‘X-Men,’ ‘Star Trek’ Actor Defends UK Christian Bakery Fined for Refusing to Make ‘Support Gay Marriage’ Cake

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‘X-Men,’ ‘Star Trek’ Actor Defends UK Christian Bakery Fined for Refusing to Make ‘Support Gay Marriage’ Cake

gay marriage religious freedom (Photo: Reuters/Cathal McNaughton)

Christian Post Report – Daniel McArthur (C) general manager of Ashers bakery involved in a “gay cake” legal dispute speaks to the media outside Laganside court in Belfast. March 26, 2015. Ashers refused to make a cake bearing a pro-gay marriage slogan on it which was to be given to Andrew Muir, Northern Ireland’s first openly gay mayor. The bakers refused to make the cake on the grounds that it contradicted their religious beliefs according to local media.

Actor Patrick Stewart, who starred in “X-Men” and “Star Trek,” says he supports the right of a Christian baker in Northern Ireland who refused to make a cake with a gay marriage slogan on it. The baker was last month convicted of “discrimination,” and fined.

Speaking on BBC’s “Newsnight” show in a video published Thursday, Stewart showed support for Ashers Baking Company – owned by Colin and Karen McArthur, in Belfast – which was fined last month for refusing to make a cake with “support gay marriage” written on it along with a picture of Bert and Ernie from “Sesame Street” in May 2014.

“It was not because it was a gay couple that they objected — it was not because they were celebrating some kind of marriage or an agreement between them,” the 75-year-old actor said. “It was the actual words on the cake that they objected to, because they found the words offensive.”

Stewart added: “And I would support their rights to say, ‘No, this is personally offensive to my beliefs. I will not do it.’ But I feel bad for them that it cost them quid.”

Activist Gareth Lee ordered the cake for a private function to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and the bakery first agreed to bake it for him, according to news.com.au, which says the bakery cancelled the order two days later.

The McArthurs were asked to pay a fine of £500 ($763) to Lee, who says he will donate it to a charity.

Judge Isobel Brownlie said the refusal amounted to “direct discrimination for which there can be no justification.”

“My finding is that the defendants cancelled this order as they oppose same-sex marriage for the reason that they regard it as sinful and contrary to their genuinely-held religious beliefs,” the judge was quoted as saying. “Same-sex marriage is inextricably linked to sexual relations between same-sex couples, which is a union of persons having a particular sexual orientation. The plaintiff did not share the particular religious and political opinion which confines marriage to heterosexual orientation… The defendants are not a religious organisation. They are conducting a business for profit and, notwithstanding their genuine religious beliefs, there are no exceptions available under the 2006 regulations which apply to this case.”

The McArthurs have said they will appeal the judge’s decision. “We continue to insist that we have done nothing wrong as we have discriminated against no individual but rather acted according to what the Bible teaches regarding marriage,” the family said in a statement earlier.

“As many other people have already noted, Christian beliefs seem to have been trampled over in this judgment and we believe this only has negative effects for our society. Our hope and prayer would be that an appeal will allow us and other Christians to live out their faith.”

Same-sex marriage is not legal in Northern Ireland.

The right of businesses to deny services to customers based on their religious beliefs continues to be debated in the United States as well.

Aaron and Melissa Klein in Oregon were forced to close their bakery in the summer of 2013 after declining to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian marriage ceremony. They were fined over $130,000.

The couple said this week the case against them needs to be removed from the bureaucratic governmental agency that oversees discrimination complaints because of possible new evidence of bias. “I think the case should be pulled out of [the Bureau of Labor and Industries] court and put into a civil court because I cannot get due process here,” Aaron Klein told The Daily Signal.

The new evidence consists largely of emails, texts, and phone conversations between the two parties, prompting lawyers for the Kleins to file another motion to reopen the case.

Earlier this year, Azucar Bakery of Denver, which is pro-gay, was under investigation by the Civil Rights division of the Department of Regulatory Agencies for possibly discriminating against a customer by refusing to make a cake that would include the phrase, “God hates Gays.”

Jeff Johnston, issues analyst with the Colorado Springs-based Christian group Focus on the Family, told The Christian Post earlier that he sided with the pro-gay bakery on the grounds of First Amendment rights. “This is a free speech issue, and we support freedom of speech. It’s also a religious or conscience issue — the government should not force people to violate their core beliefs,” he said.

Source : Christian Post

Megachurch Pastor Greg Laurie Says Rapture Next Event on End Times Prophetic Calendar

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Megachurch Pastor Greg Laurie Says Rapture Next Event on End Times Prophetic Calendar

GregLaurie Screenshot

Christian Post Report – Pastor Greg Laurie speaking to his congregation about future event

Pastor Greg Laurie of California’s Harvest megachurch told the congregation in a special message series on future events that as “foreshocks” of Armageddon are being witnessed, the Rapture of the Church could be the next event on the prophetic calendar.

In the world we are witnessing what can be seen as “foreshocks” of Armageddon, according to Matthew 24, Laurie said in his message last Sunday, part of a series called, “Antichrist, America, and Armageddon.”

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains,” verses 6-8 say.

The Islamic State, or ISIS, terror group is creating chaos in the Middle East and elsewhere, and they only continue to grow, Laurie said, adding, “They’re barbaric; they set people on fire, they crucify people…”

“Iran is even a bigger problem” as its nuclear ability directly threatens Israel and the U.S. Russia is also becoming aggressive. China is also growing, seizing territory in Southeast Asia, he added.

Pastor Laurie said some atomic scientists have prepared a doomsday clock, highlighting the possibility of a potential nuclear war. “It is three minutes to midnight,” they say. “Unchecked climate change, global nuclear weapons modernizations, and outsized nuclear weapons arsenals pose extraordinary and undeniable threats to the continued existence of humanity, and world leaders have failed to act with the speed or on the scale required to protect citizens from potential catastrophe. These failures of political leadership endanger every person on Earth.”

Laurie said, “The world is ripe right now for a charismatic leader, for a man of peace … He’s the antichrist, also called the man of sin … the beast … the wicked one… If Satan ever had a son, it would be like him, the antichrist.”

There are more than 100 passages of scripture describing the origin, nationality, character, career, kingdom and final doom of the antichrist, the pastor told the congregation, adding that many prophecies of the Bible have already come true and the others will come true as well.

“In my opinion, the next event on this prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the Church,” Laurie said, explaining, “That’s when all true believers are caught up to meet the Lord, in a moment, in the twinkling of the eye.”

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Source : Christian Post

American Pastor Detained in Military Prison While Visiting Pastors Imprisoned in Sudan (Interview)

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American Pastor Detained in Military Prison While Visiting Pastors Imprisoned in Sudan (Interview)

<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Pastor William Devlin stands in a refugee camp in Dohuk, Iraq, in this undated photo.” title=”<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Pastor William Devlin stands in a refugee camp in Dohuk, Iraq, in this undated photo.” name=”jpg” src=”http://images.christianpost.com/full/79618/pastor-william-devlin-stands-in-a-refugee-camp-in-dohuk-iraq-in-this-undated-photo.jpg” class=”imgPhoto” width=”550″ height=”450″ /> <small class=(Photo: Courtesy William Devlin)

Christian Post Report – Pastor William Devlin stands in a refugee camp in Dohuk, Iraq, in this undated photo.

A New York City-based pastor was detained earlier this week at a military prison in Sudan while attempting to visit two Presbyterian pastors facing potential death sentences after they were charged with various trumped-up espionage and conspiracy charges by the government.

This week, the Rev. William Devlin, pastor of the Infinity Bible Church in South Bronx, visited Sudan for his eighth time in nine years.

After meeting with pastors from the Sudan Council of Churches, Devlin was invited to travel along with three other Sudanese pastors, including SCC General Secretary Kori Kuku, to the Omdurman Prison for Men on Wednesday in hopes of visiting with imprisoned pastors Yat Michael and Peter Yen Reith.

As previously reported, Michael and Reith were imprisoned over last winter and have been charged with seven different crimes against the state including spying, undermining the constitution, publishing information against the government, disturbing public peace, insulting religion, conspiracy and inciting hate among tribes.

In a Friday afternoon interview with The Christian Post, Devlin said he spoke with the pastors’ attorney, who asserts that all allegations against the men are false. The charges, however, are serious enough to sentence them to capital punishment or life in prison.

  • Sudanese Pastors Yat Michael and David Yein
    (Photo: Screengrab/ CBN)
    Sudanese pastors Yat Michael and David Yein are being held in a Khartoum prison and could be facing the death penalty for sharing their faith.

In trying to show the imprisoned pastors that they have the support of American Christians, Devlin said he was anxious for the opportunity to meet with the pastors. Once Devlin and the three other pastors arrived at Omdurman Prison, which is located just an hour outside of Khartoum, they were forced to wait in a small waiting room, the size of “two walk-in closets,” for over 30 minutes with about 50 other people.

While waiting, Devlin said he took out his phone and started taking pictures and videos of the conditions inside the prison, which eventually caught the attention of the of a prison guard who began questioning the 61-year-old American.

“A guard came up to me after we were there for about 30 minutes and he said ‘Come with me, you are taking pictures.’ I said, ‘yeah,'” Devlin explained. “We met initially with some guards and with some supervisors.”

Devlin said he told the guards and supervisors that he was unaware that they did not allow photography inside the prison and apologized. He also offered them his phone so that they could delete any pictures or video he took. But, they continued interrogating him and asked why he was in Sudan.

While Devlin was being interrogated, Michael and Reith were finally allowed to meet with their visitors. The guards allowed the three Sudanese pastors to visit with the imprisoned pastors but forced Devlin to stay.

“I tried to get in to see them. The guards said, ‘No, the other three can go but not you.’ So I did miss the opportunity to meet pastors Peter and Michael but the Sudanese pastors visited with them,” Devlin explained.

“Then, the pastors came back and I, along with the pastors, were escorted to what I think were the two wardens of the prison. They were dressed in military uniforms. One guy had two stars on his lapel and the other guy had three stars. At that point, I was questioned further.”

“Most of the time, the hour that I was with the other two wardens, my total time of being detained was about 60 to 90 minutes. They deleted the photos and they said to me that I had committed a crime,” Devlin continued. “I said to the wardens ‘I apologize, I ask your forgiveness and that I was not aware that you had a policy.’ They said this is the Omdurman Prison for Men and is considered a military installation and that I had committed a crime.”

Devlin explained that the wardens were insistent that he had committed a crime but luckily, Kuku explained to the wardens that Devlin was in Sudan as a guest of Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ali Karti.

“At that point, they said, ‘Here is your phone back, here is your passport, you are free to go.'” Devlin said. “I have been coming for nine years and everytime I come, Karti is my host and I am a guest of his. With that, the three pastors and I exited the prison, got in our vehicle and we made our way out.”

Even though Devlin’s detention only lasted about an hour, he said he would have been “happy” to be incarcerated for much longer.

“I was ready to be incarcerated in the same prison as pastors Peter and Michael and I was happy to be incarcerated for whatever length it would have been,” Devlin stated. “Again, my goal is to help the situation and not to hinder it in anyway.”

Although Devlin did not get to personally meet with pastors Michael and Reith, the other pastors explained to him that they told the imprisoned pastors that there was an American pastor that came to visit them but guards had detained him. The three pastors also told Michael and Reith that Devlin desired to continually advocate for their release and help support their families.

“It was reported to me that the two pastors appreciated my visit and they were glad that I came and that they were very grateful and rejoicing in having the ability to suffer in the name of Christ,” Devlin said.

Devlin added that the pastors’ attorney raised concern that his visit might cause the government to retaliate against the men by transferring them to a prison with worse conditions and no visiting rights. He told CP, however, that he’s challenging more American pastors to go to Sudan to visit with Michael and Reith.

“My challenge to other American pastors is to get on a plane like I did and go over there. Get a visa, which I could help them with, and get over there and visit these pastors,” he said. “Don’t be so self-centered about your church, but remember that Jesus said in Matthew 25 that ‘When you were in prison, you visited me.’ That’s common obedience to the Gospel and it’s Christianity 101.”

“Imagine if we had 10 or 15 or 20 American pastors go over and visit these men in prison — can you imagine the statement that would make to the Sudanese government, who want to come into the community of nations,” Devlin asserted. “They want the economic sanctions dropped. They want to be taken off the terror watch list that the U.S. has Sudan on. This would be the beginning of real religious freedom and protection for the Christians who live in Sudan.”

Devlin also explained that he has relationships with “several dozen” Sudanese officials who ask him to tell members of the U.S. Congress good things about Sudan in hopes it will create a better relationship with the U.S. government.

“I tell these same Sudan government officials that I cannot be an honest representative of Sudan if the government of Sudan continues to imprison pastors and people like Mariam Ibrahim,” Devlin said. “I have called this current situation of pastors Michael and Peter, ‘Mariam, Act 2.’ So I have asked Sudan government officials to release the pastors and get on with the work of religious freedom in Sudan.”

Source : Christian Post

Moldovan Orthodox Church Priest Rides Man Like Donkey to Exorcise Demon; Church Vows to Investigate

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Moldovan Orthodox Church Priest Rides Man Like Donkey to Exorcise Demon; Church Vows to Investigate

Moldovan Priest (Photo: Screen Grab via YouTube)

Christian Post Report – A Moldovan priest rides a man like a donkey to exorcise a demon from him.

The Moldovan Orthodox Church is reportedly now distancing itself from one of its priests after a video showing his riding a man like a donkey to exorcise a demon from him was leaked online Thursday.

The priest, identified as “Father Valeriy” of Church of St. Michael in the state of Transnistria, in Eastern Europe is shown in a nearly 2-minute video clip on YouTube riding an unidentified man like a donkey as he screams out.

“The Moldovan Orthodox Church has launched a probe. Assuming that this is not just some horrible joke, the video shows the potential for great abuse in such rituals,” says blogger Jonathan Turley.

In the video the cameraman reportedly asks the portly priest how far the possessed man must carry him and he responds: “To Jerusalem and to the sacred mountain of Aphone.”

The man is said to plead that with the priest that he cannot go on and asks to carry the priest in his arms instead.

“Good people please save me! I cannot take it anymore!” the possessed man reportedly says in the video.
You can watch the full video of the incident below.

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

Source : Christian Post

Catholic Relief Services’ Vice President in Gay Marriage Resigns Amid Pressure From Conservative Catholics

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Catholic Relief Services’ Vice President in Gay Marriage Resigns Amid Pressure From Conservative Catholics

Christian Post Report – A prominent member of the charity Catholic Relief Services who’s married to someone of the same sex has resigned from his position.

Rick Estridge, the vice president for overseas finance who had been with CRS for 16 years, announced his resignation Wednesday.

A spokesman from CRS provided The Christian Post with a statement from the charity group, declining to give further comment “out of respect for Rick¹s privacy.”

According to the statement, Estridge opted to step down from the vice president position in response to pressure from a conservative Roman Catholic organization.

“He entered into a same-sex civil marriage two years ago when doing so became legal in Maryland. Because of the stress this situation has caused Mr. Estridge and his family, he has made the decision to leave CRS,” read the statement.

“CRS respects Mr. Estridge¹s decision and thanks him for his service. He has done a tremendous job during his years at CRS and will be missed. We are grateful that he has agreed to be available as needed for consultation to ensure a smooth transition.”

Founded during World War II, CRS has close ties to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has been active in opposing the legalization of same-sex marriage in the country.

In 2013, Estridge married his longtime partner following Maryland’s referendum legalizing gay marriage.

While not a Catholic himself, according to CRS the position Estridge held was not missional in nature and therefore it was acceptable for someone who did not adhere to Catholic teaching to hold the position.

In April, a conservative Catholic organization known as the Lepanto Institute published a report denouncing CRS’ employment of Estridge.

Lepanto produced documents showing that Estridge was not only in a gay marriage, but also actively supported organizations on social media that sought national legalization of same-sex unions.

Lepanto concluded that there was “something very seriously wrong” with CRS having a vice president who is actively supporting an agenda contrary to Catholic Church teaching.

“Considering that Catholic Relief Services claims to uphold Catholic moral teachings, while it is regularly caught doing the opposite, one has to wonder how many other individuals such as Rick Estridge hold high level positions at CRS,” argued Lepanto.

“And if other individuals such as Estridge hold high positions, how many of them are responsible for conducting the internal investigations at CRS which tend to exonerate them of any wrongdoing, even when all the facts say otherwise?”

Included in the statement sent to CP by CRS was what was described as Estridge’s “only public comment” on the controversy.

“This is the right decision for me, and I thank CRS’ leadership for providing me with the space to make this determination during this difficult time,” stated Estridge.

“I continue to have full faith in CRS’ leadership and the organization as a whole. I thank my team and the global finance community for their hard work and dedication and have every belief that they will continue to serve with excellence.”

Source : Christian Post

Princess Charlotte to Be Christened at Same Church Where Princess Diana Was Blessed on July 5

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Princess Charlotte to Be Christened at Same Church Where Princess Diana Was Blessed on July 5

Royal (Photo: Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett)

Christian Post Report – Britain’s Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, appear with their baby daughter outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, in London, Britain May 2, 2015. The Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth to a girl, the couple’s second child and a sister to one-year-old Prince George.

Princess Charlotte, the royal baby of Kate Middleton and Prince William, will be christened in what is expected to be an intimate ceremony next month just two months after her birth.

On Friday Kensington Palace announced that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have their daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, christened at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on July 5. The name Elizabeth honors Queen Elizabeth II and Diana honors Prince William’s late mother.

“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pleased to announce the christening of Princess Charlotte [and] will take place on Sunday 5th July,” a Kensington Palace tweet read.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will christen Princess Charlotte before the royal family at Queen Elizabeth II’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, on England’s eastern coast. Princess Eugenie and Princess Diana were both baptized at the same church.

“I am delighted to be invited to conduct the baptism of HRH Princess Charlotte,” Archbishop Justin Welby said. “It will be an extraordinary honour and privilege to help welcome the Princess into the family of the church. Along with her parents and all her family, I look forward to joining in this joyful day of celebration and thanksgiving.”

There is no word yet on who Princess Charlotte’s godparents will be, although reports claim Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie along with Middleton’s sister Pippa and William’s brother Prince Harry are odds-on favorites for British bookmakers.

The ceremony will take place two weeks ahead of the second birthday of Princess Charlotte’s older brother, George Alexander Louis. He was christened by Welby at St. James’s Palace in London on October 23, 2013 and he has seven godparents.

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Camilla are expected to join the Middleton’s family for the private event.

Princess Charlotte was born on May 2 at St. Mary’s Hospital and weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces at birth.

The baby girl, currently fourth in line to the throne, is formally known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

Email me: [email protected]
Connect with me on Twitter: @MzBenge

Source : Christian Post

Caiaphas Threatens Saul With 39 Lashes in Sneak Peak of 10th Episode of ‘A.D. The Bible Continues’

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Caiaphas Threatens Saul With 39 Lashes in Sneak Peak of 10th Episode of ‘A.D. The Bible Continues’

A.D. - The Bible Continues (Photo: Courtesy of Rogers & Cowan)

Christian Post Report – A.D. – The Bible Continues episode 10 airs on NBC Sunday, June 7.

An exclusive first look at the upcoming episode of “A.D. – The Bible Continues” airing this Sunday features Saul and Caiaphas going head-to-head over Jesus’ message.

Despite the imminent danger of persecution while speaking Jesus’ name, Saul testifies that Jesus is the messiah while speaking to Caiaphas in an exclusive look at the highly anticipated 10th episode.

“Isaiah’s prophecy has been completed, Jesus is our messiah, He rose from the dead and I have been born again in His name, I have repented and He has forgiven me, and my sins are forever washed away,” declares Saul during the clip. “So, it seems to me, there is no need for your endless search for ritual purity, nor any of your temple customs.”

“No need,” interrupts Caiphas.

Saul responds: “No need for the temple, no need for you.”

“What’s happened to you,” Caiphas demands before threatening Saul with 39 lashes or banishment.

Also on this week’s installment of “A.D.,” Saul is sent away from Jerusalem by the other disciples for his own safety. Tabitha is beaten, and Joanna imprisoned, while Gabra meets with Levi to discuss a zealot uprising.

“A.D. – The Bible Continues” is the latest television series from Roma Downey and Mark Burnett. The follow-up to the “Bible” series, which follows the first ten chapters of the Book of Acts, is quickly closing in on its season finale with just two more episodes left.

The series airs on NBC Sundays at 9 p.m. ET. After each episode, “A.D. – The Bible Continues” fans can tune into NCB’s first-ever digital talk show “Beyond A.D.” here. This week’s guests include “God’s Not Dead” star David A.R. White, author Michelle Hammond and Pastor Derwin L. Gray along with musical guest NewSong.

‘A.D. – The Bible Continues’ Sneak Peek: Saul Spreads Jesus’ Message Despite Persecution from Caiaphas

‘A.D. – The Bible Continues’ Sneak Peek: Saul Spreads Jesus’ Message Despite Persecution from Caiaphas

follow me on Twitter @emmakoonse

Source : Christian Post

Mark Driscoll Petition Seeks to Remove Pastor From Hillsong Conferences for ‘Undermining Women,’ Calls Comeback ‘Cheap Grace’

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Mark Driscoll Petition Seeks to Remove Pastor From Hillsong Conferences for ‘Undermining Women,’ Calls Comeback ‘Cheap Grace’

<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll discusses prosperity gospel in a sermon that played on Dec. 30, 2013.” title=”<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll discusses prosperity gospel in a sermon that played on Dec. 30, 2013.” name=”jpg” src=”http://images.christianpost.com/full/68031/mars-hill-pastor-mark-driscoll-discusses-prosperity-gospel-in-a-sermon-that-played-on-dec-30-2013.jpg” class=”imgPhoto” width=”550″ height=”450″ /> <small class=(Photo: Mars Hill Church)

Christian Post Report – Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll discusses prosperity gospel in a sermon that played on Dec. 30, 2013.

An online petition is urging Hillsong Conferences to remove former Mars Hill Church pastor Mark Driscoll from his scheduled appearances in Sydney and London, arguing that Hillsong would be sending the wrong message by endorsing the controversial pastor.

“By inviting Mark Driscoll to speak on the Hillsong platform, Hillsong are both endorsing and legitimising Mark’s messages about women and ignoring the concerns being repeated by many internationally about his abusive behaviour, which has been corroborated by ex-members and ex-leaders of Mars Hill Church,” reads the petition on Change.org, which has been signed by over 1,150 people as of Friday afternoon.

It adds that the pastor’s statements against women during his leadership have “greatly undermined the Gospel message of women as leaders, evangelists and full members of the Body of Christ.”

Driscoll, who stepped down from his now dissolved Seattle-based megachurch in October, has been planning a comeback tour with several speaking events lined up in the United States and abroad.

Driscoll faced a number of controversies during his time at Mars Hill, including allegations of plagiarism, misogyny and emotional abuse.

The pastor has sought to distance himself from the past, however, and recently told the congregation at Gold Creek Community Church north of Seattle during an appearance: “I would like to talk about Jesus instead of me: It would be much more pleasant and helpful,” he said.

The Change.org petition acknowledges that Driscoll has apologized for some of his controversial remarks, but argued that the pastor has contentiously criticized what he calls “feminised men” and pushed the idea that women’s roles belong solely within the home.

Australia’s ABC pointed out more of his controversial remarks on women: “Ultimately, God created you and it is His penis. You are simply borrowing it for a while,” he wrote back in 2001 on a church message board.

“While His penis is on loan you must admit that it is sort of just hanging out there very lonely as if it needed a home, sort of like a man wandering the streets looking for a house to live in,” he continued.

“Knowing that His penis would need a home, God created a woman to be your wife. And when you marry her and look down you will notice that your wife is shaped differently than you and makes a very nice home.”

The petition stated that forgiveness is possible for everyone, but argued that Driscoll has not apologized sufficiently.

“We fully believe that people can be restored and redeemed and that forgiveness is a fundamental part of Jesus’ teaching. Mark Driscoll has never fully acknowledged or repented of the pain he has caused many ex-leaders and members of Mars Hill alongside the women and men he has hurt with his comments about leadership, gender and sexuality,” it read.

“It has been only six months since Mark Driscoll resigned and to give him such large platforms in Europe and Australia, does not represent the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness, but that of cheap grace.”

Brian Jacobsen, a former Mars Hill deacon, added that it was too early for Driscoll to be making such a comeback.

“Mark is unrepentant,” Jacobsen told The Seattle Times. “Should Driscoll try to get a new church off the ground,” he said, there would be an “awful lot of people who would oppose him in any way they could.”

Jacobsen and other former Mars Hill members have been threatening a lawsuit that would seek a full accounting of alleged financial impropriety at the church during Driscoll’s time.

Source : Christian Post

Circus Acrobat Who Miraculously Survived 25-Foot Fall Asked God to Save Her as She Plummeted Into Audience

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Circus Acrobat Who Miraculously Survived 25-Foot Fall Asked God to Save Her as She Plummeted Into Audience

Vicki Garcia (Photo: Screengrab/ABC News)

Christian Post Report – Acrobat Vicki Garcia speaks for the first time about her fall at a circus in Houston, Texas, on May 30, 2015.

An eighth-generation circus star, who miraculously survived a 25-foot fall while performing a routine acrobatic stunt, said she asked God to save her as she plunged into the audience.

Vicki Garcia, who along with her husband, Pablo, work for the Circo Hermanos Vazquez touring circus company and comprise the high-flying acrobatic team called the “Duo Garcia,” was performing a routine “rocket” stunt last Thursday at a circus in Houston when she slipped and her harness wasn’t fastened tight.

As soon as Garcia, who is an eighth-generation circus performer on her mom’s side and a seventh-generation performer on her dad’s side, slipped, the 17-year circus vet quickly fell approximately 25-feet into the front of the crowd.

Although a 25-foot fall could be fatal, Garcia was fortunate to escape the fall with just minor bruises. On Tuesday, Garcia opened up about her fall for the first time in an ABC News interview, where she explained that there may have been some divine intervention that saved her life.

“I just remember in my head just slipping. And I said, ‘Please God, save me! Please God, save me!” Garcia said, as she recounted the incident, explaining that it felt like everything was moving in slow motion as she fell.

Footage of the incident, which was filmed by a member of the audience, shows Garcia holding onto her husband’s arms as he hung by his feet from the bottom of a swinging rocket. As Garcia transitioned from holding onto her husband’s arms to hold onto a loop, she lost her grip and plummeted to the ground.

Lorena Vignaud, the circus’ general manager, ruled the fall was a result of “human error,” which Garcia admits was the case.

“I had my safety cable and I kept my safety cable in and then I passed the loop to my husband,” Garcia explained. “And as I was going into the position, I always check to see if my safety cables are in, but apparently I didn’t clip it in far enough.”

Garcia said that after she asked for God to save her, she can only remember being instructed not to move as she painfully laid in the seating area.

“The next thing I remember is somebody said, ‘Don’t move, don’t move,'” she said. “I don’t remember anything else until they were doing the X-rays in the hospital.”

“A little bruise here and a little here, [it’s] nothing,” she continued.

Garcia, who is the mother of two young boys whom she hopes will one day join the family business, said that despite the terrifying fall, she can’t wait to get back to performing.

“It’s part of my life,” she said. “It’s what I do. I don’t feel normal if I am not working.”

Source : Christian Post

SBC President Ronnie Floyd on Josh Duggar Molesting Sisters: ‘Forgiveness and Healing is Available to All Persons – No Matter Their Sins’

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SBC President Ronnie Floyd on Josh Duggar Molesting Sisters: ‘Forgiveness and Healing is Available to All Persons – No Matter Their Sins’

Ronnie floyd (Photo: The Christian Post/Sonny Hong)

Christian Post Report – Ronnie Floyd, senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, speaks on the opening night of 2014 SBC Pastors’ Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, on Sunday, June 8, 2014.

Southern Baptist Conference President Ronnie Floyd said Friday that “forgiveness and healing is available to all persons” including Josh Duggar of “19 Kids and Counting” who’s now embroiled in a molestation scandal in which he is accused of molesting several young girls including his own sisters when he was a teenager.

The Senior Pastor at Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas spoke out once before on the recently leaked police report alleging that Josh molested five girls as a teenager, but after news broke Wednesday that the eldest Duggar son molested four of his sisters, Floyd told The Christian Post that his church was “deeply burdened.”

“Cross Church strongly affirms the biblical truth that children are a treasure from the Lord and is unequivocally committed to the protection of children from abuse,” said Floyd in an emailed statement. “We are deeply burdened for all victims of child abuse, especially those harmed by sexual abuse.”

Floyd, who was incorrectly identified as the Duggar family pastor in reports earlier this week, went on to point out that the “19 Kids and Counting” stars are not members of Cross Church. Nevertheless, the pastor thanked God for the testimony of the Duggar family relating to the molestation scandal, including parents Jim Bob and Michelle’s statement on Facebook, Josh’s apology, and family’s recent interview with Fox News.

“Josh Duggar, his family, and his parents are not members of Cross Church,” said the pastor. “While not members of Cross Church, we praise God for the testimony of this Christian family. The truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that forgiveness and healing is available to all persons – no matter their sins.”

The maelstrom began after a police report from 2006 resurfaced online last week alleging that Josh Duggar molested five girls when he was 14-years-old. Shortly thereafter, Duggar apologized for acting “inexcusably.” His parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar acknowledged the police report, referring to it as “one of the most difficult times in our lives.”

On Wednesday, Jim Bob and Michelle sat down with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly where they confirmed that four of the victims were Josh’s sisters. According to the illegally released police report, one of Josh’s sisters that he inappropriately touched was believed to be five-years-old at the time. Jim Bob and Michelle defended Josh, declaring, “This was not rape or anything.”

“There were a couple of instances where he touched them under their clothes, but it was like a few seconds. And then he came to us and was crying and told us what happened,” said Jim Bob.

“19 Kids and Counting” first premiered on TLC in 2008 and is one of the network’s top-rated programs. However, the future of the show is uncertain today. Several reports suggest that TLC has canceled “19 Kids and Counting” and pulled the show from its summer lineup, but the network has not confirmed or denied these reports.

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Source : Christian Post

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