With US college campuses becoming a platform for Palestinian support, US-based Jews tell survey they feel less safe than they used to, but also largely (83%) support IDF actions in Gaza; Despite Biden's repeated statements backing Israel, they feel US needs to amp up support for the Jewish state

Four Israeli academics at US universities tell Ynet about physical and emotional challenges of confronting campus demonstrations; 'Jews are simply not allowed to enter the buildings, and It's only getting worse'

Why the church has struggled to address mental illness well and how we can care better.Nearly five years ago, a high-profile pastor—one who had shared bravely and publicly about his battle with depression—took his own life. In the days after his death, a call circulated widely on social media platforms for clergy with mental health issues to be removed from their posts.I understand the motivation. The argument was made out of a concern to prevent similar tragedies. But as a pastor who has endured chronic mental torment, the simplistic appeal struck me as an example of the widespread clumsiness within the church when it comes to addressing mental illness. Prominent Christian teachers, most recently including California author and pastor John MacArthur, have denied diagnosable conditions such as OCD and ADHD even exist.In my own ministry, my struggles with anxiety and OCD have proven to be unexpectedly fertile soil for connecting with people. Opening up about the brokenness in my mind has led to deeper relationships as God took the affliction that initially felt to me like pure deficit and put it to work. His strength, as he tells us, shows up in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).So I find it heartening to see the increased attention to mental health and compassion for mental illness in our culture. Christian resources addressing the intersection of faith and mental illness are also proliferating, providing theologically grounded pathways to better care. And there are countless examples of congregations powerfully demonstrating the love of Christ to those in mental anguish.Still, the stigma accompanying mental illness persists, and in church settings, the issue is often complicated further by ignorance or misguided theology. Clergy tend to be the “first responders” ...Continue reading...

The United States Supreme Court has rejected a request to block enforcement of a Texas law that requires porn sites to include age verification for users.

Thousands of Christians will take time tomorrow during the National Day of Prayer to specifically pray for this nation, our leaders, and our future.

Every sin requires Christ's atonement. But the Bible shows God punishing—and repairing—different sins differently.Christian theology consistently holds together truths that seem to want to fall apart: Jesus is fully God and fully human. People are sinners and created in the image of God. The church is local and universal.And yet, despite what we affirm, in practice, Christians are often unable to walk and chew gum at the same time. Instead of holding two truths in tension, we tend to slide to one side or the other, distorting it in the process. We treat Jesus either as an invulnerable, transcendent being or as a mere prophet. We speak as if humans are either so degraded we are capable of nothing but sin or mostly fine with a few rough edges. We think of the church as if it were only our own sect or we minimize the local congregation.Evangelical theologians have done great work in Christology, anthropology, and ecclesiology, respectively, to retrieve those three truthful tensions. But there is a fourth tension yet to be retrieved: All sins ruin us, and yet not all sins ruin us equally.To start, let us be clear: Sin—however small—is a serious thing. And sin is only atoned for by the work of God in Jesus Christ. But saying that Christ is the only one who atones for all sin is different from saying that all sins do the same kind of work on us.All sins break the sinner and create havoc around us. And yet the Scriptures consistently depict the sins we do as different, not only in effect on one another but before God. Within the Law, for example, different social remedies are given for different sins, and so are different sacrifices (Lev. 4; Ex. 21). Not everything requires a bull or a goat. Sometimes a dove will do. In the Prophets and Proverbs, God distinguishes—and even prioritizes—certain ...Continue reading...

A professor explains why examining a school's doctrinal statement isn't enough.When I speak at churches around the country, the conversation after my talks often turns to the state of Christian higher education. I’m a professor at a Christian institution, and Christian parents and grandparents want to know where high school graduates can go to have their faith deepened rather than undermined. These concerns have only become more pressing given the ongoing rise in young people wandering away from the church and describing their religious convictions as “nothing in particular.”The question many Christians have for me is which colleges are “safe” or “real” Christian schools, which usually means those that have a truly conservative theological ethos. For those who aren’t familiar with the world of Christian higher ed, it can be difficult to identify these schools from outside the campus community, and parents often (reasonably) conclude an institution’s stance on human sexuality is the simplest indicator of a college’s commitment to Christian orthodoxy.LGBTQ questions are indeed important, and they can serve as a proxy for an institution’s broader theology. But by itself, this isn’t a reliable formula for finding a good Christian college. A school may stake out a bold position on sexuality and yet capitulate to what I’d suggest is the most overlooked and therefore most insidious threat to Christian education in America right now.It’s not progressive theology. It’s a pervasive consumerist anthropology.Theological anthropology concerns our assumptions about the nature and purpose of humanity. And by “consumerist anthropology” I mean the belief—often subconsciously held—that ...Continue reading...

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Today's category: MilitaryDivert Your Course? ? ? ? ? ? This is the transcript of an actual radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operation 10-10-95? ? ? ? ? ? Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.? ? ? ? ? ? Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid collision.? ? ? ? ? ? Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy Ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.? ? ? ? ? ? Canadians: No...I say again, you divert YOUR course.? ? ? ? ? ? Americans: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS, AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, THAT'S ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.? ? ? ? ? ? Canadians: This is a lighthouse.... Divert YOUR course.View hundreds more jokes online.Email this joke to a friend

? Temple Baptist Church - 5-1-2024John 15:17-25? Introduction:? A.? ? The Lord is giving some last words to His disciples just prior to going to the Cross.? ? 1.? If they kept His commandments and continued to abide in Him, the world would hate them in His stead and take their wrath out on them.? Tonight, we will take a short look at why the world hated Christ so much and now hates the Christian.? 2.? Peter would deny Christ thrice shortly for fear of retribution from the crowd who took Christ.? B.? In these verses, Christ reiterates His command that we should love one another.? Spiritually, we are all that we have outside of Christ.? Though they still hate Christ, He now sits at the right hand to the Father and there is nothing that they can do to Him.? We MUST be there for each other.? C.? I preach quite a bit on loving the brethren because the world and Satan are doing their best to divide us.? “Divide and Conquer” is a biblical principle that Satan knows full well:? Matthew 10:36? And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.? Mark 3:25? And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.? D.? Christ wanted His disciples to know what would happen to them and why it would be so.? Their persecution would be linked to obeying Christ's commandments.? 1.? Verse 17.? They had the human option of not obeying so as to not draw attention to themselves.? In that case, they would not be identified and persecuted.? 2.? If they obeyed Christ's commands, they would be easily identified and singled out for persecution.? 2 Timothy 3:10-12? But? thou hast fully known? my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,? (11)? Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.? (12)? ? Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.? E.? Let us look at what Christ said to the disciples as he gave them reasons for persecution.? ? 1.? Christ wanted His disciples to know that they were in the right Company!? “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”? Acts 2:1? And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.? Hebrews 10:24-25? And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:? (25)? Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.? 2.? Christ wanted them to know that they were not of the world.? “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world.”? 1 John 4:4-6? Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.? (5)? They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.? (6)? We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.? 3.? Christ wanted them to know that He chose those who believe to be His.? “but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”? 2 Thessalonians 2:13? But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:? 4.? Christ wanted them to know the fellowship of His suffering.? ” Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;”? 1 Peter 4:16? Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.? 5.? Christ wanted them to know that the world rejected His word.? “if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”? Revelation 1:9? I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.? 6.? Christ wanted them to know that they hated them because of His name.? “But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.”? Philippians 2:10-11? That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;? (11)? And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.? 7.? Christ want them to know that He exposed their religion as false.? “because they know not him that sent me.”? 2 Corinthians 4:4? In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.? Ephesians 6:12? For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.? 8.? Christ wanted them to know that they hated Him because He exposes their sinfulness.? “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.”? Romans 5:12-15? Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:? (13)? (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.? (14)? Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.? (15)? But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.? 9.? Christ wanted them to know that the works they hated would be done by His followers.? “If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.”? Ephesians 2:10? For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.? 10.? Christ wanted them to know that they hated Him because He fulfilled the Scripture.? “But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law.”? When we fulfill scripture, they will not like us either.? John 19:36? For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.? 11.? Christ wanted them to know that they hated Him for no good reason.? They just hated Him!? “They hated me without a cause.”? Luke 23:41? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.? 12.? Christ wanted them to know that He was still their Friend in persecution.? John 15:14? Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.? Romans 8:29? For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.? James 4:4? Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

An Indiana judge today blocked a common sense law that stops people from trafficking teenage girls to other states for secret abortions without their parents knowing. A U.S. District Court judge ruled today – implementing a permanent injunction against Indiana's aid-or-assist law prohibiting persons aiding minor girls in obtaining abortions out of state. Indiana Right […]The post Indiana Judge Blocks Law to Stop Trafficking Teens to Other States for Secret Abortions appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Despite little public support, the Scottish Parliament has voted in favour of abortion buffer zone legislation at Stage 1 that would make it illegal to offer assistance to women seeking an abortion within 200m of any facility that performs abortions, and could even fine people for displaying pro-life signs in their own homes. Yesterday, MSPs […]The post Scotland Votes for Radical Bill That Criminalizes Silent Prayer Outside Abortion Centers appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Some skeptics claim the apoycryphal books were arbitrarily left out of our Protestant Bibles. But is that true?

As the presidential election approaches, the incumbent government seeks to win support with aid to churches and pastors.In many countries, politicians try to win over religious voters by highlighting areas of shared interest between their agenda and the faithful’s priorities. In Venezuela, candidates are offering pastors cash.With less than three months until Venezuela’s presidential elections, incumbent Nicolás Maduro is expanding two initiatives specifically aimed at the evangelical community, which represents 30.9 percent of the country’s population.Bono El Buen Pastor (“The Good Shepherd Bonus”), created last year, and Plan Mi Iglesia Bien Equipada (“My Well-Equipped Church Plan”) offer resources to pastors and their churches, including cash, chairs, construction materials, and expensive sound equipment—no strings attached. Mi Iglesia Bien Equipada exists under Misión Venezuela Bella, a government program that invests in recreation and arts spaces, which has remodeled nearly 3,000 churches since 2019.At the beginning of March, Maduro gathered 17,000 people in a pastors-only event in the northern city of Carabobo and announced that 20,000 additional pastors had become beneficiaries of the Bono El Buen Pastor program, which would deliver a monthly stipend of 495 bolivars (around $14 USD) to each new member. (Venezuela’s minimum legal monthly wage is 130 bolivars or $3.50.)Officially, the government says the program aims to give churchgoers dignified spaces where they can develop their faith. There are, however, those who view the state’s generosity with some suspicion.César Mermejo, president of the Evangelical Council of Venezuela and a leader of the Federación de Iglesias Mizpa de Venezuela, called these efforts by Maduro an attempt to buy the souls ...Continue reading...

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Everything Good, the highly anticipated new recording from Dove and Singing News? Fan Award-nominated husband/wife duo Zane & Donna King, bows May 31? from StowTown Records. Carrying overarching themes of joy and peace, the album is a testimony to God's faithfulness in the couple's lives following a difficult season of walking with two of their children Read More

The ACLJ's ongoing fight to uphold the free speech rights of sidewalk counselors is now at the U.S. Supreme Court. Our case, Turco v. City of Englewood, N.J., poses a critical constitutional question: Do buffer zones around abortion clinics infringe on the First Amendment rights of sidewalk counselors? That's the very issue we've brought to […]The post Pro-Life Group Heads to Supreme Court to Defend Right to Pray Outside Abortion Centers appeared first on LifeNews.com.

Pregnancy centers in New York State are fighting back against New York Attorney General Letitia James for trying to shut down their abortion pill reversal efforts. They help women who change their mind after taking the first part of the abortion drug so they can save their babies and begin a wonderful journey into motherhood. […]The post Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers Sue New York Attorney General Letitia James for Trying to Stop Their Work appeared first on LifeNews.com.

On Tuesday Governor Sanders signed a budget measure providing $2 million to support pregnancy help organizations and maternal and infant wellness in Arkansas. The funding will provide grants to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other organizations that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies. For years, states across America have taken […]The post Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders Signs Pro-Life Bill to Support Pregnant Women appeared first on LifeNews.com.

US vascular surgeon Shariq Sayeed describes the dire situation in Gaza, where young patients face amputations due to shrapnel wounds and overwhelmingly low medical resources.

In Reversing Entropy, the 95-year-old poet looks lovingly at creation.Luci Shaw is a legend in Christian literary circles. Her many volumes of poetry—named for rivers and clay, the color green, the glint of seaglass—speak to the beauty of creation and the generosity of the Creator. She has written on faith and art, the Christian imagination, and prayer, including a few books co-authored with her friend, Madeleine L’Engle. Shaw is also a beloved teacher, serving as longtime writer-in-residence at Regent College.Speaking with the poet about her latest collection Reversing Entropy (out this spring from Paraclete Press), I understood how she has served as an inspiration for generations of students and readers. She’s gentle, curious, and wise. Her way of seeing the world is wondrous—everything from lichens, to a shivering little lake, to “jewel dew” in the grass, is significant. All the world inspires praise.Reversing Entropy doesn’t just look around; it looks ahead. Luci Shaw is 95 years old, and this collection is understandably full of endings. Leaves fall; ripe apricots drop from a tree; her brother passes away. There is “the inevitable decay / the leaving and the dying.”But there’s also hope. From the collection’s final entry, a long, tumbling prose poem that Shaw says “poured out” of her “like a gift”:Give praise, now, to our God, the Quickener, the One who stirs us into such new life that we, and all creation, may wake to the sound of a fresh music, and start to sing again the songs of love, and longing, and refreshment. …Come Springtime, that most beneficent of seasons, all, everything, every thing, will be thawing, rising, joyful, laughing, tuning up for the evermore, and in every green ...Continue reading...

The International Criminal Court has 133 member nations and six nations that have not joined the Court, including the United States and Israel. Bloomberg News reports “The United States and ... Read MoreThe post Week 29: Israel at War appeared first on The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry.

Grammy-winning singer Rebecca St. James says she prays that a new film about her family's trials upon moving from Australia to the U.S. gives moviegoers hope and leads them to “treasure” their family.

The Bible-based series entered Disney Plus? in recent days, giving the award-winning TV show another major outlet and placing it in front of the company's 112 million subscribers. The first three seasons of the four-season series are on Disney Plus.?

This Thursday, May 2, 2024, marks the 73rd ? time that our nation has honored the National Day of Prayer.