Archbishop Justin Welby ‘could help free jailed Briton’

The Foreign Secretary was also urged in the House of Commons on Monday to contemplate whether Pope Francis might be able to help free the jailed Briton.

 

Appealing to Boris Johnson, Tom Tugendhat MP (pictured above) said: “Would he consider calling upon people in our system who may be able to talk to the mullahs, perhaps asking the Archbishop of Canterbury, or indeed the Holy Father, to speak on behalf of this woman and seek to broker her release?”

The conservative representative for Tonbridge and Malling spoke after Mr Johnson restated the Government’s plea that Iranian authorities release Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe on humanitarian grounds.

PA

 

Ministers say the mother of one was detained in April last year after visiting relatives in Iran and subsequently jailed for five years after being accused of plotting to overthrow the Islamic Republic.

Mr Johnson told the chamber he will meet with Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband on Wednesday to discuss whether she might be offered “diplomatic protection” in a bid to secure her safe return.

During the session, Boris Johnson also apologised for previously telling a Commons committee that she was training journalists, a move which appeared to risk seeing her jail sentence being doubled.

Boris Johnson retracted his statement in the House of Commons yesterday.

Some Labour MPs chanted “resign” as he took questions in the…

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Open Heavens 15 November 2017: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Time For Consultation

Open Heavens 15 November 2017: Wednesday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Time For Consultation

Topic: Time For Consultation — Wednesday 15, November 2017.

Memorise: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:26

Read: Genesis 1:26-27(KJV)

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Bible in One Year: Job 36-38, Amos 5:1-17, Hymn: Sing Hymn 9 – On The Hill Far Away

MESSAGE:

From the creation story, the fact that man was the last of God’s creation, though he is the most significant, indicates that God can give you the very best at the end. From this we understand that the end of believers is glorious. No wonder Ecclesiastes 7:8 says,

“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”

Coming up next: Open Heavens 16 November 2017: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Fulfilling Destiny

You might have started on a shaky note, but I want to assure you that you will end up being well established. Your faith may be very weak now, but it will become great faith at the end. Never judge your future by the limitation of your present! God will help you overcome those obstacles and limitations, and He will safely take you to your glorious end. Indeed, Job 8:7 says you might have started small but you will end with great increase, provided you sustain a blossoming relationship with God.

In addition, we observe from the account of creation in Genesis chapter 1 that when God was making all other things, He did not call a council meeting, but when it came to the creation of man, a council meeting of the Godhead was called. They all had to be in agreement for man to be created. The implication of this is that to get the best from God, man must be in total unity and alignment with Him. Also, we will be wise to follow the pattern demonstrated by the Godhead in all our decisions. Some issues are more sensitive and volatile than others. There is a time to take a unilateral decision on issues, and there is also a time to consult widely and take a joint decision. Lastly, when it comes to the issue of human management, you would need to go to God for help. Why? Human beings are the most difficult resources to handle. They are very diverse in thought, knowledge and understanding, and so their responses to issues are so divergent and vast. Human beings are also unreliable; it’s no wonder, Jesus did not commit Himself to any man. John 2:24-25 says,

24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”

If you will succeed in leading men and women, you must involve God to a large extent. How well are you managing fellow men?

Key Point: To effectively lead men, you must be connected to the One who made man.

Hymn 9: On The Hill Far Away

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain:

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain:

4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain:

Open Heavens Daily Devotional 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.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC. 


U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Pro-life Centers Free Speech Case

U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Pro-life Centers Free Speech Case



The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving whether or not pro-life pregnancy centers should be forced to notify their clients of abortion options.


As ChristianHeadlines.com previously reported, pro-life pregnancy centers had been required to prominently display this notice in their clinics: “California has public programs that provide immediate free or low-cost access to comprehensive family planning services (including all FDA-approved methods of contraception), prenatal care and abortion for eligible women …”


Riverside County Superior Court in California recently ruled that this law infringes upon the free speech rights of the pro-life centers. Now, this case is being taken all the way to the Supreme Court.


According to LifeSiteNews.com, California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra is defending the current California abortion-disclosure law.


Kevin Theriot, Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, who is supporting the pro-life centers, stated that the government has no business forcing a private industry to promote abortion.


“Forcing anyone to provide free advertising for the abortion industry is unthinkable—especially when it’s the government doing the forcing. This is even more true when it comes to pregnancy care centers, which exist specifically to care for women who want to have their babies,” he said.


The Supreme Court will…

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Conservative Breakaway Episcopal Diocese Has Right to $500 Million Worth of Church Property, Over 100 Clergy Argue in Brief

(Photo: Jim Lewis of SC Diocese)The office for the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, whose leadership decided to leave The Episcopal Church in 2012.

More than 100 clergy have signed on to an amicus brief in favor of a conservative breakaway Episcopal diocese’s claim to approximately $500 million worth of property.

In August, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled against the Diocese of South Carolina in its effort to secure ownership of church property. The court concluded that the property belonged to the denomination, The Episcopal Church.

Filed last Friday, the amicus brief asks the court to grant the breakaway diocese’s request for a rehearing, arguing that the August ruling contradicted longstanding legal precedent.

“The Court’s decision improperly entangles civil courts in forbidden questions of ‘religious doctrine, polity, and practice’ (id. at 603) by making property rights turn on the court’s interpretation of internal church issues,” said the brief.

“In so doing, the decision misreads U.S. Supreme Court precedent and conflicts with the decisions of other courts that have considered similar issues.”

Clergy who have signed on to the brief come from varied denominational backgrounds, including Baptists, the United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church in America,…

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Virtual tour to replace school trip to mosque following parental concern

The County Council said youngsters can opt for a virtual tour instead, using a computer. It’s produced the new guidance following concern from parents about visits to buildings like mosques.

Alison Ruoff, a former member of the Church of England’s governing body, agrees with the policy. She told Premier’s News Hour there’s no reason why young children need to see a mosque.

“Small children should be taught about Bible stories and about the Christian faith and not have it muddled up.

“There’s plenty of time for children to learn about different faiths, so why try and flood their brains with more and more stuff? It’s unnecessary.”

However, others disagree and believe the earlier the child learns about other faiths, the better.

A Premier News Hour poll found 67 per cent of listeners would not stop their child from visiting a mosque for a school trip.

Beth Grove is from the Pfander Centre for Apologetics, a Christian group which promotes engagement with Islam.

She told Premier’s News Hour visiting a mosque could be beneficial.

She said: “We don’t want to take the responsibility from the parents but I think it is important for our children to learn other ideologies and other viewpoints, but given also freedom to explore and challenge those viewpoints if need be.”

She added it’s important for them to hear what Muslims are saying and that’s why she said she isn’t sure if a virtual tour is a good compromise.

Grove said: “Do the children and the teacher and the parents…

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Church Sees Significant Decline in Membership Following Same-Sex Marriage Decision

Church Sees Significant Decline in Membership Following Same-Sex Marriage Decision



A Tennessee church that decided to conduct same-sex marriages is selling its campus and moving to a rented space after seeing a decline in attendance.


After Pastor Stan Mitchell of GracePointe Church in Franklin, Tennessee announced LGBT support in 2015, the church’s membership fell by half.


Members of the church’s Board of Elders also left the church, according to a 2015 article from the Nashville Scene.


The church membership at its height was around 2,000 people and attendance had been between 700 to 800 attendees. A recent visit counted about 240 attendees, according to an article at The Christian Post.


“The public embrace of LGBTQI people and same-sex relationships by Mitchell and GracePointe Church in 2015 has led to a major decline in attendance and revenue,” Out & About Nashville reported in September. “The half-empty lot bears evidence of a minor exodus over two years of congregants.”


GracePoint listed the 12,000-square foot chapel and 22 acre property in February for $7.5 million. After the listing price dropped, the property is under contract.


Mitchell said the drop in the congregation had led to financial concerns, and the sale of the church property should improve the church’s stability.


The church also cut many of its staff.


An article in Time had identified GracePointe as “one of the first evangelical megachurches in…

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Christians Must Condemn ‘Adults Creeping on Teenage Girls’

(Photo: Reuters/Marvin Gentry)Judge Roy Moore participates in the Mid-Alabama Republican Club’s Veterans Day Program in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, U.S. November 11, 2017.

Ethicist Russell Moore has warned that Christians cannot pretend to be against moral relativism if they are unwilling to speak out against adults preying on teenage girls, referring to the ongoing scandal surrounding Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore.

Russell Moore, who is the president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, explained in a tweet on Monday why he spends “so much time talking about nominal, culturally Christian ‘religion:'”

Expand | Collapse
(Photo: Matt Miller)Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission addresses reporters in Phoenix at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix on Tuesday, June 13, 2017.

“It is predatory, soul-twisting, covers over violence and racism and molestation,” he wrote.

“The gospel of Jesus Christ brings life and joy and rest and peace.”

Russell Moore, who is not related to Roy Moore, added in another tweet: “Christian, if you cannot say definitively, no matter what, that adults creeping on teenage girls is wrong, do not tell me how you stand against moral relativism.”

Roy…

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How Cedric the Entertainer Uses Faith in His Comedy .



  • You Cannot Heal When Operating in This Spirit


    Walking in this attitude unleashes demonic forces that promote destruction. 



  • Iain Armitage as "Young Sheldon."

    ‘Big Bang Theory’ Spin-Off Wants to ‘Destroy’ Small-Town Texas Pastor Days After Church Massacre


    They probably didn’t even make the connection; they were too busy tweeting about gun control …



  • How to Delete Porn from Your Brain

    How to Delete Porn from Your Brain


    In a society bent towards the microwave mentality of “gotta have it now”, it would be convenient if God…

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    Bishop urges government to review charges for non UK-citizens receiving NHS treatment

    Bishop Paul McAleenan warned the charges will prevent vulnerable people from receiving medical treatment and have been introduced without sufficient impact assessments.

    Jonathan Cox, deputy director of Christian social justice charity Citizens UK, echoed Bishop McAleenan’s concerns.

    Speaking during News Hour Cox said: “People who need treatment are going to be less ready to actually look for that treatment and we know that might have a big effect in terms of infectious diseases.

    “We know it will have a big impact in terms of people with developmental diseases that will not seek treatment until it’s often too late.”

    The House of Lords will debate the changes on Thursday.

    Speaking ahead of the debate, Bishop McAleenan said in a statement: “The level of concern expressed by medical professionals and charities, including several Catholic organisations, reflects how catastrophic the consequences of these new regulations are likely to be.”

     

    Migrants and visitors to the UK not eligible for free healthcare will from now on be charged upfront for the cost of their treatment, as rules come into force that also extend charging community health services and charities that receive NHS funding.

    Cox told Premier why Christians should also be concerned about the charges.

    He said: “The core principle of the NHS is that we must first do no harm and I think the problem with these charges is that it really violates that…

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