‘They would not convert and it cost them their life’. Family of eight Iraqi Christians shot in the face

05 August 2014  |   Ruth Gledhill – Christian Today

Canon Andrew White, the Vicar of Baghdad, who has witnessed extreme sufferings of Christians being killed and persecuted in recent weeks, has accused the British Government of doing nothing to help fleeing Christians. Bishops and other church leaders have added their voices his concerns.

Catholic bishops in Engand and Wales have called on Christians to join with people across Iraq “in praying for an end to the violent persecution that threatens to extinguish the ancient Iraqi Christian community.”

Church leaders in Iraq have selected Sunday, August 9 for the Day of Prayer.

Bishop of Clifton Declan Lang, who heads international affairs for the Catholic bishops, said: “Events in Iraq over the past few weeks have been disastrous. Christians have been systematically driven out of Mosul.

“A community of 60,000 before 2003 has dwindled over the years and is now down to almost nothing. For the first time in 1,600 years, no Masses are being celebrated in Mosul. Many Christians have fled to the surrounding Nineveh Plains and into Kurdistan as militants from the Islamic State, formerly the Islamic State of the Levant (ISIS), threaten those who do not subscribe to their fundamentalist ideology.

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How to Stay 50 Miles Away From a Moral Failure

– Lee Grady – 8th October 2014

Last week, late-night comics joked about the fact that yet another Christian broadcaster had gone down in flames because of a moral failure. This time it was Rory Alec, the British founder of GOD TV, who announced on Oct. 2 that he was stepping down from the network he co-founded in 1995 and putting his wife, Wendy, in charge.

Despite the giddy reaction from secular pundits, this is no laughing matter. When the world looks at us they think we are just a bunch of greedy hypocrites who can’t keep our pants zipped. The embarrassment that started in the 1980s with Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart continues today. We are now experiencing an epidemic of sexual failure in the church that threatens to discredit us.

Wendy Alec has promised to explain the details of her husband’s resignation in a statement this week, and the least we can do for our fallen brother is pray for his restoration. But beyond that, I’m also eager to help Christians who might be tempted to think that the failure of yet another high-profile minister means it’s impossible to stay sexually pure in a world full of temptation.

The truth is: Jesus can keep you from falling if you trust Him and use biblical common sense. Here’s the most honest advice I could give any sincere believer, male or female, who wants to avoid becoming a statistic in this struggle.

1. Maintain an intimate relationship with God. I can offer a 100 percent guarantee that no man or woman who prays regularly, worships God intimately, reads the Bible consistently and knows God’s grace personally will fall into sexual sin. When we are full of God’s Spirit, His fire will keep us far away from the edge of moral failure. It’s only when a person loses his first love for Jesus that he drifts toward sinful desires.

2. Never get in a sexually compromising situation with a person who is not your spouse. It’s never wise to play next to the edge of a cliff. Yet Christians today seem to think it’s spiritual to flirt, literally, with danger. The Bible says: “Flee from youthful lusts” (2 Tim. 2:22). “Flee” does not mean linger, loiter or dawdle, nor does it mean wink to see if you get a wink back. It means run for your life!

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RUA Party Campaigns in Dandenong, Victoria (one of the world’s largest Multi-Ethnic Communities) & speaks to several Muslims

Dear friends,

Rise Up Australia Party took to the streets of Dandenong yesterday to campaign for the upcoming Victoria State Election. Around 30-40 party members were wearing RUA Party T-shirts, led by National President Daniel Nalliah, who is also the Upper House Lead Candidate for South East Metropolitan Victoria

Rosalie Crestani the Second Upper House Candidate for the region, who is also a Councillor from the city of Casey, along with Lord Christopher Monckton, a former adviser to former PM Margret Thatcher, also joined in the campaign.

Dandenong in Victoria, which is one of the most Multi-Ethnic cities in the world and has a very large population of Muslims, was handpicked for this campaign to speak to people about the importance of keeping Australia Australian and to call on people to integrate into Australian way of life and culture.

As the RUAP team spoke to people one on one and shared the party policy principles, the response from the general public was overwhelmingly positive. Almost everyone received the party brochures, and many stopped to learn more about RUAP.

When asked whether they agreed to Islamic Sharia Law, almost every one responded NO. Even some Muslims said, “We left our country because of Sharia Law. We don’t want it here.” When asked what they thought of the burqa, most people said that they did not approve of the face being fully covered.

Mr Nalliah interviewed one Muslim man. You may click the link below to watch  what he had to say. It was very interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1RQ-jn7TkU&feature=youtu.be

Several media outlets were present taking photos and interviewing people and party members.

You may also click the following link to read an article from a the local newspaper “The Leader”.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/no-burqas-in-sight-as-rise-up-australia-party-plan-to-ask-women-to-remove-their-veils-falls-flat/story-fngnvmhm-1227084156950

Make sure to read the comments which are almost all in support of RUAP.

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Kurdish forces retake 2 Christian villages; crosses restored to churches

Catholic Culture ^ | August 21, 2014 | Assisted by US airstrikes, forces of the autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan have retaken the historically Christian towns of Tel Isqof (or…

Continue ReadingKurdish forces retake 2 Christian villages; crosses restored to churches

Tonight’s Blood Moon-Lunar Eclipse: Second in 2014-2015 “Tetrad” of Four

Aimee Herd : Oct 7, 2014 : EarthSky.org

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” –Luke 25-28

In the early morning hours before sunrise on October 8th, there will be another lunar eclipse in the northern hemisphere; turning the full moon to “blood”-red in color as it passes through the shadow of Earth.

The total eclipse will last about an hour, with a partial eclipse going in and coming out—each taking about an hour—so the entire process of the lunar eclipse will last about 3 1/3 hours.

Who will see it?

That all depends on where you are! According to an EarthSky.org report:

North and South America, the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand, Australia and eastern Asia are in a good position worldwide to watch the total eclipse of the moon on October 8. If you live in the Americas or Hawaii, the total eclipse happens before sunrise October 8. In the world’s eastern hemisphere, the total eclipse happens after sunset October 8.

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March for the Babies in Melbourne 1pm this Saturday 11th October

Dear friends & family in Christ, The annual March for the Babies is this Saturday 11 October in Melbourne. This march for life is held on this date to mark the…

Continue ReadingMarch for the Babies in Melbourne 1pm this Saturday 11th October

Netanyahu Invokes Biblical Prophecy During UN Address

By Lea Speyer September 30, 2014

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.” (Isaiah 62:1)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing the UN General Assembly, September 29, 2014. (Photo: Avi Ohayon/ GPO)

(Click here to see how Netanyahu invokes Biblical prophecy in past UN addresses.)

http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/22270/see-netanyahu-biblical-prophecy-past-un-speeches/#FooJhWhqAT2idCTU.97

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly on Monday, warning the international community of the growing threat of militant Islam.

The prime minister jumped right in to tackling the issue of the increasing visibility and violence wrought by Islamist terrorists across the globe.

“Our hopes and the world’s hope for peace are in danger. Because everywhere we look, militant Islam is on the march,” Netanyahu said. “It’s not militants. It’s not Islam. It’s militant Islam.”

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Christians in Southeast Asia Fear Islamic State Making Inroads in Region

August 19, 2014 – JULIA A. SEYMOUR – WORLD Magazine

Muslims mark the first eve of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Associated Press/Photo by Tatan Syuflana)

Indonesia and Malaysia are no strangers to radical Islam, but ISIS recruiting in southeast Asia has caused a growing concern about the threat of terrorism in the region.

ISIS currently is fighting for an Islamic caliphate in Iraq and Syria but has plans for “global domination,” according to the  Daily Mail. At the beginning of Ramadan, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, called for Muslims everywhere to support the group’s plan to impose Shariah law in all the territory it controls. In July, Christians were forced to flee Mosul, Iraq, after ISIS gave them 24 hours to leave or be killed. Fleeing Christians said ISIS fighters seized all their money and possessions at checkpoints.

Sooyoung Kim of International Christian Concern (ICC) said there has been an increased fervor for ISIS among Indonesian and Malaysian Islamic extremists in recent months. ISIS has had influence within the region at least since 2013.

In Indonesia, it is not illegal to fund or join jihads in other countries, so ISIS is recruiting openly there, Kim said. The group’s propaganda was widely available and could be found in mosques, but more moderate imams and the Indonesian government have tried to discourage people from joining ISIS because they consider the group too extreme, Kim said.

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Burqa Ban / Meet us in Dandenong this week to check this out

RUAP Media Release - For Immediate Release - 5th October 2014 PM Tony Abbott recently called the Burqa UN-FRIENDLY and CONFRONTING! Last week Jacqui Lambie and Muslim Woman’s Association Maha…

Continue ReadingBurqa Ban / Meet us in Dandenong this week to check this out

Syrian Christian asks, “Why aren’t the moderate Muslims doing more to stop the extremists in their midst?”

Robert Spencer Aug 19, 2014 – Jihad Watch

“Why aren’t the moderate Muslims doing more to stop the extremists in their midst? Do they agree with their ideology and extremism? We saw hundreds of thousands of protesters on the streets against the abuses of the regime, so why are we not now seeing those thousands of protesters against what IS is doing?”

Fair questions. But no answers will be forthcoming from Muslim leaders in Syria or anywhere else. In the U.S., Hamas-linked CAIR can point to its condemnation of the Islamic State as if that settled the matter — yet neither CAIR nor any other Muslim group is doing anything to teach Muslims to reject the Islamic State’s understanding of Islam.

“Aleppo’s forgotten Christians,” by Edward Dark, Al-Monitor, August 11, 2014 (thanks to Paul):

ALEPPO, Syria — Walking through the largely Christian neighborhoods of Aleppo city — Azizieh, Siryan, Sulaimaniyah and Midan — you can still see the posters of the two bishops kidnapped by Islamist militants last year hanging on shop windows, walls and even cars. The people here haven’t forgotten them; the event is still as painful and fresh as if it had happened just yesterday. The bishops’ kidnapping was a symbolic event, indicative of the larger collapse of interfaith communal relations in a country under the strain of a sectarian civil war, and marked the end of a long era of relative peace and safety for the Christians of Syria.

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Tent Churches Emerge in Iraqi Refugee Camps

9/25/2014- Charisma News

Fatima, an Iraqi woman who had fled atrocities committed by the Islamic State (ISIS), was drawn to the sound of singing in a tent in a refugee camp in Dohuk, a city in the Kurdish region of Iraq. She approached cautiously.

Though embarrassed when the Christians worshipping inside saw her, she came closer and asked if she could enter and listen to what they were saying. By the time the meeting finished at 4 a.m., she was on her way to embracing Christ as her Savior and asked if she could bring friends and family to the next meeting.

Fatima, her husband and three daughters put their trust in Jesus for their salvation, and within a few weeks her involvement led to another 60 families making the same commitment, according to an area ministry leader supported by Christian Aid Mission.

“Tent churches are going on everywhere,” said the ministry leader. “Last week we had 68 families openly surrender their lives to the Lord. With all their large needs and difficult situations that they are going through, they thank God for the indwelling of Christ in their hearts. Twelve of those families were Muslim.”

In addition, 200 children who received Bibles and coloring materials prayed to accept Jesus into their hearts.

Broken Hearts

Near Amerli, which Islamic State fighters besieged for more than two months before Kurdish and Iraqi forces aided by U.S. warplanes drove them out on Sept. 1, the ministry leader’s team encountered people in need of water, food and medicine. In a visit with a group of families able to escape before the ISIS siege, the team found opportunities to meet both spiritual and physical needs.

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Black Christians and the Myth of Prosperity Preaching

SOURCE: American Thinker – Patricia L. Dickson – July 20, 2014

With the in-your-face display of greed and arrogance of the so-called pastors on the reality show Preachers of L.A., I began to wonder: when will black Christians wake up and say enough is enough?  Although there are some white pastors of mega-churches who have a net worth of almost triple their congregants as well, I want to focus on the plight of the black saints who sit under the ministry of black pastors (and some white pastors) Sunday after Sunday and continue to live paycheck to paycheck.

After some years of attending mega-churches pastored by both black and white men and their wives, I began to notice a trend.  These pastors would always tell their congregation – mostly non-college-educated and barely surviving members – that the way to prosperity is through tithing.  Tithing was the only means to prosperity taught by these pastors.  In fact, the reason for all that ailed the saints (hard times, sickness, and lack) was non-tithing (i.e., theft of God’s money).  Not having a college education during the majority of those years, I felt guilty if I found myself in a situation where I could not tithe on certain Sundays.  I would hear the pastors say, use your rent or utility bill money and pay your tithe; God will make sure your bills are paid.  I would blame God when my bills went unpaid instead of blaming the pastors (or myself for listening to the them).

After I completed a couple of degrees and began associating with a group of financially intelligent individuals, I started to learn and apply sound financial principles.  I then realized that my financial situation had improved for two reasons: more education (resulted in a better job with higher pay and/or promotion on current job) and knowledge of how to manage and invest my income.  I also realized that my pastors never mentioned education or investments (other than investing in the kingdom of God) as a means to acquire wealth.

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Live webcast with Pr Daniel this Sunday morning 5th Oct / Rise Up Australia Prayer in Melbourne this Friday 3rd Oct /’The Gift’ playing at CTFM Hallam this Sunday evening 5th Oct

Dear friends & family in Christ, 1) Pr Daniel will be speaking at CTFM in Hallam at the 9:30am service this Sunday 5th October. Please note that this service will…

Continue ReadingLive webcast with Pr Daniel this Sunday morning 5th Oct / Rise Up Australia Prayer in Melbourne this Friday 3rd Oct /’The Gift’ playing at CTFM Hallam this Sunday evening 5th Oct

Poll: Americans Rate Jews, Catholics, Evangelicals Warmly; Muslims, Atheists More Coldly

U.S. Public Has Warmest Feelings for Jews, Catholics and Evangelicals.By Jessica Martinez , CP Reporter – July 19, 2014

Americans feel warm toward Jews, Catholics and Evangelicals but they are colder toward Muslims and atheists, according to a new Pew Research Survey.

Respondents were asked to rate each faith group according to a “feeling thermometer” ranging from 0 to 100, 0 reflecting the coldest and most negative rating and 100 being the warmest, most positive. The outcome concluded that U.S. adults are more fond of individuals who share their same or similar faith.

“In a society like the United States, where religion is such an important part of life, of how people view the world, how people approach politics — it’s one of the things that drives some of the very serious cultural disagreements we see in American society. It’s important to know how religious groups see one another, relate to one another,” said Greg Smith, associate director of research at the Pew Research Center, reports Washington Post.

Jews, Catholics and Evangelical groups received a rating of 63, 62 and 61, respectively. Buddhists, Hindus and Mormons received neutral ratings ranging from 48 to 53 while atheists and Muslims were rated 41 and 40 on the thermometer.

While there were varying factors for the results, the fact that Catholics and Evangelical Christians are part of the most favorably viewed groups is because the survey comprised of 20 percent Catholics and 32 percent Evangelicals. (more…)

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