Singer Christon Gray on Breaking Christian Music Industry Mold in ‘The Glory Album’ (Interview)

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Singer Christon Gray on Breaking Christian Music Industry Mold in ‘The Glory Album’ (Interview)

Christon Gray (Photo: Fo Yo Soul/RCA Inspiration)

Christian Post Report – Christon Gray is a Christian rapper, singer and producer who released ‘The Glory Album’ on March 11, 2016.

If Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar and Frank Ocean could fuse their musical abilities for a Christian audience, it would probably sound something like Christian Gray.

While the 29-year-old Ohio native doesn’t subscribe to any particular comparisons, he once believed that his style of rapping, singing, writing and producing music wouldn’t fit into the confines of the Christian music industry.

“I’ve always been interested to go the mainstream route simply because the messages that I present I felt would be more accepted, or at least not as taboo in the mainstream market,” Gray told The Christian Post. “It’s not that I wanted the applause from a mainstream market, it’s just that sonically it doesn’t fit into gospel, contemporary Christian music or even a Christian hip-hop demographic.”

Gray’s desires came to fruition when multiple mainstream record labels expressed their interest in him. After gospel music powerhouse Kirk Franklin presented a deal with his RCA backed Fo Yo Soul record label, Gray realized he didn’t have to definitively choose one genre of music.

“Signing with Kirk made me realize I had the access to someone that has the autonomy to change that. Kirk is known for going against the grain,” he said about signing to Franklin’s label last June. “I think he does it because he can’t help it … he’s called to do it. The fact that he trusts God, I think we’re in good company.”

Now that his first project on Fo Yo Soul/RCA titled, The Glory Album is in stores, Gray hopes it does more than just showcase his dual talent for singing and rapping.

“I want [people] to be able to take away that Christon is all of these things and that they also find a bit of themselves in the music, answers to some life questions,” he said. “If nothing else the relief of knowing that someone else has the same questions. There’s definitely a wide range of emotional things that I’m looking to accomplish spiritually as well as musically.”

Most rappers don’t lead worship at their church, but Gray isn’t most rappers. He used to write rhymes to classical music and croons with a velvety voice that landed him on the top 5 Billboard R&B albums charts with his 2014 solo debut School of Roses.

Before signing with Franklin’s Fo Yo Soul Recordings/ RCA last June, Gray developed a strong following that heard him rap with The Elevationists for eight years and create music for fellow Christian rapper Lecrae’s Reach Records.

Now, Gray has been granted a whole new platform, such as the opportunity to be featured as ESPN’s music artists of the month in March, in which his music is paired with sports highlight reels.

Still, he realizes that the stakes are higher for him with The Glory Album.

“This may be my last opportunity to give a first impression of who Christon is both as a person as far as my musical influence and style. It’s a much more diverse project, a lot more musicality,” he told CP. “We go in a lot more different directions but you get heavy doses of everything.”

There is no topic off limits for Gray on his new offering that manages to intertwine topics like faith, racism and marital troubles effortlessly. Still, balancing his career and family life have been anything but easy for Gray.

“I think I balance it by failing and trying to get it right. I’ve just been blessed with a wonderful family unit who sticks with me during that process,” he revealed to CP. “I think a lot of times artists find themselves in that place where they have to choose between the two — if they’re going to be an artist or if they’re going to be a husband, father or both. For me, trying to do all three is something that is only being achieved through the grace of God.”

For good measure, he added, “I’m not saying that to be deep. I’m saying that because Christon can’t do it by himself.”

Gray grew up in a Christian household and serves as a church worship leader. While faith is an important theme in both The Glory Album and his career, the musician proves that you don’t need an over the top testimony to feel the power of Jesus Christ.

“I think that I’ve had very natural sort of experience with a supernatural God. I don’t have a fluffy story,” Gray said. “I wasn’t on the brink of death, smoking, drinking or caught up in a lot of things that make up a lot of the more interesting testimonies. But I think for me, I realized what I was taught as a child was true.”

Essentially, those lessons dealt with finding true peace in God alone.

“When I tried to find strength, joy or peace in myself, what I was looking for were found immediately in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Whether that was healing from a heartbreak or realizing that affirmations from Him were much more important than that from any human being,” he recalled. “It’s been a natural transition following Jesus and I don’t see myself going anywhere else other than Him. Who else am I going to follow?”

Gray credits his family, friends and team for keeping him grounded and creating great music. However, it is that relationship with God that is preparing the artist for facing challenges that come with being a part of a tough industry.

“I think the music industry and the entertainment industry as a whole is something you can’t predict for an individual’s journey, but you can see a definite need for preparation and consistency. I think the challenge is to maintain what I’ve prepared for and maintain who I am,” he said. “In my alone time having a relationship with Jesus Christ is very helpful because I’m able to give over my burdens with these challenges and essentially allow him to work through me.”

The artist trusts God will help him even through failure because, “it’s His grace that keeps me going.”

For more information about Christon Gray or his new album, visit www.christongray.com.

Source : Christian Post

Norwegian Christian Family Fast, Await Court Ruling on Custody of 5 Children Seized From Home Over Spankings

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Norwegian Christian Family Fast, Await Court Ruling on Custody of 5 Children Seized From Home Over Spankings

The Bodnariu family (Photo: Facebook/Norway, Return the children to Bodnariu Family)

Christian Post Report – The Bodnariu family.

The Romanian Pentecostal parents who had their five children were seized from their custody by the Norwegian government last November are in the midst of a 40-day fast while they await a court ruling that will decide whether or not they will regain custody of their children.

Ruth and Marius Bodnariu, whose five children were taken from them by Norwegian child services on Nov. 16, appeared in court Monday and Tuesday and pleaded their case for why their children should be taken out of foster care and allowed to return home.

“We are at the end of the court procedures that took place on March 14 and 15. We are grateful to all of you for fasting and praying and for your support!” An official statement posted on the family’s website by Pastor Cristian Ionescu, vice president of the Romanian Pentecostal Union in the United States and Canada, states.

“We continue to pray and fast as scheduled for 40 days before April 16!” the statement continued. “We also continue the mailing campaign, writing to public institutions as well as to dignitaries in local and state leadership positions, all over the world.”

The family’s online statement explains that although no ruling date has been set as of yet, they expect that a decision will come as soon as early April.

“We will post an official statement as soon as we will have a decision from the court!” The statement reads. “As we are close to the holidays, it is possible that a decision will not be made until the first week of April.”

The Bodnariu family, which lives in Naustdal, Norway, has become the subject of numerous international protests against Norway’s Barnevernet (child protection services agency) after their two daughters and three sons were removed from parental custody when one of the daughters told her school principal that her parents spank her and her siblings as a form of discipline, which is an illegal act under Norwegian law.

Many advocates, including a Texas-based lawyer with inside knowledge about the situation, have claimed that there was religious animus behind the Barnevernet’s decision to remove the children from the home, stating that officials took issue with the family’s belief that “God punishes sin.”

“Documents and minutes of meetings have emerged since the abduction showing that as early as Oct. 13, 2015, more than a month before the children were taken into custody, the officials at Naustdal municipality disapproved of the parenting style of the Bodnariu parents; believing it, after questioning the children, to be based on the Bible,” wrote lawyer Peter Costea, the the president of the Alliance for Romania’s Families, in an analysis.

“They plainly state that Barnevernet ‘is worried that this is a way of upbringing which is justified by the Bible,'” Costea continued. “The authorities pivoted their contemplated removal of the children on the ‘attitude’ the parents ‘have to their own faith and way of upbringing when it comes to religion.'”

Meanwhile, other prominent Norwegian Christian leaders who support the spanking law say that it is ridiculous to insinuate that the children were removed by the agency because of the family’s Christian faith.

“Every ethnic religious group may worship and raise their children according to their beliefs, as long as they don’t violate Norwegian law,” Andreas Hegertun, the spokesman for the Norwegian Pentecostal Movement, told The Christian Post in February.

“In practice this means as long as they don’t use violence. I have never heard of anyone getting in trouble with the government for any other reason than violence, serious neglect or addictions. In this matter we, as churches, strongly agree with our government that violence toward children is not accepted.”

An online petition was launched by Ionescu in support of the Bodnariu family in its quest to regain custody of its children. The petition has been signed by nearly 60,000 people across the globe.

They are just a normal Christian family trying to raise their children in the knowledge of God!” The petition argues. “There is no documented or otherwise abuse of any kind in this family!”

Follow Samuel Smith on Twitter: @IamSamSmith

Source : Christian Post

Christian Groups Blast ABC’s ‘The Real O’Neals’ for Showing ‘Pure Contempt for Jesus and Christianity’

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Christian Groups Blast ABC’s ‘The Real O’Neals’ for Showing ‘Pure Contempt for Jesus and Christianity’

O'Neals (Photo: Screengrab/YouTube/Latest TV Promos)

Christian Post Report – ABC primetime program ‘The Real O’Neals.’

Christian groups are denouncing ABC network’s new comedy series “The Real O’Neals” for mocking Christianity and exposing children to sexual and expletive-laced dialogue.

Debuting earlier this month, “The Real O’Neals” centers around an Irish Catholic family dealing with a son who came out as gay and parents who are possibly filing for divorce.

Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association, wrote in a column published Wednesday that the television series “shows pure contempt for Jesus and Christianity.”

“‘The Real O’Neals’ mocks Christianity and insults Catholicism. AFA recognizes this show ridicules people of faith, and Christians across America are offended by it,” stated Wildmon.

anti-gay bullying(Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)Columnist Dan Savage accepts a special recognition award for the “It Gets Better Project” during the 15th annual Webby Awards in New York June 13, 2011.

Wildmon noted that the program was produced by Dan Savage, an LGBT anti-bullying activist who is nevertheless known for verbally attacking Christians.

“A perusal of Dan Savage’s work reveals a career built on advocating violence — even murder — and spewing hatred against people of faith,” continued Wildmon.

“Despite his extremism, vulgarity and unabashed encouragement of dangerous sexual practices, ABC’s newest sitcom with Savage as its executive producer is now airing on Tuesday evenings.”

The Parents Television Council, which has also taken issue with the program, recently released research it conducted about the graphic content on the series, which is rated PG.

“PTC research has found that the first three episodes of ABC’s new show, ‘The Real O’Neals’ were saturated with adult content,” noted PTC.

“Children watching were exposed to either sexual dialogue or bleeped profanities on an average of once every 43 seconds — in spite of the fact that the show is rated TV-PG and airs as early as 7:30 p.m. in half the country.”

PTC President Tim Winter said in a statement that “ABC has essentially inserted explicit and adult-themed humor into a PG-rated, primetime program that is about a family, created for families.”

“Even worse, much of the sexual and expletive-laced dialogue is delivered by characters who are children. Simply put, the network is defrauding parents by rating this show as appropriate for young children,” continued Winter.

“I’d argue that most parents would not agree that the kind of content found in ‘The Real O’Neals’ is anywhere near acceptable for family audiences.”

“The Real O’Neals” is not the first primetime network family comedy centered around an Irish Catholic family with an openly gay son.

In 2014, CBS premiered a series called “The McCarthys” involving an sports-focused family with a gay son who was an adult. The program was canceled after one season.

Catholic League President Bill Donohue seems optimistic that a similar fate may meet The Real O’Neals, arguing that the series was already failing in the ratings.

“ABC is in a jam and they know it. Even they must admit that last night’s episode of ‘The Real O’Neals’ was just plain stupid. The ratings show it: once again, it trailed the competition on CBS and NBC,” wrote Donohue.

“The show is in trouble. … The other family shows on ABC, ‘The Goldbergs,’ ‘Modern Family,’ ‘Black-ish,’ and ‘Fresh Off the Boat’ have been renewed; the latter made its debut this year.”

Source : Christian Post

Hidden Notes Discovered in England’s Oldest Printed Bible Reveal Secrets of the Reformation

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Hidden Notes Discovered in England’s Oldest Printed Bible Reveal Secrets of the Reformation

Church of England (Photo: Reuters/Phil Noble)

Christian Post Report – Members of the clergy enter York Minster before a service to consecrate Reverend Libby Lane as the first female bishop in the Church of England, in York, northern England, January 26, 2015.

A historian has discovered secret annotations using modern technology in the pages of a nearly 500-year-old Bible, one of the only surviving copies of England’s oldest printed Bible.

Eyal Poleg, a historian from Queen Mary University of London, explained in a statement to the press that the ancient Bible was published in 1535 by Henry VIII, and has been kept at the Lambeth Palace Library in London.

“We know virtually nothing about this unique Bible — whose preface was written by Henry himself — outside of the surviving copies,” Poleg said.

“At first, the Lambeth copy first appeared completely ‘clean.’ But upon closer inspection I noticed that heavy paper had been pasted over blank parts of the book. The challenge was how to uncover the annotations without damaging the book.”

The historian collaborated with Dr. Graham Davis, a specialist in 3D X-ray imaging at QMUL’s School of Dentistry, and used a light sheet which they slid beneath the pages to take images in long exposure, one with the light sheet on and one with it off.

Estimated to have been written between 1539 and 1549, the annotations were apparently copied from the ‘Great Bible’ of Thomas Cromwell during the English Reformation, but were covered with think paper in 1600, remaining concealed until their discovery by Poleg.

The historian offered that the annotations might support the theory that the Reformation, the time period when the Church of England broke away from the Roman Catholic Church, causing one if the biggest splits in the history of Christianity, was a gradual process.

“Until recently, it was widely assumed that the Reformation caused a complete break, a Rubicon moment when people stopped being Catholics and accepted Protestantism, rejected saints, and replaced Latin with English,” Poleg said.

“This Bible is a unique witness to a time when the conservative Latin and the reformist English were used together, showing that the Reformation was a slow, complex, and gradual process.”

He further reflected that the Bible is a “unique witness to the course of Henry’s Reformation,” as it was printed in 1535 by the king’s printer and with Henry’s preface, but only a few years later great changes took place, as the Latin Bible was altered to accommodate reformist English.

The Lambeth Library Bible is far from the world’s oldest printed version of the Gospel, however, as the Gutenberg Bible, the first major printed book in Europe using movable metal types, predates it by almost 80 years.

Printed in Mainz in 1455 or 1456, the Gutenberg Bible is regarded as extremely valuable due to its historical significance and the fact that there are only 48 surviving copies of it, some of which are held at Harvard and Yale universities, the New York Public Library, the Library of Congress and the Morgan Library & Museum in New York.

Source : Christian Post

Gwen Stefani Says She ‘Channeled God’ in Making of New Album to ‘Save Her Life’

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Gwen Stefani Says She ‘Channeled God’ in Making of New Album to ‘Save Her Life’

Gwen Stefani (Photo: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni)

Christian Post Report – Musician Gwen Stefani arrives at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, February 8, 2015.

Pop singer Gwen Stefani claims she “channeled God” when writing songs for her new album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like, that will be released Friday.

“We wrote a song called ‘Rocket Ship,’ and that’s when the label said to me: ‘Listen, we think this overall album you’re writing is too personal. We don’t think people are going to relate. You should just put out an art record.’ And I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? I’m literally channeling God here. I’m saving my own life with this record and you come and punch me in the face?’ The next day I went in and told those guys, ‘Let’s write the most [expletive] personal [expletive] ever — opposite of what anyone would want to hear.’ And that’s when we wrote ‘Used to Love You,'” she said in an in-depth interview with Refinery 29.

It’s not the first time the “Hollaback Girl” singer has talked openly about God. Stefani shared her and her family’s faith during an interview on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” while promoting her stint on “The Voice.” The singer said her eldest son prayed relentlessly for a younger brother and just weeks later she found out she was having a “miracle” baby — her third and youngest child.

“I had no idea I was going to have another baby, which is such a blessing, it is so incredible,” Stefani said about the birth of her youngest son, Apollo.

Her eldest son, Kingston, pleaded with his mom for another child and refused to take “no” for an answer. She imitated her son and told Meyers that he would close his eyes, clasp his hands and say, “‘Dear God, please let my mom have a baby. Please, God! Please let my mom have a baby!'”

Stefani said her son repeated this prayer every single night. “And four weeks later, I was pregnant!” When she and her now ex-husband broke the news to their son, he rejoiced and shouted, “‘Gasp … I prayed for that!!!'”

The working mother of three boys — Kingston, 8, and Zuma, 6, and Apolo, 3 — recently ended her 13-year marriage with their father, Gavin Rossdale, and is now dating her former “The Voice” co-judge, country star Blake Shelton.

Her forthcoming album is about both men. This Is What the Truth Feels Like is set to release on March 18. Stefani has already released the singles “Make Me Like You” and “Misery.”

“Make Me Like You” is said to reveal a much happier Stefani as she navigates through her divorce into her new romance with Shelton, singing, “Thank God I found you.”

Source : Christian Post

Candace Cameron Bure Slams Critics Attacking From Both Sides of the Christian Debate

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Candace Cameron Bure Slams Critics Attacking From Both Sides of the Christian Debate

Candace Cameron Bure 'Submitted' To Her Husband Photo: (YouTube Screenshot/HuffPost Live)

Christian Post Report – Since Candace Cameron Bure re-emerged in mainstream media, she has suffered a great deal of criticism, if not for her Christian conservative views than for not being Christian enough. The actress recently addressed her critics with a firm Instagram post telling everyone to stop the negativity.

“This is getting ridiculous!! STOP having religious debates about me and my family on my comments thread after EVERY single photo I post when they have nothing to do with the picture!” she exclaimed with a picture of a cartoon girl saying, “C’mon.”

Bure’s social media pages are constantly being bombarded with comments about her faith. She is either praised for her beliefs or bashed. Both reactions usually causing full-on debates on her message boards.

“If someone makes a rude or negative comment, ignore it! You’re feeding and driving the negativity. This is NOT productive or respectful conversation. And I’m talking to BOTH sides! It’s getting old and downright ugly. This does not represent Jesus well. Let’s encourage one another as well as take the debates to a private page. Please and thank you,” she continued.

Bure’s followers took well to the actress’ message. Some telling the mother of three to pay no mind to the negative comments and shrug it off, while several others talked about how they share her same religious views.

Much of the recent negative attention came after she starrred in “Fuller House,” where season one debut on Netflix Feb 26., with 13 episodes reuniting most of the original “Full House” cast. Bure is the main star this time around. The sitcom spin-off recieved a lot of heat from evangelicals who were hoping Bure’s Christian values would keep the show “family-friendly” but they were not happy with the adult content.

In the past, Bure has addressed critics who’ve bashed her for not being their idea of “Christian enough.”

“‘I’m too religious, I’m not Godly enough, I’m too thin now, I’m not very humble, I’ve had too much plastic surgery, My brother Kirk is a better Christian than me, I’m too worldly, I’m too conservative, I’m not modest enough, I’m a show-off.’ Those are just a few of the types of comments I get no matter what I share, what photo I post or what I say,” Bure said in a blog posted in 2014.

But when she first returned to the entertainment scene, fans were delighted with her modest attire on “Dancing with the Stars” Season 18. “The View” co-host also regularly argues from a conservative standpoint on the hit ABC daytime talk show for which she regularly receives praises from her Christian fans.

Despite the recent backlash, Bure does not seem to be slowing down. “Fuller House” was just renewed for a second season, and she is the newest advice columnists for J-14 Magazine along with her daughter Natasha.

Source : Christian Post

NewSpring Pastor Perry Noble: These 7 Bible Verses Will Change Your Perspective on Life

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NewSpring Pastor Perry Noble: These 7 Bible Verses Will Change Your Perspective on Life

Perry Noble(Photo: Courtesy of NewSpring Church)Perry Noble is the founding and senior pastor of NewSpring Church in Anderson, S.C.

Christian Post Report – Megachurch Pastor Perry Noble is sharing seven Bible verses that he says “can absolutely change your view on life!”

Noble, who leads NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina, says the Bible verses he’s sharing on his personal blog this week are beneficial to both seasoned Christians and those who are just now starting to read the Bible.

“We’ve been given an incredible book (The Bible) — AND, you can understand and apply it — and it will change your life,” Noble said Tuesday.

Along with the Bible verses, Noble also includes a question for Christians to ask when reading each passage.

For Ephesians 3:20, which states, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us [NIV],” Noble suggests the reader ask “What does this verse say God can do?”

Noble also offers Philippians 1:6, which reads: “… being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

For this passage, the megachurch pastor suggests the reader question: “What is the promise made in this verse?”

Along with these verses, Noble also encourages Christians to peruse Acts 4:12, John 20:21, Acts 20:24, Hebrews 4:12 and Matthew 6:33, saying he hopes these verses “will both encourage and challenge all of us!”

Noble has repeatedly taken to his personal blog to share important Bible verses, indicating that some are his all-time favorites while others are meant to guide Christians through a difficult time in their lives.

In a July 2007 post, Noble shared a few of his favorite Bible verses, including Ephesians 3:20, Romans 8:1, and John 3:17.

Noble explains that Ephesians 3:20, which discusses God’s power within each human, serves as his motivation to dream big.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us [NIV],” the verse states.

“This keeps me going! Just when I think I might be dreaming too big God always brings this verse to mind! HE IS ABLE!” the megachurch pastor exclaims.

In a September 2014 blog post, Noble outlined seven verses that have helped change his financial future, including Deuteronomy 8:18, Proverbs 3:9-10, Proverbs 22:7, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 6:24, II Corinthians 9:6-8, and II Corinthians 9:15.

For Matthew 6:24, Noble explains that “this verse has always served as a reminder from Jesus that the No. 1 competitor for my heart is money … and that if I am going to follow Him financially I must do it intentionally because it will not happen accidentally.”

The megachurch pastor also says that II Corinthians 9:15 is a very emotional verse for him.

The verse states: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

“This one WRECKS me every single time I read it or hear it and it is PROOF that you can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving,” Noble writes.

In a June 2007 post, Noble explains that Christians can live a “life of no regrets” by making decisions that are “right in the eyes of the Lord,” as stated in II Chronicles.

“My prayer is that I will ALWAYS do what is right in His eyes. … THAT is how to live a life with no regrets. Seriously … I challenge you — look back over your life at the BIGGEST regret you have relationally, emotionally, financially… and I think we can all agree that the regret we thought of was something that we KNOW wasn’t right in the eyes of the Lord,” Noble encourages.

Source : Christian Post

Mark Driscoll Tells Perry Noble He’s Learning to Be ‘Spiritual Father’

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Mark Driscoll Tells Perry Noble He’s Learning to Be ‘Spiritual Father’

Mark Driscoll (Photo: Screengrab/Mark Driscoll/NewSpring Church)

Christian Post Report – Pastor Mark Driscoll responds to questions from NewSpring Church pastor Perry Noble during Noble’s The Most Excellent Way to Lead Conference on March 3, 2016, Anderson, South Carolina.

In what could be deemed as a re-introduction to the faith community, Pastor Mark Driscoll attended NewSpring Church pastor Perry Noble’s Most Excellent Way to Lead Conference in early March and shared a new vision for himself and his ministry.

“I genuinely am in a season of learning,” Driscoll told Pastor Perry Noble during an on-stage interview that recounted the ex-Mars Hill pastor’s early years in ministry — which Driscoll likened to being a kite in a hurricane — and only hinted at the demise of Mars Hill Church.

Driscoll explained that God is preparing him for a new role in his ministry. “I really feel that the next season that God is preparing me for is to minister as a father, as a spiritual father, who has the same affection and devotion and heart for people that I do for my own children,” he said. “And I’m a pretty emotional, affectionate, present dad — by God’s grace — and I feel that that’s the next season of leadership that God has for me.”

The pastor shared how he is learning about the “father heart” of God, recalling a situation when his words had once wounded a young believer.

“I had hurt him with something I had said,” Driscoll began, explaining that his words to the young man were nothing different from what his peers had already told him. “‘Yeah, but they’re brothers, but you’re a father,'” Driscoll recalled the man as saying.

The young believer explained that he considered Driscoll to be a father figure, which ultimately led the pastor to believe that there weren’t enough men modeling how to be a good father.

“There is now a generation of young men that have got to figure out how to make that transition into spiritual fathering … There’s podcasts and books and lectures, but there’s not anybody to watch, and a lot of life is through observation.”

Driscoll intends to be that spiritual example, spending more than a year “learning from the Father [how] to be a good father, and learning from the Father [how] to be a spiritual father.”

The pastor’s efforts may help to reverse a disturbing trend among American families. According to a 2012 report published by the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of “family” households in America has seen a steep drop, from 81 percent in 1970, to only 66 percent in 2012.

Driscoll will likely put his convictions into practice at his newly formed Trinity Church in Arizona, which the pastor announced Feb. 1. The church, which says it hasn’t officially launched, will host its first gathering — described as a “modest open house and prayer meeting” — on Easter Sunday, as previously reported by The Christian Post.

The Easter proceedings will take place at Scottsdale’s Glass Garden Drive-In Church, which The Trinity Church is renting. Trinity’s website explained that Driscoll spent months praying for a church facility with 1,000 or more seats that was situated along the 101 Freeway. Having found the mid-century modern structure that seats 1,400, ” … Pastor Mark believes that God has supernaturally provided.”

Mark Driscoll continues to mount a comeback after his resignation as senior pastor of Seattle-based Mars Hill Church in October 2014 following a confluence of events that marred his reputation, including allegations of plagiarism and fostering an abusive work environment. Two weeks after Driscoll’s resignation, Mars Hill Church announced that it would dissolve.

Follow me on Twitter: @kevindonporter

Source : Christian Post

Pastor Rick Warren: Through God’s Grace, Pain Can Have a Purpose

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Pastor Rick Warren: Through God’s Grace, Pain Can Have a Purpose

rick warren (Photo: The Christian Post/Sonny Hong)

Christian Post Report – Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, speaks at the Pastors’ Conference 2014, ahead of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting, on Monday, June 9, 2014, in Baltimore, Md.

Although Christians may find their pain to be insufferable, they must remember that all pain has a purpose through God’s grace, Pastor Rick Warren explains in his Daily Hope messge this week.

Warren, who heads Saddleback Church in Orange County, California, writes that all pain can have a purpose, pointing to 2 Corinthians 12:9a TEV that states: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.”

“What relieves our hurt and helps us keep going when we’re in pain and we want to give up? God’s grace,” Warren states in his March 16 post.

The megachurch pastor goes on to say that when Christians give their struggles to God, He will respond in one of two ways: He will either remove the pain or give them the strength to cope with it.

“We don’t tend to like the second option,” Warren notes, adding that Christians “want God to instantly remove whatever pain we’re dealing with.”

Warren adds that sometimes, God leaves the pain there for a purpose so we may learn something important.

“[God] can teach us much more through pain than through comfort,” the megachurch pastor emphasizes.

While many Christians try to deal with difficult situations on their own, all they need to do is humble themselves and ask God for his grace. Ultimately, going through tough times will be much easier with God’s help, Warren writes.

“When God’s grace meets you in the deepest, darkest places of your life, you realize that nothing — no problem, no crisis, no hurt — can devastate your life. You know that you can handle anything with God’s help,” the megachurch pastor says.

Not only does God’s grace help Christians deal with pain, it also helps them deal with guilt, Warren writes in a March 14 post, saying that the feeling of guilt is a basic, natural human emotion that is brought on by sin.

Christians, however, have no reason to feel guilty, as Jesus already absolved them from such feelings when He died on the cross.

“This is the most basic truth of Christianity: Jesus Christ has already paid for your sins. You only need to accept it. Because Jesus died for us, we’re free from condemnation, worry, and death,” Warren continues. “Even if there were no eternity, it would be worth it to become a follower of Jesus in order to escape the guilt.”

One of the most important things to remember about God’s grace is it’s for everyone, Warren noted in a message last week, saying that God’s love “doesn’t play favorites.”

“Regardless of your status, your background, and the sins you have committed, God loves you,” the megachurch pastor says.

“When the Bible says that God’s grace is available to all, it gives no preconditions. It means God’s grace is available to you whether you’re a frequent church attender, a spiritual novice, rich, poor, tall, short, or somewhere in between. God’s grace is available to you by faith.”

Source : Christian Post

Russian Nanny Who Beheaded 4-Y-O Girl: ISIS Videos Inspired Me; ‘I Feel a Bit Sorry for Her’

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Russian Nanny Who Beheaded 4-Y-O Girl: ISIS Videos Inspired Me; ‘I Feel a Bit Sorry for Her’

<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Gyulchehra Bobokulova” title=”<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Gyulchehra Bobokulova” name=”jpg” src=”http://images.christianpost.com/full/94836/gyulchehra-bobokulova.jpg” class=”imgPhoto” width=”550″ height=”450″ /> <small class=(Screengrab: Radio Free Europe)

Christian Post Report – Gyulchehra Bobokulova

A Russian nanny who beheaded a four-year-old girl and afterwards marched in the street carrying her severed head while chanting “Allahu Akbar!” admits that she was inspired by the Islamic State’s publicized execution videos.

In late February, The Daily Mail reported that online videos captured footage of a burka-wearing nanny in Moscow walking in the street while holding up a severed head of a little girl. As the woman approached a public transit station, she threatened to blow herself up. As she neared the station, she chanted “Allahu Akbar,” a phrase shouted by many Islamic extremists that means “God is greater.”

The deceased child was identified as Anastasia Meshcheryakova, who was believed to have learning disabilities and leaves behind her mother and father. The woman, who was identified as 38-year-old Christian Post Report – Gyulchehra Bobokulova and from Uzbekistan, also set the child’s home on fire after killing her.

Local reports indicate that Bobokulova later told police she killed the girl out of frustration over her husband’s infidelity. As a result, Bobokulova, who has a history of schizophrenia, was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluations.

According to The Daily Mail, Bobokulova told reporters in court that she was “ordered” by Allah to commit the atrocity as payback for Russia’s involvement in airstrikes against IS (also known as ISIS or ISIL) and other Muslims in Syria.

She added that she was inspired to cut off the child’s head by IS’ gruesome online beheading videos.

“They raised my hatred and it filled me. I saw online how they were cutting off heads,” Bobokulova was quoted as saying. “I saw how they cut off heads and I did it. The voices — I killed the girl, yes. But I don’t need treatment.”

Although Bobokulova feels she doesn’t need psychiatric treatment, she admits that she heard voices that told her to kill the girl.

“There was a voice in my head: ‘Do it to the girl,'” Bobokulova stated. “I feel sorry a bit for her. I feel sorry for myself. I have no home, I have nothing. She was a good girl. But I don’t have a home.”

In an interview with The Daily Mail from her cell in the psychiatric hospital at Butyrka high security prison in Moscow, Bobokulova said that she is being heavily drugged and tied down by the officials at the prison.

A doctor with the prison explained that they are drugging the woman in order to keep her from hurting anyone else and insisted that she volunteered to be treated.

“We are monitoring her 24 hours a day, when we fear that she can hurt herself, we use soft ties,” the doctor said. “She complained of voices in her head. The doctor diagnosed the serious psychiatric disorder when immediate isolation and therapy is needed.”

Although Bobokulova desires to be placed in a regular jail, the doctor doesn’t think that will happen anytime soon.

“Nobody will let her go back into the ordinary jail. She is dangerous and it is obvious for us. It is our duty to control her,” the doctor said.

Source : Christian Post

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