Christian group claims abortion ad backfires

The 40-second video opens with a smiling, cooing baby with the lullaby ‘Go to sleep’ playing in the background.

Text later appears stating: “She deserves to be loved. She deserves to be wanted. She deserves to be a choice.”

 

Viewers are urged at the end of the advert to “stand with Planned Parenthood” before a logo of the Agenda Project Action Fund appears.

Planned Parenthood is a non proft organisation in America who provide health services, including abortions.

Laura Ricketts from the pro-life Christian group ‘And Then There Were None’ told CBN News the advert has backfired.

She explained: “The pro-abortion lobby needs to reinforce the fact that a baby isn’t a baby unless you decided the baby is a baby.

“Abortion can’t survive if the general public accepts the fact that humanity begins at conception.

 

“And so the subtle very insidious message of this – is that ‘you don’t get the cute and the cuddly unless you want it – it’s not there really’ and that’s a very dangerous message to be spreading.

“On the surface, those of us who are pro-life are appalled, but you see, when you work in the abortion industry, or a woman who receives an abortion, it’s very hard to admit to yourself what you already know and what you already know is that is a child.”

Comments under the video posted online both questioned the authenticity of the advert and the message it sent.

One…

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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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Episcopal Church Head Michael Curry Responds to Bishop’s Refusal to Allow Gay Marriage in Diocese

(Screengrab: “Today Show”/YouTube)The Rev. Michael Curry gives the sermon at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle, England, May 19, 2018.

The head of The Episcopal Church has said that he’s deciding on what actions to take after the bishop of a New York State-based diocese has refused to officiate same-sex wedding ceremonies.

Bishop William Love of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany released a lengthy pastoral letter last week stating that he will not allow same-sex weddings in his churches, despite a recently approved resolution mandating them for all dioceses.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who supports same-sex marriage and leads the mainline Protestant denomination, released a statement earlier this week explaining that he’s “assessing the implications of the statement and will make determinations about appropriate actions soon.”

“We are committed to the principle of full and equal access to, and inclusion in, the sacraments for all of the baptized children of God, including our LGBTQ siblings,” said Curry.

Curry also said that he believed the Church is tolerant of different points of view on marriage, adding that those who adhere to the biblical definition of marriage should not be forced to officiate same-sex unions.

“As members of the Body…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

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Archbishop of York congratulates ‘Honorary Yorkshireman’ Gareth Southgate

Southgate has lived in Harrogate in North Yorkshire since he moved in 2001 after signing to play for Middlesbrough.

The Yorkshire tourist board awarded Watford-born Gareth Southgate, 48, with the honour at the White Rose tourism awards.

 

The Most Rev John Sentamu tweeted: “Delighted to see that Gareth Southgate is now an Honorary Yorkshireman!

“I was honoured to be named Yorkshire Man of the Year in 2007 & am glad that Gareth has seen the light & the great place that Yorkshire is, God’s own county!”

 

The organisers said the award was for “inspirational individuals who have made a big impact on Yorkshire, despite being born outside the county lines”.

Southgate successfully led England to achieve their most successful performance in a World Cup for 28 years in the summer.

After receiving the award, Southgate said: “We love living here. I’ve thoroughly embraced Yorkshire life.

“Very proud and very honoured. I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived any other part of the country, so the values and the mentality of the people and the friendliness of the people has been incredible.”

Stay up to date…

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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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Gospel-powered prison reform – Denison Forum

In a rare reminder that sometimes helping people can be more important than maintaining party lines, President Trump joined with members on both sides of the aisle in Congress this week to announce that he will support a bipartisan prison reform bill. It might reach his desk as soon as next month. The bill will roll back certain elements of existing crime laws with regard to issues like minimum sentencing for nonviolent crimes.

President Trump stated that it was his “honor to be involved, and it’ll be an even greater honor to sign” the new law. As Ja’Ron Smith, the president’s domestic policy adviser, said of the bill, “What we’re doing here is finding a better way to be smart on crime. We want prison to serve as a place to lock up the people who are the most detrimental to society.”

But what about those prisoners who will be relatively unaffected by the new legislation?

There’s encouraging news for them as well.

The chance to be human again

As Yonat Shimron writes for Religion News Service, seminaries across the country are increasingly partnering with prisons to help inmates get bachelor’s degrees in subjects like pastoral ministry and biblical studies. The goal is to train inmates to “become ‘field ministers’ who can serve as counselors for other inmates, lead prayers, assist prison chaplains and generally serve as a calming influence in prison yards.”

To that end, “Applicants must be felons serving minimum 15-year sentences with a high school diploma or GED and a clean disciplinary record for at least a year.” The point is to equip inmates to be positive forces for the gospel from inside the prison.

And the program works.

Burl Cain was a former warden at one of the first prisons to adopt this kind of program. He remarked, “It changes the culture of the prison from within. [The program’s graduates] calm it down. You get rid of gangs. It really makes a difference.”

James Benoy, who has been taking classes for…

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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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‘Thank God for God’, Sir Cliff Richard describes ‘horrific’ aftermath of police raid

The Christian performer described BBC coverage of a search by officers at his Berkshire property in 2014 as “very intrusive”, adding he had since endured “four terrible years”.

Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show, he said: “My best quote is that I can say that I would never wish that on my worst enemy. It was tumultuous, horrific, emotionally draining, traumatic.

 

“It felt like I was in thick mud, I can’t describe it any better – a hole – and I didn’t know how to get out. I didn’t know what to do. Thank God for friends and thank God for God.”

The 77-year-old has previously described how the “traumatic” episode strengthened his faith.

Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire

 

He told Jonathan Ross it was “heart-breaking” to be the focus of an alleged historical sexual assault allegation. Sir Cliff always maintained his innocence and he was never arrested or charged.

The singer, who recently attended the Pride of Britain Awards with his friend Gloria Hunniford (pictured below), successfully sued the Corporation over its coverage.

In July of this year, the High Court concluded he had suffered a very serious invasion of his privacy. It awarded him damages worth £210,000.

Steve Parsons/PA Wire

 

The full interview can be seen on The Jonathan Ross Show on ITV on Saturday at 9.40pm.

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

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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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UK urged to halt Pakistan aid over Asia Bibi

Lord Alton of Liverpool urged ministers to use the funding – which totalled £463 million last year – as leverage in helping ensure Asia Bibi can safely seek asylum in another country.

The crossbencher, who is a Christian, was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying a “failure” by the UK to “speak or act [on behalf of Ms Bibi] has been craven and shameful”.

 

He also said: “Britain needs to do two things. First, give her sanctuary here.

“And second, until they uphold the rule of law and protect the country’s minorities, we should redirect the £380,000 we give every day to Pakistan – £2.8 billion over the past two decades – to more worthy recipients.”

 

Asia Bibi has been kept in a secret location in the Pakistani capital Islamabad for security reasons after she was acquitted of blasphemy last month.

Hard-line extremists, who accuse the mother-of-five of insulting Islam’s prophet Muhammad, want her to be publicly hanged. She has always maintained her innocence.

Protests which erupted after she was cleared by the country’s Supreme Court brought key roads in major cities to a standstill.

AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad

 

It is understood Asia is being prevented from traveling abroad until a petition calling for a review of the court’s decision is heard.

Asia Bibi’s husband, Ashiq Masih (pictured above with his…

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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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Why Pastors’ Honeymoons are Getting Shorter

Podcast Episode #485

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Honeymoons always end. There are somethings that can be done by a new pastor to extend them, but there are definitely some other things that can be done to cut them short. Today we discuss why many are being cut shorter these days.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • The expectation of a quick fix can be detrimental to a church’s health.
  • A lot of churches who die have money in the bank, but they are fearful to spend it on what needs to be done to avoid dying.
  • Don’t compare your pastor to another preacher you listen to on a podcast. Its not helpful to him nor for you.
  • At some point, every pastor’s honeymoon ends at a church.

The seven reasons we discuss are:

  1. Understanding the pastor “life cycle”
  2. Dealing with the culture of the quick fix
  3. Believing the myth of the magic bullet
  4. Dealing with the increased level of pastors’ frustrations
  5. Managing financial fear and shortfalls
  6. Realizing the reality of the inward focus
  7. Understanding the comparison syndrome

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast


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

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Tributes paid to Christian who helped deliver billions of meals to hungry children

Richard Proudfit, who founded Feed My Starving Children in 1987, passed away at a nursing home in the Minnesota city of Bloomington on Tuesday, a spokesman said.

A US Senator for the state, Tina Smith described Mr Proudfit as a “compassionate” man who “dedicated much of his life to fighting child hunger”.

 

She wrote on Twitter: “He brought Minnesotans together to do good, raised awareness about an important issue, and helped humanity.”

Mr Proudfit was on medical relief mission in Honduras in 1982 when he believed God called him to feed the starving children he had seen. Feed My Starving Children was established five years later.

Feed My Starving Children

 

Chief executive officer, Mark Crea said: “He planted the seeds for thousands upon thousands of children to be fed when he answered God’s call to ‘Feed my starving children'”.

The non-profit organisation has since sent more than two billion meals to children and families in 70 nations.

 

Another US Senator in Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar tweeted: “He leaves a legacy of billions of…

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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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Joyce Meyer Devotional 16 November 2018 — Speak God’s Mind

Topic: Speak God’s Mind [Joyce Meyer Devotional 16 November 2018]

…He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. — 1 Corinthians 10:13 (AMPC)

One of our biggest mistakes we make is that we sometimes answer people too quickly, just giving them something off the top of our head. Only a fool utters his whole mind (see Proverbs 29:11 KJV).

Those who speak frequently and hastily are always in trouble, as the Bible says, There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18 AMPC).

Prayer Starter: Father, help me to pay attention to the things I say. Let my words today bring healing, wisdom and encouragement to those around me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

The post Joyce Meyer Devotional 16 November 2018 — Speak God’s Mind appeared first on Flatimes.

Clear Principles for a Blissful Marriage (Part 2) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Clear Principles for a Blissful Marriage (Part 2) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Clear Principles for a Blissful Marriage (Part 2)

Dear Reader,

Welcome to another segment on family success. Today, I want to go a step further and look at the things you must avoid to truly enjoy the honour that is in marriage.

You must ensure that you keep the marriage bed pure to enjoy the honour in marriage. The Word of God says, Marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled… (Hebrews 13:4). The word ‘undefiled’ there simply means kept pure. If this was impossible, God won’t tell you to do it. Romans 12:1 says, I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. In order words the presentation of your body unto the Almighty God, as a living sacrifice is your reasonable service unto God. Any service done unto God without your body being a living sacrifice is not acceptable. It does not matter what you do and the volume of money you give in church every day, if your body is not kept pure, that service is not acceptable unto God.

Whether single or married, illicit sexual affairs render your service to God unrewardable and will deprive you of enjoying the honour He has destined for you in marriage. God is much more interested in your person than your money or what you can do. When your person is acceptable unto God then your service will become acceptable.

Marriage is honourable in all when the bed is undefiled. Single men and ladies, if you must enjoy honour in your family life, when you get into marriage, you must lay a good foundation for it by keeping yourselves pure. God’s Word tells us in 1 Timothy 4:12, Let no man despise thy youth… Refuse to submit yourself to the deception of the devil.

Also Read: Handling Family Challenges (Part 4) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Many people get emotionally distorted when they defile the marriage bed to the extent that it affects their marital life. You can save your marriage from torments by keeping your life pure. If you are fond of jumping from one man to another as a single lady, today, I decree that the fire of the Lord falls on you and consumes that dirty habit in Jesus’ name.

When you defile the marriage bed, you are behaving like a beast and whatever happens to a beast can happen to you anytime. Therefore, you must make a change in the right direction in the name of Jesus Christ. The later part of our anchor scripture says, …but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. The word ‘whore’ simply means harlot. Give no room to the devil if your soul is actually precious to you. When you get into defiling the marriage bed, whether you are single or married, it is because your soul is not precious to you. Refuse to fall a victim if you truly have value for yourself. Don’t say you want to earn yourself a living by prostituting because God will judge those who do that. Stop it! Don’t wait for the fire of God to come upon you, plead for His mercy and call upon Him now that He is ready to hear you.

If your family has been scattered by adulterers or whoremongers, it shall be restored in the name of Jesus.

The kingdom of God suffereth violence and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11:12). Take the honour in marriage that is your heritage in Christ by force, by stopping every harlotry in your life. Receive grace to practice the Word of God, so that you can truly enjoy the honour destined for you in marriage in Jesus’ name.

EXTRA MARITAL AFFAIRS
Let no man or woman lure you into having affairs with whosoever is not your husband or wife. Don’t say everybody is doing it and the world now has really advanced. The world cannot be more advanced than the Word of God. Indecency and indiscipline have put so many young people into trouble today.

Marital affairs are meant exclusively to be between husband and wife. Without holiness, the struggle continues. Sexual immorality is the reason many married and singles are struggling in life. The marital relationship is a seal of the covenant and it is sacred. The Word of God says, Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge (Hebrews 13:4).

It is not your pastor that will judge, but God Himself is the judge. Remember that it is a fearful thing to fall under the judgement of God. Adultery is very cancerous and it kills respect between couples. Instead of enjoying the honour of marriage, such actions bring shame.

All manner of venereal diseases is on the streets today and adultery and fornication are one of the distribution channels for it.

If you are not born again and you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then say this prayer: 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 now born again and 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.

The post Clear Principles for a Blissful Marriage (Part 2) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo appeared first on Flatimes.