Greece passes gender-change law opposed by Orthodox Church

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Greece passes gender-change law opposed by Orthodox Church

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The bill, with the backing of Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, was passed by 171 votes in Greece’s 300-seat parliament, enabling people over the age of 15 to legally change their gender on official documents without undergoing sterilisation.

The Orthodox Church said in a statement that the change in law was “a satanic deed” and would lead to “the destruction of social cohesion and the spiritual necrosis of man”.

Previously, those wanting to change their gender on official documents had to undergo sex-change surgery and medical tests.

The change in law brings Greece in line with most EU member states.

Wikimedia Commons

 

During a debate on Monday, Mr Tsipras urged MPs to support the change.

Speaking before the vote, he said: “We are on the side of those who have no voice, or whose voice is stifled.

“What God is it that has us take decisions that push children into [situations of] bullying, humiliation and suicides?”

However, the law change has also attracted strong criticism from conservative politicians who have said the minimum age of 15 is too young.

This was reiterated by the Orthodox Church that said making it easier for people to change their legal gender “torpedoes the sacred institution of the family, contrasts with morality and common sense, and destroys man”.

The Church has called for the bill to be withdrawn.

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Hurricane Maria Destroys Puerto Rico, Cuts Off All Power, Drops 2 Feet of Rain

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Hurricane Maria Destroys Puerto Rico, Cuts Off All Power, Drops 2 Feet of Rain

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All of Puerto Rico has lost power after deadly Hurricane Maria swept through the island on Wednesday – with winds that blew the roofs off homes and flash floods that turned roads into rivers.  

Leaving at least nine people dead in its wake across the Caribbean, Hurricane Maria blew ashore in the morning in the southeast coastal town of Yabucoa as a Category 4 storm with winds of 155 mph.

While the eye of the storm has since moved off the island and weakened to a Category 3 hurricane, it’s expected to continue lashing the island of 3.4million with life-threatening winds, storm surge and rain through this evening.

‘Once we’re able to go outside, we’re going to find our island destroyed,’ said Abner Gomez, Puerto Rico’s emergency management director. ‘The information we have received is not encouraging. It’s a system that has destroyed everything in its path.’

As people waited it out in shelters or took cover inside stairwells, bathrooms and closets, Maria – the strongest storm to hit the island since the Great Depression brought down cell towers and power lines, snapped trees, tore off roofs and unloaded at least 20 inches of rain.

Widespread flooding was reported, with dozens of cars half-submerged in some neighborhoods and many streets turned into rivers. People calling local radio stations reported that doors were being torn off their hinges and a water tank flew away.

Even before the storm, Puerto Rico’s electrical grid was crumbling and the island was in dire condition financially.

Puerto Rico is struggling to restructure a portion of its $73 billion debt, and the government has warned it is running out of money as it fights back against furloughs and other austerity measures imposed by a federal board overseeing the island’s finances.

Gov. Ricardo Rossello urged people to have faith: ‘We are stronger than any hurricane. Together, we will rebuild.’

He later asked President Donald Trump to declare the island a disaster zone, a step that would open the way to federal aid.

Click here to read more.
Source: Daily Mail

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Museum of the Bible Releases New Content Series on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation — Charisma News

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Museum of the Bible Releases New Content Series on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation — Charisma News

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A statue of Martin Luther
A statue of Martin Luther (schorschel1982/Pixabay/Public Domain)

Join us on our podcast each weekday for an interesting story, well told, from Charisma News. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

Traditionally, Oct. 31 is commemorated around the world as Reformation Day—the day that would change the course of Christendom forever—when Martin Luther wrote the 95 Theses in Wittenberg, Germany. Now, less than a month away from its highly anticipated grand opening on Nov. 17, Museum of the Bible will release a brand-new multimedia content series to mark the event that ignited the Reformation.

“Long before the internet, YouTube and social media, Martin Luther set in motion what can appropriately be described as a viral movement that transformed the very foundations of Europe, Western civilization and in many ways the entire world,” says Steven Bickley, vice president of marketing for Museum of the Bible. “Culturally, politically and spiritually, the 95 Theses is a pivotal point in history that led to, among other things, the rapid translation of the Bible into the heart languages of millions of people. Today that number is in the billions. This is part of the Bible’s remarkable journey, and it’s brought to life through this new multimedia series.”

The Protestant Reformation was an important event in the history of the Bible, leading to new translations, different interpretations and innovations in Bible formatting and printing. The entire content series will be featured on a special microsite, museumofthebible.org/reformation which tells stories of the Reformation and how it was a catalyst for the new translations of the Bible into dozens of other languages.

Content includes:

·      30-minute radio special/podcast

·      10 one-minute audio/video features


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Pray for Rio Mimbres Baptist Church

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Pray for Rio Mimbres Baptist Church

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Location: Mimbres, New Mexico

Pastor: Jeremy Butler

Weekly Worship: 11:00 AM, Mountain

Fast Facts: Rio Mimbres Baptist Church was birthed in 1972 and is located in a Southwestern New Mexico community of about 750 people of which 90 percent are un-churched. Pastor Butler just celebrated his one-year anniversary at the church last Sunday. In that time, the congregation has started a Good News Club for children, grades 1-6, at the local elementary school and a monthly men’s breakfast on the second Saturday of each month. Last weekend, they participated in the community’s annual Harvest Festival and handed out more that 1,000 evangelistic DVDs and 200 copies of the Gospel of John as well as hundreds of personal evangelism tracts. Please pray for those who received the evangelistic material and for the follow-up process in the coming weeks.

Website: Facebook.com/RioMimbresBaptist/

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, fill out this information form..

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Open Heavens 12 October 2017: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Obedient Children

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Open Heavens 12 October 2017: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Obedient Children
Open Heavens 12 October 2017: Thursday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – Obedient Children

Topic: Obedient Children — Thursday 12, October 2017.

Memorise: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. – Exodus 20:12

Read: Ephesians 6:1-3 (KJV)

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Bible in One Year: 2 Corinthians 1-3, Daniel 5:29-6:13, Hymn: Sing Hymn 16 – God Give Us Christian Homes!

MESSAGE:

Children are assets of the Almighty God entrusted to our care. We must therefore ensure that we do all we can to nurture them for the Lord and not for ourselves. We should strive to receive commendation from the Lord for our efforts in bringing them up as children He can be proud of. Raising children in today’s world is serious business. Unfortunately, we live in a world where parents have left to chance or entirely neglected the huge tasking of bringing up their children in the fear of the Lord. Many parents justify themselves by concluding that they are helpless, and they shift the blame of their own failures to the happenings in the society. In the time of father Abraham, there were also parents who did not bring up their children to follow the path of God, but for Abraham, his testimony was different. God said this concerning him in Genesis 18:19:

“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”

Coming up next: Open Heavens 13 October 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor Adeboye – God’s Watchman

If you want to raise children who will be obedient to the Lord, you must be ready to start right from the beginning of the child’s life. That is what parenting is all about. It involves training and educating a child from the phase of infancy through to adulthood. If you carry out the job of parenting as unto the Lord, you will be well rewarded by Him. There are many parents who realise late in life that they have neglected their roles as parents. In order to make amends, some of them begin to make efforts at “repairing” the lives of their children, but at that point, they discover it has become a herculean task.

Obedient children are godly children, committed to a life of honesty in all they do. Such children will never bring shame, reproach or embarrassment to the God of their fathers, because they have a deep understanding of the covenant upon which they have been groomed. There are parents today who have lost control of their children. Some other parents have turned their children into symbols of idolatry. They fear their children more than they fear God. May that not be your portion in Jesus’ Name. Obedient children must honour their parents. They must respect them irrespective of their status in society, if they want to live a life without regret. When their parents need their attention or help, they must be there for them. They must also be ready to submit wilfully to their instructions, corrections and rebuke. There are children who bring sorrow to their parents. On the other hand, children of destiny bring great comfort to everyone around them. Are you a child of destiny?

Prayer Point: Father, let my children please You always, and grant me grace to care for my parents.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.


NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Weighs in on Anthem Controversy, Urges Players to ‘Honor our Flag’

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Weighs in on Anthem Controversy, Urges Players to ‘Honor our Flag’

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Weighs in on Anthem Controversy, Urges Players to ‘Honor our Flag’


The controversy surrounding the decision of some football players to kneel or sit during the National Anthem continues to be a major talking point in the U.S. Now, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has weighed in.


The Guardian reports that, in a letter to the NFL’s 32 teams, Goodell acknowledged the players’ grievances, but urged them to “move past this controversy” and “honor our flag.”


“Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the national anthem,” Goodell wrote in the letter. “It is an important moment in our game. We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us.”


“We also care deeply about our players and respect their opinions and concerns about critical social issues. The controversy over the anthem is a barrier to having honest conversations and making real progress on the underlying issues,” he added.

“We need to move past this controversy, and we want to do that together with our players.”

Goodell did not specifically outline whether the NFL will enforce standing during the Anthem, but strongly recommended players do so.

The NFL’s viewership has been down this season, and many say that is due, at least in part, to Americans’ disagreement with the players’ kneeling during the Anthem. With his letter, Goodell likely hopes to improve league morale, as well as boost viewership.


 


Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons


Publication date: October 11, 2017

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Christians Praying For Dad of Six Young Kids, Including Premature Twins, After Wife Dies in Car Crash

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Christians Praying For Dad of Six Young Kids, Including Premature Twins, After Wife Dies in Car Crash

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(PHOTO: YOUCARING)Katie Evans with her preemie twin girls

Prayers and selfless offers of help are pouring in for a husband and father left to raise six young children by himself after his wife’s tragic death in a car crash.

Katie Evans was killed in a car crash while driving back from the hospital after visiting her premature baby girls, Sarah and Hannah.

Her sister-in-law Caralee told People.com that she was traveling home late at night when she was hit by another car. 

She said Katie, 37, had been at the hospital every day following the birth of her ‘miracle’ twins at around 25 weeks.

Katie was almost home when the collision occurred in Santa Clarita, California, on October 6. It is feared that the driver who collided with Katie’s car may have been under the influence of alcohol.

Katie leaves behind husband Jacob and their six young children, the eldest of which has special needs.

(PHOTO: YOUCARING)Katie and Jacob Evans with their four other children

Jacob’s brother, Michael, told People.com they had received so much support in the wake of the tragedy.

‘We have a rough road ahead of us, trying to figure out how to handle everything,’ Michael says of the family. ‘The outpouring of support from the community, from the internet, from our local church, from neighbors … it has been absolutely overwhelming.’

A fundraising page has been set up for the family to help them cover childcare and other costs, with over $200,000 raised already.

Many strangers have left messages of support and even offered practical assistance to the family.

One well-wisher said she was a pediatric nurse at UCLA and offered to donate her days off to help the family.

‘I would love to help! I do not know the family but I’m a pediatric nurse at UCLA and would love to donate my time helping in any way!!!! This is tragic and I pray for this family! I have four days off a week and would love to spend my time off helping!’ she wrote.

Another well-wisher said: ‘Don’t have money to donate but lots of newborn baby clothes I can send their way if the twins need them.’

There were also many promises of prayers for the family as they come to terms with their loss.

One anonymous donor wrote: ‘God bless you and your family through this tragic moment of life. Trust in Him to keep you safe and push you at your lowest points. Prayers from Northern Michigan.’

Movingly, one comment came from a woman whose husband lost his first wife, leaving him in a similar circumstance with five young children, including one premature baby to raise by himself.

In her note of encouragement she said: ‘We are living proof that God redeems, restores, and puts lives back together, although I’m sure you cannot imagine right now that could ever be so. Prayers!!’

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Christian shopkeeper rubbishes supernatural claims

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Christian shopkeeper rubbishes supernatural claims

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A Christian shopkeeper from Norfolk has dismissed claims by supernatural enthusiasts that his premises are haunted; saying the only spiritual presence in his store is Jesus.

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6.1 Earthquake Hits Off Coast of Japan

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6.1 Earthquake Hits Off Coast of Japan

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The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude-6.1 earthquake has hit off the coast of Japan.

The agency’s website says the temblor hit early Thursday about 283 kilometers (176 miles) southeast of the city of Kamaishi and more than 322 kilometers (200 miles) east of Fukushima.

A massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused meltdowns at three reactors in the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Fewer than 40 reports of people feeling Thursday’s quake were registered on the Geological Survey website.

It comes as Mexico is reeling from a magnitude-7.1 earthquake that collapsed buildings and killed at least 225 people.

Source: Associated Press

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The Prophetic Meaning Behind the Full Moon of Tabernacles — Charisma News

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The Prophetic Meaning Behind the Full Moon of Tabernacles — Charisma News

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This year the Full Moon of Tabernacles will also be in the sign of the Church. (Pixabay/spiriterror)

The Jewish Feast of Tabernacles began at sundown on Wednesday, Oct. 4, but the best celestial views come at dawn on tabernacles morning.

Two years ago, the fourth blood moon of the 2014-2015 Tetrad occurred on Sept. 27, 2015. Some had seen the blood moons as harbingers of disaster, but the Scriptures speak of blood moons as a sign of the outpouring of the Spirit and salvation (Acts 2:17-21). The blood moon is also a sign of overcoming evil, as the moon, symbolic of believers (Ps. 89:37) is covered by the blood (Rev. 12:11). The fact that the tabernacles blood moon of 2015 occurred in the constellation Pisces (the fish), the sign of the church, reminds us that tabernacles is about the ingathering of the church to spend eternity with God. See our book, The Mystery of the Blood Moons, available on Amazon, for more information.

This year, the full moon of tabernacles will also be in the sign of the church, Pisces. The two fish of Pisces are joined together by a cord known as the band, which represents the unity of the church as is symbolized by a bright star in Pisces called Okda, meaning “The United.” We are reminded of Christ’s prayer in John 17:20-23 that the church be united. Interestingly the only planet visible with the full moon in the evening is Saturn (the ruler) which symbolizes Christ’s rule over all, which is also symbolized by tabernacles.

It is on the morning of tabernacles, Oct. 5, when the other four visible planets add to the celestial picture for tabernacles. The bright morning star, Venus, representing Christ, the seed of woman, is visible just before dawn in the constellation Leo, the lion, which pictures the fate of God’s enemies. This vision of judgment, commonly called hell, stands in stark contrast with the promise of heaven given in the Feast of Tabernacles. Yet, amazingly, the red planet Mars is almost touching Venus, reminding us that the red blood of Jesus, represented by Mars, is still available for salvation.


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