1. Where is America in Bible Prophecy? Al Qaeda eyes bio attack from Mexico U.S. counterterrorism officials have authenticated a video by an al Qaeda recruiter threatening to smuggle a biological weapon into the United States via tunnels under the Mexico border, the latest sign of the terrorist group's determination to stage another mass-casualty attack on the U.S. homeland............................ read more Apocalypse Sun?The National Research Council has estimated that a solar storm in 2013 a storm could play havoc with our power grid, resulting in "large-scale blackouts affecting more than 130 million people in the U.S. and exposing more than 350 major transformers to the risk of permanent damage." ............................ read more U.S. Evangelicals Pessimistic about Christianity in AmericaA survey of some of the top evangelical leaders in the nation found that while there is overwhelming optimism on the growth of Christianity in the world, there is mostly pessimism when it comes to the future of the faith in America............................. read more 2. Israel - God's Timepiece Secular Jews may be minority in Israeli schools by 2030Secular Jews are expected to become a minority in Israeli schools and among the draft-age population within 20 years, according to a recent study published in the current issue of U.S. magazine Foreign Policy. The study, which is based on figures from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, predicts that by 2030 Arabs and ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews together will compose close to 60 percent of Israel's elementary school population and about 40 percent of eligible voters........................ read more Obama Overture to Hamas Suggests Inevitability of Terror Group's Dominance Among PalestiniansIn an apparent policy shift, President Obama on Thursday invited Hamas -- a designated terror organization -- to "play a role" in the future of the Palestinian people. During his speech to the Muslim world in Cairo on Thursday, the U.S. president bluntly recognized the group, which has called for the destruction of Israel, in a two-sentence passage that was part of a broader discussion about the terms for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians.... ........................ read more 5. Apostate Christianity Christian Clergy Rally on Opposite Sides of Gay Marriage DebateLess than a week after a group of clergy and Christians asked for a referendum to keep same-sex marriages from being recognized in the nation's capital, another coalition of clergy has declared support for "marriage equality." "We declare that our faith calls us to affirm marriage equality for loving, same-sex couples," said the Rev. Dennis Wiley, pastor of Covenant Baptist Church, at a gathering on Tuesday, according to The Washington Post. Wiley is among more than 100 clergy from various faiths who launched a declaration, affirming same-sex marriage as "holy and good.".......................... read more Waving God Goodbye -- The Tale of the Unbelieving BishopRichard Holloway is a Bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church. There seems to be on obvious problem -- he doesn't believe in God. That he still presides at communion - indeed, as recently as three weeks ago - raises the thorny question of how an agnostic, unconvinced about the divinity of Jesus, can consecrate the bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ. The obvious question is this -- How can any church retain a minister who denies belief in God? That astonishing question points to what so many Christians have not yet seen. There is no shortage of churches and ministers whose theology is heretical and, as evidenced by Bishop Holloway, even agnostic.......................... read more 6. The Rise of Islam Obama shifts tone toward Islamic partiesPresident Obama hinted Thursday that the United States would for the first time accept the results of Middle East elections won by Islamist parties. In contrast to the Bush administration, which boycotted groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah even after they performed well in elections, Mr. Obama said, "America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments — provided they govern with respect for all their people." Those words carry particular significance because on June 7 Lebanon is expected to hold an election where Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, could win a plurality of votes......................... read more 7. Increase in Knowledge/New Technologies Microwave Missiles: High-Energy Weapons in the Air ForceNew research into high-power microwaves could make them a crucial tool of electronic warfare. The U.S. Air Force's newest directed-energy weapon program, the Counter-Electronics High-Powered Microwave Advanced Missile Project (CHAMP), would create a weapon that fires powerful bursts of high-power microwaves (HPM), frying the electronics of multiple targets without harming people or other infrastructure......................... read more Army Starts Testing 'Judge Dredd' WeaponThe U.S. Army is set to start testing a computerized, high-tech projectile launcher that can take out bad guys hiding around corners and in caves or trenches, even if they're out of the soldier's line of sight. Some experts call it the "Judge Dredd" gun, after the Sylvester Stallone movie. The Pentagon calls it the XM-25 Individual Air Burst Weapon, which uses a laser rangefinder to precisely measure the distance to a target, then primes a fuse on a timed grenade so that the projectile explodes exactly where it should................. read more Prying Eyes On The WebFlying under the radar of the Google-Microsoft rivalry in the high-stakes search industry is a new gang of sites that build deep dossiers on your secrets -- and those of your pals -- just from your keyboard strokes.................. read more Mysterious 'chip' is CIA's latest weapon against al-Qaida targets hiding in Pakistan's tribal beltThe CIA is equipping Pakistani tribesmen with secret electronic transmitters to help target and kill al-Qaida leaders in the north-western tribal belt, in a tactic that could aid Pakistan's army as it takes the battle against extremism to the Taliban heartland................... read more 8. Christian Worldview/Issues A Major Force in Education -- Homeschooling in AmericaThe U.S. Department of Education has released its periodic review of schooling in America, and it offers a revealing look at the growth of homeschooling. The picture of contemporary homeschooling offers some real surprises and raises some new questions........................ read more Christians risk rejection and discrimination for their faith, a study claimsThe first poll of Britain's churchgoers, carried out for The Sunday Telegraph, found that thousands of them believe they are being turned down for promotion because of their faith. One in five said that they had faced opposition at work because of their beliefs. More than half of them revealed that they had suffered some form of persecution for being a Christian. The findings suggest a growing hostility towards religion in this country, which has been highlighted by a series of clashes between churchgoers and their employers................. read more VBS: The school after schoolVacation Bible school has been part of religious outreach and education in many churches across the country since 1894 and today, many churches still consider it one of the most important activities they host each year. "We are giving kids the opportunity to experience Rome and an underground church during the life of the disciple Paul," said Cassie Irwin, director of children's ministries at First Baptist Church, whose VBS theme this year is "Rome -- Paul and the Underground Church." Irwin said when kids arrive, they will be given a costume to wear, assigned to a "family group," and then they will set out to experience life as it was for Paul about 2,000 years ago. Irwin said the wide range of activities, including a pottery wheel, metal works, chariot races and dramas, work together to serve one purpose. "Everything, down to the food, is designed to allow the kids to experience life in Bible times and show them that even though Paul faced hard times, he still found hope and trust in the Lord just like they can do today.".................... read more 9. Other Events To Watch Democracy seen threatened by new authoritarianismChina, Iran, Russia and Venezuela form a clique of authoritarian states that use their wealth and influence to undermine global democracy and rule of law, a study by U.S.-funded agencies said on Thursday. The report, released on the 20th anniversary of China's suppression of the Tiananmen democracy movement, says these states' challenge to Western democratic institutions represents a far "murkier picture" than the Cold War because they are integrated into the global economy and world bodies. "Policymakers do not appear to appreciate the dangers these 21st century authoritarian models pose to democracy and rule of law around the world. "Just as they rule without law within their borders, authoritarian regimes are eroding the international rules and standards built up by the democratic world over the past several decades, threatening to export the instability and abuses that their systems engender," it said. ........................... read more Gulf Cooperation Council Look For Currency Union Pact To Be Inked On June 7 Gulf states will sign an agreement for monetary union on June 7 in Riyadh, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah said at a meeting of the GCC finance ministers in Muscat Saturday. The GCC secretariat general is seeking through its communication with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar to implement the Higher Council order to approve the agreement before next September in order for it to be effective by the beginning of 2010, prior to establishing the Monetary Council before the end of the current year......................... read more Japan's shadow finance minister wants single Asian currencyThe man who hopes to be Japan's next finance minister envisions an Asia united by a single currency, saying the dollar may no longer reign supreme in future. Looking at the broader region, he said Asia should tackle security and economic issues as "a unified community." "Asian currencies should be unified into a common currency in the course of the region's forming a single economic zone," Nakagawa told AFP ...................... read more