The post Open Heaven 24 July 2019 – Mind Your Business appeared first on Flatimes.
Man Donates Liver to Fellow Church Member He Barely Knew
An Ohio woman has a new lease on life thanks to a priceless gift from a fellow church member she barely knew. When Jason Stechschulte sat down and started reading the bulletin before the Sunday service at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Van Wert, Ohio, he read something that arrested his attention and felt God-calling him to make a life-altering decision, CBN News reports.
Stechschulte read that Carole Motycka, a 44-year-old mother with four sons, had stage 4 colorectal cancer and needed a liver transplant to survive. He said, “I just had this feeling come over me that this is going to be me, that I need to do this. I was called to do it. Answering the call was not easy for Stechschulte, who has two pre-teen children of his own. The 41-year-old would have an eight-hour surgery to remove the left lobe of his liver, which comprises about 40 percent of the organ. Another team of Cleveland Clinic surgeons skillfully transplanted the liver into Motycka during a 12-hour procedure that was necessary to save her life.
Motycka did not know she was suffering from cancer until she struggled to complete a 17-mile hike with her family. She dealt with severe pain in her back and shoulder during and after the hike, so she went to the hospital the next day. There Motycka learned the shocking news… she had stage 4 colorectal cancer and it had spread to her liver.
Motycka underwent chemotherapy…
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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.
Lauren Daigle’s album sets new Billboard record
The album recently won her a Grammy, was certified platinum and beat popular secular musicians such as Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B to reach number three on the overall Billboard 200 chart.
The Louisiana native also made headlines in January when she became the first female to have a song on both the Christian Airplay and Adult Pop Songs chart.
Only The Fray’s song ‘How To Save A Life’ has reached the same kind of widespread audience when they charted in 2006-7.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Louisiana native debuted the video of “Rescue” which is the second single to be released from her third studio album, “Look up child”.
“Rescue is probably the most personal song from Look Up Child,” Daigle said in a statement.
“It was written for someone very close to me who was going through a difficult time. I wanted something that would comfort them in their time of need. That’s the purpose of the song, to give hope to people who feel lost.”
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.
Judge Bans Prayer, Religious Music at Graduations Following Atheist Suit
A federal district court has prohibited a South Carolina school district from including official student-led prayer and religious music in future graduations following a lawsuit from an atheist group.
The decision from U.S. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks on Thursday prevents Greenville County Schools from knowingly allowing prayer from a student during a graduation. It also prohibits the school system from listing a prayer in the printed graduation program.
Previously, the school system screened student’s printed remarks and reviewed student-submitted prayers. During graduations, some schools also asked the audience to stand or bow, Greenville News reported.
“The district shall not include a prayer – whether referred to as a prayer, blessing, invocation, benediction, inspirational reading, or otherwise – as part of the official program for a graduation ceremony,” Hendricks, who was nominated by President Obama, wrote, according to the American Humanist. “The district also shall not include an obviously religious piece of music as part of the official program for a graduation ceremony.
“The district and/or school officials shall not encourage, promote, advance, endorse, or participate in causing prayers during any graduation ceremony,” Hendricks added.
If school officials “review, revise, or edit a student’s remarks in any way…
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Kay Warren writes to her son 6 years after his suicide
The author and wife of Pastor Rick Warren shared a photo of a rose along with a heartwarming message.
“Happy birthday in heaven, my beloved son,” she wrote.
“Your rose is blooming today. With all the faith I have, I believe that the roses that surround you are brighter, smell sweeter and are tended by their creator.”
She continued: “So I will linger over your rose, absorbing the colors, textures, and scent, and let it be a seen reminder of the unseen reality where you live.”
In 2013, 27-year-old Matthew Warren committed suicide after a long struggle with mental illness.
Following the announcement the church made about Matthew’s death, Rick Warren said on his Facebook page that “Kay and I are overwhelmed by your love, prayers, and kind words”.
“Matthew’s story didn’t end on April 5, 2013,” Kay wrote.
“I am absolutely, 100% convinced that Matthew is in Heaven. That he is in God’s arms. That he is safe. He is secure. That I will see him again someday.”
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Courage and faith celebrated as cathedral re-opens
Two bombs tore through Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo in southern Philippines on 28th January leaving 20 people dead and injuring over 100.
The reopening of the cathedral six months on from the terror attacks has been hailed as a testimony to the local church’s faith and resilience despite the ongoing threat of Islamic extremism.
Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need’s national director in the Philippines Jonathan Luciano described witnessing the local Christian community’s faith and courage at the re-dedication Mass of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo.
Mr Luciano said: “Security was really tight – police and soldiers locked down an entire block of the city. Yet the cathedral was packed. The dedication was attended by hundreds. It was inspiring to see the families of the victims and the survivors of the blasts there.”
The re-dedication ceremony last week was led by Archbishop Gabrielle Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, and Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, Archbishop Emeritus of Cotabato, another diocese in the country which also has a large Muslim population.
Mr Luciano said: “Cardinal Orlando described how inspiring the people of Jolo were because of their faith and resilience despite constant persecution.”
He stressed the need for ongoing dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.
Researchers Find 1988 Dating of the Turin Shourd ‘Unreliable’, Call for New Tests
The Turin Shroud is believed, by many, to be the very cloth within which the bloodied body of Christ was wrapped up after his crucifixion. However, over recent decades, the authenticity of this piece of hallowed fabric has been widely questioned.
Both sides point to scientific testing and research to prove their case, with many believing that the dating of the artifact is inaccurate and that it is actually from the medieval period. Earlier objections included a local Bishop who, in 1390, asserted that the piece was a forgery completed by a local artist – he also insisted that a confession was made to this effect.
Despite the more recent objections that the piece dates later than originally thought, in the ’80s, the Shroud of Turin Research Project encouraged belief in the cloth’s historical validity.
“The Shroud image is that of a real human form of a scourged, crucified man… not the product of an artist,” they wrote, according to the Catholic Herald. “No chemical or physical methods known… can account for the totality of the image.”
Since then, questions have continued to swirl regarding both the nature of the piece and the accuracy of its dating.
“The chief complaint is that the three small Shroud test samples were cut from the same outer edge on a piece of the cloth long thought to have been added later in the Middle Ages,”…
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Australia becomes 33rd country to ban entry to pastor who said gay people should die
In a video posted on YouTube, Pastor Steven Anderson explained that his plans to preach at churches in Australia had been disrupted by his visa being denied.
He said in the short clip: “So I’ve been planning a trip out to Australia to preach for Pastor Kevin Sepulveda at New Life Baptist Church in Sunshine Coast and also I was going to be preaching at New Life Baptist Church in Sydney, Australia – their church plant there.
“But I just got word back today that, basically, I’m banned from Australia. My ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) was denied by Australia. I’m not going to be permitted to enter the country.”
This would make Australia the 33rd country to have banned the pastor from entry.
Anderson previously said during a sermon that homosexuality should be punishable with being stoned to death.
Just in the past few months, he’s also been banned from entering the Netherlands, the Schengen area, and Ireland.
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Thousands Gather in Puerto Rico to Pray for and Protest the Government following Governor’s Mismanagement
Thousands are gathering in Puerto Rico to demand the resignation of Gov. Ricky Rosselló after text messages showed mismanagement.
According to the Christian Post, thousands of people have been gathering for about 10 days and holding peaceful demonstrations with singing, dancing, yoga and holding signs while sky diving or scuba diving.
Hundreds also kneeled at the foot of a famous fort in San Juan, Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, praying for their country.
“Forgive tribalist, if we’ve failed you in being contentious or for anything, forgive us, my God. We are a nation that loves you, Lord,” a man is heard praying on a bullhorn in Spanish in a video released on social media.
“Glory to God,” he added.
The demonstrations started after leaked messages from a group chat showed that the governor had been discussing confidential government information with profane and sexist language.
In one message, Chief Financial Officer Christian Sobrino writes that he is “dying to shoot” San Juan Mayor Yulin Cruz “up.”
In response, the governor wrote, “You’d be doing me a big favor.”
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, said he was “troubled” by the governor’s actions.
“Puerto Rico is much more than an island. Our blessed land continues to change the…
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