Nancy Leigh (DeMoss) Wolgemuth Mixes Pagan Witchcraft Circle-Making With Christianity

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

And people wonder why “Cheetos-eaters living in their mothers’ basements” (discernment bloggers) blog about Christian celebs like Nancy Lee (DeMoss) Wolgemuth!  “Watchbloggers” as we’ve been dubbed, feel that our brethren should know when a Christian leader strays from the truth. And according to Jeff Maples of Pulpit & Pen, DeMoss-Wolgemuth strayed when she began promoting a prayer practice that he believes to be outright witchcraft.  That’s right.  Witchcraft.

Occult symbolOne of the most basic devices used in ancient pagan spirituality is the “circle of protection.” You find it everywhere from the Eastern mystery religions to modern witchcraft. The circle of protection was commonly used in old Gypsy magic, as it was thought to create an impenetrable barrier of protection around those in which it was created.

This “magic” circle, spiritual in nature, could be something physical, such as lines drawn in the dirt or sand, or even a sprinkling of salt. But they could also be imaginary. On page 43 of Gypsy Magic: A Romany Book of Spells, Charms, and Fortune-Telling by Patrinella Cooper, she says …

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“Ex-Gays Prove Change is Possible” Billboards Spark Controversy in Texas

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CNSNews reports:

truth-john-8-32A series of billboards in Waco, Texas, suggesting that a person’s homosexuality can change will come down in October when the group’s contract expires and won’t be erected again, according a local TV station.

KTRE-TV reported Sunday that the founder of an activist group called Interwaco called the billboard owner, Swift Media, to complain about the billboard’s message: “Ex-Gays prove change is possible.”

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What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

19 “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:19 NASB)

When our Lord spoke of the “world” in John 14:19, he was talking about those in this temporal existence who are not believers. They are not true Christians even though some in that group may profess to be so. In this context he was also referring to the Jewish religious leaders of his own day who opposed him and his ministry and who would continue to oppose the early church as is seen all through the books of Acts for example. What is it that separates those alive in this world who truly see Jesus for who he really is, believe and are saved from those who refuse to do so, reject the gospel, and remain in their sins, even if they may develop a form of Christianity that suits them that is absent of the real Jesus? View article →

How to Ignore “Discernment Bloggers” and Remain Comfortably Clueless

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Satire ∙ , ,

Steve Kozar of Messed Up Church offers 7 ways for professing Christians to rebuff “discernment bloggers” in order to hang on to beliefs not found in Scripture, should they so choose.  Here are his suggestions:

discernment-3Want to stay comfortable in your (theologically shallow & Biblically illiterate) Christian beliefs? Even if those beliefs are not really based on God’s Word?? Of course you do! Here’s a guide that will keep you in the dark, and will help you to avoid the bothersome content of whichever discernment bloggers are currently bugging you:

  1. Start with this assumption: There aren’t any false teachers. With this handy starting point everything else falls comfortably into place. Just tell yourself that people who proclaim a different Gospel are just… different. It’s like the difference between hotdogs and hamburgers. If there are no false teachers, then it logically follows that all discernment bloggers are wrong. Now you won’t have to consider what they say!

  2. Go with the group. If the majority agrees with you, you must be right. Remember, Jesus wants you to follow the most popular teachers, even when they twist the Bible. Discernment bloggers are not popular, so they must be wrong. Now you won’t have to consider what they say!

  3. Lump them all together. It’s true: some discernment bloggers are too extreme and exaggerate too much, or they go off on some crazy bunny trails; therefore you can ignore everything that every discernment blogger says (see points 1 & 2).

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U.S. Government to Cover Sex Change Operations for Active Duty Soldiers

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , ,

Christian News Network reports:

Photo courtesy US Defense Watch (usdefensewatch.com)

Photo courtesy US Defense Watch (usdefensewatch.com)

The U.S. Department of Defense will now cover costs for the sex change operations of soldiers in active duty, according to reports.

“[A] Defense Department spokesman said Monday that the option is available to all transgender active duty troops if their doctors recommend it and senior military health officials approve it,” the Military Times outlines.

As previously reported, the Pentagon announced in June that it would end the nation’s ban on open transgenders in the military. It had advised last year that a six-month study would be conducted to determine whether lifting the ban could have any adverse effect on battle preparedness.

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Do no harm, don’t discriminate: official guidance issued on robot ethics

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ ,

A professor of robotics in England says “The problem with AI systems right now, especially these deep learning systems, is that it’s impossible to know why they make the decisions they do.” If this is true, then robots are already out of control. -Technocracy News Editor

The Guardian has the story:

RobotIsaac Asimov gave us the basic rules of good robot behaviour: don’t harm humans, obey orders and protect yourself. Now the British Standards Institute has issued a more official version aimed at helping designers create ethically sound robots.

The document, BS8611 Robots and robotic devices, is written in the dry language of a health and safety manual, but the undesirable scenarios it highlights could be taken directly from fiction. Robot deception, robot addiction and the possibility of self-learning systems exceeding their remits are all noted as hazards that manufacturers should consider.

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Biblical humility

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; Philippians 2:3 (NASB) 

One of the main contentions of the Emergents is that it is an arrogant thing to teach from the Bible as if it is absolute truth. They say that the truly humble are those who confess to know nothing precisely, but only in a nebulous sort of way. This is primarily an attempt to appear humble to the world by seeking common ground with everyone, which is only possible if truth is held loosely so there is room for compromise. In the world’s eyes this does appear to be humble, but is this biblical humility? As you contemplate that question read the following passage.

30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:30-32 (NASB)  View article →

The pastor and inappropriate interactions with women in the church

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

William Thornthon of SBC Voices has provided a list of things that he views as “inappropriate interaction” with women.  He writes:

HuggingWhen a pastor is said to be “inappropriately involved with a woman or women in his church other than his wife”, it used to be that the phrase was our ecclesiastical euphemism for breaking the seventh commandment. The pastor got physically involved in an adulterous affair. Once that is known to be true, the pastor is effectively finished at his church while church leadership attempts to arrange his departure in a way that shows grace towards him and his family but upholds ministry standards.

Opinions vary about whether or not the adulterer pastor is finished for good. LifeWay Research did a poll of pastors on this and found that about one-third though that for the pastor to withdraw for three months to one year would be sufficient, about one-fourth though adultery to be a permanent disqualifier, and one in six though an absence from public ministry of two to ten years would be sufficient.

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Swedish church leaders oppose support for persecuted Christians

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Barnabasaid reports:

persecuted-churchLiberal Church leaders in Sweden have opposed an initiative aimed at showing support for persecuted Christians. After the murder of French priest Father Jacques Hamel by jihadists in July three Swedish priests started an initiative called Mitt kors (“My cross”) in which Swedish Christians took “selfies” with a cross to show solidarity with persecuted Christians. However, the initiative has been attacked by liberal church leaders apparently concerned that it might offend Muslims! The head of communications for the Church of Sweden even called it “seditious and un-Christian”. The Church of Sweden’s attacks on the “My cross” initiative continued until one of the priests who had started it publicly left the Church of Sweden. In a newspaper article, Johanna Andersson, the priest who has resigned wrote…

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Evangelical Misogyny and the Spiritual Oppression of Christian Women

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

bird-in-a-cageWhen it comes to women in the Church, author, speaker and blogger Michelle Lesley reminds us that “there’s no watered down, Barbie doll, ‘pink is for girls’ version of theology that women are to be taught while the real thing – serious Bible study and theology – is reserved for men.”  She points out that some women are doing “Bible art journaling” workshops so that they can learn how to color in their bibles which is “something we usually teach three year olds not to do.”  Teaching women the art of Bible coloring is of course ludicrous.  So why are women coloring the pages of their bibles and neglecting to do an in depth study?  Michelle asks: “When was the last time you heard of a Christian retailer or an average evangelical church holding a workshop – aimed at women – on biblical hermeneutics, Christology, pneumatology, church history, discernment, evangelism, or any other serious biblical topic?”  In many churches, the answer is never.

This piece is not just for women.  Church leaders, listen up!

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The child was sick so they killed him. And it’s legal

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Denny Burk, Professor of Biblical Studies at Boyce College, shares a Christian perspective on euthanasia, or physician-assisted-suicide, and asks some hard questions. He writes:

euthanasia-suicideThe stakes couldn’t be any higher or more grave than they are in this report:

A terminally ill minor has become the first child to be euthanized in Belgium since age restrictions were lifted in the country two years ago, according to several sources.

A Belgian lawmaker told CNN affiliate VTM that the physician-assisted suicide happened within the past week.

The child, who was suffering from an incurable disease, had asked for euthanasia, Sen. Jean-Jacques De Gucht told VTM. The identity of the child and age are unknown.

“I think it’s very important that we, as a society, have given the opportunity to those people to decide for themselves in what manner they cope with that situation,” said Gucht, a supporter of euthanasia legislation.

According to the BBC, the child was 17-years old. Lest you think this is far removed from us, just remember that physician-assisted suicide is already legal in the states of Washington, Oregon, California, and Vermont. We are not so far behind.

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For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another. 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. John 15:14-19 (NASB) 

A deep study of the book of Acts reveals many interesting things about the spread of Christianity as the Apostles obediently made disciples wherever they went. This spread was always accompanied by persecution. The hotter the persecution the more encouraged the brethren became. While that is not logical to the fallen mind, that is exactly how God grew His church. In the early 2nd century the bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp who was a disciple of the Apostle John, was brought to the Roman authorities and ordered to confess that Caesar is lord. Polycarp was eighty-six years old at this point. All he had to do was utter that statement as he offered a pinch of incense to Caesar, but he refused. He was martyred by fire. View article →

“There will be more”: Chilling 911 call after the Chelsea explosion

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New York Post reports:

New York City Chelsea District

Manhattan’s  Chelsea District

A 911 caller warned of further explosions right after the blast that rocked Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood and injured 29 people, The Post has learned.

“I’m looking at the explosion down the block. There will be more,” the unidentified male said, claiming to be standing at 23rd Street and Seventh Avenue in the aftermath of the terrifying incident, according to law-enforcement sources Sunday.

The bomb appears to have been a pressure-cooker device, sources said.

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Tragic toll of divorce on kids highlighted by new book

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Christian News Network posted a report Christian Institute (CI) penned on the toll divorce takes on children. The soon to be released book has many quotes from kids who’ve experienced divorce. For example, one 15-year-old shared that “Some days I would randomly break into tears and other days I’d get angry and pretend not to know why. I have been struggling with behaviour at school.”  According to CI, research shows that “children whose parents split up and chose new partners were more likely to experience social, educational and health problems than those whose families remained intact, even when there was conflict between the parents.” Here’s the story:

child-cryingThe heartbreaking effects of divorce on children have been highlighted by a new book, which gives them a platform to share their experiences.

‘Splitting Up: A Child’s Guide to a Grown Up Problem’, produced by leading family law firm Mishcon de Reya, includes testimonies from children and teenagers whose parents have divorced.

Family breakdown has long been known to negatively affect the social, educational and health outcomes of children.

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It is vital for Christians to know God’s Word

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. 10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. 16 I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. Psalms 119:9-16 (NASB) 

It is vital for Christians to know God’s Word, to love its precepts so much that they hide it in their hearts so they will never forget it. Why? This is the foundation of discernment. God gives the gift of discernment to His people. Some have more than others of course, but we all must learn to develop it and it begins by knowing and understanding God’s Word. Why? God’s Word is our plumb line. All Christians have a right and duty, not only to learn from the church’s heritage of faith, but also to interpret Scripture for themselves. The Roman Catholic Church had forbid this very thing, which resulted in the Protestant Reformation. The Church at Rome’s reason for doing this was a fear that people would easily misinterpret the Scriptures. This is a legitimate fear. The Westminster Confession of Faith agrees that “All things in Scripture are not alike in plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all,” but it also states clearly the authority of individual believers to read the Bible for themselves: “not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding” of the Scriptures. What are these “ordinary means?” View article →

Sex Bureaucracy Expands, Gets More Intrusive at Colleges

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CNSNews reports:

Photo credit: Baptist News

Photo credit: Baptist News

Writing in the California Law Review, Harvard Law School professors Jeannie Suk and Jacob Gersen note that “Today we have an elaborate and growing federal bureaucratic structure that in effect regulates sex.” This is largely the result of pressure from the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, where I used to work. It has told colleges like the University of Montana and University of New Mexico to classify all “unwelcome” sexual conduct or speech as “sexual harassment.” It did so even though this violates free speech, and even though courts have never defined sexual harassment that broadly.

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All Navy Sailors Must Undergo Transgender Education By July 2017

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Daily Caller reports:

brainwashingAn all-Navy message sent Tuesday informs all sailors that they will soon be required to undergo transgender behavioral education before July 2017.

Training, starting Nov. 1, is an attempt to educate servicemembers about the new transgender policy, which allows transgender individuals to service in the military, according to Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Robert Burke. The training also tries to modify the behavior of servicemembers, who likely will show some level of resistance to working alongside transgenders.

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Tony Evans & Spiritual Warfare: Demon Busting With A Less Than Sovereign God

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Reviews ∙ , , ,

spiritual-warfare-1Bud Ahlheim of Pulpit & Pen reviews celebrity pastor Tony Evans’ book “Prayers for Victory and Spiritual Warfare.” Evans is the father of another celebrity, women’s Bible study teacher, speaker and author Priscilla Shirer.  From Ahlheim’s report we learn some troubling things about Pastor Evans’ theology.  Ahlheim shows that Evans’ teaching on spiritual warfare is decidedly unbiblical.  For example, his understanding of spiritual warfare includes binding, losing and rebuking demons.  “He also instructs readers on praying ‘hedges of protection’ and declaring the removal of curses as well as the imbuing of blessing by our words.  Elsewhere Evans has suggested an eye-brow raising affinity for beliefs drawn directly from Word-Faith, positive confession teachings.”  All of this is right out of the New Apostolic Reformation playbook.

So now to Bud Alheim’s book review…

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Joshua Fest Owner Says Staff Who Threatened Walkout Over “Gay Christian Rocker” Need More Jesus

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , ,

“Christian” rocker Trey Pearson is part of what is labeled the “accepting myself” movement within the visible church that would have us believe that being gay must be celebrated in spite of the fact that the Bible clearly teaches that homosexuality is a sin against a holy God. (Rom 1:18-32, 1 Cor 6:9-11)  According to Christian News Network:

trey-pearsonThe owner of a “Christian rock” festival is asserting that his staff members “need more Jesus” after they threatened a walkout if the homosexual frontman of the band Everyday Sunday wasn’t scrubbed from the event lineup.

“They’ve been really good to us over the years, and I’m not going to call them haters. They’re good guys that need more Jesus,” Aaron Diello of California’s Joshua Fest told Billboard this week.

As previously reported, this past May, lead singer Trey Pearson, known for the hit songs “Find Me Tonight,” “Wake Up! Wake Up!” and “Best Night of Our Lives,” wrote in a public letter to his fans that he has come to believe that he has been wrong for subduing his feelings toward the same sex.

“I have been suppressing these attractions and feelings since adolescence,” he said. “Trying not to be gay has only led to a desire for intimacy in friendships which pushed friends away, and it has resulted in a marriage where I couldn’t love or satisfy my wife in a way that she needed.”

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New video demolishes Planned Parenthood’s lie that abortions are only 3% of its work

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LifeSiteNews has the story.  Watch Live Action’s video:

For years, Planned Parenthood has tried to bolster its public image by saying that abortion “is only three percent” of its activities. Now, a new video from Live Action explodes that myth, exposing the sleight-of-hand the nation’s largest abortion provider uses to artifice such a low number.

According to its most recent annual report, in the 2014-2015 fiscal year Planned Parenthood performed 323,999 abortions and saw a total of “approximately” 2.5 million patients – not all of whom are women.

That’s one abortion every 97 seconds.

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Discernment Ministry – A Biblical Defense

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

From Berean Research:

DiscernersThere is no shortage of critics in the evangelical community who oppose those of us involved in what is called an online discernment ministry (ODM).  Our well-meaning brethren often take “discerners” to task for reporting on false teachers and apostate movements within the visible Church.  Moreover, we are chastised for being too focused on negative things, or being judgmental, hurtful, even hateful. Worse, some of us have lost friendships with those who complain that they’re tired of reading about wolf sightings.  Some go so far as to say that ODM is not biblical.

Pastor Gary Gilley of Southern View Chapel wrote about this issue back in 2009 where he stated:

Despite the clear mandate given throughout the Scriptures concerning the necessity for biblical discernment and critique, most continue to be critical of the whole concept.  Ironically, those who preach most tenaciously the need for tolerance are themselves intolerant of those who seek to faithfully follow God’s directives in this matter.

Pastor Gilley offers a biblical defense for the role of ODM in the Church.

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After uproar, U.S. government says does not plan to kill wild horses

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙

Recently CRN posted a piece entitled “Wild Horses Should Be Killed Or Sold, Government Board Decides.” But according to a new report the animals are no longer condemned to die. We now learn from MSN that the government “has no plans to euthanize a large share of the more than 45,000 wild horses and burros removed from lands mostly in the U.S. West, after an advisory panel’s proposal to kill some of the animals sparked outrage.” Here’s the rest of the story:

Wild horsesU.S. Bureau of Land Management officials said they struggle to find people to adopt the growing number of wild horses and burros, which costs the agency millions annually to maintain in corrals and pasturelands.

The National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board on Friday recommended the bureau consider euthanizing the animals that cannot be adopted, or selling them to companies that might slaughter them.

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The wisdom of God hidden in a mystery

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

6 Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. 7 Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 (NET) 

When we are pressured in our circumstances to compromise and respond via the flesh, i.e. the way of the world, we are actually employing worldly wisdom. That wisdom says to, “Look out for number one!” It says to, “Never allow yourself to be taken advantage of.” It says to, “If attacked, respond in kind.” When Christians react this way then they are actually utilizing values that are part of a system that does not know God, cannot know God, and sees truth as relative. Those who hold to relativism appear to the unregenerate as the most enlightened and, obviously, more fair minded. However, when the “liberal christians” or “secular humanists” seek to shutdown or censure a ministry or a voice that will not compromise, while standing firm in God’s truth no matter the consequences, what we witness coming from those on the other side is brutal suppression.  The Bible calls it persecution. View article →

Wild horses should be killed or sold, government board decides

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙

Unlike wolves, horses do not wantonly kill and eat cattle, sheep, elk and other wildlife; however, they are native to America, and a national treasure of biodiversity. You will never hear any government land management group say, “Kill all the grey wolves.” So, what gives here? Where is the love for biodiversity?  This dichotomy proves the scam that the BLM (et. al.) simply wants every inconvenient thing off  ‘their’ land. The wolves and grizzly bears that they have methodically planted are a natural cleanser of the land – they scare people away, drive ranchers out of business and eat other wild game with abandon. When all that is accomplished, the wolves will be marked for extinction just like the horses. ⁃ Technocracy News Editor

Fox News has the story:

Wild horsesThe U.S. government is coming under fire from animal rights activists amid concerns that almost 45,000 wild horses could be euthanized in an attempt to control their numbers.

Last week the Bureau of Land Management’s National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board recommended that the Bureau euthanize or sell “without limitation” excess “unadoptable” horses and burros in the BLM’s off-range corrals and pastures.

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DHS accused of sitting on damning border report as immigration issue drives presidential race

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , ,

Fox News reports:

Illegal Immigration3Federal lawmakers seeking to pinpoint the number of illegal immigrants who successfully sneak across the southern border ordered up a report from the Department of Homeland Security, but the agency refuses to release it and instead cites a misleading statistic that overstates the number who are nabbed, sources told Fox News.

DHS denied it is holding back the report, but sources say it was completed in November and that it shows roughly half of adults who attempt to cross the border make it.

But that number is at odds with DHS’ official estimates. The agency claims authorities catch 80 percent of adults trying to sneak in, but critics say the figure is padded to make it appear border security is more effective than it really is.

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