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Friday, June 02, 2023 3:12 AM GMT+1 |
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Charles Stanley's Grandson Apologizes for Selling Late Pastor's Possessions The late Dr. Charles Stanley's grandson has issued an apology after putting up his grandfather's personal items for sale. Matt Brodersen, 28, was met with backlash last week for posting a YouTube video where he announced he was auctioning off his grandfather's pocket watch, which features an engraving with the letters "CFS" for "Charles Frazier Stanley," and a signed picture of the late pastor. "My uncle Andy Stanley begged me to take that stuff off of eBay, begged me to take the auctions off of eBay," he said in a follow-up video on Sunday. "My mom called me and said, 'You take that stuff down right now.' My sister, she was mad at me as well. So yes, everybody in my family was pretty upset with me and disappointed with my...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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 Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 03, 2023 1:49pm |
More Than 60,000 Students Gather for Worship Event at University of Oklahoma Large-scale faith events for young adults are continuing to pop up across the country. The latest took place over the weekend, with more than 60,000 students gathering at the University of Oklahoma's football stadium. The event, "Fill the Stadium," started with a prayer from a graduating senior, CBN News reports. "God, What's next?" Joshua Robinson said he prayed last summer. "I'm sitting there and I'm trying to figure out what I am going to do with my life. And I am asking God, 'What's next, what's next?' feeling the stress and weight of not knowing what's next after college. And as I am doing that, I am trying to brainstorm and pray. And I am trying to find scripture to give me some sort of clarity and tell me what's next. And to my great...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 03, 2023 1:56pm |
Record 26 Percent of High School Students Identify as LGBTQ, New CDC Data Shows A record 26 percent of American high school students identify as LGBTQ, according to new CDC data that a prominent political scientist says is a form of “social contagion.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, released last week, found that 3.2 percent of high school students identified as gay or lesbian, 12.1 as bisexual, 5.2 as questioning and 3.9 as “other” (which the CDC describes as a “sexual identity other than heterosexual”). The report was based on the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey. A CDC analysis of the data said the “percentage of students with a sexual identity other than heterosexual has increased steadily, from 11 percent in 2015 to 26 percent in 2021.” Wilfred Reilly, an associate...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 03, 2023 1:59pm |
Is a 'Surge of Faith' Happening with Younger Americans? According to The Wall Street Journal, recent polling data shows a “Surprising surge of faith among young people.” As columnist Clare Ansberry wrote, “About one-third of 18-to-25-year-olds say they believe—more than doubt—the existence of a higher power, up from about one quarter in 2021, according to a recent survey of young adults.” This study corresponds with others that have offered surprising insights about Generation Z. One Barna study found that, globally, 52% of teenagers today identify as Christian, and 6 in 10 are motivated to know more about Jesus. In the U.S. and Canada, Barna concluded, teens feel less negatively about sharing their faith than Millennials do, with 81% rejecting the statement that “if someone disagrees with you, it means they’re judging...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 03, 2023 2:59pm |
3 Urgent Steps to Take to Combat Temptation When the morning news is dominated by multiple fatalities from a dust storm in Illinois, tornadoes in Virginia and Florida, a Hollywood writers strike, and the death of legendary singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, it’s uplifting to find stories of heroism as well. For example, a Michigan seventh grader recently took control of his school bus after the driver lost consciousness. He stepped to the front of the bus and used the hand brake to ease it to a stop. He told his parents later that he knew what to do because he watched the driver do it every day. None of his fellow students was injured in the incident. The news report nowhere speaks to the young man’s religious beliefs or lack thereof. Of course, none of us would claim that he would have to be an active Christian...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 03, 2023 3:14pm |
Doctor-Assisted Suicide for Anorexia? Recently, Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani, a Colorado doctor of internal medicine, published a paper in which she advocates that physician-assisted suicide should be extended to patients struggling with anorexia. “Anyone who wishes to keep striving for recovery despite exhaustion and depletion should wholeheartedly be supported in doing so,” Gaudiani wrote. “Others “simply cannot continue to fight.” Her advocacy is not theoretical. Jennifer Brown with the Colorado Sun reported on some of Gaudiani’s practices: One 36-year-old woman died after ingesting the lethal doses prescribed by another doctor, with Gaudiani serving as consulting physician. Another 36-year-old woman died of severe malnutrition on the same day she planned to take aid-in-dying medication prescribed by Gaudiani. Some in the medical...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 03, 2023 3:26pm |
7 Biblical Symbols You'll See at King Charles III's Coronation Author and Christian apologist Ray Comfort says the coronation of King Charles III will be filled with biblical symbols and imagery that reflect the rich religious history of the monarchy, but that also can be used by believers as a "bridge" for gospel-centric conversations. "He'll hold the royal scepter as Solomon held the royal center. And when he's crowned, as was Solomon, all the people will cry, 'God save the king,'" Comfort said. Additionally, Charles "will lay his right hand on the Bible and swear before God to uphold the Scriptures," Comfort said. Comfort's Living Waters ministry partnered with other ministries to print 15 million coronation-themed gospel tracts that include a photo of King Charles. Comfort also wrote a book,...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 04, 2023 2:55pm |
Woman Tears Bible Apart during 'SatanCon 2023' The Satanic Temple held their annual "SatanCon 2023" event last weekend. During the event, a female leader ripped up a Bible as attendees cheered, "Hail Satan." The event, billed as the "largest Satanic gathering in history," was held on April 28-30 in Boston, Massachusetts. In a clip that went viral, two leaders began the event by ripping pages out of a Bible and tearing up a flag with a thin blue line used to commemorate police officers. "We stand here today in defiance of their siege and destroy their symbols of oppression," the female leader said to a cheering crowd. Some attendees can even be heard chanting "Hail Satan" as she tore the Bible apart. In an interview following the event, the woman explained that she tore the Bible apart...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 04, 2023 3:05pm |
America's Loneliness Epidemic Is Due to God's Plan for the Family Being 'Subverted' Author and theologian Albert Mohler says a new report by the U.S. surgeon general warning of a widespread "epidemic of loneliness" should lead society to renew its commitment to the biblical doctrines of marriage, family and church. United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Tuesday released an 81-page "advisory" report calling loneliness an "underappreciated public health crisis" that has "harmed individual and societal health." "Given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders," Murthy said. "Together, we can build a country that's healthier, more resilient, less...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 04, 2023 3:09pm |
PCUSA Lost 100 Churches, 53,000 Members Last Year In 2022, Presbyterian Church (USA) lost more than 100 congregations and more than 53,000 members, according to the PCUSA Office of the General Assembly. The PCUSA boasted about 1.140 million members before that number fell to 1.93 million, according to the annual statistics. “We are not surprised by the numbers we are seeing. While the pandemic may be over, the impact on church membership is still being felt,” said Rev. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the PCUSA General Assembly, The Christian Post reports. “In the midst of the lower numbers, we continue to find encouragement in that new worshiping communities are still on the increase. We have added more than 20 in the past year, bringing our total to 267.” But the numbers also showed that the number of...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 04, 2023 3:20pm |
Why Is Loneliness as Dangerous as Smoking? According to a new report from the US Surgeon General’s office, lacking social connections “can increase the risk of premature death to levels comparable to smoking daily.” Loneliness increases the risk of premature death by nearly 30 percent and elevates our risk of stroke, heart disease, depression, anxiety, and dementia. Technology is making this problem worse: people who use social media for two hours or more daily are more than twice as likely to report feeling isolated than those who are on such apps for less than thirty minutes a day. "A reason for living and some hope" May is Mental Health Awareness Month. (For an excellent resource, please see Dr. Lane Ogden’s “What does the Bible say about mental health” on our website.) As a result, we’ll see a plethora of information like the Surgeon...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 04, 2023 4:13pm |
The Stubborn Facts about Saving Sex: Doing Things God’s Way Works In an age so defined by consumer choice and product reviews, it has become intuitive to embrace the “try before you buy” motto in most areas of life. For some decisions, however, those rules simply do not work. A growing body of research suggests that romantic relationships should not be approached in the same way as buying a new car or choosing a cellphone provider. It is often assumed in our post-sexual-revolution society that you should not commit romantically to a person unless you are sure they are “compatible,” especially sexually compatible. This idea is now firmly entrenched, particularly for young adults. As Brad Wilcox, director of the National Marriage Project, tweeted recently, “Most of my students think cohabitation is a good way to prepare for marriage. They are shocked...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 04, 2023 4:17pm |
Christianity Cannot Be Moderately Important in Our Lives Today is the National Day of Prayer. However, for reasons I will explain shortly, I am beginning today’s Daily Article by discussing the cost of the British royal coronation on Saturday. The celebration comes at a challenging time for the UK: the country is reeling from a cost-of-living crisis that has fueled multiple strikes by hundreds of thousands of government workers, doctors, teachers, train drivers, and others. Since leaving the European Union, Britain’s currency has lost a fifth of its value. Things have been so dire that the Wall Street Journal recently headlined“Britain’s Financial Disaster Is a Warning to the World.” Nonetheless, Saturday’s coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla is expected to cost British taxpayers at least $125 million, roughly double the cost...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 04, 2023 5:16pm |
'Technoshamanism': Why a Post-Christian Future Is Still Religious More than a few folks, from theologian John Calvin to philosopher William James to French theologian and historian Louis Auguste Sabatier, have noted that humans are “incurably religious” creatures. In other words, religion is native to the human heart. In the history of the world, the wholesale rejections of the supernatural is a quirk of Western secularism. At the same time, it will not ultimately survive the human longing for transcendence and communion with the supernatural, no matter how far technology advances. Evidence for this analysis is currently on display in Dortmund, Germany. An art exhibition, entitled “Technoshamanism,” was recently highlighted in the New York Times article “Space Pagans and Smart Phone Witches: Where Tech Meets...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 04, 2023 5:19pm |
Kenyan Pastor Arrested, Charged with 'Mass Killing' of Church Members A Kenyan Christian pastor has been arrested for allegedly killing his church members. Ezekiel Ombok Odero, pastor of the New Life Prayer Center and Church, was arrested for “allegations of deaths that have been occurring at this premises and reported in various morgues or institutions,” ChurchLeaders.com reports. He faces charges “related to [the] mass killing of his followers,” CNN reports. New Life Prayer Center and Church has also been shut down. Odero has denied the allegations and called the investigation “a fishing expedition” meant to “taint” his name. Odero’s case is linked to Paul Makenzie Nthenge, who was arrested earlier this month. Nthenge allegedly urged followers to starve themselves...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Mon, May 08, 2023 11:00am |
Biden Touts the 'Profound Power of Prayer': 'Join Me in Asking for God’s Continued Guidance' President Biden is calling on people of faith to pray for God’s blessings on America, saying in his annual National Day of Prayer Proclamation that prayer “can move mountains” and has “empowered” the nation’s moral movements. “In periods of peace and prosperity and in times of struggle and strife, countless Americans turn to prayer to seek guidance, bolster our faith, and brace our spirits when we need it most,” Biden said in the proclamation. “... On this National Day of Prayer, we recognize the profound power of prayer, grounded in deep humility and hope.” Federal law requires every president to issue a proclamation commemorating the National Day of Prayer, which fell on May 4 this year. The right to pray, Biden said,...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Mon, May 08, 2023 11:40am |
61 Percent of Americans Pray, Poll Shows: It's More Common 'Than People Expect' An overwhelming majority of Americans say they pray, and those that do pray do so for nearly 20 minutes a day, according to a new survey. The poll, released on the National Day of Prayer, found that 61 percent of Americans say they pray, with 50 percent of those who pray doing so around sunrise and 55 percent around bedtime. Among those who pray, 70 percent do so to connect with God, 45 percent to feel less anxious or depressed, and 41 percent to find solutions to their problems. The poll was conducted by City Square Associates for Skylight, a non-profit organization that promotes spiritual wellness. Approximately 1,700 people were interviewed. Among all Americans, U.S. adults pray an average of two times a day. More than eight in 10 (81 percent) of...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Mon, May 08, 2023 11:46am |
Trans Cyclist Wins First Place in Women's Race Sparking Backlash Controversy surrounding transgender athletes in sports continues to ramp up across the country, especially following the recent first-place victory by a transgender cyclist against biological female athletes. In March, trans cyclist Tiffany Thomas, 47, came in first place at Randall's Island Crit cycling competition, while two biological women came in second and third, respectively. "It was a great day to play bikes with friends. I can't wait for more days like this," Thomas, a New York City-based biologist, wrote on Instagram. Just days before Thomas' victory, Champion cyclocross rider Hannah Arensman announced that she was retiring from her cycling career after she lost to a transgender cyclist in late December, the New York Post...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Mon, May 08, 2023 11:55am |
Megachurch Pastor Resigns Following Backlash for Controversial Book on Sex, the Church Arizona megachurch pastor and author Joshua Butler has resigned from his ministry position due to backlash he received over his controversial book on sex and the church. “We have found ourselves in an impossible situation,” Butler wrote to members of Redemption Church in Tempe in a letter announcing his resignation. “On the one hand, I feel called to step more into these public conversations. On the other hand, I don’t want to drag Redemption into that public conversation with me,” he said. He noted that the controversy had affected the church, and as a result, he and the church elders agreed that it was best for him to resign. Last month, Butler released his book, Beautiful Union, which contends that “God’s...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 09, 2023 5:30pm |
Some 700 Unborn Babies Saved from Abortion During 2023 40 Days for Life Campaign Some 700 unborn babies were saved from abortion during the 2023 40 Days for Life campaign. According to the Catholic News Agency, 680 babies were reportedly saved during the campaign, which ran from February 22 through April 2. "The first 2 @40daysforlife campaigns following the overturning of #RoevsWade were the largest EVER," tweeted Shawn Carney, CEO and President of 40 Days for Life. "We gained US cities despite losing some because the abortion facility closed. Another example that prolifers aren't going away." A 40 Days for Life director in Ibero-America told CNA that prayer is the main part of the campaign, which is a 40-day, non-stop prayer vigil outside a single Planned Parenthood center or other abortion facilities in...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 09, 2023 5:36pm |
Pastor Warns Ministry Students Not to Speak at Conferences with Female Preachers, Those 'Blatantly' Disobeying Scripture During a question-and-answer session with students from The Master's Seminary, Pastor John MacArthur warned students not to speak at conferences with female preachers or those who are "blatantly disobedient to Scripture." MacArthur spoke on this topic after a student asked him a question about church unity and ministry partnerships. "I was wondering from your example, specifically with pastors who would agree on the essentials, but not necessarily unimportant doctrines that aren't essential. What are some biblical passages or references or biblical principles that have helped you navigate that issue in your ministry?" the student asked. MacArthur, who serves as the seminary's chancellor, replied, "the Lord allowed him...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 09, 2023 5:44pm |
Church's 'God Is Trans' Display Sparks Controversy: 'The Church Should Not Be Promoting This' A church in New York City has divided members and ignited a social media debate after hosting an art display claiming "God is trans." The "God is Trans: A Queer Spiritual Journey" display at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, a Catholic congregation, includes artwork that maps the "queer spiritual journey," according to a description of the artwork at the church. The New York Post first reported on the controversy. "The church should not be promoting this," one member told The New York Post. "I understand there are transgender people. I pray for all people, but enough is enough. "It seems like they are trying to force the agenda on others," the member said. "Also, when a friend asked a priest about this, they didn't answer. You can't put this out...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 09, 2023 5:51pm |
eBay Buyer Returns Charles Stanley's Personal Items to Late Pastor's Family An anonymous buyer has returned personal items once belonging to Charles Stanley to the late pastor's family after purchasing them on eBay from Stanley's grandson. Stanley, the longtime pastor of First Baptist Atlanta and the founder of InTouch Ministries, passed away at his home last month at the age of 90. After bidding closed on the items last week, Stanley's engraved pocket watch had sold for $2,375 with 63 bids, while a portrait of the famed pastor sold for $3,650 with 40 bids. At the time, 29-year-old Matt Brodersen, the son of Stanley's daughter, Becky, was heavily criticized for attempting to put his grandfather's personal items up for sale. According to The Christian Post, Brodersen shared that an anonymous buyer purchased the pocket watch and...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 09, 2023 6:03pm |
Are the End Times Finally Here? Are we living in the end times? The immediate answer is, “Yes, of course we are.” Technically, we have been living in the end times ever since the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus ascended into heaven, the end times began. That was the fulfillment of all of redemptive history—what God had been working toward since Creation and the Fall of Adam and Eve. Through the establishment of the people of Israel to the exodus to the Promised Land, … to God sending judges, kings and prophets all leading up to Jesus, … and throughout it all, God calling people to Himself until His direct intervention through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, ... ever since then – from Jesus until now – has been the end times. The real...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 09, 2023 6:11pm |
How to See God More in Your Daily Life Since the creation of the world, we were designed for complete, total, uninhibited intimacy with God. The kind of intimacy described in Psalm 17:8: “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” This scripture in Hebrew could also be understood as “keep me as the little man of the eye,” meaning the tiny reflection you see of yourself when you stare directly into someone’s eyes. Talk about intimate. And we are designed to live with God like this all the time, every minute of every day. But it does not often feel like this. In the drudgery of our exhausting everyday routines, it doesn’t feel like God is looking at us–much less staring at us so closely that we can see ourselves in His eyes. It doesn’t feel like God is working in our mundane lives. If he were, they wouldn’t be so...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 09, 2023 6:19pm |
Senate Passes Bill Requiring the Ten Commandments in Public School Classrooms “We think there can be a restoration of faith in America, and we think getting [the] Ten Commandments on these walls is a great way to do that. … We think we can really set a trend for the rest of the country.” Matt Krause, a former state representative and current employee of the First Liberty Institute, made that statement when he testified before the Texas Senate last month in defense of a bill that would require public schools to post a copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom from kindergarten through high school. The bill passed earlier this week and is expected to go before the State House of Representatives soon. The reasoning behind the legislation is that the Ten Commandments played a key role in the development of America’s founding...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 09, 2023 6:24pm |
Finding Grace in the Midst of Unspeakable Grief The world was focused last Saturday on the tradition-steeped coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and sports fans were watching fifteen-to-one longshot Mage rally from the back of the pack to win the Kentucky Derby. Meanwhile, those of us who live in North Texas were horrified as another mass shooting erupted, this time in our backyard. A gunman opened fire at the Allen Premium Outlets Saturday afternoon, killing six people at the mall and injuring at least nine others. Of the nine who were hospitalized, two later died. Three others are in critical condition at this writing. The gunman, identified yesterday by police as Mauricio Garcia, was “neutralized” by a city police officer who was responding to an unrelated call at the mall. Authorities are reportedly investigating the gunman’s possible links to white...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 10, 2023 4:06pm |
Why Avoiding Suffering at All Cost Undermines Compassion and Medicine Is pain good or bad? This was the question asked recently by physician and author Matthew Loftus in an essay entitled “Arcs of Life” published in The New Atlantis. Loftus makes the case that the contemporary obsession with avoiding pain has led to an increasing acceptance of doctor-assisted suicide and euthanasia, even for infants and for those suffering with mental distress. Our approach to pain amounts to, as Loftus puts it, “Eliminating suffering by killing the sufferer.” The appeal is made mostly to our collective commitment to autonomy: The euthanasia regime begins with a pitch to the smartest among us. Wouldn’t you like to go out before the party winds down, before age and decrepitude shatter the autonomy and strength you cherish so deeply? So much of life in the...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 10, 2023 4:16pm |
What If We Allowed God to Define Our Life Mission? Warren Buffett is chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, which owns dozens of companies. He has been extremely benevolent over the years, donating hundreds of millions of dollars to charitable causes. Forbes estimates his net worth at $1141 billion. My net worth is several zeroes less. Who, then, am I to disagree with the famed “Oracle of Omaha” when he gives advice? The ninety-two-year-old was asked at Berkshire’s recent annual shareholder meeting how to avoid mistakes in business and in life. His response: “You should write your obituary and then try to figure out how to live up to it. It’s not that complicated.” With all due respect to Mr. Buffett, it is. Or at least, it should be. We can “write our obituary” without God’s help and, depending on what we...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 10, 2023 4:26pm |
The Danger of Performative Truth “We have become a nation that is more focused on the right to kill than the right to live.” This is how California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to the mass shooting in Allen, Texas, as he criticized Congress for not passing gun control reform. However, given his passionate support for elective abortion and efforts to bring women from other states to California’s abortion clinics, pro-life supporters like me find his statement tragically ironic. On the same theme, I found this headline in a recent Time article jarring: “If someone you love has an abortion, give them a gift.” The writer thanks “friends and neighbors who dropped off big pots of soup [and] home-baked brownies and ice cream” when she had her abortion. She writes: “Abortion can be a powerful act of love—for one’s self and...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 10, 2023 4:53pm |
Megachurch Pastor Placed on Indefinite Leave for Having an 'Unhealthy Leadership Style' The senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, has been placed on an indefinite leave of absence after he admitted to having an "unhealthy leadership style." Rev. Scott Sauls had served as the pastor at the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)-affiliated congregation for 11 years, CBN News reports. He is an author and blogger. In a video message, Sauls apologized for his leadership style but reiterated that he had not committed a sexual sin or substance abuse sin. "I verbalized insensitive and verbal criticism of others' work," he said. "I've used social media and the pulpit to quiet dissenting viewpoints. I've manipulated facts to support paths that I desire." "I am grieved to say that I have hurt...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 10, 2023 4:57pm |
Major Pro-Life Group Meets with Trump, Weeks after Criticizing Him One of the nation’s leading pro-life groups says it met with former President Donald Trump on Monday in the wake of comments he made that were criticized by the organization. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said she joined U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council “for a terrific meeting with President Trump.” “During the meeting, President Trump reiterated his opposition to the extreme Democratic position of abortion on demand, up until the moment of birth, paid for by taxpayers – and even in some cases after the child is born,” she said. “President Trump believes such a position is unworthy of a great nation and believes the American people will rebel...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 11, 2023 11:49am |
A Secular Argument for Biblical Living Have you noticed that Brussels sprouts are more popular than ever? I used to hate them; now I order them in restaurants whenever I can. Here’s what happened: in 1998, a Dutch scientist named Hans van Doorn identified sinigrin and progoitrin as chemicals that made the vegetable taste bitter. Dutch seed companies then bred these chemicals out. By the 2010s, Brussels sprouts didn’t taste bitter and became popular with culinary celebrities and then with the general public. Now consider a second scientific discovery that changed the world in surprising ways: last Tuesday saw the sixty-third anniversary of “the pill.” Enovid-10, the world’s first commercially produced birth-control pill, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on May 9, 1960. As one analyst noted, it soon...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 11, 2023 5:10pm |
Why Millennials Think They're Broke Millennials are responsible, we are told, for the avocado shortage and the death of cable TV, paper napkins, and the 9 to 5 workday. This generation, whose oldest members have now reached their 40s, are blamed for many things, in fact. However, a persistent myth often spread by millennials themselves is that they are broke. In a recent article at The Atlantic, prominent sociologist Jean Twenge took a closer look at this widely held assumption. Twenge acknowledges that many millennials got off to a rough start having graduated around the time of the 2008 financial crisis. In 2012, median household income among 25- to 34-year-olds was down 13% compared to the high point of 2000. Not helping was the fact that many graduated from college with an increased load of student debt. Also...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 11, 2023 5:14pm |
Why Christian Prayers for Israel Matter There’s an incredible global phenomenon taking place with millions of Christians fasting and praying for Israel this month. While the phenomenon of Christians praying for Israel is not new, this may be the first time that there has been a formal, organized effort to garner Christian support for Israel, all at the same time, over a period of three weeks. Known as the Isaiah 62 Fast, the effort has been spearheaded by Pastor Mike Bickel. It comes at a time that is monumental historically, with Israel celebrating its 75th anniversary of independence and the 56th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. Jews celebrate Shavuot, the Biblical festival during which Moses brought, and the Jewish people received, the Law, which Christians know and celebrate as Pentecost. It’s...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 11, 2023 5:19pm |
The Church Must Better Care for Children in Foster Care He came to us neglected and abused. A skeletal survey revealed multiple fractured bones and brain bleeds. When he entered our home at 13 months old, this precious baby boy – who finally became our first son after living in our midst as our foster baby – was in dire need of a stable life. We loved him fiercely and advocating for his needs became our mission. That’s why my husband, Scott, and I were thrilled when the adoption went through, allowing us to be his forever family after 26 months of being his foster parents. A decade later, Scott and I have added five more children to our fold through adoption via the foster care system. Fostering children – and adopting those who need a family – has become our life’s calling. Sadly, only three percent of practicing Christians step up to foster a...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 11, 2023 5:21pm |
Most Americans Raised by Christian Moms Are Still Christians Today: Poll The large majority of children who grow up with a Christian mom remain Christian as adults, according to new research from the American Bible Society that also shows faith has more "staying" power among kids than atheism. The research, part of the society's "State of the Bible" report, found that 73 percent of children who grew up Protestant remained either Protestant or "other Christian" as adults. Four percent are now Catholic, while 19 percent say they identify as an atheist/agnostic or "none." Among children who grew up Catholic, 57 percent remained Catholic as an adult, while 6 percent are now Protestant and 14 percent are "other Christian." One-fifth (21 percent) now identify as atheist/agnostic or "none." "A well-known proverb offers this expectation:...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Fri, May 12, 2023 1:38pm |
Fighting Between Israel, Palestinian Islamic Jihad Enters Third Day Thursday marked the third day of fighting between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group. Talks of a cease-fire are ongoing. According to CBN News, Ali Ghali, a senior commander of the PIJ's rocket launching force, was killed in the fighting. The conflict began on May 9, when the Israeli military began a targeted airstrike on Gaza in an operation called "Operation Shield and Arrow" to stop attacks on Israel by the PIJ. By Wednesday, southern Israel had been struck by over 500 missiles by Palestinian terrorists, leading more than a million Israelis to run to bomb shelters or lie on the streets for protection. The Jerusalem Post reports that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had struck over 100 targets in Gaza as of Wednesday. According to a video...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Fri, May 12, 2023 1:49pm |
Nearly 500,000 Members Left the SBC in 2022 A new report by Lifeway Research suggests that the Southern Baptist Convention lost nearly half a million members in 2022. The report, released on Tuesday, revealed that the SBC had 13.2 million members last year, a 457,371 drop from 2021, when it had 13.68 million members. According to the Annual Church Profile compiled by Lifeway, this membership decline is the largest drop in over a century. In 2016, the SBC peaked with 16.3 million members, but by 2018, it had lost 1.5 million members. Since 2006, the denomination has lost more than 3 million members. Membership is currently the lowest it's been since the 1970s. According to Religion News Service, the world's largest Baptist denomination has been the subject of several controversies in recent years, including sex abuse scandals,...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Fri, May 12, 2023 1:56pm |
87 Percent of Americans Say at Least 1 Prayer Was Answered in the Past Year: Survey According to a new survey by the Radiant Foundation, an overwhelming number of Americans say that they have had at least one answered prayer in the past year. The "2023 American Prayer Wrap" survey included a nationally representative sample of over 1,700 Americans and was released last Thursday on the annual National Day of Prayer. The results found that 87 percent of respondents reported that at least one of their prayers were answered in the last 12 months. Meanwhile, 85 percent of Americans say they connect with a higher power by praying (61 percent), meditating (39 percent), practicing mindfulness (38 percent), reciting affirmations (30 percent) and practicing spiritually based yoga (14 percent). The survey also reported that the...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Fri, May 12, 2023 2:00pm |
More Pastors Are Promoting Adoption, but Fewer Members Are Adopting Church leaders are increasingly promoting adoption and foster care for their members even as fewer members are involved in the processes, according to a new LifeWay Research report that surmises the drop may be attributed to the pandemic. The poll of churchgoers, released Thursday, found that church leaders are more likely than they were in 2017 to raise funds for and encourage their congregation to adopt. At the same time, churchgoers are less likely than in 2017 to say they know of a member who has adopted or provided foster care. “It is likely the pandemic limited some families in considering foster care or adoption,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “But the need is still great in the U.S. and could grow larger in states...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Mon, May 15, 2023 6:49pm |
Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing $30,000 from Her Church A woman from Wisconsin pleaded guilty to theft last week for stealing around $30,000 from a local church. She will serve four days in a corrections facility. As reported by The Christian Post, 62-year-old Mary Moton of Milwaukee pleaded guilty last week to stealing money from her former employer Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, where she attended for 11 years and worked as the financial secretary. She also faced an additional count of forgery, but that count was dismissed. According to authorities, Moton stole more than $30,000 from the church. A judge sentenced her to four days in the House of Correction, with four days credit for time already served. She was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $11,735 in restitution to the...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 16, 2023 3:38pm |
Will Some Christians Start Following Demonic Doctrines in the End? Pastor Explains On a recent episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast, theologian John Piper explained what the Apostle Paul meant in 1 Timothy 4:1 when he said, "… in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." "What does this look like? Can it really mean Christ-worshipers become blatant demon-worshipers? Or is this move far more subtle? Can you explain to me what's happening in this text?" a listener named Leland asked in regard to the passage. Pointing to Romans 8:30, Piper responded, saying that the Apostle Paul is teaching "that those who are predestined are called, and those who are called are justified, and those who are justified are glorified," and as such, "no genuinely called and justified Christian ever falls away...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 16, 2023 3:49pm |
Learning from the Sins of Santos, Biden, and Trump: How Each Day Can Leave a Legacy While it is hardly unique for political scandals to dominate the headlines, this week has seen three public figures vie for the collective attention and derision of the American people. The most recent is Rep. George Santos, who was indicted on thirteen federal criminal charges ranging from wire fraud and money laundering to theft of public funds and lying to Congress. He allegedly laundered campaign donations through his personal bank accounts and then used the funds to buy designer clothes, pay off personal debts, and transfer money to other associates. In addition, he stands accused of receiving $24,000 in unemployment benefits during the pandemic while still earning a salary of roughly $120,000 for his role as a Regional...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 16, 2023 3:59pm |
Christian Widow Accused of Blasphemy Released on Bail A court in Pakistan on Saturday (May 13) released on bail a Christian woman charged under a blasphemy statute that calls for life in prison, her attorney said. Lazar Allah Rakha told Morning Star News that Arifwala Additional Sessions Judge Ijaz Ahmad Phulwaran on Friday (May 12) admitted the post-arrest bails of Musarrat Bibi and a Muslim accused along with her, Muhammad Sarmad, on bonds of 100,000 rupees (US$338) each. “The court accepted my arguments that there was a four-day delay in the registration of the First Information Report [FIR] against Musarrat Bibi and Muhammad Sarmad,” Rakha told Morning Star News. “Moreover, both accused had no intention of burning the koranic pages.” Bibi and Sarmad are illiterate and were only carrying out orders of the school administration...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 16, 2023 4:03pm |
Play vs. Screens Recently, an article in Nautilus magazine touted the benefits of play. Authors Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross conclude, “Play … is universal to our species, and when humans play, it positively influences both their cognitive development and their emotional well-being.” This is particularly important for developing what experts call “the 6 C’s”: collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence. But today’s kids aren’t playing. Instead, the generation of human beings with more leisure time than at any other moment in history is spending it on screens. Media theorist Andrey Mir offered this blunt conclusion in The City Journal: “Screen time is stolen time,” describing what a day in the life of a kid looks like: Screen time reaches two hours and 45 minutes between the ages of two...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 16, 2023 4:08pm |
Pope Francis calls on Italy to boost birth rates as Europe weathers a "demographic winter" Pope Francis delivers a speech next to Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, May 12, 2023, during a two-day "General States of Birth" conference in Rome. FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/GETTY Pope Francis warned Friday that Europe is mired in a "demographic winter" and encouraged Italians to have more children. The leader of the Catholic Church urged Italian politicians to take concrete action to tackle financial uncertainty that he said had made having children a "titanic effort" feasible only for the rich. Speaking at an annual conference on birth rates alongside Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Francis called on politicians to find solutions to...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 16, 2023 4:29pm |
Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Chaplains to Work in Public Schools The Texas legislature has passed a bill allowing schools to hire chaplains in addition to school counselors. Last week, the Texas House of Representatives passed an amended version of the bill after it was passed by the state Senate last month. According to Religion News Service, school counselors are required to be certified by the State Board for Educator Certification, but chaplains are not. During committee meetings last month, conservative groups, including Texas Values Action, the National School Chaplain Association, and Mission Generation, an arm of the NSCA, voiced their support for the bill. “Chaplains operate within an individual’s belief and convictions — they are not working to convert people to religion,”...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 17, 2023 1:54pm |
Most Single, Never-Married Christians Are Not Abstaining from Sex: Study Most single, never-married Christian men and women are not abstaining from sex, according to a new study from Communio, a national nonprofit organization. In the study, called the “Nationwide Study on Faith and Relationships,” Communio surveyed some 19,000 Sunday church attendees from Evangelical, Protestant, and Catholic churches. “Despite scriptural teaching to the contrary, research has shown that most never-married Christian men and women are not living lives of sexual chastity. This engagement in sexual relationships outside of marriage coincides with and likely fuels delays and declines in marriage,” wrote author JP DeGance, who is also co-author of the book, Endgame: The Church’s Strategic Move to Save Faith and Family in America. “The...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 17, 2023 2:41pm |
Christians Who Have Changed Their Faith Tradition Have Higher Levels of Scripture Engagement, Study Christians who have changed their Christian faith tradition have higher levels of Scripture engagement than those who do not, according to a new study by the American Bible Study. According to ABS’ “State of the Bible USA 2023” report, those who scored 100 or higher on a “Scripture Engagement Scale” were labeled as “Scripture Engaged.” Those who scored 70-99 were in the “Movable Middle” category, and those scoring lower than 70 were labeled “Bible Disengaged.” Those who changed their faith tradition, such as from Catholic to mainline Protestant, were more likely to believe that “the Bible is totally accurate in all of the pictures it presents” (64 percent) than those who have stayed with the same faith tradition (47 percent),...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 17, 2023 2:50pm |
The Problem with Gentle Parenting You may not have heard of it yet, but there’s a new approach to parenting. It’s called “gentle” parenting. The heart of gentle parenting, sometimes known as “attachment parenting” – or “respectful parenting,” or “mindful parenting,” or “intentional parenting” – is parenting that is very child-centric. Meaning parenting that is less about a parent leading their child and more about a parent facilitating things with their child. Gentle parenting encourages a partnership between the parent and the child that results in choices based on an internal willingness rather than external pressures. The goal is to acknowledge a child’s feelings and the motivations behind their behavior as opposed to correcting the behavior itself. It...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 17, 2023 3:04pm |
The (Fake) Battle Between Parental and Children’s Rights A bill currently on the desk of the governor of the state of Washington would, if he signs it, allow homeless shelters and youth homes to hide runaway youth from their parents, if those parents will not help them obtain gender-based medical interventions. The law would not require shelters or law enforcement to investigate if parents are abusive or neglectful, or if the young person is in danger. All that would be required is for young people to claim that their parents do not support their intent to take cross-sex hormones or obtain dangerous surgery. This is the latest and most alarming example of an often-portrayed conflict between the rights of a child and the rights of parents. Increasingly in fact, parental rights are seen, by school boards and other state officials, as perhaps the greatest threat to the rights and...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 17, 2023 3:19pm |
'Earliest, Most Complete Copy' of the Hebrew Bible Sells for $38.1 Million An ancient Hebrew Bible dating back to the late ninth or early 10th century was sold for $38.1 million Wednesday afternoon. The book, titled The Codex Sassoon, is believed to be the "earliest, most complete copy of the Hebrew Bible," according to Sotheby's, a fine arts auction house. As reported by Religion News Service, Alfred H. Moses, a former U.S. ambassador to Romania, and his family donated the now-purchased Codex Sassoon. "The Hebrew Bible is the most influential book in history and constitutes the bedrock of Western civilization. I rejoice in knowing that it belongs to the Jewish People. It was my mission, realizing the historic significance of Codex Sassoon, to see that it resides in a place with global access to all people," Moses said in a press...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Fri, May 19, 2023 6:17pm |
Religious Persecution Has Risen in 200 Countries, U.S. State Department Reports The U.S. State Department said in its annual report released this week that religious persecution has risen in nearly 200 countries. CBN News Senior Reporter Gary Lane, who extensively reports on Christian persecution around the world, said he believes the violence will continue until people begin to ask how they can help. "The key is, how serious are we when it comes to China?" Lane asked. "You've got as many as 3 million Uyghurs imprisoned, facing genocide. We say it's genocide being committed, and what are we doing about it? Why are we still buying Chinese products?" Secretary of State Antony Blinken reported there are 16 countries of "particular concern" where governments are targeting religious minorities. "Unfortunately, the report also documents the...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Fri, May 19, 2023 6:30pm |
Percentage of U.S. Adults with a Biblical Worldview Drops to 4 Percent A new study found that COVID-19 significantly impacted Americans' religious perspectives. The percentage of adults with a biblical worldview dropped to 4 percent, Dr. George Barna, director of the Cultural Research Center, said of the American Worldview Inventory report. "It's... much more extensive than we actually expected. Typically, you don't find that religious beliefs change very much," Barna told CBN News. "They're probably the most stable of the factors in a person's life because they relate to a worldview that's formed when you're young, and it doesn't change much as you age. "We found a number of things that changed in terms of their views of truth, their views about God, their own assessment of their spiritual commitment, some of their moral perspectives — even their...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 23, 2023 6:00pm |
Christian Leaders Respond to the Death of Pastor Tim Keller Renowned pastor and author Tim Keller passed away on Friday, May 19, following a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Keller was 72. Born on September 23, 1950, Keller received his education from Westminster Theological Seminary, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Bucknell University. He was the chairman and co-founder of The Gospel Coalition and Redeemer City to City. He was also the Senior pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and the author of nearly three dozen books. Keller stepped down from his senior pastor role in 2017 to focus his attention on his non-profit organization, Redeemer City to City. Amid Keller’s passing, faith leaders are lauding him for his work in urban ministry and life as a man of God. Harvest Christian Fellowship pastor Greg Laurie...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 23, 2023 6:04pm |
Two Christians, 18 and 14, Accused of Blasphemy in Pakistan Babar Sandhu Masih was resting after lunch on Thursday afternoon (May 18) when he heard a commotion outside his house in the Qurban Lines neighborhood of Lahore, Pakistan. Masih went outside to find his neighbor, policeman Zahid Sohail, beating his son and another Christian boy. His son Adil, 18, and 14-year-old Simon Nadeem Masih, who lives nearby, had been engaged in light-hearted banter when Sohail accused them of committing blasphemy, he said. “Sohail initially alleged that he was walking past the two boys when he overheard them ‘disrespecting’ prophet Muhammad and then laughing over it,” Masih said. “He started beating Simon, and when Adil tried to save him, Sohail attacked him too.” Masih, a Catholic who paints cars at a local auto workshop, said neighbors...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 23, 2023 6:19pm |
Supreme Court Justice Blasts States for Closing 'Churches Even as They Allowed Casinos' to Remain Open U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch used a case on COVID-19 and immigration last week to blast the state and federal government response to the pandemic, calling it an intrusion on civil liberties and reminding his colleagues that churches were closed while casinos were allowed to stay open. The case, Arizona v. Mayorkas, involved the so-called Title 42 order from the Trump Administration that allowed immigration to be restricted in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Gorsuch joined his colleagues Thursday in dismissing a dispute about Title 42. But Gorsuch also wrote an eight-page statement criticizing pandemic restrictions on the local, state and federal level. He began by referencing restrictions...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 24, 2023 9:28am |
Pope Francis Declares 21 Coptic Martyrs Killed by ISIS Saints Pope Francis recently declared 21 Coptic Christians martyred by Islamic State terrorists on a Libyan beach in 2015 saints and added them to the Roman Catholic Church’s calendar. The pope’s decision was made during a meeting with Coptic patriarch Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, further bridging the long-standing divide between the Roman Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church. The schism between both churches goes back to 451 AD due to differing views on the nature of Christ. According to The Telegraph, the meeting between both popes also fell on the 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s meeting with Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, which also reflected a commitment to overcome the theological differences between both churches. The Coptic Orthodox Church...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 24, 2023 10:10am |
Teen Arrested after an Altercation Broke Out while He Was Distributing Bibles A teenager in Alberta, Canada, who was recently arrested while handing out Bibles, argued that he will continue to share his faith in public. According to Faithwire, 16-year-old Josh Alexander was reportedly arrested last Wednesday following an altercation between him, his supporters, and a group of counter-protesters. “Today I was handcuffed and put in a paddy wagon for offering students bibles on a public sidewalk in Calgary,” Alexander tweeted last Wednesday (May 17) “I was released and told if I returned, I would be arrested and charged. I continued handing out bibles,” he continued. “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. In a follow-up tweet, Alexander asserted, “I will not yield to the pressure of the woke...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 24, 2023 12:54pm |
Record-Low 49 Percent of Americans Are 'Certain' God Exists: Survey A record-low percentage of Americans say they are certain that God exists, according to a major new survey that also found that a record-high percentage of Americans say they never go to church. The data is part of the General Social Survey, which has been conducted since 1972 and is considered the gold standard of surveys among sociologists. A total of 49.63 percent of Americans say they are certain that God exists, according to the data as reported by The Hill. That’s down from 49.66 percent the previous year, 53.17 percent in 2018 and 57.37 percent in 2012, the last year in the survey that recorded an uptick on the question. In 2000, 61.85 percent of Americans said they were certain of God’s existence. In 1993, it was 64.51 percent. Despite the decline in...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 24, 2023 2:30pm |
Don’t Be Fooled: Charity Has Always Been Religious The Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case on whether Catholic Charities should be considered a religious entity. I’ll say that again, slightly differently. The Wisconsin State Court of Appeals determined that (Roman) Catholic Charities, an official caregiving arm of the Catholic Diocese of Superior, is not a religious organization. The Wisconsin Supreme Court will now consider that decision on appeal. The Catholic Charities Bureau has for decades worked for the wellbeing of “the disabled, the elderly, and the poor” in the Wisconsin area. While this charity offers aid to anyone in need, regardless of their religious faith, the bureau is driven by the specific teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and the general calling of broader Christianity. It takes serious mental gymnastics to say...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 24, 2023 2:37pm |
We Can Never Fully Avoid the Consequences of a Wrong Decision In anticipation of their tenth annual Pride Night, the Los Angeles Dodgers intended to honor The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence with a Community Hero Award as part of the event. However, the team announced this week that their plans had changed, and the group’s invitation was rescinded. Now the Dodgers find themselves with angry people on both sides and no clear way out of their dilemma. But why would the inclusion of “a legendary LGBTQ+ charity and protest group” in an event to honor the LGBTQ+ community cause such an uproar? After all, they were far from the only such charity to be invited, and these Pride Night events have become an annual occurrence in most professional sports. Who are the Sisters of Perpetual...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 24, 2023 2:52pm |
Church of Scotland's Membership Dropped by Half Since 2000 The Church of Scotland’s membership has fallen to half its numbers since 2000, a new report from the Assembly Trustees says. According to The Christian Post, the report – created for the Church’s General Assembly later this month – said the membership of the Church of Scotland in 2021 was 283,600. In the 1950s, that number was about 1.3 million; in 2000, that number was more than 600,000. Meanwhile, the number of ministers has also dropped to 60 percent of what it was in 2000. “This is no fault of one group of people or any decision-making body, but a trend that has not been reversed; we have lost members and Ministers of Word and Sacrament but not adjusted the number of charges,” the report says. “One in three charges are in vacancy...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 25, 2023 2:35pm |
Christians Wounded amid Military Fighting in Sudan Among attacks on church buildings and mosques in Sudan after fighting broke out within the Sudanese military last month, a priest and other Christians were reportedly shot and injured in at least one assault with apparent anti-Christian motives. Unidentified gunmen attacked the Coptic Orthodox Church of Mar Girgis (St. George) in the Masalma area of Omdurman, across the River Nile from Khartoum, in the early hours of May 14, according to Egyptian news outlet Watani. The assailants injured the Rev. Arsanius Zaria, his son Girgis, a church cantor identified only as Seifein, a guard identified only as Habashi, and parishioner Safwat Shawqy, said the bishop of Atbara and Omdurman, Anba Sarapamon, according to Watani. All five received hospital treatment and have...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 25, 2023 3:27pm |
Setting the Facts Straight about Constantine On this day in A.D. 337, Emperor Constantine died. Many Christians think that Constantine was perhaps the worst thing to happen to the Church. They believe he made Christianity the imperial religion, thus leading the Church to compromise with pagan culture, marrying it to state power, and derailing the spread of the Gospel. The Church, they argue, was better off as a persecuted minority. After all, didn’t the Church father Tertullian tell us that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church? This argument is wrong on almost all counts. For example, under Diocletian, the emperor a little before Constantine, the Church suffered the worst sustained burst of persecution in the Roman era. Christians were tortured and killed at a horrifying rate. And Muslim persecution...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Thu, May 25, 2023 3:46pm |
Only 30 Percent of Churchgoers Volunteer for Church or Other Charities: Lifeway Poll Less than one-third of churchgoers say they volunteered for a charity or ministry the previous years, according to a new Lifeway Research survey that also found that most congregations encourage their members to be active in service. The poll of 1,002 American Protestant churchgoers found that 30 percent answered “yes” when asked if they participated in “any type of volunteer work for a charity (ministry, church, or non-ministry)” the previous year. Two-thirds (66 percent) said they did not. Among churchgoers who attend services four or more times a month, it’s 37 percent. Among evangelicals, it’s also 37 percent, according to the poll. A Lifeway Research analysis of the survey noted that government data...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 30, 2023 1:42pm |
Pastor Urges Pastors across the U.S. to Sign a Pledge against 'Wokeism' An Indiana pastor is challenging ministers nationwide to sign a pledge to combat wokeness. Pastor Lucas Miles of Nfluence Church in Granger, Indiana, and the author of Woke Jesus: The False Messiah Destroying Christianity, told Fox News Digital that his goal was "to write – if I can say this humbly – the definitive guide to understanding 'wokeism' and its effects on the church, and what we can do about it." "There's been a lot of work to expose 'wokeism' in government and schools, but I don't think as many people are aware about how it's affected the church," he noted. Miles also pointed out that there is a trend seen among the "Christian left" of "money going into and influence being applied to our theological training centers in America." "Our Christian...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 30, 2023 1:55pm |
Church of Scotland Apologizes for Its Role in Transatlantic Slave Trade The Church of Scotland is preparing an official apology and a statement to acknowledge its involvement with historic chattel slavery. The Faith Impact Forum, on behalf of the church, has published a “Legacies of Slavery Report” examining its role in the transatlantic slave trade. The report looked at a 131-year period from the Act of Union in 1707 to the abolition of slavery in the West Indies in the 1830s. It was acknowledged that some Church of Scotland ministers and elders inherited wealth from relatives who owned slave plantations. Some church buildings also created memorials to honor people who profited from the suffering of slaves in the slave trade. The church organization itself is also the custodian of a financial fund linked to compensation paid to a family fiscally...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 30, 2023 2:07pm |
Flight Attendant Shares How Justin Bieber Shared the Gospel with Her A Colombian flight attendant recently shared how pop superstar Justin Bieber led her to saving faith in Jesus Christ. In a recent episode of “The Becket Cook Show”, Victoria Mandylor spoke of her upbringing leading up to her conversion, CBN News reported. "Yeah, he planted a seed," Mandylor said of Bieber. "He was another person that was put in my life to put the last seed [in] and water it." Despite growing up Catholic, she shared that her faith in God wavered when her uncle started sexually abusing her when she was 12 years old. "He groomed me from the time I arrived in the United States until I was 17 and then he raped me," she explained. "It went on for many years and he [mentioned] God to do what he was doing because he knew that I believed in...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 30, 2023 2:13pm |
83 Churches Depart from the United Methodist Church over LGBT Debate About 83 churches in Iowa have left the United Methodist Church's Iowa Annual Conference in light of the denomination’s continued debate over homosexuality. According to Christianity Daily, the departure represents 11 percent of the 750 conference churches across the state. During a Tuesday night Zoom meeting hosted by Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai and other conference leaders, over 500 laypeople and clergypeople attended, with most of them approving the disaffiliation agreements for the departing churches. As reported by the Des Moines Register, the settlements are a part of the UMC’s disaffiliation plan, which was first approved by the 2019 General Conference. The conference offers plans for churches to pay for two years' worth of apportionments and unfunded...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 30, 2023 2:24pm |
Christian Colleges Sue Minnesota for Banning Religious Schools from State Program A pair of Christian schools filed a federal lawsuit this week seeking to overturn a new Minnesota law that strips faith-based universities and colleges from a program that benefits college-bound high school students. Under the program, the Post Secondary Enrollment Options Act (PSEO), high schoolers (sophomores and up) can take classes on campus for free in order to earn college credit. Although it was enacted in 1985, this year Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, signed a bill into law that amends the program to exclude any college or university that requires students to sign a statement of faith. On Wednesday, two Christian schools – the University of Northwestern-St. Paul and Crown College – joined a lawsuit with a group of...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 30, 2023 2:27pm |
AI Can Read Your Mind and Help the Paralyzed Walk: Should We Be Afraid? “Think of the words whirling around in your head: that tasteless joke you wisely kept to yourself at dinner; your unvoiced impression of your best friend’s new partner. Now imagine that someone could listen in.” As Oliver Whang describes, we may not be all that far away from that creepy hypothetical becoming an even more frightening reality. As researchers delve deeper and deeper into the ability of artificial intelligence to interpret and understand the impulses of the human brain, a new realm of possibilities opens up. By measuring brain activity in fMRI scans and then feeding that information into their AI systems, scientists at the University of Texas, Austin, were able to decode and translate the thoughts of those who agreed to take part in...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 30, 2023 2:45pm |
Looking for Meaning in All the Wrong Places Much has been documented about the growing mental health crisis among American teenagers. Young people, however, are not the only ones struggling. Middle-aged women, particularly white women over the age of 45, account for nearly 60% of all Americans who have been taking antidepressants for more than five years. To be sure, with this kind of statistic, it is not clear the role that medical and pharmaceutical industries, which are incentivized to medicalize mental health struggles, play. There are also cultural factors at work. Affluent people, white people, and women are on average more likely to seek help for mental health issues than African American or Hispanic women, men, or people in poverty. It is good that more attention is now given to the mentally and emotionally hurting and that these struggles are no longer as...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 30, 2023 2:53pm |
Honey, We Shrunk the Church As Yonat Shimron led off her report: “For American religion, the story of decline just won’t let up.” She was referring to the recent findings in a new survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) published last week. As Shimron reported: “A shrinking number of Americans – 16% – say religion is the most important thing in their lives, down from 20% in 2013. And nearly 3 in 10 – or 29% – say religion is not important to them at all, up from 19% 10 years ago…. The survey… finds that 57% seldom or never attend religious services (compared with 45% in 2019).” There was another significant finding: 24% of Americans revealed that they now belong to a religious congregation that is different than the one they grew up in. This is up from 16% in 2021. The...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 30, 2023 2:58pm |
What the “Hell”? Quick: who do you think believes in hell the most – Baby Boomers or Generation Z? I’ll give you a few additional bits of information to work with: the study was conducted in the U.K., and there, Gen Z, more often than not, identifies as atheists. Okay, got your answer? If you said, “Well, it’s obviously Baby Boomers,” you would be… … wrong. While only 18% of Boomers said they believed in the concept of the land of the damned, a whopping 32% of Gen Z said they did. If this leaves you scratching your head, prepare for more itching. Their belief stops at hell. They do not throw in a belief in heaven, much less God. Further, they continue to declare themselves irreligious. All this from the “World Values Survey” conducted by the Policy Institute at King’s College in...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 30, 2023 3:07pm |
We Must Renew Our Commitment to Living Biblically in Our Post-Christian Culture Joe Hollins and his wife were camped near the home of Phoenix mother Claudia Jimenez when she woke up to find flames devouring her apartment. The homeless man heard her screams and ran to help. He stood under her window and encouraged her to drop her two children to him. After he caught them, he caught her two dogs and finally Claudia herself. She said later, “Because of him, we’re here, we’re alive and my daughters are safe.” Let’s reflect on this remarkable story as a cultural parable. Pete Buttigieg on the culture wars I have long considered Pete Buttigieg, the current Secretary of Transportation in President Biden’s cabinet, a political figure to watch. A Rhodes Scholar who served in the military in Afghanistan and as mayor of South Bend,...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Tue, May 30, 2023 3:12pm |
Franklin Graham Warns Christians: ‘There’s a Storm Coming, and We’ve All Got to Be Prepared’ Evangelist Franklin Graham on Monday warned religious broadcasters and the broader Christian world about a bleak future for society, but encouraged them to stand firmly on God’s Word. “There’s a storm coming, and we’ve all got to be prepared,” said Graham, the president of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Graham delivered the keynote address on the opening day of the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Orlando, Fla., saying that “every demon from hell” has been "turned loose" in the culture. Fox News reported on Graham’s speech. “The world has deteriorated so quickly,” he said. “We cannot be deceived and we can’t be fooled. We need to get ready and be...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 31, 2023 5:07pm |
Muslim, Police in Pakistan Beat and Confine Pregnant Christian A Christian housecleaner in Pakistan was beaten and illegally confined for a week by her Muslim employers after she tried to leave her job due to pregnancy, she said. Asma Gulfam, a 28-year-old Catholic maid in the Paka Ghara area of Sialkot District, Punjab Province, said she had worked for Huda Adnan for five years. Gulfam said that in early April she informed Adnan that she was five months pregnant and could not continue working due to a medical condition, but Adnan said she had to remain. On April 18, Adnan accused her of stealing 1 million rupees (US$3,490) that had been left in a bathroom some days prior, Gulfam said. When she denied it, Gulfam said, Adnan dragged her into a room where a police assistant sub-inspector, Ijaz Ahmed, and...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 31, 2023 5:11pm |
Muslims Stop Christian Services in Two Cities in Indonesia Muslim mobs on May 19 stopped Christians from worship in two cities of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, sources said. Muslims reportedly disrupted Christians as they worshipped in a café in a village in Binjai, 13 miles from Medan, capital of North Sumatra Province. In Riau, capital of Pekanbaru Province in southern Sumatra, Muslims reportedly stopped Bethel Indonesia Church’s (Gereja Bethel Indonesia) worship service. In the North Sumatra attack, at least 40 Muslims led by Yudi Ardiansah and Uztad Alfan Daulay stopped the midday worship service at the café where the Mawar Sharon congregation met in Jalan Sultan Hasanuddin, Setia village, in the town of Binjai, Sub-District Binjai Kota, according to outlet Binjai-based outlet MetroLangkatBinjai.com. Yudi reportedly told crowds that...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 31, 2023 5:15pm |
School Board Rejects Church's Rental Application over Its Beliefs on Gay Marriage, Abortion: Lawsuit A school board in Maine has rejected a church's application to hold worship services at a high school as part of a long-term lease. The Pines Church in Bangor has filed a lawsuit against the Hermon School Committee in Maine, saying the school board violated its rights under the First Amendment, the Religion Land Use, the Institutionalized Persons Act, and other state laws, CBN News reports. "Public institutions that seek to lease their facilities for revenue should not be able to discriminate based on religious or political conditions," said Legal Counsel and Vice President for Advocates for Faith & Freedom Mariah Gondeiro in a press release. "The Hermon School Committee has a history of leasing their properties to secular organizations without persecution. We are...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 31, 2023 5:32pm |
Kershaw, Dodgers to Host 'Christian Faith' Day in Response to Drag Queen Nuns Controversy Days after drawing the ire of the faith community for re-inviting a group of “drag queen nuns” to an LGBT Pride game, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced they would host a “Christian faith” day this summer. “Join us at Dodger Stadium on 7/30 for Christian Faith and Family Day,” the May 26 announcement by the Dodgers said. “Stay after the game to celebrate and be part of a day of worship. Stay tuned for more details.” Star pitcher Clayton Kershaw, a nine-time-All Star, also touted the event. Kershaw is an outspoken Christian. “Excited to announce the relaunch of Christian Faith and Family Day at Dodger Stadium on July 30,” Kershaw wrote on social media. “More details to come – but we...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Wed, May 31, 2023 5:47pm |
Pope Francis skips scheduled meetings due to a fever, Vatican says Pope Francis participates in the conclusion of the first World Congress of Eco-Educational Cities at the Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome, Italy, May 25, 2023. GRZEGORZ GALAZKA/ARCHIVIO GRZEGORZ GALAZKA/MONDADORI PORTFOLIO/GETTY Pope Francis skipped meetings Friday because he was running a fever. The Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said Francis was tired and attributed the fever to the fact that Francis had greeted, one by one, a particularly big crowd of his school foundation Thursday afternoon. "He wanted to greet all of them and probably at a certain point lost his resistance," Parolin was quoted as saying by the LaPresse news agency. The last time Francis spiked a...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Yesterday at 2:33pm |
Christian in Pakistan Sentenced to Death under Blasphemy Law A court in Bahawalpur, Pakistan on Tuesday (May 30) handed the death penalty to a 22-year-old Christian on an unsubstantiated conviction under the country’s blasphemy laws, sources said. Lazar Allah Rakha, attorney for Noman Masih, said that the sessions court announced its verdict at the New Central Jail Bahawalpur, in Punjab Province, though the prosecution failed to provide evidence of the blasphemy charge against him. “I’m extremely disappointed by the conviction, because there was absolutely no case,” Rakha told Morning Star News. “There was no proof against Noman, and none of the witnesses produced by police could corroborate the blasphemy allegation against him.” Masih’s trial concluded in January, but the court repeatedly postponed the verdict on various pretexts, Rakha said....more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Yesterday at 5:30pm |
'I Reject Them Both': Rick Warren Denounces Both Prominent Schools of Thought on Women in Ministry Saddleback Church founding pastor Rick Warren recently weighed in on the theological debate about women's roles in the church by dispelling both complementarianism and egalitarianism. "There are biblical alternatives to both complementarianism and egalitarianism," Warren said in part one of a four-part video series titled "SBC at the Crossroads." "And while both of those positions have strengths, they both, in my opinion, have unbiblical weaknesses, and they ignore important Bible verses. "So actually, I'm neither. I'm neither one of them. I reject them both," Warren asserted. "Now, if you're honest, you'll have to admit that Paul often says things about women in Scripture that appeared to...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Yesterday at 5:33pm |
Catholic Dioceses Consider Filing for Bankruptcy amid over 3,000 Sex Abuse Lawsuits Several Roman Catholic dioceses in California have filed for bankruptcy or are considering the option as the churches face over 3,000 lawsuits related to childhood sexual abuse cases. The influx of cases comes after a California state law opened a three-year in Dow to allow alleged victims to sue up to the age of 40. The window for the group officially closed in December, Religion News Service reports. The Diocese of Santa Rosa filed for bankruptcy recently after it faced more than 200 lawsuits. The church says it has between $10 million and $50 million in assets. A second diocese filed for bankruptcy in early May. The Diocese of Oakland is facing about 330 sexual abuse lawsuits and says it has about $100 million to...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Yesterday at 5:38pm |
Should Christians Boycott 'Woke' Companies? Target recently lost $10 billion in market valuation over ten days as its Pride-themed clothing line for children provoked a massive backlash. Nonetheless, CEO Brian Cornell has defended his company’s LGBTQ advocacy: “It’s helping us drive sales, it’s building greater engagement with both our teams and our guests, and those are just the right things for our business today.” Target is not the only retailer making such headlines: Kohl’s is now selling Pride clothing for three-month-olds. The retailer is also marketing a children’s shirt with the words, “Ask me my pronouns.” Critics are calling for shoppers to boycott the retailer. As Pride month begins this Thursday, these stories raise an important question: Should Christians boycott “woke” companies? Are...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Yesterday at 5:40pm |
Is New Paganism Actually Pagan? Recently in The Guardian, Emma Beddington covered a new twist on an old practice. According to the 2022 U.K. census, writes Beddington, “74,000 people declared they were pagan, an increase of 17,000 since 2011.” Meanwhile, in the U.S., “a 2014 survey by the Pew Research Center estimated at least 0.3% of people … identified as pagan or Wiccan, which translates to about one million people.” And, though it’s not clear how anyone could know this, “That number is expected to triple by 2050.” Those numbers, while a small minority of the population, are significant when set against the overall decline of Christianity in the West. According to British historian Dr. Ronald Hutton, today’s version of paganism is “a religion in which deities don’t make rules for humans or monitor their...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Yesterday at 5:44pm |
Responding to Pride Month with Fidelity Month America is the kind of nation where a girl born in the Galveston County Jail can grow up to graduate from high school at the top of her class and attend Harvard University this fall. Our nation’s founding belief that “all men are created equal” was truly revolutionary in a world dominated by kings, despots, and class-driven societies. Now, however, this declaration is facing a threat unprecedented in American history. This threat is represented by Pride Month as it begins today, but it is more foundational than meets the eye. To love our Lord and our neighbor well, it is vital that we understand this threat and respond in the most redemptive, positive way possible. "Indulging anti-Catholic sentiment is an elite pastime" This story caught my eye recently: “People in a throuple,...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Yesterday at 5:49pm |
Not Buying False Choices: The Christian Vision for Sex Is Better In his recent and remarkable book, Biblical Critical Theory, theologian Christopher Watkin points out how often our thinking falls into false dichotomies. Humans are either animals or gods; the planet is either progressing toward utopia or doomed to catastrophe; sex is either no big deal or our whole identity. Back and forth the cultural pendulum swings, never considering that there may be another option: a story that transcends these dichotomies and makes better sense of the way the world is. Sex, in particular, has been subject to ideological extremes. For most of my lifetime, pop culture has followed the maxim that “sex sells.” So, scantily clad women have been used to market everything from cars and football to movies and music. Beer companies often took the lead, featuring provocative models in...more Go top of page Go bottom of page |
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Posted by Temmy |
Yesterday at 5:53pm |
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