Greg Laurie: 5 Signs of a Dying Church

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Greg Laurie: 5 Signs of a Dying Church

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Christian Post Report – Pastor Greg Laurie speaking on Revelation 3

There are many distractions, temptations and tribulations that can cause a church or an individual to die spiritually, as happened with the church of Sardis. There are signs to watch out for, and also ways to come back to life, Pastor Greg Laurie shared with his congregation Sunday.

Chapter 3 of Revelation in the New Testament carries a story of a sick church, Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship church in Riverside, California, said as he began his sermon, “How to Come Back to Life Spiritually.”

Referring to the church in Sardis, mentioned in the Bible, Laurie said the problem was they didn’t know their church was dying.

The pastor then read Revelation 3:1-6, “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

There was every indication from the outside that this church was on the move, but it was not fulfilling its purpose, Laurie said, and explained that the church is here for the glorification of God, for the edification of the saints and for the evangelization of the world.

“Often, the person who is dying spiritually is the last one to know,” he stressed, and warned that one could be doing all the right things outwardly and still be dying spiritually.

Laurie then shared five marks of a dying church, which, he said, he had shared some time ago with the church.

One, a dead church worships its past, he said, underlining that we need to live in the present and plan for the future. Giving an example of such a church, he said some congregations boast of conversions that happened years ago, but are not happening any longer.

Two, a dead church is inflexible and resistant to change, Laurie shared. Sometimes, we’re flexible when we need to be inflexible, and inflexible when we need to be flexible, he said, explaining that we need to be inflexible about essentials or things that are non-negotiable, but flexible about how to express them, like embracing new technology or different genres of music for the sake of the outreach.

Three, a dead church has a lazy leadership, Laurie added, explaining that, due to lethargy, the leadership of a church might resist change that is needed to be relevant to the people of the time.

Four, a dead church neglects youth, the pastor told the congregation. It is important for the older generation to reach out to the next generation, he said.

Five, a dead church lacks evangelistic zeal, he shared, underlining that new believers are the lifeblood of the church.

Good news is that Jesus has prescribed ways to seek spiritual renewal so that a church doesn’t die spiritually, Laurie said, referring to the same passage in Revelation.

We need to wake up, stabilize what’s frail, be watching for the return of Jesus Christ, be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit and live a life that brings glory to God.

Laurie also shared with his congregation how God blessed Harvest America 2016 held in Texas earlier this month, as the church was flexible in expression of the Gospel. He said 82,000 people attended the event at AT&T Stadium, and 6,300 indicated they accepted Jesus into their lives. Additionally, 7,000 small churches and groups hosted the event online across the U.S. and other countries. He added that 180,000 people attended the event through these host sites, and 18,000 said they accepted Christ.

Source : Christian Post

Tim Tebow Doesn’t Want to Talk Football When Doing Charitable Work

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Tim Tebow Doesn’t Want to Talk Football When Doing Charitable Work

Tim Tebow (Photo: Reuters/Eric Henderson)

Christian Post Report – Tim Tebow arrives at the 48th Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, November 5, 2014.

While the world of sports tries to figure out the next step in Tim Tebow’s football career, the Christian athlete wants people to realize that he is focused on bigger things.

“It’s not about football. It’s about what we’re doing, through faith, hope and love and the people we serve all over the world,” Tebow told The Florida Times-Union before his sixth annual Tim Tebow Celebrity Golf Classic that took place March 12. “That’s going to be bigger than football every single day of my life.”

This year, Tebow invited his former University of Florida football coach Urban Meyer, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze, former Atlanta Braves star Chipper Jones, NFL Hall of Famer Marcus Allen, PGA Tour winners Billy Horschel and Zach Johnson; former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, and music group The Band Perry to participate in the celebrity golf event. Tebow has raised over $5.5 million through the years with the Tim Tebow Celebrity Golf Classic that benefits children in need through his Tim Tebow Foundation initiatives like the Tebow Cure Hospital in the Philippines, the Night to Shine prom for teenagers with special needs and the W15H program that gives kids with fatal illnesses a chance to make their dreams come true.

Tebow has been making a difference with his charitable organizations, and chose to focus on his contributions to society instead of football during his event. However, Horschel spoke about Tebow’s influence extending beyond football.

“When I get older I want to be like Tim … and I am older than Tim,” Horschel told the Times-Union. “He’s done amazing things. Football is just one thing, but what he does in the real world, where things really matter, is amazing.”

Wuerffel knows a thing or two about football after winning the 1996 Heisman Trophy. He believes Tebow has a bright future ahead of him.

“Football is obviously the most known and recognized thing to a lot of people, but when you look at the platform he has, his greatest years are yet to come, whether he plays in a Super Bowl or never plays again,” Wuerffel said.

Earlier this year, Tebow spoke out against placing too much importance on football, which can be seen sometimes as idol worship.

“We choose to idolize certain things, and love certain things,” Tebow said according to the Montgomery Advisor while speaking at benefit for the Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama. “…I’m not saying it’s wrong to love sports, I love them as much as anybody. But do we choose to really see what matters?”

As a speaker at the Montgomery, Alabama benefit called “The Journey Continues…,” Tebow invited three “wish girls” battling cancer to join him. Instead of focusing on celebrities, the athlete-turned-college-football analyst spoke about how “messed up” it was that people were not honoring those trying to overcome cancer.

“All these men and women that are celebrities, they’re awesome, they’re good friends of mine. They do a lot,” Tebow said. “And everyone was idolizing these men and women, and nobody was paying attention to these three girls. I think all of them would agree, these three girls have more character, heart and determination to fight through what they had fought through than any one of those celebrities.”

The athlete said he was struck with the revelation that, “This is what matters. This is what we should be focusing on.'”

Source : Christian Post

Oprah Releases Trailer for ‘Greenleaf’ Megachurch Drama, Hopes to Leave Viewers on ‘Edge of Their Pews’

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Oprah Releases Trailer for ‘Greenleaf’ Megachurch Drama, Hopes to Leave Viewers on ‘Edge of Their Pews’

Christian Post Report – Oprah Winfrey and Lynn Whitfield in a scene from the OWN scripted megachurch drama “Greenleaf.”

Oprah Winfrey will soon shine the light of her influential brand on the American megachurch in her upcoming OWN scripted drama “Greenleaf,” a series that’s set to premiere this summer.

A compelling trailer posted on social media last week introduces audiences to the Greenleaf family and its patriarchs, James Greenleaf (Keith David) and Mae Greenleaf (Lynn Whitfield) — the bishop and first lady of Calvary Fellowship World Ministries, a couple whose righteous personas might only be a thin veneer. When their estranged “prodigal daughter” Grace Greenleaf, played by Merle Dandridge, returns home — after 20 years away — following the mysterious death of her sister, Faith, she uncovers the family’s hidden sins and secrets.

The tension-filled trailer gives viewers a hint of James Greenleaf’s darkside when he says in a close-up,”If I thought your Uncle Mac did anything, you think he would still be alive?”

Winfrey, the show’s executive producer along with “Lost” and “Six Feet Under” writer Craig Wright, and Clement Virgo, plays nightclub owner Mavis McCready and stars alongside Emmy Award-winning actress Lynn Whitfield (“Eve’s Bayou,” “The Josephine Baker Story”) — one of television and film’s most underutilized acting talents. Whitfield and Dandridge were among the first actors cast in the upcoming series, according to Deadline.

McCready is Mae Greenleaf’s sister, and in a scene from the trailer conflict between the two siblings reaches a boiling piont when Whitfield’s character calls Winfrey a “childless whore.”

“When I first read the script, I instantly felt an affinity for the characters and loved Craig’s creative vision for a fictional drama on an epic scale,” said Winfrey in a statement on the OWN website. “This show is going to be a fun ride and will hopefully have viewers on the edge of their pews week after week.”

Executive producer Craig Wright counted it a blessing to be working with Oprah. “To tell this potentially explosive story with Oprah, a partner who has as much respect and affection for the church as I do, whose entire body of work is infused with what I would call a faith-based humanism, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A blessing, even.”

With Clement Virgo also at the director’s helm, “Greenleaf” will mark Winfrey’s return to scripted TV and her reunification with Whitfield since Winfrey’s role in the 1989 ABC series about the lives of black women living in an inner city housing project, “The Women of Brewster Place.”

“Greenleaf” premieres at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 21 on OWN.

Watch the teaser for “Greenleaf” below:

Source : Christian Post

4 Wycliffe Bible Translators Brutally Murdered by Radicals; Sacrificed Bodies to Save Lead Translator

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4 Wycliffe Bible Translators Brutally Murdered by Radicals; Sacrificed Bodies to Save Lead Translator

Christian Post Report – Christians attend Sunday service in the Virgin Mary Church at Samalout Diocese in Al-Our village, in Minya governorate, south of Cairo, May 3, 2015. Copts have long complained of discrimination under successive Egyptian leaders and Sisi’s actions suggested he would deliver on promises of being an inclusive president who could unite the country after years of political turmoil. However, striking out at extremists abroad might prove easier than reining in radicals at home. Orthodox Copts, the Middle East’s biggest Christian community, are a test of Sisi’s commitment to tolerance, a theme he often stresses in calling for an ideological assault on Islamist militants threatening Egypt’s security.

Four Wycliffe Associates workers have reportedly been killed in an attack by radicals in the organization’s office in the Middle East.

Wycliffe explained in a statement that the attackers, who are yet to be identified, shot and destroyed all the equipment in the Bible translation office, but the hard drives containing the translation work for eight language projects was saved.

Two of the Wycliffe workers were apparently killed by gunshots, while two others laid on top of the lead translator and died while “deflecting bludgeoning blows from the radicals’ spent weapons,” and managed to save his life.

Mae Greenleaf, prayer coordinator for Wycliffe Associates, said that several other people were also injured in the raid.

The organization explained that the remaining team has vowed to re-double their effort to translate, publish and print the Gospel for the eight language communities that they had been working on.

“Please ask the Lord to mend the hearts and wounds of the translation team who have gone through this horrible ordeal. Pray that God will strengthen their minds, their hearts, and their bodies to be able to continue the translation of the gospel for their people,” Greenleaf asked.

“Pray with me for the killers too. Pray for these whose hearts are so hard. Pray the Lord will open their eyes to what they have done. Please ask the Lord to meet them, each one, right where they are. Pray that He will show Himself merciful, that they will know His forgiveness, His love, and His peace” she added.

Wycliffe also said it will be looking for a new safe location to continue its translation and printing work, and said that people wishing to help can give to its Emergency 911 Fund.

“Please take this opportunity to be an encourager to translation teams in dangerous places. And continue to pray,” Greenleaf urged.

“Pray for all the newly formed translation teams diligently translating Scripture in their own language, for their own loved ones, in extremely difficult places.”

Wycliffe Associates, which was formed in 1967 and had over 6,279 staff and volunteers translating the Gospel in 75 different countries in 2015.

Source : Christian Post

‘Germ Trap’ could save us from flu virus

CM Editor
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‘Germ Trap’ could save us from flu virus

A remarkable new technology developed by Manchester biochemists has found a way to restrict the spread of flu.

The scientists at biotech company Virustatic and The University of Manchester have developed a fabric coating which isolates viruses responsible for seasonal and pandemic influenza.

According to the team, the ‘germ trap’ has a capture rate for the virus – which affects millions of people across the world, sometimes severely- of greater than 99%.

The germ trap – which can be added to filters in masks or air filtration systems – is completely harmless and cheap to produce.

The initial research was carried out by The University of Manchester’s Professor Sabine Flitsch, who has been working with company since 2010 with EPRSC funding.

Inventor Paul Hope, who is Virustatic’s Technical Director, said: “We’re very excited about this technology, which could have an important impact on some of society’s greatest challenges.

“It’s a whole new preventative approach to disease and if implemented could be transformative.”

“We’re now at the stage where we’re looking for strategic partners to take this technology forwards in terms of developing new products.”

Scientists have struggled to find a way to anchor proteins to utilize their properties.

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This has been an exciting collaboration with Virustatic, and our research does indeed show that this technology can slow the spread of flu viruses. We hope that eventually, we’ll be able tackle all pathogens by using this technology. So watch this space

Dr Ian Rowles
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But now the team have discovered a way to apply one to different substrates such as cotton and other materials.

The team identified specific glycoproteins that have carbohydrates attached to its surface which are configured to mimic the carbohydrate structures on the surface of the cells in the human oesophagus and nasal passages.

The team at Manchester tested different materials to fix the glycoprotein to substrates, initially using activated carbon cloth, then using cheaper, simpler materials such as cotton.

The anchored and stabilised protein can capture over 99% of flu viruses that come into contact with it. And according to the team, the technology is cheap and easy to produce

Dr Ian Rowles, from The University of Manchester, is EPSRC funded Knowledge Transfer Fellow for the project.

He said: “This has been an exciting collaboration with Virustatic, and our research does indeed show that this technology can slow the spread of flu viruses.

“We hope that eventually, we’ll be able tackle all pathogens by using this technology. So watch this space.”

And they are aiming to further develop the technology so it can capture other potentially deadly pathogens such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) .

The technology, they say, could, also for the first time produce blood filter membranes that could remove these viruses before they can cause damage.

Paul Hope added:  “There is a body of research that identifies blood borne viruses that can cross the placenta causing damage to the foetal neural system.

“There are a number of research papers that show cross placenta infection may be responsible for schizophrenia and autism.”