Our Prayers for Charleston

Our Prayers For Charleston

Christian Post Report – We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Charleston, South Carolina. The brutal massacre of those in prayer at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church should shock the conscience of every person. There is hardly a more vivid picture of unmasked evil than the murder of those in prayer.
This act of bloodshed is wicked and more than wicked. It is literally satanic, as our Lord taught us that the devil is a “murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44).

Virtually every week we see yet another incident pointing to the sin of racism in American society, from unarmed African-American men and children killed in the streets to worshippers gunned down in their pews.

This must end. And the church of Jesus Christ must lead the way.

The church should picture to the outside world what it means to be reconciled to God and to one another. We must embody the truth that we are all created in the image of God and that those of us in Christ have been brought near to God by the blood of Jesus. We share in common a table of fellowship, an indwelling Spirit, and an inheritance that we will share, together, forever. Death cannot hold these truths back.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/standing-with-charleston-140572/

Source : Christian Post

You Don’t Need to Be Superhuman: Leave It to God!

You Don't Need To Be Superhuman: Leave It To God!

Christian Post Report – When we enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, something wonderful happens: God begins to change our desires, and we want to be more like Him. That is good news! However, there’s one important lesson we need to learn — we cannot change ourselves. In fact, trying to bring about change in our own strength will always lead to frustration. I learned this lesson firsthand.

When I read God’s Word and saw all of the areas of my life that needed improvement, I immediately went to work, trying to change myself into a good Christian. I tried to improve my mouth, my mind, my behavior, and every other area that didn’t measure up to perfection. However, my efforts were in vain. It seemed like every other day I was giving up!

For instance, if I didn’t get my way when I wanted something, my automatic response was to get upset. I often used anger and self-pity to manipulate people to do what I wanted. So I decided that things were going to be different.

I have always been determined, so I decided I would simply use my willpower to be a better person. Yes, you can probably guess what happened — I didn’t get any better. In fact, I think I actually got a little worse. I was so harsh with my kids that I couldn’t even tell them to take out the trash without sounding like a drill sergeant!

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/discover-the-way-to-experience-true-change-in-your-life-140569/

Source : Christian Post

Influence by Example

Christian Post Report – Titus 2:1-8

  • Dr. Charles F. Stanley
    (Photo: In Touch Ministries)
    Dr. Charles F. Stanley (File).

The fathers in the Old Testament serve as a warning to modern dads about the impact of a parent’s example. Many godly men were fatherhood failures, and their children paid a hefty price. Jacob’s sons imitated his conniving and manipulative behavior. King David neglected discipline, and as a result, several of his sons were involved in despicable activities. His heir, Solomon, was an equally poor father, whose son was instrumental in splitting the kingdom.

In spite of their faith, Jacob, David, and Solomon provided a negative role model for their children. Unfortunately, biblical examples of poor fathers outnumber the good. But the gospels mention a man whose sons reflect well on their dad’s parenting skills. No specific details are given to describe how Zebedee brought up the disciples James and John, but he is significant because he did what many Christians try to do today: raise children who follow God. Zebedee’s training prepared his sons for a life of intimate fellowship with the Messiah. It’s a reasonable assumption that he modeled discipline, respect for authority, and persistence, because his sons demonstrated those traits while following Jesus Christ.

Your children will reflect the traits they observe in you. Living in your presence every day, your kids see past any façade that might fool the rest of the world. They monitor your attitude about vocational work and household chores. Little ears pick up on how you talk about others, and little eyes watch your response to difficult circumstances. What kind of example do your children see?

Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2015
All Rights Reserved.

Source : Christian Post

How To Get What You Really Want! – get this FREE Book

We human beings are riddled with inconsistencies. What pleases us most today we can easily find repulsive tomorrow. What we love now we may love to hate in the future.

We are never certain of what we really want; of what will really make us happy and complete. We are constantly searching and longing for something to provide us lasting relief from the unending pressures and challenges that continuously come our way. We are always longing for a freedom; for a peace, that always manages to evade us. Always striving for that “something” on the horizon, and no matter what we do, we can never quite get there.

The truth is that life doesn’t have to be this way. This “something” you are looking for is not to be found in any distant and mysterious place, and regardless of how much effort or strain you put into it, the fact is that you will never really find “it” anywhere “out there”.

That which you want most is already much closer than you can imagine. It has always been here with you, but you’ve been blinded to its presence.

In this short ebook I try to explain how and why this is so, and I also share some very simple and practical steps to help you uncover the real peace and happiness that is available to you right in this instant and in every moment of your life; that is, if you can only open your eyes and see it.

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British PM David Cameron Asserts Sections of Muslim Community Condones ‘Islamist Extremist Ideology,’ Which Spurs Youths Joining ISIS

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (Photo: Reuters/Leon Neal/Pool)

Christian Post Report – Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron gives a speech at an election rally at The Corsham School in Chippenham, south west England, March 30, 2015.

British Prime Minister David Cameron is set to say in prepared remarks that some sections of the Islamic community in the U.K. are failing to speak out against “Islamic extremist ideology,” which is leading to young British people joining terror group ISIS.

The Independent reported that Cameron is set to argue at a security conference in Slovakia that when youths see some parts of the Muslim community back home condoning such ideology, they feel motivated to join jihadist groups.

“We’ve always had angry young men and women buying into supposedly revolutionary causes. This one is evil, it is contradictory, it is futile – but it is particularly potent today. I think part of the reason it’s so potent is that it has been given this credence,” Cameron is set to say.

“So if you’re a troubled boy who is angry at the world or a girl looking for an identity, for something to believe in and there’s something that is quietly condoned online, or perhaps even in parts of your local community, then it’s less of a leap to go from a British teenager to an ISIL fighter or an ISIL wife than it would be for someone who hasn’t been exposed to these things.”

A growing number of Britons have left for Iraq and Syria to join ISIS.

Earlier in June, reports revealed that a British family with nine children ranging from ages 3 to 15 have fled to Syria to join the Islamic caliphate.

ISIS’ forces have been beefed up by thousands of overseas fighters joining their cause, and by the kidnapping and recruitment of youths that are indoctrinated and trained at the terror group’s camps.

Cameron is set to say that ISIS is “one of the biggest threats our world has faced,” and identified some of the radicalization he sees condoned by Muslim communities:

“It is an Islamist extremist ideology one that says the West is bad and democracy is wrong that women are inferior and homosexuality is evil. It says religious doctrine trumps the rule of law and Caliphate trumps nation state and it justifies violence in asserting itself and achieving its aims. The question is: how do people arrive at this worldview?”

Cameron explains that not all people who hold such views go as far as advocating violence, but some “buy into some of these prejudices giving the extreme Islamist narrative weight.”

There have also been growing threats that ISIS may carry out an attack in the U.K. A report back in March claimed that the Islamic militants are training hundreds of British jihadists to carry out a possible chlorine gas attack on trains and sports games.

“I am convinced that IS (another name for ISIS) fighters are all being given training in chemical weapons and the British ones, who are likely to be more educated, will all be targeted in the hope they may return home,” said Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, the retired head of chemical and biological weapons for the British Army.

“They will have a reasonable idea on how to use chlorine and other toxic chemicals as a terror weapon,” he added.

Source : Christian Post

Christian Life Coach to the StarsTim Storey Talks Pastoring Charlie Sheen, Kanye West and Creating the Hollywood Bible Study

Pastor Tim Storey (Photo: Courtesy of Tim Storey)

Christian Post Report – California pastor Tim Storey is known as a life coach to the stars and opened a new church in Yorba Linda, California in May 2015.

California Pastor Tim Storey has been called a life coach to the stars with a ministry that has led him to speak into the lives of countless celebrities including rapper Kanye West and actor Charlie Sheen who had a highly controversial breakdown in 2011.

Storey, 54, is the pioneer of a spiritual meeting known as the Hollywood Bible Study that began in 1992 with 12 people has grown to over 2000, but dealing with entertainers was not his original vision for his life while he was a student at South Eastern University in Florida.

“My dream was to reach all people and so when I first started [in ministry], I went on a lot of missions trips to third world countries,” said Storey to The Christian Post. “And I would do motivational speaking in places like South Africa, Nigeria and some of the tougher parts of the Philippines.”

Storey continued ministering in these countries well into his 20s and in 1992 he was propositioned to take on a different mission helping entertainers actress Dyan Cannon who asked him to do a Bible study in her house. From that point on, his ministry started reaching well known movie stars.

“I didn’t realize that it was opening up a door to me that some 25 years later I would continue to walk through,” said Storey.

Cannon’s house was located in Beverly Hills and the study began with 12 people. Seven of them were well known entertainers. Although Storey did not want to disclose who those seven were, he has said in the past that some of the people he worked with early on, included actor Charlton Heston and businessman Vidal Sassoon.

Shortly after these Bible studies began, agents of prominent entertainers started to contact Storey when their clients were struggling in their lives. By the end of the 1990s Storey had worked with actors Charlie Sheen and Robert Downey Jr. who have both struggled with drug abuse.

More recently, Storey said he’s had “great conversations” with rapper and music producer Kanye West who is a professing Christian married to reality star Kim Kardashian. Storey said West has a persona most in the public have not seen.

“There’s a side of Kanye that a lot of people don’t know that I do,” said Storey. “How kind he is to people. What a strong woman of God his mother was, Donda West. And so I would say I hope in the future that more people will get to know that side [of him].”

He also discussed his relationship with Charlie Sheen who had a very public breakdown after leaving his hit show “Two and a Half Men” in 2011.

“He is trying to learn about himself, he’s trying to work through his own challenges, and we have amazing talks about God,” said Storey. “Just like a parent or a mentor, sometimes we wish our children or our students would make different choices. And even at a faster pace. I’ve obviously wished that for Charlie. I’m still very hopeful that he will continue to make better choices.”

Aside from one on one encounters, Storey hosts a slew of entertainers at his Hollywood Bible study which he describes as a “hybrid of motivational speaking and traditional Bible study.”

The gathering includes people from all faiths and is held in the homes of different stars.

“We’re reaching out to all types of faiths, from Jewish people, to Muslims, to people who come from a New Age background,” said Storey who says he still includes Christ in the conversation regardless of who he is preaching to.

“I talk about a certain message and I’ll say you may see things differently, but let me show you the way Christ presents this in the Bible. Because this may be a way that makes sense to you.”

He says a lot of people that attend the study end up becoming Christian months after they meet him and thank him for “giving them a chance to decide on their own.”

The busy pastor recently had some high profile speaking engagements including being on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday and an upcoming appearance at the Dalai Lama’s 80th Birthday Celebration Summit in July where he plans to share the story of the “God of Beyond” with those in attendance.

“The reason I would speak at the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday, I see it similar to the Apostle Paul speaking on Mars Hill,” he said. “I’m going to talk about the God of Beyond. I’m going to talk about Jehovah. He thinks beyond. He dreams beyond. He creates beyond. And just like I do in the Hollywood Bible Study, I will tell them about a Jesus of Beyond.”

Pastor Tim Storey (Photo: Courtesy of Tim Storey)

Pastor Tim Storey is known as a life coach to the stars and pastors recently appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday.

 He also spoke about Oprah inviting him to be a guest on Super Soul Sunday on her OWN channel and described the experience as something “amazing.”

“As much as I have been on Christian television and speaking in the largest conventions in the world. It was amazing how much positive feedback I got from being on one hour of Super Soul Sunday,” continued Storey.

He revealed that after the appearance on Oprah’s OWN channel, many people who he spoke with who do not attend church thanked him for explaining how he serves God in a way that they understood.

Since then, the father of two has showed no signs of slowing down. The Hollywood Bible Study has spread to different cities all over the U.S. including South Beach, Miami and Atlanta, Georgia. He has also planted a new church in Yorba Linda, California that is open to the general public.

Pastor Tim Storey (Photo: Courtesy of Tim Storey)

California pastor Tim Storey is known as a life coach to the stars and recently held a grand opening event for his church in Yorba Linda, California that featured singer Smokey Robinson.

“The reason for Yorba Linda is, I had been raised in my teenage years not too far from there. So to me it was coming back full circle. After traveling the globe so many times, I wanted to find a place where I could create an oasis for people to come and learn about Jesus,” said Storey.

Yorba Linda opened last month and kicked off with a special event featuring singer Smokey Robinson and R&B group All-4-One.

Storey is thankful for the opportunites he has had working with artists such as Robinson for over 25 years and understands that his path is unique and “not for everyone.”

“I do believe this is the assignment for me. I’m thankful for other people that have their places in the body of Christ that I respect. I’m just utilizing the gifts and experiences that God has allowed me to walk through,” ended Story.

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

Source : Christian Post

One Bite at a Time

Christian Post Report – God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
— James 1:12

It has been said that conversion has made our hearts a battlefield. It is true. When you believe in Jesus Christ, a battle begins in your heart. It is a battle between God and Satan. When you take that step and make a commitment to Lord, the Devil will want to pull you away from the commitment you have made.

  • Greg Laurie
    (Photo: rever Hoehne for Harvest Ministries)
    Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California and Harvest Orange County in Irvine, California, shares the Gospel with a sold-out crowd of 19,000 for Harvest America at the American Airlines Center and Victory Park in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 5, 2014.

So if you have found yourself being tempted a lot lately, then cheer up. It is actually an indication that you are living as a true Christian.

It is not a sin to be tempted. That is a strategy the Devil loves to use. He will tempt you, and then he will condemn you for being tempted. It is not a sin to be tempted; it is a sin when you give in to the temptation. It is not the bait that constitutes sin; it is the bite. If you refuse it and overcome it, God promises to bless you for it. We read in James, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

The bottom line is that you are under the control and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. You have God’s ID tag attached to you, and the Devil can no longer control you. He can no longer manipulate you. So he will try to draw you out. He will try to weaken your resolve. He will try to get you to compromise. He will try to take you one bite at a time. It’s a little bit here, a compromise there, a little lowering your guard in a certain area. And pretty soon, you will find yourself in a place where you never wanted to be.

Copyright © 2015 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000

Used with Permission

Source : Christian Post

Roma Downey, Mark Burnett Share Father’s Day Greeting, Offer Exclusive Sneak Peek at ‘A.D. – The Bible Continues’ Season Finale

Adam Levy as Peter in NBC's A.D.: The Bible Continues (Photo: Joe Alblas/LightWorkers Media/NBC)

Christian Post Report – Adam Levy as Peter in NBC’s “A.D.: The Bible Continues.”

The final episode of NBC’s “A.D. – The Bible Continues” airs on Father’s Day this Sunday, and the series’ producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett are offering wishes for dads everywhere as well as a glimpse at the season finale.

Following the ratings success of the “Bible” series, its sequel “A.D.” has garnered critical acclaim, telling the story of the first ten chapters in the Book of Acts. While a second season of “A.D.” hangs in the balance, the series wraps its first season this Sunday, revealing the very first Roman convert to Christianity in the final episode entitled “The Abomination.”

“What has God told you,” asks Cornelius, Emperor Caligula’s soldier in the exclusive sneak peek at the season finale. Cornelius is recorded as the first gentile to convert to Christianity in the Christian faith.

“I’m just a fisherman,” answers Peter. “I’ve been commanded to teach His message to the ends of the Earth. And know I see that you may also find the salvation Jesus offers. So if I am to do this I must welcome you and baptize you.”

Cornelius then begins speaking in tongues as the Spirit surrounds them during the first look.

“This is why we came,” Peter tells Mary Magdalene. “This is our mission.”

Additionally, since the “A.D.” season finale falls on Father’s Day, husband and wife producers of the series Downey and Burnett issued a special greeting for fans this week.

“A very happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there,” said Burnett.

Downey added: “Happy Father’s Day, have a great day.”

TobyMac, Pat Boone, David A.R. White, Father Edward Benioff, Louie Giglio, and Michelle Williams also contributed to the Father’s Day message ahead of this week’s “A.D.” Watch the special clip here.

“A.D. – The Bible Continues” airs on NBC Sunday, June 21 at 9 p.m. ET.

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Source : Christian Post

Controversial Lifetime Show ‘Preach’ Canceled After 15,000 People Sign Petition; Prophetess Reacts

'Preach' (Photo: Karolina Wojtasik)

Christian Post Report – (L to R) Linda Roark, Taketa Williams, Kelly Crews and Belinda Scott star in Lifetime’s all-new docu-series Preach, premiering Friday, June 5, at 10pm ET/PT on Lifetime.

Controversial Lifetime show “Preach” which features four unorthodox Christian prophetesses is officially off the air after close to 15,000 people petitioned the network to end it. Now Belinda Scott, one of the prophetesses who appeared on the show, is speaking out.

A source at Lifetime Network told The Christian Post that the show was canceled because “it wasn’t performing in this current time period.”

Some critics argue however that a change.org petition is real reason the show was cancelled but the network has denied those claims.

Scott, a Cleveland Heights, Ohio-based prophetess, defended the show in a Facebook post after news broke about the cancellation.

“..I watch hateful people who say they love the Lord, type like that FROG typing at that machine …TURN UP ON ‪#‎PREACHTV‬! A show that is not mocking the church, but exploring the lives of believers in the Church and hear me out first,” Scott wrote. “The word reality is this …the state of being real, a real event or state of affairs, One, such as a person, an entity, or an event, that is actual. Now, do I hear from God…YES, did He call me to be a PROPHETESS, YES, Have I and Do I hear God’s voice concerning events, people and issues…YES! Did I see these attacks against us coming….YES! Is there a harvest on the way….YES!!!”

Scott’s comments came after the change.org petition created by Tachina Carter was started to take “Preach” off of the air. The petition addressed to Lifetime Network was signed by close to 15,000 people.

“The IMAGERY on this show is a TRAVESTY to the Christian Community. The women aka Prophetesses are making a MOCKERY of the church and promoting foolish behavior that is not necessarily a true representation of the REAL power of God,” noted Carter’s petition. “Cameras do NOT belong in the church filming the ‘spiritual’ things that society as a whole does not understand. By airing this show it will cause more harm than good to the Christian community who already has a difficult time in sharing ‘The Good News’ of Jesus Christ to the masses.”

A source close to Lifetime told The Christian Post they had no word about what will happen with the remaining episodes of “Preach.”

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Source : Christian Post

Pastor Steven Furtick on Charleston Church Massacre: ‘May Our Churches Be the Light We Are Desperate to See’

Furtick (Photo: Elevation Church video screen grab)

Christian Post Report – Pastor Steven Furtick

Lead pastor of Elevation Church in North Carolina, Steven Furtick called on churches across America to “be the light we are so desperate to see” after confessed gunman Dylann Roof, 21, executed nine worshippers at a prayer meeting inside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina Wednesday night.

Charleston County, South Carolina coroner Rae Wooten identified the six women and three men massacred by Roof who said he wanted to start a race war Thursday. Roof’s victims were identified as: Clementa Pinckney, 41, the senior pastor at the church; Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45, an assistant pastor; Tywanza Sanders, 26; Ethel Lance, 70; Susie Jackson, 87; Cynthia Hurd, 54; Myra Thompson, 59; Daniel Simmons Sr., 74; DePayne Middleton Doctor, 49.

In a Facebook post Thursday, entitled “Looking for the Light,” in which he cites John 1:5 – “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it “- Furtick encourages the church to remain hopeful despite his own difficulty in coming to terms with the murders inside the church.

“I’m having a hard time reconciling that Bible verse with reality today,” said Furtick.

“How do we now pray in faith for the families of those who seemed to have received no divine protection while they prayed,” he asked.

Recalling words of comfort for the broken-hearted, Furtick also noted the “magnitude of the darkness.”

“Shouldn’t we acknowledge… the horrors of hatred and injustice,” the pastor asked. “How do I as a white man even begin to assess & internalize the pain & outrage my African American brothers and sisters are experiencing? Any platitude I can offer seems pitiful right about now.”

He then weighed darkness and light as it is found in the Bible before expressing optimism in the power of faith.

“I know we’ll see the light shining in the days to come,” he wrote. “We’ll see it IN the unity of the Charleston community and THROUGH the resilience of the family of faith. Hopefully we’ll see it IN and THROUGH the renewed energy toward conversations & changes in our nation that are long overdue.”

Furtick whose church noted in a Facebook post that their staff began the day praying for the grieving church said “in this moment may our churches be the light we are desperate to see.”

Our staff began our morning praying for the families, friends and community of Charleston, SC. We specifically prayed for unity and healing. Please join us today and the days that come. #PrayForCharleston

Posted by Elevation Church on Thursday, June 18, 2015

Law enforcement officials captured Roof Thursday after he went on the lam for hours after the massacre. Sources say that Roof, who specifically targeted African-Americans, attended the prayer meeting for an hour before opening fire in the basement of the church. Emanuel Church has been a part of the Charleston community since 1816 when it was founded by a former slave.

President Obama referred to the church shooting as “particularly heartbreaking,” and Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae took to Instagram in prayer for Charleston.

“Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God,” the rapper wrote, quoting the Bible. “They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. John 16.2-3 #prayforcharleston.”

“Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.” John16.2-3 #prayforcharleston

A photo posted by lecrae (@lecrae) on

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Source : Christian Post