Few in Hollywood Speaking out about Harvey Weinstein Scandal

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Few in Hollywood Speaking out about Harvey Weinstein Scandal



Few players in Hollywood are discussing the firing and investigation of film producer Harvey Weinstein.


An investigation by the New York Times found that Weinstein had agreed to some eight settlements over the years with women who said that he had sexually harassed them.


After the investigation was published, Weinstein was fired from his film company.


Another New York Times piece said that calls to about 40 entertainment industry employees and stars refused to comment publicly about Weinstein.


Actresses such as Lena Dunham and Brie Larson did, however, take to Twitter to issue statements.


“The woman who chose to speak about their experience of harassment by Harvey Weinstein deserve our awe. It’s not fun or easy. It’s brave,” Dunham said in a Twitter post.


Still, many have chosen not to comment.


“It’s been extremely quiet — almost radio silence,” said Claudia Eller, editor of Variety. “Part of the reason is that Hollywood always protects its own. Going back through history. And there is still a lot of fear. Is Harvey really done?” In Hollywood, after all, there is no shortage of sequels.


The silence has also spread to the political realm, where Hillary Clinton, who benefitted from Weinstein’s fundraisers and donations, has not commented on Weinstein’s firing. Clinton has long championed women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted.


“During three-decades worth of sexual harassment allegations, Harvey Weinstein lined the pockets of Democrats to the tune of three quarters of a million dollars. If Democrats and the DNC truly stand up for women like they say they do, then returning this dirty money should be a no brainer,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said.


 


Photo: Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman and co-founder of Weinstein Co., attends the second day of the annual Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, July 12, 2017 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Every July, some of the world’s most wealthy and powerful businesspeople from the media, finance, technology and political spheres converge at the Sun Valley Resort for the exclusive weeklong conference.


Photo courtesy: Drew Angerer/Getty Images


Publication date: October 10,2017

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Former Megachurch Pastor Perry Noble Reveals Struggles, Calling Himself ‘Worthless Piece of (Expletive)’ in Frank Post

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(Screenshot: Perry Noble Facebook)Perry Noble on Facebook February 12, 2017.

Former NewSpring Church pastor Perry Noble admitted in a frank Facebook post that there are days when he struggles with severe self-worthlessness, given the issues in his life. But he revealed that it is Jesus’ words that help him pull through.

Noble wrote on Wednesday that he woke up last week with the thought “you’re a worthless piece of [expletive]!”

“I know it’s harsh – but I will not sanitize this article to appease those who may be offended at the language and want a scrubbed and safe version of Christianity that simply doesn’t work for the world,” he wrote.

The pastor, who was removed from his position at NewSpring last year due to struggles with alcohol, which also led to his wife leaving him, said he was feeling so down about disappointing God that he felt he didn’t even deserve to read the Bible.

“In that moment guilt, condemnation and shame flooded my heart and mind like a tsunami…reminding me of…The fact I was fired from a job I love for abusing alcohol. The fact I lost friendships I thought I would always have in my life. The fact my wife left me and we are still separated..and I am a failure as a husband and father. The fact I have limited time with my daughter, and feel I have let her down in so many ways,” he wrote, adding that all of this happened “because of horrible personal choices” that he made.

Noble said that he felt a physical pain in his chest, at first thinking it was a heart attack, and “sat there shaking my head over all that was flooding through my mind.”

“I tried to numb the pain by going to the gym, engaging on social media and even having lunch with a buddy – but I could not silence the damning accusation that was crushing the life out of me,” he wrote.

The pastor said that in the midst of the depression, he heard God’s voice, however, as reflected in Romans 8:1, telling him:

“There is now therefore NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

What followed was an internal battle where his mind kept accusing him of his mistakes. But Jesus’ words pulled him out of the darkness.

“Finally I snapped back to reality and remember a phrase I have declared from the pulpit…but have never actually believed for myself…that: ‘Jesus knew every stupid, sinful, self-centered decision I would ever make, and still created me, called me, equipped me and arranged for the payment of my sin!'” he continued.

“In Christ what we did is NOT who we are (no matter what others try to label us as…or how long they try to judge as to whether or not we have truly repented!)

“In Christ we are completely forgiven,” he added.

“In Christ we are valuable beyond imagination! And in Christ we are unconditionally loved!”

Noble revealed that the next day, the accusation in his mind was still there and admitted it may never never go away, but he noted that it had “lost its power in my life because I refused to believe the lie of the enemy over the Truth of God’s Word!”

He prayed that others going through the same battle also realize that they are not worthless, and that the grace of God “awashed away all our sin.”

While in other posts, Noble has celebrated his recovery and sobriety, he has also been open with followers on Facebook about some of the darkest moments in his life. He said in a video post in July that there was a day in rehab last year where he reached the decision to shoot himself, before God’s voice saved him.

“I felt like a failure, I felt alone, I felt betrayed, and whether those feelings are true or not, that’s how I felt,” he said of his feelings at the time.

“I had the spot picked out, I had the gun picked out, and I was going to literally take my own life,” he said, fighting back tears in the video.

The night before, he was planning to leave the rehab center and carry out his plan. However, he said that he heard God’s voice.

“It was the clearest I’ve ever heard His voice. He told me ‘I’m not finished with you yet,'” Noble shared.

“It was powerful, it kept me in the game.”

Follow Stoyan Zaimov on Facebook: CPSZaimov

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4 Christian Leaders Offer Perspectives on the Las Vegas Massacre

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(Photo: REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)A woman looks at a makeshift memorial on the Las Vegas Strip for victims of the Route 91 music festival mass shooting next to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. October 3, 2017.

In what is being called the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, the slaughter of 59 people at the Route 91 music festival in Las Vegas Sunday night has gripped the United States with sorrow and horror.

Amid growing frustration and the creeping feeling that these kinds of violent events constitute a new normal as several have happened in recent years, questions such as “Where was God?” and “Why does God allow suffering?” are being raised again.

Here are the responses of four Christian leaders and writers. (Click arrow above image)

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Christian MSP reacts to SNP conference

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Nicola Sturgeon, the party’s leader, has insisted her SNP Government is still trusted to deliver in Scotland. She focused on social policies, such as education and energy prices. 

In June’s snap general election, her party lost 21 of the 56 seats it had secured in 2015, with its share of the vote going from 50% to 37%.

Ms Sturgeon, making her key note address to the SNP conference in Glasgow, conceded that there had been “tough days” for the party.

But she provided opponents with a “gentle reality check”, saying her party was polling at “a higher level today than we were at this point in the honeymoon days after our 2007 win or our landslide in 2011”.

Forbes, who represents Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch told Premier: “It’s a great opportunity to reflect on decisions that we’ve made and reset the direction we’re going in”.

She continued: “There has been a reset. In June, Nicola Sturgeon talked about resetting her policy direction and we’ve saw that with the programme for government in early September where she brought forward 13 pieces of hefty legislation that were quite radical and well received.

“She was demonstrating that we’re very much committed to working with the people of Scotland and looking to the future of Scotland.

There have been accusations that we’re taking our eye off the day job but we are committed to proving that we are serious about leaving Scotland in a better place than when we started governing 10 years ago.”

On the policies that arose from the conference she commented: “One of the main focuses has been education.

“Those that are currently working in science and technology will get a £20,000 bursary to go into teacher training so they can teach the young people of the future their subjects.”

Here’s Kate Forbes speaking with Premier’s Cara Bentley:

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Billy Graham Chaplains Deployed to Manchester, UK, to Offer Aid to Those Grieving

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Members of the public pause to look at floral tributes and messages in St Anns Square on May 24, 2017 in Manchester, England. An explosion occurred at Manchester Arena on the evening of May 22 as concert goers were leaving the venue after Ariana Grande had performed. Greater Manchester Police are treating the explosion as a terrorist attack and have confirmed 22 fatalities and 59 injured. (Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images)

Members of the public pause to look at floral tributes and messages in St Anns Square on May 24, 2017 in Manchester, England. An explosion occurred at Manchester Arena on the evening of May 22 as concert goers were leaving the venue after Ariana Grande had performed. Greater Manchester Police are treating the explosion as a terrorist attack and have confirmed 22 fatalities and 59 injured. (Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images)

A team of chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Rapid Response Team has deployed to Manchester, UK to aid those who are grieving after the terrorist attack Monday night.
The attack occurred when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive device during an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena. Twenty-two people were killed and 59 were injured. The UK is currently on high alert for other terrorist threats.

In the wake of the attack, people came together to offer comfort to those who were grieving, to offer aid to those who were still searching for family members, and to stand in solidarity with the people of Manchester.

The Billy Graham chaplains went to Manchester to join the efforts to comfort, offer aid, and meet emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.

“Responses vary from individual to individual. Primarily we are there to offer a ministry of presence,” stated Nigel Fawcett-Jones, who is leading the Rapid Response Team.

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: Christian Headlines
Veronica Neffinger

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Party ‘Out of Touch’ With Voters — Charisma News

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There are pro-life Democrats out there, too. (Aaron Bernstein/Reuters )

Democrats once claimed to be the “big tent” party, accepting varying ideas and different views for debate.

It appears, however, there’s no room in the tent for at least one voice: pro-life Democrats.
 
In the early ’90s, more than 100 held office on Capitol Hill, according to Democrats for Life of America. Today there are six.
 
Even though they may not have much of a voice inside of the halls of Congress, pro-life Democrats exist and leaders in the movement say it’s time for their voice to be heard, all 21 million of them.
 
“When you look at the polls, a lot of times the polls will say, ‘do you support Roe v. Wade?’ But when you look at the details further, about one-third of Democrats oppose abortion and when you look at other issues, such as 20-week bans, the number is much higher,” 
Democrats for Life of America Director Kristen Day told CBN News.
 
Ignored by the Democrat Party

Day said she hears from a lot of voters who feel ignored by the party.
 
“There are so many people out there. I hear it all the time. I was doing an interview on the radio and some callers called in, I think three in a row said we would vote Democrat again if they would change their position on abortion,” Day recalled.
 
Pro-life activist and former Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave sees a shift on the horizon, especially with key voting groups.
 
“The Democratic Party is out of touch with Hispanic voters who think in a majority that abortion should be banned for any and all reasons,” noted Musgrave.
 
This information, combined with a desire to win elections led some party leaders to act. In July, Democratic Congressional Campaign Chairman Ben Ray Lujan tried to re-open the tent to pro-lifers by telling The Hill newspaper, “There is not a litmus test for Democratic candidates. As we look at candidates across the country, you need to make sure you have the candidates that fit the district that can win in these districts across America.” 
 
Door to the Democrat ‘Big Tent’ Quickly Closes to Pro-Life Members

Although House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and others indicated they’re open to that idea, pro-choice advocates moved quickly to close the door.
 
NARAL President llyse Hogue tweeted this: 
 
“Ignoring women’s fundamental freedoms and equality to win elections is an ethically and politically bankrupt strategy.” 
 
Musgrave said influence from the extreme left worries party leaders.
 
“Their extremism is very damaging to the party, that’s why you are hearing members of leadership saying there shouldn’t really be a litmus test.”
 
President Obama’s former faith director, Michael Wear, says supporting pro-life candidates just makes sense.
 
The Reclaiming Hope author points to Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly, a pro-life Democrat in a red state.
 
Finding Common Ground with Likely Voters

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Scott Slayton – Christian News Headlines

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Georgia Mother Upset by Middle School Quiz on Sexual Identity



One Georgia mother wants to know why her child came home with a quiz where she had to differentiate between different sexual orientations and identities. Questions included identifying the proper terms for a woman who is attracted to other women, a man who is attracted to other men, and a person who is attracted to women and men. 


Octavia Parks, whose 12-year-old daughter is a 6th grader at Lithonia Middle School, wants to know why the school district includes this subject matter in a class filled with young children. Parks told Fox 5 Atlanta, “we’re talking about a sixth grader who still watches Nickelodeon.”


Parks signed a consent form for her child to opt out of this material. She also claims she had a discussion with the teacher about it, but says “none the less it is happening.”


A spokesman for the Dekalb County School District, located east of downtown Atlanta, issued a statement in which he addressed the concerns. “DCSD has been made aware of this alleged event, and is working to verify its authenticity. We will investigate this event and take action, as appropriate, once that investigation is completed.


Parks removed her daughter from the class and says she will be going directly to the school board as soon as the district’s fall break ends.


She remains perplexed why her child’s curriculum includes learning the correct term for a person whose “gender identity doesn’t match the sex (male or female) the doctor said when they were born.” She asked, “Why are they teaching that in school? What does that have to do with life?”


 


Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/RedlineVector


Publication date: October 10, 2017

 

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Michelle Qureshi Vows to Continue Her Late Husband Nabeel’s Ministry

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(Screenbrab/You Tube/NQMinistries)Michelle Qureshi is continuing the ministry of her late husband, apologist and New York Times best-selling author, Nabeel Qureshi.

The wife of the late Christian apologist and best-selling author Nabeel Qureshi has vowed to continue her late husband’s online ministry.

Nearly three weeks removed from her 34-year-old husband’s death, Michelle Qureshi took to her husband’s video blog and social media pages to announce that she plans to continue the ministry that he left behind.

Nabeel Qureshi, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer last August and died on Sept. 16, launched an online ministry and began producing video blogs following his diagnosis last summer.

In the video blogs, Qureshi discussed Scripture and updated people on his battle with cancer. Considering that Qureshi was no longer working with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, he launched a Patreon account to help crowdfund the ministry and earn an income.

Although Qureshi, a former Muslim who authored Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus and No God But One, is no longer around to share the Gospel, his wife believes that the ministry must go on.

“[One] thing that he doesn’t have to strive for or work for [anymore] … is sharing the Gospel because everyone in Heaven is seeing Jesus face-to-face. But then that leaves us here,” Qureshi said in a YouTube video. “We are still here. People still need to hear the Gospel. Ministry still needs to continue.”

“In this video, my main point to you is to let you know that I am committed to ensuring the continuation of Nabeel’s ministry,” she added. “I don’t know exactly what that is going to look like but we are going to take his resources and put those online in video form and share them through the social media and the websites that he had opened previously — Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Patreon.”

Qureshi admits that although the prospect of continuing her husband’s ministry is exciting, she knows it will be a challenge.

“There are other people who are gathering around me already to help ensure that this happens,” she explained. “Of course, I have my primary responsibilities to [our daughter] Ayah and that will stay No. 1. I wanted to let you all know that there are things in the works and I want to welcome you to partner with us as the Lord leads.”

“Pray about it. Keep your eyes open in the coming weeks what God helps us to accomplish,” she continued. “I am committed to continuing my husband’s ministry and I do hope that you will join me as well.”

The ministry is currently supported by 318 Patreon users to the tune of $8,926 per month, as of Thursday morning.

One Patreon user has already expressed her gratitude to Qureshi for continuing the ministry.

“Michelle, I’m so thankful you will be continuing Nabeel’s ministry,” Patreon user Nancy Lemke wrote in a comment on Qureshi’s Patreon page Thursday. “I pray for you and Ayah during this difficult time. Happy to be able to support you.”

In addition to the funding that has come from Patreon, Nabeel Qureshi’s GoFundMe account that he created earlier this year has surpassed $895,000 in donations. The account was established to help pay for any uncovered medical costs and to help Michelle Qureshi and Ayah in the case of Nabeel Qureshi’s passing.

Follow Samuel Smith on Twitter: @IamSamSmith
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40 Percent of US Cancers Linked to Overweight and Obesity, CDC Says

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(Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)Pedestrians walk across the street near Times Square in New York August 28 2007.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Tuesday that overweight and obesity have been linked to increased risk of 13 different types of cancers, which account for some 40 percent of cancer diagnoses nationwide.

In a release from the public health agency highlighting its latest Vital Signs report, officials said many people aren’t aware of the link between excess weight and these cancers.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has identified them as: meningioma, multiple myeloma, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, and cancers of the thyroid, postmenopausal breast, gallbladder, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, ovaries, uterus, colon and rectum (colorectal).

“A majority of American adults weigh more than recommended — and overweight or obese puts people at higher risk for a number of cancers — so these findings are a cause for concern,” CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald said. “By getting to and keeping a healthy weight, we all can play a role in cancer prevention.”

(Photo: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

According to the CDC, about 630,000 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with a cancer associated with overweight and obesity in 2014. Some 2 in 3 of these cancer cases occurred in adults 50 to 74 years old. While the rates of obesity-related cancers, not including colorectal cancer, increased by 7 percent between 2005 and 2014, the agency said, the rates of nonobesity-related cancers declined during that time.

For the report, researchers from the CDC and National Cancer Institute analyzed 2014 cancer incidence data from the United States Cancer Statistics report and reviewed data from 2005 to 2014 to determine trends for cancers associated with overweight and obesity.

They found, among other things, that 55 percent of all cancers diagnosed in women and 24 percent of those diagnosed in men are associated with overweight and obesity. Black and white Americans showed higher incidence rates for these cancers when compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Black and Native American males, however, were shown to have a higher incidence rate than white males. Cancers associated with overweight and obesity, excluding colorectal cancer, also showed an increase among adults younger than age 75.

“As an oncologist, when people ask me if there’s a cure for cancer, I say, ‘Yes, good health is the best prescription for preventing chronic diseases, including cancer,'” Lisa C. Richardson, director of CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, said. “What that means to healthcare providers like me is helping people to have the information they need to make healthy choices where they live, work, learn, and play.”

Theodore Brasky, a professor and researcher at the Ohio State University, who is not affiliated with the study, told The Guardian that America has a “massive” obesity problem that must be tackled with prevention.

“It’s interesting when we talk about cancer in this country, we talk about beating cancer and the cancer moonshot initiative, but all of these things are focused on treating cancer, curing cancer,” said Brasky. “What we need to talk about is preventing cancer, eating better.”

He added: “Those approaches are cost effective and have a bigger impact. It’s so much easier to not get cancer than to have to deal with treating it.”

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Christian race relation expert points to the Church after new race audit

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Nims Obunge CEO of the Peace Alliance spoke to Premier News Hour about a new racial disparity audit into how people of different races are treated in areas including health, education, employment and the criminal justice system.

Among the findings are:

:: Asian, black and other ethnic groups were disproportionately likely to be on a low income, with almost half of households in bottom 40% nationally before housing costs were taken into account.

:: Households of Bangladeshi, Pakistani, black, mixed and other backgrounds were more likely to receive income-related benefits and tax credits than those in other ethnic groups.

:: Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers received the lowest average hourly pay of £11.42, while Indian workers received the highest on £15.81.

:: Ethnic minorities are more likely to live in areas of deprivation, especially black, Pakistani and Bangladeshi people.

:: White pupils from state schools had the lowest university entry rate of any ethnic group in 2016. Chinese pupils had the highest attainment throughout school, made the most progress and were the most likely to stay in education and go to university.

Theresa May has warned public services there is nowhere to hide if they treat black and ethnic minorities worse than white people.

Obunge told Premier: “Let’s look at what the church can do because I think society is also a reflection of the church.

“Maybe we also need to audit ourselves before we point any fingers to society and say ‘you got this wrong’.”

He added: “We need to be asking some very difficult questions. Who is the staff in Number 10? Who are the people that actually work in government that form the policy we have as a nation?”

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