Ocean Cleanup Holds Test Run to Clean Up Great Pacific Garbage Patch – Urban Christian News

With millions of dollars in backing, some from tech giants, the brainchild of a 23-year-old Dutch college dropout steamed out to sea Saturday afternoon, ready to take on the seemingly overwhelming problem of plastic pollution in the oceans.

The hope is that the vessel, the first of a planned fleet or 60 or more, can strain out the millions of pounds of plastic trash that collects in slow-moving ocean whirlpools called gyres, which can be hundreds of miles across.

The ungainly vessel starts out as a long line of linked floating booms – 2,000 feet of them – towed out from the dockyard where it’s been built in Alameda, across the bay from San Francisco. It will motor under the Golden Gate Bridge and out to a testing area about 275 miles off the coast of California.

Once in place, the Ocean Cleanup, dubbed System 001,  is deployed. The passive system’s floating series of connected booms naturally form into a broad U-shape. Below the booms, a 9-foot skirt gently corrals the plastic trash that contaminates our seas.

Currents and waves push trash into the machine’s center to collect it. Floating particles are captured by the net while the push of water against the net propels fish and other marine life under and beyond.

A garbage ship then is sent out to scoop up the collected trash and transport it to shore for recycling.

The system is fitted with solar-powered lights and anti-collision systems to keep any stray ships from running into it, along with cameras, sensors and satellites that allow it to communicate with its creators.

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Source: USA…

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Open Heavens 9 September 2018 – Beyond the Messenger

Open Heavens 9 September 2018 Sunday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye – Beyond the Messenger

Topic: Beyond the Messenger

Memorise:And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.”- Luke 9:48

Read: Matthew 13:54-58 (KJV)

54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Bible in One Year: Psalm 144-150, Mark 5:1-24

Open Heavens 9 September 2018 Sunday MESSAGE:

Many times, we miss messages from God and the miracles that accompany them because we fail to look beyond the person that the Lord is working through. To experience the fullness of God, a wise child of God will give heed to the words of 2 Chronicles 20:20, which says:

“…Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.”

Interestingly, it was a king, and not a prophet who gave this message. How beautiful this world would be if our rulers would admit, like king Nebuchadnezzar did, that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and He gives it to whomsoever he chooses (Daniel 4:25-34).

In today’s memory verse, our Lord Jesus Christ said that if we receive even a child in His Name, we have received His Father who sent Him. Regardless of the age or status of a preacher, if you receive him or her in the Name of the Lord, whatever word the Lord has sent through that person will work for you. Naaman would have lost his miracle If he had not looked beyond the fact that Prophet Elisha did not receive him personally, or the dirty River Jordan he was instructed to dip in (2 Kings 5: 9-14). The story of the man born blind in John chapter 9 also teaches us a great lesson. This young man believed that Jesus came from God because God performed a miracle in his life through Him, and even though the Jews maligned Jesus Christ as a sinner, he refused to believe them (John 9:24-25). Because Jesus Christ grew up in their midst as brethren and countrymen, the citizens of Nazareth failed to see Him as anything more than the son of Joseph the carpenter, and for this reason, most of them missed their miracles. Matthew 13:58 says:

“And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

In order to help the people of His time to receive their blessings, Jesus often had to encourage them to look into the scriptures to confirm that what He was saying about Himself was true, and sometimes, He performed miracles to show that He was the Messiah (Luke 4:17-21; Luke 7:19-22). However, most of the people of His time could not look beyond His humanity. Beloved I encourage you to search the scriptures to ascertain the authenticity of any message and its messenger. Looking beyond the messenger and seeing God behind them will help your faith in the infallible word of God

Open Heavens 9 September 2018 Sunday Action Point:

Like the Jews in Berea (Acts 7:10-11), begin to search the scriptures to confirm whatever a preacher says: if it tallies with the scriptures believe and act on it for your own good.

Also Read: Open Heavens 8 September 2018 – A Godly Father

Open Heavens 9 September 2018 Sunday Hymn 4: Trust And Obey

1. When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Chorus
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the alter we lay;
For the favor He shows,
For the joy He bestows,
Are from them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Open Heavens 9 September 2018 Sunday 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 Heavens 9 September 2018 Sunday 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.

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Police say ‘disgusting attack’ on Manchester Cathedral was hate crime

Officers are treating the spraying of abusive graffiti onto the wall of the landmark late on Thursday as a “religiously aggravated attack”.

Chief inspector Cherie Buttle from Greater Manchester Police said: “This is a religiously aggravated attack, which has not only caused damage to a building but has caused upset to those who attend.

 

“The graffiti is beneath a statue at the graffiti and, due to the size of it, someone may have noticed it happening.”

The language used is too offensive to be published. A censored picture published by the Manchester Evening News appeared to show a blasphemous reference to Jesus.

 

Police were called to reports of criminal damage at Manchester Cathedral at around 11.45pm on Thursday – the eve of the first Emergency Services Festival of Thanksgiving at the landmark.

Speaking ahead of the event, chief inspector Buttle said: “Hopefully those attending the festival there… will be able to enjoy themselves, despite this disgusting incident.”

Festival of Thanksgiving 38

 

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 3221 quoting reference number 2225 of 06/09/18 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every…

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Christian ex-High Court judge backs faster no-fault divorces

Sir Paul Coleridge said any fears such a change to no-fault divorces would lead to more family breakdowns were “wholly misplaced”, claiming there is “no discernible connection” between the two.

He wrote in The Times on Saturday: “Surely, it is deeply insulting to suggest that couples would bin their marriages more easily if the law was changed so that those unfortunate enough to face relationship breakdown could end it with more dignity.”

 

Unless someone can prove adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion, they must live apart from their spouse for five years to obtain a divorce if their husband or wife withholds agreement.

If both sides agree to a no-fault divorce, they must live separately for more than two years before a divorce can be granted.

Days after ministers confirmed divorce laws were being examined, it emerged at the weekend that there will be a consultation on proposals for what the Justice Secretary described as a “less antagonistic” system.

 

David Gauke told The Times: “The more I look at it, the more I am concerned that the current system does create a degree of unnecessary antagonism in an already difficult and sensitive set of circumstances.”

Sir Paul Coleridge, who founded “national champion for marriage” the Marriage Foundation charity, warned that some people currently “invent allegations” to…

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One in 100 British Christians ‘believe God is a woman’

The UK-based research group found 41-per-cent believe God does not have a human gender at all, while 36-per-cent reckon God is male.

Three-per-cent said God has a different human gender identity to male or female. Nineteen-per-cent said they were unsure.

 

The study also concluded that female believers are more likely (41-per-cent) to think God is male than male Christians (30-per-cent).

Catholics were found to be more convinced (47-per-cent) than Protestants (33-per-cent) to think God is a man.

Forty-three-per-cent of Protestants reckon God has no human gender – compared to 30-per-cent of Catholics, YouGov found.

The organisation said: “This… is perhaps ironic, as The Catechism of the Catholic Church #239, as laid down by Pope John Paul II in 1992, specifically states that ‘God is neither man nor woman: he is God’.

 

“The vast majority of British Protestants follow the Church of England, which seems to still consider God to be male, although a movement within the Church called for God to be referred to as female in 2015.

“Other, smaller, Protestant denominations, such as Methodists and the United Reform Church, have previously introduced more gender-inclusive language for God.”

According to the study, older Christians are more likely to believe (46-per-cent) that God has no human gender, compared to 37-per-cent of those…

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Very high Mass held at Brighton’s observation tower

Several Anglo-Catholic churches came together to organise a Eucharist, with the money raised from ticket sales going to local community projects.

Fr Robert John Norbury, the vicar of St Paul’s Church on West Street in Brighton, said he enjoyed the experience, despite having a fear of heights.

 

He told Premier: “We started singing God’s praises as we started ascending.

“Being able to pray for our city as we rose up over it was really special.”

 

Between 50 and 60 guests were joined for the 9am service in the capsule by the Bishop of Chichester, Rt Rev Martin Warner.

Referring to his acrophobia, Fr Robert said: “It was fine.

Diocese of Chichester

 

“It [the capsule] wobbled a bit, it was like going up in a lift, it was a little unsettling.

“But there is nothing you can do about it, so you get on with it.”

Other churches forming part of the Wagner group of congregations in Brighton also took part, including the Church of the Annunciation, St Bartholomew’s, St Martin’s and St Michael’s and All Angels.

 

Fr Robert added: “We would have liked to have had a lot more people…

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Notable Voices and the Week in Review: September 8, 2018

4 Ways Churches Can Help Alleviate the Addiction Crisis — Sam Rainer

Addiction is a problem that can be both public and hidden. There are those on the streets who are obviously suffering. Then there are others who go unnoticed, but just beneath the surface are spinning in chaos. Likely, the problem of addiction exists in your community, and it’s probably a bigger issue than you realize. How can a church help alleviate the addiction crisis that rages in our nation? Here are four ways.

 


Where Are the Actual ‘Christian Nations’? — Facts & Trends

A recent study from the Pew Research Center shows that American Christians aren’t necessarily the most committed to their faith when compared to believers across the globe. The study, which analyzed 84 countries with “sizable Christian populations,” found Christians in many African and Latin American countries tend to report significantly higher levels of religious commitment than their American counterparts.

 


10 Questions to Ask about Your Church Staff MeetingsChuck Lawless

Here’s the scenario I challenge you to consider today. You and your church staff are having your regular weekly meeting. What’s different this week is that unbeknownst to you, a new believer and a long-term church member are watching and listening from another room. If that’s the case, consider these questions:

 


Misconceptions Pastors Have About Women and DiscipleshipJen Wilkin

In this short video, Jen Wilkin shares some misconceptions…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Big Church Day Out North in Cheshire axed

Calling off the event at Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire after two years, they said going ahead would have created a level of “financial uncertainty” that would have been an “irresponsible” move by trustees.

BCDO founder Tim Jupp said: “It is with enormous sadness and disappointment that the Big Church Day Out Trustees and Team are announcing that BCDO North will be cancelled in 2019 and beyond.”

 

In an open letter, Mr Jupp said the decision followed prayer and long-running talks about the event.

He confirmed the sister South event at Wiston House in West Sussex next summer will go ahead as planned.

After North ticket sales fell short by 3,000 of a 15,000 target set for last year’s debut event, it has since emerged ticket sales were even lower this year.

Mr Jupp continued: “We are very aware that events the size of BCDO need a few years to grow to a sustainable level, but because of the lower than projected numbers in the first two years, we have sadly not been able to afford the luxury of having enough time to keep building.”

While there were never expectations for BCDO to generate a profit, organisers posted a £150,000 budget deficit in May.

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Joyce Meyer’s Daily 8 September 2018 Devotional — Just Do It!

Topic: Just Do It! [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Saturday September 8, 2018]

Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks. — Ecclesiastes 10:18 (NKJV)

Do you truly believe that love can change the world? I do. But I also know the events and accomplishments that have brought lasting change to the world have not been accidental; they have been things people thought through and acted on deliberately. The Bible is filled with instructions for us to be active.

Wishing for something does not produce the results we desire, but we must aggressively do what needs to be done to achieve them. We will never find a successful man who spent his life wishing for success and attained it. The same principle applies to loving God, loving our­selves, and loving others. If we want to love people as Jesus instructed, we will have to do so on purpose. It will not happen by accident.

If we seek opportunities to love people, we are sure to find them, and that will protect us from being idle and passive. We must ask our­selves if we are alert and active or passive and inactive? God is alert and active! I am glad He is; otherwise, things in our lives would deteriorate rapidly.

So much good can happen in your life and in the lives of those around you if you’ll simply decide not to be passive, but to follow the Holy Spirit as He leads you. God-inspired, balanced activity will keep you from being idle and bless many people in the process.

Prayer Starter: Lord, help me today to be active and intentional, not passive or idle. Each day, help me to take steps and make progress as it pertains to my dreams, responsibilities, and loving others in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

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David Ibiyeomie: Connect To Your Source

Connect To Your Source By David Ibiyeomie

Topic: Connect To Your Source

Phil.3:10 – That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

You may know God but you don’t know enough of HIM. Our God is omniscient; be desperate to know HIM more. It is those who don’t know God that claim to know HIM. Those who truly know God know that they don’t know much of HIM; they are always craving to know more of HIM.

Ex. 33:13 –3 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

Moses, the man who saw God and was with HIM exclusively for 40 days still craved to know more of HIM. If you want to keep scaling new heights, you must constantly desire to know God the more; that is the cheapest way.

1 cor.2:9 -But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

The love of God is the fundamental requirement for success. Every genuine lover of God succeeds on continuous basis because of God’s commitment to him. You need the heart for God to make real marks here on earth. God is a loving father but HE has HIS terms in relating with HIS children.

To command dominion here on earth, you need to be connected to the source for your needed help. You need to spend time with God to develop yourself spiritually because your inheritance can only be transferred to you through the revelation knowledge of the truth.

2Peter 1:3 -According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

God has given you all things that you will ever require in life and business but you can only access them through knowledge of God who has called you unto glory. Therefore, what you receive is a function of your insight.

You need to invest time in the place of prayer and you need to invest time studying HIS word in order to create the future you need; it is an investment that will yield great results. The fragrance of your prayers today will still speak for you tomorrow and every divinely guided investment made yields maximum results. Therefore, begin to crave for God in every way: prayer, word intake, meditation, worship, etc and I will see you at the top!

God bless you

Also Read: Other Inspiring Messages by Pastor David Ibiyeomie

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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