August 2009_TheUnderground--Not Your Average Christian Magazine

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August 2009
In this issue:
Da Truth Britons behaving badly Alice Cooper JAMband Murders in Tel Aviv Back to Church Campaign Black, White and Gray all over series Views on 2012 Depression and the Christian Mr. John Duncan

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Seeing and Hearing The Bigger Picture: Da T.R.U.T.H.‟s Latest Album Makes da Big Splash
August 19, 2009 by Josh Givens

(2007 and 2009). Ironically, as a youth, Lambert had no passion for rap music, as he listened to popular contemporary Christian tunes of the day. He often recalls, ―I had no interest in rap music. As a matter of fact, I was disenchanted with the whole idea of rap.‖ But, as is often the case in God‘s bigger picture and story, God had other plans. In no time at all, Lambert was writing and freestyling his own Christian rap tunes, having been nicknamed ―Da‘ Truth‖ by age 19. The theme of Lambert‘s latest album, The Big Picture, is all about just that: God‘s bigger picture, spanning the vastness of the creation story found in Genesis to the redemption of the Cross, finally culminating with the glorious return of Christ in the Book of Revelation. Lambert‘s challenge to Christians worldwide is one of a continuous embracing of God‘s eternal story and a call to live like we believe He is coming back. According to an article featured on Christian Today, Lambert‘s album tackles several culturally controversial issues, including ―politics, prejudice, and more in songs like ‗My President‘, ‗Great Wall‘, ‗Fantasy‘, and ‗Pain.‘‖ In promotion of his latest project, Da‘ T.R.U.T.H. has launched a nationwide Big Picture Live Tour, with stops in cities large and small across the country. Concerts have been said to include highly cinematic elements and one-ofa-kind multimedia worship experiences. Thus far, the tour has already made noteworthy appearances in several acclaimed music ministry venues, including the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association‘s Rock the River Tour and Gospel artist CeCe Winan‘s Always Sisters, Forever Brothers Tour. With countless music artists employing the use of interactive social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter, it is no surprise to see Da‘ T.R.U.T.H. hopping on the same bandwagon. However, his use of interactivity with fans and followers via a live, webbased reality show is inherently different from other artists of his genre. During episode broadcasts of Living the Big Picture, Da‘ T.R.U.T.H. challenges listeners to unite alongside him in showing the world how to live like Jesus Christ; how to live the big picture. You can follow the show, submit your own video blogs, and post responses at: www.ilivethebigpicture.com. You can find out more about Da‘ T.R.U.T.H. and his tour schedule at his official website: www.datruth.net. Tags: Christian rap music, Da TRUTH, jesus christ, Kirk Franklin, mary

Cover of Da' T.R.U.T.H.'s latest album: "The Big Picture" Cross Movement Records Rapper Hits No. 1 on iTunes Christian/Gospel Charts Grammy-nominated Christian rapper Emmanuel Lee Lambert Jr., who goes by his nickname/rapper title Da‘ T.R.U.T.H., is making waves in the contemporary Christian music world with his latest studio release: The Big Picture (July 21, 2009). As one of the least-recognized sects of the Christian music world, Gospel hip-hop and R&B is certainly in need of talented artists with a passion for Jesus Christ and a desire to reach this often-overlooked demographic of Christian music lovers. Da T.R.U.T.H is certainly doing just that. The acclaimed artist, who has toured and recorded with other well-known names such as Kirk Franklin and Mary, Mary, recently landed the No. 1 spot on the CMTA R&B/Hip Hop Chart, No. 2 on the Billboard Gospel chart, and No. 4 on the Billboard Contemporary Christian chart during his album‘s debut week (Source: Christian Today: www.christiantoday.com). Interestingly, the project itself is narrated by multi-platinum and Grammy-winning Gospel artist Kirk Franklin, whose musical style has, itself, broken barriers in the Christian music world. Few Christian hip hop fans are aware of Lambert‘s unique and highly respectable education background. He is a graduate of Philadelphia Biblical University and the Institute of Jewish Studies. He is also a two-time winner of the Chicago-based Stellar Awards Gospel Music award

Alice Cooper banned from gig for anti-Christian values
August 18, 2009 by Tiffany Alice Cooper, of ―School‘s Out for Summer‖ and ―I‘m 18‖ fame, was told that his show can‘t go on in Finland. Cooper and his band were booked to perform at Tampere Areena Oy, an arena in Tampere, Finland Dec. 11. However, the owners of the arena cancelled the event when the supposedly dark nature of Cooper‘s ―Theatre of Death‖ show came to light. Harri Wiherkoski, managing director of the arena said that "artists who express suspicious values from Christianity‘s point of view cannot be allowed to perform at the venue." He also told reporters that his venue doesn‘t ―arrange concerts where Satanism or non-god-worshipping occurs." Concert promoter Kalle Keskinen, said ―We never imagined that a rock veteran who has performed in Finland in four separate decades without any problems and who has spoken in public of his own religious convictions would not be allowed to perform at Tampere Areena in 2009." Keskinen said the concert will probably be moved to Espoo, however this is contingent on Alice Cooper‘s approval, he said. Cooper, who is a practicing Christian, told Cross Rhythms magazine last year that he reconciles his stage persona with his personal faith without problem. ―As a Christian, I don‘t declare myself as a ‗Christian rock star.‘ I‘m a rock performer who‘s a Christian. Alice Cooper is the guy who wants to entertain the audience – it happens that he‘s a Christian. Alice (the character I play on stage) began life as a villain and he remains one. There‘s a villain and a hero in every Shakespeare play," he said.

" Alice is no more dangerous than a villain in a cartoon or a Disney film. We have fun with him. He snarls and wears make up. He‘s punished for his crime and he comes back on the stage in white top and tails. We put on a good show. I‘ve always put limits on Alice because I believe there‘s a certain amount of Alice that‘s a gentleman. He‘d slit your throat, but he‘d never swear at you. And there‘s always a punchline; he may kill you, but he‘ll slip on a banana peel. I get right-wing Christians down on me and I always ask them the question: ‗If I was doing Macbeth, would it be OK?‘ And they always say that‘s Shakespeare so of course. I say that‘s about four times more violent than anything I do on stage." Tags: alice cooper, christian, Music, News, the underground

Lillian‟s Lifesong
August 17, 2009 by Josh Givens

Watching more TV certainly isn't the answer to the depression conundrum. Television Wasn’t the Answer ―Pain is God‘s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.‖-C.S. Lewis, Christian author/novelist (1898-1963) ____________________________________________ If we were all utterly honest, most of us would admit we‘ve known that person who, at least on the surface, appears to have it all together. You know who they are. Your next door neighbor who owns the $500,000 luxury car. Your friend at church with the cushy career and six-digit salary. Their lives seem to operate in a synchronous rhythm, as would a perfectly orchestrated piece of symphony music; a song that broadcasts the happiness of their life. But what

about the other people? Those who struggle just to make ends meet? The people whose lives rise and fall in pain and joy like the ocean waves during a violent, sporadic storm? What is their ―lifesong‖? As the most recent theories of scientific and psychological research postulate that depressed and lonely individuals can benefit from increasing their regular TV-viewing hours, one woman wholeheartedly disagrees. Though she would be quick to tell you she is a fan of several television shows and movies, particularly actor Tony Shalhoub‘s hit series Monk (created by Writer/Producer Andy Breckman), she simultaneously asserts and concurs with the inherent dangers in becoming mentally or emotionally over-attached to fictional characters. Lillian, 48 and wife of twenty-five years, is no stranger to feeling a deep need for relational security and stability. Having endured years of physical and emotional abuse throughout her childhood, she identifies with issues such as depression, abandonment, and loneliness better than most. She will be the first to admit she does not ―have it all together.‖ However, she also encourages children, teens, or adults facing such issues to seek out sound, Bible-based guidance and counsel. ―I don‘t think that science has the answers to the problems our hearts and souls face,‖ she says. ―The answers are found in wrestling with God until you reach the other side and in feeling completely safe and secure in His love. And this is a process. It‘s not an event; it‘s not a one-time counseling session. It‘s about dealing with one issue or wound at a time as it comes to the surface. And I don‘t think that science, television, or movies can fix all of that.‖ This ―quick fix‖ method of counseling and psychological treatment is nothing new in the science world. Unfortunately, using television as a substitution for realworld, interpersonal, healthy, community-oriented relationships, will likely result in an entire generation of individuals who become more depressed than they were to begin with. As many Biblical commentators and pastors have noted, it is indeed a temporary fix to a long-term problem. However, this does not, in any way, rule out the benefits of television. Over the course of our interview, Lillian spoke of how certain movies and television shows have actually helped her in mental and emotional ways. ―Television and movies may have storylines and characters that you can identify with,‖ she noted. ―They can help you when you need to get your emotions out, which is typically how I‘ve used television. When I need to cry, but I can‘t, and my heart is exploding with hurts from the past or the present, I can pop in my favorite movie, identify with the character, cry my eyes out, or laugh until I can‘t anymore…whatever it takes to work through the pain or the emotions. When the movie is over and I get up, my life is still the same, but I‘ve had an emotional release. The movie

hasn‘t changed my circumstances or cured anything, it has just helped to give me a little bit of a release.‖ As we saw in the story of David found in 1 Samuel 22, people do indeed need deep, interactive relationships with real people. But let‘s face it. Bible characters aren‘t the most tangible forms of evidence around. So, to borrow one of Lillian‘s favorite phrases, here is ―someone with skin on‖, who has struggled through the deep, dark, lonely caves of life, and emerged on the other side via sound, Scriptural truth and Biblical counsel. She is real. Her issues were and still are real. I sat with her. I saw the tears. But I also saw the hope. I saw the smiles. I saw the unshakeable assurance.

―God knows how to speak to you, but so does the media world,‖ she warned. ―And they are not motivated by a love for you. They are motivated by what makes money. Yes, they can write gripping, heart-wrenching, gut-busting films and TV series that result in huge ratings and loads of cash, but their motivation is not one of love. This is not to say that many writers/directors/producers do not hope good will come from their work, but my guess is that 99% of their motivation is the almighty dollar, not the condition of someone‘s heart and soul. God can, however, use films and TV series as catalysts to bring people to Him. He can use anything. One of my favorite movies is The Hiding Place, the story of the missionary Corrie Ten Boom. It helped me to understand that, although hurt and pain are still a part of your life, it doesn‘t define who you are. The counseling process does not make issues, past circumstances, and pains go away and never come back. They still surface. But they are not at the forefront, controlling your life. When I hit my bathroom floor, crying my eyes out, it‘s God who pulls me back up. It‘s not television and it‘s not Hollywood. I can turn to Jesus Christ.‖ ________________________________________________ ______________________________ ―I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do.‖—Corrie ten Boom, from The Hiding Place Tags: counseling, depression, loneliness, suicide

Like Rock Band? Don‟t bother with latest Christian version, JAMband
August 14, 2009 by Tiffany

I know that after some people see the commercials for JAMBand, Cloud 9‘s upcoming video game release, they are going to run out and buy it. I imagine the commercial will go something like this: Announcer: Does seeing your heathen friends rock out to songs on Rock Band by Jimi Hendrix and Tokio Hotel make you upset? Kids: Yeah! Announcer: Don’t fear, a Christian replacement will soon be here. It’s called JAMband. Kids: JAMband? Cool. Mom, can we get it? Please???!!!! Okay, maybe the commercial will be a little different, but the underlying message will be the same: ―Attention all Christians, we have ―Christianized‖ Rock Band, so you should go out and buy it. Kind of ridiculous, don‘t you think? First of all, we‘ve been there and done that with Guitar Praise, the Christian clone of Guitar Hero. Why are Christians always coming out with Christian methadone—a substitute for something that world has? From the clip I saw of JAMband on the Cloud 9 Games Web site, it looks identical to Guitar Hero or Rock Band– faux instruments, rainbow frets and all. The only differences that I see are that the game is only available for the PC and it features the usual lineup of Christian rock stars — Toby Mac, Audio Adrenaline, Rebecca St. James, Chris Tomlin. Watch the JAMband trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ0AZlibPpM&featur e=player_embedded Yep, this game features the same old songs by the same old people. Since Rock Band is all about ―rocking out in a band.‖ Wouldn‘t some old school Larry Norman, Petra or even some U2 have been more appropriate for JAMband? Then there‘s the game‘s setup. I don‘t know about everyone else, but playing a Rock Band clone on my PC is not going to work for me.

I know some people keep their computers in their living rooms, but I‘m not wheeling mine out of my office just to play along to Christian rock standards. Even the name of the game itself is problematic. MTV Games is also coming out with a game for Guitar Hero around Christmastime called Jam Band. It may be a coincidence, but it draws attention to the heart of the matter: Christians need to stop trying to be like the world. If the developers and programmers at Cloud 9 really wanted to, I‘m sure they couldn‘t have come up with something so excellent that it would have eclipsed that which is in the world—Rock Band. But as it stands now, JAMband is ―just alright.‖ It‘s at the level of mediocrity to which we Christians have become accustomed. Since it‘s ―just alright,‖ I‘m just going to leave it at the store and wait for some Christian to come out with something better. For more information: From a Cloud 9 press release: JAMband is software designed for Windows personal computers with Windows 7, Vista or XP. With an MSRP of only $49.95, JAMband provides a positive and entertaining alternative to some of the mainstream video games with disturbing content, so parents can relax while their kids have a blast. JAMband will hit the stores August 25th, and pre-buys are currently available at selected Christian retail stores. North American retailers can contact EMI CMG Distribution at 1-800-8774443. For international sales, please contact Cloud 9 Games, Inc. directly at [email protected]. Tags: being worldly, christian, cloud 9 games, guitar hero, guitar praise, jamband, rock band

Underground Music Friday — Mr. John Duncan
August 14, 2009 by Tiffany

That‘s because nobody sounds like him. His voice is earthy, and his delivery is sort of an hybrid between rap and gospel. The way he enunciates puts you in the mind of Scarface, but the way his rapping blends with the way he sings the hook, is reminiscent of Bone Thugs and Harmony. His first Gospel project, "The Prodigal Son," was released back in April and has already been an underground success according to his label One Way to Go Entertainment. ―I am proud of each and every [song] from my album because each one is a reference to my life story,‖ he told Gospel Synergy. ―Enough for Me is [the song I‘m most proud of] because of the impact that it has already made.‖ ―When I perform, seeing the people singing along and getting out of their seat to dance… it‘s a wonderful feeling.‖ Watch his latest single, Enough for Me here: Connect with Mr. John Duncan here: http://www.myspace.com/mrjohnduncan Buy his cd here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mrjohnduncan

If your music is good, you are an Underground Christian musician and you‘d like to be considered for my Underground Music Friday feature, contact me. Guess what today is… Drum roll please. Today (and every Friday) is Underground Music Friday. A lot of Underground Christian musicians have been contacting me, asking me to give them a platform to share their music ministries, and I‘m gonna give it to them. This week‘s artist is Mr. John Duncan. Mr. John Duncan isn‘t new to the music industry. He recorded secular music for nearly a decade, recording five albums. Then, with encouragement from his mom, he recorded his first religious song. After recording that song, he knew that music with a message was the way he should go. Since some rappers sound alike, sometimes it‘s hard to know who is spitting 16 bars over the tight beats coming from your speakers. Thankfully, that‘s not the case with Duncan. Tags: gospel music, hip hop, Holy Hip Hop, Mr. John Duncan, new artists, Rap, Underground Music Friday

Rock the Universe, RevGen among last chances for Christian music festivals
August 13, 2009 by Tiffany

Third Day, Casting Crowns, tobyMac, Hawk Nelson, The Afters, Group 1 Crew, New Method Sept. 13 Barlow Girl, Plumb, pureNRG, hip-hop band Group 1 Crew and Sidewalk Prophet For more information about Rock the Universe 2009, visit www.rocktheuniverse.com or call 1-866-RTU-INFO (1866-788-4636). Revelation Generation Revelation Generation, the premier summer festival in the greater New York and greater Philadelphia area takes place Sept. 4 and 5. This year, the festival held at Revelation Farms in Hunterdon County, has teamed up organizations such as To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA), the Drug Awareness Resistance Program (D.A.R.E.) to benefit the entire region. More than 25,000 people attended the multi-city event last year. Organizers expect even more attendees this year. In addition to musical acts, Revelation Generation will also feature guest speakers, children‘s activities, games, extreme sports, incredible local food, a massive merchandise tent and state of the art sound and lighting. Lineup: NEW YORK STAGE – Pop and rock:

Crowd rocks out at RevGen 2008 (Image courtesy of RevGen).

Summer is great. It‘s a time for festivals, family and fun. Now that it‘s almost over, you‘ve probably had your fill of family, but if you haven‘t gotten your fill of festivals and fun, consider these upcoming festivals.

Rock the Universe 2009 Orlando will become a Christian music mecca on Sept. 11 and 12 as Rock the Universe 2009 takes place at Universal Studios. Tickets are on sale now for the two-day event and include live performances by 14 of the biggest names in Christian music including Switchfoot, Jeremy Camp and The Afters. Guest speakers include Donny Robinson, Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline and Barlow Girl. Those who purchase ―Rock your Weekend‖ tickets will also have access to bonus concerts on Sept. 13. Tickets start at $49.99 and include admission to Universal Studios. Lineup: Sept. 11 Switchfoot, David Crowder Band, Jeremy Camp, Pillar, Fireflight, Remedy Drive,Seven Stories Up Sept. 12

Friday: Mercyme, Jars of Clay, Delirious, Matthew West Saturday: Switchfoot, Relient K, BarlowGirl, NeedToBreathe, The Fold, Seabird PHILADELPHIA STAGE – Alternative, metal, and underground bands: Friday: Underoath, Emery, Haste The Day, The Glorious Unseen Saturday: Flyleaf, The Devil Wears Prada, Norma Jean, August Burns Red, Fireflight, And Then There Were None, Before Their Eyes NASHVILLE STAGE – Some of the finest acoustic artists and groups influenced by the Music City: Saturday: Paul Colman, Jon Foreman, Bethany Dillon, Derek Webb COME AND LIVE STAGE – Up and coming bands in a quick, fast-paced environment:

Saturday: Mychildren Mybride, Impending Doom, I Am Alpha And Omega, The Ember Days, Nothing More, Kronicles URBAN STAGE – Top talent from the hip-hop, R&B, and rap worlds: Saturday: Lecrae, Group 1 Crew, Trip Lee, RUNAWAY, Carmen Michelle, Bengie, Heesun Lee For more information, visit www.revgen.org. Tags: christian, festival, Music, RevGen, Rock the Universe

programs, can be used to satiate relational needs altogether. In other words, there may be no need for real-world interpersonal interaction. Let‘s face it. Everyone has their favorite TV programs. My own family of five is a diverse group made up of Trekkies, Outdoor Channel lovers, comedy fans, and romantics. While there is nothing wrong with television-viewing for entertainment purposes, wielding it as a ―mental and emotional medicine‖ of sorts may be treading in dangerous waters. Besides the obvious dangers in social isolation, there are a slew of social, ethical, psychological, and even spiritual ramifications to be weighed and considered. Pastor Stan Givens of Northside Bible Church in Mobile, AL has been counseling and encouraging individuals struggling with depression and loneliness for more than twenty years. He recently voiced his perspective and thoughts on the issue: ―If you get into a habit of letting television, or any kind of media, create a false sense of relationship and relational security and stability, you are deceiving yourself. People need to be in a healthy community. Whether it‘s young people, children, young families, or adults, they need to be in a community full of people with diversity of relationships, so that they can learn relational skills through that community. They won‘t learn relational skills by watching 22 minutes of a television show that‘s meant to be entertaining and humorous.‖ Oftentimes Christians are guilty of elevating leading men and women of the Bible to places of lofty grandeur and supremacy. How quickly we forget that even the godliest of Scriptural saints struggled in many of the same areas we do. Perhaps there is no better example of a depressionladen, fear-filled, lonely man than the Bethlehem-born shepherd boy David. I know what you‘re thinking: ‗Surely he isn‘t referring to the Psalm-writing King of Israel, the ‗man after God‘s own heart.‘‖ Yes, the very same. Some of David‘s darkest days are recorded in the book of 1 Samuel. Here we find him at rock bottom: he is jobless, homeless, wifeless, friendless, and to make matters worse, he is on the run. After his identity was revealed to his enemies the Philistines, David was forced to fake insanity and subtlety sneak out of the city of Gath (the hometown of a well-known giant named Goliath, by the way). Prior to these events, David had been living in the city of Gath and working for the king of Gath. Obviously, this behavior was not exactly becoming of a God-empowered leader and king. And out of his fear and depression, David chose to hide and ultimately isolate himself: ―So David departed and escaped to the cave of Adullam…‖ 1 Samuel 22:1 (Amplified Bible)

Flickering Friends: A Far Cry from a Fast Fix
August 11, 2009 by Josh Givens

Watching more TV is not the answer to building healthy relationships in children, teens, or adults. Parasocial Relationship Research Not What it Appears to Be These days you can‘t go anywhere without seeing a television, an advertisement for a television program, or someone watching TV on their laptop or cell phone. We are very much a culture driven by our desire to be entertained and our need to be emotionally and relationally fulfilled. Unfortunately, it seems these areas are becoming increasingly merged together and all the more difficult to distinguish. Recent psychological research covered by Scientific American cites the latest attempt by scientists to alleviate symptoms of depression and loneliness in patients by promoting and increasing their regular television viewing. Many psychologists support their position by asserting that the parasocial relationships viewers often form with regular television show characters, particularly in reality TV

It would be here in this cave that God would reveal Himself to David in amazing ways, preparing him for the ultimate destiny that still lay ahead of him. But to do so, he had to send people into the cave; people for David to help and lead. To David, this would not have initially seemed like the answer to his life‘s problems. He just wanted to be alone, remember? But David needed to be reminded of his gifts and passions and God knew it. He needed real, interpersonal relationships to pull him out of the deepest, darkest depression he had ever faced. Subconscious, parasocial relationships with television characters is certainly not the answer to the depression and loneliness issues faced by so many people the world over. ―We already have a generation of young couples who prefer to spend more time chatting on the computer, rather than sitting in person and getting to know each other,‖ says Pastor Stan. ―We also have a generation of young people who use the electronic world to keep them from having closer, interpersonal relationships. So, as long as the scientific community is promoting that, we are just making the problem much worse than it already is. We are going to end up with families that cannot last or stay together. We will see higher divorce rates, much more disturbed children, and parents who cannot even relate to their own families.‖ Tags: depression, loneliness, parasocial relationships, scientific research, television

Today U.S. journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling returned home to their friends and family in an emotional reunion after North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il issued a special pardon. Their return came after former U.S. President Bill Clinton made an unannounced visit to Pyongyang to help secure their release. Ling and Lee had been found guilty of allegedly entering North Korea illegally across the Chinese border in March and later sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. They reportedly were being held at a "guest house" during their confinement. The North Korean News Agency said the two reporters‘ pardon and release was a sign of North Korea‘s "humanitarian and peace-loving policy." That might be the case in this instance, but let‘s look at the facts: · North Korea is suspected of detaining more political and religious prisoners than any other country in the world. Open Doors, an international Christian organization which supports persecuted believers (www.OpenDoorsUSA.org), puts the number of prisoners at least 200,000, including 40,000 to 60,000 Christians.

What about the other North Korean political and religious prisoners?
August 6, 2009 by Tiffany

· North Koreans can be imprisoned for virtually any state-defined crime such as owning a Bible, making a negative comment about the regime, failing to have a picture of Kim Il-Sung in their house and traveling to China to look for food and freedom. · KimJong-Il‘s government keeps its citizens in its grip through systematic use of torture, public and private executions, brutal imprisonment, lack of due process of law, starvation and even forced abortions. · North Korea has been known to arrest not only the suspected dissident but also three generations of his/her family to "root out" the bad influence. · This year North Korea was re-designated by the U.S. State Department as one of eight "Countries of Particular Concern" for its severe religious freedom violations. The Open Doors World Watch List of the worst persecutors of Christians has ranked the hermit country as the worst offender of religious freedom for seven years in a row. The Associated Press reported last month that North Korea publicly executed a Christian woman for distributing Bibles, based on information it received from South Korean activists. Ri Hyon Ok, 33, was also accused of spying for South Korea and the United States and organizing dissidents, according to the Associated Press. She was executed in the northwestern city of Ryongchon near the

The following is submitted by Jerry Dykstra, Media Relations Director, Open Doors USA:

border with China on June 16, according to a report from an alliance of several dozen anti-North Korean groups. Ri‘s parents, husband and three children were sent to a political prison camp in the northeastern city of Hoeryong the following day, according to the report, citing unidentified documents it said were obtained from North Korea. This is the shocking reality of what takes place inside this communist country where there is no basic human rights. One colleague of mine who has traveled to North Korea described North Korea "as an on-going nightmare." It surely was a nightmare for Kim Young Soon, a special witness during North Korea Freedom Week in April before a group of Congressmen in Washington, D.C. The North Korean refugee is one of the few survivors of the infamous Yodok political prison camp. She was thrown into prison for nine years on a trumped up charge of divulging a secret about Kim Jong-Il‘s marriage. Her parents and four children were also imprisoned. In the Yodok prison camp, her parents died of malnutrition, an eldest son drowned. Her husband was shot to death in 1970 while attempting to cross the border to escape from North Korea. Mrs. Kim‘s youngest son was arrested in 1988 while attempting to cross the border and was put in prison for four years. He was executed in 1993 by a firing squad because he tried to escape from North Korea again. Mrs. Kim escaped from North Korea and resettled in South Korea. She has made it her life‘s mission to expose the cruelty and truth about the prison camps in North Korea. She testified: "I entered prison camp No. 15 at Yodok. I spent nine years there; treated like an animal. What made me feel most mortified was the fact that my father, mother, daughter and three sons, who were innocent of any crime, were also sent to Yodok, all because of me. "We were forced to engage in heavy labor day and night. On August 5, 1971, I lost my father. I had to wrap his body in a straw mat since there were no coffins in Yodok. Before long, my mother also died of malnutrition. Unbearable sadness cut my heart to pieces. "Still with tears in my eyes, I was struck by another painful accident when my eldest son drowned. I was nearly mad with grief. Yodok was really a hell to me. I cried to God asking that He might burn them all to death in Yodok with lightning. "Every mountain and field in Yodok was covered with dead bodies because of malnutrition and hunger. In 1973, two detainees were killed by public execution at a place between Sector 3 and 4 on charges of trying to escape from prison. Countless numbers of detainees were killed by public execution and torture. Due to malnutrition and

hunger, little children withered to death with their stomachs swollen. Adult people were looking everywhere for young rats which they believed to be a kind of medicine to save their children. And they literally ate up all the snakes in Yodok to avoid painful death from malnutrition." Yes, we should rejoice for Ling and Lee. They now have complete freedom in the United States. But please join me in praying and advocating for those who have not received pardons; for those languishing in the "hell" that is North Korea. Tags: bill clinton, christianity, euna lee, Kim Jong-Il, laura ling, north korea, religious persecution

2012 Doomsday Prediction: Fact or Fiction?
August 4, 2009 by Josh Givens

Date inscription for the Mayan Long Count Calendar Seeking Truth About the Much-Debated End of the World From the Bible-based Left Behind book and film series to the more recent apocalyptic action flicks The Day After Tomorrow and M. Night Shyamalan‘s The Happening, it seems people everywhere are becoming increasingly obsessed with end-of-the-world conjectures. After all, who wouldn‘t like to know how it‘s all going to go down? Worldwide floods? A devastating meteor shower? Attacks from an intergalactic alien race?

A number of theories have surfaced over the last several years, all attempting to pinpoint the exact time, day, month, year and event that will ultimately bring humanity to its knees and life as we know it to an end. One of the many cultural hypotheses gaining scientific attention is the 2012 Doomsday Prediction. The 2012 belief has been around for quite some time, although it has undergone dozens of alterations and modifications since its birth. Built on the early beliefs of the ancient Maya civilizations of southern Mexico and Central America (250 A.D. to 900 A.D.), it postulates that a series of cataclysmic events will take place during the year 2012. This rather unpleasant, doom-and-gloom forecast is supported by the end date on the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar . On this calendar, often referred to as the Mayan or Maya Calendar, the expanse of time is defined as lasting only 5,125 years. December 21 or 23, 2012 will, according to ancient Mayan precepts, mark the calendar‘s official end date, after which time will be no more. Whether you‘re eight or 80, an end-of-the-world scenario certainly churns up thoughts about one‘s life goals and ambitions, particularly younger individuals who have much of their adult life ahead of them. ―If I knew that the world was going to end in two or three years…I don‘t think that I would make that many changes right now,‖ said Lauren, 19, a college student from TrueNorth Student Ministries of Northside Bible Church in Mobile, Ala. ―It‘s human nature to live to that last minute. I don‘t know that right now it would change much of anyone‘s view.‖ Another Northside student, Keri, 23, disagrees with Lauren. She said that impending doom would change the way she lives, acts and thinks. ―If I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that in three years there would be no more chances, my gentle pleadings [in witnessing to] my sister and family would no longer be gentle.‖

Apparently, all of the hubbub surrounding 2012 has also made grounds for an action-packed cinematic experience. Hollywood Director Roland Emmerich of The Day After Tomorrow fame seems to have an affinity for taking the reins of apocalyptic thrillers. Emmerich is currently helming a film adaptation of the 2012 legends and prophecies, slated to release Nov. 13, 2009. 2012 will feature a star-studded cast, including John Cusack, Thandie Newton, Amanda Peet, Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover and Oliver Platt. Studio production companies Centropolis Entertainment and The Mark Gordon Company have recently come under scrutiny for their rather controversial marketing techniques for the film. In an effort to attract a significantly larger movie going audience, they have created the purely fictional Institute for Human Continuity, where Internet surfers can register to win a lottery ticket entitling them to membership in a small group of people selected to be rescued from impending doom. Questionable promotion strategies aside, action movie lovers of all ages will be likely to give the film a chance. Of the nine TrueNorth students interviewed for this piece, five admitted they would be interested in seeing the movie. ―I think I‘d see it,‖ said Toby. ―But you have to be careful. There‘s such a possibility for misinterpretation.‖ ―I just like big doomsday movies,‖ said Justin, 21. ―I loved Cloverfield…and movies with huge-scale disaster.‖ Three students, however, commented they would personally prefer to see more contemporary films based on the Bible‘s account of the end times found in the Book of Revelation.

Whether you will find yourself standing in a ticket line for 2012 or waiting for the film to hit DVD, one thing remains certain: the continued research and debate of much of the aforementioned will continue to be the source of controversy within our modern American culture. While scientists continue to ponder the intricacies of the Mayan civilizations and their beliefs about the end of the world, Christians worldwide would do well to ponder the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:34-36: ―Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.‖ (New American Standard, emphasis added). -Josh Givens, The Underground Staff Writer Tags: 2012, book of revelation, doomsday, end of the world

The song has since been removed from his page. With lyrics such as ―Call me crazy but I think I fell in love with the sound of hearing the dispatcher saying, ‗Officer Down,‖ as well as a mention of two officers, including a deputy who was murdered in 2006, a sheriff with the Polk County gang squad decided to investigate. His search led him to Johnson, who was already in jail for violating his probation on a 2007 cocaine possession charge. According to Illyte‘s brother, Gerald Johnson, Illyte wrote the song when he was still a teenager as a way to protest the ill-treatment he felt that he had received at the hands of police officers. According to Hip Hop Database, Johnson, who also goes by ―T.O‖ released his first Christian mixtape, ―The Life & Rhymes Of Antavio Johnson Volume 1″ in 2006. Tags: illyte, kill me a cop, Myspace, prison time, rant, Rap

Christian rapper gets jail time for Myspace rant
August 3, 2009 by Tiffany Florida-based Christian rap artist, Illyte, is headed to the big house.

Christian rapper Illyte gets two years in prison for threatening cops The rapper, whose real name is Antavio Johnson, pleaded no contest to two counts of corruption by threat of public servant on July 24, for which he will receive two years in prison. Johnson‘s charges stem from a song, ―Kill Me a Cop,‖ that was posted on his Myspace page earlier this year.

Pop Culture Moments by Mo: Obama shakes off O‟Reilly and Glen Beck
August 14, 2009 by Mo

Creation museum Adam and Eve The Creation Museum is a museum dedicated to the Biblical creationism, and is an arm of Christian apologetics ministry Answers in Genesis. The purpose of the trip according to the Secular Student Alliance, a network of more than 145 student groups atheist and agnostic student groups, was to explore ―a worldview with which they largely disagree,‖ not to cause a disturbance or disrupt the museum‘s usual operation. ―It should be great fun. I‘ve got a long list of questions to ask,‖ said PZ Myers before going on the trip. ―I‘m going to have to prune it down a lot.‖ When the 285-strong SSA arrived at the Creation Museum, they were indeed well-behaved though some members of the group mocked several of the museum‘s displays and astrophysicist Dr. Jason Lisle‘s lecture at the museum. ―We frequently come across blog comments from atheists and agnostics who visit the museum with their minds already made up and prepared to mock,‖ said Creation Museum co-founder and chief communications officer Mark Looy. ―But we note that they scoff at anyone who believes in a god, whether that person accepts the historicity of the Bible or not,‖ he said. ―These are people who would probably not even think about attending church, and here, they got the Gospel message. We are grateful for the opportunity to share with them.‖ Tags: adam and eve, agnostic, answers in genesis, atheist, creationism, kentucky

President Obama has been under a lot of pressure from vociferous right-wing pundits including Glen Beck and Bill O‘Reilly. Beck even lost advertisers after calling Obama a racist. Tags: bill oreilly, glen beck, obama

Showdown at the Creation Museum
August 13, 2009 by Tiffany On Friday more than 280 atheists and agnostics converged on the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY.

Harvey Milk, Mary Robinson most controversial of medal of freedom recipients
August 13, 2009 by Tiffany Yesterday, President Obama awarded the nation‘s highest civilian award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to late gay rights advocate Harvey Milk. "His name was Harvey Milk, and he was here to recruit us – all of us – to join a movement and change a nation," Obama said during of Milk during the presentation. ―In the brief time in which he spoke – and ran and led – his voice stirred the aspirations of millions of people. His message of hope – hope unashamed, hope unafraid – could not ever be silenced.‖ Milk‘s selection as a medal of freedom recipient comes on the heels of mounting criticism from gay rights organizations, who say that Obama has failed to fulfill campaign promises such as the repealing of the military‘s ―Don‘t Ask, Don‘t Tell,‖ policy. Critics, such as Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com, said that Milk didn‘t deserve the award because he was a sex addict "who did dishonorable deeds and does not deserve a medal or a statewide ‗day of significance.‖ Another controversial medal recipient was former Irish President Mary Robinson. Pro-Israel groups, such as the AIPAC and the AntiDefamation League, criticized Obama for choosing Robinson because of her failure to halt expressions of antiSemitic hatred during the 2001 Durban conference over which she acted as the United Nations high commissioner of human rights. In addition to Milk and Robinson, other honorees included physicist Stephen Hawking, Sen. Ted Kennedy, retired civil

rights leader Rev. Joseph Lowery, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O‘Connor, Chita Rivera and Sidney Poitier, geneticist Dr. Janet Rowley, economist and micro financier Mohammed Yunus, Dr. Pedro Jose Greer, Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Komen Foundation founder Nancy Brinker and former Tennis pro Billie Jean King. Tags: billie jean king, desmond tutu, harvey milk, medal of freedom

Black, White & Gray All Over: A Conclusion
August 8, 2009 by Josh Givens More than Skin Deep Few things in this life are what they appear to be. We live in a world of mind-bending camera tricks and bedazzling computer-generated realities. Many Hollywood professionals have built lifelong careers on the practice of cinematic trickery and mesmerizing ―movie magic.‖ And, often times, people are not always who they appear to be. Dishonest and unethical car salesmen work to become masters at disguising a vehicle‘s defects, often masking them with a superior exterior. Deceitful politicians sweep major issues under the rug, while working to present a crisp and sparkling public image. In this world where the line between right and wrong, good and bad, is becoming all the more undistinguishable, it is all the more imperative that God‘s children practice healthy discernment in the gray areas of life and of Christianity. Our journey thus far has brought us through the intricacies of many such gray areas, while highlighting the critical need for Christians to refrain from senseless squabbling over these issues and to practice healthy spiritual eyesight. We will depart from the series with one final thought, a caution: be wary of and attentive to your judgment of fellow believers when traversing the meandering roads and slippery slopes of gray area territory. It is not our place to look down upon a believing Christian who attends a rated ―R‖ movie. Or to speak badly about a fellow church member who drinks an occasional beer. Watch out for the manifestation of such thoughts, presumptions, and assumptions, keeping in mind that everyone has different convictions in life‘s gray areas. Once again we find the words of the apostle Paul so relevant, this time in the book of Romans: ―Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats

vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another?…Why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written: ‗As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall give praise to God.‘ So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this – not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother‘s way.‖ Romans 14:1-4, 10-13 (NASU), emphases added It is widely noted by many Biblical commentators that there were several considerable misunderstandings between the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome, ―relative to certain customs which were sacredly observed by the one and disregarded by the other.‖ (New Testament Commentary by Adam Clarke: British Methodist theologian, 1762-1832). Sound familiar? Feel familiar? Indeed, we have seen this before in regards to the historical controversies over eating idol meat. However, Paul‘s charge and challenge continues to be one of exercising a genuine love and nonjudgmental heart towards our brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of any such disagreements. Finally, Paul understands well that such convictions are spiritually personal, existing between the believer and God alone. How can we truly profess to know the intentions and motivations of another‘s heart? Heaven forbid that we would ever instigate tension and strife within the body of Jesus Christ, His church, by exercising an ungrounded judgment. The call remains the same for believers today: walk in love, relate in love, and speak in love. Keep an eye on the judgmental thoughts of your heart, remembering that ―The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick. Who can understand it?‖ (Jeremiah 17:9, NASU). ―…God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.‖ (1 Samuel 16:7, NASU) Tags: christianity, gray areas, judging other believers

In sports, a sin bin is a penalty box, but in the UK, it‘s sort of like a fishbowl.

Through the Family Intervention Project, the British government subjected about 2,000 of its ―worst‖ families to round-the-clock monitoring, making sure children in the families went to school on time, to sleep at decent hours and ate nutritious meals. Security guards carried out home checks, and parents with drug and alcohol problems received help to fight their addictions. The purpose of Family Intervention Projects, according to the British government is to quell to swell of anti-social behavior in Britain. The thought behind the program is that a stable home life leads to future societal stability. According to initial reports, the program has been successful thus far. Ed Balls, the UK‘s Children‘s Secretary even laid out a plan to integrate 20,000 more problem families into the program over the next two years at a cost of £5,000 to £20,000 per family. ―This is pretty tough and non-negotiable support for families to get to the root of the problem,‖ said Balls. ―There should be Family Intervention Projects in every local authority area because every area has families that need support.‖ Critics of the project, such as Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling say the project is too little too late, and try to blame the current ruling party for problems. ―This government has been in power for more than a decade during which time anti-social behavior, family breakdown and problems like alcohol abuse and truancy have just got worse and worse.‖ However, I don‘t think that‘s being fair to the Labour Party.

„Sin bins‟ not the answer for Britons behaving badly
August 6, 2009 by Tiffany For the past few years, some families in the UK have been living in ―sin bins.‖

Societal ills can‘t be pinned on one ruling party. I‘m sure the same things went on when the Conservative Party was in charge. The real reason there has been a rise in truancy and delinquency in the UK is the moral breakdown of British society. Though most people settle into their beliefs as they age, they learn their core beliefs or morals from their parents. Usually that morality sticks with a person, unless there is a concerted effort to rid oneself of it. Where does morality come from? Depending on who you ask, morality can come from society via an unwritten social contract, be inherent in each person or it can come from that which is transcendent. In the UK‘s case, as British society was influenced by Christianity until the 19th century, I think it‘s okay to go with the latter. As in the United States, British society was so heavily influenced by Christian thought that Christianity ended up in the social conscience of the masses. Since the UK has rejected Christianity as the philosophy du jour, other often-competing worldviews are trying to fill the vacuum. At the same time, however, people are living with a hazy remembrance …a ―shadow‖ of their former Christianinfluenced morality. Since British people have rejected the basis for their morality, people are confused; they don‘t really know how they should live. Confusion begets the breakdown of the family unit, which leads to hooliganism and anti-social behavior. The British government, seeing the end result of this confusion, has tried to pick up the pieces, which is laudable. However, instead of dealing with or even acknowledging the real root of the problem—the decline in morality– the government is planning to spend gobs of money on handholding. The problem with this is that it‘ll never work. Unless people know why what they are doing is wrong, they‘ll continue to do the wrong thing.

Why should children go to bed on time? Why should they eat nutritious meals? Why is substance abuse wrong? Why is anti-social behavior wrong? If the British government, having taken on the role of supreme parent, is not answering these philosophical questions, it is really just telling its ―children,‖ ―Because I said so.‖ That never flies with children, and it‘s not going to fly with this social experiment. Tags: anti-social behavior, british government, decline of christianity, england, family intervention project, hooliganism

Pop Culture Moments by Mo: I regret listening to Sotomayor regret her comments
August 5, 2009 by Mo

During her confirmation hearing, Judge Sonia Sotomayor didn‘t do much in my opinion. I think that frustrated the

senators at her confirmation. All she said repeatedly was that she regretted her comment that a Latina lady would‘ve made a quicker decision than a white male justice. Because of that comment,to protect her slip of the tongue she just would say she wasn‘t aware of certain state-laws that were proposed to her as examples to rule on by senators. From Reuters: Republicans are expected to vote overwhelmingly against Judge Sonia Sotomayor in the Supreme Court confirmation vote set for Thursday with an eye toward a potential next pick from President Barack Obama, according to party lawmakers and strategists. Republicans say the show of party unity will discourage Mr. Obama from choosing a more liberal candidate in future picks and that the arguments they developed against Judge Sotomayor set a precedent for rejecting what they see as "activist" judges. Tags: pop culture moments by mo, sotomayor, supreme court nominations

As people trade in old cars for new, car dealerships have to render the clunkers inoperable, often by using sodium silicate to lock up the engine. Neil Kopit, of Criswell Chevrolet in Gaithersburg, Md., told NPR that, even if they are used cars, it‘s hard to get rid

of your bread and butter. "We sell [cars] for a living," he said. "It‘s like shooting a horse; you don‘t feel good about it, but sometimes that‘s what‘s got to be done." After the auto dealerships disable the cars, the junk yards get them. These places often have those hard to find parts that allow people to keep patching up their clunkers to get from A to B. But under Cash for Clunkers, the mandate to disable a clunker‘s engine and transmission decreases the salvage value of a vehicle by as much as 60 percent, according to the Automotive Recyclers Association. Bruce Luther of Rock And Roll Auto Recycling in Pleasanton, Calif. told Jalopnik.com that ―the current scrap value is $140 a ton, which means a two-ton vehicle is only worth $280 as scrap. Subtract out the estimated cost of $200 to detox the vehicle as required by law and the total value is only $80 per car if nothing can be sold on it.‖ Besides these obvious short-term losers in the Cash for Clunkers program, there‘s another group that will lose out—the homeless. "One man‘s clunker is another man‘s coat" said Ron Marlette, executive director of Mission Solano. Mission Solano operates a charitable car lot on North Texas Blvd. in Fairfield, Calif.

Homeless, poor among losers in “Cash for Clunkers” deal
August 5, 2009 by Tiffany People are lining up for the ―Cash for Clunkers‖ program. The Cash for Clunkers program offers vouchers of up to $4,500 to vehicle owners to trade in their old, gas-guzzling cars and trucks for newer, more fuel efficient vehicles. So many people have lined up that the program is running out of money and needs another $3 billion dollars to keep going strong. Though cash for clunkers seems like a good thing—and it is—stimulating and boosting the sales of the United States‘ automotive industry, there are some down sides. The most obvious being the affect of the program on independent auto repair shops, used car lots and junk yards. As people trade in their clunkers, there won‘t be an immediate need for non-warranty repairs, so that counts the mom and pop shops out. And if people can get a new car with government help, why buy a used one?

In exchange for tax write-offs, people donate their old vehicles to the organization. The mission then sells the cars to fund its homeless outreach. "It is too early to know how much we will be hurt by the Cash for Clunkers program, but we know we can‘t compete with the government‘s checkbook" said Marlette. "Our donations were already down due to the economy as people are driving their old cars longer or brokering a sale themselves. The Cash for Clunkers program could shut us down." In addition, Marlette pointed out that since the Cash for Clunkers requires that donated "clunkers" be destroyed, options for cash-strapped buyers looking for low-priced transportation will be lessened. "We often sell our cars to individuals who cannot afford anything else,‖ he said. ―In some cases these are men and women who have been helped off the streets by the mission. Now they have a job and need cheap wheels to get there. They can‘t buy a new car. What are they supposed to do?" Tags: california, cash for clunkers, homeless, independent auto shops, mission solano, poor

when I became a man, I did away with childish things.‖ (New American Standard-updated edition). Thus far in our series, we have discussed how seemingly insignificant issues can divide entire churches and violently split groups of believers. We have subsequently seen the explicit need for clear spiritual eyesight before making decisions in the gray areas of life. But what about all the seriously sanctimonious scrapping that occurs more often than it should within churches in the first place? How can we resolve these unnecessary and often unwarranted fights between born again believers, brothers and sisters in Christ? We must come to a clear understanding that when Christians do argue and bicker over senseless issues (gray areas included), it leaves a permanent, unmistakable scar on the church, the surrounding community, and immediately damages the sacrifice Christ made on the cross and His testimony in the world. The first cause of carnality is a diet problem. ―And I, brethren, could not speak to you as spiritual men, but as men of the flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly.‖ (Paul speaking to the early church: 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, NASU). Keep in mind that carnal Christians are still Christians, still saved, still under grace and the blood of Calvary. Paul reminds us of this by addressing them as ―brethren‖—they are still part of the body. Unfortunately, they have chosen to act childish and/or lukewarm about and in their faith and spiritual walk. They have not been properly satiated with the solid and sound theologies and teaching of the Word of God and the God of the Word. Thus small gray areas, to them, become life and death arguments. The second cause of carnality is the walk. Carnal Christians have chosen to walk in their flesh, as unsaved nonbelievers, and ignore the help offered by the Holy Spirit. Remember why the Holy Spirit came into the world in the first place? ―But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom my Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.‖ (Jesus speaking to His disciples: John 14:26, NASU). The farther we get from the control and influence of the Holy Spirit, the more likely we are to walk in the flesh. Lastly, carnality is often caused by a distorted view of God’s sovereignty. The Corinthian church struggled to see the omniscient hand of God in their midst, as they were too focused on the works, preaching styles, and reputations of other ―spiritual‖ men (i.e. Apollos and even Paul). In doing so, they failed to see the amazing works of God. Paul was forced to remind them that it is ―God who causes the growth‖ (1 Corinthians 5:6), not man.

Black, White & Gray All Over: Part 3
August 4, 2009 by Josh Givens Causes & Cures for Carnality: Stop the Sanctified Scrapping From an early age, my parents were forced to engage with me in ―regular disciplinary sessions.‖ Perhaps that‘s putting it mildly. All political correctness aside, I was spanked as a child when I acted up, and rightfully (not to mention scripturally) so. After all, we‘re talking about the kid who, for no reason other than his own amusement and selfishness, once bit his younger brother‘s toe. And not just a little nibble. We‘re talking about a full blown, all out, carnivorous gnawing of human flesh and tissue. Needless to say, my two year-old hind parts remained red, raw, and reeling for much of the day (and my subsequent childhood). As children, we are greedy, egocentric, and immature. But as we age, particularly as Christians, we are charged and expected by God to become more and more Christ-like and adult in our thinking and lifestyle. Remember Paul‘s words in 1 Corinthians 13:11: ―When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child;

So how do we go about repairing the broken mindset embodied by so much of the aforementioned? What will it take to mend a global, ravaged, ragamuffin church? First and foremost, we must, above all, daily exercise a continuous sensitivity to and embracing of the Cross of Christ (see Paul‘s words in Galatians 6:14). After all, as discussed before, once controversial issues and gray matters are held up to the Cross and viewed through the red, redeeming blood of Christ, they soon become not so worth bickering about. In the book Restoring Broken Things (Integrity Publishers: 2005), co-authored by Senior Pastor Scotty Smith and multi Dove and Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman, Scotty says, ―And yet this same promise of Christ likeness [referenced in 1 John 3:2-3] is also threatening, not in a way that causes fear, but in that it calls for change. For just as God‘s ways are not our ways, so God‘s definition of beauty is significantly different from ours. The Bride Jesus is preparing for Himself is not always the one we instinctively choose to become.‖ Finally, we must commit to spending time in the Word of God and with the God of the Word. In Psalm 119:11, David penned these words many of us know so well: ―Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you.‖ (NASU). According to Merriam-Webster‘s 10th ed. Dictionary ―to treasure‖ means to, ―collect and store up (something of value) for future use; to hold or keep as precious.‖ The daily memorizing of and reflection upon Scripture will keep us grounded in God‘s value system and keep us from our own selfish desires and human values. When we practice God‘s values in the midst of life‘s gray areas, we become more able to think like Him, more able to make Godly decisions. -Josh Givens, The Underground Staff Writer Tags: carnal christians, christianity, gray areas

Watch news story on murders here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIRAsPqJq4M&feature =player_embedded ―Someone walked in and began firing left and right,‖ said Tel Aviv Police Chief Shahar Ayalon. ―The shooter escaped and we are making every effort to find him.‖ As the perpetrator hasn‘t be captured, police don‘t know what was the gunman‘s motive. Many in the community, however, are speculating that it was a hate crime against homosexuals, calling the shooting spree ―Israel‘s worst crime against homosexuals.‖ ―This is undoubtedly the worst incident aimed at the gay community in Israel,‖ said Nitzan Horowitz, the only openly gay member of Israel‘s Knesset. ―This act was a blind attack against innocent youths, and I expect the authorities to exercise all means in apprehending the shooter,‖ he said. Because religious leaders in Israel, such as those from the ultra-Orthodox Shas party have made statements in the past about homosexuality‘s sinfulness, some are already beginning to link religion and the violent crime. ―It is not surprising that such a crime can be committed given the incitement of hatred against the homosexual community,‖ Mai Pelem, a prominent member ofTel Aviv‘s gay and lesbian community, told AFP reporters. According to AFP, ―Pelem was referring to verbal attacks against gays from the religious community.‖ This assumption to which some already are jumping is something religious leaders are trying to quell. The Shas party released a statement recently denouncing the killings. In the United States, religious groups are speaking out to denounce such an act of hatred and quiet any murmurs about Christian intolerance. Dr. Michael Brown, leader of the Charlotte-based Coalition of Conscience and a Jewish follower of Jesus, said he was ―shocked and saddened‖ to hear the news of the killings. ―We don‘t have the details yet, but this has all the markings of an act of raw hatred, and as such it must be utterly renounced,‖ he said. ―True moral and cultural revolution does not come about through hatred or intimidation or violence. It comes about through prayer and service, through influencing people‘s

Religious groups to public:Don‟t blame religion for Tel Aviv murders
August 3, 2009 by Tiffany On Saturday night a gunman entered a community center for gay teenagers in Tel Aviv. The gunman murdered two people and wounded at least 10 others.

hearts and minds, overcoming wrong ideologies with right ideologies; but violence only begets violence.‖ Even Mission America, a Christian organization that has worked ―to expose the harmful gay agenda directed at youth, and maintains that homosexuality is not an inborn condition‖ also denounced the murders. Mission America president Linda Harvey said, ―We are deeply saddened by this violent act and the deaths of these young people, and pray for the perpetrator to be found and brought to justice. Our greatest hope for all youth is that they live long and healthy lives. These kids‘ chance to do that has been stolen from them. Our prayers are with their families in this time of loss.‖ ―At the same time, it is deplorable this incident is already being used by the homosexual community to blame this act on those holding a traditional moral viewpoint. Israelis, just as anyone else on earth, should still have the right to oppose homosexuality for religious or other reasons without being called accessories to murder. The motive is still unknown; why engage in slanderous speculation?‖ Tags: gay youths, hate crimes, israel, knesset, murder, shooting, tel aviv

The campaign, which will kick off Sept. 13, aims to reach the un-churched, those who have never attended church, and the de-churched, people who used to go to church but no longer attend. LifeWay Research, an arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, found in a recent survey that 82 percent of unchurched people would visit a church, if a friend or family member invited them. President of LifeWay Research, Thom Rainer, said few active church members invite their friends and neighbors to church. "Only two percent of church members invite an unchurched person to church," he said. Since many of the de-churched stop attending church because of changes in life circumstances or habit, Mark Batterson of the National Community Church in Washington, D.C. said that the de-churched are in the same boat as the un-churched as far as invitations go. "Many de-churched people are a simple re-invitation away," said Batterson. To help those who will join the quest to get the unchurched and de-churched back into the pews, Outreach Inc. has created a campaign planning guide and a social networking page on Facebook. The planning guide offers advice on everything from sermon planning to instructions for greeters. "When people come to church for the first time, or come back after a long absence, they notice everything," said Nelson Searcy, lead pastor of The Journey in New York City. "In fact, most of them form innate judgments about the environment within seven seconds of walking through the door." In addition, the organization has created a "Rethink Church" booklet, which addresses the 10 top reasons people leave the church, along with videos, articles and other resources.

Campaign gears up to get people back into church pews
August 3, 2009 by Tiffany As children across the country head back to school, San Diego-based Outreach Inc. and churches across the nation

For more information: www.backtochurch.com are gearing up for the ―Back to Church Sunday‖ campaign. Tags: back to church, facebook, rethink church, southern baptist convention

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The Underground is… Decidedly Christian—A Relevant Ministry This is a Christian Blogazine. As Christians from various ecclesiastical traditions, we write and produce artwork from a Christian perspective. A Place for You No matter your race, religion, or socio-economic status, you are welcome here. Remember that the Underground is as much your platform as it is ours. Feel free to tell us what you like, and tell us what you hate by leaving comments on our articles. If you want to be a contributor, send an e-mail to staff [at] theundergroundsite.com, and let us know. Unbought and Unbossed Yeah, we stole that from Shirley Chisholm, but for the most part, we do our own thing. We write about what we want to write about. It just happens that those things revolve around culture and news. While we are not theologians, we also try to throw some theology in there, because learning is fundamental. A Labor of Love God‘s love–it‘s what‘s paying the bills. If you want to, ―ah, further the kingdom, ah,‖ click on some of our ads or shop in our store. Contact us if you want to advertise with us. Written by these People: James Wait, staff writer Josh Givens, staff writer Maurice Williams, staff writer and cartoonist Sheryl Young, staff writer Tiffany Orr, managing editor Marcene Taff, contributor

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