Religion and Politics

Israel's former President Shimon Peres, Pope Francis, the creation of a "United Nations of Religions" proposed at a private audience. There is now "hundreds, perhaps thousands of terrorist organizations, pretending to kill in the name of God." Peres told the Italian newspaper "Famiglia Cristiana". The United Nations look at them without weapons and without religious convictions. An "agency of the United Religions, a UN of religions" would be "the best way to confront the terrorists."

Catholics leaving?

Half of U.S. adults raised Catholic have left the church at some point

Some older American Catholics might remember a time when people thought of the Catholic Church like a family: hard to ignore and even harder to leave. But a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. Catholics shows that at least some of these perceptions may no longer be entirely true.

Indeed, about half (52%) of all U.S. adults who were raised Catholic have left the church at some point in their lives. A significant minority of them returned, but most (four-in-ten of all those raised Catholic) have not.

Myoelectric prostheses

The whole premise for the project has been that people living with paralysis or missing limbs will only be able to manipulate objects by controlling their robotic prostheses directly from their brain, and are able to sense what they are touching.

Double moon hoax

Will Mars and the moon will appear the same size at some point in 2015? What’s really amazing is the staying power of this 12-year-old hoax.

The famous double moon hoax appears to be gearing up again. We hear that the word spread on Facebook in July, 2015 – and is still spreading – that there would be a double moon. Will this hoax ever die? It’s now 12 years old. Still, clearly, not everyone knows it’s a hoax. Google searches have made this post the most popular on our site for the past week. An email must be circulating – somewhere, social media must be buzzing – with the suggestion that Mars will appear as large as a full moon in Earth’s sky. And that is just not true. Here’s a sample of what it typically says:

Watch Your Wi-Fi

As copied from an email sent to me by Betty...

Dear Betty, Have you ever used free Wi-Fi at an airport, hotel, or local coffee shop? In some cases, it may be better to stay away from free Wi-Fi and use your wireless network instead, because scammers can access your personal information and steal your identity with these three hacks: MAN-IN-THE-MIDDLE The hacker positions himself between you and your Wi-Fi connection point. So instead of talking directly with the hotspot, you're sending your information to the hacker, who then sends and receives data impersonating you. Every piece of information you're sending out on the Internet are all under the control of the hacker. EVIL TWIN A hacker sets up a Wi-Fi access point with the same name as a legitimate network you have connected to previously and compels your computer or phone to connect to it automatically without your consent. WAR DRIVING Using a laptop, smartphone or tablet, “war drivers” use commonly available software to troll neighborhoods to find open or poorly protected Wi-Fi networks. Using these tactics, scammers can access your personal and financial information and use it to steal your assets and your identity.

Actions for Peace

Over 325 Actions for Peace and Justice Across the US Next Week.

Starting this weekend, over 325 demonstrations, marches, vigils and other public events will be held all across the U.S., covering every state, as part of the second annual “Campaign Nonviolence” week of action. Tens of thousands of people will be gathering and taking to the streets to “connect the dots” and speak out against all the issues of violence, including poverty, war, racism, police brutality, gun violence, nuclear weapons and environmental destruction, and call for a new culture of peace and nonviolence as Dr. King envisioned.

Gonorrhea spreads

One of the most widespread sexually transmitted infections has become invincible to traditional treatments.

British sexual health doctors are reporting an outbreak of a highly drug-resistant gonorrhea strain first registered in Leeds in northern England.

Rare Supermoon Eclipse

The first "supermoon" lunar eclipse in more than three decades will grace Earth's skies this month, as will a partial solar eclipse that most of the world will miss.

The supermoon total lunar eclipse, which occurs on Sept. 27, features a full moon that looks significantly larger and brighter than usual. It will be the first supermoon eclipse since 1982, and the last until 2033, NASA officials said in a newly released video.

The total lunar eclipse will be visible to observers throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, western Asia and the eastern Pacific Ocean region. [‪How Lunar Eclipses Work (Infographic)]

A partial solar eclipse will take place two weeks before this special supermoon, on Sept. 13, but the earlier event will be visible only to skywatchers in southern Africa (as well as penguins, leopard seals and the other wildlife of Antarctica).

Bubonic Plague Surfaces

Another case of the plague has occurred in the U.S., officials say — and this time it’s not out west.

A Michigan resident who recently returned home from Colorado has come down with bubonic plague, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday. This is the first known report of a Michigan resident contracting the plague, according to the department.

Artificial Leaf Power

A Record-Breaking New Artificial Leaf Makes Power From Sun And Water

For some energy researchers, it's the holy grail: How can technology cheaply and sustainably recreate photosynthesis, nature's way of making fuel, which works way better at taking energy from the sun than anything we've been able to invent?

A new "artificial leaf" is close to being viable for use at home, say scientists from Monash University in Australia. Using cheap, readily available materials, solar power, and water, the system pumps up out hydrogen with more efficiency than anything that's gone before. That hydrogen can then fill up fuel cells.

Romans at the gate

The Roman Empire in the early 1st century CE was often regarded as the perfect empire. The outstanding military prowess of the Romans was used to expand the empire, and once the territories were acceptably pacified, Roman political power was installed from the capital of the empire to the local governments of the territories.

Perfectly balanced between a mixture of hard (military occupation and intervention to upkeep Roman law and instil Roman religion) and soft power (entertainment, technology, and trade), Roman rule was generally accepted and enjoyed almost everywhere the empire landed. Some subjects of Roman rule were happy to trade their religious freedom in favour of the cult of Caesar for the benefits of sanitation, for example.

Caring for Creation

What Does the Bible Say about Caring for Creation? ― A Sampler of Bible Texts

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The natural world is the handiwork of God, who rejoices in the creation.
Genesis 1 Genesis 1:31a  Job 38:4-7 Psalm 104:31 John 1:3 Hebrews 1:2

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The creation is “good.” Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31

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Creation reveals God. Psalm 19:1-6 Jeremiah 5:20-24 Romans 1:20

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God sustains creation. Psalm 145:15-16 Matthew 6:26, 30

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We worship the Creator. The worship of nature is prohibited by Scripture.
Isaiah 42:8 Romans 1:18-25

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The human creation is the “crown” of God’s creation, and yet all of creation is enormously valuable. Genesis 1:26-27 Psalm 8:3-5, 104:24, 31

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Scripture plainly teaches that all creation sings its praise to God.
Nehemiah 9:5-6 Psalm 19:1, 66:4, 148:1-13

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Humans are drawn to worship as they consider the mighty creative acts of God.
Psalm 95:1-7a Psalm 104:24

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The effects of sin impact our lives, those of our neighbors and indeed all of creation.
Genesis 3:17-19 Isaiah 24:4-13 Jeremiah 12:4 Hosea 4:1-3 Romans 8:19-22

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Scripture condemns the destruction of the earth and describes penalties for those who destroy. God is grieved by those whose actions demean his handiwork.
Leviticus 26:40-43 Revelation 11:18

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Scripture teaches that the earth belongs to God. It is not ours to do with as we please. Genesis 1:1 Deuteronomy 10:14 1 Chronicles 29:11, 14 Psalm 24:1, 104:2b-5, 136:6 Colossians 1:15-16, 18c

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One of God’s first commands to Adam, says we are to “take care of” creation (abad, in Hebrew, means “serve”). Genesis 2:15

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What Does the Bible Say about Caring for Creation?
Genesis 1:28 grants us the kingly role of “dominion.” Scripture describes a good king.
Genesis 1:28 Deuteronomy 17:14-20 Proverbs 31:8-9

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The Noah story teaches God’s desire to save all that he has made. Genesis 6:5-9, 17

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God is concerned for even “insignificant” creatures.
Exodus 23:12 Jonah 4:11 Matthew 10:29 Luke 12:6

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Has the last day dawned?

Can it really be that we live in the time period that the Bible calls "the last days"? And if so, what does this mean for our future? During 2015 enters its final phase, more people than ever seem to talk about apocalyptic scenarios. Even the mainstream media report that "fearof the end of the world spread like wildfire." It also states that 41 percent of Americans think "we live in the time that the Bible calls the last days."

Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar

No one can make you serve customers well.....that's because great service is a choice. Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.

He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.

He handed my friend a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'

Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.' My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.' Wally smiled and said, 'No problem I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice..' Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.'

Blood Transfusion Scare

Across the press today we find warnings regarding Alzheimer's and surgical procedures.

If we are to understand it correctly there appears a definite connection between intrusive medical procedures and the possibility of contracting Alzheimer's.

Here are some of the quotes found:

ALZHEIMER'S LINK TO BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS

Can you CATCH Alzheimer's?