How Does Jesus Christ Define Marriage?

By Ted Baehr and Tom Snyder

MarriageFor the first time in recorded history, our government is trying to change a fundamental social institution and tradition – marriage. Thus, in recent months, courts in Massachusetts, California and Iowa, and now the legislature of Vermont, have decided to allow same-sex marriage.

Forget for a moment the fact that no other society in human history has ever defined marriage in this way and the fact that the United States Constitution does not give such power to the judiciary or our elected representatives – what does Jesus say about marriage?

In Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus says that marriage is for a man and a woman.

“Haven’t you read,” he says, referring to the Book of Genesis, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not tear apart.” (more…)

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Why The Cross?

By Greg Laurie

Greg LaurieI came across a list the other day of the worst inventions of all time. Among them were a detachable dog sack, which allows you to drive with your dog on the outside of your car, wigs for cats, an inflatable dart board, an anti-eating face mask, a battery-powered battery charger and an anti-prank fire alarm trap that handcuffs pranksters to the alarm they just pulled. (Of course, it is also a deterrent for anyone who may want to use it in the event of an actual fire.)

While all of these are great candidates for the worst idea of all time, there is one bad idea that rivals them all: It was when God himself was put on trial. Here was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world, God in human form – and men come up with the idea of putting him to death.

But humanity’s worst mistake was, at the same time, God’s master plan. The Bible says that “it pleased the Lord to bruise Him” (Isaiah 53:10 NIV). This means the crucifixion of Jesus was not a mistake. Nor was it an afterthought. It was part of God’s plan from the very beginning. Before there was a solar system, much less a planet called Earth or a garden called Eden or a couple known as Adam and Eve, a decision was made in the councils of eternity that God himself would come to Earth as a man and would go to a cross and die in the place of all sinners. Why? So that humanity could be put into contact with God. (more…)

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Survey Finds That Most Americans Would Welcome A Friend’s Invite To Church

By Aimee Herd – Christian Post, CBN News

Sharing“…63 percent would listen to a family member tell of their church, and a surprising 56 percent would actually accept an invitation…”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This survey is helpful to keep in mind as we consider our friends, family and neighbors who don’t yet know the Lord, or who feel disconnected from a church. Many times we figure they will not be open to hear about a fellowship we may attend, and so we don’t mention it. Perhaps we should in light of this new research. We just never know who the Lord may draw through a simple invitation! –Aimee Herd, BCN.

According to a recent survey by LifeWay Research, over half of Americans said they would “attend church if invited by a friend or family member.” (more…)

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Hospital Bans Bibles, Crosses From Chapel

Mosman Mayor Dominic Lopez inside the RNS chapelWORSHIPPERS at one of the state’s largest hospital chapels have been ordered to get rid of crucifixes and Bibles and pull down religious pictures and symbols for fear of offending other religions.

The decision by Royal North Shore Hospital has outraged patients and their families, many of whom have turned to the chapel for comfort in their darkest hours.

Hospital managers ordered the ban on symbols of any kind because the chapel was increasingly being used by a number of different faiths.

But Mosman Mayor Dominic Lopez said angry patients were offended that the chapel no longer represented a holy place.

Ban will incite fear, religious leaders say

“I used to sit there and pray when my wife was dying of breast cancer and look at that cross,” he said. “Now it is just a hall and the decision is bulls. . .. You either have a chapel or you don’t. It’s offensive to have a church or chapel and not have a cross in it.” (more…)

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America ‘Moves Towards Abandonment Of Israel’

By IsraelNN Staff

US FlagIsraeli Flag(IsraelNN.com) An unnamed former highly-placed U.S.intelligence official has broken silence and says that America may soon be abandoning Israel in favor of the Arabs. “This is just the beginning”, he said, “Israel could be about to lose the support of the United States.”

The source made these remarks in an exclusive interview with Douglas J. Hagmann, the director of the Northeast Intelligence Network (NIN), which is comprised of veteran licensed professional investigators, analysts, military affairs specialists and researchers. The group has combined their resources to provide accurate and well-sourced information via their website.

Hagmann appeared on Israel National Radio’s Weekend Edition with host Tamar Yonah. When questioned about the possible abandonment of Israel by America, Hagmann told Yonah, “The Obama administration is no friend to Israel, is no friend to the Jews in America and is no friend to democracy or freedom in America.  …Just by his very appointments, we can see him filling positions of power with people who are anti-Semitic, who want to see Israel essentially dissolved as a nation, if not by diplomacy, then certainly by war.” (more…)

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Bendigo On Fire – People from 21 Churches including 14 Senior Pastors Unite For Catch The Fire Meetings

Dear Family and Friends in Christ,

We thank the Lord for a glorious weekend in Bendigo as the Spirit of God moved most mightily at every single meeting where Pastor Danny and a team from Catch The Fire ministered on the 4th & 5th of April.  Scores of hungry Christians from 21 churches, including 14 senior pastors, flocked to receive the fire of God’s Holy Spirit! All glory to God as almost every single person at the  meetings were radically transformed by the mighty presence of God, to stand boldly for the Lord Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God!

With many increasingly stirred in the Spirit to pray for our nation, additional exciting news is that the Rise Up Australia monthly prayer meetings will be re-launched on the last Tuesday of April in Bendigo and will be starting another new location for prayer in Maryborough. Contact CTFM office for further details. (more…)

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Is Biblical Repentance Relevant For The Church Today & For Us As Christ-Followers???

By Pastor Danny Nalliah

Dear Family and Friends in Christ,
 
The last few weeks have been most exciting serving the Lord Jesus Christ in Australia!

We all know that without battle there is no victory!  When I first came to Australia I said, “Lord, it is so boring serving You in this nation.”  However, glory to God as I really cannot say that any more. Since He gave us the court case battle with the Islamic Council of Victoria and from there onwards, there has never been a dull moment serving the Lord and the body of Christ in our nation of Australia! 

Truly, Jesus is Lord of all! When the devil is mad, we can rejoice and be glad that the righteousness, justice, and truth of the Word of God is marching on in the power of the Holy Spirit! (more…)

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4,000-Year-Old “Abraham’s Gate” Reopened To The Public

By Teresa Neumann

Abraham\'s Gate“The Bible recounts that the people of Dan took Abraham’s nephew Lot prisoner, and Abraham came to Dan to rescue him, but it is hard to confirm whether or not Abraham passed through the gate.”

(Israel)—Haaretz News reports that the Nature and National Parks Protection Authority yesterday opened “Abraham’s Gate”—originally uncovered in 1979, but recently under painstaking restoration—at Tel Dan in the north, for visits by the public.

Believed to have been built around 1750 B.C., the ancient structure is seven meters tall and composed of three sun-dried mud brick arches on a large basalt stone foundation. The arches are said to be the oldest ever found in the Land of Israel. (more…)

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Iran Adds Tomb Of Mordechai And Esther To Its National Heritage List

Tomb of Mordechai & EstherBy Teresa Neumann

“Next to the mausoleum lies a large hollow in the ground, which Iranian Jews believe to be an entrance to a tunnel that stretches all the way to Jerusalem.”

(Iran)—Arutz Sheva reports that a few months ago Iran took the rather unusual step of adding a Jewish holy site to its National Heritage List. The site—the tomb of Mordechai and Esther—are now under official government protection and responsibility. (more…)

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Reading The Old And New Testament Changes Agnostic; Puts Him On “High Alert”

BibleReading the Old and New Testament Changes Agnostic; Puts Him on “High Alert”
By Teresa Neumann

“While reading the Bible, I often felt as if I had finally lifted a veil from my eyes…”

Jewish by birth, agnostic by choice, blogger David Plotz has had a piece published in Slate explaining how he challenged himself to read the Old and New Testament from cover-to-cover, having never read the Bible before. Spoiler alert: It is both illuminating and sad. Though he shares numerous spiritual revelations throughout his “testimony” indicating, on one hand, that his heart has softened toward God, on the other hand he continues to struggle intellectually with the Old Testament God of Law and Justice.

No doubt someone, somewhere, is praying for Mr. Plotz.

All that said, for those open enough to accept Plotz’s spiritual/intellectual wranglings, a thorough read of his experience as reported in Slate is fascinating. (more…)

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Is The Old Testament Relevant Today For Christ-Followers?

Pastor Danny NalliahDear family and friends in Christ,

I’m sure you would have heard from some Christian leaders that the Old Testament is not relevant for today.
 
Some have even used the opportunity to spread this mistruth from the pulpit, mocking and ridiculing those fellow ministers of the Gospel who do preach and teach the whole counsel of God (both Old and New Testaments).
 
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God Himself says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20) (more…)

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African Anglicans Say Gay Bishops Affirmation ‘Shatters Hopes of Reconciliation’

By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter – January 10, 2013

Anglican leaders in Africa have expressed their outrage over the Church of England’s decision to approve gay bishops in its order, saying that the decision could put an end to hopes of healing broken relationships in the Communion.

Archbishop Nicholas Okoh of Nigeria, one of the world’s largest provinces of the Anglican Communion with 17 million members, said that the affirmation of gay bishops “could very well shatter whatever hopes we had for healing and reconciliation within our beloved Communion,” Reuters reported.

Okoh added that the Church of England has given into “the contemporary idols of secularism and moral expediency,” and that it is “one step removed from the moral precipice we have already witnessed in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church in Canada.”

Last week, the House of Bishops of the Church of England announced that it had internally decided to allow gay clergy to serve as bishops if they promise a life of celibacy, even if they are in a same-sex civil partnership.

(more…)

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