Muslim Throng Converges on Worship Site of Coptic Church in Egypt

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Muslim Throng Converges on Worship Site of Coptic Church in Egypt


Muslim Throng Converges on Worship Site of Coptic Church in Egypt


JERUSALEM, January 15, 2019 (Morning Star News) – Police in Upper Egypt evicted Coptic priests and shuttered their church building after an Islamist mob converged on the site over the weekend, according to reports.


Muslim villagers in Manshiyet Zaafarna, Minya Governorate, attacked the church of Mar-Giris (St. George) at 1:30 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 11), after mosque noon prayers, according to a statement by the office of the Bishop of Minya and Abu-Qurqas, headed by Coptic Orthodox Bishop General of Minya Anba Makarios.


The next day, according to the bishop’s statement as cited by Watani News, a mob of about 1,000 Muslim villagers descended upon the church building, demanding that it be closed.


A video posted on Facebook shows a narrow street packed with male protestors chanting “Leave, leave,” as well as Islamic chants such as, “No other God other than Allah.”


Police pacified the mob by giving into their demands, according to Watani. They evicted two priests and the few remaining congregants inside and closed the building, which brought an elated response from the crowd.


“It appears to indicate that extremists now hold the upper hand,” Makarios said in the statement, “and appeasing them is the way out of problems.”

The statement pointed out that this latest closure is especially disappointing in the wake of claims by high-ranking government…

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Zimbabwe police arrest the prominent government critic pastor Mawarire

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Zimbabwe police arrest the prominent government critic pastor Mawarire

Mr Mawarire, who organised what became nationwide anti-government protests in 2016 against mismanagement and then-president Robert Mugabe’s long stay in power, was clutching a Bible when police bundled him into their car.

“They are alleging that he incited violence through Twitter and other forms of social media in the central business district,” Mr Mawarire’s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said.

There were widespread reports of violence as the country faced a third day of protests over what has become the world’s most expensive petrol.

This is Zimbabwe’s worst unrest since deadly post-election violence in August that saw six people killed.

Zimbabwe’s largest telecom company Econet sent text messages to customers saying it had been forced by the government to shut down internet service.

“The matter is beyond our control,” it said.

Other arrests were reported, with Nkululeko Sibanda, a spokesman for the main opposition MDC party, saying that “party leadership” had been detained.

“This is only deepening the political crisis in the country,” he said.

As President Emmerson Mnangagwa makes an extended overseas trip that will include a stop at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to plead for more foreign investment, former military commander and vice president Constantino Chiwenga, a hardliner, is in charge at home.

Eight people were killed on Monday when police and…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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What now for Brexit? Christian MPs have their say

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What now for Brexit? Christian MPs have their say

The government lost by 230 votes on Tuesday on Theresa May’s Brexit vision, with 118 Conservative MPs voting against their own leadership. Premier caught up with a few politicians to hear why they supported or rejected the deal and their predictions.

Dame Caroline Spelman, the Conservative MP for Meriden, voted in favour of the deal and said the defeat doesn’t mean the government has lost power completely: “The important thing is not to draw a simple conclusion from the way people voted last night because people voted against the deal for a whole variety of reasons…some want a second referendum, some want no Brexit at all, some want a Norway-style deal, some have leadership aspirations.

“Jeremy Corbyn gave a very big hint at the dispatch box that the thing that would make the deal more acceptable to the Labour party would be remaining in the customs union, so that will be something that will be being discussed.”

Stephen Timms, the Labour MP for East Ham voted against the deal and told Premier: “The honourable thing would be for the government to go – it clearly does not command the confidence of parliament. To be defeated on such a massive scale on the central issue it’s been dealing with is a huge vote of no confidence.”

Timms added there should be a general election, something Emma Lewell-Buck, MP for Labour in South Shields, also spoke to us about.

She said: “I absolutely welcome anything that may give us a Labour government…my belief is that the…

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Death by Church Meetings: Five Considerations

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He calls it “the most painful problem in business.”

Patrick Lencioni, in his book, Death by Meeting, looks at one of the greatest resource wastes in businesses: too much time in meetings.

I have worked with churches for over 30 years. It’s even more painfully true in congregations.

Here is one real example. I worked with a church of 250 in attendance that had a monthly business meeting that lasted at least two hours; weekly deacon meetings that lasted at least two hours; and 13 committee meetings that met at least one hour each month (yes, you read that right – 13 committee meetings).

The business meeting averaged about 75 in attendance. The deacon meetings had 11 in attendance, including staff. Each committee had an average of 5 in attendance.

Oh, I almost forgot. The ministry staff of four met two hours each week for a staff meeting.

Do the math. The total person hours in meetings each month for the church was 335 hours. The total person hours in meetings in a year was 4,020 hours.

Wouldn’t you love to have over 4,000 hours in Great Commission activity each year?

Many of our churches are dying to death due to meetings. While I would not recommend the total eradication of meetings, I do recommend churches conduct a meeting audit. Most churches are in meetings as much as five to ten times more than they need to be.

So, what can we do in our churches to reduce the time in meetings? What can we do to get more time in ministry from our members? Here are five considerations.

  1. If you have a…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Does new Gillette ad insult men?

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Does new Gillette ad insult men?

Thirty years ago, Gillette made famous the tagline, “The Best A Man Can Get.” The company launched the slogan at Super Bowl XXIII in January 1989, kicking off an $80 million campaign in nineteen North American and European nations. The slogan was translated into fourteen languages.

Procter & Gamble acquired Gillette in 2005 and continued to use its iconic tagline. This week, the company released a new ad calling on men to reject bullying and sexism. “The Best a Man Can Be” is the theme.

Reaction has been overwhelmingly negative. The ad currently has more than twice as many dislikes as likes. Critics say it insults men and is filled with stereotypes. And, as Forbes notes, consumers are skeptical of profit-motivated companies telling them how to behave.

Is “traditional masculine ideology” the problem?

The Gillette ad is just the latest skirmish in a growing battle over masculinity in America. The facts are alarming:

In response, the American Psychological Association recently released “Guidelines for the Psychological Practice with Boys and Men.” The APA’s publication is founded on the postmodern belief that “masculinities are constructed based on social, cultural, and contextual norms.”

According to the APA, “It is critical to acknowledge that gender is a non-binary construct.” In other words, we are not simply men or women–gender is “fluid” and determined by a host of factors, only one of which is a person’s biological sex at birth. As a result, the APA wants to help men “create their own concepts of what it means to be male.”

The APA identifies the problem as “traditional masculinity ideology,” which it characterizes as “anti-femininity, achievement, eschewal of the appearance of weakness, and adventure, risk, and violence.”

The Colson Center’s John Stonestreet responds: “That’s not how I define traditional masculinity. Anti-femininity? Violence? That sounds like being a jerk.” He’s…

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Ex-adult film star reveals how ‘God removed the veil from my eyes’

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Ex-adult film star reveals how ‘God removed the veil from my eyes’

Crystal DiGregorio-Bassette has described weeping at a church altar one Easter Sunday – the moment she believed God convinced her to leave her decade-long pornography career behind.

The 34-year-old from upstate New York, told Fox News: “God removed the veil from my eyes, I started looking at the world differently.

 

“I noticed how much people were being hurt by the porn industry and I never really thought of it before that.”

DiGregorio-Bassette, who made her last adult film when she was 31, had been earning $30,000 per month and living in a mansion in Calfornia. After leaving the industry, she needed to declare bankruptcy.

Flickr and Andrew Smith

 

She also explained how her past helps others share openly with her.

The mother-of-three, who has since become a Christian counsellor, added: “Anybody feels that they can come to me, and that’s what I like about it.

 

“They can talk to me openly and not have to worry about me judging them,”

DiGregorio-Bassette attends the Lighthouse Mexico Church of God – which is led by Pastor Ron Russell – which is in the town of Mexico.

 

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

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Joyce Meyer Devotional 16 January 2019 — Take Responsibility

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Topic: Take Responsibility [Joyce Meyer Devotional 16 January 2019]

Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge. — Proverbs 23:12

Many times in my meetings, someone has asked me to pray for physical healing. I do pray for people, but I also know that many times what people really need is to take personal responsibility for their health and well-being.

Often, their physical problems can be solved by improving their health—eating better, exercising, drinking more water, getting enough sleep at night, or taking time for leisure, recreation, and relaxation.

In what specific areas do you need to take responsibility to improve the quality of your life?

Prayer Starter: Father, help me to take at least one step today towards better health. My body is the temple of Your Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:19), and I want to take care of this gift You have given me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

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MFM Daily Devotional 16 January 2019 – Are You Real? (II)

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MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 16 January 2019 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Are You Real? (II)

TOPIC: Are You Real? (II) (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 16 January 2019)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: John 13: 18-30

Bible In One Year: Genesis 41-42; Matthew 11

MEMORY VERSE: “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” – John 13:15

The MESSAGE:

Jesus was real and true. His words were His bond and He did not have any character disorder. He stood for love, care and compassion. The focal point of His ministry was to save souls, heal the sick and deliver the oppressed. Luke 4:18 says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” Judas was not interested in all of these. He was not real. Though among them, he wasn’t committed to the same ideal.

In John 17:12, Jesus said to the Father, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled”.

Perhaps, you are as unfaithful as Judas was in your relationship with the Master today. You betray Him by committing sin and nailing Him on the Cross afresh daily. It is high time you confessed your sins, amended your ways and turned to the Lord. Perhaps, you sleep on the same bed with your spouse who sees you as the best spouse in the world, but you know you are not real. Your kisses, hugs as well as the complimentary names you call your spouse are lies from the pit of hell. If your spouse does not know, God does and will make you pay dearly for your betrayal of trust, deceit and unfaithfulness. Repent today. Tomorrow may be too late!

Many take professional oaths such as the Hippocratic oath medical practitioners take before they begin to practise their noble profession. Some of such practitioners still violate the oath and act unethically every day. By so doing, they maim and destroy lives and bring their profession to shame. While some have been caught and penalised, many have not. They are not real. Similarly, many politicians take oaths of office and still do not deliver their campaign and electoral promises. Beloved, the organisation you work for has core values or organisational culture. If you constantly act contrary to the core values or culture, you are not an ambassador of the organisation. My question to you today is: Are you real? Are you a genuine and good ambassador of Jesus Christ our Royal Master, of your family, your organisation and your country? If your answer to this soul-searching question is not in the affirmative, I implore you to repent and turn a new leaf today.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO THINK TWICE ABOUT WHO YOUR TRUE FRIENDS ARE. IF YOU DO, THEY AREN’T TRUE.

PROPHETIC WORD:
The power that disgraced Judas will expose and disgrace the Judas in your circle and the Jonah in your boat.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING

  1. Father, take lies and deception far from me, in the name of Jesus.
  2. Holy Spirit, help and enable me to be Your friend, in the name of Jesus.
  3. The Spirit that reigns and rules in the lives of children of disobedience, come out of my life now, in the name of Jesus.
    EVENING
  4. I reject the anointing of Judas, in the name of Jesus.
  5. I will not miss or waste my divine opportunities, in the name of Jesus.
  6. Father, teach and guide me to take the right decisions in life, in the name of Jesus.
  7. My life and ministry will end well, in the name of Jesus.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE

MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)

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 MFM Daily Devotional 16 January 2019 – Are You Real? (II) appeared first on Flatimes.

Be A Soul Winner by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

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Be A Soul Winner by David Ibiyeomie

Topic: Be A Soul Winner

Just as the children of Israel were delivered from bondage to be free to serve God, so also the believers are redeemed to serve God. We are saved to serve. The primary reason for your salvation is not to bear the title “born again” as an emblem, but to serve God in all sincerity of your heart.

Exodus 7:16b (KJV) …Let my people go, that they may serve me…

You cannot claim to be too old to serve God. God is the ancient of days. You cannot claim to be too rich to serve God. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. All the silver and gold belong to God. What you are, He gave you; what you are, He made you. You cannot claim to be too educated and civilized to serve God. God is the only wise God. All the wisdom of the world put together is not up to the ‘foolishness’ of God.

1 Corinthians 1:25 (KJV) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

God is the MOST HIGH. He is the King of the whole earth. No one is exempted from serving HIM regardless of age, social status, title or possession. Service to God is a life-time obligatory responsibility of every believer. You are to serve God spiritually, physically and financially.

Soul winning is an important aspect of service to God. It is an aspect of spiritual service. Soul winning was the business of Jesus during His earthly ministry.

Luke 19:10 (KJV) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Jesus was a Soul Winner. He was sent by the Father to pursue the business of soul winning and His business is our business.

Luke 2:49 (KJV) And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

John 20:21 (KJV) Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

We are sent to win souls. Every believer is commissioned to preach the gospel to the sinners and win them for Christ. Soul winning is our general assignment as people of God. It is not the assignments of Pastors or Evangelist alone but of Christians at large.

Our value for our redemption is expressed through our involvement in soul winning. There is nothing you will do for God that can move God like soul winning. God values soul winning. God values one soul more than all the wealth in the world. Soul winning is the heartbeat of God.

Luke 15:10 (KJV) Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

The business of soul winning is not truly accomplished until the soul abides or is established in the Church.

John 15:16 (KJV) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

God wants you to preserve every soul you won. If they are not preserved, they may be lost to the world. Until the souls are established, the business is not finalized. Soul winning is the most profitable venture on earth. When you win souls committedly, and get them established in the Church, God is glorified in your life and so you become empowered and authorized to draw anything you want from heaven’s account.

God bless you.

Also Read: Other Inspiring Messages by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

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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A Glorious Beginning (Part 1) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

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A Glorious Beginning (Part 1) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

A Glorious Beginning (Part 1) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: A Glorious Beginning (Part 1)

Happy New Year and welcome to your year of Dominion! I see you taking charge of every area of your family life thereby culminating in success in Jesus name! I shall be teaching on: A Glorious Beginning! As someone rightly said, “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today” I want you to know that there is need to set the pace for that glorious family life you hope to see this year. Let me show you a few things to do.

Give yourself to fasting

I will like to define fasting as ‘deliberately doing away with physical food so as to pay more attention to spiritual things. Fasting, therefore, is a spiritual device that keeps you in tune with God. What better way to start the year than focusing on God! You can set time aside to fast, pray, study God’s Word and spend time worshipping Him. The Bible says: Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke (Isaiah 58:6)? We see clearly from this scripture that fasting comes with a lot of benefits. Some benefits of fasting include:

  1. Deliverance: Jesus told His disciples Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Mathew 17:21) this means that some opposition will not give way except by fasting and prayer. I don’t know the kind of yoke that is ravaging your family life, I see your total liberty being established as you engage in a fast.
  2. Revelation: When you fast, as you spend time studying God’s Word, you will receive revelations from His Word that will give you a better understanding and help build your faith. Fasting also enables you to hear clearly from God and provides answers as you seek direction from the Lord on the way forward on any issue of concern to your family life (Isaiah 58:8-9).
  3. Favour: Fasting and prayer is a platform for securing God’s favour. Queen Esther declared three days fast. After the fast, she received divine favour (Esther 4:16-17; Esther 5:2-3). God’s favour will be evident in your family life as you engage in a fast!
  4. Fulfilment of prophecies: We pray and fast for speedy fulfilment of prophecies (1 Kings 18:41-44). The Bible says for I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jeremiah 29: 11). As you engage in a fast, expect all the plans of God for your family this new year to receive speedy fulfilment!

Also Read: Sustaining a Godly Home By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Let go of Unforgiveness

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

Unforgiveness is the unwillingness to forgive offences against you. It is a situation where an individual refuses to let go of negative emotions such as revenge. It is one major crack in the wall of many families today. It causes husbands and wives to hold on to issues, offences, misunderstandings and various hurts of the past; and before you know it, the family is torn apart.

Understand that it is the root of bitterness that grows into the tree of unforgiveness. Wherever you see unforgiveness, know that bitterness is at its root. Unforgiveness is wickedness! An unforgiving wife, husband or child is a wicked person and the Bible say that God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11) Do not be identified with the wicked. The incident in Matthew 18:23-35 is a good example. A man who was owing 10,000 talents begged his creditor to be patient with him till he was able to pay back the money owed, and his creditor forgave him the debt. But this same man saw a fellow servant who owed him only 100 pence, and refused to forgive him and threw the man into prison. As a result of his unforgiveness, he was classified as being wicked and His Lord was angry with him.

Unforgiveness invites God’s anger. That servant never enjoyed his master’s forgiveness. The same way, unforgiving people never enjoy forgiveness from God because what you sow is what you reap (Genesis 8:22). You must be willing to forgive others just as Christ forgave you even when you didn’t deserve His forgiveness. When we forgive, we are acting as Christ would act and fulfilling his desires for us.

Forgiveness is the only way to move forward if we are not to be imprisoned by the past. but it is the only way to give your relationship the blessing of a fresh start and new beginning. Remember you can’t start the next chapter if you keep re-reading the last one. Learn to instantly forgive each other. In fact, you can go a step further by learning to forgive even before offences are committed. Receive grace to do so in Jesus’ name!

A glorious beginning starts with Jesus. If you are not yet born again and you desire to do so right now, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

“Please click HERE to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.

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