forever building..

Did you know that the word clue originally referred to a ball of yarn? To flirt meant “to flick away.” The word awful meant “worthy of awe.” And the word naughty meant “having nothing.” Many words aren’t what they used to be! Words have a way of leaking their original meaning or they take on new connotations. Either way, words morph in meaning. And the word blessed is a classic example. In many ways, our culture has reduced it to a hashtag that comes across as a humblebrag. We use it to tag Inst Go to the article

  The English word bank is endless. There are a bazillion terms at our disposal that we can use as we desire, and new terms are being added to our lexicon every day. Lengthy terms, shorter terms . . . oddly spelled terms . . . and then, there are terms with multiple meanings. According […] Go to the article

You Build New Muscles by Doing More Reps If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your device for more:iTunes   RSS   Google Play  Stitcher   Spotify Good planning helps us make the right investment in the right ministry at the right time. I’ve found that organizational planning rhythms tends to be new muscles church leaders need to develop. In other words, the staff, the pastor and the senior leadership team have to embrace some new disciplines in order to become better stew Go to the article

USA (MNN) – This story is about discipleship, but it will take the circuitous route. Standing behind two women at the grocery store, they spoke loudly as they waited their turn for the cashier to tally their orders.  One mother commented on the likelihood of the United States going to war as the tensions rise with Iran. The other responded with fear over possible reprisal terror attacks. They both shared concerns over the adult world their children would enter in just a few months at graduati Go to the article

A festive fundraising campaign to tackle homelessness in Scotland which saw thousands of people sleep rough for a night in Edinburgh has raised more than £4 million. Social Bite raised the money through its Sleep in the Park event in December and an appeal for £5 donations for meals. The charity’s cafes in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen opened up on Christmas Day to serve dinner and give out presents to people affected by the issue. Stars including Liam Gallagher, Deacon Blue, Amy Macdonald and Go to the article

A new, extended trailer for A Quiet Place 2 has been released, and it is a chilling, three-minute thrill ride.  If the clip any indication, the follow up to the surprise horror hit will be an action-heavy tour through the post-apocalyptic world we first saw in the original. Here’s the official synopsis: “Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the on Go to the article

The religious persecution watchdog Open Doors recently released their annual “World Watch List”, and it contains some startling numbers. According to the report, the number of Christians experiencing “high levels of persecution” increased by 6% last year. That means in the top 50 countries on the list, nearly 260 million Christians are being persecuted for their faith. There was also a significant increase in the number of Christians detained or imprisoned for their faith—2,625 to 3,711 year Go to the article

At this time of year I have a tradition of sharing the most visited articles here on my blog from the year gone by. There is usually a mixture of some new ones and some golden oldies which people keep finding presumably via google searches.  So here is the list of the top ten with […] The rest of this article is available by following the link above Go to the article

Lizzo has been all over the entertainment media for several months. She won three Grammys last weekend and even nabbed a spot on Plugged In’s annual “Movers and Shakers” list. But Time Magazine’s Entertainer of the Year also made headlines earlier this month when she announced her decision to quit Twitter. Blaming the decision on […] The post Why Lizzo and Other Celebs Left Social Media for Good appeared first on Plugged In Blog. Go to the article

Amid the "great divorce" from Europe, British believers have opportunities to model a better blend of faith and politics—with each other and the global body of Christ. Today the UK moves to the point of no return with Brexit. There will be no marches on the streets to stop it, and no more votes in the Houses of Parliament to delay it. The UK remains a divided kingdom on this issue; however, after the landslide victory of the Conservatives in the general election, there’s been a stoic inevitabili Go to the article

The post “MORE THAN WORDS ARE NOW NEEDED” – RESPONSE TO THE  ARCHBISHOPS’ APOLOGY appeared first on Anglican Mainstream. PRESS RELEASE: Whilst we are grateful for the Archbishops’ apology and the recognition that their statement has jeopardized our trust, the fact is more than words are now needed. Over 3500 people have now signed our open letter, which includes nearly 90 members of General Synod and a range of other senior church leaders. This shows the strength of concern that exists across Go to the article

CCM artist Natalie Grant has revealed there was "no damage done" to her vocal cords after undergoing thyroid surgery to remove tumors and praised God for the positive news. Go to the article

There’s a biblical ark that rode out the Flood, and it was no bathtub. Noah built it somehow, with or without some mysterious ancient technology. Go to the article

The Scientific Method and the Flat Earth Go to the article

The new documentary about Taylor Swift’s life Miss Americana debuts on Netflix on Friday and features a surprisingly earnest, authentic look at one of the biggest pop stars of the last 25 years finding her voice. After years of being told to play a certain role, Miss Americana follows Swift’s journey to being comfortable speaking her mind, stating her opinions and standing up to the labels and management teams that sought to package her in plastic wrap. Part of that journey is Swift’s new so Go to the article

To start things off, please get yourself a map that includes Washington, D.C., and nearby states. If you have lived in that region, just pull one up in your mind’s eye. Now, draw an imaginary 300-mile circle — or perhaps one bigger than that — around the Beltway kingdom. If you were the principal of a Christian middle-school or high-school, how many hours would you allow students and some faculty members or parents to ride on a school bus to attend the March for Life that marks the anniversary o Go to the article

Today’s Kindle deals offer a few interesting books, including a relatively new one from John MacArthur. (Yesterday on the blog: New and Notable Christian Books for January 2020) What Does Paul Mean When He Says, “Act Like Men”? I had been meaning to figure this out and write this article, so am glad Wyatt got to it. That Famous Cello Prelude, Deconstructed (Video) You may not recognize Bach’s G major prelude just by naming it, but you’ve definitely heard it many, many times. Sing! The Scriptures Go to the article

What does a translation consultant do? Bible translation is currently active in around 2000 languages, however, before Scripture is pressed and printed, a translation consultant comes in. What exactly do they do? Sue Arthur is a translation consultant; she and her husband Eddie explain the importance of the role.  ‘There are two essential aspects to a translation; firstly that people can understand it and secondly that it means the same thing as the original.’ – Eddie Arthur Once all the ha Go to the article

The majority of people in the world belong to oral cultures. For them, faith literally comes by hearing. With this in mind, one of the tools we use to share Scripture with these communities is audio recordings of Bible stories! So how does Scripture go from words on paper to audio? Jo Clifford shares a great step-by-step account of one of the many trips she takes to record Scripture, this time to Mpanda in Tanzania. From invitation to hanging blankets over wooden frames, this is a brilliant win Go to the article

Good news travels fast. If you heard a great story, how long would it be before you shared it with someone else? Probably not long. You’d be even quicker to share it if you were from one of the world’s oral cultures. Oral cultures place a high value on storytelling, and communicate differently to Western cultures – important ideas, knowledge, art, etc are shared verbally rather than in writing. Bible storying is an aspect of Bible translation tailor-made for oral cultures – short passages of Sc Go to the article

The work of Bible translation is made up of many parts. From aviation mechanics to primary school teachers, finance managers to software engineers. Do you think your skills can't be used? Think again. Check out the vacancies we're currently advertising for. Going abroad Even if you're not into languages, you could work abroad for 6 weeks to 2 years on a One to One programme, or join a GradTeam. If you're looking into longer term placements, browse the wide variety of roles on the Bible transl Go to the article

Are you a teacher? You might be just the person we want to hear from! Teachers make a huge difference to all our lives and in our context, they enable Bible translation to happen. In fact, they are an essential cog in the machine. Here is what one of our members serving with Wycliffe, who lives and works in one of the areas that need teachers, said in her recent newsletter: ‘Teachers are a vital part of mission. They provide education for the children, freeing up parents to serve as translato Go to the article

The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you.’ Gen 12:1 When you’re facing a difficult situation, where do you turn? What do you do? Read about how the Kanu people in the Philippines turned to God’s word and how it made all the difference. The Kanu people of the Philippines already have the New Testament in their mother tongue, but are still waiting for the Old Testament. A team of translators is work Go to the article

Martin Luther (b. November 10, 1483 – d. February 18, 1546), is most famous for nailing his 95 Theses to the church door at Wittenberg which many people cite as the primary starting point of the Reformation. Yet Luther’s later work translating the Bible was also fundamental to the Reformation. Luther loved the Bible but knew that, at the time, the Bible was not accessible to everyone. So he concluded that a new translation, in the common language of the German people was necessary. His focus Go to the article

When Cam was just 21 he felt called to take the Bible to the peoples of South America. But there he discovered something that shaped the rest of his life’s work: he’d brought Spanish Bibles to give to the people he met, but often they didn’t speak Spanish. Indeed, when he tried to give these Spanish Bibles to people who only spoke their own mother-tongue language they asked Cam something that really made him think – why didn’t God speak their language? Was he only the God of English and Spanish Go to the article

What makes a great leader?  In his new book Leadership In War: Essential Lessons From Those Who Made History, Andrew Roberts builds a profile using some of the most well-known military leaders in history.  One such leader was Napoleon Bonaparte. Roberts sums up the chapter on Bonaparte and his leadership with the following words: “For […] Go to the article

I saw an advertisement recently where cameras were set up to watch a supermarket shopper’s reaction to a scenario. Just as he was about to go through the checkout, a man who had a single item, asked if he could step in front of him. Of course, the shopper kindly let him go first. Suddenly balloons dropped from the roof and music began to play-- because the man he let through won $50,000 for being the one-millionth-shopper. The camera then zoomed in on the shopper’s look of unbelief.Of course t Go to the article

Before walking over to the Senate to preside over Donald Trump’s impeachment, this morning Chief... Go to the article

The New Orleans Saints maintain their PR work on the area’s Roman Catholic sexual abuse crisis was “minimal Go to the article

A member of the Duya translation team - which is part of the Koro cluster in Nigeria - Naboth Musa, sadly lost his life recently due to a tragic accident. He joined the team last year and was a big help. Not only was he good with computers, but he also had a feel for what was natural in the Duya language. He joined the project first as a literacy teacher in his village, Memdor. He later did most of the computer work for the translation project and was keen to take the Scriptures out to the 19 D Go to the article

How does Bible engagement differ in oral cultures? How can you explore who Wycliffe Bible Translators is and whether you might like to get involved? And what on earth is the parable of the vegetarians? Intrigued? Find the answer to these questions and much more in our new edition of Words for Life!     Go to the article

A new study confirms ancient Neanderthals collected seashells, created tools from them, and otherwise acted like humans – because they were. Go to the article

Who wrote this? We are in the business of relaxing people who are tense and providing a pick-up for people who are bored or depressed. The human needs that our product fills will not go away. Thus, the only real threat to our business is that society will find other means of satisfying those needs. […] The post There’s No Nicotine in Social Media, So Why are You Puffing so Hard? appeared first on Plugged In Blog. Go to the article

NEWS PROVIDED BY "Just Pray NO!" Ltd. Jan. 29, 2020 CLEARWATER, Fla., Jan. 29, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- The weekend of April 18 19, 2020 has been designated as the 30th Annual "Just Pray NO!" to drugs Worldwide Weekend of Prayer and Fasting for the addicted and their families. Since April 7th, 1991 "Just Pray NO!" has united Christians around the world in intercessory prayer on behalf of those bound by alcoholism, drug addiction and other life controlling compulsions. Add Source: Just P Go to the article

The New Orleans Saints maintain their PR work on the area’s Roman Catholic sexual abuse crisis was “minimal Go to the article

I’m going to tell you a story. Over the course of a few years, worldwide killings totaled 17 million. These individuals did nothing to merit their deaths but were simply singled out because they were perceived to be “of lesser value”. Thousands and thousands fought against this slaughter of innocents, but the difficulty of that undertaking was never initially comprehended. Truly, it is a travesty of worldwide proportions. But wait, you say, your numbers are wrong; many more children have been ki Go to the article

Satan is trying to steal your joy. God gave us the Psalms to fight back. Sing! Conference | Nashville, Tennesee | September 11, 2018 Subscribe to catch every ... Go to the article

How many articles have we read about the inexorable demographic slide of U.S. “mainline” Protestantism, difficulties lately hitting “evangelicals,” declining Mass attendance for Catholics and the growth of religiously unaffiliated people (“Nones”) who forsake all religious ties that bind? There’s been far less media attention to the state of Judaism, the nation’s second-largest religion though Islam is moving up. It faces far worse prospects, according to premier chronicler Jack Wertheimer, a h Go to the article

The German reformer’s pastoral reflection on the plague can guide both medical students like me and Christians in China—and everywhere the Wuhan virus has spread. From its epicenter in Wuhan, China, the current coronavirus outbreak is stoking fear and disrupting travel and business across the globe. More than 150 people have died from the virus in China alone, and about 7,000 are infected across 18 countries—exceeding the SARS epidemic in 2003. Citizens in Wuhan, a major central city comparable Go to the article

What happens when a preacher saturates himself with the Scriptures, walks into a pulpit, and overflows with a God-entranced vision of all things? Is John Piper ... Go to the article

The pastor of the Atlanta church where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preached is running for the U.S. Senate Go to the article

Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. Phil 4:2  Believed to number around 70 million globally, the Deaf are perhaps the largest unreached people group. There are an estimated 400 different sign languages around the world, yet not a single complete sign language Bible in any of them. These are dismaying figures, yet God’s word is still making a difference, and in surprising ways. In Kenya, a team of Deaf Bible translators had co Go to the article

John* didn’t understand the point of the Bunong Bible translation. Why were people spending years of their lives translating the Scriptures into the local language when a translation was already available in the national language, Khmer? Having spent years in school studying the Bible in Khmer, John felt confident he understood it clearly. But eventually curiosity got the better of him and he began to read the recently translated Bunong Scriptures. As he did, he found he was able to understand Go to the article

In a small rural church nestled in the mountains of West Timor*, seven families worshipped together. In their homes and with each other outside of church, they primarily spoke their own language, called Tetun. But in church services, following the only model they knew, they used Indonesian**. Their Bibles were also in Indonesian. Because they didn’t speak Indonesian very well, there was a lot they didn’t understand. Then came exciting news: God speaks Tetun! Tetun translators, working under the Go to the article

USA (MNN) -- With circumstances becoming increasingly dire in Iran, many people seek alternative options. They often flee to the U.S. or other Western countries. However, according to Uncharted Ministries’ JoAnn Doyle, Muslim immigrants frequently encounter resistance upon reaching their new home. “(Iranian) women see the freedom that women have in America… and they long for that same freedom. They think, ‘If I come to this new country, I will finally have freedom’,” she explains. “Then, t Go to the article

Follow me: @GaboSkywalker www.desiringGod.org. Go to the article

Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. —1 Samuel 3:15 God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, “I wonder if that is God’s voice?” Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him “with a strong hand,” that is, by the pressure of his circumstances (Isaiah 8:11). Without the… Go to the article

We rely on our sight more than any other sense to help us interpret the world. Go to the article

http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/sns_atheism-8.mp3(38:31) Dawkins’ worldview lacks foundation for his outlandish claim that instructing children in the Christian faith is worse than sexually molesting them. His telling extreme stories of religious abuse is a cheap tactic to try and give credibility to this obviously ridiculous claim, and to hide its sinister implications. Go to the article

Weeping is actually a command of Jesus, at least in some situations. Not only does Jesus allow us to weep, he encourages us to do so. He actually ordered one group to weep: And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning […] The rest of this article is available by following the link above Go to the article

Our readers come from everywhere (over 120 countries) and from every kind of church. So I thought it would be fun to ask this in a poll. This is not a “popularity” contest. Just like a meet-and-greet at the family reunion! What label is on your church sign? (fyi we love them all ? ) I asked about the “label” on your church sign because I think all God’s people are one family. It’s fine to have historic differences and different opinions, but we all belong to one Father. Our writers come Go to the article

NEWS PROVIDED BY Life Legal Defense Foundation Jan. 24, 2020 WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today, the Trump Administration took action against a 2014 California policy forcing all insurance providers to include elective abortion in all health insurance policies sold in the state. According to a letter from the Office of Civil Rights in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS OCS) to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, California has 30 days to n Source: Go to the article

One reason we should consider periodic breaks from social media is because we need time for clearing the mind and disengaging from a world marked by a profound lack of reasonableness. In Facebook comments and Twitter threads, unreasonableness is on full display. More and more it appears people are unable or unwilling to engage in rational debate and reasonable dialogue. Online discussions descend into a free-for-all in which everyone flings feelings at each another with no regard to the helpfull Go to the article

Chinese worshippers kneel and pray...https://www.christianpost.com/news/persecuted-even-after-death-china-bans-christians-from-holding-religious-funerals.html Go to the article

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life will host an international conference in Rome this week on the pastoral care of the elderly. The Irish Bishops’ Conference will be represented at the three-day conference by Bishop Denis Nulty, Chair of the Bishops’ Council for Marriage and the Family and two lay members of that Council, Maire Printer and Gerry Mangan. The conference entitled ‘The Richness of Many Years of Life’ is taking place from Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 January. It will focus on the Go to the article

It’s been a hard year from a news perspective These headlines make many people ask, “Where’s God in a world of so much death, disease, and suffering?” Go to the article

The 62nd Grammy Awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Jan. 26. The evening was marked with a somber moment (news of Kobe Bryant’s sudden passing had broken earlier that day) as host Alicia Keys said, “Earlier today, Los Angeles, America, and the whole world lost a hero.” The show also paid […] The post Culture Clips: Billie the Kid Takes Home Five Grammys appeared first on Plugged In Blog. Go to the article

The Shrine of Fatima and Legatus Summit early screenings garner positive reactions and support for the filmNEWS PROVIDED BYCarmel Communications Jan. 29, 2020LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- There have been a number of Marian apparitions approved by the Catholic Church, but none has generated more devotions and controversy than those that occurred in Fátima, Portugal, in 1917. The remarkable apparitions at Fátima will come to life on theaters Source: Carmel Communications Go to the article

Bernie Sanders is approaching next week’s Iowa caucuses in a position to become the first major-party Jewish presidential nominee in American history Go to the article

A Word from Bob: Keep reading for 17 Biblical Counseling Resources Related to Addiction. Where do you turn when a family member asks you, “What would you recommend I read for help with my struggles with anxiety?” Where do you turn when someone in church says, “Do you have any books you recommend that would help me deal with the sexual abuse I experienced 20 years ago as a child?” If a friend was struggling in their marriage, what trusted resources would you recommend they read? If you were exper Go to the article

We have two seemingly contradictory truths: On the one hand, the Bible says that once God saves you, you’ll always be saved; on the other, it says that only if you endure to the end will you be saved. You have to put the two together. Go to the article

One year ago this month, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo this week signed into law a bill that legalizes abortions up to birth. While that has been the main focus of the legislation, the new law also revokes medical care for babies who are born alive after botched abortions. While Congress and legislatures in other states have tried to passed laws called the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, which require doctors to provide appropriate medical care and treatment for babies who are born alive aft Go to the article

The premise of Antiques Roadshow is pretty great: Everyday people bring old items they’ve saved to get appraised by experts. Viewers get a history lesson along with a big reveal about an item’s value.  Recently, an Air Force veteran brought his 1971 Rolex watch to the show, and got the surprise of a lifetime: It was worth more than $500,000. As he explains, he purchased the watch for a few hundred dollars when he was serving in the military decades ago. But, because it is so rare—and because Go to the article

NEWS PROVIDED BY 4 WINDS USA Jan. 29, 2020 MADISON, Wis., Jan. 29, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- A Sabra Hummus ad for the upcoming Super Bowl in Miami will feature drag queens. Last week, a 15-second teaser ad featured "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestants Kim Chi and Miz Cracker. "Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars Teresa Giuidice and Caroline Manzo, plus rapper T-Pain, are also in the ad. "We're bringing a diverse group of personalities to the table and demonstrating just how Source: 4 WINDS Go to the article

What is expository preaching exactly? We talk about it a lot, but here are 15 myths we need to be aware of in order to faithfully practice this type of preaching. The post What Expository Preaching Is Not appeared first on ChurchLeaders. Go to the article

Why are we so excited about God’s word here at Wycliffe? Are there still people groups out there who don’t have access to the Bible? Is the Bible really that important? We love this inspirational video by mission organisation AsiaLink, which deals with several questions surrounding Bible translation. When someone reads the Bible in their second or third language, even if they can understand it, for most people, it doesn’t speak to their heart. The gospel message is incredibly powerful, but l Go to the article

Life is full of ups and downs. All of us experience frustrations and challenges as well as breakthrough and success. Often we think we have a clear picture of what success looks like, but sometimes God has a different idea. Wycliffe is in the business of translating the Bible because we believe that the Bible is the best way for people to come to know and understand who God is. A Bible translator in Papua New Guinea, Jonathan, had spent several mornings at Nindewari market, trying to sell Scri Go to the article

What do riding a bike and translating the Bible have in common? One of the joys of working in Africa is discovering the richness of her languages. Across the continent, these languages are full of intriguing proverbs. For example: ‘The fruits of the labor of a lazy person cannot be eaten.’ ‘He who earns his living in the sun eats in the shade.’ ‘I pointed out to you the stars and all you saw was the tip of my finger.’ Words paint wonderful pictures, and few know how to paint a better picture Go to the article

What it really looks for a church staff to be strong in both performance AND health—and why it matters so much. If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your device for more:iTunes   RSS   Google Play  Stitcher   Spotify We encounter this a lot as we serve churches of many different sizes and denominations across the country: Sometimes churches get stuck because of how they are doing team. They can be clear on mission, clear on vision and clear on how they believe God has ca Go to the article

4 Traps That Can Destroy Your Marriage Go to the article

Sometimes, the New England Journal of Medicine seems as interested in promoting politics as in educating doctors. Over the years, the NEJM has published articles supportive of inserting doctors into the gun-control side of the Second Amendment debates, and opposing religious freedom medical conscience rights for doctors, as just a couple of examples. Now, it has published a piece that castigates natural gas in the cause of fighting global warming. Never mind that the U.S.’s increased reliance on Go to the article

by Herman Bavinck “ Fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14), and secondarily with each other (1 John 1:7; 1 Cor. 12:12-31; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:16). The purpose of human life is fellowship with God; to live in Him is life's goal. The spiritual life is to live in fellowship with the Triune God—that is, in the Holy Spirit, through Christ, with the Father. This fellowship is one—that is, divine—and yet different with respect to the three Persons. First there is the fellowship of the Holy Spirit c Go to the article

by John Calvin Lasting forgiveness for the members of the church!Not only does the Lord through forgiveness of sins receive and adopt us once for all into the church, but through the same means he preserves and protects us there. For what would be the point of providing a pardon for us that was destined to be of no use? Every godly man is his own witness that the Lord's mercy, if it were granted only once, would be void and illusory, since each is quite aware throughout his life of the many infi Go to the article

D. Scott Meadows  John Calvin wrote that “God’s will is . . . the cause of all things, [which makes] his providence the determinative principle for all human plans and works, not only in order to display its force in the elect, who are ruled by the Holy Spirit, but also to compel the reprobate [i.e., the non-elect] to obedience” (Institutes I, xviii, 2, “How does God’s impulse come to pass in men?”).1 To refute his opponents, Calvin wrote, “It is easy to dispose of their first objection, that if Go to the article

You Build New Muscles by Doing More Reps If you enjoy this episode, subscribe on your device for more:iTunes   RSS   Google Play  Stitcher   Spotify Good planning helps us make the right investment in the right ministry at the right time. I’ve found that organizational planning rhythms tends to be new muscles church leaders need to develop. In other words, the staff, the pastor and the senior leadership team have to embrace some new disciplines in order to become better stew Go to the article

Defending India’s highest ideals, trying to prevent tragedy read more Go to the article

Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." —John 3:3 Sometimes we are fresh and eager to attend a prayer meeting, but do we feel that same freshness for such mundane tasks as polishing shoes? Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, and as surprising as God Himself. We don’t know… Go to the article

Asia Bibi,with French journalist Anne-Isabelle Tollet, who collaborated on Free At Last...http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/28/asia-bibi-pakistani-woman-jailed-for-blasphemy-releases-photos-in-exile Go to the article

Christian Evangelist Franklin Graham penned an open letter to the LGBTQ community in the United Kingdom after an event there was canceled for "incompatible" statements.https://www.foxnews.com/world/franklin-graham-uk-event-lgbtq-christian Go to the article

How our immune system protects us from deadly pathogens and parasites through antibodies to demonstrate how we’re fearfully and wonderfully made. Go to the article

When basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, died in a helicopter crash with seven others last weekend, much of the country was rocked. Many cried. Fans and celebrities offered Instagram eulogies and Twitter hagiographies. Kobe Bryant’s passing even dominated much of the Grammys ceremony that night—a ceremony held in Los Angeles’ Staples […] The post The Complicated, Inspirational Legacy of Kobe Bryant appeared first on Plugged In Blog. Go to the article

It’s confession time. We did not fight in healthy ways with each other in the first years of our marriage. In fact, our approach was toxic. It was all about, “Winner takes all.” And that is anything but healthy. We yelled, screamed and acted childishly. And we are not proud Read More... The post De-escalating Fights in Marriage appeared first on Marriage Missions International. Go to the article

Where do college professors send their political donations?Why is it that college students, including Christian college students, are becoming so progressive? It’s because their professors are all progressive. This isn’t just my opinion. You can look at the breakdown of political donations made by college professors to see how many of them donate to Republicans vs Democrats. Here is the latest from Campus Reform: A recent study found that U.S. college professors donate exclusively to Democrats Go to the article

When Cam was just 21 he felt called to take the Bible to the peoples of South America. But there he discovered something that shaped the rest of his life’s work: he’d brought Spanish Bibles to give to the people he met, but often they didn’t speak Spanish. Indeed, when he tried to give these Spanish Bibles to people who only spoke their own mother-tongue language they asked Cam something that really made him think – why didn’t God speak their language? Was he only the God of English and Spanish Go to the article

The majority of people in the world belong to oral cultures. For them, faith literally comes by hearing. With this in mind, one of the tools we use to share Scripture with these communities is audio recordings of Bible stories! So how does Scripture go from words on paper to audio? Jo Clifford shares a great step-by-step account of one of the many trips she takes to record Scripture, this time to Mpanda in Tanzania. From invitation to hanging blankets over wooden frames, this is a brilliant win Go to the article

Good news travels fast. If you heard a great story, how long would it be before you shared it with someone else? Probably not long. You’d be even quicker to share it if you were from one of the world’s oral cultures. Oral cultures place a high value on storytelling, and communicate differently to Western cultures – important ideas, knowledge, art, etc are shared verbally rather than in writing. Bible storying is an aspect of Bible translation tailor-made for oral cultures – short passages of Sc Go to the article

You can have a great vision, but if the team isn’t healthy and high-performing, the church won’t experience health and growth. More than ten years ago (gosh that’s hard to believe) I started The Unstuck Group. This was after being a part of several great teams both before and during my life in ministry. My sophomore basketball team wasn’t so good. I cheer for some teams that aren’t so good. (I’m looking at you…the Cleveland Browns.) But, when it comes to my workplaces, I’ve been on winning te Go to the article

10 Bible Verses to Pray over Your Children Go to the article

In 154 known administrative prosecutions in 2019, 130 individuals (1 twice), 2 religious communities and 1 company were punished for worship meetings, offering religious literature and items (including online), sharing or teaching faith, posting religious material online, praying in mosques, inviting a child to meetings, or inadequate security measures. Yet an official claimed "We have no problems in the area of freedom of conscience". Go to the article

The work of Bible translation is made up of many parts. From aviation mechanics to primary school teachers, finance managers to software engineers. Do you think your skills can't be used? Think again. Check out the vacancies we're currently advertising for. Going abroad Even if you're not into languages, you could work abroad for 6 weeks to 2 years on a One to One programme, or join a GradTeam. If you're looking into longer term placements, browse the wide variety of roles on the Bible transl Go to the article

Are you a teacher? You might be just the person we want to hear from! Teachers make a huge difference to all our lives and in our context, they enable Bible translation to happen. In fact, they are an essential cog in the machine. Here is what one of our members serving with Wycliffe, who lives and works in one of the areas that need teachers, said in her recent newsletter: ‘Teachers are a vital part of mission. They provide education for the children, freeing up parents to serve as translato Go to the article

The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you.’ Gen 12:1 When you’re facing a difficult situation, where do you turn? What do you do? Read about how the Kanu people in the Philippines turned to God’s word and how it made all the difference. The Kanu people of the Philippines already have the New Testament in their mother tongue, but are still waiting for the Old Testament. A team of translators is work Go to the article

On Sunday, Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg went to Fox News for a town hall meeting with a more conservative audience than he is probably used to. Among the questions he received was one about the place of anti-abortion Democrats within the party, and Buttigieg attempted to articulate his pro-choice beliefs while calling for understanding with those who disagreed. The question was posed by Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life. “I’m a proud pro-life Democrat, Go to the article

The Billie Eilish story remains the best shows in town, as the 18-year-old wunderkind’s tossed-off collection of kooky bedroom pop is now one of the most awarded albums in Grammy history. Eilish and her brother Finneas left Sunday night’s Grammy Award Ceremony with awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist. They call that a sweep in the business, and she’s only the second person in Grammy history to pull it off, the first being Christopher Cross in 19 Go to the article

Whatcha gonna do? Bad Boys for Life may not be No. 1 at the box office for life, but it did earn its second-straight weekend victory. The buddy-cop movie earned an estimated $34 million in North America, more than doubling its closest rival. That brings its total domestic gross to an impressive $120.6 million, which […] The post Bad Boys Good for Another Win appeared first on Plugged In Blog. Go to the article

Advent Scripture Sharing booklets are now available and can be ordered from Christine in Faith Development Services at a cost of €2.50 each plus p+p. Please phone 059-9164084 or email fds@kandle.ie to place your order.   Go to the article

On November 14 1819, 200 years ago Bishop James Warren Doyle, better known as JKL, was ordained Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. Known as a great educationalist and advocate and friend of Daniel O’Connell Bishop Denis celebrated Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption Carlow in his honour. Introduction: This mornings’ Responsorial Psalm refrain is re-echoed in the Gospel acclamation about the word of the Lord remaining forever. It was the same word of the Lord that Bishop James Warren Doyle (also Go to the article

A video has emerged purportedly showing the execution of a Nigerian Christian by a young boy from an ISIS-affiliated terror group.https://www.dailymail.co.uk/textbased/news/text-7911765/Young-boy-executes-Nigerian-Christian-prisoner-horrifying-ISIS-video.html Go to the article

President Trump plans to speak Friday at the March for Life rally in Washington.https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-california-abortion-coverage-requirement-11579873973 Go to the article

A man from a tribal animistic village in Oaxaca, Mexico abandoned the traditions he grew up with and gave his life to Christ despite great persecution from other tribal members. Go to the article

The Anglican Bishop of Tasmania Richard Condie is exhorting Christians to…https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6598227/anglican-bishop-calls-for-confession-repentance-on-australia-day/ Go to the article

A conference venue in Liverpool has cancelled an event featuring American evangelist Franklin Graham. Mr Graham, the eldest son of the late preacher Billy…https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-51255414 Go to the article

Christian groups fear Queensland laws against gay conversion therapy will prevent them teaching Biblical ideas of sexuality.http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/28/queensland-religious-groups-fight-move-to-make-gay-conversion-therapy-a Go to the article

Firefighters fight to save the “once extinct” Wollemi pines as fires still rage in Australia – a tree that offers another reminder of the myth of evolution. Go to the article

On Sunday, five-time NBA champion and NBA icon Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other passengers. Initial investigation into the crash blamed a low-hanging fog. As a player, Bryant was as legendary as they come: an 18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA team, 12-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection, two time NBA Finals MVP and the 2008 NBA MVP. He also took home two Olympic gold medals with the US Olympic teams in 2008 and 2012. Go to the article

LEGISLATIVE RECAP: On Tuesday, the 2020 Legislative Session kicked off with the State of the State Address by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. The Governor laid out her plan for the session with a focus on education, public safety, and economic development. Among her listed priorities was the legalization of recreational marijuana which she referred to as New Mexico’s “next frontier.” Noticeably absent from the Governor’s remarks was any reference to abortion legislation. However, she can add s Go to the article

"Such sudden losses bring all of us into the sobering reality of an appointment we will all have to keep & the vaporous span of life," Ravi Zacharias said about Kobe Bryant's death. The post Christian Leaders Respond to Kobe Bryant’s Death appeared first on ChurchLeaders. Go to the article

Josh Oldfield (above) shares how God unexpectedly gave him a passion for Bible translation. Is global mission a passion of yours? It was never one of mine. When I joined Wycliffe Bible Translators, I was convinced I wasn’t the right ‘type’. I very clearly remember saying to my interviewer: ‘I was always useless at languages in school and I hate international travel; are you sure you want me?’ They did. My job is to raise awareness of the need for Bible translation today. Most people are sur Go to the article

A familiar tapping on the bamboo door announced Aidani’s presence. ‘Come on in!’ Sigmund called, always pleased to see his ‘little brother’. Their friendship had deepened over years of language learning and Bible translation in Aidani’s home village in Papua New Guinea. They had filled their days with pronunciation practice and vocabulary lessons as Aidani taught Sigmund, from Wycliffe Norway, to speak his language, Umanakaina, and they had plumbed the depths of the language together for the b Go to the article

Bethany writes about her photography placement with us on our Experience Wycliffe summer camp. When I arrived at Schloss Klaus, in Austria, I knew that this was going to be the perfect location for Experience Wycliffe. There were great views, a lot of stairs, but most importantly amazing food! This was my first time travelling out of the UK and I was excited to be able to learn more about the work of Wycliffe while surrounded by mountains and beautiful lakes. When I first saw the castle, I was Go to the article

We spent months looking at hundreds of sexual abuse cases and allegations involving Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers.We found more than 700 victims since 1998. #churchtoo #SBCtoo Read Part 1 on Sunday. w/ @chrondigger & @John_Tedesco https://t.co/uNqAToMJH1— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) February 8, 2019 Robert Downen almost burned out on newspapers and went into the insurance business. Instead, the talented journalist, now 28, stuck it out and spearheaded what the Religion Go to the article

Adam Schiff Whistleblowers Will Sing Also NEWS PROVIDED BY Public Advocate Jan. 27, 2020 WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- A conservative group, Public Advocate will stage a mock sobriety checkpoint, sing songs about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Impeachment manager Adam Schiff from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 29 at the Supreme Court and around the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. Event Details Who: Public Advocate of the U.S. Inc. What: Nan Source: Pub Go to the article

‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...’ The Great Commission sometimes seems just a little too... great. 7.6 billion people. 7 continents. 7000 languages. 17,000 people groups. Two things strike me from those statistics. Firstly, that’s a lot of sevens. Weird. Secondly, the scale of the task. Jesus must be made known in all those languages. In all those people groups. I do not know where to begin. I am overwhelmed. I stand paralysed. Our world is bigger than it has ever been. N Go to the article

One of my favourite stories is about a church congregation in Cameroon hearing the Easter account in their own language for the first time. As the passage is read, some of the older women begin to weep. Afterwards, they approach the reader and demand to know where the story is from: ‘We have never heard anything like it before! We didn’t know there was someone who loved us so much that he was willing to suffer and die like that – to be crucified on a cross to save us!’ What’s incredible is t Go to the article

‘The mango tree there, my father planted it long ago. But now we are reaping the fruit. We are eating from that tree.’ Sunday Wenji is a Nigerian Bible translator. The tree he is talking about, pictured above and below, towers over the houses around it, its verdant branches carrying such armfuls of leaves that the trunk is scarcely visible. It has now grown large enough for the community to hold meetings in its shade. Bible translation is a bit like this tree, Sunday explains: ‘If you plant a Go to the article

For years, Jume heard John 3:16 and other biblical truths spoken in the local trade language Hausa, or in English. But these truths just didn’t sink in. Now, as she sits in her village in Nigeria and thinks about this famous verse, tears gather in her eyes and her mouth stretches into a wide grin. ‘I memorise it in my heart, and even saying it out sometimes I am memorising it. I always recite it with my voice.’ Yet it wasn’t always so. Jume used to wake up at night in her house, worried and Go to the article

A house church in China has refused to succumb to the demands of authorities despite facing continued harassment for refusing to install cameras in the building. Go to the article

Undercover police and Chinese government officials violently arrested Christian worshipers after raiding a church in Henan province amid an ongoing crackdown on religion in the Communist country. Go to the article

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/the-renewed-mind-and-how-to-have-it. Go to the article