Evil Plans Of Westboro Baptist Church

Never doubt satan has workers disguised as "The Church" and in the church. Westboro church is simply appalling and anti-Christian--it is an instrument "crafted" to leave a revolting image of Christianity to unbelievers. I never thought they could crawl lower, but I underestimated them. Read the article below of it plans to protest at the funerals of children who died in the mass killings in Newtown Connecticut.

The Westboro Baptist Church announced plans to picket the funerals of the children and adults killed in Friday’s school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, and almost as quickly counter-protesters have begun making plans to protect the grieving families.

Soon after members of the “church” tweeted about their intentions to picket funerals of those killed in Sandy Hook Elementary School, the internet began buzzing with those wanting to help stop the protest. On the link-sharing site Reddit, a post asking for ways to help quickly became one of the most popular submissions of the day.

Within the post, several commenters began organizing counter-protests and devised ways to block out the Westboro Baptist Church picket. One poster mentioned that if Vice President Joe Biden were to deliver a eulogy, protesters would be forced to stay away or violate federal law — though it’s not clear what truth there is to this strategy.

Others have noted that the church members often bluff about their intentions to picket. In the past members have threatened to picket the funerals of celebrities and other notable people, but never showed up.

Click here to continue reading.

Happy Thanksgiving 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

PSALMS 100

1) (A Psalm of praise.) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all you lands.
2) Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.
3) Know you that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
5) For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations.

New Prosperity Oriented Mega Church Birthed

 As one person indicated in the article below, regarding the conspicuous wealth and lavish lifestyle of Pastor Clint Brown-- "no one is perfect". True. But the world watches you and where is one's heart truly at?  Surely 90 percent plus of this church attendees do not come close to the wealth he owns; yet his needs are supplied by them.  (Oh yes, you might say "He supplies all of my needs according to His riches in glory"). Yet satan will often orchestrate provision as well to anyone willing to contort the message of the Gospel of Christ or to place someone in leadership who will eventually makes Christians look bad to unbelievers. The unbelieving world cannot understand why Christians fail, and a lot of times we cannot understand it either--particularly when people twist the message of the Gospel for their own personal gain.

Nationally-known pastor drawing thousands to Port St. Lucie church
By Zaimarie De Guzman

TCPALM
 
PORT ST. LUCIE — Tucked away near a residential area in Port St. Lucie, cars fill a parking lot on any given Wednesday or Sunday evening. They are parked along the grass, near the side of the road. A nearby sign reads "FaithWorld."

The name and swarms of people might make the spot seem like a religious amusement park, but FaithWorld is a satellite church of the 6,000-member FaithWorld in Orlando, one of Florida's largest churches, according to a database of megachurches by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.

While many long-standing churches on the Treasure Coast have roughly 700 members, the local FaithWorld has, in a year, attracted nearly 1,000 churchgoers who come from all over the three-county area and as far as Orlando. They come to watch the twice-a-week sermons from Pastor Clint Brown, a nationally-known gospel recording artist recognized for more than just his musical and pastoral roles.

Records from Brown's 2005 divorce, which Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers obtained from the Seminole County Courthouse, revealed Brown's lavish lifestyle — cars, houses and shopping sprees — had been paid for in part with the Orlando church's money.

The church had been making payments to Brown's $1.4 million mortgage. Records show he still lives in the same gated, Central Florida community.

FaithWorld was paying for two of Brown's Mercedes-Benz cars, as well. Brown had five other vehicles, including two Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a Porsche. Reports also showed thousands of church dollars were used to pay for monthly clothes shopping sprees. Credit card statements show Brown and his then-wife often shopped at stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's and Louis Vuitton.

Also in 2005, Brown was the target of a lawsuit in which a widowed church member from Orlando said the pastor failed to repay a $200,000 loan she made to the church. A similar lawsuit came months later, when a Denver church claimed Brown borrowed $100,000 from its congregation and never repaid the money. Both cases were amicably resolved later that year.

Despite his past, Brown is the reason Port St. Lucie's FaithWorld is growing, say church members.

Through a church representative, Brown declined an interview with Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, but in September brought up the issue during a sermon at the Port St. Lucie church in which he knew a Scripps reporter was in attendance.

"Ain't nobody perfect to your left. Ain't nobody perfect to your right. Ain't nobody perfect in front of you," Brown said, regarding the past media reports about his finances. "If you're going to publish the evil, take the time to publish the good."

His listeners agreed.

"No one is perfect. As a pastor, he has a private life. Just because our pastor has a relationship with Jesus, that doesn't make him perfect. What matters is how his message connects us to God," said Jenny Posadas, a teacher at Treasure Coast High School who volunteers at the Port St. Lucie church as an usher.

Posadas trusts her tithing money is going to a good cause, although she isn't sure what that might be.

"My responsibility as a Christian is to tithe," she said. "If (Brown) spends my money for himself, that's out of my hands. That's between him and God."

Click here to continue reading this article.

Sex Crimes Rise Reflecting In Some Churches

Statutory Rape: An Immoral Reality in the Church 
Charisma News
by Jennifer LeClaire 

The church world is getting rocked by yet another sex scandal. But this time it’s not a high-profile leader who has fallen into adultery or homosexuality.

No, this time it’s an “average Joe” churchgoer who is accused of raping a 13-year-old girl. And he’s not the only one.

I’ve been reporting for the past few days on rape allegations at Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, Okla. A then-employee, Chris Denman, allegedly raped a girl in the stairwell during church summer camp. He was charged with several felonies, including first-degree rape, forcible sodomy, lewd molestation and use of a computer to facilitate a sex crime.


The 13-year-old girl’s mother just filed a lawsuit accusing four adult leaders at Victory Christian Center of intimidating the child victim so as to conceal her rape from the public and parent. Two of the adult leaders allegedly told the child victim the assault was her fault.


As horrific as this news is, it’s hardly an isolated incident. The parents of a 14-year-old rape victim last week filed suit against Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Taylor, Texas. That suit alleges the pastor and other church members opened the door for statutory rape. The music minister at the church was convicted in April for aggravated sexual assault of the girl during a sleepover with other church girls at his home.


Statutory Rape Reports in Church

I’m not here to weigh in on whether or not Victory Christian Center employees tried to cover up the rape or if the family is just so distraught (and rightly so) that it is lashing out at the church. I’m not here to lay blame or point fingers at anyone (except maybe the sick-minded wolf in sheep’s clothing who would use a position of authority in the church to rape a child).


I am here to point out an immoral trend of statutory rape in the church. I’m here to sound the alarm in hopes that someone will wake up and pray with me. I’m here to expose the spirit of sexual immorality’s work to attack our children.


The two incidents I just mentioned aren’t the only two recent church rape cases. In July, a Memphis minister was brought up on charges of aggravated statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a minor. He was accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl, while another 15-year-old girl took pictures of the act on her cellphone. Although it didn’t happen in the church, one of the church’s preachers was the culprit. Also in July, a Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church in Whitwell, Tenn., was arrested for statutory rape.


The list goes on and on—and these are merely the cases that made headlines. How many other cases didn’t make the news? How many other cases were never reported to the police? According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 54 percent of sexual assaults are not reported to the police. About two-thirds of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim and 44 percent of rape victims are under age 18. Every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted, and some of them are youth in the church.


Why are there so many instances of statutory rape in churches? What is going on? Rape has been a harsh reality since Old Testament times, but I believe the rise of rape merely mirrors the rise of sexual immorality in our culture.

Click here to continue reading.

Wait On The Lord

There are times I get so tired, so disgusted--despaired of circumstances which seem so utterly impossible. I do not have enough room in one post to account for the trials I have gone through the past decade--and I am still going through many. Some have been long lasting--my faith has become shaken on many occasions. Perhaps that is why some storms have not come to pass.  Yet there are times I know I have stood firm waiting upon the Lord, and still the battle wages on for some unforeseen reason.

But the Lord has recently shown Himself strong to me on two daunting medical circumstances confronting me.  He is Almighty and unlimited!!! He brought me through both, and more than bringing me through---like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego I came out unburned!! He is a God who can do the impossible, and He still does miracles today!

Praise be to our Most High God, the Lord Jesus Christ!!


Psalm 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Quantum Mix Of Error

I am posting an important warning received via email from Andrew Strom's ministry.  There is another disturbing new age twist coming from people associated with the Elijah List concerning energy, vibrations oil and quantum conjecture.  This group is mainly composed self appointed prophetic people and has caused great error to spread throughout the church from its inception. It has strong NAR (New Apostolic Reformation ties) and has repeatedly brought forth a yucky stew of new age practices, aggrandizement and national political agendas in one ugly pot.

Sadly, it has become increasingly difficult in United States, even in Tulsa, to find a church which discounts the new prophetic Elijah List crowd and NAR; but still believes in a God who is unlimited, who indeed heals and does not demand you pony up money for it. Hard to find a church which speaks in tongues, yet does not have people rolling on the floor shrieking, barking and jerking side to side as if they reside in an electric socket. Hard to find a church which offers prayer in their major services; yet people come in off the street seeking ministry and the sick sometime less so. Hard to find a church which has a true heart towards the poor, absent of judgmental attitudes, and not engaged in bashing the President of the United States when they should be preaching, teaching, and living the Word of God.  


Enough of my thoughts. Here is the article:

THE 'ELIJAH LIST' DOES it AGAIN! (-New Age)
-by Andrew Strom.

People need to be warned about this. Seriously. The Elijah List is the biggest "Prophetic" email list on the planet. It goes out to tens of thousands of Charismatic Christians around the globe. We have had cause to warn people about the Elijah List several times in the past, but a week ago they published one of their most "New Age" articles that I have yet seen.

The article was called 'A "Quantum" Change' by Kari Browning (designed to get people to buy the related books, of course). Here are some major extracts:

'A "Quantum" Change' by Kari Browning...

"There is great understanding coming to the Church about the quantum realm, and I believe it will help facilitate the change that has been prophesied. Albert Einstein said everything is energy. Remember his formula E=mc squared? He believed that energy and matter were interchangeable. Everything is vibrating energy, including our bodies. Every word and every thought carries a certain vibrational frequency...

It can be scientifically documented that everything has either positive or negative frequencies. Foods even have frequencies. Fresh food has a higher frequency than processed foods. On the other hand, coffee has a negative frequency. Prayer actually raises a person's frequency by 15 MHz. If our frequency gets low, we get sick...

God provided a way to raise our frequencies by using essential oils. These oils were used Biblically for medicinal purposes. The oils were not used symbolically as we have come to believe, but these oils had healing properties. For example, hyssop is a releaser of swallowed emotions and a spiritual cleanser. Prayer and essential oils together are a powerful combination, as both raise our frequencies."

ANDREW STROM AGAIN:  Someone needs to let the Elijah List know that they are (yet again) promoting pure "New Age" junk to the Body of Christ. As if "Ekstasis" dancing, portals, gold dust, 'angel feathers', fire tunnels and spiritual drunkenness were not enough. Now we have "vibrations", special 'frequencies' and healing oils being promoted in the church.

Does it really require that much "discernment" to see that these people have simply taken obvious 'New Age' techniques (not found in the Bible) and are repackaging them for gullible Christians? Where will it all end? How "New Age" do things have to get?

At the close of the article, the Elijah List adds:
"Kari Browning, 'New Renaissance'.
Kari Browning and her husband, Mike, have been involved in church planting for over 25 years. They are about to open a Healing and Creativity Center. This center will focus on releasing creativity and teaching on wellness. Kari has traveled nationally and internationally as a conference speaker."

It then goes on to promote Kari's next speaking event, which is entitled "Global Call School of the Prophets" with Bill Hamon as the main speaker - along with other 'prophets'. Thus we have the "Prophetic" Movement to thank (yet again) for this latest New Age deception to enter the church. Very sad. People need to be warned about this, my friends.

*Remarkable. However, sadly, it is not at all shocking.

First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs apologizes, had refused to marry Te'Andrea, Charles Wilson
By: Jeffrey Elizabeth Copeland CNN

(CNN) -- After barring a black couple from marrying in its Mississippi facility in late July, the First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs released a statement Sunday apologizing for its actions.

"We, the church, realize that the Hendersons and Wilsons should never have been asked to relocate their wedding. This wrong decision resulted in hurt and sadness for everyone. Both the pastor and those involved in the wedding location being changed have expressed their regrets and sorrow for their actions," the church said.

Te'Andrea and Charles Wilson planned for months to marry at the First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs but were asked at the last minute to move.

Their pastor, Stan Weatherford, made the request on behalf of some congregants who didn't want to see the couple married there, according to CNN affiliate WLBT. He performed the ceremony at a nearby church.

Sunday's statement follows a string of apologies from First Baptist and its congregation for turning away the young couple.

"As a church, we express our apology to Te'Andrea and Charles Wilson for the hurt that was brought to them in the hours preceding their wedding and beyond. We are seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with our Lord Jesus Christ, Te'Andrea and Charles, family and friends of the Hendersons and Wilsons, our church family, and our community for the actions and attitudes that have recently occurred," the statement continued.

Despite the church's recent statements, the Wilsons aren't convinced of the congregations' sincerity, they said, calling the recent release "an insult" and "misleading to the public."

"The pastor has not spoken to us since a couple days after the incident. We have not heard from the pastor or any church official since the incident," Charles Wilson said Sunday.

Jonathan Thompson, the African-American community relations director for the city of Crystal Springs, was one of many community members to organize a unity rally after the incident, aiming to help reunite church members.

"I think this is an opportunity to really get intentional about reconciling," he said, adding that he prayed God would forgive all of them for their sins and that they would be able to find reconciliation.

However, Charles Wilson said, "at the rally, the pastor avoided us. He walked the other way when he saw us walking toward him. It would have been nice to talk to us before issuing a statement."

A spokesman who agreed to be identified only as a "church member" said that the church had attempted to reach out to the couple and that calls were not returned.

The Wilsons had attended the church but were not official members. They would have been the first African-American couple to marry in First Baptist Church's 150-year history, church officials said.

"This had never been done before here, so it was setting a new precedent, and there are those who reacted to that because of that," Weatherford told CNN affiliate WLBT in July.

Read more here.
Also see: Black Wedding Banned by Miss. Baptist Church

HATS OFF to Andrew Stroms recent article!!!! I am so glad to see other Christians recognizing the ugly attitudes and indeed antics displayed by Tea Party Christians in America! Their actions and philosophies stand so contrary to God's Word and the true nature of Christ. Money, indeed is the root of evil in a lot of their political gesturing (not to mention stereotyping the poor and others...) No compassion if it costs them, but if it looks good or gets someone elected-- a token such as handing a turkey out on Thanksgiving will do--but only amidst themselves!  Such tokenism will certainly not be acceptable to God. He knows their hearts! I am blessed beside myself to see others speaking out against this egregious political movement which plays their "God card" for their own agendas.


WHY the "TEA PARTY" is UNCHRISTIAN
-by Andrew Strom.

I write this as a conservative evangelical Christian. I am anti-abortion and hold all the usual 'conservative' views. But I have come to believe that the Tea Party is one of the most misguided and misleading movements in America - especially since it claims to be so "Christian".

I saw a piece written by pro-Tea Party activist recently who quoted statistics saying that the majority of Tea Party members are evangelical Christians. He coined the term, "Teavangelicals". He says they are going to have a new Awakening and "Take Back America". I don't know what kind of "Awakening" he is talking about, but it is very different from the true spiritual Awakenings of the past. America certainly needs a Revival. But not the kind that these guys are pushing. I believe it is a counterfeit of the real thing. And if we fall for the counterfeit, then the true can be utterly lost.

So what exactly is the problem with the "Teavangelicals"? Below is a very basic list of things that, in my view, make this movement truly un-Christlike and unchristian:-

(1) -An Unhealthy Mixing of Christianity with Nationalism-. When you "wrap the cross in the flag" so-to-speak, you instantly distort the entire message and essence of christianity. You are taking two totally different "kingdoms" and mixing them together. Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world."  So in mixing Christianity with Nationalism, you are totally distorting what His kingdom truly stands for. Thus you get "Patriotic" actions such as saluting the flag or the Pledge of Allegiance being seen as "Christian" things to do. Marching off to war becomes a "Christian" activity. The two "kingdoms" are being completely confused. There is a great deal of this happening in the church in America right now - and the Tea Party is really pushing it. -Utterly distorting what real Christianity is all about.

(2) -Being Basically the Biggest Supporters of WAR in America-. (This is closely related to # 1).  One US commentator seriously stated that without the support of the American Christians the war would be over much quicker - because they are the staunchest and strongest supporters of War in the whole country. Now, can you imagine Jesus being like this? Can you imagine Him telling his disciples, "I want you to support military invasions and the shooting, killing and destroying of thousands of people"? -Because that is what WAR is. Does it sound "Christian" to you? Can we find anywhere in the New Testament where true Christians had this attitude? NO! They wouldn't have dreamed of being the biggest supporters of War in their generation! Just think what a terrible testimony this is today - to all the unbelievers who are watching. How un-Christlike. No wonder they call us "War-mongers".

(3) -Siding with the Rich and Against the Poor-. This is the exact opposite of Jesus - as we see again and again in the gospels and the entire New Testament. Pay close attention to the following words of Christ- "Woe to you that are rich, for you have received your comfort" (Lk 6:24), "How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 19:23) and "You cannot serve God and Money." (Mt 6:24). Jesus also said: "Blessed be you poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven" (Lk 6:20) and "I have come to preach good news to the poor" (Lk 4:18).

Can you imagine Jesus coming across like today's "Tea Party" Christians - where they seem utterly against the cause of the poor, and totally for the Rich and the 'Big Money' interests? Perhaps we have forgotten that Big Business exists largely for MAMMON and GREED. Can anybody tell me anything "Christian" about that?

(4) -HEALTH CARE - Denying it to the Needy-.  (-Related to # 3). I am not talking about "ObamaCare" here. I have no comment on ObamaCare one way or the other. What I am talking about is a general attitude amongst Christians. I cannot tell you the number of emails that I've gotten from believers who want to deny poor uninsured Americans any decent Health Care. (I guess because they are lower-class and can't afford it).

Do you know that millions and millions of Americans are being denied basic Health coverage that is totally taken for granted in other countries? And that it is the CHRISTIANS who want to deny it to them? And do you know that there are multitudes of Americans who wind up bankrupt or losing their home simply because they can't pay their medical bills? Does that sound like a "Christian" ideal to you? Does it sound like something that believers should be fighting for? -Fighting on the side of Big Business against the "little people" who can't afford to pay? What kind of "Christianity" is that?

(5) -Pushing the Idea that "Political" Answers can Solve America's Problems-.  To me, this is the worst deception of all - the idea that America's problems can mainly be solved with "Political" activism, or a change of government, or a new President. The USA's problems are almost entirely SPIRITUAL. It is because she has lost her way SPIRITUALLY that is causing all the other problems. And to get the Christians all caught up in a "Political" movement is a total distraction. A PRAYER movement - Yes!  A "Political" movement -NO!  It will not solve the problems in any real way at all.  In fact, it is like a "counterfeit" Awakening - to push the Christians into Political activism instead of focusing on the SPIRITUAL. It is like a false savior - a "pseudo" solution. The problems in America are Spiritual - and they need Spiritual answers. Not this "counterfeit" that gets everybody caught up in Political fights.

In summary, I want to say that I believe that many of the attitudes and behaviours of the "Tea Party" evangelicals in America are totally un-Christlike and unchristian. They come across as ugly, mean-spirited and anger-filled. It is awful to see real believers caught up in anything so unlike Jesus.

I would like to challenge every Christian reading this to forward it to your conservative friends. Tell them to come and meet me over at our discussion board, if they think they can prove me wrong. I am open. If they think they can prove from the New Testament that Christians should be thinking and behaving the way these "Tea Party" people behave, then let them come. I will be waiting. THE CHALLENGE is LAID DOWN.

Here is the link to our Discussion Board to post your comments-

http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/

PLEASE FORWARD this EMAIL TO YOUR FRIENDS.

God bless you all.

Andrew Strom.

Churches Of Christ Address Race Issues

Churches of Christ aim to mend longstanding racial divides

By Bob Smietana, USA TODAY

Whenever legendary civil rights lawyer Fred Gray comes to Nashville, Tenn., he drops by the intersection of 24th and Batavia.

That spot was once home to the Nashville Christian Institute, a K-12 school for African-American members of the Churches of Christ once banned from Lipscomb University and other Church of Christ schools.

Long closed, the school is never far from Gray's mind. The man who once represented Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. paid tribute to it during a recent ceremony at which he received an honorary doctorate from Lipscomb — an institution that he once sued over its racial policies.

His honorary doctorate was part of a new movement aimed at healing longstanding racial divides in the Churches of Christ.

"There have always been white congregations and black congregations, with little exchange between the two," said Wes Crawford, preaching minister at Glenwood Church of Christ in Tyler, Texas.

While church and academic leaders tackle the issue from the top, two 30-something members of Churches of Christ in Nashville are building bridges at the grassroots level.

Brent High, a member of the predominantly white Brentwood Hills Church of Christ, and Micah Otis, a member of the predominantly black Scott Avenue Church of Christ, have organized a series of meetings between ministers at black and white congregations in Nashville.

Those meetings have led to ministers at several congregations swapping pulpits for a week and, in at least two cases, to churches holding joint worship services.

Otis said those meetings are just a start.

"We have still not gotten a conclusion on how to fix this," said Otis. "But that's the purpose of having the meetings."

Denominations divide

Most American Protestants divided over slavery around the time of the Civil War. Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians and Presbyterians all split into northern and southern denominations.

Those groups were often divided by race as well — with separate denominations for African-American Christians like the National Baptist Convention and African Methodist Episcopal churches.

By contrast, Churches of Christ leaders have claimed their fellowship never split.

That's not exactly true, Crawford said.

Churches of Christ say their group is not a denomination. Instead they call it a fellowship or brotherhood. So they don't have any denominational boards to officially split, said Crawford, who spoke at a session on race relations at the conference on reconciliation.

But the fellowship has long divided over racial lines.

In the 1940s and 1950s, there was some interaction between black and white Churches of Christ, because of Nashville preacher Marshall Keeble.

The dynamic evangelist was one of few African-Americans welcomed at white Churches of Christ. He often convinced those congregations to donate funds to the Nashville Christian Institute — known to alumni as NCI — where he was president from 1942 to 1958.

Things changed in 1967, when the NCI board of directors closed the school amid dwindling enrollment and gave all its assets to Lipscomb.

Gray and other alumni sued, saying Lipscomb was hostile to African-Americans. They lost in court. But the case — and Keeble's death in 1968 — marked a further split between blacks and whites.

The two groups have grown apart ever since, said Tanya Smith Brice, a Baylor University professor who also spoke at the conference.

"We, as a body, have kept a friendly distance from each other," said Brice, who grew up in a Church of Christ. "We have parallel structures — one that is white and one that is African-American. We pretend as if we are one body, but we are not."

Randy Lowry, Lipscomb's president, said the school can't undo the past.

"All you can do is over and over again do what is right and hope that over time that you are not only making a different impression but you are having a different impact," said Lowry.

 Click here to continue reading.

Criminalizing The Homeless

This is sad. Please read the article below about potential laws emerging towards criminalizing homeless people.  If it is not bad enough to be homeless! Imagine having no where to go. Imagine people stereotyping before you open up your mouth and say one word. Imagine shelters being full when you seek refuge only to be regrettably turned away. Imagine as you huddle against a bush for warmth in a park only to be arrested FOR BEING HOMELESS. Where are these people to go? They already have no where to go! There are not enough shelters and not enough resources currently out there to deal with this issue. Most cities are struggling mightily with their budgets--more so than usual. And what about burdening the criminal system people so love to quip about losing their nickels on? The homeless are certainly precious in God's eyes, but with people they are often viewed with contempt! I would hate to see people arrested simply because they have no where to go--it just shouldn't be!  The climate towards this poor group is becoming increasingly hostile.  Sad indeed.

Cities' homeless crackdown: Could it be compassion fatigue?
By Yamiche Alcindor, USA TODAY

A growing number of cities across the United States are making it harder to be homeless.

Philadelphia recently banned outdoor feeding of people in city parks. Denver has begun enforcing a ban on eating and sleeping on property without permission. And this month, lawmakers in Ashland, Ore., will consider strengthening the town's ban on camping and making noise in public.

And the list goes on: Atlanta, Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami, Oklahoma City and more than 50 other cities have previously adopted some kind of anti-camping or anti-food-sharing laws, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty.

The ordinances are pitting city officials against homeless advocates. City leaders say they want to improve the lives of homeless people and ensure public safety, while supporters of the homeless argue that such regulations criminalize homelessness and make it harder to live on the nation's streets.

"We're seeing these types of laws being proposed and passed all over the country," said Heather Johnson, a civil rights attorney at the homeless and poverty law center, which opposes many of the measures. "We think that criminalization measures such as these are counterproductive. Rather than address the root cause of homelessness, they perpetuate homelessness."

A number of organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia this month in response to its feeding ban.

Mark McDonald, press secretary for the city's mayor, Michael Nutter, said the measures are about expanding the services offered to the homeless, adding dignity to their lives and about ensuring good public hygiene and safety.

"This is about an activity on city park land that the mayor thinks is better suited elsewhere," he said. "We think it's a much more dignified place to be in an indoor sit-down restaurant. … The overarching policy goal of the mayor is based on a belief that hungry people deserve something more than getting a ham sandwich out on the side of the street."

If people come inside for feeding programs, they can be connected with other social service programs and possibly speak with officials such as substance abuse counselors and mental health professionals, McDonald said.

Critics argue that bans on feeding and camping often leave people with no where to eat or sleep because many cities lack emergency food services and shelters. Meanwhile, citing people who violate such ordinances costs cities money when officials try to follow up on such cases and hurts people's ability to get jobs and housing, because many develop criminal records.

Click here to continue reading.

Roles Of The Salvation Army

Salvation Army serves thousands, but it’s a church first

The Anniston Star

By Laura Camper

Wayne and Mary Ellen Cotton sat at a long folding table in a Salvation Army food warehouse one day last week surrounded by mounds of food. The donated goods were waiting to be sorted and placed on the shelves.

On another folding table, bags the Cottons filled with an assortment of food were ready for clients of Salvation Army who will be making their way to the food pantry for help.

May 14-20 was National Salvation Army Week, a special period in which to remember an organization that set down roots in 1865 in London and spread across the world. But while many people think of the organization as a social service agency, it is a church first, said Capt. Bert Lind — a church that took on a militaristic name and infrastructure to preach to people.

“We do everything in the name of Jesus Christ,” said Lind, commanding officer of the local organization. “We do not preach to them in the expectation they will join our church.”

The Salvation Army has 7,300 corps throughout the United States. Each one has a number of soldiers, adult members and junior soldiers, children, in its membership. Worldwide, the Salvation Army has more than 1 million soldiers in its ranks.

The Salvation Army Corps in Anniston has a service each Sunday at its building on Fourth Street in the same area as its other buildings. Around 35 to 40 people, on average, attend the 11 a.m. service each week, Lind said.

“We have normal church activities; we have Sunday school and morning worship service,” he said.

Click here to continue reading.

Seasons Of Change

A contemplative presentation below set mostly to Ecclesiates 3 and a classical piece " Adagio, for violin, strings and organ in G minor". Composer Samuel Barber.

Ecclesiates 3:1-8

1) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2) A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted 
3) A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5) A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6) A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7) A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8) A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace

Elevating Angels

The article below was received via email through Andrew Strom's ministry.

WHY ARE SOME in THE PROPHETIC MOVEMENT
Still NAMING ANGELS? 
- Charisma Magazine.
-Jennifer LeClaire.

I recently heard a prophetic word that described an angelic visitation. Of course, I am all for angelic visitations. Both the Old and New Testament offer plenty of examples of angels appearing to peopleto deliver heavenly messages. But this angel apparently had a creative name. Its name was supposedly "Safe Passage."

It grieves me that we have to go around this mountain yet again in the body of Christ. Wasn´t the controversy over Emma - the female angel who purportedly started the modern-day prophetic movement -enough to put an end to this sort of nonsense? Apparently not.

Let me be clear: There is no angel named Emma and there is no angel named Safe Passage - and it´s assignment is not to escort you safely into new opportunities or to clear fearsome corners and honor your unsung courage.

However, if you Google the keywords "angel safe passage," you might see where a misguided prophetic pen could draw such erroneous inspiration. There´s a Safe Passage playing card that´s a prominent "white angel" in a Dungeons & Dragons-style game. In this context, "Safe Passage" is a sorcerer. On the more benign side, "Safe Passage" was the title of a script for a 1997 episode of Touched by an Angel. Either way, there is no God-sent angel named Safe Passage.

It just so happened that when I stumbled upon the so-called revelation of this angel named Safe Passage I was already studying the topic of angels. In fact, I was in the midst of reading Dr. Lester Sumrall´s Angels to Help You for a second time. Sumrall offered abundant Scripture about the reality of angels, the categories of angels-including their names and ranks - whatangels do, what angels know, angels and prophecy, what kind of people receive angelic service, and much more.

Angels are real. Angels are mentioned 108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament. Angels are messengers. Angels are innumerable. The Bible mentions three angels by name: Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer. But beyond that, you have to go to religions like Zoroastrianism to find the names of angels.

Zoroastrianism, also called Mazdaism, is a religion based on a self-styled prophet named Zoroaster (also known as Avestan or Zarathustra). Zoroastrianism was once among the largest religions in the world, a political power in pre-Islamic Iran. Mazdaism believers prayed to angels like Ameretat, Asha Vahishta and Vohu Mano for protection.

In modern times, the New Age movement has an A-to-Z list of named angels, some of which are supposedly rooted in Scripture. There´s Abdiel, the professed "Angel of Faith." At the end of the New Age list, you´ll find Zuriel, the "Angel of Harmony" who has dominion over the sun sign of Libra.

As you can see, false teaching about angels has been circulating the world since before Christ was born and well after He ascended to the right hand of the Father. False teachings about angels was an issue in the early church and it´s an issue in the end-time church. "And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light" (2 Cor. 11:14).

Paul had an apostolic message for those who hyper-focused on angels and their "teachings" at the expense of exalting Christ. Paul was so bold as to say that if he - or an angel from heaven -preached any other gospel than the gospel of Christ he should be accursed (Gal. 1:8). Those are pretty strong words and ones that should be heeded before we preach sermons or pen articles that exalt angels.

Paul also said, "Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God" (Col. 2:18-19).

Matthew Henry, an 18th century minister whose well-known commentary provides an exhaustive verse-by-verse study of the Bible, gets to the root of such angel exaltation: "They advanced those notions to gratify their own carnal fancy, and were fond of being thought wiser than other people. Pride is at the bottom of a great many errors and corruptions, and even of many evil practices, which have great show and appearance of humility."

Yes, angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation (Heb. 1:14). That´s us! Angels are sent to execute God´s Word. By revelation of the Holy Spirit, David wrote, "Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word" (Ps.103:20). Angels stand ready to obey the Word of God and bring it to pass.

Yes, in a way angels may help provide us with safe passage. When we make the Lord our dwelling place, no evil shall befall us nor shall any plague come near our dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over us, to keep us in all our ways. In their hands they shall bear us up, lest we dash our foot against a stone (Psalm 91:9-12). But there is no angel named Safe Passage, at least none of God´s angels.

One last thought: John mistakenly fell down to worship at the feet of an angel who had shown him the revelations he recorded in the book of Revelation. The angel immediately told him to worship God (Rev. 22:8-9). We don´t know the name of this angel. If it were important, the Holy Spirit would have revealed it. I suppose some in the modern church would name him "Revelation," - some may even claim "Revelation" is a female - and that would be yet another error.

Let me end with the words of Jesus Himself: "Take heed that no one deceives you... for false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Mk 13:5; 22). Amen. -Jennifer LeClaire, news editor, Charisma

Music In The Church

Interesting article on music (secular and Christian) in the Church below---it offers a lot of points to contemplate. Myself, I have no problem with some different genres of music if it Christian oriented and/or clean, but as the author eloquently expounds upon, what is the end motivation of this music? Is it to appeal to the flesh, generating crowds to be entertained? Unfortunately, too often the answer is yes! Also, interesting to note the Western world influence upon Nigerian churches. This article has got me thinking....

Nigeria: Rock Music and the Rock of Ages
By Femi Aribisala

I walked into the City of David parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos, for the very first time and was surprised to hear the choir playing the theme song from the blockbuster movie, Mission Impossible III. Don't get me wrong; the choir was excellent. But you start to wonder if you are not actually at a pop-concert as opposed to a church.

Newspring Church in Anderson, South Carolina (USA) even upped the ante. It was reported in the news that they started a church-service with the song Brick House by the Commodores. Part of the lyrics of the song goes like this: "The clothes she wears, the sexy ways, make an old man wish for younger days. She knows she's built and knows how to please. Sure enough to knock a man to his knees." How in heaven's name can anyone think such a song is appropriate in a church of all places? But then churches are no longer what they are supposed to be.

According to The Telegraph, Pastor Sunday Adelaja of Embassy of God, Kiev, Ukraine encourages his congregants to "shake their booty and praise the Lord." Reporting on one of his services, the new-spaper observes that: "As 'Pastor Sunday' prepared to make a grand entrance, the choirgirls shook their pompoms, the disco lights started to flash and a fanfare sounded. The lights cut out, and Mr. Adelaja emerged from a shroud of dry ice. Children holding flags of the world wafted round him and the choir bellowed 'Sanctus!'"

What exactly is happening here? Is it a worship service or a rock concert? Is Christ the bright and morning star or is the pastor the sup-erstar? I daresay some churches have gone astray.

Babylonian songs

In the single-minded pursuit of size and numerical growth, new-generation churches have re-configured the church-service into a show-business where men come to be entertained on Sundays for the "gate-fee" of an offering. The thinking is that by spiritualising popular music, the church becomes more attractive to unbelievers.

The danger in this approach is that the modern church becomes increasingly worldly. The playing of secular music in churches does not facilitate the conversion of the lost. Indeed, music is never used in scripture as a means of reaching the lost. Instead, music is primarily used as a means of reaching God, because the Lord inhabits the praises of his people. (Psalm 22: 3). However, God is not likely to be reached through "urban contemporary gospel." Jesus said to the Samaritan woman: "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24).

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Racism Still Exists In America

Yes, that "taboo" subject on a major social problem people often ignore, and some claim no longer exists is dominating headlines again. Racism. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran claims the Holocaust did not exist despite all the evidence--concentration camps, photos, documents, etc. Racism still exists in the United States, and true, progress has been made in the past several decades--but not enough. Stereotypes abound and racial profiling abound. Racial hatred is a dangerous thing.

Let me give my take on the Trayvon Martin’s case. I think there is a big problem for a person to track a stranger down and confront him because he is walking along a street. I think it is a very reasonable assertion to believe racial profiling may be at play here. Furthermore, I can say with absolute conviction-- if both parties were white, black, green or yellow;, I believe George Zimmerman should had been arrested. Judging from the video, it does not align itself to Zimmerman's account of the events that night. An unarmed teen carrying tea and Skittles is now dead--his life cut short. Trayvon Martin was no doubt alarmed when Zimmerman approached him. Would you be alarmed if some brawny unauthorized fellow came up to you demanding questions in a confrontational manner?

But laying the emerging facts and evidence surrounding this particular case aside, I am amazed at the hostility this has generated by some folks because people are demonstrating and calling for justice regarding Martin's case. Hostility has erupted because Americans are once again discussing racism--I think discussion is a good thing. Racism has been an issue often ignored in the Church and in the United States today.

1 John 2:9-11

9) He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10) He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
11) But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Many black churches were instrumental in mobilizing people into the Civil Rights movement. These churches played a tremendous role in dialogue, orchestrating marches, and appealing to people to contemplate their prejudiced attitudes. Martin Luther King and fellow demonstrators were mocked, ridiculed, and berated--indeed, history often repeats itself. Because people like Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson are questioning Trayvon Martin's killing, and demanding answers does not make them inciters of violence, nor does it fuel a bad fire. The hornets’ nest was there long before Trayvon Martin was killed. What is getting the goat of many, including some church leaders, is the necessity of dealing with the "question" of racism. Appearances sake could also be at play --racism never looks good for a community. Yet, give people enough credit to discern that a particular individual acting on hatred in one area does not make everyone a hater in a specific locale. Nevertheless, specific organizations in certain areas may have discriminatory practices or prejudices which need be addressed.

Recently, 5 people--all black were shot in Tulsa, Oklahoma by two white people. One of the shooters used racial expletives on Facebook--you know the N-word. His father was shot by a black man nearly or on two years before to the date of these crimes. Three of the victims were killed, two survived wounded. If this shooters father had been killed by a white man, would he began to target his own race--whites in revenge? No. The racial hatred was already embedded in his heart and soul.

Racial hatred is a dangerous thing. Not just for the victims either. When you stand before the throne of Almighty God, you will give an account for your actions, and for what was in your heart when you were upon this earth. Through His grace and power, people can overcome racial hatred, but it takes a deep look into oneself, and a first step towards acknowledgement.

The Ever Merciful Lamb Of God

Luke 23:32-43

32) And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33) And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35) And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36) And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37) And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38) And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39) And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40) But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41) And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42) And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43) And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.




Romans 10:9-10

9) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Nonbelievers Stage Rally In Washington

Interesting article below about a Washington rally staged by atheists and secularists. As a former atheist; I never had problems with people holding religious views. Such views were only societal belief systems in my thinking--and yes, I considered myself a rationalist at the time. But belief systems need not surround religious or superstitious ideologies at all. Even hate groups hold specific beliefs which lack "empirical validity" . Belief systems also include secular and atheistic lines of thought as well. Belief systems are components of all societies.

I never felt nonbelievers necessarily lack morals more so than Christians. If I was begging for a dime, I would rather a willing atheist give it to me than a judgmental Christian stereotyping the daylights out of me for being poor--not even knowing my name, my history, or my dreams.

What nonbelievers do not have is the regenerative spirit of Christ residing in them. And no, God will not likely "show up" to prove Himself to an atheist (but He could), because He has already done so. Look at the celestial and earthly order around you -- chaos and a spontaneous explosion from nonexistence could not produce all you see. Science ever remains speculative while ever adjusting theories towards many unanswered questions.

But back to my point. I never felt I had to rally for my atheist belief system because other people believed in a "higher power". There will always be conflicts, disagreements, political turmoil, impoverished people, and wars as long as there are governments and more importantly, as long there are people on this planet. There will always be political motivations held by various groups sharing a common political philosophy. Atheists or not. Religious or not. But because someone subscribes to a particular religious ideology, does not mean they share a common political ideology. This will always be so until Christ returns.

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The Reason Rally: A Woodstock for nonbelievers
by Patrick Gavin/Politico

Washingtonians know all too well about rallies on the National Mall. On a regular basis, thousands of citizens converge near the Capitol to speak out about the issues they passionately believe in.
So what would happen if the march was about passionately not believing in something?
On March 24, the Mall will be occupied by the Reason Rally, an event that pulls together those seculars who don’t accept that there’s a higher power. It’s being billed as a “Woodstock for nonbelievers.”

Paul Fidalgo, communications director at the Center for Inquiry, said that, despite appearances, this isn’t a rally about believing in nothing. There’s actually an agenda involved — and that includes current politics, the 2012 race and President Barack Obama.

“There isn’t one specific issue we’re going out there to rally on behalf of. But that’s not to say that there aren’t shared values and a shared agenda amongst the various groups,” he said.

Among the issues: international anti-blasphemy laws, the recent clash over contraception and the Republican presidential race.

“The right has so commingled themselves with religion,” Fidalgo said. “I will say that I do find it interesting that in an election season in which the main issue is ostensibly about the economy, that in recent weeks it’s been issues surrounding religion that have become so central.”

Fidalgo said the majority of atheists are “center left” (with a sprinkling of libertarians), but makes it clear that this is not an event supporting one party or the other.

“We do not endorse candidates,” said Fidalgo, adding, in a lighthearted moment, “we will not be rallying for” Rick Santorum, whose faith represents a big part of his public life.

Jesse Galef of the Secular Student Alliance calls the March 24 event a “political statement.”

“This is a demographic that Washington, D.C., will have to pay attention to,” Galef said. “With 2012 being an election season, it seemed like the perfect time to do it.” Galef said atheists are the only demographic that is growing in all 50 states.

Although much of the concern by Galef and Fidalgo regards what they see as threats to the separation of church and state as most recently heard in comments made by Santorum and Newt Gingrich, they’re not letting Democrats off the hook either, including the president.

Fidalgo said it was “a big deal to us” that Obama included a mention of “nonbelievers” in his inaugural address but expressed concern that “he attends the National Prayer Breakfast and uses religious language in his rhetoric.”

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Historic Church Faces Foreclosure

Historic black church faces foreclosure from minority-owned bank
The Washington Times

In a dispute that some are calling a modern-day updating of the biblical Parable of the Ungrateful Servant, a minority-owned bank that benefited from federal bailout funds is threatening to foreclose on one of the nation’s oldest black churches.

The 194-year-old Charles Street African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood could have its sanctuary forcibly auctioned off as early as this week unless a last-minute deal is reached.
The action could be taken by OneUnited Bank, which received $12 million from the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) and whose board of directors once included the husband of Rep. Maxine Waters, California Democrat.

Having the auction take place on the church’s front steps “is as mean-spirited and as godless as you can get,” the church’s pastor, the Rev. Gregory G. Groover Sr., told the Boston Herald.

Mr. Groover did not return calls from The Washington Times seeking comment, and a secretary at the church said Friday “there’s no way I could comment” when asked whether there were any new developments.

U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, the Massachusetts Democrat whose district includes Charles Street AME, said he has sought to persuade OneUnited not to foreclose.

“Charles Street AME is an historic and important community institution and means so much to so many people. I have asked One United to come to the negotiating table to try and resolve this matter without resorting to foreclosure. I remain hopeful that a satisfactory resolution will be found,” he said in a statement.

Biblical parallels

Charles Street AME supporters claim the pending foreclosure is a real-life reflection of the Unforgiving Servant Parable from the Gospel of Matthew (Matt. 18:21-35).

In the story as Jesus tells it, a servant forgiven a great debt turned around and choked a colleague who owed a small amount. The parable about divine mercy ends with the king sending the first servant to be tortured until he pays off his own debt.

According to Ryan Bell, pastor of the Hollywood, Calif., Seventh-day Adventist Church, OneUnited Bank is behaving like the first servant, showing the black church little mercy after receiving its millions from language designed to help black banks that Rep. Barney Frank, Massachusetts Democrat, inserted into TARP-related legislation in December 2008.

“To foreclose on this historic African-American church, is disappointing to say the least. We forgave the banks and bailed them out, and now they’re coming after the little borrower,” said Mr. Bell, who also is a leader of LAVoice/PICO (People Improving Communities through Organizing).

News reports indicate the Charles Street congregation had borrowed $3.6 million from OneUnited to construct a community center adjacent to the sanctuary, which the congregation had acquired in 1939. Fundraising and rentals from the new building would have helped pay off the loan, but construction was halted when, Charles Street says, OneUnited cut off funding.

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One Nasty Stew

This past Sunday a Tulsa church hosted Republican Rick Santorum to be its guest speaker. People held up political banners to enthusiastically rally their support for the candidate, cameras rolling of course. This marriage of church and political candidacy has increasing become a disturbing trend in my eyes. I personally feel it has no place in a church. A social cause--yes. Encouraging people to vote, why not. But pushing political views such as promoting a particular candidate for presidency, or bashing President Obama's healthcare plan--no. By the way, I did not support President Obama in the previous election--shocked?

This church/politic blend increasingly strays away from the Gospel. Church hierarchies (pastors, clergy, etc) promoting their own political agendas, and the candidates most happily promoting theirs in church services under the banner of God. Myself, I can see churches discussing the oppression of certain groups--the poor for example. Nowadays, it seems quite the contrary however. It has become more like bashing the poor.

Mr. Prophet: "Tonight, we have a most important message. Detoxifying the planet by electing the right public official, in the name of Christ."

Mr. Unbeliever: "Why did you not step over that homeless man on the way into the sanctuary? He yelled out when your foot crushed his hand!"

Mr.Pastor: "Let me interject. Of course, he stepped on him. We got a presidential candidate speaking in our service tonight! Do you think we have time for the likes of the homeless when we got a tea party candidate coming here?"

It is not a good witness, contrary to what a lot of people think.

As a former atheist, I can tell you what I would think. I would think how I used to think--people are promoting their political agendas under the guise of religion. As an unbeliever even adhering to a different faith, my head would reason relatively the same. My next thought would be to dismiss any other message this group adhered too--including the Gospel. So not a good witness.

Two entities meet in the darkness of the night: one person's presidential platform and a more than willing church merge to promote personal political beliefs in a church service. The publicity might do wonders for both!!

Lord Jesus, please come quickly.

Worldwide Malnutrition--A Hidden Crisis

Half A Billion Children At Risk From Malnutrition
by Medical News Today
Article Date: 15 Feb 2012


Save the Children released a report today, claiming that childhood malnutrition over the next fifteen years, puts nearly five hundred million youngsters at risk of permanent health problems.

Carolyn Miles, President & CEO of Save the Children said in a statement : "Malnutrition is a largely hidden crisis, but it afflicts one in four children around the world ... It wreaks lifelong damage and is a major killer of children. Every hour of every day, 300 children die because of malnutrition."

The report which is entitled "A Life Free from Hunger: Tackling Child Malnutrition," coincides with news of the latest emergency food crisis coming to light. The African Sahel region in West Africa, which is centered around Hodh Gharbi scrubland in Mauritania, is facing severe food shortages. There is a humanitarian crisis growing, but while these shocking disasters make headlines, the longer term creeping aspects of chronic malnutrition, or a lack of proper nutrition over time, is seen by Save The Children as being deadlier and more widespread than these headline grabbing short-term acute situations.

The problem is that chronic malnutrition weakens young children's immune systems, making them far more likely to die of childhood diseases like diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria. Estimates put the number of child deaths a year, at around 2 million, three times as many as result from acute malnutrition.

Chronic malnutrition also leaves children far more vulnerable to extreme suffering and death when emergency food crises hit, a prime example being in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel right now. Malnutrition is the underlying cause behind some 2.6 million child deaths every year, or more than 30% of all child deaths.

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