Starbucks Cup cheered by LGBT advocates

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Starbucks Cup cheered by LGBT advocates

Starbucks has unveiled its new holiday campaign. It features what appears to be an affectionate lesbian couple in its promotional video. Some believe that the design of the new cup includes a same-sex couple as well.

The British LGBT Awards tweeted, “We’re loving @Starbucks’ new festive ad with a lesbian couple.” Other LGBT advocates are cheering the Holiday Cup design that seems to incorporate the couple. Predictably, those who oppose such “inclusiveness” are being labeled as “closed-minded” and ridiculed.

As unbiblical morality becomes increasingly popular, it’s worth asking: Why should Christians stand up against cultural trends?

The popularity of popularity

I often write about our culture’s postmodern belief that truth is what we believe it to be. Here’s a corollary consequence: popularity has become our definition of success.

Possessions are measured by popularity. Why do we want to drive and wear what is fashionable? Why do we care what other people think of our cars and clothes so long as they do their job?

Social media is driven by popularity measured in “likes,” “click-throughs,” and “follows.” The larger your audience, the more valuable your message. Or so we think.

Morality is driven by popularity as well. Since 61 percent of Australians voting in a recent election supported same-sex marriage, lawmakers will now change the centuries-old definition of marriage to accommodate the popular vote. Whether gay marriage is actually harmful to gay people and society at large is not a factor in the conversation.

Euthanasia is becoming more available than ever before, not because health care professionals believe it to be best for patients (actually, a large majority do not), but because a successful public relations campaign is persuading a largely uninformed public.

An illuminating article in the Columbia Political Review notes that public opinion plays a very significant role in shifting the attitudes and…

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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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Royal marriage celebrated by Westminster Abbey bells

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Royal marriage celebrated by Westminster Abbey bells

Having married when she was 21 years old, the Queen beats any other monarch in having the longest marriage.

Catherine Butch, co-author of ‘The Servant Queen’, a book on the Queen’s Christian faith, told Premier about their marriage.

She said: “The Queen did pay public tribute to Prince Phillip in 2012.

“She said he’d been her constant strength and guide throughout their married life”.

“Publicly, she made a statement but people of that generation tend not to say anything in public about relationships, but she did say that.”

Commending the sacrifices Prince Phillip has made for the marriage, Butcher said: “He’s someone who has given up his own career to serve her and he’s shown that duty and faithfulness for 70 years which is something to be commended.”

Speaking of the initial get-together, she commented: “It wasn’t a match that was approved apparently; she fell in love with him as a young woman.

“Love wasn’t really part of the equation often in royal matches so it was her act of rebellion.”

Through 70 years, Butcher said the couple have had to persevere and also cope with the divorce of three of their children and the changing role of the royal family in the public eye.

When asked about Philip’s faith, Butcher said during her research she was told that he was a regular church attendee.

She added: “I was told categorically that he turns up quite regularly – when she [the Queen] is here and not here, this is a regular part of his life, attending worship in a…

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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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Follow the Leader .

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A group calls for Greggs boycott over sausage roll nativity

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A group calls for Greggs boycott over sausage roll nativity

The Guardian UK report – Baker accused of ‘manufacturing a scandal to sell baked goods’ after replacing Jesus in advert for new advent calendar

The bakery chain Greggs has apologised for offending Christians with a nativity scene advert that replaces Jesus with a sausage roll.

The chief executive of the Freedom Association, a rightwing pressure group, claimed the advert was “sick” and that the retailer would “never dare” insult other religions.

The UK Evangelical Alliance strongly criticised the baker, saying it was a gimmick that seemed to be about “manufacturing a scandal to sell baked goods”.

Greggs released the image to promote its £24 advent calendar, which goes on sale next Monday. Its decision to use an image depicting the three wise men gathering round a crib containing a sausage roll sparked criticism from Twitter users and religious groups.

 

Greggs is not withdrawing the product – its first ever advent calendar – but said in a statement: “We’re really sorry to have caused any offence, this was never our intention.”

Simon Richards, chief executive of the Freedom Association, tweeted: “Please boycott @GreggsOfficial to protest against its sick anti-Christian advent calendar.

“What cowards these people are: we all know that they would never dare insult other religions! They should donate every penny of their profits to @salvationarmyuk.”

Christians on Twitter said the advert was disrespectful. “I’m glad Christians kicked off and Greggs apologised,” wrote one Twitter user. “No other religion would stand for that nonsense.”

The calendar will go on sale in selected Greggs store … read more

Centia Ezeh, a Prophetess at World Harvest Christian Centre and the founder of Christian Women of Influence (CWOI) , as a concern Christian has spoken up on social media condemning the acts of the baker portraying Jesus as a sausage. Centia and her followers are considering staging a peaceful protest

Metro UK report – Why Greggs’ portrayal of Jesus as a sausage roll is not as weird as you might think

M J C Warren, Lecturer in Biblical and Religious Studies, University of Sheffield

WITH more than 1,000 outlets across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, Greggs the baker is a national institution. It’s not uncommon for queues to form in some towns and cities as the daily doughnuts, cheese and onion pasties and steak bakes come out of the ovens. But it is the sausage roll that is the star turn.

Now, though, it seems it is the star that Greggs took too far. For Britain’s biggest bakery has had to apologise after it replaced the traditional baby Jesus in the manger with its famed product in a nativity scene. The image was used to promote its advent calendar and, the company says, it wasn’t meant to cause offence.

Well, regardless of intentions, the image, with three wise men reverently surrounding a golden sausage roll in a manger, caused quite an uproar.

Many Christian Twitter users were at the forefront of this backlash against the image, tapping into the false narrative of the persecution of Christians in Western countries including the UK and US, and the idea that there is a ‘war on Christmas’ … read more

Five Common Reasons Church Leaders Stop Leading

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I am having an amazing time reading through the book of Joshua. My pastor (who happens to be my son, Jess) is also preaching through the early chapters of the book in our church.

I just can’t seem to get enough of Joshua. Among the many reasons Joshua is my favorite biblical character other than Jesus is his uncanny leadership. For example, in Joshua 1, he transitions from becoming Moses’ servant to becoming the leader of Israel. It’s an amazing thing to read.

Joshua was one incredible leader.

We have many incredible leaders in our churches today. But, perhaps more often than we admit, some church leaders stop leading. I have spoken with hundreds, probably thousands, of them over the years. I hear common themes of why they put their leadership in neutral. Here are the five most common reasons:

  1. They are weary of conflict and criticism. These leaders have died the death of a thousand cuts. They know when they provide real leadership, the critics and naysayers will come out of the woodwork. Some of the leaders have lost their jobs because they led. They thus move into a defensive posture.
  2. They don’t know how to lead. Joshua had the mentorship of Moses for a generation. He was instructed. He was prepared. He was ready. Many of our church leaders know their Bible. They know theology. But they have never been trained or mentored to lead.
  3. They overreact to autocratic leadership. We all know examples of when the pastor became a dictator instead of a leader. Sadly, that reality takes place in…

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

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Joyce Meyer’s Daily 20 November 2017 Devotional: Follow the Ark

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Joyce Meyer’s Daily 20 November 2017 Devotional: Follow the Ark
Joyce Meyer's Daily 20 November 2017 Devotional: Follow the Ark

Topic: Follow the Ark [Monday November 20, 2017]

Commanding the people: When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being borne by the Levitical priests, set out from where you are and follow it. — Joshua 3:3

Are you facing any new opportunities right now? Whatever those opportunities may be, it’s always important to “follow the ark.” What do I mean by that? Well…sometimes we can hang on to old, stale situations in life, simply because they are familiar to us, and we’re really just afraid of getting into uncharted territory. And then there are times we can sense something new ahead of us and we just want to step right into it—before it’s God’s time for us to do it.

In Joshua 3:3, God talks to Israel about following the Ark of the Covenant. The ark represents the anointing of God…the presence of God…the will of God. It’s very important for us to learn to follow the will of God and not our own will or the will of others.

God has a plan for you and me, and the only way to see that plan unfold is to follow the ark, or the will of God, and not our flesh, other people or our emotions.

Remember today that whatever God’s will is for your life, He will provide the way for you to accomplish it.

Prayer Starter: God, like the Israelites, I know that I need to “follow the ark.” My timing for the new opportunities doesn’t matter…only Your will matters. As I follow You, I know that You will make a way to bring Your plan for me to pass.

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries


Luxury Advent calendars ‘selfish’

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Luxury Advent calendars ‘selfish’

Rev Dr Ian Paul, a member of the Archbishop’s Council, warmed the season, which is traditionally marked by Christians as a time for preparation ahead of Christmas, is being “colonised by consumerism”.

 

The associate minister of St Nic’s Church in Nottingham told the Daily Express: “The adoption of religious symbols for such secular ends appears to demonstrate the absolute power of consumerism.

“It appears that there is no limit to the ideas that can be trampled on and colonised.”

Various high street chains have been joining high-end retailers in offering luxury Advent calendars containing alcohol, perfume and make-up – some priced at more than £100.

Rev Dr Ian Paul

 

A Liberty’s calendar containing cosmetics including lip gloss and hand cream sold out online within 36 hours when it was released in October.

Dr Paul went on to say: “Christians use Advent as a time to remember two things; the first is Jesus’s coming to us in poverty from the riches of his glory at the Father’s right hand.

“The second is God’s promised future coming in judgement, when he will hold all people to account for their greed and selfishness.

“So, it is doubly ironic that people are using Advert to celebrate greed and wealth.”

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Elon Musk Reveals Tesla Semi Truck

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Reuters/Tesla HandoutThe Tesla Semi, the company’s electric big-rig truck as seen in this handout image.

Elon Musk has unveiled Tesla’s newest electric wonder in the form of a new hauler, the Tesla Semi truck. Powered by a massive battery and capable of hauling 80,000 pounds, the eye-catching big rig can cover up to 500 miles on a single charge and can even drive itself.

Musk unveiled the semi at SpaceX’s Hawthorne, California headquarters Thursday night, the latest in his mission to revolutionize the energy industry by removing man’s reliance on fossil fuels. Convincing the trucking industry to swap their trusty Macks, Kenworths, and Peterbilts for a new way to haul cargo is definitely a big step in that direction.

Musk believes that going after the trucking industry is the best way to have a real impact on climate change. Despite selling 200,000 Model S sedans in the past five years, Tesla has yet to make a real impact in terms of emissions given that the US alone has more than 250 million passenger cars on the road.

While heavy-duty vehicles consists a small percentage of the total number of vehicles, they are responsible for a large fraction of total vehicle emissions. In California, trucks, and buses account for 7 percent of total vehicles, but produces 20 percent of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions

Of course, convincing truckers to switch to the Tesla Semi truck shouldn’t be too hard given its many perks and benefits. For one, it’s a very economical truck costing just $1.26 per mile with an 80,000-pound load moving at 60mph when compared to an average diesel truck…

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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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Pastor Faith Oyedepo: Living as a Family (3)

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Pastor Faith Oyedepo: Living as a Family (3)
Pastor Faith Oyedepo: Living as a Family (3)


Topic: Living as a Family (3)

Dear Reader,

You are most welcome to another exciting moment in God’s presence. I know you have been blessed from the teaching series of this month and your home engraced for the “heaven on earth” experience God has ordained for you.

My prayer is, as you get yourself always ready for God’s Word, He will manifest Himself in your family in Jesus’ name!

So far, we have discussed family and family life, and explored on the family structure.

This week I shall be teaching on, God’s Plan for the Family. Exodus 25:40 says:  And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Attempting to put up any physical structure, without a master plan, will certainly end in futility. Once a master plan is drawn, what the builder does is follow it explicitly in order to end up with a beautiful building. The master plan is, therefore, the “map” of a building.

Marriage can be likened to a house. The Architect who drew the master plan is God, while the husband and his wife are the builders, who must diligently follow the design of the Architect, so as to experience success in their marriage and family.

Let us examine one of the tools that keep your family and marriage intact.

Treat your Spouse as Yourself

An understanding of the mystery of the flesh (marriage) will make a couple treat and love each other the same way. What you cannot do to yourself, don’t do to your spouse. Treat your spouse the way you want your spouse to treat you. Care for your spouse the same way you want him/ her to care for you.

A husband and wife should foster the development of each other, promote each other, treat each other with affection and tenderness, hold each other dear, and keep each other fondly in mind. It takes an understanding of the mystery of one flesh to be able to do this.

To love your spouse is to love yourself, and to dislike your spouse is to dislike yourself. Some couples go to the extent of physically beating one another. But the understanding and application of the mystery of one flesh can terminate this misery.

If you want your spouse to be kind and respectful to you, then you have a responsibility to avoid being cruel to him/ her. What you sow, is what you reap. Do not maltreat your spouse, if you do not want to be maltreated in return. What you put into your marriage, is what it will give back to you!

God is the Designer of marriage and family. For you to enjoy God’s design for family and marriage, then you need to surrender your life to Christ, this is because He is the Originator of family and marriage. Are you born again? Are you a child of God? Are you ready to confess your sins and accept His as your Lord and personal Saviour? If you are ready, 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 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).

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.


Andrew Wommack’s Daily 20 November 2017 Devotional: Fight The Battle In The Spirit

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Andrew Wommack’s Daily 20 November 2017 Devotional: Fight The Battle In The Spirit

Topic: Fight The Battle In The Spirit [Monday November 20, 2017]

John 18:10 “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.”

Text: John 18:10-11

It is the apostle John who reveals Peter as the one who cut off the servant’s ear and also identifies the servant. It is very doubtful that Peter was aiming for Malchus’ ear. It is more probable that he was making a horizontal swing at the servant’s head and as the man ducked, Peter cut off his ear.

Peter was very vocal about never denying the Lord, and his actions proved that he meant what he said. There were only two swords among the disciples, yet Peter was willing to take on these six hundred soldiers. This spelled certain death or imprisonment.

Peter wanted to stand with the Lord, but he was not prepared spiritually. He was still strong in his own ability. If the battle would have been in the physical realm, Peter would have fought to the death as he proved here. But when Jesus told Peter to put up his sword and not resist with his physical power, Peter was confused.

Peter only knew how to rely on the flesh. When Jesus refused to allow Peter to fight with his sword, he was defenseless. If he would have been praying with Jesus, as instructed, Peter would have been built up spiritually and able to stand with Jesus spiritually without denying Him. As the prophet Zechariah said, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zech. 4:6).

Likewise, we may sincerely desire to never deny our Lord, but it takes more than desire; it takes preparation. We all have been taught how to rely on ourselves, but we have to learn anew how to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10). Just as in the physical realm, where muscles have to be exercised to become strong, so we have to exercise ourselves unto godliness (1 Tim. 4:7).

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).


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