Another Severe Earthquake Hits Indonesia, Killing 98

-
0
Another Severe Earthquake Hits Indonesia, Killing 98


Another Severe Earthquake Hits Indonesia, Killing 98


A 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia Sunday night, one week after the nation experienced a 6.4 magnitude earthquake, which killed 15 and injured 162 people.


This earthquake struck the tourist island of Lombok, killing 98 people and injuring hundreds. Though very popular with visitors, those killed in the earthquake, Sunday, were Indonesian nationals. Officials are still searching for missing people among the rubble and estimate that the number of dead and injured persons will climb.


Due to the previous earthquake in Indonesia, last weekend, structures on the island of Lombokwere already weakened. This latest 6.9 magnitude quake caused buildings to crumble and collapse, killing and injuring those who fled to the streets.


The shocks of the earthquakes could be felt in Bali, another tourist island, neighboring Lombok, with aftershocks continuing through the night. The total of those killed in Bali due to the earthquake are only two at this time.


According to Indonesia’s Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, head of the Disaster Management Department, the number of those displaced by the earthquake has risen to 20,000.


Thousands of tourists who were visiting Lombok convened on the Gili Islands to be evacuated. Due to low tide, they were previously unable to leave, however, according to CNN, nine ships are now scheduled to transport them off the islands.


In addition to sea evacuation, the…

… Read More

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

قالب وردپرس

Willow Creek pastor quits over church’s handling of Bill Hybels allegations

-
0
Willow Creek pastor quits over church’s handling of Bill Hybels allegations

Steve Carter (pictured above)who has been described as one of Hybels’ heirs, wrote on his blog that he had made the decision some time ago following the church’s handling of the allegations.

Hybels has been accused of sexual misconduct, with the latest claim being made in the New York Times that he indecently touched a former assistant.

 

While Hybels stood down from church ministry when the allegations first surfaced, he denied wrongdoing but apologised for being “unwise” and potentially misleading people.

Willow Creek has faced much criticism over its handling of the situation. Previous to the allegations being made public and internal investigation cleared him of any misconduct.

Ten women have now come forward with allegations.

Willow Creek/Flickr

 

Responding to the situation, Steve Carter wrote: “Since the first women came forward with their stories, I have been gravely concerned about our church’s official response, and its ongoing approach to these painful issues.

“After many frank conversations with our elders, it became clear that there is a fundamental difference in judgment between what I believe is necessary for Willow Creek to move in a positive direction, and what they think is best.

“That is not to say that I am right and they are wrong. But I must follow the path that I believe God has laid out for me to live with integrity,…

… Read More

—

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

قالب وردپرس

‘We’re thrilled with God’s blessing’, Bible website marks 25 years

-
0
‘We’re thrilled with God’s blessing’, Bible website marks 25 years

Founded in 1993 – when the internet was still in its infancy – Bible Gateway has since received more than 14 billion visits and grown to offer translations of scripture in more than 70 languages.

Content manager, Jonathan Petersen told Premier: “We’re thrilled with God’s blessing on Bible Gateway.

 

“You never know where God is going to take you.

“We’re just very happy with how people are interacting with us – and how they are able to use Bible Gateway for their own benefit, Bible reading and study.”

More than 200 versions of the Bible are now available on Bible Gateway, which also offers audio services featuring readers including David Suchet.

The service was originally used as internal Bible research computer tool for theology students at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

 

Explaining how people use the free website in different ways, Jonathan Petersen said: “People will come and quickly look for a Bible verse. When they find, then they leave.

“Other people come to Bible Gateway on a regular basis. They are wanting to read different Bible translations side-by-side, comparing them.”

Click here to listen to Premier’s Tola Mbakwe speaking with Jonathan Petersen at Bible Gateway:

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

… Read More

—

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

قالب وردپرس

Bill Hybels Faces New Allegations of Sex Abuse; Willow Creek’s Steve Carter Resigns

-
0
Bill Hybels Faces New Allegations of Sex Abuse; Willow Creek’s Steve Carter Resigns

(Screenshot: Willowcreek.tv)Bill Hybels, founder of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, speaks to the congregation in October 2017.

Another woman has come forward and accused Willow Creek Community Church founding pastor Bill Hybels of groping and performing unwanted sex acts in the 1980s. Following the new allegations, Lead Teaching Pastor Steve Carter announced his resignation over disagreement with how the church has handled sexual misconduct allegations against Hybels. 

Hybels, who retired prematurely in April from Willow Creek Community Church, a nondenominational megachurch in Illinois, after several women accused him of sexual misconduct, which he denied, was the subject of fresh allegations in an article by The New York Times on Sunday.

Pat Baranowski, who says she served as Hybels’ gatekeeper, fielding calls from pastors across America, revealed that at first she felt blessed by God when in 1985 she was invited to move into the home of Hybels and his wife, Lynne.

On one occasion when she and Hybels were alone, however, she says that he groped her.

“Stunned, she remembered feeling unable to say no to her boss and pastor as he straddled her, unhooked her bra and touched her near her breasts. She remembered feeling his hands shake,” the…

… Read More

—-

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

قالب وردپرس

Why “The Bachelorette” is such a bad idea

-
0
Why “The Bachelorette” is such a bad idea

It seems I could comment on celebrity news every morning.

For instance, Patrick Stewart “stunned” fans with his weekend announcement that he will play Captain Jean-Luc Picard in a new Star Trek series. Russia has named US actor Steven Seagal its special representative for Russian-US humanitarian ties.

And two elderly men in Germany escaped their nursing home to attend a heavy metal rock concert. They were eventually discovered and escorted from the festival.

We might think tonight’s Bachelorette live finale fits into the same category–amusing but less than relevant to real life. Here’s why we’d be wrong.

Contestant shamed for his virginity

The Bachelorette has been on television for fifteen years. You probably know the premise: A woman is presented with a group of men who want to marry her. Various dates and activities narrow the group down to a final three contestants.

She then spends time in the “Fantasy Suite” with each of them, no cameras allowed. She usually has sex with each of the three men. (I will not link to articles explaining this fact since they are explicit.)

The “Bachelorette” then narrows the group to the final two and chooses the winner in the finale.

So much is wrong with this show. The idea that people could choose their life partner on the basis of contrived events in front of cameras is implausible in the extreme. (The Bachelor, which began in 2002, has produced only one couple that is still together. Only six couples from The Bachelorette are still together.)

The sexual message is especially troubling. The show teaches our children that having sex with someone before marrying them is both normal and wise. After all, our culture asks, how can you know if you’re “compatible”?

Sex before marriage is so endorsed by Hollywood that one of this season’s Bachelorette contestants was shamed for his virginity. Colton Underwood, a former football player who spent time with several NFL teams, was ridiculed by…

… Read More

—

Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

قالب وردپرس

Pacquiao references Bible to refute Pope's death penalty ruling

-
0
Pacquiao references Bible to refute Pope's death penalty ruling

Christian professional boxer and politician Manny Pacquiao has reaffirmed his belief in capital punishment following the Pope declaring the death penalty unacceptable in all cases.

… Read More

—

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

قالب وردپرس

Demi Lovato thanks God for being alive after suspected overdose

-
0
Demi Lovato thanks God for being alive after suspected overdose

The singer, 25, wrote a message to fans on her Instagram page saying she had learned addiction is “not something that disappears or fades with time” and “it is something I must continue to overcome and have not done yet”.

Lovato also thanked staff at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, where she was taken after falling ill at her home in the Hollywood Hills on 24th July.

 

She added: “I want to thank God for keeping me alive and well.

“I now need time to heal and focus on my sobriety and road to recovery.

“The love you have all shown me will never be forgotten and I look forward to the day where I can say I came out on the other side. I will keep fighting.”

Lovato was a child star and found fame on the TV series Barney & Friends before appearing in the Disney Channel film Camp Rock.

 

She has since gone on to be a multi-platinum pop star with hits such as Sorry Not Sorry, Skyscraper and Heart Attack.

Lovato has been open about her struggles with alcohol and substance abuse and in June released a song, titled Sober, in which she indicated she had relapsed after six years of sobriety.

After reports emerged that New Mexico-born Lovato had been taken to hospital, the hashtag #PrayForDemi started trending on Twitter and celebrities including Ariana Grande, Cardi B and Nick Jonas tweeted messages of support.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a…

… Read More

—

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

قالب وردپرس

Eight Areas Where Pastors Wish They Were Better Equipped

-
0

I thank God for pastors. They are often criticized, second-guessed, underpaid, and expected to do too many things. Pastors would be perfect if they were simply omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.

Indeed, the expectations of pastors can be overwhelming. In that light, I asked seasoned pastors to share with me the areas they wish they could be better prepared and better equipped. The results were voluminous, and the needs are great. Here are the top eight:

  1. Leading the church in evangelism/reaching the community. Many pastors felt as if evangelism and healthy growth are neglected topics. They admitted their own sense of inadequacy in leading their churches to reach more people with the gospel.
  2. Leadership development. Pastors know they can’t do the work of ministry alone. But many of them shared poignantly how they wish they could become better at developing leaders in the church. They understand both biblically and intuitively that more leaders are imperative for a church to be healthy.
  3. Finances/business issues/administration. “I never considered how much of church life is running an organization,” one pastor shared with us. “I was never trained for that aspect of ministry, and it has come back to haunt me again and again.” Another pastor confessed that he had never learned to balance his checkbook, but he was expected to lead a church with a half-million-dollar budget.
  4. Leading staff. We heard it again and again: “I have no idea how to lead my staff. I have no idea how to evaluate…

… Read More

—

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

قالب وردپرس

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 6 August 2018

CM Editor
-
0

TOPIC: The Right Sacrifice (Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries Monday, 6 August 2018)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Mark 10:17-23

MEMORY VERSE: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” – Mark 8:36

The MESSAGE:

God had to sacrifice His only begotten Son so that we may have eternal life. Sacrifice is a definite requirement to make it to the end. Christ has called every believer to live the life of sacrifice. He wants us to carry our cross daily and follow him. This is the life of sacrifice. Apostle Paul sacrificed all in order to win Christ’s approval. Jesus says that if we are so conscious of saving our lives, we would lose it. Many of us want the gift of eternal life on our own terms. Just like Judas Iscariot who could not sacrifice greed, covetousness and stealing for the kingdom of God. He intended to swindle the Pharisees and still enjoy the benefits of discipleship. But he lost all. Also, the account of Ananias and Sapphira is another example of the Christians who want to make heaven based on their terms and conditions. The challenge is lack of appreciation of what constitutes the right sacrifice in each situation.

The man in the above Scripture did not only know the Ten Commandments but had been keeping them diligently from his youth. A highly religious man indeed! He had the right desire and approached it in the best way known to him. He also had the confidence that he had fulfilled the law and simply wanted confirmation from Jesus that he was right on his way to eternal life. In his sight, he was righteous and evidently, he was a successful man, judging from his earthly riches. Despite his knowledge of the commandments, which he had diligently practised, he was unaware of the inadequacies in his life, which would deny him eternal life. The love of Christ located him and his inadequacy was revealed to him. With this revelation, notwithstanding, he hardened his heart and rejected godly counsel from the Master. He chose to sacrifice his soul rather than his riches. He chose earthly treasures rather than heavenly treasure. He went home sorrowful rather than embrace the joy of following Jesus. He held tight to his riches rather than the cross of Jesus. What a terrible sacrifice! Like the ‘religious man’ in today’s study, so many of us are highly knowledgeable in the Scriptures and are practising what we believe is the best way to please God. Many of us, however, fail to ask the Lord what to do to inherit eternal life. Some of us, who hear messages that address what we presently lack in the race to eternal life, often fail to take heed and follow the counsel of the Lord. We sacrifice eternal life for the things of this world. We must continually remind ourselves of the great question of the Lord: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Such a sacrifice is vanity.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
SACRIFICE IS A DEFINITE REQUIREMENT TO SUCCESSFULLY RUN THE CHRISTIAN RACE.

PROPHETIC WORD:
You will not sacrifice your soul for riches.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING
1. O Lord, reveal to me what I need to do to inherit eternal life, in the name of Jesus.
2. My race to eternal life shall not be amputated, in the name of Jesus.
3. Anything in me that wants to steal eternal life from me, come out and die, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING
4. Holy Ghost fire, purge my life of every ungodly attachment to earthly riches, in the name of Jesus.
5. Power to fully lay down my life for Jesus, enter me now, in the name of Jesus.
6. I shall not trade off my soul, in the name of Jesus.
7. By fire by force, I shall make it to heaven, in the name of Jesus.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE

MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)

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.

The post MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 6 August 2018 appeared first on Flatimes.

Joyce Meyer’s Daily 6 August 2018 Devotional — Tear Down Your Walls with Faith

CM Editor
-
0
Joyce Meyer’s Daily 6 August 2018 Devotional — Tear Down Your Walls with Faith

Topic: Tear Down Your Walls with Faith [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Monday August 6, 2018]

For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’ — Jeremiah 30:17

You will not enjoy the present moment and the gifts it contains if you don’t have a balanced attitude toward work. Luke 10:38– 42 tells the story of Jesus’ visit to the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha was overly occupied and too busy (see Luke 10:40). But Mary sat down at Jesus’ feet and listened to what He had to say.

Jesus said Mary made the better choice. Jesus did not tell Martha not to work, but He did tell her not to be frustrated or have a bad attitude while she worked. Jesus wants you to work hard, but He also wants you to be wise enough to realize when you should stop all activity and not miss the miracle of the moment.

Prayer Starter: Lord, help me to stay in balance and not miss the “miracle of the moment.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

The post Joyce Meyer’s Daily 6 August 2018 Devotional — Tear Down Your Walls with Faith appeared first on Flatimes.

1...1,8751,8761,877...3,893Page 1,876 of 3,893