25 Şubat 2013 Pazartesi

Teen Pregnancy Rate Highest in Rural (Conservative) Areas

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Just as the evangelical Christians who blather the most about the "sanctity of marriage" have the highest divorce rates of any religious grouping in the country, so too rural - translate Republican - areas have the highest teen pregnancy rates.  Obviously, the children of the Bible beaters are not heeding their parents' supposed beliefs on chastity until marriage and the abstinence only sex education course so favored by the Christofascists.  And then there's the lack of availability of contraception and women's health clinics in these areas where they Christofascists seek to drive away programs that would provide meaningful means to reduce unwanted pregnancies.  The Des Moines Register has coverage on the findings of a new study.  Here are excerpts:
Nationally, the birth rate for U.S. teens has plunged to record low levels, but a new analysis shows that a disproportionate share of teen births are in rural communities.  In 2010, the birth rate for girls ages 15 to 19 in rural counties was 43 per 1,000, nearly one-third higher than the rate for metropolitan counties (33 per 1,000), says a report released Thursday.

"The prevailing stereotype is that teen parenthood is primarily an urban and suburban phenomenon," says Bill Albert, chief program officer for the Washington, D.C.-based non-profit. In fact, "the landscape of teen childbearing is more open spaces and fresh air than gridlock and high-rises," he says.

The results indicate that "the rates are far, far higher in rural areas compared to other parts of the country," he says. That suggests a greater need for efforts directed at helping rural teens avoid too-early pregnancy and parenthood.  Among findings from the analysis:

- Between 1990 and 2010, the birth rate among teens in rural counties declined by 32%, far less than in major urban centers (49%) and suburbs (40%).

- Rural counties account for one in five teen births; only 16% of teen girls live in rural counties.

- The teen birth rate is higher in rural counties than major urban centers for all ethnic and racial groups

What's behind the high rural teen birth rate? One factor is that even with all of the improvements in birth control methods, availability "lags far behind availability for teens living in urban and metro areas,"

Once again the lesson is clear:  if the Christofascists were serious about reducing teen pregnancies and abortions, they would support comprehensive sex ed programs and making contraception widely available.  Instead, they whine about the unborn while perpetuating the problem and typically not giving a damn about children once they are actually born.   Pretending in one's delusional mind that teens aren't having sex simply doesn't make it so.

GOP's Ted Cruz Claims Communist Allegations Are True

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I noted in a post yesterday how Texas GOP U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (pictured above) seems to want to reprise the Joseph McCarthy era of the 1950's by brandishing about claims that people who disagree with his far right extremist views are communists.  A piece in the New Yorker looked at Cruz's unfounded allegations.  Now, in a follow up article The New Yorker is reporting that Cruz's office has said that his labeling of Harvard professors and others as communists is true.  Of course, his claims are false, but what else can one expect from today's Republican party.  It's the same mindset that labels women who use contraception as sluts and whores.  Here are excerpts from the latest New Yorker story:
Senator Ted Cruz has responded to The New Yorkers report that he accused Harvard Law School of having had “twelve” Communists who “believed in the overthrow of the U.S. Government” on its faculty when he attended in the early nineties. Cruz doesn’t deny that he said this; instead, through his spokesman, he says he was right: Harvard Law was full of Communists.

His spokeswoman Catherine Frazier told The Blaze website that the “substantive point” in Cruz’s charge, made in a speech in 2010, was “was absolutely correct.”

She went on to explain that “the Harvard Law School faculty included numerous self-described proponents of ‘critical legal studies’—a school of thought explicitly derived from Marxism—and they far outnumbered Republicans.” As my story noted, the Critical Legal Studies group consisted of left-leaning professors like Duncan Kennedy, who is a social democrat, not a Communist, and has never “believed in the overthrow of the U.S. Government.”

Cruz’s spokesman called it “curious” that The New Yorker would cover Cruz’s speech “three years” after he gave it. But Cruz’s hostile questioning of Obama’s nominee for Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel, and insinuations about Hagel’s loyalties had provided a fresh context for looking more closely at the nature of the accusations he has leveled at political opponents. Observers like Senator Barbara Boxer wondered if they were seeing a revival of McCarthyism. Judging from Cruz’s speech—and, now, his defense of it—it’s a good question.

I noted yesterday that Cruz even looks a bit like McCarthy who is pictured below.  Judge for yourselves:




Was the Pope’s Resignation Connected to Network of Gay Bishops?

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OK.  In a prior post I referenced the rumor that Benedict XVI resigned because of blackmail and a cabal of gay cardinals and bishops within the Vatican and thought I'd say no more.  But the topic is just too much fun to pass up.  Especially, with the new allegations against Britain's highest ranking prelate.  Combine all of this with the world wide conspiracy to protect predatory priests, allegations that  Cardinal Dolan of New York hid money while in the Milwaukee archdioceses to protect it from pay out to sexual abuse victims and the Vatican bank's suspicious transactions and the Mafia begins to look pretty straight forward and upstanding.  John Allen, a long time Vatican reporter at the National Catholic Reporter looks at the increasingly bizarre picture of the goings on at the Vatican.  Here are article excerpts:
I've received numerous requests to comment on the sensational story in an Italian newspaper Thursday suggesting the existence of a shadowy "gay lobby" in the Vatican, linking it to the prospect of blackmail and suggesting that such dark forces may have factored into Benedict XVI's decision to resign.  For what it's worth, I'll lay out my initial reaction here.

First of all, the paper that carried the story, La Repubblica, is not a scandal sheet. It's the largest circulation daily in the country, with a center-left editorial stance. It's sometimes critical of the church, but it's not the National Enquirer.

In terms of the story's specifics, I don't know whether it's accurate that a commission of three cardinals created by Benedict XVI to investigate the Vatican leaks affair, composed of Cardinals Julian Herranz Casado, Jozef Tomko and Salvatore De Giorgi, actually considered possible networks inside the Vatican based on sexual preference, but frankly, it would be a little surprising if they hadn't.

Here's why. In 2007, Msgr. Thomas Stenico in the Congregation for Clergy was suspended after being caught on hidden camera making contact with a young man posing as a potential "date" in gay-oriented chat rooms, then taking him back to his Vatican apartment. In 2010, a "Gentlemen of the Pope" named Angelo Balducci was caught in a wiretap trying to arrange sexual hookups through a Nigerian member of a Vatican choir. Both episodes were highly public and caused massive embarrassment.

In that context, it would seem odd if the cardinals didn't at least consider the possibility that somebody with a big secret to hide might be vulnerable to pressure to leak documents or spill the beans in other ways.

It also doesn't stretch credulity to believe there are still people in the system leading a double life, not just in terms of their sexual preference and activities, but possibly in other ways as well -- in terms of their financial interests, for example. Whether they form self-conscious cabals is open to question, but they may well naturally identify with each other, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that trying to chart such networks was part of what the three cardinals tried to do.

Among many cardinals, it's become a fixed point of faith that the Vatican is long overdue for a serious housecleaning, and certainly the furor unleashed by the La Repubblica piece is likely to strengthen that conviction.

However, it's probably a stretch to draw a straight line between all of this and Benedict's resignation. For the most part, one has to take the pope at his word: He's stepping aside because he's old and tired, not because of any particular crisis.

That said, I don't believe you can completely discount the cumulative impact of the various meltdowns over the last eight years on Benedict's state of mind. Read Benedict's anguished letter to the bishops of the world back in 2009, at the peak of the frenzy over the lifting of the excommunication of a Holocaust-denying bishop, and it's crystal clear he was both pained by the criticism it generated and frustrated the Vatican hadn't handled the whole thing more effectively.

If you want to understand why Benedict is tired, in other words, part of it is because he knows that putting things right inside the Vatican will take a tremendous investment of administrative energy, which he doesn't feel he can supply, and which probably isn't in his skill set in any event.

No, Benedict didn't quit under the pressure of a "gay lobby." But the perceived disarray in the Vatican, which may well be one part perception and one part reality, probably made resignation look even better.

Karl Rove's War on the GOP's Lunatic Base

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Make no mistake.  I loath Karl Rove, not the least because he used anti-gay marriage hysteria to turn out the haters in 2004 to secure the reelection of George W. Bush and the horrible Dick Cheney.  But I do have to admit that I am savoring Rove's new declared war on the very lunatics that he helped empower nearly a decade ago out of what was short term expediency with no thought to the long term effects of rallying the Christofascists and allowing them to take over the GOP.  Rove helped crerate the GOP's Frankenstein Monster and now he is trying to kill it.  It will make for entertaining spectator sport.  A piece in The Daily Beast looks at the Rove's effort to use the equivalent of radiation and chemo therapy to rid the GOP of the cancer he helped metastasize.  Here are some column highlights:
What in the hell was Karl Rove thinking? This has been the question on the minds of many political observers since the Republican super-strategist opened up a nasty new front in the ongoing civil war between his party’s purists and its pragmatists.

The storm broke February 6, when Rove, via the front page of The New York Times, debuted his newest venture, the Conservative Victory Project: an aggressive battle plan for the midterms that involves his super PAC, American Crossroads, intervening in the GOP primaries to try to ensure that the strongest, most electable candidates—not necessarily the most ideologically pristine ones—prevail.
The plan itself seems sound. The widespread sense among Republicans is that the party blew an opportunity to retake the Senate last year as a result of several not-ready-for-primetime candidates—Todd “legitimate rape” Akin being the most notable—winning primaries.
Unsurprisingly, however, the purist wing takes exception to all the finger pointing in its direction. And following the unveiling of Rove’s project, it went ballistic. Tea Party types, as well as conservative radio hosts like Mark Levin and Steve Deace, lined up to take their swings at Rove for plotting to marginalize conservatives and, as a seriously miffed Deace told me, “rubbing our noses in it publicly.” In The New York fricking Times, no less! “There will be no fixing this,” asserted Deace. “The civil war has been brewing in this party” for a couple of years now, he said, and people are operating with “short fuses.” “What Karl is providing is a face to our frustration.”
As the Karl-versus-conservatives story line took hold, Rove launched a Fox News apology tour, hopping from show to show, explaining to Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity and Chris Wallace how his plan had been misconstrued, how he had nothing against hard-core conservatives
Many Republicans, meanwhile, clucked their tongues and marveled at why Rove had chosen to kick the hornet’s nest. As some strategists noted (mostly sotto voce), there are things in politics that you sometimes have to do but that you simply do not talk about. Mucking around in primaries is one of those things. Don’t announce it, just do it—and for God’s sake tread lightly, taking great care to work with local leaders and play nice with everyone.  .  .  .  .  By so indelicately trumpeting his plans, Rove seemed to violate this basic precept. With just a bit more tact, political watchers note, he could have avoided this whole nasty fight.

But what if, for Rove, the fight was key to the strategy?  Arguably no Republican had a deeper post-election hole to climb out of than Rove. His personal brand was badly damaged by his triumphal forecasts last cycle, including an embarrassing election night that found him on Fox News disputing the network’s decision to call the race for President Obama. More materially, American Crossroads and its sister organization, Crossroads GPS, failed to deliver. Big time.

Post-election, big Republican donors have been demanding answers as a condition of future support for various groups—and players in the money game report that there has been barking, profanity, and not-so-veiled threats.  .  .  .  .  .    Rove’s donors were no exception to this trend, meaning he needed to do something to unruffle their feathers. Fast. “This is all about the donors,” says another veteran strategist. And what better way to make a statement to donors than to formulate a brand-new strategy and splash it across the front page of the paper of record? Message: lessons learned. Course correction set.

As for the backlash among purists, some political watchers assume this too is all part of the larger plan. How better to reassure anxious donors that their distaste for Akin-like candidates is shared than to poke a stick in the eye of the party’s anti-establishment forces—and, for good measure, to do so in the newspaper that symbolizes all that hard-core conservatives despise?
 
Deace and his team have, in fact, vowed to make Rove pay for his insults. “Anybody that he supports is toast,” says Deace. “Anybody Rove is attached to will get a scarlet letter. At this point a candidate would be better off getting Barack Obama’s endorsement than Karl Rove’s.”   Already the Iowa Senate race is shaping up to be an early test of this grudge match.

Of course, Rove isn’t the only one poised to benefit from this spectacle. Even as he pokes purists in an apparent effort to jumpstart his 2014 money machine, the purists are looking to fill their coffers by poking back. “They need their shiny ball strategy too,” observes the veteran strategist. “Everybody is trying to raise money.” And just like Rove, these groups play rough—at times a little too rough. Last week the Tea Party Patriots had to issue an apology for a help-us-fight-Karl-Rove fundraising plea that included a Photoshopped image of their target dressed as an SS officer.

You know it’s been a rough run when members of your own party start comparing you with Nazis. But don’t feel too sorry for Karl—or for those at war with him. As long as the dollars keep flowing in, both sides can walk away from this skirmish feeling like winners.

I hope this all turns into a blood sport with both sides seriously wounding each other.

More Spittle Fleck Craziness from The Christianists

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It seems no one goes out of their way looking for insults and a reason to spew batshitery that the Christofascists.  Especially when the source of outrage can be directed at the Obama White House and/or Hollywood.  Michelle Obama's surprise appearance at last night's Academy Awards is one source of flying spittle - especially given her apparent reference to gay rights.  The other source of outrage among the hate group crowd is a storyline on CBS's Criminal Minds, which featured an "ex-gay" serial killer who'd undergone abusive "sexual conversion therapy."Linda Harvey and ex-gay for pay Greg Quilan are simply beside themselves and vented profusely on World Net Daily, a/k/a Wing Nut Daily.  Here's a sampling of the spittle flecked hysteria:
Sparking the comments was a recent episode of “Criminal Minds” that featured a team of FBI profilers that investigates serial killers. In the Feb. 20 episode, titled “Broken,” a serial killer is murdering women and homosexual men in what appears to be a series of sex crimes.

The episode makes a startling claim as the killer is a person who received conversion therapy as a young man to overcome homosexual attractions. According to the characters in the show, the therapy caused him to believe that acting on his same-sex attraction is wrong. This belief causes him to violently attack people, because he is conflicted about his sexual orientation.

“This man can’t accept his same-sex desires, but he can’t fight them either,” one of the profilers explains. “He’s most likely been repressing all sexual urges for some time.   “He is trapped in a scenario with an impossible outcome. He can’t force himself to like women, so when he is unable to get aroused he becomes depressed again and lashes out in anger to the people he blames for his impotence.”

The show portrays members of the ex-”gay” community as ticking time bombs who are potential serial killers. In one scene, a computer screen shot features a report portraying “The Ex-Gay Movement.” The description states that cautioning children to not have homosexual thoughts was harmful and that individuals merely claimed they had changed their same-sex attraction.

Linda Harvey, founder of Mission America, says the episode is plain and simple discrimination.
“There is absolutely no evidence behind the premise of the show. It is total and complete propaganda,” Harvey said. “Not only is it discriminating against these individuals, they slam everyone who is attempting to overcome these feelings even though there is no evidence that these feelings are inborn and say your opinions on the issue don’t matter.”


Harvey said the episode is part of a larger movement to portray conversion therapy as hateful while portraying ex-”gays” as unstable people who are a threat to everyone around them.  “The homosexual lobby and its supporters are now deciding there is a desperate need to discredit people who want to partake in conversion therapy,” Harvey said.

The people who are desperate are, in my opinion, the mentally ill individuals like Quinlan and Harvey who make a living attacking gays and homosexuality.  They see the larger public realizing that they and their "ministries" are quacks - Harvey has ZERO credentials to qualify heras credible on issues of sexual orientation - and snake oil.  But for being "ex-gay," Qunilan has no marketable skills or talents. 

As for Michelle Obama, her cardinal sin last night - other than, of course being black - is that she made a positive reference to the gay community.  Joe Jervis summarizes as follows: 
The First Lady was the surprise final presenter at the Oscars, announcing the Best Picture winner via live video from the White House. In her presentation, Obama gave a nod to the gay community.
"These nine movies took us back in time and all around the world they made us laugh, they made us weep and they made us grip our armrests just a little tighter. They taught us that love can endure against all odds and transform our lives in the most surprising ways, and they reminded us that we can overcome any obstacle if we dig deep enough and fight hard enough and find the courage to believe in ourselves. These lessons apply to all of us no matter who we are or what we look like or where we come from or who we love."
 Needless to say, the wing nuts have gone berserk.
 

24 Şubat 2013 Pazar

Is Freemasonry 'just as good' as Christianity?

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The Burning Taper received the following email a few days ago. Anyone like to take a shot at answering this woman's questions?
sir, as a Christian I've always been troubled with the mason being "yoked"as it would seem to non believers, which (to me) would give the non believer the inference that his religion is just as good as Christianity. The "all roads lead to the top" line would sorta fit in that category also would it not?.. Unless Jesus lied, His way is the only way to heaven, so why would the Craft allow the impression that there's more than one way? As such, how could a Christian remain in the bond with non believers without abandoning his stance on wittnessing,contending for the faith etc.?? curious.Appreciate any response. Because late in life my uncles ,for instance, finally had great difficulty remaining in the lodge ,especially, after their dedication to the church/knowledge increased.
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Guess who's coming to dinner?

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It seems many rank-and-file Masons, in many locales, are becoming more and more fed up with the actions of Grand Lodge leaders.

This short article was sent to The Burning Taper recently. The author wishes to remain anonymous, for fear of retribution for reporting events and expressing his opinion.


Arizona Grand Lodge Annual Communication began with the Royal Banquet on Wednesday evening, June 2, 2010 prior to the official opening of proceedings on Thursday morning.

The Head Table consisted of Arizona Grand Lodge officers and their wives. Seated near them were the visiting dignitaries representing various Masonic grand lodge jurisidictions. There were 13 listed on the list handed out to all attending members. Most were "line" officers representing their State or jurisdiction with two currently sitting grand masters.

The two grand masters attending the Banquet were Most Worshipful Martin E. Warren, Grand Master of Masons from the Grand Lodge, F&AM of Arkansas, and Most Worshipful Lewis R. Brent, Grand Master of Masons from the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Arizona. They were not seated at the same table.

When the Grand Lodge opened in Due Form in the 3rd Degree on Thursday morning the MW Lewis R. Brent from Prince Hall was present, but the MW Martin E. Warren was conspicuously absent. He was not seen in any of the subsequent tiled lodge meetings all day Friday or on Saturday.

It is the custom of the Grand Lodge that, when a pedestal officer (Grand Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden) leave their stations during the proceedings that they place the Jewel of their office on one of the brothers in the room.

Several times during the proceedings on both days, the Senior Grand Warden Brook Cunningbrook chose a highly decorated Phoenix policeman, who is a member of one of the Arizona F&AM lodges and had been shot in the line of duty, to sit high on the chair located on a pedestal in the West to replace him temporarily. He is black.

There were two other black members of Arizona F&AM lodges present and the Senior Grand Warden had them also replace him in the West. It is quite an honor to do this.

In this case, in my opinion anyway, it was kind of an "in your face" type of gesture to some of the members of the Arizona jurisdiction who have moved to Arizona from one of the 10 states that do not recognize Prince Hall and have complained about having to sit in a lodge with a black man. Whether it was directed towards the Grand Master of Arkansas, I can only speculate.

What's interesting about this is that the Grand Master of Arkansas spent the money to fly to Arizona only to have dinner. Since it is customary for Grand Lodges to pay for the travel expenses of their grand masters, I wonder if the brethren of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas got their monies worth. Since he did not attend any of the business meetings by sitting in a tiled lodge with a black man but only attended the social functions, it seems to me that he spent a lot of money just for a free dinner and drinks, even if the cost came out of his own pocket.

This obviously was an example of the kind of “Imperial Leadership” prevalent in many jurisdictions and is not restricted to Arkansas alone.

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Excitement and Danger in the Bike Lane

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With the retirement of the current Pope and the buzz surrounding the prophecy of St Malachy that suggests the next Pope will fill the role of the biblical false prophet, the prediction made by Tom Horn and Cris Putnam about the Pope retiring, citing declining health as the reason, is causing plenty of excitement. I listened to them on BlogTalkRadio show this past week and was very excited about what I heard. What excites me is, in part, what I know excites many of the saints who look to the Lord's return because it is a sign of the nearness of His coming. However, there is something very special in the perspective I'm going to offer here about that.

I write about many things on this blog and on The Open Scroll but it's the matters relating to timing that are the entree of the meal, if you will; what my ministering in this season is primarily about. I love to follow what Tom Horn and Steve Quayle and Cris Putnam are bringing forward because I find the occasional high value gem. Not to take anything away from Tom, Steve and Cris or the importance of what they have to say and do, but something of a necessary caveat is called for at this juncture.

We share some areas of interest, and when they speak concerning matters of timing, this, most particularly, is my “thing.” It's relative to such matters that I see and confidently report about why those who follow their lead will eventually discover, too late, that they have been mislead in what was most important. I am being critical. I am judging. That's a requirement, and we want to judge rightly. In this present season, it is still possible to qualify for the grand prize of the age. To forfeit that for what amounts to something of a consolation prize, well, that's what's at stake here.

If you feel like I'm being overly dramatic about this, I do not doubt you're in the majority.

Here's my transcription of the most relevant snippets from a key segment of the radio show, Tom Horn & Steve Quayle-The Hagmann & Hagmann Report - 2/14/13, from ~1:23-1:29 minutes in. Pay close attention here because I'm going to make a very important point about it.

Now contemporaneous to the arrival of that false prophet [described by St Malachy as Petrus Romanus, #112 on the list] is this other prophecy from what's widely considered to be the most important work of Jewish Kabbalah [The Zohar]... but here we have, what, 700 years ago, Jewish mystics, they come together, and they're trying to determine when they believe that their Messiah is going to appear. And in the Vaera section of The Zohar, under the section called 'The Signs Heralding the Mashiach,' or, 'the coming of the messiah,' who would be, for Evangelicals and Catholics, the Antichrist, because they rejected Jesus as Messiah, they talk about, 'When will the messiah appear?' And, Cris gave you the quote, 5773, which in the Jewish calendar year began in the new moon, September 2012 and ends this September, 2013. So in other words, right now, anytime, immenent, literally immenent, this holy one's going to appear, and it's going to happen when the representation of the nations of the world is gathered in Rome. That's what the Jews said! Why in the world would the Jews have picked the Vatican, the Roman city, as the location where representation from the nations of the world would be gathered? So this sounds totally like a conclave, and the Holy One's going to shower on them fire and hell and meteoric stones. The 'Prophecy of the Popes' says that Rome will be destroyed, so the prophecies sound almost identical. But in the Zohar, after it mentions how Rome is going to be destroyed, it says then, 'from that time forward, the messiah,' this would be the Antichrist, for us, 'will begin to declare himself and round him there will be gathered many nations and many hosts from the uttermost ends of the Earth.' So you have a 900 year old medieval Catholic prophecy, 700 year old Jewish prophecy - now, one other thing. And I just have to say this, if I can. The false messiah is predicted in this 700 prophecy in 2012-2013, To that you can add just a ton of strange attractors from throughout history that assign apocalyptic importance to something beginning in 2012 that unfolds through the following years and reaches its apex in 2016...

What they (Mayans) said was, something's going to start in 2012... but it's going to reach its culmination in the years that are following. That's also what the prophecy on the great seal of the United States of America, the Novus Ordo Seclorum, that's what it says, something's going to start in the year 2012. Cris Putnam, when we were writing Petrus Romanus, he and another guy uncovered fantastic, astonishing material, actually, about turn-of-the-century Evangelical preachers like Jonathan Edwards and William Reid, and just a huge, like 2 dozen, turn-of-the-century preachers who all looked forward to 'When will the false prophet and the antichrist appear?' and some of them also coupled it with the destruction of Rome. And guess what? Every one of them said it was between 2012 and 2016. We're talking dozens! So what in the world - what was all of these seers - what was it that they were seeing that is the exact moment, if you're listening to this radio show, the exact moment we are living in right now, where Pope Benedict has stepped down like we predicted he would and the conclave is gathering to elect who will be the final pope?

I don't have that documentation by the dozens of turn-of-the-century Evangelical preachers mentioned, but I can offer the following that appears to have been reported by Cris Putnam on Coast-to-Coast a.m. on 2/11/13, which I have not personally heard. (source - a forum thread initiated by DonkKingKong)

• William Reid, a Presbyterian minister, who lived in the 19th century In his book, ”Lectures on the Revelation” Reid predicted that there would be significant changes in Rome in 2012.
• Jonathan Edwards was a Christian preacher and theologian 350 years ago he wrote that the papal system would come to an end in 2012
• Rene Thibaut (1883 – 1952). a Belgian Jesuit In his book Mysterieuse Prophetie des Papes, (1951) predicted what seemed to be “2012 and the Judgment of God.”

The Zohar prophecy and context can be read online. Search: Zohar Volume 3 Vaera 34  Signs Heralding Mashiach

Accepting that the historical facts presented are valid, let me begin by saying that what Tom suggests as a possibility is reasonable enough. He says that, between now and September, the false Messiah Antichrist may possibly appear, in Rome and most probably at the Vatican, during the meeting of the conclave as they elect a new Pope (who will be the False Prophet). It may be that Rome will be destroyed around that time, and that from then forward it may be that the Messiah (Antichrist) 'will begin to declare himself and round him there will be gathered many nations and many hosts from the uttermost ends of the Earth', as the Zohar declares. Tom goes on to widen the range of his expectation for such as the coming of the Antichrist by extending the window out to 2016.

Tom has been tightly focused upon the 2012-2016 season for the coming of the false prophet and antichrist beast and continues to build documentation and enthusiasm. Here's the thing. He's right on target!

Some may interpret that as a good thing, expecting him to come to full agreement with what the Lord has shown me. Hey, more support, strength in numbers, right? That's not really how this kind of thing works. I've learned plenty about the dynamics involved. I'm here for the Bride. That work is a guaranteed “small numbers” thing. She alone will be privy to the Lord's schedule that will assure the success of a mission-critical operation. Most other operations being run are intended to counter that, with some functioning like smoke and mirrors. Tom's work has all the character of being one of those. There's biblical support for this impression, but the holy spirit will bear witness and all will eventually be brought out into the open. I'm not trying to present myself as better in comparison but to clarify how this particular undertaking of The Open Scroll is different and separate.

So, the genuine schedule and some of the important features involved are within Tom's increasingly popularized target zone. I've become acutely aware of how the Adversary always takes the truth and imprints a twisted version right over the top of it, as I've been noting in the sodomite gateway series of late. It's a brilliant and effective tactic that presents a form of weaponry with sideways motion fit as counterfeits to the genuine. This is the way of the Harlot Mystery Babylon and of the beast she rides. To be blunt, yes, Tom and associates are part of that collective. Tom's history as a former AG pastor is not of concern. His words and deeds are a present witness. I've been plain enough about declaring the key events and times, about the revealing of the lawless one as baptized by the false prophet on the full moon 13th day of the 1st month in the Spring of our year 2015, and that followed by the sealing of 144k sons of Israel and subsequent Bride Theft about 8 days later on the last day of the Hag haMatzah in a playing out of the plan centered around Romans 11:15. There it is again, right in plain sight. Supernaturally cloaked. Looking right at it, it can't be seen. What needs to be concealed, is, just like in every reading of the Bible. There are some other genuine events in Tom's window about which I haven't yet written much, if anything, to identify them, which are appointed for May of 2014 and then in late 2016. The wrap up comes in 2019. Watch and see how things unfold. This is not me, looking for an opportunity to beat my chest and yell, “See, I was right!” Think it through.

So, there's far more to the dynamic of what is unfolding than the rather simplistic plan described thus far by Tom. I've been led to watch for just what I'm seeing unfold. My buddy Aaron describes the mechanism we see being used as the Lord refines the Bride company like a series of nets. Like flour passing through a series of ever finer screens, the people are filtered as through various kinds of deceptions, reducing the numbers as the way tred by the saints gets more and more narrow leading to the small gate. This phenemonon of the popularity of Apollyon Rising 2012 (and the extended work titled Apex 2016), Petrus Romanus and what is anticipated for Exo-Vaticana will function for many as a set of fine screens.

If this candid offering offends you, I challenge you to continue reading and press in hard for whatever deeper insight the Lord may have for you. This is a matter that demands the highest degree of discernment, and the rewards and consequences for getting it can hardly be overestimated.

13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. ~ Matthew 7:13-14
In an illustration of just how small the gate truly is in this day we're given an example in 1 Corinthians, of those children of Israel who left Egypt in the Exodus and how many survived the desert wandering to cross over into the promised land. Excepting those who had been under the age of 20 at the accounting, only two made the cut - Joshua and Caleb. All the others fell in the wilderness.

Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:11
The odds, my friend, are not in our favor. If you're not already acutely aware of the truth of what I've labeled the Bride Theft, it's not that likely you'll really get the fullness of where I'm coming from here. Some of the work Aaron and I do is for a more broad audience within a larger domain (reverse speech [Obama Yes we Can = Thank You Satan], Olympic Ceremony Symbolism, Bioforming Pandemic), but the core of it is a hidden remnant work, a special forces and covert ops work, of a kind of underground church. It is largely a sacrificial work appointed to result in the next crop in the field bearing much fruit.

The work the Lord has called me to is distinct, sanctified, really. It's a peculiar guarded work, over which the Lord watches carefully. Even I can't screw it up. I'm not acting proud here, or humble, I'm just being honest. Aaron could tell you the same, since the Lord raised him up to be harnessed with me. We're co-laborers in this work like horses pulling the Master's chariot, servants sent out two by two.

So, Tom intends to give away 10k to gain the attention of the masses. Some would argue that he already has their attention. Now, let's give our critical thinking skills some exercise. Suppose all this effort to identify the next Pope to the masses as the False Prophet are successful, or even that the identity of the Antichrist Beast is subsequently exposed. Will one and/or the other biblical beasts be “voted off the island,” in a sense, because their cover is blown? Will this exposure thwart “the plan” for these characters? Is the Devil's big offensive going to be crushed? That's the mentality of many who follow that momentum building steamroller. Thwarting that plan is just not going to happen. Or, perhaps, will a huge mob see through the deception and be spared the consequences? No. I've given plenty of attention to the biblical prophecies that conceal and reveal the matter. The identification of the characters involved will be done at the appointed time in the appointed way by the appointed people, but the key dynamic at work in that is envy (Romans 11), and such has not been appointed to that which will have merely the form of godliness.

All but a very small number will be deceived.

For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. ~ Matthew 24:24
We understand how the Lord is watching carefully over His work, protecting the valuables with full containment as on a granular macro and micro scale need-to-know basis. We understand how those set in the church as leaders and recognized authorities have a job to do. They run a set of filters, if you can accept what the Lord declared in Matthew 24.

But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. ~ Matthew 24:43
The oikodespotes, or, “head of the house” is appointed as lord, master or goodman of the church. Those appointed this position are denied knowing the time, denied access to the Lord's secret schedule of appointments that may be considered as a play book. Their motive is also expressed in that verse, if you can accept it. The Bridegroom is the thief who comes for His Bride. The oikodespotes do not want (motive) “their” house to be broken into. The Bride theft will upset the status quo. Such are the celebrated personalities who are widely acclaimed as leaders in the church.

While the Lord has permitted me a popular platform for certain activities, He has made it quite plain that a wall of separation has been set in place. Many years ago, I caught the attention of J. R. Church of Prophecy in the News as I was trying to promote my stunning discovery of the celestial sign of 1991 with unbridled enthusiasm. With some promotion in that magazine of a series of articles about the celestial signs of the Lord's birth, I was amazed to see that wall of separation I described set around what the Lord intended to protect, while remaining in the context of what was receiving such attention. I vividly observed this insulating, isolating supernaturalism in play while I was hanging out with folks in Branson at the Future Congress in 2011, engaging on various levels while enjoying the company of Dr Future and Tom Bionic, Cris Putnam and his new bride, Derek Gilbert and others. Aaron was blessed to see this distinctive “walling off” when we were permitted an excursion to attend a Russ Dizdar / L. A. Marzulli event in Ohio last year. This phenomenon is also like a window that is a one-way mirror.

Tom, Cris, Steve and crew are careful to insist that they are not prophets or date setters. There is an obvious kind of wisdom in that, and while I must acknowledge the brilliance and remarkable abilities of these men, it must be said that there is in this a set-up that's been very apparent to both Aaron and myself as we have watched together in this season. I don't mean to suggest that the set-up is intentional, yet that's really a moot point. Those who are drawn and buy in to this whole matter I've been highlighting with no better awareness of the times and no more insight in their interpretation of these things are on very dangerous ground.

I want to offer some commentary on what Tom said a couple days ago on another radio show, hosted by Rob Skiba. Tom Horn on the Antichrist and False Prophet - The Revolutionary Radio Project - 2/20/13 Here's a short mp3 from that show, the source of the quotes that follow: brief clip from Rob Skiba Revolutionary Radio Tom Horn

Tom says, “People want to argue about the rapture, is it a pre-tribulation rapture, is it the middle of the - rapture, well, I can choose what I prefer to believe, but the bottom line I'm ready for any and all possible options. ... but it's really smart to just simply be ready.

No way. It's not smart at all! I formerly espoused the same reasonable and wise sounding opinion, but by the grace of God I came to learn better. If you see “possible options” in the matter you have not yet come to the truth by revelation insight. To think you can be ready for all possible options is to operate in the dark under a delusion. When revelation insight comes into how some will know the time and that this very knowledge is essential for a certain salvation, you see the grave danger in where Tom is leading.

Tom says, “... The main thing is that we don't allow those kind of hardened categories to make us enemies of one another. People often say, 'Well Tom, how in the world, I mean you were an AG guy for all those years,' which is a total pre-trib organization, 'how in the world could you do radio shows with a guy like Steve Quayle, who does not believe in a pre-trib rapture?' It's because he's my brother! I love him! I don't care!

I love Tom and Steve like Tom says he loves Steve in the clip. Here's one way to view differences among us.

18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:18-19
Note well that not every faction is approved.

A point needs to be made about “hardened categories.” When I preach and teach about the Bride Theft, that's a “hardened category.” The truth manifests in “hardened categories.” Hedging bets is the convention of the wide way. There's no faction and therefore no real potential approval in that. Find the truth and cleave to it.

About companions and differences, I'm not going to treat Tom or anybody else like an enemy in the sense of seeking harm. Aaron and I have both gone on record saying Tom and Steve are not our friends and have attempted to give the matter adequate explanation. We don't seek harm or even want to diminish what they say and do. We freely acknowledge their value and respect the roles they have.

The Lord made it very plain to us at one point when there came a significant transition. It had been such that those who were not against us were for us. Then, in a moment, the revelation came that those who were not for us were against us. That's not some crazy paranoid fear that's causing us to distance ourselves, like it probably seems to some. A small number will be able to identify with this, who received the same thing by revelation. This insight has helped us make sense of things as the Lord has gone through our lives exposing “frenemies” and every idol relationship.

We can have associates and family, but theres a limit to the interaction, and until you've got real friends of the kind my Lord has in truth, you just can't relate to what I'm trying to express.

Aaron and I understand how there will come betrayal, and we are not eager to see that day but simply accept that it must come. Aaron loves to quote Zephaniah 1:7. We want to see the Lord's plan fulfilled completely, even unto the restoration of all things. The Devil has a job to do. Babylon has a job to do. The Bride has a job to do. It's all going to work out, and the Lord will be glorified in the unfolding of His awesome plan!

Tom says in the clip, “But its very easy for me to ask a bigger question and not necessarily name a date. I don't become Harold Camping or whatever his name was, and say, the Lord's gonna return in 2012. But that also doesn't restrict me from saying why in the world were there so many ancient cultures that were fixated on these dates, what did they see?

Harold Camping has famously had two major failed predictions in recent years. His failure was not in that he “set dates,” although that's how it's continually spun. I'm not against the obvious wisdom of being more general about claims when you reach the limit of what you know with confidence, however, what contradicts the truth is a lie. Tom's way isn't mainstream in the way of Roman Catholicism, but his broad inclusivity compares to a bike lane that distinctly parallels that wide highway of Mystery Babylon and her Daughters, with merely minor departures in routing. The “Bike Lane Collective” denies the knowability of when the Lord comes. I've asked and presented the answer to the question, Will No One Know the Day? and you should understand how that, because Noah knew, so can you! And so you should, according to such as 1 Thessalonians 5!

I'm not throwing Tom or anybody else under the bus here. My message is not likely to be received by very many, but the Lord is requiring it. I accept it will serve what purpose He has appointed it to. The Lord does a careful work of division in this season. Y'shua seeks a mature and beautiful Bride and He continues to find and woo her!

My god is sovereign. Without knowing the times by revelation insight, which most of the agents of Babylon unwaveringly claim are not knowable, you will be deceived! If you have followed this blog recently and noted the evil genius exhibited in the Adversary's ways and the vast scale of his means, you should be aware of how the versions of the end-times we formerly accepted have been severely dumbed down. We have been played. The Devil is not stupid, and the Lord is not playing catch-up.

I expect what has been published through The Open Scroll about this coming season will continue to be validated, and that the smoke blown up around what's described will thicken to densely cover it. If it smacks of mainstream, view it with a very critical eye to discern what of it may be valid. Versions presented popularly are more and more closely matching, and such as these must come, with varying degrees of popular acceptance. These add tension to the drama of the theater building on events that have been rightly identified by many as signs like Lighting striking the Vatican dome twice on 2/12/13 and the Pope's dove of peace being attacked by a seagull on 1/26/13.

I believe some preemptive ops are in the works that will align closely to legitimate events but are designed to spin and misdirect, to defuse and void their impact to the appointed limits. I will write more about a developing situation that should be watched closely in another post, Lord willing!

Also, more remains to be said with regard to the Bike Lane Collective. It is already enough for many of you, who already perceive the nature of Babylon in these familiar ministers and have responded to this supernatural insight as directed, but for some whom the Lord still draws, there remains a steadfast denial of the risks involved with continued association and involvement on a level beyond what the Lord will direct when His mind and heart on these matters is welcomed on the basis of genuine humility and subjection. The provision then made for you can be accepted, and this is the essential that will otherwise be found lacking, resulting in forfeit. I pray you will take account of that before closing your eyes in sleep.

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ ~ Matthew 7:21-23
Gulp.

To be continued, Lord willing.

Signs and Seasons, High Drama Ahead

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There is a situation developing that should be watched closely.

When it comes to watching according to the Lord's command in Mark 13:37, I've learned that not all days are equal. A single day of the year has been identified through a study of biblical history as the one to watch most particularly for the revealing of the lawless one. I've documented this in a three part study about the sign for the Bride. I began watching with insight into what to watch and when to watch for it about 15 years ago, and I've observed what can be considered shadows twice, in 2001 and 2008. This demonstrates the heptadic pattern of the Shemittah, projecting back in time from the event casting the shadow in 2015. No shadows were noted in any of the other years so, on that basis, I wouldn't expect this year's watch season to be fruitful. However, now that we're in the target Shemittah, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see some more shadowing. The timely activity surrounding the official offices of those who were involved in the past two shadows is making this developing situation one that may be very instructive. Because of what Tom Horn is suggesting during the ongoing media blitz relative to Petrus Romanus and Exo-Vaticana and how much buzz is being generated, this is another element that factors in to this watch season.

Here's when knowing the times confidently comes in pretty handy. This is not yet the year for the revealing of the lawless one. When you know when something is, you know when it's not. When I say, “pretty handy,” that's being really casual. For now, “casual” works, but as the day of revealing draws close there's going to be nothing casual about it. If you don't share my confidence that should really be starting to bother you. If you're gambling on being able to just keep getting reports like you have with access to everything, like now, and plan to gauge things as they come with a plan to just jump onboard at the last minute, well, good luck with that. Meaning, that's a bad bet. Bet hedging is not faith. The Lord is not fooled. There is no “smart enough” to see through supernatural delusion. What's required is the seeing eye and hearing ear that comes through practicing obedience. The Lord's own provision is our only dependable resource. This is not a matter of taking your best guess. This is not a matter of “blind” faith. Real faith sees, my friend, the intangible reality, the truth.

OK. Let's identify the critical time feature. I can't yet say when the 1st day of the 1st month will be because it depends upon the ripening barley and sighting of the new moon.

According to Nehemia Gordon in the Karaite Korner Newsletter #581 : “If the barley is Aviv by March 12 and the new moon is sighted on March 12, then the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) will be from sunset March 26 through sunset April 2. If the barley is Aviv by March 12 and the new moon is NOT sighted on March 12, then the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) will be from sunset March 27 through sunset April 3. If the barley is NOT Aviv by March 12, then the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) will be from sunset April 25 through sunset May 2.

Since the Feast is accounted from the 15th-21st, you can calculate the potential dates for the 13th day from there. It may be as early as 3/25, beginning at sunset the previous day, Jerusalem time.

What I'm watching for on that day looks like this: Modeled on the baptism of my Lord, a false prophet will baptize the lawless one, a man with a history as a global leader, in a ceremony that will involve extraterrestrial presence and be attended by supernatural signs as he receives the anointing. Back in 2008, the two involved were Pope Benedict XVI and Bill Clinton. In 2001, Bill Clinton was involved, but instead of the Pope it was a Priest in a ceremony dedicating him to the Hindu gods. Faithful watching bears fruit as we see what we see, what the Lord reveals, and we receive valuable instruction. Whether Bill will be the lawless one or whether it will be another who holds or formerly held the office of POTUS, I can't say I know. It seems pretty likely that a Pope will be the baptizer, invested with a higher authority than granted by any earthly body. Given that, current developments are really interesting!

Obama to visit Israel in March for first time since taking office. “Israel's Channel 10 television station cited unnamed sources in Washington last week saying the visit to Israel would start on March 20.

Hmmm. The POTUS is expected to travel to the region in what may be a window of time comparing to the Pope's trip to the USA in 2008, when I watched the shadow of the sign to the Bride dramatically unfold.

A Seat for the Pope at King David's Tomb Israeli authorities have granted the Pope an official seat in the room where the Last Supper is believed to have taken place. I'm far from convinced the room is as claimed, but in a symbolic sense, for the sake of ritual, Judas the betrayer had such a seat before him. Reports by Barry Chamish over the years have revealed how the Pope has long had a claim on some real estate in Jerusalem.

With Joseph Ratzinger retiring his Papal crown in a few more days, the vacancy is expected to be filled in short order by a cardinal who will be identified by some as the final Pope, and biblical false prophet, according to the Prophecy of St Malachy.

To reiterate my take on this, regardless of what happens during this season, even on what will be the 13th day of the 1st month, this is not yet the year for the revealing. The Messiah will not come to reign, and I don't expect the false prophet to anoint the lawless one. I do expect to learn more as we watch in this season, informed about the biblical patterns and those of recent history. There’s things that have to happen before the revealing of the lawless one that take some time to develop. America still has to be “reset”, and we haven’t yet really even begun to seriously engage Iran, which will result in the victory that will ultimately signal America's reset.

Life's Origin -- A New Hypothesis

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Awesome:
The picture painted by Russell and Martin is striking indeed. The last common ancestor of all life was not a free-living cell at all, but a porous rock riddled with bubbly iron-sulphur membranes that catalysed primordial biochemical reactions. Powered by hydrogen and proton gradients, this natural flow reactor filled up with organic chemicals, giving rise to proto-life that eventually broke out as the first living cells - not once but twice, giving rise to the bacteria and the archaea.

Many details have yet to be filled in, and it may never be possible to prove beyond any doubt that life evolved by this mechanism. The evidence, however, is growing. This scenario matches the known properties of all life on Earth, is energetically plausible - and returns Mitchell's great theory to its rightful place at the very centre of biology.

See also Ten Steps To The First Cells.

23 Şubat 2013 Cumartesi

'Remember the beginning! Prince Hall plates!', by Bro. Derek Gordon

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The following is by Bro. Derek Gordon.

Remember the beginning! Prince Hall plates!

by Bro. Derek Gordon

Someone asked how this whole mess began. So, I thought it would be best to remind people. The issue began with the ARGL barring Masons from purchasing Arkansas license plates because of Prince Hall being involved in their creation. I posted a note on Sebastian Lodge’s website to spread the word as the Letter required; I added a note that we did not condone the Letter because it stunk with racial undertones.

Many writers and bloggers saw this and copied our text in their articles. This sent the ARGL into a major defensive posture, something the ARGL can never be forced to take because it is too righteous. In retaliation, the whole issue with me started. Their latest and greatest charge is that I posted secret Masonic ciphers on the Sebastian Lodge website. In fact, should that have occurred, all data on the website came from the ARGL website and websites it linked to. By the way, they removed their website because so many bloggers mentioned this obvious connection.

But one thing is for certain: ARGL and Grand Master Warren will continue to deny that race has any part in their actions. BUT, this problem came from a racial letter sent out by ARGL. If it was not for that, there would be no action against me.

The website was known to ARGL prior to the RACIAL incident. I spoke with Grand Secretary James Weatherall requesting a link to be made to the site. I wanted him to let me know if content wasn’t acceptable. This of course was in the summer of 2009. Other comments were made throughout the rest of that calendar year. No problems, no complaints. But, amazingly enough the ARGL now has a cause of action against me AFTER the RACIAL incident.

I wonder, did they want to hold onto a cause of action in case it was ever needed? Is this how a Grand Lodge operates to make sure it can remove its dissidents? The ARGL has had its opportunity to make peace with the matter, but there is no desire on their part to resolve this matter in an ethical and moral fashion.

Want to really see how this unraveled? Take an open-minded approach by viewing some of the most prominent articles and blogs that kicked off the ARGL’s attack against me:

http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/02/arkansas-masons-forbidden-from-buying.html
http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2010/02/masonic-license-plates-in-arkansas.html
http://www.speculativemason.com/node/370
http://www.masonsoftexas.com/showthread.php/10670-Arkansas-masonic-liscense-plates?language=tl
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/2010/03/grand-masters-ruling-hurtful/
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/03/grand-lodge-of-arkansas-pulls-charter.html
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/2010/03/collateral-damage-the-aftermath-of-the-arkansas-license-plate-scandal/
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/03/gl-of-ars-letter-to-bro-derek-gordon.html
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/tell-grand-lodge-of-arkansas-what-you.html
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/text-of-letter-from-gm-of-arkansas.html
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/2010/04/the-handshake-of-expulsion/
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/handshake-of-expulsion.html
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/2010/04/mainstream-masonry-shooting-itself-in-the-foot/
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/searching-for-light-in-arkansas-night.html

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Not your grandfather's Freemasonry

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Bro. Fred Milliken has written an excellent piece titled "I Resign."

Though the information presented about Bro. Derek Gordon's ordeal with the Grand Lodge of Arkansas is interesting and enlightening, the real meat to the article is Bro. Fred's summary:
  1. This is no longer your Grandfather’s Chevrolet... er, Grand Lodge. Freemasonry must stop living in the past as West Virginia and Arkansas are doing. Instead it needs to adapt to the mores of present day society.

  2. Running a closed society that allows no freedom of expression and muzzles its members is antithetical to Freemasonry of the Enlightenment.

  3. Operating a society with laws, rules and regulations that conflict with civil law and civil rights is not only not in the spirit of Freemasonry but also blatantly immoral.

  4. An organization in this day and age, especially a nonprofit volunteer one, cannot realistically force a person against his will to remain a member. It should be the option of any Freemason to simply resign from any Grand Lodge.

  5. Making up silly and vindictive rules such as prohibiting members from using the Internet or any electronic means to discuss Freemasonry is unbecoming and un-Masonic.

  6. It’s been almost 50 years since Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement transformed America. It is past time that Grand Lodges reflected that change.

  7. It is painfully evident that Grand Lodges can no longer operate as they have done in the past. This is the 21st century with new ways of looking at different lifestyles and morality. Grand Lodges are now in a public-private partnership yet they refuse to recognize their duty to civil law and their new commitments. Failure of Freemasonry to operate within the framework of present day moral, societal and political civil practice could be very costly to the Craft.
Bro. Fred makes some excellent points. Read the entire article.

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'One battle over, but the war continues,' by Bro. Derek Gordon

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The following is reprinted from the website of Bro. Derek Gordon.

One Battle Is Over, But The War Is Not

A great man and Mason, who was overshadowed by the three-term Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, stated: “Carry the battle to them. Don’t let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don’t ever apologize for anything.” Harry S. Truman, a native of Missouri, was not from a political elite family. In fact, this pivotal man came from a farming family. He achieved an end to World War II after approving the use of two nuclear weapons on the Rising Sun of the Empire of Japan.

Many of us don’t realize how much power we have by defying the status quo and standing up for what’s right in life. We come from all sorts of families; I grew up in a blue-collar household. Certainly, we don’t grow up thinking we can drop a figurative nuclear weapon. But, there are times when each one of us must stand strong to shine that bright spotlight on those harming what we all stand for.

However, when we are leading a resistance, it is futile to continue a long battle that will continue to degrade into a slanderous quagmire. There would be nothing to gain from doing so. And, it would hinder one’s own desire to introduce change of disgusting policies designed to destroy those who defy the corrupt leaders; and it would bring about a notion that the fight isn’t as righteous as it truly is.

I stood down against the Arkansas Oligarchy in an effort to allow change to foster. Unfortunately for the time being, the reaction from the leadership is to portray me as a liar, a cheat, and a scoundrel. Some will believe their shallow attempts, but many will see the holes in the points they make. Every comment I made I offered proof. Each comment their cronies made have been backed up with more libelous statements.

A post below discussed that I resigned and did not expel myself. Accusations are rampant that I hid information. I would appreciate it if the oligarchy would provide the documentation. Further, I requested written documentation from the U.S.P.S. that there were not attempted deliveries between April 14th, 2010 and May 3rd, 2010. A phone call confirmed this; however, I feel such documentation added atop my continually-growing pile would be a wonderful addition.

The war against the evil lurking at 700 Scott St. in Little Rock will continue as the deep-rooted unprofessional ideologies are perpetuated by the leadership. There are many more abused Arkansas Masons who are just realizing how important it is to speak out. Once again, I point to the article detailing my life as a Mason in Arkansas and the provided phone logs. I’ve tried civil and professional means and have continually offered to let the issue end. I tell you, Grand Lodge, you still are playing a game that you miscalculate and under appreciate the importance of. I challenge those in charge to meet on neutral ground to end the matter professionally, orderly, and most important, as Masons “meeting on the level” would expect.

“It is important to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then can evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated.” — Albus Dumbledore; J.K. Rowling, The Half-blood Prince

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Is Freemasonry 'just as good' as Christianity?

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The Burning Taper received the following email a few days ago. Anyone like to take a shot at answering this woman's questions?
sir, as a Christian I've always been troubled with the mason being "yoked"as it would seem to non believers, which (to me) would give the non believer the inference that his religion is just as good as Christianity. The "all roads lead to the top" line would sorta fit in that category also would it not?.. Unless Jesus lied, His way is the only way to heaven, so why would the Craft allow the impression that there's more than one way? As such, how could a Christian remain in the bond with non believers without abandoning his stance on wittnessing,contending for the faith etc.?? curious.Appreciate any response. Because late in life my uncles ,for instance, finally had great difficulty remaining in the lodge ,especially, after their dedication to the church/knowledge increased.
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Guess who's coming to dinner?

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It seems many rank-and-file Masons, in many locales, are becoming more and more fed up with the actions of Grand Lodge leaders.

This short article was sent to The Burning Taper recently. The author wishes to remain anonymous, for fear of retribution for reporting events and expressing his opinion.


Arizona Grand Lodge Annual Communication began with the Royal Banquet on Wednesday evening, June 2, 2010 prior to the official opening of proceedings on Thursday morning.

The Head Table consisted of Arizona Grand Lodge officers and their wives. Seated near them were the visiting dignitaries representing various Masonic grand lodge jurisidictions. There were 13 listed on the list handed out to all attending members. Most were "line" officers representing their State or jurisdiction with two currently sitting grand masters.

The two grand masters attending the Banquet were Most Worshipful Martin E. Warren, Grand Master of Masons from the Grand Lodge, F&AM of Arkansas, and Most Worshipful Lewis R. Brent, Grand Master of Masons from the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Arizona. They were not seated at the same table.

When the Grand Lodge opened in Due Form in the 3rd Degree on Thursday morning the MW Lewis R. Brent from Prince Hall was present, but the MW Martin E. Warren was conspicuously absent. He was not seen in any of the subsequent tiled lodge meetings all day Friday or on Saturday.

It is the custom of the Grand Lodge that, when a pedestal officer (Grand Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden) leave their stations during the proceedings that they place the Jewel of their office on one of the brothers in the room.

Several times during the proceedings on both days, the Senior Grand Warden Brook Cunningbrook chose a highly decorated Phoenix policeman, who is a member of one of the Arizona F&AM lodges and had been shot in the line of duty, to sit high on the chair located on a pedestal in the West to replace him temporarily. He is black.

There were two other black members of Arizona F&AM lodges present and the Senior Grand Warden had them also replace him in the West. It is quite an honor to do this.

In this case, in my opinion anyway, it was kind of an "in your face" type of gesture to some of the members of the Arizona jurisdiction who have moved to Arizona from one of the 10 states that do not recognize Prince Hall and have complained about having to sit in a lodge with a black man. Whether it was directed towards the Grand Master of Arkansas, I can only speculate.

What's interesting about this is that the Grand Master of Arkansas spent the money to fly to Arizona only to have dinner. Since it is customary for Grand Lodges to pay for the travel expenses of their grand masters, I wonder if the brethren of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas got their monies worth. Since he did not attend any of the business meetings by sitting in a tiled lodge with a black man but only attended the social functions, it seems to me that he spent a lot of money just for a free dinner and drinks, even if the cost came out of his own pocket.

This obviously was an example of the kind of “Imperial Leadership” prevalent in many jurisdictions and is not restricted to Arkansas alone.

Masons | Masonic Racism | Prince Hall Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Grand Lodge of Arkansas| Grand Lodge of Arizona | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com

22 Şubat 2013 Cuma

'Remember the beginning! Prince Hall plates!', by Bro. Derek Gordon

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The following is by Bro. Derek Gordon.

Remember the beginning! Prince Hall plates!

by Bro. Derek Gordon

Someone asked how this whole mess began. So, I thought it would be best to remind people. The issue began with the ARGL barring Masons from purchasing Arkansas license plates because of Prince Hall being involved in their creation. I posted a note on Sebastian Lodge’s website to spread the word as the Letter required; I added a note that we did not condone the Letter because it stunk with racial undertones.

Many writers and bloggers saw this and copied our text in their articles. This sent the ARGL into a major defensive posture, something the ARGL can never be forced to take because it is too righteous. In retaliation, the whole issue with me started. Their latest and greatest charge is that I posted secret Masonic ciphers on the Sebastian Lodge website. In fact, should that have occurred, all data on the website came from the ARGL website and websites it linked to. By the way, they removed their website because so many bloggers mentioned this obvious connection.

But one thing is for certain: ARGL and Grand Master Warren will continue to deny that race has any part in their actions. BUT, this problem came from a racial letter sent out by ARGL. If it was not for that, there would be no action against me.

The website was known to ARGL prior to the RACIAL incident. I spoke with Grand Secretary James Weatherall requesting a link to be made to the site. I wanted him to let me know if content wasn’t acceptable. This of course was in the summer of 2009. Other comments were made throughout the rest of that calendar year. No problems, no complaints. But, amazingly enough the ARGL now has a cause of action against me AFTER the RACIAL incident.

I wonder, did they want to hold onto a cause of action in case it was ever needed? Is this how a Grand Lodge operates to make sure it can remove its dissidents? The ARGL has had its opportunity to make peace with the matter, but there is no desire on their part to resolve this matter in an ethical and moral fashion.

Want to really see how this unraveled? Take an open-minded approach by viewing some of the most prominent articles and blogs that kicked off the ARGL’s attack against me:

http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/02/arkansas-masons-forbidden-from-buying.html
http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/2010/02/masonic-license-plates-in-arkansas.html
http://www.speculativemason.com/node/370
http://www.masonsoftexas.com/showthread.php/10670-Arkansas-masonic-liscense-plates?language=tl
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/2010/03/grand-masters-ruling-hurtful/
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/03/grand-lodge-of-arkansas-pulls-charter.html
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/2010/03/collateral-damage-the-aftermath-of-the-arkansas-license-plate-scandal/
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/03/gl-of-ars-letter-to-bro-derek-gordon.html
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/tell-grand-lodge-of-arkansas-what-you.html
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/text-of-letter-from-gm-of-arkansas.html
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/2010/04/the-handshake-of-expulsion/
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/handshake-of-expulsion.html
http://www.freemasoninformation.com/2010/04/mainstream-masonry-shooting-itself-in-the-foot/
http://burningtaper.blogspot.com/2010/04/searching-for-light-in-arkansas-night.html

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Not your grandfather's Freemasonry

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Bro. Fred Milliken has written an excellent piece titled "I Resign."

Though the information presented about Bro. Derek Gordon's ordeal with the Grand Lodge of Arkansas is interesting and enlightening, the real meat to the article is Bro. Fred's summary:
  1. This is no longer your Grandfather’s Chevrolet... er, Grand Lodge. Freemasonry must stop living in the past as West Virginia and Arkansas are doing. Instead it needs to adapt to the mores of present day society.

  2. Running a closed society that allows no freedom of expression and muzzles its members is antithetical to Freemasonry of the Enlightenment.

  3. Operating a society with laws, rules and regulations that conflict with civil law and civil rights is not only not in the spirit of Freemasonry but also blatantly immoral.

  4. An organization in this day and age, especially a nonprofit volunteer one, cannot realistically force a person against his will to remain a member. It should be the option of any Freemason to simply resign from any Grand Lodge.

  5. Making up silly and vindictive rules such as prohibiting members from using the Internet or any electronic means to discuss Freemasonry is unbecoming and un-Masonic.

  6. It’s been almost 50 years since Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement transformed America. It is past time that Grand Lodges reflected that change.

  7. It is painfully evident that Grand Lodges can no longer operate as they have done in the past. This is the 21st century with new ways of looking at different lifestyles and morality. Grand Lodges are now in a public-private partnership yet they refuse to recognize their duty to civil law and their new commitments. Failure of Freemasonry to operate within the framework of present day moral, societal and political civil practice could be very costly to the Craft.
Bro. Fred makes some excellent points. Read the entire article.

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'One battle over, but the war continues,' by Bro. Derek Gordon

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The following is reprinted from the website of Bro. Derek Gordon.

One Battle Is Over, But The War Is Not

A great man and Mason, who was overshadowed by the three-term Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, stated: “Carry the battle to them. Don’t let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don’t ever apologize for anything.” Harry S. Truman, a native of Missouri, was not from a political elite family. In fact, this pivotal man came from a farming family. He achieved an end to World War II after approving the use of two nuclear weapons on the Rising Sun of the Empire of Japan.

Many of us don’t realize how much power we have by defying the status quo and standing up for what’s right in life. We come from all sorts of families; I grew up in a blue-collar household. Certainly, we don’t grow up thinking we can drop a figurative nuclear weapon. But, there are times when each one of us must stand strong to shine that bright spotlight on those harming what we all stand for.

However, when we are leading a resistance, it is futile to continue a long battle that will continue to degrade into a slanderous quagmire. There would be nothing to gain from doing so. And, it would hinder one’s own desire to introduce change of disgusting policies designed to destroy those who defy the corrupt leaders; and it would bring about a notion that the fight isn’t as righteous as it truly is.

I stood down against the Arkansas Oligarchy in an effort to allow change to foster. Unfortunately for the time being, the reaction from the leadership is to portray me as a liar, a cheat, and a scoundrel. Some will believe their shallow attempts, but many will see the holes in the points they make. Every comment I made I offered proof. Each comment their cronies made have been backed up with more libelous statements.

A post below discussed that I resigned and did not expel myself. Accusations are rampant that I hid information. I would appreciate it if the oligarchy would provide the documentation. Further, I requested written documentation from the U.S.P.S. that there were not attempted deliveries between April 14th, 2010 and May 3rd, 2010. A phone call confirmed this; however, I feel such documentation added atop my continually-growing pile would be a wonderful addition.

The war against the evil lurking at 700 Scott St. in Little Rock will continue as the deep-rooted unprofessional ideologies are perpetuated by the leadership. There are many more abused Arkansas Masons who are just realizing how important it is to speak out. Once again, I point to the article detailing my life as a Mason in Arkansas and the provided phone logs. I’ve tried civil and professional means and have continually offered to let the issue end. I tell you, Grand Lodge, you still are playing a game that you miscalculate and under appreciate the importance of. I challenge those in charge to meet on neutral ground to end the matter professionally, orderly, and most important, as Masons “meeting on the level” would expect.

“It is important to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then can evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated.” — Albus Dumbledore; J.K. Rowling, The Half-blood Prince

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Is Freemasonry 'just as good' as Christianity?

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The Burning Taper received the following email a few days ago. Anyone like to take a shot at answering this woman's questions?
sir, as a Christian I've always been troubled with the mason being "yoked"as it would seem to non believers, which (to me) would give the non believer the inference that his religion is just as good as Christianity. The "all roads lead to the top" line would sorta fit in that category also would it not?.. Unless Jesus lied, His way is the only way to heaven, so why would the Craft allow the impression that there's more than one way? As such, how could a Christian remain in the bond with non believers without abandoning his stance on wittnessing,contending for the faith etc.?? curious.Appreciate any response. Because late in life my uncles ,for instance, finally had great difficulty remaining in the lodge ,especially, after their dedication to the church/knowledge increased.
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