NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Weighs in on Anthem Controversy, Urges Players to ‘Honor our Flag’
The controversy surrounding the decision of some football players to kneel or sit during the National Anthem continues to be a major talking point in the U.S. Now, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has weighed in.
The Guardian reports that, in a letter to the NFL’s 32 teams, Goodell acknowledged the players’ grievances, but urged them to “move past this controversy” and “honor our flag.”
“Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the national anthem,” Goodell wrote in the letter. “It is an important moment in our game. We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us.”
“We also care deeply about our players and respect their opinions and concerns about critical social issues. The controversy over the anthem is a barrier to having honest conversations and making real progress on the underlying issues,” he added.
“We need to move past this controversy, and we want to do that together with our players.”
Goodell did not specifically outline whether the NFL will enforce standing during the Anthem, but strongly recommended players do so.
The NFL’s viewership has been down this season, and many say that is due, at least in part, to Americans’ disagreement with the players’ kneeling during the Anthem. With his letter, Goodell likely hopes to improve league morale, as well as boost viewership.
(PHOTO: YOUCARING)Katie Evans with her preemie twin girls
Prayers and selfless offers of help are pouring in for a husband and father left to raise six young children by himself after his wife’s tragic death in a car crash.
Katie Evans was killed in a car crash while driving back from the hospital after visiting her premature baby girls, Sarah and Hannah.
Her sister-in-law Caralee told People.com that she was traveling home late at night when she was hit by another car.
She said Katie, 37, had been at the hospital every day following the birth of her ‘miracle’ twins at around 25 weeks.
Katie was almost home when the collision occurred in Santa Clarita, California, on October 6. It is feared that the driver who collided with Katie’s car may have been under the influence of alcohol.
Katie leaves behind husband Jacob and their six young children, the eldest of which has special needs.
(PHOTO: YOUCARING)Katie and Jacob Evans with their four other children
Jacob’s brother, Michael, told People.com they had received so much support in the wake of the tragedy.
‘We have a rough road ahead of us, trying to figure out how to handle everything,’ Michael says of the family. ‘The outpouring of support from the community, from the internet, from our local church, from neighbors … it has been absolutely overwhelming.’
A fundraising page has been set up for the family to help them cover childcare and other costs, with over $200,000 raised already.
Many strangers have left messages of support and even offered practical assistance to the family.
One well-wisher said she was a pediatric nurse at UCLA and offered to donate her days off to help the family.
‘I would love to help! I do not know the family but I’m a pediatric nurse at UCLA and would love to donate my time helping in any way!!!! This is tragic and I pray for this family! I have four days off a week and would love to spend my time off helping!’ she wrote.
Another well-wisher said: ‘Don’t have money to donate but lots of newborn baby clothes I can send their way if the twins need them.’
There were also many promises of prayers for the family as they come to terms with their loss.
One anonymous donor wrote: ‘God bless you and your family through this tragic moment of life. Trust in Him to keep you safe and push you at your lowest points. Prayers from Northern Michigan.’
Movingly, one comment came from a woman whose husband lost his first wife, leaving him in a similar circumstance with five young children, including one premature baby to raise by himself.
In her note of encouragement she said: ‘We are living proof that God redeems, restores, and puts lives back together, although I’m sure you cannot imagine right now that could ever be so. Prayers!!’
A Christian shopkeeper from Norfolk has dismissed claims by supernatural enthusiasts that his premises are haunted; saying the only spiritual presence in his store is Jesus.
The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude-6.1 earthquake has hit off the coast of Japan.
The agency’s website says the temblor hit early Thursday about 283 kilometers (176 miles) southeast of the city of Kamaishi and more than 322 kilometers (200 miles) east of Fukushima.
A massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused meltdowns at three reactors in the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Fewer than 40 reports of people feeling Thursday’s quake were registered on the Geological Survey website.
It comes as Mexico is reeling from a magnitude-7.1 earthquake that collapsed buildings and killed at least 225 people.
This year the Full Moon of Tabernacles will also be in the sign of the Church. (Pixabay/spiriterror)
The Jewish Feast of Tabernacles began at sundown on Wednesday, Oct. 4, but the best celestial views come at dawn on tabernacles morning.
Two years ago, the fourth blood moon of the 2014-2015 Tetrad occurred on Sept. 27, 2015. Some had seen the blood moons as harbingers of disaster, but the Scriptures speak of blood moons as a sign of the outpouring of the Spirit and salvation (Acts 2:17-21). The blood moon is also a sign of overcoming evil, as the moon, symbolic of believers (Ps. 89:37) is covered by the blood (Rev. 12:11). The fact that the tabernacles blood moon of 2015 occurred in the constellation Pisces (the fish), the sign of the church, reminds us that tabernacles is about the ingathering of the church to spend eternity with God. See our book, The Mystery of the Blood Moons, available on Amazon, for more information.
This year, the full moon of tabernacles will also be in the sign of the church, Pisces. The two fish of Pisces are joined together by a cord known as the band, which represents the unity of the church as is symbolized by a bright star in Pisces called Okda, meaning “The United.” We are reminded of Christ’s prayer in John 17:20-23 that the church be united. Interestingly the only planet visible with the full moon in the evening is Saturn (the ruler) which symbolizes Christ’s rule over all, which is also symbolized by tabernacles.
It is on the morning of tabernacles, Oct. 5, when the other four visible planets add to the celestial picture for tabernacles. The bright morning star, Venus, representing Christ, the seed of woman, is visible just before dawn in the constellation Leo, the lion, which pictures the fate of God’s enemies. This vision of judgment, commonly called hell, stands in stark contrast with the promise of heaven given in the Feast of Tabernacles. Yet, amazingly, the red planet Mars is almost touching Venus, reminding us that the red blood of Jesus, represented by Mars, is still available for salvation.
The other two planets, Mercury and Jupiter, are lost in the sun’s light on tabernacles morning. Mercury, the morning star laid low (Isa. 14:12), was also known as “the burnt one” to the ancients, and its fall into the sun reminds us of the fiery fate awaiting Satan and his followers. However, joining Mercury in the Sun’s light is Jupiter, representing the suffering Savior, as a reminder that Christ’s sacrifice can set us free from judgment.
So if you are up before dawn on tabernacle morning, enjoy the view. And don’t forget to tell someone that by the blood of Jesus and His suffering, they can spend eternity tabernacles with God in heaven.
Ron Allenis a Christian businessman, CPA and author who serves in local, national and international ministries, spreading a message of reconciliation to God, to men and between believers. He is founder of the International Star Bible Society, telling how the heavens declare the glory of God; the Emancipation Network, which helps people escape from financial bondage; and co-founder with his wife, Pat, of Corporate Prayer Resources, dedicated to helping intercessors.
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Many pastors and church leaders are miserable because of fewer than five percent of the church members.
Let me state if positively. Over 95 percent of church members are supportive and encouraging.
So pastors and other church leaders need to learn and deal with the reality of church cowards. They are few in number but, like a few bee stings from a hive of hundreds, they can be painful.
Before I suggest a path forward with church cowards, let me identify nine of the most common detractors.
The business meeting aggressor. This person is largely silent until there is a business meeting in the church. At that point, he or she begins to speak with either passive-aggressive language or outright venom. They take comfort and security by speaking in a crowd.
The social media attacker. This coward hides behind the shield of a keyboard. They will not come to the church leader directly, but will gladly make their positions and criticism known digitally.
The “I-love-you-but” hypocrite. This church member prefaces criticisms and diatribes with a disingenuous comment of love and support for the church leader.
The anonymous letter writer. He or she who does not have the courage to identify himself or herself does not deserve an audience.
The absent but critical commanders. These church members have a lot of opinions about the church and the church’s leadership, most of it critical. But they are rarely involved in ministry or showing their support for the church in tangible ways.
The financial withholding hoard. You know these church members. When things do not go their way, they stop giving to the church. After all. It’s not God’s money; it’s their
The nothing good gossiper. This member is happy to spread news about the church, its leaders, and its members – as long as the news is negative, salacious, or false.
The delegating demanders. Their pattern is consistent. If they have a problem or criticism, they go to someone else to communicate the problem. They then expect the receiver of the message to address the situation.
The “silence-is-golden” groupies. Unfortunately in many churches, these members are often the exception to the 95 percent statement I made above. Too many members, far beyond the five percent problem members, remain silent when they see unfair criticisms, bullying, and other toxic behavior. Their silence is a complicit act of cowardice.
So how do pastors deal with church cowards? First, you pray for them. As difficult as it may seem, you do pray for them. Second, you stay vigilant for these members so you can be aware of what is taking place. Third, you remember you are their pastor. Finally, you focus your emotional energies on the members who really want to make a positive difference for the Kingdom.
Church cowards will always be with you.
It’s up to you, in God’s strength, to determine how you will respond.
Many people have this naïve view that a pastor just has to preach and love people.
Not so. Pastors certainly have to give a priority to preaching and ministry to others, but the pastor’s week is filled with unexpected and multifaceted demands.
Many times pastors need to lead the church in a new endeavor, something that gets the members out of their comfort zone. And sometimes it gets pastors out of their comfort zone.
Relocation. A new ministry. A second campus. New staff and changing staff positions. Purchase of property.
These are but a few examples of leadership challenges some pastors have not seen before. These challenges not only require basic leadership skills, they require leadership skills in often-untested areas.
Change leadership. Financial risk-taking. Breaking of routines. New paradigms.
When pastors face these new challenges, it is not unusual for some to get cold feet. They decide the pain is not worth the potential gain. They get cold feet and settle for the status quo. Why? Here are seven of the most common reasons.
The critics. Major change often engenders major criticisms. Too many leaders will stick with the status quo until their churches are on the path to death. They just want to avoid the critics. Remember, the vote to go to the Promised Land lost 10 to 2. They naysayers yielded to the critics, the whiners, and comfort-seekers.
The energy drainers. These are the people ready to vote no before they hear the motion. They always have a better idea. They want to tell you what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. And they will wear the pastors out . . . if the pastors let them.
Lack of knowledge. Pastors are often placed in positions of leadership and relatively large budgets with no preparation. It’s hard to lead a challenging project if you can’t read a financial statement. And while pastors can find more seasoned laypersons to help them, the pastors’ lack of knowledge can be a showstopper.
Prayerlessness. With God all things are possible. But if pastors have gotten too busy for God, they are too busy to lead forward. Frankly, pastors should have cold feet if they have not prayed about their own leadership and the endeavor they are about to lead.
Short-term view. Pastors who don’t plan to hang around long can have cold feet about leading projects that may have a longer view. I have advised many pastors not to move forward on a major endeavor unless they plan to see it through. So cold feet in this case is probably the right temperature.
Inadequate staff and lay leadership. I get this one. I spoke with a pastor this week who expressed concerned about the leadership around him. He was not sure he would have the right team for a major and visionary endeavor. I urged him to look behind his present team and see if God would raise up some other leaders in the church.
Faith-as-idea. It really sounds exciting to take steps of faith . . . until it’s actually time to take those steps. To continue the Promised Land metaphor from point number one, leaders get to the edge of the Promised Land and freeze in their tracks when they see the challenges (see Numbers 13). Any step of faith will have its challenges. The question is: Is your faith bigger than your fears?
We need an army of church leaders who are bold and courageous. We need the spirit of Joshua 1 instead of Numbers 1. I pray for our pastors. I pray they will truly be the courageous people God has called them to be.
We really need to move forward to our Promised Land.
Families of Slain Coptic Christians in Libya Desire a Dignified Return, Burial
International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that families of the Copts killed by ISIS in Libya are preparing to place their deceased loved ones at the Church of the Martyrs of Libya in Aour village, Egypt, after they have received the bodies. According to ICC sources, neither the Egyptian nor the Libyan authorities have requested DNA samples from the families to confirm the identities of the martyrs. The families intend to personally verify the identities once they have received the bodies, after which the Church of the Martyrs of Libya will receive the Christians for burial.
Construction of the Church of the Martyrs of Libya began with the intention of memorializing the faith and courage of the 21 Coptic men who were brutally massacred by ISIS militants along the Libyan coast in February 2015. The militants buried the Christian men in a mass grave. Libyan authorities announced earlier this month that they discovered the grave’s location after arresting the militant responsible for filming the massacre.
Thirteen of the men killed were originally from Aour village. Father Makar Issa, a priest at The Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in the village, told ICC, “Our Lord chose the right time for the appearance and return of the remains of the martyrs after the completion of the building of the Church of the Martyrs of Libya to receive the blessed bodies of the martyrs to be placed at the new church in the village. This church is now completed and it is ready to receive its martyred sons, the heroes who lifted the head of the church and Christians all around the world.”
The brother of the two martyrs Bishoy and Samuel told ICC, “A great state of joy prevailed in our village [Aour] after the publication of pictures of the bodies. Our feelings are indescribable. They are mixed between crying and joy.”
According to the families, the bodies of the men are currently in a Libyan morgue where they are being prepared for the return to the families. Social media has been the primary source of information for the families throughout the process, and they have received only limited communication from the authorities on the progress of the investigation.
The families’ hearts are “hungry to see the remains of our martyrs,” according to Malak Shokry Younan, the brother of the martyr Youssef. The mother of the martyr Mina Fayez Aziz shared with ICC, “Before the news of finding the bodies of our martyrs, I was comforted and blessed. But now, after hearing the news of finding the bodies of the martyrs, I’m comforted more than before. I will be very happy when I see them and will visit them every day at the church. We pray that God complete their safe return to us.”
Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “For over two years, the families of these Christians have had to wait at home with no opportunity for closure. Both the Libyan and Egyptian authorities must do everything possible to ensure that the bodies are returned to their loved ones and buried with dignity according to their Christian faith. At the same time, we must not forget that these victims were originally in Libya because of a lack of opportunity in Egypt for Christians. We pray that these families will experience healing from this tragedy and for the safety of those Egyptian Christians who continue to risk their lives for the sake of their families’ welfare.”
To read more Christian persecution news, visit www.persecution.org.
It’s a sad goodbye to Katie as she’s off to vicar factory, but she joins the team one last time to discuss our Sep cover feature, marking the 100th anniversary of the first woman to be ordained to ministry in a UK denomination.
We also revisit the Jesus People Revolution 50 years on from 1967’s Summer of Love, hear how a KGB spy became a Christian church planter, and some of Katie’s Profile interview with ‘America’s best theologian’ Stanley Hauerwas.
See the full September edition at https://www.premierchristianity.com/Past-Issues/2017/September-2017
Get a free copy of the magazine at www.premierchristianity.com/freesample
Get the MP3 podcast of Premier Christianity magazine, or Subscribe Via iTunes
Sam and Justin open the pages of the Reformation anniversary magazine, with tons of features commemorating the idea and key players. Nick Page talks to Sam about the pros and cons of the Reformation, we look at why Bart Campolo (son of Tony) lost his faith and hear form Christy Wimber on what happens when people don’t get healed.
See the full August edition at https://www.premierchristianity.com/Past-Issues/2017/October-2017
Get a free copy of the magazine at www.premierchristianity.com/freesample
Get the MP3 podcast of Premier Christianity magazine, or Subscribe Via iTunes
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The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude-6.1 earthquake has hit off the coast of Japan.
