The Fight For Cheon-Il-Guk

Picture of the Day: Tired of Weddings

2010-11-11T23:23:00.002+01:00

A friend of mine sent me a link of a very unfortunate "Picture of the Day" at rokdrop.com. Many of the comments were rather rude, but I like to think most were simply misinformed.

There was so much that I wanted to respond to, that I felt like making a blog-post would be more appropriate.

Here is what I wanted to say, coupled with some of the comments that I found needed to be expanded upon by someone more knowledgeable of the Unification movement. The commentors "names" and their comments are colored in green, while my opinions and explanations are in black.

#1; LG DACOM Stinks, Royally:

“She sleeps while listening to either an mp3 player or her cell phone during her supposed wedding. The Moonies are a cult and Moon Sun Myung is a fraud. These guys, Scientologists, and LDS are all cut from the same cloth.”

The headphones are probably attached to a radio which is receiving a translation of what is being said on stage. This is very common, because although Father Moon does speak and understand a lot of English since he lived in the States for many years, he still highly prefers to speak in his native language, Korean. At large events such as a wedding, we are often told to bring a portable radio. Then they will usually have two radio translators on two different open stations. One will be translating from Korean to English. The other will be translating from Korean to Japanese.

As for her tilting her head down at a funny angle with her eyes closed, I can’t really say for sure but I really doubt she is asleep considering she, along with everyone else, is standing. Maybe she’s praying silently during a pause in the program, or maybe she’s streching her neck, but I highly doubt she is sleeping.

Finally, Scientologists, LDS’, and Unificationists are quite different. If I’m not mistaken: Scientologists beleive life on Earth was started by extra-terrestrial beings; LDS’ believe that Jesus resurrected again in North America, thus giving forth the gospel anew to the local Native American inhabitants; while Unificationists believe that all the major prophets were inspired by God, but Jesus was special in that he was meant to establish a family without original sin (false sex centered on Satin instead of “Absolute sex” between a mature heterosexual couple centered on God’s love) in order to bring all of humanity back into God’s lineage, and that Father Moon (along with his wife, Hak Ja Han) has the mission to fulfill Jesus’ messianic role.

#9; Tom Langley:

“Zilchy, I believe that the Moonies have had these mass weddings in the US so it’s not just an Asian thing even though the Moonies are based in Korea. Even though they claim to be strongly anti-communist they helped the NK set up a factory to produce a Fiat knock off car. It’s all about money & power.”

Indeed, they don’t only do it in Korea, we have members all over the world. I’m full American, my wife is half Norwegian. We have friends who are French/Norwegian+Brazilian/Japanese, French/Norwegian+Korean, French/Norwegian+African/Canadian, Austrian/Norwegian+Korean, American/French+Norwegian/British, Austrian/American+German, German/Norwegian+Swiss...

We are also indeed very anti communist. In fact, Father Moon was imprisoned in a North-Korean a political/religious concentration camp during the Korean War because of what he was teaching. He almost died, but UN troops freed him and his fellow prisoners. We also indeed have several business ventures in North Korea, including car manufacture and tourism. We also maintain a “Peace Embassy” in Pyongyang, and a museum in Father Moon’s original home town. Once in a while we even send a soccer team or a ballet group up north for some peaceful exchange. It was indeed Father Moon’s efforts which opened the way for South Koreans to be allowed to visit their families in the North.

The reason why we have been able to form such a good relationship with North Korea, one that is so close that people from the Unification movement have been able to travel there even at the height of the nuclear crisis, if because of Father Moons philosophy of peace. He knows that the only way to ever have lasting peace is not through war, or even non-violent protests. The only way to true peace is through loving the enemy even more than you love your own family. This is why Father Moon’s family has suffered so much despite his wish to create an ideal family as a model for the world, and this is why so many Unificationist families have suffered in their personal and financial lives. It is because of our philosophy that we will never have true world peace unless we sacrifice ourselves completely for God and humankind. Kim-Il-Sung, the man who was president of North Korea during the time Father Moon was imprisoned in North Korea, was able to embrace Father Moon in brotherly love because of the eternal and unchanging love that Father Moon could give despite their stark differences in ideology. The idea comes from the fact that God is our eternal True Parent who loves every single human being as His child no matter what, and that we should love our fellow human beings the same way God does.

#17; LG DACOM Stinks, Royally:

“They owned the Washington Times until this year and consistently tried to pass it off as a true competitor to the Washington Post.”

This just in, a group laying to Father Moon was recently able to purchase it back for $1 in exchange for responsibility for paying down all it’s debts.

#20; Vince:

For a further explanation of The Little Angels: it is a dance troupe made up of mostly of the children of rich, non-Unificationist parents. The dance school they attend, however, was founded by father Moon. This year they were sent by Father Moon around the world to thank the veterans who fought, bled, and died in the Korean war to preserve freedom on the Korean peninsula. Next year they will be visiting the nations who contributed to the war in other ways, such as Norway’s gift of a floating hospital.

Finally here is to the comparisons between Koreans and Unificationists. Actually, while traditional Korean culture does contain many aspects which made it possible for them to become the new Chosen People, to be Korean is not the same as to be Unificationist. One thing is the Koreans, just as the Japanese, tend to be very racially closed-minded. Even Unificationist Koreans have a harder time with international marriages than Unificationists from the west.

Another thing is that Love is exceedingly important for a Unificationist marriage. God wants us to be married so that He can experience love through us. The ideal for a Unificationist is to first find perfect mind-body unity centered on the mind, then form an individual loving relationship with God, and then centered on that love for God - get married and love your spouse just as deeply as you love God. Finally, families should enjoy, love, and take care of all of creation. If all individuals and families were able to do this, there would be no need for religion or government as we see these institutions today. With our own direct relationship to God, we would need no government or religion to tell us what is right and wrong. With perfect, loving, God-centered families, we would not need religion to teach us how to love, nor government to support us or organize our lives. People would live in harmony with each other, God, and with nature. This would be the Kingdom of Heaven. A marriage without love is destined to fail miserably and to cause misery.

In Liberty, centering on True Love,

Christopher D. Osborn
posting from Ski, Norway

A Victim Treats His Mugger Right

2010-11-05T22:57:00.002+01:00

One of Father Moons core teachings is that if we are ever to have world peace, we must love our animies more than we love ourselves or even our own family. Well, a friend of mine just shared an NPR story that proves exactly how this works. This is the sort of attitude Able should have had when his elder brother Cain threatend him. Here's the story below. Enjoy, and be inspired:

NPR: A Victim Treats His Mugger Right
March 28th, 2008

Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife. subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner.

But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.

"He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says.

As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."

The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"

Diaz replied: "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me ... hey, you're more than welcome.

"You know, I just felt maybe he really needs help," Diaz says.

Diaz says he and the teen went into the diner and sat in a booth.

"The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi," Diaz says. "The kid was like, 'You know everybody here. Do you own this place?'"

"No, I just eat here a lot," Diaz says he told the teen. "He says, 'But you're even nice to the dishwasher.'"

Diaz replied, "Well, haven't you been taught you should be nice to everybody?"

"Yea, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way," the teen said.

Diaz asked him what he wanted out of life. "He just had almost a sad face," Diaz says.

The teen couldn't answer Diaz — or he didn't want to.

When the bill arrived, Diaz told the teen, "Look, I guess you're going to have to pay for this bill 'cause you have my money and I can't pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I'll gladly treat you."

The teen "didn't even think about it" and returned the wallet, Diaz says. "I gave him $20 ... I figure maybe it'll help him. I don't know."

Diaz says he asked for something in return — the teen's knife — "and he gave it to me."

Afterward, when Diaz told his mother what happened, she said, "You're the type of kid that if someone asked you for the time, you gave them your watch."

"I figure, you know, if you treat people right, you can only hope that they treat you right. It's as simple as it gets in this complicated world."

Produced for Morning Edition by Michael Garofalo.

In Love and Liberty from Siggerud, Ski, Norge,

Christopher D. Osborn

Human Rights Leaders Protest Abduction of Women in Japan at New York Consulate

2010-10-19T19:00:00.000+02:00

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/human-rights-leaders-protest-abduction-of-women-in-japan-at-new-york-consulate-104814079.html

NEW YORK, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Several human rights leaders and Christian pastors, stoked by a recent documentary on Japanese human rights abuses that aired on Korean television station SBS on October 6, held a press briefing today outside Japan's Consulate in New York to proclaim their discontent with the Japanese government.

Dr. Luonne Rouse, United Methodist Church Pastor, delivered remarks. He was supported by Luke Higuchi, president of the Survivors Against Forced Exit, the Rev. Michael Jenkins, chairman of the American Clergy Leadership Conference, and the Rev. Jesse Edwards. Several victims of Japanese abduction and attempted deprogramming attended the event to share their stories and answer questions. Numerous members of the Korean and Japanese media attended.

The documentary titled "Kidnapping and Confinement in the Unification Church – Kiyomi Returns Home After 13 Years" inspired today's protest and detailed the abduction and confinement of several members of the Unification Church, a matter of persecution that occurs daily in Japan at the hands of religious deprogrammers. The documentary has garnered a large amount of attention in Korea and is gaining notoriety within the Korean-American community.

"The Japanese government is turning a blind eye to this persecution," said Dr. Rouse. "It's time to stop the abductions and free the victims. We must protest religious freedom and human rights."

The protest concluded with Dr. Rouse and supporters walking into the Japanese Consulate and hand-delivering a letter directly to an aid of the Honorable Shinichi Nishmiya, the Consulate General. The letter requests a meeting between the Ambassador, human rights leaders, and several of the Japanese victims currently living in the U.S. to share stories of persecution and discuss steps to remedy the current situation.

Over the past 40 years, an estimated 4,300 members of the Unification Church have been subjected to human rights violations of this nature. Between ten to 20 Unification Church members are currently abducted each year in Japan to undergo forced de-conversions.

In the U.S., American citizens are being encouraged to sign a petition encouraging Congress to hold hearings on human rights violations in Japan. Specifically, the hearing would be held by the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights, co-chaired by Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA).

For more information on the Japan abduction issue: http://stopjapanabductions.org/

Follow us on Facebook: Stop Japan Abductions

About ICRF

The International Coalition for Religious Freedom is a non-profit, non-sectarian, educational organization dedicated to defending the religious freedom of all, regardless of creed, gender or ethnic origin.

SOURCE International Coalition for Religious Freedom
Back to top RELATED LINKS
http://stopjapanabductions.org

Fredsfesten avlyst :(

2010-10-14T23:29:00.002+02:00

Fra Universel Fredsforbundet:

Hei.
Pga. en uforutsett situasjon måtte vår gjestetaler trekke seg. Vi har derfor bestemt å avlyse fredsfesten (17. oktober kl 1600). Beklager!

Universal Fredsforbundet Fredsfest på 17.10.10

2010-10-07T19:36:00.012+02:00

Universal Fredsforbundet holder en Fredsfest med Tema: “Sjelens psykologi” søndag, 17. oktober 2010, kl 1600 på Grorudvn. 39 (underetasje), Oslo i Familieforbundets lokaler.

Gjestetaler er Thomas Weys (som snakker på engelsk), med innlegg også ved Knut Holdhus, og sang ved Victor mm.

Weys vil bl.a. ta opp hvordan vi bedre kan nytte vår spirituelle kraft.

Her er en link til invitasjonen: https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=1dQS6N9G6QmJZseAsdlHnPM741Z3o77D3Lw4oJvT62V6v9JpZr0u7Pi46ZwI4&hl=en&authkey=CIfoj40J

Det høres interessant ut, og jeg serfrem til det!

Mvh,

Christopher D. Osborn
Ski, Norge

Petition to support religios freedom in Japan

2010-09-22T18:37:00.004+02:00

Below is the content of an email witch I received via church today:
Stop Japan Abductions !

Petition for Religious Freedom in Japan

Sign our petition and urge Congress to hold hearings before the end of the year about religious and human rights abuses taking place in Japan – one of America’s great trading partners. These hearings should be held by the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights, co-chaired by Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA).

Religious freedom is fundamental to the ability of civilized peoples to live together peacefully. Individuals around the world should be able to exercise their inherent right to express their faith and live a life grounded in convictions of their hearts and souls without government coercion or interference.

For too many years, the Japanese government has abused the fundamental principles of religious freedom by turning a blind eye to atrocities against individuals who practice religion not sanctioned by the government. As one of America’s great allies and trading partners, Japan must put an immediate end to religious persecution.

The U.S. State Department’s Religious Freedom Report has published complaints every year since 1999 that Japanese authorities are not enforcing their own laws regarding kidnapping, physical restraint and physical abuse of Unification Church members.

By signing this petition, tell the United States Congress to hold hearings on these religious freedom and human rights violations and hold the country of Japan accountable.

To sign the petition, please click on: http://stopjapanabductions.org

FOREF Europe
Forum Religious Freedom-Europe
Office: Seidengasse 28/4,
1070 Vienna, AUSTRIA
President: Prof. Dr. Christian Bruenner
Secretary General: Peter Zoehrer
Phone: +43 6645238794
Skype: zoehrer7
E-mail: manager@foref.info
Website: http://foref.info
Blog: http://religiousfreedom-europe.blogspot.com/
Facebook-Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101116579943644
ZVR: 429267353

Truth Demands Honest Transparancy

2010-02-16T08:13:00.007+01:00

An open letter to the authors of How Well Do You Know Your Moon and Done With Moon:

Hi, my name is Christopher David Osborn. I'm a 2nd gen. Unificationist born from two ex-Catholic American Unificationists. I was born in Washington D.C. and lived there until I was 8 and attended New Hope Academy in Maryland. I then moved to Martha's Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts.

I was Blessed with Lisa Widenhofer of Norway at East Garden (New York) on December 26th 2004. I have now been living with her in Norway off and on (mostly on) since September 2006 and we're expecting a little 3rd gen. (a boy) around May 11th of this year.

If you wish, you can learn more about me by reading this blog, following me on twitter, or checking out my other blog called Min Sanhet.

Though I do still have strong faith in God, True Parents, True Family, and the entire Unification Movement; I respect your efforts on your blog to spread what you believe to be the truth. I have my own theories about the accusations you make, and I will get into why I still believe another day. I desperately wish that True Parents and/or the True Children would answer once and for all these very important questions that you and many others bring up.

However, I want to say this, that I would respect you a lot more if you did not post anonymously. There are other people in the Anti-Unificationist movement than you whom have been open about who they are. Have any of them been hunted down and harassed? Any Unificationist who upon learning your identity, sought you out to harass you, would be going against strong Unificationist tenants of loving your enemy, even dying for the sake of sinners over and over again as we are taught True Father has through the "7 Deaths and Resurrections". So I am asking, why do you and your writers hide yourselves?

Centering on True Love,

Christopher (Fipher) D. Osborn
Siggerud, Ski, Akershus, Norge
Google Oversettelse fra englesk til norsk bokmål

PS: Please do not count me as a "Moonie Apologyst". I am a Moonie (Unificationist) and I will never apologize for it; nor will I ever apologize for any person, entity, action, or thing outside of my personal direct dominion.

PPS: Heheh, wow, I just sounded just like my dad when I told the cat to get "down" from the holy table. She's always knocking something over.

God's Day Sunday

2010-02-12T10:50:00.004+01:00

With Father Moon wanting to entirely to a lunar-calander celebration of Unificationist holy days, we'll be celebrating God's Day for a second time this Solar-year, this Sunday!

Explanation of God's Day http://kathryncoman.home.att.net/dayinfo/01-1godsd.htm

Norwegian Family Fed will be celebrating together at our Grorud location at 11 AM. Refreshments are "spleiselag", so everyone who comes is encouraged to bring a little something to share. Go to the bottom of this page to see information on how to join us there: http://enhet.no/norge.php

I'm trying to find something on the internet about the change of the Unificationist holy-day calender, but no luck so far. I'll edit this post if I ever find something.

Have a happy God's Day!

- Christopher D. Osborn

Helping Our Family in Haiti

2010-01-21T08:15:00.002+01:00

Believe it or not, the Unification Church/Fammily Federation for World Peace and Unification actually has a community in Haiti, and they're not much better off than the rest of the Haitians in the earthquake zone. It looks like not a single member of our community there was seriously injured. However, they still have no roof over their heads, no water, and very little food.

If you want to help, first and foremost please make a donation via Lovin Life Ministries.

Second, you can join Helping Unification Church in Haiti on facebook to stay updated on their situation.

Below are two letters. This first is from Rev. Michael Lamson, the founder and administrator for "helping unification Church in Haiti" on facebook.

Haiti UC Update

Dear brothers and sisters,

I am sending information as it comes in so we can understand our members situation. I believe that even if we can not help financially we can use the power of prayer to send many absolute good spirits to help.

Phone and internet are difficult to come by at this time but our brother Paul is sending us updates as he can and our sister Evelyn Drake in Florida is also helping us collect information.

Tonight we learned that most members along with others are living in an open space behind the now destroyed church center. There is little food and no water. Most people have not been able to bathe since the quake hit. They have shared that the most prominent smell comes from those who have died. I can not imagine.

Theodule Paul the National leader, his wife Fugiko and their three children were in the center with members when the quake hit. When the quake hit Theothane their 6 year old daughter ran into the room where her mother was with their new born daughter. Fugiko could only run out of the house with the new born and one of the walls fell on Theothane.
Rev. Paul was able to escape with other members and his 3 year old son Theothile. It took them over an hour to dig out Theothane who was bleeding from her head and eyes.

The Japanese Embassy was able to relocate Fugiko, Theothane and their new born daughter to Dominican Republic. We are not sure how they are doing in Dominican Republic.

We are not sure how other members are but it looks like only Theothane was seriously injured.

It is possible that some of the banks will reopen in Port-au-Prince and we can start sending funds directly to the church account there. For now lets work together to help make sure the members can have basic food and water and help raise money to rebuild the church and mission in Haiti.

Rev. lamson

This second letter is from the national leader of the Unification Church in Haiti, Theodule Paul.

Dear Brothers and Sisters

9 days after the earthquake, we are still waiting for some help from the government or international community, we are about 100 people living in the yard of Unification Church with nothing: no water, no foods, no blankets, no tents, and we are on breathing death... our place is like a huge cemetery, children are crying but parents can not do anything.

We only listen on radio that help has come but we do not see nothing, the coordination is not made well, people must fight in order to find some foods or water.

we are living with many injured people who are also suffering from water and foods.

We do not have electricity, many of us do not take a bath since that tragedy, we are breathing all kind of thing particularly we are breathing the death.

we really need your help, your donation in order to face all this tragedy.

Many people are brcoming crazy because they have lost everything. they do see the value of life.

please help us.

may God bless you.

Theodule

The sooner the Unification members and Church can stand back on their own feet, the sooner they can get back to their mission of helping the Haitian people to inherit God's heart. Please donate to help members get food and water and rebuild the church and mission in Haiti via the Lovin' Life Ministry's "Haiti Relief Fund". If you can't, and even if you can, prayers are of course also welcome to be sent their way, as well as for the entire nation of Haiti.

Thank you,

Christopher D. Osborn
Siggerud, Ski, Akershus, Norge

Happy New Year and Happy God's Day 2010!

2010-01-14T14:41:00.004+01:00

Here in Norway we celebrated New Years and God's Day at Nordtangen, a cabin owned by the Norwegian Scouts.

Below is the new motto for the Unification Movement for the year 2010. If you click on it you can see a picture of the original calligraphy.

"Mansei for oneness with True Parents' pure heart and with all their victories in the realm of the Cosmic Sabbath centered on true love!"

- FamilyFed.org

Click here to see a video of Father Moon's 'God's Day 2010' address.

In other news about the new year, the UPF (Universal Peace Federation) is calling for a the '10's do be a decade of peace. While the UN's millennium development goals are meant to be accomplished by 2015, the UPF is working to achieve significant goals by 2013.

You can check out a PDF presentation of the UPF's highlights for 2009 here: http://www.upf.org/images/stories2/highlightphotoessay-upf2009.pdf

Again, happy New Year and happy God's Day 2010! I pray we truly can make this a decade of peace.

Centering on True Love,

Christopher D. Osborn
Siggerud, Ski, Akershus, Norway

CHASE Community Giving on Facebook: Vote for Service for Peace!

2009-11-30T08:20:00.001+01:00

Vote for Service for Peace (SFP), the organization which has been one of the most active in President Obama's national call to service! http://www.serviceforpeace.org/

Service and Learning with a Global Peace Perspective - Service For Peace is an independent nonprofit organization providing service and learning opportunities through community projects which promote transformational and sustainable personal and community development around the world. We bring together people and partners of diverse faiths, ethnicities, nationalities, generations, and cultures to address profound social needs by discovering commonality and genuine appreciation for differences – all through service. We believe that peace begins with the inner peace fostered by service to others and that active cooperation provides the foundation and the real hope for peace.

SFP is associated with and has partnered with many other service and peace organizations, including:

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Corporatio...n for National and Community Service (CNCS)

The CNCS Lead Agencies for Martin Luther King Day of Service, including The Points of Light Foundation, Hands On Network, National Alliance of Faith and Justice, National Association of Service and Conservation Corps.

United Nations Department of Public Information (UN DPI)

The Building Bridges Coalition

United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

International Coordinating Committee for Global Youth Service Day

The President's Volunteer Service Award

International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE)

The Global Peace Festival

And finally, last but not least: Break Away.

Service for Peace has been serving others to create peace since 2002! Please vote now to help one of America's greatest service organizations to serve even more!

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/263467

fredsfest06.12.09 Å leve for andre

2009-11-27T23:53:00.001+01:00

Fredsfest

”En familie under Gud”

Tema:

”Å leve for andre”

søndag, 6. desember 2009 kl 1600

Grorudvn. 39 (underetasje), Oslo

i Familieforbundets lokaler

Gjestetaler er major Njål Djurhuus

Njål er en av Frelsesarmeens mer kjente størrelser, han har vært informasjonssjef og er en erfaren foredragsholder, men viktigst av alt han har mange års erfaring som leder for Frelsesarmeens arbeid blant rusavhengige på Grønland i Oslo - et arbeid han fikk Kongens fortjenestemedalje i gull for sammen med sin kone Erna.

Kulturelle innslag.

Servering – fri adgang.

Du er hjertelig velkommen!

Universelt Fredsforbund

www.fredsforbundet.no

fredsfest 25.10.09 Frihet

2009-10-22T14:41:00.001+02:00

Fredsfest

”En familie under Gud”

søndag, 25. oktober kl 1600

Grorudvn. 39 (underetasje), Oslo

i Familieforbundets lokaler

Tema:

”frihet”

Vet vi hva frihet er? Friheten har begrensninger og med

frihet følger ansvar. Vi vil belyse hva sann frihet er.

I tillegg vil vår gjestetaler, Keyhan Ighanian, fortelle fra sitt

arbeid med å hjelpe mennesker å finne indre ro og frihet.

Ighanian er Bowen- og TankeFelt-terapeut.

Kulturelle innslag.

Servering – fri adgang.

Du er hjertelig velkommen!

Universelt Fredsforbund

www.fredsforbundet.no

May Holy Days

2009-05-01T21:13:00.020+02:00

Happy Norwegian Labor Day, happy springtime, and happy month of May! Below is a list of religious Holy Days for May 2009. Thanks go out to the authors of the RYS Newsletter for providing the dates.

1st, Friday: 55th Anniversary of the founding of the HSA-UWC in Soul, Korea, True Father's(Rev. Sun Myung Moon) first organization.

2nd, Saturday: Twelfth Day of Ridvan - Baha'i remembrance of God's message.

7th, Thursday: National Day of Prayer - USA - Interfaith observance. 2009 is the 58th annual observance. Check out the official website.

9th, Saturday: Buddha Day - Visakha Puja - Buddhist observance of the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. By the way, check out this great painting which depicts Asian religious unity, "Three laughing men by the Tiger stream."

12th, Tuesday: Lag B'Omer - Jewish observance of the link between Pesach and Shavout.

21st, Thursday: Ascension of Jesus - Christian - universal presence of Jesus.

23rd, Saturday: Declaration of the Bab - Baha'i observance of religious unity. Click here for the more detailed full story.

24th, Sunday: Man Mul Ui Nal (True Day of All Things)- Unificationist celebrate the idea of loving all things, for all things are looking for their true owner and looking forward to the fulfillment of the three basic loves: the love of God, the parental love from true parents, and the love of the children who receive this perfect love of God and parents. Read the speech True Day of All Things and the Initiator of Harmony by True Father (Rev. Sun Myung Moon), June 5th, 1997.

28th, Thursday: Ascension of Jesus - Orthodox Christians celebrate the universal presence of Jesus.

29th, Friday: Ascension of Baha'u'llah - Baha'i remembrance of the death of the founder.

29-30th, Friday & Saturday: Shavuot - Jewish celebration of the Ten Commandments.

31st, Sunday: Pentecost (Whitsunday) - Christians recall the power of the Holy Spirit and remember the Ten Commandments. Many Christians get baptized on this day.

I hope you enjoy. Happy Holidays!

Centering on True Love,

Christopher D. Osborn
Ski, Akershus, Norge

Earth Hour 2009 (and 50th True Parents Day)

2009-03-27T23:45:00.006+01:00

Hey, I just wanted to remind all my MANY readers that tomorrow from 8:30PM to 9:30PM is Earth Hour. What does that mean? I means to shut off all your lights and electric appliances for one hour. The purpose is to raise awareness of how much energy we use and how it effects our environment.

Ideally we should all use a lot less electricity than we do, and turning off all our electricity using devises can remind ourselves and our neighbors(by seeing our lights off) to try to use less.

Weather you believe in "Global Warming" or not, less energy usage means less pollution and waste. I hope you will join me in flipping the switch tomorrow night. For those of you who are a fan of the Christian/Jewish Bible, you can do this remembering Genesis 1:28.

To learn more, check out http://www.earthhour.org/home/ and select your country to see what related events are going on. Many companies and even cities throughout the world are participating.

As a side note, in the Unificationist faith today is the 50th True Parent's Day.

Here are a few URL's for an explanation of True Parents Day.

http://kathryncoman.home.att.net/dayinfo/3-1parents.htm
http://www.tparents.org/Moon-Talks/sunmyungmoon82/820325.htm
http://www.unification.net/1996/960418p.html
http://tworiversvip.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=215&Itemid=397

So, happy True Parents Day everyone!

Centering on True Love,

Christopher D. Osborn
Bergen, Hordaland, Norge

Fwd: SCAM EMAIL FROM YONG CHEOL SONG

2009-03-16T11:06:00.003+01:00

Here is an urgent message from the European headquarters of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. The basic message is that President Song (President - FFWPU Europe) is not in Africa and is not in any special need of financial assistance.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Knut Holdhus
Date: Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 7:56 PM
Subject: Fwd: SCAM EMAIL FROM YONG CHEOL SONG
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: European Office
Date: Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 7:31 PM
Subject: SCAM EMAIL FROM YONG CHEOL SONG

SCAM EMAIL IN THE NAME OF YONG CHEOL SONG

Dear European Leaders,

Please be aware that the email message below is a scam trying to get you to send money.

President Song is NOT in Africa and NOT in need of any financial support.

Yours sincerely,

Tim Miller and Peter Staudinger

European Office

From: YONG CHEOL SONG
Date: Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Subject: Hello
To:
Hello,
How are you doing today? I'm sorry i didn't inform you about my traveling to Africa for a program called "Empowering Youth to Fight Racism, HIV/AIDS, Poverty and Lack of Education, The program is taking place in three major countries in Africa which is Ghana , South Africa and Nigeria . It as been a very sad and bad moment for me, the present condition that i found myself is very hard for me to explain.
I am really stranded in Nigeria because I forgot my little bag in the Taxi where my money, passport, documents and other valuable things were kept on my way to the Hotel I'm staying, I'm facing a hard time here because I have no money on me. I am now owning a hotel bill of 750.00 pounds and they wanted me to pay the bill soon else they will have to seize my bag and hand me over to the Hotel Management, I need this help from you urgently to help me back home, I need you to help me with the hotel bill and I will also need 250.00 pounds to feed and help myself back home, So please can you help me with a sum of 1000.00 pounds to sort out my problems here? I need this help so much and on time because I'm in a terrible and tight situation here, I don't even have money to feed myself for a day which means I had been starving so please understand how urgent I need your help.
I'm sending you this e-mail from the city Library and I only have 30 min, I will appreciate what so ever you can afford to send me for now and I promise to pay back your money as soon as I return home ,Please let me know on time so that I can forward you the details you need to transfer the money through Money Gram or Western Union.
Hope to hear from you.
thanks

Thank you for reading. Please spread this news so that those who got this email will no not to respond to it or send any confidential information.

Centering on True Love,

Christopher D. Osborn
Bergen, Hordaland, Norge

2009-03-12T20:00:00.000+01:00

2009 CheongPyeong Photo Contest!

2009-03-06T17:45:00.005+01:00

Since this graphic link doesn't work on all browsers on blogger, I guess I'll have to post an additional link here.

http://eng.cheongpyeong.org/notice/view.asp?notice_id=gongji&idx=1025

HARP Norge - Easter Workshop

2009-03-01T00:00:00.001+01:00

HARP Norge (Norway) is hosting an Easter workshop for all HARP members in SHUK countries. SHUK stands for Scandinavia, Holland, United Kingdom. HARP stands for High School Association for the Research of Principles and is connected to CARP (Collegiate ARP) and the FFWPU.

This SHUK HARP Workshop will be held in the northern woods of Oslo, Norge from Thursday the 9th to Monday the 13th of April. The workshop fee is 600 NOK/68 Euros/87 USD. The age group is 14 to 20 years old, althugh 2nd generation members older than 20 are also wealcome to come as staff members.

If you are interested, please read the infvitation.

Centering on True Love,

Christopher D. Osborn
Bergen, Hordaland, Norge
battleforheaven.blogspot.com

Crossing - LiNK film on North Korean refugees trying to get to China

2009-02-20T00:00:00.001+01:00

Crossing - Trailer from LiNK Global on Vimeo.

If you want to see the film, there is a chance. To find a screening near you, click here.

There may not currently be a screening near you - especially if you're outside the U.S. since it looks like right now they are concentrating their efforts on awareness there. This makes sense because currently the United States is still technically at war with North Korean government. This status is one of the reasons why the North Korean people suffer so much. Kim-Jong-Il is insane, more so than his father, and so the North Korean people have no hope at all from him. However, South Korea and it's allies such as the United States do have the power to save the North Korean people. We can and must do something.

However, our governments will not do anything unless we damand it, and we will not be able to demand it with a lound enough voice unless we have millions of people demanding it with the heart of someone who knows the situation there. In order to occomplish this, we have got to spread this movie around not just the United States but the whole world. I urge everyone to try to get a screening near you, even if you're not in the United States.

For information on organising a screening near you, click here.

Here is a list of other ways you can help the North Korean people.

1. Join the Universal Peace Federation in their effort towards Korean Reunification with their North East Asia Peace Initiative.

2. Join LiNK in one of their three projects: The Movement, The Underground, The Transition.

3. Donate directly to LiNK or help rais funds and awareness by shopping at their store and using their products on a daily basis. When you where an I Love North Korea T-Shirt you are sure to get some stares, and an opportunity to explain yourself is a really great personal way to spread awareness.

How far do your donations go? LiNK claims that just 20 USD will provide a child with a month of food, clothing, and childcare, 50 USD provides 6 months of shelter, 100 USD provides 4 months of tuition (not college, but normal elemtry school), 250 USD privides 1 child with food and supplies for 3 months, and 1,000 USD provides 1 child with food and supplies for a whole year. To learn more about donating to LiNK, click here.

4. Reprioratise your finances to include less flashy cell phones and more helping people other than yourself.

I am sure there are other ways you can help if you only look hard enough. One website that I keep finding in searches is Life Funds for North Korean Refugees. Perhaps LFNKR and LiNK should think about linking up - pun intended.

For the fight for Cheon-Il-Guk,

Christopher D. Osborn
Bergen, Hordaland, Norge

Kazakhstan now jailing Baptists too!

2009-02-19T10:46:00.005+01:00

Here's a simple update from the facebook group Petition to Free Lisa Drenicheva!!

For love, liberty, and One Family Under God,

Christopher D. Osborn
Bergen, Hordaland, Norge

Nancy Jubb sent a message to the members of Petition to Free Lisa Drenicheva!!

--------------------
Subject: Kazakhstan now jailing Baptists too!

Do you have a friend who’s Baptist? Invite them to join this group/petition as it’s now clear that Kazakhstan’s government is not only targeting religious minorities, but they are now jailing Baptists as well! This petition is not just about freeing one person who was unjustly jailed, but putting pressure on Kazakhstan to stop persecuting religious groups!!

HURRY, the petition deadline is March 1st.

Baptists Jailed in Kazakhstan: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk%2Fnews%2F%3FNewsID%3D3773

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.forum18.org%2FArchive.php%3Farticle_id%3D1248

recent Washington Times Article on Kazakhstan’s persecution of religious groups: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.washingtontimes.com%2Fnews%2F2009%2Ffeb%2F13%2Fkazakhstan-reverses-law-to-restrict-minority-relig%2F
--------------------

Battle for Religious Frredom in Kazakhstan

2009-02-16T15:25:00.003+01:00

If new religious movements are not allowed to teach their truths, and if we do not allow all our fellow human beings equal freedom, we can never hope to create the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

Please take a look at this post from my other blog, Min Sanhet: Stalinist Arrest In Kazakhstan

The above mentioned blog post is all about Liza Drenicheva, a Russian Unificationist missionary jailed in Kazakhstan for teaching her religious beliefs.

For the fight for Cheon-Il-Guk,

Christopher D. Osborn
Bergen, Hordaland, Norge

"Make your Stand in 2009"

2009-01-24T17:43:00.010+01:00

Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 1:32 PM

"Make your Stand in 2009"

Rev. Hyung Jin Nim's Sermon
Chungpadong Church, Seoul, Korea, January 3^rd , 2009

Welcome Remarks:

Yeon Ah Nim:

Good afternoon brothers and sisters! (Good afternoon!)

It is really great to see you all at this sanctuary in 2009. Should we give a round of applause for 2009? (Applauding). The year of 2009 has come.

True Father gave us the New Year Motto for 2009 and it goes like this, "The Era of Proclaiming the Victory of the Authority of Absolute Sexual Ethics, True Love, True Life and True Lineage in the Realm of the Cosmic Sabbath of the Parents of Heaven and Earth." After True Father finished writing this, even he himself said, "Ah! This year's motto is a little bit long!" (Laughter) So if you felt that way, don't feel discouraged, don't feel bad. But we know that there is a profound meaning behind what True Father has taught throughout his entire life.

During God's Day, in his speech, True Father emphasized the importance of the value of True Father. He said, "True Father is the source of true lineage and love throughout all generations." And also True Father once again asked us to keep absolute love, fidelity and purity as blessed families.

Brothers and sisters, I hope that this year our blessed families will have a profound year with Heavenly Father's protection and grace and True Parents' love and blessing. AJU!

Hyung Jin Nim:

Welcome brothers and sisters. Brothers and Sisters, it's 2009! Oh my God! (Applause) We're ready for 2009! We sent up 2008 with the shouts of victory and we're starting again with the accolades of God in 2009.

Brothers and sisters, I want to start with Cheon Seong Gyeong, page 589, "Which of the two would you prefer to devote your entire lives to: Private matters or public matters? Both are devoted to some purpose. Those who stand up at the risk of their lives to devote their lives for the public good will become great people. A new history will be created by a group of people like this."

Brothers and sisters, in this new year let us always remember that we are not walking alone, that we are walking together. Brothers and sisters, that in this year of 2009, of this incredible year, proclaiming the victory of the Cosmic Sabbath, True Father and True Mother have given us the blessing to be received this year. And that in 2009, even though we may have obstacles and challenges, still we will find great promises that will come to fruition. We'll find great things that come to pass. We will see great hopes that not only are nourished but that come into reality.

Brothers and sisters, we always have to keep our minds up on the positive, so to speak. Always remember the goodness of God, meditate on the goodness of God, especially and even more so when times are rough, especially when times are challenging. Remember "whoopology", remember that from last week, right? "Whoopology", where we are learning that even in the midst of trouble, what scares the enemy even more, what confuses him is when you just start praising God even more. I'm not going to do some hallelujahs today but you heard hallelujahs last week.

But, brothers and sisters, we have to remember that, in our lives in 2009, when we have those struggles, instead of falling into despair and oblivion, we're going to say, "Wait a minute! I'm not going down there. I'm going to sing the praises of God, I'm going to sing 'hallelujah', I'm going to say,'God is good'. I'm going to tell Him that, and I'm going to praise Him, tell Him that I still trust Him and I still lean on Him and that I believe that He still wants me to reach (actualize) His promises."We have to be in that attitude of faith. If we do that, brothers and sisters, that's our faith in action and that's going to propel us to actualize our God given destinies.

Brothers and sisters, once again welcome to our service. We always want to remind you to see ourselves - especially when we are here- from the owner's eyes, that are God's eyes. Let us see ourselves from the highest perspective and that is to see ourselves as victorious people, as historical people, people who have meaning and who will give meaning to this world. If we start seeing ourselves that way we'll not only start believing it, we will start trying to act in that way, and in that manner we will start actualizing what God is waiting for us to do.

Brothers and sisters, let's remember today, in this year 2009, let's start it off with an excitement, an enthusiasm and a hope that this year will be our best year yet. We're going to send those praises up today. As we send those praises up what happens? What comes down? Those blessings come showering down. There're going to start giving us power in our next week. There're going to give us power to overcome that obstacle, that circumstance, that archangel that's in your way. You're going to have the power, the compassion, the enthusiasm to get over in spirit, in love and in life.

Brothers and sisters, welcome once again to our Saturday service. We welcome you all from all around the world. And once again, let's start the new year off with that kind of praise.Thanks once again! Welcome!

Hyung Jin Nim's Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for this day that You have prepared, Father. We're gathered here, hearts open wide, in this wonderful sanctuary in the fatherland of Korea. Father we are here where the spirituality and the tears of thousands of years have planted roots, Father. And now there is the joy that You can feel and see Your children around this world, Father, bringing new light and new life to this world. Father, how much happiness You must feel! Father, we pray that You may be in this place today. Father, we pray that we may do our part, that we may meditate on Your goodness, we may meditate on Your strength, we may meditate on Your blessings, meditate on Your hope, and Father, that we may know that You are always in our lives.

Heavenly Father, we pray that You may bless each and every one of the families here today, joining us from across the world. We pray that You may be with each and every single nation, Father, from South America to Japan, to Africa, to Russia, from all those nations, Father. Please, bless this day.

As we send up the praises and worship, Father, as we send up our prayers today, we pray that those prayers can spread out across the globe and those prayers can be showered upon all men and women in all those nations, Father. Father, we pray that today we may make a new determination in 2009, that we may make a stand, Father, that truly we may be able to live our lives with faith, with hope, with expectancy, knowing that You have amazing things and plans for us to accomplish. Father, we know that You are never giving up on us, that You always believe in us, that You always have a way, where we can see no way. Father, we pray that truly in 2009 we may reach our full potential, that we may have our best year and, Father, that this year we may give You all the glory and return it to You.

Heavenly Father, please feel joy today, please be encouraged today because we're starting 2009 with the spirit of victory, we're starting 2009 with the spirit of overcoming power, and we're starting 2009 with the great hope that You have given to us.

Thank You once again. We pray this in all the Blessed Central Families' names together here as one, AJU!

Interesting Story:

We always like to begin with something a little, a little interesting.

I heard a Christmas story. I heard of an event that happened on Christmas. It was a day after Christmas at a church in New York, and Pastor Mike was looking at the Nativity scene. That is the scene of the Baby Jesus outside. And Pastor Mike noticed that Baby Jesus was missing, the figure was missing. It was gone. Immediately Pastor Mike ran towards the church to call the police. "It's an emergency! The Baby Jesus is gone!"

But as he was about to do so, he saw little Jimmy with a red wagon and in the wagon was the statue of Baby Jesus. Pastor Mike walked up to Jimmy. He said, "Jimmy, where did you get that little Jesus?" Jimmy replied, "I got him from the church." "And why did you take him from the church?" And with a sheepish smile Jimmy said, "Well about a week before Christmas I prayed to little Lord Jesus. I told him, if he would bring me a red wagon I'd give him a ride in it. And that's what I'm doing; I'm giving him a ride around the block."

Brothers and sisters, give it up for God and True Parents! (Applause)

Main Sermon:

Brothers and sisters, today I'd like to talk to you about "Making your Stand in 2009." You know, in order to live the blessed life, we have to make a stand in our life. At some point we have to make a stand in our life, and too many people live life not committing to anything and just trying to fit in to the status quo. But brothers and sisters, if we're going to do what God is meaning for us to do in our lives, we must learn how to have the courage to make a stand at times. Making a stand requires self respect, it requires self esteem, it requires confidence in who God made you to be and it requires you to believe in your potential when you look at yourself and see your future.

Let's take a look into some of these World Scriptures today. Let's look at Exodus 14:13. Let's read all together, "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again."

Notice that, brothers and sisters, here the Egyptians are not just people that live in Egypt. There could be circumstances into our lives, there could be things that we believe are handicaps in our lives. And what does the Bible say? It says, "Stand firm and you will see the deliverance today" and that the problems you see today, you will never see again. That's what the word promises us. When we learn how to have the courage to make a stand, we have and we channel an amazing power.

Let's look at Islam today. Let's look at Qu'ran, Al-Baqara, the second surah, 286th verse. Let's read it together, "Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater that we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our protector. Help us against those who stand against faith." What is this saying? "Stand firm in your faith, give us the strength. Believe that God has given us the strength that we can overcome the burdens in our lives."

Let's us look at Buddhism today. This is the Dhammapada 9:121. Let's read together, "Do not think lightly of evil that not the least consequence will come of it. A whole water pot will fill up from dripping drops of water. A fool fills himself with evil, just a little at a time." We have to stand strong in our lives, against these kinds of negative thoughts, negative habits, negative directions in our lives. We have to make a stand in our lives to have strength, to move forward into our God given destinies.

Let's look at True Father's words today, Blessing and Ideal Family, page 409. Let's read it together,"You should have a new determination in your heart. You should make a new determination and have your mind and body united. You should be filled with faith. How happy God would be if you became perfected men and women who could receive God's love."

You see, in 2009, brothers and sisters, we have to make a stand. We have to say, "You know what? I have enough! I'm not going to take anymore of those obstacles. I'm not going to let them beat me down anymore. I'm not going to let those circumstances control my life. I'm not going to let that person or my co-worker steal my joy anymore. I'm going to make a stand now. I'm going to draw the line in the sand. So now I'm going to move into a greater love, a greater blessing that God is preparing for me."

In 2. Sam 23:11, David was here. He was on the battlefield at Pas Dammim. He was fighting the Philistines at that time. And David here was only with a couple of men and there were hundreds and thousands of Philistines. The army was so great. It was one of the greatest armies at that time, so powerful, so intimidating. They'd scream with a huge shout and all of David's men would feel fear. But there were the mighty three, the people that stood with David. Those people, Joseb-Basshebeth, Eleazar and Shammah, they stood with David on that day and they're known as the three mighty men. By making a stand, the Bible says, that 800 plus Philistines of the enemy were defeated by just three of those men. Three of those men took a stand in their faith, they took a stand for the king, they took a stand for God and they were victorious beyond their comprehension, beyond what they could ever imagine.

We have to understand that this principle applies to our lives, too, brothers and sisters. When we make the stand in our lives, when we stand firm in what we believe and who we are in our God given potential, when we don't let anybody take away our dreams, take away our desires that God has placed in us, take away our potentials, when we stand firm in the confidence that God has given us what we need to overcome every obstacle, every circumstance, every illness, every single situation that may come into our path, then we have to know that with that strength we will go forward and win victoriously. We will stand firm and be victorious just like these three mighty men. And just like they did, if we stand for the king, if we stand for God in our lives, if we are loyal to Him in our life, if we are loyal and obey His commands, if we model ourselves after what He has taught, then the pride and victory of that king showers upon us, then we become more victorious than we could ever possibly imagine.

In the Buddha's tradition there is the legend of Sudhana. He is the main protagonist in the Avatamsaka Sutra, that is the flower garland sutra, or the Hawaiian garland sutra. In this legend it says that Sudhana was a disfigured boy, totally disabled. He was from India. He was very interested in studying the Dharma or the Buddhist teachings. When he heard there was a great teacher on the rocky island of Putor he quickly journeyed to learn. And as he arrived on that island he managed to find the Bodhisattva Guan Yin, that is the Bodhisattva of compassion in this tradition. Despite his tremendous severe disability, Guan Yin had a discussion with him and she was testing his resolve. She decided, "I'm going to test whether or not he really wishes to learn, wishes to be free, wishes to have the blessing of heaven."

And so she conjured up the illusion of 3 sword wielding pirates, and these pirates came and attacked this teacher Guan Yin. They started attacking. They came running up the hill and they came to attack her but then the Bodhisattva Guan Yin jumped off the cliff. She jumped off into the ocean and then those illusional pirates also jumped off. When Sudhana saw that, he was so shocked and he said, "My God, my teacher!" So he ran after her. He was disfigured and disabled, so he was calling towards her. And he managed to get up this hill and he actually leaped over the cliff. He leaped over the edge with that kind of desire to want to help, that kind of loyalty to want to help his teacher.

He fell down, plummetting down the cliff but the legend says that the Bodhisattva Guan Yin held him in mid air, brought him down safely to the ground and told him, "Stand up and walk!" And as she said that to him, he immediately stood up and began to walk. He found out that he could walk normally and that he was no longer crippled.

See, Sudhana stood up against his fear. He stood up against illusions; he stood up to protect his teacher, he stood up for his faith. When Guan Yin asked him to stand and walk, he did so and his walking was proof that he could take a stand against his circumstances, he could take a stand against his fear of heights, he could take a stand against his disability or his disfigurement, he could take a stand against his problems or his opposition, he could take a stand against people that were trying to murder his teacher.

The legend says, that he passed the pond and he looked down and he saw his reflection. What did he notice? He noticed that he had no disfigurement on him. That disfigurement was an illusion. He realized that it was in his heart. He realized that he was controlled by the fear, controlled by the many, many people who had said, "You are disfigured, you can't do anything. You're never going to amount to much". He had started believing that, and he realized that he was never free from those thoughts, free from those curses. But once he realized that through standing firm, standing for something, standing to protect his teacher, standing to be loyal and be a person of integrity, he realized that all these illusions melted away.

Brothers and sisters, it's the same in our life. We have to know that when we don't stand up to our fears, our circumstances, our disabilities, when we let those things scare us out of our God given potential, we are like the disfigured Sudhana. But when we believe in ourselves, when we say "Hey! Wait a minute! God has given me a promise to fulfill, He's given me great dreams and those dreams give me the talents to fulfill them," then we know we can make a difference and then we are like the wise, the enlightened, the healthy Sudhana that we see in this legend.

You see, right now, brothers and sisters, it's the same with our church. UC now is making a stand. We're making a stand; we're saying, "We're not going to disappear." Tell your neighbor, "We're not going to disappear", come on, tell your neighbor, "We're not going to disappear!"(Audience is doing it) There we go!

You see, when we came first to church, when we first came to minister here in Mapo Church, we had a sign on the church. It said, "Culture of Heart Center or Family Movement Center!" But you know what? We realized we have to make a stand, we have to be proud that we are the Unification tradition, we are Unificationists. We're not just doing a Culture of Heart Center or we're not just doing a Family Movement Center. We are Unification Movement. We're Unification tradition, we have a tradition, we are a religious tradition. And we have to have pride in that tradition.

When we were at Mapo Church, two ladies, two guests came in, came into the church because they saw the sign "Family Movement Center" and they thought maybe, "Oh! OK maybe we can learn about how to improve our family life or whatever. This might be a government sponsored organization or whatever." They came in and found out that it was the Unification Church! And then they immediately left. They left!

Why did they leave? See, by not being upfront about who we were, they felt deceived, that we're using some kind of ploy to get them into the church. We're not proud; we're hiding who we are. We're not sharing who we are upfront, we're not saying, "I am from the Unification Church and this is what we believe and I'm proud of it." We're not saying that. We're hiding behind a veil. And so what happened? These people just walked out. They said, "Ooh! I feel deceived. I don't want to get into this."

You know, brothers and sisters, we really believe that it is time to resurrect our pride again. It is time to rediscover our faith, it is time to rediscover the tradition, what no other tradition has ever done in the course of humankind. We are the most successful religious tradition while the founder is alive. Give it up for UC. Come on (Applause). Our attitude should be like this, "I respect who I am and I respect my tradition, that's mine! That's not anybody else's, that's mine! And if you don't respect it that's your choice but you don't bother me because I'm going to keep growing in it. And I'm going to keep putting those roots down and I'm going to keep passing it down to my children." We have to be proud in who we are, brothers and sisters.

And I see this. I see it's happening. I see it; I feel it in the churches. I feel it; even the second generation are making a stand. They decide, "Do you know what! Enough is enough. I'm sick and tired of hiding my UC identity! I am tired of being persecuted, having my children be persecuted at school. I'm tired of it! I'm tired of bending the pressure of negative people; I'm tired of it! I don't want that anymore. I'm going to stand for who I am. I'm going to fight the good fight of faith. I am a Unificationist."

You see, every week that we are out here, and we're giving joy and glory to God, what are we saying? We're saying, "We're not disappearing." We're making a stand every week that we're out here. When we we are sending those praises up, when we're singing the glory to God, we're saying,"UC is here to stay!" Let's say it to your neighbor, "UC is here to stay!" Tell your neighbor. (Doing it!).

You see, every week when we do that, we're telling the enemy, "You can't scare us, you can't oppress us. You can't get rid of us. You may want to. You may want to mock us; you may try to laugh at us. You may try to say, we are going to melt away into oblivion, but we're not going to listen to that. Thank you very much. We're going to be proud of who we are and we're joyous. We are happy about who we are."

And brothers and sisters, when we show that kind of confidence, when we show that kind of power, when we show that kind of strength from the inside, then something happens to people when they see that. People will say, "Hey! Wait a minute, these people have something I don't. These people have more confidence I ever assumed. Wow! These people! I thought UC was dead. I thought the church was dying." But what do they see? Now they see the resurrection of the UC! Brothers and sisters, let's give it up for UC all around the world. Let's give it up for them. (Applause) Those are our brothers and sisters all around the world.

But so many people may say, "But if I take a stand, people will make fun of me, they're going to mock me. It's going to be hard. It's going to be difficult in my life!" Brothers and sisters, don't ever let insecure people try to scare you out of your destiny, out of your amazing potential. Don't be a doormat to some insecure person! Your destiny is not to be a doormat so that insecure people can feel confident about themselves. That is not why God put you on this earth. He put you here to do something great. He put you here with those dreams to do something amazing. He put you on this earth to make a difference and that's we're going to stand for.

"See, but what if I stand, what if I fall down, if I am going to fail? If I stand up everybody will be able to see me, I'll be so nervous. I may fall, I may not be able to do what I stood up to do." But brothers and sisters, just understand this: By the fact of you standing, you are already becoming more victorious than yesterday. By the fact of you just rising and saying, "I'm going to take a stand. I'm no longer going to be a doormat to that co-worker. I'm no longer going to be a doormat to that person who feels insure about himself. I'm not going to be a doormat to that situation anymore. I'm not going to let the enemy laugh at me anymore."

When we make that kind of stand, brothers and sisters, we're already becoming stronger, we're already changing our mentality, we're taking off that grave clothes and putting on the victory cloth. And we're saying, " You know what? In this year 2009, in all my life, I'm going to see God's blessings today and forever. I will walk through the shadows of the valley of death with confidence but I will see my promise because God said that He would fulfill them for me." When we have that kind of confidence then we move forward with strength and victory. That is inspiring, brothers and sisters!

Think about it, in True Father's life, when you look at his life we can see him taking a stand for what he believes. All the time he stands up for what he believes. He takes a stand even in the midst of tremendous opposition. When True Father was imprisoned in the North Korean communist camp, he took a stand for God. He said, "You may not believe in God. You may be a country that defies God saying, 'He doesn't exist, He's unnecessary, religion is useless, it's a poison.' You may be those kinds of people but I'm going to fight for God. I'm going to fight for religious freedom." He took that stand. He was imprisoned in that kind of communist nation but he took that stand at the cost of his life.

When he was left for dead, when he was blooded and beaten, thrown naked unto the snow after torture, he took a stand for God, never giving up, never giving in to evil, never giving in so that the enemy can win. When he was thrown into Heungnam concentration camp, he was in despair, total misery but he took a stand. He took a stand for compassion, he shared his food with his inmates, he gave them compassion when they had no hope. He raised away their despair and gave them something to live for, a purpose that they were able to connect to.

When he was unfairly thrown in Danbury prison, he took a stand for religious freedom. Did you know that when Father was in Danbury prison, every day he volunteered to clean the toilet and the urinals? He volunteered to be the best prisoner on the block. "I was persecuted and I was put into prison but I'm going to stand up for religious freedom. Even though I was unjustly persecuted, I'm going to go to the lowest area. I'm going to clean the urinals; I'm going to be the best prisoner." What happened? Those guards, they ended up respecting him. They ended up saying, "You know, that Rev. Moon is a real deal. He's no fake."

When the 11 ton helicopter fell from the sky in 2008, when it was incinerated in the ashes and exploded in the fire inferno, what did Father do with all those 11 passengers, including my 2 kids? What did they do? They stood up. They stood up from the ashes. They were resurrected! Brothers and sisters, let's give it up for God and True Parents! They did the real resurrection. (Applauding).

See, we're talking about that today. We're talking about making a stand in our life. We're talking about believing in something, connecting ourselves to a larger purpose. We're talking about being confident in our life. We're talking about being proud of who God made us to be.

Brothers and sisters, in 2009 let's know that we will have to make a stand at points. There will be times when there will be obstacles. There will be archangels that come in your path, tell you you can't do it, tell you it's only going to get worse, tell you you're going to fail even more, tell you you're not going to be able to achieve that goal, you're too idealistic, you're totally unrealistic, you are not thinking realistically, etc. You're going to hear all these kinds of things. You'll going to have opposition. You're going to have circumstances in your life that are going to try to convince you that you're not going to make it, that you're not going to be able to reach God's promise.

But let us know that we have to make a stand in our lives. When the fears try to come and try to steal our joy, we have to make a stand, saying, "You know what? In 2009 I'm not going to let you steal my joy. You stole my joy too many times last year. I will not let you steal my joy this time. 2009 is going to be victory for me, victory for my family, victory for my community, victory for my church." See, we've got to be like this.

"But the economy may get worse, our situation may get bad!" You turn on KBS, turn on CNN, it's all gloom and doom, despair and misery. "It's going to be worse and worse." Brothers and sisters, if you keep listening to that, you will start believing every single ounce of it.

Brothers and sisters, you've got to have strength in yourself. You've got to say, "You know what? Even though that may be the case I'm still going to praise God through this season. I know that this may be a cold winter but I know that spring is around the corner. I'm going to keep believing, set my eyes on faith, set my eyes on the blooming of spring, set my eyes on the beautiful flowers that are going to come in that beautiful garden and I'm going to move through this winter with faith. I'm going to move through this winter with strength. I'm going to make a stand for myself and my family."

Brothers and sisters, we've got to have that kind of strength. When we may be tempted to fall into fear of failure, fear of destruction, fear of other people, when other people try to get you down, we have to make a stand this year, brothers and sisters. God is on our side. And I heard it like this,"When God is on your side, you are the majority." Brothers and sisters, let's tell the person next to you, "God is on my side." Tell that person! Let's proclaim it! (All say it)

See, brothers and sisters, let's realize that we may be mocked, we maybe taunted, "These Unificationists, they are crazy, they're trying to go to the world stage. They think that with their little religion they're trying to go to the world stage, trying to create a World Temple. They're trying to get world attention." You know, when we hear things like that we've got to say, "I'm making a stand! In 2009 I'm making a stand!"

We're proud of who we are. We have a great tradition. We're the most successful religion in all of history while the founder is alive. There is no religion that has succeeded this much and we are proud of who we are. We're not going to be proud one thousand years later when everything's good. We're proud of who we are despite the opposition. We're proud of who we are despite of our circumstance. We're proud of who we are despite of where we are at this time in history. But we know that it's going to get better. We know we're going to have victory. We know we're going to have illumination, we know we're going to have peace. Hallelujah! Oh my God! Oh my goodness!!! (Applause) We know we're not going to disappear. Tell your neighbor, "I'm not disappearing!" Tell your neighbor, "I'm not going to disappear!" (They do) Oh my goodness!

Brothers and sisters, let's remember, when the enemy tries to scare you this year, when he tries to bring out the worst in you, when he tries to make you doubt your family, doubt your children, doubt your circumstances, doubt your finances, you tell him, "No, no, no honey! Not this year! 2009 I'm going to be victorious. 2009 I'm going to bring greater glory to God!"

If you accept this message, let's give it up for God and True Parents, brothers and sisters. (Applause) If we live like that we will find ourselves with more victory, more illumination and more peace and we will live that blessed life, being a greater blessing to this world.

For the video pls click on http://tworiversvip.com/index.php?option=com_seyret&Itemid=335&catid=2

Important Jan 31st Blessing Announcement from BC's of Facebook

2009-01-21T11:23:00.012+01:00

For Second Generation Couples matched by True Parents, Second Generation couples matched by their parents, matched First Generation couples, previously married First Gen. couples, and Ambassadors for Peace who wish to attend the blessing on January 31st 2008 at the Grand Ballroom, Manhattan Center in New York City, NY.

For 2nd Generation Couples matched by True Parents only: if an international spouse is unable to enter the USA for the Ceremony, it is permissible to attend with an 8" x 10" photo of your fiance.

All participants in the Blessing are expected to arrive on Thursday evening, Jan. 29th or Friday morning, Jan. 30th, by 8:00am. The exact location for the Friday breakfast and program is still being decided. Friday is an important, required day of orientation and education.

All information you need to know is in the messege below. The message has been edited only slightly, for security reasons.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Facebook
Date: Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 4:13 AM
Subject: "the BCs of Facebook" sent you a message on Facebook...
To: "Christopher D. Osborn"

Bethany Phillips sent a message to the members of the BCs of Facebook.

--------------------
Subject: IMPORTANT BLESSING ANNOUNCEMENT

Hey guys,

Sorry about the spammage, but this one's important and needs to get out ASAP:

From Nari Stephens:

This is the Official Jan 31st Blessing Info Page. It will be updated periodically with more information as the date comes closer for people.

http://familyfed.org/bfd/events/blessing/20090131/info.html

If anyone has any further questions, they can ask:
Nari Stephens as a BFD admin assistant (bfd.usa.admin (at) gmail.com),
BFD Co-director Hiromi Stephens (ommahiromi (at) verizon.net), or
BC Blessing Dept Director Inguk Seo (inguk (at) familyfed.org)

---------------------------------------------

Take care, everyone! And make it an awesome life!
<3 from your sister,
~Bethany
--------------------

From Bergen, Hordaland, Norge,

Christopher D. Osborn

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

2009-01-19T15:38:00.005+01:00

This is the full version of Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have A Dream" Speach

Today is one of the greatest American holydays, a day where we are encurage to serve others, without conpensation, no matter who they are. First, here's a link from a post on my other blog which gives advice on how you might like to spend your day today:

http://fipher.blogspot.com/2009/01/fwd-people-need-you-martin-luther-king.html

Next, I'd life to share a song, lyrics provided by k-state.edu:

We Shall Overcome

Lyrics derived from Charles Tindley's gospel song "I'll Overcome Some Day" (1900), and opening and closing melody from the 19th-century spiritual "No More Auction Block for Me" (a song that dates to before the Civil War). According to Professor Donnell King of Pellissippi State Technical Community College (in Knoxville, Tenn.), "We Shall Overcome" was adapted from these gospel songs by "Guy Carawan, Candy Carawan, and a couple of other people associated with the Highlander Research and Education Center, currently located near Knoxville, Tennessee. I have in my possession copies of the lyrics that include a brief history of the song, and a notation that royalties from the song go to support the Highlander Center."

1.	We shall overcome We shall overcome We shall overcome some day

CHORUS:

Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome some day

2.	We'll walk hand in hand We'll walk hand in hand We'll walk hand in hand some day

CHORUS

3.	We shall all be free We shall all be free We shall all be free some day

CHORUS

4.	We are not afraid We are not afraid We are not afraid some day

CHORUS

5.	We are not alone We are not alone We are not alone some day

CHORUS

6.	The whole wide world around The whole wide world around The whole wide world around some day

CHORUS

7.	We shall overcome We shall overcome We shall overcome some day

CHORUS

SOURCES:

Eileen Southern, The Music of Black Americans: A History, Second Edition (Norton, 1971): 546-47, 159-60.
The International Lyrics Server. <http://www.lyrics.ch/query/normal?artist=&album=&song=We+Shall+Overcome>. March 1998.
Donnell King, email message, 29 Nov. 1999.

For the creation of Cheon-Il-Guk,

from Bergen, Hordaland, Norge,

Christopher D. Osborn

Fwd: European Blessed Family Department - Invitation to the 23rd European Blessing Workshop

2009-01-03T00:00:00.000+01:00

Here's a message from the European Blessed Family Department and European Second Generation Blessing Affairs of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification - Europe.

Emails have been either deleted or slightly edited for security reasons. Also, some blank space with deleted for convenience sake. Otherwise, the messege is exactly how I received it.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Knut Holdhus
Date: Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Subject: Fwd: European Blessed Family Department - Invitation to the 23rd European Blessing Workshop

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: European Office
Date: Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 5:18 PM
Subject: European Blessed Family Department - Invitation to the 23rd European Blessing Workshop

European Blessed Family Department

Invitation to the 23^rd European Blessing Workshop

Please ensure that a copy of this letter is given to all Second Generation over 17 years of age and their Parents in your country!

It is my great pleasure to inform you about the upcoming blessing Workshop in Europe. Especially during this time when the True Parents have taken responsibility to conduct matchings and Blessings for the Second Generation it is important, that we are well informed and prepared to attend our True Parents and prepare well for receiving the blessing. As parents will also continue to do matchings it is important also to understand well how we can fulfil this responsibility as Blessed Families.

The Blessing WS will be a time for the participants, both the parents and the 2^nd Generation members, to prepare for the Matching process and the Blessing. We will use the time to go in detail into the meaning and process of the Blessing as well as how we can and should prepare ourselves in our hearts as well as practically for attending God and TP through the Blessing. There will be time to share and also work on one's personal situation.

Please note that people who have not attending a Blessing workshop will not be eligible to attend the Blessing.

23^rd Blessing WS:

Invited are: All Second Generation over 17 years of age (born on or before February 31^st of 1992) and all Parents who have children in this age.

Dates: 9^th – 12^th April 2009
Arrival/Departure: by 4 pm on the 9^th of April– 2 pm on the 12^th of April 2009
Place: Grävenwiesbach, Germany
Hasselborner Str. 20
61279 Grävenwiesbach/Ts

(http://www.djh-hessen.de/jh/graevenwiesbach)

Cost: 110 euro (100 euro for every further member of the same family).

Registration: Please register with Tadatoshi in the ESGD (tada(at)esgd.org / Tel: 0049 69 74745933).

If you have any questions feel free to contact the ESGD.

Please bring: slippers, notes, sleeping bag is not needed.

Please also note, that the Blessing homepage is accessible: www.2ndgenblessing.com

Here you will be able to find all information concerning the Blessing, the application process and also about the upcoming Blessing WS. Feel free to take a look and send us comments or questions.

Yours sincerely,

Pres. Yong-Cheol Song

President FFWPU – Europe

Geros Kunkel
European Second Generation Blessing Affairs
www.esgd.org / www.2ndgenblessing.com

Centering on True Love, for The Fight for Cheon-Il-Guk,

Christopher D. Osborn
Bergen, Hordaland, Norge

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T13:49:00.002+01:00

ARABIC =عام سعيد (aam saiid) / sana saiida
AFRIKAANS= gelukkige nuwejaar
ALBANIAN= Gëzuar vitin e ri
CATALAN= bon any nou
DANISH = godt nytår
ESTONIAN= head uut aastat
FINNISH= onnellista uutta vuotta
FRENCH= bonne année
GEORGIAN = გილოცავთ ახალ წელს (gilocavt akhal tsels)
GERMAN= ein gutes neues Jahr / prost Neujahr
HEBREW= שנה טובה (shana tova)
HINDI = nav varsh ki subhkamna
HUNGARIAN= boldog új évet
ICELANDIC= farsælt komandi ár
IRISH GAELIC = ath bhliain faoi mhaise
ITALIAN= felice anno nuovo, buon anno
LATIN= felix sit annus novus
NORWEGIAN= godt nyttår
PERSIAN= سال نو مبارک (sâle no mobârak)
POLISH= szczęśliwego nowego roku
PORTUGUESE= feliz ano novo
ROMANIAN= un an nou fericit / la mulţi ani
RUSSIAN= С Новым Годом (S novim godom)
SLOVAK= stastlivy novy rok
SLOVENIAN = srečno novo leto
SPANISH = feliz año Nuevo
SWEDISH = gott nytt år
SWAHILI= mwaka mzuri / heri ya mwaka mpya
TURKISH= yeni yiliniz kutlu olsun
YIDDISH = a gut yohr
WELSH= blwyddyn newydd dda
THAI= สวัสดีปีใหม่ (sawatdii pimaï)
SWISS-GERMAN = es guets Nöis

60th Anniversary of the Signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Dr. Hyun Jin Moon

2008-12-13T00:00:00.000+01:00

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon: Interfaith Cooperation, Protection of Human Rights and Dignity
December 02, 2008

A Symposium in Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Address at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. It is indeed a privilege and a high honor to speak to you here at the United Nations today. I'd like to thank the missions of Guinea, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nepal for their support of this precedent-setting initiative.

For the last month the eyes of the world have been on Barack Obama, President-elect of the United States, and his preparations to take office. Each new appointment to his cabinet team is being scrutinized hopefully for evidence that we are about to witness a new era in this country with new policies that can bring about peace and prosperity for all people.

"Change, yes we can!" has become the slogan of not only a successful campaign but also a message of hope at a time of national and global crisis. Of course, change for the sake of change is not enough. The goal and direction of that change is far more important.

This is therefore a very good time for the United Nations to reflect upon its own strategies and policies to create peace, and to consider options that will help the UN gain greater support from all the nations and peoples of the world.

Eight years ago, my father, the Reverend Dr. Sun Myung Moon, speaking right here in this room, predicted that the greatest challenge to peace in the 21st century would come from conflict between religions and their followers.

For that reason, he urged the UN to quickly create an "Interreligious Council" that would bring together the leaders of the world's great faiths.

There are several reasons why this is so important. Firstly, the UN certainly needs to pay a lot attention to the voices of the faith communities of the world. More than 90 percent of the world is religious, and spiritual passions are a fundamental source of meaning and purpose for most people on the planet. Religions, at their best, must bring their wisdom to bear on the great problems facing humanity.

The second and equally important reason is that the creation of such an Interreligious Council will allow the United Nations to play a coordinating and mediating role when conflict and dispute arises. Moreover, the religious leaders and the communities they represent could be better held to account for their actions when they become part of the formal UN structure.

When my father first made these recommendations in 2000, there was considerable skepticism that religion and religious issues were really that significant. 9/11 has changed all that.

If, as seems likely, the recent atrocities in Mumbai, India, prove to have had a religious as well as a political motive, this will only serve to underline that religion has become one of the most important peace issues of our time.

Of course the religions of the world should not just be waiting for the United Nations to act. All of them must urgently find ways to come into closer relationships with each other. We need to focus on the vast areas of common ground, rather than obsess on the much smaller areas of difference.

We need a new, spiritual vision of peace for the 21st century that can bring all people of faith together as one. That vision, I believe, is "One Family Under God."

Relations between faith traditions are about much more than mere toleration of one another's prayers and rituals. A true interfaith experience is a celebration of the core principles that bind all God-affirming people together as one family.

The family is universal. Regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, and religion, we are all members of families. The family represents the most intimate of relationships. When we feel close to someone, we use familial terms, saying "that person is like my father, my mother, my brother, my sister." In the family we are meant to learn to love humanity in all its richness and diversity.

However, although all religions agree that marriage and family are the fundamental building blocks of any society, the reality is that the United States and all other nations are in danger of losing these most valuable traditions and institutions. Divorce and family breakdown are at an all time high. Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise, even among the youngest teenagers. Violence and crime among young people are on the rise, and many say they have little hope of securing dignified, meaningful jobs to support their future families.

The social and economic cost of this breakdown of the family is staggering. The breakdown of the family contributes directly to poverty, disease, child mortality and is possibly the single most significant obstacle to the fulfillment of the UN Millennium Development Goals. If we are to realize "One Family Under God" we must invest, "one family at a time."

Another immediate practical task of all religions is to create a global culture of service, or "living for the sake of others." Imagine if young people from enemy nations worked side by side in service! Any misunderstandings and hatred that existed would fade away as they sweat, cry, and laugh together with a common purpose and cause.

To this end, I would like to see the United Nations encourage every nation's faith-based and community partners to join with those of other countries to establish a Global Peace Corps that will be more than just an American or European effort.

Finally, I want say that the best way to solve the ongoing problem of human rights violations is through creating "One Family Under God."

When the Global Peace Festival visited Ottawa, Canada, in October, we took a moment to participate in a simple ceremony to honor John Humphries, the Canadian statesman who was the principal author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The head of the Canada Human Rights Commission reminded us that the Declaration of Human Rights, like the United Nations itself, was never intended to be entirely secular. The authors had in mind the claims of the American Declaration of Independence, which states that all people have "inalienable rights, endowed by their Creator."

Unfortunately, the ability of the UN to honor these religious and spiritual concerns was largely taken hostage by Cold War tensions and the desire to keep the communist nations at the negotiating table.

The world today, however, is very different. We must return to the original ideal and dream of the founders of the United Nations, to create one human family that will never again know the scourge of war.

In order to do this, we must recognize the need to break new ground in order to establish a path to peace. It must be rooted in a spiritual vision which can bring people of faith together as "One Family Under God."

Imagine the power of one human family united! It can quell the turmoil of conflict throughout the world, from the strife and poverty of Africa, to the conflict in the Middle East, and the final remnant of the Cold War on the Korean Peninsula.

As citizens of the world, let us make a solemn pledge to dream the greatest dream of all, to lead the world to peace at last through the vision of "One Family Under God."

Thank you very much.

--
In true brotherly love,

Christopher D. Osborn
battleforheaven.blogspot.com
www.globalpeacefestival.org
www.upf.org

December Holy Days

2008-12-10T14:11:00.008+01:00

Hey, it's December! Happy Holidays! Which holidays you ask? All of them! Here's a list from Religious Youth Service.

RYS honors the observance of the following Holy days: December

6
Saint Nicholas Day - Christian

6-9
Hajj - Islam

7
Waqf al Arafa - Hajj Day - Islam

8
Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) - Buddhism
Immaculate Conception - Catholic Christian

9
Eid al Adha - Islam

12
Feast day - Our Lady of Guadalupe - Catholic Christian
Advent/Nativity Fast begins - Orthodox Christian

16-25
Posadas Navidenas - Christian

21
Yule - Christian

22-29
Hanukkah - Jewish

25
Christmas - Christian
Feast of the Nativity - Orthodox Christian

26
Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathushtra) - Zoroastrian

28
Holy Innocents - Christian
Feast of the Holy Family - Catholic Christian

29
Hijra - Muharram (first day of new year) - Islam

31
Watch Night - Christian

Now, you might wonder - “Why isn’t Kwanzaa listed on this list?!” Well, I can’t say for sure, for I am no true representative of RYS. Here’s my suggestion though. The Religious Youth Service is a part of the Universal Peace Federation.

There are a couple key principles which lie at the core of the UPF. First, that no matter what race, religion, or national you come from, you are a child of God and thereby at your most fundamental level no less or more important, and no different, than anyone else. It argues that one day all our barriers should be obliterated, literally, through interracial, interreligious, and international marriage.

Through one persons viewpoint, Kwansaa would be a great holy day for RYS and the UPF as a whole to celebrate, because it’s an interreligious holy day. The thing is, while it is interreligious by celebrating the creator but not naming a specific creator, it is not interracial. Kwanzaa is highly focused on Africans, and anyone who was not African or of African decent showing up at a Kwanzaa party would probably feel rather out of place. This makes Kwanzaa very uniting for people of African decent, but quite divisive for everyone else.

So, this is my first personal guess as to why Kwanzaa is not on the RYS list. Then again, I guess Kwanzaa is just as divisive as any other holy day. Jews don’t celebrate Christmas, and Christians don’t celebrate Bodhi Day. So while Kwanza is racially divisive but religiously uniting, other religious holy days could be considered religiously both uniting and divisive.

Perhaps then, Kwanzaa isn’t on the list because it was founded more as a racial and cultural holiday than a religious holy day, and RYS has a focus on bringing together different religious people. Or, maybe they just forgot, who knows? In any case, I hope nobody holds it against them, for no matter what their reasoning I’m 100% positive they meant no harm.

As a Christian Unificationist, this December I’ll be only be celebrating Christmas on 25th (in addition to the two days before and the day after - per my wife's Norwegian tradition, though we will be in the United States this year). I’d love to celebrate them all, but who really has time to actively celebrate every holy day? Maybe if there were no such thing as the military, yet every single human had a job, there would be so many people in the work place that each individual would have enough time so that everyone could celebrate every holy day. Until then, I’ll pretty much stick to my own sectarian holy days and national holidays - unless of course invited to celebrate with a friend of another faith (hint hint, wink wink).

Merry Christmas and happy Holy days,

Christopher D. Osborn
Bergen, Hordeland, Norge

Global Peace Festival - UK Details

2008-11-18T08:29:00.006+01:00

Hello everybody!

Only three days to the Global Peace Festival in London, being held on Nov. 22nd at ExCel London Docklands. So, I thought I'd post the schedule here. Below I'll also have ticket and travel information.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9 AM to 12 PM: European Inter-Religious Forum: "European Year of Inter-Cultural Dialogue"

This is a delegate only event, for London ILC delegates and registered European Ambassadors for peace.

1 PM to 8 PM: Culture of Peace Exhibition
NGO stands, art, film, and networking hub. Click here for more general information, or here for information about renting an exhibition booth.

Open to all GPF Ticket (£10) and Day Pass (£20) holders.

1:45 PM to 4 PM: Focus Sessions (1:45 registration, 2:15 sessions begin)
Bringing together peace activists to network, share, and take home a best practice or two.

Women's Initiatives
The Environment
Marriage and Family
Community Cohesion
Peace and Development Networks (MDGs)
Interreligious Cooperation

This is for pre-registered participants only - with a GPF Day Pass (£20).

4:30 PM to 7 PM: Global Peace Concert!

Peace has never been so loud! Bring family and friends! Great international performers, speakers, and awards!

Amung those sharing the stage will be:

Dawud Wharnsby
Ola Onabule
Patti Boulaye
The Royal Philharmonic Ensemble
Steve Balsamo(The Storys)

For more details on the performers, click here.

Open to all GPF Ticket (£10) and Day Pass (£20) holders.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Global Peace Festival celebrates the vision of 'One Family Under God' by developing ongoing programs that:

Raise and nurture strong marriages and families
Facilitate Inter-religious harmony
Foster a culture of peace and service

The GPF I attended in Washington D.C . exemplified this basic statement, and after visiting GPF UK headquarters in the beginning of October I am sure GPF Lodnon will be just as much of a success. I truely hope that anyone who is able to will come to this event. I am so very disapointed that I won't be able to go myself.

Here's the infor you need. First, click here to puchas tickets to the main event, or her e to find out about getting a free ticket. For tickets to the Focus Sessions or to purchas a booth, click here.

Now, how do you get there?

ExCeL London is located 10-minutes from Canary Wharf, in the heart of London's Royal Docks.

There is easy access to the venue - with 3 onsite DLR (Docklands Light Railway) stations, easy access to London Underground (Jubilee Line - 2-stops), parking for 4,000 cars and an international airport 5-minutes away.

View Larger Map

For more information about getting to ExCeL London, go here.

Feel like helping out but don't have the time or money to travel? Click here to donate, or here to find out about a Global Peace Festival near you.

More information will be coming up about a much smaller related event in Oslo, Norge this December. So far all I know is that it'll be on December 14th, and it looks like it's just going to be a small even to commemorate the GPF in London, showing a DVD and that sort of thing, but I can't say for sure as this just came up to my attention 12 hours ago.

For One Family Under God,

Christopher D. Osborn

Posted from Løbergsveien, Bergen, Norge.
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Fwd: Congo: Time to Act

2008-11-14T10:06:00.002+01:00

Have you ever seen the movie Hotel Rwanda? How about Blood Diomond? Well, it seems as though what is going on right now in Eastern Congo is like a combination of both of these situations. Different nations and other groups are fighting eachother for natural recourses, while the same groups from Rawanda are at the killing and raping of civilians again, this time in Eastern Congo(where they fled from prosecution after the Rwanda Genocide). Oh, and once again United Nations troops are present, but aren't accomplishing anything whatsoever.

Accourding to Avaaz (I know it wounds like some sort of terrorist organization, but it looks like a lagitimate not for profit based in Europe, Canada, and the United States) anyway, the U.N. troops stationed there are not allowed to protect civillians, while they have been fighting nalongside the Congolise army, and have been accused of sheltering pro-government mallitias.

If that last statement is true, here's what I think should happen. First, the current U.N. force should be fulled out, for they are already in the mindset of taking a side. Second, I new dominantly french-speaking U.N. peacekeeping force should be deployed with the express mission to protect civillians and provide a safe zone for peacekeeping talks to occur. Finally, reconcilliation experts from the United Nations and the Universal Peace Federartion should be sent to this no-fighting zone to help calm to mood and allow for fair-minded treaties to be written and signd. Once treaties are signed, the United Nations Troops are not to leave until these traties are actually implimented. In addition, justice must be had and those who have commited crimes must be put on trial and punished through the International Criminal Tribunal.

Below is some information and a plea for help from Avaaz, and indipendent global NGO that works to ensure the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paul Hilder - Avaaz.org
Date: 2008/11/12
Subject: Congo: Time to Act

Dear friends,

The people of Congo are being terrorised -- they need protection urgently, Europe could help but our leaders are delaying -- call on them to act urgently to protect civilians:
Take action now

The people of Congo need our help. In recent weeks over 200,000 people have been driven from their homes, and murder and rape are rife. Families are running for their lives, caught between the brutal violence of both the rebels and the Congolese army. But shockingly, European foreign ministers meeting earlier this week said it's too early to act.

Europe can deploy a well-equipped protection force to be on the ground in two weeks - no one else can get such a capable presence in that fast. European engagement could push back the armed groups and put real pressure on Congo and neighbouring countries, curbing this humanitarian disaster and making peace possible. This tough crisis will not be solved militarily, but civilians need protection now, and facing down the warlords on all sides will make a political deal more likely.

The lesson of Rwanda was to step in before it's too late -- Europe's politicians seem to have forgotten that. The people of eastern Congo need us urgently. Send a message to your leader and forward this email to friends and family -- we'll also place our message in newspapers around Europe, so follow this link to take action:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/european_action_on_congo/?cl=147002389&v=2418

The recent clashes between General Nkunda's militias and the Congolese army are the latest in a place where the population has been attacked and terrorised for years by armed groups. Over five million people have been killed. It's been termed 'Africa's world war', with Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia all getting involved. The fighting is fed by a lethal war economy based on the extraction of minerals such as coltan, cobalt, diamonds and gold, to which we're all connected through the worldwide market.

Allegations abound of Angolan and Zimbabwean troops fighting alongside the Congolese army -- Congolese army soldiers committing atrocities and working with militias including the Rwandan Hutu Forces, some of whose leaders were responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide -- and the Rwandan army supporting General Nkunda to muscle the Congolese government to fulfill its commitment to demobilise these same Hutu militias. So it is no surprise that African-only diplomacy is faltering.

The United Nations mission (MONUC) is in Congo to keep the peace between this web of armed groups, but recently it has made clear statements that it cannot protect civilians. We have heard reliably that MONUC are desperate for a rapid EU bridging force to do what they can't and start restoring international legitimacy, which has been lost through overstretch and perceptions of taking sides -- UN troops have fought alongside the Congolese army and are even accused of sheltering pro-government militias.

To have a credible and effective force the United Nations mission will soon have to be reformed and redeployed. In the longer term, the international community needs to be a strong and honest broker to ensure implementation of peace agreements and confront the underlying issues feeding this war. If Europe sends a short-term, neutral force to the region now to protect civilians, it can start to change the terms of this brutal game -- providing a basis both to defend the defenceless and to apply political leverage to all sides. Click below to send a message asking your own country's leader to support action now:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/european_action_on_congo/?cl=147002389&v=2418

We cannot let the best chance to stop the terror in Congo slip by as European leaders turn their backs. Congo needs concerted engagement now. Europe is providing millions in aid to Congo and Rwanda to ensure reconstruction and development, but without a more forceful and permanent push, there will be no peace to keep.

Let's flood European leaders with requests for firm action. Sign the petition and please send it to your friends and family:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/european_action_on_congo/?cl=147002389&v=2418

With hope,

Paul, Alice, Pascal, Ricken, Ben, Paula, Brett, Graziela, Iain and Milena - the Avaaz.org team

PS: For a report on Avaaz's campaigning so far, see: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/report_back_2

PSS: Here are links to sources for this alert:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article5126970.ece

http://www.monuc.org/news.aspx?newsID=18960

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/10/congo-kiwanja-un-goma-angola-laurent-nkunda-war-crimes-fighting

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/congos-tragedy-the-war-the-world-has-forgotten-14023616.html

http://www.monuc.org/news.aspx?newsID=18996

http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2008/081107_Mulet.doc.htm

ABOUT AVAAZ Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in Ottawa, London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Sydney and Geneva. Call us at: +1 888 922 8229. Click here to learn more about our largest campaigns. Don't forget to check out our Facebook and Myspace and Bebo pages!
You are getting this message because you signed "Stand with Tibet - Support the Dalai Lama" on 2008-03-18 using the email address mailto:brunoklotz@gmail.com. To ensure that Avaaz messages reach your inbox, please add mailto:avaaz@avaaz.org to your address book. To change your email address, language settings, or other personal information, https://secure.avaaz.org/act/index.php?r=profile&user=6cdb18d3ffa2abdcd0395ff46203f035&lang=en, or simply go here to unsubscribe.

To contact Avaaz, please do not reply to this email. Instead, write to info@avaaz.org. You can also call us or send postal mail to our New York office: 857 Broadway, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10003 U.S.A. p: 1-888-YA-AVAAZ (1-888-922-8229) If you have technical problems, please go to http://www.avaaz.org/

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NEWS - GPF Korea Success

2008-11-11T00:19:00.004+01:00

Below is a new report from the Universal Peace federation about the successful Global Peace Festival in Korea, which was held from November 7th to the 9th.

Let us celebrate its success and pray for the success of future GPF's as well. More importantly, let us pray that these GPF's will not simply be big parties with good intentions, but truly produce real differences toward peace in the world.

As of 2008, South Korea is in 32nd place in the Global Peace Index, while North Korea is in 133rd place. In comparison, Russia is in 131st, Japan is in 5th, China is in 67th, and the United States is 97th. The six party talks seem to have a very wide range of peacefulness within the individual member nations.

Also of note reguarding the Global Peace Index: Norge (Norway), where I am posting this from, is in 3rd. With Iceland in 1st and Danmark in 2nd, I'd say Scandinavia has come a long way from it's Viking days and I am quite proud to be living here maried to a Scandinavian.

I've noticed that the pictures haven't loaded, so here's a link to the Global Peace Festival website where you will be able to see a sideshow. For more GPF news, go here.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Knut Holdhus
Date: Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Subject: Fwd: NEWS - GPF Korea Success

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: European Office FFWPU
Date: 2008/11/10
Subject: NEWS - GPF Korea Success

New Hope For Korean Reunification

Can Korea ever be reunited? That was the urgent question posed separately to a crowd of tens of thousands at the Global Peace Festival in Seoul's Yoido Plaza, and to a smaller but highly placed group of more than 600 people at the Korean National Assembly. Congressmen and women and representatives of the international diplomatic community in Seoul gathered November 7-9 for a frank and often outspoken debate on the need for new strategies for the reunification of Korea, the last divided nation on earth. The UPF's International Leadership Conference also included 177 delegates from 55 nations gathered in Seoul to celebrate the Global Peace Festival.

A view of the massive crowd at the Global Peace Festival Korea at Yoido Plaza

The Hon. Young-sun Song, a National Assemblywoman and Co-chair of the International Leadership Conference, outlined the case for a new approach to peacemaking. "The current Six-Party talks are producing only one winner, and that is North Korea," she said. "The more we talk, and the more aid we send to the North – more than US$6.7 billion already – the more the North develops its nuclear and military capabilities."

Mr. Cheol-hwan Kang, a defector from North Korea who now works for the Chosun Ilbo newspaper in Seoul, agreed that the North Korean leaders were being manipulative, but explained: "The reality is that the ordinary people of North Korea are in a disastrous situation. More than three million have already died from hunger. Human rights are almost non-existent, and even the deployment of more and more troops on the Chinese border is failing to prevent the flow of North Koreans wanting to defect."

The seminar featured panelists from each of the nations participating in the Six-Party talks that are the current framework for the peace process on the peninsula. In turn, each panelist outlined the primary and often conflicting concerns of their nations. With common land borders with North Korea, China and Russia are very cautious about any sudden changes. In contrast, the Japanese focus on the human rights abuses in the North, especially the much-publicized abductions of Japanese citizens to train as North Korean agents.

Dr. Victor Cha, former US National Security Director for Asian Affairs at the White House, sounded a more optimistic note. "The US-ROK alliance remains one of the most underrated," he said. After a low point in 2002 following death of two Korean girls accidentally run down by a US military vehicle, the alliance has gone from strength to strength, with ROK troops a key US ally in Iraq and playing peace-keeping roles in other nations.

"The key task facing the United States now is to prepare for change in the North," Cha said. "Kim Jong-il is not well, and there is no clear line of succession. The US and the ROK may very soon need a 'concept plan' to deal with the possibility of a collapse or implosion of the regime."

"The relationship between Korea and the United States is at a new turning point," said Hon. Hyong O Kim, Speaker of the Korean National Assembly, "and we hope that the election of Barack Obama will provide an opportunity for a new beginning for our two nations."

A highlight of the seminar was a moving ceremony to honor 21 Korean War Veterans representing all 16 nations of the United Nations Forces that defended South Korea after the North Korean invasion in 1950. "Australia is intimately involved with the Republic of Korea," said H.E. Peter Rowe, the Australian Ambassador to Korea in a greeting to the veterans. "We are proud to have spilled both blood and treasure here to help a young nation be free, a decision that has been vindicated by the progress this country has made."

"The Philippines is also proud to have been a member of the UN Command," said Ambassador Luis T. Cruz. "Over 7,000 Filipino soldiers served here in Korea, and for 116 it became their final resting place. We must not let the young generation forget the price of freedom."

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, the International President of the Universal Peace Federation, spoke to the need for the inclusion of faith leaders in a new peace process that would bring the conflict on the Korean peninsula to a final conclusion. "We only need to look back to the last century to recognize the futility of tackling the world's problems through the same old military, economic, political, and diplomatic solutions," he said. "Dealing with the symptoms of global crisis and conflict and ignoring the root cause just will not work. Without a foundation in the universal principles that come from God, there can be no lasting human rights and no peace."

Despite Korea's profound spiritual traditions going back over a thousand years, Dr. Moon said that the current situation was worrying. "The fact is that North Korea has become an atheistic, secular society, while here in the South we are seeing religious conflict as an increasing source of tension in our nation," he said. "We are in danger of losing our most valuable spiritual and moral traditions. This is why the vision of 'One Family under God' is so important for Korea at this time."

Rev. Jim Swilley and Bishop William Sheals, leaders of two fast-growing megachurches in the United States, representing the many faith leaders supporting the Global Peace Festival, strongly agreed. "Peace is always possible with God," said Swilley, speaking later that evening at an Opening Banquet for the Global Peace Festival, "even when it seems impossible from the perspective of men."

"Humanity is now entering a new era—the era of heaven that turns the world upside down," said UPF Founder, the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon. "The time of suffering for both God and human beings is coming to an end. We are in a new era of peace when all humanity can live as 'One Family under God.'"

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon speaks at the Global Peace Festival, Korea. Despite forecasts of rain, the weather was perfect.

On Sunday, November 9, the Global Peace Festival took its message of hope and reunification to the streets in a rousing appeal to the citizens of Seoul and Korea to stand up for peace. Tens of thousands came out to voice their support for a peaceful reunification with the North.

Interfaith 'peace waters' ceremony is introduced by Dr. Hyung Jin Moon, President of the Family Federation

Religious leaders from more than a dozen faiths joined an interfaith reconciliation ceremony in front of a cheering and enthusiastic crowd, and called for everyone present to make a personal, family, and national commitment to the work of peace, and above all to dream big dreams of peace.

"It is no coincidence that today a Korean, Ban Ki-moon, serves as the Secretary-General of the United Nations," said Dr. Hyun Jin Moon in his GPF keynote address. "I believe that it is God's will for Korea to work anew with the international community of nations and lead the peace process. Together, we can dare to dream the greatest dream of all, to create 'One Family under God.'"

Michael Balcomb
Communications Director
Universal Peace Federation

New Hope For Korean Reunification
Can Korea ever be reunited? That was the urgent question posed separately to a crowd of tens of thousands at the Global Peace Festival in Seoul's Yoido Plaza, and to a smaller but highly placed group of more than 600 people at the Korean National Assembly. Congressmen and women and representatives of the international diplomatic community in Seoul gathered November 7-9 for a frank and often outspoken debate on the need for new strategies for the reunification of Korea, the last divided nation on earth. The UPF's International Leadership Conference also included 177 delegates from 55 nations gathered in Seoul to celebrate the Global Peace Festival.

A view of the massive crowd at the Global Peace Festival Korea at Yoido Plaza
The Hon. Young-sun Song, a National Assemblywoman and Co-chair of the International Leadership Conference, outlined the case for a new approach to peacemaking. "The current Six-Party talks are producing only one winner, and that is North Korea," she said. "The more we talk, and the more aid we send to the North – more than US$6.7 billion already – the more the North develops its nuclear and military capabilities."
Mr. Cheol-hwan Kang, a defector from North Korea who now works for the Chosun Ilbo newspaper in Seoul, agreed that the North Korean leaders were being manipulative, but explained: "The reality is that the ordinary people of North Korea are in a disastrous situation. More than three million have already died from hunger. Human rights are almost non-existent, and even the deployment of more and more troops on the Chinese border is failing to prevent the flow of North Koreans wanting to defect."

The seminar featured panelists from each of the nations participating in the Six-Party talks that are the current framework for the peace process on the peninsula. In turn, each panelist outlined the primary and often conflicting concerns of their nations. With common land borders with North Korea, China and Russia are very cautious about any sudden changes. In contrast, the Japanese focus on the human rights abuses in the North, especially the much-publicized abductions of Japanese citizens to train as North Korean agents.

Dr. Victor Cha, former US National Security Director for Asian Affairs at the White House, sounded a more optimistic note. "The US-ROK alliance remains one of the most underrated," he said. After a low point in 2002 following death of two Korean girls accidentally run down by a US military vehicle, the alliance has gone from strength to strength, with ROK troops a key US ally in Iraq and playing peace-keeping roles in other nations.
"The key task facing the United States now is to prepare for change in the North," Cha said. "Kim Jong-il is not well, and there is no clear line of succession. The US and the ROK may very soon need a 'concept plan' to deal with the possibility of a collapse or implosion of the regime."
"The relationship between Korea and the United States is at a new turning point," said Hon. Hyong O Kim, Speaker of the Korean National Assembly, "and we hope that the election of Barack Obama will provide an opportunity for a new beginning for our two nations."

A highlight of the seminar was a moving ceremony to honor 21 Korean War Veterans representing all 16 nations of the United Nations Forces that defended South Korea after the North Korean invasion in 1950. "Australia is intimately involved with the Republic of Korea," said H.E. Peter Rowe, the Australian Ambassador to Korea in a greeting to the veterans. "We are proud to have spilled both blood and treasure here to help a young nation be free, a decision that has been vindicated by the progress this country has made."
"The Philippines is also proud to have been a member of the UN Command," said Ambassador Luis T. Cruz. "Over 7,000 Filipino soldiers served here in Korea, and for 116 it became their final resting place. We must not let the young generation forget the price of freedom."

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, the International President of the Universal Peace Federation, spoke to the need for the inclusion of faith leaders in a new peace process that would bring the conflict on the Korean peninsula to a final conclusion. "We only need to look back to the last century to recognize the futility of tackling the world's problems through the same old military, economic, political, and diplomatic solutions," he said. "Dealing with the symptoms of global crisis and conflict and ignoring the root cause just will not work. Without a foundation in the universal principles that come from God, there can be no lasting human rights and no peace."
Despite Korea's profound spiritual traditions going back over a thousand years, Dr. Moon said that the current situation was worrying. "The fact is that North Korea has become an atheistic, secular society, while here in the South we are seeing religious conflict as an increasing source of tension in our nation," he said. "We are in danger of losing our most valuable spiritual and moral traditions. This is why the vision of 'One Family under God' is so important for Korea at this time."
Rev. Jim Swilley and Bishop William Sheals, leaders of two fast-growing megachurches in the United States, representing the many faith leaders supporting the Global Peace Festival, strongly agreed. "Peace is always possible with God," said Swilley, speaking later that evening at an Opening Banquet for the Global Peace Festival, "even when it seems impossible from the perspective of men."

"Humanity is now entering a new era—the era of heaven that turns the world upside down," said UPF Founder, the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon. "The time of suffering for both God and human beings is coming to an end. We are in a new era of peace when all humanity can live as 'One Family under God.'"

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon speaks at the Global Peace Festival, Korea. Despite forecasts of rain, the weather was perfect.
On Sunday, November 9, the Global Peace Festival took its message of hope and reunification to the streets in a rousing appeal to the citizens of Seoul and Korea to stand up for peace. Tens of thousands came out to voice their support for a peaceful reunification with the North.

Interfaith 'peace waters' ceremony is introduced by Dr. Hyung Jin Moon, President of the Family Federation
Religious leaders from more than a dozen faiths joined an interfaith reconciliation ceremony in front of a cheering and enthusiastic crowd, and called for everyone present to make a personal, family, and national commitment to the work of peace, and above all to dream big dreams of peace.
"It is no coincidence that today a Korean, Ban Ki-moon, serves as the Secretary-General of the United Nations," said Dr. Hyun Jin Moon in his GPF keynote address. "I believe that it is God's will for Korea to work anew with the international community of nations and lead the peace process. Together, we can dare to dream the greatest dream of all, to create 'One Family under God.'"