Former detective ‘felt forced’ to reveal raid on Sir Cliff’s home to BBC

Retired detective superintendent Matthew Fenwick said he believed reporter Dan Johnson would run a story about South Yorkshire Police’s investigation into the singer unless he was told about the search.

Discussing a meeting in July 2014 with Mr Johnson and the force’s head of corporate communications, Carrie Goodwin, Mr Fenwick said: “I believed the BBC was in a position to publish a story and I didn’t want them to publish a story at that stage.

 

“(Mr Johnson) said he could and he would, and we came to an arrangement that he would not publish it then but that we would let him know when we were going to take further action.

“I felt that we didn’t have many options – there was no option, other than to co-operate with him.”

Sir Cliff is suing the BBC for “substantial damages” over its coverage of the raid at his penthouse apartment in Sunningdale, Berkshire, in August 2014 following an allegation of sexual assault.

The 77-year-old singer claims the report was a “very serious invasion” of his privacy and has had a “prolonged impact” on him.

Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

 

BBC bosses dispute his claims.

The singer thanked a group of fans gathered outside the court as he left after the third day of the hearing on Monday.

He appeared to pose for photographs and one fan shouted: “The whole world loves you Cliff,” as he got into a taxi.

Another supporter said:…

… Read More



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

قالب وردپرس

Key Issues for Follow-up of Guests – Rainer on Leadership #424

Podcast Episode #424

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

How you follow up with guests often determines whether or not they will stick at your church. So these six keys are important for guest retention and assimilation.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • The quicker you respond to and follow up with guests, the better chances they will return to your church.
  • Pastoral touch points in church guest follow up are critical.
  • Handwritten notes have great power in our digital world because they are so rare.
  • Someone in a group is five times more likely to stick with a church than someone in worship alone.
  • Loose guest cards have a higher return rate than perforated ones connected to the bulletin.

The six keys we cover on this episode are:

  1. The time is short
  2. Personal beats template
  3. The power of the handwritten note
  4. Join me for lunch
  5. Get a group to reach out
  6. You can’t follow up unless you have the right information

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…

… Read More



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

قالب وردپرس

parents may ask judges to consider Alfie Evans life-support case a second time

Alfie Evans’ parents, who live in Liverpool, are using a piece of ancient English common law during the latest stage of their fight for treatment.

Tom Evans (pictured below wearing a blue coat) , 21, and Kate James, 20, want to move their son from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool to a hospital in Rome.

 

The couple, which is being represented by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), say Italian doctors are willing to treat the little boy and an air ambulance is available.

They are now arguing that Alfie is being wrongly “detained” at Alder Hey and have made a habeas corpus application.

A writ of habeas corpus – Latin for “you may have the body” – is a legal manoeuvre which requires a court to examine the legality of a detention.

It is a piece of common law which probably dates back to Anglo-Saxon times.

A High Court judge and three Court of Appeal judges have dismissed their claim.

Peter Byrne/PA Wire

 

But the couple might make an application to the Supreme Court.

Alfie’s parents have already lost fights in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights.

In February, Mr Justice Hayden ruled that doctors at Alder Hey could stop treating Alfie against the wishes of his parents following hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London and Liverpool.

Specialists at Alder Hey said life-support…

… Read More



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

قالب وردپرس

Cardinal Pell targeted to punish Catholic Church, says defence lawyer

Defence and prosecution lawyers were making their final submissions at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in a hearing to determine whether the case against Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic was strong enough to warrant a trial by jury.

Magistrate Belinda Wallington will make her ruling on May 1 on whether Pell will stand trial.

 

Pell, Pope Francis’ former finance minister, was charged last June with sexually abusing multiple people in his Australian home state of Victoria.

The details of the allegations against the 76-year-old have yet to be released to the public, though police have described the charges as “historical” sexual assault offences – meaning the crimes allegedly occurred decades ago.

Defence lawyer Robert Richter told Wallington that complainants might have testified in court last month against the former archbishop of Melbourne and Sydney to punish him for failing to act against abuse within the church.

AGF s.r.l./REX

 

“We say that Cardinal Pell, representing the face of the Catholic Church, a prominent person, had been the obvious target of allegations that are not true but are designed to punish him, almost, for not having prevented sexual abuse for many years,” Richter said.

But prosecutor Mark Gibson told the court there was no evidence to back Richter’s theory that Pell had been targeted over the church’s failings.

Pell…

… Read More



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

قالب وردپرس

Joyce Meyer’s Daily 17 April 2018 Devotional — Don’t Keep Records

Topic: Don’t Keep Records [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Tuesday April 17, 2018]

Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts. — Colossians 3:15

Love forgives; it does not hold a grudge. It is not touchy, easily offended, nor is it fretful or resentful. Some people get their feelings hurt about everything. It is very difficult to be in a relationship with people like this. We have many opportunities every day to get offended; each time we must make a choice.

If we choose to live by our feelings, we will never succeed in this all-important facet of love. If we don’t forgive quickly, but instead keep records of how others have hurt us, sooner or later the list will get so long that we can no longer be in relationship with these people. That kind of resentment is a part of what causes many divorces. If we can learn this important facet of love and abide by it, we’ll save ourselves—and others—tremendous pain and damage to our relationships.

By keeping records of things that others have done to offend us, we fill ourselves up with poison. Bitterness makes our life attitude, words and thoughts bitter. “Drop the issue, let it go” is what the Amplified Bible says we are to do with offenses (Mark 11:25). it is important to forgive quickly. The quicker we do it, the easier it is.

Let’s begin to behave as if we believe the Bible. In it, God tells us over and over again what to do about those who offend us: love them, pray for them, bless them.

Prayer Starter: Father, please forgive me for holding grudges and “keeping score” of what others have done. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me. Help me to truly love others the way You do. 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 17 April 2018 Devotional — Don’t Keep Records appeared first on Flatimes.

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional Tuesday, 17 April 2018 – How To Pray

TOPIC: How To Pray (Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries Tuesday, 17 April 2018)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:5-18

MEMORY VERSE:

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” – Acts 3:1

The MESSAGE:

Jesus in response to the request of His disciples taught them how to pray. Jesus’ model prayer should guide us when we make our own prayers to God. As with everything of importance, prayer has principles guiding it. God is a God of principles and order (1 Corinthians 14:40). In order to have full access to God, you must come in a certain manner. No person of importance appreciates it when a person comes disorderly into their presence, not following the laid down protocols.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, outlined in details how God desires for us to come into His presence. You must approach God in the right way. You must engage in prayer solely with the purpose of communing with God not to be seen by men. Your prayers must be directed to your heavenly Father. Prayers are like letters, they must be clear who the recipient of the letter is. As every letter needs a seal, your prayers need a seal also; the name of Jesus is the seal on your prayer. You must believe that God hears you when you pray. A heart that doesn’t believe can’t access God’s presence. You must have reverence for God; the secrets of God are with them that fear Him. You must pray for the expansion of God’s kingdom in the earth; this grants you access to petition for your needs. Malice, hatred or anger must not be found in your heart; these can lock you out of His presence.

When you approach God with the right qualities in this manner, there will be no limitation to your prayer. You will have access to the resources of heaven. Cultivate your heart to have these qualities. Approach God with right heart and enjoy access to heaven on earth.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
Righteousness is the bullet in the gun of prayer. When a righteous man prays, his prayer avails much.

PROPHETIC WORD:
I prophesy into your life today that the power of prayer shall come upon you.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING
1. Begin to thank God for His mercies and goodness upon your life and family, in Jesus’ name.
2. Let the will of God be upheld in my life and those of my family members, in Jesus’ name.
3. Evil altar ministering wickedness against my life in heavenly places be dismantled, in Jesus’ name.

EVENING
4. Every spiritual wickedness resisting my prayers in heavenly places, enter into bondage, in Jesus’ name.
5. Every wickedness, orchestrated against my life at night while I slept, be destroyed, in Jesus’ name.
6. Let the judgement of God fall upon the wicked that is working against my prayer life, in Jesus’ name.
7. Holy Ghost fire, incubate my prayer altar, 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 Tuesday, 17 April 2018 – How To Pray appeared first on Flatimes.

Understanding The Values Of Thanksgiving By David Ibiyeomie

Thanksgiving is appreciating God from your heart for His goodness and benefits towards you. It is an act of gratitude. Only a heartfelt thanksgiving produces result; therefore be thankful in all circumstances.

REWARDS OF THANKSGIVING:
1. It preserves your blessings – Malachi 2:2, Philippians 1:6.
2. It attracts perfection from God – Philippians 1:6, Psalm 138:8.
3. It turns insufficiency to overflowing abundance – John 6:5-12.
4. It guarantees multiplication with glorification – Jeremiah 30:19.
5. It guarantees deliverance from all kind of troubles – Jonah 2:9.
6. It makes stars, great men and woman out of nobody – John 12:9.
7. It guarantees revival and resurrection – Jeremiah 30:19-21.

– Thanksgiving reduces panic and fear; always stay calm and believe in the positive when your miracle is yet to manifest. When you thank God from your heart, you provoke Him to give you supernatural abundance.

WHY WE ARE THANKING GOD AS A CHURCH:
1. God did all things well – Mark 7:37, Psalm 48:2.
2. For His awesome presence – Jeremiah 1:18-19, Psalm 51:11, Acts 10:8.

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 Understanding The Values Of Thanksgiving By David Ibiyeomie appeared first on Flatimes.

Winning Your Unbelieving Spouse To Christ (Part 2) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Winning Your Unbelieving Spouse To Christ (Part 2)

Dear Reader,

Last week, I taught on how prayer can get an unbelieving spouse saved. However, this week, we will be adding more strength to our prayers through our actions. It is popularly said that, “Action speaks louder than words” this is very correct, as people rather read your actions than what you say to them. They want to know if truly you are what you prescribe for them – being Christ-like. There is A Life That Speaks! Its voice is louder than the sound from the vocal cavity of man. This is one effective way to get an unbelieving husband or wife saved. It flourishes your prayers for your spouse and ministers’ praise and glory to God. It is the kind of life that every believer must exhibit in the home, at work, at the market place and everywhere, so that sinners can be magnetized into the kingdom of God.

Your life is the greatest witness, especially to your spouse and loved ones. Your unbelieving spouse will always consciously or unconsciously watch to see what you preach in your actions. What you portray on a daily basis, especially in the secrecy of your home should not be farther from what you say.

Your Christian life must be one of good example that portrays the fruits of the Spirit. As it is written in Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. If you live a Christian life having these characteristics, it will influence your spouse and even other relations such that you do not need to open your mouth to witness to them (even though it is scriptural to witness to them), they will be attracted to the kingdom of God.

Your spouse will be easily won to Christ, when you possess the fruits of the Spirit mentioned above. This way, you will be leading by example. Possessing these characteristics replaces every other negative attitude within you, thereby reflecting the inner beauty of Christ in you. Jesus, our role model for winning souls, expects us to live a life worthy of emulation. God’s Word in Matthew 5:16 says: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. I have had opportunities to counsel people who have unsaved loved ones and discovered that quite a number of them do not live lives that speak right in their homes. I once met a woman who was having problems with the salvation of her husband, and I discovered from my discussion with her that the way she used her tongue in the home had constituted the major obstacles to the man’s salvation. Brethren, be chaste in your conversation! Women are usually guilty of this. As long as you keep nagging your unsaved husband, after a while, he will not even like you to be around him. This may even lead to divorce in a home. Do not let your tongue be a trap to your loved ones; let it be an asset! Let your tongue speak blessing to your home and not create a division. Understand that there is power in your tongue and you are permitted to see what you say. So, if you keep speaking the salvation of your spouse in faith, showing them love to water what you believe, then you will surely see the salvation of your spouse.

Living a Christian life is not as convenient but compulsory. You have a job to do. So, a woman who has a husband who is an unbeliever and who probably is a drunkard, would need to fall on her knees and take the situation to God in prayers. She would also need to follow it up in prayers with a practice of the fruits of the Spirit. Nagging, insulting, abusing or cursing the man will only push him deeper into his sins. Remember, whatever happens to him, will also affect you too in the long run.

Instead, let your life be a living proof of the characteristics of the fruits of the Spirit. Let love, gentleness and meekness be your stronghold. Let it move you to prayers, watching out for your unbelieving spouse even in a terrible drunken state. I tell you, very shortly, he or she will come to realise the depth of your love and gentle character that he or she won’t need too much lecture on turning over a new leaf. Let your actions be the one that speaks patience, temperance, faith and very shortly God will touch your spouse’s heart by His power as written in John 6:44 which says: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Here is a testimony that will inspire you: When we started preparing for the Women Convention, I prayed to God and told Him I wanted my own family renewed. I did not like the names I was being called, (I was being called the wife of an unbeliever). But I told God I didn’t want to be called that again. And God did a great thing, even before the convention began! God has changed my husband! On the day of the last breakthrough night, my husband said, “We have to go to church”. We came to church together and he gave his life to Christ that day. He has now stopped smoking and everything has changed in his life. He is now, a new born person!

During the special ministration sessions at the convention, I stood in the gap for my husband using my neck chain and on getting home, I placed the chain on my husband’s neck and placed my anointed forehead on his and he started to prophesy, speaking in tongues! My husband had always criticised speaking in tongues, and here he was doing just that. – Efemuaye L.

I see God do the same for you in Jesus’ name! With Him, ALL things are possible. Embrace Jesus today and turn the life of your spouse around for good. 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 2) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo appeared first on Flatimes.

Billy Graham Devotional 17 April 2018 – The Ability to Believe

Topic: The Ability to Believe [Billy Graham’s Devotional Tuesday April 17, 2018]

. . . believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead . . . — Romans 10:9

It is impossible to believe anything into existence. The Gospel did not come into being because men believed it. The tomb was not emptied of Christ’s body that first Easter because some faithful persons believed it. The fact preceded the faith. We are psychologically incapable of believing without an object of our faith. The object of Christian faith is Christ. Faith means more than an intellectual assent to the claims of Christ. You are not called upon to believe something that is not credible, but to believe in the fact of history that in reality transcends all history. Faith actually means surrender and commitment to the claims of Christ. We do not know Christ through the five physical senses, but we know Him through the sixth sense that God has given every man—the ability to believe.

Prayer for the day: As I keep my eyes on You, Lord, my faith does not waver. Too often I look down and stumble. Let me comprehend today afresh the power that raised You from the dead.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Billy Graham’s Daily Devotional HERE

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

The post Billy Graham Devotional 17 April 2018 – The Ability to Believe appeared first on Flatimes.

Andrew Wommack’s Devotional 17 April 2018 – Peace In The Midst Of The Storm

Topic: Peace In The Midst Of The Storm [Andrew Wommack Tuesday April 17, 2018]

Mark 4:37-38, “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master carest thou not that we perish?”

Text: Matthew 12:46-50; 8:23-27; Mark 3:31-35; 4:35-41; Luke 8:19-26

Considering the fact that the boat was filled with water, it is amazing that the disciples had to awaken Jesus. This was not a large ship with cabins below deck but rather a small, open boat and Jesus was, no doubt, “soaked to the bone.” This reflects Jesus’ humanity and how tired He must have been. It also shows that Jesus must have been in a very deep sleep. Medical science has discovered that the deeper we sleep, the more rest our bodies get. This is a clue as to how Jesus could maintain the grueling pace He kept, along only with an occasional all-night prayer time. He was receiving the maximum benefit from His sleep.

Jesus did not say “Let us go out into the midst of the sea and drown in a storm.” He was going to the other side. This shows that the disciples still didn’t understand Jesus’ authority. They were committed to Him as their Messiah, but they hadn’t yet realized that Jesus was Lord even over the physical elements. Many Christians still do this today. They receive the spiritual benefits of salvation but have not reaped the physical benefits of health and prosperity, which are also part of our salvation.

Whichever we focus upon – the storm, or the Lord in the midst of our storm – will determine how we manage the storms we face in life. He is not asleep concerning the things you face in this life, He’s right there in your “ship,” resting, because He knows you’ll both get to the “other side.” His peace is yours. Believe His Word. Rest in His love.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack’s Daily Devotional HERE

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).

The post Andrew Wommack’s Devotional 17 April 2018 – Peace In The Midst Of The Storm appeared first on Flatimes.