We must always be people of the Word, but we'll have to reimagine deep engagement with Scripture.Christians are readers. We are “people of the book.” We own personal Bibles, translated into our mother tongues, and read them daily. Picture “quiet time” and you’ll see a table, a cup of coffee, and a Bible spread open to dog-eared, highlighted, annotated pages. For Christians, daily Bible reading is the minimum standard for the life of faith. What kind of Christian, some of us may think, doesn’t meet this low bar?This vision of our faith resonates for many. It certainly describes the way I was raised. As a snapshot of a slice of the church at a certain time in history—20th-century American evangelicals—it checks out. But as a timeless vision of what it means to follow Christ, it falls short, and it does so in a way that will seriously impinge on our ability to make disciples in an increasingly postliterate culture, a culture in which most people still understand the bare mechanics of reading but overwhelmingly consume audio and visual media instead.We can see how this literacy-focused idea of Christianity will fail in the future by looking to the past. For most of Christian history, most believers were illiterate. Reading the Bible daily wasn’t an option because reading wasn’t an option.This doesn’t mean Scripture was irrelevant to ordinary Christians’ lives. But the sacred page wasn’t primarily a private matter for personal devotion; it was a public matter heard in the gathering of God’s people for worship. The Bible was the church’s book—a liturgical book, a book whose natural habitat was the voice of Christ’s body lifted in praise. To hear the Word of God, you joined the people of God. Lectors ...Continue reading...

Church leaders can offer clear moral and ethical guidance for a practice that violates biblical mandates.On April 8, the Vatican issued Dignitas Infinita, a 20-page document rejecting a variety of practices that violate human dignity. Unsurprisingly, these included human trafficking, violence against women, abortion, euthanasia, sex change, and child abuse. It also included surrogacy.This isn’t the first time the pontificate has come out against this “deplorable” practice, which “fails to respect the dignity of [the] child” and “violates the dignity of the woman.” Pope Francis made waves in January when he condemned surrogacy, noting that “a child is always a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract.”Evangelical Christians and pastors value the life of the unborn. That’s why we march across the capital on freezing January mornings and pray outside of abortion clinics. Our motivation for child protection must also lead us to confront the ways children are impacted by the baby-making industry as well.But when did you last hear your pastor address the issue of surrogacy from the pulpit? Odds are, never. Protestants have a dearth of official guidance on reproductive technologies. While some are clear on abortion, very few denominations have clear teachings on IVF, let alone the much rarer practice of surrogacy.Southern Baptist Theological Seminary ethics professor Andrew T. Walker told The New York Times that when he suggested introducing a resolution about artificial reproductive technology at the denomination’s annual convention, his colleagues hesitated.Some Christians are directly involved in surrogacy and see their role as a calling to help families have children, as CT reported in 2018. But many Christian bioethicists cite ...Continue reading...

Eitan, son of late Armored Corps reservist Elisha Levinshtern who fell in battle in southern Gaza, called up to Torah at Western Wall; 'The people of Israel continue to celebrate the circle of Jewish life'

A film adaptation of President Ronald Reagan's life starring Dennis Quaid has officially landed a release date.

Beverly LaHaye, founder of Concerned Women for America, passed away yesterday at the age of 94.

A federal judge appeared to reluctantly agree that pro-life activist David Daleiden did not violate a permanent injunction by reposting previously unseen undercover footage of National Abortion Federation meetings after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene played them during a recent congressional hearing.

Planned Parenthood performed over 390,000 abortions while receiving nearly $700 million in government grants and reimbursements, according to its latest annual report for 2022-2023.? Pro-life activists say the findings appear consistent with the long-term trend of the nation's largest abortion provider performing more abortions and providing fewer health services.?

? Temple Baptist Church - 4-17-2024John 15:11? Introduction:? A.? In verse 11, we find two kinds of “Joy.”? ? 1.? My Joy.? “remain in you”? A Joy that is found ONLY in Jesus Christ!? ? a)? The Joy of Salvation.? The Joy of Sanctification.? The Joy of Security.? The Joy of Serving.? ? b)? The Key words are “remain in” which implies that the joy of God is given to every believer and can be removed by the believer.? ? ? ? c)? “Living for Jesus” is a song that describes our Joy that is found in abiding in Jesus Christ:? Living for Jesus, a life that is true,Striving to please Him in all that I do;Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,This is the pathway of blessing for me.Refrain:O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.Living for Jesus Who died in my place,Bearing on Calv'ry my sin and disgrace;Such love constrains me to answer His call,Follow His leading and give Him my all.Living for Jesus, wherever I am,Doing each duty in His holy Name;Willing to suffer affliction and loss,Deeming each trial a part of my cross.Living for Jesus through earth's little while,My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.2.? Your Joy.? The key words here are “be full.”? The implication here is that the believer can have Joy to some degree and still not have fulness of Joy.? To have fulness of Joy is totally tied to the “My Joy” that is found only in our abiding in Christ.? “I had rather be an old time Christian that anything I know!”? Nehemiah 8:10? Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.? 3.? “Your Joy!”? I hear so much “Woe is me” preaching in our day.? People live lives of quiet desperation because of circumstances while God wants His people to enjoy life!? He wants them to enjoy His creation!? Proverbs 15:13? A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.? Proverbs 17:22? A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.? Ecclesiastes 2:24? There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.? Ecclesiastes 3:10-13? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.? (11)? He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.? (12)? I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.? (13)? And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.? Ecclesiastes 3:22? Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?? Ecclesiastes 5:18-19? Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.? (19)? Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.? Ecclesiastes 8:15? Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.? Ecclesiastes 9:7-9? Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.? (8)? Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.? (9)? Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.? B.? What is this joy of Christ?? I want to look at the best definition that I have ever seen, and it comes from your Bible because “My Joy” is not found in our circumstances which are subject to change.? It is completely found in the “God of my salvation” and the “God … my strength!”? *** Habakkuk 3:17-19? Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: ? (18)? Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. ? (19)? The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.? 1.? In these verses, we find both the “Cause” and “Effect” of the Christian's Joy.? The cause and effect is certainly not found in our circumstances as our days are so full for sin and sorrow!? Noah's Day, Lot's Day, Falling Away Days, Laodicean Days, Perilous Times all work together in our day to cause God's people to fret and fear.? Habakkuk used the word “Yet” to introduce “I will rejoice” and “I will joy!”? 2.? In Verses 18-19, we find the Cause of Joy:? a)? The God of my Salvation.? True Christian Joy comes from God in the form of Eternal Salvation.? John 15:13? Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.? b)? The LORD God, my Strength.? True Christian Joy is maintained in the spiritual Strength that comes from God, not circumstances.? John 15:5? I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.? 4.? In Verses 17-18, we find the Effect of Joy:? a)? Though things go wrong, and they do; though life is hard, and it is:? b)? Rejoicing comes from our inner fountain of Joy.? ? ? ? ? ? ? 5.? There was a day when praise and rejoicing were spontaneous, not something “worked up” by emotion.? “Popcorn Testimonies” have become a thing of the past.? We need to get our Joy back and Rejoicing will follow without having to be stirred or worked up.? Rejoicing is more than an emotion; it is a realization brought about by relationship and remembrance!? 6.? We live in days when pastors feel the necessity to stir our emotions with fleshly music and preaching as to produce rejoicing.? Thus, they become Promoters—not Pastors, Entertainers—not Preachers.? ? a.? A Pastor is none of these things.? He is to feed the flock of God, not stir them up.? Churches now have “Praise Leaders!”? ? b.? I find that preaching the Word is a divider because the Word brings about the knowledge of sin, the need for repentance, and division from the world.? c.? Rejoicing should be a spontaneous result of an inner Joy found in the Lord.? Rejoicing is a product of that inward Joy, not the cause of Joy.? Romans 12:12? ? Rejoicing in hope;? patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;? Philippians 3:1? ? Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.? To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.? Philippians 4:4? ? Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.? 7.? The hymns of the Faith no longer cause Rejoicing, so the modern day “church” is now in the “Entertainment Business” instead of reproving, rebuking, and Exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine.? Modern day preaching and music reflect the world because most professing “Christians” are more worldly than spiritual.? C.? Both rejoicing and joy are to be despite our circumstances, not because of them!? Most Christians live in discouragement with little joy.? ? Why?? The answer is simple.? 1.? Because Of Sinfulness - Matthew 24:12? And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.? ? (God's people are not drunks and harlots, but sin creeps in and we now walk at a guilty distance from God and the joy is gone.)? 2.? Because Of Our Situations - Matthew 14:30? But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.? ? (God's people have their eyes upon the “wind and waves” of circumstance and not upon Christ.? When Peter looked up instead of looking down, he saw the Lord of the “wind and waves” and once again walked on the water.)? D.? Many Christians live in defeat with no joy at all.? 1.? For The World, Joy Is Found In Circumstances – Luke 12:16-21? And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:? And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.? ? And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.? But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.? 2.? For The Christian, Joy Is Found Despite Circumstances - 2 Corinthians 7:4? Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.? 2 Corinthians 8:2? How that? in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty? abounded unto the riches of their liberality.Colossians 1:11? Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power,? unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;? 1 Thessalonians 1:6? And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord,? having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:? E.? Loss of joy comes through:? 1.? Losing the freshness of our salvation.? 2.? Losing the burning love for our Saviour.? 3.? Losing the excitement of our service.? WHERE THE CHRISTIAN FINDS HIS JOY? 1.? Christian Joy Is Found In Salvation - Luke 10:20? Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.? Psalms 35:9? And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall? rejoice in his salvation.? Psalms 51:12? Restore unto me? the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.? Psalms 132:16? I will also clothe her priests? with? salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.? Isaiah 12:3? Therefore? with joy? shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.? 2.? Christian Joy Is Found In The Holy Ghost - Romans 15:13? Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,? that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.? Joy Is Not Found In The Things Of The World - Romans 14:17? For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;? but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.? 3.? Christian Joy Is Found In God's Word - Nehemiah 8:9-12? And Nehemia

Actress Danica McKellar praised God on the second anniversary of her decision to give her life to Jesus Christ.?

The Leadership Institute is hosting two free Decline to Sign Campaign training events May 8-9 in Little Rock designed to defeat the proposed Arkansas Abortion Amendment. A group currently is working to place the Arkansas Abortion Amendment on the November ballot. The measure would write abortion into the state constitution, and it would prevent the […]The post Arkansas Pro-Life Groups Host Events to Oppose Radical Pro-Abortion Amendment appeared first on LifeNews.com.

A diverse coalition of religious groups was at the New York Court of Appeals yesterday to continue their fight against the state's abortion mandate. In? Diocese of Albany v. Harris,? a group of? Anglican and Catholic nuns, Catholic dioceses, Christian churches, and faith-based social ministries sued New York after it mandated that they cover abortion in their employee […]The post Catholic Nuns Fight in Court Against New York Mandate Forcing Them to Fund Abortions appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Does it matter how long theft has been prohibited? What about murder? Do laws prohibiting these acts deserve less respect because they have stood for so long? Of course not. So, why did President Joe Biden — in promoting his view that killing an unborn child should be legal — insist on pointing out that […]The post It Doesn't Matter How Old Arizona's Abortion Ban Is, Killing Babies is Wrong appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Two married nurses who work on a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Nebraska have adopted a little girl who received care in their unit for eight months. Taylor and Drew Deras met through working in the NICU and married in 2020. The following year, baby Ella was born at just 23 weeks and 1 […]The post Premature Baby Girl Born at 23 Weeks Adopted by Two Nurses Who Cared for Her appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Planned Parenthood has refused to produce records that could prove it has irreversibly harmed children without parental consent as part of its booming transgender business — possibly with the collusion of the Biden administration, a state attorney general revealed this week. Numerous transgender clinics in Missouri, including those affiliated with Planned Parenthood, have failed to […]The post Planned Parenthood is Pushing Transgender Hormones on Kids Without Parental Consent appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Just a few years ago, it would have been unthinkable that our government would ever ban access to life-saving drugs. […]

One of the leading pro-life groups is launching its massive campaign to reach millions of voters this election cycle in the most competitive battleground states. Pro-life canvassers are now on the ground in eight presidential and Senate battleground states with SBA Pro-Life America? and its partner PAC, Women Speak Out,? launching field teams in Montana and Georgia […]The post Pro-Life Group Launches Campaign to Reach 10 Million Voters appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Joe Biden is hoping that his campaign's focus on abortion will overshadow concerns about his advanced age and his handling of the illegal immigration crisis, according to a new report. The Washington Post? wrote? last week that Biden campaign organizers “see a potential silver bullet that they hope supersedes all of the president's challenges in his rematch […]The post Joe Biden: Vote for Me if You Want More Babies Killed in Abortions appeared first on LifeNews.com.

The Arizona legislature has defeated a measure to that would repeal the state's abortion ban that protect women and unborn babies. On Wednesday, following two attempts to bring up the pro-abortion bill that would repeal the ban and allow killing babies in abortions. “The last thing we should be doing today is rushing a bill […]The post Arizona Legislature Defeats Measure to Repeal Pro-Life Law Protecting Babies From Abortions appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Just back from giving a pro-life talk in Cleveland on Saturday, I packed another overnight back and flew from Dayton, Ohio, to Peoria, Illinois on Tuesday, headed to the state capital, Springfield, for the Illinois March for Life. The airline I use doesn't fly into the small airport in Springfield so after a smooth landing […]The post Thousands of Pro-Life Advocates March for Life in Illinois to Protest Abortion appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Pew Research Center recently published an article about trends in Mass attendance, abortion support, and the politics of United States citizens who identify as Catholic. Pew? published? the April 12 article, “9 facts about U.S. Catholics,” using surveys conducted in 2022 and 2023. According to the article, 20% of all Americans identify as Catholic, or roughly 52 […]The post Poll Shows Catholic Church Needs to Emphasize Pro-Life Values to Catholic Americans appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Joe Biden turned VA clinics into abortion centers and now one pro-life senator is fighting to expose its radical agenda of abortions up to birth. Senator Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, has introduced legislation called the VA Abortion Transparency Act of 2024, aiming to increase transparency within the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding the numbers […]The post Pro-Life Senator Files New Bill to Expose Biden's Abortion Agenda at the VA appeared first on LifeNews.com.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (ILDPH) rejected a request made by the absurdly named “Hope” Clinic? to disregard safety standards established for ambulatory surgical treatment centers. This notoriously unsafe facility in Granite City, Illinois, recently received the “The Worst of the Worst” designation after Operation Rescue documented 15 medical emergencies in 2023 alone. Keep in […]The post Illinois Health Department Refuses to Investigate Abortion Clinic Injuring Women in Botched Abortions appeared first on LifeNews.com.

The Planned Parenthood abortion business released its newest annual report that shows it killed more babies in abortions in 2022-2033 than ever before. But the abortion giant also set another record – getting more of our ta dollars than ever. Thanks to Joe Biden, the Planned Parenthood abortion business raked in $699.3 million in taxpayer […]The post Joe Biden Gives Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz a Record $699 Million in Taxpayer Funding appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Planned Parenthood is an abortion business. That's it. That's who Planned Parenthood is an what Planned Parenthood does. The Planned Parenthood abortion business released its newest annual report that shows it killed more babies in abortions in 2022-2033 than ever before. But the figures also show Planned Parenthood did less of what it and politicians […]The post Planned Parenthood Kills More Babies in Abortions as Prenatal Services Drop 67% appeared first on LifeNews.com.

The? Christian Employers Alliance? (CEA) has released a statement condemning the latest Senate bill that could force federal in-vitro fertilization coverage (IVF). “We understand that [Senate] Members want to be supportive of those who would like to have a family,” CEA wrote in its statement emailed to CatholicVote. “This is a commendable goal; however, we should not […]The post Christian Group Speaks Out Against Bill That Could Force Employers to Cover IVF appeared first on LifeNews.com.