Judge Rules Against ACLU as Kim Davis Hasn’t “Interfered” With Issuance of “Gay Marriage” Licenses

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Christian News Network reports:

A federal judge in Kentucky has ruled that Kentucky clerk Kim Davis did not violate his order not to interfere with her deputies’ issuance of “marriage” licenses to homosexuals when she removed her name and other identifying information from the documents.

As previously reported, Davis had requested last year that then-Gov. Steve Beshear allow for her name to be removed from any marriage licenses as the U.S. Supreme Court was set to consider the issue of same-sex “marriage.”

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Transgender issues: High school athletics and a bathroom bill killed

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Sexual confusionGrand Forks Herald: Legislation against transgender high school athletes proceeds in South Dakota

Legislation intended to overturn a policy allowing transgender students to participate in athletic competition at the high school level in South Dakota won approval Tuesday in the state House of Representatives.

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Associated Press:Transgender bathroom bill dies in Virginia committee

A legislative panel has killed a bill that would have required students to use the bathroom that corresponds with their biological sex.

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Cruz, Rubio back bill to keep Obama from opening draft to women

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According to Stars and Stripes:

Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are supporting legislation that could put the brakes on women in the military draft, adding momentum to growing opposition on Capitol Hill.

The Republican presidential candidates confirmed Thursday that they will back Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and his upcoming bill barring the White House or the courts from changing the law, which requires only men to register with Selective Service in case they need to be drafted into combat.

A bipartisan bill was introduced in the House on Thursday that would completely abolish the draft.

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Christians’ true status in this lost and dying world

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

17 And HE came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:17-22 NASB)

11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12 NASB)

When a Christian is born of God into His Kingdom he or she also undergoes a change in status not only there, but in the kingdom of darkness, the world, from which they came. Carefully read the two passages I placed at the top of this post from the Apostles Paul and Peter. Sadly so much of what we hear in what pretends to be Christianity these days emphasizes the exact opposite focus. They push agendas of political reform and social change rather than in truly discipling their flocks to prepare them to be aliens and strangers (pilgrims) just passing through a very hostile world on the way to their real home. View article →

Is Twitter Censoring Non-Politically Correct Viewpoints?

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According to The Daily Signal:

TwitterThe folks running Twitter may be too young to have heard of George Orwell, or perhaps they simply do not care that their new advisory council sounds frighteningly Orwellian. Either way, the brand new “Twitter Trust and Safety Council” seems like a board ready to censor comments in deference to political correctness.

It doesn’t help that among the more than 40 organizations that make up the council, one finds such groups as the “Dangerous Speech Project,” a group with ties to the liberal John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and to financier George Soros’ Open Society Institute.

Another council member is GLAAD, formerly an acronym for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (the organization now goes by just its initials). Feminist Frequency, which also seeks to monitor free speech, is another member of the council.

The council does include some groups that appear to do good work preventing cyber-bullying against the young. Absent, however, are any conservative-leaning groups.

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Wheaton to Invite Muslim, Jewish Scholar to School in Parting Agreement With “Same God” Professor

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Christian News Network reports:

Officials at Wheaton College have announced that their parting agreement with an associate political science director who will be leaving the college following controversy over her assertion that Christians and Muslims worship the same God will include an annual visit from a Muslim or Jewish scholar.

“Each year we will invite a scholar from the Jewish or Muslim community for respectful dialogue about interfaith relations,” Wheaton President Philip Ryken announced at a press conference on Wednesday. “And today, I announce that in the name of Dr. Hawkins we are establishing an endowed scholarship for interns to pursue a summer program or project in peace and conflict studies.”

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Are you still in your sins?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order:Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:22-24 NASB)

“Christian Universalists” say that God would not send people to burn in Hell for eternity. What is their basis for this? They misquote passages such as the one I placed at the top of this post saying that “all’ and “all’ means all people. The basis for taking this stand is this, “I reject that God will send all unbelievers to burn in Hell eternally!” Really? On what are you basing that? It sure cannot be Sacred Scripture unless you are one who takes a little from here and a little from there and ignores context and the rest of it that states the very opposite. View article →

When Anointings Compete – Rafael Cruz Gets Some Pub From Kenneth Copeland

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

This piece over at Pulpit & Pen includes a video showing Arch Heretic Kenneth Copeland laying hands on GOP candidate Ted Cruz’s father. Many supporters of Sen. Ted Cruz are unaware that dear ol’ dad is ensconced in the unbiblical New Apostolic Reformation movement (NAR). Copeland says he believes with all his heart that Ted Cruz “is called and anointed to be next President of the United States.” Really? Five years ago former Texas governor Rick Perry was approached by NAR “prophets” who convinced him that God had told them that he was the “anointed president” and that the state of Texas would lead the U.S. to an economic and spiritual recovery. Obviously the voice that spoke to these self-professed prophets wasn’t God. We know this because Rick Perry flubbed up so badly during one of the debates that he had to drop out of the race. Perhaps Gov. Perry felt he should be the one to cast the first stone at those who prophesied falsely…? We may never know.

So, now to Seth Dunn’s report…

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Kirk Franklin to Appear on Kanye West’s Blasphemous “Gospel Album With a Whole Lot of Cursing”

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Christian News Network reports:

Grammy Award-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin recently joined blasphemous rapper Kanye West in the studio as he is set to appear on the rapper’s seventh release, which is self-described as a “gospel album with a whole lot of cursing.”

A photo surfaced online days ago showing Franklin with the profanity-laden West, alongside other secular artists such as Kid Cudi, Puff Daddy, 2 Chainz and French Montana. West, who also goes by the name Yeezus, a spin off of Jesus, confirmed Franklin’s contribution to the project this past week.

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Therefore, having been justified by faith…

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 Δικαιωθέντες οὖν ἐκ πίστεως εἰρήνην ἔχομεν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (Romans 5:1 NA28)

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1 translated from the NA28 Greek text)

In this post we will look at Romans 4:13-5:1 which is the application of the theology that Paul presents in Romans 3:20-31, which could be summarized with the statement, “By works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight since through the law come knowledge of sin, but the righteousness of God is manifest through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”  In this time of “doctrinal indefiniteness” that seems to have overridden most of the “visible church,” we must become determined to define the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ biblically and in no uncertain terms that we truly in Christ know what we believe and why we believe it. Also, that we know it so well that we can defend it against all attempts by our enemy and his people to corrupt it and distract us from obeying it. View article →

Beth Moore Teams Up With Joyce Meyer for LoveLife 2016

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Pulpit & Pen has the story:

Beth MooreBeth Moore, the preacher highly promoted by Southern Baptists’ Lifeway Christian Resources, is headlining Joyce Meyer’s LoveLife Women’s Conference this year. Joining Moore will be Hillsong Word-Faith ‘pastor,’ Christine Caine, and Kari Jobe, the worship ‘pastor’ at Robert Morris‘ Gateway Church.

Moore, who has for several years boasted of repeatedly and prophetically hearing the words of God (source link), recently started a television show on Trinity Broadcasting Network, which is sponsored by the Southern Baptist book retail outlet, Lifeway (source link).

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Rev. Graham: Gay Marriage, Transgenders, “Just the Beginning of a Moral Onslaught on This Nation”

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CNS News reports:

Rev. Franklin Graham urged evangelical Christians to get involved in the electioral process and “make their vote count,” adding that the 2016 race is vitally important because homosexual marriage, abortion, and now transgender laws are on the table, marking “just the beginning of a moral onslaught on the nation.”

“[T]his is ridiculous,” said Rev. Graham,” for a person to be able to wake up in the morning and say, ‘You know, I feel like I’m a woman today,’ For a man to say, ‘I feel like a woman, I’m going to go into a woman’s bathroom.’ … This is ridiculous.”

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Perceptions of Kay Arthur and Precept Ministries International

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Bible study author, speaker and blogger Michelle Lesley has done a stellar job of delving into the teaching of conservative evangelical Kay Arthur, who is held up as a “great Bible teacher.” Michelle begins with this clarification:

I want to be clear from the outset of this article that, while I regret that I cannot endorse Kay Arthur’s materials or conferences, I do not believe the content of her written or verbal teaching contains or promotes false doctrine, and I am not labeling her a false teacher or a heretic.

Kay Arthur might be considered, and deservedly so, one of the “founding mothers” of women’s Bible study. Kay and her husband Jack served as missionaries in Mexico for 3½ years before returning to the United States and founding Precept Ministries International in 1970. The teaching goal of Precept is to instruct Christians in the Bible “book by book, verse by verse, using the Inductive Bible Study method.” Now in her eighties, Kay is still going strong. She has written numerous books, teaches all over the world, and hosts Precepts for Life, a daily television, radio, and on-line Bible study program.

Kay seems to be a lovely person with an almost tangible passion for people to study and rightly handle the word of God. She is a fine role model for younger women, showcasing growth to godly maturity, and a solid example to older women that serving Christ is something we never retire from. Kay comports herself like a lady and exudes warmth, grace, kindness, and a sort of motherly love towards those under her teaching. She is the kind of woman I aspire to be, and I would very much like to be able to wholeheartedly endorse her.

Because of the plethora of false teachers in the women’s Bible study realm, and due to other issues in question, several readers have written to me asking if I recommend Kay Arthur as a trustworthy Bible study author and speaker. With most teachers this answer comes easily, because there is ample evidence of the teacher’s Bible twisting (or doctrinal soundness) and/or sinful (or godly) behavior. Kay’s case, however, is more complex, so I would like to address the issues which are components in whether or not I endorse a particular teacher.

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Christian unity through humility

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:12-17 NASB)

The number one accusation thrown at those who take up the armor of God and use it in the battle as they are called to do, is that they are full of pride. Those who use this fiery dart are equating certainty with pride. Extra Biblical revelation should never be used in the battle by God’s warriors. Instead, the source of truth that is used is the sword of the Spirit itself, the Word of God. Experience is extra-Biblical. Man’s teachings, if contrary to the Word of God, are extra-Biblical. One’s own private interpretation of Scripture and/or experience is extra-Biblical. Feelings are extra-Biblical.

These battles may appear to cause disunity in the Body, but unity that is held together through compromise is false. Christians should never seek to be yoked up with those who hold doctrine or beliefs that are contrary to the truth from God’s Word or are based solely on extra Biblical sources. Unity in the Body of Christ is commanded in God’s Word, but that unity is not based in compromise, but love and humility within those who are obedient to God’s truth. View article →

Rev. Jimmy Evans to Join Board of Mark Driscoll’s New Church

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A few days ago we reported that disgraced “pastor” Mark Driscoll is starting a new church in Phoenix AZ. Christian Post (a site we do not recommend) has more of the details of Driscoll’s new endeavor.

Jimmy Evans, founder and CEO of Marriage Today and senior elder at Trinity Fellowship Church in Amarillo, Texas, has joined the board of the new church being planted by former Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll in Phoenix, Arizona.

Driscoll and his wife, Grace, recently announced that they have begun work on The Trinity Church which is expected to open in the first half of 2016.

Evans revealed to the Amarillo Globe-News that he feels God wants him to help Driscoll’s effort.

“Early on in my relationship with Mark I felt the Lord was putting us together,” Evans told the publication in a report published Friday. “When Mark asked me to be on his board, I prayed about it and felt the Lord was telling me to do it.”

Also on the board of Driscoll’s new church plant are Gateway Church Senior Pastor Robert Morris, and Randal Taylor, vice president of television at Dunham+Company.

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Wheaton College hijab-wearing professor who declared “we all worship the same God” will leave

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Religion News Service has the latest on the Christian-identified Wheaton College professor who was suspended after she posted photos of herself on Facebook wearing an Islamic hijab to show solidarity with Muslims and declared, “We all worship the same God.” At the time, Wheaton officials stated that her views were inconsistent with their “doctrinal convictions.” On February 6, Wheaton president Philip Ryken notified students and faculty to let them know that the controversy has “come to a place of resolution and reconciliation. With a mutual desire for God’s blessing, we have decided to part ways.”

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For Necco, a different kind of “Sweethearts”

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

The different kind of sweethearts is an 80-something newly married gay couple. In The Briefing, Albert Mohler observes that we see “the importance of the United States Supreme Court handing down its decision, legalizing by judicial fiat same-sex marriage in all 50 states. And so now we have confectioners hiring an advertising campaign feeling that they have political cover by the United States Supreme Court to feature two 80-year-old men as their sweetheart couple for 2016.”

The Boston Globe has the story:

Valentines DayThe ad for Necco Sweethearts candy, features two 80-something men on a couch, plucking conversation hearts out of a box as they discuss their 55 years together.

How a newly married gay couple from Texas became the spokesmen for an iconic New England brand involves a one-of-a-kind convergence of history, romance and candy — 150 years’ worth of tiny, heart-shaped confections.

With the anniversary approaching, the New England Confectionery Co., (Necco) based in Revere, hired Boston’s Hill Holliday to create a digital ad campaign inviting people to share their love stories.

All roads lead to Valentine’s Day for Sweethearts, and a member of Hill Holliday’s creative team, Steve Callan, quickly realized that this will be the first Valentine’s Day in history in which all couples, gay or straight, across the United States are allowed to be married.

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Trump Promises “More Forward Motion” on “Gay Equality” Under Presidency

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Christian News Network reports:

Donald Trump told a lesbian publisher in New Hampshire on Thursday that the American people will see “more forward motion” on “gay equality” under his presidency, citing it as a part of his effort to bring people together.

Trump was interviewed in Exeter by Susan O’Connell, the publisher of Bay Windows, which according to its website is “New England’s largest publication for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender readers.”

“I’m a lesbian,” she told Trump. “And we’ve had some great progress for the gay and lesbian community through politics, through all sorts of judicial actions and elected actions over the past 20 years.”

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Sola Scriptura and unbelief

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

Sola Scriptura       In Sacred scripture alone we find Sola Gratia            Salvation is by grace alone Sola Fide               Through faith alone Solus Christus      In Christ alone Soli Deo Gloria!    For the glory of God alone!

3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘ Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'” (Matthew 4:3-4 NASB)

Unbelief is the fruit of arrogance. I hear nearly every day from some Emergent/Post-Modern know-it-all that certainty is the product of pride and the only ones who are truly humble are those who view uncertainty in all things as a virtue. What is unbelief in this context? To define it we must first define its opposite, belief.

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. (John 6:35 NASB)

Those who “believe in Jesus” are those who do what? Those with belief come to Jesus to partake of this promise instead of seeking fulfillment elsewhere. These believe God; therefore, those in unbelief are those who do not believe God. They may believe Him in some things, but they do not do so to the level that causes them to place all their trust in Him and His promises as their Lord. Those in belief live within the context of Jesus Christ being their Lord while those in unbelief do not. Oh, they compensate to be sure. They create their own Jesus who is more to their liking. Since they created him, they have him being “lord” in their context, but most certainly not according to that which we are clearly given in Sacred Scripture. View article →

False Prophet Claims Panthers Win in Super Bowl Will Usher in Third Spiritual “Great Awakening”

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Christian News Network (CNN) quoted Chris Rosebrough of Fighting for the Faith. who said jokingly: “You better not be rooting for those Denver Broncos, folks! That’s to be rooting against the Holy Spirit and His plans for the ‘greatest in-gathering’ harvest of all time.”

Don’t hold your breath waiting for the Third Spiritual “Great Awakening” for the reason that if wolves in sheep’s clothing were rated on a scale of 1-10, the highest being a 10, Rick Joyner would receive a 9.9.

CNN has the full story:

Wolf pack 5A false prophet from South Carolina is predicting that if the Carolina Panthers win the Super Bowl on Sunday, it will user in the third spiritual Great Awakening in America and possibly “the greatest in-gathering of all time.” Rick Joyner of MorningStar Ministries in Fort Mill, South Carolina explained his position on his broadcast “Prophetic Perspectives” on Tuesday, which was also posted online. He said that the first person to make the prediction was the late Bob Jones, who he also billed as a prophet.

“[Jones predicted that] when our Carolina Panthers won the Super Bowl, major revival, awakening, moves of God are going to break out in America,” Joyner said.

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Who is El-Shaddai?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. 2 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.” (Genesis 17:1-2 NASB)

In these last days it is imperative that God’s people have a more complete knowledge of God. So, in light of this, let us look at one of the names of God that speaks much about His power and provision. God keeps His part of the covenants He makes and it is this name, El-Shaddai, that God used for Himself that gives us much comfort as we come to understand that He helps and blesses His people. El-Shaddai (   אל שׁדּי  ) – We must never forget that in Hebrew we read from right to left and this name of God is two separate words,  Ēl ( אל), meaning, “might,”  and Shaddai  (שׁדּי ) , meaning , “the Almighty, the Powerful One, or the Mighty One.” As a combined name of God, El Shaddai, which occurs seven times in Sacred Scripture, was the covenant name for God to the Patriarchs until the time of Moses. The Jewish rabbis believed  that the term meant the “One who is self-sufficient.” God’s covenant was moral and ethical in character, not ritualistic or orgiastic. View article →

Mark Driscoll rises from the ashes in Phoenix

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Mark DriscollLaura Turner, columnist for Religion News Service, reveals what’s going on with disgraced “pastor” Mark Driscoll. As previously reported, in July Driscoll confirmed his move to Phoenix, AZ but said he had no plans to start a church. Shortly thereafter he was listed as a director of The Trinity Church. In this piece, Turner reports the details of Driscoll’s new church and then she drops this bombshell:

Driscoll has left a wake of destruction so severe that the entire network of churches he founded had to shutter its doors. He has never taken full responsibility for his abusive tactics, never apologized to many of the individuals who he wronged, and doesn’t appear to have absorbed much of a lesson at all from his failings. But he’s back again, like a whack-a-mole. This is what happens when church leaders don’t take responsibility for their actions, and don’t engage in the kind of counseling they need: They simply pop up somewhere new to wreak the same havoc in a different place.

Although we don’t always agree with Laura Turner, we do agree with her that Mark Driscoll has not taken responsibility for his actions. Thus, “he should find a new job for a while; one that doesn’t involve leading anyone or taking a paycheck from a church. His family needs to heal.”

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Rob Bell, Aaron Rodgers and ‘How To Be Here’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Berean Research shares the latest on life coach Rob Bell — another book!

Rob Bell’s new book, How to Be Here: A Guide to Creating a Life Worth Living, is going to hit the bookstores soon. And Rob will start a multi-city tour. And do the Oprah thing.

The doctrine-denying author’s latest book promises yet another round of worldly, self-focused fulfillment. Not in Christ, but in, you know, you.

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Christian clichés: The Hedge of Protection

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

“The popular cliché has managed to develop a mystical quality of cosmic proportions,” says Cameron Buettel of Grace to You. According to Buettel, God may put up a “hedge of protection” but He may also remove it, as he did in Job’s case in order to put his faith to the test. “When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Jesus told the apostles to expect trials: “But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. (Luke 21:16–19)

So, with this in mind is it biblical to pray for a hedge of protection?

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Deepak Chopra Helps M.B.A.s Get in Touch With Their Spiritual Side

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Students are paying big bucks to find out “who am I”? New Age guru Deepak Chopra, spiritual guide to Oprah and Lady Gaga, ask students to “slip into their inner being” to find the truth within and let it out. The Wall Street Journal has the story:

Hindu goddessIn a classroom at Columbia Business School on a recent afternoon, roughly 65 students sat in silent meditation, eyes closed, their smartphones and laptops stashed out of sight.

At the front of the class, Deepak Chopra encouraged them to direct their analytical skills inward.

“Bring your awareness into your heart,” he instructed. “Ask, ‘who am I?’ ”

Intro to Accounting, it was not. Mr. Chopra’s course, Just Capital & Cause-Driven Marketing, invokes Hindu goddesses, features a band of urban yogis and asks students to diagram their “soul profile.” With guest lectures from chief executives and storytelling exercises, the three-day seminar aims to teach M.B.A.s how to design and market ventures that both make money and do good somehow.

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