Trip to Cuba by Beyoncé and Jay-Z Is Investigated
By DAMIEN CAVE
Published: April 8, 2013

MEXICO CITY — The United States Treasury Department has begun investigating whether Jay-Z and Beyoncé — music’s royal couple — violated the trade embargo against Cuba by traveling to the island two weeks ago during their wedding anniversary, according to officials and a person who helped arrange their visit.

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In a sudden predictable controversy that proves the embers of conflict between Miami and Havana are never far from becoming flames, Treasury officials on Monday said they were working on a response to demands for more information about the trip from two Cuban-American lawmakers from South Florida — Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart, both Republicans, who appear to be using the highly photographed visit to rekindle outrage about Americans going to Cuba for fun.

“Cuba’s tourism industry is wholly state-controlled,” Ms. Ros-Lehtinen and Mr. Diaz-Balart wrote in a letter to the Treasury Department on Friday, “therefore, U.S. dollars spent on Cuban tourism directly fund the machinery of oppression that brutally represses the Cuban people.”

Questions about the megastars’ trip have been swirling for days, with some Cuban exile bloggers describing the trip as a propaganda mission “carefully planned and controlled by the Castro dictatorship.” But witnesses in Cuba and a person affiliated with the company that arranged the trip, Academic Arrangements Abroad, contend that the visit was a surprise to Cuban leaders, who struggled to provide adequate security with just a day’s notice.

The three-night sojourn, according to the person who helped plan it, came together without input from the Cuban government like other visits for Americans under a “people to people” license — granted by the Treasury Department for trips that focus on “educational exchange activities that will result in meaningful interaction” between Americans and Cubans.

About 10,000 Americans go to Cuba each year with such tours, and the Treasury Department tightened the rules for trip agendas last year after Senator Marco Rubio, another Cuban-American Republican from Florida, criticized the tours for allowing tourism, which is banned by the embargo.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé visited the children’s theater group La Colmenita, where Beyoncé danced with little girls dressed as bumblebees, and met with students and teachers at the Superior Art Institute. Photographs also showed Jay-Z enjoying a Cuban cigar on the balcony of their government-owned hotel, the Saratoga, but the trip also included personal and intimate exchanges. The restaurants where Cubans saw the stars eating were privately owned “paladars.” Their public cultural outings occurred with an emphasis on interaction with everyday Cubans, not officials.

Miguel Iglesias, the director of the Cuban Contemporary Dance Company, said Beyoncé also went to the company on Friday morning to watch an informal performance. She arrived with her family (her mother was part of the tour group), and half-danced during the show before jumping up at the end with applause, saying the performance was “amazing.” He said she then talked to the choreographer and to him about the score and the choreography, because it is a piece that was written and choreographed by the company.

Asked if he thought it was an interesting exchange, Mr. Iglesias said it was. “If to come here and share ideas and emotions isn’t a legitimate exchange between peoples, I don’t what is,” he said.

He added: “There are those who think that any connection between Cuba and the United States is illegitimate because they disagree with the system. I don’t see it like that at all.”

Karla Zabludovsky contributed reporting.

Man arrested with CHARM in Church

A man, Ali Haruna, 25, a native of Kano State, northwest Nigeria, has been arrested by the police at the Maroko Police Division, Lekki, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, for allegedly entering the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, situated on Muri Okunola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos with charms strapped to his waist. He was arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate court on one count charge of illegally entering a church with charms.The police alleged that the accused was arrested following a complaint by members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, Victoria Island, Lagos, that they found the accused inside their church on 31 March, 2013 with charms. During interrogation, he allegedly told the police that he entered the church to pray to God. But when asked what he was doing with the charms he strapped to his waist, he could not give satisfactory answer nor explain how long he has been worshiping in the church since he claimed he was a Muslim.The church members suspected him to have entered the church to perpetrate evil.After investigation by Corporal Sekinat Akinbola, he was charged to court.The offence is contrary to and punishable under section 133(b) of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge, and Magistrate Mrs. Ope Agbe admitted him on bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety with proof of tax payment to the Lagos State government.She adjourned the matter till 29 April, 2013 for mention. The defendant was, however, moved to Ikoyi prison pending when he would fulfil the bail conditions.Share ‹›Home

“Going to Church”
Has it Gone Out of Fashion?

By Michael L. Patten

The Simple Church, Greek word Ecclesia, getting together in Jesus’ name

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In the post-modern culture of the early twenty-first century, the question, “Has going to church gone out of fashion?” seems to be very relevant. It would seem that many of my generation as well as those of my children’s generation have voted “yes” with their feet.

The percentage of American adults who identify themselves as Christian dropped from 86% in 1990 to 77% in 2001, as reported at religioustolerance.org. This website also quoted the Barna Research group, “From 1992 to 2003, average attendance at a typical church service has dropped by 13% whereas the population of America has increased by 9%!”

The post-modern atmosphere of our culture today is in support of these trends. However, at Spirit & Truth Fellowship International we, along with other Christians, are committed to turning the tide of this trend. The opening paragraph of our Statement of Beliefs is:

“We believe the Scriptures are God’s “heart” revealed to mankind. The reason God wants us to know the truth is so we can live it and share it with others. God wants us to be “imitators” of Him, and His chief characteristic is love. Truth without love is vanity; love without truth is sentimentality.”

This statement reflects the balance God desires for His children to have between doctrine (right believing), and practice (walking out our faith).

Ephesians 4:1 (REV)
Therefore, I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called.

The word “worthily” in this verse corresponds with the Greek word, axios, of which Richard Lenski said, “Axios has the idea of equal weight. Conduct and calling are to balance in weight.” [1] The first three chapters of Ephesians are devoted to doctrine, while here in this verse we have the transition to the next three chapters, which focus more on practice, and how we are to be in relationship with one another. God puts equal weight on doctrine and practice. We are called in one Body, so our conduct is to reflect that by meeting together as the Church.

A major underlying premise of the New Testament is that followers of Christ would be actively involved in a local church. This is not optional, but a matter of obedience. In the summation of the first section of the book of Acts, the pattern for the Church of Jesus Christ is set, which involves being together. Four times in seven verses (Acts 2:42-48) the point is made that believers met together. The notion that a follower of Christ can be faithfully carrying out his calling isolated from other saints is not supported by Scripture. In fact to not be in relationship with a local church is aberrant behavior for a Christian.

Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

This section of the book of Hebrews opens with a participial statement summarizing what has gone before in preceding chapters. It also shows us on what basis we should heed the exhortations that follow.

Hebrews 10:19-21
(19) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
(20) by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,
(21) and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

The conjunction “therefore,” in verse 19, not only transitions us into this new section but also points back to what has been handled so fully in the preceding chapters. These include the High Priesthood and sacrifice of Christ, as well as our assurance that the entry into the sanctuary of God has been secured.

What follows are three exhortative subjunctives. These verb forms require action based upon what has preceded. “Let us draw near; let us hold unswervingly; let us consider one another” are not optional, but commands. These three are put in the order of faith, hope, and love.

Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Regarding faith, our relationship with God is the focus. To draw near to the sanctuary requires maintaining the condition of one’s heart by cleansing the conscience. This is done by constantly applying the blood of the Lamb to our conscience as needed. At the new birth the shed blood of Jesus Christ, in addition to giving us a new nature, cleanses us of sins committed previously. Subsequent sins must be confessed, which applies his blood to our conscience.

1 John 1:9 (REV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The second of the three exhortative phrases encourages us to hold the hope unswervingly.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Both the world which is lacking hope, as well as the Christian who is to proclaim our hope in Jesus Christ, are implied by the word profess in this verse.

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

The final “let us” has to do with conduct in relationship to the church.

Hebrews 10:24 and 25 (REV)
(24) And let us consider one another, to spur one another on to love and good works,
(25) not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but exhorting one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

At Spirit & Truth Fellowship we are invested in right doctrine, and at the same time we give equal weight to the need for individuals meeting together in local areas. We have established the Fellowship Network to help people connect with others, both in their local areas and with others on a national, or even an international level.

At STFonline.org/network you can find listings of local fellowships as well as resources to assist in forming a new fellowship. If you want assistance in finding or starting a fellowship in your area, please contact us.

District Court Enters Permanent Injunction Against Houston-Based Producer of Egg Rolls and ther Foods
Court Also Enjoins Company’s President of Operations and Former Director of Quality Assurance
U.S. District Court Judge Melinda Harmon entered an order of permanent injunction against Chung’s Products LP, a Houston-based producer of egg rolls and other foods, Charlie A. Kujawa, Chung’s president of operations, and Gregory S. Birdsell, Chung’s former director of quality assurance, the Justice Department announced today.

The permanent injunction was issued by the district court along with the court’s opinion and order granting the United States’ motion for summary judgment against the defendants for violating the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Chung’s products are sold in grocery stores and large retail stores nationwide.

As set forth in the complaint filed by the United States on March 8, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted inspections from 2005 through 2009 at Chung’s facility located in Houston. According to the complaint, the defendants, among other things, violated the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by preparing, packing and holding shrimp egg rolls under insanitary conditions, whereby they may have become contaminated with filth and rendered injurious to health.

In a decision entered on April 4, 2013, Judge Harmon found that the defendants had a long history of violating the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, including producing food under insanitary conditions and failing to control for the risks of Clostridium Botulinum, “the most potent toxin known to man,” in their seafood products and a potentially deadly strain of listeria in their manufacturing environment. The court also noted defendants’ numerous refusals to cooperate with the FDA. Based on the evidence before it, the Court concluded there is a reasonable possibility that Chung’s food products were both contaminated with filth and unsafe and injurious to health. The court further found that the defendants’ challenges to FDA testing methods were “frivolous” and “demonstrated [a] wanton disregard of a potential food safety hazard in [Chung’s] products.”

“We will continue to take strong action against those who would risk the safety of the American food supply by manufacturing and storing products under insanitary conditions or flouting important food safety rules,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Stuart F. Delery of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Court’s ruling ensures that these defendants will take appropriate steps to ensure that consumers who purchase their foods will receive products that are prepared, packaged and held under sanitary conditions as required by law.”

Pursuant to the injunction issued by the Court, defendants are enjoined from receiving, processing, preparing, packing, holding and distributing food from Chung’s Houston-based facility or any other facility until defendants take the remedial action required by the Court’s order.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Delery thanked the FDA for referring this matter to the Department of Justice. David Sullivan, Trial Attorney at the Consumer Protection Branch of the Justice Department, in conjunction with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Vela Jr. in the Southern District of Texas and Sonia Nath, Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement at FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel, brought this case on behalf of the United States.

13-390Civil Di