Today, Vice President Joe Biden sent this message to people who, in the wake of the tragic attack in Orlando, signed a We the People petition calling on the government to ban AR-15-type assault weapons from civilian ownership. As he says below, "The President and I agree with you. Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines should be banned from civilian ownership." If you agree, sign up to join the conversation on the assault weapons ban. Over the past few years, we've watched as new horrific shootings have replaced previous ones as the deadliest in our nation's history. We've waged campaign after campaign to turn our grief into action — each time thinking maybe, just maybe, this will be the one that breaks through. This will be the one that gets through to Congress, which must ultimately act. We've used phrases like Now is the Time. Stop Gun Violence. Enough is Enough. Folks, enough has been enough for a long time. You know that. On Monday, in the wake of this latest, deadliest, mass shooting, you started this petition. You worked together, calling on your government to ban AR-15-type weapons from civilian ownership. In the days following, we have seen members of the United States Senate take and hold the floor, refusing to back down, refusing to concede that we might need to wait for an even bigger national tragedy to finally make some changes. To the creator and signers of this petition, I want to say this as plainly and clearly as possible: The President and I agree with you. Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines should be banned from civilian ownership. When a lone gunman walked into a Century movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, he carried a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 -- a variation of the AR-15 rifle -- modified to hold as many as 100 bullets. He used it to kill 12 people and injure 70. And when a lone gunman walked into a classroom at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, he carried a version of the AR-15. He used it -- and several handguns -- to kill 10 of his fellow students and injure nine. And when a lone gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, he carried a Bushmaster XM 15 -- another version of the AR-15 -- and multiple high-capacity magazines. He used it to kill 20 innocent children and six educators with 154 bullets in five minutes. A single person killed that many people in just a few minutes. Not in a war zone. Here in America -- in a classroom. These weapons have been used to commit horrific acts. They've been called "the perfect killing machines." They fire bullets at incredible speed that rip through bodies and cause devastating carnage, and can accommodate high-capacity magazines that allow them to effectively shoot up to 45 rounds per minute. We've seen their tragic results play out in our death tolls and in the thousands left wounded, struggling to recover. As we learned this week from the family of the gun’s inventor, he himself did not intend that this gun be used by civilians, only by our soldiers in combat -- giving them an advantage over the AK-47. He didn’t own one himself. Here is what his family said: "We think he would have been horrified and sickened as anyone, if not more, by these events." Right now, these weapons are on the shelves in gun shops around the country, completely legal for civilians to purchase. They can be purchased in a matter of mere minutes. That should not be so. Here's a start: We should renew the assault weapons ban that Congress passed in 1994 — but which expired ten years later. That ban, which covered 19 specific assault-style weapons, was included in a comprehensive crime bill that folded together three pieces of legislation. I remember it well. I was Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the time. I wrote much of the bill and led it through Congress — with the help of many others, especially Senator Feinstein on the assault weapons ban. I argued strongly in favor of banning these weapons. What's more, 46 House Republicans voted for that ban in 1994. Forty-six. So what happened to that bill? To use a somewhat wonkish legislative term, it was "sunsetted." That means that this bill came with an expiration date: Ten years after its passage, it would need to be renewed. Under President Bush and a Republican Congress, the bill lapsed. And it hasn't been renewed since. But renewing the ban on assault weapons isn’t the only thing Congress should do to help prevent the tragedy of gun violence around the country. It could require that every buyer go through a background check before getting a gun -- to make sure dangerous weapons don’t end up in the hands of criminals or other people who have long been prohibited from possessing them. It could prevent people who are suspected of having terrorist ties and can’t get on a plane from buying weapons of war -- that’s just common sense. It could ensure that domestic abusers can’t go to the store to buy a gun -- filling the kinds of gaps in the law that leave too many innocent victims dead. It could end the freeze on gun violence research, so our public health experts can collect data and facts that would inform strategies to deal with this epidemic. And it could give law enforcement officials the tools and resources the President requested in his budget proposal -- so they can take dangerous criminals off the street and enforce our gun laws. Our Administration has done what it can. So have many cities, counties, and states. Now it’s up to Congress to do its job. They'll have a good opportunity this Monday, when the Senate is set to vote on a number of different gun safety measures -- votes that came about after that 15-hour filibuster, during which a series of Democratic senators refused to cede the floor. The measures they will vote on would address the fact that anyone on a terrorist watch list can still legally purchase guns and explosives. They will address the current background check requirements for prospective gun buyers. Ahead of those votes, we'd like to invite you to join a call on Monday at 1:00 pm ET for We the People signers with Valerie Jarrett on how we can continue to come together as citizens around this issue. Let us know you'll be joining right here — and ask any questions you've got, or issues you'd like to hear raised on the call. I encourage you to pay attention to Monday's votes. Make yourselves aware. Use your voice. Make yourselves impossible to ignore. Because you’re not alone in recognizing the need to act -- to take steps, consistent with the Second Amendment -- that will keep our children and communities safe. Here's who else agrees with you: The Department of Justice. Dozens of United States Senators. Faith leaders, law enforcement officials, and responsible businesses. Public health experts. And the vast majority of the American people, including the vast majority of gun owners in the country. If taking commonsense steps to reduce gun violence had the potential to save even one life, it would be worth doing. But it has the potential to save far more than that. You know that. And that is why you spoke up. That matters. But the fact is that we have three separate but equal branches of a government for a reason. And so, to speak directly to those members of Congress who, in the wake of this most recent, most horrific killing of our citizens, might be considering stepping up and getting this done once and for all, I'd like to remind you that this will not stop on its own. It will not stop. In the three and a half years since Newtown, there have been at least 1,002 mass shootings in this country. At least 1,135 people killed, and 3,953 wounded. That includes 49 killed and 53 wounded in Orlando. You know in your heart that this is the right thing to do. You know that by stepping up, your action has the potential to create a domino effect. Have the courage to do it. We have done it before. We can do it again.  THE WHITE HOUSE  Why the President is traveling to Yosemite today: National parks are an American invention. They are treasures in our national inheritance -- millions of acres of public lands and waterways -- that one generation passes on to the next. These beautiful spaces offer adventures for our children, essential protection for our wildlife, and support for local economies. Yet, we aren't entitled to them. Our public lands need our protection -- they need our dedication to their upkeep and our commitment to their expansion. And it falls on the shoulders of each new generation to carry on this stunning inheritance, because even though our national parks are vital to our future, the consequences of climate change are becoming more evident every day. That's why the First Family is traveling to Carlsbad Caverns and Yosemite National Parks this weekend. Not only are they celebrating the National Parks' 100th anniversary, they're highlighting the critical role our parks will play in America's next century. You can follow the First Family's trip this weekend on our live blog. That's also why President Obama has taken unprecedented action to invest in America's natural resources, setting aside more public lands and water in his two terms than any president in American history. He is America's most prolific conservationist -- and he's not done yet. Here's what you need to know about President Obama's historic conservation record: Protected more than 265 million acres of America's public lands and waters -- more than any other president in history. Dedicated unprecedented attention and resources to restoring iconic places like the Chesapeake Bay, California Bay-Delta, Great Lakes, and Everglades. Designated more than 2 million acres of federal wilderness and protected thousands of miles of trails and more than one thousand miles of rivers. Oversaw more wildlife recoveries under the Endangered Species Act than under any previous administration. Launched Every Kid in a Park, which gives fourth graders and their families free access to parks. Get the full record on how the President has protected our treasured national resources. You can also help celebrate and support our national park system by sharing photos of your favorite park with the hashtag #FindYourPark. Caso nao esteja visualizando este e-mail, por favor acesse aqui                                                             Um código de barras de PEPSI pode mudar sua vida. A hora é agora. Participe, ô meu! Olha só o que você pode ganhar: É fácil, basta cadastrar os códigos de barras dos produtos das marcas participantes: PEPSI é marca registrada da Pepsico, Inc. PEPSI TWIST e PODE SER são marcas de titularidade da Pepsico, Inc. Participação válida de 01/05 a 12/07/2016 (casa/carro) e 01/05 a 23/08/2016 (premiação de 1 milhão e prêmios instantâneos). Consulte as condições de participação, datas dos sorteios e regulamentos completos em temqueseragora.pepsibrasil. com.br. Certificados de Autorização CAIXA 5-0347/2016, CAIXA 4-0337/2016 e CAIXA 4-0333/2016. 1. Premiação entregue em certificado de ouro. 2. Premiação entregue em cartão de crédito com a função saque bloqueada. Participam desta promoção as embalagens das marcas participantes. Imagens meramente ilustrativas.

2Pe 2:20-22 Porquanto se, depois de terem escapado das corrupções do mundo, pelo conhecimento do Senhor e Salvador Jesus Cristo, forem outra vez envolvidos nelas e vencidos, tornou-se-lhes o último estado pior do que o primeiro. Porque melhor lhes fora não conhecerem o caminho da justiça, do que, conhecendo-o, desviarem-se do santo mandamento que lhes fora dado; Deste modo sobreveio-lhes o que por um verdadeiro provérbio se diz: O cão voltou ao seu próprio vômito, e a porca lavada ao espojadouro de lama. 

Cães e porcos eram animais impuros segundo a Lei dada aos judeus, portanto aqui representam pessoas em seu estado natural que não foram regeneradas, isto é nunca nasceram de novo e nem creram verdadeiramente no Senhor Jesus. Por isso elas voltam para as mesmas impurezas que continham antes de terem ouvido falar da verdade. Em sua carta Pedro faz alusão a Provérbios 26:11 que diz "Como o cão torna ao seu vômito, assim o tolo repete a sua estultícia".

O cão que volta ao vômito e a porca que volta à lama de onde saiu nos falam da apostasia, que é o abandono da verdade por aqueles que apenas a professam sem nunca a terem incorporado realmente. Nem o cão, nem a porca foram transformados em ovelhas pois continuaram com a mesma velha natureza sem terem recebido uma nova. Seu final será inevitavelmente voltar às origens. É por isso que muitas vezes ouvimos falar de pessoas que "se converteram" e depois se tornaram ateias ou passaram a combater a fé cristã. Elas nunca haviam se convertido de verdade, apenas se comportaram como cristãs durante algum tempo.

A passagem mostra que pessoas que têm contato com a verdade podem ser separadas exteriormente da corrupção que há no mundo pelo conhecimento de Cristo (conhecimento intelectual apenas), porém mostra também que pessoas assim, que nunca se converteram, ficam piores do que antes quando não tinham qualquer contato com a verdade e nem a professavam. Com o conhecimento vem também a responsabilidade e as penalidades são maiores, como explicou o Senhor:

Luc_12:47-48 E o servo que soube a vontade do seu senhor, e não se aprontou, nem fez conforme a sua vontade, será castigado com muitos açoites; Mas o que a não soube, e fez coisas dignas de açoites, com poucos açoites será castigado. E, a qualquer que muito for dado, muito se lhe pedirá, e ao que muito se lhe confiou, muito mais se lhe pedirá. 
Isto vale para indivíduos e também para nações. Por isso os povos ocidentais cristianizados serão mais responsáveis no juízo do que os povos que nunca ouviram o evangelho. Sabemos pelas profecias bíblicas que as terras do Ocidente, onde a cristandade floresceu e cairá em apostasia, ficarão vazias e devastadas durante os mil anos do reinado de Cristo sobre a terra, enquanto as terras do Oriente Médio e Ásia, tradicionalmente fechadas ao evangelho, florescerão no milênio juntamente com Israel.

Four years ago today, I stood with my colleagues in the White House Rose Garden watching President Obama announce a new action to make our immigration policies smarter and more representative of our values as a nation. This action, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, establishes an avenue for young people who were brought to the United States as children to request temporary relief from deportation on a case-by-case basis if they can demonstrate that they meet several criteria. As the President said that day, the young people impacted by his announcement "are Americans in their hearts, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper." We knew standing there that DACA would be impactful, both for the people who would come forward, and for the rest of us who are their families, friends and neighbors. Even so, the impact DACA recipients have had on their families, communities, and our nation can only be described as extraordinary. They are students, educators, doctors, and lawyers; close to 730,000 DACA recipients are aspiring Americans, each with a unique story. On the anniversary of DACA, it’s worth checking out these stories of DACA recipients who are doing so much to inspire. They know, perhaps better than anyone, that for all of its impact, DACA is not a permanent solution to our nation’s immigration problems. Far from it. We still need Congress to do its job and fix our immigration system. But the promise I see in the eyes of DACA recipients I meet renews my hope in what’s possible, and offers a glimpse of what we might achieve for the country when we finally achieve legislative reform. I think of David Uriona, who graduated from Cornell University in 2014 with a degree in Biology and Society and joined Teach for America. As David said, "It was important for me to give back to my community and to connect with kids who needed to see someone like them; to make sure that these kids who were in similar situations knew that they could achieve their dreams." There are so many stories of the positive impact these individuals are having in their communities and in their country. I encourage you to take a moment and savor these stories to learn more about how much has changed and how much is possible.

During my basketball career, I thought I was strong enough to take on anything that came my way -- that there was nothing I couldn't just put some ice on and play through. Until I got diagnosed with a rare kidney disease.

During my basketball career, I won the NBA Finals and an Olympic Gold Medal. I thought I was strong enough to take on anything that came my way -- that there was nothing I couldn't just put some ice on and play through. Then, in 2001 I was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney disease called focal glomerulosclerosis and was told that I needed a kidney transplant. It doesn't matter who you are, organ failure can affect any one of us. I was fortunate enough to receive a transplant from a family member, and never had to be on an organ waiting list, but many others are not so lucky. After I was diagnosed, I received a letter from a girl named Molly, a 17-year-old student form New Jersey. Molly wrote to me that her mother was suffering from a kidney disease, the same one that Molly's grandmother had died of. While I was in the hospital recovering, I used Molly's letter as a bookmark -- as a reminder that we all needed to be doing more to help those who weren't as lucky as I was. There are more than 120,000 Americans currently on the organ transplant waiting list, and 22 of them will die every day if they don't receive that vital organ. The need is particularly pronounced in communities of color and disadvantaged populations, and we all need to do our part to help. Today, the White House hosted a summit to highlight initiatives that help reduce the organ waiting list. One day, research investments like those announced today will end the organ shortage crisis forever. But it's not enough to sit and wait for science to solve the problem. There is something we can all do, right now: become an organ donor. One reason that the waiting list for transplants has become so long is that, even though 95 percent of Americans support organ donation, only a fraction have actually signed up as donors. Registering takes less than a minute. You can also tell the world by proclaiming on social media, "I'm an #OrganDonor" so that your loved ones know you're willing to donate, and you can also inspire others to join the cause. Three years after my kidney transplant I won an NBA Championship with the Miami Heat. If not for my donor, I would have been hooked up to dialysis machines and may not have even survived. Each of the 120,000 people on the waiting list has great things to accomplish in the future ahead of them. And there's something each and every one of us can do to give them a chance to achieve them. Find out how you can help.

Join the President and the First Lady along with Oprah Winfrey, Kerry Washington, Amy Poehler, and many more.

Here's why we're talking about the #StateofWomen today: Women are increasingly serving as leaders throughout industry, civil society, and government -- but we know that we cannot rest until we tackle the critical issues that still prevent women and girls from reaching their true potential. That's the whole idea behind today's main event: The United State of Women Summit in Washington, D.C. It's a large-scale effort to celebrate our great strides toward equality while addressing the challenges that remain. We're bringing together experts, advocates, grassroots organizers, and business leaders on issues that affect women and girls, including special guests like Nancy Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Shonda Rhimes, and Connie Britton. Here's how you can join us: Watch the Summit live -- You can watch events from throughout the day, from President Obama's remarks, to Vice President Biden's remarks, to First Lady Michelle Obama's conversation with Oprah Winfrey. You'll also hear from extraordinary women and men who are sharing their stories and ideas for the future, including Amy Poehler of Parks and Recreation, Kerry Washington of Scandal, Reshma Saujani of Girls Who Code, and many more. Join the conversation online -- We'll have digital Q&As and conversations with Summit participants happening all day on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and more -- so be sure to join us online using the hashtag #StateofWomen. Hope you're excited for what is sure to be an empowering and inspiring day -- I know I am.