Israel Restricts Entry of Gaza Christians for Easter Due to Security Concerns

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Israel Restricts Entry of Gaza Christians for Easter Due to Security Concerns

Orthodox Christians participate in the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in 2012. Photo courtesy of St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation

Israeli authorities said they have decided to block most of Gaza’s small Christian community from entering Israel for Easter celebrations, citing security concerns.

Israel maintains a blockade over the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and restricts entry from the territory. But it often eases the restrictions during religious holidays to allow Gaza’s residents to visit holy sites in Jerusalem or to visit relatives in Israel or the West Bank.

COGAT, the defense body that oversees Palestinian civilian affairs, said it will let only Christians aged 55 and older and children under age 16 enter Israel for Easter, which is celebrated by Catholics on Sunday and Orthodox Christians the following week. It said the restrictions were needed after previous cases in which Gazan visitors overstayed their permitted time in Israel.

A Christian leader in Gaza said the restrictions mean that only about one-third of the community’s 1,100 members will be allowed into Israel to celebrate. He said he was disappointed because his children would not be able to see their aunts in the West Bank city of Ramallah. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to jeopardize his own entry permit.

Wadie Abunassar, a Catholic Church official, called the restrictions “very sad” because Easter is a family holiday. He said it was “not reasonable” to allow a mother and father to enter Israel, while “leaving their children…

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RCCG Sunday School TEENS Manual For Teachers April 1st, 2018 Lesson 31 — Dishonouring God

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RCCG Sunday School TEENS Manual For Teachers April 1st, 2018 Lesson 31 — Dishonouring God

Topic: Dishonouring God [Sunday, 1st April 2018]

Bible Text: Romans 1:18-25, Romans 221-24

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Therefore whether ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”

Lesson Aim: To teach the teens never to dishonor God

Introduction:
The lord knows our circumstances, where we live, the challenges we face. He knows our deeds, our love for him, our services and commitments to him. But he also sees and knows the little stains of red oil that renders a bright white shirt unwearable. And because God has the ultimate standard of perfection, he will not compromise his standards for any reason at all. That is why he wants our obedience to be total.

Study guide:

From our text let us identify and discuss the acts that dishonour God:
1. Holding the truth in righteousness.
2. Not glorifying God as God.
3. Not thankful.
4. Having vain imagination.
5. Having foolishness in the heart.
6. Creating images like birds and beasts and worshipping them.
7. Having lustful heart
8. Worshipping and serving the creatures more than the creator

In what other ways can we dishonour God
1. When we dishonour our parents.
2. When we disobey the church authority.
3. When we disobey the school authority.
4. When we disobey the laws of the land.
5. When we do not honour our elders.
6. When we do not honour our body which is the temple of God.
7. Teenagers to mention more.

Life application: The bible says God is with us always. This means he sees and knows everything we do. Jeremiah 23:24. At home, in the church, in school, in our private lives: compromises, idolatry, immortality in thought, words and action dishonour God. For he is holy and will not tolerate any form of unrighteousness. What is even more challenging is that our responsibility is not only to keep ourselves individually but we must ensure that we do not tolerate it in the lives of people we interact with.

Discussion: highlight dangers of dishonouring God from our text of today

Conclusion: It is exciting to known that if we live our lives honouring the Lord all the way, there is a reward awaiting us here on earth and in heaven. God’s presence is guaranteed here on earth, his blessings, favour and mercy. And in heaven we will reign with him. 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 20:6.

Prayer: Please Father forgives me if I have dishonoured you and help me never to dishonour you.

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Open Heavens 31 March 2018 Saturday — What Is The Value Of Your Life?

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Open Heavens 31 March 2018 Saturday — What Is The Value Of Your Life?

Topic: What Is The Value Of Your Life? [Open Heavens 31 March 2018, Saturday]

Memorise: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12 (Scroll down for Open Heavens Hymn)

Read: Genesis 5:21-24 (KJV)

21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 28, Philippians 2.

MESSAGE:

The value of a man’s life is not dependent on the number of years he spends on earth, and neither is it dependent on the amount of goods that he possesses. The value of a man’s life has to do with what he does with his life in appreciation of the benevolence of his Maker, who is also the Redeemer of his soul. The wisdom of God in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says:

“13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

According to the above scripture, the value or quality of a man’s life is based upon the service he renders to his Maker in obedience to His commands. God hates a life of disobedience. He likens disobedience to the sin of idolatry (1 Samuel 15:23). Reading through the Bible, you will discover that idolatry is passionately abhorred by God with a promise of severe punishment to the fourth generation of those found guilty of it (Exodus 20:5).

Some people erroneously think that the amount of material possessions they have determines the value of their life. For this reason, they struggle at all costs to get rich, even to the extent of abandoning the pursuit of eternal life. Eventually, they end up frustrated and in serious agony. How I wish such people would listen to these words of Jesus in Luke 12:15:

“…Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

The Lord Jesus Christ admonished His audience to labour for things that have eternal value (John 6:27). They in turn asked Him what works they must do in order to do the works of God. Here is His answer to them in John 6:29:

“…This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

This is the only way our labour in life will have value and meaning. Any labour you put up that will not further your cause of having eternal life in God’s Kingdom is an exercise in futility. Believing in Jesus Christ and the work of redemption He did for all mankind is a great work of faith that will add value to your life, which transcends this present life. Enoch’s life was so valuable to God that God decided to personally come to take him to Himself. He did not send any of His angels on this assignment because of the value He placed on Enoch. Such a life is worthy of emulation. I encourage you to determine to add value to your life by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and by living a life of obedience to God in truth.

Key Point: The worth of a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things that he has.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Open Heavens 30 March 2018 Friday — The Living Faith’’

Hymn 12: Take My Life, And Let It Be

1.Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2.Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3.Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Open Heavens 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.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late…There is still hope, JESUS LOVES YOU!

The post Open Heavens 31 March 2018 Saturday — What Is The Value Of Your Life? appeared first on Flatimes.

7 Thought-Provoking Songs About the Crucifixion

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7 Thought-Provoking Songs About the Crucifixion

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Council to vote on barring Christian pro-life activists from Ealing abortion clinic

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Council to vote on barring Christian pro-life activists from Ealing abortion clinic

More than 3,500 responses were submitted over eight weeks after Ealing Council launched a public consultation in January on the introduction of a public space protection order (PSPO).

The local authority has been exploring a range of options on how to prevent “intimidation, harassment and distress” for women using the Marie Stopes clinic in the west London borough following a petition set up by local women.

 

Christians staging prayer vigils outside the site have previously denied any suggestion they harass or abuse patients.

Last year, one of the groups, the Good Counsel Network (pictured above) told Premier its members have been holding vigils outside for more than 23 years and their work is entirely peaceful.

In October 2017, Clare McCullough from the Catholic group said: “We’ve been holding daily vigils there for the last four years.

“There have never been any incidents there.

“There have never been any arrests of charges made there against anybody.”

 

John Hansen-Brevetti, clinical operations manager for the clinic, said people calling themselves “pavement counsellors” patrol outside the building daily, barring women’s paths, providing “biased” advice and showing them graphic images.

He said: “What it will do is create a zone of safety for our clients to come and access treatments without having to go through the kind…

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Christian religious freedoms campaigner granted bail in India

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Christian religious freedoms campaigner granted bail in India

The Supreme Court of India decided this week against detaining Amit Kumar Soren in custody while he awaits trial to answer claims he has incited hatred against the country’s Hindu majority.

Professor Soren, a professor at the Christian-run St Columba College in the eastern state of Jharkhand, was charged in 2016 over allegations disputed by fellow religious freedoms campaigners.

 

Alliance Defending Freedoms (ADF), a Christian organisation which supports believers under pressure for their faith, said: “The Supreme Court’s recent action provides some solace in the run-up to Easter, the most important time of the year for India’s ill-treated Christian minority.”

Tehmina Arora, the director of ADF India, added: “Professor Soren’s case just shows how absurd the allegations against Christians have become.

“He was falsely accused of inciting hate.

CC

 

“The only thing he did was to organise a public gathering and stand up for religious freedom in India.

“He now faces up to three years in prison.”

ADF described Christians living in India as an ‘ill-treated minority’, adding there are reports of religious minorities in some parts of the country suffering violence on a “daily” basis.

The Christian organisation has also criticised a proposed law – the Religious Freedom Bill – in Jharkhand which it alleges is affectively a “far-reaching…

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How Martin Luther King Jr.’s last Sunday sermon speaks to us today

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How Martin Luther King Jr.’s last Sunday sermon speaks to us today

Tomorrow marks the fiftieth anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last Sunday sermon.

On March 31, 1968, Dr. King preached at the Washington National Cathedral. An overflow crowd heard him deliver “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,” calling his listeners to join God in a movement that would bring righteousness to a culture divided by racial bigotry and endemic poverty.

In his message, he noted: “On some positions, cowardice asks the question: Is it expedient? And then expedience comes along and asks the question: Is it politic? Vanity asks the question: Is it popular? Conscience asks the question: Is it right?”

Then Dr. King stated, “There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.”

Four days later, he paid for his conscience with his life.

Dr. King ended his sermon by invoking a hymn sung earlier in the service as a challenge to America, the church, and all of humanity:

Once to ev’ry man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth and falsehood,
For the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision,
Off’ring each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever
‘Twixt that darkness and that light.

“God proved his love on the cross”

On this Good Friday, we remember Jesus’ choice “‘twixt that darkness and that light,” his “great decision” to bear the evil of our sin for the “great cause” of our salvation.

You and I have no ability to fathom just what this day cost our Savior.

I am convinced that his physical suffering, as unspeakably horrific as it was, was not the reason he pled with his Father to avoid Calvary (Matthew 26:39). The blood he would shed on the cross was not the reason he “prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44).

I believe that Jesus wanted with all his heart to avoid…

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Chunks of plaster fall from St Peter's Basilica

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Chunks of plaster fall from St Peter's Basilica

The Vatican has had to seal off part of St Peter’s Basilica after some chunks of plaster fell during the height of the Easter holiday season.

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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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4 Tips on How to Pay Attention to Your Eyes

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4 Tips on How to Pay Attention to Your Eyes

A lot of people tend to ignore the eye when they start giving early signs of defects simply because they detest the idea of wearing glasses. A lot of eye related issues can be corrected when they are detected early and most complications come from delay. Here are a few tips that you might need to see an eye doctor.

Blurred Vision: If you start finding it difficult to recognize things that are far away or you probably cannot read your favourite novel up close anymore, there is a chance you might be developing an eye defect.

Adjusting From Light To Dark: If you’re having difficulty seeing at night or feel a lot of pain when lights get turned on at night in a dark room, you may be experiencing signs of cataracts which should be examined quickly.

Computer Issues: When you struggle to read the computer after staring at the screen for a while, it may be a sign of farsightedness. Most times, people tend to blame this on work, these symptoms should not be ignored. Pearle Vision recommends following the 20-20-20 rule: look 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. If problems persist, schedule an eye exam.

By Billy Praise

The post 4 Tips on How to Pay Attention to Your Eyes appeared first on Flatimes.

Pope reveals serious medical condition

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Pope reveals serious medical condition

Francis disclosed the news as he bid farewell to inmates and staff at the Regina Coeli prison, where he washed the feet of 12 prisoners in a Holy Thursday ritual.

The 81-year-old frequently uses his visits to prisons to encourage inmates not to lose hope, and he repeated that on Thursday by telling the prisoners that they must clear their eyes every day so they can see and spread hope.

 

“At my age, for example, cataracts come and you don’t see reality well. Next year I have to have an operation,” he said.

He said the same thing happens with life, when disillusionment, errors and fatigue cloud the soul.

Francis urged the inmates to do a daily cleansing of their view on life – a “cataract surgery for the soul” – so they can keep hope alive.

The Vatican’s deputy spokeswoman, Paloma Garcia Ovejero, confirmed Francis was speaking about his own cataracts and is due to have surgery next year, though there were no details on when.

AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia

 

Francis is known to suffer from sciatica, which sometimes makes walking difficult.

He lost much of one lung due to an infection in his 20s, but otherwise seems to enjoy good health.

During the foot-washing ceremony, Francis knelt down and one by one, poured water over the feet of the twelve inmates, wiped them dry and kissed them. Most of the men then embraced the pope in thanks.

The 12 inmates included Catholics, Muslims, an Orthodox Christian…

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