Winds of Winter Release Date Latest News: Game of Thrones Season 6 Could Bypass Books, George R.R. Martin Reacts

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Winds of Winter Release Date Latest News: Game of Thrones Season 6 Could Bypass Books, George R.R. Martin Reacts
Game of Thrones Series Opening/Screenshot

In the midst of discouraging news author George R.R. Martin’s sixth book may be released well beyond the time period expected by fans, rumors have emerged HBO’s “Game of Thrones” may bypass the books it is based on.

Christian Post Report – With “The Winds of Winter” completion still hanging in the balance, speculations have arisen that HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” the multi-awarded fantasy miniseries, based on George R.R. Martin’s books, may move forward despite the absence of the sixth novel.

“A Song of Fire and Ice” author, Martin, has stated he is not privy to that information and remains adamant on completing the sixth book in his epic fantasy series with the same unhurried pace he has maintained.

“I don’t know. I mean, that’ll be up to the fans. The show is going forward, I’m going forward. We’ll see,” the 66-year-old novelist told Access Hollywood.

George R.R. Martin Reuters/File

George R.R. Martin, author of the “Song of Ice and Fire” fantasy series that is the basis of the television series “Game of Thrones”

“Game of Thrones” long-awaited season five is scheduled to premiere on April 12, and with much of the storyline of the fifth book, “A Dance with Dragons” already in play for the season, the following year may see a dearth of source material for season six.

The departure from the original novels has already began, with Martin announcing spoilers earlier this year, saying the show’s creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, were killing off several major characters in season five that were still alive where the fifth book left off in 2011.

Reports have slowly been trickling in about the show eventually outpacing the books and creating its own material independent of the book series.

Martin himself has confirmed on his LiveJournal that he hasn’t been responsible for writing any of the “Game of Thrones” season five episodes, and neither will he pen any for the sixth season, either. He explained he made the decision to steer clear of writing for the show to focus more of his time in finishing the sixth book.

Earlier this month, he had announced he was cancelling appearances to two of his annual haunts, the Comic-Con in San Diego in July, and the World Fantasy Convention in Saratoga Springs in November, to devote his energies to completing “The Winds of Winter.”

The Winds of Winter The Winds of Winter/Facebook

The Winds of Winter, #6 book of ASOIAF. Facebook. March 19, 2015.

With the pressure coming in from fans of the books, viewers of the show, and the show’s executives and producers, Martin is continuing to shrug off entreaties to finish his 1,500-page tome, and is focusing on creating a memorable read for his audiences instead.

Source : Christian Post

The Power of Christ’s Words

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Christ’s passionate love for the world is evident in His statements from the Cross:

Christian Post Report – Statement One
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Do you realize that you are in need of the Father’s forgiveness?

  • Greg Laurie
    (Photo: rever Hoehne for Harvest Ministries)
    Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California and Harvest Orange County in Irvine, California, shares the Gospel with a sold-out crowd of 19,000 for Harvest America at the American Airlines Center and Victory Park in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 5, 2014.

Statement Two
“Today you will with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43
Have you realized and confessed Jesus as your personal Savior?

Statement Three
“Woman, behold your son.” John 19:26
Jesus is concerned for us and provides for all of us.

Statement Four
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46
Jesus was forsaken so we don’t have to be.

Statement Five
“I thirst!” John 19:28
This personal statement reminds us that Jesus is not only God, but He also was man. Jesus identifies with our needs.

Statement Six
“It is finished!” John 19:30
Jesus paid for our sins, and sin’s control over our lives is broken!

Statement Seven
“Into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Luke 23:46
You can entrust your life into God’s hands.

If you are reading this today and you’ve never committed your life to Jesus Christ, find out how to know God and confess Him as Your Savior and Lord.

Copyright © 2015 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Used with Permission

Source : Christian Post

‘Sherlock’ Season 4 Spoilers: New Season Will Deal With ‘Consequences’

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‘Sherlock’ Season 4 Spoilers: New Season Will Deal With ‘Consequences’
Sherlock Facebook/ Sherlock

The cast of Sherlock

Christian Post Report – The cast and crew of “Sherlock” has been keeping mum about the show’s fourth season for quite some time now, but in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, “Sherlock” co-creator Steven Moffat offered some clues to fans on what to expect when the show comes back.

“There are some answers coming to questions nobody has asked,” he said. “We’re very exultant about a little thing we’ve set up that no one is talking about.”

The writer-producer also revealed that they haven’t started writing season 4 yet and it’s still in the early stages. However, Moffat said that the upcoming season will be very different from those before it.

“The first series was all about the beginning of their friendship. Second about the formative stages, the love and fear and loss and all that. The third was good days, me and my pal and my pal’s wife. Those are golden days. The missing element in a lot of Sherlock Holmes adaptations is allowing it to be funny,” he said.

“[Season 4] is going to be … I suppose you’d say … consequences,” he revealed. “It’s consequences. Chickens come to roost. It’s dark in some ways—obviously it’s great fun and a Sherlock Holmes romp and all that—but there’s a sense of things … coming back to bite you.”

“It’s hilarious and exhilarating some days, but some days it’s going to be bloody frightening,” he added.

Moffatt said that fans will be “desperate for series five” after watching the show’s fourth season.

“We’re certainly going to put them through the mill,” he teased. “It’s going to be more of an emotional upheaval. Hopefully enjoyable and fun, and all the things ‘Sherlock’ must always be. It will be tough at times. Maybe what’s the word? It will be a tougher series.”

PBS and Masterpiece have yet to announce a premiere date for season 4 of “Sherlock.”

Source : Christian Post

ISIS Children Lead 8 Syrian Captives to Their Deaths in Terror Group’s Latest Beheading Video

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ISIS Children Lead 8 Syrian Captives to Their Deaths in Terror Group’s Latest Beheading Video
ISIS (Photo: Reuters/Stringer)

Shiite paramilitary fighters ride a vehicle past a wall painted with the black flag commonly used by Islamic State militants, with the palaces of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein behind them, in Tikrit, March 31, 2015. Iraqi troops aided by Shi’ite paramilitaries have driven Islamic State out of central Tikrit, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said on Tuesday, but the fight to retake all of Saddam Hussein’s home town continued.

Christian Post Report – A new video by terror group ISIS shows children that appear to have been trained at its jihadist camps leading out eight Syrian men to their execution and handing out the knives used by the militants to carry out the beheadings.

The video was spread through social media accounts, and according to The Daily Mail captures the beheadings of the eight Syrians in the central province of Homa, all believed to be Shiite Muslims.

The footage shows the men, wearing orange jumpsuits, being led out blindfolded and with hands bound behind their backs by teenage boys who hand the men over to the masked jihadists.

The boys then give out the knives used by the ISIS militants to carry out the beheadings.

ISIS (Photo: Screencap/EllieNews video)

ISIS has released a slickly-edited propaganda video showing boys as young as 5 being indoctrinated at a military-style training camp for “cubs,” February 2015.

The terror group has captured large amounts of territory across Iraq and Syria, and has posted numerous videos of its training camps for children and teenagers, where the boys are trained to use weapons and taught ISIS’ ideology.

Children as young as 5, have been seen performing drills and obeying commands in such videos. One video from February filmed at a training camp in Syria shows the young boys, all wearing camouflage uniforms, reciting Islamic prayers and performing drills shouted out by a militant teacher.

Last week, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimated that the “Cubs of the Caliphate,” as the young recruits are called, have recruited at least 400 new members since the beginning of the year.

“I think to speak of children joining ISIS is not a good way to put it,” Charlie Winter, researcher at the counter-extremism think tank Quilliam, told SOHR.

“Even if they have the perception of choice, it’s not choice. If you’re a minor and being indoctrinated from a very young age, you don’t have the power to make a serious choice. I think that it’s certainly worth considering more robustly that people are being groomed.”

The jihadists have also reportedly killed and mutilated a number of children, often under the Shariah law they impose on captured cities. Sources from Mosul in Iraq have shared of stories where children have had their hands cut off for actions such as stealing toys, while a preteen was shot dead execution style by ISIS militants for stealing food.

Source : Christian Post

This Could Be the Detroit Tigers Everyday Lineup

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This Could Be the Detroit Tigers Everyday Lineup
Miguel Cabrera reuters.com

Miguel Cabrera returns as the center piece of the Detroit Tigers lineup

Christian Post Report – Now the Detroit Tigers have made their roster decision in terms of position players Brad Ausmus has to come up with a daily lineup that can compete not only with the team in the American League Central but all of baseball. The Tigers roster has some holes, there is not a true lead off man, and the 7-9 hitters have been notoriously weak in past seasons. However, this off season has been more about the Tigers finding balance than having one part of their roster be completely dominant.

This is the lineup the Tigers used over the weekend:

1. CF Anthony Gose (L)
2. 2B Ian Kinsler (R)
3. 1B Miguel Cabrera (R)
4. DH Victor Martinez (S)
5. RF JD Martinez (R)
6. LF Yoenis Cespedes (R)
7. C Alex Avila (L)
8. 3B Nick Castellanos (R)
9. SS Jose Iglesias (R)

Gose has impressive in Spring Training with his ability to get on base. Once he does so he has the speed and base running skills to be a real threat. Kinsler batted second most of the time in 2014 and is very good in that spot. The power of 3-6 should scare any pitcher because one mistake could lead to a big inning.

Avila needs to continue to get on base while Castellanos works on his power. The only real hole is Iglesias but he is on this team for what he can do in the field not what he does at the plate. When the Tigers face a left handed started expect Rajai Davis to play center and hit leadoff, and James McCann to play catcher and hit 8th bumping Castellon up to 7th.

Expect to see Davis not only sharing time in Center but spelling the other outfielder in the corners. He is simply too valuable to only face left handed pitching.

Source : Christian Post

The Atlanta Falcons Are Fined, Lose Draft Pick

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The Atlanta Falcons Are Fined, Lose Draft Pick
Atlanta Falcons NFL/Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons have been fined and will lose a draft pick for pumping in fake crowd noise during NFL games

Christian Post Report – The Atlanta Falcons learned yesterday what their punishment would be for one of their team personnel pumping fake crowd noise into their stadium during NFL games. The league dropped he hammer of the Flacons fining them $350,000, and the Falcons will have to forfeit a 2016 fifth round draft pick. On top of that Falcons President Rich McKay has been suspended from his Chairmanship of the Competition committee for four month to being in April.

The league did state that they found no evidence that McKay was aware of the infractions and the entirety of the blame is falling on former Falcons Director of Event Marketing Roddy White.

“Our review also determined that Falcons ownership and senior executives, including team President Rich McKay, were unaware of Mr. White’s use of an audio file with artificial crowd noise,” the NFL said in a statement. “However, Mr. McKay, as the senior club executive overseeing game operations, bears some responsibility for ensuring that team employees comply with league rules.”

Falcons’ owner Arthur Blank also issued a statement.

“What took place was wrong and nowhere near the standards by which we run our business. Anytime there are actions that compromise the integrity of the NFL or threaten the culture of our franchise, as this issue did, they will be dealt with swiftly and strongly,” he said.

Blank also said his team will not appeal the fine and look to put this embarrassing event behind them.

With the $350,000 fine to the Flacons and the $250,000 fine of the Cleveland Browns there is now a footprint of what a potential fine for the New England Patriots and Deflategate. Since it involved game day operations is now seems very likely that the Patriots (if found guilty) will face large monetary fine and the loss of a future draft pick.

Source : Christian Post

KickassTorrents Down, Blocked News: BitTorrent Sites EZTV Blocked in Europe in Online Piracy Crackdown

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KickassTorrents Down, Blocked News: BitTorrent Sites EZTV Blocked in Europe in Online Piracy Crackdown
Internet Piracy Reuters/File

The flag of expediency.(Reuters/Tobias Schwarz)

Christian Post Report – Denmark has successfully blocked popular file sharing sites like Kicka–Torrents, Rarbg, EZTV, and other file sharing portals after copyright infringement complaints were leveled against them.

KickA–Torrents, Rarbg, EZTV and dozens of other file sharing portals, have been effectively blocked in Europe after Denmark put a ban on the BitTorrent sites following allegations of pirated downloads made by a copyright enforcement group.

After unsuccessfully attempting to block The Pirate Bay this year, Denmark, who is spearheading the fight against torrent sharing portals, set their sights on other widely used peer-to-peer file sharing websites, including IsoHunt, TubePlus and dozens of others that provide streaming movies and television shows, as well as torrent downloads for millions of users around the world.

These file sharing sites were shut down based on complaints from Rights Alliance, a copyright watchdog that filed their request with a Danish Court to force ISPs to block access to sites that have been hosting or linking to the illicit content sharing providers.

Rights Alliance has been dogged in their fight to educate Internet users regarding copyright infringement and the issues created due to piracy. They have stressed their goal is to steer the public in the right direction in terms of online entertainment, and to lead them away from sites offering pirated content.

BitTorrent portals have established a protocol of switching from one domain to the next to stay a step ahead of ISP blockades and website seizures. According to insiders, this strategy, successfully adopted by The Pirate Bay, as well as other online torrent distribution groups, have effectively helped these sites amass even more users.

“Blocking is the greatest thing that can happen to your site,” one BitTorrent site administrator revealed in a TorrentFreak report. “Whoever is blocking the sites is actually doing us a favor by telling the users that they can’t open the site, thus making the users want to open the site even more.”

A day after the seizure, Kicka–.so switched to an alternative proxy, making their downloadable content available once more to their millions of users despite their being one of the primary targets of the Danish copyright infringement takedown. EZTV has also been reported to have returned to its active state online.

Source : Christian Post

Pope Francis Makes a Biblical Case for the Environment

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Pope Francis Makes a Biblical Case for the Environment
Pope Francis Makes a Biblical Case for the Environment

Pope Francis is set to release an encyclical letter which calls the environment the “ultimate pro-life, pro-poor, pro-family” issue that Christians are called to engage in. The Vatican has said that this is not a political statement, but one stemming from biblical teaching.

Christian Post Report – Catholic News Service reported that Pope Francis is finishing up his encyclical on the environment, set for publication early in the summer, which is set to build on the statements of his predecessors who have urged Christians to focus more on preserving and caring for the environment.

Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said that Francis’ pro-environment initiative is not part of a political agenda, but based in biblical teachings.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/pope-francis-says-protecting-the-environment-is-ultimate-pro-life-pro-poor-pro-family-issue-that-bible-calls-christians-to-engage-in-136605/

Source : Christian Post

Should Fantasy Sports Be Considered Gambling?

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Should Fantasy Sports Be Considered Gambling?
Pittsburgh Pirates (Photo: Reuters/John Sommers II)

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Garrett Jones (46) celebrates with Jordy Mercer (10) after hitting a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the eighth inning of their MLB National League baseball game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 29, 2013.

Christian Post Report – This is one of those arguments about where the line gets drawn. The new way to play fantasy sports is daily fantasy, where a player drafts a fantasy team for one day and then wins prizes or money based on the performance of their roster. It is a lot more popular that season long fantasy leagues where injuries often hinder users. Fantasy sports is popular and a lot of people play them and many of them win money playing.

Does that make it gambling?

The world we live is much different than the one of the 1980ss when Major League Baseball banned Pete Rose for life for betting on the game. The climate has shifted, and gambling is more a part of normal society now, or at least more accepted. In the U.S. virtually every person lives within a few hours of a casino, and we even have a MLB owner whose wife owns a casino (Marion Illitch, wife of Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Illitch, owns the Motor City Casino of Detroit).

So it should surprise no one that the big sports leagues are looking to cash in on the fantasy market. Since they cannot own casinos outright, fantasy sports is the premiere way to take advantage of the action. Major League Baseball bought a stake in Draft Kings and the NBA has partnered with Fan Duel.

The leagues should look to increase their revenues where they can. However, owning what is essentially a gambling service while keeping Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson out of the sport (and Hall of Fame) is a rather tough position to defend.

Source : Christian Post

Detroit Tigers MLB 2015 Roster News, Rumors: Bruce Rondon Might Not Make It

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Detroit Tigers MLB 2015 Roster News, Rumors: Bruce Rondon Might Not Make It
Bruce Rondon reuters.com

How much of an impact will Bruce Rondon have on the Detroit Tigers bullpen?

Christian Post Report – The biggest question mark about the 2015 Detroit Tigers is the bullpen. Now that manager Brad Ausmus has stared that Joe Nathan will be the closer, at least to start the season, one of those mysterious has been put to bed. Now the team must decide what to do with Bruce Rondon, who is one year removed from Tommy John surgery and still trying to battle his way onto the big league roster.

Rondon has been in the team’s plans for a number of years now. Two years ago he was named the closer in the off season only to not make the team out of spring training. Now the team is discussing whether or not he would benefit from starting the season with the Triple A Toledo Mudhens while he works on his control. The strength is there, but Rondon is not fooling anyone in spring training and may need some time to get sharp again.

“To be fair to Rondon, the reason he has struggled this spring could very well be due to the surgery he underwent in March 2014. His velocity was surprisingly strong right from the start this spring. But velocity doesn’t guarantee anyone success on the mound or even a spot on the roster,” Chris Lott wrote for MLive.

The Tigers do have options. If they decide Rondon needs more time they can come north with Angel Nesbitt, Joba Chamberlain, Al Albuquerque as their right handers with Nathan as the closer and Joakim Soria as the set up man. That would leave room for two lefties. Tom Gorzelanny has likely tied up one of those spots leaving the team to decide between Ian Krol, Blaine Hardy, and Kyle Ryan.

The Tigers spent the off season bringing in bullpen arms and it looks like that was a wise move.

Source : Christian Post

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