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If You Are Hurting This Holiday Season…

Remember: 

 

Christ is the hope for the broken-hearted. Pain is real. He felt it. Heartbreak is inevitable. He experienced it. Tears come. His did. Betrayal happens. He was betrayed. 

 

He knows. He sees. He understands. He loves deeply, in ways we can’t even fathom. When your heart breaks at Christmas, when the pain comes, when the whole thing seems like more than you can bear, you can look to the manger. You can look to the cross. You can remember the hope that comes with His birth. 

 

The pain may not leave. But, His hope will swaddle you tight. His gentle mercy, will hold you until you can breathe again. What you long for this holiday may never be, but He is and is to come. You can trust that, even in your holiday hurts. 

 

Be patient and kind to yourself. Give yourself extra time and space to process your hurt, and reach out to others around you if you need extra support. 

 

Find a cause to invest in. There is a saying, “grief is just love with no place to go”. Find a cause that honours the memory of a loved one. Giving time or money to a suitable charity can be helpful, as it gives expression to the love in your heart. 

 

Create new traditions. Hurt changes us. Sometimes it is helpful for us to change our traditions to create a new normal. If you have a holiday tradition that feels unbearable, don’t do it. Instead, consider doing something new… Creating new traditions can help alleviate some of the added sadness old traditions often bring. 

 

Today, you may be overwhelmed, bruised and broken, but there is still goodness to be welcomed and blessings to be claimed this season, even in pain. There will be holidays in the future when you will feel stronger and lighter, and these very difficult days are part of the road to them, so accept whatever gifts God has for you. You may not fully open them for years, but unwrap them as the Spirit gives you strength, and watch the heaviness and hurt disappear. 

 

“And in the same way the Spirit is a help to our feeble hearts: for we are not able to make prayer to God in the right way; but the Spirit puts our desires into words which are not in our power to say.” (Romans 8:26).

 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank You for Your greatness. Thank You that when I am weak, You are strong. Father, the devil is scheming, and I know he desires to keep me from spending time with You and loved ones this holiday. Don’t let him win! Give me a measure of Your strength so that I might not give into discouragement, deception, and doubt! Help me honour You in all my ways, in Jesus’ Name! Amen. 
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People Hurt At Christmas

While the rest of the world around us becomes excited and enamoured with our culture’s celebration of the Christmas holidays, some of us struggle through the holiday season. Overcome with clouds of depression, and battles with fear and dread, fractured relationships, divorce, dysfunction, compromised finances, loss of loved ones, isolation, loneliness, and any number of other circumstances. It becomes even harder to navigate, due to the often unrealistic expectations of the holiday. For many years in my life, loneliness magnifies, stress accelerates, busyness intensifies, and sadness overwhelms.

There is something about this holiday that intensifies all emotions. The hype begins in October and builds up in the weeks before Christmas and new year, often making it a very difficult time for those of us who have experience loss of any kind. If, like me, you find Christmas is a difficult time, then let’s see if we can figure out a better way of coping together.

Today, I write this word from the depths of my own pain and experience, in hopes of helping those who struggle with this season for various reasons. God’s Word and His principles of love, power, and truth are woven into every element of encouragement. Practical suggestions and challenges are presented to help navigate this and every stressful and difficult season. My passion is to bring hope and healing to hearts that are hurting, helping them break free from the burdens of stress, depression and dread, and find a new way of joy and simplicity.

 “The Lord is near the broken-hearted; He is the Saviour of those whose spirits are crushed down.” (Psalm 34:18 BBE).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, I know only You can help this pain vanish away. Father, I plead for peace and serenity as I fight the pain I am feeling during this season. Send Your hand down to me, and fill me with Your strength. God, I cannot take this pain any longer without Your help! Release me from this hold and restore me. I trust in You to give me the strength to get through this time of the year. I pray that the pain will be gone! It will not hold me down, because I have the Lord on my side, in Jesus’ name! Amen.
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Don’t Run The Race of Others

  

Many go through life competing with everyone around them. They see someone who’s more talented, better looking or has more gifts. Instead of running their own race and being comfortable with who they are, oftentimes they feel inferior and start thinking, “I’ve got to catch up to them.” The problem with this unhealthy competition is that it’s a continuous cycle. 

  

Remember, there will always be someone ahead of us. But, it’s a very freeing thing when you realise, “I’m not competing with anyone. I don’t have to have a big house like my friends to feel good about myself. I don’t have to keep up with my co-workers. I don’t have to be a certain size. I don’t have to have as many Christmas lights outside. No, I understand that I’m not in competition with my friend, my neighbour or my co-worker. Instead, I’m going to be the best me that I can be”.

  

Today, I remind you, contentment is an attitude God can work with. When you focus on being who God made you to be, and focus on running your own race, that’s when you’ll see things happen. That’s when you’ll rise up higher, and position yourself for every spiritual blessing God has in store for you! 

  

“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:1–2, NKJV).

  

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, I humbly come to You giving You all that I am. Father, I will stay in my God-given lane in life. I will keep my eyes on You and allow You to work in my heart and mind. I rebuke the self destructive attitudes of competition, jealousy and envy. I declare that I am free from negative, unhealthy competition today, in Christ’s Name! Amen. 
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And He Became Flesh

Each Gospel in Scripture gives a trustworthy account of Jesus’ life, but they don’t all repeat the same events. In Matthew and Luke we learn details about Jesus’ birth. Whereas  John doesn’t mention Jesus’ birth, but he instead explains its deep meaning. John links Jesus with the creation of the world: “In the beginning was the Word”. Who is this eternal Word? As the rest of John’s gospel shows, the Word is the one and only Son of God. But He did not create the world and then step back, remaining aloof from His creation. After sin, He entered the world He had made, took on flesh, and became just like us, offering us an eternal life line.

Today, we can’t explain it logically. God, who is not bound by ­human logic, sent His Son, who became flesh, to provide the very Saviour we need. Fully divine and fully human without sin, Christ makes us right with God by His sacrifice on the cross. Tracing the branches of Christ’s human family tree brings us to the first Advent many celebrate at Christmas, where we see as Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds saw long ago, the glory of the Son of God, who became like us to save us from our sins. Now that’s good news of great joy! Hallelujah!!!

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. — John 1:14

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, full of grace and truth, great Creator and gentle Saviour, be born in our hearts this holiday season. God, this Christmas, be real in our lives. Father, never have we needed Your joy and peace more than now. Thank You for the gift of Jesus, our Immanuel, the Word made flesh. In Christ’s Name! Amen.
https://godinterest.com/2023/12/and-he-became-flesh.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=wordpress

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Lessons From The Nativity 1 – True Celebration Includes Surrender

Some years ago, a Christmas musical included Mary saying, “If the Lord has spoken, I must do as he commands. I will put my life into his hands. I will trust him with my life.” That was Mary’s response to the surprise announcement that she would be the mother of the Son of God. Whatever the consequences, she was able to say, “May your word to me be fulfilled”.

Mary was ready to surrender her life to the Lord, even if it meant that she might be disgraced in the eyes of everyone who knew her. And because she trusted the Lord with her life, she became the mother of Jesus and could celebrate the coming of the Saviour. Mary took God at his word, accepted God’s will for her life, and placed herself in God’s hands.

That’s what it takes to truly celebrate Christmas: to believe what is completely unbelievable to many people, to accept God’s will for our lives, and to place ourselves in God’s service, trusting that our lives are in his hands. Only then will we be able to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Ask the Holy Spirit today to help you trust God with your life and turn your life’s controls over to him. When you do, your life will never be the same.

I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38).

Let’s Pray

Yahshua, please give me faith to believe that the child I celebrate today is your Son, my Saviour. Father, help me to acknowledge him as Lord and to trust him with my life. In Christ’s name, Amen.

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The chosen one – Millions of Americans Believe God Made Trump President

The Ungodly American

Two years into Trump’s tumultuous presidency, evangelical Christians remain some of his most loyal supporters.

A pastor recently stated on a popular evangelical Christian TV show that he interceded on behalf of Donald Trump to get him elected as president of the United States–and that those busy at work trying to get him removed are “fighting against God.”

He said: “We stood in the courts of heaven, in the council of the Lord, and in that council, God told me to make a decree out of James 1:11, which is, ‘All flesh is as grass, and flower is as the glory of the grass.’

On the Jim Bakker Show, Robert Henderson said that he had a prophetic dream in March 2016 in which Trump asked him to promote his presidential campaign in heaven he said, to cheers from the studio audience and a cry of “wow” from the host.

“We did that and that’s exactly what happened.”

Henderson was promoting his book Prayers and Declarations that Open the Courts of Heaven, which was advertised  during the segment.

“We did that and that’s exactly what happened,” he said, to cheers from the studio audience and a cry of “wow” from the host.

Henderson was promoting his book Prayers and Declarations that Open the Courts of Heaven, which was advertised  during the segment and retails for $25. It comes with a three-lesson DVD set. 

Its mission statement describes how it the church “must become the government God intended instead of just a place of meeting needs,” and that nations should “shift from their present state into a kingdom culture.”RELATED STORIES

White Evangelicals Are Still the Heart of Trump’s Base

Trump has been a divisive figure within the evangelical community, with some prominent evangelicals – like Jerry Falwell, Jr., the president of Liberty University – staunchly defending Trump and his policies.  A recent Pew Research poll found that 69 percent of white evangelicals supported him. This figure has been as high as 80 percent during his presidency. Others still, like Beth Moore, who has a large following of mostly female evangelicals have openly oppose Trump. And some leaders, like Rick Warren, the pastor of Saddleback megachurch in Orange County, California, which serves more than 20,000 congregants on a weekly basis, have expressed mixed feelings about Trump.

Donald Trump Facts

  1. His full name is Donald John Trump.
  2. Donald Trump is 72 years old, he was born on 14th June 1946 in New York City, New York.
  3. He has been married three times. First to Ivana Zelnickova from 1977-1991, then to Marla Maples from 1993-1999, and Melania Knauss from 2005 to present.
  4. He is the second youngest of five children.
  5. Trump does not smoke nor drink. The death of a sibling, his older brother Red Jr., urged Donald toward these decisions.
  6. He is of German and Scottish ancestry.
  7. Trump’s family fortune began when his grandfather Frederick Trump pulled in a fortune by operating restaurants and boarding houses in the boom towns of Seattle and Klondike, Canada.
  8. He attended the New York Military Academy aka NYMA to whom he credits much of his success to.
  9. Trump attended Fordham University, Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated Wharton in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics.
  10. Trump avoided being drafted into the military by getting four student deferments. After being determined twice to be fit for duty, he got a 1-Y medical deferment in October of 1968. Then in December 1969 he received a high placement number in the draft lottery that exempted him from service.
  11. His first real estate venture was with his family’s company, Elizabeth Trump and Son, where he was given control of in 1971 and renamed it The Trump Organization. The project ended up in controversy when the Justice Department in 1973 accused the company of discrimination against Blacks. Admitting no wrongdoing, an agreement between the company and DOJ was struck to resolve the issue.
  12. Donald Trump made his bones, or made his first really big real estate deal happened in Manhattan with the remodeling of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in 1978.
  13. His signature base of operations, Trump Tower, was completed in 1983.
  14. Trump has never filed for personal bankruptcy, but six times he’s filed for bankruptcy for his business properties between 1991 and 2009.
  15. Donald Trump owns and operates around 18 golf courses around the world.
  16. At one time, Trump was part owner of three major beauty pageants, from 1996-2015 he partly owned Miss Universe, Miss USA & Miss Teen USA.
  17. From 2005 until 2010, Trump owned and ran the Trump University LLC, where his courses covered real estate training.Report this ad
  18. He once ran the Donald J. Trump Foundation established in 1988, but was shut down by the NY State Attorney General’s office in 2013 for multiple violations.
  19. Trump became an executive producer of the reality show hit, The Apprenticefrom 2003 until present. The show has been on hiatus due to his presidential run.
  20. Donald is a WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment fan.
  21. He has five children from three of his marriages. Three children from his first marriage to Ivana Trump, Donald Jr, Ivanka and. From Trump’s third wife, he has a daughter called Tiffany. His fifth child was born on 20th March 2006, a boy named Barron.
  22. Donald Trump has eight grandchildren.
  24. As of November 2016 his net worth is $3.7 billion.
  25. Donald Trump won the Republican nomination for President of the United States on 19th July 2016.
  26. He became the 45th President of the United States on 9th November 2016.
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Kim Kardashian And Kanye West Go Biblical For Newest Baby’s Name ‘He’s Such a Blessing, So It’s Perfect’

Kim Kardashian West and her husband, musician Kanye West, appear to have drawn inspiration for the name of their fourth child.

The “KUWTK” couple reveals their newborn son’s name one week after Kim announced his arrival.

A Keeping Up With the Kardashians source told PEOPLE that the couple “had a name in mind, but wanted to meet the baby before they decided.”

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were apparently biblically inspired when it was time to name their fourth child.

Here’s a hint: “Psalm” means song in Hebrew

Why Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s 4th Baby Name Is Perfect for Their Family

The couple’s new baby, Psalm, will be the little brother of North, South and Chicago West.

“The inspiration was the Book of Psalms in the Bible,” Jenner told ET Onlineof her daughter Kim Kardashian West and son-in-law Kanye West‘s choice of moniker for their fourth child. “I think it’s just a wonderful way to celebrate how they feel. And he’s such a blessing, so it’s perfect.”

The couple’s newest child was born May 10 via a surrogate, but they waited a week before announcing on Twitter that their baby boy’s name was “Psalm.”

If you’re not up on theology, a psalm is a sacred song or hymn and is also the title of a book in the Bible.

https://twitter.com/KimKardashian/status/1129508801768386560/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1129508801768386560%7Ctwgr%5E393039363b636f6e74726f6c&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.premier.org.uk%2FNews%2FWorld%2FKim-Kardashian-and-Kanye-West-inspired-by-Bible-in-naming-child

Fan reactions to the name Psalm West have been mixed

As you might expect, the new name inspired strong reactions from social media users. Some despise it and some loved it with one fan writing,

“The book of Psalm was created by King David to give praises to God. This name is perfect for where you and Kanye are in your lives right now. You are publicly giving God praise for the world to see.”

Another fan wrote,

“It’s actually pretty perfect. ”

Despite often criticised over lifestyle choices, the couple have both been open about their Christian faith.

Kanye West has recently shared videos from a church gathering he has been hosting which includes much gospel music.

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Schools around the UK are ‘discriminating against pupils with Afro hair’

Every one in six children with afro-textured hair are being ‘discriminated against at school, according to a report from the charity World Afro Day.

World Afro Day organisers are worried that some school hair policies can negatively affect children with afro-textured hair.

The investigation, led by De Montfort University Leicester,  showed a 66% rise in negative hair policies towards Afro hair Additionally, 95% of adults surveyed said they would like to see the introduction of hair protection laws — similar to those introduced recently in New York — brought to the UK.

Researchers conducted a survey with 1,000 people, looking into attitudes, school policies and the experiences of children in partnership with the group World Afro Day.

Of the children responding, nearly half (46%) had issues with the hair policies, compared with just 27% of adults saying it was an issue when they were at school.

At present neither the Department for Education nor Ofsted monitor school uniform policies, which cover hair, so they don’t know how many schools are breaking UK equality laws. ‘This is a really important issue that needs to be highlighted,’ said Sarah Younie, Professor in Education Innovation at DMU. ‘Nobody should be discriminated against because of their natural appearance and we wanted to find evidence that this was happening in UK schools, because we had heard anecdotal stories that it was. ‘The education research team at DMU worked collaboratively to support World Afro Day by creating the survey and gathering a large sample in a short period of time.’

It’s because of school rules surrounding hair and how you wear it.

These rules can include how short students wear their hair or what styles they wear it in.

HAIR EQUALITY REPORT 2019 “More than just Hair”

This study is in response to the OFSTED Education Inspection Framework 2019. World Afro Day has conducted – The Hair Equality Report, including a survey of 1000 respondents with support from researchers at De Montfort University.

Aim of the study

The Hair Equality Report aims to provide evidence to quantify the problem of hair discrimination in schools. How pupils are affected by it and what can be done to change it? The aim is to provide robust evidence so that the problem is no longer hidden and creates a motivation and impetus for change. The report will look at how this area of inequality has changed over time by comparing the current generation of children’s experiences to previous generations. The report will make recommendations and call for changes to address this discrimination.

The Rationale

The report is needed because there is a lack of awareness about this problem within governing bodies, school authorities and the general public. Hair discrimination has gone unrecognised for decades and needs to be addressed. Evidence was needed to support the calls for change and to educate people about the problems. Afro hair bias has been a global topic, gaining momentum but some of the key flash points, have been discrimination against children.  

So what do you think, should you be told how to have your hair at school? Has this been a problem for you?

Download Report
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Pete Buttigieg, a gay Christian and Democrat talks at length about his faith in the 2020 Campaign

LEFT: Sound Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks in Raymond, N.H., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019. RIGHT: Rev. Franklin Graham speaks during an interview about his latest book in New York on May 1, 2018. (AP Photos/Charles Krupa, Bebeto Matthews/File)

Buttigieg is a homosexual and has been openly critical of Christian leaders like Vice President Mike Pence who stand for the biblical definition of marriage.

South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is an Episcopalian who is able to quote Bible verses. He also happens to be a presidential candidate who embraces his husband on stage at campaign rallies. However, Combining homosexuality and Christianity might be the most natural thing in the world for Buttigieg and millions of gay Americans, but it is an iconoclastic development in American politics, where generalizations about religious freedom have in recent years been used specifically to fight advances in LGBTQ rights.

Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg is an American former naval intelligence officer who has been the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, since 2012. Buttigieg graduated from Harvard College and, on a Rhodes Scholarship, from Pembroke College, Oxford. 

Wikipedia

Vice President Mike Pence has never attacked Buttigieg, but as CBN News has reported, Buttigieg made it sound like he did.

“I wish the Mike Pence’s of the world would understand, that if you have a problem with who I am, your quarrel is not with me,” Buttigieg said earlier this month. “Your quarrel, sir, is with my creator.”

Pete Buttigieg

Answering multiple comments Buttigieg made about God, Graham tweeted,

“Presidential candidate & South Bend Mayor @PeteButtigieg is right–God doesn’t have a political party. But God does have commandments, laws & standards He gives us to live by. God doesn’t change. His Word is the same yesterday, today & forever.”

Vice President Mike Pence

Franklin Graham – one of President Trump’s top evangelical advisers – believes Pete Buttigieg’s marriage is sinful and has called on him to repent for his homosexuality.

Franklin Graham

For some on the religious leaders, like Franklin Graham, Buttigieg’s identity, while it’s shared by many gay Americans of faith, does not hold water.

Graham, the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, tweeted:

Being a gay Christian “is something to be repentant of, not to be flaunted, praised or politicized.”

Some have said that Graham’s position is ironic and hypocritical given his embrace of Donald Trump as President. But conservative faith leaders have pushed Trump and applauded him in particular for his selection of conservative Supreme Court justices like Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, who they hope will challenge court precedent on abortion and marriage equality.

“Mayor Buttigieg says he’s a gay Christian!!!! As a Christian I believe the Bible which defines homosexuality as sin, something to be repentant of, not something to be flaunted, praised or politicized. The Bible says marriage is between a man & a woman – not two men, not two women.”

Franklin Graham

Still, John Fea, professor at Messiah College and author of “Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump,” characterized the whole debate as “much ado about nothing,” politically speaking.

“I do not think evangelicals (of any race) are ready yet for a gay president and few of them will vote Democratic, so in some ways the point is (moot),” he said in an email. He added that if evangelicals did back a Democrat, it would most likely be former Vice President Joe Biden.

“If Buttigieg was pro-life and gay that would be very interesting,” John Fea said. “My guess is that many evangelicals would hold their nose and vote for Buttigieg because the life of the unborn is more important.”

John Fea

What does the Bible say about homosexuality?

The debate over gay marriage is not just taking place among politicians — it is also a subject of intense discussion in the nation’s churches.

Discussions of homosexuality or “same-sex marriage,” whether in person, in the media or on the Internet, often turn to what the Bible says. Someone is likely to argue that homosexuality is a sin and point to Leviticus, Romans or the Genesis story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Others will suggest homosexuality is not a sin.

The Bible provides God’s blueprint for marriage and for His good gift of sex in Genesis 2:24. The gift is only to be enjoyed within a marriage between a man and a woman.

There are no exceptions suggested, such as homosexual partnerships. From Genesis on, the Bible praises the marriage of a man and a woman, but it speaks only negatively of homosexual behaviour whenever it is mentioned.

The Old Testament states, “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable” (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13). The New Testament agrees, listing “homosexual offenders” among a list of people who “will not inherit the kingdom of God” unless they are cleansed through Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Other passages are Genesis, chapter 19; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; and Jude, verse 7. However, it is important to note that the Bible speaks only of homosexual behaviour (which would include lust–choosing to fantasise about behaviour), not unchosen feelings. God will not judge a Christian guilty for his or her involuntary feelings.

Sometimes it is said that the Bible does not record any words of Jesus about homosexuality, and therefore it must be acceptable to God. However, the Bible does not record sayings of Jesus about a number of other specific sins either. When people asked Jesus about marriage, He told them to remember what Genesis said about God’s plan for marriage (Matthew 19:1-12). So, in this sense, Jesus did have something to say about homosexual partnerships. God only blessed sex within the committed marriage relationship of a man and a woman.

Some have tried to reinterpret what the Bible says, in an effort to approve homosexual relationships. For a reply to such efforts, read “Straight and Narrow” by Thomas Schmidt


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Instagram and Facebook Bans Far-Right Voices including Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones and Milo Yiannopoulos: Is Christianity Next?

Instagram and Facebook Bans Far-Right Voices including Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones and Milo Yiannopoulos: Is Christianity Next?

On Thursday 02 May 2019 Facebook the social networking giant has permanently banned Infowars founder Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos, Laura Loomer as well as other prominent figures and labelled them far-right provocateurs – a sign that they are more aggressively enforcing their hate speech policies under pressure from civil rights organizations, including the SPLC. Also banned from Facebook going forward is Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, who has been criticized for his frequent antisemitic remarks.

The bans come as Facebook has pledged to do more to eliminate hate speech on its platform.

Jones has claimed events like the September 11 terror attacks and the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting were hoaxes. But there are many conspiracy theories that attribute the planning and execution of the September 11 attacks against the United States to parties other than, or in addition to, al-Qaeda including that there was advance knowledge of the attacks among high-level government officials.

For this and many more accusations Infowars is subject to the strictest panishment. Not only did Facebook ban Jones and Infowars, it is also going to delete any Infowars content posted to its platform by any of its users, and any groups that spread Infowars content.

Facebook has said that it wasn’t going to allow white nationalism and separatism on its platform anymore in previous announcements.

In a public statement Facebook said to The Atlantic that:

“We’ve always banned individuals or organizations that promote or engage in violence and hate, regardless of ideology,” a Facebook spokesperson told Variety. “The process for evaluating potential violators is extensive and it is what led us to our decision to remove these accounts today.”

The company told reporters that it would also ban any supporter accounts set up in their likeness and remove any events that these individuals will be participating in.

As part of the sweeping crackdown, Facebook said:

Any account that shares Infowars content will see the content removed; if an account violates terms on multiple occasions it will be banned. Facebook and Instagram will remove any content containing Infowars videos, radio segments, or articles, and Facebook will remove any Groups set up to share Infowars content and Events promoting any of the banned extremist figures, according to a company spokesperson. (Twitter, YouTube, and Apple have also banned Alex Jones and Infowars.)

This week, Facebook also announced an entire redesign of the platform focusing on Groups, in an effort to give users more private spaces. Facebook is “using people’s understandable anger over the company playing fast and loose with their personal data to push a ‘privacy’ focus which is just a fancy way to hide the other big problem on the platform and evade journalists and watchdogs,” the NBC journalist Brandy Zadrozny tweeted upon Facebook’s Groups announcement. “There are very nice groups”¦ but some are also very very dangerous and make the world worse.” One recent investigation found dozens of Facebook groups dedicated to the Pizzagate conspiracy theory. Joining just one of those groups resulted in recommendations for more conspiracy-theory groups.

But Will ‘Christian Speech’ Be Allowed in the New Facebook World?

Well, let’s face it, the values of Silicon Valley are not conservative values; they’re not Christian values, for example, in one one recent instance, a Catholic university put up a picture of a cross to commemorate Easter. Facebook rejected the ad because it did not meet its standards. After a secondary review, the social media giant reversed their initial censorship of the ad. 

We believe that Silicon Valley does not want conservative talk and Christian talk; they want to push progressive and Leftist values. It’s just the fact as Zuckerberg even admitted that’s its a real issue in 2018 during his testimony Tuesday when Sen. Ted Cruz, R-TX, asked him if Facebook had a political bias.

“I understand where that concern is coming from; as Facebook and the tech industry are located in the Silicon Valley, which is an extremely Left-leaning place. And this is actually a concern that I have, that I try to root out in the company, is making sure that we don’t have any bias in the work that we do,” Zuckerberg answered to Cruz.

The NRB has previously said that it wants Congress to hold Zuckerberg’s feet to the fire over these allegations of censorship.

They said that there are five major questions he should answer, including how the social media juggernaut defines “hate speech” and how they respond to comments by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, who acknowledged that some social media platforms “routinely block or discriminate against content they don’t like.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: With concerns over Facebook and other Social Media sites cracking down on Conservative/Christian content, Please ensure you subscribe to Godinterest to receive the Christian Perspective on today’s news directly in your Inbox.

Facebook has disclosed its rules and guidelines for deciding what its 2.2 billion users can post on the social network. 

The full guidelines can be read here. Below is a summary of what they say: 

1. Credible violence

Facebook says it considers the language, context and details in order to distinguish casual statements from content that constitutes a credible threat to public or personal safety.

2. Dangerous individuals and organisations

Facebook does not allow any organizations or individuals that are engaged in terrorist, organized hate, mass or serial murder, human trafficking, organized violence or criminal activity.

3. Promoting or publicising crime

Facebook says it prohibit people from promoting or publicizing violent crime, theft, and/or fraud. It does not allow people to depict criminal activity or admit to crimes they or their associates have committed. 

4. Coordinating harm

The social network says people can draw attention to harmful activity that they may witness or experience as long as they do not advocate for or coordinate harm. 

5. Regulated goods

The site prohibits attempts topurchase, sell, or trade non-medical drugs, pharmaceutical drugs, and marijuana as well as firearms. 

6. Suicide and self-injury

The rules for ‘credible violence’ apply for suicide and self-injury. 

7. Child nudity and sexual exploitation of children

Facebook does not allow content that sexually exploits or endangers children. When it becomes aware of apparent child exploitation, we report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

8. Sexual exploitation of adults

The site removes images that depict incidents of sexual violence and intimate images shared without permission from the people pictured.

9. Bullying

Facebook removes content that purposefully targets private individuals with the intention of degrading or shaming them.

10. Harassment

Facebook’s harassment policy applies to both public and private individuals.

It says that context and intent matter, and that the site will allow people to share and re-share posts if it is clear that something was shared in order to condemn or draw attention to harassment.  

11. Privacy breaches and image privacy rights

Users should not post personal or confidential information about others without first getting their consent, says Facebook. 

12. Hate speech

Facebook does not allow hate speech on Facebook because it says it creates an environment of intimidation and exclusion and in some cases may promote real-world violence. 

13. Graphic violence

Facebook will remove content that glorifies violence or celebrates the suffering or humiliation of others.

It will, however, allow graphic content (with some limitations) to help people raise awareness about issues.

14. Adult nudity and sexual activity

The site restricts the display of nudity or sexual activity.

It will also default to removing sexual imagery to prevent the sharing of non-consensual or underage content.

15. Cruel and insensitive

Facebook says it has higher expectations for content that defined as cruel and insensitive.

It defines this as content that targets victims of serious physical or emotional harm. 

16. Spam

Facebook is trying to prevent false advertising, fraud and security breaches.

It does not allow people to use misleading or inaccurate information to artificially collect likes, followers or shares. 

17. Misrepresentation

Facebook will require people to connect on Facebook using the name that they go by in everyday life.

18. False news

Facebook says that there is also a fine line between false news and satire or opinion. 

For these reasons, it won’t remove false news from Facebook, but, instead, significantly reduce its distribution by showing it lower in News Feed.

19. Memorialisation

Facebook will memorialise accounts of people who have died by adding “Remembering” above the name on the person’s profile. 

The site will not remove, update or change anything about the profile or the account. 

20. Intellectual property

Facebook users own all of the content and information that they post on Facebook, and have control over how it is shared through your privacy and application settings. 

21. User requests

Facebook say they will comply with:

  • User requests for removal of their own account
  • Requests for removal of a deceased user’s account from a verified immediate family member or executor
  • Requests for removal of an incapacitated user’s account from an authorised representative

22. Additional protection of minors

Facebook complies with:

  • User requests for removal of an underage account
  • Government requests for removal of child abuse imagery depicting, for example:
  • Beating by an adult
  • Strangling or suffocating by an adult
  • Legal guardian requests for removal of attacks on unintentionally famous minors

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

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Rape victims in UK must hand over phones to police or face cases being dropped under new bold forward thinking scheme

  • People are split on whether new guidance for crime victims will help or hinder prosecutions.
  • We think that this is a positive move which will help bring light to cases.
  • CPS Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill says only ‘relevant’ material will go to court (Home Office/PA)
  • We think that this is a true statement unless Prosecutions come across something regrettable or questionable as the forms state even information of a separate criminal offence “may be retained and investigated.

Victims of rape and serious sexual assault could allow suspects to avoid charges if they refuse point blank to give police access to their mobile phone contents, two top officials have said.

Metropolitan police assistant commissioner Nick Ephgrave has admitted that the new national consent forms authorising detectives to search texts, images and call data are proving conversations around the UK as the difficulties of disclosure in the digital age risk pitting the pursuit of justice against preserving privacy.

In the lead-up to trials, police and prosecutors are required to hand over relevant material that can undermine the prosecution case or assist the defence.

The police are really saying, ‘if you don’t let us do this, the CPS won’t prosecute.’

Police and prosecutors have sought to reassure victims of crime that only material relevant to a potential prosecution will be harvested, but the forms state even information of a separate criminal offence “may be retained and investigated”.

Everyone needs to understand that if they get caught up in a crime, whether as witness or complainant, there may be information on their mobiles that is relevant.

When rape cases don’t make it to trial

The procedure came under sharp focus in 2017 after a string of defendants had charges of rape and serious sexual assault against them dropped when critical material emerged as they went on trial.

They included student Liam Allan who was accused of rape before his case was thrown out of court after it emerged a detective had not handed over text messages from the accuser’s phone.

Some 93,000 officers have undertaken training, while police hope artificial intelligence technology can help trawl through the massive amounts of data stored on phones and other devices.

The Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) said a legal challenge is expected from at least two individual women who have been told by police their cases are likely to collapse if they do not cooperate with requests for their personal data.

What is AI?
In computer science, artificial intelligence, sometimes called machine intelligence, is intelligence demonstrated by machines, in contrast to the natural intelligence displayed by humans and animals.

The failure of police and prosecutors to routinely disclose crucial evidence has caused ‘untold damage’, the Government admitted yesterday, suggesting artificial intelligence is now needed to comb social media of alleged victims. 

In a devastating review, the Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said a series of “system-wide” problems had led to innocent people “being pursued” wrongly through the courts.

The review was launched at a time of concern over collapsed cases, such as the prosecution of Liam Allan, who was charged with 12 counts of rape and sexual assault only for the case against him to be dropped.

While welcoming steps already being taken by police and the CPS to address the issues, Mr Cox called for a “zero tolerance” culture on disclosure failings.

Digital Divide: A Wake Up Call To Christian Leaders

In our era of instantly, constantly available “news,” how do we sift through the chaff and find the truth? How should we even think or feel about the relentless storm of bad news, questionable posts,conspiracy theories, and conflicting claims that swirls around us in this age of dis/mis/information?

Beyond the generational divide is the reality that the digital age allows information to leap over geographical and political boundaries

Nowadays, it’s common knowledge that whatever you post on the internet can be seen by anybody at anytime. But could you imagine providing evidence in a sexual assault case and then being charged for another crime because of information contained on your mobile phone? Well, thats exactly where this is heading. An indecent picture someone sent you on WhatApp perhaps, or maybe a movie that has not been obtained by legitimate purposes. Whatever the case maybe, its time to wake up.

We believe all of this comes down to is just simple common sense. Realizing that there are several sets of eyes on you at all times whenever you post online or on your phone should you become wrapped up in a court case for that matter is your best defense against posting or retaining something regrettable or questionable.




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Barely arrived on Monday and it’s already Friday

Hardly the day started and … it is already six o’clock in the evening.

Barely arrived on Monday and it’s already Friday.

… and the month is already over.

… and the year is almost up.

… and already 40, 50 and 60 years of our lives have passed.

… and we then realise that we have lost our parents and friends. And then we realise that it is too late to go back …

So … Let’s try, however, to take full advantage of the time we have left …

Let’s not stop looking for activities that we like …

Let’s put color in our greyness …

Let’s smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.

And yet, we must continue to enjoy serenely the time that remains. Let’s try to eliminate the “after” …

I do it after …

I will say after …

I will think about it after …

We leave everything for later as if “after” was ours.

Because what we do not understand is that:

after, the coffee cools …

after, priorities change …

after, the charm is broken …

after, health passes …

after, the children grow up …

after, the parents get older …

after, the promises are forgotten …

after, the day becomes the night …

after, life ends …

And after that it’s often too late ….

So … leave nothing for later …

Because always waiting for later, we can lose the best moments,

the best experiences,

the best friends,

the best family …

The day is today … The moment is now …

We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone until tomorrow what needs to be done right away.

So let’s see if you’ll have time to read this message and then share it.

Or maybe you’ll leave it for … “later” …

And you will not share it “ever” ….

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God Is Preparing You for Great Things so Leave What You Are Doing and Let Us Pray

God is preparing you for great things

God puts dreams in our hearts and writes a destiny over our lives. And if we trust Him enough to take Him at His word, we will find ourselves on a journey toward the fulfillment of that dream.

Unfortunately, the path that takes us to the promise is always wrought with thickets and thorns. Nothing worth having ever comes easy or without opposition. Storms will come, lions will roar, and our fears will be confronted. God allows the path to be difficult because He intends on refining us and preparing us for our place of promise. He is intent on extracting from us, that which our enemy would love to leverage against us.

Almighty Father, creator of Heaven and earth and everything in between, We humbly come before you with thanks giving in our hearts, asking for your never ending mercy. We lift your name on high, above any name that has ever existed, our father and creator, we ask you to bless, protect and to pour your supernatural favor upon us, our children, spouses and friends. God we ask you today for divine intervention in our lives, we ask for your touch in all areas of our lives, be it a new job, promotion, freedom from debt, rebuilding of our relationships with our spouses and friends. Father any situation you touch, we believe it can never remain the same. Father in heaven, let your will be done in our lives as your decision in our lives is the best and will always be the best, please send double portions anointing and blessings in the quickest time to the person reading this as your name is being worshiped and glorified by multitudes In the name of your only son, our personal Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!

God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favour. If you believe, share it. If you don’t believe, close it. God closes doors no man can open and God opens doors no man can close.

 

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Watch Vocal Artist Kymberli Joye Take ‘The Voice’ to Church, With “Break Every Chain”

Team Kelly's Kymberli Joye performs "Break Every Chain" during The Voice Live Top 11 Performances.

With her impressive vocal range and soulful sound, Team Kelly’s Kymberli Joye has been a standout performer on “The Voice” ever since her initial blind audition.

Now, the minister and worship leader hailing from Windsor, Connecticut has taken her passion for Jesus Christ to center stage with her live Top 11 performance of “Break Every Chain.”

With parents as pastors, the 26-year-old contestant has had Christianity ingrained in her roots, but nothing brings her faith to life quite like worship. Bringing judges to their feet and audiences members to their knees, Joye undoubtedly took “The Voice” audience to Church with her goosebump-raising rendition of this popular Christian song.

Check out her unforgettable performance of “Break Every Chain” below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfIog7RIgFE&feature=youtu.be

Team Kelly’s Kymberli Joye performs “Break Every Chain” during The Voice Live Top 11 Performances.

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The Best Way to Share Your Faith Is to Show, Not Tell

SEE THE WEARY TRAVELER TOILING OVER THE HOT SAND OF THE DESERT, WITH NO SHELTER TO PROTECT HIM FROM THE RAYS OF THE TROPICAL SUN. HIS WATER SUPPLY FAILS, AND HE HAS NOTHING WITH WHICH TO SLAKE HIS BURNING THIRST. HIS TONGUE BECOMES SWOLLEN; HE STAGGERS LIKE A DRUNKEN MAN. VISIONS OF HOME AND FRIENDS PASS BEFORE HIS MIND AS HE BELIEVES HIMSELF READY TO PERISH. SUDDENLY HE SEES IN THE DISTANCE, RISING OUT OF THE DREARY SANDY WASTE, A PALM TREE, GREEN AND FLOURISHING. HOPE QUICKENS HIS PULSES; HE PRESSES ON, KNOWING THAT THAT WHICH GIVES VIGOR AND FRESHNESS TO THE PALM TREE WILL COOL HIS FEVERED BLOOD AND GIVE HIM RENEWED LIFE.

AS IS THE PALM TREE IN THE DESERT—A GUIDE AND CONSOLATION TO THE FAINTING TRAVELER—SO THE CHRISTIAN IS TO BE IN THE WORLD. HE IS TO GUIDE WEARY SOULS, FULL OF UNREST, AND READY TO PERISH IN THE DESERT OF SIN, TO THE LIVING WATER. HE IS TO POINT HIS FELLOW MEN TO HIM WHO GIVES TO ALL THE INVITATION, “IF ANY MAN THIRST, LET HIM COME UNTO ME, AND DRINK.”

“If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”

The sky may be as brass, the burning sand may beat about the palm tree’s roots and pile itself about its trunk; yet the tree lives on, fresh and vigorous. Remove the sand, and you discover the secret of its life; its roots strike down deep into waters hidden in the earth.

Thus it is with the Christian. His life is hid with Christ in God. Jesus is to him a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life. His faith, like the rootlets of the palm tree, penetrates beneath the things that are seen, drawing life from the Fountain of life. And amid all the corruption of the world he is true and loyal to God. The sweet influence of Christ’s righteousness surrounds him.

The faces of men and women who walk and work with God express the peace of heaven. They are surrounded with the atmosphere of heaven. For these souls the kingdom of God has begun. They have Christ’s joy, the joy of being a blessing to humanity. They have the honor of being accepted for the Master’s use; they are trusted to do His work in His name.

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This Boy Performs “Amazing Grace” And It’s All Kinds of Heaven on Earth – Gospel Phenomenon!

 

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Alleluia Alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia Alleluia
For our Load God Almighty reigns
Alleluia
Holy Holy
Are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are Holy
Holy
Are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Amen
Songwriters: Michael W. Smith

 

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

Songwriters: John Newton

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