Where Has Society Gone Wrong?

(Photo: Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins)Joe Zevuloni mourns in front of a cross placed in a park to commemorate the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida, February 16, 2018.

Read part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 and part 5 of The Christian Post’s series on youth and school violence.

As the United States has by far more deadly shootings occurring in its schools than any other developed nation, many are left wondering if there are elements of today’s American society that are partially to blame, or at least play a factor, when it comes to the troubling influx of deadly school massacres.

“Where has our society gone wrong?” some might ask.

Dr. Peter Langman, an expert on the psychology of school shooters who runs the database SchoolShooters.info, told The Christian Post that in the U.S., “We have overwhelmingly the majority of school shootings in the world.”

The million-dollar question is “why?”

There isn’t just one easy answer to that question nor is there only one solution, Langman and others who spoke with CP asserted.

A common response, however, which was echoed by two experts interviewed for this article, is the fact that there is much more access to guns in the U.S. than any other nation.

“I did this study of 171 countries to explain statistically why the United States has more [mass shootings] than any other country. I coded any variable that was present for all 171 countries [studied]. I looked at homicide rates, suicide rates, national wealth, firearm ownership rates,” said Adam Lankford, associate professor at the University of Alabama’s…

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

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The royal baby: Good news on a hard day

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, announced the birth of their third child yesterday. They followed centuries of tradition by notifying the sovereign first, in this case, Queen Elizabeth. Per tradition, they also did not reveal the gender of their child until he was born.

The royal baby will have a first name, then two or three middle names, typically names that have been used in the family for centuries. The latest royal baby might not be named until tomorrow, but betting companies have made “Arthur” the clear favorite for his first name.

Carl Sandburg was right: “A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.”

The fragility of life: Four examples

The royal baby’s birth was wonderful news on a hard day.

A rented van plowed along a crowded sidewalk in Toronto yesterday, killing ten and injuring fifteen. Police officers arrested the driver, a twenty-five-year-old man named Alek Minassian.

He is expected to appear in court today. Authorities are still trying to establish a motive for his actions. The tragedy follows several similar attacks in Canada, New York, and Europe.

Meanwhile, Travis Reinking, the gunman suspected of killing four people at a Waffle House in the Nashville area, was apprehended yesterday. Authorities had mounted a massive manhunt for the man.

It’s not yet clear why he opened fire on restaurant patrons, though Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson said Reinking may have “mental issues.” His bond has been set at $2 million.

And former President George H. W. Bush was admitted to intensive care at Houston’s Methodist Hospital after contracting an infection that spread to his blood. A spokesman said, “He is responding to treatments and appears to be recovering.”

A sacred gift from God

All four stories are evidence of the preciousness and fragility of life.

The first law of thermodynamics is clear: energy can be neither created nor destroyed. Humans cannot make anything from…

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

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Christian woman in Pakistan dies from acid attack after refusing marriage proposal

The woman, Asma Yacoob had acid thrown on her by Rizwan Gujjar, 30, who was a friend of her brother’s who she refused to marry.

According to CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement – a group who support persecuted Christians in Pakistan), on 10th April Gujjar threw large amounts of acid on her and then set fire to her before running away.

Yacoob was working as a beautician for a bride in Pak Pura town, Sialkot, when she was told her brother had arrived and wanted to speak to her, only to find that when she went out into a courtyard it was Gujjar. 

After the attack she was taken to Civil Hospital and later to Mayo Hospital in Lahore but died 11 days later.

Gujjar was arrested the day after the attack.

Nasir Saeed, Director CLAAS in the UK said this was just one terrible example of how Christian women are treated in Pakistan, saying: “They are often harassed and intimidated at their workplace. They are often asked to convert to Islam and to marry Muslim colleagues.”

In a statement CLAAS said: “Christian girls are looked upon as inferior and as a commodity, and have no respect in society.”

They say that some women are kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam and that: “Such cases are becoming everyday matters and the police hardly make any advances, especially if the victim is Christian.”

There are laws in Pakistan against such behaviour but…

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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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Babylon Bee Founder Discusses New Book, ‘How to Be a Perfect Christian,’ Importance of Satire

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(Photo: Kristopher K. Orr)The Babylon Bee satire book “How to be a Perfect Christian: Your Comprehensive Guide to Flawless Spiritual Living.” The comedic book was released in 2018 by Multnomah.

Ever wanted to become a perfect Christian but never knew how to do so? Well, then have no fear! A popular Christian satire site will tell you exactly how to transform into one guaranteed.

The Babylon Bee, a proudly fake news site created by web comics writer Adam Ford, is releasing its first book on May 1, titled How to Be a Perfect Christian: Your Comprehensive Guide to Flawless Spiritual Living.

The first chapter is already available on the Babylon Bee, with the site describing the book as “200 pages of new material which lays out a definitive guide to achieving perfection in your walk with Christ by conforming completely to every aspect of Western Christian Culture.”

“A cohesive, paradigm-shifting work of art, How to Be a Perfect Christian is destined to go down as one of the most important pieces of literature in the history of Christendom,” the Bee added.

Launched in March 2016, Babylon Bee has as of April over 380,000 likes on Facebook, approximately 94,000 followers on Twitter, and more than 51,000 followers on Instagram.

The Bee entertains with such stories as “Man Accidentally Performs Yoga Pose, Is Possessed By Horde of Demons,” “Lakewood Church Issues Eclipse Glasses For Gazing At Joel Osteen’s Teeth,” and “Bill Nye To Dress Up As Real Scientist For Halloween.

During its time, the Bee has lightheartedly lampooned militant atheists, conservative evangelicals, President…

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

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Bishop says foodbank use rise is ‘completely unacceptable’

The Trussell Trust said its network distributed more than 1.3 million three-day food supplies in the year to March, a 13% increase on the previous 12 months.

Almost half a million went to children, said the trust, which runs more than 400 food banks across the UK.

A growing proportion of referrals to food banks were due to benefit levels not covering the cost of essential goods and services.

Low income accounted for almost a fifth of referrals, compared with 26% the previous year, followed by benefit delays or changes and debt.

Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, said: “As a nation we expect no one should be left hungry or destitute.

“Illness, disability, family breakdown or the loss of a job could happen to any of us and we owe it to each other to make sure sufficient financial support is in place when we need it most.

A record number of emergency supplies were handed out by food banks in the past year, research has revealed.

“It’s hard to break free from hunger if there isn’t enough money coming in to cover the rising cost of absolute essentials like food and housing.

“Universal Credit is the future of our benefits system. It’s vital we get it right and ensure levels of payment keep pace with the rising cost of essentials, particularly for groups of people we know are already more likely to need a food bank – disabled people, those dealing with an…

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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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Seven Signs a Church Member Is Leaving – Rainer on Leadership #426

Podcast Episode #426

SUBSCRIBE: iTunes • RSS • Stitcher • TuneIn RadioGoogle Play • iHeart Radio

Church members leave churches. It happens. Sometimes it can be avoided, sometimes it cannot. Today we cover seven warning signs that someone might be about to leave the church.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • Small group leaders need to track attendance and reach out to those who are frequently missing.
  • Someone in the church needs to be monitoring giving just to be aware of any potential issues.
  • The sticky factor in any church is relationships.
  • Church members sometimes take out unrelated frustrations on the pastor or staff.

The seven indicators we cover on this episode are:

  1. Less frequent attendance
  2. Decreased giving
  3. Isolation from relational connections
  4. stepping down from ministry positions
  5. Conflict with other members
  6. Negative votes at business meetings
  7. Family problems

Episode Sponsors

Our friends at Vanderbloemen Search Group help churches and ministries build great teams by finding their key staff, but did you know they have a ton of resources around team building? Their newest addition is The Culture Tool, a free comprehensive staff engagement survey to help you build, run, and keep a great team. It’s brand new and still in beta, so check out TheCultureTool.com to be on the cutting edge of this new tool that will help you improve your church staff culture.

Visit TheCultureTool.com to learn more.


The ministry landscape is changing, and the need for biblical…

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

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Alfie Evans has been granted Italian citizenship in bid to save him

However, a High Court judge has dismissed a “last-ditch appeal” by the parents.

Mr Justice Hayden had said doctors at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool could stop providing life-support treatment to Alfie.

 

Alfie’s parents, Tom Evans and Kate James, who are both in their early 20s and from Liverpool, asked for a delay to give them time to mount a further challenge.

But the judge has refused their application and given doctors the go-ahead to stop treatment and bring Alfie’s life to an end.

Mr Justice Hayden analysed issues at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court late on Monday.

The judge heard submissions from lawyers representing hospital bosses, Alfie’s parents and Alfie via a telephone link.

He gave lawyers permission to release a recording of the hearing to the Press Association.

All previous hearings in the case have been staged in public.

Alfie’s parents want treatment to continue and want to fly him to a hospital in Rome.

Philip Toscano/PA Wire

 

Barrister Paul Diamond, who represents the couple, told the judge that Alfie had been granted Italian citizenship on Monday.

He said an Italian government representative wanted to intervene in the case and asked for more time.

Mr Diamond said there was now an “international relations element” to the case.

But Michael Mylonas QC, who leads Alder Hey’s team, said any granting of…

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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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MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional Tuesday, 24 April 2018 – Dealing With Words

TOPIC: Dealing With Words (Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries Tuesday, 24 April 2018)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Numbers 13:31-33

MEMORY VERSE:
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” – John 12:48

The MESSAGE:

The place of words either in hearing or speaking cannot be downplayed. Whether you approve it or not, it is certain that man is shaped by words. Man is a house of words. Just like the saying “you are what you eat!” You are what you hear and what you say. What you hear and say informs your thought of life thus your behaviour and manner of life. This is why a very young boy enters into the university and in space of 4 to 5 years, he keeps hearing and then he is shaped according to what he has heard either as a medical doctor, biologist, etc. Our Lord Jesus emphasised this in His teachings recorded in the synoptic gospels.

1 Timothy 6:3: “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;” 2 Timothy 1:13 “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

In the foregoing verses, it’s clear that there are words which are wholesome and sound. Now the quality of words defines the kind of work it’ll do when heard or spoken. Hence, when you expose yourself to wrong words either through teachings or music, you become defiled. Wholesome and sound words however make you wholesome and sound within. These words have the ability to make you beautiful on the inside. However, it’s clear that wholesome words are the words of Jesus Christ.

Thus, the responsibility is put on you to subject not yourself to any kind of words, but wholesome words so that you can be established. And every word that proceeds from you will be seasoned with grace, edifying you and those that hear you. The Bible says that out of the abundance (words) of the heart, the mouth speaks.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
Spoken words are like broken eggs, when it is spilt, it can’t be recovered.

PROPHETIC WORD:
I prophesy into your life today that every negative word you have spoken, that is standing against you, is now cancelled.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING
1. O God, have mercy on me and deliver my tongue from carelessness, in the name of Jesus.
2. Curses, hexes, jinxes placed upon my life by the enemy, expire, in the name of Jesus.
3. Thou word of God, enter into my foundation and uproot unprofitable words, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING
4. Every spoken negative word eating away my destiny, be rooted out, in the name of Jesus.
5. Every serpent of darkness existing in my tongue, catch fire and jump out, in the name of Jesus.
6. Blood of Jesus, cleanse and sanctify my tongue, in the name of Jesus.
7. Blood of Jesus, purify my life, 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.

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Winning Your Unbelieving Spouse To Christ (Part 3) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Winning Your Unbelieving Spouse To Christ (Part 3)

Dear Reader,

Welcome to this week’s teaching on how to win your unbelieving spouse to Christ. In the previous editions, we examined how to use prayers and a life that speaks to help get your unbelieving spouse saved. I see God turning your challenges into cheap miracles, as you put to practice those things that you have learnt in Jesus’ name!

This week, we shall be examining the use of FASTING, in getting your spouse saved. Fasting means doing away with food for the purpose of concentration. It is a way of seeking the face of God, earnestly bringing the flesh under your control, in order to be more sensitive to God. God knew that there would be challenging situations that prove too difficult for us, and that was why He recommended fasting. Mark 9:29 confirms that: This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. Some situations are beyond just merely praying, they have to be accompanied with a fast for us to get our desired result. Set some time apart to fast for the salvation of your loved ones. This must be coupled with prayer and the Word of God. When fasting is void of prayer and the Word of God, then it is hunger strike or mere dieting. Your fasting must also be done in wisdom. It is not how long you fast that matters, but how well and effective your fast is.

I once met an elderly woman who happened to get born again after she was married. Apparently, her husband was deep into the occult. This woman took up the challenge and started praying for her husband, breaking the power of the devil over his life. At a point in time, she started sacrificing her breakfast for her husband’s salvation. According to her, she would prepare her breakfast and give it to the needy. She did this for two years! Meanwhile, she was in a different city from where her husband was. Unknown to her, God sent someone across the man’s path and he gave his life to Christ. By the next time this woman met her husband, he was born again! We serve a God of miracles! Can you imagine her joy that day? But she prayed, practiced patience and fasted about it. Yours will be the next testimony in Jesus’ name!

Fasting has several advantages in helping to get your spouse saved. Fasting is an added plus to prayers. When fasting is done effectively along with prayers using the Word of God, the result is always an immediate success. Some impossible situations recorded in Esther 4:3, Matthew 17:29 and Acts 14:23 in the Bible, talked about a turn-around through fasting and prayers. God’s Word in Isaiah 58:6-7 says: Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thin own flesh? This means that fasting can set lose your spouse from any kind of bondage and break every kind of yoke, when it is done effectively. It is not just abstaining from food or drink, but abstaining with a major purpose of seeking God in prayers via His Word, while maintaining a good Christian life that speaks.

See this sister’s testimony:

“My husband did not attend any programme throughout the Breakthrough Seminar. I did not know what was wrong, but I put it in prayers. When the Bishop asked us to write a list of what we don’t want again, I said my husband must come back and give his life fully to Christ. He used to attend services before, but all of a sudden, he stopped participating in the prayer we hold at home.

I knew I am more than a conqueror. I said, ‘You this devil, you must get out of this home, there is no room for you here’. I believed God to grant all my desire, and the following day, my husband came to church, it was a Sunday. And since then, he’s the one that wakes us all up for prayers! – Okorie, T.

I see God answering your prayers according to the desires of your heart as you simply put the above-mentioned points to work, in Jesus’ name! Don’t give up on your spouse; yours is the next testimony!

However, the first thing to do for your fasting to be effective is to surrender your life to Christ and become a child of God. God will only listen to His children. His children are those that have accepted Him through His son, Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour. If you are not born again and you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, then say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

“Please click to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.

The post Winning Your Unbelieving Spouse To Christ (Part 3) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo appeared first on Flatimes.

Joyce Meyer’s Daily 24 April 2018 Devotional — You Can Be Brave

Topic: You Can Be Brave [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Tuesday April 24, 2018]

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! — 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMPC

“To get” means to obtain by struggle and effort, but “to receive” means to simply take in what is being offered. Our relationship with God was never intended to be complicated and based upon our own works. The more we learn how to receive from God by faith, the simpler and more enjoyable our walk with Him becomes.

You can keep your relationship with God simple by receiving His unconditional love and believing His Word no matter what you think or how you feel. You can receive by faith all that He offers, even though you know full well that you don’t deserve it. And you can choose to lean on, trust in, and rely on Him to meet every need you have instead of worrying and trying to figure things out.

And with His help (grace), you can obey Him and grow in spiritual maturity by knowing His will and receiving His best for your life!

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the incredible privilege of being Your child. Today, by faith, I choose to receive the blessings You have for me—Your love, mercy, forgiveness, strength, wisdom, joy, peace, and every good thing You have in store for my life. Help me to receive from You with simple child-like faith. 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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