forever building..

http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/sinnersaint-9thlawpt2.mp3What is it to lie? Are there “white” lies; do we always need to “tell the truth”? What about hairpieces and deodorant? Go to the article

http://www.start.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Bad_Reasons_Why_You_Are_Not_A_Calvinist_4.mp3(16:13) So John chapter six is about Christ’s unity with the Father. Yes, but that does not set aside His clear statements regarding the way in which the Father and the Son save their elect people. The Father drags His previously unwilling people straight to His Son, Who never loses them. Go to the article

One reason we believe that everyone should have access to the word of God in their heart language is that God’s word addresses and can bring healing to even the greatest traumas experienced in life. Simon, a Bible translator in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, became separated from his family when his village was attacked. Simon found his wife and children again, but their meeting wasn’t all happy tears. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country that has suffered years of conflict Go to the article

By Eric Douma 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

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

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

The following are 20 Things Successful Leaders Are Thinking And Talking About: Various Interactions “The 20-60-20 Principle I learned from John Maxwell.  20% are your leaders and bought in to what your church is doing.  20% will never be on board.  60% are undecided.  It is the job of the top 20% of leaders to […] Go to the article

Details: Can you be gay and Christian? Matthew Vines says you can and he’s created a viral video and best-selling book defending his view. This Saturday on Up for Debate, Vines joins host Julie Roys to debate author and leading evangelical apologist, Dr. Michael Brown. Is gay monogamy an option for Christians? Is it unloving to reject gay marriage? Listen and join the discussion this Saturday at 8 a.m. Central Time on Up for Debate! Audio: The audio of the Matthew Vines vs Michael Brown debate Go to the article

The US signed a peace agreement with the Taliban on Saturday in an effort to end 18 years of war in Afghanistan and allow US troops to return home. Go to the article

Here in Georgia, we believe in protecting the vulnerable and defending the innocent. Yet, here in our beloved state, a horrifying truth exists: surgeries are being done and chemicals are being given to children that harm their bodies, remove their ability to have their own children one day, and inflict permanent bodily conflict on these young ones. My friends, this is beneath the dignity of our state. The idea of adults harming vulnerable children, permanently, is one that should rally and unify Go to the article

In the third part of our series of sermons entitled 'Kingdom Life', we come to understand the 'Kingdom Power' that is necessary to live this life. This power is available through the Holy Spirit, and is foundational to realising the 'Kingdom Life' that we are hopelessly incapable of living in our own power. This sermon is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio and text formats... Go to the article

Today is February 29—Leap Day 2020! This date occurs once every four years. Why do we have this quadrennial practice? Go to the article

Emotions ran strong as the choir sang ‘Masina, Masina…’ at the Mussau hymnal dedication. Masina means ‘Thank you’, ‘that’s great’ and is even used as a greeting in the Mussau language. But as the choir sang, it meant only one thing ‘It is well, it is well, it is well with my soul.’ On this day, these precious words had special meaning to the Mussau people. In February, John and Marjo Brownie were travelling from Mussau to Emirau Island with Leslie their co-translator and three others when the b Go to the article

02/29/2020 Iraq (International Christian Concern) – Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) has appointed a new deputy commander following the assassination of Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis in the January U.S. drone strike that also killed General Qassem Soleimani. Abu Fadak Al-Mohammedawi was tapped as the next leader late last week. Abu Fadak, commonly known as al-Khal or “the uncle”, played an active role in the Iraq protests against the U.S. embassy. He now joins the PMF, or Hashid al-Shaabi, which is a predominately Shiite network of paramilitaries and therefore does not report to the Iraqi Defense Ministry. The PMF also has a heavy presence in the Nineveh region of Iraq, controlling the land since the defeat of ISIS. Most recently in early February, demonstrators in Tel Adas blocked a road in protest against the PMF and to demand their withdrawal. The PMF, an Iran-backed conglomerate, has been accused of human rights abuses and forcing demographic change by keeping Christians and Ya...

Happy, happy, happy weekend!  Some real, down in the bones JOY to celebrate today! Links & stories this week 100% guaranteed to make you smile a mile wide & believe like crazy in a Good God redeeming everything — and that there’s love everywhere & for ((you))!  Serving up only the Good Stuff for you & your people right here: Ossi Saarinen Ossi Saarinen Ossi Saarinen let’s be on the lookout for hope and wonder everywhere today tears at this one every. single. time. Breatht Go to the article

I’ve recently been corresponding a bit with a couple of people who hate Christianity and have attacked me. Some of the things they have said about Christians are true. We often come across as holy know-it-alls. We are guilty at times of trying to manipulate conversations to spiritual things. And the “friendships” we develop with […] Go to the article

The Central African Republic, CAR, has been through a long period of civil war, and will be recovering from the effects of it for a long time to come. Children as well as adults are hurting. But a biblical trauma healing programme offers hope.  A member of the team, shares what is involved with the program in CAR. ‘My colleagues report that after the years of conflict and violence in the Central African Republic, all the children are traumatised. They’ve all seen and heard things that are too much for a child to see and hear. There are lots of programmes to help adults here, but very few people are doing anything to help the children of CAR who have wounded hearts from what they’ve seen and heard. This programme uses good principles of mental health supported by Bible verses and Bible stories to help the children understand who they are and how God still loves them and cares for them. A small team will be running a children’s biblical trauma healing programme in Bangui, Augus...

1.5 billion people are still waiting for the Bible in their own language . For one in five people, it’s as if God doesn’t speak their language. This is why the need for Bible translation is so urgent. Without this, hundreds of millions of people might never come to know God or be able to grow in godliness and maturity. We work with churches and Christians around the world, translating the Bible and teaching people to read it and apply it to their lives. And as people read the Bible in their own language, God brings about transformation. Recently, an Imam (local Muslim leader) was so impacted by the parts of the New Testament in his language that he said to our colleagues, ‘When you have finished translating the Bible, this town will come to know the truth and will be changed… ’ For people to encounter the power of God’s word and be changed by it, the difficult work of Bible translation is essential. Committed teams of translators and supporting staff aren’t the only people n...

For God louede so the world, that he ȝ af his oon bigetun sone, that ech man that bileueth in him perische not, but haue euerlastynge lijf – John 3.16 in the Wyclif Bible. John Wycliffe (1328 – 1384) believed that ‘it helpeth Christian men to study the Gospel in that tongue in which they know best Christ’s sentence’. He was adamant that the Scriptures should be read in the mother-tongue of all people, as it had been for the original hearers: ‘You say it is heresy to speak of the Holy Scriptures in English. You call me a heretic because I have translated the Bible into the common tongue of the people. Do you know whom you blaspheme? Did not the Holy Ghost give the Word of God at first in the mother-tongue of the nations to whom it was addressed?’ So, he and his team translated the whole Bible into the common English of the time.  Every word was written by hand. Wycliffe suffered fierce opposition.  Even after his death, great hatred towards his work continued, leading the Chu...

02/28/2020 Iran (International Christian Concern) ­ – Iranian Christian Mary Fatemeh Mohammadi has reportedly been released on bail from Qarchak Prison, just prior to her court hearing on Monday. Initially it was believed that her $2,250 bail had been refused. Mohammadi, a Christian human rights activist, was arrested on January 12 following a protest near Azadi Square in Tehran. Demonstrators had gathered in protest of Iran accidentally shooting down a commercial passenger plane. For nearly a month, little to nothing was known about Mohammadi’s whereabouts. Although she has been arrested before, the mystery surrounding her disappearance caused more concern. Her court hearing set for Monday March 2 includes charges against her for “disturbing the public order and for participating in an illegal rally.” Mary Mohammadi was reportedly tortured and beaten during her time in Qarchak Prison. The news of her release on bail is a welcomed break from the uncertainty in her case to date. Ira...

Drug-related deaths reached a record high in Scotland last year, according to new figures. There were 706 drug-related deaths in 2015, a 15 per cent increase on 2014, when 613 people died. The official statistics were released in a report by the National Records of Scotland investigating drug-related deaths. Heroin Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) [...] Go to the article

Scottish families are overwhelmingly against the Named Person scheme, according to a new survey by Scotland’s Press and Journal (P&J) newspaper. The survey found that more than 70 per cent of P&J readers are not in favour of the controversial plans, which have been delayed following an historic legal intervention by the UK Supreme Court. [...] Go to the article

Not only are the Bible’s benedictions and doxologies rich statements of God’s grace and glory, they’re also teaching tools for the church. From one of our Ask Ligonier events, H.B. Charles Jr. considers what we can learn from these significant passages in Scripture. Ask your biblical and theological questions live online at ask.Ligonier.org. Read the Transcript Go to the article

Technology that makes plant-based meat substitutes taste more like real meat than ever elevates questions about the boundaries of Catholics' annual sacrifice. Go to the article

Josh Swamidass is the Washington University computational biologist and intelligent design critic who debated with biochemist Michael Behe last week at Texas A&M. Their exchange is now up on YouTube. Jonathan Witt reported on the contents here. Dr. Swamidass then headed to Seattle where he spoke last night at the University of Washington on “Human Identity and the Meaning of Artificial Intelligence: A Conversation with a Secular Humanist and a Scientist Christian.” It was good to see Josh in Go to the article

The post This time it’s personal! appeared first on Anglican Mainstream. from Voice for Justice UK: The Revd Lynda Rose writes: On Wednesday, 26th February, Lynda was invited to speak at a Parliamentary Briefing on the subject, Does RSE harm children?  The meeting was by invitation only, aimed at MPs and Peers, and was chaired by the Rt Hon Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP.  It was not widely publicised and, most especially, my name was not mentioned. Be that as it may, the day before the event a savag Go to the article

With the swearing in of Governor Brian Kemp and Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, our state departed from the establishment status quo and embraced a new, more conservative governing philosophy that puts Georgians first. The Kemp-Duncan team is transforming our state in powerful ways, but, to achieve our goals, we must to do our part to send strong allies for the movement to the General Assembly. That’s why I’m honored to announce our endorsement of Jason Anavitarte for State Senate. I’ve had the privi Go to the article

Todd White, Bill Johnson, and Benny Hinn are going to demonstrate, once and for all, that they are doing “greater works than Jesus!” In an unprecedented move of supernatural power and public relations, these three Apostles of Faith are dropping all of their lucrative speaking engagements in order to end the Coronavirus. Here’s Todd White on his way to the airport, thinking about all of the many healings he will soon be faci Go to the article

Are Dem candidates religious? How to sell a closed church SCOTUS’ big moment on religion Decade of violent extremism Bible that oozed oil Containing the coronavirus Go to the article

How can Christians make sense of the coronavirus, which has infected 83,000 people and killed nearly 3,000? Pastor John offers four biblical realities. Listen Now Go to the article

The Ark Encounter has been chosen as the best religious museum in the United States, out of 20 nominees, and the Creation Museum finished second! Go to the article

"Politicians can turn their backs on these babies, but they can't say they don't know what's at stake."   NEWS PROVIDED BY U.S. Senator for Nebraska Ben Sasse Feb. 28, 2020   WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, the author of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, issued the following statement regarding the House of Representatives' vote on Born-Alive legislation. Just days after Democrats filibustered the bill in the Source: CCN Go to the article

Wisdom for Your Weekend: Your regular installment of what we've been reading (and watching) from around the web. We gather the best and leave out the rest. Go to the article

Audio Recording Raises Fear Among Christian Community 02/28/2020 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on Monday, February 23, al-Shabaab released an audio clip online, ordering all non-local Christians to leave three counties in northeastern Kenya. In the 20-minute clip, al-Shabaab’s spokesman, Sheikh Ali Dhere, urged Somali-Kenyans to evict all non-Muslims living and working in Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera if they do not leave Go to the article

Friends: Recently I’ve been challenged by a former preacher-turned-atheist by the name of Bruce Gerencser. His article is entitled “Beware of Evangelicals Coming in the Name of ‘Friendship’” and you may read it here. Bruce rightly criticizes Christians for what I call conditional, blackmail-type, temporary “friendships” in order to evangelize them. And when conversion doesn’t […] Go to the article

Further to a very good discussion at last night’s Council of Priests, we have as of 28th February 2020 received from the HSE guidance in relation to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) which is now attached. I would appreciate if you would review same and take on as much of the relevant suggestions as possible. In particular the following should be noted:- Suspend the sign of peace with immediate effect. A suggested wording at that time might be “Let us pray quietly in our hearts for peace at this time” Go to the article

After adultery, couples may feel like their marriage is ruined beyond repair. What biblical realities can help them begin to find healing? Listen Now Go to the article

10 More Secular Movies That Teach Christian Values Go to the article

Author(s): Various AuthorsPublisher: Barbour BooksPrice: $0.99   (Ends Mar 3) Hope for Happy Endings Is Renewed in Nine Historical Romances Meet nine women from history spanning from 1776 to 1944 feel the sting of having lost out on love. Can their hope for experiencing romance again be renewed? Love in the Crossfire by Lauralee Bliss – Trenton, New Jersey, 1776Gretchen Hanson watched her beau go off to war and never return. She soon falls for an enemy scout who stumbles upon her farm. If Jake Go to the article

I’m so grateful for the role you play in my life, and your prayers, support, partnership, and friendship mean more to me and my family than you’ll ever know. That’s why I consider it a great blessing to share some personal news with you: that my family will welcome a new addition, our first daughter, in August! Many of you have heard me talk about my three boys – Peyton (5), Cade (4), and Jarrett (2). My precious bride has enjoyed being a “boy mom,” and our house has been in a state of semi-controlled chaos as these 3 crazy men run wild. It’s been a great privilege to be their father and see the plan God has for them unfold. Now, we embrace the coming change of a precious princess joining the crew. All the boys, especially Cade, have vowed to protect her and fight any boy that comes near her. As I share this news, I’m reminded of the work we’ve done together to protect children like my daughter – who the Lord has long known, whose DNA has been present from the moment of conceptio...

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 Scripture books in the local language, Binandere. Imagine Jonathan’s frustration over spending all this time and only selling six books. He passionately wanted the Binandere people to read God’s word but there seemed to be little interest. Karen Weaver takes up the story: ‘He and his wife Kathy were planning to visit two Binandere villages upstream on the Gira River. Should he try to sell books there? Reluctantly he put the latest Binandere Scripture books in his backpack and carefully crossed...

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 than Samuel Mubbala. Sam is translating God’s word into the Lugwere language of Uganda. He has been involved in trials using a computer adaptation software program, Adapt It. By using the program, translators can create an initial draft (pre-draft) that will help them get started more quickly on the challenging work of Bible translation. Trials have been conducted using Adapt It on Bantu languages in Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda. Recently Sam was asked if he found the program boring or...

My paper was criticizing what Guliuzza has publicly written in which he denies the reality of natural selection: a claim that he has never publicly retracted. Go to the article

Be still, and know that I am God… —Psalm 46:10 Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen. Perseverance means more than just hanging on, which may be only exposing our fear of letting go and falling. Perseverance is our supreme effort of refusing… Go to the article

Busyness is a bully at the best of times, stomping around, wanting the playground to itself, chasing peace away first, then patience, kindness, joy, and self-control. But this bully becomes a tyrant when it teams up with comparison. Here's how the two work together. Let's say 'enough!' to their lies. More… Go to the article

The post Pro-lifer could face jail time for publicly criticizing pro-abort MP, fights back appeared first on Anglican Mainstream. by Dorothy Cummings McLean, LifeSite: A British pro-lifer will appear in court tomorrow to challenge an order forbidding him from criticizing an MP for her pro-abortion extremism. Christian Hacking, 29, an employee of Centre for Bioethical Reform UK (CBR UK), will appear at a hearing in Stratford Magistrates Court on February 26 and 27. He was issued with a Community Go to the article

The New Jersey LGBTQ curriculum is an unfunded mandate with the requirement schools implement it by September 2020. Because of the rapidly approaching September deadline, schools might be pressured to adopt and use the free curriculum that has been developed by the powerful LGBTQ political lobbying group in our state – Garden State Equality. The material and lessons they have created disregard accuracy and fact-based science to indoctrinate our children with radical left-wing activism. We’ve unc Go to the article

This year as many as 300 million people will go on a pilgrimage. What’s interesting is that this figure has been rising every year for the past decade, and it’s not only religious people who are doing it. Why are so many everyday people feeling the call to make a ‘meaningful journey to a sacred place’? In this post and video I’ll explore some answers, plus give you four steps to plan a mini pilgrimage of your own. More… Go to the article

Pastors adjust for coronavirus Trump evangelical support stable Sports’ power to unite Nun creates affordable housing Leading in uncertain times Digital literacy classes Go to the article

What Will Heaven Be Like? (5 Amazing Things We Can Know for Sure) Go to the article

If you’re pondering the question of who won last night’s final Democratic primary debate, one... Go to the article

Fijian troops perform a powerful dance in an emotional farewell to Australia after battling deadly bushfires for more than a month Fijian troops arrived in…https://www.dailymail.co.uk/textbased/news/text-8044853/Fijian-troops-leave-Victoria-helping-bushfire-affected-towns-recover.html Go to the article

Congregants from Attitude Baptist church in Rio de Janiero attend a carnival celebration on Copacabana beach.http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/26/evangelical-christians-in-brazil-resolve-to-bring-jesus-to-carnival-revelers Go to the article

How “orphan genes” still can’t be accounted for by evolution because of irreducible complexity, though secular media claims they prove evolution. Go to the article

Religion may be good for your health! People of faith are less likely to fall or feel ill compared to non-believers, official stats reveal Non-believers were…https://www.dailymail.co.uk/textbased/news/text-8047181/Those-abandon-faith-likely-fall-feel-ill-report-finds.html Go to the article

The main reason people persevere is that they “see” something that is bigger than themselves or their current reality. Ed:Why do you think emerging leaders need the message of this book right now? Doug: One of the weaknesses of contemporary Western culture is our lost appreciation of the power of perseverance. We stand on the shoulders of previous generations who understood this vital quality. The sad reality of our time is their hard-won advancements are now slowly being swept away in a flood o Go to the article

Acclaimed critic Vivian Gornick rereads the books that shaped her life and muses on reencountering the person she was at the time. Go to the article

By ICC’s Indonesia Correspondent 02/27/2020 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – Anxiety, worry, fear and happiness flared up in my heart when I learned that I was going to visit one of the provinces that is very distinct in my country, namely the province of Aceh. The special autonomous region is unique for it is the only Indonesian province practicing Sharia law. From my understanding, every person who enters the Aceh region must follow the regulations there Go to the article

02/27/2020 Pakistan (International Christian Concern) – Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman acquitted of blasphemy charges in 2019, is seeking political asylum in France. This comes only nine months after Bibi and her family were allowed to leave Pakistan and seek asylum in Canada. During an interview with RTL radio on February 24, Bibi revealed that she plans to ask French President Emmanuel Macron for political asylum in France when the two meet on February 28. “ Obviously I would like the President to listen to my request, ” Bibi told RTL radio. “ My greatest desire is to live in France. ” In June 2009, Bibi was falsely accused of committing blasphemy by Muslim coworkers in Sheikhupura, Pakistan. According to local reports, Bibi’s Muslim coworkers became angry with her when she, a Christian whom they considered unclean, drank water from the same bowl as the Muslims. In November 2010, Bibi was convicted of committing blasphemy and sentenced to death. She was the first woman i...

We’ve covered my top ten reasons for “believing” in hell. By “believing” I don’t mean that Christians should revel in the idea of anyone being eternally lost. By “believing” I mean I want to affirm what the Bible teaches, allow its truth to orchestrate my actions to seek to rescue those who are still going […] Go to the article

Gospel e-books is working together with Christian publishers to allow you to choose what e-books you’d like to have discounted. Cast your vote below and the book with the most votes in each poll will be placed on sale soon after. If there are less than 100 total votes in a particular poll, the winning book will not be discounted. (function () { var opst = document.createElement('script'); opst.type = 'text/javascript'; opst.async = 1; opst.src = 'https://www.opinionstage.co Go to the article

Iran (MNN) -- It was a difficult day in Iran. The military fired approximately 15 missiles at U.S. forces stationed in Iraq early yesterday morning, drawing a new round of economic sanctions. Shortly thereafter, 167 souls perished when a Ukrainian plane crashed during takeoff from an Iranian airport. Victims included many international students attending universities in Canada. An investigation into the crash’s cause is underway. Between 9 and 10 a.m. local time, a pair of earthquakes shook c Go to the article

Japan (MNN) – In his New Year address, Japan's emperor Naruhito greeted his subjects, wished them well, hoped for a disaster-free year, and tried to set a tone of optimism. Emperor of Japan, Naruhito (Photo courtesy Wikimedia/CC) It was a message that resonated with people now struggling on multiple fronts. Joe Handley, president of Asian Access, said there are various layers on the social issues. "The people are not happy, and even the economy has been dropping.  The depression part of Go to the article

I think Ellie Holcomb is creating some of the most enjoyable-for-adults kids’ music today. Her new album Sing: Remembering Songs is proof. Westminster Books has a great sale on a great Sinclair Ferguson book: The Whole Christ . (Yesterday on the blog: New and Notable Christian Books for February 2020 ) The Baby Carrier This is such a sweet reflection on moving from one phase of parenting to another. “ Last year I packed up the majority of our baby things. Play mats, burp cloths, clothes, and the various paraphernalia that got us through one stage and on to the next were stuffed into our old Buick. They would find their new home with another mom.” The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self Carl Trueman writes about some of the unprecedented (and not entirely unprecedented) stuff going on all around us. “Yet for all of the continuities and precedents that likely exist in the past for the way we live in the present, it’s arguable that the times in which we live today do exhibit a nu...

As a primary-schooler I contemplated God and felt trapped. At the time my parents were in one of the world’s more zealous religious sects, I was being raised according to its tenets, and the God of this faith was difficult to please. We all hold an image of God in our minds. So who is your God? What is your God like? Here's one way to find out when, and how, you formed your image of God... More… Go to the article

The leaders of Scotland’s main political parties have pledged to push a strong LGBT agenda in the next Parliament. Last week, the leaders of the SNP, Labour, Conservative, Green and Liberal Democrat parties sat down to discuss LGBT issues at a special hustings event. They agreed that the implementation of so-called ‘non-binary gender recognition’ is [...] Go to the article

We love you. With Love- Your CVM peeps Go to the article

Do you need a children’s sermon on the Beatitudes? This object lesson message is from Matthew 5:1-12. Share it with your church on Groundhog Day this upcoming Sunday (February 2, 2020). Print the message script and then watch our teaching example video below. Children’s Sermon Download Message Script Watch this video on YouTube. Children’s Message on Matthew 5:1-12 Object Lesson for Ground Hogs Day -- February 2, 2020 “Don’t Hope in Ground Hogs!” Children’s Sermon Object Le Go to the article

The pro-death folks are at it again, and your voice is needed to stop them! Once again, Maryland legislators have brought forward a bill to legalize assisted suicide. This bill (SB 701) will be heard in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Friday afternoon. This assisted-suicide bill will allow doctors to prescribe a lethal dose of drugs to anyone who has been “qualified” to end their own life. The so-called “protections” in these bills are weak, leaving our most vulnerable people – the Go to the article

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NEWS PROVIDED BY Strategic Music Partnerships Feb. 26, 2020 OXON HILL, Md., Feb. 26, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Strategic Music Partnerships, Inc., a Maryland-based nonprofit dedicated to music education, announces the first Official Maryland Music Summit. This special 1-day Music Summit takes place on Saturday, May 2, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Harborside Hotel, 6400 Oxon Hill Rd, Oxon Hill, MD 20745. Maryland's music scene is dynamic though its music artist community is su Source Go to the article

Historically amongst the revelers at Venice’s celebrated Mardi Gras Carnival, are those costumed in the... Go to the article

Doing does not result in done. It only leads to more doing. Ed: Why did you write You Are What You Do? Daniel: Because our definition of “normal” has changed—seemingly overnight. For example, working a steady nine-to-five job isn’t normal anymore. And waiting until you’re retired to explore the world, try new experiences, eat delicious food, and enjoy life isn’t normal either—if retirement is even a thing anymore. What’s now “normal” is this desire that we all have for freedom and flexibility, Go to the article

Democrat presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg has already faced intense criticism from pro-life advocates over his allegedly telling a pregnant Bloomberg News employee to “kill it” and encouraging her to have an abortion so he didn’t have another employee on maternity leave. Now, for the second consecutive Democrat presidential debate, abortion advocate Elizabeth Warren is letting Bloomberg have it — not because she’s suddenly pro-life but because attacking Bloomberg over his mistreatment of wo Go to the article

Mike Davidson from Hillsborough Co Down says he developed homosexual feelings in part as a result of a poor relationship with his father. Earlier this month Mr…https://www.newsletter.co.uk/health/ni-man-i-trod-same-path-phillip-schofield-did-not-come-out-gay-1890555 Go to the article

Religion is at the center of many lives in Korea. Now it’s at the center of a rapidly spreading contagion. The largest number of Covid-19 infections outside of…https://qz.com/1808390/religion-is-at-the-heart-of-koreas-coronavirus-outbreak/ Go to the article

Having a religious faith makes people feel healthier, the latest government figures suggest. It found that people aged 16 and over who had no religion were…https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/26/official-religion-makes-feel-healthier/ Go to the article

Asia Bibi, left, has published a book detailing her experience.Photograph: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian who spent eight years on…http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/25/asia-bibi-the-pakistani-christian-exiled-to-canada-still-dreams-of-going-home Go to the article

Songs for when you REALLY need God. They will show you that you really can worship when suffering and crying out for Him. Even though perhaps He feels a million mile away. These songs will move your heart and draw it towards the God who really does CARE for you. These are songs that heal. Many […] The rest of this article is available by following the link above Go to the article

CHARLESTON, SC—Joe Biden made the incredible claim at last night's debate that he is the last remaining survivor of gun violence on the earth. The post Joe Biden Claims He Is Only Human Left On Earth Not Killed By Gun Violence appeared first on The Babylon Bee. Go to the article

I meet a woman named Ndubaayo who gave up four hours of her day to walk — one way, barefoot—  over a range of rugged hills — to hear the heartbeat of God. It’s Ndubaayo I think of on Ash Wednesday. When I sat in front of Ndubaayo’s house, several of her neighbors join us, and I lean forward on this tipsy white plastic chair to hear her tell her story: How she walked 8 hours a day — with no shoes — five days a week. 26 miles a day. A marathon to get more of God. Five days a week — for four years. Go to the article

How to read ‘Querida Amazonia’ By Austen Ivereigh February 25, 2020 Jesus spoke of the need for new wine in new wineskins for a reason: sometimes we don’t see and hear the new thing happening because we’re looking out for the old thing. Nowhere has that been truer than in the reception of Pope Francis’s latest apostolic exhortation, Querida Amazonia. As the dust begins to settle on the reaction to Pope Francis’s response to the Amazon synod, we have only begun to see what his Go to the article

NEWS PROVIDED BY Spud 'N Rich Feb. 26, 2020 DALLAS, Feb. 26, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- This Spring, the legacy of two iconic toy makers reignites with a new Kickstarter project launch. Rich Knerr and his business partner Spud Melin created some of America's most iconic toys such as the Hula-Hoop, Frisbee, Slip 'N Slide, Silly String, and more. Now, decades later, Rich's son, Chuck Knerr, has brought one of their ideas to life. "After years of procrastination, I wanted to create a p Source: Go to the article

Lent: looking beyond 40 days read more Go to the article

My youth pastor growing up encouraged us to offer our lives as “blank checks” to God. When you gave someone a blank check, you signed your name at the bottom, pre-approving whatever amount they wrote in later. Essentially, what Jesus asks from us is that we give our lives like a blank check to him. We put our “yes" on the table, so to speak, before he even asks the question. Go to the article

NEW YORK, NY—Planned Parenthood has endorsed Mike Bloomberg for president after learning he encouraged a pregnant woman to "kill it." The post Planned Parenthood Endorses Bloomberg After Learning He Told Pregnant Woman To 'Kill It' appeared first on The Babylon Bee. Go to the article

Senegal (MNN) – Ibrahima D.’s comfortable life turned tragic one night, but he now knows what he couldn’t have imagined then: God’s hope shines even brighter in the darkness. In the primarily Muslim country of Senegal, Ibrahima works with Every Home for Christ and World Missionary Press to share the faith he found with his people. An Answered Prayer In one night, Ibrahima D.’s whole life came crashing down. His family enjoyed their life in Mauritania, a country in West Africa, where his fat Go to the article

The Vatican is going ahead with plans for Pope Francis to celebrate the Ash Wednesday ritual that kicks off the Catholic Church’s Lenten season despite concerns about the new coronavirus Go to the article

For God louede so the world, that he ȝaf his oon bigetun sone, that ech man that bileueth in him perische not, but haue euerlastynge lijf – John 3.16 in the Wyclif Bible. John Wycliffe (1328 – 1384) believed that ‘it helpeth Christian men to study the Gospel in that tongue in which they know best Christ’s sentence’. He was adamant that the Scriptures should be read in the mother-tongue of all people, as it had been for the original hearers: ‘You say it is heresy to speak of the Holy Scripture 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

Linda Burton, StreetLight’s Team Leader … recently wrestled for several months over whether to re-establish brothel outreach to a brothel the team had not visited for nearly three years. The team had ceased outreach at the time because brothel management had asked them not to return. However, Linda felt God’s prompting that it was time for the team to bring the hope of Jesus through genuine friendship in this location again – to women most often marginalised and isolated by society, but preci Go to the article

For Manda Pidgeon, the journey to bring the hope of Jesus to Rroma people in Romania began quite unexpectedly in 2006 on a mission trip to Papua New Guinea, when she audibly heard God speak the word Romania. ‘I’d been praying God would use me for his purposes, but until this time, I didn’t know the direction he would lead me. When this happened, I didn’t even know Romania was a country! I kept the experience to myself and continued to pray.’ The following day, God placed another piece in Go to the article

By day, Geoff Deutscher is a chaplain at an Anglican Retirement Village in Castle Hill. Outside of those hours, he is a passionate cyclist. Although he does don the lycra like a pro, he’s not your average MAMIL. When Geoff jumps on his bike, he loves to combine passion and purpose with pedals. Geoff first remembers cycling as a young boy. But the fine-tuning of his skill and speed behind the handlebars wasn’t initially borne of his passion for the sport. Rather, Geoff learned to ride out of n Go to the article

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Notice the word “forevermore.” Every pleasure we experience on this earth is transient. It doesn’t last. We are left looking for more. Whether it’s the pleasures of sex, laughter with friends, the enjoyment of good food, the excitement of some sport…all of it is like water in our hands. It falls through our fingers. It is gone in a moment of time and becomes like Go to the article

Summer...in ministry, it's a time when some churches "coast" because of summer attendance numbers usually going down. But I have this urgency today that this summer is an important time for the kid's department at WFA. It's not a time to coast, it's a time to dig our feet in and work hard at reaching our community. It's a time to rethink a few things, rework, recruit, rewire the circuits, renew commitments, and rely on God to show us how. It's time to ask some tough questions about our effective Go to the article

Well, folks, this is the swan song to this series and our review of this book. Frankly, we’re tired of reading it. In this final show, we discuss how offensive it is that Arminians are dissatisfied with God’s loving disposition, even to the reprobate.http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS_Bad_Reasons_8.mp3 Go to the article

A life changing adventure for four women and a great read!The story is addicting, the characters well developed and the tale has twists and turns along the way. An unlikely group of women meet at a grief counseling meeting and start to develop bonds that surprise even them. It is not long before they decide to support Marnie in her quest to visit her teenage stepson, who was whisked away by his real mother after his father’s untimely death. They make an eventful journey cross country from Wiscon Go to the article

Freedom of religion might not be fashionable, but that’s all the more reason for it to be…https://www.abc.net.au/religion/frank-brennan-do-we-need-new-laws-to-protect-religious-freedom/11984926 Go to the article

In January 2020, Open Doors, an international NGO advocating on behalf of persecuted Christians, released their annual World Watch List . The World Watch List…https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2020/02/18/persecuted-christians-are-not-given-much-hope-in-2020/ Go to the article

A US evangelist group has claimed to have taken legal action against a Glasgow venue over the cancellation of a Franklin Graham event. The preacher's Hydro…https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-51596724 Go to the article

Many times we get so caught up in learning about the lies that we forget to study the best weapon to combat them―God’s Word! Go to the article

The Israel Folau controversy split the Wallabies' World Cup camp and even led to a player boycotting a pre-tournament camp, according to court documents. The…https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12311682 Go to the article

God is our refuge in times of troubles, and he is our defender, as well as our deliverer. The World Health Organization has named the Coronavirus, “Covid-19” (https://time.com/5782284/who-name-coronavirus-covid-19/). This virus started in Central China and has spread to over 51,800 lab-confirmed cases globally (https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200216-sitrep-27-covid-19.pdf). This outbreak has impacted economic growth, tourism industries, geopolitical lands Go to the article

NEW YORK, NY—The New York Times is America's most trusted newspaper, always reporting just the facts and never doing anything that would make the people wonder if they're some kind of adversary of the populace. The post New York Times Publishes Guest Editorial By Emperor Palpatine appeared first on The Babylon Bee. Go to the article

In spite of the severe wave of persecution by the authorities since the summer of 2017 during which time 13 churches have been closed down, God still at work here in Algeria! We at House of Hope have held all … The post Imam Now Knows the Way of Life appeared first on Partners International. Go to the article

Price of healthcare per Canadian household (Source: Fraser Institute)I post a lot of research from Canada’s Fraser Institute, but they are not the only think tank that publishes research on the efficiency and costs of single payer health care in Canada. This time, I found a report from the Heritage Foundation, where they go over quality of care, taxes, out of pocket costs, coverage, rationing, waiting lists, staff shortages, substandard equipment, and outdated drugs. Here’s the report from the H Go to the article

China (MNN) – Believers in China face an insecure future as local governments enforce legislation restricting religious freedom even more. On February 1, new laws were enacted in China givingthe government additional control over everyday religious activities. According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, provisions state : Teaching that promotes the Communist Party must be propagated at religious gatherings. Additional information reporting will be mandatory, including getting official permission for effectively every religious gathering. Government officials have supervisory authority over leadership changes, major expenses, and construction events. For many in China, this law has serious ramifications. Local Implementation and the Church Kurt Rovenstine, President of Bibles for China says, “I can't speak specifically to the restrictions as they're printed. But I do know two things: that there's a bit of fear as to wh...

East Africa (MNN) -- Yesterday, we told you about Set Free Ministries’ work in East Africa supporting disabled children who would otherwise be abused and neglected. But that’s not all they do. Set Free also works in areas of East Africa, where witch doctors have an iron grip on the people. Dean VanderMey with Set Free says in these regions, it’s children and orphans who suffer the most. One such region is Rakai, Uganda. VanderMey visited Rakai with Set Free for the first time in 2005. He says, “Rakai had 95 percent unemployment at the time. Fifty percent of the people that we were ministering to had AIDS and there were thousands of orphans walking around kind of hollow-eyed. I couldn't even believe what I was seeing. “For every 11 people, there's one witch doctor. So, the witchcraft in that area is very, very strong and they hold everyone through fear because everyone has been abused by a witch doctor there.” (Photo courtesy of Set Free Ministries) Mala...

Pakistan (MNN) — Forgotten Missionaries International ’s Twice as Far campaign has almost reached its end, but there is still time to donate. Mollah He went from training suicide bombers to becoming a Christian dedicated to the Gospel. Mollah (name changed for security) demonstrates the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Bible to change lives. (Photo courtesy of FMI) “He would teach them about the suicide vests,” says Bruce Allen of FMI, “how to detonate and all this sort of stuff. And when he got his hands on a Bible, it changed his life radically. He gave up his militant Islamic views. And now he says, 'I fully expect to give my life not because I'm wearing a suicide vest, and will blow people up for the sake of radical Islam. But I give my life now to Christ to share the Gospel with my friends, with my neighbors, with my family.'” Today, he not only distributes Bibles, but also shares Christ from Scripture to the people in Pakistan. Twice as Fa...

Ukraine (MNN) -- What does war leave behind? Conflict in eastern Ukraine has left the region wartorn and wounded. Ukraine’s infrastructure has taken a beating from fear and violence, leaving much of the area plagued by poverty and starvation. In the words of Slavic Gospel Assocation ’s Eric Mock, “While the Ukrainian government works to establish itself on the world scene, it still reels from the reality of its industrial base that was greatly damaged when Russia invaded the eastern third of the nation.” As a result, villages and towns have been devastated. Local businesses, including grocery stores, gas stations, and more, have been shelled into rubble. Most surviving businesses chose to flee rather than wait in fear for their turn, and new businesses rarely take the financial or physical risk of establishing themselves. Photo courtesy of Slavic Gospel Association Homes are gone, too. Most have been blown away by bombing and war, leaving locals starving, impoverished, a...