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Jun 22, 2017

Is this coming to a Christian school near you?By: Colin Wingfield

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(From the Rebel Newsletter)
The Cornerstone Christian Academy in Alberta is exactly what it says it is — a Christian school. Just like Alberta has Jewish schools and Muslim schools too.

But the head of the government school board that oversees Cornerstone, a woman named Lauri Skori, has literally ordered the school to stop teaching passages in the Bible that she personally disagrees with.

I know this sounds crazy. But it’s true. For example, Skori has ordered the school to stop teaching a line from 1 Corinthians, because she finds it "offensive":

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It’s shocking, but it’s not surprising. Christianity has been driven out of the public square everywhere in Canada. But surely this is a new low — Christianity is actually being banned in a Christian school.

Government bureaucrats would never dream of telling Muslim schools they couldn’t teach passages from the Koran — even ones that call for the murder of infidels and apostates. But banning the Bible is now official school board policy.

And, not surprisingly, the media and the political class are silent. Even supposedly Christian or conservative politicians are keeping their heads down — they don’t want to be attacked by the leftist mob at the CBC.

Well, we’ve found one honest man — John Carpay, from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms. He’s agreed to take the case of Cornerstone Christian Academy. He’s written a scorching 8-page legal letter to the school board pointing out how what they’re doing is illegal — it’s unconstitutional. You can read that letter here.

But they seem to be digging in their heels.

And why not? No-one is coming to the aid of the school.

Well, that’s where you and I come in. As you can see in my interview with John (at the end of the video here), I’ve promised to help him raise up to $5,000 to help pay for his team of three lawyers to fight for the school’s freedom of religion, against government censors. I’ve agreed to chip in the first $50 myself.

If you agree that this case is outrageous, please join with me in helping to chip in to John’s legal defence fund, by clicking here.

Yours truly,

Ezra Levant

P.S. When I first heard that a school board was banning passages from the Bible, I thought it was fake news. I said, "that can’t be real”. Well, it’s real. Please click here to help fund the only civil liberties lawyer in Canada who seems to care.

P.P.S. This story hasn’t been widely covered in the news. Please forward this e-mail to all of your friends and family, and make www.TheRealBigots.com you r Facebook status. Don’t you agree — it’s the school board that’s being bigoted here? [Comment]

Jun 21, 2017

Tending to your spiritual growthBy: C4i

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These early days of summer offer the best time to get outside, put your hands in the dirt, and garden. There is a quiet, age old pleasure in planting, nurturing, and watching life grow and shape and change in front of you. 

But, while gardening is a fun and relaxing hobby, it's also a lot of work. For every breezy sunny morning where it's a joy to get outside and make sure your plants are watered, their branches trimmed, and any weeds are plucked, there is a drizzly, miserable morning where you'd rather just stay inside. Or a scorching afternoon where just walking outside gives you the sensation of being an ant cooked under a magnifying glass.

But, without constant attention and effort, your plants will die. If you only tend to them on the nice days when everything is relaxing and fun, and ignore them when it becomes a nuisance, they won't reach their full potential. Their roots will shrivel and dry up. Their vines and branches will become intertwined with other plants and choke each other out. They'll die of thirst on those sweltering days when you'd rather just stay in the comforting cool of the air conditioner.

The same is true of your spiritual growth. What is inside of you is also growing and changing all the time, just like that backyard garden you're so proud of. And just the same, it also needs constant work, nurturing, and patience to grow health and strong. 

Unlike our plants however, we tend to ignore our spiritual growth during the easy times and only focus on it when things turn sour. When the heat rises or the bad news pours down, we're all concerned with our spiritual health. We'll go to our core and look for strong roots to hold us down during the maelstrom, we'll seek shade and comfort under our spiritual branches. Only, tragically, to discover that those qualities aren't there because we forgot to nurture our spirit while times were good and the sky was clear.

Tending to your spiritual growth needs to be approached like any other plant. It can't be a sometimes thing, or a when I feel like it thing. It needs to be a constant focus. You should be supplying your spiritual growth with the healthy nutrients of reflection, thought, and prayer on a regular basis. You should be tending to it the same way a careful gardener watches for weeds and pests that starve or eat away at otherwise strong roots and gets rid of them before they do any damage.

How are you watering your spirit? What are you feeding it? Are you taking time to reflect on the Lord? Do you prayer regularly and with thought and care? Are you sharing in the community with your Christian brothers and sisters in any way? 

And what about the spiritual pests in your life? Do you have bad habits that are standing between you and the Lord? Do you find yourself allowing sin to take root in your spirit? This is the time to take stock and get rid of those spiritual weeds. 

This summer, make tending to your spiritual growth a daily part of your routine. Plant strong roots in the love of the Lord. Tend to your spirit like growing a sapling into a powerful trunk, and you'll be able to withstand any storm life throws your way. 
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Jun 14, 2017

Perfect ways to celebrate your dad on Father's DayBy: C4i

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Father's Day is the day we collectively set aside to honor and thank the our dads. It's a chance to swing the spotlight on him, give him a day off, and maybe get him something to show you care. And that's the part that many of us struggle with. Dad's can be notoriously difficult to shop for.

The silly thing is, chances are your dad doesn't really want you to spend anything on him anyway! You don't raise a household expecting gifts in return, and many dads would be just as happy seeing you get something for yourself with the money instead. It can be a frustrating position to be in when you just want to do something for him for once!

This year, try something new. Instead of getting him yet another multi-tool that will be thrown in a drawer and forgotten, or the dreaded pack of socks, consider celebrating him in these alternative ways. They'll speak more to what a father craves than any gift you could give him.

Write him a letter 

Instead of just running by the local Hallmark's and picking up a generic card this year, consider writing up something personal. This can be the body inside a normal card, or a separate letter – the medium doesn't matter so long as it is from the heart.

Let him know how proud of him you are and how much you still look up to him. Take a minute to share some of your favorite memories growing up, or to highlight a few examples of when he was really there for you and made all the difference in the world. You don't need to be maudlin or overly sappy if that isn't your (or his) thing, even sharing a few inside jokes will be enough to put a smile on his face.

It doesn't matter how tough or stoic your dad typically is, a heartwarming message written from one of their children will always melt his heart. What's more, it's something he can hang on to and file away. A little physical memento that his children care for him and appreciate him. That's priceless.

Spend some time doing something he loves 

We all have hobbies, passions, and interests. Chances are, your dad has more than a few niche hobbies that he usually does by himself. The stereotypical ones might include sports, racing, and golf, but let's give our dads credit – they're into way more stuff than that! Whether your dad is a yard sale bargain hunter, a collector of vintage tin robots, or an amateur science-fiction writer, find something he loves and make a day of it.

One of the fundamental ways of showing a person you care is by trying to understand them and see things through their eyes. It doesn't matter if you don't care about a particular hobby or don't find it interesting, you do care that your dad likes it, and that means something to him. 

If your dad is into something particularly boring or uninteresting, just close your eyes and remember all the dance practices, chess club meets, and arcades you probably dragged him to when you were young. You owe him one!

Get the family together

As we get older and spread out to our own families, it gets harder and harder to coral all the different siblings, spouses, and kids together in one place. It's difficult, but if you can, try to get everyone together this Father's Day.

Nothing hammers home the impact and legacy a father has had than seeing all of his family in one place, at one table. Whether it's just you siblings and parents enjoying a meal at the old family kitchen table, or a whole crew of uncles, aunts, grandkids, and more spread out in the backyard, it will mean something to him. A good dad makes sacrifices his whole adult life to build up a happy and healthy family, let yours see his accomplishments all in one place this year. 
[Comment]

Jun 12, 2017

How to know you've found the right churchBy: C4i

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Our church homes are an important part of our lives as Christians. The church is our main source of support, spiritual nourishment, and our sense of mission in the world. But, what you find supportive and nourishing might not work for someone else, and what they find gives them a sense of mission might leave you baffled. As different styles of Church spring up throughout our communities, how do you know you've found the one that is right for you? 

The reality is, there is no such thing as the perfect church. Try as hard as they might, no church, organized and attended by flawed, imperfect people, will ever be able to do it all. Every church faces it's own difficulties and shortcomings. But, when you want to know if you've found the right place for you, there are a few questions you can ask to help you come to a conclusion.

Does my church keep Christ at it's core?

The number one, most important element to any church is making sure Christ is at the heart of everything it does. As the church changes and modernizes, it's important to remember that at the end of the day, the foundation should always be based on Christ. That means embracing the word of the Lord and the spirit of it with a grounding of sound doctrine.

That's not to say every sermon or discussion needs to be a deep, focused study directly on a specific passage or anything. Only that everything should lead back to what has been written and handed down through the prophets, apostles, and the words of Jesus in some way or another. Churches that forget this crucial element, that swerve too far into loose interpretations of the Bible, or drift too far from the source, cannot serve the spiritual needs of their parishioners. If the doctrine is weak at a church, so will the lessons taken from it.


Can I grow here? 

Think about what you need spiritually. What do you struggle with? What do you find affirming? What excites you to get out of bed and go to church every Sunday and share with your brothers and sisters? These are the things that you'll want to be sure your church includes.

This is a personal reflection. We all have different needs, preferences, and ideas about how a church community should work. Take a look at your church and ask yourself if it is a place that will feed your spiritual growth.

Remember to keep your perspective though. No church is perfect. Just because you don't find every single sermon positively electrifying, or feel like the community is exactly where you want it to be, doesn't mean it's time to go on the hunt for a new church. Sometimes, this can be a challenge to expand your horizons, dig a little deeper, and find what is interesting in a particular sermon. Or to become the change in your church community that you want to see. These kinds of challenges can also be a path to spiritual growth.

How is the church directing me to serve God?

Service is a fundamental part of Christian life. We all have gifts, abilities, and ways to effect positive change in the world and serve as examples of Christ's grace. A good church will find ways to highlight those abilities and make the most of them to serve the Lord.

Of course, service can take many forms. From singing in the choir, or helping to organize food drives, to raising funds for a mission trip, there are tons of different ways you can use your talents and abilities to serve. However, if your church is not supplying opportunities, or encouraging a drive to do so, in some way, they are squandering the talents of their congregation. 

Keep in mind, you need to be looking for ways to serve. Just because you haven't been personally asked to help in some way doesn't mean you can't volunteer or ask where help is needed yourself. Always make sure you've fully explore your options before deciding that the church isn't providing any.
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Jun 9, 2017

Dealing with the disrespectful as a Christian By: C4i

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When living as a Christian, you're going to run into people who don't agree with your outlook on life. People who choose to walk a different path, or think Christianity is too old fashion to be relevant in this day and age, or who even question the existence of God. Disagreements such as those are fine, everyone is entitled to their own opinion after all (no matter how woefully misguided it might be). 

But, when those disagreements verge into the disrespectful, profane, or abusive - as they  unfortunately all too commonly do - you need to be prepared for them and know how to react.

The natural response when someone is rude to you is to be rude right back. They snap at you, so you snap at them. As Christians though, the burden is on us to rise above pettiness and set a better example. This doesn't mean you have to be a doormat and meekly accept hurtful comments or insulting jabs, nobody has the right to make you feel small for your beliefs or views. But, it does mean we have to be thoughtful in our responses.

Practice patience

When dealing with the disrespectful, patience is your greatest ally. As it says in Proverbs 14:29 " Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Letting some nasty comment get under your collar and provoke you into a rash response will only bring you down into the muck. 

Patience is always a virtue, but it is especially handy when dealing with ignorant or spiteful people. If you can ignore a slight, or allow a hot moment to pass without escalating a confrontation, so much the better. People will respect a dignified presence more than a flustered comeback.

Stand proud in the Lord

Of course, there is a point where patience expires. If someone insists on pushing the issue, don't be afraid to stand for your beliefs. Don't feel bullied into keeping quiet or downplaying your faith, even if it means creating a little friction. If someone is being disrespectful or condescending, tell them calmly, but firmly, that you find their comments offensive and small minded. Remember the lesson that Peter learned. The unbearable shame and guilt of denying Christ out of convenience. Don't let the same guilt lay on your soul.

And if your speaking up or sticking up for yourself  offends them, so be it. Jesus offended plenty of people over the course of His ministry as well. Being a good Christian doesn't mean pleasing everyone all the time.

Try to remember that Jesus sacrificed himself for everyone 

When confronted by a big mouthed blowhard who is trying to inflate his own ego at the expense of you or your faith, it's very easy to write them off as an irredeemable. But, while it is difficult, it always helps to try and adopt Jesus' perspective.

Jesus didn't give himself up willingly to crucifixion just to save the polite and pleasant of the human race. If he did, we'd all probably be in trouble. No, Jesus died for the flawed, the imperfect, the disrespectful mess that humanity is – including whoever is getting under your skin today. 

Stand up for yourself, speak truth to power, but try to never write anyone off. There are plenty of Christians out there who came to Christ after many years of laughing Him off. 
[Comment]

Jun 2, 2017

IRANIAN LEADER: ‘ISRAEL IS THE BIGGEST THREAT TO HUMANITY’: By: Colin Wingfield

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Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani launched a scathing attack on Israel, calling it "aggressive and racist” and saying it will always remain a source of threat to the nations in the Middle East and humanity in general. Larijani's attack came in a message to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, on the 17th anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. He expressed confidence that unity and solidarity among different Lebanese groups would shape a "bright future” for people in Lebanon and the Islamic resistance movement. This is not the first time that Larijani, who is referred to in Iran as a "moderate conservative”, has attacked Israel. He has in the past referred to Israel as a "cancer” and once boasted of the fact that Iran provided Hamas with the technology it has used to rain down rockets on Israel from Gaza. Larijani is not alone in his attacks of Israel, as Iranian officials consistently threaten the Jewish state. In Dec. 2016 Iran’s defense minister warned that if Trump’s policies lead to a war in the Middle East, it would result in the destruction of Israel. Many of the threats against Israel have come from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has referred to Israel as a "cancer” and in the past threatened to "annihilate" the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa. In Feb. 2017, a senior member of Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission and a former Revolutionary Guards official, said that if attacked, Iran could hit Tel Aviv with a missile within seven minutes. (INN) [Comment]

Jun 2, 2017

ISRAELI MINISTER: NETANYAHU NO LONGER BACKS TWO-STATE SOLUTION: By: C4i

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Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi said this week that neither he nor PM Netanyahu see the two-state solution as viable. Hanegbi claimed that he himself had never backed the two-state solution and Netanyahu no longer has the same vision he outlined in 2009. According to Hanegbi, Netanyahu said "The Palestinians have emptied the two-state solution of its content. Under the conditions they want at present, it is simply not something we can consider. There is no partner for an agreement." Netanyahu and Hanegbi are not the only Israelis who have given up on the two-state solution. A recent op-ed by Dr. Max Singer, posted by the Begin-Sadat Center suggested most Palestinians believe reaching a peace agreement with Israel is tantamount to admitting "defeat in their 100-year struggle. Continued Israeli [so called] occupation is one of the Palestinians' best weapons against Israel,’ he wrote, "and they will not give it up while their war to eliminate Israel continues." Israel is not facing a dilemma about relinquishing sovereignty over disputed areas, Singer said. "There is zero chance that there could be a real peace agreement now regardless of how much land Israel would be willing to give up," he explained. "A true two-state solution would finally defeat Palestinian and Arab efforts of a century, and they are not yet ready to accept defeat.” (CBN) The root of the problem is that making peace with Israel is against their religion: Arabs under the banner of Islam have hurtled themselves against the Jewish State in numerous wars and continual terrorism. Children from infancy are taught to hate and kill both Jews and Christians. Now, almost an entire generation is fully programmed to carry out the assignments taught in their youth. Asking the Palestinians and Arab nations to be nice to Israel amounts to wishful thinking on the part of well meaning but uninformed, and in many cases ambitious politicians. Likewise the majority of Israelis are fed up with talk of slicing off more of the Jewish State and handing it over to terrorist foes in hopes of ending the Middle East Conflict. Understandably, the trial run of sacrificing the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians, in hopes of non violent co-existence with its Islamist neighbors, has proven to be a lethal illusion and is dead. Why should it not be? From the onset Israel has been subjected to peace "double dealing” from a nest of venomous entities rooted into a religion that hates every nation and creed not in submission to Islam, and calls especially for the destruction of Israel. [Comment]

Jun 2, 2017

NETANYAHU: ISRAELI LAND SWAPS WITH PALESTINIANS WON’T BRING PEACE: By: C4i

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PM Benjamin Netanyahu on 30 May 2017 said that any future peace agreement reached with the Palestinians must include an Israeli military presence in Judea & Samaria, and offered insight on security concerns the government may have following a prospective deal. Netanyahu said that "In any peace agreement we [Israel] will have to maintain military control of all the territory west of the Jordan River. This is the truth and I will continue saying this truth." Netanyahu indicated that an Israeli military withdrawal from all areas of Judea & Samaria would create a vacuum prone to takeover by extremists, who could pose a threat to Israeli security. (J. Post) Should anyone think it far-fetched reasoning for Israel to be concerned about creating a vacuum for Islamists by surrendered territory for a false peace agreement: In 2005, Israel uprooted every soldier and Jew living in the Gaza Strip hoping it would encourage peace. Instead, Hamas, a terrorist organization that calls for genocide of all Jews, quickly came to power in that area, has launched tens of thousands of rockets and missiles at Israeli civilians and provoked three wars against the Jewish state since 2008. [Comment]

Jun 2, 2017

PALESTINIANS PAID TERRORISTS $1 BILLION IN PAST 4 YEARS:By: Colin Wingfield

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The Palestinian Authority has paid out $1.12 billion over the past four years to terrorists and their families, Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, former director general of the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, told Knesset members on 29 May 2017. He added that PA claims that the payments are social welfare benefits are false. The Palestinians' own budgetary documents "clearly state that these are salaries and not welfare payments. The Palestinians are trying to depict themselves as supporting peace while they are still paying the families of terrorists," he said. "Assurance of a cash prize for acts of terror is encouragement to terrorism, and is against international law." Dore Gold, a former Foreign Ministry director-general, said, "The idea that a body such as the Palestinian Authority pays money as compensation to families who lost their sons as they were engaged in terror is unacceptable and contradicts common sense. Former USA Secretary of State Colin Powell called it 'providing an incentive to terrorism.'" (Times of Israel) Please continue to intercede that the despicable practice of paying salaries to jailed terrorists and their families - thanks to foreign aid money provided by USA and other taxpayers - will be exposed again and again and brought to a complete end. [Comment]

May 31, 2017

4 high-tech devices saving lives and defending Israel todayBy: C4i

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One of the most pressing concerns for the IDF is how to secure the safety and lives of their soldiers while also effectively defending Israel from terrorist actions. The answer? Technology that takes more humans out of the line of fire while also providing better information and intelligence to soldiers behind the lines! The following are just a few of the technical innovations saving lives in Israel right now. 

1. The Iron Dome Rocket Defence System

One of the most insidious, and persistent methods Hezbollah has used to attack the people of Israel over the decades has been with rocket attacks. Simple high-explosive munitions casually launched towards Israeli neighbourhoods with no concern of where they land or who they target. Soldier? Military base? Child? School? All the same to the people launching the weapon. And what can be done about it? Once a missile is launched, you can only duck in cover and pray, right?

Not anymore. The Iron Dome system, originally deployed in 2011, has represented a sea change in the IDF's ability to protect the people of Israel. This high-tech missile response system detects hostile launches, locks-on to incoming munitions, and fires a highly accurate, lighting fast missile of it's own to intercept the rocket and detonate it mid-air before it can cause any harm. While missile interdiction systems are not a new idea, the Iron Dome is the first truly successful program of its kind to see practical application. 

2. The Trophy Active Tank Defence System

While the Iron Dome defends the country of Isreal, think of the Trophy as its little brother, defending the lives of servicemen in active duty. Much like the Iron Dome, the Trophy is an active rocket interception system, but designed to be mounted on, and defend, armoured vehicles. 

How does it work? The Trophy has a 360 degree scanning view that constantly monitors for high-speed, high-heat projectiles approaching in the direction of the vehicle. When one is detected, the system plots the rockets trajectory and launches a canister of ball bearings in it's path. Think of it like shooting clay pigeons with a shotgun, only MUCH faster. 

Anti-tank weapons rely upon making contact with a vehicle's armour and punching through with a directed explosion. By detonating the warhead a few feet away from the tank, the explosive force is misdirected and lacks the punch to barely scrape the paint let alone penetrate the armour. Clever stuff. 

3. The EyeBall Bot

Sometimes, you need to know what's going on inside a building or over a wall. But, sticking your neck out and taking a peek isn't always the best idea, especially when there could be hostiles with weapons just waiting to take a shot at you! Enter the EyeBall Bot, a portable surveillance device the size of a softball.

The EyeBall Bot is exactly what it sounds like, a miniature camera (and listening) device that can be tossed into a room or problem spot to provide a 360 view of what's going on. The video, both regular and night-vision capable, is wirelessly transferred to a tablet so soldiers can know exactly what's waiting for them behind a door or corner. It's a sci-fi solution for a situation IDF soldiers find themselves in everyday. 

4. The Elbit Skylark

Drones are the big thing in defence right now. Hovering high and silent over a battlefield without endangering a pilot, drones have redefined modern conflict over the past decade. However, most drones are still surprisingly big and bulky, more like a small plane than the high-tech gizmo you might imagine.

The Elbit Skylark is the exception. About as large as one of those premium styrofoam model kits you might have played with as a child, the Skylark  is designed to be carried by a single person and can be deployed in mere minutes. While it carries no weapons to speak of, the function the Skylark provides is far more essential than just another gun – it provides instantaneous, live video-feed from a sky high perspective wherever and whenever it's needed with three-hours of flight time. This is the kind of rapid information gathering technology that helps the IDF distinguish between Hezbollah fighters setting up a rocket attack, and a couple of kids playing too close to the boarder. In it's way, the Skylark is saving lives and ensuring that force is only used in situations where it is appropriate. 
[Comment]

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