Creflo Dollar and the Controversy of Prosperity Gospel

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Creflo Dollar and the Controversy of Prosperity Gospel
Creflo Dollar and the Controversy of Prosperity Gospel

 After coming under fire for asking 200,000 people to donate $300 or more each to raise $65 million to help his ministry purchase a luxury jet last month, popular televangelist Creflo Dollar, who is widely reported to be worth an estimated $27 million, has declared that “there is no such thing as the prosperity gospel” and the money in his pocket belongs to God.

Christian Post Report – “When we talk about prosperity, and people say it’s the prosperity gospel, there is no such thing as the prosperity gospel, it’s the gospel of grace. The money in my pocket is not mine, it’s God’s,” said Dollar, in a promotional clip for an episode of “Your World With Creflo” where he speaks with pastor Gregory Dickow of Life Changers International Church.

“It came from Him. He is the source behind everything we have that is good. He loves to be trusted; He loves to be the one that you lean on. He loves to be the one that you rely on and He wants to be the one that you lean on and rely on first,” continued Dollar in the clip.

The popular Atlanta, Georgia-based preacher who turned 53 in January, is recognized around the world as one of the most popular preachers of the prosperity gospel that promotes the notion that Jesus wants his followers to be wealthy. It is a controversial concept that religion scholar Reza Aslan has described as a “profoundly unscriptural” interpretation of Jesus.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/megachurch-preacher-creflo-dollar-says-theres-no-such-thing-as-the-prosperity-gospel-says-money-in-my-pocket-its-gods-137818/#XZX42sJYaZfDoGL0.99

Source : Christian Post

Kanye West Is Tired of Musicians Being Labeled ‘Illuminati’ Members; ‘We Don’t Run Anything, We’re the Face of Brands,’ Says Rapper

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Kanye West Is Tired of Musicians Being Labeled ‘Illuminati’ Members; ‘We Don’t Run Anything, We’re the Face of Brands,’ Says Rapper
Kanye West (Photo:Reuters/File)

Kanye West arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit celebrating the opening of the exhibition ”Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” in New York May 2, 2011

Christian Post Report – Kanye West is not amused by the jokes concerning celebrities being members of an alleged secret society known as the “Illuminati.”

West, the 37-year-old rap mogul, recently opened up to Paper Magazine about people comparing the music streaming service Tidal, headed by rap mogul Jay Z, to the Illuminati. After an announcement was made that West, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Madonna, Nicki Minaj and Daft Punk would be co-owners of Tidal, some social media fans referred to its press conference as something that was associated with a secret society.

West denied the claims in a recent interview with Paper Magazine.

“I heard a comment — a joke — about the Tidal press conference being an Illuminati moment. If there was actually an Illuminati, it would be more like the energy companies not celebrities that gave their life to music and who are pinpointed as decoys for people who really run the world,” West insisted when speaking with the publication. “I’m tired of people pinpointing musicians as the Illuminati. That’s ridiculous.”

He went on to defend celebrities from some people’s perceptions of them being in cahoots with evil forces trying to take over the world.

“We don’t run anything; we’re celebrities. We’re the face of brands,” West said. “We have to compromise what we say in lyrics so we don’t lose money on a contract.”

He spoke about a number of things in the interview, including an enlightening moment when he went to the dentist and began to think deeply about life after being given nitrous gas for his procedure. West said the moment allowed him to see that there was no reason for him to expect to be compensated every time he gave to someone or made a contribution to society.

The rap mogul went on to further explain his point in the context of his Christian faith.

“I’m a Christian so I’ll speak in Christian terms: God will give you tenfold. Then I said in my mind — I’m still under the gas and getting my teeth cleaned — But I just want to be remembered,” West recalled to Paper magazine. ” And I immediately corrected myself. I said, It doesn’t even matter if I’m remembered.”

On March 2, the entertainer spoke at Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History. While speaking about his creative stream of consciousness, classism and elitism, West also managed to speak about applying the Bible to his own life.

The rap mogul went on to call himself a servant and speak about his responsibilities as such.

“Understand that I’m a servant. And with my voice, with my ability to build relationships with amazing people, speak to amazing people,” West said in the speech. “Call Elon Musk out of the blue, or call Obama out of the blue…he calls the home phone, by the way.With that, I have a responsibility to serve.”

Source : Christian Post

How to Get a Life

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Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”
— Luke 9:23-24

  • Greg Laurie
    (Photo: rever Hoehne for Harvest Ministries)
    Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California and Harvest Orange County in Irvine, California, shares the Gospel with a sold-out crowd of 19,000 for Harvest America at the American Airlines Center and Victory Park in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 5, 2014.

Christian Post Report – Some may think the Christian life is restrictive, but actually it is the very opposite. Out there in the world where there are no restrictions, people will start reaping the consequences of their foolish actions. But those who are following Christ will find life at its fullest. Yes, there are boundaries and parameters, but they are there for our own protection.

Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

Nowadays we don’t fully grasp the idea of taking up a cross. But people living in the first century did. The sight of someone carrying a cross down the street in Jerusalem meant that person was about to die. So when Jesus said, “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,” people got it. Jesus was saying that if we want to follow Him, then we must die to our own desires and put God’s will above our own.

Jesus also said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Luke 9: 24). We have to lose our lives to find them.

People today like to say, “I need to find myself.” But Jesus said that if you want to find life, purpose, and happiness, then you need to lose yourself. You come to God and say, “Here is my life. Here are my plans. Here are my dreams. Here are my hopes. Here are my aspirations. I present them to You. I want Your will more than my own.”

If you really want to find life, then lose your life. If you want to get a life, then present it to the Lord, and watch what He will do.

Copyright © 2015 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Used with Permission

Source : Christian Post

‘Full House’ Spin-Off Heading to Netflix, New Series ‘Turns House Over’ to Candace Cameron Bure

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‘Full House’ Spin-Off Heading to Netflix, New Series ‘Turns House Over’ to Candace Cameron Bure
Candace Cameron Bure (Photo: Reuters/Phil McCarten)

Actress Candace Cameron Bure (L) attends the 2012 Hollywood Christmas Parade in Los Angeles November 25, 2012.

Christian Post Report – “Full House” fans are rejoicing over the confirmed news of a sequel series, “Fuller House,” that will reunite original cast members including Candace Cameron Bure.

The new spin-off series will air on Netflix over 20 years after “Full House” first debuted on ABC in 1987. The hit comedy series ran for eight seasons, but next year, “Fuller House” will see Cameron Bure reprise her role as D.J. Tanner opposite of John Stamos back in the role of Uncle Jesse.

“The rumors are TRUE! The Full House sequel #FullerHouse is coming to @Netflix,” Cameron Bure wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. “Not sure is that was the best or worst kept secret.”

In his own confirmation of “Fuller House,” Stamos explained that the reboot was years in the making while on live television earlier this week.

“We’ve been working on this for many, many years,” he said while on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Monday. “We wanted to give credit to the legacy. Netflix came around and said let’s do 13 episodes.”

Furthermore, Stamos previewed “Fuller House,” revealing that the series will center on Cameron Bure.

“It starts sort of as a reunion and then spins off, like a spin-off,” said the actor. “And so you have Candace and Jodie [Sweetin] and Andrea Barber – Kimmy Gibbler, and Candace has three boys and its sort of a reversal, we turn the house over to her.”

Netflix, which ordered 13 episodes of the new comedy, announced that “Fuller House” will also star “Full House” veterans Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie Tanner) and Andrea Barber (Kimmy Gibbler). However, Netflix did not confirm the returns of Bob Saget, Dave Coulier, Lori Loughlin or the Olsen twins.

Meanwhile, Cameron Bure recently competed on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and appears on Hallmark’s original series “A Bone to Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery.” The actress has also penned books “Reshaping It All” and “Balancing It All”

One day before confirming reports about “Fuller House,” the actress referred to her Christian faith while encouraging her nearly 400K Twitter followers to “plug into prayer.”

“Good Morning!! Start your day off right by giving it over to God,” she wrote on Monday. “Plug into prayer!”

Watch Stamos’ “Jimmy Kimmel Live” interview here.

Source : Christian Post

Gospel Star Tina Campbell to Collaborate With the Legendary Stevie Wonder on Her Debut Album

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Gospel Star Tina Campbell to Collaborate With the Legendary Stevie Wonder on Her Debut Album
Tina Campbel (Photo: AMC Networks)

Mary Mary’s Tina Campbell

Christian Post Report – Tina Campbell is readying her solo debut with some help from a legendary singer, Stevie Wonder.

Campbell, one half of the gospel music duo Mary Mary, has been vocal about releasing her solo material after her sister and fellow group member Erica Campbell found success doing so. Tina previously announced that she would release her forthcoming book, I Need a Day To Pray, and album It’s Personal next month.

She recently took to Instagram to let people know about a big named feature that would appear on her album. With a limited staff of the singer and her husband Teddy Campbell, Tina glorified God for the opportunity to work with the well known musician.

“So I’m putting out a solo record a book & promoting a kick off to my tour (an eve w/tina c), all within the next month, w/a staff of me my hubby the Father the Son & the Holy Ghost, and GOD decides to surprise me w/the gift of Stevie Wonder singing a duet with me TONIGHT for my 1st record,” Tina wrote. “Aint God alright?!? (singin) IM FOLLOWING JESUS EVERYDAY TO REACH MY DESTINY!!!!” (SIC)

The singer could not contain her excitement in another social media message where she had to let the world know that such a renowned singer-songwriter and multi instrumentalist in his own right was singing her song.

“YALL STEVIE THEE LEGENDARY WONDER IS IN THIS STUDIO SINGING A SONG THAT I WROTE FOR MY OWN ALBUM,”Tina wrote. “HOW ABOUT THAT!!!! #speechless #favor #aintthelordalright.” (SIC)

Last November, the Mary Mary gospel singer created a special night where she previewed her upcoming book, solo music and testimony at her church for An Evening With Tina Campbell. She previously spoke to The Christian Post about her decision to do so.

“I figured I would create the model or create the event, create what God gave me to give to the world and we’ll just see what He does with it. I mean, I really wanted to share with people what He’s done,” Tina previously told CP. “When people go through devastating scenarios in their lives they go through a great transformation. Sometimes I’m singing that, sometimes I’m saying that, sometimes I’m praying and confessing that.”

Source : Christian Post

Manny Pacquiao Fights for ‘God’ and ‘His Country;’ Boxer Talks Mayweather Match, Sinful Past and Bringing Change to the Philippines (Exclusive)

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Manny Pacquiao Fights for ‘God’ and ‘His Country;’ Boxer Talks Mayweather Match, Sinful Past and Bringing Change to the Philippines (Exclusive)
Floyd Mayweathe Jr. and Manny Pacquiao (Photo: Reuters/File)

Boxing icons Floyd Mayweathe Jr. and Manny Pacquiao present during the press conference for “the biggest fight in boxing history” held in downtown Las Vegas.

Christian Post Report – After their gloves touch, the bell rings and the dust settles on May 2, the world may be able to end the debate surrounding Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr. being the best boxer of their era. Yet, Pacquiao is fighting for so much more than bragging rights or the largest payout any pugilist has ever seen.

The 36-year-old Filipino politician is fighting the good fight of faith, that is outlined in 1 Timothy 6:12. When all is said and done and the bout between he and Mayweather reaches its last round, Pacquiao told The Christian Post he hopes people recognize that he did his best even if his back was against the ropes.

“I want to please the Lord, my family, and my fans with this fight,” Pacquiao told The Christian Post. “I want them to know I fought for God and my country, to bring them honor and glory.”

Even though he may wear his Christian faith on his sleeve, Pacquiao has no problem strapping on his boxing gloves as someone who has been fighting professionally since the age of 16. By 2010, a buzz began heavily circulating about Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr. facing one another in the ring after both bested big names including Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Juan Manuel Márquez.

Since 2007, Pacquiao and Mayweather have been the only two fighters to be voted by ESPN fans as Best Fighter at the ESPY Awards. While Mayweather has received the honor six times since 2007, Pacquiao has been the one fighter that interrupted a potentially perfect seven year reign after winning in 2009 and 2011.

With an unblemished record, 47 fighters have fallen at the hands of Mayweather. Still, Pacquiao has been recognized by sports pundits and fans as someone who could potentially mar Mayweather’s perfect record by handing him his first loss.

For five years, fans heard countless excuses for why the two biggest names in boxing would not face one another in the ring. Now that the fight has been officially scheduled, it is hard to ignore the magnitude of this fight and what it could mean for the careers of both men and the history of boxing.

While the Filipino fighter will not readily admit that he is doing a great deal to mentally separate this fight from others in terms of preparation, he told The Christian Post that he is giving the fight extra attention.

“I prepare mentally the same as I do with all of my other fights,” Pacquiao told CP. “I think I’m training for this fight with a little more focus,” Pacquiao told The Christian Post. “Spiritually, I pray for myself and also for my opponent.”

To simply label Pacquiao as a boxer would be a disservice to the Evangelical Christian athlete who once moonlighted as a basketball player in the semi-professional basketball league, Liga Pilipinas, released two albums as a singer and has been a dedicated politician in his country.

Pacquiao has been working tirelessly to bring change to the Philippines and was elected to the Philippine House of Representatives at the age of 32. Yahoo! Sports recently dubbed the fanfare taking place in the country as “Pacmania” as shirts, postage stamps, dolls and other paraphenelia are circulating the fighter’s homeland.

His documentary is playing in various Filipino movie theaters as the building of his church, school and community center in General Santos City is being constructed. In the way Pacquiao’s fellow countrymen have hope that he will be victorious in the “fight of the century” the husband and father has a vision for his people.

“I want to provide opportunities for my fellow countrymen that will improve their situations. As a politician, I want to help create jobs so that I can bring them out of their poverty,” Pacquiao revealed to CP. “I want to give them hope. Boxing has been my passion, but public service is my calling.”

The boxer wants to use the platform that his passion provides to be a champion of his faith, regardless of the outcome of his fights.

“I think every Christian athlete should be open about their relationship with the Lord, as well as every believer. That is what the Bible commands,” Pacquiao told CP. “When I am vocal to others about my faith and my hope of eternal life, it helps those fans of mine and those who watch me to know they can also have a hope.”

People familiar with Pacquiao have heard him speak about his Christian faith in countless interviews since 2012, but the athlete will readily admit that he once let his success get the best of him. He had issues with drinking, gambling and being a womanizer, Pacquiao previously told ESPN.

He opened up about the reason he decided to change his life and really pursue Christ.

“I realized the way of sin was leading me in the wrong direction, not only in this life, but eternally. I realized I had a need,” Pacquiao told CP. “I came to the point where I realized that need was the Lord Jesus Christ. I put my faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

That faith is what has carried Pacquiao through gut wrenching defeats like those that occurred at the hands of Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012.

“As a Christian, some of my greatest times of growth are in the times of defeat,” he told CP. “I take great comfort from my faith.”

Win or lose, Pacquiao said he is thankful to all of his supporters and those who have been praying for him. Although he is not anticipating a loss to Mayweather on May 2, the politician and boxer with a record of 57-5-2 and 38 KOs knows that the outcome of “the fight of the century” will not determine the change he hopes to make in the world.

“I love my boxing, but I realize now that is not what my life is all about. I just want to encourage all those who are a Christian, to share their salvation experience to others,” Pacquiao told CP. “I think that we could make an impact in this world. I’m not sure yet if I’m going to retire in 2016, but the legacy that I want to leave is to be a role model and an inspiration, not only the boxing fans, but to everyone around the world.”

Source : Christian Post

Siruis XM DJ Is Helping Christians Find the Church Best Suited for Them With Innovative Let’s Pray Together Website

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Siruis XM DJ Is Helping Christians Find the Church Best Suited for Them With Innovative Let’s Pray Together Website
Meta (Photo: Facebook)

Meta Washington is an on-air personality for Kirk Franklin’s Praise on Sirius XM Satellite Radio in New York City. She is also the founder of letspraytogether.org

Christian Post Report – Finding the right church can often be a time consuming and somewhat challenging experience but one devoted Christian says she has created a new, innovative way for believers to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.

Meta Washington, host of Kirk Franklin’s Praise on Sirius XM Satellite Radio in New York City, launched her website letspraytogether.org in 2013 as “as a labor of love to help bring Christians together nationwide.” Since then, a growing number of congregants and church leaders around the country have been using the free service to connect with other devotees and expand their congregations.

Users can find their ideal church by simply entering information such as city, state, denomination and even preferred congregation size into the website. Pastors can directly list their church on the site by submitting an online form and Washington recently sat down with The Christian Post to share the idea behind Lets Pray Together.

Let’s Pray Together: Q & A

The Christian Post: What inspired you to create Let’s Pray Together?

Meta Washington: Well, it started from an on-air segment that I had created a while back. It was created because I had a listener that contacted me to ask if I had known of any churches in the DC area and I said ‘well, I don’t personally but let me put it out there for the listeners’ and when I did, they had so many responses and people were really so enthusiastic about sharing their church information. What I decided at that point was the best way to handle it was to create a website where it would be a database for people to be able to search; either church seekers could look on there … or you could have churches and ministries who wanted to list themselves. It really worked out because most churches only get the opportunity to open their doors for membership once a week but with LPT its available anytime day or night.

A lot of people when they’re looking for a church, it’s kind of like a stone throw in the dark. You go to a new town, you try this church and you try that church but when you say specifically ‘hey, I’m looking for a protestant church that has this type of congregation and this style of preaching’ and you’re very specific about it and then you have somebody respond and say ‘hey, that fits my church and if they decide to come and visit they can see me personally.’ So I’ve had instances where listeners have literally gone to visit a church and kind of met up with the person who made the recommendation. [They] were instantly welcomed when they got there. I mean its difficult sometimes … even though it’s a church and it’s supposed to be welcoming for everyone, it’s human tendency that people kind of click with people they already know well.

I’ve had a pastor that reached out and said ‘hey listen one of my members is relocating and I wanted to know if you could help them find a church when they get to their new home state. I’ve had a lot of parents with kids going off to college … who have reached out and said ‘hey we want our kids to continue going to church even while they’re away. Can you make some recommendations of churches in their town while they’re there. It’s a network that is a win-win for all.

CP: What has been the general response?

MW: Overwhelming. Originally when you listen to channels for inspirational music, you get music, you get talk, its very rare that you find someone using a platform to make a network within the people themselves. And because I have a national platform I have a unique opportunity in which to tie people in to each other on many different levels. So people see the effort going into bringing kingdom people together.

CP: In your opinion, how much research should go into finding the right church?

MW: I think overall, it kind of cuts down the legwork that people have to do. When you move, in addition to trying to settle yourself in a new city, it’s the going from church to church (and you only have an opportunity to go to one church basically per weekend) so it could be months before you find a good match. Whereas if you put it out there for people exactly what you’re looking for (ie: youth ministry, family church)…its a unique opportunity to be able to do your research in advance.

CP: What are your hopes for LPT going forward?

MW: Well I’d like to see the continued growth of the churches and ministries signing up. Of course I want it to continue to be a resource for people who are looking for a church nationwide …Right now I’m in the midst of a new initiative for LPT which we’ll probably release later this month and it’s called Joyful Noise. Most people know me for my work in radio and what Joyful Noise is. I have a video portion that is on the website and I’m opening it up to indie artists and musicians and singers because Sirius XM is not a platform for independent artists and most mainstream radio stations are not. You can’t just call up and say ‘hey I’ve got a CD who do I submit my music to?’ So what I’m doing now is creating a network for independent artists to be connected with those who are interested in signing them and playing their music or representing them.

CP: Can you tell me a little about the idea behind ‘Church Of The Week?’

MW: I pull from the website a ‘church of the week’ and it’s an incentive for churches to have the unique opportunity to get on a national platform and be represented. It really is an incentive for others to hear their churches being recognized for a day and having all of the different activities that are being featured at people’s churches being represented and celebrated for a day to make others say ‘hey I need to make sure I’m signed up.’

For more information on Let’s Pray Together CLICK HERE

Source : Christian Post

ISIS’ Rise in Iraq Masterminded by Former Saddam Hussein Intelligence Officer, Recently Published Caliphate ‘Blueprint’ Documents Reveal

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ISIS’ Rise in Iraq Masterminded by Former Saddam Hussein Intelligence Officer, Recently Published Caliphate ‘Blueprint’ Documents Reveal
ISIS (Photo: Reuters)

Militant Islamist fighters take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria’s northern Raqqa province, June 30, 2014. The fighters held the parade to celebrate their declaration of an Islamic “caliphate” after the group captured territory in neighbouring Iraq, a monitoring service said. The Islamic State, an al-Qaeda offshoot previously known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, posted pictures online on Sunday of people waving black flags from cars and holding guns in the air, the SITE monitoring service said.

Christian Post Report – The rise of the barbaric Islamic State terrorist group was masterminded by one of Saddam Hussein’s former military intelligence officers, who planned for years to help the terrorist group conquer Iraqi and Syrian territories, blueprint documents uncovered by the German magazine Der Spiegel have revealed.

In a recently published report titled “The Terror Strategist: Secret Files Reveal the Structure of Islamic State,” the news outlet reported that it obtained 31 pages of documents, through negotiations with Syrian rebels, that have been deemed to be “blueprint” materials detailing how the rise of ISIS in Iraq and Syria was orchestrated.

The report adds that the obtained handwritten notes and charts were composed by Samir al-Khlifawi.

Khlifawi, who is also known by the name Haji Bakr, was a colonel in Saddam Hussein’s air force intelligence service.

“Even his best-known pseudonym, Haji Bakr, wasn’t widely known. But that was precisely part of the plan. The former colonel in the intelligence service of Saddam Hussein’s air defense force had been secretly pulling the strings at IS for years,” according to the report. “Former members of the group had repeatedly mentioned him as one of its leading figures. Still, it was never clear what exactly his role was.”

The documents, which were discovered by Syrian rebels after Bakr’s death early last year, reveal what his role in the rise of ISIS was and how the militant group was able to systematically take over parts of Syria and then parts of Iraq.

“But when the architect of the Islamic State died, he left something behind that he had intended to keep strictly confidential: the blueprint for this state,” the report asserts.

“For the first time, the Haji Bakr documents now make it possible to reach conclusions on how the IS leadership is organized and what role former officials in the government of ex-dictator Saddam Hussein play in it. Above all, however, they show how the takeover in northern Syria was planned, making the group’s later advances into Iraq possible in the first place.”

The report further notes that Bakr’s plans outlined personal duties and other responsibilities that were necessary for the group to successfully execute its takeovers in individual towns.

“What Bakr put on paper, page by page, with carefully outlined boxes for individual responsibilities, was nothing less than a blueprint for a takeover,” the Spiegel article added. “In addition, months of research undertaken by Spiegel in Syria, as well as other newly discovered records, exclusive to Spiegel, show that Haji Bakr’s instructions were carried out meticulously.”

According to Spiegel, Bakr began devising a plan to help conquer swaths of Syria in late 2012. After Bakr began living in a town just outside of Aleppo called Tal Rifaat in 2013, hundreds of ISIS fighters were stationed there and that is where the first ISIS stronghold was established.

“It was there that the ‘Lord of the Shadows,’ as some called him, sketched out the structure of the Islamic State, all the way down to the local level, compiled lists relating to the gradual infiltration of villages and determined who would oversee whom,” the report continues. “It was not a manifesto of faith, but a technically precise plan for an ‘Islamic Intelligence State’ — a caliphate run by an organization that resembled East Germany’s notorious Stasi domestic intelligence agency.”

The report further explains that Bakr’s blueprints were executed with great accuracy and would always begin with the group recruiting followers, militants and spies locally by opening up Islamic missionary centers, or “Dawah” offices.

“Of those who came to listen to lectures and attend courses on Islamic life, one or two men were selected and instructed to spy on their village and obtain a wide range of information,” the report adds.

The selected spies would gather information about ISIS’ target towns. They were responsible for gathering information about the powerful families in the area and their sources of income, names and sizes of rebel brigades in the area, the names of the brigade leaders, the different religious schools in the area, the names of the imams and what they preached in their sermons.

In each area that ISIS took over, the report states that Bakr planned for there to be an emir who was in charge of supervising the murders, abductions, and communication and encryption. There was also an emir appointed to supervise the other emirs to ensure that they were doing their duties correctly.

In 2010, Bakr and other former Iraqi intelligence officers made Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a radicalized Muslim cleric, the group’s emir. Since ISIS’ rise, Baghdadi has become notoriously known as the group’s leader or caliph.

Even though Bakr had devised the plan for the takeover, he could not be the religious face that the group needed to attract recruits on religious grounds, since he was more of a military mind.

“There is a simple reason why there is no mention in Bakr’s writings of prophecies relating to the establishment of an Islamic State allegedly ordained by God: He believed that fanatical religious convictions alone were not enough to achieve victory,” the report states. “But he did believe that the faith of others could be exploited.”

Source : Christian Post

‘The Messengers’ Review: Series Plays Into End Times Fears, Engages Audiences of All Religious Backgrounds

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  • The Messengers
    (Photo: Courtesy of Grace Hill Media)
    “The Messengers” premieres on The CW on April 17, 2015.

Based on the Book of Revelation but intended for both secular and Christian audiences, “The Messengers” premiered on The CW on Friday, April 17, offering a promising start for five characters who suddenly die as a result of a comet striking the earth.

Christian Post Report – Described by executive producer Trey Callaway as being a series about faith rather than religion, “The Messengers” introduces five characters of diverse backgrounds who come back to life as angels, whether they believe it yet or not. In line with The CW’s affinity for superheroes and the supernatural, the five angels gain special powers and are returned to earth in order to battle evil during the Armageddon.

Each character boasts believable and relatable flaws that range across a single mother, a bullied teen, a televangelist, a NASA scientist and an undercover agent. Since only two characters overlap in the pilot, the audience is left wondering how each angel will connect with one another and what challenges lay ahead during a time of terror and chaos.

The well-rounded cast of characters further benefits from consisting of mostly unfamiliar faces, such as Sofia Black- D’Elia (“Gossip Girls”), Shantel VanSanten (“One Tree Hill”) and British actor Jon Fletcher (“The Good Wife”). Although many of the cast members have already made their television debuts, “The Messengers” offers a broad platform for each of the rising stars whose performances on the series proves their acting chops.

In a clever casting move, “The Messengers” also stars Diogo Morgado, the actor best known as the “Hot Jesus” in 2012’s the “Bible” series. This time, however, the Portuguese actor takes on the role of a Satan-like villain “The Man,” demonstrating worthy versatility and range by bringing the same patient, knowing smile from his portrayal of Jesus to “The Messengers.” Furthermore, Morgado’s link to the “Bible” series adds a layer of welcomed complexity to “The Man” while also boosting the faith-based theme of “The Messengers.” The actor makes his arresting debut on the new series after “The Man” arrives on earth via meteorite covered in ash and flames.

Going hand-in-hand with the network’s attraction to the paranormal, “The Messengers” features high-quality computer-generated imagery and other notable special effects, including the moment the blazing meteorite streaks across the sky and strikes the earth. Similar to The CW’s “Supernatural” and “The Vampire Diaries,” “The Messengers” also reveals clean, appealing cinematography, despite the plain backgrounds and unremarkable settings.

Ultimately, “The Messengers” taps into the basic fear of the End Times that any audience, religious or not, can understand. The series depicts a true-to-life world where death and destruction brings out both the best and the worst in people, and survival hinges on adaptability and the willingness to cooperate with each other.

Friday nights are slow for television, and the pilot for the new series garnered a mere 1.18 million viewers during the premiere, according to Deadline. Nevertheless, “The Messengers” provides family-friendly entertainment that is rooted in the Bible. The series airs on The CW Fridays at 9 p.m. ET.

Source : Christian Post

Jessa Duggar and Husband Ben Sewald, Announce Pregnancy; Child Will Be Born on First Wedding Anniversary

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Jessa Duggar and Husband Ben Sewald, Announce Pregnancy; Child Will Be Born on First Wedding Anniversary
Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald Instagram/ ben_seewald

Pregnancy rumors sparked when Ben Seewald posted this photo of him covering his wife Jessa Duggar’s stomach with his cowboy hat on Instagram.

Christian Post Report – Just months into their marriage, Christian reality star Jessa Duggar Seewald of TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting,” and her husband Ben Seewald have announced that they are expecting a child together and the baby is due on their first anniversary.

“We are so excited. The due date is November first, our wedding anniversary. We are looking forward to being parents,” Jessa confirmed to People magazine. “I am feeling pretty good. The morning sickness was different every day. It’s getting better, but I’m still hanging on to the heartburn. And I don’t have any super-serious food cravings.”

The couple married last November but refrained from their first kiss in front of the audience, choosing instead to share their first kiss in private. Jessa’s parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, gave the audience a kiss for show after the nuptials. The young couple later openly shared a kiss to appease their family and friends.

The kiss however was overshadowed by a bit of controversy after rumors surfaced online that the couple had engaged in sexual intercourse at the church where they were married. An online blogger alleged that Jessa’s sister Jinger had walked in on the couple the very a private moment.

“Multiple people were discussing that when Jinger opened the door to get Jess for the reception, she immediately closed the door with a look of shock on her face,” blogger Mary B posted on her website, My Life as a Stay at Home Wife and Mom. “I am not sure why they would not wait for the evening to pray and consummate God’s marriage.”

At first, Jessa did not respond to the allegations, but then took to Instagram to post a Bible verse in response.

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21,” Jessa posted to Instagram.

Jessa revealed that she found out she was pregnant one Sunday morning before church when she decided to take a home pregnancy test and it came back positive. She said when she shared the news with Ben, they were both surprised and excited.

“I said, ‘Hey Ben, guess what? Yeah, you’re a dad.’ We couldn’t believe it,” said Jessa. “We are so excited. We have started talking baby names. It is one of those things that is so special, picking a name for a baby.”

The couple also still plans to adopt childen, something they talked about during their courtship. There is currently a two-year waiting period before they can even apply, but they are “making plans” to go through with their original plan.

“We are trying to take it one day at a time,” said Ben. “We pray every night that God helps us be good parents. We are getting advice from other parents.”

Those “other parents” include Ben’s brother and sister-in-law, Jill and Derick Dillard, who recently gave birth to their first child, a son named Israel David.

“19 Kids and Counting” airs Tuesday nights on TLC.

Source : Christian Post

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