The post Seeds of Destiny 14 August 2019 Devotional – The Significance of the Night Time appeared first on Flatimes.
Open Heaven 14 August 2019 – We would see Jesus
The post Open Heaven 14 August 2019 – We would see Jesus appeared first on Flatimes.
Open Heaven 14 August 2019 – We would see Jesus
The post Open Heaven 14 August 2019 – We would see Jesus appeared first on Flatimes.
Marriage registry changes could lead to disestablishment, fears General Synod member
New plans, set to come into force as soon as possible, for Church of England weddings could mean couples would not immediately get a wedding certificate at their service but would sign a wedding ‘document’, which they would then have to get converted into a certificate at a registry office.
The document for the ceremony would have to be prepared by the vicar and the responsibility would be on the couple to take it, or assign someone else to take it, to a registrar within seven days of the wedding.
The aim is to make the system more efficient and eventually make it more computer-based, but it has been criticised for being snuck-in without the consultation of clergy, worrying many church leaders that they would have to start preparing such documents this year despite having no training so far.
Rev Canon Jonathan Ford, vicar and member of the Church of England’s governing body, told Premier: “Nobody knows anything about it…I mean, I’ve got weddings this year, people are beginning to ask me have I got to do this now? And there’s no information. So, we just don’t know when it’s going to come and what we’ve got to do because all 20,000 of us have not been trained or informed or asked so it’s a complete fog and the fact that it’s been announced is causing anxiety, I’m pretty certain, to all the people who’ve got marriages booked for this summer.”
He added that…
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.
New Rules Will Limit How Many Immigrants Are Eligible for Green Cards
The Trump Administration announced a new rule that would make it more difficult for immigrants who have received public assistance to get green cards.
According to ABC News, while policies have long been in place to evaluate whether or not an immigrant would become a “public charge,” the new changes would widen the range of disqualifying programs.
Beginning in October, immigrants will be denied permanent legal status if they have low income, little education, or have received a range of benefits that make authorities believe they will need benefits in the near future. The rule says that someone will likely be a “public charge” if they receive benefits for more than 12 out of 36 months. Each benefit that is used counts as a month and the range of benefits that count has been broadened.
Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, acting director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, announced the new rules at the White House, saying, “The benefit to taxpayers is a long-term benefit to ensure that our immigration system is bringing people to join us as American citizens, as legal permanent residents first, who can stand on their own two feet, who will not be reliant on the welfare system, especially in the age of the modern welfare state which is so expansive and expensive.” He also tied the new rule to the American dream. He said, “We want to see people…
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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
Independent review to look at Church of England’s response to John Smyth abuse allegations
John Smyth was Chairman of the Iwerne camps from 1974 until 1982 – Christian youth holidays for public school boys, aiming to teach and grow them in the Christian faith.
Mr Smyth was accused of beating boys and was confronted by members of the Iwerne Trust board with allegations of serious physical abuse and current evidence suggests that after an internal investigation in 1982 he was encouraged to work abroad.
He was on the point of facing extradition to the UK from South Africa to be interviewed by Hampshire Police when he suffered a heart attack and died on 11 August 2018.
Keith Makin, a former director of social services with 30 years’ experience, will lead the independent ‘lessons learnt’ review which will consider the response of the Church of England and its officers to the allegations against John Smyth.
Mr Makin has led on serious case reviews and has chaired several local safeguarding partnerships.
The review will also consider the response of other organisations involved; Winchester College, the Titus Trust, and the Scripture Union, to the extent that those organisations are willing to co-operate.
It will allow survivors of John Smyth and who have given an account to the Church of England to describe their experiences and identify both good practice and failings in the Church’s handling of the allegations.
The Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishop,…
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.
Pastor Is Dragged from Prayer Gathering and Beaten by Hindu Radicals, Report Finds
A pastor leading a private prayer meeting in Northern India said he was dragged from the gathering and beaten by radical Hindu nationalists, arrested and taken to jail where the beating continued.
The July 28 incident, reported by International Christian Concern, was initiated when members of the extremist Bajrang Dal physically attacked and verbally abused several women and two men heading to the gathering in Kanshiram Colony, Uttar Pradesh. The Bajrang Dal, according to the Christian Post, is a youth militant group affiliated with the Vishva Hindu Parishad and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindu extremist umbrella group.
Pastor Raju Prassad said the attack continued when the Bajrang Dal dragged him from the home and beat him. Responding police then arrested the pastor and members of his small fellowship for allegedly converting individuals to Christianity, a crime in many Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh. Pastor Prassad insisted he was only praying when the assault began. The Christians were taken to the Chakeri police station where the militants continued to beat the pastor.
After being detained for five hours, police determined no conversions were taking place during the gathering and Pastor Prassad and his members were released. No action was taken against the attackers.
The incident is the latest in a string of escalating attacks…
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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
Bishops declare ‘climate emergency’ and make 7 lifestyle commitments
Andrew Watson and Jo Bailey Wells have joined forces with other organisations in Surrey to declare a climate emergency and say they will do all they can to help the situation.
The lifestyle changes include, switching to a clean energy provider, using cars less and cutting down on meat consumption.
Speaking to Premier about the urgency of the situation, Bishop Jo said: “It’s a topic that’s been floating around in the ether for years and years and years and it’s absolutely clear that we’re not doing enough fast enough.
“It seems to me that all of us together have to work for the solution.
“People in leadership have to be making a noise about it and clearly making a sacrifice in relation to it.”
Other commitments include growing your own fruit and veg, reusing plastic bags and using heating sparingly.
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.
Hillsong’s Marty Sampson: ‘I’m Genuinely Losing My Faith’
Yet another public figure popular within Christianity has come forward to say he is “losing” his faith.
Hillsong’s Marty Sampson, who is credited with writing or co-writing some of the most popular worship songs today, wrote on Instagram that Christianity is “not for me.”
In a follow-up post, though, Sampson indicated he was studying some of the faith’s leading apologists, including John Lennox and Ravi Zacharias. He also said in response to a Christian Post column that he hasn’t “renounced” his faith but that “it’s on incredibly shaky ground.”
Sampson’s initial post came a few weeks after bestselling Christian author Joshua Harris – who wrote I Kissed Dating Goodbye – announced he is no longer a Christian.
“Time for some real talk,” Sampson wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post. “… I’m genuinely losing my faith … and it doesn’t bother me… like, what bothers me now is nothing… I am so happy now, so at peace with the world… It’s crazy.
“This is a soapbox moment so here I go… how many preachers fall? Many. No one talks about it. How many miracles happen. Not many. No one talks about it. Why is the Bible full of contradictions? No one talks about it. How can God be love yet send four billion people to a place, all coz they don’t believe? No one talks about it. Christians can be the most judgmental people…
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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
Hong Kong Protesters Wave American Flag, Sing US National Anthem – Urban Christian News
Hong Kong seem to be heading to a ‘Tianenmen-like’ situation with thousands of protesters thronging the streets. Chinese media had already warned of potential terrorism rising in the country and even accused the US of supporting the riots. A video posted on twitter shows pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong waving the American flag adding to the fury of the Beijing-backed government.
Protesters in Hong Kong waving the American flag and singing the American National anthem as they advocate for democracy. Wow! pic.twitter.com/CKyFstud22
— Kaya Jones (@KayaJones) August 12, 2019
The protest had initially started in angst against a bill introduced in February which allowed the city’s citizens to be extradited by the Chinese government. Despite a suspension of the bill, citizens have demanded more political and democratic reforms. Hong Kong’s autonomy from China runs out in 2045 putting the city’s future in jeopardy, should the city fall in to the communist regime.
Click here to read more.
Source: The Week
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Urban Christian News
