"Bald eagles, Heron, Otters, Sea gulls - all chasing the herring spawning - Nature's unbelievable beauty

Carol Hunter's attention to detail gives this 8 min. video one of amazing artistic beauty.

24 eagles, scores of heron, hundreds of otters, thousands of ducks and millions of sea gulls, all gathering over a period of a few days while herring beyond number arrive for the annual spawning.

A spring nature ritual that happens on the coast: the annual herring spawn in early spring.

There’s been a lot of concern about too many herring being fished by the commercial fishing industry. This video shows beautifully how crucial the herring are to the entire coastal web of life. 

Click here.

"InTurkey's Battle over the "Genocide word" who won?" Al Monitor

Turkish grave stones at the Gallipoli War Site.

Sentiment among world leaders and governments is this: "a Genocide occurred in 1915 as Armenians lost their lives."

Obama said: “I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed. A full, frank and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all our interests. Peoples and nations grow stronger, and build a foundation for a more just and tolerant future, by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past. We welcome the expression of views by Pope Francis, Turkish and Armenian historians, and the many others who have sought to shed light on this dark chapter of history.”

Turkish men and women praying at the Gallipoli War Site

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, comparing the attendance in terms of arithmetic between the centennial of the Armenian genocide in Yerevan and the centennial ceremonies of the Gallipoli campaign in the city of Canakkale (Dardenelles) said, "Thank God, 20 world leaders came to ours while only while two (world leaders) went to theirs." 

Why is Turkey conducting a "Popularity Poll" at the time of the Gallipoli commemorations?

How did those 1915 events influence the creation of the word, "Genocide"?

What will Turkey's response be to Russia after even Putin called the events a "Genocide"?

A fine article examining this "battle of words" in Al Monitor is found here.

Good News "Turning Ethiopia's Desert Green" - BBC

Who would have imagined that a desert in Ethiopia could be turned from parched land into productive soil?

Lesson: when people work together, far more can be accomplished than anyone imagined.

Read More on this great 'victory'.

"Revival 100 Years after 'the Armenian Genocide'" - Christianity Today

Is this a new spring time among Armenians around the world?

1915, in the middle of World War I, a terrible event took place.

People are still talking about it. A lot.

When the Pope mentioned the word "genocide", it was taken as an insult in Turkey and the Turkish ambassador was quickly withdrawn from the Vatican.

Turkey denies that the events were a "genocide". Turkish authorities say that 350,000 Armenians died, not 1,500,000, as claimed by Armenians. Ankara also points out that as many as 5,000,000 Turks died in the War, and in the loss of Ottoman lands, especially in South Eastern Europe.

Leaving aside the difficult questions of politics and historical understandings, diplomacy and angry words back and forth, a spiritual revival is taking place among many Armenians.

Read more.

"Syrian Christians fleeing persecution find shelter in Istanbul, Turkey": CBC

"The Samatya Syriac Church isn't easy to find. There is no ornate entrance, just a slim, simple cross on a makeshift bell tower on a narrow street in suburban Istanbul.

The wall that surrounds it and the barbed wire above give the impression of a crumbling military barracks, not a house of Christian worship. But beyond the door, there is a quiet courtyard and the sound of prayer."

Nil Köksal is an award-winning journalist with CBC Television currently on assignment in Istanbul, Turkey.

Read more.

"Completely paralized father gets his voice back by help of a computer"

Promising to stay with each other "until death do us part" sometimes means having to watch a husband become TOTALLY paralyzed.

But what if at that most hopeless moment, someone arrived and released the thoughts of husband who still has deep love for his wife and children?

A very hope-filled story.

Watch the video.

Respect for Dr. Foster, medical hero in Angola: WSJ

Angolan families in Quivanda: Karl Janzen photo

This kind of an opinion piece isn't found every day. Character wins over criticism.

Nicholas Kristof, writing in the Wall Street Journal, takes the position that, even though public opinion is often directed against evangelicals, Dr. Stephen Foster is the type of person that no one can criticise.

Dr. Foster has battled a six foot cobra, watched polio attack his son, lived through the Marxist war and spent 37 years bringing health and well-being to Angolans.

Kristof writes, "Armed soldiers once tried to kidnap 25 of his male nurses, and when Foster ordered the gunmen off the property, he said, they fired Ak-47 rounds near his feet. He held firm, and they eventually retreated without the nurses.

"The next time you hear someone at a cocktail party mock evangelicals, think of Dr. Foster and those like him. These are folks who don’t so much proclaim the gospel as live it."

Read more.

Will Turkey convert Christian Church Hagia Sophia into a Mosque (again)?

In 1453, the young Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople. One of the first acts (I believe it only took eight days to do it) was to convert the largest church in the world into a Mosque. Gradually, the minarets were added, and for almost 500 years, until 1931, the "church" was a central point of reference for the Muslim world.

The Church of Holy Wisdom was first built  in 360 AD. After it burned down, it was rebuilt as the largest building in the ancient world. (See photo) It withstood earthquakes, although the roof had to be replaced after it collapsed.

Many Turks never accepted Ataturk's decision to turn the building into a museum in 1935. (The popularity of this site is witnessed every day as thousands of tourists visit. I've sometimes had to wait 45 minutes in line before buying the tickets to take visitors in for their tour.) A short visit can take 45 minutes. Better to take 2- 3 hours and experience, listen to, about, enjoy the importance of this church building to the spread of Orthodox Churches, all the way up to Russia. It was here that the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches split, a division that lasts to this day.

"Back in November 2013, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç expressed his hope of seeing the Hagia Sophia be used as a mosque, already calling it the “Hagia Sophia Mosque” while speaking to reporters.

“We currently stand next to the Hagia Sophia Mosque … we are looking at a sad Hagia Sophia, but hopefully we will see it smiling again soon,” Arınç said at the time in a speech during the opening ceremony of a new Carpet Museum, located adjacent to the ancient Hagia Sophia complex."
Now, pressure is on in Turkey. The attempt to transform the Hagia Sophia into a functioning Mosque is only going to grow.

Read more.



 

Recent Survey on Religion in Canada: Angus Reid Poll

False Creek, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The most recent Angus Reid Poll on religion in Canada has been released.

Here are some surprising results, especially about the new immigrants.

Many Christian churches of several denominations are greatly benefiting from the arrival of new immigrants. More than 50% of new arrivals are either Roman Catholic or Protestant.

Click here to answer (some of) your questions.

"The Crisis with Isis" The Reasons behind this violence...Seven ways to confront Radicalism.

Jay Smith, having devoted his life to understanding radical Islam, presents a one hour summary of the persons, philosophy, reasons and nature of the rise of Isis. His constant guide is the Koran and the man, Mohammed, who together weave a seamless concept of radicalism that involves brute strength and violence.

Who are the leaders behind this form of Islam?
Why can governments not do anything about it?
Why are Yazadi women sold as slaves, but not Christian women or Jewish women?
Why was the Jordanian pilot burned?
Why did ISIS chose one particular city as their capital?
A list of 139 verses in the Koran about using the sword (force, battle, cutting off heads).

And why are Christians the only ones who can effectively present an alternative to radical Muslims?

The video is found here.

A blind man's art work.

After becoming blind, this artist continues to paint. His vision deteriorated, starting at age 11.

He used to be afraid of being blind, but he says, 'the reality is really not that different'.

Before he paints a picture he has all the colors and shapes in his mind. He wants to teach, - writing and painting.

Click here for the four min video.

"What Was Behind the 'Ethnic Cleansing' of Armenians - 100 Years ago?" by Mustafa Aykol

An Armenian Church in Turkey

Armenians around the world declare the events to have been "a genocide". They claim that up to 1,500,000 were killed in the events after April 25, 1915.

Turks usually deny that, calling the deadly events, "a tragedy that happened during World War I". The term 'tehcir' or 'deportation' is often used.

This issue of "What happened in 1915 is a very large issue between Armenia, and the diaspora around the world on one hand; and the Turkish government on the other hand. Many countries have clearly declared that the events in 1915 were a "genocide". If you are reading about this for the first time, you will get some interesting information of what happened, various interpretations, and clarity brought by Muslims in other countries at the time of World War I.

Today, Mustafa Aykol calls those events 'ethnic cleansing'. His analysis may satisfy some and may infuriate others.

Read more

"Turkish Authorities ask Tiny Christian Community to help Yazadi Refugees"

World Watch Monitor is reporting an unusual situation in Turkey.

The Church in Diyabakir, Turkey is being asked to help Yazadi Refugees.

Read more

"Liberal Religion and Easter Victory" by Mark Tooley

Statue of Francis of Assisi, Church of St. Francis, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Following Easter, Mark Tooley, a well known commentator on religion in America, writes about the ebb and flow of institutions and churches.

He says, "Contrary to assumptions of some Western elites, the world is getting more religious, not less, and neither growing Christianity, nor any major growing faith, is liberal."

This article may upset some and encourage others. In any event, it probably will stimulate a good discussion with your friends.

Read more

Downtown London, England. Live Theater. The Passion of Jesus.

By the Wintershall Players in Trafalgar Square on Good Friday

(Warning: This presentation contains a realistic interpretation of the crucifixion - parental guidance is suggested.)
Live Passion Play-here

Thanks to Kendel L Harmon for this and other items on the Anglican Church in the USA and around the world. Click here for  TitusOneNine.

Remember Jonah? Remember Ninevah? Here's what is happening to Jonah's testimony in Ninevah.

This story is about the turmoil which Central Iraq is undergoing.

For 800 years, the Church of St. George in Ninevah has helped orphans. Now that the building has been destroyed, what is the future for this church and many others in IS held territory?

The link below will take you to the Al Monitor electronic newspaper, which focuses on events in the Middle East. If you click on it, you can find articles on each country in the region.

Read here.