BBC Religion Editor Martin Bashir On Why Christianity is Still Relevant to the Masses

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BBC Religion Editor Martin Bashir On Why Christianity is Still Relevant to the Masses

Bashir describes his conversion to Christianity – and why Easter isn’t just about chocolate

by Martin Bashir

If Christmas is now a secular celebration – described by one newspaper as a season marked by “buying, boozing and bonking” – then what do we make of Easter? Is Holy Week more about chocolate eggs than the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ?

And since the latest British Social Attitudes survey says that more than half (53 per cent) of the British public now describe themselves as having “no religion”, isn’t it time to consign these Christian festivals to history?

Should we accept the advice offered by an advertising campaign on the side of London buses in 2008 that read, “There’s probably no God – now stop worrying and enjoy your life”?

These are some of the questions that I’ve been grappling with since I returned to the UK in 2016, after working for 12 years as a news broadcaster in New York, and became the BBC’s religion editor.

The business of journalism demands objectivity and fairness, but there is no such thing as perfect impartiality because all of us carry our own cultural freight, and I’m no different. My parents came to Britain from Pakistan in 1951, my father having served with the Royal Navy throughout the Second World War.

They would describe themselves as liberal Muslims, firmly embracing of British culture, and did not insist upon attendance at a mosque beyond my tenth birthday. That experience piqued an early interest in theology and philosophy and I found myself embracing the Christian faith in my late teens after attending a…

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15 Really Funny Searches at ThomRainer.com

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It’s time for a blog post on the lighter side.

I expect many of you are pretty exhausted after Easter Sunday. Levity might be the better alternative to my more serious articles.

Here is what I did. I looked at a very lengthy list of different searches people made on Google that landed them at ThomRainer.com. Many were expected. A large number, though, were total surprises. Here are 15 of the funnier surprise searches at my site, in no particular order.

  1. “Best fitting collars for preachers.” Clergy collar? Shirt collar? Dog collar?
  2. “How to write a critical anonymous letter.” Just say no.
  3. “Why don’t Baptists hug?” We enjoy fighting more.
  4. “What do I do if a woman in the church is trying to seduce my husband?” Believe it or not, there were two searches just like this one. My blog must have a weird reputation.
  5. “Bible verses that support the use of social media.” Hezekiah 8:33: “Go therefore and make tweeters of all nations.”
  6. “Thom S. Ranier.” I had to include that one; my last name gets misspelled a lot.
  7. “Should greeters stand behind a counter?” My preference is slightly to the right.
  8. “Characteristics of a good critic in the church.” Here is my exhaustive list: _________.
  9. “Seven demons that attack the church.” Did you want specific names?
  10. “What are the duties of the pastor emeritus?” To emerit with quality.
  11. “Sermon on ugly deeds of church members.” Enjoy it. It may be your last one.
  12. “Driving to church late.” See deacons, role of.
  13. “What to do if…

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MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional Monday, 2 April 2018 – Just Say It And Believe It (II)

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TOPIC: Just Say It And Believe It (II) (Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries Monday, 2 April 2018)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 17:42-48

MEMORY VERSE:
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” – James 1:6

The MESSAGE:

A man of God was invited to minister in a crusade somewhere in the up-country. When he got to the house he was to lodge, the residents brought to him a mad boy and started begging him to help them pray for the boy. Here we go! The preacher has been invited to anchor a crusade where he was expected to perform some notable miracles. So why wasn’t he going to start it all up from his lodge? As you would expect, the man of God pointed at the mad boy and said, “You spirit of insanity, I command you in the name of Jesus, come out of him now.” That was quite authoritative! But nothing changed. The child appeared madder. When they asked the man of God, he said, “I just gave the resident demons a notice to quit. But we need to allow them some time to pack their loads.” True to his word, the child had become normal on their return from the crusade. The preacher spoke the word of faith and believed in the God he served, hence the miracle.

Goliath and David’s conversation was a clear demonstration of the power of spoken words. They spoke the words of faith in the ones they believed. While Goliath depended on his gods, David believed on the Living God, the Captain of the hosts of Israel. The battle soon became the battle between the gods of the Philistines and the God of Israel. Assuredly, when two opposing powers fight the lesser power will have to bow. The truth is that the words spoken by both Goliath and David were the catalysts that brought about defeat on one side and victory on the other side.

Another truth is that the faith of Goliath was in a lesser god while David’s was in the God that created all things including the gods. The one you believe goes a long way to determine your success or defeat. In whom do you believe? In whom is your faith anchored? Whose words do you speak? Your answers to these questions go a long way to determine whether you will live or die like Goliath in the battle of life. If your faith is in the God of David, then you will speak the word of faith like David did and you will get the result David got, in Jesus’ name.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
God always arises to defend His children who demonstrate unwavering faith in Him.

PROPHETIC WORD:
From this day onward, you shall have whatever you decree by faith.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING
1. Father, I thank You because You love me and care for me, in the name of Jesus.
2. Power to speak the word of God fall on me, in the name of Jesus.
3. I declare my faith in the Lord God of Israel, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING
4. Goliath-like power, boasting against my God, fall down and die, in Jesus’ name.
5. I receive the power of God to speak in faith, in the name of Jesus.
6. Today, I will not operate under fear, unforgiveness, disobedience, covetousness and pride, in the name of Jesus.
7. I decree that I will operate in trust, fear of the Lord, obedience, love and humility, 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: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late…There is still hope, JESUS LOVES YOU!

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Pope calls for peace in the world, ‘beginning with Syria’

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Pope calls for peace in the world, ‘beginning with Syria’

Francis reflected on the power of Christianity’s core belief – that Jesus rose from the dead following crucifixion – in his formal “Urbi et Orbi” Easter message delivered from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to a packed square below.

The pontiff said the message of the resurrection offers hope in a world “marked by so many acts of injustice and violence”.

 

“It bears fruits of hope and dignity where there are deprivation and exclusion, hunger and unemployment; where there are migrants and refugees, so often rejected by today’s culture of waste, and victims of the drug trade, human trafficking and contemporary forms of slavery,” he said.

He called for a “swift end” to carnage in Syria, demanding that aid be delivered to the needy there and calling for “fitting conditions for the returned and the displaced”.

The Pope also urged reconciliation in Israel and hoped that mutual respect would “prevail over divisions” in Yemen and the entire Middle East.

Turning to Asia, Francis hoped that talks under way could bring peace to the Korean peninsula, urging “those who are directly responsible act with wisdom and discernment to promote the good of the Korean people”.

AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

 

For Ukraine, the Pope urged more steps to bring harmony to that divided nation.

He also called for peace in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, urging…

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Fearing Rise of Far-right Ideology, Canada to Spend $23 Million On Anti-Racism Efforts

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Fearing Rise of Far-right Ideology, Canada to Spend $23 Million On Anti-Racism Efforts

Mourners pray in front of the caskets during a funeral for three of the victims of the deadly shooting at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Center in February 2017. (Chris Wattie/AFP/Getty Images)

Concerned that the tide of far-right ideology could become mainstream in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has for the first time earmarked millions of dollars in the national budget to counter racism.

As far-right movements have gained ground among many of Canada’s allies, the Liberal government has committed to providing $23 million Canadian over two years for multicultural programs and cross-country consultations on racism.

The budget, approved in February, stated that diversity was a cornerstone of Canadian identity threatened by the rise of “ultranationalist movements and protests against immigration, visible minorities and religious minorities.” The new funding will bolster the existing Multiculturalism Program.

Canada is worried that such ultranationalist movements could also harbor violent elements. In its annual public report on the terrorist threat to Canada in December, Public Safety Canada listed right-wing extremism as a “growing concern” for the first time. While much of the far-right activity was concentrated online, the report said, there were risks for physical violence.

In the past year, media have reported less than a dozen physical assaults motivated by hate. But the memory of the 2017 shooting at a Quebec City mosque that killed six and injured dozens lingers in Canada. In his trial this week, Alexandre Bissonnette pleaded…

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Defunct Chinese Space Station to Enter Atmosphere Within Hours

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Defunct Chinese Space Station to Enter Atmosphere Within Hours

China’s defunct Tiangong 1 space station hurtled toward Earth on Sunday and was expected to re-enter the atmosphere within hours.

Most of the craft should burn up on re-entry, so scientists said falling debris poses only a slight risk to people on the ground.

The European Space Agency forecast that the station, whose name translates as “Heavenly Palace,” will re-enter sometime between Sunday night and early Monday GMT. The Chinese space agency said it should happen during the course of Monday Beijing time.

The Aerospace Corp. predicted Tiangong 1′s re-entry would take place within 2 hours of either side of 0018 GMT Monday (8:18 p.m. Sunday EDT.)

Based on the space station’s orbit, it will come back to Earth somewhere 43 degrees north and 43 degrees south, a range covering most of the United States, China, Africa, southern Europe, Australia and South America. Out of range are Russia, Canada and northern Europe.

Only about 10 percent of the bus-sized, 8.5-ton spacecraft will likely survive being burned up on re-entry, mainly its heavier components such as its engines. The chances of any one person being hit by debris are considered less than one in a trillion.

Launched in 2011, Tiangong 1 was China’s first space station, serving as an experimental platform for bigger projects, such as the Tiangong 2 launched in September 2016 and a future permanent Chinese space station.

The station played host to two crewed missions and served as a test platform for perfecting docking procedures and other operations. Its last crew departed in 2013 and contact with it was cut in…

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Success Secrets for a Fulfilled Marriage (Part 5) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

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Success Secrets for a Fulfilled Marriage (Part 5) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Success Secrets for a Fulfilled Marriage (5)

Dear Reader,

I welcome you to this exciting moment in God’s presence! All through this month, I have been exposing you to some of the vital secrets in maintaining the atmosphere of love, joy and peace in your home. I believe a lot have changed in your marriage since the beginning of this series. In this concluding week, I will be going further to teach on the spices for intimacy in marriage.

Building intimacy in the home is one sure way to sustain love between couples. Intimacy means togetherness and the closer you are to your spouse, the fonder you become. You must have read other articles on intimacy and ways to strengthen this bond, but I will love to show you some other aspects that are easily ignored, but equally very important. These includes:

Exchanging of Surprise Gifts

My precious husband says you cannot love without giving. Giving is a way of expressing love. Similarly, it is a way of brightening up the atmosphere at home when it is dull. My husband uses this habit to keep the home lively. I remember one day at home, the atmosphere seemed dull and I felt gloomy. My husband sensed this before he left home. He came back home with a little gift, something very small yet it reassured me that someone cares and loves me. This act stimulated me, and there was a new glow at home. As small as it was, I kept this gift in my room till today.

So, it is not good enough to say you don’t know what your husband likes or what your wife or children need. It is not the volume, but the expression of your care that really counts. The element of surprises, which the gift stirs up, is enough to cause another honeymoon. It is not the amount of money spent that matters, but the kind thought behind it.

Share Important Dates Together

Celebrating important dates together creates excitement and brightens up your home. When speaking of important dates like Christmas and New Year, you should understand however that in a family, we are talking not just of Christmas and New Year. Birthday, anniversaries and so on can be observed, even if the one celebrating it has forgotten. If you give him or her surprise, it will create a well of joy, respect, honour and love.

Jesus gave us an example to follow when the day of Passover came. When He was about to be crucified, He called His disciples, the closest people to Him, and had a memorable supper with them. The Bible says: …And they made ready the Passover … And he said unto them, with desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you… (Luke 22:13, 15). After supper He then said …This do in remembrance of me…

The Israelites, too, had this habit of remembering events, especially those special things the Lord did for them, like their deliverance from Egypt. It is one of the things that have kept them together as a nation and people today. You, too, as a Christian can remember the things God has done in your life as an individual and family. You mark such dates as times of celebration of God’s faithfulness in your life and family. However, don’t borrow to celebrate. You celebrate in love and joy, which are much more priceless.

Doing Things Together

This is another spice that adds glamour to your marital life. Jesus said: My Father works hitherto and I work also (John 5:17). The Lord was involved in His Father’s business. They worked together. It showed the Son’s interest in the Father’s business. This speaks of togetherness. Doing things together eradicates every dull moment in your home.

So, make it a point of duty this month to surprise and appreciate your spouse and family members with surprise gifts. Also, make out time to be together to celebrate the Lord’s goodness in your family life. You will never regret marrying your spouse. Your marriage shall not break in Jesus’ name!

Give Room to Praise

Another way of spicing up intimacy in your marriage is by locating the good qualities in your spouse and children, and to praise them for it; rather than focusing on their areas of weakness and mistakes. Praise is the master key to an enviable Christian living, and that is the missing ingredient in most Christian homes.

I remember the story of a woman who went to a Counsellor and said, “My husband is very bad; I want to leave him.” The Counsellor drew a circle and said “Put a dot in the circle for every fault your spouse has committed.” The woman started putting dots in the circle for as many offences as she could remember – “He insulted me; he didn’t give me money, …” She rapped on until she could remember no more. The Counsellor then said, “Madam, the undotted space in the circle is still larger than the dotted part. That means your husband is not as bad as you want me to believe.” The woman was advised to go home and put things right with her husband. So, no matter what might have happened in the past, there must still be some good qualities in your spouse. Focus on those positive points, and the bad ones will soon fade away.

Also, as a family, find time to praise God together, that will fill your home with God’s presence. Wherever God is, there is fullness of joy and pleasures forever more. No wonder God’s Word says: Thou wilt show me the path of life; In thine presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for ever more (Psalm 16:11).

If you are not born again, it will be impossible for you to benefit from what has just been discussed. You become born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour of your life. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please 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.

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Teens’ Open Heavens 2 April 2018 – He Sends On Errands

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Teens’ Open Heavens 2 April 2018 – He Sends On Errands

Topic: He Sends On Errands [Teens’ Open Heavens 2, April 2018]

Memorise: And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 15:16

Read: Luke 10:1-3, 17 (KJV)

1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Bible In One Year: Joshua 8-9, Luke 8:22-56

MESSAGE:

God sends on errands. He told Moses that He was sending him to Pharoah. He is looking for reliable people that He can send on errands. In mark 16:15-16, He sent us to the whole world to preach the Gospel and bring forth fruits. Many of the problems we have today are as a result of our refusal to go forth as commanded. But if we repent and decide to go, signs will follow us. In Luke 10:1-3, 17, Jesus sent out 70 people in twos and when they returned they were full of joy and testified that even the demons obeyed them.

In your home, would your parents send you on an errand and you would refuse? You will most likely not. What if the president of your country sends you on an errand? You will feel privileged to carry it out. Now why would the Presidents of presidents send you on an errand and you will make excuses? God has sent us to preach the Gospel to the world, and He expects results.

Key Point: If you carry out God’s errands perfectly and within the time specified, He too will honour you by doing things for you

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Teen Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye’’

Hymn 4:

I. God give us Christian homes!
Homes Where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the master’s will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty
Thy love hath wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

2. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

3. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother in queenly quest,
Strives to show others Thy way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honoured guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

4. God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Children are led to know,
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fire burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

Daily Devotional for Teen’s 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.

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Kenneth & Gloria Copeland’s Devotional 2 April 2018 – What a Future!

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Kenneth & Gloria Copeland’s Devotional 2 April 2018 – What a Future!

Topic: What a Future! [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Monday April 2, 2018]

[God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. – Ephesians 2:6-7

All my life people told me the reason God saved us was so that when we got to glory, we could spend the rest of eternity loving Him and worshiping Him. But, you know, that’s just not so.

It sounds pretty good, but it’s just something someone made up. God isn’t selfish. He’s just the opposite. He’s the ultimate giver. The ultimate lover. He doesn’t do anything just so He can get something in return.

Why then did He save us? The Word of God tells us He did it so that in the ages to come, He could show us the exceeding riches of His grace.

Think about that! God is going to spend eternity showing the riches of His grace to you and me.

That’s why He sent Jesus into the world. He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. God gave Jesus so that He wouldn’t be His only son. He sent Jesus so He could have more sons to love and give to—and He plans to spend the eons of time doing just that.

As a believer, you have the most glorious future ahead of you that anyone could ever ask. But don’t wait until you get to glory to enjoy it. You can start right now. You’ve already been seated!

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-8

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here’’

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

The post Kenneth & Gloria Copeland’s Devotional 2 April 2018 – What a Future! appeared first on Flatimes.

Israel Says Troops Acted Appropriately in Responding to Violence in Gaza

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Israel Says Troops Acted Appropriately in Responding to Violence in Gaza

Israel’s defense minister on Sunday rejected international calls for an investigation into deadly violence along Gaza’s border with Israel, saying troops acted appropriately and fired only at Palestinian protesters who posed a threat.

Fifteen Palestinians were killed and over 700 wounded in Friday’s violence near the Israeli border, according to Palestinian health officials. It was the area’s deadliest violence since a war four years ago.

Human rights groups have accused the army of using excessive force, and both the U.N. secretary-general and the European Union’s foreign policy chief have urged an investigation.

In an interview, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel would not cooperate with a U.N. inquiry if there were one.

“From the standpoint of the Israeli soldiers, they did what had to be done,” Lieberman told Israeli Army Radio. “I think that all of our troops deserve a commendation, and there won’t be any inquiry.”

Friday’s mass marches were largely led by Gaza’s ruling Hamas group and touted as the launch of a six-week-long protest campaign against a stifling decade-old blockade of the territory. Israel and Egypt have maintained the blockade since Hamas, an Islamic militant group sworn to Israel’s destruction, seized control of Gaza in 2007.

In Friday’s confrontations, large crowds gathered near the fence, with smaller groups of protesters rushing forward, throwing stones and burning tires.

Israeli troops responded with live fire and rubber-coated steel pellets, while drones dropped tear gas from above. Soldiers with rifles were…

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