Christian toy store owner stands firm in closing shop on busiest day

Gary Grant, owner of The Entertainer toy shop, and spokesman for DreamToys told Premier he won’t let the busyness of Christmas change his stance on marking the Sabbath.

Speaking during News Hour he said: “As a Christian, I believe in families – I have my own children, I have six grandchildren.

Being able to have one day that we can meet together, we can eat together and stay together as a family, I think is very important.”

Mr Grant said it wasn’t an easy decision to make to put God before his profits.

 

He added: “I wrestled with this concept of Sundays – one of the Ten Commandments – keep the Sabbath holy.

“I really felt the Lord was saying to me, ‘Gary, just be closed on a Sunday.”

However, he highlighted the fact that preparing for Christmas in November isn’t greedy as businesses are simply being practical doing so.

He said: “To move the amount of volume that has to be moved through warehouse, trucks, into the back doors of stores and onto the shelves and through the front door in the amount of time that’s available, it’s already a challenge.”

Meanwhile, the annual DreamToys list compiled on behalf of the Toy Retailers Association has been released.

Mr Grant told Premier that it took between six and eight hours for the team of 12 retailers he was a part of to decide on the list.

Smith Toys

While the 1970s gel-filled Stretch Armstrong action figure has returned to the list…

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New Mobile App Alerts Parents If Their Kids Are Sexting, Sending Nude Images

(Screencap: Vimeo/YIPO)The Gallery Guardian mobile app alerts parents if their children are sending or receiving sexual messages on their phones.

A new mobile app has been launched in the United States to give parents the ability to know when their sons or daughters have been sending or receiving nude pictures or videos through text messages without invading their children’s privacy.

YIPO Technologies announced the release of its Gallery Guardian app in the U.S. last week after it was launched in the United Kingdom earlier this year.

The app, which will be available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, uses artificial intelligence to detect when children are creating or receiving inappropriate photographs and videos through social media apps. Guardian Gallery will alert parents when it finds “unhealthy usage behaviors” like “sexting,” a press release explains.

“Social media has created new challenges for parents, but the answer isn’t to load spyware on your child’s phone,” the founder and CEO of YIPO Technologies, Daniel Skowronski, said in a statement. “With Gallery Guardian, parents can protect their children while respecting their privacy.”

The app is powered by an advanced algorithm that is “trained to detect nudity in images.” It will then notify the parents.

“While parents can’t view the content, Gallery Guardian offers tools and resources for them to understand how to approach the issue with their teen and initiate the first conversation,” the release details.

In 2012, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that analyzed the correlation between…

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Listening to Christmas Music Too Early is Bad for Your Mental Health?

Listening to Christmas Music Too Early is Bad for Your Mental Health?



We all know someone (or maybe you are that someone) who refuses to listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. It seems the holiday season is continually being drawn out and Christmas often seems to encroach on other holidays.


Those who bemoan this fact will be pleased to know that, according to a recent study, listening to Christmas music too early is actually bad for your mental health.


According to CBS local affiliate KYW, clinical psychologist Linda Blair says that hearing Christmas music too often and too early can cause people to focus not on the joy of Christmas, but instead on all the tasks they have to accomplish before the holiday arrives: gifts to buy, shopping to do, food to prepare, travel plans to make, etc.


“You’re simply spending all of your energy trying not to hear what you’re hearing,” Blair says.


She goes on to say that hearing Christmas music too often and too early is especially an issue for those who work in retail. Since Christmas music is on repeat in most stores beginning in November–or in some even earlier–it is very difficult for workers to “tune it out,” which makes them “unable to focus on anything else,” according to Blair.


Carl Lisciandrello, an editor for the Tampa Bay Times, even tweeted out a graph of when different stores begin playing Christmas music.


 

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More and more people heading to cathedrals to celebrate Christmas

New figures reveal 131,000 came to cathedrals to worship last Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, marking a five per cent rise on the previous year.

Increased attendances were also recorded at services in Advent, with 635,000 coming to worship during the busy pre-Christmas period.

Average weekly attendances at services on a Sunday also increased to 18,700.

Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark told Premier’s News Hour why he thinks Cathedrals are so popular.

He said: “There is something around the accessibility of cathedrals.

“It’s the fact that we’re open all the time so that people come in on their own time.

“There’s something about the standards of music you get in a cathedral and the standard of services.”

 

Nunn also told Premier that it may be surprising, but attracting younger people is the secret to the success at Southwark Cathedral.

He said: “There’s an idea that, if you’re younger, you’re looking for something modern and different and the traditional style of cathedrals might not fit what you’re looking for, but our experience is not that at all.

“There’s something around that traditional way of doing it that appeals to a large group of people.”

The Rt Rev John Inge, Bishop of Worcester, who lead bishop for cathedrals and church buildings, added: “Behind these figures lie stories of worship, learning, exploring faith and spirituality and encountering God at times of joy and despair.”

Life events including…

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Is Islam’s Messiah Our Antichrist? .



  • Michael Klimkowski as Joel Osteen

    What Happened When a Joel Osteen Imposter Crashed an Actual Osteen Event


    Fans rushed him while he proclaimed “God bless” to each person who shook his band.



  • Kevin Spacey

    Did Kevin Spacey’s Alleged Sexual Abuse Stem From a Generational Curse?


    For many, the roots of sex addiction are found in childhood.



  • 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 armed our brain with a porn “delete”…

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    Open Heavens Daily Devotional, Friday November 10th 2017

    Open Heavens 10 November 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Losing A Deal


    Topic: Losing A Deal — Friday 10, November 2017.

    Memorise: And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. – Isaiah 2:19

    Read: Isaiah 2:18-22 (KJV)

    18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish.

    19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

    20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

    21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

    22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?

    Bible in One Year: Job 17-20, Joel 3, Hymn: Sing Hymn 3 – How Great Thou Art

    MESSAGE:

    The Almighty God is not only a God of love and mercy but also a God to be feared. One reason why you ought to fear Him is that He can not only bless you, but He can also turn your blessing into a curse. In Malachi 2:2, something went amiss among the priest and God had this to say:

    “If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.”

    Coming up next: Open Heavens 11 November 2017: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Wounds Leave Their Scars

    When you refuse to ascribe to God the glory due to His Name, or when you do not use the blessing God has given you to glorify Him, you may be provoking Him to turn that blessing into a curse. May God not curse your blessings in Jesus’ Name! This is why you must do all that is within your power to obey God always.

    Many years ago, a young man came to me saying he needed a major breakthrough. Then I asked him, “will you serve the Lord?” He chorused with enthusiasm, “I will serve Him!” so I told the Lord, “Almighty God, see this young, zealous man who is ready to serve you. Please bless him. “Some days later, he returned to me with excitement and said, “Sir, my landlord has a house with 13 flats for sale. He says I can sell the property for any price; all he is asking me to give him is a particular amount that is less than half its worth!” So I said to him, “Congratulations! Your breakthrough has come at last. How many flats are there again?” “Thirteen”, he replied. Then I said to him, “That means you will give one flat to the God as your tithe.” At this, he got angry and said, “This is the trouble with you pastors! This is the reason why people should not even share their testimonies with you!” So I asked him to forgive me. He said “this is my very first breakthrough”, and I replied, “I am sorry sir”, and he left. He thereafter sold the house to a prospective buyer, and he took the amount he earlier agreed with the landlord to him. The landlord looked at him strangely and said, “Which house did you sell?” “The house at plot so and so sir”, he replied. The landlord said to him, “Did I ever ask you to sell that house?” “Yes sir, you did, and you asked me to bring so much for it”, he replied. The landlord then yelled, “You think you can use black magic on me, right? If you don’t leave here now, both you and your witchdoctor will face the music! “The young man returned to me, saying he was now ready to do what I asked, but I said to him, “Leave me out of this. It is strictly between you and God. Go and settle with Him. “Are you prepared to honour God with the blessings He has given you?

    Key Point: God has had to shut some doors because the beneficiaries were not ready to do what He wanted them to do with the open doors.

    Sing Hymn 3: How Great Thou Art

    1. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
    Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made;
    I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
    Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

    Chorus:
    Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
    How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
    Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
    How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

    2. When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
    And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
    When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
    And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
    [Chorus]

    3. And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
    Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
    That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
    He bled and died to take away my sin.
    [Chorus]

    4. When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
    And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
    Then shall I bow, in humble adoration,
    And then proclaim, “My God, how great Thou art!”
    [Chorus]

    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.


    Scottish Episcopal Church names first female bishop

    Canon Dyer said she was “delighted to be elected” and added: “It will be a privilege to lead the people of this diocese as they continue to make known the love of God to those in their communities and beyond.

    “I am looking forward to both the challenge and excitement of serving and worshipping together in diverse locations across the diocese and to joining the College of Bishops.”

    The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church voted to allow the election of female bishops in 2003 but no female appointments have been made in the following 14 years.

    The See of Aberdeen & Orkney became vacant last November when the Rt Rev Dr Robert Gillies retired as bishop of the Diocese.

    Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church said; “Anne brings with her a wealth of experience in theological education and mission development, and has so many of the gifts sought by the diocese together with a deeply loving and generous personality.

    “I am also delighted that those gifts have allowed us to elect a woman to our College of Bishops. Please pray for Anne, her family, for the congregation at Haddington and for the Diocese of Aberdeen & Orkney as they journey on in faith.”

    Canon Dyer has been the rector of Holy Trinity church, Haddington since 2011. Her wider church involvement includes being a member of the Scottish Episcopal Institute Council and a member of General Synod.

    Being in the first group of women for each of…

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    Southern Baptist Convention Offers to Pay for Funerals of Church Shooting Victims

    Southern Baptist Convention Offers to Pay for Funerals of Church Shooting Victims



    The North American Mission Board has offered to pay for the funeral costs for the families of the 26 people killed in a church shooting in Texas.


    The North American Mission Board is the domestic missions agency of the Southern Baptist Convention.


    SBC President Steve Gaines said he and SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page visited with the Sutherland Springs pastor and his wife.


    The family lost their daughter when Devin Kelley opened fire this past weekend in the Texas town during a worship service.


    “I discussed it with Frank Page and Jim Richards, and we all agreed to go and help any way we possibly can. Our Southern Baptist family grieves with this beloved church and the community it serves. Our prayers are ascending steadily to God’s throne of grace. May God bring healing and hope to these that are hurting,” he said.


    According to police, Kelley fired about 450 rounds of ammunition on the congregation. He also killed himself.


    “I hear firecrackers popping. Ta-ta-ta,” said Roseanne Solis, a survivor of the shooting.


    “Everybody started screaming, yelling. Everyone got down, crawling under wherever they could hide,” Solis said. “It was so scary. He was shooting hard.”


    About half of those killed were children.


     


    Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstockphotos.com


    Publication date: November 9, 2017

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    How a Time Management Book Is Answering Tough Christian Questions

    [vimeo 234201538 w=640 h=360]

    Have you ever turned to a time management book to nourish your soul? I haven’t. But that is what I found happening with this unexpected gem that tackled difficult questions like “How can you trust in God when there is so much suffering?” and “How should a Christian interpret failure when he believes he is doing God’s will”?

    Divine Time Management: The Joy of Trusting God’s Loving Plans for You by Elizabeth Grace Saunders (Faith Words, November 7) is a therapeutic experience and written in a tone and language that would be most familiar to committed Christians.

    Within the first 20 pages, Saunders astounds readers expecting a normal time management book by declaring: “The ultimate goal of time management should not be achievement or getting things done. Instead, it should be about creating the freedom to do the Lord’s will and in turn receive God’s best.”

    Saunders, who wrote two time management books without any faith element before this one, told ChristianWeek, “It was such a humbling book to write and the biggest lesson I learned is how much I had to grow.

    “The experience of writing Divine Time Management was entirely different than the experience of writing my first two books. In my first book, The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment, and my second book, How to…

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