The post Seeds of Destiny 29 August 2019 Devotional – The Force for Change appeared first on Flatimes.
CA Christians Believe Resolution May Force Religious Leaders to Accept LGBTQ Lifestyles
On Tuesday, lawmakers in California listened to arguments on a proposed resolution that some California Christians believe would infringe on their religious liberties, according to CBN News.
The resolution, titled Assembly Concurrent Resolution 99 (ACR99) and authored by Evan Low (D-San Jose), “calls upon all Californians to embrace the individual and social benefits of family and community acceptance [of LGBTQ matters]…” and to “counsel on LGBTQ matters from a place of love, compassion, and knowledge of the psychological and other harms of conversion therapy.”
But many religious leaders believe the language in the resolution may condemn those with an opposing view.
“ACR discriminates against perfectly rational adults who seek an alternate viewpoint to the gay-affirming counseling many of them have already tried and found wanting,” Russell Willingham, executive director of New Creation Ministries said. “I believe ACR99 sets the stage for future laws that will criminalize pastor caregivers like me who provide such a resource—resources that offer an option for those who don’t want what the state is telling them they must accept.”
Jonathan Keller, California Family Council President, agrees. “California Christians love our neighbors who identify as LGBTQ,” he said. “Sadly, it appears Assemblyman Low and other intolerant…
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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
‘Getting Brexit done’ will not happen on exit day, bishops’ warning over no deal
The letter comes a day after the Archbishop of Canterbury confirmed he would be willing to chair a citizens’ forum on Brexit “in principle” after being approached by senior MPs.
But the Most Rev Justin Welby said conditions to him accepting the role “have not yet been met”. He told MPs they must not use a public forum as a way of attempting to stop Brexit.
He said: “It is an unexpected privilege to be asked to chair this proposed citizens’ forum on Brexit.”
The bishops said in their letter they “support this move to have all voices in the current Brexit debate heard”.
25 Bishops have signed the letter, in which they raise concerns about the potential cost of a no deal Brexit to those least resilient to economic shocks.
In the letter they said as bishops with pastoral responsibilities in communities across urban and rural England, “we respond to the call by Jesus to tell the truth and defend the poor. We also recognise that our obligations go beyond England and impact on relations with the wider UK and our neighbours in the EU.
“Exiting the EU without an agreement is likely to have a massive impact on all our people and the Government is rightly preparing for this outcome.
“The Government believes that leaving the EU on 31 October is essential to restoring trust and confidence. It is unlikely, however, that leaving without an…
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.
12-Year-Old Deaf Girl in India Beaten and Disowned for Her Faith, Refuses to Deny Jesus
Twelve-year-old Saree has faced severe persecution in her short life. Born deaf to a Hindu family, the young girl found Jesus and healing. But when her family discovered her new-found faith, they beat her and attempted to force her to turn away. Saree’s faith remained strong, however, and despite being disowned by her biological family, she has embraced her spiritual family.
In an interview with persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA, Saree shared how her struggles have impacted her faith, the Christian Post reports.
“I was bullied at school for being deaf,” she said. “We went to the hospital, to Hindu temples and even to people who practiced witchcraft. Nothing helped.”
It wasn’t until one of Saree’s aunts, a Christian, invited her to church that she found healing. “Your family members are not believers in the true God,” her aunt told her. “But I am. Come with me. My God will heal you.”
Saree still remembers her first church experience. “The people were singing songs, and the preacher taught from the Word of God. I heard a little bit of sound, so I could understand a little of what was being said and sung. The songs made me happy.”
After the sermon, Saree went to the front with the pastor and a few other people. Despite her fear of going to the front, she kept walking and agreed to pray. “While they were praying,…
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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
2,100 new Christians this summer as Soul Survivor comes to an end
2,100 made commitments at the events which were the last ever of their kind.
After 27 years, Soul Survivor will no longer run the festivals with organisers saying God was calling them to “hand over the baton”.
Over 30,000 attended over the summer, marking record attendances at the events in Peterborough, Stafford and Kinross.
Founder Mike Pilavachi told Premier he has no regrets about the decision to make this year the last.
“I’m not at all sad,” he said. “Only because we know God has spoken to us. We’re looking forward to the future – we know it’s right.
“It’s been an utter privilege and a joy to serve Jesus and to serve the young people for these years and we’ve got so many memories that we’ll take with us to heaven – it’s been wonderful.
“People have been texting saying, ‘Are you feeling sad? Is there a bit of you that’s going to die? Is there a bit of you missing?’ What I want to say is it’s been such a privilege and honour but Soul Survivor has never been my life – Jesus is my life and he’s not going anywhere.”
Tom Smith attended the events as a teenager and now leads worship there.
Speaking about his experience this summer, he said: “It’s been one of my life’s greatest privileges just to see and lead this tribe of people into the presence of God and just see God move in so many ways.
“Even just this week, we’ve seen two people walk out of their wheelchairs….
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.
Federal Court Says Idaho Must Pay for Gender Reassignment Surgery of Inmate Who Sexual Abused a Child
A federal court ruling says that the state of Idaho must pay for the gender reassignment surgery of an inmate who was convicted of sexual abuse.
Mason Dean Edmo is transitioning to a female and goes by the name “Adree.” According to Boise State Public Radio, the 9thCircuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state must pay for the inmate’s surgery.
Last December, Federal District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled in favor of the state paying for the surgery, saying in his ruling that “responsible prison officials were deliberately indifferent to Edmo’s gender dysphoria, in violation of the Eighth Amendment.”
An appeal was filed in January, but the new ruling agreed with the Winmill.
Edmo will become the first transgender inmate in the U.S. to receive court-ordered sexual reassignment surgery.
In response to the ruling, Christian leaders have voiced concern about the court’s decision.
Christian author and radio host Eric Metaxas tweeted Monday that the ruling was “ill-conceived.”
“That American tax-payers could be forced to fund something many doctors consider harmful & ill-conceived – and which many Americans think morally erroneous – is an example of Big Govt and of a serious misunderstanding of Religious Liberty. Should the govt pay for Jesus tattoos?”
Idaho Gov. Brad Little appealed the December ruling…
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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
Churches urged to step up as report shows 250,000 young people unhappy
The charity’s annual report revealed that nearly 250,000 youngsters say they are unhappy and that kids overall wellbeing is at its lowest level since 2009.
Spokesperson Matt Hussey told Premier the Children’s Society is “deeply concerned” by the results of the 2019 survey.
He said the findings reveal a growing level of anxiety among today’s youth: “Children are particularly worried about the future – about things like Brexit and climate change all the way to more personal issues, such as not having enough money in the future and not being able to find a job.
“It’s really worrying that children feel weighed down by these big issues of the day.”
The study found that factors like friendship, school and body image were also contributing factors to their self-esteem, with nearly one in 12 boys aged 10 to 15 saying they didn’t like their appearance.
“Boys are feeling increasingly under pressure, to go to the gym, to look a certain way, to follow fashion. So what we’re seeing is an unfortunate downward trend in the way that boys are feeling about the way they look.”
Body confidence is still a bigger issue among young women, but the gap between boys and girls on this topic is narrowing, according to the report.
Hussey says children are feeling more isolated and alone in their problems: “Substantial numbers of children feel like they have nobody they can turn to and nobody they can talk to. A really good way of building friendships, is…
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.
Congressman Sean Duffy Resigns after Learning of Unborn Baby’s Heart Condition
Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI) announced his resignation from the U.S. House of Representatives, effective September 23rd. Duffy posted the announcement to his official Facebook page on Monday, thanking the residents of Wisconsin for the opportunity to represent them and explaining the rationale behind his departure.
Duffy, currently serving his fifth term representing Wisconsin’s 7thCongressional District, and his wife Rachel are expecting a baby in October and recently discovered that the child has a heart condition. He said in his statement that, “Recently, we’ve learned that our baby, due in late October, will need even more love, time, and attention due to complications, including a heart condition. With much prayer, I have decided that this is the right time for me to take a break from public service in order to be the support my wife, baby and family need right now. It is not an easy decision – because I truly love being your Congressman – but it is the right decision for my family, which is my first love and responsibility.”
Duffy and his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, both formerly starred on MTV’s The Real World. Duffy was on season six, set in Boston, and Rachel was on the third season, which was filmed in San Francisco. The couple currently have eight children, ranging in age from 19 to 3.
Compos-Duffy told the National…
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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
“Get back to your vestries” Conservative MP criticises Bishops’ Brexit intervention
The Church of England bishops wrote in an open letter: “Exiting the EU without an agreement is likely to have a massive impact on all our people and the Government is rightly preparing for this outcome.
“It is unlikely, however, that leaving without an agreement, regardless of consequences, will lead to reconciliation or peace in a fractured country.”
The Prime Minister’s decision on Wednesday to close parliament between mid-September and the Queen’s speech on 14th October was also referenced, with them saying: “The sovereignty of Parliament is not just an empty term, it is based on institutions to be honoured and respected: our democracy is endangered by cavalier disregard for these.”
Sir Desmond Swayne, a Christian and pro-Brexit Conservative MP for New Forest West, told Premier’s News Hour he was in favour of Mr Johnson’s latest move, saying: “I think it’s longer overdue and as for the hot air and the outrage – it’s bogus nonsense. The fact is that a session of Parliament normally lasts a year, this one has lasted over double that. It is high time that we had the prorogation that normally preceeds the new session of Parliament so that the government can set out its agenda. As for taking away the opportunities of those who are opposed to Brexit to do what they want to do, a mere three sitting days are being lost, three sitting days. The rest is just hyperbole…
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.
