"ReThinking Life" A New Book Exploring the Growth of The Africian Church

 Click to read Original Article from Christian News Wire

Contact: Mike Dworak, Biblica, 719-867-2768
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., March 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- With the explosive growth of Africa's Church and its increasing influence in world evangelism and missions, maybe it's time to rediscover African Christianity--and grow deeper in our own faith.

In Rethinking Life (Biblica Publishing, $14.99, paper, ISBN: 9781606570418), former Rwanda Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini and Dr. Peter Holmes illuminate the rich beauty and wisdom of African spirituality and culture. God prepared Africa for the gospel, they say, and God is now using Africa to transform the Western Church.

The authors explore pre-Christian African spirituality, noting its similarities with Old Testament thought and tradition. They briefly trace the history of the missionary movement in Africa, noting both its importance and its mistakes. They conclude by showing how African values--the importance of living in community, a reverence for God's creation, a belief that life is primarily spiritual--can enrich the North American Church.

"Our desire is that the Western church and the Global South church would walk hand in hand, learning together from our mistakes and building a future global church that is stronger and more relevant," say Kolini and Holmes. Written in a conversational tone and with practical suggestions, Rethinking Life is ideal for small groups and individuals intrigued by Africa and how God has worked through its rich spiritual traditions and values to bring a people to Himself.

CBS Viewers Give Obama Failing Grade On First Year In Office

Click To Read Original Article at World Net Daily

Posted: March 09, 2010
9:21 pm Eastern
© 2010 WorldNetDaily 

An unscientific CBS News poll evaluating President Obama's first year in office gives him – by an overwhelming margin – a failing grade.
In the poll, which has been online for several weeks and has attracted thousands of comments, not even 3 percent of the respondents grade Obama with an "A," barely another 3 percent give him a "B" and about 4 percent give him a "C."
Almost 26 percent give him a "D" and more than 63 percent him an "F."
Said one person on the poll's comments section: "Obama may be a Harvard Law School graduate, but when it comes to common sense, he must of skipped that class, or failed it miserably.
"His problem is that because he doesn't really have any lead[er]ship ability or experiance (sic), he leaves it up to others to make the decisions. Why do you think this whole Health Care Bill is in such trouble, he left it to a bunch of First Class Idiots to compose, and it is so bad they had to buy votes to get it passed in both the House & Senate."
The poll explains CBS is "giving you the chance to weigh in on how you think he has done on the job." Readers are asked to choose a grade from an "A" to "F' scale. The 10 categories are economy, foreign policy, health care, Afghanistan, Iraq, threat of terror, energy and environment, social issues, bipartisanship and overall.
The results showed Americans believe Obama is moving the nation in the wrong direction on every count.
Fewer than 6 percent gave him an "A" or a "B" on the economy. Seventy percent gave him an "F" and another 18 percent a "D." On foreign policy, more than 84 percent gave him a "D" or "F" and only 3.9 percent gave him an "A."
On Obama's proclaimed No. 1 priority, health care, nearly 82 percent graded him with an "F" and nearly another 10 percent handed out a "D." Only 2.6 percent gave him an "A."
On Afghanistan, where Obama has maintained many of George W. Bush's policies – to the point of dispatching more troops to Afghanistan – his grades of "D" or "F" made up about 55 percent of the respondents' total. Under 30 percent granted him a "C."
Overall on terrorism, 61 percent gave him an "F" and 21 percent a "D." On energy and the environment those figures were 58 percent and 22 percent, respectively. On social issues they were 58 and 21.
His "A" grade in those categories was under 4 percent.
One of his poorest ratings was in bipartisanship, following his "I won" remark to congressional Republicans last year and his rebuke to Sen. John McCain that the "election's over."
Nearly 80 percent flunked him in that category, while only 2.9 percent gave him an "A."
Some of commenters on the CBS site were supportive: "The government was in a terrible state when he took over," said one. "It will take a while to get thing (sic) back in order."
Others said Obama is doing no more or less than what should be expected.
"Most Americans were not listening or just didn't want to hear when this president was campaigning. He is doing pretty much what he said he would do ... fundamentally transform America, redistribute the wealth etc. Most Americans did not listen when shown his radical friends and acquaintances. It was all there for anyone to objectively see," said one.
"This guy has zero understanding how to do anything but stand in front of a camera and make another of his long-winded-do-nothing speeches. It is unbelievable that the American voters could even consider a jerk like this with absolutely no experience on how to manage anything," said another.
"This is the time I have ever seen a president screw so much up, so fast," added another.
"He has traveled the world apologizing for our mistakes (his conception), his social agenda is too similar to those which failed in fascist and communist countries, he ignores what is sacred to most Americans regarding, religion, patriotism and independence from big government," added another. "He decries the actions of the opposition regarding healthcare, yet in the present formulation of same, he left them out deliberately. His speeches, which are endless, are repeats of his campaign rhetoric, all promise and no substance. He is charismatic in his delivery of promises and to this 81senior, he reminds me of a few other saviors, Long, Wilkie, Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin. This may seem harsh, but his embracing the likes of Acorn is too reminiscent."
Another contributor stated more succinctly: "I think President Obama is doing the worst job any president has ever done."
Further, there was mention of term limits – "I am talking about both parties."
Another, a self-described Vietnam-era Marine, said, "We as a collective group elected Obama and now see our mistake. We have a problem with no jobs, illegal immigrants, a corrupt government, a situation out of control with over spending, and I could go on and on and on with problems within our country."
He continued, "Folks I do not advocate violence. It is time that we grow a backbone and stand up for the values and principals that made this country the best one on earth. It is time that we say hell no to those who are trying to tear it down."
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JMC Ministries Response

Does it really come as a surprise to us that most people who took the poll gave the President a Failing Grade? I don't think so. Even though the "mainstream media" tries to prove other wise at times. But they can't dispute the voices of the American People.

On the Oprah Show Mr. Obama when asked what Grade would he gave himself  on his first year in office he gave himself a B. But when you look at the results from the CBS Poll less than 3-4 percent gave him a B Grade. Over 60% Gave him a failing Grade.  Do you think Mr. Obama is a bit dilluted?  

We as American Citizens must continue to make our voices heard and change the direction our Country is heading in. But we also need to pray for our President and Leaders that they see the light and realize this is not the direction our Country needs to be on.

Lawmakers crafting Work ID Card Bill to Stop Illegals Immigration. But What Privacies Will We Have To Give Up?

Click To Read Original Article From the Wall Street Journal

Lawmakers working to craft a new comprehensive immigration bill have settled on a way to prevent employers from hiring illegal immigrants: a national biometric identification card all American workers would eventually be required to obtain

Under the potentially controversial plan still taking shape in the Senate, all legal U.S. workers, including citizens and immigrants, would be issued an ID card with embedded information, such as fingerprints, to tie the card to the worker.
The ID card plan is one of several steps advocates of an immigration overhaul are taking to address concerns that have defeated similar bills in the past.
The uphill effort to pass a bill is being led by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), who plan to meet with President Barack Obama as soon as this week to update him on their work. An administration official said the White House had no position on the biometric card.
"It's the nub of solving the immigration dilemma politically speaking," Mr. Schumer said in an interview. The card, he said, would directly answer concerns that after legislation is signed, another wave of illegal immigrants would arrive. "If you say they can't get a job when they come here, you'll stop it."
The biggest objections to the biometric cards may come from privacy advocates, who fear they would become de facto national ID cards that enable the government to track citizens.
"It is fundamentally a massive invasion of people's privacy," said Chris Calabrese, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. "We're not only talking about fingerprinting every American, treating ordinary Americans like criminals in order to work. We're also talking about a card that would quickly spread from work to voting to travel to pretty much every aspect of American life that requires identification."
Mr. Graham says he respects those concerns but disagrees. "We've all got Social Security cards," he said. "They're just easily tampered with. Make them tamper-proof. That's all I'm saying."
U.S. employers now have the option of using an online system called E-Verify to check whether potential employees are in the U.S. legally. Many Republicans have pressed to make the system mandatory. But others, including Mr. Schumer, complain that the existing system is ineffective.
Last year, White House aides said they expected to push immigration legislation in 2010. But with health care and unemployment dominating his attention, the president has given little indication the issue is a priority.
Rather, Mr. Obama has said he wanted to see bipartisan support in Congress first. So far, Mr. Graham is the only Republican to voice interest publicly, and he wants at least one other GOP co-sponsor to launch the effort.
An immigration overhaul has long proven a complicated political task. The Latino community is pressing for action and will be angry if it is put off again. But many Americans oppose any measure that resembles amnesty for people who came here illegally.
Under the legislation envisioned by Messrs. Graham and Schumer, the estimated 10.8 million people living illegally in the U.S. would be offered a path to citizenship, though they would have to register, pay taxes, pay a fine and wait in line. A guest-worker program would let a set number of new foreigners come to the U.S. legally to work.
Most European countries require citizens and foreigners to carry ID cards. The U.K. had been a holdout, but in the early 2000s it considered national cards as a way to stop identify fraud, protect against terrorism and help stop illegal foreign workers. Amid worries about the cost and complaints that the cards infringe on personal privacy, the government said it would make them voluntary for British citizens. They are required for foreign workers and students, and so far about 130,000 cards have been issued.
Mr. Schumer first suggested a biometric-based employer-verification system last summer. Since then, the idea has gained currency and is now a centerpiece of the legislation being developed, aides said.
A person familiar with the legislative planning said the biometric data would likely be either fingerprints or a scan of the veins in the top of the hand. It would be required of all workers, including teenagers, but would be phased in, with current workers needing to obtain the card only when they next changed jobs, the person said.
The card requirement also would be phased in among employers, beginning with industries that typically rely on illegal-immigrant labor.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce doesn't have a position on the proposal, but it is concerned that employers would find it expensive and complicated to properly check the biometrics.
Mr. Schumer said employers would be able to buy a scanner to check the IDs for as much as $800. Small employers, he said, could take their applicants to a government office to like the Department of Motor Vehicles and have their hands scanned there.