Scotland smacking ban an ‘attack on God’s authority’

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Scotland smacking ban an ‘attack on God’s authority’

Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) minister Rev Richard Ross said parents and carers should be within their rights to discipline their children with a “gentle” smack.

He said: “Scots law is based on moral law, which is the word of God – and a bill to ban smacking would substitute man’s law for God’s law.

“Many thousands – perhaps millions – of Scots believe that the scriptures give a good, solid foundation for life, not only for children but for parents.

“As we understand it, the Bill is an open attack on the authority of God to tell us how to live, and it will smash the very foundation of Scottish society.”

Rev Ross was addressing a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee on the Isle of Skye.

They discussed a proposed new law which would remove the defence of “justifiable assault” for adults who physically discipline their children. It has been tabled by Green MSP John Finnie.

Scottish church leaders are divided over the issue. The Church of Scotland has previously spoken out in favour of a ban, saying it would “offer equal protection to children”.

Church of Scotland minister Rev Peter Nimmo of the Church of Scotland said the Bible does not offer a clear stance on smacking.

He added: “We do not use violence against criminals. We do not do it to schoolchildren any longer.

“It seems wrong and strange that we still allow that defence…

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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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Houston Library Officials Apologize after Registered Sex Offender Reads During Drag Time Story Hour

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Houston Library Officials Apologize after Registered Sex Offender Reads During Drag Time Story Hour


Houston Library Officials Apologize after Registered Sex Offender Reads During Drag Time Story Hour


Officials with the Houston Public Library issued a mea culpa Friday after a conservative group discovered that one of the participants in the “Drag Queen Story Hour” was a registered sex offender. 


According to the Houston Chronicle, 32-year-old Albert Garza, who performs in Drag Queen Story Hour as Tatiana Mala-Nina, was convicted in 2009 of aggravated sexual assault against a 9-year-old child. A judge sentenced Garza to five years of probation and community supervision. 


Garza’s sordid past came into view after months of work by conservative group MassResistance to fight against the Drag Queen Story Hour program at the Houston Library. They attempted to learn more about the program by filing a public records request, which the city of House denied. Then, they sued the City of Houston and a judge threw out the case. Since then, they have been researching participants through the Internet and social media.


The Houston Public Library apologized and released a statement acknowledging their mistake. They said, “We were made aware today that one participant for Drag Queen storytime who read at the September 29, 2018 Drag Queen Storytime has a criminal background that should have prevented him from participating in the program.” The release continued, “In our review of our process and of this participant, we discovered that we…

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

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Vicar campaigns for his own church clock to be silenced

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Vicar campaigns for his own church clock to be silenced

According to the North Wales’ Daily Post, Rev David Parry has written to Conwy Town Council saying chimes from the 19th century clock at St Mary’s church may also be disturbing other residents, businesses and tourists.

In response, the town council – which maintains the clock – hand-delivered a questionnaire to 400 residents and businesses asking for their views about the clock chiming every 15 minutes from 12.15am to 6.15am.

The questionnaire asked if the clock chimes were “annoying and unnecessary” or were part of the town’s character.

It also asked if they affected local businesses.

Mr Parry said he was pleased the council had decided to canvass opinion.

He said: “If it was me in charge of the clock I would have switched the chimes off overnight, as they aren’t necessary and do cause a disturbance to my family as we live very close by.

“I’m also concerned as Conwy relies so much on tourism that if tourists can’t sleep at night, they will not come back to the town.

However, Conwy resident Audrey Barker told the Daily Post: “The questionnaire is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever see.

“I don’t know anyone in the neighbourhood, living within the town walls or anyone that I know of is in favour of silencing the chimes during night-time hours.”

The Conwy Town clerk, Natasha Flint, revealed 200 questionnaires have been returned, and she believes more than 95 per…

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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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Mayor of London to face questions over arrest of street preacher

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Mayor of London to face questions over arrest of street preacher

Sadiq Khan will be asked why officers detained 64-year-old Oluwole Ilesanmi and why they changed their version of events.

The questions have been tabled by London Assembly member David Kurten. A Christian, Mr Kurten said he was “concerned” by footage appearing to show the evangelist being handcuffed and led away.

 

The UKIP politician said: “I’ve received a lot of comments about this video and they’re all supportive.

“Even people who aren’t Christians say ‘this is terrible, that someone seems to be having their freedom of speech impinged'”.

Premier has learned Mr Ilesanmi plans to attend tomorrow’s ‘Mayor’s Question Time’, alongside representatives of the Christian Legal Centre which has been supporting him.

Mayor of London

 

Mr Kurten continued: “I want to raise attention to Sadiq Khan about Olu’s case.

“I want to highlight what’s happened and I want to make sure this kind of thing doesn’t happen again to street preachers who are within their rights of freedom of speech.

The Metropolitan Police said Mr Ilesanmi was arrested outside Southgate Underground station in North London on Saturday 23rd February after concerns were raised about a man’s behaviour.

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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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‘We are, I am sorry to say, in the hands of God’ says Jean-Claude Juncker on Brexit delay

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‘We are, I am sorry to say, in the hands of God’ says Jean-Claude Juncker on Brexit delay

Speaking to German radio station DRF about the short extension to Brexit, Jean-Claude Juncker said: “Those months would have to produce, as an end result, an agreement from the British Parliament to the (Agreement) text which is before them.

“If that doesn’t happen, and if Great Britain does not leave at the end of March, then we are, I am sorry to say, in the hands of God.

 

“And I think even God sometimes reaches a limit to his patience.”

Any request for extra time is subject to unanimous approval by leaders of the remaining 27 EU states at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

While Mr Juncker said he had not received Mrs May’s letter, he said he was hoping for “clarity” from the UK on the way forward.

In a letter to European Council president Donald Tusk on Wednesday, Theresa May is believed to have asked for a three-month extension to 30th June in the hope of securing approval from MPs for her Withdrawal Agreement.

PA Wire

 

A Number 10 source said: “PM won’t be asking for a long extension.

“There is a case for giving Parliament a bit more time to agree a way forward, but the people of this country have been waiting nearly three years now.

“They are fed up with Parliament’s failure to take a decision and the PM shares their frustration.”

Mrs May’s move comes exactly 1,000 days after the referendum of 23rd June 2016, which delivered…

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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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What is an anonymous $1.5 billion lottery winner doing with her money?

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What is an anonymous $1.5 billion lottery winner doing with her money?

There’s a reason you can’t name the person who recently won the largest Mega Millions jackpot in US history: she doesn’t want you to.

A South Carolina woman won $1.5 billion last October. However, she did not claim her winnings until March 4. She spent that time researching professionals to help her preserve her anonymity and manage her new fortune. She has decided to keep her identity private for her personal safety.

While she is not revealing her name, we do know what she is doing with her winnings. She donated to the Alabama Red Cross to aid tornado relief; the Ronald McDonald House of Charities of Columbia, South Carolina; In The Middle, a charity that helps women with breast cancer; the City of Simpsonville Art Center; and the One SC Fund for Hurricane Florence relief.

She has not released the amount of her gifts. The only reason she made public the charities she is supporting is to raise awareness for their work. She said recently through her lawyer, “I do realize that such good fortune carries a tremendous social responsibility, and it gives me a unique opportunity to assist, support and contribute to charities and causes that are close to my heart.”

“All of us are here just to be alongside you”

After a gunman killed eleven worshippers at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue last October, Muslim communities around the world held vigils to show their support and raised more than $1.4 million for the survivors.

Now, Jewish communities are reciprocating as Muslims grieve following the deadliest shooting in New Zealand’s history. Fifty Muslims were left dead at two mosques in Christchurch last Friday. In response, Jewish leaders are raising donations for the New Zealand Attack Emergency Relief Fund.  

At the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center’s prayer service last Friday, the head of Jewish Community relations for Boston said, “All of us are here just to be alongside you, because you’ve stood…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Catholic journalist in misgendering row to face police

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Catholic journalist in misgendering row to face police

It is alleged that Caroline Farrow, who is also a mother and social commentator, made a transphobic comment during a heated exchange on Twitter last year.

Posting on Twitter, she said: “I now need to inform my children that Mummy is in trouble with the police because there was this girl, who was born in a boy’s body, whom I might have inadvertently referred to as a boy.”

 

Surrey Police has been investigating whether a hate crime was committed under the Malicious Communications Act. Such an offence carries a sentence of up to two years in prison.

A row on social media erupted following the 44 year old’s appearance on ITV’s Good Morning Britain show last September.

Mrs Farrow appeared with the transgender rights campaigner Susie Green to discuss a Girl Guides policy of not informing parents if a transgender youngster joins.

 

It is in the row which followed that Mrs Farrow allegedly misgendered Ms Green’s transgender daughter, Jackie.

Commenting on Twitter, she said: “I probably said ‘he’ or ‘son’ or something.

“I have pointed out to the police that I am a Catholic journalist and commentator and it is my religious belief that a person cannot change sex.

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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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Seven Warnings about Memorials and Plaques in Your Church

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A few years ago, I wrote a book about churches that have died, Autopsy of a Deceased Church. The methodology was simple but revealing. I interviewed several church members representing several different churches that had died.

One of the surprising issues consistent in all the interviews was the contentious issue of memorials and plaques in the church. Indeed, one interviewee put it bluntly, “We became obsessed about the plaques in the church. We had more fights about them than anything else.”

Wow.

And recently I watched the topic arise on Church Answers Central, our 24/7 question-and-answer forum. The impetus for the original post was a bequest of $10,000 left by a recently deceased church member. Some of the members in the church wanted to put a plaque on the wall in honor of her gift. The Church Answers’ community advised against it.

Here are the negative issues we have heard associated with memorials and plaques in the church:

  1. They can take the focus off of giving God alone the glory. Of course, it doesn’t have to be that way, but we heard from too many leaders who told us the memorials got more attention than God.
  2. They may be placed in places that are not permanent. You’ve heard the story. The church had pews for many years. Almost every pew had a plaque attached to it. Then the pews became old and worn, so the church decided to replace them with more efficient chairs. One church member told me his church lost about one-third of its members when the pews were replaced. The fight…

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

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Meditation Produces Success – Joyce Meyer Devotional 20 March 2019

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Topic: Meditation Produces Success [Joyce Meyer Devotional 20 March 2019]

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. — Proverbs 4:20-22 (NKJV)

When we refer to “meditating,” we mean we ponder something and give it our full attention. A French couple helped me see that meditation is like eating. They will take a bite of food after they have enjoyed the way it looks on the plate. They comment on the pleasant aroma and often mention one or two special ingredients. They chew slowly and deliberately, and they sometimes even comment on how it makes the inside of their mouth feel.

That seems a bit too much for most Americans, but that’s a good picture of meditating on God’s Word. We don’t just wolf down a few words or a verse and hurry on to the next. We pause to reflect on a word, a phrase, or a concept. We compare that scripture with others that come to mind. We feel in no hurry to dash to the end of the chapter.

The words are there for us to savor and enjoy. We should learn to be more concerned about quality than quantity. It is more important to get a deep understanding of one verse of Scripture than it is to read five chapters and understand nothing.

Meditating on God’s Word demands discipline. We live in such a fast-paced world that few of us make time to meditate. We should form a habit of setting aside time just to sit and think about God’s Word and the wonderful promises He has made to those who believe in Him.

The blessed person mentioned in Psalm 1 is the person who meditates on God’s Word “by day and by night.” The expression “by day and by night” means that it is a major part of a person’s life. It’s a way of saying that thinking about the Word of God should be a regular part of daily activity. This will require casting down wrong thoughts when they come and choosing to think on things that will benefit us. If we keep ourselves focused, it pays off spiritually.

I spend time with God in prayer and in study of His Word each morning, but I also apply the Word to situations that I deal with all throughout the day. During the writing of this devotion, I got some bad news by phone, and my response was to quote and think about various promises in God’s Word. His Word strengthens us and helps us keep our peace and joy.

I titled this “Meditation Produces Success” because it’s important for us to understand that contemplating the meaning of Scripture isn’t simply a good thing to do or an activity reserved for scholars. It’s God’s command to all of us. It is a requirement for true success.

I thought of the instructions to Joshua as he prepared to lead the people into the Promised Land. The first few verses of the book of Joshua provide God’s direction for him. There were at least two million people going into the land, and the responsibility of leading them was immense.

God promised to be with Joshua as He was with Moses, and He urged the new leader to be very courageous. Then He said, This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success (Joshua 1:8 AMPC).

The instructions seem clear. Joshua had the commands of God, and his primary responsibility was to contemplate those words. By immersing himself in the law, he was learning to understand the mind of God more fully. God went on to say that if Joshua kept his mind and heart on the law, he would be prosperous and successful.

Too often people focus on their problems instead of meditating on God’s promises. As they do, their problems seem to get bigger, and God’s power diminishes.

God doesn’t want Satan to fill your mind. He doesn’t want you to give him the opportunity to inject wrong and negative thoughts into your head. For the enemy to control your life, all he needs to do is to control your thoughts. Make a decision right now that you will not allow him to do that. Don’t let him defeat you.

Prayer Starter: Father God, You have told me to meditate on Your Word, and I ask You to help me do that. I want Your Word to be the focus of my life. When problems come, help me turn to Your Word immediately. When Satan attacks my mind, remind me to counterattack with Your Word. As I meditate on Your Word regularly, I believe I will see good progress in my life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

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The Way of the Blessing by Pastor Paul Enenche

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MARCH 2019 IMPARTATION SERVICE – 17TH MARCH 2019
ANCHOR SCRIPTURE(S): GENESIS 12:2-3
MESSAGE TOPIC: THE WAY OF THE BLESSING

SERVICE OBJECTIVE: Understanding what it takes to access the Blessing of God

The Bible makes it clear that in Christ Jesus we are potentially blessed (Gal. 3:13-14; Eph. 1:3)

But the fact is that not every child of God is walking in the reality of the Blessing

THE WAY OF THE BLESSING:

1. The way of uprightness (Ps. 1:1-3; 5:12; 24:3-5; Job 1:1-3)
The way of uprightness is the way of blessedness but the way of crookedness is the way of cursefulness.
The upright cannot escape the blessing of God and the crooked can never access the blessing of God

2. The way of Divine guidance (Gen. 12:1; 13:2; 26:1-2, 12-14; Isa. 45:1-3; 48:21)
The way of Divine guidance is the way of Divine abundance but the way of assumption is the way of frustration.
When you are guided you can never be stranded; when you are directed you can never be frustrated
If you want the Blessing of God, find out from God what He wants you to do.
Don’t make a move or take a step when you have lost your peace.

3. The way of absolute obedience (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:2; Deut. 28:1-2; Luke 5:4-6; Isa. 48:18; Ps. 68:6)
There is a connection between obedience and abundance and there is also a connection between disobedience and deprivation
The obedient will access peace like a river but the disobedient will dwell in a dry land (Isa. 48:18; Ps. 68:6).

The path of Divine direction is the path of total satisfaction

4. The way of giving (being a blessing both to God and to man) (Gen. 12:2; Acts 20:35; Mal. 3:10-11; Gen. 14:18-20; Ps. 41:1-2; Prov. 19:17)
When you refuse to exist as a blessing, you have refused to access the Blessing.
The giver is always at a higher level than the receiver (Acts 20:35)
a. Giving to God (Mal. 3:10-11; Gen. 14:18-20)
b. Giving to the poor and the less privileged (Ps. 41:1-2; Prov. 19:17)

5. The way of submission to priestly authority (Num. 6:23-26; Heb. 7:7)
This refers to submission to pastoral and prophetic authority
Priests are supernatural channels of the Blessing
When you release submission you get transmission; connection brings collection, and association brings assimilation
Whenever God has placed a person in your life as priest or prophet, ensure not to get too familiar as familiarity destroys connectivity; there must be a sense of value in order to connect virtue

6. The way of praise and gratitude (John 6:11-12; Ps. 67:5-7; 1Cor. 10:10; Joel 1:11-12; Hab. 3:17-18; Phil. 4:4; Eccl. 9:4)
Appreciation brings elevation; appreciation brings multiplication
To be grateful is to be great and to grumble is to be grounded
To grumble is to continue to struggle
To grumble is to continue to struggle (1Cor. 10:10)
You can enjoy where you are on the way to where you are going
Joy is not a gift, it is a choice

7. The way of scriptural light (Deut. 29:29; Isa. 60:1; Matt. 16:17)
 i. Revelation leads to possession and light brings a lift
What is not revealed to you cannot be released to you
ii. What you see out of the Word of God determines what you will see out of life

Also Read: Come Up Hither – Abraham’s Divine Encounter By Pastor Paul Enenche

CONCLUSION:

The way you follow determines the place you will end

WHAT IS THE BLESSING?

  1. Divine peace and tranquillity (Prov. 10:22)
  2. Divine protection (Job 1:10; Isa. 65:8)
  3. Divine health and vitality (Ps. 41:1-3; 3John 1:2)
  4. Generational greatness (Ps. 112:1-3)
  5. Transgenerational transfer (Gen. 22:15-17)
  6. Divine wisdom
  7. Divine favour (Ps. 5:12)
  8. Divine strength and energy (Ps. 29:11; Gen. 14:14)

PRAYER

Father, thank You for Your Word to me today. To You be all the glory Lord, in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYERS FOR THE LEGAL PROFESSION (ISAIAH 33:22; 2 SAMUEL 23:3):

COUNSEL TO THE JUDICIARY:

  1. Be just
  2. Function in the fear of God
  3. Do what you can defend before God.
  4. Let not profit or gain be a driving force; let conscience and integrity guide all actions even at gunpoint.

PRAYER FOCUS FOR THE JUDICIARY:

  • Healing for the judiciary
  • For the fear of God to pervade the legal profession
  • For the right people be appointed in the right positions

‘Father we make demands on healing for the judiciary, and for the legal profession in Nigeria – for the bar and for the bench in Nigeria Lord, in Jesus’ Name.’

‘Father, let the fear of the Lord invade the judicial system and legal profession in Nigeria. Let the fear of the Lord and Divine order invade this profession in Nigeria, oh Lord, in Jesus’ Name’

‘Father, help us to get it right in Nigeria in the judiciary. Let the dignity of the legal profession in Nigeria be restored, in Jesus’ Name.’

‘Father, in the Name of Jesus, we surrender the justice system and legal profession in Nigeria into Your Hands, take it over. Let Your fear pervade the system and let the dignity of the legal profession be restored. Let judgments that are just, real and honest begin to emanate from the court at all levels. Intervene Lord for a healthy respect between the arms of government, in Jesus’ Name.’

IMPARTATION PRAYER/DECLARATIONS (DEUT. 28:8):

  • Your hands shall not be empty!
  • Everything that is yours for the month of March, I declare it is released into your hands
  • Systems shall lose their peace, sleep and rest until what is yours enters into your hands
  • Miracles and testimonies that are specific to the Glory Dome shall be your portion
  • Between 24hours, they shall look for your credentials and look for you!
  • Anything missing in your life, I declare instant restoration!
  • The angels that minister upon this altar, may they give you your testimony!

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS:

  • Every premature death organised for you in this season, I declare it is returned back to hell!
  • You will not die carelessly! You will not die another person’s death!
  • You will not die by another person’s mistake!
  • Everything that is an expectation in your life today, your God and my God will do it for you!
  • That burden you came in here because of enemy threat and conspiracy. I am anointed to announce, that conspiracy is arrested!
  • Dry bones shall rise again! There is a restoration of health, resources, and welfare!
  • The spirit of rejection and discouragement is leaving right now!
  • There is a Balm in Gilead! There is a healing coming from you!
  • No devil can give you cancer! That pain and symptom in the hand, today they return back to hell!
  • Every spirit of death or cancer that followed you up to this point is arrested and returned back to hell!
  • Everything the devil has blocked in your life is opening up right now!
  • Every affliction from the pit of hell or arrow fired into your life from hell, today they backfire to sender!
  • Every liability that followed you from your mother’s womb, today, they shall expire!
  • Every embarrassment of your life, today, it is over forever!

Also Read: Click HERE to read Other Inspirational Messages by Pastor Paul Enenche

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