I (Sal) took an Economics (see BUSINESS) class during my junior year at UMM, which I'll be using a lot what I learn in an up-coming community leadership retreat (September 13th-17th of 2004).
Community Leadership Opportunities
Blandin Foundation: Community Leadership Retreat: September 13th-17th of 2004, contact Phil Drown on this application form
After attending the retreat, I was reminded of this business economic life-skills learning program called Junior Achivement, which would be a good life lesson for our area youth to get involved.
What comes up must come down?
Today (Tuesday, October 10th of 2005) I heard economists predict the the economy of the U.S. will go down by February of 2006. This was predicted today after a series of natural disaster in our nation (Hurricaine Katrina & Rita) and world (Asian Tsunami, South Asian Earthquake, and Hurricaine Stan), which has been costing many U.S. dollars. It's been awesome to see the U.S. government "giving to others"/"blessing others" despite our own economic/national problems; however, economists feel we will see the financial consequences in the future. As I write this, I feel God will return our giving 7 fold as long we are giving with the right heart and using discernment. There are others in our country who probably have been stingy and greedy, which they (e.g. Enron) might cause our nation's downfall.
Let's look at some Biblical prophecies out there....
Well, what should you do? Ask God yourself on what you can do? I did this last week after a message from my local pastor, which I came up with this site...
All of last week (October 6th-10th), it was in the news 24/7 about our "shrinking downfalling economy". Weeks ago there was a natural disaster in Texas-Hurricane Ike, which "America" (media) has seem to have forgotten our fellow friends down there. It kind of shows where our priorities we put in our life-money! Anyways, I fell I'll be adding more to this site for awhile during this so called "heading towards a depression".
I want to encourage you all that God has a purpose for each individuals through this "difficult season". I learned this towards the end of last year when I was first layed-off from my job (for a week only as I was called back-in to fill-in a staff leaving for "maternity leave", which my "full-time": benefits too was taken away) right before Thanksgiving of 2007. I was then off from work for 3-4 weeks in May, which during this whole time since November-I was seeking God on "what's next" => pursue a "teaching licensure" in ESL (see GoodnewsEverybody: Liberal Arts-English).
October 11 2008 George Bush G7 Speech on Financial Credit Crisis Economic Resolve and Depression
"http://TimothySykesExposed.com/CRISIS
President Bush emerged from a meeting with foreign financial officials on Saturday and pledged a global response to the credit crisis that will lead toward a "path of stability and long-term growth.""
"ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. – American Crystal Sugar Co.'s future is sweet, despite current economic turmoil, if history is any indication.
But not so much for many Minnesota manufacturers.
"They are down, but optimistic," President David Olson of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce said about the state's manufacturers..."
"The city of Rochester appears to be thriving despite the tough economic times.
While unemployment rates climb across the country, the numbers are actually going down in Rochester. Nationally unemployment rates stand at 6.5 percent. In Minnesota 6 percent of the population is unemployed, but in Rochester unemployment rates dropped from 4.7 percent in September to 4.4 percent in November.
The Mayo Clinic, which is a destination medical center, is a big part of the city's success. While North Memorial is cutting 380 jobs and Park Nicollet eliminating another 233, the Mayo Clinic is planning to give 3 percent raises to at least 20,000 of its 32,000 employees.
Several other companies are also looking to build or expand in Rochester, which could bring up to 650 new jobs to the area."
Crisis Hotline Getting More Calls About Job Loss, Apr 4, 2009 11:12 pm US/Central wcco.com "RICHFIELD, Minn. (WCCO) ―
Therkelsen said his crisis center is seeing more first-time callers than ever before, and an average of four calls per week are from people who are seriously contemplating suicide.
Lately some news stories have been more than just depressing, they have been downright violent. Last month in California, four police officers were shot and killed by a man wanted on a parole violation.
Then, on Friday, a shooter killed 13 people in New York. Saturday morning in Pittsburgh, more officers were killed by a gunman.
Those are just a few examples. So what might be causing these recent violent outbursts?
"It's about the stresses that accompany losing a job or fearing the loss of a job," said Dave Therkelsen of Crisis Connection.
Crisis Connection is a 24-hour-a-day counseling service in the Twin Cities. Therkelsen said during the last six months of 2008, calls related to stress increased by 20 percent and calls related to job loss doubled.
He believes one reason is because people who lose their job have also lost their support group.
"In today's economy your friends, family, co-workers, more of them have lost their job or are worried that they might be next. So it may be hard to talk with someone to find out how you can feel better," said Therkelsen.
Therkelsen said stress can lead to alcohol or drug abuse, which can in turn lead to violent behavior. But he wants people to know that it is always preventable. He said counseling centers not only provide someone who can listen; they provide someone who can give the caller the resources they need to get back on track.
"They can come to understand that they have a broader range of options than they might have thought that they had," said Therkelsen.
Therkelsen said his crisis center is seeing more first-time callers than ever before, and an average of four calls per week are from people who are seriously contemplating suicide."
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com: Social Issues-Homicides, Murders-Killings, Shootings, Stabbings, Violence, etc...
" (OPRAH.com) -- The American economy has hit a new low. Home values are plummeting, bills are rising and job layoffs have every worker concerned.
If we cared more about people than money, we would not be having what happened today, Suze Orman said.
If we cared more about people than money, we would not be having what happened today, Suze Orman said.
Factor in the sudden bankruptcy of 158-year-old investment bank Lehman Brothers, an $85 billion federal bailout of insurance giant American International Group Inc., Bank of America's quick purchase of Merrill Lynch and rumors of future sales and the rejection of a $700 billion government bailout, it's no wonder Americans are worried about their money.
Are you sick to your stomach and scared out of your mind?
Money expert Suze Orman is here to explain what's really going on -- and how you can protect yourself.
"We have built an entire economy on lies and deceit," she says. "It's like building a home or an entire building on a sinkhole. You have a foundation, supposedly. But a little crack, if something goes wrong -- a little earthquake, a tremor -- and it starts to open, everything starts to fall down and ... that is exactly what has happened in the United States of America."
Suze says the current financial downturn started all the way at the top of banks, mortgage companies and brokerage firms.
"There was greed at the top -- serious greed," Suze says. "When you have stocks, you have individual companies that want to make money. And [CEOs] want to make more money because the more money they make, the more their compensation is, the more their stock price goes up."
These companies made money by selling investments like mortgages to people who couldn't afford them, Suze says.
"Have you all ever wondered, 'Why does Suze Orman say people first, then money, then things?'" she says. "It means if we cared about people more than we cared about money, we would not be having what happened today, because the people who run the corporations, if they had cared about all of you, they wouldn't have created loans that you couldn't afford."
A lack of regulations also contributed to the downfall -- and Suze says there weren't more rules established because they would cut into the bottom line.
"The more money the brokerage firms, the mortgage companies and all those companies made, the better the economy was. Because if they lent you money, you had money now that you could spend," she says. "When the economy looks great, everybody feels like, 'Oh, we're doing good.' The stock market goes up. When the stock market goes up, the price of shares go up. The compensation for the CEOs go up."
As things progressed, Suze says many people fell under Wall Street's spell.
"A lot of you have built your personal financial foundation on deceit and lies. You bought a home that you couldn't afford ... You spent money like it was going out of style and it wasn't your money to spend, because why? They were borrowing it," Suze says. "When you borrow money, you leverage yourself. The United States of America leveraged itself so high that when it started to come down, the whole thing now has fallen down." Oprah.com: 6 deadly sins of home equity
The recent billion-dollar bankruptcies are going to make things more difficult for the average person, Suze says. For example, Suze says securing credit may be nearly impossible.
"The chances of you being able to really get a mortgage, a car loan, even student loans for your children, may be far more difficult than you have any idea," she says. "If you currently have credit cards that you're not using that have open lines of credit on it, probably you will see them close down."
In terms of investments, Suze says people close to retirement may need to reconsider. "Many people now have seen their 401(k) either cut in half [or] down 40 percent," Suze says. "[People] may have to work a lot longer than they planned, may not have enough money to generate income to send their kids to school."
Homeowners will also feel a burden, Suze says. As people lose their jobs, fewer homeowners can afford to pay their mortgages and property taxes.
"The less amount of people that are paying property taxes, the less your state has to pay the firemen, the police department," Suze says. "The more your property taxes go up, the less you can afford your mortgage."
With all of these economic puzzle pieces in play, Suze says she wouldn't be surprised if we switched to a cash economy -- which means buying only what you can afford now.
"Banks aren't going to want to give you money where they're afraid that you might not pay them back," Suze says. "I personally think that's a great thing."
So what can you do to protect yourself? "People, stop living the financial lies that you have been living," Suze says. "If you don't have the money to pay for something, can you just not buy it? Can you wait? Can we start looking at keeping our cars for 10 years rather than getting a new one every three?" Oprah.com: Are you protected financially?
Tammy and Tim are a couple who asked for help cleaning their financial house. Like many Americans, they say they have no health insurance and owe more on their home than what it's worth.
The couple also says they have no life insurance to provide for their two children should tragedy strike. Since Tim was laid off from his job last spring, the couple has been living largely off credit cards -- and owe more than $90,000 across 29 different cards.
Tammy says the bills added up before they knew it. "We are taking every bit of money that we do make and putting it toward our credit card payments. We're very proud people and never have been late in 20 years on our payments," she says. "We tend to take our cash, pay our credit cards and then use our credit cards to pay our mortgage and put gas in our car and feed our kids."
Tim says he and Tammy have no idea what to do once their credit is maxed out. "Right now is where we really need the most help," he says. "We're open for any advice that we can get."
Suze has some tough love for this struggling couple. After looking at Tammy and Tim's finances, Suze says the couple falls $2,000 short each month. With property taxes, utilities and the mortgage payment together, Suze estimates it costs at least $3,000 a month to live in their current home.
Suze's suggestion is a harsh truth for Tammy and Tim. "I love you enough to tell you what you need to do to not only save yourselves, but to save your children so there's enough money then to buy them health insurance, for them to have life insurance," Suze says. "You need to sell your home."
Tim says he's concerned about putting his house for sale in a depressed market.
"If you had just been honest a year ago, two years ago, that you couldn't afford the mortgage payments -- you couldn't afford the lifestyle that you were living -- you would not be in this situation here today," Suze says. "If you get rid of the house, you will start to live an honest life without lies. You'll start to make more money. You'll feel better."
Tim and Tammy want to know what their next step should be. "Let's put the house on the market to sell. Let's see what it should be priced at. Talk to your bank about possibly having to do a short sale and just see what happens from there. That is our first step toward honesty," Suze says.
It won't be easy, but Tammy says they're ready. "Whether we've been naive or not, it's a reality, and now we're finally seeing the light and realizing that it's a change we need to make," she says.
Cash-strapped couples aren't the only ones concerned by the country's economic crisis. Millions of aging Americans who have money in retirement accounts have seen their nest eggs shrink in recent weeks. Suze reveals which people really need to rethink their plans for the future.
If you're 10 to 20 years away from retirement, Suze says there's no reason to panic. "As long as you are invested in good quality mutual funds, diversified across the board, as this all goes down, you're buying more shares," she says. "The more shares you buy, eventually, when it turns around ... the more money you'll make."
The situation is more serious for men and women planning to leave the workforce in the next year. Suze says if you recently lost money in the stock market, there isn't time to recover your losses.
"The harsh reality there is what? You are going to have to work more," she says. "For something to recover -- even at an 8 or 9 percent annual average rate of return -- it could take you 12 years to get back there." Oprah.com: How you can prepare for retirement
If you need to start dipping into your savings in the next 10 years, Suze says it's best to take your money out of the stock market and invest in CDs and treasury bills or bonds.
"For those people who need the money to be safe and sound, you need it to generate income now. You have to come out [of the stock market] at this point," she says. "It doesn't mean you can't go back in."
Suze says people may also want to start rearranging their funds. "You might put your money in something that gives you a dividend of 4 or 5 percent, so even though it's low, you're getting your income so you can live off of it," she says. "Then if the markets go back up in those areas, you'll make your money back."
From "The Oprah Winfrey Show" "Recession-Proof Your Family with Suze Orman""
"CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The Federal Reserve on Wednesday agreed to provide insurance giant American International Group Inc. with a loan of up to $37.8 billion, on top of one made to the troubled company last month.
Under the new program, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will borrow up to $37.8 billion in investment-grade, fixed income securities from AIG in return for cash collateral. These securities were previously lent by AIG's insurance company subsidiaries to third parties.
The arrangement will help AIG secure funds on an as-needed basis, the New York-based insurer said in a statement.
As of Monday, about $37.2 billion of securities were available for loans under AIG's securities lending program.
On the brink of failure last month, AIG was bailed out when the government offered it an $85 billion loan during the ongoing credit crisis that saw Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. file for bankruptcy protection and the sale of Merrill Lynch & Co. to Bank of America Corp. In return for the two-year loan, the government received warrants to purchase up to 79.9 percent of AIG.
As of Sept. 30, AIG had drawn $61 billion on the credit facility, of which about $54 billion has gone toward its securities lending and AIG's financial products area. The rest of the money has been for other liquidity needs amid an "unprecedented" freezing of credit markets, Chief Executive Edward Liddy said last week.
Last week, AIG said it would sell off a number of business units to pay off its massive government loan. The company didn't specifically disclose all the assets it would sell or the expected prices from the sales. However, the New York-based insurer said it plans to retain its U.S. property and casualty and foreign general insurance businesses, and also plans to retain an ownership interest in its foreign life insurance operations.
Shares of AIG closed down 32 cents, or 9.1 percent, to $3.19 in trading Wednesday.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)" AIG cancels conference at resort amid inquiry over expenses
Bloomberg News
Published: October 9, 2008 "NEW YORK: American International Group scrapped a seaside conference at a California resort amid a barrage of criticism for spending $440,000 on a similar event days after getting an $85 billion U.S. government bailout.
AIG canceled the conference at the Ritz-Carlton in California's Half Moon Bay "after a re-evaluation of the costs under the new circumstances," said a spokesman, Joe Norton.
The Senate Finance Committee chairman, Max Baucus, on Thursday demanded more details from the Federal Reserve on AIG's event last month, including "who we can fire."
"This kind of behavior is an insult to taxpayers," the Montana Democrat wrote in a letter to the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke. He asked for a response by Oct. 23.
Events such as those hosted by AIG to reward top salesmen are common at financial firms. Wachovia, the lender in talks to be acquired after losing $9.5 billion this year, is sending 75 brokers and their spouses on a cruise to the islands of Greece this weekend, a bank spokesman, Jim Griffin, said, confirming a report earlier in the Los Angeles Times...."
US heading for Depression?
"Bailouts Will Push US into Depression: Manager
BANKS, FINANCIAL SERVICES, NORTH AMERICA, POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT, ECONOMY, INFLATION, CURRENCIES, DOLLAR, FREDDIE MAC, FANNIE MAE, MORTGAGES, DEBT, CREDIT
By CNBC.com
CNBC.com
| 11 Sep 2008 | 09:11 AM ET"
"As the polls and media pundits have pointed out, many Americans are angry about this financial crisis, angry about a rescue plan that seems to bail out Wall Street more than them, and frustrated with the lack of clear solutions being offered by politicians. But underneath the anger, there is a deeper level of fear in America right now. I am hearing that fear across the country. How will this affect me and my family? What will happen to my retirement funds, to the college account for my kids, to the value of my home? Am I going to lose my home or even my job? Last night on CNN, a financial consultant reported that some of her clients are already living in their cars! I could feel the fear gripping many Americans. A friend of mine, who is also a financial planner now engaged in intense conversations daily with his families, just left me a simple voicemail—“Pray for me.”
It’s not often that most Americans are feeling the same thing at the same time, mostly talking about the same thing, and all worrying about the same thing. The last time might have been just after 9/11. But it is increasingly clear that most Americans are focused on the same thing right now. The collapse of Wall Street, the deepening economic recession (the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression, everyone keeps saying), and the clear threat of another depression now looming have become the overriding foci of the election — so much so that even the dirty politics of the final stages of this campaign seem not to be working. Every other issue than the economy is perceived as a distraction.
And for Christians, there is a second question, or maybe one that should be the first question: What is a Christian response to a deepening economic crisis like this? What should people of faith be thinking, saying, and doing? What is the responsibility of the churches to their own parishioners, to their communities, to the nation and the world? And where is God in all this?
What does the Bible say about all the issues now being raised? What does our theology tell us about money and possessions, wealth and power, credit and responsible financial choices, economic values vs. family values, lifestyle and stewardship, generosity and justice, and both personal and social responsibility? What can Christian economists tell us about economic philosophy, the role of the market, the role of government, the place of social regulation, the spiritual consequences of economic disparities, the moral health of an economy, and the criteria of the common good?
What do pastors, lay leaders, activists, and practitioners say about creative opportunities and new solutions that could come out of all of this: like the possibilities of mutual aid, congregational and community credit unions, and new cooperative strategies for solving problems like health care, housing, and even jobs? Pastors will need help with preaching resources for a time like this, and local congregations will need adult Sunday school curricula on money and all the related issues of this economic crisis.
And what about pastoral care in a time of economic crisis? How do we listen to people, just be present to them, comfort them, and perhaps help them to re-examine their assumptions, values, and practices? This is already a time of great anxiety for many. But how could it also be a time of prayerful self-evaluation, redirection, and even new relationships with others in our congregations and communities.
Sojourners is going to take up that challenge. We want to turn the God’s Politics blog, SojoMail, and our sojo.net Web site into Christian forums for a wide-ranging discussion and collective discernment of the issues of this economic crisis. We are already planning cover stories and articles for Sojourners magazine and a new Sojourners study guide on all of the above issues. We will be doing wider media messaging, interviews in television and radio, and op-eds in newspapers, while also making the economic crisis a focus of my own writing and speaking.
We will be asking Christian economists to address the fundamental issues of economic philosophy and policy. We will be seeking the best thinking of many theologians on the biblical and moral issues at stake. And we will ask pastors about the realities now facing the members of their congregations and what Christian formation means in a moment like this. We will together seek a pastoral strategy for an economic crisis.
And we want to get our Sojourners constituency and wider community talking, praying, and acting in this time of challenge and opportunity. We want to hear your stories. Prophetic action will be called for, and pastoral care will be needed, so we will begin a far-ranging conversation with you on the shape of both.
Let’s start by making the God’s Politics blog a public Christian forum on how we, as people of faith, should respond to this historic crisis. With the wisdom we can gather from many voices, the practical support we can offer each other, the creative solutions we can help forge, the prophetic leadership we can offer, and the care for each other that we can provide, we will try to act in the best tradition of the extended community that has been Sojourners for more than three decades. So we invite you to join the discourse and the discernment. And let’s pray that we can learn together what it means to be faithful in a time such as this.
"
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I live in Canada, and as yet we are not in as big a crisis as the US is, but I believe it is coming here also. I have thought about this situation and prayed about it, and I beleive that greed got us into this, and there is no easy out. I do not know the answers to the economic dilema, but I do beleive that now is the time we need to help each other and realize we are all one people. We must reach out and help each other in any way we can, whether it be financial and spiritual, and we must be creative in our solutions. We must forget about divisions in society. We must freely give of ourselves and help in any way we can to serve the people who are hurting.
I very much agree with Al Krass' posting as to some of the ways in which we can make a difference and help each other. I agree, we must shift gears.
In God's Love"-
Karen
"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their chariots
and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
or seek help from the LORD.-Isaiah 31
Deaths
LA man upset over job kills wife, 5 kids, himself
By THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writer Thomas Watkins, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 26 mins ago (news yahoo.com) Tuesday, January 27th of 09'
"LOS ANGELES – A man who fatally shot his wife, five young children and himself Tuesday had earlier faxed a note to a TV station claiming the couple had just been fired from their hospital jobs and together planned the killings as a final escape for the whole family.
"Why leave the children to a stranger?" Ervin Lupoe wrote, according to KABC-TV.
The station called police after receiving the fax, and a police dispatch center also received a call from a man who stated, "'I just returned home and my whole family's been shot."...
"...Just days ago, the United States jobless rate hit a 14-year high. Across the nation, 10 million Americans are now unemployed.
That puts the unemployment rate at a whopping 6.5 percent. On top of that, some economists warn: it will only get worse.
Will the holiday season bring any relief to the rough outlook? Experts say the economy is already hitting the retail industry. But there are some areas who are looking for a few good workers...
Each quarter for the last year, the Saginaw, Bay (and) Midland area has probably been the hottest-hiring area in Michigan," he said.
Two specific fields top the list.
"There are a lot of health care jobs in the Tri-Cities," Oberski said. "Second behind that is the chemical industry."
Business is booming for Patti Bayne Tomzcak, who has two passions: serving cider and finding good people to help her run Bayne's Apple Valley Farm in Tittabawassee Township.
"I need to find quality people who want to work and have a good attitude," she said..."
Obama announces education help for unemployed, updated 12:23 p.m. EDT, Fri May 8, 2009 (CNN.com) ".. Under Obama's initiative, colleges would consider a person's current financial situation to make it possible for them to receive Pell grants, which are available for low-income students. The unemployed person would not lose any unemployment benefits and the maximum Pell grant would be increased in July by $500 to $5,350.
Current unemployment rules create a Catch-22: In most cases, if you are receiving unemployment compensation, you have to be actively looking for a job.
If you want to get more education or training, you have to give up unemployment benefits. But if you return to school, you don't qualify for federal education grants since, in most cases, your qualification is based on the previous year's income....
"New York (CNN) -- Thousands of Occupy Wall Street demonstrators deluged New York on Thursday, a show of strength in the movement's original home that was echoed nationwide as part of a "mass day of action."
Scores were arrested in New York, and several police officers were reported injured, as protesters fanned out across the city moved toward Foley Square in Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge.
By early Thursday evening, many had crossed the bridge -- the same place where more than 700 had been arrested last month -- chanting, "This is what democracy looks like -- This is what America looks like," according to the New York movement's official Twitter feed. This time, they marched in the pedestrian walkway, not blocking the roadway. Nearby, pro-Occupy slogans were projected onto one side of the Verizon Building.
Those in New York were not alone. Like-minded activists also took to the streets in all corners of the nation -- from Miami to Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon, to Boston -- marking two months since the activist effort aimed at the nation's wealthiest 1% began in Manhattan.
Roundup of protests across the country
"I think the numbers have increased dramatically today," said New York protester Jo Robin. "Particularly after the raid, our message is being broadcast all over the world."
The group twice squared off against riot police in Zuccotti Park, where they'd been evicted two days earlier. They'd also engaged in several confrontations with police, leading to scores of arrests.
That includes 64 protesters -- wearing T-shirts with the figure "99%" prominently featured -- arrested at an early evening sit-in on Centre Street near Foley Square in lower Manhattan, a police spokesman said. (Earlier, police spokesmen and protest organizers had said -- incorrectly -- that 99 people were arrested in this same incident.)
In total, police said around 8 p.m. that a total of 245 people had been arrested around the city.
During a late afternoon press conference, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that at least seven police officers were hurt Thursday during exchanges with protesters."
Five of those officers were injured when a unidentified liquid was thrown on their faces, Kelly said, adding that the officers experienced a burning sensation and required hospitalization.
And a 24-year-old police officer was injured when a star-shaped glass object was thrown at him, Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters during a visit to Bellevue Hospital Center where the officer was being treated.
It is not clear how many demonstrators have been injured during the clashes.
Overheard on CNN.com: Some tire of Occupy protesters
CNN and CNN affiliate New York One broadcast images of the exchanges, including video of one man -- whose face appeared to be covered in blood -- sitting near police who wielded shields and batons.
Authorities constructed barricades at Zuccotti Park, in front of the New York Stock Exchange and along Fifth Avenue in an apparent attempt to keep demonstrators off the roads and on pedestrian walkways.
Residents and workers near the New York Stock Exchange were required to flash identification cards as police cordoned off the area amid concerns that demonstrators would try to disrupt trading.
Earlier in the day, protesters lifted metal barricades that ringed Zuccotti Park, a former home-base for the movement, defying authorities and blocking traffic.
Bloomberg said the day's protests had "caused minimal disruptions to our city," he asserted that some demonstrators had "deliberately pursued violence."
In Lower Manhattan, CNN iReporter Alvaro Perez shot video showing protesters being pulled away by police, including one woman who appeared to be dragged by her jacket and backpack.
"I don't want to speculate on what happened in advance of that," police spokesman Paul Browne said of the incident.
He said the "big picture" of how police have handled demonstrations has so far been mostly positive.
"People were able to get to work" and "protesters were able to protest," Browne added.
Earlier, on CNN's "American Morning," Howard Wolfson, a New York City deputy mayor, vowed, "We'll make sure, if people want to peacefully protest, they have the right to." But, he added, "if people break the law, we'll have to deal with that."
"If they attempt to enter a building they're not allowed in, that's breaking the law. If they want to express their concerns about Wall Street, that's totally fine," he said.
While the city has come under fire from protesters and other critics for arrests and removing protesters from Zuccotti Park, Wolfson insisted that "we had to act" to stop illegal activity, such as drug use, and to eliminate fire hazards.
"This is a place where we honor the First Amendment," he added.
Still, the ouster from Zuccotti Park did not appear to stifle the New York protest effort. The group tried to sum up its intent on a Twitter post: "Enough of this economy that exploits and divides us. It's time we put an end to Wall Street's reign of terror and begin building an economy that works for all."
The Occupy movement, likewise, showed few signs of abating elsewhere in the United States.
In cities such as St. Louis, Milwaukee and elsewhere, thousands responded to the "day of action" plea.
And as in New York, some of those ended up behind bars after refusing to heed law enforcement officers' calls to move.
The next highest arrest figure was in Los Angeles, where 25 people were arrested early Thursday and another 25 were arrested later in the day, Officer Andrew Neiman said. Bail was set at $5,000 for those detained, he added.
In Portland, police reported 48 people arrested in three separate incidents. That includes 25 taken into custody on the east end of the Steel Bridge, nine inside a Wells Fargo bank and 14 in and around a Chase Bank. In the latter incident on Thursday evening, Sgt. Pete Simpson said that police used pepper spray to get individuals to move off a street and from the path of a commuter rail line.
Another 21 were issued citations for blocking Las Vegas Boulevard in that Nevada city, Las Vegas police officer Bill Cassell told CNN, while Atlanta police arrested eight for blocking a roadway. There were also arrests in other places, including Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.
And in Denver, District Attorney Mitchell Morrissey announced Thursday that three men now face felony charges -- including inciting a riot and assaulting a police officer -- for their alleged actions while clashing with authorities during Occupy Denver protests.
CNN's Josh Levs, Mary Snow, Brian Vitagliano, Steve Kastenbaum, Eden Pontz and Rob Frehse contributed to this report.
Related Sites:
Robertson: Christians should not join Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street Activist Blames 'the Jews'. Iran Calls It: American Spring.
Can't depend on the Gov't (see GoodnewsUSA: InDepenedence Day) all and we can't blame them for all of our economic problems. We need to take our individual responsibility and do our part to "make a change" of difference!
JFK Inaugural Address 2 of 2, from youtube.com "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own. " GoodnewsEverybody: Health
"Have you noticed that grocery prices seem out of control? In today's world, we need a plan to save as much as we can and live within our budget. If we can figure out how to save money on food, then we may have to charge on our credit cards just to survive. Here are the top 10 grocery strategies that can help you save money and live debt-free when it comes to buying food..."
Healthy, Money-Saving Grocery Shopping Tips - CBN.com
"Phil Lempert, the Supermarket Guru, discusses how to eat healthily and save money.
Web site: http://www.cbn.com
Counseling Center: 1-800-759-0700 " Economic Crisis 2009 - How to use coupons to stock your food pantry, from youtube.com "Quick tips through discussion on how to use grocery store coupons to help save money while stocking your food pantry. These are useful tips to help people through the economic crisis/collapse of 2009 and 2010. "
"Germany was going through a really hard time with their economy. People were loosing jobs, but alot of Jews in Europe were well off and had enough money. So they were blamed.
Then there came Black Death, which was a period of time where tons of Europeans were dying and nobody knew why. (it was because of poor hygene) not as many Jews were dying because they had better hygene and were less prone to get sick.
There was anti-semitism (hate for Jews) long before Hitler. Before Hitler came to power, he was making speeches. He had good charisma skills so it was easy for him to get people to follow him and his ideas. He knew he had to blame Germany’s bad times on something, so he blames the Jews, just like people have been doing since the beginning of time.
This is what humans do. When people dehumanize other people and stop seeing them as humans, things get out of hand and genocides like the Holocaust happen, killing millions of innocent people."
"..Jews Have Been Scapegoats for Complex Problems
Jews have been scapegoated for various societal problems in numerous countries. Starting with the Diaspora, there are countless examples of Jews’ being forced to leave countries because of the perceived problems they caused – everything from economic to social ills. For example, many Europeans blamed Jews for the Black Death (bubonic plague) that wiped out one-third of Europe’s population in the 14th century. Adolf Hitler condemned Jews for Germany’s problems after its defeat in World War I.
However, the scapegoat theory to explain Jewish discrimination is not a solid theory because a group must already be hated to be scapegoated.
Jews Have Been Hated for Economic Reasons
Historians believe that some people’s perception of Jews as rich and powerful has led to discrimination. Some Jews held jobs as money lenders, which allowed them to earn money by charging interest. There are stipulations against charging interest in both Catholicism and Islam. Jewish law prohibits Jews from charging other Jews interest on loans but permits Jews to charge non-Jews interest. Jewish usury accusations were one reason that Jews faced discrimination.
Economic motivations for Jewish discrimination do not present an exhaustive explanation of Jewish discrimination, however, as evidenced by the fact that there were many poor Jews, particularly in Poland and Russia, where numerous pogroms were carried out in the 19th and 20th centuries..
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com: Middleeastern-Israelites Persecuted History
"A short film I put together showing what it was like during the 1930's Great Depression. And its comparison to 2008." Wikipedia "The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn starting in most places in 1929 and ending at different times in the 1930s or early 1940s for different countries. It was the largest and most important economic depression in modern history, and is used in the 21st century as a benchmark on how far the world's economy can fall. The Great Depression originated in the United States; historians most often use as a starting date the stock market crash on October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. The end of the depression in the U.S. is associated with the onset of the war economy of World War II, beginning around 1939.[1].."
"COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO (ANS) -- An international media and healthcare ministry is launching its 'Voice and Hands' Contest to encourage and enable Americans both to pray and to reach out to their communities and the world during these tough economic times.
A media release from HCJB Global (www.HCJBGlobal.org ) based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, says the Voice and Hands Contest is a part of the "Me and My Household" initiative, which HCJB Global announced in February.
According to Wayne Pederson, HCJB Global president, the goal of the contest is to "challenge individuals, households and churches to come up with ministry projects that have a 'voice' component that declares Jesus and a ‘hands’ component that demonstrates the love of Jesus in tangible ways."
Pederson is inviting people to submit their project ideas to HCJB Global, and 10 submissions will be selected to each receive a $200 prize that can be used toward their outreach or short-term mission trip and a flip video camera to record their experience. HCJB Global also will be allowing people to vote for a subset of entries as part of the selection process.
As an encouragement to those seeking to reach out, HCJB Global also is giving away at www.hcjbglobal.org/resources a free "Voice and Hands Reader" that provides 30 days of devotionals and inspirational stories, along with worship music about what it means to be the "voice and hands of Jesus."
The title of the contest reflects the fact that HCJB Global is known as the "Voice and Hands" of Jesus around the world, because the ministry both proclaims the Gospel and provides practical aid to the people with whom it shares the Gospel.
Voice and Hands Contest entries can be submitted and rules are available at www.hcjbglobal.org/contest . Contest entries will be accepted beginning April 20. The final day for entries will be May 20. Contest winners will be announced June 1.
HCJB Global’s "Me and My Household" initiative is based on research that shows the ministry is reaching more than 1 million households in the Arab world through its radio ministry, along with the importance of the scripture Joshua 23:15: "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
HCJB is offering a free prayer e-card at www.hcjbglobal.org/myprayer that Christians can use to send a prayer for their households to their immediate and extended families.
The media release says the Voice and Hands Contest is the next step in the campaign.
"We believe one of the ways God may be answering the prayers we have been encouraging since February is by giving His people new ideas and fresh enthusiasm for reaching both their neighbors and those around the world," Pederson said.
"The Voice and Hands Contest is a way of collecting these ideas, celebrating what God is birthing in the minds and hearts of His people, and providing encouragement and seed money for the implementation of these God-given ideas."
Pederson added: "Generous giving during difficult times has an added impact. First of all, the needs are greater during times of economic distress. Secondly, when Christians give in times of crisis, we bear witness to an unbelieving world that our trust is not in money, but in God and His provision. Giving in tough times is a powerful Gospel witness."
HCJB Global also is challenging the households of America and the world to pray for unreached households and to give $1 to reach one household in the Arab world for one year.
What is the 'Voice & Hands' contest all about?
HCJB Global has a passion to see believers engaged as the Voice and Hands of Jesus. That means that they are proactively declaring and demonstrating Jesus to those around them. In order to highlight people who are using their voice and hands for Jesus, they are sponsoring the contest.
Why is HCJB Global sponsoring it?
In these tough economic times, HCJB Global wants to highlight people who are stepping out in faith and reward their outreach efforts. Their passion is to see believers throughout the United States being the Voice and Hands of Jesus in their households, their communities and the world.
How does the contest work?
People who are planning some sort of local, national or global outreach between now and August 1 can go to www.hcjbglobal.org/contest and fill out the entry form to be registered for the prize. Every entry must share about their project and how the person is being the Voice and Hands of Jesus through their outreach.
What are the prizes?
HCJB Global will select the 10 entries that most represent being the Voice and Hands of Jesus, and they will each receive $200 toward their project, along with a Flip video camera to record their experience.
Who is eligible to enter?
Any U.S. residents 18 years or older are eligible to enter.
What kinds of projects does HCJB Global anticipate being entered?
HCJB Global hopes to see a broad mix of local, national and global projects that have an element of showing mercy and an element of declaring truth. Their hope is to shine the light on the many ways that people can be the Voice and Hands of Jesus. God has given great creativity to His people, and they expect to see many examples of that creativity through this contest.
What does HCJB Global hope the contest achieves?
HCJB Global's main objective is to highlight how people are being the Voice and Hands of Jesus. Secondarily, their desire is to encourage and help people in their outreach during this difficult year financially. Many may be worried about how they will raise their funds, and they want to encourage them to step out in faith and engage people even in this recession.
How does the contest tie into the "Me & My Household" initiative?
This contest is simply the next progression in HCJB Global's initiative. They started by challenging people to pray for their households. Now they are asking people to go beyond their households and reach out to those around them.
Will HCJB Global publish or publicize some of the types of project ideas they receive?
HCJB Global will be allowing people to vote on the top 10-20 entries. Those votes will be part of their final deliberations. HCJB Global will be featuring the projects of the 10 winners, and they will be sharing many of the other entries throughout the year in creative ways. Their hope is that the creativity that we see come out of this contest will bless and encourage countless more to reach out.
The media release states that for 77 years HCJB Global ministry’s passion has been to be the Voice and Hands of Jesus to the unreached. Using media and healthcare, while working with partners around the world, HCJB Global has ministries in more than 100 countries.
It expalins that the gospel is aired by HCJB Global in more than 120 languages and dialects. Thousands of listeners and healthcare patients are meeting Jesus. Local believers are being trained as missionaries, pastors, broadcasters and healthcare providers. "
-Faith
Faith heals during recession?
"CNN's T.J. Holmes hears from Atlanta churchgoers on how faith helps them through these troubled economic times."
"Michael Moore's next film explores the root causes of the global economic meltdown and takes a comical look at the corporate and political shenanigans that culminated in what Moore has described as the biggest robbery in the history of this country the massive transfer of U.S. taxpayer money to private financial institutions.Michael Moore, Capitalism, Love Story, New Movie, Corporation, Government Bail Out, AIG, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Documentary, Political, Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11, Roger and Me, George W Bush, Barack Obama, Congress, General Motors, Flint, Politics "
"EYE OF THE STORM - ELECTIONS - ECONOMIC COLLAPSE
And THE LORD SAID - "Tell My people that THEY DO NOT HAVE TO FEAR. Things will get ROUGH - Things will get TURBULENT- BUT I WILL KEEP THEM SAFE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM."
The Lord woke me up in the early hours of the morning the week before the bailout was passed - It was around four am in the morning and I kept hearing one sentence over and over again and that sentence was 'EYE OF THE STORM - EYE OF THE STORM..,' and then I started to hear Psalm 91 as well, and I said to the Lord - "Father - Your people are very familiar with Psalm 91", but I sensed this was DIFFERENT - there was such a specific and powerful rhema anointing on this Psalm concerning the current financial situation.
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty whose power no foe can withstand. You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night nor of the arrow, the evil plot slanders of the wicked." (or the NASDAQ OR THE DOW JONES THAT PLUMMETS by day.)
"A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand but it shall not come near you because you have made the LORD your refuge."
And I sensed that the Lord was so deeply moved by the prayers and cries of His children regarding the current economic turmoil and I believe that He is talking to some of you right now and He's saying:
"BELOVED CHILD - BELOVED SON - BELOVED DAUGHTER BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE ME - THE LORD - THE MOST HIGH - YOUR REFUGE AND YOUR DWELLING PLACE, I SHALL PROTECT YOU. BECAUSE YOU HAVE GIVEN ME YOUR HEART - BECAUSE YOU HAVE GIVEN ME YOUR LIFE - BECAUSE YOU HAVE GIVEN ME YOUR SUBSTANCE - YOUR SUBSTANCE SHALL BE PROTECTED IN THE EYE OF THE STORM. FOR I THE MOST HIGH AND LIVING GOD SHALL BY MY OWN RIGHT ARM PROTECT YOUR SUBSTANCE EVEN IN THE EYE OF THE STORM."
And I remembered a prophecy the Lord had given me so many years ago in 1999 in the Journal of the Unknown Prophet, part of which had said:
"And so great terror shall strike at the heart of those who have ruled the nations by control and manipulation - by trade and by extortion - as they see their idols collapse before them. And so the great shaking and the judgements upon the Earth shall begin... They exchange the worship of Me, the Living God, for that of stocks and shares and gold and bonds - for the worship of oil and armaments. They have exchanged their souls for that which cannot save them. For so it is that as their life expires, all they have amassed in the high places of the Earth, all their idols shall stand silent."
And I knew with a great dread that part of what we were all experiencing in the tumult of the world economic shake up was actually the Lord's JUDGEMENT on the trading systems of the world - But at the very same time, I sensed His great mercies start to flow and His overwhelming compassions and fervency of His love for His own Household - for YOU His child. And it seemed to me that the Lord was saying a very different thing to His children.
And He said, "Wendy - I want you to tell My people that THEY DO NOT HAVE TO FEAR.
Things will get ROUGH
Things will get TURBULENT
BUT I WILL KEEP THEM SAFE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM
Tell My people - It is time to fly by the instruments by the weapons of their warfare
It is time for them to fly by FAITH
BY ENDURANCE
BY PERSERVERANCE
FOR THEM TO WALK IN THE OPPOSITE SPIRIT OF THE AGE BECAUSE they have set their love on Me," the Lord said,
"BECAUSE they have set their heart on Me, BECAUSE they have set their substance on Me, SURELY I will deliver them.
And the Father said to Me, "I am MOVED - I am greatly MOVED FOR My people and BY the prayers of My people at this time."
I SAW BABYLON ABOVE WALL ST. AND I SAW A NOOSE THAT WAS AROUND THE NECKS OF THE BANKERS, MANY BANKERS, INSTITUTIONS IN THE CITY
And then I saw the word 'BABYLON' and I saw Babylon above WALL STREET and THE FEDERAL RESERVE was there above Wall Street. Then I saw a noose that was around the necks of the bankers, many bankers, institutions in the city and in Wall Street and then I saw the spirit of Babylon just pull on that noose and it started to get so tight around that noose and then I saw Jesus.
Jesus Christ was there walking through Wall Street and He noted every Christian, every follower of His and there were many followers who were actually IN banks and institutions.
I SAW A SPIDER'S WEB FROM WALL STREET TO WASHINGTON, DC TO THE CONGRESS UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE
I saw believers there who were PRAYING and then I saw a spider's web, a huge spider's web, and I saw the spider's web go from Wall Street and it went to Washington and it went through Congress and the Senate and then up to the White House.
And then I saw a very strange thing. I saw two huge FUEL LINES I did not understand (a day later I sensed strongly they represented OIL) and these two fuel lines came directly from Wall Street into the White House and into the Treasury, I saw the word 'TREASURY' in large black capitals.
HIDDEN AGREEMENTS - HIDDEN COVENANTS - PRAY FOR TRUTH AND EXPOSURE OF DARKNESS
And I felt that the Lord said there are HIDDEN AGREEMENTS - HIDDEN COVENANTS and I knew that the Lord said that we as believers need to pray at this time for TRUTH and to PRAY FOR EXPOSURE OF DARKNESS. That's what the Lord said. And He said that THERE IS GOING TO BE A SHIFT AND A SWAY - THERE'S GOING TO BE A GOD EXPOSURE OF PEOPLE'S ROLES THAT I BELIEVE WILL CONTINUE EVEN INTO THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION.
THE ELECTION - AN END TO SHOWMANSHIP - THE LORD IS CALLING FOR SOBERMINDEDNESS - HE IS CALLING FOR MEASURED WISDOM
And then the Lord said He is calling now for TEMPERANCE -
He is calling for SOBER MINDEDNESS -
He is calling for MEASURED WISDOM -
And then He started speaking about the ELECTION.
And about the SPIRIT ON THE MEDIA in this Election and I sensed the Lord's grieving - that it was time for us as the Lord's own to rise in prayer and bind the JEZEBELIC SPIRIT on the media and the BEGUILING SPIRITS and SPIRITS OF WITCHCRAFT that have been released - It's a showman spirit on this election.
THE LORD'S DISPLEASURE - DIVISIVE ATTACKS - AN OPPOSING SPIRIT TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD
And I sensed the Lord's displeasure with the divisiveness and attacks and devouring taking place between the parties in the Election - It was hard for Him to RELEASE HIS FULL BLESSING when the spirits operating over the parties in the Election were the opposing spirit to the KINGDOM OF GOD.
And I sensed the enemy's pleasure over the divisiveness. I sensed many other things concerning the Election:
"DO NOT TAKE STOCK IN THE APPEARANCE OF A MAN OR WOMAN - CALL OUT MY JOSEPHS - I AM CALLING FOR MEASURED WISDOM - I AM CALLING FOR TEMPERANCE - I AM CALLING MY JOSEPHS."
It was imperative that as the Body of Christ we were not praying our own agendas but the Agenda of the ONLY ONE WHO TRULY KNOWS AND READS ALL HEARTS - AND TO PRAY FOR THE FATHER'S WILL AND ONLY THE FATHER'S WILL TO BE ACHIEVED IN THE ELECTION.
No matter how much we feel we understand and know, we still see through a glass so darkly.
And I heard the same words again - Temperance - Sobermindedness - Measured Wisdom.
He said many other things, which I will share if the Lord releases me to do so in the weeks ahead but I am not led to share them at this time. However I sense with a great burden that the Lord is calling for His people to cover the Election with Heaven-directed prayer.
TORNADO - EYE OF THE STORM PASSING OVER HOUSES
And finally I saw this huge tornado and it was the financial situation upon the earth.
And I saw it come and there was a whole city and it just went through the whole city and the city was devastated and I saw these houses that stayed and they were beautiful and they were completely intact.
The eye of the storm passed over these houses but they were completely intact.
Nothing was touched. Not their gardens or fences.
And the Father said for those of you who have loved Him
For those of you who have served HIM
For those of you who have set your heart on Him
And He kept saying, for those of you who have kept your substance on Him
He said the destroyer will pass over you because the Blood of the Lamb, the living Blood of the Lamb was over all of those houses which represent the people who have truly loved the Lord and their substance is set on the Lord. And it was like a canopy, the protection of the Lord that even as the eye of the storm passed across your life, your finances, your mortgages, passed across the banks -
The Lord promised THAT HE IS GOING TO KEEP YOU. THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO LET YOU DOWN, THAT HE WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU - THAT HE TRULY IS WITH YOU AND THAT YOU WILL SEE HIS PROVISION, YOU WILL SEE HIS LOVE AND THAT YOU WILL SEE WHAT YOU HAVE INTACT IN HIS DAY.
"And a thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand but it shall not come near you." Only a spectator you will be.
.
EXCERPT FROM WWW.UNKNOWNPROPHET.COM
This is another excerpt from Unknown Prophet written many years ago, but for all who have served the Lord faithfully with their substance, the Lord said:
"But for those who have been found faithful to My Father in the monetary matters of the earth, to those who have not set their heart upon the possessions and the riches that I have blessed them with, but have laid up their treasures in Heaven and have given of My substance to feed the poor and those of lesser fortune than themselves- for those who have poured out My substance through the vehicles that I have raised up to preach the gospel in these end-times and have given of their generously and joyfully with a thankful heart - to these ones comes a multiplication, a multiplication not as in the past. For in the past it was a multiplication of five and of tens, but in this coming time, says the Lord, I shall multiply My substance supernaturally upon these ones that it shall be a hundred and a thousandfold.
"And I shall yet open up unseen riches that until now have been hidden in the secret places of the Earth. And to these ones I shall pour out upon the gold of Ophir and the treasures of Solomon. I shall pour upon them the gold hidden deep under the earth and the oil, even the oil shall come into their hands. These will not have to tremble when My Judgement falls for I shall keep their substance safe in the eye of the storm. For their substance is indeed My substance and their inheritance is My inheritance. For they are the proven ones, the ones whose treasure is fixed in Me.
"And so in these latter days you shall see them come forth as guiding lights rising from within the world system but rising from out of the world's system. Yes they shall rise. Watch now and see if they will not come forth. And through them My ministers shall be blessed, and shall do their exploits, and through their faithfulness in the hidden places so My Gospel shall yet be financed and shall be preached through all the nations of the Earth. So be it. Amen."
"
"During financially challenging times, it's so easy for us to forget who we're putting our trust in. Are we trusting in Wall Street, or in the God who created it all? Download This For Free! If you use it in your church, we'd love to hear about how and where you used it. Please post a comment and let us know!.."
-Investments Impace
"GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN (ANS) -- As the worsening economy continues to make life difficult for families across the country, churches are putting their faith into action by closing their doors to help serve their neighbors in need.
According to a news release, this year the event will take place on Sun. Oct. 12. About 300 churches nationwide comprising some 36,000 Americans will participate. Congregations do service projects in conjunction with their local community. The program also helps Christians invite members of their community to join in serving together.
The news release said that since Sept. 2007, Faith in Action has advocated that churches should cancel Sunday services, close their doors and �Be the Church� by leading local community service projects. The Faith in Action program bridges the gap between families who could use a helping hand this year - and churches who have the extra hands to offer help.
World Vision Vice President Steve Haas speaking in a news release said, �For far too long, the American church has remained stuck inside the walls of the sanctuary each week. We talk about serving others like Christ served the church, but too many on the outside say that not enough churches embody that message. We can no longer look away in indifference. Faith in Action helps churches take this message to their communities.�
Three leading Christian organizations, World Vision, Outreach, and Zondervan, are behind Faith in Action.
For additional information on this program, log on to www.putyourfaithinaction.org. "
"LONDON, UK (ANS) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for banks and financial markets to adopt “family values” as world leaders gather in London for Thursday's G20 summit.
Gordon Brown speaking at St Paul's Cathedral today (Photograph: WPA Pool/Getty Images)
"Addressing religious leaders at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, Mr. Brown said markets must abide by common values such as fairness," said the BBC in a story.
"Mr. Brown, who met with the leaders of Indonesia and South Korea on Tuesday, has stressed the main aim of the summit - taking place in London's Docklands - must be to ‘clean up’ the global banking system.
In an address to religious leaders gathered at St Paul's Cathedral about the aims of the G20, Mr. Brown said that “markets need morals”.
During his passage about families’ values he said people did not encourage their children “to seek short-term gratification at the expense of long-term success."
"And our task today is to bring financial markets into proper alignment with the values held by families and business people across the country.”
Katherine Baldwin, writing in The Guardian newspaper in the UK said that his spokesman said today that Brown “is not a regular churchgoer but he does believe in God."
Baldwin went on to say, “The revelation came as the prime minister was quizzed on his religious beliefs following a speech on the G20 at St Paul's Cathedral."
The spokesman, she said, told Westminster reporters, “I would not describe him as a regular churchgoer. His approach to politics and public life are driven by the values which he holds and, as he was saying in his speech today, the values that he holds are values that are shared across many religions."
The spokesman added that Brown told a newspaper shortly before his election that he believes in God.
Baldwin said, “The comments came after the prime minister and his Australian counterpart, Kevin Rudd, were asked at St Paul's, before an audience of religious leaders and charities, whether ‘doing God’ was important to developing shared global values.
"The questioner echoed the phrase ‘We don't do God’ famously coined by Tony Blair's former press chief Alastair Campbell in a bid to stop his boss straying into controversial territory.
Blair, since he resigned as British Prime Minister, has since been quite open about his Christian faith.
Rudd, however, did not need Brown to explain the reference, saying: “I had a chat with Alastair Campbell the other night ... It is far better to name the spirits who are among us."
In reference to his own faith, Rudd described himself as “a garden-variety Christian of no fixed denominational abode.”
He added: “I think the key thing is that whatever your faith tradition, that to the greatest extent that you can, that you not only own it but you reflect it in that which you seek to do.
"Always recognizing, I think, the injunction of St Paul [that] we all fall short of the glory of God and that those of us in the political process certainly do so."
Rudd handed the floor to Brown, with the words: “Off you go, mate, give us a more saintly version.”
Baldwin said, “Brown was less direct in his handling of the question, describing his upbringing in the Church of Scotland and his father, who was a minister. He then joked about a minister who would not reveal which way he voted to his congregation but chose his hymns carefully after elections.”
"I think politicians have got to be very careful that they don't turn out to try to be bishops,” he said. "
"WASHINGTON (AFP) – Amnesty International and a pro-Tibet group voiced shock Friday after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed not to let human rights concerns hinder cooperation with China.
Paying her first visit to Asia as the top US diplomat, Clinton said the United States would continue to press China on long-standing US concerns over human rights such as its rule over Tibet.
"But our pressing on those issues can't interfere on the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis," Clinton told reporters in Seoul just before leaving for Beijing.
T. Kumar of Amnesty International USA said the global rights lobby was "shocked and extremely disappointed" by Clinton's remarks.
"The United States is one of the only countries that can meaningfully stand up to China on human rights issues," he said.
"But by commenting that human rights will not interfere with other priorities, Secretary Clinton damages future US initiatives to protect those rights in China," he said.
Students for a Free Tibet said Clinton's remarks sent the wrong signal to China at a sensitive time.
"The US government cannot afford to let Beijing set the agenda," said Tenzin Dorjee, deputy director of the New York-based advocacy group.
China has been pouring troops into the Himalayan territory ahead of next month's 50th anniversary of the uprising that sent Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama into exile in India.
"Leaders really need to step up and pressure China. It's often easy to wonder whether pressure makes a difference. It may not make a difference in one day or one month, but it would be visible after some years," Dorjee said.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch had sent a letter to Clinton before her maiden Asia visit urging her to raise human rights concerns with Chinese leaders.
Before she left, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said human rights would be "an important issue" for Clinton and that she would "raise the issue when appropriate."
China has greeted President Barack Obama's administration nervously, believing he would press Beijing harder on human rights and trade issues than former president George W. Bush."
"This Bloomberg report probes the causes, costs, and economic implications of the global food crisis. One of the special interviews is with Dr. Robert Zeigler, director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) http://www.irri.org" Breakdown on Global Food Crisis Pt. 1, from youtube.com "Longest continually operating food storage company owner, Steve Shank is interviewed by Alex Jones in a sobering account of how the worldwide food shortage is slowly starting to affect the U.S.
Truly saddening. There is proof that this is all manmade and is in actuality a manufactured scarcity of supply. .." Jack Van Impe - Finical Crisis Fuels Global Instability - Part 1 of 3, from youtube.com "Discussion are Famine , Nuclear Dragon, Economic bring Global instability and also church are being lukewarm and not sharing the true Gospel of Jesus"
"..Global food Catastrophe
The world is heading for a drop in agricultural production of 20 to 40 percent, depending on the severity and length of the current global droughts. Food producing nations are imposing food export restrictions. Food prices will soar, and, in poor countries with food deficits, millions will starve.
The deflation debate should end now
The droughts plaguing the world's biggest agricultural regions should end the debate about deflation in 2009. The demand for agricultural commodities is relatively immune to developments in the business cycles (at least compared to that of energy or base metals), and, with a 20 to 40 percent decline in world production, already rising food prices are headed significantly higher.
In fact, agricultural commodities NEED to head higher and soon, to prevent even greater food shortages and famine. The price of wheat, corn, soybeans, etc must rise to a level which encourages the planting of every available acre with the best possible fertilizers. Otherwise, if food prices stay at their current levels, production will continue to fall, sentencing millions more to starvation. .. Unleavened Bread Ministries - Drought and Famine Upon the World
"The global food crisis was called a “ticking time bomb” at a Feb. 24 forum during the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington.
Although prices for cereal grains have dropped since their spike last spring, the crisis has not gone away, according to Rajul Pandya-Lorch, chief of staff at the International Food Policy Research Institute and the head of the institute’s initiative, Vision 2020 for Food.
Instead, she said, the food crisis has been overshadowed by the global financial crisis...."
"13 There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine. 14 Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying, and he brought it to Pharaoh's palace. 15 When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all Egypt came to Joseph and said, "Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? Our money is used up."
16 "Then bring your livestock," said Joseph. "I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone." 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock.
18 When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, "We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate."
20 So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe for them. The land became Pharaoh's, 21 and Joseph reduced the people to servitude, [c] from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 However, he did not buy the land of the priests, because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land.
23 Joseph said to the people, "Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. 24 But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children."
25 "You have saved our lives," they said. "May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh."
26 So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt—still in force today—that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh's.
27 Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number.
28 Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven. 29 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried."
"I will do as you say," he said.
31 "Swear to me," he said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff."
Related Sites: Egypt - Biblical Definition of Egypt in Fausset's Bible Dictionary ..., bible-history.com "
JOSEPH'S PHARAOH. - There is nothing of Joseph's history which does not agree ... his dealings with the Hyksos' ancestors when visiting Egypt in the famine. ... Genesis 37-50: story of Joseph, from essortment.com "..When the famine came "the whole world came to Egypt to buy corn from Joseph…" (Gen.41: 57) Eventually Joseph’s brothers come to buy corn too. They do not recognize Joseph and he makes them go back to Israel to get their brother Benjamin, Joseph’s closest brother, also born of Rachel. After an emotional meeting Joseph reveals his identity and there is a tearful reunion. ..
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Ministry: End Times, Prophecy, Prophetic, Rapture, Tribulation, etc... How To Survive The Terrible Things That Are About To Happen In The Next 31 Years., from bibleprophecytimeline.com ".. It is also in reference to the famine in Genesis when Joseph by God’s hand interprets the dream of 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine. God made away for Jacob and his family to survive the famine in Canaan by placing Joseph in Egypt. Who through divine intervention rose to be the second ruler of Egypt in order to save his family from starvation. It was also God’s plan of showing his power in the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt that God is in control. When the Hebrew Children because of their unbelief, wondered through the wilderness for 40 years being tested by God. God fed the Hebrew children with manna from above (Exodus 16:35). Manna was placed in the Ark of the Covenant with the Torah, the first 5 books of the Bible called the Pentateuch containing the 10 commandments along with Moses staff. .. Joseph Bible Image Library, from theglorystory.com The Writings of Joseph in Egypt
by Ernest L. Martin, Ph.D., 1983
Edited and expanded by David Sielaff, May 2004 askelm.com
-Newspapers
The Day I lost my job and found a new challenge
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries Friday, March 13, 2009 "LAKE FOREST, CA (ANS) -- As the Seattle Post-Intelligencer moves toward printing its last edition and more US newspapers like Denver’s Rocky Mountain News, closed last month, things look bad for America’s newspaper business.
Staff at The Christian. Dan Wooding is picture back center and David Coomes is back far right.
For instance, the Tribune Company, publisher of the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times and the Baltimore Sun, is in bankruptcy, along with the Minneapolis StarTribune and the Philadelphia Inquirer. The McClatchy chain, whose titles include the Miami Herald and the Kansas City Star, is cutting back on payrolls.
With all the bad news on the newspaper front, my thoughts today went back to the terrible day back in 1969, when I lost my first job in journalism. I was working as the chief reporter on Billy Graham’s British newspaper, The Christian, based in London, England....
“Yes, Dan, there is! I’ve just heard that The Christian is going to be closed. We’re all going to be laid off.” ...
I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of bewildered desolation at a situation I could not understand. ...
The news became a nightmare for me. I had been convinced that the Lord wanted me to be a journalist and now, less than a year after fulfilling my dream, I was about to be put out on the streets with a wife, Norma, and two sons, Andrew and Peter, to support. ...
As I was sitting at my desk contemplating my bleak future, the phone blasted into my thoughts. On the line was Kevin Murphy, a long-distance swimmer whom I had asked to get in touch with me so that I could interview him about his exploits and how his Christian faith had helped him in his swimming.
“Hi, Kevin,” I said, trying to sound bright, but deep down feeling thoroughly depressed. “I’d love to interview you, but we’ve been told that we’re all fired. So I have no paper to interview you for.”
There was a long silence at the other end of the line as Kevin brooded over the problem. Then he told me something quite unexpected. “Did you know, Dan, that I am a journalist? I work for a newspaper group in west London that is looking for news staff. “I know that the Middlesex County Times, one of their papers, has a vacancy for a senior reporter right now. Why don’t you give the editor, Bert Munday, a call? I’m sure he’d see you.”
I called Norma at our Lewisham home and told her of the news. We had a down-the-line prayer session about it. I knew if I didn’t get a job soon, I would have to return to Birmingham and face the crowing of my former colleagues who would rejoice that my dreams had, once again, come crashing down....
I will never forget the day I lost my job and I can only see it now as a good thing, because it launched me into a new world of journalism that has eventually resulted in the launch of the ASSIST News Service.
God certainly does move in mysterious ways!
"..In scenes eerily reminiscent of the days of Nazi Germany and the Third Reich, Venezuelan Jews are subject to the random harassment and vandalism that were the precursor to death camps and the holocaust.
Temples are broken into and desecrated while swastika's and anti-Jewish graffiti are painted on walls, all under the apparent guidance of Venezuela President Hugo Chavez. Having a close relationship with Iranian President Ahmadinejad, who has stated numerous times his desire for the end of Israel, the message from the top of the Venezuelan government seems to be one in the same.
Anti-Semitic Incidents Around The World Double
A report in JTA shows that anti-semitic incidents around the world are on the rise, with 1.129 in 2009 compared with only 559 in 2008. What can this jump be attributed to? A poor economy such as existed prior to the rise of the Third Reich, a rise in Islamic extremism or maybe some other unknown cause? Whatever it is, the root cause needs to be located and dealt with, before another holocaust occurs, with the phrase Never Again lost in translation...
Wars
-WWII GoodnewsEverybody: Filipino-Military.....
Read stories of how military soldiers and civilians suffered during this war, which helps remind how blessed I'm and that I should not take for granted what God has blessed me with (e.g. food, shelter, clothing, etc...)
"Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it."-Genesis 41
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