#plus the Minister of Finance is A Gay

[ofmdtereomaori]

shout out to Kiri Allen's suits

[travelsthrumtkingdoms-blog]

Family & Friends,

Ku~zoo zang~po La (greetings in Dzongha, Bhutan’s official language)  & Namaste (greetings in Nepali)

Six of us, three Andres accompanied by a couple of bolt-on and a friend, are going on an excursion with a tour group to the mountain Kingdom of Bhutan (Land of the Thunder Dragon) and the former mountain Kingdom of Nepal (Roof of the World).  These two landlocked countries, sandwiched between India on the south and Tibet on the north, abut the snow-covered Himalayan (abode of the snow) mountain range along their northern border.  

Our excursion will combine trekking in the foothills of the Himalayas, and visits to historic, cultural, and religious sites in Buddhist-centric Bhutan and Hindu-centric Nepal.

Our travels and trekking in Bhutan, expected to be at elevations ranging from about 7,000 to 11,000-plus feet above sea level, should test the high-altitude endurance of those in our tour group who have already attained or are at near attainment of senior-citizen standing.  

Compared with Bhutan, Nepal should be a piece of cake, as our travels and trekking in and around the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley, even though in the shadow of Mt. Everest, will be at much lower elevations ranging from 4,600 to 7,300 feet.

From the comforts of your home, without undue physical exertion, you too can partake in our excursion, albeit virtually, by following our blog which we will update from time-to-time depending upon availability of suitable internet connection.  

Suzanne & Mehdi

September 2018                                  

                                **********************************************

Some interesting facts about Bhutan (the only surviving Tibetan-Buddhist Himalayan Mountain Kingdom), other former Tibetan-Buddhist Kingdoms of the Region and Nepal 

All the historic Tibetan-Buddhist Himalayan mountain kingdoms, with the exception of Bhutan, no longer survive as independent nations.

In recent history, three Tibetan-Buddhist kingdoms, all landlocked, ceased to exist: Sikkim,  sandwiched between Nepal & Bhutan and formerly administered by colonial Britain, in 1975, with a population of 200,000, voted to join India in a referendum -- rigged by India, which then had it under military occupation, and swayed by the votes from the massive influx of Nepali-speaking Hindu immigrants -- with a banana republic-type of landslide election outcome of 97.6 percent approval;  Ladakh become part of post-independence India in 1949 and was incorporated in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir whose border disputes have occasionally led to militarily skirmishes with Pakistan; and Tibet, forcefully gobbled up in 1950 by China after centuries as an independent nation, suffers from the Chinese government’s pogrom to systematically cleanse Tibet of its cultural, religion and heritage, coupled with a calculated endeavor by the Chinese government to change the demographics of Tibet by promoting the massive influx of Han Chinese.

Bhutan, after years of warring fiefdoms was unified in the seventeenth-century as a nation-state by a Buddhist lama, and became a hereditary monarchy in 1907 followed by a constitutional monarchy in 2008.  In 2013, Bhutan held its second general election, in which the opposition People’s Democratic Party gained a majority of the seats in the National Assembly, paving the way for the country’s first democratic transfer of power.

Nepal, which had alternated between absolute and constitutional monarchy, became a federal republic in 2008, ending 240 years of royal rule.  In 2006, Nepal’s 10-year insurgency led by Maoist rebels ended, and though generally peaceful now, the last 30 years of political instability, epitomized by a revolving door of governments under 25 prime ministers, continues.

The emergence of two major political parties in Nepal, a left- and a right-leaning party, in the December 2017 relatively-free-from-violence election in which 88 parties contested, could  be the harbinger to the formation of a stable two-party system.  In a resounding win, in what is believed to be a free-and-fair election, an alliance of two, now-reformed communist parties won control of the national government and six of the seven provincial governments.

Bhutan has enshrined in its constitution Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma, both disciplines of Tibetan Buddhism which is a branch of the Vajrayana (or Tantric) School of Buddhism, as the state religions.  However, Bhutan’s constitution allows for the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Nepal, at one time the only constitutionally-declared Hindu state (Hindu Kingdom of Nepal) in the world, became a secular state with the adoption of its 2008 interim constitution (subsequently secularism was enshrined in its 2015 new constitution), though there are on-going efforts and occasional violent incidences instigated by the fanatic Hindu Nationalist Party with a royalist bent wanting to restore Nepal as a Hindu State.

Bhutan is the only country that uses Gross National Happiness (GNH) instead of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as its development indicator.  GNH is a development philosophy and a measure of the collective happiness of the nation.  Bhutan’s constitution enshrines the state’s obligation to promote those conditions that it believes enable its citizens the utopian pursuit of happiness.  

Bhutan has also enshrined in its constitution the state’s obligation to prevent certain environmental degradations, has committed to retain at least 60% of its landmass forested in perpetuity, and has pledged to become carbon negative (as opposed to carbon neutral) long before 196 countries signed the Paris Climate Accord on limiting carbon emissions.  

(Subsequent to President Obama signing this Accord, President Trump, based on his customary penchant to disregard truths, withdrew the U.S. from the Accord after having branded climate change a hoax propagated by the Chinese. Alas, many of Trump’s so-called deplorable supporters fervently believe in this Trump-centric nonsensical alternative truth, and their messianic thirst for alternative truths is satiated by the over 4,000 three, four and five Pinocchio-laden lies (according to the Washington Post scorekeeping) Trump has publicly communicated in less than 2 years after what he seems to believe was his coronation.

Bhutan & Nepal frequently have no choice but to be subservient to India, their giant neighbor to the south, as these two landlocked countries’ economies are inevitably dependent on and tied very closely with that of India.

India, which sees Bhutan as a geopolitical buffer against China, allocates about three-fourths of its foreign aid to Bhutan (amounting to about 30% of Bhutan’s GDP and about 50% of Bhutanese government’s revenues), and wields considerable influence over Bhutan's commerce, and foreign and defense policies.

Apparently Bhutan has outsourced a meaningful portion of its source of wealth (GDP) by trading off some of its sovereignty, but in the process has dumped onto India some of the incidental injurious byproducts of wealth generation that have an inevitable adverse impact on happiness (a drag on GNH).  Further, this landlocked country of about 800,000 people has not much choice but to cast its lot with India, knowing that China has designs over some of Bhutan’s territory and also knowing of China’s continued persecution of their brethren in Tibet since its occupation in 1950 by China.

The biggest export of Nepal (30 million population) is its people.  Thirty percent of Nepal’s GDP is derived from remittances by the approximately 12 million Nepalis working mostly in India, and to a lesser degree in the Middle East and elsewhere.

In 2015 India had blocked fuel shipments to Nepal because of its displeasure with certain provisions of Nepal’s 2015 constitution, though India had denied such attempt to blackmail Nepal.  India and Nepal seem to have worked out their differences after Nepal passed an amendment to its constitution.

A railroad through the Himalayan mountain range connecting Tibet (China) and Nepal, being built and financed by China under its “belt and road” initiative, is expected to reduce Nepal’s dependence on India.  This is also an attempt by Nepal to play one regional power against the other, while China views it as an opportunity to expand its dominance in the region.

The 2017 average life expediency of the Bhutanese was 69.8 years, virtually the same (69.2 years) as that of the Nepalis, their neighbors, though with the government-championed National Happiness in their corner, I suspect the Bhutanese die much happier than the Nepalis.

In 2004, Bhutan became the first country to become tobacco-free.  It is illegal to sell tobacco, or smoke in public places or even in private offices.  

In 2007, with the Nepali Supreme Court ruling in favor of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) rights, Nepal became the first country to recognize a third gender, intersex – those having neither male nor female traits. (Germany is the second country to recognize intersex rights with its top court’s ruling in 2017.)  Subsequently, Nepal enshrined those rights in its constitution and became the most progressive country in South Asia for the protection of LGBTI rights.

People with intersex traits (also referred to as eunuchs) do not have typical male-female sex characteristics.  Some intersex traits are visibly evident such as ambiguous genitalia, while other may involve chromosome variations.  According to the United Nations, up to about 1.7% of the global population is born with intersex traits.

According to Transparency International’s 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index ranking of 176 countries, 27th-ranked Bhutan (a remarkably high standing for a third-world country), is relatively corruption-free compared with 131st-ranked Nepal which has slipped many notches in recent years.  Bhutan is ranked one notch ahead of Israel and behind 18th-ranked U.S. (Denmark & New Zealand are tied for first place, Canada is ranked 9th, and in the last place is that almost-perpetually ungovernable, war-torn Somalia.)

[newstechreviews]

(WARSAW, Poland) — Poland’s conservative governing Law and Justice party won the most votes in Sunday’s election in the deeply divided nation and appeared, according to an exit poll, to have secured a comfortable majority in parliament to govern for four more years.

The exit poll, conducted by the research firm Ipsos, projected that Law and Justice won 43.6% of the votes. That would translate into 239 seats, a majority in the 460-seat lower house of parliament.

The poll said a centrist pro-European Union umbrella group, Civic Coalition, would come in second with 27.4%. The biggest party in the coalition is Civic Platform, which governed Poland in 2007-2015.

Coalition leaders cheered and welcomed the result as a spur toward uniting society around common goals.

Other parties projected to surpass the 5% threshold to get into parliament were a left-wing alliance with 11.9%, the conservative agrarian Polish People’s Party with 9.6% and a new far-right alliance called Confederation with 6.4%.

The exit poll had a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. Final vote results, which are expected by Tuesday, could shift, as they have in past elections.

A prominent journalist, Konrad Piasecki, said that “at the moment it looks like the largest triumph in the history of parliamentary elections” in Poland. But he also cautioned that results varying even slightly from the exit poll could mean big changes to the distribution of seats in parliament.

Law and Justice has governed Poland since 2015 and is popular for its social conservatism and generous social spending. It ran a campaign that highlighted its social programs and vowed to defend traditional Roman Catholic values.

It has been accused of weakening the rule of law in the young democracy with an overhaul of the judicial system that has given the party more power over the courts and has drawn criticism as well for using state media as a propaganda outlet and for anti-gay rhetoric.

Pawel Zerka, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, said the high level of support for Law and Justice, known in Poland by its acronym PIS, “should not be interpreted as a sign that Poles have become nationalist or xenophobic. Rather, it reveals an effective party machine – and an ability of PIS to mobilize voters with policies based on direct social transfers.”

Party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is considered the real power behind Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s government, cautioned that the exit polls weren’t the final results but nonetheless declared victory.

“We received a lot but we deserve more,” Kaczynski told party supporters as he held high a bouquet of roses.

Civic Platform leader Grzegorz Schetyna said the fight wasn’t fair, an apparent reference to the way Law and Justice harnessed state media to pump out positive coverage of itself while casting a poor light on political rivals.

“This was not an even struggle; there were no rules in this struggle,” Schetyna said.

The left-wing party leaders celebrated their expected return to parliament after failing to get any seats in 2015.

Critics fear that four more years for Law and Justice will reverse the democratic achievements of this Central European nation, citing the changes to the judiciary and the way the party has marginalized minorities, for instance with its recent campaign depicting the LGBT rights movement as a threat.

Law and Justice’s apparent success stems from tapping into the values of the largely conservative society while also evening out extreme economic inequalities.

It is the first party since the fall of communism to break with the austerity of previous governments, whose free-market policies transformed Poland into one of Europe’s most dynamic economies.

However, many Poles were left out in that transformation and inequalities grew, creating grievances. Law and Justice skillfully addressed those concerns with popular programs, including one that gives families a monthly stipend of 500 zlotys ($125) for each child, taking the edge off poverty for some and giving others more disposable income. It says it has been able to pay for its programs thanks to a tighter tax collection system.

It has also clearly benefited from the sacrifices forced by earlier governments and the growth of Europe’s economy.

In his victory speech, Kaczynski referred to his party’s improvement of public finances and said it would continue on that path.

“We are finishing a certain stage; we are starting a new one,” he said. “It is not easier, maybe more difficult. But I hope that it will be finished with even greater success.”

[itsfinancethings]

(WARSAW, Poland) — Poland’s conservative governing Law and Justice party won the most votes in Sunday’s election in the deeply divided nation and appeared, according to an exit poll, to have secured a comfortable majority in parliament to govern for four more years.

The exit poll, conducted by the research firm Ipsos, projected that Law and Justice won 43.6% of the votes. That would translate into 239 seats, a majority in the 460-seat lower house of parliament.

The poll said a centrist pro-European Union umbrella group, Civic Coalition, would come in second with 27.4%. The biggest party in the coalition is Civic Platform, which governed Poland in 2007-2015.

Coalition leaders cheered and welcomed the result as a spur toward uniting society around common goals.

Other parties projected to surpass the 5% threshold to get into parliament were a left-wing alliance with 11.9%, the conservative agrarian Polish People’s Party with 9.6% and a new far-right alliance called Confederation with 6.4%.

The exit poll had a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. Final vote results, which are expected by Tuesday, could shift, as they have in past elections.

A prominent journalist, Konrad Piasecki, said that “at the moment it looks like the largest triumph in the history of parliamentary elections” in Poland. But he also cautioned that results varying even slightly from the exit poll could mean big changes to the distribution of seats in parliament.

Law and Justice has governed Poland since 2015 and is popular for its social conservatism and generous social spending. It ran a campaign that highlighted its social programs and vowed to defend traditional Roman Catholic values.

It has been accused of weakening the rule of law in the young democracy with an overhaul of the judicial system that has given the party more power over the courts and has drawn criticism as well for using state media as a propaganda outlet and for anti-gay rhetoric.

Pawel Zerka, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, said the high level of support for Law and Justice, known in Poland by its acronym PIS, “should not be interpreted as a sign that Poles have become nationalist or xenophobic. Rather, it reveals an effective party machine – and an ability of PIS to mobilize voters with policies based on direct social transfers.”

Party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is considered the real power behind Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s government, cautioned that the exit polls weren’t the final results but nonetheless declared victory.

“We received a lot but we deserve more,” Kaczynski told party supporters as he held high a bouquet of roses.

Civic Platform leader Grzegorz Schetyna said the fight wasn’t fair, an apparent reference to the way Law and Justice harnessed state media to pump out positive coverage of itself while casting a poor light on political rivals.

“This was not an even struggle; there were no rules in this struggle,” Schetyna said.

The left-wing party leaders celebrated their expected return to parliament after failing to get any seats in 2015.

Critics fear that four more years for Law and Justice will reverse the democratic achievements of this Central European nation, citing the changes to the judiciary and the way the party has marginalized minorities, for instance with its recent campaign depicting the LGBT rights movement as a threat.

Law and Justice’s apparent success stems from tapping into the values of the largely conservative society while also evening out extreme economic inequalities.

It is the first party since the fall of communism to break with the austerity of previous governments, whose free-market policies transformed Poland into one of Europe’s most dynamic economies.

However, many Poles were left out in that transformation and inequalities grew, creating grievances. Law and Justice skillfully addressed those concerns with popular programs, including one that gives families a monthly stipend of 500 zlotys ($125) for each child, taking the edge off poverty for some and giving others more disposable income. It says it has been able to pay for its programs thanks to a tighter tax collection system.

It has also clearly benefited from the sacrifices forced by earlier governments and the growth of Europe’s economy.

In his victory speech, Kaczynski referred to his party’s improvement of public finances and said it would continue on that path.

“We are finishing a certain stage; we are starting a new one,” he said. “It is not easier, maybe more difficult. But I hope that it will be finished with even greater success.”

[riverdamien]

Peniel September Newsletter of Temenos Catholic Worker

JOURNAL OF AN ALIEN STREET PRIEST: The Invisibility of Aging As we move into September we will soon see the leaves of trees begin to turn to beautiful colors (at least in some parts of the country), and the weather will be getting chillier (at least in some parts of the country), Autumn will arrive. We are moving towards winter, and in that movement we celebrate, and we have joy with our friends and loved ones. And than Winter arrives, all is dead around us. That is the way our lives are as we move through the seasons of change, from infancy, to old age. This is the way people who are homeless and have very little to live, they move through their lives invisible, and become even more so as they get older. And this time of year is a good time to think about the Autumn of our lives, our hopes, and our fears. This time of year is a good time to reflect upon our actions that we give people as they age, and to those who are invisible as we pass them on the street, the homeless. Polk Street is filled late at night by young people. They are partying, having fun, the only older people around individuals who are homeless, whose lives are broken, and have been beaten down with years on the street. Some of them are young, but already old. They are gaunt, many with out teeth, dirty, and keep their eyes down to the street, and are ignored. They are invisible as are people who are over thirty five. People who live on the street, who have nothing, are symbolic of all of us, as we get older, and become invisible. We become unseen. We have heard it said many a time by young college men, "You are too old to be out here once you hit thirty," and in many ways that is true. We witness young men who live a life of partying, having fun, and than as they move into their thirties their lives seem to be over with. This is especially true of young gay men. The same is true of all of us as we move into our older years, we become invisible. Our street youth in the Haight experience that invisibility in their teens, because they are homeless. People become invisible when they do not fit into the expectations and the usefulness of society. People rarely look back at homeless individuals, as they rarely look back at older people. In South Africa, the people greet one another on the road by saying, "Sawubona." It means "I see you." The answer in reply is "Here I am." In other words, you are not invisible. You are someone. You are God's beloved child, whatever race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation you may be. We need to look at others and also ourselves in this way. We must not be passively invisible. We need to help each other know what this invisibility means as we age, and as we move among people who are homeless, and are different from us by race, creed, and sexual orientation. We need to have faith that each of us has a purpose, everyday, until God calls us into his Kingdom at last. Teilhard de Chardin calls this Kingdom "communion," and he prays that it is truly a great holy communion: "You are the irresistible and vivifying force, O Lord, and because yours is the energy, because, of the two of us, you are infinitely the stronger, it is on you that falls the part of consuming me in the union that weld us together. Vouchsafe, therefore, something more precious still than the grace for which all the faithful pray. It is not enough that I should die while communicating. Teach me to treat death as an act of communion." Last month I was called to the hospital when nineteen year old Jason overdosed, and he had died by the time I arrived. Standing over his body, the thought that went through my mind, was that "Jason you are finally at rest." I reached out for his hand, barely cool. Poured some water from a drinking glass on my hand and blessed him on his forehead, with the sign of the cross. I rested in the silence of him entering into the invisible world, the great communion. As we enter into our Fall routines let us remember the "invisible" people around us, let us remember the aged, the homeless, the disable, the people of color and other religions, and let us recognize them by saying in our own way, "Sawubona", ("I see you.") and in so doing recognize them as God's beloved children, and remember that homelessness, will not end until each of us does our part. Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weekly Meals: We continue to have at least one meal a week through the help of our interns, Cale and Aaron. The days very because of their schedule. The meal involves packing it in "Chinese Take Home Boxes", and than serving them to the Haight. It is heavy work, and takes at least four hours, because of the preparation and spending time with people. If interested please give us a call. People asked if they can fix a meal, pack it, and meet us in the Haight. We are certified by the City to cook meals, and it has to be done in a kitchen that is certified as well. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We Are Beggars: Our finances are very low. We are in need of socks, we are in need of money for food, and so we beg, for your support. We continue to minister to 500 plus young people a month through our pastoral care, socks, food, and needle exchange. And so as you reflect during these days we pray you will remember us. Please give: Temenos Catholic Worker P.O. Box 642656 San Francisco, CA 94164 Or Pay Pal at www.temenos.org Our web site has been changed to a new server it is much easier to go directly to Pay Pal and give directly through your Pay Pal account. We have discovered that you can also give through Pay Pal by using your phone. You have to go into the website of Pay Pal and set it up. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Death Penalty Protest: Each Wednesday at Noon we gather at McAllister and Polk in from of the Earl Warren Office Building to protest the death penalty. We remember those who are victims, and those who committed the crimes, and pray that our State will no longer live in a culture of death. We have not heard one word mentioned during the political campaigns about the death penalty and so let us write our candidates, and our elected officials and urge them to over turn the death penalty. There is a story told of two warriors who would have a battle, and when the battle was over would put down their weapons, greet each other with a kiss, and say, "Till tomorrow," so let us remember to do the same with our differences, give a good fight, but end in peace and reconciliation.

[otis178361583051-blog]

Are Modular Phones Dead?

Through analyzing data coming from 50,000 of its own plans associateded with little loved ones, family as well as MPV-style cars and trucks, Warranty Direct claims to have actually found the 10 very most trusted utilized vehicles for family members. There's no equivalent of Venture CARS AND TRUCKS on Wii U, yet our company listen to the shouts coming from Nintendo supporters crystal clear as well as loud that they cannot stand by to obtain their practical this sort of expertise so our team wish to make all of them glad along with the quality of the visuals. Halberstam has a reasonably total look at the automobile industry, from its earliest days in Detroit with Henry Ford and others all the way to the early/mid 1980's. When the experience is actually performed, the tv presents a notification to tell you to take your personal valuables - improving that this is actually not targeting to become a substitute for your individual vehicle right now, yet extra as a substitute for the taxi without the individual driver. You need to make up wind resistant drag, cooling, reliability as well as car manufacturers also need to deal with tire providers to generate unique tires that can easily resist the blistering velocities. Regrettably, useability isn't just as good as it could be. The food selections on the display screen could be baffling to navigate. Apart from Apple's iUber will definitely have sleek electricity automobiles and higher degrees of congruity in the vehicle driver (software application). Rao mentioned that automobile sales this year could possibly develop through one more 20% such a long time as China's financial healing proceeded and oil prices continued to be stable. In his chat, he confesses we are currently viewing a shift from ownership to accessing range of motion", and that youths are much less probably to personal autos compared to formerly. He's an excellent attorney, a confident male plus all his lifestyle was actually identified to confirm his daddy that he mistakes to think just what he thinks about him, to somehow close him up regarding just what a 'breakdown' he is. Parker is actually gay, he's out but his dad certainly never actually accepted that, detesting this truth. Steering the Tucson around town exposes that the car is fairly fine-tuned, along with smooth electrical power distribution as well as quick switches coming from the DCT. Allowing personalization is actually critical to possessing the adventure interest each consumers and auto makers, Thomas describes. They possess a great red wine checklist, but in my expertise the house red and also white is actually very drinkable. Android Automobile and also Apple CarPlay help making use of a cars and truck's FAMILY DOCTOR aerial to deliver turn-by-turn navigation, which supplies much better reception. You do not want to think thus indebted to the dealer for giving" you a finance that you cannot bargain on the price from the vehicle, he mentioned. Even though your creditor may not right away retrieve your cars and truck after one skipped or even late payment, this is very important to realize that they perform can do this. They're the intense illuminations at the front end from the vehicle that you must be making use of at night or even in bad presence to see where you are actually going. The multi-phase mode offered in Fatality Star was actually an excellent enhancement, thus DICE have done the exact same point listed below. As time passes, the cooling agent used by auto air conditioning bodies lessens through about 15% annually. Forty percent of the components that make up the average car imported to the United States from Mexico were actually made in the United States. Our company are actually delivering them components, motors, sendings that after that go back to our company as cars that have actually been set up," claimed Dziczek. Claim you go over each your auto insurance coverage as well as your visa or mastercard documentations, thousands of opportunity. Qualified automobiles may cost you as well as added $1,000 or additional versus a normal pre-owned auto. But that isn't placing all its own eco eggs in the hydrogen basket; at Geneva that has the brand new Ioniq, which will definitely be actually supplied as a hybrid, a plug-in combination and a pure electrical car. If their learn is delayed, as an example, they could access a city bike, have a shuttle or even rent an auto by means of an auto allotment program using the same elapsed. Therefore, an automobile marketing typically for $20,000 may work with an extensive stable of sales between $18,000 and also $22,000 bucks. The bikes interweave in and out of visitor traffic, at times without also trying to view if there are actually any kind of automobiles in front or alongside them. There is actually definitely no need to access these applications coming from the vehicle, but Toyota decideds not to sustain Android Auto or Apple CarPlay and also intends to perform its own point, however. Much better, our team assume, to have the car swiped than to have your household endangered through thiefs. That is actually a big phone, however this possesses a Moto G4 matching 5.5-inch screen with a 1080p resolution as well as that appears good. The prime minister should climb on the edge from usual cars and truck motorists and also stand up to the vehicle market by devoting to a programme from obligatory auto repeal, payment, arbitrary on-road testing and a clean-car tag accordinged to real-world discharges," mentioned ClientEarth chief executive James Thornton. A lot of needed to Twitter to suffer viewing people's names, lorry enrollments, email deals with or even credit card particulars. Satisfy details that Task CARS AND TRUCKS searches excellent as it is actually and actually has a one up over DriveClub along with its own near 60 frames each 2nd expertise. There are parts of the Acer Iconia Button 10 A3-A40's design that will definitely lift brows, for better or much worse. Jaguar possesses really good type when it concerns creating vehicles that handle well yet are additionally comfy, and the XF is actually no exception. Completing the driver assist attributes is elusive steering assist, which helps you straighten out the car after evasive steps. Great affordable phones ARE out there, around the ₤ 50 mark, and also this would certainly be actually pleasant to certainly not have to stumble over all of them through accident. The provider discontinued the precious S2000 roadster, leaving the front-wheel travel Civic Si as the functionality epitome for the automobile creator. Shelby Super Cars, or SSC for brief, doesn't have anything to perform with nationality legend Carroll Shelby, but it's created a super easy auto however. Odds are your good friends are explaining their favored (and least beloved) manuals on Goodreads.

[newstechreviews]

(WARSAW, Poland) — Poland’s conservative governing Law and Justice party won the most votes in Sunday’s election in the deeply divided nation and appeared, according to an exit poll, to have secured a comfortable majority in parliament to govern for four more years.

The exit poll, conducted by the research firm Ipsos, projected that Law and Justice won 43.6% of the votes. That would translate into 239 seats, a majority in the 460-seat lower house of parliament.

The poll said a centrist pro-European Union umbrella group, Civic Coalition, would come in second with 27.4%. The biggest party in the coalition is Civic Platform, which governed Poland in 2007-2015.

Coalition leaders cheered and welcomed the result as a spur toward uniting society around common goals.

Other parties projected to surpass the 5% threshold to get into parliament were a left-wing alliance with 11.9%, the conservative agrarian Polish People’s Party with 9.6% and a new far-right alliance called Confederation with 6.4%.

The exit poll had a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. Final vote results, which are expected by Tuesday, could shift, as they have in past elections.

A prominent journalist, Konrad Piasecki, said that “at the moment it looks like the largest triumph in the history of parliamentary elections” in Poland. But he also cautioned that results varying even slightly from the exit poll could mean big changes to the distribution of seats in parliament.

Law and Justice has governed Poland since 2015 and is popular for its social conservatism and generous social spending. It ran a campaign that highlighted its social programs and vowed to defend traditional Roman Catholic values.

It has been accused of weakening the rule of law in the young democracy with an overhaul of the judicial system that has given the party more power over the courts and has drawn criticism as well for using state media as a propaganda outlet and for anti-gay rhetoric.

Pawel Zerka, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, said the high level of support for Law and Justice, known in Poland by its acronym PIS, “should not be interpreted as a sign that Poles have become nationalist or xenophobic. Rather, it reveals an effective party machine – and an ability of PIS to mobilize voters with policies based on direct social transfers.”

Party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is considered the real power behind Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s government, cautioned that the exit polls weren’t the final results but nonetheless declared victory.

“We received a lot but we deserve more,” Kaczynski told party supporters as he held high a bouquet of roses.

Civic Platform leader Grzegorz Schetyna said the fight wasn’t fair, an apparent reference to the way Law and Justice harnessed state media to pump out positive coverage of itself while casting a poor light on political rivals.

“This was not an even struggle; there were no rules in this struggle,” Schetyna said.

The left-wing party leaders celebrated their expected return to parliament after failing to get any seats in 2015.

Critics fear that four more years for Law and Justice will reverse the democratic achievements of this Central European nation, citing the changes to the judiciary and the way the party has marginalized minorities, for instance with its recent campaign depicting the LGBT rights movement as a threat.

Law and Justice’s apparent success stems from tapping into the values of the largely conservative society while also evening out extreme economic inequalities.

It is the first party since the fall of communism to break with the austerity of previous governments, whose free-market policies transformed Poland into one of Europe’s most dynamic economies.

However, many Poles were left out in that transformation and inequalities grew, creating grievances. Law and Justice skillfully addressed those concerns with popular programs, including one that gives families a monthly stipend of 500 zlotys ($125) for each child, taking the edge off poverty for some and giving others more disposable income. It says it has been able to pay for its programs thanks to a tighter tax collection system.

It has also clearly benefited from the sacrifices forced by earlier governments and the growth of Europe’s economy.

In his victory speech, Kaczynski referred to his party’s improvement of public finances and said it would continue on that path.

“We are finishing a certain stage; we are starting a new one,” he said. “It is not easier, maybe more difficult. But I hope that it will be finished with even greater success.”

[itsfinancethings]

October 13, 2019 at 11:41PM

(WARSAW, Poland) — Poland’s conservative governing Law and Justice party won the most votes in Sunday’s election in the deeply divided nation and appeared, according to an exit poll, to have secured a comfortable majority in parliament to govern for four more years.

The exit poll, conducted by the research firm Ipsos, projected that Law and Justice won 43.6% of the votes. That would translate into 239 seats, a majority in the 460-seat lower house of parliament.

The poll said a centrist pro-European Union umbrella group, Civic Coalition, would come in second with 27.4%. The biggest party in the coalition is Civic Platform, which governed Poland in 2007-2015.

Coalition leaders cheered and welcomed the result as a spur toward uniting society around common goals.

Other parties projected to surpass the 5% threshold to get into parliament were a left-wing alliance with 11.9%, the conservative agrarian Polish People’s Party with 9.6% and a new far-right alliance called Confederation with 6.4%.

The exit poll had a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. Final vote results, which are expected by Tuesday, could shift, as they have in past elections.

A prominent journalist, Konrad Piasecki, said that “at the moment it looks like the largest triumph in the history of parliamentary elections” in Poland. But he also cautioned that results varying even slightly from the exit poll could mean big changes to the distribution of seats in parliament.

Law and Justice has governed Poland since 2015 and is popular for its social conservatism and generous social spending. It ran a campaign that highlighted its social programs and vowed to defend traditional Roman Catholic values.

It has been accused of weakening the rule of law in the young democracy with an overhaul of the judicial system that has given the party more power over the courts and has drawn criticism as well for using state media as a propaganda outlet and for anti-gay rhetoric.

Pawel Zerka, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, said the high level of support for Law and Justice, known in Poland by its acronym PIS, “should not be interpreted as a sign that Poles have become nationalist or xenophobic. Rather, it reveals an effective party machine – and an ability of PIS to mobilize voters with policies based on direct social transfers.”

Party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is considered the real power behind Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s government, cautioned that the exit polls weren’t the final results but nonetheless declared victory.

“We received a lot but we deserve more,” Kaczynski told party supporters as he held high a bouquet of roses.

Civic Platform leader Grzegorz Schetyna said the fight wasn’t fair, an apparent reference to the way Law and Justice harnessed state media to pump out positive coverage of itself while casting a poor light on political rivals.

“This was not an even struggle; there were no rules in this struggle,” Schetyna said.

The left-wing party leaders celebrated their expected return to parliament after failing to get any seats in 2015.

Critics fear that four more years for Law and Justice will reverse the democratic achievements of this Central European nation, citing the changes to the judiciary and the way the party has marginalized minorities, for instance with its recent campaign depicting the LGBT rights movement as a threat.

Law and Justice’s apparent success stems from tapping into the values of the largely conservative society while also evening out extreme economic inequalities.

It is the first party since the fall of communism to break with the austerity of previous governments, whose free-market policies transformed Poland into one of Europe’s most dynamic economies.

However, many Poles were left out in that transformation and inequalities grew, creating grievances. Law and Justice skillfully addressed those concerns with popular programs, including one that gives families a monthly stipend of 500 zlotys ($125) for each child, taking the edge off poverty for some and giving others more disposable income. It says it has been able to pay for its programs thanks to a tighter tax collection system.

It has also clearly benefited from the sacrifices forced by earlier governments and the growth of Europe’s economy.

In his victory speech, Kaczynski referred to his party’s improvement of public finances and said it would continue on that path.

“We are finishing a certain stage; we are starting a new one,” he said. “It is not easier, maybe more difficult. But I hope that it will be finished with even greater success.”

[darinb]

Peace on Earth, or pieces on earth?

Plus the angel known to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you excellent news of valuable joy that is going to for any people. For unto you has been born this present day in the town of David a Savior, who's Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign simpler for you: you'll discover a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying inside a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a great deal of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the best,

and across the world peace among individuals that have whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went steer clear from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Allow us to go over to Bethlehem and find out this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made recognized by us.”

WHAT PEACE?

As people at large, it may feel we know nothing about peace at all!

  Within the last 3,400 years of human history, there have only been a reported 268 a lot peace. In the 1900s alone more than 105 million individuals have been killed in wars, and even just as we speak today men, women and youngsters are losing their lives in conflicts around the world, lots of which are so mundane they do not rate a mention in our news.

  Mankind loves conflict. Just look at families! When the Bible says Peace across the world, whatever could it be writing about?

    PIECES ON EARTH, NOT PEACE ON EARTH

    We live in a fallen world, where truly talking often about peace but never obtain it. We strive for peace, but only ever grasp on the illusion of peace, just like a mirage in which the closer we get to peace, the further away it genuinely seems.

  Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain visited Munich in 1938 to visit Hitler, who was continually posturing towards war by taking land from surrounding countries like Czechoslovakia. He was presented an assurance that forget about demands can be made, and he returned to Britain holding aloft the written assurance and proclaiming “Peace in our own time.” Annually later, the most important enjoyable devastating war in human history erupted… Peace was never further away!

  Even today Peace is illusive. My memory serves me watching the wall cool off in Berlin, having the demise of Communism and thinking, “Now we'll obtain peace.” The Cold War was over, but enter militant Islam and of course the war on terror replaces it. And here’s the joke… Islam actually means peace, but I've never seen a less peace loving crowd than Islamists!

  We don’t have peace the world over, we now have pieces!  Let’a look at the passage

  Luke 2:14 (KJV Strong's)

Glory to God in the very best, and the world over peace, good will toward men.

  The KJV, which some believe that is the true translation, gets this very, confusingly wrong. It signifies that peace and good will is proclaimed to every one men, but this isn't the meaning of the passage.

  Luke 2:14 (ESV Strong's)

“Glory to God in the best, and across the world peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

  This passage is proclaiming peace to individuals that have whom He (God) looks great pleased. The peace that the angels offer isn’t for everyone, it's only for those with whom God is please, individuals who have received Jesus Christ into their lives as Lord and Saviour.

  We are now living in an evil world, controlled by evil people, so there is cannot and are not going to be Peace on this planet for all men until Jesus returns.

  When these words were spoken through angels beyond just the shepherds, Roman Peace (Pax Romana) were in effect since 27 BC. Previous to this, the Romans had invaded countries, slaughtered some individuals, enslaved the rest and declared peace! But the absence of war doesn't guarantee peace.

  The Stoic philosopher Epictetus said, “As the emperor offers peace from war on land and sea, he has difficulty to provide peace from passion, grief, and envy. He cannot give peace of heart for which man yearns more than even for outward peace.”

  The Jewish word shalom (peace) means much more than a truce in the battles of life. It implies well-being, health, prosperity, security, soundness, and completeness. It has to do more with character than circumstances, and it's study about inner peace than the absence of external conflict. Life at the moment was difficult, just while it is today. Taxes were high, unemployment was high, morals were slipping lower, and the military state was in control. Roman law, Greek philosophy, and not to mention Jewish religion couldn't meet the needs of males’s hearts. So, God sent His Son!

  I WANT A PEACE OF IT!

  Take a look at our society today. There's war around the world, fact is that there is war here nowadays as well.

  We face a war against morality, where militant gay activists have just won a battle. It’could be a war from the sexes, it’s a war against our children. There’s no peace here. A lot of people who hold to God’s view of marriage plus the family are attacked constantly, but even among the LGBT community, can you think of peace?

  In line with their very own figures, and even with tv and internet totally on their team, gay young people are half a dozen times very likely to attempt suicide, and transgenders are 11 times more likely. Almost 50 % transgenders attempt suicide, whether or not they to get the transition or otherwise, so you can not let me know that these folk have peace on earth. They proclaim their sexual freedom, but inside they are torn to pieces by conflict, guilt and shame.

  Families are torn apart more than in the past… that’s not Peace the world over can it be? Unions and employers bicker, husbands and wife’s fight, kids and parents argue… there is no peace currently, even at Christmas!

  And Advertising screams at us all the time, “Buy this, have this, do this,” but none of it offers a sense peace that lasts. You may experience the most wonderful holiday, and you still have to finish your day to reality, right?

  The best way to inner peace just isn't demanding and putting your own way! One among life’s great paradoxes is that more you fight, the better you claw and scratch, the better you demand, the less peace you get.

  Isaiah 48:22 (ESV)

“There isn't any peace,” says the Lord, “when it comes to the wicked.”

  With no God, if you do not know Jesus, there isn't any peace! I didn’t say it, God says it. And also if you go searching at this top notch this Christmas, you'll be able to be sure it's 100% true.

  But Paul writes this…

  Romans 5:1 (ESV)

Therefore, since we've actually been justified by faith, we've peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

  True peace, peace with God, and peace within ourselves. That’s precisely what the angels proclaimed at the first Christmas… Obtain the promised child and you can see true peace. Have a look at the thing that was predicted for your birth of Jesus…

  Isaiah 9:6 (KJV Strong's)

  For unto us a toddler has been born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and the name must be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,

The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

  There’s that word again… Peace! In a world stuffed with conflict, full of fear for ourselves, our nation, our futures, our country’s morals, our finances, our families, in a world full of selfishness and sin and fear, we you'll find peace. This Christmas, you may experience true peace, inner peace, lasting peace.

  PEACE FROM WHAT?

    Life is filled with worries and anxieties. As Christmas approaches, do you are feeling anxious? Concerned about finances, concerned about family interaction, concerned about being alone this Christmas?

  People fear all kinds of things. If the is focussed and irrational, we it is known as a phobia. And phobias are available bewildering variety…

  Xanthophobia- fear of the color yellow

Turophobia- fear of cheese

Omphalophobia- fear of bellybuttons

Pogonophobia- fear of beards

Frigatriskaideaphobia- fear of long words (ironic)

Papa phobia- fear whatever the pope

Hylophobia- fear of trees and woods

Coulrophobia- fear of clowns (I believe we are able to all relate to that), and here’s a modern one…

Nomophobia- fear to becoming without mobile phone coverage, and experts say, more than half the persons within our country suffer the pain of this!

  Some of you here fear a surprisingly large number of things as Christmas approaches.  Who among us does not have financial fear, worried that we have enough money to really enjoy Christmas and start to get presents for the kids or grandkids. Many have anxiety about getting the family together and to discover the inevitable conflicts.

  John 14:27 (ESV Strong's)

Peace I leave along with you; my peace I offer to you. Not similar to on earth gives do I give you. Let not your hearts be anxious, neither let them be afraid.

  HOW CAN YOU FIND REAL PEACE THIS CHRISTMAS?

  You won’t find peace across the world in this world. Politicians cannot debate and provides us peace, lawmakers cannot legislate Peace. Pop stars can’t rate it to your account by songs, actors cannot fool you into it, and also religion can’t create peace in your life (even if it calls itself peace even though it’s blowing you up!).

  Only Jesus, only a possitive correlation with Him, only having His Holy Spirit living within you may give you peace. So let’s consider looking at a few of the anxieties you face this Christmas, and not what I state about peace, but what Jesus gives you this morning…

  1.      PEACE IN LACK

  In case you are concerned with finances this Christmas, and I number myself among these, then Jesus knows and understands.  We worry so much about acquiring and enjoying the things of this planet, but worry is like a rocking horse… it keeps the brain occupied, however you don’t actually get anywhere.

  Matthew 6:25-27 (ESV Strong's)

“Therefore I let you know, don't be concerned of your life, what you may will eat or whatever you will drink, nor of your body, whatever you will put on. Is just not life more than food, and the body greater than clothing? Consider the birds whatever the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, but without doubt your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you currently not of more value than they? And which persons when you are anxious can also add just one hour to his span of life?

  Stop, research your life right now. Can you add even just one hour into it by worrying? Nope, no one can.  But I have realized a great key towards stopping worry and anxiety about money and other things within my life. And I’m not even that clever, because a few verses later, Jesus tells us the answer…

  Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV Strong's)

Therefore do not be troubled, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What we could drink?’ or ‘What lets wear?’ When it comes to the Gentiles seek after all these things, along with your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the dominion of God amazing righteousness, and all this stuff shall be put into you.

  This is a Christian paradox that I have proven true again and again… if you bother about, obsess about and push for the money, things, clothes and food, they appear to elude you. If you seek first His Kingdom, if you choose your mind on loving and approaching to God, these things appear to come along almost miraculously. And in the event that they don’t, you don’t care because you are usually more concerned about God!

  Paul wrote

  Philippians 4:11-12 (ESV Strong's)

Not that I am talking about being in need, for I got to know in whatever situation I'm it really does not have to be content. I already know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I got to know the key of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

  You could have peace on earth, true peace on this planet and contentment whether you have huge amounts or somewhat this Christmas!

  2.      PEACE IN CONFLICT

  For anyone worrying about family conflict, whatever is arrayed counterintuitively, you could have peace in the midst of all that conflict. Don't fear this Christmas, but hearken to what the Lord says about conflict…

  2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV Strong's)

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

  A sound method is self control. How lots of you be aware that, in the event the family gets together, it only takes one misplaced word and things escalate from there. Listen, some of you have to learn the power of shutting your mouth. The power of holding your tongue, no matter how offended you might be!

  No matter what other medication is saying who you love, you may choose to stay silent and not escalate the situation. This Christmas, if you're concerned about conflict, try being self controlled and remaining silent. Allow them to rant and rage… if you focus on Christ you may be an island of peace is a numerous stressed out conflict!

    3.      PEACE IN BEING OVERLOOKED

  Every Christmas many of you feel overlooked. Overlooked by family, maybe kids who own their family. A few of you're coping with broken families, separation, and a few of your here just feel desperately, desperately lonely, especially at Christmas time.

  Psalms 68:5-6 (NIV-WS)

A parent besides the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God during holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families, he leads for getting prisoners with singing; but the rebellious are now living in a sun-scorched land.

  If you are feeling lonely and overlooked this Christmas, defenderless, fatherless, lonely, remember that, whatever your family situation, you get a church family who loves you, right here at Ignite.

  Please don’t be consumed with worry and loneliness this Christmas. You are vital, and you will may not overlooked forever.  God says,

  1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV Strong's)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God in order that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

  So today, if you're lonely or overlooked, don’t look at individuals around you, look up at He who gave His life quicker for you! And cast your anxieties on Him.

  4.      PEACE IN PAIN

  Hurt people hurt people, and if you're in pain, or close to a person, chances are you’ve been tempted or has already blamed God and attacked others around you.  I’ve seen people battling health conditions, or dealing with separation and broken relationships, blame God, when His expressed craving to prosper you, not to harm you, to provide you with a future plus a hope.

  Pain, hurt, sickness and separation are not God’s fault. The devil and man’s sinful nature are in charge of all the evil and pain you notice around you. Sometimes God allows this to happen, but He always has a greater plan to build your life along with your character.

  However this Christmas, how can you find peace on earth, even just in physical or psychological pain?

  Psalms 34:18-19 (ESV Strong's)

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Most are the afflictions no matter what the righteous, however the Lord delivers him out of them all.

  Turn to Jesus this Christmas and permit Him to save your crushed spirit. Though you'll have many afflictions, God might be relied upon to offer protect you from all of them, so you will have perfect peace while in pain and suffering this Christmas. Trust Him, and see your eyes off your pain!

    5.      PEACE IN UNEXPLAINED FEAR

    Some of us only ever feel fear after we think of Christmas, not peace on this planet!  Sometimes we are disturbed by worry, and we are not even sure exactly what it is that’s causing it!

  When Franklin D Roosevelt came down to power in 1933, he faced the depths no matter what the Great Depression. In her inaugural speech, he stated these words… “that being said the only thing it is necessary to fear is fear itself,” and it really is precisely the same nature no matter what the fears and anxiety that plagues us this and each Christmas.

  Psalms 91:5-7 (ESV Strong's)

You won't fear the phobia of the twighlight, nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your disposal, ten thousand at the right hand, but it won't come near you.

  If you feel like you are fearful of almost everything, you could possibly’re not even sure why you fear, then you'll want to come prior to a Lord in prayer and ask for Him to beat the fears and anxieties and surround you with peace across the world…

  HOW TO FIND PEACE ON EARTH IN YOUR HEART AND MIND

  Peace the world over is really as elusive for our benefit to find directly to heads as it's to see it to be on the market in the world. It looks like chasing a rainbow… assuming there’can be a pot of gold towards the end no matter the rainbow, the closer you've got, the further it seems to be away.

  So this Christmas, how will you find perfect peace regardless of what the holiday season brings?

  Picture this… it’s late into the evening, you are worry about tomorrow’s troubles, you can’t sleep. You are attempting to still your mind, but it races at 100 miles an hour.

  Does this ever happen to your account?  You be aware that 90% of what you be worried about never even occurs, but you can't tell the mind that, right?

  1.      PRAY

  Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV Strong's)

don't be anxious about anything, though in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made believed to God. And of course the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts along with your minds in Christ Jesus.

  So bad is to wish, if you end up worried and anxious, take your eyes from the circumstances and place them firmly in Jesus. Praying is actually speaking with God, but when you start to wish, once you confess your worries (because after all, they're sin), and once you hand the whole situation approximately God, you possibly can experience perfect peace flooding your soul.

  2.      READ

  The very next verse in Philippians demonstrates the steps to to obtain this perfect peace. It’s not by watching TV, it’s not if you take medication.  The peace that truly guards your hearts and minds and protects you against worry and anxiety…

  Philippians 4:8 (ESV Strong's)

Finally, brothers, everything that is true, whatever is honourable, whichever is just, whichever is pure, everything that is lovely, anything that is commendable, if there happen to be any excellence, if there happen to be anything as deserving praise, think about these things.

  When you read His Word, in the event you meditate on all those things. You begin to think about what it says. Then you definately consider taking your eyes from the circumstances and place them on Christ, and you will experience peace. Reading the Bible each day slowly but surely changes how you think, speak and behave. Having Scripture within your heart guards it against attack, and allows peace to settle.

  It sets your mind on God, and when you transform eyes upon Him, everything near your location grows strangely dim.

  Isaiah 26:3 (ESV Strong's)

You keep him in perfect peace whose method is stayed in the car, because he trusts in you.

  How are you going to trust someone you have no idea? If some guy in the street asks me for $50, I’m more likely to say no. If my wife asks me, I’m likely, indeed compelled to convey yes. What’s the biggest difference? One I do know and trust, the opposite is unknown.

  Read God’s Word and see Him, and peace will flow through you this Christmas.

  3.      FELLOWSHIP

  Once we join the circulation together, there's a supernatural strength. That's what Church is about. It’s not about singing, preaching or raising money, it is mostly about worshipping together and supporting one another.

  People often tell me, “I love Jesus but hate Church.” I understand this , but they can also be getting left behind on a value of faith and peace you just cannot find by yourself. God made us being His body, joined together. So this Christmas, don’t hate Church, just find the best possible because your peace will be increased when you do.

    People often think Church is about a lovely experience, and large churches have lights, smoke machines and first class entertainment. You attends, sneak out afterwards and avoid having to do anything. Though it’s Christian entertainment, folks, not Church. Church concerns being connected, not being a buyer!

  But exactly what nowadays most people really want isn't a lovely experience , they need a variety of believers who stand with them. The believer is encouraged to put on the full armour of God…

  Ephesians 6:16 (ESV Strong's)

In all circumstances use up the shield of religion, with which you'll be able to extinguish all of the flaming darts of the evil one;

  The shield Paul has in mind this is definitely Roman shield, which was not used singularly but with other soldiers, forming a wall of shields. Your faith can shield you somewhat if you find yourself isolated and by yourself, however when joined with other people in the people of god you have a lot of serious defense against the enemies flaming darts.

  PEACE, MAN, PEACE

    So this Christmas, on the earth cannot offer you peace on earth, but God can. You may tell the peace on this planet which passes understanding guard your heart and the brain right now.

  But you should understand this… The peace of God is a gift; it isn't something we can manipulate it also’s not something we will preorder from a catalogue or a website, as it is it's possible to of being one with Him.  It's the result of withdrawing and letting God control and concern yourself with what is happening in the life.

  When our relationship with Jesus is powerful and adversity strikes, we are not compelled to disintegrate or throw in the towel to worry and anxiety. We can pick, and discover it is the freedom to choose, we can choose to live in the steadfast and strong confidence of His love, His wisdom, His power, and His provision.

  Right here is the basis of His unshakable peace the world over—not that we are capable of controlling circumstances, all that His assistance is ever-present and excellent to deliver us in almost any challenge we face. True peace is inner peace with God, whatever the circumstances, and even in war we might be at peace.

  So this Christmas, let not your heart be troubled. Let the peace of God flood your life.

  If you are dreading something about this Christmas, when you've got fear, anxiety, worry or anything, this applies to you moment to have us stand along with you and pray for peace on this planet to those with whom He's pleased.

  However if you simply don’t think God is pleased with you, if you don’t know Him or when you have been running from Him, or ignoring a Him, then we need to solve that first.  If you are far from God, or have never asked Him within your life, this represents your moment

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[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 11/26/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Sunday 26th November, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing Sunday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS).

SOLUTIONS BARBADOS TO PUNISH BRIBE TAKERS, REWARD WHISTLE BLOWERS – Solutions Barbados candidate for St Joseph Jennifer Hiland this evening assured Barbadians that her party will not take the island to the International Monetary Fund if elected to Government. Speaking at her party’s launch of candidates at Independence Square, she advised Barbadians to reject any political party that intends to go to the IMF for assistance. She warned that Barbadians will suck salt if they elect any party that will take the island to the IMF. (BT)

HOWARD PROPOSAL TO AXE 4500 INSENSITIVE – Political insensitivity. That’s how economist Professor Michael Howard has described the proposal of former Central Bank Governor Dr DeLisle Worrell for an immediate restructuring of the Barbados economy.  “I have not read Worrell’s 36-page document but his proposal in the months before a national election calls for an immediate implementation of a strategy to retrench 4 500 civil servants. This proposal shows a level of social and political insensitivity and incorrectness which I have not seen before from a Barbadian economist,” Howard said yesterday. Worrell had also suggested that retrenched civil servants would get over $270 million in separation packages funded by international financial institutions. But Howard, a retired senior lecturer at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) dismissed the idea. (SS)

‘GOVERNOR OUT OF TOUCH’ WITH REALITY - Putting thousands of Barbadians out of work will not solve the island’s long-term economic problems, but such advice indicates someone who is out of touch with the everyday reality of the people. Leader of the Citizens Action Partnership, Wendell Callender, said the suggestion by former Governor of the Central Bank Dr DeLisle Worrell to cut 4 500 public sector jobs over the next three years did not take into consideration the social fallout. He called for dialogue and collaboration with the social agencies and trade unions on economic reform. Wastage of time and materials should be eliminated, turnaround times need to be reduced, some programmes fast-tracked and rules which “impede progress” had to be changed, he said. Meanwhile, the Barbados Labour Party’s spokesman on economic affairs, Dr Clyde Mascoll, said Worrell’s publication was both “damning and concerning” as the Freundel Stuart administration had failed to implements its own strategy, leading to further economic decline. The economist said increased spending prior to the 2013 general election worsened the situation, leading to a fiscal deficit equating to 11 per cent of gross domestic product. Mascoll feared a similar situation would occur with general elections constitutionally due in 2018. He added there was no improvement after last May’s Budget which was “contributing to a continuation of the printing of money, falling foreign reserves, increasing debt levels, no long-term improvement in the fiscal deficit and the high likelihood that the economy will slip into recession”. (SS)

DOUBLE THE TAKE – Government’s latest tax amnesty continues to rake in big bucks. Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Chris Sinckler, has revealed that the latest numbers show more than double what Government had earmarked for collection was paid in by Barbadians earlier this year as a result of the original amnesty. “It was much more than we anticipated. We had penciled in for about $20 million to be paid, and we ended up with more than $40 million,” he revealed. And millions more could be entering the Consolidated Fund when an extension to that amnesty ends on Thursday. “I haven’t received the most recent figures for the extension period, but the amount paid in during the previous amnesty was quite substantial,” Sinckler said. In February this year, the minister had indicated near $30 million had been collected. “If it continues to trend in that direction it would be a success. I want to thank Barbadians for taking part in the programme. We probably won’t have another amnesty for a little while, because you don’t need to have one every few months. But that Barbadians did participate, we are happy about that. We will have to wait a few months to see what is the total impact in terms of revenue gained, but because the first one did so well, I think it was a good step,” said Sinckler, who is also Minister of Economic Affairs. The minister said though no short-list had been prepared Government had certain priority areas where the money would be spent, inclusive of the important health and tourism sectors. He added that though Government introduced the amnesty, he was satisfied Barbadians continue to pay their taxes. “Barbados generally has a tax collection rate around 70 per cent, which is pretty good for a country of our size, or any size for that matter, but you want to get close to 100 per cent as possible, and one of the issues identified is the inefficiencies in of our tax system. These things have been highlighted from way back.” With the latest amnesty extension ending on Thursday taxpayers in arrears can benefit from the waiver of penalties and interest on taxes owed to the BRA. The taxes eligible for the waiver of penalties and interest in that amnesty programme were Value Added Tax (VAT), Land Tax, Income Tax, P.A.Y.E. and Corporation Tax.  (SS)

FTC FINALLY DECIDES ON OIL MERGER – Government will soon know just how much money it will make from the sale of its national oil company to the St Lucia-based Sol. That’s because the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) has finally made a decision on the regional company’s acquisition of the Barbados National Terminal Company Limited (BNTCL), even though it won’t be made public just yet. If everything goes as planned, however, the sale is expected to provide Government’s foreign exchange reserve levels a boost of $100 million from the acquisition based on figures presented by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler in his May 30 Budgetary Proposal The FTC’s information specialist, Nekalia Hutchinson-Holder, said the final decision on the acquisition was made at a meeting last Thursday.  (SS)

CLICO’S LOSS – Barbados-based CLICO has found itself on the losing end of a lawsuit in neighbouring St Lucia. Even before it winds up operations here and looks for a resolution elsewhere in the Eastern Caribbean, CLICO International Life Insurance Limited has lost a near half million lawsuit brought by a former employee. And the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court has ordered First Caribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited, as the garnishee of account(s) of the failed insurer, to pay St Lucian insurance salesman Deldridge Flavius about $411 000 plus other costs. The Sunday Sun learnt that Justice Rosalyn E. Wilkinson issued the judgement against CLICO late last month. (SS)

BAJAN ATTITUDE TOWARDS LGBTI COSTING THE ISLAND KEY RESOURCES, ADVOCATE SAYS – Barbadians are being accused of having a mindset towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) community that predates the biblical flood, but which is costing the island key resources. LGBTI advocate Alexa Hoffmann said that the country was losing a talented sub section of its society who were seeking refuge abroad due to continuous discrimination and violence here. While providing no statistics to back up the claim, Hoffmann told the launch of this year’s Barbados Pride Weekend that the level of discrimination had reached intolerable levels. “Over the years there has been an exodus of LGBTI persons from Barbados due to stigma, discrimination and violence, and it has now reached such an extent that I fear if our country does not extricate itself from this antediluvean fixation on an individual’s personal life, it will prove to be a great economical woodworm in the future,” Hoffmann said at the Canadian High Commission. “Too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, with much to offer which could help build our economy and raise our country to new heights, are being chased away from us, and when they have flourished to their full potential and ability, Barbados is unable to benefit because that flourish has occurred in another country, for the benefit of another society,” she stressed. However, the Barbados Pride Weekend coordinator said Barbadians should be comforted by the fact that the level of attacks were fewer here than in other Caribbean countries such as Jamaica. Still, she said abuse was commonplace among the LGBT community, with many victims choosing to stay silent until they were “near crisis point”. (BT)

POLICE RADAR ON BRAND FRAUD – The Royal Barbados Police Force has its radar on the counterfeiting industry. And it is equipping its members to identify the subtle nature of the trade through a relationship with Customs in brand protection. This is the word from Assistant Commissioner of Police Erwin Boyce after addressing the Pan-American International Insurance Corporation/Police Home work and Reading Assistance Community Outreach project at 8th Avenue New Orleans yesterday. Boyce said it was not in Barbados’ interest to go on the outside to get some products to sell locally. “In terms of our capability, it’s indeed a new area of investigation in the sense that it is on our agenda as part of our way forward in terms of prosecuting people for counterfeiting and detecting brands. “We are developing that kind of relationship with customs and the brands . . .  because they now [have satellites] in other Caribbean countries. They have a profound interest in how things are happening in other [islands] and that is why we have that as a focus in managing the unusual crime,” he explained. Boyce underscored the importance of training, “to get our children in the capability mode that they can understand what is and what is not. I think we have set that path and we are having the international cooperation from the creators who are interested in stamping out this kind of scourge”. Boyce said there were some matters before the courts that pointed to investigations by the police, but noted that was far as he wanted to go in describing what the force’s current response had been. “We would continue to be very vigorous in moving forward the brand protection approach,” he said. (SS)

BUSINESSMAN CHARGED WITH SELLING FAKE PRODUCTS GRANTED BAIL – A businessman arrested and charged in connection with the sale of counterfeit PUMA from the Rihanna Brand was granted $1000 bail with one surety when he appeared before Magistrate Graveney Bannister in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court today. Grenville Ricardo Delpeache, 44, of Passage Road, Passage Gardens, St Michael, has been booked to return to court on December 6. Delpeache is charged with selling PUMA Fenty by Rihanna and Creeper Sneakers and PUMA Fenty slippers; exposing for sale Puma slipper, shoes and backpacks which were counterfeit. These offences were committed during the month of May. (BT)

STUDENTS REMANDED - Two male students who were arrested and charged in connection with a disturbance at a secondary school in St Michael on Wednesday, November 22, appeared before Magistrate Graveney Bannister in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court today. The 16-year-old, who has been charged with wounding with intent, was remanded to prison, to reappear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on December 22. The 15-year-old, who has been charged with inflicting serious bodily harm, was remanded to the Government Industrial School (DODDS) to return to Juvenile Court on November 29. During the disturbance at the school, a cutlass was used to slash a 16-year-old student several times on the right hand. (BT)

ST GEORGE SOUTH REACH SEMIS – Defending champions St George South flirted with danger before defeating Christ Church West 4-2 on penalties in the quarter-finals of the David Thompson Memorial Constituency Councils’ Football Classic on Friday at Boscobelle. The second quarter-final was also intriguing as St Andrew also advanced to the semis in dramatic fashion. The rural riding edged St Michael North 1-0, courtesy Darico King’s extra-time effort in the 113th minute after neither team scored in regulation time. But the big story of what was heading to be a Black Friday night for the Ellerton-based title holders was their great escape at the chilly St Peter venue. Down 1-2 in the dying moments and seemingly on the way out of the popular football competition, Romario Watson, for the second time in as many matches, saved St George South’s blushes with an injury time equaliser. After neither team broke the deadlock in extra-time, St George South displayed superior accuracy from the penalty spot to win 4-2 and break the hearts of the Christ Church West players and their supporters.        Watson, Shaquan Clarke and national players Shane Codrington and Shakille Belle all converted their penalties for St George South, with only Ramon Beckles missing. Rommell Bynoe turned from likely hero to villain as he and Nicholas Jones missed their spot kicks, while experienced midfielder Zidkigah Samuel and Akeem Hill scored for Christ Church West. Earlier, talented midfielder Rosean Brathwaite gave St George South an early goal in the 16th minute but Bynoe equalised on 25 minutes to leave the scoreline 1-1 at half-time. Hill put Christ Church West ahead in the 65th minute, setting the stage for an exciting final 25 minutes in regular time, with St George South pressing for the equaliser. Just when it seemed the boys from Christ Church West would oust the champs, Watson conjured up another goal.  (SS)

AMBRIS: ONE OF MY BEST – Sunil Ambris has described yesterday’s hundred against New Zealand ‘A’ as one of his best. The 24-year-old, on his first Test tour with West Indies, smashed an amazing 153 off 145 balls as West Indies piled up 451 for nine on the opening day of the three-day tour match at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval. Shai Hope, with whom he shared a 155-run, sixth wicket stand, stroked 110. Roston Chase chipped in with 49, wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich scored 35 while captain Jason Holder got 31, to ensure the tourists’ domination in excellent conditions. “It was one of my better knocks for a while now. When I just got in I had to graft, had to bat as much balls as possible, had to leave a lot – not really trying to score but I had to play myself in,” Ambris said afterwards. “It was made a lot easier batting with Shai. He was scoring quickly and it took a lot of pressure off me. When I got into my own, I was able to score freely [and] capitalise on the bad deliveries.” He added: “[The pitches here] are a lot different. In the Caribbean you have to work a lot harder, the wicket turns a lot – it does a lot. Here in New Zealand I’ve found there is a lot of value for your runs. “The outfield is very quick. There is not much in the wicket once you play yourself in. You can play your shots, but again you have to work hard to get yourself in.” Ambris was one of the bright spots for the Windies after they had slumped to 45 for three in the morning session. He struck 24 fours and a six, adding a further 89 for the seventh wicket with Dowrich and 53 for the eighth with Holder. Unbeaten on 51 at tea with West Indies well poised on 247 for five, Ambris ripped into the hosts’ bowling in the final session to add 102 more runs in an exhilarating display. “I was just trying to bat as long as possible while being positive, but it was one of my better innings for a long while,” said the Vincentian, who also lashed two hundreds against Sri Lanka ‘A’ last month. Ambris’ form of recent has been hard to ignore. He smashed over 600 runs in the 2016-17 first class season, rattled up over 400 runs in the Regional Super50 earlier this year. He recently emerged as the leading Windies “A” batsman against the Sri Lankans with an average of 55, and said the key to his heavy scoring was long hours in the nets. (SS)

That’s all for today folks there are 39 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[politicalfilth-blog]

A Ted Cruz Twitter Explanation, Rand Paul Summons His Father In Senate

We Are Change

Welcome back amazing, beautiful human beings.

I’m seeing more YouTube channels being demonetized, terminated, and blacklisted so if you can please sign up on our email list. That way we have another way to contact you as I patiently wait for the inevitable next attack on our YouTube channel by the Google Alphabet CIA monopoly corporatocracy.

We’re going to give you the news that’s important and the news that matters. You probably won’t hear anywhere else because we’re living in a day and age of mass misinformation and propaganda. In today’s video we’re going to talk about war mongers bankrupting this country, more saber-rattling by Israel and Saudi Arabia, plus some important psychological lessons to learn from the latest U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.

Video is also available on DTUBE

There is a bigger battle for the future of all wars right now at the US Senate plus a lot more.

As we are shooting this video, US Senator Ted Cruz is trending worldwide on Twitter. Moments after he liked a pornographic video. He seemingly did not realize that likes are public. Everyone is now going crazy.

The official Pornhub Twitter account has even offered Ted Cruz a premium membership to their services. Personally, this issue does not affect my life or anyone else in the general public. I see it as a distraction, but there are some important lessons we could learn here. Number one, no one is perfect, we all make mistakes, including a US Senator representative of the United States. He is a conservative and preaches traditional values who boasts on his public Twitter account that he’s a father of two and who his wife is.

However, he publicly liked a pornographic video on his Twitter account on 9/11. The second lesson is what you resist persists, and for me, it shouldn’t be a big deal that he liked the pornographic video. However, people do see it as a big deal because this is the same Ted Cruz that defended a ban on dildos and other sex toys in Texas with his legal team arguing that there was “no right to stimulate one’s genitals.”

If you study psychology, you understand that what people hate the most in others is usually the shadow within themselves. As demonstrated wonderfully in a hypocritical political system with incidents like this one.

Also with former Republican Senator Larry Craig who helped enact the military “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy. He was also known as an anti-gay marriage campaigner. He was caught soliciting sex from what an undercover male police officer in a public bathroom.

Often if someone hates you because of the way you choose to live your life, or your sex, or your race, or for your personal preferences or choices, there is a reason. I think it’s important for a lot of people to understand that the person is throwing hate against you usually is doing it because of deep psychological rooted problems.

That’s why an example for most people who are homophobic usually have homosexual feelings.  People repress things and hold them in, build on it and make it bigger than it is. That’s why I think the world would be a better place if we all would just stop judging people on what they do when it does not affect us. Understand where it’s coming from so we don’t react negatively to put an end to the cycle of hate and fear.

That’s why I am, linking to an article by a licensed therapist. I recommend you check it out. It would be nice if people could stop projecting your fear and anger onto others. That, of course, begins with not giving such a hard time to Ted Cruz who just for the official record right now is blaming his staff member for this incident

In U.S. Senate news we have Senator Rand Paul introducing a bill to give money to hurricane victims in the United States instead of foreign dictators via foreign aid. This bill has been completely blocked by the Senate. He has brought up a very important point including examples of what we spend on foreign aid.

We spent a hundred billion dollars building roads in Afghanistan. Then more money blowing up roads in Afghanistan. We build schools then we blow them up again.  Then we spend more money rebuilding all of them.  Sometimes we blow them up, sometimes someone else blows them up. Then we always go back and rebuild them. What about rebuilding our country. Sounds like a practical idea but of course, the bill is blocked.

Rand Paul is also waging another war against endless wars.

He’s trying to repeal the 16-year-old Authorization for the use of Military Force (AUMF) which passed shortly after 9/11. It has allowed U.S. Presidents to declare war without Congressional approval. It has permitted the bombing of several countries including Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.

It also allowed the legal justification for the U.S. President to assassinate a U.S. citizen. It has been used to launch 37 military interventions in 14 different countries. Rand Paul is forcing a debate on this crucial issue almost standing alone. It would have passed if it wasn’t for his protest. He is bringing up vital points like the fact that there’s hypocrisy on both sides here. The anti-war left is no longer demanding the end of wars.

If you still believe in the political system, he has vowed to continue this protest. Most interestingly the only significant press he’s getting from this protest is from the online community. The mainstream media, of course, remains silent.

This is an important issue to me because if it weren’t for the AUMF, the president wouldn’t be able to bomb and kill anyone he wants at any time without congressional approval.

This law that Rand Paul wants to repeal has changed the landscape of not only Presidential powers but shaped international world events. This has been going on since 9/11 when Ron Paul former Congressman and Presidential candidate pointed out that 9/11 was used as a justification for passing the Patriot Act. He noted that the extensive bill was written many years before the attacks occurred. 9/11 just provided an opportunity to implement the police state.

That one event 9/11 introduced the AUMF and the Patriot Act. This started the current horrible foreign policy that still persists.

Many scholars, whistleblowers, professors, and experts say the government story about 9/11 does not add up. They say that it is bankrupting this country. Today almost every penny of our income tax goes to supposed defense spending. Over eighty percent of the money you give to the U.S. federal government goes directly towards the war industry and the security industry. They are setting up a surveillance state that is being turned and used against you the American citizen. As Edward Snowden even said don’t fear Trump, be afraid of the surveillance state.

With all of that happening the United States federal debt has just surpassed 20 trillion dollars. In just one day the debt jumped over 317 billion dollars after President Trump signed a new spending and debt limit deal.  This will keep the government afloat until December.

We are being bankrupted and are robbing our children’s future. We will be in servitude because of this debt all because of these meaningless wars that have been raging on for over 16 years now. Which is what the majority of our taxes are spent on. Yet still put us into bigger deficit while the United States cozies up to despotic nations. Nations like Saudi Arabia and Israel where we all commit horrible foreign policy decisions together.

The same Saudi Arabia that appears complicit and implicated with 9/11 along with American intelligence and Israeli intelligence. We’ve been telling you about this unholy alliance between Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States for a very long time.

It’s been pretty much-made official with this latest breaking news of the Saudi Crown Prince having a secret visit to Israel. This in spite fo the fact that Saudi Arabia officially does not recognize the Jewish state.

The two countries supposedly do not have any diplomatic relations. This is not a surprise for me because for years now we’ve been documenting and telling you how Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the U.S. have not only had a common enemy with Iran but actively finance rebel groups.  With the purpose of getting rid of the Iranian linked Syrian government and Bashar al-Assad.

These nations supported the rebel groups inside of Syria knowingly. They knew they were creating radical Islamic terrorists and helped the rise of al-Nusra and ISIS. All for their greater geopolitical goal of isolating Iran. These three countries see as Iran and Syria as their common enemy. We’ve been telling you this for some years now. We’ve been accused of being fake news and conspiracy theorists, but now we’re being vindicated. Recently a top Israeli general just came out and admitted the greater truth behind Israel wanting a war with Iran. A general tasked with writing his country’s defense policy has admitted that Israel cannot take on Iran’s military alone if that day ever comes. He admitted for Israel that terror groups like ISIS continue to be a minimal threat and instead Israel’s main focus tends to remain enveloped in an obsession with Iran.

Currently, Iranian backed militants are taking strategic areas of Syrian territory and may ultimately set up shop permanently on Israel’s border.

This led up to the events that we were talking about on this YouTube channel with Israeli Prime Minister meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

When those talks failed, Donald Trump’s sent Jared Kushner to Israel. We told you to look out for a very strong Israeli move. Israel went out and attacked Syrian government forces, and now they’re colluding with Saudi Arabia even on a bigger level over the future of Syria. A Syria which is strongly influenced by Iran, China and Russia. That’s why this Israeli general said: “we can achieve a decisive victory over Hezbollah, and we don’t need help from a single American soldier. However, we cannot fight Iran alone.” He also said, “I consider future cooperation with the U.S. much more important than anything we’ve had in the past.”

That is why we’re about to see the United States and Russia come face-to-face in Syria. That is why US President Donald Trump has stated that the US will declare Iran non-compliant with its nuclear deal. Even though the nuclear watchdog chief even stated that Iran is playing by the rules. We are going to be keeping a very close eye on this situation on this independent news channel.

In other potentially disastrous war news, more sanctions were passed on North Korea. This has caused them to down on threats against the United States.

There are also massive demonstrations happening in Spain right now. Hundreds of thousands of people marching in the streets for a Catalan national day. The people of Catalonia are calling for a break from the Spanish government.

The Catalonians are declaring their desire to vote for independence on October 1st, 2017. This is an event which I’m personally thinking attending myself and covering from the ground.

If you’re interested in that, let me know. That is the news for today. I hope you guys enjoyed this broadcast if you found it informative please share it with your friends and family members.

Don’t forget to vote with your dollar. The only thing keeping this independent nonpartisan media organization working is you. Through your help and your donations. Visit wearechange.org/donate

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The post A Ted Cruz Twitter Explanation, Rand Paul Summons His Father In Senate appeared first on We Are Change.

from We Are Change https://wearechange.org/ted-cruz-twitter-explanation-rand-paul-summons-father-senate/

[darinb]

Peace on Earth, or pieces on earth?

And to discover the angel believed to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you excellent news of valuable joy that is going to for your people. For unto you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign simpler for you: you'll discover a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying within a manger.” And suddenly there is in the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the very best,

and the world over peace among individuals that have whom he is pleased!”

As soon as the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to the other, “Allow us to give an overview of to Bethlehem and see this thing which has happened, how the Lord has made known to us.”

WHAT PEACE?

As people at large, it seems we know nothing about peace at all!

  During the last 3,400 many years of human history, there have only been a reported 268 many years of peace. Within the twentieth century alone more than 105 million folks have been killed in wars, and also as we speak today men, women and children are losing their lives in conflicts around the world, a lot of that are so mundane they don't rate a mention in your news.

  Mankind loves conflict. Just have a look at families! When the Bible says Peace on earth, what on earth can it be talking about?

    PIECES ON EARTH, NOT PEACE ON EARTH

    We have a home in a fallen world, where we talk often about peace but rarely obtain it. We try for peace, but only ever grasp at the illusion of peace, such as a mirage exactly where the closer we arrive at peace, the further away it genuinely seems.

  Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain visited Munich in 1938 to consult Hitler, who was continually posturing towards war by taking land from surrounding countries like Czechoslovakia. He was presented with an assurance that eliminate demands would be made, and he returned to Britain holding aloft the written assurance and proclaiming “Peace in your time.” Per year later, the largest enjoyable devastating war in human history erupted… Peace was never further away!

  Even today Peace is illusive. I recollect watching the wall decrease in Berlin, having the demise of Communism and thinking, “Now we'll obtain peace.” The Cold War was over, but enter militant Islam and to discover the war on terror replaces it. And here’s the joke… Islam actually means peace, but I have never seen a less peace loving crowd than Islamists!

  We don’t have peace on this planet, we have pieces!  Let’looking at passage

  Luke 2:14 (KJV Strong's)

Glory to God in the highest, and the world over peace, good will toward men.

  The KJV, which some believe which is the simple true translation, gets this very, confusingly wrong. It demonstrates that peace and good will is proclaimed to everyone men, but this is not the purport of the passage.

  Luke 2:14 (ESV Strong's)

“Glory to God in the best, and on this planet peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

  This passage is proclaiming peace to people who have whom He (God) is certainly pleased. The peace that this angels offer isn’t for everybody, it is just for those with whom God is please, individuals who have received Jesus Christ into their lives as Lord and Saviour.

  We have a home in an evil world, controlled by evil people, as a result there cannot and will not be Peace across the world for all those men until Jesus returns.

  When these words were spoken via the angels beyond just the shepherds, Roman Peace (Pax Romana) were in effect since 27 BC. Previous to this, the Romans had invaded countries, slaughtered many individuals, enslaved the rest and declared peace! But the absence of war doesn't guarantee peace.

  The Stoic philosopher Epictetus said, “Even though the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he has trouble to give peace from passion, grief, and envy. He cannot give peace of heart for which man yearns more than even for outward peace.”

  The Jewish word shalom (peace) means much above what a truce within the battles of life. It means well-being, health, prosperity, security, soundness, and completeness. It requires to do more with character than circumstances, and it happens to be more about inner peace than the lack of external conflict. Life presently was difficult, just while it is today. Taxes were high, unemployment was high, morals were slipping lower, and of course the military state was in control. Roman law, Greek philosophy, and also Jewish religion couldn't meet the needs of males’s hearts. So, God sent His Son!

  I WANT A PEACE OF IT!

  Look at our society today. There may be war across the globe, but there is war here in our society as well.

  We face a war against morality, where militant gay activists have just won a battle. It’can be a war on the sexes, it’could be a war against our children. There’s no peace here. Many of us who hold to God’s view of marriage plus the family are attacked constantly, but even among the LGBT community, can there be peace?

  In line with their own figures, and even while using educational insitutions totally on their team, gay youngsters are half a dozen times almost certainly going to attempt suicide, and transgenders are 11 times more likely. Almost 50 % transgenders attempt suicide, whether or not they in order to make the transition or otherwise, so you cannot tell me that these folk have peace on earth. They proclaim their sexual freedom, but inside they're torn to pieces by conflict, guilt and shame.

  Families are torn apart more than any other time… that’s not Peace on earth might it be? Unions and employers bicker, husbands and wife’s fight, kids and oldsters argue… there is no such thing as a peace nowadays, even at Christmas!

  And Advertising screams at us on a regular basis, “Buy this, get this, do that,” but none of they provide feeling of peace that lasts. You could really have essentially the most wonderful holiday, and you ve still got to arrive at your place to reality, right?

  The best way to inner peace is not demanding and attaining your own way! Certainly one of life’s great paradoxes is that further you fight, the greater amount of you claw and scratch, the better you demand, the less peace you get.

  Isaiah 48:22 (ESV)

“There is no peace,” says the Lord, “when it comes to the wicked.”

  Without any God, in case you don't know Jesus, there isn't any peace! I didn’t say it, God says it. And also if you go searching at this world this Christmas, you can verify that it is 100% true.

  But Paul writes this…

  Romans 5:1 (ESV)

Therefore, since we've been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

  True peace, peace with God, and peace within ourselves. That’s precisely what the angels proclaimed at the first Christmas… Find the promised child and you can see true peace. Have a look at the thing that was predicted regarding the birth of Jesus…

  Isaiah 9:6 (KJV Strong's)

  For unto us a toddler is born, unto us a son is given: and the federal government must be upon his shoulder:

brilliant name needs to be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,

The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

  There’s that word again… Peace! On a planet full of conflict, stuffed with fear for ourselves, our nation, our futures, our country’s morals, our finances, our families, in a world stuffed with selfishness and sin and fear, we you could find peace. This Christmas, you may experience true peace, inner peace, lasting peace.

  PEACE FROM WHAT?

    Life is stuffed with worries and anxieties. As Christmas approaches, do you feel anxious? Concerned with finances, worried about family interaction, worried about being alone this Christmas?

  People fear all kinds of things. If the is focussed and irrational, we think of it as a phobia. And phobias are available in bewildering variety…

  Xanthophobia- fear of the colour yellow

Turophobia- fear of cheese

Omphalophobia- fear of bellybuttons

Pogonophobia- fear of beards

Frigatriskaideaphobia- fear of long words (ironic)

Papa phobia- fear no matter the pope

Hylophobia- fear of trees and woods

Coulrophobia- fear of clowns (I feel we will all correlate that), and here’s a contemporary one…

Nomophobia- fear to becoming without mobile phone coverage, and according to experts, more than half the individuals in our own country suffer the pain of this!

  A few of you here fear many things as Christmas approaches.  Who among us does not have financial fear, worried we simply have enough money to celebrate Christmas and start to get presents for the youngsters or grandkids. Many have anxiety about achieveing the family together and of course the inevitable conflicts.

  John 14:27 (ESV Strong's)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not like on earth gives do I share with you. Let not your hearts be anxious, neither allow them to be afraid.

  HOW CAN YOU FIND REAL PEACE THIS CHRISTMAS?

  You won’t find peace the world over in this world. Politicians cannot debate and provides us peace, lawmakers cannot legislate Peace. Pop stars can’t rate it for your requirements by songs, actors cannot fool you in it, and not to mention religion can’t create peace in your circle (even if it calls itself peace while it’s blowing you up!).

  Only Jesus, only a hurtful relationship with Him, only having His Holy Spirit living within you may give you peace. So let’s consider a few of the anxieties you face this Christmas, and never what I use the phrase about peace, but precisely what Jesus gives you this morning…

  1.      PEACE IN LACK

  If you are concerned about finances this Christmas, and I number myself among these, then Jesus knows and understands.  We worry a lot about acquiring and enjoying the things of society, but worry is like a rocking horse… it keeps the mind occupied, even so you don’t actually get anywhere.

  Matthew 6:25-27 (ESV Strong's)

“Therefore I tell you, do not be troubled of your life, the things you will eat or what you may will drink, nor concerning your body, what you will put on. Is just not life greater than food, and the entire body more than clothing? Consider the birds no matter the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, however your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you currently not of more value than they? And which of you by becoming anxious could add a single hour to his span of life?

  Stop, take a look at your life right now. Can you add even a single hour into it by worrying? Nope, nobody can.  But I have discovered a fantastic key towards stopping worry and anxiety about money and other things within my life. And I’m not even that clever, due to the fact that a few verses later, Jesus tells us the reply…

  Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV Strong's)

Therefore do not be concerned, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What we could wear?’ Regarding the Gentiles seek in spite of everything this stuff, and also your heavenly Father knows that you ll require them all. But seek first the dominion of God brilliant righteousness, and all this stuff will probably be included in you.

  This is a Christian paradox that I have proven true many times… when you be worried about, obsess about and push for cash, things, clothes and food, they seem to elude you. In the event you seek first His Kingdom, if you set your mind on loving and coming near near to God, this stuff seem to come along almost miraculously. And if they don’t, you don’t care since you are more occupied with God!

  Paul wrote

  Philippians 4:11-12 (ESV Strong's)

That I'm speaking of are need, for I got to know in whatever situation I'm it certainly doesn't need to be content. I already know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In different and every circumstance, I got to know the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

  You can get peace across the world, true peace across the world and contentment whether you have huge amounts or a bit this Christmas!

  2.      PEACE IN CONFLICT

  For all those worrying about family conflict, everything that is arrayed not in your favor, you can have peace within the midst of all that conflict. Don't fear this Christmas, but hearken to what the Lord says about conflict…

  2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV Strong's)

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

  A sound thoughts are self control. How lots of you are aware that, when the family gets together, it just takes one misplaced word and things escalate from there. Listen, a few of you need to master the power of shutting your mouth. The facility of holding your tongue, it doesn t matter how offended there is a chance that you are!

  No matter what other medication is saying near you, you can pick to remain silent and not escalate the situation. This Christmas, if you're worry about conflict, try being self controlled and remaining silent. Allow them to rant and rage… if your core mindset is Christ you can be an island of peace is a a lot of stressed out conflict!

    3.      PEACE IN BEING OVERLOOKED

  Every Christmas lots of you feel overlooked. Overlooked by family, maybe kids who own their family. Some of you are coping with broken families, separation, and a few individuals here just feel desperately, desperately lonely, especially at Christmas time.

  Psalms 68:5-6 (NIV-WS)

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in holy dwelling.

God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; however the rebellious reside in a sun-scorched land.

  If you feel lonely and overlooked this Christmas, defenderless, fatherless, lonely, keep in mind that, whatever your loved ones situation, you can enjoy a church family who loves you, the following at Ignite.

  Please don’t be consumed with worry and loneliness this Christmas. You are necessary, and you'll is probably not overlooked forever.  God says,

  1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV Strong's)

Humble yourselves, therefore, below the mighty hand of God in order that at the correct time he might exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

  So today, if you are lonely or overlooked, don’t have a look at your friends and family, search for at He who gave His life simpler for you! And cast your anxieties on Him.

  4.      PEACE IN PAIN

  Hurt people hurt people, and in case you are in pain, or near any person who is, likelihood is you’ve been tempted to or have already blamed God and attacked others around you.  I’ve seen people struggling with health conditions, or dealing with separation and broken relationships, blame God, when it is His expressed longing to prosper you, to not harm you, to give you another along with a hope.

  Pain, hurt, sickness and separation usually are not God’s fault. The devil and man’s sinful nature are responsible for all of the evil and pain you see around you. Sometimes God allows this to occur, but He always it provides a greater plan to build your life and your character.

  But this Christmas, how are you going to find peace across the world, even just in physical or psychological pain?

  Psalms 34:18-19 (ESV Strong's)

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Most are the afflictions no matter the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out out of them all.

  Consider Jesus this Christmas and permit Him to avoid wasting your crushed spirit. Though you could have many afflictions, God may be relied upon to offer you from all of these, so you can get perfect peace even in pain and suffering this Christmas. Trust Him, and consider taking your eyes off the suffering!

    5.      PEACE IN UNEXPLAINED FEAR

    Us only ever feel fear when we think of Christmas, not peace across the world!  Sometimes we are overwhelmed by worry, and we're not even sure what it is that’s causing it!

  When Franklin D Roosevelt arrived in power in 1933, he faced the depths of the Great Depression. During inaugural speech, he stated these words… “the one thing we've got to fear is fear itself,” and this is now precisely the same nature whatever the fears and anxiety that plagues us this and every Christmas.

  Psalms 91:5-7 (ESV Strong's)

You won't fear the phobia of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A lot of may fall by your side, 10000 at your own right hand, but it won't come near you.

  In the event you appear like you are afraid of almost everything, you could possibly’re not even sure why you fear, then you have to come prior to a Lord in prayer and request Him to overcome the fears and anxieties and surround just peace on earth…

  HOW TO FIND PEACE ON EARTH IN YOUR HEART AND MIND

  Peace the world over can be as elusive for us to find right at heads as it's to find it out there within the world. It looks like chasing a rainbow… generally if there’could be a pot of gold by the end no matter what the rainbow, the closer you get, the further it appears to be away.

  So this Christmas, how can you find perfect peace no matter what the christmas brings?

  Picture this… it’s after midnight, you are concerned about tomorrow’s troubles, you'll be able to’t sleep. You are attempting to still your mind, but it surely races at 100 miles an hour.

  Does this ever happen to your account?  You be aware that 90% of whatever you bother about never even occurs, but you can't tell the mind that, right?

  1.      PRAY

  Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV Strong's)

do not be concerned about anything, however in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made regarded by God. Plus the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

  So feelings is to wish, when you are worried and anxious, take your eyes over the circumstances and put them firmly in Jesus. Praying is merely actually talking to God, but at first to wish, if you confess your worries (because in any case, they are sin), and as you you hand the entire situation up to God, you may experience perfect peace flooding your soul.

  2.      READ

  The next verse in Philippians shows you how to obtain this perfect peace. It’s not by watching TV, it’s not through medication.  The peace that really guards your hearts and minds and protects you against worry and anxiety…

  Philippians 4:8 (ESV Strong's)

Finally, brothers, anything that is true, whatever is honourable, whichever is just, whatever is pure, anything that is lovely, everything that is commendable, if there is any excellence, in case there is anything as deserving praise, take into consideration these things.

  When you read His Word, if you meditate on all of those things. You begin to think about what it says. Then you consider taking your eyes over the circumstances and position them on Christ, and you will experience peace. Reading the Bible every single day slowly but surely changes how you think, speak and behave. Having Scripture as part of your heart guards it against attack, and allows peace to settle.

  It sets the brain on God, and once you develop eyes upon Him, everything near you grows strangely dim.

  Isaiah 26:3 (ESV Strong's)

You keep him in perfect peace whose method is stayed in the car, because he trusts in you.

  How will you trust someone you have no idea? If some guy on the street asks me for $50, I’m prone to say no. If my other half asks me, I’m likely, indeed compelled to speak about yes. What’s the difference? One I know and trust, the other is unknown.

  Read God’s Word and spend time with Him, and peace will flow through you this Christmas.

  3.      FELLOWSHIP

  Once we join the circulation together, there is a supernatural strength. That's what Church is about. It’s not about singing, preaching or raising money, it is about worshipping together and supporting one another.

  People often say to me, “I really like Jesus but hate Church.” I understand this , but they can also be really missing out on a value of faith and peace you simply cannot find by yourself. God made us to become His body, joined together. So this Christmas, don’t hate Church, just find the right one because your peace will be increased in the event you do.

    People often think Church concerns a lovely experience, and huge churches have lights, smoke machines and top class entertainment. You can attend, sneak out afterwards and avoid having to do anything. But that’s Christian entertainment, folks, not Church. Church is about being connected, not being a consumer!

  But exactly what many people today actually need just isn't a great experience , deserve a group of believers who stand with them. The believer is encouraged to placed on the complete armour of God…

  Ephesians 6:16 (ESV Strong's)

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you'll be able to extinguish all the flaming darts no matter the evil one;

  The shield Paul has bear in mind is a Roman shield, which has been not used in isolation but with other soldiers, forming a wall of shields. Your faith can shield you somewhat when you're isolated its not good yourself, however when joined with others in people you have some serious protection against the enemies flaming darts.

  PEACE, MAN, PEACE

    So this Christmas, the world cannot offer you peace across the world, but God can. You possibly can let the peace on earth which passes understanding guard your heart and your mind right now.

  But it's essential to understand this… The peace of God is a present; it's not something we can manipulate and it’s not something we can preorder from a list or a web site, which is you can of being one with Him.  It's the result of leaving and letting God control and bother about what is occurring in the life.

  When our relationship with Jesus is powerful and adversity strikes, we do not mean crumble or give up to fret and anxiety. We can choose, and notice that it is a choice, we can select to are now living in the steadfast and clear confidence of His love, His wisdom, His power, and His provision.

  Right here is the basis of His unshakable peace on earth—not which we able to do to your house controlling circumstances, though it His help is ever-present and ideal to produce us in nearly every challenge we face. True peace is inner peace with God, regardless of the circumstances, and even in war we might be at peace.

  So this Christmas, let not your heart be troubled. So be the peace of God flood your life.

  If you're dreading something about this Christmas, when you have fear, anxiety, worry or anything else, individuals moment to have us stand along with you and pray for peace the world over to those with whom He's pleased.

  But if you are willing to don’t think God is content with you, if you don’t know Him or when you've got been running from Him, or ignoring a Him, then we have to solve that first.  In case you are far from God, or still haven't asked Him into one's life, this is your moment