Aug 14th, 2001: Thank You Thank You!

THE STAFF AND SWORD MINISTRY AUG UST 14, 2001

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(written by Nancy-TON I)

Dear friends in Christ, Thank you one and all for your prayers, words of encouragement and gifts of support for this ministry Jesus has called us to. It is greatly appreciated! Since we aren't a "nonprofit" organization, we don't issue receipts and your gifts aren't tax-deductible on that basis so we send out these limited-edition "Thank You" letters so you know we received

your gift and to also say "THANK YOU!!!"

One of the main issues in the news as of late has been the issue of emb ry onic stem cell research. This is where embryos are artificially started by impregnating a woman's egg with sperm to start the emb ry o and then it is killed or harvested for its stem cells.

It's all new science and is in the realm of theo ry mo re than fact at this point but the li berals have taken it on and made it an emotional issue as well. To get funding, the scientists have suggested that cures for Parkinson's disease, diabetes and spinal

injuries lie just around the corner but it truth, this is all still experimental. Still the liberals and those for embryonic stem cell research make it sound that if you don't support this, you want many teenagers with juvenile diabetes to die and you don't want Christopher Reeve to ever walk again. This is just not true and Christians such as Chuck-JDHNEL and myself would love to see these people get the healing they need but not at the expense of another life. Embryonic stem cell research is just like abortion only at its earliest possible stage and here one is creating a life for the express purpose of ending it. A bit gruesome if you ask me.

On the other hand, a scientist can also get stem cells from a living adult, from the umbilical cord and the placenta a ft er a baby is born and no one has to killed to get them. However, scientists say that the emb ry onic cells are the best and so they continue to push to be able to create and harvest them.

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THANK YOU, THANK YOU

AUGUST 14, 2001

Recently, on August 9 th President Bush made a speech in which he basically banned

any further creation of embryos for stem cell research but left the scientists with some 60 strains they already collected from embryos and gave them the go ahead to collect

stem cells from adult and the after-birth materials. So far it seems that both Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson praise the President for his compromise.

For Chuck-JOHN EL and myself, we believe the President has left open a door that should have been closed once and for all - it should have been banned just as cloning is banned. Chuck-JOHNEL believes that this is leading to cloning and is providing a way to fix the health problems that cloning could create. We do realize the potential benefits

of possibly using the adult stem cells but if the price of this research is to include embryos as well, then the price is too high and unfortunately, the president's decision has left the door open and already scientists are saying that they don't have enough

embryonic stem cells and need more.

For me, it always seems like we (mankind) get into the most trouble when we turn from God and are willing to do apyhing rather than to seek God and His healing help.

Rather than repent for the sin in our lives and really seek God on our knees for the healing we need, some are willing to sacrifice another child for that healing which only further brings the Judgment of God into the picture.

Recently, Jim-REPHAEL posed the question if this was in the Bible at all and I said that I believe it is. I believe we're seeing a dimension of what Paul talked about in Romans 1:30, ' , . inventors of evil things..." Just look at the progression in the chapter

and I think you'll see what the Holy Spirit showed me about a year ago.

In Romans 1:19-22 he speaks of a people who once knew God but glorified Him not nor were they thankful, they became vain in their own imaginations and their hearts were darkened. They professed themselves to be wise and became fools. Then in verse 23 is says that they "..changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." To me, we

(as a nation) have done this through embracing Darwinism which says we didn't come from God but ape and so the glory of His creation is now corruptible through evolution.

If you've ever watched a nature show in recent years creatures themselves are now given the God-like ability to evolve through sheer will-power when there is absolutely no evidence to back it up and the idea itself is ridiculous but they state it I ike it's fact.

As a consequence, next it says in verse 24-25, "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever, Amen." This Scripture can really be seen through the fruit of the Clinton years, where the truth of God was turned into a lie and truth became "relative". Also during Clinton's years you can see people worshiping the creature more

than the Creator. Animals have more rights than many human beings today. We also certainly saw how the creed of the sixties, "If it feels good, do it" has come home to roost with people giving their bodies over to all kinds of unGodly and perverse lusts.

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AUGUST 14, 2001

It then continues in verses 26-27, "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. " Here we seethe explosion

of homosexuality but also I see other possibilities as well. It mentions that women change the natural use of their bodies which no doubt includes homosexuality but what about those women willing to be a host for a clone. Did you know a clone is created by taking a woman's egg and then taking out the center and implanting tissue in its place from the thing being cloned and then it is charged with an electrical current to stimulate growth. Talk about Frankenstein's monster, huh? Well, to then put this into a woman's body, in my mind, can in no way be construed as "natural".

By now God has had it and in Romans 1:28-31 it says, "And even as they did not like

to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,... murder... deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection._. unmerciful:" Sounds familiar, doesn't it. Seems like these are descriptions of news items today.

The last verse is perhaps the saddest because it tells us that those doing these things do them knowingly and even take pleasure in them. Verse 32 says, "Who knowing the

judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." After reading this, there is no question why the judgment of God is coming and has to fall on America to ever bring her back to being one nation under God. Right now the Christian nation is at war with the anti-Christian nation and they are getting the upper hand but fortunately and hopefully, God will have the final say in all this, however it won't be pleasant or easy but necessary.

Again, what actually caught my attention or rather the Holy Spirit brought to my attention a year ago was the phrase, "inventors of evil things". What came to mind at that ti me was all the genetic engineering that was being done with our food - putting a pig gene in celery, feeding cows to sheep or pigs and using diseased animals in food for dogs and other animals. It just seemed like a big line had been crossed and man shouldn't have gone there. Now, the scientist want to tamper with God's Creation even more by tampering with man. First is was plants and animals and now it's humans they are setting their sights on. This is why (in their view) it was important that Darwinism be taught in the schools because Darwinism or evolution basically lowers man to the level of an animal. Stalin, the leader of Russia who killed millions of his own people, believed in Darwinism and since man was just another animal, had no problem killing over 10 million of his own people. Stalin killed more of his own people than Hitler did in World War II. Hitler and the Nazis also promoted Darwin's theory and used it to kill the Jews by using pictures showing how Jews as being descended from apes whereas the German people descended from the Nordic gods.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU

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AUGUST 14, 2001

To round out this "Thank you here are two articles on this whole stem cell topic that appeared as follow-ups to Bush's speech.

The Right Decision' Bush Defends Stem-Cell Choice

C RAW F 0 PD, Texas, Aug. 9 0 — I n his first

interview since telling the nation he would support very limited federal funding of research using stem cells from human

embryos, President Bush told ABGNEWS he is "very comfortable with the decision."

President Bush defends his decision to support limited federal funding for stem-cell research, saying that a 'a good president makes tough decisens." (ABCNCWS.com )

STORY HIGHLIGHTS A Moral Decision

H is First S ix Months On the Environme nt and Mid dle East

MORE ON Tii,S STORY > FELL COVERAGE

Bush's Stem-Cell Decision VIDEO

• Reaction to Stem Cell Decision Mixed

7

IN DETAIL

• The Stem-Cell Controversy ifv

COMMUNITY

• Federal Funding for Stem-Cell Research? >

RELATED STORIES

• Transcript: President Bush on 20120 • Sush Backs Stem-Cell Funding • Transcript of President's Speech to Nation

• Researchers Worry About Stem-Cell Limits

In an exclusive interview from his vacation home in Crawford, Texas, Bush told ABCNEWS Claire Shipman, "I made the decision I thought was the right decision.

'And that's what a president does," Bush continued. "He makes tough decisions. At least a good president makes tough decisions."

By letting federal funds be used for research on existing li nes of stem cells — which were derived from human embryos that already have been destroyed — Bush said he has "laid the framework" to "find out whether or not embryonic stem-cell research will yield treatment and cure."

But asked whether his decision to allow any such research effectively condoned the destruction of embryos, Bush said, Not at all."

'1 don't think that. Otherwise, I would not have gone forward with the decision," Bush said. "I know the life-and-death decision has been made. The fundamental question is, Are we going to destroy more embryos as we go into the future? And my answer to that is, We shouldn't." ',q Moral Decision' Bush insisted that he'd "absolutely" kept his campaign promise to oppose government funding for research that involves destroying living human embryos.

"I think a president ought to stick to principle," Bush said.

"And the statement I made during the campaign which is

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AUGUST 15, 2001

"The Right Decision" continued: consistent with my decision was based upon principle."

Pall: Stem-Cell Support Steady

The decision, he said, "was not a political decision," but "a very moral decision ... I think this is the kind of decision where it does require prayer. Prayerful consideration. And I' m very comfortable with the decision I made."

• Bush Defends Stem-Cell His belief that life begins at conception influenced his decision, he said, and the truth of the matter is, if you really think it through, you know that's a decision that only the Great Creator could come and explain to us. Or an answer Personal Computers: the Great Creator could explain to us."

The Next 20 Years Decision

August 10. 2001

Decision likely headed for courts, Hill

By Joseph Curl THE WASHINGTON TIMES

President Bush's decision on embryonic stem cells has created a deep rift in the Republican Party and pushed the contentious issue to the courts, where opponents of federal funding for such research vow to force the federal government to halt all funding.

While top administration officials Related Articles sought to portray the president's • Bush backs cell decision to allow research on 60 research existing stem cell lines as keeping n Bush allows li mited with his campaign pledge to oppose cell funds "experimentation on embryonic stem cells that require live human embryos Top Stories to be discarded or destroyed," • Admiral called frontconservative Christian groups argue runner it does not.

• Pro-life defection doesn't develop "To grant federal funds for research even for those 60 stem lines • Israelis seize Orient House already harvested violates federal • A day of funerals law," said Samuel B. Casey, senior • Bush pal around for staff counsel for Human Life long haul Advocates, a nonprofit group that has ' Shoppers enjoy tax sued the federal government to stop free holiday embryonic stem-cell research.

"We will press litigation starting tomorrow. We are going to argue that those 60 stem cell Iines require the destruction of embryos, which is a violation of the law," Mr. Casey said.

Congress in 1995 banned the use of federal money for research in which embryos are "destroyed, discarded or

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"Decision likely headed for courts, Hill" continued: knowingly subjected to risk of inj ury or death." Encouraged Clinton administration, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) last August issued guidelines that Iet federally funded scientists bypass the law by obtaining embryonic stem cells from private laboratories. ' On behalf of our plaintiffs, we will now go back into court to gain a preliminary and permanent injunction against these illegal regulations," Mr. Casey said.

Some conservative Republicans on Capitol Hill also opposed the president's decision.

"He said during the campaign that he would not use taxpayer dollars for destructive embryo research," said Sen. Sam Brownback, Kansas Republican. "In that sense, these embryos have been destroyed under previous efforts."

Rep. Tom DeLay, Texas Republican, was more blunt. " While we all deeply sympathize with the desperate hopes of people struggling with debilitating illnesses, the technique used to create the stem-cell lines did not respect the sanctity of life. I'm worried that this initial research may ultimately serve as a pretext for vastly expanded research that does require the destruction of new living embryos," Mr. DeLay said.

However, Mr. Bush's decision has split social conservatives and the pro-Iife movement.

The nation's largest pro-life group praised the president's move. " We are delighted that President Bush's decision prevents the federal government from becoming a party to any further killing of human embryos for medical experimentation," stated Laura Echevarria, director of Media Relations for the National Right to Life Committee. " While National Right to Life mourns the loss of life for those embryos from whom stem cell lines have already been derived, nothing the National Right to Life Committee or President Bush can do can restore the lives of those embryos who have already died," she said. " What I heard him say tonight I can live with," said the Rev. Jerry Falwell, a prominent religious activist.

Yet the president's decision has angered many Catholics and religious conservatives, who say he has betrayed them.

"The trade-off he has announced is morally unacceptable," said Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, president of the U.S_ Conference of Catholic Bishops. "It allows our nation's research enterprise to cultivate a disrespect for human life." " When Congress takes up this issue, as it surely will, this could give comfort and encouragement to those who will seek by the

AUGUST 15, 2001

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AUGUST 15, 2001

THANK YOU, THANK YOU

"Decision likely headed for courts, Hill" continued: to expand embryonic research beyond that envisioned by the president," said Family Research Council President Ken Connor.

"This concession also puts the president on the wrong side of the principle. If 60 stem cell lines are morally acceptable, then why not 600 or 6,000? Furthermore, the president did not address the issue of unrestrained private-sector research. If killing embryos is unacceptable in publicly funded institutions, how can it be moral when carried out in private laboratories?" said Mr. Connor.

"Moral principles are not divisible. Killing human embryos for research is wrong in every instance. The president is only stepping deeper into the moral morass," he said.

Ga ry Bauer, a former Republican presiden ti al candidate who now heads the Campaign for Working Families, said Mr.

Bush has alienated his political base by breaking his campaign pledge.

"Those of us on the right-to-life side will be saddened because he will have conceded a major principle, which is that there are occasions when it's OK to take one life without their permission, to benefit somebody else," Mr. Bauer said.

"If they [allow federal funding] thinking it finesses the issue, they will have made a really terrible mistake. It has the potential of becoming over time a'read my lips," the famous pledge made and later broken by Mr. Bush's father on enacting no new taxes -- and which many say cost him a 1992 re-election.

Well, that wraps up this "Thank You" le tt er. I thought I'd end it on a humorous note (enough with the serious stuff) with the cartoon. Again, thank you ve ry much for your support and God bless you!

Johnny Hart

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