Ian Ogle, 45, died in January after he was attacked while standing praying with a pastor on a street near his home in Cluan Place in the east of the city.
On Friday morning, Mark Sewell, 40, of Aigburth Park, Belfast, became the third person to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court charged with his murder.
Members of the Ogle family, including Mr Ogle’s partner, son and daughter, watched on from the public gallery as Mr Sewell appeared in the dock handcuffed and wearing a grey jumper.
He indicated he understood the single charge of murder when it was put to him.
A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) detective constable told the court he believes he can connect the accused with the charge.
District Judge Liam McStay heard that if a bail application is to be made, then police will be notified.
Mr Sewell will next appear in court by video link on May 15.
The murder sparked outrage among the community and thousands attended a vigil in his honour as well as his funeral.
Tributes remain at the spot where he was killed, including a “Justice for Ian Ogle” banner.
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Bethel Music Worship Leader Steffany Gretzinger Leaves after 10 Years
After a decade at Bethel Music, well-known worship leader Steffany Gretzinger is leaving the group and heading to Nashville.
“The rumors are true. After 10 years, The Lord is sending us to Nashville, TN,” Gretzinger posted on Instagram April 24, alongside a picture of her with Bethel senior pastor, Bill Johnson. “It’s been a long time coming, but we were in no way hurrying to leave this house, this home,” she added.
Gretzinger is renowned for her uninhibited and passionate style of worship leading, often bursting into a period of spontaneous singing. A prolific songwriter, she co-wrote the 2015 smash hit, “Pieces,” and has recorded two solo studio albums. Steffany’s latest record, “Blackout,” was released on March 30, 2018.
While the songstress, who attended Bethel’s school of ministry back in 2008, did not give any specific indication as to what was ahead, she was keen to stress her gratitude to Bethel Church for all that the ministry had blessed her with. “Thank you for not only GIVING me room, but for MAKING me room to dance. Know that I love you deeply, and my gratitude is great,” she wrote.
Likewise, Bethel Church sought to bless Gretzinger as she heads off into an exciting new season of life.
“This past weekend we blessed and sent off Steffany Gretzinger, who with her family has felt the call of God to Nashville,” Bethel…
The move is part of a groundbreaking new effort to hold the Catholic hierarchy accountable for failing to protect their flocks.
The church law provides whistle-blower protections for anyone making a report and requires all dioceses around the world to have a system in place to receive the claims confidentially.
It outlines procedures for conducting preliminary investigations when the accused is a bishop, cardinal or religious superior.
It is the latest effort by Francis to respond to the global eruption of the sex abuse and cover-up scandal that has devastated the credibility of the Catholic hierarchy and his own papacy.
“We have said for years that priests must conform to certain strict rules, so why shouldn’t bishops and others in the hierarchy do the same?” said Cardinal Marc Ouellet, head of the Vatican office for bishops. “It’s not just a law, but a profound responsibility.”
The law makes the world’s 415,000 Catholic priests and 660,000 religious sisters mandated reporters.
That means they are required to inform church authorities when they learn or have “well-founded motives to believe” that a cleric or sister has engaged in sexual abuse of a minor, sexual misconduct with an adult, possession of child pornography – or that a superior has covered up any of those crimes.
As controversial as the new guidelines are, they could have been worse.
After several organizations opposed what they called “sexually explicit” and “offensive, reckless and immoral books” originally included in the guidelines, the state removed five books from its framework. One depicting male and female anatomy had been recommended for kindergarten through third-grade students. An earlier draft also included descriptions of aberrant sexual behavior I won’t detail here.
The “Golden Spike” and “Mother’s Friendship Day”
In better news, today marks the sesquicentennial celebration of the “Golden Spike”—the ceremonial final spike connecting the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads at Promontory Summit in the Utah Territory. On May 10, 1869, the 17.6-karat gold spike was used to complete the transcontinental railway and then removed and replaced with an iron spike. The Golden Spike is now on display at Stanford University.
One side of the spike was engraved with this inscription: “May God continue the Unity of our Country, as this Railroad unites the two great Oceans of the world.”
It seems appropriate that today’s Golden Spike anniversary is followed in two days by Mother’s Day.
The year before our nation’s railroads were connected, Ann Reeves Jarvis organized “Mother’s Friendship Day,” where mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote harmony and reconciliation. Her daughter, Anna Jarvis, was instrumental later in making Mother’s Day a national holiday. (For more on Anna’s surprising story, please read my wife’s blog, “Wishing You…
And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food…. — Genesis 2:9
Learn to do everything you do for God’s glory, including eating. Look at your dinner plate and ask if what you are about to eat is mostly what God created for you.
Don’t view eating as a secular event that has nothing to do with your relationship with God. Don’t forget that God put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and told them what they could eat. If eating had nothing to do with their walk with Him, He probably would not have mentioned food.
Make good choices! Each time you choose good healthy foods, you are choosing life, which is God’s gift to you. He wants you to look great and feel great, and you can, if you keep in mind that your body is the temple of God and the fuel you put into it determines how it will operate and for how long.
Prayer Starter: Lord, Your Word says that my body is the temple of Your Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 6:19). Help me to properly care for my body and choose to eat foods that will promote good health so I can serve You to the best of my ability. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
READ: Galatians 4: 8-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.
11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all.
13 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.
14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.
18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
THE MESSAGE:
Ignorance is a disease of its own, it is worse when one lives without the knowledge and fear of God. The fool says in his heart, there is no God.” No wonder such is corrupt and lives in abominable iniquity (Psalm 53:1). The truth remains certain: anyone who does not know God is in bondage to beings that by nature, are no gods.
Those that know their God shall do exploits (Daniel 11:23) while anyone who does not know God will certainly end in hellfire forever!
Many in the Church today claim to know God. They call God with their lips but their hearts are far away from Him. They live in disobedience to God’s word which means nothing to them. They turn back frequently to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits, whose slaves they prefer to remain through their human agents (experts in observing days, months, seasons and years), whom they meet secretly..
In our reading today, Paul expressed his fear because of such people for whom he travailed again until Christ be formed in them so that his labour would not be in vain. When you seek God through Christ, you will find and know Him. To know God, we must read our bible and get His knowledge through His word. Our main duty under the sun is to fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
PRAYER: O Lord, grant that we will know You and the power of Your resurrection in Jesus Name.
A Promise For You From Bible Promises: [10/MAY/2019]
Topic: You Can Still Be In The Number
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:42-43.
Read: Luke 23:39-43
The Bible teaches that, as long as there is life, there is hope and we can always make right our wrongs. The only place where we have no power to repent or ask either God or man for forgiveness is in the grave. But as long as we have breathe in our nostrils, we have opportunities to make changes. Eccl 9:4-5, 10. This means that things might not be going the way you want it to be but because you are alive, it can turn just the way you want it to be. This is why you don’t give up on your dream and vision. You must keep doing what you know how to do with integrity and believe that soon, you will enjoy the reward of your determination and perseverance.
Yesterday, we considered a topic which says, “would you be in the number”? Would you be among the people of God whom Jesus is coming soon to take home – heaven? Many people believe that, it is too late for them to be in the number simply because of what they have done in the past. Most people ask questions like, will the Lord ever forgive me for all the atrocities I have committed? Will He ever have anything to do with someone like me? Yes, He will. Jesus actually came to the world for people like you and not for the saints who are already saved. He came to save the drug addict like you, chained smoker, rapist, armed robber, cheat, fraudster, adulterer and adulteress, prostitute and a drunkard like you. His mission is to see to your freedom. The thief on the cross thought it was over for him. The people thought it was over for him. But Jesus gave him a new life to live in paradise with Him. You can be in the number right now if you turn to Jesus where you are. Are you ready to join the roll?
Bible Promises Thought: Being alive now and surrendering to Jesus avails you the golden opportunity to be in the number of God’s people awaiting the arrival of Jesus to take them home.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them (Ezekiel 36:27).
Notice our opening verse again; the Lord didn’t say, “I will put my spirit within you and you’ll struggle to please me”; no! Rather, He said, “…I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes….”
There’s a force in you, an ability or nature that compels you to do what’s right and required of God as a way of life; it’s called righteousness. Being born again, you’ve been called to express and manifest the righteousness of God. That’s Christianity. We don’t struggle to do right. We’re born with the new nature of God to live right.
Some have never really understood the doctrine of righteousness as revealed in God’s Word, and that’s the reason they still struggle with sin. They don’t understand righteousness as a nature, the divine element that causes us to act, talk and live right. You can decide you’re not going to do something that’s wrong and stand your ground, because sin has no power over you. This is possible because God already made you righteous. Living right is the product of righteousness. The ability to do the right things can only flow naturally from a righteous spirit.
Some of your actions may still be imperfect, but that doesn’t in any way negate your nature as the righteousness of God in Christ. What you need is to keep growing and increasing in the knowledge of God. Keep learning and acting on God’s Word, and your life and actions will be in sync with His righteousness.
There’re those who say it’s human nature to do wrong; “to err is human,” they’d say. That’s the reason your human nature was replaced with the nature of righteousness when you were born again. The life inside you now is not the human life that’s subject to sin; it’s the God-life, and it’s sin-proof (Romans 6:14). You’re no longer subject to the limitations and imperfections of the human nature. You’re now a partaker of the divine nature, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of God that created you (Colossians 3:10).
Live in this light—in the consciousness that you have the nature of God in you to do right, and live righteously unto God. Hallelujah!
PRAYER Dear Father, thank you for your righteousness in me, which produces in me the ability to do right and fulfill your will always. I produce fruits of righteousness, do the works of righteousness, and manifest your goodness to the world, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Romans 5:17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 5:1-30 & 1 Kings 4-6
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 9:14-29 & Numbers 13
Rhapsody of Realities 10th May 2019 Devotional was written by Pastor Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (D.Sc., D.D.). President of Loveworld Inc. aka Christ Embassy Int’l.
MEMORY VERSE: “Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.” – Isaiah 60:15 (scroll down for RCCG Sunday School 12 May 2019 HYMN)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Jeremiah 18:1-10 KJV (RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual 12 May 2019)
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
God’s original intention at creation was to make man a showpiece from ordinary dust (Gen. 1:26-27). However, man fell short of God’s expectation (Rom. 3:23). The mercy of God still prevails despite the cracks in our log of wood to make us fit into His showcase. Today, we shall examine some of God’s showpieces that got cracked and how the cracks were mended to make them masterpieces. God can do the same for you.
OUTLINES
GOD’S SHOWPIECES
CRACKED BUT MENDABLE
1. GOD’S SHOWPIECES
Every hardworking sculptor will want to display His showpiece. God also has His human showpieces. For instance, God boldly displayed Job before Satan as an outstanding sculpture. (Job 1:8).
God boasted of Abraham’s integrity for the world to emulate. (Gen. 18:9). God showcased Elijah at Mount Carmel. Baal’s prophets were destroyed and the nation turned to God. (1 Kings 18:21-40). Elijah was also exhibited on his way to heaven. (2 Kings 2:11-12).
Paul was conspicuously showcased as a chosen vessel. (Acts 9:15-16).
You too can make it to God’s showroom if only you surrender your life to Jesus-the Master Sculptor- who is able to save, sanctify you and use you as a vessel unto honour.
2. CRACKED BUT MENDABLE
When any of the materials being used by a sculptor cracked, he has two options. One, he could work out a new carving so as not to waste all efforts and time already invested in it. Secondly, if all efforts to patch prove abortive, he drops the wood for another e.g Saul (1 Sam. 13:13-14); Eli (1 Sam 3:11-14).
Examples of “log of wood” that were showpiece but cracked and were mended until they ultimately became mighty carvings (masterpieces) abound in the Bible: David- (2 Sam.12:7-13); Peter (Mark 14:66-72; John 21, 15-17) etc. Drop your backsliding and compromise. Stop betraying the Lord. Stop struggling with the Holy Spirit in all areas, yield yourself completely to Him. – (Acts 5:1-9). You can become God’s masterpiece.
CONCLUSION: God is still working on you. Allow Him.
QUESTIONS
What is the difference between a masterpiece and a showpiece?.
Give the examples of God’s showpiece.
What can you do in order to become God’s masterpiece?
For Further Reading: 2 Tim.20-21; Acts 9:16;Job 14:14; Jude 3; 1 Sam.16:1;Hebrew 1:3; Romans 8:1
ASSIGNMENT: Find out five (5) things each which Eli and Saul did which made God to drop them.
RCCG Sunday School 12 May 2019 HYMN
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
OPENING PRAYER: Father, mold me to suit your purpose. (Scroll down for RCCG Sunday School 12 May 2019 HYMN)
MEMORY VERSE: “Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.” – Isaiah 60:15 (scroll down for RCCG Sunday School 12 May 2019 HYMN)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Jeremiah 18:1-10 KJV (RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual 12 May 2019)
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
God’s original intention at creation was to make man a showpiece from ordinary dust (Gen. 1:26-27). However, man fell short of God’s expectation (Rom. 3:23). The mercy of God still prevails despite the cracks in our log of wood to make us fit into His showcase. Today, we shall examine some of God’s showpieces that got cracked and how the cracks were mended to make them masterpieces. God can do the same for you.
TEXT REVIEW: 1 SAMUEL 16:11-13 – “FROM LOG OF WOOD TO MASTERPIECE”
The parable of the porter’s house passes some moral lessons for us to learn.
i. The porter can fashion clay to what suit his purpose. Jer. 18:3.
ii. It is not uncommon to see the clay marred. Jer. 18:4.
iii. It is not also uncommon to see the porter remolding the marred clay. Jer. 18:4.
iv. God said, “If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them”.Jer. 18:8.
v. God said, “If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good”. Jer. 18:10-11.
vi. To be mended therefore consists in the clay turning to the porter and be ready to be good clay. Jer. 18:11.
2 LESSON OUTLINES
LESSON OUTLINE 1: GOD’S SHOWPIECES
i. God, the Master Sculptor, wanted to display His showpiece at all times.
ii. God displayed Job as an outstanding showpiece before Satan. Job 1:8.
iii. God boasted of Abraham’s integrity for the world to emulate. Gen. 18:9.
iv. God showcased Elijah at Mount Carmel and Baal’s prophets were destroyed while the nation turned to God. 1 Kings 18:21-40.
v. God also showcased Elijah by sending chariot of fire to carry him from earth to heaven. 2 Kings 2:11-12.
vi. God showcased Paul as a chosen vessel. Acts 9:15-16.
vii. God wants to showcase you if you surrender totally to the Lord Jesus to save and sanctify you.
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: In addition to the above stated names, mention people in the Bible who God was proud of and the scripture testified their good work.
LESSON OUTLINE 2: CRACKED BUT MENDABLE
i. A sculptor, who got his cracked could either workout a new carving, patch it or drop the material.
ii. God dropped Saul and Eli being cracked materials. 1 Sam. 13:13-14;3:11-14.
iii. God dropped cracked materials especially when the effort to mend them did not yield desired result. For instance, warning to Eli feel on his deaf ears. 1 Sam.3:18; 2:30-33.
iv. However, “log of wood” or “materials” which cracked but surrendered themselves to the master sculptor were mended until they became masterpiece.
v. Examples of cracked but mended pieces were David and Peter. 2 Sam.12:7-13; Mark 14:66-72; John 21, 15-17.
vi. You can be mended if you truly desist from backsliding, compromising and struggling with the Holy Spirit. Jer.3:14-22.
vii. You can be mended if you surrender to Him completely. Acts 5:1-9
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Mention those things that can make a “wood”(i.e human work in progress) to crack.
SUMMARY: You are not beyond repair if you surrender completely to Jesus.
CONCLUSION: God is still working on you. Allow Him.
EVALUATION: Give examples of cracked but mended persons.
CLOSING PRAYER: Father, work on me until I become a masterpiece.
ASSIGNMENT: Find out five (5) things each which Eli and Saul did which made God to drop them.
NOTE: Flatimes.com EMPLOYS EVERYONE TO PURCHASE THE HARD COPY TO SUPPORT RCCG EDUCATION (SUNDAY SCHOOL DEPARTMENT). THE SOFT COPY (ONLINE) IS JUST TO HELP EASY ACCESS. GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU DO SO.
RCCG Sunday School 12 May 2019 HYMN
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
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