Posted on 06/25/2007 7:33:30 PM PDT by Blogger
Gentlemen, I find this set up very odd.
My roomie is a network admin for a large ISP and their NOC is set up about like that. Of course, they handle some sensitive accounts so that may be why. I know they are likely paranoid about somebody getting into their system and planting something. You’ve all heard about the kiddie pron blackmail schemes, I assume.
Armed guards, steel doors and hand scanners????
read later
Thanks for your input. That is interesting. I am very distrustful of Rick Warren, so I distrust his reasons for the secrecy, but I can see a certain amount of security. Other things, such as only letting the initiated even SEE what is on the site, letting the newspaper see it once and in the presence of a church staffer, having proprietary information on a CHURCH website, I find odd.
http://www.mnnonline.org/article/10052
Warren to present his PEACE plan
Print Mobile Posted: 22 June, 2007
USA (MNN) — Rick Warren, founder of Purpose Driven Ministries and author of The Purpose Driven Life, will be speaking at the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Warren will speak at the October convention on his PEACE plan. The plan is “very similar to the concerns of the Baptist General Convention of Texas,” according to Charles Wade, executive director of BGCT.
It’s an endeavor to get the church to be the forerunners in eliminating social issues such as illiteracy, poverty, and AIDS. His sermon will be the focal point of the meeting which is called “Missions - Together We Can Do More.” Up to 2.3 million people from 5,600 congregations could be in attendance at the conference.
Time magazine has named Warren America’s New People’s Pastor. “Rick has caught the attention of the people around the world with his vision of what local churches can do to make a genuine difference in solving the giant problems facing humanity,” said Wade. The Economist calls Warren one of the most influential pastors in America.
Warren’s Saddleback Church started with one family in 1980 in Lake Forest, California. Currently 22,000 attend weekly.
Obama Points to Rick Warren, T.D. Jakes as Models for Faith-Driven Action
By Michelle Vu
Christian Post Reporter
Mon, Jun. 25 2007 04:44 PM ET
Prominent Christian leaders such as Rick Warren and T.D. Jakes were praised by Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) this weekend as role models of Christians who put their faith into action.
In his first speech on the intersection of faith and politics as a presidential contender, Obama discussed how religion should inspire people across the Christian spectrum to unite in helping to eradicate social problems rather than divide them.
“I’m hopeful because I think there’s an awakening taking place in America,” said Obama on Saturday at the United Church of Christ’s 50th anniversary convention. “People are coming together around a simple truth – that we are all connected, that I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s keeper.”
During his speech to a crowd of nearly 10,000 people, the senator, a member of Trinity UCC in Chicago, criticized division within the Church, but praised Christian leaders and groups that have worked together to remedy social problems.
“That’s why pastors, friends of mine like Rick Warren and T.D. Jakes and organizations like World Vision and Catholic Charities are wielding their enormous influence to confront poverty, HIV/AIDS, and the genocide in Darfur,” Obama said.
Dr. Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church in California, had invited Obama to his church’s HIV/AIDS conference last winter despite vehement protests by pro-life groups that urged the megachurch pastor to rescind his invitation because of the senator’s pro-choice stance. Warren had refused to uninvite Obama, explaining that he wanted the Church to work together on the HIV/AIDS crisis despite their personal differences on other issues.
“I’m hearing from evangelicals who may not agree with progressives on every issue but agree that poverty has no place in a world of plenty; that hate has no place in the hearts of believers; and that we all have to be good stewards of God’s creations,” said Obama.
“From Willow Creek to the ‘emerging church,’ from the Southern Baptist Convention to the National Association of Evangelicals, folks are realizing that the four walls of the church are too small for a big God. ‘God is still speaking,’” the senator added, citing the motto of UCC’s media branding campaign.
Obama also talked about health care, the genocide in Darfur, Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and the controversial immigration bill.
The UCC, which celebrated its 50th anniversary on Saturday, is holding its biennial General Synod in Hartford, Conn., June 22-26. The liberal denomination, which prides itself on being the first denomination to ordain openly gay and lesbian ministers, emphasizes progressive causes and also began to endorse same-sex “marriage” starting in 2005 - a decision which caused a rift in the denomination and the departure of about 100 churches from the UCC.
Last year, according to the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, UCC faced a 3.8 percent membership drop in the 1.2 million-member church body. Donations from church members to the UCC’s national offices and regional conferences also decreased by more than $2 million in 2006, according to the church’s annual report.
Zactly what I’m concerned about. This man is very very influencial. And, in the churches, the fruit of his influence is mixed at best. Couple this with his meetings with the Syrians and his willingness to work with the local imams to get this peace plan accomplished; his lack of desire to evangelize the Jews (he has enough Christian souls to worry about) when if he believes what the Scripture states, non-evangelization has eternally horrible consequences; this article just peaks my interest all the more.
FYI
I can appreciate that for sure (though I do confess, I do like John MacArthur :))
I teach a Sunday school where we are on Revelation right now. Was talking about false prophets and I tied it into how we have this cult of celebrity in America and it is very much a part of the church. You can like a preacher, but never exalt him to that kind of status. Compare EVERYTHING with the Word. And follow GOD, not man above all.
We have seen Rick Warren and the whole “Emerging Church” movement phenomenon before. It was referred to 30 years ago as “Modernism” or theological liberalism. In other words, the text of Scripture and apologetics is de-emphasized in favor of an emotional “do-gooder” Christianity based upon a squishy Jesus who is politically correct, completely non-judgmental, and multicultural. In short, it is nothing but theological poison. Jesus warned us of false prophets and Paul said to mark those who cause divisions. Warren and his ilk are simply the wolves in sheep’s clothing Jesus warned us about in Matt. 24.
I can think of lots of worse people to worry about. A man who has sold millions of books is hardly secretive. Yet, he does need to control his message. especially from green eyed monsters who would do him in.
ANY of HUNDREDS of datacenters AROUND the USA and EUROPE are set up like that. Nothing scary in and of itself.
He’s not scary, he just wants to be a celebrity, no wait, he is scary.
That isn't uncommon for access to a enterprise data center these days. The armed guards may be a bit much.
If the message is the mobilization of 1 Billion Christians to solve all the worlds ills; and, yet, he hides the data center that those Christians are supposedly to use from public eye and protects it more than a lot of defense sites are protected - I don’t care what anyone says, it is odd.
http://www.cicministry.org/radio_series.php?series=redefining
Well worth listening to (particularly the PEACE plan topic)
As I said, green-eyed monster. You have nothing to go on.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.