United Methodist Group Enlists Ministers to Perform LGBTQ Marriages

United Methodist Group Enlists Ministers to Perform LGBTQ Marriages


A newly formed group of United Methodists is organizing to facilitate marriage services for LGBTQ couples. Performing same-sex marriages is banned for ministers credentialed by the denomination, which last spring strengthened its enforcement measures for doing so.

Under the new rules, which went into effect in January, a credentialed minister could face suspension for presiding over a same-sex marriage. A minister who performs a second such marriage could lose their United Methodist clergy credentials.

The new group, Marriage Rites, defines its ministry as two-pronged.

It’s “a ministry of presence” to LGBTQ couples, its website says. “Standing together before God, we embrace all who, as disciples of Jesus Christ, are devoted to love of God and neighbor and wish to enter into holy matrimony.” The group is enlisting ministers willing to volunteer their services to Christian couples who have prepared for marriage through prayerful consideration of their vows and participation in pre-marital counseling.

And secondly, it’s “a ministry of resistance, standing in faithful defiance against the unjust and hurtful discriminatory bans on marriages of LGBTQ couples,” as well as “against discriminatory policies,” and pledging “in convicted humility to conscientiously challenge unjust and unloving practices and choose a better way.”

The group is associated with Resist Harm, a…

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Salamander stays in the same spot for over 7 years: How zoologists encouraged my soul

A salamander in an underwater cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina remained still for 2,569 days. That’s seven years and two weeks.

Scientists tell us that olms (Proteus anguinus) are
the only species of their genus. They live for more than a century; their
reproductive cycles take around 12.5 years to complete. They also move very slowly.

In a study published in the Journal of Zoology,
researchers now know just how slowly.

Divers tagged adult olms. The research team then tracked the
movements of nineteen individual olms, some for eight years. Most moved around
sixteen feet a year; the most active traveled 125 feet in 230 days.

One olm did not move an inch during a seven-year timespan.

The researchers explained that olms do not need to move. They require little oxygen and can go several years without food. Scientists note that the creatures are “very energy cautious and limit their movements to the minimum.” I would agree.

I am impressed by this report that a salamander can remain
motionless for more than seven years, but I am even more impressed by
scientists who would conduct such a study. “Zoologist specializing in the
study of olms” was not a vocation of which I was aware before reading the
article.

It turns out, there are twenty-six branches of zoology (see this BioExplorer article for the list.) One of them, entomology (the study of insects), has ten sub-specialties. (If your home has termites, you’ll be especially grateful for isopterologists).

How zoologists encouraged my soul

Reading about the motionless salamander and the scientists
who found him, I was reminded of a chapter in Scripture I presume most readers
skip over. Nehemiah 3 lists the various groups who worked together to rebuild
the walls of Jerusalem. It’s a litany of names and locations that mean little
to us today.

But these people were the difference between life and death in
their day.

In the ancient world, walls made a city secure. In…

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PODCAST: The Scripture & the Sense Podcast #406: Amos 1:3 (with Daniel Whyte III)

This is Daniel Whyte III with The Scripture & The Sense Podcast #406, where I read the Word of God and give the sense of it based on an authoritative commentary source such as the Bible Knowledge Commentary. This podcast is based upon Nehemiah 8:8 where it says Ezra and the Levites “read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” The aim of this podcast is that through the simple reading of the Word of God and the giving of the sense of it, the church would be revived and the world would be awakened.

Today we are reading Amos 1:3.

3 Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:

________

That was Amos 1:3. Now here is the sense of it.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary reads:

Amos specifically viewed the sins of Judah and Israel as violations of the Mosaic Covenant. She had failed to observe the terms of God’s Law. But not only Israel had sinned against a covenant with God. The Gentile nations also were guilty of peša‘—rebellion against a divinely established and universally recognized agreement. Apparently Amos had in mind their rebellion against God’s universal covenant with humanity made at the time of Noah. In exchange for God’s suzerain promise never again to destroy the earth with a flood, the vassal peoples were to refrain from shedding blood because disregard for human life is an assault on God’s own image in man. Human life, rather than being destroyed or curtailed, was to multiply and increase on the earth. This mutual agreement, whereby God would preserve the earth and people would honor and extend human life, was called an “everlasting covenant”.

This is the covenant, Amos charged, that the Gentile nations had rebelled against. By their acts of barbarism, their wholesale deportations of slave populations, their unnatural and stubborn hatreds, their sickening atrocities, and their desecrations of the dead, they had broken the covenant that forbade such inhuman acts. Because of these sins, the earth’s sovereign Lord declared, “I will not turn back My wrath.”

____________

Thank you for listening to the Scripture & The Sense Podcast. Remember to read the Word of God each and every day and pray without ceasing to God for wisdom to understand it and apply it to your life. Most importantly, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Please stay tuned for a complete presentation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ so that you can get your soul saved from Hell to that wonderful place called Heaven when you die. May God bless you and keep you is my prayer.

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PODCAST: Whyte House Daily Devotional Bible Reading Episode #71: Leviticus 13, Psalm 17, and Luke 22 (with Daniel Whyte III)

This is Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International with the Whyte House Daily Devotional Bible Reading Episode #71. Where I read three chapters of the Holy Bible in the King James Version a day with my family as a part of our family devotions, to encourage you to read the Holy Bible in a year’s time. We are using a modified version of the Five Day Bible Reading Plan. It is modified because we read the Bible everyday and not just five days a week. The benefit of using the Five Day Bible Reading Plan is: you can read the entire Bible in a chronological reading plan that helps the Bible make sense. Today we are reading Leviticus 13, Psalm 17 and Luke 22.

Warren Wiersbe said, “The world changes – circumstances change, we change – but God’s Word never changes.”

Thomas Watson said, “Highly prize the Scriptures. Can he make a proficiency in any art, who doth slight and deprecate it? Prize this book of God above all other books..”

Leviticus 13
1 And the Lord spake unto Mo’-ses and Aa’-ron, saying,

2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aa’-ron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:

3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.

4 If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days:

5 And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:

6 And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.

7 But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again.

8 And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy.

9 When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;

10 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising;

11 It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.

12 And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh;

13 Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.

14 But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean.

15 And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy.

16 Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest;

17 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the plague be turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.

18 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,

19 And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be shewed to the priest;

20 And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.

21 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:

22 And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.

23 But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

24 Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;

25 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.

26 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the other skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:

27 And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.

28 And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning.

29 If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard;

30 Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.

31 And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days:

32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;

33 He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more:

34 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.

35 But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing;

36 Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he is unclean.

37 But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

38 If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;

39 Then the priest shall look: and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin; he is clean.

40 And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.

41 And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean.

42 And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead.

43 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh;

44 He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head.

45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

46 All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.

47 The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment;

48 Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin;

49 And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest:

50 And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up it that hath the plague seven days:

51 And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean.

52 He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.

53 And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin;

54 Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more:

55 And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed: and, behold, if the plague have not changed his colour, and the plague be not spread; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, whether it be bare within or without.

56 And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof:

57 And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire.

58 And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean.

59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

Psalm 17
A Prayer of Da’-vid.
1 Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

14 From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Luke 22
1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

3 Then entered Sa’-tan into Ju’-das surnamed Is-car’-i-ot, being of the number of the twelve.

4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

8 And he sent Pe’-ter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.

22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gen’-tiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Is’-ra-el.

31 And the Lord said, Si’-mon, Si’-mon, behold, Sa’-tan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

34 And he said, I tell thee, Pe’-ter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Ju’-das, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Je’-sus to kiss him.

48 But Je’-sus said unto him, Ju’-das, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

51 And Je’-sus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

52 Then Je’-sus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Pe’-ter followed afar off.

55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Pe’-ter sat down among them.

56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Pe’-ter said, Man, I am not.

59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Gal-i-lae’-an.

60 And Pe’-ter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Pe’-ter. And Pe’-ter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

62 And Pe’-ter went out, and wept bitterly.

63 And the men that held Je’-sus mocked him, and smote him.

64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

________

PRAY
________

When I was a teenager I wanted to get wisdom and knowledge, so I set out the read the big family Bible that many families had in those days. But I couldn’t get past Genesis 2 before I got bored with reading the Bible. I found out later in life that you have to believe on Christ and get saved before you can understand the Bible. So here is how I became a Christian and how you can too:

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 18:8: “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at [email protected] and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

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Christian Actor Chris Pratt Forms Production Company to ‘Bridge the Growing Divide’

Christian Actor Chris Pratt Forms Production Company to ‘Bridge the Growing Divide’


Actor Chris Pratt says he is forming a new production company to help heal America’s divided culture, and its name was inspired by the Declaration of Independence.

Pratt, who is known for his Christian faith, posted a video to Instagram Tuesday showing posters in his office from past movies, including The Lego Movie and Jurassic World, as he hummed the theme songs to the films. At the end of the video, he displayed a white card for the camera reading, “Indivisible Productions.” Pratt said nothing about the company in the video but gave a brief description of it in the text.  

The video has been viewed 4 million times. 

“I’ve started a company,” the post’s caption read. 

“Indivisible Productions

“One nation

“Under God

“Indivisible

“Our mission statement is to create entertaining content, focusing on themes which will help to bridge the growing divide in our country and world,” Pratt wrote. “You know, make the world a better place. No biggie, you’re welcome, but it’s whatever.”

Pratt did not reveal any names of the company’s projects.

The actor often discusses his Christian faith in public. While accepting an award at the MTV Movie & TV Awards in 2018 he told the audience, “God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you. Believe that – I do.”

His speech even referenced Christ’s atoning death.

“People are going to tell you…

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Here We Go: This is a Shame Before God: Franklim Graham’s UK Evangelism Tour is Cancelled by All Venues by LGBT Activists. It is Sad for the Queen to Allow This to Happen in the Land of Whitfield, Spurgeon, and Wesley. The Queen Could Stop This if She Wanted to. And This is Already Happening in America, Where a Homosexual Married to a Man is the Lead Candidate in the Democratic Party

Franklin Graham said he will seek out alternative venues for a United Kingdom tour this spring after all eight venues reneged on plans to host the evangelist, saying his views on homosexuality are incompatible with the values of the British people.

Graham, who was in London on Thursday (Feb. 6) to rally churches to his tour, said seven venues canceled their contracts with him and an eighth backed out after agreeing in principle.

“This attack on me is an attack on religious freedom and freedom of speech,” Graham told Religion News Service by phone. “For any Christian group that wants to rent a venue that believes the Bible is the Word of God, they’re in danger of being canceled.”

He said he would sue all seven sites where he signed contracts and expected to win.

On Wednesday, the Utilita Arena in Newcastle upon Tyne became the seventh venue to cancel Graham’s scheduled appearance. Venues in Birmingham, Liverpool, Sheffield and London have also canceled.

The tour was scheduled during Pride Month in the U.K., which falls in June.

“Franklin Graham’s views are wholly inconsistent with our city, which is preparing to welcome huge celebrations and tens of thousands of people this summer for UK Pride,” Ste Dunn, chair of the Northern Pride group, said on a petition site calling for an end to Graham’s tour. The petition had more than 5,700 signers.

Graham, who has spoken out against same-sex marriage and transgender people, insisted he does not preach against homosexuality; he only calls it out as sin.

“I believe marriage is between a man and woman,” he said. “That’s the same position that the Queen of England has, that the Church of England has.”

But in an interview with RNS, he took aim at Indiana presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, who is proud of being gay and is married to a man.

“This is not something to celebrate. This is something he (Buttigieg) should repent and ask for God’s forgiveness. It’s not something you celebrate.”

Graham’s U.K. tour is scheduled for late May through early June and was to feature eight venues in eight cities across the U.K.

The 67-year-old evangelist is a son of the late Billy Graham, the popular evangelist who turned evangelicalism into the dominant spiritual movement in 20th century America. The late preacher was beloved around the world, perhaps nowhere more so than in the United Kingdom, where Queen Elizabeth II awarded him an honorary knighthood.

Franklin Graham, however, has taken a far more conservative approach to evangelicalism, denouncing Islam, for example, as “a very wicked and evil religion.”

He is one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent evangelical supporters and appears frequently at his side. Graham was at the White House last week at the unveiling of the president’s Middle East peace plan.

Graham insisted his preaching engagements are open to all. He even invited an imam to attend his previous preaching engagement in Blackpool in 2018.

He said he’s been in touch with many church leaders in England who have supported him and plans to return in May for the scheduled tour.

“We’ve seen a real rally of churches behind this event because of this negative publicity,” Graham said. “I think it’s helping. We have strong support from churches. We will go forward. I believe God has even a better plan.”

Source: Religion News Service

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‘Watered-Down’ Gospel in U.S. Is Major Concern for 72 Percent of Pastors

‘Watered-Down’ Gospel in U.S. Is Major Concern for 72 Percent of Pastors


The prevalence of a “watered-down” gospel and the culture’s shift to a secular age are the leading concerns among Protestant pastors about the Christian church in the United States, according to a new Barna survey.

Barna surveyed 547 U.S. Protestant pastors and asked them which issues they believed were a major concern facing the U.S. Christian church. 

Seven issues topped 50 percent: Watered-down gospel teachings, 72 percent; culture’s shift to a secular age, 66 percent; poor discipleship models, 63 percent; addressing complex social issues with biblical integrity, 58 percent; prosperity gospel teachings, 56 percent; reaching a younger audience, 56 percent and political polarization in the country, 51 percent. 

Three issues topped 40 percent but failed to reach 50 percent: Negative perceptions of the church, 46 percent; the diminished influence of churches in the community, 45 percent and church leader burnout/exhaustion, 40 percent. 

Few of those issues, though, were mentioned as a major problem when pastors were asked in a separate question – to list their major concerns for their own church. On that list, only two issues topped 50 percent, with a total of nine reaching at least 20 percent: Reaching a younger audience, 51 percent; declining or inconsistent outreach and evangelism, 50 percent; declining or inconsistent volunteering, 36 percent; stagnating spiritual…

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Man receives 55,000 copies of same letter: Three lessons for our souls

Dan Cain of Twinsburg, Ohio, went to his local post office. Like most of us, he expected to receive some letters, mailers, and probably some bills.

What he found was seventy-nine bins of mail. Each
contained roughly seven hundred copies of the same letter addressed to him,
55,000 in total.

They were all from the College Avenue Student Loan Company.
The company had intended to send Cain and his wife a financial statement for a
student loan they had taken out for their daughter’s tuition. The company
apologized and explained that a glitch in their outgoing mail system was
responsible.

Compounding the mistake, Cain said, the 55,000 letters had
an incorrect payment amount. The company used the wrong interest rate to
calculate his payment.

Cain says the letters are now stacked in his garage. He’s
not entirely sure what to do with them: “I may just start a fire, a
bonfire, and burn it all,” he said, laughing.

According to the US Postal Service, the delivery of 55,000 letters “is not something we see often.” We hope not.

Three lessons for our souls

We can learn at least three lessons from this story.

One: The most mundane events can become the most unusual.

Dan Cain made a trip to the post office, something he had
probably been doing for many years. He could never have predicted what was
waiting for him on this day.

That’s because the past does not predict the future. The
best way to prepare for a future we cannot see is to trust the God who does. He
promises that “when you pass through the waters, I will be with you”
(Isaiah 43:2).

Corrie ten Boom was right: “Never be afraid to trust an
unknown future to a known God.”

Two: Secret sin never stays secret.

The College Avenue Student Loan Company sent a private
letter to a private individual, but their mistake soon became national news.
Whether the world saw their error or not, God did: “No creature is hidden
from his sight, but all are naked and…

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Virus Alarm Doctor Dies as Total Deaths Increase to 636

BEIJING (AP) – The death toll in mainland China’s new virus outbreak has risen to 636, including a doctor who got in trouble with authorities in the communist country for sounding an early warning about the disease threat. 

Dr. Li Wenliang, 34, was reportedly reprimanded for “spreading rumors” in late December. 

Police in December had reprimanded eight doctors including Li for warning friends on social media about the emerging threat. China’s supreme court later criticized the police, but the ruling party also has tightened its grip on information about the outbreak.

Meanwhile, a newborn discovered infected 36 hours after birth has become the youngest known patient. The number of people infected globally has risen to more than 31,000.

Li had worked at a hospital in the epicenter of the outbreak in the central city of Wuhan. He was reprimanded by local police for “spreading rumors” about the illness in late December, according to news reports. The outbreak has now infected more than 31,200 people worldwide, triggering travel restrictions and quarantines around the world and a crisis inside the country of 1.4 billion.

The 34-year-old ophthalmologist died overnight at Wuhan Central Hospital, where he worked and likely contracted the virus while treating patients in the early days of the outbreak.

The World Health Organization tweeted: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Li Wenliang. We all need to celebrate work that he did” on the virus

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.  

Source CBN

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Virus Alarm Doctor Dies as Total Deaths Increase to 636

BEIJING (AP) – The death toll in mainland China’s new virus outbreak has risen to 636, including a doctor who got in trouble with authorities in the communist country for sounding an early warning about the disease threat. 

Dr. Li Wenliang, 34, was reportedly reprimanded for “spreading rumors” in late December. 

Police in December had reprimanded eight doctors including Li for warning friends on social media about the emerging threat. China’s supreme court later criticized the police, but the ruling party also has tightened its grip on information about the outbreak.

Meanwhile, a newborn discovered infected 36 hours after birth has become the youngest known patient. The number of people infected globally has risen to more than 31,000.

Li had worked at a hospital in the epicenter of the outbreak in the central city of Wuhan. He was reprimanded by local police for “spreading rumors” about the illness in late December, according to news reports. The outbreak has now infected more than 31,200 people worldwide, triggering travel restrictions and quarantines around the world and a crisis inside the country of 1.4 billion.

The 34-year-old ophthalmologist died overnight at Wuhan Central Hospital, where he worked and likely contracted the virus while treating patients in the early days of the outbreak.

The World Health Organization tweeted: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Li Wenliang. We all need to celebrate work that he did” on the virus

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.  

Source CBN

All Content & Images are provided by the acknowledged source