Pentatonix dazzles us again with their beautiful rendition of “Little Drummer Boy.” They take the song and make it theirs with wonderful vocals and a harmonious rhythm,surely a must love this Christmas.
Source and Original Content by Youtube
Mudered Pakistani Couple Update: Motive of Mob could have been Financial not Religious
The Pakistan Supreme Court has stepped in to the case of the Christian couple murdered by a mob and burnt in a brick kiln.
Shama Bibi and her husband, Shahbaz Masih, were accused of blasphemy and killed by villagers incited by local imams. It later emerged that the motive for the killing may have been financial rather than religious, as the couple, who were bonded labourers in a system that has been described as modern-day slavery, were alleged to have contracted a debt they could not pay.
Now the Supreme Court has directed the provincial government of Punjab to submit a report into the case. It also directed the federal government to submit a report on the implementation of the June 19 verdict of the Supreme Court regarding the protection of minorities’ rights.
The move was welcomed by the director of CLAAS-UK, which works for minorities’ rights in Pakistan. Nasir Saeed said that it was important to set an example and punish those who had been involved in the killing. “We cannot avoid future such incidents unless the government takes stringent measures to stop the growing hatred and punish those who have been involved in such crimes,” he said. “Unfortunately he government always been hesitant to take action and bring those responsible for church attacks, the burning of Christian towns and villages, and the killing and burning of Christians alive, to justice.”
Reports vary as to whether the couple were dead before their bodies were burnt, or whether they were burnt alive. An employee of human rights charity Release International who visited the village immediately after the murders said: “I was given a bag in my hand, and when I looked into it, I discovered that it was their bones. They were completely burnt. I was holding the hands of two Christians that had been burnt alive for their faith.”
He said he spent time with the family following the murder, but that for the first time in his life that he did not know how to pray. The couple’s brother was weeping and sobbing, while their grandmother “had no more tears to cry”, he said. “She was drained, there was complete sadness in her face.”
An unnamed Christian spoke to the village to urge that the situation would not cause hatred between Muslims and Christians. “We must have peace,” he said.
The Release International representative was asked to pray over the two coffins before the funeral, which was attended by both police and the local Muslim politician. “There was a really sombre feeling, I think a lot of the people were in shock,” he said. He added that the faith of the Christian community in Pakistan was “unbelievable…Read More
Source and Original Content by Christian Today
Dr Larry Reid and the Breaktrough Singers Drop Christmas Album
Dr. Larry Reid and the Breakthrough Singers capture the essence of the holiday season with their take on the classic Go Tell It On The Mountain. Their holiday maxi single hits digital outlets on November 25th and promises to be a welcome addition to your holiday music collection.
Source and Original Content by Gospel Flava
Award Wining Singer, Fred Hammond Releases 12 track CD titled “I Will Trust”
Fred Hammond makes a declaration of faith with the release of I Will Trust, his new 12 track CD for RCA Inspiration released on November 17th. The award winning singer/songwriter and producer used his experiences with double knee surgery as the inspiration for the title song. Of his experiences, Hammond states “I had to learn how to walk again, but I did it and trusted God and that’s kind of what makes this album special. All of the emotional trauma that came with it.”
Fresh from the 30 city Festival of Praise tour with Donnie McClurkin, Hammond will embark upon a promo tour in support of the new disc visiting Dallas, Houston and Atlanta.
Source and Original Content by BCNN1
Peter Kassig’s Memorial Service Features Readings from Bible and Qur’an
Hundreds gathered at Butler University on Sunday to celebrate the life of Peter Kassig, the American aid worker killed by Islamic State militants earlier this month.
Passages from both the Bible and the Qur’an were read out, reflecting Kassig’s conversion to Islam after being taken captive in October 2013. He changed his name to Abdul-Rahman before his death, which was publicised in an ISIS propaganda video on November 16.
Kassig briefly studied Political Science at the Indiana-based university before moving to the Middle East. Formerly an Army Ranger in Iraq, he founded his own relief organisation, Special Emergency Response and Assistance (SERA), to deliver aid in areas of conflict.
“We’re not here because of how he passed,” executive director of the Islamic Society of North America in Plainfield, Hazem Bata, said at the ceremony on Sunday. “We’re because of how he lived. We’re here because of the type of man he chose to be. We’re here because of his selflessness.”
“Our hearts broke with the news not only of his death, but the brutal and barbaric way in which it occurred,” said Rev Bill Hoopes, who leads Epworth United Methodist Church which the Kassig family attends.
“Many of us had hoped deeply that Peter would be the exception. That he would be the one his captors would be set free.”
Kasisg’s parents, Ed and Paula, had pleaded with their son’s captors prior to his death.
“We are so very proud of you and the work you have done to bring humanitarian aid to the Syrian people…Our hearts ache for you to be granted your freedom so that we can hug you again and then set you free to continue the life you have chosen, the life of service to those in greatest need,” Paula said in a videotaped address to Kassig in October…Read More
Source and Original Content by Christian Today
Christian Leader Says Britain is in Danger of Losing Religious Freedom
The chief executive of CARE has warned that Britain is in danger of “sleepwalking into losing religious freedoms”.
In a speech entitled “Can society be Christian?”, Nola Leach told listeners at the Out of the Silent Church conference in Dundee: “Only 50 years ago liberals supported an ‘alternative culture’, but today they abhor any alternative to their credo. Once a dominant force in Western culture, religion is demoted to at best an irrelevance and at worse an offence against the prevailing culture.”
She said that “A philosophy of human rights is emerging without the need for a religious, let alone Christian foundation”, adding: “What is clear is that a hierarchy of rights is emerging where religious freedom is trumped again and again.”
In a reference to the Government’s legitimisation of same-sex marriage and the increasing calls for legalising assisted dying, she said: “There is a direct challenge to God’s design for marriage and sexuality and there is an assault on the sanctity of life from beginning to end of life.”
She said it was vitally important that Christians spoke up for their beliefs, arguing: “As Jesus is the way, the truth and the life we have a great responsibility, we dare not be silent about this message that the world needs to know.
“It is not about winning – It is about living the truth so others can see it and when they see it they desire it. Even if the laws of the land are against us and all we stand for, we still have the authority to preach the gospel…Read More
Source and Original Content by Christian Today
Pentatonix Performs ; Mary, Did You Know
Pentatonix is sending chills down everyone’s spine with their beautiful rendition of “Mary Did You Know.” Their arrangement on this already beautiful song is putting everyone in the Christmas spirit with their unique style a cappella style. This song was originally written in 1984 by Mark Lowry and has been redone by many artists. No doubt, this version will become a favorite of many!
Source and Original Content by Faithtap
Pebble Smartwatch Understands 80 Languages
Pebble is now rolling out a firmware update for its smartwatch alongside the launch of updated apps for both Android and iOS.
Announcing the news, Pebble on Thursday in a blog post said, “Today, we’ve got love to share on three fronts: Firmware, Android, and iOS.”
The new firmware version 2.8 update brings full character support for 80 languages. This should remove the “unknown character” boxes for most users, the company says.
“Over 98% of Pebblers in the world can now fully receive messages and alerts in their native language. Today’s update paves the way for more languages to come in the future, as Pebble steadily lands in more countries around the world,” Pebble said. Apart from support for new languages, the firmware update also brings bug fixes and stability improvements…Read More
Source and Original Content by NDTV
Pope Confers Sainthood on Six Individuals
Pope Francis conferred sainthood on two Indians and four Italians on Sunday, praising their “creative” commitment to helping the poor.
Francis added to the roster of Catholic saints a Keralan mystic nun, an Indian priest and social reformer, the former Bishop of Vicenza, and three members of the Franciscan order.
“They responded with extraordinary creativity to the commandment of love of God and neighbor,” Pope Francis told crowds in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
“Their preference for the smallest and poorest was the reflection and measure of their unconditional love of God,” said Francis, who chose his own papal name after the saint of Assisi, who symbolizes austerity and love for the poor.
Portraits of the newly sanctified hung from St Peter’s Basilica, in front of which 5,000 Keralan Catholics and two local government ministers joined the crowd, according to the Union of Catholic Asian News.
Carmelite nun Sister Eufrasia was sanctified with Kuriakose Elias Chavara, who founded the sisterhood she belonged to.
Eufrasia, canonized six years after India’s first female saint, was born to an aristocratic family in 1877 and took a vow of chastity aged nine.
Chavara founded two Carmelite congregations in India in the 19th century, and decreed that every church should have its own school.
Applause rang out on Sunday when Francis said the Italian saints – who between them founded refuges for pilgrims, street urchins and the sick – could inspire citizens today.
“May the example of the four Italian saints help the dear Italian people to rekindle the spirit of collaboration and harmony for the public good, and to look to the future with hope,” Francis said, after a month punctuated by protests and strikes across the country.
The Italian saints were Giovanni Antonio Farina, Bishop of Vicenza in the late 1800s; missionary Ludovico da Casoria, and fellow Franciscans Nicola da Longobardiand Amato Ronconi.
The often decades-long process of considering a person for sainthood must normally wait until they have been dead for five years, and have been credited with bringing about two miracles.
A pope can bypass the five-year rule, as Francis’s predecessor Benedict did for John Paul II, who had in turn started the process of sanctifying Mother Teresa of Calcutta within five years after her death in 1997.
Source and Original Content by Christian Today
Indian Pastors Taught How to Help Save the Unborn from Abortion
Have you ever used an ultrasound to share the Gospel? Life Matters Worldwide educates national believers about pro-life issues and equips them with resources like ultrasound machines so they can reach out to women with unplanned pregnancies. By starting conversations with women about life and its value, doors open to share the message of Christ.
Bob Foust recently visited India with Life Matters to teach 200 pastors about the process.
“There are, around the world, 55 million abortions a year. India ranks about 4th on that list of abortions per capita,” Foust shares. “If the Church is ‘geared up’ and ready to reach [women] at that point, I believe [it] can be a great, great opportunity.”
A report issued last year reveals a woman dies every two hours in India because she had an unsafe abortion.
“There’s a very low esteem of life. Many abortions are provided there in India, both legal and illegal,” notes Foust.
“They’re going to be affected by abortion in the Church, just like we are in the U.S.”
Realizing this fact, national pastors wanted to know how they can encourage people in their communities to choose life.
“The pastors wanted to get fortified and know exactly what the Scripture teaches on the matter,” Foust says. He taught pastors about the biblical theology behind pro-life movements and how to develop sermons focusing on this subject. For many, it was their first time even hearing about an option called “pro-life…Read More
Source and Original Content by Christian News Network