Sri Lankan police chief resigns over bombings

The Sri Lanka chief of police resigned this week after bombings left dead more than 200 Christians on Easter morning. An official at the defense ministry has also stepped down.

Pujith Jayasundara stepped down April 25, and the announcement was made the following day.

How to Naturally Reverse Arthritis and Alzheimer's Symptoms

Two big pharmaceutical powerhouses recently threw in the towel on testing their highly-touted Alzheimer's drugs. At the same time, the Journal of the American Medical Association warned against the "pseudo-medicine" of Alzheimer's supplements.

Despite those hits, there's still hope for today's Alzheimer's sufferers and those destined to develop it. Newly published research proves 100 patients enjoyed significant, measurable symptom reversal using the protocol developed by Dr. Dale Bredesen, making a huge gain over the initial 19 success stories.

Pope Francis: To stop evil, give more love than required

To stop the spread of evil in the world, Catholics must go above and beyond, loving and forgiving others even when it is undeserved, Pope Francis urged Wednesday.

“Jesus inserts the power of forgiveness into human relationships. In life, not everything is resolved with justice,” he said April 24.

“Especially where we must put a barricade against evil, someone must love beyond what is necessary, to start a story of grace again,” he said, warning that “evil is familiar with its revenge, and if it is not interrupted it risks spreading and suffocating the whole world.”

An Inside Report From Sri Lanka's Traumatized Church

While members of Zion Church gathered last Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, children were meeting for a Sunday school lesson in another part of the building. At one point, their teacher asked the kids if they were willing to die for their faith. Every hand went up.

The teacher then led the children to the main sanctuary for morning worship. Suddenly a powerful bomb went off, sending chairs and body parts flying. "Half of the children died on the spot," says the Sunday school teacher. The assistant pastor's 10-year-old son was killed, along with nine other children from Zion.

Violence is nothing new for Christians in Sri Lanka, but the horrific bombings that happened on April 21 left a permanent scar. At least 321 people died in six blasts—three of which targeted churches during Easter services. Sri Lanka's government announced on Tuesday that suicide bombers affiliated with ISIS carried out the attacks.

3 debates surrounding the crucifixion

The crux of the Christian faith is the cross.

This is the moment in history where Jesus Christ, the Son of God, voluntarily laid down His life so that humanity might be set free from sin and restored to life, Christians have believed through the ages.

Yet this pivotal moment that has so much meaning to believers in Jesus worldwide, God incarnate crucified, is fraught with vigorous debate about what exactly Jesus accomplished.

Why Jesus' Final Words on the Cross Should Make You Uncomfortable

Jon Tyson, pastor of the Church of the City New York, says Jesus' final words on the cross are a challenge to believers to relinquish control and trust in God. He says it's a particularly difficult lesson for Christians to internalize today, given the breakdown of trust at so many levels—relationally, politically, institutionally. Yet Jesus felt that dismantling the idol of control and demonstrating trust in God was the most important lesson He could impart before His death.

"What is it that Jesus wants to leave in our minds on earth—the Son of God, what is it He wants to leave us with?" Tyson asks. "And these are the words we hear: 'Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.' Jesus' final act was an act of trust. An act of surrender to His father. This is the declaration He wants to leave. In the garden, Adam believed the lie, 'You can't trust God.' And here is Jesus' final words, trusting, 'Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.'

"Now the reason I think this carries particular weight for us, the kinds of modern people that we are, is that it's very very hard for us to genuinely surrender and to entrust ourselves to other people. Isn't it? We've basically had a nuclear meltdown of trust in our society."

Watch the video to hear Tyson's full sermon.

Helicopter to drop 30,000 Easter eggs at Illinois church: 'Sharing the hope of Jesus'

A large Illinois church will host an Easter weekend event on its property that will feature a helicopter dropping 30,000 Easter eggs.

Metro Community Church, a congregation with campuses in Edwardsville and Vandalia with an average worship attendance of around 1,600, will host its second annual Easter Egg Drop event on Saturday.

John Helmkamp, director of Operations at Metro Community, told a local media that the idea for the event came from a member who offered to drop the 30,000 Easter eggs.

“We made several adjustments to the event this year based on the high level of interest and attendance last year,” said Helmkamp.

This unique chant brings Vietnamese Catholics deeper into Christ's Passion

While the Stations of the Cross are a worldwide Lenten devotion for Catholics, the faithful in Vietnam have an additional practice that blends ancient traditional chants with Catholic prayer and meditation on the Crucifixion.

“The ‘Ngam Nguyen’ are…a unique Vietnamese Catholic practice of intoning a series of meditations recounting the Passion of Christ,” said Fr. Anthony Le Duc, national chaplain for the Vietnamese community in Thailand.

Family researcher says conservatives should be on board with AFA child allowance

A newly-proposed U.S. child allowance policy could support families, boost fertility rates, and reduce childhood poverty according to one economist focused on family research.

The American Family Act is a broad expansion of the currently existing Child Tax Credit (CTC) - so broad, in fact, that researcher Lyman Stone said it could almost be considered something entirely different.

Witchcraft Takes Over Social Media in Latest Meme

They're called summoning circles, and on Twitter especially, users are posting images of candles wrapped around something they desire.

What some people may view as a silly meme has a deeply demonic connection, though.

What the Holy Spirit Revealed Ahead of the Florida Prostitution Sting

Last week, New England Patriots' owner Robert Kraft was one of 25 people charged with soliciting prostitution at a spa in Jupiter, Florida. The spa was included in a human trafficking investigation into Florida spas that started at least four months ago. A spokesperson for Kraft said, "We categorically deny Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity."

Jupiter Police Chief Daniel Kerr disclosed in a news conference that authorities have video evidence of Kraft engaging in sex acts on two visits to a local day spa.

5 Lessons on Spiritual Warfare You Don't Want to Forget

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about the subject of spiritual warfare. When you have done as much teaching on the subject of prayer as I have, the topic just comes up. You may not be a chess player, but I think these five fun and simple lessons on the subject of spiritual warfare will be helpful to you and your walk with Jesus.

Naumann praises federal rule that will strip $60m from Planned Parenthood

The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ conference pro-life committee praised Wednesday a new federal rule that will prohibit abortion clinics from receiving federal funding aimed at subsidizing some medical services for low-income women and families. The rule is expected to strip Planned Parenthood of about $60 million in federal funds.

“I applaud the Trump Administration for reaffirming that abortion is not family planning. Abortion ends the lives of families’ most vulnerable members, as well as damaging the spiritual, mental and physical health of mothers,” said Archbishop Joseph Naumann in a Feb. 27 statement.

Where Are We Today on the End-Times Timeline?

Jim Bakker says America today is calling evil good and good evil—and that's a helpful clue for discerning where we sit on the end times timeline laid out in the Book of Revelation. Bakker discusses the end times, the church's role and the terrifying judgments to come in this video clip from The Jim Bakker Show.

Tim Keller: Don't confuse ‘blue state or red state individualism’ with Christianity

Pastor Tim Keller has warned against mistaking “blue state or red state individualism” for true Christianity in a post-Christian culture that it has “co-opted” biblical ideas and taken them to an extreme.

In a recent video posted on the Gospel Coalition website, Keller, senior pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, said that in today's post-Christian Western society, it's very difficult for Christians to engage culture without becoming colonized by it.

Why Christians Need to Stop Saying 'God Told Me You're My Future Husband/Wife'

Christian speaker and artist Joseph Solomon says Christian young adults need to stop claiming that God has told them a certain person they're attracted to is their future spouse. Usually, Solomon says, that's the result of normal human attraction being attributed to divine will. But Solomon says it's important to "stop putting words in God's mouth. God didn't tell you that."

What Does the Bible Really Say About the Sexual Sin Most People Struggle With?

One often wonders why the Bible doesn't directly address masturbation. It is the cause of so much guilt and speculation in the body of Christ. And so, we are left to cobble together biblical principles to come up with some idea of whether or not it is sinful, just as we do with subjects like gambling, smoking, etc.

Biblical Principles
 
Let's begin with an important biblical principle taught by our Lord—that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matt. 5:27-28). A person who practices masturbation without imagining sex with someone is rare indeed, if he or she exists at all. On that basis, the practice is tantamount to engaging in adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior or any number of other sexual practices that the mind can imagine—even idolatry, as revealed in Ephesians 5:5, Colossians 3:5 and Ezekiel 23:49. In a certain sense, it could be said that masturbation is a form of mental pornography, which we all know to be sinful.

New marriage enrichment initiative aimed at military couples

A global marriage ministry is launching a new initiative to provide resources, encouragement and enrichment opportunities for military couples in Canada and the United States.

The project is part of Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME), in conjunction with the North American Military Services Outreach (NAMSO).

Are Alexa, Siri Setting the Stage for Antichrist's Worldwide Domination?

In today's world, humanity is desperately seeking someone with a strong hand to take the helm and bring about world peace—a leader who has the ability to compromise and appease every faction to stop all the madness. But what character traits are truly needed to navigate the currents of public opinion that shape the world in which we live?

For the past 2,000 years, people have anxiously tried to analyze who the Antichrist might be and when he might be revealed, says author and pastor Mark Biltz in advance of his soon-to-be-released book, Decoding the Antichrist and the End Times: What the Bible Says and What the Future Holds.

Catholic Secret Revealed: How Vatican Deals With Children Born to Priests

The cloud hanging over the Catholic Church is getting darker, with a new report revealing the church produced secret documents to deal with children born to priests.

In a statement, Vatican spokesperson Alessandro Gisotti told The New York Times, "I can confirm that these guidelines exist. It is an internal document."

Rwandan genocide victim learns to forgive, befriends man who cut off her hand

She had her hand chopped off, her head bludgeoned and saw her 9-month-old daughter split in two, but 25 years later, 48-year-old Alice Mukarurinda and the man responsible for cutting off her limb, Emmanuel Ndayisaba, are now good friends.

The two have preached the need for forgiveness and reconciliation that has encompassed the central African nation in the last quarter-century since one of the worst human rights atrocities in world history took place — the genocide against the Tutsi.

Bishops 'deeply concerned' by Trump border emergency declaration

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement Feb. 15 opposing President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency on the southern border. Trump made the declaration as part of an attempt to secure full funding for the construction of a border wall.

 

“We are deeply concerned about the President’s action to fund the construction of a wall along the U.S./Mexico border, which circumvents the clear intent of Congress to limit funding of a wall,” said the statement, which was jointly written by USCCB President Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin, who leads the USCCB’s migration committee.

UPDATE: 5 Killed in Aurora Warehouse Shooting, 5 Officers Wounded

A gunman opened fire in a warehouse in Aurora, Illinois, on Friday, killing five people and wounding five police officers before he was slain, law enforcement officials said.

Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman said the shooter, identified as 45-year-old Gary Martin, was an employee at the sprawling industrial complex in Aurora, a Far West Chicago suburb, but did not say what may have motivated the attack.

Let's Share Jesus With a Confused World

Late in 2018, a Dutch man, Emile Ratelband, asked a court in the Netherlands to permit him to change his legal age from 69 to 49. He said he "feels 49," and he said his doctor agrees that he looks young for his age. Ratelband complained that he has suffered from age discrimination—especially when looking for dates with women online.

Comparing himself to transgender people who change their sexual identity, Ratelband claimed in his lawsuit that age is not a fixed reality.

"Time is just a figure," he said. "I say it is not fixed."

Actress: "Eating This Every Morning Changed My Life"

It may not be a glamorous topic, but for Maggie, it recently proved to be a life-saver.

"When you feel sluggish and run-down, it's easy to say, 'Well, I guess I'm just getting older,' but now I know that's not true—you can be 65 and still feel like you're 20," Maggie says.

That's why she's finally decided to share her story with others.

3 Keys to Making Your Love Last

Valentine's Day is coming up next week. If you're a wife, you may be thinking, I hope he remembers! If you're a husband you may be thinking, Oh no, again? Or maybe you're thinking, I wish this day would go away. Could I have possibly married anyone less romantic?

If love is a feeling, then marrying for love is the worst possible reason to say "I do." Feelings are fickle. Feelings will change. You married a sinner. Your spouse married a sinner too. And life happens: children, age, pounds and a million other things.

Why Christians can criticize 'Green New Deal', but can't dodge 'green' politics

A joint congressional resolution for a “Green New Deal” is the latest effort aiming to apply political solutions to environmental problems. Whatever the merits of the proposal, one theologian says, Christians must think hard about what their faith says about environmental policy.

“To think that the U.S. government can be agnostic about the environment is a little like thinking it’s agnostic about faith: policies will impact the environment, for good or for ill,” Joseph Capizzi, professor of moral theology and ethics at Catholic University of America, told a local media.

Seek Christ and his humble love, Pope Francis exhorts Catholics in UAE

Preaching on the Beatitudes during his visit to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, Pope Francis called on those present to seek communion with Christ before all else.

“Let us together ask here today for the grace of rediscovering the attraction of following Jesus, of imitating him, of not seeking anyone else but him and his humble love,” the pope said Feb. 5 during Mass at Zayed Sports City, a stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Venezuela crisis: Christian group providing emergency aid, food for starving

Venezuela is facing the biggest economic crisis in modern history with hyperinflation, leading to starvation, deaths and mass migration.

The U.S. announced Saturday that USAID will be sending hundreds of tons of food, medicine and supplies to the administration of President Juan Guaido. Nicolas Maduro, who has long refused to allow foreign aid to enter the country, has yet to relinquish his hold on power and has even threatened the possibility of a civil war.

Spirit-Filled Pastor Identifies the Roadblock Keeping You From Your Breakthrough

Living Faith Community Church's Pastor Reg Morais says doubt, fear and distrust are common roadblocks that prevent believers from seeing breakthrough and results from intercession. He says that in Matthew 13:58, even Jesus "was not able to bring about any signs and wonders, any sort of miracles," because of the unbelief of the people. So how can you overcome doubt? Morais explains more in this video.

Are You Cursing Your Family With Generational Spirits Without Realizing It?

Familiar spirits and generational spirits target our families and situations that are familiar to us. These spirits have been assigned to our genealogy and know our families' past mistakes and weaknesses. We also need to be aware of the word curses and generational curses in our family members' lives so that we don't repeat the past and bring what is dead, buried, and gone into the future. We need to make sure that we are speaking life and freedom and not cursing and bondage. By the words we speak, we can replant and build what the enemy has stolen of our past.

Pew: People who attend church are happier than those who don't

Those who identify with a religious group and regularly attend worship services tend to be happier and more civically engaged than those who do not, a new Pew Research Center survey has found.

A Pew Research Center report released Thursday on religion and well-being found that religious attendance — rather than religious affiliation — consistently linked to higher levels of happiness than for those around the world who claim no faith.

Pope calls United Arab Emirates 'a land of coexistence' ahead of visit

Pope Francis expressed gratitude for his upcoming trip to the United Arab Emirates, noting it is an opportunity to promote greater peace between Muslims and Catholics.

7 Deadly Threats to Your Marriage

In his new book Kingdom Marriage, Tony Evans talks about a couple who came to him for marriage counseling. The couple came in with a handwritten list of problems that they needed to work out. As he looked through their list he thought to himself, "How are we going to fix all of this?" What he realized, almost instantly, is that the items on the list were a symptom of a deeper problem. He knew that if he only treated the symptoms they would be right back in his office with a new list. So he took their piece of paper and tore it up. Then he explained to them his plan at getting at the core relationship issues.
Many times, in marriage, when things go wrong, we look to change our behavior or our circumstances. Most of the time these fixes are just temporary. The real threats lie below the surface, in our attitudes. It's important not only to recognize these wrong attitudes but also to adjust them. With that in mind, here are seven threats to your marriage.

1. Lust

Sexual desire in itself is not a bad thing. It's actually a good thing in the right context. When sexual desire becomes self-seeking, that's when it becomes lust. Clearly, lusting after a person who is not your spouse is detrimental to the marriage. You begin to create a fantasy world and an object of desire in your head that your spouse can't compete with. Ultimately, it leads to feelings of dissatisfaction with your spouse. But even lusting after your spouse is detrimental because it is having a sexual desire that is focused solely on your own pleasure. The beauty and purpose of sex within marriage is for connection and intimacy. It becomes dehumanizing and degraded when one person is using the other for simple pleasure.

2. Selfishness

If the problems in relationships could be boiled down to one bad attitude, it would probably be selfishness. Selfishness is the opposite of love. Marriage is about giving. Giving is what cultivates a good relationship. Having the ability to not only think about the wants and needs of someone else, but the capacity to see the world from their view is what draws people together. Selfishness drives isolation.

Davey Blackburn's Resonate Church shuttered due to lack of successor, membership decline

The interim pastor at Resonate Church in Indiana that was founded by Davey Blackburn admitted they were poor stewards of church finances and revealed that they ultimately decided to dissolve the church because of dwindling membership and an inability to find a successor to continue the ministry.

“This decision was not made lightly but was deemed best due to several factors. We do not have the right successor to lead and pastor and additionally we have experienced a decline in attendance and financial support,” John Berry, interim pastor since Blackburn’s abrupt resignation a week ago, said in a statement.

The Spiritual Battle Behind This Year's State of the Union Address

Yesterday, President Donald Trump accepted Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's invitation to give the State of the Union address on Feb. 5. It was a huge political victory after a long battle, in which Pelosi withheld the important State of the Union address until Trump agreed to end the government shutdown. Trump responded by cancelling Pelosi's use of a military vehicle for an international trip. Finally, on Friday, both sides renegotiated to open the government for three weeks—and the State of the Union moved forward.

During these politically charged times, it's important to remember Ephesians 6:12: "Our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." These conflicts playing out on the news are not about people. This is not one party against another. I believe this is a battle between good and evil.

Wisconsin now covering sex-reassignment surgeries for trans-identified employees

Wisconsin is now paying for sex reassignment surgeries and hormone therapy for state employees as part of their health care coverage.

Beginning Jan. 1, the state’s Group Insurance Board began covering hormone treatments and sex change operations for state employees suffering from gender dysphoria, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.

WATCH LIVE: Christine Caine, Louie Giglio and Kari Jobe Unite the Next Generation at Passion 2019

The Passion 2019 conference is being streamed live on YouTube. The Atlanta-based conference features teaching from Louie Giglio, Christine Caine, Matt Chandler, Chad Veach and more, with performances by artists including Kari Jobe, Lecrae, Trip Lee and Crowder.
Check out the live stream from this morning's session here, and visit the passionconferences channel for more updates.

The Protestant Case for Honoring the Virgin Mary

And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well advanced in years."... Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" (Luke 1:18, 34).

In considering the life of Mary, history, theologians, traditions and agendas quickly set in. Some make far too much of Mary, and some make far too little of her.

In the New Year, God Is Doing Something Old

Every New Year's, many people turn into Athenians.

"For all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time in nothing else, but either telling or hearing something new" (Acts 17:21).

Everyone seems to be looking for a new word. What is God saying? What is the newest thing God is doing? Who has had a vision? What is prophet so and so saying? It seems to be the trend every New Year's. And this leads to all kinds of click-bait articles to draw you into a sensational word.

Why robot brothels are not the solution to America's STD crisis

With several sexually transmitted diseases reaching an all-time high in the U.S., could sex robots be the answer? Catholics leaders say no, because the alleged benefits of “sexbots” will never outweigh the harms inflicted upon the person and authentic human sexuality.

“There are all sorts of bad solutions to a legitimate problem. Even if it were the case that sex robots would cut down on STDs, it wouldn’t make sex robots a good idea,” said Matt Fradd, author of The Porn Myth.

Pope Francis: Invite God to dwell in your heart this Christmas

God offers himself to us in the manger in Bethlehem, Pope Francis said in his Christmas homily Monday night, inviting each heart to welcome this heavenly gift.

“At Christmas, we on earth receive Jesus, the bread from heaven,” Pope Francis said Dec. 24 in St. Peter’s Basilica. “We discover that the life of God can enter into our hearts and dwell there.”

“If we welcome that gift, history changes, starting with each of us. For once Jesus dwells in our heart, the center of life is no longer my ravenous and selfish ego, but the One who is born and lives for love,” he added.

The pope’s homily at the Midnight Mass of Christmas centered on the meaning of Christ’s birthplace, Bethlehem, which translates to “House of Bread” in Aramaic and Hebrew.

The Hidden Message Revealed Through Each Detail of the Christmas Story

Neither the plot, the place, nor the people included in the Christmas story came about by happenstance. No, each detail was strategically selected by God to reveal the message of all messages. Kyle Winkler's inspirational Christmas short film will awe you with the revelation.

What went wrong in the Sexual Revolution? This documentary takes a look

The story of a donor-conceived woman. The Sexual Revolution of the 1960s. The development of birth control. And a papal document that shocked the world. These themes come together in a new documentary, Sexual Revolution--50 Years Since Humanae Vitae.

What we can learn from the beauty of Christmas carols

One of the perpetual complaints against Christianity is that it is a life-denying, puritanical system. In the Victorian era, poet Algernon Swinburne referred to Christ as the "pale Galilean" from whose breath "the world has grown grey." In our own time, films and television shows such as The Handmaid's Tale portray Christians as robotic control freaks. Meanwhile, elite commentators contend that the only reason Christians oppose same-sex "marriage" and transgendered toddlers is that they are full of hate.

One way to rebut the charge is to point to the fact that traditional Christmas carols – the ones that retell the central Christian story – are generally full of joy and gladness. They are decidedly not "grey" or "life-denying." What, exactly, one might ask, are the life-denying elements in Joy to the World and Ding Dong! Merrily on High?

But before getting to the carols, it's instructive to note that Christianity's two main competitors for the souls of men – secularism and Islam – actually are on the grey and grim side of the continuum. That's easy enough to see in Islam. With its burqas, alcohol ban, and rigid rules of behavior, Islam actually is a puritanical religion. But so, in its own way, is secularism. Today's universities, which are almost totally controlled by secularists, have elaborate behavior and speech codes which effectively take the spontaneity out of relationships and even out of simple conversation. You have to tread carefully in the secular world because it is seeded with hidden booby traps. Try reciting one of Swinburne's poems to a group of fellow student and you might end up in diversity hell. You never know what will offend the new puritans until it's too late.

LDS Church allows women missionaries to wear pants

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had announced that female missionaries will now be allowed to wear pants, specifically dress slacks, when doing mission work.

Church leadership had previously allowed women to wear dress slacks when doing mission work during the wet seasons in nations where mosquito-borne diseases are common.

The new change in dress code for women allows for the wearing of dress slacks all year round at their discretion, according to an announcement released Thursday.

Holy See dissatisfied Poland climate summit downplayed human rights

In a statement Wednesday, the Holy See said the rules for implementing the Paris Agreement, established during the recent UN climate change summit in Poland earlier this month, are lacking in urgency and in proper concern for human rights.

“We are grateful to the leaders from States and other stakeholders who contributed to this multilateral dialogue and the writing of the rulebook. Unfortunately, we must also note that the rulebook does not adequately reflect the urgency necessary to tackle climate change,” the Holy See stated Dec. 19.

How to Take Down 13 Demonic Strongholds That Bind You

Intercessory prayer can break demonic strongholds. Here is a list of those to be mindful of when praying:

Cluster 1—Anger, hatred, malice, rage, murder, temper, cursing, vengeance, retaliation, violence, abuse, cruelty, sadism, unforgiveness, bitterness, being judgmental or critical, taking offense easily/irritability, anger towards men or women, anger towards mother or father, anger towards authority, anger/resentment towards God

Cluster 2—Fear, fear of man, fear of authority, doubt/unbelief, dread, worry, anxiety, fear the worst will happen, fear of various illnesses like cancer, fear people will get angry with you or won't like you, spirit of false responsibility, spirit of rush

Pastor Breaks 18-Year Silence About Speaking in Tongues

After 18 years of silence, Pastor Shane Idleman finally opens up about his experience with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues.

He kept it quiet because he was so afraid of the opinions of others—until God called him out.

Watch the video for his story.

How to Wage 'Good Warfare' to Claim Your Prophetic Destiny

Dr. Reg Morais, senior pastor of Living Faith Community Church in Perth, Australia, says Paul's instructions to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18 are a model for how believers today should wage "good warfare." Morais also mentions there is a global prophetic movement taking place in churches around the world. He explains more in this video.

Pope Francis explains symbolism of Vatican Christmas tree and sand nativity

As the Vatican illuminated its 65-foot Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square Friday, Pope Francis shared the deeper meaning found in the traditional festive spruce.

The signs and symbols found in Christmas traditions can “help us to contemplate the mystery of God made man to be close to each one of us,” Francis said Dec. 7.

9 Common Myths Christians Believe At Christmas

Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year, because it calls our attention to one of the most beautiful teachings of Scripture — the Incarnation of Christ. When you realize the incredible truths behind the reality that God came and dwelt among us, it can’t help but impact the way you live. Plus, it’s an awesome reminder that God kept His promises from the Old Testament to send a Messiah to rescue His people from their sins.

However, since that time, many myths have been added to the greatest story ever told.

Here are nine common myths Christians believe at Christmas:

Churches turned into military barracks, people killed: Cameroon Christians cry out

Cameroonian Christians are crying out against the ongoing violence in their country, where churches are being converted into military barracks and believers are forced to flee.

“We need peace and the United Nations intervention," a Methodist Christian, whose identity wasn't revealed, told Protestant Digital.

“Many people die every day, homes and villages are burned, there are famished people and also those who take refuge in Nigeria. We do not have a voice in our country."

How You've Given Satan Legal Rights to Harass You

Jesus told His followers many times in the Gospels to forgive those who sin against them—no matter how many times they do it.

But did He give that command simply because it's a nice thin (EO)g to do? Or does unforgiveness have a deeper effect on our souls and bodies?

Watch as Pastor Candice Smithyman interviews deliverance minister Kathy DeGraw about the role of unforgiveness in Satan's attacks on our lives. Learn how to destroy the works of the enemy and prevent strongholds in your life!

Pope Francis to visit Abu Dhabi in February 2019

Pope Francis will travel to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates Feb. 3-5 to participate in an international interfaith meeting, the Vatican announced Thursday.

“This visit, like the one to Egypt, shows the fundamental importance the Holy Father gives to inter-religious dialogue. Pope Francis visiting the Arab world is a perfect example of the culture of encounter,” papal spokesman Greg Burke said Dec. 6.

 

The papal trip is the second visit to a Muslim country scheduled for 2019; Pope Francis will also visit Morocco March 30-31.

Beware the Doctrine of the Modern-Day Nicolaitan Apostles

Nicolaitan apostles are rising. It's a new breed, but then again, it's not a new breed at all. Jesus warned us about Nicolaitan leaders in his letter to the church in Pergamum.

"So you also have those who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will war against them with the sword of My mouth" (Rev. 2:15-16).

Noteworthy is the fact that Jesus applauded the church at Ephesus in an earlier letter and noted how he "hated" this Nicolaitan doctrine. So, what, exactly, was the teaching of the Nicolaitans?

Iowa prisoners sue to get their pornography back

Dozens of Iowa inmates have filed a lawsuit challenging a ban on pornography which has affected the state’s prisons in recent weeks.

The law, which took effect Nov. 14, prohibits pornographic material and puts an end to “pornography reading rooms” in all of Iowa’s nine state prisons.

Pastor John Gray draws praise, caution after allowing congregants to take cash from offering

Pastor John Gray's recent move to allow members of his church to take cash from the offering baskets has stirred discussion, with some applauding him for helping those in need and others expressing caution.

Praising Gray, Bishop Alphonza Gadsden of Cummins Memorial Theological Seminary in Summerville, South Carolina, told a local media on Friday that he believes the church should be doing more to help the needy.

“Having felt as if he is led by the Spirit of God to do this, then I think it’s a great gesture,” Gadsden commented. “I believe that the church needs to play a more active role within the community and if it means helping those who are indigent and don’t have a means of support then by all means the church should be able to do that.”

What’s the difference between crystals and relics?

To the outside viewer, crystals are pretty rocks.

Perfectly curated pictures of the pretty stones pepper the social media feeds of scores of millennials, as they have become increasingly popular on necklaces and as part of a “wholistic”, wellness-minded life. But, more than just a fashion statement, crystals are believed by some to have healing properties, related to their energy or vibrations.

The Catholic Church rejects all things associated with New Age beliefs, including the trendy crystals, as heretical and dangerous.

At the same time, the Catholic Church embraces the veneration of relics.

Lisa Bevere: How to Win Any Spiritual Battle You Face

"There's an amazing door of opportunity standing wide open for me to minister here, even though there are many who oppose and stand against me" (1 Cor. 16:9, TPT).

Opportunity attracts opposition. When you advance to a new level, you will be opposed by a new devil. To illustrate this point, imagine a virtual video game. With any good video game, it is necessary to complete multiple levels before ultimately completing the game. Each level consists of unique battles requiring specific battle strategies. The advancement to a new level always includes a stronger enemy.

According to my sons—who have achieved a level of mastery when it comes to video games—each level is important. The goal is not to get through a level as quickly as possible. A player with that mindset will not fare very well or last in the game very long. As I watch my boys maneuver and take risks to get certain articles hidden within the confines of the course at any given level, I've observed that each of these items has a unique value, but the need for these items is not usually immediate. More often than not, they are collected for future use. What is obtained at one level may be needed at the next.