NO PUN INTENDED: NORTH KOREA'S SO-CALLED "GREAT LEADER" KIM JONG IL MAY BE ILL HIMSELF, what with his absence from ceremonies in beautiful(?!) downtown Pyongyang marking the 60-year anniversary of the so-called "Democratic People's Republic of Korea," replete with the inevitable displays of exaggerated military bravado in equally-exaggerated military lockstep and various missiles on 1950's-vintage heavy trucks.

No official details have been forthcoming from the highly-secretive Stalinist state; however, intelligence reports have it that "Great Leader" suffers from diabetes and heart disease, and may have suffered a stroke recently.

(His last documented public appearence was on August 14th.)

Some Japanese tabloids of a highly-incredible sort are reporting that the "real" "Great Leader" died in 2003 and that the regime was using lookie-likeys in public appearences to create the aura of stability and unity through deception and trick. Especially absent any clear signs of who may be considered "Dear Leader" (to use Kim Jong Il's pre-1997 title, when his late father Kim Il Sung, now considered "Eternal Leader," held the "Great Leader" title) to the extent of being capable enough to succeed Kim Jong Il in case the inevitable ensues.

That, and "Great Leader" being the subject of an officially-sponsored mythology as would make all the hagiographically-glowing excesses being force-fed on the Great Unwashed about Sarah Palin look like your typical Hanna-Barbera flicktoon for Saturday-morning FreeVee broadcast.

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THAI PRIME MINISTER SAMAK SUNDARAVEJ'S HOSTING A WEEKLY TV COOKING SHOW styled Tasting and Grumbling has been found to be in violation of a Constitutional proscription on working a second job while holding high office.

Ergo, according to a Thai court, Sundaravej and his cabinet will please resign their offices posthaste.

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MEIN INNKEEPER FRIEND IS OF THE OPINE THAT, IN THE EVENT OF A McCAIN/PALIN VICTORY COME NOVEMBER, we should essentially let things deteriorate all the further socioeconomically so things can eventually get better.

In effect, letting the debaucheries of His Fraudulency's Great Within run their course, mindful all the more that we maintain the que vive on the Government.

Breathes there a more logical argument of the need for realistic change come November?

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BUT THEN AGAIN, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE AS A "MORALLY SUPERIOR" SOCIETY NEED TO BE ALL THE MORE WATCHFUL OF ELECTORAL INTEGRITY AND PURITY, especially so in light of the following videos released by the Security Group of the University of California/Santa Barbara as reveal where "touch-screen" voting machines are prone to hacking and manipulation as can only undermine electoral intgrity:

In support of these videos is this report which explains the modus operandi of the tests, and the damaging revelations.

Which no doubt confirms the apocryphal remark of Soviet-era dictator Josef Stalin suggesting that "it's not the one who votes that counts; it's who counts the votes."

Enough, then, to call upon such states still adamant in their use of touch-screen electoral technology to decertify said machines with celerity and dispatch, in light of the clear and present dangers so exposed as undermines electoral integrity and purity--and, to a larger extent, democracy per se. Especially when weird and unwholesome elements are involved in their programming and vote-counting, all the while expected to keep quiet and, if and when asked to explain, deny any and all knowledge thereof.

And, in the process, call upon them to reinstitute hand-counted ballot papers to ensure electoral integrity and purity all the more.

Unless they happen to have some cheap and cheerful patsy they can use to avoid liability ... or are otherwise asked to leave the country incognito and keep a low profile, reinforced by substantial "hush money" retainers.

For now, though, tell your friends.

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WITH THE REPUBLICAN VICE-PRESIDENTIAL WANNABE SARAH PALIN INSISTING THAT THE IRAQI FRONT IN THE UR-RAHOWA AGAINST TERRORISM is Divinely Authorised, may we be reminded, readers, that seeing world events through the narrow and badly-focused lens of Biblical interpretation borders on heresy and blasphemy.

As witness what the Assemblies of God had to say in their 2000 position paper "Endtime Revival--Spirit-Led and Spirit-Controlled," as reaffirmed its 1949 General Assembly declaration that "Latter Rain" doctrines were deviant and heretical:

There is certainly nothing wrong with finding parallels between historical biblical events and the application of biblical truth to life today–for edification and encouraging spiritual growth. But when those events are forced into a strained application of endtime events, thinking Christians should be on the alert. The Bereans of Acts 17:10,11 were commended because they "searched the scriptures daily, whether those things [that Paul was teaching] were so." A teaching announced as the revelation of a new truth should be checked out very carefully. Pentecostals have become accustomed to anointed and dynamic preaching. But hearing a teacher speak with authority and self-confidence does not make the teaching true. It must always line up with Holy Scripture. Personal charisma is no substitute for biblical authority.

That last sentence in the preceding may want to apply as a warning about the appeal of the aforementioned Sarah Palin; AlterNet elaborates in an interesting report as is definitely worth sharing to your friends, by e-mail and otherwise.

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AS FOR JOHN McCAIN, WHO SELECTED PALIN AS HIS RUNNING-MATE (AND PROBABLY PREENING HER FOR THE TRAVESTY OF THE PRESIDENCY in the form of a superdivine "Prophet, Seer and Revelator"), his temper could be a liability we may be all the more unaware of. Take this example in video form:

And it turns out that McCain's habit for tantrums may be of the sort as are known medically as "pe-existing." Witness what McClatchy Newspapers (via The Kansas City Star) had to say @ the weekend about McCain's propensities therefor being practically lifelong:

Historians point out that it's not unusual for a president to have a fierce temper, but most knew how to keep it under control.

"Harry Truman wrote scathing letters, but he almost never sent them," said author Robert Dallek.

"George Washington spent a lifetime trying to control his temper," added historian Richard Norton Smith.

But Washington didn't have YouTube replaying videos of his tantrums, nor did he have to make decisions about nuclear weapons.

At age 2, McCain's tantrums were so intense that he'd hold his breath for a few minutes and pass out. His parents would dunk him in cold water to "cure" him, he wrote in his memoir, "Faith of My Fathers."

"I have spent much of my life choosing my own attitude, often carelessly, often for no better reason than to indulge a conceit," he wrote. He conceded that some of his actions have been embarrassing, and "others I deeply regret."

He was a tough little guy. At Episcopal High, he was a 114-pound wrestler classmates called "Punk" and "McNasty."

Richey, though, noted that such monikers weren't unusual in those days. "There was a tremendous amount of sarcasm in the way we talked to each other at Episcopal," he recalled. "That's the way we all talked to each other."

McCain, Richey said, "was not looking for a fight. He was feisty."

McCain entered the Naval Academy in 1954, and he was popular, the leader of a group that Timberg described as the Bad Bunch, known largely for its ability to have a good time.

Malcolm Matheson, who knew McCain at Episcopal High and stayed friendly with him in college, said his buddy had no trouble controlling his temper in those days.

"He was a little guy, but he was tough, and no bully ever got in his face," Matheson said.

But as McCain ascended in politics, he began to acquire a reputation for hotheadedness. On election night 1986, then-Arizona Republican Party executive director Jon Hinz recalled, McCain was unhappy, even angry, even though he'd just won a U.S. Senate seat and his party had just made a virtually unprecedented sweep of state offices.

McCain had hoped that night would help launch him as a national figure. Instead, when the 5-foot-9 senator-elect spoke at the Phoenix victory party, the podium was too tall.

"You couldn't see his mouth," Hinz said.

A furious McCain sought out Robert Wexler, the Young Republican head in charge of arrangements.

"McCain kept pointing his finger in Wexler's chest, berating him," Hinz recalled. The 6-foot-6 Hinz stepped between them and told McCain to cut it out. "I told him I'll make sure there's an egg crate around next time," he said. McCain walked away angrily.

About a year later, McCain reportedly erupted again, this time at a meeting with Arizona's then-Gov. Evan Mecham, who was about to be impeached after being indicted on felony charges.

Karen Johnson, then Mecham's secretary and now an Arizona state senator, recalled how McCain told Mecham that he was "causing the party a lot of problems" and was an embarrassment to the party.

"Sen. McCain got very angry," Johnson recalled, "and I said, 'Why are you talking to the governor like this? You're causing problems yourself. You're an embarrassment.' "

Johnson would go on to work at three different jobs over the next five years, and she said that each time, McCain would contact her boss and try to get her removed.

The McCain campaign didn't respond to repeated requests for comment.

When John McCain came to the Senate in 1987, he quickly got two reputations: a Republican who'd do business with Democrats on tough issues and an impatient senator who was often gruff and temperamental.

In January, Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., told The Boston Globe that "the thought of (McCain) being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me." (Cochran has since endorsed McCain.)

Added Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., who has a long list of vociferous, sometimes personal disagreements with McCain, "His charm takes a little getting used to." (Bond, too, supports him.)

Democrats are less guarded.

"There have been times when he's just exploded, " said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.

"Look, around here, people lose their tempers once in a while. But it doesn't happen very often, and it usually happens in some contextual framework. A lot of times there's just not much of a contextual framework for his blowing up."

John Raidt worked for McCain more than 15 years. "Yeah, he could get prickly," he said. "Sometimes that's exactly what's needed to move an issue or get attention. I think he uses it as a tool."

Stories abound on Capitol Hill: how McCain told Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M., how "only an a-hole" would craft a budget like he did. Or the time in 1989 when he confronted Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, then a Democrat and now a Republican, because Shelby had promised to vote for McCain friend John Tower as secretary of defense, and then Shelby voted against Tower.

McCain later wrote how, after the vote, he approached Shelby "to bring my nose within an inch of his as I screamed out my intense displeasure over his deceit ... the incident is one of the occasions when my temper lived up to its exaggerated legend."

Cochran recalled earlier this summer that he saw McCain manhandle a Sandinista official during a 1987 diplomatic mission in Nicaragua.

Cochran told the Biloxi Sun Herald that McCain was talking, and, "I saw some kind of quick movement at the bottom of the table and I looked down there and John had reached over and grabbed this guy by the shirt collar and had snatched him up like he was throwing him up out of the chair to tell him what he thought about him or whatever."

McCain said the incident never took place. "I must say, I did not admire the Sandinistas much," he told a news conference. "But there was never anything of that nature. It just didn't happen."

Former Sen. Robert Dole, who led the mission, couldn't be reached to comment.

Families of POW-MIAs said they have seen McCain's wrath repeatedly. Some families charged that McCain hadn't been aggressive enough about pursuing their lost relatives and has been reluctant to release relevant documents. McCain himself was a prisoner of war for five and a half years during the Vietnam War.

In 1992, McCain sparred with Dolores Alfond, the chairwoman of the National Alliance of Families for the Return of America's Missing Servicemen and Women, at a Senate hearing. McCain's prosecutorlike questioning of Alfond - available on YouTube - left her in tears.

Four years later, at her group's Washington conference, about 25 members went to a Senate office building, hoping to meet with McCain. As they stood in the hall, McCain and an aide walked by.

Six people present have written statements describing what they saw. According to the accounts, McCain waved his hand to shoo away Jeannette Jenkins, whose cousin was last seen in South Vietnam in 1970, causing her to hit a wall.

As McCain continued walking, Jane Duke Gaylor, the mother of another missing serviceman, approached the senator. Gaylor, in a wheelchair equipped with portable oxygen, stretched her arms toward McCain.

"McCain stopped, glared at her, raised his left arm ready to strike her, composed himself and pushed the wheelchair away from him," according to Eleanor Apodaca, the sister of an Air Force captain missing since 1967.

McCain's staff wouldn't respond to requests for comment about specific incidents.

The which are hallmarks of what psychiatrists call Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), whose known symptoms include:

*Frequent temper tantrums
*Argumentativeness with adults
*Refusal to comply with adult requests or rules
*Deliberate annoyance of other people
*Blaming others for mistakes or misbehavior
*Acting touchy and easily annoyed
*Anger and resentment
*Spiteful or vindictive behavior
*Aggressiveness toward peers
*Difficulty maintaining friendships
*Academic problems

(For the sake of insight, perhaps it may be worth it to study Edgar Allen Poe's posthumously-published satire "Never Bet the Devil Your Head--A Tale with a Moral"--or, for that matter, listen to its excellent adaptation for The CBS Radio Workshop in 1957, as starred John Dahner, Daws Butler and Howard McNear.)

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AND LEST WE FORGET, TODAY'S CLOSER IS "THE SCOOP" FROM DAY 8 OF THE RECENT MINNESOTA STATE FAIR, as per the Minnesota State Fair Daily News feature:

Debbie, thanks for making sure the family is fed.--Mary M.

AH and JR are registered at Tiffany's, Nordstroms and Williams Sonoma if anyone should be so inclined to buy an engagement gift.

Marketing: giant slide soon, be there or be square people.

BD do you think you can tell the ages of peole just by looking at them? Oh wait, you better not answer that question.

I'm just a hopeless romantic ... or a grade A creeper, one of the two.

Fairchild ... it is on buddy!

Yesterday was Nathan's birthday but who knew? He helps clean the Food Building overnight so he was there at the beginning and end, Hope he did something fun in between.

A warm fair welcome to Rocky the Castle's new pet.

The Harley-Davidson booth attendant gave a guest some licorice yesterday afternoon and it helped with her low blood sugar. She wanted to express her appreciation publicly.

To Maggie Jo and J Lo from Klemrlle Sue: Tick ... Tick ... Tick ...

Attn.: Due to high demand, the sconeboys will be holding auditions.

All it takes to entertain Grandstand Treasury is a cracker and a squirrel.

T--thanks for the ride.

The Skyglider does not stop to load and unload passengers.

Quirk/Birk/Sackett got some O.J.T. putting "Rumey Pull" together. Now the engineer can have show time.

Brandon--your technical help is unforgettable.

Hey Betty! Got keys? Got gas? Shut your car off next tiume and don't let it run for over 12 hours!

World-renowned wood scultpting artist Perry has ageed to teach woodcarver Bob (the hackman) how to do the job right. Thanks Perry, from all of us.

Teflon: good call on running away from those creepers in the parade ... BD just didn't use her smarts on that one!

Rainboots are in quite the abundance today! Loving it!

KF you are such the rock star, keep it up!

RG thanks for the pillow, you saved my sleep!

Only six days left ... dun dun dun!

Sarah: go for it girl, you two would make an amazing couple! Even if he doesn't know who you are!

Who was that girl the Timberwolves mascot was eyeing at the parade ...?

Megan: I don't think eating every two stands is a great idea ... might want to reconsider that one....

More where they came from tomorrow....   

more the engrish!

APOLOGIES, READERS, FOR BEING TOO FOCUSED IN THE EARLIER POSTING TODAY WITH THE RELIGIOPOLITICAL BELIEFS OF GOP VICE-PRESIDENTIAL WANNABE SARAH PALIN, who, methinks, John McCain is preening for Presidential material, realising McCain's state of decline--and whose religious beliefs have been held to be heretical for nearly 60 years by the mainstream.

As if that weren't enough, Ms. Palin has been quoted as saying that the Iraqi Theater of the ur-RAHOWA Against Terrorism is one with G-d's Work; that, right there, is nothing short of blasphemy which ought be criticised, and strongly.

Equally galling, per Zennie's Zeitgeist, is this major lapsus linguć on Ms. Palin's part responding to the Federal bailout of mortgage-loan originators Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:

Well, McCain campaign advisor Todd Harris said they didn't want Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to make a mistake early on, and that's exactly what happened today.  Palin, commenting on the news that the Federal Goverment was going to take over the poortly performing loan organizations Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae, apparently did not know that the firms were privately owned and held.  Palin said this, as written by the McClatchy Washington Bureau:

McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, speaking in Colorado Springs, Colo., said Fannie and Freddie had "gotten too big and too expensive to the taxpayers." The companies, however, aren't taxpayer funded but operate as private companies. The takeover may result in a taxpayer bailout during reorganization.

It's this basic lack of knoweldge of Federal Government operation that both Obama/Biden supporters and GOP backers who questioned McCain's logic in selecting Palin are concerned with.  Palin has no experience in talking about, let alone working to solve, Federal Government problems and policy matters on a regular basis that many wondered if McCain would have to engage in "on the campaign trail" training.

It appears that's the case.

This comes a week before Palin's scheduled ABC interview.

Such mistakes need to be called out as they occur, and used as "swift-boating" fodder.

(BTW, can anybody confirm Ms. Palin's reputed boast of her being expelled from six colleges within the space of five years? And if so, for what--flashing her grodies inapproriately?)

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SPEAKING OF THE SAME UR-RAHOWA AGAINST TERRORISM (THIS TIME, IN THE AFGHANI THEATER), Human Rights Watch has come out with an indictment of the American-led Coalition of the Coerced for engaging in airstrikes as have resulted in substantial numbers of civilian casualties that, in their turn, translates into a loss of public trust and confidence in the post-Talibani Afghani government.

Many of the casualties in question being an indirect result of the Talibani practice of using civilians as "human shields" against aerial attacks real or imagined.

Further damming evidence against His Fraudulency's Great Within for such blunders as could, come November, be but one step towards the devastation of our Antient and Pecuilar Soverignty and Soverign Identity by the "New World Order."

Be careful who you vote for, in other words.

If your state allows early balloting without restriction, use this approach if possible to avoid the "dirty tricks" squads the GOP's droogs and lackeys are likely to unleash upon polling stations for unwarranted "caging" attacks. Which can also be prevented by updating your voter registry if:

• You have moved since the last elections to another precinct; or
• You have changed your name by marriage or court order.

And remain all the more vigilant to "patriotic" voter-intimidation campaigns targeting the poor, the vulnerable and especially so National Minorities; if you hear of any, contact your local law-enforcement agencies, and also the FBI. Reports in any case are kept in confidence.

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ON THE ELECTION-RELATED FRONT:

• Angola's Friday elections for Parliamentary seats, the first such in 16 years, saw an unannounced second day of polling in their capital city of Luanda on Saturday after "irregularities" were observed--as well as reports of vote-rigging favouring the ruling MPLA party as don't sit well with the opposition UNITA movement and rumours that MPLA operatives hauled in truckloads of "voters" from Congo (Brazzaville) to rig the vote in border areas. UNITA is asking the Consitutional Court to declare the recent vote as null and void and to call for a revote.
• In Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives have dissolved Parliament and called early elections for October to avoid a loss of confidence vote.
• And in Hong Kong, pro-democracy parties in the Chinese Special Administrative Region have won 22 out of 60 seats in their Legislative Council in Sunday elections, holding back a challenge from pro-China parties and ensuring their continued veto power over Beijing-influenced legislation.

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IT SEEMS AS IF HURRICANE IKE HAD A BETTER CHANCE @ WREAKING HAVOC AND DEVASTATION UPON CUBA THAN THE FLORIDA KEYS; Evacuation Orders for the latter have been cancelled in view of revised forecasts as have its track moving well to the south of the Keys after doing a number across Cuba, especially so in Havana.

Moving towards Gulf Coast offshore oilfields, which are already in lockdown after Hurricane Gustav passed through a week or so ago to the point of affecting production.

Back to Cuba: Just as relief supplies were being released to victims after Hurricane Gustav's passage, Ike made its presence felt--and only making a difficult situation for the Communist regime even more so with rivers flooded over and road and rail links washed out. Not to mention creating the climate for a Spontaneous Popular Uprising against the Communist regime over delays in providing relief supplies, food and construction materials.

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JUST SO I REMEMBERED, HERE'S DAY 7 OF "THE SCOOP" COMPLEAT from the Minnesota State Fair Daily News back page:

Happy birthday to Flo from all of your friends in the Education Building. You look like a million bucks!

I wish the ice men would come around once an hour!

I want me one of those scone boys!

All the girls in the Pronto Pup spearing room are really cute and the boys in the delivery crew are too!!

James (att) your "Fair Mom's" have you on speed dial now. What time do your classes start at St. Olaf's? Hopefully not at 7:30 p.m. cause you won't make it!

Happy birthday Ron! Thanks for the 20 years that you and Betty have worked at the Crossroads Chapel!

The short man with the cane says Bob "The Woodcarver" needs all the friends he can get. His problems started when he was born. He was so ugly the hospital tinted his incubator windows.

Bob "The Woodcarver" has old friends from Romania back short friend with cane is out.

Feeling left out of all the new weddings in the works, AH and JR would like to formally announce their engagement! Presents are welcome, attendance to the wedding is not.

Thanks for all your help everyone!

BES you are simply radiant!

KF whatever you had to say I'm sorry you couldn't think of it. But here is a shout out to you!

BD, I hope no eye juice got on you. That might not look so good in a couple of days!

More tomorrow.... 

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AS IF PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY'S APPEAL TO SEND A MESSAGE TO SARAH PALIN that her message as John McCain's Vice-Pesidential candidate does not reflect the mainstream of American Thought (as opposed to the Religiopolitical Right's idealised, Arcadian even, small-town/rural mindset) isn't quite good enough ... whispers in certain circles about her association with the so-called "Joel's Army" cult (confirmation of which would be greatly appreciated) should be enough to send especially the McCain/Palin campaign's deepest and dearest of droogs on the Religiopolitical Right a strong message about what they're playing with.

Videlicet, heretical, even deviant, doctrine--@ least according to the Assemblies of God, whose 1949 General Assembly issued a resolution disapproving of the "Latter Rain" revivalist doctrine as had been established just the year before as a tent revival ministry in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, of which "Joel's Army" is but one of its several concepts and practices.

The which would be reaffirmed by the 2000 General Assembly in the position paper "Endtime Revival--Spirit-Led and Spirit-Driven," as elaborated on its concerns over "Latter Rain" and its teachings, in particular the emphasis on theocratic rule dominated by weird and unwholesome types professing to act in His Name and under His Authority, and the danger such poses to representative and responsible democracy when dominated by weird and unwholesome types especially.

For those of you who are wondering what exactly makes "Latter Rain" and its sacraments heretical, consider the following from this particular paper, under the heading "Deviant Teachings Disapproved:"

God is certainly moving in the hearts and lives of people desiring His presence and praying to see His power changing lives and reclaiming that which Satan has stolen or destroyed. But along with the genuine move of the Spirit often come teachings and practices which, if not discerned and corrected, will turn the genuine move of God into shallow and misguided emotional displays. Within teachings that add to or depart from biblical truth, there is usually a kernel of truth that gets buried under the chaff of human additions and unusual interpretations of Scripture. Though we dare not inadvertently quench the Spirit's work in changing lives and calling the church back to its first love and passion, we must speak out with words of caution when departure from Scripture threatens the ongoing life and stability of local churches. We find cause for concern in the following areas.

1. The overemphasis on identifying, bestowing, or imparting spiritual gifts by the laying on of hands and naming, supposedly by prophecy, specific gifts. The spiritual gifts are gifts of the Spirit, distributed as He "gives them to each one, just as he determines" (1 Corinthians 12:11). When the Spirit empowers the gift He bestows, there is no need for anyone to assume the Spirit's role. As the Holy Spirit inspires the operation of the gifts, the identification and confirmation will be obvious to all without assistance from humans who would share some of the glory. The greatest tragedy of such a practice is a misguided human prediction, appearing to be a prophetic utterance, that leads a believer to expect abilities and an enduement he may never have. Paul says that gifts were bestowed through the laying on of hands (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6), but the biblical record neither names a specific gift Timothy received nor implies that Paul or elders had imparted the gift. The Holy Spirit bestows the gifts, not the minister who prays the prayer for empowerment. Caution in naming specific gifts is advised until the Spirit confirms such a prophecy by the supernatural manifestation of the promised gift.

2. The problematic teaching that present-day offices of apostles and prophets should govern church ministry at all levels. It is very tempting for persons with an independent spirit and an exaggerated estimate of their importance in the kingdom of God to declare organization and administrative structure to be of human origin. Reading in the Bible that there were apostles and prophets who exerted great leadership influence, and wrongly interpreting 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 2:20 and 4:11, they proceed to declare themselves or persons aligned with their views as prophets and apostles. Structure set up to avoid a previous structure can soon become dictatorial, presumptuous, and carnal while claiming to be more biblical than the old one outside the new order or organization. Proponents of apostles/prophets leadership stop too soon in their reading of the Ephesians 4 passage, overlooking the high calling of every office and minister of the Church: "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ" (Ephesians 4:11,12, italics added).

   In Ephesians 2:20, Paul is talking about the historical fact of Jews and Gentiles having come together to form the Church. The aorist participle in verse 20 is best translated "having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone"–a past occurrence. The reference to apostles and prophets in Ephesians 3:5 speaks of their role in recording the inspired Scriptures as a past occurrence. The leadership of the local church, according to the Pastoral Epistles, is in the hands of elders/presbyters and deacons. These are the last of Paul's epistles. There is no indication in these last writings of continuing offices of apostles and prophets, though the ministry functions still continue.

   Prophets in the New Testament are never described as holding an officially recognized position as in the case of pastors and evangelists. They spoke prophetically to the body for edification and admonition. When they prophesied under the inspiration of the Spirit, their ministry was noted. They could indeed have been called prophets without designating them as filling an office. A self-proclaimed prophet who dropped into a local church setting would certainly have been suspect until he was better known. And to guard against such abuses, Paul taught that all prophetic utterances should be tested by the Body (1 Corinthians 14:29). The humility that Paul taught and modeled should be a primary character trait of every spiritual leader. We affirm that there are, and ought to be, apostolic- and prophetic-type ministries in the Church, without individuals being identified as filling such an office.

   The Shepherding Movement, a term not used as frequently now as earlier, is still a practice with close ties to the apostle/prophet excesses described above. The random and wrongful substitution of mutually appointed apostles and prophets to replace existing divinely appointed and duly chosen leadership is a circumstance open to abuse. In the past the shepherding teaching led to an artificial pyramid system of accountability, with each person responsible to a personal shepherd. The shepherd in turn is accountable to another shepherd for his guidance, accountability, and control. Although the example of Paul mentoring young Timothy is a good pattern for today, there is no biblical basis for a network requiring every believer to have a personal shepherd. The pastor, as shepherd of a local church flock, along with the spouse, can deal with even the most personal matters. The pastor in turn has a district superintendent, chosen for the position through a divinely blessed process, from whom help can be sought when needed. But to seek randomly, and with a sense of obligation, for someone to be a personal shepherd is not biblical. God-ordained leaders, chosen by Spirit-led colleagues seeking to build and edify the body of Christ, have the needed maturity, stability, and gifting by the Spirit.

3. The practice of imparting or imposing personal leadings by means of gifts of utterance. Instances of Spirit-prompted personal advice, contrary to common sense yet definitely of divine origin, are so infrequent that recklessly giving personal prophecies soon becomes an abuse in the body of Christ. Though Paul and Barnabas were rightfully set apart by the Holy Spirit for an unspecified work (Acts 13:2), the two still had to hear the Spirit's direction for their specific assignments. Their call was heard by the gathered believers while worshiping and fasting, and all present, including Paul and Barnabas, were obviously persuaded that it was indeed the Spirit speaking. If the "prophesied" words are from God, the Holy Spirit will also confirm the reality to the heart of the one set apart for the Spirit's work.

4. Wresting and distorting Scripture through interpretations that are in opposition to the primary meaning of biblical passages. The following teachings all have an element of truth in them, but as currently taught they are plagued with misleading and unbiblical elements and should be carefully avoided. In some instances a word or phrase is taken from Scripture, so it has the sound of biblical authenticity, but the application is a human creation rather than biblical truth. Many of them are reappearances of earlier departures from biblical truth, and in the future they could resurface as supposedly new revelations with different names.

Kingdom Now or Dominion theology. The thought that God's kingdom can come on earth with a little help from humankind is intriguing to those who advocate this approach to impacting society. Rather than scoffing at the promise of Christ's imminent return (2 Peter 3:3,4), this errant theology says that Jesus will not return until the Church takes dominion of the earth back from Satan and his followers. By taking control, through whatever means possible, of political, ecclesiastical, educational, economic, and other structures, Christians supposedly can make the world a worthy place for Christ to return and rule over. This unscriptural triumphalism generates other related variant teachings.

Manifest Sons of God and Joel's Army. These are some of the names used to describe those who have caught the vision of the Kingdom Now and are actively at work seeking to overcome the opposition and declaring Christians who hold a biblical understanding of Christ's imminent return at any time to be cowardly for not joining the "anointed," as they sometimes call themselves. Without question, the Old Testament Book of Joel includes many endtime references. But the great and powerful army in Joel 2 is one of terrible locusts, an instrument of judgment on Israel. After Israel's repentance, the army of locusts is destroyed by the Lord. Only after this destruction of the instrument of judgment does the promised revival come. "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people" (Joel 2:28). It is a complete misinterpretation of Scripture to find in Joel's army of locusts a militant, victorious force attacking society and a non-cooperating Church to prepare the earth for Christ's millennial reign.

Spiritualizing Biblical Events and History. There is certainly nothing wrong with finding parallels between historical biblical events and the application of biblical truth to life today–for edification and encouraging spiritual growth. But when those events are forced into a strained application of endtime events, thinking Christians should be on the alert. The Bereans of Acts 17:10,11 were commended because they "searched the scriptures daily, whether those things [that Paul was teaching] were so." A teaching announced as the revelation of a new truth should be checked out very carefully. Pentecostals have become accustomed to anointed and dynamic preaching. But hearing a teacher speak with authority and self-confidence does not make the teaching true. It must always line up with Holy Scripture. Personal charisma is no substitute for biblical authority.

The Prosperity Gospel. The preaching of a prosperity gospel has increased giving to some programs, both legitimate and less than legitimate. God does bless faithfulness, but the blessing is not always financial gain. There are spiritual principles of sowing and reaping, but to draw money from the poor to support an affluent personal lifestyle is unconscionable. If we one day will have to give an account of every idle word (Matthew 12:36), it seems reasonable that we will have to account for every dollar solicited by dubious methods. A biblical teaching should be applicable in every neighborhood, culture, society, and country of the world.

Birthing. Another example of a kernel of truth being pushed beyond propriety is the teaching that believers must "birth" new Christians into the Kingdom. Paul used the parallel very appropriately when he wrote to the Galatians, "My dear children, . . . I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you" (Galatians 4:19). But when the parallel is vividly described with the imagery of a mother in the process of delivery and believers are encouraged to intercede lying in the physical position of a mother giving birth to a child, truth is abused.

Generational Curses. It is true that Scripture speaks of the sins of the fathers being visited upon the children to the third and fourth generation (Exodus 20:5; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9). In two of the three passages the visitation is targeted at those who hate God. We also know that heredity and environment do pass some things on to descendents. But the Old Testament passage should be read in the light of the work of Christ on the cross. Nowhere in the New Testament do we find any reference to this concept. Believers today do not live under a personal curse, even though the fallen creation around us still groans and suffers (Romans 8:22), awaiting the restoration of all things. Strong emphasis on a generational curse binds rather than delivers believers. Outside the body of Christ, there may be evidence of a generational curse, but for believers it is broken at salvation, even though there may be some natural traits or behavior patterns we must deal with through the help of the Holy Spirit.

5. Excessive fixation on Satan and demonic spirits. "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4, KJV). There is a devil. He is working desperately as his opportunity of opposing God's eternal plan is fast coming to a close. But he is no more powerful today than he has ever been. God is always in control and our emphasis should be on His omnipotence rather than on the evil work of oppressing, disturbing, destroying, and even possessing those who willingly play with Satan's trinkets and give themselves to his control. Satan can never take possession of the child of God, though he may tempt and oppress. Believers cannot be demon possessed.

Fighting and exorcising demons is exciting activity. It attracts attention. Again, there is a kernel of truth. There is demon possession–not in everything that is amiss, but certainly in special instances that must be dealt with. Yet God in His wisdom has provided the tools for those special needs. While there may indeed be princes of darkness on assignment against cities, there is no biblical evidence that every city or geographic entity is ruled by a demon. The Holy Spirit may give a Spirit-filled believer the word of knowledge that a demon is in control of a person who needs deliverance. And in situations of strange behavior, the Spirit discerns for the Spirit-filled believer the source of the activity. But to conclude that every sickness, injury, birth deformity, and negative personality trait is caused by a demon is a misreading of Scripture. Sin has left its mark on the world, yet not in the form of a demon wherever we turn that must be named and exorcised.

We are engaged in spiritual warfare. "The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). But that message was not given to frighten believers into going to extremes in making every daily activity a major struggle with the devil. As we put on the full armor every Christian should wear in spiritual conflict, we are promised that we will stand against the devil's schemes (Ephesians 6:11-17). Covered by the blood of Christ and wearing our armor, we can then concentrate on the assigned task of going into all the world with the gospel. There may be some intense combat along the way, but the One who goes before us has already overcome.

Which is something the Religiopolitical Right's hard-wired droogs and lackeys, blindly unswerving in their support of the McCain/Palin ticket, may want to think about. Twice. 

(Come to think of it, would these same objections from the Assemblies of God be shared by other mainline Christian denominations in the United States? Opinions from the representatives of other faiths will be appreciated in the comments.)   

EMERGING REVELATIONS OF THE RELIGIOUS ZEALOTRY AND TRUE BELIEF OF REPUBLICAN VICE-PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT SARAH PALIN  perhaps influencing her articles of faith (and campaign message) should be enough to ring alarm bells.

For starters, there's her associations with a heretical apocalypto sect with known connexions to the "Latter Rain" revivalist movement as has itself been declared heretical and anathema by the Assemblies of God since 1949, which was reinforced by Resolution 16 (A Return to Biblical Integrity) of the 48th General Assembly of the Assemblies of God in 2000:

WHEREAS, The first of the 16 Fundamental Truths asserts unequivocally that the Scriptures are the "infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct"; and

WHEREAS, The report of the Spiritual Life Committee in Minutes, Revised Constitution and Bylaws of The General Council of the Assemblies of God 1993 states:

We believe that God's Spirit never goes where His Word does not. . . . We have been lambasted by elements of the electronic church and charismatic renewal as being backslidden and non-Spirit led when we have not jumped on popular bandwagons of the day loaded with the meringue of personality and spiritual excess rather than the plain meat of God's Word. So be it! If criticism is the price we must pay for asking the question: "What saith the Lord in His written Word?"-then let us wear that criticism gladly as a sign of fidelity to Christ. and

WHEREAS, The current "river of God" includes many alleged manifestations of the Spirit which are extra-biblical. These extra-biblical manifestations have become a de facto evidence of a new level of spirituality and/or a new anointing. They are eclipsing in importance the biblical anointing called the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is witnessed by speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance; and

WHEREAS, Latter Rain doctrines such as impartation, birthing, Joel's Army, and the five-fold ministries taught as offices with predictive prophecy are again being heard in the new revival; and

WHEREAS, As a result, ministers and churches are being divided and members are becoming confused about the authority of the Scripture; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this General Council reaffirm the decision of the General Council of 1949, as stated: We recognize a hunger on the part of God's people for a spiritual refreshing and manifestation of His Holy Spirit [and] That we set our hearts to seek for a continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit founded upon the clear teaching of the Word of God. Be it further

RESOLVED, That we disapprove of Latter Rain doctrines and practices such as "impartation," "birthing," "Joel's Army," and the "five-fold ministries" taught as "offices" with "predictive prophecy," and other extraneous teachings "which, being unfounded scripturally, serve only to break fellowship . . . and tend to confusion and division."

Which, in turn, was reinforced by the Position Paper "Endtime Revival--Spirit-Led and Spirit-Controlled," the which may be read in its entire here (and could be worth using for "swift-boating" Ms. Palin with on the theological front, what with her known friends among the Religiopolitical Right).

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AS IF MS. PALIN'S ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE FALSE DOCTRINE OF LATTER RAIN WEREN'T AWFUL ENOUGH, a flyer in the church bulletin of her church in Wasilla, AK is promoting the Focus on the Family-affiliated "Love Won Out" pseudoministry which suggests that homosexuals and homosexuality can be "cured" by the thorough application of Christian Witness.

The which turns out being in the same boat as "aversion" and "reparative" psychotherapies which have been discredited by the American Psychiatric Association as having no credible basis in fact and serves only to further stigmatise homosexuals and homosexuality, as per the following position paper issued in 2000 (by way of Media Matters for America):

1. APA affirms its 1973 position that homosexuality per se is not a diagnosable mental disorder. Recent publicized efforts to repathologize homosexuality by claiming that it can be cured are often guided not by rigorous scientific or psychiatric research, but sometimes by religious and political forces opposed to full civil rights for gay men and lesbians. APA recommends that the APA respond quickly and appropriately as a scientific organization when claims that homosexuality is a curable illness are made by political or religious groups.

2. As a general principle, a therapist should not determine the goal of treatment either coercively or through subtle influence. Psychotherapeutic modalities to convert or "repair" homosexuality are based on developmental theories whose scientific validity is questionable. Furthermore, anecdotal reports of "cures" are counterbalanced by anecdotal claims of psychological harm. In the last four decades, "reparative" therapists have not produced any rigorous scientific research to substantiate their claims of cure. Until there is such research available, APA recommends that ethical practitioners refrain from attempts to change individuals' sexual orientation, keeping in mind the medical dictum to first, do no harm.

3. The "reparative" therapy literature uses theories that make it difficult to formulate scientific selection criteria for their treatment modality. This literature not only ignores the impact of social stigma in motivating efforts to cure homosexuality; it is a literature that actively stigmatizes homosexuality as well. "Reparative" therapy literature also tends to overstate the treatment's accomplishments while neglecting any potential risks to patients. APA encourages and supports research in the NIMH and the academic research community to further determines "reparative" therapy's risks versus its benefits.

(As a matter of fact, several psychologists and psychiatrists who have identified themselves with "aversion/reparative therapy" programmes have been disciplined for the likes of Unprofessional Conduct, Causing Serious Emotional Harm in Clients, Abusing the Doctor-Client Relationship for Personal Gain and Abusing Client Trust and Confidence to Further Expose Clients to Harm or Dependency, among other charges as can lead to disciplinary action. Not to mention the unwitting likelihood of certain such being, perhaps, Addicted to Liquor.)

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AND TO SUGGEST THAT SARAH PALIN'S PRESENCE AS JOHN McCAIN'S VICE-PRESIDENT MAY ACTUALLY HELP SWAY WORKING-CLASS WOMEN INTO VOTING REPUBLICAN COME NOVEMBER may only be wishful thinking; read what the Los Angeles Times has to say on this Inconvenient Truth.

Not to mention suggesting that a blanket ban on abortion and contraception as is part of the McCain/Palin Presidential agenda would actually have "economic benefits" (cf. Romania under Nicolae Ceauçescu, in case you've forgotten Recent History).