<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, April 14, 2003 By: Rev. Eddy J Muskus

VHeadline.com reader the Rev. Eddy J Muskus writes: I was curious to find the reason for the Very Reverend Roger Dawson's choice of subject -- <a href=www.vheadline.com>'Judas the one who didn't betray but handed over.'

It was rather disappointed that he limited his application to simple 'not to blame others for our own predicaments'. He missed the point altogether by suggesting that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ would have been 'a hideous accident and not a deliberate act on behalf of Jesus.'

There are several texts from the scriptures that can be quoted which support the fact that Judas' action was an act of betrayal. John records in his gospel (John 13:18-19) that Jesus quoted part of Psalm 41:9 to state his authority and total control over the circumstances of his betrayal. Jesus said He knew whom he had chosen, but scripture had to be fulfilled: 'He that eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me' (Psalm 41:9). Following this quote Jesus stated his main reason for saying those words. 'I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.'

The portion from the Psalm is important because the context is of friendship, the Psalmist speaks of a 'close friend in whom he trusted'. Now, Jesus has no problem in identifying Judas as the son of perdition (John 17:12), and though Judas was a friend, he was not clean (John 13:10). Jesus said it before it took place to vindicate whom he was, no other than the Son of God. Peter in his sermon on the day of Pentecost said: 'Men of Israel... Jesus ... was delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put him to death' (Acts 2:22-23). It is evident that God was in control of Jesus' crucifixion and was part of His eternal plan to redeem his people, yet what it is striking is the fact that the hands of godless men carried out the act of crucifying him.

If history has blamed the Jews for the death of Jesus Christ it has been due to a complete misunderstanding (deliberate one) but it has nothing to do with Judas. It was necessary for Jesus to die and then rise from the dead. The important truth is this fact. Jesus deliberately came to save sinners, and the cross and the shedding of his blood was the only way. If anything has to be said regarding Judas and his betrayal is that his greed confirmed the state of his heart. The fact that Scripture also records that 'Satan entered into him' (John 13:27) places him in a terrible condition.

With regard to the place of the Jews today in history, Paul has a message for them in his letter to the Ephesians: There Paul demonstrates that the power of God has broken down the middle wall of partition. There is now One Christian Church in which we can find Jews and Gentiles alike worshipping the same God. The blood of Christ has cleansed their sins. Jesus Christ has reconciled them both unto God in one body by the cross (Ephesians 2:13-17).

It will be interesting to note if the congregation to whom the Very Reverend Roger Dawson ministers have understood that they need to repent from their sins and trust Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior. Redemption has been accomplished by the Lord, and many may be still 'far off' thinking that they are in Christ, thus, it is our business to show them the way to Calvary hoping and trusting in the God of miracle to grant them faith and repentance for the safety of their eternal souls.

Yours Rev. Eddy J Muskus ejmuskus@arrakis.es

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, April 14, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

In his weekly column, Lt. Colonel (ret.) Francisco Arias Cardenas proclaims that it is time for the opposition to think about presidential candidates. 

"If we aren't on the threshold, then we are just a few steps away ... I am the candidate but for what? That is the question."

Comparing the current discussion to a group of drunks fighting for an empty bottle, Arias Cardenas suggests that the opposition must decide on one candidate rather than remaining with the empty bottle. 

"If it is true that the 21st century marks the end of military and civilian warlords of every ilk, then let us start by agreeing on what has to be done."  

Former seminarian Arias Cardenas concludes that the " recall apostolate" is the candidate and leaves readers and opposition colleagues to play the guessing game about what he means exactly ... "once we answer the call, it remains to be seen whether the Venezuelan people will allow us to return to the fiesta." 

Commenting on the piece,  one political analyst suggests that the Lt. Colonel has taken the political initiative and is attempting to force the issue seeing that the days are whizzing by and the opposition is happily complacent, complaining that President Chavez Frias wants to avoid or delay the referendum without seeking concrete solutions.  Arias Cardenas says it's not good enough ... he wants to break the spell and the aggressive title of the piece, "I am the candidate" suggests that he is launching his candidacy.

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Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, April 14, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Sociologist James Petras says he believes President Hugo Chavez Frias has been far too lenient with opponents attempting to topple him. The US anti-globalization guru claims that the US government had a "semi-clandestine intervention" leading up to and during the April 11 coup attempt. 

US declarations the day after the coup, Petras claims, indicate that the US government had prior knowledge and approved. 

"Ambassador Charles Shapiro has a history of counter-insurgency operations in Central America with the Nicaraguan Contras ... the USA has specialists in weakening and destabilizing governments." 

If President Chavez Frias wants to stay in power, Petras maintains,  he will have to be tougher with conspirators, who receive funds and act in function of foreign countries. 

In a surprise statement Petrash is of the opinion that Chavez Frias is safe from Washington's fury for the following reasons:

• He has won more elections than any other President and therefore, it's impossible to demonize him
• He hasn't killed opponents
• He has relations with everybody, including the USA.

Speaking on press freedoms, Petras says that if there are OTT elements in the street calling to overthrow the government, it isn't the media's role to incite them to destroy the government ... and if the media go ahead, then " they should not expect the government to respond in a democratic fashion."

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Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com

<a href=reuters.com>Reuters Mon April 14, 2003 03:05 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Monday, weighing up the prospect of a return of Iraqi crude exports to the world market against possible supply curbs by OPEC to avert a potential price crash.

U.S. crude futures for May in New York rose 49 cents to $28.63 a barrel while benchmark Brent crude oil in London rose 25 cents to $25.00.

Oil prices have fallen about 30 percent from pre-war peaks near $40 as U.S. and British forces quickly secured a majority of Iraq's oil infrastructure in the south of the country and traders predicted a fairly swift end to hostilities.

But any resumption of Iraq's vital crude exports will be up to an interim authority in Baghdad in conjunction with the United Nations

Some analysts forecast that diplomatic wrangling will keep Iraqi barrels off the market for months, but a senior U.S. engineer said on Monday that Iraq's giant Kirkuk oilfields could start pumping within weeks.

The northern fields are capable of producing up to 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iraq's pre-war production of roughly 2.5 million bpd.

"It's a definite possibility that could be just a few weeks away," said Tom Logsdon, a senior member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers charged with repairing Iraq's oilfields.

Logsdon said the southern oilfields, where output was up to 2.1 million bpd before the war began on March 20, could be up and running in less than three months.

"Depending how quickly workers come on line, we estimate we will have between 330,000 and 1,000,000 bpd being produced within 12 weeks from now," said Logsdon.

VENEZUELA SUPPORTS OPEC CUT

Iraq's crude could hit world markets just as demand wanes in the second quarter, a seasonal slump between winter demand for heating oil and the peak consumption of gasoline during summer.

Compounding the demand downturn, many commercial airlines have slashed routes due to the spread of the flu-like SARS virus around the globe.

At the same time, supplies from OPEC producers are running almost two million bpd above the group's self-imposed ceiling, to counter supply disruptions from Venezuela, Nigeria and Iraq.

"The industry is now facing the prospect of too much oil in the months ahead unless OPEC reins in some of its recent output increase," the London-based Center for Global Energy studies said in a report.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is planning an emergency meeting later this month or in early May to discuss tightening compliance to current output quotas or even possible curbs to formal limits.

The International Energy Agency said last week that a big volume of OPEC crude was sitting on the water waiting to hit consumer shores, but warned that it would be imprudent for producers to cut supplies too soon as fuel stockpiles in industrialized nations remain well below normal levels.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Friday that South America's biggest oil producer was ready to back any proposed OPEC supply cut to support prices in the group's target band of $22 to $28 a barrel for OPEC's reference basket of seven crudes.

OPEC's basket price stood at $25.40 on Thursday, compared with a monthly average of $31.54 in February.