 full-time employees and will more than comply with the required minimums
in the new law, but its owner, David Green, a devout Christian, will not pay
for the pills that prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus. If
life begins at conception, Green reasons, then the pill causes an abortion. A
trial court ruled against Hobby Lobby, fining Green $1.3 million </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">per day</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">
for non-compliance, beginning January 1, 2013. The Tenth Circuit reversed its
decision and now the case is in the hands of the nine Justices.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It’s the highest profile of many recent state-versus-faith
cases, several of which involve Christian entrepreneurs who decline to
participate in same-sex weddings—florists, photographers, deejays and bakers.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It’s nothing less than a secular Inquisition. In response,
legislators in nearby Arizona passed a bill to protect the religious liberty of
business owners, permitting them to refuse transactions that contravene their
faith. Missouri, Georgia and Kansas have similar bills in the pipeline.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Predictably, many in the media were apoplectic, single-mindedly
framing the Arizona bill as “anti-gay,” “bigoted” and a return to the days of
“no blacks allowed.” And through this narrative, more opinion-shaping than
reporting, they browbeat Governor Jan Brewer into vetoing the bill.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">However, the situation is so different in degree from Jim Crow
that it’s different in kind. These Christian business owners don’t want to turn
away gay customers; that money is as green as any other. They simply don’t want
to contribute in any way to the gay marriage movement. So they’ll sell you
roses, just not for a wedding. And they’ll sell you cupcakes and birthday
cakes, just not a wedding cake. Homosexuals can buy 99 percent of the products
in such businesses. It's hardly “no gays allowed.”</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The real agenda here is “no faith allowed.” It’s happened in the
public schools; now it’s happening in the workplace. And the tactic is an old
one: Hijack the discussion and blame the believer. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Justify your bias,” says the reporter. “Explain your
discrimination. Repent of your ignorance. Be tolerant of those who disagree
with you.” They conveniently ignore that the logic cuts both ways.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Justify your bias </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">against Christians</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Explain your
discrimination </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">against people of faith</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Repent of your ignorance </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">of
the First Amendment</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Be tolerant of those </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Christians</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> who disagree
with you.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">One wonders what the media would say about a black baker being
jailed for refusing to cater a KKK rally or an Israeli lawyer being fined for
not representing neo-Nazis. The violation of conscience is equally egregious.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There’s more at stake, though, than mere single-mindedness and
double-standards. If the law requires business owners, under threat of state
punishment, to abdicate their bona fide religious beliefs, then we are adopting
a new form of governance -- one that’s more Pyongyang than Peoria.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">And on with sweeping implications. An adverse ruling in the </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hobby
Lobby</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> case—or any similar religious liberty cases—means that private,
faith-based schools and colleges will be next.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Also in the crosshairs will be pastors. Preach that the practice
of homosexuality is sin and be slapped with a gag order, a fine, and maybe some
jail time. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">An exaggeration? Look at Sweden if you want a crystal
ball. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pentecostal pastor Ake Green was prosecuted and sentenced to a
month in prison (eventually overturned) for preaching against the practice of
homosexuality. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Look also at Canada where William Whatcott has been arrested
repeatedly and fined thousands of dollars for his street teaching on the issue.
The charge? “Hate speech.” </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you don’t like what the Bible says, criminalize the sharing
of it. Yes, this is </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Canada</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">, not Iran.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ultimately we’ll see the </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">coup de grace</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">, the closing of
churches that refuse to marry gay couples. It’s almost inevitable since the
principle is the same: You can’t deny some “customers” service because of your
faith. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Couldn’t happen? Look at Denmark where in 2012 the Parliament
voted 85-24 to compel its Lutheran churches to perform same-sex weddings.</span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is why the Hobby Lobby case matters so much -- and not just
for business. </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If we live in a country where we can’t express our faith through
our business, then we may someday live in a country where we can’t express our
faith at all.</span></span></div>
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Michael Zigarelli is
the editor of </span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.christianity9to5.org/" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #183a52;">Christianity9to5.org</span></span></i></a></span>Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-79318313620142375972014-06-25T09:01:00.001-07:002014-06-25T09:01:05.822-07:00
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Local
Pastor in Movie deal to make a Biblical Epic</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Local pastor, Stephen Missick, of King of Saints
Tabernacle in Cleveland, Texas, is developing a script for a Biblical film for
a Hollywood film producer. Film producer Harvey Rochman has contacted Pastor
Missick and asked him to develop a script about the Apostle Thomas in India. In
the Bible, Thomas is one of the Twelve Apostles. He is known as “Doubting
Thomas” because of his refusal to believe the resurrection of Jesus without
first having placed his finger through the nail print in Christ’s hands.
According to extra-biblical accounts, the Apostle Thomas traveled to India in
order to preach the Gospel of Jesus there. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Pastor Missick believes that his is an ideal time to
produce a Biblical epic. He says, “In early 2014 we have seen two Biblical
blockbusters, “Son of God,” and “Noah.” Noah had a gross of $100 million in the
USA and it may have made even more money if not for the controversy surrounding
it. The “Son of God” movie made $67 million dollars, although most of what was
in the film was already aired footage from “The Bible: The Epic Miniseries”
television miniseries. Other recent faith-based movies, such as “Heaven is
Real” and “God is not Dead” have preformed well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“God is not Dead” was made on a budget of less
than $2 million, but has grossed over $70 million. Later this year “The Exodus”
starring Christian Bale as Moses will be released to theaters. This shows that
there is an audience that is willing to support Biblical and faith-based
movies. The story of “Doubting” Thomas is marketable for several reasons.
First, it will be a biblical epic (which are profitable as is seen above) and
secondly, it also has an appeal to a global audience, in this case, to India.
Hollywood has recently began making movies that appeal to a world audience and
to India. We see this in “Slum-dog Millionaire,” “Million-dollar Arm,” “The
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” and “Life of Pi.” (Note, life of Pi dealt with
spiritual themes, and portrayed an Indian boy coming to faith in Jesus Christ.)
Also, this is something that is new and unique. The story of Saint Thomas’
missionary journey to India comes from the era of the early church fathers.
However, few are aware of this story so it will seem new and is sure to spark
conversation. Christianity is the third largest religion in India, and there is
a large group of Christians in southern India who consider their church to have
been founded by the Apostle Thomas. “</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Harvey
Rochman is a film producer who produced <i>Lost Junction</i> (2003), and <i>Misconceptions</i>
(2009) and is an internationally known media facilitator. Harvey is a key
figure in the rapidly expanding global multi-media network. Harvey has traveled
the world, retracing the ancient route of Alexander the Great, absorbing the
core ideas and cultural aspirations of developing nations. He has predicted
that Hollywood will play to a world-wide audience in the 21st century, with
heroes and stories from other venues beyond American stereotypes. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 3pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
audience for Hollywood movies is international, and now Hollywood is beginning
to tell international stories. International settings are beginning to be seen
in many of the Marvel Comics movies for instance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an interview with Michael St. John his
home in Key West, Florida , Harvey Rochman said, “Studio chiefs still act like
they're living in the days when the target audience for movies was Main Street,
U.S.A., But they're wrong. That type of thinking is outdated. Today, the
fastest-growing audiences are not on Main Street. They're in Beijing, New
Delhi, South Korea, Indonesia, and Mexico, to name a few. These are countries
in which people want to see <i>their</i> stories up on the big screen. When
Hollywood doesn't deliver, a home-grown film industry will inevitably take its
place. Hence the phenomenal growth of Bollywood over the past two decades.”</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According
to Mr. St. John, “Rochman is hard at work arranging financing for movies that
tell those global stories. And as adamant as he is that the U.S. film industry
must begin looking for stories from abroad for its next generation of movies,
he's equally adamant that telling those stories will benefit the West just as
much as it will benefit the rest of the world.” Mr. Rochman says, “The decades
of Western dominance, of American and European dominance over world culture, is
coming to an end. If Hollywood can see this trend, understand it, and grow
accordingly, there will be a treasure trove of new, fresh, and exciting movies
to make, and a global audience of billions to pay to see them. But if Hollywood
insists on remaining trapped in the previous century, it will see its global
importance and relevance diminish, year by year, until it's too late.”</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According
to Pastor Missick, the mantle of Christian leadership is also passing on to the
“third world.” He says, “You often hear about the decline of Christianity in
the west. I think this is greatly exaggerated, but there is doubtlessly an
expansion of Christianity in the third world. This phenomenon has been written
about in “The Next Christendom” by Phillip Jenkins and “Whose Religion is
Christianity?” by Lamin Sanneh. Evangelical Christianity is becoming more
racially and culturally diverse. I have been blessed to participate in this
dynamic spiritual movement when I held evangelistic outreaches in Uganda and
India. We are beginning to move beyond the “Euro-Centric” view of Christianity.
I think that the story of Saint Thomas is important because it is also about
the Gospel beyond the West. It breaks false stereotypes concerning how people
view Christianity. Since Thomas arrived in India there has been a significant
Christian community there and now Christianity is the third largest religion in
India. While the essential beliefs are the same, Christianity in India is
culturally eastern.” According to Pastor Missick there is a large body of
literature attributed to Saint Thomas. “Among the Aramaic Christians, there was
a strong devotion to the Apostle Thomas, because they considered Thomas and
Thaddeus to be the founders of their church. So we have two Gospels of Thomas,
an Acts of Thomas, Psalms of Thomas and a Revelation of Thomas. I am using
these sources as I adapt the story for my script.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Harvey
Rochman discovered Pastor Missick through the article that he had written for
the Journal of Assyrian Academic Studies on the Christians of Saint Thomas in
India.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stephen
Missick graduated Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and serves as a
chaplain in the United States Army National Guard and has served in Iraq twice.
His church, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">King of Saints Church is a non-denominational church
that meets on 2228 FM 1127, Cleveland, Texas. Services are held Saturday
morning. For more information call 281-592-4104</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 4.5pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don't feel helpless with the
current situation befalling Assyrian Christians, there are many way you can
help.</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. Pray - that God protects them
from this evil and gives them strength and hope.<br />
2. Donate - There are many christians organisations, NGOs helping the Christian
Refugees.<br />
3. Spread the news - Tell everyone about the situation, the more people know
the plight of Assyrian Christians in Iraq the better.<br />
4. Get online and spread the Message about the situation.<br />
5. Tell you local government members, write letters, through social media, any
means.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can do all or many of the above, not doing anything does not
help anyone!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Radio Program</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">American
Family Radio serves a vital function in keeping American Evangelical Christians
abreast of important issues and events. Right now there is a crisis for the
Christians in the Middle East.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Most
American Evangelicals have a profound ignorance about our brothers and sisters
in Christ in the Arabic and Islamic world. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It is
important to support Israel, but there are Christians in Syria, Iraq, and Egypt
of whom we need to be aware, who we need to pray for and advocate for. It seems
that Evangelicals view the Middle East through the prism of Israel, but there
is a significant Christian population, certain important dynamics that are
playing out, and other perspectives of which Evangelical Christians must be
aware. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Now is a
critical time. The population of Christians in Iraq has declined to less than
1/3 of what it was ten years ago. If these trends continue, we will see the
disappearance of Christianity in the land of its birth. And, Christian
communities that have survived 1,400 years of Islamic persecution will finally
die out, during our life time. With the rise of Isis, the Assyrian Christian
community in Iraq may disappear in a matter of months. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There
are important Aramaic-speaking Assyrian villages in Eastern Syria, now under
Isis control. Now, the Assyrians of Northern Iraq are also under ISIS control.
This could be the end of the Assyrian Christian community’s presence in their
homeland.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We need
a paradigm shift in how American Evangelicals view the Middle East. We tend to
view the region through the prism of the Arab-Israeli conflict. There are other
things going on that we must be aware of. It would be unacceptable for
Americans to view all of Europe through the conflicts in Northern Ireland and
looking at the entire region of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Middle
East only through Israel is also folly. I believe<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel is important. But Evangelical support
for Israel is highly organized while we leave the Christian there to die. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It is
imperative for Evangelical Christians to act now. I want to appeal to the American
Family Association to consider starting at least a weekly one-hour radio
program that focuses on issues of Christians in the Islamic world. The program
can focus on the historical legacy of Middle Eastern Christianity, its history
and theological contributions, and issues of religious persecution and
discrimination arising out of Islamic extremism. I believe this is an urgent
crisis.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If ISIS
prevails, Assyrians are doomed. If Iraq becomes an Iranian protectorate, Iran’s
radical Islamist regime will control Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon and parts
of Afghanistan. This does not bode well for the future. And it is a consequence
of bad foreign policy decisions on the part of the Obama administration. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I have
lived in many countries of the Middle East and have extensive knowledge about
the Assyrian Christians of Mesopotamia and the Coptic Christians of Egypt. I
have visited Egypt, Israel and the “Palestinian Territories,” Lebanon, and
Syria. While I served in the Iraq War, I lived in Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I have
several videos up at my youtube channel if you want to check me out (www.
youtube.com/aramaic12). I have graduated with a Masters of Divinity from
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are interested, please
contact me at 832-455-2978 or 281-592-4104. I reside in Cleveland, Texas.
Perhaps, at the very least, some of your hosts for your radio programs can let
me call in and we can discuss who the Christians of the Middle East are and
what are the problems that they are currently facing. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The religious
cleansing of Iraq's Christians</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/lela-gilbert"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Lela
Gilbert</span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Published June 19,
2014</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/"><span style="color: #183a52; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">FoxNews.com</span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Just
a year ago, after months of bombings, shootings and kidnappings, Baghdad’s
Monsignor Pios Cacha made a grim prediction. He said that his Iraqi Christian
community was experiencing the kind of religious cleansing that eradicated the
country’s once-thriving Jewish community half a century before.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">His
rather prophetic words made headlines in Lebanon’s </span><a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Mar-13/209889-iraqi-christians-fear-fate-of-departed-jews.ashx"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Daily Star</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">: "Iraqi Christians fear fate of departed Jews."</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Father
Cacha’s reflections couldn’t have been more prescient. As he knew very well,
Iraq was once home to 135,000 Jews. Today less than ten Jews remain in the
entire country.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">And
now, with the raging incursion of ISIS – a brutal Al Qaeda affiliated terrorist
group – the religious cleansing of Iraq’s Christians is nearing completion as
well.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Iraq’s
Christian community is hardly a western innovation or a colonial relic. It
dates from the 1<sup>st</sup> Century, when two of Jesus’ disciples – St.
Thomas and St. Thaddeus (also known as St. Jude) – preached the Gospel in what
was then Assyria. There has been a Christian presence in Iraq ever since.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">The
heartland of their community has always been in Mosul and the Nineveh Plain.
There, in recent years, the Christian population has swelled, as refugees from
Basra and Baghdad have sought protection.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">And
now, as ISIS sweeps through Iraq, an </span><a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/380032/cleansing-iraqs-christians-entering-its-end-game-nina-shea"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">estimated 150,000</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> have had to flee Mosul and their ancient Christian
heartland, some for the second time in a decade.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Thousands
of homeless families have surged into Kurdistan, where they have found
provisional shelter and security, thanks to the Kurdish people and their
battle-hardened Peshmerga militia.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Yet,
strange as it seems, few in the West are aware of the Iraqi Christians' plight
or their uncertain future. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">My
Hudson Institute colleague author Nina Shea </span><a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/380620/where-do-mosuls-christians-go-now-american-help-needed-nina-shea"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">writes</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">, “The wave of persecution that has been directed at Iraq’s
Christians after 2003 has never received much attention by either President
Bush or President Obama’s administrations, but it has been a grave human-rights
problem. The campaign against Christians has encompassed 70 deliberate church
bombings and assaults, as well as assassinations, an epidemic of kidnappings,
and other attacks against clergy and laity alike. In recent years, particularly
since 2004, a million of Iraq’s Christians have been driven out of the country
by such atrocities. This can be rightly called targeted religious cleansing,
and it is a crime against humanity.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Christians
in the Middle East know very well about the ferocious system of Islam enforced
by ISIS terrorists. When the group attacked Raqqa, Syria earlier this year,
they gave the Christians three options: “Convert. Submit to Islam. Or face the
sword.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/02/28/syria-christians-face-new-threat-convert-submit-to-islam-or-face-sword/"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">In order to save lives</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">, Raqqa’s Christian elders chose to
submit to ISIS’s 7<sup>th</sup> Century version of Muslim Sharia law and became
<i>dhimmis</i>, a subservient, second-class minority under Islamic rule.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Among
other severe demands, particularly about women’s dress, their oppressors also
forbade the repair of war-torn churches, worshiping or praying in public,
ringing church bells, or wearing crosses or other symbols of faith. Bearing
arms is forbidden, and of course alcoholic beverages are banned.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">The
Christians in Iraq know all too well what they face as ISIS carries out its
triumphant assault on Iraq – the terrorists’ vile reputation has preceded them.
Images of ISIS beheadings, crucifixions, rapes, torture and mass execution have
been widely disseminated on social media, including graphic YouTube videos.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">To
make matters worse, rather than offer assistance to their Christian neighbors,
many Sunni Muslims in the area have simply turned </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a blind eye or even joined the invaders.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Iraq’s
Christians have been left with little choice but to flee. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">But
where will they go?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">In
fact, the Middle East is overflowing with refugees. Millions of displaced
Syrians are living in tents and shacks, particularly along the borders of
Turkey and Jordan.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Thousands
of Syria’s Armenian Christians have been relocated to Yerevan and its
surrounding communities.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Coptic
Christians have fled Egypt by the thousands since the so-called Arab Spring
began. Those who remain are hoping and praying for better days under the new
President al-Sisi.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">And
now most of Iraq’s remaining Christians are on the run, too, many of them
leaving behind everything they own.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Canon
Andrew White, the beloved Anglican “Vicar of Baghdad” </span><a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2014/june/thousands-flee-as-terrorists-take-over-iraq-christian-mosul.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">reports,</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> "Things are so bad now in Iraq, the worst they have ever
been….The army [has] even fled. We urgently need help and support….We are in a
desperate crisis."</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Some
fifty years ago, Iraq’s Jews were able to flee to Israel when they faced
similar terror. But there is no Israel for Christians. Where can they go?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">With
that in mind, I asked my Hudson Institute colleague Hillel Fradkin, an expert
on the Middle East, for his thoughts about their future. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">“Considering
the present developments in Iraq,” he said, “it is almost certain that Iraq
will cease to exist as a united country. It will probably divide into three
parts, one of which will be an independent Kurdistan. Since that’s home to
another long-oppressed Iraqi minority – the Kurds – the Iraqi Christians’ best hope
for surviving in the region may well be found in Kurdistan.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Indeed,
thousands have already found provisional shelter there. And as the rest of
Iraq’s terrified Christians rush headlong into an unknown future, we can only
pray for them as well.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">May
they find peace, renewed hope and protection – wherever their tragic journey
takes them.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Lela
Gilbert is author of </span></i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saturday-People-Sunday-Christian-Sojourner/dp/159403639X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380031757&sr=1-1&keywords=saturday+people+sunday+people&tag=f0c0b-20"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">"Saturday People, Sunday People: Israel through
the Eyes of a Christian Sojourner"</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> and co-author, with Nina Shea and Paul
Marshall, of </span></i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Persecuted-Assault-Christians-Paul-Marshall/dp/1400204410/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380031830&sr=1-2&keywords=saturday+people+sunday+people&tag=f0c0b-20"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">"Persecuted: The Global Assault on
Christians."</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">
She is an adjunct fellow at the </span></i><a href="http://hudson.org/"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Hudson Institute</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> and lives in Jerusalem. For more, visit
her website: </span></i><a href="http://www.lelagilbert.com/"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">www.lelagilbert.com</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">. Follow her on </span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/lelagilbert"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter@lelagilbert</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7991396512538656091.post-17362787860070660762014-06-17T07:12:00.003-07:002014-06-17T07:12:55.403-07:00<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Pope
to Netanyahu-Jesus Spoke Aramaic-Israeli PM Netanyahu quibbles with Pope
Francis over Jesus Christ’s mother tongue</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://news.nationalpost.com/author/associatedpressnp/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52;">Nicole
Winfield And Aron Heller, Associated Press</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #666666;"> |
May 26, 2014 4:03 PM ET</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16pt; margin: 0in 0in 9.95pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">JERUSALEM
— Reaching the close of his Mideast pilgrimage Monday, Pope Francis was one on
one with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Jesus was here, in this
land. He spoke Hebrew,” Netanyahu said in the meeting. “He was speaking
Aramaic,” the pope corrected, smiling. “He spoke Aramaic, and he also knew
Hebrew,” Netanyahu fired back, in what was apparently the most accurate
statement in the exchange — according to a professor contacted by Reuters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disagreement over Jesus Christ’s native
tongue marked a starkly different atmosphere than Pope’s meetings with other
politicians in the region, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas — whom
Netanyahu has denounced for his move to reconcile with the Islamic militant
group Hamas. This Mideast tour has proved to be a balancing act of symbolic and
sometimes spontaneous gestures to press the Pope’s call for peace between
Israel and the Palestinians and friendship between Jews and Muslims in the land
of Jesus’ birth. A day after he boosted Palestinian aspirations by praying at
Israel’s security barrier surrounding Bethlehem, Francis honoured Holocaust
victims by kissing the hands of several survivors, and accepted Israel’s
last-minute request to pray at a memorial to victims of suicide bombings and
other attacks. But the image that the Vatican hopes will define the trip, and
perhaps Francis’ young papacy, was another: that of the leader of the Roman
Catholic Church embracing his Argentine friends, a rabbi and a Muslim, in front
of the Western Wall, adjacent to the disputed hilltop compound that lies at the
heart of decades of Israel-Arab tensions. After visiting the golden-topped Dome
of the Rock shrine on the compound on Monday morning, Francis prayed at the
nearby Western Wall, leaving a hand-written note with the “Our Father” prayer
written in his native Spanish in between the cracks of stone. When he finished,
a visibly emotional Francis embraced Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Omar Abboud, a
leader of Argentina’s Muslim community, both of whom joined Francis on his
official delegation in a potent symbol of interfaith friendship. “I think this
was the real answer to such problems that come from very long and profound
difficulties,” the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said of the
embrace. “What can we do? We can pray. We can ask God to help us. We can love
mutually and then embrace.” That logic lies at the heart of Francis’ surprise
invitation to the Israeli and Palestinian presidents to come to the Vatican
next month to pray for peace. The invitation was a dramatic — but very
Franciscan — initiative that confirmed that the pope who named himself after
the peace-loving St. Francis of Assisi feels free and even obliged to pursue
any initiative that might benefit peace. Francis made a similar foray into
world diplomacy last year when he rallied millions of people to fast and pray
for a peaceful resolution to threatened U.S.-led military strikes on Syria.
More recently, the Vatican has intervened directly in Venezuela’s unrest by
participating in talks between the government and the opposition. In the case
of the Vatican prayer meeting, Palestinian President Abbas and Israeli
President Shimon Peres readily accepted the invitation, and Peres and Francis
discussed the encounter during a lengthy meeting at the president’s office. “The
humility in your nature and the power in your spirit raised a spiritual elation
and a thirst for peace,” Peres told him at a ceremony in the garden of the
presidential residence. The prospects of a breakthrough at the Vatican meeting
next month are slim. Peres, a 90-year-old Nobel peace laureate, holds a largely
ceremonial office and is set to step down this summer. But the pope’s gesture
seemed to send a powerful message to the region’s leaders not to give up, weeks
after the latest round of peace talks collapsed. After Francis made an
unscheduled stop at the massive concrete barrier on Sunday, Netanyahu asked
Francis to deviate from his whirlwind itinerary to pray at Jerusalem’s Victims
of Acts of Terror Memorial, which includes the names of hundreds of civilians
killed in Palestinian and Arab attacks since 1851, Lombardi and Netanyahu’s
office said. As he did at the separation barrier and the Western Wall, Francis
bowed his head in prayer and placed his hand on the stone. Lombardi said he
then delivered a sweeping denunciation of terrorism in all its forms. At Yad
Vashem, the pope prayed before a crypt with ashes of Holocaust victims and laid
a wreath of yellow and white flowers in the “Hall of Remembrance.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon his arrival in Israel after visiting the
West Bank, Francis clearly condemned the slaughter of 6 million Jews during the
Holocaust, making up for what many Jews felt was a tepid speech from the German
Pope Benedict XVI during his 2009 visit to Yad Vashem. On Monday, his actions
almost spoke louder than his words. In one of the most poignant moments of the
trip, Francis kissed the hands of six Holocaust survivors as he heard their
stories.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Never again, Lord, never
again!” Francis said. “Here we are, Lord, shamed by what man — created in your
own image and likeness — was capable of doing.” He repeated that phrase in
writing in the memorial’s guest book.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">SO THE VATICAN SAYS…</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The Language of Jesus </span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aramaic appeared in the 10th century
BCE and by the 5th century, it had become the major language in the Near East,
spoken and written from Egypt to India. In Eretz Israel, Hebrew was still
spoken in a late dialect which would survive until approximately the end of the
2nd century CE. However, the language that was spoken by most of the population
was a dialect of Aramaic known as Western Aramaic. From what we know, in
Galilee towards the end of the Second Temple Period, the only language spoken
by the Jews was Aramaic, with Hebrew being preserved at the time only in the
southern area of Judea. Thus, it safe to assume that the language of Jesus was
Aramaic. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aramaic remained the language
of the Jewish and later Christian population of Eretz Israel during the Byzantine
and later Muslim Periods, although it began steadily losing ground to Arabic.
From the 6th century on, we have a large number of Christian texts written in
Aramaic from Eretz Israel for the use of the Aramaic-speaking Christian
community, which continued to exist until late into the Middle Ages. Aramaic in
the dialect called Syriac has remained to this day the language of prayer for
millions of Christians both in the Middle East and in the Diaspora, although in
its spoken versions it is unfortunately fighting an uphill battle. Pilgrims to
Israel can become better acquainted with this ancient language by visiting
masses celebrated by the the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Syrian Catholic Church
and the Maronites. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prof. Michael Sokoloff </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.holyland-pilgrimage.org/the-language-of-jesus</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sudanese Christian
women faces martyrdom!</span></b></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The pregnant Sudanese woman who
was sentenced to death for refusing to renounce her Christian faith has been
spending her days shackled in prison, according to her husband. Meriam Ibrahim,
26, who is eight months pregnant, was sentenced to death last Thursday after
being convicted of apostasy. The court in Khartoum delayed carrying out the
ruling until Ibrahim gives birth and nurses her newborn. In the interim, she
has been spending her days bound with shackles on her legs according to her
husband, U.S. citizen Daniel Wani, a Christian, who was able to visit his wife
for the first time on Monday. “He originally was not allowed to see her until
this week,” Tina Ramirez, executive director of Hardwired, a U.S.-based
advocacy group against religious persecution, told FoxNews.com. “Once he was
able to, she was shackled and her legs were swollen.” Ramirez added that
Ibrahim’s attorney is working on an appeal as international outrage over her
persecution grows. In addition, a statement from several attorneys associated
with the Sudanese high court was released Monday, calling for an appeal of
Ibrahim’s death sentence. “The [Sudanese] government is afraid of the
international attention,” Ramirez said. “They are paying attention and this
[statement] is a sign of that.” Ibrahim and Wani were married in a formal
ceremony in 2011 and have an 18-month-old son, Martin, who is with her in jail.
The couple operates several businesses, including a farm, south of Khartoum,
the country’s capital. Wani fled to the United States as a child to escape the
civil war in southern Sudan, but later returned. He is not permitted to have
custody of his son because the boy is considered Muslim and cannot be raised by
a Christian man. Ibrahim’s case first came to the attention of authorities in
August, after members of her father’s family complained that she was born a
Muslim but married a Christian man. The relatives claimed her birth name was
“Afdal” before she changed it to Meriam and produced a document that indicated
she was given a Muslim name at birth. Her attorney has alleged the document was
a fake. Ibrahim was initially charged with having illegitimate sex last year,
but she remained free pending trial. She was later charged with apostasy and
jailed in February after she declared in court that Christianity was the only
religion she knew. “I was never a Muslim,” she told the Sudanese high court. “I
was raised a Christian from the start.”</span></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sudan’s penal code criminalizes the conversion of Muslims to
other religions, which is punishable by death. Muslim women in Sudan are
further prohibited from marrying non-Muslims, although Muslim men are permitted
to marry outside their faith. Children, by law, must follow their father’s
religion.</span></span></b></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is a story from Fox News-and notice that they leave out an
important point-</span></span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">THE REASON THIS IS THE CASE-IS THAT SUDANESE LAWS CONFORM WITH
Islamic-Koranic SHARIA LAW.</span></span></b></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Francis in Bethlehem: Will pope hear about abuse of Palestinian
Christians?</span></b></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/archive/lela-gilbert"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #183a52;">Lela Gilbert</span></span></a></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Published May 23, 2014</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #183a52;">FoxNews.com</span></span></a></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">On Sunday and Monday, May 25 and
26, Pope Francis will visit the Palestinian Territories and Israel during his
first papal trip to the Holy Land. His Holiness will spend much of Sunday in
Bethlehem, where roads have been repaired, flags raised, marching bands
rehearsed, graffiti painted over, and security preparations cautiously
organized. The public will welcome the pope to the Church of the Nativity, the
traditional site of Jesus’ birth, where he’ll celebrate Mass at 11 am. His
arrival will be greeted with jubilant throngs of ordinary locals who long for a
word of blessing and a promise of peace. But what will the pope learn in
Bethlehem? In a scheduled meeting with the Palestinian Authority, he will
doubtless hear from local politicians that the ancient city is suffering
economically because of the Israeli security fence – in some places a wall –
surrounding it. He is scheduled to meet Palestinian children at the Dehaishe
refugee camp. He will most certainly receive complaints about the “occupation.”
But which occupation? For centuries, Bethlehem was a Christian city, with
believers comprising around 80% of the population as recently as 50 years ago.
Today, however, it is less than 15% Christian, and that number continues to
dwindle. Bethlehem is increasingly occupied by Muslims, some of whom exert
great pressure on their Christian neighbors. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Since the Oslo Accords, it’s been the unspoken
rule that “what happens to Christians in Bethlehem stays in Bethlehem.” That is
beginning to change, however, thanks to young, courageous Christians like
Christy Anastas. </span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzCAqXrBGtU" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">In a hard-hitting video</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> released in April, Christy
described what life was like for her and her Christian family in Bethlehem, and
why she has begun to speak out against the multiple injustices, lack of free
speech and abuse of women in her hometown. “Breaking through the silence and
fear faced by so many Palestinians,” Luke Moon </span></span><a href="http://thefederalist.com/2014/05/01/what-happens-when-a-palestinian-doesnt-hate-israel-enough/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">reported,</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> “Christy described how her
uncle, a Palestinian Christian from Bethlehem, had to pay the al-jizyah,
protection money that is often levied against non-Muslims. After some time her
uncle refused to pay…. Because of his refusal to pay up he was murdered in
front of his house.” Christy even dared to say that if she had been Israel’s
Prime Minister during the 2</span><sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">nd</span></sup><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Intifada, she too would have put up a
security barrier to stop the suicide bombings. This is especially poignant,
because her family home is surrounded by the wall – on three sides. Her story
is alarming – she has received political asylum in Britain because of death
threats from one of her own family members; others have disowned her. During a
recent interview, I found Christy to be not only brave and eloquent, but utterly
convincing. And now, perhaps thanks to her courage, others are also speaking
out. Recently a young Bethlehem man – who will remain unnamed – told me about
an attack on a Christian church. I passed it on to Dexter VanZile, who posted
the story for “A Bethlehem Greek Orthodox Church (St. George's Church -- Khadar
-- near Beit Jala) was attacked by Muslims during its annual St. George's Day
services on May 6. ... Some local Muslims either tried to park a car too close
the church and/or tried to enter the church during a service honoring St.
George -- the initial instigation isn't clear. …Several then started throwing
stones at the church.” Windows were broken, one worshipper was stabbed, and
several others were injured. We later learned later that a young man’s face was
badly beaten, requiring two surgeries. And as a </span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQUPp2jKi_U" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">smart-phone
video revealed</span></span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">, the police didn’t arrive
promptly enough to prevent damage, injuries and terror. Those aren’t the only
stories. Now that the silence has been broken, reports abound about confiscated
Christian property, honor killings and sexual molestation. Will the pope hear
about these abuses against Christians? VanZile, who is Catholic, is doubtful.
“The pope’s trip to Bethlehem highlights the bind Christians are in. If he
doesn’t go, he misses an opportunity to show people how important the city is
to Christians world wide. But when he does go, his presence will be used to
score propaganda points to demonstrate just how wonderful Christians have it
under the PA. “It’s just a mess. It’s an open scandal and everyone knows it,
but no one can really talk about it.” Since it’s unlikely that Pope Francis
will hear candid reports from local Christians during his rather formal visit
to Bethlehem, I asked Christy Anastas what she would say to him if she had the
opportunity. In her response, she surely speaks for countless others. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">“I would ask the pope to recognize that the
Palestinian Christians are caught between a rock and a hard place. Their
problems are compounded because people only focus on the rock, Israel, but
ignore the hidden injustices of the hard place – the Palestinian territories.
These territories are increasingly being impacted by radical Islamists, whose
ideologies are similar to those of Hamas....The pope must look at regional
trends [such as Syria, Egypt and Iraq] and understand that the West Bank is
just one small step away from replicating these.”</span></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lela Gilbert is author of </span></span></i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Saturday-People-Sunday-Christian-Sojourner/dp/159403639X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380031757&sr=1-1&keywords=saturday+people+sunday+people&tag=f0c0b-20"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">"Saturday
People, Sunday People: Israel through the Eyes of a Christian Sojourner"</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> and co-author, with Nina Shea and Paul Marshall, of </span></span></i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Persecuted-Assault-Christians-Paul-Marshall/dp/1400204410/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380031830&sr=1-2&keywords=saturday+people+sunday+people&tag=f0c0b-20"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">"Persecuted:
The Global Assault on Christians."</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> She is an adjunct fellow at the </span></span></i><a href="http://hudson.org/"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">Hudson Institute</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> and lives in Jerusalem. For more, visit her website: </span></span></i><a href="http://www.lelagilbert.com/"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">www.lelagilbert.com</span></span></i></a><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">. Follow her on </span></span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/lelagilbert"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #183a52; font-size: x-small;">Twitter@lelagilbert</span></span></i></a></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244);">
<span style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><img alt="Iraqi Christians attend an Easter worship service at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baghdad, April 20." border="0" height="299" src="data:image/png;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQEAYABgAAD/2wBDAAoHBwgHBgoICAgLCgoLDhgQDg0NDh0VFhEYIx8lJCIfIiEmKzcvJik0KSEiMEExNDk7Pj4+JS5ESUM8SDc9Pjv/2wBDAQoLCw4NDhwQEBw7KCIoOzs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozs7Ozv/wAARCAErAVUDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAHwAAAQUBAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoL/8QAtRAAAgEDAwIEAwUFBAQAAAF9AQIDAAQRBRIhMUEGE1FhByJxFDKBkaEII0KxwRVS0fAkM2JyggkKFhcYGRolJicoKSo0NTY3ODk6Q0RFRkdISUpTVFVWV1hZWmNkZWZnaGlqc3R1dnd4eXqDhIWGh4iJipKTlJWWl5iZmqKjpKWmp6ipqrKztLW2t7i5usLDxMXGx8jJytLT1NXW19jZ2uHi4+Tl5ufo6erx8vP09fb3+Pn6/8QAHwEAAwEBAQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoL/8QAtREAAgECBAQDBAcFBAQAAQJ3AAECAxEEBSExBhJBUQdhcRMiMoEIFEKRobHBCSMzUvAVYnLRChYkNOEl8RcYGRomJygpKjU2Nzg5OkNERUZHSElKU1RVVldYWVpjZGVmZ2hpanN0dXZ3eHl6goOEhYaHiImKkpOUlZaXmJmaoqOkpaanqKmqsrO0tba3uLm6wsPExcbHyMnK0tPU1dbX2Nna4uPk5ebn6Onq8vP09fb3+Pn6/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwD0oTuv3kz7ipFuEbjOD70hUGkMQPv9ayNCYEHvS5qt5JH3SR9DShpV9GoAsZpagE4/iBWpFdW6EGgCSkpKKYh1GabmjNAh1FNpc0ALSGg0maBhRSUlAC5pCaKSkAuaTNJmjNMB2aTNJmkzQIdmjNNzRVCJAaUGowaUGgCUU9etRBqkT7wq4kssL1qaoV61NQwQxx3zTOop8gyKYvQU0J7j0+9SuBjNNVgrckD6mopb2IQs8eZdvXZz+tS2kxpXRJQcDk1ntd3c+ntdQRrH8pZQ3JoubYy6W0kkjs+zdnOKl1OxXJ3J7jULa1QvJJwP7ozVa61G5S0M8Nt8uOrnH6VNd2iPpbxIgyU4p93GraayO21dnJ9KmXM7+g1y6EM8FxJYvJJcsG2ZwnAFTwWkK2SgICWTknqeKdczRwac8znKKnNJFcedpYngXOY8qPWj3VLzsPWwunxtFYRI4wwXBpunRrFDIivu/eMfpz0qHRZZ7jS1e4Uo5JwD1xUWiW7Wv2rzJy5Mp6jGBSjK/K0htW5rsbd6jaW1/KsmA2FyfXrRUN9p0U9/JN5KOGA5b1Gf/rUVhL2t3axolTa1LeAO9AK/3hWE0znq7H8ajLE/xH863uZnRbk/vD86NyH+IVzufejPufzouB0JVT3FMMIPT9Kwd7Do7D8aT7TMvSVx+NK4G/tkT7rfnSiVh95PxFYS6ldp/wAtc/UVYTWJf441b6cUXA1hKh4zg+9PzWYuq27/AOsRl/DNTR3NvJ/q5wD6Zp3FYu5pc1AHcDqril84dGBWmBLmkzSB1boQaKAFopM1FcTCCB5CcBQTSAlpCa5CfxFqR0z7SqKmZdqkDqK6WzuHlsYppwEZlBbPapUk9inFosk45JxVee9gtlJdxkfwjrWHqmuwpI8bn5BwFHX6msO41+Hcgick9SM5qZVEiowbOwttXiuJGjZdjDoM5yPWrquGGVIYeoNecXF/5gxC2yb+FlODmmWWq6kupW8F0xt8dJtwxxzzWaralukemUZqnYXguosMV81PvgdD6EVarpTTV0YNWdhQadmo6N2KZJMGqaM8iqe+ql1q89q2IrUycgbicDmnzqKuwUXJ2Rv7lTlmCj1Jpk2pWkLBXmXJ9OcfWuS8X3uoWcVuHkjKvzgL0NZ73Uj39siE4dMlal1LspQO3m1eBWVIVaYu20FRxn61EXvpNQW3ZkjjMZbKjJ69Kqab5YhBkbbicY+uKvvdQLrMVuf9c0RI+maG+7Fbshmn2uy9ujK7S7WAXec4GKuxQiGB4woVdzEAehNVbG6km1G9iaFkWJgFYj73FSwrMLSYTyLuLNgr2HakrdPMbv1Gr5UGknewaNIzk+opJLpV0Y3MCGQeUCqqMk1WtlT+xfsrkuzIQQ/PX1qaKQJYrbbduE25U4xx2patdtB6fiJqLXL6K7wqElKA4Y4x60l7btcaG0EjnzDGMlDyT7U95jImxjlcYI9aY0qqOTge9DSd79rAm0S7Iv7NFtwR5e3Dc9u9EUogtkhCj5VC8cCqsF1HcqWibcAcU5yad1uhWJI3EEQij4UdBTWkqPNJmlcdhxeimUUgsYhWmkGrBUUwrSuVYh5FHNPK0mKLisMOaYc1KRTcUARc0ozin7aNtADRzSEe1P20u2kMakssf3JGX8asx6pcJw21x71X2cUnlsfei4WNFNUgY/PGUPqKsx3Ub/6qcH2NYZRh1FNIH0o5hWOkEzAfMmR6rWdrk0jabJ9nYA4w6sOSKzVuriI/JK2PQ81INXkAxNErj2ocroLGNJayTaOz2mpbo4QCYpUwBVi51u4NqBK21EThBxg/41cFzHIWMNuFMh5yOw9u9Zt5py6pfW9mh2rPIN7Lzhe9Ypy2NrJ6mVZ6Vq3ilzMh+yWCtjzWHL47L6/WtyLwXYwgI0zsQOtdI8RgjSKFAkEShY40HOB0qJkmbBHy+uetc1abTtE66cVbUwr3wzarCXgZhIBxmuWVZVvSlxEHitzvbPf2HqTXfTuyxknoByK5i5ktWtpBI4jMj/OxOCcdB+XasoydzSaSiV7DVLi0d7xXa3VHZowyltyEfdYDt/hXfWN/DqFqk8LAhgDwc15ZqOqxx2RjsQxOV2SgfKuOfx4rQ0PxRFbx28SR/Z2Y7Qw+4p68+xruhKUemhwTin6npdJUNpdwX9rHdW8iyRSDIZTkVKa6k7nONY4qrqE0MNsGmOF3r/OrLAnpVe4svtcYSQjAYNjGelKT0aQ0tTK+IV7AkVqsikYG9W7H2rH+2XN9d2/2W1kV1QgOFyAK7S9s7bUWia7hSXyvuAjIFTRpHEoCIqgegrOUW5XuXGSStYp2VmsltG13E5mjlVvvYyMda1JHU3yXKKMohTkcmoS9Juq1ZEPUmWRkmeVWw0nWkMhOcknJz1qLdRmncViQtRuqImlBpDH55rnvFLTo0LK2I+ehxzW/z261lSRT3N7tvbVJI05RhyKzqv3S4blfwj5rRzzO5EOcJnofU1vyN6VnR2Ejzq8jIkCcrEgx+dXn6U4aRsKW4tJRRVCFooooAwzK496PO9RQVzSbagoXzQaAwPem7Ae1GwU7iH9aNtMKEdDRiT1p3EO20baQM6nkU8SDuKYhNvtSEe1SggipFx6ZoauNMrqoLABssei9zWhaabPMrFoSm04570ltJHDOJTGCa24tTs2UfvQp9GGKzjCTer0KclbQy7jSWQVmz2uzOQK6h9Ss1XJmU+w5rCuJ7d2dkTBY5qpRs9CVK+5jyR4qrIpFaMwB6CqboTSsO5Gk5tY1cKrSH5VBGQB1/Cq82p3NhL9oSJYXfgkKGyO9PvLpFEUMmUiixuK9STWJZ+GZ9c8QHVLpZU02VS6neQQOgA/EfzqZ0+qNaU9bWudjaak1xZ/alVivb39aw5vEAkvtowRnby+0Cuh8tI7QW8EYjRRtRR0Fefaz4Xvbi4JgXO35mj9T61xJJuzdj0XdRukdtOWmtNqnymI4+bcprlL0GK9Qlcsh5UDOfT9aktrbUrFEZEKWuAssLtnBx95ff2q01uVuFZ23Fh19D2/rQ4qLuQ5Nxs0c2ILWfU7iwhZ2jZklRF6Kc/P9ODWpNZwxpm3hhTypRKoPcjqPyqu6TrqN1PDJtChV8sjhjjr6+1V5dQdtGvZWBaRON3bnj/I5ro1drHLojrdB1K2sbpoYiq20rYfBwI36A49DXWmvG9F1lrkwWE0SBm+Uzg4ZgAcA16npV6s1hEGYsyAIzHvjvW8Lx92RhKz95GjiikV1boRQTVkC5ozTc1U1XUodJ0+S7mIAQcD1PYUAO1HU7fTLczTscAfdHU1yF349DyE2wlgI5VXKFW+veuWvtW1XX7twil2Y8BR0/wAKiPgrWdvmMoZj2B4FJuK0ky4wlJe6j0DTfGlreJCZJFjZmw4PaumhuIrhd0UiuP8AZOa8DvrDUNMZlmjZDnJHrVrw34qvNK1S3f7Qxt/MAkjY8bSeapK6umQ01o0e70Cmo6ugdSCrDII7inUCFpRkMD6U3NLmkxjs4FMY8UvamnpQAopaQUtABRSEj1ooAx6MU/bRspFXGYpcU7YaNvNKwXGFSaUIakC+1PVKdguRBKeIx6VKExTsAUyWQmNfSgJjvUhNJQJiYpDQTSE1aZLFCZp3kZFNUmpkYiqViG2RfYye1MksvLQu3CgZNacTjuKreIJfK0sSocFZVzTaSVxJtuxycLRzXqib5ldyWXocen5Vb1LxHaWrrHbQhLeIbcKPQccfToKxxK5uwFwM9PYd6Sa+0y2tfs05PmSfPIdoP0FcFST+HoephoR36o0l8S2l5as9rK6zL0Vxg5+lXbO5i1KBJcbJR1HQg9xWRpl7pDSAWzRCXHGQM1aP7md3i4V+SB61xz3PQ2Q+/uFX92FJcH1qjdXYSQIFLSsMgelRPcSS3q4xwe/eqc1w/wDaYBjwCMHJ4HHWiEdTnqPUzdXuLqxJvJZUA8xFMa8lxnn9Kx9Z1KC7gZ7USRrjywrDG5ScscfgK1dWt4b0g3CzOqjKrCeRzg8dz/Ssn7AL3UjZPMqJbKsat6rn+fPNd9PltdnBUveyIvD8XmXDTkH91twPXccfyzXo3he+8i8SyfmOdCFbtuB4H4iuPubd7Zx9nVYfsiKBAFPzfNnlu+eelai6k9s9vcpCxgVg3mDkBlPIPpT5uaSkTa0bHpYjXOcUuaitLuK8gE0TAqwzxT81qZjq4D4rTXUNlYtGcQb23Y7t2rv65fxclvc3FpBdqJYQdyw5xufIA5/pRe2oWvoL4Y0iKw0G0NzsinlUO2fvEnmrTalYNI0cchcKcFu2frVKKCO1v7i81CePzN223jbghemTVN9LuLmd0Vle083zAEAyGIxzXHWkm3c9GlCSirFjxDYQanYSCIK8oGR614/dI1vO6lcMrY5r2aDRVi/efa5chdqjjK15t4v0e5t9ad1/erLhhtXGa0w0rOzMcTC8bo7D4b+LYv7LbTb+ZjJC4Fvnksp/hH0r0avn3SrS8tdftYUhaO6MiFV9QT/KvoIcACup76HEr9Qpc0lFIYueKSjNFIYzbIf48fQUeVn7zsfxqSkzRYLjPJT0z+NFVrjVLa3fYzZPfFFAakINLmowacDSGOzS8U2lpiHZxShhTaTmgCXdSFqYKM0CHd6KSnAU0hDSKNtPxTgoqkiWxgWpUFKFFPUc1SRLJIxWV4puVSyitckGRt557CtZODXMeKmRtTQE8pGF69zk4pTdojgryMqwPmXbBSpYIwG7oAcCsbUNAs7+RZrj7Y0o/hixtA7D8q6bwvDFdahdqz7XWEBF9TzxVWTXBt8pxgxcYxjBrkrPlSa3PQwqvJpmFB4S0uQAxSXFvIDnKqFYVuQxvbD7PJO0wC8StjOfQ4pE1O3cZ8xBT2uoJYyNwHoc1xOUpbnoPlWxmSNIJ9ygMVPPOKhlmZblp5InVGADY5ximSXDw5YbXDno1RalKtnpys0pzvVWc+hPJrSC6HLUfUyNWu7pL0pZSyBXQNtjHJrJ1HYLhZoFeOFxlAx5JHU/nmuinltrOdRbwkzMByD27Z71j69Dsv0TYwUgMT1xnsK7KUtUrHHUWl7m3pchvLe3N4/nMcBgepHIGfWunskgtUk2DyrfORvb5Qx6/h7VkaTDALee7uYysbsBH5gKnavA4qxqUUMmkLIiM4ZgyHn5frXLN3lZG0VaNxmi63JpmtLG8pFm8hiY4IQ5PysPTByPyr0BXBG7PHrXmvk2+oeHVgklHmy85PRDk9PfNdrbu39m28IcsVjVWbuSBzXVTlfQ55q2pbuNVigJVAZD7dKgRZNRu4LmWxXy4WDb2GcY5FS2VpAHEtwMqvRfWtmTU7aS2eFYivykCtbGd7HFa/qmnRXKrPZvd3hG/CDiJM8D8etN07VbO65songdOJI2UiruqR2RijeS+8hj1ROrn3qo9xbJCBHICR0NcdXex69O3JdF95SVyOprKu4PtjEois6YxuHbuKHvx5eAaydYv9U07T57y0CbSACSMlfekk2ZuXLqzc8IaLb3/jm6umQFNOt1VQOgdiTj8BXoc+njG6Lg+nrXN/C3T1tvB0N87+bc6g7TTSdyckAH6Yrsq9CEbRSPLnPmm5GCQQcHg+lFXdRhCssoHXg1SqWrDTCiikzSGBIAJJwBWZc3c11J9ntAeepFWr3eyBF6HrVrT7NbaAMR87ck1UY3Ik7FS20K3SPM4LyNySaK1DnNFbcq7GXM+5ggUoopelcp0sUUtMzzS5piHg0GkHSigQtFJmlyO9MB4pRVeTVbW3Hlq6NIe3WpBexmP50HTOaXtI3tct05WvYmAzTgKjRw6hl6Gng1qjFjwKa9xFD/AKyRV9iaGJ2Nt64OPrXn1pFc6peXN1rcwQrIY0jBx0rOpU5Fc0pU/aOx3lprenXM7QR3SCROSrHacevNc9qpjurqa4SRSZ2BVT6AYGfSuH1DT7qLXI7YSGYcvG3JIFbFlcNKJLYhz5fUtxyB0qfac8Uxum4SsdBoFmkolmeFi6yMSV4PCjHP1rmvFEslzq0s4jjDuAcxgjd9ffjr7V2+l3a6b4ZhKjcZ3OMdgx6mvPdZv1n1EFI9qKdgB6HBP59aJJWSFCTUm0ZsFxHMzKvyyp95M8/WpfMm24ErD+tZlm4bxEjHjzNwI/Dit2SJBGcAAjua5qiUJWO6lNzjdmPNPc3LrAsxUE5Lf3cd60NWt5kt7SOS8Sa5D4W3cAqR6nv+dXbfTYI4mnlQYY4yOvXj86z73Rkt0eWGRWGxtxl+8Mnk/XHFOM43sjOabLst5BBY/aZkRmRAQvHDHoB7+1Y+tS3i6YrXLK00jKWYADB7fl0q1N4clZLUQyKVRt7gDHvnPc9BWbcW2q63P5yWbFV+QgH5Qe/WtIRindMzm5NWsdFYXtneWMZiWaYwRAyCQnK+uW6E1ekuLi/tYngtmtrJiY1cNjJPqPTPFZuj6YVsZdPurj5lGWghYKynqMnv/KtDTYL+GEWN8YpIrd9yopywyO/86wly8zaNFeyuQiIabbiwkjSSCYiQF+GVu/T2rq9JuY4zDZY3RsuI3J5HoD9RXH6jcXFpawWjIZQSWjmPUKCcg+44q9pt7JPprSGZU2DCS7xkMOQGH4da1i7e8zOWvuo7iUMuD2pVJIpYJxeafBcgAeZGGIHY45pu9UXc7BVHcnArpOWxz/iPw812jXlpvZ0GXjB6juRXKwzbQEXcW9zXoUniDTdNkSSa5Vu+1PmJFchqltCNQN1AjLBcfvEBHQHtWNam4rnsduHm37rJrGDIBetK4tYrqwktpVzFIpBqva/OikKavu6Q2sk8xCxxKWb6CuRvsddu5p+GfGHh3SLOHw/NJ/Z8looQeaSUfvnd757128U0c8YlhkWSNuQyMCD+NfMUtxLqeqvKfvXEnA9M9K3jcXvhW5jWz1WRZcZKxEgKPcdOa9hRslFvU8qUU2+XY921L/j1/wCBCsvNefWfxTvhbeTqESXIBH7w/I36cGur0LxFZa/Az2xKyJ9+Nuo9/pUVISWoJWNbNFFGaxGQ3HUVpL/q1+lZk55Faaf6tfpW1MymNPWignmitDOxg5oJpuaM1xnWBNOHNR5pymhCZIKdTRTqokMUyZmSB2UAkKeDT6RhuUrnGRQNHLxNBIzXRj2yd8VLeaiTCg4UDrz1rM1z7Vp+orALiNkkGQo4b8akhsiwWecnjkKa8+NOfPY9OVSDhc7KzB+yR5HJUGpwaq2V3HcwKQQGAwVqzXqI8liyyJHC8kjBUVSSTXFXF3FeuoMSRqDuARvmP1rd8VFzoMyoTyRkDuM1w9vrUc+23jCebEu1vXNc2JTcdDqwjSnqbMdrFIHkhLLKT5Zz1Udev4/pUMQiW7uUBLyZAfI744PtnFQwW2swxzCN4lUu7ZYbjnp+XFZ9pYXkdy1rK0jy3V2rhwMF8c9fTGazpw0tcdWV5XsbI1hZhbxlDJbwxgbM4BOO/rzmub1gBR52SAWO32HpitNNtpM27I7FfTHWj7NaRQx3Fwqq0jNsDDO1R3+laRvJ6GdkjkdMiuLjWoHRGKxuGdvQV2MFv5khRuzYHFa9npcU+k28kskcDufM25CNj+Ec9eP1p88FpZxq8AaeTdhnY4Rfx7n2HNY123K3Y6KXuxMTUoyCtvGvlg4KyA4Kt64/xqnLAj20dixcysAwI6sobv8Ahzj2rYvrd7ooWXC4+cgc4zwP/rVUSGWa6eRE2sTtLn/lmvoPf1rOD0KauaC2sMKPHBNllhARWO7vw1UrJZ47ECcxxuE4de2D1OeM1OlogvnRJ/LZkJXbwT/+quR8Raff6TbpFJeyT21y5Ynplh1BH+c1UI87tcmcuRXNiyW20+5n1G5vbeWNEKpIpHmSE9S2Op7DFWPD9nDb6YupuZZfNkPnlSWKc/LwOT/9euburaHVL2zttIgUhYgu4cBj1JP0rX1Zk0bRrWyeBor133vPGcq6j37npxWzjsr6sUGrPm0sbt9qdppzMpSe2a0YHPlb1lRux9KJ30mdENukH2aUAuIxhl759QPWq8Ot6hmz1ed45tMdfKlAj2smD94jvz6cVJqFtCEm1C3sXjnddqvFyjjscD261m420B63salh4htNK0Vo585iGUUc7gf6f41lW2p3Gr3jXN0QIVU4i/hGaoa+HOhNOihSgXdtIwwJxx+NVNRn+x6XFaxnbJcgFj/dUDmu6j79NJbtnNJKMiS6vRqmpRxRhVh8xYo1UY4ziu51yzWIpGBtSMAKMdBXCeFQq6vbXckLSW9u3mygdVQdDj9a9RuvsupgSBg8bDKsp4IrbFq6UFsi6OjuczbxyOMLkgVkeNr17TSI7MHD3LfN/ujrXb+Ra2sRPEaL1ZzgV5j401CDUtYZrZw8MKCNGHQnvXLh8NeafY3qVvdaRk+HovO1eDd91CZG+gqvqN691fzTk5MjnHsK1tCEUWnapdk/PHFtX8Sf8K5+Nd7k9QBXcofvGzjvpYsRnoTWtoeqT6RqUV7btyh+Zc8OvcGsbOKlRyK3tdWYj321uFurWK4QELKgcA+hFS1x/wAP9dW9046dNITPb8oG7p6D6V12a82cXGVhkc/UVpp/ql+lZU55Fasf+pT6VpTMpjT1opTRWliDnRQTQTTc1xHWLTgaYKcOtNCZKDTs8UxTTs1RIuaZLKIo2kboozS5qvfsBasCevSmhHB6nBP/AG815bReZcSckOcgD0rbjnkmiU3EXlMB8wzxmpZcAksoyec45qhqN0scGCcE1q1qJPQ04Z1jTejHg9RWjpOqveySwyABo8YPqK53T438gO7fe59qs2d3Dpt3NczNhBFnHr7VHUp7Gb4z1e7utcg0eyY7gRgL3c1qWfh+z0DTJHvIVa85ZpWwS8n+z+OKp6EtvFdX/jTWV8qKElII+7N7e/asiC81HxdqU+oTSeVHF8sMfVYwecY7+ppyUVF3Jg3zaHQ2/noscckikj7/AB/Ki2lklu3nESjy3Cw8855BI/WqNxcTabZiFjLcTBC7uBn5QOfpyaZ4b1RpfOIJDIvmrkccAjiuOMGnc6HNPQq6li11G5I/eFWLOByRzVXShcaxrHzxg2lkmSo/jcnC5/HnHoKW/wB4VtoAaf75Pc9Sa1/AFsz6VfXuw7WvVQN1yqg8/n/KuhaU20ON0vU6aCyZtNigWV4yg52gHJ7nn+lVLmx2AtKXkbGFaQ5x9BW9HPtgLeWI4xyXf5VH4mse7vUvrgxQEmNc5kPG4+gHpXNU5PmbRckZV0xjZctuJOAo/hx3+tRxoIoVU8/1NNcg3KmNRguQGPOcd6q3y3UtwvlEeSh3s3HGOec9q5/idjRIq6teraarZOSoZQ4yRnyw3ANSSoz2aW95cQXMTsoVVHmHHUn2Hv71Q1EHVoFltLR/3rDc5Ppx/WrHh6JrJp7eS3CMzAibIG7jp1yR9K6HHlhfqhySUdS7EsMbMtukMXk4QEpjJ67Rj8Ke0VlqsYa/twSmUKs3CHvj9OaroXt3mkvY90IkMqmHLY9iOtTrH9ksLm9CRxzSgysXOApxwOew4/Gs0vMyb6GTca9ax6Lc6NBZ3JkjBij+XgqTwx79Kg0KO9sHheaCcQkkFd2MZ/ixWxoqxzwTBwz+Y+CxYhjkDP45NWdEe0SK60+SVbh4JmUszZcrwRk+3I/CtnNJOKRELp3MgSPHbXNr5TyQLvEkTjlSecj2zWDqFz9svn2nKhhCn0HWu8dbJVO5naTBCynkEelcF5QW9kYBQsefunI3HriurAtSmzGqrWO38DWgNvd3LDhz5Y+gHNaH2ZLB2WLz4hkkeS+AfqDxVjwza/ZPD9shGGdd7fU81omJZOHUEdK1nJuTZjexjPAZ0kuLuNjDCpc+axYnHavN7mUz3RlYcsxcgepPAr07xPIth4cuFTguAg59eK8r3Zmz2yf0rpw6srivcn0y4P8AYmsw8fNAG/J//r1QgOY1QdNoLf0FWtFAaz1VT1+zNj86qW7Ktvuzx6mnT1mwHNktgcmgHBwTz7VGZmlyqAhe57mlHynH6VT30GamkalNpl/FdwNh42z9R3Fe1WF/FqNjDdwHKSruHt7V4KjjNej/AA51MyW9xpzN/qz5iD2PWsK8bx5ho7aZssPpWrEf3KfSsaU5YVqwv+5T6Vz02RMkNFMLZorYyOJsda89M3EYjb2NX1uoX+7IK5Owhmu7ZZlG0sM7asNb3kX8LfhzXm8z6nouKZ1IdT0YH8acGxXIfbLiI8kj61NHrE69ST+NNTRPs2zp57gQW7yf3RmuZt/FN00oeRU8rJ4HWql5rt3OWiVgIyMHjmqmj2qz3x8zJjA+7UOpzSsjVUXGPMzq4fEtpIQpBU+9PvJk1CAfZ7gKF+Ykc5rBvoYraYLBHCVP3g3JFQR6pDYjy440jXPIFCryjLuUsNGUb3L08kjj5m5UYrAvEnnf5TvCHIyf0FbL+IbJoEysZYnn1qu+v2MQzHFErDoQOlb/AFj+6zFYbzI4p7lYVV4mQDqG71k661/dXNvDCjNlScL04qyNYlvr1YklR2kbADdq6qCSzjTy0tysyDDO69c9aftor3mJYeU9Ecj44vXL2OkR4jgtIFZowfvSMMkmtnTIhpumWatOqQJjdkhcseufxNO1fw5Fq2t22pgqAjq065+8q/8A6qo3thLq5uA8Lb3ZnXPG30NE6kKkUkZqlOlJ82puXMUb3MjEFvMUIQTwR6VmRQNBfTCNysYHKKOWzwB7DrUhlkY20du3mKijMvZ+xp1sVbV5bqTCFQY1bPBx3/DpXNFvmNpJWOX1rUXAcxH5gfLQZ4HHJrrPCs15D4YtvsTywP8AcJGOeeWP6155r88S6i8cJ+VJ3PHQDPFdP4S8VWdrposr2Zo3R2KttJG3ryfrmuuqnyaEQqXkot6HaLBLcsPtEz3Eo5BkbIT3x0qnLdQRRyLH1GQccnj3rEu/HFtHHDBYS5lumHmzYwYBnGACOuPX1qW0wLASMoVVGXdzjaM9DXnulKK5n1Ol1VJ8qIVk+32JCymM/eXY3KnHBzRawyx2UhunJ8755UY8LwMgHvUdxEba7S5h2/MOVIwAO2RTHY3LKzTbo1PROnHBrRbabE31v1EsdTSDxBClyirBIjbWcYUHso7cVr6t9mnG+A7XJwWU8DHRh71y+oK+qQvYRQlblGGIz0XuDnpgj+db1g1o+lxRNNHBJCm2WJvl2N3HPvVSWiaEpuTaI5danSA+Tb/vtpwegDdjjrUML6jd2rJebMEZZ1BxjrzmpLW5gbUpFO5YZ2AtmkXCvgc4PoT0z1q3d31pZiSKa5iVzGVEe/JJ5HIFTs7JFR1HJYMIFiQtGgBO/dhj361z1jpsVnryXVzJvt2LAM3WNs/KW+oyQapah4uvhClla/u0RQplYDe3H5CsqHVr+xufPhmO6UBnDfMG+uetb06U1e/UyqVIrTsenXVzBbWwCuDIzDCABiRnJPsMd65u/wBNjl1WI2mDDfyDbtHA6ZrnX8SahIAFdIcFTiJAuSPXArsPD+otepDIsPnPEQSgwNh6HHviqpqVGXMRKcZo7eMLHGqLwqgAU/NVUmyoOGXI6HqKeJAe9bnOcx8Qb3Za21qD94mQ/QcD+deeoec+i10vju683WGjByIo1Ufjya5UttDe/Fd1PSKGWdEcq16nZ4GBH5VmIxZPJJ2qjEtmrmlOEvwp6PlT+Iqozx/2pKcAoXOPSsYu1X1JexN5vy7YxtX1PU0i1I+0cnpUXmf3QB/tN/QV0SQ0yZAcZPArqPAlyYfE0AzxKrIfyz/SuUXrklmPqa1NFvGsdTtrlRkxuDj19qiavBopHtLn51rm9Q8Z3VhfSWq+TtjOBuzmo4/F+9xusJs9guDXM6nnUNSmuREyK56MOa8d1klozqjQbl7yOj/4T66/uwfnRXJixJ7fpRWft33NPq0ex1mmr5UaJ6CtcEFa5exupVjUsc1rwX6EYY4PvVpmDTLzxxOMOin8Kwr2409LhoDEVYd1rVmuAkDyZGFGa59PKu83EkZR37+1KTKjFmdI481yp4zxWhokyI8m7qelV5NNfcWiYPntVbZqOnvvMB2k9cZFYw+I7Ksl7Ox0z2kdwxeOUIzHJyOtcT40iFjcwQRSsXZNzkHg1tW/iFf+W0JXH8S1y3ii9jvtVMkbFlCgA110knLY4KspctrmUtzOo4kIqT7TPOyoZDljioDxTonxMh9GrqOQsWEz2uqx7nICvg812dzdzgxOXeV5HEad8k1wbPuuS2er5zXbRygT6RGT1u1J/KsKlNTnFM6qNaVOnJo1dCnur6S7jkjMawOImYnqepH8qu3lx5TtbRH5mCh+egJ5/HFOuYRaLOke4M0rvheu9j/+qqaqwQQMczD537kH3NcsrKXu9DZSlJXkPNtc2cUMMBUopwxxk+34U0Am7jiTDRQqS+efz/Gie8u9nlgAE8FgeaaXg+zvCGJA4fPU+maUQdjgNdhWPWbtExt8zcuOmDzVKMuOR1FWtWDf2nchBnBJAz071SLu+C7ZIGB7CvUj8KPOlux5IXPzEk9a2rG4vFt0iup3+zEbsMchM8KfrWLEpLjgEDkg1pXNy140cWfl4yAMAmpnrodOGUEpSk9eiOwe/sHhEhvYzIo+ZATkdR6c1StdQtraGXy5beQPIWBnJRlz1AUZzWQBBZQ4YgNjJ9SaZBLDcKWyq4PQ1yKkrHsxoQVoyl7zK2q6gJrl1glaQ8s8pXbvb6eg7Vb/ALfu0WOHdE8gUbHeIMw/E1kT+ULmYBgATgc+9WXNqwE4lUOoI25rflVkjgow96Wq0IW1XUmec/bZQZmzIAeD9PT8KitGEM/mPkg9T3NNYgqWxxvNPjTfj/eAx9avSxx+9GouXoJKweRnA4J4pzgGGI98EfrSvHtA4yQSD+BqzYWUl+3lIGc5woHr9aBqMpzcerHaVYPfSFIkLyH5QByeRVi2gZLSaMNKHVs5HykYrofCmnQWDPdTB/NaRYogG25Y9QPeoNasjYaldModluGzGWOcg81Dk1qjqlSSjyW1jv8AP+kYEWrahB/qdVnXHbzCatp4o1yMY/tN2Hvg1zO/cd2OvNG6u7ni+h59zXvb2e8lae4k3yO2Wb14qmzZ60qnMC/QVGTVlIfbymK7RwSCpByOtU5T++Zhn7xP61MCVcsOCBmo7gYlfnOTmsJbkvYnQvOQzdB0x/niphGB2JPoo/qaTSzlHyu7BGKnuHdjtBwB1NdKXuqTHEjHPSrVgVN7CrcqXGfpmqYjxyTVzTE3ahAOTmQcColpFsuOrR6LFYD7Wl1a7VjPGD296zby3aO8kTBPOc1Zg1ddOxHJFI8Tn0+7V+4sBfWgvIAd3931FfN8jlG8Uew5xWjMEIy/3qK6jQ9ESa1aa6ON5+QH0oqo4epJXRlLEQi7XOLtdR4GQRWml7Bty7qv1NYWpXdn9nCxSgtkdKgu3gmRGjYlAOT71u4nNF3N+/1CM2Eghl3E8cGqVlqaJbRo7l5OhAHSswkRWagEncd1La3cNwMIhVl65FRZ6mytou50SzxSj5Wwak+0TQjh9w9DWLudSGA7ZGe9LHJqEp+6CPSs7NlzSizTknsLpSl1agE8Fl4rn9Q8LPLIZbOZXU9FPWtVoLgoCyYPcVCWPnYDEFB2NNSnB6MnkhURytzpV9a5EkLAeoGaosrA8nBFd+tzNjBYSD0YVBPaabd5FxbeWx/iWt44tr4kYTwn8rOHiDNMgHJLCuqaQjUdJz0FyB/KpI/CcJnWe1uhhTkKabdaXfrd6bGkLSPFceY5QZwMit414TmrMxdGcIO5a8XatqFnrlzYw3LxwKRtA6jI9asaZr1pHZo0kjm8kXYcruDEdO/HWs7x3g+J5yP4o0P6VlaJbzXWqRRxLuZfmPOMAd66Z0YTp3ZxwqzjVaR2KXdlaxs93eh3cmRt2ARwOD2GOlcjq+utdXZe0cqrfeOMA+gGfT+Zp3iVCly7ZGA3l4HTjr+tYYySADj61hTpJe8dVeUovkYrqXIcyBixJIzz9TSgcZz0pipsyNwPOMjoalhG+RV9TW5zdSeGMjACnc3atSW1isUS4JyyDgerVQSYpKJAvI7UT3Mk+PMbIFRJNs78PUpU6cm1eXTyGrFc3krFMZAySTUE1u0DkOzMc9uldDoWmtcvHHyN/wAzk9lrV8QeH4jD5lpFhADuQdvcVPNZmssPHlSk/fepxLyrJsPlrGykZKDrUEy7ZHDHJyea0nezgYoTvYDBAHFQXESS232mNGUdDnvVpmNWldP3k2QwMJbZo8HMYzmpYhgKcHkhsDrwTVaCby1kQHh1/OrdjGWnUnkKCCfYikxU17SUV1CVjMGPRS24Dvgn/wCtV5PtD6ZbJanb5bMW2nBJyMflVOWMwqUYfw8H8f8A69FrePbgjGVJzil6FLljUaq6XR2nhWO61W+F1qN4M2zF44cYO7oWNT+KLi4s9TijP720YF1DHkMTz/iK5/Rdbkt9QWSIKGx90/xDuK0fGGoQ3VxbtG3yGEMW3dOc49qhpvQ1nRglzwlePfzOK+zqCQXUYJGDTJIFA6g/jUs7ieZn24zVdlrt+zsecy0gxbj6VGT1qWMZtVqE1p0GthueT9KjkOSD6gVJVwQ2KIweNixT5Pn/AFrCbEN0rIjl57ipZTk47UzTf9XLjpmpJAFXA5J6mutfw0OIxMHjFaGirnVYTnGzLZrPTrWlo0SPO5c4wvHOK5q7tSk/I3pR5qiR2EM8LSLHcHMb8bh/CfWtSzv7ezvjYJK06KuTJjAB9K5LyFz8kjD6NSiOZTxM34ivEp1PZxsj0qmH53ds7prx1VRCQR35orihLdqMCY4orT6yzL6p5kP9hwxcGIH3NNFkovo4AgAxnFdM+yQcqBVU2cHn+eAfMxjNKVVGEKckzC8hZ9VEOBtXjFPvLGO1beqgbjU9vb+XqDurZck4zUV+mpSyhDDuA6FRUKSasjZxakm+hUYsBkdR0FWLSZp2Cj9257E45piaTqcpz5RH1q7HoGoOAJEjI9zz+lUlpZhOUW73JBqGwNBIVLjj3FcrrFxLFJ50TlWJ7V1d7pUyBXK75ghAI5JHuf60t58KvE2oWscqJbR8Z2PMM8/TirpRblqRUlGMHy9TjrXxDKgAnTePUcGti21S1usbJAG/utwaiuvhn4vswd+kvIB3iYN/Ksa48N63aEmbSrqPb1zGeK6J4eEtVoc0MTUjvqdWqLncpKN6qasxXd7bkMrCQD8DXLeHv7QlvWid5BFEhZg47+ldNrcsGifYTOJIxeRl8N/CQcVxzw8ltqdsK8JLXQbK2nXrYuodjnuRVe3t7axvpIrKTErgfj3qQSxSLnhhjOCMHFRS27iNHH79mIYhPuoPTPrW2FhNp66dgmoJ3tdmN4nsXsbqWMSebG0gcnurEc1gbGkGxcZPTJxXTa/G8lsGEUcWFAKq2cgdD9a5g5bCqcEnjtXek1ozz8RBQnZADjpVi1/1wb+7z+tVc4PFTwPgH6ih7GUF7yLKHe6p03HFaAgt4E3TMFzx161m28gS7hZm2rwCcdO1SPbXE94Y2YMN+N5PAHrUNXOyjONKLly3dzufDxiS1Zw0e6Q8YYElavX9wYLKaRV3uEO1c4yTwP51w1nZad5gjlnnWQthZVO0V0VnFNawG2luBcxAAqzjkHPT6VDSFWc3PmmrXMS70jTrGEJKZZLvALLnCgkc/Xn+dZl1co0BjXACrgKoxipNcu2kvZSGPzMe/YVkk96tK4p1I0lyxWvVjRktkDpWsswt4Uz3A6VlAhIyx71ejCPNb+fKqpIODgnaOmTQ9Qo1PZJtbsvAx3tswAw+OKz3heNtsiBT71bubKS0j3RM5HcjABHbFNEF99ja5KZiPy725I7cUkbYl89udWlbdFZHMZDpgFTnIq/czG4MbFMBlIx61RQCORXZd+DyD3FdDqslq1nY+QihkjVWPQk5OabdmjOhGUqM0nocyoPY0MD3FO3AZ+tMZveutbHITwn/AEb86gaprcgwsAehqFqcvhQLYbUTdRUtMbmsmJmhpn+rk+oqabgVX00/6wewNPlya6l/DQ0IueuK3dEtIJ4ZDP1yAOcVmW9pv02a5P8AyzkVBz65qaG6tYl2So27+8CRXDiXek0jejbnuzck0uBRmOZ1/GnR6TctHviu/wAGrKS6t2/1d1KnsSDVyC+uI1xHexsPR1xXj8rW7PR5uxO1lqiHAZG96KmhvbmQEyPB7EN1op2QueRsY4obpUFrciVdjnDCrFc8m1uNJNaGfGAl3zWkhI5FUpk2yZAq3bsXAUAljxjuaSZUkX7edWIWQY962tP0eXUGDJ8kXeQjr9PWpdF8KPIVuNRQheoh7n/e/wAK6+OFIlCqAEAwFxwBXp0KUmrzPOrTinaJUtNNtbOIwpCArDBZgD5n1/zioV0a4tf+QbfyW0f/ADwdRLGPoDyPzrSIZRwNy9xQrbVBXLJ7dRXZZHNzMzl/tuM4ZbGcDqAXjb8OoqK71VrSIPeaXchc43R7ZV/Q5/StkhXUEH6EVVvrb7TaSwnCs64DdiaOg01fU5LU9a0gp9ohEEVxH/DND5ZdT1xuA5rPkvdG1VoJrq1tZpYs+UZkBKfTNLe3V5ppktpRkKMFJBkf/XqlaarBb5ZLeCNu+IxXnVajv2PVo048trXRflaxvpAbmC3lK8KHQHH40ybw3pWoKEltSqKOkMjIoH0HFTW/iFWIHlqSR1Cg1dOoMsWWYoCOKyVSUdmzZwT0SOY1P4caXKN9pezW0oHy7z5i/kcGuG1f4fa1YI8sUa3sQ/ig5OPdeo/WvT2vhKN+8n61Jbq8kJuUdQmcAFsFquOKqXMZ4WEkeBvA6gkKQqnBDcEH0xSR5V+hI6H6V7nqXh7R9XXdqFlHIxOfMXKt+YrkfFvh3w/omj+fZ2zpdSuEjAlY+54JrphiYy06nHPDOHvdEcBIDjIOQPSlF7IFxnn1rUm0a3sr4wXMroI4w0smfuvgZVR3xmlm0i1S3E8U6yK3RgD64xzW/MgpwnJvkdn2uZBupGOd5qymqyqoAldR3Aap7VIjOIWtopGz94dat31jbonmjbGfTbnP4UOSvY2p4erKm5xle29zCml8yQtnIpEG9goOK0RHCCAQWx/shR+tMcxiVSirgdic1VzknTs+aTM8xM821VZh7DNaEElvJ5a3QZDEu1QFA3fXNXotUuhiKAKiseVQVPfBTLEfshm45JHAqG2dtLD05wc4yvbyKF7qDXD+WZSVI5AAA+lPl+0wQpunYKy7Sob+lO1OwjsXgkjJVmG7ZnPHY81BJJHIweeSTcRxuTg/lQvImd+aak9dt9EiMW7scJ5nSpwJ0jiWViyhuN3Uf/WpTqUjECIKiDjA70+N3ui+47mABH4U9epko0rOMJNt/cZTn964HTccfnUbZp0iESOQMjcelM+9wGwfet76HFfUsWp+RxTG60QIyBs9DjvQ3U1bfuoa2E7U00tB7VIFrTziVh6rVhwDVaxH+kdP4TVhpQ74QZ9T2rrjbkSGjahj8rwm5YczXAIP04rLZh04rpNStvI8NwRFSTGqEnpgk5P86yNHsI9RtJJGdlZHwMV59Vp02/M0pvUzyEY8oKAgHKsy/Q1sy6DJjMcqn61nz2pturAnOMVxK7Oi8SNfMxxOfxGaKiLMGIU9OtFHKx867noOq6c0RNxAuMclRVax1BJ/3bnDj171Qu/HKSErb2zOT61oeFPCuq+KLv7bPC2n2ec+YRhn/wB0f16VEqDmtBQq8m5p2enz6lciG3hMj9/RfcntXc6H4attKXziFnuh1Y/w+w9PrWjp2n21harBaJ5Zj655LH1J7/WrWd43INrjqDW1DCxpavVmdbESnotEKODuj6fxKakVg43D8jUQ+cl04ccFaUfMd8fyt3BrrOUlFNZCG3J17jsaaSz4ZCQy9VNOWVWUk/KR1B7UDGg8kpwQfmSkLrtyTweqt2qtfajBa4LsQ38KKMu3sB/jXD+NfFmpWOnyQ6dGpvXH3QdwgHqf7ze3QVLairsqMXLY1fFviDRLaMWdzH9ruD92OM4KD1LdhXJfZ0uv3sU0QU/wMMge2a4Tw/cTT31zFdzObiU798pJLN3zW+Gkhm8pvlbGSA1cOJu2ehhXHlt1N8IUX93IUkXrs+YVILm4ZNs0gYDpxg1mQ6q0QCzR5UcbhRd6xGu3y3yzEBVx3NcTTuegtjSE0kttK0UbssSncwXIFXbWVP7MRlbOY1wO3Snx4sdIeLJAEZ/E96ybHBsYASQNo4FEVYt2SZoC+l/soMZSQmcA+lcRquoJrXii1t3INtafO/pxyf5AV0cgnfRpUU4BjcKO5POK5fQvD99aXLHUopLeeZCux0zwR94HOCeentXTSS1kzixLeiS0KckK6pNLJLMY2kLyKcZGS3eq+qTRRwrZw8JHhVGeevJ/E1qazoSaTBFJZXNyN52v5wHGeeB17Vzc6y213mdgz43Bic544rti1LZ6HLFxhTvbV6X6FyOe30+FQF3yt/Kqk94ZmJYEn3bj8hVQuWOWOSavWsaxwtNIoJCkjPar5UtQVadb93HSKIPnc8R4G3PyrSrGzuNuMDqScAVp2NxPc27ySjKLlVO0AeuPesy5kV5zhduOPxou72InSgqaqXvcsxtDbtvVmlkHTadq/n1qUancs2AFPPAArN8zHQ8Vcs7ho4JmB+6PlGKGi6FablyRfKvIddzT3Mpku5OQoUbjyAOgAqSCL7Rp7pvD4bALL933FZihp5du4bnPVjW1Gm14Ilc7QAjFuwPX9aJbF4RKdRu2nUzHtJYxuZcj+8P61ZgV7e4UHqV/Q1sX9nDYziFJ/OyM529BWbZ2zX97KsW7aqHBxnaOn9aXPZNsqph6dPllTe70MhDuyc98050BHIGa0ZNAu4fubZAPQ4P5VRliliO2WNkP+0K1hOEl7rPLnTnF+8iFc7sBcDHWkbrT0ZFJ3ISTwDnpTGrRhHYaDR2FIKcASAB1zTjuMsWoVSXk+5jB5rQ0+MXt/DbQqQruMk8YHf8ASoVjSKNUzyBz9a2fC6BrySQgoqLtDAZwT/8AWrepLkhcZv6wPM0q6A+6EJ/Kuf8ABcwEFwjYPIPNa3iCUw6TKiMSGwpJP6CuW8NXcdrLKJSQrDqPWvLqRcqErG+HaVVXO4bymHTH0rH1DSEmYlJCMnPSp47uCUfu5wfY8UpmOcZzXlRlUj1PXdKlPdHPzaFch/kdSPyoreZyTyKK3VeZj9UpEFlbtaQLEm3I6sF5NepeEfEJ1a1SzuGEd/br8jYwJVH+eR+NcPJbLExyvIqITy2kizwOY5IzuVlPINdkKlnc8xx6M9nR/OXevyyJwwPb2pTl/mT5ZB1H9K5zw14li8QWpkjKpqFsAJ4c/eHqPY/oa6AMJVWWI4PTB4/A11bmTVh+d/zIMOvUUHLnch2uvBBpM7xvThh1H9KhubqKGMTSMY8fmT6D1piJnlVVMhxGy/eJ6Ae9Y17rUkjhLTucbyOW/wB0dvqazb2+l1GXY2+MRnMaLzuz/M/WsPWtYa3VrSzk/fkbZZl6IP7q+/qazqVI043ka06Tm7Ik1fXVsZGhtpBLeniSfqIvYep965ssZGLFiWJySTnNVliZTndn1qdAOx5rxq1WVR3Z61Okqashv9nW80wnCBZl6NikvIZrmAxrhWTq2Mn6fSrcbBhzwfWla7iSHbEu6RuvHeop1JXLVKMpXZzkd68MphuUww43Z4P0p1r5uoazAi7vKjbe3pxV260mSRRKyhj1Ze4qzp00MChFUKa6OeLV4is72exqahdyR2E7M4IVDge/amRERWKtu+VEH8qzdXkBtBFvyZHGQD2HNZ8lxI8YjaRhGev0ojDQcqmupsXUjxWEJDfKGUnB96um53pETIFOQMnmuXuL9ZfKtmu1ADAlc9vxqDxHdsuki3hkAZ2UsytyADnPtWkabckjKpUXs2X/ABi8kOn+YtwXPmqMEAjoa4WVnkbc5JLHqafc315Mgjku5JoxztZsjNVgk0gZgC2B69K7qcOSNjy5tydi3BZTTn5QT6BRk1uRaBPcQGN5Anykgd89s1hWOqXlk+6PkAcj1FbkfiseSP8ARirE4ZieB/WiXNc1jOEYNQ67haW7y2kdi0phuIGOY5BhTnuD3qjf6NPbSFpDgE8EcitOXxDCiBYXS4cDJYjAB9hWPea5d3nyvIAuc7QKFzXK54qCjU1X4lOSJ0bB/M8VOpKWpjX5mY87eQKrFi5JZicdc0qvjBRSTnHXFaPUwhJRk2i1ZSRW7kzBgzcZ29B9KvpcwyNhHb6lTVQp5R3yoSvYnndWjFcQH5ImUEdV6GsakuVXsdtByp6RkIBI/RWYn+I9B+dTWNy2l7gInG45Lg8mlBz/APrqTIxhhXJKo5KzN5uUmm+hqQa7az/LMscn+8Np/Op3isLkYDFM/wAMg3LXPPbRP/CM00Q3EIxDKwHoeRWXJHoxc8lujQu/DFtL86KB/tQt/SsW68O3EZJhkV/ZvlNXU1G6tziVNw9Vq3BrEE3ymTB/uuK0jUrQ2d0T7OjPdWZyhsLtbhITbuHdgq5HBJ4612WleD30Of7b4gMaeTzHCGDZPqf8KkV4SVYqMA54PBrP1e5a/Mi/aN2W+WLJ+X6E10QxE56bGUsPCm7t3Lltp2n+Ir25+zubVlG5Qoypq9pulS6TavbtHvkLljJGeCO1Yvh63vNHv/PlGIZFKyAHJx2Nd9aPpdwA0MimQilOtJrljK6KjRU1easzi/EMbvZowzgSfdx7VymmwNc3QgRdzPkADvXrl1pXmRyRjaQwPUdMivPIdEvPDWt2Ml40WGnwAj5I57j8a1o1lNcj0Zz1qHsmpLVFaXT7m1blZI8eooWe7i+6+6vUpltmjYyRqQATyK8jub2T7dMVGEMhwpHQZrJwbGqyW+horrFygw6En6UVRF0WUErmio9j/dNfrC/mPS7iLeu4c1lXS4Ug1qpNjhhx61WvoQY9yAHNcWGq/YZeJpfaRycOtXnh/wAQx6hZPtkjPKno691Psa9y0nWYdVsI9TswcSAedD3U/wCP86+fdY/5CB9eK7PQfEy6BJFJ5oMbKBInXI+letCdtDimrnrd3exQIZeSWHCg4L/4CsCeaW5k864JJ6Ii/wAgKUP/AGiseo28iyu6ggg/LInp/npXNeLfFcWjSGwtpFOpSL8xHIt1Pb/eNbNqKuZxV3Yv6rqZtg0ELA3DDDsp4iHoPf3rnHTdzisjTtWMb7JyXRjyTyfrW0xBQOh3IehFeFiZTlO8vkevRjGMbIgMe0+lGO4GDUqur5B60xlKnjkVhc2sOXJwehqaIru5Az6iq+7PcipogNuM5+tRIaJcjNZOsQxW1q9xECr54weK0skGs/XsjSZW/usuPxP/ANatsLFuqkTVsoNnNw6wCJPNjJkRSQ2eDWTPq148eRNt3E8ADj8aa03lLIMcvxn2qqy/ux7kmveVOKd0jx5Vm4rUvQxiVVYEfN3NVp5PMn8tDlFPX1x3pkTuP3YbCvwaVWjjJzndg89qq9hubnFLoSoyRWsZZSSxNO+y5kZgCFK8fWprOJJbZd/Ow5+lWoU8+N5I2yqAnp71DZ30qMZQTlt0MoReWI12ZLnnPpRdrGZmES7VyBgeuOauCaKWUqVwU5BqnCDLKPdwaaZzVacFaMHe5PDZJ5PzLliKqvF5c+z0NbQFUtQh2SJL26GkpanTisLGNJSithIolW3VSRmXJ5702KyfAB+XufY9qkgjEqxj+ONiR7jNXrUpceeoxmNTjnHI/wAmnzBTo03FOXy/UpKQqvbzD5ipKS+vt+dUL+MgR3CgjIwTUwkdmMTnPzHBPY1agUTobeVSUYfiKbZxS/eSsvkUYNUuYUXLbx6NWjDrcMnEuYz79KxpYxHIyDkKcCo6mVKEtbGUa046XOrS4VlypDD1BqRZRXIpLJC26N2U+xq/b6vIMCVd3uODXNLDtbHTDExe+h0BKsDnBqtPbRMpJGCemKggv4JuEk5/utwanDhuDWNpROlOMloVglxAf3crY9CeKaJWMpd+G6mrLHn1qtccTdOq1tTd2YVY2V0bUGosgX5yh96ufa1H70IBIOQyHac1jWpEscYIznilvzJavHFESGbnNYxo88+VbnQ67jG53Gl61JqliUc7bmM8471B4jtYNe0RLy0j/wBMtmHy9COeQaxrItaCOSFykqkEse/rVqLUJ01eSYLvScZkjUdcdSBS1jO8ehSaqQ5WbCXMbRr5uV+UZzXDeMb2wkuVisgNyffZRxmui1i2SRfLS4LwSjcjI3I9jXLzeGpN2YphIvo/B/Ot6dWF7s8+pQqJWRm2csRjImJDCipP7DvMkPGRjpzRXVeL6nNdrSx6dgEcjBprDHy5yDQSQOeaXI2/N+dfMK6dz6Hc4TXLOS31J/MOVflG9RWU8m3jca9C1PSodTtTG2dynKkdQa5/+xooDwgyPWvYw9ZTjrueZiIcj0WhZ8LeKtR0TTJ7eIeakgJhD/8ALFj3HqPb1rKaFpZ3mkJeWRizu3JYnqSav+SF4C/kKeImx2FdXPc5NyiYioz3FXdO1N7ZtjndGeqmmFBu9agmh5LL1rGdNTWpvTquLOmXZKokgbKmnhuxrmrHUJLWQDOQeo9a6OKVLqISRsPf2rzKlNwfkelCopCtHkZU4NRMWHBqQMynBpzDevSs0yxsc27hjVHxDMYtMWMDImkOT6YU4/matGPHIrJ1ycixkRiCA2APQkda7MHH97dGNb4Dj7kYbPHPaoScqBUtx8xz0H/16WK38yDOcEnrXsXPKVKUpcsUMii8xgcHGaYy7WI9DW3oulvdKwYlUU/MR1rN1O3+zXskfPBIz60k7uxpUpKNPz6lddyo7qxB4HBq3p+om1WSGTIWTgkc1SDEKy9jik7e1O1zKFaVNqUR5JJJQ8H071PZ5S4IYdBmqoyjqRyM1qXUkf2fzowu5htyKT7G2Gineo38Oo2bUMYWLqOtPMq30JjHyvjI9zWfBEZ2IHUCnFXt5c8gg5BqeVbGv1mq7ykrxZKkzoGdOGU5I+owf1pttOYJt5yQfvDNTM0M2JV+V3O11+tU9vODxTWpjUlKDTi/QfKUMrFTwTkVpWVxlo2Bw6g9PUHNZ3l4UkjnoPqKks2KzBl52/Nj1xRbQKU5RqXa3HaqsBuhLAcpIoP0Pes5lFamqwqoSWP7rM3+P9ayzmrjsY11aoxlAGATS8d6CeAKZkNqxb3c0ecOSB2NQdqSM8mk0nuUm1qjWh1FWIEgK+4qa4YMInU5U5rIDAck1qypiwhPoAawnCMWmjphUlOLTL+jnewXuprUvLdGvkmbnYuAPf1rH0Bx/aDKe65FXNQ1eK21OS3kQ4UD5h9K5mmqrt2NuZeyVy8GzUsUrRSpKhwyHINUoLu3uBmKVSfTPNWORSaHFvdEm8k/rigMO9R5pc1DijRSZKD70VGKKz5TTmOhXlRgcdxTgB1B4piEhsCpDwwx3rzXudI9RxkDiqt3ao/zEDJq2gwfxp7qCBx7VVObhK6M5xU1ZnOzReU2CuBULDsOlatwA0WSM9azmAGeK9tM8hqzsVSOabsweeRUuPnPtRgc1ZBRubYEbl6+lOsL+S0lznjoQe9TS/eFZz/6x/8AerOaT0Z0UZM66OSO7g82Lkdx3FKrEfe/OsDR5pI7uPa5G5sH3FdNOoWUgDArzasORnoQlcjKhjzXJa1cbpplH3d4/HFdcvIOe1cHfDM0rHrtz/48a68AvebMcU7QM2b+lWLW9W2NuHTMO0iTHU5zTCAbMEjmkiUPZncM4PHtXpXOVwa2fS50GmX0CtBZ2bF2lbdI5H3cdvyqDxHZrJOs64CuNuR1yK1NItLe3sEkiiVXdAWYdTSxfvry9hlAeMFSFPbK81nezFGpeV563OMe32Q7j1BqJFz+YFbOpwRx2oKLjJbPPoeKyY+qfUfzrRO6CrTjGa5dhhGzg0BSc7ScHqO1Om++3++386nsen1JFNuyM4U+eryFnSrSSYqEQl5GwBWzrugNDAskKkr0bvtOOv0qfw3BGdTwUHyoSK6mW2hkhZHjBVhgg9xWLnqd1R+y5afS2vmeZRabM3UY4/WormFo5yGPDHOalu55Y7uSNHKqMgAUkrtJpqO53MGxk/jWl2YyVGUJRgmmtRq/ccY5GHH4cEU61KxXkRC7lJII9RTFP778D/6DS25Iljx/nimRvb1JNQObSPuFcj9BWWa1rwD+zV4/iB/nWUaqOxhWVpDSKQ9aWk71RiIaavDCnNTDSYxxyQa6K4jxZbR/Cgrnh0FdPMP9Hf6f0rnrvWJ14daSM/TZvJ1GGQ9NwB+lRa3IX1q6PYPj8qjU4INWL+NWBlI+duSfWnb3rmbfu2KCOQcgkH1FaFtq91BgFvMX0as4U4VTSe5MZNbHSW+t202BJmJvfpV9HV13IwYeoNcdUsU0sDAxSMpz2NYypdUbxq9zrtxHUUVWsJpJbYM7bj64orlejOlao//Z" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="341" /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The edge of extinction</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.worldmag.com/topic/iraq/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #183a52;">Iraq</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> | The numbers say Christians may
soon be no more in the Middle East, but the beleaguered churches in Baghdad are
fighting risk with resilience </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">By </span><a href="http://www.worldmag.com/writer/mindy_belz/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #183a52;">Mindy Belz</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
Issue: </span><a href="http://www.worldmag.com/issue/2014/05/17/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #183a52;">"Believing in Iraq,"
May 17, 2014</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
Posted May 2, 2014, 01:00 a.m. </span><a href="http://www.worldmag.com/2014/05/the_edge_of_extinction"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: #183a52;">http://www.worldmag.com/2014/05/the_edge_of_extinction</span></span></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BAGHDAD—Sunday morning dawns bright,
glaring bright, at St. George’s Church in Baghdad. In April daytime
temperatures regularly climb to 100 degrees, but mornings and evenings are on
the cool side, the air breezy and soft. Outside the church a rose garden is in
full bloom—red, coral, yellow, white, and pink blossoms massed in border
shrubs. Along one side of the garden is nothing but hedge, a thick, high wall of
green giving a little shade and relief in the late afternoon. You have to stand
close to see that the hedge is hiding a blast wall—concrete about 6 inches
thick and 12 feet high runs the perimeter of the church property. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The front steps of St. George’s used to open
onto a two-lane street with steady but subdued traffic in an area of government
buildings. Anyone was welcome to enjoy the garden. That all changed when
suicide bombers and insurgent fighters began targeting St. George’s and other
churches in Baghdad shortly after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 2005 five members of the church
leadership disappeared—all presumed killed returning by car across the desert
from a pastors’ meeting in Amman, Jordan. Bombings and rocket launches by
terrorists multiplied—in 2005, 2007, and notably in 2009, when a bomb detonated
near the church killed 100, injured hundreds more, and damaged every building
on the property. To survive, St. George’s today sits surrounded by the concrete
blast walls, and two checkpoints manned by a swarm of Iraqi soldiers have to be
navigated before arriving at a fortified gate that can only be opened from the
inside. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When U.S. troops made their
final withdrawal from Iraq in 2011, many Americans thought the war had ended.
But for most Iraqis, the terror that began with the U.S. arrival in 2003 has
never stopped. Civilian deaths, in fact, currently are running at their highest
level since the height of the U.S.-led war. The UN reported 8,868 casualties
from insurgent-led attacks in 2013, the highest death toll since 2008. Sadly,
the 2014 toll is keeping pace, with over 2,200 deaths reported in the first
three months of the year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The run-up to
Iraq’s first national election following the U.S. withdrawal, scheduled for
April 30, coincided with new aggression from foreign fighters spilling from
neighboring Syria. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the new
brand of al-Qaeda in Iraq, took over the city of Fallujah in January, and by
April was making gains against Iraqi forces in Ramadi, just 80 miles from
Baghdad. Overall, disgruntled Sunni militants are determined to undermine the
Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians continue to be targets. Three bombs
on Christmas Day 2013 targeted Christian neighborhoods and a church in Baghdad,
killing 37 and wounding 59. This year a car bomb near St. George’s in February
killed two close associates of the church, shopkeepers who helped with
supplies. Also that month, a car bombing along a main thoroughfare in central
Baghdad’s Karada district killed a man who had attended the church, along with
three others. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We are all in such a
desperate situation and all we have is our Lord and each other,” said Canon
Andrew White, the British clergyman at St. George’s who improbably has come to
be known as “the vicar of Baghdad.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WHITE,
WHO TURNS 50 this year, towers over the Iraqis he serves at 6 feet 3 inches and
in size 16 shoes—yet he approaches his parishioners like a teddy bear. Children
especially, but women and men also, get hugs as he greets each at the church
doorway. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mutual affection is
surprising, considering that White does not speak Arabic. Communication happens
through a translator, apart from what few greetings he manages in Arabic, plus
prayers White can recite along with the congregation in Aramaic (not only the
language of Jesus Christ but also the language of the Assyrians who made up
Iraq’s earliest Christian community). With enthusiasm White tells the
congregation the first Sunday in April, after several weeks of traveling
overseas, “You are my people, in my beloved Iraq, and I am so glad to be back
with you.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the risks outside St.
George’s blast walls, what’s surprising also is to see Iraqis arriving at the
church by busloads for a Sunday afternoon worship service. Sunday in Baghdad is
a workday, and most churches hold services at 5 p.m. The congregants stream in
from neighborhoods nearby and across the Tigris River. Men talk on the sidewalk
leading into the sanctuary, while women gather in knots of conversation in the
rose garden, some in dark head coverings, Muslims who’ve come to collect a food
ration but will hear what’s being taught at St. George’s along the way.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Siege of Mosul: What’s happening? Why is it significant?</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By </span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Laura Smith-Spark </span></b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and</span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Nic Robertson</span></b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
CNN</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.5pt;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">updated 11:04 AM EDT,
Wed June 11, 2014</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(CNN)</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> -- For a while, Iraq
faded from the collective consciousness. But what happened there Tuesday should
make people sit up and take notice.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Extremist militants have
overrun the northern city of Mosul, the country's second-largest. As many as
half a million civilians have fled their homes to escape the violence, and the
brazen incursion has highlighted all the weaknesses of the government's ability
to maintain security.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here's how things got to
this point.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, what happened?</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Monday night into
Tuesday, militants seized Mosul's airport, its TV stations and the governor's
office. They freed up to 1,000 prisoners.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Police and soldiers ran
from their posts rather than put up a fight, abandoning their weapons as they
went. The militants took their place in the city's boulevards and buildings.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"There was no
presence of any government forces on the streets, the majority of their posts
destroyed and manned by (Islamist militants)," resident Firas al-Maslawi
told CNN.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why is this significant?</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mosul is the nation's
second-largest city. What's happening here doesn't bode well for Prime Minister
Nuri al-Maliki's administration. It calls into question whether he has a handle
on the country.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The devastating militant
advance, which had been building for some time, is proving an object lesson of
much that is wrong in Iraq and the region -- growing sectarian tensions at home
and a festering civil war over the border in Syria.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It also shows that the
extremists are seeking to extend their influence and can strike swiftly and
effectively against Iraq's American-trained security forces.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who are the militants?</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They're part of the
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, an al Qaeda splinter group. Here's
how extreme the militant group is: Even al Qaeda has disowned it.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Mosul siege has made
ISIS the single most dangerous, destabilizing radical group in the region.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The group is also known
by some as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. Its members include
Europeans as well as Chechens, Turks and many fighters from other Arab
countries, some attracted by the conflict in Syria.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What do they want?</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They want to establish
an Islamic caliphate, or state, stretching across the region.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISIS has begun imposing
Sharia law in Syrian towns it controls, like Raqqa, forcing women to wear the
full veil, or niqab, in public and banning music.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have they made such incursions before?</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes. In past months,
they've wrested control of Iraqi cities like Falluja and parts of Ramadi from
authorities, just as they've done with Syrian towns over the border.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Militants believed to be
from ISIS have also taken control of two villages in Iraq's Kirkuk province and
seized parts of the oil town of Baiji in Salaheddin province, authorities said.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have they been able to keep their control?</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not really. Despite the
territorial advances it has made in Sunni-dominated Anbar and Nineveh
provinces, ISIS still has "significant weaknesses," a U.S.
counterterrorism official says.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"It has shown
little ability to govern effectively, is generally unpopular, and has no sway
outside the Sunni community in either Iraq or Syria."</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How is all this tied to Syria?</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISIS grew out of al
Qaeda in Iraq. In the west of Iraq, its militants were responsible for killing
and maiming many U.S. troops. In 2006, their commander -- the bloodthirsty Abu
Musab al-Zarqawi -- was killed in a U.S. strike.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the years afterward,
with American help, Iraqi tribal militias put the al Qaeda upstart on the
defensive.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But when U.S. troops
left, the extremist militants found new leadership, went to Syria, grew
stronger and returned to Iraq, making military gains often off the backs of the
foreign fighters drawn to Syria's conflict.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now the group has
footholds in both countries and is blamed for destabilizing both.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Syria, where its
forces have clashed with other Islamist groups, observers say the internecine
fighting has played into the hands of Bashar al-Assad's regime by distracting
rival factions from their campaign against the Syrian military.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What's the situation in Mosul right now?</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More than 500,000
civilians have fled since the fighting started over the weekend, according to
the International Organization for Migration.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The northern city's four
main hospitals are inaccessible because of fighting, and some mosques have been
converted to clinics, the IOM said.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There's a lack of
drinking water in the western part of the city since the main water station for
the area has been destroyed by bombing. Food is running low and few areas are
receiving electricity, while fuel for generators is also running out.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What does this mean for Iraq?</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While Iraq is plagued by
multiple daily car bombings and suicide attacks, the sheer scale of the attack
on Mosul -- and the brewing humanitarian crisis tied to it -- bodes ill for the
country's stability.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to the United
Nations, last year was Iraq's most violent in five years, with more than 8,800
people killed, most of them civilians.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Already this year,
almost half a million people have been displaced from their homes in central
Anbar province by fighting between the same extremist group and government
forces.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One major reason Mosul
made headlines is how swiftly the city, to all intents and purposes, fell.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What does this mean for the United States and the West?</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The last U.S. military
forces left Iraq at the end of 2011, after nearly nine years of deadly and
divisive war in the country.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Talks that might have
allowed a continued major military presence broke down amid disputes about
whether U.S. troops would be immune to prosecution by Iraqi authorities.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Iraq's security forces,
trained by the United States at a cost of billions of dollars, have proved
unable to dislodge the militants from strongholds in Anbar province and have
now been routed in Mosul.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The result seems likely
to be continued or growing instability in Iraq and the wider region.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This, at a time when the
global economy is recovering, could have an unwelcome impact on oil markets.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There's also concern
that foreign fighters with ISIS may go back to their native countries, in
Europe and elsewhere, and carry out terror attacks there. That worry was
heightened last month by the shooting deaths of four people at a Jewish Museum
in Belgium; the suspect, according to French officials, recently spent a year
in Syria and is a radicalized Islamist.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don't feel helpless with the current situation befalling
Assyrian Christians, there are many way you can help.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 4.5pt 0in;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. Pray - that God protects them
from this evil and gives them strength and hope.<br />
2. Donate - There are many christians organisations, NGOs helping the Christian
Refugees.<br />
3. Spread the news - Tell everyone about the situation, the more people know
the plight of Assyrian Christians in Iraq the better.<br />
</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4. Get online and spread the Message about the
situation.</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. Tell you local government members, write letters,
through social media, any means.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can do all or many of the above, not doing anything does not
help anyone!</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
Aramaic Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335434611500897747noreply@blogger.com0