Selective Reductions and the Truth about Abortion -The World of Keeping and Saving the Unborn

This is the second article I have seen recently that explains the practice of a deadly kind of “womb shopping” in which parents view their multiple fetuses and pick and choose among them. Lucas (Morel) cites this lengthy Sunday Washington Post piece from which he copiously quotes mothers who, having undergone in vitro fertilization, have difficulty facing up to the procedure, as well as “doctors” for whom this sort of thing has become practically routine. For those who like action movies, the ultrasound shows the unborn children fleeing the poisonous needle which is inserted for the purpose of killing it.

Severans and Constantines

Lucius Septimius Severus, Consul and Praetorian, was appointed Caesar following the brief reigns of Pertinax, Julianus, and Clodius Albinus (192 – 211), all of whom he had a hand in dispatching.

Edward Gibbon credits Severus as the first of the emperors of the decline of the Roman Empire.

Christian authors say churches should seek God’s presence

A Christian author and a leading Southern Baptist pastor have written a book that calls believers to seek God’s presence, not man-made performance, when it comes to church services.

Christian Union

From time to time, there is talk about Christian union in religious discussions. We should steadfastly pray for it. But here we need to note that at that time and for that time – Christian union had existed in this first congregation of God’s people. The record tells us that this mass of men and women were “of one mind.” They were this way to such an extent that it states that they “held all things in common” and that none had any need that was not met.

Flavians end, Antonines begin, Christians die

Domitian was succeeded by Marcus Cocceius Nerva who was quite elderly and feeble by the time he had been appointed Caesar (ruling only from 96 to 98). Nerva’s reign then was brief with nothing much either to commend it or to condemn it. However, in the oddest move of succession, Nerva adopted Trajan as his son. Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus, who was then about 40, though well known in Rome, had been a total stranger to Nerva up until this hasty act was suggested by the leading Senate counselor. Trajan apparently prospered greatly by being in the right place at the right time, or so it would seem.

Methodist Bishops Table Policy Change on Homosexuality

United Methodist bishops have tabled a proposal that would have loosened restrictions in the church’s mostly conservative policies on homosexuality. –by Kevin Eckstrom of Religion News Service at the PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly website 5.10.07

With the principal points introduced in the first essay understood, let us take a brief look at the example and make up of the church in Jerusalem and how it operated in its early days in Palestine.

Last of the Julians – Nero, the Flavians and the end of the Jewish State.

Nero is the most readily recognized of all of the emperors of Rome, with the possible exception of Julius Caesar. He reigned from 54 until his death in 68, and was the last of the Julian dynasty. Though not mentioned by name in most of the ancient biblical manuscripts, it was undoubtedly to Nero that Paul had appealed in the record in Acts.