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October 22 - October 28, 2007 
 Weekly News In Review
 Vol 2, Issue 27
In This Issue
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The Weekly News In Review Newsletter is a compilation of the news articles that have appeared on the Understand The Times website during the previous week.

 October 20 - To Catch Fish, Learn to Think Like Them
 Article: Apostasy

I don't think like a non-Christian; I think like a Christian. In fact, I think like a pastor. That's even worse! It's two generations removed from the people I want to reach.
You can tell just how differently pastors think than lost people when you look at church advertisements in the newspaper. You'll see advertisements like, "Preaching the inspired, inerrant Word of God." Who will that appeal to? I know what the inspired, inerrant Word of God is. In fact I believe in it. I'd die for the inspired, inerrant Word. But non-Christians don't care about your view of inspiration.
Or you'll see a church advertise "Holy Spirit services." That's going to scare people away! Non- Christians don't know what you mean by the Holy Spirit. Is that Casper the Friendly Ghost? You must learn to think - and communicate - like a non-believer if you are going to communicate the Gospel to them.

You've got to know what the fish you're trying to reach like to do. If you're going to understand and reach non-Christians, you've got to begin with their mindset.

I've got to speak your language. I don't expect you to speak my language as a Christian. I have to learn to speak your language. That's called love. That's called caring enough about people and not letting the method prevent the message from getting through. You've got to start where people are.

You talk to them. Sounds simple, but it's true. The more you talk to non- Christians, the more you begin to get on their wavelength. Then you can build a bridge from your heart to their heart that Jesus Christ can walk across.



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 October 22 - Blair Holds Closed-Door Talks with Religious Leaders to Combat Extremism
 Article: One World Religion

LONDON - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has held closed meetings with a number of religious leaders to lay down plans for an international interfaith foundation designed to combat religious extremism.

The foundation is being set up with the hope that it will help ease tensions between the world's major religions and help them to overcome common misunderstandings and misconceptions held against one another.

Reports about the new initiative came as Blair prepared to speak to some of America's leading Roman Catholic bishops in New York - an event that has reignited rumors of his impending conversion from Anglicanism to Catholicism.

"The tragedy is that Christians, Jews and Muslims are all Abrahamic religions," Blair has said. "We regard ourselves as children of Abraham but we have fought for so long."

The former prime minister will be hoping that the new initiative will also help foster religious harmony in the Middle East and other volatile regions including Britain, where religious tensions are stirring.



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 October 19 - Osteen Resonates in Society where Damnation Messages Don't
 Article: Apostasy

A Christian author has come to the defense of Joel Osteen against critics who say the megapastor's messages are "theology lite" and void of the central Christian message of the cross. Although Osteen says he believes in hell and the afterlife, he doesn't preach "fire and brimstone" and his messages often leave out the traditional Christian teachings of sacrifice, the cross of Jesus Christ, and the word "sinners."
"Few individuals have been as successful as Joel in spreading God's word," stated Young. "Joel understands today's culture and that messages of damnation and of a vengeful God no longer resonate with an overstressed society that already believes they are living in Hell daily.

"Instead, Joel tells people that if they draw closer to God that their lives will be better. This is a message that our society is eager to embrace. Who doesn't seek a fuller life on earth?"

Regarding his lack of formal seminary training, he pointed to Jesus' 12 disciples - some of whom were fishermen without any formal training.

"The Bible says that God chooses people that are not the most educated or the smartest, to confound other people," said Osteen on Larry King Live on Tuesday.



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 October 20 - Iran to fire '11,000 rockets in minute' if attacked
 Article: Wars And Rumors Of Wars

Iran warned on Saturday it would fire off 11,000 rockets at enemy bases within the space of a minute if the United States launched military action against the Islamic republic.

"In the first minute of an invasion by the enemy, 11,000 rockets and cannons would be fired at enemy bases," said a brigadier general in the elite Revolutionary Guards, Mahmoud Chaharbaghi. "This volume and speed of firing would continue," added Chaharbaghi, who is commander of artillery and missiles of the Guards' ground forces, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

The United States has never ruled out attacking Iran to end its defiance over the controversial Iranian nuclear programme, which the US alleges is aimed at making nuclear weapons but Iran insists is entirely peaceful.

"If a war breaks out in the future, it will not last long because we will rub their noses in the dirt," said Chaharbaghi.

"Now the enemy should ask themselves how many of their people they are ready to have sacrificed for their stupidity in attacking Iran," he said.



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 October 18 - Campolo: 'Time to Start Taking Jesus Seriously'
 Article: Emerging Church

Christianity is about doing more than good works, said Campolo, who exhorted the students to focus on their interior lives as well. God will always walk with us, but it is up to each person to let the Spirit transform us from within, he explained.

For that transformation to occur, students should spend time in silent prayer, not asking for God to do something, but waiting in silence for him to move. "So often our prayers are like my son when he was just seven years old, coming into the living room and saying, 'I'm going to bed. I'm going to be praying. Anybody want anything?' "

"When was the last time you waited 10 minutes for Christ to invade you," Campolo asked. "No, I'm serious. When was the last time - in silence, in quietness, in stillness - you waited for the Spirit to invade you, to saturate you, to fill you up, to explode in you?

"Isn't that what you want? " Campolo pressed. 
"Don't you want more than a set of propositional truths?"



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 October 19 - Mennonites Hear Benedict XVI's Call for Unity
 Article: Ecumenical Movement - Protestants Uniting With Rman Catholics

The Holy Father said: "In the ecumenical spirit of recent times, we have begun to have contacts with each other after centuries of isolation.

"Since it is Christ himself who calls us to seek Christian unity, it is entirely right and fitting that Mennonites and Catholics have entered into dialogue in order to understand the reasons for the conflict that arose between us in the 16th century. To understand is to take the first step towards healing."

"Mennonites are well known for their strong Christian witness to peace in the name of the Gospel, and here, despite centuries of division, the dialogue report 'Called Together to be Peacemakers' has shown that we hold many convictions in common," affirmed the Pontiff.

He added: "We both emphasize that our work for peace is rooted in Jesus Christ 'who is our peace, who has made us both one making peace that he might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross.'

The Holy Father concluded,
"It is my hope that your visit will be another step towards mutual understanding and reconciliation."



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 October 23 - WCC takes part in interfaith dialogue for peace
 Article: Ecumenical Movement - Other Religions Unting With Roman Catholics

At a high-profile interfaith dialogue for peace in Naples, Italy, earlier this week, gathered religious and political leaders and intellectuals from five continents. The event which was called "For a world without violence" was organized by the Catholic community of Sant'Egidio and included a eucharistic celebration conducted by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday, 21 October.

Kobia also emphasized the positive role religion can play in such a context: "Faith communities are not defined along racial or ethnic lines, or by national borders, but cut across these divides. We can therefore help to find new ways to express our faith, to be able to talk to our neighbours of other faiths, and to forge common visions and goals for the sake of life," he affirmed.

Among the personalities attending the Naples event were the chief rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger, the founder of the University of the United Arab Emirates Ezzeddin Ibrahim, and the Buddhist monk U. Uttara from Myanmar, as well as the Italian premier Romano Prodi and the presidents of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, and Ecuador, Rafael Correa Delgado.

Signs of goodwill among religions and denominations at the Naples meetings included a relic of Saint Andrew being handed over to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. It is believed that the larger part of St. Andrew's remains were taken from Constantinople in the early 13th century and brought to Amalfi in southern Italy.



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 October 23 - Bush Touts European Missile Defense Plan
 Article: Wars And Rumors Of Wars

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush said Tuesday that plans for a U.S.-led missile defense system in Europe are urgently needed to counter an emerging threat of attack by Iran.

"If (Iran) chooses to do so, and the international community does not take steps to prevent it, it is possible Iran could have this capability," Bush said. "And we need to take it seriously-now."

In his speech here, Bush said intelligence estimates show that Iran could have the capability to strike the United States and many European allies by 2015.

"The need for missile defense in Europe is real, and I believe it's urgent," Bush said.

"The greatest threat facing our nation in the 21st century is the danger of terrorist networks or terrorist states armed with weapons of mass destruction," Bush said.



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 October 24 - Catholic Tide Is Turning: Interview With Author David Hartline
 Article: Bridges To Rome

Hartline is the author of the recent book "The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism," published by Catholic Report.

We also see vibrant parishes involved in Scripture study, catechism courses, apologetics, Eucharist adoration, rosary devotions, as well as programs to assist those in need. This is the springtime of evangelization that John Paul II spoke of some years ago. Because of these efforts, we are seeing many converts embrace the Church.

Often, converts approach me at the various talks I give and say three things kept them from Catholicism; the Eucharist, Mary and the papacy. When I asked what brought them into the Church they basically give the same answer, the Eucharist, the Blessed Mother and the Holy Father, or the magisterium.

Additionally, the importance of the election of John Paul II cannot be understated. His strong leadership with emphasis on Church orthodoxy and Eucharistic and Marian devotions laid the groundwork for many, especially the young, to embrace these important gifts.

The outpouring of love shown to John Paul II through the 5 to 7 million who came to Rome, about one quarter of whom were under 25, gave the world a view of the Church that had been scarcely seen in the world press.
The beautiful liturgy, the ancient customs such as the transfer of the body of the pontiff to St. Peter's, accompanied by the chanting of the litany of the saints, provided the world with a powerful image of the ancient Church.



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 October 22 - EU vows to shape globalisation
 Article: One World Government

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Having finally put six years of institutional wrangling behind it with last week's agreement on a new treaty, the 27-nation EU says it is now confident to face outside challenges.

In December, EU leaders
are expected to adopt a declaration, which should underline the bloc's change of priorities - moving from institutional matters towards issues such as globalisation and climate change.
 
The union now has less than two months to agree a list of new priorities linked to globalisation and subsequently move on to agreeing the best political recipe for how to deal with the phenomenon.

According to the European Commission, the EU should
avoid being a passive spectator, but rather "shape" globalisation.


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 October 26 - Joel Osteen Show Sells Out In Baltimore
 Article: Apostasy

Gigi Barnett explains why TV minister Joel Osteen maybe one of the country's most influential people.

With more than 45 million members Osteen's the pastor of the nation's largest church. Friday, Baltimore got a front-row seat to spend an evening with Joel Osteen.

First on his agenda, was a book signing in Rosedale, for his second book.

"Whenever he speaks...it's like he's speaking directly to me. It's really, really amazing," said George Gianforcarco, fan.

Osteen's congregation at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas is the fastest growing in the nation. Osteen says his message is one of hope.


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 October 26 - Human race will 'split into two different species'
 Article: Creation/Evolution - Misc.

The human race will one day split into two separate species, an attractive, intelligent ruling elite and an underclass of dim-witted, ugly goblin-like creatures, according to a top scientist.

100,000 years into the future, sexual selection could mean that two distinct breeds of human will have developed.

The alarming prediction comes from evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry from the London School of Economics, who says that the human race will have reached its physical peak by the year 3000.

These humans will be between 6ft and 7ft tall and they will live up to 120 years.

Men will have symmetrical facial features, deeper voices and bigger penises, according to Curry in a report commissioned for men's satellite TV channel Bravo.

Women will all have glossy hair, smooth hairless skin, large eyes and pert breasts, according to Curry.

Racial differences will be a thing of the past as interbreeding produces a single coffee-coloured skin tone.



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 October - 28 Iran steps up preparations for US war
 Article:Wars And Rumors Of Wars

Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is stepping up preparations for possible war with America by replacing a string of moderate regime officials with hardliners who more closely share his views.

After months in which his government has played down the risk of war over Iran's nuclear programme, officials have also begun making bellicose pronouncements in an apparent attempt to ready public opinion for a military clash.

In recent weeks Mr Ahmadinejad has fired ministers responsible for oil and heavy industry, and forced out the governor of Iran's central bank for refusing to back his policies. Last week he also quietly brought in hardliners to the justice and foreign ministries. "We don't need people with specialities, we need people who are devoted," he said.

CIA and Pentagon analysts are fearful that Gen Jafari's views are reflected among the other senior appointments made by Mr Ahmadinejad. He has declared his wish to identify "martyrdom-seeking individuals in society" and warned: "Each of our suicide volunteers equals a nuclear bomb."



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We hope the Weekly News In Review has been a blessing to you.

In Jesus,
Roger Oakland


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