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Jun 26, 2017

The hardest example to follow: Praying for our enemiesBy: C4i

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Watching the state of the world these days, it's not difficult to drift into despair. When daily reports of extremist groups like ISIS targeting vulnerable with their campaign of brutality and intimidation become the background static of our lives, it can drown out the positive and affirming. When we see groups like Hezbollah continue their unabated aggression against Israel civilians all while being bolstered by misguided activist groups like the BDS movement, it's easy to lose hope for the world and compassion for those who we just can't understand.

With horrors, travesties, and atrocities mount in a perpetual cycle of misery, it's only natural to harden yourself against the brunt of it. To stop seeing those perpetuating or abiding these outrages as other people and just as a kind of opposing entity that seemingly stands against everything good in this world.

But, that's when we need to step back and think about the example Jesus set to us through the conversion of Paul.

Paul, one of the most famous celebrated of the Apostles did not follow a typical path to service. Before he became an Apostle, Paul was named Saul. And Saul was neither devout, or compassionate. He was a thug. An anti-Christian zealot who was making a career out of persecuting the followers of Jesus.

By his own admission, Saul was a merciless Pharisee. His brand of persecution wasn't just to be a voice in the crowd booing or casting aspersions at Christians. He wasn't a passive voice merely backing up the established powers. He was active, involved in the direct oppression of the early Christians. 

There is a pragmatic, calculated bent to Saul's victimization of Christians that sometimes goes unrecognized. For him, outing, humiliating, and arresting Christians wasn't just a passion, it was a path to advancement. A way to build his reputation and standing among his peers. In his own words -

"...how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” Galatians 1:13–14, NIV

Think about the environment Saul must have lived in. One where hating and victimizing Christians was  seen as an overwhelmingly positive goal. Where every time he brought a load of Christians bound before the chief priests, his esteem among his peers grew. His whole worldview was shaped around the idea that Christians were an insidious disease within his society that must be brought to heel. Not unlike the environment the fanatics in control of ISIS and other extremist groups use to brainwash their impressionable recruits. 

Yet, all that hatred, all that reinforced indoctrination, meant nothing when faced with the glory of the Lord. 

When God intervened in Saul's life, when he struck him blind in the road and gave him a truer sight, the conversion was instantaneous and dramatic. Saul became Paul, and he threw away his past life, his entire world view in an instant. He went from a venomous persecutor of the Church, to one of its most profound and impactful architects. 

That is the power of God at work in the hearts of men. The story of Paul's conversion should be a reminder that nobody is beyond the grace of God. That nobody is so consumed with hatred that God cannot touch them.

Yes, it is important that we defend ourselves from the menaces at work in our world. We should not be passive or complacent in the face of evil. At the same time however, we need to remember that these organizations are made of people. That behind the masks and hoods and barbaric displays of hatred, there lies actual humans who are in desperate need of salvation.

And as hard as it is, we need to pray that they will have their own "Road to Damascus” moment in their lives. We need to pray for radical grace to touch the hearts of those involved in extremist activities, to open their eyes and show them the true path to salvation, peace, and harmony. These conflicts can only be solved through the transformational power of Christ.
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Jun 23, 2017

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: WE DON’T INTERVENE IN SYRIA WAR, BUT WE DO GIVE HUMANITARIAN AID TO CHILDREN: By: Colin Wingfield

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 Israeli PM Netanyahu appeared to pour cold water on a media report, Mon. 19 June 2017 that the Jewish state has been secretly providing rebel groups in southern Syria with money, fuel, food and medical supplies in recent years. "We do not intervene in this terrible, bloody conflict, but we do provide humanitarian assistance to boys and girls,” Netanyahu said during a visit to a medical center in Safed, where more than 2,000 Syrians wounded in the ongoing war have received treatment. "I see men, women and children who viewed us as enemies when they arrived here,” he continued. "They now understand that the State of Israel is a moral stronghold and a ray of light in our region.” (Algemeiner) [Comment]

Jun 23, 2017

NETANYAHU TO ABBAS: STOP POISONING PALESTINIAN YOUTH:By: Colin Wingfield

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PM Netanyahu on 19 June 2017 blasted Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas for his continued incitement against Israel. In a series of tweets, Netanyhau condemned the PA for naming – not for the first time – a public square after a terrorist. This time, the PA named a square in Jenin after arch-terrorist Khaled Nazzal. Nazzal was responsible for planning the 1974 Ma'alot massacre, in which terrorists entered a school in the northern town of Ma'alot and took dozens of children and teachers hostage. 22 children and four adults were murdered in the attack. "Palestinian President Abbas tells the world that he educates Palestinian children for peace. That’s a lie,” tweeted Netanyahu. "President Abbas: stop poisoning the minds of Palestinian youth. Educate for peace, not terror." Naming a square after Nazzal is just another example of ongoing PA incitement to terrorism against Israel. The PA regularly names schools, public squares and community centers after terrorists who murdered Israeli citizens. (INN) How grave is the tragic truth that Palestinians are destroying the souls of their own society and especially children. They do so by furthering media and school text book incitement against Israel, and promoting the hero worship of terrorist from the cradle on. Pray against the sacrifice of Palestinian children to jihadist hatred and murder. [Comment]

Jun 23, 2017

NETANYAHU: “I HAVE ONE MESSAGE TO IRAN: DO NOT THREATEN ISRAEL”:By: Colin Wingfield

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 Iran on Sunday 18 June 2017 fired missiles from the western part of the country into eastern Syria targeting what it called "terrorist bases” in Deir Ez-Zor. The attack was in retaliation for combined attacks in Iran earlier this month in which 17 people were killed. The USA and Saudi Arabia were specifically mentioned by an Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman as part of its audience for the "message” it sent by firing the missiles. Israel, although not explicitly mentioned, has been the focus of constant threats by Iran. After Iran launched six missiles into Syria, an adviser to the Iranian foreign minister, Sheikh Hussein al-Islam, said that Israel "is the main enemy” of Iran and that Israel should be worried.” Israeli PM Netanyahu responded sharply saying "I have a message to Iran: Do not threaten Israel. The army and our security forces are constantly monitoring the activity of Iran in the region.” Netanyahu further said the activity also includes "Iran’s attempts to establish themselves in Syria and, of course, to transfer advanced weapons to Hezbollah and other operations." Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said Israel was not worried by Sunday's strike. "We are prepared for every development," he said’. (Media Line/Arutz-7/J.Post) [Comment]

Jun 23, 2017

WORLD’S DEMOCRACIES ABSENT AT ANNUAL ISRAEL-BASHING DEBATE:By: Colin Wingfield

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The world’s democracies collectively snubbed the UN Human Rights Council’s annual condemnation of Israel in Geneva on 19 June 2017 when none of their representatives attended the council’s presentation and debate on "Item 7” - a permanent agenda item focused on the "Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.” The seats of all the democratic nations represented on the council were empty for the duration of the discussion, sparking protests from Arab countries. In an address to the council on 6 June 2017, USA Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley charged that "Item 7 is a scandalous provision that must be removed.” Hillel Neuer - executive director of the Geneva-based UN Watch NGO said, "The democracies are absent to protest prejudice - because this is the only agenda item that singles out one specific state, the Jewish state. Not Syria, Sudan or North Korea is treated this way.” Nonetheless, the absence of these countries did not prevent routine denunciations of Israel, with serial human rights abusers like Syria, Lebanon and Venezuela attacking Israel’s human rights record and depicting it as the "greatest threat to peace in the Middle East.” (Algemeiner) Continue to pray that UN anti-Israel bias will be confronted and overcome in all UN branches. [Comment]

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. 
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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]

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