Christian Cheerleaders Win Right to Include Bible Verses on Banners

Christian Cheerleaders Win Right to Include Bible Verses on Banners



On Friday, the Texas Supreme Court handed a group of Christian cheerleaders a victory in their lawsuit involving run-through banners that include Bible verses.


The state high court, without comment, refused to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling that had sided with the cheerleaders. The dispute began in 2012, when middle school and high school cheerleaders at public schools in Kountze, Texas, began writing Bible verses on run-through banners as a way to inspire the athletes. The school district, reacting to a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), banned the banners, and the cheerleaders filed suit. 


The cheerleaders have won their case at every level – the district court, appeals court and the Texas Supreme Court.


First Liberty Institute represented the cheerleaders. Hiram Sasser, general counsel for First Liberty, said the high court’s denial signals an end to the dispute. 


“After more than five years of litigation, our clients are relieved that the Texas Supreme Court has brought an end to the school district’s scorched earth litigation tactics,” Sasser said. “As the football season kicks off across Texas, it’s good to be reminded that these cheerleaders have a right to have religious speech on their run through banners—banners on which the cheerleaders painted messages they chose, with paint they paid for, on paper they…

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Seeds of Destiny 5 September 2018 – Understanding Faith

Topic: Understanding Faith [Seeds of Destiny 5 September 2018 Daily Devotional]

Scripture: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1-2 (NIV)

Thought For The Day: Faith is the spiritual force that translates unseen realities into visible materiality.

It has been established that faith is very important in our Christian journey on earth; the quality of our Christian life is anchored on the quality of our faith. Therefore, it is very important to understand what faith is all about.

Now, what is faith?
1. Faith is the partnership of humanity with Divinity for the establishment of possibilities on the earth.
We say faith is at work when humanity comes into partnership with Divinity for the establishment of possibilities on the face of the earth.

2. Faith is a living force connected from the living Word of the living God to produce living proofs.
By faith, a person connects the living force from the living Word of the living God to produce living, undeniable and irresistible proofs.

3. Faith is believing the incredible or the unbelievable, daring the unthinkable and doing the impossible.
A man of faith believes what other people cannot believe, dares what is not thinkable and does what is impossible.

4. Faith is the acceptance of scriptural responsibilities for the achievement of practical impossibilities.
A person of faith looks into scriptures and sees responsibilities or what God wants him to do, accepts those responsibilities and begins to do what God asks him to do which results in the achievement of unbelievable impossibilities.

5. Faith is the spiritual force that translates unseen realities into visible materiality.
Faith is the spiritual force for the translation of unseen realities into visible materiality.

Beloved, my counsel is, make up your life to live by faith; cultivate the life of faith in order to have a buoyant destiny on earth and make it to eternity in heaven.

Remember this: Faith is the spiritual force that translates unseen realities into visible materiality.

Assignments:
1. Determine to search and accept scriptural responsibilities.
2. Do what you have found out from scriptures in order to see great results and manifestations in life.

Prayer: O Lord, I ask for the grace to search and accept scriptural responsibilities. Help me to put Your Word into practice, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE FAITH-WAY OF LIFE.

Amazing Fact: The world’s fastest airplane is the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, flying at 2,193 miles per hour. It has held the record for nearly 40 years

Today In History: 05/09/1953 – The first privately operated atomic reactor opened in Raleigh, NC.

Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 10:1 to 12:14, 2 Corinthians 8:1 to 15, Psalm 49:1 to 20, Proverbs 22:20 to 21

Quote: To contend earnestly is to fight to maintain the sanctity of the faith. The kind of faith that yesterday’s generation handed to us, we must hand it to the next generation. Culled from ‘MAKING FULL PROOF OF MINISTRY’ by Dr Paul Enenche.

Also Read: Seeds of Destiny by Pastor Paul Enenche

Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

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Billy Graham 5 September 2018 – The Truth Sets Us Free

Topic: The Truth Sets Us Free [Billy Graham Daily Devotional 5 September 2018]

Come unto me, all ye that labor . . . — Matthew 11:28

The mark of a true Christian is found in his personal relationship to the Person of Jesus Christ. Christianity is Christ. Christ is Christianity. I speak reverently when I say that Jesus is more than His ideas. All that He said was true, but without Him even the truth would have been powerless. Men know the power of truth, and truth is that which sets men free. Jesus said, “I am the truth.”

Prayer for the day: Thank You, Jesus, for the shackles that have been broken in my life!

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional HERE

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

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Open Heavens 5 September 2018 – Save Yourself from Shame!

Open Heavens 5 September 2018 Wednesday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – Save Yourself from Shame!

Topic: Save Yourself from Shame!

Memorise: “Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.”- Genesis 41:34

Read: Genesis 27:1-10(KJV)

1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.

2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;

4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.

8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.

9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:

10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

Bible in One Year: Psalm 119, Mark 2:18-3:6

Open Heavens 5 September 2018 Wednesday MESSAGE:

The story of Esau and Jacob in today’s Bible reading contains a salient lesson we are often oblivious to. Not only was Esau irrational in his disposition to life in his younger days, he was also not prudent enough. I believe he eventually learnt his lesson, even though he learnt it the hard way. It takes prudence to be so rich that you have 400 bodyguards. The level of wealth Esau displayed at his reconciliatory meeting with Jacob also points to a life of prudence (Genesis 32:6, Genesis 33:8-9). However, the salient lesson I want you to be mindful of today is that Esau had no reservoir of meat. If Esau had been preserving his meat for ready-to-cook use, he would not have needed to go so far before preparing his father’s favorite meal. While he was living from hand to mouth, his brother had enough in his flock to spare in case of emergencies, such as the need which arose on that faithful day. Esau was not saving for the rainy day; he usually went to the field to fetch venison as the need arose. Unfortunately, his lifestyle of not saving enough made him susceptible to the tricks of his brother and mother. It is very important that children of God learn how to prudently conserve God’s blessings in their lives. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us this principle in the miracle of the feeding of the multitude with 5 loaves of bread and two fishes. John 6:12-13 says:

“12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.”

This is also why the Bible enjoins us to learn from the ant. Not only is it hardworking, it also knows how to conserve for the future. Speaking on this important truth, Proverbs 6:6-8 says:

“6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”

It’s so amazing that the ant will not eat its winter food in summer! Remember that the prodigal son spent all he had in the time of plenty and was later in want in the time of famine (Luke 15:14). Joseph’s principle of conservation in the time of plenty saved the whole middle-eastern region from terrible famine (Genesis 41:33-36). Beloved do not get swept off by the system of the world which encourages spending, even on credit, and discourages savings. Learn to save for the rainy day.

Action Point: Open Heavens 5 September 2018 Wednesday

In order to save yourself the embarrassment of borrowing in the time of scarcity, draw up a course of action to continually save and prudently invest some of your earnings.

Also Read: Open Heavens 4 September 2018 – Be Swift in your Business

Open Heavens 5 September 2018 Wednesday Hymn 4: Trust and Obey

1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Open Heavens 5 September 2018 Wednesday Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. Open Heavens 5 September 2018.

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

The post Open Heavens 5 September 2018 – Save Yourself from Shame! appeared first on Flatimes.

Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing Turns into ‘Political Brawl”

Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing Turns into ‘Political Brawl”



On Tuesday, the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh began. The Washington Post reports that the hearing, “quickly devolved into a political brawl… as Democrats loudly objected to the proceedings as rushed.”


According to Fox News, the hearing was interrupted 63 times before the group recessed for lunch and interruptions prolonged the commencement of the hearing by an hour and 15 minutes. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley was tasked with making the opening remarks at the hearing and after a long period of interruptions decided to proceed with the opening statements over the shouts of protesters. 


Republican Sen. John Cornyn described the scene saying, “this is the first confirmation hearing subject to mob rule.” 


The Washington Post reports, senators wanted to cut off the confirmation hearings for Kavanaugh because of the 42,000 pages of documents sent to the Judiciary Committee on Monday from Kavanaugh’s time in the White House under George W. Bush.


Republican senators Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Jeff Flake of Arizona spoke positively about Kavanaugh but questioned the Trump administrations integrity. The pair wondered about the Presidents recent comments on the Justice Department and how Kavanaugh would handle cases involving presidential power.


On Monday, President Trump spoke out against the timing of Attorney…

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New Book Calls Mike Pence ‘Most Successful Christian Supremacist’

New Book Calls Mike Pence ‘Most Successful Christian Supremacist’



Following criticism that labels him the “most successful Christian supremacist in American history, Vice President Mike Pence says he counts it as “joy.” 


“The Bible says, ‘count it all joy’ when you endure trials of many kinds,” Pence told CBN News as he referenced James 1: 2-3 to respond to what he sees as a personal attack. “Anytime I’m criticized for my belief in Jesus Christ I just breathe a prayer of praise.” 


In “The Shadow President: The Truth About Mike Pence,” authors Michael D’Antonio and Peter Eisner called Pence the “the most successful Christian supremacist in American history.” They said he is already functioning as a “kind of replacement president” and is preparing to “fashion a nation more pleasing to his god and corporate sponsors,” USA Today reported.


“Although Pence presents himself as a deeply moral man,” the authors write according to The Washington Post, “his record indicates both a ruthlessness and a comfort with aggression.” 


Critics of Pence have said he may be trying to make a run at the presidential seat. 


“I think he’s a very divisive figure,” said Berman in a CNN interview Wednesday. “He would like to impose a religiously inspired politics on our country that means rolling back marriage equality, it means a ban on abortion, a whole host of policies that are religiously driven. He’s very upfront about…

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Taliban Says Founder of Haqqani Network Has Died in Afghanistan at 71 – Urban Christian News

The founder of Afghanistan’s much-feared Haqqani network, a former U.S. ally turned fierce enemy, has died after years of ill health, a Taliban spokesman said Tuesday. Jalaluddin Haqqani was 71.

Haqqani died Monday inside Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahed told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. The elderly founder of the outlawed Afghanistan-based organization, once hailed as a freedom fighter by U.S. President Ronald Reagan, had been paralyzed for the past 10 years.

In announcing his death Tuesday, Mujahed called Haqqani a religious scholar and exemplary warrior.

Because of his infirmity, Haqqani’s network has been led by his son Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also deputy head of the Taliban. Considered the most formidable of the Taliban’s fighting forces, the Haqqani network has been linked to some of the more audacious attacks in Afghanistan. The elder Haqqani joined the Taliban when they overran Kabul in September 1996, expelling feuding mujahedeen groups, whose battles left the capital in ruins.

Since then, the network has been among the fiercest foes fighting U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan. The elder Haqqani’s death is not expected to impact the network’s military might or strategy.

Haqqani was among the Afghan mujahedeen, or holy warriors, the United States backed in the 1980s to fight the former Soviet Union’s invading army, sent to Afghanistan in 1979 to prop up the pro-Moscow government. Haqqani was praised by the late U.S. Congressman Charlie Wilson as “goodness personified.” After 10 years, Moscow negotiated an exit from Afghanistan in an…

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Has Site of Jesus’ First Miracle Been Uncovered?

Has Site of Jesus’ First Miracle Been Uncovered?



A biblical archaeologist believes he has found the site where Jesus turned water into wine – and it’s not in the location where Christians have long thought it was. 


The northern Israel town of Kafr Kanna – located a few miles northeast of Nazareth – is the traditional site of the New Testament town of Cana, where John 2 records Jesus as performing his first miracle and changing water into wine at a wedding. 


But Tom McCollough, professor of religion at Centre College in Danville, Ky., says he has found evidence that the location of Cana actually is modern-day Khirbet Qana, a village that is a few miles north of Kafr Kanna.


McCollough wrote about the find in an edition of Biblical Archaeology Review. He and others found tunnels at Khirbet Qana that were used for Christian worship and had been marked with crosses and other references to the faith, according to The Daily Star. 


Villages like Kafr Kanna have been thought to be the site, but “none has the ensemble of evidence that makes such a persuasive case for Khirbet Qana,” he said, according to the newspaper. 


Christians centuries ago, he said, apparently came to the location because they believed it is where Jesus performed the miracle. 


“We have uncovered a large Christian veneration cave complex that was used by Christian pilgrims who came to venerate the water-to-wine miracle. This complex was…

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John Piper Reveals How to ‘Fight Demonic Temptations to Discouragement’ and Preserve Joy

(Screenshot: TheGospelCoalition.org)Theologian John Piper speaks during the MLK50 Conference in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 2018.

Reformed theologian John Piper has shared practical tips for fighting the “demonic temptations to discouragement” and preserving joy in God throughout the day.

In an episode of the podcast “Ask Pastor John” that was posted to DesiringGod.com on Labor Day, a listener named Katie asked Piper to identify the little things she could do throughout her day to find and preserve her joy in God.

Piper, who is also the chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, first pointed out that if Christ is not our supreme satisfaction, something else will be — and as a result, we will be drawn away from the Christian faith.

“Our flesh and the devil are active all day long to draw us into pleasures that are anti-God,” he explained. “If we have no strategies for awakening and cultivating and preserving and intensifying our joy in God, we will be drawn away by our flesh and the devil into alternative pleasures, which are, as Paul said, idolatry (Colossians 3:5).”

Yet, killing evil desires isn’t enough, Piper contended, as doing so leaves us with an “empty soul.” Instead, Christians need to train their minds to recall Scripture…

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2 Dead & Airport Flooded After Strong Typhoon Hits Western Japan – Urban Christian News

A powerful typhoon slammed into western Japan on Tuesday, causing heavy rain to flood the region’s main international airport and strong winds to blow a tanker into a bridge, disrupting land and air travel and leaving thousands stranded. The storm left at least two people dead.

Jebi, reportedly the strongest typhoon to make landfall in Japan since 1993, headed north across the main island of Honshu toward the Sea of Japan. It was off the northern coast of Fukui on Tuesday evening with sustained winds of 126 kilometers per hour (78 miles per hour) and gusts up to 180 kph (110 mph), the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

A man in his 70s died apparently after being blown to the ground from his apartment in Osaka prefecture, while a 71-year-old man died when a storage building collapsed on him, officials said.

NHK public television said 126 people were injured.

High seas poured into Kansai International Airport, built on artificial islands in Osaka Bay, flooding one of its two runways, cargo storage and other facilities, and forcing it to shut down, said the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. A passenger was slightly injured by shards from a window shattered by the storm.

A 2,591-ton tanker that was mooring slammed into the side of a bridge connecting the airport to the mainland, damaging the bridge and making it unusable, leaving about 3,000 passengers stranded at the airport, transport ministry official Mitsuo Nakao said.

The tanker was also damaged, but its 11 crewmembers were not injured and remained on board, according to the coast guard.

More than 700…

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