Reports in The Sun and The Times say that Mordaunt told the Cabinet that the 0.7 per cent aid target is ‘unsustainable’, that Dfid should help fund projects in other departments and that their ambitions should be less reliant on public money.
She has previously said the UK government: “will not invest when others should be putting their hands in their pockets”.
Tory frontbencher Lord Bates, an international development minister, pointed out the pledge of 0.7 per cent was “enshrined in law”, as he was pressed at Westminster for guarantees that there would be no move to “renege” on the target, which amounts to £13.9 billion.
Responding to the reports this week, Christine Allen, director of policy and public affairs at Christian Aid, told Premier: “We believe Britain’s aid budget is a badge of honour worthy of pride and fierce defence.
“We are saddened that Penny Mordaunt is not eagerly fighting to maintain and even increase the 0.7% aid commitment given the rising number of people in dire need in Yemen, Syria, and many other emergencies around the world.
“When heads of government, faith leaders, celebrities and the British public themselves are recognising the dire need in our world, we expect our DFID Secretary to stand with them and celebrate Britain’s determination to end poverty, and never bow to naysayers.
“To those who say Britain has many in need at home, we…
A Super Bowl Title Didn’t Bring Him True Joy, but Christ Did
A former NFL player and Super Bowl champion describes in a new video the moment he realized winning a championship would not bring him the happiness he had sought.
The player, Clint Gresham, also details his battle with substance abuse and addiction.
Gresham, a long snapper and an outspoken Christian, played six seasons in the NFL, including five with the Seattle Seahawks, where he won a Super Bowl in 2014.
Gresham made the video for I Am Second, an organization that interviews well-known people about their faith.
“I remember I was in the hot tub for practice with a couple of guys, and we were just talking about winning the Super Bowl,” Gresham recalls. “I’m like, man, I keep waiting for it to sink in that we won the Super Bowl — and we all were saying that.
“What I realized all of us meant by that was, ‘I keep waiting for this thing to make me happy the way that I thought it would.’ And it hasn’t and now I’m actually kind of scared about that because I have made this my life pursuit. And I got [a Super Bowl championship] and I’m still wanting more.”
Gresham also discusses his battle with anxiety and depression. He felt “like a fraud,” he says, when he drank or smoked to mask his feelings. Gresham was working in a culture that believed men should “suck it up” and “do your job,” but he couldn’t.
Democrat Admits: Her Bill ‘Would Allow’ Abortion during Labor
A Virginia Democratic House member acknowledged under questioning this week that her bill would legalize unrestricted abortion through all 40 weeks of pregnancy, even if the woman is dilated and in labor.
The bill, HB 2491, was defeated in committee, but not before its sponsor, Delegate Kathy Tran, answered detailed questions in a video that has gone viral. The bill would have removed most restrictions to late-term abortions.
Tran’s bill permitted third-trimester abortions if a pregnancy threatened a woman’s life or “impair[ed] the mental or physical health” of the woman. At least one doctor would have to certify those conditions. The bill would have removed the current requirement that three doctors agree that late-term abortion is required.
Such loopholes have been interpreted broadly by courts to permit abortion for virtually any reason.
“How late in the third trimester could a physician perform an abortion if he indicated it would impair the mental health of the woman?” GOP Delegate and committee chairman Todd Gilbert asked Tran.
“Through the third trimester,” Tran responded. “The third trimester goes all the way up to 40 weeks. … I don’t think we have a limit in the bill.”
Gilbert then pressed her: “Where it’s obvious that a woman is about to give birth – she has physical signs that she’s about to give birth. Would…
Open Heaven 31 January 2019 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Price of Being a Standard
Topic: The Price of Being a Standard (Open Heaven 31 January 2019)
Memorise: “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.”- Daniel 3:30
Read: Daniel 3:14-18 (KJV)
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Bible in One Year: Luke 10-11, Isaiah 29:1-14
Open Heaven 31 January 2019 Thursday MESSAGE:
The price of being a standard or trailblazer is indeed very high. Self-discipline will be required of you if you desire to be a standard among your contemporaries. Speaking on this, 1 Corinthians 9:25 & 27 says:
“25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are good examples of people who paid the price to be a standard. Although they were captives in a strange land, they stood up to be counted for their loyalty to the God of Israel, even though it came at a high price that required them to pass through King Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace. One point to note from this story is that the king’s decree was not only directed at the Hebrew boys; it was for all officials in the realm of the king, including a number of other Jews. Only God knows how many of those other Jews allowed their faith to be compromised in order to avert the King’s anger. I suppose they were many. In any case, the stand taken by the three Hebrew boys was the price they had to pay to become standards for the other Jews to follow. We must learn from Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that to become a standard, we must first stand out.
John the Baptist was another person who paid a high price to become a standard. Whoever wants to succeed in life and ministry like him must not be given to uncontrollable appetite for delicacies and fashion. John the Baptist ate wild honey and locusts which he found in the wilderness, and his wardrobe contains only coats of animal skins (Mark 1:6). He therefore had no dependencies on anyone. So, when the time came for him to tell the raw truth to the adulterous King Herod, he was not worried about missing out on any royal banquets or privileges (Matthew 14:1-12). Although John the Baptist paid the supreme price for speaking out against the king, our Lord Jesus Christ had this to say concerning him in Luke 7:28a:
“For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist:”
After the three Hebrew boys went through the fiery furnace unhurt, the king acknowledged the Majesty of their God and promoted them in Babylon (Daniel 3:30). Beloved, there is a price of holiness to pay if you want to stand out and become a standard.
Open Heaven 31 January 2019 Thursday Prayer Point:
Father, please empower me to pay the price of greatness, and cause me to be great before I see You in glory.
Open Heaven 31 January 2019 Thursday Hymn 10: I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow
No turning back, no turning back.
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.
Open Heaven 31 January 2019 Thursday 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. Open Heaven 31 January 2019 Thursday Daily Devotional.
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
President Rodrigo Duterte told reporters in Manila that there “there is no doubt” about the fact that Abu Sayyaf, an armed group that has sworn loyalty to the Islamic State, was behind the explosions.
The woman left a bomb inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the island of Jolo and fled before her husband blew himself up outside.
112 people are injured when the bombs exploded during the Mass service.
Jolo Island has long been troubled by the presence of Abu Sayyaf militants, who are blacklisted by the US and the Philippines as a terrorist organisation because of years of bombings, kidnappings and beheadings.
The attack was carried out just days after minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation approved expanding Muslim self-rule in the southern Philippines.
It was hoped the move would end nearly five decades of a separatist rebellion that has left 150,000 people dead.
While most of the Muslim areas approved the autonomy deal, voters in Sulu province, where Jolo is located, rejected it.
Delfin Lorenzana, secretary of the Defense of Manila, told reporters that the president has ordered the military and police to put a stop to the militants of Abu Sayyaf “by any means”.
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Bill that Allows States to Boycott Companies Boycotting Israel Moves Forward
The U.S. Senate is pushing forward a Middle East bill that would put in place new sanctions on Syria.
The bill would allow state and local governments to stop doing business with companies who are boycotting Israel.
“The Senate will once again move to take up our bill to support Israel, give local and state governments the right to boycott BDS and punish human rights abuses in Syria,” tweeted Sen. Marco Rubio, who introduced the bill to Congress. “Democrats said they were blocking it until [the] shutdown ended. So, no excuse not to move to it now.”
Rubio says the bill allows for the U.S. to stand “strong with our allies.”
“At its core, the linchpin of it is helping Israel defend itself,” he said.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, however, called the bill “absurd.”
“It’s absurd that the first bill during the shutdown is legislation which punishes Americans who exercise their constitutional right to engage in political activity,” he tweeted earlier in January.
Said Sen. Dick Durbin: “I oppose it because it limits the right of individuals to express themselves. I don’t think it’s anti-Semitic [to vote no] It’s because of the Bill of Rights.”
The bill also reaffirms cooperation with Jordan on defense operations and says it will provide humanitarian assistance to allies in the Middle East struggling because of the Syrian civil war.
Damian Hinds told religious representatives at a round table discussion on Tuesday that the move would place “freedom into the hands of school leaders”.
Academy schools are state-funded schools in England which are directly funded by the Department for Education and are independent of local authority control.
Mr Hinds detailed the benefits of faith schools changing status to Premier.
“There’s more leeway on things like the curriculum,” he said. “You’re still expected to have a broad and balanced curriculum but you’re able to make that a bit more tailored if you wish to.
“A lot of schools don’t – they want to stick with the national curriculum.
“But for those who do wish to – make it a bit more tailored to something different.”
Mr Hinds also highlighted to the representatives from all major religions the role faith organisations have had in the Government’s education reforms since 2010.
He said: “The Church of England is the biggest name in primary education in England and the Catholic Church is the biggest single name in secondary education. And there are other faith groups involved of course as well.
“They’re a really, really important part of our diverse school system.”
Faith schools make up one-third of the schools in England and more than a quarter of state-funded faith schools already have academy status.
Jeremy Hunt said Supreme Court justices were “standing up for religious freedom” in blocking a proposed legal challenge against the Christian women’s release last October.
Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Office on Wednesday, he said: “We are obviously very encouraged by what happened.
“We should not underestimate the challenges for a country like Pakistan which has got huge pressures in standing up for religious freedom in the way that the Supreme Court has done.
Asia Bibi spent eight years on death row because the court in Islamabad overturned her conviction for blasphemy.
The decision proved to be deeply controversial among hard-line Islamists who wanted the mother-of-five to be publicly hanged.
She always denied the allegation she had insulted the Islamic prophet Muhammad following a disagreement with a group of Muslim women over the use of a water cup.
Mr Hunt continued: “Our priority throughout has being the safety of Asia Bibi and her family.
“We have done a huge amount of work behind the scenes, working with other countries as well. And we’re still very hopeful of a good outcome.
“But I think it’s also very important to remember that this happens to be the case that has caught the public eye.
Principal Bans Teacher from Church Event Where Students Will Be Present, Superintendent Steps in
A principal for a school in the Midwest banned a teacher from attending an event at her church because two of her students were planning on attending the event.
According to Liberty Counsel, a religious freedom watchdog and legal group, a teacher was barred from attending a church event by her school’s administrator because two of her students, who are also members of the church, were planning on attending the event.
According to a statement on the Liberty Counsel website, the teacher contacted the Liberty Counsel to help her restore her first amendment right to freedom of religion. The organization was easily able to contact the district’s superintendent via phone, and they reversed the principal’s decision.
WND reports that this is the second time they have had to intervene at this school district because of decisions made by the principal.
Last year, Liberty Counsel reports, that the Midwest school’s principal barred the same teacher “from leading an-after-school, adult-led Bible club which met with parent permission.”
The teacher recused herself from the role, but when a student attempted to lead it, they were also prevented from leading the Bible club.
Again, the teacher contacted the Liberty Counsel and the Superintendent reversed the decision.
Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel applauded…
2019 GREATER GLORY FAST GRAND FINALE/BREAKING OF BREAD SERVICE – DAY 21 – 27-01-2019 ANCHOR SCRIPTURE(S): ACTS 20:32 MESSAGE TOPIC: SECRETS OF THE FUTURE BY: DR. PAUL ENENCHE
SECRETS OF THE FUTURE:
Remain in God’s Hand (Acts 20:32) 1a. You don’t fear for anything that is in the Hands of God 1b. Nothing can get damaged, destroyed or perish in God’s Hand 1c. For as long as you are in God’s Hands, He continues to work on you
Remain in God’s Word 2a. The Word of God will ward off the winds of life 2b. The Word of God will construct your life and destiny 2c. The Word of God will connect you to your inheritance
Maintain your spiritual fire (Lev. 6:12; Rom. 12:11)
Obey declared action points
Acknowledge every act of Divine Intervention This year you are not going to see victory, you are going to see TRIUMPH
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VICTORY AND TRIUMPH:
In victory, blows are multidirectional, in triumph, blows are unidirectional Triumph refers to winning without struggle
PRAYERS:
Father, I come before You today, I receive the grace to acknowledge every of Your acts and intervention; I receive the grace to hearken to Your Word and do what You want me to do per time.
Father, I receive the grace to maintain my spiritual fire in 2019 and remain in the Word. I receive the grace to remain in Your Hands Lord, in Jesus’ Name.
COMMUNION FOCUS:
Every package of Jehovah that is for you in 2019 is released!
Spirit of death, near success syndrome and failure at the edge of breakthrough are arrested!
You shall fulfil you days!
By this communion, you are shifting to the next level. What killed your parents will not kill you!
PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS:
God is changing your story today!
God will use someone you have never met to redirect your life for good!
Every trial you struggled with in previous years, is over forever!
Your spiritual fire this year shall not go low
In 2019, it is not victory you are about to experience, you are experiencing triumph!
Every calculation of the devil unto frustration for you and your loved ones, this celebration wipes it out forever!
During this feasting, every expectation of your heart shall come to pass and every delay in your life is over forever!
Every Word God spoke to you that is yet to come to pass shall come in a hurry!
Every name they called you that is a wrong name, shall be deleted forever!
Embarrassment in your life is over forever!
At this feast, I declare the glory of the Lord shall manifest in your life!
Everyone that came here sick, is walking out healed; everyone that came here bound is walking out free!
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.
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