Christian politicians react to local election results

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Christian politicians react to local election results

At the time of writing, the Conservatives have lost over 1000 council seats, Labour have lost over 70 and UKIP have lost over 130. 

The Liberal Democrats have gained over 500 seats, the Green Party have won at least 150 additional seats and others, including Independents, have increased their numbers by over 500. 

Premier has been speaking to Christian politicians about their take on these results. 

Siobhan McDonagh, the Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden told Premier: “The turnout was astonishingly low, around about 25%. And that’s probably a signal that people are a bit fed up with the main parties regarding Brexit.

“I feel sorry for any of our local county labor councillors, you’ve worked hard, you know who’ve done their best and find themselves standing for election on local issues, and that being judged by national ones

“I hope we will reflect on the impact of Brexit and that we will continue to support the people deciding what is going to happen with Brexit because clearly parliament has a log jam.”

Gary Streeter, the Conservative MP for South West Devon said: “Many people are very, very unhappy that we haven’t delivered and implemented the vote in the referendum of June 2016 and they’re trying to punish us in these local elections.

“I would hope that your listeners would be able to pray that somewhere, whether it’s the government or the government plus Labour – or somehow, we find a way forward on Brexit, which means we can deliver it within the…

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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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House Democrats Vote to Let Boys Play on Girls’ Teams

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House Democrats Vote to Let Boys Play on Girls’ Teams


House Democrats Vote to Let Boys Play on Girls’ Teams


House Democrats easily defeated an amendment this week that would have prevented biological females from being forced to compete against biological males in sporting events. 


The amendment to the Equality Act by Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Florida was voted down Wednesday in the Democratic-controlled House Judiciary Committee, 22-10. Steube says he will bring the amendment back up on the floor.


Opponents and even supporters of the Equality Act warn the bill could forever harm female sports on the high school and collegiate level. 


This week, three current or former female athletes – Doriane Coleman, Martina Navratilova and Sanya Richards-Ross – penned an editorial in The Washington Post asserting the bill “would make it unlawful to differentiate among girls and women in sports on the basis of sex for any purpose.” Navratilova’s stance is particularly noteworthy. She is a lesbian and has drawn loud criticism from the LGBT community for her stance. 


Steube said his amendment would strengthen women’s sports.


“I’m offering this amendment today to ensure that our daughters are provided an equal playing field in sports for generations to come, and that female athletes are not competing against male athletes for athletic scholarships and Title IX funding,” Steube said. “… I want to guarantee that biological women are not forced to compete against…

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

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Israel Folau breaks down in tears as he encourages church members to stand up for their faith

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Israel Folau breaks down in tears as he encourages church members to stand up for their faith

The Wallabies player is facing a code of conduct hearing on Saturday to determine whether his $4 million contract will be terminated for posting on social media a warning about all those destined for hell.

In the video, first revealed by The Daily Telegraph in Australia and shown on Channel 9 breakfast TV programme ‘The Today Show’, Folau referred to the book of Daniel where three men stand up for their beliefs with the threat of death.

 

“At some stage, each and every one of us will face our own fiery furnace, and some of us may have already faced that,” Folau told members of Sydney’s Truth of Jesus Christ Church.

“In your workforce, if they’re telling you something that will compromise your faith, this is a test of faith in which you’re going to be put in a challenge, and the question is – what are you going to do?

“With these guys, they were challenged and it was a matter of life and death, physical death. But they understood their treasures were stored up in heaven, not here on earth.

 

“As the scriptures say, ‘don’t set your mind on things below, but set it on things above’.

“We all know as born again believers in Christ, that everything we have here is…

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Lauren Daigle’s ‘You Say’ the No. 1 Shazamed Song of the Billboard Awards

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Lauren Daigle’s ‘You Say’ the No. 1 Shazamed Song of the Billboard Awards


Lauren Daigle’s ‘You Say’ the No. 1 Shazamed Song of the Billboard Awards


The most-Shazamed song during Wednesday’s Billboard Music Awards on NBC wasn’t a rock, country or mainstream pop song. Instead, it was a Christian tune.


Lauren Daigle’s “You Say” off of her most recent album Look Up Child was the most-Shazamed song during the awards show, beating out performers such as the Mariah Carey, Khalid and Panic! at the Disco, Billboard reported. 


Shazam is an app that identifies songs by listening to them.


The song accounted for 25 percent of all Shazams during the broadcast.


The song even beat out the combined Shazams for three songs by the Jonas Brothers.  


You Say has enjoyed rare mainstream success for a Christian song, receiving play on mainstream radio stations. It landed in the top 40 of Billboard’s Hot 100 in January. 


It also stood atop Billboard’s Christian Airplay chart for 17 weeks. 


Following is the Top 10 list for the most-Shazamed songs during the Billboard Music Awards: 


1. Lauren Daigle, You Say


2. Jonas Brothers, Medley


3. Dan + Shay & Tori Kelly, Speechless


4. Khalid, Talk


5. Mariah Carey, Medley


6. Halsey, Without Me


7. Panic! at the Disco, Hey Look Ma, I Made It


8. BTS featuring Halsey, Boy with Luv


9. Ciara, Thinkin Bout You


10. Kelly Clarkson, Broken & Beautiful


Daigle won three awards at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. She won the…

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

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‘We are in danger; we have no one to fight for us’

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‘We are in danger; we have no one to fight for us’

Christian charity Open Doors was informed that armed members of the terrorist organisation – that has pledged allegiance to IS – invaded the Christian community of Kuda near Madagali in Adamawa state, north east Nigeria on Monday.

They then went door to door, killing as many as 25 people.

 

Funeral arrangements that had begun the following day were promptly halted as bereaved friends and family, sympathisers from neighbouring communities and even security agents fled as the terrorists were spotted again in the community.

Christian leaders in the area told Open Doors: “We are in danger – we have no one to fight for us to end this killing of our people.”

 

Field workers have asked supporters around the world to pray for the Lord’s grace to the Church in the Madagali area as they face renewed instability.

A spokesperson from Open Doors told Premier: “Pray for the Holy Spirit to be at work in the lives of all those affected.

“Pray that security will be restored soon.”

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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‘Jesus Has Given Me Freedom, And You Can Experience It Too’ Justin Bieber Shares With 111 Million Fans

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‘Jesus Has Given Me Freedom, And You Can Experience It Too’ Justin Bieber Shares With 111 Million Fans


‘Jesus Has Given Me Freedom, And You Can Experience It Too’ Justin Bieber Shares With 111 Million Fans


Over the last year, Justin Bieber has become increasingly more open about his mental health struggles, and the fact that he is an imperfect human who needs a saving grace. 


With each message, he posts about what he is going through, a message of unconditional love, and forgiveness comes with it.


In his latest Instagram post, Bieber encouraged his 111 million followers to look to Jesus for all things in life. Whether that be mental health struggles, problems at home, or relational problems, Bieber pointed his followers to Christ.


“Fight for what you love and who you love don’t let fear and anxiety win..god has not given us a spirit of fear but of power love and of a sound mind!” the famous singer wrote.


“I haven’t believed the truth about myself I haven’t believed I am loved I haven’t believed I am forgiven it’s a hard thing for me to wrap my head around,” he admitted.


The pop singer explained that although he is going through a season of difficulty, he knows where his freedom, his love and his salvation comes from.


“Jesus has given me freedom and the pursuit of getting to know his character is never ending,” Bieber explained. “Gods character never changes he is the same yesterday now and forever. He is always good!”


He went on to explain that he isn’t afraid of being vulnerable before God, and…

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

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Four Dead as Chaos Reigns in Venezuela

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Four Dead as Chaos Reigns in Venezuela


Four Dead as Chaos Reigns in Venezuela


Four people are dead and over 200 have been wounded as a result of violent protests rocking Venezuela. 


According to the Washington Post, the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict reported the numbers as protests continued across the country Thursday. Two people died as a result of gunfire in Caracas and two others were shot in La Victoria.


The Venezuelan people have been struggling through an economic crisis for several years, but the political turmoil began last year when President Nicolas Maduro won another term in an election that many believed to be an illegitimate election. The opposition party boycotted it in protest. 


When other Latin American nations and the United States publicly questioned the results of the election and the legitimacy of the Maduro government, National Assembly leader Juan Guaido declared himself to be the interim president. Over 50 nations now recognize Guaido as the leader of Venezuela, claiming that his ascension to power is in line with the Venezuelan Constitution. Cuba, Russia, and some other countries still recognize Maduro as the duly-elected national leader.


The violence occurred this week as thousands took to the streets of Caracas in support of Guaido after he called for public employees to go on strike and worked to encourage the military to defect from supporting Maduro. Many refused and a counter-protest to support Maduro took place in the streets…

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

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Reaching the Nominally Churched – Rainer on Leadership #533

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Podcast Episode #533

SUBSCRIBE:
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After discussing who the nominally churched are in the last episode, today we focus on how to reach them.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

  • It’s hard to know how often people truly connect with a church if they aren’t in a group.
  • There’s a real need to reach the nominally churched because many of them need to be evangelized.
  • Group involvement creates personal relationships in the church. Ministry involvement creates personal responsibility in the church.
  • Hurt looks backward. Hope looks forward.

The eight points that we discuss are:

  1. Who are they?
  2. They need to know they are missed
  3. Many need to be evangelized
  4. Movement to groups often the most effective strategy
  5. Movement to ministry the second most effective strategy
  6. Acknowledge hurt but focus on future
  7. Churches are missing reaching this group often more than the inactive and the unchurched
  8. Part of the attendance frequency problem and opportunity

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast

Rainer on Leadership is a member of the LifeWay Leadership Podcast Network

Episode Sponsors

Today’s episode is sponsored by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Midwestern offers more than 25 degrees at both undergraduate and masters level that are fully attainable online. From Business to Bible, Counseling to Christian education, prepare for your future at your own pace and in your own location.

Find out more at

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

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Bishop Graham replaced in Norwich by Bishop Graham

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Bishop Graham replaced in Norwich by Bishop Graham

The 48 year old will move from his current role as suffragan Bishop of Dudley, in which he has served since 2014.

 

He replaces namesake Rt Rev Graham James who stepped down in February.

Speaking about his new role, he said: “It’s a great honour and somewhat daunting to be nominated as Bishop of Norwich. I’m excited to have been called to serve among the people of Norfolk and Waveney as together we seek to live out Jesus Christ’s call to love God and our neighbours.

“A theme of God’s calling in my life is that each new chapter has been to a new and unexpected place. The Diocese of Norwich is equally a new and unexpected place for me, and what a wonderful privilege it is to be called to serve here.

“I see the role of a bishop as encouraging others to live out their faith in Jesus Christ with a generosity of spirit and compassion, bringing people together to serve their neighbours in partnership with others.”

 

Bishop Graham was ordained as a priest in 1997. Before moving to the midlands he served in the north east of England.

He’s an honorary canon at St Cyprian’s Cathedral in Kumasi, Ghana and has a keen interest in ecology.

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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An amazing third grader and Kennedy’s moonshot: Finding an empowering purpose

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An amazing third grader and Kennedy’s moonshot: Finding an empowering purpose

Ten-year-old Sara Hinesley recently won a national handwriting contest. The third grader’s writing is much better than mine ever was. She won $500 for her efforts.

She also has no hands.

Sara holds a pencil between the ends of her arms to write. She told reporters that when her teacher first taught her how to write in cursive, Sara found she had a natural talent for it. She also likes to create art, ride her bike, read, and swim.

Sara’s family briefly considered obtaining prosthetic hands for her, but decided she is doing fine without them. “She is so amazing and functional without prosthetics that really there is not a need,” her mother said. “She can do just about anything—often times better than me or my husband.”

Have you cried at work?

Such hopeful stories are especially powerful in a time of great anxiety.

In fact, Gallup reports that Americans are among the most stressed people in the world. Our rates of stress and worry are higher than ever before. Remarkably, our negative emotions are even higher than during the Great Recession.

According to a recent survey, 81 percent of Americans say stress impacts their work negatively. Forty-eight percent have cried at work; 50 percent missed at least one day of work during the last year because of stress induced at the office.

However, we’ve been here before.

A hard year and an historic announcement

1961 was a difficult year for America. Despite the hope engendered by President John Kennedy’s inauguration, world and national events were deeply discouraging.

On January 3, the US severed diplomatic relations with Cuba. On January 9, British authorities announced the discovery of a huge Soviet spy ring.

On April 12, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel in space, signaling the Soviet Union’s growing superiority in the space race. On April 19, the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba failed.

On May 14, civil rights protesters…

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