John Tyler Cracks Top-25 in Basketball Poll

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

1329914739 12 John Tyler Cracks Top 25 in Basketball PollTuesday, January 31, 2012 – 12:08pm

High school basketball rankings as compiled by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and Tex Preps Basketball magazine for the week of Jan. 30: BOYS Class 5A

1. Lewisville Marcus, 27-2; 2. Fort Bend Travis, 25-3; 3. South Grand Prairie, 26-2; 4. N. Richland Hills, 22-3; 5. SA Churchill, 27-2; 6. North Crowley, 23-4; 7. Plano West, 21-7; 8. Fort Bend Bush, 22-4; 9. DeSoto, 23-5; 10. Houston Strake Jesuit, 20-3; 11. Houston Clear Lake, 25-4; 12. Round Rock McNeil, 27-2; 13. Galena Park North Shore, 25-3; 14. Cypress Falls, 25-3; 15. Northside Warren, 26-3; 16. Clear Brook, 24-3; 17. The Woodlands, 25-3; 18. Richardson Berkner, 20-7; 19. The Woodlands College Park, 24-6; 20. Fort Bend Elkins, 22-7; 21. Northside Brandeis, 22-5; 22. A&M Consolidated, 24-4; 23. Converse Judson, 22-7; 24. San Angelo Central, 24-4; 25. CC Carroll, 23-2.

Class 4A 1. Houston Yates, 22-5; 2. Manvel, 24-4; 3. SA Alamo Heights, 25-2; 4. FW Trimble Tech, 21-4; 5. Wolfforth Frenship, 23-3; 6. Dallas South Oak Cliff, 21-6; 7. Dallas Kimball, 22-4; 8. Arlington Seguin, 24-5; 9. Dallas Wilson, 18-4; 10. The Colony, 26-4; 11. Dallas Hillcrest, 19-4; 12. Dallas Highland Park, 22-2; 13. Houston Jones, 16-4; 14. Pearland Dawson, 23-4; 15. Houston Wheatley, 22-8; 16. Austin LBJ, 23-6; 17. Rosenberg Lamar, 18-8; 18. Little Elm, 22-6; 19. Rosenberg Terry, 24-4; 20. Humble, 21-5; 21. Lake Travis, 24-5; 22. Waco University, 23-6; 23. New Braunfels Canyon, 20-8; 24. Port Lavaca Calhoun, 24-3; 25. Tyler, 20-5;

Class 3A 1. Waco La Vega, 26-0; 2. Lubbock Estacado, 19-7; 3. SA Houston, 19-3; 4. Silsbee, 19-6; 5. Sour Lake Hardin-Jefferson, 31-1; 6. Dallas Madison, 14-7; 7. Wilmer-Hutchins, 19-6; 8. Liberty Hill, 25-3; 9. Lucas Lovejoy, 23-5; 10. Carrollton Ranchview, 15-9; 11. Burkburnett, 21-5; 12. CC West Oso, 20-5; 13. CC Miller, 21-7; 14. Argyle, 21-7; 15. Mexia, 22-5; 16. Brookshire Royal, 24-4; 17. Coldspring-Oakhurst, 13-1; 18. WF Hirschi, 18-5; 19. Paris, 21-4; 20. Texarkana Pleasant Grove, 22-1; 21. Sealy, 19-4; 22. Abilene Wylie, 19-7; 23. Longview Spring Hill, 21-4; 24. Boerne, 23-6; 25. Brownsboro, 24-5;

Class 2A 1. Idalou, 21-5; 2. White Oak, 24-1; 3. Jarrell, 26-0; 4. Red Oak Life, 25-3; 5. SA Cole, 22-4; 6. Whitewright, 16-7; 7. Brock, 20-6; 8. Nacogdoches Central Heights, 24-7; 9. Childress, 24-3; 10. Wall, 16-6; 11. Peaster, 19-4; 12. Krum, 23-6; 13. Tuscola Jim Ned, 24-5; 14. Van Vleck, 23-5; 15. Trinity, 20-8; 16. Crockett, 10-6; 17. Hearne, 24-3; 18. Franklin, 17-6; 19. Tatum, 20-9; 20. Nixon-Smiley, 21-4; 21. Marion, 26-3; 22. Hooks, 20-7; 23. Gunter, 14-5; 24. Brazos, 17-6; 25. New Waverly, 14-7;

Class 1A Division I 1. Clarksville, 20-5; 2. Mumford, 26-0; 3. Cayuga, 26-4; 4. Tenaha, 12-3; 5. Olney, 28-1; 6. Milano, 23-1; 7. Hale Center, 19-3; 8. Grapeland, 22-7; 9. Olton, 18-7; 10. Medina, 23-4; 11. Vega, 20-3; 12. La Rue La Poynor, 21-7; 13. Poolville, 23-3; 14. Lovelady, 13-5; 15. Albany, 18-3; 16. Evadale, 15-9; 17. Port Aransas, 15-11; 18. Kerens, 15-7; 19. Hubbard, 16-4; 20. Collinsville, 17-7; 21. Seymour, 15-5; 22. Slocum, 13-11; 23. Big Sandy, 15-8; 24. Stamford, 7-4; 25. Panhandle, 15-8;

Class 1A Division II 1. Laneville, 19-5; 2. Roxton, 20-6; 3. Water Valley, 23-1; 4. Throckmorton, 13-1; 5. Dodd City, 21-4; 6. Grady, 22-3; 7. Sands, 20-6; 8. Douglass, 24-2; 9. Texline, 18-5; 10. Rankin, 20-4; 11. Calvert, 12-6; 12. Graford, 19-6; 13. Huckabay, 16-7; 14. Wells, 18-8; 15. Martinsville, 20-6; 16. Lingleville, 16-8; 17. Turkey Valley, 15-4; 18. Saltillo, 18-8; 19. Fayetteville, 18-7; 20. Nazareth, 17-10; 21. Lipan, 16-10; 22. Moulton, 18-8; 23. Meadow, 15-5; 24. San Perlita, 17-4; 25. Crowell, 15-2;

Large Private Schools 1. Arlington Grace Prep, 20-2; 2. Plano Prestonwood Christian, 19-4; 3. Houston Westbury Christian, 20-3; 4. Lubbock Trinity Christian, 31-1; 5. Houston Bellaire Episcopal, 24-3; 6. Houston Kinkaid, 19-7; 7. Dallas St. Mark's, 20-1; 8. Houston St. John's, 20-11; 9. SA Antonian, 22-11; 10. Dallas Episcopal, 13-8; 11. EP Cathedral, 26-5; 12. SA Christian, 28-6; 13. FW Nolan, 17-5; 14. Plano John Paul II, 19-9; 15. Trinity Christian Cedar Hill, 22-5; 16. Houston St. Thomas, 22-10; 17. Argyle Liberty Christian, 14-6; 18. Dallas Bishop Dunne, 13-9; 19. FW All Saints, 22-6; 20. Houston Christian, 23-7; 21. SA St. Anthony, 19-8; 22. Dallas Greenhill, 13-10; 23. Tomball Concordia Lutheran, 19-14; 24. Austin St. Andrew's, 16-12; 25. SA Central Catholic, 23-12.

Small Private Schools 1. Conroe The Woodlands Christian, 21-8; 2. EP Faith Christian, 21-3; 3. FW Calvary Christian, 16-2; 4. Tomball Rosehill Christian, 20-6; 5. Austin Waldorf School, 20-10; 6. Arlington Burton Adventist, 19-6; 7. Keene Chisholm Trail, 20-3; 8. Dallas Shelton School, 16-11; 9. Colleyville Covenant Christian, 17-13; 10. New Braunfels Christian Academy, 23-7; 11. Beaumont Legacy, 11-13; 12. Austin St. Dominic Savio, 19-5; 13. Amarillo San Jacinto Christian, 21-8; 14. Abilene Christian, 18-4; 15. Houston Beren Christian, 17-5; 16. San Marcos Academy, 17-7; 17. Garland Christian, 18-7; 18. Sugar Land Logos Prep, 19-9; 19. Bullard Brook Hill, 11-13; 20. SA Gateway Christian, 25-5; 21. Carrollton Christian, 17-10; 22. Kingwood Northeast Christian, 16-13; 23. League City Bay Area Christian, 21-7; 24. Lubbock Christian, 19-8; 25. Austin Hill Country, 21-3;

YouTube Video:  No YouTube

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NFL Draft 2012: Cleveland Browns Should Hope for Moris Claiborne over Richardson

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

1329912318 28 NFL Draft 2012: Cleveland Browns Should Hope for Moris Claiborne over Richardson

The Cleveland Browns enter this offseason with plenty of issues to overcome after last season’s 4-12 finish. Fortunately for the Browns, there is a lot of room, and means, to improve for the team this season.

With two first-round picks, one in the top five of the draft, roughly $20 million in cap space and some of the more difficult positions in the NFL to fill filled already. The Browns turnaround may not take as long as a 4-12 finish would imply.

Undoubtedly, working on the offense is the team’s biggest priority this offseason as Colt McCoy needs more weapons if Pat Shurmur is ever going to properly evaluate him as a potential franchise quarterback.

Despite the fact that the Browns’ best card in the offseason is that fourth overall choice in the NFL draft, I believe the Browns would be better suited to bring in a defensive star, providing the right one is available.

Last season, the Browns offense ranked 30th in the NFL, while the defense ranked fifth in the league. Statistically, the Browns defense was led by their secondary. At least on the surface of the team’s statistics they were.

The Browns secondary was ranked second in the NFL against opposing passers, but a big part of that is teams ran 534 times against them which was the second highest total in the league. The Browns also faced the second-lowest number of pass attempts in the whole league.

Therefore, the team’s 184.9 passing yards surrendered per game loses some of its glamor. Even after taking that into consideration, the Browns’ secondary isn’t the first place you would start to rebuild for a successful season in 2012, but it may be the most prudent move for the team’s first pick of the 2012 NFL draft.

Picking fourth, the Browns aren’t guaranteed to be left with anyone on the board in April. However, the consensus seems to indicate that the best players left on the Browns’ board will be some combination of Trent Richardson, Moris Claiborne and Matt Kalil.

Because of the likelihood for Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III to go first and second overall, the Browns must only wait on what Minnesota does with the third pick to see who falls to them.

As things currently stand, it makes the most sense for the Vikings to select Matt Kalil, a tackle from USC. With Adrian Peterson’s status unclear, instead of taking Richardson, the Vikings will likely look for new ways to protect Christian Ponder and use the passing game more.

In that scenario, the Browns would be left with plenty of options, but the two best players on the board would be Claiborne and Richardson. In true 2+2 journalism, many analysts will see Peyton Hillis is a free agent and instantly put Richardson in Cleveland.

That’s generally why most journalists would never work out as GMs.

Selecting a running back in the top five is not a value choice, no matter how talented a player he is in today’s NFL. Some of the best running backs in the league weren’t taken early in the draft while some of them weren’t taken at all.

Maurice Jones-Drew, who led the league in rushing last year, wears number 32 because all 32 teams passed him in the first round. Arian Foster never heard his name called as he went undrafted. Ray Rice was a second-round pick.

When you look at the backs taken in the top 10 in recent years, the fortunes are for the most part fairly bleak. CJ Spiller was taken ninth in 2010 and has shown some flashes but not been an overwhelming success in Buffalo. Darren McFadden is a brilliant talent who was taken in 2008 but cannot stay healthy, while Adrian Peterson is a star but who knows what to expect from him after his torn ACL.

Investing so heavily in a running back doesn’t make much sense when the depth at the position league wide and in the draft is so good.

A position where the league is lacking in talent is at cornerback. The Browns already have a cornerback as close to any to be called shutdown in Joe Haden, but the opportunity to have two players of Haden’s caliber is something that hasn’t been seen in the modern era of the NFL.

If the Browns were to draft Claiborne, they would have the best cornerback pairing in the league, maybe not instantly but easily judging by potential, since Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall played together in Cincinnati.

Cornerbacks don’t come cheap in the NFL anymore but with the rookie wage scale now in place, the Browns could be the first team to build a financially feasible defense on two shut-down corners. While Nnamdi Asomugha and Asante Samuel are very good, and Darrelle Revis with Antonio Cromartie is another brilliant pairing, both of those groups have their obvious flaws.

Once Claiborne adjusts to the NFL, which admittedly could take a year or two, it would be difficult to determine which is the cornerback worth attacking. It’s obvious in New York and Philadelphia that Samuel and Cromartie are the guys who have inferior coverage skills.

Because the NFL is a passing league nowadays, a cornerback’s value is intangibly higher than a running back’s.

Just because they take Claiborne as well, it doesn’t mean that the team still can’t get a very good running back to aid McCoy on offense. Both Chris Polk and Lamar Miller are projected by most NFL draft experts to be available for the Browns second first-round pick.

In the NFL, it is difficult to find cornerstones and much easier to find the role players to compliment them. Having two cornerstone players at cornerback is a major advantage for the Browns.

With Phil Taylor on the defensive line, Joe Thomas at left tackle, Alex Mack at center, Greg Little emerging at receiver and McCoy potentially being a franchise quarterback, the Browns would have cornerstones in place in all of the most difficult positions to fill.

With Sheldon Brown and Dimitri Patterson as depth behind the two young starters, the Browns secondary would be set if TJ Ward and Mike Adams can both return from free agency and injury.

The Browns offense may be in trouble, but it is easier to find the offensive pieces that the team is missing in free agency opposed to adding the type of talent that Claiborne adds to the defense. With what is essentially three first round picks in this year’s draft, the Browns can afford to take somewhat of an unconventional approach with their top pick.

And by unconventional I don’t mean taking a running back.

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Quite ironic, God’s free choice vs. man’s free choice?

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

1329911129 52 Quite ironic, God’s free choice vs. man’s free choice?

Question by BizMaster08: Quite ironic, God’s free choice vs. man’s free choice?Hard core Christian to Atheist: “God gave us free will because He loves us, if we choose to go the wrong way and end up in Hell, then thats our fault, we cannot question our creator”.

Hard core Christian to Parents: “You can’t let your kids choose to listen to that music, or wear that, or get that tattoo because if they stray from Christianity then you are a bad parent, its called tough love”.

Moral: If our Heavenly Father allows us to go astray, its definitely not his doing, but if our earthly father lets us go astray its definitely his faultStar, my statement puts blame on no one or God, nor did I intend to, I was simply pointing out the inconsistency in the way we think

Best answer:

Answer by So-Crates Back AGAIN MoFosIn other words, God once again remains blameless.

Whats your point? Of course you cannot blame a non-existing entity. Makes sense to me!

What do you think? Answer below!

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Author! Author! Book signings and author appearances in the Mid-South.

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

1329908708 35 Author! Author! Book signings and author appearances in the Mid South.

“Fox News & Commentary” host and humorist Todd Starnes has two events this week in the Memphis area on his tour to launch “Dispatches from Bitter America” (B & H Publishing Group, $14.99).

At 3 p.m. today, Starnes will sign books at The Booksellers at Laurelwood, and at 11:30 a.m. Monday, he’ll be at the Wolfchase Barnes & Noble store.

In addition to his daily show on Fox News Radio, Starnes is a regular contributor to Fox Nation and FoxNews.com, and appears on “Fox & Friends” and “Hannity.”

You learn a lot about a guy from his book titles: Starnes’ first book, about his 2004 open-heart surgery, was “They Popped My Hood and Found Gravy on the Dipstick.” The subtitle of “Dispatches” is “A Gun Toting, Chicken Eating Son of a Baptist’s Culture War Stories.” Besides his essays on that war, the new book includes interviews with Sean Hannity, Michelle Malkin, Paula Deen, Mike Huckabee and Amy Grant.

Topics that draw Starnes’ satire include religion and healthcare, country music and barbecue. Here’s a taste:

“A country that knows how to smoke a pork butt is a country worth defending. Friends, our nation is as diverse as the meat it smokes. In the North they smoke hams. In the South we smoke pork. In Texas they smoke beef. In California they smoke pot. Barbecue is not just food; it’s a state of mind.”

The Wolfchase Barnes & Noble store is located at 2774 N. Germantown Parkway. Call (901) 386-2468.

The Booksellers at Laurelwood is at 387 Perkins Ext. Call (901) 683-9801.

Jimmy Johnson signs ‘Beaucoup Arlo & Janis’

Comic-strip artist and writer Jimmy Johnson, creator of “Arlo & Janis,” which appears daily in The Commercial Appeal and some 400 other newspapers, will discuss his career and sign copies of his new hardcover collection, “Beaucoup Arlo & Janis” (Upper Creek Publishing, $24.95) at 1 p.m. Saturday at The Booksellers at Laurelwood, 387 Perkins Ext. A full story appears on the cover of today’s M section.

Volume No. 64

The latest edition of “The West Tennessee Historical Papers” — an annual volume collecting research papers, book reviews, diary excerpts and other articles of historical interest — is now available.

The 2010 edition, which was published late last year, is the 64th annual volume.

The featured paper is “Benjamin Fooy 1759-1823: The Original Memphian” by Jon T. Fox. A student of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian languages and cultures, Fooy settled in what was known as the Chickasaw Bluffs in 1782. In 1819, the first official lot of the new City of Memphis was awarded to Fooy, in “consideration” of his longtime residency.

The book is available for $25; contact West Tennesee Historical Society treasurer Ed Frank at or call (901) 678-8242. The book also can be found through the Memphis Public Library and Information Center, and at the libraries at Rhodes College, the University of Memphis and Christian Brothers University.

To submit items to Author! Author!, e-mail .

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GRAMMY® Pre Telecast Ceremony to be Streamed Live at GRAMMY.com on Sunday, Feb. 12 Starting at 1 p.m. PT

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

1329907507 32 GRAMMY® Pre Telecast Ceremony to be Streamed Live at GRAMMY.com on Sunday, Feb. 12 Starting at 1 p.m. PT

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 8, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ — The 54th Annual GRAMMY® Awards Pre-Telecast Ceremony will take place on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 1 – 3:30 p.m. PT at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will be streamed live internationally at grammy.com/live and cbs.com beginning at 1 p.m. PT. Attended by nominees and industry VIPs, the star-studded ceremony with be co-hosted by current GRAMMY nominee Dave Koz and Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter President and rapper MC Lyte. The pre-telecast will feature performances by current nominees Kim Burrell, Le’Andria Johnson, Kelly Price, and Trin-I-Tee 5:7 in a “Ladies of Gospel” segment as well as current nominees mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, singer/songwriter Steve Earle and New Orleans’ Rebirth Brass Band. Presenting the first GRAMMY Awards of the night in 68 categories will be current nominees Gerald Clayton, Chick Corea, Brandon Heath, Arturo O’Farrill, OK Go, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Esperanza Spalding as well as GRAMMY-winning producer Jimmy Jam. The live stream of the Pre-Telecast will remain on GRAMMY.com as video on demand for 30 days following the event. Following the ceremony, the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m ET/PT. For GRAMMY coverage, updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy®’s social networks on Facebook and Twitter: facebook.com/thegrammys and twitter.com/thegrammys.

(Logo: photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111116/LA07792LOGO)

Co-host Koz is nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Album for Hello Tomorrow.

Performers Burrell, Earle, Johnson, Rebirth Brass Band, and Trin-I-Tee 5:7 each have one nod: Burrell for Best Gospel Album for The Love Album; Earle for Best Folk Album for I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive; Johnson for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance for “Jesus”; Rebirth Brass Band for Best Regional Roots Music Album for Rebirth Of New Orleans; and Trin-I-Tee 5:7 for Best Gospel Album for Angel & Chanelle Deluxe Edition. DiDonato has two nominations for Best Opera Recording for Vivaldi: Ercole Sul Termodonte and Best Classical Vocal Solo for “Diva Divo.” Price has three nods for Best R&B Performance (with Stokley) and Best R&B song for “Not My Daddy” and Best R&B Album for Kelly.

Presenters Clayton, O’Farrill, OK Go, Rae, and Spalding each have one nomination: Clayton for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Bond: The Paris Sessions; O’Farrill for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for 40 Acres And A Burro; OK Go for Best Short Form Music Video for “All Is Not Lost”; Rae for Best R&B Performance for “Is This Love”; and Spalding for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Bird Songs (with Joe Lovano/Us Five). Corea has two nominations for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for “500 Miles High,” and Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Forever (with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White). Heath has three nominations for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance and Best Contemporary Christian Music Song for “Your Love,” and Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Leaving Eden. 

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards –  the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music – The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like “The GRAMMYs” on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs’ social communities on YouTube, Tumblr, Foursquare, GetGlue, and Instagram.

SOURCE The Recording Academy

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Jeremy Lin, Kim Kardashian ‘Date’ Could Be Evangelism Opportunity?

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

1329905111 21 Jeremy Lin, Kim Kardashian Date Could Be Evangelism Opportunity?February 17, 2012|11:16 am

Kardashian’s rep, Jill Fritzo, told amNewYork Thursday that there was no way her client and Lin had any plans to meet.

“Absolutely 100% NOT true. Someone made that story up!” Fritzo told the publication. The newspaper noted that Fritzo did not comment on how the rumor might have been started.

According to gossip website Media Take Out (MTO), sources claimed that Kardashian, currently embroiled in a divorce from another NBA player, Kris Humphries, had a double date planned with Jeremy Lin, with the pair to reportedly be accompanied by fellow New York Knick Carmelo Anthony and his wife, Lala.

The gossip website’s report — running with the headline “MTO WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Kim Kardashian’s PUBLICIST . . . Arranges A Date With Her . . . And NBA Star JEREMY LIN!!!” — claims it was Kardashian’s own publicist who arranged the date, or so a friend of the reality TV star told the publication.

“She thinks [Jeremy] is cute, and she’s good friend’s with [Jeremy's teammate Carmelo Anthony's wife] Lala. It’s going to be a double date,” the unidentified friend told Media Take Out.

(Photo: REUTERS / Jumana El Heloueh)TV personality Kim Kardashian attends a news conference in Dubai October 13, 2011. Kardashian is in the United Arab Emirates to launch the opening of a milkshake bar at the Dubai Mall on October 14.

Jeremy Lin’s fans, however, took the “news” with a grain of salt, finding it very unlikely that the dedicated athlete and commited Christian would have time to date someone, once her divorce from Humphries is finalized, will have been twice divorced.

One user, commenting on The Christian Post’s report, suggested that if there was any meeting between Kardashian and Lin, that the basketball player could use the opportunity to witness to the controversial celebrity, who decided on a divorce from Humphries only after 72 days of marriage. 

Becky Dobyns wrote: “It’s really easy to hate Kim Kardashian and look at her as the evil predator who’s after good Christian Jeremy Lin, and I’ve seen some horrible comments about her on the internet, but I have a feeling Jesus would sit down next to her at a well, knowing all the sins she’s committed, and still offer her living water rather than abuse.

“Since Jeremy Lin does love Jesus, maybe he can even use any ‘meeting’ that might occur with her as an opportunity to share about repentance and redemption. We can’t give up on anyone.”

However, some were concerned that any meeting between Kardashian, 31, and Lin, 23, could potentially lead to disaster, as the two might have radically differing agendas.

“Seriously? It’s not that I dislike her or something…but personally, I think she just wants to date whoever’s popular….and the fact is …she has divorced 2 times before…(the last one was to a NBA player from Nets),” wrote a CP reader named “maggielin0810.”

She added, “Oh boy…this would definitely be a something for Jeremy Lin to overcome, resisting the temptations and focusing on God. I know that Jeremy will stay firm and faithful in Jesus Christ.”

(Photo: Reuters/Mike Cassese)New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin (R) and Jered Jeffries celebrate their win against the Toronto Raptors during their NBA basketball game in Toronto Feb, 14, 2012.

Alvin Lee, however, suggested that Kardashian might not even be on Lin’s radar as “Christians don’t date non-Christians so there’s no need to worry about the wolf tainting the pure sheep.”

Of the comments posted on CP’s report on the dating rumors, one received overwhelming agreement from other commenters and readers.

The comment, from Richard Kimble, simply read: “What the? NO WAY! Run Jeremy Run!”

SEE VIDEO OF JEREMY LIN BUZZER BEATER VERSUS TORONTO RAPTORS

WATCH VIDEO OF JEREMY LIN’S TESTIMONY

WATCH VIDEO OF JEREMY LIN PRAISING GOD FOR A VICTORY

WATCH VIDEO OF JEREMY LIN BEING COMPARED TO TIM TEBOW

WATCH ‘A DAY IN THE LIFE’ VIDEO BY JEREMY LIN HERE

WATCH ‘HOW TO GET TO HARVARD’ VIDEO HERE

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Persecution in Kazakhstan

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

1329903924 31 Persecution in Kazakhstan

On April 30, 2011, during the worship time of the New Life Church in Kazakhstan, two police captains arrested Pastor Zhaloman, his wife and three children.  They also arrested the administrator of the church and his wife, without any reason for detention, according to Ivan Kryukov, a visiting preacher at the service.

According to Kryukov, during the service two men in civilian dress came in and started recording a video of people’s faces while they were praying. Then several police squads appeared and pushed their way through the congregation to the platform without presenting any documents. Security forces from the government deliberately attempted to break up the worship services and provoke resistance from the pastor and people. However, the Christians peacefully continued to pray and worship. Even when the electric power to the church building was cut off, the believers continued to worship in the dark.

Pastor Zhaloman asked the police to step outside and explain the reason for their behavior. But the two men in civilian dress ordered the police to stop the service and arrest all the believers. Pastor Zhaloman explained that the service was totally legal and being held at the registered address of the church, according to the laws and with the permission of the Ministry of Justice. The two men, whom Pastor Kyrukov assumes were from the Kasakh KGB, did not provide any credentials, or a warrant on which they were operating.

“I just had to pray and trust in the Lord,” Zhaloman said. “I quoted words from the Psalms to those who were locked up in the building and read the passage from our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount about being persecuted for righteousness sake.

“Then the police produced witnesses, who were obviously drunk, to sign some kind of complaint form. It was clear that the witnesses didn’t even care where they put their signatures.”

Pastor Ivan Kryakov said, “I was really shocked when I saw how they took the kids to the car. One was crying and holding her mother, scared of what was going on. All of them were locked up in the darkness of the police wagon with no seats or windows and were driven away to an unknown destination. After they took the pastors and children we were praying to the Lord.” No word has been heard from those who were arrested – nor was any reason given to break up the legally registered church services.

A sister congregation, has also been persecuted regularly, especially when there are visitors. In October 2010 the KGB stopped the sermon and turned off the electricity there also. Back in 2009, the sermon was stopped at the New Life Church in Aktobinsk when Pastor Ivan Kryukov came to visit. At that time, KGB officers from the anti-terrorism department made complaints after stopping the sermon.

The Republic of Kazakhstan boasts a booming economy, but it has struggled to establish religious freedom decades after harsh Soviet rule. There is a fast-growing Christian community among the Kazakhs and they are much in need of help for their efforts to preach the gospel. There are 76 tribes, tongues and nations in this country having such a vast area.

Please pray:

The judge will request that they come to the court in maybe a month. It is likely they will need to pay $400 for each of the three adults who were arrested. The children will not have to pay. They will need to hire an attorney to help them. That will cost $300 to $400.

The church rents a cultural center to meet in: 16 times the KGB pressured the cultural center to change the church’s rental agreement and to get them out of the lease. The church would like to own their own building: $15,000. This amount will buy them an older building they can renovate themselves or to buy the land and materials to build themselves.

The government often visits the church; 95% of the people are former Muslims. They have almost 200 in the congregation. After the arrest, many Christian groups sent letters to various government authorities protesting the arrests.

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Kenyan faith leaders exchange roses as reminder of HIV/AIDS

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

1329902763 74 Kenyan faith leaders exchange roses as reminder of HIV/AIDS

[Ecumenical News International, Nairobi, Kenya] At a Roman Catholic church center near the Kenyan town of Thika, red roses were exchanged among faith leaders on Valentine’s Day as reminder of their call to love and care for people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

The Christian and Muslim leaders had gathered under the Kenyan chapter of the International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Affected by HIV/AIDS to discuss how to strengthen current approaches being used to fight the epidemic.

“A red rose is a sign of love, but many people infected by HIV/AIDS don’t often get the expression of it. In most cases they face animosity, but as religious leaders, we can be different,” the Rev. Joseph Njakai of the Anglican Church of Kenya told ENInews on Feb. 14.

“By exchanging the flowers, we are emphasizing that there is still love, even when people are infected … This is the message we are passing to the communities.”

The leaders are meeting amid increased calls for comprehensive prevention approaches, following new trends such as drug resistant tuberculosis and discordance (where one is infected) among couples. Nearly 344,000 couples in Kenya are HIV discordant, the Integrated Regional Information Networks reported on Feb. 14.

Africa’s main approach has been the ABC (Abstain, Be faithful, use a Condom) since the 1980s, but this has many shortcomings, according to faith leaders. The clerics want to include a response known as SAVE (safer practices, access to treatment, voluntary counseling and testing and empowerment).

According to Christian Aid, the U.K.-based charity, SAVE was developed to overcome the inaccurate connection of immorality to HIV, which has resulted in more stigma.

“(ABC) implies that people who are HIV positive have failed to abstain and being faithful. It suggests that people should abstain and that condoms are the last resort. SAVE provides a more holistic and non-judgmental approach,” said Christian Aid, in a published guide.

In Kenya, which is huge exporter of roses, nearly 1.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. With many Africans dressing in red to mark Valentine’s Day, faith leaders sent out messages to urge restraint on unprotected sex or other activities that might lead to further infections.

Those at the meeting highlighted that love was the greatest commandment of all religions, above red roses and chocolates.

“The message is simple, God loves all, whether they are infected or not. This is very crucial in the struggle against HIV,” said the Rev. Ephraim Mbugua of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa.

“The power is immense, but communities have neglected this commandment. We have to go to the drawing board,” said Sheikh Al Hajj Ramadan Hussein, a Muslim leader caring for persons affected by HIV/AIDS.

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How comics are adapting to hard times

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

1329900321 59 How comics are adapting to hard times2 February 2012 Last updated at 04:02 ET Share this page By Steven McKenzie BBC Scotland Highlands and Islands reporter Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Chris Evans as Captain America in The Avengers

Superhero showdowns will transfer from the pages of comic books to cinema screens this year.

Marvel's Avengers, Spider-Man and Ghost Rider will trade blows at the box office with DC Comic's Batman and British comic hero Judge Dredd.

The movies feature some of Hollywood's biggest names, such as Nicolas Cage, Scarlett Johansson, Will Smith and Robert Downey Jnr.

UK talent also features prominently and includes Belfast actor Ciarán Hinds, Welshman Rhys Ifans and Londoners Tom Hiddleston, Tom Hardy and director Christopher Nolan.

Another UK actor, Christian Bale, returns to the role of Batman in The Dark Knight Rises, which has scenes that were shot in the Cairngorms in the Highlands and at Wollaton Hall in Nottingham.

Next year's Superman movie, Man of Steel, will star the first non-American to don the red cape – Henry Cavill, who is from Jersey in the Channel Islands.

The hype is being cranked up ahead of the films' release dates with trailers for most now available online.

Avengers have provided the cover stars for Empire magazine's March edition

The front cover of Empire film magazine's March subscribers' edition features four of the cast from The Avengers.

Inside, the magazine has described it as one of the film industry's most ambitious.

The movie will attempt to bring together some of Marvel's – and Hollywood's – most famous characters and actors.

The production costs of the blockbusters are huge and the potential rewards at the box office massive.

According to the website The Numbers, worldwide figures for recent comic spin-off movies have run into hundreds of millions of poundss.

Thor – directed by Belfast-born Kenneth Branagh – hammered rivals with $449m (£285.7m). Captain America: The First Avenger took $368m (£234m) and X Men: First Class $368m (£234m).

But the films are expected to have varying effects on the sales of the comic books, according to Gary Davis who runs Inverness comic store Heroes for Sale.

He said: "Sales can rise in the run-up to the release of a film and then fall away immediately after the film's release.

"Copies of Alan Moore's Watchmen sold well before the film was shown.

"Mark Millar's Kick-Ass 2 comic, however, has also sold well following his original Kick-Ass story and its movie version.

"But often, after the release of a film, sales can drop off.

"I used to work in a book shop and we sold lots of copies of Lord of the Rings, which was great at £30 a book, but the sales fell away once the films were shown."

While not a comic book or a graphic novel, sales of Michael Morpurgo's novel War Horse illustrate the effect a film can have on book sales.

The novel has seen a dramatic rise in sales since the release of Steven Spielberg's Oscar-nominated film version of the story.

It has sold more copies in the UK in a fortnight, than it did worldwide in the 25 years after it was first published.

Film Stars Comic origin

Dredd

Lena Headey (Madeline "Ma-Ma" Madrigal), Olivia Thirlby (Judge Cassandra Anderson), Karl Urban (Judge Dredd)

Judge Dredd is one of British comic 2000AD's best known characters. Dredd first appeared in the 1970s. The Daily Star also later commissioned a Judge Dredd comic strip

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Nicolas Cage (Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider), Ciarán Hinds (The Devil)

First appeared 1972. The comics are owned by Marvel

Men In Black III

Tommy Lee Jones (Agent K), Will Smith (Agent J)

A comic in the 1990s written by Lowell Cunningham and illustrated by Sandy Carruthers. Marvel own the comic book rights

The Amazing Spider-Man

Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Rhys Ifans (Dr Curt Connors)

Stan Lee and Steve Ditko were behind the 1960s strips and Spider-Man is among Marvel's best known characters. First appeared 1962

The Avengers

Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America), Samuel L Jackson (Nick Fury), Robert Downey Jnr (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/The Hulk)

Marvel's Avengers comics. First appeared in 1963

The Dark Knight Rises

Christian Bale (Batman), Tom Hardy (Bane), Anne Hathaway (Catwoman)

Batman comics first appeared in the 1940s. He is one of DC Comics most famous superheroes.

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Online Dating Advice For Men Who Want to Be Successful » CopyKat™ CMS

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

1329895529 49 Online Dating Advice For Men Who Want to Be Successful » CopyKat™ CMS

Most of what you will hear with regards to internet dating advice for Christian singles is that maybe you should not consider dating whatsoever, or you can always find one to date so long as you can convert them to your beliefs. These arent logical words of advice to take the dating world today.

Consider it for moment: if you dont date anyone, you wont have the chance to find someone that you could build a relationship with, and when you decide to go right into a relationship using the intent on trying to alter the body else youre destined for failure about ninety percent of times.

So, here are some tips on internet dating for Christian singles looking into using internet dating websites:

1. Allow you to ultimately be open to dating. While you might have cold feet about dating due to all of the not so good news you have heard about it from others, you should know that despite the fact that there are disasters there are also a lot of testimonials, too. The only method you are ever likely to find who you are looking for is that if you put out your best effort to satisfy them, so be as open as you can.

2. Do not give sermons. Keep in mind that you arent dating others just so you are able to convert them into your religion, so try to share your beliefs inside a sensitive manner towards the person who youre dating, and when they share and respect your emotions about God as well as your faith, then you are definitely at the beginning of a great new beginning.

3. Dont continue to date anybody who does not be part of your trust. This might sound harsh, but when youve strong convictions concerning your faith, dating someone just because they are offered around the weekend who not share your beliefs will ultimately lead to incompatibility in the future relationship. If theyre not Christian and dont have curiosity about the religion at all, you should politely move on.

Finally, starting the internet singles dating world like a Christian single could be scary since your beliefs are very God centered and centered on using a long lasting relationship rather then an informal dating partner. However, you might find that by joining a Christian dating site youll be able to date somebody that also shares your strong beliefs about the value of marriage, so take a little little bit of this online dating advice and provide it a try- you might be surprised as to how successful you may be.

For More Information Regarding Online Dating Advice And also Online Dating Books, Please Check my SiteFrom: Jeff Lwebsite: therealonlinedatinggame.com

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