The Face Of Jesus Recreated From Burial Shroud

The History Channel is prepping an amazing documentary for an April 3, 2010 release, entitled "The Real Face Of Jesus." The Shroud Of Turin, which is the linen garment the body of Jesus is said to have been wrapped in, after He was crucified, three days before He rose from the dead, was examined by forensic experts, who discovered an imprint.

Using modern technology, the imprint was transferred to computer to create a digital recreation of what He is believed to look like.

The computer rendered, illustrated photographs are amazing. On the one hand, it makes you want to cry at the brutalization He endured, but at the same time, it is a reminder of His sacrifice for humanity.

Many people have painted Jesus as blond with blue eyes, but in the photos, He is much like the Bible describes Him - a Jewish man with woolly hair. Though He appears somewhat pale in some photos, He also has tanned skin, due to the region He came from and the fact He walked everywhere. I think His facial features, as shown in the Shroud photographs are impressive.

At the end of the day, when Someone so blesses your life and saves your soul, what He looks like could never be an issue.

P.S. - there is a British actor the reconstructed face of Jesus resembles, but I am struggling to recall his name at the moment. If I remember it, I will update the article.

Update 4-1-10 @ 12:37 AM - in the second photograph, the lower half of the forensically reconstructed Face has a slight resemblance to actor Jeremy Northam.

http://www.compendius.com/blog-march-31-2010.htm

NBA Player Becomes A Preacher

Former Miami Heat basketball player, Wayne Simien, has become a preacher. He became a Christian in 2003. His story is a wonderful one of redemption, after he gave up drugs, alcohol and sexual promiscuity.

Five years from KU, Wayne Simien answers another calling

Posted on Sun, Feb. 28, 2010 11:16 PM - ...After he had become a Christian on July 12, 2003, entering his junior year, there were plenty of folks who wanted the old Wayne back. They called him “Big Dub,” and he was once the life of the party.

“As soon as I stopped doing drugs, stopped drinking, stopped treating women badly, stopped playing selfishly on the court, that’s when people were like, ‘Hey Wayne, what’s wrong with you? What’s going on? I’m worried about you,’ ” Simien says. “Now you’re worried about me? After I stopped doing all these things?” ...

During that first year in Miami, Simien would meet his wife, Katie, through some mutual friends who shared their beliefs. Wayne and Katie met in August 2005, began dating on New Year’s Eve, became in engaged in February and were married in July. In another statement about the way he was choosing to live, Wayne did not kiss Katie until their wedding day.

“I wasn’t a virgin when I got married,” Simien says, “so it was just another way of wanting to honor my wife, wanting to share that with not only her but also everybody that was at our wedding ceremony.”...

http://www.mercurynews.com

"Under God" And "In God We Trust" Upheld

Michael Newdow

After a protracted legal battle, the words "under God" in the United States' Pledge of Allegiance, has been upheld as constitutional and permissible, in the face of a legal challenge from atheist, Michael Newdow. He also filed suit to have the U.S. motto "In God we trust" removed from American currency. That case has failed as well.

Hopefully one day, Mr. Newdow will come to see, understand and appreciate the love of God.

Court: 'Under God' is constitutional

Thursday, March 11, 2010 - (03-11) 17:32 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- The federal court that touched off a furor in 2002 by declaring the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance to be an unconstitutional endorsement of religion took another look at the issue Thursday and said the phrase invokes patriotism, not religious faith.

The daily schoolroom ritual is not a prayer, but instead "a recognition of our founders' political philosophy that a power greater than the government gives the people their inalienable rights," said the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco in a 2-1 ruling.

"Thus, the pledge is an endorsement of our form of government, not of religion or any particular sect."...

In a separate ruling, the same panel upheld the use of the national motto, "In God We Trust," on coins and currency. The language is patriotic and ceremonial, not religious, the court said...

Both suits were filed by Michael Newdow, a Sacramento atheist who has brought numerous challenges to government-sponsored religious invocations...

http://www.sfgate.com

Iraqi Christians Protest Murders

Christians in Iraq protest

Iraqi Christians have come out in droves to protest the murders of their brothers and sisters in the faith, in the war torn Middle Eastern country.

Muslims have murdered Christians in Iraq, in senseless acts of violence, which does not help their case in the world. May the Christians of Iraq remain peaceful and strong in the faith, knowing that God will give them their reward in heaven. God bless you.

Iraqi Christians protest slayings, Pope concerned

Sun Feb 28, 2010 12:47pm EST

MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - At least 1,000 minority Christians, many holding olive branches, marched in protest near the restive city of Mosul on Sunday to urge the Iraqi government to act decisively after a series of killings.

At least eight Christians have been killed in the last two weeks in the turbulent northern city, 390 km (250 miles) north of Baghdad, prompting Pope Benedict to appeal on Sunday for Iraq's Christians to be better protected.

Two of those attacked had gone missing, their bodies later found dumped in the street with gunshot wounds. Others were shot dead in the street, near their homes, or at their place of work.

Some 683 Christian families, or 4,098 people, fled Mosul between February 20 and 27 following the attacks, a United Nations report said on Sunday.

The murders came just weeks before Iraq's March 7 parliamentary election, which has the potential to help cement an end to seven years of war or plunge a still-divided country into a new cycle of violence.

"I appeal to the civil authorities to complete every effort to give security again to the population, and in particular, to the most vulnerable religious minorities," the Pope said in his weekly blessing from Vatican City.

Priests in religious vestments led the protest procession in the Christian town of Hamdaniya, 40 km (25 miles) east of Mosul.

"The blood of innocents screams for terrorism and violence to be stopped," read one banner.

Sunni Islamist insurgents such as al Qaeda have long targeted Christians, Yazidis, Shabaks, and other Iraqi minorities, as well as majority Shi'ites, whom they consider heretics. Christians number an estimated 750,000 in Iraq, a small minority in a country of 28 million...

http://www.reuters.com

Obama: "Why Question My Faith Or Citizenship?"

Obama Calls For Civility

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and husband, U.S. President Barack Obama at a prayer breakfast

A downcast President Barack Obama, today called for civility, as the attacks on his faith, labeling him Muslim, rather than Christian as he claims, coupled with doubt regarding his place of birth being America, have clearly gotten to him.

Currently, the President faces a lawsuit from U.S. Ambassador, Alan Keyes, who is adamant Obama's place of birth is Kenya, not the U.S. state of Hawaii. Keyes also contends his late mother was ineligible to transmit citizenship to him as an American, at the time of his birth.

"Obama: Why Question My Faith Or Citizenship?"

Obama's calls for civility are being met with skepticism, as some members of his Administration have been anything but civil with the press and public.

The President's Administration is comprised of many, some of whom have openly broken the law at the Department of Justice, FBI and Homeland Security, for millions to see. Therefore, who is truly lacking civility.