An ‘Honor Beyond Words’: Christian Singer Michael W. Smith Performs at President George H.W. Bush’s Funeral

An ‘Honor Beyond Words’: Christian Singer Michael W. Smith Performs at President George H.W. Bush’s Funeral



Christian singer Michael W. Smith performed his song “Friends” at President George H.W. Bush’s funeral on Wednesday. 


In an interview with CBN News, Smith said having the opportunity to perform at the 41stPresidents funeral is an “honor beyond words.”


President Bush, who fought a long battle with vascular Parkinsonism, died on Friday, at the age of 94.


According to Newsweek, Bush requested that his close friend, Smith, sing “Friends” at his funeral service.


“First and foremost, I hope the song is very honoring of the president because he loved the song,” the three-time Grammy award winner, told Christianity Today in an interview on Wednesday. “The last time I saw him when we said goodbye, he gave me a hug, pointed his finger in the air, and with a twinkle in his eye, said, ‘Friends are friends forever.’”


“He’s just been an inspiration to me,” the singer continued. “We didn’t talk about politics much. But we did have a lot of conversations about God and faith.”


According to Christianity Today, Smith met Bush in 1989, when he performed at the White House for Christmas. The two became fast friends, they even went on vacation to Greece together. 


Reportedly the two bonded over their shared friendship with the late Billy Graham, who died at the beginning of 2018. “One thing that tied…

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Was Jesus a Historical Figure?

Was Jesus a Historical Figure?



Two separate sources recently questioned the historicity of Jesus. But let us set the record straight.


First, on a comedy show on TBS, “The Guestbook,” just before Christmastime, one of the characters likened belief in Jesus to belief in Santa. The episode is called, “Tonight you become a man”—where a character supposedly becomes an adult by realizing Santa and Jesus are just myths.


Second, the Muslim prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, claimed that there is “no mention of Jesus in history.” Khan’s view that Jesus is not a historical figure puts him out of step with  Mohammed, who believed that “Prophet Jesus” (as he would have called him) was historical. (It’s also worth noting that Khan was born on October 5, 1952—that is to say, 1952 years after the reported birth of Jesus.)


But what about this matter of Jesus and history? Is Jesus Christ a verifiable historical figure, using the criteria that historians use, or not?


Will Durant, the great non-Christian historian who wrote the series, The Story of Civilization, noted in his third volume, Caesar and Christ (1944), that if the criteria by which some philosophers claim Jesus didn’t really exist as a historical person were used consistently, then we’d have to throw out noteworthy historical figures, such as Hammurabi or King David by that same criteria.


Durant, a respected historian, had no such doubts as to Jesus’…

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Unimaginable Loss for Christians Displaced by Violence in Nigeria

Unimaginable Loss for Christians Displaced by Violence in Nigeria



JEBBU MIANGO, Nigeria, December 5, 2018 (Morning Star News) – A grandmother in Nigeria whose 35-year-old son, 21-year-old daughter-in-law and 5-year-old granddaughter were shot dead by Muslim Fulani herdsmen is now homeless after she and other relatives fled the attack in August.


“We were taken in by a family in Jebbu Miango village, but unfortunately the room we were given has been destroyed as a result of torrential rains,” Talatu Gado told Morning Star News as tears ran down her cheeks. “You can see that we now sleep in the open.”


Members of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Zanwra village, in Bassa county of Plateau state, Gado and her relatives were at their home in Angwan Kauna village when the herdsmen attacked on Aug. 3. Slain were her son, Emmanuel Gado, his sister-in-law Ladi Monday and the latter’s daughter, Mary Monday. A fourth relative, 7-year-old Gado Monday, was wounded by gunshot.


“Prior to the herdsmen attack on us, they had while grazing their cattle around homes and farms threatened us severally,” Talatu Gado told Morning Star News. “One of them once told me that a day would come that I will weep, that is if I’m still alive to cry. I never knew they’ll carry out their threat. Now my heart bleeds.”


The matriarch and her relatives have not been able to return to their village due to the threat of further attacks, she…

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Trump beats Pope to become 3rd most followed world leader on Instagram

Pope Francis, who joined the social media site on 19th March 2016, is in fourth position with 5.7 million followers.

Donald Trump’s ten million followers fell short of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s whopping 14.8 million followers which tops the list.

 

Indonesian President Joko Widodo came second with 12.2 million followers – a total that has more than doubled over the past twelve months.

However, the leader’s popularity on Twitter paints a different picture.

Twitter

  

Mr Trump – who is known for his controversial tweets has 56.1 million followers on Twitter compared with India Prime Minister’s 44.6 million; the Pope’s 17.8 million and Indonesia’s 10.6 million followers.

The newly-released 2018 World Leaders on Instagram study was published by leading global communications agency BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe).

Chad Latz, chief innovation officer at BCW, said in a statement: “This third instalment of the BCW study shows Instagram has become the social media network where world leaders garner the most interactions.

“What is astounding is that the average size of world leaders’ Instagram accounts is less than half the size of their Facebook pages – with five times fewer posts over the past twelve months.

However, all Instagram accounts together total 860 million interactions, which is 23 per cent more than the total interactions…

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President George W. Bush Gives Emotional Eulogy in Honor of His Late Father President George H.W. Bush

President George W. Bush Gives Emotional Eulogy in Honor of His Late Father President George H.W. Bush



Former United States president George W. Bush took the stage to deliver a touching eulogy in honor of his late father, George H.W. Bush. 


According to Faithwire, the well-known faces in the audience, which included former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, were captivated, while many viewers at home tuned in to watch the former president give this moving eulogy live. The event took place on Wednesday at the Washington National Cathedral. 


Recalling a number of humorous and heartwarming stories about him, Bush was unable to hide his emotions as he described his father as a “great and noble man,” and “the best father or son a daughter could have.”


“To his very last days, Dad’s life was instructive,” Bush stated.  “As he aged, he taught us how to grow with dignity, humor and kindness, and when the good Lord finally called, how to meet Him with courage, and with the joy of the promise of what lies ahead.”


In regard to his father’s remarkable strength, the 43rd president had this to say: “When he lost, he shouldered the blame. He accepted that failure is a part of living a full life. but taught us never to be defined by failure. He showed us how setbacks can strengthen.”


Bush went on to mention Robin, his younger sister, who had tragically passed away from leukemia when she was only three years…

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Open Heaven 6 December 2018 – As in a Mirror

Open Heaven 6 December 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – As in a Mirror

Topic: As in a Mirror (Open Heaven 6 December 2018)

Memorise: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”- James 1:22

Read: James 1:21-25 (KJV)

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 47-48, John 7:40-8:11

MESSAGE:

While driving on the highway, you would often see a road sign that indicates “Bump ahead” or “sharp bend ahead”. Seeing such a sign, a wise fellow will immediately slow down while foolish fellow will keep speeding. When the danger that should have been averted happens, everyone will consider such a driver to be foolish. This scenario describes the case of those who read the Bible and see some truths in it that will save their lives but choose not to act on what they have read.

Today’s Bible reading tells us that the word of God is like a mirror which shows us what needs to be changed in our lives. It is a dangerous kind of foolishness to read or hear the word of God and not act on it. Some people hear the word and resolve to do something, but they procrastinate taking action until their resolve fades away with time. They are like a man dressed up to go out who sees in the mirror that his tie is a little too far to the right, but then leaves the front of the mirror without correcting it. If after a while he remembers that his tie is a little off to the right and then tries to adjust it to the left, he may adjust it a little too far to the left. The wise thing to do is to make the adjustment while still in front of the mirror. If you hear or read any word from God that requires you to make an adjustment in your life, you must do so immediately, because delay may be dangerous.

Many years ago, my Father in the Lord preached a message on keeping our environment clean if we wanted God to live in our homes. He also said that the kind of music we listened to would determine if the Spirit of God would be comfortable dwelling in our homes. My wife and I got home late and tired that day, but tired as we were; we raised up our mattress and swept off a lot of dirt from under our bed. We also broke and threw away all the secular tapes that we had in the house. We acted on the word immediately and we were better off for it. Matthew 13:23 says:

“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

When you have heard a word that can change your life for the better, the devil knows it, and he immediately springs into action to steal it from you. You must be on guard, and your best strategy is to act on the word before he brings distracts and suggestions that will destroy the fruits that God intends the word to yield in you. Are you just a hearer of the word or a doer of it?

Open Heaven 6 December 2018 Thursday Prayer Point:

Father, please make me head indeed and don’t let me fail in my responsibilities.

Also Read: Open Heaven 5 December 2018 – You are Untouchable

Open Heaven 6 December 2018 Thursday 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 Heaven 6 December 2018 Thursday 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 Heaven 6 December 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional.

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 Heaven 6 December 2018 – As in a Mirror appeared first on Flatimes.

Bishop of Salisbury gives Christmas message of hope after ‘a difficult year’

The saga highlighted a “shared vulnerability” in an interconnected world, Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam said in the message, which features in his 2018 Christmas card.

Bishop Nicholas told Premier: “What it did – as well as damage individuals – is damage a community, it’s damaged our trust in one another.

 

“This is a time to rebuild trust – and to have confidence in who we are and what we are.”

The Declaration, which is being sent to more than 800 people, asserts that “love, light and life will triumph” in Salisbury.

It also pays tribute to those “who risked themselves and responded with courage, dedication and skill”.

 

The poisonings began on 4th March 2018 with the targeting of a former Russian spy and his daughter.

When Sergei and Yulia Skripal became ill after becoming exposed to Novichok, a police officer, Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, was also contaminated.

On 30th June, two British nationals – Charlie Rowley and Dawn Sturgess – also fell ill due to Novichok. Sturgess died on 8th July.

Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Police activity in a cul-de-sac in Salisbury near to the home of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal as a nerve agent is believed to have been used to critically injure him and his daughter Yulia

 

Bishop Nicholas told Premier: “One of the things I want to come from [the…

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Transgender Contestant Is Favorite to Win Miss Universe

Transgender Contestant Is Favorite to Win Miss Universe



The first transgender contestant to compete in the Miss Universe pageant is the favorite to win the crown. At least, that’s what the gambling oddsmakers say.


Miss Spain Ángela Ponce – who was born male – is the favorite to win Miss Universe according to the gambling odds at MyBookie.ag, as first reported by The Blast. Ponce is at +600. By comparison, Miss USA is at +2000. (The favorite has the lowest number.)  


According to the odds, gamblers also believe that a contestant will not trip this year and that host Steve Harvey will announce the correct winner. The pageant will be held Dec. 16.


As Christian Headlines previously reported, Ponce won the Miss Spain contest in June. Ponce had genital surgery at age 16.   


“There are women with a penis and men with a vagina because the only key part of being a woman is to be and feel like a woman,” Ponce told The New York Times. 


Ponce added, “I find it weird that some women don’t tolerate that I go to a competition to represent my country as the woman that I am.”


Guillermo Escobar, president of Spain’s beauty contest, said he supports Ponce. 


“She is a pioneer, sending a message of equality and respect, but my hope is that we will eventually have many more candidates like her and this will no longer make the headlines,” Ponce added. 


Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, 

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Child homelessness at Christmas forecast ‘scandalous’, says Christian charity

A forecast issued by Shelter on Wednesday suggested 131,269 youngsters across Britain will spend the season without a permanent roof over their head.

Alastair Welford, the founder of Nicodemus, a Christian charity in Warwickshire which supports young people affected by issues including homelessness, said the figure could be an underestimate.

 

He told Premier: “I can quite believe it, in fact, if I’m honest, I question that figure, I question whether it’s accurate.

“To me, that number, I would say, is possibly [too] low, if anything.”

The stat includes an expected 9,500 kids who will spend their Christmas in a hostel or bed and breakfast – as well as others who will be in emergency accommodation provided by local authorities.

Victoria Jones/PA Wire

 

Shelter found London was the place worst-affected by child homeless, with the borough of Westminster experiencing the highest rates in the country.

Urging more churches to help tackle homelessness, Alastair Welford added: “When you think of the number of churches in this country, if 20 per cent of those started little homeless projects – little marginalised youth projects with some support [from us], it would be incredible.

“What a great witness as well.”

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Complaint Filed after Lesbian Bishop Says Jesus Had ‘Bigotries’ and ‘Prejudices,’ Calls Him an Idol

Complaint Filed after Lesbian Bishop Says Jesus Had ‘Bigotries’ and ‘Prejudices,’ Calls Him an Idol



A United Methodist Church bishop is facing criticism for a 2017 message where she said Jesus had bigotries.


UMC Mountain Sky Bishop Karen Oliveto said in an August 2017 message that people “want to box Jesus in, carve Him in stone, create an idol out of Him.


“If Jesus can change, if he can give up His bigotries and prejudices, if He can realize that He had made His life too small, and if, in this realization, He grew closer to others and closer to God, than so can we,” continued Oliveto.


In September, Robert Barnes, pastor of Mount Oak Fellowship in Maryland, filed a complaint against Oliveto to the Desert Southwest Conference and the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops.


“Although it is commendable and necessary for United Methodist Bishops to teach against bigotry, Bishop Oliveto’s teaching does so by directly contradicting what Articles 1 and 2 of the Methodist Articles of Religion and Articles 1 and 2 of the EUB Confession of Faith, stress concerning the full divinity of Jesus Christ,” the September complaint says.


Barnes and a spokesperson for Mountain Sky Area of the UMC said they could not comment because both parties are involved in confidential discussions to reach a resolution without a church trial.


This isn’t the first time Oliveto has made headlines. In July 2016, she became the first openly gay…

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