Written by Heidi Swander
www.olivetreeviews.org
February 2, 2011

Warning: What you are about to read sounds like a new spin-off episode of Star Trek, but it is not. It is really happening in real time with real people, and it will very likely have a tremendous impact on the future of our world and on the seven-year Tribulation period that is fast approaching.

Our subject is Transhumanism: The development of the post-human or neo-human. In an article in his quarterly publication, "Forcing Change," Carl Teichrib, long-time researcher and writer on globalization, explains, "Based on the premise that evolution is true, Transhumanism looks to shape the human species through the direct application of science . . . By employing technology we can take hold of the evolutionary process and change it as we desire, thus becoming masters of our future."

According to Teichrib, the Mormon Transhumanist Association (MTA) lists such "benefits" of this pseudo-science as highly advanced intellectual capabilities; bodies immune to disease and aging; communication without speech or visual aids and en masse; and superhuman strength and agility, to name a few. The means to this end include DNA manipulation, brain-computer interfacing, and injections of nanobot technology to manipulate human tissue. Teichrib warns that such ideas are "grounded in theoretical research and present-day realities." He says that, "Brain interfacing and mind implants, along with nanotechnology, are no longer the stuff of science fiction. Much theoretical work has been done, experimentation is ongoing, and major breakthroughs have occurred."

As Teichrib points out, "While the future is being played within laboratories and technical institutes, the foundation of Transhumanism rests on an ancient desire: Man becoming deity." It is, in effect, "the technical quest for the Holy Grail, Ascension through engineering."

"Mark Pesce, a co-inventor of 3-D interfacing for the Worldwide Web and a panelist and judge on ABC's show The New Inventors, puts it this way, 'Now we will reach into the improbable, re-sequence ourselves into a new Being, de-bugging the natural state, translating ourselves into supernatural, incorruptible, eternal. There is no God but Man.'"

During a Q&A session at a conference on Transhumanism hosted by the MTA, the comment was made in Techrib's hearing that, "We are now at a Tower of Babel return point -- anything we imagine, we can do. There is nothing out of our grasp now" (see Gen. 11:6).

Scary, isn't it? And don't miss that the Mormon Church is central in this quest as they seek to become gods, just as their doctrine dictates.

Although the modern version of Transhumanism is rooted in Humanism and most Transhumanists are atheistic or agnostic, Teichrib explains that, "A progressive version of Christianity, represented as a faith ready to embrace religious diversity and evolution, will be accepted within the Transhuman environment. Emergent spirituality and interfaithism within the church will dovetail with Transhuman sentiments." And, he says, "A globally-accepted form of spirituality will play an increasing role in the Transhumanist worldview" (italics mine).

In another article on Transhumanism, Martin Erdmann, a Swiss theologian, warns that "a large contingent of contemporary evangelicals have [already] embraced some aspects of the technocratic ideals of Transhumanism and is drawn by its motivations . . . Their new focus is on an earthly inheritance for the church. In concrete terms this means that Christians are called upon to usher humanity into a new stage of its existence. Through individual Christians' labor, all the evils in society will slowly be conquered until they are no more." These espoused goals are similar to those of Dominionists.

The desire for man to become god is an ancient ambition and demonically rooted (Genesis 3). It should be no surprise, as we race pell-mell toward the culmination of history, that an adaptation of this objective has been remade in a palatable format for today's techno-gurus and false theologians.

It is one thing to consider that pagan humanity is attempting this feat. It is another to consider that broad sections of those who call themselves Christian are succumbing to this satanic lie. It smacks of Paul's words to the Romans, "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man," (Rom. 1:22-23). But Paul also had words to the church in Thessolonica: "And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (II Thess. 2:11-12).

A large number of endangered, unwanted, and unborn children held a town hall meeting on the 4th of July - alarmed at the brutal and untimely killing of millions of their brothers and sisters in recent years. That the murderous war waged on them had the full force and respectability of the law made their plight all the more terrifying.

Their complaint was humble and it was simple. They were not distressed by rising gas prices, or the deteriorating economy in general. They were not even frightened by the exponential increase of natural disasters. The threat of global warming or global terrorism did not greatly disturb them.

They had become an endangered species, and little had been done to answer their terrified and silent screams from the womb. They decided that the barbaric treatment that they and their fellow unwanted unborn human beings have had to endure for perilous decades was unconscionable and unbearable. They cried out to their Creator for inspiration and protection, and then unanimously they put forth a declaration. It began as follows:

"When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of nature and the Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS...

THAT AMONG THESE IS LIFE; THAT AMONG THESE IS LIFE; THAT AMONG THESE IS LIFE!"

The first and pre-eminent right is the right to life. This truth the Founding Fathers were sure of, and anyone with any common sense at all is equally sure of it. 232 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed the amount of common sense that seems to be operative in many spheres of influence - most notably the courts and the political arena - can easily be poured into a very small thimble. The United States of America seems to have a death wish, and we have traveled far down the road to having that wish realized. When law divorces itself from common sense and spawns the illegitimate offspring of distortions of law, resulting in illegal laws - based neither on the natural law nor divine law - this undermines law itself, generating disdain for the law. Erosion of trust in the courts, or the system in general, is inevitable.

The genesis of the death wish is rooted in the fall of man that we see in the Book of Genesis. The substance of the fall is wrapped up in Lucifer's pride, transferred to Adam and Eve - "You can be like gods, knowing good and evil." The unholy, yet inevitable, consequence of that price is disobedience - eating the forbidden fruit. The ultimate end is death, as God said it would be. That's the way it was in the beginning. That's the way it is now. That's the way it will be until time breathes forth it's last moment.

The prototypical sin is pride, the pride that seeks to exalt the creature above the Creator:

"I can be like God." Then, subjectively and arbitrarily, man tries to assert himself, imagining that he knows what's good and evil for himself without reference to God and God's law. This was the fall of the angels and the fall of man. The attempt by creatures to usurp what is only the province of God. Only God knows what is good for His creation.

In recent years it took the form of a self-inflicted heart wound when some dissident Catholics rejected the teaching of the Church, a teaching that clearly held that artificial contraception is intrinsically evil. Then, as Pope Paul VI had warned, it metastasized into abortion. From abortion it degenerated even further into partial-birth abortion. It was then a short and easy step to infanticide.

It's hard to believe that we have degenerated to the point that we'll murder a helpless baby should it escape the violence of an abortion and be born alive. Can a Catholic vote for such persons? [who support abortion] We are told, "yes" for a "proportionate reason." What, I might ask, is the proportionate reason so weighty as to excuse supporting those responsible for what is tantamount to genocide?

The judges and politicians that support such barbaric practices are truly guilty of genocide: genocide - the deliberate and systematic destruction of an ethnic, racial, religious, national, or social group. "What is the group so target?", you might ask. The group is unwanted, unborn children - tens of millions of them. The Supreme Court justices that gave us Roe v. Wade will have to plead temporary insanity in the court of history. There will be no defense in the highest Court that is the judgment seat of almighty God if they do not repent of the incalculable evil they have wrought.

Yet, despite the life and death importance of this travesty of authentic law, there will be no serious discussion among political candidates, or anyone else. It is as if society has been bewitched, blind to the splendor of truth, deaf to the cries of the most innocent, most vulnerable, and most utterly helpless.

From artificial contraception to abortion to partial-birth abortion, then on to infanticide we march toward the abyss of oblivion, a society marked for death...

Fr. John Corapi, SOLT, STD

Washington, D.C. – Americans United for Life Action will join tonight with leading pro-life organizations for an unprecedented video presentation and call to action. An undercover sting operation under the direction of Live Action shows Planned Parenthood engaged in discussions of how to exploit innocent young victims of sex trafficking and how to cover up possible crimes.

Lila Rose, president of Live Action, will be on the webcast to show the video footage, explain the specifics of the sting operation, and detail Planned Parenthood's inexcusable actions. The Live Action video shows a woman alleged to be the clinic manager at the Perth Amboy Planned Parenthood Clinic in New Jersey talking with a man and woman posing as a pimp and prostitute about how to avoid legal troubles when bringing to the clinic underage girls and illegal aliens engaged in sex trafficking.

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of AULA, called on Congress to immediately freeze the millions in taxpayer dollars going to Planned Parenthood and for investigations into possible criminal misconduct by the nation’s largest abortion provider.

The pro-life groups participating in the special webcast also will stand united during the webcast to De-Fund Planned Parenthood, and strip the abortion industry of the $350 million-plus it receives from the nation’s taxpayers.

“This video will help Americans see the appalling truth behind Planned Parenthood’s glossy public relations machine,” said Yoest. “The world’s largest abortion provider poses as the defender of women’s health in the glare of the spotlight. But when real women enter their doors, only money matters.”

Webcast Details:
Webcast Location: http://www.ExposePlannedParenthood.com
Time and Date: Thursday, February 3, at 8:30 PM Eastern (5:30 PM Pacific)
Participants along with LILA ROSE and DR. CHARMAINE YOEST:
• TONY PERKINS, Family Research Council
• MARJORIE DANNENFELSER, Susan B. Anthony List
• ABBY JOHNSON, Former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life advocate and author
• DAVID BEREIT, 40 Days for Life
• WENDY WRIGHT, Concerned Women for America
• DR. ALVEDA KING, Niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and African American Outreach at Priests for Life

About AUL Action
AUL Action is the legislative action arm of Americans United for Life, a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization whose vision since 1971 is a nation in which everyone is welcomed in life and protected in law. AULA played an important role during the Health Care Reform debates because of its opposition to taxpayer funded abortion, which included pivotal advertising campaigns in 14 congressional districts and extensive work on Capitol Hill. AULA's efforts during the last two Supreme Court confirmation events led to Dr. Yoest being asked to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee twice. AUL's legal team has been involved in every abortion-related case before the U.S. Supreme Court, including the successful defense of the Hyde Amendment. AUL also publishes Defending Life, the most comprehensive state-by-state legal guide of its kind, which is distributed annually to legislators across the nation.

The Nashville-based “Blackwood Legacy” Contemporary Southern Gospel group will be performing at two local-area churches this month. On Friday, January 21, 7 pm, they will be at the Camarillo Church of the Nazarene, 2280 Antonio Avenue. The following evening on January 22, 7 pm, they will be in concert at the First Baptist Church of Fillmore, located at 1059 1st Street. Admission is free to both events and a love offering will be received.

One of today’s most popular and requested touring groups, the Blackwood Legacy is led by Rick Price, a veteran Southern Gospel entertainer with more than 30 years in the industry, including many years as the lead singer for the Grammy and Dove awarding-winning Blackwood Brothers Quartet, with whom he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Believing “the road to the future is paved with memories of the past,” and recognizing the need to reach audiences of all ages Price has gathered some of the most talented and sought-after new artists on the scene today to create a dynamic concert that features the well-remembered old favorites such as Beulah Land and How Great Thou Art, as well as music made popular by today’s most recognized worship artists. Included in the talent lineup is Washington State native, Luke Yates, a dynamic worship musician and singers who recently exploded on the Gospel music scene as well as Daniel Blackwood Childs, a seasoned musician and Christian entertainer in his own right.

For more information on this event call 866-855-1036 or visit the group website at www.blackwoodlegacy.org. You can also preview this great Nashville group on Facebook. The public is encourage to arrive early for best seating.

Written by Patrick B. Craine

TORONTO, Ontario, December 20, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal has ordered a Catholic school board to compensate three members of a prominent UFO cult after finding the board guilty of religious discrimination.

Daniel, Michel, and Sylvie Chabot, members of the Raelian cult, were hired in November 2006 by the Conseil Scolaire Catholique Franco-Nord to offer ‘emotional pedagogy’ training sessions for teachers. They delivered such sessions through what they call the Academy of Pleasurology and Emotional Intelligence (APEI).

The Catholic board chose to end the contract in January 2007 after discovering their membership in the cult, which claims that humans were planted on Earth by benevolent extraterrestrials.

On December 15th, Tribunal... http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ontario-tribunal-finds-catholic-school-...

Christmas is a natural time for the Cornwall Alliance to remember its highest commitment: to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That gospel the Apostle Paul summarized most briefly this way: “… that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

Then, so readers would know this was no myth, he added reference to multiple eyewitnesses: Christ “appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles” (verses 5-7).

And finally, coupled to his own eyewitness testimony, he explained the marvelous grace of it all: “Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain” (verses 8-10).

Grace. Grace of God to forgive a sinner like Paul. Grace of God to forgive a sinner like me. Grace of God to forgive anyone who repents of sin and trusts in Christ “who died for our sins.”

The Cornwall Alliance exists because of the grace of God, and for the grace of God, to communicate that gospel and the wonderful consequence of it: that this world, subjected by God to futility and decay because of our sin, will one day be “set free from its bondage to decay, and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:20–21).

In Christ “we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:14–20).

That is the link between the gospel and the Earth stewardship the Cornwall Alliance exists to promote. From reconciling guilty but believing sinners to a holy God, to reconciling the whole creation to Himself, that’s what Jesus came to do. And that is what we at the Cornwall Alliance rejoice to declare at this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas, friends!
Cal

Written by Sara A. Carter

A document released by WikiLeaks described efforts by high-ranking Afghan officials to quash reports of police officers and other Afghans arrested for "purchasing a service from a child."

The leaked diplomatic cable quoted former Minister of the Interior Hanif Atmar's concern that publicity about the arrests, which involved the hiring of "dancing boys," would "endanger lives."

The author of the diplomatic cable fretted that the case would be "blown out of proportion, an outcome that would not be good for either the U.S. or Afghanistan."

The vast gulf between... http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/2010/12/afghan-sex-practices-co...

St. Stephen's Anglican Church will celebrate a Christmas Eve Mass, Friday December 24th, at 10:30 p.m. St. Stephen's holds services at the Fillmore Methodist Church, 421 Sespe, in Fillmore.

Christmas Carols will be sung at 10:15 and Holy Communion will begin at 10:30 p.m. Please join us for the Vigil of our Lord's Nativity. For more information please call Fr. Bob Hammond at 524-1697

Written by Elad Benari

It seems as though in Austria, the popular yodel is an insult to Muslims.

An Austrian court has recently fined a citizen for yodeling while mowing his lawn, according to a report in The Kronen Zeitung newspaper.

The citizen, 63-year-old Helmut G., was told by the court that his yodeling offended his next-door Muslim neighbors, who accused him of trying to mock and imitate the call of the Muezzin.

In Muslim tradition... http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/141152

By Luke Salkeld

Standing proudly on the side of an English hill, its religious roots go back 2,000 years. But a single night of vandalism has left an ancient site of pilgrimage in splinters.

The Holy Thorn Tree of Glastonbury has been chopped down in what is being seen by some as a deliberately anti-Christian act.

A feature of the skyline surrounding the Somerset town, the tree has been visited by thousands retracing the steps said to have been taken by Joseph of Arimathea, who some say was Jesus’ great uncle.

Police tape surrounds the vandalised Holy Thorn tree on Wearyall Hill in Glastonbury as stunned locals look on. The branches were cut off overnight and a police investigation has been launched.

The tree in all its glory before it was hacked apart. Legend says it sprang from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea, the man who helped Jesus of the cross. To the right of the tree, in the distance, is Glastonbury Tor
According to legend, Saint Joseph travelled to the spot after Christ was crucified, taking with him the Holy Grail of Arthurian folklore.

He is said to have stuck his wooden staff – which had belonged to Jesus – into the ground on Wearyall Hill before he went to sleep. When he awoke it had sprouted into a thorn tree, which became a natural shrine for Christians across Europe.

To add to its sacred... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1337159/Glastonburys-2000-year-o...

Fillmore First United Methodist Church with some of the profits from their recent Rummage sale donated $500.00 to Heifer International. This little congregation has donated sheep, ducks, chickens, bees and trees to Heifer International in the past. But their dream has always to be able to donate a heifer. This heifer will be sent to one of the 60 countries throughout the world including the U.S, that receives gifts. The family that receives this heifer will donate it's first offspring to another family and they will be able enjoy income and food provided by the heifer.

The congregation had a potluck lunch after church celebrating the beginning of Advent Season and the certificate thanking them for their donation.

The 4th Annual exhibition of nativities will take place Dec. 19, 2010. Please bring your nativity sets, any and all, gigantic or miniature to the St. Francis church hall. Please drop off from 7:00-8:00 Sun. Dec. 19, 2010
Exhibition: 9:00-2:30
Pick-up: 2:30-3:30
Come and share your nativity set with your brothers and sisters of Saint Francis of Assisi.
For more information: Call Oralia 524-4326 or email magnoliares@sbcglobal.net

Exhibición de nacimientos domingo 19 de diciembre de 2010
Cuarto año de exhibición de nacimientos. Favor de traer sus nacimientos, de cualquier tamaño al salón de la iglesia domingo 19 de diciembre 2010. Favor de traer los nacimientos de 7:00-8:00 A.M. domingo 19.
Exhibición es de 9:00-2:30
Recoja su nacimiento de 2:30-3:30
¡Vengan, vean y comparte con su familia y amigos!
Para más información: Llame a Oralia 524-4326.
O mande su correo electrónico a magnoliares@sbcglobal.net

Written By Juliet Eilperin

With United Nations climate negotiators facing an uphill battle to advance their goal of reducing emissions linked to global warming, it's no surprise that the woman steering the talks appealed to a Mayan goddess Monday.

Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, invoked the ancient jaguar goddess Ixchel in her opening statement to delegates gathered in Cancun, Mexico, noting that Ixchel was not only goddess of the moon, but also "the goddess of reason, creativity and weaving. May she inspire you -- because today, you are gathered in Cancun to weave together the elements of a solid response to climate change, using both reason and creativity as your tools."

She called for... http://voices.washingtonpost.com/post-carbon/2010/11/cancun_talks_start_...

Written by Mary Abdelmassih

In what is viewed as a precedent by right groups, Egyptian state security forces opened fire on November 24 on Christian Copts, killing four, wounding 78, detaining hundreds and charging 170 with grievous charges -- "enough to keep them behind bars for 10-15 years," says Coptic political analyst Magdy Khalil.

Working at the... http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/12/egypt-arrests-charges-22-overwhelmed-a...

The Community Thanksgiving Service by the Fillmore Ministerial Association was a rousing success again this year. The event was on Thanksgiving eve at the First United Methodist Church in Fillmore. The opening greeting and blessing were given by Rev. Bob Hammond of St. Stephens Anglican Church (which meets at the Methodist Church Sunday mornings). Songs and praise were led by Rev. Jamie Brooks and his daughter Beth from the Foursquare Church who did a wonderous job. There was a special presentation by the AGAPE MIME. These are young children and adults from throughout Ventura County. They are very special and the presentation was moving.

The message of Thanksgiving was given by Rev. Kent Fromer of the Bardsdale United Methodist Church.

After the closing prayer and blessing by Rev. Bob Hammond the congregation of about 150 people were invited over to the parish hall for refreshments provided by the wonderful ladies of the Fillmore United Methodist Church.

WARNING: This story contains graphic photographs of items on display in an exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery.
Monday, November 29, 2010

Written By Penny Starr

CNSNews.com -- The federally funded National Portrait Gallery, one of the museums of the Smithsonian Institution, is currently showing an exhibition that features images of an ant-covered Jesus, male genitals, naked brothers kissing, men in chains, Ellen DeGeneres grabbing her breasts, and a painting the Smithsonian itself describes in the show's catalog as "homoerotic."

The exhibit, “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture,” opened on Oct. 30 and will run throughout the Christmas Season, closing on Feb. 13.

“This is an... http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/smithsonian-christmas-season-exhibit...

Dear Friend of Life,

We Must Stop This Before It's Too Late.

Americans United for Life will fight any last minute scheme to turn U.S. military bases into abortion clinics.

We need to act now to prevent Planned Parenthood and its allies from using the Congressional lame duck session to expand taxpayer-funded abortion to U.S. military bases.

Here's the situation: hidden within this year's Defense Authorization Bill is an amendment allowing military clinics to conduct abortions using your tax dollars. Written by outgoing Democrat Senator Roland Burris, this amendment decimates commonsense pro-life policy and allows military personnel to perform elective abortions in military facilities.

Simply put, the Burris amendment diverts limited resources to elective abortions that should instead be devoted to healing and protecting members of our armed services.

We must stop this dangerous amendment before it's too late. Will you stand with AUL against taxpayer-funded abortion by making an urgent, tax-deductible contribution of $50, $100, $250, or more? The lame duck Senate could begin discussion on this bill at any time so we must act immediately.

New leadership may be on the way to Washington, but the Senate still remains under the control of Harry Reid and his anti-life coalition. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood stands ready to cash-in some political favors in the next couple of weeks. With taxpayer-funded abortion on the ropes, anti-life lobbyists are scrambling to secure new forms of government funding. And military bases are their top target for expanding taxpayer-funded abortion. We cannot let them win or this reckless policy will become law for years to come.

Americans United for Life will fight any last minute scheme to turn U.S. military bases into abortion clinics. Will you stand with us by making a tax-deductible contribution of $50, $100, $250, or more to help us fight back against the Pro-Abortion Opponents of Life during the lame duck session?

We refuse to let Planned Parenthood gain the upper hand during this critical legislative period. Our military bases should be safe havens for our troops – not abortion clinics. And with your support, they will remain that way.

Yours for Life,
Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Americans United for Life

P.S. The Pro-Abortion Opponents of Life are digging in for a last ditch effort to reward Planned Parenthood with political favors during the lame duck session. Right now their top legislative priority is the Burris Amendment, which would allow military clinics to conduct abortions using your tax dollars. Please stand with us by making a tax-deductible contribution of $50, $100, $250, or more to help us fight back against this bill. Let's send one final message to this out-of-control Congress before it's too late. – Charmaine.