Man killed by falling Florence church stone

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The 52 year old tourist was visiting the Basilica of Santa Croce with his wife when a piece of decorative stone fell on him from a height of 66 feet.

Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP

 

Irene Sanesi, the head of the organisation that manages the landmark, told the Italian news agency Ansa: “We are really astonished at what has happened, and we ask ourselves how it could happen.”

The Basilica of Santa Croce is renowned as the burial place of iconic Italian figures Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei and Niccolo Machiavelli.

Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP

 

Italy’s Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said an investigation would be conducted by prosecutors to determine the cause of the incident.

The fatal accident raises fresh concern over the safety of the country’s cultural heritage, which includes many fragile and aging attractions.

Maurizio Degl'Innocenti/ANSA via AP

 

Over the summer, two people were seriously injured when plaster fell from the ceiling of Sicily’s Acireale Cathedral during a wedding.

Four people died in the northern city of Pavia in 1989 when a 14th-century bell tower collapsed.

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Joyce Meyer’s Daily 20 October 2017 Devotional: Increase Your Self-Acceptance

Joyce Meyer's Daily 20 October 2017 Devotional: Increase Your Self-Acceptance

Topic: Increase Your Self-Acceptance [Friday October 20, 2017]

He shall see [the fruit] of the travail of His soul and be satisfied; by His knowledge of Himself [which He possesses and imparts to others] shall My [uncompromisingly] righteous One, My Servant, justify many and make many righteous (upright and in right standing with God), for He shall bear their iniquities and their guilt [with the consequences, says the Lord]. — Isaiah 53:11

You may not think highly of yourself, but God wants you to know who you are in Christ and like yourself. Here are five practical tips to help increase your self-acceptance and your confidence of knowing who you are in Christ:

1. Never speak negatively about yourself. The communication of your faith is made effective by acknowledging every good thing in you through Christ Jesus, not by focusing on your weaknesses and flaws.

2. Avoid comparing yourself to others. Peter encountered this obstacle when he compared himself to another disciple. He asked, …Lord, what about this man? Jesus replied, If I want him to stay (survive, live) until I come, what is that to you? (John 21:21-22). We are not called to compare, only to comply.

3. Let God determine your worth. Remember, because of Jesus, you’ve already been accepted by Him.

4. Keep your flaws in perspective. It’s okay to see where you need to improve, but make sure you appreciate your progress.

5. Discover the true source of confidence. If you place your confidence in God, you can’t help but have a healthy attitude. Do your best, and leave the results to Him.

Prayer Starter: God, thank You for accepting me even when I have trouble accepting myself. Help me to acknowledge the good qualities You’ve given me and to keep my flaws in perspective as I find my confidence in You.

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries


Sign of the Times? Iran’s Military Chief Vows to Join With Syria Against Israel .

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Iranian Military Chief of Staff General Mohammad Baqeri meets with Turkish Chief of Staff General Hulusi Akar (not seen) in Tehran, Iran, Oct. 2, 2017. (Turkish Military/Handout via Reuters/File Photo)

Iran’s military chief warned Israel against violating Syrian airspace and territory on a visit to Damascus on Wednesday, Iranian state media said, a sign of rising tensions with Israel as it voices concern over Iranian influence in Syria.

General Mohammad Baqeri also pledged to increase cooperation with the Syrian military to fight Israel and insurgents in Syria, where Iranian forces and Iran-backed militias including Hezbollah have provided critical military support to Damascus.

“It’s not acceptable for the Zionist regime to violate the land and airspace of Syria anytime it wants,” Baqeri said in the Syrian capital at a news conference with his Syrian counterpart.

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Bible Expert Explains Why It Is Okay For Christians To Celebrate Halloween

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REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A boy collects candy as he goes trick-or-treating for Halloween in Santa Monica, California, Oct. 31, 2012.

While some Christians refuse to take part in Halloween celebrations, Answers in Genesis (AiG) president Ken Ham suggests that the occasion can be used to spread the gospel.

Based on the study of LifeWay Research in 2015, 54 percent of Christians in America see nothing wrong about celebrating Halloween “all in good fun” while 18 percent avoid taking part in the celebrations for the sole reason of its pagan origins, and 23 percent refuse to celebrate for the combined reasons of its pagan origins and other factors.

However, in an exclusive interview with Gospel Herald, Ham said that Halloween can be an opportunity for Christians to spread God’s word and that parents should take it upon themselves to decide if they allow their children to take part in the celebrations or not.

“I think parents should make their own decision before God as to what they’re going to allow their kids to participate in and why. More and more Christians are recognizing that this is an opportunity to use this time to witness to others,” Ham said.

Ham also pointed out that many churches these days have come up with an alternative to Halloween by adding a religious twist to it, such as the “reverse trick-or-treat” where Christians dress up in costumes, knock on their neighbors’ doors, and give them candy or home-baked goodies together with Bible Tracts.

Nonetheless, even if Christians opt to stick to the traditional trick-or-treat practice, Ham said that it can still be an opportunity to spread the gospel. According to Ham, who is also the president of the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter, he and his wife have made it a practice to give away not only candies to trick-or-treaters on Halloween but Bible Tracts, too.

“We have big bucket of candy and we also have some special gospel tracts that we give to them with the candy. We believe we are doing our best to get the message of God’s truth to people,” Ham said.

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How The Enemy Attacks at Infancy .

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    ‘Christians Need Not Apply’ .

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    Sen. Bernie Sanders (Yuri Gripas / Reuters )

    This past summer, Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, grilled President Trump’s pick for deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget over comments he made about Muslims.

    In a conservative blog, Russell Vought, an evangelical Christian, defended Wheaton College for forcing out a professor who said Christians and Muslims worship the same God.
     
    “I’m a Christian, and I believe in a Christian set of principles based on my faith,” said Vought at his confirmation hearing.
     
    He added, “That post was to defend my alma mater, Wheaton College, a Christian school that has a statement of faith that includes the centrality of Jesus Christ for salvation.”
     
    During Vought’s confirmation hearing, Sanders asked if the comments were Islamophobic. Sanders ultimately decided he would not vote for Vought.
     
    Religious Beliefs Used as a ‘Litmus Test’ for Public Office 

    The attack against Vought shows just how tense the political environment has become for people of faith and the danger of using religion as a litmus test for public office.

    “Christians are being discriminated against, and this is the hypocrisy of liberalism,” said Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress.

    “Those who cry the loudest for tolerance are usually the most intolerant people when it comes to ideas with which they disagree,” he said.
     
    Following Vought’s confirmation hearing, Jeffress demanded that Sanders apologize or resign.

    Did Sanders Cross a Constitutional Line?

    In an interview with CBN News, Jeffress said, “Here we had an evangelical Christian being questioned and Bernie Sanders got into the religious issue and took issue with this nominee’s belief that faith in Jesus Christ is the only to heaven. That is the foundation of biblical Christianity for 2,000 years, and Senator Sanders started to lecture this nominee and said he wasn’t sure he could vote for him.”
     
    Jeffress, a member of the President’s Evangelical Advisory Council, said Sanders also crossed a constitutional line.
     
    He explained, “Article Six of the Constitution says government cannot impose a litmus test, a religious litmus test for service. Now you and I can use whatever litmus test we want. But government can’t impose that, and that’s why I said Senator Sanders needs to apologize for what he said or he needs to resign.”
     
    The mistreatment didn’t end with Vought.

    Catholic Nominee Grilled Over Religious Beliefs

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    Open Heavens For TEENS: Friday 20 October 2017 by Pastor Adeboye – I Know Your Works V

    Open Heavens For TEENS: Friday 20 October 2017 by Pastor Adeboye - I Know Your Works V

    Topic: I Know Your Works V [Friday 20, October 2017]

    Memorise: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:41

    Read: Revelation 3:1-6

    1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

    2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

    3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

    4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

    5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

    6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

    Bible In One Year: Mark 14. Hymn: Sing Hymn 4 – Take My Life And Let It Be

    MESSAGE:

    Our Lord Jesus Christ is the most practical personality that has ever lived on earth. This should not be surprising; since He is both God and man; He came to show us the way to live a victorious and fulfilled life. He affirmed that He came that we may have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Our compassionate Lord, who would not want anyone, particularly those who have confessed Him as Lord to perish, is here in today’s reading, warning the Church to remember how they started and hold fast the Word of truth.

    Another interesting lesson we must learn from today’s reading is that the Almighty God knows the state and details our lives, both spiritually and physically. However, you have to watch over your soul in this perverse generation and pray always if you will be worthy at the end of time. Moreover, the Lord promised that He would judge individuals in the church according to each person’s deeds. There shall be no collective responsibility when it comes to spiritual accountability.

    Action Point: Since the Lord knows your works; take a self-examination of yourself and see where you need to repent, watch and pray for restoration.

    Open Heavens 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.


    TREM’s Daily 20 October 2017 Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo – Expect Wonderful Things In Christ

    TREM’s Daily 20 October 2017 Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo - Expect Wonderful Things In Christ

    Topic: Expect Wonderful Things In Christ — Friday October 20, 2017.

    “…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)

    If you have had an encounter with Jesus, you are not ordinary. Therefore, don’t expect things to happen to you as they happen to others. What you expect is what you get. The bible says his name shall be called wonderful, meaning you will be a wonder to behold. If you go for an interview you will be successful. If they put you behind the line, God will bypass the line and place you ahead of them.

    The enemy wants you dead, but God will disappoint their devices. People are watching around you, but the more they look at you the more beautiful you are. His name shall be called wonderful. This means you should expect wonders! It is your birthright because Christ in you is the hope of glory. Expect glory and not shame. I proclaim boldly, that the shame is over. You cannot see shame. You are called for glory.

    Beloved, the names of Christ are his attributes. They point you to what you should expect. His name shall be called Counselor! In other words God intends to let you know what will happen at all times, how and where, what to do, where to go, what to sell and what to invest in. When Christ was to feed five thousand people, He knew what to do. Jesus does not want us to beat about the bush. From this moment forward you won’t beat about the bush. You will be on target. His name shall be called Counselor. That means he will counsel you. He will tell you about your husband, about your wife, how to live with them, about your academics and about every area of your life. He will let you know all you need to know. Expect these for they are yours in Christ.

    Further Reading: Matthew 14:15-21, John 14:26, John 16:13

    Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Isaiah 59-61; Evening- 2 Thessalonians 3

    Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.


    10 Identifiable Traits of Sexual Predator Pastors .

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    Abuse happens in the church, too, and we cannot ignore it. (Public Domain Pictures)

    I actually wrote this article four weeks ago but did not feel led to release it until a more appropriate time. In light of the sexual abuse scandals exploding in Hollywood (most recently Harvey Weinstein), I believe now is the appropriate time to also deal with the subject of sexual predator pastors.

    My objective in writing this article is not to be negative about church leadership (an overwhelming majority of spiritual leaders I have met and/or know do not fit in this predator category!) but to help bring discernment, repentance and to uncover the works of hell that traumatize many saints. Also, the following missive should not upset spiritual leaders who have nothing to hide.

    Predators are those who have a pattern of intentionally using their position of authority to take advantage of church members to gratify their own sexual desires. This pattern of abuse has been historically pervasive in all spheres of society—even in the church and ministry. This is because any narcissist (who usually has a sense of entitlement) tends to abuse the power entrusted to them, which results in taking advantage of those under their influence.

    Since I have served primarily in full-time church ministry (not primarily marketplace ministry), I write this article from the perspective of a pastor. However, most of these following traits can be said of predators in any field of work.

    In the context of this article, the word “predator” describes a pastor and/or church leader who sexually preys on vulnerable and/or willing congregational members. I have observed that it doesn’t matter how old or how physically unappealing a spiritual leader is—church members can be attracted to their anointing, title, and position of power.

    To be fair—there are probably many more “predator church members” with a seducing spirit who sexually desire their pastor than there are predator pastors in the contemporary church; but the focus of this article is wayward spiritual leaders, not church members.

    It is also possible that either a spiritual leader or a congregant can unintentionally fall into an inappropriate relationship because of the depravity of human nature, which doesn’t necessarily identify them as a predator. Hence, I do not believe that all spiritual leaders who fall into sin are predators— only those who intentionally use their position of authority to take advantage of a church member to gratify their own sexual desires.

    The following are 10 traits of predator pastors:

    1. Predator pastors plan a long-term courtship.

    Just like those in any other field of work, predator pastors survey their surroundings and plan a long-term courtship that enables them to catch their prey. By courtship, I am referring to a slow, patient process of subtly interacting with a person they are attracted to. This can start off by intentionally bumping into them, having casual conversations that gradually progress from generalities to intimate interchange based on common goals, empathy or ministry collaboration.

    This process can take months or even years—all the while, the unsuspecting person innocently plays along with said predator leader. At first, said pastor throws out general bait, then gets more specific if their targeted member takes the bait and grants them more personal access.

    If this sounds devious and demonic, it is. Predators are as slow, deliberate and cunning as a serpent and will take sexual advantage of people when they can—no matter how long it takes.

    2. A predator seeks out the vulnerable members.

    Since pastors make a living observing human nature, they can easily spot a vulnerable member to whom they are attracted. Characteristics they look out for include, but are not limited to: those having marital problems, divorced, lonely singles who have never married, those experiencing great trauma and pain, those newly saved looking for a mentor and so on. Anybody under the purview of a leader that fits any of the above categories is a prime candidate to be sexually objectified by predator pastors.

    3. A predator pastor seeks those infatuated with them.

    A predator pastor is not stupid and can tell which people feel an attraction and/or are infatuated with them. Characteristics of those infatuated with them include those who incessantly try to make eye contact with them, those always coming specifically to the pastor for personal prayer after their Sunday messages, those always flattering them regarding their preaching and or appearance. Of course, not every believer who does some of the above is infatuated or has evil desires in their heart. Those a predator pastor deems infatuated with them will most likely be among their first targets, because they usually look for low-hanging fruit.

    4. Predator pastors offer to pray for the unsuspecting.

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    Seeds of Destiny 20 October 2017 by Pastor Paul Enenche — The Transformational Power Of Positive Information

    Seeds of Destiny 20 October 2017 by Pastor Paul Enenche — The Transformational Power Of Positive Information

    Topic: The Transformational Power of Positive Information [Friday October 20, 2017]

    Scripture: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off. Proverbs 24:14

    Thought For The Day: Quality information is the secret of destiny transformation.

    It has been established that information has the power to transform a person’s life. There is something you will hear or read that will change your life for the better. Quality information is the secret of destiny transformation. Behind every form of deliverance is information or a revelation. It is revelation that removes evil blindfolds and breaks the chains of bondage off people’s lives.

    The woman with the issue of blood in Luke 8:43-47 heard about Jesus. It was this information that sparked a revolution in her life; it set her on a path to freedom from her affliction of twelve years. Her case is an example of positive outcome from an encounter with positive information.

    Naaman’s miracle and deliverance also happened at the frequency of the information he heard from the lips of his wife’s young maid who informed them that he could be healed by the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 5:1-5).

    Pharaoh also heard from his palace attendants that there was a prisoner who could interpret his dreams (Genesis 41:9-14).

    The challenge with this generation is the negative attitude that people have towards information or information acquisition. People are lazy; they do not seek information anymore. This is the reason for the prevalence of bondage in diverse areas in our generation, but I want you to know that the hunger for positive information will overwhelm you in Jesus’ Name.

    Remember This: Quality information is the secret of destiny transformation.

    Assignments:

    1. Seek to learn continuously.

    2. Be open to receive quality information that will transform your life and destiny.

    Prayer: Help me Lord to contact and acquire relevant information for the transformation of my life and destiny, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

    FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: PRESERVATION POWER OF FAITH.

    Daily Reading: Jeremiah 35:1 to 36:32, 1 Timothy 5:1 to 25, Psalm 89:14 to 37, Proverbs 25:25 to 27.

    Quote: A wise man places value on wisdom and on knowledge, a fool does not. Therefore, avoid the error and improve your life. Culled from 21 FOOLISH THINGS PEOPLE DO by Dr Paul Enenche.

    Today In History: 20/10/1979 – The John F. Kennedy Library in Boston was dedicated.

    Amazing Fact: It takes up to 6 months for a fingernail to grow from root to tip.

    Don’t Forget To Attend: The Home Church meeting by 6:00pm tomorrow at a Home Church near you. Invite your friends and loved ones.

    Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), is a powerfully anointed church, headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Dr Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities.