TobyMac Releases Gut Wrenching Statement Following the Death of His 21-Year-Old Son

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TobyMac Releases Gut Wrenching Statement Following the Death of His 21-Year-Old Son


TobyMac Releases Gut Wrenching Statement Following the Death of His 21-Year-Old Son


Christian rapper TobyMac released a gut-wrenching statement on Facebook Thursday evening regarding the death of his 21-year-old son, Truett McKeehan.  


“Truett Foster Mckeehan had joy that took the room when he entered. He was a magnetic son and brother and friend. If you met him, you knew him, you remembered him. His smile, his laugh, the encouragement he offered with words or even without. He had an untamable grand personality and dreams to match. And he hated being put in a box,” the 55-year-old father of five wrote.


Mac went on to talk about how Mckeehan – known online as Tru, Shiloh or truDog – was a budding rap music star who expressed himself through the music he made.


“My last moment with Truett in person was at his first show Thursday at the Factory in Franklin, Tennessee … As I stood in the audience and watched my son bring joy to a room, I was as proud as a “pop” (as tru called me) could be. It was the culminating moment of a dream that he had since he was 12. It couldn’t have been sweeter,” Mac wrote.


“Our music, and what we say lyrically couldn’t be more different, but the outcome was much the same … offering a room full of people a few minutes of joy in a crazy world,” he added.


Mac also shared McKeehan’s heart for God noting that while his son was “by no means a cookie-cutter Christian” he had a…

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‘More Christian than baseball player’: How Anthony Rendon balances faith and fame

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‘More Christian than baseball player’: How Anthony Rendon balances faith and fame

The Washington Nationals’ Anthony Rendon during Game 2 of the NLDS vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 4, 2019.

Note from Dr. Jim Denison: I am grateful to my son, Ryan Denison, for writing The Daily Article this week while I am traveling. Ryan is a graduate of Baylor University and Truett Seminary and is completing his doctoral dissertation in church history at BH Carroll Theological Institute. He serves as Senior Fellow for Theology with our ministry and writes often in my absence. I am certain you will find his insights to be both biblical and practical.

The 2019 World Series starts tonight, pitting the Houston Astros against the Washington Nationals. While there are many storylines worth following with the series, the play of Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon is among the most interesting. 

Rendon is coming off the best season of his career and is one of the leading candidates for MVP. Despite his play, though, his team had one of the toughest paths to get to this point. 

They began the playoffs with a one-game, winner-take-all match against the Brewers in which they were three runs behind heading into the final two innings. Rendon scored what became the deciding run. From there, they went on to beat the heavily favored Dodgers before sweeping the Cardinals to earn their ticket to play for a championship. 

Through it all, Rendon has been one of the Nationals’ best players. But, in hearing him discuss his career, you get the clear sense that what’s most important to him is that he plays in a way that glorifies the Lord. 

As he told the Washington Post, “You want to plan for the future. But I’ve come to learn your plans don’t always come to fruition. Obviously, with my faith, too, I don’t want to seem like it’s all about me, me, me. It takes away from what I do for Him, for the Lord.” 

Because of those priorities, Rendon stresses that “I want to…

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Discovered 1,500-year-old Byzantine church dedicated to martyr

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Discovered 1,500-year-old Byzantine church dedicated to martyr

After three years of excavations, the Israel Antiquities Authority believes that it was a site of pilgrimage until the Abbasid caliphate in the ninth century.

Historians believe the church was built in honour of an unnamed martyr, as excavations revealed a mosaic floor with Greek inscriptions explaining so.

 

 

Findings from the church were put on display at an exhibition titled “The Glorious Martyr” starting last Wednesday at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem. The site is also known as “The Church of the Glorious Martyr.”

“In the Byzantine period, locations traditionally associated with major events of the Old and New Testaments, including sites linked to saints and martyrs, were venerated as holy places. Churches containing martyrs’ relics became important destinations for Christian pilgrims,” museum noted.

The church was first uncovered by the Construction and Housing Ministry during construction work aimed at expanding the city of Bet Shemesh’s suburb Ramat Bet Shemesh, which is located about 18 miles from Jerusalem.

 

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

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How to Encourage Other Revitalization Pastors without Bragging – Revitalize and Replant #116

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Today Thom and Mark answer a second round of listener-submitted questions. Answers include advice on staying humble, encouraging others, adjusting expectations, and the importance of corporate worship. This episode is helpful for any pastor trying to make Kingdom impact.

From Johnathan:
I pastor a church that is in the revitalization process. We are growing and seeing God work amongst the ministries of the church in mighty ways. Once a month I meet for breakfast with a small group of local pastors who are not all experiencing the same results as us. As a matter of fact, some of them seem downright depressed at times. It is my desire to see these other churches do well as well. My question is, how do I encourage these pastors without seeming as though I am bragging or being boisterous?

From Joe:
I’m two years into replanting a church. What do you do when members of your congregation no longer want to come to Church gatherings on Sundays.

Highlights:

– People don’t always want to know your story they just want to know you are there.
– Success isn’t measured by the masses but one changed life at a time.
– Ministry presence and a listening ear are the two greatest things you can offer people.
– God’s work and activity are not just numerical.
– It isn’t about a number but it is about being consistent to gather in corporate worship.
– In a culture that increasingly holds a secular world view,…

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

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Texas Judge Gives Dad Rights over 7-Year-Old Son’s Gender Transition

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Texas Judge Gives Dad Rights over 7-Year-Old Son’s Gender Transition


Texas Judge Gives Dad Rights over 7-Year-Old Son’s Gender Transition


A judge decided this week that the parents to 7-year-old boy James must make joint decisions about their son’s medical care, particularly regarding his gender identity.


According to Life Site News, Judge Kim Cooks of the 255th district in Texas ruled that Jeffrey Younger, the boy’s father, and Dr. Anne Georgulas, the boy’s mother, will both have a say in James’ medical decisions.


Georgulas wants to continue to transition James to a girl named “Luna” by using puberty blockers, while Younger has said he wants to take a “wait and see” approach.


The couple is divorced.


Georgulas has enrolled James in school under the name “Luna” and as a female student since kindergarten. According to reports, she started telling James that he was a girl as soon as he was 3 when she says he showed interest in a McDonald’s toy meant for girls.


Younger, however, said that James identifies as a boy when he is with his father.


James’ mother also visited a medical transition clinic in Dallas to consider “hormone suppression” therapy in the Gender Affirming Care Program for youth. The medical clinic, GENECIS, said it would not allow the boy to start puberty blockers until Younger agreed.


Previously, Georgulas had exclusive rights to make decisions for James, and his twin brother, Jude. Younger filed a counter-petition asking for sole managing…

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

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John MacArthur tells Beth Moore ‘Go home’: 3 ways to disagree better

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John MacArthur tells Beth Moore ‘Go home’: 3 ways to disagree better

John MacArthur, Grace to You. Beth Moore, Living Proof Ministries.

Note from Dr. Jim Denison: I am grateful to my son, Ryan Denison, for writing The Daily Article this week while I am traveling. Ryan is a graduate of Baylor University and Truett Seminary and is completing his doctoral dissertation in church history at BH Carroll Theological Institute. He serves as Senior Fellow for Theology with our ministry and writes often in my absence. I am certain you will find his insights to be both biblical and practical.

John MacArthur is a prominent pastor and biblical scholar who is currently celebrating fifty years in pulpit ministry at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. 

Sadly, that legacy is only part of why he’s in the news today.

Last week, MacArthur took part in a panel discussion at a Truth Matters Conference hosted by his home church. Emcee Todd Friel asked the panel for a one-word or “pithy” response to certain names. 

Friel then started the discussion by saying “Beth Moore,” in reference to the prominent Southern Baptist author and speaker who has made waves recently by teaching at churches on Sunday mornings. 

MacArthur responded by simply but clearly saying, “Go home.” 

Those in attendance responded with laughter and applause. 

While some might be tempted to dismiss MacArthur’s statement as playing to the crowd or the result of poor judgment in the moment—it certainly fit the “pithy” characterization that Friel was looking for—it’s important to note that the pastor took more than thirty seconds to craft his response. It was clear, in both his answer and the later explanation, that his words represent what he believes. 

My purpose today is not to expound upon the proper role of women in the ministry (for more on that question, see Dr. Denison’s “What should be the role of women in Church?“). Rather, it’s to…

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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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Justin Welby visits DRC Ebola zone

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Justin Welby visits DRC Ebola zone

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC an international emergency in July after it surfaced in August 2018.

There have been 2,169 deaths so far, including 2,053 people who died from confirmed cases of Ebola. The other deaths are considered probable cases. Just over a thousand people sickened with the virus have recovered, according to Congolese health officials.

 

 

Flying with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), the world’s largest humanitarian airline, Most Rev Justin Welby took the co-pilot seat in a Cessna Caravan 208 aircraft to reach an Ebola-effected cities in east Democratic Republic of Congo on 23 October.

Archbishop Justin took an aerial view of two Ebola-effected hot zones before landing in Beni and Butembo where the virus is being contained by an army of health workers and humanitarian NGOs.

 

MAF/Nick Frey

 

Following strict WHO anti-contamination procedures, Archbishop Justin toured hospitals which have been transformed into Ebola treatment facilities. The sites are a hub of medical activity with quarantine units, screening centres, and blood-testing tents set up to combat the disease.

The archbishop sensing some nerves before take-off from fellow passengers, said: “You have nothing to worry about. MAF fly in the most difficult places in the world, landing at the most difficult runways…

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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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Three Sentences Pastors Hate to Hear

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By Thom S. Rainer

The most common place pastors hear one of these three sentences is right before they preach or right after they preach. Of course, the prayerful focus on their message is detoured and distracted immediately.

Frankly, I don’t see how most pastors make it to their sermons when they have been blasted by one of these bombs right before they preach. While three sentences are certainly not an exhaustive list, these are the three I hear most often. To this day, I cringe when pastors tell me they have been hit yet again with one of these three sentences:

  1. “People are saying . . .” This one is the coward’s special. Rather than speak for themselves, the critic hides behind the deceitful anonymity of other people. If you challenge the verbal sniper with the identity of the “people,” he or she typically responds smugly that they cannot say. They are not at liberty to reveal the identities of the dissidents. Anonymous criticism is not valid criticism. It should be dismissed along with the messenger.
  2. “I love you, but . . .” The only thing the critic wants the pastor to hear is the verbiage after “but.” The only thing the pastor hears is the verbiage after “but.” The critic tries to couch his or her concerns from a posture of love and concern. Baloney! This sentence is similar to the secular phrase from one person dating to the other: “I want to be friends.” There is no love in the statement to the pastor. There is no desire for friendship in the statement to the…

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Atheist Richard Dawkins Says God Informs Morality, Ending Religion Would Be a Bad Idea

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Atheist Richard Dawkins Says God Informs Morality, Ending Religion Would Be a Bad Idea


Atheist Richard Dawkins Says God Informs Morality, Ending Religion Would Be a Bad Idea


Richard Dawkins, the author of the new book Outgrowing God and one of the world’s leading atheists, says ending religion would a bad idea.


Dawkins told The Times and the Sunday Times he fears if religion were abolished it would “give people a license to do really bad things.” 


“People may feel free to do bad things because they feel God is no longer watching them,” he said. 


Just as security cameras deter shoplifting, he said, individuals might feel free to commit crimes without a “divine spy camera in the sky reading their every thought.”


Dawkins told the newspapers about an experiment by professor Melissa Bateson at the University of Newcastle. She set up an “honesty box” in a university coffee room to pay for drinks – whether coffee, tea or milk – and placed a price list on the wall. During some weeks, she decorated the sign with pictures of flowers. Other weeks, she placed an image of a pair of eyes. People paid “nearly three times as much for their drinks when eyes were displayed,” she and the other researchers wrote in a paper about the experiment.  


Dawkins discussed the experiment in his 2019 book, Outgrowing God, in a chapter titled, “Do we need God in order to be good?”


“Whether irrational or not, it does, unfortunately, seem plausible that, if somebody sincerely believes God is watching his…

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

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Museum camera reveals cancer, saves woman’s life: The simple way to shift eternity

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Museum camera reveals cancer, saves woman’s life: The simple way to shift eternity

Note from Dr. Jim Denison: I am grateful to my son, Ryan Denison, for writing The Daily Article this week while I am traveling. Ryan is a graduate of Baylor University and Truett Seminary and is completing his doctoral dissertation in church history at BH Carroll Theological Institute. He serves as Senior Fellow for Theology with our ministry and writes often in my absence. I am certain you will find his insights to be both biblical and practical.

When Bal Gill and her family journeyed to a museum in Edinburgh, Scotland, they were just hoping for a fun family day to see the sights. Little did they know that the experience would save her life. 

As she described, “We had been to Edinburgh Castle and on the way down we saw the museum. While making our way through the floors we got to the thermal imaging camera room. As all families do, we entered and started to wave our arms and look at the images created.” 

While doing so, Bal noticed a heat patch coming from her left breast that didn’t seem to show up for other people. She took a picture of the heat map but didn’t give it another thought until the family returned home a few days later. 

A quick Google search led to a conversation with her doctor who soon diagnosed her with early-stage breast cancer. She’s since had two surgeries with another on the way, but the prognosis looks promising. 

As she stated in a news release, “I just wanted to say thank you: without that camera, I would never have known . . . it really was a life-changing visit.”

Living by God’s limits

The camera that saved Bal Gill’s life was intended to be little more than a source of amusement and an attraction for the museum. It’s original intent, however, did not limit its capacity for good. As such, it reveals an important principle for us to remember in our efforts to help those around us better connect with Christ. 

It can be…

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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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