UNI Blog - From the Washington Bureau

The ministry called Worldwide Christian Schools partners with the local population to help communities develop Christian schools that can support themselves,that are open to the community and affordable. Mission Network News says the organization is turning their attention to their own backyard in Grand Rapids, Michigan. An initiative called “New School GR” is in the planning stages of creating an education model with a goal of “leaving a legacy of Christ” in urban areas. Worldwide’s Scott Vanderkooy said, “We do see a difference between what’s happening outside the United States and the Christ-centered education movement within the United States. Our goal is to make those two experiences more like each other.”

I suspect he means they focus on the basics in foreign lands. You know…the three R’s; ‘reading, ‘righting and ‘rithmetic. The main reason for such schools in the U.S. would be to get the children away from indoctrination into godless sex education and science classes and other types of things. I mentioned this idea a few days ago and lo and behold here is a possible organization to help do this. Worldwide Christian Schools Partners only helps organize the schools. They don’t hang around and run them forever.

But what if such schools could be built? We could save so many Christian children from the misery of being steered away from God’s will. Wouldn’t that be worth every sacrifice we could make to see our children accept Christ and then be nurtured in a Christ centered school curriculum that would allow the Pledge of Allegiance and honesty about science instead of indoctrination. They could learn about the science the indicates there is a Creator and also teach them his care and love for us and his plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.

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Evangelist Billy Graham celebrated his 90th birthday on Friday, November 7, 2008, with family and personal staff at a private barbeque near his mountain home outside Asheville, N.C., attended by all five of his children, most of his 19 grandchildren and many of his great grandchildren. Pictured are four generations of William F. Graham, including the evangelist and, left to right, his son, Franklin; grandson, “Will”; and great-grandson, “Quinn.”

“I’ve learned that these latter years can be some of the most fulfilling of our lives,” the evangelist said. “I am grateful for each day, thankful for the measure of health I have and am overwhelmed by this celebration. But I think we can come back and celebrate again next year.”

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News reports from India say, more Christians are being killed and homes are being destroyed by Hindu extremists. Dr. K.P. Yohannan, president of Gospel for Asia, says that the problem began in Orissa, India; and that Christians have never had so much persecution as they have experienced in the last 2 months. He says that some 5000 Christian homes have been “completely destroyed, burned to the ground.” However, Dr. Yohannan says that Christians throughout India are uniting. “There has been lots of gathering for prayer, fasting and working together and talking to the government,” Yohannan says. “And persecution and suffering in many ways brought a lot of people together for the sake of the Gospel.” Dr. Yohannan reports that the government of India is concerned about the situation — “The sad thing is, India is supposed to be the second largest democracy in the world - with 1.2 billion people. Yet, it is a very painful thing to watch how religious freedom is curtailed, and in the name of religion, how many Christians are killed and abused continually. And the government is doing something, but I don’t think they are responding to the situation correctly.” He says that pressure from the international community has improved the situation. An estimated 30 Christians have been killed and thousands of others have lost their homes since Hindu extremists went on a rampage after their leader was murdered. His followers are seeking revenge for his death against Christians, even though Maoists have claimed responsibility.

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Scientist Fazale Rana of Reasons to Believe, writes about finding his teenager’’s sloppy bedroom. It reminded him of evolutionary biologists who regard the entire genetic makeup of organisms as a mess. He explains that functional DNA sequences are buried amidst piles of what appear to be useless DNA. New research however, indicates that researchers have overlooked a significant amount of functional DNA in genomes.

Evolutionary biologists consider “junk DNA” to be one of the most potent pieces of evidence for biological evolution. According to this view, junk DNA remains part of the organism’s genome solely because of its attachment to functional DNA. In this way, evolutionists say, “junk DNA” persists from generation to generation. Such scientists then ask, “Why would a creator purposely introduce nonfunctional, junk DNA at the exact location in the genomes of different, but seemingly related, organisms?”

Recent studies on “junk DNA” provide the answer. Junk DNA possesses function. And, the latest research adds to this important insight. It now appears, according to scientist Rana, that the computer programs were inaccurate because much of the apparently “junk DNA” is really extremely functional. Useful DNA sequences in the regions before and after a gene called PHOX2B, actually regulate its activity. Standard computer programs considered this DNA useless, when in fact it is essential to the DNA code that is vital to brain development. He concludes, “Even though evolutionary biologists see the genome as a mess, mounting evidence continues to reveal an underlying, elegant structure that points to the work of a Creator.”

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Some pro-family groups are expressing outrage over release of a new line of greeting cards. Hallmark is out with four cards specifically for same-sex couples in response to increasing demand, after gay marriage was legalized in California in May. The new cards have generalized images and tag lines, which could allow them to continue to market the cards that can apply to civil unions and domestic partnerships, should California voters approve a constitutional amendment in November banning same-sex marriage. Family Research Council president, Tony Perkins, encouraged people to contact them.

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Christian leaders from throughout India are participating in a dharna to draw attention to the persecuted Christians in Orissa.

Gospel for Asia leaders in India have joined with the heads of other churches, ministries and Christian institutions in a five-day rally in New Delhi to protest the ongoing atrocities against Christians in Orissa and other Indian states, even as GFA President K.P. Yohannan reported new persecution against the beleaguered believers.

Called a dharna, the event is an Indian method of seeking justice, traditionally by sitting at the door of one’s debtor or wrongdoer and fasting until justice is obtained. This dharna began Sunday and will last until October 2, Mahatma Ghandi’s birthday, when a peace march will end at the Raj Ghat, Ghandi’s cremation site. “The politicians in New Delhi need to know that even now, the radical Hindus are going through many districts, putting a Hindu flag on the Hindu houses to identify them,” he explained. “Then they are going to the Christian homes and giving them so many days to convert, or they will destroy their houses. When the Christians refuse to renounce their faith, the Hindus go through and tear down their houses,” said Yohannan. He continued by pleading for Christians around the world to pray fervently. “Even late last week, an article on the front page of a leading newspaper called the situation ‘awful,’ and reported that the government of Orissa is still not taking action. I pray that this dharna, along with the prayers of Christians around the world, will have an effect on the government. In the meantime, he said, “things grow worse, even in the places where Christians are seeking refuge. One of the worst things I’ve heard is that the police are harassing the people in the refugee camps — some 15,000 Christians who fled for their lives — and trying to force them to go back to their villages, where the police know they will be attacked and possibly killed,” Dr. Yohannan said. “I just have one thing to say to the Christians in the West: Keep on praying!”

The dharna will end at 2 p.m. Thursday with a peace march to Raj Ghat, where the Christian leaders will present a memorandum to top government officials calling for action to prevent further persecution of Christians and other minorities.

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The Desiring God ministry is having their 2008 National Conference this week-end (September 26 - 28) in Minneapolis, MN. The Desiring God National Conference is an annual gathering for worship, teaching, prayer, and fellowship, centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ. This year’s theme is, “The Power of Words and the Wonder of God.” While the conference theme is unique each year, the overarching aims remain the same:

Doctrine: to see as clearly as we can the whole counsel of God centered, in the glory of Christ revealed in the Bible.

Worship: to savor the sharp contour of his countenance and his accomplishment.

Mission: to spread a passion for his supremacy in all things for the joy of all peoples.   

Most of us already sensed that. But a poll by George Barna about a year ago confirmed those suspicions. Those who have their faith as a low priority generally do not consider themselves born-again Christians. Many of those people say they should go to church more often, but they still don’t. And they are very cold to any other form of faith-related activities.

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September 11, 2008, marks the seven-year anniversary of the terrorist acts of 9/11. There will be memorial events in New York City, Washington, DC, and Shanksville, PA, to honor and remember the victims of September 11^th, 2001, and to come together as a nation, as we reflect and give tribute to the surviving heros.

 Deep in the rubble of the World Trade Center, a cast iron “cross” was discovered standing almost upright, two days after the towers toppled. The 20-foot tall cross, consisting of two metal beams, fell intact from one of the twin towers into a nearby building. Laborer Frank Silecchia, who found the cross, said, “Some people will say it’s velocity or physics that put it there. To me it’s an act of God.” Silecchia cried for 20 minutes after his discovery. Many rescue workers made pilgrimages to pray or meditate near the cross. Some etched messages on it. “God Bless Our Fallen Brothers,” reads one tribute.

 Shortly thereafter, workers hoisted the cross atop a 40-foot high foundation, formerly a pedestrian walkway. Construction workers, firefighters and police officers stood quietly by as Rev. Brian Jordan gave tribute. “Behold the glory of the cross at ground zero,” Jordan said. “This is our symbol of hope, our symbol of faith, our symbol of healing.” The workers prayed and sang God Bless America together before returning to work.

The “Ground Zero Cross,” has since become an issue of the times - a cultural, a political, debate, involving the question between separation of church and state.

 It remains at the site more than four years later. Then, in October of 2006, the cross was moved to nearby St. Peter’s Church, to what many hope to be only a temporary location, during construction of a memorial and museum. World Trade Center Memorial Foundation President and CEO Gretchen Dykstra agreed to find a place for the artifact at the site, though she acknowledged, it’s a delicate issue and viewers should be allowed to draw their own conclusions about whether it has religious significance.

Shortly after those tragic events back in 2001, many of our places of worship were packed to capacity, as our nation cried out to God for comfort and guidance. As the months passed on, the pews emptied, and life went on as usual, many worshipers drifting away. How far is our nation drifting away today?

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Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883. In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories. The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the laborers of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.