WHY EVANGELICALS ARE SHAKY ABOUT THE POPE’S POPULARITY

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Evangelicals frankly don’t know what to do with the recent death of Pope John Paul II. They are having the theological shakes and one can’t blame them.

After all, the large percentage of evangelicals are attuned to biblical prophecy. They at least know the broad outlines. Many know the fine lines.

Therefore, they are particularly aware of Revelation 13 in which symbolically there is pictured the false prophet. He rules with an antiChrist. The former is a demon possessed religious leader. The latter is the demon possessed political leader. Their charisma encircles the entire globe — all peoples, languages and tribes, to use the language of Scripture.

These two leaders also rule from the city of seven hills. Many evangelicals interpret that city as Rome, the city of seven hills. Rome is in the center of Europe. Therefore, it’s in a most convenient geography from which the devil-engulfed antiChrist and false prophet can wage influence for hell throughout Europe and then the entire world.

Further, Revelation 17 pictures the whore, the latter symbolically representing the prostituting of the true Christian faith. It is not a symbol literally meaning a female prostitute; instead, the symbolic whore represents both an institution and a city, as detail is given in Revelation.

Further, in Revelation 11:1-2, a tribulation is mentioned as lasting about 7 years, shortened somewhat for the believers’ sake. The first half of the tribulation is given as 1260 days. When considering that the biblical year was 360 days, that breaks down to 3 l/2 years. The second half is given in 42 months which equals 3 l/2 years. Put the math together and one has a tidy 7 years, shortened briefly "for the elect’s sake."

All this scenario specific can then equal a political leader and religious leader ruling for hell from Rome, starting with a ten nation alliance of Europe (the present day European Union having begun as a ten-nation alliance committee and the latter still in existence as the beginning core of the present EU). These two devil possessed personages then will rule over a church of Satan which prostitutes the true Christian doctrines. The rule will last almost 7 years.

Therefore, if the religious leader has his office in Rome, could not that religious leader, the false prophet, be in fact a corrupt Pope? That’s the nub of the evangelicals’ anxiety. And could Pope John Paul II be the last of the commendable popes? Could the next Pope then be the false prophet symbolized in the Book of Revelation, particularly in chapter 13?

Now there are other evangelicals who really don’t have much trouble with the deceased Pope for they consider him to have lived a believer’s life, giving forth gospel truths in the traditional Catholic style, naturally.

Further, they highly regard him for his moral stands, such as pro-life and anti-homosexual lifestyle. Therefore, these evangelicals continue on with such admiration for another Christian leader on Earth who maintained a sense of Christian ethic and the basics of Christian doctrine: Jesus as Only God Savior, Bible as divine revelation, the actuality of heaven and hell, the reality of sin and Satan, salvation only through the sinless sacrifice of Christ upon Calvary, and a Judgment Seat of Christ at which all mortals give an accounting of their earthly sojourns.

With much going sinful within Protestantism, certain evangelicals then say that it’s hard today to point accusing fingers at the Vatican. The Episcopal Church of America has sold its soul to apostasy by baptizing practicing homosexuality as a divine blessing. Likewise have other mainline denominations including the United Church of Christ (Congregational), Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and Presbyterian Church of America.

Even the United Methodist Church at its last annual conclave almost slid off the holiness chart by baptizing homosexuality as spiritually approved. Even the Mennonites, that supposedly pure, simple living group, has heavy leadership, editorial personages championing homosexuality as legitimate for Christians.

So with Protestantism clinging for its life through the evangelical, biblical believers of all denominations, it’s hard for some evangelicals then to oust completely the Roman Catholic Church as well as turn their backs on the witness of Pope John Paul II.

Therefore, these evangelicals hold the prophetic time line to the present moment mainly. They say this: The Pope was a man who was on our evangelical side on moral issues. He held to biblical doctrinal basics just as evangelicals do.

Therefore, we have to stick together in these confusing times with any semblance of the righteous remnant. Consequently, we will laud the Pope for what he means to us evangelicals according to the aforementioned.

However, these same evangelicals, attuned to prophecy, hold in balance the future. They are not sure if the next Pope will in fact be the false prophet; maybe he will turn against his own believing community and play the part of the devil’s man. If so, we are all in for big trouble.

However, no mortal knows for certain where we are on the divine time line. We think we know something about His time line; but none of us is God so as to have the last word on that time line.

Therefore, we may have the next Pope being a commendable individual like unto Pope John Paul II. Therefore, if he is, then those cautious evangelicals don’t want to jump the gun by starting the accusing game and so be found the eventual fool.

That’s the tension right now held by evangelicals open to options finally known only, at this point, to the divine and His calendar for prophecy fulfillment.

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NEW IRAQ PROCEEDS WITH NEW PRESIDENT

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

"Drafting the constitution will be done on time," stated New Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, according to The Washington Times from combined Baghdad dispatches.

With that, the new President took lead of New Iraq. That means that newly elected lawmakers will gather in August to see through the significant democracy planting. Though today there is some unrest in Baghdad, conjured by various anti-freedom nay-sayers, yet it is expected that the New Iraq citizenry will continue with the liberty process.

All this is with the two-year backdrop of Operation Iraqi Freedom’s three-week-win war overseen by US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and initiated by US President George W. Bush.

It has been a remarkable establishment of freedom spread upon a previous dictatorship under the ruthless Saddam Hussein, known chiefly for murdering his own people, sometimes by putting them head first into shredding machines.

Now Hussein sits in a jail cell while the anti-Hussein leadership sets in place that which heretofore Iraqis only dreamt of.

Only ten weeks after the historic January 30 Victory Vote in which grassroots defied killers intentional to cast their ballots, a new politic is being molded. Talabani has become the first President of a democratic Iraq. Shiite leader Ibrahim at-Laafari has become Prime Minister.

The forming of a "constitution is the next key political step on the road to new elections by the end of the year."

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SWALLOW HARD AND FORGIVE: CHARLES AND CAMILLA

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."

So Jesus taught His disciples to pray. So we pray in worship. So it is that we are to forgive those who "trespass against us."

It’s going to be terribly difficult to do that; but if we follow Jesus, it appears that that’s the next order of spiritual business for genuine Christians.

We are up against it. But that’s life. And life isn’t promised to be a tea party.

Therefore, Charles and Camilla are going to pray their confession of adultery before mortals. It’s part of the "wedding blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, according to the DAILY MAIL."

The two are about to "acknowledge their sins and wickedness." Good.

When anyone does that it brings about a cleansing of soul; at least that’s the biblical intent. It is also to bring a state of forgiving grace from the divine upon their hearts. May this truly be a miracle for it will certainly take a miracle of mercy from the rest of us.

"Rather than choosing more newly-written prayers of penitence for divorcees, the Prince and the new Duchess of Cornwall will join the congregation in reading the strongest act of penitence from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

"Charles and Camilla will say the prayer book confession which reads: 'We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, by thought, word and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us.’"

I personally am in soul shock upon reading this. I never dreamt that those two hardhearted creatures of selfishness would ever come to this point. However, evidently the news release is genuine. And if it is, disciples of the cross, line up and be counted.

It’s time to swallow hard and forgive.

My first thought was that Lady Di is gone. She’s the one stepped all over, trashed and sent to the heap by the Prince who informed his new bride that he, the Prince, was not going to be the first not to have a mistress. So I wonder what that says of his father, Prince Phillip.

Anyhow, Charles, as the world now knows, was having sex with Camilla while duly married to the young Diana, Princess of Wales. In fact, before marrying Diana.

So Lady Di had her own alliances? Yes, but only after being spat upon by her Prince husband, treated as a slave and made to be nothing other than a total palace nuisance.

It is then fitting that no music will be at the civil ceremony in the Guildhall. No order of service. The Queen will not attend. In addition, they should hand out to the two wayward but repentant souls a flogging stick, just to make certain.

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POPE JOHN PAUL II AND THE FUTURE HOPE

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Pope John Paul II's life was always leaning future tense. Of course, he gave all his energies to God's ministry present-tense. At the same time, his hope was locked into that eternal venue, including the Second Advent.

Likewise, all genuine believers live out their energies here in present-tense with eyes fixed upon the future vision.

That vision includes not only residing with Jesus eternally upon believer's death. It also includes expecting the climax of this Church Age with the Second Coming of Reigning Christ.

Jesus is not too popular in the world. "He came unto His own and His own received Him not." As the ages roll along, Jesus is less and less welcome in His own world.

But when Jesus returns for the second time, it will be not as the Servant, but as the planet’s Monarch. Prophesies are replete throughout Scripture. The major portions are in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. In these passages Jesus is recorded as speaking plainly — literally — not in the symbolism He envisioned to the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos.

Therefore, in those Gospel clear-cut sections, Jesus sets forth His predictions. He says that prior to His second return, there will be "wars and rumors of wars." There will also be an increase in earthquakes as well as environmental pestilence. Brother will turn against brother, father against son, and so forth with family fall-outs escalating. Sin will abound. Evil will be tolerated en mass. Famine will spread its ugly paw across the Earth.

Then there will come the "abomination of desolation," that is the desecration of Jerusalem’s next Temple to be constructed. The abominable act will take place when the Antichrist commits sacrilege in the Holy of Holies, similar to Antioches Epiphanes’ spoiling of the Holy of Holies by sacrificing a pig there, thus sparking the Maccabean Revolt commemorated in Hanukkah.

At the height of the Antichrist’s political rule, in which demonic forces will engulf the world, Jesus will leave the right hand of the Father in heaven. He will cascade through the atmosphere, accompanied by angels and the redeemed of all time.

At that time, the sun will blink out its light in homage to the Light of the World returning to His turf. The moon thereby will not give light. And the stars, as if dancing in space, will careen thither and fro. It’s as if the universe celebrates the return of its Creator in defiance of mortals’ madness against the holiness of Jesus.

Jesus will return as the Armageddon Battle rages in the Valley of Megiddo, located in the northwestern section of Israel. There those who are anybody militarily will have gathered for a fight at "the navel of the planet," not realizing it to be the last conflict of the Church Age.

Jesus will win the battle by speaking His Word. With that the Antichrist will be thrown alive into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone. Along with him will be caste the False Prophet, the planet’s religious leader who will have swayed his populous by the doctrines of hell.

During that time prior to the second return of Jesus, the Antichrist will hold power politically. The False Prophet will hold power religiously. However, there will be a righteous remnant battling against such evil till the close. That holy gathering for Jesus will hold forth the gospel truth midst much persecution. It will be that remnant that will await His return as the bride awaits the coming of her Groom.

Just as the Antichrist and False Prophet will hold demonic authority for politic and religion, Jesus will return to assume under His millennial reign both politic and religion — King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus’ redeemed will rule with Him as kings and priests. The planet, not yet enveloped in the perfect holiness of the New Heaven and New Earth ushered in at the close of the millennial reign, will at least have a breather from the desperate devilment prior to the second return.

The devil himself, pictured symbolically in The Book of Revelation as the dragon (that bloated snake of Eden, now filled with the souls of the damned), will be thrown into hell’s Bottomless Pit for the one thousand year reign of Jesus on Earth.

At His first coming, Jesus was born a baby, laid in a manger for there was no room for Him in the inn. At his second coming, Jesus will return as Monarch, ridding the planet of His enemies to rule in righteousness from Jerusalem, His Holy City.

POPE JOHN PAUL II TAUGHT AGE APPRECIATION

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Pope John Paul II grew older, more feeble, showing it, sharing his suffering with his audiences and yet never thinking of terminating his ministry.

Though reports came out in the press that in 2000 he considered resigning, that is not fact. That was a misreading of the original release sent out. What the Pope was stating in that record was that he wondered when God would call him home, not that he contemplated resigning from his vocation.

To the very close, the Pope ministered to the world that age discrimination must never happen. It is not Christian. It is not moral. It should not be.

As he grew older, he continued. As infirmities weighed down upon him, he did what he could do in Jesus’ name. As he became weaker, he continued to move the temple of the Holy Spirit — his body — at the Lord’s guidance.

There are untold believers who suffer from age discrimination, even from their families and close friends. It seems that in some cultures when a person reaches a particular age, he’s not supposed to be useful any more. It’s taken for granted that he can’t think as alertly as the young. He can’t reason as sharply as they.

Sometimes the elderly are even made the butt of jokes. The young, who think they are going to be forever youthful, snicker and chuckle at some of the older folk. Of course, that’s simply a part of our being damaged as spiritually fallen creatures. But for those who think the matter through, it has to stop.

The Pope became crippled by his disease, yet he carried on. That reminds me of evangelist Billy Graham who continues preaching at crusades even though he suffers, is growing older, and shows it. These men of God know that they have only so much time left to do gospel work, so they set their energies at the maximum in the Holy Spirit’s bidding.

It is the same not only for the famous names, but all persons who claim Christ as Savior and Lord. They want to be valued and respected. They want to be thought of as contributing to others and the work of the community and church.

I watched Pope Paul John II as he grew more bent over and recalled when he was robust and vigorous in body. He was one of the best when it came to sports. He could ski like any other. He was up to hours upon hours of working and working some more. His labor was that love for Jesus, the Redeemer.

Of course, he knew he was growing older, like we all are. But he was ministering to the world that aging and becoming feeble was to be honored, regarded with esteem, not to be put down or derided. That was a part of his latter years’ ministry and it has proven to be a most valuable message to all ages.

I pray that the world gets that particular message.

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THE POPE’S FUNERAL: LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RESURRECTED BODY

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

I just returned home from attending 8 o’clock Mass.

There in front of the altar were lily plants still blooming. They signaled the theme of today’s worship: resurrection. So it was that those gathered offered our prayers, shared our greetings, and then remembered that this life is not all there is for the disciple. We go on to glory.

Earlier I had watched the funeral of Pope John Paul II, starting at 3:30 where I live. It was moving. It was real. It was colorful, joyous, sad and glad.

As cameras focused on St. Peter’s Square, the church, the Papal Palace and particularly the Pope’s apartment window, I recalled being there in the mid-60s. I could feel those breezes and relish in the sunlight smiling on the millions. When the worshipers broke out repeatedly in applause, I could feel their pleasure of soul.

Both at the Roman funeral and the village service I was reminded over and over again of how much the believers have to anticipate. We will have bodies like unto Christ’s resurrected body.

Then I recalled the Gospel records relating what His body was like: identifiable, alive and well, carrying the scars of Calvary, talking and eating, moving here and there through time and space at will, not hampered by mortal barriers of movement.

So our bodies will be like that: identifiable, talking and eating, alive and well, exchanging greetings, rejoicing and moving about here and there throughout eternity without the obstacles of this planetary existence.

The Bible, particularly the New Testament, is replete with hope-filled tidings of the resurrected body: "We have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." I Peter 1:3

"God will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to Himself." Philippians 3:21

"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." Romans 6:5

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him." I John 3:2

"For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep." I Thessalonians 4:14

"Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" I Corinthians 15:12

"And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power." I Corinthians 6:14

"As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." I Corinthians 15:49

Apostle Paul wrote with certainty. There was no hesitation. He was absolutely sure of the glorious resurrected body — perfect, everlasting — for each cross bearer.

Christians are burdened with infirmities, doubt, and finally death in earthly span; but when the last breath is gasped, Jesus welcomes the soul into the forever body — like unto Jesus’ risen body.

We tie ourselves too severely to this life with its cares. We really do. We must teach our thoughts to think more of that which He has available to all grace children of all time — everywhere.

Can you think more of heaven? Can you meditate more purposefully on the body that awaits you? Can you praise Him even now for that which He has ready by which to garb you forever where He is?

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WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Jesus is not too popular in the world. "He came unto His own and His own received Him not."

As the ages roll along, Jesus is less and less welcome in His own world.

But when Jesus returns for the second time, it will be not as the Servant, but as the planet’s Monarch. Prophesies are replete throughout Scripture. The major portions are in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. In these passages Jesus is recorded as speaking plainly — literally — not in the symbolism He envisioned to the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos.

Therefore, in those Gospel clear-cut sections, Jesus sets forth His predictions. He says that prior to His second return, there will be "wars and rumors of wars." There will also be an increase in earthquakes as well as environmental pestilence. Brother will turn against brother, father against son, and so forth with family fall-outs escalating. Sin will abound. Evil will be tolerated en mass. Famine will spread its ugly paw across the Earth.

Then there will come the "abomination of desolation," that is the desecration of Jerusalem’s next Temple to be constructed. The abominable act will take place when the Antichrist commits sacrilege in the Holy of Holies, similar to Antioches Epiphanes’ spoiling of the Holy of Holies by sacrificing a pig there, thus sparking the Maccabean Revolt commemorated in Hanukkah.

At the height of the Antichrist’s political rule, in which demonic forces will engulf the world, Jesus will leave the right hand of the Father in heaven. He will cascade through the atmosphere, accompanied by angels and the redeemed of all time.

At that time, the sun will blink out its light in homage to the Light of the World returning to His turf. The moon thereby will not give light. And the stars, as if dancing in space, will careen thither and fro. It’s as if the universe celebrates the return of its Creator in defiance of mortals’ madness against the holiness of Jesus.

Jesus will return as the Armageddon Battle rages in the Valley of Megiddo, located in the northwestern section of Israel. There those who are anybody militarily will have gathered for a fight at "the navel of the planet," not realizing it to be the last conflict of the Church Age.

Jesus will win the battle by speaking His Word. With that the Antichrist will be thrown alive into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone. Along with him will be caste the False Prophet, the planet’s religious leader who will have swayed his populous by the doctrines of hell.

During that time prior to the second return of Jesus, the Antichrist will hold power politically. The False Prophet will hold power religiously. However, there will be a righteous remnant battling against such evil till the close. That holy gathering for Jesus will hold forth the gospel truth midst much persecution. It will be that remnant that will await His return as the bride awaits the coming of her Groom.

Just as the Antichrist and False Prophet will hold demonic authority for politic and religion, Jesus will return to assume under His millennial reign both politic and religion — King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Jesus’ redeemed will rule with Him as kings and priests. The planet, not yet enveloped in the perfect holiness of the New Heaven and New Earth ushered in at the close of the millennial reign, will at least have a breather from the desperate devilment prior to the second return.

The devil himself, pictured symbolically in The Book of Revelation as the dragon (that bloated snake of Eden, now filled with the souls of the damned), will be thrown into hell’s Bottomless Pit for the one thousand year reign of Jesus on Earth.

At His first coming, Jesus was born a baby, laid in a manger for there was no room for Him in the inn. At his second coming, Jesus will return as Monarch, ridding the planet of His enemies to rule in righteousness from Jerusalem, His Holy City.

ETERNAL COMMUNION AND POPE JOHN PAUL II

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Communion with Christ begins for believer here on Earth. But Christ’s provision is that that Communion lasts for an eternity.

When partaking of the elements of His body and blood here, we look forward to celebrating that sinless sacrifice forever with him in heaven. That’s what He promised His disciples prior to His crucifixion. Whatever Christ promises, Christ provides. Therefore, the eternal Communion table awaits all those servants of the cross who walk through death’s door.

Those without Christ have no such hope. They simply languish with one worldly philosophy or another. But there is no certainty to their philosophizing.

They hold to various wishful thinking hope-fors but actuality can never be cast for any of them. That’s sad for such individuals often strain to discover something to hold onto in this life. Nevertheless, having forsaken Christ, they come upon nothing but mist in the night’s air.

Christ instead promises His grace children the Holy Spirit companionship in this life as well as the forever

Communion fellowship in the world to come. It is that gospel message that believers attempt to share with friends and neighbors. Some catch hold of the hope. Others discard it disdainfully. And still other scratch their heads as if to say that the gospel is too good to be true.

Can it be? How can you bank on it? Who says so? Are you fools to throw your minds in such a direction? How can an intelligent, sophisticated person ever condescend to such religious make believe?

And so they go on their dark paths, groping, getting older and no happier, until they crust over with disbelief. The very disbelief becomes a religion cast in stone.

What such devotees of the unknown don’t realize is that even the stone they cling to will one day be obliterated. It will occur when this heaven and earth will be extinguished. Then the saved of all time will enter the New Heaven and New Earth while the damned consign themselves to the lake of fire and brimstone. It’s all there in The Revelation, that vision provided John the Beloved Disciple by none other than Christ Himself.

Therefore, Pope John Paul II, having left us for the forever Communion table, now enjoys that holy fellowship with the redeemed of all time. The Host, Christ, is at the head of the table, if you will.

There is such happiness. There is no hint of sin nor death. There is no intrusion of Satan and imps of The Pit. Instead, that which is delighted in — happiness in holiness — is very much intact without closure. It’s forever and then some.

In Matthew 26:26-29 it is recorded: "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the reemission of sins.

"But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom."

That is the promise. Christ made it.

Those fools of faith who live for that Christ — bloodied upon Calvary’s tree, then resurrected from the dead — will meet with Him, sup with Him, embrace Him, and thank Him for an everlasting kingdom.

It’s the promise of the forever Communion table spread for His children of grace.

Thank you, Christ.

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IN PRISON, SESAME SHEET T-SHIRT GOT SHUT DOWN

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

While making a pastoral call on a murderer in Walpole (MA) Prison, now known as Cedar Junction, I could not help but notice the inmate wearing the SESAME STREET T-shirt.

I was surrounded by a lot of visitors that day. It seemed most of the free peoples in the surrounding towns decided to visit inmates that day. The room was packed, including children. Boys and girls were dodging one another, playing hide and seek around adult legs, and having a grand time of it.

Mainly guards looked on at the circus with a benign neglect. After all, the visitors were polite. Most of them were chatting softly. And the children weren’t bothering anyone.

I wondered at the connection those youngsters had to the inmates. The mind can run havoc on that subject. It’s sad. Very sad. What do those boys and girls think of daddy being in that building? What do nieces and nephews decipher about the man in that prison whom relatives are talking to?

In one corner of the visitors’ room was an inmate wearing a T-shirt. On it were large letters reading SESAME STREET.

I said to the fellow I was visiting: "How quaint. Is that man paid something for overseeing the children in that corner over there?"

The corner was filled with castoff toys. No doubt they had been contributed to the prison just as persons contribute toys to the Salvation Army. So a play area was made for them and the large, hulky male taking charge.

"Yes, he gets a few cents an hour, just like the rest of us who have jobs in here," the man replied. So the muscular inmate’s smile was willingly accepted by those under his care and the T-shirt lent to that camaraderie with boys and girls. How pleasant. Just like daddy on the outside going to playground with offspring for an afternoon on swings and see-saw.

Well, not exactly, but we could use our imagines. And in prison using one’s imagine goes on a lot on a variety of themes.

The next time I visited the murderer, I could not help but note that the SESAME STREET T-shirt and hulk were missing. So were the toys. The boys and girls were left with no other pastime but running around adult legs, playing with candy wrappers on the floor and making some squealy noises from time to time.

"What happened to the inmate who oversaw the play area?" I asked.

"Oh, he got canned. He won’t be back, not on a long shot. You see, one day while he was playing with the boys and girls, a guard became suspicious. So checking things out, it was found that SESAME STREET T-shirt fellow was confiscating drugs. The drugs were smuggled in by a visitor. T-shirt knew all about it. It was a set-up job."

"Drugs? What do you mean, T-shirt was into drugs with the kids? What do you mean?"

"One of the children had drugs stuffed in a plastic bag stuffed in his rectum. T-shirt knew that. A visitor had hidden the drugs. Got it?"

I got it. So with that, SESAME STREET shut down.

MUSLIMS MOUNT FORCES AGAINST JEWS AT TEMPLE MOUNT

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

It’s the site where Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac: Mount Moriah.

That’s where the Muslims have constructed their mosque, the Dome of the Rock. It therefore is a site religiously significant to three religions: Jews, Christians and Muslims.

It is important to Muslims because they say that their Prophet Mohammed left Earth atop a white horse from that rock. Tour guides attempt to show visitors the impress in the rock left by the Prophet’s foot when mounting his horse. I was in Jerusalem, there in the Dome of the Rock, and for the life of me could not see a footprint; however, that’s what the tour guide told us.

This place is rife with anxiety. It is in the Holy City to which the coming Christ will rule during the millennial reign. It is the metropolis that calls for daily attention from the world, regardless of religious affiliation or no affiliation. It is the city that houses faith and faithlessness, reality and illusion.

This Sunday Muslims fear that devout Jews and politically propelled Jews will storm the Temple Mount.

Therefore, Muslims are gearing up for a fight — major. They say they cannot take any chances. Therefore, they are increasing their forces in order to show Jews that the latter have no chance of anything regarding the Temple Mount.

According to Arutz 7 News, the Hamas and Islamic Jihad are organizing Muslims to "keep Jews off the Mount."

It’s a geography that belongs to the Muslims, they say, though for centuries it has belonged to Jews, dating back to father-of-the-faithful Hebrews, Abraham.

Therefore, logic would state that the Temple Mount is Jews’ property first and foremost. However, with the Arab contentions militarily placed, it appears for the moment that the Jewish presence is lessened considerably while the Muslim might weighs in.

According to IsraelINN.com: "Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists are calling on Muslims to make their way to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount on Sunday to keep the Jews out; fearing thousands of Jews will adhere to calls to come to the Mount for a prayer service.

"Police and other security agencies will be out in force to keep the Jews off the Temple Mount and to prevent clashes between Jews and Muslims."

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CLINTON VS THE POPE

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Former United States President William Clinton pontifically (excuse the appropriate terminology here) plowed into Pope John Paul II’s legacy while en route to Rome.

Doesn't Clinton know that reporters take speedy notes, especially when chatting over whatevers? Guess not. Anyhow, they do and they fax data in quickly to editorial offices. Pronto: then whole world reads. Oooops.

With that, Clinton let his thong dangle again by carping that Pope John Paul II was too "theologically conservative" blah blah blah. When landing on Italiano terra firma, Clinton then dutifully kneels in St. Peter’s Church before the one he’s critiqued, wearing the charmed mug shot of a sweet boy rehearsing for Sunday’s evensong.

As I reread Clinton's brash overview of the one lying in state, then recalled the ministry of the Pope, I thought back to the good ol' Clinton days (?) when we moral people held our noses day in and day out. It was then that persons of ethical mooring wondered what in the name of debauchery was being mentored to our youth by the gross troll in the Oval Office.

So, recalling that which could just as well be trashed, I remembered that Mr C was indeed the only President ever impeached because of his personal malfeasance. Yes. True. Underline that: impeached because of his personal malfeasance.

Add to that that Mr C is the first head of state sued for sexual harassment, first White House occupant accused of rape, and first President put to the wall for abusing females by hounding them, bribing them and then publicly junking them.

Further, Mr C has left us his legacy of providing the most convictions and guilty pleas by companions, the most cabinet personages brought to criminal investigation, and the most witnesses pressed to vacate America or clam up in testimony.

Curiously enough, Mr C is also the only President to lay before the nation the most witnesses to die — suddenly.

Lest we forget, Mr C also gifted the country with the largest criminal plea arrangement in an illegal campaign contributions convenience.

Moreover, Mr C is the first President to set up a legal defense fund and be held in contempt of court.

Furthermore, let us tally that it was Mr C who garnered the largest illegal campaign contributions from abroad.

Is it then surprising to remember that Mr C was comrade to all categories of criminals, including drug entrepreneurs, who walked straight through the White House doors?

With shady ethics, tawdry morals, and outright evil goings on, is it then part of the Mr C legacy to post that the former President reiterated "I don't recall" or its equivalent 140 times before a grand jury?

Shall we also hold up to commendable esteem a Mr C who finagled a thousand FBI files, brought criminal Webster Hubbell to the Number Three chair at the Justice Department, and falsely accused a White House employee so that Mr C’s pal could slide into the employ of the accused?

Speaking of remarkable legacies, list also that under Mr C we had a host of mortals pass away under misty circumstances — in other words, die on us without logical exit.

We must note that Mr C is the President who waged war against enemies by barricading law enforcement personnel from seeing through their responsibilities. Further, when that failed, Mr C gave forth with lies until foes wilted on the vine.

It was Mr C who then left office -- torn and shredded — only to resurrect with an autobiography that brought much in the bank account as well as created a cultic myth crowning him Prince of the Come-back.

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TURKEY WOULD PROHIBIT ISRAELI STRIKE ON IRAN

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Israel has stated to media that it is ready, if needed, to bomb Iran. In other words, Israel has said that it has the means and will to see through a disastrously powerful strike on Iran if necessary.

However, various Arabs question the practicality of such a threat. For instance, Kaveh L. Afrasiabi, writing for the Asia Times Online Ltd., states that Turkey, though concerned about Iran’s nuclear capability and future projections, "does not share Israel’s paranoid alarm about a ‘nuclear Iran.’"

With that Afrasiabi dismisses the Israel threat as bogus in its finality. In other words, it’s merely another verbal bomb tossed to media in order to augment the Israeli power image worldwide, particularly to Iran and any other Arab countries intent on harming Israel.

Afrasiabi’s contention is that Turkey would not take the "’risk of jeopardizing their sensitive, and mutually rewarding, economic, security and other ties with Iran by allowing Israel to use their air space against Iran.’"

There’s the catch. It’s the air space. And so with that variable, there are those Arabs who hold that the Israeli press release that Iran could be in big trouble because of Israel’s readiness to bomb Iran is actually an empty release.

Air space. It’s the air space.

It is this significant item that the Western press has ignored, Afrasiabi contends. Could it be that the Western media wants to ignore it? Could it be that Israeli’s braggadocio that it has the means to see through the obliteration of Iran play into the hands of the Western press on Iran to negate its nuclear plans? Therefore, the air space condition is downplayed or not played at all.

Afraisiabi speaks for other Arabs when he states that "’the high improbability of an Israeli operation against Iran through Turkey has consistently escaped the attention of Western media and the army of military and security pundits writing about this scenario.

"To give an example, in his recent book, The Persian Puzzle, Kenneth Pollock overlooks Turkey's unwillingness to accede to Israel's request when discussing the Osirak option. Similarly, veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, in his New Yorker article on a similar subject, simply takes for granted that because of Turkey's close ties to both Israel and the US it could be a launching pad for military offensives against Iran's nuclear installations.’"

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‘BUS OF HOPE’ : INDIA AND PAKISTAN

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

It gives the same feeling as the Berlin Wall collapsing. It signals hope. It gives the message that good is on the way. It tidings that life can be better than it was.

It is a bus ride. But like no other bus ride. India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave the Go Sign for the bus to make its historic trip. It would be a three-hour, 172 km ride for those cheering a journey blessed.

It was a bus run from Srinagar and Muzaffarabad that started today, Thursday, April 7, 2005 — a date to remember henceforth. The Prime Minister referred to it as "just the first step" on a lengthy "peace journey," according to the Indo-Asian News Service.

"’A door has opened,’ Singh told crowds and top political leaders."

The bus service bridges "the divided parts of Kashmir for the first time in nearly six decades. It marks a historic milestone in India-Pakistan relations that have been marked by decades of hostility centered over the ownership of Kashmir."

In other words, some people in this world are just plain tired of fighting. They’re tired of passing on to the next generation hostility compounded. They yearn for peace and comfort, for smiles and embraces, for goodwill between peoples.

Can it be that the United States President George W. Bush started a good thing? Could it be that Operation Iraqi Freedom’s three-week-win war has inspired others to take up the freedom spread? It just might be.

The human being wants to breathe liberty. Though despots don’t want to give up their wealth and power, grassroots thinking people are informing them that it’s time to let open the cages.

Now we have the New Iraq with its historic January 30 Victory Vote and National Assembly. Now we have Afghanistan with its first democratically elected president and people-formulated constitution. Now we have a free Ukraine establishing liberties for all its people. Now we have Egypt anticipating open elections forthcoming.

And just as importantly we now have India and Pakistan coming to their freedom senses with a bus ride!

"’(This bus service) will unite brother with sister, people who never dreamt of coming together will do so. This is a bus of hope,’ said Singh.

"Standing under a red-white canopy at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar, the prime minister spoke of the bus being a symbol of both countries, who have fought three wars, coming together for a common cause.

"’This is a great example of India and Pakistan working together. It shows how much governments on both sides respect the emotions and sentiments of the people. What can we not achieve if we work together? There are more difficulties ahead but if we work together nothing can stop us.’"

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HOW DARE CLINTON SLAM POPE’S LEGACY

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Clinton’s legacy? The Thong!

Clinton’s legacy? Backslidden Southern Baptist!

Clinton’s legacy? Religious hypocrite!

Clinton’s legacy? Sleaze in the Oval Office!

Clinton’s legacy? Baby killer supporter!

Clinton’s legacy? Homosexual lifestyle endorser!

Clinton’s legacy? Doublespeak to the max!

Clinton’s legacy? Liar!

And yet it is this brash, illusionist Bill Clinton who dares to critique Pope John Paul II’s legacy? This is truly another example of Clinton’s denial psychological mode. He’s been in denial most of his adult life. It continues.

The man simply cannot grasp hold of reality. He’s daily, deeply delusional.

Now the sex fiend Clinton critiques the life and ministry of the Pope. Of course, Clinton comes out on the religious and political liberal side of his own statements. Go figure.

Clinton, the Bible carrying Southern Baptist boy trotting off to Sunday school and worship in his village church, continues on his spiritual wayward journey while cutting through the spiritual impress of the Pope.

Clinton, still carrying Bible in hand while walking with wife into the Methodist Church neighboring the White House, lives the life of hypocrisy in just about every ethical dimension possible. And for the entire world to witness — over years.

No wonder Hillary said in the Barbara Walters interview that one of her most difficult adult life moments focused on whether to stay with her husband or leave him. Hillary, not all that balanced herself, at least knew she was driven to the brink by a delusional husband — unfaithful, braggart, rewriting reality to conform to his own ongoing sin.

Now this rank sinner of the most alley cat genre plows into the Pope on the way to the Pope’s funeral! In moments after making his "confession," the former United States President then has the audacity to kneel in St. Peter’s Church, looking on adoringly at the Pope’s corpse.

Is not this the charade former head of state that America has lived with for much too long? Is not this the typical political liberal along with Nancy Pelosi, Ted Kennedy, John F. Kerry and such desecrators of the Christian ethic?

Yet it this immoral, posing-as-Christian-believer, who stated the following en route to Rome: the pope "centralized authority in the papacy again and enforced a very conservative theological doctrine. There will be debates about that. The number of Catholics increased by 250 million on his watch. But the numbers of priests didn't. He's like all of us - he may have a mixed legacy." This is according to DrudgeReport, April 7, 2005.

May the next Pope continue the "conservative theological doctrine" — Jesus as Savior God, Bible as divine revelation, the reality of heaven and hell, the actuality of sin and Satan, salvation through Christ’s sacrifice upon Calvary, and accountability of all mortals at the Judgment Seat of Christ. May such theological conservatism continue for example in a Christian ethic opposed to killing womb babies and opposing practicing homosexuality lifestyles.

Clinton has much in the way of soul repair prior to his appearance before the One who proclaimed Himself the Way, the Truth, the Life. When Clinton faces the great white light of Truth Christ, may he have confessed his tawdry earthly witness, repented of his evil ways, and clung humbly to the forgiving, bloody cloak of Savior Christ.

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NO ROOM IN ROME. HEAVENLY JERUSALEM CAN ACCOMMODATE

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Rome cannot handle the pilgrims. The officials simply don’t have the accommodations by which to take care of all the humans crawling over the metropolis. Therefore, people are told to replan. In other words, please don’t make Rome a stop on your travels this week. That’s tonight’s news from Italy.

According to Reuters’ Philip Pullella and Crispian Balmer, Guido Bertolaso, head of crowd control for the funeral, said: "The city center cannot take the arrival of any more faithful. Anyone arriving tonight or tomorrow will have no possibility of following the funeral at St. Peter's."

Police Chief for Rome, Achille Serrs, said: "The number of people is staggering and is growing constantly. This is unprecedented."

With that, I thought of crowd control in the New Jerusalem where Pope John Paul II is being welcomed, indeed has already been welcomed by Savior Christ and believers who have preceded him. Likewise, for all disciples of Christ — known and unknown, great and small. They all receive the same greeting: "Welcome into the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

Concerning that eternal metropolis, The Revelation says of John the Beloved Disciple receiving the Christ vision: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea.

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adored for her husband.

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.

"And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: For these words are true and faithful."

Yes, they are true and faithful for Christ, The True and Faithful, provides the grace and mercy by which to make it all real — forever.

As mourners gather in crowded Rome so that officials request them not to line up any more, those in sorrow look up to the heavens. There by faith they can see their believing loved ones in the New Jerusalem where there is no crowding, no difficulty in meeting, no prohibitions for embracing and rejoicing. There is room there — eternity.

There are no limitations of time and space. There are no barriers nor barricades. There are no stipulations as to how many can stand in line. There is no one urging the crowd to move more hurriedly.

Instead, there is only the holy and happy environs of the everlasting, within and without the New Jerusalem. And Christ King is the Ruler there.

As the Roman officials ask pilgrims to turn around and return home, I felt sorry for each of them. They want so desperately to be a part of that throng.

Then I thought how each can prepare for the forever throng. It is by living for the Christ Savior, knowing His forgiving mercy and grace, entering into His saving presence.

Pope John Paul II is there because of being a servant of the Lord God. Can you picture him there — surrounded by eternal companions, but most of all, bowing before the Christ Redeemer who entrances him into one splendor after another in the New Jerusalem?

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WHEN IT TAKES AWHILE TO FIND THE GOD-STRENGTH

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Blue police lights flashed outside our home. It was late at night. Neighbors must have wondered what was going on but I had no other choice. I had to phone the Windham police.

"Someone’s pounding on our door! It’s almost midnight!" my frantic wife shook me, waking me from a deep sleep.

The night light in a side room could reveal me groping for the phone; but I had to find it, dial the police and hope that it worked before some intruder barged into our living room.

It seemed an age and a half for the cruisers to get there. But in fact it was a very short time frame. Three police vehicles lined up outside our house. I peered through the window shades to watch officers slide a fellow into one of the cruisers, then drive off.

Presently, an officer came into our home to complete forms. "Do you know who that man was?"

It did not take long for me to realize that it was Drake who had banged on our door. He was drunk. Some time before I had counseled him when he, an inmate, served time in Cumberland County Jail. Now, on parole, he sought me out as a pastor.

The next morning I found a package of beer he had deposited on our porch when spying the cruisers. Conditions for him on parole included no drinking.

"The whole thing is very, very sad," I related to a friend. "Very sad. When in jail, Drake was his intelligent, winsome self. He was anxious to talk about AA and God and prayer and church. But. . ."

Yes, as his substance abuse counselor, I had come to realize Drake’s commendable qualities. He had obvious personality strengths, including his being particularly outgoing and confident. He was one sharp fellow.

"You don’t seem to belong in here in jail," I told him after one session. "You have too much going for you to keep racking up OUIs."

Of course, Drake agreed. When sober, he was all pluses and more. But unfortunately, when released from jail his old destructive habits crept back.

And in their return he wound up inebriated on my doorstep.

A couple of weeks later I saw him. "Drake, I didn’t know it was you late that night. I imagine you were looking for a ride home. Were you?"

"Yes," he replied.

"I’m praying for you for you know that you need more than a ride home. You need God’s strength to enable you to follow through with the resolves you made when in jail."

"I know that," he answered.

Yet to date, Drake still has not found that strength to be alcohol-free.

There are others like him in our attractive Lakes Region. Mixed in with the season’s color and our lively pastimes are humans battling the dark side.

Many believe in God, know something about prayer and have heard the gospel truths. But they lack the power to get hold of all that for practical good.

I often think of how such souls need steadfast friends to stand in the gap. They need intercessors—believers who have faith in prayer so as to bring the name of Drake before the throne of God—often.

Please remember your neighbors who grope through one night or another. Lift them from your heart to the heart of God. It is part of being faithful.

KURDS HAVE THEIR NEW IRAQ PRESIDENT

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

The newly formed New Iraq politic elected a Kurd as President of Parliament. This is most commendable.

"’This is the new Iraq - an Iraq that elects a Kurd to be president and an Arab former president as his deputy,’ the parliamentary speaker, Hajem al-Hassani, said after the vote. ‘What more could the world want from us?’" This report is from the Guardian Unlimited.

According to IsraelINN, "Kurdish Leader Elected President of Iraq" is the headline. Other press feeds throughout the world announced the latest move of a democracy planting there.

Jalal Talabani was chosen.

His fellow Iraqis cast their ballots, that in itself a cause for rejoicing in a populace held captive for decades by the ruthless rule of Saddam Hussein. As Hussein occupies a jail cell, awaiting trial by Iraqis, the duly elected officialdom proceeds with forming its own freedoms established.

Talabani is a well-known leader of the Kurdish minority. He was decided upon by the Parliament to post of President, ruling "at the head of a three-person presidential council." Others joining him in the leadership are a Sunni Muslim and a Shiite Muslim. Both of these gentlemen are of "Arab ethnicity."

The names presented to the Parliament received 227 out of the possible 275 votes.

Talabani is leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

The next move for the threesome will be to appoint a Prime Minister for Iraq. "Their choice, to be announced within the next two weeks, is expected to be Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a conservative Islamist also from the majority Shia community," reports Guardian Unlimited.

With that, the liberties won in the three-week-win war of Operation Iraqi Freedom continue to be set forth. It’s quite an optimistic future for Iraqis. Gradually they are adjusting to their new life in the freedom spread initiated by the United States President George W. Bush.

Iraqis promised the free world that they would efficiently and intelligently handle their newly discovered prize — democracy. With recent events, they are proving their acumen. They are up to the challenge, considering any problems encountered in an imperfect world.

Though the anti-Bush liberal press would demand all ventures perfected yesterday, those with patience and time work through the difficulties to goals envisioned. So it is in the New Iraq, killers intentional withstanding.

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US INCREASES ATTACK ON OPIUM TRADE IN AFGHANISTAN

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

"’The military will play a supporting role but one that's very, very large for Afghanistan,’ Lt. Gen. David Barno said in an interview at his Kabul headquarters. ‘The whole police organization will be improved out there across the country.’"

According to the Associated Press, U.S. forces will identify "’key targets that can be hit by Afghan interdiction forces to take down labs, take down the bazaars down there, perhaps eventually to take down some of the key figures if the Afghan government makes that decision,’ Barno said."

The opium trade has been a forthright enemy to democracy planting in Afghanistan. However, a remaking of a nation cannot occur overnight. Therefore, as in New Iraq, time and patience play a major twosome in seeing through local freedoms established.

The liberal mainstream press in America often has taken the stance that the Bush administration should have tackled this mammoth problem in solving it yesterday. However, more level heads have realized that seeing through the present-tense project of putting a new government in place does not eradicate the opium base immediately.

Nevertheless, all along the US presence has known that the opium harvest has to be dealt with aggressively. It was not sidelining the issue. It was attacking the enemy ongoingly and now is stepping up the attack. In the process, grassroots farmers cannot be stirred to irritation so as to turn against the new government nor the US presence. The farmers for years have made their living from the opium trade.

Realizing that it is a delicate balance, the US presence has moved forward carefully. This has been in cooperation with the newly formed politic. Those anti-Bush enthusiasts who demand perfection would have bungled the process if they had been in the driver’s seat. However, the Bush administration has progressed most wisely in a very touchy matter.

The AP reports from Kabul that "the U.S. military will take a major role in training Afghanistan’s police and will provide intelligence and transport for the country's new anti-drug forces, dramatically expanding American efforts against a booming narcotics trade.

"Barno told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the drug issue had risen on the military's agenda because of the waning strength of Taliban-led militants and the taming of Afghanistan's former warlords. . .President Hamid Karzai has vowed to eliminate the cultivation of opium poppies, which has boomed since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

"A counter-narcotics intelligence team to pinpoint targets is already up and running and military helicopters and transport planes are available to carry Afghan anti-drug police, he said. . .(There will also be the establishing of) outposts along Afghanistan's porous borders and training and equipping the guards to intercept smugglers.

"U.S. forces will identify ‘key targets that can be hit by Afghan interdiction forces to take down labs, take down the bazaars down there, perhaps eventually to take down some of the key figures if the Afghan government makes that decision,’ Barno said."

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SUNNI CLERICS URGE SUNNIS TO JOIN SECURITY FORCES: NEW IRAQ

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

This is a major move forward for planting a democracy in New Iraq.

Sunnis were the power force under former dictator Saddam Hussein. Now their clerics are urging them to put in the past their allegiance to Hussein. That is to be in order to help build the present new nation.

Many Sunnis boycotted the historic January 30 vote. However, now they are realizing that the National Assembly is making progress as a newly formed government.

Also, the Iraqi police and military force is forging ahead with commendable success. Therefore, rather than being left out of the progress, various prominent Sunni Arab clerics made their announcement, according to Robert F. Worth of the New York Times. His dispatch is from Baghdad, dated April 4, 2005.

The headlines read: "Sunni ulama urge followers to join Iraq army and police" and appears on The Muslim News Online.

"’It is a positive step,’ said Saad Jawad Qindeel, a member of the Shiite alliance that won the largest bloc of seats in Iraq's new national assembly in January. ‘We are hoping the clerics will take an even more definite attitude in preventing terrorism.’"

Sixty-four imams and religious academicians signed the pronouncement. That is a "striking turnaround for the clerics, who have often lashed out in sermons at the fledgling army and police force and branded them collaborators."

Henceforth, instead of regarding US-led Coalition along with the Iraqi police and military force as intruders, occupiers, they are viewing particularly the Iraqi security force as liberators, establishing a new politic.

"’The new army and police force are empty of good people, and we need to supply them,’ the edict said. ‘Because the police and army are a safeguard for the whole nation, not a militia for any special party, we have issued this fatwa calling on our people to join the army and police.’" So read detail of the edict.

"American and Iraqi officials welcomed the edict as a sign that the Sunni Arabs are taking steps toward rejoining the country's government and politics."

Obviously, this latest move on behalf of the Arab clerics is particularly encouraging to United States President George W. Bush and US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. It was Mr. Bush and colleagues who saw through the three-week-win war of Operation Iraqi Freedom a little over two years ago. That eventuated in not only Iraq’s January 30 Victory Vote but also the present National Assembly. Furthermore, it toppled the bloody rule of Hussein who presently sits jailed in his cell.

Mr. Bush’s freedom spread to countries open to personal liberties continues not only in New Iraq but also Afghanistan. Recently, he celebrated the newfound democracy planting in Ukraine with that newly elected president. The latter had been baited to keep firm ties with Russia; however, in a move for freedoms granted the citizenry, the Ukrainian government stated that henceforth it will cement stronger ties with America as well as request admission to NATO.

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CARDINALS IN ROME: TALK TO HOLY SPIRIT, NOT TO MEDIA

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Watching this evening’s news, I was disturbed somewhat by the telecasts revealing Roman Catholic Cardinals speaking to media about the next Pope.

Some Cardinals were quite deliberate in their speculations. There they were in front of microphones, cameras recording their gestures, but particularly their statements.

Who would be a likely choice for the papal position? What part of the world would he no doubt come from? Which segment of Catholicism stood a good chance of having a Cardinal elected to the papacy.

Every time a Cardinal spoke to the media, I cringed. I noted several Cardinals lifting their hands in the air kindly, gesturing to reporters to back off. In other words, they were not going to say anything. They were simply going to keep walking. No comment.

I thought, "Now those Cardinals know why they are in Rome."

The Cardinals are in Rome to pray — primarily. Even though the newscasters in the last couple of days have used the term "politicking" when referring to Cardinals discovering the next Pope, that term should not fit in this situation at all. Not at all. There should be no politicking.

However, having been in ministry for several decades, I am not naïve enough to believe that politicking does not take place among the clergy. Sometimes politicking kills the work of God in the church. Sometimes it works the work of the devil. That may sound extreme, but it really isn’t. And that truth is known to those who have been on the job for awhile.

Nevertheless, the term should not be used by telecasters. It should never come from the Cardinals’ lips. And as much as possible, it should not take place at all.

Why are the Cardinals in Rome? To politick for their favorite man, their favorite geography, their favorite ethnic? Not at all.

They are primarily in Rome to pray to the Holy Spirit for divine guidance concerning the next Pope. That’s why they have flown from all over the world to the Vatican. It is to intercede. It is to petition. It is to seek the guidance of the Third Person of the Trinity. It is to beseech heaven’s guiding hand in what takes place.

Prayer is work. It is hard work. It takes time. It takes concentration. It takes soul energy. It takes fighting off carnal temptations and surrendering to the pure heart of God. That does not just happen. And it certainly does not happen by talking to the media.

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US MILITARY BLANKETS MIDDLE EAST, SAYS ALJAZEERA

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

America will insure its military might in the Middle East, particularly using Afghanistan as its safety base. That’s according to the latest report from Arab Aljazeera News.

"The United States is beefing up its military presence in Afghanistan by setting up nine new bases in Afghan provinces and at the same time further encircling Iran.

"These developments cohere with a U.S. Air Force strategy to expand its operational scope across Afghanistan and the Caspian Sea region - with its vital oil reserves and natural resources: Central Asia, all of Iran, the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the northern Arabian Sea up to Yemen's Socotra Islands. A position which also provides the U.S. with a commanding position in relation to Pakistan, India and the western fringes of China."

So that’s the game plan of the United States remaining as the integral military variable in Afghanistan. At least that’s the way the Arab press sees it.

Therefore, according to that media, the United States has no practical, realistic strategy for leaving Afghanistan.

It’s the perfect base for protecting its own interests as well as warding off attacks from such countries as Russia, China and India, that is, if the latter three continue to work toward cooperating. Such cooperation intends to offset the US military global power.

"According to observers, the base expansion (in Afghanistan) is part of a U.S. global military plan calling for small but flexible bases that make it easy to ferry supplies and can be used in due time as a springboard to assert a presence far beyond Afghanistan," Aljazeera reports.

"John McCain the second in line on the Senate Armed Services Committee who said he was committed to a ‘strategic partnership that we believe must endure for many, many years.’

"McCain told reporters in Kabul that America's strategic partnership with Afghanistan should include ‘permanent bases’ for U.S. military forces.

"Media reports coming out of the South Asian subcontinent points to Washington's intent that goes beyond bringing Afghanistan under control and more into playing a determining role in the vast Eurasian region.

"In fact, one can argue that the landing of U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2001 was a deliberate policy to set up forward bases at the crossroads of three major areas: the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia.

"Not only is the area energy-rich, but it is also the meeting point of three growing powers - China, India and Russia."

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US POLICE HELP TRAIN IRAQI POLICE

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

It’s a major cooperative effort. It’s police from the United States training Iraqi’s newly formed police force.

For instance, US military police from the 42nd Military Police Brigade in Fort Lewis, Washington, are on site there in Baghdad at the police headquarters and stations. That’s according to Major Curtis M. Schroeder, Iraq police Service liaison, 42nd MP Brigade.

US Army Spc. Mary Rose reports for the Multi-National Corps/Iraq that "Fort Lewis soldiers help Iraqi police streamline law and order."

Efficiency levels in particular have increased. Morale as heightened. It’s a matter of buddying up to help protect Iraqi citizens while planting a democracy in the New Iraq. While the National Assembly proceeds with its elections and deliberations, the locals must be kept safe. That’s up to the Iraqi police. In that security tightening are American military police sharing their expertise.

"’We are teaching and coaching the (Iraqi) leaders to delegate authority and use their staff efficiently and showing them how to train their own troops,’ Maj. Curtis M. Schroeder said from Camp Victory, Iraq.

"’We started from zero to establish this maintenance facility. We rebuilt the buildings and worked very hard – with American support – to put it back in business,’ said Sa’ad Hamza, technical support chief of Center Maintenance Baghdad. ‘It took about six to seven months to get all the equipment and complete all the repairs.’"

This is one of the ongoing dimensions of New Iraq freedom spread progress that seems to be missed by America’s liberal mainstream media. Surely documentaries could be telecast regularly in order to inform freedom enthusiasts in the United States that progress is being made in Iraq. However, sadly, that just is not the case.

The anti-Bush press continues its purposeful ignoring of advances made in both Iraq and Afghanistan. That’s not fair, of course, to the American public.

That is why more and more patriotic citizens are going to other news feeds than mainstream media. The Red States voting public in particular knows that there is other news than what they’re receiving nightly on the telecasts; therefore, the alternative news channels have become increasingly more popular.

All the while, progress continues in Iraq, especially in such cooperative efforts as the US military police working alongside Iraqi police in order to keep the nation safe from killers international.

"’With the help of MPs, the academy is adequately training about 3,000 police per quarter,’ said Capt. Jeffery Withers, commander, 41 th MP Company, Fort Hood, Texas.

"’Iraqi police instructors work with Coalition instructors to train the police cadets in small classes to get better results,’ said Withers. ‘We’re providing a quality police officer to go out on the streets and ensuring that they can self-sufficiently and securely police their own country,’ he added.

"’As an end result of this partnership program, what we want to see is a self-sufficient police force, able to provide a safe and secure environment for the Iraqi people,’ Schroeder said."

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PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TV STILL BROADCASTS ‘HATE ISRAEL’

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Though PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas lectured PA TV to douse the ‘hate Jews’ diatribe constantly showing on PA TV screens, that devilish litany resurrects again and again.

That means that the next generation of Arabs in particular is brainwashed by TV indoctrination to despise Jews.

This follows through with the ongoing goal of pushing Jews into the Mediterranean, ridding the planet of the "Jew-pigs," as they have been called. Many Arabs regard Jews as descendants of monkeys and pigs, hence the lambaste.

According to Arutz 7 News, "A cultural broadcast on Abu Mazen sponsored PA TV this week, filled with hatred for Israel, accuses the Jewish State of torturing and burning Arabs in the name of God."

Palestinian Media Watch showed, for instance, a song-and-dance routine espousing hatred against Israel. The lyrics accent that Israel is "exterminating Arabs in the name of God." Arab women are focused in on the dancing display.

PA TV has ongoingly brought into Arab homes the message that Jews are to be slain. This is a religious mandate of Muslim allegiance. Allah expects it. To kill a Jew is to make it straight to heaven where playgirls await the committed for an eternity of debauchery.

"PMW researchers Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook point out that the show introduces a new nuance of hatred into programming under Abbas' direct control: An assertion that alleged Israeli evils are perpetrated in the name of God.

"PMW asserts that the PA teaches an ideology of virulent hatred of Jews and Israel that mandates the killing of Jews solely because they are Jews. The murder of Jews is presented not only as beneficial to Muslims and Arabs, but as necessary for all humankind. The findings are based on a thorough study and analysis of eight years of official PA television and PA-controlled daily newspapers."

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CELEBS LAUD DISABLED VETERANS

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

"This year’s event features a star-studded cast. Grammy award-winning singers Vince Gill and Amy Grant will give a private concert, and up-and-coming country singer Ty Nelson performed a patriotic tribute during the opening ceremonies April 3."

Rudy Ruettinger of Notre Dame football fame led the celebrity pack in encouraging US disabled veterans.

It was the 19th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colorado. "Name folk" were there to mingle with the veterans, to inspire them, to thank them for their sacrifice on behalf of freedom at home and abroad.

Ruettinger, in speaking to the veterans, said: "’When you have passion, your attitude changes. You see life differently.’" He was accenting the need to keep the optimism on life’s edge, not wilting to discouragement. "’You are an inspiration by who you are,’" he reminded the audience.

Also on hand was actress Bo Derek. Informing the veterans that she would not have missed the opportunity to be with them, she relished the chance to be with the more than 350 disabled veterans meeting for the event, according to according to Donna Miles of the American Forces Press Service.

"’It’s such a positive, happy experience, and it’s so wonderful to see all the attention going to the veterans who deserve it so much,’ said Derek, national honorary chairwoman for the Department of Veterans Affairs National Rehabilitation Special Events and a five-time participant in the winter sports clinic."

In addition to the celebs were chefs of the first order. They "dished up their culinary specialties for clinic participants." It was referred to as the "Taste of Snowmass."

All in all, the occasion covered six days. The purpose was to remind the veterans that they indeed are remembered and appreciated. The gathering is also planned annually to remind the veterans that they can "push their limits and discover their capabilities through a variety of winter sports."

"’I feel like the lucky American who gets to say, Thank you, to the veterans for their service,’ Derek told the American Forces Press Service at the event. ‘Everybody wants to say, Thank you, but not everyone gets the opportunity.’"

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ISRAEL’S SUPREME COURT ANTI-RELIGION IRKS

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

If the moral base in the United States has an ongoing contest with its courts, including the Supreme Court, regarding their lack of Judeo-Christian heritage regard, the same exists in Israel. There the irritation is with their courts not caring that much about Judaism’s concerns.

In other words, Israelis regarding precious their religious heritage are irked at their Supreme Court increasingly pushing for a sheer secular culture. And this is in Israel? Yes. The lands of the Jews? Yes.

It doesn’t make sense when a culture is gradually wiped out of its religious backdrop just because unbelieving judges sit ensconced on their secular thrones. How can a court system set its goal of rewriting a nation’s history via changing laws that change a society? Yet it’s being done in the United States. It’s being done in Israel.

According to Arutz 7 News, Israel’s Supreme Court has made decisions now reaching 80%+ that are against "Jewishness." Many Jews in Israel have come to state publicly that their Supreme Court is indeed the enemy of the people.

Is not this what is echoed throughout the United States? Yes. The courts have become so high loaded with hubris that they have turned against the populace.

Headlines in Israel read: "Supreme Court Generally Rules Against Religious Interests."

"Research covered over 8,700 rulings handed down between 1993 and 2001. It studied 185 cases in depth that dealt with religious issues and requests to change or uphold the religious status quo.

"Almost two-thirds of the decisions during this period went contrary to the traditional Jewish position – and this number grew to 80% in the years 1999-2001. The rate of anti-Jewish rulings is on the upswing, having started at 53% in 1993, and growing to 80% in 2001.

"In addition, while a third of the rulings in 1993 were favorable to traditional Jewish positions, that number was only 9% in 2001."

Reaction to the pompous totally secular position of the Israeli courts has brought distaste at the Jewish grassroots. It’s abhorrent. It’s anti-Jew. It’s a purposeful plot to erase that Jewish backdrop to the Jewish nation.

"Law Professor Ruth Gavison said, ‘There is no other court in the world that has taken for itself authorities like that.’

"Prof. Shlomo Avineri said, ‘The Supreme Court's judicial activism has led to much of the population in Israel to begin seeing the Court as an enemy.’"

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U.S. CELEBRATES FREEDOM WITH UKRAINE: BUSH & YUSHCHENKO

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

In keeping with his freedom spread wherever possible global, United States President George W. Bush invited Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko to the White House.

That’s what nice neighbors do. And that’s what gives Mr. Bush particular pleasure. Since his prime mission is to share liberties enjoyed in America with other nations, it must have been an especia