The Perspective of Focus – Bishop T.D Jakes

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The Perspective of Focus – Bishop T.D Jakes

Bishop T.D Jakes Sermon 2015 – The Perspective of Focus [ FULL MESSAGE]

Listen, and be Blessed

Unveiling Gospel Group – DIVNE DIVINE

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Unveiling Gospel Group – DIVNE DIVINE

With a young Nigerian, called David Balogun, who moved  to the UK and settled in Manchester at the age of 14, as part  of them, Divine Divine are known to be one of the hottest  British vocal gospel group presently.

They began their journey into stardom as the runaway  winners of the first Time 2 Shine talent search in 2011.  They’ve been giving gospel music a good swim in the  mainstream.

 

Today, Gospel City Naija is giving you a one-on-one  iNTRO on them. We promise to premier some of their hit songs soon on this blog.

They are made up of experienced and talented musicians who came together under this project. their drive is  not only to use their talent as tools of ministry but also to take gospel music for a swim upstream in the mainstream.

With guidance from the Time 2 Shine organization and Black Grape Global, Divine Divine have honed their craft and recorded their debut album entitled “Edge Street”.

In 2011, all members applied as solo candidates for Time 2 Shine, a talent search which set out to identify individuals who could come together to form the ultimate pop gospel group. Having made it to band camp, Neresa, David and Nadine rose above the challenges of the elimination tasks, initially as individual artists. Through the creative process of the competition Neresa, David and Nadine fused as the group which went on to win the hearts of public and judges alike. Divine Divine was born.

ABOUT THE MEMBERS

 

David Balogun (aka David B)

david balogun - divine divine  David B moved to the UK and settled in Manchester at the age of 14. He attended  the King of Kings School in Manchester. David left medicine behind to embark  more seriously on his desire to have a music career. Making that difficult decision  he enrolled on a music industry course and is currently completing studies at  Canterbury Christ Church University.

With a talent for dance which was evident to those around him when he was 2,  David’s earliest recollection of performing live was singing at his Uncle’s wedding  when he was 7 years old. In Manchester, David attended a vocal training course led  by Elaine Hanley, affiliated with Owen Thomas’ Cultural Fusion, which helped to  hone his singing abilities. Before joining Divine Divine he was known to many as  David B, a R&B/Inspirational Gospel singer-songwriter, musician, vocal producer,  dancer, choreographer, and entertainer.

David was also a well-respected member of Manchester’s finest Gospel Choir – Manchester Sing out Choir, under the leadership of Vocal Genius – Wayne Ellington. He has also sung with Grammy Award Winner Joshua Groban and Heather Small.

Nadine Caesar

Nadine Ceaser - divine divine Nadine Sade Caesar is from North East London where she went to Park View  Academy in Tottenham.

Charismatic and yet unassuming, Nadine is often to be caught barefoot as she  naturally and it seems effortlessly performs, but can equally be spotted in three-  inch heals. An eclectic artist, she combines the earthy style of Lauren Hill with a  refreshing London edge. From an early age Nadine was influenced by artist  including Roy Ayres, Stevie Wonder and Anita Baker amongst many others.

Primarily trained by her mother who is a professional musician, at the age of 1 or 2  she was “performing” on tour by Julian Buhula with Busiswe Mhlongo.  Nadine  recalls appearing on stage at the Hackney Empire, aged 10.

Nadine has also been taught and mentored by other accomplished musicians such as the lyricist Ty, soundscapist Eska Mtungwazi and singer/songwriter Michelle Escoffery. Nadine is currently studying towards an English degree.

Neresa Maye

Neresa grew up in South East London attending Myatt Gardens Primary in Brockley, Charlton Manor Primary in Charlton and Kidbrooke Comprehensive in Shooters Hill.

Neresa has a wealth of live performances and collaborations to draw upon. She has undertaken vocalNeresa Maye - divine divine duties with artists as varied as Boney M, Imagination 3T, Coolio, D’Ream and Beverley Knight. She performed in the M6 Back to the 80’s concert in Palais Omnisports de Paris in Bercy, Paris in front of an audience of 16,000 people.

Neresa is keen to ensure that her music continues to provide excellent ministry and convey messages that will inspire hearts and minds.

Source: GospelCity, Profile and Picture culled from their website: http://www.divinedivine.co.uk/page/bio

Gospel Artist – Wole Oni

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Gospel Artist – Wole Oni

Wole Oni recently released his first official single. The song received a lot of buzz online and this didn’t come as a surprise. Apart from being very good in what he does, Mr Oni has a personality and candor that easily endears him to people who come in contact with him.

 

Have you download Wole Oni’s “COVER ME LORD”?

Get it from the link below:

DOWNLOAD

SHOCKING: ISIS Jihadist Converted To Christianity After Seeing Jesus In A Dream

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SHOCKING: Reports Are Circulating That A Former ISIS Jihadist Converted To Christianity After Seeing Jesus In A Dream.

According To Youth With A Mission, A Missionary In A Middle Eastern Country Met The Former Islamic Extremist Through A Mutual Friend.

The Man Said He Had Killed A Number Of Christians And Even Admitted To Enjoying It. But That All Changed When He Dreamed Of A Man In White Who Brought A Sobering Message.

Is This Story True? CBN Senior International Correspondent Gary Lane Has Been Looking Into It.

Read More About Muslim’s Coming To Christ Through Dreams Here: http://go.cbn.com/789

8-year-old becomes 1st child to get double hand transplant

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CBS Report – For the first time ever, doctors have transplanted donor hands and forearms onto a child. Eight-year-old Zion Harvey lost his hands and feet at the age of 2 due to a serious infection that also led to a kidney transplant.

The little boy appeared at a news conference Tuesday with staff from Penn Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), who performed the operation. “Thank you for helping me through this bumpy road,” he said.

The 10-hour surgery took place in early July and involved a 40-member team of nurses, doctors and surgeons led by Dr. L. Scott Levin, chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery at Penn Medicine and director of the hand transplantation program at Children’s Hospital.

During the operation, the donor’s hands and forearms were attached by connecting bone, blood vessels, nerves, muscles, tendons and skin. The surgical team was divided into four working groups, two focused on the donor hands, and two focused on the recipient. First, the bones in his arm were connected with steel plates and screws. Next, microvascular surgical techniques were used to connect the arteries and veins. Once blood began flowing through the reconnected blood vessels, surgeons repaired and rejoined each muscle and tendon one-by-one. Then they reattached nerves and closed the surgical sites.

“The success of Penn’s first bilateral hand transplant on an adult, performed in 2011, gave us a foundation to adapt the intricate techniques and coordinated plans required to perform this type of complex procedure on a child,” Levin said in a press statement. “CHOP is one of the few places in the world that offer the capabilities necessary to push the limits of medicine to give a child a drastically improved quality of life.”

Harvey, from a suburb of Baltimore, is a bright and precocious little boy who has told his doctors that he cannot wait to someday hang on the monkey bars. Despite his difficulties, the child had adapted well to life without hands, learning to eat, write and play video games. He is very active and has prosthetics for his feet so he can walk, run and jump on his own.

Only 25 hand transplants have been done in the world. Harvey is the first child to receive such a procedure.

Double hand transplantation is a complex procedure that involves many surgical and non-surgical components. The potential recipient must first undergo extensive medical screenings and evaluations. Harvey was an ideal transplant candidate due to his previous medical condition.

“Zion’s kidney transplant following his infection made him a candidate for transplant because he was already taking anti-rejection medication,” Dr. Benjamin Chang, co-director of CHOP’s Hand Transplant Program and associate chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Penn Medicine, said.

Harvey still has years of growth and development ahead, and doctors say his new arms will grow along with him.

“Once we reattached the parts, the growth plates stay open and allow the amputated part to grow,” Levin said at a press conference about the surgery. “So we have every reason to believe that because Zion’s hands are alive and his growth plates are in tact from the donor that he will grow like a normal child.”

Harvey gets rigorous therapy several times a day and can already move his hands a little. He is scheduled to return home to Maryland in several weeks.

In a video produced by CHOP (below), Levin said he hopes that Zion will be the first of “literally hundreds or thousands of patients that are going to be afforded this operation.”

Source : CBS News

The Adventures of Fuzzie the Rabbit

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The Adventures of Fuzzie the Rabbit

Christian Post Report – “Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually.”
— Psalm 119:117

My youngest granddaughter, Allie (short for Alexandra), has a little rabbit that her older sister, Rylie, named Fuzzie.

 

Fuzzie spends most of his time in a cage, though it is a large one. Seems like a cruel thing to do to a rabbit, but it comes down to how you look at things.Greg Laurie

When we get Fuzzie out for Allie she will squeal with absolute delight. And in her excitement she sometimes does not hold Fuzzie the rabbit in exactly the right way. She once picked him up by the head! But he is a resilient little guy and was just fine.

After one of these recent outings, I was returning Fuzzie and about three feet away he leapt out of my arms for the open door of his cage!

I think Fuzzie likes to be there.

For us, this seems like a confining place to put a rabbit. But judging by his actions, Fuzzie, an actual rabbit who lives in a cage, does not see it that way.

He does not see the cage as a place that keeps him imprisoned from the outside world but a place that keeps him safe . . . from Allie!

In the same way, we look at Gods’ Word, which contains absolutes. He gives us things we are to do and things we are not to do.

Some people don’t like those absolutes and commandments. They see them as a cage, keeping them from what they think they really want.

But when we come to realize that God’s rules and laws are not designed to “ruin our fun,” but to provide a place of safety and security, we find that instead of being confining and restricting, His commandments are actually very liberating.

Source : Christian Post

Kenyan President After Obama’s Gay Rights Message: ‘We’d Like to Focus on Other Issues … Not a Non-Issue’

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Kenyan President After Obama’s Gay Rights Message: ‘We’d Like to Focus on Other Issues … Not a Non-Issue’

Kenya (Photo: Reuters/Thomas Mukoya)

Christian Post Report – Members of the anti-gay caucus chant slogans as they march along the streets in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, July 6, 2015. The demonstration is aimed at U.S. President Barack Obama, who protesters fear will put pressure on the government to legalise same-sex marriage during his upcoming visit on July 25.

After President Barack Obama called for gay rights in Nairobi on Saturday, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta corrected his counterpart, saying homosexuality is a “non-issue” in Kenya and those rights cannot be “imposed” on the people of the East African country.

“For Kenyans today, the issue of gay rights is really a non-issue,” President Kenyatta said at a joint-press conference with President Obama at the State House in Nairobi on Saturday, according to Daily Nation.

In Kenyan law, homosexual acts are illegal and carry punishments of up to 14 years in prison.

Obama, whose father was Kenyan, said at the conference, “I have been consistent all across Africa on this. I believe in the principle of treating people equally under the law and that they are deserving of equal protection under the law and that the State should not discriminate against the people based on their sexual orientation.”

Kenyatta agreed that “Kenya and the United States share so many values; our common love for democracy, entrepreneurship and value for families.” But he went on to say, “There are other things that we do not share; our cultures, our societies do not accept. It is very difficult to impose on people that which they themselves do not accept. This is why I repeatedly say that for Kenyans today, the issue of gay rights is really a non-issue.”

The Kenyan president added, “We want to focus on other areas that are day-to-day living for our people – the health issues that we have discussed with President Obama are critical. Issues of ensuring inclusivity of women; a huge section of society that is normally left out of the mainstream of economic development.”

The key focuses include “what we can do in terms of infrastructure, education, giving them power and encouraging entrepreneurship,” Kenyatta said. “Once we have overcome some of these challenges, we can begin to look at new ones. As of now, the fact remains that this issue is not really an issue that is on the foremost minds of Kenyans and that is a fact.”

Standing next to Kenyatta, Obama at the press conference urged Kenyans to recognize “that there may be people who have different religious or cultural beliefs but the issue is, how does the State operate relative to people?”

The history of countries around the world suggests, Obama added, “when you start treating people differently not because of the harm that they are doing to anybody but because they are different, that is the path whereby freedoms begin to erode and bad things happen.”

Obama further said: “As an African American in the United States, I am painfully aware of the history of what happens when people are treated differently under the law. There were all sorts of rationalizations that were provided by the power structure for decades in the United States for segregation and they were wrong.

“I am unequivocal on this; if somebody is a law abiding citizen who is going about their business, going to their job and obeying the traffic signs and doing the other things that good citizens are supposed to do and not harming anybody, the idea that they are going to be treated differently or abused because of who they love is wrong.”

Source : Christian Post

Ciara Tells All on Russell Wilson Revealing Couple’s Celibacy to the World

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Ciara Tells All on Russell Wilson Revealing Couple’s Celibacy to the World

Ciara and Russell Wilson (Photo: Ciara/Instagram)

Christian Post Report – Russell Wilson invites Ciara to Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Ciara Harris, the 29-year-old singer whose NFL player boyfriend Russell Wilson recently revealed some intimate details about their relationship, says she’s not upset with the Christian athlete for telling the world about their physical relationship, or lack thereof.

In an interview with “Access Hollywood,” the singer known as Ciara spoke about waiting “until the deal is sealed” to engage in any sexual activity with the 26-year-old Seattle Seahawks quarterback.

Wilson first made the announcement when he appeared at The Rock Church in San Diego on July 5 and told pastor Miles McPherson that God told him to lead Ciara in a vow of celibacy.

While Wilson’s announcement was mocked by some and met with criticism and questions from others, Ciara said she had no issues with it.

“It was an organic thing for him and I think he was just being honest about where we are,” Ciara said on “Access Hollywood Live” recently.

At an event for Austrian bread company Eat The Ball Tuesday, KIRO radio personality Rachel Belle asked Wilson if he had any regrets about detailing he and Ciara’s personal life.

“I don’t have any regret, no,” Wilson answered. “I’m a blessed man, I’m very, very grateful.”

In the Q&A session with McPherson at The Rock Church, Wilson described how he presented the idea to his girlfriend.

“I asked her ‘what would you do if we took all that other stuff off the table and did it Jesus’ way, no sex?” Wilson asked the singer.

Ciara told “Access Hollywood” that taking that vow with her boyfriend has been anything but easy.

“I think both of us look at each other and we’re like, whew,” the singer said. “But we take it one day at a time and keep it going with each other, and I’m really enjoying every day that we’re sharing.”

Wilson also spoke to “Access Hollywood” on a separate occasion earlier this month and revealed how he and Ciara met.

“[Ciara] is one of a kind,” he said. “A good friend introduced us when I was in LA at one point. So ever since, we’ve been talking every day. It’s been so good.”

Last month, Wilson invited Ciara to visit the Seattle Children’s Hospital where the pair met children who are battling cancer. While Wilson regularly visits the hospital, Ciara spoke about being touched by her experience there.

“Their bravery, will, and courage touched me in a way I can’t explain,” she tweeted about the children she met at the hospital. “I am thankful!

Ciara has her own child that she shares with hip-hop star Future whom she broke off an engagement with last year. Although she is not as vocal about her spiritual beliefs as Wilson, Ciara previously spoke about her son being the greatest gift that God has given her.

“Honestly, I feel like everything in life happens for a reason and my son has been the greatest gift that God has given me in my life. And he’s been the most game-changing thing that’s happened to my life, in a necessary way,” she said on Power 105.1 FM’s syndicated radio show, “The Breakfast Club” earlier this year.

Source : Christian Post

Lecrae Says Christians Should Build Relationships With People Whose Cultural Perspective Frustrates Them

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Lecrae Says Christians Should Build Relationships With People Whose Cultural Perspective Frustrates Them

Lecrae (Photo: YouTube/screengrab)

Christian Post Report – Lecrae presented during Passion 2015 on Jan. 16, 2015.

Grammy-award winning rapper and outspoken Christian Lecrae said on Thursday that Americans speaking on someone else’s culture without understanding or attempting to learn about their perspective frustrates him.

“America is full of different cultures, yet it baffles me when the people with cultural differences, who rarely interact with each other on deep levels, have so much commentary on the others cultural perspective,” said Lecrae on Facebook.

“I don’t have any Moroccan friends and I couldn’t imagine trying to understand their cultural outlook on the world without having meaningful relationships with them,” the rapper added.

Lecrae said he spent months traveling to Native American reservations and learned a lot about their culture after making friends with some of them and hearing about their experiences.

By building meaningful relationships with these Native Americans, he was able to understand their perspective.

“Everyone who lives in America (or is Christian for that matter) does not see everything the same,” Lecrae continued. “But if you find yourself upset at someone’s outlook … that may need to be the very person you build a relationship. But what do I know? I’m just a rapper.”

During the past few years, Lecrae has used his writing skills in both music and media to address race relations in the U.S. from a Christian perspective.

Last month, he penned an op-ed for Billboard.com where he discussed the June shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where nine black people were killed by lone gunmen Dylann Roof.

While Lecrae acknowledged that the families of the victims forgave the shooter publicly, he warned the church to be more pro-active in addressing the deeper racial tensions which led to the incident.

“Let’s not simply encourage the oppressed to be calm and act peacefully,” he said. “Let us in the words of Isaiah 1:17, ‘Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression.”

He also highlighted the spiritual battle raging within all mankind.

“There is a great antagonist, and it does not have black or white skin,” he continued. “It is the brokenness of humanity. May a love that miraculously mends our brokenness be the protagonist.”

During the Ferguson, Missouri, riots that were sparked by the death of Michael Brown, who was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson after Brown committed a strong-arm robbery, Lecrae spoke out against Christians who had no compassion for the black community.

“Regardless of your view on #Ferguson. If [you] have zero compassion for that community you are not loving your neighbor as yourself. These are my cousins, aunts, nieces, uncles, nephews, and our ethnic bond is strong,” Lecrae wrote on Instagram in August 2014. “It does not supersede my bond of faith but at times it feels like my eternal family could care less about my earthly family.”

He added, “I feel I’m only accepted if I perform well and don’t act like my ‘cousins.’ I am the same as them but the grace of God has granted me opportunities they didn’t get.”

He also commented on the officers who were working to control the rioters who were burning down family-owned businesses and residents’ cars.

“I pray for the families of the officers who haven’t seen their wives and kids for days. I have no ill will toward anyone I only want unity, equality, and love. Were it not for the compassion of people who didn’t look like me loving me I wouldn’t be all that I am today.”

Contact: [email protected]; follow me on Twitter @vinfunaro

Source : Christian Post

Bishop T.D. Jakes’ New Talk Show Aims to Help Viewers Navigate Daily Challenges in Life, Love and Family

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Bishop T.D. Jakes’ New Talk Show Aims to Help Viewers Navigate Daily Challenges in Life, Love and Family

T.D. Jakes (Photo: The Christian Post/Scott Liu)

Christian Post Report – Bishop T.D. Jakes speaks with The Christian Post in New York City on May 19, 2015.

Bishop T.D. Jakes is gearing up to bring his brand of inspiration to a new talk show where he expects to spark national conversations about socially relevant topics.

Jakes, the 58-year-old senior pastor of The Potter’s House church in Dallas, Texas, will host the hour long series set to first broadcast in select markets from Aug. 17 through Sept. 11.

“This show provides a great platform to expand conversations, to be encouraging, positive, uplifting and help people work through tight places in their lives,” Jakes said in a statement shared with The Christian Post.

Noonan Drachkovitch, executive producer of the show, spoke to CP about the impact she hopes
the series, “T.D. Jakes” will have on the world.

“We want to create a provocative and entertaining daily television series that makes a difference, inspires change and creates a national conversation around the challenges and topics that each of us face as we try our best to navigate life, love and family,” Drachkovitch told CP. “We believe T.D. Jakes’ personal journey and insight will help viewers transform and improve their lives and relationships.”

The one month preview of the show will be featured on four TEGNA media stations this summer, which will include WFAA in Dallas, WXIA in Atlanta, KARE in Minneapolis, and WKYC in Cleveland, according to Alexandra Jewett, the executive vice president of programming at Debmar Mercury.

Speaking about Jakes’ personality, experience and influence, Jewett said The Potter’s House pastor “brings immense wisdom and counsel to everyday situations but he also navigates life with great humor and joy, and has had a tremendous impact on so many.”

Aside from his upcoming talk show, Jakes is seeking to make an impact at his MegaFest festival that will take place Aug. 19-23.The pastor previously spoke to CP about what people can expect from the festivities that will take place in Dallas.

“We’ve got concerts that they can come out and enjoy; we’ve got empowerment sessions and they can strengthen themselves and their career, so it’s one stop shopping,” Jakes previously told CP. “We’ve got something for all ages — teenagers, young adults. And particularly with so many single parents today, to have your values reinforced in your kids right before they take off to school, that’s a good thing!”

A number of high profile speakers are slated to participate at the event, including The Potter’s House’s first lady Serita Jakes, film mogul Tyler Perry who will appear as his famous character Madea, minister Joyce Meyer, Australian activist Christine Caine, Bishop Tudor Bismarck, R.A. Vernon and Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams. Since the event only takes place once every two years, Jakes spoke about the importance of making sure it is a life changing experience.

“Today, if you’re going to travel, you want to have a mega experience. And so, the whole MegaFest is a life changing experience,” he said. “We do alter calls, we work with people who are coming back to Christ, we have ministers to sharpen their gifts and skills. We only have it every other year, so we want you to be buzzing it for two years.”

For more information about Jakes’ MegaFest, please click here. For more information about how to become a part of Jakes’ live studio audience for his upcoming talk show, email [email protected].

Source : Christian Post

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