A Chicago mayoral candidate shocked member of a church by turning up with $200,000 to give away to worshippers.
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Mayoral candidate hands out $200,000 to church members
Nicaragua’s Ortega denies responsibility for attacks on Catholic Church
Daniel Ortega, who said he is open to continuing talks mediated by the Roman Catholic Church, has denied that he controls paramilitary groups blamed for most of the killings.
In a recorded interview broadcast on Monday by Fox News, Mr Ortega said they are supported by his political opponents and foreign interests.
That is counter to what international organisations and Nicaraguan human rights groups have documented.
Last week, the Organisation of American States adopted a resolution condemning human rights abuses committed by Nicaraguan police and armed pro-government civilians.
“We were elected by the voters,” Mr Ortega said. The next election is not scheduled until 2021.
“And then we’ll have to see who will be voted in for the new administration.”
The president also denied responsibility for attacks on the Catholic Church, whose facilities and clergy have faced aggression in recent weeks.
Last week, in a speech on the anniversary of the Nicaraguan revolution, Mr Ortega accused Catholic bishops of working with coup plotters, saying that disqualified them as mediators.
But in the interview, the president said, “We invite the Catholic Church to continue with the dialogue so the dialogue can grow and develop in an open manner.”
Nicaragua’s bishops met on Monday behind closed doors to discuss how to restart talks between the government and opposition.
Meanwhile there were…
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Church was ‘sadistic’ over abuse claims, Peter Ball victim tells inquiry
The abuse he suffered at the hands of the bishop paled in comparison to the reaction from officials in the Church of England, Reverend Graham Sawyer said.
He told the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse that the church must stop what he called an “ecclesiastical protection racket” whereby he said people rally round to protect the church’s reputation above the interests of the individual.
Rev Sawyer, a vicar at St James’ Church, Briercliffe in the diocese of Burnley, told how Ball had demanded that the then teenager strip naked before he would recommend him to be ordained.
He refused to do so and withdrew from the ordination.
Some years later when he decided to apply again he was rejected, and a friend who looked into why told him there was a “big black mark against you in the Church of England”.
Rev Sawyer, who said Ball had had “the reputation of a living saint”, moved to New Zealand where he was ordained in 1998 in Wellington diocese.
The vicar, who has returned to the UK and waived his right to anonymity, told the inquiry: “The sex abuse that was perpetrated upon me by Peter Ball pales into insignificance when compared to the entirely cruel and sadistic treatment that has been meted out to me by officials, both lay and ordained.
“I know from the testimony of other people who have got in touch with me over the last five or 10 years that what I have…
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Top Ten Ways Churches Drive Away First-time Guests
Podcast Episode #452
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Guest friendliness has been a constant theme on this blog and podcast over the past few years. There’s even a book that came out of these discussions. Today, we look at a classic post on the subject and unpack several ways churches actually push guests away.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- Most church members think the church is friendly—because members are friendly to one another.
- Safety and security of the children’s space at your church is of utmost importance—especially to guests.
- If your church has a welcome center, you need to actually staff the welcome center.
- Your church website needs to primarily focus on and highlight information for guests.
The 10 items we discuss are:
- Having a stand up and greet one another time in the worship service.
- Unfriendly church members.
- Unsafe and unclean children’s area.
- No place to get information.
- Bad church website.
- Poor signage.
- Insider church language.
- Boring or bad service.
- Members telling guests that they were in their seat or pew.
- Dirty facilities.
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Applications are now open for Vanderbloemen’s fall pastor coaching network at their Houston headquarters in September and November. There are two networks – one for Lead Pastors and one for Executive Pastors. Each group is limited to 16 people. It’s a roundtable, close-knit network where you will grow as a leader so that you can grow your team…
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Joyce Meyer’s Daily 24 July 2018 Devotional — The Negative Effect of Judging Others
Topic: The Negative Effect of Judging Others [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Tuesday July 24, 2018]
Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. — Hebrews 13:15 (AMPC)
In other words, the very same things that we judge others for, we do ourselves.
The Lord gave me a very good example once to help me understand this principle. I was pondering why we would do something ourselves and think it was perfectly all right, but judge someone else who does it. He said, “Joyce, you look at yourself through rose-colored glasses, but you look at everyone else through a magnifying glass.”
We make excuses for our own behavior, but when someone else does the same thing we do, we are often merciless. Doing unto others as we want them to do to us (see Matthew 7:12) is a good life principle that will prevent a lot of judgment and criticism, if followed.
A judgmental mind is an offshoot of a negative mind—thinking about what is wrong with an individual instead of what is right. Be positive and not negative! Others will benefit, but you will benefit more than anyone.
Prayer Starter: Father, I ask for Your help to change the way I think of others. Please help me to not focus on the negative but to think of people the way I want them to think of me. 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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MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional Tuesday, 24 July 2018 – Your Secrets: Your Discretion
TOPIC — Your Secrets: Your Discretion (Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries Tuesday, 24 July 2018)
FIRE SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 16: 1-5
MEMORY VERSE: “A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.” – Proverbs 12:23
The MESSAGE:
In life, there are certain pieces of information that should remain close to our chest or treated as confidential and there are others that can be shared. Our failure to differentiate between the two and keep sensitive matters out of public knowledge may result in serious damage to our lives. In today’s world, everything and everyone feeds and lives on information. Despite this, there are still certain items of information we consider unfit for public knowledge. Likewise, there are items of information or revelation about our lives that should remain a secret.
In our Fire Scripture, Samuel knew Saul was to be substituted and the heir apparent was to be ordained, but he was also conscious of the danger attached if king Saul should know about it. God gave him sound counsel and he told no one about the plans of God. Jesse and his children as well as David (the anointed) knew nothing about the real intention of the sacrifice. Joseph revealed his vision and dreams to his brethren, but only the grace of God made sure it wasn’t truncated (Genesis 37:19-20). Samson’s parents had known the secret of Samson’s strength since his birth, yet they told no one (Judges 13:5). The day Delilah heard of Samson’s secret from Samson himself, she told Samson’s enemies and brought him into destruction (Judges 16:17,18).
Everyone qualifies for your love. However, not all the people you love qualify to know the secrets of your life! Because, some may not be able to handle it, while others cannot wait to use your secret for personal gain! The adversary that wants to destroy you, oftentimes, does not come with a sword but with a smile!
Also, it’s important to learn to keep other people’s secrets. This is about trust. It’s also important because of what may be at stake. So it’s a huge responsibility to ensure that people around you can confide in you. It’s a hallmark of reliability that must be seen in the life of a believer. Nothing can be more dangerous and painful than to share your secrets or ideas with friends who will let you down! I pray the Lord will expose all unfriendly friends and point you to the warning signals about them, in Jesus’ name.
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
EVERYONE QUALIFIES FOR YOUR LOVE, BUT NOT ALL PEOPLE YOU LOVE QUALIFY TO KNOW THE SECRETS OF YOUR LIFE!
PROPHETIC WORD:
Every unfriendly friend you rely upon for comfort shall be exposed.
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
1. O Lord, forgive me for revealing what I should conceal, in the name of Jesus.
2. Every secret of my life in wrong hands, be wiped off by the blood of Jesus, in Jesus’ name.
3. I will not talk my life into trouble, in the name of Jesus.
EVENING
4. Database of the enemy, containing information about me, be crushed, in the name of Jesus.
5. Power to know when to talk and speak only the right words, fall upon me in Jesus’ name.
6. O Lord, grant me counsel to protect and implement my divine vision, in the name of Jesus.
7. Lord Jesus, help me to fulfil my dreams, in the name of Jesus.
If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE
MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)
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Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
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The post MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional Tuesday, 24 July 2018 – Your Secrets: Your Discretion appeared first on Flatimes.
Debilitating illness forces Bishop of Stepney to quit
Bishop Adrian said the pain was “adversely” affecting his work and he will stand down at the end of October.
The 59-year-old said: “Migraines have been my thorn in the flesh for many years, but I have reached the point where they are adversely affecting my ability to carry out the demanding role of a bishop in this part of London.
“I hope that a period away from the front line will help me to recover and explore what God may be calling me to in the future.”
One in every 15 men and one in every five women are affected by migraines, according to the NHS.
The condition can manifest itself in moderate or severe headaches, nausea and vomiting.
The Bishop of Willesden Rt Revd Pete Broadbent will serve as Acting Bishop of Stepney until a successor is chosen.
Bishop Adrian, who assumed his role in July 2011, continued: “It has been a huge privilege to be Bishop of Stepney, serving one of the most diverse and vibrant communities in the whole of the country.
“I have been blessed to work alongside a terrific group of clergy, and to be part of a diocese filled with creativity and godly ambition.
“I will miss the role enormously, and carry such a host of rich memories from my time here.”
The Bishop of London praised Bishop Adrian’s efforts to give “marginalised” communities in east London “a voice”.
Rt Rev Sarah Mullally said: “Bishop…
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Family Says Faisal Hussain, Suspect in Toronto Shooting, Had Mental Problems – Urban Christian News
A man whose family said he suffered from psychosis and depression fired a handgun into restaurants and cafes in a lively Toronto neighborhood, killing a 10-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman and wounding 13 others in an attack that has shaken the confidence of many in the normally safe city.
Authorities on Monday evening identified the suspect as Faisal Hussain, 29, of Toronto, who died in an exchange of gunfire with police. It was not immediately clear whether he killed himself or was killed by police.
The mass shooting in Toronto’s Greektown district Sunday night came just three months after a van struck and killed 10 people in an apparent attack directed at women.
A statement from the family of Hussain said their son had severe mental health challenges that the struggled with psychosis and depression. They said medications did not help him and the interventions of professionals were unsuccessful.
“While we did our best to seek help for him throughout his life of struggle and pain, we could never imagine that this would be his devastating and destructive end,” the Hussain family said.
“Our hearts are in pieces for the victims and for our city as we all come to grips with this terrible tragedy. We will mourn those who were lost for the rest of our lives.”
Police Chief Mark Saunders earlier said he would not speculate…
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20 Killed in Twin Wildfires Near Athens, Greece – Urban Christian News
Gale-fanned wildfires raged through holiday resorts near Greece’s capital, killing at least 20 people by early Tuesday and injuring more than 104, including 11 in serious condition, in the deadliest blaze to hit the country in more than a decade.
Greece sought international help through the European Union as the fires on either side of Athens left lines of cars torched, charred farms and forests, and sent hundreds of people racing to beaches to be evacuated by navy vessels, yachts and fishing boats.
Winds reached 80 kph (50 mph) as authorities deployed the country’s entire fleet of water-dropping planes and helicopters to give vacationers time to escape. Military drones remained in the air in the high winds to help officials direct more than 600 firefighters below.
“We were unlucky. The wind changed and it came at us with such force that it razed the coastal area in minutes,” said Evangelos Bournous, mayor of the port town of Rafina, a sleepy mainland port that serves Greek holiday islands.
The dock area became a makeshift hospital as paramedics checked survivors when they came off coast guard vessels and private boats. The operation continued through the night.
The fire posed no immediate threat to Greece’s famed ancient monuments, but as it raged inland children’s’ summer camps and holiday homes were hastily abandoned. Fleeing drivers clogged highways into Athens, hampering the firefighting effort.
It was the deadliest fire season to hit Greece in more than a decade. More than 60 people were killed in 2007 when huge fires swept across the southern Peloponnese…
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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Urban Christian News
Satellite Images Show the North Korean Dictator’s Bomb Factories Lying Ruined After His Pledge to Trump at Historic Singapore Summit – Urban Christian News
Satellite images appear to show that North Korea has started to dismantle a key nuclear test site.
The images come more than a month after Kim Jong Un pledged to denuclearize his country following a historic summit with President Donald Trump in Singapore.
The accord did not specifically spell out any times scales for the process or how it would be carried out.
But new satellite images, which have not been verified by outside experts, appear to show the dismantling of facilities at the Sohae satellite launching station.
Sohae has been the main site for North Korea’s satellite launches since 2012.
It is believed to have played a large role in developing the country’s intercontinental ballistic missile program, according to 38North, which released the satellite images.
The new images, which were reportedly taken on July 20 and July 22, appear to show the rail-mounted environmental shelter at the site has been dismantled and moved.
Space launch vehicles were assembled at the shelter – which hadn’t been moved since December 2017 – before they are moved to the launchpad, according to 38North analyst Joseph Bermudez Jr.
The image also appears to show that the test stand superstructure has been completely dismantled and that the base is being removed.
‘The rail-mounted environmental shelter has been razed and removed, the older fuel/oxidizer bunkers are in the process of being razed, and portions of the test stand’s upper steel framework have been dismantled and its paneling removed,’ Bermudez wrote.
‘Two days later fewer vehicles are present and the test stand…
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