What God Wants to Do With These 3 Prophetic Types of Kings in This Hour

I wrote an article, "Calling Out the Emerging Kings," published on Elijah List, Oct. 19, 2018. Two days after that article came out, my husband, a brilliant attorney and a major "king" himself, died unexpectedly. I lost my best friend, my confidant, my adviser, my financial partner. In a moment, my world as I knew it disintegrated.

Shocking as it sounds, I could not allow this tragedy to be wasted without it being woven into God's greater plan of redemption and victory. I knew I was onto something with my revelation about kings; I had to persist in declaring the call. Even more mind-blowing, God has been confirming the coronation of kingship in my own personal life. Since my husband's passing, I have assumed massive, sole responsibility for the management of our family assets, overhauling our lives and portfolios. God's inexplicable favor acted like a shield around me as I worked tirelessly with some top tax and legal advisers (kings of this world).

Previously, I had shared a vision of Jesus casting out crowns to countless souls who rejected them. These were leaders and rulers who would have otherwise extended God's kingdom on earth by boldly executing heaven's blueprints.

3 Strategic Growth Secrets to Get People Flocking to Your Church

We are on to something. At first glance you may find yourself thinking: This isn't anything new, been there and done that. Or how about this one: There is no "one size that fits all." Actually, there is. I have found that there are major gaps in the retention and assimilation processes in churches of every size and I will bet, after you have read this, you will see the gaps in yours and have a road map to explosive growth at every level.

Adults

The back door out of most churches is just like the song, "deep and wide," and many can be found there. But the wide-open back door is only there not because your front door is broken---in most cases, it's because you aren't pastoring the ones God sends you beyond the first few weeks. It's as simple as that. I offer an idea that can work at your church every bit as well as it has worked at ours.

Christian Publishers: China Tariffs Could Lead to 'Bible Tax' in US

If President Trump gets his way, reading the Bible could get more expensive.

The parent company of the two largest Bible publishers in the United States has warned the Trump administration that proposed tariffs on China would amount to a "Bible tax."

Trump's proposed tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese-made products would affect books and other printed materials, according to Bloomberg. That includes Bibles, which are overwhelmingly printed in China because of the specialized technology and skills they require to produce.

In Naples, Pope Francis calls for theological dialogue with Islam, Judaism

In Naples Friday Pope Francis delivered a speech calling for theological dialogue with Islam and Judaism in pontifical universities as part of “a theology of dialogue and acceptance.”

“Theology students should be educated in dialogue with Judaism and Islam to understand the common roots and differences of our religious identities, and thus contribute more effectively to building a society that values ​​diversity and fosters respect, brotherhood and peaceful coexistence,” Pope Francis said June 21 in front of Naples’ Jesuit-run pontifical Catholic university.

When You Pray for Someone's Healing, Do You Need all the Details?

A reader asks; "Do you have to know all the details of what needs to be healed in order to pray for healing for someone?"

This is a good question, for which many want to know the answer. No, we do not need to know all the details to pray for one another for healing. During healing lines, I have already given instruction to the people that now is not the time for a long explanation for what they need healing from. It's not necessary for me to know all the details of what has happened for me to pray in faith for their healing. And you do not need to know all the details either.

Amazon Synod to consider possible ordination of married men

The working document for the special assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazonian region, released Monday, recommends study of the possibility of ordaining married men in remote areas for the priesthood.

'Sing Hallelujah to the Lord' marks Hong Kong anti-extradition protests, 'anthem' of demonstration

As record numbers demonstrate in the streets of Hong Kong to protest a proposed extradition law and the mainland Chinese government, a Christian song penned in 1974 has become an "unofficial anthem."

Christian groups in the autonomous territory in southeastern China of approximately 7.4 million people — a former British colony — have been singing "Sing Hallelujah To The Lord" by Linda Stassen-Benjamin while protesting and marching in the streets. The song, which is catchy and simple in melody, is popular around the world and has been translated into many languages.

The demonstrators have also been protesting against police brutality. The authorities apparently have a distaste for the Christian song, as evidenced by one sign a protester carried, which reads: "Stop Using Baton Or We Sing Hallelujah To The Lord." Numerous clips of protesters singing the hymn have been posted to Twitter and other social media.

St Louis University: employee who signed abortion rights letter apologized, retracted support

A group of 180 business leaders this week signed an open letter, published June 10 as a full-page advertisement in the New York Times and online, in support of abortion rights and declaring abortion restrictions “bad for business.”

“Restricting access to comprehensive reproductive care, including abortion, threatens the health, independence and economic stability of our employees and customers. Simply put, it goes against our values and is bad for business,” the letter read.

Among the original list of signatories was Cindy Mebruer, director of the Center for Supply Chain Excellence at Saint Louis University’s Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business. SLU is a Jesuit institution with a total enrollment of 13,000.

Mebruer signed the letter on behalf of the center, and the name of the university was included in the online version of the letter.

“Saint Louis University had no knowledge of the New York Times advertisement until it was brought to the University’s attention Thursday,” the university said in a statement to CNA.

Cities, states ask courts to block HHS conscience protections before taking effect

Santa Clara County, California is the latest entity to ask a federal judge to block a new rule from the Department of Health and Human Services designed to protect the conscience rights of healthcare workers.

The new HHS rule, announced May 2 and published May 21 in the Federal Register, strengthens a series of laws intended to protect the conscience rights of doctors and nurses.

“Even though Federal conscience and anti-discrimination laws are currently in effect, the public has sometimes been confused about their applicability in relation to other Federal, State, or local laws,” the new rule reads.

“Some advocacy organizations have filed lawsuits claiming that Federal or State laws require private religious entities to perform abortions and sterilizations despite the existence of longstanding conscience and anti-discrimination protections on this topic.”

Under existing law, medical providers may opt out of direct participation, as well as having to refer patients to other providers who will perform procedures to which they object, such as abortion and sterilization. The rule is due to take effect July 22.

Terrorists Threaten Christians: Leave or Be Killed

Boko Haram militants reportedly kidnapped a Christian woman, whom they later released with a letter for other Christians living nearby: "Leave the town within three days or be killed."

According to Open Doors USA, the woman was taken by Islamic terrorists from the village of Kintchendi in the Diffa region in southeastern Niger on June 7.

Unnamed sources on the ground in Niger told Open Doors that Christians in the region and in other rural areas of Diffa are being told to relocate to the capital city of Niamey. Several families have reportedly already fled the area.

Click here to read the rest of this story from our content partners at Faithwire.

Pope Francis on Pentecost: 'Christian life unravels' without the Holy Spirit

Without the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Christians lack that which animates them and gives them internal life and harmony, Pope Francis said on Pentecost.
   
“Without the Spirit, our Christian life unravels, lacking the love that brings everything together,” Pope Francis said at Mass in St. Peter’s Square June 9.

Alabama plans chemical castration for pedophiles seeking parole. Ethicists raise concerns

A Catholic ethicist raised concerns over a bill that would mandate “chemical castration” as a condition of parole for incarcerated pedophiles. The issue is at the crux of an Alabama bill that has passed the state’s legislature and now is awaiting the governor’s signature.

The bill, HB379, would mandate so-called “chemical castration” as a condition for granting parole to convicted sex offenders who offended against children 13 years of age or younger. The treatment would be provided and supervised by the Department of Public Health, and would be paid for by the parolees, unless they could demonstrate the inability to pay, the bill states.

Everything you need to know about Pentecost

This weekend, the Church celebrates Pentecost, one of the most important feast days of the year that concludes the Easter season and celebrates the beginning of the Church.
 
Here’s what you need to know about the feast day:

Religious couples are the most sexually satisfied

One of our world’s most persistent myths is that religion is the enemy of good sex. The idea of Christians as repressed Puritan prudes—as historically inaccurate as that is—still exerts enormous power over our imaginations.

The other side of that myth is perpetuated in the glamorous portrayals in movies and TV of sexual liberation juxtaposed alongside frigid marriages. The message is clear: Faith and tradition are shackles that must be shed if we are to enjoy the kind of freedom the sexual revolution promises.

Are You Inviting Demonic Spirits Into Your Home?

Is there something in your life and home inviting demonic spirits? Today we allow so many ungodly things to enter our homes. Our lives are being affected by everything that is unholy, opening doors to rebellion, disobedience, promiscuity and the realm of defiant evil spirits.

Unfortunately it's not only what we allow into our homes, but it's also what adults are modeling in today's Christian home. Many allow violent movies and indecent entertainment, telling small children to cover their eyes until the violent or indecent episode is over. I know couples who constantly fight over this issue. The husband wants to see the violent and explicit videos, and the wife wants no part of it.

Scientists Sound the Alarm on 5G Networks

Even though many in the scientific community are loudly warning about the potential health effects that 5G technology could have on the general population, Verizon and AT&T are starting to put up their 5G networks in major cities all across the nation. Today, the total number of cell phones exceeds the entire population of the world, and the big cell phone companies are making a crazy amount of money providing service to all of those phones. And now that the next generation of cell phone technology has arrived, millions of cell phone users are looking forward to better connections and faster speeds than ever before. In fact, President Trump says that 5G networks will be up to 100 times faster than the current 4G networks we are using right now:

5G will be as much as 100 times faster than the current 4G cellular networks. It will transform the way our citizens work, learn, communicate and travel. It will make American farms more productive, American manufacturing more competitive and American health care better and more accessible. Basically, it covers almost everything, when you get right down to it. Pretty amazing.

And just as 4G networks paved the way for smartphones and all of the exciting breakthroughs — they made possible so many things — this will be more secure and resilient. 5G networks will also create astonishing and really thrilling new opportunities for our people—opportunities that we've never even thought we had a possibility of looking at.

Sounds great, right?

House passes LGBT Equality Act; conservatives say it 'undermines women’s equality'

The Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act Friday afternoon, hotly-debated legislation seeking to codify LGBT non-discrimination protections into federal law.

H.R. 5 passed by a vote of 236-173. The bill would expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to also ban discrimination on the basis of “sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition” in housing, public accommodations and hiring.

The bill was first introduced in 2015 but never passed in the Republican-controlled House. However, it is unlikely to be voted on in the Republican-controlled Senate.

German bishop supports 'Church strike' for women's ordination

At least one bishop has offered his support for a week-long “Church strike” organized by German Catholic women, during which participants organize their own prayer services rather than attending Mass.

Calling itself "Mary 2.0" the initiative issued an open letter to Pope Francis, which called for the ordination of women, and claimed "men of the Church only tolerate one woman in their midst: Mary."

"We want to take Mary off her pedestal and into our midst, as a sister facing our direction," the letter said.

The website features paintings of Mary and other women with their mouths taped over.

How the Trade War Is Going to Affect You And Your Family

As expected, trade negotiations with China concluded on Friday with no trade deal in sight. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin called the negotiations "constructive", and that helped calm the financial markets, but there really isn't any reason to be optimistic at this point. The negotiations that happened this week did not even come close to producing a deal, and neither side is attempting to claim that there will be an agreement in the near future.

How You Can Face Foolish and Evil People With Spirit's Wisdom

We have all had the painful experience of someone wrongly judging us or not understanding us, and as a result, our relationship with them suffers or is severed. Additionally, we all have had the painful experience of thinking we knew someone and trusting them, only to find—much to our misery—that they were not the person we thought they were.

Spiritual Forces Collide With National Day of Prayer, Ramadan

Two spiritual forces collide this week through the vehicle of prayer as the Christian community comes together to pray on the National Day of Prayer (May 2), and the Muslim community begins 30 days of fasting and prayer from May 5-June 4.

However, the two roads do not lead to the same destination.

This is an alert to pray into what is being released in this hour.

Pope Francis: 'The common good has become global'

Pope Francis called on nations to work toward a global common good Thursday, particularly in confronting climate change, human trafficking, and nuclear threats.

“In the current situation of globalization not only of the economy but also of technological and cultural exchanges, the nation state is no longer able to procure the common good of its population alone,” Pope Francis told the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences May 2.

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.