(Kyle Becker – LifeZette) A West Virginia parent, Rich Penkoski, was displeased to see his 7th grade daughter bring home a “calligraphy” assignment that asked students to write an Islamic pledge to Allah in Arabic last week.
He contacted the principal, Ron Branch, at Mountain Ridge Middle School — and wanted an explanation as to why his daughter was asked to inscribe the Shahada.
The Arabic passage translates to, “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah.”
(Amanda Prestigiacomo – Daily Wire) An unnamed male-to-female transgender is suing a spa in Canada after a female Muslim employee refused to wax him, citing religious grounds.
According to the filed complaint, the trans woman tried to get a body waxing at Mad Wax beauty spa in March but was turned away when no one was available to perform the waxing. The employee who typically waxes male customers was out on sick leave, and the other employee working, a Muslim woman, refused, as she will not make physical contact with any male she is not related to.
They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. Acts 5:40b-42
I love that. They did not stop. They counted themselves fortunate to suffer dishonor for his name. It seems to take Christians so long to face up to the simple declaration of Scripture that, when they were called to be a Christian, they were called to suffer. As Paul said in his letter to the Philippians, For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.
(Philippians 1:29). We are called to this. Suffering is an integral part of the Christian experience. It is not something that is unusual or reserved for just a few; it is for all. Peter wrote, Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
(1 Peter 4:12). Don’t think it is strange. You go through problems, difficulties, heartaches, disappointments, ostracism and coolness from others, all for the sake of the Name.
Don’t think that is strange. It is that to which we are called. Continue reading on Ray Stedman Daily Devotions
(Corinne Weaver – NewsBusters) Sympathy and charity are the natural reactions to a tragedy. Using the deaths of innocent people as an immediate platform for political gain is inhuman.
So, naturally, that’s the route Hollywood elitists chose to take just hours after the school shooting in Santa Fe that left 10 dead and several injured. Actors and actresses attacked everything they could get their hands on with blind, misdirected rage and virtuous grandstanding. It was like a wake of ghoulish vultures, screeching “YOUR PRAYERS DON’T WORK.” Continue reading
(Yosef Cohen – American Thinker) “…if we are to move forward during the Trump presidency and when it comes to its close, men and women of dignity across the land must abandon the words “liberal,” “progressive,” and “Democrat.” Yes, a linguistic turn is that important. To continue with misleading propaganda is to carry forth in darkness, when we have been given one last chance at the light.”
America is being made great again in the wake of Obama’s failed presidency, which in hindsight already appears as nothing more than the absurd climax of affirmative action gone off the rails. Trump has wiped the floor with his legacy while building an incredible one of his own. Continue reading
(Barna) “Christians today, more than 25 years ago, perceive social barriers to sharing their faith. They are more likely to agree that faith-sharing is only effective when they already have a relationship with the other person (47% vs. 37% in 1993) and to admit they would avoid a spiritual conversation if they knew their non-Christian friend would reject them (44% vs. 33%).”
When was the last time you had a conversation about God? For most people, the unfortunate and surprising answer to that question is not very often. Spiritual conversations are exceedingly rare for most Americans, and even for Christians, who are at best reluctant to have them. Continue reading
When it comes to convincing a professing Christian that their doctrine is unbiblical or that a teacher they follow is actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing, Bible study author, speaker and blogger Michelle Lesley reveals how she deals with this issue:
“My job is not to argue my friend into believing that Joel Osteen or Beth Moore or Benny Hinn or Christine Caine is a false teacher. My job is to lovingly present what Scripture says, demonstrate how the teacher is in conflict with it, leave it on the table, walk away, and continue to pray for my friend. My job is done. It is now the Holy Spirit’s job to open my friend’s eyes and change her heart.” Continue reading
(Eric Davis – The Cripplegate) A wise man once said, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). The “many,” “tribulations,” and “must” combine to make life really, really hard at times. Pain seems to crash upon its victims with inhumane force. It comes in all forms—physical, spiritual, relational, some excruciating combination. There are times when it just seems impossible to continue another moment.
Thankfully however, we have a loving God who is sovereign over suffering. He’s not pushing buttons from a distance, but intimately walking through it with us. What a great thing it is to have the Lord as our shepherd. He cares for us, not by always sparing us from sorrow, but leading us through it. He binds us up through various means; the word of God, prayer, corporate worship. Continue reading
(Heather Clark – Christian News) Pop singer Katheryn Hudson, who goes by the stage name Katy Perry and is known for her lesbian experimentation song “I Kissed a Girl,” recently spoke on transcendental meditation alongside her mentor at the Vatican’s “Unite to Cure” conference. Her appearance, along with others, such as Deepak Chopra and Dr. Mehmet Oz, have raised concern about ongoing ecumenism at the Vatican in joining together all kinds of beliefs and practices under one banner.
“Bobby was able to teach me meditation in India,” Hudson told those gathered during the talk entitled “Impacting Children’s Health Through Meditation Globally.” “The stillness that I found is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced.” Continue reading
(Churchwatch Central) One of the reasons why we are publishing a lot of particular articles at the moment is to lay the groundwork in order to expose Dr. Michael Brown’s attempt to mainstream the New Apostolic Reformation’s teaching on the ‘new apostolic paradigm’ of restored offices of apostle and prophet. To do this, we need to acknowledge the top leaders of this movement and how they perceived the revivals of the 1990s – and how they read that in light of the developments of the New Apostolic Reformation.
In this article, we look at the work of Che Ahn, a leading NAR leader who openly talks about the New Apostolic Reformation and calls it the ‘Apostolic Reformation’ or the ‘apostolic movement’. Continue reading
(Wesley Hill – First Things) Walk into one of the old Episcopal churches on the East Coast, and once your eye has adjusted to the light slanting in through the clear glass windowpanes onto plain white walls, one of the first things you’re likely to notice is the writing on the eastern wall behind the pulpit. Step closer and you’ll see it’s a placard with the Ten Commandments in flowing script. In 1604, this placarding of the Decalogue became a canonical requirement for Anglican parishes. A posting of the Commandments was to be “set up on the East end of every Church and Chapel, where the people may best see and read the same.” Right above the communion table, in view of all sermon-hearers, the Commandments were to issue their silent implication: These ancient words remain the word of God for the people of God. Continue reading
(Jessie – Hellmann – The Hill) The Trump administration may take action to cut federal funding to Planned Parenthood as a result of pressure from congressional Republicans and anti-abortion lobbyists.
Opponents of abortion have launched an all-out campaign urging the administration to bring back Reagan-era abortion restrictions on federal family planning dollars that would target Planned Parenthood. Continue reading
(Ruby Henley – InvestmentWatchBlog) “I think we had better start to pay attention. This must be way more advanced than what we know, so we must be aware of what is most likely another great deception.”
When I watched this video, I had to do a second take. I thought I had misunderstood this man’s words, but I was not mistaken. I am still amazed at what he said to the audience in trying to explain the sinister facets of artificial intelligence. As Elon Musk had said at an earlier time, “we are summoning the demon.” Continue reading
(OneNewsNow) A pastor is urging the Southern Baptist Convention to take a stand next month against the social justice movement and its liberal worldview.
Grady Arnold, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Cuero, Texas, has submitted a proposal to the SBC resolutions committee for the annual meeting, scheduled for June 12-13 in Dallas.
The proposals are given to the committee which can accept them and present them to the convention “messengers” that represent South Baptist congregations. Continue reading
Pastor Robert Jeffress
(Pulpit & Pen) Mormon ex-presidential candidate and current U.S. Senate candidate has spoken out in anger about Baptist preacher, Robert Jeffress, praying at the opening of the United States Embassy in Jerusalem. Calling Jeffress a “religious bigot,” Romney took exception that the pastor would be given the honor of praying at today’s opening of the embassy, by invitation of the President of the United States. The embassy had previously been located in Tel Aviv, and although other presidents have pledged to move the embassy to Jerusalem in a symbolic overture noting that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, until President Trump, no one has followed through on the promise. The embassy opened today amidst protest by Palestinians and at least one Mormon in Utah.
See Rromney’s tweet on the site Continue reading
(Meg Meeker, MD – LIfeZette) “We must use these scandals as an opportunity to confront a toxic sexual culture that confuses our children, ushers numerous diseases into their lives (if you doubt me, check out the latest data on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website), and stand firmly against the foul sexual messages pushed out by the media.”
Powerful men often fall short in their personal lives. We’ve all seen Matt Lauer, Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, and many others fall — scandalously. Continue reading
(Churchwatch Central) Is your local apostle equipping or empowering you to manifest God himself as a ‘New Breed’? Is your local apostle trying to get your church to manifest the God-man? The ‘One New Man’? If so, your local apostle is fulfilling the ‘Apostolic Commission’.
Rick Joyner was recognized as a prophet but is, to this day, treated and regarded as an Apostle. Joyner is most famous for his book series ‘The Call’ and ‘The Final Quest’. In this series, he claims to have received greater visions and revelations than prophets and apostles of the scriptures, bringing new teaching of God’s end-times church. Because of his claims, many Christians literally take his work to be scripture. (We’ve personally noted this in a number of friendships, churches and denominations.) Continue reading
(Michael W. Chapman – CNSNews) Sadly, 23 of the 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams are promoting homosexuality through “LGBT Pride” nights this year, reported Outsports.com. In addition, only two MLB teams — New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels — have never held such “pride” nights.
Outsports.com co-founder Jim Buzinski wrote that the teams were continuing “to court their LGBT fan base” and that the “pride nights will be a big draw in Major League Baseball this season.”
MLB Vice President Billy Bean, an openly homosexual former player, said of the “pride nights” in 2017, “I couldn’t be prouder of baseball — we’re really leading the way,” reported LifeSiteNews.com.
(Calvin Freiburger – LifeSiteNews) “American College of Pediatricians president Dr. Michelle Cretella warns that ‘cooperating with a child’s fantasy or delusion of being trapped in the wrong body temporarily mutes the impact of significant underlying emotional and psychological problems that are ultimately causing the gender dysphoria in the first place.'”
The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) has released a new set of guidelines for discussing transgenderism with children, encouraging parents to accept and reinforce their kids’ gender confusion. Continue reading
They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. (1 John 2:19a)
Notice that the mark of an antichrist is finally breaking away from New Testament Christianity. All such invariably do. And when they do, they will insist that they are the true mainstream of Christian truth and that we are living in the backwaters of Christian doctrine. John puts this very plainly. The mark of genuineness is continuity in the truth, continuance in true faith. What does he mean by us
? Surely not Christendom in general. He means, as he makes clear in the context of this whole letter, those who love the Word of God and who possess the Spirit of God, those who seek to obey the Word in the power of the Spirit. The emphasis he has been making all along is on those who share the life of Christ by the Word of God in the power of the Spirit of God. Heretics will invariably cut themselves off from these people.
If you suggest studying the Scriptures to those who are involved in heresy, you will immediately feel their scorn of the Scriptures. If they read the Bible at all, they cull out certain portions, omitting the parts they do not like, and then they say, Yes, we’ll study the Scriptures right along with you.
But if you read what they are studying, you find it to be emasculated of essential truth. We need not fear heresy if we find someone who wishes to study the Scriptures as they are. … Continue reading on Ray Stedman Daily Devotions
(Breitbart) Wednesday night on Fox News Channel’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” host Tucker Carlson declared “modern liberalism” a religious movement.
Partial transcript as follows:
CARLSON: In the wake of Eric Schneiderman’s resignation as attorney general of New York, some of his long-time friends on the left are professing shock.
You’ve heard them. We just can’t believe it, they say. How can a man so publicly committed to feminism beat women? It just doesn’t make sense. Continue reading
Are you one of those gnat-straining, camel-gorgers? Not sure? Eric Davis of The Cripplegate has a few examples of what he means by this professing Christian may want to consider:
Jesus is the word-picture Jedi. No one commanded communication so colorfully. But he didn’t do it to merely entertain. There is substance; an eternally-mattering goal. Often that goal was piercing.
The seven woes, recorded in Matthew 23, are no exception. “White-washed tombs.” “Serpents, brood of vipers.” “Twice as much a son of hell.” “Blind guides.” But one of the more tragically comedic is verse 24: “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” Continue reading
The Western Journal’s post mentions that because Mormons wish to “address diverse needs and fortify all children and youth with gospel-centered growth and learning experiences,” they’ve decided to form their own group. What the article leaves out is that Mormons believe in a different gospel which doesn’t save anyone, therefore it must be condemned. (Gal 1:8) Mormonism teaches that the true gospel has been perverted and lost so Mormon founder and so-called prophet Joseph Smith was called upon by God to restore the true church. Clearly this organization is not for Christian youth for the reason that it’s a cult. More on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aka Mormonism here.
Now to Scott Kelnhofer’s report: Continue reading
(Paul Bios – Daily Wire) “To put it bluntly: of course St. Ambrose didn’t have a substantial enough prayer room for Muslims on campus; it’s a Catholic school. Nobody forced the Muslim students to attend there.”
There’s accommodation, there’s tolerance, and then there’s just plain lack of logic.
The goal of any religiously oriented school, be they Catholic or Jewish or Mormon, is to instill that religion in their students. By the end of their tenure, a student from one of these institutions should either be super Catholic or super Jewish or super Mormon. Given that obvious framework, it seems counter to a Catholic school’s mission statement to provide sex-segregated “safe spaces” for Muslim students to conduct prayer.