Federal Judge Blocks Alabama Abortion Ban, Says it ‘Defies the United States Constitution’

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Federal Judge Blocks Alabama Abortion Ban, Says it ‘Defies the United States Constitution’


Federal Judge Blocks Alabama Abortion Ban, Says it ‘Defies the United States Constitution’


On Tuesday a federal judge in Alabama blocked the state’s near-total abortion ban.


According to the Associated Press, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson issued an injunction to temporarily halt the Human Life Protection Act from going into effect. The law was set to take effect on November 15. 


Thomas issued the preliminary injunction after abortion providers filed a lawsuit challenging the law’s constitutionality. Thomas’ injunction will remain in effect until she can hear the case.


Along with her injunction, Thomas wrote an opinion noting that she believes the law contradicts the constitution.


She wrote, “Alabama’s abortion ban contravenes clear Supreme Court precedent. It violates the right of an individual to privacy, to make choices central to personal dignity and autonomy. It diminishes the capacity of women to act in society, and to make reproductive decisions. It defies the United States Constitution.”


As Christian Headlines previously reported, the Human Life Protection Act would nearly ban all abortions in the state of Alabama. The law – which was sponsored by Republican Representative Terri Collins – would classify abortion as a Class A felony and threatens anyone who performs an abortion with a sentence in prison of up to 99 years.  


The law does not make exceptions in the cases of rape or incest, though it does…

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Nicole Scherzinger pleads for information over death of cousin

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Nicole Scherzinger pleads for information over death of cousin

The singer and former X Factor judge said the world was a better place for having her beloved relative John Boy.

“I ask that whoever did this, has the dignity and strength to come forward. Our God is a loving and forgiving God, but I pray for justice for John Boy and closure for my family.”

 

Scherzinger has begged for information relating to the fatal incident, which she said took place in Fort Lauderdale in Florida.

She has also paid tribute to her cousin, who she said was an “incredible man”.

Posting on Instagram, the singer said: “It’s like a nightmare, that we will never be able to wake from.

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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In Northern California, Churches Step Up to Shelter Fire Evacuees

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In Northern California, Churches Step Up to Shelter Fire Evacuees


In Northern California, Churches Step Up to Shelter Fire Evacuees


(RNS) — Around 4:45 a.m. Sunday (Oct. 27), staffers at CrossWalk Community Church in Napa got a call, alerting them the church would need to serve as an evacuation center as the Kincade fire continued to spread in Northern California.


By 6 a.m., the church doors were open.


Members set up the gym space to host evacuees and cleared the sanctuary area after worship services to make room for additional cots. About 20 evacuees stayed that night at the church; some 45 had been assisted as of Tuesday. 


Wednesday morning, the Kincade fire in Sonoma County wine country entered its eighth day and had grown to more than 76,000 acres. As of Wednesday, the fire had destroyed 206 structures, including 94 homes, and injured two first responders. More than 90,000 structures remained under threat, including 80,435 houses. Firefighters had reached 30% containment of the blaze. A Cal Fire advisory listed six churches, such as St. Mary’s Cathedral and Calvary Chapel of Petaluma, serving as evacuations centers. Some were at capacity.


Down south, the Getty fire — which broke Monday in a canyon west of Interstate 405 and near The Getty — had grown to 745 acres and was 27% contained Wednesday morning. It had destroyed 12 homes and damaged five others. 


Pastor Peter Shaw said CrossWalk Community Church has been prepping for months for a disaster like this. 


“From my own…

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TobyMac launches foundation in honour of son

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TobyMac launches foundation in honour of son

Instead of giving flowers for the funeral of their 21-year-old son, they have asked that people give to a charity they have set up in Truett’s name.

TobyMac is an American Christian musician who was part of the band DC Talk until 2001 and then made several solo albums.

 

 

The eldest of TobyMac’s children died unexpectedly last week at their family home in Nashville, Tennessee.

Truett had put out a number of different tracks under different names and had also collaborated with his dad on a number of songs.

On Tuesday, TobyMac shared a photo on Facebook announcing the foundation. The Truett Foster Foundation will raise money to help young people pursue education in music.

“Truett Foster Mckeehan had an untamable grand personality and dreams to match. Since the age of 12, he knew he wanted to make music.

“Dreams are so important to kids growing up. Too many kids do not have the financial ability to pursue their dreams. We want to use this fund to help kids do just that. Get an education, to pursue music, to get the chance to live their dream. Truett would have loved that,” the description of the Truett Foster Foundation reads.

 

 

According to the foundation’s website, donations made in Truett’s name will help send “vulnerable youth to college, that they may realize their God-given potential to change the lives of others.”

One hundred percent of the donations will be used…

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A Colossal Flaming Jack-O’-Lantern in the sky: Explaining ghosts and living by transforming truth

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A Colossal Flaming Jack-O’-Lantern in the sky: Explaining ghosts and living by transforming truth

Credit: NASA/SDO: “Active regions on the sun combined to look something like a jack-o-lantern’s face on Oct. 8, 2014.”

If Halloween is supposed to be frightening, the holiday came early for me last night. 

The Nationals defeated the heavily favored Houston Astros last night to bring Washington their first World Series title since 1924. As a native Houstonian, watching my team lose was painful. But the Nationals are a great story of perseverance whose playoff run united a city divided by deep political rancor these days. 

Now it’s time for something else Democrats and Republicans can do together. 

Some 175 million Americans participated in Halloween last year, spending $9 billion in the process. NASA has even joined the effort, bringing us the Colossal Flaming Jack-O’-Lantern. (That’s my name, not theirs.) 

It’s a picture of the sun captured by the space agency. Because of active regions burning more brightly than others, it really does look like a huge jack-o’-lantern in the sky. 

It seems everyone is celebrating Halloween these days. But for many in the US, the holiday is more than candy and make-believe. Much more, in fact. 

Why do people believe in ghosts? 

According to a YouGov survey, 45 percent of Americans believe ghosts exist. Forty-three percent think ghosts can come back to haunt people or places. 

What explains such belief? 

“Paranormal investigator” Sharon A. Hill: “For over 200 years, many people, even scientists, have sought evidence for ghosts and life after death. There are millions of pages of previous research and experimentation into paranormal ideas. Definite proof has never been found.” 

However, “because almost all paranormal investigators have a preconceived belief about ghosts, they do not look very hard for other explanations. They quickly embrace a paranormal conclusion since that is their goal.” 

Psychology professor Christopher French agrees: “Studies…

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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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Christian Aid disappointed with Chile’s cancellation of climate summit

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Christian Aid disappointed with Chile’s cancellation of climate summit

However, it said it stands in solidarity with Chile after its president cancelled the summit due to civil unrest.

Dr Alejandro González, Christian Aid’s senior advisor on climate change for Latin American countries said: “The climate emergency is real and all our efforts to take action now must be a priority.

“The fact that this COP would be held in Latin America and the Caribbean would have given us an excellent opportunity to discuss the challenges the region has in the face of an unfair system that deepens climate change effects while driving profound inequalities.”

 

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera has said he is cancelling two major international summits so he can focus on his response to nationwide protests that have left 20 dead, hundreds injured and businesses and infrastructure damaged.

The decision to call off the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) and UN global climate gatherings, planned for November and December, respectively, dealt a major blow to Chile’s image as a regional oasis of stability and economic development.

Mr Pinera said he was forced to cancel both events due to the chaos unleashed by 13 days of protests.

Demonstrators are demanding greater economic equality and better public services in a country long seen as an economic success story.

“This has been a very difficult decision that causes us great pain,” Mr Pinera said in a…

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New light installation to pierce darkness at Lichfield Cathedral

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New light installation to pierce darkness at Lichfield Cathedral

All Saints day or All Hallows Day is a day in the church commemorating all the saints known and unknown.

‘Light from Light’ is the latest art installation by artist Peter Walker for All Saints. It will be available for just two days and is designed to encourage people to remember and commemorate the lives of others and to reflect on how they themselves might be a light in the world today.

 

 

Walker said: “Light from Light is about recognising and remembering those who have made a difference in our lives and our world; those who have shone a light in the darkness.

“I want this artwork to invite people to reflect on that and to think about how they too might be a light in the darkness for their own generation,” he said.

 

 

Three beams of blue light representing the Holy Trinity will be projected up into the sky for two nights from dusk on 31st October and again on 1st November.

Inside the Cathedral, a light trail will trace a path to prayer stations where people can light a candle and leave their own light in the darkness.

There will be a midnight Eucharist for All Saints Day starting at 11.30pm on 31st October and on 1st November there will be a ‘Light from Light’ service for young people at 10.00pm.

 

 

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian…

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Pope emotional as statue taken to UK after Falklands War returns to Argentina

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Pope emotional as statue taken to UK after Falklands War returns to Argentina

Argentine troops had brought a statue of Our Lady of Lujan to the Falkland Islands, or Las Malvinas, when they invaded the British colony in 1982.

After the two-month war, the statue ended up in a military cathedral in Britain, where it served as a focus for prayers for the dead from both sides.

 

Following his public audience, Francis wiped his eyes and kissed a stone plaque which honours the war dead in his Argentine homeland.

AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

 

The statue is going back to Argentina, while British Catholics will get a replica at the Catholic Military Cathedral of St Michael and St George in Aldershot.

Britain defeated Argentina, which believed the Falklands were illegally taken from it in 1833.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

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How to Stay Focused on Revitalizing a Church When the Critics Are Killing You

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Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

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

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House Passes Resolution Declaring WWI Slaughter of 1.5 Million Armenians a ‘Genocide’

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House Passes Resolution Declaring WWI Slaughter of 1.5 Million Armenians a ‘Genocide’


House Passes Resolution Declaring WWI Slaughter of 1.5 Million Armenians a ‘Genocide’


The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution Tuesday calling the Ottoman Empire’s World War I-era slaughter of 1.5 million Armenian Christians a “genocide” – a historic vote that marked the first time in more than three decades that either body of Congress has used the term.


Turkey, which was formed out of the fall of the Ottoman Empire, acknowledges atrocities took place but has pushed back on the use of the word “genocide,” arguing they weren’t systematic. Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire either were killed or forced to flee. 


Although the mass killings took place a century ago, leaders from both parties – including former Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton – often have blocked Congress from using the term because of the historically close relationship between the U.S. and Turkey.


But that tight relationship ended when Turkey invaded Syria in recent weeks. 


It is sometimes called the “forgotten Holocaust” and was depicted in the film The Promise. 


The resolution passed, 405-11. It says the genocide involved the “killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923” and that the U.S. provided relief to the “Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians.” 


Further, the resolution says, Congress rejects…

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