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A New Decade
If you could know the future (or some
of it), would you want to?
If you knew the future, could you then change it? Perhaps God’s omniscience and
mercy only allow glimpses of the future through elusive prophesy, but
He does reveal signs of things to come. The Star of Bethlehem, released in 2009,
provides insight into research of the Magi for the coming Savior that
led them to Bethlehem (http://bethlehemstar.net/). Israel has been the center of
prophetic signs for millennia and will continue to be at the forefront of
what God is doing.
Author and teacher on Islam and the end times, Joel Richardson returns to
Albuquerque at Olive Tree
Messianic (2621 Cagua NE, 352-1003) on Sat, Feb 6 and Sun, Feb 7. Sessions Saturday at 2:00PM and
7:00PM. Session Sunday at
10:00AM. Email randallwestfall@gmail.com
for more details. Things
are shaping up for a great conflict.
The nation faces uncertainty in 2010
with the economy, healthcare, H1N1, energy, terrorism, and war in the
mideast. We see continued
attacks on traditional values.
Yet God is sovereign and knows the plans He has for us. He commands His servants to
“occupy till I come” (Luk 19:13b). “Occupy” is a military term, meaning to possess and
utilize. The remnant is to
hold firm, without retreat, until the Master returns. Tit 2:13 - Looking for that
blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ.
Joe Renick
Intelligent Design Network
New Mexico Division
ID-notes is
being introduced as a regular article in CINews to provide hard-hitting
commentary on the science of cosmological and biological origins and
the impact various theories of origins have on our culture in the areas
of ethics, law, science, education and Christian faith and practice. We will address a wide range of
questions such as "what is intelligent design and how does it
differ from evolution?", "is theistic evolution
rational?", "is it constitutionally permissible to teach
ideas about intelligent design in the public school biology
classroom?", "what really happened in the intelligent design
trial in Dover, Pennsylvania in 2005?", "how do you answer
assertions that evolution is science and intelligent design is
religion?", "what are the implications of materialistic
theories of human origins on our fundamental rights and liberties as
American citizens?" and "are science and religion ancient
enemies which will forever be at war with each other?".
I welcome your
questions and comments at nmidnet@comcast.net.
Our next
meeting will take place Tuesday Jan 26 from 7-9 PM in rm 2401 of
the UNM Law School. Doug
Axe, director of the Biologic Institute, will be our special guest
speaker. His title is
"What Genomes And Proteomes Tell Us About Design". This is a rare opportunity to
hear about the cutting edge of research conducted from an ID
perspective. The Biologic
Institute is a nonprofit organization that fosters interdisciplinary
research aimed at developing the scientific case for intelligent design
and exploring its scientific implications. You can learn more about the Biologic Institute from
its website: www.biologicinstitute.org
The Creation Science Fellowship of New
Mexico monthly Meeting will be Tuesday, January 19th, 7pm, at Faith
Bible Church (Moon & Central, SE corner).
· Christian
Heritage Speech Competition 8th grade topic winners will
give their speech.
· Dr. John Doughty will give a short introduction to the
video The Noahaic Flood and a short discussion of the
significance of Noah’s Flood according to the Biblical Books of Matthew
and Mark.
Action
Follow the Issues – 2010 NM
Legislature
It is religion and morality alone, which can
establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. John Adams
The principles of all genuine liberty, and of wise
laws and administrations are to be drawn from the Bible and sustained
by its authority. Noah
Webster
The only assurance of our nation’s safety is to
lay our foundation in morality and religion. Abraham Lincoln
God grant that in America true religion and civil
liberty may be inseparable and that the unjust attempts to destroy the
one, may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of
both. John
Witherspoon (minister & patriot)
It is said that you can’t legislate morality. But morality is the foundation
for legislation.
Homosexual proponents have systematically legislated
their morality since sodomy was legalized in NM in 1975. NEVER believe it if you hear
“there is no homosexual agenda.”
It doesn’t stop here.
If same-sex marriage is OK, then why not multiple partners,
children, and even animals?
http://www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/homosexuality/
An 816 page bill crafted by LBGT proponents will
likely be debated during this budget-only session. Written to result in homosexual
marriage through court action, sources inform us that Governor
Richardson is favorably disposed to putting it on call. The bill’s appearance on the
legislative agenda indicates the zeal of homosexual marriage proponents
seeking to subject NM to a definition of marriage which it and 32 other
states have rejected. All
indications suggest that this will be a VERY determined fight. The church was extremely
influential in defeating SB12 in 2009. We need EVERYONE to participate this session.
Is opposing evil legislation the only option in
NM? No, Farmington Senator
William Sharer prefiled SENATE
JOINT RESOLUTION 1, an amendment to the state constitution that
would define marriage as one man and one woman. Historically, liberal NM
legislators have prevented this bill from leaving its first committee. Statistically, states have
approved traditional marriage when the decision is left to the people
(non-partisan ballot item).
New Mexicans must:
· visit their representatives, telling them to vote NO on
domestic partnership
· call, e-mail, fax or write representatives asking them
to oppose this bill
· encourage clergy to visit the legislature and advise
representatives to vote NO on domestic partnership
· ask clergy to call, e-mail, fax and write their reps to
oppose domestic partnership
Subscribe
to www.tvacnm.com to receive
timely updates.
The Albuquerque Journal (Jan 13) included an
ironic comment by Senator McSorley. “We’ve got a budget crisis, an ethics crisis, and an
investment crisis,” said Sen Cisco McSorley, an Albuquerque Democrat
and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I don’t know if we can deal with all three
in
a 30-day session.” Sen
McSorley passionately thrust the homosexual marriage bill (SB12) onto
the Senate Floor for a vote in 2009, where it failed 17-25. Apparently, the Senate
Judiciary has time for homosexual marriage, but too busy for three real
crises. Could it be that
NM Public Servants have lost their moral compass? On the same front page of the
Albuquerque Journal – “Doctor Resigns Over Allegations” and “Teacher,
34, Accused of Having Sex With Student, 16.”
Schedule a “day at the legislature” with a group
from your church. Jose
Vasquez, New Mexico Watchman, can help coordinate your visit. www.nmatchman.com, nmwatchman@comcast.net, (505)
438-0437
In a nation ravaged by the effects of HIV/AIDS,
the Ugandan bill criminalizing homosexual activity is getting
world-wide attention. The
proposed law makes clear what is not acceptable and should discourage
some from acting on their same-sex desires. Interestingly, only acts (not 'desires' or
'orientation') are condemned, and only rape, especially of children, or
recidivism can lead to a death sentence. The government has a responsibility to deter those
carrying HIV/AIDS from engaging in activities that could infect
others. Keep an eye on
Uganda. Commentary by Family Research Institute,
Dec 2009
Is AIDS related to behavior? Check
CDC statistics. For
AIDS cases through 2007:
· 52% - Male-to-male sexual contact
· 27% - Injection drug use
· 19% - High-risk heterosexual contact
· 2% - Other
· 98% of AIDS cases
are behavior related!
Sanctity of Human Life
Friday, January 22nd March for
Life-the annual commemoration of Roe v Wade legalization of abortion.
The goal is 3,000 marchers will proceed to the Roundhouse in defense of
life. We would like this
event to reflect the defense of LIFE and traditional MARRIAGE. For a complete schedule of
events go to: http://www.defendinglife.org/pro-life_news/abortion_events/solaud_january_2010.htmldomestic
Saturday, Jan 23rd Albuquerque
Right to Life will host a luminaria memorial at 2010 at Gate of Heaven
Cemetery, 7500 Paseo Del Norte NE, Albuquerque. 1000 luminaria bags featuring 5
names will be placed at the cemetery beginning at 3:30PM. More than 5000 unborn children
are aborted in New Mexico each year so this service is to honor each
one of them. A memorial
service in the chapel will commence at 5:30PM and will Include the four
seventh grade students who were winners at the Heritage Christian
Speech Contest. Also one
of Albuquerque’s board Members who experienced abortion personally will
share her story with us.
Please join us to remember the children. For more details,
please call Charlene at 505-345-4423.
Sunday, Jan 24th Sanctity of
Human Life Sunday http://www.sohls.org/
Feb 1-5 – Youth at the
Capitol TeenPact NM, http://www.teenpact.com/index.php?page=NM
 Tue, Feb 2nd
The philosophy of the school room in one
generation will be the philosophy of government in the next. – Abraham Lincoln
I advise no one to place his child where the
Scriptures do not reign paramount.
– Martin Luther
Education forms the moral characters of men, and
morals are the basis of government.
– Noah Webster
Bernalillo County Voters will go to the polls on
February 2, 2010. The
ballot will consist of a $391 million mill levy question and a $225
million general obligation bond question. If approved, the combined $617 million will fund
construction, improvement and maintenance projects at APS
facilities. Absentee,
early, and sample ballot voting info. Why pour money into a non-competitive, failing
system? Last school bond
election passed by only a slim margin (~60/40). Voter turnout is typically very
low, so your vote has a greater impact. Consider funding private education
instead. Private school stats.
Average
Private School Tuition: 2003-04
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All Levels
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Elementary
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Secondary
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K-12 Schools
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All Schools
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$6.600
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$5,049
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$8,412
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$8,302
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Catholic
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$4,254
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$3,533
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$6,046
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$5,801
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Other
Religious
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$5,839
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$5,398
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$9,537
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$5,748
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Non-Sectarian
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$13,419
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$12,169
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$17,413
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$13,112
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Source: Table
56, Digest of Education Statistics 2007, National Center
for Education Statistics.
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The National Center for Education Statistics
reported that the average per-student expenditure in public schools was
$8,310 in the 2003-04 school year. State's per-student expenditures ranged from a high
of $13,338 in New Jersey to a low of $4,991 in Utah. Based on the most recent
per-pupil expenditure figures, the average student enrolled in public
school for the next 12 years can expect to have about $100,000 spent on
his or her education. And what we
are getting for all that money? Despite this considerable investment, many students
will not receive a quality education. Public
school stats. We won't
see widespread improvements in American education until we as taxpayers
begin to recognize
the costs of the current American education system and demand
something better.
Albuquerque Journal, Jan 13, 2010 – Another
APS teacher, Patrick Matthews, a Volcano Vista High School teacher, has
been accused of having sex with a former student. … Just three months
ago, Kristy Sanchez, a Jimmy Carter Middle School teacher, was fired
after admitting to police that she had sex with a seventh-grader who
was in one of her classes.
No ethics? No
problem! Just a lifestyle.
Albuquerque Journal, Mar 6, 2002 – Gary Johnson
vetoed a bill aimed at breaking up the Albuquerque Public Schools
district after the APS board agreed to consider hiring private
companies to manage failing schools. House Majority Whip James Taylor, an Albuquerque
Democrat who sponsored the bill, said he opposed having private
companies manage public schools.
Taylor said breaking up APS would eliminate much unnecessary
bureaucracy. "Overall, you'd see a cost savings." So what do we have in 2010? Failing schools, no private
companies, and a bureauracy of cetaceous proportion.
What is the source of $$$ promoting school
taxes? www.yfocf.org sends color post cards
to Albuquerque voters, puts up billboards, and sends notes home with
students. Confilct of
interest? Why aren’t
school bond elections held in Nov with other elections? Small elections allow interest
groups to overwhelm opposition.
Citizens of NM passed a constitutional amendment in 2008 “to allow
school elections to be held at the same time as non-partisan elections.” When asked why this has never
been implemented, the County Clerk said the wording of the amendment
did not mandate that school and civil elections be combined. So the constitutional amendment
was meaningless. Truency
laws were established to mandate education, not to mandate public
education.
Feb 4 – CAPE at the
Capitol, http://cape-nm.org/pages/capeaction/capitol.php
In the News
Brit Hume Takes a
Stand for Christ. Brit
Hume’s commentary may be one of the best presentations of the gospel of
Jesus Christ in the public arena.
Video of
Brit's interview with Bill O'Reilly about the commentary.
The Malaysian government imposed a ban
on the use of the word “Allah” in print by non-Muslims. The Catholic
church brought the government to court over the issue, and just
recently won their law suit against the government when a high court
judge ruled the ban to be unconstitutional. Muslims have reacted strongly to the ruling, and
scheduled protests for today (Friday, January 08, 2010). It is 11:30 am
as I write this and news has broken that at least one church in Kuala
Lumpur has been fire bombed ahead of the protests, and four other
churches attacked. Our
request is that you pray for the church to respond as Jesus instructs
us to: “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matt.5:44,45). Louis Rose, louis_rose@sil.org
Religious Freedom Day (Jan
16). Our daughter took invitations to a Christmas program
from the church to school.
She wanted to be able to hand these out to her friends. She started to hand these invitations
out at the beginning of the day.
Once her teacher saw what she was handing out he told her that
she couldn't because they were religious. Later in the day Aubrey's teacher changed his story and
said that she could hand them out because she was participating in the
program. That same day
when Aubrey got home I gave the school a call to talk with the
teacher. He was
unavailable and I left a message.
He returned my call the next day. After talking with the teacher it became apparent
that he really did not have an understanding as to the rights of
students. His decision to
tell Aubrey that she could not hand out the invitations was due to fear
and a lack of knowledge. I
scheduled a meeting with the principal the following day. The principal warmly received
my wife and I to talk about the issue. The purpose of the meeting was to make clear to the
principal that Aubrey had and has the freedom to hand out invitations
or "religious" material at school. At the beginning the principal wanted to direct us
to the district office to get approval before handing out any
fliers. We had informed
her that this was not the case.
She came to see the point that any student led
"religious" activity is protected and cannot be denied by the
school. As a result, we
were able to work with the principal to help to put a policy together
for the school when handing out invitations whether religious in
content or otherwise. The
policy focused on choosing appropriate times during the day, not
forcing the invitation on to students who decline and also being
willing to have an invitation available for each student in the class.
Wes and Jennifer Miller, Awana® Missionaries, www.nmawana.org
Abstinence Education Continues in NM. Community Based
Abstinence Education (CBAE) and Title V monies were both zeroed out in an Act
passed by both the House and the Senate. Congress allocated $114 million toward Teen
Pregnancy Prevention Programs in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of
2010, which includes condom education. Funding streams that adhere to A-H Guidelines and
the 13 Themes have been de-funded as of October 1, 2010. The Act also creates a new
funding stream known as the "Evidence-based Teen Pregnancy
Prevention Program" under the Office of the Secretary of Health and
Human Services. This new
teen pregnancy "prevention" program does not include funding
for abstinence until marriage education, but includes contraception
education. "Our kids
are worth it - don't give up!
Your work is as important as it ever was, in fact, it's more
important. Think back to
before 1996, how were your programs funded? Go back to the beginning, go back to the reason you
started your organization - our youth," said Leslee Unruh, Founder
of the Abstinence Clearinghouse, "the Abstinence Clearinghouse is
in it for the long haul and we are here to serve you."
Regarding the NM situation, there are currently
two programs (that I'm aware of) that are offering abstinence
education. Socorro still
has their CBAE grant, but that will run out. The Community Abstinence Network (CAN) in Las Cruces
receives no public funding but is being run out of Angie Carver's
medical clinic. There is
always the option to raise private funds with which to operate a program. This is what ABQ did when the
Albuquerque Pregnancy Center/later to become CareNet Center of
Albuquerque operated their program from 1992 through 1998. Also at that time there were
privately funded abstinence education programs in other NM pregnancy
centers (Farmington, Gallup, Los Alamos, and Las Cruces). Other than Las Cruces (and
possibly Gallup), I don't believe the other pregnancy centers have had
programs for several years.
http://www.nmaec.org/
CINews – 5000 in 2010
Help CINews go over 5000 subscribers
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