BPR Mailing List Digest: 05/23/00

Philologos
BPR Mailing List Digest
May 23, 2000

Digest Home | 2000 | May, 2000

To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Treasures to Be Flooded by Turkish Dam
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 09:02:40 -0400

=91Pompeii II=92 Threatened

Treasures to Be Flooded by Turkish Dam

A recently unearthed Roman city, rich in ancient art, will soon sink beneath
the rising floodwaters of a hydroelectric project. (ABCNEWS.com)

By Lucrezia Cuen

May 22 =97 A buried treasure, 2,000 years old, is about to be lost =97 again. A
recently unearthed Roman city, rich in ancient art, will soon sink beneath the
rising waters of a hydroelectric project. The ancient city of Zuegma was one
of the Roman Empire=92s easternmost outposts. Located at the strategic point
where the silk route from ancient China to Europe crossed the Euphrates
River, it was torched by Persian invaders in A.D. 252. A recent excavation
discovered that, like the volcanic eruption that preserved Pompeii in A.D. 79,
the fire preserved the garrison town and its wealth of treasures.

12 Inches Per Day Nine months ago, archaeologists uncovered 14 intricate
mosaics, thought to be some of the finest in the world, with stunning
depictions of the Trojan wars, the sea god Poseidon in his chariot, and the
mythical Greek hero Perseus saving Andromeda from a sea monster, all
remarkably unscathed. But in Turkey, energy issues appear to take
precedence over cultural considerations. Zuegma lies in the shadows of one
of Turkey=92s largest dams =97 Birecik =97 part of a multibillion-dollar project that
includes a series of dams, some of which are also said to be threatening
ancient treasures. The Birecik dam is 97 percent complete, and the water
level is rising 12 inches a day. It has already flooded four villages.

Less Than a Month Left Zuegma will be flooded within the month. =93I know
Turkey=92s problems. We need electricity so much. Energy is important to us,
but culture is also important,=94 said Turkish archaeologist Yussef Yavas.
=93These ruins were waiting for us for 1600 years, but when the water comes it
will be over. It will never be possible to excavate again.=94 A team from France
is lending a helping hand and an expert from the United States arrived last
week to assess what will be lost. Archaeologists say they just need a little
more time, a delay of a few months, to allow them to dig up Zuegma=92s
treasures and move them to a safe haven. The government says a delay will
cost millions and will not be considered. =93It is impossible to build any kind of
infrastructure in Turkey without upsetting some type of archaeological site,=94
one official said.

ABCNEWS' Gillian Findlay contributed to this report.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/turkey000522_zuegm
a.html

Link via:
http://www.newsviewtoday.com

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Ramban cave made place of worship
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 09:09:24 -0400

Tuesday, May 23, 2000

Ramban cave made place of worship

By Nadav Shragai
Ha'aretz Correspondent

Jerusalem District Court ruled yesterday that Nahmanidies' Cave, the ancient
rabbi's grave site, is considered a holy place, and ordered the owners,
Matwali Waqf Sharf Aldin Abu-Jabneh, to allow worshipers access to pray
there.

In its ruling, the court recognized the authority of Religious Affairs Minister
Yitzhak Cohen to define the cave as a "holy site," and called on the property
owners to remove the fences and blockades erected at the entrance to the
site. The owners' plan to build a parking lot on the site was also canceled.

Violent clashes erupted several weeks ago between Palestinians, led by
Faisal Husseini, and Jewish residents and yeshiva students from the Shimon
Hatzadik neighborhood when the Palestinians blocked the entrance to the
cave, which has long served as a Jewish place of worship. Palestinians
claimed that the land was private property and talked about plans to build a
parking lot on the site.

The court expressed dissatisfaction over the fact that the original Palestinian
claim did not mention the existence of a cave, nor that it was claimed as a
Jewish holy place. The Palestinian plaintiffs said they would appeal to the
High Court.

http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/scripts/article.asp?mador=14&datee=05/23/00&
id=78784

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Hymn-Singing Rebels Kill Six in Burundi
From: bpr-list@philologos.org
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 08:32:14 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------

via: hblondel@tampabay.rr.com

5/22/2000 13:37:00 ET

Hymn-Singing Rebels Kill Six in Burundi

BUJUMBURA, Burundi (Reuters) - Hymn-singing rebels killed six people
and wounded five others in an attack on a bus station on the
outskirts of the Burundi capital, witnesses said Monday.

Witnesses said the gang of around 200 rebels chanted "Jesus" and sang
religious ongs as they went on a shooting spree on Sunday night at
Kajaga, three miles west of Bujumbura on the shores of Lake
Tanganyika.

"I saw people in military uniforms stopping vehicles," said driver
Albert Timangwa. "I did not stop, then they shot at the car until I
did.

"Then they came singing God songs and calling Jesus. I ran into the
bush."

"They killed people selectively ... mainly targeting Tutsis," one
Burundi security officer told Reuters.

At least one of the victims was a Hutu, however. Bus owner Baranshaka
Fundi said his son died on a vehicle that was torched by the rebels.

"It is beyond my understanding how people can be so bad," he told
reporters.

Monday morning rebels attacked the southern town of Makamba, killing
three civilians and injuring ten others, witnesses said.

Thousands of people had fled the town of more than 250,000 on the
border with Tanzania, including representatives of the humanitarian
group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

"It's a temporary withdrawal to Bujummbura for us to do an evaluation
of the situation then we will go back," an MSF official who declined
to be named said. Tens of thousands of people have been killed since
1993 in Burundi's smoldering civil war, which pits the mainly Tutsi
army against Hutu rebels.

------- End of forwarded message -------

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Trans. : Halacha Overview - Chapter 26 Adultery - Sotah
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Haiot")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 08:35:00 -0500

Date sent: Mon, 22 May 2000 14:42:50 -0400
To: halacha-overview@torah.org
From: Azriel Rosenfeld <ar@torah.org>
Subject: Halacha Overview - Chapter 26 Adultery - Sotah
Send reply to: ar@torah.org, genesis@torah.org

26. Adultery - Sotah

If a woman is deliberately unfaithful to her husband she becomes
forbidden to him and he must divorce her, as it says "Her first
husband... cannot take her again to be his wife after she has been
defiled"1,a; and she is also forbidden to marry the man with whom she
was unfaithful. If a man tells his wife before witnesses that she must
not be alone with someone and she disobeys, she also becomes forbidden
to both of them. When the Temple exists she can (if they wish) return
to
her husband by performing the ceremony of drinking the "bitter
waters",
as it says "If a man's wife strays... he shall bring his wife to the
priest and bring her sacrifice with her, a tenth of an ephah of barley
flour; he shall not pour oil on it nor put frankincense on it... and
[the priest] shall make the woman drink the bitter water...".2,b It
is a
man's duty to be particular about the habits of the members of his
household and to warn them against sin, as it says "And you shall know
that your tent is at peace and you shall examine your habitation and
not
sin".3,c

Sources:

1. Deut. 24:4 a. Geirushin 11:14; Ishus 24:17
2. Num. 5:12-31 b. 1:1-2; 2:1,12; Ishus 24:24
3. Job 5:24 c. 4:19

----------------------------------------------------------------------
--
- Halacha-Overview, Copyright © 2000 by Rabbi Dr. Azriel Rosenfeld and
Project Genesis, Inc. The author is Director of the Center for
Automation Research at the University of Maryland in College Park.

This list is part of Project Genesis: Torah on the Information
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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Gleanings from Pergamos
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("449")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 08:41:44 -0500

Gleanings from Pergamos
Revelation 2.12-17

Rev 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These
things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know
thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and
thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in
those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain
among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have a few things against
thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,
who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of
Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit
fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the
Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto
thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden
manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name
written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

__________________________________________

In the New Testament there exists many letters written to specific
churches, concerning their specific needs at that time in history.
Most of us think of Paul the great epistle writer when we hear about
the 'letters' in the New Testament. But there are 7 other letters
that were written to a group of churches that are often overlooked.
Jesus Christ Himself wrote them and they play a profound part in the
life of every church today.

Jesus had the apostle John write 7 copies of a letter to be sent to 7
churches in Asia Minor sometime around A.D. 95. Ephesus, Smyrna,
Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea were chosen by
Jesus in order to show the rest of Christendom the basic problems in
the universal church body, as well as being a warning to them to
beware of the dangers of the world.

Pergamos is the third of the 7 churches and with each church Jesus
gives Himself a special title. To Pergamos it is "He who has the
sharp two-edged sword". This is interesting given the fact that Heb
4.12 specifically calls the Bible a two-edged sword which is a
"discerner of the thought and intents of the heart".

Why would Jesus tell a church that He is someone with a two-edged
sword (Bible)? It definitely was not due to lack of faith on
Pergamos' behalf. One member of the church had already become a
martyr for Jesus earlier (vs 13). If that doesn't prove the strength
of a church's commitment then nothing else will. No, it certainly
was not their lack of solid faith. As we will see, it is something a
little more subtle.

In verse 14 Jesus explains what it is that he has against them. It
is something called the "doctrine of Balaam" and the "doctrine of the
Nicolaitanes". What are these teachings that have the Lord Jesus so
upset that He commands Pergamos to repent of them?

Many readers of the Old Testament will recognize Balaam as the man
that Balac hired to curse the Israelites while they were wandering
around the wilderness. Balac did not care to have God's people so
near his backyard and sent for Balaam to come and curse them. Balaam
made it clear that he could only do as God instructed him and then
proceeded to bless Israel three different times as per the Lord's
instructions to him. Balac did not appreciate this much at all and
so to make him happy Balaam explained to him how to cause the
Israelites to fall into sin. Because of this advice Balac was able
to set a trap and cause the men of Israel to fall into sexual
immorality with the women of a local nation, in turn making the Lord
angry with Israel and then punishing them.

The New Testament teaches that there is a "way of Balaam", "error of
Balaam" and "doctrine of Balaam" (2Pe 2:15, Jude 1:11, Rev 2:14).
These three principles can be defined in this way:

1. Way = loving the wages of unrighteousness
2. Error = doing the Lord's work for money
3. Doctrine = teaching others how to cause another to sin

These three in unity can become and cause the grossest of sins in all
mankind. And the horrible thing is that they spread like an
infectious disease because once they surface they feed on our fleshly
selves.

It appears that the church in Pergamos was involved in this doctrine
and were causing others to commit acts of sin wilfully, for whatever
reason. Jesus even tells us the specific sins that were being taught:
to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

The other problem which the church of Pergamos was facing was also a
matter of doctrine or teaching. They had those who held to the
doctrine of the Nicolaitanes (which Jesus hates). So what is this
doctrine that Jesus hates so much and who are the Nicolaitanes?
Let's start with the "who".

The letter is not exactly specific as to who they are but we can find
out by looking at the word "Nicolaitanes" itself and get some clues.
Nicolaitanes is the combination of two Greek words, the first being
Nica or victory. The second word is Laity, translated people. When
put together the word really means "victory over the people" or
because of the victory it could be rendered "destruction of people".
This is in exact contrast with what Jesus taught in Matt. 20.25-28
"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes
of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great
exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but
whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And
whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as
the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and
to give his life a ransom for many." According to this scripture
Jesus has told us that we must all be considered equal among each
other, that there should be no varying levels of power or authority
but that believers should serve each other just as He did for us.

Therefore, the Nicolaitanes were a group of people who strived for
preeminence and higher levels of power in their life as well as being
able to control others within their influence. In Pergamos this was
a full blown teaching, and the roots were sitting in Ephesus: Rev 2.
6 "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes,
which I also hate." In Ephesus it was only the WORKS of the
Nicolaitanes that were prominent, in Pergamos it was allowed to be
taught and therefore was much more destructive having come out of
their pulpit as truth. What is sad about these two churches with a
Nicolaitan presence is that Ephesus hated their deeds, but there is
no mention of Pergamos hating the deeds or doctrines, therefore THEY
MUST HAVE ENJOYED IT. It is a poor sight to witness a group of
believers fighting among each other about who will be the greatest
(And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What
was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held
their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who
should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and
saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be
last of all, and servant of all. Mark 9.33-36). Isn't it beautiful
that in Jesus there is still hope if we would just read the
scriptures and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us (Jn 14.26).

After the revelation to Pergamos of the things that are dis-pleasing
to the Lord, Jesus commands them to repent of the evil that they have
found themselves in and gives them a stiff warning. He says,
"Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against
them with the sword of My mouth". He is informing them that due to
all the erroneous teaching that has been going on in their church
that in time He will return and deal with them using the true Word of
God which they have neglected and given over for impure and faulty
teaching that only boasts and puffs up instead of leading to
righteousness and humility.

Jesus says of Himself that He is the way (Jn 14.6) and by no other
can a person enter into the kingdom of God. Those in Pergamos have
given up Jesus, the way and the Word, for self-pleasing teachers who
tickle the ear with worldly words. Do not be deceived! In this
world which the devil has been cast down into there are many snares
and traps that can capture any believer. Jesus is the way. There is
no other who can get you from point A to point B down the narrow road
without straying aside to the path of destruction. The Word of God
is the reliable guide and the only one of any eternal value.

Jesus always gives a reward to the overcomer in every letter. For
those in Pergamos He tells them that they will be able to eat of the
hidden manna. Manna is a beautiful Old Testament type for the Bible.
It was given every day except the Sabbath, but a double portion was
provided the day before. It was given by God Himself from heaven.
It was sweet and nourishing. At times it became hard to bear but it
was always the best thing for them. Like manna, scripture is given
to us by God Himself. We are to take it everyday and if it is not
there God makes what we have stretch until we can get back to it. At
times the Bible is hard to take but in the end it is always the best
thing for us. It is our spiritual food. It is our weapon of defense
against the enemy and our weapon of attack against the enemy. It is
our lifeline.

Jesus also said that He would give them a new name which is known
only by that person. Think of it, a unique personal name given by
the giver of life Himself and engraved on a brilliantly white stone.
God is so good to His children.

Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statues, and I shall keep it to the
end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I
shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of
Your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your
testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking
at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. Establish Your word
to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You. Turn away my
reproach which I dread, for Your judgments are good. Behold, I long
for Your precepts; revive me in Your righteousness.
Psalm 119. 33-40

By Caleb Massey

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - FW: ReligionToday News (2 Articles) for Tuesday, May 23, 2000
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 08:42:10 -0500

C U R R E N T N E W S S U M M A R Y
by the Editors of ReligionToday

May 23, 2000

Anglicans and Roman Catholics have formed a joint commission to
consider unification. Bishops from 13 regions around the world,
meeting in Toronto last week, formed a new commission to grapple
with issues that have been at the center of the 400-year-old
split between Anglicans and Catholics. It is expected to begin
its work by the end of the year, the leaders said, news reports
said.
...Local congregations will feel the effects of decisions made by
the commission, said Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, who
led the meeting along with Cardinal Edward Cassidy, president of
the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Carey said unification is not likely to take place in his
lifetime, The Associated Press said. Differences remain over the
role of women, who are not eligible for ordination as Catholic
priests, and distribution of power in a unified Catholic-Anglican
church, bishops from both churches said.

Two Pakistani Christians have been sentenced to prison for 35
years for blaspheming the Prophet Mohammed, Compass Direct news
service said. A court in Punjab province on May 11 sentenced
Rasheed Masih, 33, and his brother Saleem Masih, 29, and fined
each of them $1,385. They have been in jail since last June.
...The trial was held after a complaint was filed by an ice cream
vendor who said the brothers made "bad remarks" against Islam and
Mohammed after he refused to serve them with bowls used by
Muslims, Compass said. Tight security around the court protected
the brothers from a mob demanding that the court award the death
penalty, Compass said.
...The sentences came amid new controversy over Pakistan's
blasphemy law. The regime of Gen. Pervez Musharraf said May 16
that, despite its previous promises, it would not make changes in
the law that would have discouraged false accusations. Islamic
organizations had threatened to demonstrate against the proposed
changes. Other Christians in Pakistan remain in detention on
blasphemy charges, Compass said.

-----------
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2: http://www.BibleLeague.org

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To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - The Kings With No Kingdoms
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Charlie")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 08:45:23 -0500

The Kings With No Kingdoms

Revelation 17:12

It is becoming increasingly evident that "Money Rules" in the affairs
of men. The recent stock market problems in Asia and the fact that
the IMF, The International Monetary Fund, by promising to provide
funds to rescue the failing economy of Indonesia, is in a position to
dictate to the dictator of that country; is in a position to order
him to make changes in the way he runs the country, in order to
receive those funds, brings the fact that "Money Rules" very much to
the fore.

It has been an open secret for many years that, in democratic
nations, financiers have dictated the affairs of those nations by
providing funds to those they wish to be elected and then having
those elected, as a result of their largesse, carry out the wishes of
the money men. In totalitarian regimes, a ruling individual, or group
of individuals, is the directing force in those regimes and their
goals direct the affairs of those nations.

There is ample evidence that money, the love (or lack) of money, has
led to the destruction of many such nations and it has been necessary
for the international community to step in and take control of the
affairs of that nation. Such control, up until now, has appeared to
be through the use of force, or the threat of force, now, however,
the real power is out in the open - Money!

The Bible tells us of a ruler who will appear on the world scene at
the time of the end. His rise to power does not appear to be the
result of armed aggression. Today, we can conclude the base of his
'power' will be 'money' not armed force. This power of money has
been at work, indirectly, in world affairs for many years and we are
now seeing how it can be applied directly and openly. The Bible
tells us this individual will 'rule' the world, but not as the head
of any country, per se, and it refers to him as the "beast". In
Revelation 17:12 we are told: "And the ten horns which thou sawest
are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive
power as kings one hour with the beast." At the present time we do
not know, for sure, who the ten 'kings' are, nor do we know who the
'beast' is. We can be reasonably sure, however, that the ten kings
will be the ten individuals who control of the money supply of the
world at the time of the end. Now, I think, since the 'power' of
money has been revealed, it will not be long before the prophecy of
Revelation 17:12 will be fulfilled.

Charles H. Baker. Jan/98

Update: May, 2000

It has come to my attention that the Federal Reserve Board is not, as
I had thought, a department of the Federal Government. The Federal
Reserve began in 1910, at a meeting on Jekyll Island, Georgia. The
Nation was still on the Gold Standard but went off the gold when The
Federal Reserve was set up in 1913. It was patterned after the
'Central Banks' of Europe but, because the House and Senate were not
prepared to accept a 'Central Bank' it was decided to call it the
Federal Reserve System and, as such, it became the "Central Bank' of
the United States.

Today, the Federal Reserve System is 'run' by the members of the
Federal Reserve Board who are appointed by the President. He also
selects the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board. The appointment
of the members must be confirmed by the Senate but I have been unable
to determine who chooses the candidates for membership and/or
proposes them for appointment. Membership is for a period of 14 years
and cannot be renewed. However, if a member dies before the end of
his term, another person can be appointed to serve the rest of his
term and that person can be re-appointed for an additional 14 years.

The Federal Reserve Board exercises TOTAL control over the Federal
Reserve to which all the "accredited" banks of the United States must
belong. It has the power to dictate the terms and conditions under
which the banks MUST operate including the interest rate they can
charge each other. The dictates of the Board are 'law' so that they,
in effect, control the money of the US. Not the Government! The
Federal Reserve is not a bank and the only asset it appears to have
is the Federal Reserve Building in the Washington which could be the
property of the Government. However, when the Government requires
funds to continue its operations, it obtains approval from the
Federal Reserve to borrow money from it. The Federal Reserve does
not have any money but they approve the 'borrowing' of the amount
requested and the government then prints additional money, up to the
amount of the loan, puts it into circulation and the Reserve
designates which banks are to add what to their assets. This, of
course, dilutes the value of the money already in circulation. The
government then, having borrowed from the Federal Reserve have a
'loan' on which they pay interest to the Federal Reserve. Where does
the interest go? That is a good question. I do not know. I can be
sure that whoever it has been paid to, since 1913, now has so much
money that they are no longer interested in money but in Power. Power
to rule, not rule the money of the world but the world, itself.
Period!

At the present time there are only 5 members in the Federal Reserve
Board, and 2 vacancies. Through affiliation with Central Banks in
other countries, which appear to operate in the same way in their
countries as the Federal Reserve does in the US, the Federal Reserve
Board, or some members of it, are tied in, I am sure, with the World
Bank, the 'Federal Reserve' of the World. (The Egyptians have
pyramids and the World has the World Bank system with an all powerful
'board' as the 'seeing eye' at its apex.)

The Present:

On Sept. 28, 1995, at the State of the World Conference in San
Francisco, a division of the world into 10 'regions' with 12
provinces each, for a total of 120 'provinces' was proposed, by
Gorbachev, of Russia. It is thought he was asked to make the
division and I understand it is as follows:

1. North America 2. Western Europe 3. Japan 4. Australia, South
Africa, and the rest of the market-economy of the developed world 5.
Eastern Europe, including Russia 6. Latin America 7. North Africa
and the Middle East 8. Tropical Africa 9. South and Southeast Asia
10. China

I have no breakdown of the 120 'provinces' but we are all aware that
there is armed conflict between opposing groups in many areas, which
could classify as 'provinces'. In most cases the forces on each side
of the opposing groups are well equipped with uniforms, munitions,
arms and ammunition and, since the 'wars' are in areas that are very
poor, economically, it indicates, to me, that outside' funds are
available to opposing forces. I think the 'wars' are the result of
power struggles between different 'power brokers' and, in view of
this 'competition', I think it is possible a meeting patterned after
the meeting on Jekyll Island will be held, if it has not already been
held, to end the 'competition' and 'cooperate' in forming a new World
Order. The top dogs in the new World Order will, I think, be the 10
kings who have no kingdom as yet and when they 'appoint' the 'beast'
as the world ruler they will receive 'power as kings for one hour
with the beast'. There will, then, during the first half of the last
week of Daniel's 70 weeks of years, be a time of 'peace' until Satan
is cast out of heaven. He will then 'take over' the beast and the
'hour of power' of the ten kings will be over. Praise the Lord!

P.S. It is probable that at least 6 of the 10 kings will be of
Israeli descent, or have strong ties to Israel, at the beginning of
the first 3 ½ years but, when the little horn 'uproots three of
them', the balance of 'power' will change and the persecution of
Israel, the time of 'Jacob's trouble', will begin.

Charles H. Baker. May 22, 2000

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - 6,000-Year-Old City Found in Syria
From: bpr-list@philologos.org
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 09:23:23 -0500

------- Forwarded message follows -------

via: hblondel@tampabay.rr.com

6,000-Year-Old City Found in Syria

Associated Press
May 23, 2000; 7:03 a.m. EDT

CHICAGO –– Archaeologists in Syria have uncovered the ruins of a
6,000-year-old city that suggests the rise of cities and civilization
occurred earlier than previously thought.

Scientists from the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute found a
protective city wall under a huge mound in northeastern Syria known as
Tell Hamoukar. The wall and other evidence indicated a complex
government dating back at least 6,000 years.

Until the discovery last year, the only cities uncovered by
archaeologists dating back to 4000 B.C. were in Sumeria, between the
Tigris and the Euphrates rivers in an area that is now Iraq.

The discovery at Hamoukar, dating from the same period, suggests that
ideas behind cities may have predated the Sumerians, according to
McGuire Gibson of the Oriental Institute.

"We need to reconsider our ideas about the beginnings of civilization,
pushing the time further back," said Gibson, who plans to present the
findings this week in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the International
Conference on the Archaeology of the Ancient Middle East.

Gibson said that if Hamoukar was developing into a city at the same
time the Sumerians were doing the same things, then archaeologists may
have to consider if those ideas came from an even earlier culture.

Gil Stein, a Northwestern University archaeologist who specializes in
the same region and time period, said in today's editions of the
Chicago Tribune he thinks the find is significant.

"Traditionally, scholars had viewed southern Mesopotamia as the area
where urbanized states first developed, before spreading to less
advanced areas," he said.

This summer, the archaeologists will continue to dig in the hopes of
finding portions or royal palaces and temples – structures that would
confirm that the site is that of a previously unknown early
civilization.

------- End of forwarded message -------

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Denver considers tracking workers by satellite to stop loafing
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 11:46:43 -0500

Denver considers tracking workers by satellite to stop loafing

http://www.nandotimes.com/nation/story/0,1038,500207359-500289463-501569106-
0,00.html

DENVER (May 23, 2000 8:59 a.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - It could be
getting harder to hide from the boss. After allegations that some city
employees are loafing on the job, Denver officials said Monday they want to
spend $1.5 million to track city vehicles with the military's Global
Positioning System <http://www.navcen.uscg.mil/gps> satellites.

Installing GPS devices on more than 2,000 Public Works Department vehicles
is a long-range goal, said Andrew Hudson, spokesman for Mayor Wellington
Webb.

In the meantime, Denver plans a lower-tech approach: bumper stickers listing
a hot line where citizens can report complaints, commendations and
suggestions about the city's 14,000 employees, Hudson said.

Employees in the field will also be required to call in when starting and
finishing a break.

The crackdown came after a KUSA-TV report showed some city employees playing
cards and sleeping on the job.

The television report also followed employees of the Denver Water
Department, an independent agency with 1,100 workers. The department is also
considering satellite tracking device in its vehicles, spokesman Chips Barry
said. Some water department employees were

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Rivers of fire
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 11:54:53 -0500

Rivers of fire

http://helix.nature.com/nsu/000525/000525-5.html
PHILIP BALL

Volcanoes may be more like Hell than anyone realized. Eruptions disgorge
streams of molten sulphur, the brimstone of evangelical preachers, which
burns up before it can be preserved for posterity, new research in the
journal Geology1 shows.

Sulphur has long been associated with volcanic activity. The element was
mined in ancient times for medical purposes from the volcanic island of
Melos in Greece -- described in the writings of the Greek botanist
Dioscorides. Erupting volcanoes emit vast amounts of sulphurous gases, which
account for the hellish stench of some volcanic regions. In 1989 geologists
from the Open University in Milton Keynes, UK, reported the sighting of
entire lakes of liquid sulphur around a volcano in Costa Rica.

And yet sighting a frozen flow of sulphur around volcanoes is relatively
rare. These structures are greenish yellow in colour, and have the bulbous,
lobed appearance of solidified lava flows. Their scarcity has led many
geologists to conclude that streams of molten sulphur rarely issue from
active volcanoes.

But now Andrew Harris and Robert Wright from the Open University, UK, along
with Sarah Sherman from the University of Hawaii, report the sighting of a
sulphur flow as it actually happened. Only one such sighting has previously
been recorded, at a Japanese volcano in 1936. Harris and colleagues saw the
river of brimstone at Vulcano volcano in Italy.

The Japanese researchers who witnessed the 1936 flow reported that it
solidified into a conventional sulphur deposit, but Harris and colleagues
saw something quite different -- molten sulphur burning with a bluish flame.
It issued from a sulphur lake in which the liquid was dark red and its
surface in flames, creating great quantities of noxious sulphur dioxide gas.
The researchers were wearing specially resistant gas masks for protection,
but say that the levels of sulphur dioxide in the air exceeded their masks'
tolerance limits.

Within four hours of the sulphur lake forming and breaching its banks, just
about all of the sulphur was been burned away into the air. All that was
left behind were trenches about six inches deep in the rocky debris, lined
with rubble and encrusted with ash. Had the geologists not been there to
witness their creation, they could not have known that these channels were
formed by sulphur overspills.

Knowing this, however, Harris and colleagues were able to identify similar
features elsewhere in the region. The apparent lack of sulphur deposits is
not, then, due to a paucity of sulphur flows but due to the fact that they
seem to vanish within hours of their appearance.

These observations may force geologists to re-assess the incidence of
volcanic sulphur flows not only on Earth but also on Io, Jupiter's closest
moon. This satellite, the size of a small planet, has an orange-yellow
colour thought to be due to sulphur emitted from its immense volcanoes.
Scientists trying to interpret the flow features around Io's volcanoes from
spacecraft photographs are forced to rely on analogous environments around
earthly volcanoes for guidance. Harris and colleagues say that their
findings may necessitate a revision of ideas about how Io's sulphur deposits
were emplaced.

Harris, A. J. L., Sherman, S. B. & Wright, R. Discovery of
self-combusting volcanic sulfur flows. Geology

<http://www.geosociety.org/pubs/geology/0500geo.htm> 28, 415-418 (2000).

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Bishop says gays equal
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 12:26:35 -0500

Bishop says gays equal
BY RUTH GLEDHILL, RELIGION CORRESPONDENT
http://www.the-times.co.uk/ / index

ONE of the most senior bishops in the Church of England has said that
homosexuals are equal to heterosexuals in the eyes of God and should not be
condemned for being gay.

The Bishop of Oxford, the Right Rev Richard Harries, made his call in a
paper in which he sets out the arguments in support of homosexual
relationships. The issue of homosexual ordination and gay blessing is
proving one of the most divisive to confront the church, even more than the
issue of women priests. The bishop's intervention, while intended to bring
the two sides together, looks set to intensify the debate.

In Same Sex Relations - the Unresolved Questions, which he has also released
as a video and CD and published on his diocesan website, the bishop refers
to St Paul's statement that "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither slave nor free". He argues that to this should be added the phrase:
"There is neither heterosexual nor homosexual." He adds: "There are people
who are predominantly attracted to members of their own sex in every age and
every culture."

Colin Hart, of the Christian Institute, an evangelical think-tank, said that
the bishop was close to blasphemy, adding: "He is going as far as he can
without actually saying that the Holy Spirit backs same-sex relationships."

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Firewalkers Find Peace in Ritual
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Shophar_Sho_Good")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 12:49:46 -0500

MAY 23, 13:48 EDT

http://wire.ap.org/?FRONTID=WORLD

Firewalkers Find Peace in Ritual
By THEODORA TONGAS
Associated Press Writer

AGHIA ELENI, Greece (AP) - Golden sparks leapt from a dying bonfire at dusk.
A repetitious melody from a drum and lyres rolled on.

Off in an incense-filled room, Aghia Eleni's firewalkers were preparing
themselves. Some listened to music. Others began dancing on the hardwood
floors with icons they will carry with them.

Then they quietly walked barefoot onto the glowing carpet of coals Tuesday.

The annual Christian Orthodox rite has never been fully sanctioned by church
leaders. But this year it took on a deeper symbolism as some Orthodox
faithful have felt the nudge of a nation in transition.

The once untouchable link between the state and Greek Orthodox Church is
fraying as Greece is forced to conform with European Union rules and other
pressures to modernize. In the latest showdown, some religious zealots have
vowed to fight a law stripping church affiliation from national identity
cards.

Earlier this year, conservatives burned copies of a book they call
blasphemous because it contains passages about the possible sexual longings
of Jesus Christ. Court hearings are under way on whether to ban the book.
For Aghia Eleni's firewalkers, the confrontations give reason to cling to
the old ways as their nation lurches forward.

``Every individual's faith is not expressed in writing,'' said Tasos Reklos,
who has been Aghia Eleni's head firewalker for nearly the past two decades.
``It is expressed in living. It is expressed in practice.''

Each year, the firewalkers open and close the three-day celebrations for the
May 21 feast day of Saints Constantine and Helen in this village of 700
people, 60 miles northeast of the northern port of Thessaloniki.

The ritual, along with the two icons of the saints held during the firewalk,
were brought with refugees from the village of Kosti in what is now southern
Bulgaria after a population exchange in 1912.

References to firewalking have been traced back to the ancient rites of
Dionysus, the Greek god of revelry. But according to Reklos, the beginning
of the current tradition is unknown.

Legend holds that at some point in history, voices crying for help were
heard coming from a burning church in Kosti. The faithful believe it was a
call from the icons, which were rescued.

``Since then we continue to perform the same procedure,'' he added. ``We
light a fire and carry the icons through it.''

After circling three times around a glowing 10-foot circle, about a dozen
firewalkers began to move across the embers. Men rolled up their pants. The
sparks flicked against the hem of the women's long skirts.

The ritual also occurs in four other northern Greek villages, all with roots
in southern Bulgaria.

A crowd flocked to the circle after the ritual and touched the coals to see
if they were real. One man from a neighboring village used a coal to light a
cigarette to see if it really burned. Others simply extended their hands
over the coals to feel the heat.

``I wonder what they believe in that makes them do it,'' said Ioannis
Stoikos from the nearby town of Serres.

Tzivelis said that various experts have come to Aghia Eleni from time to
time to try to take the mystery out of firewalking. Most experts contend the
laws of thermal conductivity make it possible for people to walk across a
bed of embers uninjured. The burning wood and charcoal do not conduct heat
well and allow people to tread across quickly without being burned - the
same way a boardwalk is not as hot to the touch as heat-pulling sand on a
sunny summer day.

Regina Schobert and Nick Loetscher teach firewalking in their native
Steffisburg, Switzerland, and came to see the ritual in Greece for the first
time.

They joined a group of firewalkers in March who accomplished a 366-foot
firewalking feat.

``You change your mind on what you want your body to do,'' Schobert said.

``You change your mind in relation to the fire. The (Aghia Eleni
firewalkers) do it in a very traditional way.''

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - For DNA, A Defining Moment
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 19:34:07 -0400

Tuesday, May 23, 2000

For DNA, A Defining Moment

It's been prized as the Holy Grail of biology, the Book
of Life, the instruction manual for making a person.

For a decade the double-stranded thread of genetic code
known as the human genome has been the object of the
biggest and boldest biological enterprise ever
launched, costing about $2 billion and requiring
millions of times the computing power used to land a
man on the moon.

The goal has been to trace every letter of the genome's
biochemical code, decipher its enigmatic molecular
message and gain medical mastery at last over the
world's most elegantly encrypted creation, the human
being.

Now, in the next two weeks or so, a Rockville company
and a team of publicly funded scientists are expected
to make separate and competing announcements that each
has largely completed the task.

The researchers, some affiliated with Celera Genomics
Corp. and the others with the international Human
Genome Project, will tell the world they have
identified and placed in order almost all of the
approximately 3 billion bits of genetic code that tell
a human body how to live and when to die.

Full Story:
http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36634-
2000May19.html

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - British Muslims seek terror training in US
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 19:36:54 -0400

Sunday 21 May 2000

British Muslims seek terror training in US
by Chris Hastings

ISLAMIC fundamentalists in Britain are applying to train in the use of firearms
and explosives at a secret terror training camp in the United States.

Full Story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=001669821461706&rtmo=VP5wljFx&atmo=
HHHHHH8L&pg=/et/00/5/21/ntrain21.html

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Hezbollah humbles 'invincible' Israelis
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 19:38:58 -0400

May 23 2000

       Hezbollah humbles
       'invincible' Israelis

           FROM SAM KILEY IN MARJAYOUN
  HEZBOLLAH guerrillas and their civilian supporters
  inflicted Israel's most devastating battlefield defeat since
  the Yom Kippur War yesterday by cutting
  Israeli-occupied south Lebanon in half. Defence officials
  were forced to admit that the Jewish state had lost a third
  of the territory it had held for 22 years.

  The sudden loss of Houleh and Markaba yesterday, both
  a mile and a half from the Israeli border, following the loss
  of Quantarah and Taibe on Sunday, stunned Israelis and
  panicked their proxy militia, the South Lebanon Army.

  An Israeli military spokesman said: "It's true that about a
  third of the security zone has been lost. The SLA
  collapsed in the centre areas, but this is not a major blow
  to our plans."

  Israel has rapidly reduced its presence inside Lebanon
  since Ehud Barak, the Prime Minister, pledged to
  withdraw all troops by July 7. Yesterday senior staff
  confirmed reports that the date for a final withdrawal is
  now June 1.

  Heavy fighting erupted on the border itself when an Israeli
  position close to Menara came under Hezbollah attack.
  The Islamic guerrillas were trying to take control of the
  road which links the eastern and western sectors of the
  zone, which was established in 1978 as a buffer.

  Israeli civilians at the Kibbutz Menara, a tourist attraction,
  woke to see the yellow flag of Hezbollah with its
  Kalashnikov motif fluttering just 200 yards from the
  border. Hezbollah has stepped up its campaign to drive
  Israel out of Lebanon over the past two weeks. They
  have met stiff opposition in the form of air attacks from
  helicopters and F16 jets. But soldiers have been reluctant
  to fire when waves of Shia Muslims returning to villages
  from which they were expelled or forced to flee have
  approached their bases.

  In Marjayoun, the SLA headquarters, residents were
  thrown by the sudden collapse of the militia army, which
  means that the town is effectively cut off from the rest of
  the security zone. "The civilians are very afraid. The army
  does not know what to do. There is fear of reprisals. The
  atmosphere is very tense," said Peter Boutros, a veteran
  journalist based in the area.

  The UN estimated that there were only about 200 Israeli
  troops left anywhere "deep in country". The most exposed
  remained the artillery positions along the north of the
  occupied area at Rihane, Debshe and Fort Beaufort, a
  Crusader castle. They can expect to be the focus of
  Hezbollah's final push.

  "Once they break through on the ridge there will be
  nothing to stop them charging straight down on us, except
  the Israeli Air Force. But we are ready to fight to the
  end," said a senior member of the SLA's command. He
  admitted, however, that it was likely that the SLA would
  re-form as a village militia organisation, with the aim of
  keeping the Islamic movement out of mainly Christian and
  Druze enclaves.

http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/2000/05/23/timfgnmid01002.html

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

========
To: bpr-list@philologos.org (BPR Mailing List)
Subject: [BPR] - Earthworms Trigger Fears of Major Quake
From: bpr-list@philologos.org("Moza")
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 19:46:20 -0400

Earthworms Trigger Fears of Major Quake

May 22, 2000 =97 The sight of masses of earthworms crawling out of the ground in a Taiwanese city sparked panic among the population who now fear another devastating earthquake may soon strike the island.

There was a swarm of earthquake activity on the island republic during the weekend. While there were no reports of injuries or damage from any of the tremors, widespread fears of an impending temblor began circulating after residents in the western city of Hsinchu reported seeing thousands of earthworms crawling out of the earth during the past several days.

A magnitude 4.5 quake struck the mountainous region of central Taiwan on Saturday at 6:45 p.m. local time, several days following an earthquake that killed three people. Seismologists reported that Saturday's tremor was centered 10 miles east of Sun Moon Lake.

On Sunday, a magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck 12 miles south of the city of Taichung at 1:28 a.m. It was followed a half hour later by a magnitude 4.3 tremor.

Taichung is located about 81 miles south of the capital Taipei.

http://www.discovery.com/news/earthalert/000522/index/quake_index.html

See http://philologos.org/bpr for additional info.

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