Activists Recite Gay Christ Poem
In a face-off Thursday over Britain's 17th-century blasphemy laws, sidewalk preachers bellowing biblical verses drowned out a group of free-speech activists...risking prosecution and even jail by reciting the explicit poem, which imagines a Roman centurion having a sexual encounter with the body of Jesus Christ just after he was removed from the cross. :: This AP report is submitted for your wickedness increases (Matthew 24:12) files.

U.S. Capable of Quick Iraq Strike
The United States is capable of launching a rapid attack on Iraq by marshaling 50,000 troops at the Kuwaiti border in roughly a week, airlifting them in and bringing their tanks and heavy equipment on ships through the Strait of Hormuz. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

New Web ID Standards to Be Unveiled
An industry coalition is set to unveil standards for identity authentication on the Internet, the first step toward making the task of remembering long lists of Web site passwords a thing of the past. :: This AP report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files.

Militants Wire Web With Links to Jihad
One Web site urges Muslims to travel to Pakistan to ''slaughter American soldiers.'' Another solicits donations to buy dynamite to ''blow up Israeli Jews.'' A third shows previously unaired videotape of Osama bin Laden and promises film clips of American casualties in Afghanistan. :: This USA Today report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) files.

AIDS Infections Up Among Young Women
The AIDS pandemic is increasingly becoming one of young women, experts say. About half of all new infections are in women and among people in their late teens and early 20s, females account for nearly two-thirds of new cases. :: This AP report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

Jordan Rejects Force Against Iraq
Jordan rejects the use of force against Iraq and will not allow foreign troops to use its territory in an attack against its eastern neighbor and main trade partner, a Cabinet minister said Wednesday. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Jordan (Daniel 11:41) files. So, the question is, does this cabinet minister speak for the king? And, wouldn't Bush have already coordinated with the king prior to making his very public threats against Saddam?

New Bloodshed in Middle East After Talks Lift Hopes
Palestinian gunmen killed an Israeli officer in the Gaza Strip and Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian in the West Bank Wednesday, ensuring tension remains high despite a resumption of talks between the sides. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Luke 21:20) files.

Turkish Police on Terror Alert
U.S. intelligence warned Turkey recently about a biological or chemical attack, a Turkish government official said Wednesday, amid reports that the substances had been smuggled into the country to be used against the U.S. and Russian embassies. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Al-Qaida Spokesman Makes New Threats
A key al-Qaida spokesman has made a new threat to attack American targets and urged Muslims the world over to "kill enemies of God everywhere." "Al-Qaida will organize more attacks inside American territory and outside, at the moment we choose, at the place we choose and with the objectives that we want," al-Qaida's chief spokesman, Kuwaiti-born Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, said in an audio recording aired by an Islamic Web site believed to be close to the terror network blamed for the Sept. 11 attacks. The new targets, he said, will be "American and Jewish ... our arrogant enemies." :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Matsushita to License Nokia Phone Software
Nokia said on Wednesday Japanese rival Matsushita will buy its software for smartphones that send e-mails, pictures and play games, boosting the world's largest handset maker's position in software. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your global village/world community (Rev 11:9) files.

Well, I just checked the Yaccs web page and they now have a notice up saying it will be a few days before they admit new subscribers, so I went ahead and signed up with one of their competitors: Right now it's just a test, please feel free to send your feedback or leave a comment. I'm still trying to figure out why the text is in Italian.

Red Heifer Status Report
Red Heifer Born in Israel, April 8th, 2002. It can now be revealed that less than one month ago, a red heifer was born in Israel. After the heifer's owner contacted the Temple Institute, on Friday, April 5th, 2002, Rabbi Menachem Makover and Rabbi Chaim Richman traveled to the farm where the heifer is located, to inspect and validate her status. The rabbis found her to be kosher and were satisfied that this heifer could indeed be a candidate to be used in the process of purification described in the book of Numbers, Chapter 19. This is an important development towards the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. :: This Temple Institute report is submitted for your holy place (Matthew 24:15 & 2 Thessalonians 2:4) files.

I'm still trying to sign up for Yaccs to add a commenting system to this blog. No luck yet, their web page was down the last time I tried. However, I did add two chat room links to the list of links on the blog roll, one is for AIM users and the other is for AOL users, both point to the same room (I think). Anyway, drop by and say hi and chat with other visitors to this blog.

U.S. Jews Moving to Israel
In the face of Mideast violence, nearly 400 Americans moved to Israel Tuesday to build new lives in the Jewish state, the largest single group to arrive in years. :: This AP report is submitted for your return to Israel (Ezekiel 37:12; 39:25-29) files.

Bush Vows to Oust Saddam Hussein
President Bush is vowing to "use all the tools at our disposal" to bring down Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) with Iraq (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files. I don't know about you, but I think Bush should do more attacking and less vowing. The U.S. should only vow to topple a foreign leader once and then do it. Constant repetition of these vows only undermine credibility and embolden Saddam.

Al-Qaida Spokesman: Group Thriving
In an interview published Tuesday, the spokesman for al-Qaida said the terrorist organization led by Osama bin Laden was thriving and planning new attacks on Americans. He called the U.S. campaign to dismantle the group a "Hollywood script." :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war files.

Top Officials to Meet on Mideast
Secretary of State Colin Powell is setting up Mideast talks with top U.N., European and Russian officials in a bid to broaden support for President Bush's tough line on Yasser Arafat...U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and European Union diplomat Javier Solana are expected to meet in New York on Monday with Powell. :: This AP report is submitted for your covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) files.

Earth "Will Expire By 2050"
A study by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), to be released on Tuesday, warns that the human race is plundering the planet at a pace that outstrips its capacity to support life. :: This report from the Observer is submitted for your fear for the future (Luke 21:26) files.

Asia Criticized for Silence in Face of AIDS Menace
U.N. officials and AIDS activists denounced Asian leaders on Monday for remaining silent in the face of concern that Asia might overtake Africa as the continent hardest hit by the disease. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files. There should be a lot of reports on HIV/AIDS this week, as the World AIDS conference begins in Spain. And an aside, I wondered in a past update why the media did not refer to the global scourge of AIDS as a pandemic and today I noticed that the daily Jennings' Journal (ABCNEWS' World News Tonight, Mon., July 8) did just that. They reported that, "An international conference on AIDS opened today with -- among other depressing headlines -- the stark news that life expectancy in 51 countries will be shortened by the pandemic." So there you have it, one major news outlet has referred to AIDS as a pandemic.

North and South Korea Trade Accusations and Threats
Bitter rivals North and South Korea traded threats and accusations on Monday, blaming each other for a naval battle that killed sailors on both sides and saying another clash could follow. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) files. Let's just hope the Korean War doesn't get hot anytime soon.

Third of Cell Phone Users Eye New Phones
Nearly one-third of U.S. mobile phone users plan to upgrade their handsets within a year to get new features such as voice recognition, text messaging and downloadable ring tones, according to a study released on Monday. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your world community (Rev 11:9-10) files. In the brave new wired and unwired world, you will soon be able to reach out and touch anyone at anytime and exchange voice, video and text in real-time.

Experts Urge Mass Vaccination for Smallpox Attack
Mass vaccination would save thousands more lives in a smallpox attack than the current limited strategy that has been recommended to the U.S. government, experts said on Sunday. In a study criticizing the limited vaccination plan, they recommended federal officials be ready to vaccinate millions of people. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) and rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Thank you to Kath, who wrote to recommend Yaccs. Yaccs does seem to be the most popular commenting system out there, especially for Blogger hosted blogs. Unfortunately, it's so popular that they limit the number of people who can sign up for it each day. I'll try again tomorrow.

Comment Formats?
I'm thinking of adding a commenting system to this blog to allow readers to leave their comments regarding blog entries. I've been told this is one way to build a community around a blog and that commenting works especially well for blogs that are thematic, like this one, where one would expect the same frequent visitors who would be interested in interacting with other frequent visitors who are interested in this topic. I am looking into two commenting systems, one called YACCS and the other called enetation. If any of you are familiar with these commenting systems and wish to offer some advice, please e-mail me. I'm particularly interested in finding out which of these are the most Blogger friendly.

Different Approaches Needed for Each AIDS Epidemic
Different strategies are needed to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS which is not one but many epidemics throughout the world, a leading AIDS expert said on Saturday...Whether it is through intravenous drug use in southern and eastern Europe, commercial sex workers in Asia, heterosexual sex in Africa or risky behavior in the United States, the spread of the virus is insidious and must be tackled on various fronts. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files. I think it is interesting that the media still avoid using the term pandemic to refer to HIV/AIDS.

U.S. Plan for Iraq Is Said to Include Attack on 3 Sides
An American military planning document calls for air, land and sea-based forces to attack Iraq from three directions the north, south and west in a campaign to topple President Saddam Hussein, according to a person familiar with the document. The document envisions tens of thousands of marines and soldiers probably invading from Kuwait. Hundreds of warplanes based in as many as eight countries, possibly including Turkey and Qatar, would unleash a huge air assault against thousands of targets, including airfields, roadways and fiber-optics communications sites. :: This New York Times/Yahoo report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

AIDS Drug Ordered in South Africa
After nearly a year of legal battles, South Africa's Constitutional Court ordered the government Friday to provide HIV-infected pregnant women with a key AIDS drug that could save their babies from the deadly virus. :: This AP report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

Western Wall Wet Spot Mystifies the Faithful
A wet patch has appeared on the revered Western Wall of Jerusalem's Old City, interpreted by some as a sign the messiah is coming, and others as evidence of a leaky pipe. :: This Reuters/Yahoo report is submitted for your Temple Mount (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4; Daniel 9:27) files.

Happy Birthday America! Visit the National Archives for background and full text of the Declaration of Independence. Let me leave you with this quote from President John Quincy Adams: "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: It connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government and the principles of Christianity."

VA Police to Test Face Software
If you're a criminal [citizen], a runaway [citizen] or a terrorist [citizen], a day at the beach here may soon be anything but that. The city will become the second in the nation — Tampa, Fla., is the other — to employ facial-recognition software to assist police in identifying and catching criminals and missing persons. :: This AP report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files. :: The logic of the surveillance society suggests that by virtue of being in a public space, your right to privacy (to live without the fear of government interference with your pursuit of life, liberty and property) is forfeit. But, as our fascist friends will remind us, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. Can we really say we live in a free society if the presumption of having nothing to hide can be challenged by the State at any time? You say you have nothing to hide, prove it. But, doesn't the burden of proof rest with the State? Are not citizens presumed innocent until proven guilty? But, I'm sure the State knows best. Citizens may be law abiding, but you never know, best to monitor them just in case. One question though, who watches the watchers?

Witches Win Converts
Witchcraft is the fastest-growing religion in Australia. Census figures show an increasing number of worshippers are looking towards the earth, rather than the heavens, in search of God. There are now nearly 9000 witches in Australia, up from fewer than 2000 in 1996, while the number of pagans more than doubled to 10,632. :: This Herald Sun report is submitted for your wickedness increases (Matthew 24:12) and false Christs (Matthew 24:4) files.

Biometrics Companies Work To Enhance Facial Recognition Systems
AXCESS Inc., a leading provider of advanced technology security and asset management solutions, and AcSys Biometrics Corp., a leading provider of facial recognition solutions, announced today an agreement to market a joint solution for access control applications. The joint solution combines the AcSys Face Recognition System (AcSys FRS) and AXCESS wireless identification tags to create an access control solution with the complete accountability of biometric authentication and the convenience and speed of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). :: This PR Newsire press release is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files. In the near future (the day after tomorrow) you will have to prove to a computer that you are you in order to gain access. RUU?

Sen.: Syria Giving Mixed Signals
A member of a Senate delegation to the Middle East said Wednesday that Syria is offering a mixed response to President Bush's call for it to ``choose the right side'' in the fight against terrorism. :: This AP report is submitted for your doomed Damascus (Isaiah 17:1) files. I think we can hazard a guess that Syria will not choose the right side.

British Government Tests Public Appetite for Identity Cards
The U.K. government will invite opinions from politicians, interest groups, the police and legal authorities on the introduction of a type of identity card. :: This Bloomberg report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files. :: I don't think ID cards are the mark of the beast, of course, it's just all part of the trend. The real problem with an identity card (at least for Americans) is that it smacks of the fascist/totalitarian state demanding to see your papers. It implies conditional citizenship granted by the authority and generosity of the state. The state gives and the state can take away - identity, property, freedom...life. However, in the United States we believe that citizenship is by virtue of birth in America and not granted by the state, and that rights are from God, not the state. Both are core beliefs that elevate the status of the individual at the expense of state power. For the state to issue a document or card that you must have in order to claim your inalienable rights flies in the face of those two beliefs.

India, Pakistan Cross Swords over Rebel Incursions
India said on Wednesday infiltration by Muslim guerrillas into its part of Kashmir from Pakistan had risen again despite a pledge by Islamabad to end such incursions. :: It looks like tensions between these nuclear armed neighbors are increasing rather than decreasing. This Reuters report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Gov't Steps Up Security for July 4
Combat jets will patrol the skies over New York, Washington and other U.S. cities Thursday as part of the government's beefed-up security for Fourth of July celebrations. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Hubble Snaps 'Fireworks' of Old Supernova
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured the rainbow-hued "fireworks" of an old supernova whose dying light first reached Earth some 320 years ago, scientists said on Wednesday. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your signs in the stars (Luke 21:25) files.

AIDS Epidemic Surges, 70 Million May Die, UN Says
AIDSwill kill 70 million people over the next 20 years unless rich nations step up their efforts to curb the disease, the United Nations warned on Tuesday in a report showing the epidemic is still in its early stages. :: This Reuters report on the global AIDS pandemic is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:20) files.

U.S. to Discuss Arafat With EU
The United States will try to resolve differences with its Mideast peace partners over Yasser Arafat in talks this week, the State Department said Monday. :: This AP report is submitted for your covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) files.

Two Pilots Charged with Being Drunk in Cockpit
Two America West pilots taxiing for takeoff from Miami were ordered to turn the passenger plane back to the terminal on Monday and arrested on charges of operating a plane while drunk, police said. :: This Reuters report of the latest in a series of shocking betrayals of the public trust is submitted for your wickedness increases (Matthew 24:12) files.

Satellite Pictures Show Huge Eruption on Sun
A massive solar eruption, more than 30 times the length of Earth's diameter, blasted away from the sun on Monday, and a satellite captured graphic images of the event. :: This Reuters report on the latest solar flare is submitted for your signs in the sun (Luke 21:25) files.

Philippine Troops Fight Extremists
Philippine troops, backed by helicopter gunships, pounded Muslim extremist guerrillas with artillery and rocket fire Monday in the latest clash in a U.S.-backed military offensive, officials said. :: This AP report from the far front of the war on terrorism is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) files.

U.S. Defends Afghan Village Bombing
U.S. planes bombed a village in central Afghanistan on Monday after the U.S. military said American forces came under fire. Afghans said villagers were celebrating a wedding and that scores were killed and injured, including many women and children. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files. Rumor is a particularly good way to describe this event because right now there are multiple accounts of what actually happened.

Indian Bureau Man Charged in Fire
A Bureau of Indian Affairs employee was charged Sunday with starting one of two wildfires that merged to became the largest in Arizona's history and destroyed more than 400 homes. :: This AP report is sibmitted for your wickedness increases (Matthew 24:12) files.

Vigilance Urged for Fourth of July
Americans should take extra care on the Fourth of July because the national holiday is an attractive symbol to potential terrorists, Bush administration officials said Sunday. The FBI plans to monitor and protect major Independence Day parades and festivities as a precaution against an attack. The bureau also has issued a law enforcement bulletin asking police to be on heightened alert even though no specific new intelligence suggests an attack. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Israeli Forces Kill Senior Hamas Militant
Israeli special forces killed a top bombmaker of the military wing of the Islamic group Hamas in a raid on Sunday on a house in the West Bank city of Nablus, Israel Radio said. :: This Reuters report submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Luke 21:20 ) files. Note that when Israel attacks Hamas it is with surgical strikes against military targets, not civilians.

Korean Warships Exchange Fire; 4 Die
In a blow to Korean reconciliation efforts, a North Korean navy boat sank a Southern patrol boat in the Yellow Sea Saturday, killing at least four South Korean sailors, wounding another 20, and leaving at least one missing. :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Israeli Army Destroys Palestinian HQ
With a pair of thunderous nighttime explosions, Israel destroyed the hulking Palestinian municipal and security headquarters in this West Bank city Saturday, but mystery surrounded the fate of 15 armed Palestinians that Israel said were holed up inside. :: This AP report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Luke 21:20) files.

Magnitude-7.2 Quake Shakes China
A strong earthquake shook northeastern China early Saturday but local officials said there were no deaths or major damage. The magnitude-7.2 quake struck Jilin province, which borders Russia and North Korea, at 1:19 a.m., according to the official Xinhua News Agency, which cited the Beijing Seismological Bureau. :: This AP report is submitted for your quake (Matthew 24:7) files.

Photo Purports to Show Baby Bomber
Israel's army released a photograph purporting to show a Palestinian baby dressed like a suicide bomber with ammunition belts and explosives strapped to its body and a head band of the Islamic militant group Hamas. :: According to the article, the Israeli army distributed the picture to "tell the world that the Palestinians are teaching their children how to hate Israel and how to act against Israel." I wonder how there can be peace when entire generations of Palestinians have been indoctrinated to hate Israel and hate Jews? Submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Luke 21:20) files.

Colombian Priest Killed After Mass
A Catholic priest who was critical of leftist rebels was gunned down in front of a church where he had just performed mass, becoming the latest religious leader killed in Colombia's escalating civil war. :: This AP report is submitted for your believers persecuted (Matthew 24:12) files.

India Rules Out War With Pakistan
India's prime minister ruled out the possibility of war with Pakistan, but expressed doubts Friday that the Pakistani leader would permanently stop incursions by Islamic militants. :: Isn't that reassuring. This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

G-8 Agrees on Anti-Terror Cause
President Bush and wealthy allies reached out to fight both terrorism and poverty Thursday, offering Russia up to $20 billion to secure vulnerable weapons stockpiles and pledging billions of dollars for Africa, the world's most impoverished continent. :: This AP report is submitted for your ten kings (Rev 17:12-14) files.

China Races to Replace U.S. as Economic Power in Asia
China is rapidly strengthening its economic presence across Asia and chipping away at the United States' position as the region's most important trading partner. :: This Yahoo/New York Times report is submitted for your kings of the East (Rev 16:12) files. :: It has been some time since the last Kings of the East update to the ETN list. The last one was when the Chinese leader visited Israel. For those of the new to the study of Bible prophecy, the general idea is that China or a group of Asian powers is implicated in the final battle over Jerusalem before the Second Coming. Though China would seem to lack the power projection capabilities for such a conflict at this time, China does have growing defense and trade relationships with Israel and several Arab countries.

Pledge Ruled Unconstitutional
Stunning politicians on both the left and right, a federal appeals court declared for the first time Wednesday that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional because of the words "under God" inserted by Congress in 1954. :: This AP report submitted for your wickedness (Matthew 24:12) increases files. As many have already asked, how can we continue to ask God to bless the USA if we continue to deny Him?

UN Says China Faces AIDS Catastrophe
The United Nations said on Thursday that China was on the brink of an HIV/AIDS catastrophe of unimaginable proportions in one of its harshest assessments yet of the country's efforts to stem the spread of the deadly virus. :: This AP report on the AIDS pandemic is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

Bush Middle East Plan Under Scrutiny at G8
The world's most powerful leaders, hidden away in the Canadian Rockies under a massive security blanket, start a two-day summit on Wednesday that is likely to be dominated by President Bush's troubled plan to end the Middle East crisis. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your ten kings (Rev 17:12-14) files.

G8 Summit 2002
G8 leaders pose against a Canadian Rocky Mountain backdrop at Kananaskis June 26, 2002. Left to right are Italian President Silvio Berlusconi, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, U.S. President George Bush, French President Jacques Chirac, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar of the EU Council and European Commission President Romano Prodi. (Sergey Karpukhin/Reuters)

Microsoft Aims to Improve Security
Microsoft Corp. has disclosed an ambitious new project to improve security by creating within its Windows software a virtual "vault" where customers would conduct electronic transactions and store sensitive information. :: This AP report on digital ID verification and e-commerce security is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files.

WHO: Ebola Outbreak Spreads to Gabon
Experts investigating a possible outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Republic of Congo have found four suspected cases in neighboring Gabon, the World Health Organization said Tuesday. :: This AP report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

Bush's Mideast Plan Draws Israeli Praise, Arab Ire
President Bush's new Middle East policy stirred anger and despair among Palestinians and throughout the Arab world but delighted Israel Tuesday as it pressed on with its West Bank military offensive. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) files.

Study: Earth Can't Meet Human Demand for Resources
The consumption of forests, energy and land by humans is exceeding the rate at which Earth can replenish itself, according to research published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your fear for the future (Luke 21:26) files.

Bush: New Palestinian Leadership Needed for Peace
President Bush, charting a course to Middle East peace and rebuking Yasser Arafat, said on Monday Palestinians must choose new leaders "not compromised by terror" to achieve a state alongside Israel. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) files.

G-8 to Focus on Terrorism, Africa
President Bush and colleagues in the rich-country club will focus on terrorism in all its aspects at this year's economic summit, they will consider improving intelligence cooperation as well as other measures to combat poverty. :: This AP report is submitted for your ten kings (Rev 17:12-14) files. I applaud G8 efforts to combat poverty. Who could argue with that? But, they are laboring under the assumption that poverty breeds terrorism. This is misguided. There are poor people all over the world, but their response to their situation does not include blowing people up. OBL came from a wealthy Saudi family and yet he still became a terrorist.

Sharon Pledges Gaza Strip Offensive
Israeli forces clamped down harder on the West Bank, as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pledged to widen his military offensive against Palestinian extremists to the Gaza Strip, where a helicopter strike killed four Hamas members Monday. :: This AP report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Luke 21:20) files.

Broadband Broadens Base
Internet surfers who have high-speed ''broadband'' connections do more than just point, click and consume content. They also contribute to cyberspace by becoming creators. :: This USA Today report is submitted for your wired world (Rev 11:9-10) files.

Israel Retakes Palestinian City, Calls Up Reservists
Israeli army expanded its West Bank operations on Sunday, killing at least one Palestinian and pushing into another town to hunt militants behind a series of devastating suicide attacks. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Luke 21:20) files.

Qaeda Says Behind Tunis Synagogue Attack, Vows More
A known al Qaeda spokesman said in a voice recording broadcast on Sunday that the militant group was behind a deadly suicide attack at a Tunisian synagogue and warned of fresh attacks against the United States in "months." :: This Reuters report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

The Bible and the Apocalypse
Time Magazine is devoting a cover story to Bible prophecy. It is not unusual for Time to consider religious matters, they have done previous cover stories on prayer, on Jesus and on Biblical archaeology. Of the national news magazines, I would say that Time has shown the most interest, and the most balance, in covering religious issues. So, I heartily encourage you to read this article while keeping in mind that it is from mainstream media. Still, God is very cool to use this forum to give people a heads-up on events.

Arafat Said Ready to Accept Clinton Plan
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is prepared to accept a Mideast peace plan put forward by then-U.S. President Bill Clinton in December 2000, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Friday. :: This AP report is submitted for your covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) files. :: Here is a thought, what if the Clinton plan is the "covenant" that awaits confirmation? At one time it was accepted by Israel (Barak accepted it) and now it has been accepted by Arafat. And now, a little war to shake things up. After the dust settles, the plan returns to the table and is "confirmed." Just a thought. Still, the reality now is that the plan is off the table and Arafat's comments are a sign of his desperation as his credibility continues to collapse.

Seventeen Killed in Raging Gunbattles Across Kashmir
Violence flared in the disputed Kashmir region, at the core of a fight between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, with 17 people, including 15 rebels, killed in separate gunbattles, officials said on Friday. :: This Reuters report submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files. :: The media seemed to have backed away from covering this crisis, a missing Utah girl being so much more important, but it's worth noting that India and Pakistan still have over a million troops facing each other on their border and gunbattles between them are still raging. It's a war that could turn hot, and nuclear, at any moment.

South African Man May Have 'Mad Cow' Disease
A 27-year-old South African man slipped into a coma on Friday after being taken to hospital with what is believed to be the deadly human form of "mad cow" disease, a government official said. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

Western Warplanes Launch Raid in Iraq
Iraq said four people were killed on Thursday when Western warplanes launched a raid in south Iraq which the U.S. military said was prompted by Iraqi anti-aircraft fire at jets policing a "no-fly" zone. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq toasted to a nuclear cinder (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files. :: You will never hear this from the major news media, but you should know that the Gulf War never ended and is presently ongoing. Traditionally, according to historical precedent and international law, wars are ended with the signing of a formal peace treaty between the combatant nations. Treaties define the peace settlement and establish the postwar order. The Gulf War "ended" in 1991 with the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the United States (leading UN coalition forces) and Iraq. This ceasefire agreement has since been violated many times. When a ceasefire agreement is violated hostilities are said to have resumed until new terms are agreed upon or a formal treaty is signed, neither of which has happened. So, like the Korean War, the Gulf War is technically still ongoing. Just ask Saddam.

Israel Calls Up Reserve Soldiers
Israel called up reserve soldiers Thursday and detained many Palestinian men and youths for questioning after troops entered Palestinian towns in a widening military response to a wave of suicide attacks. :: This AP report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Luke 21:20) files.

New Method to Make Faster, Smaller Computer Chips
Computer microchips could become smaller, faster and cheaper, thanks to scientists in the United States who have developed a speedier method of printing minuscule patterns on silicon chips. :: This Reuters report submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev. 13:16-18) files.

Baby Star 'Winks,' Hints at Nascent Planet System
A Sun-like star just out of infancy has winked at astronomers, indicating its eclipse by cosmic dust and rocks, the stuff of which planets like Earth could possibly form, scientists reported on Wednesday. :: This Reuters report submitted for your signs in the stars (Luke 21:25) files.

U.S. Concerns Set to Dominate G8 Summit Next Week
A two-day summit of world leaders in Canada next week seems set to be dominated by the needs and concerns of the United States, to the likely irritation of everyone else taking part. :: This Reuters report submitted for your ten kings (Rev. 17:12-14) files.

Suicide Bombing Kills 3 in Israel
A suicide bomber detonated explosives at a bus stop in northern Jerusalem on Wednesday evening, killing at least three people and injuring more than 20, according to Israeli media reports and police. :: This AP report on today's homicide bombing is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Luke 21:20) files.

Powell May Make Mideast Peace Trip
President Bush may send Secretary of State Colin Powell to the Middle East to try to promote peace efforts that were set back Tuesday by a suicide blast that killed 20 people in Jerusalem. :: This AP submitted for your covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) files.

Suicide bomber blows himself up on bus; at least 20 killed
An Islamic extremist detonated nail-studded explosives on a Jerusalem city bus crowded with high school students and office workers Tuesday, killing himself and 19 passengers in the deadliest suicide attack in the hard-hit city in six years. Fifty-five people were injured. :: This AP report submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Luke 21:20) files.

Britain Rethinks Net Surveillance
The British government said Tuesday it was withdrawing a heavily criticized plan to give more bureaucrats and local authorities the power to monitor private e-mail and mobile telephone records. :: This AP report submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files.

Airport Safety Group Backs Biometrics
A Silicon Valley group charged with identifying technological answers to security problems at airports has released a report recommending the adoption of several high-tech products to improve passenger safety...including installing biometric identifiers to track airport employees. :: This ZDNet report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files.

Firefighter Ordered Held in Colorado Blaze
A U.S. federal magistrate on Monday ordered a fire prevention officer held without bail on charges of having ignited the largest wildfire in the history of the state of Colorado. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your wickedness increases (Matthew 24:12) files. :: Wickedness can be defined in many ways, but I think one of the worst expressions of wickedness is the betrayal of trust. For one who is supposed to prevent fires to admit to having set a fire that proved to be so damaging is truly wicked. The same logic applies to priests who abuse children or doctors who do harm. There is just something deeply disturbing about such violations of trust.

Bush to Formalize a Defense Policy of Hitting
President Bush has directed his top national security aides to make a doctrine of pre-emptive action against states and terrorist groups trying to develop weapons of mass destruction into the foundation of a new national security strategy, according to senior administration officials drafting the document. :: This New York Times report is submitted for your rumor of war files.

Big Crowd at Vatican as Padre Pio Made Saint
Before one of the largest crowds ever to fill the Vatican area, Pope John Paul Sunday made a saint of Padre Pio, a 20th century mystic monk who is said to have borne the bleeding wounds of Christ for 50 years. :: This Reuters report submitted for your false Christs (Matthew 24:4) files.

Arabs List Palestinian State Terms
Secretary of State Colin Powell is hearing from Arab leaders that any Palestinian state must include land Israel gained by war in 1967. :: This AP report submitted for your covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) files. :: Historically, territory gained by victory in war is considered the property of the victor. I wonder why that applies to every country except Israel?

G7 Confident on Economies, Sanguine on Dollar
Finance ministers from the world's rich nations were coolly confident on Saturday about the recovering world economy, and sanguine about the euro's rise against fragile U.S. dollar. :: This Reuters report on the ministerial meeting leading up to this months G8 summit is submitted for your ten kings (Rev 17:12-14) files.

West Nile Virus Seen Spreading Through Americas
West Nile virus, the mosquito-borne illness that has killed at least 18 people in the United States since 1999, has established itself in the eastern half of the country and threatens to spread to other parts of the Americas, U.S. health experts said on Thursday. :: This Reuters report submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

U.S. in Final Talks on Mideast Vision
The Bush administration held final consultations with Middle East leaders on Friday as President Bush prepared a peace initiative based on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. :: This Reuters report submitted for your covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) files.

Iraq: U.S. Attacks Targets in South
U.S. and British warplanes staged an attack on southern Iraq on Friday...in response to attempts to shoot down U.S. and British warplanes on Thursday. :: This Reuters report submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

Microsoft Defends .NET Passport
Microsoft insisted Tuesday that its .NET Passport service complied with European data protection laws, rejecting charges that it is "surreptitiously" collecting and passing on personal information about users. :: This AP report submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files. :: Digital ID verification and e-commerce go hand-in-hand and would seem to be what the mark is all about. Sure, we can go lowtek and say the mark will just be a tattoo, but really, in this high tech 21st Century world, I'm betting that the mark will be some combination of biometrics, ID verification, VeriChip, and digital watermark technology. Right now, I lean toward digital watermarks, but really, no matter how it turns out, the question for today is, how much do you really trust Microsoft to manage your digital identity?

Partial Solar Eclipse Expected Mon.
A dazzling solar eclipse will be on display across a broad swath of the western United States, Mexico, Canada and Asia on Monday, with as much as 99 percent of the sun obscured by the moon...It will be the last eclipse visible from the United States until 2005.. :: This AP report is submitted for your signs in the sun (Luke 21:25) files.

Bush: No Palestinian State Timetable
President Bush on Saturday sidestepped Arab pleas to impose a deadline for Palestinian statehood while Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak defended Yasser Arafat and urged, "Give this man a chance." :: This AP report submitted for your covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) files.

Two Moderate Quakes Shake Mexico
Two earthquakes centered in the Pacific coast state of Oaxaca shook parts of Mexico Friday, but there were no reports of injuries or damages. :: This AP report submitted for your quake (Matthew 24:7) files.

U.N. Fears Severe Africa Food Crisis
Two U.N. food agencies warned Friday that southern Africa will experience a severe food crisis without immediate international assistance. Nearly 13 million people in six southern African countries are at risk of starvation, the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization said in a statement. :: This AP report submitted for your famine (Matthew 24:7) files.

U.S. Hostage Killed in Philippines
U.S.-trained commandos freed a Kansas missionary after more than a year in captivity Friday but her American husband and a Filipino nurse were killed during the shootout with their Muslim extremist kidnappers. :: This AP report submitted for your believers persecuted (Matthew 24:8) files.

Israeli Army Raids Arafat HQ as Bomb Reprisal
Israeli tanks and troops stormed Yasser Arafat's presidential compound on Thursday, blowing up buildings and shelling his living quarters in a six-hour reprisal raid for a Palestinian car bombing. :: This Reuters report on the inevitable Israeli retaliation is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Luke 21:20) files. I wonder if Islamic Jihad realize that they are only undermining Arafat, who is now revealed for all to see as totally powerless, a mere figurehead, and certainly not the man to negotiate a peace with. After all, one negotiates with the people responsible for that attacks, and for Israel, that's not Arafat.

Bomb Kills 17 Israeli Bus Passengers
A Palestinian suicide bomber pulled a car packed with explosives alongside a moving bus and blew it up Wednesday in a huge fireball that killed 17 passengers, 13 of them Israeli soldiers. The military warned Palestinians were shifting tactics to kill more Israelis each time they strike. :: This AP report submitted for your battle for Jerusalem files.

Pakistan and India trade heavy fire across Kashmir border
Indian and Pakistani troops traded heavy fire on Wednesday after their leaders failed at an Asian security summit to ease fears of war between the nuclear-armed rivals. :: This Reuters report submitted for your rumor of war files.

On Kashmir Line, Pakistanis Wait, With Few Illusions
On this side of Kashmir's disputed frontier, the soldiers wait and watch, their guns ready for the assault that they expect could come at any moment. :: This NYT report on the S. Asian crisis submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Swiss Back Relaxing Abortion Laws
Swiss voters on Sunday overwhelmingly supported legislation making it easier for a woman to get an abortion within the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy. :: This AP report submitted for your wickedness increases (Matthew 24:12) files.