James Dobson on Americans Must Respond to This ‘Heinous Atrocity’ and Contact Their Senators

In October and November 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation making animal cruelty a federal crime. Yet incredulously, this past Tuesday, the Senate failed to pass two pieces of legislation that would have further protected the precious lives of human babies, born and unborn. The votes in both measures were almost entirely along party lines, with nearly all Republicans voting in favor and almost all Democrats voting against each of these bills.

The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would require health care professionals to provide medical care for babies who are born alive following attempted abortions. In other words, doctors would need to provide the same level of care for abortion survivors that they offer to other newborns. Babies, made in the image of God, who survive an attempt to end their lives should not then be left to die alone on porcelain tables. It’s sickening to think that almost all of the Senate Democrats voted against this bill with only three Democrats—Casey (Penn.), Jones (Ala.) and Manchin (W. Va.) having the moral courage to protect a newborn baby after such a barbaric act is botched. It is equally as unconscionable that three senators—Warren, Sanders and Klobuchar—would choose to remain silent when a baby’s life is at stake.

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would have prohibited the majority of abortions past 20 weeks of pregnancy, in acknowledgment of scientific evidence that unborn babies are capable of feeling pain by this stage. As morally appalling, almost all of the Democrat senators voted against this bill, with only two Democrats willing to stand for these most vulnerable babies—Casey (Penn.) and Manchin (W. Va.). Sadly, in this measure, two Republican senators—Collins (Maine) and Murkowski (Alaska) also joined in voting against this life-saving legislation. The same senators—Warren, Sanders and Klobuchar—failed to vote in this measure as well.

SOURCE: Charisma News

All Content & Images are provided by the acknowledged source

Houston water main causes major flood: How the future guides the present

I grew up in Houston, Texas, where flooded streets are a way of life. Because the land is so flat, water after hurricanes or storms has nowhere to go but the city’s bayou system. When they flood, everything floods.

But yesterday was the first day I can remember when the city
was flooded with no major storms in sight. The problem wasn’t above the ground
but below it.

A ninety-six-inch water main provides as much as 50 percent
of the city’s water. It is thirty-five years old. Private contractors were
working on it when it burst.

The break sent water flowing nearly two miles away.
Freeways, streets, and even cars were submerged in east Houston. People had to
sit on the roofs of their cars awaiting rescue. The sheriff’s department marine
unit had to assist.

Workers had to wait six to eight hours for the water main to drain before they could repair it. City residents have been under an order to boil water for twenty-four hours. Restaurants with no water pressure had to close immediately.

I don’t know how long it took to break the water main, but I
do know that it will take far longer to repair the damage. And I know that the
mistake is affecting far more people than the person who made it.

Here we find an important life principle: we should consider
the future before making decisions in the present.

How the future guides the present

The tempter likes to claim that no one will know or be hurt
by the sin we’re considering. But this is just one way he is “a liar and
the father of lies” (John 8:44).

Pharaoh’s “hardened heart” devastated his entire
nation. Hitler’s maniacal hatred of the Jewish people led to the Holocaust.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the “principal architect of the 9/11 attacks”
according to the 9/11 Commission Report, created a strategy that devastated our
nation.

The converse is true as well. Joseph chose enduring
character over present temptation, a decision that led to prison but…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Spotify’s Top 10 Christian Songs from Last Year Has Lots of Lauren Daigle, Hillsong United

Spotify’s Top 10 Christian Songs from Last Year Has Lots of Lauren Daigle, Hillsong United


The most popular Christian songs over the last year on Spotify include lots of Lauren Daigle and Hillsong United. 

In fact, those two artists alone comprise more than half the Top 10 in Spotify’s list of the most-streamed Christian songs over the past year. Spotify released the list to Fox News.

Daigle’s popular tune You Say – not surprisingly – was No. 1 over the past year, while Rescue was No. 6 and Look Up Child No. 8. You Say has been No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart for a record 75 weeks. 

Hillsong United had three songs on Spotify’s Top 10 over the past year: No. 3. Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), No. 5 So Will I (100 Billion X), and No. 10 Whole Heart (Hold Me Now). 

Meanwhile, Hillsong Worship’s Who You Say I Am was No. 7.

Elevation Worship, the worship ministry of Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C., had two songs on Spotify’s Top 10: No. 4 O Come to the Altar and No. 9 Do It Again

Following is the complete list of Spotify’s 10 most-streamed Christian songs over the past year:

1. You Say – Lauren Daigle

2. Reckless Love – Cory Asbury

3. Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) – Hillsong UNITED

4. O Come to the Altar (Live) – Elevation Worship

5. So Will I (100 Billion X) – Hillsong UNITED

6. Rescue – Lauren Daigle

7. Who You Say I Am (Live) – Hillsong Worship

8. Look Up Child – Lauren Daigle

9. Do It Again – Elevation Worship

10. Whole Heart…

… Read More

Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.

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Michael Brown on Should Antisemites Be Censored for Hate Speech?

In case you haven’t heard, TruNews, an evangelical, antisemitic, online news channel, has been permanently banned from YouTube for “hate speech.” Is this something we should applaud, especially as Christian conservatives? Or this is something that should concern us, since the charge of “hate speech” has been frequently wielded against us, albeit without merit?

To be sure, TruNews has spread dangerous, antisemitic lies, including the claim that Jews will soon take over America and start slaughtering millions of Christians. To quote Rick Wiles, the founder of TruNews, directly, “The very people who crucified Christ are going to be our masters if we don’t do something about it.”

Yes, this is what an “evangelical Christian” newscaster is spewing from his newsroom day after day, using the internet to disseminate his misguided views.

This kind of unfounded, unhinged rhetoric could lead unstable people to commit violent acts against the Jewish community. The two synagogue shootings are stark reminders of this.

That’s why I have personally confronted TruNews on a number of occasions, including articles (see here and here), videos (see here and here), books (see here and here) and privately. I have also invited Rick Wiles onto my radio show, offered to go on his show and challenged him to a public debate.

All my offers have been declined.

And so, rather than change their tune, the TruNews leaders have entrenched themselves even more deeply. In fact, after the vote-count fiasco in Iowa, TruNews claimed that “Israel” was behind the mess. I kid you not. TruNews even claimed that this was part of a ploy to get Pete Buttigieg elected, since “Israel” wanted a gay man in the White House.

It is for good reason that major Jewish news outlets reported on YouTube’s banning of TruNews, including HaAretz, the Jerusalem Post, the Forward, the Times of Israel, the Algemeiner and more.

SOURCE: Charisma News

All Content & Images are provided by the acknowledged source

PODCAST: Whyte House Daily Devotional Bible Reading Episode #93: Numbers 7, Psalm 89, and Acts 19 (with Daniel Whyte III)

This is Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International with the Whyte House Daily Devotional Bible Reading Episode #93. Where I read three chapters of the Holy Bible in the King James Version a day with my family as a part of our family devotions, to encourage you to read the Holy Bible in a year’s time. We are using a modified version of the Five Day Bible Reading Plan. It is modified because we read the Bible everyday and not just five days a week. The benefit of using the Five Day Bible Reading Plan is: you can read the entire Bible in a chronological reading plan that helps the Bible make sense. Today we are reading Numbers 7, Psalm 89 and Acts 19.

Charles Spurgeon said, “If you wish to know God, you must know His Word. If you wish to perceive His power, you must see how He works by His Word. If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word.”

Lee Roberson said, “If you are a child of God, know that every promise in the Bible is yours. The Bible is a gold mine, waiting for someone to take out its riches.”

Numbers 7
1 And it came to pass on the day that Mo’-ses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;

2 That the princes of Is’-ra-el, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered:

3 And they brought their offering before the Lord, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.

4 And the Lord spake unto Mo’-ses, saying,

5 Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Le’-vites, to every man according to his service.

6 And Mo’-ses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Le’-vites.

7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Ger’-shon, according to their service:

8 And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Me-rar’-i, according unto their service, under the hand of Ith’-a-mar the son of Aa’-ron the priest.

9 But unto the sons of Ko’-hath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.

10 And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.

11 And the Lord said unto Mo’-ses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.

12 And he that offered his offering the first day was Nah’-shon the son of Am-min’a-dab, of the tribe of Ju’-dah:

13 And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty she’-kels, one silver bowl of seventy she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

14 One spoon of ten she’-kels of gold, full of incense:

15 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

16 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

17 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nah’-shon the son of Am-min’a-dab.

18 On the second day Neth’-a-neel the son of Zu’-ar, prince of Is’-sa-char, did offer:

19 He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty she’-kels, one silver bowl of seventy she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

20 One spoon of gold of ten she’-kels, full of incense:

21 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

22 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

23 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Neth’-a-neel the son of Zu’-ar.

24 On the third day E-li’-ab the son of He’-lon, prince of the children of Ze-bu’-lun, did offer:

25 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty she’-kels, one silver bowl of seventy she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

26 One golden spoon of ten she’-kels, full of incense:

27 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

28 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

29 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of E-li’-ab the son of He’-lon.

30 On the fourth day E-li’-zur the son of Shed’-e-ur, prince of the children of Reu’-ben, did offer:

31 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty she’-kels, one silver bowl of seventy she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

32 One golden spoon of ten she’-kels, full of incense:

33 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

34 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

35 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of E-li’-zur the son of Shed’-e-ur.

36 On the fifth day She-lu’-mi-el the son of Zu-ri-shad’-dai, prince of the children of Sim’-e-on, did offer:

37 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty she’-kels, one silver bowl of seventy she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

38 One golden spoon of ten she’-kels, full of incense:

39 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

40 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

41 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of She-lu’-mi-el the son of Zu-ri-shad’-dai.

42 On the sixth day E-li’-a-saph the son of Deu’-el, prince of the children of Gad, offered:

43 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty she’-kels, a silver bowl of seventy she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

44 One golden spoon of ten she’-kels, full of incense:

45 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

46 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

47 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of E-li’-a-saph the son of Deu’-el.

48 On the seventh day E-li’-sha-ma the son of Am’-mi-hud, prince of the children of E’-phra-im, offered:

49 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty she’-kels, one silver bowl of seventy she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

50 One golden spoon of ten she’-kels, full of incense:

51 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

52 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

53 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of E-li’-sha-ma the son of Am’-mi-hud.

54 On the eighth day offered Ga-ma’-li-el the son of Pe-dah’-zur, prince of the children of Ma-nas’-seh:

55 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty she’-kels, one silver bowl of seventy she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

56 One golden spoon of ten she’-kels, full of incense:

57 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

58 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

59 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ga-ma’-li-el the son of Pe-dah’-zur.

60 On the ninth day A-bi’-dan the son of Gid-e-o’-ni, prince of the children of Ben’-ja-min, offered:

61 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty she’-kels, one silver bowl of seventy she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

62 One golden spoon of ten she’-kels, full of incense:

63 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

64 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

65 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of A-bi’-dan the son of Gid-e-o’-ni.

66 On the tenth day A-hi-e’-zer the son of Am-mi-shad’-dai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:

67 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty she’-kels, one silver bowl of seventy she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

68 One golden spoon of ten she’-kels, full of incense:

69 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

70 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

71 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of A-hi-e’-zer the son of Am-mi-shad’-dai.

72 On the eleventh day Pa’-gi-el the son of Oc’-ran, prince of the children of Ash’-er, offered:

73 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty she’-kels, one silver bowl of seventy she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

74 One golden spoon of ten she’-kels, full of incense:

75 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

76 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

77 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pa’-gi-el the son of Oc’-ran.

78 On the twelfth day A-hi’-ra the son of E’-nan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered:

79 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty she’-kels, one silver bowl of seventy she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

80 One golden spoon of ten she’-kels, full of incense:

81 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

82 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

83 And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of A-hi’-ra the son of E’-nan.

84 This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Is’-ra-el: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:

85 Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty she’-kels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred she’-kels, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary:

86 The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten she’-kels apiece, after the she’-kel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty she’-kels.

87 All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve.

88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.

89 And when Mo’-ses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cher’-u-bims: and he spake unto him.

Psalm 89
Mas’-chil of E’-than the Ez’-ra-hite.
1 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto Da’-vid my servant,

4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Se’-lah.

5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?

7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

8 O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

10 Thou hast broken Ra’-hab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Ta’-bor and Her’-mon shall rejoice in thy name.

13 Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.

16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

18 For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Is’-ra-el is our king.

19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

20 I have found Da’-vid my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.

22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;

32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto Da’-vid.

36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.

37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Se’-lah.

38 But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

39 Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

40 Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.

41 All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.

42 Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.

43 Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.

44 Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.

45 The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Se’-lah.

46 How long, Lord? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

47 Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Se’-lah.

49 Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto Da’-vid in thy truth?

50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;

51 Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O Lord; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.

52 Blessed be the Lord for evermore. A’-men, and A’-men.

Acts 19
1 And it came to pass, that, while A-pol’-los was at Cor’-inth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Eph’-e-sus: and finding certain disciples,

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Je’-sus.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Je’-sus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

7 And all the men were about twelve.

8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Ty-ran’-nus.

10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in A’-sia heard the word of the Lord Je’-sus, both Jews and Greeks.

11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Je’-sus, saying, We adjure you by Je’-sus whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were seven sons of one Sce’-va, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Je’-sus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Eph’-e-sus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Je’-sus was magnified.

18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Mac-e-do’-ni-a and A-chai’-a, to go to Je-ru’-sa-lem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

22 So he sent into Mac-e-do’-ni-a two of them that ministered unto him, Ti-moth’-e-us and E-ras’-tus; but he himself stayed in A’-sia for a season.

23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

24 For a certain man named De-me’-tri-us, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Di-an’-a, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Eph’-e-sus, but almost throughout all A’-sia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Di-an’-a should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all A’-sia and the world worshippeth.

28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Di-an’-a of the Eph-e’-sians.

29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gai’-us and Ar-is-tar’-chus, men of Mac-e-do’-ni-a, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31 And certain of the chief of A’-sia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

33 And they drew Al-ex-an-der out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Al-ex-an-der beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Di-an’-a of the Eph-e’-sians.

35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Eph’-e-sus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Eph-e’-sians is a worshipper of the great goddess Di-an’-a, and of the image which fell down from Ju’-pi-ter?

36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

38 Wherefore if De-me’-tri-us, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

________

PRAY
________

When I was a teenager I wanted to get wisdom and knowledge, so I set out the read the big family Bible that many families had in those days. But I couldn’t get past Genesis 2 before I got bored with reading the Bible. I found out later in life that you have to believe on Christ and get saved before you can understand the Bible. So here is how I became a Christian and how you can too:

First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 18:8: “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.

Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at [email protected] and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.

God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.

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Christian Charity Works to Restore Towns Destroyed by ISIS

Christian Charity Works to Restore Towns Destroyed by ISIS


An extensive program of restoration for Batnaya, Iraq was organized by Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Batnaya was demolished by ISIS, who sought to erase the town’s Christian roots. According to Faithwire, “the terrorists defaced churches, decapitated statues and smashed up any and every religious symbol they could lay their hands on.”

Zenit.com reports that “after two years of Islamist occupation, one percent of its 997 homes were still standing.”

One church building had the following message written by ISIS militants, “slaves of the Cross, we will kill you all. This is Islamic territory. You do not belong here.”

Since ISIS’ defeat in the region, ACN provided support in the Batnaya’s restoration, along with 13 more villages and towns throughout the Plains of Nineveh.

ACN Middle East director, Father Andrzej Halemba considers the project to be, “a new and courageous step forward to secure the future of Batnaya.”

Halemba said in a press release, “Even if the situation is not very clear, we see the importance of a sign of hope.

“ACN is determined to help the Christians to stay. Our task is to stand by the people who would like to come back.”

Batnaya’s restoration by ACN will feature the rebuilding of the parish church of St. Kyriakos and the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. Additionally, St. Oraha’s Dominican Convent and kindergarten would also be…

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Trump Says Pompeo Will Witness Signing of Deal with Taliban

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump said Friday that he’s dispatching Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the signing of an agreement with the Afghan Taliban aimed at beginning a drawdown of thousands of U.S. troops and ending America’s 18-year involvement in the war.

Trump said Pompeo would soon, at the president’s direction, witness the signing of an agreement with the Taliban, an event that will see America’s top diplomat stand with leaders of militants, who harbored al-Qaida before the 9/11 attacks and are responsible for the deaths of thousands of American servicemen and women. He said Defense Secretary Mark Esper also will issue a joint declaration with the government of Afghanistan. 

Trump did not say where the deal would be signed, but it’s been previously reported that it would occur Saturday in Doha, Qatar.

The signing comes after a week in which both U.S.-led forces and the Taliban committed to a reduction in violence. Under the plan being signed, the U.S. is to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan to 8,600 from about 13,000.

Much of the plan remains vague, except to say that American troops will withdraw and that the Taliban promise not to let extremists use the country as a staging ground for attacking the U.S. or its allies. Within 10 to 15 days after the signing, the Taliban and representatives from all sectors of Afghan society, including the government, are to sit down to try to negotiate the framework of a post-war Afghanistan. Issues on the table include a more permanent cease-fire and the rights of women and minorities.

“If the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan live up to these commitments, we will have a powerful path forward to end the war in Afghanistan and bring our troops home,” Trump said in a statement. “These commitments represent an important step to a lasting peace in a new Afghanistan, free from al-Qaeda, ISIS, and any other terrorist group that would seek to bring us harm. ” 

More than 20 lawmakers recently wrote a letter to Pompeo and Esper asking for assurances that the US -Taliban agreement will not jeopardize U.S. security.

“I dealt with a lot of bad guys during my time in the CIA, and one thing I learned is that previous actions are a good indicator of future ones,” said Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, who served in Afghanistan as an undercover CIA officer. “The war in Afghanistan should come to an end and it’s in the Taliban’s hands to make this happen. However, the Taliban has never demonstrated a willingness to be a real partner in peace.”

Taliban leaders told The Associated Press that if everything goes according to plan, all US soldiers would be out of Afghanistan in 14 months, but Washington has not confirmed such a timeline. The agreement also stipulates the release of 5,000 Taliban from Afghan-run jails, but it’s not clear if the Afghan government will agree to that.

The agreement mapping out a plan for peace follows months of negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban that have broken down before. The Pentagon has said for months that it is poised to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to 8,600, but U.S. officials have said it could take months for any troop cuts to begin.

“Nearly 19 years ago, American service members went to Afghanistan to root out the terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks,” Trump said. “In that time, we have made great progress in Afghanistan, but at great cost to our brave service members, to the American taxpayers, and to the people of Afghanistan.”

He said that when he first ran for president, he promised voters that he would start bringing troops home and seek an end to the war in Afghanistan. “We are making substantial progress on that promise.” 

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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South Korea Asks Churches to Stop Meeting Until Coronavirus Contained

South Korea Asks Churches to Stop Meeting Until Coronavirus Contained


The coronavirus outbreak in South Korea is so severe that the government’s culture minister on Friday asked churches and other religious bodies to stop gathering until it is contained.

South Korea has the largest outbreak outside of China, with 2,337 cases. More than 500 cases were reported on Thursday alone, the country’s Yonhap News Agency reported.

“This weekend and next weekend are expected to be critical points in [containing] the spread of COVID-19 and [preventing] the situation’s prolongation,” South Korean’s Culture Minister Park Yang-woo said Friday.

“I earnestly ask [such groups] to refrain from any religious services and gatherings for a while in order to prevent further coronavirus infections and the extension of the situation,” he added.

Already, the Catholic church in the country has suspended mass.

Seoul’s Yoido Full Gospel Church, considered the largest church in the world by membership (approximately 800,000), suspended public services and said it would launch online services for members, Yonhap News reported.

Seoul’s Myungsung Church — a Presbyterian congregation with 80,000 members — suspended services after two members, including a pastor, came down with coronavirus.

Meanwhile, scientists at Israel’s MIGAL Galilee Research Institute say they will have a vaccine to coronavirus within a few weeks, according to the Jerusalem Post.

“Given the urgent…

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Mike Pence Says Pro-Life Democrats ‘Have a Home’ in the Republican Party

Mike Pence Says Pro-Life Democrats ‘Have a Home’ in the Republican Party


Vice President Mike Pence said this week that pro-life Democrats “have a home” in the Republican party.

As The Christian Post reports, Pence made these remarks while speaking at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday near Washington, D.C.

“Life is winning in America,” he said. “That’s what makes it so remarkable that every leading Democrat running for president has actually said that there’s no room in today’s Democratic Party for pro-life voters.”

“So let me say to every pro-life American, Republican, independent, or Democrat: You have a home in today’s Republican Party.”

In recent weeks, Democratic presidential candidates have debated what place pro-life supporters may have within the Democratic party.

“By this time in history, I think when we talk about what a Democrat is, I think being pro-choice is an essential part of that,” Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said at a forum earlier this month.

Candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar also addressed the topic on ABC’s The View, saying that pro-life supporters are “part of our party.”

“I believe we are a big tent party and there are pro-life Democrats and they are part of our party,” she said. 

“I think we need to build a big tent. I think we need to bring people in instead of shutting them out.”

During his speech Thursday, Pence discussed the Trump…

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From Tiny Beginnings, Catholic Charismatics Celebrate 53 Years of Holy Spirit-Led Renewal

Pope Francis celebrated Pentecost 2017 at the Circus Maximus in Rome with thousands of Christians from around the world to mark the Fiftieth Jubilee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

The college-aged American pioneers of the Renewal are now its elders, and many were in attendance.

In their lifetime, the Renewal has sparked a “New Pentecost” among Catholics worldwide. The movement began in 1967 when the gifts of the Holy Spirit were bestowed upon a group of Duquesne University students on retreat at the Ark and the Dove.

“My Faith Was Renewed, I Was Filled With Joy”

Kevin and Dorothy Ranaghan remember when friends first told them about the Duquesne outpouring.

“My reaction here was pretty negative and so was Dorothy’s,” Kevin said with a laugh. “But we knew these people well.  I mean, they were solid, responsible, renewal-minded Catholics and they were scholars. We were all students or professors in theology, church history, and philosophy.”

“So we could see that even in their faces there was something changed and different,” Dorothy said. “And so although we wanted to discount what they were saying as sounding a little fringy, we could not deny the experience we saw they had, had changed them. And whatever it was, I think we came to see we wanted that too.”

Newly married at the time, Kevin taught theology at St. Mary’s College in Indiana, and Dorothy was a Catholic high school teacher. Both earned master’s degrees in theology from the University of Notre Dame. After hearing about his colleagues at Duquesne, Kevin embarked on a six-week study of the scriptures and received the baptism in the Holy Spirit at a Bible study among fellow Catholics.

“And it was so changing,” Kevin recalled. “I mean, suddenly, even that night, scripture was alive, my faith was renewed, filled with joy.”

Dorothy received the baptism the next day alone in a chapel. 

“It was like the Lord planted a flag in the center of my life and said, ‘This is permanent, hang on to this!’ You know, and it changed everything,” said Dorothy.

Learning How to Use the Gifts for Ministry

The couple sought out the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship, an organization with roots in Pentecostalism, to learn how to use the gifts for ministry.

“And I can’t imagine how he reacted in this phone call,” Kevin said. “‘Hi, we’re a bunch of Catholics from Notre Dame and we’ve just been baptized in the Holy Spirit and we would like to find out about the spiritual gifts. Can you help us?'” he said.

After spending some time with the Full Gospel Businessmen, the Ranaghans began to lead meetings on the Notre Dame campus and witnessed the gifts of the Spirit flowing freely. 
 
“Well, we had these large prayer meetings, sometimes 400 people every week. And they were amazing meetings in that we were all so new to this,” Dorothy recalled.

The First International Catholic Charismatic Conference

Just after Easter in 1968, Catholic students from top American universities met at Notre Dame to learn more about the Duquesne outpouring. Dr. Ralph Martin, a Notre Dame philosophy graduate, was a campus ministry leader when he brought 40 students from Michigan to the gathering.

“They called it ‘The First International Catholic Charismatic Conference’ because there was one nun from Canada who came,” Martin said with a laugh.

That summer several Duquesne University students lived with Lutheran pastor and founding CBN board member Harald Bredesen in his parish home near New York City to learn street evangelism.  

“We realized that we had a responsibility not just to preach the gospel, but to learn how to do it well and to be effective at it, not just kind of throwing it at people,” said David Mangan.

Renewal Meetings Spread Across the US and Around the World

Back home at Notre Dame, Catholic priests, nuns, and lay leaders attended the renewal meetings while on campus for continuing education. 

“When they went home they took this with them. They went all over the United States. They went to Australia, they went to the Philippines, they went to various countries in Europe,” said Kevin Ranaghan.

After the National Catholic Reporter ran newspaper coverage of the outpouring, Pope Paul VI sent Cardinal Suenens of Belgium, one of the four moderators of Vatican II, to evaluate what was happening. The Cardinal met with Ralph Martin and observed various student groups.

“‘All my life,’ [Suenens] said, ‘I’ve been searching for wherever the Holy Spirit is working, trying to understand what’s happening. I came here, I see the Holy Spirit is working, I want to do whatever I can to help you integrate this and open the whole Catholic Church up to it and bring you into the very center of things,'” Martin recounted.

Pope Paul VI: Charismatic Movement is “A Chance for The Church”

Cardinal Suenens invited Martin and his young family to Belgium to help lead the renewal in Europe. By 1975, 10,000 Catholic Charismatics from around the world joined Cardinal Suenens in Rome for Pentecost.

Pope Paul VI entered St. Peter’s Basilica and addressed the movement as “A chance for the Church.”

The renewal also birthed new religious orders and increased the number of those called into ministry. In the early 1970s, Father George Montague, a Pauline scholar and professor at St. Mary’s University in Texas, received the baptism in the Holy Spirit after a nun who had attended the Notre Dame meetings demonstrated spiritual gifts.

“Well, here’s the New Testament alive right in front of me,” Father Montague said with a laugh. “This is happening, the Holy Spirit is coming right in front of me! You know, I had been baptized. I had been confirmed. I had made religious vows. I was ordained as a priest, you know?  And so all those things kind of blocked me a little bit because, you know, what more do I need?”

After 25 years of ministry in the renewal, Father Montague, along with Father Bob Hogan, formed “Brothers of the Beloved Disciple” to serve in San Antonio, Texas.

“The Holy Spirit empowers our ministry through the spiritual gifts so that people can say, ‘Wow, truly God is in your midst. Truly Jesus is reaching out to me,'” Father Hogan said.

Today, more than 20 million Catholics in 240 countries enjoy life in the Spirit. 

“The Lord is Getting Ready to Do Something Big”

As the pioneers of the movement recall their history, they anticipate greater Holy Spirit wonders ahead. From Sister Elena’s urgent letters to Pope Leo to the 1901 outpouring in Kansas to the Azuza Street Revival to the Duquesne weekend and beyond – all of these events declare the gifts of the Holy Spirit are intended for every generation, as the Spirit works to unite all Christians to Christ and to each other, in order to reach the world. 

“It’s a surprise of the Holy Spirit that’s opening up great new possibilities,” Kevin Ranaghan said. “And we don’t know what’s next. We have a sense I know we have a sense here, the Lord is getting ready to do something big.”

Source CBN

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