Michelle Williams Supports Beyoncé Addressing Illuminati Rumors

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Christian Post Report – Singer Michelle Williams arrives at the 2015 BET Awards in Los Angeles, California, June 28, 2015.

Michelle Williams is supporting her good friend and former Destiny’s Child group member Beyoncé Knowles against critics who believe she is a member of an occult organization called the Illuminati.

Beyoncé released a new song called “Formation” on Saturday with lyrics speaking against critics who have looped her into an alleged not-so-secret organization focused on taking over the world. Williams, 35, decided to tweet her fellow singer’s lyric to countless fans, “‘Y’all haters corny with that Illuminati mess!’ #bloop.”

Williams has had to defend herself against illuminati claims in the past as well.

After posting an older Instagram picture of herself for “Throwback Thursday” in 2014, some of her followers questioned why she was covering one eye in the photograph. Some speculated Williams’ involvement in the alleged secret society.

Once she caught wind of the conspiracy theory, the Christian singer was not amused.

“Apparently a picture of me with hair covering an eye symbolizes I’m a devil worshipper/Illuminati,” Williams previously wrote on Twitter. “What idiot comes up with this stuff?”

She went on to re-tweet a message from a follower to prove her point which states, “These people are NUTS!!!! How is it a secret society and we know ALL the ‘Secrets?’ Smh”

Williams has had to endure her fair share of criticism and internet gossip. However, she has combated it by letting people know how important it is to pray for others instead of tear them down with negative words.

“What happened to praying and interceding for people instead of judging them? Just a question,” Williams previously wrote on Twitter. “You’ll never see a change in those you judge! They’ll never wanna come to your church, or even wanna know the God you say you serve!”

Aside from Williams and Beyoncé, entertainer like rap mogul Kanye West have spoken out against Illuminati rumors. Last year, West made it known that he was tired of people saying entertainers were in a secret society.

After an announcement was made that West, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Madonna, Nicki Minaj and Daft Punk would be co-owners of the Tidal streaming last year, some social media fans referred to its press conference as something that was associated with a secret society.

West denied the claims in a recent interview with Paper Magazine.

“I heard a comment – a joke – about the Tidal press conference being an Illuminati moment. If there was actually an Illuminati, it would be more like the energy companies not celebrities that gave their life to music and who are pinpointed as decoys for people who really run the world,” West insisted when speaking with the publication. “I’m tired of people pinpointing musicians as the Illuminati. That’s ridiculous.”

Source : Christian Post

Bishop Marvin Sapp, Gospel Singers Rally Donations, Bottled Water for Flint, Michigan

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Christian Post Report – 14, when Flint stopped using the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department as a water source that drew from Lake Huron and the Detroit River.

Instead, government officials decided Flint should use the Flint River as their main supply for drinking water to save money, which ultimately became a health risk to thousands.

Now, Michigan pastor and gospel singer Marvin Sapp is leading a call to action after preaching at The Church of the Harvest in Flint on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5. He expressed excitement to be preaching to those discouraged in Flint and called for water donations.

“I believe it’s important for us, in this day and time, to bring something that’s tangible too, something that’s absolutely needed and that is water,” he said on the Tom Joyner Morning Show.  “I just don’t believe that we should just sit idly by and watch things happen, so I just decided I’m not just going to take the Word, but I’m going to take water, too,”

Although the Flint water crisis has been taking place for nearly two years, Sapp said, “I’m thankful that it’s finally coming to the forefront.”

Fellow gospel singer and Pastor Donnie McClurkin also joined with Sapp in sending water to Flint.

“Got about over 5000 CASES (not bottles) of clean water headed to FLINT, MI,” McClurkin told his Twitter followers.

Last month, Bishop J. Drew Sheard, who serves as a general board member of the Church of God in Christ & Prelate of the Michigan North Central Jurisdiction, joined with his gospel singing wife, Karen Clark Sheard, daughter Kierra Sheard and sister-in-law Dorinda Clark Cole to present a concert that benefited Flint residents. At the concert, donations of bottled water were accepted

“The Water Crisis Concert was a success. The Lord blessed North Central Jurisdiction, under the direction of @bishopdrewsheard, to accomplish our efforts of buying over seven thousand cases of water for #Flint,” Clark Sheard wrote on Facebook. “This event was held at Cathedral of Faith Ministries COGIC with @pastorchrismartin! #geicogic #faith #family.”

Source : Christian Post

Russell Willson Issues Touching Tribute to Peyton Manning

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(Photo: USA Today Sports/Mark J. Rebilas)

Christian Post Report – Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California, February 7, 2016.

Outspoken Christian NFL star Russell Wilson issued a touching tribute to Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning after the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer won his second Super Bowl Sunday night in what many believe could have potentially been his final game.

The 27-year-old Wilson, the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks who is notorious for his dedication to his Christian faith, took the The Player’s Tribune, a media website that provides professional athletes an outlet to write on their experiences and reflections, to thank Manning for all that he has done for the sport and for him personally.

(Photo: USA TODAY Sports/Joe Nicholson)Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks to pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington, November 16, 2015.

In an op-ed published on Monday titled “If This IS It,” Wilson stated that if Manning’s last game was indeed Super Bowl 50, there was one moment that he will remember the most from Manning’s illustrious career.

“From all the wins, to the few tough losses. From the 71,000 yards, to all the touchdowns, to the few interceptions. From all the meetings, to all the hard practices, to all the film, to all the blood, sweat and tears. From all the Pro Bowls, to the handful of MVPs, to the two Lombardi trophies. From all the teammates, to all the opponents, to all the fans. From the blue and white, to the blue and orange. … Sheriff, if this is it, there’s one moment I won’t forget,” Wilson wrote. “10th grade. Louisiana. At your quarterback camp.”

It was at that camp in the 10th grade that Wilson was inspired to “love” the discipline it took to be great. In the online post, Wilson also shared a picture from the camp featuring him and a large group of other aspiring high school players gathered around on one knee.

“You inspired the kid in the green shirt. You inspired me to work hard. To be disciplined. To be respectful. To take notes. You inspired me to love the process. To love the sweat. To love the tears,” Wilson wrote. “But most of all … you inspired me to love the game.”

“Thanks, Peyton,” Wilson added. “If this is it, Thanks.”

If this is it for Manning, he will conclude his 17-year career, which included 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, with the all-time record in passing yards, all-time record in passing touchdowns and 14 Pro Bowl selections.

Although Manning has not yet announced whether he will retire from his playing career or return next season, many are expecting him to call it quits after he played just 10 games during an injury-stricken regular season. Even when Manning did play, he was reduced to a shell of his former self as a quarterback.

Even though the Broncos won the Super Bowl 50 with a 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, Manning only threw for 141 yards, with one interception and no touchdowns.

After winning the Super Bowl, Manning said he was going to pray and thank God.

“I’m going to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight, Tracy, I promise you that,” Manning said.  “I’m going to take care of those things first and definitely going to say a little prayer and thank the man upstairs for this great opportunity.”

Source : Christian Post

Hundreds of Christians Protest Targeted Kidnappings and Killings in Egypt; 18-Y-O Girl Latest Victim

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(Photo: Reuters/Stringer)

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.

Over 150 Coptic Christians reportedly staged a sit-in protest on Sunday at the provincial administration office in Minya, Egypt, spreading awareness for the continued kidnappings of Christians across the country.

The protest in Minya specifically highlighted the case of an 18-year-old Coptic girl who has been missing for several days, with her family in the city of Samalot convinced she has been kidnapped, according to Fides News Agency.

“Kidnappings that target Christians remain a scourge for the Coptic community in many areas of Egypt. Already several appeals have been launched by Christian organizations to Egyptian authorities, including President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, so that adequate measures are taken to combat this phenomenon,” the agency reported.

(Photo: Reuters/David McNew)

Coptic Christians in Los Angeles, California, protest against deadly clashes in Cairo, Egypt, between Christian protesters and military police in this October 16, 2011 photo.

Coptic Christians, a minority in the Muslim-dominated country, are often taken and held as hostages until a ransom is paid for them, with the size of the financial demands based on family’s ability to pay.

Several kidnappings have ended with the deaths of the hostages, however.

Copts also face challenges in court against Muslim judges when it comes to property ownership, such as a case back in November, where a Christian priest appealed to President El-Sisi to intervene and save his historic church from being demolished.

Earlier in February The Associated Press reported that three Coptic Christian students are also facing charges for insulting and mocking Muslim prayers, with their high school teacher also sentenced to three years in prison over the same charges.

AP noted that there has been a surge in blasphemy charges in recent months in Egypt, despite El-Sissi’s promise to modernize Egypt’s religious laws.

Copts were heavily targeted across Egypt in the wake of the fall of President Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood party back in July 2013, when Islamic supporters of the fallen regime attacked followers of Christ, vandalizing Christian bookstores, orphanages and churches.

Morsi, along with 100 of his supporters, were sentenced to death in May 2015 for their role in a mass prison break in 2011.

Despite the suffering Christians experienced due to Morsi’s regime, a Coptic Catholic Bishop spoke out against Morsi’s death sentence at the time, arguing that the Church does not compromise on defending life.

“The Church respects the independence of the judiciary, but believes that life is an inviolable right, and remains opposed to the death penalty. The fact is that this type of sentence is still contemplated in the Egyptian legal order,” Bishop Anba Kyrillos William said.

Source : Christian Post

Billy Graham Answers: Is It OK to Have Secular Hobbies?

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(Photo: Reuters/Robert Padgett)

Christian Post Report – Evangelist Billy Graham speaks at the dedication of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, May 31, 2007.

God doesn’t mind if his followers have hobbies outside of church, as long as they maintain a Christ-centered perspective throughout their week, the Rev. Billy Graham says.

The famed evangelist recently responded to a question from one believer who asked if God cares that Christians take interest in activities that are not related to the church.

The 97-year-old preacher replied by saying that, “God doesn’t look down on you just because you enjoy activities that aren’t directly related to your church (as long as they’re honorable),” pointing specifically to John 2:1-12 that details Jesus’ first miracle while he attended a friend’s wedding.

Graham goes on to say that while God encourages Christians to take interest in leisurely interests outside of church, that is not license to forget God and his teachings immediately after leaving worship service each Sunday.

“[Is] He at the center of your lives, influencing everything you do?” Graham questioned, adding that “life’s greatest joy comes from knowing God loves us and doing His will.”

“He loves us so much that Jesus Christ, His only Son, gave His life for our salvation. By a simple prayer of faith commit your lives to Him as your Savior and Lord,” the Southern Baptist minister added.

Graham has previously communicated the importance of making God the center of one’s life to achieve happiness.

While many people search for joy in all the wrong places, including “an unwise relationship or an immoral action,” ultimately it is their connection with God that will bring them eternal happiness, Graham wrote in May 2015.

To obtain everyday happiness, Graham encourages Christians to look to God and the Bible for guidance.

“I urge you to turn to Jesus Christ and commit your life to Him […] Make Christ, and not yourself, the center and foundation of your life,” Graham says, encouraging Christians to “then ask God to teach you His wisdom every day — wisdom that comes from His Word, the Bible. Make the Bible your daily guide, and seek to apply its truths to your life.”

While Christians may feel like such advice amounts to a set of rules and regulations, Graham wrote in April 2015 that the purpose of his message is to encourage believers to look beyond the temporal comforts of this world.

“[…] you can be so filled with the things of Christ, so enamored with the things of God that you do not have time for the sinful pleasures of this world,” the evangelical leader wrote last April, adding that “the demand for pleasure and amusement [in this world] poses a problem to those who desire to live a life pleasing to Jesus Christ.”

“There must be an out-and-out stand for Christ. It does not mean that in society we are snobs or have a superiority complex, lest we be in danger of spiritual pride. But today there are so many professing Christians who are walking hand in hand with this present evil world that you cannot tell the difference between the Christian and the sinner. This should never be,” Graham wrote.

Source : Christian Post

Georgia Planning ‘Blasphemy Bill’ to Protect ‘Religious Feelings;’ Some Church Reps Opposed

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(Photo: Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili)

Christian Post Report – Participants march on the street during “Alilo,” a religious procession to celebrate Orthodox Christmas in Tbilisi, Georgia, January 7, 2016. Georgian Orthodox believers celebrate Christmas on January 7, according to the Julian calendar.

While the country of Georgia is preparing to introduce a “blasphemy bill” that would make insults against religious feeling punishable by heavy fines, some Church and faith representatives have said that is not needed and will target minorities.

“This law is not going to protect anyone; at least not the minorities, and will be a powerful tool against freedom of speech,” said Rusudan Gotsiridze, an evangelical Baptist bishop, according to Liberali.ge.

The controversial bill has already been approved on the committee stage, Eurasianet.org reported, and will now be debated on the parliamentary floor.

The bill is proposing a fine equivalent of $120 for people committing “insults to religious feelings,” which is not a small amount for the average monthly salaries of $328, and the fine would double for a repeated offense.

As much as 83.9 percent of the Georgian population is part of the Orthodox Christian Church, CIA Factbook notes, while close to 10 percent are Muslims. Only about 0.7 percent of people said that they did not have a religion, according to last census in 2002.

Another major global survey by WIN/Gallup International in 2015 placed Georgia in the top five category of countries where the people most often describe themselves as religious.

The official Orthodox Church has said that is not behind the latest bill, explaining in a statement: “Although there are frequent cases of insults and use of hate speech against the [Orthodox] Church and its leader, adoption of such a bill has not been our initiative — neither now nor previously.”

A number of politicians have also spoken out against the bill, which is sponsored by conservative actor-turned-MP Soso Jachvliani, including MP Tamar Kordzaia of the moderate Republican Party.

“In many cases, there can be a clash between freedom of expression and freedom of religion, but it is a matter of priorities among the liberties,” Kordzaia said in an interview with Netgazeti.ge.

“A perceived insult to religious feelings should be disputed by an individual. The state can never know if some particular action is offensive to a particular individual.”

Human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have warned that the bill would undermine freedom of expression if made into a law.

“The proposed legislation would be incompatible with Georgia’s international obligations. It may effectively outlaw criticism of religious leaders and institutions, and suppress free speech on topical political and social issues, including the rights of women, of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, and of religious minorities,” Amnesty said in a statement.

Supporters of the bill have argued, however, that the bill is not meant to protect only Christians, but all religious persuasions in the country, pointing out that members of Orthodox congregations have opposed the openings of mosques and madrassas, even nailing a pig’s head to a Muslim school in one case.

Source : Christian Post

ISIS Crucifies Civilian ‘Spies’ on Advertising Billboards in Libya

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(Photo: REUTERS / Youssef Boudlal)

Christian Post Report – Civilians in Sirte queue to receive food and daily rations donated from various cities in Libya, November 3, 2011.

Islamic State militants are crucifying civilians accused of spying by stringing them up on advertising billboards and leaving them there to hang for days in the Libyan city of Sirte.

U.S. intelligence estimates suggest the number of fighters from the terror group in the North African country has now doubled.

The Zafaran roundabout in Sirte, which once used to be a local business advert hub, is now the scene of violence, Britain’s Express newspaper reports.

After victims are brutally killed and left for dead, grieving families are barred from retrieving their bodies.

One of the victims has been identified as Milad Aburgeeba, a 37-year-old man whose body, dressed in an orange jumpsuit and with the message “spy” written across his body, was hung on a billboard for al least two days.

(Photo: Reuters/Nour Foura)Islamic State billboards are seen along a street in Raqqa, eastern Syria, which is controlled by the Islamic State, October 29, 2014. The billboard (R) reads: “We will win despite the global coalition.”

Sirte was the birthplace of Muammar Gaddafi, who governed Libya as an authoritarian leader from 1969 until he was killed by rebel forces in the Libyan Civil War in 2011. IS loyalists seized Sirte in February 2015.

The U.S. estimate of IS terrorists in Libya has doubled as the fighters are now finding it difficult to enter Syria, according to CNN, which quoted U.S. intelligence officials as saying there may now be up to 6,500 IS fighters in Libya, twice the number previously thought.

“ISIS is investing heavily in Libya,” an official was quoted as saying.

In Iraq and Syria, IS has about 25,000 fighters, down from a previous estimate of up to 31,000, according to a U.S. intelligence report revealed by the White House last week, Reuters reported.

“They (IS) continue to be a substantial threat, but the potential numbers have declined,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest was quoted as saying. “ISIL is having more difficulty than they’ve had before in replenishing their ranks, and we have long been aware of the need of the international community to cooperate to stop the flow of foreign fighters to the region.”

“The decrease reflects the combined effects of battlefield deaths, desertions, internal disciplinary actions, recruiting shortfalls, and difficulties that foreign fighters face traveling to Syria,” Emily Horne, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, was quoted as saying.

IS, also known as Daesh, is an offshoot of al-Qaeda and is working to establish a caliphate in the Levant region and beyond. Christian minorities in Iraq and Syria are among the main civilian targets of the Sunni terror group.

In a recent propaganda video, titled “To the Sons of Jews,” IS showed child soldiers executing shackled prisoners in a “game” of hide-and-seek.

A group of young IS terrorists were then shown studying and practicing martial arts with an instructor. The next scene showed the selection of six of the young recruits, all masked and apparently below the age of 9, by the instructor to play the “game.”

They were shown as stalking six tied-up victims in an ancient fortress, shooting five of them in the head from close range and then beheading the sixth one. The prisoners were all accused of spying in the IS territory.

Source : Christian Post

Syrian Gov’t Committing Rape, Murder, Crimes Against Humanity, UN Report Reveals

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A man carries an injured child in a site damaged from what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria, December 30, 20Christian Post Report – 15.

(Photo: Reuters/Bassam Khabieh)

A boy carries a baby in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria, January Christian Post Report – 10, 20Christian Post Report – 16.

(Photo: Reuters/Bassam Khabieh)

A boy reacts in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria, January Christian Post Report – 10, 20Christian Post Report – 16.

(Photo: Reuters/Bassam Khabieh)

A boy runs in front of damaged buildings in the Douma neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, November 26, 20Christian Post Report – 15.

(Photo: Reuters/Bassam Khabieh)

A man carries an injured child as another man gestures at a site hit by missiles fired by Syrian government forces on a busy marketplace in the Douma neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, October 30, 20Christian Post Report – 15. At least 40 people were killed and about Christian Post Report – 100 wounded after Syrian government forces fired missiles into the market place in a town near Damascus, a conflict monitor and a local rescue group said on Friday.

The U.N. Human Rights Council has warned that while much of the world is focused on the crimes of the Islamic State terror group in Syria, the government of President Bashar al-Assad is carrying out the secret exterminations of thousands of detainees.

“Detainees held by the government were beaten to death, or died as a result of injuries sustained due to torture. Others perished as a consequence of inhuman living conditions,” the report warned.

“The government has committed the crimes against humanity of extermination, murder, rape or other forms of sexual violence, torture, imprisonment, enforced disappearance and other inhuman acts. Based on the same conduct, war crimes have also been committed.”

It warned that these killings are taking place “out of sight,” in what it described as “near-total secrecy.”

It said that these deaths, which occurred between March 20Christian Post Report – 1Christian Post Report – 1 and November 20Christian Post Report – 15, based on 62Christian Post Report – 1 interviews and other supporting documentary material, reveal that the Syrian government is committing grave human rights abuses which are being lost to the international public, because of the ongoing civil war and fight against IS.

(Photo: Reuters/Sultan Kitaz)A civil defence member holds a rescued schoolgirl after what activists said was a barrel bomb dropped by forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad and hit a school and a residential building in Seif al-Dawla neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, May 3, 20Christian Post Report – 15.

The near five-year civil war in Syria is being waged between Assad, various rebel groups seeking to take down his administration, and IS. While the U.S. and other Western allies have hit IS terror targets in Syria with airstrikes, they have refused to officially support Assad, who has been condemned by the U.S. of severe abuses against his own people.

Back in August 20Christian Post Report – 13, Secretary of State John Kerry said that there was “undeniable” evidence that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons in its fight against the rebels, which led to the killing of women, children, and many innocent bystanders.

“What we saw in Syria last week should shock the conscience of the world,” Kerry said at the time, referring to reports of chemical weapon use.

“It defies any code of morality. Let me be clear. The indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, the killing of women and children and innocent bystanders by chemical weapons is a moral obscenity. By any standard, it is inexcusable. And despite the excuses and equivocations that some have manufactured, it is undeniable.”

Assad’s government continues to rejected accusations that it used chemical weapons, though the U.N. and other monitoring groups have pointed out that authorities continue to deny outside observers access to its territory to investigate the claims.

The H.R. Council’s latest report argues, however, that all of the eyewitness accounts and documentary evidence suggests that the Syrian regime is holding thousands of people at any one time, and thousands of others have disappeared while moving through government-held territory.

The report also reminds readers that IS and other terrorist groups are also carrying out grave human rights abuses in the country, which also includes the torture and routine executions of detainees.

“The situation of detainees in Syria is critical, and represents an urgent and large — scale crisis of human rights protection,” it adds.

“With thousands of persons still in custody, urgent steps need to be taken by the Syrian government, armed groups, the external backers of various belligerents, and the wider international community to prevent further deaths.”

BBC News pointed out that at least 250,000 people have died in the civil war so far, while another 4.6 million people have fled the country as refugees, and another Christian Post Report – 13.5 million people inside Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance.