Atheist adverts urge people to skip church at Christmas

They are being produced in the US states of Texas and New Mexico by atheists who claim Christians “don’t have a monopoly” over Christmas.

President of American Atheists, David Silverman said: “People ignore that fact because they enjoy the community, the friendship, and the traditions that go along with religion.

“But we’re here to tell them that churches don’t have a monopoly on any of that.

 

“There’s a fantastic and vibrant community of atheists all across the country creating their own traditions and lifelong friendships.”

The adverts, which are appearing in Dallas, Fort Worth and Albuquerque throughout December, feature the words “just skip church, it’s all fake news” beside a cartoon depiction of the Nativity.

Reporting a 365 per cent in use of the term – which refers to false information – Collins Dictionary named ‘fake news’ its 2017 Word of the Year last month.

American Atheists

 

US President Donald Trump has regularly used the expression to describe unfavourable coverage by some American news organisations.

Nick Fish, national program director for American Atheists, said: “People are rightly sceptical about some of the news they see on Facebook, hear from their family, or are told by elected officials.

“But too often, they don’t extend that scepticism to their religious views and what their religious leaders are telling them.”

“And right now, we could all use a little more…

… Read More



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

قالب وردپرس

Five Ways to Connect Your Church to Your Community

Podcast Episode #385

SUBSCRIBE: iTunesRSSStitcherTuneIn RadioGoogle Play • iHeart Radio

Dean Inserra joins us today to explain how City Church Tallahassee has used community events and organization to connect church members to the community.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • Don’t equip members just to have more Bible knowledge. Equip them to be missionaries in their hometown.
  • For far too long, the missionary label has just been for those who go overseas.
  • Christian maturity means following Jesus into the world.
  • “I’m not interested in an discipleship model that’s not going to equip people to clearly articulate the gospel.”
  • “People aren’t going to invite someone to their church when they secretly aren’t excited about going to themselves.”

The five ways we cover to connect to the community are:

  1. Emphasize the importance of an outwardly focused DNA
  2. Guests come on the arm of a friend
  3. Don’t duplicate within
  4. Raise up from within
  5. View your church as a launching pad

About Dean Inserra

Dean Inserra is the Lead Pastor of City Church, a church he started in his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida in 2007. Dean has a passion to reach his hometown for Christ through the local church and to see healthy churches planted across the South and the nation. Dean is married to his wife Krissie and they have three children, Tommy, Ty, and Sally Ashlyn. He loves baseball, Starbucks, the New England Patriots, and the indoors.


Episode Sponsors

Midwestern Seminary is…

… Read More



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

قالب وردپرس

When Giving Someone a Bible Verse Is Inappropriate .



  • Ian Squire

    Doctor Shot to Death After Singing ‘Amazing Grace’


    Ian Squire, 57, was killed instantly by shots fired by one of four gang members who kidnapped him …



  • Diamond Mehlhoff

    CPS Snatches Newborn From Disabled Christian Mother Because She Refused Vaccinations


    Sometimes a story comes along that makes your blood boil, and this is one of them.  



  • 3 Foods That Are Draining Your Energy

    3 Foods That Are Draining Your Energy


    Dr. Gundry reveals the top three common foods that you would have never guessed were the cause of your…

  • …Read More

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

    قالب وردپرس

    Joyce Meyer’s Daily 1 December 2017 Devotional: Stir Yourself Up!

    Joyce Meyer's Daily 1 December 2017 Devotional: Stir Yourself Up!

    Topic: Stir Yourself Up! [Friday December 1, 2017]

    For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. — Galatians 5:6

    God’s love is unconditional and everlasting. I remember how amazed and excited I was when He revealed His love to me. I felt like I was going to burst!

    But after awhile, I got used to the fact that God loves me, and I didn’t feel the same passion.

    Has that ever happened to you? Are you experiencing it now? If so, I believe there is something you can do about it.

    Paul told Timothy to stir himself up, to fan the flame and rekindle the embers of the fire he once had. Paul’s message to Timothy is God’s message to you today: Stir yourself up! Stop living life being tired of the “same old, same old.”

    We need to remember this: We make the decision to approach life with passion before it becomes a feeling.

    So make a decision today to wake up every morning excited about the relationship you have with your Creator. Stir yourself up and live amazed by Him!

    Prayer Starter: God, I want to always be amazed by You! I will not live without passion. Knowing You is amazing, and I choose now to live with passion about my relationship with You.

    From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries


    Christmas Tree Shortage Affecting The U.S. As Holidays Approach

    Reuters/Chris KeaneThere may be shortage of real Christmas trees this year, farmers say.

    Those who are planning to use real fir as their Christmas tree this year are encouraged to buy one early as there is a shortage of the real thing.

    While it is true that more and more people are opting for artificial Christmas trees, it can’t be denied that many still prefer to go for the real fir tree as the centerpiece of their holiday embellishments. However, as it is estimated that there will be a shortage of around one million real fir trees in the U.S. this year, consumers are advised to purchase one early to make sure that they can bring home one.

    According to Pete Elliott from Treeland Christmas Trees, this has been the roughest year in terms of the availability of real fir trees is concerned. Elliot opines that real fir trees have never been this limited as far as he can remember since his father got into the business in 1965.

    Although the limited number of fir trees this year can be attributed to many factors, it is said that much of it can be blamed for the recession that farmers experienced some years ago. Because of the financial difficulties that the farmers experienced a few years back, they used their fields in planting something else that would be more profitable for them.

    “A lot of farmers were bankrupt or trying to stay above water and decided to plow their field. It’s just to the time where that plowing the fields and stuff, has caught up,” Elliott said.

    Because of the apparent shortage of fir trees, Elliott encourages those planning to use a good quality real fir tree as their…

    … Read More

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

    قالب وردپرس

    ‘Potentially Hazardous’ Asteroid to Pass by Earth in December

    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has confirmed that a “potentially hazardous” asteroid called 3200 Phaethon will pass by Earth on Dec. 16.

    REUTERS/NASA-JSCPlanet Earth

    When it hurtles past the planet, the asteroid will approximately be 6.4 million miles away. That is 27 times the distance from Earth to the moon. Still, it will be the closest it has ever been to Earth since Dec. 16, 1974. More than 40 years ago, 3200 Phaeton was 5 million miles away from the planet when it passed by.

    “With a diameter of about 5 km, Phaethon is the third largest near-Earth asteroid classified as “Potentially Hazardous,” NASA said in a statement.

    They continued, “Phaethon will approach within 0.069 au of Earth on 2017 December 16 when it will be a strong radar imaging target at Goldstone and Arecibo.”

    The U.S. space agency is looking forward to taking detailed images of 3200 Phaeton, which will also allow them to create a detailed 3D model.

    NASA believes Phaeton will soar past Earth again in 2093.

    It is named after the son of Greek sun god Helios because it passes so close to the sun. Legend has it, Phaeton, a demi-god, was asked to prove his relation to Helios. He was asked to ride his father’s chariot, which he was unable to control. The horses ran wild across the sky, dragging the sun along, which scorched some parts of the Earth, including what we now know as the deserts of Africa.

    Another space rock, dubbed Oumuamua, which was first discovered on Oct. 19, is currently moving towards Earth at speeds of 58,160 mph. Scientists are still trying to assess whether this cigar-shaped…

    … Read More

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

    قالب وردپرس

    How This Megachurch Is Impacting a Gang-Infested Community .

    Over his decades of ministry in Bronzeville, a Chicago neighborhood known for crime and violence, Bishop Horace Smith has watched as others moved out.
    Over his decades of ministry in Bronzeville, a Chicago neighborhood known for crime and violence, Bishop Horace Smith has watched as others moved out. (CBN News)

    We have an interesting story, well told, from .. . charismapodcastnetwork.com.


    Over his decades of ministry in Bronzeville, a Chicago neighborhood known for crime and violence, Bishop Horace Smith has watched as others moved out.

    It happened in 1987, when the church decided to invest $3…

    …Read More

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

    قالب وردپرس

    Ex-Missionary Smuggled Honduran Woman Into US For Sex .

    A jury convicted an ex-missionary of human trafficking after he admitted to smuggling a young woman into the United States to have a sexual relationship.
    A jury convicted an ex-missionary of human trafficking after he admitted to smuggling a young woman into the United States to have a sexual relationship. (3839153/Pixabay/Public Domain)

    We have an interesting story, well told, from .. . charismapodcastnetwork.com.


    A jury convicted an ex-missionary of human trafficking after he admitted to smuggling a young woman into the United States to have a sexual relationship.

    A judge sentenced Ronald Edward…

    …Read More

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

    قالب وردپرس