Bob Thiel's Blog, page 1131

UN’s peace plan for Syria does not mention its Bashar al-Assad: Will this peace plan work or will Damascus be destroyed?

Damascus, the capital of Syria COGwriter The Associated Press reported the following: UN endorses peace process for Syria; no mention of Assad December 19, 2015 UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council’s unanimous support of a peace process for Syria that is set to begin next month with government-opposition talks and a cease-fire represents [...]

UK’s David Cameron hints of EU referendum in 2016; Nigel Farage still popular within UKIP

David Cameron and Nigel Farage COGwriter The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom dropped a hint that he may call for his promised referendum for those in the United Kingdom to vote about whether to stay in the European Union: 18 December 2015 Brussels: Britain is likely to hold a referendum on leaving the European [...]

Terrorism, Islam, and Christianity

Muslims Demonstrating before Danish Embassy in London (2006) COGwriter The Continuing Church of God is pleased to announce this sermon from its ContinuingCOG channel: 1:16:20 Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam Is more terrorism going to come? Is terrorism prophesied in the Bible? Does the Qur’an encourage terrorism? What about the Islamic hadiths as recorded by Bukhari? [...]

J. Tkach’s ‘Holy Night’ was holy to Mithra

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH COGwriter This afternoon, I received an email from GCI (Grace Communion International, essentially the group that originally ran the new Worldwide Church of God) today with a link to a letter and a video message from its J. Tkach. His message states: On Christmas Eve 1906, a former Edison engineer named Reginald [...]

Pope Francis approves ‘Mother Theresa’s’ canonization, but that does not make her a saint

‘Mother Theresa’ (1986 Túrelio) COGwriter Pope Francis decided to approve the canonization as a Catholic saint for the one called ‘Mother Theresa’: December 18, 2015 The Vatican says Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, has recognized a second miracle attributed to the late Mother Teresa, clearing the way for her elevation to sainthood. [...]

Congress approves additional increases in debt; Rush Limbaugh calls for the Republican party to be disbanded

Senate Chamber COGwriter The Congress of the USA seems determined to continue to increase the debt of the USA: December 18, 2015 Washington — Congress is about to add hundreds of billions of dollars to the national budget deficit, yet the “deficit hawks” on Capitol Hill are largely silent. “Maybe they should be on the [...]

What do Catholic and other scholars teach about Christmas?

‘Christmas Wreath’ in UK (Richard Croft) COGwriter The Continuing Church of God is pleased to make available this sermon from its ContinuingCOG channel: 1:07:40 What do Catholic and other scholars teach about Christmas? Was December 25th observed by early Christians? Since that date does not come from the Bible, where did it come from? Whose [...]

US Federal government admits Syrian refugee terrorist threat, but dismisses it

Syrian refugee camp on the Turkish border COGwriter US government officials admit there is a terrorist threat from Syrian refugees, but dismiss it as not important enough: December 17, 2015 The Obama administration admitted this week that Islamic terrorists may infiltrate its Syrian refugee program – and then promptly told Americans their concerns were overblown. [...]

Vladimir Putin praises Donald Trump and blasts Turkey

Donald Trump (photo by Michael Vadon) and Vladimir Putin COGwriter Russia’s President Vladimir Putin spoke about Donald Trump and Turkey: December 17, 2015 MOSCOW — Russian President Vladi­mir Putin ranged from conflict zones to U.S. politics Thursday in a news conference that tried to close gaps with Washington over Syria, noted that Moscow remained engaged [...]

Was our Savior born in a different Bethlehem?

COGwriter An archeologist has claimed that there is evidence that Jesus was born in a different Bethlehem than the one many believe He was born in. The Bible says the place of Jesus Christ’s birth was the town of Bethlehem of Judea, but one archaeologist says the Christian savior was more likely born in a [...]