Friday, May 4, 2012

Texas Movie Theater Could Face Lawsuit For Refusing To Run Atheist Ad

A Texas movie theater has refused to run an ad by a local atheist organization, prompting some to consider a lawsuit against the business.

Angelika Film Center of Plano initially agreed to run an ad by Dallas-Fort Worth Coalition of Reason, but on the day before it was scheduled to run, the movie theater's leaders changed their mind.

Zachary Moore, coordinator of the DFWCR, told The Christian Post that his organization first attempted to advertise with another theater, the Movie Tavern in Arlington.

"The Movie Tavern has claimed that they have a policy against religious advertising, but such a policy has not been provided to us," said Moore.

"Following the cancellation of our contract with the Movie Tavern, we sought out a similar contract with the Angelika and was successful."

Angelika Film Center of Plano, Texas did not return a request for comments by press time.

Angelika Theater representatives reportedly told the atheist group that it won't run the ad due to the theater's position that no religious ads be allowed at the business. Moore, however, disputes Angelika's reasoning.

"Angelika has not made any such policy available to us, nor was this mentioned during our contract negotiation," said Moore.

"The Angelika has even refused to provide us with a written notice of our contract cancellation. As with the Movie Tavern, we have received reports of regular religious advertising at the Angelika."

The incident has prompted some, including the American Humanist Association, to threaten a lawsuit against Angelika under the premise that the theater violated DFWCR's rights by not airing its ad.

Stewart Thomas, a Dallas area attorney interviewed by CBS Dallas-Fort Worth, considered the potential case to be "very interesting" but expressed doubt that DFWCR had a good legal argument.
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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Beijing China Leaders Considering End To Communism In China

Epoch Times--According to a high-level source in Beijing, key leaders in the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Politburo have reached four points of consensus that will be announced on or around the 18th Party Congress. The tenor of the decision is that China will take the path of democracy. The news has been circulated hurriedly in Beijing.

According to the source, the four points of consensus are:
1. People from all walks of life, political parties, and social organizations should send representatives to form a preparatory committee for a new constitution. They will draft a new constitution that protects the rights of citizens to freely form associations and political parties.
2. It will be announced that the Chinese Communist Party has finished its historical mission as the ruling party. Party membership will need to be re-registered, with the free choice to re-enter the Party or leave it.
3. “June 4,” Falun Gong, and all groups who have been wrongly persecuted in the process of devoting themselves to China’s realization of democracy will be redressed and receive compensation.
4. The military will be nationalized.

The claim from the source cannot be verified, but it is said to be a matter of discussion among high-level leaders. The source also said that a democratic party has already been formed in the Beijing Academy of Sciences, and that over 30 scholars in the Academy have gotten involved in the movement, forming a “Chinese Scientists’ Liberal Democratic Party.”

 The four points of consensus are supposed to be announced on or around the 18th Party Congress, according to the source. The congress is supposed to be held this fall, in October or November, though there have been rumors that it will be postponed amidst the current political uncertainty associated with Bo Xilai’s downfall.

Shi Cangshan, an independent China analyst in Washington responded to the news: “The domino effect set off by the Wang Lijun incident is still going on, and the Party’s behind-the-scenes operations are being exposed.”

Shi said that the reason Party leaders would want to announce four consensuses such as the above is to take the initiative on its inevitable decline. “The group that has engaged in these massive persecutions of the Chinese people, including the persecution of Falun Gong, is being exposed, and this is deeply implicated with the demise of the CCP. Better that they take the initiative, which will benefit themselves and the world.”
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Pet Parakeet Returned Home After Telling Police It's Home Address

SAGAMIHARA, Japan -- A pet parakeet was returned to its Japanese owner Wednesday after the brainy bird told police its home address near Tokyo.

The male bird, called Piko-chan, escaped early Sunday morning from his home in the city of Sagamihara and remained at large before being coaxed into perching on the shoulder of a guest at a nearby hotel.

He was handed over to local police, but Piko-chan did not speak until Tuesday evening, when he blurted out the names of the city and district where his owner's home is located, a police spokesman said.

The stunned cops then listened as the parakeet produced the home's block and street number.

His owner, a 64-year-old woman, once lost another parakeet after it flew away and was determined not to make the same mistake.

"So the owner decided to teach the address to this parakeet after she bought it at a pet store two years ago," a police spokesman said. "The bird's name was found to be Piko-chan as it said, 'You're pretty, Piko-chan."

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National Day Of Prayer Events Increase Substantially

CBN News--Groups will gather throughout the day at churches, city halls, community buildings and even on street corners in recognition of the 61st annual National Day of Prayer.

The day was set aside by Congress in 1952 to encourage personal thoughts and prayers for the United States and its leaders. President Reagan later designated the first Thursday of May as the annual observance.

"I invite all citizens of our nation, as their own faith directs them, to join me in giving thanks for the many blessings we enjoy," President Barack Obama said in his proclamation for the National Day of Prayer.

"And I call upon individuals of all faiths to pray for guidance, grace, and protection for our great nation as we address the challenges of our time," he added.

The National Day of Prayer Task Force says 35 percent more events were planned for the holiday this year. To find a prayer gathering near you, visit the National Day of Prayer website.

"At a time when our nation is facing a host of troubling problems, we simply cannot rely on our own strength. We must not forget the God of our fathers," Turning Point Radio founder and National Day of Prayer Task Force chairman David Jeremiah said in a video message.

"Our hope as individuals and a nation can only be found in Almighty God," he continued.
The 2012 National Day of Prayer carries the theme "One Nation Under God."

The government-sponsored holiday is usually met with protest. To counter prayer events, atheist groups have designated Thursday a National Day of Reason.

In 2010, a federal judge in Washington deemed the day of prayer unconstitutional. The Obama administration then appealed the ruling, and a higher court reversed the decision.

Ironically, this year's National Day of Prayer also falls on the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court ban on public school prayer.

Groups will gather throughout the day at churches, city halls, community buildings and even on street corners in recognition of the 61st annual National Day of Prayer.

The day was set aside by Congress in 1952 to encourage personal thoughts and prayers for the United States and its leaders. President Reagan later designated the first Thursday of May as the annual observance.

"I invite all citizens of our nation, as their own faith directs them, to join me in giving thanks for the many blessings we enjoy," President Barack Obama said in his proclamation for the National Day of Prayer.

"And I call upon individuals of all faiths to pray for guidance, grace, and protection for our great nation as we address the challenges of our time," he added.

The National Day of Prayer Task Force says 35 percent more events were planned for the holiday this year. To find a prayer gathering near you, visit the National Day of Prayer website.

"At a time when our nation is facing a host of troubling problems, we simply cannot rely on our own strength. We must not forget the God of our fathers," Turning Point Radio founder and National Day of Prayer Task Force chairman David Jeremiah said in a video message.

"Our hope as individuals and a nation can only be found in Almighty God," he continued.

The 2012 National Day of Prayer carries the theme "One Nation Under God."

The government-sponsored holiday is usually met with protest. To counter prayer events, atheist groups have designated Thursday a National Day of Reason.

In 2010, a federal judge in Washington deemed the day of prayer unconstitutional. The Obama administration then appealed the ruling, and a higher court reversed the decision.

Ironically, this year's National Day of Prayer also falls on the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court ban on public school prayer.

What Does A Christian's Faith Say About The Fantasy Movies They Like?

Chron.com--Evangelicals’ favorite fantasy land is Narnia, while atheists prefer Middle Earth, according to recent survey results confirming some stereotypes about religious Americans pop-culture preferences.

Narnia is the land dreamed up by Christian author C.S. Lewis that many see as a theological allegory, while the latter location is the setting for J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series, which reminds readers “Not all who wander are lost.”

The survey, originally conducted by 60 Minutes and Vanity Fair, has been written up by the Religion News Service and Catholic researchers at Georgetown University.

“Two of the most popular book series in history sprung from Catholic author J. R. R. Tolkien and Anglican author C. S. Lewis while both were at Oxford. This literary friendship (and rivalry) later spilled over to the

Christian masses. With recent film adaptations of their work, most Americans presumably now have awareness of their stories,” noted Mark Gray at Georgetown.
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One In Seven People Believe The End Of The World Is Coming


(Reuters) - - Nearly 15 percent of people worldwide believe the world will end during their lifetime and 10 percent think the Mayan calendar could signify it will happen in 2012, according to a new poll.

The end of the Mayan calendar, which spans about 5,125 years, on December 21, 2012 has sparked interpretations and suggestions that it marks the end of the world.

"Whether they think it will come to an end through the hands of God, or a natural disaster or a political event, whatever the reason, one in seven thinks the end of the world is coming," said Keren Gottfried, research manager at Ipsos Global Public Affairs which conducted the poll for Reuters.

"Perhaps it is because of the media attention coming from one interpretation of the Mayan prophecy that states the world 'ends' in our calendar year 2012," Gottfried said, adding that some Mayan scholars have disputed the interpretation.

Responses to the international poll of 16,262 people in more than 20 countries varied widely with only six percent of French residents believing in an impending Armageddon in their lifetime, compared to 22 percent in Turkey and the United States and slightly less in South Africa and Argentina.

But only seven percent in Belgium and eight percent in Great Britain feared an end to the world during their lives.

About one in 10 people globally also said they were experiencing fear or anxiety about the impending end of the world in 2012. The greatest numbers were in Russia and Poland, the fewest in Great Britain.

Gottfried also said that people with lower education or household income levels, as well as those under 35 years old, were more likely to believe in an apocalypse during their lifetime or in 2012, or have anxiety over the prospect.
Read More From Reuters

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Sundanese President Declares State Of Emergency Along South Border

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir declared a state of emergency Sunday along much of its border with South Sudan amid growing hostilities between the two countries over disputed oil-rich areas.

President al-Bashir's resolution was announced by the country's official news agency SUNA on Sunday, the day clashes between South Sudan's army and a militia group allegedly backed by Sudan left 21 people dead in Malakal, a border city in South Sudan.

On Saturday, Sudanese aircraft allegedly bombed the border town of Panakuach in South Sudan's Unity State, according to the Sudan Tribune. Sudan also arrested a Briton, a Norwegian, a South African and a South Sudanese for illegally entering into Heglig. The Sudanese government accused them of spying for South Sudan, which denied the allegation saying they were from aid groups connected with the United Nations and had lost their way.

Large scale clashes between the militaries of the two nations have occurred along the oil-rich and contested 1,100-mile international border, mostly near the disputed Heglig area, since hostilities between the two countries began earlier this month after South Sudan briefly took control of Heglig.

The resolution imposes a trade embargo on nine-month-old, predominantly Christian South Sudan, which seceded from the Sunni Muslim-dominant north last year after decades of civil war.

Meanwhile, South Sudan responded to demands from the African Union and the United Nations Security Council and announced Sunday that it would remove its security forces from the contested region of Abyei. "We are not occupying any contested area," the country's minister of information, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, was quoted as saying.

Read More From Christian Post

$466,014 Raised At Bowl-A-Thon To Help Poor Women Pay For Abortions

(CNSNews.com) – The third annual “National Abortion Access Bowl-a-Thon” was held throughout the month of April, with activists gathering at local bowling alleys to raise cash for “low-income and disadvantaged women who want an abortion and do not have enough money to pay for it.”

“Abortion funds from across the country are raising money to make reproductive rights a reality for women who can’t afford to pay for an abortion – and we want you to join us!” states the Web site for the event, which was sponsored by the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF).

“The Bowl-a-Thon is a nationwide series of local events that allow community members (you!) to captain your own bowling team, participate in a kickass national event – and raise money to help women and girls pay for abortions they couldn’t otherwise afford,” it says.

The organization encourages participation “[b]ecause you know that the legal right to abortion is meaningless if you can’t afford to pay for it.”

The organization’s goal, to raise $400,000 for abortion funds, was surpassed, with a total of $466,014 collected as of Monday. Thirty-two events were scheduled across the country during April.

For those keen to support the cause but unable to attend a local event, a “virtual bowl-a-thon” was offered.

The DC Abortion Fund, “which helps low-income women and girls fund their abortion care,” organized a variation on the theme – a “Hole-a-thon” held at a miniature golf course on April 29, aiming to raise $40,000 to pay for abortions.  Last year’s event raised $28,000.

“There will be beer. There will be games. There will be grassy knolls,” the Web site states.

“Abortion funds are local, grassroots groups that work tirelessly to help low-income and disadvantaged women who want an abortion and do not have enough money to pay for it,” the “bowl-a-thon” organizers said.  “Abortion funds help women pay for their abortions, help them buy bus or plane tickets, and even offer a place to stay for those who have to travel for an abortion.”

Local pro-abortion groups were encouraged to organize events where activists came together to bowl in teams.

“One of the best things about the Bowl-a-Thon is the brilliant names that people create for their teams!,” the site states.

Examples of team names include “A Bunch of Queer People,” “Bowling for our Future!,” “Plan Bees,” “The Abortioneers,” “The Dude Aborts,” and “Republican Buttocks.”

Some honor Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger – a eugenicist who sought the “elimination of the unfit” – choosing names like “Margaret Sanger's Ball Bangers,” and “The Dirty Sangers.”

Others took aims at conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, with team names including “If Only Limbaugh's Mom Used Birth Control,” “Rush Limballz (sucks),” and “Crush Limbaugh.”

The National Network of Abortion Funds, which sponsors the event, “works to make sure that all women and girls can get the abortions they seek,” according to its Web site.  The organization views the right to abortion as a “fundamental human right, essential for women’s equality, health, and dignity.”
Read More From CNS News

Moms Protesting JCPenny For Using Sexual Preference To Sell Clothes

OneMillionMoms is revisiting an issue with JC Penney, this time contacting the retailer about featuring lesbian partners in its May catalogue. The American Family Association advocacy group is again requesting neutrality.

The pro-family organization initially spoke out against JC Penney's decision to have Ellen DeGeneres, a high-profile homosexual entertainer, as its spokesperson (see earlier story). Now, executive director Monica Cole points to pages 10 and 11 of the retailer's latest catalogue, which are titled "Freedom of Expression."

"What is the purpose in stating on page 11 of their most recent catalogue that Wendy and Maggie are 'partners?'" she wonders. "Identifying sexual preferences is not necessary for selling clothes."
In the catalogue, the women are both wearing wedding rings and are pictured with two girls who are identified as their daughters. Cole predicts that will not go over well with the retailer's supporters.

"Conservative families will not support JC Penney if they choose to be advocates for the homosexual agenda," she asserts. "Sales will suffer if JC Penney's corporate office continues to ignore our concerns."

Meanwhile, the OneMillionMoms executive director is certain the company's homosexual supporters will voice their approval of the catalogue. So she says it is time for conservative customers to once again contact local store managers to object.

"OneMillionMoms believes there is such a thing as bad publicity," Cole concludes.

Read More From One News Now

Youtube Pulling The Plug On Christian Videos And Users

WASHINGTON – The author of a soon-to-be-released book on Christian apologetics, “The Magic Man in the Sky: Effectively Defending the Christian Faith,” is questioning the motives behind the termination of the immensely popular PPSimmons Ministry account on YouTube.

Where once one of the more popular God and Country YouTube Channels – with more than 23,000 subscribers, 530-plus videos and 21 million views – could be accessed, now a barren page is found, save for a message. The message reads: “This account has been terminated due to repeated or severe violations of our Community Guidelines and/or claims of copyright infringement.”

For Pastor Carl Gallups, one of the people behind the popular PPSimmons YouTube Ministry, seeing a channel disabled he has worked tirelessly to build and promote since 2009 was devastating.

“It was as if you have a thriving business and you came to work one day and the building was burnt down and everything you had created was gone. Instantly,” he told WND.

Gallups, whose “The Magic Man in the Sky: Effectively Defending the Christian Faith,” will be released May 15, was one of the original founders of the PPSimmons Ministry on YouTube.

Through his involvement with producing and recording more than 530 videos, Gallups was once named “Worst People in the World” by Keith Olbermann on his now-defunct MSNBC show. Videos from the PPSimmons YouTube channel were featured on CNN, “The Rachel Maddow Show” and Fox News.

The PPSimmons site was known for producing videos on biblical commentary, startling biblical revelations and, perhaps most controversially, political revelations concerning Barack Obama and his birth certificate.

The PPSimmons Ministry Channel was in excellent standing with YouTube before it was pulled last week, according to Gallups.

Of more than 530 videos released over a three-year time span, with a number of them having more than a million views, only three had come to the attention of YouTube and been “flagged” for potentially inappropriate content.

“When we first got started in 2009, we did a video on abortion that was flagged by YouTube for being too graphic,” said Gallups.

Immediately, he said, the video was pulled and PPSimmons was placed on probation for a period of time before it was completely restored to a “Good Standing” rating with YouTube.

“Since then, we haven’t had any problems with YouTube and have been grateful for having a platform to grow our ministry to the point that it became viral sensation that touched the lives of tens of thousands of people,” said Gallups.

It was only three weeks ago that PPSimmons came to the attention of YouTube again, with the posting of George Zimmerman’s 911 call.

“The media wasn’t doing their job in covering the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman affair,” said Gallups, who before becoming a minister spent 10 years in law enforcement. “Truth has since vindicated Zimmerman after the initial media onslaught.”

The recording was in the headlines because NBC famously quote Zimmerman saying, “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. He looks black.”

But NBC had edited out critical parts of the conversation. In reality, Zimmerman said, “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. Or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.”

The operator then asked: “OK, and this guy – is he black, white or Hispanic?

Zimmerman said, “He looks black.”

Gallups explained that the posting was the complete four-minute version of the call.

“That same video is all over YouTube, but they flagged the video,” he said. “We appealed the decision, and in a few days YouTube responded and admitted that they were wrong, and the video was restored, and so was our Good Standing status.”

The temporary victory was short-lived, as Gallups tried to log on to the PPSimmons account a few days later only to find the “terminated” notice.

“Though YouTube restored the Zimmerman 911 call video, we received notice that the channel was terminated because another video was flagged, and we had received too many warnings to continue to allow our channel to operate,” he said.

The video that YouTube flagged and used to closed down the PPSimmons channel was titled “A Call to Prayer” and remains on Gallups’ site.


“It was a simple video, in my voice, urging our subscribers to pray for YouTube users who were asking for our prayers and because of spiritual battles that they were experiencing in their life,” said Gallups.

It calls for prayer for those who are caught in the “demonic grip” of homosexuality, masturbation and pot smoking, “and they don’t even know it.”

It explains drug and sexual addictions are “not the way of a true believer.”

“We are not here to help people feel good about their sins,” the video explains.

Gallups said one can see videos on YouTube that attack Christianity, demonize and bully proponents of traditional marriage and call Muslims to prayer, “but to make a video calling for Christians to pray is ostensibly grounds for having your channel terminated.”

“To make matters worse, the termination of the YouTube channel occurred two weeks prior to the release of my book, ‘The Magic Man in the Sky,’ and at the same time I was doing interviews across the nation on talk radio concerning the Sheriff Joe Arpaio investigation into President Obama’s birth certificate ordeal,” said Gallups.

“This is unfairly impugning the character of anyone who is involved with PPSimmons and, worse, we have no chance to appeal this decision nor any reason to suspect why it was pulled,” said Gallups.

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