Archbishop of Canterbury calls for ‘reconciliation’ to heal Brexit divisions

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Archbishop of Canterbury calls for ‘reconciliation’ to heal Brexit divisions

The Most Rev Justin Welby said it was “central to our future” as a country that the divisions were healed.

The Archbishop, speaking in the House of Lords, called on the Government to establish a “reconciliation unit” which would work across Whitehall departments and with humanitarian organisations and faith groups to bring people together.

 

The leading Church of England cleric, speaking at the start of a debate on role of reconciliation in British foreign, defence and international development policy, said: “This has been a week of deep division, and reconciliation will be something that, although applied to foreign policy in this debate, must become central to our future in this country.

“I hold firm to the belief that we can create a society where mutual flourishing is possible, disagreeing well is central and respecting the difference is paramount.”

He added: “Reconciliation is needed before, during and after conflict, preemptive reconciliation is essential.

“I think it was Bill Shankly who said ‘I teach my lads to get their retaliation in first’; we need to learn to get our reconciliation in first.

“Reconciliation happens from the top of society down, from the bottom of society up and from the middle of society out. It must include women, youth and minorities. If any group is left out, peace is not sustainable.”

“What is needed is a joined-up approach to…

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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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Five Incredible Tools for Better Stewardship in Your Church

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Podcast Episode #493

SUBSCRIBE:
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Not a week goes by without me being asked to recommend a resource for some aspect of stewardship in the church. Today, we cover five of the ones we recommend the most.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • When dealing with outside consultants in the church, always get references from other churches. Do your homework and don’t get scammed.
  • When you introduce a new form of giving, giving in a church almost always goes up.
  • Personnel as only 50% of the budget is only a guide. There are more factors that go into how much of a church’s budget should be personnel.
  • Better personal stewardship is a measure of overall discipleship.

The five stewardship tools we cover are:

  1. DIY Stewardship Campaign
  2. Text giving
  3. Budget analysis
  4. Personal stewardship resources
  5. Effective leadership for stewardship

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast

Episode Sponsors

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

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Christian Organizations Back LGBT Legislation in Exchange for Religious Liberty Protections

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Christian Organizations Back LGBT Legislation in Exchange for Religious Liberty Protections


Christian Organizations Back LGBT Legislation in Exchange for Religious Liberty Protections


In the last few months, two major Christian organizations endorsed principles that would make sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) protected classes under federal anti-discrimination laws. The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) both passed motions affirming the need for SOGI legislation and argued that this is the only way to ensure the preservation of religious liberty. 


WORLD reported that Shirley Mullen, who is President at Houghton College and sits on the boards of both organizations, wrote in a position paper for NAE board members that, “As Christian higher educators, we are increasingly persuaded that the most viable political strategy is for comprehensive religious freedom protections to be combined with explicit support for basic human rights for members of the LGBT community.”


The NAE’s motion called for federal legislation in keeping with three principles. First, they say that “We believe that God created human beings in his image as male or female and that sexual relations be reserved for the marriage of one man and one woman.” Second, they say they support, “long-standing civil rights laws and First Amendment guarantees that protect free religious exercise. Finally, they argued that “No one should face violence, harassment, or unjust…

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

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Baby Jesus stolen from nativity scene

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Baby Jesus stolen from nativity scene

Annan Old Parish in south west Scotland displayed the nativity for the first time this year. They put it up as lots of other local churches have stopped displaying the Christmas scene. However the main character, baby Jesus, and his manger have been stolen.

Police Scotland described it as “crime that will shock the town”.

 

One of the members of the church discovered that the baby Jesus and manger was missing at lunchtime on Thursday. Rev David Whiteman, minister at Annan Old Parish confirmed that the baby Jesus had been there on Thursday morning but was gone by the afternoon.

  

Rev Whiteman told Premier: “I’m really disappointed, someone said ‘you must be angry’, but I’m not. I’m just disappointed that someone would steal a manger and Jesus out of a nativity scene”

“It’s not really of any value. I can’t see what they would want to do with it. The only conclusion I can come to is that someone has taken it for a prank, but I can’t understand why they would want to do that”.

To steal the manger with the baby Jesus was by no means an easy task.

Rev Whiteman said: “It’s all wired up to the electrics; they’ve had to take the electrics out because it was all bolted down – it wasn’t easy to take it. I can’t understand why someone would go to so much effort.”

No one was at the church over lunch time, or was watching the nativity that is in the grounds by the churches main…

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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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Foul-mouthed Santa frightens children – Denison Forum

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Foul-mouthed Santa frightens children – Denison Forum

It was the nightmare before Christmas.

Children were lined up to visit Santa Claus in the English town of St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, last Sunday. An alarm at a nearby but unrelated event caused an evacuation of the building.

Organizers euphemistically said later that Santa “assisted in the evacuation of the building.” Here’s how: Parents and children were leaving when Santa tore into the room, ripped his hat and beard off in front of fifty children, and started shouting and swearing at people to leave.

One mother said she had to tell her children that the man wasn’t really Santa but an imposter who would be going on the “naughty list.” Organizers will try again this weekend but have not said whether the same Santa Claus will return.

Christmas as a spiritual buffet

In a similar vein, I heard recently about an unusual manger scene.

I was honored last Wednesday to be back on the radio show, “Equipped with Chris Brooks.” Chris is a brilliant pastor, cultural theologian, and radio host. During our conversation, he told us about a good friend who was jogging in his neighborhood and passed a nativity scene. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the Magi were all present.

But the baby Jesus was missing.

As Chris noted, some traditions don’t add Jesus to their manger scenes until Christmas Eve. Perhaps that’s what this neighbor intended. Or perhaps this nativity scene is a sign of our times.

It seems to me that “Christmas without Christ” could be a theme of our holidays these days. Christmas specials are televised nightly but seldom refer to Jesus’ birth. Christmas decorations in my Dallas neighborhood feature inflatable Santas, snowmen, reindeer, and a plethora of lights, but few mangers.

Yesterday, I quoted William Booth’s prediction that the coming century would embrace “Christianity without Christ.” In a day when “spirituality” is replacing religion, more and more people see their relationship with the divine as a spiritual…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Christian Aid’s Dr Rowan Williams blasts UK ‘complicity’ in Yemen war

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Christian Aid’s Dr Rowan Williams blasts UK ‘complicity’ in Yemen war

The humanitarian aid organisation accused the Government of “double standards” in its response to the conflict which has seen Riyadh fighting against Houthi militia across the border.

Leader of Christian Aid’s global peacebuilding programme, Karol Balfe told Premier: “We need to see a clear change in approach.

 

“The British government’s putting business interests first – above the safety of people in Yemen – with absolutely devastating consequences for the civilians of Yemen.”

New research published by the charity on Friday found three in five British adults believe the UK should stop selling military equipment to Saudi Arabia. The poll was conducted by ComRes.

 

Several countries including Germany, Belgium and Sweden have already agreed not to sell arms to the Saudi-led coalition – which has been fighting rebels since 2015.

According to the United Nations, as many as 14 million people in Yemen could be on the brink of famine, while it is estimated more than half of Yemenis lack enough food.

Tearfund

 

While welcoming diplomatic efforts made by the UK to resolve the conflict, Dr…

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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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Roman Catholic Cardinal Vincent Nichols denies covering up actions of sex abuse claim priest

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Roman Catholic Cardinal Vincent Nichols denies covering up actions of sex abuse claim priest

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, was asked whether he had suppressed a 1968 note relating to an alleged incident involving Father John Tolkien, son of novelist J.R.R Tolkien.

The note had come to light in legal advice to the cardinal, then archbishop of Birmingham, while considering a civil claim by an alleged victim of Fr Tolkien’s.

 

Asked about the allegation he failed to disclose the existence of the note to the complainant, the cardinal said: “In the context of the claim and the discussions with the solicitors, my priority was to get that settled and when that was settled I simply didn’t give the matter any further thought.

“For which I apologise.”

The note was drafted by Archbishop of Birmingham Maurice Couve de Murville, as part of a 1993 investigation, suggesting he had sight of information about the 1968 allegation.

No action was taken against Fr Tolkien in the 1990s, and he retired from the priesthood some six months after Archbishop Couve de Murville was told of the allegation.

Fr Tolkien, who died in 2003, was believed to have denied claims he made a group of scouts strip naked.

Diocese of Leeds

 

The alleged abuse happened in the 1950s, when Fr Tolkien was based in Sparkhill, Birmingham.

But evidence which investigators believed suggested the priest may have admitted abuse emerged in the note, which came to…

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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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TREM Devotional 14 December 2018 – Let Love Flow 2

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Topic: Let Love Flow 2 [TREM Devotional 14 December 2018]

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” 1 John 4:20 (KJV)

Yesterday, I started out challenging you to let the love of God in you flow. It is so easy to say “I love you” but beyond the words are the actions.

Look at the scripture for today; please read it again and again. God did not say you should love yourself; because He knows that some people may not love themselves. He laid the example for you. The love of God is not love because of; it is love in spite God. God is calling the church to be different. In the world, you have a lot of hypocrisy, but that should not be in the church. In the world, you are constantly watching your back because you don’t know what the next person is about to do. But that should not be the case in the church. God expects us to reach out one to another in love. When Jesus came, He walk the earth as a perfect example for us to follow.

The Apostle John in our word for today is querying your profession of love for God if you cannot love your neighbour. Don’t be a hypocrite that chants the love for God but cannot tolerate his brother or sister. No! The proof of our discipleship is in our love for each other. Jesus said, by this shall men know that you are My disciples when you have love one for another (John 13:35).

Today, I am calling you to love. Love the unlovable. Where you cannot seem to love, take it to God in prayer. You remember I challenged you before to take everything to God in prayer. So, take this to God. Be sincere. Ask God for the grace to love and you will see a change in your disposition towards the brother or sister. Love also covers a multitude of sin. Therefore, when love flows, the behaviour you think you cannot tolerate becomes insignificant to you.

Further Reading: John 13:33-35; 1 John 4:16-21

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Joel 1; Evening- Revelation 5

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM Daily Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo’’ 

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

The post TREM Devotional 14 December 2018 – Let Love Flow 2 appeared first on Flatimes.

Our Daily Bread 14 December 2018 Devotional – Heaven’s Love Song

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Topic: Heaven’s Love Song [Our Daily Bread 14 December 2018 Devotional]

Read: Revelation 5:1–13, Bible in a Year: Joel 1–3; Revelation 5

We love him because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

In 1936, songwriter Billy Hill released a popular hit song titled “The Glory of Love.” Before long a nation was singing about the joy of doing even little things out of love for one another. Fifty years later, lyricist Peter Cetera wrote a more romantic song with a similar title. He imagined two people living forever, knowing together they did it all—for the glory of love.

Revelation, the last book in the Bible, describes a new love song that will someday lift the voices of everyone in heaven and earth (Revelation 5:9, 13). The music begins, however, in a minor key of mourning. John, our narrator, cries, seeing no answer to all that has gone wrong with the world (vv. 3–4). But his mood brightens and the music builds to a crescendo (vv. 12–13) as John learns the real glory and story of love. Soon he hears all creation praising the powerful Lion-King of Judah (v. 5), who has won the hearts of His subjects by lovingly sacrificing Himself, like a Lamb, for our rescue (v. 13).

In the most moving lyrics ever sung, we see why even simple acts of kindness rise on the wings of a song. The glory we sing about reflects the heart of our God. We sing about Him because He gave us our song.

Prayer: Father, please help us to see that even the smallest acts of love and kindness can remind us of Your love for us.

In what ways can you thank God today through simple acts of kindness?

INSIGHT
A repeated word in today’s passage is worthy (vv. 2, 4, 9, 12), which is used to describe Jesus. But what does worthy mean? While a dictionary definition is helpful, the passage itself defines it. First, Jesus is worthy because He has triumphed (v. 5) and can therefore open the scroll and break the seals. But John goes on to describe how He has triumphed. Jesus is worthy because He has triumphed by being slain and purchasing people with His blood (v. 9). J.R. Hudberg

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Our Daily Bread Devotionals HERE”

This message was written By Mart DeHaan [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

The post Our Daily Bread 14 December 2018 Devotional – Heaven’s Love Song appeared first on Flatimes.

MFM Daily Devotional 14 December 2018 – Reconciled For Greater Works

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MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 14 December 2018 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Reconciled For Greater Works

TOPIC: Reconciled For Greater Works (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 14 December 2018)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Mark 3:13-19

MEMORY VERSE: “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” – 2 Corinthians 5:18

The MESSAGE:

Reconciliation means the ending of conflict or renewing of a friendly relationship between disputing parties, who had been separated over a period of time. What this means is that there was a friendly relationship between both parties before, but as a result of one problem or another, there is now a quarrel between them. In the beginning, there was a cordial relationship between man and God which was severed by man’s disobedience to God’s instruction. However, Christ came to reconcile man to the former friendly relationship with God.

In His earthly ministry, Jesus often sent out His disciples to preach, heal, and cast out devils. Notice, however, that before He sent them out, He would have a long period of personal fellowship with them. God desires intimacy with everyone of us. He sent His Son to die for this purpose — the purpose of reconciling us to Himself. We, who are born again, have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Giving your life to Jesus Christ is therefore the first step towards accepting to be reconciled to God. We become friendly and intimate again with God as He first planned it from the foundation of the world. We are separated from sin and separated unto God.

The question now is, does it end there? Is that all there is to our salvation?

NO! There is another aspect and ministry in which God would have all men to be saved. John 14:12 tells us that Jesus assures that greater works we shall do. He has done the work of reconciling us to God and calling us into ministry of reconciliation. We have been called to witness to souls, to preach, win souls and to do greater works. When we surrender our lives to Christ, we are reconciled to God and immediately as believers, it is our duty to bring the unbelievers to the knowledge of Christ so they can also be reconciled. The first point of call is at the level of personal intimacy with God, but we cannot just be selfish and be satisfied with that. Our love for God should push us to talk to our fellow men and women, so that they too can enjoy the intimacy and relationship we have with God. Get intimate with God. Develop a relationship with Him. Pray for souls. Preach Christ Jesus. Partake in the ministry of reconciliation. I assure you, the reward is immense.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
GOD DESIRES INTIMACY WITH EVERY MAN, HE SENT HIS SON TO DIE FOR THIS PURPOSE.

PROPHETIC WORD:
You have been called to reconcile sinners to God, receive the anointing for soul wining.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING

  1. O God my Father, equip me for the harvesting of souls, in the name of Jesus.
  2. Every power discouraging me from preaching Jesus Christ, die, in the name of Jesus.
  3. As from today, I become an agent of reconciliation, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING

  1. Holy Ghost fire, incubate me for soul winning, in the name of Jesus.
  2. I plug my destiny into the socket of divine power, in the name of Jesus.
  3. O God my Father, strengthen my relationship with You, in the name of Jesus.
  4. I will be a vessel unto honour, in the mighty 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.

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