Genetic Mingling Mixes Human, Animal Cells

Print Story: Genetic Mingling Mixes Human, Animal Cells on Yahoo! News


On a farm about six miles outside this gambling town, Jason Chamberlain looks over a flock of about 50 smelly sheep, many of them possessing partially human livers, hearts, brains and other organs.


The University of Nevada-Reno researcher talks matter-of-factly about his plans to euthanize one of the pregnant sheep in a nearby lab. He can't wait to examine the effects of the human cells he had injected into the fetus' brain about two months ago.


Doctors have transplanted pig valves into human hearts for years, and scientists have injected human cells into lab animals for even longer.


But the biological co-mingling of animal and human is now evolving into even more exotic and unsettling mixes of species, evoking the Greek myth of the monstrous chimera, which was part lion, part goat and part serpent.


In the past two years, scientists have created pigs with human blood, fused rabbit eggs with human DNA and injected human stem cells to make paralyzed mice walk.


Particularly worrisome to some scientists are the nightmare scenarios that could arise from the mixing of brain cells: What if a human mind somehow got trapped inside a sheep's head?


This is scary territory. I personally feel this is a sign of the end times. I’m not opposed to isolating human cells and reproducing an organ but not mixing the cells in any way to create a new hybrid creature. I feel God would not allow this. If it is not human it is not redeemable for a relationship with Christ.

Dad arrested after protesting 'gay' book

WorldNetDaily: Dad arrested after protesting 'gay' book

A father who protested a pro-homosexual book his 6-year-old son had been given in school spent a night in jail after being arrested by police.

David Parker, 42, confronted officials at Joseph Estabrook School in Lexington, Mass., Wednesday after his son brought home a copy of "Who's in a Family,'' a storybook that includes characters who are homosexual parents, the Boston Herald reported.

According to the report, Parker refused to leave a meeting after Lexington Superintendent Bill Hurley rejected his request that he be notified when his son is exposed to any discussion about same-sex households as part of classroom instruction.

Police arrested Parker for trespassing and he spent a night in jail before posting a $1,000 personal surety, Boston's WCVB-TV reported.

"Our parental requests for our own child were flat-out denied,'' Parker said in a statement.

Parker said school officials have continued to tell him he has no right to control whether or not his child is taught about same-sex marriage.

I think maybe the wrong person or persons went to jail here.

Bill to toughen abortion consent

World Magazine AP News - Weekly News, Christian Views:

"WASHINGTON (AP) -- After an easy House victory, the latest push to curb abortions moves to the Senate where Republican gains increase the likelihood of making it harder for minors to cross state lines to end pregnancies without telling a parent."

Now here comes the opposition to the bill.

Abortion rights advocates say the bill would cut off an escape route for pregnant girls and make criminals of the relatives, friends and doctors who try to help them.

"It certainly reflects a lack of compassion toward teens and in particular to their health," said Louise Melling of the American Civil Liberties Union. "It reflects a willingness of Congress to override or trump states' policy decisions."

This is not stopping the abortion across state lines it is only requiring that the minor girl’s parent give consent. What is wrong with getting the parents involved? Also, taking a minor across state lines without the consent of the parents is already a crime.

Secondly, talk about mixed up notions of compassion. What about the lack of compassion for the baby in the womb? This is confused logic. If it is not compassionate to restrict a minor from going from one state then surely it is not compassionate to put the ultimate restriction on a child by killing it in the womb.

Bush Signs Bill to Let Parents Strip DVDs

Yahoo! News - Bush Signs Bill to Let Parents Strip DVDs

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Wednesday signed legislation aimed at helping parents keep their children from seeing sex scenes, violence and foul language in movie DVDs.

This is a good thing. Hollywood is up in arms over this bill. They say it is censorship and a copyright violation to cut out profanity and sex. We don't want their garbage. I compare this to a restaurant that throws a fit because you refuse to eat something spoiled on your plate. We have the right to be discerning.

Here is a website that offers edited movies for rent or purchase.

Disney goes to Narnia

Disney goes to Narnia

It looks like The Mouse is trying to capitalize on the popularity of the Lord of the Rings movies by producing C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series. I hope they stay true to the text but I won’t hold my breath. The website is pretty cool but you need broadband to enjoy it.

Up to your neck

AHMADABAD, India -- Devotees offer flowers to Tapawsiary Bapu, 37, an Indian Hindu holy man who has buried himself neck down in the ground for meditation for 10 days at Pathapur, 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Ahmadabad. Bapu began his meditation on March 20 and will emerge from the hole on March 29. (03/26/04 AP photo)




Now this is what I call a hole "y" man. What a shame it is that so many try and work their way to eternal bliss when Jesus already did it for us. We can rest in His holiness.

Judge in Schiavo case asked to leave church

The Christian Century Magazine

Judge George Greer, a Florida county judge in the spotlight three times for ordering Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube removed, was advised by his Southern Baptist pastor to leave the congregation—despite the judge’s reputation as a conservative Republican and conservative Christian.

Mary Repper, a longtime friend of Greer, told AP that while Greer took comfort in being upheld by higher courts, he was upset by the church’s stance. “The people in that church should be ashamed of themselves, to demonize George and to ask him to leave for doing his job, for upholding the law,” she said. “To me, that was the most offensive thing that has happened so far.”

New McCarthyism

New McCarthyism by Hugh Hewitt

This book is a must read for anyone watching the trend of Christian bashing in politics.

"Loonies," "the American Taliban," "Frist Jihadists," "the Ayatollah bin Dobson"—all these terms and more were thrown at evangelical Christians last week as the controversy surrounding the abuse of the filibuster by Senate Democrats grew in scope and volume.

Any regular visitor to leftist blogs such as DailyKos and Legal Fiction is accustomed to the brass-knuckled bigotry directed at Christians who also happen to be conservative. In fact, the posts at DemocraticUnderground are even more vituperative. Many media and political circles are showing a rise in Christian-bashing.

Some on the left might say that evangelicals deserve this abuse given their own harsh rhetoric, but careful reading of the leaders of the evangelical movement reveals nothing paralleling this level of hate and anger. It is certainly true that evangelical leaders typically oppose same-sex marriage and demand an end to filibusters of people of faith like Judge William Pryor—a devout Catholic whom Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) found unsupportable because of Mr. Pryor's "deeply held beliefs." Evangelical leaders also support care for the very young and the very old, and urge robust participation in public affairs by people of faith. But they do not engage in personal attacks that equate their opponents with terrorists or jihadists. More here

Texas bans gay foster parents

Texas bans gay foster parents - Yahoo! News

"The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill banning homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals from being foster parents.

If the bill gains approval from the Texas Senate, the state will be allowed to investigate the backgrounds of current foster parents and remove children living in non-heterosexual households."

Most people oppose gay marriage because they feel gay couples are unfit to raise kids. It will be interesting to see what happens to this bill. I expect a dramatic legal battle.

Inside a Mosque in small town America

THE RIGHT SCALE:

"It happened again this week. I came out of the office to find a flyer under my windshield wipers inviting me to a special informational presentation on God and family values, and how to bring them back to the forefront in America.
I'm a parent so the flyer caught my interest. But as an analyst for the Northeast Intelligence Network, my eyes were riveted to the address on the flyer: The session was being held at a nearby mosque. "

I encourage you to read the entire post from The Right Scale Blog.

Identity Theft Prevention

Losing My Identity - Today's Christian

Preventing an identity crisis Identity theft is rapidly increasing in the United States. Since the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Data Clearing House began collecting identity theft reports in 2000, the number of reports has increased over 420 percent. In 2003, the ftc received more than a half a million compaints, and identity-theft reports topped the list.

Having worked in the financial world and being a police chaplain I can tell you this is a very frequent crime. Follow the steps in the article to help protect yourself.

Been Sick

I have been sick, no not mental illness. I know what you were thinking. If my recent posts have been short and incoherent this is why. That’s my story and I am sticking to it.

I was coming off a common cold and got walloped by the Flu I think. I am not sure because I did not get the license plate number. It has been decades since I had a fever like that.

I have taught the last seventeen years and I think I have only missed teaching on two occasions because I was sick. Thanks to Mitch Constant for filling in for me.

I am also Duty Chaplain today for the Albuquerque Police Department. I am praying for no call outs this shift.

Thanks for the calls and prayers

Pastor/Radio Host gets fired

WorldNetDaily: Christian happy-talk:

"According to numerous press reports, Pastor Minto was fired from his talk-show host post for simply responding to a caller who asked him if the pope went to heaven. When Minto shared from the Scriptures that only those who are born-again get into heaven, a response of outrage was expected."

I know there are some really great Christian Radio stations however they seem few and far between anymore. Many stations however have moved to a hyper-sensitive audience seeking format. They play pop music and only allow positive teachers on. Not the positive confession teachers but the new emergent positive thinking teachers. They don’t speak about sin because it is too negative . . . .but I digress.

How confused and compromising are our Christian Radio Stations becoming? What did they think would happen when they allowed this call-in show? Will a person (Pope or not) go to heaven? How could this pastor answer this question any other way except the way he did. It IS an essential of Christianity is it not?

It is interesting that according to the Barna report Christian radio has significantly lost listeners over the last decade. We know that secular talk radio has not lost but gained listeners in that same time span. We are not going to offer the world hope by offering them more of what they already have. We need to offer the Kingdom of Heaven.

'Nanoshells - You Light Up My Life

'Nanoshells' Simultaneously Detect And Destroy Cancerous Cells:


"The scattering of light provides the optical signal used to detect the cancer cells, which then 'light up' when they come into contact with the nanoshells. In this study, the researchers designed the nanoshells to look for breast cancer biomarkers on the surface of the cancer cells. "

Hey this is cool or hot or bad but not bad bad but bad good. I really need some new words to describe something really terrific, great, wonderful or marvelous. Oh well, I will just have to think about it.

Anyways, this is a grand scientific breakthrough if they can get nanotechnology to search out cancer cells and light them up. The article goes on to say that the nanoshells could also be used to destroy the cancer cells. This would be a serious advancement in treatment.

Say What? - Christianity Today Magazine

Say What? - Christianity Today Magazine

New recommendations for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) would allow congregations to bless homosexual unions and to have noncelibate homosexual ministers. Though the January 13 recommendation acknowledged that the official teaching of the ELCA prohibits homosexual ordinations and marriage, the task force said the church may choose to refrain from disciplining members for violating these prohibitions.

Eighty percent of Americans oppose homosexual unions and more importantly the Bible condemns it, how can the church recommend this? No wonder Jesus is seen outside His church in the last days knocking on the door.

Police Academy Training

I just spent the last two days training at the police academy (insert silly 80’s movie reference joke here). Chaplains from New Mexico, Texas and Colorado came to Albuquerque to be trained in various areas.

Suicide prevention was taught by Dr. DiVasto. I have been through this course before with Los Angeles County Sheriffs but I can say it is one of the most useful courses a chaplain or pastor can take. The third time I went on a ride along with a deputy we were called out to a scene where a 36 year old male in a van was holding a shotgun to his head. We talked him out of suicide before the negotiator arrived.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was taught by Dr. Perry. Did you know that 15% of Vietnam vets from suffer from PTSD? It is not uncommon for them to seek out the church for help. In our violent world more and more people are suffering from PTSD. I was the victim of three armed robberies when I was working my way through college.

Officer injury and death was taught by Dr. Huguley. This was helpful and could easily be applied to those who experience the same in the civilian world.

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing was taught by Rev. Solderberg. Again I went through this with L.A. County Sheriffs. CISD walks people through a healing process after a serious incident like a train wreck, plane crash, bombing or any heart wrenching loss of life.

Gun Safety for Chaplains was taught by APD academy staff. No we are not going to be allowed to carry guns. If they did it would be a hilarious thing. It would be a Barney Fife type of scene were we would have a gun but no bullets. However, we are exposed to crime scenes, criminals, civilians who think we are officers and so forth. There are times we might have to handle a gun.

When these techniques are filtered through the Scriptures they can be very useful for a pastor. For them to be effective, you have to factor in the sin problem and the true healer Jesus Christ and drop the secular reasoning. I think most of this material is so good and effective because it was originally put together by police chaplains and then propagated by psychologists.

Bill would allow "intelligent design" for science classes

Bill would allow "intelligent design" for science classes (phillyBurbs.com)


HARRISBURG, Pa. - School boards would be allowed to require the teaching of "intelligent design" - a concept that is the subject of a federal lawsuit in Pennsylvania - as part of science lessons under a bill that has been introduced in the state House of Representatives.


I will give you one guess who is not supporting the liberty to hear factual alternatives to evolution.


A legislative endorsement of intelligent design would conflict with Pennsylvania's science standards, which specifically call for the teaching of evolution, said Larry Frankel, the ACLU's legislative director in Pennsylvania.

"You can't teach religion as science," he said.


I wonder if they know what the definition of Bigot is?

Quick definitions (Bigot) # noun: a prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own.

Greg Laurie makes Bible 'resonate'

WorldNetDaily: Greg Laurie makes Bible 'resonate'

Here is a nice article on Greg Laurie. He is part of the Calvary Chapel movement but calls his church Harvest Christian Fellowship. Here's a sample:

Interestingly, he says, young people raised on MTV and a liberal worldview by Baby Boomer parents who rebelled against their faith have a striking need for authority in their lives.

"When an adult stands up and says, this is truth, that resonates, because they are doing what their parents and college professors won't do," he said.

"Young people find that quite appealing. They have been raised in this amoral, hedonistic lifestyle, and it's sent them on a search."

Spammer goes to the Slammer

World Magazine AP News - Weekly News, Christian Views

“LEESBURG, Va. (AP) -- He was once considered among the top 10 spammers in the world, using the Internet to peddle pornography and sham products and services like the "FedEx refunding processor," prosecutors say. Convicted in the nation's first felony case against illegal spamming, Jeremy Jaynes, 30, on Friday was sentenced to nine years in prison for bombarding Internet users with the junk e-mails.”

I hope this is just the first of many convictions for these peddlers of pornography and scams.

Christian persecution in Eritrea Africa

World Magazine - Weekly News | Christian Views

More information on Christians being arrested and killed for their faith.

"Since New Year's Day the government has intensified a campaign against Christians, arresting 230. In the last three years authorities have imprisoned about 400 Christians. The Marxist state views devoted followers of almost any religion as threats to national stability. Officials have usually denied the existence of persecution, but in late March, the Eritrean ambassador to the United States justified state action by comparing evangelicals to al-Qaeda terrorists."

Weblog That You Should Visit

STR WEBLOG

Here is a piece from Greg Koukl's blog that I highly recommend.

Last night I met with an audience of STR supporters to describe the challenges we believe the church needs to meet. Hugh Hewitt described the trends that recent events have brought to the public’s attention and encouraged Christians to work with like-minded people to bring their influence to bear on the culture. Then I laid out the four primary challenges I see for the church in general and Stand to Reason specifically.

First, there is an increasingly pervasive militant. . .Read more here.

International Christian Concern

|| Persecution.org - International Christian Concern

Persecution of Christians in communist and Islamic nations has not slowed down. ICC follows some of these stories in detail.

Also here's a story about a Chinese woman who was beaten to death because of her testimony. Keep our brothers and sisters in prayer.

Jesus might have been homosexual, says the first openly gay bishop

Telegraph | News | Jesus might have been homosexual, says the first openly gay bishop:

"The first openly gay Anglican bishop has sparked outrage for suggesting that Jesus might have been homosexual.

The Rt Rev Gene Robinson, the Bishop of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church of the United States, said that Jesus was an unmarried, 'non-traditional man' who did not uphold family values, 'travelled with a bunch of men' and enjoyed an especially close relationship with one of his disciples

It is amazing how perverted someone's mind can become when they reject the truth. Paul teaches us that a person is reprobate when they no longer are convicted by the Holy Spirit when they sin. They have reached the point of no return. God gives them up to their lust and false belief.

Rom. 1:24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

The Bible clearly condemns homosexual relationships (Rom. 1:26-27) and Jesus clearly affirmed heterosexual marriage (Matt. 19:4-6).

Give me my burger or I am going to call the police

I want my Western Bacon Cheeseburger

This is a 911 call in California.

I cannot verify this but being a law enforcement chaplain I have heard similar calls.

Tough Questions

Tough Questions

Are you witnessing to someone? Are you running into tough questions?
Here is a link that answers the top 40 questions or objections you might face when sharing your faith.

Daughter of the Enlightenment

The New York Times > Log In Free Registration Required

This is a profile of Dutch politician and Muslim apostate Hirsi Ali. The account opens with Hirsi Ali taking her one-time Dutch immigration sponsor to a lunch with the inevitable retinue of bodyguards in tow. Ali has been sentenced to death by Muslim groups for criticizing Islam. While at the table, she is approached by a young Dutch convert to Islam.

“I turned around,” she recalls in her elegant English, “and saw this sweet, young Dutch guy, about 24 years old. With freckles! And he was like, ‘Madam, I hope the mujahedeen get you and kill you.’ ” Hirsi Ali handed him her knife and told him, “Why don’t you do it yourself?”

Here is more evidence that Islam is not a religion of peace. If you dissent or criticize you risk your life.

Americans Not in Favor of Starving Terri Schiavo

Zogby Poll: Americans Not in Favor of Starving Terri Schiavo

Now they do an accurate poll on Terri Schiavo when it is too late. Look at this Zogby poll and this telling paragraph.

Another Zogby question his directly on Terri's circumstances.

"If a disabled person is not terminally ill, not in a coma, and not being kept alive on life support, and they have no written directive, should or should they not be denied food and water," the poll asked.

A whopping 79 percent said the patient should not have food and water taken away while just 9 percent said yes.

Here's the post where we found the ABC poll was skewed. I doubt this gets reported by the MSM.

College Faculties A Most Liberal Lot, Study Finds

College Faculties A Most Liberal Lot, Study Finds (washingtonpost.com)


"In contrast with the finding that nearly three-quarters of college faculty are liberal, a Harris Poll of the general public last year found that 33 percent describe themselves as conservative and 18 percent as liberal.

The liberal label that a majority of the faculty members attached to themselves is reflected on a variety of issues. The professors and instructors surveyed are, strongly or somewhat, in favor of abortion rights (84 percent); believe homosexuality is acceptable (67 percent); and want more environmental protection 'even if it raises prices or costs jobs' (88 percent). What's more, the study found, 65 percent want the government to ensure full employment, a stance to the left of the Democratic Party."

Wow, did we really need a study to tell us this? I guess it does break down actual numbers for us. We really need to equip our young adults when we send them to college.

This story fits well with this post on which prof gets fired.

America's Endless News Loop (washingtonpost.com)

America's Endless News Loop (washingtonpost.com):

Here is an example of what Hugh Hewitt is talking about. More Christian bashing from the Main Stream Media. Check out this paragraph from Tina Brown's Washington Post article.

"The current mania for any story with a religious angle is just the latest index of the post-election angst in executive suites about the terror of being out of touch with suburban mega-churches and other manifestations of the supposed Real America. God forbid, so to speak, that anyone should stand up and suggest that Mozart might be as worthwhile as NASCAR, or that it might be as important for the soul to read Philip Roth as the hokey bromides of 'The Purpose Driven Life.'"

So Christians are red neck hicks who watch car racing and read uncultured pieces like "The Purpose Driven Life." Who says there's no culture war? Well, I would love to post more but I have to go slop the hogs and make sure my wife is barefoot.

Hating the "Religious Right"

Hating the "Religious Right"

Here's a timely article by Hugh Hewitt on the attacks against those standing for life and human rights.