The post Seeds of Destiny 21 August 2019 Devotional – The Impact of Your Company on Your Destiny appeared first on Flatimes.
Planned Parenthood Whistleblower Wins Massive Payout for Wrongful Termination
A former Planned Parenthood employee has won a huge cash payout after a court ruled that she was wrongly terminated from her job.
Mayra Rodriguez sued the leading abortion provider after claiming she was fired for repeatedly reporting the “high complication rates” of one of the clinic’s doctors.
The accusations leveled against the particular physician included the falsification of affidavits, conducting incomplete abortions and even failing to report a minor who had an adult partner.
However, far from showing appreciation for her diligent and professional conduct, Rodriguez insisted that Planned Parenthood immediately removed her from its staff.
At the end of last week, and at the conclusion of a two-week trial, a jury decided to award Rodriguez $3 million in damages, arguing that she was simply doing her job properly by reporting the concerns.
“It vindicated what she found and it ought to help our community be safer,” Rodriguez’s lawyer, Tim Casey, told the Arizona Republic.
The former worker explained how the abortion business also used her immigration status against her after the firing.
“Planned Parenthood publicly states they want to help and stand up for immigrants, that they care about these women, but it’s not true. They shamed me for my immigration status,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “But here we are, the jury heard the…
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Stripper and pastor team up to help children impacted by immigration raids
The unlikely pair linked up after 680 undocumented immigrants were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Mississippi earlier this month in what was the largest single-state immigration raid in US history.
Dawn McCall, the dancer, and Rev Adam Ericksen from Clackamas United Church of Christ discussed the “Our Kids Charity Campaign” in a Facebook video using the hashtag #SinnersandSaints.
McCall, also known as Blu Dawn said: “As an atheist, I know it seems super weird that strippers would do anything with the church for any reason, however, this is Portland and we keep it weird.”
Rev Ericksen said in response to McCall: “And I think it’s awesome.”
The pair said they were “pretty devastated” by children being separated from their parents so they decided to link up and start the campaign.
They are raising money by selling t-shirts and postcards with designs created by McCalls former colleague.
All of the proceeds from sales will go to Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance.
In addition to the campaign, Rev Ericksen has encouraged his congregation to donate while McCall will host charity events with other sex industry workers.
The pastor recently preached a sermon entitled “Strippers Will Lead Us Into the Kingdom: Fighting for Our Kids in Mississippi.”
The caption under the video of the sermon said:…
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Sudanese Woman Becomes a Christian after Local Church Helps Rebuilds Her Home
A Sudanese woman has given her life to Jesus after being helped by a group of compassionate Christians.
A native of the war-torn South Sudan region, “Abuk” had nowhere else to turn after her house was destroyed in a fire. Stuck with four children with no safe place to lay their heads, the desperate woman was ready to give up hope.
“When my house burned down, I used to sleep here on the floor with my children in my arms,” she told Samaritan’s Purse. “I didn’t take them anywhere. I was discouraged, hopeless and crying. I had no resources of my own to build a new house, and I had nobody else to help me.”
But when a local church heard of the woman’s dreadful predicament, they immediately stepped in to help, displaying the love of God in a practical way.
“We found Abuk at the house where it burned, raised the issue with the members of the church and joined hands to build the house,” explained Rev. Daniel Lual of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan.
Abuk said that she was overwhelmed with the church’s kindness to her at such a difficult time, noting that the charity displayed by these Jesus followers had a profound impact on her spiritual journey. “The people of God comforted me, for I was devastated and hopeless,” she said. “So I turned to God and placed my trust in Him.”
With a newly-built house and a sense of rejuvenated…
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Little less conversation now vicar retires Elvis gospel tribute act
Rev Andy Kelso, 71, trained as an actor and was then a vicar for 25 years and a sports chaplain, before feeling like God had called him to be Elvis impersonator, but he has now decided that too must end.
He has been going around churches performing since 2011, trying to attract people who wouldn’t normally go into a church.
Speaking on Premier’s News Hour, Rev Kelso said: “I retired from vicaring in 2009 and I was chaplain to was the Warriors Rugby Club but we moved out to the countryside and every day I would walk the dogs in the woods and fields and pray ‘Lord, is there anything else you want me to do? Please make it clear’ and I prayed for 15 months for the same prayer. Nothing. Until one day, God just spoke to my heart. I couldn’t believe it. He just said ‘Take Elvis to the churches’. I went ‘what?!'”
Rev Kelso explained how his act is distinctly Christian, saying: “Elvis was obviously he was a great singer but he loved his gospel music and I found that so many Elvis tribute acts don’t really touch on his gospel songs very much, if at all. So, I was going to make sure obviously, that I sang a lot of those.”
The church he left had a big stage and hosted his first concert in the winter of 2011, to which 250 people came, “I was absolutely petrified” he said.
He went on to sing at churches across the UK, enjoying the fact he was bringing something different to…
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Public health expert says more time outdoors improves spiritual health
It comes as new research from The British Ecological Society has found visiting a green space can promote good mental health.
The study revealed that spending time outdoors gives people the same rise in happiness as the arrival of Christmas.
Director of public health for Hertfordshire and Christian, Jim McMannus, says that spending time outside has huge benefits for both our mental and spiritual health.
Speaking to Premier he said: “Being in green space can help people feel calm, deal with stress and help reduce your blood pressure and even help with climate change.”
“The connection with the natural environment, and being away from technology, helps us to relax.
“But there’s also something about being in God’s creation and putting into perspective who we are as human beings in relation to the rest of creation.”
Speaking of his own experience McManus said being outside helps him to pray and reflect on God and said that churches have a great opportunity to bring their worship and service outside of the confines of the building.
McManus works with the Church Times and the Conservation Foundation to promote the use of church gardens and green spaces to benefit the public and said the possibilities are endless.
“Churches could create quiet gardens for reflection or gardens to give people volunteer space and employment or projects for people who just need space to combat…
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Billy Graham’s Grandson Back in the Pulpit following Cheating Scandal
Former preacher and grandson of the late great evangelist Billy Graham is set to take the pulpit once again, just a few years after being embroiled in a career-ending cheating scandal.
Tullian Tchividjian, 47, recently launched a new community of faith in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, called “The Sanctuary.” On its new website, the church states that its mission is “to be a church where God’s boundless love meets a broken world.”
“As we prepare to launch in the fall, we are currently meeting every Sunday morning at 10:30,” reads the short blurb. “Feel free to join us and to bring a friend.”
In July of 2015, Tullian resigned from the post of senior pastor at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida after admitting an extramarital affair. He was then hired by Willow Creek in Winter Springs, Florida, before being fired after disclosing another previous affair. Since then, the preacher has been posting regularly on Twitter, addressing subjects of grace, forgiveness and the problem of sin.
“You are not defined by your worst moments,” the preacher tweeted recently. “You are not defined by your greatest accomplishments. You are not defined by what others think of you OR what you think about yourself. You are not defined by what you do or fail to do. You are defined by what God has done for you.”
You are not defined by your worst moments….
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