The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act amid a series of anti-Israel protests springing up on college campuses throughout the country, with the bill's sponsor pushing back on claims that the law will criminalize speech about the New Testament.?

Ethan Hawke has made a movie as scandalous as one of the writer's short stories.Why not write something that “a lot, a lot, of people like?” Regina O’Connor asks her daughter, the writer Flannery O’Connor, in the middle of the new biopic Wildcat. The same question might be put to the film itself. It’s not a movie that a lot of people will like. But unlike the author’s mother, I mean that as a high compliment. Director and screenwriter Ethan Hawke has made a film worthy of Flannery O’Connor’s genius.An epigraph from O’Connor’s essay “The Nature and Aim of Fiction” sums up what Wildcat sets out to do: “I’m always irritated by people who imply writing fiction is an escape from reality. It is a plunge into reality.” Fittingly, rather than depict the writer’s life from birth to death, Wildcat uses her fiction to discover what’s real, to “get down under things” to the problem of suffering, the limitations of human experience, the desire for goodness, the habits of evil, and, always present, the longing for God.The result is a movie as scandalous as one of O’Connor’s short stories—“shocking to the system,” to borrow her words. Her devotees will applaud it; most of the audience will be left wondering what just clobbered them.After that opening epigraph, Wildcat rolls a fake trailer for a 1950s-style horror flick inspired by O’Connor’s story “The Comforts of Home.” (A mother brings home a wayward, orphaned teen who tries to seduce her grown son. The son attempts to kill the teen, but shoots his own mother instead.) The trailer, starring Laura Linney and Maya Hawke—who also play the roles of Regina and Flannery— sets up expectations ...Continue reading...

Migrant rights have been off-radar for many Panamanian Christians. But as pressures increase, some are speaking out ahead of this weekend's general elections.On May 5, Panamanians will vote for a new president. The outcome of this election may have consequences for far more than its 4.4 million residents; it could change the migration reality for the hundreds of thousands of people traveling from South America, Asia, and Africa who pass through the Central American country en route to the United States.Leading in the polls is José Raúl Mulino, a candidate for Realizando Metas (Realizing Goals), a right-wing populist party founded by disgraced president Ricardo Martinelli. He has vowed to shut down the Darién Gap, a densely forested jungle area that migrants must traverse to enter Panama from the bordering country of Colombia.“We’re going to close Darién and we’re going to repatriate every one of these people, respecting their human rights,” said Raúl Mulino in April.For many Panamanians, there was no migrant crisis before 2022. After passing through the Darién gap, migrants passed through the country on government buses to the Costa Rican border. But after a shift in US migrant policy sent many back to Central America a couple years ago, hundreds have since moved to Panama City and a handful of small towns. Residents have begun to blame them for crime and for overwhelming their sanitation systems.Though evangelicals have largely been on the sidelines, many leaders say they should have done more.“The church does not see the refugee problem as their own problem,” said Panamanian missionary Robert Bruneau, a regional leader with United World Mission. “They believe it is something the state should do and are not aware of the great opportunity they have to graciously and honorably serve someone who ...Continue reading...

The surprising argument that Saul of Tarsus was born into bondage.Of the many letters the apostle Paul wrote, few survived. We have a good deal of his communication to churches as a whole—letters to groups of believers in particular cities. This makes sense. Such letters were read publicly and often; they were copied and disseminated and celebrated as Scripture soon after the ink had dried.Paul sent a number of letters to individuals as well. To read his biblical writings is to sense that you are glimpsing only a fraction of his relational network and influence. Almost all of those letters have been lost.But there are exceptions.It was a tall order for personal letters to ascend to the level of canon. It helped to be bound up with a great figure, a leader of a great community. Timothy, for instance, was a towering second-generation church leader; he was also the bishop of Ephesus, a major city of the Roman Empire and a major Christian center. Titus was a pillar of the Gentile mission and served as the bishop of Crete. Their eponymous letters had huge communities to champion their inclusion in Scripture.A mystery for the ages, then, is why Paul’s letter to Philemon—the leader of a house church in the minor city of Colossae—survives at all. It’s the most personal letter we have from Paul. It runs only 25 verses.The letter reveals a story. In it, a man named Onesimus has fled his master Philemon. Onesimus was most likely a household slave, a bondservant high in the pecking order.To call him a runaway slave is true, though it is misleading for modern readers, who might imagine Onesimus attempting to escape through something like the Underground Railroad.In fact, some scholars argue that Onesimus sought out Paul but planned to return to his master. Steven M. Baugh, ...Continue reading...

? 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.

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...

Today's category: TechnologyThe Weatherman? ? ? ? ? ? A film crew was on location deep in the desert. One day an Old Indian went up to the director and said, "Tomorrow rain."? ? ? ? ? ? The next day it rained. A week later, the Indian went up to the director and said, "Tomorrow storm." The next day there was a hailstorm. "This Indian is incredible," said the director. He told his secretary to hire the Indian to predict the weather. However, after several successful predictions, the old Indian didn't show up for two weeks.? ? ? ? ? ? Finally the director sent for him. "I have to shoot a big scene tomorrow," said the director, "and I'm depending on you. What will the weather be like?"? ? ? ? ? ? The Indian shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know," he said. "Radio is broken."View hundreds more jokes online.Email this joke to a friend

By The Conscious Resistance Antony Sammeroff chats to Daniel Mentz from sacredhonoref.com about how a private members association allows us greater autonomy to run our...Private Members Association – Essential Protection for Living Free! with Daniel Mentz #SolutionsWatch

By The Conscious Resistance Antony Sammeroff chats to Daniel Mentz from sacredhonoref.com about how a private members association allows us greater autonomy to run our...Private Members Association – Essential Protection for Living Free! with Daniel Mentz #SolutionsWatch

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...

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...

Do the citizens of a community have a right to take action to oppose the establishment of businesses that will negatively affect their way of life – especially if it's a foreign source? And why are elected representatives ignoring the very people who put them...

Temple Baptist Church - 4-28-2024Romans 10:1-17? Introduction:? A.? Verse 3 says, “They being ignorant.”? Ignorant?? Lacking knowledge or? comprehension? of the thing specified.? The implication of the word “being” is to ignore.? In the Bible, we find two kinds of ignorance:? 1.? Ignorance as a result of not hearing or being taught.? Amos 8:11-12? Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:? (12)? And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.? 2.? Willful ignorance as a result of rejecting what is heard or taught.? Hosea 4:6? My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.? 3.? As your pastor, it is my responsibility that, if you remain ignorant, it will have to be willful ignorance!? 4.? Israel was Ignorant, but their ignorance was willful!? Look at the preceding verses found in chapter 9:32-33.? “As it is written!”? THEY HAD THE WORD OF GOD!? THEY KNEW THE WORD OF GOD!? THEY DISREGUARDED THE WORD OF GOD!? ? 5.? SO IT IS IN OUR DAY AS WE HAVE THE WORD OF GOD!? The problem today is the same as the problem then.? ? Hosea 4:6? My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:? because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee!? B.? One of the age-old problems (and one that remains in our day) is that people are ignorant of what it takes to get to heaven.? Most religions along with so-called Christian denominations add works to faith in one degree or another.? C.? Self-righteousness in Salvation.? Salvation through personal merit or a mixture of personal merit and faith.? The Bible is perfectly clear about the separation of faith and works.? Romans 11:5-6? Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.? (6)? And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.? Ephesians 2:8-9? For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:? (9)? Not of works, lest any man should boast.? Acts 4:11-12? This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.? (12)? Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.? ? 1.? Self-righteousness manifests itself in those who believe that they are good enough to go to heaven through personal merit.? 2.? Self-righteousness manifests itself in those who believe that they are good enough to maintain their salvation through personal merit.? ? 3.? Both doctrines are heretical!? D.? In our text, we find why Israel turned from their Messiah, Christ Jesus.? Israel, who had the truth of God's Word and the Covenants, turned from the faith of their father, Abraham, to the wickedness of self-righteousness.? ? 1.? In the 400 hundred silent years that preceded the coming of Christ (around 100 B.C.) between Malachi and Matthew, two main branches of Judaism came into dominance: 1)? The Sadducees who upheld the Written Law? 2)? The Pharisees who upheld the Oral Law.? ? 2.? ? Galatians 6:12-14? As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. ? (13)? For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. ? (14)? But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.? ? 3.? They had the unbiblical perspective that they had “arrived” spiritually through their outward appearance and separation from the world.? This attitude resulted in exclusion!? E.? The Pharisees were separatists and, unfortunately, they eventually began to rely upon their system of “do's and don'ts” for righteousness with God instead of becoming obedient to God's righteousness.? The Lord rebuked them for making clean the outer appearance while the inner man was full of dead men's bones and rottenness.? ? In Matthew 5:20, our Lord said, “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”? F.? The problem still exists today.? Separatism and Phariseeism are not the same.? God command us to be separate but, if not watchful, the same problem arises again.? I once saw on a sign this quote, “People are like fish: you catch them but let God clean them.”? ? G.? Paul's desire and prayer for Israel was that they would recognize who Jesus Christ was and turn to Him for salvation.? Israel had “zeal” for God but not according to knowledge.? Spirit is good but leaves one lost without truth.? I want to look at a few things in this text.? 1.? Ignorance of God's Righteousness.? Vs. 3.? “not according to knowledge…ignorant of God's righteousness”? ? Psalms 71:19? Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!? a.? Ignorance is not necessarily a bad word as it means that one has not learned.? In Romans 10, I believe that the ignorance mentioned was willful.? ? b.? Israel was familiar with the Old Testament and especially the Pentateuch.? One of the greatest of Old Testament truths found in these first 5 books was that of the holiness of God.? Mt. Sinai should have left a lasting impression upon the nation of Israel as God thundered from a mountain that was on fire.? ? ? c.? Israel's ignorance was willful!? The world's ignorance is willful!? The world of today tries to bring God down to man's level and man up to God's level.? 2.? Impeccability of God's Righteousness.? Vs. 3.? “God's righteousness”? The Bible declares that God dwells in a light that no man can approach unto.? He is impeccably holy.? He is immutably holy.? He said, “I am the Lord, I change not.”? 1 Timothy 6:15-16? Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;? (16)? Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.? a.? Salvation must always be by grace through faith because God demands absolute perfect holiness, and He alone is impeccably holy.? b.? Acceptance of God's righteousness is the rejection of personal righteousness.? 3. Impossibility of God's Righteousness.? Vs. 3.? “going about to establish their own righteousness.”? ? Ecclsiastes 7:20? For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.1 John 1:8-10? If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.? (9)? If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.? (10)? If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.? a.? One fact that every saved person understands is that of personal sinfulness.? There are those who believe that they are sinless, but they are deceived and lost.? ? b.? No conviction of sinfulness means there is no Holy Spirit there to convict.? Men everywhere are trying to be right with God with what they do instead of what He did.? 4.? Insubordination to God's Righteousness.? Vs. 3.? “have not submitted themselves”? ? Galatians 3:1-3? O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?? (2)? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?? (3)? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?? ? a.? Along with recognition of God's righteousness, one must become obedient to the holiness of God's demand: obedience to the gospel.? Vs. 16.? ? b.? Romans 1 shows the progression of the knowledge of God rejected:? 1)? When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God - God gave them up)? 2)? They changed the truth of God into a lie - God gave them up again? 3)? They did not like to retain God in their minds - God gave them over to a reprobate mind.? 5.? Imputation of God's Righteousness.? Vs. 4.? “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”? Salvation is a result of God's righteousness being imputed to the believer through propitiation and faith.? ? 2 Corinthians 5:21? For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.? Jude 24-25? Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,? (25)? To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.? ? “Dressed in His righteousness alone; faultless to stand before the throne.”? “When He sees me, He sees the blood of the Lamb; He sees me as worthy and not as I AM!”? 6.? Invitation of God's Righteousness.? Vs. 13.? “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”? ? ? ? “Whosoever” covers it all!? Come to Jesus Christ with your bankrupt life and He will impute His righteousness to you.

After lobbying from fellow Southern Baptists and Christians affected by the war, the House speaker moves a package forward. When deciding whether to protect his place in leadership as House speaker or go against his party to do what he believed was right, Mike Johnson turned to prayer.After weeks of hearing intelligence briefings and pleas from fellow Christians, Johnson ultimately sided with his convictions rather than conceding to the Republican Party’s isolationist wing. He backed a $95 billion foreign aid package that, despite the opposition of 112 GOP legislators, overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives last weekend.Like many of his fellow Republicans, Johnson had initially opposed further aid to Ukraine, voting against it prior to becoming speaker and waiting months to move forward with an aid package after the Senate approved its version in February.He “went through a transformation,” according to one GOP colleague, House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul. The shift may have come in part due to the influence of Ukrainian evangelicals, fellow Christian leaders, and his personal faith.“He got down on his knees, and he prayed for guidance and said, ‘Look, tell me. What is the right thing to do here?’” the Texas congressman told NOTUS’s Haley Byrd Wilt. The next day, Johnson said to McCaul, “I want to be on the right side of history.”The House vote on the Ukraine provisions, around $61 billion, was 311 to 112; a majority of Johnson’s colleagues voted against the measure, while aid to Israel and Taiwan had broader support. The Senate cleared the package Tuesday in a bipartisan 79–18 vote. Now the measure heads to President Joe Biden’s desk.Ukrainian leadership had grown more vocal about depleted weapons two years ...Continue reading...

NIL deals in college athletics present new challenges—and opportunities—for colleges and students.When Deverin Muff played Division I college basketball at Eastern Kentucky University, student athletes weren’t allowed to earn money off their name, image, and likeness (NIL)—their personal brand.Now he’s a professor at the university, and some of the players in his classes have agents. An NCAA policy change in 2021—heralded by Muff and other Christian athletes as a matter of fairness—allows college athletes to earn money beyond financial aid or scholarships.“This is a matter of justice, frankly. … It righted a historic wrong,” said Pepperdine University sports administration professor Alicia Jessop. College sports, especially football and basketball, draw in billions in revenue.Christians in college athletics have welcomed the change to allow NIL deals, according to interviews with CT. But they are also navigating an unknown landscape and finding challenges along the way. The NCAA itself is still reeling from the resulting shifts in the economics of college sports, passing additional NIL rules just last week.Jessop was recently teaching a class on NIL deals at Pepperdine, where she is also the faculty representative to the NCAA. One student decided to put the class into practice immediately and reached out to a sunglasses brand to pitch a deal. In a short time, the student had a free pair of sunglasses delivered.“It’s a teaching tool,” said Jessop. “They think they’re learning about NIL so they’re focused, but they’re getting a whole business curriculum put in front of them.”Under the new NCAA rules passed last week, schools can be more directly involved in NIL deals and they can offer a support system that helps educate students ...Continue reading...

On Thursday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed S.B. 64 by Sen. John Payton (R – Wilburn) providing $2 million in state grant funding for pregnancy help organizations. The bill previously passed the Arkansas Senate. The funding will provide grants to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other organizations that promote infant and […]The post Arkansas Legislature Votes for $2 Million to Help Pregnancy Centers Save Babies From Abortion appeared first on LifeNews.com.

The rage of the mob is a poor substitute for real community.This piece was adapted from Russell Moore’s newsletter. Subscribe here.As Columbia University and other elite campuses erupt into protests against the United States’ diplomatic and military support of Israel’s war against Hamas, US Sen. John Fetterman denounced the antisemitic speech of some of these protesters, remarking on the social platform X, “Add some tiki torches and it’s Charlottesville for these Jewish students.”Whatever one thinks of Fetterman’s analogy or of the Israel-Hamas war, we would do well to listen to the common ring of the Charlottesville chant, “You will not replace us! Jews will not replace us!” with the one recorded this week on the Columbia campus: “We have Zionists who have entered the camp!”An observer might have asked in Charlottesville, “What Jews are trying to replace you?” The white nationalists there would no doubt have told such a person that a shadowy cabal was seeking to import immigrants, to commit “white genocide.” Just so, another observer might ask at Columbia, “What Zionists have entered your camp?” Israeli military forces? No. The “Zionists” in question are Jewish students—one wearing a Star of David—attempting to walk on campus.At one level, the video of the students chanting seems almost farcical, like a parody out of an old episode of Portlandia. The leader yells out a sentence; the followers repeat it back—even to the point of repeating back, in unison, “Repeat after me.” Does that part really have to be repeated? Well, kind of; that’s part of what happens in a chant. The message is not reasoned discourse. The rote nature of the repetition ...Continue reading...

Let us not give up meeting together—even when we disagree.Recently, a woman at my church approached me with a question borne out of genuine curiosity. She asked, “You’re a female theologian. Why did you choose to come to our church when women aren’t allowed to preach here?”Since much of my work as a Bible scholar is public, it is no secret that I support women’s full participation in ministry, including in church leadership. So I wasn’t surprised that someone happened to notice my convictions did not match our church’s practice on this issue.It’s a good question, and one I’ve wrestled with regularly—since, at present, I don’t feel I’m able to serve our church in all the ways that God has called and equipped me. I so long for the body of Christ to embrace the gifts of all its members, not only here but around the world. But as CT’s April issue reminds us, the global church is far from united on what women can and can’t do in church.Still, I was glad my friend asked me about our family’s decision-making process, because it’s face-to-face conversations like this that prevent polarization. The role of women isn’t the only issue that divides us today. Approaches to racial reconciliation or diversity initiatives, our posture toward climate change, and politics—particularly when there’s another contentious presidential election in sight—are all areas that threaten to fracture our faith communities.According to The Great Dechurching, a recent book by Jim Davis, Michael Graham, and Ryan P. Burge, people are leaving the church in unprecedented numbers. Forty million Americans who used to attend church no longer do—that’s 16 percent ...Continue reading...

The Arizona House of Representatives passed a bill that would repeal the state's near-total ban on abortion amid a divided government and an upcoming referendum that could establish a right to abortion in the state.?

A Catholic civil rights advocacy group is calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to continue probing the FBI's actions after a report cleared the agency of wrongdoing when it circulated a memo on the relationship between "racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists and radical-traditionalist Catholic ideology."

Mandisa passed away last Thursday (April 18) at the age of 47. At the present time, no cause of death has been revealed. Mandisa's sudden death has shocked the Christian community and abroad.

Pro-Palestinians advocacy group campaigns to include Zionism in proposed 'anti-fascist bill leading to possible prison sentences for alleged fascists

Mandisa passed away last Thursday (April 18) at the age of 47. At the present time, no cause of death has been revealed. Mandisa's sudden death has shocked the Christian community and abroad.

A 22-year-old man charged with the daylight murder of prominent United Methodist Church pastor, the Rev. Autura Eason-William, rejected a plea deal Monday that would have sentenced him to 35 years in prison.

? Temple Baptist Church - 4-24-2024John 15:12-17? Introduction:? ? A.? Another great benefit of abiding in Christ is that of friendship with Christ.? I find this amazing as we consider just Who this Friend is.? Three times in these three verses, Jesus Christ called His children friends!? 1.? Someone once said that if you end up with 5 True Friends in a lifetime, you are wealthy.? 2.? Here, we fine the possibility of having Jesus Christ as our Friend.? B.? The Value of our Friend.? 1.? Our Friend is Almighty Jehovah God, Creator and Sustainer of all things.? Our Friend created us for His pleasure and fellowship.? John 1:1-4? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.? (2)? The same was in the beginning with God.? (3)? All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.? (4)? In him was life; and the life was the light of men.? 2.? Our Friend became our Propitiation.? Our Friend died in our place, bearing our sin and our shame.? He gave His life as He became sin for us Who knew no sin that we might be made the righteous of God in Him.? John 1:14? And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.? John 1:29? The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.? 3.? Our Friend is our Mediator between us and God the Father.? Our Friend makes peace between God the Father and us.? 1 Timothy 2:5? For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;? 4.? Our Friend is our Advocate with God the Father.? Our Friend speaks on our behalf when we cannot speak for ourselves.? 1 John 2:1? My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:? 5.? Our Friend is our High Priest.? Our Friend continually cleanses us from all sin and defilement with His own blood.? Hebrews 7:25-26? Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (26)? For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;? 6.? Our Friend is our soon coming King of kings and Lord of lords.? Our Friend said that if He would go away, He would come again and take us home with Him.? When He comes back to set up His Kingdom, He will bring us with Him to rule and reign.? Revelation 19:11-16? And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.? (12)? His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.? (13)? And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.? (14)? And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.? (15)? And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.? (16)? And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.? C. And people relish friends in high places?? We have the Almighty, completely Sovereign, All Knowing, owns Everything, can do Anything, can Forgive anything God who just happens to Love us.? D.? True friendship is a valuable and rare commodity! We make many acquaintances as we pass through this life, but only very few true and genuine friends. In this passage, Jesus reveals something about the nature of His friendship with His people. When you have Him for your Friend, you have discovered a friendship that knows no limits. He is, by definition, the ultimate Friend.? Proverbs 18:24? A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.? E.? In a true friendship, there must be:? 1.? Investment.? While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.? The greatest love ever shown was at Calvary. There has never been a greater, nobler, or more costly display of love than that selfless moment when Jesus died for us on the cross.? 2.? Intimacy.? These disciples were Christ's inner circle.? They were privy to the most intimate discussions and sharing that only Christ could give.? True friends have a very personal and close relationship with each other.? A closeness that makes for personal sharing of our thoughts and lives.? 2 Samuel 1:26? I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.? 3.? Involvement.? These disciples could share their inner most thoughts, fears, and cares with Christ.? Friends deeply care for what their friends care for.? Someone once said, “A burden shared is half a burden!”? There is more to intimate sharing than just listening.? ? John 11:33-35? When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,? (34)? And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.? (35)? Jesus wept.? F.? The Values of a having Christ as your True Friend:? 1.? A true friend loves at all times.? Unconditional love.? Proverbs 17:17? A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.? Psalms 41:9-10? Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.? (10)? But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.? 2.? A true friend always builds you up and never tears you down.? ? 1 Corinthians 15:33? Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.? 3.? A true friend is always standing by you.? ? Hebrews 13:5? Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.? Psalms 27:9-10? Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.? (10)? When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.? 4.? A true friend cares deeply about you.? ? Hebrews 4:15-16? For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.? (16)? Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.? 1 Peter 5:7? Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.? 5.? A true friend makes you a better person.? ? Proverbs 27:17? Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.? 6.? A true friend gives you godly counsel.? ? Proverbs 27:9? Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.? Isaiah 25:1? O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.? 7.? A true friend will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.? ? Proverbs 27:6? Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.? Ephesians 3:20-21? Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,? (21)? Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.? 8.? A true friend gave his life for us.? When I think of this, I think of the Medal of Honor, our nation's? highest military award for valor.? Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented? posthumously.? ? John 15:13? Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.? Conclusion:? What a Friend we have in Jesus!? He gave His all for His Friends!