ETERNAL FLAME NEWS

Monday, August 1, 2011

Oakland California: Family Gunned Down While Feeding Homeless

(San Francisco Chronicle)OAKLAND -- Paris Powell made it his life's mission to feed and clothe the homeless and to help domestic violence victims on the rougher streets of Oakland. Now, after a gunman ended his life in front of his family, his pregnant widow wonders how she can move forward without her best friend.

Lalita Powell, 35, spoke at times forcefully and through tears Thursday as she recalled the shooting in East Oakland that killed her 29-year-old husband of two years and left her with a bullet lodged in her left shoulder. His stepdaughters, Shayla, 3, and Cristina, 7, and now his unborn child are fatherless, and Lalita Powell doesn't know why.

"My husband has no enemies, no criminal past, no drug involvement, no gang activity, nothing," she said. "I don't know if it was random, I don't know if that's the new way they jump people into gangs or something. It's not right. It's not fair. It doesn't seem real."

Just another night

All four family members were in their Ford Aerostar van early Wednesday, making their nightly rounds delivering hot dinners to the homeless as part of their nonprofit organization, the Rise Above Foundation.

They had visited several regulars on 62nd and 54th avenues and International Boulevard and decided to check on their friend William Holloway, 61, on 47th Avenue at about 12:30 a.m. Holloway, who used to be homeless, had gotten a job there as a security guard.

Paris Powell, proud of a new fish batter he had just created, gave Holloway a dinner of fried fish, chips and a drink. Holloway thanked the man he knew only as "Brother John."

That's when someone in a van pulled alongside the Powells' Aerostar. The sliding door opened and, without a word, a man fired four shots.

Shayla and Cristina screamed, and Lalita Powell began praying, "Oh my God, help us." She never got a good look at the shooter.

She whispered to her husband, "Are you OK?" He was still breathing, but didn't respond. She figured he "wasn't saying anything because he was trying to model what we should do."

Horrifying sight

The gunman left, and the family's van started moving. She thought her husband was taking them to safety, but when the Aerostar collided with a parked tractor-trailer rig, she saw he was covered in blood.

Police and paramedics came, and only then did Lalita Powell feel a "stinging-burn sensation" in her left shoulder and realize that she had been shot. It wasn't until hours later that she realized Shayla had been hit by a bullet that went straight through her left arm and past her ear, singeing off a patch of her hair.

Paris Powell was removed from life support Wednesday night. No arrest has been made.

On Thursday, Shayla, her arm bandaged just like her mother's, played happily with her sister. "She really doesn't fully understand as far as what happened," said Paris Powell's cousin Don Hamilton, 30. "She's very strong. The only thing she cares about is getting back to playing, and that says a lot right there."

No explanation

Like Lalita Powell, Hamilton has no explanation for what happened.

If his cousin "saw a bum walking up the street right now," Hamilton said, "he would just feed him and make sure they had a meal and just try to take care of him. His last act was taking care of other people, putting other people before himself."

The Powells arranged toy and blanket drives on top of creating menu plans for those on the street.

"We never fed slop," Lalita Powell said. "We always felt like just because they're homeless doesn't mean they have to eat any old thing. They're just like anyone else in society, so whatever we ate, they ate, and they ate good."

Her husband had been looking forward to having their first child together, she said. "He was just hopeful that he finally was going to have his own image, be able to cherish his own self, basically," she said. "He wanted to instill the good values and virtues that his grandmother taught and his mother."

She wants him remembered as a "pioneer in the community and a humanitarian. He's a sweet man, a very peaceful man."

Missionary Couple Build On Vision To Distribute God's Word

(Victoria Advocate)--Full-time missionaries Colby and Sarah Sturm have a vision: to bring current translation Bibles to peoples around the world.

And through their non profit organization Bibles for Peoples, that's exactly what they're doing.

But the Bibles the Sturms distribute aren't given without a strategic plan. When given in the United States, they're translated in current language, leather-bound, and engraved with individual names on the front.

"It makes a bigger impact when they're personalized," Colby Sturm, 22, said.

The Sturms are also drawn to the New Living Translation because of its reading ease, and inclusion of study notes, and guides on how to come to know Jesus Christ as a personal savior.

"This is not a Hooked on Phonics Bible. God has blessed this translation . you can understand it clearly," said Sarah Sturm, 21.

Two weeks ago, the young, married couple returned to Cuero from Mexico, where they took their vision to peoples living in isolated, impoverished areas of the country - where Bibles translated in current Spanish vernacular, and sometimes even the Bibles themselves, are hard to come by.

"The translations of the Bibles available down there are older . written in language similar to the King James Version, sort of, which was last updated in the 1960s. It's also the Spanish of Spain, not of Mexico," Colby Sturm said.

"And even if they could get a Bible in some of the poorer areas, they probably couldn't afford it," Sarah Sturm, added.

About two years ago, impassioned with a love for God's word, Colby Sturm raised about $600 at a church garage sale, which was matched by a private donation, and purchased 200 Spanish language Bibles to transport to Mexico.

"I put them in a duffle bag, and bought a bus ticket," the Cuero native said. "It was more Bibles than I needed when I got down there."

He attempted to drop them off at Christian-based Mexican Indian Training Center in Cordoba, Veracruz, in Central Mexico. But when he got there, it seemed they were fully stocked on the written word.

"I thought, 'Hey, God, these Bibles need to go somewhere," Sturm recalled.

An old friend Sturm met on a previous mission trip arrived at MITC and asked if he wanted to travel to Chiapas to distribute the Bibles to a prison. A team of doctors were heading down there to perform medical and dental assistance on the inmates, Strum said.

He stayed two days, and distributed 100 Bibles to prisoners in their modern tongue. And when he returned home to Cuero, Bibles for Peoples was born.

Egypt: Thousands Protest In Tahrir Square Demanding An Islamic State

Calls for an Islamic state have taken over Cairo’s Tahrir Square as the largest demonstration since February has been mobilized by the country’s Islamist organizations. Ultraconservative Muslims turned out in force Friday as hundreds of thousands filled Cairo's central Tahrir Square in a rally marked by a growing rift in the protest movement.

South of the capital, gunmen fired on a car carrying Christians, killing two. While the motive was unknown, similar events have sparked religious violence in the past.

In the largest crowd to fill the square since the popular uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak in February, Salafis chanted for the implementation of strict Islamic law — spurring accusations that they violated an agreement to keep the rally free from divisive issues.

They have come in a show of force to demand that the country’s caretaker authority, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, cease its plans to present a set of principles that will form a framework for a new constitution.

Islamist group’s such as the Muslim Brotherhood – Egypt's best organized political force – and the former terrorist organization Gamaa Islamiya along with disparate Salafist bodies argue that only God’s word is greater than a constitution and that only a parliament chosen by free election can set the terms for a constitution. These groups stayed away from recent demonstrations that sought to keep up pressure on the military council that took power after former president Hosni Mubarak's fall, leading to smaller crowds.

The groups believe that they will poll enough support to dominate such a parliament and thereby set the terms. They fear that a kind of bill of rights could close off the possibility of a state run by Islamic laws.

The secular youths who once dominated this central Cairo square are in a distinct minority these days, and especially on Friday, dominated as it is by Islamists.

Liberal parties endorse the measure in an effort to limit what they fear will be outsized Islamist influence on the new document should religious groups win a large share of the parliament. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has accepted the idea.

Sex Club Posing As A Church Gets Busted In Texas

(Christian Post)--Glenn Hudson is in some trouble with the City of Dallas after the city claims he was caught operating a sex club in a building that is licensed as a church.

A lawsuit filed against Hudson says that his Harry Hines Boulevard building has a certificate of occupancy that applies only to churches, mosques or synagogues, but that he's really operating a business out of it called The Playground, “a swingers club that ... caters to adults, often couples, who wish to engage in random consensual sexual activities with other adults other than their spouses.”

The club is located in an industrial complex and the building has no religious markings on it.

WFAA-TV in Dallas obtained the lawsuit, which says undercover Dallas police officers went into the club and found televisions with pornography playing on them, topless female dancers, and a room where visitors had access to beds and condoms.

The station reports that Hudson claims to be an ordained minister, though the city says his license was obtained through a website. He was previously arrested twice for the possession of marijuana and once for carrying a weapon illegally. He is currently serving probation after having pleaded no contest to all three charges.

The Playground case is the second lawsuit of its kind against Hudson. Last week, the City of Dallas filed a suit against him for running The DarkSide, which he claims is also a church. But in a request for a temporary restraining order against the establishment the city says it “is actually an after-hours dance club – often referred to as a 'rave' club – that offers young patrons a place to drink, dance, have sex, and buy, sell, and use illegal drugs.”

Monday, July 25, 2011

JMC Live Special Is Christ "Revelant" in America Anymore?

LINKS to stories covered:

Church Offers Relief From Heatwave

http://www.herald-mail.com/news/tristate/hm-greencastle-church-offers-relief-...

Campus Crusade For Christ Changes Name To "Cru" Removes Christ
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/07/21/campus-ministry-drops-christ-from-name/?...

What Would Jesus Do If He Was A Politician?
http://www.christianpost.com/news/what-would-jesus-do-if-he-was-a-politician-...

Norway Bomber Revealed As Christian Fundamentalist
http://www.christianpost.com/news/norway-massacre-fundamentalist-christian-ki...

Friends With Benefits Is A Growing Teen Epedimic

http://www.christianpost.com/news/friends-with-benefits-mirrors-growing-teen-...

Organization Helping To Bring Free Health Care To Needy In Virginia

http://eternalflamenews.blogspot.com/2011/07/organization-helps-to-bring-free...

California "Gay History" Law On Hold For Now

http://eternalflamenews.blogspot.com/2011/07/california-gay-history-law-on-ho...

Texas Seeks To De-Fund 64 Million Dollars From Planned Parenthood
http://eternalflamenews.blogspot.com/2011/07/texas-seeks-to-de-fund-64-millio...

Friday, July 22, 2011

Organization Helps To Bring Free Health Care To Virgina

WISE COUNTY, Va. -- The Remote Area Medical Health Expedition is making its twelfth visit to Wise County on July 22.

The number of people needing free healthcare seems to be greater than ever. Before all of the medical equipment is unloaded and set up, lines are already beginning to form for free eye, dental and medical care.

Its offered by the organizers of the Remote Area Medical Expedition based in Knoxville.

Of all of these types of events held by RAM worldwide, this is one of the largest. "I think we did 38 of these things last year, of which this was one of the largest. Every time we come to Wise County, Va. we reckon we're going to see somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 patients," RAM organizer Stan Brock said.

"I think you can probably take this event and have it anywhere in the nation because there's such extensive health care need. [You can] certainly use this as the poster child but you could take this and replicate it anywhere in the nation," said Teresa Gardner, the executive director of the local Health Wagon.

There will be screenings and basic health checkups, but there are a couple of needs that are most in demand. "Dental and vision, actually dental because there's such a big need for dental care here in the Appalachian region," said Paula Meade, the Health Wagon clinical director.

Even though the medical staff won't see the first patients until Friday morning, the line for tickets to get treatment is already forming. "If you want a ticket to get in and get out you need to come early. I don't have insurance, this is the way I get my mammogram done. I did a breathing treatment here last year that's how I found out I have COPD," said Linda Allen, one of the first in line.

Volunteers have another health concern as well. They hope people don't get too hot standing in line for hours as they wait to be seen.

The event opens Friday morning and runs through the weekend at the Wise County Fairground.

Last year more than 1,400 people were helped with dental problems and more than 1,000 got an eye test. More than $2 million of free medical care was provided.

VA's Reaction To Censoring Veterans From Saying "Jesus" Or "God" Hits All Time Low

A Texas-based Christian law firm that defends First Amendment freedoms says the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' reaction to accusations of religious censorship at the Houston National Cemetery stoops to a "new low."

As previously reported on OneNewsNow, Liberty Institute has filed suit on behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, and The National Memorial Ladies over allegations of religious hostility and unlawful censorship by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and its director of the Houston National Cemetery.

The suit accuses officials of closing the cemetery chapel and banning the words "God" and "Jesus" from prayers during veterans' burial services, unless families put their requests in writing and submit prayers for pre-approval. But in a brief filed in federal court, the VA denies the allegations.

"The Department of Veterans Affairs, instead of fixing this religious censorship ... and [its] continued dishonoring of veterans, [has] stooped to a new low, referring [to the veterans groups] now as liars," reports Hiram Sasser, Liberty Institute director of litigations. "And it's absolutely outrageous that they would attack these veterans, whose only thing they've ever done is that they have served our country well. And now, because these veterans have spoken up, [the Department of Veterans Affairs is] attacking these veterans and stooping to a new low. It's absolutely hideous."

California "Gay History" Law On Hold For Now

California's plan to teach children to accept and appreciate homosexuality is on hold.

Last week Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 48, which requires public schools -- kindergarten through 12th-grade -- to teach about homosexual role models in history and sociology. According to a pro-family coalition that opposes the measure, it requires "a selective treatment of history by requiring that only events that reflect positively on people in the LGBT community may be discussed."

Brad Dacus of the Pacific Justice Institute has received a stay blocking introduction of the curriculum this fall.

"This is not only going to effect the textbooks being produced one or two years out, but it was also going to be impacting the curriculum, bringing outside speakers, transsexuals, homosexuals to talk about themselves or historical figures," the attorney explains.
Pacific Justice Institute has prepared and filed a referendum to go on a future ballot that would repeal the law. The state attorney general is reviewing the petition, and once approval is obtained a drive to obtain signatures will begin.

"Parents, moms and dads out there are outraged and they're ready to go," says Dacus. "We have 90 days to get half a million signatures, but I'd like to think that we have enough people in California with their heads on straight to protect our children."

The PJI president says he is depending in part on the church in California to rise to the occasion and provide sufficient volunteers to obtain the signatures.

Texas Seeks To De-Fund $64 Million From Planned Parenthood

Initial estimates of the amount of taxpayer funds the Planned Parenthood abortion business in Texas stands to lose for a bill Gov. Rick Perry signed were in the $30-40 million range. Now, one pro-life group says that number could be as high as $64 million.

“The final version of the state’s budget bill and the subsequent agency adjustments yielded $64.2 million reallocated away from the abortion industry,” says Texas Right to Life director Elizabeth Graham. “In Texas, Planned Parenthood has been dealt the greatest defeat in their 95-year history by Texas Right to Life and several heroic Pro-Life Texas state legislators.”

“In the State House, all eight of Texas Right to Life’s amendments to redirect family planning funds away from the abortion industry passed overwhelmingly (the highest vote total the pro-abortion opposition could garner was 40 of the 150 House members),” she explained. “The final amendment earned 113 votes to snatch the last $9 million.”

Although Graham says federal law prohibits further reductions, she says Texas state legislators ultimately cut out 37 percent of the Planned Parenthood funding the abortion business gets in Texas — in what she says will be a “blow” that “will severely hamstring the Texas abortion industry.”

Graham applauded State Senator Tommy Williams, a Republican from The Woodlands, who implemented the second phase of our two-prong strategy to incapacitate the abortion giant. he successfully added a rider “to establish a priority so that entities and agencies not involved in abortion are to be the top priority for family planning grants and contracts.”

“Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers would only qualify under the last priority, meaning that little or no family planning funds would be left for them after the other “clean” contracts have been awarded,” the TRTL director says.

“This removal of over $64 million of our Texas tax dollars marks the culmination of five years of work by Texas Right to Life’s legislative team and interns. We identified the funding streams, studied the rules, sought legal counsel about state compliance with federal laws, and obtained a copy of the state’s family planning budget,” Graham concludes. “The 82nd Texas Legislative session brought historic Pro-Life victories to Texan women, unborn children, and families.”

More and More Churches Having Services In Public Places

Churches are holding worship services in public places with greater regularity than some might think. It is not uncommon today to see portable church signs outside public buildings and schools on Sundays.

Thousands of believers today are gathering more often in public schools, skating rinks, parks and empty buildings to avoid the financial burden.

As additional housing opens and property rental fees go up, churches often rent non-traditional spaces until they can build a permanent facility or develop a congregation large enough to support one.

However, some Americans continue to fight over the place of religion making the debate between church and state one of the more recent battlegrounds in the public forum.

Critics, including the courts, are concerned that making arrangements for churches to worship in public places is unconstitutional.

One such case involves a religious group in New York’s Bronx borough that is fighting to use a local school for Sunday religious services.

New York City officials recently said churches that meet in public schools must leave by the end of the school year. The announcement is bringing the issue back into the news again.

The decision came after the Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled 2-1 last month that churches meeting in schools are unconstitutionally converting the schools into state-sponsored Christian churches, basically barring worship services from public buildings.

Some church advocates worry that the decision will spread to other parts of the country and prohibit church planters from keeping their doors open to Christians.

The justices wrote that it is "reasonable for the board to fear that allowing schools to be converted into churches might foster an excessive government entanglement with religion that advances religion."

Meanwhile, the Alliance Defense Fund, the Christian legal group representing the Bronx church, says it is appealing the court's ruling.

"Religious groups, including churches, shouldn't be discriminated against simply because they want to rent a public building just like other groups can," ADF Senior Counsel Jordan Lorence said in a statement.

"The idea that people of faith may be singled out for discrimination is flagrantly contrary to the U.S. Constitution," he said. "The 2nd Circuit greatly erred by not putting an end to the board's continued defiance of the First Amendment."