tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2191677477233801792024-03-21T09:25:46.873-04:00Encounter Gospel News MagazineA worldwide Gospel News Mag with very impressive and growing readership. Encounter Gospel News Magazine and blog is published in print in the Washington Dc Tri-state area and serving the church worldwide with faith building and life changing articles and timely news coverage.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.comBlogger18848125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-8702405986124337492018-06-13T11:05:00.002-04:002018-06-13T11:05:52.709-04:00YOU ARE SO SPECIAL TO GOD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><br />By: Norm Rasmussen<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqt-JTas4tw">Video</a><br /><br />Many people go through life never thinking they are very special to anyone else. Life has been cruel. Life has handed them hardship after hardship, and they simply have a hard time imagining they have much value to anyone ' let alone value to God.<br /><br />Maybe you are one of these people. If you are, my hope is that God uses me to help change your understanding of your worth ' your value ' your very special importance to God. <br /><br />What you have or don't have has no bearing on your value to God. You might have no family; you might be living in a cardboard box and eating from rubbish piles to survive, but that doesn't make you any less valuable to God than a person who has billions of dollars and has six or more different mansions to <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/MEncouragerArchives/YouAreSoSpecialToGod.htm#">live</a> in. What you are is what is valuable to God ' not what you have or don't have. <br /><br />And what are you? You are an eternal spirit being. Your spirit will live forever. Because God created you in His image, your spirit has no choice but to live forever.<br /><br />Living forever is an eternal blessing ' or an eternal curse; an eternal hell. God gives each of us the choice in what eternity will hold for us. God gives us the power of choice to experience eternal life, or eternal death. Eternal death is not having our spirit cease to exist, as some falsely teach. Eternal death is knowing forever that your value to God has been severed, and that value will never be useful to you, to God, nor to anyone else. <br /><br />The Bible clearly states that those who make Jesus Christ their personal Savior and Lord will experience eternal life. Because Jesus Christ is fully God (along with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit), only the One who created you has the power to grant you eternal life. God has not granted that power to anyone else. He reserves it for Himself. <br /><br />What will eternal life be about? Forever peace? Forever joy? No sadness? No pain? No sorrow? No more sin? The ability to experience God with absolutely no hindrances? Yes ' but much more than that! It will allow God to develop your spirit to the fullest! It will allow God to prove to you and every other created being just how special you truly are to Him! <br /><br />No two created beings are identically the same to God. They may have similarities, but they are not identically the same. God made certain of it when He created us. God doesn't want identical lovers. He wants uniquely different lovers. You wouldn't want two identical lovers, so why would God? <br /><br />Dear one, eternal life with God is experiencing His eternal love forever. If you've ever had the opportunity to experience a 'first love' ' falling head over heels in love with someone to when you even think of them, though you aren't in their presence, your mind swoons with euphoria beyond what mere words can describe. I'm convinced God gave us the ability to experience a 'first love' with someone so that we could have some idea what eternal life ' eternal love - is going to be like with God - forever being enraptured in His love. Having our heartbeat race every time simply thinking of Him!<br /><br />If you're like most, your 'first love' slipped away from you. It was heartbreaking, wasn't it? Some people get to experience a 'second love' with another, but it doesn't happen that often. 'Second loves' are never quite as uniquely special as that 'first love.' When we are in the presence of God ' never to leave Him nor He leave us ' we are going to swoon with love for Him and from Him a trazillion times more intensely than what we swooned with our earthly 'first love.' And it will only intensify as eons and eons of time passes!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NIV">Eternal - everlasting life</a> is the same as eternal love. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A3&version=NIV">Eternal life means</a> to experience love unlike the human mind right now can possibly comprehend ' forever. (Eternal life means more than just experiencing eternal love, however. It also means to be empowered to experience, and help others experience, greater dimensions of joy than what we can possibily comprehend at the present time. It also involves being empowered to comprehend the glory of God to it's fullest comprehension and be granted special, creative abilities to help expand the glory of God ... for eternity without end). <br /><br />Eternal love means that God will never stop loving us and <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/MEncouragerArchives/YouAreSoSpecialToGod.htm#">start</a> loving another, like our 'first love' did (or we did to our 'first love'). Knowing beyond all shadow of a doubt that God will never leave us nor forsake us and shower His love on someone else will only fuel our devotion and passion for Him all the more ' eternity without end. <br /><br />God the Holy Spirit uses the apostle Paul to use mere human words to try to help you and I get some vague comprehension about this love God has right now for us, and how intense that love will be for eternity. Let His love promises seep <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/MEncouragerArchives/YouAreSoSpecialToGod.htm#">deep</a> inside your heart: <br /><br />Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35 NKJV)<br /><br />For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-19 NKJV)<br /><br />Yes ' I know we can read over these love promises from God above, and they can just come across as more words. Words that sound good for a moment or so, but when we take our eyes away from them, we feel no different because the pain of life holds a death grip on us. And perhaps the pain and frustration of our attempts to connect with God have also fallen short in times past, which only adds more layers of pain to our existing pain. (<a href="http://precious-testimonies.com/BornAgain/L-N/Norm.htm">I experienced that pain</a> for my first 35 years of living ' making half-hearted struggling attempts to connect with a God I wasn't totally convinced even existed. It's hell on earth).<br /><br />But let's back up a couple of verses and ponder deeply what God tells us in Romans 8:31-34:<br /><br />What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. <br /><br />At this very moment, the lover of your soul sits at the right hand of God the Father, making certain that <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91%3A11&version=NIV">angels are getting dispatched</a> to watch your back ' to make certain your devotion to Him is not snuffed out by the deceitfulness of sin and Satan and the painful cares of this life. Though the Father allows you to experience trial after trial to test your loyalty to Him and form your character that has <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/a-e/EternalWellBeing.htm">eternal ramifications (payback)</a>, His Son is making certain you'll make it to heaven to be with Him, if you chose not to divorce Him. <br /><br />Yet let's backtrack even further. Maybe you've not heard it said, and in case not ' God the Father loves you so much that if you were the only sinner to ever live on planet earth, the Father would stillhave sent His only begotten son to come down from the highest heaven and take full punishment for your sins by dying a cruel and painful death on the cross. Why would Jesus Christ have done that? Why did Jesus Christ do that? Because you're that special to Him. What more could he do to prove to you that you're that special?<br /><br />There have been a few who have died and stood in the presence of Jesus Christ for a short while, yet were told to come back to this life, because God had more for them to do for Him (and most likely He had more work to do in them) before being allowed to remain in His presence forever. They all say the same thing. Once you have been in the presence of Jesus Christ and experienced the incredible love that comes from Him and gets transferred to you ' you never want to leave His presence ever again, because His love is all there and is worth living for from that moment on.<br /><br />A lady comes to mind I know personally. She was suddenly thrust into the spirit realm from a serious health issue and her first memory in that realm was being in the presence of Jesus Christ. In her best attempt, she was not able to put into mere words how powerful ' how incredibly euphoric ' how exhilarating and thrilling it was to experience the love that Jesus immersed her in. My heart started pounding with excitement as she shared her encounter with me, though as she shared how difficult it was to come back to this life away from His love was the most painful trial she ever experienced ' that didn't excite me as no one else would be excited about experiencing that either.<br /><br /><a href="http://precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/f-j/JudgmentDayIsComing.htm">Judgment Day</a> is coming. The Bible promises it is coming. Every person will be in the full presence of the love of Jesus Christ. They will have a taste of eternal love that mere words could not possibly describe ' a taste of eternal life ' and then judgment will be pronounced on their behalf, and then that love will be removed from them - forever. <br /><br />Out of the presence of God for eternity after that ' they will have that memory forever of what they could have had ' that unspeakable love they could have had from Him ' but no longer will be able have it ' forever. <br /><br />They will also have the knowing that they lost the specialness that God created them to have and created them to be. Because they rejected love personified, their desire to receive love and give love will have so sadly died. That comes lot and parcel with eternal death.<br /><br />Eternal anguish will be the only thing they will have left to experience. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A1-13&version=NASB">Anguish</a> from what they could have had ' but no longer can have.<br /><br />Dear one ' until you breathe your last breath, it is not too late to fall in love and marry (maybe remarry?) the lover of all lovers. His name is Jesus Christ ' the One who loves you so much; He died for you to ransom you to Himself. You're that special to Him. He loves you that much.<br /><br />What keeps you from changing your eternal destiny this very moment, if you've yet to make Jesus Christ your Savior and Lord? You have been given the power to choose eternal life or eternal death. We encourage you to be wise. Choose eternal life.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-64782022650607489612018-06-13T10:55:00.005-04:002018-06-13T10:55:49.194-04:00 PRAYERS: Four Iranian Christians set to begin ten-year prison sentences<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />By World Watch Monitor <br /><br /><img src="https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Iran.jpg" />From left: Saheb Fadaie, Youcef Nadarkhani, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Mohammad Reza Omidi.<br /><br />The four Iranian Christians who saw their ten-year prison sentences upheld by an appeal court <a href="https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/coe/iranian-christians-jail-terms-increasing-in-length/">earlier this month</a> are expecting to have to report to prison any day now.<br /><br />Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, and fellow Church of Iran members Yasser Mossayebzadeh, Saheb Fadaie and Mohammad Reza Omidi could receive a call within the next 24 hours to report at the prison gate in their home city of Rasht, Mansour Borji from the London-based advocacy organisation <a href="http://articleeighteen.com/fa/2018/05/10/azizmajidzadeh/">Article 18</a> told World Watch Monitor.<br /><br />The four Christians were convicted of “promoting Zionist Christianity” and running house churches, and appealed their sentences <a href="https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2016/12/another-court-hearing-but-no-end-in-sight-for-iranian-christian-converts/">before the Revolutionary Court on 14 December</a> last year but were unsuccessful.<br /><br />Nadarkhani and Omidi, in addition to their jail terms, were also sentenced to two years’ internal exile, which they are to serve in the south of Iran, on the opposite side of the country from their homes near the Caspian Sea.<br /><br /><br /><br />Four other Christians who also received lengthy sentences are <a href="https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/coe/iran-judges-hear-appeal-of-four-christians-with-long-prison-sentences/">still awaiting the outcome of their own appeals</a>, which were heard in the Revolutionary Court by the same judge, Judge Hassan Babaee, who, according to Article 18, “doesn’t have a good track record in dealing with Christians arrested for their Christian activities”.<br /><br />Borji said this is partly because judges can’t be independent, as sentences are dictated by intelligence officials.<br /><br />“Iranian Christians are concerned about the unjust verdicts issued against Pastor <a href="https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2017/07/lengthy-sentences-for-iranian-pastor-and-two-converts/">Victor Bet-Tamraz</a>, and three other Christians who were sentenced alongside him, <a href="https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2017/07/lengthy-sentences-for-iranian-pastor-and-two-converts/">Amin Afshar Naderi, Kaviyan Fallah Mohammadi and Hadi Asgari</a>,” Borji said<br /><br />“We are following the appeal process closely and ask all Christians worldwide, and the key members of the international community, to join us in calling for these convictions to be overturned. The Iranian government has to be reminded of its obligations under international law and its own constitution, to end its harassment of the peaceful Christian community,” he added.<br /><br />Pastor Bet-Tamraz was sentenced to ten years in jail in July last year for “acting against national security by organising and conducting house-churches”. The three converts were also given ten years, though Amin Afshar-Naderi was given an additional five years for “insulting the sacred” (blasphemy).<br /><br />Shamiram Isavi Khabizeh, the wife of Victor Bet-Tamraz, <a href="https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/coe/iran-pastors-wife-joins-husband-jail/">was given a five-year sentence of her own</a> in January, while their son, <a href="https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2016/12/another-court-hearing-but-no-end-in-sight-for-iranian-christian-converts/">Ramil</a>, is also facing charges.<br /><br />Miles Windsor from Middle East Concern recently said prison terms are <a href="https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/coe/iranian-christians-jail-terms-increasing-in-length/">getting longer</a> for Iranian Christians.<br /><br />“Whilst Christians have consistently been put in prison for their faith in Iran, in considerable numbers, the length of the sentences has seemed to have increased in the last year or so,” he said.<br />‘Ongoing violations of religious freedom’<br /><br />Although Iran’s constitution acknowledges Christians (excluding converts from Islam) as one of the recognised religious minorities allowed to operate in the country “within the limits of the law”, in practice the government continues to harass and imprison Christians and other religious minorities, noted the <a href="https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm#wrapper">US State Department’s 2017 International Religious freedom report</a>, released last month.<br /><a href="https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2018/06/four-iranian-christians-set-to-begin-ten-year-prison-sentences/" target="_blank">Read more</a><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-48212698137694608162018-06-13T10:51:00.001-04:002018-06-13T10:51:22.480-04:00 Pope: 'if young people are not hungry for authentic life where will humanity end up?'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><br /><br /><br />"Here is the challenge: <a href="http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-" html="" if-young-people-are-not-hungry-for-authentic-life-where-will-humanity-end-up="">find</a> authentic life, not a carbon copy. Jesus offers no surrogates, but real life, true love, true wealth!". The World Cup in Russia can be an occasion for meeting, dialogue and fraternity between different cultures and religions, fostering solidarity and peace among nations ".<br /><a href="http://www.asianews.it/files/img/F___3.jpg"><img src="http://www.asianews.it/files/img/size3/F___3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Which path to follow?" And "if young people are not hungry for authentic life", but "destroy themselves chasing the ephemeral", "where humanity will end up?", asked Pope Francis in a reflection dedicated to the "challenge of every existence: the desire for a full, infinite life" and to the response that comes from Jesus who "offers no surrogates, but real life, true love, true richness!" .<br /><br />Commenting on the parable of the rich young man he highlighted the value found in searching for a "full life" Pope Francis today began a new cycle of catechesis dedicated to the Commandments.<br /><br />A group of young children, yellow cap on their heads, sat alongside the Pope for the entire general audience. Addressing them and the 20 thousand people present in St. Peter's Square the Pope also recalled that the World Cup will open tomorrow in Russia. "May this important sporting event - his hope - become an occasion for meeting, dialogue and fraternity between different cultures and religions, fostering solidarity and peace among nations".<br /><br />The story of the rich young man, in the words of Francis, shows "the encounter between Jesus and a man who, on his knees, asks him how to inherit eternal life (cf. Mk 10: 17-21). In that question there is the challenge of every existence: the desire for a full, infinite life. How to get there? Which path to take? Really living, living a <a href="http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-" html="" if-young-people-are-not-hungry-for-authentic-life-where-will-humanity-end-up="">noble</a> existence ... How many young people try to 'live' and destroy themselves by chasing ephemeral things. Some - he said - think it is better to extinguish this impulse, because it is dangerous. I would like to say, especially to the young: concrete problems, however serious and dramatic they may be, are not our worst enemy: the greatest danger is a bad spirit of adaptation which is not meekness or humility, but mediocrity, pusillanimity. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati said that we must live, not just get by ". "We need to ask our Heavenly Father the gift of healthy restlessness for the young of today, the ability not to be satisfied with a life without beauty, without color". "If young people are not hungry for authentic life, where will humanity end up? Where it will go with quiet young people, who are not restless".<br /><br />"The question of that man of the Gospel is within each of us: what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? Jesus replies: "You know the commandments" (v. 19), and quotes a part of the Decalogue. It is a pedagogical process, with which Jesus wants to guide to a specific place; in fact it is already clear from his question that the man does not have a full life. What therefore does he need to understand? He says: «Master, I have observed all these things from my youth” (v. 20). How do you go from youth to maturity? When you <a href="http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-" html="" if-young-people-are-not-hungry-for-authentic-life-where-will-humanity-end-up="">start</a> accepting your limits. It is the transition from youth to maturity. We become adults when we become relativized and we become aware of 'what is missing' (see verse 21). This man is forced to recognize that everything he can do does not exceed a "certain level", he does not go beyond a margin. How beautiful it is to be men and women! How precious is our existence! Yet there is a truth that man has often refused in the history of the last centuries, with tragic consequences: the truth of his limits, of his own limitations".<br /><br />"Jesus, in the Gospel, says something that can help us:" Do not believe that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill "(Mt 5:17). The Lord Jesus brings fulfilment, he came for this. That man had to arrive at the verge of a great leap forward, where he opens up the possibility to stop living for himself, of his works, his goods and – precisely because he lacks full life - leaves everything to follow the Lord. On closer inspection, at Jesus' final invitation - immense, marvellous - there is no proposal of poverty, but of wealth, true wealth: "You are lacking in one thing: Go sell what you have and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven: then, come follow me (V. 21). Who, being able to choose between an original and a copy, would choose the copy? Here is the challenge: find authentic life, not a carbon copy. Jesus offers no surrogates, but real life, true love, true wealth! How can young people follow us in faith if they do not see us choose the original, if they see us addicted to half-measures? It takes the example of someone who invites me to 'go beyond', to 'something more'. It is bad to find half-hearted Christians, 'little' Christians. St. Ignatius called it the "magis", "the fire, the fervor of the action, that shakes the sleepy".<br /><br />"The road of what is lacking passes through what is already there. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfil. We must start from reality to make the leap into 'what is missing'. We must scrutinize the ordinary to open ourselves to the extraordinary. In these catechesis we will take the two tablets of Moses as Christians, holding hands with Jesus, to pass from the illusions of youth to the treasure that is in heaven, walking behind Him. We will discover, in each of those laws, ancient and wise, the door opened by the Father who is in heaven so that the Lord Jesus, who has crossed it, leads us into real life. His life. The life of the children of God".</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-47773544322780719772018-06-13T10:45:00.005-04:002018-06-13T10:45:44.336-04:00COMMENTARY: Whatever Happened to Pentecost?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Charles Gardner<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/Portals/0/news/F180331HP16.jpg"><img height="360" src="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/Portals/0/news/cache/F180331HP16_m.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><br />With anti-Semitism on the rise, and Jews under threat as never before, it was astonishing that the government again allowed the staging in London of Sunday’s annual Iranian-backed Al Quds parade.<br /><br />What sense does it make that, in a country where ‘hate speech’ is supposedly illegal, a march fronted by the Hezbollah terrorist group – committed to the destruction of Israel – is free to spread its poison?<br /><br />Among the cheerleaders, and one of the speakers down to address the rally, was Rev Stephen Sizer, who has already been severely reprimanded for his anti-Semitic <a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/34198/Default.aspx#">views</a> by his own Church of England.<br /><br />The whole scenario was an absolute disgrace. And yet Israel’s greatest need is not protection! Bear with me as I will explain in due course.<br /><br />You will no doubt have heard talk of how we are now said to be living in a post-Christian era, with British society largely having rejected biblical values of the past. But I also detect a very worrying trend in the Western Church towards a kind of post-Pentecost line of thinking that appears to relegate its teaching as ‘passe’.<br /><br />As the disciples of Jesus were empowered on the Day of Pentecost to spread the gospel throughout the world, effectively giving life to what is now known as the Church, does this mean that the body of Christ is now in its death-throes?<br /><br />I have just reviewed the most brilliant book I have ever had the pleasure to read – R T Kendall’s Whatever Happened to the Gospel? – and hereby offer this piece as a brief postscript to the much-beloved preacher’s latest volume.<br /><br />Whatever happened to Pentecost? Many British churches seem to have stopped celebrating the day, or even mentioning it, although it’s much more than a day anyway – it’s an experience. Even Pentecostals and charismatics, who supposedly base much of their theology on this vitally important feast, seem largely to have abandoned it.<br /><br />The need for believers to be emboldened with power from on high, for which the resurrected Christ commanded his disciples to wait in Jerusalem, is rarely discussed. And we wonder why there is a lack of power in our witness.<br /><br />The Bible feasts, which include Passover and Pentecost (also known as Shavuot), are meant to be celebrated to remind us of key truths and of God’s great bounty and deliverance. Pentecost comes 50 days (or seven weeks) after Passover, is also known as the Feast of Weeks, and is a celebration of the first fruits of the harvest – specifically wheat, the main ingredient of bread.<br /><br />Jews also mark the occasion to celebrate the giving of the Law on Mt Sinai. And Jesus, the ‘bread of life’ born in Bethlehem (literally house of bread) is the fulfilment of the Law (Matthew 5.17). And thus Pentecost is a fulfilment of Passover. Jesus, who died for our sins of which the Law convicts us (Romans 7.7), sends his Holy Spirit to empower us to keep a Law that is now “written on our hearts” and not just on tablets of stone (Ezekiel 36.26, Romans 2.15, 2 Corinthians 3.3), thus enabling us to <a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/34198/Default.aspx#">witness</a> boldly for the gospel.<br /><br />And so it was that, on the Day of Pentecost, 3,000 souls were added to the body of believers. We absolutely cannot do without Pentecost. Jesus paid a very high price for it. It cost him everything.<br /><br />Britain is proud to have produced one of the outstanding preachers of 20th century Pentecostalism, Smith Wigglesworth, who was illiterate prior to his conversion and subsequently only ever read the Bible. He took the message of the gospel around the world and raised 14 people from the dead in the process – a modern-day apostle if ever there was one.<br /><br />Yet today Pentecost is largely forgotten and considered almost irrelevant; something of an embarrassment even. To their credit, the Anglicans, who in some ways are leading the march towards apostasy, still hold on to the feast. <a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/34198/Default.aspx" target="_blank">MORE</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-47892487810607033132018-06-13T10:33:00.004-04:002018-06-13T10:33:56.739-04:00 God’s ‘Unshakable Pursuit’ Frames Woman’s Missionary Union’s Opening Sessions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
BCNN1<br /><br /><img height="432" src="http://blackchristiannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/4afaf91d-49fd-4619-be34-c9a5424bb5df-Linda-Cooper.jpg" width="640" /><br /><br />More than 400 people gathered for the opening sessions of the 2018 Woman’s Missionary Union Annual Meeting and Missions Celebration on June 10 in Dallas.<br /><br />The 2018 theme for WMU is “Unshakable Pursuit.” The first session, themed “The Unshakable Pursuit of Fun,” was held in a casual ranch-style events center and included a barbecue dinner. WMU President Linda Cooper gave the first part of her president’s address from the back of a life-sized fake horse. Throughout the evening, she told attendees of ministries in which state WMUs are involved.<br /><br /><br />“From conception to death, God has a plan for your life,” Cooper said. “God has been pursing you your entire life. How do we respond to such a wonderful message? Let’s get to know this wonderful God as we experience more of His presence in our lives in our unshakable pursuit of Him.”<br /><br />During the second session, which turned from the earlier levity, missionary A* shared part of his story from the Middle East.<br /><br />“Approximately 10 years ago, I was falsely accused of starting a political rebellion in my country,” said A, a missionary to a refugee minority group. “I was put in an individual prison cell that was three feet by three feet. At the edge of this room, there was a toilet hole in the ground. My legs would hurt so much from standing, that I would lie down and put my legs into the toilet hole.”<br /><br />He continued, “Many of you may think this is the worst place you could possibly be. But to this day, I believe it was the most beautiful place on earth. It was there that I experienced God’s unshakable pursuit of me.<br /><br />“Jesus transformed that place from a prison to a beautiful memory. It was there I heard the voice of God. I went to that cell as a dead person, but in it, I came back to life,” A said.<br /><br />In that cell, his muscles, arms and back were in excruciating pain, but he knew if he knocked on the door, he’d be beaten. So he prayed to God to heal him, not even knowing if God was there. He dreamed that Christ came and poured oil over his body and when he awoke the next morning, his pain was gone.<br /><br /><br />“This was the first of several dreams and visions I would have in that cell,” he said.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bpnews.net/51044/gods-unshakable-pursuit-frames-wmu-opening-sessions">Click here to read more.</a><br />Source: Baptist Press</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-4554442283103688472018-06-13T10:29:00.001-04:002018-06-13T10:29:21.486-04:00 Walking the Way: 5 things a long-distance trail tells me about following Jesus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/reporter/jude-smith">Jude Smith </a><br /><br /><br />I am walking the Pennine Way. Not right now (clearly, I don't have the skills to walk and type at the same <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/walking-the-way-5-things-a-long-distance-trail-tells-me-about-following-jesus/129677.htm#">time</a>) but gradually and slowly, myself and friend are making our way along its route.<br /><br />For the uninitiated, the Pennine Way is the UK's original long-distance path. It is 53 years old and runs 268 miles. It starts either in the middle of England, or if you go from north to south just around the Scottish Border. It's no Appalachian Trail – there are no bears waiting to snaffle you off the path (I do have insect bites that drew blood, but I am just a particularly tasty morsel) – but in typically understated National Trail language it is categorised as 'moderate to difficult'.<br /><br /><img src="https://ctd-thechristianpost.netdna-ssl.com/en/full/75450/pennine-way.png?w=639&h=474" />Humphrey Bolton/GeographThe Pennine Way was Britain's first official long-distance trail.<br /><br />The Pennine Way is famous. Its described as running up the backbone of England. But here is the thing.<br /><br />Most of it is utterly nondescript. In fact, it is virtually invisible.<br /><br />I do quite a bit of walking – a few weeks ago I was in the Lake District, where the paths and trails scar the landscape as they wend their way up the steep-sided valleys, summitting onto false tops only to open out new vistas. Rangers and volunteers regularly shore up paths, adding steps and rails to popular routes. I get all of that – it facilitates the scamper up a fell that we all enjoy (although I can offer a serenity prayer for any like me who are sweating in our outdoor gear as some elfin figure in flip flops gambols past on their way up a grade one scramble).<br /><br />The Pennine Way is not like that. And because of this, it's taught me some real lessons about the Way.<br /><br />The Way is not always clear<br /><br /><br />We had gone through the <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/walking-the-way-5-things-a-long-distance-trail-tells-me-about-following-jesus/129677.htm#">gate</a> and set off following the clearest path. As we approached a sheepfold I checked the <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/walking-the-way-5-things-a-long-distance-trail-tells-me-about-following-jesus/129677.htm#">GPS</a> map. 'We're on the wrong place,' I said. And so, we headed of following a compass bearing to <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/walking-the-way-5-things-a-long-distance-trail-tells-me-about-following-jesus/129677.htm#">join</a> the way a little further over.<br /><br />I was struck that walking the Pennine Way is not walking the most obvious path. It requires the discipline of keeping an eye on the map and not being tempted by surer paths that head off in vaguely the right direction.<br /><br />Being followers of the Way is similar. We are not always asked to walk a path that is easy and clear to see. We require regular checks of the map, that big picture that orients us to where we are and where we are heading.<br /><br />The Way is marked out by those who have gone before <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/walking-the-way-5-things-a-long-distance-trail-tells-me-about-following-jesus/129677.htm" target="_blank">MORE</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-2474672071614660422018-06-13T10:22:00.002-04:002018-06-13T10:22:57.794-04:00US missionary kidnapped in Africa's Sahel nearly 2 years ago is still alive, says Niger's president<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/us-missionary-kidnapped-in-africas-sahel-nearly-2-years-ago-is-still-alive-says-nigers-president/129630.htm">Jardine Malado </a><br />
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<img src="https://ctd-thechristianpost.netdna-ssl.com/en/full/75414/niger-soldier.jpg?w=656&h=437" />REUTERS/Luc Gnago/FilesA Nigerien soldier stands guard near a camp of the city of Diffa, during the visit of Niger's Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum June 18, 2016.<br />
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An American missionary who was abducted by unidentified assailants in October 2016 is still alive, according to Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou.<br />
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Jeff Woodke, who has been <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-niger-us-kidnapping/u-s-aid-worker-kidnapped-in-niger-taken-toward-mali-idUSKBN12F04T">living in northern Niger since 1992</a>, was taken by a group of armed men from his home in Abalak on the night of Oct. 14, 2016.<br />
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There had been no news on Woodke since the kidnapping until last week, when Issoufou claimed that the American missionary and another abducted aid worker from Germany are <a href="https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2018/06/us-missionary-captive-for-20-months-is-alive-reports-nigers-president/">still alive</a>.<br />
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"We have some news; we know they're alive," Issoufou said in an interview with <a href="http://www.france24.com/en/20180605-interview-mahamadou-issoufou-president-niger-migrants-europe-libya-protests">TV channel France24</a> on June 4. "We continue to <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/us-missionary-kidnapped-in-africas-sahel-nearly-2-years-ago-is-still-alive-says-nigers-president/129630.htm#">create</a> the conditions for their release. Perhaps the contacts that are underway will help to achieve that goal."<br />
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<br />Shortly after Woodke's kidnapping, Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum said that the missionary's captors were <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-niger-us-kidnapping/u-s-aid-worker-kidnapped-in-niger-taken-toward-mali-idUSKBN12F04T">headed towards Mali</a>. No group has taken <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/us-missionary-kidnapped-in-africas-sahel-nearly-2-years-ago-is-still-alive-says-nigers-president/129630.htm#">credit for</a> Woodke's abduction.<br /><br />In July 2017, Woodke's wife, Els, appeared in a video pleading for the American missionary's safe return.<br /><br />Woodke had been working with <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/us-missionary-kidnapped-in-africas-sahel-nearly-2-years-ago-is-still-alive-says-nigers-president/129630.htm#">Jeunesse</a> en Mission Entraide et Developpement (JEMED), a group affiliated with the U.S.-based Youth With a Mission. <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/us-missionary-kidnapped-in-africas-sahel-nearly-2-years-ago-is-still-alive-says-nigers-president/129630.htm" target="_blank">more</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-77422179011485235432018-06-13T10:16:00.000-04:002018-06-13T10:16:46.545-04:00Remember North Korea's Persecuted Christians<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><br />"Try as it might, North Korea's government has never wiped out Christianity. Some experts say that there are as many as 400,000 secret believers, most of whom became Christians in China or through contact with Chinese or South Korean Christians. They live in constant threat of imprisonment or execution." -- Faith McDonnell, IRD International Religious Liberty Director<br /> <br />Contact: Chelsen Vicari, <a href="http://theird.org/">Institute on Religion & Democracy</a>, 540-239-2170, <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=cvicari@TheIRD.org">cvicari@TheIRD.org</a><br /><br />WASHINGTON, June 12, 2018 /<a href="http://www.christiannewswire.com/">Christian Newswire</a>/ -- Tuesday's historic summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un resulted in promises of nuclear disarmament and security. However, it is uncertain if protecting and advancing human rights was among the leaders' commitments. There are <a href="http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/4261281258.html#">deep</a> concerns, and reports, that the summit between the presidents of the United States and North Korea would not touch on North Korea's egregious human rights abuses.<br /><br />The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom's 2018 report ranks North Korea as a "Tier One" country. The situation remains especially alarming for Christians living under North Korea's Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).<br /><br />Examples of North Korea's atrocious persecution of Christians given by IRD International Religious Liberty Program Director Faith J.H. McDonnell include:<br />A former DPRK prison guard testifying before Congress confirmed the regime's intense hatred for Christians. In one incident he recounted a woman, in prison because she was a Christian, was kicked repeatedly and left for days because a prison guard overheard her praying for a child (Yes, children are in prison camps because the regime imprisons three generations of a family for the transgression of one member.)<br /> <br />In prison factories, guards poured molten steel on Christians to kill them because believing in God instead of Kim Il-sung was the biggest crime in the eyes of the officials.<br /> <br />2004 BBC documentary <a href="http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/4261281258.html#">Access</a> to Evil interviewed several defectors, former prison officials, who revealed that North Korea conducts deadly experiments on prisoners with gas chambers and chemicals. They indicated that those prisoners the regime considered "enemies of the state," particularly Christians, were selected for the experiments. The former prison camp official watched a Christian family die in the gas chamber, with parents trying to shield their children from the fumes to the very end.<br /><br />McDonnell commented:<br /><br />"Try as it might, North Korea's government has never wiped out Christianity. Some experts say that there are as many as 400,000 secret believers, most of whom became Christians in China or through contact with Chinese or South Korean Christians. They live in constant threat of imprisonment or execution.<br /><br />"Few American Christians lose sleep over their fellow Christians in North Korea – if they even know they exist.<br /><br />"Perhaps American Christians don't know that the same regime that threatened to turn the United States into a pile of ash turns its own wretched citizens who die in political prison camps into piles of ash? It then uses them as fertilizer. In that appalling action, North Korea demonstrates one way in which it wipes out the very existence of Christians, as well as other political prisoners.<br /><br />"While U.S. Christian organizations like the National Council of Churches and the National Association of Evangelicals have ignored the plight of Christians in North Korea and focused on a pacifistic approach to the summit, those who track North Korea's human rights abuses approached the summit as an opportunity to help the country's Christians, and indeed, all of the beleaguered citizens of the DPRK.<br /><br />"We urge the Trump Administration to follow the example of President Ronald Reagan who rightly linked the advancement of human rights, including religious freedom, with nuclear disarmament.<br /><br />"Barring divine intervention, only a drastic, verifiable change in the way that Kim Jong-un treats his own people, including the so-called 'hostiles,' the Christians, may indicate the possibility of North Korea ending its own hostility towards the free world."<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-21371455059398994522018-06-11T11:31:00.002-04:002018-06-11T11:31:57.260-04:00GAFCON 2018: Anglicanism riven, reformed or simply reheated?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><br /><a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/reporter/david-baker">David Baker </a>Mon 11 Jun 2018<br /><br />Hundreds of delegates from around the world are this week making their way to Jerusalem for the third meeting of the Global Anglican Future Conference, known to most people simply as 'GAFCON'.<br /><br />The organisation was formed in 2008 in reaction to a perceived liberal drift in many of the official structures of Anglicanism, especially in north America but also in the UK. Its first gathering that year attracted 1,100 people; five years later, in 2013, 1,500 met in Nairobi. This year, 2,000 people will attend. At least 43 nations will be represented.<img src="https://ctd-thechristianpost.netdna-ssl.com/en/full/58536/img.jpg?w=760&h=507" />ReutersGAFCON's 2018 conference is being held in Jerusalem.<br /><br />People's <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/gafcon-2018-anglicanism-riven-reformed-or-simply-reheated/129633.htm#">views</a> on GAFCON will vary, of course. In the age of the internet, opinion tends to polarise on almost any subject between the belief that something is either terrible, or, on the other hand, absolutely brilliant. But real life in practice tends to be rather more nuanced and complex.<br /><br />1. Is GAFCON 'Anglicanism riven'? There are many who believe GAFCON to be a divisive movement. However, those involved with GAFCON would, I think, reply simply that it is those who have changed church doctrine on moral issues who are the divisive ones. They would point out that for the last 2,000 years, all major denominations (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Pentecostal) have had a broad consensus on matters of the gospel, sex and marriage. And they would say that it is 'liberals' who have split away from this shared understanding.<br /><br />They would also argue that church unity is 'organic' rather than 'organisational', and that unity in New Testament terms comes from being 'united in the truth' rather than 'united in a structure'. Moreover they would point to the fact that many traditionalist evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics felt so marginalised and excluded (sometimes via lawsuits) by the Anglican churches of north America that some form of alternative home for them was not only desirable but essential.<br /><br />At this point I should lay my own cards on the table and declare that it was this treatment of many fine Christians and thriving churches in north America that motivated me to become one of many UK clergy who have indicated their support for GAFCON. If GAFCON hadn't existed, it seems to me it would have been necessary, for the sake of those in the USA and Canada, to invent something very similar.<br /><br />2. Is GAFCON 'Anglicanism reformed'? This is the vision that GAFCON itself <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/gafcon-2018-anglicanism-riven-reformed-or-simply-reheated/129633.htm#">puts</a> forward on its website. On its information page about the Jerusalem gathering it states: 'People have asked if we are meeting in Jerusalem to declare a break with Canterbury. The answer is emphatically "No." That would be declaring an unnecessary war... Rather than declaring war, we need to build the structures and relational networks that can move Gospel ministry forward to do evangelism, discipleship, church planting, and business as mission.' <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/gafcon-2018-anglicanism-riven-reformed-or-simply-reheated/129633.htm" target="_blank">MORE</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-60610788454515845632018-06-11T11:25:00.003-04:002018-06-11T11:25:43.430-04:00 Is the Messiah Waiting for Christians, Jews and Muslims to Join Together?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Israel Today<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/Portals/0/news/oktar-sherman.jpg"><img height="225" src="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/Portals/0/news/cache/oktar-sherman_m.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />A recent gather in Turkey marking the <a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/34164/Default.aspx#">start</a> of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan brought together prominent Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders in a rare display of solidarity.<br /><br />The underlying theme of the event, hosted by Turkish opinion leader Adnan Oktar, was that global salvation requires Christians, Jews and Muslims to stop fighting one another, and instead come together in brotherly union.<br /><br />A press release regarding the event published by Mr. Oktar's office included the following excerpts:<br /><br />The noble purpose of this year's iftar, which customarily brings together people of different cultures, identities and views who are well-meaning, conscientious, refined people, is to put a complete end to hatred. An important path to achieve this is to bring sincere Christians, Jews and Muslims together to exchange messages of love, peace and solidarity. And the Jewish, Christian and Muslim guests also made an emphasis on the signs of Moshiach’s appearance and that all of those signs have come to pass, making it clear that salvation lies in the brotherly union of Christians, Jews and Muslims and in their solidarity.<br /><br />The prayer, recited both in Arabic and Turkish, was noteworthy and unprecedented due to its being a Muslim supplication to God for good wishes and blessings for the Jews and Christians.<br /><br />Mr. Oktar underlined the positive role of religion, saying that problems between peoples "can be solved only by means of religious people since religion <a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/34164/Default.aspx#">puts</a> a <a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/34164/Default.aspx#">complete</a> end to hatred. The solution is love, friendship and brotherhood as described in Torah, Bible and the Qur'an. Religious people should come together, stand in solidarity." Mr. Oktar also cited the following passages from the Torah after praying for the appearance of Moshiach whom he believes will be the only solution for peace:<br /><br />"Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?" (Malachi 2:10)<br /><br />"How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1)<br /><br />"… a future awaits those who seek peace." (Psalm 37:37)<br /><br />The event was attended by several high-ranking Israeli rabbis, including Rabbi Abraham Sherman, who served on Israel's Rabbinical Court for 32 years, and Rabbi Ben Abrahamson, a historian and consultant to the Jerusalem Rabbinical Courts on matters concerning Islam.<br /><br />In the past, religious members of Knesset and even Israeli cabinet ministers have attended Mr. Oktar's gatherings.<br /><br />PHOTO: Rabbi Avraham Sherman being warmly greeted and escorted to the iftar meal by Adnan Oktar (right). Courtesy of A9 TV</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-40201795357642256902018-06-11T11:25:00.001-04:002018-06-11T11:25:29.566-04:00 Is the Messiah Waiting for Christians, Jews and Muslims to Join Together?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Israel Today<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/Portals/0/news/oktar-sherman.jpg"><img height="225" src="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/Portals/0/news/cache/oktar-sherman_m.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />A recent gather in Turkey marking the <a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/34164/Default.aspx#">start</a> of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan brought together prominent Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders in a rare display of solidarity.<br /><br />The underlying theme of the event, hosted by Turkish opinion leader Adnan Oktar, was that global salvation requires Christians, Jews and Muslims to stop fighting one another, and instead come together in brotherly union.<br /><br />A press release regarding the event published by Mr. Oktar's office included the following excerpts:<br /><br />The noble purpose of this year's iftar, which customarily brings together people of different cultures, identities and views who are well-meaning, conscientious, refined people, is to put a complete end to hatred. An important path to achieve this is to bring sincere Christians, Jews and Muslims together to exchange messages of love, peace and solidarity. And the Jewish, Christian and Muslim guests also made an emphasis on the signs of Moshiach’s appearance and that all of those signs have come to pass, making it clear that salvation lies in the brotherly union of Christians, Jews and Muslims and in their solidarity.<br /><br />The prayer, recited both in Arabic and Turkish, was noteworthy and unprecedented due to its being a Muslim supplication to God for good wishes and blessings for the Jews and Christians.<br /><br />Mr. Oktar underlined the positive role of religion, saying that problems between peoples "can be solved only by means of religious people since religion <a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/34164/Default.aspx#">puts</a> a <a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/34164/Default.aspx#">complete</a> end to hatred. The solution is love, friendship and brotherhood as described in Torah, Bible and the Qur'an. Religious people should come together, stand in solidarity." Mr. Oktar also cited the following passages from the Torah after praying for the appearance of Moshiach whom he believes will be the only solution for peace:<br /><br />"Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?" (Malachi 2:10)<br /><br />"How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1)<br /><br />"… a future awaits those who seek peace." (Psalm 37:37)<br /><br />The event was attended by several high-ranking Israeli rabbis, including Rabbi Abraham Sherman, who served on Israel's Rabbinical Court for 32 years, and Rabbi Ben Abrahamson, a historian and consultant to the Jerusalem Rabbinical Courts on matters concerning Islam.<br /><br />In the past, religious members of Knesset and even Israeli cabinet ministers have attended Mr. Oktar's gatherings.<br /><br />PHOTO: Rabbi Avraham Sherman being warmly greeted and escorted to the iftar meal by Adnan Oktar (right). Courtesy of A9 TV</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-3466064901321207702018-06-11T10:12:00.002-04:002018-06-11T10:12:29.420-04:00 Gratitude Is… Freedom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
by Daniella Whyte<br />June 10, 2018<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://blackchristiannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/daniellawhyte-bio.jpg" />What do you think about when you hear the word freedom? It reminds me of openness, flexibility, breathing space. It also brings to mind the wonderful ability we all have to create, dream, give, and serve. Nothing in the world is sweeter and more delightful than true freedom. The more freedom we have or are able to get, the more we want of it. It is the thing that millions of people all around the world live, fight, and die for. Along with safety, love, and belonging, freedom is one of the basic needs that psychologists tell us are inherent in the lives of all people. We as human beings have an inner desire to live outside of confinement and bondage, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. We have the ability to think outside of our environment and to act better than what we know. This is freedom.<br /><br />Gratitude has a freeing effect on our minds, souls, and spirits as well. When we are complaining all the time, we feel a kind of sadness or depression in our lives. On the other hand, when gratitude is the foundation of our lives, we open the door to a world of opportunities and innumerable blessings to come our way. When we express gratitude, we experience a kind of freedom.<br /><br />If we allow ourselves to become self-absorbed, we will always be bound by our present circumstances. People who are bound in this way cannot see the good that can come out of bad situations, or even the stars that shine brightest when it is dark. Sadly, much of the world is bound by superfluities and vanity, by pretty shells that have no solid core. Only wanting to live from thrill to thrill and wishing for everything to come to us easily, does not help us to experience a balanced life. Complaining often compounds our problems and binds us to our own short-sighted, finite thinking that we are entitled to anything at all in life. Nothing buries us more than ingratitude.<br /><br />One way to experience freedom is to accept truth. Sadly, much of what we see in the world is built upon lies. From media to government to schools and to families, a culture of lying and dishonesty has taken root in our society. We have lost our moral selves and have suffered a great deal for succumbing to deception. Dishonesty is the antithesis of freedom. Without honesty, we have nothing left, nothing at all with which to believe, to dream, to learn, to hope for, or to do what matters in life. It is the inevitable, proverbial prison without bars. Held hostage by the untruths we choose to believe, we erase gratitude.<br /><br />The truth sets us free. Jesus said as much in John 8:32, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” The truth sets us free from ourselves, from our own negative thoughts and feelings, and from self-conceit, pride, discontent, and ingratitude. We can choose to open our minds to receive the good and positive things that are available to us. We can be thankful for truth that sets us free, unlocks doors that have been chained by bitterness and frustration, and gives us inner peace and joy.<div>
<a href="https://blackchristiannews.com/2018/06/gratitude-is-freedom-by-daniella-whyte/" target="_blank">MORE</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-46267717666276691652018-06-11T09:56:00.003-04:002018-06-11T09:56:59.381-04:00 How parenthood impacted my relationship with Christ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/reporter/lizzie-bassford">Lizzie Bassford </a><br />Christiantoday<br /> <br /><br />Nothing can prepare you for the way a new little person impacts your heart, soul and strength. It changes everything forever. This tiny person whose entire life is dependent upon you taking care of them. It is so wonderful and yet so exhausting all at the same time.<br /><br />My group of friends all started having kids around the same time. It felt like the conversation changed dramatically overnight. Where once we were sharing stories about the gospel conversations we'd had on the street with the youth outside our <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/how-parenthood-impacted-my-relationship-with-christ/129566.htm#">house</a>, now we were talking about which cloth nappies worked best for our babies. It was a whole new world and one that I loved and hated all at the same time but one that I certainly wasn't prepared for.<img src="https://ctd-thechristianpost.netdna-ssl.com/en/full/75394/img.jpg?w=760&h=505" />Pixabay<br /><br />God was being squeezed out and replacing him was this precious little gift that seemed to sap all my energy, time and thought life. And surely this was right, my purpose now to pour my everything into my family? God would have to take a back seat for a while because frankly keeping this little one alive was all I could manage.<br /><br />It didn't take me too long to realise though that I had got it wrong in so many ways. I had swapped my identity as community worker for a new identity as a mum; mothering was my new purpose but the real reason there was tension here for me was not just because I was learning to sacrifice to a whole new level but because with or without children, unless my identity was rooted in Christ, there would always be a tension. I'd been looking for purpose and fulfilment in the wrong places.<br /><br />We have been created to live with Christ central in everything we do, whether that's being a student, working full time or being a parent. We flourish when we <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/how-parenthood-impacted-my-relationship-with-christ/129566.htm#">live</a> in relationship with Jesus. We flourish when all we are flows out of all He says we are.<br /><a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/how-parenthood-impacted-my-relationship-with-christ/129566.htm" target="_blank">more</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-7866467644690677222018-06-06T11:22:00.003-04:002018-06-06T11:22:31.594-04:00 Are Christian bigots? Why the church in Western Europe needs a Starbucks moment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><br /><br />Are Christian bigots? Why the church in Western Europe needs a Starbucks moment<br /><a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/reporter/mark-woods">Mark Woods </a>Wed 30 May 2018<br /><br /><br />It's official, then: Christians in Europe are more likely to be anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish and anti-immigrant.<br /><br />That's according to a <a href="http://www.pewforum.org/2018/05/29/being-christian-in-western-europe/">Pew survey</a> released yesterday. And it's true across churchgoers and non-churchgoers, so it's not just something we can blame on 'nominal' Christians.<br /><br />Let it sink in: a practising Christian is more likely to be hostile to people of other religions and more likely to want to keep outsiders out than someone with no religion at all.<br /><br />On Islam, in the UK 45 per cent of church-going Christians say Islam is fundamentally incompatible with British values and culture, as do 47 per cent of non-practising Christians. Among religious 'nones' — those who do not identify with a particular faith — only 30 per cent agree. Christians are also less likely to say they'll accept Jews into their families and more likely to agree with typically antisemitic statements.<img src="https://ctd-thechristianpost.netdna-ssl.com/en/full/43788/britain-first.jpg?w=760&h=422" />ReutersBritain First protesters at the East London Mosque.<br /><br />The normal Christian reaction to a <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/are-christian-bigots-why-the-church-in-western-europe-needs-a-starbucks-moment/129480.htm#">survey</a> like this is to rubbish the methodology and find ways of explaining it away. These aren't 'real' Christians we're talking about, perhaps. Or they might not even bother: we know Muslims are the enemy, they'll think; it's everyone else who's got it wrong.<br /><br />It's pretty clear what's going on here. Even among good churchgoing Christians, faith has become a marker of cultural identity. As we define ourselves positively as Christians, we're defining ourselves in opposition to other religious groups. And to bolster our own faith identity, we denigrate that of others. They become the people we define ourselves against – and we unconsciously buy into all supposed negatives about them.<br /><br />The 'non-practising Christians' follow a similar track. But for them, Christianity is more openly a cultural marker. It's the Muslims, or the Jews, who are the outsiders, and since they're defined by their religion, we must be too. So Christianity becomes a badge of national identity and religion is used as a tool of exclusion and discrimination.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/are-christian-bigots-why-the-church-in-western-europe-needs-a-starbucks-moment/129480.htm" target="_blank">more</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-52919524019084247842018-06-04T11:52:00.003-04:002018-06-04T11:52:50.324-04:00 THE PRIVILEGE AND THRILL OF DECLARING GOD'S GLORY..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt="Image result for Norm Rasmussen" height="200" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" 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By: <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/BornAgain/L-N/NormsShortTest.htm">Norm Rasmussen</a></div>
<br /> THE PRIVILEGE AND THRILL OF DECLARING GOD'S GLORY AMONG THE HEATHEN<div>
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If living life is becoming boring and maybe even purposeless for you, THAT can change! If you are wondering if your life is having any TRUE ' LASTING impact that is pleasing to God ' and will be pleasing to God for ETERNITY ' keep on reading! Afterall ' God created each of us to bring glory to Him. It is to be overflow of our love and appreciation for Him and to Him for what He has done for us, and what He promises to give us throughout eternity. (If you haven't come to understand this truth, my friend, do yourself a huge favor and listen to this video link:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GlSQ1Hzm-A">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GlSQ1Hzm-A</a>).<br /><br />You may not be aware of what Psalms 96:3 says. In part, most Bible translations read: Declare God's glory among the nations. In the King James <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/p-t/ThrillOfDeclaringGodsGlory.htm#">translation</a>, it reads: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+96%3A3&version=KJV">Declare God's glory among the heathen</a>. Let me tell you, THAT is thrilling to do, and it has ETERNAL significance to God, if you are doing so by the Holy Spirit's direction. (More about this a little later in the writing).<br /><br />Most people who consider themselves Christians (disciples of Jesus Christ, in other words) who have no excitement in their relationship with God are either unaware of what <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/k-o/KingdomOfGod.htm">Seeking the Kingdom Of God FIRST</a>' is all about ' or if they know, they don't CARE. Satan above all creatures doesn't WANT them to know OR care. Why? Because when Christians purpose to become engaged in DOING the work of advancing the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the lives of OTHERS (which is DOING the work of His kingdom building), it diminishes Satan's influence in this world. <br /><br />If a person can come to some understanding that there are only TWO things that hinder Satan from taking full control of the people on this planet is first ' God. Secondly ' God hinders Satan from taking full control of inhabitants of this planet through dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ. When disciples of Jesus Christ stop purposely being engaged in the way(s) God desires for them to be actively engaged in helping advance the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the lives of others ' Satan's job becomes easier in gaining influence in the lives of people, one way or another. <br /><br />When Christians are spending more time and <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/p-t/ThrillOfDeclaringGodsGlory.htm#">energy</a> (and finances) on self-happiness; self-fulfillment, self-pleasure, at the expense of letting OTHERS do the work of building Christ's kingdom Lordship in the lives of others, they are NOT engaging themselves in what God has called each of us to do with our life. You may be asking "that being what?" To help "Declare His glory among the nations ' among the heathen." And when disciples of Jesus Christ are not daily asking God to use them to somehow help declare His glory among the nations (doing their part to somehow help expand the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the lives of others in other words), Christianity starts getting boring, dry, and the thrill of service to God becomes more drudgery at best than any sense of thrill and joy and certainly <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/MEncouragerArchives/HaveToOrGetToChristianity.htm">wisely understood privilege</a>. <br /><br />We each must never underestimate how relentless Satan and his demon servants are ... stoking our sinful absorption with the idol (god) of SELF ... at trying to persuade us that helping "Declare God's glory among the heathen" isn't all that important. ('Let someone ELSE do it; I don't care'). Satan uses his spiritual weapons against Christians 24/7 to try to either lie to them and/or discourage them through trials of every kind ' so their desire lessens to be about the Father's business of His Kingdom advancement in the lives of others ' hence diminishing in our efforts to help "Declare God's glory among the heathen." <br /><br />Think about 'heathen' a moment. Anyone who is not a born again Christian is a heathen to God. Heathens are around us everywhere. Some of the nicest people we know are heathens to God. Heathens do not CARE about helping establish the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the lives of others. WHY don't they care? Because they don't have the mental and spiritual enlightenment nor empowerment from the Holy Spirit to do so. Truly ' they are incapable of it! That is a HUGE reason why Jesus says in in the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=NASB">book of John chapter 3</a>: 'You must be born again" to comprehend what God wants every person realizing: TRUE life can never be entered into until one has the ability of God the Holy Spirit operating in their life to fully KNOW what God wants them knowing and then doing. And no one is going to <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/p-t/ThrillOfDeclaringGodsGlory.htm#">receive</a> the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God without first surrendering to Jesus Christ as Savior, and then allowing Him to have more and more reign (positive influence) in their lives ' best known as allowing Him to be <a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-21.htm">LORD of their lives</a>. <br /><br />Jesus Christ is not looking for human robots - religious zombies. He is not looking for 'slaves' who feel forced and/or obligated in their mind's to somehow 'please' Him because they have to. The 'have to' mindset is demonically inspired. Jesus is looking for people to 'WANT to.' He's looking for people who have come to realize it is a PRIVILEGE to serve Jesus Christ and be engaged in doing their part to help advance His Lordship in the lives of others. He wants them fully persuaded that He is going to <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/p-t/HeavenlyRewards.htm">reward them through eternity</a> for doing so in this life. What Jesus Christ IS looking for are people who understand more and more that we're talking about <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/a-e/EternalWellBeing.htm">ETERNITY</a> here folks. Not just the few years that God gives us on this planet ' be they few or many. He wants followers of His realizing more and more that we make it our life's number one <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/p-t/ThrillOfDeclaringGodsGlory.htm#">purpose</a> for living, which is to seek Him daily to do what He desires for us to do to help 'declare His glory among the nations.' That somehow points a heathen to the FACT that Jesus Christ is truly the ALL in ALL ' He's EVERYTHING ' not just some things ' not just someone we are supposed to give thought to an hour or so on Sunday morning church service at best.<br /><br />No matter if we are dirt-dog poor financially; sick and infirmed; locked away in some far away prison; starving and freezing cold ' we can ALWAYS ask and trust the Holy Spirit to put into our mind someone or something to PRAY for. Praying unselfishly for others that the Holy Spirit lays on our heart to pray for is being engaged in helping 'declare God's glory among the nations.' Also, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzTocSarPhE">distributing Christian tracts</a> like God desires His people to do often in communities where the heathen are hurting and killing others. which truly makes Satan so happy. Satan is happy about that because he knows how much it grieves God who created them and realize their lives are wasting away, and unless they sell out to Jesus Christ and his Kingdom purposes, they will ultimately become <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/f-j/HellWillBeFullOfWastedCreations.htm">wasted creations throughout eternity</a> ' and aiding and abetting to influence OTHERS to do the same. The example we set of living our lives can influence others around us far greater than what we often realize. Jesus tells His disciples to "<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:14-16">let our light shine</a>" -- let our passion for being engaged in helping reach lost souls be evident to all. What intensity of spiritual light are we reflecting as others are observing us? It's easy not to care at times, isn't it? Many of us fall short of it more often than we care to admit, don't we? Yet thank God for His mercy and forgiveness, telling us to not dwell on our past failings but to focus on each new day He gives us to work at doing better - being more fruitful as best as we are able in our trials and sufferings -- the struggles we all face in this life. <br /><br />I don't want to come across as condescending, but I believe God wants each of us who consider ourselves Christians to be asking God frequently if we are doing our part(s) as would be pleasing to Him to help advance the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the lives of others. If we are falling short in what God desires for each of us doing by the leading of His Spirit, we can get back on track. Christian winners fail ... but they don't quit trying to win for Jesus. Jesus will always make a way for us to glorify Him, if we make it our daily purpose for ways to do so. <br /><br />The 'cares of life' ' <a href="http://biblehub.com/mark/4-19.htm">'the cares of this world'</a> ' is what Satan uses to keep us from daily doing our part to help advance God's Kingdom influence (Lordship) in the lives of others. The Holy Spirit wants us CARING about what God cares about, and that primarily is ultimately being used to help win souls to Christ Jesus. Once that has happened, then do whatever part God wants us to give ourselves to help that person mature in their relationship with Him ' otherwise known as discipleship. In so doing, that is being fully engaged in 'Doing the work of His kingdom advancement.' It is helping 'Declare His glory among the nations.'<br /><br />As a quick sidebar here: I believe there is no way more pleasing to God in helping "Declare His glory among the nations -- declare it among the HEATHEN" -- than to somehow help people be aware of what God did for them by taking their punishment for their sins on the cross. Hence my purpose for exhorting other believers to help distribute: <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/General/f-j/JesusDidIt.htm">Jesus Did It!</a> flyers - tracts. They can easily be shared on the Internet by a simple copy and paste. Paper copies can be made and placed in strategic places where people can find them. For the timid ... it doesn't require speaking to ANYONE! <br /><br />God tells us in His Word: "<a href="http://biblehub.com/isaiah/55-11.htm">My Word will not come back to Me void.</a>" Many Christians realize that to primarily mean the Holy Bible, as I do also. But heathen aren't interested in reading the Holy Bible all that much until the Holy Spirit begins to work deep in their heart ... trying to woe them to eventually ask and trust Jesus to be their Savior. (It has to start there). God is ALSO addressing The Message Of The Cross (Or in other words ... JESUS DID IT!) when He is decreeing that His Word will not come back void to Him. It is the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the BEST news God has for every person on this planet. It is the very <a href="http://biblehub.com/revelation/19-10.htm">"Testimony of Jesus Christ".</a> It is this "Gospel" that Jesus said will <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Matthew%2024%3A14">go out to all the nations</a> before the end comes (Before He comes back to earth, in other words). When we put the "testimony" of Jesus Christ where people can find it; reading it out of curiosity - without anyone looking - without someone in their face - SOME will allow the Holy Spirit to plant the Truth of it in their mind and spirit. It might be a very small "Holy Ghost spiritual seed of Good News" for some, but it's a START.<br /><br />I thank God a million times for calling my wife and I starting back years ago to publish born again - salvation testimonies for the Holy Spirit to plant and water in the lives of the unsaved, and to help restore hope and impart encouragement for battle weary Christian believers. We been blessed to see so many people ministered to through them. God uses testimonies of believers no doubt. Yet NO salvation testimony of someone holds up to the importance TO GOD of the "Testimony of what God Himself did for us by dying on the cross for us". That's THE testimony God is into HONORING AND USING above all others!<br /><br />One lost soul saved from the penalty of their sins may not make headlines on this planet, but in heaven it gets the FULL ATTENTION of God and God's angels: <a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/15-10.htm">http://biblehub.com/luke/15-10.htm</a>. One soul rescued from a person having to pay the penalty of their sins in hell robs Satan of glory, and now it gets to go to Jesus Christ for HIS glory, the Father's glory; the Holy Spirit's glory. We have no clue how focused angels are (or the number of them God uses) in trying to help a lost sinner on this planet turn their life over to Jesus Christ. Does it take hundreds; millions; billions? Maybe if we were in their shoes maybe we would be as excited about helping win lost souls as God's angels are - suppose?<br /><br />SO WHO CARES?<br /> <br />EVERY Christian who is able to leave their house can leave ONE Christian tract somewhere the Holy Spirit moves them to place it. If they can't leave their house, they certainly can afford one stamp and mail a tract to someone God lays on their heart - a tract at least once a MONTH if no more. That tract they leave or send may be the very thing God uses to help rescue that soul from spending eternity paying for their sins in hell. True, but do we care? <br /><br />I certainly cannot cast stones. Staying daily engaged in helping "Declare God's glory among the heathen" requires determination on our part that is so UNNATURAL, wouldn't you agree? Helping make the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the lives of others is so unnatural that it is the easiest thing I know of to let days pass ' and justifying that it probably really doesn't matter anyway. Can you relate? I think "It doesn't really matter anyway, does it?" is Satan's number one brain washing mantra that he ever seeks to instill inside the brain of us born again Christians. Saying it another way: APATHY knows no color or race or creed or social or financial status or high IQ. It is available to ALL - infused freely into our brain 24 x 7 by the devil with our sinful nature cooperating. It's the ONE spiritual drug we all can have and it doesn't cost a plug nickel to obtain. The drug of APATHY is so effective for Satan that most born on this planet will be taken to hell because of it, and for those who make it to heaven? They will discover the demonic drug of APATHY was the very same drug they allowed Satan to use on them to rob them of <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/k-o/LayingUpTreasuresInHeaven.htm">eternal rewards they could have been laying up for themselves</a> while they were on earth. <br /><br />Bottom line: If you and I don't CARE ' who can Jesus Christ count on to care? We're the BEST He has on this planet to bring Him glory by helping rescue lost souls. <br /><br />Lord ... HELP us to care and keep caring. Forgive us as we've been guilty of not caring so much in the past. Let us do better at it as each new day is granted us on this planet. Help us to not grow weary in what You desire each of us to be doing to help advance your Kingdom Lordship in the lives of others ... until our time on this planet is over with, and we get to be with You face to face - FOREVER.<br /><br /><br /><br />And let us always remind ourselves: The ONE thing we won't be able to do in heaven is try to help win a lost soul to Christ. Everyone there is already SAVED. We must engage ourselves in doing it HERE, where lost souls reside. It has never been easier than copying and pasting <a href="http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/f-j/JesusDidIt.htm">JESUS DID IT!</a> across the Internet.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-4139593747739055442018-06-04T11:45:00.000-04:002018-06-04T11:45:52.635-04:00Are there really unicorns in the Bible?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/reporter/martin-saunders">Martin Saunders </a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If ever there was a self-indulgent article, then this is it. Not because I love unicorns, and want to share my weird fixation with horned horses with a wider audience. But because of my own utter inadequacy as a Christian, and indeed as a human being. Allow me to explain.<br /><br />I was on holiday recently, sitting in the garden of an Old English Country Pub. The setting was idyllic: rolling hills behind us which extended out to the Dorset coastline; blistering sunshine (by English standards at least), and a brood of happy children around me, all slurping on ice creams and briefly quiet as a result. Everything was going my way, when suddenly, an opportunity for evangelism fell into my lap. Just in case you're still feeling confused by the title of this article, it did not involve the arrival of a unicorn, or at least, not exactly.<img src="https://ctd-thechristianpost.netdna-ssl.com/en/full/75329/img.png?w=760&h=543" />Pixabay<br /><br />At the next table in the garden, a man was holding court among his friends, talking sarcastically about the merits of religion. It's never nice to hear as a believer, of course, but I wasn't about to leap in and challenge him to a public debate. However, my ears pricked up when he began comparing belief in God to thinking that fictional, magical creatures were also real. He talked about elves and trolls (naturally; this was an Old English Country Pub after all), but then moved on to Unicorns. And then he uttered a sentence that I will never forget, because it was the greatest open door to an evangelistic response that I can remember:<br /><br />'If someone could show me a unicorn in the Bible, I'd go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life.' <br /><br />That's right. There's the unicorn you've been waiting for. Now, while that may not immediately appear to be the great open door to evangelistic witness, I should explain that it is. Because, while if you're reading a modern translation you'll struggle to find any references to winged one-horned beasts of any kind, the King James Version has loads of them. Nine, to be precise. two in Numbers, two in Job, three in the Psalms and one each in Deuteronomy and Isaiah. Exact references are listed below, but the general gist is similar to the line found in Psalm 22, where the writer pleas: 'save me from the lion's mouth: for thou has heard me from the horns of the unicorns.' Or Numbers 23:22, which says: 'God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the horns of a unicorn.'<br /><br />I knew all this before I sat down in that pub. So you see, I had a ready-made answer for the hope I have, and for the (let's call him) seeker's great question. I could have shown him nine unicorns, and ensured his faithful lifelong church attendance thereafter. But I didn't. I sat stock-still in the garden, awkwardly whispering to my wife that 'he's wrong you know, there are unicorns in the Bible.'<img src="https://ctd-thechristianpost.netdna-ssl.com/en/full/74897/bible.jpg?w=760&h=570" />Aaron Burden/Unsplash<br /><br />Now of course, he almost certainly wouldn't have honoured his loud and somewhat alcohol-affected promise to become a church goer if I'd pointed this out. Indeed, he and his rather burly friends would have probably turned a torrent of abuse upon me and my young family instead, but honestly, I felt a bit disappointed with myself for not even trying. It made me wonder exactly what it would have taken to make me walk across the room and share my faith with that man, given that even an open goal like biblical unicorns couldn't persuade me. <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/are-there-really-unicorns-in-the-bible/129516.htm" target="_blank">MORE</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-81449440369001666572018-06-04T11:38:00.003-04:002018-06-04T11:38:44.650-04:00 There is a Devil Loose: Vatican Holds Training Course for Priests to Learn How to Cast Out Devils..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Pope Francis Says Easy Access to Satanism Online is Causing Rise in Demon Possession<br />June 4, 2018<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://blackchristiannews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/rosary-bible.jpg" /><br /><br />The number of people seeking exorcism for demonic possessions is rising.<br /><br />In April, the Vatican ran a training course for priests brought on by the increasing demand for exorcisms.<br /><br />The clergymen were told the number of possessions was bought on by a decline in the Christian faith and easier access to Satanism and black magic through the internet.<br /><br />Pope Francis also said that life can be ‘a constant struggle against the devil’ and people should ‘not think of the Devil as myth, a representation, a symbol, a figure of speech or an idea.<br /><br />‘This mistake would lead us to let down our guard, to grow careless and end up more vulnerable’.<br /><br />In the US, the number of priests that perform exorcisms has more than quadrupled from twelve to fifty in the last ten years.<br /><br />One leading psychologist and professor at Columbia University has said he believes in possession and that many other mental health professionals agree with him but are ‘hesitant to speak out’.<br /><br />Dr Richard Gallagher assesses of cases of possible possession and judges whether a person is mentally ill or possessed.<br /><br />‘There is very strict criteria for determining the person’s problem. I am not just intuiting. I’m dealing with it from a very scientific point of view,’ he told the Telegraph.<br /><br />He said he has evaluated cases referred to him by a range of religious leaders including priests, rabbis, and Christian ministers.<br /><br />The professor said that his believes aren’t far from the American mainstream and that three-quarters of Americans believe in the Devil.<br /><br />SOURCE: BRIDIE PEARSON-JONES<br />DailyMail</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-75492490054261509082018-06-04T11:24:00.000-04:002018-06-04T11:24:39.942-04:00Assad will visit North Korea and meet Kim Jong-un<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
06/04/2018, 09.41<br /><br /><br />Announcement made by the official Pyongyang media, without specifying the date. No comment from the government of Damascus. The two countries have maintained solid commercial and military relations for years. Syria and North Korea are subject to isolation and sanctions. Assad would be the first international leader to visit North Korea.<br /><a href="http://www.asianews.it/files/img/SIRIA_-_NORD_COREA_-_assad_e_kim.jpg"><img src="http://www.asianews.it/files/img/size3/SIRIA_-_NORD_COREA_-_assad_e_kim.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will visit North Korea and <a href="http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Assad-will-visit-North-Korea-and-meet-Kim-Jong-un-44064.html#">meet</a> with his leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang. According to the official North Korean agency KCNA the Syrian leader will be the first head of state and government to visit the country and be received by his absolute master.<br /><br />KCNA did not indicate an official date for the meeting. However, the announcement comes just days before the historic and eagerly awaited meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump, first <a href="http://asianews.it/news-en/Pyongyang-leaves-door-open-to-US-43982.html">cancelled</a> by Washington and then re-entered on the agenda. The face to face meeting between the White <a href="http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Assad-will-visit-North-Korea-and-meet-Kim-Jong-un-44064.html#">House</a> leader and the Pyongyang dictator is scheduled for June 12th.<br /><br />Announcing Assad's visit to North Korea, KCNA relaunches the words <a href="http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Assad-will-visit-North-Korea-and-meet-Kim-Jong-un-44064.html#">spoken</a> by the Syrian leader. He would point out how "the world welcomes these exceptional events" that characterize the Korean peninsula "thanks to Kim's wise guidance".<br /><br />Contacted by the main international press agencies, the Syrian government and Assad’s closest collaborators did not want to comment on the news released by the Koreans.<br /><br />Pyongyang and Damascus have been maintaining strong strategic and commercial relations for decades. For some years the two countries also shared relationships and knowledge in the military field. A relationship that has continued in these years of civil war in the Middle Eastern Arab state.<br /><br />A relationship that also fuelled suspicions of chemical weapons trafficking from Pyongyang to Damascus. Several reports by the UN and the South Korean government would confirm these exchanges in the recent past.<br /><br />Analysts and experts also recall how North Korea made a significant contribution to the construction of a nuclear plant in Syria. The structure was bombed and destroyed in 2007 by Israeli fighters.<br /><br />Both Syria and North Korea are subject to isolation and sanctions: Pyongyang for its atomic program in violation of international law and Damascus for the atrocities committed by the government military in the context of the war. Since rising to power in 2011, Kim has never met an international leader within his country. He made only <a href="http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Xinhua-and-KCNA-confirm-Kim-Jong-uns-first-trip-to-Beijing-43481.html">one official trip abroad</a> in recent weeks, when he travelled to China – North Korea’s main ally - for a face-to-face meeting with President Xi Jinping.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-58703845431369338352018-06-04T11:08:00.000-04:002018-06-04T11:08:02.811-04:00 Russia Agrees to Let Israel Attack Iranian Forces in Syria<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Israel Today<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/Portals/0/news/F171227FFF34.jpg"><img src="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/Portals/0/news/cache/F171227FFF34_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Mounting concerns that escalating Israeli strikes against Iranian targets in Syria would result in direct clashes with Russian forces operating in the war-torn country were apparently put to bed on Thursday.<br /><br />The Saudi-owned <a href="http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/34124/Default.aspx#">newspaper</a> Asharq Al-Awsat reported that high-level meetings between Israeli and Russian officials ended with the latter granting Jerusalem a "green light" to continue punishing Iranian efforts to establish a military foothold in Syria.<br /><br />In return, Israel reportedly agreed to refrain from attacking military assets belonging to the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, which Moscow is trying to help regain control over the fractured country.<br /><br />Iran is also trying to keep Assad in power, but in accordance with its own agenda of regional hegemony, which, despite Tehran's friendly relations with Moscow, does not seem to mesh with Russian plans for the Middle East.<br /><br />If the reports are accurate, this would mark a major diplomatic victory for Israel, which was able to pull Russia over to its side in the conflict with Iran, seemingly leaving the Islamic Republic without any major international supporters.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-26402241796937730772018-06-04T10:49:00.004-04:002018-06-04T10:49:35.212-04:00 Simon Thomas: I was clinging on to my faith by one finger after my wife died<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/reporter/christian-today-staff-writer">Christian Today </a><br /><br /><br /><br />Simon Thomas, the ex-Sky Sports and Blue Peter presenter who lost his wife Gemma to a rare form of leukaemia, has admitted he has been clinging to his faith 'by one finger'.<br /><br />Gemma Thomas died in November, three days after first being told she had AML — Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.<br /><br />In a moving interview with the BBC's Songs of Praise to be aired this Sunday, Simon says he made a series of promises to his wife, including that he wouldn't give up on his faith.<img src="https://ctd-thechristianpost.netdna-ssl.com/en/full/75332/img.png?w=760&h=501" />BBCSimon Thomas (left) with Songs of Praise presenter Sean Fletcher<br /><br />'I was really angry with God and I still get angry at times now,' he tells presenter Sean Fletcher.<br /><br />'I don't think I'll probably ever really find out why [Gemma died]. But God is beyond big enough to take my anger. He can take me shouting at him. Jesus shouted at him on the cross, 'Why have you forsaken me, where on earth are you God, at the moment I need you most?' And I've shouted at him like that. If Jesus can shout at him, I can do it as well. And he's big enough to take it.'<br /><br />He admits that he promised not to abandon his faith because he realised how hard it would be.<br /><br />'I think that's why I promised it that day, as she neared the end. I remember the next day I was sat in our lounge. The sun was streaming in. I said "God I will not forsake you. I'm not going to give up on faith. This is going to be the biggest, hardest test of my faith that I'm ever going to go through."<br /><br /><br />'I've come close at times to saying "Do you know what, I can't do this anymore. This feels like an episode of the Krypton Factor, I'm trying to find you God in all this and I can't. It feels like you've gone quiet."<br /><br />'[And yet] he's not left my side - he has not left me.'<img src="https://ctd-thechristianpost.netdna-ssl.com/en/full/72621/img.png?w=474&h=463" />Instagram / SimonThomasSkySimon Thomas and his wife Gemma in New York for his 40th birthday.<br /><br />He adds: 'At times I've literally been holding on by one finger to my faith. Because that gives the direction for everything else. It was the glue in our marriage, and it helps me in terms of how we and now I bring up Ethan. It's the reference point for my life.'<br /><br />The interview is part of a Songs of Praise episode focusing on how faith helps cancer patients deal with their illness.<br /><br /><br />In the same episode Rev Kate Bottley interviews Della Ogunleye, who was motivated by faith and her own experience of breast cancer to start one of the only support groups for women from ethnic minorities affected by cancer.<br /><br />Songs of Praise: Christianity and Cancer is on Sunday June 3 at 4.15pm on BBC One</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-61717664869154959252018-06-04T10:42:00.005-04:002018-06-04T10:42:46.511-04:00 Royal wedding preacher Michael Curry opens Britain's Got Talent finale with special blessing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/reporter/christian-today-staff-writer">Christian Today </a><br /><br /><br />Michael Curry, <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/michael-curry-and-the-royal-wedding-what-does-it-mean-for-the-anglican-communion/129371.htm">who rocketed to fame</a> following his stirring address at the Royal wedding, opened the Britain's Got Talent final last night with a special blessing to contestants.<br /><br />The presiding bishop of the US Episcopal Church has achieved celebrity status after <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/the-fire-of-love-the-text-of-michael-currys-royal-wedding-sermon/129262.htm">his passionate 14-minute sermon</a> entitled The Power of Love was the most tweeted-about moment of the day of the royal wedding.<img src="https://ctd-thechristianpost.netdna-ssl.com/en/full/75162/michael-curry.png?w=618&h=443" />ReutersBishop Michael Curry preached at the Royal wedding – some said for too long.<br /><br />The address led Curry, who is descended from slaves and is the <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/michael-curry-and-the-royal-wedding-what-does-it-mean-for-the-anglican-communion/129371.htm">US Anglican church's first African-American head</a>, led to him <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/michael-curry-and-the-royal-wedding-what-does-it-mean-for-the-anglican-communion/129371.htm">appearing on numerous chat shows</a> and achieving celebrity status.<br /><br />Afterwards he revealed that when he first received the invite to preach at the Royal wedding <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/michael-curry-i-thought-my-royal-wedding-invite-was-an-april-fools-prank/129319.htm">he thought it was a prank</a>.<br /><br />He told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'I thought somebody was doing an April Fool's joke on me. I just didn't in my wildest imagination...'<br /><br />The bishop said he 'had no idea' his speech had caused such a stir, adding: 'When I sat down from the sermon, I remember thinking to myself, "I hope that was OK".'<br /><br />In a video that began the ITV show's finale, Bishop Curry said: 'Hello Britain's Got Talent. It is a joy to bring you these greetings, to all of the contestants, to the judges, to the audience, to all who make this possible.<br /><br /><br />'Thank you for what you are doing, thank you to the contestants who offer yourselves and share your talent and your gifts with the rest of us, you actually help to bring some joy and happiness.<br /><br />'So, thank you, God bless you, God keep you and may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love.'<br /><br />The contest was won by comedian Lost Voice Guy, who took home £250,000 and won a spot at The Royal Variety Performance. The comic, whose real name is Lee Ridley, has cerebral palsy and uses pre-recorded sentences on a computer for his stand-up act. He amazied the audience and judges with his hilarious routine in the grand final, which saw him poke fun at his disability.<br /><br />'I have been blown away by the support of the judges and the general public,' he said after his win was announced.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-48580557236122653142018-06-04T10:34:00.001-04:002018-06-04T10:34:13.517-04:00Destiny Conference Washington DC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<img alt=" 1" src="https://images.craigslist.org/00W0W_cRwtLOf27Yd_600x450.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: auto; max-height: 100%; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title=" 1" /></div>
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<section id="postingbody" style="border: 0px; clear: left; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">Discover Gods' <nobr style="font-size: inherit;"><a class="pxInta" href="https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/com/6607394326.html#" id="PXLINK_0_0_0" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(28, 125, 255) !important; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-all; word-wrap: break-word;">Purpose</a>s</nobr> for your life and Live your God Given Destiny; this is the Pleasing Perfect Will of God that you.<br /></section><section id="postingbody" style="border: 0px; clear: left; font-family: "Bitstream Vera Serif", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">Come to the Destiny Conference, it is coming to a city near you.<br /><br /></section></section></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-86275250151219509952018-06-04T10:19:00.001-04:002018-06-04T10:19:59.325-04:00International Christian Concern to Host Annual Policy Day Event June 5th on Capitol Hill<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Contact: Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator, <a href="https://www.persecution.org/" style="color: #ca0505; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">International Christian Concern</a> (ICC), 301-<span style="font-family: inherit;">859-3842</span>, <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=press@persecution.org" style="color: #ca0505; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">press@persecution.org</a> </span></div>
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WASHINGTON, June 4, 2018 /<a href="http://christiannewswire.com/" style="color: #ca0505; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Christian Newswire</a>/ -- International Christian Concern's annual Capitol Hill Policy Day will focus on the crisis of violence in Nigeria brought about by both Boko Haram and Fulani militants. Numerous human rights organizations have reported 60,000 or more deaths since the conflict first escalated in the early 2000s, and ICC has documented 1150 deaths as a direct result of Fulani attacks since the start of 2018. Samuel Ortom, Governor of Nigeria's heavily affected Benue State, has called the persistent attacks by Fulani militants a combination of "ethnic cleansing" and "jihad."</div>
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Policy Day is an opportunity for the public to hear leaders and experts unpack the true nature of the conflict and support legislative and diplomatic efforts to improve life for the persecuted and oppressed in Nigeria. The event will draw particular attention to the suffering of Nigerian Christians and call for government action to guarantee their security.</div>
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Policy Day will be held Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, SVC 212-10, First St NE, Washington, DC 20515, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is open to the public. RSVPs are strongly encouraged to ensure entrance through security and can be completed by visiting <a href="http://www.persecution.org/capitol-hill-policy-day" style="color: #ca0505; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">www.persecution.org/capitol-hill-policy-day</a>.</div>
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Speakers will include Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, Kristina Arriaga, Vice Chairwoman for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Congressman Randy Hultgren of Illinois, prominent activists, victims and policy experts.</div>
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Policy Day will also include a distinguished panel to discuss the ongoing crisis and potential solutions from the Nigerian and American policy perspectives:</div>
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• Chris Meserole – Fellow, The Brookings Institution</div>
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• Joshua Meservey – Senior Policy Analyst, The Heritage Foundation</div>
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• Stephen Enada – Executive President & Co-Founder International Committee on Nigeria</div>
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• Nathan Wineinger – Director of Policy and Coalitions, 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative</div>
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• Matias Perttula – Advocacy Director, International Christian Concern</div>
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<strong style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="font-family: inherit;">About ICC</em></strong></div>
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<em style="font-family: inherit;">International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.</em></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-37941588890047811802018-05-31T11:17:00.002-04:002018-05-31T11:17:28.290-04:00 Could sexuality be a thorn in the side of the Anglican-Methodist unity pact?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/reporter/harry-farley">Harry Farley </a>Thu 31 May 2018 10:56 BST<br /><br /><br /><br />Coincidences are always suspicious.<br /><br />But it is just a coincidence, no doubt, that within a week of each other both the Anglican and Methodist churches in England have admitted they are kicking any decision over sexuality into the long grass for at least the next year or two.<br /><br />The Methodist Conference had been due to consider a possible redefinition of marriage at its upcoming meeting next month in Nottingham. However Rev Kenneth Howcroft, chair of the task group in charge of the decision, <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/timetable-slips-for-methodist-statement-on-same-sex-marriage/129475.htm">cited</a> 'significant ill-health' among its members and 'significant disruption' because of the relocation, as reasons for the delay.<img src="https://ctd-thechristianpost.netdna-ssl.com/en/full/62183/methodist-central-hall.jpg?w=760&h=507" />Mexia CommunicationsMethodist Central Hall in Westminster sits opposite Westminster Abbey and across the road from Church House, the Church of England's headquarters.<br /><br />Similarly the Church of England has <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/church-of-england-fends-off-sexuality-debate-as-bishops-work-on-new-teaching/129479.htm">put a halt on any motions calling for debate</a> or a change in its stance on sexuality while bishops compile a major new teaching document on the subject – a process expected to last until 2020.<br /><br />All of this is in the context of the Anglican-Methodist Covenant, part of a move to end 200 years of schism between the two Churches.<br /><br />The process has been rumbling on since 2003 but reaches a climax in July when the Methodist Conference decides whether to agree to the next stage which would allow Methodist ministers and Anglican priests to interchange freely between the two (Anglicans agreed it in February).<br /><br /><br />So is the progress, or lack of, on sexuality within the two churches coordinated? <a href="https://www.christiantoday.com/article/could-sexuality-be-a-thorn-in-the-side-of-the-anglican-methodist-unity-pact/129499.htm" target="_blank">MORE</a><div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219167747723380179.post-87831092243058375152018-05-31T11:11:00.001-04:002018-05-31T11:11:04.409-04:00To achieve peace in Korea ‘We must look with the eyes of the other,‘ says Mgr Lazarus You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />The pope’s message “gave great joy and strength to the Korean people, not only to Christians, but to everyone,” says Mgr You. Kim Yong-chol is in New York to meet with Pompeo, whilst officials from North Korea and the US are meeting in Singapore and Panmunjom. A summit between North Korea, China and Russia might take <a href="http://asianews.it/news-en/To-achieve-peace-in-Korea-We-must-look-with-the-eyes-of-the-other,-says-Mgr-Lazarus-You-44033.html#">place</a>. Officials from the two Koreas will meet on 1 June. For Nuclear expert, denuclearisation will take up to 15 years.<br /><a href="http://www.asianews.it/files/img/COREA-USA_-_0530_-_Generale.jpg"><img src="http://www.asianews.it/files/img/size3/COREA-USA_-_0530_-_Generale.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Daejeon (AsiaNews) - "America wants North Korea to eliminate all nuclear weapons; North Korea wants the ultimate guarantee of its security, but we must walk together. It takes dialogue, negotiations, patience. We must look with the eyes of the other. Only this way can we understand better," said Mgr Lazarus You Heung-sik, bishop of Daejeon, speaking about reinstated talks between North Korea and the United States.<br /><br />"When I heard that Trump had cancelled the summit, I cried. I felt that hope for a new beginning for peace in Korea was going away," Mgr You noted. "Then, two days later, the meeting between Moon and Kim gave me immense joy.”<br /><br />For the prelate, this “was a particularly important meeting, because unlike the previous three meetings between the leaders of the North and the South, this time, the two leaders met without a complicated and long process of preparation. Instead, it was a spontaneous meeting just like one has among brothers of one family.”<br /><br />"Thus, they gave the <a href="http://asianews.it/news-en/To-achieve-peace-in-Korea-We-must-look-with-the-eyes-of-the-other,-says-Mgr-Lazarus-You-44033.html#">world a</a> new signal of the sincere fraternity of the Korean people, as well as the indomitable will for peace! There can be no sensitive and complicated problems after about 70 years of separation, marked by mutual hostility.”<br /><br />“We might always find ways to solve issues in this top-down manner between the two Korean leaders and promote talks between various political and charitable organisations between the two parties. In this process, the collaboration of China and the United States is also needed."<br /><br />"Last Sunday, the day of the Most Holy Trinity, the new apostolic nuncio, <a href="http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Msgr.-Xuereb,-new-Apostolic-Nuncio:-In-Korea-and-Mongolia-to-build-bridges-43766.html">Mgr Alfred Xuereb</a>, arrived in Korea with a message to the Korean people from the pope. The pontiff is praying. He wants reconciliation through dialogue, [he wants] other countries to help find peace in Korea. This gave great joy and strength to the Korean people, not only to Christians, but to everyone."<br /><br />Meanwhile, after an apparent end of talks and the possible meeting between US President Donald Trump and Northern leader Kim Jong-un, diplomats are back to work.<br /><br />In the next few days, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet Kim Yong-chol, former director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea’s main intelligence service, currently vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.<br /><br />A controversial figure, Kim is suspected of playing role in the sinking of the South Korean Navy ship <a href="http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Accused-of-having-sunk-the-Cheonan-gunboat,-Pyongyang-threatens-total-war-18455.html">Cheonan</a>. Currently, he is playing a leading role in talks with South Korea and the United States. He was a member of the delegation that accompanied Kim Jong-un during the first summit with the South Korean President Moon Jae-in and was the only North Korean official to accompany Kim Jong-un in last Saturday’s meeting with the South Korean president.<br /><br />At present the US Ambassador to the Philippines (and former ambassador to South Korea), Sung Kim, is drafting the agenda for the upcoming summit together with North Korean officials. In Singapore, White <a href="http://asianews.it/news-en/To-achieve-peace-in-Korea-We-must-look-with-the-eyes-of-the-other,-says-Mgr-Lazarus-You-44033.html#">House</a> Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Hagen is discussing logistical issues.<br /><br />Talks about the future of the Korean Peninsula are also taking place elsewhere. According to some media reports, the leaders of North Korea, China and Russia might be meeting shortly.<br /><br />This would be the third meeting between Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping in the past few weeks. Furthermore, on Friday, the two Koreas are scheduled to hold another high-level summit.<br /><br />Central to the debate is the denuclearisation of North Korea, which the US insist must be "complete, verifiable and irreversible".<br /><br />President Trump said he hoped to see this happen as soon as possible, but for the experts this is not feasible.<br /><br />Siegfried Hecker, a world-renowned nuclear physicist, published a report two days ago in collaboration with Robert Carlin and Elliot Serbin of the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC). For the authors, the process of denuclearisation of North Korea could take up to 15 years.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482473203984272343noreply@blogger.com0