(RNS) — After a tense standoff with officials at the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday (Dec. 10), at least 30 American clergy were taken into custody over the objections of demonstrators, who had come to protest the treatment of Central American asylum-seekers and to decry the extension of a border wall and the militarization of the border.
Priests, pastors, imams and rabbis knelt at the border south of San Diego in front of a row of U.S. Border Patrol agents clad in riot gear. Organizers said 30 faith leaders were arrested, but a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official put the number at 32.
CBP said most were charged with failing to comply with directions from federal officials and then released, but one was charged with assaulting or resisting an agent — a charge the protesters already dispute.
The “Love Knows No Borders” demonstration was organized by the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker group that assembled religious leaders from across the faith spectrum for the event. Participants said it was meant to express frustration about several border-related issues at once.
“It was about the militarization of the border, about the border wall itself and about calling for the rights of the migrant — particularly the migrant caravan,” said Lucy Duncan, an organizer and outreach director for the AFSC who was at the protest and was among those arrested.
“There were people there from all across the country from all faith traditions risking arrest and making a statement, saying this is not what our country stands for, this is not what…
Filipinos have for decades been calling for the return of the Bells of Balangiga which first hung in a Catholic church in the Spanish-colonized Philippines.
After the island nation came under US control, Filipino guerrilla fighters killed 48 US soldiers which motivated the troops to seek revenge.
American troops stole the bells and followed orders to turn the area into a “howling wilderness” by killing every male citizen age 10 or older.
Sung Kim, the American ambassador to the Philippine government, told the New York Times that he hoped the gesture will improve relations between the two nations.
“It has been a very long road home.
“Many Filipinos and Americans worked tirelessly for decades to make today possible.”
U.S. soldiers who survived a Filipino ambush in 1901 pose with a church bell used to signal the attack.
“Our relationship has withstood the tests of history and flourishes today.”
Relations with the US have been strained since Rodrigo Duterte was elected president and he forged closer ties with China and Russia.
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Open Heaven 13 December 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Year of Jubilee
Topic: Year of Jubilee (Open Heaven 13 December 2018)
Memorise: “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.”– Psalm 124:7
Read: Leviticus 25:10-13 (KJV)
10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
11 A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.
12 For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.
13 In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.
Bible in One Year: Daniel 11-12, John 11:1-27
Open Heaven 13 December 2018 Thursday MESSAGE:
The year of Jubilee is a year of liberation or freedom from oppression and servitude. The word “Jubilee” is derived from the Hebrew word jobel, meaning “ram’s horn”, because a ram’s horn is used as a trumpet to announce the beginning of the year of jubilee. It is a year when slaves are released and debts forgiven unconditionally, amongst the Israelites. Describing the tenets of this ordinance, Leviticus 25:39-41 says:
“39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: 40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile: 41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.”
Under the New Testament, we experience Jubilee when we surrender our lives to Jesus. An encounter with Jesus is the fulfillment of Jubilee in its fullness. He is our Kinsman-Redeemer who came to redeem us from the slavery which our spiritual poverty has imprison us in. The Spirit of life in Jesus Christ sets us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). Jesus paid the price, repaid all our debts and freed us from every form of bondage we were under through His death on the cross and His resurrection on the third day after His death. Through His work of salvation, we have access to a rest that is found only in Him. For those who have not experienced this rest, Jesus is calling out to you today, saying:
“28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
Whoever wants to experience genuine and complete freedom must come to Jesus Christ. He is the one who is able to grant all-round freedom: physically, spiritually and mentally. Beloved, if you are experiencing genuine Jubilee from the Lord, I congratulate you. However, if you know you are not experiencing complete freedom, today is the day of salvation. You need to decide today to surrender all that concerns you to Him and commit to living according to his will, and you will begin to experience the total freedom that He gives.
Open Heaven 13 December 2018 Thursday Prayer Point:
Father, I thank You for the freedom You have given me through Christ, please grant me grace to walk in this liberty forever in Jesus’ Name.
Open Heaven 13 December 2018 Thursday Hymn 3: What Can Wash Away My Sins?
1. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Chorus:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
2. For my cleansing this I see, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; For my pardon this my plea, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
3. Nothing can for sin erase Nothing but the blood of Jesus; Naught of works, ‘tis all of grace, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
4. This is all my hope and peace, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; This is all my righteousness, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Open Heaven 13 December 2018 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 13 December 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional.
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Pope Francis to Approve New Wording of the Lord’s Prayer
Pope Francis is working on approving a newly translated version of the Lord’s Prayer.
According to the Washington Times, the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) submitted a proposal to the Vatican asking them to approve a translational change to the Lord’s prayer. The committee asked that the verse “lead us not into temptation” be changed to “abandon us not when in temptation,” because they believe the original version makes God seem like he is tempting people.
The Daily Express reports that experts have been studying this text for some 16 years and have recently decided “from a theological, pastoral and stylistic viewpoint,” that the English translations of the Bible are wrong.
Seemingly, the Pope agrees. Francis is expected to approve this proposal, as he previously questioned this verbiage calling it “not a good translation.” In a television interview in Italy, Francis said, “A father doesn’t do that, a father helps you to get up immediately. It’s Satan who leads us into temptation, that’s his department.”
While this change to the Lord’s prayer is being welcomed with open arms by some, others are deciding to stick to the original version.
The German church, for example, has announced that they will maintain the current translation of the Lord’s prayer. Religion News Service reported that the German bishops said in a statement last year,…
Islamic militants claimed responsibility for the ambush of the bus that was carrying Coptic Christians to a remote desert monastery in the country.
The assailants arrived in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, opened fire on the bus and then disappeared into the desert.
Human rights charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s (CSW) chief executive Mervyn Thomas said: “We commend the efforts to bring those responsible for the 2nd November attack to justice.
“CSW also welcomes the legalisation of 168 places of worship, which will contribute significantly towards inclusivity and the equality of all citizens.”
Following news of the attack, Archbishop Angaelos, the Coptic Archbishop of London, told Premier: “We pray for those who continue to plan and perpetrate these attacks because it’s only in them seeing the true effects of what they’re doing and looking at those who are mourning – that will change their minds.”
Egypt’s Christians, who account for 10 per cent of the country’s 100 million people, have faced persecution in the Muslim majority country a number of times.
An attack last year on pilgrims heading to the St Samuel the Confessor monastery left nearly 30 people dead.
Mervyn Thomas called on the Egyptian government to prevent such attacks and added: “We call upon the Egyptian authorities to take further steps to ensure that the constitutional rights of all Egyptian citizens…
City Defies Atheist Group’s Threat, Keeps up Christmas Cross
A Missouri city is defying an atheist group’s demands by keeping up a large cross in a public park – at least, for now.
The city of Ozark, Mo., initially sent out a press release Tuesday to media members saying it was removing the cross after receiving a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which says the cross on public land is unconstitutional. The cross, which is lit at night, is part of a Christmas-themed display at Finley River Park.
But shortly after the press release went out – and after citizens expressed outrage — Ozark Mayor Rick Gardner ordered that the cross remain standing.
“The controversy about the lighted Cross in the park is not over,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “The cross is NOT down and will be lighted tonight. We have heard your thoughts and agree with them. We are now assessing all our options for addressing this situation. Stay tuned.”
This doesn’t mean the cross will remain up for good. It only means Gardner wants more time to consider the issue with city officials. He toldthe Springfield News-Leader he received hundreds of messages supporting the cross.
“Everybody wants it up,” Gardner said. “One lady is crying. This is part of Ozark. This is Christian County, for Pete’s sake.”
Ozark is the seat of Christian County, Mo.
He added, “This is a complicated constitutional issue. It’s sure not going…
The son of Billy Graham has been speaking as Theresa May battles to keep her role as Prime Minister.
She’s facing a vote of no confidence on Wednesday evening.
Writing on his social media pages, Franklin Graham called on his followers to pray.
He said: “The UK is going through a political crisis. I’m asking Christians to pray for PM @theresa_may, Members of Parliament, & all of their leaders. Pray that God would give them wisdom & direction as they make decisions that will impact the lives of so many.
“Prayer is powerful – it gives us direct access to Almighty God. His Word instructs us to pray for, ‘all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness’.”
His comments come after he visited the UK in September for a mission in Blackpool.
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., which towers above other buildings near the White House, is best known for hosting global diplomats and prominent dignitaries in its lavish facilities.
But last Friday afternoon (Dec. 7), one of the hotel’s many glimmering ballrooms was transformed into a sanctuary, where dozens of worshippers held their hands aloft and spoke in tongues as Jon Hamill, co-founder of Washington, D.C.-based Lamplighter Ministries, led the group in prayer.
Hamill — whom supporters describe as a prophet — closed his eyes tightly and shouted above the chattering: “In Jesus’ name, we declare the Deep State will not prevail!”
He then hammered a judge’s gavel onto a podium as people raised their voices in approval.
It may seem unusual to mix ecstatic worship with a popular conservative theory that Donald Trump’s administration is being sabotaged from within by government officials installed by previous presidents. But last week’s Revolution 2018 conference (Dec. 6-8), organized by Hamill and Lamplighter Ministries, offered a rare glimpse into a peculiar subgroup of faith-fueled Trump support: a loose network of charismatic Christians who see his election and presidency as a catalyst for a spiritual “turnaround” in America, even as the nation is under siege by forces of spiritual evil.
Speakers at the conference described visions, prophesies, direct conversations with God and encounters with angelic beings — all hallmarks of charismatic Christianity. But while some…
They were arrested after cutting through Stansted Airport’s perimeter fence and locking themselves together around a deportation plane.
The Boeing 767 jet targeted by the group, operated by Titan Airways, was chartered by the Home Office to transport people from UK detention centres for repatriation to Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone in March 2017.
Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell attended several of the court sessions as the campaigners defended their actions.
Following the guilty verdicts, Judith Reed, of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “These people placed themselves, the flight crew, airport personnel and police at serious risk of injury or even death due to their actions on the airfield.
“The CPS worked with the police to build a strong case which reflected the criminality of the defendants’ actions, regardless of their motivation.”
During the trial several of the protesters sought sanctuary at Chelmsford Cathedral.
Defending their actions, Bishop Stephen said: “Deportation charter flights are a brutal way of forcing people out of the UK: Mothers, fathers, siblings and neighbours; people who are part of our communities, are being snatched away and forced onto charter flights in the middle of the night.
“Many of these people have lived in our communities for decades and have no current connections with the places to…
Kathie Lee Gifford to Leave the Today Show after More than a Decade on the Air
Outspoken Christian and veteran TV show host Kathie Lee Gifford announced Tuesday that she will be leaving the Today Show.
After more than 10 years on the air, CBN News reports that Gifford has decided to leave NBC in April. A staff memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter announced the news saying, “Kathie Lee is generously staying with us through the show’s next anniversary, April 7, 2019. We will have much more to share before then about our plans for that hour, which will, of course, continue to include Hoda.”
Gifford confirmed the report on the Today Show with her co-host Hoda Kotb. She said, “In 2008, I joined the Today show family intending to spend one year, but something unexpected happened along the way: I fell in love with a beautiful, talented, extraordinary Egyptian goddess named Hoda, and an amazing group of individuals who work tirelessly and joyfully at their jobs, many of them starting at midnight, creating an unprecedented four hours of live television.”
She continued, “I stayed year after year making a million memories with people I will never forget. I leave Today with a grateful heart but I’m truly excited for this new creative season in my life. Many thanks to all the wonderful people who made the years fly by.”
Kotb jumped in to tearfully thank Gifford for the time they have had together. She said, “The minute you stepped…
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