Christian dynasty loses rising star

Original post here.

November 23, 2006

BEIRUT: Assassinated cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel was a rising star in one of Lebanon's leading political dynasties.

Gemayel's grandfather, Pierre, founded the Falange party, at one time the leading Christian political body. His uncle, Bashir, was assassinated in a bomb blast in September 1982, days before being sworn in as president.

Speaking to reporters outside the hospital, a shocked Amin Gemayel, Pierre's father and former Lebanese president, called on supporters not to react to the killing with violence.
"I would like to ask those who loved Pierre to preserve the cause. We don't want to do anything instinctively," he said. "He was serving the cause and he died for Lebanon, for freedom and humanity and we should not tarnish his memory by any irresponsible acts."

The Falangists fielded the largest Christian militia during Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war between Christians and Muslims, allying themselves first with Syria, and then with Israel during that country's invasion and occupation of the country.

The Gemayel family has been enmeshed in the past three decades of bloodshed between Lebanon's divided communities.

A 1975 assassination attempt against Mr Gemayel's grandfather prompted the Falangists to attack a busload of Palestinian refugees in a slaughter that sparked a 15-year sectarian war.
After Bashir Gemayel was killed in 1982, militiamen stormed Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut, killing hundreds of civilians.

Several years earlier, an 18-month-old daughter of Bashir was killed in an attack targeting him. Two nephews of Bashir and Amin were also killed during fighting in the 1980s.
The younger Pierre Gemayel was elected to parliament in 2000, and again in the 2005 elections that brought an anti-Syrian majority to the legislature.

AP

The Million Dollar Man no longer in WWE

Ted Dibiase speaks out...

Ted Dibiase posted the following statement on his website, MillionDollarMan.com.

To my fans, friends, and supporters,I was released from the WWE Thursday, Oct. 26th due to cutbacks by the WWE. I was released along with Tim Horner.

I am thankful for my time in the WWE and look at my tenure there as a time of obedience to my Savior, Jesus Christ. When I went back to the WWE, I did so with some reluctance of how it might affect my ministry and was very comfortable being in full time evangelism. God brought to mind what I had preached to so many that we must use our sphere of influence to seek and save the lost. What greater sphere of influence could I have than the business I had spent most of my life in? During my time there, many doors began to open and I found myself witnessing Christ to open ears and open hearts. I realized that this was now my ministry. The bible says that everything is for a season and I knew this time in the WWE would be for a season. I just didn't know how long that season would last. As that season in my life closes I am back home and back in full time evangelism with speaking engagements all over the US and Canada already being scheduled.

God confirmed to me that this move was in His perfect will just two days after I was released from the WWE. I was already scheduled to speak for Promise Keepers Canada in Regina, Saskatchewan. As I shared the gospel Saturday morning and gave an altar call to a thousand men, so many responded that men were backed up the isle, not able to get to the front. Later I was told that it was the largest response to an invitation they had ever had there. I wept as I saw all those men humbling themselves before God and it was humbling to know that He had just used me as His instrument to do it.

I will miss my friends in the WWE and I wish them all well, but I have no doubt that I am right where God wants me to be. Many of you have been praying for me and continue to. I both thank you and cherish your prayers. Please continue to pray that God give me wisdom to see the doors He's opening and favor with those He allows me to witness to.

As I write to you I have already been asked to speak at another Promise Keepers Canada meeting as well as be a regular guest on a weekly Canadian Christian sports talk show. It seems that God keeps sending me back to Canada and that's ok. I've made many great friends there who tell me that their country is very hungry for God. So I guess that's right where I need to be! Please keep me in your prayers. Please pray for people to turn to God, both here at home and in Canada.That's it for now.

As things get ramped back up for Heart of David Ministries I will keep you all posted. I pray God richly bless each and every one of you.

Until next time and forever I am,
In His grip
Ted