Bruce Jenner’s Pastor Refuses to Discuss Parishioner’s Transition to ‘Caitlyn’ Following Vanity Fair Reveal

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Bruce Jenner’s Pastor Refuses to Discuss Parishioner’s Transition to ‘Caitlyn’ Following Vanity Fair Reveal
  • Caitlyn Jenner
    (Photo: Reuters/Annie Leibovitz/Vanity Fair)
    Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as reality television star and former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner, poses in an exclusive photograph made by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair magazine and released by Vanity Fair on June 1, 2015.

Christian Post Report – The pastor of Bruce Jenner, who debuted his new female identity known as Caitlyn on the cover of Vanity Fair on Monday, refused to publicly comment on the 1976 Olympic gold medalist’s recent transition.

The Christian Post reached out to California pastor Brad Johnson of the Life Change Community Church (which was recently renamed California Community Church), in Agoura Hills on Wednesday and he said, like all members of his church, he respects Jenner’s privacy.

“I don’t comment on the lives of those who call California Community Church their home,” Johnson told CP.

The non-denominational church is led by Johnson and was co-founded by Jenner’s ex-wife, Kris Jenner. In the past, Jenner has been photographed attending services at the church both alone and with his family.

The 65-year-old self-proclaimed Christian and Republican made global headlines in April when he revealed his decision to transition from male to female in an interview with Diane Sawyer for ABC’s “20/20.”

Earlier this week, the Vanity Fair cover, which featured the former athlete wearing a full face of makeup and a revealing corset, immediately went viral and set tongues wagging.

“I’ve tried to explain it this way [to my kids]: God’s looking down, making little Bruce. … He says, ‘Okay, what are we gonna do with this one? Make him a smart kid, very determined. … And then when He’s just finishing He says, ‘Let’s wait a second,'” he told Sawyer.

“God looks down and chuckles a little bit and says, ‘Hey, let’s give him the soul of a female and see how he does with that. … Maybe this is my cause in life. This is why God put me on this Earth — to deal with this issue.”

The E! star has since launched his very own docu-series “I am Cait,” which will chronicle his new life as a transgender woman. It is set to debut on the E! network beginning July 26.

“I’ve always been confused with my gender identity since I was [a child],” said Jenner also telling Vanity Fair that “If I was lying on my death bed and I had kept this secret and never did anything about it, I would be lying there saying, ‘You just blew your entire life.'”

The father of six has received overwhelming support from loved ones, including his mother, Esther, although she will continue to call him Bruce and not Caitlyn.

“I still have to call him Bruce. His father and I named him that,” she recently told Access Hollywood. “It’s going to be a struggle for me to get used to the change, but happily so. … I’m very happy for him — or her!”

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

Source : Christian Post

Christian Family Defending 2,700-Year-Old Tomb of Jewish Prophet as ISIS Army Advances on Nineveh

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Christian Family Defending 2,700-Year-Old Tomb of Jewish Prophet as ISIS Army Advances on Nineveh

Iraq (Photo: Reuters/Stringer)

Christian Post Report – A displaced Sunni man fleeing the violence in Ramadi carries a crying child on his shoulders, on the outskirts of Baghdad, May 24, 2015. Iraqi forces recaptured territory from advancing Islamic State militants near the recently-fallen city of Ramadi on Sunday, while in Syria the government said the Islamists had killed hundreds of people since capturing the town of Palmyra.

A Christian family in the ancient city of Nineveh is reportedly defending the 2,700 year-old tomb of the Jewish prophet Nahum, as the armies of terror group ISIS advance in the region and are now only 10 miles outside.

“When the last Jewish people in Al Qosh left, they asked my grandfather to watch over the tomb, to keep it safe. I don’t know much more than that,” said Asir Salaam Shajaa, an Assyrian Christian.

“Nahum is not our prophet, but he is a prophet, so we must respect that. He’s a prophet, it is simple.”

Haaretz reported that Al Qosh, the city built over the ancient Nineveh, is a treasure trove of history, containing both the early beginnings of Christianity and the Assyrian empire, along with its Hebrew heritage.

Nahum the prophet is known for predicting the fall of Nineveh in the seventh century BCE, and his remains are believed to be kept at the tomb of “Nahum the Elkoshite” in the city.

Shajaa revealed that generations of his family have been taking care of the tomb, located in one of the last synagogues still standing in Iraq. His family had promised the Jewish residents of Al Qosh more than 60 years ago that they would protect and preserve the Hebrew site. The Jewish people were forced to flee in the early 1950s after government policies sought to purge Iraq from their presence.

Baghdad, Iraq (Photo: Reuters/Stringer)

An Iraqi Christian fighter, a member of Babylon Christian Battalion, stands guard near the site of car bomb attack in Baghdad, May 5, 2015.

The ancient tomb was reportedly visited by thousands of worshipers each year before the exodus.

Shajaa noted that the beige hand-laid walls of the old synagogue are crumbling, but he continues to take care of the tomb with his family, and allows visitor to come pay their respects.

“No one can decide what to do with the place. There were people who came a few years ago, some wealthy Jewish people who wanted to rebuild the fallen walls with the same stones,” the Christian man said.

“The government didn’t like that though, they didn’t want them to use the same materials because they think it isn’t safe. But then Islamic State came and we are close to the fighting here, so nothing will happen now.”

Shajaa said he’s confident that ISIS will not conquer the city, despite its recent conquests of other Iraqi cities. Still, he noted that the crisis has affected pilgrimages, with very few Jewish pilgrims daring to venture to the tomb.

“I’m not sure how long my family will continue to stay in Iraq, we want to leave, most of the Christians want to leave,” he added. “My brother says he will stay though, if my family gets to leave Iraq my brother and his children will look after the tomb. It will stay in the family, God willing.”

ISIS’ conquest of Ramadi back in May was its most significant territorial victory in Iraq since the U.S. and a broad coalition of international forces began launching airstrikes against the terror group last year.

The fall of the city prompted questions about whether the U.S. is losing the war in Iraq and Syria, though President Barack Obama has denied those claims.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier this week that over 10,000 ISIS fighters have been killed since the military campaign began nine months ago.

“We have seen a lot of losses within Daesh [ISIS] since the start of this campaign, more than 10,000,” Blinken said. “It will end up having an impact.”

Angelina Jolie with displaced Iraqi Christians (Photo: Reuters/UNHCR/Andrew McConnell/Handout)

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Special Envoy Angelina Jolie (2nd L) meets displaced Iraqis who are members of the minority Christian community, living in an abandoned school in Al Qosh, northern Iraq, January 26, 2015.

Source : Christian Post

Couple Gets Vision to Use People’s Relationships With Pets to Show God’s Love for Mankind; Now Hosts Dog-Friendly Worship Service

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Couple Gets Vision to Use People’s Relationships With Pets to Show God’s Love for Mankind; Now Hosts Dog-Friendly Worship Service

The Man and the Dog (Photo: YouTube Screenshot/DDB Worldwide)

Christian Post Report – A screenshot capture of a dog waiting on its owner.

In a novel method of attracting worshipers, Unleashed Community Church in Oregon, started by a couple who got a vision from God to use people’s relationships with their pets to show His love for mankind, is now encouraging parishioners to bring their dogs along for Sunday Service.

Ruth Rini and her husband Ron who run the church started last September, reveal on the church’s Facebook page that Unleashed Community Church is the “first dog-friendly church in the Eugene/Springfield area” and that “we are here to share God’s unconditional love for people and pets.”

“We realized there was no church community for those who needed pastoral care and a community of support and friendship during all the various circumstances people experience with their beloved pets, who are members of their family,” explained the couple. “We also realized that dogs and other pets are a perfect example of God’s unconditional love for us, the relationship between humans and animals could be used to demonstrate how much God cares for us and for all of creation.”

At a recent service held by the church some 20 people showed up with 9 dogs. During the hour-long service, parishioners and their dogs were shown Christian music videos which were followed by short sermons. Stories about dogs and a few Bible verses were also a part of the service.

Unleashed Community Church is starting Prayer Paws soon, a way to pray for one another and our pets and other people and…

Posted by Unleashed Community Church on Friday, April 17, 2015

Its primary theme centered on veterans and dogs that serve in war and one of the videos shown during the service was a Fox News clip about a service dog that is helping a veteran recover mentally and physically from war.

Unleashed Community Church wants people to find comfort through their relationships with dogs and the church welcomes dog owners of all faiths to experience Jesus Christ there.

“We proclaim Jesus Christ, who welcomes all into the family of God, and is a friend above all others. We don’t know where you are in your spiritual journey, perhaps you are brand new to exploring spiritual issues or you are comfortable in the faith you’ve acquired at this point,” explains the church on the Facebook page. “No matter where you are in your journey, we welcome you wholeheartedly and with the unconditional love of God as you join us in our dog-friendly services.”

While the church loves dogs, the community will only accept dogs that are well-mannered, current on all vaccines, flea treatment and are non-aggressive towards people and other dogs.

Ruth Rini and her husband Ron founded Double “R” Country Inn Kennels in Springfield, Oregon and have been working with dogs since the 1990s. Ruth also graduated from George Fox Evangelical Seminary in 2014.

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

Source : Christian Post

‘Bringing Up Bates’ Exclusive Sneak Peek at Season 2 Premiere: Bates Family Holds Special ‘I Love You Day’ Celebration

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‘Bringing Up Bates’ Exclusive Sneak Peek at Season 2 Premiere: Bates Family Holds Special ‘I Love You Day’ Celebration

Bates Family (Photo: Courtesy UP TV)

Christian Post Report – The entire Bates family at their home.

A sneak peek at tonight’s season two premiere of UPtv’s original series “Bringing Up Bates” reveals a fresh look at the charming dynamics between Gil and Kelly Jo Bates and their 19 kids as they celebrate a special tradition, “I Love You Day.”

The hit reality series returns with 14 all-new episodes beginning on Thursday, and during the highly-anticipated season premiere, the Bates family gathers to celebrate “I Love You Day” with surprise gifts as well as surprise guests for the whole clan. While the unique celebration is underway, Gil is tasked with watching his rambunctious young son, Jeb, in what was thought to be an easy job. Gil struggles however, to keep an eye on Jeb who is constantly on the move.

“I only had one job, it was watching Jeb, and it was the hardest job there,” Gil explains in a clip from season two.

Other Bates family members also weigh in on the impossible chore of keeping an eye on the active three-year-old before Gil laughingly laments the demands of parenthood.

“I’ll tell you, training children is not something you do just one time and they get it, it’s every time we go anywhere, every day, multiple times a day,” said the father of 19.

“Bringing Up Bates” became the highest-rated series in UPtv’s history after its premiere on New Year’s Day last year. The Tennessee family has captured the hearts of people everywhere with their joyful chaos as well as poignant moments in their lives. The second season of the reality series will reveal major milestones for the Bates family, including Michaella and Brandon’s engagement in Washington, D.C. and the couple’s plans leading into their just-announced August 15th wedding in Knoxville, Tennessee.

It will also highlight Erin’s challenging first pregnancy as well as the joyful birth of baby Carson. The Bates will also head to Dolly Parton’s theme park, Dollywood, where they will make their singing debut during the season finale.

‘Bringing Up Bates’ Exclusive Sneak Peek at Season Premiere Tonight: Bates Family Holds Special Celebration ‘I Love You Day’

‘Bringing Up Bates’ Exclusive Sneak Peek at Season Premiere Tonight: Bates Family Holds Special Celebration ‘I Love You Day’

The season two premiere of “Bringing Up Bates” will air on UP on Thursday, June 4 at 9 p.m. ET. Watch the sneak peek here.

follow me on Twitter @emmakoonse

Source : Christian Post

Duggar Parents Call Josh’s Actions ‘Child Preying on Child,’ Aggressively Defend Son: ‘This Was Not Rape or Anything Like That’

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Duggar Parents Call Josh’s Actions ‘Child Preying on Child,’ Aggressively Defend Son: ‘This Was Not Rape or Anything Like That’

Duggars (Photo: FRC/Carrie Russell)

Christian Post Report – Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, stars of the TLC reality TV series “19 Kids and Counting,” speak at the Family Research Council’s annual Values Voter Summit in Washington, Friday, September 26, 2014.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly on Wednesday, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar defended their son Josh’s molestation of four daughters and one babysitter, declaring, “This was not rape or anything like that.”

“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,” Jim Bob explained.

One of the sisters Josh inappropriately touched was believed to be 5 years old at the time, according to the police report that was illegally released.

During the interview, Jim Bob and Michelle stayed away from the word molestation. When asked by Megyn Kelly if Josh was a child molester, the Duggars denied that allegation.

“He was still a kid. He was a child preying on a child,” Jim Bob asserted, noting that Josh was 14 and 15 during the time of the incidents at the Duggar home.

Michelle said that when they learned about Josh’s behavior, “There was so much grief in our hearts.”

“I think, as parents, we felt we we’re failures,” she added.

Jim Bob answered Megyn’s questions about the timeline of the incidents within the household. Initially, they sought to deal with Josh’s behavior within the family and pointed out that, as parents, they weren’t mandatory reporters of Josh’s actions to law enforcement.

When Josh came crying to them after a third confession, that is when Jim Bob admitted: “We felt we had to get help.”

Josh was subsequently sent to a counselor in Little Rock, Arkansas, and that is when his father said he witnessed a “turning point in his life.”

When Josh returned home from Little Rock, Jim Bob then took his son to the nearest police department so he could confess his criminal actions to an Arkansas State Trooper, and his four sisters were taken by their parents to the state’s Children’s Safety Center.

“We felt it was an important step for Josh to confess to the police,” he said.

Although the officer Josh confessed to is now serving a 56 year sentence on child pornography charges, Jim Bob emphasized that he and Michelle “had no idea that the officer was involved in anything wrong.”

In a question from Kelly about whether they were facing a more severe backlash because of their very public Christian faith, the Duggars did not respond directly but said, “I think, you know what, Christianity is not about being perfect or about being a perfect family, but it’s actually about being forgiven.”

“People on the outside think, ‘Well, Christians are supposed to be perfect,'” Jim Bob asserted. “No, you know what, all of us, as Christians, we struggle every day.”

“Looking back, we did the best we could under the circumstances,” he continued.

When asked about whether they, as parents, thought about these incidents before they agreed to do a reality show, Jim Bob responded: “We had nothing to hide.”

Since Josh was a minor at the time of the molestations, the Duggars are seeking legal counsel about the leaked police report.

“19 Kids and Counting” has been pulled from the air by TLC. General Mills, Payless, and Walgreens are just a few of the companies that have said they plan to remove their ads from the popular reality TV show.

In a Friday Fox News exclusive, Jilla Dillard and Jessa Seewald, two of the Duggar daughters, will tell their side of the story to Kelly. Both women have forgiven their brother for his actions.

Source : Christian Post

Benjamin Watson Exclusive: Christian New Orleans Saints Player Defends NFL Players Amid Year Rife With Scandals

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Benjamin Watson Exclusive: Christian New Orleans Saints Player Defends NFL Players Amid Year Rife With Scandals

Benjamin Watson (Photo: benjaminwatson.com)

Christian Post Report – New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson.

Sports reporters have had a field day writing about the countless NFL scandals that played out in media headlines over the past year but Benjamin Watson, the Christian New Orleans Saints tight end, believes some may be unfairly scrutinizing the league.

Watson,34, acknowledges the scandalous stories that have been written about the NFL, but insists the negative reports are not an accurate representation of the league as a whole.

“You’ve got a league with a couple thousand players or so depending on the time of year. Then you have 10 or more very high profile stories that are terrible stories and things that have happened,” he told The Christian Post. “The majority of the guys are not in the news, they’re doing great things in the community, they’re doing great things at home, playing well and abiding by the rules. There’s probably more than the general population to be honest with you.”

Still, it is hard to ignore the negative stories on NFL players that have surfaced in the past six months alone. In May, former San Francisco 49ers lineman Ray McDonald was arrested twice in one week for charges stemming from restraining order violations, misdemeanor domestic violence and child endangerment charges.

The Chicago Bears picked McDonald up after the 49ers let him go last December, when it was announced that the lineman was being investigated for sexual assault. The Bears have since parted ways with McDonald.

Last April, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was found guilty of the first-degree murder of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd,a case that has been playing out in headlines since the former NFL player was indicted in 2013.

In March, former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, was arrested and indicted for third-degree aggravated assault after a video of him knocking out his now wife went viral. The year started off with a scandal called “Deflategate” which made headlines the Patriots were first accused of using underinflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts in January.

Watson insists however that these high profile examples of NFL players making mistakes are just unfortunate events being used to paint the league.

“It’s unfortunate that so many of the guys who are doing right are painted with the broad brush by the guys who aren’t. Then when you have these situations like Ray Rice’s, they are things that are unfortunate and they’re bad,” the tight end explained to CP. “Most of the guys in the NFL would sit here and tell you we don’t condone the abuse of a child, any sort of abuse of a woman, breaking rules, failing drug tests or doing any of those things. We hold ourselves to a very high standard.”

Watson believes that many of the NFL players who made mistakes will admit their wrongdoing and be remorseful about their bad decisions. He noted however that they will also have to face the consequences of their actions.

“When things like this happen, you have to take the punishment whatever it is,” he said. “The NFL has had our fair share this year and that’s why it’s in the news, that’s the sad part about it.”

One of the biggest headlines that has been circulating centers around his former team, the Patriots. Watson played on the team alongside Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady from 2004 to 2009 and believes “the jury may still be out” due to a lack of proof of the QB’s involvement in deflating footballs to gain an unfair advantage for the team.

Still, the tight end was present for the 2007 scandal that rocked the Patriots which has been dubbed, “spygate” since the team was penalized for videotaping signals from their opposing New York Jets’ defensive coach. While the team’s integrity has been brought into question by some sports fans and pundits, Watson is disappointed that the entire team may have to suffer as a result.

“My overall feeling is that you have an organization that has violated some rules in the past, so there is a sort of suspicion when it comes to the Patriots. When I look at guys on the team I see that are upstanding, give their all to the game and do it the right way…now they’re all in question,” he explained. “That’s what is disappointing to me, but I do think that this too shall pass and next year we won’t even be talking about it. If you’re winning football games there’s a lot that people can kind of sweep under the rug.”

Watson is a football player that not only commands attention for his on field performance, but for the opinions that he has shared publicly in social media posts that have gone viral about topics like Christian persecution, and the issue of racial tensions stemming from cases that took place in Ferguson, Missouri and Baltimore, Maryland.

The husband and father of four recently won the Sports Impact Award at the 2015 K-LOVE Fan Awards which he calls an amazing, humbling and encouraging experience that he never would have dreamed of last year. Beyond the accolades and notoriety that come along with being a professional athlete however, the tight end who got his start as a young believer in a Christian household keeps his faith at the forefront of his NFL career.

“I would say that one of the hardest things for an athlete and really anybody of any profession is that we create our identity in what we do,” Watson said. “It’s been a constant struggle with my athletic career to identify myself as a child of God and understand that His love is unconditional for us, it’s not conditional like fans, or coaches, or even myself. Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly for the Lord and not for man because our true identity is in Him. “

follow me on Twitter @CAThomasos

Source : Christian Post

Atlanta Megachurch’s Singles Descend on Target to Get Their Hands on Men’s Underwear — For a Good Cause; ‘We Are Finding Some Drawers for Tonight,’ One Determined Woman Declares

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Atlanta Megachurch’s Singles Descend on Target to Get Their Hands on Men’s Underwear — For a Good Cause; ‘We Are Finding Some Drawers for Tonight,’ One Determined Woman Declares

<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Participants are seen riding a train on No Pants Subway Ride day in this file photo.” title=”<b>Christian Post Report</b> – Participants are seen riding a train on No Pants Subway Ride day in this file photo.” name=”jpg” src=”http://images.christianpost.com/full/84120/participants-are-seen-riding-a-train-on-no-pants-subway-ride-day-in-this-file-photo.jpg” class=”imgPhoto” width=”550″ height=”450″ /> <small class=(Photo: Reuters)

Christian Post Report – Participants are seen riding a train on No Pants Subway Ride day in this file photo.

It was a simple enough request: drop off your drawers. That was the tongue-in-cheek promo a Buckhead, Atlanta, church used to encourage members attending its special “Single Series” to purchase packages of men’s briefs to donate to a local shelter. Based on photos shared online, members of the North Point Ministries church, founded by pastor Andy Stanley, went above and beyond with their donations.

“This series, as part of our do.justice initiative, we are partnering with Atlanta Mission to supply them with fresh clean underwear for their clients. On night 2 and night 3 we are asking all of our singles to bring BRAND NEW Men’s briefs, size L and up,” reads the online instructions for those attending the “Singles Series” at Buckhead Church.

The church explains that the yearly “Singles Series” gatherings, most recently held on May 19 and 26 and on June 2, are a way for unattached adults from all six North Point Ministries campuses to get together for worship and teaching, and of course, to mingle.

Buckhead Church in Atlanta, Georgia, belonging to Andy Stanley's North Point Ministries, encouraged "Singles Series" attendees to buy men's underwear to donate to a shelter for the homeless. (Photo: The Christian Post courtesy of Buckhead Church)

Buckhead Church in Atlanta, Georgia, belonging to Andy Stanley’s North Point Ministries, encouraged “Singles Series” attendees to buy men’s underwear to donate to a shelter for the homeless.

As asked, members hit up stores to make sure they did not show up empty handed at the event this week. Their store of choice, based on photos published online, was Target — and the rush to scoop up packages of whitey tighties for a good cause left some members in a bind.

One user of the popular social network and news site Reddit posted a photo illustrating what happened when he or she (or perhaps someone else) tried to find a Target location to purchase a pack of extra-large men’s briefs on a smartphone.

A screenshot of someone's smartphone shows the "out of stock" statuses at various Target stores in Atalanta, Georgia. (Photo: Imgur via Facebook)

A screenshot of someone’s smartphone shows the “out of stock” statuses at various Target stores in Atalanta, Georgia.

One “Singles Series” attendee, Recha Reid, shared Tuesday with the Buckhead Singles Facebook page that she was having trouble finding just one package of men’s underwear. But she would not be deterred.

“Yep. Officially out of drawers!! Running around town trying to find drawers for tonight. I think Buckhead Singles lovelies have bought out the lot! I will not be beat,” Reid wrote, before tagging two female friends with the message: “we are finding some drawers for tonight.”

The Buckhead Church Facebook moderator shared Reid’s photo on the page with the caption on Tuesday: “Singles … looks like you’re on a roll — Target is running low on drawers, but don’t let that stop you! Let’s fill up those bins tonight and overload Atlanta Mission with so much underwear they don’t know what to do!”

The Christian Post contacted Buckhead Church for comment but did not speak with a representative by press time. The Buckhead Singles ministry reported on Twitter, however, that it had collected 3,300 pairs of men’s underwear.

CP also contacted a member of Target’s public relations team to get confirmation on any Atlanta-area stores that might have experienced a jump in sales of men’s underwear this week, but did not receive the requested information by press time. As of Wednesday afternoon, several Atlanta-area Target stores were still showing “out of stock” or “limited quantities” for certain packages of men’s underwear.

North Point Ministries’ do justice initiative is described by the church as “an opportunity for the singles of Atlanta to come together and be a part of a hands-on serving experience that brings change to our city in a real and tangible way.” Every year for one day, church members partner with Atlanta’s “most strategic non-profit organizations” to do good works around the city.

Pastor Stanley’s Buckhead Church is one of six North Point Ministries churches located in the Metro Atlanta area. The multi-campus megachurch, whose main location is in Alpharetta, Georgia, is home to more than 30,000 members and was named the largest church in America in 2014 by Outreach Magazine. Stanley, son of the elder Atlanta pastor Charles Stanley, founded North Point Ministries in 1995.

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Follow @namenzie

Source : Christian Post

Stand Firm In the Faith

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Stand Firm In the Faith

Stand Firm In the Faith

Source : Christian Post

Caitlyn Jenner to Receive Coveted ESPN Courage Award; Last Three Winners Are Gay, Lesbian and Transgender

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Caitlyn Jenner to Receive Coveted ESPN Courage Award; Last Three Winners Are Gay, Lesbian and Transgender

Jenner ABC News

Christian Post Report – Bruce Jenner talks with Diane Sawyer on ABC’s 20/20 in April of 2015.

ESPN announced this week that Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce, will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage award at the ESPYS on July 18. In what is becoming ground zero for sexual identity courage awards, the last three winners of the ESPN award identify as gay, lesbian and transgender.

“What the hell am I going to wear?” Jenner tweeted Tuesday with a link to the ESPN press release.

In 2012, the Media Research Center noted bias in sports journalism, and at ESPN in particular, is a prevalent problem, including “long featured commentary advancing the gay agenda.”

In 2013, CEO Bob Iger of Disney, which owns the media platform ESPN, defended complaints from a shareholder, the National Center for Public Policy Research, concerning liberal bias at the sports network.

A new book by Dylan Gwinn titled, Bias in the Booth: An Insider Exposes How the Sports Media Distort the News, was published in March. In an interview about his book, Gwinn discussed how many in the sports media business resent a lot of the religious or Christian themes in pre and post game interviews. “The sports media, by and large, see it as a dangerous rival to their statist, liberal orthodoxy,” he declared.

While pop and entertainment culture is in a rush to celebrate Jenner’s transition, Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said Christians should not “fall for the cultural narrative behind the transgender turn.

“This narrative is rooted in the ancient heresy of Gnosticism,” declared Moore, “with the idea that the ‘real’ self is separate from who one is as an embodied, material building.

“We should stand for God’s good design, including around what Jesus says has been true ‘from the beginning,’ — that we are created male and female, not as self-willed designations but as God’s creative act (Mark 10:6).”

Moore also emphasized the importance of not mocking “these suffering souls,” adding that alienation, something all humans feel, “manifests itself in different ways in different people.”

Jenner expressed thanks for “the overwhelming outpouring of support for my journey” in a press release by ESPN, and called former tennis star Arthur Ashe “one of my heroes.”

“For the first time this July, I will be able to stand as my true self in front of my peers,” declared Jenner.

According to ESPN, the Arthur Ashe award “is one of the most prestigious in sports.” Award winners possess “strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril, and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter the cost.”

Michael Sam (2014) and Robin Roberts (2013), are the most recent recipients of the Arthur Ashe courage award. Sam, who identifies as gay, is under contract in the Canadian Football League and Roberts, who identifies as lesbian, is an anchor for ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Despite claims by some on social media that a wounded warrior finished second for the award behind Jenner, the ESPY’s do not announce runners up for the award. Many on social media did express their desire for Lauren Hill, the former basketball player at Mount St. Joseph University, to be given the award for courage. Hill continued playing basketball even as she battled an inoperable brain tumor. She died in April.

Jenner came to prominence as a gold medal winner in the men’s decathlon event in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Jenner is well known to younger audiences as the male father figure on the reality show “Keeping up with the Kardashians.”

In an April 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer, Jenner came out as transgender. Jenner is featured on the cover of an upcoming issue of Vanity Fair with the caption, “Call me Caitlyn.”

Source : Christian Post

Caitlyn Jenner Transformation Won’t Change Who Bruce Was as a Father, Says Franklin Graham

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Caitlyn Jenner Transformation Won’t Change Who Bruce Was as a Father, Says Franklin Graham

Franklin Graham and Caitlyn Jenner Left: (Photo: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association) Right: (Photo: Vanity Fair/Screengrab)

Christian Post Report – A side by side picture of Pastor Franklin Graham and Caitlyn Jenner.

The Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of renowned evangelist Billy Graham and president of international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, took to Facebook this week to let his followers know that Olympic gold medalist and “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star Bruce Jenner’s transformation into a woman named Caitlyn will not change who he is on the inside or improve his relationship with his children.

Graham referred to the recent Vanity Fair interview where Jenner revealed his new identity. Jenner’s son, Burt, spoke to the publication about his rocky relationship with his father and his hope that his transformation to Caitlyn will improve it.

“At the end of the day there’s no way I can get around it. I am ungodly thankful and I feel very fortunate to not have had my father in my life. … I learned how to open doors and shake hands and look people in the eye. Things that my dad never would taught me,” said Burt to Vanity Fair.

“I have high hopes that Caitlyn is a better person than Bruce. I’m very much looking forward to that,” he added.

In a Facebook post, however, Graham said Bruce Jenner’s physical transformation will not do anything to improve the character of Caitlyn.

“I have news for them — changing the outside doesn’t change the inside. No man-made modification can fix what’s wrong with the heart. Only God can fix the human heart. If we ask for His forgiveness and accept by faith His Son, Jesus Christ, He will wipe the slate clean,” Graham wrote Tuesday.

Jenner’s daughter, Cassandra, took it a step further in a recent People magazine interview by actually stating that her relationship with Caitlyn is better than it was with Bruce.

“We didn’t talk for years, and now we see each other every couple of weeks and talk on the phone, which I am grateful for,” Cassandra told People. “She’s happier and more appreciative of her family. She is trying harder and there is a softness to Caitlyn that is new to me.”

Bruce Jenner first revealed that he identifies as a woman during an interview last month with ABC’s Diane Sawyer after months of speculation created by paparazzi photos showing him wearing nail polish.

This week, Jenner revealed Caitlyn in the latest issue of Vanity Fair magazine posing in makeup and women’s clothing.

“Bruce always had to tell a lie, he was always living that lie. Every day he always had a secret. From morning until night. Caitlyn doesn’t have any secrets. As soon as the Vanity Fair cover comes out, I’m free,” said Jenner in a promo video for the magazine.

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

Source : Christian Post

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