Number of Witches in the U.S. Soars as Millennials Reject Christianity, Claims Newsweek

Number of Witches in the U.S. Soars as Millennials Reject Christianity, Claims Newsweek



Media site NewsBusters.org says that a Newsweek article claiming the number of witches in the U.S. is climbing while millennials reject Christianity isn’t accurate.


The Newsweek article, “Number of Witches Rises Dramatically Across U.S. as Millennials Reject Christianity,” said that more millenials are turning from Christianity and looking to astrology and other pagan religions.


According to the article, there are 1.5 million potential practicing witches in the U.S.


“From 1990 to 2008, Trinity College in Connecticut ran three large, detailed religion surveys,” said the article, quoting news site Quartz. “Those have shown that Wicca grew tremendously over this period. From an estimated 8,000 Wiccans in 1990, they found there were about 340,000 practitioners in 2008.”


NewsBusters, however, pointed to sociologist Rodney Stark, who said that “young adults begin to attend church less often in their ‘independent years’ and have always done so for as long back as such data has been collected.”


“Add to that research which suggests people are leaving mainline churches mainly for other Christian congregations, and the witch wave is beginning to look like a witch puddle,” Jacob Comello wrote for NewsBusters.


Comello also added that although people may have “switched to witch,” they have done so because “now that Wicca has touched-up…

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Chick-fil-A Lacks the Right ‘Corporate Values,’ Rider University Tells Students

Chick-fil-A Lacks the Right ‘Corporate Values,’ Rider University Tells Students



When Rider University administrators asked students which new restaurant they wanted opened on campus, they likely didn’t expect a controversy. They also likely didn’t expect students to choose Chick-fil-A.


But that’s what happened, with Chick-fil-A finishing as the top choice of students at the New Jersey-based private school.


Rider administrators, though, chose to go against the wishes of students and not open a Chick-fil-A because “their corporate values have not sufficiently progressed enough to align with those of Rider,” according to an email sent to Rider students that was obtained by Campus Reform.


The school wanted to “promote … inclusion for all people,” the email added.


Jan Friedman-Krupnick, the university’s assistant vice president of student affairs, said both sides of the issue were considered.


“It is important to me and to the University that all voices are heard,” Friedman-Krupnick told Campus Reform. “There are a number of factors that contribute to a campus’ decision to invite a retail partner on campus. While Chick-fil-A is among other restaurants preferenced by Rider students, there are members of the community (faculty, staff, and students) who strongly opposed the option as well.”


Students who backed Chick-fil-A were disappointed. 


“If people didn’t want to buy their food then they don’t have…

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Open Heaven 22 November 2018 – Dangers of Ignorance

Open Heaven 22 November 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – Dangers of Ignorance

Topic: Dangers of Ignorance (Open Heaven 22 November 2018)

Memorise: “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”- Ephesians 4:18

Read: Hosea 4:6 (KJV)

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 21-22, John 1:1-28

Open Heaven 22 November 2018 Thursday MESSAGE:

Ignorance means a lack of knowledge. It is a state of being uninformed, and this is a very dangerous thing. People sometimes say that ignorance is bliss, but this is very wrong. Knowledge is power, while ignorance on the other hand is death. It is what you don’t know that can kill you. A person who doesn’t know how dangerous a snake is can decide to stroke its beautiful body to his or her own peril. A worker who fails to learn about the requirements peculiar to his or her job will in no time lose that job. Those who don’t learn about what to eat and what not to eat will one day poison themselves. Ignorance is indeed very dangerous. As a business person, never invest your money in what you know nothing about. Don’t be in a haste to invest in anything or anyone. Rather, take your time to carry out due diligence so as to avoid losing the resources God had deposited in your care.

To be ignorant about God and spiritual life is also very dangerous. The worst end result of other forms of ignorance is physical death. However, to be ignorant about the things of God can lead to eternal damnation. Apart from the things they hear from pastors’ sermons, many Christians have never really sat down with the Bible with a desire to learn one new thing about God. Thus, ignorance has kept many people at the back side of their breakthroughs. You cannot demand for something you do not know exists. Instead of being ignorant, we are expected to be like the Jews in Berea, of who Acts 17:11 says:

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Laziness is one of the major reasons why people are ignorant. Some people are just too lazy to explore the word of God in order to know God by themselves. 2 Timothy 2:15 says:

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

There is no knowledge as impactful as that which you research by yourself. Silly arguments and fallacies stem from lazy and ignorant Christians who have not taken time to properly study God’s word. Every Christian who wants to be armed with the right knowledge of God has to be diligent and consciously make out time to study the Bible so as to know God more.

Open Heaven 22 November 2018 Thursday Key Point:

The extent of your knowledge depends on how much studying you are ready to do.

Also Read: Open Heaven 21 November 2018 – Rejoice with those who Rejoice

Open Heaven 22 November 2018 Thursday Hymn 15: Nearer My God To Thee

1. Nearer, my God to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be.
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down.
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!

3. There let the way appear
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou send’st to me
In mercy given:
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!

4. Then, with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!

Open Heaven 22 November 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 22 November 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – Dangers of Ignorance.

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 22 November 2018 – Dangers of Ignorance appeared first on Flatimes.

Open Heaven 22 November 2018 – Dangers of Ignorance

Open Heaven 22 November 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – Dangers of Ignorance

Topic: Dangers of Ignorance (Open Heaven 22 November 2018)

Memorise: “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”- Ephesians 4:18

Read: Hosea 4:6 (KJV)

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 21-22, John 1:1-28

Open Heaven 22 November 2018 Thursday MESSAGE:

Ignorance means a lack of knowledge. It is a state of being uninformed, and this is a very dangerous thing. People sometimes say that ignorance is bliss, but this is very wrong. Knowledge is power, while ignorance on the other hand is death. It is what you don’t know that can kill you. A person who doesn’t know how dangerous a snake is can decide to stroke its beautiful body to his or her own peril. A worker who fails to learn about the requirements peculiar to his or her job will in no time lose that job. Those who don’t learn about what to eat and what not to eat will one day poison themselves. Ignorance is indeed very dangerous. As a business person, never invest your money in what you know nothing about. Don’t be in a haste to invest in anything or anyone. Rather, take your time to carry out due diligence so as to avoid losing the resources God had deposited in your care.

To be ignorant about God and spiritual life is also very dangerous. The worst end result of other forms of ignorance is physical death. However, to be ignorant about the things of God can lead to eternal damnation. Apart from the things they hear from pastors’ sermons, many Christians have never really sat down with the Bible with a desire to learn one new thing about God. Thus, ignorance has kept many people at the back side of their breakthroughs. You cannot demand for something you do not know exists. Instead of being ignorant, we are expected to be like the Jews in Berea, of who Acts 17:11 says:

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Laziness is one of the major reasons why people are ignorant. Some people are just too lazy to explore the word of God in order to know God by themselves. 2 Timothy 2:15 says:

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

There is no knowledge as impactful as that which you research by yourself. Silly arguments and fallacies stem from lazy and ignorant Christians who have not taken time to properly study God’s word. Every Christian who wants to be armed with the right knowledge of God has to be diligent and consciously make out time to study the Bible so as to know God more.

Open Heaven 22 November 2018 Thursday Key Point:

The extent of your knowledge depends on how much studying you are ready to do.

Also Read: Open Heaven 21 November 2018 – Rejoice with those who Rejoice

Open Heaven 22 November 2018 Thursday Hymn 15: Nearer My God To Thee

1. Nearer, my God to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross
That raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be.
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down.
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I’d be
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!

3. There let the way appear
Steps unto heaven;
All that Thou send’st to me
In mercy given:
Angels to beckon me
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!

4. Then, with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise
So by my woes to be
Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer, my God to Thee!
Nearer to Thee!

Open Heaven 22 November 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 22 November 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – Dangers of Ignorance.

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 22 November 2018 – Dangers of Ignorance appeared first on Flatimes.

Archbishop tells govt to ‘rise up and protect Christians’ in Nigeria

The Archbishop of Jos, the capital city of Plateau State in Nigeria, has told Premier that the violence in the middle belt states is not subsiding.

Release International, a charity that supports persecuted Christians, say there have been 6,000 deaths in the first six months of this year alone.

Last month, militants chanting Allahu Akbar killed dozens of Christians in a market place in Kaduna and burnt down a church. The death toll is said to have exceeded 50.

Archbishop Benjamin Kwashi, during a trip to the UK, told Premier he didn’t know who the Fulani herdsmen were but he did know that: “they’re killers, they’re merciless, they slaughter mainly, they shoot, they burn down churches, they burn down homes, they destroy farm lands and they occupy wherever they’ve conquered.”

Archbishop Ben said he is in the UK to raise awareness of the fact that the herdsmen are killing in mainly Christian areas, apparently for no reason.

He said: “They’ve been doing this for nearly two years and not much has been done to stop them. We are calling on the Nigerian government to rise up and protect the poor, to rise up and protect the Christians. These people are well-armed and they can carry out these evils without hindrance.

“It is way after they have done their evils that security agencies come afterwards and, so far, we do not know of any sentences passed on them, or judgements or…

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Kenneth Copeland Devotional 22 November 2018 – Become Sensitive Again

Topic: Become Sensitive Again [Kenneth Copeland Devotional 22 November 2018]

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. – Ephesians 4:31-32

Years ago I was in Detroit, and I met a woman who was raised in a communist-bloc country. While I was visiting with her, a news broadcast came on. And as we sat there listening to it, suddenly tears came to her eyes.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

Although I hadn’t noticed it, the news commentator had said something derogatory about the president. “I don’t like to hear anyone talk about this country like that,” she said. “I don’t care whether it’s true or not. I don’t want to hear it.”

The newscaster’s comment had slipped right by me. But it had brought tears to her eyes. Why? Because she had a sensitive heart where this country is concerned.

We need to be more like that dear lady when it comes to our pastors, our teachers, our evangelists and even our fellow believers.

We need to realize that our own insensitivity has driven the Anointing of the Holy Spirit from many of our lives and our churches. We need to realize that the license we’ve given ourselves to criticize other members of the Body of Christ has weakened us all.

What will strengthen us again?

The power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit that falls on every sensitive and seeking heart.

I urge you to regain the tender heart you once had. Remove the calluses within you by repentance, by a commitment to live the law of love, by a renewed devotion to the Word, and by fellowship with your Father.

Don’t allow the condition of your heart to hold back the Spirit of God. Become sensitive again!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-13

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here’’

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

The post Kenneth Copeland Devotional 22 November 2018 – Become Sensitive Again appeared first on Flatimes.

Andrew Wommack Devotional 22 November 2018 – Hide the Word in Your Heart

Topic: Hide the Word in Your Heart [Andrew Wommack Devotional 22 November 2018]

Matthew 26:75 “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.”

There are several Greek words used for “word.” The Greek word used here is RHEMA and it literally means, “a spoken word; an utterance, a saying, but specifically a spoken word appropriate for the situation.” It’s not the Bible lying on your coffee table that makes the enemy flee, but the Word of God hidden in your heart, activated by the power of the Holy Spirit, and spoken in the appropriate situation. It’s similar to what Jesus says in John 6:63, that “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.”

The words that we speak from the written Word of God are empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Word by itself doesn’t make us free. It is the Word we know and speak that will deliver us (Jn. 8:32).

Why is the Word so effective? Because it is the WORD of God. It has authority, because it is indeed the WORD of God. God’s Word supersedes all authority of the church, of reason, of intellect, and even of Satan. That’s why it is so effective.

In Luke, chapter four, when Jesus was tempted of the devil for forty days, it was the Word of God that Jesus used to defeat the enemy at His temptation.

Jesus constantly met His temptation by quoting from God’s Word as He repeatedly stated the phrase, “It is written.” Likewise, the Christian soldier must avail himself of God’s Word by placing it in his heart so that the Holy Spirit may bring it forth at the appropriate time to accomplish a complete and total victory.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack Daily Devotional

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).

The post Andrew Wommack Devotional 22 November 2018 – Hide the Word in Your Heart appeared first on Flatimes.

Billy Graham Devotional 22 November 2018 – Thanksgiving with Meaning

Topic: Thanksgiving with Meaning [Billy Graham Devotional 22 November 2018]

The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; he rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. — Psalm 34:18 (TLB)

It is the custom of many Christians to bow their heads in public places and give thanks for the food that has been placed before them. I have had scores of waiters and waitresses tell me that when we bowed our heads, it was the first time they had ever seen that happen in their restaurant.

Millions never pause to give a word of thanks to God for the food provided. Few homes have a moment of thanksgiving at the beginning of the meal or at any other time of the day. Even at Thanksgiving time only a minority will pause and give thanks to God.

Thanksgiving is recognition of a debt that cannot be paid. We express thanks, whether or not we are able otherwise to reimburse the giver. When thanksgiving is filled with true meaning and is not just the formality of a polite “thank you,” it is the recognition of dependence.

Prayer for the day: Lord Jesus, I know that apart from You I can do nothing of lasting value. Help me to come to the end of self and allow You to control the reins of my life.

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

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

The post Billy Graham Devotional 22 November 2018 – Thanksgiving with Meaning appeared first on Flatimes.

Pope Francis praises Middle Eastern country for welcoming 1 million refugees

He also praised the “welcoming hearts” of the Lebanese people in accepting both Christian and Muslim families fleeing from conflict in neighbouring Syria.

In a country of 4.4 million people, refugees now compromise almost 25 per cent of the nation’s population.

 

Francis made the comments during a meeting at the Vatican with delegates from the Maronite Catholic Church in Lebanon.

He thanked the country for “maintaining a creative balance, as strong as the cedar tree,” between Christians and Muslims.

In a light-hearted remark, the Catholic leader compared the influx with the “multiplication of the loaves”, because more families had arrived in Lebanon than he had expected.

User:Heretiq

 

Some 6.3 million people affected by ongoing unrest in Syria have been internally displaced.

According to the Pew Research Centre, only Turkey has accepted more Syrian refugees than Lebanon (3.4 million).

Creative Commons

 

But the Human Rights Watch organisation has warned the vast majority of Syrian refugees in Lebanon lack legal status – limiting their rights to travel and work, as well as their access to healthcare and education.

According to the Vatican, the Maronite Catholic Church boasts 3.5 million members – with the majority in the Middle East and the Americas.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a…

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Revitalize and Replant: Is Relaunch a Third Way?

As we seek to work with churches around the world, we use two words regularly to describe the efforts toward greater health: revitalize or replant. In simple terms, revitalize represents the church attempting to move toward greater health by making changes from within. Replant means an external entity, such as another church, essentially takes over the church and starts it anew.

Is relaunch a possible third way? I think so.

Some define relaunch as an extreme form of revitalization. The existing congregation may close the church for a few weeks and re-open it with a new commitment and, perhaps, a new identity. Others, like my friend Mark Clifton, see relaunch as an internal replant.

Because relaunch is often defined in terms of either revitalization or replanting, it gets little attention. It does not have its own identity and, therefore, does not get the focus of the other two emphases.

Let’s look at some issues we might consider if we look at relaunching as a distinct and viable third way to move churches toward greater health.

  1. A relaunch may be more palatable for members who are not ready to give away their church to another church. Granted, relaunching has many challenges. It is basically shutting down the church for a period and re-opening it with a new purpose and identity. But it might be preferable to a replant led by another church.
  2. A relaunch might be the option of the church before it is too sick to do anything other than close or replant. Most replants only have one other…

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

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