Going green at Earth-minded festival-Chicago

Chicago Tribune

Dozens of speakers, hundreds of sustainably minded companies, workshops, demonstrations and more will be at Green Festival '07, Saturday and Sunday at McCormick Place/Lakeside.The festival also will offer free yoga classes, films, green career sessions and more.

Speakers include Francis Moore Lappe, Jim Hightower, Kay Stepkin and Kay Gruzas. Among the organic dining options: Bleeding Heart Bakery, Butterfly Social Club, Funky Buddha, the Chicago Diner, Chicago Soy Dairy, Cousin's, Firehouse Restaurant, the Juice Garden Cafe, Raw Creations, Soul Vegetarian, Veggie Bite and Zapatista Cantina. Dozens of organic food manufacturers will exhibit.

KNN-Stay Pluged in to KNN for more details...

Catholic Church buries limbo after centuries

Limbo was never part of Church doctrine, even though it was taught to Catholics well into the 20th century
By Philip Pullella
Reuters News Service


VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Roman Catholic Church has effectively buried the concept of limbo, the place where centuries of tradition and teaching held that babies who die without baptism went.

In a long-awaited document, the Church's International Theological Commission said limbo reflected an "unduly restrictive view of salvation."The 41-page document was published on Friday by Origins, the documentary service of the U.S.-based Catholic News Service, which is part of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Pope Benedict, himself a top theologian who before his election in 2005 expressed doubts about limbo, authorized the publication of the document, called "The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptised."

The verdict that limbo could now rest in peace had been expected for years. The document was seen as most likely the final word since limbo was never part of Church doctrine, even though it was taught to Catholics well into the 20th century.

"The conclusion of this study is that there are theological and liturgical reasons to hope that infants who die without baptism may be saved and brought into eternal happiness even if there is not an explicit teaching on this question found in revelation," it said. "There are reasons to hope that God will save these infants precisely because it was not possible (to baptize them)." The Church teaches that baptism removes original sin which stains all souls since the fall from grace in the Garden of Eden.

"NO NEGATION OF BAPTISM"

The document stressed that its conclusions should not be interpreted as questioning original sin or "used to negate the necessity of baptism or delay the conferral of the sacrament." Limbo, which comes from the Latin word meaning "border" or "edge," was considered by medieval theologians to be a state or place reserved for the unbaptized dead, including good people who lived before the coming of Christ.

"People find it increasingly difficult to accept that God is just and merciful if he excludes infants, who have no personal sins, from eternal happiness, whether they are Christian or non-Christian," the document said. It said the study was made all the more pressing because "the number of nonbaptised infants has grown considerably, and therefore the reflection on the possibility of salvation for these infants has become urgent."

The commission's conclusions had been widely expected. In writings before his election as Pope in 2005, the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger made it clear he believed the concept of limbo should be abandoned because it was "only a theological hypothesis" and "never a defined truth of faith."

In the Divine Comedy, Dante placed virtuous pagans and great classical philosophers, including Plato and Socrates, in limbo. The Catholic Church's official catechism, issued in 1992 after decades of work, dropped the mention of limbo.

Caffeinated soap?????

Reuters News Service

LONDON - Inventors have created a soap infused with caffeine which helps users wake up in the morning.

The soap, called Shower Shock, supplies the caffeine equivalent of two cups of coffee per wash, with the stimulant absorbed naturally through the skin, manufacturers say.

“Tired of waking up and having to wait for your morning java to brew? Are you one of those groggy early morning types that just needs the extra kick?” ask the makers, thinkgeek.com.

Scented with peppermint oil, each bar is designed to provide a stimulant boost within five minutes for a clean buzz.

KNN-"What will they think of next?"

Reflection on Passover 2007

40 Years: A Brief Perspective from the Lands of the Captivity
Ahk Eitai
KNN-Cleveland

Being a relative newcomer to the Kingdom (5 years) it is sometimes difficult for me to fully grasp all that has occurred since the advent of this glorious Kingdom. As I read, reread and later pondered the words of Abba’s Pasakh address (We Made It!) I was again challenged to truly comprehend & appreciate the essence – the true spirit of that message.

Specifically, I was striving to really appreciate the utter impracticality – the sheer impossibility –the colossal improbability of what we have achieved over the last 40 years. Abba classified our trek over the last four decades as “the impossible journey”.

As I was walking in my neighborhood recently one morning the words “impossible journey” were still resonating in my spirit. I began to reflect on the extraordinary history of the Kingdom. As I walked I recalled these words from that Pasakh message:

Forty years ago the journey for the restoration of Yah Yisra’el’s name as Creator in the Genesis began. Forty years ago the historical journey for the Sons, Daughters, Children to establish the long-awaited Kingdom of Yah began. We, now, after forty years have crossed over a major threshold on our prophetic journey.

We have passed over! This season is not likened to any other Pasakh for we have passed over and we are at the point where major psychological and physiological effects begin. We have withstood the onslaught of the adversary; we have overcome the conspiracies, the might of Pharaoh, the plausible lies of the great scholars. To be here, in the Holy Land, this day is to know of a surety (far beyond the expression of Yah Khai!) that truly – Yah Khai!!!

As I continued my walk on that morning I was momentarily distracted by a huge alabaster structure about two hundred yards to my right. It was the newly-constructed Mt. Zion Church built about 3 or 4 years ago. Larry L. Macon is the pastor & founder of this impressive suburban mega-church. Pastor Macon got his start at Holy Trinity Baptist Church which coincidentally is the same church that I taught & preached at for nearly 20 years before coming to the Kingdom! In fact, I was being groomed and positioned for the same type of “success” in the church world that Reverend Macon was now experiencing!

I was about to quickly pass by this massive, multi-million dollar Euro-gentile institution when I decided to walk over and take a closer look. For the last 4 years or so I had driven past it countless times but had never actually seen or even desired to see it up close.

Situated on nearly 4 acres, amid trees and well-manicured suburban greenery Mt. Zion Church is a mammoth (at least 30,000 – 35,000 square feet!) ultra, ultra-modern facility. I strolled up to the expansive entranceway with its multiple glass doors. I peered inside and observed a pristine reception area; the plush carpet, the vaulted ceilings, the massive marble reception desk – at least 20 feet in width! I saw wooden easels holding glossy placards that help patrons navigate through the cavernous layout, announce the various orders of service and feature upcoming events… Impressive!!!

As I continued to gaze on intently I thought, “All of this established on a lie!” Furthermore, I understood immediately that this is only one of thousands of such institutions in this country, all of which being established on the same myth, the same lie. I thought, if I could somehow transport this enormous edifice to Dimona and set it in the Kefar it would easily take up nearly ½ the land space! Impressive!!!

I thought of how easy it would be for the carnal mind to compare this structurally remarkable institution (and others like it) with the comparatively humble institutions of the Kingdom.

At that point I remembered the words of the Father:

“… We are at the point where major psychological and physiological effects begin.”

I realized then that the point in human development when a person begins to experience major psychological and physiological effects is called puberty. It is at this point when adolescents begin to enter into the stages of adulthood. I then began to understand the profound import of Abba’s words. The 40 years of momentous, impossible, improbable, impractical, unlikely achievements were accomplished by adolescents – mere babes!

Mt. Zion Church should be impressive – it actually took over 2,000 years (not just 4 or 5 years) for the adversary to construct it and the thousands of others like it! These represent the pinnacles of accomplishment during the Age of the Gentiles!

“We have withstood the onslaught of the adversary; we have overcome the conspiracies, the might of Pharaoh, the plausible lies of the great scholars.”

It took the adversary 4,000 years to extinguish the Genesis Idea. It took another 2,000 years to completely supplant it. The formulation of the lie, the foundation of the Christian church, took nearly 100 years to construct following the death of Yeshua the Hebrew Messiah.

The various Euro-gentile councils of Nicea (325 AD), of Laodicea (363 AD), of Rome (382 AD), of Hippo (393 AD) and of Carthage (397 AD), etc. laboriously established the flagrant theologies, doctrines & dogmas of the modern church. Out of this the so-called new testament emerged.
It took over 4 centuries (400 years) of brutal captivity to completely conquer the African-Hebraic mind. All of this while the Adamic Family was in the throes of over 4,000 years of protracted degeneracy!

We therefore must understand that the sum total of their accomplishments is not worthy to be compared to even the least of our achievements. The Kingdom is in the early, early stages of its development. And yet, it took Abba a mere 40 years – one tenth of the captivity – less than 1 % of the decline of the Adamic Civilization – to reverse the effects and establish what we see, hear, taste and experience today!

Truly, Yah Khai!!! I am infinitely grateful for Abba Gadol, our great leaders, the faithful saints, the many teachers & scholars of the Kingdom who have contributed to my growth and development in this extraordinary season. I am eagerly looking forward to the advent of the next 40 years! Post Puberty! Eyes have not seen, nor ears heard nor hearts even imagined…

“And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole of heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”
Dani’el 7: 27

Todah rabbah,
Ahk Eitai BN Aharone

Virginia Tech - the worst massacre in U.S. history

Terror for two hours as gunfire rang out, students waited out the worst massacre in U.S. history
Associated Press

The first crackle of gunfire shattered the Monday morning calm. It was 7:15 a.m. on the campus of Virginia Tech and an epic killing spree had just begun.

Snow was swirling on the windy April day and classes had not yet started when a murderous rampage that would shake the nation started in a coed dormitory, West Ambler Johnston, home to 895 people.

See: Victims in Virginia Tech massacre, Suspect’s writing ‘macabre,’ ‘twisted’, Memories submitted by our readers, Colleges seeking to inform students faster, Shootings draw global condemnation, South Korea ‘in shock’ over shooting, Bomb scares, other threats at schools, School's security response questioned, Witness: Gunman ‘didn't say a single word’, Two hours of terror gripped Virginia Tech, Timeline: How deadly shooting unfolded, A look at Virginia Tech campus, history, Fact file: Deadliest shootings in U.S., Fact file: Deadly college shootings in U.S.

32 dead in Va. Tech shooting rampage

Gunman shot people in a dorm, second building; suspect among dead
Associated Press

BLACKSBURG, Va. - At least 32 people were killed Monday in a shooting rampage on the Virginia Tech campus, police said. They said the gunman was among the dead.

In addition to those killed, officials said at least 28 people were wounded. Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum said the gunman was dead, but that he didn't know how he died.

"Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions," said university President Charles Steger. "The university is shocked and indeed horrified."

Up until Monday, the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history took place in 1966 at the University of Texas, where Charles Whitman climbed to the 28th-floor observation deck of a clock tower and opened fire. He killed 16 people before he was gunned down by police. In the Columbine High bloodbath near Littleton, Colo., in 1999, two teenagers killed 12 fellow students and a teacher before taking their own lives.

Virginia Tech reported shootings at opposite sides of the 2,600-acre campus, beginning at about 7:15 a.m. local time at West Ambler Johnston, a co-ed residence hall that houses 895 people, and continuing about two hours later at Norris Hall, an engineering building.

At least one student was killed in the dorm and others were killed in the classroom, Flinchum said.

After the shootings, all entrances to the campus were closed. "There's just a lot of commotion. It's hard to tell exactly what's going on," said Jason Anthony Smith, 19, who lives in the dorm. See: MASSACRE ON CAMPUS OF VIRGINIA TECH

Interracial Marriages Surge Across the U.S.

For most of U.S. history, in most communities, such unions were taboo
By DAVID CRARY
Associated Press

NEW YORK (April 14) - The charisma king of the 2008 presidential field. The world's best golfer. The captain of the New York Yankees. Besides superstardom, Barack Obama, Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter have another common bond: Each is the child of an interracial marriage.

For most of U.S. history, in most communities, such unions were taboo.

It was only 40 years ago - on June 12, 1967 - that the U.S. Supreme Court knocked down a Virginia statute barring whites from marrying nonwhites. The decision also overturned similar bans in 15 other states.

Since that landmark Loving v. Virginia ruling, the number of interracial marriages has soared; for example, black-white marriages increased from 65,000 in 1970 to 422,000 in 2005, according to Census Bureau figures. Factoring in all racial combinations, Stanford University sociologist Michael Rosenfeld calculates that more than 7 percent of America's 59 million married couples in 2005 were interracial, compared to less than 2 percent in 1970.

Click here: Top News- Interracial Marriages Surge Across the U.S. - AOL News

Tons of food spoiled as FEMA ran out of space

More than $40 million worth of supplies tossed out, scavenged for re-use
Washington Post

WASHINGTON - As many as 6 million prepared meals stockpiled near potential victims of the 2006 hurricane season spoiled in the Gulf Coast heat last summer when the Federal Emergency Management Agency ran short of warehouse and refrigeration space, according to agency officials.

In all, hundreds of truckloads of food worth more than $40 million are being thrown away or scavenged for unspoiled contents to be offered to domestic hunger-relief groups, FEMA officials said. Most of the meals were commercial versions of the military's Meals Ready to Eat, which were ruined despite being engineered to withstand the demands of desert and jungle climates.

See: Tons of food spoiled as FEMA ran out of space